cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New FASB Rules on Accounting for Leases: A Sarbanes-Oxley Promise Delivered

Congress responded to the financial accounting scandals of the new millennium by enacting the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which required the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to study filings by issuers and report on the extent of off-balance sheet arrangements, particularly those involving leases. In 2005, the SEC reported that there “may be approximately $1.25 trillion in non-cancellable future cash obligations committed under operating leases that are not recognized on issuer balance sheets, but are instead disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.” Accordingly, the SEC Report requested the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) to craft new rules to record more lessee liabilities on the balance sheet. In 2016, the FASB issued sweeping new rules that affect virtually every firm that leases assets “such as real estate, airplanes, and manufacturing equipment.” In a dramatic change in approach, every lease for more than 12 months will be capitalized and recorded on the lessee’s balance sheet as reflecting both a “right of use asset” and a corresponding liability. The new rules move away from the formalism of bright line rules and toward an affirmative obligation to record economic substance. This article provides an overview of the history, policy and mechanics of the new rules, which are likely to have significant economic impact on many firms.
Effects of fish oil supplementation on prostaglandins in normal and tumor colon tissue: modulation by the lipogenic phenotype of colon tumors

Dietary fish oils have potential for prevention of colon cancer, and yet the mechanisms of action in normal and tumor colon tissues are not well defined. Here we evaluated the impact of the colonic fatty acid milieu on the formation of prostaglandins and other eicosanoids. Distal tumors in rats were chemically induced to model inflammatory colonic carcinogenesis. After 21 weeks of feeding with either a fish oil diet containing an eicosapentaenoic acid/ω-6 fatty acid ratio of 0.4 or a Western fat diet, the relationships between colon fatty acids and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations were evaluated. PGE2 is a key proinflammatory mediator in the colon tightly linked with the initiation and progression of colon cancer. The fish oil vs. the Western fat diet resulted in reduced total fatty acid concentrations in serum but not in colon. In the colon, the effects of the fish oil on fatty acids differed in normal and tumor tissue. There were distinct lipodomic patterns consistent with a lipogenic phenotype in tumors. In tumor tissue, the eicosapentaenoic acid/arachidonic acid ratio, cyclooxygenase-2 expression and the mole percent of saturated fatty acids were significant predictors of inter-animal variability in colon PGE2 after accounting for diet. In normal tissues from either control rats or carcinogen-treated rats, only diet was a significant predictor of colon PGE2. These results show that the fatty acid milieu can modulate the efficacy of dietary fish oils for colon cancer prevention, and this could extend to other preventive agents that function by reducing inflammatory stress.
Postoperative urinary retention after inguinal hernia repair: a single institution experience

Inguinal hernia repair is a common general surgery procedure with low morbidity. However, postoperative urinary retention (PUR) occurs in up to 22% of patients, resulting in further extraneous treatments.This single institution series investigates whether patient comorbidities, surgical approaches, and anesthesia methods are associated with developing PUR after inguinal hernia repairs. This is a single institution retrospective review of inguinal hernia from 2012 to 2015. PUR was defined as patients without a postoperative urinary catheter who subsequently required bladder decompression due to an inability to void. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to quantify the associations between patient, surgical, and anesthetic factors with PUR. Stratification analysis was conducted at age of 50 years. 445 patients were included (42.9% laparoscopic and 57.1% open). Overall rate of PUR was 11.2% (12% laparoscopic, 10.6% open, and p = 0.64). In univariate analysis, PUR was significantly associated with patient age >50 and history of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Risk stratification for age >50 revealed in this cohort a 2.49 times increased PUR risk with lack of intraoperative bladder decompression (p = 0.013). At our institution, we found that patient age, history of BPH, and bilateral repair were associated with PUR after inguinal hernia repair. No association was found with PUR and laparoscopic vs open approach. Older males may be at higher risk without intraoperative bladder decompression, and therefore, catheter placement should be considered in this population, regardless of surgical approach.
A new triazine bearing a pyrazolone group capable of copper, nickel, and zinc chelation

Interest in inorganic applications of triazines is growing. In this report, metal complexes of copper(II), nickel(II), and zinc(II) and a novel class of chelates composed of a triazine ring substituted with a hydrazine group and pyrazolone are evaluated using spectrophotometric methods, single crystal X-ray diffractometry, and electrochemistry. Complexes with copper(II) include a single chelate and chloride ion(s)/water to satisfy a trigonal bipyramidal coordination sphere. The nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes are composed of two chelating groups that adopt an octahedral geometry around the metal ion. Irreversible redox activity was observed with the copper(II) complex but no redox activity was observed with the ligand alone or zinc(II) and nickel(II) complexes. Use of the coumarin carboxylic acid assay shows that the ligand motif is capable of preventing redox cycling of copper in biological conditions and could thus serve as an antioxidant preventative agent. Cellular toxicity studies show that the new triazine molecule could have therapeutic applications in the μM concentration range based on the measured EC50 = 1.183 ± 0.002 mM. Altogether this work shows that by merging triazine chemistry into inorganic compounds, there is potential to explore a range applications thanks to the new architecture.
Threats to United States Fully Reviewed and Strategic Plan for Integration of Transgender Military Members Into the Armed Forces

An editorial is presented which addresses U.S. President Donald Trump's decision in 2017 to ban transgender individuals from serving in America's military, and it mentions the authors' claim that Trump's ban is not rational since the issue of transgender military service has already been fully vetted by U.S. military leadership. Gender-affirming interventions such as hormone therapy are examined, along with military unit cohesion and military health care costs.
Social anxiety and interpersonal stress generation: the moderating role of interpersonal distress

ABSTRACTBackground and Objectives: Existing models of social anxiety scarcely account for interpersonal stress generation. These models also seldom include interpersonal factors that compound the effects of social anxiety. Given recent findings that two forms of interpersonal distress, perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, intensify social anxiety and cause interpersonal stress generation, these two constructs may be especially relevant to examining social anxiety and interpersonal stress generation together.Design: The current study extended prior research by examining the role of social anxiety in the occurrence of negative and positive interpersonal events and evaluated whether interpersonal distress moderated these associations.Methods: Undergraduate students (N = 243; M = 20.46 years; 83% female) completed self-report measures of social anxiety, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness, as well as a self-report measure and clinician-rated interview assessing negative and po...
Synthesis, optical spectroscopy and laser potential of pyrylium tosylates

Abstract Safe and inexpensive methods for synthesis of a series of four substituted 2,4,6-triphenylyrylium tosylate salts with different substituents are reported. The synthesis methods use p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate instead of conventional acid catalysts including perchloric acid or boron trifluoride diethyl etherate that pose explosion danger and difficult storage problems, respectively. The chemical structures of these salts were established using FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that these salts have good thermal stability, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed that they have lower melting transitions than the corresponding tetrafluoroborate and perchlorate salts. Solutions of the salts in organic solvents (such as acetonitrile and methanol) absorbed strongly in the blue-near-ultraviolet spectral range and emitted efficiently in the blue-green spectral range depending on the substituents in 2- and 6-positions of phenyl groups. The fluorescence quantum yields of the salts ranged from 0.33 to 0.56. Under intense ultrashort laser pumping, an acetonitrile solution of the salt, 2,4,6-triphenylpyrylium tosylate, the salt with the highest quantum yield, demonstrated stimulated emission and laser action with only nominal feedback.
Ceftazidime/avibactam versus standard-of-care agents against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae harbouring blaKPC in a one-compartment pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model.

Background 'Last-line' antimicrobial usage has promoted the emergence of MDR bacteria. Production of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPCs) is increasingly common and leads to resistance to most antimicrobials. However, ceftazidime/avibactam demonstrates activity against KPC-producing strains. Ceftazidime/avibactam in the empirical setting remains unknown. Methods Strains underwent genetic analysis evaluating blaKPC presence/production and MICs were determined. Four strains were assessed in an in vitro, one-compartment pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) model for 96 h. The following bolus dosing exposures were tested: 2.5 g of ceftazidime/avibactam every 8 h, 2 g of meropenem every 8 h, 1.25 mg/kg polymyxin B every 12 h, amikacin 'once-daily dosing' (peak of 70-80 mg/L), tigecycline at 200 mg ×1 dose followed by 100 mg every 12 h, and a drug-free growth control. Results Thirty blaKPC-producing strains were evaluated; 97% of strains were ceftazidime/avibactam susceptible with MIC50/MIC90 values of 0.38/1.5 mg/L (range 0.032-16 mg/L). Two K. pneumoniae strains, one Klebsiella oxytoca strain and one Citrobacter freundii strain underwent further analysis in PK/PD models. Ceftazidime/avibactam displayed potent activity with a reduction of 4.23 ± 0.42 cfu/mL from the initial inoculum at 96 h. Against susceptible isolates, amikacin displayed similar activity compared with ceftazidime/avibactam at 96 h, although this was not demonstrated against all strains. Polymyxin B produced comparable activity to ceftazidime/avibactam against two strains. Neither meropenem nor tigecycline produced effective killing and were comparable to the drug-free growth control at 96 h. Conclusions blaKPC-producing organisms demonstrated susceptibility to ceftazidime/avibactam and bactericidal activity was observed in the PK/PD model. Based on these data, ceftazidime/avibactam is a valuable agent for treating KPC-producing organisms and should be considered for treatment of infections caused by these pathogens.
Abiyamo: Theorizing African Motherhood

Motherhood occupies a special place in African cultures and societies. Regardless of whether a particular African society displays a patrilineal or matrilineal kinship system, mothers are the essential building block of social relationships, identities, and indeed society. Because mothers symbolize familial ties, unconditional love and loyalty, motherhood is invoked even in extrafamiliial situations that calls upon these values. For example, in the Ogboni a traditional political organization which formed part of the hierarchy of governance in some Yoruba polities, members refer to each other as omoya - mother's child— emphasizing that fraternal and sororal bonds derive from mother and the institution of motherhood (Oyewumi 2003a). My goal in this paper is to articulate Yoruba conceptions of motherhood as one African model.
Murphy’s Law and Noninformative Priors

In this conversation, a stockbroker offers a client some investment opportunity. But the client has very strong priors against the deal paying off. Hence, even though he has not heard anything specific about the investment, the client knows that he will probably discount the investment opportunity and find it unsatisfactory.
Analytic Distribution Functions

The theory of analytic distribution functions is discussed. Conditions which a distribution, function must satisfy in order to be an analytic distribution function are given. Continuation of distribution functions as well as relevant limit theorems are discussed.
Chapter 12 – Age-Dependent Modulation of Learning and Memory in Caenorhabditis elegans

Age-related memory impairment (AMI), also called aging associated memory impairment, is a normal condition observed in a wide variety of species from Caenorhabditis elegans to human. AMI occurs unexpectedly early during the reproductive phase, which may be a tradeoff relevant to evolution. An important but frequently missed concept is that the early phase of AMI is associated with reduced memory of new information but also with well-retained memory of certain old information, leading to a shift of behavioral plasticity. Early AMI affects short-term memory and long-term memory, which are modulated by the serotonin pathways, the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 pathway, and the genes involved in memory formation. This chapter describes the current understanding of AMI and clarifies misunderstandings in this emerging field of C. elegans AMI. It discusses the “middle-life crisis” theory that can apply to cognitive aging, including endocrine and epigenetic changes.
Vomit Comet Physiology: Autonomic Changes in Novice Flyers

This exploratory study examined the effects of varying g-forces, including feelings of weightlessness, on an individual’s physiology during parabolic flight. Specifically, we collected heart rate, accelerometer, and skin conductance measurements from 16 flyers aboard a parabolic flight using wearable, wireless sensors. The biosignals were then correlated to participant reports of nausea, anxiety, and excitement during periods of altered g-forces. Using linear mixed-effects models, we found that (1) heart rate was positively correlated to individuals’ self-reported highest/lowest periods of both anxiety and excitement, and (2) bilateral skin conductance asymmetry was positively correlated to individuals’ self-reported highest/lowest periods of nausea.
A spatio-contextual probabilistic model for extracting linear features in hilly terrains from high-resolution DEM data

This article introduces our research in developing a probabilistic model to extract linear terrain features from high resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). The proposed model takes full advan...
Luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and prolactin secretion in ewes and wethers after zeranol or estradiol injection

Plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL) were determined over a 24-h period using radioimmunoassay in sheep injected with corn oil (control) or various doses of zeranol or estradiol-17 beta. Injection of .333, 1 or 10 mg of zeranol caused dose-related increases (P less than .01) in plasma PRL (peak levels at 12 to 18 h) and LH (peak levels at 12 to 20 h) in ovariectomized ewes. Similarly, PRL and LH increased following doses of 33 or 100 microgram of estradiol. Before the LH surge, plasma LH levels were significantly depressed (4 to 8 h). Plasma FSH levels were significantly decreased 4 to 8 h after zeranol and estradiol injection. Slight surges of FSH were observed at times similar to those of LH, but the peak level was never greater than control levels. Injection of 1 mg of zeranol or 100 microgram of estradiol into wethers resulted in a 24-h pattern of PRL secretion not significantly different of LH concentration and significantly prolonged inhibition of FSH secretion. These results indicate similarities in the effects of zeranol and estradiol on anterior pituitary hormone secretion within groups of animals of the same sex or reproductive state. Differences in secretion and plasma concentrations of LH, FSH and PRL due to underlying sexual dimorphism are maintained and expressed even when animals are challenged with structurally different compounds of varying estrogenic potencies.
Proton pump inhibitors increase the severity of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients.

Proton pump inhibitors increase the severity of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients
Fiduciary Principles in Investment Advice

The importance of investment advisers to the financial well-being of their clients cannot be overstated. Individuals and institutions entrust trillions of dollars to investment advisers to manage on their behalf. This paper discusses and explains fiduciary principles in investment advice. Looking at United States federal and state law, the paper first addresses when an adviser is considered a fiduciary. Next, it discusses the fiduciary duty of loyalty and how the duty is expressed and applied in investment advisory relationships. The paper then takes up the fiduciary duty of care and how it differs from other standards of conduct, such as a duty of suitability. The paper then reviews other legal obligations imposed on investment advisers and explains how those obligations relate to an adviser’s fiduciary duty. It then examines whether an investment adviser’s fiduciary duties are mandatory or can be subject to modification by the parties. Finally, the paper discusses remedies available for breaches of fiduciary duty.
Body Image Disturbance Improvement After Operative Correction of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Abstract Hypothesis Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire–Scoliosis version (BIDQ-S) is a sensitive outcomes instrument to evaluate improvements in body image–related psychosocial effects with surgical correction. Design Prospective observational study. Introduction The BIDQ-S was previously validated (convergent validity, internal consistency) as a tool to assess body image–related distress and psychosocial impairment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This study was conducted to evaluate responsiveness to change in the BIDQ-S associated with surgical treatment of AIS two years postoperatively to complete the validation of this questionnaire. Methods Seventy-five consecutive operative AIS patients were enrolled and completed BIDQ-S and Scoliosis Research Society–22 (SRS-22) at preoperative and two-year postoperative visits. Demographic and radiographic data were collected. Preoperative and two-year postoperative BIDQ-S (1 = best, 5 = worst) and SRS-22 scores (1 = worst, 5 = best) were compared using paired t test. Correlations between BIDQ-S and SRS-22 scores were evaluated by linear regression. Results Eighty-four percent of the subjects were females, with average age at surgery of 14.4 ± 1.6 years. The mean follow-up was 2.26 years (range 2.0-4.5). The major Cobb was corrected from 50.0° ± 7.2° to 14.2° ± 5.8° (Δ = 71.3% ± 12.1%; p Conclusion BIDQ-S is responsive to surgical correction of AIS. The BIDQ-S is a valuable clinical outcome tool to assess the psychosocial effects of scoliosis in adolescents augmenting existing outcome instruments.
(37) Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex Deficiency with normal Brain MRI: A Case report

Introduction: Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency (PDCD) is a rare genetic, life-threatening mitochondrial disorder causing lactic acidosis, and progressive neurological and neuromuscular degeneration. Structural abnormalities of the brain are observed in the majority of patients. We describe a patient with PDCD with a normal magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI). Case: A 20-month-old boy with history of hypotonia and developmental delay, presented with respiratory distress and hypoxia. He was diagnosed with bronchiolitis from Metapneumovirus. Two days after being started on PediaSure feeds, he developed respiratory arrest requiring intubation. Despite normal …
Transition path dynamics in the binding of intrinsically disordered proteins: A simulation study.

Association of proteins and other biopolymers is a ubiquitous process in living systems. Recent single-molecule measurements probe the dynamics of association in unprecedented detail by measuring the properties of association transition paths, i.e., short segments of molecular trajectories between the time the proteins are close enough to interact and the formation of the final complex. Interpretation of such measurements requires adequate models for describing the dynamics of experimental observables. In an effort to develop such models, here we report a simulation study of the association dynamics of two oppositely charged, disordered polymers. We mimic experimental measurements by monitoring intermonomer distances, which we treat as “experimental reaction coordinates.” While the dynamics of the distance between the centers of mass of the molecules is found to be memoryless and diffusive, the dynamics of the experimental reaction coordinates displays significant memory and can be described by a generalized Langevin equation with a memory kernel. We compute the most commonly measured property of transition paths, the distribution of the transition path time, and show that, despite the non-Markovianity of the underlying dynamics, it is well approximated as one-dimensional diffusion in the potential of mean force provided that an apparent value of the diffusion coefficient is used. This apparent value is intermediate between the slow (low frequency) and fast (high frequency) limits of the memory kernel. We have further studied how the mean transition path time depends on the ionic strength and found only weak dependence despite strong electrostatic attraction between the polymers.Association of proteins and other biopolymers is a ubiquitous process in living systems. Recent single-molecule measurements probe the dynamics of association in unprecedented detail by measuring the properties of association transition paths, i.e., short segments of molecular trajectories between the time the proteins are close enough to interact and the formation of the final complex. Interpretation of such measurements requires adequate models for describing the dynamics of experimental observables. In an effort to develop such models, here we report a simulation study of the association dynamics of two oppositely charged, disordered polymers. We mimic experimental measurements by monitoring intermonomer distances, which we treat as “experimental reaction coordinates.” While the dynamics of the distance between the centers of mass of the molecules is found to be memoryless and diffusive, the dynamics of the experimental reaction coordinates displays significant memory and can be described by a generali...
A ribonucleoprotein complex protects the interleukin-6 mRNA from degradation by distinct herpesviral endonucleases.

During lytic Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection, the viral endonuclease SOX promotes widespread degradation of cytoplasmic messenger RNA (mRNA). However, select mRNAs escape SOX-induced cleavage and remain robustly expressed. Prominent among these is interleukin-6 (IL-6), a growth factor important for survival of KSHV infected B cells. IL-6 escape is notable because it contains a sequence within its 3’ untranslated region (UTR) that can confer protection when transferred to a SOX-targeted mRNA, and thus overrides the endonuclease targeting mechanism. Here, we pursued how this protective RNA element functions to maintain mRNA stability. Using affinity purification and mass spectrometry, we identified a set of proteins that associate specifically with the protective element. Although multiple proteins contributed to the escape mechanism, depletion of nucleolin (NCL) most severely impacted protection. NCL was re-localized out of the nucleolus during lytic KSHV infection, and its presence in the cytoplasm was required for protection. After loading onto the IL-6 3’ UTR, NCL differentially bound to the translation initiation factor eIF4H. Disrupting this interaction, or depleting eIF4H, reinstated SOX targeting of the RNA, suggesting that interactions between proteins bound to distant regions of the mRNA are important for escape. Finally, we found that the IL-6 3’ UTR was also protected against mRNA degradation by the vhs endonuclease encoded by herpes simplex virus, despite the fact that its mechanism of mRNA targeting is distinct from SOX. These findings highlight how a multitude of RNA-protein interactions can impact endonuclease targeting, and identify new features underlying the regulation of the IL-6 mRNA.
ICTs Use for Mitigating Social Exclusion in the Lives of Homeless Women

This study examines roles of information technologies for social inclusion among homeless women in Los Angeles. Ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with the women reveal that they employed technologically mediated practices to mitigate their social marginalization at the intersections of homelessness, gender, and class. Digital tools such as mobile phones and social media provided them possible means to enhance psychological wellbeing and seek healthcare assistance and housing/employment opportunities. They also harnessed technological resources to construct a positive self-image, reframing their stigmatized identities, and further challenge the status quo by joining social change efforts. The study's theoretical and empirical contributions are discussed.
Novice or expert? Heritage speaker's orientation to the novice-expert paradigm

Abstract Drawing on the theoretical tenets of the communities of practice (CofP) framework (Lave and Wenger 1991) and using an emic microanalytic perspective to analyze the data, this study explores how bilingual heritage speakers (HS) make relevant their novice-expert identities through references to their expertise and during repair activity. Data from four paired videoconferencing conversations between two focal bilingual Spanish HSs and either a monolingual Spanish native speaker (NS) or a Spanish second language (L2) learner was used to examine how the bilingual HSs negotiated their participation and membership within the speaking community of their minority language. Data analysis revealed fluctuations in the HSs' orientations to their novice and expert identities, discourse-internal as well as external, which can be interpreted as HSs’ fluidity to move between categories or as evidence of their struggle to self-claim their identities in their minority language. Overall, the data shows that the construction of a social identity is a dynamic, locally-contingent, and situationally-bounded process that emerges during talk-in-interaction. Additionally, the results also provide insights into the dialectic relationship between locally co-constructed actions and macro-level sociolinguistic categories such as NS and NNS commonly used in second language acquisition (SLA) research.
Gaming sexism: gender and identity in the era of casual video games: by Amanda Cote, 2020, New York, New York University Press, 274 pp., $30 (paperback), ISBN: 9781479802203

Although the “gamer” label has various meanings, I suppose one could say I have been a gamer since childhood. And yet, despite my obliviousness to sexism and feminism in my prepubescence, video gam...
Placental transfer of clindamycin and gentamicin in term pregnancy

The pharmacokinetics of clindamycin and gentamicin were studied in women given these antibiotics prior to cesarean section. Maternal clindamycin levels were within the normal range and cord levels were within the therapeutic range for this antibiotic. For gentamicin, however, maternal levels were depressed, with a concurrent depression of cord levels. This may have significant implications for the use of gentamicin in maternal and fetomaternal infections.
A Population-Based Osteoporosis Screening Program: Who Does Not Participate, and What Are the Consequences?

Author(s): Buist, Diana SM; LaCroix, Andrea Z; Brenneman, Susan K; Abbott, Thomas | Abstract: ObjectivesTo describe differences in osteoporosis risk factors and rates of fracture and antiresorptive therapy use in women who did and did not participate in an osteoporosis screening program.SettingGroup Health Cooperative, a health maintenance organization in western Washington state.ParticipantsA total of 9,268 women (aged 60-80) who were not using any antiresorptive therapy were invited to participate in an osteoporosis screening program. This study compares the 35% who participated with the 65% who did not.DesignThis observational cohort study of women invited to participate in a randomized, controlled trial of an osteoporosis screening program provided all participants with personalized feedback on their risk of osteoporosis. Some participants also received bone density testing. Automated administrative data were used to examine differences between participants and nonparticipants in fracture outcomes and medication initiation before and after invitation.ResultsBaseline fracture rates did not differ between participants and nonparticipants. After age adjustment, nonparticipants had a higher hip fracture rate (14.1 vs 8.3 per 1,000) and a lower rate of initiating any antiresorptive therapy (10.3 vs 17.9 per 100) than participants after an average of 28 to 29 months of follow-up.ConclusionParticipants had reduced hip fracture rates and increased initiation of antiresorptive therapy compared with nonparticipants. It was not possible to determine whether participating in the screening program, unmeasured confounding, or selection bias accounted for differences in hip fracture or therapy initiation rates. These results suggest that women who do not participate in osteoporosis screening should be pursued to identify individuals who could benefit from primary and secondary osteoporosis prevention.
The Religious Dimensions of Coping

Summary In this article, the role of religion in the coping process is examined. The authors conceptualize the coping process as a dynamic, interaction between several different elements of coping: situations, appraisals, activities, functions, psychosocial resources and constraints, and outcomes. The research on the relationship between religion and each of these elements is reviewed in order to address two general questions: “when is religion involved in coping„ and “how is religion involved in coping?„ Based on this review, the authors discuss the value of religion for prevention and promotion work in a number of areas including: preventing negative events, cognitive stress inoculation, competency building, and resource provision. Finally, some special challenges posed by prevention work in a religious context are briefly examined.
Diagnosis and management of pouchitis.

The disease pouchitis was first reported by Kock 1 in 1977 as an inflammatory condition of the continent ileal reservoir (Kock pouch) in patients who had undergone proctocolectomy. The Kock pouch was later replaced by the ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA, also known as the ileoanal pouch) which was independently described by Parks and Utsunomiya 2,3 in 1980. The ileoanal pouch is now the surgical option of choice in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and ulcerative colitis (UC) with either dysplasia or disease refractory to medical therapy. Pouchitis is the most common long-term complication of IPAA in UC. 4 This review discusses the diagnostic criteria, cause, and management of acute and chronic pouchitis.
Culture and the Future

Culture:. Problem That Cannot Be Solved. Charles W. Nuckolls. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1998. 301 pp. Culture as Given, Culture as Choice. Dirk van der Elst with Paul Bohannan. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press Inc., 1999. 236 pp. Culture: Beacon of the Future. D. Paul Schafer. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1998. 272 pp.
Causality in Economics and Econometrics

An entry for the New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Traces the history of causality in economics and econometrics since David Hume. Examines the main modern approaches to causal inference.
COMPARISON OF APPROXIMATE LINEAR METHODS FOR CONCRETE CREEP.

The approximate methods for prediction of structural effects of creep, such as the effective modulus (EMM), age-adjusted effective modulus (AEMM), rate of creep (RCM), rate of flow (RFM), and Levi's and Arutyunian's methods are all linear and satisfy the principle of superposition. Predictions of the approximate methods are compared with the exact numerical solutions based on the principle of superposition and given (undistorted) realistic unit creep curves. It is found that AEMM is in general superior to all other methods and along with EMM is also the simplest one. RFM (with effective modulus treatment of delayed elastic strain) appears as second best and should be resorted to when the table of aging coefficient required by AEMM is unavailable.
A novel cytokinin-resistant mutant of Arabidopsis with abbreviated shoot development

Cytokinins influence several fundamental processes of plant growth and development, including cell division and organogenesis. To identify genes involved in cytokinin response, a screen was carried out for mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. that are resistant to elevated levels of exogenous cytokinins. One such mutant was isolated and named cyr1. A cross to another Arabidopsis cytokinin-resistant mutant, ckr1 (Su and Howell 1992), indicated that the two mutants are not allelic.The recessive cyr1 mutation causes tenfold decreased sensitivity to benzyladenine in a root-elongation assay but does not confer resistance of roots to indole-3-acetic acid, the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, or abscisic acid. The mutant has increased sensitivity to abscisic acid. This mutation is apparently pleiotropic, giving rise to shoot abnormalities. The phenotype of the cyr1 shoot includes abbreviated development with reduction in cotyledon and leaf expansion, limited leaf production, reduced chlorophyll accumulation, failure to accumulate anthocyanins in response to cytokinins, and the formation of a single infertile flower. These traits, as well as root resistance to cytokinin, are all consistent with a defect in cytokinin action, and are probably due to mutation of a single gene. The cyr1 gene is located on chromosome 5, between 76.2 and 77.6 cM.
Loop detection in MPLS for wireless sensor networks

Abstract Very few technologies illustrate the fast rate of technological innovations more than wireless sensor networks. Sensor networks offer a virtual path capability to carry differentiated services efficiently across the wireless backbone. In this paper, we provide a new efficient strategy for loop detection in Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) for wireless networks—MPLS is a novel wireless networking topology that can be used to provide differentiated service, traffic engineering and quality of service in wireless networks.
FEA Study of Belt Angle Effect to Cornering Stiffness and Ply Steer

Performance of vehicle turn and lane change can be evaluated by cornering stiffness. One of many factors affecting the cornering stiffness is belt angle. In 1998, Koishi et al [1] published the findings of cornering stiffness when belt angle is at 0 and 20 degrees, using a finite element code PAM-SHOCK. Results from two cases only are not enough completing the parametric study. With better hardware and software available today than before, the same tire model is re-visited, using new form of numerical procedure — a mixed Eulerian/Langrangian formulation called steady state transport analysis in ABAQUS. Cornering stiffness at the range of 0 to 40 degree belt angle with 5 degree increment is calculated. The results show that three distinct regions exist. At Region I, in which the belt angle ranges from 0–10 degrees, the cornering stiffness increases as the belt angle increases. The cornering stiffness maximizes out and remains flat at Region II, when belt angle is between 10 to 25 degrees. Cornering stiffness decreases as the belt angle increases in Region III, where the belt angle is larger than 25 degree. The existence of Region II may explain the fact that manufacturers prefer around 20 degree belt angle for their tire designs: maximum cornering stiffness and its insensitivity to the belt angle variation. The plot of the predicted ply steer in this study agrees reasonably well with a published experimental data.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Design of a novel hydrogel-based intelligent system for controlled drug release.

Abstract The present work focused on the design of an assembled drug delivery system (DDS) to provide multifunctions, such as drug protection, self-regulated oscillatory release, and targeted uni-directional delivery by a bilayered self-folding gate and simple surface mucoadhesion. In this device, a pH-sensitive hydrogel together with a poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HEMA) barrier was used as a gate to control drug release. In addition, poly(HEMA) coated with poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(propylene oxide)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO–PPO–PEO) surfactant was utilized to enhance mucoadhesion on the device surface. The release profiles of two model drugs, acid orange 8 (AO8) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied in this assembled system, which compared with the conventional drug-entrapped carriers and enteric-coating systems. Furthermore, targeted uni-directional release was demonstrated in a side-by-side diffusion cell. In conclusion, for such an assembled device, the poly(HEMA) layer not only affects the folding direction but also serves as a barrier to protect the model drugs. The release time can be controlled by the thickness of the bilayered gate and the drug reservoir. Due to the reversible swelling behavior of poly(methyacrylic acid-g-ethylene glycol) (p(MAA-g-EG)) gels, the bilayered gate can sense the environmental pH change and achieve an oscillatory release pattern. Moreover, the local targeting and uni-directional release have been successfully demonstrated in vitro.
Clinically occult recurrent ovarian cancer: patient selection for secondary cytoreductive surgery using combined PET/CT

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of combined positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for identifying ovarian cancer tumor masses ≥1 cm in patients with clinically occult recurrent disease by conventional CT imaging. Methods Twenty-two patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, rising serum CA125 levels, and negative or equivocal conventional CT imaging ≥6 months after primary therapy underwent combined PET/CT imaging followed by surgical reassessment. Fisher's exact test was used to measure the ability of PET/CT to predict macroscopic disease ≥1 cm. Results The median patient age was 55 years, and 91% of patients had FIGO Stage IIIC/IV disease. The median increase in serum CA125 was 24 U/ml (range 10 to 330 U/ml). Conventional CT was reported as negative ( n = 15) or equivocal ( n = 7) in all cases. Eighteen patients were ultimately found to harbor recurrent ovarian cancer measuring ≥1 cm at the time of surgery, with a median maximal tumor diameter of 2.3 cm (range 1.5 to 3.2 cm). The overall patient-based accuracy of PET/CT in detecting recurrent disease ≥1 cm was 81.8%, with a sensitivity of 83.3% and positive predictive value of 93.8% ( P = 0.046). Of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer ≥1 cm, complete cytoreduction to no gross residual tumor was accomplished in 72.2%. Conclusion PET/CT imaging demonstrates high sensitivity and positive predictive value in identifying potentially resectable, macroscopic recurrent ovarian cancer among patients with biochemical evidence of recurrence and negative or equivocal conventional CT findings. In appropriately selected patients, early identification of macroscopic recurrent disease may facilitate complete surgical cytoreduction.
Quantitative assessment of a Senge learning organization intervention

Purpose – To quantitatively assess a Senge learning organization (LO) intervention to determine if it would result in improved employee satisfaction.Design/methodology/approach – A Senge LO intervention in Division 123 of Company ABC was undertaken in 2000. Three employee surveys using likert‐scale questions over five years and correlation analysis were used to compare the impacts in the division, and with the company.Findings – Employees in Division 123 accepted Senge's concepts more and had improved employee job satisfaction over those five years demonstrated by statistically significant gain scores and positive correlation results. However, the division's gain scores were not statistically better than the bank, and correlation analysis did not show a positive relationship between the intervention and job satisfaction compared to no intervention.Research limitations/implications – This research was limited by the survey questions used by the bank, by the difficult conditions in Division 123, and by the ...
Intestinal bacterial flora after total and partial colon resection.

Quantitative and qualitative stool and ileostomy effluent culture specimens were taken from 8 subjects with ileostomies, 8 with ileoproctostomies, 8 with transverse or descending colostomies, and 10 normal subjects. The specimens were cultured for total aerobes, anaerobes, coliforms,Streptococci, Lactobacilli andBacteroides. The predominant organisms cultured were from theBacteroides species in patients who had part of, or an intact colon. In subjects without any colon—ie, in those with an ileostomy—Bacteroides were recovered in significantly smaller numbers. The mean recovery ofBacteroides from the stools of normal subjects was 8.7±0.31 to log10 viable organisms/g of feces; from colostomy patients, 8.3±0.34; from ileoproctostomy patients, 6.8±0.39; and from ileostomy patients, 2.7±1.2.Bacteroides growth appears to be related to the amount of colonic tissue present, since recoveries are poor in patients with ileoproctostomies and still poorer in patients with ileostomies. The anal sphincter does not appear to be related to the predominance of anaerobic organisms, which predominate in patients with colostomies who do not have an anal sphincter.
The effect of estrogen on the concentration of bile cholesterol in the chicken

Previous work from this department has showa that estrogen, like dietary cholesterol, raises blood cholesterol levels in the chicken. Unlike cholesterol feeding, however, estrogens produce an even greater rise in blood phospholipids so that the cholesterolj phospholipid (CjP) ratio in the blood declines whereas in cholesterol feeding the CfP ratio rises l . Estrogens also have the remarkable effect of preventing coronary atherosclerosis in chickens usually induced by a high cholesterol-oil diet, and causing such induced lesions to disappear2 ,3. This effect is peculiar to the coronary vessels. In the aorta, estrogens do not appear to prevent or reverse the atherosclerotic process induced by a high cholesterol diet2, and actually can produce such lesions per se by raising blood cholesterol. However, high doses of estrogens produce ulceration of atheromatous plaques in the abdominal aorta and in the coronary vessels4• These estrogen effects may depend on the change in the distribution of the blood lipids as shown by the reversal of the C/P ratio and the a/ fJ lipoprotein rati057. Estrogen action also involves an effect via the reticulo-endothelial system in the chickens. This report deals with some preliminary observations which suggest that estrogens modify the concentration of bile cholesterol. The observations on bile cholesterol concentration were made during the course of developing a bile fistula technique in chickens.
Elder Self-Neglect Is Associated With Increased Risk for Elder Abuse in a Community-Dwelling Population: Findings From the Chicago Health and Aging Project

Objective: We examined the relationship between self-neglect and risk for subsequent elder abuse report to social services agency. Method: Population-based cohort study conducted Chicago. Primary p...
Clinician- and patient-reported long-term evaluation of screw- and cement-retained implant restorations: a 5-year prospective study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survival and success of screw- versus cement-retained implant crowns over a 5-year period. This was a multi-center prospective cohort study, consisting of patients who had ≥1 dental implant placed and restored in the anterior maxilla over a 5-year period. The primary predictor variable was the type of restoration (screw- versus cement-retained). The outcome variables were clinician- or patient-reported measures related to soft tissue and restoration quality. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed to compare the screw- versus cement-retained groups. Kaplan–Meier statistics were computed for implant survival. Information was collected for 102 patients who had 214 implants placed during the study period. Complete data, amenable to analysis, were available for 99 (97.1%) patients and 193 (90.2%) implants. The restorations were approximately evenly divided between screw- (53.4%) and cement-retained (46.6%). Approximately 49% of patients in the sample were female; the sample's mean age was 47.3 ± 13.9 years; each patient had an average of 2.0 ± 1.0 implants placed and restored. The mean time from prosthesis placement (definitive) to study endpoint was 61.9 ± 10.6 months. The overall implant survival rate was 96.4%, with no statistically significant difference in survival between the screw- and cement-retained groups (p = 0.45). The majority of clinician- and patient-assessed outcomes were similar. The results of this study indicate that for the majority of clinician- and patient-assessed success parameters screw- and cement-retained restorations are equivalent in the anterior maxilla.
Three-Dimensional Simulations of Overflows on Continental Slopes

Abstract Three-dimensional features and instabilities of dense overflows from marginal seas onto continental slopes are investigated using a three-dimensional, primitive equation numerical ocean model. The numerical simulations reveal important instability and three-dimensional features of the overflow plumes that have not been included in previous simulations with a one-dimensional streamtube model and a two-dimensional plume model. It is shown that the large primary plume breaks into a number of smaller subplumes on the offshore side of the plume due to instabilities manifested as growing topographic Rossby waves over the slope. The observed high temporal and spatial variabilities in the Denmark Strait overflow could be caused by the inherent dynamic instabilities as revealed by the numerical simulations. The simulations indicate that the initial overflow velocity and width, the properties of the source water, the planetary rotation, and the slope steepness play major roles in determining the scales of ...
Properties Of Photographic Films Related To Information Recovery

The great variety of demands upon photographic science have stimulated the development of many new photographic processes. It would be nearly impossible to describe the characteristics of all of these systems of photography. As it happens, they all have certain kinds of measurable characteristics in common. Let us consider the general kinds of characteristics that are important for information recovery.© (1969) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.