cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contraceptive Decision Making Among Medicaid-eligible Women

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of sociodemographic factors, attitudes, knowledge, and experiences regarding the use of various contraceptive methods, future plans prenatally, and actual use postpartum among a population of low income pregnant women. Women were interviewed prenatally and during the postpartum period in a large, urban academic health center serving primarily an indigent population. The primary analytic method employed was logistic regression. The key finding in this study is that women are not consistently using the method of contraception postpartum that they planned during the prenatal period. Only 54.7% of the women planning to use oral contraceptive pills were using them postpartum, and only 31.3% of the women planning to use condoms were actually using them postpartum. Expanding contraceptive education and counseling throughout the perinatal period may assist women's decision making.
Community Partners and Early Childhood Music

In this column, I share the experience of learning about community partnerships in early childhood in my region and consider how music educators might play a role in a range of outreach services to...
Utilization of Health Care and Burden of Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure in Zimbabwe : Results from a National Household Survey

In the last decade, Zimbabwe has undertaken substantial changes and implemented new initiatives to improve health system performance and services delivery, including results-based financing in rura...
Assessment of social cognition

Abstract Cognition has emerged as a consistent, and perhaps the strongest, predictor of the everyday deficits in individuals living with schizophrenia. Efforts to understand the relationship between cognition and functional outcomes in schizophrenia have primarily focused on neurocognition. Nearly three-quarters of individuals with schizophrenia perform below the general population on important neurocognitive domains such as processing speed, attention, learning, problem-solving, and working memory. Recently, social cognition has emerged as a critical research area. Evidence suggests that social cognition explains unique variance in real-world outcomes, and appears to be a stronger predictor of social outcomes (i.e., interpersonal relationships and other socially focused behaviors) than neurocognitive ability. Importantly, treating social cognitive deficits leads to improvements in real-world social outcomes, including social adjustment, social functioning, social relationships, aggressive incidents, and social skills.
Empowering early career female gastroenterologists and hepatologists.

Women physicians in gastroenterology and hepatology face unique challenges during their early careers, including implicit biases borne of ingrained gender stereotypes and the imposter syndrome. Addressing perceived biases and promoting leadership at the trainee level is crucial to improving female representation in gastroenterology and hepatology.
Visceral adipose tissue in patients with COVID-19: risk stratification for severity.

To assess visceral (VAT), subcutaneous (SAT), and total adipose tissue (TAT) estimates at abdominopelvic CT in COVID-19 patients with different severity, and analyze Body Mass Index (BMI) and CT estimates of fat content in patients requiring hospitalization. In this retrospective IRB approved HIPPA compliant study, 51 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection with abdominopelvic CT were included. Patients were stratified based on disease severity as outpatient (no hospital admission) and patients who were hospitalized. Subset of hospitalized patient required mechanical ventilation (MV). A radiologist blinded to the clinical outcome evaluated single axial slice on CT at L3 vertebral body for VATL3, SATL3, TATL3, and VAT/TATL3. These measures along with age, gender, and BMI were compared. A clinical model that included age, sex, and BMI was compared to clinical + CT model that also included VATL3 to discriminate hospitalized patients from outpatients. There were ten outpatients and 41 hospitalized patients. 11 hospitalized patients required MV. There were no significant differences in age and BMI between the hospitalized and outpatients (all p > 0.05). There was significantly higher VATL3 and VAT/TATL3 in hospitalized patients compared to the outpatients (all p < 0.05). Area under the curve (AUC) of the clinical + CT model was higher compared to the clinical model (AUC 0.847 versus 0.750) for identifying patients requiring hospitalization. Higher VATL3 was observed in COVID-19 patients that required hospitalization compared to the outpatients, and addition of VATL3 to the clinical model improved AUC in discriminating hospitalized from outpatients in this preliminary study.
Exploring controls on halogen and methane occurrence in groundwater of New York State

Abstract The expansion of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) by means of horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing has been accompanied by concerns regarding the potential impacts to water resources and public health. The ban on UOGD in New York State (NYS) allows the natural processes that control groundwater chemistry and dissolved methane to be evaluated without complications that could arise in regions impacted by prior unconventional shale gas development. We evaluated the controls on the occurrence and spatial variability of methane, chloride, bromine, and iodine, covering much of NYS and encompassing a range of underlying bedrock geologies. Groundwater samples were collected from 108 domestic and public supply wells. Methane concentrations in groundwater ranged from
Frame Restructuration: The Making of an Alternative Business Incubator amid Detroit’s Crisis:

Adaptive responses to crisis rely on effective cognitive frames: understanding what is going on amid unfolding crisis and what should be done to address it. Research has shown that failing to drop ...
'Othering' and the Law

The premise of this Article is that an underlying attitude of “othering” pervades current discussions about what the law should and should not do to address the conditions and needs of various categories of persons. Although we do not necessarily acknowledge it, the fact that our discussions proceed from a view of the people whose situations or problems being discussed as “other” makes a difference to how we evaluate various public policy initiatives. The Article is not an effort to engage in a detailed discussion or resolution of any particular question of law and public policy. Instead its focus is the attitude of othering – where it proceeds from, how religion, law and culture promote it, and how the law might help move us beyond it. It begins by articulating a view of the human person and human relations derived from Catholic social thought, a view that is very much at odds with othering and that I argue should be the foundation of our legal system. It then discusses both the prevalence of othering and the forces that promote it, including religion, culture and the law. After talking about how othering infect public policy debates, the Article addresses the question of how the law might move us from an attitude of othering to the vision drawn from Catholic social thought.
Experimental investigation of a heavy-duty natural gas engine performance operated at stoichiometric and lean operations

Abstract There is a need for decarbonization in power generation and transportation. Natural gas can replace conventional petroleum fuels due to its low carbon-to-hydrogen ratio, especially in existing diesel engines. This paper was based on the hypothesis that “ideal” natural gas engines would operate both stoichiometric and lean, as needed. Therefore, the need to identify the effect of leaning the mixture on several parameters not usually shown in the literature. This paper compared the performance and emissions of a heavy-duty diesel engine converted to natural gas spark ignition operation under stoichiometric (equivalence ratio, ϕ = 1.0) and lean (ϕ = 0.8) operation. The original cylinder head and piston were maintained, and no exhaust gas recirculation was used. The results showed that lean operation decreased peak cylinder pressure and maximum pressure rise rate by 10–15% and 1 bar/°CA, respectively, and increased the volumetric efficiency from ~72% to ~74%. While it also increased the ignition lag, which translated in up to 5°CA delay in the location of peak pressure and crank angle associated with 50% of energy release at the same spark timing and a ~ 5°CA advance in the location of maximum indicated mean effective pressure, it had a negligible effect on the combustion duration due to distinguishing characteristics of gas and flame motion in the bowl-in-piston chamber. Lean operation increased unburned hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxides emissions by up to 15% and 300%, respectively, and carbon monoxide emissions were ~ 20× lower. Lean operation improved indicated thermal efficiency by two percentage points due to a 15% decrease in the heat losses but decreased the exhaust temperature by ~ 50 °C, which would affect the aftertreatment performance. Stoichiometric operation reduced the combustion fluctuations. However, the increased turbulence inside the “fast-burn” bowl-in-piston chamber compensated for the lower natural gas flame speed, with a variation of the indicated mean effective pressure below 2.5% even at ϕ = 0.8. Finally, important differences were observed compared to a traditional spark ignition engine. For example, diesel engine conversation increased nitrogen oxides emissions under lean burn but lowered unburned hydrocarbon and carbon oxide emissions when retarding spark timing from the optimum value. These findings suggest that more studies are needed to better understand the optimization of dedicated natural gas engines converted from diesel, under both lean and stoichiometric operations.
Finite Volume Approximations for Elliptic Variational Inequalities

This chapter is aimed at providing a systematic treatment of the finite volume method (often also called box method) as a discretization method for the numerical solution of interior and boundary obstacle problems of elliptic type with mixed boundary conditions (Dirichlet, Neumann, Newton) in two and three space dimensions. The investigations will be done in a variational (finite element) framework. Therefore, besides the direct study of the finite volume approximation (solvability, stability, maximum principle, error analysis, penalization methods for their solution) also a detailed comparison with a (piecewise linear) finite element approximation will be performed.
Design of TiO _{2} nanotube based X-ray tube with single focusing electrode.

We studied in details the effect of various X-ray tube parameters (cathode size, anode size, anode - lens distance, etc.) on TiO _{2} nanotube field emission electron-beam focal spot size (FSS) and lens voltages for a single electrode lens system. The simulations were performed using commercially available SIMION 8.1 software. A wide range of parameters was simulated to determine conditions when FSS and lens focusing voltage had minimum values. In particular, the dependence of FSS and lens voltages on cathode size ( d_{S} ) was studied for different size lens apertures ( d_{L} ) and different anode voltages. The cathode size d_{S} was varied in the range from 0.1 mm to d_{L} ; the d_{L} was changed from 4 to 24 mm in 4 mm increments. The simulations were performed for two different V_{A} values 60 kV and 120 kV. It was found that for 20 mm and 24 mm diameter lens apertures the maximum cathode size when the resulting FSS was not greater than 1600 μm (the focal spot size in clinical X-ray CT) were 17.5 mm and 16.2 mm, respectively. The lens voltages V_{f} corresponding to 17.5 mm and 16.2 mm cathode size in 20 mm and 24 mm aperture diameter x-ray tubes are 1850 V and -1550 V, respectively.
Turbocharging neurons for growth: accelerating regeneration in the adult CNS

Mature central neurons lose their capacity for axon growth, but overexpression of growth-associated proteins restores this potential, which may support spinal cord regeneration.
Nucleotide variation at the Gpdh locus in the genus Drosophila.

The Gpdh locus was sequenced in a broad range of Drosophila species. In contrast to the extreme evolutionary constraint seen at the amino acid level, the synonymous sites evolve at rates comparable to those of other genes. Gpdh nucleotide sequences were used to infer a phylogenetic tree, and the relationships among the species of the obscura group were examined in detail. A survey of nucleotide polymorphism within D. pseudoobscura revealed no amino acid variation in this species. Applying a modified McDonald-Kreitman test, the amino acid divergence between species in the obscura group does not appear to be excessive, implying that drift is adequate to explain the patterns of amino acid change at this locus. In addition, the level of polymorphism at the Gpdh locus in D. pseudoobscura is comparable to that found at other loci, as determined by a Hudson-Kreitman-Aguade test. Thus, the pattern of nucleotide variation within and between species at the Gpdh locus is consistent with a neutral model.
Alterations in metal content of spores of Bacillus megaterium and the effect on some spore properties.

The relation of metal ions to bacterial spores has almost invariably been studied from the standpoint of the influence of their presence or absence during bacterial growth upon the degree of subsequent sporulation of the cultures (for literature see Curran, 1957; Grelet, 1957). Information on the participation of metal ions in the sporulation process and on their incorporation in spores deals mainly with calcium (Powell and Strange, 1956; Vintner, 1956, 1957), originating with the Curran et al. (1943) discovery of the high concentration of calcium in the spores of various aerobic bacilli as compared to the vegetative cells. Vintner's (1956, 1957) experiments with "defective" spores suggest that a high calcium content is essential for formation of normal spores. Calcium deficiency leads to reduced spore formation and to a lowered heat resistance of the spores formed (Grelet, 1952; Sugiyama, 1951). This information, together with the high calcium content of normal spores and the excretion of calcium dipicolinate during germination (Powell and Strange, 1953), has led to the belief that calcium is rather specifically associated with the acquisition of heat resistance in bacterial spores. The metal chelating properties of dipicolinic acid (Powell, 1957) might account for the exceptional accumulation of calcium by spores. However, in view of the fact that dipicolinic acid chelates bivalent cations nonspecifically
Metabolic Regulation of Steroidogenesis in Adrenocortical Carcinoma Cells of Rat

The effect of adrenocorticotropin and cyclic AMP on the transformation of pregnenolone to corticosterone has been studied in adrenocortical carcinoma and isolated normal adrenal cells of rat. This has been carried out using both chemical and double labeling techniques. Adrenocorticotropin or cyclic AMP did not shown any effect on the corticosteroidogenesis produced from pregnenolone in the isolated adrenal cells whereas the synthesis of deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone was inhibited by adrenocorticotropin in adrenal tumor cells. A similar inhibitory effect of adrenocorticotropin was observed when progesterone was used as a precursor for corticosteroidogenesis in tumor cells but the incorporation of deoxycorticosterone into corticosterone was not inhibited by this substance. These studies, therefore, suggest that the site of inhibition of adrenocorticotropin on corticosterone synthesis in the tumor lies between progesterone and deoxycorticosterone. Cyclic AMP also inhibited the synthesis of corticosterone from pregnenolone but no inhibition of deoxycorticosterone synthesis was observed. Similar results were obtained with N6,2′-O-dibutyryl adenosine 3′: 5′-monophosphate. It is suggested that the mechanism of inhibition of Corticosteroidogenesis by adrenocorticotropin in the tumor may be different from that of cyclic AMP.
Issues in designing and conducting randomized human service trials : Lessons from the field

ABSTRACT This paper discusses issues in designing and implementing randomized human service trials. Maintenance of the scientific rigor of these interventions often requires a good deal of creativity and anticipation of potential problems. These issues are defined by the experience of the author in designing, implementing and reviewing grant applications for random human service trials. Suggestions for addressing these issues are offered.
Limited diversity of the rearranged T-cell γ gene

The immunoglobulin-related, T-cell specific gamma gene is rearranged in a wide variety of murine T lymphocytes. We detected gamma-gene transcripts in all cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes examined but in only 1 of 11 T-helper cell lines or hybridomas. Although in cytotoxic T cells, the rearranged gamma gene seems to have been assembled from the same germ-line variable and joining gene segments, the transcribed gene exhibited distinct sequence diversity near the junction between these segments.
Infrared Excess (IRE) as an Indicator of PN Distance

The VLA observations presented by Pottasch et al. (1988, A&A 205, 248) and Ratag et al. (1990, A&A 233, 181) demonstrate that IRE (Pottasch et al. 1984, A&A 138, 10) correlates very well with F(6 cm) for the Galactic center PN, especially when IRE is large The correlation (see figure) can be approximated by: $$ IRE = 0.0294 + \frac{{64.78}}{{F(6cm)}} + \frac{{321}}{{F{{(6cm)}^2}}} + \frac{{195.96}}{{F{{(6cm)}^3}}}$$
Identification of differentially expressed genes in a resistant versus a susceptible blueberry cultivar after infection by Colletotrichum acutatum.

Anthracnose fruit rot, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum acutatum, is an important disease of blueberry worldwide. The cultivar Elliott is resistant, severely restricting fungal growth and sporulation relative to the susceptible cultivar Jersey. The objectives of this research were as follows: (i) to analyse pre-penetration events in 'Elliott' and 'Jersey' at different stages of fruit development; (ii) to identify putative defence genes in 'Elliott' fruit; and (iii) to monitor the timing of the oxidative burst in both cultivars. Light microscopy revealed no differences in the pre-penetration activities of C. acutatum on the immature fruit of both cultivars. However, at fruit ripening, conidia germinated and formed appressoria more rapidly on 'Jersey' than on 'Elliott' fruit. Using suppression subtractive hybridization, 37 differentially expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were detected in 'Elliott' versus 'Jersey' upon infection. Several of the ESTs had homology to known plant defence genes, such as a class II chitinase, pathogenesis-related protein 10 (PR10) and β-1,3-glucanase. Two putative genes involved in oxidative stress were identified: a metallothionein-like protein and monodehydroascorbate reductase. ESTs of fungal origin were also detected. Many ESTs had no homology to known genes. Using semi-quantitative and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the expression of most of the candidate genes was detected earlier in 'Elliott' than in 'Jersey', some within 24 h post inoculation (hpi). Monitoring of the oxidative burst showed that the overall H(2) O(2) concentration was two to three times higher in 'Elliott' than in 'Jersey' at 24 hpi. The elucidation of the basis of resistance to C. acutatum in blueberry will facilitate the development of new anthracnose fruit rot-resistant cultivars.
The Nutrition Consult for Recurrent Stone Formers

Diet is implicated in stone formation and growth. Whether alone or in concert with pharmacologics, dietary changes may be useful in reducing recurrence but only when they correct dietary stone-forming risks. Patients benefit from recommendations individualized to their food preferences as well as to lifestyle, age, food knowledge and access, preparation skills, and cultural and ethnic identities. Urologists can provide general dietary recommendations but often lack the time to provide the full complement of individualized nutrition care offered by a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). Urologists can partner with and refer patients to a RDN for any component of the nutrition care process: assessment of diet, diagnosis of dietary factors that contribute to stone risk factors, intervention formulation and implementation, and monitoring the effectiveness of the intervention and modifying it as needed to maintain suitably low dietary risk for stone recurrence.
Micromorphometry and cellular characteristics of the canine cervical intervertebral discs.

Background: Dogs have a high prevalence of disc-associated cervical spinal cord disorders. Despite this, there are no descriptions of the micromorphometry or cellular characteristics of canine cervical intervertebral discs. Hypothesis/Objectives: To compare micromorphometric and cellular characteristics at 4 disc regions (outer annulus [OA], inner annulus [IA], transitional zone [TZ], nucleus pulposus [NP]). We hypothesized that measurements would differ between chondrodystrophic (CH) and nonchondrodystrophic (NCH) dogs. Animals: Six CH dogs and 6 NCH dogs, under 3 years old. Methods: Histologic sections of all cervical discs from each dog were examined. Micromorphometric variables included relative ratio of ventral to dorsal annulus fibrosus (AF), number and mean width of AF fibers, and relative percentage of NP. Cellular variables included cell density, morphology, and grouping. Results: The NP from CH dogs was smaller, more rounded, and more dorsally located compared with that from NCH dogs. The NP occupied a greater proportion of the disc in NCH dogs compared with CH dogs (27.7 versus 15.8%; P < .001). The ratio of ventral to dorsal AF was approximately 3 : 1 in the CH group and 2 : 1 in the NCH group. Cellular variables were region dependent. Cell density was 2.4-fold higher in the OA compared with the NP. Approximately 50 of NP cells and 4.5% of OA cells occurred in groups. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Micromorphometric variables differed by CH status. Cellular variables differed by disc region. Our findings potentially can explain the high incidence of intervertebral disc extrusions in CH dogs compared with NCH dogs.
Dissociating the role of the medial and lateral anterior prefrontal cortex in human planning

The anterior prefrontal cortex is known to subserve higher cognitive functions such as task management and planning. Less is known, however, about the functional specialization of this cortical region in humans. Using functional MRI, we report a double dissociation: the medial anterior prefrontal cortex, in association with the ventral striatum, was engaged preferentially when subjects executed tasks in sequences that were expected, whereas the polar prefrontal cortex, in association with the dorsolateral striatum, was involved preferentially when subjects performed tasks in sequences that were contingent on unpredictable events. These results parallel the functional segregation previously described between the medial and lateral premotor cortex underlying planned and contingent motor control and extend this division to the anterior prefrontal cortex, when task management and planning are required. Thus, our findings support the assumption that common frontal organizational principles underlie motor and higher executive functions in humans.
Motivational interaction between living systems

The concept of motivation applies not only to animal organisms, but also to other levels of living systems as well. Indeed, any two living systems, such as a psychologist and a pigeon or a business firm and an employee, may be seen as interacting in order to motivate each other. Motivational influence, far from being unidirectional as it is often pictured, is usually reciprocal both simultaneously and serially. Furthermore, such interaction subjects motivation to a variety of influences that cause it to shift in intensity and direction. In this paper Tracy's (1984) dynamic living-systems model of motivation is extended to show the motivational interaction of two interdependent systems. By realizing the interactional nature of motivation, managers and others who are concerned with motivating behavior may be able to do a better job of it. Motivational research should gain friom measuring the effects of interaction on all parties, not just the “subject”.
What is the malignant nature of human ductal carcinoma in situ

Invasive, genetically abnormal carcinoma progenitor cells have been propagated from human and mouse breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions, providing new insights into breast cancer progression. The survival of DCIS cells in the hypoxic, nutrient-deprived intraductal niche could promote genetic instability and the derepression of the invasive phenotype. Understanding potential survival mechanisms, such as autophagy, that might be functioning in DCIS lesions provides strategies for arresting invasion at the pre-malignant stage. A new, open trial of neoadjuvant therapy for patients with DCIS constitutes a model for testing investigational agents that target malignant progenitor cells in the intraductal niche.
Controlled Chemical and Structural Properties of Mixed Self-Assembled Monolayers by Coadsorption of Symmetric and Asymmetric Disulfides on Au(111)

We present a new method of controlling nanoscale structures of mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on atomically flat Au(111) surfaces by coadsorption from a solution containing asymmetric and symmetric disulfides. Our results showed that the mixed disulfides formed homogeneous SAMs, whereas the mixed thiols with similar surface compositions led to phase segregation on the Au(111) surfaces. The disulfides were chosen so as to produce the same surface thiolates as the thiols. Nanoscale phase segregated domains were characterized and identified by atomic force/friction force microscopy (AFM/FFM). Preferential adsorption of the mixed SAMs was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). There was less preferential adsorption and phase segregation of the mixed SAMs prepared by disulfides than thiols. The possible mechanism of the formation of the uniform mixed SAMs by coadsorption of symmetric and asymmetric disulfides is discussed.
Rationale and radiopharmaceuticals for myocardial imaging

Static radionuclide imaging procedures are now available for evaluating regional myocardial perfusion and for detecting acute myocardial infarction. Thallium-201, a radiopharmaceutical that possesses many of the characteristics of potassium analogues, at present is receiving the greatest attention as a regional blood flow indicator. Ischemic lesions appear as areas of decreased tracer uptake. Unfortunately, this agent is expensive, is in limited supply, and has a photopeak that is low for optimum imaging. Positive infarct images can be obtained with various Technetium-99m chelates. Pyrophosphate appears to be the best of the technetium compounds studied to date, although the mechanism of uptake of the chelates has not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, quantitative measurements of infarct size are not justified. As perfusion imaging and infarct imaging provide useful, complementary data, a dual tracer approach to evaluating patients with suspected coronary artery disease and/or myocardial infarction, is probably justifiable.
Integration of coherent optical OFDM with WDM

This paper proposes a system design that integrates CO-OFDM with WDM to reach a data rate of 400 Gbits/s over 1000 Km Single Mode Fiber (SMF). The 400 Gbits/s signal is generated by multiplexing eight OFDM with 50 Gbits/s for each OFDM. We present the performance of CO- OFDM WDM back to back design by measuring the BER and the OSNR (Optical Signal to Noise Ratio) and the constellation diagram of each user. We will also show the performance of CO-OFDM WDM for 1000 Km SMF by measuring the BER and the OSNR of different WDM channels and studying the constellation diagram of each user.
Phosphopeptides and γ-carboxyglutamic acid-containing peptides in calcified turkey tendon: Their absence in uncalcified tendon

Uncalcified samples of turkey tendon obtained prior to calcification, and other samples from areas of tendon that never calcify, contain little or no 0-phosphoserine [Ser(P)], 0-phosphothreonine [Thr(P)] and γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla). Significant amounts of all three of these Ca2+-binding amino acids, which are found in EDTA-extractable, non-collagenous proteins, are detected coincident with the onset of mineralization of a tendon and increase in concentration as mineralization proceeds.
Reliability analysis of wireless sensor networks using different network topology characteristics

This paper investigates the relationships between infrastructure communication reliability (ICR) of wireless sensor networks (WSN) and different network topology characteristics including connectivity, average path length, average degree, diameter, and clustering coefficient. Based on the binary decision diagrams (BDD)-based method, the ICR of WSN modeled using connected graphs are evaluated. In particular, all five-node connected graphs are studied and their reliability results are compared and discussed.
MPOA flow classification design and analysis based on neural network technique

In this paper, we develop a framework for the flow classification (FC) design and performance analysis of multi-protocol over ATM (MPOA) network. We propose an FC algorithm, which substantially reduces the implementation complexity while achieving the same level of performance as compared to the default FC algorithm proposed by MPOA standard. We further design an adaptive, self-learning system to achieve a near-optimal flow cache table management in terms of performance gain. The self-learning system is then used for the performance analysis of MPOA. The simulation study based on the real Internet/Intranet traces shows that MPOA can offer significant performance gain in an inter-ELAN environment.
3D simulation of the wind of the magnetic massive star θ21 Ori C

The oblique magnetic rotator θ1 Ori C (O5.5 V) is a source of hard X-ray emitting plasma in its circumstellar environment. Here we report preliminary results of the first 3D fully dynamic MHD simulation model of this star. Our numerical models can explain both the hardness and the location of the X-ray emission from this star confirming that magnetically confined wind shock (MCWS) is the dominating mechanism for hard Xrays in some massive stars.
Valuations for spike train prediction

The ultimate product of an electrophysiology experiment is often a decision on which biological hypothesis or model best explains the observed data. We outline a paradigm designed for comparison of different models, which we refer to as spike train prediction. A key ingredient of this paradigm is a prediction quality valuation that estimates how close a predicted conditional intensity function is to an actual observed spike train. Although a valuation based on log likelihood (L) is most natural, it has various complications in this context. We propose that a quadratic valuation (Q) can be used as an alternative to L. Q shares some important theoretical properties with L, including consistency, and the two valuations perform similarly on simulated and experimental data. Moreover, Q is more robust than L, and optimization with Q can dramatically improve computational efficiency. We illustrate the utility of Q for comparing models of peer prediction, where it can be computed directly from cross-correlograms. Although Q does not have a straightforward probabilistic interpretation, Q is essentially given by Euclidean distance.
Nuclear uptake of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in developing rodent teeth: an autoradiographic study.

Target cells for 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 metabolites are identified in developing rodent teeth by the use of thaw-mount autoradiography. Following the injection of [26, 27-3H]-1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 into 18-day- and 20-day-old fetal rats and neonatal mice, nuclear concentration of radioactivity is found in different cell types. In incisors of both animal groups, strong nuclear labeling is present predominantly in pulp cells, while relatively weakly labeled cells are found in the layers of odontoblasts, ameloblasts, and stratum intermedium. In molars, nuclear labeling is absent in fetal rats, but is present in 2-day-old neonates in pulp cells and cells in the layers of stratum intermedium of the first molars, but not in the second molars. The absence of labeled pulp cells in the progenitor regions of incisors and in molars of 20-day-old fetal rats, and differential ontogenic appearance of labeled pulp cells in molars, indicates that there is a critical period of receptor emergence. The finding that labeled pulp cells exist in the regions of incisors and molars where secretory odontoblasts are present suggests that nuclear uptake of 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 is related to cell maturation and differentiation, and topographically related to the formation of dentin. The results further suggest that, in contrast to bone, the predominant effect of 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 is not on tooth cells which are directly involved in the formation of calcified tissue, i.e., ameloblasts and odontoblasts, but rather on supporting tissues such as pulp cells and stratum intermedium.
Untangling two questions about mental representation

Abstract In their efforts to provide a naturalistic account of mental representation, both cognitive researchers and philosophers have failed to properly address an important distinction between two core dimensions of representation: the functional role of representing on the one hand, and the content associated with that role on the other hand. Instead, accounts of representation tend to either conflate these two or ignore the functional role aspect altogether. Here it is argued that by properly separating these two dimensions, we can gain a better understanding of the actual challenge we confront in explaining mental representation. Moreover, it is suggested that certain theories that have traditionally been viewed as competing accounts of representation should instead be treated as complementary accounts of these different dimensions. It is shown that by adopting this perspective, we can overcome certain traditional problems and also improve our understanding of empirical models of cognition, such as those that invoke cognitive maps in the hippocampus of animal brains.
Specification of contractual obligations in formal business communication

Abstract Formal business communication is a process-oriented (vs. document-oriented) environment for digital interoorganizational business transactions. They improve efficiency and effectiveness of business communications and often provide strategic advantages. Thanks to the current advances in information and telecommunications technologies, the development of formal business communication systems plays one of the key roles in the establishment of digital commerce, or virtual organizational business transaction platform. This paper proposes a logic of relativized deontic modalities as a component of digital commerce systems. The logic of relativized deontic modalities provides syntactic and semantic treatment for such notions of duty in the context of formal business communications. Also addressed are the practical issue of conflicts of duties and their resolution based on defeasibility reasoning, and the dynamic aspect of contractual obligations including delegation of duties and assignment of rights. Finally, we suggest augmentation of the CASE/Open-EDI system with the proposed logic of contractual obligations.
Normalization of Doppler indices of diastolic dysfunction during pacing is a sign of ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Abstract Twenty-three patients with angina who were undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization underwent cardiac pacing with simultaneous hemodynamic and Doppler echocardiographic evaluation to assess the effects of pacing-induced ischemia on mitral valve inflow velocity. Seventeen patients had significant coronary artery disease, and six patients had normal coronary arteries. Doppler and hemodynamic measurements were performed at rest and immediately after pacing was discontinued to 91% ± 7% of maximal predicted heart rate. Seven patients experienced new or significant increases in severity of mitral regurgitation after pacing as revealed by Doppler examination. This group had a significant increase ( p = 0.007) in early but not in late peak filling velocities immediately after pacing was discontinued, with a resultant decrease in late to early ratios, which decreased from 1.01% ± 0.12 to 0.70% ± 0.19 ( p = 0.006). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure increased significantly from 16.7% ± 6.8 mm Hg to 29.4% ± 5.3 mm Hg after cardiac pacing ( p p
Longitudinal Splitting of Boron Nitride Nanotubes for the Facile Synthesis of High Quality Boron Nitride Nanoribbons

Boron nitride nanoribbons (BNNRs), the boron nitride structural equivalent of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), are predicted to possess unique electronic and magnetic properties. We report the synthesis of BNNRs through the potassium-intercalation-induced longitudinal splitting of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). This facile, scalable synthesis results in narrow (down to 20 nm), few sheet (typically 2–10), high crystallinity BNNRs with very uniform widths. The BNNRs are at least 1 μm in length with minimal defects within the ribbon plane and along the ribbon edges.
Constraining earthquake source inversions with GPS data: 2. A two-step approach to combine seismic and geodetic data sets

[1] We present a new method to combine static and wavefield data to image earthquake ruptures. Our combined inversion is a two-step procedure, following the work of Hernandez et al. (1999), and takes into account the differences between the resolutions of the two data sets. The first step consists of an inversion of the static field, which yields a map of slip amplitude. This inversion exploits a special irregular grid that takes into account the resolution of the static data. The second step is an inversion of the radiated wavefield; it results in the determination of the time evolution of slip on the fault. In the second step, the slip amplitude is constrained to resemble the static slip amplitude map inferred from the GPS inversion. Using this combined inversion, we study the source process of the 2004 M6 Parkfield, California, earthquake. We conclude that slip occurred in two main regions of the fault, each of which displayed distinct rupture behaviors. Slip initiated at the hypocenter with a very strong bilateral burst of energy. Here, slip was localized in a narrow area approximately 10 km long, the rupture velocity was very fast (≥3.5 km/s), and slip only lasted a short period of time (<1 s). Then the rupture proceeded to a wider region 12–20 km northwest of the hypocenter. Here, the earthquake developed in a more moderated way: the rupture velocity slowed to ∼3.0 km/s and slip lasted longer (1–2 s). The maximum slip amplitude was 0.45 m.
Cell-Associated Hemolysis Induced by Helicobacter pylori Is Mediated by Phospholipases with Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Activating Properties

Pathogenic Helicobacter pylori strains can selectively activate epithelial mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways linked with disease. We now demonstrate that H. pylori-induced hemolysis is strain specific and is mediated by phospholipases PldA1 and PldD. Inactivation of PldD inhibited activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), indicating that H. pylori hemolytic phospholipases also harbor MAPK-activating properties.
On distinguishing the behavior of nuclear and non‐nuclear allies in NATO

This paper views an alliance arsenal as producing joint outputs that vary in their degree of publicness. The purpose here is to subject the joint product model of alliance behavior to a direct test by the use of time series data that distinguish between strategic and non‐strategic (i.e. conventional and tactical) expenditure in the NATO alliance during the era of the doctrine of flexible response, 1970–1985. In particular, we estimate demand for military expenditure equations for a sample of seven non‐nuclear allies and the three nuclear allies, using gross domestic product, strategic spillins and conventional spillins as independent variables. Free‐riding behavior is seen to apply to purely public strategic spillins but not to conventional spillins, which have private and impure public benefits. Our methodology can be applied to a wide range of public good situations.
PO-0524 Neonatal Systemic Candidiasis: A 12-year Study

Background Invasive Candida species have become a common cause of late-onset sepsis in neonatal intensive care units. Significant risk factors include low birth weight, exposure to broad spectrum antibiotics, parenteral nutrition, lipid emulsion, central venous catheter and abdominal surgery. Material and method We performed a retrospective study over a period of 12 years (Jan 2002 to Jan 2014) in our hospital NICU. The aims of this study were to investigate the incidence of the systemic candidiasis, mortality rate, the implicated Candida strains, specific risk factors and antifungal treatment. Results All of our cases were outpatients. The average incidence of systemic candidiasis was 5.8% (111 cases) with a specific average mortality of 28%. In 96 cases (86.5%) not albicans Candida species were identified. 83 patients (74.7%) underwent abdominal surgery interventions; from these 42 had malformations of digestive tract and 16 presented abdominal wall defects. 12 operated patients remained with temporary ileostomies, 5 had colostomies and 4 cases associated short bowel syndrome. Also 23 (20.7%) were premature with birth weight under 1500 g; 25 cases presented also a bacterial sepsis. The antifungal therapy consisted of Fluconazol iv during the period 2002–2006; starting 2007 we used mainly Caspofungin iv. Also, starting 2011 all the patients with risk factors received oral prophylaxis with Nistatin. Conclusions Neonatal sepsis with Candida species still has a high rate of mortality and morbidity mainly linked of specific risk factors and other severe illnesses. Thereof more randomised trials regarding both oral and iv prophylaxis are needed.
Direct Observation of Road Construction Worker Behavior

Many construction workers are paid with public dollars and typically earn large salaries within the manual labor workforce. The present study used a momentary time sampling procedure to directly observe the proportion of road construction workers engaged in work-related behavior and compared the observation to repeated observations of one worksite. Both observations suggested that a small number of highway workers may be performing work tasks at any time, suggesting a need for behavior analysts to devise more effective work-related contingencies to ensure taxpayers receive more return on their investment.
Parents and Siblings As Early Resources for Young Children's Learning in Mexican-Descent Families.

This study explored the ways in which both parents and older siblings are important resources for young children 's learning in the home context. Parents from 50 Mexicandescent families were interviewed in their homes and were asked questions regarding the kinds of causal questions their children ask, and the different skills their children learn from one another. Parents reported that their children ask questions about complex phenomena in important domains such as biology, physics, and behavior; and parents generally feel good about, and encourage, these questions. Parents also indicated that their children learn different skills from one another; younger siblings learn mostly academic skills from older siblings, and older siblings learn mostly social skills from younger siblings. Both children are reported to learn mostly through observation and imitation of one another Findings are discussed in relation to the issues of "match" between homes and schools as complementary contexts for young children's l...
BASIDIOSPORES, PILOCYSTIDIA, AND OTHER BASIDIOCARP CHARACTERS IN SEVERAL SPECIES OF THE GANODERMA LUCIDUM COMPLEX'

Morphology of basidiospores and pilocystidia of specimens of Ganoderma colossum, G. zonatum, G. oregonense, and G. meredithae was compared. Structure of basidiospores was similar in all species, but basidiospores of some species differed in length, width, spore index, and shape and distribution of inter-wall pillars. Basidiospores of G. zonatum were cylindrical, while those of the other species were ovate with truncated apex. Basidiospores of Ganoderma colossum had angular inter-wall pillars while those of the remaining species were cylindrical. Pilocystidia were clavate and unbranched for most species, but those of G. zonatum were highly branched or lobed. Pilocystidia of G. colossum were thinwalled, negative to weakly amyloid. Those of G. zonatum were thick-walled, negative to weakly amyloid, while those of the remaining species studied were thick-walled and strongly amyloid. Host relationships are reviewed and known geographical distributions are indicated for each of the species studied.
Comparing Functional Assessment Methodologies: A Quantitative Synthesis

There has been much research concerning functional assessment over the past 20 years, but several important research considerations have yet to be explained. One is the comparison of different types of functional assessment (e.g., experimental functional analysis and non-experimental functional assessment). The current study aims to compare the different methodologies of functional assessment and their effectiveness in ascribing function to a target behavior and in the treatment selection that follows such an assessment. Quantitative synthesis data were used to answer questions regarding behavioral function, assessment type, and treatment effectiveness. Results indicate that assessment type can impact treatment effectiveness and that there is a relationship between behavior type and ascribed function.
Stimulation of the prelimbic cortex differentially modulates neuroendocrine responses to psychogenic and systemic stressors

The medial prefrontal cortex is important for normal regulation of stress responses, and is implicated in stress-related affective disease states (e.g. depression). In the current study, we investigated the role of the prelimbic division of the prefrontal cortex in control of responses to psychogenic and systemic stressors (restraint and hypoxia, respectively). Acute stimulation of the prelimbic cortical region with bicuculline methiodide (BMI) caused significant reduction of ACTH and corticosterone responses to restraint and reduced Fos activation of paraventricular nucleus neurons, consistent with a role in central inhibition of acute psychogenic stress responses. In contrast, BMI enhanced corticosterone (but not ACTH) responses to hypoxia via a mechanism suggestive of central PVN drive and enhanced adrenal sensitivity. Acute BMI increased restraint stress-induced Fos activation in known downstream targets of the prelimbic cortex (e.g., the basolateral amygdala and central amygdaloid nuclei), suggesting a connection between modulation of amygdalar signaling and stress inhibition. In contrast, hypoxia caused robust Fos activation in the basolateral and central amygdala, which was not affected by prelimbic BMI injection. The data suggest that the prelimbic cortex stimulation is sufficient to trigger inhibition of the HPA axis to psychogenic stress, but may play a very different role in enhancing HPA responsiveness to physical threats.