cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Primary process integration on the Rorschach and achievement in children: a follow-up study.

The purpose of the present study was to follow-up children who had participated in a previous study which investigated the relationship between primary process integration and achievement. The major hypothesis of this follow-up study was supported in that Adaptive Regression (Holt's primary process integration measure on the Rorschach) was significantly positively related to reading achievement (r = .52, p < .001) and to overall achievement (r = .49) in third-grade children. These relationships remained significant when IQ was partialed out. Second-grade AR scores were significantly predictive of third-grade reading (r = .29, p < .05). The correlations between third-grade AR scores and achievement are similar in magnitude to second-grade correlations between these variables. This finding points to the consistency of the relationship between primary process integration and achievement over a one-year period.
Partial protective effect of inactivated Japanese encephalitis vaccine on lethal West Nile virus infection in mice

The effect of mouse brain-derived, inactivated Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine on West Nile virus (WNV) infection was examined using a murine model. Mice were immunized with JE vaccine twice and challenged with lethal doses of WNV. When mice were intracranially challenged with WNV, none of the immunized mice were protected. When mice were intraperitoneally challenged, the immunized mice were protected at higher immunization levels. Cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies to WNV were induced by immunization with JE vaccine; however, the levels were much lower than those to JEV. These results indicate that the currently available mouse brain-derived inactivated JE vaccine can induce partial protective immunity to WNV in mice.
Relations Among Mothers' Expressivity, Children's Effortful Control, and Their Problem Behaviors: A Four-Year Longitudinal Study

Longitudinal relations between mothers' expressivity, children's effortful control, and their problem behaviors were examined when children (N = 181) were 6.5-10 years old (T2) and again 2 (T3) and 4 (T4) years later. Mothers reported on their expression of positive and negative dominant emotion. Mothers and teachers reported on children's effortful control and externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors. In structural equation models, variables exhibited consistency over time. Further, the relation between mothers' expressivity (positive minus negative dominant emotion) at T2 and children's externalizing problems at T4 was mediated by T3 effortful control. The same process of mediation was significant for teacher- but not mother-reported internalizing problems. The results provide one explanation for how emotion-related socializing behaviors influence children's problem behaviors.
Hispanic Women and Physical Activity: A Community Approach:

Older Hispanic women are at higher risk for chronic debilitating health problems related to higher rates of inactivity and obesity when compared to other ethnic groups. The purpose of this article ...
Effects of deviant child behavior on parental alcohol consumption. Stress-induced drinking in parents of ADHD children.

Distress and ad lib alcohol consumption after interactions with child confederates were investigated in parents of children with externalizing disorders—attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Sixty subjects interacted with boys trained to act like either normal children or children with ADHD/CD/ODD. Interactions with deviant confederates resulted in feelings of inadequacy and produced negative affect but had no effect on alcohol consumption. Post hoc analyses showed that parents with a family history of alcohol problems (FH+) showed increased drinking after interaction with a deviant confederate, compared with FH+ parents who interacted with the normal confederate. FH-parents showed the opposite pattern of results.
Does the duration of symptoms in patients with spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis affect outcomes?: analysis of the Spine Outcomes Research Trial.

Study Design. Retrospective subgroup analysis of prospectively collected data according to treatment received. Objective. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the duration of symptoms affects outcomes after the treatment of spinal stenosis (SS) or degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). Summary of Background Data. The Spine Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) study was designed to provide scientifi c evidence on the effectiveness of spinal surgery versus a variety of nonoperative treatments. Methods. An as-treated analysis was performed on the patients enrolled in SPORT for the treatment of SS or DS. A comparison was made between patients with SS with 12 or fewer months’ (n = 405) and those with more than 12 months’ (n = 227) duration of symptoms. A comparison was also made between patients with DS with 12 or fewer months’ (n = 397) and those with more than 12 months’ (n = 204) duration of symptoms. Baseline patient characteristics were documented. Primary and secondary outcomes were measured at baseline and at regular follow-up time intervals up to 4 years. The difference in improvement among patients whose surgical or nonsurgical treatment began less than or greater than 12 months after the onset of symptoms was measured. In addition, the difference in improvement with surgical versus nonsurgical treatment (treatment effect) was determined at each follow-up period for each group. Results. At fi nal follow-up, there was signifi cantly less improvement in primary outcome measures in SS patients with T
Ascaris suum: Cuticular binding of the third component of complement by early larval stages

Abstract Binding of the third component of complement (C3) to infective or parasitic larvae of Ascaris suum was evaluated by the direct fluorescent antibody technique and by detection of radiolabeled-C3 binding. Ensheathed infective-stage larvae bound C3 as detected by both techniques. Fluorescence studies indicated C3 binding was over the entire surface of the infective-stage sheath. Day 1 parasitic larvae bound C3 spottily only over the head and tail regions. Day 2 parasitic larvae however bound C3 over the entire surface. C3 uptake as detected by fluorescence was inhibited in 56 C-heated serum, but not in 50 C-heated serum, when either normal or C4-deficient guinea pig serum (C4D) was used as the C3 source. Radiolabeled-C3 binding was enhanced in the presence of unheated C4D serum and inhibited by Ca 2+ chelation. C3 binding appeared dependent on neither classical nor alternative pathway activation of complement in this study.
A multinuclear MAS NMR study of the short-range structure of fluorophosphate glass

We have examined the bonding arrangements in Na–P–O–F and Na–Al–P–O–F glasses using 19F, 27Al, and 31P solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) spectroscopy. For the Al-free series of glasses, the 19F NMR spectra are dominated by peaks near +90 ppm, representative of F terminating P-chains. The formation of these bonds has little effect on the 31P chemical shifts, indicating that F preferentially replaces bridging oxygen on the phosphate tetrahedra, consistent with previous NMR studies of crystalline fluorophosphates and other spectroscopic studies of fluorophosphate glass. For the Na–Al–P–O–F glasses, 27Al NMR detects only octahedral Al-sites, the 19F NMR spectra include a second peak near −12 ppm due to F bonded to Al, and the 31P NMR spectra contain signals due to Q1-sites with one or more Al next-nearest neighbors. The relative intensity of the two 19F peaks correlates well with previous spectroscopic studies and shows that a greater fraction of F–P bonds forms when the base glass is remelted in NH4HF2.
Predicting Adverse Drug Events Using Pharmacological Network Models

Early and accurate identification of adverse drug events (ADEs) is critically important for public health. We have developed a novel approach for predicting ADEs, called predictive pharmacosafety networks (PPNs). PPNs integrate the network structure formed by known drug-ADE relationships with information on specific drugs and adverse events to predict likely unknown ADEs. Rather than waiting for sufficient post-market evidence to accumulate for a given ADE, this predictive approach relies on leveraging existing, contextual drug safety information, thereby having the potential to identify certain ADEs earlier. We constructed a network representation of drug-ADE associations for 809 drugs and 852 ADEs on the basis of a snapshot of a widely used drug safety database from 2005 and supplemented these data with additional pharmacological information. We trained a logistic regression model to predict unknown drug-ADE associations that were not listed in the 2005 snapshot. We evaluated the model's performance by comparing these predictions with the new drug-ADE associations that appeared in a 2010 snapshot of the same drug safety database. The proposed model achieved an AUROC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) statistic of 0.87, with a sensitivity of 0.42 given a specificity of 0.95. These findings suggest that predictive network methods can be useful for predicting unknown ADEs.
A counterbalanced cross-over study of the effects of visual, auditory and no feedback on performance measures in a simulated cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Previous research has demonstrated that trained rescuers have difficulties achieving and maintaining the correct depth and rate of chest compressions during both in and out of hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Feedback on rate and depth mitigate decline in performance quality but not completely with the residual performance decline attributed to rescuer fatigue. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of feedback (none, auditory only and visual only) on the quality of CPR and rescuer fatigue. Fifteen female volunteers performed 10 minutes of 30:2 CPR in each of three feedback conditions: none, auditory only, and visual only. Visual feedback was displayed continuously in graphic form. Auditory feedback was error correcting and provided by a voice assisted CPR manikin. CPR quality measures were collected using SkillReporter® software. Blood lactate (mmol/dl) and perceived exertion served as indices of fatigue. One-way and two way repeated measures analyses of variance were used with alpha set a priori at 0.05. Visual feedback yielded a greater percentage of correct compressions (78.1 ± 8.2%) than did auditory (65.4 ± 7.6%) or no feedback (44.5 ± 8.1%). Compression rate with auditory feedback (87.9 ± 0.5 compressions per minute) was less than it was with both visual and no feedback (p < 0.05). CPR performed with no feedback (39.2 ± 0.5 mm) yielded a shallower average depth of compression and a lower percentage (55 ± 8.9%) of compressions within the accepted 38-50 mm range than did auditory or visual feedback (p < 0.05). The duty cycle for auditory feedback (39.4 ± 1.6%) was less than it was with no feedback (p < 0.05). Auditory feedback produced lower lactate concentrations than did visual feedback (p < 0.05) but there were no differences in perceived exertion. In this study feedback mitigated the negative effects of fatigue on CPR performance and visual feedback yielded better CPR performance than did no feedback or auditory feedback. The perfect confounding of sensory modality and periodicity of feedback (visual feedback provided continuously and auditory feedback provided to correct error) leaves unanswered the question of optimal form and timing of feedback.
Introductory Psychology Topics and Student Performance: Where's the Challenge?

Conventional wisdom is that some topics in introductory psychology are more difficult for students than others. Such wisdom seems reasonable given mismatches between students' and instructors' expectations and variations in both instructor expertise and student motivation across topical areas. Five instructors pooled students' exam performance data to investigate topical difficulty. Data showed that students performed better on questions about social psychology, memory, consciousness, and development than questions about biopsychology and emotion. Discussion includes possible explanations and considerations for course planning.
Evidence-based guidelines for resource utilization in children with isolated spleen or liver injury

Abstract Purpose: This study is intended to resolve the disparity and reach consensus on issues regarding the treatment of children with isolated spleen or liver injuries. To maximize patient safety and assure efficient, cost-effective utilization of resources, it was essential to determine current practice. Methods: Data from the case records of 856 children with isolated spleen or liver injury treated at 32 pediatric surgical centers from July 1995 to June 1997 were collected. The severity of injury was classified by computed tomography (CT) grade and the data analyzed for intensive care unit (ICU) stay, length of hospital stay, transfusion requirement, need for operation, pre- and postdischarge imaging, and restriction of physical activity. Patients with grade V injuries (2.8%) were excluded leaving 832 patients for detailed review. These data and available literature were analyzed for consensus by the 1998 APSA Trauma Committee. Results: Resource utilization increased with injury severity (see Table 2). Based on the data analysis, literature search, and consensus conference, the authors propose guidelines (see Table 3) for the safe and optimal utilization of resources in routine cases. It is important to emphasize that no recommendation falls outside the 25th percentile of current practice at participating centers. Conclusions: Diversity of treatment, with attendant variation in resource utilization in children with isolated spleen and liver injury of comparable severity is confirmed. This analysis has stimulated a prospective outcomes study with the objective of validating the evidence-based guidelines proposed. This evidence-based study design can bring order and conformity to patient management resulting in optimal utilization of resources while maximizing patient safety. J Pediatr Surg 35:164-169. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
CO2 enrichment inhibits shoot nitrate assimilation in C3 but not C4 plants and slows growth under nitrate in C3 plants

The CO2 concentration in Earth's atmosphere may double during this century. Plant responses to such an increase depend strongly on their nitrogen status, but the reasons have been uncertain. Here, we assessed shoot nitrate assimilation into amino acids via the shift in shoot CO2 and O2 fluxes when plants received nitrate instead of ammonium as a nitrogen source (deltaAQ). Shoot nitrate assimilation became negligible with increasing CO2 in a taxonomically diverse group of eight C3 plant species, was relatively insensitive to CO2 in three C4 species, and showed an intermediate sensitivity in two C3-C4 intermediate species. We then examined the influence of CO2 level and ammonium vs. nitrate nutrition on growth, assessed in terms of changes in fresh mass, of several C3 species and a Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) species. Elevated CO2 (720 micromol CO2/mol of all gases present) stimulated growth or had no effect in the five C3 species tested when they received ammonium as a nitrogen source but inhibited growth or had no effect if they received nitrate. Under nitrate, two C3 species grew faster at sub-ambient (approximately 310 micromol/mol) than elevated CO2. A CAM species grew faster at ambient than elevated or sub-ambient CO2 under either ammonium or nitrate nutrition. This study establishes that CO2 enrichment inhibits shoot nitrate assimilation in a wide variety of C3 plants and that this phenomenon can have a profound effect on their growth. This indicates that shoot nitrate assimilation provides an important contribution to the nitrate assimilation of an entire C3 plant. Thus, rising CO2 and its effects on shoot nitrate assimilation may influence the distribution of C3 plant species.
Kinetics of the Maillard Reaction Between Aspartame and Glucose in Solution at High Temperatures

Comparison was made of the extent of browning during accelerated storage tests of glucose/aspartame and glucose/glycine model systems under steady state conditions of 70, 80, 90, and 100°C and an aw of 0.80. Browning of aspartame followed zero order kinetics with a time to 0.1 absorbance units at 420 nm of 11.40, 5.3, 2.15 and 1.0 hr for each respective temperature. The activation energy (EA) was 22.0 Kcal/mole for the glucose/aspartame system and 15.5 Kcal/mole for the glucose/glycine system. The temperature sensitivities (Q10) for the model systems were 2.4 and 1.9, respectively. The predicted shelf life to reach 0.1 absorbance units in an aqueous system at 45°C is 62 days compared to the actual value of 60 days.
The Assembly of GM1 Glycolipid- and Cholesterol-Enriched Raft-Like Membrane Microdomains Is Important for Giardial Encystation

Although encystation (or cyst formation) is an important step of the life cycle of Giardia, the cellular events that trigger encystation are poorly understood. Because membrane microdomains are involved in inducing growth and differentiation in many eukaryotes, we wondered if these raft-like domains are assembled by this parasite and participate in the encystation process. Since the GM1 ganglioside is a major constituent of mammalian lipid rafts (LRs) and known to react with cholera toxin B (CTXB), we used Alexa Fluor-conjugated CTXB and GM1 antibodies to detect giardial LRs. Raft-like structures in trophozoites are located in the plasma membranes and on the periphery of ventral discs. In cysts, however, they are localized in the membranes beneath the cyst wall. Nystatin and filipin III, two cholesterol-binding agents, and oseltamivir (Tamiflu), a viral neuraminidase inhibitor, disassembled the microdomains, as evidenced by reduced staining of trophozoites with CTXB and GM1 antibodies. GM1- and cholesterol-enriched LRs were isolated from Giardia by density gradient centrifugation and found to be sensitive to nystatin and oseltamivir. The involvement of LRs in encystation could be supported by the observation that raft inhibitors interrupted the biogenesis of encystation-specific vesicles and cyst production. Furthermore, culturing of trophozoites in dialyzed medium containing fetal bovine serum (which is low in cholesterol) reduced raft assembly and encystation, which could be rescued by adding cholesterol from the outside. Our results suggest that Giardia is able to form GM1- and cholesterol-enriched lipid rafts and these raft domains are important for encystation.
Benefits of LRU-centric fibre channel testing

Fibre channel is a highly reliable, gigabit, serial interconnect technology. Commercial applications of the fibre channel technology allow concurrent communications among storage devices using upper level protocols such as small computer system interface (SCSI) and internet protocol (IP). Fibre channel technology is scalable and flexible due to its support of various topologies, such as dedicated point-to-point, arbitrated loops, and scaled switched networks. Advanced avionics programs and applications have an increasing need for bandwidth while maintaining low latency, determinism, and reliability. Therefore fibre channel is being selected as an avionics communication solution for a variety of new military aircraft and upgrades to existing aircraft. Testing at all stages (factories and depots) is necessary to guarantee the reliable and deterministic communication of avionics. Fibre Channel avionics networks present new challenges to those responsible for maintenance testing at the depots: 1. the requirement of testing an avionics application communicating via an upper level protocol, while the test environment presents a low level, physical interface. 2. Emulating the system environment of a line replaceable unit (LRU) to obtain complete functional test coverage. 3. Storing and monitoring large amounts of data passing through the fibre channel network. Existing test instruments and emulators in the market operate at the fibre channel protocol level and they lack necessary support for LRUs. Testing at the fibre channel protocol level detects bad receivers, transmitters, media, and fibre channel processors, but fails to find problems in the inner workings of an LRU. In this paper, we will address the testing challenges listed above with an LRU-centric approach. We will specify an LRU-centric fibre channel testing framework and provide implementation guidelines using example applications.
A randomized trial of a church-based diabetes self-management program for African Americans with type 2 diabetes.

PURPOSE: This study developed and tested a culturally appropriate, church-based intervention to improve diabetes self-management. Research Design and Methods This was a randomized trial conducted at 24 African American churches in central North Carolina. Churches were randomized to receive the special intervention (SI; 13 churches, 117 participants) or the minimal intervention (MI; 11 churches, 84 participants). The SI included an 8-month intensive phase, consisting of 1 individual counseling visit, 12 group sessions, monthly phone contacts, and 3 encouragement postcards, followed by a 4-month reinforcement phase including monthly phone contacts. The MI received standard educational pamphlets by mail. Outcomes were assessed at 8 and 12 months; the primary outcome was comparison of 8-month A1C levels. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean age was 59 years, A1C 7.8%, and body mass index 35.0 kg/m(2); 64% of participants were female. For the 174 (87%) participants returning for 8-month measures, mean A1C (adjusted for baseline and group randomization) was 7.4% for SI and 7.8% for MI, with a difference of 0.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1-0.6, P = .009). In a larger model adjusting for additional variables, the difference was 0.5% (95% CI, 0.2-0.7, P < .001). At 12 months, the difference between groups was not significant. Diabetes knowledge and diabetes-related quality of life significantly improved in the SI group compared with the MI group. Among SI participants completing an acceptability questionnaire, intervention components and materials were rated as highly acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The church-based intervention was well received by participants and improved short-term metabolic control.
Effect of light and dark adaptation upon the rhabdom in the compound eye of the mosquito

During the first two hours of light adaptation rhabdom volume in compound eyes of adult mosquitoes is strikingly reduced. In females this involves a net loss of photoreceptor membrane of 500–700 μ2/cell/hour. Concurrently, numerous coated vesicles and multivesicular bodies appear in the cytoplasm adjacent the rhabdom. After longer illumination times (up to 5 hours) membrane loss averages considerably less, 220 μ2/cell/hour. Furthermore, puromycin experiments suggest that it is counter-balanced by the formation of an equal amount of new membrane. Thus, despite substantial membrane turnover no net change in rhabdom volume takes place. When light-adapted mosquitoes are dark adapted for 12 to 36 hours there occurs a net increase of rhabdom membrane averaging 75 μ2/cell/hour, and a corresponding increase in rhabdom volume.
How to “Pitch” a Nontraditional Career Path

Transitioning to academic medicine from a nontraditional career path is rewarding and challenging. Knowing how to “pitch” a nontraditional background is essential to success in an academic environment. This chapter defines a nontraditional career path and presents seven skills necessary for a flourishing career in academic medicine: 1) self-awareness, 2) claiming expertise, 3) leveraging assets, 4) creating innovative vision, 5) staying focused, 6) telling a good story, and 7) being fully engaged. Taking these steps increases academic productivity, recognition, impact, and promotion. The success of a diverse faculty enriches the academic medical center and the patients and communities they serve.
Metallic nickel silicides: Experiments and theory for NiSi and first principles calculations for other phases

Abstract We report detailed experimental investigation of the transport and magnetic properties of orthorhombic NiSi along with first principles studies of this phase and related nickel silicides. Neutron scattering shows no evidence for magnetism, in agreement with first principles calculations. Comparison of first principles results and experimental results from our measurements and literature show a weak electron phonon coupling. We discuss transport and other properties of NiSi and find behavior characteristic of a weak correlated metal far from magnetism. Trends among the nickel silicides as a function of nickel content are discussed.
Structural and Rheo-Optical Characterization of Random Bicomponent Networks Prepared of Hydroxyl-Telechelic Polyisobutylene and Polytetrahydrofuran

Abstract The structure of a bicomponent network prepared of hydroxyl-telechelic polyisobutylene (HO—PIB—OH) and polytetrahydrofuran (HO—PTHF—OH) has been characterized by small-angle and wide-angle x-ray scattering, birefringence, and differential scanning Calorimetry. A single phase random network was obtained by endlinking HO—PIB—OH/HO—PTHF—OH mixtures using triphenyl methane triisocyanate (TTI) as a crosslinking agent. A small-angle x-ray scattering peak was observed in the PIB networks as well as in the PIB/PTHF bicomponent networks. The glass transition temperature of the random bicomponent network increased with decreasing PTHF molecular weight as the network became tighter. Network tensile properties were analyzed in terms of Gaussian and non-Gaussian network models. The stress-optical law was tested for random networks by measuring the variation of birefringence and stress as a function of elongation. Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Present Address: Exxon Chemical Co. , Baytown ...
Identification and Treatment of Human Trafficking Victims in the Emergency Department: A Case Report

Abstract Background Human trafficking victims experience extreme exploitation and have unique health needs, yet too often go undetected by physicians and providers in the Emergency Department (ED). We report a clinical case of human trafficking of a white, English-speaking United States citizen and discuss the features of presentation and treatment options for human trafficking victims upon presentation to the ED. Case Report A 29-year-old woman with a past medical history significant for intravenous drug abuse and recent relapse presented to the ED after a reported sexual assault. The patient was discharged that evening and returned to the ED the following day acutely suicidal. The patient divulged that she had been kidnapped and raped at gunpoint by numerous individuals as a result of a debt owed to her drug dealers. Why Should an Emergency Physician be Aware of This? Many human trafficking victims present to an ED during the course of their exploitation. To that end, EDs provide one of a limited set of opportunities to intervene in the human trafficking cycle of exploitation, and physicians as well as other ED staff should be equipped to respond.
Arm's Length and 'Hand-shake' Policies: Community Arts Alternatives to Outcome-based Development (Insights from Brazil, Bulgaria, and South Africa)

The role of arts and culture in the discourses and practices of 'sustainable development' can be a local, grounded phenomenon in communities around the world using holistic 'hand-shake' cultural policies. The idea of 'hand-shake' policy is derived from a comparative analysis of the Western (Anglo-Saxon) arm's length policy model of project-based funding, which focuses more on quality (aesthetics and outcomes) products than on ongoing art programs, with policy models developed in Bulgaria and Brazil that privilege the regularity and sustainability of social interactions/processes, where nationally distributed basic institutional support for community cultural centres secures the base infrastructure for systems of creative social exchanges. When planning sustainable cities is based on an integrated system of social relations and cultural codes, a community cultural centre in every neighbourhood (potentially the focal point of localized cultural policies) can serve as the community nucleus where anyone can discover and develop creative potential. Such centres, working within national networks of community cultural centres, should be understood as just as essential and socially useful as the community school and the community health centre. Combinations of three main factors that determine the grounding of cultural policies and NGO projects – looseness, lapse of time, and locality – underlie this transition and the long-term qualitative measurement of participatory processes rather than project outcomes. The dilemmas involved in quantifying intangible project outcomes like emotional, psychological, and social transformations resulting from community arts participation inform the need for alternative and/or complementary indicators of outcomes, that support strategies for sustainable socio-cultural development.
Prolactin inhibits a major tumor-suppressive function of wild type BRCA1

Even though mutations in the tumor suppressor, BRCA1, markedly increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, most breast and ovarian cancers express wild type BRCA1. An important question is therefore how the tumor-suppressive function of normal BRCA1 is overcome during development of most cancers. Because prolactin promotes these and other cancers, we investigated the hypothesis that prolactin interferes with the ability of BRCA1 to inhibit the cell cycle. Examining six different cancer cell lines with wild type BRCA1, and making use of both prolactin and the growth-inhibiting selective prolactin receptor modulator, S179D PRL, we demonstrate that prolactin activation of Stat5 results in the formation of a complex between phospho-Stat5 and BRCA1. Formation of this complex does not interfere with nuclear translocation or binding of BRCA1 to the p21 promoter, but does interfere with the ability of BRCA1 to transactivate the p21 promoter. Overexpression of a dominant-negative Stat5 in prolactin-stimulated cells resulted in increased p21 expression. We conclude that prolactin inhibits a major tumor-suppressive function of BRCA1 by interfering with BRCA1's upregulation of expression of the cell cycle inhibitor, p21.
A Small Bore Polythene Shunt to Prevent Mechanical Shock after Prolonged Cross-Clamping Thoracic Aorta.∗

ConclusionA small polythene shunt used to divert a portion of the blood around the cross-clamped thoracic aorta will temporarily prevent mechanical shock in dogs.
Reproductive Maturity, Mating Status, and Long-Duration Flight Behavior of Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the Conceptual Misuse of the Oogenesis'Flight Syndrome by Entomologists

The relationship between long-duration flight and the state of oogenesis in the migratory moth Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) was examined in unmated females 1,2,3,4, and 5 d old by using computer-interfaced flight mills. Evidence presented suggests that such long-duration flights (i.e., continuous flights ≥1 h) are indices of migratory flight. There were no significant correlations between the number of chorionated eggs and flight duration, times of flight initiation and termination, or flight speed within age classes 1–4. In 5-d-old moths, however, there was a positive correlation with flight duration. Mated females began their long-duration flights ≍3 h later in the night and averaged 2 h of flight less than unmated females. Their propensity and capacity to engage in such flights, however, was still considerable. The long-duration flight behavior of 3-d-old mated males was similar to that of unmated males, as was their propensity to engage in such flights. Therefore, a delay in oogenesis and suppression of reproductive behavior are not prerequisites for the initiation of long-duration flight activity in A. ipsilon , as would be predicted if the oogenesis-flight syndrome was characteristic of this species. Our data are consistent with previous findings that suggest that most females arrive in the midwestern United States in the spring already mated. We argue that the concept of an oogenesis-flight syndrome in migratory insects has no inherent explanatory power and its only valid use is as a convenient descriptive term. Its most frequent misuse as an explanatory principle is seen in the common assumption that duration of the prereproductive period determines the maximum duration of the migratory period. Empirical evidence as well as theoretical considerations indicate that it is never safe to accept this assumption without testing. To do so risks impeding progress in understanding specific systems through unwarranted extrapolation of data or through building a house of cards.
Development of High-Bandgap AlGaInP Solar Cells Grown by Organometallic Vapor-Phase Epitaxy

AlGaInP solar cells with bandgaps between 1.9 and 2.2 eV are investigated for use in next-generation multijunction photovoltaic devices. This quaternary alloy is of great importance to the development of III–V solar cells with five or more junctions and for cells optimized for operation at elevated temperatures because of the high bandgaps required in these designs. In this work, we explore the conditions for the organometallic vapor-phase epitaxy growth of AlGaInP and study their effects on cell performance. Initial efforts focused on developing ∼2.0-eV AlGaInP solar cells with a nominal aluminum composition of 12%. Under the direct spectrum at 1000 W/m2 (AM1.5D), the best of these samples had an open-circuit voltage of 1.59 V, a bandgap-voltage offset of 440 mV, a fill factor of 88.0%, and an efficiency of 14.8%. We then varied the aluminum composition of the alloy from 0% to 24% and were able to tune the bandgap of the AlGaInP layers from ∼1.9 to ∼2.2 eV. While the samples with a higher aluminum composition exhibited a reduced quantum efficiency and increased bandgap-voltage offset, the bandgap-voltage offset remained at 500 mV or less, up to a bandgap of ∼2.1 eV.
Perspectives About Family Meals from Racially/Ethnically and Socioeconomically Diverse Households With and Without an Overweight/Obese Child

Abstract Background: Several quantitative studies have found a protective association between family meal frequency and child and adolescent weight and weight-related behaviors (e.g., healthy dietary intake, less disordered eating behaviors). However, limited qualitative research has been conducted to understand more in depth about family meal-level characteristics (e.g., rules, responsibilities, and interpersonal dynamics) that may be risk or protective factors for child weight and weight-related behaviors. The current study aimed to identify family meal-level characteristics within racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse households that were similar and/or different between households with and without an overweight/obese child. Methods: The current study is a qualitative study including 118 parents of children ages 6–12 who participated in the Family Meals, LIVE! study. Parents (92% female) were from racially/ethnically (87% minority) and socioeconomically (73% <$35,000 per year) diverse house...
Study on influence factors of head rice yield during the drying process of rice

Based on the rice drying habits in rural countries of southern China,with DLXX rice as experimental materials,the influence factors of head rice yield during the drying process of rice were studied.The results showed that the different treatments led to different head rice yield during the drying process of rice,The head rice yield might differ by as much as 6.8% among different treatments.The head rice yield of the rice drying on the bamboo mat was 3.6% higher than that on cement court.The head rice yield of rice stored outdoor was 2.3% higher than that stored indoor at night.These treatments had a little impact on the final water content of rice.
Determination of five ginsenosides in health products by UPLC

Objective:To develop a method for the determination of five ginsenosides(Rg1,Re,Rb1,Rc,Rd) in ginseng health products by UPLC.Methods: Samples were extracted by methanol,purified through macroporous adsorbents,and then the separation was performed on ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column(2.1×50 mm,1.7 μm)set at 30℃ for gradient elution,using the solution of acetonitrile and water as mobile phase at the flow rate of 0.50 ml/min and detected at 203 nm.Results: Five ginsenosides were well separated within 20 min.The calibration curves of ginsenosides showed good linearity in 39.6 μg/ml～500.0 μg/ml with correlation coefficients of 0.9995～0.9997.The detection limits of ginsenosides were 0.8 ng～ 2.5 ng.The recovery ranges were 78.6%～94.4%,and the RSDs were 2.4%～6.4%.Conclusion: The method is simple,rapid,sensitive and accurate,and suitable for the detection of five ginsenosides in health products.
Biomechanical analysis of the knee joint during deep knee bends with heavy load

The knee joint, the largest and most complex synovial joint in the human body, is an anatomical region subject to injuries from activities in various fields including athletics, industry, and recreation. Because this joint is between the longest bones in the body, the femur and the tibia, the forces and moments of force around this joint produce torques of such magnitude that injuries ensue. In athletics, various injuries may occur by overloading the knee joint (Nicholas, 1970; Peterson, 1970). In several studies (Kennedy and Fowler, 1971; Marshall and Olsson, 1971; Newman, 1969; Slocum and Larson, 1968), it was found that the instability of the knee joint was the result of the application of excessive external rotation and abduction forces to a flexed, weight-bearing knee.
The brave new urban design pedagogy: some observations

Some years ago Denise Scott Brown, a renowned architect, urban designer and academic, addressed the question of teaching urban design, still a new academic field, introduced in the 1950s and 1960s....
Garcilaso/Góngora: Imagining the Self, Imagining Empire

AbstractSeparated by more than half a century, Garcilaso de la Vega and Luis de Gongora chose the lyric genre to interrogate systems of power and the political and cultural changes that occurred from the early sixteenth century to the beginnings of the seventeenth century. Garcilaso's ‘new’ poetry and his conflictive engagement with the emerging Spanish empire made manifest the tensions between the epic's externalized political function and the lyrical expression of emotional intimacy. Moreover, the analysis of several sonnets reveals the tensions between spiritual faith and intellectual reason that echoed the period's unorthodox theology and led him to lament imperial power. For his part, Gongora seemed to eschew overt poetic subjectivity, often using his lyric talents to cultivate Spain's most powerful nobles. His involvement in the economics of patronage presented a challenge: how to bridge the tensions between the lyric, with its topoi of desire and the constitution of a poetic self, on the one hand; ...
Weak States in Africa: A Literature Review on Why They Persist

The paper examines the competing camps of scholars who grapple with the question of why weak states persist in Africa. The paper argues that three camps exist, Endogenous Scholars, Duel Source Scholars and Exogenous Scholars. The paper concludes that each camp provides a unique level of analysis, and that taken together readers can contextualize the complexities that exist in African politics. The paper also reflects on some of the most pressing challenges facing Africa today. It offers recommendations for African states to improve their capacities in order to address the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. These recommendations include: a re-imagining and manifestation of a unified African identity through the Pan-African philosophy, the ownership of African markets by Africans, and the creation of spaces for Africans to address the trauma of slavery and colonialism.
Threshold characteristics of ultraviolet and near infrared nanosecond laser induced plasmas

The present contribution compares the energy absorption, optical emission, temperature, and fluid dynamics of ultraviolet (UV) λ = 266 nm and near infrared (NIR) λ = 1064 nm nanosecond laser induced plasmas in ambient air. For UV pulses at the conditions studied, energy absorption by the plasmas increases relatively gradually with laser pulse energy starting at delivered energy of E ∼ 8 mJ. Corresponding measurements of plasma luminosity show that the absorption of UV radiation does not necessarily result in visible plasma emission. For the NIR induced plasmas, the energy absorption profile is far more abrupt and begins at ∼55 mJ. In contrast with UV, the absorption of NIR radiation is always accompanied by intense optical emission. The temperatures of both types of plasma have been measured with Rayleigh scattering thermometry (at times after the Thomson signal sufficiently diminishes). The UV plasmas can attain a wider range of temperatures, including lower temperatures, depending on the pulse energy (e...
Boosting the Performance of Ionic-Liquid-Based Supercapacitors with Polar Additives

Recent years have witnessed growing interests in both the fundamentals and applications of electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs), also known as supercapacitors. A number of strategies have been explored to optimize the device performance in terms of both the energy and power densities. Because the properties of electric double layers (EDL) are sensitive to ion distributions in the close vicinity of the electrode surfaces, the supercapacitor performance is sensitive to both the electrode pore structure and the electrolyte composition. In this work, we study the effects of polar additives on EDLC capacitance using the classical density functional theory within the framework of a coarse-grained model for the microscopic structure of the porous electrodes and room-temperature ionic liquids. The theoretical results indicate that a highly polar, low-molecular-weight additive is able to drastically increase the EDLC capacitance at low bulk concentration. Additionally, the additive is able to dampen the oscill...
Community-Based Progressive Aquatic Exercise for the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis

Background: We examined the feasibility and eectiveness of a community-based progressive aquatic exercise program for com- munity dwelling older adults, with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis (OA). Objectives: The purposes of this study were to 1, assess the eects of a progressive aquatic exercise program on the walking ability, stair climbing ability, quadriceps muscle strength, as well as self-reported symptoms, function, and quality of life in community dwelling adults with moderate to severe knee OA and; 2, assess the feasibility of a community-based aquatic program for community dwelling adults with knee OA. Methods: Seventeen volunteers (12 women (x = 61.1 years) and 5 men (x = 69.0 years)) participated in a progressive 8 - 10 week aquatic exercise program, consisting of 20 - 24, 1-hour sessions. Outcome measures, acquired twice before beginning the exercise protocol as well as after 4 and 8 weeks of exercise, included the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) instrument, a 2 minute walk test (2MWT), a 10 step stair climb for time, and an isometric knee extension strength assessment. Results: Significant improvements were detected in 2 MWT, 10 step stair climb, right quadriceps isometric force development, and the KOOS symptoms and stiness subscale. Significant improvement was found on KOOS function subscales between baseline test- ing sessions and maintained at follow-up. Non-significant improvements were identified in left quadriceps isometric force devel- opment, KOOS pain, and KOOS quality of life. Conclusions: These data suggest that a community-based, progressive aquatic exercise program is feasible and results in measur- able improvements in function without worsening symptoms. Further study is warranted to investigate the impact of a longer program and the role of aquatic exercise in the long-term management of patients with knee OA.
Robust linear state estimation with equality constraints

Phasor measurement units (PMUs) are being deployed in increasing numbers in power systems. Thus, it is not unrealistic to expect that in the not so distant future, utilization of PMU measurements directly and exclusively for static state estimation will become a viable alternative to traditional SCADA-based static state estimation. This paper considers such a future where a robust linear state estimator that explicitly uses phasor measurements will be developed and implemented. The objective of the paper is to investigate the performance of such an estimator in handling equality constraints and the impact of having this capability on robustness against gross errors in PMU measurements as well as computational efficiency. Results of the investigations are presented along with relevant conclusions.
Person re-identification with block sparse recovery

We consider the problem of automatically re-identifying a person of interest seen in a probe camera view among several candidate people in a gallery camera view. This problem, called person re-identification, is of fundamental importance in several video analytics applications. While extracting knowledge from high-dimensional visual representations based on the notions of sparsity and regularization has been successful for several computer vision problems, such techniques have not been fully exploited in the context of the re-identification problem. Here, we develop a principled algorithm for the re-identification problem in the general framework of learning sparse visual representations. Given a set of feature vectors for a person in one camera view (corresponding to multiple images as they are tracked), we show that a feature vector representing the same person in another view approximately lies in the linear span of this feature set. Furthermore, under certain conditions, the associated coefficient vector can be characterized as being block sparse. This key insight allows us to design an algorithm based on block sparse recovery that achieves state-of-the-art results in multi-shot person re-identification. We also revisit an older feature transformation technique, Fisher discriminant analysis, and show that, when combined with our proposed formulation, it outperforms many sophisticated methods. Additionally, we show that the proposed algorithm is flexible and can be used in conjunction with existing metric learning algorithms, resulting in improved ranking performance. We perform extensive experiments on several publicly available datasets to evaluate the proposed algorithm. A block sparse recovery algorithm for person re-identification is proposed.The algorithm improves the performance of existing metric learning techniques.The algorithm can be used to address generalized ranking problems.
The Geography of Repression in Africa

I ask how the location of a protest affects how forcefully governments crack down. This geography of repression provides insight into a larger strategic problem: under what conditions do leaders me...
Delocalized L2-Invariants☆

Abstract We define extensions of the L 2 -analytic invariants of closed manifolds, called delocalized L 2 -invariants. These delocalized invariants are constructed in terms of a nontrivial conjugacy class of the fundamental group. We show that in many cases, they are topological in nature. We show that the marked length spectrum of an odd-dimensional hyperbolic manifold can be recovered from its delocalized L 2 -analytic torsion. There are technical convergence questions.