cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maternal and neonatal outcomes of assaults and intentional injuries in pregnancy

TIONAL INJURIES IN PREGNANCY DINA EL KADY, LLOYD SMITH, WILLIAM M. GILBERT, University of California, Davis, OB/GYN, Sacramento, CA OBJECTIVE: To determine the occurrence rates and maternal and fetal/ neonatal outcomes secondary to assaults in pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: This is a population-based retrospective cohort study of maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes of assaults and intentional injuries in pregnant women in California from 1991-1999. External causation codes (E codes) for assaults and intentional injuries were identified from hospital discharge records. Maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes including PTL, PROM, abruption, uterine rupture, blood transfusions, fetal distress, birth asphyxia, low birth weight, prematurity, maternal death, and fetal death were analyzed using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Of 4,824,926 deliveries, a total of 14,110 women were hospitalized for injuries in pregnancy. Of this group, 29% (4122 women) sustained intentional injuries and assaults. Women sustaining injuries secondary to assaults severe enough for delivery had a 4.9-fold increased risk of placental abruption (CI 2.9, 8.7), a 41-fold increased risk of uterine rupture prior to the onset of labor (CI 5.7, 295), a 7-fold increase in blood transfusions (CI 3.5, 14.6), an 18-fold increased risk of maternal death (CI 2.5, 134), and a 7-fold increased risk of fetal death (CI 4.1, 12.7). Women sustaining assaults who were discharged undelivered had an increased risk of PTL (OR 2.6 [CI 2.4, 2.8]), preterm delivery (OR 1.3 [1.2, 1.4]), low birth weight infants (OR 1.7 [1.5, 1.9]), PROM (OR 1.6 [1.3, 2.0]), placental abruption (OR 1.6 [1.2, 2.0]), and the need for blood transfusions (OR 2.2 [1.6, 3.3]). CONCLUSION: Assaults and intentional injuries during pregnancy result in significantmaternal and fetal morbidity andmortality. Maternal and neonatal morbidity persisted, even for women who were discharged undelivered, suggesting possible long-term consequences of the assaults. Finally, uterine rupture prior to the onset of labor should alert the physician to the possibility of assault.
Colo-colonic anastomosis in a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device patient

Noncardiac operations are being increasingly performed on patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). However, little is known on the impact of continuous-flow LVADs on the vascular supply of the colon for anastomoses. In this case, a 67-year-old male supported on an LVAD underwent four successful noncardiac operations including two intestinal anastomoses; left colon and small bowel anastomosis. To the best of our knowledge, no existing literature has reported successful colonic anastomosis on a continuous-flow LVAD. This case illustrates the plausibility of performing colonic anastomoses with appropriately selected patients supported on an LVAD. A 67-year-old male with congestive heart failure underwent LVAD placement for decompensated heart failure while awaiting orthotopic transplantation. During his recovery, he developed a stage IV sacral decubitus ulcer which required a sigmoid loop colostomy placement and a rotational flap. Subsequent stoma closure with partial sigmoid colectomy and stapled anastomosis was performed, and healed without evidence of anastomotic leak. This case illustrates the potential for colonic anastomoses for patients on continuous-flow LVAD support. Although oxygenation is known to be an important aspect of healing, this patient's outcome suggests that intestinal anastomoses can be performed on the induced pulseless environment of an LVAD. Further studies will be needed to further elucidate the success of longer segment resections and appropriate surgical candidates.
Organization of the pronephric filtration apparatus in zebrafish requires Nephrin, Podocin and the FERM domain protein Mosaic eyes.

Podocytes are specialized cells of the kidney that form the blood filtration barrier in the kidney glomerulus. The barrier function of podocytes depends upon the development of specialized cell–cell adhesion complexes called slit-diaphragms that form between podocyte foot processes surrounding glomerular blood vessels. Failure of the slit-diaphragm to form results in leakage of high molecular weight proteins into the blood filtrate and urine, a condition called proteinuria. In this work, we test whether the zebrafish pronephros can be used as an assay system for the development of glomerular function with the goal of identifying novel components of the slit-diaphragm. We first characterized the function of the zebrafish homolog of Nephrin, the disease gene associated with the congenital nephritic syndrome of the Finnish type, and Podocin, the gene mutated in autosomal recessive steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Zebrafish nephrin and podocin were specifically expressed in pronephric podocytes and required for the development of pronephric podocyte cell structure. Ultrastructurally, disruption of nephrin or podocin expression resulted in a loss of slit-diaphragms at 72 and 96 h post-fertilization and failure to form normal podocyte foot processes. We also find that expression of the band 4.1/FERM domain gene mosaic eyes in podocytes is required for proper formation of slit-diaphragm cell–cell junctions. A functional assay of glomerular filtration barrier revealed that absence of normal nephrin, podocin or mosaic eyes expression results in loss of glomerular filtration discrimination and aberrant passage of high molecular weight substances into the glomerular filtrate.
Transitions in Cell Nucleus Morphology Determined by Expression Levels of Nuclear Envelope Proteins

The nuclear envelope of eukaryotic cells is a complex structure consisting of a double lipid bilayer and an underlying filamentous protein layer that is composed primarily of lamin proteins. In many cell types the nucleus has an ovoid or spherical shape; however, there are notable exceptions. For example, the neutrophil cell has a multi-lobed nucleus. The transition from spherical to multi-lobed morphology results from changes in the expression levels of two major nuclear envelope proteins, lamin A and lamin B receptor (LBR), and can be recapitulated in vitro using HL60 cells. Here we present a combination of theoretical and experimental studies to describe shape transitions of the cell nucleus. Positing that lamin A levels set the bending modulus and LBR overexpression increases the surface area of the nuclear envelope at fixed nuclear volume, we show that one can account for the observed morphological transition from a spherical to a multi-lobed nucleus. We determine that a single dimensionless constant composed of the shear modulus of the nuclear interior, the bending modulus of the nuclear envelope, and the nuclear radius sets the critical excess area for the transition. For larger surface areas, the spherical nuclear shape is elastically unstable and makes a first-order (i.e. discontinuous) transition to a lobulated or wrinkled state. We compare our theoretical predictions of both the critical excess area and the altered nuclear morphologies to confocal images of nuclei in neutrophil-type HL60 cells that have genetically modified levels of lamin A and LBR.
Polyculture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Notemigonus crysoleucas

A polyculture study was conducted in southwest Louisiana comparing production of Malaysian prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, in monoculture and polyculture with Golden shiners, Notemigonus crysoleucas. This test revealed stocking of shiners at 24.7/m2 with prawns at 4.4/m2 resulted in increased total pond production over monoculture of prawns at 4.4/m2 with equal prawn yields in both systems and little increase in labor. Feeding rates were based on prawn biomass. Food conversion ratios ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 in polyculture and 0.9 to 1.1 in monoculture when total production was considered. Prawn production averaged 640 kg/ha in polyculture and 629 kg/ha in monoculture. Mean size of prawns was 19 g in polyculture and 20 g in monoculture. The polyculture of shiners with prawns added an average of 307 kg/ha of the bait fish to pond production. Shiners did not compete seriously with prawns when stocked at these rates. This practice could result in added revenues to producers culturing these species together.
Mitochondrial Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Polymorphism in Asian and American Indian Populations: Detection of New ALDH2 Alleles

Genetic deficiency of the mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) is frequent in Asian peoples where it is an important factor negatively regulating drinking behavior. To obtain additional information on gene geography of known ALDH2 alleles, and look for new variants, ALDH2 genes were evaluated in a Chinese population from Taiwan, a Yakut population of Siberia, and in five North American Indian populations. A novel approach based on a single-strand conformation polymorphism assay, and polymerase chain reaction-directed mutagenesis was developed for genotyping. In the Taiwan Chinese population, the ALDH2(2) allele frequency was 0.319 +/- 0.025, and this allele was not detected in the Yakut population nor in the five North American Indian populations. However, a new allele, ALDH2(3), was detected in Pima Indians at a frequency of 0.044 +/- 0.022, and this allele was also observed in 1 of 49 Pueblo samples. ALDH2(3) is a silent transition 1464 G-->A, and it possibly has a wide distribution among North American Indians. A new subtype of the ALDH2(2) allele, designated as ALDH2(2Taiwan), was found in 1 of 174 Chinese from Taiwan. ALDH2(2Taiwan) is characterized by two G-->A transitions at bases 1486 and 1510, resulting in Glu-->Lys substitutions at both the 479 and 487 positions. Thus, this second nonconservative ALDH2 substitution occurs within the sequence of the already inactive ALDH2(2) allele.
The production of CO+ (B 2Σ+) from dissociative photoionization excitation of CO2

The dissociative photoionization excitation process in CO2 is studied. In contrast to previous studies, attention is focused on the vibrational and rotational levels produced in fragment ions, partial cross-section measurements for producing such fragment ions in a specific quantum state, and the mechanisms that govern the dissociative ionization excitation processes. The partial fluorescence cross section for the production of CO(+) (B2Sigma +) from CO2 over a wide wavelength range was measured. It is concluded that the production of the CO(+) (B2Sigma +) fragment near the threshold is through a direct dissociative photoionization process.
High anion gap metabolic acidosis in suicide: don't forget metformin intoxication--two patients' experiences.

Lactic acidosis is a well-recognized side effect of metformin, especially in patients with renal failure. Only a few cases of deliberate self-poisoning with metformin have been described in the literature. We report two patients who took a large dose of metformin in an attempt to harm themselves and both of them presented with severe lactic acidosis. The first patient was admitted because of taking large amounts of her father's unknown drug for suicide. Arterial blood gas showed severe metabolic acidosis with high anion gap and blood lactate level which metformin intoxication was documented. She died of multiple organ failure although we provided aggressive management including continuous renal replacement therapy. The second case, a type 2 diabetic patient, was sent to the emergency department after taking 110 tablets of metformin (500 mg). Arterial blood gas showed severe metabolic acidosis with high anion gap and blood lactate level. Hypotension and consciousness disturbance occurred later. After one s...
Knowledge is Light: Travellers in the Near East, edited by Katherine Salahi

Knowledge is Light: Travellers in the Near East, edited by Katherine Salahi, Oxford and Oakville: ASTENE and Oxbow Books, 2011, xii + 103 pp., £20 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-84217-448-7 Knowledge is L...
Overview of first-line amikacin therapy for urologic infections

Severe infections in urologic patients are frequently and effectively treated with aminoglycoside medications. Because of the frequency of nosocomial gram-negative infections in urologic patients, antimicrobial therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as aminoglycosides, is an integral part of management of urinary infections. Amikacin, because of its activity against infections caused by Pseudomonas, Serratia, and other frequently resistant bacteria, as well as its ability to achieve high blood and tissue levels, provides a significant advantage over other aminoglycoside agents in hospitalized urologic patients with suspected nosocomial infections. Although amikacin remains the most expensive of the aminoglycoside agents, its use is prudent in infections in which the causative organism is suspected but not definitively identified and when treatment must be started before specific culture and sensitivity information is available. In these situations, the most potent antibiotic agent with the broadest spectrum for eliminating infections caused by suspect organisms must be chosen, and amikacin is an ideal choice.
Comment on Hashai and Buckley: Transactions Costs, Capabilities, and Corporate Advantage Considerations in Theories of the Multinational Enterprise

Hashai and Buckley’s (2014, this issue) article boldly challenges some of the most widely held views in the international business literature regarding the emergence of the multinational enterprise. While their ideas clearly deserve deep consideration and a thoughtful, thorough response, this forum does not offer us an opportunity to respond fully. To do so would require a complete theory of governance, at least with respect to international expansion. Accordingly, we limit our comments to two related issues.
Phobias and Preparedness: Instructional Reversal of Electrodermal Conditioning to Fear-Relevant Stimuli:

The preparedness theory of phobias holds that responses conditioned to fear-relevant stimuli are insensitive to cognitive-instructional variables. This hypothesis was tested in an electrodermal conditioning experiment in which 16 college students were presented with two fear-relevant stimuli, a picture of a snake and a picture of a spider. One stimulus was reinforced with shock while the other was not. After discrimination training, the subjects were informed that the CS-US contingencies were reversed. They were told that shock would no longer follow the previously reinforced stimulus but might follow the previously nonreinforced stimulus. Actually, no further shocks were delivered. The instructional manipulation produced an immediate reversal of the conditioned electrodermal response curves. The results are inconsistent with the hypothesis that responses conditioned to fear-relevant stimuli are insensitive to cognitive-instrumental variables.
Top team deterioration as part of the downward spiral of large corporate bankruptcies

This exploratory study of 57 large bankruptcies and 57 matched survivors examined the top management team TMT characteristics associated with major corporate failure. Prior research was used to guide selection of specific team characteristics for study. Not only did the failing firms show significant annual, or cross-sectional, divergence from survivors on several indicators of TMT composition, but also those divergences became more pronounced, even accelerating, over the last five years of the bankrupts' lives. The results thus suggest that deterioration of the top management team is a central element of the downward spiral of large corporate failures. Based upon a limited test of causality, the authors propose that a two-way process is at work: 1 team deficiencies bring about or aggravate corporate deterioration, either through strategic errors or stakeholder uneasiness with the flawed team; and 2 corporate deterioration brings about team deterioration, through a combination of voluntary departures, scapegoating, and limited resources for attracting new executive talent.
Sonic/Vocal Motor Pathways in Squirrelfish (Teleostei, Holocentridae)

Similar to many teleost fish, squirrelfish (family Holocentridae) produce vocalizations by the contraction of muscles that lead to vibration of the swimbladder. We used biotinylated compounds to identify the position and extent of vocal motor neurons in comparison to additional motor neuron groups, namely those of red and white dorsal epaxial muscle and opercular muscle that are located adjacent to or near the sonic muscle. The sonic motor nucleus (SMN) was located in the caudal medulla and rostral spinal cord in a ventrolateral position with dendrites extending dorsally in a dense bundle along the lateral edge of the medulla and axons exiting via ventral occipital nerve roots. Transneuronal transport of biocytin identified premotor neurons within the SMN and in the medially adjacent reticular formation that projected to the contralateral SMN and more rostrally to the octavolateralis efferent nucleus and nucleus praeeminentialis, suggesting interactions between vocal and octavolateralis systems as seen in other teleosts. Motor neurons innervating the red and white dorsal muscle formed a loose aggregate in the dorsal motor column, adjacent to the medial longitudinal fasciculus, sending fibers bilaterally throughout the spinal cord with axons exiting via ventral spinal nerve roots. Opercular motor neurons were located within the facial motor nucleus. The anatomical characteristics of the SMN of squirrelfish, a representative member of the order Beryciformes, are similar to those of representative members of the closely related order Scorpaeniformes, but diverge from the SMN of more distantly related orders of paracanthopterygiian and ostariophysan teleosts. These results therefore suggest a possible homology among the SMNs of acanthopterygiian fishes.
Length minimization in integrated optical circuits incorporating directional couplers and curved sections

An analysis is presented that describes minimization of overall channel waveguide length in integrated optical circuits incorporating directional couplers and curved sections. Calculations are presented for LiNbO/sub 3/, GaAlAs, and SiO/sub 2/-Si based optical channel waveguides. The results demonstrate the presence of a minimum total length corresponding to a particular degree of field confinement. The value of overall length at the minimum is shown to be significantly lower than that for other values of field confinement allowing single-mode operation. >
Separation of carboxylic acids by temperature programmed liquid chromatography

La programmation de la temperature ameliore la resolution, l'efficacite et la reduction du temps d'analyse, par rapport a une separation isothermique
Explaining organizational diversity in emerging industries: the role of capabilities

Is any firm able to internalize any transaction at any time? What explains changes in the vertical coordination strategy adopted by firms through time in a context of institutional and technological stability? This paper uses the example of an emerging wine region, the state of Missouri, to discuss the sources of organizational diversity. We analyse ten case studies of Missouri wineries to investigate the reasons why different organizational strategies are chosen by each firm. This outcome is observed although their managers have similar perceptions when it comes to optimal organizational choices. The fundamental idea developed in this paper is that organizational alignment is based not only on the characteristics of transactions and governance structures, but also on the features of the capabilities and resources owned by economic agents. Two main objectives are accomplished in this work: (1) a set of theoretical propositions is offered, providing a conceptual framework that can be used in other contexts...
Characterization of a domoic acid binding site from Pacific razor clam

The Pacific razor clam, Siliqua patula, is known to retain domoic acid, a water-soluble glutamate receptor agonist produced by diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia. The mechanism by which razor clams tolerate high levels of the toxin, domoic acid, in their tissues while still retaining normal nerve function is unknown. In our study, a domoic acid binding site was solubilized from razor clam siphon using a combination of Triton X-100 and digitonin. In a Scatchard analysis using [3H]kainic acid, the partially-purified membrane showed two distinct receptor sites, a high affinity, low capacity site with a KD (mean +/- S.E.) of 28 +/- 9.4 nM and a maximal binding capacity of 12 +/- 3.8 pmol/mg protein and a low affinity, high capacity site with a mM affinity for radiolabeled kainic acid, the latter site which was lost upon solubilization. Competition experiments showed that the rank order potency for competitive ligands in displacing [3H]kainate binding from the membrane-bound receptors was quisqualate > ibotenate > iodowillardiine = AMPA = fluorowillardiine > domoate > kainate > L-glutamate. At high micromolar concentrations, NBQX, NMDA and ATPA showed little or no ability to displace [3H]kainate. In contrast, Scatchard analysis using [3H]glutamate showed linearity, indicating the presence of a single binding site with a KD and Bmax of 500 +/- 50 nM and 14 +/- 0.8 pmol/mg protein, respectively. These results suggest that razor clam siphon contains both a high and low affinity receptor site for kainic acid and may contain more than one subtype of glutamate receptor, thereby allowing the clam to function normally in a marine environment that often contains high concentrations of domoic acid.
Urban Sprawl as a Risk Factor in Motor Vehicle Occupant and Pedestrian Fatalities

Objectives. We sought to determine the association between urban sprawl and traffic fatalities. Methods. We created a sprawl index by applying principal components analysis to data for 448 US counties in the largest 101 metropolitan areas. Regression analysis was used to determine associations between the index and traffic fatalities. Results. For every 1% increase in the index (i.e., more compact, less sprawl), all-mode traffic fatality rates fell by 1.49% (P < .001) and pedestrian fatality rates fell by 1.47% to 3.56%, after adjustment for pedestrian exposure (P < .001). Conclusions. Urban sprawl was directly related to traffic fatalities and pedestrian fatalities. Subsequent studies should investigate relationships at a finer geographic scale and should strive to improve on the measure of exposure used to adjust pedestrian fatality rates.
Crisis theory/practice: towards a sustainable future:

We are living in a world rife with many types of crises. The most prominent and urgent crises involve the earth's ecology. Environmental crises involving Ozone depletion, global warming, toxic and radioactive wastes, air pollution, industrial accidents etc. are affecting communities around the world. In this paper, I examine changes in crisis management theory and practice. In the past two decades, much progress has been made in our understanding of industrial and environmental crises. However, our understanding remains highly fragmented and selective. We need to integrate diverse findings and cumulatively build on past knowledge. To do this the concept of "sustainable development" provides a unifying motif. Some research questions that deserve urgent attention are identified.
Experimental Errors in Chick Nutrition Trials

Abstract MUCH of the rapid progress achieved through research in the field of chick nutrition has been founded upon experimental results in which treatment differences were large and often very striking. As a greater and greater portion of new nutritional research involves further refinements in diets, differences between treatments become smaller and more difficult to ascertain with reasonable reliability. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the magnitude of experimental errors found in the usual chick nutrition trial and to reiterate the need for adequate experimental designs and analyses. The author became interested in the problem of experimental errors in chick nutrition trials in 1951 and began assembling data from as many laboratories as could be found with data appropriate for analysis. The very comprehensive paper by Homeyer and Pauls (1954) led the writer to believe that perhaps further effort was not warranted, since it seemed that the pertinent problems …
Study of the Bimodal Pore Structure of Ceramic Powder Compacts by Mercury Porosimetry

Mercury porosimetry was used to study the pore-size distribution of both green and partially sintered alumina compacts. Experiments showed that using the mercury-penetration volume data to study the pore structure changes during sintering for a compact with a bimodal pore-size distribution could lead to wrong conclusions because the mercury-penetration volume was not linearly proportional to the porosity. Instead, the porosity distribution should be used. When the porosity of large pores was <10%, some large pores within the compact were observed to become isolated or channeled to the compact surface; this caused errors in the porosity distribution measured by mercury porosity.
How good are deterministic fluid models of Internet congestion control

Congestion control algorithms used in the Internet are difficult to analyze or simulate on a large scale, i.e., when there are large numbers of nodes, links and sources in a network. The reasons for this include the complexity of the actual implementation of the algorithm and the randomness introduced in the packet arrival and service processes due to many factors such as arrivals and departures of sources and uncontrollable short flows in the network. To make the simulation tractable, often deterministic fluid model approximations of these algorithms are used. These approximations are in the form of either deterministic delay differential equations, or more generally, deterministic functional differential equations. We justify the use of deterministic models for proportionally fair congestion controllers under a limiting regime where the number of sources in a network is large. We verify our results through simulations of window-based implementations of proportionally fair controllers and TCP.
Outcomes of Gleason score 10 prostate carcinoma treated by radical prostatectomy.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the outcome of radical prostatectomy for the rarest and most poorly differentiated prostate tumors of all: those with Gleason score 10. Controversy exists as to which form of therapy is most effective for high-grade prostate cancer (PCa). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients with pathologic Gleason score 10 PCa treated at our institution with radical prostatectomy from 1977 to 1999. All pathology specimens were reviewed by a urologic pathologist, and 13 cases with true Gleason score 10 PCa were identified. The preoperative covariables (prostate-specific antigen level, biopsy Gleason score, and clinical stage), perioperative covariables (pathologic stage, margin status, and tumor ploidy), and postoperative covariables (prostate-specific antigen level and adjuvant and salvage treatments) were assessed with respect to the oncologic outcomes. Results The median follow-up was 4.2 years. Preoperatively, only 4 of the 13 cases were correctly identified at biopsy, and the median preoperative prostate-specific antigen level was 4.5 ng/mL (interquartile range 0.3 to 12.5). Pathologic examination showed a small cell component in 7 cases, seminal vesicle invasion in 11, and positive lymph nodes in 3. Six patients developed recurrent PCa: three local, two systemic, and one biochemical recurrence. The biochemical recurrence-free and cancer-specific survival rate at 5 years was 53.8% and 76.9%, respectively. Conclusions Gleason score 10 PCa is a highly aggressive disease that is usually lethal if managed conservatively. The results of the present study have provided some evidence that radical prostatectomy may be of benefit to patients with Gleason score 10 PCa.
Standardization of the rathus assertiveness schedule

Although several self-report inventories of assertive behaviors are available for clinical and research use, normative data currently available on these measures provide only a gross index with regard to an individual's assertiveness relative to others in his social milieu. The purpose of this study was to develop more specific normative data for the Rathus Assertiveness Schedcule (RAS). The RAS was administered to 133 undergraduate men and women, and percentile norms were developed from the obtained distribution of total scores. In addition, derived scores were calculated from Z score norms developed for each item. The percentile norms provide information on an individual's over all assertiveness relative to others in his social milieu, while the item norms provide information as to relative assertiveness in specific target situations. It is suggested that the percentile norms might prove most useful in research with groups for which only a gross index of relative assertiveness is required. Normative data for the items of the RAS should be clinically useful, not only to pinpoint areas of deficit assertive behavior, but also to assess behavior change after therapeutic intervention. The need for additional research is discussed.
Changes in the secondary structure of bovine casein by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy: effects of calcium and temperature.

Abstract Bovine casein submicelles and reformed micelles, produced by addition of Ca 2+ , were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy at 15 and 37°C in aqueous salt solutions of K + and Na + . Previous measurements of caseins, made in D 2 O and in the solid form, can now be made in a more realistic environment of H 2 O. When analyzed in detail, data obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy have the potential to show subtle changes in secondary structural elements that are associated with changes in protein environment. Electrostatic binding of Ca 2+ to casein resulted in a redistribution of the components of the infrared spectra. Addition of Ca 2+ in salt solutions of K + and Na + led to apparent decreases in large loop or helical structures at 37°C with concomitant increases in the percentage of structures having greater bond energy, such as turns and extended helical structures. At 15°C, Na + and K + have differential effects on the Ca 2+ -casein complexes. All of these observations are in accordance with the important role of serine phosphate side chains as sites for Ca 2+ binding in caseins and the swelling of the casein structure upon incorporation into reformed micelles at 37°C. This new open, hydrated structure is buttressed by a change in backbone as evidenced by a shift in absorbance to higher wave numbers (greater bond energies) as colloidal micelles are reformed.
A Weighted Voting Model of Associative Memory

This paper presents an analysis of a random access memory (RAM)-based associative memory which uses a weighted voting scheme for information retrieval. This weighted voting memory can operate in heteroassociative or autoassociative mode, can store both real-valued and binary-valued patterns and, unlike memory models, is equipped with a rejection mechanism. A theoretical analysis of the performance of the weighted voting memory is given for the case of binary and random memory sets. Performance measures are derived as a function of the model parameters: pattern size, window size, and number of patterns in the memory set. It is shown that the weighted voting model has large capacity and error correction. The results show that the weighted voting model can successfully achieve high-detection and -identification rates and, simultaneously, low-false-acceptance rates
Patterns of an Invasion by Argentine Ants (Linepithema humile) in a Riparian Corridor and its Effects on Ant Diversity

Abstract This study documents the distribution of the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), a well known invader of urban and agricultural ecosystems, in a riparian corridor near San Luis Obispo, California. Sampling of the ant community was done using pitfall traps placed along transects that crossed three vegetation types found at the study site: (1) riparian woodland dominated by coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), and willow (Salix spp.) (2) Hard chaparral dominated by scrub oak (Q. dumosa) and silk-tassel bush (Garrya sp.) (3) Coastal scrub dominated by black sage (Salvia mellifera), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), and Yucca (Yucca whipplei). Linepithema humile has become well established throughout the lower reaches of the study site except in the chaparral vegetation. Ten species of native ants were found in the study area, but there was little to no correlation or cooccurrence between L. humile and native ant species. Total species diversity in ...
Preliminary validation of a fabric smoothness assessment system

A fabric's tendency to wrinkle is vitally important to the textile industry as it impacts the visual appeal of apparels. Current methods of grading this characteristic, called fabric smoothness, are very subjective and inadequate. As such, a quantitative method for assessing fabric smoothness is of the utmost importance to the textile community. To that end, we have proposed a laser-based surface profiling system that utilizes a smart camera to sense the 3-D topography of the fabric specimens. The system incorporates methods based on anisotropic diffusion and the facet model for characterizing edge information that ultimately relate to a specimen's degree of wrinkling. In this paper, we detail the initial steps in a large-scale validation of this system. Using histograms of the extracted features, we compare the output of the system among 78 swatches of various color, type, and texture. The results show consistency among repeated scans of the same swatch as well as among different swatches taken from the same fabric sample. Also, since swatches taken from the same piece of fabric typically wrinkle similarly, this adds to the feasibility of the system. In other words, it adequately identifies and measures appropriate features of the wrinkles found on a sample.
STUDY HABIT PREDICTS EXAMINATION BEHAVIOUR: AN IMPERATIVE FOR ENHANCING QUALITY OF COLLEGE GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING

Study habit was investigated as a predictor of students’ examination behaviour. The sample consisted of 1290 first year students in tertiary institutions in Delta State. Multiple Regression was used to analyze data collected with a study habits and examination behaviour questionnaire. It was found that study habit was a significant predictor of examination behaviour and that gender did not significantly moderate the prediction of examination behaviour by study habits. Therefore, it was recommended that educational practitioners especially counselors should use measures of students’ study habits as indicators of their disposition towards engaging in examination malpractices thereby administering proactive counselling on them before they sit for examinations. This could enhance the quality of college counselling in African schools because the level of examination malpractices may be drastically reduced.
Application of An Eating Motivation Survey to Study Eating Occasions

This pilot study applied an eating motivation survey to explore motivations behind eating occasions by looking at specific choices of foods and beverages people consumed at various meal times. This study was conducted online with 198 people. The survey included questions about demographics, the most recent meal including specific food choices and an eating motivation questionnaire which contained 50 subscales to measure 17 motivations using Check-All-That-Apply procedures. Data were analyzed by Correspondence Analysis. Liking was the strongest motivation that drove people to select certain foods, regardless of eating occasions. Need and Hunger, Habits, Price and Convenience were the main motivations for breakfast, lunch and dinner while Health and Weight Control were found to be the main driving factors for daytime snacking. Late-night snacks were linked to Pleasure and Visual appeal. For dinner, people were additionally motivated by Variety Seeking and Traditional Eating. Practical Applications Daily food choice is a complex decision influenced by various factors and eating context is one of those. Food selection and the motivations of those selections are dependent on liking, but other motivators differed across eating occasions. This suggests that the intended meal time is a key factor that should be considered when testing food and beverage products.
A Commentary on the Prospects of Transferring Marketing Research Skills: a Case for a Two Phase/Experiential Pedagogical Approach

The paper discusses the evolution of a unique Two Phase (formal instruction, methodology workshops)/Experiential (project) pedagogical approach in transferring marketing research skills; how this approach is conducted; the role of “research methodology” classes in the process of transferring research skills to students; applications of students’ acquisition of research skills; and the evaluation of this process by students and clients.
Sexual Behavior in a Diverse Heterosexual Sample: The Influence of BMI

ABSTRACTRelationships between body size and sexuality outcomes vary by participant demographics. Lack of sample diversity has limited generalizability. The authors hypothesized that body size would influence sexual activity, moderated by multiple social categories. Racially diverse heterosexual participants (n = 7,398) reported body size, sexual activity status, and number of sexual partners. Age interacted with body mass index (BMI) to predict sexual activity status. Gender, age, race, and marital status did not interact with BMI to predict number of partners. Contrary to prevalent media depictions, higher BMI may increase likelihood of sexual activity during young adult years, while decreasing likelihood of sexual activity in adults over 25.
The interaction of hemoglobin E with β thalassemia: a study of hemoglobin synthesis in a family of mixed Burmese and Iranian origin.

A 5-yr-old girl with hemoglobin E-β thalassemia was discovered in a family of mixed origin. The father is Iranian (β-thalassemia trait) and the mother is Burmese (hemoglobin-E trait). Hemoglobin synthesis was studied in vitro in the blood of the proposita and family members. In the subjects with hemoglobin E trait the ratio of the quantity of hemoglobin A to hemoglobin E was 3:1. However. the βA/βE synthesis ratio in reticulocytes was in the range of 1.5-2.18, and the specific activity of βE was 31%-49% greater than βA, suggesting instability of hemoglobin E with preferential destruction of abnormal hemoglobin. The blood of the proposita exhibited only hemoglobin F and hemoglobin E and reticulocytes and bone marrow showed no βA synthesis. This Iranian β-thalassemia gene is therefore of the β° type. The βE/α synthesis ratio (approximately 0.74) in blood of the proposita was similar to the βA/α ratio in mildly affected relatives with thalassemia trait. These results suggest that the severity of the hemoglobin E-β thalassemia syndrome is attributable to both instability and defective synthesis of hemoglobin E in association with absent βA synthesis due to a β° thalassemia gene.
Oxidation of Cholesterol and Formation of Cholesterol Hydroperoxides Decreases the Cholesterol Concentration at which Formation of Cholesterol Bilayer Domains and Cholesterol Crystals is Initiated in Phospholipid Bilayers

Recently we demonstrated that formation of cholesterol bilayer domains (CBDs) precedes formation of cholesterol crystals (CHCs) in cholesterol/dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (Chol/DMPC) membranes (Mainali et. al., J. Phys. Chem. B, 117(2013)8994-9003). In the presented studies, we show that the oxidation of Chol in Chol/DMPC membranes induces formation of CBDs and CHCs at significantly lower Chol concentrations than in membranes without oxidation. To preserve compositional homogeneity throughout the membrane suspension we prepared the multilamellar liposomes with a rapid solvent exchange method. The oxidation of Chol was induced using a photosensitizer, rose Bengal, and the extent of oxidation (formation of Chol hydroperoxides) was measured using iodometric assay. To avoid formation of phospholipid hydroperoxides, which would interfere with our assay, the saturated phospholipid (DMPC) was used to prepare liposomes. Saturation recovery electron paramagnetic resonance with spin-labeled cholesterol analogues (androstane and cholestane spin labels) was used to detect the formation of CBDs and differential scanning calorimetry was used to detect the formation of CHCs. We conclude that formation of Chol hydroperoxides induces the formation of CBDs at Chol concentrations where previously CBDs were not present in non-oxidized membranes as well as the collapse of the already formed CBDs to CHCs, presumably outside the lipid bilayer.
Romantic Attitudes toward Love and Romantic Behavior

The present study was designed ro investigate whether scores on a scale which measures romantic/rational attitudes toward love were associated with what are commonly viewed as romantic behaviors. From 94 students enrolled in classes, 18 men and 26 women were from 18 to 23 yr. of age and stated they were currently in love. These students were administered the Knox and Sporakowski (1986) romantic attitude toward love scale (M = 80.5, SD = 15.9) and asked to rate on a five-point scale how often they engaged in 23 specific romantic behaviors. Of the 23 romantic behaviors, only five gave significant partial correlations (controlling for sex) with a romantic attitude toward love score: When in a relationship, I am loyal to my partner (partial r = 0.26); When in a relationship, my partner and I have a special song ("our song") (r = 0.65); When in a relationship, my partner and I have a special place ("our restaurant", etc.) (r = 0.42); I express deep emotions with my partner (r = 0.26); and My partner and I laugh together (r = 0.31). No differences were found for I send flowers to the person I am in a relationship with; In a relationship, I am the one who says "I love you" first; I write notes and send cards to my partner; I go for long walks with my partner; I surprise my partner with small gifts and tokens of my affection; I discuss future plans that involve my partner wich h'imfher; I take my partner out to dinner; I hold hands with my partner; My partner and I know what each other is thinking without saying a word; My partner and I call each other by pet names; I have candlelight dinners wich my partner; When I can, I go away with my partner; My parcner and I hold chairs or doors for each other; I write poetry for my partner; I plan romantic times with my partner; I dress to please my partner; My partner is my closest friend; and I go dancing with my partner. Men and women did not differ in their romantic attitude toward love, but on the 23 specific romantic behaviors men were more likely to send flowers, take their partner out to dinner and have a special song, while women were more likely to write notes and send cards, be loyal, dress to please, and go dancing. This preliminary study indicates that romantic artirudes toward love are not strongly associated with the appearance of romantic behaviors.
A Study of the Impact of Cannabis on Doses of Discharge Antipsychotic Medication in Individuals with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder

Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder have a high prevalence of comorbid cannabis use disorder (CUD). CUD has been associated with poorer outcomes in patients. We compared doses of antipsychotic medications at the time of discharge from hospital among inpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder with or without concurrent cannabis use. We reviewed the medical records of patients (N = 8157) with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder discharged from the hospital between 2008 and 2012. The patients were divided into two groups; those with urine drug tests positive for cannabis and those negative for cannabis. Doses of antipsychotic medications were converted to chlorpromazine equivalents. Bivariate analyses were done with Student's t test for continuous variables and χ 2 test for categorical variables. Linear regression was carried out to adjust for potential confounders. Unadjusted analysis revealed that the cannabis positive group was discharged on lower doses of antipsychotic medication compared with the cannabis negative group (geometric mean chlorpromazine equivalent doses 431.22 ± 2.20 vs 485.18 ± 2.21; P < 0.001). However, the difference in geometric mean chlorpromazine equivalent doses between the two groups was no longer significant after adjusting for sex, age, race, and length of stay (geometric mean difference 0.99; 95 % CI 0.92-1.10). Though limited by lack of information on duration, amount and severity of cannabis use, as well as inability to control for other non-antipsychotic medications, our study suggests that cannabis use did not significantly impact on doses of antipsychotics required during the periods of acute exacerbation in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
The Intensity as a Function of Temperature of the Low-Angle X-Ray Diffraction Maxima of the n-Paraffins: Hexatriacontane, Tetratetracontane, and Tetranonacontane.

The diffraction of x-rays by the crystalline n-paraffins, C36H74, C44H90, and C94H190, was examined at small angles - below seven degrees 2θ - as a function of temperature. The Bragg maxima (00l) that occur at these angles result from a lamellar repeat distance which depends on the molecular length. In general the intensity of these maxima was found to increase with increasing temperature in an approximately reversible manner. All the samples experienced solid-solid phase transitions in the temperature range of observation. Several possible mechanisms consistent with the temperature dependence of the intensity are considered.
The new waves at the margin: an historical overview of South Korean cinema movements 1975–84

AbstractThe current western historiography on South Korean cinema has centred around two specific eras: the 1960s that celebrated the ‘Golden Age’ of the national cinema; and the 1990s onwards, which is reputed to launch New Korean Cinema. This essay will examine South Korean cinema in the relatively mute period from the mid 1970s through the early 1980s. Defying the conventional reference to this decade as the ‘Dark Age’ of South Korean cinema, this work will illuminate a stream of domestic film movements, which arose at the time to awaken the national cinema to artistic and realistic consciousness. For the illustration of the film movements, I will discuss the activities of the Visual Age Group (1975–78), the Cultural Centre Generation (1977–80) and the Small Film Festival (1984). The film movements marked the genesis of the new wave consciousness in South Korean film history. And they extensively subscribed to international film new waves in order to rearticulate them within the South Korean context. T...
Engaging Older Adults to Build Social Capital

Countries are considering the healthcare implications as the proportion of older adults increases, including rising healthcare costs and resources needed as more adults want to "age in place" or continue living in the community. More in home resources and support services will be needed for older adults to continue living independently at homes. Older adults are an incredibly untapped resource with a continuing need to contribute to society and a willingness to help others. Older adults are working longer than ever before, so they have the potential to build their own social capital for meeting the needs of aging colleagues. This paper will explore the changing demographics of older adults globally, examine the capacity and potential of older adults for providing in home resources and supportive services for other adults in needs, and discuss the health policy implications of engaging older adults to build social capital. Singapore will be used as an example for illustrating how building social capital among older adults could have a positive impact on older adults and Singaporean society.