cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of a Quantitated Physical Training Program on Middle-Aged Sedentary Men

The effects of a 15-week quantitated training program were evaluated in nine men, 32 to 59 years old. All had been blind for 10 years or more but were otherwise in good health. They were sedentary with a stable activity pattern. Training sessions were held three times per week and consisted of four 3-minute exercise periods on a bicycle ergometer, each followed by a rest period of equal duration. Heart rates at the end of the fourth exercise period averaged 27 beats below individual maximal heart rates. Maximal oxygen uptake increased from 24.0 to 28.5 ml/kg x min or by 19%. Total heart volume and mean serum cholesterol decreased significantly, and psychological tests showed improvement. Five subjects continued exercising at the same intensity but only once weekly for another 14-week period. Mean maximal oxygen uptake decreased to 6% above the control level. Four subjects who discontinued training after 15 weeks were retested at the same time and had a mean value 5% below control maximal oxygen uptake.
Urinary tract infection and Chlamydia infection in adolescent females.

Study Objective: To examine whether clinical or laboratory findings could distinguish Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) from urinary tract infection (UTI) among adolescent females in whom providers tested for both. Design, Setting, Participants: A laboratory database at an urban teen health center was reviewed to identify females who had both urine culture and ligase chain reaction (LCR) test for CT ordered at the same visit. History and physical findings were abstracted from the medical record. There were 81 visits with retrievable laboratory results and chart documentation. Main Outcome Measures: UTI was defined as >1000 colony-forming units on culture, and CT was defined as positive LCR test. Pearson's Chi-squared test was used to assess strength of the hypothesized associations. Results: UTI was diagnosed in 20 (24%) and CT in 18 (22%) of 82 visits. Concurrent CT was diagnosed in 6 of 20 subjects with UTI. Symptoms and physical signs did not differentiate UTI from CT. Positive urinary nitrites were associated with UTI, but did not exclude CT. Similarly, wet prep evidence of trichomonas or white blood cells was associated with CT, but did not exclude UTI. Clinical diagnosis of CT or UTI was 50% sensitive and 70% specific. Conclusions: Adolescent females who are screened for both CT and UTI have high rates of concurrent disease. Urinary or vaginal symptoms do not differentiate well between these infections. Clinical diagnosis is imprecise, suggesting that adolescent females with vaginal or urinary symptoms should be tested for both CT and UTI.
Incorporation of tritium from thymidine-methyl-H3 into DNA, RNA, lipids and protein in logarithmic and stationary phase Tetrahymena pyriformis, strain W.

SYNOPSIS. Numerous reports may be found in the literature on cytoplasmic and non-DNA utilization of tritium from H3-thymidine. Such reports underscore the need to clarify the metabolic fate of H3-thymidine. This investigation outlines the fate of thymidinemethyl-H3 (TMH3) in logarithmic phase and stationary phase Tetrahymena pyriformis, strain W. Isotope identification by liquid scintillation spectrometry in chemically derived fractions of log phase cultures grown thruout the initial 48 hours of population growth with TMH3 revealed the majority of the radioactivity (90% of intracellular recovery) to be in the DNA fraction. The remainder of the intracellular label was recovered in the acid soluble fraction, lipid fraction, and a small amount in the RNA and cell residue. On chromatographs, tritium appeared only in the thymine moiety of the nucleic acid derivatives. Hence in dividing cells, thymidine-methyl-H3 is “essentially” specific for DNA at the dosage used although some incorporation into other compounds was detected. Fractionation of the lipid extract from the above experiment on a florisil column localized most of the label to the triglyceride and phospholipid fractions with some recovery in the cholesterol-esters. Similar scintillation counting of the various fractions of early stationary phase cells incubated for the last 48 hours of culture with TMH3 revealed limited tritium distribution in all fractions.
Improving the accuracy of benefit-cost analysis

Benefit-cost analysis, and it has been aiding decision-makers, particularly those in the U.S. Government, since the 1930s. However, as practiced it suffers from two major weaknesses. First, because it is an analytical tool capable of dealing only with what can be easily quantified, it invariably omits the broad spectrum of nonquantifiable phenomena which determine those intangible factors that establish our quality of life. The second weakness is the "judge and jury" characteristic whereby the same agency that proposes a project is also the one that performs the benefit-cost analysis to determine whether the project should be approved.
Temporal drinking patterns and variation in social consequences

Temporal drinking patterns and their associated social consequences are described for a sample of US adults aged 18 years and over who drank at least 12 drinks in the preceding year and did not restrict their drinking to special occasions (n = 16086). The earliest time of day when these current regular drinkers reported usually drinking was between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. for 1.2%, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for 7.3%, between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. for 31.2%, and after 6 p.m. for 60.3%. Less than one-tenth (7.7%) reported any drinking (not necessarily their earliest drinking) between midnight and 6 a. m. Characteristics associated with above-average rates of both early (6 a.m.-3 p.m.) and late-night (midnight-6 a.m.) drinking included male gender, black race, low education and income and heavy quantity of ethanol intake per drinking day. Early drinking was also characteristic of the elderly and daily drinkers. Prior to adjusting for background variables and quantity and frequency of intake, early drinking was associated with a two- to nine-fold increase in the risk of alcohol-related interpersonal problems, hazardous use, job/school problems and legal problems, and late-night drinking was associated with a three- to eight-fold increase in their prevalence. After adjusting for these factors in multiple logistic regression models, early drinking was associated with a 54% increase in the odds of interpersonal problems, a 39% increase in the odds of hazardous use and a 52% increase in the odds of legal problems. The association between early drinking and job/school problems fell just short of statistical significance. After adjusting for other factors, late-night drinking retained a significant association with all of the outcomes except legal problems. The magnitude of its association was greater than that of early drinking but varied substantially (i.e. interacted) with quantity of intake, race, ethnicity and gender.
Rapid Adaptation and Conservation

Recent work has demonstrated that adaptive evolution often occurs on contemporary time scales (years to decades), making it of particular relevance to conservation planning (Ashley et al. 2003; Stockwell et al. 2003). Reports of rapid evolution span a variety of species, traits, and situations, suggesting that rapid adaptation is the norm rather than the exception (Hendry & Kinnison 1999; Kinnison & Hendry 2001; Stockwell et al. 2003). Furthermore, rapid adaptation is often associated with the same anthropogenic factors responsible for the current extinction crisis, including overharvest, habitat degradation, habitat fragmentation, and exotic species (Stockwell et al. 2003) and thus has immediate relevance to conservation biology. Here, we briefly consider the potential importance of rapid adaptation to the conservation of actively managed species and to the spread and control of exotic species. Rapid adaptation is of particular concern for captive populations (i.e., “domestication;” Fleming & Gross 1993; Frankham 1995; Margan et al. 1998) as well as for “refuge” populations established as a hedge against extinction (Stockwell & Weeks 1999). Such actively managed populations may rapidly diverge from their parental populations to the point that they are maladapted to their ancestral habitat. Similarly, recent genetic models suggest that augmentation of native populations from captive stock (“supportive breeding”) will likely reduce a wild population’s fitness (Lynch & O’Hely 2001; Tufto 2001; Ford 2002). It is also possible that selection pressures may change and thus limit the success of repatriation programs. For instance, natural selection at release sites may be so strong that populations go extinct even in the process of adapting to the “new” environment (Lynch 1996). One solution would be to introduce populations to intermediate environments. Another approach may be to “select” phenotypes most likely to succeed in the new environment (Hendry et al. 2003).These observations suggest that adaptive responses should be a major consideration for actively managed species.
General surgery residents' perception of robot-assisted procedures during surgical training.

Introduction With the continued expansion of robotically assisted procedures, general surgery residents continue to receive more exposure to this new technology as part of their training. There are currently no guidelines or standardized training requirements for robot-assisted procedures during general surgical residency. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of this new technology on general surgery training from the residents' perspective. Methods An anonymous, national, web-based survey was conducted on residents enrolled in general surgery training in 2013. The survey was sent to 240 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-approved general surgery training programs. Results Overall, 64% of the responding residents were men and had an average age of 29 years. Half of the responses were from postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and PGY2 residents, and the remainder was from the PGY3 level and above. Overall, 50% of the responses were from university training programs, 32% from university-affiliated programs, and 18% from community-based programs. More than 96% of residents noted the availability of the surgical robot system at their training institution. Overall, 63% of residents indicated that they had participated in robotic surgical cases. Most responded that they had assisted in 10 or fewer robotic cases with the most frequent activities being assisting with robotic trocar placement and docking and undocking the robot. Only 18% reported experience with operating the robotic console. More senior residents (PGY3 and above) were involved in robotic cases compared with junior residents (78% vs 48%, p Conclusions This study illustrates that although the most residents have a robot at their institution and have participated in robotic surgery cases, very few residents received formal training before participating in a robotic case.
Drag reduction of the Space Shuttle

Wind-tunnel and water-tunnel experiments are conducted to determine which factors contribute to the base-pressure drag experienced by the Space Shuttle Orbiter. Testing is conducted on a 4.05-percent scale model in the TAMU Water Tunnel and Low Speed Wind Tunnel with passive near-wake flow-modification devices attached in some of the tests. The devices are evaluated on the basis of effectiveness in terms of increasing the base pressure. Base pressures increase when a base cavity is introduced; a smooth cavity increases pressure by 13 percent, and when v-grooves are introduced into the cavity the pressure increases by 19 percent. When the v-groove base cavity is combined with a fairing plate, the total base pressure reaches 25 percent. The experimental results suggest that the base drag of the Space Shuttle Orbiter can be effectively reduced by the use of a base-cavity mechanism.
Habitability and behavioral issues of space flight

Group behavioral issues from past space missions and simulations such as the Skylab Medi cal Experiments Altitude Test, Skylab missions, and Shuttle Spacelab I mission are reviewed. Recommendations for future flights are made about commandership, crew selection, and ground-crew communications. Pre- and in-flight behavioral countermeasures are suggested for crew isolation, mission control stress, groupthink, and interpersonal conflict.
Comparison of Isometric Exercise and High Volt Galvanic Stimulation on Quadriceps Femoris Muscle Strength

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of both high volt galvanic current (HVG) and isometric exercise to strengthen the quadriceps femoris muscles in 17 healthy subjects. The subjects were divided into three groups. The Control Group (n = 6) received no exercise or stimulation. The Isometric Exercise Group (n = 5) performed 15 sessions of maximum isometric contractions, and the Electrical Stimulation Group (n = 6) engaged in 15 sessions of electrically stimulated isometric contractions. The Isometric Exercise Group was found to have an increase in strength significantly greater (p less than .05) than either the Control or Electrical Stimulation Group. No increase in strength was observed in either the Control or Electrical Stimulation Group. This study indicates that HVG stimulation is not as effective as isometric exercise in increasing strength in muscle.
Open metal sites dangled on cobalt trigonal prismatic clusters within porous MOF for CO2 capture

Open metal sites are devised to dangle on cobalt trigonal prismatic secondary building units (SBUs) of a porous MOF, when a rigid octacarboxylate ligand, 1,3,6,8-tetra(3,5-dicarboxylphenyl)pyrene, assembled with Co(NO3)2 under solvothermal conditions. The functional role of dangled open metal sites is exploited for CO2 capture studies.
ESTIMATING RECREATION VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH LAND USE CHANGES

Achieving optimal use of wildlife resources is a classic problem in natural resource economics. Ciriacy-Wantrup argued that wildlife resources are a case of a fugitive resource for which private property rights cannot easily be defined and therefore government policy may be necessary to obtain optimal use [5, pp. 141–145]. Land use planning is one area of government policy in which limited attention has been given to management of wildlife resources. One reason for the neglect may be the lack of emphasis on estimating the value of wildlife recreation experiences associated with particular land uses. An exception is the work of Martin, Tinney, and Gum [16] who did not look at marginal land use changes but did consider the termination of all cattle ranching in Arizona and its effect on recreational and agricultural economic surpluses.
Anxiety sensitivity and medication nonadherence in patients with uncontrolled hypertension

Abstract Objective Anxiety sensitivity—fear of the negative social, physical, or cognitive consequences of anxiety related sensations—has been linked to cardiovascular disease and adverse cardiovascular health behaviors. Medication nonadherence may account for this association. We examined whether anxiety sensitivity was independently associated with objectively measured medication nonadherence in a multi-ethnic primary care sample. Methods Eighty-eight patients with uncontrolled hypertension completed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index and had their adherence to blood pressure (BP) medications measured during the interval between two primary care visits using an electronic pillbox (MedSignals®). Multivariable Poisson regressions were conducted to determine the relative risks of medication nonadherence associated with anxiety sensitivity after adjustment for age, gender, Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, education, total number of prescribed medications, and depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Results Nearly twice as many patients with high anxiety sensitivity were nonadherent to BP medications compared to patients with low anxiety sensitivity (65.0% vs. 36.8%; p = 0.03). Patients with high anxiety sensitivity had higher relative risks of medication nonadherence than their low anxiety sensitivity counterparts (adjusted relative risk [RR] = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.03–3.03). Conclusions In this first study of the association between anxiety sensitivity and medication adherence, we found that high anxiety sensitivity was strongly associated with BP medication nonadherence, even after adjustment for known confounders. Our results suggest that teaching patients who have uncontrolled hypertension adaptive strategies to manage their anxiety sensitivity may help improve their medication adherence, and thereby lower their cardiovascular risk.
The Patient-Surgeon Relationship in the Cyber Era: Communication and Information

From Laennec's invention of the stethoscope in 1816 to the recently introduced Sapien transcatheter aortic valve replacement, the increasing complexity of health care technology has altered the relationship between patients and physicians, usually for the better. Telemedicine, the provision of medical services through electronic media, has dramatically changed how the patient and physician interact and how medical care is delivered. Many studies of physicians' perceptions of electronic communication with patients have documented recognition of benefits as well as a consistent chorus of concerns about confidentiality, increased workload, inappropriate use, and medicolegal issues.
Clinical efficacy of combined lithoclast and lithovac stone removal during ureteroscopy.

Purpose: Pneumatic lithotripsy has proved to be an extremely safe, efficient and low cost intracorporeal fragmentation modality. Unfortunately proximal migration of fragments into inaccessible areas in the intrarenal collecting system is a potential limitation during ureteroscopic procedures. Moreover, the lack of an efficient mechanism of stone retrieval further limits the widespread application of this technique. The newly developed Lithovac † †Microvasive-Boston Scientific Corp., Boston, Massachusetts. suction device was designed to be combined with pneumatic lithotripsy during ureteroscopic stone removal. We evaluated the effectiveness of this combination for overcoming these limitations.Materials and Methods: Between February and December 1998, 21 patients underwent pneumatic lithotripsy of ureteral calculi combined with use of the Lithovac suction probe. Stone area was 20 to 320 mm.2 (mean 84). Of the stones 71% and 29% were in the distal, and proximal and/or mid ureter, respectively. We used a 0.8 ...
Electronic color charts for dielectric films on silicon

This paper presents the calculation of the perceived color of dielectric films on silicon. A procedure is shown for computing the perceived color for an arbitrary light source, light incident angle, and film thickness. The calculated color is converted into RGB parameters that can be displayed on a color monitor, resulting in the generation of electronic color charts for dielectric films. This paper shows generated electronic color charts for both silicon dioxide and silicon nitride films on silicon.
Loss of Protein Targeting to Glycogen sensitizes human hepatocellular carcinoma cells towards glucose deprivation mediated oxidative stress and cell death.

Protein targeting to glycogen (PTG) is a ubiquitously expressed scaffolding protein that critically regulates glycogen levels in many tissues, including the liver, muscle and brain. However, its importance in transformed cells has yet to be explored in detail. Since recent studies have demonstrated an important role for glycogen metabolism in cancer cells, we decided to assess the effect of PTG levels on the ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells to respond to metabolic stress. Although PTG expression did not significantly affect the proliferation of HepG2 cells under normal culture conditions, we determined that PTG plays an important role during glucose deprivation. Overexpression of PTG protected cells from cell death in the absence of glucose, whereas knocking down PTG further promoted cytotoxicity, as measured by the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into the media. Additionally, we demonstrated that PTG attenuates glucose deprivation induced haeme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, suggesting that PTG protects against glucose deprivation-induced oxidative stress. Indeed, treating cells with the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) rescued cells from cytotoxicity caused by glucose deprivation. Finally, we showed that loss of PTG resulted in enhanced autophagy. In control cells, glucose deprivation suppressed autophagy as determined by the increase in the levels of p62, an autophagy substrate. However, in knockdown cells, this suppression was relieved. Blockade of autophagy also attenuated cytotoxicity from glucose deprivation in PTG knockdown cells. Taken together, our findings identify a novel role for PTG in protecting hepatocellular carcinoma cells from metabolic stress, in part by regulating oxidative stress and autophagy.
Oxygen isotope ratios of cellulose-derived phenylglucosazone: An improved paleoclimate indicator of environmental water and relative humidity

Oxygen atoms within fossil wood provide high-resolution records of climate change, particularly for the Quaternary. However, current analysis methods of fossil cellulose do not di!erentiate between di!erent positions of the oxygen atoms. Here, we propose a refinement to tree-cellulose paleoclimatology modeling, using the cellulose-derived compound phenylglucosazone as the isotopic substrate. Stem samples from trees were collected at northern latitudes as low as 24! 37 0 N and as high as 69! 00 0 N. We extracted stem water and cellulose from each stem sample and analyzed them for their 18 O content. In addition, we derived the cellulose to phenylglucosazone, a compound which lacks the oxygen attached to the second carbon of the cellulose‐glucose moieties. Oxygen isotope analysis of phenylglucosazone allowed us to calculate the 18 O content of the oxygen attached to the second carbon of the cellulose‐glucose moieties. By way of these analyses, we tested two hypotheses: first, that the 18 O content of the oxygen attached to second carbon will more closely reflect the 18 O content of the stem water, and will not resemble the 18 O content of either cellulose or its derivative phenylglucosazone. Second, tree-ring models that incorporate the variable oxygen isotope fractionation shown here and elsewhere are more accurate than those that do not. Our first hypothesis was rejected on the basis that the oxygen isotope ratios of the oxygen attached to the second carbon of the glucose moieties had a noisy isotopic signal with a large standard deviation and gave the poorest correlation with the oxygen isotope ratios of stem water. Related to this isotopic noise, we observed that the correlation between oxygen isotope ratios of phenylglucosazone with both stem water and relative humidity were higher than those observed for cellulose. Our hypothesis about tree-ring models which account for changes in the oxygen isotopic fractionation during cellulose synthesis was consistent only for the 18 O content of phenylglucosazone. We showed that the tree-ring model based on the 18 O content of phenylglucosazone was an improvement over existing models that are based on whole cellulose. Additionally, this approach may be used in other cellulose based archives such as peat deposits and lacustrine sediments. " 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Association of CRHR1 variants and posttraumatic stress symptoms in hurricane exposed adults.

Abstract Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a moderately heritable anxiety disorder that may develop after exposure to trauma. However, only few genetic variants that relate to PTSD have been studied. This study examined the relationship between 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 gene (CRHR1) and post-disaster PTSD symptoms and diagnosis in adults exposed to 2004 Florida hurricanes. CRHR1 regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; dysregulation of the HPA axis is characteristic of stress phenotypes. Final analyses were conducted in the European-American (EA) subsample (n = 564) due to population stratification. After correction for multiple testing, rs12938031 and rs4792887 remained associated with post-hurricane PTSD symptoms. Additionally, rs12938031 was associated with post-hurricane diagnosis of PTSD. This study is the first to examine CRHR1 in relation to PTSD in adults, and provides evidence for the importance of CRHR1 variation in the etiology of PTSD. Although results are preliminary and require replication, they justify follow-up efforts to characterize how this gene relates to PTSD.
Catching an Elusive Cation

To understand chemical reactions, one must understand reaction intermediates, short-lived species formed transiently as the molecules come together, rearrange, and separate again. In an accompanying Perspective, Prakash discusses spectroscopic work reported in the same issue by de Rege et al . (p. [776][1]) on their observation of the formyl cation as a long-lived ion in the condensed phase. Study of this cation, an important intermediate in the chemistry of aromatic compounds, was made possible by the development of a technique for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at high pressures. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/276/5313/776
Lifetime Trauma, Emotional Support, and Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships among lifetime exposure to traumatic events, emotional support, and life satisfaction in three cohorts of older adults. Design and methods Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a nationwide sample of 1,518 older people in 2003. Approximately 500 elders were interviewed in each of the following age cohorts: Young-old (age 65-74), old-old (75-84), and oldest-old (85 and older). Results The findings suggest that exposure to lifetime trauma is associated with less life satisfaction in all three age cohorts. The data further reveal that emotional support offsets the effects of trauma on feelings of life satisfaction in the old-old and the oldest-old. The stress buffering properties of emotional support were especially evident in the oldest-old cohort. Implications The findings underscore the need to develop interventions that help older people deal more effectively with lifetime trauma. Moreover, the results suggest that interventions providing emotional support may be especially helpful for the oldest-old.
Humor as a Mental Fitness Indicator

To explain the pervasive role of humor in human social interaction and among mating partner preferences, Miller (2000a) proposed that intentional humor evolved as an indicator of intelligence. To test this, we looked at the relationships among rater-judged humor, general intelligence, and the Big Five personality traits in a sample of 185 college-age students (115 women, 70 men). General intelligence positively predicted rater-judged humor, independent of the Big Five personality traits. Extraversion also predicted rater-judged humor, although to a lesser extent than general intelligence. General intelligence did not interact with the sex of the participant in predicting rating scores on the humor production tasks. The current study lends support to the prediction that effective humor production acts as an honest indicator of intelligence in humans. In addition, extraversion, and to a lesser extent, openness, may reflect motivational traits that encourage humor production.
High-voltage double-implanted power MOSFET's in 6H-SiC

We report on the first planar high-voltage MOSFET's in 6H-SiC. A double-implant MOS (DIMOS) process is used. The planar structure ameliorates the high-field stressing encountered by SiC UMOS transistors fabricated by other groups. Blocking mode operation of up to 760 V is demonstrated, which is nearly three times higher than previously reported operating voltages for SiC MOSFET's.
Design Techniques for Fully Integrated Switched-Capacitor DC-DC Converters

This paper describes design techniques to maximize the efficiency and power density of fully integrated switched-capacitor (SC) DC-DC converters. Circuit design methods are proposed to enable simplified gate drivers while supporting multiple topologies (and hence output voltages). These methods are verified by a proof-of-concept converter prototype implemented in 0.374 mm2 of a 32 nm SOI process. The 32-phase interleaved converter can be configured into three topologies to support output voltages of 0.5 V-1.2 V from a 2 V input supply, and achieves 79.76% efficiency at an output power density of 0.86 W/mm2 .
A NEW METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE APPARENT THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY OF THERMALLY CONDUCTIVE FOOD

Two empirical parameters, j and f, have been used to determine the thermal diffusivity values of food by several researchers. Since there are considerable variations in j values, a new procedure was developed for the experimental determination of thermal diffusivity of foods without using this parametric value. A sample was filled into a cylindrical cell whose diameter and length were approximately 10 and 130 mm, respectively. The temperatures of the sample were monitored at the mid-point of the central axis and on the inside surface of the cell. These temperatures were used to estimate thermal diffusivity values together with an analytical formula for heat conduction in an infinite cylinder. The method was utilized to determine the thermal diffusivity, Biot number, and surface heat conductance values of water, 60% sucrose solution, glycerine, cherry tomato pulp, and apple pulp. There was close agreement between thermal diffusivity values determined experimentally and such values available in published literature. Mathematical procedures are presented for estimating errors in the thermophysical property values determined experimentally, where there are errors in locating temperature sensors in a sample, errors in the shape of the diffusivity cell, and errors in the temperature sensing device.
Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla)

Populations of brown-headed nuthatches (Sitta pusilla) are declining throughout the species range. Here we characterize twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci for this species. Analysis of 32 presumably unrelated individuals from a single population revealed an average of 14.9 alleles per locus (range 4–25), an average observed heterozygosity of 0.74 (range 0.52–0.94) and an average polymorphic information content of 0.80 (range 0.57–0.95). We anticipate that these microsatellite markers will be useful for population genetic and behavioral studies on the brown-headed nuthatch and closely related species.
Mapping the twitterverse in the developing world: an analysis of social media use in nigeria

There is growing interest in the use of social media in the developing world. For example, the Arab Spring was widely considered to have been heavily influenced by information that propagated via social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Researchers are understandably eager to begin utilizing this growing collection of data to help inform some of their research questions. In this paper we discuss some of the methodological issues researchers need to consider when analyzing social media. We will focus on techniques to determine demographic characteristics of Twitter users, such as ethnicity and location, and why these are necessary. We will discuss some of the results from applying our methods to social media. Looking at social media in Nigeria, we present results showing the geographic distribution of Twitter users, the contribution of mobile users to the Twitter stream, and the estimated ethnic makeup of Twitter users.
The Rôle of Kinaesthesis in the Establishment and Control of the Maze Habit

* Recommended by Robert D. Williams, accepted by Carl Murchison of the Editorial Board, and received in the Editorial Office, July 2, 1935.
Nanophotonic Organic Solar Cell Architecture for Advanced Light Trapping with Dual Photonic Crystals

Organic solar cells have demonstrated rapidly increasing efficiencies, but typically absorb less than half of the incident solar spectrum. To increase broad-band light absorption, we rigorously design experimentally realizable solar cell architectures based on dual photonic crystals using scattering matrix simulations. There is a polymer microlens on the glass coupled with a photonic-plasmonic crystal at the metal cathode on the back of the cell. The microlens focuses light on the periodic nanostructure that in turn strongly diffracts light. Waveguiding modes and surface plasmon modes enhance long wavelength absorption. The optimal architecture has a period of 500 nm for both arrays, resulting in absorption enhancement of 49% and photocurrent enhancement of 58% relative to the flat cell, for nearly lossless metal cathodes. The enhanced absorption approaches the Lambertian limit. Misalignment between the two photonic crystals leads to about 1% loss of performance. Simulations incorporating experimental die...
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK AND THE IRON TRIANGLE: THE CASE OF YUCCA MOUNTAIN

Despite significant scientific uncertainties and strong public op- position, there appears to be an "iron triangle" of industry, government, and consultants/contractors promoting the siting of the world's first per? manent geological repository for high-level nuclear waste and spent fuel, proposed for Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Arguing that representatives of this iron triangle have ignored important epistemological and ethical difficulties with the proposed facility, I conclude that the business cli? mate surrounding this triangle appears to leave little room for considera? tion of ethical issues related to public safety, environmental welfare, and citizen consent to risk. If my analysis of the Yucca Mountain case is correct and typical, then some of the most pressing questions of busi? ness ethics may concern how to break the iron triangle or, at least, how to expand it into a quadrilateral that includes the public.
359 SUBPOPULATIONS OF MURINE MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS EXPRESS INTERLEUKIN-1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST

To better characterize murine mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs), their transcriptome was analyzed via serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). Abundance of SAGE tags corresponding to interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) suggested that immunodepleted mMSCs (IDmMSCs) express high levels of these regulatory molecules, which may explain the immunomodulatory activity of MSCs. The goal of this study was to characterize the levels of IL-1ra protein expression in IDmMSCs. mMSCs were isolated from whole bone marrow obtained from the long bones of FVB/N mice. Cells were then suspended in α-MEM media containing L-glutamine, 10% fetal bovine sera, penicillin, and streptomycin and were cultured in a humidified chamber with 5% CO2 for 72 hours at 37°C. MSCs were depleted approximately 7 days later, using antibodies bound to streptavidin-conjugated M-280 Dynabeads. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to qualitatively determine the presence of IL-1ra, which was confirmed by the presence of the 383 bp product observed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) quantitatively demonstrated that the IDmMSCs produced a high level of IL-1ra protein. Immunostaining revealed that IDmMSCs express high levels of IL-1ra, a natural product thought to counteract the affects of interleukin-1, a proinflammatory cytokine. The results indicate that IL-1ra is expressed in robust levels in subpopulations of the IDmMSCs. Additionally, the present findings implicate that expression of IL1-ra may explain the ability of IDmMSCs to ameliorate the effects of bleomycin-induced lung injury.
Radionuclide Gas Transport through Nuclear Explosion-Generated Fracture Networks

Underground nuclear weapon testing produces radionuclide gases which may seep to the surface. Barometric pumping of gas through explosion-fractured rock is investigated using a new sequentially-coupled hydrodynamic rock damage/gas transport model. Fracture networks are produced for two rock types (granite and tuff) and three depths of burial. The fracture networks are integrated into a flow and transport numerical model driven by surface pressure signals of differing amplitude and variability. There are major differences between predictions using a realistic fracture network and prior results that used a simplified geometry. Matrix porosity and maximum fracture aperture have the greatest impact on gas breakthrough time and window of opportunity for detection, with different effects between granite and tuff simulations highlighting the importance of accurately simulating the fracture network. In particular, maximum fracture aperture has an opposite effect on tuff and granite, due to different damage patterns and their effect on the barometric pumping process. From stochastic simulations using randomly generated hydrogeologic parameters, normalized detection curves are presented to show differences in optimal sampling time for granite and tuff simulations. Seasonal and location-based effects on breakthrough, which occur due to differences in barometric forcing, are stronger where the barometric signal is highly variable.
EL USO DE TERAPIA ASISTIDA CON MASCOTAS PARA NIÑOS EN SITUACIÓN DE RIESGO EN MEXICO

Las terapias alternativas han adquirido una mayor aceptacion en los ultimos anos en varios campos, tales como la medicina, la psicologia, y consejeria. Por ejemplo, la terapia con mascotas se ha utilizado en combinacion con terapia narrativa durante varias decadas, pero solo recientemente se ha convertido en destacado. Este articulo describe diversos aspectos del movimiento de la terapia de animales, incluye la historia, los riesgos y beneficios de la terapia con mascotas, los procedimientos para la certificacion de animales de compania, y los tipos de poblacion que pueden beneficiarse de la terapia con mascotas. Ademas, el articulo describe una serie de ajustes en los cuales la terapia con mascotas pueden ser utilizados. Por ultimo, las implicaciones para el uso de terapia con mascotas en el campo de la consejeria se discuten, asi como sugerencias para la realizacion de investigaciones especificas con la poblacion mexicana.
Lognormal Kriging: Bias Adjustment and Kriging Variances

Lognormality of spatial data occurs commonly enough for it to warrant continued study; contemporary statistical and computational methodologies can shed new light on the old problem of block kriging for lognormal processes. There are a number of proposals available for block kriging, many of them discussed in an unpublished, 43-page, Centre de Morphologie Mathematique "note" written by Georges Matheron in 1974. Loosely translated, the title of the note is, "The proportional effect and lognormality or: The return of the sea serpent". Our paper is meant to rein in the sea serpent, by comparing an optimal-prediction-based predictor with a permanence-approximation-based predictor, in the context of statistics for spatial lognormal data.
Memories of Violence in the Salvadoran Civil War

El Salvador’s civil war (1980–1992) was a long and brutal episode that has left an indelible scar on the nation’s psyche. No civil conflict in the latter half of twentieth-century Latin America, perhaps with the exception of Guatemala’s, resulted in a higher per-capita casualty rate than El Salvador’s, particularly during the first three years of the war. Salvadorans have dealt with this history of violence in diverse ways; some want to remember; others are anxious to forget. Those who wish to forget have been emboldened by a blanket amnesty law passed by the conservative ARENA government in the immediate aftermath of the war. That law, combined with the absence of a formal truth-and-reconciliation process, has left the issue of remembrance and forgetting to the marketplace of ideas, where Salvadorans have been injecting their memories of the war into the unregulated public sphere in a discursive battle for legitimacy. The goal of the present chapter is to explore the ways in which two particular “memory communities,” former military officers and civilian elites, have negotiated their recollections of that violence in the public sphere through the medium of their published life stories (memoirs). The chapter shows that certain people’s will to forget, and the often convoluted narrative strategies they employ to do so, are continually challenged by other people’s will to remember. The outcome is an ongoing narrative battle that reveals an unprecedented openness in Salvadoran society, but also an unsatisfying void of consensus that may be contributing to the surge in violence since the war’s end.
Enhancement of giant magnetoresistance and oscillation by wave-vector filtering in Fe/Ag/Fe/InAs/Ag

The performance of a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) heterostructure Fe/Ag/Fe/InAs/Ag(100) in the current-perpendicular-to-plane geometry is presented. Calculations are based on a realistic tight-banding model with full $spd$ bands and the recursive Green's function algorithm. Results show that the system's GMR can reach values above 1000%. This GMR enhancement mainly is a result of the wave-vector filtering effect imposed by the InAs layer, restricting conductance within a small region around the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$ point in the 2D Brillouin zone. Calculations also reveal that when the Fermi level sits in the InAs band gap, MR gradually saturates as a function of InAs thickness with a smooth plateau; whereas when the Fermi level is in the InAs conduction band and close to the band bottom, GMR exhibits an oscillatory behavior with a large period. GMR oscillations are also observed with respect to Ag thickness, with oscillation amplitude determined by the Fermi level position relative to the InAs conduction band edge. The oscillation periods in both cases can be well explained by the concept of quantum-well states, and are determined by the spanning vector of the Fermi surface belly of the material whose thickness is varied. The observed GMR oscillations are due to the quantum interference of conduction electrons near the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$ point. The GMR and area-resistance (RA) product profiles at a wide range of Fermi energy positions relative to InAs bands are also compared. Near the GMR peak (with GMR above 1000%) in the conduction band, RA product can be as low as 8.$8\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}{\text{m}}^{2}$. This feature of large GMR but small RA product results from the wave-vector filtering effect of doped InAs, and it makes the structure under study distinct from conventional GMR systems (small GMR, small RA) or magnetic tunnel junctions (large GMR, large RA).
Association of Group Prenatal Care With Gestational Weight Gain.

OBJECTIVE To compare gestational weight gain among women in group prenatal care with that of women in individual prenatal care. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, women who participated in group prenatal care from 2009 to 2015 and whose body mass indexes (BMIs) and gestational weight gain were recorded were matched with the next two women who had the same payer type, were within 2-kg/m prepregnancy BMI and 2-week gestational age at delivery, and had received individual prenatal care. Bivariate comparisons of demographics and antenatal complications were performed for women in group and individual prenatal care, and weight gain was categorized as "below," "met," or "exceeded" goals according to the 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines. Logistic regression analysis estimated the association between excessive weight gain and model of care, with adjustment for confounders, stratified by BMI. RESULTS Women in group prenatal care (n=2,117) were younger and more commonly non-Hispanic black, nulliparous, and without gestational diabetes (P≤.005 for all). Women in group prenatal care more commonly exceeded the weight gain goals (55% compared with 48%, P<.001). The differences in gestational weight gain were concentrated among normal-weight (mean 34.2 compared with 32.1 pounds, P<.001; 47% compared with 41% exceeded, P=.008) and overweight women (mean 31.5 compared with 27.1 pounds, P<.001; 69% compared with 54% exceeded, P<.001). When adjusted for age, race-ethnicity, parity, education, and tobacco use, the increased odds for excessive gestational weight gain persisted among normal-weight (odds ratio [OR] 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-1.51) and overweight (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.50-2.27) women. Nulliparity was associated with increased excessive gestational weight gain (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.33-1.68), whereas Hispanic ethnicity was associated with decreased excessive gestational weight gain (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.59-0.78). CONCLUSION Among normal-weight or overweight women, group prenatal care, compared with individual prenatal care, is associated with excessive gestational weight gain.
Increasing incidence of hamstring injuries in Major League Baseball pitchers : original research article

Background: Baseball pitching involves coordinated movements between the upper extremity, trunk, and lower extremity. Among pitchers, hamstring injuries are the second most common lower extremity injury. Research question: Investigate the 10-year incidence and demography of hamstring injuries in Major League Baseball pitchers. Type of study: Descriptive study. Methods: The Major League Baseball Disabled list from 2001 to 2010 identified 61 pitchers with hamstring injuries. Age, body mass index, throwing hand dominance, and days on the Disabled list were analysed. Results: The annual incidence of hamstring injuries increased over time. Mean age at injury was 30.6 ± 5.1 years, mean height 188.7 ± 5.8 cm, mean weight 99.8 ± 12.1 kg, and mean BMI 28.0 ± 2.8 kg/m2. Mean length of stay on the disabled list was 27.7 ± 20.0 days. There was a correlation between age and BMI (p < 0.010). There was no correlation between days on the Disabled list and age (p = 0.275) or BMI (p = 0.908). There was no difference in age (p = 0.381), BMI (p = 0.736), or days on the Disabled list (p = 0.530) between pitchers with injured hamstrings ipsilateral versus contralateral to their throwing arm. Conclusions: The incidence of hamstring injuries in Major League Baseball pitchers increased over time. Number of disabled days averaged 4 weeks, but was variable. Injuries contralateral to the throwing arm were more common but not more debilitating. These findings can be useful for preventive strengthening programmes and rehabilitation techniques in pitchers.