cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response of Inner Retinal Oxygen Extraction Fraction to Light Flicker Under Normoxia and Hypoxia in Rat

Purpose. Oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), defined by the ratio of oxygen metabolism (MO2) to delivery (DO2), determines the level of compensation of MO2 by DO2. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that inner retinal OEF remains unchanged during light flicker under systemic normoxia and hypoxia in rats due to the matching of MO2 and DO2.
On Fermat's Last Theorem

we may take x and y as positive integers, z = max(x, y) and n = oo for a solution. There are purists who would deny n = oo the right to claim the title of counterexample to Fermat's Last Theorem. Notwithstanding the generous inclusion of the point at infinity in such formalisms as projective geometry, the purists might even doubt that n = cc is decidably an integer. In answer to this objection, we advance the plea that searchers for counterexamples to the Theorem ought to look in the neighborhood of n = oo for a more canonical counterexample, instead of starting with n = 3, where the conjecture seems safe enough. We are presently recruiting Pearys (not Amundsens) of the Riemann sphere to perform the exploration.
Political Consequences of the Middle East’s Islamic Economic Legacy

If the Arab uprisings of 2011 drew massive attention, one reason is that the 22 members of the Arab League form the world’s only bloc of fully undemocratic states. For the Islamic Middle East as a whole (the Arab world plus Iran and Turkey), the leading comparative indicators of political performance all tell a story of restricted personal freedoms, high corruption, and weak rule of law (Table 5.1). Even Turkey, the best political performer according to these measures, has had an imperfect democracy by global standards. Since Turkey’s first democratic elections in 1946, there have been three military coups, and only in 2010 was the watchdog role of the top brass rescinded through a referendum.
A computational quest for Nd2Fe14B-type Ce and Nd phases

Abstract We explore the formation of R2Fe14X (R = Ce, Nd; X = B, C, Al, Si, P, S, Ga, Ge, Zr, Sn) and R2Co14B (R = Ce, Nd) phases having the Nd2Fe14B structure type by means of density functional theory. Only R2Fe14X (R = Ce, Nd; X = B, C) and Nd2Co14B are known to form. Enthalpies of formation ΔHel are derived from calculated electronic total energies, and stability with respect to known binaries and ternaries is investigated to assess prospects for phase formation. With the exception of the X = Zr, Sn materials we find all compounds to be thermodynamically stable with respect to their constituent elements (ΔHel
Patients recall worse preoperative pain after shoulder arthroplasty than originally reported: a study of recall accuracy using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score.

Background Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are valuable tools for quantifying outcomes of orthopedic surgery. However, when baseline scores are not obtained, there is considerable controversy about whether PROMs can be administered retrospectively for patients to recall their preoperative state. We investigated the accuracy of patient recall after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) assessment score. Methods Recalled ASES scores were collected postoperatively at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months from 169 patients who previously completed baseline scores before TSA. The ASES total score was divided into its two subcomponents: functional ability and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. We compared preoperative and recalled scores for each subcomponent and the total ASES score. Results Recalled ASES function scores were comparable to corresponding preoperative scores across all time points (analysis of variance, P = .21), but recalled VAS pain was significantly higher at all time points beyond 6 weeks after surgery ( P = .0001 at 3 months; P = .005 at 6 months; and P = .001 at 12 months). As a result, the ASES total score was only comparable at 6 weeks after surgery ( P = .39) and differed at all time points thereafter. Conclusion Patients are able to recall preoperative function with considerable accuracy for up to 12 months after TSA. However, beyond 6 weeks postoperatively, patients recall having worse pain than they originally reported, and recalled ASES total scores are unreliable as a result.
Multimodality Imaging to Guide Stenting of an Occluded Pulmonary Vein Following Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

A 70-year-old woman with history of symptomatic, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation refractory to flecainide underwent antral pulmonary vein (PV) isolation. The left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV) required additional ablation along the posterior roof to achieve entrance and exit block ([Figure 1A][1
Abstract 2203: Regulation of hedgehog signaling by Mixed Lineage Kinase 3 (MAP3K11) in pancreatic cancer

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDA) remains a most deadly malignancy, with less than 5% survival over 5-year. The treatment of PDA is limited due to lack of multiple drug options, however, Gemcitabine which is widely used for PDA, finally develops resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new pathways that can alternatively be targeted in PDA. Here we report a novel pathway that promotes oncogenic potential of Gli1, an effector of hedgehog pathway (Hh). We recently reported that MLK3 phosphorylates Pin1 on Ser138 site and increases its catalytic activity and nuclear translocation. In order to identify targets of nuclear p-Pin1, we performed cancer specific gene expression profiling and found 13-fold up-regulation of Gli1 transcript, suggesting MLK3-Pin1-Gli1 axis could activate Hh pathway. Indeed we observed that all three proteins were overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cell lines (Panc-1, MiaPaca2, AsPC-I) compared to epithelial (HPDE) cells. Most importantly, MLK3, pMLK3, Pin1 and Gli1 were overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer tissues, compared to normal adjacent tissues. Expression of Pin1 and Gli1 was also higher in tumors from PDA mouse model (KPC mouse). Interestingly, MLK3 was able to directly phosphorylate Gli1 on specific residues and the transcriptional activity of Gli1 was synergistically regulated by Pin1 and MLK3 together, which was partially blocked by MLK3 pan-inhibitor, CEP-1347. CEP-1347 also down-regulated the expression of sonic hedgehog (Shh) in Panc-1 cells suggesting that MLK3 regulates Gli1 signaling at transcriptional and post-translational levels. These results prompted us to identify the ligand(s) that could activate this axis in PDA. Quite interestingly, while doing cytokine/chemokine profiling, specifically regulated by MLK3, we observed about 7-8 folds up regulation of CXCL5 in the liver of WT mice compared to MLK3 KO mice. CXCL5 up regulation was also found in the pancreas of the WT mice. Furthermore, the MLK3 was activated by CXCL5 in pancreatic cancer cell line and MLK3 kinase activities also directly correlated with the reported expression of CXCL5 in different pancreatic cell lines. In conclusion, our findings suggest that pathological activation of MLK3-Pin1 axis by CXCL5, could promote survival of pancreatic cancer cells via Hh pathway activation. Thus targeting CXCL5-MLK3-Pin1-Gli1 axis might abrogate pancreatic cancer cell growth. This work is supported by VA Grant #: BX000312 (AR) and BX000571 (BR). Citation Format: Navin Viswakarma, Gautam Sondarva, Rajakishore Mishra, Rakesh Sathish Nair, Subhasis Das, Basabi Rana, Ajay Rana. Regulation of hedgehog signaling by Mixed Lineage Kinase 3 (MAP3K11) in pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2203. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2203
Biatrial or Left Atrial Lesion Set for Ablation During Mitral Surgery: Risks and Benefits.

Background Controversy exists when performing surgical atrial fibrillation ablation whether there is an increase in postoperative complications using biatrial (BA) lesions compared with only left atrial (LA) lesions, and some studies indicate similar efficacy. This study compares the clinical outcomes of BA and LA ablation lesions in mitral valve surgery patients. Methods From 2004 through 2014, 2,137 patients had mitral valve surgery with or without other surgeries in a single center. Of those, 836 (39%) had preoperative atrial fibrillation, and of those, 724 (86%) underwent atrial fibrillation ablation surgery; 257 patients had BA lesion sets and 359 had LA lesion sets. Propensity score matching of BA and LA patients was performed. Results Baseline differences included more postoperative complications in the BA group, specifically, permanent pacemaker placement (13% versus 7%; p = 0.006). Freedom from atrial fibrillation off antiarrhythmic drugs (72% BA versus 75% LA; p = 0.50), postoperative ablation (7% BA versus 5% LA; p = 0.20), stroke (0.11 versus 0.11 per 10 person-years; p = 0.91), and survival were similar between the groups. After matching, patients in the LA group had a higher freedom from postoperative ablation ( p = 0.015), but no difference in freedom from atrial fibrillation off antiarrhythmic drugs (79% BA versus 69% LA; p = 0.09), and no difference in permanent pacemaker placement (10% versus 12%; p = 0.57). Conclusions Patients undergoing mitral surgery with LA or BA ablation had similar outcomes, survival, and complications. Limiting lesions to the LA is an effective alternative to BA ablation for patients undergoing ablation with concomitant mitral valve surgery.
Binding Site Configurations Probe the Structure and Dynamics of the Zinc Finger of NEMO (NF-κB Essential Modulator).

Zinc-finger proteins are regulators of critical signaling pathways for various cellular functions, including apoptosis and oncogenesis. Here, we investigate how binding site protonation states and zinc coordination influence protein structure, dynamics, and ultimately function, as these pivotal regulatory proteins are increasingly important for protein engineering and therapeutic discovery. To better understand the thermodynamics and dynamics of the zinc finger of NEMO (NF-κB essential modulator), as well as the role of zinc, we present results of 20 μs molecular dynamics trajectories, 5 μs for each of four active site configurations. Consistent with experimental evidence, the zinc ion is essential for mechanical stabilization of the functional, folded conformation. Hydrogen bond motifs are unique for deprotonated configurations yet overlap in protonated cases. Correlated motions and principal component analysis corroborate the similarity of the protonated configurations and highlight unique relationships...
Piecewise Conserved Quantities

We review the treatment of conservation laws in spacetimes that are glued together in various ways, thus adding a boundary term to the usual conservation laws. Several examples of such spacetimes will be described, including the joining of Schwarzschild spacetimes of different masses, and the possibility of joining regions of different signatures. The opportunity will also be taken to explore some of the less obvious properties of Lorentzian vector calculus.
Redefining School Mathematics at Christ’s Hospital 1800–1868

During the period 1800–1868 there was a large increase in the number of pupils at Christ’s Hospital who studied mathematics beyond arithmetic. The school began to offer more mathematics to more students largely because senior Grammar School students needed to become better acquainted with mathematics if they were to have a chance of gaining honours degrees at the University of Cambridge. The RMS continued to exist, and its students continued to follow the traditional RMS curriculum, but, with other elite schools increasingly embracing mathematics beyond arithmetic, it was not long before Christ’s Hospital lost its reputation as having the best school mathematics program in the nation. This chapter explores factors which contributed to the widespread changes in school mathematics at Christ’s Hospital during the period by analyzing answers that the Reverend William Webster—the long-serving head of the Mathematical School—gave, in 1865, to questions asked of him when he appeared before the Taunton Royal Commissioners.
Stressful and traumatic life events as disruptors to antiretroviral therapy adherence.

ABSTRACTStressful and traumatic life events (STLEs) are common among HIV-infected individuals and may affect health behaviors such as adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, with important implications for treatment outcomes. We examined the association between STLEs and ARV adherence among 289 US-based participants enrolled between 7/1/2010 and 9/1/2013 in a study of depression treatment for HIV-infected patients. Participants received monthly telephone calls to assess STLEs and pill count-based ARV adherence. Inverse probability of observation weighting was combined with multiple imputation to address missing data. Participants were mostly male (71%) and black (63%), with a median age of 45 years. Median monthly adherence was 96% (interquartile range (IQR): 85–100%). Participants experienced a mean of 2.48 STLEs (range: 0–14) in the previous month. The presence of ≥2 STLEs was associated with a mean change in adherence of −3.67% (95% confidence interval (CI): −7.12%, −0.21%) and decreased likelihood ...
Sex education and knowledge of pregnancy risk among U.S. teenage women.

Seven in 10 never-married U.S. women aged 15-19 have had a sex education course, almost all of them in school. Young black women are slightly more likely than whites to have had such a course. About half of all never-married teenagers have had courses which included some teaching about modern contraceptive methods; six in 10 have had some formal instruction about VD, and seven in 10 have had courses that included detailed instruction about the monthly menstrual cycle. Six in 10 of those who have had a course with information on the menstrual cycle claim to know the period of greatest pregnancy risk; but only one-third of those who have had such a course can in fact correctly identify the time when the risk of pregnancy is highest. Young white women are nearly two times more likely than blacks to identify the period of risk correctly. Knowledge of the period of risk is a particularly important issue in relation to teenage pregnancy, because many sexually active teenagers say that they do not use contraception because they believe they are protected from the risk of pregnancy by the time of month when they have intercourse. Among those who claim to know the period of greatest risk, a sex education course is the most common source of information for both blacks and whites, with home a distant second. Medical personnel and facilities convey information about pregnancy risk the most effectively, but they are the first source for only a tiny fraction of teenagers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Kinetic Compensations due to Chronic Ankle Instability during Landing and Jumping.

ABSTRACTIntroductionSkeletal muscles absorb and transfer kinetic energy during landing and jumping, which are common requirements of various forms of physical activity. Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is associated with impaired neuromuscular control and dynamic stability of the lower extremity. Lit
Prediction of formation damage at water injection wells due to channelization in unconsolidated formations

Abstract Formation damage due to chemical reactions or mechanical failure of the rock is a well-known issue in the oil and gas industry. In this paper, we look at injectivity changes of water injectors targeting unconsolidated formations as a result of sand channelization. In this situation, sand particles migrate from the formation matrix toward the wellbore and consequently affect permeability of the formation and completion components like frac-packs or gravel-packs. To simulate this phenomenon, we propose a model that decomposes the sand matrix into two different phases by means of their volumetric fractions. The first phase consists of the immobile granular phase while the other is the fraction of grains that are detached from the matrix and carried away by the fluid. The ratio of these two phases evolves over time by means of erosion and deposition. A finite element code for this model is developed and implemented for different reservoir conditions. The results show how local porosity evolves over time around the wellbore by the formation of channels that enhance the flow; however, upon well shut-in, flowback induced by the water hammer effect brings large amounts of sand into the well and fills it up. A study of the effect of frac-packs which are typical completions for wells targeting soft formations is performed to demonstrate potential damage of repetitive shut-ins on injectivity in these wells. The presented model appears as a robust tool to predict sand production for different completion systems to achieve more sustainable injection operations.
Support of New Triage Protocol among Acute Stroke Care Providers

Objective We conducted an online survey to gauge the acceptance of sending acute stroke patients with suspected large vessel occlusion (LVO) directly to an endovascular-capable hospital (ECH) even if that means bypassing a closer alteplase-capable hospital (ACH) without endovascular capability. Methods The survey was composed of two cases of acute stroke, one with cortical symptoms suggestive of LVO and the other without. In each case, responders were asked to choose between triaging to a closer ACH or an ECH that is further away and to provide an opinion regarding the maximum extra travel time they would tolerate if they chose the ECH. The survey was sent electronically to national groups of neurologists, emergency department (ED) physicians, emergency medical service (EMS) directors, and stroke coordinators. Results There were 320 responders from 44 states, most of them with 10 years or more of experience. Most of the responders, 72.5%, chose ECH for the LVO case, while 56% chose ACH for the non-LVO case. There were marked differences in responses by specialty: neurology strongly supported ECH for LVO and strongly supported ACH for non-LVO, most ED and EMS chose ECH for both cases, and stroke coordinators were the least supportive of bypassing ACH. Almost all groups agreed on 30 min as the acceptable extra transfer time to ECH. Conclusion Among the survey responders, there is a broad acceptance of the idea of bypassing ACH and going straight to ECH when LVO is suspected; however, there is less agreement on triaging patients with non-LVO stroke.
Fascial sling to correct male neurogenic sphincter incompetence: the McGuire/Raz approach.

AbstractWe report the surgical approach used in 4 male myelomeningocele patients suffering from severe urinary incontinence owing to poor bladder compliance and sphincter incompetence. While bladder compliance was corrected by enlargement cystoplasty the sphincteric incompetence was treated by an autologous fascial sling around the bladder neck with excellent results. We consider this operation as an alternative to the artificial urinary sphincter in cases of male neurogenic sphincter incontinence.
Secondary sagittal posterior anorectoplasty.

From October 1984 to December 1986, 25 continence-improving operations were performed at the Paediatric Surgical Clinic of the Children’s Hospital, Cologne. Smooth muscle inversion plas-ties were carried out during abdominosacroperineal pull-through procedures in eight neonates. Anterior sagittal anorectoplasties were employed in four female neonates. Secondary conti-nence-improving procedures had to be carried out in 13 patients, with secondary sagittal anterior rectoplasties in 5 instances and posterior sagittal anorectoplasties in another 7 instances. Gracilis transposition according to Pickrell was employed in one boy. Among the seven children who underwent posterior sagittal rectoplasty, there were four patients where remnants of earlier gracilis or gluteus maximus plasties could be additionally used for creation of a continent sphinc-ter apparatus. Among the 13 older patients with secondary continence-improving operations, 7 achieved complete continence and 6 markedly improved continence effecting continence for solid and pultaceous stools, but soiling under stress and diarrhoea. No child remained entirely in-continent.
A modeling strategy to investigate carbonated water injection for EOR and CO2 sequestration

Abstract Carbonated water injection (CWI) has been well investigated to improve oil recovery when compared to other enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques both in the secondary and tertiary modes. Extra oil recovery and CO2 sequestration associated with CWI have been studied through several experimental works. There are not adequate number of modelling studies about the CWI operation in the open sources because of the complex multi-physics involved with the fluid-fluid and fluid-rock interactions during CWI processes. Hence, further experimental and modelling investigations are needed to be conducted on CWI to systematically capture/comprehend the governing physics and complex displacement mechanisms. This research work will focus on the analysis of vital aspects such as oil recovery amount (and mechanisms), fluids distribution, and effects of operational parameters and well placement on the performance of CWI for both EOR and CO2 sequestration purposes. To achieve these objectives, a 3-D heterogenous reservoir model is developed using the experimental data reported in the recent literature. A new approach of using the grid local pressure to model CWI is adopted where the moles of CO2/water are controlled by their injection rates. The dissolution of CO2 in water is modeled by the Henry’s law for each subsequent grid local pressure. In this research, it is found that through CWI, an additional oil recovery can be achieved when compared to plain (conventional) waterflooding (WF) in the secondary recovery mode. A subsequent increase in the injection pressure leads to more dissolution of CO2 and enhancement of the overall performance of CWI. There is an optimum injector rate, which ensures an effective mass transfer across phases. An optimal well orientation will also give a better recovery performance during CWI. The amount of CO2 stored is also illustrated in this work as an additional benefit achieved in the CWI processes.
English Reading Growth in Spanish-Speaking Bilingual Students: Moderating Effect of English Proficiency on Cross-Linguistic Influence.

This study examined the extent to which kindergarten Spanish reading affected English reading growth trajectories through fourth grade among nationally representative Spanish-speaking bilingual students (N = 312) in the United States and whether the association varied by students' English oral proficiency. Multilevel growth curve analyses revealed that stronger early Spanish reading was related to greater English reading growth. Within the stronger Spanish reading group, students with lower English oral proficiency initially began behind their counterparts but caught up with and surpassed them later. Within the weaker Spanish reading group, the difference between lower and higher English oral proficiency groups increased over time. Findings suggest that initially well-developed Spanish reading competence plays a greater role in English reading development than English oral proficiency.
Impact of Alexithymia on Organ Transplant Candidates’ Quality of Life: The Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms:

Solid organ transplant candidates who display alexithymia tend to report psychological distress with some displaying symptoms associated with depression which in turn has a negative impact on their...
Mapping Right-Wing Women’s Policy Priorities in Latin America

ABSTRACTDo right-wing women hold unique policy priorities from that of left-wing women and right-wing men? And do right-wing women legislators represent the priorities of right-wing citizens? Right...
A New Measure of Ensemble Central Tendency

AbstractEnsemble prediction is a widely used tool in weather forecasting. In particular, the arithmetic mean (AM) of ensemble members is used to filter out unpredictable features from a forecast. A...
A residual heat compensation based scan strategy for powder bed fusion additive manufacturing.

Abstract Typical scan strategies for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing systems apply a constant laser power and scan speed. Localized preheating from adjacent scan paths (residual heat) result in inconsistent melt-pool morphology. A new control approach is proposed which compensates the residual heat through laser power adjustment. A model called residual heat factor (RHF) is developed to ‘quantify’ the residual heat effect, and laser power is controlled proportional to this RHF. Experiments are conducted on a custom-controlled LPBF testbed on nickel-alloy (IN625) bare plate, and the effects of this unique scan strategy are investigated by in-situ melt-pool monitoring.
Preparing for the Health Impacts of a Changing Climate

Over the past century, anthropogenic activities have resulted in high levels of greenhouse gases in our environment, creating a warming effect on the Earth. As a result, global temperatures have risen, shifting climatic zones, influencing weather patterns, and intensifying storms. These changes include heavy precipitation, drought, wildfires, hurricanes, heat waves, and coastal flooding. The impacts from this climatic activity continue to contribute negatively to our environment while influencing human health.In this special issue of the North Carolina Medical Journal, authors from universities, governmental agencies, and not-for-profit organizations address how the global impacts of climate change are affecting the health of communities across our beautiful state. This issue offers our readers research and real-life stories that underscore the need for keeping the issue of climate change at the forefront of public health for North Carolina. The information provided in these articles gives policymakers and health care providers a deeper understanding of the public health implications and challenges of climate change while highlighting the health risks to our most susceptible populations.Because there are no direct clinical symptoms or signs, the effects of climate change are difficult to assess at the individual level. However, an abundance of peer-reviewed climate health research studies provides overwhelming scientific evidence that climate change is impacting population health with generalizable results. Mitigation and adaptability strategies are necessary for reducing carbon emissions and building climate-resilient communities. Policymakers and health care providers are in key positions for educating others, helping protect our planet, improving health outcomes, and moving North Carolina toward more sustainable solutions.
Development of a submerged aquatic vegetation growth model in the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere–Wave–Sediment Transport (COAWST v3.4) model

Abstract. The coupled biophysical interactions between submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), hydrodynamics (currents and waves), sediment dynamics, and nutrient cycling have long been of interest in estuarine environments. Recent observational studies have addressed feedbacks between SAV meadows and their role in modifying current velocity, sedimentation, and nutrient cycling. To represent these dynamic processes in a numerical model, the presence of SAV and its effect on hydrodynamics (currents and waves) and sediment dynamics was incorporated into the open-source Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere–Wave–Sediment Transport (COAWST) model. In this study, we extend the COAWST modeling framework to account for dynamic changes of SAV and associated epiphyte biomass. Modeled SAV biomass is represented as a function of temperature, light, and nutrient availability. The modeled SAV community exchanges nutrients, detritus, dissolved inorganic carbon, and dissolved oxygen with the water-column biogeochemistry model. The dynamic simulation of SAV biomass allows the plants to both respond to and cause changes in the water column and sediment bed properties, hydrodynamics, and sediment transport (i.e., a two-way feedback). We demonstrate the behavior of these modeled processes through application to an idealized domain and then apply the model to a eutrophic harbor where SAV dieback is a result of anthropogenic nitrate loading and eutrophication. These cases demonstrate an advance in the deterministic modeling of coupled biophysical processes and will further our understanding of future ecosystem change.
Parental Contributors to the Prevalence and Long-term Health Risks of Family Weight Teasing in Adolescence.

Abstract Purpose Weight teasing from family members is common during adolescence. However, little is known about parental factors that increase adolescents' risk for family weight teasing and its adverse health sequelae. Using multi-informant data from adolescents, mothers and fathers, the current longitudinal study examined how parental concerns about their child's weight and their own weight contribute to family weight teasing in adolescence and its long-term health consequences. Methods Data were collected in the population-based Project EAT 2010–2018 (Eating and Activity over Time) study, following a longitudinal cohort of young people (N = 2,793). Parental weight concerns for their adolescent and themselves were reported by mothers (N = 2,298) and fathers (N = 1,409) at baseline and examined as a predictor of family weight teasing in adolescence as well as a moderator of family weight teasing effects on health eight years later. Results Mothers' and fathers' concerns about their child's weight, as well as mothers' dieting frequency, increased the likelihood of adolescents experiencing family weight teasing. Longitudinal analyses revealed that adolescents teased about their weight by family had higher levels of stress (β = .21, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .09–.33) and substance use (β = .16, 95% CI = .04–.28), and lower self-esteem (β = −.16, 95% CI = −.28 to −.05) in young adulthood. Conclusions Findings highlight parent weight concern, particularly concern for their child's weight, as a risk factor for family weight teasing. These findings underscore the importance of encouraging parental attention to health, rather than weight, in family-based treatment and public health initiatives.
Ergodic sensitivity analysis of one-dimensional chaotic maps

ABSTRACT Sensitivity analysis in chaotic dynamical systems is a challenging task from a computational point of view. In this work, we present a numerical investigation of a novel approach, known as the space-split sensitivity or S3 algorithm. The S3 algorithm is an ergodic-averaging method to differentiate statistics in ergodic, chaotic systems, rigorously based on the theory of hyperbolic dynamics. We illustrate S3 on one-dimensional chaotic maps, revealing its computational advantage over naive finite difference computations of the same statistical response. In addition, we provide an intuitive explanation of the key components of the S3 algorithm, including the density gradient function.
Born to Consume? Some Aspects of Consumer Socialization

Are we born as consumers or we become that during our lifetime? However most of human behavior in developed societies regarded as consumer behavior, we do not born with that knowledge but we rather acquire it step by step during our life. Studying consumer socialization makes it possible to understand the most the process of becoming a consumer, the context how consumers live in the society, what are the facts that have an effect on this process.
High Frequency of Concomitant Bladder, Bowel, and Sexual Symptoms in Huntington's Disease: A Self-Reported Questionnaire Study.

Huntington’s disease (HD) can be associated with pathologic involvement beyond the striatum including the autonomic nervous system. Bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction have been reported independently in HD, but little is known about their concomitant occurrence. To document this concomitant phenomena, forty-eight subjects (54% male, ages 28–74 years, CAG repeat 38–61) with manifest/symptomatic HD completed detailed questionnaires regarding bladder, bowel, and sexual function. In total, 45 subjects (93.8%) reported symptoms in at least one organ system (bladder, bowel, or sexual), 13 (27.1%) reported symptoms in two systems, and 19 (39.6%) reported concomitant symptoms in all three systems. Urinary problems were most frequent in 42 subjects (87.5%) followed by lower bowel (60.4%) and sexual dysfunction (56.2%). Participants reporting concomitant symptoms were more likely to have longer duration of disease and lower Total Functional Capacity (TFC) scores. This study documents the high frequency of bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction in HD and the common occurrence of concomitance of these pelvic organ problems.
Efficient Estimation in Two-Sided Truncated Location Models

For a family of two-sided truncated location distributions, based on the generalized Neyman–Pearson lemma, an upper bound for the asymptotic distributions of the absolute deviations of all asymptotically median unbiased estimators for the location parameter is established, upon which the asymptotic efficiency is defined. Except for the cases in which the density has the same values at the truncation points, it is shown that there is no asymptotically median unbiased estimator to be two-sided asymptotically efficient. An adaptive asymptotically weak admissible median unbiased estimator of the location parameter is also constructed.
Fast Image‐Space Silhouette Extraction for Non‐Photorealistic Landscape Rendering

Landscape illustration, a core visualization technique for field geologists and geomorphologists, employs the parsimonious use of linework to represent surface structure in a straightforward and intuitive manner. Under the rubric of non-photorealistic rendering (NPR), automated procedures in this vein render silhouettes and creases to represent, respectively, view-dependent and view-independent landscape features. This article presents two algorithms and implementations for rendering silhouettes from adaptive tessellations of point-normal (PN) triangles at speeds approaching those suitable for animation. PN triangles use cubic polynomial models to provide a surface that appears smooth at any required resolution. The first algorithm, drawing on standard silhouette detection techniques in surface meshes, builds object space facet adjacencies and image space pixel adjacencies in the graphics pipeline following adaptive tessellation. The second makes exclusive use of image space analysis without referencing the underlying scene world geometry. Other than initial pre-processing operations, recent advances in the OpenGL API allow implementations for both algorithms to be hosted entirely on the graphics processing unit (GPU), eliminating slowdowns through data transfer across the system memory bus. We show that both algorithms provide viable paths to real-time animation of pen and ink style landscape illustrations but that the second demonstrates superior performance over the first.
Coming Out of the Shadows: Rethinking the Education Policy Agenda for Diversity and HBCUs

This chapter discusses how diversity has typically been presented in the HBCU scholarly work, and explores how HBCUs may connect more effectively with the American postsecondary policy agenda.
Health profiles of 996 melanoma survivors: the M. D. Anderson experience

The incidence and survival of melanoma are increasing, but little is known about its long-term health effects in adult survivors. A health survey was available from 996 melanoma survivors (577 treated with surgery alone, and 391 with combined treatments). Their medical/physiologic and psychosocial responses were analyzed and compared with those of the survivors from other cancers. The melanoma survivors were 44.8 ± 12.8 years of age at diagnosis (significantly younger than the survivors of other cancers) and 63.7 ± 12.8 years at survey. Melanoma survivors were less likely to report that cancer had affected their health than survivors of other cancers (15.8% vs. 34.9%). The 577 individuals treated with surgery alone reported arthritis/osteoporosis, cataracts, and heart problems most frequently (less often than survivors of other cancers). The 391 individuals who had undergone combined treatments reported circulation problems and kidney problems generally as often as survivors of other cancers. Health problems were not associated with number of decades since diagnosis but with age at diagnosis, treatment modality, and family relationships. We present information from a large cohort of long-term survivors of melanoma. As a group, they were less likely to report that cancer had affected their overall health than survivors of other cancers; a number of disease related and psychosocial factors appear to influence their health profiles.
Optimizing Electrode Placement for Hemodynamic Benefit in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Background: Research is needed to explore the relative benefits of alternative electrode placements in biventricular and left ventricular (LV) pacing for heart failure with left bundle branch block (LBBB). Methods: A fast computational model of the left ventricle, running on an ordinary laptop computer, was created to simulate the spread of electrical activation over the myocardial surface, together with the resulting electrocardiogram, segmental wall motion, stroke volume, and ejection fraction in the presence of varying degrees of mitral regurgitation. Arbitrary zones of scar and blocked electrical conduction could be modeled. Results: Simulations showed there are both sweet spots and poor spots for LV electrode placement, sometimes separated by only a few centimeters. In heart failure with LBBB, pacing at poor spots can produce little benefit or even reduce pumping effectiveness. Pacing at sweet spots can produce up to 35% improvement in ejection fraction. Relatively larger benefit occurs in dilated hearts, in keeping with the greater disparity between early and late activated muscle. Sweet spots are typically located on the basal to midlevel, inferolateral wall. Poor spots are located on or near the interventricular septum. Anteroapical scar with conduction block causes little shift in locations for optimal pacing. Hearts with increased passive ventricular compliance and absence of preejection mitral regurgitation exhibit greater therapeutic gain. The durations and wave shapes of QRS complexes in the electrocardiogram can help predict optimum electrode placement in real time. Conclusions: Differences between poor responders and hyperresponders to cardiac resynchronization therapy can be understood in terms of basic anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology. Computational modeling suggests general strategies for optimal electrode placement. In a given patient heart size, regional pathology and regional dynamics allow individual pretreatment planning to target optimal electrode placement. (PACE 2012; 35:1135–1145)
Programmable Control Language for building automation

The authors describe the Programmable Control Language (PCL) which is designed to be a BASIC-like computer language that the user can use to reduce energy consumption in his building complex. The language was designed to be as similar to BASIC as it could be and still incorporate special functions that can be used by the user. The compiler is a two-pass compiler that generates intermediate code which is executed on the PCL processor task. The main part of the system is the Intel 310-35 microcomputer system. The language used to develop the PCL compiler was PL/M-86; the operating system is iRMX-88 Intel. The authors explain the design and implementation of the PCL language and the compiler for the language. >
Scaling of flames above free-burning structural models

An experimental and theoretical study of the modeling of free-burning structures is described. A model of buoyancy-controlled flames with nonturbulent flow at the base of the flames is developed and compared with experimental data obtained by burning compartmented structural models. The flame model predicts the same type of maximum-flame-height correlations as those previously developed empirically for large cribs, and it successfully correlates such burning characteristics for compartmented structural models, ranging in cubical size from 1 to 12 in. Useful empirical correlations are also developed for burning rate and burning time.
The Effect of Family Member Migration on Education and Work Among Nonmigrant Youth in Mexico

While academic and policy circles have given much attention to the assimilatory experiences of Mexican immigrants in the United States, less is known about those who stay behind-an especially unfortunate oversight given the increasing number of Mexican youth with migrant family members. Of the studies on this topic, most have sought to identify the effect that migration has on youths' migratory and educational aspirations, often using qualitative methods in individual sending communities. The present article supplements this research in two ways: (1) in addition to assessing educational outcomes, the scope of the analysis is expanded to include nonmigrant' interaction with another homeland institution of upward mobility: the labor market; and (2) using a large demographic data set, statistical techniques are employed to adjust for unobserved selectivity into the migrant family-member population, thus accounting for a potentially serious source of bias. The results suggest that youth in migrant-sending families are less likely to complete the educational transitions leading up to postsecondary school and have a lower probability of participating in the local economy. The results also indicate that unobserved factors play a "nonignorable" role in sorting youth into migrant and nonmigrant families.
Generalized Bending of a Large, Shear Deformable Isotropic Plate Containing a Circular Hole or Rigid Inclusion

The problem of a large isotropic plate with a circular hole or rigid circular inclusion is considered here. The plate experiences transverse shear deformation and is subjected to an arbitrary bending field. By using Reissner's plate theory, a general solution, in terms of Poisson's ratio v. a geometric ratio, and bending moment ratio B, is obtained to satisfy both the boundary conditions along the edge and at great distances from the edge. The stress couple concentration factors are calculated and compared with classical plate theory, three-dimensional elasticity theory, higher-order plate theory, and an experimental result.
Economic Analysis of Thermal Energy Storage Systems

This paper describes an investigation of the economic performance of a central chiller plant with thermal energy storage (TES) operating in a hotel in California and an office building in Wisconsin for the following three conventional control strategies: chiller-priority, constant-proportion, and storage-priority control. Since all control strategies depend on properly selected design parameters, the storage and chiller capacities as the primary design parameters were varied over a wide range, and the life-cycle economic feasibility of each possible design was assessed over a 20-year economic life using the net present value method. Measured cooling and weather data for both buildings were used in annual calculations to determine annual utility cost savings on the basis of one of four artificial rate structures. Trends in the life-cycle economic performance of TES systems as a function of chiller and storage capacities were revealed, and design guidelines were developed.
Effects of steroid hormones on seasonally altered toad myocardium

Abstract 1. 1. The mechanical responses of the myocardium of the toad, Bufo marinas, to treatment with dexamethasone (DEX) or ACTH were monitored during the course of the year. 2. 2. During the cold winter months, between November and February, the mechanical and electrical performance of the heart were depressed, as reported earlier from this laboratory. In contrast, hearts of hormone-treated animals developed significantly higher contractile tension as well as increased velocities of contraction and relaxation during this same period. 3. 3. During the cold season, hearts from hormone-treated animals were responsive to an increased calcium concentration in the bathing medium as well as to the addition of epinephrine. However, the hearts from control, untreated animals did not respond to high calcium but did respond to epinephrine. 4. 4. As the cold season ended and spring began, the responses of hearts from untreated animals approached those of the hormone-treated group and in summer the responses of the two groups were indistinguishable. 5. 5. The responses of hearts from ACTH-treated animals were similar to if not identical with those of dexamethasone-treated animals. 6. 6. Based upon these observations, it is suggested that steroid hormones play an important role in the control and maintenance of myocardial functions.
The Effect of Anoxia and Glucose-Free Solutions on the Contractile Response of Guinea-Pig Detrusor Strips to Intrinsic Nerve Stimulation and the Application of Excitatory Agonists

AbstractPurpose: To study the effects of anoxia and substrate depletion, both separately and combined, on the contractile responses of guinea-pig detrusor smooth muscle strips to activation of intrinsic nerves, application of agonists and depolarization with high potassium solution.Materials and Methods: Bladders were opened and the urothelium removed. Strips of detrusor were dissected and mounted for tension recording in small organ baths superfused with warmed solutions of known composition.Results: Anoxia caused a small initial reduction of the contractile responses which then remained constant for several hours. Glucose-free solutions resulted in a slow progressive decline in the responses to field stimulation, carbachol and high potassium solution, with substantial responses still present after five hours. The response to ATP, however, was unaffected. Removal of oxygen and glucose, mimicking ischaemia, caused abolition of all responses within an hour. After reintroduction of normal conditions respons...
Determination of chloral hydrate metabolites in human plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Chloral hydrate (CH) is a widely used sedative. Its pharmacological and toxicological effects are directly related to its metabolism. Prior investigations of CH metabolism have been limited by the lack of analytical techniques sufficiently sensitive to identify and quantify metabolites of CH in biological fluids. In this study a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method was developed and validated for determining CH and its metabolites, monochloroacetate (MCA), dichloroacetate (DCA), trichloroacetate (TCA) and total trichloroethanol (free and glucuronidated form, TCE and TCE-Glu) in human plasma. Of these, DCA and MCA are newly identified metabolites in humans. The drug, its plasma metabolites and an internal standard, 4-chlorobutyric acid (CBA), were derivatized to their methyl esters by reacting with 12% boron trifluoride-methanol complex (12% BF3-MeOH). The reaction mixture was extracted with methylene chloride and analyzed by GC/MS, using a selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The quantitation limits of MCA, DCA, TCA, and TCE were between 0.12 and 7.83 microM. The coefficients of variation were between 0.58 and 14.58% and the bias values ranged between -10.03 and 14.37%. The coefficients of linear regression were between 0.9970 and 0.9996.
Standing spinwave modes and source of inhomogeneities in thin films

Abstract The volume inhomogeneities of the internal field in thin ferromagnetic films having compositions ranging from 91Ni-9Fe to 75Ni-25Fe have been found to change upon annealing at 400°C in vacuum for 15 min. The resulting changes in static demagnetization field, H p , the variation in H D across the thickness of the film and the exchange constant, D , indicate that the variation in H D arises from surface source (such as nonflat surfaces) rather than from changes in M s throughout the film.