cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Child abuse and neglect reporting laws: Understanding interests, understanding policy

This article focuses on the interests of the persons involved in the child abuse and neglect reporting process--(1) the child, the accused, and the family members of the child and of the accused; (2) physicians, psychologists, therapists, private agency and hospital social workers, educators, and other professionals; (3) law enforcement officers, state social service workers, lawyers, and judges; and (4) legislators. With this focus, the article illuminates the rationales and explicit and implicit policy choices reflected in the legislation's reporting requirements and processes. Such insight is necessary to a critical review of existing legislation and future improvements in the practical operation of reporting law legislation. This article demonstrates that the interaction of these interests is complex and often creates competing concerns and goals. This article concludes that efforts should be made to better harmonize these interests in future legislation. Language: en
Minimally invasive surgery and clinical decision-making for pediatric malignancy

Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is an ideal way to obtain biopsy specimens in children with cancer. We examined the safety, reliability and outcome of decisions made based on tissue obtained using MIS.
Sorption-Induced Swelling of Tire-Derived Aggregate: Experimental Study

This paper documents experiments conducted to examine the time-dependent, one-dimensional swelling response of loaded granular packs composed of metal-free tire-derived aggregate (TDA) inundated with organic liquids. The results indicate that the magnitude and rate of sorption-induced swell are dependent on the fluid type and on the stress imposed at the time of inundation.
Atomistic analysis of the enhanced-modulus effect in metallic superlattices.

Experimental reports of large enhancements (severalfold) in certain elastic moduli of compositionally modulated transition-metal--noble-metal superlattices have appeared over the last decade. Two general classes of explanations have been proposed for this effect; one depends upon changes in the electronic structure resulting from the superlattice periodicity, whereas the other is based on nonlinear elastic effects driven by the coherency strain of the strained-layer superlattice structures. An atomistic analysis of the elastic properties of a Cu/Ni superlattice has been carried out to differentiate between these ideas. In the case of Cu/Ni superlattices with (100) interfaces and two, four, or six monolayers in each layer, we find roughly a 15% enhancement in the biaxial stretching modulus, compared to the reported severalfold enhancement. The observed enhancement is therefore not due to nonlinear elastic effects driven by coherency strain or interfacial energetics, but probably results from electronic effects associated with the superlattice periodicity.
Cost of Cancer Clinical Trials in Elderly Patients

Of all cancers, > 50% currently occur in individuals >or= 65 years of age and this figure is expected to rise to 70% by 2030, due to a progressive expansion of the older population [1]. Clinical trials are needed in order to establish the benefits and risks of antineoplastic treatment in older individuals. It is reasonable to expect that the costs of these trials may be higher than in younger individuals, as older patients are more vulnerable to therapeutic complications and may need more supportive care, and the benefits of treatment may be less because of a reduced life-expectancy and competitive causes of death [2]. This article explores a cost-effective approach to clinical trials in older individuals, after reviewing the basic concepts of economic analysis and unique aspects of geriatric oncology that may affect the cost of treatment. In the process, the cost differences of cancer treatment in younger and older patients will be explored.
Developmental vasculotoxicity associated with inhibition of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase

Abstract The endogenous substrate(s) and physiological function(s) of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), a group of enzymes exhibiting highest activity in vascular smooth muscle cells of the mammalian aortic wall, remain undetermined. This study examines the pathophysiological effects in the thoracic aortic wall resulting from specific in vivo SSAO inhibition. Weanling Sprague–Dawley rats were treated acutely or chronically with either semicarbazide hydrochloride or the allylamine derivatives MDL-72274 or MDL-72145 (Marion Merrell Dow Research Institute, Cincinnati, OH). Treatment with these compounds produced acute (6 and 24 h) and chronic (21 day) lowering of SSAO activity in aorta and lung with little effect on the activity of the vital matrix-forming enzyme, lysyl oxidase, in aortas of chronically treated animals. Chronic SSAO inhibition produced lesions consisting of striking disorganization of elastin architecture within the aortic media accompanied by degenerative medial changes and metaplastic changes in vascular smooth muscle cells. No significant difference in the total weight of dry, lipid-extracted aortic elastin and collagen components were observed between chronically SSAO inhibited and control animals. However, the amount of mature elastin was lowered and mature collagen was raised in the aortas of animals treated chronically with semicarbazide. Descending thoracic aortic rings isolated from chronically SSAO-inhibited animals had larger cross-sectional diameters (i.e., exhibited dilation) when compared to corresponding rings from control animals. This study demonstrates that developmental toxicity, characterized by striking vascular lesions and dilated thoracic aortas, can result from specific in vivo SSAO inhibition, suggesting a role for SSAO in connective tissue matrix development and maintenance, and specifically in the development of normal elastin.
Production of cyclic AMP and adenosine by the brain and prothoracic glands of Manduca sexta.

Abstract Relatively large amounts of cyclic AMP are produced by the prothoracic glands (source of the insect moulting hormone or moulting hormone percursor) of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Pharate pupal glands produce more cyclic AMP than early fifth instar larval glands, and the addition of aminophylline enhances cyclic AMP accumulation. The much lower cyclic AMP level in the absence of aminophylline indicates the presence of potent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity. Brains (sources of the prothoracicotropic hormone) also produce cyclic AMP but at a lower rate. Brains efficiently produce adenosine from ATP while β-ecdysone inhibits adenosine formation in early fifth instar larval brains. β-Ecdysone stimulates adenyl cyclase in brains of both stages when aminophylline and fluoride are present but has no effect on cyclic AMP accumulation in prothoracic glands. The absence of fluoride greatly reduces the amount of cyclic AMP produced by prothoracic glands when aminophylline is present. No cyclic AMP is accumulated in prothoracic glands when both fluoride and aminophylline are absent or in brains when fluoride is absent, notwithstanding the presence of aminophylline. Other insect tissues were also analysed for cyclic AMP production and none showed levels nearly as high as the prothoracic glands, suggesting a close relationship between cyclic AMP production and the function of the gland.
Qualitative Analysis of Common Definitions for Core Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences

Objective. To determine how colleges and schools of pharmacy interpreted the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education’s (ACPE’s) Standards 2007 definitions for core advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs), and how they differentiated community and institutional practice activities for introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs) and APPEs. Methods. A cross-sectional, qualitative, thematic analysis was done of survey data obtained from experiential education directors in US colleges and schools of pharmacy. Open-ended responses to invited descriptions of the 4 core APPEs were analyzed using grounded theory to determine common themes. Type of college or school of pharmacy (private vs public) and size of program were compared. Results. Seventy-one schools (72%) with active APPE programs at the time of the survey responded. Lack of strong frequent themes describing specific activities for the acute care/general medicine core APPE indicated that most respondents agreed on the setting (hospital or inpatient) but the student experience remained highly variable. Themes were relatively consistent between public and private institutions, but there were differences across programs of varying size. Conclusion. Inconsistencies existed in how colleges and schools of pharmacy defined the core APPEs as required by ACPE. More specific descriptions of core APPEs would help to standardize the core practice experiences across institutions and provide an opportunity for quality benchmarking.
The Pupil as a Paradigm for Neurological Control Systems

Mathematical models of the pupiflary system were introduced in connection with the control or transfer function analysis of the pupil reflex to light by Stark and Sherman [1] and by Stark [2], [3]. Indeed, the pupil was the paradigm for the application of control theory to a biological system. We review here: 1) the pupil as a control system for light, 2) high gain oscillations, 3) noise, 4) kernel identification of nonlinearities, and 5) experimental evidence for heuristic nonlinear models.
Molecular typing for investigating an outbreak of Candida krusei

Invasive infections due to Candida krusei are often observed in immunocompromised patients who have received prior therapy with fluconazole, although infection has also occurred in patients in the absence of this antifungal agent. From August 25 through September 19, 1995, we identified four patients with C. krusei fungemia on our hematology/oncology unit. Molecular typing of all the isolates was performed by restriction endonuclease analysis of genomic DNA using HinfI. A total of 7 patients found to be colonized or infected with C. krusei were matched with 14 controls. There was no difference between the cases and controls with respect to underlying disease, duration of hospitalization, or neutropenia. The numbers of days of hyperalimentation, corticosteroids, and antibiotics were similar between both groups. The mean number of antibiotics was greater in the cases versus controls (5.0 versus 2.5; p = .003). There was no difference with respect to total dose or duration of fluconazole administration. Molecular typing of the isolates revealed that four had identical DNA banding patterns, plus another two that differed by one band and were considered related. Three historical strains were unrelated. In conclusion, this report demonstrates that molecular typing can be used to define clonality and, thereby, support increased infection control practices to eliminate such outbreaks when evidence of clonal spread is present.
2-azido-[32P]NAD+, a photoactivatable probe for G-protein structure: Evidence for holotransducin oligomers in which the ADP-ribosylated carboxyl terminus of α interacts with both α and γ subunits

A radioactive and photoactivatable derivative of NAD+, 2-azido-[adenylate-32P]NAD+, has been synthesized and used with pertussis toxin to ADP-ribosylate Cys347 of the alpha subunit (alpha T) of GT, the retinal guanine nucleotide-binding protein. ADP-ribosylation of alpha T followed by light activation of the azide moiety of 2-azido-[adenylate-32P]ADP-ribose produced four crosslinked species involving the alpha and gamma subunits of the GT heterotrimer: an alpha trimer (alpha-alpha-alpha), and alpha-alpha-gamma crosslink, an alpha dimer (alpha-alpha), and an alpha-gamma crosslink. The alpha trimer, alpha-alpha-gamma complex, alpha dimer, and alpha-gamma complexes were immunoreactive with alpha T antibodies. The alpha-alpha-gamma and the alpha-gamma complexes were immunoreactive with antisera recognizing gamma subunits. No evidence was found for crosslinking of alpha T to beta T subunits. Hydrolysis of the thioglycosidic bond between Cys347 and 2-azido-[adenylate-32P]ADP-ribose using mercuric acetate resulted in the transfer of radiolabel from Cys347 of alpha T in the crosslinked oligomers to alpha monomers, indicative of intermolecular photocrosslinking, and to gamma monomers, indicative of either intermolecular crosslinked complexes (between heterotrimers) or intramolecular crosslinked complexes (within the heterotrimer). These results demonstrate that GT exists as an oligomer and that ADP-ribosylated Cys347, which is four residues from the alpha T-carboxyl terminus, is oriented toward and in close proximity to the gamma subunit.
The effect of processing on the microstructure and texture of slab cast C415 alloy variants

Alloy C415 is a candidate material for high speed civil transport application. The alloy is essentially a modification of alloy 2519 and contains Al-Cu-Mg with Ag, Mn and Zr addition. The excellent mechanical properties associated with the alloy has been attributed to the presence of Ag and Mg, which promotes the precipitation of hexagonal shaped plates of {Omega} phase on {l_brace}111{r_brace} planes. In this study, two C415 alloy variants were produced via slab casting, and thermomechanical processed into sheets. This investigation is focused on understanding the effects of (a) homogenization and (b) minor Ti addition on the development of microstructure and texture in two slab cast C415 alloy variants. The difference between the alloy variants was a minor Ti (0.15 wt %) addition in one variant. Although, there are numerous reports on deformation and recrystallization, the combined effects of processing and alloy composition on microstructure and texture is not very clear. For instance, there is evidence that minor addition of Mg, and Zn in Al alloys decrease the temperature for recrystallization, but the corresponding information on the effect on texture is sketchy. Varying the amount of alloying elements may influence the deformation texture through the lowering of the stacking faultmore » energy or result in the development of totally new (recrystallization) texture components.« less
Hepatitis B in Children

1. Adam R. Davis, MD* 2. Philip Rosenthal, MD† 1. *Clinical Fellow, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of California, San Francisco, Calif 2. †Professor of Pediatrics and Surgery; Medical Director, Pediatric Liver Transplant Program; Director, Pediatric Hepatology, University of California, San Francisco, Calif After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the structure of the hepatitis B virus and the function of its proteins. 2. Delineate the mode of transmission of the virus and identify at-risk populations. 3. Interpret the results of screening laboratory tests for hepatitis B. 4. Describe the various disease presentations and the natural history and complications of chronic hepatitis B infection. 5. List the currently approved therapies for hepatitis B and identify when patients are most likely to benefit from intervention. 6. List the current recommendations for immunoprophylaxis in infants, children, and adolescents. One third of the world's population has been infected by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), causing an enormous worldwide burden of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the virus can infect people of any age, those who are infected perinatally or as children are at greatest risk for developing the potentially fatal complications of the infection. Approval of the hepatitis B vaccine in 1982 has been the most important development in the clinical approach to this virus, changing the major goal from treatment to prevention. In this article, we review the nature of the virus, its epidemiology, serologic markers of disease, clinical manifestations of infection, the prevention of transmission, and current treatments. HBV is a member of the hepadnavirus family, which is named for its hepatotropic nature and its double DNA genome. It is the only member of the family that causes disease in humans. The virion has two forms: an empty envelope that does not have the potential to infect or replicate and a complete virion. The complete virion is comprised of an envelope containing the capsid, a DNA polymerase, and the viral DNA (Figure⇓). The DNA is 3.2 kilobases long and circular. Hepadnaviruses are unique among DNA viruses in that they are partially double-stranded and …
Effect of temperature on colostrometer readings for estimation of immunoglobulin concentration in bovine colostrum.

Effect of temperature on colostrometer readings for estimation of immunoglobulin concentration in bovine colostrum was investigated. Twenty-five colostrum samples were collected within 24 h postpartum from Holstein cows. Immunoglobulin concentration of colostrum was measured using a colostrometer through 5'C increments from 0 to 40°C. Two technicians measured independently a total of 225 samples. The agreement between technicians' readings was high (r = .98); thus, readings were averaged and used in regression analysis. A final regression model explained 92.5% of the total variation: corrected reading at 20°C = uncorrected reading 13.2 + .8 x temperature ("C). The regression equation was used to develop a conversion chart for practical field use. (Key words: colostrometer, colostral immunoglobulin, temperature)
Empirical consciousness explained: Self-affection, (self-)consciousness and perception in the B deduction

Few of Kant's doctrines are as difficult to understand as that of self-affection. Its brief career in the published literature consists principally in its unheralded introduction in the Transcendental Aesthetic and unexpected reappearance at a key moment in the Deduction chapter in the second (B) edition of the first Critiqued After blazing its trail, self-affection retreats into the background, with a discussion befitting its importance occurring only in the unfinished Opus postumum. 1 This step out of the limelight, however, belies the doctrine's continued importance for Kant; indeed, Kant seemed to think that in self-affection was to be found the key to the project that occupied him in his last years. Thus, 'the possibility of the transition from the metaphysical foundations of natural science to physics does not consist in the fact that the subject is empirically affected but rather that it affects itself (Opus postumum, 22: 405). As he continued to struggle with this doctrine and with the pivot-point on which to work this vital transition, Kant himself would surely come to rue his confident statement in the B Deduction: 'I do not see how one can find so many difficulties in the fact that inner sense is affected by ourselves' (B156n). Kant's commentators, confronted with the difficulty of this doctrine, have naturally resorted to various strategies of clarification, ranging from distinguishing between empirical and transcendental self-affection, divorcing self-affection from the claims of self-knowledge with which Kant explicitly connects it, and, perhaps least justified of all, ignoring the doctrine altogether. Yet, in particular, the connection between self-affection and central Critical doctrines marks all of these strategies as last resorts, as these commentators themselves are well aware. Self-affection's
Equalizing Exchange: Trade Liberalization and Income Convergence

How does movement toward freer trade affect income disparity among countries? This paper attempts to shed some light on the issue by examining episodes of major postwar trade hberalization within specified groups of countries. The findings suggest a strong link between the timing of trade reform and income convergence among countries.
Using Photographs to Assess Equity Climate: A Taxonomy

Many of us have experienced walking into an environment and immediately feeling a “sense of belonging” and a “sense of comfort.” Conversely, many of us have also experienced walking into an environ...
Effects of stimulus duration on processing lateralized faces

Observers indicated whether a single probe face presented to the left or right visual field was contained in a positive set of five male faces. In one task the distractor (i.e., negative) stimuli were also male faces, and in another task the distractor stimuli were female faces. For both tasks, reducing stimulus duration from 200 msec to 20 msec increased the percentage of errors, but for neither the percentage of errors nor the reaction time was there any stimulus duration × visual field interaction. In conjunction with earlier experiments using these same tasks, the results indicate that reducing stimulus duration does not have the same effect on visual laterality as does imposing a visual noise mask. These results pose problems for models predicting that a reduction in stimulus perceptibility per se produces a change in hemispheric asymmetry for face processing.
Planarization and Processing of Metamorphic Buffer Layers Grown by Hydride Vapor-Phase Epitaxy

Hydride vapor-phase epitaxy (HVPE) is a high-growth-rate, cost-effective means to grow epitaxial semiconductor material. Thick HVPE-based metamorphic buffer layers (MBLs) can serve as “pseudosubstrates” with controllable lattice parameter. In our structures, the indium content in InxGa1−xAs is gradually increased from zero to the final composition corresponding to the desired lattice constant, and then a thick (∼10 μm) constant-composition capping layer is grown. This thick capping layer promotes maximum strain relaxation while permitting use of polishing procedures to achieve surface planarity. Lattice-mismatched growth of MBLs invariably results in rough, cross-hatched surface morphology exhibiting up to 200 nm peak-to-valley roughness. This roughness can be eliminated by chemical mechanical planarization, thus creating a suitable surface for subsequent regrowth. Polishing of InxGa1−xAs is complicated by the sensitivity of the surface layer to the polishing parameters, particularly the applied pressure. Polishing at high applied pressure (12 psi) results in the formation of circular asperities hundreds of nanometers high and tens of microns in diameter. When lower applied pressure (4 psi) was used, the cross-hatching height of MBLs was lowered from 200 nm to <10 nm over a 350 μm lateral scale. The successfully planarized In0.20Ga0.80As MBLs were used as a substrate for a superlattice (SL) structure such as that used in quantum cascade lasers. Use of planarization before regrowth of the SL resulted in a reduction of the high-resolution x-ray diffraction peak full-width at half-maximum from 389″ to 159″.
Energy Partitioning in Largemouth Bass under Conditions of Seasonally Fluctuating Prey Availability

Abstract Allocation of consumed energy by largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides into their major physiological processes was determined to investigate mechanisms by which these predators maintain condition (overall health) in a system with a seasonally fluctuating prey base. Consumed energy is partitioned into growth, energy storage, and gonads according to temporal prey availability, metabolic demands, and reproductive needs. Throughout minimum-feeding periods in the winter and early spring, largemouth bass utilize energy from visceral fat and body protein for standard metabolic demands and gonad development. Catabolism of energy from body tissue during the winter was less than 33% of standard metabolic demands, indicating that some consumption had to occur during the winter. The calculated activity metabolism of largemouth bass ranged from 18 to 144% of standard metabolism depending on time of year and sex. Parallel trends of activity metabolism and consumption over the year suggest that foraging costs ...
An error correcting model of farmland prices

Granger has demonstrated that if two variables are integrated of order one and are conitegrated, they can be modelled as having been generated by an error correction mechanism. Cointegration and error correction systems allow long-run components of variables to obey equilibrium constraints while short-run components are allowed to have flexible dynamic specification. Using data from five Corn Belt States in the US, we show that farmland prices and cash rents are each integrated of order one and are model is estimated. The error correction term is found to be significant in both equations, indicating Granger causality running in both directions. Historical simulation of the model is performed. The price equation peroformed better although both equations simulate reasonably well.
Microbiological and immunologic considerations with aerosolized drug delivery.

The development of drug resistance is a major theoretical concern with the long-term delivery of aerosolized antibiotics via inhalation. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, which compared inhaled tobramycin plus standard cystic fibrosis (CF) care to placebo plus standard CF care, examined the following microbiological parameters: percentage of patients with at least one Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) strain with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) > 16 μg/mL ( ie , the breakpoint for tobramycin resistance delivered by the parenteral route); changes in the levels of the lowest concentration required to inhibit the growth of 50% of strains tested (MIC 50 ) and 90% of strains tested (MIC 90 ); the percentage of patients with an increase, decrease, or change in the MIC of the most resistant and most prevalent PA strains; and the percentage of patients in whom the PA strain with the highest MIC also was the most prevalent. During the first 6 months, which included three on-drug and off-drug cycles of 4 weeks' duration each, the percentage of tobramycin-treated patients with at least one PA isolate and with an MIC > 16 μg/mL was 13% at baseline, 26% at 20 weeks, and 23% at 24 weeks vs 10%, 17%, and 8%, respectively, for placebo-treated patients. No significant change was observed in MIC 50 at 20 and 24 weeks. The increase in MIC 90 was not statistically significant. At 24 weeks, there was no increase in the percentage of patients in either group in whom the PA strain with the highest MIC became most the prevalent strain. After the third on-drug cycle, 33% of the tobramycin group showed an increase in the MIC of the strain with the highest MIC. This decreased to 26% after 1 month off drug therapy. A preliminary analysis of the 12-month and 18-month data showed a decrease in the proportion of resistant PA isolates after each off-drug cycle. This return to susceptibility following an off-drug cycle was not observed at 24 months. The mechanism of resistance in this setting is believed to be increased impermeability to drug. At all time points, pulmonary function improved even in patients with MICs of ≥ 128 μg/mL. At 6 months, no increase was seen in the rates of superinfection with tobramycin-resistant, Gram-negative pathogens. Increases in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were detected in patients after 18 and 24 months of tobramycin therapy and were similar to those rates in patients receiving placebo. These rates may be independent of inhalation therapy.
Texas Charter School Legislation and the Evolution of Open-Enrollment Charter Schools.

This article chronicles the evolution of legislation for Texas open-enrollment charter schools to their implementation by demonstrating how these schools have (or have not) used their freedom from state-mandated requirements to develop innovative learning environments as well as to bring innovative curricula into the classroom. The investigative focus was on an analysis of Texas open-enrollment charter school legislation, from 1995 (74th legislative session) to the 77th legislative session in 2001, and the characteristics of the state's 159 open-enrollment charter schools that were in operation during the 2001-2002 academic year. The authors found that charter school legislation has changed in response to concerns of all involved, and focuses on the need for balance between choice, innovation, and public accountability. Although charter schools are free from most state regulations, legislators were clearly interested in ensuring that this freedom does not impede charter schools' ability to provide a quality education to all students who attend them. The currently operating open-enrollment charter schools in Texas are more racially and economically segregated than other public schools in the state, and charter schools that targeted students most at risk for dropping out of school (and returning students who had previously dropped out) differ from other schools in their stated teaching methods. Teacher turnover remains significantly greater than that for other public schools in the state. However, it does not appear to be specifically associated with schools that target disadvantaged students or minority students. The schools' mission statements suggest that innovative school environments are a factor in school design. Texas is poised to continue along the public education choice model. Charter school legislation provides a framework upon which charter schools may build to meet the educational needs of the students who choose to attend them, including the freedom to be creative in meeting students' unique needs. Questions remain about how and why charter schools exist and the contributions they make to the overall public school system, including whether charters are making a difference in what and how much children are learning.
Explaining a Complex Disease Process: Talking to Patients about Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) in Brazil

Patient explanatory models of Hansen's disease (leprosy) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, tend to be syntheses of folk models of illness and health, biomedical models to which patients are exposed at different stages in the treatment process, and individual patient experiences of illness. The sensitive presentation of biomedical information about Hansen's disease to patients has the potential to increase adherence to treatment programs and increase patient confidence in the biomedical system. Conversely, withholding or poor presentation of biomedical information can create misunderstanding and confusion for patients. In this article, I explore the ways in which people who are affected by Hansen's disease in Rio de Janeiro learn about different aspects of their illness and its treatment from health care professionals.
Social context and the lack of sexual dimorphism in song in an avian cooperative breeder

Elaborate male traits are typically used to attract mates and to compete with other males for mating opportunities. However, similarly ornate secondary sexual characteristics are also found in females in many species and may be used in competition in both sexual and nonsexual contexts. Trait elaboration in females may be particularly important in cooperatively breeding species where reproduction is monopolized by a few individuals in a group and where both sexes must compete for these limited mating opportunities. Previous work in African starlings has shown that females in cooperatively breeding species are larger and more ornamented than those in noncooperative species, resulting in reduced plumage and size dimorphism. To further examine patterns of sexual dimorphism in signalling traits and to better understand their role in mediating social competition, we investigated the form and function of song in cooperatively breeding superb starlings, Lamprotornis superbus. In addition to comparing song between sexes, we contrasted song in dominant breeders and subordinate helpers of both sexes and examined its use in various social contexts. We found that song was indistinguishable between males and females, with both sexes showing similar complexity, pitch, versatility and structure. However, the song of breeders was more versatile than that of helpers. Moreover, song structure differed when birds sang in chorus from when they sang alone. These findings suggest that, like male song, female song may be used in social competition, and that song may be an important signal in both sexes in species
Arginine dynamics in a membrane-bound cationic beta-hairpin peptide from solid-state NMR.

The site-specific motion of Arg residues in a membrane-bound disulfide-linked antimicrobial peptide, protegrin-1 (PG-1), is investigated using magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR, to better understand the membrane insertion and lipid interaction of this cationic membrane-disruptive peptide. C-H and N-H dipolar couplings and 13C chemical shift anisotropies were measured in the anionic POPE/POPG membrane and found to be reduced from the rigid-limit values by varying extents, indicating the presence of segmental motion. An Arg residue at the β-turn region of the peptide shows much weaker spin interactions, indicating larger amplitudes of motion, than an Arg residue in the β-strand region of the peptide. This is consistent with the exposure of the β-turn to the membrane surface and the immersion of the β-strand in the hydrophobic middle of the membrane, and supports the previously proposed oligomerization of the peptide into β-barrels in the anionic membrane. 13C T2 and 1H T1ρ relaxation times indicate that the β-turn backbone undergoes large-amplitude intermediate-timescale motion in the fluid phase of the membrane, causing significant line broadening and loss of spectral intensity. This study illustrates the strong correlation between the dynamics and the structure of membrane proteins and the capability of solid-state NMR spectroscopy for providing detailed information on site-specific dynamics in complex membrane protein assemblies.
Gender differences in compensation in academic medicine: the results from four neurological specialties within the University of California Healthcare System

This study demonstrates the continued existence of gender disparity with respect to salary in four neurologic specialties in the largest public healthcare system of the Western United States without the bias of self-report. We extracted physician salary information from the publicly available UC pay system database and obtained Scopus ( http://www.scopus.com/home.url ) and Web of Science publication counts and h-indices via searching individual faculty by name and specialty. Faculty gender, institution, specialty, ranking, chairmanship, degrees, and salary data were collected through review of departmental websites and individual faculty profiles. All faculty members (n = 433) from the departments of ophthalmology, otolaryngology, neurosurgery and neurology in the UC pay system database in 2008 were selected for analysis. We found that female faculty members in the 2008 UC healthcare system were significantly underrepresented from the highest salary brackets, representing only 12.5 and 2.6 % of those earning $300,001–$400,000 and over $400,000, respectively (p < 0.01). The female-to-male salary ratio in 2008 for all UC physicians earning over $100,000 was 0.698 (p < 0.00001). Multivariate regression modeling demonstrated a 12 % salary deficit (95 % CI 2–21 %, p = 0.02) for women in the UC healthcare system after controlling for institution, professorial rank, chairmanship, specialty, Scopus publication count, and Scopus h-index. Despite recent efforts at educational equality in the training of physicians, gender disparities still persist within academic medicine.
Some effects of maternal deprivation on maintenance behavior, spatial relationships and responses to environmental novelty in foals

Abstract Six artificially reared foals and 6 age-matched controls reared by their own mothers were studied. When 2–4 months old the ponies were studied in 2 environments, a pasture with which they were familiar and a paddock where they had not been prior to testing. The 2 groups of ponies used the pasture on alternate days. The focal animal method was used to determine time spent grazing, standing and lying, the number of steps taken, and to record the incidence of scratching, urinations, defecations, vocalizations and contacts between ponies. The presence of another pony within 1 m of the focal pony was also recorded. There were no differences in major activities between the 2 groups. Orphan foals spent 40/h grazing. Mothered foals spent 41 min/h. Orphan foals spent 5 min/h lying down; mothered foals spent 6 min/h lying down. Orphan foals spent 8 min/h standing; mothered foals spent 6 min/h standing. The orphans took 404 steps/h; the mothered foals 450 steps/h. The number of contacts were not different: the orphan foals touched other foals 5 times/h; the mothered foals touched 4 times/h. There was a significant difference in the number of times the foals scratched. The orphan foals scratched 9 times/h; the mothered foals scratched only 5 times/h. The orphan foals were within 1m of another foal 41 min/h; the mothered foals were within 1m of another foal only 12 min/h, but if the time that the mothered foals spent within 1 m of their mothers (19 min/h) and within 1 m of other mares (5 min/h) is added to the time spent with other foals, the total (36 min/h) is not significantly different from the time spent by orphan foals with other foals. This indicates the innate tendency of foals to form herds, that is, to be gregarious. Each pony foal was placed alone in a novel environment; a small paddock. The mothered foals were significantly more active (508 steps/5 min), neighed more often (19 neighs/5 min) and defecated more often (2 defecations/5 min) than orphan foals (149 steps, 5 neighs and 0 defecations/5 min). The mothered foals were apparently more stressed when in a novel environment in the absence of their mothers. In a second and third 5-min period, the foals were exposed to a human or to a strange pony. The orphan ponies did not spend more time with the human (within 1 m) than the mothered ponies, nor did the mothered ponies spend more time with the strange pony than the orphans. The mothered foals continued to be significantly more active and more vocal in the second and third periods than the orphan foals.
Incidence of balanced ischemia in patients with dipyridamole perfusion imaging

Abstract Background: Exercise and pharmacological myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) are reliable techniques for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD). One theoretical problem with dipyridamole however, is balanced ischemia, which may result in falsely normal perfusion images in patients with multi-vessel disease. Purpose: to evaluate the incidence of multi-vessel CAD in patients with normal dipyridamole MPI. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients who had dipyridamole sestamibi stress testing followed by cardiac catheterization within six months. Coronary stenoses were considered significant if ≥ 60% of the mean luminal diameter. Patients with coronary artery bypass and acute myocardial infarction were excluded. In addition, a group of 94 patients with a low likelihood of CAD were selected to estimate the normalcy rate of the test. Results: A total of 6597 dipyridamole stress tests were performed from July 1995 to June 2002 and 480 patients had a catheterization. Of those patients, 78 (1.2% of total) had normal MPI. These patients had been catheterized due to the high clinical suspicion of CAD. Catheterization revealed 49 normal and 29 abnormal studies. Of the 402 patients with abnormal MPI, catheterization showed 95 normal and 307 abnormal studies. Sensitivity was 91.4% with a normalcy rate of 83%. The extent of CAD is shown in the table. Extent of Coronary Artery Disease # Diseased Vessels Nml MPI, Abn Cath Abn MPI, Abn Cath 1 16 (55%) 92 (30%) 2 9 (31%) 106 (35%) 3 4 (14%) 109 (36%) Conclusions: Patients are rarely referred for catheterization with normal dipyridamole MPI. If those patients receiving catheterization most had normal coronary arteries (63%). Those with falsely normal imaging rarely had three-vessel disease (14%) and thus were not likely related to balanced ischemia.
Microwave spectrum, structure and dipole moment of trimethylamine-borane

Abstract The ground state rotational spectra often isotopic species of trimethylamineborane, (CH3)3N10BH3, (CH3)3N11BH3, (CH3)3N10BD3, (CH3)3N11BD3, (CH3)3N11BD2H, (CD3)3N10BH3, (CD3)3N11BH3, (CD3)3N10BD3, (CD3)3N11BD3 and (13CH3)(12CH3)2N11BH3, have been measured and the effective moments of inertia obtained. The utilization of Kraitchman's equations leads to an rs value of the B-H distance of 1.211±0.003 A and a NBH angle of 105.32±0.16°. By a least squares fit of the rotational constants the following structural parameters were obtained: r(NC) = 1.495 A, r(BN) = 1.609 A, and ∠BNC = 110.9°. The value of the dipole moment was found to be 4.59±0.13 D. A lower limit to the barrier to internal rotation of the BH3 group was determined to be 3.4 kcal/mole.
Phototoxicity in aquatic organisms: The protecting effect of beta-carotene

Abstract Alpha-terthienyl, a powerful singlet oxygen sensitizer which was already known to be highly toxic to several aquatic organisms in a light-dependent manner, is also very phototoxic to Daphnia magna . The 24-h LC50 value for organisms treated with the chemical for 1 h prior to 1 h of irradiation with UV light was 1.3 μg/L. Beta-carotene, a well-known singlet oxygen quencher, provides some protection to Daphnia magna and to larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti irradiated in the presence of alpha-terthienyl. However, the mechanism of the protecting effect is very unlikely to be based on singlet oxygen quenching, because very large ratios of quencher to sensitizer were required.
Sex differences in the right tail of cognitive abilities: A 30 year examination

Abstract One factor in the debate surrounding the underrepresentation of women in science technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) involves male–female mathematical ability differences in the extreme right tail (top 1% in ability). The present study provides male–female ability ratios from over 1.6 million 7th grade students in the right tail (top 5% in ability) across 30 years (1981–2010) using multiple measures of math, verbal, and writing ability and science reasoning from the SAT and ACT. Male–female ratios in mathematical reasoning are substantially lower than 30 years ago, but have been stable over the last 20 years and still favor males. Over the last two decades males showed a stable or slightly increasing advantage in science reasoning. However, more females scored in the extreme right tail of verbal reasoning and writing ability tests. The potential role of sociocultural factors on changes in the male–female ability ratios is discussed and the introduction of science reasoning as a potential new factor in the debate is proposed. The implications of continued sex differences in math and science reasoning is discussed within the context of the many important interlocking factors surrounding the debate on the underrepresentation of women in STEM.
Fractional order NMR reflects anomalous diffusion

Recently, we proposed a new diffusion model in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) by solving the Bloch-Torrey equation using fractional order calculus with respect to time and space (Magin, RL, et al, J Magn Reson 2008; 190:255–270). This model yields a new set of parameters to describe anomalous diffusion: diffusion coefficient D, fractional order derivative in space s, and a spatial variable μ (in units of µm). In this study, we demonstrate that fractional calculus (FC) can be successfully applied to analyze diffusion images of sephadex gels and brain tissues from healthy humans in vivo. Although the biophysical basis of s and μ remains to be understood, the perspectives of using these parameters to characterize the environment for molecular diffusion may lead to a new way to investigate tissue structural changes in disease.
Growth rates of juvenile smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata Latham in the western Atlantic

The growth rates of juvenile smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata collected in Florida waters between 1999 and 2006 were investigated using length-frequency and tag-recapture data. Stretched total length (LST) data from 144 smalltooth sawfish (690–4960 mm) and 28 recaptures (775–2150 mm) were used for the analyses. Both methods indicated that growth was rapid during the first 2 years after birth. The LST increased by 650–850 mm in the first year, and by 480–680 mm in the second year. Data for animals >2200 mm were limited, so growth beyond 2 years of age was uncertain. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated from LST frequency data were L∞= 6000 mm, K= 0.140 year−1 and t0=−0.863 years. Growth rates over the size range for which tag-recapture data were available were similar to that from LST frequency data. The growth rates reported are substantially faster than those previously assumed for this species and may have important implications for the recovery of this endangered species. There are conflicting data regarding the growth rates of older P. pectinata which need to be resolved with more data from the wild population before a complete understanding of the conservation implications can be obtained.
Studying the Curing Kinetics of a Diacrylate by Using Infrared Spectroscopy

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to study the photopolymerization of 4,4 ' -bis(acryloyl)biphenyl (BAB), dispersed in the liquid crystal (E7). The infrared absorbance of the carbon-carbon double bond of the acrylate group was monitored to follow the course of the polymerization and to determine the extent of cure. It was also observed that a major change in the character of the infrared absorbance band shape and position of the acrylate carbonyl group accompanied the reduction of the carbon-carbon double-bond absorbance. Curing was found to be rapid, on the order of minutes. It was found that the reaction did not proceed appreciably after a brief initial exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This result implies that this type of system may be timestable with programmable degrees of cure. It was also discovered that single continuous doses of UV exposure produced a higher degree of cure than equivalent UV exposure times administered in multiple shorter doses. This observation indicates the existence of a relatively long induction period in this system. The long induction period may be caused by a UV screening effect due to the other components of this system.
An epidemic of roller-blade injuries in children

Roller blading is a new and increasingly popular leisure activity in many countries. We reviewed 110 consecutive patients with roller-blade injuries between 1 January and 30 June 1996. The patients ranged from 4 to 14 years in age (mean 6.5 years). Eighty-three (75.4%) sustained injuries to the upper limb and 27 (24.5%) injured the lower limb. Fifty-six patients, were girls and 54 were boys. Of the 110 patients, 79 (72.7%) sustained fractures, 28 (25.4%) soft tissue injuries and 3 (2.7%) dislocations. Eighty-three (75.4%) of the patients wore no protective equipment on the limbs. Four months following injury 103 (93.6%) patients were fully recovered. The mean duration of school absence was 3 days. Subsequently 101 children returned to using roller-blades following injury. Seventy-three (66.3%) of these now use protective equipment. We found that injuries were unrelated to age or duration of roller-blading experience or to the brand-name of roller blades used, and that most of our patients wore no protective equipment at the time of injury.
An anelastic allspeed projection method for gravitationally stratified flows

This paper looks at gravitationally stratified atmospheric flows at low Mach and Froude numbers and proposes a new algorithm to solve the compressible Euler equations, in which the asymptotic limits are recovered numerically and the boundary conditions for block-structured local refinement methods are well-posed.The model is non-hydrostatic and the numerical algorithm uses a splitting to separate the fast acoustic dynamics from the slower anelastic dynamics. The acoustic waves are treated implicitly while the anelastic dynamics is treated semi-implicitly and an embedded-boundary method is used to represent orography. We present an example that verifies our asymptotic analysis and a set of results that compares very well with the classical gravity wave results presented by Durran.