cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why Should We Care About Human Nature

My goal is to address one of the most common objections to a view called neo-Aristotelian ethical naturalism (henceforth: “Aristotelian naturalism”). G. E. M. Anscombe (1981) is sometimes seen as the spearhead of this view in contemporary Anglophone philosophy, but it was developed into its currently recognizable form primarily by Philippa Foot (especially 2001, 2004), Rosalind Hursthouse (1999, 2012) and Michael Thompson (1995, 2004, 2008). As neo-Aristotelians, they hold that ethics is aimed at human flourishing, and that human flourishing involves living virtuously. As ethical naturalists, they hold that the traditional table of moral virtues are natural excellences, where what counts as a natural excellence is determined by facts about human nature. I will simplify this roughly as the claim that ethical goodness is a kind of natural goodness. I will call this the core thesis.
Associations between positive and negative social media experiences and sleep disturbance among young adults.

Abstract Objectives We sought to examine the association of positive and negative experiences using social media (SM) and sleep disturbance in a national survey of U.S. young adults. Methods Experiences using SM were assessed with 2 items asking participants about the percentage of time using SM that involved a negative/positive experience that they were personally involved in. Sleep disturbance was assessed using the validated PROMIS 4-item short form. Ordinal logistic regression was used to examine associations between positive and negative SM experiences and high sleep disturbance, while controlling for relevant covariates. Results Although reporting high levels of negative experiences was significantly associated with greater odds of high sleep disturbance (AOR = 1.49, 95%CI = 1.18-1.89), reporting high levels of positive experiences was not associated with sleep disturbance. Conclusions These findings suggest that more robust examinations of negative SM experiences—especially as they relate to sleep disturbance—may be warranted.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and Overdoses: Advancing the Next Generation of Research

Recent research has recognized that states have enacted highly heterogeneous PDMP laws, with some mandating their use and others not doing so, some requiring daily updates and others permitting significant lags, and some requiring that law enforcement have a warrant to access data and others not having this requirement in place 2 This editorial identifies additional select guideposts for future analyses of PDMPs drawing on principles of public health law research developed by Wagenaar and Burris 3 OUTCOME MEASURES With rare exception, studies of PDMPs and overdoses have conceptualized and operationalized their outcomes as some permutation of overdose mortality, probably because vital statistics data enumerating overdose deaths are widely available (although perhaps overdoses are misclassified) Melding implementation science theories and methods to analyze the interface of PDMPs and prescriber and pharmacist practices is a vital next step, although it will require advancing implementation science so that it more rigorously and comprehensively conceptualizes and measures the external environment and the processes through which it shapes implementation outcomes 4 RISK ENVIRONMENTS The risk environment model posits that laws are part of the broader macro-level political environment and that they may shape the health of people who use drugs by interacting with features of the social, economic, physical, and health care- criminal justice intervention environments that operate at the macro, meso, and micro levels, as well as with other features of the political environment 5,6 PDMP impacts on overdoses may thus depend on these other risk environment features When overdose mortality is the outcome, investigators should consider whether case fatality rates vary systematically by the victim's social position (e g , gender, race/ethnicity), perhaps traveling with systematic population-level differences in comorbidities, naloxone access, and willingness to summon EMS personnel and, by extension, the police
Abstract B27: MT1-MMP targeting in melanoma brain metastasis

Background: Melanoma brain metastases contribute to morbidity and mortality of melanoma, and the treatment is limited due to its accessibility for drugs and also for surgical approaches. Radiotherapy is a widely used approach for disseminated metastatic foci in the brain. However, there is a gap in therapeutics since there are few to no alternatives to melanoma brain metastasis after the radiotherapy dose has been maximized. MT1-MMP is a metalloproteinase that has shown a direct correlation with metastasis and whose inhibition slows down the occurrence of metastasis and tumor growth. By microarray analysis, it has been found that inhibition of MT1-MMP downregulates the expression of DNA-damage response genes. Objective/Hypothesis: We hypothesize that the inhibition of MT1-MMP in combination with radiotherapy will enhance the tumor cell killing efficacy by means of preventing cells from responding to the DNA damage that is caused by radiation. Further, we hypothesize that the Integrin beta 1 pathway downstream of MT1-MMP is the mediator in the downregulation of DNA-damage response genes. Methods: We utilized melanoma cell lines, A375, WM-266-4-Luciferase, and K457, in which we introduced shMT1-MMP lentivirus with control shGFP. Cell culture assays compared the response of shMT1-MMP cells and shGFP cells in the presence of radiotherapy and the assays included comet assay, foci of gammaH2AX staining, clonogenic assay, and evaluation of radiotherapy response by Western blot. Furthermore, a nude mouse model was utilized in which WM-266-4-luciferase shMT1-MMP and control shGFP cells were inoculated by stereotactic injection. In vivo imaging system (IVIS) was utilized to follow up the tumors. Results: Ongoing experiments aim to look at the response of shMT1-MMP cells to radiotherapy compared to shGFP cells by DNA damage evaluation assays (Comet assay, gammaH2AX foci, DNA-damage response proteins by Western blot), downstream signaling of Integrin beta 1 pathway, and the survival of nude mice in shMT1-MMP inoculated tumors and their response to radiotherapy. Impact: This project has the potential to advance the current treatment of melanoma brain metastasis and also has the potential of advancing the understanding of the DNA-damage response in melanoma. Citation Format: Julia Escandon, Varsha Thakur, Barbara Bedogni. MT1-MMP targeting in melanoma brain metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Melanoma: From Biology to Target; 2019 Jan 15-18; Houston, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(19 Suppl):Abstract nr B27.
Analysis of the Integration of Community Education in the Rural Community Governance System of Xiaoshan from the Perspective of Nurturing New Farmers

Community education includes a variety of educational activities that are open for all residents and rely on the educational resources of the community. Its main purposes are to promote the development of residents, keep the community safe, and maintain its social harmony (Yang, 2019, pp.5-8). Community education makes full use of the available educational resources in order to improve the overall manner and quality of life of residents and promote regional economy and social development. It is inherently compatible with the rural community governance system in terms of participants and pursuits. Xiaoshan is a district where the urbanization of rural areas is progressing rapidly with fast social and economic development under the jurisdiction of Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The community education has started early and contributed to local economy and rural governing much.
Analysis of driving simulator performance for post-call orthopaedic surgery residents

Purpose Despite the associations between workhours, fatigue and motor vehicle accidents, driving abilities for residents post-call have been infrequently analysed. Our purpose was to compare orthopaedic surgery resident performance on a driving simulator after a night of call compared with their baseline. Study design All residents from a single orthopaedic programme were asked to complete baseline and post-call driving simulator assessments and surveys. The primary outcome measure was brake reaction time (BRT) and secondary outcome measures included lane variance, speed variance and accidents on the driving simulator. Results All 19 orthopaedic residents agreed to participate. Compared with the baseline assessment, residents demonstrated significantly higher levels of sleepiness on the Stanford Sleepiness Scale post-call (1.6 vs 3.4; p Conclusions These data suggest that for orthopaedic residents, driving simulator performance does not appear to be worse after a single night of call compared with baseline. Future collaborative, multicentre investigations on post-call driving safety that incorporate different call types and frequencies are necessary to better define the impact of post-call fatigue on driving performance. Recognising that motor vehicle accidents remain the leading cause of death for people under the age of 30 years, these continued areas of study are necessary to truly establish a culture of resident safety.
Separation of Powers in Federated Learning.

Federated Learning (FL) enables collaborative training among mutually distrusting parties. Model updates, rather than training data, are concentrated and fused in a central aggregation server. A key security challenge in FL is that an untrustworthy or compromised aggregation process might lead to unforeseeable information leakage. This challenge is especially acute due to recently demonstrated attacks that have reconstructed large fractions of training data from ostensibly "sanitized" model updates. In this paper, we introduce TRUDA, a new cross-silo FL system, employing a trustworthy and decentralized aggregation architecture to break down information concentration with regard to a single aggregator. Based on the unique computational properties of model-fusion algorithms, all exchanged model updates in TRUDA are disassembled at the parameter-granularity and re-stitched to random partitions designated for multiple TEE-protected aggregators. Thus, each aggregator only has a fragmentary and shuffled view of model updates and is oblivious to the model architecture. Our new security mechanisms can fundamentally mitigate training reconstruction attacks, while still preserving the final accuracy of trained models and keeping performance overheads low.
Three-Dimensional Nasolabial Changes After Nasoalveolar Molding and Primary Lip/Nose Surgery in Infants With Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

Objective Utilize 3-dimensional (3D) photography to evaluate the nasolabial changes in infants with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) who underwent nasoalveolar molding (NAM) and primary reconstructive surgery. Design This is a retrospective serial longitudinal study of consecutively enrolled infants from September 2012 to July 2016 with BCLP who underwent NAM before primary lip and nose reconstructive surgery. It included infants who had digital 3dMD stereophotogrammetry records at initial presentation (T1), completion of NAM (T2), and 3 weeks following primary repair (T3). Twelve infants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. 3dMD Vultus software was used to orient images and plot 16 nasolabial points with x, y, z coordinates to obtain the linear and angular measurements. Nasal form changes were measured and analyzed between T1 (0.5 months old), T2 (5 months old), and T3 (6 months old). Intraclass correlation coefficient was performed for intrarater reliability. Averaged data from the 3D images was statistically analyzed from T1 to T2 and T2 to T3 with Wilcoxon tests. Unaffected infant norms from the Farkas publication were used as a control sample. Results After NAM therapy, statistically significant changes in the position of subnasale and labius superius improved nasolabial symmetry. Both retruded after NAM were displaced downward after NAM and surgical correction with respect to soft tissue nasion. The nasal tip's projection was maintained with NAM and surgical correction. The columella lengthened from 1.4 to 4.71 mm following NAM. Conclusions There was a significant improvement in the nasolabial anatomy after NAM, and this was further enhanced after primary reconstructive surgery.
Parental Incarceration and Young Children’s Development: Pathways to Resilience

Although parental incarceration is an adverse childhood experience, the developmental pathways of children with incarcerated parents are heterogeneous. Some children with incarcerated parents are exposed to incarceration-specific risks such as witnessing the parent’s arrest, which can lead to dysregulated stress responses and short- and long-term developmental challenges, especially when children already experience behavioral stress symptoms or anxiety. Some children with incarcerated parents experience supportive home environments, secure attachments to their caregivers, and positive visit experiences with their incarcerated parents, which can facilitate resilience processes. Requiring law enforcement personnel to use child-sensitive protocols when arresting parents can help prevent trauma in children. Offering parenting programs that are trauma-informed within corrections facilities can be particularly helpful for the incarcerated parent and families. In spite of numerous risk factors for young children with incarcerated parents, there are pathways to resilience.
The Adverse Effects of Maternal Depression and Poverty on Child Development

This thesis examines the issues of maternal depression and poverty, their connection, and the overall adverse effects on child health, behavior, development, and school achievement. Poverty and maternal depression are ongoing social issues in the United States. They are both influenced by several factors such as socioeconomic status, maternal health, and family instability. These factors all directly relate to childhood health and social inequalities. Poverty, maternal depression, substance abuse, and domestic violence are known to be the most common factors that place young children at high risk for poor health (Azzi-Lessing, 2013). Some of the health outcomes from poverty and maternal depression include high rates of insecure attachment among infants, higher risk of slower cognitive child development, and higher risk of children growing up with behavioral issues including symptoms of depression, placing children at risk of being victimized (Wachs, 2009). Maternal depression factors include age, education status, employment status, and marital status, yet when poverty is also prevalent in a mother’s life, the risk of damage to the mother as well as her child increases greatly (Wachs, 2009). In this project, I take a look at treatment programs that are already in place such as home-visitation services to improve the quality of mother-child interactions, (Lyons-Ruth, 1990), and infant massage to help mothers recognize signals of pleasure and discomfort to reduce negative consequences of depression (Wachs, 2009), and the need for improved maternal health programs (Santoro, 2010) all of which can potentially help mitigate these two issues and their proceeding adverse effects on children in America.
Rous sarcoma virus integrase protein: mapping functions for catalysis and substrate binding.

Abstract Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), like all retroviruses, encodes an integrase protein that is responsible for covalently joining the reverse-transcribed viral DNA to host DNA. We have probed the organization of functions within RSV integrase by constructing mutant derivatives and assaying their activities in vitro. We find that deletion derivatives lacking the amino-terminal 53 amino acids, which contain the conserved H-X(3-7)-H-X(23-32)-C-X(2)-C (HHCC) Zn(2+)-binding motif, are greatly impaired in their ability to carry out two reactions characteristic of integrase proteins: specific cleavage of the viral DNA termini and DNA strand transfer. Deletion mutants lacking the carboxyl-terminal 69 amino acids are also unable to carry out these reactions. However, all deletion mutants that retain the central domain are capable of carrying out disintegration, an in vitro reversal of the normal DNA strand transfer reaction, indicating that the catalytic center probably lies within this central region. Another conserved motif, D-X(39-58)-D-X(35)-E, is found in this central domain. These findings with RSV integrase closely parallel previous findings with human immunodeficiency virus integrase, indicating that a modular catalytic domain is a general feature of this family of proteins. Surprisingly, and unlike results obtained so far with human immunodeficiency virus integrase, efficient strand transfer activity can be restored to a mutant RSV integrase lacking the amino-terminal HHCC domain by fusion to various short peptides. Furthermore, these fusion proteins retain the substrate specificity of RSV integrase. These data support a model in which the integrase activities required for strand transfer in vitro, including substrate recognition, multimerization, and catalysis, all lie primarily outside the amino-terminal HHCC domain.
Fas/Fas Ligand Deficiency Results in Altered Localization of Anti-Double-Stranded DNA B Cells and Dendritic Cells

Autoantibodies directed against dsDNA are found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus as well as in mice functionally deficient in either Fas or Fas ligand (FasL) (lpr/lpr or gld/gld mice). Previously, an IgH chain transgene has been used to track anti-dsDNA B cells in both nonautoimmune BALB/c mice, in which autoreactive B cells are held in check, and MRL-lpr/lpr mice, in which autoantibodies are produced. In this study, we have isolated the Fas/FasL mutations away from the autoimmune-prone MRL background, and we show that anti-dsDNA B cells in Fas/FasL-deficient BALB/c mice are no longer follicularly excluded, and they produce autoantibodies. Strikingly, this is accompanied by alterations in the frequency and localization of dendritic cells as well as a global increase in CD4 T cell activation. Notably, as opposed to MRL-lpr/lpr mice, BALB-lpr/lpr mice show no appreciable kidney pathology. Thus, while some aspects of autoimmune pathology (e.g., nephritis) rely on the interaction of the MRL background with the lpr mutation, mutations in Fas/FasL alone are sufficient to alter the fate of anti-dsDNA B cells, dendritic cells, and T cells.
Capitalist development through the eyes of Oliver C. Cox with some insights for Caribbean development

This paper examines the contribution of Oliver Cromwell Cox’s interpretation of capitalism, in his book The Foundations of Capitalism (1959. New York: Philisophical Library Inc), to the field of political economy and comparative sociology. Most sociologists who look at capitalism from a historical perspective tend to highlight Max Weber’s work; almost no attention is given to Cox’s contribution in this area. Further, most scholars who do focus on Cox tend to highlight his work Caste Class and Race (1948. New York: Doubleday & Company), and very little is written about his later works on capitalism. This paper focuses on the text The Foundations of Capitalism, though at times it will also highlight some of his other works, particularly Capitalism and American Leadership (1962. New York: Philisophical Library Inc) and Capitalism as a System (1964. New York: Monthly Review Press). The paper first sets forth the major arguments about the foundation of capitalism, its workings, and his contribution to historic...
Supply chain logistics risks: From the back room to the board room

Risks and uncertainties are ever more noted and factored into decision making today, and those stemming from supply chains are prominent in the competitiveness and viability of companies and organizations. The idea that every supply chain is made up of five internal chain/network constructs is presented, and these are physical, financial, informational, relational, and innovational. Further, four categorizations of relevant product/supply costs are presented as are four types of supply risks.
4.8 - 20 micrometer imaging of Orion BN/KL: 2: A new look at luminosity at sources and the role of IRc2

We have reconsidered the energetics of the BN/KL infrared complex, using array images at nine wavelengths between 4.8 and 20 micrometer, and find a much lower luminosity for IRc2 than the generally accepted value. The new observations resolve 1arcsec structure throughout the region, including several new compact sources within a few arcsec of IRc2 and significant details imaged in the 9.7 micrometer silicate feature. Together with other recent work, the results suggest that luminous stars associated with three compact HII regions found within BN/KL, rather than IRc2, may be the more significant luminosity sources for the complex.
Casimir energy in astrophysics: gamma-ray bursts from QED vacuum transitions.

Motivated by analogous applications to sonoluminescence, neutron stars mergers are examined in the context of Schwinger's dynamical Casimir effect. When the dielectric properties of the QED vacuum are altered through the introduction of dense matter, energy shifts in the zero-point fluctuations can appear as photon bursts at gamma-ray frequencies. The amount of radiation depends upon the properties and amount of matter in motion and the suddenness of the transition. It is shown that the dynamical Casimir effect can convert sufficient energy of neutron star mergers into gamma rays. Using information extracted from simulations of matter flow in neutron star mergers by Ruffert and Janka, we estimate that the total Casimir energy released can exceed 10 53 ergs in gamma-ray frequencies. The Casimir energy approach is capable of explaining the most energetic gamma-ray bursts.
Chapter 8 Using Landslides for Paleoseismic Analysis

Publisher Summary In many environments, landslides preserved in the geologic record can be analyzed to determine the likelihood of seismic triggering. If evidence indicates that a seismic origin is likely for a landslide or group of landslides, and if the landslides can be dated, then a paleoearthquake can be inferred and some of its characteristics can be estimated. Such paleoseismic landslide studies thus can help reconstruct the seismic shaking history of a site or region. Paleoseismic landslide studies differ fundamentally from paleoseismic fault studies. While fault studies seek to characterize the movement history of a specific fault, landslide studies characterize the shaking history of a site or region irrespective of the earthquake source. The practical lower-bound earthquake that can be interpreted from paleoseismic landslide investigations is about the magnitude of 5–6. This range is comparable or perhaps slightly lower than that for paleoseismic fault studies.
Genes, behavior and next-generation RNA sequencing

Advances in next-generation sequencing suggest that RNA-Seq is poised to supplant microarray-based approaches for transcriptome analysis. This article briefly reviews the use of microarrays in the brain-behavior context and then illustrates why RNA-Seq is a superior strategy. Compared with microarrays, RNA-Seq has a greater dynamic range, detects both coding and noncoding RNAs, is superior for gene network construction, detects alternative spliced transcripts, detects allele specific expression and can be used to extract genotype information, e.g. nonsynonymous coding single nucleotide polymorphisms. Examples of where RNA-Seq has been used to assess brain gene expression are provided. Despite the advantages of RNA-Seq, some disadvantages remain. These include the high cost of RNA-Seq and the computational complexities associated with data analysis. RNA-Seq embraces the complexity of the transcriptome and provides a mechanism to understand the underlying regulatory code; the potential to inform the brain-behavior relationship is substantial.
Logarithmic Transformation-Based Gamma Random Number Generators

Developing efficient gamma variate generators is important for Monte Carlo methods. With a brief review of existing methods for generating gamma random numbers, this article proposes two simple gamma variate generators that are obtained from the ratio- of-uniforms method and based on two logarithmic transformations of the gamma random variable. One transformation allows for the generators to work for all shape parameter values. The other is introduced to have improved efficiency for shape parameters smaller than or equal to one.
Atmosphere control during debinding of powder injection molded parts

Atmosphere control during debinding of powder injection molded (PIM) parts is an important parameter to consider. Experimental results have shown that a stagnant atmosphere containing volatiles evolved during debinding can cause slumping of the green samples. Removal of volatiles from the sample zone aids debinding and can reduce cycle times and improve sample quality. Residual carbon and oxygen can be controlled during debinding by adjusting the atmosphere composition. This paper presents the results of PIM 70 vol% spherical copper powder and 30 vol% binder. Debinding atmospheres were altered to determine the effect of debinding on the green body and the sintered sample.
Bioassay of Parathyroid Hormone in Vitro with a Stable Preparation of Adenyl Cyclase from Rat Kidney

A bioassay for parathyroid hormone in vitro was developed based upon the activation of adenyl cyclase from the renal cortex of the rat. Preparation of the enzyme in 0.05M Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, containing 10% v/v dimethylsulfoxide allowed storage in liquid nitrogen for periods in excess of 30 days without significant loss of sensitivity to parathyroid hormone or fluoride. The assay was sensitive to as little as 0.14 USP U of parathyroid hormone, and showed a log-linear dose response over the range of 0.14– 1.13 USP U of hormone. The average index of precision in a series of 23 assays was 0.083. Theassay was highly specific for parathyroid hormone and showed appropriate increments in potency for hormone preparations at consecutive stages of purification. Results with the adenyl cyclase method in vitro were similar to those obtained with a standard bioassay in vivo. There was no significant interference from other hormones and proteins, including nonhormonal contaminants found in crude parathyroid extracts. The ...
The Coronae of γ Draconis

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory has detected coronal (T 106 K) emission from the red giant γ Draconis (HD 164058: K5 III; d = 45 pc), now fully resolved from a stronger source 21'' to the SE that had confused earlier measurements by Rontgensatellit (ROSAT). The second source is coincident with the 13th magnitude visual component ADS 10923B (γ Dra B), possibly a dM star in a wide orbit around the red giant. The 0.2-2 keV luminosity of γ Dra is LX ~ 1.2 × 1027 ergs s-1 (1 σ confidence interval), assuming log(Tcor) 6.5 K, while that of the faint optical companion is 3.2 × 1027 ergs s-1, assuming the same distance. Both sources have an intermediate spectral hardness within the range displayed by coronal stars. γ Dra has LX/Lbol an order of magnitude brighter than the other red giants previously imaged by Chandra, Arcturus (α Boo: K1.5 III) and Aldebaran (α Tau: K5 III), despite having an only 2 × elevated LC iv/Lbol (T ~ 105 K).
Racial bias in behavioral assessment of children's social skills

The social skills of 20 second- and sixth-grade students were assessed by 20 trained raters using the Social Skills Test for Children (SST-C). Rater and child characteristics were examined to determine whether differences in social skills ratings were due to the race of the rater or the race of the children being rated or due to the interactive effects of these characteristics, which would suggest racial bias in the ratings procedure. The results showed that the race of the rater did affect some behavioral observations. Black raters gave higher scores than white raters on four behavioral categories: response latency, appropriate assertion, effective assertion, and smiling. White raters gave higher scores for head position and gestures. The results of this study replicated earlier findings of significant differences in social skills ratings due to the race and age of the child being rated. The results also showed modest racial bias effects in that black and white raters scored black and white children differentially on two behavioral categories: overall skill ratings and smiling. These results suggested that most behavioral categories of the SST-C were not systematically affected by racial bias. However, the most subjective rating, overall skill, did evidence racial bias effects. This finding is consistent with previous data showing that subjective ratings may be most affected by racial bias.
Orthopaedic trauma challenges and opportunities in North America

Last week, I flew back from a congress on ‘controversies in Orthopaedics’. The faculty was as impressive as the French Alps location; Thierry Judet, Alain Masquelet, Yves Catonne, Philippe Beaufils to name a few, were all discussing their respective topics of predilection. I was surprised to see that only a handful of controversies mentioned were related to orthopaedic trauma. One evening, at dinner, I asked Masquelet and Judet their thoughts on the organisation of orthopaedic trauma in France. The response was unanimous; there was little ‘organisation’ of trauma the way we know it in the USA. For a traumatologist, this sounded like if Lionel Messi stated that he was no longer interested in football to a Barcelona fan. Trauma was not centralised, a handful of surgeons were willing to dedicate their careers to it and trainees performed the majority of cases at night or during weekends. It is clear that in most countries I had the chance to visit, this was more the rule than the exception. It is hard to argue against the fact that the US model of trauma care is the …
Studies of short range order structure in the high-Tc superconductor Y-Ba-Cu-O using X-ray absorption techniques

Abstract XAFS techniqyes are employed to investigate the local structure around Cu, Y, and Ba atoms in the high-Tc superconductor Y-Ba-Cu-O. The XAFS spectra are also used to examine possible effects on the local environment surrounding Cu atoms due to oxygen deficiency and chemical doping.
Prevalence of systemic inflammation and micronutrient imbalance in patients with complex abdominal hernias.

Objective To determine the prevalence of low-grade inflammation, micronutrient imbalances and associated clinical profiles in patients being evaluated for complex abdominal hernia repair.
Three to five main challenges to demographic research

A presidential address is poor occasion for changing one's ways, and inveterate compromisers compromise. So that, unable to choose among single integrated topics, I have decided to consider a topic per component of population change, much in the order in which my own work has evolved. Mortality heads the list, as befits pride of place to one's research first born; fertility will come third. Internal migration will come between, at some underserved risk of being squeezed. So much for the "Three" of my title. The "Five" reflects my intention to deal with issues involving basic methodology. These could have been as usefully integrated with each substantive topic as considered separately; the numerical distinction is to draw attention to the small importance of taxonomic precision in such matters. The challenges to be singled out are mainly macrodemographic in content, quantitatively oriented, and of major interest for policy. As one whose student ways of counting degrees of freedom was more by countries than by household, I should perhaps add that my macrodemographic emphasis here is not intended to take sides concerning the relative importance of macro versus micro main issues. Indeed, I believe and argue below that one of our discipline's main unmet challenges is to evolve improved means of accommodating macro and micro approaches to each other. We are far from the stage where adequate bridges exist between microlevel indications and macrolevel uses-a shortcoming by no means limited to demography. This said, I would stress nonetheless that macrodemographic issues and variables must continue to be foremost and uniquely oriented parts of our research endeavor-a point quite obvious in principle but easily obscured by our growing reliance on household-level data sources and models. Certainly, today's research opportunities and needs for entire-population analysis are far greater than ever before. International differences in expectation of life at birth are at historically high orders of magnitude-35 years or more-with unprecedented convergence among the developed countries (DCs), equally unprecedented disparities in the less developed countries (LDCs), and vast consequent interregional variations in causes of death, quality of life, and socioeconomic arrangements. Fertility ranges from as yet unyieldingly high premodern levels, such as in Black Africa, to the apparently entrenched subreplacement patterns now frequent or even modal in high-income societies. As a result, national age distributions differ enormously, from the traditional youngage patterns of pretransition or earlytransition populations to the accelerated aging trends found in large parts of the West. LDC-DC differences in urban growth and global urbanization processes continue at peak orders of magnitude, fueled in large measure by apparently record amounts of rural-to-urban migration movements. Rural population in the *Presented as the Presidential Address at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1983.
High clearance of (S)-warfarin in a warfarin-resistant subject.

A 30 year old black male required a 60 mg daily dose of warfarin to elicit a therapeutic anticoagulant response (normal warfarin dose 2.5-10 mg day-1; maximum 15 mg day-1). Hereditary warfarin resistance was suspected after compliance, diet, concurrent medication and any gastrointestinal disorder were eliminated as contributory causes. The disposition of vitamin K and vitamin K epoxide was examined in the propositus, his two sisters and 13 control black male subjects. Each subject was given an i.v. bolus dose (5 mg) of vitamin K prior to and after 2 weeks of warfarin therapy (5 mg day-1). The oral clearances of (S)- and (R)-warfarin were also measured in each subject during the last day of warfarin therapy. The mean (+/- s.d.) systemic clearance of vitamin K was similar in all subjects before (114 +/- 35 ml min-1) and after (112 +/- 40 ml min-1) warfarin therapy. The mean (+/- s.d.) AUC value for vitamin K epoxide was increased by warfarin treatment (6.5 +/- 5.4 micrograms ml-1 min before and 139 +/- 78 micrograms ml-1 min after) in all subjects. In the propositus, the oral clearance of (S)-warfarin (14.5 ml min-1) and the clearance ratio for (S)/(R)warfarin (2.6) differed by more than 7 standard deviations from the control group (4.3 +/- 1.1 ml min-1 and 1.2 +/- 0.2, respectively). In one sister of the propositus, the stereoselective disposition of warfarin was comparable with that of her brother ((S)-warfarin clearance = 16.2 ml min-1; and (S)/(R)-warfarin clearance ratio = 2.7).
Conformational end effects in unperturbed chains and star-branched polymers

Abstract End effects in unperturbed chains with a specified number of bonds, n , have previously been characterized using the conformations at individual bonds and the mean square unperturbed dimensions of subchains situated at various positions along the chain. Both criteria have found that the end effects are extremely weak in typical flexible chains, such as unperturbed polyethylene. Of course, these criteria detect no end effect at all in a freely jointed chain. This conclusion requires modification if the end effects are defined differently, using the mean square radius of gyration of the n +1 chain atoms about chain atom i , denoted 〈 s i 2 〉 0 . The values of 〈 s i 2 〉 0 depend on i in all chains, including the freely jointed chain. The range for the volume specified by 〈 s i 2 〉 0 3 / 2 suggests that the average density of chain segments about a terminal atom is roughly 1/3 of the average density of chain segments about the atom midway along the contour of any long unperturbed chain. The severity of these end effects in finite chains depends on the detailed local structure, becoming more severe for more extended chains. The end effect detected by 〈 s i 2 〉 0 in regular freely jointed star-branched polymers becomes more severe as the number of branches increases.
Gastric Evacuation Rates of Brook Trout

Abstract We estimated the gastric evacuation rate (GER) of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis at five different temperatures (4.3, 9.1, 12.1, 15.6, and 17.0°C). Fish were fed a mixed meal of fly larvae and beetle larvae, and stomach contents were sampled by gastric lavage at various times over a 48–72-h period to determine the proportional dry weight of an initial meal remaining in the stomach after feeding. The relationship between the proportional amount of a meal remaining in the stomach and the time postfeeding was best described by a linear function over all temperatures. As temperature increased, the instantaneous rate of gastric evacuation increased, but the rate of increase slowed at temperatures greater than 12.1°C. Brook trout GERs were much lower than those reported in the literature for other species at similar temperatures. These data will be useful for future field studies attempting to estimate daily ration.
Measurement of diffusion coefficient and electrophoretic mobility with a quasielastic light‐scattering–band‐electrophoresis apparatus

We have constructed an apparatus for the simultaneous measurement of electrophoretic mobility, μ, and diffusion coefficient, D, of macromolecules and cells. It combines band electrophoresis in a vertical, sucrose-gradient stabilized column, with quasielastic laser light-scattering determination of the diffusion coefficient of the species within the band. The entire electrophoresis cell is scanned through the laser beam of the quasielastic laser light-scattering apparatus by a vertical translation stage. Total intensity light-scattering measurement at each point in the cell gives the macromolecular concentration at that point. Solvent viscosity and electrical potential are measured at each point in the cell. Application of this apparatus to resealed red blood cell ghosts and to bovine hemoglobin indicates that measurements of field, viscosity, and migration distance are reliable, and that electroosmosis is insignificant. Application to T4D bacteriophage gives μ20,w = (−1.05 ± 0.05) × 10−4 cm2/V sec and D20,w = (3.35 ± 0.10) × 10−8 cm2/sec for fiberless particles, and μ20,w = −(0.59 ± 0.03) × 10−4 cm2/V sec and D20,w = (2.86 ± 0.09) × 10−8 cm2/sec for whole phage with 6 fibers. Approximate analysis of these results with the Henry electrophoresis theory for spheres in dicates that each fiber contributes about 193 positive charges to the phage particle, compared with 327 from amino-acid analysis. The advantages and disadvantages of this apparatus, relative to conventional electrophoresis and to electrophoretic light scattering, are discussed.
Identification of novel promoter and repressor elements in the 5'-flanking regions of the rat insulin-like growth factor-I gene.

Abstract Although the major endocrine source of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is the liver, little is known about IGF-I transcriptional mechanisms in this tissue. To evaluate the role of cis-regulatory elements, rat hepatocytes in primary culture were transfected with DNA constructs containing IGF-I 5′ flanking sequences, fused to a luciferase reporter. We demonstrate the presence of a novel promoter ∼0.5 kb upstream from exon 1 transcription initiation sites, together with a repressor element in this region, and a downstream repressor element which can modulate the activity of both endogenous and heterologous promoters.
Acute animal studies on electrically induced collision block of pudendal nerve motor activity

In this paper we describe acute experiments in five adult male dogs on testing of a pudendal nerve cuff electrode implant for collision block of motor signals to the periurethral sphincter. The average quasi-trapezoidal stimulus parameters at an “operating point” where antidromic unidirectionally propagating action potentials (needed to produce a motor collision block) were most effectively produced were regulated current level of 14.2 mA (S.D. 2.3 mA), pulse width of 500 μsec (S.D. 71 μsec), and a 90% to 10% exponential fall-time (following the rectangular stimulus phase) of 840 μsec (S.D. 147 μsec). With these parameters for single monophasic stimuli, an average pressure reduction at the distal urethra of 89% (S.D. 6%) could be elicited in comparison to the maximal single stimulus pressure response. In two tests of collision block with stimulus trains a substantial decrease in distal urethral pressure could be elicited using either monophasic or the electrochemically preferable balanced-charge biphasic (BCB) waveforms (e.g., pressure reductions of 76% and 89% with 30 Hz BCB collision block).
Probing the Nature of Strain-Induced Crystallization in Polyisoprene Rubber by Combined Thermomechanical and In Situ X-ray Diffraction Techniques

The nature of strain-induced crystallization in vulcanized polyisoprene rubbers was investigated by in situ synchrotron wide-angle X-ray diffraction under varying thermomechanical conditions. In particular, the methods of constrained cooling and constrained heating under constant strain were used to explore the relationships between the strain-induced crystalline network and corresponding stress. It was found that constrained cooling resulted in a large reduction of stress and a notable increase in the amount of strain-induced crystallites, while constrained heating led to an initial increase in stress and subsequent melting of strain-induced crystallites. Results indicate that strain-induced crystallization induces a new network structure, which reinforces the chemical network points. However, the sulfur bridges in the chemical network points would break down at high temperatures under high strains, despite the existence of strain-induced crystalline network.
Distribution of haemocytes in larvae of Musca domestica and Musca autumnalis and possible chemotaxis during parasitization

Abstract In each of the three larval instars of Musca domestica and M. autumnalis most of the haemocytes were accumulated in the haemocoele in the last two segments of the body. Very few circulating haemocytes were found, and only in second- and third-stage larvae. During development the posterior haemocytic masses increased in size. At the time of pupation the haemocytes were completely dispersed throughout the haemocoele. Experiments with ligated larvae and larvae fixed in liquid nitrogen indicated that the posterior haemocytic masses were not artifacts of fixation. It remains to be determined whether these posterior masses represent haemocytopoietic tissue. The possibility that the haemocytes exhibit chemotaxis during pupation and in response to parasitization is discussed.
School violence prevention: the effects of a university and high school partnership

Abstract Objective: This study was designed to describe the level of violence in three high schools and to test the effects of universal and targeted strategies to reduce this violence. Design:A repeated measures design with two baseline scores and two intervention scores was used during a two year period. Two rural high schools served as control schools with a single intervention high school. Participants: All freshmen at the three high schools completed a self-report measure of school violence; 420 completed the study at the end of their sophomore year. Method: Multiple universal and targeted interventions to prevent school violence were used for slightly more than one year. Scores on student Victimization and Perpetration, gathered one year apart, were compared using a pre-test post-test model. Findings: Student reports of perpetration at the intervention school were significantly lower than the combined scores at the control school. Students, teachers, and administrators reported improved awareness, k...
A New Solution of a Nonlinear Model of Upwelling

Abstract A two-dimensional, frictionless, nonlinear model of coastal upwelling is reexamined. The model has been solved previously at steady state and as an initial-value problem. The previous solution to the initial-value problem is inconsistent with the steady-state solution. A new solution to the spinup problem is presented that approaches the existing steady-state solution. In the new solution, a surface equatorward jet develops more rapidly than a poleward undercurrent, but the surface jet is of limited strength so that the undercurrent velocity eventually surpasses that of the surface flow. Consideration of dimensional scales implies that the magnitude of the wind stress determines how quickly steady state is approached but does not affect the steady-state fields. Exact solutions found with an arbitrary alongshore pressure gradient imply that there is no poleward flow without a poleward pressure gradient.
Marrow fat composition in anorexia nervosa

Abstract Purpose Women with anorexia nervosa (AN) have increased marrow fat despite severe depletion of body fat. Recent studies have suggested that marrow fat composition may serve as a biomarker for bone quality. The purpose of our study was to investigate marrow fat composition of the femur using proton MR spectroscopy ( 1 H MRS), and the relationship between measures of marrow fat composition and BMD and body composition in women with AN and normal-weight controls. Materials and methods 14 women with AN (29.5 ± 1.9 years) and 12 age-matched normal-weight controls underwent 1 H MRS to determine total marrow fat content and marrow fat composition of the femoral diaphysis and soleus intramyocellular lipids und unsaturated muscle lipids. MRI was performed to quantify abdominal fat, thigh fat and muscle areas. Lumbar spine BMD, fat and lean mass were assessed by DXA. Results Subjects with AN had higher marrow fat content (p 0.05) compared to normal-weight controls. There was an inverse association between marrow methylene protons, an estimate of fatty acid (FA) saturated bonds, and lumbar spine BMD (r = − 0.52, p = 0.008) independent of %ideal body weight (%IBW). Olefinic protons at 5.3 ppm, an estimate of FA unsaturated bonds, were inversely associated with body fat depots, independent of %IBW, and positively associated with soleus unsaturation (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion Women with AN have higher total femoral marrow fat but similar composition compared to normal-weight controls. The degree of marrow FA saturation correlates inversely with BMD, suggesting that saturated lipids may have negative effects on BMD. The degree of marrow FA unsaturation correlates positively with soleus unsaturation, suggesting that marrow fat composition may be influenced by the same factors as ectopic lipid composition in muscle.