cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Making Ageing a Global Agenda: India, China and Beyond:

Demographic debates in the decades following the 1960s have shaped much of the discourse on population ageing across the world. This paper traces these discourses and research agendas that led to t...
110. IMPROVING E-CIGARETTE AND VAPING USE SCREENING AMONG ADOLESCENTS

Background Recent data suggests that 27.5% of high school students reported using electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in the past 30 days, a rise from 1.5% in 2011. Only 37% of adolescents recognized nicotine presence in these products. Screening, educating and providing cessation counseling for adolescents using e-cigarettes is fundamental. It has been documented that physicians infrequently screen or counsel their adolescent patients about e-cigarette use. According to a recent study, physicians using advanced electronic medical record (EMR) systems were more likely to record smoking status, and counsel patients on smoking cessation than those using less sophisticated technology, hence the idea to encourage the use of the e-cigarette/vaping screening tab in the EMR during adolescent visits. Aim Statement To improve e-cigarette/vaping use screening among adolescents attending school-based clinics to a minimum of 80% in six months by encouraging the use of a specific tab embedded in the EMR. Interventions This quality improvement project included a baseline retrospective chart review of 100 health maintenance and sports physical visits in four school-based clinics associated to a major Academic Medical Center in Miami, Florida. The first Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle consisted of an email sent to health care providers encouraging them to utilize the e-cigarette tab in the EMR. Measures 100 charts were reviewed one month after the intervention to assess whether e-cigarette use or vaping was assessed at health maintenance and sports physical visits in the same four school-based clinics. Results At baseline (September-October 2019) 23% of adolescent patients were screened for e-cigarette/vaping use. This varied by school location, ranging from 12-36%. In the first PDSA cycle (November-December 2019) 55% of adolescents were screened. This varied by school location, ranging from 16-88%. Conclusions and Next Steps Encouraging health care providers to use a designated e-cigarette screening tab embedded in the EMR through an email alert increased the number of patients screened during their health maintenance or sports physical visit. One of the four school-based clinics exceeded the goal of screening at least 80% of adolescents. Because locating the e-cigarette tab was identified as a barrier by some health care providers, a second intervention that included step-by-step information about where to access the tab was implemented. Results for the second PDSA cycle will be available February 2020.
What Is Revealed When Firms Repurchase Against Short Selling

Though short sellers on average succeed at identifying overvalued equity, firms often signal disagreement with short sellers by repurchasing stock when short interest increases. We investigate whether this disagreement reflects a myopic defense of inflated prices, or positive private information. These repurchases appear motivated by managers' private information, not agency issues, even when managerial benefits to short-termism are enhanced or monitoring is weaker. Managers' informational advantage relates to subsequent news, earnings, and risk, but is attenuated if activists target management or insiders sell. A trading strategy based on our findings earns 7.5% annually.
Modernisation de la théorie de l’État de Bergeron grâce à une étude de cas sur les amish du vieil ordre de l’Ontario

La theorie de l’Etat de Bergeron permet d’etudier les relations entre la gouverne de l’Etat et les citoyens. Nous revisitons la premisse de Gerard Bergeron selon laquelle tous les membres de la societe se politifient, c’est-a-dire passent de relations purement civiles a une certaine activation de la gouverne. Pour ce faire, nous etudions les amish du vieil ordre de l’Ontario. Ce groupe offre un exemple de social non politifie, concept mentionne une seule fois dans l’oeuvre de Bergeron. Grâce a l’etude de deux politiques ontariennes, la presente recherche demontre que ce groupe refute l’adhesion ineluctable a la politie. Nous suggerons une piste pour moderniser la theorie de Bergeron.
Deliberation revisited

Because the consumer is the focus of all marketing activities, knowledge of his/her behavior is one of the most important aspects of marketing. Empirical studies are needed to determine, how consumer arrives at decision to make a particular purchase, what kind of deliberation exhibited by consumers and correlates of deliberation are analyzed.
Mechanical property anisotropy in ultra-thick copper electrodeposits

Electroplating was used as a purification method and produced thick (3.2–12.2 mm) copper deposits of ultra-high radiopurity. Due to the extreme thickness of these electrodeposits compared to traditional electroplating, characterization is necessary to prevent costly failures and ensure device reliability. The deposition rate was carefully controlled to maintain a uniform growth front and required plating for a continuous 8 months in order to produce the 12.2-mm-thick copper specimen. Tensile testing shows the electroplated copper to exhibit significant strain hardening as would be expected with face-centered cubic materials, indicating that the material is free of significant defects and voids. Testing of eight tensile samples machined according to ASTM-E8 specifications exhibited yield strengths of 95 ± 4 MPa. Hardness was measured to be 79.8 ± 5.3 HV using a 200-gf load. Microstructure and deformation showed the grains to be highly aligned with respect to the growth direction, and electron backscatter diffraction showed the development of a (110) texture.
My Neighbor’s Cattle: Strategic Behavior in a Spatial-dynamic Model with an Invasive Weed

This research is funded in part by the USDA PREISM competitive grant program (Grant 43- 3AEM-5-80065). The views expressed are not necessarily those of the USDA.
Fiberless multicolor optoelectrodes using Injection Laser Diodes and Gradient-index lens coupled optical waveguides

We present an integrated optoelectrode that can deliver multicolor light from a waveguide coupled to an optical mixer. Such a device can provide spatial precision and scalability needed to enable independent activation and silencing of local neural circuits, allowing study of brain activities such as memory consolidation networks in the hippocampus. We have demonstrated successful implementation of fiber-less optoelectrodes in a highly compact form by achieving efficient end-fire coupling between a side-emitting injection laser diode (ILD) and a dielectric channel waveguide via a Gradient-index (GRIN) lens. Total optical efficiency achieved for 405nm and 635nm wavelengths through an optical mixer was 12.2% and 5.4%, respectively. This approach also provides robust thermal packaging by efficiently managing thermal power loss of ILDs.
Know Thine Adversary: The Impact of Race on Styles of Dealing with Conflict.

Interpersonal conflict management is hampered by ignorance of the cultural norms that characterize an individual's racial group. Blacks' and Whites' conflict-coping preferences were examined in two studies using a scenario that manipulated an offender's race. In Study 1, Blacks, more than Whites, preferred more behaviorally expressive styles of dealing with conflict and eschewed more reserved tactics. Moreover, individuals were less confrontational with offenders of their same racial group. In Study 2, weaker evidence that Blacks prefer more expressive styles of conflict management was observed. Racial differences in attributions of malicious intent of the offender, and in diminished expectations for the relationship, are explored as possible causes of racial differences in conflict management style.
Indicial representation of higher order optimal controls for a Duffing oscillator

The Duffing oscillator is a useful model for the uncontrolled behavior of structural systems including columns, gyroscopes, plates and certain types of bridges. A study is made of a class of nonlinear optimal controls for these oscillators, and the effects of higher order feedback corrections based on series expansions of the optimal cost function and the optimal control function in a Hamilton-Jacobi context are determined. A novel representation of the solution is presented, in terms of the indicial formulation of tensor algebra. For the case in point, the indicial approach offers a conceptually attractive alternative to the general tensor solutions. Numerical studies and an analysis of the effect of higher order feedbacks on the nonzero equilibrium points of the controlled system are presented. >
Reconstruction of late Holocene climate based on tree growth and mechanistic hierarchical models

Reconstruction of pre-instrumental, late Holocene climate is important for understanding how climate has changed in the past and how climate might change in the future. Statistical prediction of paleoclimate from tree ring widths is challenging because tree ring widths are a one-dimensional summary of annual growth that represents a multi-dimensional set of climatic and biotic influences. We develop a Bayesian hierarchical framework using a nonlinear, biologically motivated tree ring growth model to jointly reconstruct temperature and precipitation in the Hudson Valley, New York. Using a common growth function to describe the response of a tree to climate, we allow for species-specific parameterizations of the growth response. To enable predictive backcasts, we model the climate variables with a vector autoregressive process on an annual timescale coupled with a multivariate conditional autoregressive process that accounts for temporal correlation and cross-correlation between temperature and precipitation on a monthly scale. Our multi-scale temporal model allows for flexibility in the climate response through time at different temporal scales and predicts reasonable climate scenarios given tree ring width data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long-term outcome for endoscopic third ventriculostomy alone or in combination with choroid plexus cauterization for congenital aqueductal stenosis in African infants.

Object The authors have previously reported on the overall improved efficacy of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) combined with choroid plexus cauterization (CPC) for infants younger than 1 year of age. In the present study they specifically examined the long-term efficacy of ETV with or without CPC in 35 infants with congenital aqueduct stenosis treated at CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda during the years 2001–2006. Methods Infants with congenital aqueductal stenosis were treated during 2 distinct treatment epochs: all underwent ETV alone, and subsequently all underwent ETV-CPC. Prospectively collected data in the clinical database were reviewed for all infants with an age < 1 year who had been treated for hydrocephalus due to congenital aqueductal stenosis. Study exclusion criteria included: 1) a history or findings on imaging or at the time of ventriculoscopy that suggested a possible infectious cause of the hydrocephalus, including scarred choroid plexus; 2) an open aqueduct or an aqueduct obst...
Thorough skin examination for the early detection of melanoma

Abstract Background: Melanoma is a major public health problem for which early detection may reduce mortality. Since melanoma is generally asymptomatic, this requires skin examination. We sought to evaluate the extent to which the general public has their skin examined by themselves, their partners, or health care providers and the frequency of these examinations. Methods: Random-digit-dial survey of adult Rhode Islanders. Results: Only 9% performed a thorough skin examination (TSE) at least once every few months, although over half of the sample reported conducting skin self-examination “deliberately and systematically.” Participants were more likely to perform TSE if they were women and if their health care provider had asked them to examine their skin. Most participants reported that their health care provider never or rarely looked at the areas of their skin in which melanoma is most likely to arise. Conclusions: The reported frequency of skin self-examination depends critically on the manner of inquiry. TSE by self or a partner is uncommon, and health care providers do not routinely examine the areas of the skin on which melanomas commonly arise.
Structural characterization and detection of kale flavonoids by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Sensitive and precise analytical methods are needed for flavonols, a subclass of flavonoids that has strong antioxidant activity. We report an improved method for identifying the predominant flavonols, quercetin and kaempferol, by collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) and quantifying them by high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) in the selected ion monitoring mode. Practical applications of the method were demonstrated using several kale and biological samples. Two commercial kale samples were found to have 77 or 244 ppm quercetin and 235 or 347 ppm kaempferol (ppm = microg of quercetin/g of kale or microg of kaempferol/g of kale by fresh weight, 5-15% relative standard deviation). Blanching was found to reduce the flavonols to approximately 60% of the levels found in the unblanched kale. Isotopically labeled kale (cultivar Vates) grown in a greenhouse under an atmosphere of (13)CO(2) was found to have much lower flavonol levels. UV-A and UV-B supplementation during kale growth in the greenhouse was found to enhance both quercetin and kaempferol levels in Vates kale. The UV-B-supplemented kale not only produced more flavonols but the quercetin-to-kaempferol ratio was also higher than the UV-A-supplemented or the nonsupplemented kale. Recovery of flavonols from kale was approximately 60% based on spike and recovery trials with rutin, a glycoside of quercetin. Recovery of flavonols from biological samples spiked with rutin ranged from 96% for urine to 70% for plasma. Compared to UV detection, ESI-MS in the deprotonation mode provided lower detection limits, and both higher sensitivity and selectivity, in addition to structural characterization of the kale flavonols by CAD.
Rumor mongering and remembering: How rumors originating in children’s inferences can affect memory

This study examined how rumors originating in 3- to 6-year-olds' causal inferences can affect their own and their peers' memories for a personally experienced event. This was accomplished by exposing some members of classrooms to contextual clues that were designed to induce inferences about the causes of two unresolved components of the event. After a 1-week delay, a substantial number of children who were exposed to the clues misremembered their inferences as actual experiences. Causal inferential memory errors were most pronounced among 5- and 6-year-olds. Also, many of the children whose classmates were exposed to the clues mistakenly incorporated their classmates' causal inferences into their own accounts, with 3- and 4-year-olds being most likely to make this error.
The boundary integrand in the formula for the signature and Euler characteristic of a Riemannian manifold with boundary

Abstract We discuss the formulas for the signature and Euler characteristic of a Riemannian manifold with boundary. We obtain boundary integrals which correct for metrics which are not product near the boundary. For the Euler characteristic, this integrand is uniquely defined by several functorial properties. We identify the integrand of the Chern-Gauss-Bonnet theorem with the integrand obtained by heat equation methods. For the signature complex, there is a similar correction term; however, there is no corresponding uniqueness theorem for this case.
Magnetipation of mixed-phased superconductors and the effect of grain sipe distribution

Abstract The d.c. magnetization of a mixed-phased superconductor is studied by emploping the Beanps critical-state model. The superconductor is assumed to be composed of two superconducting phases having different full penetration field Hp. The magnetipation for increasing applied magnetic field as pell as the remanent magnetipation upon removal of the applied field is calculated as a function of the volume fraction of the two phases. pe also investigate the effect of grain sipe distribution on the magnetipation of superconductors in popder forms. by assuming a uniform sipe distribution of grains in a superconductor, pe find that the magnetipation phen increasing the field is insensitive to the pidth of distribution. On the other hand, remanent magnetipation shops an apparent dependence on the distribution pidth.
Dopamine D4 receptor antagonist reversal of subchronic phencyclidine-induced object retrieval/detour deficits in monkeys.

D4 dopamine receptors (DRs) are enriched in the primate prefrontal cortex, a brain region implicated in cognitive processes, and mesoprefrontal dopaminergic systems appear to be involved in modulating some cognitive functions of the prefrontal cortex. Despite anatomical localization of D4 DRs within the frontal cortex, the role of these receptors, specifically, in the regulation of cognition or behavior in primates is unknown. In these studies, we sought to learn whether specific antagonism of D4 DRs would affect performance of a task dependent on the frontostriatal system. The effects of NGD94-1 (2-phenyl-4(5)-[4-(2-pyrimidinyl)-piperazin-1-yl)-methyl]-imidazole dimaleate), a potent and selective D4 DR antagonist and haloperidol, a non-specific D2-like DR antagonist, on the performance of an object retrieval/detour task by monkeys were examined. The effects of these antagonists on the object retrieval task were evaluated in normal control monkeys and in subjects repeatedly exposed to phencyclidine (PCP), to induce frontal cortical dopaminergic and cognitive dysfunction. NGD94-1 (1–5 mg/kg) reversed the cognitive deficits of PCP pre-treated monkeys, whereas haloperidol (25 μg/kg) exacerbated PCP-induced performance impairments. A low dose of NGD94-1 failed to affect performance of control subjects, while both haloperidol and a high dose of NGD94-1 impaired control performance. These data show, for the first time, that D4 DRs modulate the cognitive functions of the frontostriatal system.
Multilevel Radiative Transfer with Partial Frequency Redistribution

A multilevel accelerated lambda iteration (MALI) method for radiative transfer calculations with partial frequency redistribution (PRD) is presented. The method, which is based on Rybicki & Hummer's complete frequency redistribution (CRD) formalism with full preconditioning, consistently accounts for overlapping radiative transitions. Its extension to PRD is implemented in a very natural way through the use of the Ψ operator operating on the emissivity rather than the commonly used Λ operator, which operates on the source function. Apart from requiring an additional inner computational loop to evaluate the PRD emission-line profiles with fixed population numbers, implementation of the presented method requires only a trivial addition of computer code. Since the presented method employs a diagonal operator, it is easily extended to different geometries. Currently, it has been implemented for one-, two-, and three-dimensional Cartesian grids and spherical symmetry. In all cases, the speed of convergence with PRD is very similar to that in CRD, with the former sometimes even surpassing the latter. Sample calculations exhibiting the favorable convergence behavior of the PRD code are presented in the case of the Ca II H and K lines, the Mg II h and k lines, and the hydrogen Lyα and Lyβ lines in a one-dimensional solar model and the Ca II resonance lines in a two-dimensional flux-sheet model.
Microstructural analysis of ion-irradiation-induced hardening in inconel 718

Abstract As an assessment for a possible accelerator beam line window material for the US Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) target, performance, radiation-induced hardening and microstructural evolution in Inconel 718 were investigated in both solution annealed (SA) and precipitation hardened (PH) conditions. Irradiations were carried out using 3.5 MeV Fe+, 370 keV He+ and 180 keV H+ either singly or simultaneously at 200 °C to simulate the damage and He/H production in the SNS target vessel wall. This resulted in systematic hardening in SA Inconel and gradual net softening in the PH material. TEM microstructural analysis showed the hardening was associated with the formation of small loop and faulted loop structures. Helium-irradiated specimens included more loops and cavities than Fe+ ion-irradiated specimens. Softening of the PH material was due to dissolution of the γ′/γ″ precipitates. High doses of helium were implanted in order to study the effect of high retention of gaseous transmutation products. Simultaneous with the hardening and/or softening due to the displacement damage cascade, helium filled cavities produced additional hardening at high concentrations.
Realistic student projects

When a student performs a project, under the supervision of a faculty member, it is important that the student feel that the project is of merit and reflects both the student's capabilities as well as the student's interests. All too often the project is fine unto itself but has no connection to the student's other studies or background except that the project falls in the same major field.Therefore it is important to create a project, in cooperation with a student, that is not only challenging in itself but also relies heavily upon the student's previous coursework. It should mimic project work as performed outside the academic sphere in that it yields a useable result.Through the use of techniques such as a contract for project grade, outlining attainable goals agreed upon by both the student and the instructor, the student gains an understanding of the project in relation to the student's entire course of studies, as well as future endeavors.
Photoionization study of the kinetics of unimolecular decomposition of halobenzene ions

Abstract We have measured both absolute rates of X loss from C 6 H 5 X + (X = Cl, Br, I) as a function of internal energy and the kinetic energy released in the process. The data have been analyzed using the totally loose orbiting complex model and non-totally loose transition state models. Agreement with the experimental data of Rosenstock is excellent. The chlorobenzene ion decomposition appears to require a non-totally loose complex, but the other two decompositions can be fit within experimental error by either model. A value of Δ H 10 0 (C 6 H 5 + ) of 274 ± 1 kcal/mol is obtained with the orbiting complex model, and 271 ± 1 kcal/mol with the tighter complex.
Teaching undergraduate econometrics with GRETL

This paper reviews GRETL, a software package for econometrics. Mainly it discusses GRETL's merits as an aid in teaching undergraduate econometrics. This discussion is in two parts. First one author, an instructor, reviews the teaching of undergraduate econometrics with GRETL. Then the second author, a student, discusses the experience of being introduced to GRETL as part of the introductory course and of putting it to work as part of his employment. The paper briefly discusses GRETL as a research tool. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Luteotrophic action of decidual tissue in the rat.

The ability of decidual tissue (DT) to maintain progesterone secretion was tested by oberving the effect of ergocornine (ECO) on the serum progesterone level 24 hr after treatment, and on the duration of the post-treatment diestrus in pseudopregnant rats bearing decidualized uteri. ECO, which was used to suppress prolactin release, was given as a single subcutaneous injection of 1.0mg of the free base in 0.25 ml of 70% ethanol, on either day 6, 7, 8, or 9 of pseudopregnancy (PSP)(day 1 = day of ovulation). Controls, which were otherwise treated in exactly the same way, included:normal (ordinary) PSP rats; rats hysterectomizedon either day 5 of PSP or several cycles before induction of PSP; PSP rats whose uteri were slit lengthwise on day 8 or 9; and DT-bearing rats in which the DT was removed immediately before the ECO injection. There was-no significant differenceamong any of the control rats in either criterion ofprogesterone secretion; their mean (‡SEM) post treatmentdiestrus was 2.2 ‡ 0.1 days (N = 81...
LEED, AES and thermal desorption studies of the oxidation of the rhodium(111) surface

Abstract The oxidation of the Rh(111) surface was studied by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and thermal desorption mass spectroscopy (TDS). The chemisorbed oxygen overlayer formed an ordered (2 × 1) structure. Heating the Rh(111) crystal in the presence of oxygen resulted in oxygen diffusing into the near surface region. Extended high temperature annealing produced an unreactive surface oxide. The epitaxial growth of Rh 2 O 3 (0001) on Rh(111) occurred during high temperature annealing in 1 Torr of O 2 . This epitaxial oxide did not adsorb detectable amounts of either hydrogen or CO at 300 K and could be decomposed by heating the crystal to 800 K in vacuum.
The social regulation of physical caste: the superorganism revived

Among the ants, the population of worker phenotypes made by a colony is closely regulated. For the first time, a model of the regulation of a particular size class, that of major workers, is developed within a new theory of the superorganismic activity of social insect colonies. A remarkable linkage is found to exist between caste homeostasis in a model polymorphic society and three well-known but previously unrelated social insect colony properties: the form of the caste distribution, the short-term nature of a colony's “memory”, and the existence of co-operative interactions among nestmates. The linkage consists of mass social processes and takes the form of a colony-level, negative feedback circuit controlling the production of the major workers. The implications of this case study for rigorous, substantive theories of social insect mass phenomena are discussed.
Linking frugivores to the dynamics of a fruit color polymorphism

Although fruit color polymorphisms are a widespread phenomenon, the role of frugivores in their maintenance is unknown. Selection would require that frugivores interact differentially with fruit color morphs to alter their relative fitnesses, but such a pattern has yet to be demonstrated. In a 3-yr field study, the interactions of ants and birds with Acacia ligulata, an Australian shrub with a red/yellow/ orange aril color polymorphism, were examined. Bird species fell into three feeding guilds: seed dispersers, seed predators, and aril thieves; ant species acted either as seed dispersers or aril thieves. While there was no evidence of morph bias in ants, in some years birds fed more frequently on the yellow and orange morphs. Based on patterns of seedling survival and juvenile recruitment in seed deposition sites, bird seed dispersers increased the fitness of yellow and orange morphs (relative to red) in some populations, but decreased their relative fitness in others. Bird seed predators uniformly reduced relative fitness of yellow and orange morphs, while bird aril thieves had unknown effects. Altogether, consumer biases produced spatiotemporal variability in the relative fitness of A. ligulata color morphs, a pattern qualitatively consistent with maintenance of the polymorphism.
Relationship of Wallerian degeneration to regrowing axons

Because Wallerian degeneration constitutes a highly significant and unavoidable position in the sequence of nervous system regeneration we have extended our observations regarding this process as it occurs in our cryogenic model of spinal cord injury in the rat. In previous studies we have observed essentially no growth into the Wallerian zone despite a significant amount of axonal regrowth through the injured region. In the present study we have examined by electron microscopy the Wallerian degeneration and its interface with the axons from the injured region. In the Wallerian region our observations have not only confirmed those of many previous investigators but have suggested an orderly sequence of changes during the first 60 days post-injury, beginning with relative tissue preservation followed by depletion of degenerating axoplasm, extracellular deposition of myelin and the development of a cellular reaction. Associated with the cellular reaction is the development of large astrocytic cells which can be found adjacent to unmyelinated and thinly myelinated axons. With this limited evidence of support for axonal growth in the Wallerian zone it is suggested that further expansion of this cellular matrix should provide significant support to regrowing axons.
Multiple sequence alignment by consensus.

Abstract An algorithm for multiple sequence alignment is given that matches words of length and degree of mismatch chosen by the user. The alignment maximizes an alignment scoring function. The method is based on a novel extension of our consensus sequence methods. The algorithm works for both DNA and protein sequences, and from earlier work on consensus sequences, it is possible to estimate statistical significance.
IL-18 translational inhibition restricts IFN-γ expression in crescentic glomerulonephritis

IL-18 translational inhibition restricts IFN-γ expression in crescentic glomerulonephritis. Background Interleukin-18 (IL-18), a potent inducer of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production, is a cytokine involved in the cell-mediated immune response that is expressed during inflammatory and pathologic conditions. IFN-γ plays a role in the development of some models of glomerulonephritis (GN); however, the role of IL-18 in the production of IFN-γ during these pathologies has not been studied. Methods Rat IL-18 cDNA was isolated and the regulation of IL-18 gene expression was studied. IFN-γ and IL-18 expression were determined in anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibody (Ab)-induced GN. Recombinant active IL-18 ( r IL-18) was used to further identify its effect on IFN-γ production during this GN. Glomerular injury and levels of IFN-γ were assayed in Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats with anti-GBM GN in the presence or absence of r IL-18. Results Rat IL-18, similar to the mouse clone, requires processing by the IL-1β converting enzyme to become activated. A rat IL-18 5′-untranslated region (UTR) translational inhibitor was identified that strongly inhibited the synthesis of IL-18. This translational inhibitor with different lengths (180 and 130bp) was highly expressed during GN and correlated with minimal IFN-γ mRNA expression. Injection of recombinant active IL-18 in WKY rats with anti-GBM GN was associated with an increase of glomerular IFN-γ levels, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-ED1 + cells, and PCNA-CD8 + cells, with worsening of glomerular injury. Conclusion These data suggest that the translational control of IL-18 expression by its 5′-UTR limits the production of IL-18, resulting in restricted expression of mRNA and protein IFN-γ in this model of GN. Furthermore, it was suggested that possible IL-18/IFN-γ induction of local proliferation of macrophages and CD8 + cells might be an important mechanism for amplifying CD8 + -mediated macrophage-dependent GN.
PPLUM: A Framework for Large-Scale Personal Persuasion

Personalization plays a significant role in persuasion. In this paper, we present a framework called PPLUM which combines social media-based large-scale user modeling with automated personal persuasion generation. This work has many applications such as advertising consumer products, promoting political candidates, or encouraging good health and investment behaviors.
Conditioning parameter model for reinforcement generalization in probabilistic discrimination learning

Abstract A stochastic model is presented to deal with the following situation: On each trial a stimulus from a set is presented to the subject who responds from a discrete set of possible responses and then receives reinforcement. The stimuli may be from a discrete set or may be points on a continuum. Each stimulus has one element associated with it which may be in any of the states corresponding to the set of responses. The effect of reinforcement is given by conditioning parameters; the effect may generalize across stimuli. Conditional probability matching is predicted if no generalization takes place, but not necessarily otherwise. Pertinent experimental results are discussed.
Least square based method for obtaining one-particle spectral functions from temperature Green functions

Abstract A least square based fitting scheme is proposed to extract an optimal one-particle spectral function from any one-particle temperature Green function. It uses the existing non-negative least square (NNLS) fit algorithm to do the fit, and Tikhonov regularization to help with possible numerical singular behaviors. By flexibly adding delta peaks to represent very sharp features of the target spectrum, this scheme guarantees a global minimization of the fitted residue. The performance of this scheme is manifested with diverse physical examples. The proposed scheme is shown to be comparable in performance to the standard Pade analytic continuation scheme.
Improving Communication About Sexual Health for Adults Living With Ovarian Cancer (S740)

reference 1⁄4 short pre-consult LOS and not planof-care consultation). Conclusion. High pre-consultation LOS and palliative consultation for plan-of-care were associated with increased likelihood of in-hospital death among ICU patients receiving palliative care consultation. ICU patients with both high pre-consult LOS and plan-of-care palliative consultation demonstrated the highest likelihood of in-hospital death. Implications for Research, Policy, or Practice. These factors may inform future research on reducing in-hospital death for ICU patients.
On the dense phases of He3 at very low temperatures

A class of physical properties of the dense phases of He3 are dominated at low temperatures by their nuclear spin systems. The latter determine the lower limits of these properties, and yield thereby approximately their behavior and limiting values at very low temperatures and at the absolute zero. The theory of the spin system allows one to estimate the lowest temperatures at which the various thermal properties of this class have to be determined experimentally to approach with a preset deviation their limiting values in the ground state of these dense phases. These determinations, with a common relative value of this difference, of the nuclear paramagnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, expansion coefficient, and their temperature rates of variation require decreasingly lower temperatures, with the latter finite quantities imposing temperatures one order of magnitude lower than the susceptibility. These studies suggest that in order to obtain satisfactory, experimentally inaccessible, extrapolated very low temperature behaviors and finite limits of the above class of properties, careful prior analysis of their finite temperature values will have to be performed in terms of the partial properties of the spin systems as well as those of the degrees of freedom other than spin of the dense phases of He3.
Equivalent Circuit Impedance of Regulating Transformers

AS SYSTEMS grow in complexity and service standards grow higher, the need for more accurate determination of system characteristics increases. From time to time the question of how to handle the impedance introduced into the circuit by a regulating transformer has arisen. This paper has been written to present general equations by means of which the equivalent circuit impedance of regulating transformers may readily be determined.
The upper critical field of high temperature superconductors

Resistive and magnetic measurements of the superconducting transition in good quality single crystals of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/minus/delta/ and La/sub 2/minus/x/Sr/sub x/CuO/sub 4/ and in good polycrystalline samples of Ba/sub 1/minus/x/K/sub x/BiO/sub 3/ are used to derive the temperature dependence and anisotropy of the upper critical field. Comparison of the results shows several common features, most notably the existence of upward curvature in the temperature dependence of the upper critical field. The definition of T/sub c/ from resistance curves and the origin of the upward curvature in the upper critical field are discussed.
Self-control by pigeons in the prisoner's dilemma.

Pigeons played a repeated prisoner's dilemma game against a computer that reflected their choices: If a pigeon cooperated on trial n, the computer cooperated on trial n + 1; if the pigeon defected on trial n, the computer defected on trial n + 1. Cooperation thus maximized reinforcement in the long term, but defection was worth more on the current trial. Under these circumstances, pigeons normally defect. However, when a signal correlated with the pigeon's previous choice immediately followed each current trial choice, some pigeons learned to cooperate. Furthermore, cooperation was higher when trials were close together in time than when they were separated by long intertrial intervals.
Skein theory for the D_2pi planar algebras

Abstract We give a combinatorial description of the “ D 2 n planar algebra”, by generators and relations. We explain how the generator interacts with the Temperley–Lieb braiding. This shows the previously known braiding on the even part extends to a ‘braiding up to sign’ on the entire planar algebra. We give a direct proof that our relations are consistent (using this ‘braiding up to sign’), give a complete description of the associated tensor category and principal graph, and show that the planar algebra is positive definite. These facts allow us to identify our combinatorial construction with the standard invariant of the subfactor D 2 n .
The Emergency Department as a prevention site: a demographic analysis of substance use among ED patients.

Abstract Objectives To identify rates of alcohol and drug use among patients presenting to an inner-city Emergency Department (ED) and to describe demographic and health characteristics of patients with high-risk use. Methods A cross-sectional study of patients presenting to the ED for any complaint. Patients were administered a brief screening about past 12-months alcohol and drug use. Patients who answered “yes” to any question were approached for a longer survey, the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Based on ASSIST scores patients received a brief intervention, and, when appropriate, a referral for brief outpatient therapy or specialized substance abuse treatment. Patients whose score indicated high-risk or dependent use were also asked demographic and health questions. Results Over a 20-month period, 19,055 patients were pre-screened. 87.1% of patients were black, 57% were male, with average age 44.8 years. 27.6% of patients pre-screened positive for drug or alcohol use; among these patients 44.2% scored in the low-risk range on the ASSIST, 35.8% moderate risk, 10% high risk and 10% probable dependence. Among patients with high-risk or dependent use, 70% rated their current health as fair/poor, with a mean of 1.7 ED visits in the prior 30 days. 40.7% reported “extreme” stress due to their use. 34.6% reported that they had stable housing and 13.6% were fully employed. Conclusion Among all patients seen in the ED for any complaint, a significant proportion is engaged in alcohol and drug use that increases their risk of health and social consequences.
Outcome in Patients with H1N1 Influenza and Cerebrovascular Injury Treated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Although intracranial hemorrhage and infarction have been reported in patients with H1N1 influenza infection treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the clinical outcomes of these patients are not well described. The authors present two patients with H1N1 influenza infection and diffuse cerebrovascular injury in the setting of ECMO. Diffuse cerebrovascular injury including intraparenchymal hemorrhage was found on head CT and brain MRI in both cases and confirmed by autopsy in one patient who died. Punctate foci of susceptibility effect were seen in both patients on T2* susceptibility-weighted or susceptibility-sensitive gradient echo sequences. These foci of susceptibility effect were consistent with infarction on histopathologic evaluation in the patient who died. The other patient made an excellent clinical recovery. Frequent and early surveillance imaging should be obtained in patients with H1N1 influenza infection undergoing ECMO, although the presence of diffuse cerebral injury, including intraparenchymal hemorrhage and multifocal punctate susceptibility effect, does not necessarily portend a poor prognosis.
Effects of visual and linguistic anthropomorphic cues on social perception, self-awareness, and information disclosure in a health website

We examined effects of visual and linguistic anthropomorphic cues in a website.Anthropomorphic images increase public and private self-awareness.Increased public self-awareness in turn leads to fewer responses to a website.Anthropomorphic language increases social perception.Anthropomorphic language also facilitates responses to a website. Acknowledging the lack of studies examining both visual and linguistic anthropomorphic cues and the underlying mechanisms of their effects, we investigated how the different modalities of anthropomorphic cues in a health website influenced information disclosure. In a 2 (visual cues: human vs. non-human image)?2 (linguistic cues: conversational vs. impersonal language)?2 (question type: less vs. more sensitive questions) between-subjects experiment (N=254), participants registered with a mock-up health website. We assessed a behavioral outcome of not disclosing personal information and psychological outcomes of social perception and self-awareness as potential mediators. Results revealed distinctive effects of the two modalities of the anthropomorphic cues. Anthropomorphic images, on one hand, increased public and private self-awareness, and public self-awareness in turn led to less information disclosure. Anthropomorphic language, on the other hand, heightened social perception and promoted information disclosure, but social perception did not predict the disclosure. These results indicate unique underlying mechanisms of the effects of anthropomorphism: priming effect of visual cues, and communicative effects of linguistic cues.
Detection and Analysis of Aging and Degradation of Polyolefins: A Review of Methodologies

Abstract Although the aging and degradation of polymers is an old subject, interest and research on this subject remains at a high level. Polyolefins have been the focus in many such studies, primarily because this class of polymers is of high commercial importance with an application range that is still expanding. Another reason is that the relatively simple molecular structure of the polyolefins has always appealed to the polymer science community, offering hope that these polymers will behave in a more readily understandable fashion than more complex structures.
Efficacy of a wax containing benzocaine in the relief of oral mucosal pain caused by orthodontic appliances

During orthodontic treatment, pain and discomfort of the oral mucosa can be experienced as a result of trauma from the appliances caused by increased friction between mucosal tissue and the surface of the brackets. Currently, orthodontists have few remedies to prevent or relieve this mucosal irritation. The orthodontist can give the patient wax to cover the brackets as a prophylactic measure or to use as needed on specific irritating appliances. Orthodontic wax contains no analgesic components. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of an orthodontic wax containing benzocaine that is released over time in a controlled manner. This randomized, prospective, double-blind, clinical trial compared patients' responses to the wax with benzocaine and the currently used unmedicated orthodontic wax. Seventy patients, 35 in each treatment group, were instructed to apply the wax in a specific manner, and their pain levels were recorded at 6 different time points. The pain levels were analyzed with a repeated-measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) model with factors of treatment (medicated wax vs unmedicated wax) and times (6 levels). Post-hoc pair-wise comparisons were made on the basis of the Fisher least significant difference procedure. The results of this study clearly indicated that the pain profile over time of the group that received the wax containing benzocaine was significantly different from that of the subjects who received the unmedicated wax. The medicated group had significantly lower pain levels at every time point after the first hour (P <.0003 in each case) compared with the unmedicated group. The medicated wax was effective immediately and continued to reduce pain in greater magnitude than did the unmedicated wax. A wax applied to orthodontic brackets that slowly and continuously releases benzocaine is significantly more effective at reducing the pain associated with mucosal irritation than is the current option used by most orthodontists.
Application of a polymer solid electrolyte for the vapor-phase electrocatalysis of dioxygen reduction by some cobalt porphyrins

Abstract An electrochemical cell suitable for the study of dioxygen reduction electrocatalysis by films of cobalt metalloporphyrins on electrodes in the absence of liquid electrolytes is described. The glassy carbon disk of a (stationary) ring-disk electrode is coated with either an electropolymerized film of cobalt tetra(o-aminophenyl)porphyrin or an adsorbed multimolecular layer of a dicobalt cofacial porphyrin, Co2 FTF4. Then the disk, the ring (serving as an auxiliary electrode), and a peripheral silver wire (serving as a pseudo-reference electrode) are coated with a thin film of an ionically conducting polymer: poly(ethyleneoxide) containing a 16:1 ether oxygen/Li+ concentration of lithium triflate. Bathing this solid state cell in moist, acidic or neutral bathing gases containing dioxygen produces electrocatalytic currents for dioxygen reduction. The fraction of the reduction leading to H2O2 was determined with a twin electrode sandwich modification of the above cell in which a Au film electrode atop a Nucleopore membrane is contacted to the top surface of the PEO16·Li(CF3SO3) film. No H2O2 was produced in the case of the Co2FTF4 catalyst in a neutral bathing gas; this electrocatalysis was also quite stable.
Mental Health Services in Public Schools: A Preliminary Study of School Counselor Perceptions:

This descriptive survey research study (N = 120) examined the self-reported comfort level of school counselors in addressing the mental health needs of their students and school counselor perceptions regarding working relationships with school-based therapists. Survey results indicated that school counselors are generally confident in their counseling skills and comfortable addressing common issues brought to them by their students. However, these same school counselors indicated that they experience some discomfort in working with students living with DSM diagnoses and that specific courses within counselor training programs may have a mitigating effect on this discomfort. Results also revealed that school counselors are willing to lead and work with cross-disciplinary teams and school-based therapists to better meet the mental health needs of their students.
cDNA cloning and sequencing of rat monoamine oxidase A: comparison with the human and bovine enzymes.

Abstract 1. 1. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of rat liver MAO A were determined, and sequence identities among MAO A and B from rat, human and bovine were compared. 2. 2. MAO A from rat exhibited greater than 85% sequence identity with bovine and human MAO A, and 70% identity with rat MAO B. 3. 3. Rat adrenal cDNAs were restriction mapped, partially sequenced and found to be identical to rat liver MAO A, suggesting that these two tissues express the same polypeptide.