cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age, growth and reproduction of the barrelfish Hyperoglyphe perciformis (Mitchill) in the western North Atlantic

Otoliths (n = 847) and gonads (n = 817) were collected from barrelfish Hyperoglyphe perciformis that were captured by commercial fishermen in the waters off South Carolina and Georgia in 1995, 1997 and 2001–2006. Of the otoliths collected, 97% were aged successfully, and specimens sampled ranged from 5 to 85 years, with a median age of 12 years. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters yielded the equation: Lt= 857·8{1 − e−0·0985[t−(−8·95)]}, where Ltis fork length (LF) at time t. Through histological examination, 94% of the gonads assessed were assigned to a sex and reproductive class. Females spawned from September to May with a peak from November to January. Males spawned year round, but had a peak from September to April. The sex ratio (M:F) for this population was 1:1·34. The smallest mature female was 605 mm LF and the youngest immature female was 697 mm LF. Estimates of LF and age at 50% maturity (L50 and A50) for females were 660 mm LF (95% CI = 633–667 mm LF) and 6·08 years (95% CI = 3·50–7·27 years), respectively. The youngest mature male was 575 mm LF and the oldest immature male was 762 mm LF, and no estimates of L50 or A50 were made for males. It was determined that barrelfish exhibit the typical characteristics of long life span, slow growth and high age at maturity seen in other deepwater fishes, and that care should be taken to manage this species accordingly.
Adult ADHD and Substance Abuse: Diagnostic and Treatment Issues

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral, developmental disorder most often diagnosed during childhood, marked by the core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that results in social, academic, and occupational underachievement. Although the disorder has a prevalence of 3-9% in the general childhood population and 1-5% in the general adult population, it affects between 11 and 35% of "substance-abusing" adults, oftentimes complicating treatment response. The present review discusses diagnostic assessment issues, prevalence, comorbidity, pharmacotherapy, and psychological interventions in substance-abusing adults with ADHD.
Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting: Supports and Resources for Changing the Paradigm

As shown previously in the Child Abuse Recognition Experience Study (CARES), primary care providers reported that they decided not to report a substantial proportion of injuries that they suspected might have resulted from abuse. The most serious cases result in death. This article provides detailed reports of 2 illustrative cases from the author's experience as a member of a multidisciplinary child fatality review team and discusses several alternative legal mechanisms for improving mandated reporting. Regional centers of excellence in child protection may be an effective way of improving child protection; current proposals to establish such centers are reviewed.
Direct oxidation growth of CuO nanowires from copper-containing substrates

Controlling the growth of semiconducting nanowires with desired properties on a reproducible basis is of particular importance in realizing the next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices. Here, we investigate the growth of cupric oxide (CuO) nanowires by direct oxidation of copper-containing substrates at 500°C for 150 minutes at various oxygen partial pressures. The substrates considered include a low-purity copper gasket, a high-purity copper foil, compacted CuO and Cu2O thin layers, and layered Cu/CuO and Cu/Cu2O substrates. The morphology, composition, and structure of the product CuO nanowires were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, and UV-Visible absorption. Selected oxidation processes have been monitored using a thermogravimetric analyzer. The layering structure of the substrate after oxidation was analyzed to elucidate the growth mechanism of CuO nanowires.
Vagotomy reverses established allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity to methacholine in the mouse

We evaluated the role of vagal reflexes in a mouse model of allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity. Mice were actively sensitized to ovalbumin then exposed to the allergen via inhalation. Prior to ovalbumin inhalation, mice also received intratracheally-instilled particulate matter in order to boost the allergic response. In control mice, methacholine (i.v.) caused a dose-dependent increase in respiratory tract resistance (RT) that only modestly decreased if the vagi were severed bilaterally just prior to the methacholine challenge. Sensitized and challenged mice, however, manifested an airway reactivity increase that was abolished by severing the vagi prior to methacholine challenge. In an innervated ex vivo mouse lung model, methacholine selectively evoked action potential discharge in a subset of distension-sensitive A-fibers. These data support the hypothesis that the major component of the increased airway reactivity in inflamed mice is due to a vagal reflex initiated by activation of afferent fibers, even in response to a direct (i.e., smooth muscle)-acting muscarinic agonist.
Material-based comparison for power heterojunction bipolar transistors

Various materials are studied to determine their potential in power heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs). The authors first start by generating an HBT figure of merit (FOM) which is defined as the product of operating frequency and output power of the HBT with 3-dB power gain. By using the FOM and available material parameters, a material-based comparison of HBT performance is done. The general tendency is for use of narrow-bandgap materials, such as Ge or InGaAs, as the base and wide-bandgap materials, such as AlGaAs, InP, SiC, or GaN, as the collector, technology permitting. >
Polyvariant Flow Analysis with Constrained Types

The basic idea behind improving the quality of a monovariant control flowanalysis such as 0CFAis the concept of polyvariant analyses such asAgesen's Cartesian Product Algorithm (CPA) and Shivers' nCFA. In this paper we develop a novel framework for polyvariant flow analysis based on Aiken-Wimmers constrained type theory. We develop instantiations of our framework to formalize various polyvariant algorithms, including nCFA and CPA. With our CPA formalization, we show the call-graph based termination condition for CPA will not always guarantee termination.We then develop a novel termination condition and prove it indeed leads to a terminating algorithm. Additionally, we show how data polymorphism can be modeled in the framework, by defining a simple extension to CPA that incorporates data polymorphism.
Health care costs for volunteers and non‐volunteers in an intervention for people with osteoarthritis

Objective. To determine whether older people who volunteered for a health intervention study used the health care system differently from a randomly selected group of eligible non-volunteers. Methods. Three hundred sixty-three volunteers and 92 non-volunteers were compared; both groups were members of a large health maintenance organization (HMO). Results. Volunteers were more educated and had been members of the HMO longer. Volunteers used the health care system significantly more at all time periods, but their cost per contact was significantly lower than that for non-volunteers. Non-volunteers were more likely to have a comorbid condition and had fewer arthritis-related health care contacts. Conclusions. There will always be problems in generalizing results of studies with volunteers, but volunteers are, nevertheless, the most appropriate controls if the experimental participants are also volunteers. Designs should ideally include both volunteer and non-volunteer controls.
Improving the calibration of Type Ia supernovae using late-time light curves

The use of Type la supernovae (SNe Ia) as cosmological standard candles is a key to solving the mystery of dark energy. Improving the calibration of SNe Ia increases their power as cosmological standard candles. We find tentative evidence for a correlation between the late-time light-curve slope and the peak luminosity of SNe Ia in the B band; brighter SNe Ia seem to have shallower light-curve slopes between 100 and 150 d from maximum light. Using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) analysis in calibrating SNe Ia, we are able to simultaneously take into consideration the effect of dust extinction, the luminosity and light-curve width correlation (parametrized by Δm 15 ), and the luminosity and late-time light-curve slope correlation. For the available sample of 11 SNe Ia with well-measured late-time light curves, we find that correcting for the correlation between luminosity and late-time light-curve slope of the SNe Ia leads to an intrinsic dispersion of 0.12 mag in the Hubble diagram. Our results have significant implications for future supernova surveys aimed to illuminate the nature of dark energy.
Galaxy ecosystems: gas contents, inflows and outflows

We use a set of observational data for galaxy cold gas mass fraction and gas phase metallicity to constrain the content, inflow and outflow of gas in central galaxies hosted by halos with masses between $10^{11} M_{\odot}$ to $10^{12} M_{\odot}$. The gas contents in high redshift galaxies are obtained by combining the empirical star formation histories of Lu et al. (2014) and star formation models that relate star formation rate with the cold gas mass in galaxies. We find that the total baryon mass in low-mass galaxies is always much less than the universal baryon mass fraction since $z = 2$, regardless of star formation model adopted. The data for the evolution of the gas phase metallicity require net metal outflow at $z\lesssim 2$, and the metal loading factor is constrained to be about $0.01$, or about $60\%$ of the metal yield. Based on the assumption that galactic outflow is more enriched in metal than both the interstellar medium and the material ejected at earlier epochs, we are able to put stringent constraints on the upper limits for both the net accretion rate and the net mass outflow rate. The upper limits strongly suggest that the evolution of the gas phase metallicity and gas mass fraction for low-mass galaxies at $z < 2$ is not compatible with strong outflow. We speculate that the low star formation efficiency of low-mass galaxies is owing to some preventative processes that prevent gas from accreting into galaxies in the first place.
Directly addressing uncertainty in ESH evaluation

Two of the major barriers for integrating comprehensive environmental evaluation methods such as the life cycle analysis (LCA) into technology selection in the semiconductor industry are: (1) due to the large amount of data requirement, the time needed for a in-depth LCA does not match with the fast pace of innovation cycle of the industry; (2) with new materials constantly being introduced into testing and production, environmental, safety, and health data of these new material are often lacking. To address these two barriers, it is proposed that analyses should start with simplified models and low-quality data, and then based on the uncertainty range of the analysis results, the decision maker decide on whether to refine the models and collect more data, and which input factors to refine. To enable this, the uncertainty in the results and the contributions of the inputs to this uncertainty need to be quantified. This paper describes the uncertainty analysis and sensitivity methods that can be used for the above purpose. A case study of comparing two chamber cleaning gases is used to illustrate the methods.
Understanding Organizational Behavior with Wearable Sensing Technology

We describe how recent advances in wearable sensing technology allow for unprecedented accuracy in studies of human behavior, particularly organizational behavior. We use one such platform, the Sociometric badge, to understand organizational behavior in two studies. In the first, we describe the collection of data over a period of one month in a German bank's marketing division. We found that physical proximity had a high negative correlation with e-mail activity, and by combining behavioral data and electronic communication data we were able to very accurately predict self-reports of personal and group interaction satisfaction and performance. Next we describe an experiment at a data server configuration firm, and we discovered behavioral variables that had extremely high correlations with objective productivity measures. In both studies the fine-grained behavioral variables measured by the Sociometric badge played a critical role in predicting outcomes.
Discussion of “Steam fog over Lake Michigan in winter”

Formation of steam fog depends upon the rate of transfer of water vapor at two levels, namely, (1) at the surface of the water, where water vapor is introduced into the lowest layer of the atmosphere, and (2) at the top of the potentially foggy layer, where vapor is removed from the lower air by mixing with drier air aloft. At the former level, transfer is a function of temperature of the water, dewpoint, and the turbulent exchange; at the latter level it is a function of the vapor pressure and turbulent exchange in the air. These rates of transfer depend on four factors, the balance among which determines whether the lower layers of air become saturated and excess water condenses as fog-droplets: (a) The difference between vapor pressures at the water surface and in the lowest layer of air; (b) the difference between vapor pressures in the potentially foggy layer of air and the higher layers; (c) turbulent exchange just above the water surface, and (d) turbulent exchange at higher levels. Introduction of water vapor into the potentially foggy layer depends upon (a) and (c), and its removal upon (b) and (d). The relations among these four factors may be seen when they are brought together into an inequality which must be realized if fog is to be formed.
Nonlinear channel identification and performance analysis with PSK inputs

Many real life systems are nonlinear. We focus on the so-called Volterra models and the input-output aspect of the identification problem. To this date, closed form solutions for the Volterra kernels exist only for Gaussian inputs and they are usually in rather complicated forms. In this paper, we adopt a class of non-Gaussian inputs, namely the PSK (phase shift keying) sequences, which are common in digital communications systems. Such signals allow for simple closed form solutions of the Volterra kernels of any order. Kernels are estimated separately thus preventing error propagation. Signal independent zero-mean additive noise can also be tolerated even when its color and distribution are unknown. Because closed form solutions for the kernels are available, explicit variance expressions for their estimates can also be derived. Simulation results verify our theoretical findings.
Predicting Preschoolers' Social-Cognitive Play Behavior: Attachment, Peers, Temperament, and Physiological Regulation

Research on children's social-cognitive play typologies (i.e., active and passive forms of solitary and social play) suggests links of early play behaviors and later social development and risk status. To date, few studies have examined simultaneously suspected links between children's social-cognitive play types and factors believed to shape these early social-play behaviors. This study examined a simultaneous model of individual (temperament, physiology) and relational variables (attachment, peer networks) believed to influence children's social-cognitive play types, including individual characteristics drawn from the Child Behavior Questionnaire which measures dimensions of shyness and impulsivity, a lab-based assessment of social withdrawal, and physiological markers linked to social regulation (cardiac vagal tone and vagal regulation). Children's attachment status to parents was gathered using Q-Sort methodology, and a measure of previous peer network size was obtained from parents' reports to examine potential links between relational history and social-cognitive play types. Predictive discriminant function analysis showed that children's (N = 54, age range 35 to 58 months) social-cognitive play was better predicted on the basis of multiple independent variables than individual, zero-order relations. When predicting children's social-cognitive play typologies, a multidimensional view which encompasses both individual characteristics and social-relational variables may best predict social -cognitive play types and help understanding of children's social trajectories.
Effect of Life-long Food Restriction on Cardiac Myosin Composition

This study examined the effects of age and dietary manipulations on the cardiac myosin isozyme composition of male Fischer 344 rats. In hearts from ad libitum-fed rats, aged 6-24 months, the myosin isozyme profile shifted with age from the fast, V1, to the slow, V3, isoform. Life-long food restriction (FR) (60% of ad libitum intake) as well as short-term FR (4 months) initiated at 16 months of age enhanced the age-related shift. Isocaloric reduction in the carbohydrate consumption of the rat from 2/3 to 1/3 of total calories had no effect on the isozyme profile, suggesting that FR acts via a decrease in calorie intake alone. The effect of FR on the cardiac myosin isozyme composition reported here shares several characteristics with the well-known effect of FR on life span extension, i.e., it (a) persists as long as FR is applied (life span extension is proportional to FR duration), (b) depends upon calorie reduction rather than a decrease in a specific dietary component, and (c) can be induced even when FR is initiated later in life. Suggesting that alterations in cardiac performance may be involved, the results may provide some clue as to the mechanism by which FR retards the aging processes.
A Variable Effectiveness Model for Indirect Thermal Storage Devices

The performance of indirect thermal storage systems is critically dependent on the degree of thermal contact between the energy storage medium and the energy transfer medium. For liquid-liquid systems, the energy transfer occurs across a heat exchanger for which the overall effectiveness is determined by both tube-side and storage-side convection coefficients. While the tube-side convection is essentially constant throughout a draw at a constant flow rate, the storage-side convection process depends intimately on the natural convection flow driven by the temperature difference between the two fluids. This temperature difference is inherently transient during the discharge process. In the present work, analytical models are developed which predict system behavior for constant and variable heat exchanger effectiveness. The accuracy of each model is quantified in relation to empirical data obtained by Liu et al. [1, 2] in a physical system motivated by application to integral collector storage (ICS) solar water heating devices. From analysis of the empirical data, discharge-averaged values in the constant effectiveness model and in the variable effectiveness model are determined for a range of empirical conditions. The results show that the initial flow transients generated by the start of the discharge process are flow rate dependent and have a significant impact on the observed overall heat transfer coefficients.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Treatment of Acne Vulgaris With Salicylic Acid Chemical Peel and Pulsed Dye Laser: A Split Face, Rater-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Pulsed dye laser (PDL) has been used to treat acne lesions and scar erythema by interrupting superficial vasculature. Salicylic acid chemical peels are employed chiefly due to their lipophilic, comedolytic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Although studies have looked at peels and laser therapy independently in acne management, we examined these treatments in combination. Our primary objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of concurrent use of salicylic acid peels with PDL versus salicylic acid peels alone in the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris. Methods: Adult patients with moderate to severe acne were included. Subjects received a total of 3 treatments at 3-week intervals. Per randomized split-face treatment, at week 0, one half of the subject’s face was treated with PDL (595 nm) followed by whole face application of a 30% salicylic acid peel. At weeks 3 and 6, the treatments were repeated. At 0 and 9 weeks, patients were assessed with the Global Evaluation Acne (GEA) scale and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire. Results: Nineteen subjects were enrolled, and 18 completed the study. Significant improvement in acne was seen in both the combined (laser and peel) and chemical peel alone treatment arms ( P < .0005 and P = .001). Using the GEA scale score, compared to week 0, the mean difference in acne improvement at week 9 was -1.61 in the combination therapy group versus -1.11 in the peel only group. Based on the GEA scale scoring, a statistically significant greater difference in acne improvement was seen, from week 0 to week 9, in the combination treatment group compared with the peel only group ( P = .003). Conclusion: While acne subjects had significant benefit from the salicylic acid peel alone, they experienced greater significant benefit from PDL treatment used in conjunction with salicylic acid peels. The adjunctive utilization of PDL to salicylic acid peel therapy can lead to better outcomes in acne management.
Sensor Signal Limitations in Wheel Rotational Kinematics Estimation Model

Wheel encoders play an important role in providing information about rotational kinematics of vehicle wheels. The sensor signals are utilized in critical vehicle systems responsible for vehicle safety, traction and braking performance, and stability of motion. This paper starts with an analysis of different types of sensors that have been used in rotational wheel kinematics estimations and controls. The main attention is given to sensor signal limitations related to the accuracy of measurement and response time that are important for agile-to-real-time tire dynamics estimation.A detailed analysis of the wheel rotational velocity estimation process is presented for a conventional Hall Effect digital sensor. Through an analytical modelling, it is shown that this sensor can limit its accuracy due to an increased time for signal information assembly caused by the number of impulses and transient (unsteady) rotational motion in unstable road conditions.A new concept of a rotational kinematics sensor is proposed and modeled as a multi-domain mechatronic system that includes new mechanical elements as well as electrical and magnetic components. The sensor concept provides a smooth continuous signal through the full rotational angle of the wheel and precise information about the rotational velocity and its changes in different unstable road conditions. Computational examples of both sensors (digital and proposed) are demonstrated with the use of a quarter-car model moving over a random road profile in stochastic gripping and rolling resistance conditions. A comparison of the two sensors’ accuracy to estimate the rotational velocity of the wheel is done with regard to an “ideal” sensor with a unity transfer function.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Mapping the Field

Drawing from the new trends in the inter-ethnic and cross-cultural studies, this paper points to several major lacunae in the research of Jewish Ukrainian relations and in the contextual religious, economic, and multilingual literary history of Jews on the Ukrainian lands, the study of which the author considers the major scholarly desiderata. Unlike most of the historiographical studies of Ukrainian Jewish relations published so far, this essay suggests heretofore underexplored or neglected themes, sub-fields, documentary collections, and methodologies, thus, “mapping the field” for the next generation of young scholars and researchers interested in exploring Ukrainian multi-cultural legacy.
Perceptual Obstacles to Class Consciousness

metric relationships. The transmission of information is likely to be restricted to the minimum of formal requirements in many instances, which hinders the most effective coordination of group activities. At the other end of the congruency range, difficulties may arise from failure to restrict communication to the technical requirements of the task. The validity of these interpretations remains to be determined. For the present the foregoing data indicate that attention to status congruency is desirable from the standpoint of group productivity and interpersonal relationships alike. Procedures are needed not only for insuring moderate degrees of congruency in the induction of individuals into an organization, but also for the maintenance of individuals in optimal congruency as the organization continues to function. Progressive adjustments between ability, length of service, relevant experience, age, and other personal qualities appear to be necessary if strains of an individual and group character are to be averted. The application of such procedures presupposes a knowledge of the significant status hierarchies in a given situation, and the organization of the group in a manner that satisfies the more fundamental conditions of congruency (a topic for further research). Comparison of status attributes reveals some apparent differences in the importance of congruency in the several hierarchies, but further study of these differences is necessary.5 As a final point, it should be noted that there is an apparent antithesis between productivity and group euphoria, at least in settings such as the military organization. This is particularly evident with regard to euphoria in the sphere of interpersonal relations. There arises the question as to whether the antithesis is real or illusory. If the former, a problem is posed for those concerned wi h the organization and direction of groups, since it calls for a decision as to which of these conditions is to receive the major emphasis. To some extent the decision is made by the value system and the formal objectives of the group. Even in the military organization, however, the commander has some discretion as to how extensively he will subordinate group sentiments to technical productivity.
White and Black Consumer Sales Response to Black Models

An experiment was conducted to examine consumer response to black models displayed in promotional material. The study extends prior research on the effects of black models by determining (1) the sa...
Effects of sea stars and crabs on sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus recruitment in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (USA)

Relationships between recruitment of the Atlantic sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus and the abundances of 3 types of invertebrate predators, the sand star Astropecten americanus, the common sea stars Asterias spp. and the crabs Cancer spp., were investigated using data from large-scale scallop surveys in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (USA). Both asteroid groups appeared to reduce sea scallop recruitment, with significantly lower recruitment in areas where the sea stars were in high abundance. No significant effect of Cancer spp. crabs on scallop recruitment was detected. Very high densities of A. americanus, no sea scallop recruitment, and low Asterias spp. densities were observed in all stations with depths >85 m, and in many stations between 65 and 85 m. Astropecten americanus may be a dominant component of the deep-water (>75 m) benthic community in the Mid-Atlantic Bight that is capable of excluding both sea scallops and Asterias spp. from areas where A. americanus are highly abundant.
Entangling Migration History: Borderlands and Transnationalism in the United States and Canada. Edited by Benjamin Bryce and Alexander Freund.

Entangling Migration History: Borderlands and Transnationalism in the United States and Canada . Contested Boundaries Series. Edited by Benjamin Bryce and Alexander Freund. Foreword by Dirk Hoerder. (Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2015. xiii + 231 pp. Maps, tables, notes, index. $79.95.) Benjamin Bryce and Alexander Freund’s edited volume is an important addition to the study of North American borderlands, one that challenges traditional disciplinary boundaries that have shaped the field for the last several decades. Employing the concept of “entangled migrations,” the authors place the history of migration in conversation with transnational studies, comparative history, and borderlands history. In doing so, this book explores the contested meaning of the national line that united Canada and the United States on multiple scales—including local, national, and transnational levels. This volume includes established … karibo{at}tarleton.edu
A History of Modern Morocco: The First Age of Hassan II

The sudden and unexpected death of Muhammad V on February 26, 1961, during minor surgery unleashed a torrent of grief from a people who had come to revere the shy and retiring figure who, by sheer force of will, had become father of the nation. Designated as heir apparent in 1957, the thirty-two-year-old Crown Prince Hassan was of a different temper. He stayed close to his father’s side throughout the last tumultuous years of French rule, absorbing the lessons of political survival at home and in exile. Educated at the palace by a battery of French and Moroccan professors (including the brilliant Mehdi Ben Barka in Mathematics) and later at Bordeaux, where he received a law degree, he was open to the world and far more at ease with the accoutrements of modernity than his father. Yet he was also a lover of tradition and the prerogatives of power: the tinsel uniforms, the hand kissing, the palace ceremonial ordained by ancient protocol. Unlike his father, he was completely fluent in French in addition to Arabic, and spoke capable English as well. Cold-blooded and hot-tempered, an amateur of fast cars and sleek women, with a broad streak of ambition and a love of command, he was more than ready to rule. THE NEW KING TIGHTENS HIS GRIP ON POWER Hassan II’s credentials were impressive but not altogether flawless. His postindependence success in organizing the FAR and repressing revolts in the Rif and the south had burnished his reputation as a decisive and effective leader. But among the common people, his worth was questioned by his supposed attraction to the forbidden pleasures of life. Viewed as a playboy whose nocturnal wanderings in the company of hard-drinking army officers cast doubt on his attachment to religious values, the young king faced the challenge of creating a public persona consonant with his role as “Commander of the Faithful.” His primary objective was to convert that reserve of symbolic capital into political coin. Thus the early years of his reign were devoted to building his own signature image based on the mythic aura of his father, while setting an agenda aimed at eliminating opponents and consolidating his personal power.
Serum prostatic antigen measurement in localized prostatic cancer: Correlation with clinical course

Serial serum prostatic antigen measurements were performed on patients treated for localized prostatic carcinoma. There was good correlation of mean serum prostatic antigen levels and the surgical stage of the disease. Among patients treated by radical prostatectomy there was good correlation of an elevated serum prostatic antigen and the development of metastatic disease. It appears that serum prostatic antigen is a good indicator and predictor of the development of distant metastasis in this group of patients.
The Globalization of Credit Risk

Over the last twenty years, the globalized economic and financial system has changed to such an extent that central banks are on their way to becoming irrelevant. We are a long way from the supply-and-demand fundamentals of a merchandising economy, which characterized the multinationals in the 1960s and 1970s. As the credit crisis of July/August 2007 demonstrated, rather than central bankers and regulatory authorities, it is the global financial industry that holds the upper ground.
The Effect on Granularity of Splitting a Colour Negative Layer into Separate Fast and Slow Components

AbstractSplitting a single layer of a colour material into two separate fast and slow layers, confers several advantages. One of the more surprising advantages is a reduction in the peak granularity.The reason underlying this reduction is explained with a simple mathematical model.
Theory of Solidification: Nonlinear theory for directional solidification

In Chapter 2 we saw that a spherical front in a pure material in an undercooled liquid is either unstable or not, depending on the size of the sphere. There is no secondary control that allows one to mediate the growth. In Chapter 3, we saw that, in directional solidification of a binary liquid, the concentration gradient at the interface creates an instability; however, there is a secondary parameter, the temperature gradient, that opposes the instability and thus can be used to control the local growth beyond the linearized stability limit. Thus, much attention has been given to directional solidification both experimentally and theoretically, and it is in this chapter that nonlinear theory will be discussed. There are two approaches to the nonlinear theory, depending upon whether the critical wave number a c of linear theory is of unit order, or is small (i.e., asymptotically zero). In the former case one can construct Landau, Ginzburg–Landau, or Newell–Whitehead–Segel equations to study (weakly nonlinear) bifurcation behavior. This gives information regarding the nature of the bifurcation (sub- or supercritical), the question of wave number selection, the preferred pattern of the morphology, and hence the resulting microstructure. If a c is small one must use a longwave theory that generates evolution equations governing the nonlinear development. Such longwave theories can be weakly or strongly nonlinear, depending on the particular situation. They, too, can then be analyzed to discover the nature of the bifurcation and the selection of preferred wave number and pattern.
Oculofacial Pain: Corneal Nerve Damage Leading to Pain Beyond the Eye

The cornea is supplied principally by the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve and is the most densely innervated organ in the human body. Under normal conditions, the corneal nerve terminals incorporate sensors that monitor the thickness and integrity of the tear film, which are essential for meaningful vision. A disrupted tear film or direct noxious stimulation of these corneal nerves can produce discomfort or pain limited to the affected surface. Damage to these nerves can sometimes lead to a chronic neuropathic condition, where pain persists months following the initial insult, long after the nerves appear to have healed in the cornea itself following treatment. Neuropathic pain appears to persist indefinitely in a few patients.
Rechallenging Statin Therapy in Veterans With Statin-Induced Myopathy Post Vitamin D Replenishment:

Background:Statins are the primary class of medications used to lower cholesterol and reduce risks for coronary heart disease. However, statin muscular adverse effects are one of the main reasons f...
A Perspective on Large eddy Simulation of Problems in the Nuclear Industry

Because of the complex nature of coolant flow in nuclear reactors, current subchannel methods for light water reactor analysis are insufficient. The large eddy simulation method has been proposed a...
Mechanisms underlying TNF-α effects on agonist-mediated calcium homeostasis in human airway smooth muscle cells

We have previously shown that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, a cytokine involved in asthma, enhances Ca2+ responsiveness to bronchoconstrictor agents in cultured human airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. In the present study, we investigated the potential mechanism(s) by which TNF-α modulates ASM cell responsiveness to such agents. In human ASM cells loaded with fura 2, TNF-α and interleukin (IL)-1β significantly enhanced thrombin- and bradykinin-evoked elevations of intracellular Ca2+. In TNF-α-treated cells, Ca2+responses to thrombin and bradykinin were 350 ± 14 and 573 ± 93 nM vs. 130 ± 17 and 247 ± 48 nM in nontreated cells, respectively (P < 0.0001). In IL-1β-treated cells, the Ca2+response to bradykinin was 350 ± 21 vs. 127 ± 12 nM in nontreated cells (P < 0.0001). The time course for TNF-α potentiation of agonist-induced Ca2+ responses requires a minimum of 6 h and was maximum after 12 h of incubation. In addition, cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, completely blocked the potentiating effe...
FoxO integration of insulin signaling with glucose and lipid metabolism

The forkhead box O family consists of FoxO1, FoxO3, FoxO4 and FoxO6 proteins in mammals. Expressed ubiquitously in the body, the four FoxO isoforms share in common the amino DNA-binding domain, known as 'forkhead box' domain. They mediate the inhibitory action of insulin or insulin-like growth factor on key functions involved in cell metabolism, growth, differentiation, oxidative stress, senescence, autophagy and aging. Genetic mutations in FoxO genes or abnormal expression of FoxO proteins are associated with metabolic disease, cancer or altered lifespan in humans and animals. Of the FoxO family, FoxO6 is the least characterized member and is shown to play pivotal roles in the liver, skeletal muscle and brain. Altered FoxO6 expression is associated with the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, dietary obesity and type 2 diabetes and risk of neurodegeneration disease. FoxO6 is evolutionally divergent from other FoxO isoforms. FoxO6 mediates insulin action on target genes in a mechanism that is fundamentally different from other FoxO members. Here, we focus our review on the role of FoxO6, in contrast with other FoxO isoforms, in health and disease. We review the distinctive mechanism by which FoxO6 integrates insulin signaling to hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism. We highlight the importance of FoxO6 dysregulation in the dual pathogenesis of fasting hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in diabetes. We review the role of FoxO6 in memory consolidation and its contribution to neurodegeneration disease and aging. We discuss the potential therapeutic option of pharmacological FoxO6 inhibition for improving glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetes.
The effect of targeted temperature management on QT and corrected QT intervals in patients with cardiac arrest.

Abstract Background Targeted Temperature Management (TTM) improves outcomes after cardiac arrest but may affect the QT and QTc intervals which could increase the chance of subsequent arrhythmia. We report here the effects of TTM on both computer-derived and manually calculated QT and QTc as well as the relationship of the length of the QTc and serious arrhythmia in a retrospective single-center experience. Methods 193 patients undergoing TTM for cardiac arrest were studied. 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECG) were measured before, during and after TTM. We assessed the QT and Bazett-corrected QT intervals (QTc) and examined the relationship between QTc and the occurrence of malignant arrhythmias. Results Both the QT and QTc increased during TTM whether derived manually or from the computer algorithm, although values were different with the two methods. Neither the QT nor the QTc were significantly longer in those patients with malignant arrhythmias. Conclusions QT and QTc prolong during TTM. There was no differential increase in the QTc in patients who experienced malignant arrhythmias. While the mechanism of QTc prolongation is not clear, it would not appear that the degree of QTc prolongation has an adverse effect on cardiac rhythm during TTM.
Masters Program Colon Pathway: Robotic Left Hemicolectomy and Total Colectomy

Surgeons are increasingly applying robotic techniques to colorectal procedures. Although the use of robotics for pelvic surgery has been well defined, the application of robotics for segmental and total abdominal colectomy has only recently began to be described. Marketing data suggest that robotic colectomy is one of the fastest growing areas of robotic surgery. Indications for robotic-assisted colectomy include benign and malignant neoplasms, inflammatory bowel diseases, and infections. Surgeons have become increasingly aware of the importance of surgical technique as it impacts both patient and oncologic outcomes. The use of robotics may enhance the ability to perform mesocolic resection and intracorporeal anastomosis as well as reduce conversions rates. Additionally, new robotic technologies such as the robotic stapler, integrated fluorescence imaging module, and energy tissue sealer have become available which offer advantages that cannot be duplicated with laparoscopic or open techniques. This chapter reviews the current status of robotic-assisted total and segmental left colectomy, technical considerations, and current data on patient outcomes.
Nutrient and Water Limitations on Carbon Sequestration in Forests

In addition to CO2, light, warmth, water, nutrients and growing media are also required for plant growth and net primary production (NPP). Nutrient supply drives C allocation and biomass partitioning into leaves, stems, roots, and in storage and reproductive organs (Ericsson et al. 1996). Thus, C sequestration in forest ecosystems depends on nutrient inputs and their availability (Hessen et al. 2004). Lack of adequate nutrient supply constrains, in particular, the productivity of boreal and temperate forests but nutrient constraints on tropical forest productivity are less well studied (Chapin et al. 2002; Clark 2007). Because the C:nutrient stoichiometry of vegetation and soils differ greatly, C sequestration depends on the distribution of C and nutrients between vegetation and soil (Hessen et al. 2004). Interactions of nutrients affect organic matter (OM) production and decomposition (Melillo et al. 2003). Tree species share the same basic nutrient requirements (Ericsson 1994). However, the quantity of nutrients taken up and returned annually to the forest floor is lower for evergreen compared to other tree species. Important macronutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). Examples of important micronutrients are boron (B), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and molybdenum (Mo). In most cases, N is the major limiting nutrient explaining production increases in fertilization experiments (Binkley et al. 1997). In some forests, however, low availability of P, K, Mg, B, Cu, Mn or Zn also limits NPP.
Advance in physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling: from the organ level to suborgan level based on experimental data.

Understanding the pharmacokinetics and target organ dosimetry properties of small molecular drugs and large molecular biologics is essential in the design of proper therapeutic regimens for disease treatments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
mHealth technologies for osteoarthritis self-management and treatment: A systematic review

Osteoarthritis is a common chronic disease that can be better treated with the help of self-management interventions. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies are becoming a popular means to deliver such interventions. We reviewed the current state of research and development of mHealth technologies for osteoarthritis self-management to determine gaps future research could address. We conducted a systematic review of English articles and a survey of apps available in the marketplace as of 2016. Among 117 unique articles identified, 25 articles that met our inclusion criteria were reviewed in-depth. The app search identified 23 relevant apps for osteoarthritis self-management. Through the synthesis of three research themes (osteoarthritis assessment tools, osteoarthritis measurement tools, and osteoarthritis motion monitoring tools) that emerged from the current knowledge base, we provide a design framework to guide the development of more comprehensive osteoarthritis mHealth apps that facilitate self-management, decision support, and shared decision-making.
miR2Pathway: A novel analytical method to discover MicroRNA-mediated dysregulated pathways involved in hepatocellular carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs involved in the regulation of gene expression at a post-transcriptional level. Recent studies have shown miRNAs as key regulators of a variety of biological processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, metabolism, etc. Aberrantly expressed miRNAs influence individual gene expression level, but rewired miRNA-mRNA connections can influence the activity of biological pathways. Here, we define rewired miRNA-mRNA connections as the differential (rewiring) effects on the activity of biological pathways between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and normal phenotypes. Our work presented here uses a PageRank-based approach to measure the degree of miRNA-mediated dysregulation of biological pathways between HCC and normal samples based on rewired miRNA-mRNA connections. In our study, we regard the degree of miRNA-mediated dysregulation of biological pathways as disease risk of biological pathways. Therefore, we propose a new method, miR2Pathway, to measure and rank the degree of miRNA-mediated dysregulation of biological pathways by measuring the total differential influence of miRNAs on the activity of pathways between HCC and normal states. miR2Pathway proposed here systematically shows the first evidence for a mechanism of biological pathways being dysregulated by rewired miRNA-mRNA connections, and provides new insight into exploring mechanisms behind HCC. Thus, miR2Pathway is a novel method to identify and rank miRNA-dysregulated pathways in HCC.
Female ornamentation is associated with elevated aggression and testosterone in a tropical songbird

Relationships between testosterone, ornamentation, and aggression are relatively well resolved in males, but what about females? The White-shouldered Fairywren provides a useful context to address this question because female plumage varies across populations, whereas males are uniform. Females with elaborate plumage are more aggressive than dull females and also have elevated concentrations of testosterone. These relationships differ from those of males, consistent with selection on female ornamentation, likely for purposes of social competition.
Role of prostaglandins (PGs) in the control of adenohypophyseal hormone secretion.

With the realization of the wide-spread distribution and biological action of the prostaglandins, it was natural to search for possible effects of these agents on the hypothalamic-pituitary unit In this communication we will review the evidence which indicates that prostaglandins can act both on the pituitary and on the hypothalamus to alter the release of adenohypophyseal hormones. The review will summarize the present status with respect to ACTH, TSH and growth hormone but will concentrate on the role of the prostaglandins on the secretion of FSH, LH and prolactin with which we have been particularly concerned in this laboratory.
Dependence of Wave-Breaking Statistics on Wind Stress and Wave Development

Incidence of wave breaking for pure wind driven waves has been studied on Lake Washington at wind speeds up to 8 m s−1. Video recordings were employed to identify and categorize the breaking events in terms of micro-scale, spilling and plunging breakers. These events were correlated with the magnitude of the wave spectrum measured with a resistance wire wave gauge and band pass filtered between 6 and 10 Hz. An equivalent percentage of breaking crests were found for spilling and plunging events.