cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone and Insulin‐Like Growth Factor‐1 Administration on IGF‐1 and IGF‐Binding Protein‐3 Levels in Brain Injury

Study Objective. To assess the effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plasma concentration versus time profile during continuous infusion of recombinant human (rh)IGF-1 to patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Setting. University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. Patients. Twenty-three patients with TBI (aged 18–59 yrs) with Glascow Coma Scale scores of 4–10. Intervention. Patients were randomized to receive rhIGF-1 0.01 mg/kg/hour and daily subcutaneous doses of rhGH 0.05 mg/kg/day or saline for 14 days. Measurements and Main Results. Plasma concentrations of IGF-1 and IGF-binding protein (BP)-3 were quantified by radioimmunoassay. Patients receiving rhIGF-1/rhGH reached a peak IGF-1 concentration (1199.3 ± 84.0 μg/L) at 72 hours and maintained it throughout the study. Levels of IGF-1 in the control group did not change significantly above baseline throughout the study. Concentrations of IGFBP-3 were significantly higher after 48 hours in the treated group (5.1 ± 0.4 mg/L) than in controls (2.9 ± 0.5 mg/L) and continued until the end of the study (p<0.05). Conclusion. Infusion of rhIGF-l in conjunction with rhGH effectively achieved and maintained supraphysiologic IGF-1 plasma concentrations throughout the dosing period in patients with TBI. It appears that rhGH alters the IGF-1 plasma concentration versus time profile during continuous administration. Although speculative, changes in protein binding of IGF-1 are the most likely mechanism.
Attenuation of stroke size in rats using an adenoviral vector to induce overexpression of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in brain.

Adenoviruses have been proposed as potential vectors for gene therapy in the central nervous system, but there are no reports of their use in the treatment of a brain disease. Because central administration of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1ra) reduces ischemic brain damage, we determined whether a recombinant adenovirus vector carrying the human IL-1ra cDNA (Ad.RSVIL-1ra) could be used to ameliorate brain injury in permanent focal ischemia. Groups of six rats received intraventricular injections of Ad.RSVIL-1ra or a control adenovirus containing the Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase gene (Ad.RSVlacZ). Histochemical staining for beta-galactosidase 5 days after virus injection indicated that transgene expression was confined primarily to the cells lining the ventricle. The concentrations of IL-1ra injected animals, achieving levels of 9.1 +/- 3.3 ng/g in brain and 23.7 +/- 22.5 ng/ml in CSF. In these animals, cerebral infarct volume resulting from 24 h of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion was reduced 64%. These studies demonstrate that adenoviral vectors can be used to deliver genes that attenuate brain injury.
Infant sensitivity to figural coherence in biomechanical motions

Two experiments assessed infant sensitivity to figural coherence in point-light displays moving as if attached to the major joints of a walking person. Experiment 1 tested whether 3- and 5-month-old infants could discriminate between upright and inverted versions of the walker in both moving and static displays. Using an infant-control habituation paradigm, it was found that both ages discriminated the moving but not the static displays. Experiment 2 was designed to clarify whether or not structural invariants were extracted from these displays. The results revealed that (1) moving point-light displays with equivalent motions but different topographic relations were discriminated while (2) static versions were not, and (3) arrays that varied in the amount of motion present in different portions of the display were also not discriminated. These results are interpreted as indicating that young infants are sensitive to figural coherence in displays of biomechanical motion.
Problems associated with interferences in the analysis of serum for polychlorinated biphenyls

Abstract During a recent survey to determine serum concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) among people living around New Bedford, MA, U.S.A., an unidentified contaminant precluded the quantification of some early eluting Webb and McCall peaks. Loss of data is estimated to have reduced reported serum levels by 12%. Efforts to identify the contaminant by gas chromatography with an electron-capture detector, a Hall electrolytic conductivity detector, and mass spectrometer were not successful. Researchers ascertained, however, that the contaminant is not a PCB, it does not contain halogens, but it may contain phthalates. Vacutainer tubes and closures for serum storage bottles are suspected sources of contamination.
Suprathermal ions near the moon.

This paper reports some preliminary results from the suprathermal ion detectors deployed on the lunar surface by the Apollo 12 and 14 astronauts. Salient features of these results include: the possible observation of sporadic venting of gas from the lunar surface; evidence for a prompt ionization and acceleration mechanism operating in the lunar exosphere; and a preliminary measurement yielding approximately 1 month for the e-folding decay time for the heavier components of the exhaust gases from the Apollo lunar landing systems. Prominent phenomena from which these results have been derived are: (1) ion bursts of low to moderate energy seen in conjunction with lunar sunrise and sunset; (2) solar wind energy ions detected on the night side of the moon; (3) ions of several keV energy seen during the lunar sunset to midnight quadrant of the moon's orbit; (4) magnetosheath ion flux enhancements; (5) ion bursts generated by the lunar impact of the Apollo 13 Saturn upper stage; and (6) geomagnetic storm associated ion flux variations in the earth's magnetotail.
Fate of fatty acids at rest and during exercise: regulatory mechanisms

Fatty acids are a major fuel source for humans both at rest and during exercise. Plasma free fatty acids (FFA), although present only in micromolar concentrations, are the major circulating lipid fuel. FFA availability can increase two- to four-fold with moderate intensity exercise. Other potential sources of fatty acids include circulating very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglycerides (TGs) ( approximately 1/5 the fuel availability of FFA) and intramyocellular TGs ( approximately 2 mmol kg-1 muscle). At rest approximately 40% of systemic FFA uptake occurs in the splanchnic bed and uptake in legs is approximately 15-20%. During leg exercise the uptake of FFA in leg tissue increases to 30-60% of systemic uptake and splanchnic uptake decreases to 15%. The fate of VLDL TG fatty acids has not been adequately studied. Intramyocellular TG hydrolysis increases during exercise, but the factors that regulate this response are not clear. The fact that contraction of isolated muscles can stimulate the hydrolysis and oxidation of intramyocellular TGs (in the absence of hormonal or neural input) suggests an intracellular regulation of this process. Additional regulation from changes in catecholamines and insulin may also occur. During moderate intensity exercise circulating FFA and intramyocellular TG provide roughly equal portions of fatty acids for oxidation. In addition to endurance training, dietary factors have been shown to modulate the fatty acid oxidation response to exercise. Much remains to be learned about fatty acid trafficking during exercise. What role do VLDL TG play? How is the oxidation of intramyocellular TGs regulated? Techniques to address these questions in humans are only now becoming available.
Teamwork Errors in Trauma Resuscitation

Human errors in trauma resuscitation can have cascading effects leading to poor patient outcomes. To determine the nature of teamwork errors, we conducted an observational study in a trauma center over a two-year period. While eventually successful in treating the patients, trauma teams had problems tracking and integrating information in a longitudinal trajectory, which resulted in inefficiencies and near-miss errors. As an initial step in system design to support trauma teams, we proposed a model of teamwork and a novel classification of team errors. Four types of team errors emerged from our analysis: communication errors, vigilance errors, interpretation errors, and management errors. Based on these findings, we identified key information structures to support team cognition and decision making. We believe that displaying these information structures will support distributed cognition of trauma teams. Our findings have broader applicability to other collaborative and dynamic work settings that are prone to human error.
Regulatory mechanisms maintaining the Hydra-Chlorella symbiosis

In symbiotic associations between unicellular algae and aquatic invertebrates a relatively constant biomass ratio of algae to host is maintained. The mechanisms that maintain this ratio have not been adequately investigated. This study describes aspects of the mechanisms regulating numbers of algae in Hydra viridis digestive cells. Symbiotic digestive cells that acquire supernumerary algae by phagocytosis restore the number to normal levels by several mechanisms. Light and electron microscopy provide evidence showing that excess algae are expelled intact or digested within the host cells. This finding is significant since, under normal circumstances, symbiotic algae are not expelled and avoid digestion by inhibiting phagosome--lysosome fusion. The role of host cell mitosis in the regulation of the number of algae per cell is also investigated. Quantitative data are presented which show that mitosis alone cannot account for the regulation of supernumerary algae. The hypothesis that the supply of inorganic nutrients may influence the regulation of the number of algae per digestive cell is also tested in this study. Enrichment of the maintenance medium with a combination of nutrients enhances growth of the symbiotic algae, the digestive cells become packed with algae, and eventually the host is overgrown and killed by the algae. Therefore regulatory mechanisms controlling the algal population when exogenous inorganic nutrients are limited, are no longer effective when nutrients are available.
EFFECT OF SPUR DIKES ON FLOW THROUGH CONTRACTIONS

THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY HAS CONDUCTED TESTS IN THE HYDRAULICS LABORATORY AT THE GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TO DETERMINE THE DISCHARGE CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGHWAY BRIDGES WITH SPUR DIKES. THE ADDITION OF SPUR DIKES TO A CONTRACTION REDUCES THE RESISTANCE TO FLOW AND INCREASES THE DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT 33 PER CENT FOR ELLIPTICAL DIKES, 23 PER CENT FOR STRAIGHT DIKES, AND 27 PER CENT FOR TIMBER DIKES. ADJUSTMENT FACTORS FOR THE DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT HAVE BEEN DEFINED FOR THE ADDITION OF ELLIPTICAL AND STRAIGHT DIKES TO SPILL THROUGH CONTRACTIONS FOR VARIOUS CHANNEL CONTRACTIONS AND RATIOS OF DIKE LENGTH TO BRIDGE OPENING. /AUTHOR/
Jamming estimation on block-fading channels

We consider communication in the presence of hostile jamming and block-fading. The jamming signal is modeled by a Gaussian two-state hidden Markov model. Both the communication signal and the jamming signal experience fading that is constant over each packet transmission. Under this scenario, the performance is very sensitive to errors in detecting which symbols are jammed and in the estimates of the jamming and fading parameters. Thus, it is crucial for the receiver to be able to accurately determine both the set of jammed symbols and the parameters of the jamming and fading. In this paper, we present several techniques to perform this detection and estimation. These problems are made considerably more difficult because we assume that the none of the parameters of the jamming signal are known a priori to the receiver. Maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation and generalized likelihood ratio tests (GLRT) are considered first. Then a lower complexity ad-hoc technique is developed that is based on estimating the density function of the received symbols. Simulation results are presented to compare the performance of the proposed detection and estimation techniques.
Speech compression using ARMA model and wavelet transform

In LPC (linear predictive coding) vocoding, because of the insufficiency of the all-pole model, reconstructed speech is often crude unless much information about the residual error is also transmitted. To improve the quality, ARMA parameters of each bandpass filter output of a filter bank are extracted and transmitted in this paper. A general idea of the wavelet transform is utilized for design of the filter bank. Both the ARMA model and the wavelet transform are well known. But a combination of these technique has not been exploited in speech coding. This paper may lead to the new way for the very low-rate speech coding. >
Transfusion increases the risk of postoperative infection after cardiovascular surgery.

Background Because of the immunomodulatory effects of transfusion, we attempted to identify factors associated with blood product use and determine the association of transfusion quantity with postoperative infection. Study design We studied total perioperative transfusion of blood products for 15,592 cardiovascular operations performed from July 1998 to May 2003. Infection end points were septicemia/bacteremia (n=351, 2.2%) and superficial (n=353, 2.3%) and deep (n=212, 1.4%) sternal wound infections. Factors associated with blood product administration were used to form balancing scores to adjust for differences in patient characteristics among those receiving and not receiving blood products. Results Fifty-five percent of patients received packed red blood cells (RBC), 21% received platelets, 13% got fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and 3% got cryoprecipitate. Factors associated with RBC use included older age, female gender, higher New York Heart Association class, lower hematocrit, reoperation, and longer cardiopulmonary bypass time—all indicative of higher-risk patients. The more RBC units transfused, the higher was the occurrence of septicemia/bacteremia (p = 0.0007) and deep (p Conclusions Blood products tended to be used in the sickest patients. But after accounting for this, risk of infection increased incrementally with each unit of blood transfused. Although cause and effect cannot be established, results suggested that blood product transfusion is an independent risk factor for postoperative infection in cardiac surgical patients, blood products are more likely to be used in the sickest patients, and no amount of blood loss treated by transfusion is innocuous.
A hybrid approach for calculating the scattering from obstacles within large, open cavities

A hybrid method to analyze the high-frequency scattering from an obstacle within a large, open cavity is developed by using a generalized reciprocity integral and utilizing a plane wave expansion (PWE). The PWE is used because it is efficient, straightforward to implement, and can be used for relatively general geometries. In the hybrid method, the cavity's front section is analyzed independently from the termination section containing the obstacle. The termination section is accurately characterized by a PWE scattering matrix which may be stored and used in conjuction with different front-section geometries. The accuracy of the hybrid method is confirmed by comparing the radar cross section patterns of some simple cavity and obstacle geometries where each pattern is computed using the hybrid method and a more accurate reference method (such as the method of moments or waveguide modes). >
ZEBRAFISH PARAXIAL PROTOCADHERIN IS A DOWNSTREAM TARGET OF SPADETAIL INVOLVED IN MORPHOGENESIS OF GASTRULA MESODERM

Zebrafish paraxial protocadherin (papc) encodes a transmembrane cell adhesion molecule (PAPC) expressed in trunk mesoderm undergoing morphogenesis. Microinjection studies with a dominant-negative secreted construct suggest that papc is required for proper dorsal convergence movements during gastrulation. Genetic studies show that papc is a close downstream target of spadetail, gene encoding a transcription factor required for mesodermal morphogenetic movements. Further, we show that the floating head homeobox gene is required in axial mesoderm to repress the expression of both spadetail and papc, promoting notochord and blocking differentiation of paraxial mesoderm. The PAPC structural cell-surface protein may provide a link between regulatory transcription factors and the actual cell biological behaviors that execute morphogenesis during gastrulation.
Synthesis of λ light chain subtypes by stimulated and unstimulated mouse B cells

Inbred mouse make 3 λ chain subtypes. The λ1 and λ3 chains have similar variable (V) regions (in both the same V gene segment [Vλ1] is used), whereas λ2 and λ3 have similar constant (C) regions. Despite the λ1 and λ3 V region similarity, λ1 occurs much more frequently than λ3 (and λ2) in the serum immunoglobulins and antibody responses of most inbred strains of mice. To explore the basis for the λ1 predominance, we compared the rates of synthesis of the 3 subtypes and the frequencies of the B cells that synthesize them, focussing on “resting” (i.e., unstimulated) and on polyclonally stimulated B cells from spleens of unimmunized BALB/c mice. In resting cells the relative rates of synthesis and the relative frequencies of the respective B cells were in accord, indicating that the rate of λ chain synthesis is approximately the same per resting B cell, regardless of the λ subtype it produces. However, in the polyclonally stimulated cells, λ1 was made 7 times faster than λ2 and 10 times faster than λ3; normalizing these rates by the frequencies of the respective stimulated cells suggests that in stimulated B cells λ1 chains are made 5 times faster per cell than λ2 or λ3, while the latter are made at about the same rate per cell. In view of the marked structural homology between λ2 and λ3 genes in segments other than the V-gene segment, we suggest that the pronounced differences among polyclonally stimulated B cells in expression of the genes for the various λ subtypes may be due to the presence of less potent enhancer-like sequences in the λ2 and λ3 genes than in the λ1 gene.
Corrupted reference image quality assessment

We propose a foundation for assessing visual quality with “corrupted reference” (CR-QA)-a new quality assessment (QA) paradigm for reasoning about human vision and image restoration problems jointly. The visual quality of a processed image signal is assessed relative to an ideal reference image (not provided) with the help of observed image. This is in contrast to today's QAs, which are optimized for a “post-hoc” usage (process first, assess quality second) and are unequipped to handle the assessment of the processed data relative to the ideal reference that exist only in theory and not in practice.
Implicit polynomials, orthogonal distance regression, and the closest point on a curve

Implicit polynomials (i.e., multinomials) have a number of properties that make them attractive for modeling curves and surfaces in computer vision. The paper considers the problem of finding the best fitting implicit polynomial (or algebraic curve) to a collection of points in the plane using an orthogonal distance metric. Approximate methods for orthogonal distance regression have been shown by others to be prone to the problem of cusps in the solution and this is confirmed here. Consequently, this work focuses on exact methods for orthogonal distance regression. The most difficult and costly part of exact methods is computing the closest point on the algebraic curve to an arbitrary point in the plane. The paper considers three methods for achieving this in detail. The first is the standard Newton's method, the second is based on resultants which are making a resurgence in computer graphics, and the third is a novel technique based on successive circular approximations to the curve. It is shown that Newton's method is the quickest, but that it can fail sometimes even with a good initial guess. The successive circular approximation algorithm is not as fast, but is robust. The resultant method is the slowest of the three, but does not require an initial guess. The driving application of this work was the fitting of implicit quartics in two variables to thinned oblique ionogram traces.
Overexpression of enzymes involved in glutathione synthesis enhances tolerance to organic pollutants in Brassica juncea.

ABSTRACT Transgenic Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) overexpressing γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (ECS) or glutathione synthetase (GS) were shown previously to have two-fold higher levels of glutathione and total nonprotein thiols, as well as enhanced cadmium tolerance and accumulation. Here, the hypothesis was tested that these transgenics have enhanced tolerance to organic pollutants, based on the reasoning that many organic xenobiotics are detoxified via conjugation to glutathione. Both the ECS and GS transgenics showed enhanced tolerance to atrazine: while root growth of wildtype seedlings was inhibited 50% by 100 mg L−1 atrazine, ECS and GS root growth was inhibited 20–30% (P < 0.05). The tolerance of the transgenics to CDNB (1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene), metolachlor, and phenanthrene was also somewhat higher than wild type, but these differences were not as pronounced. Each of the organics treatments significantly enhanced total nonprotein thiol levels in all plant types (2 to 12-fold). Overall, the...
An Analysis of the Influences of Human Thermal Comfort on the Attendance of Indoor Versus Outdoor Shopping Malls as a Result of Afternoon and Evening Meteorological Conditions

ABSTRACT The Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area is a top tourist destination with a climate that supports year-round outdoor and indoor activities even during periods of intense summer temperatures. This investigation provides an initial evaluation of the effects of the intense Southwest summer conditions on indoor versus outdoor shopping experiences as measured by human thermal comfort during afternoon and evening meteorological conditions. Both primary and secondary data were collected at four different shopping malls to calculate the heat index, discomfort index, and apparent temperature in addition to temperature, dew point, and relative humidity. Meteorological conditions account for more than 50% of the variance explained in the attendance of indoor malls during the afternoon, while attendance at outdoor malls was not significantly impacted by the weather. In the evening, the variance explained by meteorological conditions decreases to around 30% for the indoor mall locations, while 8% variance is e...
Didymosphenia geminata: Algal blooms in oligotrophic streams and rivers

[1] In recent decades, the diatom Didymosphenia geminata has emerged as nuisance species in river systems around the world. This periphytic alga forms large “blooms” in temperate streams, presenting a counterintuitive result: the blooms occur primarily in oligotrophic streams and rivers, where phosphorus (P) availability typically limits primary production. The goal of this study is to examine how high algal biomass is formed under low P conditions. We reveal a biogeochemical process by which D. geminata mats concentrate P from flowing waters. First, the mucopolysaccaride stalks of D. geminata adsorb both iron (Fe) and P. Second, enzymatic and bacterial processes interact with Fe to increase the biological availability of P. We propose that a positive feedback between total stalk biomass and high growth rate is created, which results in abundant P for cell division. The affinity of stalks for Fe in association with iron-phosphorus biogeochemistry suggest a resolution to the paradox of algal blooms in oliogotrophic streams and rivers.
Large-Eddy Simulation of Windbreak Flow

A large-eddy simulation has been performed of turbulent flow around multiple windbreaks set within a wheat canopy under neutral stability conditions. The simulation is validated against a wind tunnel data set taken under similar conditions. Velocity profiles and second-order statistics are presented and compared to those found in the wind tunnel. From the numerical simulation, we discuss spatial distributions of instantaneous velocity fields and pressure statistics, which are important and telling features of the flow that are difficult to measure experimentally. We present a discussion of the momentum balance at various locations with respect to the windbreak, and similarly, we introduce the budget of a passive scalar. These discussions show the importance of the terms in each budget equation as they vary upstream and downstream of the windbreak.
Diet-Induced Obese Mice Have Increased Mortality and Altered Immune Responses When Infected with Influenza Virus

Obesity is associated with an impaired immune response, an increased susceptibility to bacterial infection, and a chronic increase in proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNFalpha. However, few studies have examined the effect of obesity on the immune response to viral infections. Because infection with influenza is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, we investigated the effect of obesity on early immune responses to influenza virus exposure. Diet-induced obese and lean control C57BL/6 mice were infected with influenza A/PR8/34, and lung pathology and immune responses were examined at d 0 (uninfected), 3, and 6, postinfection. Following infection, diet-induced obese mice had a significantly higher mortality rate than the lean controls and elevated lung pathology. Antiviral and proinflammatory cytokine mRNA production in the lungs of the infected mice was markedly different between obese and lean mice. IFNalpha and beta were only minimally expressed in the infected lungs of obese mice and there was a notable delay in expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNFalpha. Additionally, obese mice had a substantial reduction in NK cell cytotoxicity. These data indicate that obesity inhibits the ability of the immune system to appropriately respond to influenza infection and suggests that obesity may lead to increased morbidity and mortality from viral infections.
Design and fabrication of 5 Gb/s fully integrated OEIC receivers using direct ion implanted GaAs MESFET-MSM

We report a high performance blanket ion implanted 0.6 /spl mu/m GaAs-MESFET/MSM receiver circuit. The receiver is fabricated without the use of a grown layer which opens the door for low cost applications. The significance of this work is that the full receiver exhibits an electrical dynamic range of 36 dB, and produces a minimum 700 mV electrical output signals at -15 dBm optical input. Data rates in excess of 5 Gb/s have been achieved utilizing a 75/spl times/75 /spl mu/m MSM detector. >
Bond strength of PCC pavement repairs using metakaolin-based geopolymer mortar

Abstract In order to use geopolymer mortar as a pavement repair material, a splitting test and a slant shear test are performed to characterize the bond strength of the geopolymer and conventional cement mortar interfaces. Effect of curing time, degradation of the cement mortar under different acid conditions on the bond strength of geopolymer with conventional cement mortar, and comparison of the metakaolin geopolymer with other pavement repair materials are analyzed. It was found that curing time affects the interface bond strength greatly. Metakaolin geopolymer reaches 80% of its 28 day strength in 3 days curing, but shows low strength in 24 h curing. Curing temperature affects the strength of metakaolin geopolymer, however metakaolin geopolymer cured in ambient temperature and the bond strength of 3 days curing through splitting and slant shear tests reaches 3.63 MPa and 16.32 MPa, respectively. Degradation of cement mortar negatively affects the bond strength of geopolymer and conventional cement mortar. Possibility of using metakaolin geopolymer as a repair material is discussed by comparison of this experimental result with these of other repair materials.
Linguistic skills at 6 1/2 years of age in children who required neonatal intensive care in 1986-1989.

Linguistic skills at 61/2 y of age, corrected for gestational age at birth, were examined in a cohort of 230 children who had required neonatal intensive care (NIC) in 1986-89, and in 71 fullterm neonatally healthy control children (C) matched to the NIC children born at <32 gestational weeks. Ten linguistic areas were assessed. The 10th percentile score of the controls was identified in each linguistic area and used for comparisons. In 77.5% of the controls and 63.5% of the NIC children, no score was lower than the 10th percentile score of the controls. Scores lower than the 10th percentile score were more common in NIC children born at term or at 23-31 wk, and within this group of children those born at 23-27 wk, than in controls. Conclusion: In preterm children of <32 wk the results in the finguistic areas of imitation of articulatory positions, comprebension of logical grammatical constructions, phonemes and word ffneney differed from those of the matched controls, and in NIC children born as ≥ 32 weeks the results for imitation of articulatory positions, articulatory patterns and sentences, anditory discrimination and word fluency were poorer than those of the controls.
Do Parents Matter in Creating Self-Control in Their Children? A Genetically Informed Test of Gottfredson and Hirschi's Theory of Low Self-Control

Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime (1990) has generated an abundance of research testing the proposition that low self-control is the main cause of crime and analogous behaviors. Less empirical work, however, has examined the factors that give rise to low self-control. Gottfredson and Hirschi suggest that parents are the sole contributors for either fostering or thwarting low self-control in their children, explicitly discounting the possibility that genetics may play a key role. Yet genetic research has shown that ADHD and other deficits in the frontostriatal system are highly heritable. Our research thus tests whether “parents matter” in creating low self-control once genetic influences are taken into account. Using a sample of twin children we find that parenting measures have a weak and inconsistent effect. We address the conceptual and methodological issues associated with the failure to address genetic influences in parenting studies.
DIURNAL VARIATIONS IN BOUNDARY LAYER WINDS OVER THE SOUTH-CENTRAL UNITED STATES IN SUMMER

Abstract Analysis of 1 week's data in August 1960 shows significant diurnal variations in surface geostrophic wind over the south-central United States. The oscillation in the southerly component (Vg) is driven by the response of the thermal wind to the diurnal temperature cycle over sloping terrain. A smaller oscillation in Ug derives from spatial variations in the amplitude of the diurnal pressure wave. The amplitude of the oscillation in Vg is about 3 to 5 m sec–1 at the surface, decaying exponentially with height to near 0 at 2 km. Examination of 11 yr of summertime rawinsonde data at Fort Worth, Tex., shows a very regular diurnal variation in boundary layer wind with maximum amplitude of about 3 m sec–1 at 600 m above the ground. This oscillation is forced by periodic variations in both eddy viscosity and geostrophic wind. Using a simplified model of the boundary layer, we obtain solutions for the diurnally periodic wind resulting from “reasonable” variations in eddy viscosity and “observed” variatio...
THE EFFECT OF IRRADIATED ERGOSTEROL ON THE HEALING OF EXPERIMENTALLY PRODUCED FRACTURES IN ANIMALS

1. Irradiated ergosterol given by mouth to rabbits, in doses of three milligrams daily, did not increase the rate of healing or the amount of callus formed in fractures of the tibia and fibula. 2. Irradiated ergosterol given to rats with the food, in doses of one and twenty-five one-hundredths milligrams daily, did not increase the rate of healing or amount of callus formed in fractures of the fibula. 3. There is some evidence that the administration of irradiated ergosterol to animals by mouth will produce calcification in blood vessels and other soft tissues. 4. The most significant factor in the rate of healing and in the union of experimental fractures in animals is the degree of apposition of the fragments of bone.
Competition and innovation in automobile markets

Using data from the U.S. automobile market, we empirically examine the link between competition and innovation. Consistent with a large literature, we use patent counts as a measure of innovation. The combination of the U.S. market’s economic importance, market dynamics, and the significant intertemporal fluctuations in firms’ market shares and patents make this an interesting market to examine the link between competition and innovation. We use firm-level time-series data over a long horizon (1969-2012) for nine well established firms selling in the U.S. market (GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, BMW, and Daimler). Some of our key findings are: (1) increase in firms’ market shares result in higher patenting, and the relationship is reasonably non-linear; (2) higher market-wide competition results in an increase in patenting, and the relationship is weakly non-linear; (3) the (absolute) quantitative impact on patents is larger for firms’ market share effect as compared to market-wide competition; (4) there is relatively strong path-dependence in firms’ patenting behavior; and (5) we find interesting results linking patents to GM’s bankruptcy, the Daimler-Chrysler merger, environmental regulations, voluntary export restraints, and firms’ patenting over business cycles.
Consent to Medical Care for Minors

Whether minors should be accorded greater authority to make binding decisions on matters involving their personal welfare is a subject of considerable dispute today. After the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1971 assured that 18-year-olds could vote, many states lowered the general age of majority under their laws to conform with the voting age. Another catalyst for change was the concern that many statutes were vulnerable to constitutional challenge because they maintained differing ages for majority, or for marriage, based on sex.1 Some states lowered the general age of majority but retained (or added) higher minimum age requirements for acts such as purchasing alcoholic beverages. (Virginia, for example, permits a person to marry without consent at age 18 but not to purchase champagne—even for the wedding—until age 21.2) As a result of this somewhat haphazard process, the rules regarding majority today are a melange of legal anachronism and contemporary expediency which reflect only minimally our current understanding about the intellectual and emotional capacities and interests of young persons.
Exploiting Natural Variation in Life Span to Evaluate Mechanisms of Aging

A 40,000-fold variation exists in maximum longevity across the animal kingdom. Even among mammals, naturally occurring differences in maximum life span among similar-sized species far exceed experimental life-span extension induced by genetic manipulations and/or caloric restriction. Elucidating mechanisms of different aging rates and of concomitant disparate longevity among different species of similar body composition, biochemistry, and physiology may provide new insights into aging and may also be used to test the ubiquity of findings reported with traditional models. As such, studies employing a comparative approach to aging are poised to make pivotal inroads leading to understanding the mechanisms of aging.
Economic Self-Flagellation: How U.S. Antidumping Policy Subverts the National Export Initiative

In January 2010, President Obama announced a goal of doubling U.S. exports in five years. The "National Export Initiative" has since become the centerpiece of the administration's trade policy agenda. One major oversight of the NEI is its failure to include any sensible reforms to the U.S. antidumping regime. Four out of every five U.S. antidumping measures restrict imports of inputs consumed by downstream U.S. producers in their own production processes. Yet the statute forbids the administering authorities from considering the economic impact of antidumping restrictions on those firms or on the economy at large. Such restrictions raise the costs of production for downstream firms, rendering them less competitive at home and abroad. Antidumping duties on magnesium, polyvinyl chloride, and hot-rolled steel, for example, may please upstream, petitioning domestic producers, who can subsequently raise prices. But those duties are costly to U.S. producers of auto parts, paint, and appliances, who consume those inputs in their own manufacturing processes. Those downstream companies are more likely to export and create jobs than are the firms that turn to the antidumping law to restrict trade. The administration is fully aware of the importance of ensuring that manufacturers have access to imported inputs. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is arguing these points in its complaint against Chinese export restrictions at the World Trade Organization. And the president himself described how U.S. competitiveness requires that restrictions on imported inputs be limited when he signed into law the Manufacturer's Enhancement Act last year. The NEI should include a serious commitment to antidumping reform. At a minimum, consuming industries should be given legal standing to participate fully in antidumping proceedings, antidumping measures should be rejected if the projected costs of those restrictions on those firms and on the broader economy exceed some reasonable threshold, and any duties applied should not exceed the level found necessary to remedy injury to the petitioning domestic industry.
Bayesian Model Comparison and Selection for Quantifying Uncertainty in Active Graphite Nitridation

In this paper, two stochastic model classes corresponding to di erent choices of (modeling and measurement) error structure are considered and compared using Bayesian framework. A single deterministic physical model of active graphite nitridation is embedded within these stochastic model classes, where estimation of surface reaction e ciency of graphite with atomic nitrogen is of primary interest. These model classes di er in the covariance matrix structure that is used in the uncertainty model to represent uncertainties associated with the physical model and experimental measurements. First model class (M1) is based on independent normal distributions assuming error to be uncorrelated between di erent data points whereas the second class (M2) uses -exponential covariance function to correlate error in the same data quantity among di erent data points. For each model class, Bayesian inference is used to estimate the posterior probabilities of the physical model parameters, stochastic model parameters as well as of the candidate stochastic models. Model comparison and selection is then applied based on two measures including Bayesian evidence and Bayesian information criterion (BIC), and deviance information criterion (DIC). Both measures suggest the second stochastic model class (M2) to be selected indicating that there is a correlation between errors in the same data quantity among di erent data points. However, with the second model class the range of uncertainty in surface reaction e ciency is estimated to be higher, which is consistent with the large scatter seen in the reported values.
A spatio-temporal fractal model for a CPS approach to brain-machine-body interfaces

Capturing the mathematical features of physical and cyber processes is essential for endowing the CPS with built-in intelligence. In this paper, we develop a compact yet accurate mathematical model able to capture the spatio-temporal fractal cross-dependencies between coupled processes and illustrate its benefits within the context of brain-machine-body interface. Our generalized mathematical model improves the modeling accuracy of the dynamics of biological processes and is validated against medical observations.
Customizable orthopaedic oncology implants: one institution's experience with meeting current IRB and FDA requirements.

Background Customizable orthopaedic implants are often needed for patients with primary malignant bone tumors due to unique anatomy or complex mechanical problems. Currently, obtaining customizable orthopaedic implants for orthopaedic oncology patients can be an arduous task involving submitting approval requests to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is great potential for the delay of a patient’s surgery and unnecessary paperwork if the submission pathways are misunderstood or a streamlined protocol is not in place.
Methylphenidate, Add, and Classroom Performance

The degree to which methylphenidate (MPH) normalized the classroom behavior and academic functioning of 31 children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) was evaluated at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.
Comparative Developmental Toxicity of Desalination Brine and Sulfate-Dominated Saltwater in a Euryhaline Fish

Desalination is a promising sustainable solution to meet growing water needs of cities across the United States. However, the environmental impacts of the resulting filtrate (brine) discharged to surface water need to be evaluated before large-scale desalination can be successful in the United States. Developing fish are especially sensitive to changes in salinity and varying ionic composition. Limited research is available on the impacts of hypersalinity on chronic vertebrate embryonic development, particularly on sublethal effects. To investigate this, Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos were treated with: (1) graphite filtered freshwater; (2) artificial seawater [17, 35, 42, 56, and 70 parts per thousand (ppt)]; (3) effluent from a desalination facility at Monterey Bay Aquarium, CA, diluted to 75, 50, and 25% with 35 ppt artificial seawater to simulate mixing (39, 42, 46, and 50 ppt); (4) artificial San Joaquin River water (CA, USA) (9, 13, and 17 ppt); and (5) artificial San Joaquin River water diluted to 75, 50, and 25% with artificial seawater to simulate estuarine mixing in the San Francisco Bay (13, 19, 24, and 30 ppt). Percent hatch, survival post hatch, deformities, swim bladder inflation, and median day to hatch were recorded to calculate EC50 (50% effect concentration) and NOEC (no observable effect concentration) values. No significant difference was observed between artificial seawater and Monterey Bay aquarium effluent (EC50 = 45–55 ppt). However, San Joaquin River water decreased survival post hatch and increased deformities in comparison to artificial seawater and San Joaquin River water mixed with seawater, suggesting that unique ion compositions may play a role in embryo and larval toxicity.
PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY

This chapter discusses the physiology and pathology of plants. The separation of interacting substances is one of the most widely spread regulatory principles of nature. It is widely used not only for normal regulation but also for the repair of mechanical damage. In this case, the system is built in such a way that the damage activates an enzymic mechanism, which, eventually, leads to the correction of the damage. In monocellular organisms, it is mostly the quantity and quality of food available, which limits growth; not so in multicellular organisms. When cells organized to build more complex organisms, a brake had to be put on and growth had to be subjected to regulation in interest of the whole. The cells, on the cut surface, make them free, assume a semiliquid consistency, creep with amoeboid motion into the wound and divide. The newly formed cell mass is soft, mushy. This goes on until the gap is filled, cell touches cell on all sides. Then everything stops; the cells become quiescent again, attach themselves to their neighbors, and return to their original semisolid resting state.
First Report of Fusarium Head Blight Caused by Fusarium cerealis in Barley in New York

In 2013, heads exhibiting characteristic Fusarium head blight (FHB) symptoms were collected from a field of winter malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Herkimer County. The heads were surface-sterilized in 95% ethanol for 1 min followed by 20% sodium hypochlorite for 1 min, then rinsed in sterile distilled water, and incubated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with antibiotics for 7 days with a 12-h photoperiod under black light. All Fusarium colonies were transferred to PDA, and monosporic isolates were obtained. A PCR assay of the TRI12 region was used to determine the tricothecene genotype of each isolate (Ward et al. 2002). Two isolates were positive for the nivalenol (NIV) genotype, and upon further examination, the macroconidia of these two isolates were on average shorter and wider (31-52 x 3-4.5 µm) than those typical (35-62 x 2-2.5 μm) of isolates in the F. graminearum species complex, but in the range reported for F. cerealis (Leslie and Summerell 2002). Those two NIV isolates were then su...
Probing the rate-determining region of the potential energy surface for a prototypical ion-molecule reaction.

We report a joint experimentaltheoretical study of the FHClHFCl reaction kinetics. The experimental measurement of the rate coefficient at several temperatures was made using the selected ion flow ...
Ileus Following Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.

Background Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common complication after spine surgery, with particularly high rates after adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. Few studies have been conducted on predictors of POI following ASD surgery. The objective of this study was to determine risk factors for POI in patients undergoing ASD surgery and to determine association between POI and in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and total charges. Methods Data were obtained from the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample, years 2010–2014. Patients with ASD ≥26 years-old were selected using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Multiple logistic and linear regressions were used. Results The analysis included 59,410 patients; 7.4% of patients had POI. On adjusted analysis, the following variables were associated with increased risk of POI: male sex (OR = 1.43; CI, 1.10–1.85), anterior surgical approach (OR = 1.78; CI, 1.22–2.60), ≥9 levels fused (OR = 1.84; CI, 1.24–2.73), electrolyte disorders (OR = 2.70; CI, 2.15–3.39), and pathologic weight loss (OR = 1.94; CI, 1.08–3.46). POI was associated with significantly longer length of stay (+39% [CI, 29%–51%]) and higher total charges (+23% [CI, 14%–31%]). Conclusions Risk factors for POI were identified. Length of stay was 2.9 days longer in patients with POI, and total charges were approximately $80,000 higher. These results may be applied clinically to identify patients at risk of POI and to address modifiable risk factors preoperatively. Future studies should be conducted with additional data to develop models capable of accurately predicting and preventing POI.
Suicidal ideation among adults with a recent sexual assault: Prescription opioid use and prior sexual assault.

Abstract Introduction Sexual assault (SA) is common, and recent sexual assault is associated with suicidal ideation and prescription opioid (PO) use. PO use is also associated with increased risk of suicidal ideation. The current study examined suicidal ideation among adults seeking medical and psychological follow-up care after a SA medical forensic examination based on PO use and prior SA. Methods Adults (n = 60) who received a SA medical forensic exam at the emergency room within 120 h of a SA were invited to receive medical and psychological follow-up care, which included a questionnaire about current mental health symptoms. Results Results from a linear regression model revealed that more acute stress symptoms were associated with higher suicidal ideation. Further, there was a significant association between PO use and suicidal ideation among those with a prior SA such that those with a prior SA and who used POs reported more severe suicidal ideation than those with a prior SA who did not use POs. Conclusions Routine screening at the emergency department for PO use and prior SA may help prevention efforts for suicide among adults who recently experienced SA.