cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Internalized Weight Stigma During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

Objective This study aimed to examine the relationship between internalized weight stigma during pregnancy and breastfeeding outcomes at 1 month post partum among individuals with prepregnancy overweight or obesity. Secondarily, the study explored the temporal stability of internalized weight stigma from the third trimester to 1 month post partum via the Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS). Methods A total of 103 pregnant individuals with overweight or obesity were recruited for this study. Participants completed the WBIS during the third trimester and self-reported breastfeeding initiation, continuation, and exclusivity outcomes at 1 month post partum. A paired t test and binomial logistic regression were conducted with covariates hierarchically added to the model. Results The average prepregnancy BMI was 33.53 (SD 7.17) kg/m2 (range = 25.4-62), and average prenatal WBIS scores were 25.95 (SD 11.83). No difference was found in mean prenatal and postpartum scores (25.95 [SD 11.83]; 26.86 [SD 13.03], respectively; t94 = -0.83, P = 0.41), evidencing temporal stability in WBIS scores from pre to post partum. Prenatal WBIS scores did not predict breastfeeding initiation, continuation, or exclusivity at 1 month post partum in either unadjusted or adjusted models. Conclusions Collectively, this sample displayed low weight bias internalization, which was not predictive of breastfeeding initiation, continuation, or exclusivity at 1 month post partum. Future research is needed to develop a pregnancy-specific weight stigma measure.
Conclusions Regarding Existential Natural Theology

“Conclusions Regarding Existential Natural Theology” Having isolated the shortcomings of the arguments of natural theology in previous chapters, Lorkowski considers what such failures imply for the theist. Though the success of cosmological and design arguments hinge upon large, generally unargued assumptions regarding the limits of scientific explanation, the author defends theists from charges of confirmation bias and post hoc justification by bundling these assumptions with a propensity toward theism as products of a larger worldview. As such, defense of these arguments is only problematic if such a worldview cannot or should not be motivated. Lorkowski argues that, even though these arguments fail as conversion pieces, they may still be valuable for both the theist and the atheist by drawing out the most defensible versions of theism.
When a house is never a home: Housing instability among youth affected by parental drug abuse

Abstract Background The negative consequences of parental substance abuse are significant and longstanding for children. Among other risks, these youth are more likely to experience housing instability. The most common predictor of a child not living with their biological parent is parental substance use. Research shows that these youth are at higher risks of housing instability; however, little is known about their housing experiences, from their perspective. This study explored the housing experiences of youth affected by parental substance abuse. Participants and setting Fourteen African American young adults ages 18 to 24 years old who identified having at least one biological parent with a history of substance use participated in this study. The study is based in Baltimore, MD, USA; an urban city with one of the highest rates of drug overdose and substantial disadvantage. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted among fourteen young adults (18–24) affected by parental drug use to discuss their housing experiences throughout childhood and adolescence. Five research team members developed a codebook, double coded all transcripts and analyzed inductively using a qualitative content analytic approach. Results Three themes emerged to characterize housing experiences: frequent housing transitions, repeated trauma exposures related to housing instability, and the lasting effects of housing instability. Conclusion The residual impacts of parental substance use have caused youth to experience the toxic stress and trauma associated with housing instability. It is important that young people have safe, stable and reliable housing to promote child health and normative development.
Learning Latent Structures for Cross Action Phrase Relations in Wet Lab Protocols

Wet laboratory protocols (WLPs) are critical for conveying reproducible procedures in biological research. They are composed of instructions written in natural language describing the step-wise processing of materials by specific actions. This process flow description for reagents and materials synthesis in WLPs can be captured by material state transfer graphs (MSTGs), which encode global temporal and causal relationships between actions. Here, we propose methods to automatically generate a MSTG for a given protocol by extracting all action relationships across multiple sentences. We also note that previous corpora and methods focused primarily on local intra-sentence relationships between actions and entities and did not address two critical issues: (i) resolution of implicit arguments and (ii) establishing long-range dependencies across sentences. We propose a new model that incrementally learns latent structures and is better suited to resolving inter-sentence relations and implicit arguments. This model draws upon a new corpus WLP-MSTG which was created by extending annotations in the WLP corpora for inter-sentence relations and implicit arguments. Our model achieves an F1 score of 54.53% for temporal and causal relations in protocols from our corpus, which is a significant improvement over previous models - DyGIE++:28.17%; spERT:27.81%. We make our annotated WLP-MSTG corpus available to the research community.
P54 Cross-Sectional Examination of Dietary Quality and Mindful Eating Behavior Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Background As most lifestyle support during a females journey through motherhood happens in the pregnancy period, limited resources are maintained or promoted for postpartum (PP). Objective To assess dietary quality and mindful eating behaviors between pregnant and 1-year PP women to determine need of dietary support measures. Study Design, Setting, Participants An online anonymous cross-sectional survey was nationally distributed to currently pregnant and women within 1 year of giving birth. Measurable Outcomes/Analysis Data collected included demographics (age and rural or urban residence), descriptive statistics (pregnancy status, number of pregnancies and biological children, body mass index [BMI]), short Healthy Eating Index (sHEI; score 0-100), and likert item mindful eating behaviors (1 = strongly agree to 7 = strongly disagree; (Q1) “I trust my body to tell me how much to eat,” (Q2) “I stop eating when I am full”). Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to detect differences between pregnancy and PP among mindful eating behaviors. Linear regression was used to predict mindful behaviors while controlling for BMI and age. Results Women (n = 52) were between 20-34 years of age, 92.3% married, 98.1% White, 50% rural residents, a sHEI of 49.81 ± 10.31, 70.6% were classified as overweight or obese, 82% moderately stressed (perceived stress score(PSS)), had average pregnancies of 2.06 ± 1.09 and had average of 1.64 ± 0.74 biological children. PP women were less likely to agree on mindful behaviors Q1 (pregnant: 1.82 ± 0.73, 1-year PP: 2.60 ± 1.35; P = 0.03) and Q2 (pregnant: 2.29 ± 0.69, PP: 3.54 ± 1.77; P = 0.02). PSS (β = 0.40, P Conclusion Findings suggest the unique potential to improve self-efficacy of new moms regarding mindful eating behaviors. Promoting the practice of mindfulness has the potential to foster stress reduction and overall healthy lifestyle habits throughout the PP journey.
Genetic control of somatic cell differentiation in Volvox analysis of somatic regenerator mutants.

Abstract The somatic regenerator ( reg ) mutants of Volvox carteri affect the ability of the normally terminally differentiated somatic cells to establish and/or maintain the differentiated state. Thirty-nine reg mutants of four phenotypic classes have been mapped to two, unlinked genes, regA and regB . Mutants at the regA locus have one of three phenotypes: All somatic cells regenerate new spheroids, somatic cells in the spheroid posterior region regenerate while those in the anterior region differentiate as somatic cells, or regenerating and nonregenerating cells are randomly intermixed. The regB mutant has a random intermixture of regenerating and nonregenerating cells. Somatic cells regenerate new Volvox spheroids in two ways; the cells lose their characteristic shape, become immotile, enlarge and undergo cleavage similar to that of normal reproductive cells or undergo cell division without prior enlargement or loss of cell shape. Temperature shift experiments on a cold-sensitive reg mutant suggest that the gene product acts after the somatic cell initials are formed at the end of cleavage.
Vorticity imbalance and stability in relation to convection

A complete synoptic-scale vorticity budget was related to convection storm development in the eastern two-thirds of the United States. The 3-h sounding interval permitted a study of time changes of the vorticity budget in areas of convective storms. Results of analyses revealed significant changes in values of terms in the vorticity equation at different stages of squall line development. Average budgets for all areas of convection indicate systematic imbalance in the terms in the vorticity equation. This imbalance resulted primarily from sub-grid scale processes. Potential instability in the lower troposphere was analyzed in relation to the development of convective activity. Instability was related to areas of convection; however, instability alone was inadequate for forecast purposes. Combinations of stability and terms in the vorticity equation in the form of indices succeeded in depicting areas of convection better than any one item separately.
MHC-Peptide Tetramers to Visualize Antigen-Specific T Cells

Mature T lymphocytes of the CD8 or CD4 classes bear αβ T cell receptors (TCR) that are specific for a molecular complex consisting of a major histocompatibility complex class I or II (MHC class I or II) molecule bound to a unique self or foreign peptide. Until recently, methods for monitoring antigen-specific T cell immune responses were restricted primarily to functional assays based on limiting dilution analysis, because the lack of specific molecular reagents to identify clonal T cells obviated approaches to identify and enumerate specific T cells. Development of efficient methods to express and refold MHC class I molecules with synthetic peptides coincided with identification of specific protein sequences that provide the substrate for enzymatic biotinylation. This combination has led to the development of a straightforward method for generating synthetic TCR ligands, making them tetravalent to provide increased avidity, and labeling them through a streptavidin moiety with useful fluorescent tags such as allophycocyanin or R-phycoerythrin. This unit describes the preparation of MHC class I/peptide tetramers in detail, including bacterial expression and refolding of the MHC class I light chain, β2-microglobulin (β2m), as well as the formation of a complex consisting of the MHC class I heavy chain of interest, β2m, and a chosen peptide. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Patterns in Random Walks and Brownian Motion

We ask if it is possible to find some particular continuous paths of unit length in linear Brownian motion. Beginning with a discrete version of the problem, we derive the asymptotics of the expected waiting time for several interesting patterns. These suggest corresponding results on the existence/non-existence of continuous paths embedded in Brownian motion. With further effort we are able to prove some of these existence and non-existence results by various stochastic analysis arguments. A list of open problems is presented.
Alteration of the gastrointestinal microbiota of mice by edible blue-green algae

Aims: To characterize the effect of edible blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) on the gastrointestinal microbiota of mice. Methods and Results: C57BL/6J mice were fed a diet supplemented with 0% or 5% dried Nostoc commune, Spirulina platensis or Afanizominon flos-aquae (w/w) for 4 weeks. Molecular fingerprinting of the colonic microbiota using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed that administration of N. commune induced major alterations in colonic microbiota composition, while administration of S. platensis or A. flos-aquae had a more subtle impact. Community profile analysis revealed that administration of N. commune did not reduce microbial diversity indices of the colonic microbiota. Despite its pronounced effects on the bacterial composition in the colon, total bacterial numbers in the gut of mice fed N. commune were not reduced as assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and bacteriological culture. Conclusions: The results presented here show that administration of blue-green algae, and especially N. commune, alters colonic microbiota composition in mice with limited effects on total bacterial numbers or microbial diversity. Significance and Impact of the Study: Blue-green algae are consumed in many countries as a source of nutrients and to promote health, and they are intensively studied for their pharmaceutical value. Given the importance of the gut microbiota for many host functions, the effects of blue-green algae on gut microbial ecology revealed during this study should be considered when using them as food supplements or when studying their pharmaceutical properties.
Sugars and Health Controversies: What Does the Science Say?

The consumption of sugar and its relation to various potential adverse health consequences are the subjects of considerable debate and controversy. This supplement to Advances in Nutrition provides an expanded summary of a symposium held on 26 April 2014 entitled “Sugars and Health Controversies: What Does the Science Say?” as part of the ASN Scientific Sessions and Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology 2014. The articles in the supplement discuss results of current systematic reviews and meta-analyses as well as randomized controlled trials and draw implications for public policy considerations. In addition, future research gaps are identified. Current research trials conducted with commonly consumed sugars [e.g., sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)] do not support a unique relation to obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, risk factors for heart disease, or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Neurologic differences in response to studies that used pure fructose compared with pure glucose have not been confirmed using typical sugars that are consumed (i.e., sucrose and HFCS), which contain ∼50% glucose and fructose. We conclude that added sugars consumed in the normal forms in which humans consume them, at amounts typical of the human diet and for the time period studied in randomized controlled trials, do not result in adverse health consequences. Although more research trials are needed in many areas of sugar consumption and health, there is little scientific justification for recommending restricting sugar consumption below the reasonable upper limit recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 of no more than 25% of calories.
Local environment characteristics associated with walking and taking transit to shopping districts

Mixed logit modeling was used to identify local environment characteristics associated with walking and taking public transit to and from shopping districts. The analysis was based on 388 intercept survey responses and local environment data from 20 San Francisco Bay Area shopping districts. This study makes methodological advances by 1) evaluating an extensive set of explanatory variables (travel time and cost, socioeconomic characteristics, attitudes, perceptions, and local environment characteristics) within the same modeling process and 2) analyzing shopping mode choice within a tour-based framework. Travel time, travel cost, and respondent socioeconomic characteristics had expected relationships with mode choice. Walking to and from shopping districts was associated with shorter trip distances (i.e., shorter travel time relative to other modes). Transit use was associated with shopping district population density and proximity to a transit station. Automobile use was discouraged by higher employment densities and smaller parking lots. The results support strategies such as developing high-density, mixed-use activity hubs; reducing surface parking; and increasing the price of on-street parking to increase walking and taking transit to shopping districts.
Patients' ratings of outpatient visits in different practice settings. Results from the Medical Outcomes Study

Objective. —To determine how patients in different kinds of practices—solo or single specialty (SOLO), multispecialty group (MSG), or health maintenance organizations (HMOs)—and with fee-for-service (FFS) or prepaid physician payment arrangements evaluate their medical care. Design. —Survey of adult outpatients after office visits, with sample weighted to represent population of patients visiting physicians in each practice type. Setting. —Offices of 367 internists, family practitioners, endocrinologiste, cardiologists, and nurse practitioners, in HMOs (prepaid only), MSGs (prepaid and FFS), and SOLO practices (prepaid and FFS). Patients. —Adults (N=17671) at start of the Medical Outcomes Study. Outcome Measures. —Overall rating of the visit (five choices from excellent to poor). A random half of the sample also rated the provider's technical skills, personal manner, and explanations of care as well as time spent during the visit, the appointment wait, the office wait, the convenience of the office location, and telephone access. Results. —Fifty-five percent of patients rated their visit overall as excellent, 32% very good, 11% good, and 2% fair or poor. Patients of SOLO practitioners were more likely (64%) to rate their visit excellent than MSG (48%) or HMO (49%) patients ( P P P P Conclusion. —Of the five practice type and payment method combinations, SOLO FFS patients rated their visits best and HMO patients worst. Whether FFS or prepaid, care was rated better in small than in large practices. Our study shows that a brief visit rating form can be used to compare practice settings and health plans, and that patient ratings predict what proportion of patients, on average, will leave their physicians in the next several months. ( JAMA . 1993;270:835-840)
Prevention of Anal Condyloma with Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccination of Older Men Who Have Sex with Men

Background The quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV) is FDA-approved for use in males 9 to 26 years old to prevent anogenital condyloma. The objective of this study is to determine if qHPV is effective at preventing anal condyloma among men who have sex with men (MSM) aged 26 years and older. Methods This post-hoc analysis of a nonconcurrent cohort study evaluated 210 patients without history of anal condyloma and 103 patients with previously-treated anal condyloma recurrence-free for at least 12 months prior to vaccination/time zero. We determined the rate of anal condyloma development in vaccinated versus unvaccinated patients. Results 313 patients with mean age 42 years were followed for median 981 days. During 773.6 person-years follow-up, condyloma developed in 10 (8.6%) vaccinated patients (incidence of 3.7 per 100 person-years) and 37 (18.8%) unvaccinated patients (incidence 7.3 per 100 person-years; p = 0.05). Multivariable hazards ratio showed that qHPV was associated with decreased risk of anal condyloma development (HR 0.45; 95% CI 0.22-0.92; p = 0.03). History of anal condyloma was associated with increased risk of anal condyloma development (HR 2.28; 95% CI 1.28-4.05; p = 0.005), as was infection with oncogenic HPV (HR 3.87; 95% CI 1.66-9.03; p = 0.002). Conclusions Among MSM 26 years of age and older with and without history of anal condyloma, qHPV reduces the risk of anal condyloma development. A randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm these findings in this age group.
An inhibitor of DNA synthesis produced by established lymphoid cell lines

Abstract Supernatants from nine lymphoid cell lines were tested for their ability to inhibit DNA synthesis and cell proliferation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and various nonlymphoid cell lines. Inhibition was produced by the supernatants of three B-cell lines (SWB-16, RPMI-1788, RPMI-6410) and one T-cell line (CCRF-CEM). The inhibition followed a dose—response curve and was not due to cytotoxicity. The activity eluted with albumin on Sephadex G-100 gel chromatography, at a molecular weight range of about 80,000, and was not affected by ultraviolet irradiation or heating at 56°C for 30 min. Further fractionation by isoelectric focusing produced two fractions active on both nonlymphoid cells and PHA-stimulated lymphocytes, with isoelectric points of 2.99–3.55 and 4.35–4.55. The more active fraction, found at the lower isoelectric point, may be similar to the inhibitor of DNA synthesis (IDS) produced by nonspecific suppressor T cells from rats.
Social learning by following: an analysis.

Learning by “following”, probably a common means by which behaviors are socially transmitted from adults to young in many species, was analyzed. Pigeons first learned to eat from a human hand. When the hand then approached an operant key and pecked it, the pigeons followed and quickly learned to do the same, thereby demonstrating social learning. When the hand only led the birds to the area of the key, without demonstrating the key-peck response, the birds learned as rapidly as with a key-peck demonstration. Birds also learned, but less reliably and more slowly, when they could observe the hand's responses but were constrained and unable to follow. “Following” was also shown to engender very rapid learning of a more complex, two-member response chain.
Effects of nitrogen tetroxide exposure on DuPont Kalrez 1045

Abstract Chemical and physical tests were conducted to determine the effects of long-term exposure to nitrogen tetroxide on Kalrez 1045, a perfluorinated copolymer. The weight and Shore A hardness of samples from two different lots were determined after exposure at two different pressures, 7320 kPa (72.5 atm) and 101 kPa (1 atm), for times ranging between 1 and 80 days and for periods up to 21 days following their exposure. The largest changes occurred in the first 8 to 10 days of exposure. The weight increased between 15 and 30% and the Shore A hardness declined from 83 to 60. Both weight and hardness partially recovered to their original values after removal from liquid N 2 O 4 . However, samples exposed for more than 1 day never fully recovered. The chemical stability of the Kalrez as a function of time exposed to N 2 O 4 was monitored with solid probe-mass spectrometry. The results indicated that there was no main chain scission for the first 30 days of exposure. Loss of the pendant groups from the main chain was observed within 16 h. Loss of the pendant group from the crosslink site monomer, and loss of the crosslink itself occurred after 150 h of exposure to N 2 O 4 . The overall results indicated that Kalrez 1045 exhibited exceptional stability to N 2 O 4 , and seals manufactured from this material should be superior to the butyl rubber currently employed in oxidizer vessels of launch systems.
Lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas.

Cystic lesions of the pancreas are relatively rare. They can be classified pathologically into true cysts, pseudocysts, and cystic neoplasms. True cysts of the pancreas are lined by squamous epithelial tissue surrounded by lymphoid tissue with germinal centers [1]. Pseudocysts of the pancreas develop as a result of pancreatic inflammation and necrosis. The lack of an epithelial lining distinguishes pseudocysts from true cystic lesions of the pancreas [2]. Pseudocysts are more common, accounting for 75% of cystic pancreatic lesions [3]. Cystic masses include both benign and malignant tumors, such as mucinous cystadenoma, serous cystadenoma, papillary cystic neoplasm, and acinar cystadenoma [4]. Lymphoepithelial cysts of the pancreas (LECPs) are rare benign true cysts of uncertain origin.
Morphine treatment accelerates sarcoma-induced bone pain, bone loss, and spontaneous fracture in a murine model of bone cancer

Metastatic bone cancer causes severe pain that is primarily treated with opioids. A model of bone cancer pain in which the progression of cancer pain and bone destruction is tightly controlled was used to evaluate the effects of sustained morphine treatment. In cancer-treated mice, morphine enhanced, rather than diminished, spontaneous, and evoked pain; these effects were dose-dependent and naloxone-sensitive. SP and CGRP positive DRG cells did not differ between sarcoma or control mice, but were increased following morphine in both groups. Morphine increased ATF-3 expression only in DRG cells of sarcoma mice. Morphine did not alter tumor growth in vitro or tumor burden in vivo but accelerated sarcoma-induced bone destruction and doubled the incidence of spontaneous fracture in a dose- and naloxone-sensitive manner. Morphine increased osteoclast activity and upregulated IL-1β within the femurs of sarcoma-treated mice suggesting enhancement of sarcoma-induced osteolysis. These results indicate that sustained morphine increases pain, osteolysis, bone loss, and spontaneous fracture, as well as markers of neuronal damage in DRG cells and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Morphine treatment may result in “add-on” mechanisms of pain beyond those engaged by sarcoma alone. While it is not known whether the present findings in this model of osteolytic sarcoma will generalize to other cancers or opioids, the data suggest a need for increased understanding of neurobiological consequences of prolonged opioid exposure which may allow improvements in the use of opiates in the effective management of cancer pain.
Polyploidy and reproductive patterns in the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne hapla.

A total of 32 populations and egg mass isolates of Meloidogyne hapla obtained from various geographical areas were studied cytologically and with respect to their mode of reproduction. In 29, maturation of oocytes is by regular meiosis. The reduced chromosome number at metaphase I is 17 in 18 populations, 16 in 8, and 15 in 3 populations. Reproduction in all these populations is by cross-fertilization, although nonfertilized eggs can develop by parthenogenesis. In the latter case, the two groups of telophase chromosomes of the second maturation division become enclosed in the same pronucleus, thus reestablishing the somatic chromosome number. Maturation of spermatocytes in three populations studied is by regular meiosis and the reduced chromosome number appears to be equal to that of the oocytes. In the remaining three populations, no synapsis takes place and the somatic number of 45 chromosomes is observed at metaphase of the single maturation division of both oocytes and spermatocytes. Reproduction is by obligatory mitotic parthenogensis. It is postulated that the basic chromosome number for the genus is nine and that the facultatively parthenogenetic populations are tetraploid, whereas, the obligatorily parthenogenetic populations are pentaploid. A preliminary scheme of the phylogeny in the family Heteroderidae is given.
Antithetic variates to estimate the simulation bias in non-linear models☆

Abstract This paper describes a Monte Carlo experiment, which makes use of antithetic variate sampling, to get an accurate estimate of the deterministic simulation bias in the non-linear Klein—Goldberger model. The computational efficiency is more than 500 times greater than in case of simple random sampling.
THE POLYMORPHIC DIATOM PHAEODACTYLUM TRICORNUTUM: ULTRASTRUCTURE OF ITS MORPHOTYPES1,2

The ultrastructure of the oval, fusiform and triradiate morphotypes of Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin is described. The organization and structure of the cytoplasmic organelles is similar in all three morphotypes, except that the vacuoles occupy the extra volume created by the arms of the fusiform and triradiate cells. The frustule in fusiform and triradiate cells is organic; in the oval type it may be organic or one of the valves may have a silica frustule surrounded by an organic wall. In all cells, the organic cell wall has up to 10 silica bands (13 nm wide) embedded in its surface in the girdle region, lacks girdle bands, and has an outer corrugated cell wall layer, except in the girdle region. Cell division, organic wall formation and silica deposition are described in detail. Four types of oval cells are also described. The relation to other diatoms is discussed.
1606 MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE (MVP) SYNDROME IN DUCHENNE'S MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY (DMD): PRE-VALENCE, SPECTRUM AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL BASIS

The prevalence of MVP syndrome was determined in 20 boys with clinical, biochemical and electromyographic, and muscle biopsy evidence of DMD. Auscultatory evidence of a non-ejection systolic click, documented by phono, suggested MVP in 7 patients. Echocardiography confirmed MVP in these 7 and in 4 others. Pansystolic, anteriorly concave, posterior motion (> 3 mm beyond CD line) was seen in all patients, abrupt mid-systolic posterior motion in 5, and multiple sequence echoes in 6.
A Decoupled Method for Systematic Adjustments of Phase-Shifting and Tap-Changing Transformers

Exact matrix-vector representations of the power flow equations are used to develop a scheme for systematic adjustment of regulating transformers. The real and reactive power models are both written in matrix-vector form as Ax?= ?. The unknowns in the real and reactive power models are the sets of voltage phase angles and unspecified voltage magnitudes at PQ busses, respectively. The real power model includes specified power flows through phase-shifting transformers as injections into busses where such transformers are connected. The reactive power model has a dimensionality equal to the number of load busses less the number of tap-changing transformers. Two separate submodels allow the calculations of phase shifter angle and tap settings. The application of the algorithm to the IEEE standard test systems shows that the algorithm adjusts transformer settings in about the same number of iterations as that for unadjusted solutions.
A new multidimensional integral relationship between heat flux and temperature for direct internal assessment of heat flux

This paper derives a new integral relationship between heat flux and temperature in a transient, two-dimensional heat conducting half space. A unified mathematical treatment is proposed that is extendable to higher-dimensional and finite-region geometries. The analytic expression provides the local heat flux perpendicular to the front surface solely based on an embedded line of temperature sensors parallel to the surface. The relationship does not require apriori knowledge of the surface boundary condition. A new sensor strategy is analytically conceived based on the integral relationship for estimating the local, in-depth heat flux without surface instrumentation. It should further be clarified that the integral relationship requires only knowledge of the local, in-depth temperature and heating/cooling rate (time rate of change of temperature). The resulting formulation is mildly ill-posed and either requires digital filtering of the temperature signal to remove high frequency components of noise or the development of direct heating/cooling rate sensors. This paper (a) develops the new mathematical relationship; (b) demonstrates that the proposed relationship reduces to well-known (i) one-dimensional results under the appropriate assumptions; and, (ii) two-dimensional surface results; and, (c) provides a simple numerical example validating the concept.
The development of the CBS news guidelines during the salant years

This manuscript draws on primary and secondary sources to track the evolution of the CBS News Standards, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s. It examines some of the most difficult issues faced by CBS News President Richard S. Salant and other CBS managers as they attempted to delineate public interest standards for the network's journalists. Toward this end, CBS issued a comprehensive and detailed book of news guidelines in 1976. Those idealistic standards were designed to guide the network's news workers as well as to quell CBS's harshest external critics during a particularly tumultuous period in U.S. history. Efforts to compile and publicly release such a comprehensive set of news guidelines also reflected CBS management's willingness to subject news practices to external scrutiny.
Radiolabeling of TETA- and CB-TE2A-conjugated peptides with copper-64.

The number of radiopharmaceuticals containing copper radionuclides for diagnostic imaging and targeted radiotherapy has grown considerably over the past few decades. This expansion has created the need for protocols allowing for the efficient chelation of 64Cu to peptide-chelator conjugates. Step 1A of this protocol describes a 64Cu-radiolabeling procedure for 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,8,11-tetraacetic acid (TETA)-conjugated peptides. This reaction is facile and requires the incubation of 64CuCl2 in 0.1 M ammonium acetate buffer with the TETA-peptide for 30 min at room temperature (20–23 °C). Step 1B of this protocol describes the radiolabeling procedure for 4,11-bis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane (CB-TE2A)-conjugated peptides. The CB-TE2A-peptide can be labeled with 64Cu in 0.1 M ammonium acetate buffer in 2 h at 95 °C. In both cases, the conjugates can be radiolabeled with 64Cu at greater than 95% purity and with specific activities of 37–111 MBq μg−1 (1–3 mCi μg−1). Both protocols are straightforward and can be completed within 3 h.
Nuclear bodies as structural indicators of estrogenic stimulation in uterine luminal epithelial cells

Preliminary evidence has indicated that the number of nuclear bodies in uterine luminal epithelial cells of the immature rat may be related to the duration of nuclear retention of the estrogen receptor complex (Clark et al., 1978). To test this hypothesis, an ultrastructural analysis of nuclear and cytoplasmic differentiation was performed at 4, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hr after a single injection of estradiol or nafoxidine (synthetic estrogen agonist/antagonist) into 21 day female rats. Variations in nuclear and cytoplasmic differentiation and in the frequency of occurrence of nuclear bodies (simple and complex) were determined and compared with established biochemical changes in the concentration of nuclear estrogen receptor and RNA polymerase activity (Clark et al., 1978). Following nafoxidine there is sustained elevation of the nuclear concentration of the estrogen receptor as well as RNA polymerase I and II activities over the entire 72-hr period. From 4 to 72 hr the height of the luminal epithelial cell as well as the frequency of nuclear bodies increase at linear rates. Through steady expansion of the cytoplasmic membrane system (RER) and Golgi) the relatively undifferentiated epithelial cells of the control uterus are converted progressively into ones equipped for protein secretion. At 72 hr the effects of an estradiol implant resemble closely those observed after a single injection of nafoxidine; these include sustained nuclear receptor occupancy, elevated RNA polymerase activity, epithelial hypertrophy, and high frequency of nuclear bodies. However, after a single injection of estradiol, the luminal epithelial cells become slightly but significantly taller than the control cells and remain close to this size from 24 to 72 hr.; the frequency of nuclear bodies decreases linearly from 4 to 72 hr to fall below the control level. In addition, limited cytoplasmic autolysis is evident from 24 to 72 hr. A single injection of estradiol results in short-term nuclear receptor occupancy and elevated RNA polymerase activities which return to control levels by 24 hr. This collective evidence offers further support to the hypothesis that the duration of nuclear occupancy by the estrogen receptor is reflected in the size of the nuclear body populations in these epithelial target cells. Also during hyperestrogenization, epithelial hypertrophy is accompanied by steady formation of nuclear bodies.
The current status of interpenetrating polymer networks

An interpenetrating polymer network, IPN, is defined as a combination of two or more polymers in network form, at least one of which is polymerized and/or crosslinked in the immediate presence of the other(s). The synthesis, morphology and mechanical properties of recent works are reviewed, with special emphasis on dual phase continuity, and the number of physical entanglements that arise in homo-IPNs. The concepts of phase diagrams are applied, especially to simultaneous interpenetrating network phase separations and gelations. Recent engineering applications are discussed.
WC-Co-Diamond nano-composites

Abstract Solid state sintering of WC-Co powder compacts at temperatures of 1000–1200 °C gives a partially sintered material, in which the degree of densification increases with temperature. An important characteristic of these partially sintered materials is that the pores are interconnected in three dimensions. Furthermore, by varying the hold times at the lowest sintering temperature, where solid state diffusion predominates, the pore structure can be coarsened without significant reduction in compact dimensions. Thus materials with precisely controlled pore connectivity and scale can easily be produced. Using a gas phase infiltration technique, we have infiltrated such nanoporous structures with graphitic carbon. After infiltration, the graphite-infiltrated WC-Co preform is transformed to WC-Co-Diamond by a high pressure/high temperature treatment. The resulting superhard material has a characteristic tricontinuous structure, which may or may not be functionally graded, depending on the infiltration technique used. Preliminary results on structural characterization and wear testing of these novel triphasic superhard materials are briefly discussed.
Pleiotropic effects of amitriptyline ameliorate renal fibrosis

Unilateral ureteral obstruction is a well-established model of renal fibrosis used by many investigators to test various compounds for their ability to ameliorate kidney disease. Achar et al. treated ureterally obstructed mice with the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline and found that this inhibited inflammation, myofibroblast formation, and several other indices of renal fibrosis. This pleiotropic antidepressant agent appears to have antifibrotic effects in the kidney and other organ systems.
Predictors of Nosocomial Pneumonia in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Patients: A Multi-center Observational Study

Nosocomial pneumonia (NP) is a frequent complication among spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) patients. This study was aimed at identifying in-hospital risk factors that predispose sICH patients to NP. We identified 591 consecutive sICH subjects admitted to six tertiary care hospitals between 2008 and 2012. Information regarding patients’ demographics, admission data, laboratory tests, medical history, diagnostic imaging, in-hospital treatments, complications, and outcomes were collected. Using a competing risks analysis, we assessed risk factors associated with NP. Mean age of the subjects was 68 years; 51 % were female and 76 % were white. One-hundred sixteen (19.6 %) of the sICH patients had NP. In the univariate analysis, variables including age, non-white race, early hospital admission (<6 h after onset), larger hematoma volume, basal ganglia or intraventricular hemorrhage, multisite hemorrhage, in-hospital aspiration, intubation, nasogastric tube placement, hematoma evacuation, high ICH score, ventricular drainage, and tracheostomy had a positive association with NP. However, in the multivariate analysis, only early hospital admission, in-hospital aspiration, intubation, and tracheostomy remained statistically significant predictors (p < 0.05). For patients who survived hospitalization, the median length-of-stay (LOS) with or without NP was 20.0 and 4.0 days, respectively (p < 0.0001). For patients who did not survive to discharge, the median LOS with or without NP was 10.5 and 2.0 days, respectively (p < 0.001). Independent predictors of NP included early hospital admission, in-hospital aspiration, intubation, and tracheostomy. NP was associated with prolonged hospital LOS.
An empirical investigation of the consumption based Capital Asset Pricing Model using a modified variance-ratio test

A chi-square statistic is constructed that compares variance ratios and mean simple returns from data with those implied by an asset pricing model. The statistic is applied to the Consumption based Capital Asset Pricing Model with time non-separable preferences. It favors habit persistence for annual data, time-separability for quarterly data, and durability for monthly data, respectively. Introduction of time non-separability yields only a marginal improvement. The power of the test is high when alternative hypotheses are formed by varying the relative risk aversion coefficient. It is lower for alternative hypotheses generated by varying the time non-separability parameter, especially for durability.
A one-session human immunodeficiency virus risk-reduction intervention in adolescents with psychiatric and substance use disorders.

ABSTRACT Objective: To explore change in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk among teens in outpatient treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). Method: From December 2002 to August 2004, 50 adolescents (13-19 years) with major depressive disorder, conduct disorder, and one or more non-nicotine SUD completed the Teen Health Survey (THS) at the beginning and end of 16 weeks of outpatient cognitive behavioral SUD treatment, which included a one-session HIV intervention. Changes in THS scale scores and specific item responses targeted by the intervention were assessed with paired t tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Results: Pre/post mean THS scores significantly improved for two subscales: Measures of HIV Information (14.8-17.6; p p Conclusions: Results from this preliminary study are consistent with the need for specific assessment and targeted intervention to reduce HIV risk in outpatient adolescent SUD treatment.
Novel cardiolipin therapeutic protects endothelial mitochondria during renal ischemia and mitigates microvascular rarefaction, inflammation, and fibrosis

Microvascular rarefaction, or loss of microvascular density, is increasingly implicated in the progression from acute ischemic kidney injury to chronic kidney disease. Microvascular dropout results...
A molecular orbital study of the protein-controlled bathochromic shift in a model of rhodopsin.

Abstract A molecular orbital study based on the Pariser-Parr-Pople method has been made of the effect of a negative charge on the long wavelength band of the protonated Schiff base of methylamine and retinal. The results show that the energy of the lowest transition, but not the oscillator strength, is highly dependent on the position of the negative charge. With the charge at infinity, the spectral maximum is found to be 524.7 nm. When the charge is moved closer to the Schiff base, the spectrum shows a blue shift from this value toward 440 nm. However, a red shift to about 556 nm is calculated when the charge is moved to the opposite end of the molecule. These results support the theories which hold that the position of a negative charge on the protein controls the observed spectral shifts on rhodopsin formation.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SYNAPTOSPERMY AND DIOECY IN THE LIFE HISTORY STRATEGIES OF BUCHLOE DACTYLOIDES (GRAMINEAE)

Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm. is a perennial dioecious grass, exhibiting synaptospermy in that the 1-5 seeds in the dispersal unit (bur) are not released prior to germination. A major positive effect is that at least 50% of the burs contain both a male and female, making sexual reproduction possible and reducing founder effects upon colonization by one or a few burs. The objectives of this research were to examine the relationships between synaptospermy and dioecy in the life history strategies of Buchloe dactyloides, and to investigate whether the potential costs of synaptospermy would exceed its benefits if the species were not dioecious. An experiment that tested the effects of tightly clumping three seedlings vs. a uniform spacing of single seedlings at two densities and two moisture levels indicated only slightly negative effects of this aspect of synaptospermy. Although number of tillers and shoot biomass per plant were lower for clumped seedlings at all density and moisture combinations, only 50% of the possible uniform vs. clumped comparisons were significantly different. In addition, these effects, even at low moisture and/or high density, were not great enough to affect survivorship during the 16-week growth period. Experiments under both optimal and low moisture conditions showed that seeds within burs germinated at a significantly higher percentage than isolated or "hulled" seeds; in contrast to the differential timing of germination from burs, almost all of the seedlings from hulled seeds were produced during the first of three germination periods. Although survivorship for these seedlings was quite high under optimal conditions, it was greatly reduced under low moisture, being only one-fourth of that for seedlings arising from burs. The possible reduction in the wind dispersal of propagules due to their teeth and to their greater weight and size appears offset by more effective ungulate and water dispersal. Considering the evidence that the bur anchors the seedling in the soil, protects the seeds from fire, reduces precocious germination by requiring considerable moisture for saturation, and enhances seed longevity, the benefits of synaptospermy appear to outweigh the costs, even if those benefits related to dioecy are not
Absolute infrared intensifies of CS2 fundamentals in gas and liquid phases. An interpretation of the bond moments of CO2 and CS2

Abstract Infrared intensities have been measured for ν 2 of CS 2 in the gas and liquid phases. The values (500 darks in the gas phase and 800 darks in the liquid) are approximately as expected from the Polo—Wilson equation, but both are somewhat lower than previous estimates had suggested. The bond moments are e (= d μ/ dr ) = 5·6 D/A and μ = 0·60 D, or roughly comparable to the values for other linear triatomic molecules. The explanation for the anomalously high value of e seems almost certainly to be the large contribution from the “delocalization moment” as a result of a change in the electronic wave function during the vibration. An attempt to estimate the magnitude of the “delocalization moment” is presented; the results confirm the interpretation, although the quantitative agreement could be better.
Integrated plant temperature measurement using heat‐sensitive paint and colour image analysis

Summary 1 Despite the fundamental importance of temperature to a variety of physiological processes, such as photosynthesis and transpiration in plants, accurately quantifying and integrating differences in surface temperatures is often difficult, if not impossible. 2 An inexpensive, user-friendly technique is now available whereby plants and animals can be air-brushed with a non-toxic, heat-sensitive paint that will generate six or more distinguishable colours across a temperature range of ≈5 °C and a resolution of <1 °C. These temperature-indicating colours can then be photographed and evaluated quantitatively using image analysis software. 3 Compared to a more traditional temperature measurement technique (thermocouples), this method resulted in a mean surface temperature of up 5·1 °C warmer than the mean thermocouple temperature, as well as a computed 45% difference in transpirational water loss for a single leaf, multiple leaves on a shoot, and leaves within a crown.