cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The association of comorbidities, utilization and costs for patients identified with low back pain

Existing studies have examined the high prevalence of LBP along with the high treatment costs of patients with low back pain (LBP). Various factors have been shown to be correlated or predictive of chronic or episodic LBP including the characteristics of the initial episode, pain, comorbid conditions, psychosocial issues, and opiate use. This study replicates and extends earlier studies by examining the association of patient characteristics including baseline comorbidities with patterns of healthcare service use and cost. This is a retrospective analysis of measures of comorbidities, healthcare use, and cost for patients identified with LBP, stratified by the number of LBP episodes. Administrative data associated with outpatient and hospital based care for the years 1996 through 2001, were used to identify adult patients with LBP. LBP patients continuously enrolled for 12 months prior and 24 months after their initial LBP event were included in the study. A LBP episode was identified as the number of 30-day periods where a patient had one or more healthcare events with a diagnosis consistent with LBP. Chi-square and multivariate regression analyses were employed to estimate the variation in utilization and costs. Of 16,567 patients enrolled, 67% were identified with only one LBP episode and 4.5% had ≥6. The prevalence of comorbidities, analgesic use, and healthcare service use, varied by the number of back pain episodes. Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, anxiety, psychotic illness, depression, use of opiates and NSAIDs were associated with significant incremental increases in costs (P < .003). Physical and mental health co-morbidities and measures of analgesic use were associated with chronicity, healthcare utilization and costs. Given the association of comorbidities and cost for patients with LBP, management approaches that are effective across chronic illnesses may prove to be beneficial for high cost patients identified with LBP.
The twisted tauopathies: surface interactions of helically patterned filaments seen in alzheimer's disease and elsewhere

This paper broadly examines the dynamics of helically patterned filaments interacting with a surface and focuses on the surface interaction of amyloid fibrils formed by tau protein. Two structures are addressed in detail: cylindrical filaments with periodic thinning (CF-PT) and paired helical filaments (PHFs). PHFs are observed in neural tissue affected by Alzheimer's disease and may aggregate to form the pathological neurofibrillary tangles associated with the illness. Work using electron microscopy has demonstrated the conversion of CF-PT into PHFs in vitro, suggesting CF-PT to be a PHF precursor in vivo. Here we model CF-PT as a patterned elastic rod placed on a flat surface (characteristic of the environment during microscopy) and examine the conformational changes resulting in stable surface bonding. Analysis of this conformational space reveals structures resembling PHFs and thus provides a mechanistic explanation of the CF-PT to PHF transition. We develop a general phase diagram of the filament conformation as a function of filament twist and bend rigidity. Results of this work also suggest that we can obtain desired filament conformations by patterning interactions of elastic filaments with a substrate, and therefore can be used as a method in microfabrication.
Tailored messages, external barriers, and women's utilization of professional breast cancer screening over time.

BACKGROUND The efficacy of tailored messages on women's utilization of professional breast screening over time has not been examined often or in combination with external barriers (e.g., costs and access). The objectives of this study were to test the effects of alternative messages on mammography and clinical breast examination (CBE) utilization over time and to examine the combined effects of such messages and external barriers. METHODS In a randomized, controlled trial, three message conditions were compared: no message (control group), recommendations about screening, or recommendations plus tailored discussion (on beliefs, feelings, costs, and access). Messages were delivered by advanced practice nurses over the telephone. Participants were women ages 51–80 years who had not had mammography in the prior 13 months. Outcome measures were women's mammography and CBE utilization 3–6 months postintervention (short-term follow-up) and 13–16 months after short-term follow-up (long-term follow-up). RESULTS Both messages promoted mammography and CBE utilization at short-term follow-up. Utilization increased over time in all groups. Mammography utilization was greater for the tailored-message group compared with the recommendations-only group at long-term follow-up. Messages and external barriers had combined effects (Ps < 0.01). Among participants with high external barriers, participants in the message conditions—especially the tailored message—had the highest screening rates; among participants with low barriers, screening rates were similar across conditions. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians can tailor discussions on beliefs, feelings, cost, and access about screening to promote professional breast screening over time, especially with women who have not had mammograms as recommended and who have external barriers to screening. Cancer 2003;97:2724–35. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11397
Bivariate probability models for the description of average wind speed at two heights

Abstract Two bivariate density functions, the Rayleigh-shifted Rayleigh and the Rayleigh-normal are developed for use in modeling wind speed at two different heights. Using data from the Millstone nuclear power plant in Waterford, Connecticut, it is then shown that the Rayleigh-normal is a more appropriate model. The problem of estimating annual energy from a wind energy conversion system at one height using wind speed data from a lower height is then discussed. It is shown that the use of the Rayleigh distribution with a one-seventh wind shear coefficient underestimates energy production when compared to the use of the Rayleigh-normal. It is also shown that the use of higher wind shear coefficients results in overestimates of energy. These results were derived for a typical range of wind shear coefficients employed in conjunction with a one-parameter Rayleigh distribution.
The Tea Party and the 2012 presidential election

Using both the 2012 American National Election Study and the 2012 Cooperative Congressional Election Study, we examine the Tea Party movement's role in crystallizing attitudes and shaping voting behavior in the 2012 elections. The data show that, compared to other Republicans, Tea Party sympathizers were notably more hostile to Obama, more receptive to bogus notions about his origins and religion, and more conservative across a broad range of issues and issue dimensions—including those related to racial and ethnic minorities. Voters' opinions of the Tea Party were linked to their presidential vote choice directly as well as through their association with the core values, opinions, and attitudes that underlie opinions of the Tea Party. Tea Party sympathizers form the Republican coalition's largest, most loyal, and most active component, so their opinions and beliefs help to explain why national politics in the United States is currently stalemated on so many major issues.
Fluorescence spectrum and lifetime of n-C3H7O radicals

Abstract The fluorescence spectrum and lifetime of n -C 3 H 7 O* radicals have been measured. The fluorescence spectrum was formed by the 193 nm laser photolysis of n -C 3 H 7 ONO in helium. The emission spectrum is in the range 340 – 450 nm. The 0-0 transition is at 29 000 cm −1 . The CO stretching mode frequency of the ground state is 1065 cm −1 and that of the A state is 450 ± 50 cm −1 . The 0-0 transition frequencies and CO stretching vibrational frequencies of various alkoxy radicals are compared. The emission decay rates at varous n -C 7 H 7 ONO concentrations in argon were measured. From the intercept of the plots, (1.43 ± 0.08) × 10 6 s −1 is obtained, corresponding to a collision-free lifetime of 0.70 ± 0.08 μs, and from the slope (5 ± 1) × 10 −10 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 is obtained for the quenching rate of the fluorescence by n -C 3 H 7 ONO. The collision-free life-time of RO* and quenching constant by RONO are summarized. The fluorescence spectrum of t -C 4 H 9 O* radicals was also obtained.
Clinical practice with nonbehavioral methods: Strategies for evaluation

Social workers frequently complain that research is unrelated to issues of daily clinical practice, especially that single-case research which they see as more germane to behavior therapy. Considering the nature of non-behavioral clinical practice, this article discusses strategies for systematic evaluation.
Ectopic Secretion of Complete Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and β-Subunit by Human Cervical Carcinoma Cell Lines*

The CaSki and DoT cervical cancer cell lines were reported to secrete the β-subunit of hCG in the absence of complete hCG or α-subunit (Science 196: 1456, 1977; J ClinEndocrinol Metab 46: 69, 1978). In the present study, concentrates of fluids from large numbers of CaSki or DoT cultures were analyzed forthe presence of hCGβ and complete hCG. Although some CaSki and DoT preparations contained no detectable complete hCG, others were found to contain as much as 18% hCG. The reason for the variation in the amount of hCG relative to hCGβ in CaSki and DoT cultures is unknown.
A generalized allometric equation to predict foliar dry weight on the basis of trunk diameter for eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.)

Abstract Leaf area index is a critical input into computations and models seeking to estimate or predict a whole host of ecophysiological processes, including carbon sequestration and evapotranspirational losses from forest ecosystems. The aim of this study was to derive and validate a generalized allometric equation for eastern white pine ( Pinus strobus L.) that would estimate and predict foliar biomass on the basis of trunk diameter at breast height (dbh, 1.37 m above-ground level). Coupled with locally derived specific leaf areas, this generalized equation would be a useful predictor of LAI for input to ecological models and a useful comparator to LAI estimated by remote sensing techniques or plant canopy analyzers. The generalized allometric equation was developed by using site-specific allometric equations from the four provenances of eastern white pine. Nine eastern white pine trees were destructively sampled over a 9-year period to form the validation data set. The generalized allometric equation derived and validated in this work is: y = 0.004 x 2.308 where y = foliar dry weight (kg) and x = dbh (cm) ( R 2 = 0.967, p
Hollywood's Vietnam, 1929––1964: Scripting Intervention, Spotlighting Injustice

Before 1965 and the introduction of the .rst of.cial American combat troops, the political unrest and revolutionary insurgency in Vietnam had already appeared in nearly a dozen Hollywood .lms. Yet while the anti-communist politics of these productions was predictable, it would be a mistake to view them as mere vehicles for Cold War propaganda. Although they served that obvious function, early American filmmakers who set their pictures in Vietnam also constructed the area as a childlike place in need of U.S. tutelage and instruction. At the same time, Vietnam became, by the 1950s, ironically transformed into a site of contestation over American values, especially with respect to race and gender. Drawing on rare prints of these early motion pictures, as well as numerous archival documents, this article spotlights the Indochinese conflict that was screened in the decades before Hollywood, in the 1970s and 1980s, began to perhaps forever reimage the war in American memory.
Software complexity and software maintenance: A survey of empirical research

A number of empirical studies have pointed to a link between software complexity and software maintenance performance. The primary purpose of this paper is to document “what is known” about this relationship, and to suggest some possible future avenues of research. In particular, a survey of the empirical literature in this area shows two broad areas of study: complexity metrics and comprehension. Much of the complexity metrics research has focused on modularity and structure metrics. The articles surveyed are summarized as to major differences and similarities in a set of detailed tables. The text is used to highlight major findings and differences, and a concluding remarks section provides a series of recommendations for future research.
Infrared Study of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene Under High Pressure

We report synchrotron Fourier transform infrared measurements of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene in the mid-IR and far-IR spectral regions up to $\ensuremath{\sim}10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$, using KBr or petroleum jelly to compress the samples. During the far-IR experiment, we cycled the pressure, measuring IR spectra at various pressures, to determine whether the sample survived. In both experiments, no phase transition was observed. In the high frequency region $(\ensuremath{\sim}3000\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1})$, the peak frequencies of the $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ symmetric and antisymmetric vibrational modes decrease with increasing pressure, indicating strengthening of intermolecular hydrogen bonding with pressure.
Real Estate Mortgages, Foreclosures, and Midwestern Agrarian Unrest, 1865–1920

The hypothesis that the fear of foreclosure of farm mortgages provided an important impetus to American agrarian reform movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is reconsidered. This hypothesis is consistent with the observation that farm income, although volatile, on average improved over this period.Indeed, despite low average foreclosure rates, the temporary effects of foreclosures on specific regions in which there was unrest appears to have been dramatic. An examination of indebtedness data and measures of unrest both for the period of the Alliance movement and for the era of the Nonpartisan League in North Dakota appears to support the hypothesis linking the fear of foreclosure to agrarian unrest.
A Periodic Table for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Part V. 1-Factorable, 2-Factorable, and Dewar Graph Structures Associated with Benzenoid Hydrocarbons

Abstract Further properties of a Formula Periodic Table for Benzenoid PAH6s are presented. Whether the number of components of 1-factor and 2-factor subgraphs of benzenoid hydrocarbons are even or odd and the sign of the aN coefficient of the characteristic polynomial is negative or positive are prescribed by this table. A method for computing the number of Dewar structures from the aac N-2 coefficient of the acrylic polynomial is reviewed. It is shown that a stronger correlation of resonance energy and In aac N-2 of In KNc exists than for In K where K = SC (structure count) aac N. It is conjectured that ethene is subspectral to all benzenoid PAH6 structures belonging to the Nc = 0(mod 4) row series of the formula periodic table for benzenoid PAH6s. Previous research from this laboratory has evolved a formula periodic table for PAH6s which for the first time unified formula/structure relationships of benzenoid hydrocarbons into a systematic framework [1]. Herein additional correlations of this periodic ta...
Low levels of calpain activity in Chiroptera brain: Implications for mechanisms of aging

Calcium-dependent neutral proteases ("calpains") have been implicated in degenerative processes in muscles and neurons, suggesting that they might also play a role in age-related brain pathologies and perhaps in brain aging itself. Because Chiroptera exhibit an unusual maximum life span, relative to other mammalian orders, we investigated the activity of these enzymes in the brain of two species of bats. As in other mammals, brain calpain degrades many proteins associated with the cell cytoskeleton. However, enzyme activity is 5-7 fold lower in bat's brain than in a similar-sized mammal, such as the mouse. Moreover, the maximal life span of bats predicted from the equation relating calpain activity and maximal life span across a wide range of mammals is close to the observed values. These results strengthen the hypothesis that calpain activity is somehow linked to the rate at which brains age.
The Effects of a Classroom-based Intervention on Aggression-related Injuries

The researchers examined the effect of a classroom-based intervention on the frequency of aggression-related injuries occurring at an inclusive early education center. Aggression-related injuries involving five children decreased 79% following the intervention. Teachers implemented the procedures with fidelity. Treatment fidelity and child outcomes maintained during follow-up. Parents completed a survey developed by the researchers to measure parent perceptions of the impact of child aggression at home. Before and after results suggested that parent perceptions regarding the impact of child aggression at home declined following treatment. Teacher ratings suggested that teachers were satisfied with the usability of the procedures, the amount of work involved, and child outcomes. The researchers describe efforts to sustain a developing program.
Simultaneous measurements of turbulence over land and water

Turbulence and mean flow variables under unstable conditions are examined with special emphasis on the consequences of roughness and surface elevation change. An interpolation formula for Σ w 2, between neutral and free convection, is shown to bring order to the data. The spectral distribution of vertical wind variance is found to be in good agreement with results over horizontal homogeneous terrain, both with respect to form and position. In particular, the length scale λm corresponding to the maximum of nS w(n) is unchanged. Another turbulent length scale, (k/φ)z, is found to be substantially reduced in the disturbed zone of the internal boundary layer. To a first approximation, the flow-acceleration effect on the non-dimensional wind shear can be separated from the diabatic effect.
Short shaped copper fibers in an epoxy matrix : Their role in a multifunctional composite

Abstract Previous research indicates that short shaped copper fibers improve the fracture and impact toughness of brittle thermoset polymer matrix composites. This paper investigates the potential multifunctional ability of these same shaped copper fibers by determining their electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE). Fiber shapes were selected based on previous single fiber pullout experiments where they displayed high toughness. The two fiber diameters tested were: 0.325 and 0.162 mm. Fiber shapes used in the experiments were: straight, flat end-impacted, rippled, and acid roughened. A SE of greater than 45 dB at 1.0 GHz was attained in epoxy that contained 15 vol% of 0.162 mm diameter shaped fibers. Composites with 15 vol% of the 0.325 mm diameter shaped fibers showed poor SE, less than 20 dB. Experimental results indicate that besides improving the fracture and impact toughness of a thermoset polymer matrix, short shaped copper fibers can also significantly improve the SE and electrical conductivity of the composite, resulting in a multifunctional material. This increase in SE and electrical conductivity can be attributed to: shape effects that increase the skin volume, surface discontinuities which increase the amount of electromagnetic (EM) wave scattering, and the fiber count which determines the number of conducting paths.
Ensemble of Evolving Neural Networks in Classification

The ensemble of evolving neural networks, which employs neural networks and genetic algorithms, is developed for classification problems in data mining. This network meets data mining requirements such as smart architecture, user interaction, and performance. The evolving neural network has a smart architecture in that it is able to select inputs from the environment and controls its topology. A built-in objective function of the network offers user interaction for customized classification. The bagging technique, which uses a portion of the training set in multiple networks, is applied to the ensemble of evolving neural networks in order to improve classification performance. The ensemble of evolving neural networks is tested by various data sets and produces better performance than both classical neural networks and simple ensemble methods.
Measurement of thermoacoustic convection heat transfer phenomenon

In this paper the results of an experimental investigation of thermoacoustic convection (TAC) heat transfer phenomenon in both zero-gravity and gravity environment are presented and compared with pure conduction heat transfer. The numerical solutions of the governing equations obtained by others for TAC heat transfer phenomenon are also discussed. The experimental results show that for rapid heating rate at a boundary, the contribution of TAC heat transfer to a gas could be significantly (one order of magnitude) higher than heat transfer rate from pure conduction. The results also show significantly reduced transient time in heat transfer processes involving thermoacoustic convective heat transfer mode in both space and gravity environment.
Time Evolution in Macroscopic Systems. III: Selected Applications

The results of two recent articles expanding the Gibbs variational principle to encompass all of statistical mechanics, in which the role of external sources is made explicit, are utilized to further explicate the theory. Representative applications to nonequilibrium thermodynamics and hydrodynamics are presented, describing several fundamental processes, including hydrodynamic fluctuations. A coherent description of macroscopic relaxation dynamics is provided, along with an exemplary demonstration of the approach to equilibrium in a simple fluid.
Quasi pulse-echo ultrasonic technique for flaw classification

Abstract One of the important flaw characterization tasks in the field of ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation (NDE) is to provide flaw type information by analysing the flaw responses acquired during an inspection. Here a new quasi pulse-echo ultrasonic classification technique is presented which utilizes the time separation and amplitude difference of mode-converted diffracted signals to distinguish between smooth and sharp-edged flaw geometries. Experiments with cylindrical cavities, surface-breaking fatigue cracks and slag inclusions have been used to test the practicality of this approach. All results of these tests show good consistency in the separation of smooth and sharp-edged flaws, provided that the signal-to-noise ratio is sufficient. Furthermore, the scattering feature used for classification in this method is also verified by detailed elastodynamic scattering calculations.
Some contributions to regio and stereo control: from Cincholoipon and Cantharidin to the present.

A condensed review of some of the major original contributions of the author's research group to organic synthesis during more than half a century. The emphasis is on methodology, especially as it involves the control of regio- and stereochemistry. The application of these methods in the total synthesis of specific natural products in the author's laboratory is not discussed in extenso, but only by focusing on certain key steps which illustrate the application of the methods mentioned here. Methods discussed in this fashion are: cationic polyene cyclizations; the enamine alkylation and acylation of ketones and aldehydes; the metalloenamine alkylation; the regiospecific formation and trapping of enolates, via electron addition or via conjugate addition of organometallic reagents to enones; regiospecific enolate formation-trapping from saturated ketones and from beta-alkoxy enones; the epoxynitrile and the allylic epoxynitrile cyclizations; the cyclization of olefinic diazoketones; the cyclization of alkynyl ketones; protected cyanohydrins as acylcarbanion equivalents; the vinyl radical cyclization; the control of regio- and stereochemistry via radical cyclization to temporary rings.
P64: GI symptom improvement post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: Long-term analysis

Background: Obese patients suffer from a multitude of gastrointestinal symptoms that differ from their nonobese couterparts. The literature remains scant on changes in gastrointestinal symptoms amongst this cohort pre& post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass(RNYGB). The aim of this study is to quantify these symptoms and understand the changes witnessed with bariatric surgery. Methods: 1,910 GI symptom surveys were prospectively administered to 902 consecutive patients that underwent laparoscopic RNYGB. Patients rated each symptom on a 0 to 100-mm Liekert scale; 0 absence of symptoms, 33 occasional occurence, 67 frequent occurrence,100 continuous. The surveys were administered preoperatively and then yearly there after. Data presented as mean SEM. Results: Demographics: Race (137 African Americans, 585 Caucasians, 2 Hispanics, 1 other), Sex (83%women, 17%men), Age (40.9 0.34), BMI(48.72 0.27), ASA(2 31%, 3 68%,4 1%), Short Vs Long-limb bypass (63% vs 37%). Preoperative symptom rating:Abdominal pain (24.3 0.8), Heartburn (41.0 0.9), Acid Regurgitation (30.9 0.9), Gnawing epigastric sensation (26.5 0.9), Nauseav p 0.05. Conclusion: Laparoscopic RNYGB significantly improves gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by morbidly obese patients without adversely affecting any of the measured parameters. This improvement in symptoms proved durable long term.
N-2-butyl-cyanoacrylate for bleeding gastric varices: a United States pilot study and cost analysis

N-2-butyl-cyanoacrylate for bleeding gastric varices: a United States pilot study and cost analysis
Probabilistic microcell prediction model

A microcell is a cell with 1-km or less radius which is suitable for heavily urbanized area such as a metropolitan city. This paper deals with the microcell prediction model of propagation loss which uses probabilistic techniques. The RSL (Receive Signal Level) is the factor which can evaluate the performance of a microcell and the LOS (Line-Of-Sight) component and the blockage loss directly effect on the RSL. We are combining the probabilistic method to get these performance factors. The mathematical methods include the CLT (Central Limit Theorem) and the SPC (Statistical Process Control) to get the parameters of the distribution. This probabilistic solution gives us better measuring of performance factors. In addition, it gives the probabilistic optimization of strategies such as the number of cells, cell location, capacity of cells, range of cells and so on. Specially, the probabilistic optimization techniques by itself can be applied to real-world problems such as computer-networking, human resources and manufacturing process.
Cytochemistry of hairy cells.

The peripheral blood of 24 patients with bone marrow biopsy-proven hairy cell leukemia was examined with histochemical methods. Periodic acid-Schiff, acid phosphatase, acid phosphatase with tartrate, alpha naphthyl butyrate esterase, alpha naphthyl acetate esterase, and alpha naphthyl acetate esterase with sodium fluoride inhibition were among the reactions utilized. Reactivity was graded on a scale of 0 to +++. All patients had circulating hairy cells, ranging from 2 to 88% of the leukocyte count. Sequential studies (2 – 7 times) were performed in 9 of the patients. A finely granular, ± to ++ reaction product with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) was present in 22 patients; in 3, however, the PAS was negative at one time in sequential studies. Acid phosphatase activity was present in more than 50% of the hairy cells in 21 patients; in only one was the reaction present in less than 25% of the leukemia cells. The reaction consisted of formation of granules which were small to medium in size with diffuse and irregular cytoplasmic distribution. Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase activity was present in 1 – 100% of the hairy cells in 23 of the 24 patients. One patient with 35% circulating cells showed acid phosphatase reactivity in 58% of these, but tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase reactivity was totally absent; the intensity of these two reactions varied between patients and within the same patient. Alpha naphthyl butyrate esterase reactivity ranged from ± to + in 16 of the 20 patients examined. In 19 of 20 patients, the alpha naphthyl acetate esterase reaction was ± to ++ positive, consisting of diffusely scattered granules in at least a few and, in some cases, in as many as 95% of the cells. This activity was inhibited by sodium fluoride in 16 of 19 patients. These findings are compared to those in 17 patients with various lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative disorders who were studied by the same methods. Our results indicate that the cytochemical properties of hairy cells differ from those of any established cell group.
A preliminary investigation of segmentation and rhyme abilities of children who stutter

Abstract The present study investigated segmentation and rhyme abilities, skills critical for phonological encoding, of children who stutter (CWS) and those who do not (CNS). Participants were 9 CWS (8 males and 1 female, mean age = 11.1, SD = 2.31) in the age range of 7 and 13 years and 9 age and sex matched CNS (mean age = 11.2, SD = 2.19). Participants performed two verbal monitoring tasks, phoneme and rhyme monitoring, in silent naming. Performances in the verbal monitoring tasks were compared to a neutral, nonverbal tone monitoring task. Additionally, the complexity of the phoneme monitoring task was varied such that participants had to monitor for singletons vs. consonant clusters. Repeated measures analysis of the response time data did not reveal significant differences between the groups in the three monitoring tasks. Analysis of the complexity data revealed a trend for slower monitoring of the consonant clusters in the CWS group compared to the CNS. Present findings do not support a deficit in segmentation and rhyme abilities in CWS, although there was some preliminary evidence of segmentation difficulties with increasing phonological complexity of the stimuli. Educational objectives: At the end of this activity the reader will be able to: (a) discuss the literature on phonological encoding skills in children who stutter, (b) describe skills underlying the phonological encoding process, (c) summarize whether or not children who stutter differ from those who do not in segmentation and rhyme abilities, (d) suggest future areas of research in the investigation of segmentation and rhyme monitoring abilities in children who stutter.
Particular polyglots: multilingual students with autism

Many American children with autism live in multilingual environments. Yet an almost diametric contrast exists between the advice of practitioners and the recommendations found in scholarly literature. Whereas practitioners almost unanimously counsel that children on the autism spectrum be exposed to English alone, an increasing number of scholars have argued the potential benefits for these children of learning their parents’ native language as well. This paper argues that, in fact, language recommendations for children on the spectrum should fall somewhere between these two poles and be tailored to individual children and their families.
Immature Mice are More Susceptible to the Detrimental Effects of High Fat Diet on Cancellous Bone in the Distal Femur

Abstract With the increasing prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents, it is imperative to understand the implications of early diet-induced obesity on bone health. We hypothesized that cancellous bone of skeletally immature mice is more susceptible to the detrimental effects of a high fat diet (HFD) than mature mice, and that removing excess dietary fat will reverse these adverse effects. Skeletally immature (5 weeks old) and mature (20 weeks old) male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a HFD (60% kcal fat) or low fat diet (LFD; 10% kcal fat) for 12 weeks, at which point, the trabecular bone structure in the distal femoral metaphysis and third lumbar vertebrae were evaluated by micro-computed tomography. The compressive strength of the vertebrae was also measured. In general, the HFD led to deteriorations in cancellous bone structure and compressive biomechanical properties in both age groups. The HFD-fed immature mice had a greater decrease in trabecular bone volume fraction (BVF) in the femoral metaphysis, compared to mature mice (p = 0.017 by 2-way ANOVA). In the vertebrae, however, the HFD led to similar reductions in BVF and compressive strength in the two age groups. When mice on the HFD were switched to a LFD (HFD:LFD) for an additional 12 weeks, the femoral metaphyseal BVF in immature mice showed no improvements, whereas the mature mice recovered their femoral metaphyseal BVF to that of age-matched lean controls. The vertebral BVF and compressive strength of HFD:LFD mouse bones, following diet correction, were equivalent to those of LFD:LFD mice in both age groups. These data suggest that femoral cancellous metaphyseal bone is more susceptible to the detrimental effects of HFD before skeletal maturity and is less able to recover after correcting the diet. Negative effects of HFD on vertebrae are less severe and can renormalize with LFD:LFD mice after diet correction, in both skeletally immature and mature animals.
Analysis of heat and mass transfer in subseabed disposal of nuclear waste

Abstract A mathematical basis is developed for the pre‐diction of thermal and radionuclide transport in marine sediments. The theory is applied to the study of radioactive waste disposal by emplacement in specially designed containers well below the sediment/water interface. Numerical results are obtained for a specified model problem through use of two computer programs designed primarily for the analysis of waste disposal problems. One program (MARIAH) provides descriptions of the temperature and fluid velocity fields induced by the presence of a container of thermally active nuclear waste. A second program (IONMIG), which utilizes the results of the thermal analysis, is used to provide predictions for the migration of four representative radionuclides: 239Pu, 137Cs, 129I, and 99Tc.
Infectious concerns of cross-species transplantation: xenozoonoses

Xenotransplantation is a potential solution to the current donor shortage for allotransplantation. Likewise it is being investigated for a number of other disease states such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and acquired immunodeficiency disease. Infections are a concern with the use of any biologic agent and as such have proved to be a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality after allotransplantation. Similarly, infections will likely cause disease after xenotransplantation. Public debate on the ethics of whether the field of xenotransplantation should move forward has focused on the concern of novel infections, xenozoonoses. Accordingly, the role of animal microbes must be critically examined. This article reviews mechanisms for xenogeneic infections and details what is known and what still needs to be learned as the field of xenotransplantation progresses. Emphasis is placed on microbial agents of baboons and swine, as they are currently the most common species considered as donor sources for xenotransplantation.
Healing in the Barquinha Religion

The article focuses on the healing service offered by Barquinha churches. The Barquinha religion is an Amazonian form of Christianity, with syncretic elements. The article surveys three recurrent methodological and theoretical approaches found in anthropological works on healing in the Barquinha religion, to which the author contributes with his own ethnographic research and analysis. On the one hand, analytical emphases are often located on the participants’ subjective and symbolic processes, in association with the ayahuasca experience. Ayahuasca—called Santo Daime by adherents—is the central sacrament of the religion, frequently implied in accounts of healing. Another common focus is on ritual settings and changing bodily dispositions. Thirdly, anthropologists have considered aspects of the social relations involved in the therapeutic process. This paper furthers reflections on social interactions during healing encounters. Such encounters typically involve healer-spirits incorporated in Barquinha spirit-mediums. The author suggests that the healing service may echo symbolic motifs associated with the historical experience of migration and rapidly changing living circumstances shared by many participants.
Tissue-specific regulation by estrogen of ezrin and ezrin/radixin/moesin-binding protein 50.

The morphology and function of rat GH3 pituitary cells are profoundly affected by estradiol-17β (E2), presumably due to changes in the profile of gene expression. We recently reported that a major target of E2 in these cells is the ezrin gene, which encodes a cytoskeletal linker protein that forms a complex with ezrin/radixin/moesin-binding protein 50 (EBP50) in some cell types. Other studies have shown that EBP50 levels are increased by E2 in human breast and uterine tissue. Thus, we examined whether ezrin and EBP50 expression is coordinately increased by E2 in GH3 cells in vitro and rat pituitary glands in vivo. Ezrin levels are repressed by the steroidal antiestrogen, ICI 182780, and this effect is abrogated by E2 and the ERα-specific agonist, PPT, in GH3 cells. In contrast, EBP50 levels remained constant during these treatments. Ezrin and EBP50 did not display extensive colocalization. Moreover, ezrin was not co-immunoprecipitated by an EBP50 antibody in parental GH3 cells or in GH3 cells stably overexpressing EBP50, but was co-immunoprecipitated with EBP50 in human breast MCF-7 cells. Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton of GH3 cells changed the distribution of ezrin within subcellular fractions, but had no effect on EBP50. Finally, in juvenile female rats, E2 injections increased ezrin expression in the pituitary and uterus, but increased EBP50 expression only in the uterus. These findings demonstrate tissue specificity in the formation of ezrin-EBP50 complexes and in the regulation of EBP50 expression in estrogenresponsive tissues.
Illustrating Genocidaires, Orphans, and Child Soldiers in Central Africa

In 2000, Belgian artist Jean-Philippe Stassen published Deogratias, a French-language bande dessinee or graphic novel, about the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. This award-winning bande dessinee centers on ...
Wave Based Analysis of Buckling in Columns and Frames

This paper reports a wave-based analysis approach for predicting static buckling instabilities in axially-loaded columns and frames. It builds upon recent work on the wave-based vibration analysis of frame-like structures modeled by Timoshenko beams. To predict buckling, axial preload modeling is included in the equations of motion and the wave-based analysis approach is reformulated accordingly. This reformulation includes development of reflection and transmission matrices for a general, four-member angled joint. An eigenvalue problem (EVP) is then solved for example systems by setting the frequency of the wave solutions arbitrarily close to zero while seeking the axial preload which zeroes the EVP determinant. Numerical conditioning of the EVP problem is discussed as an essential step for ensuring successful application of the method. Notably, the method allows exact solutions to parameterized systems to be computed quickly and easily without the need for special discretization or mesh generation. This is exploited, for example, to find the optimal cross-brace location for an H-frame by varying a single parameter in the EVP determinant, avoiding the need to regenerate geometry and/or discretization (e.g., mesh topology). For a conservatively-loaded column, and for example portal and H-frames, results from the introduced approach show excellent agreement with known solutions.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Advances in Discrete Dislocations Dynamics and Multiscale Modeling

Discrete dislocation dynamics is a numerical tool developed to model the plasticity of crystalline materials at an intermediate length scale, between the atomistic modeling and the crystal plasticity theory. In this review we show, using examples from the literature, how a discrete dislocation model can be used either in a hierarchical or a concurrent multiscale framework. In the last section of this review, we show through the uniaxial compression of microcrystal application, how a concurrent multiscale model involving a discrete dislocation framework can be used for predictive purposes.
Morphology of the male system and spermatophores of the arrowworm Ferosagitta hispida (Chaetognatha).

Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the somatic testicular tissues and sperm ducts are elaborations of the epithelial lining of the tail coelom. The testes consist of closely packed spermatogonia embedded between specialized lateral field cells. These cells contain few organelles and appear to function mainly as a compartment boundary. Masses of spermatogenic cells are released into the tail coelom from the anterior end of the testes. The sperm ducts, lined by simple cuboidal ciliated epithelium, collect mature spermatozoa from the tail coelom and convey them to the blindly ending seminal vesicles. The sperm ducts also modify coelomic fluid entering them along with the spermatozoa. The seminal vesicles consist of a simple glandular lining epithelium embedded in the stratified epidermis. Secretions of the lining epithelium surround the enclosed sperm mass and correspond in position to a noncellular spermatophore coat visible by light microscopy around released sperm masses. Spermatophores leave the seminal vesicles through a temporary split that forms between microfilament-containing suture cells. Maturation of spermatozoa and filling of the seminal vesicles is cyclical, occurring late each day. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Nrf2 promotes neuronal cell differentiation

The transcription factor Nrf2 has emerged as a master regulator of the endogenous antioxidant response, which is critical in defending cells against environmental insults and in maintaining intracellular redox balance. However, whether Nrf2 has any role in neuronal cell differentiation is largely unknown. In this report, we have examined the effects of Nrf2 on cell differentiation using a neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y. Retinoic acid (RA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, two well-studied inducers of neuronal differentiation, are able to induce Nrf2 and its target gene NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. RA-induced Nrf2 up-regulation is accompanied by neurite outgrowth and an induction of two neuronal differentiation markers, neurofilament-M and microtubule-associated protein 2. Overexpression of Nrf2 in SH-SY5Y cells promotes neuronal differentiation, whereas inhibition of endogenous Nrf2 expression inhibited neuronal differentiation. More remarkably, the positive role of Nrf2 in neuronal differentiation was verified ex vivo in primary neuron culture. Primary neurons isolated from Nrf2-null mice showed a retarded progress in differentiation, compared to those from wild-type mice. Collectively, our data demonstrate a novel role for Nrf2 in promoting neuronal cell differentiation, which will open new perspectives for therapeutic uses of Nrf2 activators in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
Protonation state of a conserved acidic amino acid involved in Na(+) binding to the glutamate transporter EAAC1.

Substrate transport by glutamate transporters is coupled to the co-transport of 3 Na+ ions and counter-transport of 1 K+ ion. The highly conserved Asp454, which may be negatively charged, is of int...
Recent Advances in Brain-controlled Prosthetics for Paralysis: Friday Keynote

Neurons encode many parameters simultaneously, but the encoding fidelity at the level of individual neurons is weak. In contrast, with a better understanding of neural population function we can now decode complex arm and hand movement. We have developed a simple extraction algorithm to capture arm movement data and shown that a paralyzed patient who cannot move any part of her body below her neck can control a high-performance "modular prosthetic limb" using 10 degrees-of-freedom simultaneously. The control of this artificial limb is intuitive, with coordinated, graceful motion, closely resembling natural arm and hand movement.
Branches of periodic solutions of the nonlinear Hill's equation

The term “nonlinear Hill’s equation” in the title of this paper is used because of the resemblance of the equations to be studied here with Hill’s equation, which is a convenient abbreviation defining the class of secondorder homogenous linear differential equations with real periodic coefficients. In this paper we study the periodic solutions having period mp (m a positive integer) of the two types of equations:
The immorality of illegal downloading: The role of anticipated guilt and general emotions

To extend previous cognition-based illegal downloading research, this project postulates that anticipated guilt, general emotions, attitudes, and norms collectively determine intentions to download digital files illegally. Our findings indicate that college students were more likely to download if they had more favorable attitudes, perceived greater social approval, and perceived more control over illegal downloading. More importantly, this study reveals that college students generally felt a low level of anticipated guilt toward illegal downloading. Anticipated guilt was a significant, negative predictor of intentions to download among those who engaged in illegal downloading in the previous 6months, but not among those did not. General anticipated emotions predicted intentions to download among the whole sample. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Correlates of obesity in young black and white women: the CARDIA Study.

OBJECTIVES. Although differences in obesity between Blacks and Whites are well documented in adult women, less information is available on potential correlates of these differences, especially in young adults. METHODS. The association between behavioral and demographic factors and body size was assessed in 2801 Black and White women aged 18 to 30 years. RESULTS. Black women had significantly higher age-adjusted mean body mass index and subscapular skinfold thickness than did White women. Obesity had different associations with age and education across racial groups. A positive relationship between age and obesity was seen in Black women but not in White women, whereas a negative association between education and body size was noted only in White women. Potential contributing factors to the increased prevalence of obesity in Black women include a more sedentary lifestyle, higher energy intake, earlier menarche, and earlier age at first childbirth. CONCLUSIONS. The difference in obesity across race could no...
Two new species of cicadas from Vietnam (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae)

Abstract Two species of Vietnamese cicadas are described as new. Pomponia daklakensis sp. nov. is described from Daklak Province and Haphsa bicolora sp. nov. is described from Gai Lai Province. Pomponia daklakensis has become a pest of coffee in Vietnam.