cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Membership in a Religious Commune: The Shakers, 1850–1870☆

Abstract Membership decisions in a religious commune can be influenced by religious, social, and economic factors. Using the theories of religious behavior proposed by economists and sociologists of religion and the data from the enumeration schedules of the U.S. Population censuses, we focus on the Shakers during the period between 1850 and 1870 to examine membership decisions in a religious commune. We identify trends in the changing distribution of communal membership, factors affecting the likelihood of persisting as a Shaker, and the contributions of these factors to the numerical decline of the Shakers.
Dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole-based materials: Synthesis and application to organic electronics

Abstract The application of dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrroles (DTPs) in conjugated organic polymers has resulted in a variety of materials with reduced and low band gaps that exhibit high carrier mobilities, as well as enhanced solution and solid-state fluorescence. While DTP-based materials date back to the early 1990s, significant advances in the preparation and scope of these materials have been reported over the past decade. In this current report, we provide the first full review of DTP-based materials, highlighting in particular the recent advances made in the synthesis of both monomeric DTPs and their resulting materials, as well as the current progress of their application to various devices, including FETs, OPVs, OLEDs, and electrochromics.
Time and tide wait for no animal: Seasonal and regional opportunities for tidal stream transport or retention

Many species appear to selectively use tidal currents for transport into or out of estuaries, or to maintain residence within an estuary. Further, some species are preferentially active during nocturnal hours, possibly to reduce their vulnerability to predators. The interaction between predicted tidal current flow and the day-night cycle was investigated for 11 locations within the United States. Tidal current constants for each of these were obtained from the United States National Ocean Survey. Additionally, times of sunrise and sunset were computed for each location and day between the years 1978 and 2000. These sets of information were combined by integrating the predicted current velocity between successive times of sunrise or sunset or times of slack current for each day and location. The result is the average daily net transport possible at that time and location. Plots of these transport values reveal seasonal patterns when either transport in a preferred direction or retention is more readily accomplished. Such calculations do not incorporate other influences on tidal currents, such as variations in winds or freshwater discharge, but they do reveal the consistent seasonal and regional opportunities for transport or retention that a species would encounter over long time spans.
Combined Heart and Liver Transplantation in a Patient With Situs Ambiguous

We report the case of 21-year-old man with Fontan circulation failure and end-stage liver cirrhosis, along with situs ambiguous. Combined simultaneous heart and liver transplantation was successfully performed with technical modifications, including rotated implantation and bilateral venous reconstruction.
A comparison of aphidophagous arthropods on maize polycultures and monocultures, in Central Mexico.

Abstract The effects of cropping system design on the community of herbivores and associated predaceous arthropods and on yield performance were studied during 1986 in Central Mexico, in experimental plots containing maize ( Zea mays ) monocultures and maize tricultures with faba bean ( Vicia faba ) and squash ( Cucurbita moschata ). The triculture gave greater yield than the monoculture in maize yield (1184.52 vs. 575.56 kg ha −1 and total output per unit area (land equivalent ratio = 2.89). The main mechanisms that accounted for the maize yield differences included: (1) the triculture sustained individuals per plant of the lady beetles Hippodamia convergens and H. koebelei , in part because of the food provided by faba bean extrafloral nectaries; (2) in the triculture the aphids Rhopalosiphum maidis experienced higher attack by several species of arthropod predators; (3) Tetranychus urticae inflicted more damage on maize plants in the maize monoculture than in the triculture; (4) apparently, water was used more efficiently in the triculture as a result of reduced soil water evaporation through increased shade.
Alteration in thermal stability of ribosomes fromDrosophila melanogaster with age

Thermal analysis of high salt (0.5 M) washed ribosomal monomers from young and old maleDrosophila melanogaster revealed an 8°C downshift in the mean temperature of denaturation (Tm). Moreover, there was observed a marked loss in the ability of ribosomes extracted from older flies to reassociate upon cooling. These observations suggest that age-dependent alterations in the structural integrity of the rRNA-r protein complex could, at least in part, be responsible for the diminished capacity for protein synthesis in this species with advancing age.
Age differences in field-dependence/independence

The present study investigated age and sex differences in field-dependence/independence controlling statistically for IQ. The Group Embedded Figures Test and Quick Test were administered to 46 young adults, 22 male and 24 female (M age = 18.65 years) and 45 old adults, 22 male and 23 female (M age = 73.96 years). Results indicated significant age differences in field dependence/independence existed even after controlling statistically for intelligence. No significant sex differences were found in either age group; for young adults this is inconsistent with extensive research. Implications of results were discussed.
Spreadsheet and Relational Database Programs: Useful Tools for Perioperative Nurses

KEY POINTS • Clinicians should be aware that simple spreadsheet programs are usually available on computers in nursing units and can be useful tools for staff nurses. • In the absence of commercial reference management software, a spreadsheet program can efficiently organize literature for evidence-based projects. • Simple spreadsheet programs can be used to organize and analyze data collected in research or evidence-based projects.
BRCA1-related and sporadic ovarian cancer in the same family: implications for genetic testing.

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to present a family with both BRCA1-related and sporadic ovarian cancer and address current difficulties in genetic testing. Methods. BRCA1 mutation detection was performed on a family having four confirmed cases of ovarian cancer, two cases of breast cancer, and one case each of colon, stomach, and prostate cancer. The incidence and types of cancer were consistent with a BRCA1 mutation although previous linkage analysis had excluded this family as being due to BRCA1. Results. A protein-truncating mutation in BRCA1, denoted 2799delAA, was identified in the germline DNA of each of the women affected with breast and ovarian cancer in this family except the proband, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 65. Conclusions. In an earlier study, which sought to determine the proportion of site-specific ovarian cancer due to BRCA1, the family described in this report was wrongly identified as not being due to BRCA1 when, in fact, all but one of the breast and ovarian cancer cases carry a deleterious BRCA1 mutation. Our analysis suggests that the proband, who was the first of the women in this family to seek genetic counseling, developed ovarian cancer by chance and not as the result of an inherited mutation. We describe the results of our analysis in light of current issues that face clinicians who may be involved in genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer predisposition.
An adaptive soft classification model: content-based similarity queries and beyond

Providing a customized result set based upon user preference is the ultimate objective of many information-locating systems. There are two main challenges in meeting this objective: First, there is a gap between the physical characteristics and the semantic meaning of the multidimensional data. Second, different people may have different perceptions on the same set of data. To address both these challenges, we propose a model that brings together the advantages of content-based querying and collaborative filtering techniques. Our model first conceptualizes the information locating work as the task of “soft classifying” items into classes. These classes can overlap, and their members are different for different users. The soft classification is hence performed for each and every item feature including both physical and semantic features. Subsequently, each item will be ranked based on the weighted aggregation of its classification memberships. The weights are user dependent and hence different users would obtain different result sets for the same query. Our model employs a fuzzy-logic based aggregation function for ranking items. We show that in addition to some performance benefits, fuzzy aggregation is less sensitive to noise and can support disjunctive queries as compared to the weighted average method used by many information retrieval systems. Finally, since our technique heavily relies on user dependent weights (i.e., user profiles) for the aggregation task, we utilize the users' relevance feedback to improve the profiles using genetic algorithms (GA). Our learning mechanism requires less user interaction and results in faster convergence to the user's preferences as compared to other learning techniques. We utilize our customization technique in three different applications: (1) a content-based image retrieval system, (2) an e-commerce recommendation system, and (3) a neuroscience knowledge management system. Our experimental results demonstrate while the complexity of the soft classification system is low and remains constant as the number of users and/or items grow, its accuracy surpasses those of many information retrieval systems in most cases. The experimental results also indicate that the retrieval accuracy is significantly increased by using the GA-based learning mechanism.
Quantitative resolution of nanoparticle sizes using single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with the K-means clustering algorithm

Sensitive and accurate characterization of nanoparticle size in aqueous matrices at environmentally relevant concentrations is still challenging for current nano-analysis techniques. Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) is an emerging method to characterize the size distribution of nanoparticles and determine their concentrations. Herein for the first time the K-means clustering algorithm is applied to signal processing of spICP-MS raw data. Compared with currently used data processing approaches, the K-means algorithm improved discrimination of particle signals from background signals and provides a sophisticated, statistically based method to quantitatively resolve different size groups contained within a nanoparticle suspension. In tests with commercial Au nanoparticles (AuNPs), spICP-MS with the K-means clustering algorithm can quantitatively discriminate secondary “impurity-size nanoparticles,” present at fractions of less than 2% by mass, from primary-size nanoparticles with the minimum resolvable size difference between the primary and secondary nanoparticles at ∼20 nm. AuNP mixtures in which 80 nm particles act as the “primary size group” and 20 nm, 50 nm, or 100 nm particles act as the “impurity size group” were analyzed by spICP-MS, which reliably measured percentages of secondary impurity-size nanoparticles that are consistent with the expected experimentally determined values. Compared with dynamic light scattering (DLS), spICP-MS has remarkably better particle size resolution capability. We also demonstrated the size measurement advantage of spICP-MS over DLS for commercial CeO2 nanoparticles that are commonly used in the semiconductor industry, where quality control of the nanoparticle size distribution is critical for the wafer polishing process.
Joint Access Point Selection and Power Allocation for Uplink Wireless Networks

We consider the distributed uplink resource allocation problem in a multi-carrier wireless network with multiple access points (APs). Each mobile user can optimize its own transmission rate by selecting a suitable AP and by controlling its transmit power. Our objective is to devise suitable algorithms by which mobile users can jointly perform these tasks in a distributed manner. Our approach relies on a game theoretic formulation of the joint power control and AP selection problem. In the proposed game, each user is a player with an associated strategy containing a discrete variable (the AP selection decision) and a continuous vector (the power allocation among multiple channels). We provide characterizations of the Nash Equilibrium of the proposed game. We present a novel algorithm named Joint Access Point Selection and Power Allocation (JASPA) and its various extensions (with different update schedules) that allow the users to efficiently optimize their rates. Finally, we study the properties of the proposed algorithms as well as their performance via extensive simulations.
Joanna Briggs Institute: An Evidence-Based Practice Database

The Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Practice Database offers systematic reviews, practice recommendations, and consumer information designed to support evidence-based practice. A sample search was conducted within the Ovid platform to demonstrate functionality and available tools.
A fuzzy-logic subsumption controller for Home Energy Management Systems

Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) are controllers that manage and coordinate the generation, storage, and loads in a home. These controllers are increasingly necessary to ensure that increasing penetrations of distributed energy resources are used effectively and do not disrupt the operation of the grid. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to HEMS design based on behavioral control methods, which do not require accurate models or predictions and are very responsive to changing conditions. We develop a proof-of-concept behavioral HEMS controller and show by simulation on an example home energy system that it capable of making context-dependent tradeoffs between goals under challenging conditions.
New Techniques in Image-Guided Percutaneous Biopsy

Image-guided percutaneous biopsy is a well-established and safe technique for obtaining tissue specimens from various regions of the body and plays a crucial role in patient management. Improvements in needle designs, development of new biopsy techniques, and continual advances in image-guidance technology have improved the safety and efficacy of the procedure. Lesions previously considered relatively inaccessible can now be safely biopsied. This review looks at the recent technologic developments in image guidance for percutaneous biopsy procedures. Improvements in needle design and other innovations intended to enhance the diagnostic yield of biopsy specimens are briefly discussed. Also described are some new techniques and unconventional approaches that help provide safe access to difficult-to-reach lesions.
A Conceptual Model of Wiki Technology Diffusion

Wiki technology is an emerging trend making way in organizational environments. Although numerous benefits of using a Wiki in applications of collaborative knowledge creation and sharing have been reported, little research on the adoption and diffusion of Wiki technology has been published. The contribution of this paper is the theoretically informed emphasis on the need to consider a variety of contextual factors influencing Wiki technology diffusion. Implementations of Wiki technology should include careful consideration of organizational culture, as well as user perceptions of Wiki organizational compatibility, relative advantage, and complexity. Efforts should also be made to achieve and maintain a critical mass of Wiki users.
Recombination dynamics of photogenerated carriers in 10.4 µm-cutoff photodiodes consisting of W-structured superlattices

We used pump-probe technique to investigate recombination dynamics of photogenerated carriers in photodiodes consisting of InAs/GaInSb W-structured superlattices. Recombination time constants of 1.6 ns and 10 ns were measured under high and low powers, respectively.
Ion Suppression in Mass Spectrometry

Background: Mass spectrometry (MS) is being introduced into a large number of clinical laboratories. It provides specificity because of its ability to monitor selected mass ions, sensitivity because of the enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, and speed because it can help avoid the need for intensive sample cleanup and long analysis times. However, MS is not without problems related to interference, especially through ion suppression effects. Ion suppression results from the presence of less volatile compounds that can change the efficiency of droplet formation or droplet evaporation, which in turn affects the amount of charged ion in the gas phase that ultimately reaches the detector. Content: This review discusses materials shown to cause ion suppression, including salts, ion-pairing agents, endogenous compounds, drugs, metabolites, and proteins. Experimental protocols for examining ion suppression, which should include, at a minimum, signal recovery studies using specimen extracts with added analyte, are also discussed, and a more comprehensive approach is presented that uses postcolumn infusion of the analyte to evaluate protracted ionization effects. Finally, this review presents options for minimizing or correcting ion suppression, which include enhanced specimen cleanup, chromatographic changes, reagent modifications, and effective internal standardization. Summary: Whenever mass spectrometric assays are developed, ion suppression studies should be performed using expected physiologic concentrations of the analyte under investigation.
PovcalNet, WDI and ‘All the Ginis’: a critical review

In this paper, we review three data sets which summarize world-wide inequality across countries and years: World Development Indicators (‘WDI’)/‘PovcalNet’ and ‘All the Ginis’ (ATG), each of which has some origins at the World Bank. We hope to inform both experienced and novice users of the existence of these important data sets, provide a review of their benefits and drawbacks, suggest how to use them, and provide suggestions for future improvements. The review is grounded in the history of the development of such data sets, which also necessarily informs users of critical information and the types of choices one must make in order to understand how to measure and compare poverty and inequality over space and time.
Assessment of function related to vision (AFREV).

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship of a performance-based measure of visual functioning to clinical and subjective measures in glaucoma patients. Design: Cross-sectional survey of glaucoma patients. Participants: Forty-three patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Methods: Patients were evaluated using a novel performance-based measure, the Assessment of Function Related to Vision (AFREV), standard clinical tests of visual function, and the National Eye Institute's Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25), a self-reported quality of life measure. Correlations of the AFREV scores with visual field scores, monocular and binocular visual acuity, contrast sensitivity scores, and NEI-VFQ scores were calculated. Rasch analysis was used to estimate the visual ability required by each task of AFREV for a particular response (item measures) and to estimate the visual ability of each patient (person measures). Main Outcome Measures: AFREV and NEI-VFQ total scores. Results: The AFREV total scores were ...
Effects of Otter Trawling on a Benthic Community in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Bottom trawling is one of the most disruptive and widespread human-induced physical distur- bances to seabed communities and has become a global environmental concern. We used a comparative ap- proach to test the hypothesis that persistent otter trawling decreases bottom habitat complexity and biodiver- sity, increases the abundance of opportunistic species, and benefits prey important in the diet of some commercially valuable fish. We compared two similar and adjacent fishing areas at 180 m off central Califor- nia in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary: one inside the three-mile coastal zone of restricted fishing with light levels of trawling and one beyond the three-mile limit with high levels of trawling. Differences in fishing effort between the two areas were confirmed and quantified by means of data and tow number statis- tics from Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) Trawl Logbook records. We used still photography, video footage, bottom grab samples, and experimental trawling to compare the physical and biological pa- rameters of the two areas. The area with high levels of trawling had significantly more trawl tracks, exposed sediment, and shell fragments and significantly fewer rocks and mounds and less flocculent material than the lightly trawled area. Most invertebrate epifauna counted were significantly more abundant in the lightly trawled area. The density of the amphinomid polychaete, Chloeia pinnata , as well as that of oligochaetes, oph- iuroids, and nematodes, were higher every year in the highly trawled area, and there were significantly fewer polychaete species every year in the highly trawled area. Content analysis of fish guts showed that C. pinnata was a dominant prey item for some of the commercially important flatfishes in both lightly and heavily trawled areas. Our study provides evidence that high levels of trawling can decrease bottom habitat complex- ity and biodiversity and enhance the abundance of opportunistic species and certain prey important in the diet of some commercially important fishes. Our work also illustrates how constraints currently imposed on fisheries research by the near universal absence of true unfished control sites severely limit our ability to de- termine appropriate levels of harvest pressure for maintaining sustainable fisheries and marine biodiversity. Valid research in these areas will require marine reserves in which fishing effort and methods can be manip- ulated in collaborative studies involving fishers, researchers, and resource agencies.
Ribosomal Database Project: data and tools for high throughput rRNA analysis

Ribosomal Database Project (RDP; http://rdp.cme.msu.edu/) provides the research community with aligned and annotated rRNA gene sequence data, along with tools to allow researchers to analyze their own rRNA gene sequences in the RDP framework. RDP data and tools are utilized in fields as diverse as human health, microbial ecology, environmental microbiology, nucleic acid chemistry, taxonomy and phylogenetics. In addition to aligned and annotated collections of bacterial and archaeal small subunit rRNA genes, RDP now includes a collection of fungal large subunit rRNA genes. RDP tools, including Classifier and Aligner, have been updated to work with this new fungal collection. The use of high-throughput sequencing to characterize environmental microbial populations has exploded in the past several years, and as sequence technologies have improved, the sizes of environmental datasets have increased. With release 11, RDP is providing an expanded set of tools to facilitate analysis of high-throughput data, including both single-stranded and paired-end reads. In addition, most tools are now available as open source packages for download and local use by researchers with high-volume needs or who would like to develop custom analysis pipelines.
1998 Frank Isakson Prize Address Sum frequency generation for vibrational spectroscopy: applications to water interfaces and films of water and ice

Abstract Infrared-visible sum-frequency generation can be used for vibrational spectroscopy. It is an ideal probe for surface or interfacial studies of media with inversion symmetry. It can also be used to probe polar ordering in a medium without inversion symmetry. With this technique, we have obtained several interesting results on water and ice: namely, the surface water structure is ice-like, no surface melting is evident at the quartz/ice interface and ice films grown on Pt(1 1 1) can be ferroelectric.
Socialist patrimonialism and the global economy: the case of Romania

The evolution in Romania of a governing system of socialist patrimonialism, as opposed to one of collective rule by counterbalancing elites, accounts for both the country's early and extensive contact with the international capitalist economy and its belated but sharp reaction to international economic disruptions. In the absence of powerful alternative political elites or policies, the socialist nationalist ideology of Nicolae Ceausescu defined the country's “multilateral development” and its deviant foreign policy. Ceausescu's manipulation of the system strengthened his hold during the time of rapid economic development and undermined the country's capacity to react promptly or moderately to economic shocks. Events in Poland, especially the rise of Solidarity, complicated Romanian adjustment; but on balance, the adjustment to external economic forces reinforced rather than eroded Ceausescu's socialist patrimonialism.
ARE PARTNERS AGENTS

Partners have been characterized as agents of the partnership. But this is wrong to the extent that it implies that the law of agency should be applied to partnership. In fact, agency is a distinct set of default rules that apply to a particular type of relationship. Each business association has its own set of default rules that apply to a specific type of relationship. It follows that the commentary of the Restatement (Third) of Agency may be misleading to the extent that it implies otherwise by purporting to deal with partnership-type firms. Moreover, the Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act is particularly misguided in dispensing with agency rules and implicitly importing the law of agency into the law of limited liability companies. Similar principles apply to corporate law and the relationship among the shareholders, the corporation and the board of directors.
MANETs Routing Method for Calls with Predefined Duration in Audio/Video Communications

MANETs (Mobile Ad hoc Networks) are attracting attention as a useful means of communication in times when the communications network infrastructure has been disrupted by a widespread disaster. So far, audio/video services provided on MANETs have not been evaluated adequately. Audio/video communication generates large packet traffic, which rapidly reduces the battery levels of relaying terminals. This results in ongoing communication being interrupted due to a low battery level. This will lead to frequent disconnections and attempts to reestablish network routes at short intervals, resulting in degradation in communication quality. This paper studies a routing method that takes account of remaining battery levels in multimedia communication. Specifically, it proposes a routing method that establishes communication routes for calls with predefined communication duration, using only those terminals that have adequate remaining batter levels. The effectiveness of the proposed routing method has also been confirmed through communication quality evaluation by using a developed SIP_MANET emulator.
Effect of N-Terminal Extension of Cardiac Troponin i on the Ca2+ Regulation of ATP Binding and ADP Dissociation of Myosin II in Native Cardiac Myofibrils

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) has a unique N-terminal extension that plays a role in modifying the calcium regulation of cardiac muscle contraction. Restrictive cleavage of the N-terminal extension of cTnI occurs under stress conditions as a physiological adaptation. Recent studies have shown that in comparison with controls, transgenic mouse cardiac myofibrils containing cTnI lacking the N-terminal extension (cTnI-ND) had a lower sensitivity to calcium activation of ATPase, resulting in enhanced ventricular relaxation and cardiac function. To investigate which step(s) of the ATPase cycle is regulated by the N-terminal extension of cTnI, here we studied the calcium dependence of cardiac myosin II ATPase kinetics in isolated cardiac myofibrils. ATP binding and ADP dissociation rates were measured by using stopped-flow spectrofluorimetry with mant-dATP and mant-dADP, respectively. We found that the second-order mant-dATP binding rate of cTnI-ND mouse cardiac myofibrils was 3-fold faster than that of wild-type myofibrils at low Ca(2+) concentrations. The ADP dissociation rate of cTnI-ND myofibrils was positively dependent on calcium concentration, while the wild-type controls were not significantly affected. These data from experiments using native cardiac myofibrils under physiological conditions indicate that modification of the N-terminal extension of cTnI plays a role in the calcium regulation of the kinetics of actomyosin ATPase.
Antitrust Modesty (Review Essay)

This is a review essay of Herbert Hovenkamp, The Antitrust Enterprise: Principle and Execution (Harvard 2005). It argues that Hovenkamp's modest ambitions for antitrust law encapsulate the current spirit of U.S. antitrust enforcement, which has become existentially, procedurally, and substantively modest. The essay briefly considers what new paradigms may arise in the future to displace this current epoch of antitrust modesty.
Inotuzumab ozogamicin in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Over 90% of leukemic blasts in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia express the marker CD22. Inotuzumab ozogamicin (INO) is a CD22-directed humanized monoclonal antibody conjugated to the potent cytotoxin, calicheamicin, via an acid labile linker. INO has shown high rates of response in the treatment of relapsed and refractory (R/R) ALL in single-agent studies, with fewer adverse effects than traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Given this experience, studies are now being done to evaluate INO in combination with low-intensity chemotherapy as frontline treatment for older adults with ALL and patients with R/R disease. Herein we will discuss the use of INO in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Macho Men, Machismo, and Sexuality

(1991). Macho Men, Machismo, and Sexuality. Annual Review of Sex Research: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 199-247.
Differentiation of rat small intestinal epithelial cells by extracellular matrix

The role of extracellular matrix as a determinant of intestinal cell maturation was explored by growing a normal, but immature, rat small intestinal cell line (IEC-6) on basement membrane extract from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) sarcoma cells (ECM). Grown on plastic or glass, these cells are relatively immature and proliferate rapidly. In contrast, cells on ECM attached more rapidly, stopped proliferating, and rapidly organized into multicellular complex structures. Ultrastructurally, cells grown on ECM displayed significantly more mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, apical microvilli, and complex golgi apparatus, consistent with greater maturity and synthetic activity. By indirect immunofluorescence, sucrase, alkaline phosphatase, and cellular apolipoprotein B were present in cells grown on ECM only. In contrast to cells grown on glass, these cells also demonstrated Na-dependent glucose absorption, a function unique to mature villus cells (7). We conclude that the basement membrane may be a key determinant of intestinal epithelial cell maturation. The development of a mature villuslike intestinal cell in vitro may have wide application for future studies of induction and regulation of intestinal maturation and function.
Maternal obesity, gestational diabetes, breastfeeding and childhood overweight at age 2 years

SummaryBackground Maternal obesity, excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and breastfeeding are four important factors associated with childhood obesity. Objectives The objective of the study was to assess the interplay among these four factors and their independent contributions to childhood overweight in a cohort with standard clinical care. Methods The cohort included 15 710 mother–offspring pairs delivered in 2011. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between maternal exposures and childhood overweight (body mass index >85th percentile) at age 2 years. Results Mothers with pre-pregnancy obesity or overweight were more likely to have EGWG, GDM and less likely to breastfeed ≥6 months. Mothers with GDM had 40–49% lower EGWG rates and similar breastfeeding rates compared with mothers without GDM. Analysis adjusted for exposures and covariates revealed an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) associated with childhood overweight at age 2 years of 2.34 (2.09–2.62), 1.50 (1.34–1.68), 1.23 (1.12–1.35), 0.95 (0.83–1.10) and 0.76 (0.69–0.83) for maternal obesity, overweight, EGWG, GDM and breastfeeding ≥6 months vs. <6 months, respectively. Conclusions In this large clinical cohort, GDM was not associated with, but maternal pre-pregnancy obesity or overweight and EGWG were independently associated with an increased risk, and breastfeeding ≥6 months was associated with a decreased risk of childhood overweight at age 2 years.
Concentrate Level in Bison Finishing Rations on Feedyard Performance

Abstract One hundred ninety-two dehorned bison bulls (235 kg initial BW) were utilized in a completely randomized design with initial weight equalized to evaluate the effect of concentrate levels of 30, 50, 70, and 90% in finishing diets on 266-d feedyard performance. There were eight head per pen and six pens per treatment. On d 170, the 30% concentrate level was increased to 70% and CP concentration was reduced to 10% from 12% CPO Feed intake was not affected by treatment. However, feed intake appeared to be affected by season (lower in winter than summer or fall). Feeding bison 70 or 90% concentrate diets through 169 d on test improved (P
Mutagenesis induced by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and N-nitrosonornicotine in lacZ upper aerodigestive tissue and liver and inhibition by green tea

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and nitrosonornicotine (NNN) were administered to lacZ mice (MutaMouse) at equal concentrations in drinking water (2 weeks at 0.1 followed by 2 weeks at 0.2 mg/ml) over a 4 week period, for a total estimated dose of 615 mg/kg) and mutagenesis in a number of organs was measured. For mutagenesis induced by NNK the potency order was: liver > lung> pooled oral tissues kidney > esophagus > tongue. The mutant fraction varied from approximately 6 to 40 mutants per 10(-5) plaque forming units This corresponds to approximately 2-13 times the background levels. A somewhat different pattern was observed with NNN, where the order was liver > esophagus oral tissue approximately tongue > lung > kidney. The potency of NNK was about twice that of NNN in liver and lung, but somewhat less in aerodigestive tract tissue. When compared with results previously obtained for a similar administered dose of benzo[a]pyrene, NNK was approximately 10-100% as mutagenic in the corresponding organs. Reported target organs for carcinogenesis by NNN and NNK in rodents were targets for mutagenesis, but mutagenesis was also observed at other sites, suggesting that these sites are initiated. The effect of green tea consumption on mutagenesis by NNK was also investigated. Green tea reduced mutagenesis by approximately 15-50% in liver, lung, pooled oral tissue and esophagus.
Aberrant adrenal tissue: an incidental finding during orchiopexy.

AbstractAberrant adrenal tissue is a not uncommon clinical observation. The embryology of the adrenal gland is briefly reviewed and the common origin of adrenal and gonadal tissue is emphasized to account for the sporadic appearance of adrenal rests associated with gonadal structures. A listing of the diverse sites of ectopic adrenal tissue is offered with mention of the significant clinical implications. Another case report of an adrenal rest in the spermatic cord is presented.
METHODOLOGY OF PROJECT ANALYSIS UNDER RISK WITH REFERENCE TO CAPITAL VENTURES IN ENERGY

ABSTRACT This paper surveys and discusses mathematical techniques for the analysis of capital ventures in general, with special reference to investments in the field of energy. The analysis is developed in terms of decision-making under risk. The paper presents a number of techniques for evaluating projects from the standpoint of economic viability and financial attractiveness. The methods of risk analysis presented include: direct adjustment for risk, break-even analysis, sensitivity analysis, random cash-flow analysis, decision trees and Monte Carlo simulation, and programming methods. Illustrative examples are presented and discussed. The techniques presented are intended for investors seeking to assess investment opportunities where simple, deterministic analysis may not be adequate. The basic statistical concepts needed to make the analysis of projects under risk are also developed.
Absolute instability near TWT band edges

Using the Briggs-Bers criterion, we find that the lower band edge of linear beam TWTs is not subjected to absolute instability. At the upper band edge, we find a threshold beam current beyond which absolute instability is excited. In general, an absolute instability would occur in a linear beam tube if the cold-tube circuit dispersion curve in the frequency-wavenumber (ω-k) plane is locally convex and would not occur if the cold-circuit dispersion curve is locally concave, whenever the group velocity of the circuit mode is in the same direction as the beam mode. These results are used to examine the recent studies on the start current of a Smith-Purcell source.
Should Public and Nonprofit Museums Have Free Admission

A common pricing structure for American art museums is to offer a choice between an admission fee for a single visit, and the purchase of an annual membership that would allow the member an unlimited number of visits with no additional charge. This paper evaluates this particular method of museum pricing in terms of efficiency and equity. It concludes, drawing from the economic analysis of two-part pricing, that there is a strong rationale for the membership model, and that this is so even in cases where the museum experiences an increase in unrestricted endowment such that “free” membership would be financially sustainable.
Focused ultrasound enhances sensorimotor decision-making in monkeys

Noninvasive brain stimulation using focused ultrasound has many potential applications as a research and clinical tool. Here, we investigated the effect of focused ultrasound (FUS) combined with systemically administered microbubbles on visual-motor decision-making behavior in monkeys. We applied FUS to the putamen in one hemisphere to open the blood-brain barrier, and then tested behavioral performance 3-4 hours later. On days when the monkeys were treated with FUS, their decisions were faster and more accurate than days without sonication. The performance improvement suggested both a shift in the decision criterion and an enhancement of the use of sensory evidence in the decision process. FUS also interacted with the effect of a low dose of haloperidol. The results suggest that a two-minute application of FUS can have a sustained impact on performance of complex cognitive tasks, and may increase the efficacy of psychoactive medications. The results lend further support to the idea that the dorsal striatum plays an integral role in evidence- and reward-based decision-making.
Indications for peripheral nerve and brachial plexus surgery.

Two critical factors in the management of peripheral nerve injuries are the selection of patients and timing for surgery. A sharply transected nerve should be repaired by primary repair, but delayed repair at 2 to 4 weeks is best for a bluntly divided nerve. A closed-nerve injury is initially managed conservatively and explored at 2 to 5 months using intraoperative electrical evaluation if recovery fails to occur. Surgical management of brachial plexus injuries is highly specialized. It is especially important to assess how proximal the lesion is at each spinal nerve level and how complete the loss is in the distribution of each element.
Impaired activity of adherens junctions contributes to endothelial dilator dysfunction in ageing rat arteries.

Endothelial dilator dysfunction contributes to pathological vascular aging. Experiments assessed whether altered activity of endothelial adherens junctions (AJs) might contribute to this dysfunction. Aortas and tail arteries were isolated from young (3–4 months) and old (22–24 months) F344 rats. VE-cadherin immunofluorescent staining at endothelial AJs and AJ width were reduced in old compared to young arteries. A 140 kD VE-cadherin species was present on the cell surface and in TTX-insoluble fractions, consistent with junctional localization. Levels of the 140 kD VE-cadherin were decreased, whereas levels of a TTX-soluble 115 kD VE-cadherin species were increased in old compared to young arteries. Acetylcholine caused endothelium-dependent dilatation that was decreased in old compared to young arteries. Disruption of VE-cadherin clustering at AJs (function-blocking antibody, FBA) inhibited dilatation to acetylcholine in young but not old arteries. After the FBA, there was no longer any difference in dilatation between old and young arteries. Src activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of VE-cadherin were increased in old compared to young arteries. In old arteries, Src inhibition (saracatinib) increased: (i) 140 kD VE-cadherin in the TTX-insoluble fraction, (ii) VE-cadherin intensity at AJs, (iii) AJ width, and (iv) acetylcholine dilatation. In old arteries treated with the FBA, saracatinib no longer increased acetylcholine dilatation. Saracatinib did not affect dilatation in young arteries. Therefore, aging impairs AJ activity, which appears to reflect Src-induced phosphorylation, internalization and degradation of VE-cadherin. Moreover, impaired AJ activity can account for the endothelial dilator dysfunction in old arteries. Restoring endothelial AJ activity may be a novel therapeutic approach to vascular aging. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Measurement and Stability of Physical Attractiveness Judgments

This article discusses the variety of ways human attractiveness has been measured and the stability of those evaluations within individual raters, across different raters and their subgroups, and across different time periods. Individual rater’s own judgments, influenced by psychological factors, make up about half of a target’s attractiveness rating and may change as influenced by personal relationships. Different raters within the same subculture, influenced by shared norms within their sociocultural-historical milieu, show shared taste by agreeing on about half of a target’s attractiveness rating. Within a constant context of historico-cultural period and within these parameters, attractiveness ratings are relatively stable.
United States State and Federal Governments: Enhancing Economic Competitiveness Through Collaboration

Collaboration between industry and government has reached unprecedented levels in the United States. Partnerships of the public and private sectors are crafting national, state, and local responses to domestic challenges such as welfare reform, education, environmental protection, and job training. Some of the most ambitious alliances are those designed to help American industry become more competitive by developing, applying, and developing technology.
Defamation lawsuits: academic sword or shield?

Scientists and academics are used to defending their theories, methods, and results in the classroom, at conferences, and in peer‐reviewed publications. But Pieter Cohen, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, learned that he had to defend his research in a defamation suit while reading a supplement industry trade publication (Robins, 2017). Cohen is known as a “dogged detective” for scrutinizing dietary supplements and for advocating for their stricter oversight by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Nutrient enrichment shifts mangrove height distribution: Implications for coastal woody encroachment

Global changes, such as increased temperatures and elevated CO2, are driving shifts in plant species distribution and dominance, like woody plant encroachment into grasslands. Local factors within these ecotones can influence the rate of regime shifts. Woody encroachment is occurring worldwide, though there has been limited research within coastal systems, where mangrove (woody shrub/tree) stands are expanding into salt marsh areas. Because coastal systems are exposed to various degrees of nutrient input, we investigated how nutrient enrichment may locally impact mangrove stand expansion and salt marsh displacement over time. We fertilized naturally co-occurring Avicennia germinans (black mangrove) and Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) stands in Port Aransas, TX, an area experiencing mangrove encroachment within the Northern Gulf of Mexico mangrove-marsh ecotone. After four growing seasons (2010-2013) of continuous fertilization, Avicennia was more positively influenced by nutrient enrichment than Spartina. Most notably, fertilized plots had a higher density of taller (> 0.5 m) mangroves and mangrove maximum height was 46% taller than in control plots. Fertilization may promote an increase in mangrove stand expansion within the mangrove-marsh ecotone by shifting Avicennia height distribution. Avicennia individuals, which reach certain species-specific height thresholds, have reduced negative neighbor effects and have higher resilience to freezing temperatures, which may increase mangrove competitive advantage over marsh grass. Therefore, we propose that nutrient enrichment, which augments mangrove height, could act locally as a positive feedback to mangrove encroachment, by reducing mangrove growth suppression factors, thereby accelerating the rates of increased mangrove coverage and subsequent marsh displacement. Areas within the mangrove-marsh ecotone with high anthropogenic nutrient input may be at increased risk of a regime shift from grass to woody dominated ecosystems.
Vector-valued Modular Forms and the Seventh Order Mock Theta Functions

In 1988, Hickerson proved the mock theta conjectures (identities involving Ramanujan’s fifth order mock theta functions) using q-series methods. In a follow-up paper he proved three analogous identities which involve Ramanujan’s seventh order mock theta functions. Recently, the author gave a unified proof of the mock theta conjectures using the theory of vector-valued modular forms which transform according to the Weil representation. Here we apply the method to Hickerson’s seventh order identities.
Self-Care as Key to Others' Care: The Perspectives of Globally Situated Experienced Senior-Level Sport Psychology Practitioners

Engaging in self-care has been proposed as a means of counteracting work–life stress that can negatively impact efforts by sport psychology practitioners (SPPs) to effectively and ethically care fo...
The Hidden Curriculum, Structural Disconnects, and the Socialization of New Professionals

Over the past 30 years, educators have come to understand the importance of differentiating between the formal and alternative forms of learning such as the hidden curriculum. We now recognize how necessary it is to account for the unstated, but never the less vital, curriculum that is operational in schools and in workplaces. The hidden curriculum refers to cultural mores that are transmitted, but not openly acknowledged, through formal and informal educational practices (Hafferty & Franks, 1994; Hafferty & Levinson, 2008; Hafferty, 1998; Sullivan, 2005; Sullivan, Colby, Wegner, Bond, & Schulman, 2007).