cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of a Pilot Structured Mobile Technology Based Lifestyle Intervention for Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Lifestyle modification is the main treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but remains challenging to implement. The aim of this pilot was to assess the acceptability and feasibility of a mobile-technology based lifestyle program for NAFLD patients. We enrolled adult patients with NAFLD in a 6-month mobile-technology based program where participants received a FitBit with weekly tailored step count goals and nutritional assessments. Anthropometrics, hepatic and metabolic parameters, Fibroscan, physical function and activity, and health-related quality of life measures were obtained at enrollment and month 6. Semi-structured exit interviews were conducted to assess patient’s experience with the program. 40 (63%) eligible patients were enrolled. Median age was 52.5 with 53% males, 93% whites, 43% with diabetes and median BMI 33.9. On baseline Fibroscan, 59% had F0-2 fibrosis and 70% had moderate-severe steatosis. 33 patients completed the study. Median percentage of days with valid FitBit data collection was 91. 4 patients increased and maintained, 19 maintained, and 8 increased but subsequently returned to baseline weekly step count. 59% of patients reported Fitbit was easy to use and 66% felt step count feedback motivated them to increase their activity. Roughly 50% of patients had reduction in weight, triglycerides and Fibroscan liver stiffness, and 75% had improvement in controlled attenuation parameter and physical function. A 6-month mobile-technology based pilot lifestyle intervention was feasible and acceptable to NAFLD patients. The program promoted physical activity and was associated with improvement in clinical parameters in some patients.
A Comparative Analysis of Reported Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Cases Among US Army Soldiers, 2015 to 2019.

BACKGROUND Chlamydia and gonorrhea have increased nationally and in the US Army. Rates reported in the Army are elevated relative to the general population, partly because of differing population demographics. METHODS Age- and sex-specific chlamydia and gonorrhea case rates among Army active component soldiers and the wider 18- to 64-year-old US adult population were computed from reports submitted through national and military surveillance systems in 2015 to 2019. Rates were standardized using the 2015 Army age and sex population distribution. Multivariable generalized linear models were generated to evaluate associated risk factors. RESULTS Army age- and sex-adjusted chlamydia rates (per 100,000 person-years) were nearly twice those of US adults (2019 rates, 2317 vs. 1241), whereas US age- and sex-adjusted gonorrhea rates surpassed Army rates (2019 rates, 536 vs. 396). Chlamydia and gonorrhea rates were significantly elevated in Army women younger than 25 years relative to US women aged 18 to 24 years (2015-2019 crude rates, 10,404 Army/4243 US for chlamydia and 1014 Army/694 US for gonorrhea). Gonorrhea rates were significantly elevated in US men aged 25 to 44 years (2015-2019 crude rates, 506 US/251 Army and 223 US/86 Army for men aged 25-34 and 35-44 years, respectively). Age, sex, and race-ethnicity were significantly associated with infection among soldiers. CONCLUSIONS Observed increases in chlamydia and gonorrhea and identified risk factors are consistent with those reported nationally. Higher adjusted chlamydia rates among soldiers may reflect greater individual or sexual network risks, screening biases, or increased health care access. The Army's lower adjusted gonorrhea rates may reflect differences in high-risk subgroups (e.g., men who have sex with men), differing sexual networks, or other confounders.
Teaching and learning through scientific practices in the laboratory in biology education: Exploring modelling through representation construction as scientific practice

Formalet med denne avhandlingen er a undersoke utfordringer og muligheter ved a undervise gjennom naturvitenskapelige praksiser i laboratoriet i biologiutdanningen. Fokuset i avhandlingen er pa praksis i laboratoriet, og jeg har undersokt praksis gjennom to ulike tilnaerminger. Jeg har undersokt hvordan biologilaerere som jobber i videregaende skole beskriver sin egen praksis i laboratoriet slik det fremkommer i deres svar pa en sporreundersokelse og i et gruppeintervju (Artikkel I). Jeg har ogsa analysert praksis i laboratoriet pa universitetet, med fokus pa hvordan bachelorstudenter laerer gjennom a lage representasjoner (Artikkel II og III). Funnene fra artikkel I viser at biologilaerere primaert rapporterer at de gjennomforer laererstyrt laboratoriearbeid hvor hensikten er a illustrere fagkunnskapen. Funnene fra artikkel II og III viser hvordan ulike representasjonsformer, slik som tegninger og gester, stotter studentenes utforskning og tenkning. Pa bakgrunn av resultatene fra disse artiklene, argumenterer jeg for at det kan vaere fruktbart a fokusere pa modellering ved bruk av representasjoner som en naturvitenskapelig praksis i laboratoriet.
The (Social Distanced) Circle of Family, Friends, and Allies: How COVID-19 Is Re-shaping Social Capital and New Opportunities for Research

Covid-19 has fundamentally changed the way individuals and groups interact in their everyday lives and, thus, key constructs within social capital research. These social changes, to be explored in this chapter, are (1) trust, (2) group membership (for good or bad), and (3) social isolation. The chapter highlights novel research opportunities including well-being benefits of non-human communities, an unprecedented “natural experiment,” and the longer-term impacts of social change on both health and social capital itself. Through its re-shaping of social capital, COVID-19 offers changes which may have meaningful influence on health and well-being, beyond its direct deleterious effects. It is vital that we reflect on previous social structures and new possibilities afforded by the disruption of systems and hegemonic structures which are only now possible and could make for a healthier, equitable future.
Weight bias reduction among first-year medical students: A quasi-randomized, controlled trial.

Implicit and explicit weight bias is prevalent among healthcare professionals and results in negative outcomes, including weak physician-patient rapport, low patient trust in physicians, and avoidance of healthcare. This study aimed to decrease weight bias in medical students via a one-session, curriculum-based intervention founded on the elaboration likelihood model (ELM). First-year medical students (N = 101) were quasi-randomly assigned to a group-based experimental or education-based control intervention. Data collected included measures of implicit and explicit weight bias and empathy (pre-intervention and up to 2 days post-intervention), and thoughts regarding weight bias (collected at the end of the intervention). Social desirability was identified as an important covariate. After controlling for social desirability, the intervention group showed no greater reduction in multi-item explicit bias rating scales or a computerized implicit bias task than the control group. Both groups showed less discomfort when near individuals with obesity (p < 0.01). The intervention group wrote a greater number of statements about weight bias and obesity (p < 0.05) and a greater number of statements about the harms of weight bias (p < 0.001) than the control group on a thought-listing task. Results highlight use of the ELM and the importance of controlling for social desirability in weight bias interventions. A thought-listing task captured unique intervention effects, highlighting potential gaps in the assessment of weight bias.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Speech Production for Individuals with ASD: A Systematic Review

This review evaluated the effects of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) on speech development in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD); replicated, updated, and extended the systematic review by Schlosser and Wendt (American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 17:212-230, 2008). Twenty-five single case design articles and three group design articles published between 1975 and May 2020 met inclusion criteria related to participant characteristics, intervention type, design, and visual analysis of dependent variable outcomes. Overall, AAC resulted in improved speech production; however, speech gains that did occur did not surpass AAC use.
Cultural Effects on Leadership: A Study of Dispositional Resilience in Societies

An study of dispositional resilience in cultures and its relationship to leader effectiveness is provided, beginning with an introduction to the study's research problem, research question, dispositional resilience theory, different dimensions of culture and society, theoretical foundations of the variables through a definition of terms, literature review, a discussion of research methods and instrumentation, future analysis implications, and a conclusion. The objective of this study intended to refine and further the understanding of dispositional resilience as it relates to leadership in different and disparate cultures. Specifically, this study sought to empirically measure the levels and determine the relationship of dispositional resilience in Latin American, Latin European, and Confucian country clusters. The study looked at the degrees of dispositional resilience traits in different cultures and how those traits affect leader performance. The data was analysed after a review of four studies, three of which looked into the impact of dispositional resilience on practitioner performance and stress levels. The Dispositional Resilience Scale (DRS) was found to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring individual dispositional resilience (hardiness and resilience), and the GLOBE Study was found to be a viable and reliable framework for examining different cultures. The study found a statistically significant difference between Confucian country cluster students and Latin American and Latin European country cluster students using the One-Way ANOVA technique. Future research implications are highlighted.
Public Speaking Coaching for Adult Special Olympics Athletes

Purpose Individuals with intellectual disabilities often face communication challenges that can impact verbal communication, social interactions, and public speaking effectiveness. These challenges...
Sorghum genetic, genomic, and breeding resources

Sorghum research has entered an exciting and fruitful era due to the genetic, genomic, and breeding resources that are now available to researchers and plant breeders. As the world faces the challenges of a rising population and a changing global climate, new agricultural solutions will need to be developed to address the food and fiber needs of the future. To that end, sorghum will be an invaluable crop species as it is a stress-resistant C4 plant that is well adapted for semi-arid and arid regions. Sorghum has already remained as a staple food crop in many parts of Africa and Asia and is critically important for animal feed and niche culinary applications in other regions, such as the United States. In addition, sorghum has begun to be developed into a promising feedstock for forage and bioenergy production. Due to this increasing demand for sorghum and its potential to address these needs, the continuous development of powerful community resources is required. These resources include vast collections of sorghum germplasm, high-quality reference genome sequences, sorghum association panels for genome-wide association studies of traits involved in food and bioenergy production, mutant populations for rapid discovery of causative genes for phenotypes relevant to sorghum improvement, gene expression atlas, and online databases that integrate all resources and provide the sorghum community with tools that can be used in breeding and genomic studies. Used in tandem, these valuable resources will ensure that the rate, quality, and collaborative potential of ongoing sorghum improvement efforts is able to rival that of other major crops.
Information theoretic approaches towards regulatory network inference

In spite of many efforts in the past, inference or reverse engineering of regulatory networks from microarray data remains an unsolved problem in the area of systems biology. Such regulatory networks play a critical role in cellular function and organization and are of interest in the study of a variety of disease areas and ecotoxicology to name a few. This dissertation proposes information theoretic methods/algorithms for inferring regulatory networks from microarray data. Most of the algorithms proposed in this dissertation can be implemented both on time series and multifactorial microarray data sets. The work proposed here infers regulatory networks considering the following six factors: (i) computational efficiency to infer genome-scale networks, (ii) incorporation of prior biological knowledge, (iii) choosing the optimal network that minimizes the joint network entropy, (iv) impact of higher order structures (specifically 3-node structures) on network inference (v) effects of the time sensitivity of regulatory interactions and (vi) exploiting the benefits of existing/proposed metrics and algorithms for reverse engineering using the concept of consensus of consensus networks. Specifically, this dissertation presents an approach towards incorporating knock-out data sets. The proposed method for incorporating knock-out data sets is flexible so that it can be easily adapted in existing/new approaches. While most of the information theoretic approaches infer networks based on pair-wise interactions this dissertation discusses inference methods that consider scoring edges from complex structures. A new inference method for building consensus networks based on networks inferred by multiple popular information theoretic approaches is also proposed here. For time-series datasets, new information theoretic metrics were proposed considering the time-lags of regulatory interactions estimated from microarray datasets. Finally, based on the scores predicted for each possible edge in the network, a probabilistic minimum description length based approach was proposed to identify the optimal network (minimizing the joint network entropy). Comparison analysis on in-silico and/or real time data sets have shown that the proposed algorithms achieve better inference accuracy and/or higher computational efficiency as compared with other state-of-the-art schemes such as ARACNE, CLR and Relevance Networks. Most of the methods proposed in this dissertation are generalized and can be easily incorporated into new methods/algorithms for network inference.
Behavior Problems and Psychopathology

Behavior problems and psychopathology are common issues in those with intellectual disabilities (ID). The prevalence rate of challenging behaviors and psychopathology in those with ID is much higher than the typical population, but issues with sampling, definitions and classification, and assessment of mental disorders are difficult in this population. This chapter will discuss the relationship between behavior problems and mental disorders and how they interact in those with ID. Measures designed for the assessment of challenging behaviors and psychopathology in those with ID will be discussed and the role that autism spectrum disorders play in the process. Finally, support plans for challenging behaviors will be discussed including the functional assessment of such behaviors as well as the current issue of psychotropic drug treatments for challenging behaviors.
You say to-may-toe, I say to-mah-toe: Individual differences in motives guide focus and effort

Scholars frequently describe people according to two different motivational paradigms. The intrinsic–extrinsic dimension suggests that individuals are primarily motivated either by rewards or by the achievement of personal satisfaction and growth. Many contingencies exist concerning how rewards work and whether personal development alone is sufficient to motivate behavior. A second dimension infers that learning and performance are motivated by the reasons people strive to reach particular goal targets. Individuals can achieve goals for two primary reasons: to master a particular topic or skill or for socially driven reasons, including the appearance of capability in the eyes of others. This chapter deconstructs these dimensions and also emphasizes the pervasive role of interest as a catalyst for motivated behavior.
Integrated Software and Real‐Time System Design with Applications

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Real-Time System Properties Design Process Elements Integrated Software-Hardware Design Software Functions Hardware Functions Elevator Software Design Performance Equations Development Real-Time System Simulated Testing Elevator System Performance Results Summary and Conclusion References
Long-term trends in Lake Ontario's benthic macroinvertebrate community from 1994–2008

The benthic macroinvertebrate community of Lake Ontario was assessed through a lakewide survey in 2008. Diporeia was very rare throughout the lake at all depths in 2008, and only four of 52 locations had densities >100 m−2, all of them at depths >90 m. The maximum density of Diporeia found at any location was at 257 m−2 in 2008, which can be compared to maximum densities of 13,280 m−2 observed in 1994. Lakewide Diporeia abundance declined with an additional order of magnitude from an average of 342 m−2 in 2003 to 21 m−2 in 2008. The Quagga Mussel (D. rostriformis bugensis) dominated the benthic macroinvertebrate community in 2008, comprising over 70% of the density and 98% of the biomass. No Zebra Mussels were identified in the 2008 samples. Quagga Mussels, Oligochaetes and Chironomids were most abundant between 31 and 90 m. Sphaeriids were rare at all depths, but were more abundant at sites deeper than 90 m. Between 2003 and 2008, lakewide Dreissena abundance declined by 43% primarily due to significant ...
Teaching in different ethos of choise: a comparison of two countries

Current educational research often incorporates an unconscious cultural or national bias that starts from the questions which are asked and concludes with the implications which are drawn. We describe a threemonth in situ study of ethos in Irish National Primary Schools and attempt to identify how US and Irish professional teaching practices reflect the political and educational ethoi (customs) of their respective homes. In this paper, we focus on what is revealed about teacher practices and professional life: teacher views of school choice, the teachers’ role in the operation of schools, the national curriculum, and student assessment.
Intervention for musculoskeletal disorders among child-care workers.

Back problems are the most expensive source of worker compensation costs and rank second as a cause of lost work days.1 They are most common when frequent lifting, bending or stooping, squatting, reaching, and carrying of loads are required,2 such as when caring for young children. To foster safety and independence of children, tables, chairs, sinks, and other furnishings in child-care facilities are usually low, necessitating the worker to bend and squat frequently. However, little has been written about musculoskeletal problems experienced by child-care workers. Many body postures involved in the movements described later exert great compressive force against the lower lumbar vertebral discs. The heavier the load and the further its center of mass from the spine, the more force there will be on the discs and the more opportunity for damage to them.3 Four major muscle groups stabilize the lower back, help decrease pressure on the lumbar vertebral discs, and work in synchronization to keep the spine in correct alignment. Bending statically loads the back and hip muscles, and upper-body weight acts as a load on the spine because the upper torso is no longer aligned over the feet. This can cause muscle fatigue. Also, decreased stabilization of the back makes it easy to strain the muscles with a twisting or unexpected movement. A sustained squatting position puts stress and compressive force on the lumbar discs because the back muscles must stabilize the posture during forward bending of the trunk. One-sided lifting and carrying results in uneven loading of the spine, especially when lifting or carrying a child on one side.
A Buddhist Economic-System—In Practice: The Rules Of State Policy Making Of The Ideal Kings Sought A "Middle Way" Between Right And Left

. Although there is little discussion of distributive justice in the Theravādā canon, the Buddhist State is advised to provide all people with a minimum income. Radiation theory sees the economy prospering through the virtuous actions of individuals following the moral law. Early Buddhist writings generally accept existing political and economic institutions, even while providing a democratic social ethos revolutionary for its time. King Asoka, greatest of all Indian emperors, pursued a highly activist fiscal policy even though he believed only meditation could help people to advance in moral living. But canonical beliefs about economic activity are much more ambiguous than economic literature often indicates. Hence today there are rightist and leftist Buddhists, differing in interpretation.
Final Consonant Repetition

A case of final consonant repetition in the speech of a normal child is presented. It is argued that this production pattern is the result of a convergence of phonological factors, including phonetic constraints and cognitively based rule generation, rather than a pathologic process. Final consonant repetition is discussed relative to natural languages and other cases of rule generation in normal children and relative to earlier cases examining this pattern in terms of models of dysfluency. Additionally, the clinical ramifications of the findings are discussed.
HYFIRE: a tokamak/high-temperature electrolysis system

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is carrying out a comprehensive conceptual design study called HYFIRE of a commercial fusion Tokamak reactor, high-temperature electrolysis system. The study is placing particular emphasis on the adaptability of the STARFIRE power reactor to a synfuel application. The HYFIRE blanket must perform three functions: a) provide high-temperature (about 1400/sup 0/C) process steam at moderate pressures (in the range of 10 to 30 atm) to the high-temperature electrolysis (HTE) units; b) provide high-temperature (about 700-800/sup 0/C) heat to a thermal power cycle for generation of electricity to the HTE units; and c) breed enough tritium to sustain the O-T fuel cycle. In addition to thermal energy for the decomposition of steam into its constituents H/sub 2/ and O/sub 2/, electrical input is required. Fourteen hundred degree steam coupled with 40% power cycle efficiency results in a process efficiency (conversion of fusion energy to hydrogen chemical energy) of 50%.
Passive Source Seismology of the Rocky Mountain Region

Two recent passive source (earthquake) seismic experiments have produced a teleseismic and regional event data set which provides constraints on the structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath the Colorado Rocky Mountains and two major Precambrian province boundaries. The passive source component of the Continental Dynamics of the Rocky Mountains (CD-ROM) experiment included two dense north-south linear arrays of broad-band seismometers straddling Precambrian province boundaries in Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. The Rocky Mountain Front (RMF) experiment included thirty broadband seismometers spaced uniformly throughout Colorado. Results from a spectrum of seismological imaging and inversion techniques indicate that the Cheyenne Belt Archean-Proterozoic boundary in southern Wyoming has signatures in both the crust and upper mantle, while the Yavapai-Mazatzal province boundary is less clearly defined. Studies of data from the RMF experiment show pronounced low seismic velocities in the crust and upper mantle beneath the Rocky Mountains, and high attenuation (low Q) in the mantle. Techniques of passive source seismology used with RMF and CD-ROM experiment data are described here, along with reference to corresponding studies.
Scheduling medical application workloads on virtualized computing systems

This dissertation presents and evaluates a methodology for scheduling medical application workloads in virtualized computing environments. Such environments are being widely adopted by providers of "cloud computing" services. In the context of provisioning resources for medical applications, such environments allow users to deploy applications on distributed computing resources while keeping their data secure. Furthermore, higher level services that further abstract the infrastructure-related issues can be built on top of such infrastructures. For example, a medical imaging service can allow medical professionals to process their data in the cloud, easing them from the burden of having to deploy and manage these resources themselves. In this work, we focus on issues related to scheduling scientific workloads on virtualized environments. We build upon the knowledge base of traditional parallel job scheduling to address the specific case of medical applications while harnessing the benefits afforded by virtualization technology. To this end, we provide the following contributions: (1) An in-depth analysis of the execution characteristics of the target applications when run in virtualized environments. (2) A performance prediction methodology applicable to the target environment. (3) A scheduling algorithm that harnesses application knowledge and virtualization-related benefits to provide strong scheduling performance and quality of service guarantees. In the process of addressing these pertinent issues for our target user base (i.e. medical professionals and researchers), we provide insight that benefits a large community of scientific application users in industry and academia. Our execution time prediction and scheduling methodologies are implemented and evaluated on a real system running popular scientific applications. We find that we are able to predict the execution time of a number of these applications with an average error of 15%. Our scheduling methodology, which is tested with medical image processing workloads, is compared to that of two baseline scheduling solutions and we find that it outperforms them in terms of both the number of jobs processed and resource utilization by 20–30%, without violating any deadlines. We conclude that our solution is a viable approach to supporting the computational needs of medical users, even if the cloud computing paradigm is not widely adopted in its current form.
De eikel wortel van alle dentale kwaad

De eetgewoontes en de lichamelijke behoeftes van onze rondtrekkende jager-verzamelaarvoorouders zouden precies op elkaar afgestemd zijn, vooral wat hun tanden betrof. Of toch niet?
Photoelectrochemical cell with semiconductor septum electrode

Abstract Photoelectrochemical cells consisting of CdSe or CdS pellets separating two redox couples have been studied. The current-voltage relation, output power efficiency, open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current were measured in a two-electrode system. Photovoltages as high as 1.0 – 1.3 V were obtained. In all cases studied, the power characteristics were linear with low fill factor and output power efficiency. It was possible to improve the performance of such cells by applying external voltage.
Structure of the Armadillo Repeat Domain of Plakophilin 1

The p120ctn subfamily of armadillo domain proteins has roles in modulating intercellular adhesion by cadherin-containing junctions. We have determined the crystal structure of the arm repeat domain from plakophilin-1 (PKP1), a member of the p120ctn subfamily that is found in desmosomes. The structure reveals that the domain has nine instead of the expected ten arm repeats. A sequence predicted to be an arm repeat is instead a large insert which serves as a wedge that produces a significant bend in the overall domain structure. Structure-based sequence alignments indicate that the nine repeats and large insert are common to this subfamily of armadillo proteins. A prominent basic patch on the surface of the protein may serve as a binding site for partners of these proteins.
Oxidation of Copper and Electronic Transport in Copper Oxides

Oxidation of copper and electronic transport in thermally-grown large-grain polycrystals of nonstoichiometric copper oxides were studied at elevated temperatures. Thermogravimetric copper oxidation was studied in air and oxygen at temperatures between 350 and 1000°C. From the temperature dependence of the oxidation rates, three different processes can be identified for the oxidation of copper: bulk diffusion, grain-boundary diffusion, and surface control with whisker growth; these occur at high, intermediate, and low temperatures, respectively. Electrical-conductivity measurements as a function of temperature (350–1134°C) and oxygen partial pressure (10−8–1.0 atm) indicate intrinsic electronic conduction in CuO over the entire range of conditions. Electronic behavior of nonstoichiometric Cu2O indicates that the charge defects are doubly-ionized oxygen interstitials and holes. The calculated enthalpy of formation of oxygen ( $$\Delta H_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }$$ ) and hole-conduction energy (EH) at constant composition for nonstoichiometric Cu2O are 2.0±0.2 eV and 0.82±0.02 eV, respectively.
Multiple identities: Creating community on campus for LGBT students

The intersection of race, faith, and sexual orientation is a complicated place. This chapter examines students with these multiple identities and uses theory and personal accounts to illustrate the challenges of navigating community on campus.
Limited information Bayesian analysis of a simultaneous equation with an autocorrelated error term and its application to the U.S. gasoline market

Using Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms within the limited information Bayesian framework, we estimate the parameters of the structural equation of interest and test weak exogeneity in a simultaneous equation model with white noise as well as autocorrelated error terms. A numerical example and an estimation of the supply and demand equations of the U.S. gasoline market show that if we ignore autocorrelation we obtain unreasonable posterior distributions of the parameters of interest. Also we find that the hypothesis of the asymmetric effect of the changes in oil price on the changes in gasoline price is rejected. Oil inventory has a significant negative effect on the gasoline price.
Comparison of Persistence Length Calculations of Model Collagen in Two and Three Dimensions To Afm Measurements

Molecular-dynamics simulations are performed on a model collagen molecule in SPC water, with and without 100 mM NaCl. To calculate the persistence length, we find the center of mass of each amino acid. We then group the amino acids into triplets, representing each by the (unweighted) average of the three centers of mass. These center-of-mass positions are used as end points for directors. The time-averaged cosine between directors is found (by determining the scalar product of the directors) as a function of contour length between them. Additionally, two-dimensional projections of the three-dimensional images are constructed, in analogy to the experimental deposition of collagen onto a surface. Techniques for measuring and calculating persistence length from AFM images are used on the two-dimensional projection images, and results are compared to the model prediction and to actual experimental results.
The social organization and behaviour of the Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin in central Venezuela

The social organization and behaviour of the Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin, a cooperatively-breeding folivorous bird, was studied in the central plains (llanos) of Venezuela. In this area Hoatzins nested in communal social units of two to eight individuals. Units were usually composed of a breeding pair and up to six helpers at the nest. Helpers, usually offspring retained from the previous years' nesting, aided in all breeding activities of their social unit except egg production. On the study site, Hoatzin units defended extremely small, all-purpose territories along watercourses during the rainy (breeding) season, but migrated up to 2 km to areas with permanent water during the dry season. Nesting extended from early May to October. Nest and egg measurements and growth rates of young are provided. Nesting success was low (27%), primarily due to predation by Cebus olivaceus and several other species. Annual survival of adults and young was high. Young did not breed during their first year; 90% of yearlings remained on their natal territories as helpers. Females appear to be the dispersing sex. The results are discussed in relation to previous work on the Hoatzin. The demography of the study population fits the criteria for several recent theories regarding the evolution of cooperative breeding in birds.
Measurement and interpretation of a maxillary occlusal cant in the frontal plane.

Purpose A cant of the maxillary intermolar (M1-M1) plane is a reflection of facial asymmetry and can be measured on an anterior-posterior cephalogram in degrees relative to the true horizontal or directly on the patient as the difference in millimeters between the right and left medial canthi to canine distances. The purpose of this study is to measure the correlation between the maxillary cant measured in degrees and measured in millimeters. Materials and Methods We hypothesize that the number of degrees of maxillary cant equals the millimeter difference between the lengths of the 2 sides of the maxilla, based upon the trigonometric relationship between the degree of cant, vertical length, and M1-M1 distance. To confirm this hypothesis, we evaluated a range of M1-M1 distances and computed the predicted vertical discrepancy between the 2 sides of the maxilla. Bivariate correlations were used to evaluate the association between the degree of cant and predicted vertical discrepancy. Results In the range of M1-M1 distances (47.5-61.1 mm) evaluated, cants ranging from 3 to 10 degrees are highly correlated with the vertical difference in millimeters (r = 0.96, P Conclusion The degrees of occlusal cant relative to the true horizontal measured cephalometrically in the frontal plane is equal to the linear millimeter difference between the right and left medial canthi to the right and left canine tips.
Are conventional nutritional practices adquate to prevent catabolism in ELBW infant <1000g? 1406

Whether catabolism during acute illness can be prevented or outcome improved by adequate nutrient intake is unknown. In ELBW neonates early parenteral nutrition is continued until enteral feeding is sufficient to promote adequate weight gain. To determine whether we provide enough calories in our practice, we reviewed 20 charts of infants with a birth weight range between 600-1000g who were admitted to our NICU. We calculated total calories(parenteral + enteral) as well as components of carbohydrate, protein and fat. We found (x ± SEM): Table Even though enteral feeding supplementing TPN was introduced by day 4-7 of postnatal age, it took≥ 3 weeks to achieve 100 kcal/kg/d or to regain birth weight.Due to observations, 3 ELBW infants were studied with continuous infusion of L-(1-13C) leucine to determine parameters of protein turnover.On postnatal day 4 at a protein intake of 0.5 g/kg/day, net protein balance was-8.87±109 mmol/kg/h. On full PO feeding, body protein was accumulating at +69.9±7.97 μmol/kg/h. We conclude that our neonates had insufficient caloric intake to meet either the increased metabolic demands of illness or growth. We are currently testing the hypothesis that a formula better adapted to the needs of the immature intestine will limit the magnitude of the early catabolic state and minimize morbidity.
National trends in hospitalization from indwelling urinary catheter complications, 2001–2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate national trends in hospitalization from indwelling urinary catheters complications from 2001 to 2010. The Healthcare Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was analyzed for this study. We examine hospitalization rates, patient demographics, hospital stays, insurance provider, hospital type, geographic location, and septicemia rates of patients hospitalized for indwelling urinary catheter complications from 2001 to 2010. Hospitalization from indwelling urinary catheters almost quadrupled from 11,742 in 2001 to 40,429 in 2010. The increases have been due to patients who are older and predominantly male compared to all hospitalization. The “national bill” increased from $213 million to $1.3 billion (a factor of 6) after adjusting for inflation. Most patients had urinary tract infections, 77 % in 2001 and 87 % in 2010. Septicemia in indwelling urinary catheter hospitalization patients has increased from 21 % in 2001 to 40 % in 2010. In 2010, secondary diseases associated with hospitalization due to indwelling urinary catheters included urinary tract infections (86.5 %), adverse effects of medical care (61.9 %), bacterial infection (48.6 %), and septicemia (40.3 %). Hospitalization due to indwelling urinary catheter complications has almost quadrupled from 11,742 in 2001 to 40,429 in 2010, and the majority of patients had urinary tract infections. Septicemia is of particular concern since rates have almost doubled (from 21 to 40 % over the period) in these patients. The specific medical indication for urinary catheters used postoperatively should be scrutinized, and the duration of placement should be minimized to reduce future complication rates.
Siliceous mesocellular foam-supported chiral bisoxazoline: Application to asymmetric cyclopropanation

Chiral bisoxazolines were covalently immobilized onto siliceous mesocellular foams (MCF) by a simple method. The heterogenized bisoxazoline-copper catalysts showed high enantioselectivity (up to 85% enantiomeric excess (ee)) and excellent recyclability in asymmetric cyclopropanation reactions.
Slippery when wet: A young historian's journey into the world of creative non-fiction

If you had the opportunity as a graduate student to write your master's thesis as a compilation of little scenes, would you take it? If you said yes, what would you see three years later as you begin to chart your direction in your doctoral work? I said yes, and the reverberations from that choice have not stopped. This essay is the story of my many attempts at writing a history of Prohibition and bootlegging in Newark, NJ and how those attempts have shaped the ways I think about the relationship between creative non-fiction and historical scholarship, and the many paths that I found I could take on my way to learning how to be a scholar.
Simultaneous strain and temperature measurement using long-period fiber grating sensors

Long-period fiber grating (LPFG) sensors have been demonstrated to exhibit negative and positive strain sensitivity coefficients with cladding modes of LP05 and LP07, respectively. Their temperature sensitivity remains positive for both cladding modes. Based on the unique properties of CO 2 laser-induced gratings, two designs of LPFG sensors have been presented in this paper for simultaneous strain and temperature measurement. One double-LPFG sensor integrates two separate groups of gratings in series, corresponding to two cladding mode measurements such as LP05 and LP07. It can measure strain and temperature simultaneously with a measurement error of less than 2%. However, the spacer between two tandem gratings can only survive in low temperature environments. The other single-LPFG sensor uses the measurements with two cladding modes on one group of gratings. Under various disturbances, different intrinsic cladding modes of the single LPFG, such as LP05 and LP07, are tracked simultaneously for strain and temperature discrimination. The single-LPFG sensor can measure strains in high temperature up to 700°C.
MOC-PSSM CME article: Nonmelanoma facial skin malignancy.

Learning Objectives:After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Identify the environmental and genetic risk factors in developing nonmelanoma facial skin malignancy. 2. Understand the proper evaluation of a patient presenting with nonmelanoma facial skin malignancy. 3. Outline
Depressive Symptoms in Mothers of Recently Adopted Post-Institutionalized Children

To determine whether depressive symptoms are elevated within months of adoption, we compared women who had recently adopted a toddler from an overseas orphanage to women with children of the same age who adopted more than a year before or were raising a child they birthed. The groups did not differ significantly in means or in percentage with elevated symptoms (Session 1, χ2(2) = 2.5, ns; Session 2, χ2(2) = 1.38, ns). The results provided no evidence of elevated symptoms in the first months following adoption for women who adopted internationally relative to other women with toddler-aged children.
Steady and transient natural convection experiments in a horizontal porous layer: The effects of a thin top fluid layer and oscillating bottom wall temperature

Natural convection in a horizontal porous layer heated from below was experimentally investigated. Two types of experiments were carried out. First, steady-state experiments in the range 200 < Ra < 1,000 are reported, and the results are discussed in the framework of previously published works. Two types of upper surface conditions are explored, “the clear top layer case” and the completely packed enclosure, and the effect on the heat transfer through the enclosure is examined. Next, a series of unique transient experiments were conducted and are reported in which the bottom wall temperature cyclically changes. The period varies from approximately 6 to 180 min, and the amplitude of the bottom wall temperature oscillation ranges from 3 to 45 percent of the enclosure's mean temperature difference. The temperature of the upper surface was maintained constant in all of these transient runs, and both cases of upper boundary conditions are studied. The results of the steady-state experiments showed that the type of top boundary condition significantly affects the Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number relationship. It was found that the steady-state heat-transfer rate through the enclosure is greater in the porous layer containing a thin top fluid layer. The transient experiments showed that the cycle-averaged heat-transfer rate through the layer is different from its steady-state value when the bottom wall temperature oscillates. The heat transfer may increase or decrease, which depends strongly on the kind of upper surface condition. The effects of the period and the amplitude of the wall temperature modulation are examined and are documented for both surface conditions.
Law addresses question of space artifact ownership

U.S. astronauts who participated in many of NASA's early space missions will receive full ownership rights to artifacts from those missions through legislation that President Barack Obama signed into law on 25 September. The legislation, which received broad bipartisan support, provides artifact ownership rights to any of NASA's Mercury, Gemini, or Apollo space programs through the completion of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, whose flight occurred in July 1975. The law defines artifacts as expendable, disposable, or personal use items—including personal logs and flight hardware salvaged from jettisoned lunar modules—used by astronauts that were not required to be returned to NASA; lunar rocks and other lunar material are not defined as artifacts. Bill cosponsor Rep. Ralph Hall (R-Tex.), chair of the House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, said on 19 September, “A majority of these items have been in the personal possession of the astronauts for 40 years or more. Over the last decade, NASA has begun to challenge the astronauts' ownership of these mementos. This issue was first brought to my attention late last year. I was surprised to learn that NASA had, on an irregular basis, intervened several times to claim ownership.”
Immunity to Francisella

In recent years, studies on the intracellular pathogen Francisella tularensis have greatly intensified, generating a wealth of new information on the interaction of this organism with the immune system. Here we review the basic elements of the innate and adaptive immune responses that contribute to protective immunity against Francisella species, with special emphasis on new data that has emerged in the last 5 years. Most studies have utilized the mouse model of infection, although there has been an expansion of work on human cells and other new animal models. In mice, basic immune parameters that operate in defense against other intracellular pathogen infections, such as IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and reactive nitrogen intermediates, are central for control of Francisella infection. However, new important immune mediators have been revealed, including IL-17A, TLR2, and the inflammasome. Further, a variety of cell types in addition to macrophages are now recognized to support Francisella growth, including epithelial cells and dendritic cells. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are clearly important for control of primary infection and vaccine-induced protection, but new T cell subpopulations and the mechanisms employed by T cells are only beginning to be defined. A significant role for B cells and specific antibodies has been established, although their contribution varies greatly between bacterial strains of lower and higher virulence. Overall, recent data profile a pathogen that is adept at subverting host immune responses, but susceptible to many elements of the immune system’s antimicrobial arsenal.
Surface diffusion and phase transition on the Ge(111) surface studied by scanning tunneling microscopy.

The formation of disordered regions is observed on the Ga(111)c2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}8 surface, at temperatures in the range 150--350 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The disorder occurs by the diffusion of surface adatoms in the 〈011\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}〉 directions. The disordered regions form at domain boundaries, and grow continuously with temperature until the entire surface becomes disordered at 300 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. We argue that this phase transition is an example of premelting in two dimensions, i.e., ``edge melting.''
Atomic Data and Spectral Line Intensities for C-like Ca XV

Electron impact collision strengths and spontaneous radiative decay rates are calculated for the C-like ion, Ca XV. The data pertain to the 46 levels of the configurations 2s22p2, 2s2p3, 2p4, 2s22p3s, 2s22p3p, and 2s22p3d. Collision strengths are calculated at three incident electron energies: 45.0, 90.0 and 135.0 Ryd. Spectral line intensities are calculated for all transitions with intensities within two orders of magnitude of the most intense Ca XV line. These are obtained by computing the excitation rate coefficients (cm3 s−1), that is, the collision strengths integrated over a Maxwellian electron distnbution, and then solving the equations of detailed balance for the populations of the 46 energy levels, assuming a collisional excitation model and an electron temperature of 4 × 106 K. This temperature is typical for Ca XV in solar and some other astrophysical plasmas. Using the excitation rate coefficients and the radiative decay rates, level populations are computed for several electron densities and are also given in this paper.