cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of pediatric hypophosphatasia on behavioral health and quality of life

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare genetic disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the ALPL gene encoding tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase. It is characterized by defective bone mineralization associated with low alkaline phosphatase activity. Clinical features of pediatric HPP are highly variable, and can include premature loss of teeth, musculoskeletal problems, and impaired mobility. The effects of pediatric HPP on sleep, mood, regulation of attention and behavior, and other aspects of behavioral health have not been comprehensively studied. Parents of 30 children with HPP (14 females, 16 males) between the ages of 3 and 16 years (mean age = 8.0 years) enrolled in this cross-sectional survey-based study. Molecular genetic and biochemical testing as well as clinical records were reviewed to verify diagnosis of HPP. The cohort included 15 patients with a more clinically severe presentation of HPP who had received treatment with enzyme replacement therapy (asfotase alfa) and 15 children with less severe HPP who were treatment-naive. Parents provided information regarding psychopathological comorbidity, emotional and behavioral well-being, and quality of life. Clinically significant behavioral health challenges were evident in 67% of children with HPP. The most common behavioral findings included sleep disturbance and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), each of which were observed ≥ 50% of individuals. Sleep disturbance, pain interference, poor behavioral regulation, and mood/anxiety symptoms were associated with reduced physical and psychosocial quality of life. Behavioral concerns were evident among children with HPP receiving asfotase alfa treatment as well as among children with clinically less severe disease who had not initiated therapy. Although most children in the cohort (77%) had age-typical development of adaptive skills, emotional and behavioral challenges were associated with weaker adaptive function. Children with HPP are at increased risk for ADHD symptoms and other behavioral health challenges. There is likely an under-recognition of these findings in clinical practice.
Electrode and electrolyte configurations for low frequency motion energy harvesting based on reverse electrowetting.

Increasing demand for self-powered wearable sensors has spurred an urgent need to develop energy harvesting systems that can reliably and sufficiently power these devices. Within the last decade, reverse electrowetting-on-dielectric (REWOD)-based mechanical motion energy harvesting has been developed, where an electrolyte is modulated (repeatedly squeezed) between two dissimilar electrodes under an externally applied mechanical force to generate an AC current. In this work, we explored various combinations of electrolyte concentrations, dielectrics, and dielectric thicknesses to generate maximum output power employing REWOD energy harvester. With the objective of implementing a fully self-powered wearable sensor, a “zero applied-bias-voltage” approach was adopted. Three different concentrations of sodium chloride aqueous solutions (NaCl-0.1 M, NaCl-0.5 M, and NaCl-1.0 M) were used as electrolytes. Likewise, electrodes were fabricated with three different dielectric thicknesses (100 nm, 150 nm, and 200 nm) of Al2O3 and SiO2 with an additional layer of CYTOP for surface hydrophobicity. The REWOD energy harvester and its electrode–electrolyte layers were modeled using lumped components that include a resistor, a capacitor, and a current source representing the harvester. Without using any external bias voltage, AC current generation with a power density of 53.3 nW/cm2 was demonstrated at an external excitation frequency of 3 Hz with an optimal external load. The experimental results were analytically verified using the derived theoretical model. Superior performance of the harvester in terms of the figure-of-merit comparing previously reported works is demonstrated. The novelty of this work lies in the combination of an analytical modeling method and experimental validation that together can be used to increase the REWOD harvested power extensively without requiring any external bias voltage.
The 2015 Power-Balancing Reform in Colombia: A Missed Opportunity to Disrupt the Ecosystem of Structural Clientelism in the Halls of Justice

In roughly 15 years, Colombia rose from the ashes of a quasi-failed state to become a magnet for foreign investment and tourism. Despite enormous progress in security and economic development, the state of justice in Colombia poses serious challenges. The country’s judicial institutions are perceived as inefficient and untrustworthy. This is often attributed to the resilient aura of clientelism that surrounds them. Without dismissing the cultural roots of clientelism, this article addresses its structural causes. The chief cause is the “revolving door,” a favor-trading market in which judicial officers use their constitutional powers to nominate and appoint other judicial officers for personal advancement. This ecosystem is also often referred to as the “I elect you, you elect me” mechanism. I argue that the 2015 constitutional reform was a missed opportunity to redesign the roles of judicial officers to remove the web of perverse incentives that gives birth to the revolving door. I suggest several ways in which this goal could be at least partially achieved, including imposing a set of restrictions on the types of positions that outgoing judicial officers may accept, which would limit political maneuvering without discouraging upward mobility within the halls of justice. With the government having recently signed a peace agreement with the FARC that could put an end to more than half a century of war, Colombia urgently needs an overhaul of its justice system.
How to Choose Communication Links in an Adversarial Environment

Given the topology of a network, characterized by an undirected graph, we consider the following game situation: a network manager is choosing (as communication infrastructure) a spanning tree of the graph, and an attacker is trying to disrupt the communication tree by attacking one link of the network. Attacking a link has a certain cost for the attacker who also has the option of not attacking. We model the interaction between the network manager and the attacker as a bimatrix game and study the set of mixed strategy Nash equilibria. We define the notion of critical subset of links and determine the structure of a particular set of Nash equilibria when the attack cost is nonzero. In each NE of this set, the attacker targets edges in critical subsets and all edges in the same critical subset are attacked with the same probability. For the game of zero cost of attack considered in [8], we characterize the set of all Nash equilibria. Some implications of the results are discussed and a detailed proof of the NE theorem is provided.
The Relationship Between Glycemic Control and Falls in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether glycemic control contributes to fall risk in frail and nonfrail elderly adults with diabetes mellitus. DESIGN: Retrospective, case-controlled design. SETTING: Health maintenance organization in the Denver, Colorado, metropolitan area. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred eleven community-dwelling adults aged 75 and older who receive care through Kaiser Permanente of Colorado. All subjects had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, had at least one hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) measurement in the previous 12 months, and were using oral hypoglycemic medication or insulin to control their diabetes mellitus. MEASUREMENTS: Measurements of risk factors (Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) with a cutpoint of 3 to determine frailty status, self-reported number of falls over the prior 12-month period, HbA1c, fasting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, average blood pressure, and other factors related to fall risk) were obtained through telephone interview and medical chart review. The outcome measure was falls. RESULTS: Bivariate analyses to assess correlations between falls and risk factors determined that only HbA1c, frailty, and peripheral neuropathy were significantly associated with falls. A stepwise logistic regression determined that fall risk markedly increased when HbA1c was 7 or below, regardless of frailty status. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study of a convenience sample of frail older adults with diabetes mellitus, tighter glycemic control was associated with greater risk of falling. Prospective studies that further evaluate the risks and benefits of relaxed glucose control in high-risk older adults are needed to confirm this finding. Language: en
CORC: Helping Libraries Take a Leading Role in the Digital Age

The OCLC Cooperative Online Resource Catalog is helping librarians thrive in the digital age. Librarians are using CORC to select, describe, maintain, and provide guided access to Web-based electronic resources. Librarians in more than 24 countries are using CORC and all types of libraries, including public, academic, corporate, school, and government libraries are contributing records to the CORC catalog. The CORC service offers a Web-based toolset for cataloging electronic resources, a robust database of high-quality resources, and a tool for building dynamic pathfinders. Developed by and for librarians, CORC blends three key elements-- technology, cooperation and librarianship, to help librarians define the future of knowledge access management.
Niche adaptation in ocean cyanobacteria

Small unicellular cyanobacteria (Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus ) are the most abundant photosynthetic microorganisms in the world's oceans, yet we know little of the genetic structure of these populations. Here we show that distinct clades of Prochlorococcus, and possibly of Synechococcus, are adapted to their specific surface and deep oceanic niches.
Population Genetics: Overview

Population genetics is concerned with the nature of, and the forces determining, the genetic composition of a population. Since any presently observed population is the outcome of an evolutionary process, the subject is in large part concerned with evolutionary questions. Indeed the evolutionary component of population genetics may be thought of as the rewriting of the Darwinian theory in terms of the Mendelian hereditary mechanism. This involves, for example, determining the rate of incorporation of favourable new alleles into a population, and the evolutionary effects of mutation. These activities are prospective, that is they discuss changes in the structure of a population forwards in time. However population genetics theory is currently largely retrospective, assessing the past history of a population (‘When and where did the most recent common ancestor of all currently living humans live?’) and investigating what forces led to the currently observed genetic composition of a population. Key Concepts: The additive genetic variance is that component of the variation in any character which is explained by ‘genes within genotypes’. The blending theory asserts that the value of any characteristic of any child is approximately the average of the corresponding characteristics in that child's parents. The correlation between relatives is the correlation in some character between close relatives (e.g. mother–daughter). The Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection relates aspects of the change in the mean fitness of a population from one generation to the next to the parental generation additive genetic variance in fitness. The Hardy–Weinberg law shows that, in the absence of selection, genetic variation is maintained from one generation to the next. The neutral theory claim that most of presently observed genetic variation in a population, and most of the variation from one population to another, did not arise as a result of selection but arose rather as a result of purely random changes in allelic frequencies. Retrospective population genetics theory focuses on the past history of a population rather than its future evolution. Keywords: coalescent; evolution; genotypes; fitness; Mendelism; mutation; selection; variation
Gastric Volvulus Secondary to Paraesophageal Hernia Causing Gastric Necrosis and Perforation of the Gastroesophageal Junction

Gastric volvulus is a potentially lethal condition with significant morbidity and mortality if not recognized and managed promptly and appropriately. We report a case of gastric volvulus secondary to paraesophageal hernia causing gastric necrosis and perforation of the gastroesophageal junction. An 82-year-old woman with a large paraesophageal hernia was admitted to our hospital with vague epigastric and right-sided chest pain. She was taken to surgery and laparotomy findings included a large paraesophageal hernia, gastric volvulus with ischemia, frank gangrene and perforation at the gastroesophageal junction. She underwent reduction of the hernia and gastric volvulus with partial gastroesophagectomy and formation of an esophagogastrostomy anastomosis. Due to the patient’s old age and associated co-morbidities, her prognosis remained poor post-operatively and she was transferred to hospice care as per family wishes. This case report is intended to educate clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion for acute gastric volvulus and its potential complications in the appropriate clinical setting to allow for early surgical intervention and appropriate management. J Med Cases. 2015;6(7):309-312 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc2191w
Compound brushing [dynamic data visualization]

This paper proposes a conceptual model called compound brushing for modeling the brushing techniques used in dynamic data visualization. In this approach, brushing techniques are modeled as higraphs with five types of basic entities: data, selection, device, renderer, and transformation. Using this model, a flexible visual programming tool is designed not only to configure/control various common types of brushing techniques currently used in dynamic data visualization, but also to investigate new brushing techniques.
Multiresolutional recursive design operator for intelligent machines

A general framework is proposed for the design of intelligent machines. It is based on theoretical principles that are crystallizing at the present time as a result of joint multidisciplinary efforts in the areas of robotics, intelligent control, large systems for information distribution, and decision support. This framework, called here the multiresolutional approach, reflects the nature of cognitive processes in intelligent machines. The world, the decision-making activities, the perception, and the control systems are explicitly organized within the model in such a manner as to deal with multiple representation of the same process of the intelligent machine functioning at different resolutions simultaneously. The multiresolutional approach allows for viewing all existing architectures for intelligent machines within a set of theoretical models, which makes possible their comparison and selection. It also allows for answering a number of questions that traditionally were addressed ad hoc: how many levels the hierarchy should have, how to select vocabularies at different levels, and so on. >
Phylogenetic evidence for Ty1-copia-like endogenous retroviruses in plant genomes

SIRE-1 is a multi-copy, Ty1-copia-like retroelement family found in the genome of Glycine max. A sequenced SIRE-1 genomic copy has an uninterrupted ORF that can be translated into a gag-pol polyprotein, followed by an unprecedented second ORF whose conceptual translation yielded a theoretical protein predicted to possess many of the same secondary structural elements found in mammalian retroviral envelope proteins. Similar, but clearly pseudogenic, envelope-like sequences were recovered from conceptual translations of 10 Arabidopsis Gen- Bank accessions. All were associated with identifiable Ty1-copia-like retroelements. Phylogenetic analysis of the adjacent ribonuclease H regions from these sequences and three similarly endowed elements, two from maize and one from tomato, indicate that the 14 elements constitute a monophyletic group distinct from several closely related plant Ty1-copia-like elements in which pol is immediately followed by a downstream LTR. The conservation of identifiable env-like gene features suggests that these plant elements are endogenous retroviruses whose ancestors were acquired from animal vectors. The finding that the env and env-less retroelements identified in this study form distinct lineages does not support the hypothesis that horizontal transmission of retrotransposons is sponsored by ancestral infectious retroviruses that subsequently lost all traces of env genes.
Chromatin Structure and ATRX Function in Mouse Oocytes

Differentiation of chromatin structure and function during oogenesis is essential to confer the mammalian oocyte with meiotic and developmental potential. Errors in chromosome segregation during female meiosis and subsequent transmission of an abnormal chromosome complement (aneuploidy) to the early conceptus are one of the leading causes of pregnancy loss in women. The chromatin remodeling protein ATRX (α-thalassemia mental retardation X-linked) has recently emerged as a critical factor involved in heterochromatin formation at mammalian centromeres during meiosis. In mammalian oocytes, ATRX binds to centromeric heterochromatin domains where it is required for accurate chromosome segregation. Loss of ATRX function induces abnormal meiotic chromosome morphology, reduces histone H3 phosphorylation, and promotes a high incidence of aneuploidy associated with severely reduced fertility. The presence of centromeric breaks during the transition to the first mitosis in the early embryo indicates that the role of ATRX in chromosome segregation is mediated through an epigenetic mechanism involving the maintenance of chromatin modifications associated with pericentric heterochromatin (PCH) formation and chromosome condensation. This is consistent with the existence of a potential molecular link between centromeric and PCH in the epigenetic control of centromere function and maintenance of chromosome stability in mammalian oocytes. Dissecting the molecular mechanisms of ATRX function during meiosis will have important clinical implications towards uncovering the epigenetic factors contributing to the onset of aneuploidy in the human oocyte.
Harmonic analysis of spacecraft power systems using a personal computer

The effects that nonlinear devices such as AC/DC converters, HVDC transmission links, and motor drives have on spacecraft power systems are discussed. The nonsinusoidal currents, along with the corresponding voltages, are calculated by a harmonic power flow which decouples and solves for each harmonic component individually using an iterative Newton-Raphson algorithm. The sparsity of the harmonic equations and the overall Jacobian matrix is used to an advantage in terms of saving computer memory space and in terms of reducing computation time. The algorithm could also be modified to analyze each harmonic separately instead of all at the same time. >
Resveratrol Attenuates Microvascular Inflammation in Sepsis via SIRT-1-induced Modulation of adhesion molecules in ob/ob mice

Objective Obesity, a Sirtuin-1 (SIRT-1) deficient state, increases morbidity and resource utilization in critically ill patients. SIRT-1 deficiency increases microvascular inflammation and mortality in early sepsis. Our objective was to study the effect of resveratrol (RSV), a SIRT-1 activator, on microvascular inflammation in obese septic mice.
Rapid catalytic water oxidation by a single site, Ru carbene catalyst

Compared to earlier single site catalysts, greatly enhanced rates of electrocatalytic water oxidation by the Ru carbene catalyst [Ru(tpy)(Mebim-py)(OH2)]2+ (tpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine; Mebim-py = 3-methyl-1-pyridylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene) have been observed. The mechanism appears to be the same with proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) activation to RuVO3+ followed by O–O coupling and further oxidation. An important factor in the enhanced reactivity of the carbene complex may come from increased driving force for the O–O bond forming step.
Defense and Aggression

1 Defense 2 Aggression 3 Offensive Aggression Keywords: defensive behaviors; flight; avoidance; freezing; risk assessment; defensive threat; defensive attack; alarm cries/vocalizations; aggression; defensive aggression; offensive aggression; conspecific; domestication; fear; anxiety; panic; stress; Medial Hypothalamic Zone; MHZ; hippocampus; amygdala; periaqueductal gray; PAG; septum; frontal cortex; Hypothalamic Attack Area; HAA
Eicosanoids and Isoeicosanoids: Indices of Cellular Function and Oxidant Stress

Arachidonic acid (AA) is an unsaturated fatty acid constituent of the phospholipid domain of cell membranes. It is subject to release via mobilization of phospholipases, particularly a cytoplasmic phospholipase A 2 . Thereafter, it may be metabolized by at least two cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms to prostaglandins and related compounds, via lipoxygenases to leukotrienes and via p450-catalyzed metabolism to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. Collectively, these bioactive lipids are termed eicosanoids. All of these lipids express potent bioactivity in vitro. Clinical studies have already demonstrated the importance of COX and lipoxygenase (LOX) products in human disease. The generation of models of COX, LOX and prostaglandin receptor gene inactivation is likely to broaden our insight into the importance of these compounds in vivo. Crystallization of the biosynthetic enzymes is likely to facilitate the development of highly specific inhibitors, as is the case already for COX-2. AA possesses intrinsic biological properties. It is also subject to free radical attack, generating isomeric eicosanoid species, the isoeicosanoids. These compounds may also express biological activity in vitro, although their importance in vivo is unclear. Development of specific assays for these compounds in urine suggests their utility as noninvasive indices of oxidant stress in vivo.
Marriage Changes in the Central Nepali Hills

Few studies on Nepal focus on family formation processes. This paper documents the age pattern of marriage and marriage practices in the central hills of Nepal. Socioeconomic differentials in age at marriage and marriage practices are identified and sources of variations are explained. Furthermore the paper concludes that age at marriage and the manner in which marriages are arranged are changing in the study area and probably are changing in other similar settings in Nepal. It is argued that changes in age at marriage and marriage practices are brought about by attitudinal changes which in turn are affected by the broader process of socioeconomic change in the society.
Pharmacological activities of acetal derivatives of hemicholinium no. 3.

Acetal derivatives of hemicholinium no. 3 (HC-3) were synthesized and their chemical structures were confirmed by spectrophotometric evidence and elemental analysis. The acetal elicited a biphasic pattern of neuromuscular inhibition in the cat: (a) an immediate inhibition (early phase block) was judged to be curare-like as responses to acetylcholine (close i.a.) were abolished by acetal administration of transmission (late phase block) was considered HC-3-like as it occurred only high frequency stimulation and was antagonized by small doses of choline (1–3 mg/kg). In comparison to HC-3, significantly greater curare-like activity was noted following acetal administration in vivo and in vitro. Mouse toxicity and cat nerve-muscle studied revealed the acetals to be HC-3-like but 12 to 13 as active as the parent compound. Cholinesterase inhibition by HC-3 and the acetals was low (I150 > 0.1 mM) and did not differences in activities. Acetal-elicited hypotension in the cat was attributed to postsynaptic ganglionic blockade and histamine release. Studies employing the 14C-(N-methyl) acetals furnished no evidence of the bioactivation (O-dealkylation) of the acetals to HC-3 in the cat in vivo or in cat liver in vitro. Chromatographic analysis affored no evidence of molecular modification of 14CHC-3 or of the 14C-acetals in these systems.
Explaining Interjurisdictional Variations in Local Sales Tax Yield

As substate policy makers design economic development strategies and respond to structural changes in their economic base, it is important to understand effects on the local sales tax. Local sales taxes are modeled here as arising from three sources: resident demand, taxable business-to-business transactions, and visitor/commuter spending. Careful attention is paid to how sales tax payments are actually made and distributed to local governments. The results indicate clearly positive effects from tourism and incommuting, whereas out-commuting yields a revenue drain. Construction provides a significant boost to local sales tax revenue, but the effects of manufacturing and services are surprising. Manufacturers, through a combination of exempt inputs and exported final products, provide no clear sales tax impact. The service sector, however, produces notable revenue gains. The findings provide general guidance on the way in which shifts in economic structure can influence local sales tax revenue and call int...
Transformed phenotype conferred to NIH/3T3 cells by ectopic expression of heparin-binding growth factor 1/acidic fibroblast growth factor.

Heparin-binding growth factor 1 (HBGF-1), also known as acidic fibroblast growth factor, is a potent mitogen and angiogenic factor found in tissues such as brain, kidney and heart. The genomic and cDNA sequences indicate that HBGF-1 does not have a typical signal peptide sequence. HBGF-1 was shown to be localized to the extracellular matrix of cardiac myocytes, but the mechanism of secretion is not presently known. We have cloned the HBGF-1 cDNA which allowed us to directly test the biological activity, mechanism of secretion and transforming potential of the recombinant protein. A previous report showed that the truncated HBGF-1 confers partial transformed phenotype to the recipient fibroblasts. However, expression of full-length HBGF-1 has not been reported. The HBGF-1 coding sequence was cloned into the retroviral expression vector, SVX, and transfected into NIH/3T3 cells. Transfectants expressing full-length HBGF-1 protein at high levels form foci and grow to a higher cell density than the parental NIH/3T3 cells. Western blotting analysis showed that the recombinant HBGF-1 is a unique band of approximately 20 kDa and can be detected in the cell homogenate but not in the conditioned medium. NIH/3T3 cells were conferred anchorage independence when HBGF-1 was provided exogenously. We showed the transformed cells are capable of growing on soft agar even in the absence of exogenously-provided HBGF-1. Transfected cells expressing HBGF-1 also induced tumor formation when injected into nude mice. Thus, NIH/3T3 cells acquired a full spectrum of transformed phenotype when full length HBGF-1 was expressed at high levels.
Evaluation of elevated bait trays for attracting blackbirds (Icteridae) in central North Dakota

Abstract Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) became an economically important crop in North Dakota in the 1970s, providing a major source of food for post-breeding blackbirds (Icteridae). Reducing local blackbird populations with rice grains treated with an avicide is one proposed alternative for reducing sunflower damage. In fall 2007 and 2008, we evaluated the idea of attracting blackbirds to rice-baited trays attached to wire cages supplied with live blackbirds. During our observations (1011 h), we saw 3888 birds, consisting of 25 species and 12 families, on the bait trays. Blackbirds made up 90.4% of the bird observations, whereas sparrows (Emberizidae) made up 1.6% of the birds observed. Overall risk to non-target species appeared minimal. The bait trays, however, attracted a small number of blackbirds compared to the source population feeding in nearby crop fields. Our results strongly suggest DRC-1339-treated rice used on bait trays is unlikely to be a cost-effective method of reducing blackbird damage to ripening sunflower.
Self-reflections on health promotion in the UK and the USA

Summary Objectives To compare and contrast the past 30–40 years of health promotion in the UK and the USA, and to identify two critical issues that relate to health promotion research and practice in both countries. Methods Historiography and self-reflection. Conclusions Although the USA and the UK share different histories of health promotion development, many of the critical issues that characterize the field are similar. Two issues are particularly notable: the concern with evidence; and the problem of translation of the science of health promotion to practice.
Using discrete event simulation to model excavator operator performance

The traditional design process of fluid power systems such as hydraulic excavators has placed much emphasis on technical performance rather than human components. This research aims to develop human-performance models to assess operator performance and human interaction during excavation processes. Task analysis, time studies, and statistical distributions were developed into task-network models and imbedded into four Micro Saint simulation models with regard to various expertise and control types. An empirical study was conducted using the simulation models. Results indicated that both expertise and control type had a significant impact on operator performance, resulting in both time and consistency differences at various points during excavation processes. Models also revealed implications of operator fatigue leading to stress for the operator. Recommendations suggest that designers consider the placement of controls and measures to reduce operator workload for better performance in future systems. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Implementation of a probabilistic curve number method in the PRZM runoff model

Abstract Runoff from agricultural fields, which is a major factor influencing ecological and human exposure assessments, is often estimated by models that use the curve number method. One such model, PRZM, adjusts curve number on a daily basis according to calculated soil moisture in a manner that does not usually capture the full range of variability in rainfall–runoff relationships. Under the assumption that soil moisture alone cannot account for the large observed variability in event-to-event curve number, we modified PRZM by decoupling the curve number from any soil moisture relationship. Instead, we varied the daily curve number by randomly selecting the day's initial abstraction from a distribution. Using field data, we showed that the modified PRZM better characterized the variability in the rainfall–runoff relationship than the method based on soil moisture.
Personal, Moral, and Structural Commitment and the Repair of Marital Relationships

This study examined the construct of relational repair in marriage in the context of accommodation theory and presented an instrument designed to measure relationship repair. The instrument provided the following four factors derived from a sample of 239 married people: assurances, openness, time, and punishments. Based on the connection between accommodation behavior and commitment, the study also assessed the relationship between the repair factors and Johnson, Caughlin, and Huston's (1999) tripartite marital commitment construct. Factor analysis provided support for the tripartite construct of commitment. Regression analysis revealed significant associations between personal and structural commitment and all four relational repair factors. Moral commitment was significantly associated with all of the repair factors except punishments.
Breast cancer lactation and genetics.

A review of mortality rates from breast cancer in several nations indicates that most Caucasian populations have higher rates than do most non-Caucasians. The only environmental factor shown to affect breast cancer rates consistently is parity and its mechanisms of actuation are unknown. The higher risks of breast cancer among relatives of patients are reviewed and a multifactorial genetic control is assumed in which all the effects of genetic and environmental factors may be in part additive. While genetic effects are evident in both breast cancer and lactation it is not clear whether they depend on 2 distinct sets of genetic factors or on a single set. Assuming that the higher frequencies of breast cancer in Caucasian populations are in some way associated with abnormal genetic factors in hypolactation the hypothesis is suggested that their rate of elimination by natural selection might have become relaxed or diminished in remote prehistoric times only in Caucasian populations through their widespread development of domestic animal milk as an artificial infant food. Relaxed selection of genetic factors for hypolactation might have caused them to accumulate among Caucasian populations in sufficient frequencies to produce appreciably higher rates of breast cancer in these populations today even when breastfeeding is the rule. (authors)
Vertical cavity surface-emitting laser scanning cytometer for high-speed analysis of cells

We have constructed a new semiconductor laser device that may be useful in high speed characterization of cell morphology for diagnosis of disease. This laser device has critical advantages over conventional cell fluorescence detection methods since it provides intense, monochromatic, low-divergence fight signals that are emitted from lasing modes confined by a cell. Further, the device integrates biological structures with semiconductor materials at the wafer level to reduce device size and simplify cell preparation. In this paper we discuss operational characteristics of the prototype cytometer and present preliminary data for blood cells and dielectric spheres.
Water soluble polymers: 69. pH and electrolyte responsive copolymers of acrylamide and the zwitterionic monomer 4-(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropyldimethylammonio) butanoate: synthesis and solution behaviour

Abstract A novel carboxybetaine monomer, 4-(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropyldimethylammonio) butanoate (AMPDAB), has been synthesized and copolymerized with acrylamide in an aqueous NaBr solution. The feed ratio of AM (M1)/AMPDAB(M2) was varied from 90 10 to 0 100 mol% . Low conversion samples were collected and copolymer compositions were determined with 13C n.m.r. by integration of the carbonyl resonances. Reactivity ratios were determined and the nonlinear least-squares method yielded values of r1 = 1.01 and r2 = 0.99, indicating random incorporation of monomers into the final copolymer. Molecular weights were determined and range from 3.9 to 12.0 × 106 g mol−1. The solution behaviour of the above copolymers was studied as a function of pH and added electrolytes. With the exception of the copolymers containing 60 and 75 mol% AMPDAB, homogeneous solutions were obtained in deionized water. At high pH, the polyzwitterions show an enhancement in viscosity as the concentration of added electrolyte is increased. In deionized water, as the pH of the aqueous media is lowered, the copolymers exhibit a dramatic increase in viscosity as the carboxylate groups are protonated and charge-charge repulsions of the quaternary ammonium groups induce polyelectrolyte behaviour. The solution behaviour is compared to structurally similar sulfobetaines which do not exhibit any responsiveness to changes in pH.
Monitoring and peer influences as predictors of increases in alcohol use among american Indian youth.

This study investigated the combined influence of parental monitoring, community monitoring, and exposure to substance-using peers on early-onset alcohol use in a sample of American Indian adolescents in three Pacific Northwest tribal communities. We used structural equation modeling, including tests of indirect effects, in the investigation of 281 American Indian youth between ages 8 and 16 years at the time of consent. The effects of parental monitoring and community monitoring, mediated by friends’ substance use, were examined in terms of youth alcohol use outcomes. Parental monitoring practices and contagion in peer substance use were proximal predictors of early-onset alcohol use and the mediating effect of friends’ substance use was not significant. Community monitoring accounted for unique variance in affiliation with substance-using friends.
The prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and methane production in patients with myelomeningocele and constipation

Prospective study. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), methane (CH4) production and orocecal transit time (OCTT) in children affected by myelomeningocele. This study was conducted at the Catholic University in Rome, Italy. Eighteen (6M/12F; 16.4±7.6 years) children affected by myelomeningocele were enrolled. All subjects underwent H2/CH4 lactulose breath tests to assess SIBO and OCTT. All patients performed a visual analog scale to investigate abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence, and maintained a diary of the frequency and consistency of the stool during the previous 7 days. A nephro-urological clinical evaluation of the number of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and neurogenic bowel disease score were also performed. Thirty-nine percent (7/18) of the children showed SIBO and 61% (11/18) presented a delayed OCTT. Moreover 44.4% (8/18) produced high levels of CH4. Interestingly, all myelomeningocele children who produced CH4 showed a delayed OCTT and a higher incidence of UTI, with a lower frequency of evacuation, compared with those with a normal or accelerated OCTT. The association between CH4 and constipation suggests that CH4 has an active role in the development of constipation. One of the most interesting features of our study is to identify a correlation between myelomeningocele, CH4, delayed OCTT and UTI. The intestinal decontamination with locally acting drugs in these children may reduce the number of UTIs and improve intestinal motility.
Social rhythm regularity and the onset of affective episodes in bipolar spectrum individuals

Objectives: Research suggests that bipolar disorder individuals may have less social rhythm regularity than normal controls and that this may contribute to their affective symptoms and episodes. This study examined whether regularity prospectively predicted time to onset of major depressive, hypomanic and manic episodes in a sample with bipolar spectrum disorders. Methods: We recruited 414 undergraduate students from Temple University and University of Wisconsin diagnosed with cyclothymia, bipolar II disorder, or with no affective disorder (normal controls). Participants completed the Social Rhythm Metric at Time 1 and structured interviews approximately every four months for an average follow-up period of 33 months. Results: Participants diagnosed with cyclothymia and bipolar II disorder reported significantly fewer regular activities than normal controls, and approximately half of these participants experienced a worsening course of their illness over the study duration. Survival analyses indicated that both diagnosis and social rhythm regularity significantly predicted the time to participants’ first prospective onset of major depressive, hypomanic and manic episodes. Conclusion: Consistent with the social zeitgeber theory, bipolar spectrum participants reported less social rhythm regularity than normal controls, which prospectively predicted the survival time to affective episodes.
The research method used in subfields and the growth of published literature in those subfields: Vertebrate paleontology and geochemistry

This study investigated the relationship of the research method used in subject subfields and the growth of published literature in those subfields. Using a non-experimental design, an evaluative instrument was developed for assigning a quantitative score to published research based on the research method utilized. Evaluative scores were assigned to 244 randomly selected research studies drawn from two scientific subfields manifesting different growth rates. The hypothesis tested was that a significant correlation exists between the presence of selected research method criteria in the published literature of a subfield and the growth rate of the published literature of that subfield. The two subfields studied were geochemistry and vertebrate paleontology. A Kendall tau c coefficient of 0.57182 (p < 0.00001) was obtained using ungrouped evaluation scores. Using grouped research methods' evaluation scores, a Kendall tau b coefficient of 0.41838 (p < 0.00001) was obtained. In both cases the major hypothesis was supported. The hypothesized relationship also remained substantially unchanged when possible effects of selected control variables (relating to author characteristics) were considered.
Pilot-scale studies of sugar separations by continuous chromatography

A pilot-scale continuous Chromatograph has been developed for optimization studies and scaling factor evaluations. The continuous annular Chromatograph consists of a slowly rotating annular bed of ion exchange resin to which feed is continuously introduced at a stationary point at the top of the bed while eluent flows over the remainder of the annulus. The rotation of the sorbent bed coupled with the simultaneous elution chromatography causes the separated components of the feed stream to appear as helical bands, each of which has a characteristic, stationary exit point.
A note on series parallel irreducibility

A new criterion for series-parallel irreducibility is given which makes no reference to underlying semigroups but involves only series-parallel connection operations.
Varying patterns of protein synthesis in Drosophila during heat shock: Implications for regulation

The heat-shock response of Drosophila involves the vigorous induction of a small number of new messenger RNAs and proteins as well as the repression of most preexisting RNA and protein synthesis. The experiments presented here characterize the kinetics of messenger RNA and protein synthesis at different temperatures and the patterns of induction under a variety of culture conditions. In addition to providing practical information for further studies of the heat-shock response, the data provide some valuable insights into the nature of the response. In particular, the patterns of induction and repression are not simple functions of the degree of temperature elevation, but vary strikingly in different media and depend strongly upon the speed of the temperature increase. Several heat-shock proteins are shown to have very individual induction characteristics with respect to the temperatures at which they are maximally induced, the range of temperatures over which they are synthesized, and the kinetics of their induction. Thus, although this system has often been viewed as a simple, coordinate induction, it now appears that the various heat-shock genes can be, to a rather considerable extent, regulated independently of one another. The evidence further suggests that the patterns of protein synthesis in heat-shocked cells are regulated by mechanisms which act at several different levels of gene expression.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE STORAGE STABILITY OF SHREDDED LETTUCE

Numerous factors affect the storage stability of shredded Iceberg lettuce, with temperature being most important. Pouches of shredded lettuce stored at 2°C retained a marketable quality 2.5 times longer than those held at 10°C. Also, if the product was sealed in a gas impermeable container it lasted longer. In addition, a sharp blade exercising a slicing action was superior to either a sharp blade chopping or a dull blade slicing or chopping. Smaller shred size reduced storage life, as did the presence of any free moisture or cellular fluids on the lettuce surface. The higher the microbial load the shorter the storage life. Of the chemical dips tested none increased storage life significantly. Physical damaging of the shredded lettuce was detrimental to its storage stability.
Distal amputations for the diabetic foot

Minor amputations in diabetic patients with foot complications have been well studied in the literature but controversy still remains as to what constitutes successful or non-successful limb salvage. In addition, there is a lack of consensus on the definition of a minor or distal amputation and a major or proximal amputation for the diabetic population. In this article, the authors review the existing literature to evaluate the efficacy of minor amputations in this selected group of patients in terms of diabetic limb salvage and also propose several definitions regarding diabetic foot amputations. Keywords: diabetic foot infections; amputations; diabetic neuropathy (Published: 16 July 2013) Citation: Diabetic Foot & Ankle 2013, 4 : 21288 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/dfa.v4i0.21288
Windup in Control: Its Effects and Their Prevention (by Hippe, P.; 2006)

In the first chapter of the book, the author puts forth his thesis that windup effects should be split into two primary categories: 1) controller windup and 2) plant windup. He also establishes the viewpoint that directionality changes due to input saturation in multi-input feedback loops should be given special attention. Some of the topics covered include: algorithms for preventing so-called controller windup; approaches for preventing so-called plant windup; the use of a model-based trajectory generator to keep the overall feedback signal from saturating; anti-windup in multi-input systems; rate saturation; the so-called "bumpless transfer" problem; and an Appendix dedicated to the design of observer-based linear controllers for linear systems. The central thesis of this book is clear, and provides a nice framework for the methods emphasized. The book contains many helpful examples that demonstrate the approaches and make them easy to emulate.
Incidence of Malignancy on Tacrolimus Monotherapy Versus Combination Therapy: A Report from the TICTAC Trial

Purpose Recent ISHLT Registry reports indicate approximately 20 % of patients will suffer a malignancy within 5 years post-transplant. The propensity towards malignancy is directly associated with immunosuppression, which is typically a combination of a calcineurin inhibitor, cell cycle modifier and steroids. However, patients in the recently reported TICTAC trial were treated with tacrolimus (TAC) monotherapy or TAC / mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) along with universal steroid weaning within the first 8-10 weeks post-transplant. We examined the incidence of malignancy in subjects from the TICTAC trial to assess the risk of malignancy in patients according to immunosuppressive strategy. Methods and Materials As previously described, from 4/04 – 8/08 150 adult heart transplant patients were enrolled and randomized to monotherapy or dual therapy with TAC and MMF. Patients were followed for survival and the occurrence of malignancies long-term. Results The table below shows the occurrence of malignancy post-transplant. The freedom from malignancy was similar between the monotherapy and TAC/MMF groups. Survival was similar between groups regardless of the incidence of cancer. Conclusions TAC monotherapy is likely the minimum immunosuppression feasible in heart transplantation. There was no difference in the incidence of malignancy between groups. These results might reflect the inherent carcinogencity of TAC. Malignancy TAC Monotherapy Group (n=79) TAC / MMF Group (n=71) p-value Pre-transplant history of malignancy 10.1 % (8 pts) 4.2 % (3 pts) 0.16 Any Malignancy post-transplant 30.4 % (20 pts) 23.9 % (17 pts) 0.38 Hematologic malignancy post-txp 3.8% (3 pts) 7.0% (5 pts) 0.38 Skin malignancy post-txp 17.7% (14 pts) 14.1% (10 pts) 0.54 Freedom From Malignancy 1 Year Post Txp 92.2% 97.2% 0.72 Freedom From Malignancy 3 Years Post Txp 85.2 % 91.4% 0.72 Freedom From Malignancy 5 Years Post Txp 76.7% 79.8% 0.72 Survival 7 years Post-Txp: NO MALIGNANCY 78.7 % 91.1% 0.56 Survival 7 yrs Post-Txp: WITH MALIGNANCY 86.1% 75% 0.56