cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ritualizing Jesus’ Grief at Gethsemane1:

New light can be cast on Jesus’ grief-stricken prayer by contextualizing it within the growing scholarship on prayers and ritual mourning practices in the Second Temple period. The emotional prayer...
P134 Using Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict the Behavioral Intention of Using or Recommending Infant Formula Among the Chinese Community in New York City

Background This is the first study to examine the behavioral intention of using infant formula among the overall community rather than just mothers. Inputs from community members are highly valued in choice of feeding and use theory to frame the research. It was conducted in one of the largest Chinese population outside of Asian, New York City. As the fastest growing Asian subgroup in the US, studies that focus on their health choices are long overdue. Objective To examine which of the constructs within Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) best predict Behavioral Intention of using or recommending formula. Study Design, Settings, Participants This cross-sectional study (n = 434) used a validated 65-item survey instrument available in English/Chinese that asked about the key TPB constructs. More than half (53%) were born in China; more than one-third (36.5%) had less than a high school diploma; average age was 38. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Multiple regression was conducted and a stepwise procedure was employed. Adjusted R square index was used to account for the difference in number of predictors within each construct. Results The importance of each construct in predicting the Behavioral Intention varied by group. For the overall Chinese community, Beliefs, Injunctive Norms, and Perceived Behavioral Control, in that order, accounted for 44.8% of the variance of Behavioral Intention. For those who were born in China, Injunctive Norms, Beliefs, and Perceived Behavioral Control, in that order, accounted for 42.5% of the variance. For those who were in the lowest acculturation level, Injunctive Norms, Beliefs, and Perceived Difficulty, in that order, accounted for 32.1% of the variance. Conclusion Beliefs about the consequences and injunctive norms (approval or disapproval of significant others) are the most important motivators of the intention to use or recommend formula. Whether it is Beliefs or Injunctive Norms that produces the most variance in Behavioral intention depends on where the person was born and their acculturation level. These findings can be used to design appropriate nutrition education.
The Effectiveness of Different Modalities in Facilitating Grammar Acquisition in the Flipped Classroom.

The flipped classroom model (FC), as a new instructional approach, has been implemented by different disciplines over the past few years. However, the use of this model is still in its infancy in the field of foreign language education. The present study explored the efficacy of using the FC model in facilitating the acquisition of grammar among novice level learners of Chinese as a foreign language by measuring their comprehension and awareness of usage of the target grammar patterns as well as by collecting responses from a semi-open-ended questionnaire regarding learners' experience of and attitudes towards the FC model.
The Role of Brown Adipose Tissue in Cardiovascular Disease Protection: Current Evidence and Future Directions.

The Role of Brown Adipose Tissue in Cardiovascular Disease Protection: Current Evidence and Future Directions
Psychology + human behavior

Abstract This chapter describes cannabis use and risk for psychosis, the drug's long-term effects on IQ and the modification of THC-related effects by terpenes. These discussions of cannabis raise much wider issues that apply to the myriad of recreational drugs affecting mood and consciousness from legal everyday examples, such as caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol; through the illegal, including ecstasy, marijuana, opioids, and psychedelics. cannabis produces a wide diversity of behavioral and psychological phenomena, some of which are explained by knowledge of the distribution of cannabinoid receptors in the brain, and experiments that indicate how drug-induced alterations in various brain circuits are associated with feelings and behaviors influenced by the drug. The “happy, hungry, horny” changes effected by the drug, along with perceptual and timekeeping alterations, seem more readily explained than the drug's effects on more complex and incompletely understood mental functions, such as sense of self and transcendence.
Exploring the transition from natural to synthetic dyes in the production of 19th-century Central Asian ikat textiles

This study focuses on the dye analysis of 26 ikat textiles present in the collection of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and originally collected by Dr. Guido Goldman with the aim to gain additional information about their provenance and dating. The investigation exploits the full potential of a multi-analytical approach, starting with a non-invasive survey of all the colors using fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), which revealed the presence of indigo and insect-based red dyes. These data were used to select areas from which samples were taken and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography diode array detector (HPLC–DAD). These results enabled most of the natural sources of dyes to be fully identified, including American cochineal (Dactylopius coccus), madder (probably Rubia tinctorum), lac (probably Kerria lacca), larkspur (Delphinum semibarbatum), pagoda tree flower buds (Sophora japonica), grape vine leaves (Vitis vinifera), indigo and tannins. Complex mixtures of dyes were present in most samples, as a result of both the ikat making process itself and traditional dyeing practices. Synthetic dyes were identified in 9 of the textiles. Samples were re-analyzed using HPLC–DAD coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC–DAD-MS). Malachite green (basic green 4, C.I. 42000), fuchsine (basic violet 14, C.I. 42510), rhodamine B (basic violet 10, C.I. 45170) and methyl violet (basic violet 1, C.I. 42535) were identified, and a few other tentatively identified synthetic dyes (probably orange I, II and IV, rhodamine 6G, patent blue V and alizarin yellow GG) were detected. As the first synthesis of early synthetic dyes is well documented, their presence was used to refine the dating of these textiles. The contextualization of the results also appeared to support the stylistic assumption that more intricate and colorful designs with a higher level of complexity are dated earlier than simpler, larger and more graphic ones. The overall information acquired reveals a dynamic scenario and an interesting window into the dyers’ experiments and adjustments to the economic and technological changes of the nineteenth century.
Charge guides pathway selection in β-sheet fibrillizing peptide co-assembly

Peptide co-assembly is attractive for creating biomaterials with new forms and functions. Emergence of these properties depends on the peptide content of the final assembled structure, which is difficult to predict in multicomponent systems. Here using experiments and simulations we show that charge governs content by affecting propensity for self- and co-association in binary CATCH(+/−) peptide systems. Equimolar mixtures of CATCH(2+/2−), CATCH(4+/4−), and CATCH(6+/6−) formed two-component β-sheets. Solid-state NMR suggested the cationic peptide predominated in the final assemblies. The cationic-to-anionic peptide ratio decreased with increasing charge. CATCH(2+) formed β-sheets when alone, whereas the other peptides remained unassembled. Fibrillization rate increased with peptide charge. The zwitterionic CATCH parent peptide, “Q11”, assembled slowly and only at decreased simulation temperature. These results demonstrate that increasing charge draws complementary peptides together faster, favoring co-assembly, while like-charged molecules repel. We foresee these insights enabling development of co-assembled peptide biomaterials with defined content and predictable properties. Co-assembly of peptide mixtures can yield interesting materials, but predictive understanding of assembly pathways is lacking. Here the self- and co-assembly preferences of oppositely-charged peptides are systematically studied experimentally and by molecular dynamics simulations.
Surgical Perspectives on the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Guideline for Anticoagulation and Implications for Liver Transplantation

Thromboses of the hepatic and splanchnic vasculature, as both a cause and manifestation of end stage liver disease, represent some of the most formidable perioperative challenges for the transplant surgeon. Thomas Starzl's encounters with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in the early era of liver transplantation and the resultant intraoperative deaths made PVT an absolute to relative contraindication to transplant for years1 .
SOMAFOAM: An OpenFOAM based solver for continuum simulations of low-temperature plasmas

Abstract We report the development of SOMAFOAM, a finite volume framework for performing continuum simulations of low-temperature plasmas. The primary goal of this work is to discuss the features of SOMAFOAM along with representative results provided as examples for a range of operating conditions and geometries. This includes plasma and plasma–dielectric systems operating in direct current, radio frequency, and microwave regimes from pressures as low as 100 mTorr to atmospheric pressure. The code has several useful features including the ability to run massively parallel simulations using arbitrary geometries, structured/unstructured meshes, choice of models such as drift–diffusion/full-momentum at runtime, and species-dependent timesteps to name a few. The verification/validation studies presented include comparison with previously published continuum simulations (low-pressure direct current and radio frequency plasma), with experiments (Gaseous Electronics Conference Reference Cell and microwave microplasma ignited in a split ring resonator), and previously published kinetic simulations (low-pressure radio frequency plasma). Other examples provided include a direct current atmospheric pressure microplasma bounded by dielectric sidewalls and a helium–nitrogen plasma ignited using a needle electrode facing a dielectric. The performance of the code is also discussed with serial and distributed memory parallel runs demonstrated up to 512 cores. The design and implementation of the code in a modular object-oriented framework allows for easy extension and seamless coupling with other codes and can be expected to play an important role in both academia and industry.
Perspectives on Workforce Development Needs for Community Health Workers (CHWs): Results from a Statewide Survey of CHW Employers.

We conducted a survey of community health worker (CHW) employers in Texas to understand the employment context and workforce development needs of Texas CHWs. An electronic, mixed-methods survey was emailed to 841 CHW employers across Texas in Spring 2020. The survey consisted of 51 questions. The response rate was 22% (n = 182). Responses were analyzed using SPSS, Microsoft Excel, and N.Vivo. We found that most CHW employers directly employ their CHWs, and CHWs are typically part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team. Most respondents required their CHWs be certified by the state’s health department and have at least a high school diploma or GED. The most common services that CHWs provide are health education/promotion and information referral. The main health issues that CHWs address are diabetes, hypertension, and mental/behavioral health. Current CHW workforce development needs include continued training on topics including chronic disease self-management and health promotion. CHW employers differ in their capacity to implement workforce development activities. There is significant variety in the employment context and workforce development needs of CHWs across Texas. Results reinforce previous findings on the need for specialized, continuing training for CHWs and the development of pathways, resources, and opportunities that could advance the CHW profession even more. These results can inform those interested in employing CHWs in their CHW program development. Findings from this study can be used to guide development of tailored curriculum for continuing education units, specialized certifications, or other professional development resources for CHWs.
No Calm in The Storm: Investigating QAnon Website Relationships.

QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory whose followers largely organize online. In this work, we use web crawls seeded from two of the largest QAnon hotbeds on the Internet, Voat and 8kun, to build a hyperlink graph. We then use this graph to identify, understand, and learn from the websites that spread QAnon content online. We curate the largest list of QAnon centered websites to date, from which we document the types of QAnon sites, their hosting providers, as well as their popularity. We further analyze QAnon websites' connection to mainstream news and misinformation online, highlighting the outsized role misinformation websites play in spreading the conspiracy. Finally, we leverage the observed relationship between QAnon and misinformation sites to build a random forest classifier that distinguishes between misinformation and authentic news sites, getting a performance of 0.98 AUC on a test set. Our results demonstrate new and effective ways to study conspiracy and misinformation on the Internet.
Parents' Sources of Adolescent Sexual Health Information and Their Interest in Resources From Primary Care.

Abstract Objective To examine sources of information used by parents to facilitate parent-adolescent communication about sexual and reproductive health (SRH), parents’ preferences for receiving SRH information through primary care, and factors associated with parents’ interest in primary-care-based SRH information (i.e., resources recommended or offered in the primary care setting). Methods In this cross-sectional study, a nationally representative sample of 11-17-year-old adolescents and their parents (n=1,005 dyads) was surveyed online; 993 were retained for these analyses. Parents were asked about their use of 11 resources to help them talk with their adolescents about SRH and rated the likelihood of using specific primary-care-based resources. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine characteristics associated with parent interest in primary-care-based SRH resources. Results Only 25.8% of parents reported receiving at least a moderate amount of SRH information from primary care; half (53.3%) reported receiving no SRH information from their adolescent's provider. Parents received the most information from personal connections (e.g. spouse/partner, friends). Most parents (59.1%) reported being likely to utilize a primary-care-based resource for SRH information. Parents who previously received SRH information from primary care sources had greater odds of reporting they would be likely to utilize a primary-care-based resources (AOR = 4.06, 95% CI: 2.55-6.46). Conclusions This study provides insights into parents’ sources of information for communicating with their adolescents about SRH and ways primary care practices might increase support for parents in having SRH conversations with their adolescents. Future studies are needed to establish clinical best practices for promoting parent-adolescent communication about SRH.
International Relations Theory: The Game-Theoretic Approach

Written for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, this is the first textbook on international relations theory to take a specifically game-theoretic approach to the subject, and provide the material needed for students to understand the subject thoroughly, from its basic foundations to more complex models. International relations theory is presented and analysed using simple games, which allow students to grasp the concepts and mechanisms involved with the rationalist approach without the distraction of complicated mathematics. Chapter exercises reinforce key concepts and guide students to extend the models discussed. Drawing examples from international security, international political economy, and environmental negotiations, this introductory textbook examines a broad array of topics in international relations courses, including state preferences, normal form games, bargaining, uncertainty and communication, multilateral cooperation, and the impact of domestic politics.
An inverse radiation problem

Abstract An inverse radiation analysis is presented for determining optical thickness and single scattering albedo from the exit intensities for an isotropically scattering slab of finite thickness. The method involves solving the non-linear least square equations constructed from the measured data and the exact solutions. The confidence bounds are developed to assess the accuracy of the inverse solutions. The confidence bounds are useful to determine the possible corrective measures needed to improve the precision of the predictions.
Detection and Analysis of (O-linked β- N -Acetylglucosamine)-Modified Proteins

Glycosylation is one of the most common and complex forms of posttranslational modifications of proteins in eukaryotes. Seven different protein-carbohydrate linkages have been characterized on nuclear and cytoplasmic glycoproteins, the most widespread of which is the modification of Ser/Thr residues with monosaccharides of O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc). O-GlcNAc modification is concentrated in nuclear proteins. O-GlcNAc is thought to regulate protein function in a manner analogous to phosphorylation; and is implicated in the regulation of transcription, the proteasome, insulin and MAP kinase signaling, the cell cycle, and the cellular stress response. In this chapter we focus on methods for the detection of O-GlcNAc-modified proteins and discuss general techniques for the detection and subsequent analysis of other protein-carbohydrate conjugates.
Revisiting Lexical Signatures to (Re-)Discover Web Pages

A lexical signature (LS) is a small set of terms derived from a document that capture the "aboutness" of that document. A LS generated from a web page can be used to discover that page at a different URL as well as to find relevant pages in the Internet. From a set of randomly selected URLs we took all their copies from the Internet Archive between 1996 and 2007 and generated their LSs. We conducted an overlap analysis of terms in all LSs and found only small overlaps in the early years (1996 i¾? 2000) but increasing numbers in the more recent past (from 2003 on). We measured the performance of all LSs in dependence of the number of terms they consist of. We found that LSs created more recently perform better than early LSs created between 1996 and 2000. All LSs created from year 2000 on show a similar pattern in their performance curve. Our results show that 5-, 6- and 7-term LSs perform best with returning the URLs of interest in the top ten of the result set. In about 50% of all cases these URLs are returned as the number one result and in 30% of all times we considered the URLs as not discoved.
Bridging the gap: A conceptual model of the access of digital libraries

This paper proposes a general conceptual model for the access of digital libraries based on relevant research in information retrieval, information seeking and foraging, and activity based design theory. The authors reveal that a gap exists in current digital library design practices in which a digital library is disconnected from its targeted user community. Search engines have disintermediated many digital library interfaces and their related evaluation and usability efforts. Many digital libraries are losing their users since users have learned how to use search engines to access open Web content of collective knowledge of a wider mass instead of a specific digital library. Accordingly the authors promote a marketing orientation of digital library design and argue that we should sell the digital library in users’ familiar information environment.
Influence of Phosphate Compounds on Certain Fungi and Their Preservative Effects on Fresh Cherry Fruits (Prunus cerasus, L.)

Studies were conducted to ascertain the retarding effects of four phosphate compounds (sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium tetraphosphate, and tetrasodium pyrophosphate) on molding of fresh cherries (Prunus cerasus, L.). In vitro studies on their antimycotic effects against the most common fungal spoilers, Penicillium expansum, Rhizopus nigricans, and Botrytis sp., were also carried out. Sodium tetraphosphate appeared to be the most effective compound in preserving cherries and also had the greatest antimycotic effects in the in vitro studies. A 10% concentration, when applied as a dip, inhibited fungal growth on fresh cherries for up to 30 days of storage at 1.1 C (34 F) and a relative humidity of 94%, whereas untreated controls showed fungal growth at 14 days. Following in order of effectiveness were sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, and tetrasodium pyrophosphate.
Youths’ Perspective on Senate Bill 1070 in Arizona: The Socio-emotional Effects of Immigration Policy

This article builds on previous research conducted by Santos, Menjivar & Godfrey (2013) and draws on a study conducted with racially and ethnically diverse early adolescents.This research explores youths’ awareness of Senate Bill 1070 in Arizona, and how affected they are by the passage of this bill. Wave I (N = 726; Mage = 12.4 years; SD = .97) results revealed an indirect relation between awareness of SB1070 and self-esteem via American identity. Wave II (N = 1025; Mage = 12.1 years; SD = .98) results revealed a positive association between awareness of SB1070 and youths’ engagement in risky behavior. Results also revealed a negative association between youths’ report of being affected by SB1070 and their ability to regulate their emotions in the classroom. Finally, results revealed a positive association between youths’ report of being affected by SB1070 with youths’ perceptions of ethnic-based discrimination by authorities and teachers. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Studies on the Correlation between Size and Relative Degradation Rate of Soluble Proteins

There is a general correlation between the relative degradation rate and the size of soluble proteins from rat liver. The subunit size rather than the multimer size appears to influence the rate of degradation, since subunits which make up multimers of a single size range are degraded at heterogeneous rates with larger subunits being degraded more rapidly than smaller ones. Soluble proteins which are degraded more rapidly in vivo tend also to be more susceptible to proteolysis in vitro with either Pronase or trypsin. Furthermore, there is a general correlation between the molecular size of soluble proteins, as determined by Sephadex chromatography, and their in vitro susceptibility to proteolysis. These results suggest that the relative degradation rates of soluble proteins are determined at least in part by their inherent susceptibility to proteases. The correlation between size and relative rate of degradation in vivo is also present for soluble proteins from rat kidney, testes, brain, and muscle, and from HeLa cells and pea stem sections. These findings indicate that the correlation between size and degradation rate may be a general characteristic of intracellular protein degradation in eukaryotes.
Statins in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women: facts and myths.

It has been suggested that statins do not lower the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially in primary prevention for women. In this article, we first describe CVD risk prediction associated with various lipid fractions in men and women, and then present a review of the literature on the efficacy of statins in primary and secondary prevention of CVD. Last, we describe sex disparities in cholesterol care in women with established CVD.
Kindergarten retention and transition classrooms: Their relationship to achievement.

This study examined the relationship between extra-year programs and later school achievement. Ninety-five children were identified as being either retained in kindergarten, placed in a transition classroom, recommended for an extra-year program but went into first grade, or as being in a control group of children who went from kindergarten to first grade without reservation. Results indicated that children retained in kindergarten performed significantly lower on a standardized achievement test than did children in the other three groups. Despite an extra year of schooling, children placed in transition classrooms did not differ significantly in their performance from children who were recommended for an extra year but went onto first grade and children in the control group.
Organizations as contexts for learning: a case study in certified public accountancy

The purpose of this study was to determine whether two different organizational settings of certified public accountancy (CPA) practice produced substantially different or equivalent learning opportunities for a practising CPA. Three sources of data in this research project were examined, including a work history from both firms, interviews, and surveys from the three principal parties. In this study, 31 learning opportunities were identified across three domains of learning in order to compare the learning provided in two organizational contexts. It was found that, indeed, learning occurred in all three domains and at consistently high levels across both organizations. It was concluded that there were no material differences in the learning opportunities available in each firm.
Point-of-Care Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections Increases Awareness and Short-Term Abstinence in Adolescent Women

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effect of point-of-care (POC) testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on reported awareness of test results and STI risk-reduction behaviors in adolescents. Methods Adolescent and young adult women aged 14–21 years were recruited from the Emergency Department or Teen Health Clinic for this longitudinal study and were tested for STIs. Baseline demographics, risk behaviors, treatment, POC tests (wet mount and rapid antigen tests for Trichomonas vaginalis ), and other STI test results (available 24–48 hours postvisit) were measured. These were compared to subject's report of test results, abstinence, partner discussion, and partner testing during a postvisit telephone contact. Results Of 294 subjects, 155 (53%) were contacted: 65 (42%) had a positive STI test result; 28 (43%) were POC positive; and 52 (33.5%) believed their STI results were positive. A positive POC test result increased the proportion of subjects aware of being positive for an STI (89 vs 21%, p 14 days (AOR = 3.9, CI = 1.7–9.0), and black race (AOR = 3.5, CI=1.2–9.7). Women who believed their STI results were positive were more likely to report partner discussion (odds ratio [OR] = 3.0, CI=1.0–8.8) and partner testing (OR = 5.1, CI=2.4–11.2). Conclusions Awareness of STI results increases with POC testing. Effective communication of results can increase patient understanding and compliance with risk reduction strategies, which may affect the STI epidemic.
Intravenous bolus of ultra-low-dose naloxone added to morphine does not enhance analgesia in emergency department patients.

Abstract There is some evidence from in vitro, animal, and postoperative clinical studies that low doses of opioid antagonists combined with morphine increase analgesia. The theoretical model of this effect posits that ultra-low doses of opioid antagonists selectively antagonize excitatory, but not inhibitory, opioid receptor-mediated signaling. To determine whether this effect occurs in emergency department patients presenting with severe acute pain, we conducted a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial to assess the relative analgesic effect of morphine administered with 3 different doses of naloxone versus morphine alone. Patients received 0.1 mg/kg morphine intravenously (IV) over 2 min plus one of 3 different doses of naloxone (0.1 ng/kg, 0.01 ng/kg, or 0.001 ng/kg) or normal saline. A 0 to 10 numerical rating scale (NRS) was used to measure pain intensity at baseline and every 30 min up to 4 hours. One hundred fifty-six patients with a median NRS of 10 (IQR: 8-10) were studied. There were no clinically or statistically significant differences in the mean pain intensity of patients in the 4 treatment groups over the 4-hour study period, nor were there differences in the administration of additional analgesics or incidence of side effects. Perspective Ultra-low doses of naloxone in the 0.001 ng/kg to 0.1 ng/kg range do not enhance the analgesia provided by morphine alone among emergency department patients with acute, severe pain. This suggests that naloxone in these doses is not an effective adjunct to morphine for control of acute pain.
Mediation of laser trabeculoplasty-induced matrix metalloproteinase expression by IL-1β and TNFα

PURPOSE. Laser trabeculoplasty of the anterior uveal region of the trabecular meshwork induces sustained matrix metalloproteinase expression within the juxtacanalicular region of the meshwork. Studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that a factor mediates this response and to identify the factor. METHODS. Human anterior segment organ cultures were subjected to laser treatment using standard clinical parameters and were returned to culture for 8 hours. The resultant 8-hour‐ conditioned culture medium was then tested for factor activity by evaluating its ability to produce two typical trabecular responses to laser treatment, that is, to induce stromelysin expression or to trigger cell division, when applied to fresh organ cultures or to cell cultures. Confocal immunohistochemistry of the laser-treated organ cultures and western immunoblot analysis of the conditioned medium were used to evaluate changes in potential candidates for the factor activity. The ability of the interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra)‐ and of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa)‐ blocking antibodies to eliminate the stromelysin induction was evaluated. RESULTS. Medium conditioned for 8 hours induced typical trabecular cell division in anterior segment organ cultures. Medium conditioned for 8 hours, but not for 30 minutes, induced typical increases in stromelysin expression in these organ cultures and in cell cultures. After 8 hours, both trabecular cells in laser-treated organ cultures and in the conditioned medium contained elevated levels of IL-1b and TNFa. The laser-treated organ cultures contained elevated levels of IL-1a, but it was not secreted into the medium. The ability of conditioned media to induce stromelysin expression was partially blocked by either the IL-1ra‐ or the TNFa‐ blocking antibody. CONCLUSIONS. Laser trabeculoplasty induces the expression and secretion of both IL-1b and TNFa within the first 8 hours after treatment. These cytokines then mediate increased trabecular stromelysin expression. Putatively, this initiates remodeling of the juxtacanalicular extracellular matrix, a likely site for the aqueous outflow resistance, and thus restores normal outflow facility. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2000;41:422‐ 430)
Catalytic epoxidation of propene with H2O-O2 reactants on Au/TiO2

Au/TiO2catalysts form hydroperoxy species from H2O–O2 mixtures at near-ambient temperatures; these species can be used in the selective epoxidation of propene to propylene oxide.
Minocycline Attenuates Iron Neurotoxicity in Cortical Cell Cultures

Iron neurotoxicity may contribute to the pathogenesis of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The tetracycline derivative minocycline is protective in ICH models, due putatively to inhibition of microglial activation. Although minocycline also chelates iron, its effect on iron neurotoxicity has not been reported, and was examined in this study. Cortical cultures treated with 10 microM ferrous sulfate for 24h sustained loss of most neurons and an increase in malondialdehyde. Minocycline prevented this injury, with near-complete protection at 30 microM. Two other inhibitors of microglial activation, doxycycline and macrophage/microglia inhibitory factor, were ineffective. Oxidation of isolated culture membranes by iron was also inhibited by minocycline. Consistent with prior observations, minocycline chelated iron in a siderophore colorometric assay; at concentrations less than 100 microM, its activity exceeded that of deferoxamine. These results suggest that attenuation of iron neurotoxicity may contribute to the beneficial effect of minocycline in hemorrhagic stroke and other CNS injury models.
Adaptations to "Thermal Time" Constraints in Papilio: Latitudinal and Local Size Clines Differ in Response to Regional Climate Change.

Adaptations to “thermal time” (=Degree-day) constraints on developmental rates and voltinism for North American tiger swallowtail butterflies involve most life stages, and at higher latitudes include: smaller pupae/adults; larger eggs; oviposition on most nutritious larval host plants; earlier spring adult emergences; faster larval growth and shorter molting durations at lower temperatures. Here we report on forewing sizes through 30 years for both the northern univoltine P. canadensis (with obligate diapause) from the Great Lakes historical hybrid zone northward to central Alaska (65° N latitude), and the multivoltine, P. glaucus from this hybrid zone southward to central Florida (27° N latitude). Despite recent climate warming, no increases in mean forewing lengths of P. glaucus were observed at any major collection location (FL to MI) from the 1980s to 2013 across this long latitudinal transect (which reflects the “converse of Bergmann’s size Rule”, with smaller females at higher latitudes). Unlike lower latitudes, the Alaska, Ontonogon, and Chippewa/Mackinac locations (for P. canadensis) showed no significant increases in D-day accumulations, which could explain lack of size change in these northernmost locations. As a result of 3–4 decades of empirical data from major collection sites across these latitudinal clines of North America, a general “voltinism/size/D-day” model is presented, which more closely predicts female size based on D-day accumulations, than does latitude. However, local “climatic cold pockets” in northern Michigan and Wisconsin historically appeared to exert especially strong size constraints on female forewing lengths, but forewing lengths quickly increased with local summer warming during the recent decade, especially near the warming edges of the cold pockets. Results of fine-scale analyses of these “cold pockets” are in contrast to non-significant changes for other Papilio populations seen across the latitudinal transect for P. glaucus and P. canadensis in general, highlighting the importance of scale in adaptations to climate change. Furthermore, we also show that rapid size increases in cold pocket P. canadensis females with recent summer warming are more likely to result from phenotypic plasticity than genotypic introgression from P. glaucus, which does increase size in late-flight hybrids and P. appalachiensis.
What Is the Potential Role of Cannabinoid-1 Receptor Blockade in Glucose and Lipid Management?

Interventions that reduce weight and abdominal adiposity have been shown to improve obesity-associated disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism, reduce blood pressure, and promote other beneficial effects on cardiometabolic risk parameters. When long-term adherence to diet/exercise recommendations is suboptimal, management of overweight and obese patients at high cardiometabolic risk includes the use of adjunctive pharmacologic agents to facilitate weight loss and weight loss maintenance. Rimonabant, a cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor blocker, has been shown to induce weight loss and improve cardiometabolic parameters, implying that the endocannabinoid system is a promising target for obesity-related health improvement. Herein we summarize the results of the Rimonabant in Obesity (RIO) studies, which have evaluated the effectiveness of CB1 receptor blockade in facilitating weight loss and improving cardiometabolic health in >6,600 patients from the United States and Europe. As compared with placebo, 20 mg/day of rimonabant consistently produced greater reductions in weight and waist circumference, as well as improvements in dyslipidemia and parameters of glucose metabolism. The improvements that were noted for several cardiometabolic parameters with rimonabant were greater than what would be expected from the weight loss alone, suggesting there may be an independent effect of the drug on metabolic function. The results of these studies suggest that CB1 receptor blockade may be a useful treatment for multiple cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese patients.
Combining coordination and supramolecular chemistry to explore uranyl assembly in the solid state

The syntheses and crystal structures of twelve new compounds containing the UO22+ cation, a bromo-substituted benzoic acid linker (m-bromo-, p-bromo, or 3,5-dibromobenzoic acid) and a chelating N-donor (1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, or 4′-chloro-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) are reported. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of these materials allowed for the exploration of the structural relationship between the benzoic acids and the chelating N-donor, as well as the influence of pH on uranyl speciation. At an unadjusted pH (∼3) a mix of uranyl monomers and dimers are observed whereas at higher pH (5–6) uranyl dimers are usually produced with monomers and tetramers also observed. A systematic study of the supramolecular interactions present in these materials was executed by varying the bromine position on the benzoic acid groups along with substituents on the chelating N-donor. Assembly via halogen and hydrogen bonding interactions as well as π–π interactions, including four instances of uranyl oxo-functionalization via halogen bonding, was observed depending on the experimental conditions utilized.
A randomized controlled trial of an automated telephone intervention to improve blood pressure control.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a telephonic outreach program to improve blood pressure (BP) control among patients with hypertension. The authors identified adults 18 years and older with uncontrolled BP within the previous 12 months. Patients received either an automated telephone call advising them to have a walk-in BP check (n=31,619) or usual care (n=33,154). The primary outcome was BP control at 4 weeks. Significantly more patients who received the intervention achieved BP control compared with the usual care group (32.5% vs 23.7%; P<.0001). Patients in the intervention arm with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or diabetes mellitus achieved better BP control. Older age, female sex, and having a household income above the median were associated with BP control. When designing quality-improvement interventions to increase BP control rates, health care organizations should consider utilizing an automated telephone outreach campaign.
Chemisorption of carbon monoxide on molybdenum

Abstract The chemisorption of carbon monoxide on polycrystalline molybdenum has been studied using a radio tracer technique. Following outgassing at temperatures of 1500°–2000°K in an ultrahigh vacuum system, carbon monoxide tagged with 14 C was admitted to pressures in the 10 −8 to 10 −5 Torr range. Rates of adsorption were consistent with sticking coefficients in the range of 10 −3 to 10 −1 . Desorption at various temperatures was observed as a function of time, and the data are interpreted in terms of a set of several binding states corresponding to desorption energies of 3.24 ± 0.03, 3.41 ± 0.03, 3.61 ± 0.02, 3.77 ± 0.03 and 3.95 ± 0.02 eV. The relative population of these states at saturated coverage was also determined, and the differential energy of desorption as a function of coverage and temperature has been calculated.
Dietary Lead Alters Fatty Acid Composition and Membrane Peroxidation in Chick Liver Microsomes

Abstract Inorganic Pb acetate is a pro-oxidant, and peroxidation damage to cellular membrane lipids, leading to membrane fragility and permeability, is a likely consequence of Pb poisoning. In addition to the systemic peroxidation that occurs in vivo, Pb-contaminated feedstuffs can contribute preformed peroxides. Treatments with dietary Pb that have been shown to increase tissue peroxide levels in animals may be related to the consumption of preformed peroxides from the diet. In the current study, we evaluated the possible separate effects of feed and systemic peroxides by administering equivalent doses of Pb acetatetrihydrate to chicks via either 1,500 ppm Pb in the diet or via gastric intubation. Peroxidation of lipids in hepatic microsomal membranes (assessed as malonyldialdehyde production) from birds intoxicated with Pb by either route of administration was more than double that of untreated controls. Also, both routes of Pb exposure doubled the concentration of hepatic microsomal arachidonic acid, a peroxidizable polyunsaturated fatty acid. In the data reported here, we show that tissue peroxide levels are unaffected by the method of oral Pb administration and thus, by inference, independent of peroxide content of the feed.
Manager wealth concentration, ownership structure, and risk in commercial banks

Abstract Of key importance in the governance structure of firms is the role of financial incentives for each major player. The main contribution of this article is an analysis of how an insider's concentration of wealth in his or her bank investment affects incentives to take risk. Major empirical findings are that, first, bank earnings variation falls when bank managers have more of their wealth concentrated in their banks; second, hired-manager banks become less risky when a person who has significant motivation to monitor bank management has his or her wealth highly concentrated in the bank; and third, stock ownership by hired managers can increase total risk of a bank. Further analysis suggests that community banks in our sample control earnings variation by manipulating idiosyncratic risk, credit risk, and leverage but not systematic risk or the loan-to-asset ratio.
Amino acid transport in Myxicola giant axon: stability of the amino acid pool, taurine efflux, and trans effect of sodium.

1. The giant axon of Myxicola infundibulum was assessed for its suitability as a model preparation for study of amino acid transport mechanisms. 2. The amino acid composition of axoplasm was measured and compared with those of coelomic fluid, muscle and axon sheath. The axoplasmic composition is unique. Axoplasm/coelomic fluid concentration ratios are all much larger than 1. The axoplasmic amino acid concentrations are (mmol/kg plasm): cysteic acid (104), aspartic acid (75), glutamic acid (10), taurine (64), serine (5), glycine (191) and alanine (5). Other amino acids or primary amines, if present, must have concentrations of less than 1 m m. 3. The size of the sheath amino acid pool is 12% or less of the axoplasmic pool. 4. The amino acid pool of axons soaked in sea water for up to 24 h is stable. Removal of Na from sea water causes a large increase of net efflux and net production of amino acids. 5. Net amino acid production can not be detected in sheath. Metabolic production occurs in axoplasm with little accumulation. Time scales for production and net efflux are therefore similar. 6. The Myxicola axon has a vigorous amino acid metabolism and transport systems capable of relatively large fluxes. Homeostasis is strongly linked to Na and may involve Na-coupled co-transport. Conservation of transmembrane amino acid gradients could be promoted in part by trans inhibition of efflux by external Na. 7. Taurine is a useful model substrate because it is not catabolized in Myxicola and its net efflux is sensitive to Na. [3H]taurine efflux was measured from injected axons. Fluxes and internally recorded action potentials are stable for up to 6 h. 8. Axon sheaths take up [3H]taurine from 10 m m-taurine sea water with an apparent half-time of 5 h. [3H]taurine washout from the apparent extracellular space has a half-time of 5 min. Washout from sheath cells has a half-time of 2-3 h. Sheath is not an important parallel compartment for taurine fluxes in the axon. 9. Taurine efflux has a Q10 of 1·8. 10. Taurine efflux is insensitive to external taurine concentrations up to 10 m m. 11. Taurine efflux is sensitive to external Na, but only if internal Na is high. 12. Taurine is transported by a low-affinity Na-dependent system in Myxicola axon. Results could be explained by a carrier which is more mobile in the empty state than in the substrate-loaded state. Trans inhibition of taurine efflux by external Na is an important property of the system, and contributes to conservation of axoplasmic taurine.
Use of low-background instrumental neutron activation analysis to measure contaminants in silicon and biological samples

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) is a common method of trace element analysis whose sensitivity is limited either by interference from other trace elements in the sample or by interference from ambient background radiation in the detection system. In at least two cases, a true low-background facility, such as that at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, substantially enhances senitivity: (1) Ultra-pure silicon, such as that used in semiconductor fabrication. Even after prolonged exposure within a nuclear reactor, minimal observable gamma-ray emitting activities are produced in the silicon. Extrapolated from our 7 gram sample size experiments, parts-per-quadrillion (1.E-15) sensitivity to 23 elements should be obtainable for 400 gram sample sizes. (2) Similarly, the life elements H, C, N, O are effectively inert within the reactor, and this enhances sensitivity to trace elements in, for example, bacteria. Data will be presented for these two cases.
Hydrothermal origin of mafic layers in alpine-type peridotites: Evidence from the seiad ultramafic complex, California, USA

Thin layers with simple mineralogical composition are found in alpine-type peridotite, zoned Alaskan intrusions, and basic layered intrusions. The following features suggest that an origin by hydrothermal processes should be considered for many of these layers: absence of cumulate structures, continuity of very thin layers, monominerallic banding, variety of juxtaposed layer compositions, and cross-cutting relationships that indicate a long history of emplacement throughout deformation.
Muscimol inactivation of the septo-preoptic complex affects medial forebrain bundle self-stimulation only when directed at the complex's ventrolateral components.

Abstract Elements of the septo-preoptic basal forebrain complex, particularly the lateral and medial septum, the diagonal band of Broca, and the magnocellular preoptic area, have been linked to medial forebrain bundle (MFB) self-stimulation. This study examines the roles of these areas in MFB self-stimulation by temporarily inactivating them with 25 and 50 ng doses of the GABA A receptor agonist muscimol. Changes in performance capacity and stimulation reward effectiveness were evaluated with the rate–frequency curve shift paradigm. When infused into the lateral and medial septum and the vertical limb of the diagonal band of Broca, both doses of muscimol were as ineffective as saline in altering either the rats’ maximum rate of response for stimulation or the frequency required to maintain half-maximal response rate (required frequency). However, when infused into the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca or the magnocellular preoptic area, muscimol substantially decreased maximal response rate and modestly increased required frequency. Changes in maximum rate were dose-dependent, but changes in required frequency were not. Muscimol infusions contralateral to the stimulated hemisphere were as effective as ipsilateral infusions; bilateral infusions tended to so suppress responding that resulting rate–frequency curves were often invalid. These results suggest a role in MFB self-stimulation for only the ventrolateral components of the septo-preoptic complex, and support past observations of considerable bilaterality in the neural systems that support self-stimulation.