cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SHIFT AND BROADENING OF THE VIBRATIONAL MODE FOR A DIATOMIC MOLECULE ADSORBED ON A METAL SURFACE

The shift and broadening of the vibrational frequency of a diatomic molecule adsorbed on a metal surface are calculated on the basis of electromagnetic interactions. Finite molecular size and nonlocal metal response are included in a calculation of the response function, whose pole is the complex normal mode frequency. Finite molecular size is described by a model of a point-like vibrational mode within a polarizable sphere. Nonlocal metal response is described by a semiclassical infinite barrier model with a Lindhard dielectric constant generalized to include core polarization and finite electron lifetime. When applied to the case of CO adsorbed on Cu and if the molecule is positioned so as to fit the observed width, it is found the predicted shift is a factor of three or more greater than that observed.
Robust Output Feedback Controller Design via Parameter-dependent Lyapunov Functions

This paper is concerned with the problem of designing robust static output feedback controllers for linear discrete and continuous-time systems with time-invariant polytopic uncertainties. Sufficient conditions for static output feedback stabilizing controller designs are given in terms of solutions to a set of linear matrix inequalities. Furthermore, the results are also extended to H2 static output feedback controller designs. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design methods.
Evaluating the link between self-esteem and temperament in Mexican origin early adolescents

The present study examined the relation between self-esteem and temperament in a sample of 646 Mexican-American early adolescents (mean age=10.4). Findings show that (a) early adolescents with high self-esteem exhibit higher levels of Effortful Control but, contrary to findings in adult samples, do not differ from low self-esteem adolescents in Negative Affectivity; (b) low self-esteem is associated with Depression; and (c) low self-esteem is associated with Aggression. These findings replicated for boys and girls, two measures of self-esteem, and child and mother reports of temperament. The present study contributes to an emerging understanding of the link between self-esteem and temperament, and provides much needed data on the nature of self-esteem in ethnic minority populations. Language: en
The Public is the Priority: Making Decisions Using the Software Engineering Code of Ethics

The software engineering code of ethics and professional practice encourages software engineers to undertake positive actions and to resist pressures to act unethically.
A Flexible Parametric Family for the Modeling and Simulation of Yield Distributions

The distributions currently used to model and simulate crop yields are unable to accommodate a substantial subset of the theoretically feasible mean-variance-skewness-kurtosis (MVSK) hyperspace. Because these first four central moments are key determinants of shape, the available distributions might not be capable of adequately modeling all yield distributions that could be encountered in practice. This study introduces a system of distributions that can span the entire MVSK space and assesses its potential to serve as a more comprehensive parametric crop yield model, improving the breadth of distributional choices available to researchers and the likelihood of formulating proper parametric models.
LARVAL SALAMANDER RESPONSE TO UV RADIATION AND PREDATION RISK: COLOR CHANGE AND MICROHABITAT USE

Adaptations to avoid or cope with harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR) have evolved in many amphibian species. Sublethal levels of UVR can select for simple responses in larval amphibians, such as dark pigmentation or preference for UVR-protected micro- habitats (i.e., under cover or in deep water). This study focuses on color response to UVR, and whether avoidance behaviors like refuge use and depth choice depend on larval body color. We quantified responses to ambient levels of UVR in four experiments in semi-field conditions using two sister species of salamander larvae that differ in their evolutionary history of UVR exposure. Both Ambystoma barbouri and A. texanum larvae darkened in response to UVR, and when given the choice of refuge, significantly increased the proportion of time spent in hiding. Additionally, both species used deeper microhabitats when exposed to UVR, but only A. barbouri larvae showed a preference for shallow waters when UVR was blocked out. Neither of these behaviors seemed to be color dependent, with larvae from both species taking refuge and preferring deep water in the presence of UVR, regardless of body color. Interesting behavioral trade-offs arose when larvae were confronted with conflicting selection pressures from UVR and predation risk. Risk from predatory fish forces larvae to shallow areas, while UVR forces larvae into deeper water. Thus, the combination of the two selection pressures creates a conflict in optimal depth choice. Faced with this conflict, A. barbouri preferred deeper, risky areas to shallow water with high UVR exposure. Ambystoma texanum responded to predation risk with a preference for shallow water, but did not significantly alter depth in response to UVR. Given the opportunity to mediate exposure to UVR and predation risk by altering depth choices, neither species changed color in response to either UVR or predation risk. Overall, these changes in behavior and color may affect larval feeding, competition, and predation rates and could thus alter aquatic community structure.
An online transportation system simulation testbed

A testbed for evaluation of online distributed simulations of transportation system infrastructures is described that includes a modest portion of an urban road network in the midtown region of Atlanta, Georgia. The testbed includes sensors, servers, wireless communications, and mobile transportation simulations configured to model the testbed region. The system architecture for this testbed is described. Results of experiments evaluating wireless communication performance are presented. An implementation of an online traffic simulation based on a commercial simulator was developed, and results comparing the system's predictive accuracy with observed travel times through the simulated region are presented to illustrate a typical use of the testbed and to identify certain requirements for achieving reliable travel time predictions using online simulations.
Pharmacologic Management of Alzheimer Disease Part III: Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs — Emerging Protective Evidence?

OBJECTIVE:To provide information about research evaluating the role of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the prevention, or delay in the onset of, Alzheimer disease (AD).DATA SOURCES:Studies, review articles, and editorials identified from MEDLINE searches (January 1990–December 1996) and bibliographies of identified articles. The addendum lists articles from 1996 to June 1999.STUDY SELECTION:Studies, review articles, and editorials addressing NSAIDs and AD pharmacotherapy research.DATA EXTRACTION:Pertinent information was selected and the data synthesized into a review format.DATA SYNTHESIS:AD is a complex disorder and there are numerous factors involved in the process. The pathology of AD is characterized by the development of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. In addition, more than 40 immunoprotective proteins that are not unique to AD are found at autopsy that are normally absent, or present in very low concentrations, in normal brain. These findings suggest that AD may involv...
Operating guidelines - an automata-theoretic foundation for the service-oriented architecture

In the service-oriented architecture (SOA), we distinguish three roles of service owners: service providers, service requesters, and service brokers. Each service provider publishes information to the broker about how requesters can interact with its service. Thus, the broker can assign a fitting service provider to a querying requester. We propose the information published to the broker to be operating guidelines. Operating guidelines are essentially communication instructions for the service requester. We present an automata-theoretic approach that is centered around operating guidelines and is capable of implementing all tasks arising in the SOA.
Code coverage testing using hardware performance monitoring support

Code coverage analysis, the process of finding code exercised by a particular set of test inputs, is an important component of software development and verification. Most traditional methods of implementing code coverage analysis tools are based on program instrumentation. These methods typically incur high overhead due to the insertion and execution of instrumentation code, and are not deployable in many software environments. Hardware-based sampling techniques attempt to lower overhead by leveraging existing Hardware Performance Monitoring (HPM) support for program counter (PC) sampling. While PC-sampling incurs lower levels of overhead, it does not provide complete coverage information. This paper extends the HPM approach in two ways. First, it utilizes the sampling of branch vectors which are supported on modern processors. Second, compiler analysis is performed on branch vectors to extend the amount of code coverage information derived from each sample. This paper shows that although HPM is generally used to guide performance improvement efforts, there is substantial promise in leveraging the HPM information for code debugging and verification. The combination of sampled branch vectors and compiler analysis can be used to attain upwards of 80% of the actual code coverage.
Services and Intimate Partner Violence in the United States: A County‐Level Analysis

Despite the prevalence of intimate partner violence and its social costs, we show that many counties lack services to help victims and that community resources play a significant role in determining the likelihood of service provision. Because resources are often generated at the local level and state and federal funding usually require a grant proposal, services for victims of intimate partner violence are more likely to be available in well-resourced areas with a major college or university in the county. Analysis of the changes in the provision of services since the Violence Against Women Act was introduced suggests that funding needs to be specifically targeted to underserved areas.
Plant a tree in cyberspace: metaphor and analogy as design elements in Web-based learning environments.

Analogy and metaphor are figurative forms of communication that help people integrate new information with prior knowledge to facilitate comprehension and appropriate inferences. The novelty and ve...
New records of invasive exotic plant species in St. Lucie County, Florida.

Abstract Eighteen category one invasive species as defined by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council and nine category two invasive species are newly recorded for St. Lucie County, Florida as the result of surveys done by the authors from August through November 2003. These records document the rapid spread and need for increased monitoring of invasive species and the documentation of these specimens through the collection of herbarium voucher specimens. These records also highlight the gaps present in specimen vouchers in areas such as St. Lucie County due to a lack of monitoring.
Role of MicroRNAs in Cardiac Hypertrophy and Postinfarction Remodeling

A family of small noncoding RNAs, termed microRNAs (miRNAs), plays critical roles in multiple physiological and pathological processes by ­negatively modulating gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. Cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial infarction, which are among the major causes of heart failure, have been found to be accompanied by dysregulated expression of miRNAs, suggesting that miRNA-mediated gene regulation is involved in cardiovascular ­pathogenesis. Loss- and gain-of-function studies by genetic or pharmacological manipulation of individual miRNAs further reveal that these small RNAs play critical regulatory roles in hypertrophy and postinfarction remodeling. Numerous miRNAs are cardiac protective, while some others are apparently detrimental during cardiac remodeling. Intriguingly, the functional consequences of some miRNAs in the heart appear to be cell type specific. Although the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of most miRNAs still remain elusive, their key regulatory roles in cardiac pathogenesis make them promising targets for therapeutic intervention. Here, we summarize the recent progress made in understanding the function and mechanisms of individual miRNAs in cardiac hypertrophy and postinfarction remodeling. The biological and clinical implications of miRNAs in the cardiovascular system are also discussed.
Design and Synthesis of Molecular Scaffolds with Anti-infective Activity.

The discovery and development of new anti-infectives is an important contemporary challenge to modern society. This challenge must be met with matching creativity and enthusiasm by chemists to avoid losing the battle with emerging strains of drug-resistant microbes. A series of case studies from our lab are presented, demonstrating our continued efforts in the areas of synthetic design, total synthesis of natural products, structure revision, and bioactive scaffold diversification. Together, these are used to highlight the power and utility of chemical synthesis to uniquely address challenges in the discovery and development of novel antibiotic compounds, particularly within the context of natural products scaffolds.
Burma and Cambodia: Human Rights, Social Disruption, and the Spread of HIV/AIDS.

This article discusses issues on human rights social disruption and the spread of HIV/AIDS in Burma and Cambodia. Several studies show that HIV spreads fastest where social life is chaotic poverty endemic and rights violated which is particularly true in the poorest and most strife-torn nations of the world. However the argument around the issues raised by HIV/AIDS and human rights has focused on the protection of individuals or groups affected by the disease from rights violations. Thus HIV/AIDS prevention and control programs may need to address the prevailing human rights situation in countries suffering from national ethnic or political conflicts. Burma had an epidemic of HIV among its large population of injecting drug users while Cambodia underwent a similar rise in HIV rates among sex workers and their clients. In 1996 Burma had approximately 500000 cases of HIV infection while Cambodia had 50000-90000. To better understand the ongoing spread of HIV in these countries political social and human rights analyses are necessary.
The Atlantic Rim Telemedicine Summit

The Transatlantic Telemedicine Summit was convened to facilitate the international exchange of ideas and experiences regarding anticipated obstacles to the deployment of telemedicine in and among Atlantic Rim countries. Presented here is a review and summary of the Summit, as well as the principal recommendations derived from the proceedings. These recommendations provide a basis for the further development of cooperative efforts in international telemedicine.
A COST OF REPRODUCTION IN A TERRESTRIAL ISOPOD.

Species that reproduce repeatedly over their lifetimes typically allocate energy to both their reproductive activities and their non-reproductive, somatic activities. Fisher (1930) first posed the evolutionary problem of understanding not merely the physiological mechanism of this energy allocation, but also the ultimate question of how the allocation pattern affects an organism's long-term reproduction. Williams (1966) extended this idea, examining the balance of an organism's immediate reproductive interests and its future reproductive potential. Fisher first developed the concept of reproductive value, an organism's expectation of future offspring. Williams partitioned reproductive value into a component for current reproduction, and residual reproductive value which represents future reproduction beyond the current reproductive activities. Energy allocated to current reproduction entails costs to somatic development, and thus potentially to reductions in residual reproductive value. Tinkle (1969) suggested various reproductive behaviors in lizards, including bright coloration, courtship and parental care, among others, that may decrease life expectancy and therefore be costs of reproduction. Gadgil and Bossert (1970) determined that the amount of growth should be regulated to maximize the individual's fitness. For some indeterminate growth organisms, reproduction could detract from growth and therefore decrease fitness at a later stage. Snell and King (1977) have data suggesting an inverse relationship between reproductive rate and lifespan. Law (1979) showed that high rates of reproduction early in life lead to smaller plant size and possibly increased mortality, also. Calow (1979) emphasizes the importance of finding these negative correlations between reproductive output and residual reproductive value and possibly even understanding the causal basis for them. Some costs of reproduction can be demonstrated in the terrestrial isopod, Armadillidium vulgare. Armadillidium vulgare exhibits indeterminate growth; larger females can be nearly ten times the live weight of the smallest sexually mature females. Clearly females invest a large portion of the energy they assimilate to somatic growth instead of reproduction. In
Deepening Drug Shortages

The federal government is trying to shore up supplies of life-saving drugs, but for now, fundamental aspects of the market for specialized generic medications are working against it.
SPORE GERMINATION AND MICROCYCLE CONIDIATION OF TWO PENICILLIA IN SOIL

Laboratory-produced spores of two penicillia isolated from soil were placed onto PVC membrane filters, inserted into microholders and buried in the A horizon of an oak-birch forest. After various intervals of time incubation filters were retrieved, stained, and mounted on glass slides for examination. Characteristics of growth and germination of Penicillium daleae and P. bilaii in the laboratory and in the soil were then compared. Spores of these indigenous soil fungi, reinoculated into the soil, germinated slowly, requiring several days for swelling and germ tube protrusion. The most significant observation was the occurrence of a microcycle in which germ tube volume was reduced, mycelial growth was eliminated, and conidiation consisted of a diminution in complexity of reproductive structures by decreasing the number of phialides in the penicillus and reducing spore volume. The typical life cycle of imperfect fungi includes germination from a swollen conidium, formation of mycelium, production of reproductive structures, and sporulation. Under certain environmental conditions, however, this is shortened to a microcycle when the mycelial stage is eliminated. These cycles have been demonstrated in vitro for a variety of microorganisms including Aspergillus niger Micheli (Anderson and Smith, 1971), Penicillium urticae Bain (Sekiguchi et al, 1975) and Phomopsis viticola Sacc. (Pezet et al, 1983). Microcycle conidiation is shown in the present study to also occur in soil. The ecological importance of such a system has significant implications to the survival and activity of fungi in this habitat. The study of microcycle conidiation was based on a new method in which spores of two soil penicillia, Penicillium daleae Zaleski and P. bilaii Chalabuda, are reinoculated into the soil on membrane filters in specially designed micro? holders (Gochenaur and Sheehan, 1980). After various periods of incubation in the soil, filters are removed, stained to assess spore viability and examined under the light microscope. Information derived from such a study is critical for predicting the role of microfungi in secondary productivity (Heal and Maclean, 1975) and in estimating the rate of nutrient turnover and substrate mineralization in litter based ecosystems (Dickinson, 1974).
Reaction of an iron(IV) nitrido complex with cyclohexadienes: cycloaddition and hydrogen-atom abstraction.

The iron(IV) nitrido complex PhB(MesIm)3Fe≡N reacts with 1,3-cyclohexadiene to yield the iron(II) pyrrolide complex PhB(MesIm)3Fe(η5-C4H4N) in high yield. The mechanism of product formation is proposed to involve sequential [4 + 1] cycloaddition and retro Diels–Alder reactions. Surprisingly, reaction with 1,4-cyclohexadiene yields the same iron-containing product, albeit in substantially lower yield. The proposed reaction mechanism, supported by electronic structure calculations, involves hydrogen-atom abstraction from 1,4-cyclohexadiene to provide the cyclohexadienyl radical. This radical is an intermediate in substrate isomerization to 1,3-cyclohexadiene, leading to formation of the pyrrolide product.
Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Children's Products: Limitations of Current Responses and Recommendations for Government and Industry

Hazardous substances in consumer products are a constant worry. Because children have less body mass and are developing rapidly, toxic chemicals in toys are of particular concern. Recent studies have revealed alarming levels of cadmium and lead in products intended for children and compounds in plastics, such as phthalates and bisphenol A, that are suspected of harmful effects. As Europe has introduced REACH and the U.S. is reviewing TSCA, regulators are confronting the issue, but an increasing global market poses problems of jurisdictional reach and supply chain management. In this Feature, Becker et al. review the situation and make recommendations on ways forward.
Commercial Hair Sprays as Fixatives for Hematological Cytochemistry

Commercial hair sprays have been found to be excellent cytological fixatives for a variety of enzymatic and nonenzymatic hematological staining procedures. Of the varieties evaluated, not all were found suitable for each staining procedure tested. With some preparations, excellent leukocyte morphology and preservation of reaction product was obtained after staining for carbohydrates (PAS), lipid (Sudan black), nucleic acids (methyl green-pyronin), peroxidase, M-nadi oxidase and alkaline phosphatase. These spray preparations are remarkably inexpensive, readily stored, and stable and simple to use. The fixative ability is probably related to their polyvinylpyrrolidine and alcohol content.
Prostate cancer: endogenous chemical castration.

We report treatment of intermediate risk prostate cancer in a patient with a brief period of androgen deprivation secondary to a pituitary adenoma. This was a patient with intermediate risk prostate cancer diagnosed in the setting of an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The patient subsequently demonstrated a decline in PSA along with symptoms of hypogonadism and visual disturbance, and was consequently found to have a pituitary tumour. Trans-sphenoidal resection of the sellar mass was performed with normalisation of hormone profiles. The patient subsequently completed a course of radiation therapy for prostate cancer with PSA nadir to undetectable levels without evidence of biochemical recurrence at 7 months follow-up.
Epidemiological Analysis of Rabies in Lujiang Country

Objective To learn epidemiological features and laws of rabies and provide scientific evidence for rabies prevention and control.Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was applied to analyze the data of the epidemic rabies during 2004~2007 in Lujiang country.Results The average reported incidence of children rabies was 0.147/lakh;peasants,children and students were the high-risk population;summer and autumn were the major seasons of incidence;the dog density was 80.69%,the immunization rate of dogs was zero.Conclusions Prevention and control work should be strengthened through improving the canine management,promoting knowledge of rabies prevention,training of grassroots medical staff,and immune to high-risk population before the exposed.
Obstetric anesthesia as a neonatal risk factor in normal labor and delivery.

Since almost all drugs promptly cross the placenta, the average newborn infant is usually given potent medication before and during birth. More than 10 years ago Desmond et al.19 noted that it is only in newborn medicine that a patient exposed to powerful anesthetic agents is not closely observed in a recovery room. Babies that do not show significant alterations in vital signs (i.e., low Apgar scores) are labelled normal and sent to a “well baby” nursery for their adaptation to extrauterine life, generally without close scrutiny.
Mindfulness and Performance: Cautionary Notes on a Compelling Concept

As Hyland, Lee, and Mills (2015) note, many conceptualizations of mindfulness include three characteristics. In particular, mindfulness is often defined as a state of consciousness in which an individual (a) focuses on the present moment, (b) attends to phenomena occurring both externally and internally, and (c) remains open to and accepting of observed stimuli—and thus avoids making judgments. Together, these characteristics grant insight into how mindfulness stands to improve performance in work settings. Just as directing attention to the work environment and the tasks and events associated with it can equip workers with key information for making decisions and help them identify and circumvent risks and threats, so too can attending to internal phenomena (e.g., emotions and intuitions) provide workers with useful inputs to the decisions they face (Dane, 2011). Furthermore, in refraining from making judgments and evaluations, workers are more likely to view unfolding events through a variety of lenses and are less likely to view their thoughts, feelings, and reactions as manifestations or indictments of who they are (Glomb, Duffy, Bono, & Yang, 2011). In line with these observations, researchers have hypothesized and provided evidence for positive relationships between mindfulness and the well-being and performance of workers (e.g., Allen & Kiburz, 2012; Dane & Brummel, 2014; Hulsheger, Alberts, Feinholdt, & Lang, 2013).
Molecular diagnosis and clinical decisions in adult acute leukemia.

Abstract A number of relatively new molecularly based diagnostic tests are now available to the physician involved in the treatment of patients with acute leukemia. These assays have considerable potential to improve prognostic accuracy, to aid in the selection of therapy, and to substantially enhance the ability to monitor results of treatment. Cytogenetic analysis now is the most important diagnostic test for determining prognosis and selecting therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and arguably, in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as well. The accuracy of cytogenetics in many cases can be enhanced through the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays. Molecularly based assays of the leukemia cell's sensitivity or resistance to particular classes of drugs are beginning to emerge as potentially important tools for selecting therapies. Studies using molecular markers of disease to monitor response to therapy are yielding important clues about the biology of leukemia and are increasingly being used to guide therapy. The best uses of these new molecularly based assays are still uncertain and are the subjects of a large number of current clinic trials. While questions abound about their full potential, almost without question they will change the way we think about, diagnose, and treat leukemia.
Spatial Health Inequalities: Adapting GIS Tools and Data Analysis

The neighborhoods and the biophysical, political, and cultural environments all play a key role in affecting health outcomes of individuals. Unequal spatial distribution of resources such as clinics, hospitals, public transportation, fresh food markets, and schools could make some communities as a whole more vulnerable and less resilient to adverse health effects. This somber reality suggests that it is rather the question of "who you are depends upon where you are" and the fact that health inequality is both a people and a place concern. That is why health inequality needs to be investigated in a spatial setting to deepen our understanding of why and how some geographical areas experience poorer health than others. This book introduces how spatial context shapes health inequalities. Spatial Health Inequalities: Adapting GIS Tools and Data Analysis demonstrates the spatial health inequalities in six most important topics in environmental and public health, including food insecurity, birth health outcomes, infectious diseases, children’s lead poisoning, chronic diseases, and health care access. These are the topics that the author has done extensive research on and provides a detailed description of the topic from a global perspective. Each chapter identifies relevant data and data sources, discusses key literature on appropriate techniques, and then illustrates with real data with mapping and GIS techniques. This is a unique book for students, geographers, clinicians, health and research professionals and community members interested in applying GIS and spatial analysis to the study of health inequalities.
Endomorphisms of Elliptic Curves

The isomorphism classification of elliptic curves was carried out completely in terms of the Weierstrass equation with a minimum of algebraic geometry. This was possible because an isomorphism between two curves with equation in normal form is given by simple formulas. The situation with homorphisms is not so easy and more algebraic geometry is needed. The exception to this is multiplication by 2 and the 2-isogeny, see 4(5.2).
Graph‐based optimization of epitope coverage for vaccine antigen design

Epigraph is a recently developed algorithm that enables the computationally efficient design of single or multi-antigen vaccines to maximize the potential epitope coverage for a diverse pathogen population. Potential epitopes are defined as short contiguous stretches of proteins, comparable in length to T-cell epitopes. This optimal coverage problem can be formulated in terms of a directed graph, with candidate antigens represented as paths that traverse this graph. Epigraph protein sequences can also be used as the basis for designing peptides for experimental evaluation of immune responses in natural infections to highly variable proteins. The epigraph tool suite also enables rapid characterization of populations of diverse sequences from an immunological perspective. Fundamental distance measures are based on immunologically relevant shared potential epitope frequencies, rather than simple Hamming or phylogenetic distances. Here, we provide a mathematical description of the epigraph algorithm, include a comparison of different heuristics that can be used when graphs are not acyclic, and we describe an additional tool we have added to the web-based epigraph tool suite that provides frequency summaries of all distinct potential epitopes in a population. We also show examples of the graphical output and summary tables that can be generated using the epigraph tool suite and explain their content and applications. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Statistics in Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Electrocardiographic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Predicts Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality in Hypertensive Patients: The ALLHAT Study.

BACKGROUND Electrocardiographic (ECG) left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. However, the predictive value of ECG LVH in treated hypertensive patients remains unclear. METHODS A total of 33,357 patients (aged ≥ 55 years) with hypertension and at least 1 other coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factor were randomized to chlorthalidone, amlodipine, or lisinopril. The outcome of the present study was all-cause mortality; and secondary endpoints were CHD, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, angina, heart failure (HF), and peripheral arterial disease. Cornell voltage criteria (S in V3 + R in aVL > 28 [men] or >22 mm [women]) defined ECG LVH. RESULTS ECGs were available at baseline in 26,384 patients. Baseline Cornell voltage LVH was present in 1,741 (7%) patients, who were older (67.4 vs. 66.6 years, P < 0.001), more likely to be female (74 vs. 44%, P < 0001) with a higher systolic blood pressure (151 vs. 146 mm Hg, P < 0.001) than patients without ECG LVH. During 5.0 ± 1.4 years mean follow-up, baseline and in-study ECG LVH was significantly associated with 29 to 98% increased risks of all-cause mortality, MI, CHD, stroke, and HF in multivariable Cox analyses. CONCLUSIONS Baseline Cornell voltage LVH is associated with increased CV morbidity and all-cause mortality in treated hypertensive patients independent of treatment modality and other CV risk factors. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION Trial Number NCT00000542.
Hope theory as applied to brief treatments: Problem-solving and solution-focused therapies.

Publisher Summary The chapter elucidates the application of hope theory to forms of brief therapy. Although brief forms of therapy are not new, with the emergence of managed care, the paradigm shift to the brief therapy as the primary modality is relatively recent. Beyond simply shortening the overall length of psychotherapy, scholars are attempting to identify necessary components of psychological change that occur within a brief time frame. Based on recent research, it appears that the behavioral activation component of cognitive-behavioral therapies yields improvement of the same magnitude as that found in the full therapeutic protocol. The chapter focuses on two forms of brief therapy—Problem-Solving Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy—with conceptual overlays on the hope theory. In both of these treatment approaches, therapists emphasize helping clients change their generalized abilities to solve problems. The chapter highlights that therapists using these treatment approaches instill generalized expectancies for solving problems in reaching desired goals,in other words, foster hope. The chapter explores each psychotherapeutic approach and in turn, discusses its conceptual overlap with the hope theory. In order to illustrate how the hope theory relates to each approach in a practical way, it focuses on a clinical application of each approach to a common therapeutic problem using a hope theory perspective. Finally, it details the conceptual similarities of these brief forms of therapy in relation to each other as well as to the hope theory.
Creating Intentional Paths to Citizenship: An Analysis of Participation in Student Organizations

This study examines undergraduate students’ that graduated from a Midwestern university in May 2013 through December 2015 and their perception of their development of core competencies identified by Bok (2006), related to their participation in student organizations. The results indicated that students who participate in student organizations are significantly more likely to develop citizenship and other related skills and abilities. Furthermore, their degree of involvement, measured by the number of organizations they participate in, their level of involvement and the role students have within the organization can impact their development of competencies.
Review on Polarization Selective Terahertz Metamaterials: from Chiral Metamaterials to Stereometamaterials

In this article, recent progress and development of terahertz chiral metamaterials including stereometamaterials are thoroughly reviewed. This review mainly focuses on the fundamental principles of design and arrangement of meta-atoms in metamaterials exhibiting chirality with various asymmetry and symmetry and 2D and 3D configuration. Related optical and propagation properties in chiral metamaterials, such as optical activity, circular dichroism, and negative refraction for each different chiral metamaterials, are compared and investigated. Finally, comparison between chiral metamaterials with stereometamaterials in terms of the polarization selective operation along with the similarity and the distinction is addressed as well.
Genetic risk factors in Parkinson’s disease

Over the last two decades, we have witnessed a revolution in the field of Parkinson’s disease (PD) genetics. Great advances have been made in identifying many loci that confer a risk for PD, which has subsequently led to an improved understanding of the molecular pathways involved in disease pathogenesis. Despite this success, it is predicted that only a relatively small proportion of the phenotypic variability has been explained by genetics. Therefore, it is clear that common heritable components of disease are still to be identified. Dissecting the genetic architecture of PD constitutes a critical effort in identifying therapeutic targets and although such substantial progress has helped us to better understand disease mechanism, the route to PD disease-modifying drugs is a lengthy one. In this review, we give an overview of the known genetic risk factors in PD, focusing not on individual variants but the larger networks that have been implicated following comprehensive pathway analysis. We outline the challenges faced in the translation of risk loci to pathobiological relevance and illustrate the need for integrating big-data by noting success in recent work which adopts a broad-scale screening approach. Lastly, with PD genetics now progressing from identifying risk to predicting disease, we review how these models will likely have a significant impact in the future.
Differences in Seed Set and Fill of Cultivars of Miscanthus Grown in USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 5 and Their Potential for Invasiveness

Miscanthus sinensis Andersson has become a very popular ornamental grass used in a variety of horticultural settings, yet in many states it now appears on invasive species lists. Many cultivars have been released with a range of different characteristics that likely increase or decrease their invasive potential in different climates. To determine the fecundity, and by extension, the invasive potential of cultivars currently sold in USDA cold hardiness Zone 5, thirty-one cultivars of M. sinensis (Maiden grass, Chinese silver grass) along with one Miscanthus subspecies cultivar (M. sinensis Andersson subsp. condensatus (Hack.) T. Koyamama ‘Cabaret’), one Miscanthus hybrid (M. × giganteus J.M. Greef & Deuter ex Hodk. Renvoize), and one related species (M. sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Hack.) were transplanted into a common garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Cook County, IL, and evaluated for flowering, growth habit, and seed viability. Over the course of the 5-year trial period, 68.1% of all plants survived. ...
Virtual Leadership in Complex Multiorganizational Research and Development Programs

A 2002 congressional mandate initiated the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Centers of Excellence programs with a requirement to conduct cross-organizational research and development. The resulting complex multiorganizational programs required more effective virtual leadership and management strategies. Despite the growing government investment in these programs over the past decade, evidence indicates a persistent lack of complex virtual management strategies that account for the intended research outcomes and interdisciplinary expectations of these multiorganizational programs. As top academic researchers are drawn upon to organize and manage multiorganizational programs, the management challenge in a virtual collaborative context engenders interesting research questions. Using complex-systems and leader-member exchange theories, we report findings from a case study of Centers of Excellence program participants’ perspectives regarding virtual leadership. The findings inform the development of an engagement framework and suggest that targeted training might be conducive to positive social change for future leaders of similar complex multiorganizational virtual programs
Identifying Factors that Influence Corporate Information Security Behavior.

In this paper, we present a social/behavioral meta-study of good corporate information security practices. The research model combines social cognitive theory and control theory in order to explain the individual and environmental factors that influence corporate information security behavior. The model includes employees’ beliefs about their abilities to competently use computer information security tools in the determination of effective information security practices within organizations. We present the definition and operationalization of constructs such as information security awareness and information security practice as the dependent variable and then support within the organization, encouragement by others, others’ use as environmental factors in the information security context; and finally, self-efficacy and outcome expectations as the independent variables of the model. This research model is aimed to develop an effective audit and recommendation model for organizations that are looking to make significant improvements in their information security profiles.
Study of off-stoichiometric aluminum nitride thin films: a simple method of fabricating distributed Bragg reflector for ultraviolet A by RF magnetron sputtering (Conference Presentation)

Aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films were studied to assess the dependence of their optical properties on their chemical and structural characteristics. The AlN thin films used for the study were deposited by RF magnetron sputtering with an aluminum nitride target reactively sputtered with a mixture of Ar and N2 gases.Resulting AlN thin films were further studied in the form of Distributed Bragg Reﬂector (DBR) that consists of stoichiometric AlN thin films (high-n layer) and an off-stoichiometric AlN thin films (low-n layer). The DBR was designed for the UV-A spectrum region exploiting negligible extinction coefficient of these AlN thin films, demonstrating the fabrication of DBR with a single sputtering target. By incrementally adding a high-n/low-n pair, the evolution of optical properties of the DBR was studied with respect to its structural transformation.
Atomic Force Microscopy of Phase Separation on Ruptured, Giant Unilamellar Vesicles, and a Mechanical Pathway for the Co-Existence of Lipid Gel Phases

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are synthetic model systems widely used in biophysical studies of lipid membranes. Although SLBs are advantageous for biophysical analysis, phase separation behaviors of lipid species in these two model systems can differ due to the lipid-substrate interactions that are present only for SLBs. In the present study, we report that in binary systems, certain phase domains on GUVs retain their original shapes and patterns after the GUVs rupture on glass surfaces. This enabled atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments on phase domains, a procedure difficult to perform and interpret when applied to GUVs. Unusual phase behavior was evident in binary GUVs containing DLPC and either DPPC or DSPC. These DLPC/DSPC and DLPC/DPPC GUVs both presented the thermodynamic anomaly of having two co-existing gel phases. One phase (a bright phase) included a relatively high concentration of DiI-C20 but excluded Bodipy-HPC, and the other (dark phase) excluded both probes. The bright phases are of interest because they seem to stabilize dark phases against coalescence. Results suggested that the gel phases labeled by DiIC20 in the DLPC/DSPC membrane, which surround the dark gel phase, is an extra layer of membrane, indicating a highly curved structure that might stabilize the interior dark domains, thereby enabling the co-existence of two different gel phases. Results show the utility of AFM on collapsed GUVs, and suggest a possible mechanism for stabilization of lipid domains.
The Discovery of an Orally Efficacious Positive Allosteric Modulator of the Calcium Sensing Receptor Containing a Dibenzylamine Core.

New compound (III) supresses plasma PTH levels relative to vehicle, when dosed orally in a rat pharmacodynamic model.
Paraphyletic Syringa (Oleaceae): Evidence from Sequences of Nuclear Ribosomal DNA ITS and ETS Regions

Sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS and ETS regions were used to examine phylogenetic relationships of Syringa and Ligustrum. Twenty-seven samples were included in parsimony analyses, representing all major groups of these two genera. Two species of Fraxinus and one species of Jasminum were also included in analyses for rooting purposes. In the resulting phylogenetic hypothesis series Syringa (Syringa) diverges first and is followed by the monotypic series Pinnatifoliae (Syringa), which is sister to a clade containing the remaining species of Syringa and species of Ligustrum. However, this sister relationship is weakly supported. Our results support the recognition of monophyletic groups corresponding to subgenus Ligustrina, and series Syringa, Pubescentes ,a ndVillosae, and suggest that Ligustrum as a monophyletic group is derived from within Syringa, such that Syringa as traditionally circumscribed is paraphyletic. Forcing Syringa to be mono- phyletic entails nine extra steps, which is significant, as judged by the Templeton test. Parasyringa sempervirens is phyloge- netically embedded within the Ligustrum clade, supporting its placement in Ligustrum. Berries are a synapomorphy of Ligustrum species, and the dehiscent berry of Parasyringa sempervirens is likely to be an evolutionary reversal towards a capsule, which is characteristic of Syringa. The evolution of berries might have contributed to an accelerated rate of speciation in Ligustrum.
Competition Theory and the Case for Pleistocene Hominin-Carnivore Co-evolution

Virtually every period in human evolutionary history provides examples of co-evolutionary processes with animal, plant or fungi species. Some of the earliest examples of co-evolutionary processes come from zooarchaeological studies of human interactions with members of the order Carnivora. Archaeological research on this subject goes back 50 years or more and follows numerous conceptual paths. This paper explores ideas and some of the evidence of hominin-carnivore co-evolutionary processes from the viewpoint of evolutionary ecology and the extent to which these ideas have progressed in recent decades. The challenge is to demonstrate that the evolutionary paths of co-evolving species were mutually constrained. Some key behavioral outcomes among humans include non-primate behaviors such as habitual food transport, extensive food sharing and efficient processing of animal foods-behaviors also critical to the success of many of the social carnivores. Another outcome argued to have arisen from co-evolutionary relations is partial complementarity in the patterns of prey age selection among humans and other large predators across African and Eurasian ecosystems. At the heart of ideas about cause in hominin-carnivore co-evolution are competition models.
Media multitasking in the classroom: Problematic mobile phone use and impulse control as predictors of texting in the classroom

The present study investigated the relation among texting in the classroom, problematic mobile phone use, and executive function. Undergraduate students aged between 18 and 25 years old (68 males and 95 females) completed questionnaires to assess the frequency of texting in the classroom as well as levels of problematic mobile phone use and executive functioning. Hierarchical regressions were performed to evaluate the relative contributions of problematic mobile phone use and executive function in predicting the frequency of texting in class. The results show that problematic mobile phone use was a significant predictor of texting in the classroom after controlling for age, gender, and years of education. The results also show that a subscale of executive function, impulse control, was a significant predictor of texting in the classroom over and above problematic mobile phone use after controlling for the demographic variables. These results support a general conclusion that problematic mobile phone use and impulse control are important factors in one form of media multitasking—texting in the classroom.