cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visceral adiposity index and its association with Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet scores among older adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2011–2014

Summary Background & aims The visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been shown to be a reliable estimate of visceral adiposity, but little is known about its association with specific dietary patterns such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, particularly in older adults. Many studies have shown the DASH diet to be beneficial for cardiometabolic health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between DASH diet scores and the VAI in older adults using a nationally representative dataset. Methods Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 2011 to 2014, data from 508 community-dwelling older adults were examined, and dietary intake was evaluated using the Dixon's DASH diet index. Using multiple linear regression analysis, the relationship between VAI and DASH diet score was assessed while controlling for demographic variables. Results Participants' average DASH diet score was 2.41 (SE = 0.07), and the average VAI was 1.55 (SE = 0.08). The results suggest a significant inverse relationship between the DASH diet and VAI (β = −0.19, t = −2.73, p = 0.009). Conclusions Results of this study suggest that protective properties of the DASH diet pattern may be due in part to its inverse relationship with visceral adiposity. This information supports practitioners' use of the VAI with older adults in addition to providing nutrition counseling with the DASH diet to reduce patients' cardiometabolic risk.
Paying with Information

A principal who has a project with uncertain returns must retain and incentivize an agent using promise of future payments and information control. The agent's effort produces output and facilitates information gathering. The principal controls the informativeness of the agent's effort by choosing how much information to gather based on completed tasks. Unless retention is harder to achieve than effort incentives, equilibrium features either immediate learning or no learning. When retention is harder, equilibrium features one of two outcomes: immediate learning, whereby the agent's compensation is low, learning is immediate and retention is possible only conditional on the project being of high quality; or gradual learning, whereby the agent's compensation is high, learning is gradual, the agent never quits and effort is inefficiently high.
Management of Articular Cartilage Defects of the Knee

Articular cartilage has a poor intrinsic capacity for healing. The goal of surgical techniques to repair articular cartilage injuries is to achieve the regeneration of organized hyaline cartilage. Microfracture and other bone marrow stimulation techniques involve penetration of the subchondral plate in order to recruit mesenchymal stem cells into the chondral defect. The formation of a stable clot that fills the lesion is of paramount importance to achieve a successful outcome. Mosaicplasty is a viable option with which to address osteochondral lesions of the knee and offers the advantage of transplanting hyaline cartilage. However, limited graft availability and donor site morbidity are concerns. Transplantation of an osteochondral allograft consisting of intact, viable articular cartilage and its underlying subchondral bone offers the ability to address large osteochondral defects of the knee, including those involving an entire compartment. The primary theoretical advantage of autologous chondrocyte implantation is the development of hyaline-like cartilage rather than fibrocartilage in the defect, which presumably leads to better long-term outcomes and longevity of the healing tissue. Use of synthetic scaffolds is a potentially attractive alternative to traditional cartilage procedures as they are readily available and, unlike allogeneic tissue transplants, are associated with no risk of disease transmission. Their efficacy, however, has not been proven clinically.
Extreme Winter Weather: A Force to be Remembered in Dermatopathology

It is important for the dermatopathologist to be adept in differentiating tissue artifacts from normal tissue variants and pathologies. Numerous tissue artifacts have been described to date; however, once we are familiar with the common artifacts that appear in our practice, we may not immediately recognize other confounders. For example, dermatopathologists in more temperate regions of the country may not be familiar with freezing artifact. In this case series, we present three common diagnoses in dermatopathology that were obscured by the extreme winter weather that severely impacted the Southern United States in February 2021 and discuss methods to prevent these artifacts.
Metabolism of the developing brain: Retrospective [18F]FDG analysis in a pediatric cohort.

1608 Objectives: During development, the brain undergoes anatomical and functional changes that include a series of organizational events such as proliferation of neurons and their migration to specific loci. The metabolic evolution of the maturing brain from birth has not been extensively studied. Furthermore, the advent of PET imaging and various metabolic radiotracers can enhance our understanding of anatomical, functional, and organizational changes that occur in the developing brain. It is the aim of this retrospective study to delineate these metabolic changes in a cohort of pediatric patients undergoing [18F]FDG PET/CT scintigraphy. Methods: IRB approval was obtained. We retrospectively identified patients aged 0-21 years who underwent FDG PET/CT which included the entire brain. Suboptimal studies due to poor pre-procedural preparation or patients with underlying brain pathology were excluded. Nuclear medicine imaging software (HybridRecon, Hermes Med Solutions, Stockholm) was used to interrogate brain regions (frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal lobes, brain stem, thalamus, basal ganglia) obtaining SUV measurements; measurement of liver, blood pool, soft tissue, heart, and brown fat were also obtained. An adult cohort without underlying brain pathology was used as control. Results: 97 studies in 55 children (27M; 28F) and 5 controls (2M; 3F) were analyzed. SUVmax of each brain region shows a general upward trend over the first 2 decades. By linear regression, the greatest effect was found in the occipital lobe followed by parietal lobe, basal ganglia, frontal lobe and thalamus. Smaller increases in FDG consumption over time were observed in the temporal lobe and brain stem. Although a clear trend was observed, there was large variability between different subjects and within different scans of the same subject. Conclusion: Metabolic changes occurring in the brain in relation to cognitive and behavioral maturational milestones are essential in understanding structural and functional morphologies in both normal and especially disease states. Our in-vivo study confirms in man the results of many animal investigations which have demonstrated that cerebral oxygen and glucose consumption in developing rats follow a sigmoid rise between birth and adulthood as the immature brain uses ketone bodies as substrates for energy metabolism and biosynthesis, sparing glucose which is in low supply in the early developmental period. The point at which the brain transitions between metabolic substrates in specific regions may have far reaching implications in normal and pathologic development and should be a basis for future investigations.
Using Artificial Intelligence for Medical Condition Prediction and Decision-Making for COVID-19 Patients

Covid-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 has claimed numerous lives around the world. We developed a novel predictive model based on machine learning algorithms to predict the mortality risk of patients with COVID-19. In this study, we used documented data of 117,000 patients worldwide with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. This study proposes a predictive model to help hospitals and medical facilities decide who has higher priority to be hospitalized and triage patients when the system is overwhelmed by overcrowding. The results demonstrate 93% overall accuracy in predicting the mortality rate. We used a number of machine learning algorithms including artificial neural networks, support vector machine (SVM), and random forest to predict the mortality rate in patients with COVID-19. In this study, the most alarming symptoms and features were also identified.
Magnetoplasmonic Nanoparticles for Enhanced Nucleic Acid Detection

We report a highly sensitive DNA fluorescence sensor using molecular beacon-functionalized magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles. The sensor possesses both plasmonic and magnetic properties to enhance the sensing signal. The limit of detection of 1 pM was achieved.
The Changing Climate of the Polar Regions

The Arctic is Earth’s most sensitive region for climate change. For at least 100,000 years, the Arctic Ocean has been covered by white, highly reflective sea ice. Although there is now evidence that humans may have lived on some of the shores of the Arctic Ocean west of the ice cap over eastern North America some 40,000 years ago, this Polar Region has until recently remained very cold even during the Arctic summer. These perennial frigid conditions have insured a stable atmospheric high-pressure system over the Arctic.
Evolving Human Resource (HR) Management to Cope with Disruptive Innovation Technologies

Businesses are responding to the threat of disruptive innovation technologies by upgrading their capabilities and practices. These upgrades ensure implementing organizations become more adaptable, and flexible, with respect to their ability to alter business strategies in response to changing market conditions. Due to its orientation, the HR profession has traditionally had no involvement with shaping a company’s strategic business path. In today’s environment, however, businesses are requiring the HR role to transform from a traditional administrative service to one with a strategic focus that adds value to business operations. HR professionals now share with executive management the responsibility to instill innovation into the organizations they support. By having a renewed interest in creating synergy, taking steps to ignite employee engagement, undertaking the new role of creating value for business operations, being the steward of the company’s brand, calculating the knowledge value of employees, leveraging social media to improve collaboration, and implementing new processes for acquiring, managing, and retaining clever, high potential employees, HR organizations are evolving into a new type of role to ensure the companies they support can handle upcoming innovation cycles. The HR function is evolving from an administrative one, into a strategic role where HR professionals are increasingly being asked to create value and contribute to the business success of their organizations.
Preclinical Assessment of Safety in Human Subjects

Preclinical safety studies of human subjects are an essential step in the drug development process. These studies provide valuable information for the investigational new drug (IND) application and the investigational drug brochure. This article focuses on the main issues related to preclinical studies of safety in human subjects. Keywords: preclinical safety studies; investigational new drug (IND); human subjects; biodistribution; pharmacology
Protection of Nitrogenase in Azotobacter vinelandii

The site or sites that protect nitrogenase from O(2) inactivation in vivo are sensitive to sodium azide or 2,4-dinitrophenol. Both components of nitrogenase can be synthesized when oxidative phosphorylation is disrupted.
Humidified high flow nasal cannula for respiratory support in infants

Humidified high flow nasal cannula (HHFNC) has been suggested as an alternative form of respiratory support for preterm infants with apnea, respiratory distress syndrome or chronic lung disease, they appear to be easy to apply and care for. Although, HHFNC may provide positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), limited evidence is available to support the specific role, efficacy, and safety of HHFNC in newborns. The evidence suggests that HHFNC provides inconsistent and relatively unpredictable positive airway pressure, but may be effective in the treatment of some neonatal respiratory conditions while being more user-friendly for caregivers than conventional nCPAP. Caution should be exercised in the use of HHFNC in neonates until further evidence is available to clearly delineate its role and support its safety and efficacy. The current controversy and the available data regarding the use of HHFNC in providing noninvasive respiratory support in newborn infants are reviewed and presented herein.
Proposed toxic oxidant inhibitors fail to reduce brain edema.

Toxic oxidants (oxygen free radicals) have been implicated in the formation of brain edema from ischemia-reperfusion injury or tumor growth. We investigated the ability of an iron chelator, a calcium channel blocker, and a xanthine oxidase inhibitor to reduce formation of brain edema following a cold lesion in cats. The agents were given independently of each other in an attempt to inhibit the Haber-Weiss reaction, prevent Ca++ modulated uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, and inhibit the generation of toxic oxidants via xanthine oxidase, respectively. Pentastarch-deferoxamine conjugate at a dose of 50 mg/kg was given 15 minutes before and 60 minutes after the cold lesion. Nimodipine was given at a dose of 1 mg/kg 1 hour before and 2 hours after the cold lesion. Allopurinol was given at a dose of 50 mg/kg 24 hours before, at the time of the lesion and, 24 and 48 hours after the lesion. Gravimetric measurements of multiple brain areas were performed at 24 hours postlesion in the pentastarch-deferoxamine and nimodipine groups and at 72 hours post-lesion in the allopurinol group. None of these agents led to significant reduction in brain edema formation as measured with a gravimetric column of kerosene and bromobenzene. Pentastarch-deferoxamine conjugate was utilized to avoid the confounding effects of arterial hypotension which is seen with intravenous deferoxamine. There was even a suggestion of increased edema in the periventricular white matter in animals treated with nimodipine. Taken together, independent inhibition of the Haber-Weiss reaction, of calcium channels, or of xanthine oxidase does not reduce formation of brain edema in the cold lesion model.
Xe monolayer adsorption on Ag(111): Statistical mechanics

Abstract Interactions contributing to the lateral energy of a xenon monolayer are evaluated. Thermodynamic properties of the monolayer are derived from a statistical mechanical treatment of a realistic model of the interactions. At low temperatures the quasiharmonic theory of lattice dynamics is used; at intermediate temperatures the cell model approximation is used. The thermal expansion of the unconstrained two-dimensional solid, the lateral compressibility, and lateral energy contributions to the isosteric heat are evaluated; the results agree well with recent experimental data. Two-dimensional second virial coefficients are also evaluated.
Thermodynamics and the cohesive zone in fracture

This paper discusses the thermodynamics of the cohesive zone preceding a running crack. Appropriate forms of the first two laws are given and some simple constitutive equations are discussed.
Positive Regulatory Domain I Binding Factor 1 Silences Class II Transactivator Expression in Multiple Myeloma Cells

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II transactivator (CIITA) acts as a master switch to activate expression of the genes required for MHC-II antigen presentation. During B-cell to plasma cell differentiation, MHC-II expression is actively silenced, but the mechanism has been unknown. In plasma cell tumors such as multiple myeloma the repression of MHC-II is associated with the loss of CIITA. We have identified that positive regulatory domain I binding factor 1 (PRDI-BF1), a transcriptional repressor, inhibits CIITA expression in multiple myeloma cell lines. Repression of CIITA depends on the DNA binding activity of PRDI-BF1 and its specific binding site in the CIITA promoter. Deletion of a histone deacetylase recruitment domain in PRDI-BF1 does not inhibit repression of CIITA nor does blocking histone deacetylase activity. This is in contrast to PRDI-BF1 repression of the c-myc promoter. Repression of CIITA requires either the N-terminal acidic and conserved PR motif or the proline-rich domain. PRDI-BF1 has been shown to be a key regulator of B-cell and macrophage differentiation. These findings now indicate that PRDI-BF1 has at least two mechanisms of repression whose function is dependent on the nature of the target promoter. Importantly, PRDI-BF1 is defined as the key molecule in silencing CIITA and thus MHC-II in multiple myeloma cells.
The Technology Cycle and Inequality

Motivated by the observed rise in the trade of technology, I analyse how technology would spread in a frictionless market. In such a world, low-skilled agents prefer to use old technology because it costs less; their skills do not justify the use of frontier technology. The model generates a technology-life cycle of somewhere between 68 and 124 years and per-capita income differential factors between 2.3 and 4.5. The model matches fairly well the cross-section relation between a country's income per capita and the average age of the technologies that its residents use. It is also consistent with aspects of the observed positive relation between income and imports of technology.
Parallel-stranded guanine quadruplex interactions with a copper cationic porphyrin.

G-quadruplexes are formed by association of DNA strands containing multiple contiguous guanines. The capability of drugs to induce formation of or stabilize G-quadruplexes is an active area of investigation. We report the interactions of CuTMpyP4, the Cu2+ derivative of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)-21H,23H-porphine, with the parallel-stranded G-quadruplexes formed by d(T4G4T4) (1) and d(T4G8T4) (3). Absorption titrations of CuTMpyP4 with (1)4 or (3)4 cause both bathochromicity and hypochromicity of the porphyrin Soret band, with larger changes observed for the longer oligonucleotide. An approximate binding constant for (1)4 and CuTMpyP4 according to the Scatchard model is 5.6 × 106 M-1 in terms of quadruplexes and according to the McGhee−von Hippel model is 1.3 × 106 M-1 in terms of potential binding sites. An approximate binding constant for (3)4 and CuTMpyP4 according to the Scatchard model is 5.2 × 107 M-1 in terms of quadruplexes and in terms of the McGhee−von Hippel model is 2.4 × 106 M-1 ...
Impairment of brain endothelial glucose transporter by methamphetamine causes blood-brain barrier dysfunction

Methamphetamine (METH), an addictive psycho-stimulant drug with euphoric effect is known to cause neurotoxicity due to oxidative stress, dopamine accumulation and glial cell activation. Here we hypothesized that METH-induced interference of glucose uptake and transport at the endothelium can disrupt the energy requirement of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) function and integrity. We undertake this study because there is no report of METH effects on glucose uptake and transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to date. In this study, we demonstrate that METH-induced disruption of glucose uptake by endothelium lead to BBB dysfunction. Our data indicate that a low concentration of METH (20 μM) increased the expression of glucose transporter protein-1 (GLUT1) in primary human brain endothelial cell (hBEC, main component of BBB) without affecting the glucose uptake. A high concentration of 200 μM of METH decreased both the glucose uptake and GLUT1 protein levels in hBEC culture. Transcription process appeared to regulate the changes in METH-induced GLUT1 expression. METH-induced decrease in GLUT1 protein level was associated with reduction in BBB tight junction protein occludin and zonula occludens-1. Functional assessment of the trans-endothelial electrical resistance of the cell monolayers and permeability of dye tracers in animal model validated the pharmacokinetics and molecular findings that inhibition of glucose uptake by GLUT1 inhibitor cytochalasin B (CB) aggravated the METH-induced disruption of the BBB integrity. Application of acetyl-L-carnitine suppressed the effects of METH on glucose uptake and BBB function. Our findings suggest that impairment of GLUT1 at the brain endothelium by METH may contribute to energy-associated disruption of tight junction assembly and loss of BBB integrity.
``Careers in Chemistry'': A Course Providing Students with Real-World Foundations

A course entitled “Careers in Chemistry” has been developed and implemented in the chemistry curriculum. This seminar-style class exposes students to a full spectrum of career options available to chemists by hosting outside speakers. The workings and logistics of this course and its positive impact on students are described. Survey results suggest that implementation of a similar course or seminar series at other institutions may be beneficial in exposing students to career options in chemistry.
Eight Negotiations – Seventeen Lessons

Abstract Recalling episodes from several major international security negotiations in which he was personally involved, Ambassador Goodby derives lessons and teachable moments for both negotiators and their political masters. These negotiations span nearly all of the Cold War and early-Post Cold War periods and include negotiations on the nuclear test ban, strategic arms reductions, confidence-building measures in Europe, and cooperative threat reduction (the Nunn-Lugar program). His aim is to help those involved in future negotiations recognize situations that are frequently repeated in security negotiations so as to avoid adding to the perceptions problems that beset any high-stakes negotiation.
Early development of the Drosophila neuromuscular junction: a model for studying neuronal networks in development.

Publisher Summary A major challenge in neuroscience today is to explain the genetic programs that direct development of the brain. The human brain is composed of sophisticated networks of neurons that self-organize specific connections during development. Furthermore, each neuron is molecularly unique and is capable of selectively establishing synaptic connections. To learn the basic organizational principles, developmental neurobiologists need a convenient model system in which both molecular and cellular components are easily dissected as well as reconstructed. This chapter illustrates the fly neuromuscular system as one such model system for biologists who study the genetic programming for constructing a functional neuronal network and, in particular, the organizational principles of axon guidance and synaptic target recognition. The chapter also explains why this particular neuronal network occupies a unique position in the current neuroscience scene and summarizes the emerging principles that may be generalizable to the development of human and other animal brains.
Feedback Optimization of Pulse Width in the SORC Sequence

Abstract A method for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements by automatically adjusting a pulse parameter in real-time is presented. This approach is useful in situations where the optimal pulse parameters cannot be chosen beforehand due to lack of knowledge regarding the system. For example, NQR provides a means for detecting explosives by revealing the presence of 14 N. In this particular application, the distance between the search coil and the explosive, as well as the temperature of the explosive, is unknown. As a result, a fixed set of pulse parameters will not yield the largest SNR for all possible search applications. This paper describes a feedback algorithm that uses measurements of the NQR signal to automatically adjust the pulse width in the strong off-resonant comb sequence to maximize the SNR of the NQR measurement. Experimental results obtained using a sample of sodium nitrite are presented.
A Multistage Creep Damage Constitutive Model for Isotropic and Transversely-Isotropic Materials With Elastic Damage

In the pressure vessel and piping and power industries, creep deformation has continued to be an important design consideration. Directionally-solidified components have become commonplace. Creep deformation and damage is a common source of component failure. A considerable effort has gone into the study and development of constitutive models to account for such behavior. Creep deformation can be separated into three distinct regimes: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Most creep damage constitutive models are designed to model only one or two of these regimes. In this paper, a multistage creep damage constitutive model is developed and designed to model all three regimes of creep for isotropic materials. A rupture and critical damage prediction method follows. This constitutive model is then extended for transversely-isotropic materials. In all cases, the influence of creep damage on general elasticity (elastic damage) is included. Methods to determine material constants from experimental data are detailed. Finally, the isotropic material model is exercised on tough pitch copper tube and the anisotropic model on a Ni-base superalloy.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Thermal and laser conditioning of production and rapid growth KDP and KD*P crystals

Large solid state lasers such as Beamlet and the proposed National Ignition Facility require optical materials with extremely high damage thresholds. Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) and its deuterated analog (KD*P) both require some form of conditioning to reach the design fluence of these lasers. Both the bulk material and the crystal surfaces must have damage thresholds in excess of 16 J/cm2 at 1053 nm and 11 J/cm2 at 351 nm for 3- ns pulselengths. The use of ultrafiltration techniques has been demonstrated to produce bulk material with damage thresholds exceeding these requirements with the use of R:1 laser conditioning. More recent results at LLNL using large-area laser conditioning and thermal annealing are described for a variety of state-of-the-art KDP and KD*P crystals. Results on thermally annealed KD*P with a deuteration range of 60% to 80% are also presented, and compared to those of ordinary KDP.
A comparison of algorithms for exact goodness-of-fit tests for multinomial data

Multinomial goodness-of-fit tests arise in a diversity of milieu. The long history of the problem has spawned a multitude of asymptotic tests. If the sample size relative to the number of categories is small, the accuracy of these tests is compromised. In that case, an exact test is a prudent option. But such tests are computationally intensive and need efficient algorithms. This paper gives a conceptual overview, and empirical comparisons of two avenues, namely the network and fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithms, for an exact goodness-of-fit test on a multinomial. We show that a recursive execution of a polynomial product forms the basis of both these approaches. Specific details to implement the network method, and techniques to enhance the efficiency of the FFT algorithm are given. Our empirical comparisons show that for exact analysis with the chi-square and likelihood ratio statistics, the network-cum-polynomial multiplication algorithm is the more efficient and accurate of the two.
Synthesis and thermochemistry of relaxor ferroelectrics in the lead magnesium niobate–lead titanate (PMN–PT) solid solutions series

The energetics of the (1 − x)PMN–xPT solid solutions have been investigated using high temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry in 3Na2O·4MoO3solvent at 702 °C. The solid solutions show positive heats of mixing, reflecting the changes in structure from cubic to tetragonal to monoclinic and the morphotropic phase transition. The synthesis of a perovskite phase without a secondary pyrochlore phase depends on the annealing temperature and time. The enthalpies of reactions involved in synthesis and decomposition of the PMN perovskite were measured for the first time by oxide melt solution calorimetry. The decomposition of perovskite to pyrochlore plus MgO and PbO is energetically favorable, as is the formation of perovskite from columbite and lead oxide.
Part-time workers and economic expansion: comparing the 1980s and 1990s with U.S. state data*

Economists know little about how the role of part-time workers affect regional labor market dynamics during economic expansion. This study examines this issue using U.S. state data from the 1980s and 1990s. Compared to the 1980s, the labor market during the late 1990s is associated with widespread labor shortages, making this an excellent comparison of how part-time employment responds to economic growth. One key finding is that part-time employment was less responsive to job growth during the 1990s than the 1980s, especially for women. Several explanations are put forth, including firm responses to labor shortages, employer perceptions of inferior part-time worker characteristics and welfare reform.
Engineering Steroid 5β-Reductase Activity into Rat Liver 3α-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase†

Δ4-3-Ketosteroid-5β-reductase (5β-reductase) precedes 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3α-HSD) in steroid hormone metabolism. Both enzymes are members of the aldo−keto reductase (AKR) superfamily and possess catalytic tetrads differing by a single amino acid. In 3α-HSD, the tetrad consists of Tyr55, Lys84, Asp50, and His117, but a glutamic acid replaces His117 in 5β-reductase. By introducing the H117E point mutation into 3α-HSD, we engineered 5β-reductase activity into the dehydrogenase. Homogeneous H117E 3α-HSD reduced the double bond in testosterone to form 5β-dihydrotestosterone with kcat = 0.25 min-1 and Km = 19.0 μM and reduced the double bond in progesterone to generate 5β-dihydroprogesterone with kcat = 0.97 min-1 and Km = 33.0 μM. These kinetic parameters were similar to those reported for homogeneous rat liver 5β-reductase [Okuda, A., and Okuda, R. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 7519−7524]. The H117E mutant also reduced 5β-dihydrosteroids to 5β,3α-tetrahydrosteroids with a 600−1000-fold decrease in k...
“Redeemer Empire”: Russian Millenarianism

[T]he Russian people, in accordance with their metaphysical nature and vocation in the world, are a people of the End. Apocalypse has always played a great part both among the masses of our people and at the highest cultural level among Russian writers and thinkers. In our thought the eschatological problem takes an immeasurably greater place than in the thinking of the West and this is connected with the very structure of Russian consciousness.
Visual Space Index

Abstract The need exists for a simple index to characterize the amount of visual space about an observer. This is the open space between the observer, in any direction, up to the point of visual blockage by vegetation structures or topography. The visual space index (VSI) is proposed to help meet this need. It is defined as the percentage of a horizontal circle, of specified radius, about an observer that is clear and unblocked by intervening objects. The circle lies in a plane, 4·5 feet above the ground. Information on the direction of the visual blockage from the point is provided by a visual blockage diagram. Several examples of the computation of the visual space index surface and the generation of visual blockage diagrams for forested sites are presented. The effects of heterogeneous distributions of vegetation and shrubs on VSI are also presented as is a discussion of the field measurement of the index and its applications to various areas.
Age and Consumer Socialization Agent Influences on Adolescents’ Sexual Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior: Implications for Social Marketing Initiatives and Public Policy

Abstract Social marketing initiatives that influence adolescents’ sexual behavior are critical given that adolescents are the most at-risk group for sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned and unwanted pregnancy. This study, involving 1343 middle school– and high school–aged students, explores relationships among several factors that potentially influence adolescents’ sexual knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. The authors examine the influence of several socialization agents, including parents, peers, and mass media. The results show that parental influence is the most consistent socialization agent across age groupings on all dependent variables studied. However, the relative influence of parents, peers, and media may vary between middle school– and high school–aged adolescents. The authors discuss implications for social marketing initiatives, public policy, and further research.
The Value Problem in Ecological Economics: Lessons from the Physiocrats and Marx

Perhaps the most vexing question in ecological economics is whether nature is a direct source and/or substance of value. One group ascribes value directly to natural resources and argues that monet...
Further Evidence of the Utility and Validity of a Measure of Outcome for Children and Adolescents.

The Ohio Youth Problems, Functioning, and Satisfaction Scales (Ohio Scales) are a recently developed set of measures designed to be a brief, practical assessment of changes in behavior over time in children and adolescents. The authors explored the convergent validity of the Ohio Scales by examining the relationship between the scales and subscales' scores generated by parents, agency workers, and youth of the Ohio Scales and DSM—IV diagnoses in a sample of 3,569 youth ages 5 to 18 across parent, agency worker, and youth reports.The Ohio Scales demonstrated evidence of convergent validity when predicted relationships between the scales and diagnoses were examined. The Ohio Scales also showed evidence of differentiating among broad diagnostic categories. By understanding how the Ohio Scales relate to routine clinical operations, the scales can be better used to create treatment plans and validate diagnoses, in addition to creating outcome management systems and evaluating the effectiveness of children's me...
Use of Herbal Medicine in Primary Care Patients With Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Studies have documented the increasing use of complementary and alternative medicine over the last decade, especially in distressed individuals with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and pain. Herbal medicine is a specific form of complementary and alternative medicine often used by individuals seeing traditional medical practitioners and, hence, has the potential to interact with other medically prescribed treatments. The study examined the use of herbal medicine in a group of primary care patients with symptoms of anxiety and depression. The rate of use of herbal medicines was 11%, and use was selectively associated with a diagnosis of major depression, higher education, and a lower burden of medical illness. Use was not associated with receipt of pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy for anxiety or depression.
Predicting criminal recidivism using neural networks

Abstract Prediction of criminal recidivism has been extensively studied in criminology with a variety of statistical models. This article proposes the use of neural network (NN) models to address the problem of splitting the population into two groups — non-recidivists and eventual recidivists — based on a set of predictor variables. The results from an empirical study of the classification capabilities of NN on a well-known recidivism data set are presented and discussed in comparison with logistic regression. Analysis indicates that NN models are competitive with, and may offer some advantages over, traditional statistical models in this domain.
Response activities and the mechanism of selectivity in incidental learning

Incidental and intentional learners were compared as a function of the incidental orienting task. They were contrasted both when the orienting task facilitated pronouncing responses ( HP ), and when it did not ( LP ). Comparisons were made with regard to: (a) total immediate recall, and (b) the “selectivity” for the higher-meaningful items in a mixed list of trigrams. Incidental learning was equal to intentional learning when the HP task was used, despite the fact that the intentional Ss were unencumbered by an orienting task. This finding was replicated, independently, for 2, 4, and 8 presentations of the list. However, when the LP task was used, the same materials and conditions of presentation yielded well over twice as much intentional as incidental learning. When equivalence was obtained between incidental and unencumbered intentional learning, it resulted from the pronouncing responses elicited by the HP task. With the LP task, incidental learners demonstrated their usual greater selectivity than intentional learners. But in accordance with the pronouncing-response hypothesis, the two kinds of learners did not differ in selectivity when the HP task was used.
Photon-counting detectors for space-based laser receivers

Photon-counting detectors are required for numerous NASA future space-based laser receivers including science instruments and free-space optical communication terminals. Silicon avalanche photodiode (APD) single photon counting modules (SPCMs) are used in the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) on Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) launched in 2003, currently in orbit measuring the Earth surface elevation and atmosphere backscattering. To measure cloud and aerosol backscattering, the SPCMs detect the GLAS laser light at 532-nm wavelength, with quantum efficiencies of 60 to 70% and maximum count rates greater than 13 million per second. The performance of the SPCMs has been monitored since ICESat launch on January 12, 2003. There has been no measurable change in the quantum efficiency, linearity or after-pulsing. The detector dark counts rates monitored while the spacecraft was in the dark side of the Earth have increased linearly at about 60 counts/s per day due to space radiation damage. As the ICESat mission nears completion, we have proposed ground-to-space optical and quantum communication experiments to utilize the on-orbit 1-meter optical receiver telescope with multiple SPCMs in the focal plane. NASA is preparing a follow-on mission to ICESat, called ICESat-2, with a launch date of late 2014. The major candidate photon-counting detectors under evaluation for ICESat-2 include 532 nm and 1064 nm wavelength-sensitive photomultiplier tubes and Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode arrays. Key specifications are high maximum count rate, detection efficiency, photon number resolution, radiation tolerance, power consumption, operating temperature and reliability. Future NASA science instruments and free-space laser communication terminals share a number of these requirements.
Systemic activity of closantel for control of lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.), on cattle.

Cattle were treated once at 5 mg/kg orally or subcutaneously or daily at 0.1–5 mg/kg orally or 0.1–1 mg/kg subcutaneously with closantel, N-[5-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl) cyanomethyl]-2-methylphenyl]-2-hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzamide, and numbers and weights of engorged females, weights of egg masses and hatch of eggs of lone star ticks,Amblyomma americanum, were recorded. Effectiveness of treatments on reproduction was determined by comparing total estimated larvae (EL) (EL=wt. egg mass×est. % hatch×20000) or ticks from treated cattle with that of ticks from untreated cattle. With certain treatments, we also determined the effect of manure of treated cattle on survival of larvae of the horn fly,Haematobia irritans, or effect on survival and of fecundity of adult horn flies or stable flies,Stomoxys calcitrans, fed on blood from treated animals. The single oral treatment afforded essentially complete control of total EL only of ticks placed on the animal on the day of treatment, while the single subcutaneous treatment afforded >92% control of total EL of ticks placed on animal on treatment day and for 6 weeks posttreatment. Daily treatments of 0.5 mg/kg or greater orally and 0.1 mg/kg or greater subcutaneously afforded essentially complete control of total EL of ticks throughout the treatment period (3–12 weeks) and for 1–7 weeks after treatment was discontinued. An estimated concentration of >9 μg/ml of blood was calculated by probit analysis to be necessary to provide >90% control of total EL of lone star ticks; that same concentration also provided >90% control of hatch of eggs laid by treated females. A higher concentration (40 μg/ml) was necessary to prevent engorging of the females. No treatments tested were effective against larvae of the horn fly or adult horn flies or stable flies.
Peer reinforcement control of classroom problem behavior.

Peer and teacher interactions with five “disruptive” children were studied in an elementary school classroom. The intent of the study was to analyze experimentally peer reinforcement control of the disruptive children's problem behaviors. Social attention provided by all peers was found to be directed exclusively to the problem behaviors during baseline. Following baseline, several manipulations of selected peer social attention demonstrated the reinforcement function of this stimulus class.
Accuracy and reproducibility of tumor positioning during prolonged and multi-modality animal imaging studies

Dedicated small-animal imaging devices, e.g. positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, are being increasingly used for translational molecular imaging studies. The objective of this work was to determine the positional accuracy and precision with which tumors in situ can be reliably and reproducibly imaged on dedicated small-animal imaging equipment. We designed, fabricated and tested a custom rodent cradle with a stereotactic template to facilitate registration among image sets. To quantify tumor motion during our small-animal imaging protocols, 'gold standard' multi-modality point markers were inserted into tumor masses on the hind limbs of rats. Three types of imaging examination were then performed with the animals continuously anesthetized and immobilized: (i) consecutive microPET and MR images of tumor xenografts in which the animals remained in the same scanner for 2 h duration, (ii) multi-modality imaging studies in which the animals were transported between distant imaging devices and (iii) serial microPET scans in which the animals were repositioned in the same scanner for subsequent images. Our results showed that the animal tumor moved by less than 0.2–0.3 mm over a continuous 2 h microPET or MR imaging session. The process of transporting the animal between instruments introduced additional errors of ~0.2 mm. In serial animal imaging studies, the positioning reproducibility within ~0.8 mm could be obtained.
A role for STAT5A/B in protection of peripheral T-lymphocytes from postactivation apoptosis: insights from gene expression profiling.

Activation of the transcription factors STAT5A and STAT5B by JAK1 and JAK3 tyrosine kinases is a key event in downstream signaling of gammac (common gamma chain)-family cytokine receptors in lymphoid cells. STAT5A/B-deficiency in mice causes, among other consequences, a reduced size and altered composition of the peripheral T-cell pool with predominance of an activated or memory-like population (CD4(+)/CD44(high)/CD62L(low)) and a proliferative deficiency following antigenic stimulation and subsequent IL-2 treatment. To further elucidate the critical function of STAT5A/B in homeostasis and activation of murine naive peripheral T-lymphocytes, we have analyzed global gene expression of STAT5A/B-deficient versus wild-type splenic T-cells by profiling with high-density oligonucleotide arrays (Affymetrix). Comparison of (1) basal gene expression of untreated peripheral STAT5A/B-deficient and control T-cells and (2) immediate early gene induction upon in vitro stimulation of either population with IL-2 has revealed differential expression of a broad range of genes potentially contributing to the defects of STAT5A/B deficient T-cells. In the context of enhanced apoptotic rates of STAT5A/B(-/-)-T-cells in vivo and upon TCR-stimulation in culture our data suggest a role for STAT5 in post-activation survival beyond regulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins and hence provide new insights into the nature of the late proliferative block in the T-cell compartment caused by STAT5-deficiency.
Calculation of Diffraction Effects Due to Double Positioning in (111) Gold Bicrystals

The diffraction effects from doubly positioned [111] twist boundaries are calculated using an embedded atom model for gold. It is found that the kinematical scattering from any two boundaries related by double positioning is always superimposed. However, in a limited misorientation range near 30°, the superimposed intensities in the boundary plane are equal and can therefore be separated. Consequently, the projected atomic structure of each doubly positioned boundary can be determined by X-ray diffraction. It is found that the displacement field of [111] twist boundaries is generally characterized by rotational-like displacements centered around ‘O’ lattice elements. Since these displacements are largest for near-Σ1 and near-Σ3 orientations, these boundaries have the largest scattering power per unit area. Mit einem Einbau-Atommodell fur Gold werden die Beugungseinflusse von Doppellagen-[111]-Drehgrenzen berechnet. Es wird gefunden, das die kinematische Streuung von zwei beliebigen Grenzen, die durch Doppellagen verbunden sind, immer uberlagert ist. Jedoch sind in einem begrenzten Fehlorientierungsbereich in der Nahe von 30° die uberlagerten Intensitaten in der Grenzebene gleich und konnen deshalb separiert werden. Folglich last sich die projizierte Atomstruktur jeder Doppellagengrenze mittels Rontgenstreuung bestimmen. Es wird gefunden, das das Verschiebungsfeld von [111]-Drehgrenzen allgemein durch rotationsahnliche Verschiebungen um “O”-Gitterelemente charakterisiert ist. Da diese Verschiebungen fur nahezu Σ1- und Σ3-Orientierungen am grosten sind, haben diese Grenzen die groste Streuleistung pro Einheitsflache.
Predictors of female nocturnal orgasms: A multivariate analysis

Variables predicting the reported occurrence and frequency of nocturnal orgasms among women are reported. Undergraduate and graduate women (N = 245) from a large midwestern university volunteered to complete nine self‐report scales and inventories. Thirty‐seven percent of the sample reported they had experienced nocturnal orgasm, and 30% reported having had the experience in the past year. The predictors accounted for a statistically significant amount of variation in each of the dependent variables: 33% of “ever experienced nocturnal orgasm,” 44% of “experienced nocturnal orgasm in the past year,” and 27% in the case of “frequency of nocturnal orgasm in the past year.” Positive attitudes toward and knowledge of nocturnal orgasms, sexual liberalism, and waking sexually excited from sleep (without experiencing orgasm) were the most important predictors of nocturnal orgasm experience. The reported incidence of nocturnal orgasms in this sample is higher than in comparative samples of previous studies.