cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The complex genetic epidemiology of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most frequent cancer among men in most developed countries, yet little is known about its causes. Older age, African ancestry and a positive family history of prostate cancer have long been recognized as important risk factors. The evidence that genetics probably plays a critical role is based on a variety of study designs, including case-control, cohort, twin and family-based, all of which are reviewed in detail. The search for prostate cancer susceptibility genes by linkage studies offered early hope that finding genes would be as 'easy' as finding genes for breast cancer and colon cancer susceptibilities. However, this hope has been dampened by the difficulty of replicating promising regions of linkage. This review provides updates on recent developments, and a broad view of the disparate findings from different linkage studies. Early linkage results have provided targeted candidate regions for prostate cancer susceptibility loci, including HPC1 on chromosome 1q23-25, PCAP on chromosome 1q42-43, CAPB on chromosome 1p36, linkage to chromosome 8p22-23, HPC2 on chromosome 17p, HPC20 on chromosome 20q13, and HPCX on chromosome Xq27-28. These linkage findings lead to refined mapping and mutation screening of several strong candidate genes, including ELAC2, RNASEL and MSR1. Up to now, a total of 10 genome-wide linkage scans for prostate cancer susceptibility have been completed, and are reviewed. Furthermore, recent findings that Gleason's grade, a measure of aggressiveness of prostate cancer, is linked to several genomic regions are reviewed. Finally, the roles of environmental and dietary risk factors, and common genetic polymorphisms of genes likely to play a role in common forms of prostate cancer, are briefly discussed within in the context of searching for genes that influence prostate cancer risk.
A molecular beam mass spectrometer for plasma jet chemical vapor deposition reactor diagnostics

Direct current (DC) plasma jets (also known as arcjets) are a particular form of high density, low pressure plasma source that produce a high velocity (5-10 km/sec) plasma stream (20-30% dissociation fraction, n/sub e/-10/sup 13/ cm/sup -3/) with low energy ions (/spl sim/1 eV). The plasma jet provides large convective fluxes of chemically reactive radical species, in super-equilibrium concentrations, that can be used for materials deposition, reactive etching, and plasma cleaning. To elucidate the kinetics of these processes, it is necessary to identify key radical species and measure their populations. For this task, molecular beam mass spectrometry is employed. A sample of the plasma jet plume is taken through a hole in the substrate on which the flowing plasma stagnates. A differentially pumped molecular beam forming system ensures that the sample is representative of the plasma chemistry. The symmetry of the plasma jet plume allows spatial maps to be made of the reactive species impinging on the substrate. Results are presented for a representative plasma jet process.
Progressive Resistance Exercise and Resting Blood Pressure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Hypertension is a major public health problem affecting an estimated 43 million civilian, noninstitutionalized adults in the United States (24% of this population). The purpose of this study was to use the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of progressive resistance exercise on resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adult humans. Studies were retrieved via (1) computerized literature searches, (2) cross-referencing from original and review articles, and (3) review of the reference list by 2 experts on exercise and blood pressure. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) trials that included a randomized nonexercise control group; (2) progressive resistance exercise as the only intervention; (3) adult humans; (4) journal articles, dissertations, and masters theses published in the English-language literature; (5) studies published and indexed between January 1966 and December 1998; (6) resting systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure assessed; and (7) training studies lasting a minimum of 4 weeks. Across all designs and categories, fixed-effects modeling yielded decreases of approximately 2% and 4% for resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively (mean+/-SD systolic, -3+/-3 mm Hg; 95% bootstrap CI, -4 to -1 mm Hg; mean+/-SD diastolic, -3+/-2 mm Hg; 95% bootstrap CI, -4 to -1 mm Hg). It was concluded that progressive resistance exercise is efficacious for reducing resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults. However, a need exists for additional studies that limit enrollment to hypertensive subjects as well as analysis of data with an intention-to-treat approach before the effectiveness of progressive resistance exercise as a nonpharmacological intervention can be determined.
A culture of change or a change of culture

As organizations find themselves having to respond to quick changes in rapid succession, at some point the question of whether or not the pace is too much to sustain comes into play. At Sarasota Memorial Hospital, early cultural assessment led to implementation strategies that helped to overcome some of the barriers of major change.
Density functional approach to physical adsorption of rare gases on metal surfaces

Abstract The potential energy curves for helium and argon adsorbed on a metal surface are obtained directly from the microscopic contributions to the interaction energy in the electron gas approximation. The method of calculation presented is simple and straightforward and yet gives sensible numerical results.
Information-theoretic and Set-theoretic Similarity

We introduce a definition of similarity based on Tversky's set-theoretic linear contrast model and on information-theoretic principles. The similarity measures the residual entropy with respect to a random object. This residual entropy similarity strongly captures context, which we conjecture is important for similarity-based statistical learning. Properties of the similarity definition are established and examples illustrate its characteristics. We show that a previously-defined information-theoretic similarity is also set-theoretic, and compare it to the residual entropy similarity. The similarity between random objects is also treated.
Osteoblastomatosis of bone. A benign, multifocal osteoblastic lesion, distinct from osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma, radiologically simulating a vascular tumor

Two adult patients are described with multifocal osteolytic lesions radiologically simulating a vascular tumor. One patient had multiple bones involved. Histologically, the individual lesions had the features of the nidus of osteoid osteoma/osteoblastoma. A review of the English language medical literature yielded only one other reported case with similar features. The process is designated as osteoblastomatosis to indicate its bone-forming character, prominent osteoblast proliferation, and multiplicity. The cases are distinguished from multifocal/multicentric osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma, and from benign and malignant vascular tumors.
Effects of conditioning depolarization and repetitive stimulation on Q beta and Q gamma charge components in frog cut twitch fibers

Charge movement was measured in frog cut twitch fibers with the double Vaseline-gap technique. Steady-state inactivation of charge movement was studied by changing the holding potential from -90 mV to a level ranging from -70 to -30 mV. Q beta and Q gamma at each holding potential were separated by fitting the Q-V plot with a sum of two Boltzmann distribution functions. At -70 mV Q beta and Q gamma were inactivated to 54.0% (SEM 2.2) and 82.7% (SEM 3.0) of the amounts at -90 mV. At holding potentials greater than or equal to -60 mV, more Q gamma was inactivated than Q beta, and at -30 mV Q gamma was completely inactivated but Q beta was not. There was no holding potential at which Q beta was unaffected and Q gamma was completely inactivated. The differences between the residual fractions of Q beta and Q gamma are significant at all holding potentials (P less than 0.001-0.05). The plot of the residual fraction of Q beta or Q gamma versus holding potential can be fitted well by an inverted sigmoidal curve that is a mirror image of the activation curve of the respective charge component. The pair of curves for Q gamma correlates well with those for tension generation or Ca release obtained by other investigators. The time courses of the inactivation of Q beta and Q gamma were studied by obtaining several Q-V plots with conditioning depolarizations lasting 1-20 s and separating each Q-V plot into Q beta and Q gamma components by fitting with a sum of two Boltzmann distribution functions. The inactivation time constant of Q beta was found to be 5-10 times as large as that of Q gamma. During repetitive stimulation, prominent I gamma humps could be observed in TEST-minus-CONTROL current traces and normal Q gamma components could be separated from the Q-V plots, whether 20 or 50 mM EGTA was present in the internal solution, whether 2 or 10 stimulations were used, and whether the stimuli were separated by 400 ms or 6 s. Repetitive stimulation slowed the kinetics of the I gamma hump and could shift the Q-V curve slightly in the depolarizing direction in some cases, resulting in an apparent suppression of charge at the potentials that fall on the steep part of the Q-V curve.
Leaching of Silver from Silver-Impregnated Food Storage Containers.

The use of silver in commercial products has proliferated in recent years owing to its antibacterial properties. Food containers impregnated with micro-sized silver promise long food life, but there is some concern because silver can leach out of the plastic and into the stored food. This laboratory experiment gives students the opportunity to design their own study to measure the leached silver via graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In this experiment, students stored deionized water, tap water, and acetic acid in two styles of silver food containers for a week. The less expensive version of the food container consistently had higher levels of leached silver. The acetic acid samples and microwaved samples also had higher silver levels. Students gained experience with sample design, chemical analysis, and data analysis.
Type 1 Fimbriae of Escherichia coli: Genetic Regulation, Morphogenesis, and Role in Pathogenesis

Over the last several years a number of aspects related to the molecular biology of the type 1 fimbriae of Escherichia coli have been investigated with use of a variety of approaches, including molecular genetics, electron microscopy, and cell biology. With the help of these analytic tools, new insights have emerged. The on-and-off genetic regulation of expression, referred to as phase variation, has been found to be regulated at the level of transcription by the inversion of a 314-base-pair segment of DNA. Morphogenesis of the organelles, which depends on the assembly of processed subunits of 17,000-dalton mass, has been found to proceed from the addition of new subunits at the base, rather than at the tip, of the organelle. Although the precise role of type 1 fimbriae in the pathogenesis of E. coli infections is still somewhat obscure, new data indicate that they significantly potentiate the uptake of nutrients from and the delivery of toxins to eukaryotic cells.
Surgical intervention of nonvertebral osseous metastasis.

Background Nonvertebral osseous metastases can result in pain and disability. The goals of surgical intervention are to reduce pain and to improve function if nonsurgical treatment fails. The indications for proceeding with surgical intervention depend on anatomic location, amount of local destruction, extent of skeletal and visceral disease and, most important, the patient's performance status and life expectancy. Methods This article reviews the evaluation and treatment of metastatic nonvertebral osseous lesions from the perspective of the orthopedic surgeon, based mainly on an assessment of the surgical literature. Results This article summarizes the approaches to preoperative evaluation, patient selection, and medical optimization. Guidelines for estimating osseous stability and fracture risk are discussed, and surgical implants and their relation to postoperative outcomes are examined. This review also describes less invasive ablative procedures currently available. Conclusions The surgical management of nonvertebral osseous metastases involves multidisciplinary collaboration. The surgical construct must be a stable, reliable, and durable intervention that is individually tailored and matched to a patient's prognosis and performance status.
Introduction to Morality, Justice and the Law

MORALITY, JUSTICE AND THE LAW is a co-edited volume pulling together selections on theories of the moral underpinnings of law, morality and lawyering (including the religious lawyering movement), civil disobedience, capital punishment and immigration. The book was published by Prometheus Books in 2007.
Five Grand Challenges in Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics

This paper identifies five grand challenges in the multidisciplinary field of pedestrian and evacuation dynamics (PED). In order to maximize the effectiveness of limited resources, the PED community would benefit greatly from a prioritized, consensus-based research agenda. The five proposed research initiatives include (1) a general human behavior model with a theoretical foundation and numerical validity, (2) a database archiving actual building emergency evacuations, (3) methods to embrace the stochastic nature of inputs and outcomes in building evacuation, (4) a validated method to integrate distributions of egress calculations with fire hazard calculations, and (5) adoption of technology for people movement, data collection, and within modeling constructs. The list proffered in this paper may reflect the building evacuation perspective of the author and is intended merely as a spark for discussion amongst the greater PED community; a true consensus research agenda requires deliberation by leaders in the community.
Insights from Genome-Wide Association Analyses of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by hepatic steatosis, which can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, fibrosis/cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease will become the number one cause of liver disease worldwide by 2020. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is correlated albeit imperfectly with obesity and other metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease, but exactly how having one of these diseases contributes to the development of other metabolic diseases is only now being elucidated. Development of NAFLD and related metabolic diseases is genetically influenced in the population, and recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have discovered genetic variants that associate with these diseases. These GWAS-associated variants cannot only help us to identify individuals at high risk of developing NAFLD, but also to better understand its pathophysiology so that we can develop more effective treatments for this disease and related metabolic diseases in the future.
The Paradox of Anti-cancer Agents and Recurring Emergence of Drug Resistance

The singular challenge to effective cancer treatments based on previous and current strategies is the emergence of drug resistance. Accumulated evidence from decades of cancer treatments with various therapies has clearly and unequivocally highlighted that development of resistance over a “latent” time period is an inherent and default property of cancer cells [1]. As would be expected, drug resistance plays a prominent role in cancer-related mortality. How cancer-targeting effects provided by therapies become manipulated into a vehicle that initiates or promotes resistance is complex, and largely unknown. The cytotoxic nature of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, as well as specific gene or signaling abrogation offered by targeted therapies results in a tumor microenvironment that would be detrimental to “normal” non-cancer cells. Healthy cells would rapidly succumb to the damages mediated by anti-cancer therapies, however while such effects may impede tumor cells for a while, it eventually instigates cellular changes that result in resistance. The complex mechanism(s) of drug resistance is exacerbated further by the unpredictable manner of its emergence. Individualistic and highly dynamic nature of cancer cells, plus lack of standardized detection platforms complicates even further the how, the when and the where of drug resistant development [2], and poses a challenge of providing robust strategies against it.
Meridic Diet for Rearing Successive Generations of Lygus hesperus

An artificial diet is described that was developed and tested for rearing Lygus hesperus Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae). Nymphs were sucessfully reared both individually and en masse on this diet. Developmental time from 1st instar to adult on the artificial diet was comparable to that on green beans. Females reared on diet laid more eggs and lived longer than those reared on green beans. Percent hatch of eggs laid by diet-reared bugs was 5.5% lower than that of eggs laid by green bean-reared bugs, but diet-reared bugs weighed more than those reared on green beans. Lygus hesperus were reared continuously on the artificial diet for >13 generations. In culture, the percentage of 1st-stage nymphs reaching the adult stage was 16.7% greater on artificial diet than on a green bean-coddled beet armyworm diet. This is the First report of continuous rearing of any mirid species on artificial diet.
Utilization of the labile factor during normal and abnormal coagulation of blood.

SummaryThe percentage of labile factor and prothrombin activities and accelerator effect found in serum after completion of the coagulation of blood are in inverse quantitative proportions. A very small percentage of labile factor and prothrombin activity can be found in sera of healthy subjects; in this case high values of accelerator are the rule. Low values of accelerator and a large percentage of prothrombin and labile factor activity are found whenever the formation of thrombin is deficient because of the depletion of either thromboplastin (hemophilia, thrombocytopenic purpura) or prothrombin and labile factor (liver dysfunction). In dicumarol hypoprothrombinemia the available prothrombin is well utilized during coagulation, but the percentage in serum of unconverted labile factor is high and that of the accelerator low.
Combination therapy with TRAIL: Recent developments and potential pitfalls.

Commentary to:Velcade sensitizes prostate cancer cells to TRAIL induced apoptosis and suppresses tumor growth in vivoPerry A. Christian, Jeffery A. Thorpe, Steven R. Schwarze
Growth and Survival of Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Transgenic Cotton Containing a Truncated Form of the Delta Endotoxin Gene from Bacillus thuringiensis

Lines of transgenic cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., that contain a truncated version of the delta endotoxin gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki were tested in the laboratory for effects on growth and survival of tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.). Five transgenic lines contained the cryIA (b) gene from bacterial strain HD-l and one cotton line (MON-249) had the cryIA (c) gene from the strain HD-73. Neonate larvae of tobacco budworm were grown for 6 d on 10 different kinds of plant structures of the six transgenic, field-grown cotton lines and the nontransgenic, parental ‘Coker 312’. Mean growth and survival of neonate larvae to 6 d for the transgenic lines as a group were significantly less than ‘Coker 312’ for every plant structure. Among the six transgenic lines, significant variation in survival of neonate larvae to 6 d on terminal leaves, small squares, and on bracts were observed; however, insect weights were very low and not different among transgenic lines. When larvae were fed on artificial diet before they were placed on mature leaves they tended to have higher survival on one transgenic line (MON-62) than on the others. No larvae pupated on transgenic lines. These laboratory assays using field-grown plant struchues indicate that cotton transgenic for delta endotoxin has great potential in controlling tobacco budwonll larvae under field conditions.
Pathogenesis of NAFLD and NASH

NAFLD and NASH are complex conditions that involve derangements of lipid metabolism, cellular integrity, immune homeostasis, and tissue repair. Although they are abnormalities affecting the liver, NAFLD and NASH result from pathophysiologic processes that occur within and outside the liver. To develop a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of fatty liver disease, one must view the liver as a component of an integrated metabolic network that takes signals from the adipose tissue, intestine, pancreas, and brain. One must also consider that the disease process is influenced by genetic background, environmental factors, and personal behavior, all of which come together to regulate, or dysregulate, liver homeostasis. This chapter summarizes the pathophysiologic processes that lead to NAFLD and NASH. It begins with a discussion of abnormalities related to obesity that prime the liver to accumulate fat. Thereafter, the focus shifts to processes inside and outside the liver that perpetuate and accentuate hepatic steatosis. The second half of the chapter addresses the pathogenesis of liver injury in NASH. Here the discussion begins with a summary of cell death mechanisms in NASH and follows with sections devoted to hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer. Because NAFLD and NASH are so closely related, and because the disease does not always begin with “simple” steatosis and then evolve to steatohepatitis, the mechanistic distinction between the two entities is sometimes blurred. For the moment, the factors that prompt some individuals to develop hepatic steatosis while others develop full-blown NASH remain incompletely understood.
The Use of the Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Vascular Graft as an Adjunct to Hypothermic Pulsatile Perfusion for Renal Preservation

AbstractA technique using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) vascular graft material for separation of kidneys in preparation for organ sharing is presented.
III. Pentobarbital sodium in prolonged‐action form compared with conventional capsules: Serum levels of drug and clinical effects following acute doses

Twelve subjects were given acute 200 mg. doses of pentobarbital sodium in four trials at weekly inteTIJals. Two doses were administered as conventional capsules; two as proprietary prolonged-action preparations (Gradumet). The order of administration was randomized. Mean serum levels of pentobarbital sodium were cOnsistently higher following the capsules, although only significantly greater than from the prolonged-action medication at 2 hours. First trials of the capsules showed significantly higher levels of the drug than second trials at 4, 8, and 24 hours. No significant differences were found between successive trials of prolonged action medications; however, the range of serum levels was COnsiderable, with much variation within as well as between subjects. Global estimates of the effects indicated that for most subjects the capsule dose had greater intensity and duration. Capsules also appeared to have appreciably more effect as determined by the Clyde mood scale at 2 and 4 hours, but less at 8 hours. No advantage could be found for the prolonged-action form, which appeared slightly less efficient than the capsules. Biologic variability between trials using the same subject may supersede any advantages of specific pharmaceutical preparations of drug.
A Spectroscopic Study of a Photosystem I Antenna Complex

The unusual long wavelength fluorescent behavior of Photosystem I (PSI) has been well documented (1) This study investigates the origin and temperature dependence of this emission using an intact peripheral antenna preparation isolated from a PSI complex originally extracted from spinach. This antenna complex (LHCP-I) contains polypeptides in the 19–24 kDa range and exhibits a red shift in emission maximum from 685nm (F685) to 735nm (F735) as the temperature is lowered. Fluorescence excitation spectra demonstrate that chlorophyll b (chl b) preferentially stimulates the long wavelength emission at both room temperature and 77K and also indicate the presence of a long wavelength absorber in the 703–708nm range. Excitation polarization scans show a rising polarization value reaching a maximum of 0.3 from 705nm to 725nm, confirming the presence of a long wavelength pigment or pigments which are primarily responsible for emission at 735nm (F735). Absorption spectra demonstrate that this species comprises a small percentage of the total pigment population in the light harvesting antenna. The overall fluorescence yield of the complex increases as the temperature is lowered suggesting the presence of a quenching mechanism which does not involve the reaction center, P700.
Correlation of Patient Confidence in Attaining Treatment Goals and Outcomes After Knee Arthroplasty

Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes drive assessment of quality and reinvestment; therefore a risk stratified assessment is paramount for fair evaluation. Stratification can be affected by multiple factors including patient motivation. This study attempted to identify the correlation of patient9s preoperative confidence in their ability to return to desired activity level after TKA and improved function and outcomes. Methods: A continuous series of TKA procedures from 2008 to 2010 in a healthcare system was reviewed retrospectively. Patients included reported pre- and postoperative knee injury and osteoarthritis outcomes scores (KOOS), SF-12 scores, and responded a question regarding the desired activity level, including the level of confidence (0–10 scale) in attaining such goals, after surgery. Gender, age, body mass index, education level, smoking status, length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission and reoperation, and 1-year infection rates were collected. Correlation of patient confidence in attaining treatment goals and the outcomes collected was established using multiple linear and logistic regression models adjusted for baseline mental and functional scores. Results: A total of 1020 primary, 18 bilateral and 177 revision TKA patients completed their postoperative questionnaires and had an average follow-up of 430, 411 and 376 days, respectively. Patients were confident in achieving treatment goals with an average score of 7.7 ± 2.1, 9.3 ± 0.5 and 6.4 ± 2.6 for primary, bilateral and revision TKA, respectively. There was direct correlation of level of confidence and shorter LOS (p = 0.005), and no correlation with readmission, reoperation and infection. Moreover, confidence was correlated with improved function and pain KOOS (p Conclusion: Patient confidence in attaining treatment goals after primary TKA has a direct correlation with shorter LOS and improved function. Patient motivation should be weighted when measuring TKA outcomes.
A Review of Total Hip Replacement Following Acetabular Fractures

The incidence of geriatric acetabular fractures is increasing with our aging population. Geriatric acetabular fractures offer unique challenges to treating physicians due to the complexity of fracture patterns, osteoporotic bone, and pre-existing joint arthritis. Controversy remains regarding the optimal reconstructive treatment of these injuries, and both acute and delayed total hip arthroplasty options exist in appropriate settings for these patients. While early experience with acute THA led to poor clinical outcomes, several newer studies report improvements in survivorship and in clinical outcomes (HHS scores ranging from 87-93). Cementless acetabular components and porous metal cups show improved outcomes and survival rates (87–88% in short-midterm follow up) in delayed THA. In our review of recent literature within the past 5 years, we have found that modern surgical techniques and improvements in cementless acetabular fixation show promising results and improved clinical and radiographic outcomes for the treatment of acetabular fractures in older patients.
Evaluation of the OntoSoft Ontology for describing metadata for legacy hydrologic modeling software

Metadata for hydrologic models is rarely organized in machine-readable forms. This lack of formal metadata is important because it limits the ability to catalog, identify, attribute, and understand unique model software; ultimately, it hinders the ability to reproduce past computational studies. Researchers have recently proposed an ontology for scientific software metadata called OntoSoft for addressing this problem. The objective of this research is to evaluate OntoSoft for organizing the metadata associated with a data pre-processing software workflow used in association with the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) hydrologic model. This is accomplished by exploring what metadata are available from online resources and how this metadata aligns with the OntoSoft Ontology. The results suggest that past efforts to document this software resulted in capturing key model metadata in unstructured files that could be formalized into a machine-readable form using the OntoSoft Ontology. The OntoSoft Ontology and Portal are evaluated for capturing and sharing metadata for hydrologic modeling software.Data pre-processing software workflow for the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) hydrologic model is used as a case study.90% of required OntoSoft metadata was obtained for 13 of the 15 software resources.Metadata divided across six sources can now be organized in a constant, machine-readable form.
Local Energetic Constraints on Walker Circulation Strength

The weakening of tropical overturning circulations is a robust response to global warming in climate models and observations. However, there remain open questions on the causes of this change and the extent to which this weakening affects individual circulation features such as the Walker circulation. The study presents idealized GCM simulations of a Walker circulation forced by prescribed ocean heat flux convergence in a slab ocean, where the longwave opacity of the atmosphere is varied to simulate a wide range of climates. The weakening of the Walker circulation with warming results from an increase in gross moist stability (GMS), a measure of the tropospheric moist static energy (MSE) stratification, which provides an effective static stability for tropical circulations. Baroclinic mode theory is used to determine changes in GMS in terms of the tropical-mean profiles of temperature and MSE. The GMS increases with warming, owing primarily to the rise in tropopause height, decreasing the sensitivity of the Walker circulation to zonally anomalous net energy input. In the absence of large changes in net energy input, this results in a rapid weakening of the Walker circulation with global warming.
Debt Issues and Capital Structure with Soft Information: A Theoretical Analysis

We develop a model of debt issues under asymmetric information in a setting where, in addition to observing the amount of new debt the firm issues in a certain period of time, outsiders obtain "soft information" signals about firms through noisy voluntary disclosures made by firms or information production by outsiders. We show that, if sufficiently precise soft information is available to outsiders, firms' debt issue behavior is significantly altered in equilibrium relative to that in existing models (e.g., Ross, 1977). In particular, while Ross (1977) predicts that higher intrinsic value firms will issue more debt than lower intrinsic value firms, our model predicts an inverted-U shape relationship between the intrinsic value of a firm and the amount of new debt it issues in a certain period of time. Moreover, we predict that firms about which outsiders receive more favorable soft information will on average issue less new debt compared to firms about which outsiders receive less favorable soft information. We also predict that, while on average the announcement effect to public debt issues in a certain period of time is zero, the announcement effect to a new public debt issue will be positive or negative depending on the realization of outsiders' soft information about this firm: firms about which outsiders have more favorable soft information will receive algebraically larger (more positive or less negative) announcement effects to their new debt issues. Further, we have predictions for the relationship between the precision of outsiders' soft information and the amount of new debt that firm issues, and for a firm's debt to equity ratio. Finally our model provides a rationale for the existence of "investor relations" departments in many firms.
Influence of Powder Injection Parameters in High-Pressure Cold Spray

High-pressure cold spray systems are becoming widely accepted for use in the structural repair of surface defects of expensive machinery parts used in industrial and military equipment. The deposition quality of cold spray repairs is typically validated using coupon testing and through destructive analysis of mock-ups or first articles for a defined set of parameters. In order to provide a reliable repair, it is important to not only maintain the same processing parameters, but also to have optimum fixed parameters, such as the particle injection location. This study is intended to provide insight into the sensitivity of the way that the powder is injected upstream of supersonic nozzles in high-pressure cold spray systems and the effects of variations in injection parameters on the nature of the powder particle kinetics. Experimentally validated three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (3D CFD) models are implemented to study the particle impact conditions for varying powder feeder tube size, powder feeder tube axial misalignment, and radial powder feeder injection location on the particle velocity and the deposition shape of aluminum alloy 6061. Outputs of the models are statistically analyzed to explore the shape of the spray plume distribution and resulting coating buildup.
Lipoprotein(a) and abdominal aortic aneurysm risk: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.

Abstract Background and aims No prospective study has investigated whether elevated lipoprotein(a) concentrations are associated with an increased risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). We aimed to prospectively investigate this association. Methods In 1987–1989, the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study measured plasma lipoprotein(a) in 13,683 participants aged 45–64 years, without a history of AAA surgery. We followed them for incident, clinical AAA events through 2011. Results During the 272,914 person-years of follow-up, over a median of 22.6 years, we documented 505 incident AAA events. The age-, sex-, and race-adjusted model showed that individuals in the highest quintile of plasma lipoprotein(a) had an increased risk of AAA. Further adjustment for the other potential confounding factors, including other plasma lipids (high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations), attenuated the association, but individuals in the highest versus lowest quintile of plasma lipoprotein(a) still had a significantly increased risk of AAA [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.57 (1.19–2.08)]. Interaction testing suggested no difference in the associations for whites and African Americans (p for interaction = 0.96). A restricted cubic spline analysis demonstrated a positive dose-response relation of plasma lipoprotein(a) with AAA, with a steep increase in AAA risk above the 75th percentile (p for overall association = 0.0086, p for non-linear association = 0.097). Conclusions In this population-based cohort study, elevated lipoprotein(a) concentrations were independently associated with an increased risk of AAA. The association reflected a threshold of increased AAA risk at high lipoprotein(a) concentrations, rather than a steady monotonic association.
Spaced-out electrons

In a stream of photons, the particles tend to bunch together, but electrons in a beam do the opposite. At last, this quantum effect for free electrons — the Hanbury Brown–Twiss anticorrelation — has been seen experimentally.
We Can Thank Harvey Weinstein for Doing What Congress and the Supreme Court Failed to Do

While the years 2017 and 2018 will be remembered for numerous geo political and social movements, any retrospective of this time will include the issue of sexual harassment and the corresponding “M...
Theocracy and Secularization

Saudi is not a secular society, but it is partly capitalist. The spirit of modern capitalism is secular, and indeed secularization has gone hand-in-hand with capitalism. Secularization theory (A Conversation with Peter L. Berger “How My Views Have Changed” Gregor Thuswaldner. http://thecresset.org/2014/Lent/Thuswaldner_L14.html) is a term that was used in the 1950s and 1960s by a number of social scientists and historians to describe social and economic change, and diagnosed that modernity inevitably produces a decline of religion. If we take this point seriously, then we can perhaps understand the resistance from within Islam and Saudi toward aspects of modern capitalism. If the product is secularization, then the inevitability is social change, and for many believers the damaging of Islam and the Saudi way of life. As discussed in the previous chapter, Islam is not anti-economic or anti-capitalism as such, but there is much in the modern form of capitalism that is of concern and is also the basis of much anti-Americanism. When some Christians express fear that Islam is a threat to their faith, they might want to reflect on the argument that in some respects Christianity has been much more “damaged” by American capitalism and secularization than it has by Islam. In the secular west, capitalism has generated a consumer culture which holds up a mirror to society. The easy availability and disposability of goods has impacted values, while social media and communications have distracted society. There is a greater materialist culture, though no shortage of spiritual ideas and pursuits, many produced by the materialist state of affairs. It seems that the richer a society gets the more spiritually impoverished it is; but this need not be the case. It is hard to see how western society can reverse this trend, if indeed it should, but Saudi as an Islamic country has the potential to show how a society can evolve in a spiritual way and at the same time be economically successful. The question is one of whether economic development and success is necessarily secular and needs a secular spirit. To understand this, we need to look at what we mean by the term secular.
Mechanisms Underlying Excitatory Amino Acid-Evoked Calcium Entry in Cultured Neurons from the Embryonic Rat Spinal Cord

Intracellular calcium is a ubiquitous and potent regulator of many cellular enzymes, channels, pumps, and structural elements. To perform such a variety of functions, the concentration of intracellular calcium ions ([Ca2+]i) must be carefully regulated. In vertebrate neurons, resting calcium levels are generally fixed between 5 and 10x10-8 M. However in an intact nervous system, neurons are seldom at rest and [Ca2+]i can vary with both time and spatial distribution within a neuron. Fluctuations of [Ca2+]i over orders of magnitude have been recorded from neurons in slices and in culture, in the absence of any external stimulus (Tank et al, 1988, Connor et al, 1987, Womack et al, 1988). These calcium transients can be driven by intrinsically-generated membrane oscillations or by synaptic activity. The studies described in this chapter address some of the mechanisms by which excitatory amino acid-mediated synaptic transmission might produce transient elevations of [Ca2+]i.
Confronting Natural Death in Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit

The following essay considers Life in Hegel's Phenomenology, and hence Life as it appears if viewed not through the perspective of the well-being of any singular living thing, but in terms of Life as an emergent pattern that incorporates and connects all living things within it. Such a view on living things enables us to evaluate vis-a-vis the emergent image of Life the relative significance of any singular living thing’s passing. Yet while the framework provided by Hegel’s account of Life and living things is powerful and importantly correct, it renders insignificant living things in their unique living and dying. Hegel’s account thus discloses living things in a significant way, but in a way that complicates, appropriately, how easily we can imagine thinking about them, and ourselves, as uniquely ethically commanding beings.
Nanostructured Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

The field of tissue engineering is an emerging discipline that applies basic principles of life sciences and engineering for the repair and restoration of human tissues and organs. Among many tissue types, bone has attracted much attention since it is the second most transplanted tissue in clinics. Bone is a complex tissue where organic and inorganic components interact to maintain an appropriate physio-chemical balance to allow for its cellular and structural functions. Treating bone loss via tissue engineering approach requires the design, fabrication and characterization of biodegradable scaffolds that display similar characteristics as the bone. Scaffolds for bone tissue engineering should have nano/micro structural features similar to the bone extracellular matrix to mimic the bone environment and support the bone cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. This chapter mainly focuses on the 3D nanostructured scaffold fabrication techniques and the scaffold characterization for in vitro and in vivo bone tissue engineering. Further, the chapter highlights the various effects of nanofeatures on bone forming cell performance, as well the signaling cascades induced by nanotopography.
Constraining Neutron Capture Cross Sections for Unstable Nuclei with Surrogate Reaction Data and Theory

Obtaining reliable data for nuclear reactions on unstable isotopes remains an extremely important task and a formidable challenge. Neutron capture cross sections---crucial ingredients for models of astrophysical processes, national security applications, and simulations of nuclear energy generation---are particularly elusive, as both projectile and target in the reaction are unstable. We demonstrate a new method for determining cross sections for neutron capture on unstable isotopes, using $^{87}\mathrm{Y}(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})$ as a prototype. To validate the method, a benchmark experiment is carried out to obtain the known $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})$ cross section analogously. Our approach, which employs an indirect (``surrogate'') measurement combined with theory, can be generalized to a larger class of nuclear reactions. It can be used both with traditional stable-beam experiments and in inverse kinematics at rare-isotope facilities.
Clinical knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted infections among emergency medicine providers

IntroductionThis study examines the association of the domains of knowledge for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among emergency medicine providers (EP).MethodsFrom February 2018 to M...
Social Support for Physical Activity for High Schoolers in Rural Southern Appalachia.

Objective Social support for physical activity (PA) has been shown to enhance PA levels in adolescents. Although social support has been examined extensively in the literature, less is known about the role of social support for PA for high school adolescents in rural southern Appalachia. PA is important because adolescent obesity is greater in Appalachia than in the rest of the United States. Methods This was a qualitative secondary analysis of focus groups conducted in 2013-2014 among parents, teachers, and high school students (N = 77) in 6 counties across rural southern Appalachia. Beets' typology of social support was used to categorize themes. Results Participants discussed instrumental supports, including providing transportation and paying fees, enrolling child in recreation/sports, and providing PA equipment at home. Performing PA with adolescents and modeling, watching/supervising, and prioritizing PA were identified as conditional supports. Several motivational supports were identified: encouragement, force, and the admiration of people who are active. Participants also identified key informational supports, including discussing the importance/health benefits of PA, how to be physically active, and general advice/information. Barriers to PA engagement (eg, body image issues, bullying, competitive nature of PA opportunities) and the role of referent groups (eg, family, peers, teachers) emerged as important concepts in the discussion. Conclusion This study identifies opportunities and practical ways for families and schools to provide, build, and strengthen supports for PA among adolescents in rural Appalachia.
Biobehavioral factors related to the development and course of type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic impairment in adults: The critical role of weight, diet, physical activity and other lifestyle behaviors

The purpose of this chapter is to review several individual-level, and potentially modifiable, behavioral factors known to be involved in the etiology of cardiometabolic impairments and type 2 diabetes in the context of aging. There is widespread acknowledgement that the dual epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes are interrelated and that lifestyle behaviors associated with excess weight play an integral role in the development, course, and outcomes of the physiological disease process. The study of diet, eating habits, and physical activity within a social-ecological framework has been central to advancing the scientific understanding of obesity and type 2 diabetes for over 50 years. The role of other behavioral lifestyle factors such as sleep, smoking, alcohol use, and psychosocial stress is less well understood but highly relevant because of their biological associations with obesity and the regulation of glucose and insulin. Furthermore, examining the individual-level lifestyle behaviors and associated pathophysiology (i.e., “biobehavioral factors”) most frequently implicated in the development and course of obesity and type 2 diabetes is essential for improved chronic disease prevention and control. Therefore, this chapter has three primary aims. We will (1) review and discuss the biological impact of several key lifestyle behaviors that have been shown to be significant in weight self-regulation and discuss their biological relationship to type 2 diabetes in adults; (2) critically evaluate research findings of the last 10 years that highlight the importance and significance of the biobehavioral relationships associated with type 2 diabetes; and (3) summarize promising research directions that are likely to yield important insights regarding behavioral lifestyle factors for type 2 diabetes prevention and management.