cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nesting Success of Costa Rican Lowland Rain Forest Birds in Response to Edge and Isolation Effects

Although open-cup nesting birds generally face increased risk of nest depredation from forest edge predators and brood parasites in fragmented temperate landscapes, little information exists to assess such risks in tropical birds. We compared nesting success of real birds' nests in large and small forest fragments to a control site in Caribbean lowland wet forest of Costa Rica. Pooling across species, nesting success was significantly greater in unfragmented forest than in either small, isolated fragments or the La Selva Biological Reserve, which is at the tip of a forest ‘peninsula’ embedded in a largely deforested landscape. Nesting success in isolated fragments did not vary according to distance from edge, suggesting that predators in fragments act throughout these forest patches. The case for increased nest predation as a plausible mechanism to explain the documented decline of forest interior bird populations in this fragmented tropical landscape is enhanced by a simple demographic model that suggests nesting success is likely too low to maintain populations at La Selva and in the fragments. The fact that the large (> 1000 ha) La Selva forest reserve is experiencing nest predation rates similar to those in much smaller fragments is cause for concern. Our results make a strong case for additional studies to document the identities of nest predators in both fragmented and unfragmented forests in such tropical forest landscapes. RESUMEN A pesar de que en los paisajes fragmentados de las zonas templadas las aves que construyen nidos en la forma de un tazon abierto se enfrentan riesgos elevados de depredacion de sus nidos por los depredadores que abundan en los bordes del bosque y a los parasitos de cria, existe poca informacion para evaluar estos riegos para las aves tropicales. Comparamos el exito de los nidos verdaderos de las aves en grande y pequenas parcelas de bosque a un sitio de control en el bosque humedo de las zonas bajas en el Caribe de Costa Rica. Agrupando los resultados para todas las especies, resulto que el exito de anidacion fue significativamente menor en el bosque no fragmentado que tanto en las parcelas pequenas de bosque como en la Reserva Biologica La Selva, que se ubica en el punto de una peninsula de bosque rodeado por deforestacion. Un modelo demografico sencillo apoya la idea de que el aumento de depredacion de nidos es un mecanismo factible para explicar la disminucion de las poblaciones de las aves del interior del bosque en este paisaje tropical fragmentado. El hecho de que la gran (> 1.000 ha) reserva forestal de La Selva se experimenta una tasa de depredacion de nidos similar a la de fragmentos mucho menores se preocupa. Nuestros resultados hacen hincapie a la necesidad para investigaciones adicionales con el fin de documentar las identidades de los depredadores de nidos tanto en los bosques fragmentados como en los bosques no fragmentados en los paisajes en zonas bajas de bosque humedo.
HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE "DARK" AND "LIGHT" CELLS OF THE CEREBELLUM OF RAT.

The distribution of mitochondria, DNA, RNA, phospholipid and other chemical substances in the cerebellum of the rat have been studied. Mitochondria in the Purkinje cells show a variety of distributions — in some cells they are concentrated around the nucleus and in others spread through the cytoplasm. In the former case the nucleolus is in contact with the nuclear membrane. Purkinje cells appear to go through a series of metabolic cycles similar to those described in the spinal ganglion cells. Phospholipid reactions are most intense in the white matter. Various types of lipid positive nerves can also be seen in the granular layer, and lipid granules can be seen in the glomeruli. RNA preparations show prominent cytoplasmic staining in the Purkinje cells and nucleoli. In some cells there was a aggregation of RNA around the nucleus. The nuclei of the cells of the molecular layer gave no reaction either for DNA or RNA. DNA was frequently found to the peripherally located in the nucleus of various cells. All these results are discussed in detail.
Endocrine disease is serious business

Endocrinology & Metabolismedited by Philip Felig and Lawrence A. Frohman. McGraw Hill, 2001. US$195.00 (xxxiii + 1562 pages)ISBN 0070220018This is an extremely detailed tome covering a wide range of topics in endocrinology, with extensive coverage of diseases and disorders of the endocrine system. The chapters are extremely thorough and include many current references. Furthermore, the authors do a good job of explaining the complexities of and interactions between the different hormone systems.The first section of the book (General Endocrinology) provides a good overview of the endocrine system, including cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of hormones. Although there is a chapter on hormone assays in this section, there is no extensive discussion of molecular biological techniques (e.g. transgenics), even though the impact and value of molecular biology to the field is evident. The second section focuses on Neuroendocrinology and the Pituitary and is similarly an overview, although it also contains a chapter on diseases of the anterior pituitary. These first two sections will be appreciated by any endocrinologist, especially graduate students. In these sections, the authors also make reference to material elsewhere in the text that provides more elaborate details of a specific topic and direct the reader to some of the more clinical implications of the work.Most of the book is dedicated to diseases and disorders of the endocrine system. In general, these chapters give background information, including synthesis of the hormone, regulation of release, and effects and mechanism(s) of action of the hormone, and pathology. Although the text includes discussion of hormonal function in animals, the major emphasis is on the endocrine system in humans. However, even in chapters that focus entirely on disease and pathology, there is still substantial background information. Readers could use this text as a useful summary and overview of most of the endocrine system, even if they have limited knowledge of clinical endocrinology. Students in medical school, physicians and other scientists involved in clinical endocrinology will probably find the review of these disorders invaluable.The discussion of diseases covers a broad range, including clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. The effects of genetics and environmental influences on disease are also considered. In some cases, the authors discuss the endocrine interactions that affect disease (e.g. adrenal disorder and hypertension).Many chapters give a historical perspective on the discovery of the hormones and their actions, and most include a good combination of diagrams and figures that enhances key concepts. Micrographs and pictures also illustrate anatomical or structural organization, and clinical conditions.Although this book would not be appropriate for most graduate-level endocrinology courses, and is certainly above the undergraduate level, any scientist with a strong interest or background in endocrinology will find it a valuable resource.
Parameterized penalties in the dual representation of Markov decision processes

Duality in Markov decision processes (MDPs) has been studied recently by several researchers with the goal to derive dual bounds on the value function. In this paper we propose the idea of using parameterized penalty functions in the dual representation of MDPs, which allows us to integrate different types of penalty functions and guarantees a tighter dual bound with more penalties used. To complement and diversify the existing linear penalties developed in the literature, we also introduce a new class of nonlinear penalties that can be used for a broad class of problems and are also easy to implement in practice. Based on this new class of penalties, our framework of parameterized penalties is a promising method to produce tighter dual bounds than existing duality-based methods. We compare the performance of the dual bounds induced by different penalties on a numerical example, demonstrating the effectiveness of our method.
Circuitry linking opioid-sensitive nociceptive modulatory systems in periaqueductal gray and spinal cord with rostral ventromedial medulla.

The interactions among opioid-sensitive nociceptive modulatory systems, which include the midbrain periaqueductal gray, rostral ventromedial medulla and spinal cord, are likely to play a central role in the potent antinociception that results when morphine is administered systemically. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms through which local application of morphine, either in the periaqueductal gray or at the lumbar spinal cord in the rat, influences the activity of one population of putative nociceptive modulatory neurons in rostral ventromedial medulla, i.e. "on-cells". Previous studies have shown that the spontaneous and tail-flick-related firing of on-cells is invariably depressed when morphine is given systemically in doses demonstrated to inhibit the tail-flick reflex, and that a similar depression of this activity is produced when morphine is applied directly in the periaqueductal gray or intrathecal space. In the present experiments, on-cells were activated pharmacologically using iontophoretically applied glutamate to provide an indication of whether morphine-induced suppression of on-cell firing reflected a postsynaptic inhibition or a disfacilitation resulting from blockade of an excitatory input to the on-cell. Microinjection of morphine into the periaqueductal gray blocked glutamate-evoked activity of on-cells in parallel with its suppression of the tail-flick reflex, suggesting activation of an inhibitory input to these cells. No change in glutamate-evoked activity occurred in rats in which morphine did not produce antinociception. Intrathecal administration of morphine did not alter the glutamate-evoked activity of these neurons despite blocking the tail-flick reflex, suggesting that morphine acting in the spinal cord removes an excitatory input to on-cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Common Vision: John Cassian and al-Ghazali's Correlative Conceptions of the Spiritual Life

This article explores common ground between understandings of the spiritual life held by the fourth-century Desert Father John Cassian and the eleventh-century Sufi mystic al-Ghazali. Both refer to the spiritual life as a journey to God, to the purity of heart and practice of unceasing prayer required for that journey, and to the important role of praying selected, scripturally-based phrases. The article argues that, by investigating these themes, Christian and Muslim scholars can engender constructive interreligious dialogue between their traditions, without homogenizing their distinct faiths. While claiming that there are striking correlations between Cassian and al-Ghazali at certain points, the article also acknowledges that there are many distinctive features, including some irreducible differences. However, the article maintains that juxtaposing these two influential writers leads to the recognition of interesting parallels between their perspectives and practices and concludes that, by studying Cas...
Cell line tropism and replication of XMRV

Background XMRV is a gammaretrovirus closely related to xenotropic murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs). XMRV was first identified in familial cases of prostate cancer tissue using a virus gene array. Although, initial reports have identified XMRV predominantly in the prostate, recent reports of detection of XMRV in blood cells of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome suggests that blood cells could act as a primary target and reservoir for XMRV to help disseminate infection throughout the body. The aim of this study is to elucidate possible routes of transmission and to determine the host range and cellular tropism of XMRV.
Epicardial Mapping: How to Measure Local Activation?

UNLABELLED Epicardial ventricular mapping was performed in 5 dogs during sinus rhythm with a sock array containing 41 electrodes. Maps were generated with a computer-assisted mapping system using four different definitions of local epicardial activation: (1) maximal negative slope (intrinsic deflection) of the unipolar electrogram, (2) maximal slope of the bipolar electrogram, (3) maximal amplitude of the bipolar electrogram, and (4) first onset by 45 degrees from the baseline of the bipolar electrogram. The site of earliest and latest epicardial activation was identical with maximal negative slope in the unipolar electrogram and maximal slope and maximal amplitude of the bipolar electrogram in all five animals. Times of earliest and latest epicardial activation calculated with maximal amplitude of the bipolar electrogram were most similar to those evaluated with maximal negative slope of the unipolar electrogram. Using onset of the bipolar electrogram, activation times were measured 10 to 12 msec earlier than with each of the other three definitions of local activation, and in two of the five animals, first epicardial breakthrough was mapped to a different site than with the three other methods. CONCLUSIONS (1) Maximal amplitude of the bipolar electrogram coincided with maximal negative slope of the unipolar electrogram; (2) Using onset of the bipolar electrogram, timing and location of earliest epicardial activation may be misinterpreted.
ATP-TOX system—a new, rapid, sensitive bacterial toxicity screening system based on the determination of ATP

A new toxicity screening test, based on the inhibition of bacterial growth and luciferase activity by toxicants was developed. In the ATP-TOX System, chemical toxicity was found to be time-dependent and increased with increasing exposure time up to 5 hours. Three organisms were evaluated in this study: E. coli K-12 PQ37, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Salmonella typhimurium. E. coli K-12 PQ37 was found to be the most sensitive organism. It was also shown that P. fluorescens was more sensitive to toxicants when grown in minimal medium than in nutrient broth, suggesting that nutrients may have a protective effect on the bacterium. In comparative studies using selected toxic chemicals the ATP-TOX System was found to be more sensitive than the Spirillum volutans test and comparable to the Microtox test. Toxicant activity in sediment samples was found to be time dependent and increased with increasing exposure time in both ATP-TOX (E. coli) System and Microtox. The ATP-TOX System is complementary to the Microtox test as it also provides indications of low grade toxicant activity which is only manifested in actively growing cells over several life cycles. Thus, the ATP-TOX System appears to be an ideal screening test for sediment toxicity. The data indicate that the ATP-TOX System is sensitive, rapid, reproducible, economical and has great potential in applied studies.
Contrasting the neuroprotective and gliotoxic effects of PPARγ agonists

Observations that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists exert anti-inflammatory effects prompted studies on neuronal and glial inflammatory responses. Subsequent animal studies confirmed that these agonists could provide benefit in neuroinflammatory diseases including multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease (AD). In contrast to their neuroprotective effects, PPARγ agonists induce apoptotic cell death in glioma cells. Although the exact mechanisms of action remain to be clarified, these findings provide the basis for rational design of clinical trials.
Imide-aryl ether oxadiazole copolymers

Abstract Imide-aryl ether oxadiazole copolymers were prepared and their morphology and mechanical properties investigated. A general method for the preparation of aryl ether oxadiazole-containing diamines has been developed in which the generation of the aryl ether linkage was the monomer-forming reaction. The electron-deficient oxazole ring activated a fluoro-substituent towards nucleophilic aromatic substitution. Facile displacement occurred at the para position of a 2-phenyl substituted oxadiazole heterocyclic since the oxadiazole can stabilize the negative charge developed in the transition state through a Meisenheimer complex, analogous to conventional activating groups (i.e. sulphone, ketone, etc.). The synthesis involved the reaction of 2,5-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole with either 3- or 4-aminophenol in an N- methyl -2- pyrrolidone N- cyclohexyl -2- pyrrolidone solvent mixture in the presence of potassium carbonate. These novel diamines were purified by recrystallization, polymerized with various compositions of 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA) and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and thermally cured, producing two series of novel imide-aryl ether oxadiazole random copolymers. The resulting copolymers showed mechanical properties comparable to PMDA/ODA polyimide with elongations in the 40% range and moduli in the 2500 MPa range. The copolymers showed Tgs in excess of 300°C. However, the thermal stability was somewhat compromised by the incorporation of the oxadiazole-containing diamine relative to PMDA/ODA polyimide.
Interior space GIS: a foundation for campus-wide planning and management

Virginia Tech is in the process of integrating building floor plans into an enterprise GIS to improve campus planning and management. Although Virginia Tech has maintained separate mapping of interior and exterior features for many years, the completion of this project will mark the first time the campus has combined these in a unified viewing environment. By updating the format of the interior space mapping and placing it in a geospatial context, new modes of interaction, analysis, and visualization will be possible. Examples of ways the interior space GIS may be used include: space accounting and management, fixed asset and hazardous substance mapping, precise E-911 response and situational awareness, wayfinding and evacuation routing, visualization of campus populations by day and time, and links to other documentation stored in the digital plans library or work order management system. The interior space GIS will be a generalized depiction of interior spaces based on existing floor plans. As Building Information Model (BIM) files become available for newly constructed buildings, and interior space surveys improve the mapping of existing buildings, the accuracy of interior space GIS will improve.
Determination of the in-rich peritectic region in the in-Sn system by differential scanning calorimetry

Phase compositions at the In-rich peritectic isotherm in the In-Sn phase diagram and related liquidus and solidus slopes were determined through differential scanning calorimetry. The resultant liquid composition at the peritectic temperature was essentially the same as reported in previous work [64Heu, 83Eva], but the compositions of primary (In) and peritectic β were significantly higher in the solute element Sn than previously reported. These higher levels of Sn are most likely due to reduced microsegregation resulting from the very slow heating and cooling rates utilized in this work.
A theory of wave scatter from an inhomogeneous medium with a slightly rough boundary and its application to sea ice

An analytical theory of electromagnetic wave scattering from an inhomogeneous medium with a slightly rough boundary surface is formulated. The inhomogeneity in the medium is assumed to vary continuously in the vertical direction and to have a small random variation in the horizontal direction. The medium is assumed to consist of two layers. Maxwell's equations are solved by using the small perturbation method together with Fourier transform technique. The resulting differential equations are solved by using WKB and variation of parameter methods. Field amplitudes in each medium are determined by taking boundary conditions into account. The expressions for first order polarized radar backscatter cross-section are obtained. An attempt is made to apply the developed theory to compute sea ice scatter. Numerical calculations are performed for polarized radar backscatter cross-section at two frequencies, 13.3 GHz and 400 MHz. It is shown that WKB method is applicable at both of these frequencies. Theoretical results are compared with the experimental results obtained from NASA Earth Resources Program mission 126. Theoretical results and experimental results are in good agreement.
Plenary Remarks at Rediscovering the Other America: A National Forum on Poverty and Inequality, Chicago, IL, August 18, 2002: Neo-Liberal Social Policy and Labor Market Discipline

Dans cet article, l'A fait part de ses reflexions concernant la politique sociale actuelle americaine. L'A revient ici sur les restrictions des conditions d'acces a une aide sociale minimaliste et la moralisation constante du discours politique qui tend a denigrer les travailleurs et travailleuses les plus pauvres. L'A se penche egalement sur les luttes sociales qui ont lieu depuis le 19eme siecle, afin de comprendre les strategies capitalistes du pouvoir en place et la demagogie deployee pour asseoir la loi des marches
Adding steroid injection to exercise and manual mobilization did not reduce shoulder pain and disability over the long term

Source Citation Crawshaw DP, Helliwell PS, Hensor EM, et al. Exercise therapy after corticosteroid injection for moderate to severe shoulder pain: large pragmatic randomised trial. BMJ. 2010;340:c3...
Enhanced Born charges in III-VII, IV-VII 2 , and V-VII 3 compounds

We report electronic-structure and lattice dynamics calculations on selected III-VII, ${\text{IV-VII}}_{2}$, and ${\text{V-VII}}_{3}$ compounds. The common characteristic of these largely ionic compounds is that their outmost cation-$s$ states are fully occupied and thus the conduction-band states are derived from the more spatially extended cation-$p$ states, resulting in significant cross-band-gap hybridization, which enhances Born effective charges substantially. The large Born charges cause large splitting between longitudinal and transverse optic phonon modes and large static dielectric constants resulting mostly from the lattice contribution. This can lead to effective screening of defects and impurities that would otherwise be strong carrier traps and recombination centers and may therefore have positive effects on the carrier transport properties in radiation detectors based on these soft-lattice halides.
Pest and disease challenges and insect biotechnology solutions

Advances in microbiology and molecular genetics have led to renewed interest in microbial and host interactions, especially mutualism and symbiosis. More genome sequences are being reported every year; indeed, we are awash in information on an unprecedented scale. However, despite the greater amount of genomic information, we still have difficulty resolving species boundaries, and we still have much to learn about pathogen, vector and host interactions. Biotechnology approaches offer the promise of new tools for pest and disease control.
As the cube turns: Evidence for two processes in the perception of a dynamic reversible figure

The reported reversals of a rotating Necker cube, which changes direction of rotation when a perspective reversal occurs, were examined under a number of conditions. These permitted comparisons of reversal rates within viewing periods, across successive viewing periods within an experimental session, and across successive weekly sessions. In addition, observers viewed either one or two rotating cubes simultaneously within each of the various viewing periods. Clear evidence for a learning effect was obtained in the form of significant savings across successive viewing periods and sessions. At the same time, results from the multiple-cube conditions and from the pattern of reversals within individual viewing periods appeared to be more consistent with a process of neural fatigue. A two-stage model of reversible-figure perception is proposed which is characterized by (1) fatiguing with extended viewing of the two sets of neural channels that underlie the two percepts of the reversible figure, and (2) learning, which helps to establish the organization of the cortical channels as well as moderate channel activity via such processes as attention and strategy.
The hormone-induced regulation of contact-dependent cell-cell communication by phosphorylation.

Introduction THERE are a number of recent reviews on gap junctions and their ability to mediate contact-dependent cell-to-cell communication (1–11). Each of these articles has its own perspective on the biophysical, biochemical, and physiological roles of cell communication in various tissues and cell types. It is our intent to focus on the established and potential functions of intercellular communication, especially as they apply to endocrine or endocrine-responsive systems, and to correlate this with what is known about the regulation of cell communication. To do this coherently the structure of gap junctions is considered first, after which the concept of intercellular communication is introduced. Then the biochemistry and molecular biology of gap junctions are summarized. Finally, the apparent physiological significance of intercellular communication will be reviewed and related to emerging evidence on the regulation of this dynamic process. Retrospective Until recently, studies of intercellular comm...
Setting a research agenda for ductal carcinoma in situ that meets the current need for change.

This issue includes a report of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute's effort to identify research priorities related to ductal carcinoma in situ. The editorialists comment on the ident...
Optimality of Bus-Invert Coding

Dynamic power dissipation on I/O buses is an important issue for high-speed communication between chips. One can use coding techniques to reduce the number of transitions, which will reduce the dynamic power. Bus-invert coding is one popular technique for interchip buses, where the dominant contribution is from the self-capacitance of the wires. This algorithm uses an invert line to signal whether the bus data are in its original or an inverted form. While the method appears to be a greedy algorithm, we show that it is, in fact, an optimal strategy. To do so, we first represent the bus and invert line using a trellis diagram. Then, we show that applying bus-invert coding to a sequence of words gives the same result as would be obtained by using the Viterbi algorithm, which is known to be optimal. We also show that partitioning an M-bit bus into P subbuses and using bus-invert coding on each subbus can be described as applying the Viterbi algorithm on a 2P-state trellis.
Prospective study of obstructive sleep apnea and incident coronary heart disease and heart failure: The sleep heart health study

Background— Clinic-based observational studies in men have reported that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased incidence of coronary heart disease. The objective of this study was to assess the relation of obstructive sleep apnea to incident coronary heart disease and heart failure in a general community sample of adult men and women. Methods and Results— A total of 1927 men and 2495 women ≥40 years of age and free of coronary heart disease and heart failure at the time of baseline polysomnography were followed up for a median of 8.7 years in this prospective longitudinal epidemiological study. After adjustment for multiple risk factors, obstructive sleep apnea was a significant predictor of incident coronary heart disease (myocardial infarction, revascularization procedure, or coronary heart disease death) only in men ≤70 years of age (adjusted hazard ratio 1.10 [95% confidence interval 1.00 to 1.21] per 10-unit increase in apnea-hypopnea index [AHI]) but not in older men or in women of...
Evaluating the beneficial and detrimental effects of bile pigments in early and later life.

The heme degradation pathway has been conserved throughout phylogeny and allows for the removal of a pro-oxidant and the generation of unique molecules including bile pigment with important cellular functions. The impact of bile pigments on health and disease are reviewed as is the special circumstance of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. In addition, the importance of promoter polymorphisms in the UDP-glucuronyltransferase gene (UGTA1), which is key to the elimination of excess bilirubin and to preventing its toxicity, are discussed. Overall, the duality of bile pigments as either cytoprotective or toxic molecules is highlighted.
(+)-CC-1065 as a probe for intrinsic and protein-induced bending of DNA

(+)-CC-1065 is a biologically potent DNA-reactive antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces zelensis. This antibiotic covalently modifies DNA by alkylation of N-3 of adenine in the minor groove. As a structural consequence of covalent modification of DNA, the helix axis is bent into the minor groove. The drug-induced bending of DNA has similarities to intrinsic A-tract bending and the 3' adenine of A-tracts shows a unique reactivity to alkylation by (+)-CC-1065. Upon covalent modification of A-tracts, the magnitude of bending is increased and the helix is stiffened. Using high-field NMR, hydroxyl-radical footprinting and gel electrophoresis, the molecular basis for the high reactivity of the bonding sequence 5'-AGTTA* (an asterisk indicates the covalent modification site) to (+)-CC-1065 has been shown to involve the inherent conformational flexibility of this sequence. Furthermore, these studies also demonstrate that after alkylation the drug-induced bending is focused over the TT region. By analogy with the junction bend model for A-tracts, a 'truncated junction bend model' is proposed for this structure. Last, the application (+)-CC-1065 entrapped/induced bending of DNA as a probe for the Sp1-induced bending of the 21-base-pair repeat and Mu transposase bending of the att L3 sequence is described.
A psychoanalyst-liaison psychiatrist's overview of DSM III

There has been a groundswell of reaction, mostly favorable, to the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. In this paper the author attempts to evaluate the Manual, which purports to provide an atheoretical and descriptive diagnostic model on its own ground, as well as from a psychodynamic and ego-psychological point of view. More specifically, the Manual is evaluated in terms of its usefulness in the diagnosis and management of the Somatoform Disorders, as well as other typical general hospital problems. This assessment raises many questions about the basic tenets of DSM III in general. Concomitantly, suggestions are made to enhance the reliability, validity, and clinical relevance of the Manual.
The evolution of music

In the second of a nine-part essay series, Josh McDermott explores the origins of the human urge to make and hear music.
Race/Ethnicity and Workplace Discrimination: Results of a National Survey of Physicians

BACKGROUND Promoting racial/ethnic diversity within the physician workforce is a national priority. However, the extent of racial/ethnic discrimination reported by physicians from diverse backgrounds in today’s health-care workplace is unknown.
Women, Priests, and Physicians: Family Limitation in Quebec, 1940–1970

The fertility transition occurred relatively later, and at a much slower pace, in Quebec than in most industrializing countries. Quantitative data can help to situate the general trends and the contributing factors. Qualitative data reveal the hostile context in which Catholic couples tried to fulfill their aspirations to have smaller families. They also show variability in the practices of clergy members.
Warm compaction of attrition milled nanostructured iron powders

Abstract Attrition milled, nanostructured iron-based powders were compacted at temperatures less than one half the melting temperature and at pressure in excess of 1GPa and resulted in full dense samples from which macroscopic properties could be determined. The use of modest compaction temperatures resulted in (1) reducing the mechanical induced lattice strain, (2) producing interparticle bonding by grain boundary diffusion, and (3) limiting grain growth. The high compression stress resulted in deforming the milled particles into a fully dense compact. Hall-Petch relationships for the compacts were consistent with data from previous studies.
Embodiment and desire in browsing online pornography

The purpose of this essay is to explore why Spink, Ozmutlu, & Lorence (2004) found that browsing online pornography requires more time and effort than general searches online. Recent information-seeking behavior research concerning online pornography neglects to examine sexuality or desire as factors influencing this particular information activity. As such, I rely on Lacan's theory of desire, Freud's theory of cathexis, and existential phenomenology, a philosophical method that emphasizes an interpretation of perception and bodily activity, in order to examine the way our embodied relations with the technological apparatus of the computer effect the time and effort of browsing online pornography. In the process, I offer an explanation of subjective analysis as a new mode of description for understanding certain aspects of information activity.
Parental Attachment, Interparental Conflict, and Young Adults’ Emotional Adjustment

This study extends Engels et al.’s model of emotional adjustment to young adults and includes the constructs of interparental conflict and conflict resolution. Results indicate that parental attachment is better conceived as a two-factor construct of mother and father attachment and that although attachment to both mothers and fathers directly predicts emotional adjustment, the mechanisms that mediate these relationships differ. Attachment to fathers was found to be predictive of better social skills, which in turn promoted greater relational competence, and better emotional adjustment. Attachment to mothers was found to be predictive of better conflict resolution behavior, which in turn promoted greater relational competence, and better emotional adjustment. These results are discussed along with recommendations for practice and future research.
Socket thermal modeling and test correlation with learning on board temperature prediction

With increasingly high currents flowing though CPU sockets in thermally-challenged systems, socket temperatures have recently been projected to approach, and even exceed, their thermal reliability limits. The prediction of socket and board temperatures through modeling and simulation is well-established and refined. The modeling methodology based on CFD simulation accounts for Joule heating power losses from motherboard traces using a localized board thermal conductivity. A testing methodology has also been developed that allows for the direct measurement of socket contact temperatures and various board temperatures using thermocouples. In this socket thermal modeling and test correlation study, the impact of the motherboard, processors, and power delivery component temperatures, as well as different air flow velocities, CPU powers, and board power losses are seen. Additionally, the sensitivity of board temperature prediction to VR FET temperature and board trace power losses provides invaluable learning that can be applied to future platform planning, design, and development.
A Low-Protein Diet during Gestation in Rats Activates the Placental Mammalian Amino Acid Response Pathway and Programs the Growth Capacity of Offspring

Placental efficiency is a predictor of fetal growth and development, which is also controlled by maternal gestational health and diet. The present study investigated the effects of a gestational low-protein diet on offspring growth capacity as well as the diet’s contribution to altered expression of placental genes associated with the mammalian amino acid response (AAR) pathway. To assess these outcomes, timed-pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were fed a control (C) diet with 18% protein or a low-protein (LP) diet with 9% protein throughout gestation (Expt. 1) or throughout gestation and lactation (Expt. 2). Placentas were collected during natural delivery and quantitative RT-PCR and Western-blot analyses were performed to determine placental mRNA and protein levels. By the end of the lactation period, offspring of dams fed the LP diet had stunted growth in both experiments. mRNA expressionof target genes in the AAR pathway, such as activating transcription factor-3 (Atf3), asparagine synthetase (Asns), and Sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter-2 (Snat2), was greater in placentas of rats fed the LP diet compared with controls, as were placental ATF4 and p-eIF2a protein levels. The increase in mRNA expression of AAR pathway-associated genes was correlated with the stunting of offspring growth (Atf3: R 2 = 0.32, P = 0.086;Asns: R 2 = 0.44, P , 0.05; Snat2: R 2 = 0.33, P = 0.084). Our study showed that the mammalian AAR pathway in placenta is upregulated by a maternal low-protein diet and this activation may act as a cue for the fetus to develop an adaptive response suited to their predicted postnatal environment, i.e. a more favorable phenotype for their survival. J. Nutr. 140: 2116‐2120, 2010.
Hypoxia Stimulates Glucose Transport in Insulin-Resistant Human Skeletal Muscle

Insulin and muscle contraction stimulate glucose transport into muscle cells by separate signaling pathways, and hypoxia has been shown to operate via the contraction signaling pathway. To elucidate the mechanism of insulin resistance in human skeletal muscle, strips of rectus abdominis muscle from lean (body mass index [BMI] 30), and obese non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (BMI > 30) patients were incubated under basal and insulin-, hypoxia-, and hypoxia + insulin-stimulated conditions. Insulin significantly stimulated 2-deoxyglucose transport approximately twofold in muscle from lean (P < 0.05) patients, but not in muscle from obese or obese NIDDM patients. Furthermore, maximally insulin-stimulated transport rates in muscle from obese and diabetic patients were significantly lower than rates in muscle from lean patients (P < 0.05). Hypoxia significantly stimulated glucose transport in muscle from lean and obese patients. There were no significant differences in hypoxia-stimulated glucose transport rates among lean, obese, and obese NIDDM groups. Hypoxia + insulin significantly stimulated glucose transport in lean, obese, and diabetic muscle. The results of the present study suggest that the glucose transport effector system is intact in diabetic human muscle when stimulated by hypoxia.
Insights into infant nutrition through cross-species proteomic comparison of primate milks (623.9)

Milk has served as the optimal neonatal nutrition source directing infant growth, neurological development, and immunity for millions of years. Its production is an energetic balance between mother...
The incidence and health burden of earaches attributable to recreational swimming in natural waters: a prospective cohort study

Background: Earaches and outer ear infections are commonly associated with swimming. In this study, we estimated the excess risk and health burden of earaches due to swimming in natural fresh and marine waters using results from a survey of over 50,000 beachgoers at nine beaches across the United States. Methods: Prospective cohort studies were conducted at four freshwater and five marine sites in the United States and Puerto Rico. Beach visitors were enrolled on summer weekends and holidays. Ten to twelve days after the beach visit, respondents answered questions about health symptoms, including earaches or ear infections experienced since the beach visit. Economic and physical burdens were also obtained. Fixed slope, random intercept (beach site) multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the relationship between head immersion swimming exposure and earaches. Model results were used to calculate excess risk for earaches attributable to swimming. Results: The overall incidence of self-reported earache was 1.6% in the 10–12 days after the beach visit. Earaches were more frequent in head immersion swimmers compared to non-swimmers for all beach sites and age groups. Earaches were unassociated with water sample measures of fecal contamination and turbidity. After adjustment for covariates, we calculated 7.12 excess earaches among head immersion swimmers per 1,000 swimming events. Twenty-four percent of those with earache reported missing their regular activities; 28% visited a doctor; 4% visited the emergency room; and 31% and 40% used prescription and non-prescription medications, respectively. Conclusions: There are at least 128 million swimming events in natural waters annually. Such frequent exposures could result in 900,000 excess earaches, 260,000 visits to the doctor, 39,900 visits to the emergency room , nearly $4 million dollars in out-of-pocket expenditures on prescription and over-the-counter medications, and close to 75,000 hours of clinician time. More accurate estimates of swimming exposure are needed to improve population burden and associated cost estimates.
Retrievable vena cava filters: A clinical review

Vena cava filters were developed as a method of preventing pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) at risk for bleeding from therapeutic anticoagulation. However, the long-term complications of filter placement, such as caval thrombosis, have mitigated some of the benefits, particularly in those patients with only a temporary contraindication to anticoagulation. Retrievable filters were designed to avoid the long-term risks of a permanent filter while still providing short-term protection against PE. As a result, their use has expanded from patients with known thrombosis to those without VTE who are at high risk for developing PE. In this review, we discuss the different types of retrievable filters, indications for their placement, complications that can occur during and after placement, and their use as prophylaxis in surgical patients. Although the use of retrievable filters in patients with known VTE is clear, further studies are needed to establish their prophylactic efficacy in the surgical patient. Until this evidence is available, we recommend that retrievable filters should be used only in patients with acute VTE who are at risk for recurrent thromboembolism and have a transient risk for bleeding.
Using Well Water to Increase Hydroperiod as a Management Option for Pond‐Breeding Amphibians

Drying of wetlands before the completion of larval development is a major factor controlling reproductive success of amphibians breeding in temporary ponds. For some endangered taxa, such drying can severely limit population viability and species survival. One way of reducing the impact of premature drying is to add water to temporary ponds via an outside source, but data on the value of this strategy are almost nonexistent. We tested whether water from nearby wells could be used to avoid pond drying and increase reproductive success for the endangered dusky gopher frog (Rana sevosa). During a 7-week period in 2001, we added over 366,000 L of water from nearby wells to the breeding site for this frog and were able to increase and maintain water levels until a heavy natural rainfall filled the pond basin. This avoided complete larval mortality and 130 metamorphic frogs were produced, the first successful reproduction since 1998. Our study provides an important initial step in evaluating the use of well water to increase the hydroperiod of breeding ponds for anurans; however, further studies should be undertaken before this method is used as a conservation tool to avoid larval mortality of imperiled amphibians.
Surgical stents for the head and neck cancer patient

Split-thickness skin graft reconstruction following intraoral cancer surgery maintains functional mobility within the oral cavity and gives excellent support for the final intraoral rehabilitative prosthesis. We describe the use of a dental material, called tissue conditioner, for skin graft immobilization as an alternative to the usual gauze bolus and thermoplastic materials following surgery in various intraoral anatomic sites.
Faculty practice: facilitation of clinical integrations into the academic triad model

This article presents a brief overview of the historic evolution of nursing faculty practice, with an emphasis on the integration of practice into the traditional academic triad model of teaching, scholarship, and service. Different practice models are discussed and the pros and cons of faculty practice are reviewed. An evaluation of the more than 25 years of faculty practice at the Lienhard School of Nursing, Pace University, is presented as an exemplar. This analysis was based on survey results and informal interviews. Two major outcomes are discussed: the formation of a support group for faculty who are practicing and a recommendation for a University-wide cultural shift.
Assessing chain-restaurant impact—: Using linear regression

Abstract No matter which side of the impact question you're on, here's a model to help sort things out.
Prenatal Exposure of Male Mice to Diethylstilbestrol Alters the Expression of the Lactotransferrin Gene in Seminal Vesicles

We have previously isolated an estrogen-inducible secretory protein, lactotransferrin (LTF), and a cDNA to its messenger RNA from the uterus of mice. In this report we determined that the level of LTF mRNA is minimal in the seminal vesicles of normal mice. In contrast, expression of LTF mRNA in the seminal vesicles of developmentally estrogenized males was both constitutive and estrogen inducible. The results suggested that this alteration may be an example of atypical gene expression after hormonal manipulation early in development.
Biomass crop production on representative Southeastern US farms: Farm profitability, erosion control and the 1985 food security act

Abstract Erosion control and farm profits are important agricultural policy concerns. Another important policy issue is the development of alternative renewable energy resources. Southeastern US farmers may be able to achieve both a high level of erosion control and an acceptable level of profitability through the production of a biomass energy crop on highly erodible cropland. This paper examines the feasibility of such a production technology in terms of farm profitability, erosion control, and level of government involvement. The micro-Oriented Agricultural Production System (MOAPS) was used in a representative farm approach to model the effects on farm profitability and erosion control of various farm organizations for one representative farm hypothetically located in Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 133 (southwest Georgia) and two in MLRA 134 (west Tennessee). Four alternative farming systems were modeled for each of the above farms, varying crops grown and government participation levels. Results indicate that erosion was likely to be reduced more by the diversion of cropland to permanent vegetative cover on farms similar to the more highly erodible MLRA 134 farms than on the less erodible MLRA 133 farm. Equivalent reductions in erosion rates resulted from entering highly erodible cropland in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and from the production of switch-grass as a biomass-producing energy crop. Both biomass crop production and enrolling highly erodible cropland in the CRP resulted in decreased net returns, although biomass production was in general more profitable than CRP enrollment. Results also indicate that costs of government programs targeting erosion control could be reduced by allowing biomass crop production on highly erodible cropland which is currently enrolled in the CRP.