cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determining Spoken Language Prognosis in Children With Developmental Disabilities

The purpose of this study is to predict which of 58 children (mean age=22 months) with developmental disabilities in the prelinguistic period of development would begin speaking 12 months after initial assessment. None of the children had severe or profound motor impairments. During the initial assessment period, children participated in a structured and unstructured communication sample with a project staff member. Also, at the time they entered the study, a mother-child interaction session was conducted to measure maternal responses to child communication acts, and mothers filled out a vocabulary checklist. Twelve months later, the structured and unstructured language samples were repeated. We labeled children with fewer than 5 different nonimitative spoken words in either communication samples as "prefunctional speakers" and those with 5 or more words in either sample as "functional speakers." The results indicate that functional speakers scored significantly higher than prefunctional speakers on 5 var...
Tibetan Range Wars: Spatial Politics and Authority on the Grasslands of Amdo

This article focuses on one of the most disturbing features of life on the Tibetan grasslands today: intractable, violent conflicts over pasture. The author argues that understanding spatial and historical dimensions of the process through which Amdo was incorporated into the People's Republic of China (PRC) helps us make sense of these conflicts. State territoriality attempts to replace older socio–territorial identities with new administrative units. However, histories remain inscribed in the landscape and lead to unintended consequences in the implementation of new grassland policies. The author draws on Raymond Williams’ insight into residual formations to theorize the relationship between range conflicts and secular state officials’ lack of authority. At the same time, dispute resolution by religious figures challenges both triumphalist readings of state domination and romantic notions of Tibetan resistance.
The development of Hungarian agricultural insurance system

Agricultural insurance is one of the financial tools that agricultural producers can potentially use to cope with increasing risks in their activity. Experiences accumulated on insurance markets demonstrate that the development of a proper agricultural insurance product can not be reached without a governmental intervention mainly due to the systemic risk and information asymmetries. The aim of this paper is to present the Hungarian agricultural insurance system and its possible development. Using the farm level economic and meteorological data we assess the costs of introducing drought and soil submersion insurance products and the possible insurance premiums for these agricultural products.
Discovery of the Philadelphia chromosome: a personal perspective

Almost 50 years ago, David Hungerford and I noticed an abnormally small chromosome in cells from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). This article is a personal perspective of the events leading to the discovery of this chromosome, which became known as the Philadelphia chromosome. As technology advanced over subsequent decades, the translocation resulting in the Philadelphia chromosome has been identified, its role in the development of CML has been confirmed, and a therapy directed against the abnormal protein it produces has shown promising results in the treatment of patients with CML.
Laser-assisted synthesis of diamond crystals in open air through vibrational excitation of precursor molecules

Fast growth of diamond crystals in open air was achieved by laser-assisted combustion synthesis through vibrational excitation of precursor molecules. A wavelength-tunable CO2 laser (spectrum range from 9.2 to 10.9 μm) was used for the vibrational excitation in synthesis of diamond crystals. A pre-mixed C2H4/C2H2/O2 gas mixture was used as precursors. Through resonant excitation of the CH2-wagging mode of ethylene (C2H4) molecules using the CO2 laser tuned at 10.532 Μm, high-quality diamond crystals were grown on silicon substrates with a high growth rate of ~139 μm/hr. Diamond crystals with a length up to 5 mm and a diameter of 1 mm were grown in 36 hours. Sharp Raman peaks at 1332 cm-1 with full width at half maximum (FWHM) values around 4.5 cm-1 and distinct X-ray diffraction spectra demonstrated the high quality of the diamond crystals. The effects of the resonant excitation of precursor molecules by the CO2 laser were investigated using optical emission spectroscopy.
On the distribution of the weighted combination of independent probabilities

Abstract The approximate distribution of X = − 2 log Q is obtained where Q = P w 1 1 P w 2 2 ⋯ P w n n , P 1 , P 2 ,…, P n are independent tail-area probabilities arising from n continuous distributions, and w 1 , w 2 ,…, w n are constants. If all w i = 1, then Fisher (1932) has shown that − 2Σ log( P i ) is distributed as χ 2 with 2 n degrees of freedom.
Feasibility and safety of performing outpatient unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

Purpose Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has a faster short-term recovery than total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and safety of performing outpatient UKAs in a consecutive group of patients presenting with unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis.
T-orthogonally scattered measures and a Radon-Nikodym theorem

Abstract Banach space valued T -orthogonally scattered measures admitting a R-N derivative are characterized. One of the corollaries of this theorem improves a theorem of Masani on Hilbert space valued orthogonally scattered measures.
Big Ideas for Psychotherapy Training

Research indicates that traditional psychotherapy training practices are ineffective in durably improving the effectiveness of psychotherapists. In addition, the quantity and quality of psychotherapy training research has also been limited in several ways. Thus, based on extant scholarship and personal experience, we offer several suggestions for improving on this state of affairs. Specifically, we propose that future psychotherapy trainings focus on a few "big ideas," target psychotherapist meta-cognitive skills, and attend more closely to the organizational/treatment context in which the training takes place. In terms of future training research, we recommend that researchers include a wider range of intermediate outcomes in their studies, examine the nature of trainee skill development, and investigate the role that organizational/treatment culture plays in terms of the retention of changes elicited by psychotherapy training. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).
Influence of Stress on Peel Strength of Acid Copolymers to Foil

As an acid copolymer is converted in the extrusion coating process, it undergoes considerable stress and orientation. This stress arises from shear forces in the extruder and die, from extensional forces as the melt curtain is drawn down and from shrinkage forces during crystallization. It is hypothesized that these stresses may influence peel strength by impacting tensile properties and residual stress at the foil-polymer interface. Relationships are developed between stress and common processing parameters such as air gap, die gap, melt temperature and line speed. An experiment is described where processing parameters were changed in a systematic way to alter the stress imposed on the polymer. Data is presented which strongly supports the hypothesis, and provides an understanding as to the role and impact of various processing parameters.
Elevated Glucose Impairs the Endothelial Cell Response to Shear Stress

Early atherosclerotic lesions develop predominantly where laminar blood flow is interrupted and mean shear stress is low, indicating that local hemodynamics influence atherosclerotic development. Diabetics develop diffuse atherosclerosis compared to nondiabetics, suggesting that diabetic endothelial cells fail to properly sense or respond to fluid shear forces. Using an in vitro model we exposed endothelial cells to shear forces using a parallel plate flow chamber. In response to flow, control cells elongate and orient in the flow direction; whereas, cells cultured in high glucose align significantly less. This impaired response is not rescued by the free radical scavenger Tempol, but it is rescued by treatment with the advanced glycation end-product inhibitor aminoguanidine. These findings indicate a glucose-induced impairment of the endothelial response to fluid flow that is likely mediated by the formation of advanced glycation end-products.
The system EuTiO: Phase relations in a portion of the 1400°C isotherm

Abstract Phase relations in a portion of the system EuTiO have been investigated at 1400°C. The following compounds were located: Eu2Ti2O7, Eu2TiO5, Eu3TiO4, Eu3Ti2O7 and what is believed to be EuTi12O19. The existence of the compound Eu4Ti3O10, was ascertained although it could not be prepared as an equilibrium phase at 1400°C. What was previously thought to be the unique composition EuTiO3 has been shown actually to be an extensive solid solution.
The D1 dopamine agonist SKF 38393 functions as a discriminative stimulus in rats.

Rats (N=11) were trained to discriminate SKF 38393 (8.0 mg/kg, IP), a D1 dopamine receptor agonist, from saline in a two-lever, food-reinforced (FR 30) drug discrimination paradigm. The discrimination was acquired by nine rats within an average of 77±6 (SEM) sessions. Subsequently, various doses of SKF 38393 as well as SKF 82526, a potent, selective D1 agonist that does not readily penetrate the blood-brain barrier, were injected prior to test sessions. SKF 38393 (2–16 mg/kg) produced a dose-related increase in the percent of responses that occurred on the drug lever during test sessions. On the other hand, SKF 82526 (0.125 and 1.0 mg/kg) induced no drugappropriate responding. This experiment establishes that SKF 38393 can serve as a discriminative stimulus in rats. Furthermore, the observation that SKF 82526 did not substitute for SKF 38393 in this paradigm makes it unlikely that this effect involves a peripheral site of action. The results suggest the existence of a functional, behaviorally relevant D1 dopamine receptor in the CNS of rats.
Characterization of the Murine A1 Adenosine Receptor Promoter: Potent Regulation by GATA-4 and Nkx2.5

Characterization of the Murine A1 Adenosine Receptor Promoter: Potent Regulation by GATA-4 and Nkx2.5
Non-Permanent Radiotelemetry Leg Harness for Small Birds

ABSTRACT I developed a modified leg harness for mounting radiotelemetry transmitters to small birds, which includes a weak link that allows telemetry equipment to be shed. Over 4 years, I mounted 62 transmitters on 49 Tuamotu kingfishers (Todiramphus gambieri) using weak-link harnesses. Kingfishers retained 86% of transmitters for the duration of monitoring periods (23–66 days) whereas 22 of 23 transmitters were shed from birds resighted after 6–15 months. Apparent mortality was no higher for radio-marked birds than for birds without transmitters. The weak-link harness is an improvement to existing transmitter attachment techniques and provides a useful, effective, and ethical means of studying bird movements.
Relations of Husbands' and Wives' Dysphoria to Marital Conflict Resolution Strategies

This study investigated relations between spouses' dysphoria and constructive and destructive emotions and tactics displayed by husbands and wives throughout marital conflicts. Behavioral observations were made of 267 couples' interactions during marital conflict resolution tasks. Husbands' and wives' dysphoria levels were related to particular negative marital conflict expressions and the absence of positive strategies, even after taking into account couples' marital satisfaction and their partners' levels of dysphoria. Moreover, in comparison with wives' dysphoria, husbands' dysphoria was associated with more pervasive impairments in couples" conflict strategies evident in multiple contexts of conflict resolution, including discussion of relatively minor sources of disagreement. Implications for the treatment of depressed or maritally discordant couples are discussed.
A Diffusion Model in a Two-Phase Interfacial Zone for Nanoscale Lithium-Ion Battery Materials

The development of lithium-ion batteries plays an important role to stimulate electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV) industries and it is one of many solutions to reduce US oil import dependence. To develop advanced vehicle technologies that use energy more efficiently, retaining the lithium-ion battery capacity is one of major challenges facing by the electrochemical community today. During electrochemical processes, lithium ions diffuse from and insert into nanoscaled cathode materials in which stresses are formed. It is considered that diffusion-induced stress is one of the factors causing electrode material capacity loss and failure. In this study, we present a model which is capable for describing diffusion mechanisms and stress formation in nanoplatelike cathode materials, LiFePO 4 (Lithium-iron-phosphate). We consider particle size >100 nm in this study since it has been suggested that very small nanoparticles (<100 nm) may not undergo phase separation during fast diffusion. To evaluate diffusion-induced stress accurately, factors such as the diffusivity and phase boundary movements are considered. Our result provides quantitative lithium concentrations inside LiFePO 4 nanoparticles. The result could be used for evaluating stress formation and provides potential cues for precursors of capacity loss in lithium-ion batteries. This study contributes to the fundamental understanding of lithium ion diffusion in electrode materials, and results from this model help better electrode materials design in lithium-ion batteries.
Effects of the methoxymorpholino derivative of doxorubicin and its bioactivated form versus doxorubicin on human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines and normal bone marrow.

The methoxymorpholino derivative of doxorubicin (MMDX; FCE 23672) has recently entered clinical trials because of its broad spectrum of preclinical antitumor activity and non-cross-resistance in multidrug-resistant (MDR) tumor models. MMDX is activated in the liver to a >10 times more potent metabolite that cross-links DNA. To assess the potential of this drug in hematologic malignancies, we studied the myelotoxicity in vitro and antitumor effect of MMDX as well as its bioactivated form (MMDX+) in a panel of 14 different human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines. The tumor specificity of MMDX in CEM and K562 cells was similar to that of doxorubicin (DOX), and that of MMDX+ was slightly superior. All of the 14 cell lines were found to be more sensitive to MMDX and MMDX+ than were granulocyte-macrophage progenitors. On a molar basis, MMDX was approximately 3–100 times more active than DOX, and MMDX+ was 10–1,000 times more potent than DOX. The cytotoxic effect of MMDX and MMDX+ in two P-glycoprotein-positive MDR sublines was greatly improved in comparison with that of DOX. Whereas the response to DOX in the different leukemia and lymphoma cell lines was highly heterogeneous, the response to MMDX and MMDX+ was rather homogeneous. The novel anthracycline MMDX and its bioactivated form MMDX+ are highly active against this panel of human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines and demonstrate potentially greater selectivity for tumor cells in vitro as compared with normal bone marrow precursors.
Two‐machine open shop scheduling with secondary criteria

This paper considers two-machine open shop problems with secondary criteria where the primary criterion is the minimization of makespan and the secondary criterion is the minimization of the total flow time, total weighted flow time, or total weighted tardiness time. In view of the strongly NP-hard nature of these problems, two polynomially solvable special cases are given and constructive heuristic algorithms based on insertion techniques are developed. A strongly connected neighborhood structure is derived and used to develop effective iterative heuristic algorithms by incorporating iterative improvement, simulated annealing and multi-start procedures. The proposed insertion and iterative heuristic algorithms are empirically evaluated by solving problem instances with up to 80 jobs.
Intercellular calcium waves in cultured enteric glia from neonatal guinea pig

Enteric glia are important participants in information processing in the enteric nervous system. However, intercellular signaling mechanisms in enteric glia remain largely unknown. We postulated that intercellular calcium waves exist in enteric glia. Primary cultures of enteric glia were isolated from neonatal guinea pig taenia coli. Intracellular calcium in individual cells was quantified with fura-2 AM microfluorim- etry. Single-cell stimulation was performed with a micromanipulator-driven glass pi- pette. Data were expressed as mean SEM and analyzed by Student's t-test. Mechan- ical stimulation of a single enteric glial cell resulted in an increase in intracellular calcium, followed by concentric propagation to 36% 3% of neighboring cells. Intercel- lular calcium waves were blocked by depletion of intracellular calcium stores with thapsigargin (1 M). Pretreatment of enteric glia with the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 (1 M) significantly decreased the percentage of cells responding to mechanical stimulation (6% 4%), but had no effect on waves induced by microinjection of the inositol trisphosphate (67% 13% vs. 60% 4% for control). Antagonism of inositol trisphosphate receptor attenuated intercellular calcium waves induced by both mechan- ical stimulation and microinjection of inositol trisphosphate. Uncoupling of gap junc- tions with octanol or heptanol significantly inhibited intercellular calcium wave propa- gation. Pretreatment of enteric glia with apyrase partially attenuated intercellular calcium waves. Our data demonstrate that enteric glial cells are capable of transmitting increases in intracellular calcium to surrounding cells, and that intercellular calcium waves involve a sequence of intracellular and extracellular steps in which phospholipase C, inositol trisphosphate, and ATP play roles. GLIA 42:252-262, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Learning Algorithms for Two-Person Zero-Sum Stochastic Games with Incomplete Information

This paper investigates conditions under which two learning algorithms playing a zero-sum sequential stochastic game would arrive at optimal pure strategies. Neither player has knowledge of either the pay-off matrix or the choice of strategies available to the other and both players update their own strategies at every stage entirely on the basis of the random outcome at that stage. The proposed learning algorithms are shown to converge to the optimal pure strategies when they exist with probabilities as close to 1 as desired.
Intentional Memory Instructions Direct Attention But Do Not Enhance Visual Memory

1. D. Alexander Varakin[1][1] 2. Jamie Hale[1][1] 1. 1Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, USA 1. D. Alexander Varakin, Department of Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, 127 Cammack Building, 521 Lancaster Ave., Richmond, KY 40475, USA. Email: donald.varakin{at}eku.edu The current experiment investigated the role of intentional-encoding instructions and task relevance at study on visual memory performance. Task relevance was manipulated by having participants keep a running tally of either the to-be-remembered objects or an irrelevant category of objects during study. Half of the participants within each level of task relevance were further instructed to remember one category of objects for a subsequent recognition test, and the other half of the participants were not informed of a memory test. Intentional-encoding instructions improved recognition discrimination only when participants were not already keeping a tally of the to-be-remembered objects. This result suggests that intentional-encoding instructions may improve visual memory via generic attentional modulation, not encoding-specific processes. [1]: #aff-1
Is there a mitochondrial signaling complex facilitating cholesterol import

Cholesterol transport into mitochondria is the rate-determining and hormone-sensitive step in steroid biosynthesis. During the last few years two proteins were shown to be critical for this process: the mitochondrial translocator protein, previously known as peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor, and the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein. In this manuscript we review evidence suggesting that these two proteins functionally interact to facilitate cholesterol transport and may be part of a larger multimeric mitochondrial complex of proteins assembled to facilitate the hormone-induced cholesterol transfer into mitochondria. This complex might include proteins such as the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel, the translocator protein-associated protein PAP7 which also functions as an A kinase anchor protein that binds and brings into the complex the regulatory subunit Ialpha of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase.
Dermatoglyphic asymmetry as a measure of canalization.

SummaryFluctuating asymmetry has been used frequently, especially in the experimental literature, as a measure of developmental stability. However, the relationship between asymmetry and the ability of the genotype to produce an adaptive phenotype is far from clear. In this paper we evaluate the relationship between asymmetry and the mean of a quantitative trait in humans. The trait used is the a-b ridge-count, the count between the a and b triradius in the second interdigital area of the palm. The extremes of both ends of the a-b count distribution exhibit greater asymmetry than values closer to the mean. This evidence suggests that dermatoglyphic asymmetry does reflect to some extent the degree to which the developing phenotype is controlled.
We Will Use Antiplatelets As Our First Choice for Prevention of Stroke Recurrence in Cervical Arterial Dissection After Reading CADISS--Will You?

In April 2015, CADISS (Cervical Artery Dissection in Stroke Study), the first and only randomized trial to date that compares the two most commonly used treatment modalities—antiplatelet versus anticoagulation—in acute cervical arterial dissection, was published. This clinical trial was conducted in 46 specialized stroke centers, 39 in the United Kingdom and 7 in Australia. CADISS was a randomized, open-label, parallel randomized trial, which enrolled patients from inpatient and outpatient settings with suspicion of carotid or vertebral arterial dissections. Although ultrasound was an accepted diagnostic modality before randomization, confirmation with magnetic resonance imaging angiography, computed tomography angiography or conventional angiography was necessary. The primary end point in outcome was ipsilateral stroke or death within 3 months of randomization in the intention-to-treat population. Secondary end points were ipsilateral transient ischemic attack, stroke, death, any stroke, or major bleeding. A total of 250 patients were included and randomized in two balanced groups: antiplatelet group (n 1⁄4 126) and anticoagulation group (n 1⁄4 124). Intracranial cerebral artery dissection, contraindications to the use of antiplatelet or anticoagulation, and pregnancy were among factors that led to exclusion of 25 patients in the antiplatelet and 28 patients in the anticoagulation groups. It was estimated that a sample size of 2800 would be required for a definite trial. For the feasibility phase, for which the results published represent, 250 patients were enrolled. The most common presenting symptoms were cerebral ischemic events in 95% of the patients and local symptoms like headache, neck pain, and Horner syndrome in others (Table 1). In the antiplatelet group, 22% received acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) alone, 33% received Plavix alone, 28% received dual antiplatelet with ASA and Plavix, and 16% received ASA and dipyridamole. In comparison, the anticoagulation group was more homogenous with 90% receiving heparin and warfarin and 10% receiving warfarin alone. Overall 2% (n 1⁄4 4/250) had a stroke recurrence (all ipsilateral), 3 in the antiplatelet group and 1 in the anticoagulation group. Additionally, ipsilateral transient ischemic attacks occurred in 2 patients in the antiplatelet group, compared with 4 patients in anticoagulation group. Regarding adverse events, 1 patient in the anticoagulation group developed
Mechanisms of the cerebrovascular response to apnoea in humans

We measured ventilation, arterial O2 saturation, end-tidal CO2 (PET,CO2), blood pressure (intra-arterial catheter or photoelectric plethysmograph), and flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (CFV) (pulsed Doppler ultrasound) in 17 healthy awake subjects while they performed 20 s breath holds under control conditions and during ganglionic blockade (intravenous trimethaphan, 4.4 ± 1.1 mg min−1 (mean ±s.d.)). Under control conditions, breath holding caused increases in PET,CO2 (7 ± 1 mmHg) and in mean arterial pressure (MAP) (15 ± 2 mmHg). A transient hyperventilation (PET,CO2−7 ± 1 mmHg vs. baseline) occurred post-apnoea. CFV increased during apnoeas (by 42 ± 3 %) and decreased below baseline (by 20 ± 2 %) during post-apnoea hyperventilation. In the post-apnoea recovery period, CFV returned to baseline in 45 ± 4 s. The post-apnoea decrease in CFV did not occur when hyperventilation was prevented. During ganglionic blockade, which abolished the increase in MAP, apnoea-induced increases in CFV were partially attenuated (by 26 ± 2 %). Increases in PET,CO2 and decreases in oxyhaemoglobin saturation (Sa,O2) (by 2 ± 1 %) during breath holds were identical in the intact and blocked conditions. Ganglionic blockade had no effect on the slope of the CFV response to hypocapnia but it reduced the CFV response to hypercapnia (by 17 ± 5 %). We attribute this effect to abolition of the hypercapnia-induced increase in MAP. Peak increases in CFV during 20 s Mueller manoeuvres (40 ± 3 %) were the same as control breath holds, despite a 15 mmHg initial, transient decrease in MAP. Hyperoxia also had no effect on the apnoea-induced increase in CFV (40 ± 4 %). We conclude that apnoea-induced fluctuations in CFV were caused primarily by increases and decreases in arterial partial pressure of CO2 (Pa,CO2) and that sympathetic nervous system activity was not required for either the initiation or the maintenance of the cerebrovascular response to hyper- and hypocapnia. Increased MAP or other unknown influences of autonomic activation on the cerebral circulation played a smaller but significant role in the apnoea-induced increase in CFV; however, negative intrathoracic pressure and the small amount of oxyhaemoglobin desaturation caused by 20 s apnoea did not affect CFV.
Feedback signals to adjust and control standing posture

The long-term goal of this study is to provide people with spinal cord injury with the ability to stand and perform reaching tasks with their hands. Functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) systems have been used for standing, but functional capabilities are often limited by poor balance control that necessitates use of the hands. Control strategies that use feedback of biomechanical variables may be able to improve the quality of posture control. This work addresses the issue of selecting which variable to use as feedback in a posture control system. An experimental system was developed to provide visual feedback of the instantaneous center of pressure (CoP) or the instantaneous position of the pelvis (PoP) in the transverse plane. Spinal cord injured subjects that use FNS to stand participated in a set of experiments in which they adjusted their posture based on visual feedback of either the CoP or PoP. Results indicate that subjects could adjust posture with either variable as feedback, but that feedback of the PoP provided control that was more intuitive and the strategies used to adjust posture were more appropriate.
Sex-biased juvenile dispersal is adaptive but does not create genetic structure in island lizards

Dispersal is a potentially risky behavior that has several important implications for demography. Dispersal may be measured directly through behavioral observations or indirectly using genetic analyses. The direct approach is accurate but labor-intensive, whereas the indirect approach depends on population subdivision to infer dispersal events. Here, we combine field studies of behavior and natural selection in an island lizard (Anolis sagrei) to provide direct estimates of sex-specific dispersal and then compare these estimates to measures of population subdivision at both nuclear (biparental inheritance) and mitochondrial (uniparental inheritance) genetic markers. Juvenile males dispersed 4 times further than juvenile females. Natural selection acted against long-distance dispersal in females, but we measured no such selection on dispersal distance in males. Despite strong evidence for sex-biased dispersal accompanied by selection, we detected no population genetic signature of dispersal at either nuclear or mitochondrial loci. In closed populations, such as those occurring on small islands, repeated dispersal events may have important demographic consequences and yet produce no population genetic signature owing to continuous admixture of genotypes.
Prevalence and persistence of vitamin D deficiency in biliopancreatic diversion patients: a retrospective study.

Background Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) is a form of bariatric surgery that produces substantial and sustained weight loss, improved co-morbidities, and a higher quality of life. However, it does have associated sequelae such as vitamin D deficiency. With limited published data, a comprehensive review of vitamin D levels in BPD patients was warranted.
Effect of anticonvulsants on activities of P450c17 and 3betaHSDII.

Children with epilepsy have a higher incidence of premature adrenarche, and women with epilepsy have a higher incidence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Whether the underlying disease or the an...
A reciprocity formulation for the EM scattering by an obstacle within a large open cavity

A formulation based on a generalized reciprocity theorem is developed for analyzing the external high-frequency EM scattering by a complex obstacle inside a relatively arbitrary open-ended waveguide cavity when it is illuminated by an external source. This formulation is also extended to include EM fields whose time dependence may be nonperiodic. A significant advantage of this formulation is that it allows one to break up the analysis into two independent parts, one dealing with the waveguide cavity shape alone and the other with the obstacle alone. The external scattered field produced by the obstacle (in the presence of the waveguide cavity structure) is given in terms of a generalized reciprocity integral over a surface S/sub T/ corresponding to the interior waveguide cavity cross-section located conveniently but sufficiently close to the obstacle. Furthermore, the fields coupled into the cavity from the source in the exterior region generally need to propagate only one way via the open front end (which is directly illuminated) to the interior surface S/sub T/ in this approach, and not back, in order to find the external field scattered by the obstacle. >
How the common component architecture advances computational science

Computational chemists are using Common Component Architecture (CCA) technology to increase the parallel scalability of their application ten-fold. Combustion researchers are publishing science faster because the CCA manages software complexity for them. Both the solver and meshing communities in SciDAC are converging on community interface standards as a direct response to the novel level of interoperability that CCA presents. Yet, there is much more to do before component technology becomes mainstream computational science. This paper highlights the impact that the CCA has made on scientific applications, conveys some lessons learned from five years of the SciDAC program, and previews where applications could go with the additional capabilities that the CCA has planned for SciDAC 2.
Putative periodontal pathogens in subgingival plaque of young adults with and without early-onset periodontitis.

This study assessed the associations between putative periodontal pathogens and early-onset periodontitis (EOP) in a population of 248 subjects, 13 to 19 years of age at baseline, derived from a representative sample of U.S. young adults. The subjects were selected based on the presence or absence of attachment loss at baseline. The attachment level was assessed clinically at baseline and at a 6-year follow-up examination, and the presence of 7 bacterial species was assessed at follow-up using DNA probes. The individuals were classified into generalized, localized, incidental EOP, and no-periodontitis groups based on the extent and severity of attachment loss; and classified as having rapid, moderate, slow, and no progression based on the rate of periodontal progression during the 6 preceding years. In the EOP groups there were significantly higher percentages of individuals with detectable levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, and Treponema denticola. In addition, the EOP group had significantly higher levels of these 5 microorganisms compared to the no-periodontitis group. There were also higher percentages of individuals with these species and higher levels of bacteria in the group showing disease progression than the group without progression. In a descending order of importance, P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and P. intermedia were the microorganisms significantly associated with the generalized and/or rapidly progressing disease. F. nucleatum and C. rectus were also associated with EOP, but to a lesser degree. In the present population Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was not significantly associated with EOP, though it was recovered more often from subjects with localized EOP. Eikenella corrodens was present equally in subjects with and without disease. The results show that several bacterial species are associated with EOP, and that P. gingivalis and T. denticola are of particular importance and may play a significant role in the more severe and progressive forms of EOP.
Role of Pectic Constituents and Polyvalent Ions in Firmness of Canned Tomatoes

SUMMARY Twelve sets of canned tomatoes, each set composed of three fruits harvested from the same plant and subjected to different ripening conditions, were analyzed for pectic constituents. Firmness was highly significantly correlated with total pectic constituents and with the ratio of the carhonyl and pectic content. Correlation between firmness and mineral content was also significant. These results indicate that a high content, large molecular size, and a low methoxyl content of the pectic constituents result in firmer tomatoes. From the results it appears that firmness is related to retention of the original pectic content and controlled demethylation. This induced demethylation increases the extent of ionic bonding and results in firm fruits.
Effects Of Socio-Economic Characteristics On The Medication Of Children For Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

The diagnosis and medication of the illness known as Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been shown to exhibit patterns unexpected from a medical condition that is randomly distributed throughout the population. This research uses new data to show statistically significant relationships between the medication of children for ADHD and several socio-economic characteristics. Most alarming is the fact that the significant relationships between medication and race and gender are robust, even when other socioeconomic characteristics are controlled for.
Prospective player-reported injuries in female youth fast-pitch softball players

BACKGROUND: There is a scarcity of literature evaluating injuries in youth fast-pitch softball players. PURPOSE: To perform a descriptive analysis of player-reported injuries in youth fast-pitch softball position players and pitchers during a single select-level season. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observation cohort study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. METHODS: Ninety-eight athletes (48 pitchers, 50 position players) were followed for a single select fast-pitch softball season. Study participants completed web-based surveys every 3 weeks reporting injuries related to participation in fast-pitch softball. Injury was defined as pain causing cessation of participation in the current game or practice that prevents the player's return to that session or any pain that causes cessation of a player's customary participation on the day after the day of onset. RESULTS: The median age of the study participants was 14 years (range, 9-18 years). There were 49 reported injuries in 98 athletes. The average age was 13 years for those not injured and 14 years for those who were injured (P CONCLUSION: There was a high incidence of injury in this prospective cohort of youth select-level fast-pitch softball players. Better off-season and preseason conditioning may be a key factor for reducing pitching injuries. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Recognition of injury patterns in fast-pitch softball players is critical to developing strategies to keep these athletes competing safely. Language: en
Factors influencing survival in ovarian carcinoma.

Abstract 1. We have presented 128 patients with ovarian carcinoma occuring over a period of 11 years on the Gynecological Tumor Service of the Kings County Hospital Center. 2. All except 4 were followed to death, or for 5 years. 3. An over-all 5 year survival rate of 27 per cent was encountered as compared with a 40 per cent, 2 year survival rate. 4. Approximately 70 per cent of all patients who survive 2 years survive 5 years. 5. The symptomatology presented by these patients was the symptomatology associated with the late stages of disease. 6. The anatomic stage of the disease is the most significant factor in determining the prognosis. 7. Such items as the histologic type of tumor, age of the patient, and presence of ascites are significantly, but perhaps only secondarily, related to the prognosis. 8. Too many variables existed to evaluate properly the influence of radiation and/or chemotherapy in the survival of patients with nonresectable disease.
The Effect of Client Characteristics on the Negotiation Tactics of Auditors

Although the financial statements of an organization are considered a product of management, prior research suggests that a company's financial statements may be affected by the negotiation strategy employed by the auditor when resolving audit differences with management. However, little subsequent research has discussed the potential strategies that auditors may employ during the negotiation process. Our study extends the literature by investigating, in a post-Sarbanes-Oxley environment, whether auditors will employ a reciprocity-based strategy for the resolution of audit differences and what client characteristics (client management's negotiating style and client retention risk) will increase the extent to which it is utilized. Such a strategy involves bringing inconsequential items to management and subsequently waiving these items in an effort to encourage management to be more cooperative in the posting of significant income-decreasing adjustments. The results of our study indicate that client management's negotiating style and retention risk have an interactive effect on auditors' use of a reciprocity-based strategy. Specifically, auditors are more likely to utilize a reciprocity-based strategy when management's negotiating style is competitive and client retention risk is high. Interestingly, the end result of the negotiation process is essentially identical (i.e., similar items are posted), regardless of client characteristics or the auditor's utilization of a reciprocity-based strategy. Thus, it appears that use of a reciprocity-based strategy does not affect the quality of the financial statements, but simply facilitates the process of posting significant items.
Case Comment: Campell v. Clinton: The 'Implied Consent' Theory of Presidential War Power is Again Validated

This comment analyzes the decision by the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Campbell v. Clinton. It summarizes the rationale for the dismissal of this legislator challenge to the President's decision to order combat operations against Serbia, and analyzes how this decision ratifies the "implied consent" theory of congressional participation in war powers decisions.
A dual-level approach for investigating design in online affinity spaces

In order to address "design talk" within online gaming fan spaces, content analyses were used first to classify the predominant forms of design talk, then to provide a principled segmentation of forum data to come under further Discourse analysis. Serial implementation of these two approaches affords researchers of informal learning the ability to (1) identify productive exchanges within gaming affinity spaces to come under further d/Discursive analysis and (2) combine analyses of learning using both nomothetic (content analysis) and idiographic (Discourse analysis) approaches.
Studying the Determinants of Student-Athlete Grade Point Average: The Roles of Identity, Context, and Academic Interests*

Objective The relationship between academic achievement, especially grade point average (GPA), and college athletics is often focused on “big-time” (National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I (NCAA DI)) colleges. This study examines athletic and academic identity correlates with student-athlete (SA) GPA for not only DI but also DII and DIII SAs, separately by sex. Methods The GPAs of over 19,000 SAs across divisions are analyzed using OLS with covariates including athletic and academic indicators. The analysis pools SAs, separates by division, and separates by division and sex. Additional analyses were conducted for the revenue-producing sports. Results SAs’ GPA is directly influenced by their athletic versus academic identity, the athletic context including the coach's influence, and the seriousness with which they view academics. Cross-equation joint testing found no statistical differences in athletic or academic identity across division and sex. Conclusions Two beliefs are widely presumed: that DI SAs' focus on athletics more than SAs in the “less competitive” divisions leads them to worse academic outcomes, and that the athletic identity of male SAs has a greater impact on academic performance than female SAs. Our results provide no evidence for either presumption.
Occupation and Patterns of Migration

points of crisis, the individual is said to be faced with conflicting expectations. Choice between these expectations is viewed as problematic and productive of problems of adjustment. Our analysis indicates that conflict does not necessarily occur in assuming an occupational identity. When conflict does occur it centers around disparities between parental and occupational expectations. The following elements are importantly involved in the process: the specificity of family desires and the power of the family to make these felt, the character of the commitment and the time at which it is required by particular occupations, the nature of the occupational ideology and the kinds of social support for it, and the timing of appearance of incompatibilities between family and occupational expectations. It is the relationship among these that determines whether or not conflict and the necessity of adjustment will occur.
Aluminum avoids the central position in AlB9- and AlB10-: photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio study.

The structures and the electronic properties of two Al-doped boron clusters, AlB9– and AlB10–, were investigated via joint photoelectron spectroscopy and high-level ab initio study. The photoelectron spectra of both anions are relatively broad and have no vibrational structure. The geometrical structures were established by unbiased global minimum searches using the Coalescence Kick method and comparison between the experimental and calculated vertical electron detachment energies. The results show that both clusters have quasi-planar structures and that the Al atom is located at the periphery. Chemical bonding analysis revealed that the global minimum structures of both anions can be described as doubly (σ- and π-) aromatic systems. The nona-coordinated wheel-type structure of AlB9– was found to be a relatively high-lying isomer, while a similar structure for the neutral AlB9 cluster was previously shown to be either a global minimum or a low-lying isomer.
Research and Utilization on Native Rice Germplasm in Guizhou

Rice germplasm resources in Guizhou are rich in genetic diversity with relatively large variation of biological characters and various types from evolution and artificial selection.5 667 of traditional variety accessions,collected from 79 counties of Guizhou,accounting for about 10% of the total in China,were regenerated and mainly sent to the National Gene-Bank of Crops Germplasm Resources at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAAS)for long term storage.In this paper,collection,assessment,conservation,and utilization on elite rice genetic resources in Guizhou were chiefly summarized during 1981~2004.The main points can be concluded that the Working Managing Systems on Rice Resources in Guizhou had been established in the long course of research.Firstly,identifying and evaluating system is essential to studying the characteristics of rice genetic resources according to botanical and biological trails.In this way some elite germplasm including semi-dwarf,big panicle,big grain,high quality,cold and drought tolerance,resistance to diseases and pests had been evaluated.Other special elite types were characterized by restoring to CMS,and wide compatibility were also screened.Secondly,establishing reproduction system in ex-situ conservation based on National Gene-bank,CAAS for long term conservation combining with short storage in low temperature in Guizhou,and finally,information management system of rice germplasm conserved in Guizhou was formed on the base of the characteristics database.These systems will be efficient to promote the further researches and utilization.
Sexual Positioning Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Narrative Review

Sexual positioning practices among men who have sex with men (MSM) have not received a thorough discussion in the MSM and HIV literature, given that risks for acquiring or transmitting HIV and STIs via condomless anal sex vary according to sexual positioning. MSM bear a disproportionate burden of HIV compared to the general population in the United States; surveillance efforts suggest that HIV and STIs are increasing among domestic and international populations of MSM. We conducted a narrative review, using a targeted literature search strategy, as an initial effort to explore processes through which sexual positioning practices may contribute to HIV/STI transmission. Peer-reviewed articles were eligible for inclusion if they contained a measure of sexual positioning identity and/or behavior (i.e., "top", "bottom," etc.) or sexual positioning behavior (receptive anal intercourse or insertive anal intercourse), or assessed the relationship between sexual positioning identity with HIV risk, anal sex practice, masculinity, power, partner type, or HIV status. A total of 23 articles met our inclusion criteria. This review highlights dynamic psychosocial processes likely underlying sexual decision making related to sexual positioning identity and practices among MSM and MSM who have sex with women (MSMW), and ways these contexts may influence HIV/STI risk. Despite limited focus in the extant literature, this review notes the important role the contextual factors (masculinity stereotypes, power, partner type, and HIV status) likely to play in influencing sexual positioning identity and practices. Through this review we offer an initial synthesis of the literature describing sexual positioning identities and practices and conceptual model to provide insight into important areas of study through future research.