cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Melanoma incidence trends

This article describes melanoma as an important health concern because of its rapid and continuous growth in many parts of the world. In the United States, a persistent increase in incidence is seen, which has started to slow in recent years. In some countries, differing trends are seen in younger people, with incidence and mortality rates leveling off or decreasing in this population. This article describes that despite this leveling off, melanoma incidence is likely to continue to rise in the near future, because rates are still increasing in older people who comprise most of those afflicted with melanoma.
Mechanistic and experimental analysis of condition and reproduction in a polymorphic lizard

The importance of genetic and environmental variation in condition in shaping evolutionary trade-offs have recently been subject to much theoretical discussion, but is very difficult to investigate empirically in most field-based systems. We present the results from mechanistic experimental manipulations of reproductive investment and condition in two female colour morphs (orange and yellow) of side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana). We investigated the interactions between throat colour morphs, condition, local social environment and female survival using path-analysis. Using follice-ablation experiments, we show that large clutch size has a negative effect on field survival among yellow females, and that this effect is partly mediated by immunosuppressive effects of large clutches. In orange females these effects were less pronounced, and there was a negative survival effect of strong antibody responses. Hence, we experimentally confirmed our previous findings of correlational selection between female morphotype and immunocompetence, an important condition trait. Manipulation of corticosterone revealed multiple (pleiotropic) direct and indirect effects of this hormone on both condition and reproductive traits. We argue that interaction effects (e.g. between local environments and genotypes) could explain a substantial fraction of variation in condition and reproduction in natural populations. Increased attention to such interaction effects and their fitness consequences will provide novel insights in field studies of selection and reproductive allocation. (Less)
A trans-dimensional Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for model assessment using frequency-domain electromagnetic data

SUMMARY A meaningful interpretation of geophysical measurements requires an assessment of the space of models that are consistent with the data, rather than just a single, ‘best’ model which does not convey information about parameter uncertainty. For this purpose, a trans-dimensional BayesianMarkovchainMonteCarlo(MCMC)algorithmisdevelopedforassessingfrequencydomain electromagnetic (FDEM) data acquired from airborne or ground-based systems. By sampling the distribution of models that are consistent with measured data and any prior knowledge, valuable inferences can be made about parameter values such as the likely depth to an interface, the distribution of possible resistivity values as a function of depth and non-unique relationships between parameters. The trans-dimensional aspect of the algorithm allows the number of layers to be a free parameter that is controlled by the data, where models with fewer layers are inherently favoured, which provides a natural measure of parsimony and a significant degree of flexibility in parametrization. The MCMC algorithm is used with synthetic examples to illustrate how the distribution of acceptable models is affected by the choice of prior information, the system geometry and configuration and the uncertainty in the measured system elevation. An airborne FDEM data set that was acquired for the purpose of hydrogeological characterization is also studied. The results compare favourably with traditional least-squares analysis, borehole resistivity and lithology logs from the site, and also provide new information about parameter uncertainty necessary for model assessment.
An efficient coordination architecture for autonomous robot teams

Most physically implemented multi-robot controllers are based on extensions of behavior-based systems. While efficient, such techniques suffer from a paucity of representational power. Symbolic systems, on the other hand, have more sophisticated representations but are computationally complex and have model coherency issues. We describe HIVEMind, a tagged behavior-based architecture for small teams of cooperative robots. In HIVEMind, robots share inferences and sensory data by treating other team members as virtual sensors connected by wireless links. A representation based on bit-vectors allows team members to share intentional, attentional, and sensory information using relatively low-bandwidth connections. We describe an application of the architecture to the problem of systematic spatial search.
Demographic and clinical risk factors associated with hospital mortality after isolated severe traumatic brain injury: a cohort study.

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health problem and a leading cause of death worldwide. A paucity of literature exists on risk factors for mortality in isolated severe TBI, a condition that is distinct from severe TBI in the setting of multisystem trauma. We determined risk factors for in-hospital mortality in this patient population.
Repression and Crime Control: Why Social Movement Scholars Should Pay Attention to Mass Incarceration as a Form of Repression

The disciplinary insurgency that created the academic field of social movement studies distinguished dissent from crime. This dichotomy has led the field to ignore the relation between the repression of dissent and the control of "ordinary" crime. There was massive repression in the wake of the Black riots of the 1960s that did not abate when the riots abated. The acceleration of the mass incarceration of African Americans in the United States after 1980 suggests the possibility that crime control and especially the drug war have had the consequence of repressing dissent among the poor. Social movement scholars have failed to recognize these trends as repression because of the theoretical turn that built too strong a conceptual wall between crime and dissent. Revisiting this dichotomy is essential for understanding repression today.
Chemical Weapons: The United Nations Team of Experts in the Iran-Iraq War

This report from a member of the United Nations (UN) team of experts describes the investigations of the use of chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq War. The UN-sponsored team of experts discovered evidence that clearly showed the use of three chemical weapon substances during that conflict—Yperite (Mustard Gas), Tabun (nerve gas), and Phosgene (respiratory irritant). The effects of these chemical agents and some means of treatment for victims are described.
Characteristics of an aluminum alloy after generation of fine grains using equal channel angular extrusion process

Equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) was used to generate grains of average size (0.35 µm) in an aluminum alloy at room temperature. Also, it was found that the characteristics of the aluminum alloy 1050 (99.5% pure)after using an x-ray diffractometer equipped with texture goniometer was that of a random microtexture. Therefore, it can be concluded from the results obtained that local grain boundary migration, texture evolution and subdivisions in the grains were possible mechanisms involved in the formation of the grain size developed in this work after equal channel angular extrusion process. The work was carried out at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.
Boll Weevil : Competitive and Non-competitive Evaluation of Factors Affecting Pheromone Trap Efficiency

The effect of trap heights above soil surface was determined when traps of different heights were competing to attract released boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, and where the heights were separate and not competing for capture of the same weevils. Other factors compared in the same way were trap color, trap design, grandlure concentration, and ratio of the 4 grandlure components. These tests were conducted to determine the degree of bias that may result when trap factors compete for a natural field population of boll weevils. The importance of trap height, color, design and grandlure concentration was less in noncompetitive tests; however, 30:40:30 and 50:33:17 ratios of grandlure compounds I:II:III&IV were equally effective in both comparisons.
Interrelationships of the blood cells of cattle in health and following an induced infection with Brucella abortus.

As a part of an attempt to determine the role of the blood cells of cattle in combating an infection with Brucella abortus, the cellular picture was determined weekly on the bloods of 25 animals for a period of about two years prior to an induced exposure, and on 21 of these after the exposure to Br. abortus. The averages of the total number of erythrocytes and leucocytes and the proportions of the different types of leucocytes have been presented for both periods, i.e., before1 and following2 the exposure. The data used in the previous articles have been analyzed to determine whether there were any constant relationships in the variations of the cells in the blood of cattle. These analyses form the basis of this article. A
Probabilistic Topic Models

Many chapters in this book illustrate that applying a statistical method such as latent semantic analysis (LSA; Landauer & Dumais, 1997; Landauer, Foltz, & Laham, 1998) to large databases can yield insight into human cognition. The LSA approach makes three claims: that semantic information can be derived from a word-document co-occurrence matrix; that dimensionality reduction is an essential part of this derivation; and that words and documents can be represented as points in Euclidean space. This chapter pursues an approach that is consistent with the first two of these claims, but differs in the third, describing a class of statistical models in which the semantic properties of words and documents are expressed in terms of probabilistic topics.
Comprende Code Switching?: Young Mexican-Americans' Responses To Language Alternation in Print Advertising

ABSTRACT “Code switching” in advertising refers to the alternation between two languages in a single advertisement. This research investigates (1) how the direction of code switching and the placement of a code-switched advertisement in an English or Spanish medium influence bilinguals9 attitudes toward code-switching (A cs ) and (2) how A cs influence common advertising objectives. An experiment was performed among 107 Mexican-American young adults. Path analysis using structural equation modeling disclosed that placing a code-switched print advertisement in an all-English medium resulted in more positive A cs than placing it within an all-Spanish medium. Additionally, A cs positively influenced advertisement involvement and, subsequently, service-quality expectations and patronage intentions.
The Allergens-detection in the Children with Asthma

Objective Detecting the allergens categories in children with asthma in Shenzhen district to supply the scientific basis about prevention and treatment for children asthma. Methods 301 children with asthma were tested using 14 kinds of inhalation allergens and 4 kinds of food allergens. Results Total positive rate is 75.08%(226 cases).The highest rate was got with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 67.11%(202 cases),then was Dermatophagoides farinae 61.13%(184 cases), moulds 19.27%(58 cases), animal hair 18.60%(56 cases), hay 13.29%(40 cases), Rough Pigwees 11.96%(36 cases), shrimp 11.63%(35 cases), treeⅠ9.63%(29 cases), et al. Positive rate of foods allergen was 18.60%(56 cases). 203 children in 301 patients were allergic to 2 or more allergens.The positive rate of Dermatophagoides were increasing with the patient's age and showed a positive correlation (P0.01).Conclusion The most common allergens for children with asthma in Shenzhen district are Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. Food allergens takes little proportion. Avoiding contact with the related allergen can much avail the treatment.Desensitization treatment can be guided by the testing result as well.
Calcium supplementation in postmenopausal women.

Calcium supplementation has a beneficial effect on bone density and may reduce vertebral fractures. It has no clear effect on nonvertebral fractures, although the number of patients studied may be too small to predict this outcome.
Regional Economic Development: The Structure of the Public and Private Contributions

As McKee established in his article on Area Economic Development (1989), the marketing of geographic areas to industry is in the domain of macromarketing, in that such marketing involves marketing systems, and the interaction of such marketing systems with society. In stating this he follows Hunt (1983). Accordingly, we approach this subject as one akin to business-to-business service marketing, and not economics or planning or geography of a regional persuasion.
Marital conflict and nocturnal blood pressure dipping in military couples.

OBJECTIVE Our goal was to examine the association between marital conflict and nocturnal blood pressure dipping (NBP) in Iraq/Afghanistan healthy veterans and their partners and to determine whether sleep disturbances mediate such associations. METHOD The sample consisted of 25 heterosexual couples comprised of male veterans and their female civilian spouses/partners. Blood pressure was measured across 48 hr, and NBP was calculated as the ratio of sleep/wake mean arterial pressure (MAP). Marital conflict was assessed by questionnaire. Sleep was assessed via in-home polysomnography (PSG). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis was determined via clinician interview and was included as a covariate in all analyses, along with body mass index, age, gender, and deployment characteristics. RESULTS Higher marital conflict was associated with higher MAP ratios (β = .74, p < .01), with the effect stronger among women (β = -0.68, p < .05, for gender interaction). Among women only, for each SD increase in marital conflict there was a .82 increase in MAP ratio (p < .01). This association was reduced to nonsignificance after adjustment for PSG-assessed sleep efficiency. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with limited prior work in civilian samples, higher marital conflict in military couples was associated with blunted NBP, particularly among women. These findings highlight the importance of considering the health and well-being of both veterans and their partners in the aftermath of war, as well as the importance of considering nighttime physiological pathways that are relevant to cardiovascular disease risk. (PsycINFO Database Record
Stimulation of Swine Growth by Porcine Growth Hormone

Highly purified porcine growth hormone (pGH; USDA-B1) was administered by im injection (22 micrograms X kg body weight-1 X d-1) to rapidly growing Yorkshire barrows for 30 d. Growth hormone significantly increased growth rate (10%), feed efficiency (4%), cartilage growth and muscle mass. However, pGH did not affect carcass adipose tissue mass. Intramuscular lipid content of the longissimus was increased 50% by pGH administration. Plasma pGH concentration was elevated (7- to 11-fold) for 3 to 5 h post-injection. Chronic administration of pGH depressed pituitary GH content and concentration approximately 45%. No GH antibodies were detected in the plasma of GH-treated swine. Plasma somatomedin-C concentration was increased 55% by GH treatment 3 h post-injection. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were both significantly increased in GH-treated swine, suggesting that the animals had developed a state of insulin resistance. Plasma-free fatty acid concentration tended to be higher in GH-treated animals. Treatment of swine with pGH significantly decreased plasma blood urea nitrogen. Assessment of animal health during the trial and postmortem indicated that pGH administration did not have any adverse effects. In summary, treatment of young, rapidly growing swine with pGH stimulated growth performance without affecting animal health or inducing the production of GH antibodies.
Evidential reasoning under uncertainty

Publisher Summary One can hardly identify a field in artificial intelligence (AI) that does not use some sort of evidential reasoning—namely, processes leading from evidence or clues to guesses and conclusions under conditions of partial information. The chapter discusses the general needs and difficulties of managing uncertainty and two diametrically opposed approaches to the problem—extensional and intensional. The extensional approach, also known as production systems, rule-based systems, or procedure-based systems, treats uncertainty as a generalized truth value attached to formulas and, following the tradition of classical logic, computes the uncertainty of any formula as a function of the uncertainties of its sub-formulas. It is characterized by computationally attractive features but is semantically sloppy. In the intensional approach, also known as declarative or model-based approach, uncertainty is attached to states of affairs or subsets of possible worlds. It is semantically clear but computationally clumsy. Naturally, there have been attempts from both sides to rectify their respective deficiencies. The chapter discusses some movements from the extensional to the intensional. It also discusses the central role of belief networks representations, both the Bayesian type and the Dempster–Shafer type.
Autologous and Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Peripheral T/NK-cell Lymphomas: A Histology-Specific Review

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma and natural killer/T-cell lymphomas (PT/NKCL) make up a diverse subgroup of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas characterized by an aggressive clinical course. The use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in the treatment of PT/NKCL remains controversial because of the absence of randomized controlled trials. The best available data suggest that certain subtypes of PT/NKCL may benefit more from the application of HSCT than other subtypes and that this benefit results from their unique clinical characteristics and underlying biology. Ultimately, however, prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the optimal type and timing of HSCT in patients with PT/NKCL.
Insulitis in Autoantibody-Positive Pancreatic Donor With History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

The patient (nPOD 6310) was a 28-year-old female, 32 days postoperative from a cesarean delivery. Her past medical history was significant for chronic hypertension, severe preeclampsia, acute renal failure, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). She was brought to the emergency department after collapsing, with total downtime of 20–30 min. On arrival, she was admitted to the intensive care unit and found to be in hypertensive crisis. Her hospital course was complicated by renal failure requiring four rounds of hemodialysis, hypertension requiring multiple agents for control, and a degree of hyperglycemia requiring insulin. Computed tomography of the head demonstrated anoxic encephalopathy with multiple infarcts within the brain. The patient was declared brain-dead and, with authorization obtained from next of kin, became an organ donor. The pancreas, along with blood, was recovered for research through the Network for Pancreatic Organ …
Red blood cell transfusion practices in the neonate.

Premature infants, particularly those with a birthweight of less than 1.0 kilograms and respiratory disease, frequently require red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. The major mechanisms causing the anemia of prematurity are phlebotomy blood losses and a diminished ability to mount an effective erythropoietin response to the falling RBC mass. Although the indications for RBC trans-fusions have not been defined by controlled clinical trials, usual transfusion practices are discussed. In addition, the potential role for recombinant erythropoietin in the treatment of anemia of prematurity is analyzed critically. Finally, an overall approach to managing the anemia of prematurity is provided.
Chaos-assisted tunneling in whispering-gallery resonators

Dielectric spheres and cylinders can support high-Q modes due to internal reflection of the light. However, small deviations of the shape of these resonators away from symmetry lead to the onset of chaotic ray dynamics and the resulting suppression of the mode lifetimes. We demonstrate, that in such conditions even the regular modes are strongly affected by small deformations, due to the phenomenon of chaos-assisted tunneling, and develop a quantitative theory of this effect.
Veterans' service utilization and associated costs following participation in dialectical behavior therapy: a preliminary investigation.

ABSTRACT Context: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy developed for the treatment of suicidal behaviors and disorders characterized by emotional and behavioral dyscontrol that is effective in veteran populations. The impact of DBT on veterans' Veterans Affairs (VA) service utilization and cost is unknown. Evidence Acquisition: This study evaluated the impact of DBT in a VA outpatient mental health setting on VA service utilization and cost of services. Veterans treated for symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder, who had completed at least 6 months of the DBT program were sampled (N = 41). Use of physical and mental health services during the years prior and following DBT was assessed using medical record information. Results: There was a significant decrease in mental health service utilization. Psychiatric hospitalization dropped in half, and for those with a hospitalization, length of stay decreased significantly. Direct costs associated with all health care were signifi...
Effects of ejective stops on preceding vowel duration

One of the most widely studied observations in linguistic phonetics is that, all else being equal, vowels are longer before voiced than before voiceless obstruents. The causes of this phonetic generalization are, however, poorly understood and several competing explanations have been proposed. No studies have so far measured vowel duration before stops with yet another laryngeal feature: ejectives. This study fills this gap and presents results from an experiment that measures vowel duration before stops with all three laryngeal features in Georgian and models effects of both closure and voice onset time (VOT) on preceding vowel duration at the same time. The results show that vowels have significantly different durations before all three series of stops, voiced, ejective, and voiceless aspirated, even when closure and VOT durations are controlled for. The results also suggest that closure and VOT durations are inversely correlated with preceding vowel duration. These results combined bear several implications for the discussion of causes of vowel duration differences: the data support the hypotheses that claim that laryngeal gestures, temporal compensation, and closure velocity affect vowel duration. Some explanations, especially perceptual and airflow expenditure explanations, are considerably weakened by the results.
von Neumann stability analysis of first-order accurate discretization schemes for one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) fluid flow equations

Abstract In literature, the von Neumann stability analysis of simplified model equations, such as the wave equation, is typically used to determine stability conditions for the non-linear partial differential fluid flow equations (Navier–Stokes and Euler). However, practical experience suggests that such simplistic stability conditions are grossly inadequate for computations involving the system of coupled flow equations. The goal of this paper is to determine stability conditions for the full system of fluid flow equations – the Euler equations are examined, as any conditions derived for the Euler equations will apply to the Navier–Stokes (NS) equations in the limit of convection-dominated flows. A von Neumann stability analysis is conducted for the one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) Euler equations. The system of equations is discretized on a staggered grid using finite-difference discretization techniques; the use of a staggered grid allows equivalence to finite-volume discretization. By combining the different discretization techniques, ten solution schemes are formulated – eight solution schemes are considered for the 1D Euler equations, and two schemes for the 2D Euler equations. For each scheme, error amplification matrices are determined from the stability analysis, stable and unstable regimes are identified, and practical stability limits are predicted in terms of the maximum-allowable CFL (Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy) number as a function of Mach number. The predictions are verified for selected schemes using the Riemann problem at incompressible and compressible Mach numbers. Very good agreement is obtained between the analytically predicted and the “experimentally” observed CFL values. The successfully tested stability limits are presented in graphical form, which offer a viable alternative to complicated mathematical expressions often reported in published literature, and should benefit everyday CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) users. The stability regions are used to discuss the effect of time integration (explicit vs. implicit), density bias in continuity equation and momentum convection term linearization on stability. A comparison of the predicted stability limits for 1D and 2D Euler equations with commonly-used stability conditions arising from the wave equation shows that the stability thresholds for the Euler equations lie well below those predicted by the wave equation analysis; in addition, the 2D Euler stability limits are more restrictive as compared to 1D Euler limits. Since the present analysis accounts for the full system of fluid flow (Euler) equations, the derived stability conditions can be used by CFD practitioners to estimate a timestep or CFL number to guide the stability of their computations.
Portal hypertensive syndrome: its importance and complications

The management of portal hypertension continues to be a critical clinical problem for hepatologists and gastroenterologists. At one end of the spectrum of this clinical activity there is increasing interest in approaches to prevent the development of portal hypertension in chronic liver disease1. At the other end patients who are candidates for liver transplantation may develop all the complications of portal hypertension while waiting for an organ, as the current MELD (Model for End-stage Liver Disease) system has resulted in a higher priority for sicker patients. A rational approach, centered on evidence-based medicine, is needed to guide the practitioner through complex decisions.
Immune-Type Diversity in the Absence of Somatic Rearrangement

The rearrangement and joining of segmental elements during the differentiation of B and T lymphocytes in apparently all jawed vertebrate species results in the primary diversification of the immune receptor genes encoding both immunoglobulin (Ig) and T cell antigen receptor (TCR) genes. Although an extraordinary degree of interspecific variation in both numbers of recombining elements and mechanisms of secondary diversification of rearranged Ig genes has been described throughout vertebrate phylogeny, the basic mechanisms involved in the somatic rearrangement of individual gene segments have been intensely conserved. Recent studies of the recombination process (reviewed in Grawunder et al. 1998) and the enzymatic machinery that catalyzes DNA-mediated genetic rearrangement events have resulted in an increasingly clearer understanding of not only this highly complex process but also of the probable origin of the rearrangement mechanism itself (Agrawal et al. 1998; Hiom et al. 1998).
c-kit expression by CD34+ bone marrow progenitors and inhibition of response to recombinant human interleukin-3 following exposure to c-kit antisense oligonucleotides

The c-kit proto-oncogene encodes a receptor having tyrosine-specific kinase activity and has been mapped to chromosome 4 in the human and chromosome 5 in the mouse, at the dominant white spotting locus (W). Mutations at the W locus affect various aspects of murine hematopoiesis. The c-kit proto-oncogene has been shown to be expressed by leukemic myeloblasts, but not by normal unseparated human bone marrow cells. The role of this oncogene in differentiation and proliferation of human hematopoietic progenitors is presently undefined. To determine c-kit expression by normal hematopoietic progenitors, CD34+ cells were isolated from disease-free human bone marrow, and RNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques were used to assess expression. By this method, we have demonstrated c-kit expression by CD34+ bone marrow progenitors. To address the functional requirement for c-kit expression in normal human hematopoiesis, CD34+ cells were incubated in the presence of sense, antisense, or missense oligonucleotides to c-kit, and subsequently cultured in the presence of either recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) or recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhIL-3). Exposure of CD34+ cells to c-kit antisense oligonucleotides significantly inhibited colony-forming ability of cells cultured in the presence of rhIL-3, but had no effect on colony formation of cells cultured in rhGM-CSF. Together, these data suggest a possible role for c-kit in hematopoietic proliferation and differentiation that may be linked to some, but not all, stimulatory factors.
MATERIALS, STRUCTURES AND APPLICATIONS OF SOME ADVANCED MEMS DEVICES

ABSTRACT Since the famous lectures by Richard Feynman, “There is Plenty Room at the Bottom” in 1959 and “Infinitesimal Machinery” in 1983, the drive toward nano- and micro- materials and devices has been one of the most fascinating scientific and technological goals. The MEMS technology owes much of its base to modern silicon fabrication and lithography processes. While the design and fabrication of standard MEMS devices can relatively easily be accomplished through available MEMS foundries, differential advantages such as new functionalities and improved reliability may more readily be obtained by incorporating new/advanced materials, for example, nano materials or active functional materials. In this presentation, some unique approaches related to the advanced materials, design of MEMS structures and potential applications of electron-emitting MEMS will be discussed. Careful considerations of physical and materials structure and properties are needed to ensure high performance of the devices. The R&D and applications of the MEMS devices offer exciting and challenging opportunities for materials scientists.
SEX-ROLE CONSOLIDATION IN ADOLESCENCE

This chapter discusses behaviors associated with the biological gender distinction. Within psychology, the term sex role refers to sex-typed behaviors in a general sense, behaviors that are expected for males and females in a stereotypical fashion. A role is a social category that implies a set of behaviors that distinguish it from other social categories. Students are expected to take a certain number of classes and to perform the tasks associated with those classes to accumulate the credits necessary to graduate. Graduation enables them to move from the college community and to take on additional roles in the larger society because some roles are restricted to individuals with educational credentials. Adolescence is a period of particular vulnerability with respect to sex differences. Not only are hormonal secretions at their peak for generating physical sex differences during adolescence, but it is also the time when societal pressures operate most forcefully. Sexual and sex-role identity are primary issues in adolescence, and the status changes that accompany physical maturation provide a basis for differentiating adult role requirements by gender.
Similarities in the chemical mechanisms of CuInSe2 and CdS thin film formation by chemical spray pyrolysis

Abstract This paper provides a mechanistic model for the formation of CuInSe 2 and CdS thin films by chemical spray pyrolysis. We demonstrate similarities between the two mechanisms based on our work and draw support from the literature. It is shown that the semiconducting thin films are produced by a stepwise decomposition of metal-urea-like complexes at the growth interface and conclude that stability of the sulfur-and selenium-containing ligands determine the minimum substrate temperature for deposition.
Determining the utility of standard hospital microbiology testing: Comparing standard microbiology cultures with DNA sequence analysis in patients with chronic sinusitis

Abstract Objective To demonstrate DNA sequencing analysis (DNAsa) of sinus cultures in patients with CRS is a reliable method of detecting pathogens in polymicrobial CRS infections. Methods After obtaining Institutional Review Board approval for this prospective cohort study, we selected a random sample of 50 patients with CRS at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital between September 2016 and March 2017. We defined CRS as a history of rhinosinusitis refractory to maximal medical therapy and prior endoscopic sinus surgery. Patients demonstrating active purulence in a sinus cavity were prospectively selected to undergo standard hospital cultures (SHC) and DNAsa cultures. Organisms identified in both methods were compared for each patient. Results Specimens were obtained from 29 female and 16 male patients with a mean age of 50 years. A total of 45 cultures were included in our final analysis; five cultures were excluded after inappropriate laboratory processing. Results from these patients were compared and analyzed. Cohen's weighted kappa analysis showed agreement between the two testing methods in identifying predominant microorganisms. DNAsa detected 31.9% more microorganisms compared to SHC (P Conclusions DNAsa detects all microorganisms identified by SHC as well as predominant microorganisms not detected by SHC. Thus molecular pathogen identification may be more reliable for identifying multiple microorganisms as compared to standard culture techniques that identify only one or two microorganisms. In recalcitrant cases of CRS, DNAsa may provide better guidance in selection of appropriate antimicrobial treatment.
Evaluating horizontal violence and bullying in the nursing workforce of an oncology academic medical center.

Aim To evaluate horizontal violence and bullying in the nursing workforce of an oncology inpatient and outpatient academic centre and to test the Horizontal Violence Scale in an outpatient setting. Background Horizontal violence (HV) and bullying in the workplace are dysfunctional behaviours that can affect nursing staff and patient care. The impact of bullying and HV is multilevel, affecting patient safety and satisfaction, nursing retention and employee satisfaction, while creating poor patient outcomes. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design was used to examine prevalence of HV and bullying and the relationship between HV and bullying of nursing department personnel in an oncology setting. Results The study findings revealed significant positive relationships between bullying and HV in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Conclusion Nurses experience diverse workplace violence, which could decrease their professional quality of life and affect their turnover intention no matter the work setting. Implications for nursing management The findings of this study clearly link the presence of bullying and HV, which includes, emotional, physical, verbal and defiant behaviours to both inpatient and outpatient workplace settings. A positive organisational culture, which can be shaped by nursing leaders, can create a work environment that can thwart workplace violence.
Rapid Solid-State Synthesis of Titanium Aluminides

Intermetallics, such as the titanium aluminides, hold promise for high-temperature structural applications if their ductility can be improved by making fine-grained materials. An important step toward this goal is the rapid synthesis of finely divided powders via simple chemical processes. Here, single-displacement reactions between varying ratios of the metal halides TiCl3 and AlCl3, utilizing Mg as a reducing agent, enables the rapid synthesis of Ti3Al, TiAl, and TiAl3 upon initiation with a heated filament. Reaction temperatures and propagation rates are measured using in situ thermocouples and electrodes. This leads to insights into the propagation mechanism for intermetallic formation in these displacement reactions. Once the sublimation temperature of AlCl3 (178 °C) is reached, propagation accelerates rapidly. The reaction temperature exceeds 1000 °C within 700 ms. Propagation velocities on the order of 0.5 mm/s are observed. Redox reactions that begin during propagation create electrical signals, w...
Differential Activation of Stress Kinases Pathways and Elaboration of Inflammatory Cytokines MCP-1 and RANTES by Major and Minor Group Rhinovirus.

Given that virus-induced asthma has been resistant to therapy, knowledge concerning the cellular and physiological processes that are critical in the development of virus-induced asthma is likely to lead to the generation of new forms of intervention. In this regard, previous studies have implicated the macrophage as playing an important role in the elaboration of the inflammatory environment observed in rhinovirus-induced exacerbation of asthma. However, little is known about the cell signaling events that are initiated upon macrophage infection with rhinovirus. Major and minor group rhinovirus are genetically similar although they bind to two different cellular receptors. To determine if the attachment of major (HRV16) and minor group (HRV1a) rhinovirus to the human monocyte-derived macrophages elicits different kinetics of activation for ERK5 and p38, macrophages cells were exposed to HRV16 or HRV1a at an MOI of 10 for 15,30,60, 90 and 120 min. Cell lysates were generated, separated by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted with anti-phospho-ERK5 or p38. For MAP kinase p38, major and minor group rhinovirus stimulated phosphorylation occurred after 15 min and sustained phosphorylation up to 60 min. Interestingly at the 90 and 120 min time points, there was no p38 phosphorylation for the major group rhinovirus and sustained phosphorylation stimulated by the minor group rhinovirus. A similar kinetics profile holds true for the MAP kinase ERK5. Furthermore, activation of these two MAP kinases and the small molecular weight G-protein RAC are important in the elaboration of the inflammatory mediators MCP-1 and RANTES.
Ambivalence in the Woods: Baltimore Resident Perceptions of Local Forest Patches

Wild urban forests may elicit positive and negative emotions, both at a community level and within an individual. This paper examines resident perceptions and use of local forest patches in Baltimo...
Membrane Excitability in the Neurohypophysis

The application of patch clamp technology to the neurohypophysis has contributed significantly to our understanding of the membrane events governing neuropeptide secretion. Nerve terminals within the posterior pituitary are now known to contain three distinct K+ channel subtypes, a rapidly inactivated channel (responsible for A current), a Ca2+-activated K+ channel, and a delayed rectifier channel. Activation of a D2 subtype dopamine receptor reduces both the A-current and current through the Ca2+ activated K+ channels. These actions can be expected to enhance neuropeptide release. Release of nitric oxide reduces the amplitude of the A-current but enhances current through the Ca2+-activated K+ channel, and this would provide mechanisms for more complex modes of regulation of release.
Oncology-inspired treatment options for COVID-19.

Rationale: CR3022 is a human antibody which binds to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Here, we explore the use of CR3022 as a molecularly targeted radiotherapeutic. Methods: CR3022 was labeled with Iodine-131 using the Iodogen-method and purified, yielding 131I-CR3022. Using a magnetic bead assay and a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein fragment, we tested binding of 131I-CR3022 in the presence and absence of CR3022. Results: We conjugated the antibody CR3022 with a purity > 98% and a molar activity >7.9 mCi/mg. Using a bead-based assay, we confirmed that binding of 131I-CR3022 is selective, and is significantly reduced in the presence of unlabeled antibody (3.14 ± 0.14 specific uptake and 0.10 ± 0.01 specific uptake, respectively; P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Our results confirm the potential of CR3022 as a molecularly targeted probe for SARS-CoV-2. A labeled version of CR3022 could potentially be used for Auger radiotherapy or non-invasive imaging.
The disturbance leg-lift response (DLR): an undescribed behavior in bumble bees.

Background Bumble bees, primarily Bombus impatiens and B. terrestris, are becoming increasingly popular organisms in behavioral ecology and comparative psychology research. Despite growing use in foraging and appetitive conditioning experiments, little attention has been given to innate antipredator responses and their ability to be altered by experience. In this paper, we discuss a primarily undescribed behavior, the disturbance leg-lift response (DLR). When exposed to a presumably threatening stimulus, bumble bees often react by lifting one or multiple legs. We investigated DLR across two experiments. Methods In our first experiment, we investigated the function of DLR as a prerequisite to later conditioning research. We recorded the occurrence and sequence of DLR, biting and stinging in response to an approaching object that was either presented inside a small, clear apparatus containing a bee, or presented directly outside of the subject's apparatus. In our second experiment, we investigated if DLR could be altered by learning and experience in a similar manner to many other well-known bee behaviors. We specifically investigated habituation learning by repeatedly presenting a mild visual stimulus to samples of captive and wild bees. Results The results of our first experiment show that DLR and other defensive behaviors occur as a looming object approaches, and that the response is greater when proximity to the object is lower. More importantly, we found that DLR usually occurs first, rarely precedes biting, and often precedes stinging. This suggests that DLR may function as a warning signal that a sting will occur. In our second experiment, we found that DLR can be altered as a function of habituation learning in both captive and wild bees, though the captive sample initially responded more. This suggests that DLR may be a suitable response for many other conditioning experiments.
Association of Tdap vaccine guidelines with vaccine uptake during pregnancy.

Objective In 2012, recommendations for universal tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination during pregnancy were released. Our objective was to determine if Tdap, influenza, and pneumococcal vaccine uptake during pregnancy changed after the release of the guidelines, and identify factors associated with receiving the Tdap and influenza vaccine after 2012. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study on pregnant individuals who initiated prenatal care before 20 weeks’ gestation between 11/2011-11/2012 (“pre-guideline”) and 12/2012-12/2015 (“post-guideline”). Vaccine uptake dates were abstracted from medical records. The pre and post-guideline cohorts were compared to determine if Tdap vaccine uptake and timing improved after the new Tdap guidelines. We additionally examined influenza and pneumococcal vaccine uptake before and after guidelines. Factors associated with receipt of the Tdap and influenza vaccine during pregnancy in the post-guideline cohort were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression models. Results Of 2,294 eligible individuals, 1,610 (70.2%) received care in the post-guideline cohort. Among the pre-guideline cohort, 47.4% received Tdap, whereas Tdap uptake increased to 86.1% after the guidelines (p<0.001). Similarly, receiving the Tdap vaccine between the recommended time of 27–36 weeks gestational age improved from 52.5% to 91.8% after the guidelines (p<0.001). Vaccine frequency for influenza improved significantly from 61.2% to 72.0% (p<0.001), while frequency for pneumococcus were low and unchanged. An increased number of prenatal visits was associated with receiving the Tdap and influenza vaccines during pregnancy (respective, aOR 1.09 95% CI 1.05–1.13; aOR 1.50 95% CI 1.17–1.94). Non-Hispanic Black individuals were less likely to receive both the Tdap and influenza vaccines during pregnancy compared to non-Hispanic White individuals (respective, aOR 0.51 95% CI 0.33–0.80; aOR 0.68 95% CI 0.48–0.97). Conclusions Receipt and timing of Tdap vaccine improved after implementation of the 2012 ACIP guidelines. Receipt of influenza vaccine uptake also improved during the study period, while uptake of the pneumococcal vaccine remained low. Significant racial disparities exist in receipt of Tdap and influenza vaccine during pregnancy.
The Durability and Invisibility of Practice Fields: Insights from Math Teachers Doing Math

In this paper, we revisit a long-running conversation about situated learning and the design of environments for disciplinary engagement. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, scholars advanced an anthro...
Robotic Abdominoperineal Resection

The robotic approach to cancer surgery has grown increasingly popular over the last decade. Colorectal surgery is among the latest disciplines to apply this technology to pelvic surgery as surgeons have recognized the potential technical advantages of the robotic platform particularly for minimally invasive rectal surgery. Robotic technology is particularly applicable to abdominoperineal resection (APR) for distal rectal cancer by facilitating precision, dissection, and wide division of the pelvic floor. In this chapter, the key aspects of robotic APR are highlighted, including patient selection, preoperative preparation, the critical elements of operative technique, and the management of postoperative complications.
Mycoplasma: Immunologic and Molecular Diagnostic Methods

This chapter discusses the advantages and disadvantages of current molecular and serologic diagnostic techniques for mycoplasmal infection and ureaplasmal infection. Established approaches to the detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Ureaplasma, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Mycoplasma hominis infections are discussed. A majority of the discussion in the chapter focuses on M. pneumoniae, but many of the same principles and limitations of detection also apply to the other members of the Mollicutes. In addition, the extent to which newer commercial serologic assays for M. pneumoniae will cross-react with M. genitalium or other mycoplasma was not established with certainty, but this seems less likely to be a problem than with complement fixation (CF). An in-depth discussion of various types of commercial M. pneumoniae antibody assays and a comparative analysis of them based on published studies is available in a recent review. Perhaps more than for any other mycoplasma, molecular biology-based techniques have played the critical and indeed defining role in diagnosis of M. genitalium infections. The molecular biology-based techniques and considerations are essentially the same as for the other mycoplasmal species. The most common target gene is 16S rRNA, and both multiplex PCR and real-time PCR assays have been developed. Because of the relative ease of cultivation, standardization and validation of the PCR assays can be more easily achieved.