cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Number Processing in Deaf College Students

Magnitude comparison, calculation verification, and short-term memory span experiments were conducted as a means of investigating number processing in deaf college students. The level of accuracy shown by the deaf students did not differ from that shown by their hearing peers. However, mean response times for the deaf students were greater than those of the hearing students for all experimental tasks. The authors question the importance of development, working memory, and sign communication as factors that may contribute to explanations of the experimental results.
Reconstructing lineage hierarchies of the distal lung epithelium using single cell RNA-seq

The mammalian lung is a highly branched network in which the distal regions of the bronchial tree transform during development into a densely packed honeycomb of alveolar air sacs that mediate gas exchange. Although this transformation has been studied by marker expression analysis and fate-mapping, the mechanisms that control the progression of lung progenitors along distinct lineages into mature alveolar cell types are still incompletely known, in part because of the limited number of lineage markers and the effects of ensemble averaging in conventional transcriptome analysis experiments on cell populations. Here we show that single-cell transcriptome analysis circumvents these problems and enables direct measurement of the various cell types and hierarchies in the developing lung. We used microfluidic single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on 198 individual cells at four different stages encompassing alveolar differentiation to measure the transcriptional states which define the developmental and cellular hierarchy of the distal mouse lung epithelium. We empirically classified cells into distinct groups by using an unbiased genome-wide approach that did not require a priori knowledge of the underlying cell types or the previous purification of cell populations. The results confirmed the basic outlines of the classical model of epithelial cell-type diversity in the distal lung and led to the discovery of many previously unknown cell-type markers, including transcriptional regulators that discriminate between the different populations. We reconstructed the molecular steps during maturation of bipotential progenitors along both alveolar lineages and elucidated the full life cycle of the alveolar type 2 cell lineage. This single-cell genomics approach is applicable to any developing or mature tissue to robustly delineate molecularly distinct cell types, define progenitors and lineage hierarchies, and identify lineage-specific regulatory factors.
Psychosocial Difficulties and Emergency Department Use

Objective: To determine whether psychosocial difficulties are more prevalent among ambulatory patients using the ED for nonemergent complaints as compared with ambulatory patients having emergent complaints. Methods: A survey of noncritical ED patients was performed using anonymous questionnaires addressing psychosocial difficulties: psychiatric illness, educational level, homelessness, alcohol and/or drug dependency (CAGE and DAST surveys), and depression (DSM-III criteria). Three independent physicians ranked each patient's chief complaint as either emergent or appropriate for primary care. The majority ranking was used to determine whether the complaint was emergent. Groups with and without specific psychosocial difficulties were compared for their proportion of emergent vs primary care complaints. Results: Of 700 patients, 367 (52%) met criteria for ≥1 psychosocial difficulty [acute psychosis—36 (5%), illiteracy—139 (20%), homelessness—45 (6%), alcohol dependency—111 (16%), drug dependency—66 (9%), and depression—130 (19%)]. There were 379 (54%) ED visits considered emergent. Patient groups with vs without ≥ psychosocial difficulty had similar rates of emergent visits (58% vs 50%, p = 0.04). Emergent visit rates also were similar for subgroups with vs without specific psychosocial difficulties: psychosis (56% vs 54%, p = 1.00), illiteracy (58% vs 53%, p = 0.89), homelessness (62% vs 54%, p = 0.33), alcohol dependency (62% vs 53%, p = 0.08), drug dependency (59% vs 54%, p = 0.47), or depression (58% vs 53%, p = 0.42). Conclusion: Psychosocial difficulties are common among ED patients; however, emergent complaints are just as common in these patients as they are in those without psychosocial difficulties.
In vivo and in vitro effects of androgens on rat ovarian granulosa cells.

In this communication attention is called to some features of ovarian cyst formation in rats after exposure to 6 mg/100 gm body weight of dehydroepiandrosterone for 21 days. Cysts were identified by the transformation of mural granulosa cells into epithelial cells. The invaginations of the basal plasma membrane of the epithelial cells of the cyst are thought to be indications of the cells' involvement in active endocytosis. This endocytosis may be one strategy for moving fluid into the cyst. The filamentous actin of granulosa cells cultured in the presence of 10 -5 mol/L dehydroepiandrosterone was found to be deficient when compared with that of controls. This lack of filamentous actin coupled with other organelle degeneration is believed to lead to early atresia of granulosa cells in vitro in the presence of high concentrations of androgens.
Relational communication messages of type-A scoring physicians

In a study of 112 primary care physicians, physicians' self-reported Type-A scores were significantly associated with their use of more dominance, formality, and task orientation and less similarity in relational communication messages with their patients.
Development and Evaluation of an Intramural Poultry Judging Contest

Abstract An intramural poultry judging contest was conducted in conjunction with an introductory animal sciences course. The contest was found to be popular and positively affected students' attitudes toward poultry science and the poultry industry. In 1985, 1986, and 1987, 50, 61, and 67%, respectively, of students in the class elected to participate in the contest for class credit in preference to four alternate activities. Participants were required to attend an orientation session plus four weekly practice sessions and to participate in the contest. The contest consisted of judging five classes of chickens and products and taking a written exam. Course records and questionnaires completed by contestants during 1986 and 1987, and by former contestants in 1988, were used as sources of the data reported. Although contest scores were not used in calculating the students' course grades, grades and contest scores were positively related. Furthermore, the grade point average of contest participants was higher than that of students selecting other projects. Over 80% of the 178 students participating in the contest indicated that their attitudes toward poultry science were improved by the activity. Increased enrollment in the introductory poultry science course over a 2-yr period was associated with students' participation in the contest activity.
Hormonal Modification of Mouse Liver Lysosomal Protein Metabolism by Cortisone Acetate1 1

The effect of cortisone acetate (CA) on hepatic lysosomal protein metabolism and its relation to stabilization of the lysosomal membrane were studied in mice. Denatured Iodinated (125I) Human Serum Albumin (IHSA) was injected by tail vein, and large granule fractions containing lysosomes were isolated and incubated at pH 7 and 37 C for 1 hr in room air. The uptake of IHSA was determined by measuring the total counts present in the lysosomal fractions and degradation was determined by measuring the TCA—soluble counts present immediately after sacrifice and released during incubation. Mice pretreated with a single injection of CA, 5 mg ip, 2 hr prior to sacrifice showed no significant change in uptake or degradation of IHSA. Mice pretreated with CA, 5 mg ip in 3 equally spaced injections the day before and 2 hr prior to sacrifice showed a 32% increase in degradation in vitro. Mice pretreated with CA, 5 mg ip daily for 4 days showed a 23% increase in degradation in vitro, 29% increase in degradation in vivo,...
Induction of a dominant negative CREB transgene specifically blocks long-term memory in Drosophila

Consolidated memory after olfactory learning in Drosophila consists of two components, a cycloheximide-sensitive, long-term memory (LTM) and a cycloheximide-insensitive, anesthesia-resistant memory (ARM). Using an inducible transgene that expresses a dominant negative member of the fly CREB family, LTM was specifically and completely blocked only after induction, while ARM and learning were unaffected. These results suggest that LTM formation requires de novo gene expression probably mediated by CREB family genes.
Cytoskeletal components enhance the autophosphorylation of retinal insulin receptor

Insulin receptor (IR) signaling provides a trophic signal for transformed retinal neurons in culture, and we recently reported that deletion of IR from rod photoreceptors resulted in stress-induced photoreceptor degeneration. Retinal insulin receptor has a high basal level autophosphorylation compared to liver and the reasons for higher autophosphorylation are not known. In the current study we report a novel finding that cytoplasmic actin associates with and activates the retinal IR in vivo. Similar to insulin, actin also induced autophosphorylation at tyrosines 1158, 1162 and 1163 in the catalytic loop of IR. Our studies also suggest that globular actin activates the retinal IR more effectively than does filamentous actin. Retinal IR kinase activity has been shown to decrease in hyperglycemia and we found a decreased binding of actin to the IR under hyperglycemia. This is the first study which demonstrates that cytoplasmic actin regulates autophosphorylation of the retinal IR.
High Power Laser Diodes and Applications to Direct Diode HELs

We present a review on the development of high efficiency, high power edge emitters, VCSELs and quantum dot diode lasers and efforts to develop all-diode approaches to high power laser systems.
The effect of interstate highway on driving times and regional shopping center drawing power

Previous studies of the driving times of shopping center patrons have not examined the effect of limited access highways. This study analyzed the impact of interstate highways on the driving times of 204 shoppers at three medium-sized regional shopping centers. Those shoppers indicating usage of interstate highways to reach their shopping destinations were significantly more likely to incur travel times greater than fifteen and twenty minutes than those not using the available interstate roads. In predicting the drawing power of these shopping centers, factors besides mass were found to be useful. These include square footage of shopping goods, stores, and number of parking places.
Video Self-Modeling

Video self-modeling (VSM) first appeared on the psychology and education stage in the early 1970s. The practical applications of VSM were limited by lack of access to tools for editing video, which is necessary for almost all self-modeling videos. Thus, VSM remained in the research domain until the advent of camcorders and VCR/DVD players and, more recently, video-editing software. In this article, the authors trace the history and development of VSM, summarize the research, and provide suggestions for future directions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On the Potential Implications of Reports of Fictitious Drug Use for Survey Research on Juvenile Delinquency

A variety of methodological issues have been raised over self-reports of delinquency and its correlates. In this study, we call attention to the provision of untruthful information and provide an investigation of this issue using a survey item that assesses a respondent’s use of a fictitious drug in relation to reports of delinquency and traditional criminological correlates. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted based on data drawn from a probability sample of middle and high school students in Florida. Results show (a) there are important differences on key criminological variables between respondents who report use of a fictitious drug and those who do not; (b) the internal consistency of a variety index of delinquency is particularly sensitive to the inclusion of respondents reporting the use of a fictitious drug; and (c) the effect size of some criminological variables on delinquency may be sensitive to controlling for reports of fictitious drug use. Overall, the inclusion of fictitious ...
How do lay people weight information about instrumentality, expressiveness, and gender-typed hobbies when judging masculinity-femininity in themselves, best friends, and strangers?

To study how people weight information when judging their own and others’ masculinity–femininity (M–F), I asked 170 male and 205 female participants to rate themselves and their best friends on M–F, instrumentality, expressiveness, and gender-typed hobby preferences. Also, each participant judged the M–F of eight fictitious women (or men) described as possessing low or high instrumentality, low or high expressiveness, and hobbies typical of men or women. Regression analyses showed that gender-typed hobby preferences predicted M–F ratings of self and friends more strongly than instrumentality or expressiveness did. Similarly, analyses of participants’ judgments of fictitious people showed that participants weighted gender-typed hobbies more strongly than instrumentality and expressiveness when judging targets’ M–F. All results converged to show that lay people’s judgments of M–F are based more on information about gender-typed interests than on information about instrumentality or expressiveness.
Effect of Deuterium Oxide on the Culturing of Penicillium janczewskii III. Antifungal Activity of Fully Deuterated Griseofulvin

The in vitro antifungal activity of fully deuterated, partially deuterated, and protiogriseofulvin was compared. The antibiotics were evaluated by plate assay with Microsporum gypseum (ATCC 14683) as the test organism. A statistically significant enhancement in antifungal activity was observed in zones of inhibition when fully deuterated griseofulvin was compared with partially deuterated and protiogriseofulvin. No significant difference was apparent in a comparison of biological activity of partially deuterated and ordinary griseofulvin. The enhanced antifungal activity demonstrated by fully deuterated griseofulvin may be due to an increased efficiency of action. The antifungal target site may involve the metabolism of a C–D bond directly or indirectly. Since C–D bonds are generally more stable than C–H bonds, the increased stability of the molecule may alter the rate of griseofulvin metabolism by the fungus.
Power series for waves in micro-resonator arrays

We obtain convergent power-series representations for Bloch waves and their complex dispersion relation in an infinite periodic array of micro-resonators, which exhibits artificial bulk magnetism. The small parameter η of expansion is the ratio of period to wavelength, and the high conductivity is inversely proportional to η. The coefficient fields are solutions to an infinite sequence of period-cell problems.1
Timing and Synchrony of Parturition in Alaskan Caribou

Timing of parturition of caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ) varies within populations, but the relative influences of nutritional condition of females during the autumn breeding season and during gestation on that variation is not known. We determined timing of parturition of caribou in Denali National Park, Alaska, during 1984–1995, which had wide variation in snowfall that influenced nutritional condition and productivity of females. The first young were observed each year between 4 and 15 May. Annual median dates of parturition for radiocollared females during 1987–1995 varied from 13 to 21 May. Synchrony of births (i.e., proportion of births during 7 days centered on the median date) did not vary significantly among years ( P > 0.05). Females ≤4 years old were more likely to give birth after the annual median date than older females ( P = 0.005). Dates of parturition were significantly correlated with masses of females in the previous autumn ( P = 0.034) but not in late winter ( P = 0.155). Births tended to be earlier for parous females that were not lactating during the previous breeding season compared to those that were lactating ( P = 0.030). Annual onsets of parturition varied significantly with snowfall in late winter prior to conception ( P = 0.012) but not with snowfall during gestation. Timing of parturition in our study appeared to be a function of physical condition of breeding females in autumn.
Using Transmission Laser Bonding Technique for Line Bonding in Microsystem Packaging

The transmission laser bonding (TLB) technique has been developed for the formation of continuous line bonds for microsystem packaging applications. Line bonds are generated by overlapping single bonding spots, in which the degree of overlapping is achieved by varying the scanning speed of the laser as it irradiates the bonding wafers. An analytical model has been developed to guide the TLB process, attaining a uniform laser intensity that produces uniform bonds, satisfying the bonding requirements. Guided by this model, experiments have been conducted to bond Pyrex glass-to-Si wafers at various bonding conditions. To demonstrate the reliability of the technique and the model developed, the strength of the resulting bonded pairs has been evaluated by a micro tensile tester. At contact pressures higher than 1 MPa, the strength of bonded lines can reach a stable value of 9.2 MPa, which is comparable to those obtained by other major bonding processes. To further understand the associated bonding mechanism, the bonded interface has also been analyzed using auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, quantifying the drifting or diffusion of atoms that occurs between glass and Si wafers during the bonding process
Development of an anomalous Heck reaction: skeletal rearrangement of divinyl and enyne carbinols.

A general set of conditions that achieves the union of aryl halides and divinyl or enyne carbinols to afford tri- or tetrasubstituted olefins in good yields (up to 83%) is described. The mechanism by which this proceeds is believed to involve the intermediacy of a cyclopropanol, followed by a novel skeletal reorganization. The ability to suppress β-hydride elimination of organopalladium intermediates appears to be critical to the success of these processes.
A simple simulator of protein crystallization

The development of an approximate physical model that can be used for simulating different types of protein crystallization behavior in response to varying physico-chemical environments is presented. The model has face validity in that it is possible to simulate different types of protein response behavior, for example, proteins that crystallize under a broad range of conditions, a narrow range of conditions, or proteins that take a very long time to nucleate and grow. A prototype parallel experiment planning (PEP) system has been developed, which can act as a tutor for novice crystallographers by enabling them to try different strategies or experimental protocols for crystallizing `hypothetical' proteins under different resource constraints. The system uses the model developed in this paper as an evaluation function that returns different observation values for an experiment over time.
STB5 Is a Negative Regulator of Azole Resistance in Candida glabrata

The opportunistic yeast pathogen Candida glabrata is recognized for its ability to acquire resistance during prolonged treatment with azole antifungals (J. E. Bennett, K. Izumikawa, and K. A. Marr. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 48:1773-1777, 2004). Resistance to azoles is largely mediated by the transcription factor PDR1, resulting in the upregulation of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter proteins and drug efflux. Studies in the related yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have shown that Pdr1p forms a heterodimer with another transcription factor, Stb5p. In C. glabrata, the open reading frame (ORF) designated CAGL0I02552g has 38.8% amino acid identity with STB5 (YHR178w) and shares an N-terminal Zn(2)Cys(6) binuclear cluster domain and a fungus-specific transcriptional factor domain, prompting us to test for homologous function and a possible role in azole resistance. Complementation of a Δyhr178w (Δstb5) mutant with CAGL0I02552g resolved the increased sensitivity to cold, hydrogen peroxide, and caffeine of the mutant, for which reason we designated CAGl0I02552g CgSTB5. Overexpression of CgSTB5 in C. glabrata repressed azole resistance, whereas deletion of CgSTB5 caused a modest increase in resistance. Expression analysis found that CgSTB5 shares many transcriptional targets with CgPDR1 but, unlike the latter, is a negative regulator of pleiotropic drug resistance, including the ABC transporter genes CDR1, PDH1, and YOR1.
Morphological variations of a hypha-forming strain of Cryptococcus neoformans (Coward strain) in tissues of mice.

Hyphal forms of Cryptococcus neoformans (Coward strain) were inoculated intravenously in mice. Several different mechanisms of multiplication and spore formation, and 3 different processes in the development of the capsule were observed. The significance of the findings is discussed.
Housing Quality and Access to Material and Learning Resources Within the Home Environment in Developing Countries

This study examined home environment conditions (housing quality, material resources, formal and informal learning materials) and their relations with the Human Development Index (HDI) in 28 developing countries. Home environment conditions in these countries varied widely. The quality of housing and availability of material resources at home were consistently tied to HDI; the availability of formal and informal learning materials a little less so. Gross domestic product (GDP) tended to show a stronger independent relation with housing quality and material resources than life expectancy and education. Formal learning resources were independently related to the GDP and education indices, and informal learning resources were not independently related to any constituent indices of the overall HDI.
Racial Critiques of Mass Incarceration: Beyond the New Jim Crow

In the last decade, a number of scholars have called the American criminal justice system a new form of Jim Crow. These writers have effectively drawn attention to the injustices created by a facially race-neutral system that severely ostracizes offenders and stigmatizes young, poor black men as criminals. This Article argues that despite these important contributions, the Jim Crow analogy leads to a distorted view of mass incarceration. The analogy presents an incomplete account of mass incarceration’s historical origins, fails to consider black attitudes toward crime and punishment, ignores violent crimes while focusing almost exclusively on drug crimes, obscures class distinctions within the African American community, and overlooks the effects of mass incarceration on other racial groups. Finally, the Jim Crow analogy diminishes our collective memory of the Old Jim Crow’s particular harms.
Conformational analysis of 1,4,7‐trithiacyclodecane and related compounds: Synthesis and complexation studies of mesocyclic and macrocyclic polythioethers VI

Molecular mechanics (MM2) calculations have been carried out on the ten-membered ring trithioethers, 1,4,7-trithiacyclodecane (10S3) and 1,4,7-trithiacyclodecan-9-one (keto-10S3). The lowest energy conformations according to these calculations are a [1333] and a [2233] conformation, respectively. The crystal and molecular structure of the ketone, 1,4,7-trithiacyclodecan-9-one, has been determined by a single-crystal X-ray study. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21, with two molecules per unit cell of dimensions a = 7.176(1) A, b = 5.3447(6) A, c = 12.0914(6) A, and β = 96.486(7)0, and R = 0.048. The conformation adopted by the compound in the crystalline state is a [2323] or boat-chair-boat conformation with two sulfur atoms endodentate and one sulfur atom exodentate.
Accretionary tectonics of Burma and the three-dimensional geometry of the Burma subduction zone

The geometry of the Burma Wadati-Benioff zone (WBZ) has been determined by fitting a trend surface parameterized with eight effective degrees of freedom to 184 well-located hypocenters. The dip of this surface, which passes through the middle of the WBZ, varies from about 50° in the north near the eastern Himalayan syntaxis to about 30° in the Bay of Bengal area. The eastern edge of the Indo-Burman ranges closely follows the map projection of the 60 km depth contour of the WBZ. The curvature of the Indo-Burman ranges is controlled by the geometry of the interface between the more steeply dipping part of the Indian plate and the leading edge of the overriding Burma platelet. Shallow earthquakes beneath the Indo-Burman ranges are primarily confined to the underthrusting Indian plate. Their focal mechanisms indicate strike-slip faulting and north-south shortening parallel to the eastern margin of the Indian plate.
From Patronage to Program The Emergence of Party-Oriented Legislators in Brazil

This article explains the unanticipated emergence of party-oriented legislators and rising party discipline in Brazil since the early 1990s. The authors contend that deputies in Brazil became increasingly party oriented because the utilities of party-programmatic and patronage-based electoral strategies shifted with market reforms that created a programmatic cleavage in Brazilian politics and diminished the resource base for state patronage. The study introduces new measures of partisan campaigns, party polarization, and values that legislators attached to party programs and voter loyalty based on an original survey of the Brazilian Congress. Regression analysis confirms that deputies who believe that voters value party programs have run partisan, programmatic campaigns, and those in polarized parties and those who believe voters are loyal to the party are willing to delegate authority to party leaders and do not switch parties. Party polarization and the proximity of deputies' policy preferences to their...
Unsupervised Pixel-prediction

When a sensory system constructs a model of the environment from its input, it might need to verify the model's accuracy. One method of verification is multivariate time-series prediction: a good model could predict the near-future activity of its inputs, much as a good scientific theory predicts future data. Such a predicting model would require copious top-down connections to compare the predictions with the input. That feedback could improve the model's performance in two ways: by biasing internal activity toward expected patterns, and by generating specific error signals if the predictions fail. A proof-of-concept model-an event-driven, computationally efficient layered network, incorporating "cortical" features like all-excitatory synapses and local inhibition--was constructed to make near-future predictions of a simple, moving stimulus. After unsupervised learning, the network contained units not only tuned to obvious features of the stimulus like contour orientation and motion, but also to contour discontinuity ("end-stopping") and illusory contours.
Reliable estimation of execution time of embedded software

Estimates of execution time of embedded software play an important role in function-architecture co-design. This paper describes a technique based upon a statistical approach that improves existing estimation techniques. Our approach provides a degree of reliability in the error of the estimated execution time. We illustrate the technique using both control-oriented and computational-dominated benchmark programs.
Quadratic Regression with Inequality Restraints on the Parameters

Abstract A method is given here for fitting a quadratic subject to restrictions on the location of the extreme point which is conceptually somewhat different from that proposed by Cunia [1]. The solution is presented as a special case of the general quadratic programming problem, that is, minimizing a quadratic function subject to restrictions on the variables.
Translateral Politics, Class Conflict, and the State

Transnational capitalist class (TCC) theory has established a clear set of economic practices that have laid the basis for class formation on a global scale. Less clear is the relationship of the TCC to national states, the military (particularly the US superpower), and what constitutes transnational political practices. The author argues that the emerging world system is characterized by uneven development between economic and political hegemony; and that this reflects a historic and natural pace of transformation as opposed to economic and political changes that occur in a tightly linked qualitative leap. Moreover, the article introduces the term ‘translateral’ to define the political practices that are building a new governance regime and mode of accumulation, differentiating it from both unilateralism and multilateralism that characterized the old international system of nation-centric relationships. La teoria de la Clase Capitalista Trasnacional (TCC) ha establecido un conjunto claro de practicas eco...
Substruction: Illustrating the connections from research question to analysis

This article examines the process of theoretical substruction as a heuristic device to assist graduate students and beginning investigators identify the conceptualization and operationalization phases of research proposals. As a thinking process, substruction enables investigators to delineate the foundational elements of studies. Creating the figure during substruction helps researchers increase their knowledge of the theoretical, empirical, or descriptive links between the conceptual and operational components of a study. Consequently, the researcher ascertains the fundamental pattern of the study. A qualitative and a quantitative example of substructed studies are included.
Significance of temperature and food resources to the developmental biology of Amblyseius hibisci (Chant) (Acarina, Phytoseiidae)

Constant temperature studies on the feeding, reproduction, and development of Amblyseius hibisci (Chant) when fed Malephora crocea (Jacq.) pollen, provided the data necessary to construct life tables and life stage developmental curves. When fed exclusively on a diet of all life forms of Panonychus citri (McGregor), none of the mature, F1A. hibisci females deposited a single egg; moreover, complete immature mortality occurred at 32 and 35°C. Prior to their deaths, individuals of both sexes exhibited a dark-red occlusion of varying sizes within the alimentary tract near the distal end of the opisthosoma. This symptom was accompanied by increased lethargy, dorsal-ventral flattening and concaving of the body. These observations were not evident for A. hibisci fed with pollen. Pollen fed A. hibisci populations attained their optimum growth and reproductive rates at 35 °C. The intrinsic rate of natural increase, r, was found to be 0.29 individuals/female/day and the population possessed the capacity to double every 2.38 days. Constant temperature and r are closely correlated (r2 = 0.891) and the relationship is a curvilinear regression. Zusammenfassung Zur Bedeutung von Temperatur und Nahrung fur die Entwicklungsbiologie von Amblyseius hibisci (Chant) (Acarina, Phytoseiidae) Untersuchungen bei konstanter Temperatur uber die Ernahrung, Reproduktion und Entwicklung von Amblyseius hibisci mit Pollen von Malephora crocea ergaben alle zur Konstruktion von life tables sowie von Stadien-Entwicklungskurven notwendigen Daten. Bei Futterung ausschlieslich mit Individuen (alle Stadien) von Panonychus citri legte keines der reifen A. hibisci-Weibchen der F1-Generation Eier ab. Bei 32 bis 35 °C starben alle noch nicht reifen Tiere. Vor ihrem Tode zeigte sich bei beiden Geschlechtern eine dunkelrote Masse unterschiedlicher Grose im Magen-Darm-Trakt nahe dem distalen Ende des Opisthosoma. Dieses Symptom war begleitet von zunehmender Lethargie sowie dorsoventraler Verflachung und Verbiegung des Korpers. Diese Erscheinungen waren bei mit Pollen gefutterten A. hibisci nicht zu beobachten. Mit Pollen gefutterte A. hibisci-Populationen erreichten ihre optimale Grose und Reproduktion bei 35 °C. Die wahre Zunahme-Quote, r, wurde mit 0,29 Indiv./Weibchen/d ermittelt, womit die Population ihte Kapazitat alle 2,38 d verdoppelte. Konstante Temperatur und r erwiesen sich als eng korreliert (r2 = 0,891); die Korrelation bildet eine krummlinige Rezession.
Landscape Ecology of Eastern Spotted Skunks in Habitats Restored for Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers

Although examples are rare, conflicts between species of conservation concern can result from habitat restoration that modifies habitat to benefit a single taxon. A forest restoration program designed to enhance habitat for endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) may be reducing available habitat for the eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius), a forest-adapted sympatric species of conservation concern that occurs in the Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas, U.S.A. At small scales, eastern spotted skunks select early successional forest with structural diversity, whereas red-cockaded woodpeckers prefer mature pine (Pinus spp.) habitat. We surveyed for eastern spotted skunks at 50 managed forest stands, modeled occupancy as a function of landscape-level habitat factors to examine how features of restoration practices influenced occurrence, and compared known occupied forest stands to those where active red-cockaded woodpecker nesting clusters were located. The most-supported occupancy models contained forest stand age (negatively associated) and size (positively associated); suggesting eastern spotted skunks primarily occupy large patches of habitat with dense understory and overhead cover. Red-cockaded woodpecker nesting clusters were located in smaller and older forest stands. These results suggest that increased overhead cover, which can reduce risk of avian predation, enhances occupancy by small forest carnivores such as eastern spotted skunks. Management activities that increase forest stand rotation length reduce the availability of young dense forest. The practice may enhance the value of habitat for red-cockaded woodpeckers, but may reduce the occurrence of eastern spotted skunks. Implementing plans that consider critical habitat and extinction risks for multiple species may reduce such conservation conflict.
Central venous line and neurological deficit

1699in the oxygen availability at brain level.The sudden onset of a majorneurological deficit in an otherwisehealthy patient in whom a CVC hasbeen used is an uncommon event. If thedeficit occurs with the CVC still in placeand the jugular vein cannulation hasbeen difficult, an iatrogenicarteriovenous fistula should besuspected. However, if the smptomsarise after CVC removal they probablyresult from non-organic causes and willusually resolve spontaneously in 1–2days. Although close observation of thepatient is mandatory (since an organicstroke can be indistinguishable from atransient functional deficit in the initialphase), no emergency diagnosticprocedures or invasive therapy should beattempted in this instance. Finally, theprotective role of antiplatelet therapy,started before jugular vein cannulation,should be investigated.
Facile single-component precursor for Cu2ZnSnS4 with enhanced phase and composition controllability

A simple and effective method has been demonstrated using soluble single-component precursors to achieve high quality Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films with enhanced phase and composition controllability. The soluble single-component precursors were composed of Cu2−xS colloidal nanocrystals (NC) and the homogeneously distributed Zn–Sn species on the surface. Zn species is presented as the surface ligand for the first time, in the form of Zn–Sn complex, providing both the colloidal stabilization and the essential components for CZTS. CZTS film composition is governed by the prescribed stoichiometry between Cu2−xS nanoparticles and the Zn–Sn complex in solution. This novel reaction process enables a favorable CZTS phase progression, with less than 175 °C formation temperature, and a minimized secondary phase growth mode, due to its local composition uniformity in both liquid and film state. Compared with the approaches based on molecular precursor or quarternary CZTS nanocrystals, the single-component precursor allows fine tuning of the kesterite materials for future advanced optoelectronics.
A hybrid neuromorphic circuit demonstrating schizophrenic symptoms

The neural system in the human brain can identify regularities in received stimuli and, based on that, predict future stimuli [1]. Neural prediction circuits reduce responses to predictable and thus possibly redundant events. Failures in predictions that result in erroneous responses may cause positive and negative symptoms in people who suffer from schizophrenia [2]. Here, we have designed a bio-inspired, neuromorphic circuit that mimics this “prediction” in the human brain and its response to stimuli with a predictable pattern. Furthermore, it shows how alteration in the neural circuitry can cause the circuit to recognize stimuli that do not occur (hallucination) or fail to recognize the expected pattern (negative symptom). Noisy signals are also used to invoke atypical behavior in a novel manner. The synaptic layer is modeled with Carbon NanoTube transistors (CNT) and neurons are modeled with CMOS technology.
Endotoxin induces downregulation of tumor necrosis factor receptors on circulating monocytes and granulocytes in humans.

Leukocytes rapidly lose their surface receptors for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) after exposure to various stimuli in vitro. To assess the effect of endotoxin on cellular TNF receptors in humans in vivo, binding of biotinylated TNF to circulating monocytes and granulocytes was determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis in six healthy subjects after intravenous injection of endotoxin (lot EC-5, 20 U/kg). Endotoxin administration was associated with a transient decrease in monocyte TNF receptors, reaching a nadir after 2 hours (P < .0001), and a more sustained decrease in granulocyte TNF receptors (P < .001). Although the decrease in cellular TNF receptors coincided with increases in soluble TNF receptors types I and II, no correlations were observed between trough monocyte or granulocyte TNF receptors and peak plasma concentrations of soluble TNF receptors. Stimulation of human whole blood with endotoxin resulted in reduced expression of both type I and type II TNF receptors on monocytes and granulocytes. Endotoxin induces downmodulation of monocyte and granulocyte TNF surface receptors in humans in vivo, which may represent a mechanism to reduce excessive activity of TNF during systemic infection.
Programming the Unknown: Guidelines for the Conduct of Institutional Research

UNLIKE MOST other types of programming, such as working out instructional sequences or cod ing computer inputs, the programming of institu tional research is programming the unknown. In establishing guidelines for the conduct of institu tional research in the future, one must define con cepts, describe assumptions, and formulate stra tegy. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, pro gramming the unknown has required the develop ment of a rationale that includes all three of these fundamental steps.
Utilization Changes Associated With Physician Ownership of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs)

Background: Since the mid 1980s, there has been a steady movement of many surgical and diagnostic imaging procedures from inpatient to outpatient settings. While this shift in site of service may have some benefits to both patients and physicians, these trends have also raised concerns that the widespread growth of outpatient surgical and diagnostic imaging centers may result in higher utilization of well-reimbursed treatments and procedures. Another concern is whether these facilities selectively treat patients with generous insurance coverage. If so, this means that both the uninsured and underinsured must obtain care at community health clinics and hospitals. Such trends raise even greater concerns when these limited-service providers are owned either wholly or in part by referring physician investors. Objective: Despite the proliferation of ASCs since the mid 1980s, research documenting the effects of ASCs on health care markets is sparse. This study will address this significant gap in knowledge by examining the effects of the expansion of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) on utilization of outpatient surgical procedures using claims individuals with private insurance who reside in the state of Idaho. Limited-service providers in Idaho warrant examination because ASCs are commonplace and have become more widespread in recent years. Moreover, capitated managed care plans are rare in Idaho. Methods: We examine utilization rates for several outpatient surgical procedures that may be performed in either an ASC or hospital outpatient surgical department over the time period 2000 through 2004. This analysis controls for place of service and ownership (i.e. physician-owned ASC or hospital, non-physician-owned hospital.) We will also construct episodes of care for a limited number of diagnoses where outpatient surgery may be an option. This analysis will provide insights regarding whether the financial incentives linked to ownership of an ASC cause physicians to change their practice patterns. Policy Implications: While some recent empirical evidence exists regarding the consequences of physician-owned specialty hospitals, little research has focused on the utilization effects linked to physician ownership of ASCs.
Duopoly budget allocation in social networks: A nash analysis approach

In this paper, we study a strategic model of marketing and product consumption in social networks. We consider two firms in a market competing to maximize the consumption of their products. Firms have a limited budget which can be either invested on the quality of the product or spent on initial seeding in the network in order to better facilitate spread of the product. After the decision of firms, agents choose their consumptions following a myopic best response dynamics which results in a local, linear update for their consumption decision. We characterize the unique Nash equilibrium of the game between firms and study the effect of the budgets as well as the network structure on the optimal allocation. We show that at the equilibrium, firms invest more budget on quality when their budgets are close to each other. However, as the gap between budgets widens, competition in qualities becomes less effective and firms spend more of their budget on seeding. We also show that given equal budget of firms, if seeding budget is nonzero for a balanced graph, it will also be nonzero for any other graph, and if seeding budget is zero for a star graph it will be zero for any other graph.
The Judicial Response to Crime and the Criminal: A Utilitarian Perspective

This paper examines the hypothesis that the sentencing decision of the criminal court is consistent with utilitarian principles and that the judiciary uses the length of incarceration as an instrument for the maximization of societal well-being. A theoretical model is developed, whose principal arguments are offender and offense attributes, resource costs, the availability of alternative sanctions, and the general crime rate. Four questions are considered: (i) How does a utilitarian court respond to a general increase in crime? (ii) How does the availability of alternative sanctions affect the length of incarceration ? (iii) How does a utilitarian court respond to offenders who are more likely to recidivate? (iv) How does the court respond to offenders who commit more serious offenses? The model is empirically evaluated, using cross-sectional data for the state of Georgia for individuals sentenced to prison in 1978 for a UCR index offense. The theoretical model provides few specific behavioral rules for the court to follow. Answers to the foregoing four questions are shown to depend upon both the efficacy of sanctions and the cost of the administration of those sanctions. It is not possible to predict, for example, how a utilitarian court should respond to a rise in crime or how it should respond to offenders who are likely to commit more serious offenses. The empirical analysis shows that, in fact, the sentence length varied inversely with the general offense rate, with the likelihood of imprisonment, and with the length of postprison probation. The evidence also indicates that sentences vary with the individual's original record but not with the offender's age or race. With the exception of possible gender bias, the court's sentencing behavior was consistent with utilitarian principles.
Angular momentum transfer in the deep inelastic reactions of 237 MeV /sup 40/Ar with /sup 89/Y

The mechanisms of strongly damped collisions of 237 MeV /sup 40/Ar with /sup 89/Y have been studied by measurements of the energy distributions and angular distributions of the identified products. Average gamma-ray multiplicities and average gamma-ray energies have been measured for these reactions. Empirical relationships between and the average angular momenta were employed to determine the angular momenta of the primary fragments produced in the reactions. The angular momentum transfer in the strongly damped collisions increases with increasing angle of emission of the projectile-like fragment. Evidence is presented that for the lowest partial waves contributing to strongly damped collisions the condition of rigid rotation is achieved. The use of such reactions to select nuclei of particular is discussed.
Microsatellite landscape evolutionary dynamics across 450 million years of vertebrate genome evolution

The evolutionary dynamics of simple sequence repeats (SSRs or microsatellites) across the vertebrate tree of life remain largely undocumented and poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed patterns of genomic microsatellite abundance and evolution across 71 vertebrate genomes. The highest abundances of microsatellites exist in the genomes of ray-finned fishes, squamate reptiles, and mammals, while crocodilian, turtle, and avian genomes exhibit reduced microsatellite landscapes. We used comparative methods to infer evolutionary rates of change in microsatellite abundance across vertebrates and to highlight particular lineages that have experienced unusually high or low rates of change in genomic microsatellite abundance. Overall, most variation in microsatellite content, abundance, and evolutionary rate is observed among major lineages of reptiles, yet we found that several deeply divergent clades (i.e., squamate reptiles and mammals) contained relatively similar genomic microsatellite compositions. Arc...