cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physics of high-spin states in nuclei

The physics of high-spin states in nuclei in terms of broken pairs is discussed. Results of a calculation of the spectrum of the transitional nucleus {sup 194}Hg including one and two broken pairs are presented. Contrary to cranked single-particle models, broken pair calculations can be compared directly with experiments and thus provide a natural framework to analyze experimental data.
Crystal heating on the JUMBO double crystal monochromator at SSRL

Heating by intense synchrotron radiation causes the lattice of the first crystal in the JUMBO double crystal monochromator at SSRL to expand. Because the two crystals no longer have the same lattice spacing, they diffract X-rays of the same wavelength at different angles. This causes shifts in energy calibration and beam movement at the sample with change in photon energy or as the current in the storage ring decays. A simple thermal model that predicts the change in wavelength and angle of the monochromatic beam is described. These shifts are proportional to I sin θ tan θ, where I is the SPEAR ring current and θ is the angle of the beam incident on the first crystal. Heating experiments were conducted with Ge(111), quartz(1010, and InSb(111) crystals. Bragg angle shifts of up to 0.25° were measured with high precision encoders mounted directly on the crystal goniometers. Photon energy calibration shifts of up to 3.5 eV (at 1700 eV) were measured. Preliminary results show good agreement with the model for Ge and quartz crystals, but not for InSb crystals. Further study is needed to refine the model for Ge and quartz crystals and to determine a better one for InSb.
Critical Resilience, Schooling Processes, and the Academic Success of Mexican Americans in a Community College.

This qualitative study adds new dimensions to the traditional paradigm of resilience through the lives of five Mexican American community college students. The term critical resilience emerges as a result of using ideology from a feminist critical perspective. In-depth interviews, classroom observations, and focus groups were used to learn how this group of students overcame many obstacles and achieved success at Camino Real Community College (a pseudonym). The findings demonstrate that the participants’ critical resilience is promoted by focusing on the cultivation of a larger purpose connected to the social uplift of their families and communities. The author describes strategies situated within a sociocultural context used by the participants to cultivate a larger purpose. The strategies of “playing the game” and showing respeto (respect) shed light on the academic success of Mexican Americans who attend community colleges.
Environnement des étoiles jeunes: de l'optique adaptive aux réseaux de télescopes

Resume L'optique adaptative permet maintenant d'observer les disques protoplanetaires autour des etoiles jeunes avec une resolution angulaire de 0,1″. Ces observations nous apportent une vision nouvelle de la nebuleuse solaire primitive. Malheureusement, l'eclat de l'etoile masque son proche environnement. Un nouveau coronographe stellaire a masque dephasant devrait permettre d'observer beaucoup plus pres de l'etoile centrale. La technique s'applique aux images fournies par un reseau de telescope. Elle pourrait permettre de detecter des planetes aussi proches que la Terre du Soleil.
Some empirical observations of relevance to the analysis of union wage determination

Six important empirical characteristics of the union sector need to be incorporated into future research on wage determination. These are 1) the extent of unionization, 2) the statistical correlates of unionization, 3) divergent trends in union and nonunion earnings, 4) union/nonunion wage differentials, 5) the determinants of union and nonunion wage change, and 6) wage imitation. Examination of these characteristics suggests the following about union wage determination. Union wages have advanced relative to nonunion since the mid 1950s, despite relative shrinkage of the union sector. Union wage changes show less sensitivity to business-cycle pressures than nonunion. Limited spheres of wage imitation surround certain major union negotiations. These observations can be fitted into recent analyses of wage determination under long-term employer employee relationships, and have relevance for anti-inflation policy.
Vitamin B12 levels in selected insects

Abstract Vitamin B 12 concentrations were determined by radioassay in the housefly, five species of termites, and 17 other phylogenetically diverse insect species. Vitamin B 12 was not detected in the housefly Musca domestica , which apparently cannot interconvert propionate and succinate. In contrast, the termite Zootermopsis angusticollis readily interconverts succinate and methylmalonate, and contains high amounts of vitamin B 12 (940 pg/mg dry tissue), as do four other species of termites. Experiments involving selective elimination of either gut tract protozoa or bacteria in Coptotermes formosanus indicate that intestinal bacteria are the major source of vitamin B 12 in this termite. The other insect species examined have undetectable to moderate amounts of vitamin B 12 .
God, Like the Devil, is in the Details

In this issue, Cagnon and colleagues (1) present their quality control program for the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) part of the National Lung Screen Trial (NLST). For the ACRIN-NLST study, more than 18,000 participants were screened for lung cancer with radiography and computed tomography. There were many different imaging centers, models of multidetector helical CT scanners, and models of digital, computed and film radiography equipment. The role of the program described goes well beyond what we would ordinarily think of as “quality control.” Scientifically, it is the heart and soul of the trial, particularly because there seems to have been little consensus prior to the trial on an appropriate low-dose CT lung screening protocol. Without a clear definition of the imaging that could apply across the entire study and ways of checking whether that definition was applied, it is unlikely that a trial with so many patients, radiologists, sites, and scanners would succeed in answering the question of whether CT screening for lung cancer is better than radiography. The judgments that the physicists made to formulate this definition (e.g., how to “strike a balance between image quality and ionizing radiation”) will determine the usefulness of the conclusions from the ACRIN trial. Although the paper may leave some readers hungry for more detail about protocol compliance, it does suggest that, despite extensive measures, half of all sites required corrective intervention but that the problems were quickly and effectively settled. The large, multi-center, randomized, controlled trials provided by ACRIN are impressive in their ability to marshal large amounts of data to address important questions. That said, it must also be acknowledged that most of our scientific knowledge about medical imaging does
Human serotonin 5‐HT2C G protein‐coupled receptor homology model from the β2 adrenoceptor structure: Ligand docking and mutagenesis studies

Activation of the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) 5HT2C G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) is proposed as novel pharmacotherapy for obesity and neuropsychiatric disorders. In contrast, activation of the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B GPCRs is associated with untoward hallucinogenic and cardiopulmonary effects, respectively. There is no crystal structure available to guide design of 5-HT2C receptor-specific ligands. For this reason, a homology model of the 5-HT2C receptor was built based on the crystal structure of the human β2 adrenoceptor GPCR to delineate molecular determinants of ligand-receptor interactions for drug design purposes. Computational and experimental studies were carried out to validate the model. Binding of N(CH3)2-PAT [(1R, 3S)-(-)-trans-1-phenyl-3-N,N-dimethylamino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene], a novel 5-HT2C agonist/5-HT2A/2B inverse agonist, and its secondary [NH(CH3)-PAT] and primary (NH2-PAT) amine analogs were studied at the 5-HT2C wild type (WT) and D3.32A, S3.36A, and Y7.43A 5-HT2C point-mutated receptors. Reference ligands included the tertiary amines lisuride and mesulergine and the primary amine 5-HT. Modeling results indicated that 5-HT2C residues D3.32, S3.36, and Y7.43 play a role in ligand binding. Experimental ligand binding results with WT and point-mutated receptors confirmed the impact of D3.32, S3.36, and Y7.43 on ligand affinity.
Off-shell ambiguities and phenomenological pion-nucleus potentials

The pionic wave functions obtained by fitting phenomenological optical potentials to elastic-scattering data are found to be dependent on the assumed off-shell extrapolation of the ..pi..N amplitude. Using data from low-lying excited or employing finite range potentials does not eliminate the ambiguities.
Aerosol climate effects and air quality impacts from 1980 to 2030

We investigate aerosol effects on climate for 1980, 1995 (meant to reflect present day) and 2030 using the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies climate model coupled to an on-line aerosol source and transport model with interactive oxidant and aerosol chemistry. Aerosols simulated include sulfates, organic matter (OM), black carbon (BC), sea-salt and dust and, additionally, the amount of tropospheric ozone is calculated, allowing us to estimate both changes to air quality and climate for different time periods and emission amounts. We include both the direct aerosol effect and indirect aerosol effects for liquid-phase clouds. Future changes for the 2030 A1B scenario are examined, focusing on the Arctic and Asia, since changes are pronounced in these regions. Our results for the different time periods include both emission changes and physical climate changes. We find that the aerosol indirect effect (AIE) has a large impact on photochemical processing, decreasing ozone amount and ozone forcing, especially for the future (2030–1995). Ozone forcings increase from 0 to 0.12 W m−2 and the total aerosol forcing decreases from −0.10 to −0.94 W m−2 (AIE decreases from −0.13 to −0.68 W m−2) for 1995–1980 versus 2030–1995. Over the Arctic we find that compared to ozone and the direct aerosol effect, the AIE contributes the most to net radiative flux changes. The AIE, calculated for 1995–1980, is positive (1.0 W m−2), but the magnitude decreases (−0.3 W m−2) considerably for the future scenario. Over Asia, we evaluate the role of biofuel- and transportation-based emissions (for BC and OM) via a scenario (2030A) that includes a projected increase (factor of 2) in biofuel- and transport-based emissions for 2030 A1B over Asia. Projected changes from present day due to the 2030A emissions versus 2030 A1B are a factor of 4 decrease in summertime precipitation in Asia. Our results are sensitive to emissions used. Uncertainty in present-day emissions suggests that future climate projections warrant particular scrutiny.
The excess Gibbs energy of liquid CH4 + CF4 at 98 K

Total vapor pressure measurements at 13 compositions are reported for CH4 + CF4 at 98 K. The excess Gibbs free energy GE has been calculated from the results by a least-squares procedure. For an equimolar mixture GE is 435 J mol−1. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of the van der Waals one- and two-fluid models.
Comparative stimulation of γHCH metabolism by pretreatment of rats with γHCH, DDT, and DDT + γHCH

Pretreatment of rats with γ HCH, DDT, and DDT + γ HCH accelerates the metabolism of γ HCH. A single oral dose of 14 C- γ HCH was administered to all animals after 2 wk of pretreatment. The treated rats excreted significantly more radioactivity and stored significantly less 14 C- γ HCH than the control animals. In addition to significantly larger livers, the treated rats exhibited higher cytochrome P-450 content and greater in vitro enzyme activity than the control animals. The self-induction of γ HCH metabolism, which has not previously been reported, could be of major importance in establishing a steady-state relationship between exposure and storage of such pesticides by mammals. Both quantitative and qualitative differences in γ HCH metabolism are observed between the treated groups of rats. DDT pretreatment results in a 35% higher excretion of radioactivity than γ HCH pretreatment. From the distribution of radioactivity it is concluded that DDT pretreatment produces proportionately more neutral and weakly polar but less free acid-type γ HCH metabolites than γ HCH pretreatment. Microsomal mixed function oxidases appear to be primarily responsible for the 3- to 4-fold increase in γ HCH metabolism by the DDT-pretreated rats. However, the γ HCH-pretreated rats exhibit significantly higher glucuronyl transferase activity, an enhanced GSH-dependent degradation of γ HCH, and a lower level of the mixed function oxidases than DDT-pretreated rats. Results of this study suggest that the mechanism by which γ HCH induces its own degradation differs from the mechanism through which DDT stimulates γ HCH metabolism.
Radical labor history and rank‐and‐file militancy

(1975). Radical labor history and rank‐and‐file militancy. Labor History: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 117-126.
Minimization of functionals on the solution of a large-scale discrete ill-posed problem

In this work we study the minimization of a linear functional defined on a set of approximate solutions of a discrete ill-posed problem. The primary application of interest is the computation of confidence intervals for components of the solution of such a problem. We exploit the technique introduced by Elden in 1990, utilizing a parametric programming reformulation involving the solution of a sequence of quadratically constrained least squares problems. Our iterative method, which uses the connection between Lanczos bidiagonalization and Gauss-type quadrature rules to bound certain matrix functionals, is well-suited for large-scale problems, and offers a significant reduction in matrix-vector product evaluations relative to available methods.
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles affect the growth and microRNA expression of tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum )

Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) is one of the most widely used pigments in the world. Due to its heavy use in industry and daily life, such as food additives, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and paints, many residues are released into the environment and currently TiO(2) nanoparticles are considered an emerging environmental contaminant. Although several studies have shown the effect of TiO(2) nanoparticles on a wide range of organisms including bacteria, algae, plankton, fish, mice, and rats, little research has been performed on land plants. In this study, we investigated the effect of TiO(2) nanoparticles on the growth, development, and gene expression of tobacco, an important economic and agricultural crop in the southeastern USA as well as around the world. We found that TiO(2) nanoparticles significantly inhibited the germination rates, root lengths, and biomasses of tobacco seedlings after 3 weeks of exposure to 0.1, 1, 2.5, and 5 % TiO(2) nanoparticles and that overall growth and development of the tobacco seedlings significantly decreased as TiO(2) nanoparticle concentrations increased. Overall, tobacco roots were the most sensitive to TiO(2) nanoparticle exposure. Nano-TiO(2) also significantly influenced the expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs), a recently discovered class of small endogenous noncoding RNAs (∼20-22 nt) that are considered important gene regulators and have been shown to play an important role in plant development as well as plant tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, cold, and heavy metal. Low concentrations (0.1 and 1 %) of TiO(2) nanoparticles dramatically induced miRNA expression in tobacco seedlings with miR395 and miR399 exhibiting the greatest fold changes of 285-fold and 143-fold, respectively. The results of this study show that TiO(2) nanoparticles have a negative impact on tobacco growth and development and that miRNAs may play an important role in tobacco response to heavy metals/nanoparticles by regulating gene expression.
Social network types and well-being among South Korean older adults.

Objective: The social networks of older individuals reflect personal life history and cultural factors. Despite these two sources of variation, four similar network types have been identified in Europe, North America, Japan, and China: namely ‘restricted’, ‘family’, ‘friend’, and ‘diverse’. This study identified the social network types of Korean older adults and examined differential associations of the network types with well-being.Method: The analysis used data from the 2008 wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA: N = 4251, age range 65–108). We used a two-step cluster analytical approach to identify network types from seven indicators of network structure and function. Regression models determined associations between network types and well-being outcomes, including life satisfaction and depressive symptomatology.Results: Cluster analysis of indicators of network structure and function revealed four types, including the restricted, friend, and diverse types. Instead of a family type, we...
Key enzymes of the retinoid (visual) cycle in vertebrate retina

A major goal in vision research over the past few decades has been to understand the molecular details of retinoid processing within the retinoid (visual) cycle. This includes the consequences of side reactions that result from delayed all-trans-retinal clearance and condensation with phospholipids that characterize a variety of serious retinal diseases. Knowledge of the basic retinoid biochemistry involved in these diseases is essential for development of effective therapeutics. Photoisomerization of the 11-cis-retinal chromophore of rhodopsin triggers a complex set of metabolic transformations collectively termed phototransduction that ultimately lead to light perception. Continuity of vision depends on continuous conversion of all-trans-retinal back to the 11-cis-retinal isomer. This process takes place in a series of reactions known as the retinoid cycle, which occur in photoreceptor and RPE cells. All-trans-retinal, the initial substrate of this cycle, is a chemically reactive aldehyde that can form toxic conjugates with proteins and lipids. Therefore, much experimental effort has been devoted to elucidate molecular mechanisms of the retinoid cycle and all-trans-retinal-mediated retinal degeneration, resulting in delineation of many key steps involved in regenerating 11-cis-retinal. Three particularly important reactions are catalyzed by enzymes broadly classified as acyltransferases, short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases and carotenoid/retinoid isomerases/oxygenases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Retinoid and Lipid Metabolism.
State Economic Incentives: Stimulus or Reallocation?

This article estimates the effects of state economic incentives during the 1980s and interprets results in the context of a general-equilibrium specific-factors model of production. The issue is whether investment incentives had a net positive impact on manufacturing value added because subsidized firms would pull resources from the rest of the state economy. The public finance literature provides the foundation of the econometric model. Empirical results are consistent with theoretical predictions of the specific-factors model that resources would come from other sectors. Incentives are associated with a reduction in manufacturing value added.
CLEO III operation

Abstract One year after the installation of most of the components of CLEO III, a strongly upgraded successor to the successful CLEO phase I and II experiments, and about half a year after its completion by the installation of the Silicon Detector, the experiment has successfully passed its commissioning phase and completed its first data-taking period. Major components of the detector upgrade are a new Drift Chamber with improved material distribution and a reduced volume to accommodate focussing accelerator components and the new particle identification system, a new four-layer Silicon Detector integrated in the overall tracking system to compensate for the reduced tracking volume and a proximity-focussing RICH with solid LiF crystal radiators and multi-wire proportional chambers filled with CH 4 /triethylamine. Preliminary performance benchmark studies have been completed and show that the CLEO III upgrade has been successful in achieving its design goals.
Resident designed intern orientation to address the new ACGME common program requirements for resident supervision

Objective To design an orientation for surgical interns to meet the new Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Common Program Requirements regarding supervision, to test patient-management competencies, and to assess confidence on skills and tasks pre-orientation and post-orientation. Design Twenty-seven incoming surgical interns participated in a two-day orientation to clinical duties. Activities included a pre-test, lectures, simulation, oral examination, intern shadowing, and a post-test. Incoming interns were surveyed before and after orientation and two months later for confidence in patient-management and surgical intern skills. Paired t -tests were used to determine if confidence improved pre-orientation and post-orientation, and two months following orientation. Setting The study took place at an academic training hospital. Participants All ( n = 27) postgraduate year-1 (PGY-1) surgical residents at our institution, which included the categorical and nondesignated preliminary general surgery, urology, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, and neurosurgery programs. Results All interns passed the oral and written examinations, and were deemed able to be indirectly supervised, with direct supervision immediately available. They reported increased confidence in all areas of patient management addressed during orientation, and this confidence was retained after two months. In surgical and floor-related tasks and skills, interns reported no increase in confidence directly following orientation. However, after two months, they reported a significant increase in confidence, particularly in those tasks that are performed often. Conclusions New requirements for resident supervision require creative ways of verifying resident competency in basic skills. This type of orientation is an effective way to address the new requirements of supervision and teach interns the tasks and skills that are necessary for internship.
Shear banding and material instability in finitely deformed compressible materials: An example in thin sheets

A finite elastoplasticity model for compressible materials is reviewed in order to emphasize some special features of the model. The criterion for material instability has an invariant form and is embodied exclusively in the constitutive relation. Shear band analysis accounts for both noncoaxial boundary loading and noncoaxial strain path. The influence of both the plastic shear modulus and the stress state over the shear band behavior is identified. As an illustrative example, the case of proportional loading is discussed. The results are in good agreement with experimental data from the open literature and thus demonstrate the efficacy of the model.
Catheter-type sensor for potentiometric monitoring of oxygen, pH and carbon dioxide.

The fabrication and analytical performance of a catheter-type electrode suitable for potentiometric monitoring of PO2, pH and PCO2 in flowing blood is described. The catheter electrode is based on impregnating a single segment of dual-lumen gas permeable silicone rubber tubing with the proton ionophore tridodecylamine to impart H+ permselectivity to both inner and outer walls of the tubing. One lumen is filled with an unbuffered bicarbonate solution and the other lumen is filled with a strong buffer. By inserting Ag/AgCl reference electrode wires in each lumen and a cobalt electrode in the buffered lumen, simultaneous potentiometric detection of PO2, pH and PCO2 is achieved. The response of cobalt electrode to PO2 arises from a steady-state mixed potential owing to slow oxidation of cobalt and simultaneous reduction of oxygen on the surface of the cobalt electrode. The response towards PCO2 is completely analogous to the response mechanism of a conventional Severinghaus PCO2 sensor (i.e., change in pH of the bicarbonate solution). Continuous measurements of PO2, pH and PCO2 during 4-5 h blood pump studies using the catheter electrodes correlate well with conventional bench-top blood gas analyzer (PO2: r2 = 0.992; pH: r2 = 0.940; PCO2: r2 = 0.993.
The placebo effect in irritable bowel syndrome trials: a meta-analysis.

Abstract Background: Despite the apparent high placebo response rate in randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCT) of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), little is known about the variability and predictors of this response. Objectives: To describe the magnitude of response in placebo arms of IBS clinical trials and to identify which factors predict the variability of the placebo response. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of published, English language, RCT with 20 or more IBS patients who were treated for at least 2 weeks. This analysis is limited to studies that assessed global response (improvement in overall symptoms). The variables considered as potential placebo modifiers were study design, study duration, use of a run-in phase, Jadad score, entry criteria, number of office visits, number of office visits/study duration, use of diagnostic testing, gender, age and type of medication studied. Findings: Forty-five placebo-controlled RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The placebo response ranged from 16.0 to 71.4% with a population-weighted average of 40.2%, 95% CI (35.9–44.4). Significant associations with lower placebo response rates were fulfilment of the Rome criteria for study entry (P = 0.049) and an increased number of office visits (P = 0.026). Conclusions: Placebo effects in IBS clinical trials measuring a global outcome are highly variable. Entry criteria and number of office visits are significant predictors of the placebo response. More stringent entry criteria and an increased number of office visits appear to independently decrease the placebo response.
Error-related brain activity reveals self-centric motivation: Culture matters

To secure the interest of the personal self (vs. social others) is considered a fundamental human motive, but the nature of the motivation to secure the self-interest is not well understood. To address this issue, we assessed electrocortical responses of European Americans and Asians as they performed a flanker task while instructed to earn as many reward points as possible either for the self or for their same-sex friend. For European Americans, error-related negativity (ERN)-an event-related-potential component contingent on error responses--was significantly greater in the self condition than in the friend condition. Moreover, post-error slowing--an index of cognitive control to reduce errors--was observed in the self condition but not in the friend condition. Neither of these self-centric effects was observed among Asians, consistent with prior cross-cultural behavioral evidence. Interdependent self-construal mediated the effect of culture on the ERN self-centric effect. Our findings provide the first evidence for a neural correlate of self-centric motivation, which becomes more salient outside of interdependent social relations.
Infrared Radiative Transfer in Finite Cloud Layers

Abstract Analytic solutions to the three-dimensional infrared radiative transfer equation for an anisotrapic and isothermal scattering cloud layer are derived by utilizing the four-term truncated spherical harmonics expansion for the scattering phase function and intensity. Computational results of the upward and downward intensity and flux density for cubic, rectangular and plane-parallel clouds employing a wavelength of 10 µm are presented and physically discussed. We show that the emissivities of cubic clouds are ∼20–30% lower than the values calculated from the plane-parallel program, and that optically thick cubic clouds cannot be considered as black clouds. Further, we found that cubic clouds undergo much stronger cooling at the top as compared to plane-parallel clouds, Relatively small cooling is also evidenced near the cubic cloud bottom. These computational results and physical findings appear to have significant implications to the interpretation of satellite soundings to inter the cloud-top tem...
Profitability, uncertainty, and firm size

This paper examines the connections between variations in profit and loss rates among firms in small-firm and large-firm size classes as reflections of uncertainty. We find that, within industries, such variations are particularly great for firms in small-firm size classes, leading to operating policies for small firms best characterized as entrepreneurial. Large firms, in contrast, faced with less uncertainty in earning profit, appear to adopt policies that manifest an emphasis on strategic planning.
Molecular mimicry in T cell-mediated autoimmunity: Viral peptides activate human T cell clones specific for myelin basic protein

Abstract Structural similarity between viral T cell epitopes and self-peptides could lead to the induction of an autoaggressive T cell response. Based on the structural requirements for both MHC class 11 binding and TCR recognition of an immunodominant myelin basic protein (MBP) peptide, criteria for a data base search were developed in which the degeneracy of amino acid side chains required for MHC class 11 binding and the conservation of those required for T cell activation were considered. A panel of 129 peptides that matched the molecular mimicry motif was tested on seven MBP-specific T cell clones from multiple sclerosis patients. Seven viral and one bacterial peptide efficiently activated three of these clones. Only one peptide could have been identified as a molecular mimic by sequence alignment. The observation that a single T cell receptor can recognize quite distinct but structurally related peptides from multiple pathogens has important implications for understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmunity.
Politics or the Economy? Domestic Correlates of Dispute Involvement in Developed Democracies

Consideration of the effects of domestic politics on international conflict behavior often consists simply of contrasting democracies with non-democracies. One notable exception is work that links economic performance and the use of force. This link has often been addressed through use of a diversionary perspective. In this paper, we argue that more important than the alleged incentive to pursue a rallying effect when times are bad are domestic political and economic factors affecting leaders’ constraints, representing some of the costs to pursuing adventurous foreign policies. We examine three sources of constraints on democratic leaders: the willingness of the constituency to support the use of force internationally; the macroeconomic preferences of the party’s constituency; and an interaction of those preferences with the state of the economy. We find that in developed democracies, the political orientation of the government is a significant factor affecting the likelihood of international conflict initiation. Specifically, right governments are more likely to initiate interstate disputes; economic conditions have a significant but lesser impact.
Can confidentiality of data pay off

Ss were administered a self-report personality measure and a social desirability scale under conditions of Confidentiality, Anonymity or Nonanonymity alone. The tester's written assurance that the Ss' disclosures would be kept strictly confidential had a substantial moderating effect (when compared with Nonanonymity alone) on correlations between some subscales of the personality measure and the social desirability scale. In contrast to an earlier finding, there were no appreciable effects of Anonymity when compared with Nonanonymity alone. It appears that confidentiality of data can pay off in terms of increased predictive validity of some self-report personality measures by moderating the potential biasing effect of test response distortion due to socially desirable responding.
Primary treatment of a blister-like aneurysm with an encircling clip graft: technical case report.

Objective Blister-like aneurysms at nonbranching sites in the supraclinoid portion of the internal carotid artery are a rare but important cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage. We report a case of subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a ruptured blister-type aneurysm, review the pertinent literature, and hope to remind readers of the wisdom of the use of an encircling clip as the primary treatment of these challenging lesions. Clinical presentation A 41-year-old woman presented with sudden onset of headache. An admission computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed thick and diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage involving primarily the carotid cistern and the proximal left sylvian fissure. A cerebral angiogram was initially interpreted as absent for aneurysm, but a follow-up angiogram performed 1 week later confirmed an enlarging aneurysm. Intervention A craniotomy with placement of an encircling clip graft around a blister-like aneurysm was performed. Conclusion Although Sundt advocated the encircling clip graft for the blister-type aneurysm almost 40 years ago, use of an encircling clip graft in the treatment of blister-like aneurysms of the supraclinoid portion of the internal carotid artery seems to be reserved as a secondary or "rescue" measure in current practice. Neurosurgeons must familiarize themselves with this distinct entity (the blister-type aneurysm), recognize the possible risks associated with parallel clipping, and consider the use of an encircling clip graft as the primary treatment.
Evaluation and prediction of n-fatty acid critical properties

To develop new and useful methods for evaluating and predicting the critical properties of n-fatty acid, leastsquares equations were developed that correlate, with good agreement, the n-fatty acid critical properties (a) with chain length; (b) with other n-fatty acid properties, e.g., melting points, boiling points, densities, and refractivities; and (c) with the corresponding n-alkane critical properties. Critical properties defined by the equations are presumed to be correct, whereas those in substantial disagreement are considered wrong.
Transport of fatty acids in Locusta migratoria during sustained flight

In Locusta migratoria the fatty acid content and the composition of the fatty acids in fat body, haemolymph, and flight muscles were estimated, both at rest and, in haemolymph and flight muscles, also after sustained flight. The total fatty acid content in the organs examined turned out to be sufficient for a flight of about 5 hr. Considering the carbohydrate reserve and the fatty acid stores in other organs, a total uninterrupted flight of 7–8 hr is acceptable. During flight a considerable increase in fatty acid content was demonstrated in the haemolymph and a slight one in the flight muscles, indicating an efficient transport of the acids from the storage organs to the muscles. Whilst the content of unesterified acids in the haemolymph did not change at all, the esterified acids did increase by a factor of 5. The composition of the fatty acids in haemolymph and flight muscles before and after flight suggested a preferential oxidation of palmitic and oleic acid. The biological meaning of the storage of fat and the oxidation of fatty acids in the flight muscles themselves in migrating locusts is discussed.
Controlled directional growth of silver microwires on a solid electrolyte surface

A silver microwire was formed on a silver sulfide surface in a directional and reversible manner. This wire formed upon applying an electric field between a tip-less atomic force microscopy probe placed on the Ag2S surface and a grounded silver electrode embedded in the surface. The process was studied in real-time with optical microscope and a discussion was provided on how the morphological instability was violated. A numerical model based on the mixed ionic-electronic transport was developed to study the observation and a good match of growth rates was found. The fast metal wire growth phenomenon observed here has potential in applications for electronics as well as plasmonic sensors and waveguides
Role of Probe Molecule Structure in Sensing Solution Phase Interactions in Ternary Systems

We report on the use of 1-pyrenebutyric acid (PBA) as a probe molecule to investigate aggregation phenomena in aqueous adipic acid solutions. Key issues in understanding solution phase aggregation phenomena are the length scale and the persistence time of the aggregates. We have chosen PBA to understand the characteristic length scale and role of probe molecule structure in the examination of solution phase aggregation phenomena. The steady-state emission response of PBA in adipic acid solutions yields little information because the carboxylic acid functionality of this probe molecule is not conjugated with the pyrene chromophore. Fluorescence lifetimes for PBA vary in a regular manner in the region of adipic acid saturation, suggesting that the chromophore is not in close spatial proximity to precrystalline aggregates that are known to form in these solutions. Rotational diffusion measurements of PBA reveal the presence of adipic acid aggregates in solution but, because of the length of the tether betwee...
Segmentation of MRS signals using ASPECT (Analysis of SPectra using Eigenvector deComposition of Targets)

Efforts to minimize the effects of partial volume contamination (PVC) in in vivomagnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) have focused upon improving the sensitivity and efficiency of spatially localized MRS measurements. Such improvements may improve spatial resolution and reduce the time required to acquire multiple spectra, however, PVC can affect in vivo spectra at any resolution. In this paper, a model for segmenting in vivo MRS signals compromised by PVC in selected applications is introduced. The segmentation algorithm used is linear and is based on filters originally developed for image processing applications. The model is developed from first principles and evaluated using computer simulations. It is suited for segmenting multivoxel or chemical shift imaging data, and can be used with spectra acquired at any spatial resolution. It is used to estimate the size of the partial volumes contributing to a voxel compromised by PVC and the spatially selective signal components that would be expected to arise from these partial volumes if they could be measured directly. Several spectral perturbants present in in vivo MRS measurements violate the linearity assumptions underlying the model and produce systematic errors that must be accounted for. A number of perturbants are discussed, and the potential in vivo applications of the model are illustrated using solvent‐suppressed 1H–CSI spectra from the normal human brain.
Kinetics of polymer adsorption measured in situ at the solid—liquid interface: Utility of the infrared total internal reflection method

Abstract The method of infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection (IR-ATR) has been used to study kinetics of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) adsorption from dilute carbon tetrachloride solution onto a germanium prism at 27.0°C. By using a combination of deuterated and protio PMMA, it was possible to monitor the initial buildup of the adsorbed layer of one polymer species, followed by the time-dependent displacement of this species when the ambient polymer solution was changed. Data are presented for the displacement of adsorbed deuterated polymer of molar mass 57,000 g by protio polymer of molar mass 400,000 g, and for the displacement of adsorbed protio polymer of molar mass 64,000 by deuterated polymer of molar mass 57,000 g. Although it was not possible to repeat experiments quantitatively, the qualitative conclusion is that in both situations PMMA of molecular weight ca 60,000 g mol −1 displayed a residence time on the germanium surface of at least several hours. It was possible by this method to measure the kinetic exchange that underlay an overall equilibrium amount of polymer adsorbed.
Production and Survival of Eggs of the American Smelt, Osmerus Mordax (Mitchill), in Maine

Abstract Egg production and egg survival of the American smelt, Osmerus mordax (Mitchill), were studied during the 1958 spawning run at Dean Brook, Ellsworth, Maine. The construction, number, and location of sampling units utilized in the estimate of egg production and egg survival are discussed. Egg production was 13,726,351 ± 3,525,971 and egg survival was 3,423,177 ± 610,384. Regressions of egg density and egg survival upon distance above the stream mouth are computed. An index of spawning activity could not be related to observed environmental variables. A density of smelt eggs for hypothetical maximum prolarval production was 11,745 eggs per square foot. Maximum prolarval production occurred in regions of moderate smelt egg deposition. Sources of egg mortality are noted and a nonstatistical estimate of prolarval production is presented: 75,440. A total egg mortality of 99.5 percent is indicated.
Aspects of consensus in clinical predictions of imminent violence.

This research studied individual differences among psychiatric patients in the extent to which clinical workers agree about the likelihood that the patients will act violently. Predictions of imminent violence proneness for 40 male inpatients made by 35 experienced clinical practitioners were analyzed. As hypothesized, subgroups of patients who elicited high interjudge agreement were found, and admission profiles of these patients were presented. Clinical workers' predictive accuracy was found to be greater when they rated patients who elicited high consensus than for unselected patients or for those who elicited low consensus. Language: en
One loop partition function in the presence of tachyon background and corrections to tachyon condensation

Abstract We compute the one-loop partition function for quadratic tachyon background in open string theory. Both closed and open string representations are developed. Using these representations we study the one-loop divergences in the partition function in the presence of the tachyon background. The divergences due to the open and closed string tachyons are treated by analytic continuation in the tachyon mass squared. We pay particular attention to the imaginary part of the analytically continued expressions. The last one gives the decay rate of the unstable vacuum. The dilaton tadpole is also given some partial consideration. The partition function is further used to study corrections to tachyon condensation processes describing brane descent relations. Assuming the boundary string field theory prescription for construction of the string field action via partition function holds at one loop level we study the one-loop corrections to the tachyon potential and to the tensions of lower-dimensional branes.
Improved estimation of cluster mass profiles from the cosmic microwave background

We develop a new method for reconstructing cluster-mass profiles and large-scale structure from the cosmic microwave background (CMB). By analyzing the likelihood of CMB lensing, we analytically prove that standard quadratic estimators for CMB lensing are unbiased and achieve the optimal condition only in the limit of no lensing; they become progressively biased and suboptimal, when the lensing effect is large, especially for clusters that can be found by ongoing Sunyaev-Zel'dovich surveys. Adopting an alternative approach to the CMB likelihood, we construct a new maximum likelihood estimator that utilizes delensed CMB temperature fields based on an assumed model. We analytically show that this estimator asymptotically approaches the optimal condition as our assumed model is refined, and we numerically show that as we iteratively apply it to CMB maps our estimator quickly converges to the true model with a factor of 10 less number of clusters than standard quadratic estimators need. For realistic CMB experiments, we demonstrate the applicability of the maximum likelihood estimator with tests against numerical simulations in the presence of CMB secondary contaminants. With significant improvement on the signal-to-noise ratio, our new maximum likelihood estimator can be used to measure the cluster-mass cross-correlation functions at different redshifts, probingmore » the evolution of dark energy.« less
Age Increases Cardiac Gαi2 Expression, Resulting in Enhanced Coupling to G Protein-coupled Receptors

Cardiac G protein-coupled receptors that function through stimulatory G protein Gαs, such as β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors (β1ARs and β2ARs), play a key role in cardiac contractility. Recent data indicate that several Gαs-coupled receptors in heart also activate Gαi, including β2ARs (but not β1ARs). Coupling of cardiac β2ARs to Gαi inhibits adenylyl cyclase and opposes β1AR-mediated apoptosis. Dual coupling of β2AR to both Gαs and Gαi is likely to alter β2AR function in disease, such as congestive heart failure in which Gαi levels are increased. Indeed, heart failure is characterized by reduced responsiveness of βARs. Cardiac βAR-responsiveness is also decreased with aging. However, whether age increases cardiac Gαi has been controversial, with some studies reporting an increase and others reporting no change. The present study examines Gαi in left ventricular membranes from young and old Fisher 344 rats by employing a comprehensive battery of biochemical assays. Immunoblotting reveals significant increases with age in left ventricular Gαi2, but no changes in Gαi3, Gαo, Gαs, Gβ1, or Gβ2. Aging also increases ADP-ribosylation of pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins. Consistent with these results, basal as well as receptor-mediated incorporation of photoaffinity label [32P]azidoanilido-GTP indicates higher amounts of Gαi2 in older left ventricular membranes. Moreover, both basal and receptor-mediated adenylyl cyclase activities are lower in left ventricular membranes from older rats, and disabling of Gαi with pertussis toxin increases both basal and receptor-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity. Finally, age produces small but significant increases in muscarinic potency for the inhibition of both β1AR- and β2AR-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity. The present study establishes that Gαi2 increases with age and provides data indicating that this increase dampens adenylyl cyclase activity.