cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Free and Cheap Riding in Strict, Conservative Churches

Iannaccone (1994) uses rational choice theory to argue that strict rules (e.g., no smoking or drinking) raise average commitment levels in conservative churches because strictness discourages free riding. Tests of this assertion have been hampered, in part, by uncertainties concerning how free riding should be measured. We introduce a new, indirect measure of free (and cheap) riding, the level of positive skewness of a congregation's money contributions—that is, the extent to which a few members give much more than the mean amount while the majority gives much less. Using a study of giving in five denominations, we find that strict, conservative congregations have both higher mean giving and less skewness in the pattern of their giving. The higher mean-contribution levels at strict, conservative congregations are not simply due to each member giving more or a few members giving a lot more. Instead, as Iannaccone's model predicts, some combination of strict rules and/or conservative theology appears to systematically limit the proportion of free- and cheap-riding members giving far less than the mean and thus increase the proportion giving at or above the mean.
Quantification and application of skew of breakthrough curves for gases and vapors eluting from activated carbon beds

Vapor and gas breakthrough curves for packed activated carbon beds are often assumed to be symmetrical, when they are actually more often skewed. This skew explains why adsorption rate coefficients calculated at differing breakthrough fractions may not agree. Three extensive databases of breakthrough curves were analyzed to quantify this skew and the effects of relative humidity (preconditioning and use) on it. Skew results for varieties of chemicals and carbons agreed well and were combined to get a quadratic expression for a defined skew parameter. This expression was combined with a previous observation of the effect of breakthrough fraction on calculated rate coefficient. The combination allows estimation of an adsorption rate coefficient at a desired breakthrough fraction from a rate coefficient known (experimentally or by calculation) at another breakthrough fraction. A sample calculation is given.
Microcharacterization of CuInSe2 Grown by Coevaporation and Selenization

Thin films of CuInSe 2 , grown by coevaporation or by selenization of a Cu-In precursor, were analyzed in a scanning transmission electron microscope. While the coevaporated film shows clear evidence of second phases (Cu 2 Se) around the individual grains, no second phases could be found in the selenized material. Structural characterization also showed the presence of two ordered phases in the coevaporated films, the ordered-vacancy compound CuIn 2 Se 3.5 , and a CuPt-ordered phase of CuInSe 2 .
A bioassessment approach for mid-continent great rivers : the Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio (USA)

The objectives of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program for Great River Ecosystems (EMAP-GRE) are to (1) develop and demonstrate, in collaboration with states, an assessment program yielding spatially unbiased estimates of the condition of mid-continent great rivers; (2) evaluate environmental indicators for assessing great rivers; and (3) assess the current condition of selected great river resources. The purpose of this paper is to describe EMAP-GRE using examples based on data collected in 2004-2006 with emphasis on an approach to determining reference conditions. EMAP-GRE includes the Upper Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and the Ohio River. Indicators include biotic assemblages (fish, macroinvertebrates, plankton, algae), water chemistry, and aquatic and riparian physical habitat. Reference strata (river reaches for which a single reference expectation is appropriate) were determined by ordination of the fish assemblage and examination of spatial variation in environmental variables. Least disturbed condition of fish assemblages for reference strata was determined by empirical modeling in which we related fish assemblage metrics to a multimetric stressor gradient. We inferred least disturbed condition from the y-intercept, the predicted condition when stress was least. Thresholds for dividing the resource into management-relevant condition classes for biotic indicators were derived using predicted least disturbed condition to set the upper bound on the least disturbed condition class. Also discussed are the outputs of EMAP-GRE, including the assessment document, multimetric indices of condition, and unbiased data supporting state and tribal Clean Water Act reporting, adaptive management, and river restoration.
Regressions in the phonological development of two children

Several investigators (Macken & Ferguson, 1983; Menn, 1983) have emphasized the importance of regressions in phonological development to cognitively oriented models of phonology. To date, few cases of regressions have been reported. The present report is a descriptive study of the phonological regressions in the development of two normally developing children, aged 1; 10–2;0 and 2;0–2;2. Each subject was observed in the home three times a week, 3 to 4 hours a session for a period of 2 months. Results indicate the subjects differed in type of regression produced, with the younger subject evidencing regressions in sound classes and the older subject evidencing regressions of isolated words. The findings of the study are summarized and related to more general issues in phonological development.
Prospective randomized comparison of anodal monophasic shocks versus biphasic cathodal shocks on defibrillation energy requirements

Abstract Biphasic shocks are believed to be superior to monophasic shocks. Monophasic anodal shocks, as opposed to cathodal shocks, are associated with improved defibrillation energy requirements (DERs). However, it is unclear how the DER of anodal monophasic shocks compare with conventional biphasic shocks. Therefore the purpose of this study was to prospectively compare the DER of an anodal monophasic shock with that of a cathodal biphasic shock. A transvenous defibrillation lead with distal and proximal shocking electrodes was used. The subjects of this study were 20 consecutive patients with a mean age of 64.2 ± 10.5 years (±SD) and a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.36 ± 0.18. Six had had cardiac arrest. The DER, defined as the lowest energy that converted ventricular fibrillation to sinus rhythm, was determined twice with a step-down protocol (25 J, 20 J, 15 J, 10 J, 5 J, 3 J, 1 J). If the DER was ≥25 J, then a subcutaneous patch was deemed necessary for system implantation. In random order the DER was determined with a monophasic anodal shock (distal electrode positive) and then with a cathodal (first phase, distal electrode negative) biphasic shock. The mean DER with anodal monophasic shocks was 15.1 ± 8.5 J compared with 13.6 ± 8.1 J with cathodal biphasic shocks ( p = 0.4). A DER ≥25 J was present in three patients with the monophasic waveform and in three patients with the biphasic waveform ( p = NS). In conclusion, the DER and frequency of subcutaneous patch use with an anodal monophasic waveform is comparable to that obtained with a cathodal biphasic waveform.
Kinetics of the Reactions of Methoxybenzylidene Meldrum's Acid with Thiolate Ions, Alkoxide Ions, OH-, and Water in Aqueous DMSO. Detection and Kinetic Characterization of the SNV Intermediate

The nucleophilic vinylic substitution (SNV) reactions of methoxybenzylidene Meldrum's acid (5-OMe) follow the common two-step mechanism involving a tetrahedral intermediate. With thiolate and alkoxide ions, this intermediate is shown to accumulate to detectable levels and a detailed kinetic study allowed the determination of the rate constants of the various elementary steps. With OH- as the nucleophile, the intermediate cannot be observed; it is shown that this is the result of the intermediate rapidly breaking down to products by a pathway not available in the reactions with the thiolate or alkoxide ions. Comparison of structure−reactivity data for the reactions of 5-OMe with those of benzylidene Meldrum's acid (5-H) and β-methoxy-α-nitrostilbene (4-OMe) reveal a complex interplay of steric effects, π-donor and π-acceptor resonance effects, and anomeric effects.
Circular dichroism of the two major conformational states of mammalian (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

Abstract No alteration in the circular dichroic spectrum of fully active, membrane-bound (Na + + K + ) - ATPase is observed when the protein is cycled between the two major conformational states, E 1 and E 2 . This findings is in agreement with the infrared study by Chetverin and Brazhnikov (J. Biol. Chem. 260 (1985) 7817) and demonstrates that any difference in secondary structure between the two conformers must be less than 2%.
Data driven search in the displaced \( b\overline{b} \) pair channel for a Higgs boson decaying to long-lived neutral particles

This article presents a proposal for a new search channel for the Higgs boson decaying to two long-lived neutral particles, each of which decays to $ b\overline{b} $ at a displaced vertex. The decay length considered is such that the decay takes place within the LHC beampipe. We present a new data-driven analysis using jet substructure and properties of the tracks from the highly-displaced vertices. We consider a model with a 125 GeV Higgs boson with a significant branching fraction to decay via this mode, with the long-lived neutral particle having a mass in the range of 15-40 GeV and a decay length commensurate with the beam pipe radius. Such a signal can be readily observed with an integrated luminosity of 19.5 fb−1 at 8 TeV at the LHC.
First Steps Towards Quantitative Validation of the Unsaturated-Flow Theories in Liquid Composite Molding

In liquid composite molding technologies such as Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), a thermoset resin is injected into a mold cavity with a pre-placed preform made of fiber mats to create a cured part. In order to improve the physics of resin flow in dual-scale (woven, stitched or braided) fiber mats, the authors carried out many transient 1-D mold-filling experiments to investigate the onset of unsaturated flow through the inlet-pressure history. Their study revealed that the measured pressure history, which droops downwards for dual-scale fiber mats, is at a variance with the linear pressure profile predicted by state-of-the-art Liquid Composite Molding (LCM) mold-filling simulation physics. It was also observed that the drooping of the inlet pressure increases with an increase in the compression of fiber mats. In this paper, the correlation between a previously proposed dimensionless number pore volume ratio and the droop in the inlet pressure history has been sought. Studying the micrographs of composite samples, pore volume ratio is measured for various fiber mat compression. It is observed that the droop in the inlet pressure profiles increase with an increase in the pore volume ratio. This is the first attempt to quantitatively validate the previous theories on the unsaturated flow.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Genetic variation of SCNN1A influences lung diffusing capacity in cystic fibrosis.

AB Introduction: Epithelial Na+ channels (ENaCs) play a crucial role in ion and fluid regulation in the lung. In cystic fibrosis (CF), Na+ hyperabsorption results from ENaC overactivity, leading to airway dehydration. Previous work has demonstrated functional genetic variation of SCNN1A (the gene encoding the ENaC [alpha]-subunit), manifesting as an alanine (A) to threonine (T) substitution at amino acid 663, with the [alpha]T663 variant resulting in a more active channel. Methods: We assessed the influence of genetic variation of SCNN1A on the diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and nitric oxide (DLNO), together with alveolar-capillary membrane conductance (DM), pulmonary capillary blood volume, and alveolar volume (VA) at rest and during peak exercise in 18 patients with CF (10 homozygous for [alpha]A663 (AA group) and 8 with at least one T663 allele (AT/TT group)). Because of the more active channel, we hypothesized that the AT/TT group would show a greater increase in DLCO, DLNO, and DM with exercise because of exercise-mediated ENaC inhibition and subsequent attenuation of Na+ hyperabsorption. Results: The AT/TT group had significantly lower pulmonary function, weight, and body mass index than the AA group. Both groups had similar peak workloads, relative peak oxygen consumptions, and cardiopulmonary responses to exercise. The AT/TT group demonstrated a greater increase in DLNO, DLNO/VA, and DM in response to exercise (% increases: DLNO = 18 +/- 11 vs 41 +/- 38; DLNO/VA = 14 +/- 21 vs 40 +/- 37; DM = 15 +/- 11 vs 41 +/- 38, AA vs AT/TT, respectively). There were no differences between groups in absolute diffusing capacity measures at peak exercise. Conclusion: These results suggest that genetic variation of the [alpha]-subunit of ENaC differentially affects the diffusing capacity response to exercise in patients with CF.
Depression, self-love, time, and the “right” to suicide

Elizabeth Bouvia, whose legal struggle to compel a psychiatric hospital to assist her in committing suicide ended with a decision that she could be force fed by the hospital, presented the psychiatric community with a host of ethical questions concerning the rights of a patient to choose death, and the obligations of the medical profession to promote life. What the courts did not decide is when a patient is incompetent to decide her own fate, and what is the duty of the hospital to intervene with a suicidal patient. The authors suggest that there is an ambiguity present whenever a patient presents herself to a hospital or therapist as suicidal, and that a time limited period, or cooling-off period, should exist that would allow an alliance to form between patient and care-giver, if possible, and then permit them to explore underlying issues of depression. The authors believe that there is a need to acknowledge the patient's ultimate right to choose death, but that autonomy should not be confused with impulsivity when anyone is faced with the irrevocability of the decision to die.
High-level expression, functional reconstitution, and quaternary structure of a prokaryotic ClC-type chloride channel.

ClC-type anion-selective channels are widespread throughout eukaryotic organisms. BLAST homology searches reveal that many microbial genomes also contain members of the ClC family. An Escherichia coli–derived ClC Cl− channel homologue, “EriC,” the product of the yadQ gene, was overexpressed in E. coli and purified in milligram quantities in a single-step procedure. Reconstitution of purified EriC into liposomes confers on these membranes permeability to anions with selectivity similar to that observed electrophysiologically in mammalian ClC channels. Cross-linking studies argue that EriC is a homodimer in both detergent micelles and reconstituted liposomes, a conclusion corroborated by gel filtration and analytical sedimentation experiments.
The use of statistical ranking to retrieve records from a gigabyte of text

In February Online Review published a Letter to the Editor from Cyril Cleverdon. This letter was written in response to Roger Summit's paper ‘In search of the elusive end user’, which was presented at the Eusidic Conference in October 1989 and published in Online Review in December. Mr Cleverdon drew particular attention to the results of tests showing the practical feasibility of statistical ranking techniques reported by Harman and Candela in a soon to be published paper. This is a summary of that paper, the complete version of which will be published in October 1990 as ‘Retrieving records from a gigabyte of text on a minicomputer using statistical ranking’, in the Journal of the American Society for Information Science.
Presidential Communication in the Internet Era

The new media environment and the rise of the Internet have had important implications for presidential communication. As the first chief executives of the new media era, Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have established an online presence through the White House Web site, http://www.whitehouse.gov. As the site has evolved, these administrations have had to balance the communication potential of technological innovations against the requirements of politics and governing. Future presidential administrations will embrace new opportunities and confront additional challenges as they seek to integrate new media options of the Web 2.0 era and beyond into their communications strategies.
A major role for zygotic hunchback in patterning the Nasonia embryo

Developmental genetic analysis has shown that embryos of the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis depend more on zygotic gene products to direct axial patterning than do Drosophila embryos. In Drosophila, anterior axial patterning is largely established by bicoid, a rapidly evolving maternal-effect gene, working with hunchback, which is expressed both maternally and zygotically. Here, we focus on a comparative analysis of Nasonia hunchback function and expression. We find that a lesion in Nasonia hunchback is responsible for the severe zygotic headless mutant phenotype, in which most head structures and the thorax are deleted, as are the three most posterior abdominal segments. This defines a major role for zygotic Nasonia hunchback in anterior patterning, more extensive than the functions described for hunchback in Drosophila or Tribolium. Despite the major zygotic role of Nasonia hunchback, we find that it is strongly expressed maternally, as well as zygotically. Nasonia Hunchback embryonic expression appears to be generally conserved; however, the mRNA expression differs from that of Drosophila hunchback in the early blastoderm. We also find that the maternal hunchback message decays at an earlier developmental stage in Nasonia than in Drosophila, which could reduce the relative influence of maternal products in Nasonia embryos. Finally, we extend the comparisons of Nasonia and Drosophila hunchback mutant phenotypes, and propose that the more severe Nasonia hunchback mutant phenotype may be a consequence of differences in functionally overlapping regulatory circuitry.
Self-administration of dynorphin-[1-13] and D-ala2-dynorphin-[1-11] (kappa opioid agonists) in morphine (mu opioid agonist)-dependent rats.

Abstract Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared with permanent cortical EEG and temporalis EMG electrodes and i.v. cannulae. They were made tolerant to and physically dependent on morphine by automatic, hourly injections. These physically dependent rats were then trained to lever press for 10 mg/kg injections of morphine on a fixed ratio (FR) schedule of reinforcement. Upon stabilization of morphine self-administration at a FR-10, dynorphin-[1–13] (DYN) or D-ala 2 -dynorphin-[1–11] (D-ala 2 -DYN) at doses of 125 or 250 ug/kg/inj was substituted for morphine. Rats self-administered these opioid-like peptides at both dose levels. As expected, self-injections were more numerous at the lower dose. No signs of morphine withdrawal were seen during the peptide substitutions. Following DYN or D-ala 2 -DYN abstinence, no withdrawal symptoms were noted. The question is raised as to whether DYN or D-ala 2 -DYN and morphine are producing their reinforcing effects in sustaining self-administration via the same receptor populations. Since morphine abstinence is associated with severe withdrawal symptoms and the peptides studied are not, the involvement of separate receptor populations in the process of dependence on morphine and these opioid-like peptides is indicated. In conclusion, both a mu and two kappa agonists exhibited an analogous reinforcing property in the rat. However, the degree of physical dependence and the intensity of withdrawal differed; being higher with the mu agonist and lower with the kappa agonists.
Sportfish Consumption Patterns of Lake Ontario Anglers and the Relationship to Health Advisories

Abstract Accurate fish consumption estimates are necessary to determine the risks anglers face associated with consumption of contaminated fish and to assess compliance with fish consumption health advisories. Based on a 12-month diary methodology, anglers who fished Lake Ontario in 1992 consumed an average of 30.3 fish meals in 1992, of which 28% were sport-caught. When meal size was factored in, an estimated 17.9 g of fish per day from all sources were consumed by Lake Ontario anglers. Virtually all diary participants (>95%) who fished Lake Ontario in 1992 said they were aware of the New York State health advisory. However, 36% of 1992 Lake Ontario anglers consumed fish in excess of the fish consumption limits recommended for Lake Ontario; 14% ate fish from Lake Ontario but did not exceed limits recommended in the advisory; the remainder (50%) did not consume any fish from Lake Ontario in 1992. Furthermore, 90% of those who actually consumed over the limit said they believed their consumption was within...
Activation of the Transcriptional Function of the NF-κB Protein c-Rel by O-GlcNAc Glycosylation

The transcription factor nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) rapidly reprograms gene expression in response to various stimuli, and its activity is regulated by several posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation, methylation, and acetylation. The addition of O-linked b-N-acetylglucosamine (a process known as O-GlcNAcylation) is an abundant posttranslational modification that is enhanced in conditions such as hyperglycemia and cellular stress. We report that the NF-kB subunit c-Rel is modified and activated by O-GlcNAcylation. We identified serine 350 as the site of O-GlcNAcylation, which was required for the DNA binding and transactivation functions of c-Rel. Blocking the O-GlcNAcylation of this residue abrogated c-Rel–mediated expression of the cytokine-encoding genes IL2, IFNG ,a ndCSF2 in response to T cell receptor (TCR) activation, whereas increasing the extent of O-GlcNAcylation of cellular proteins enhanced the expression of these genes. TCR- or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–induced expression of other NF-kB target genes, such as NFKBIA (which encodes IkBa )a ndTNFAIP3 (which encodes A20), occurred independently of the O-GlcNAcylation of c-Rel. Our findings suggest a stimulus-specific role for hyperglycemia-induced O-GlcNAcylation of c-Rel in promoting T cell–mediated autoimmunity in conditions such as type 1 diabetes by enhancing the production of T helper cell cytokines.
A fully integratable 1.55-μm wavelength continuously tunable asymmetric twin-waveguide distributed Bragg reflector laser

We demonstrate a single-frequency continuously tunable three-section distributed Bragg reflector laser operating at a center wavelength of /spl lambda//sub 0/=1.548 /spl mu/m using a fully integratable asymmetric twin-waveguide structure. A low-loss tapered mode transformer couples the light between the active waveguide, or gain region, and the passive ridge waveguide where the phase and grating tuning sections are located. The device has a threshold current of 50 mA and output power of nearly 13 mW, with a slope efficiency of 0.12 W/A and a tuning range of 4.8 nm under pulsed operation. An independent phase section is used to continuously tune the wavelength, thus avoiding mode hops. Using a delayed self-heterodyne technique, we determine the linewidth to be (146/spl plusmn/2) kHz.
Precise specification of use case scenarios

Despite attempts to formalize the semantics of use cases, they remain an informal notation. The informality of use cases is both a blessing and a curse. Whilst it admits an easy learning curve and enables communication between software stakeholders, it is also a barrier to the application of automated methods for test case generation, validation or simulation. This paper presents a precise way of specifying use cases based on a three-level modeling paradigm strongly influenced by UML. The formal syntax and semantics of use case charts are given, along with an example that illustrates how they can be used in practice.
Experimental Induction of Biased Systematic Processing: The Directed-Thought Technique

The concept of biased systematic processing is usually introduced after the fact to explain deviant persuasion patterns. In contrast, the authors introduce the directed-thought technique, an experimental way to examine induced biased systematic processing. Supporting the efficacy of this technique, two experiments found that directions to think positively or negatively attenuated the effects of the quality of the message on persuasion, even when involvement was high and regardless of whether the message was pro-or counterattitudinal. Instructions to concentrate on negative thoughts also produced negative attitudes, whereas instructions to concentrate on positive thoughts produced positive attitudes. These results confirm a causal role for the valence of cognitive responses in persuasion, which prior research has suggested less directly. The authors make recommendations for the future use of the directed-thought technique, especially regarding its use in understanding the circumstances that can overcome po...
Correlation of Response Spectral Values for Multicomponent Ground Motions

Ground-motion prediction (attenuation) models predict the probability distributions of spectral acceleration values for a specified earthquake event. These models provide only marginal distributions, however; they do not specify correlations among spectral accelerations with differing periods or orientations. In this article a large number of strong ground motions are used to empirically estimate these cor- relations, and nonlinear regression is used to develop approximate analytical equa- tions for their evaluation. Because the correlations apply to residuals from a ground- motion prediction, they are in principle dependent on the ground-motion prediction model used. The observed correlations do not vary significantly when the underlying model is changed, however, suggesting that the predictions are applicable regardless of the model chosen by the analyst. The analytical correlation predictions improve upon previous predictions of correlations at differing periods in a randomly oriented horizontal ground-motion component. For correlations within a vertical ground mo- tion or across orthogonal components of a ground motion, these results are believed to be the first of their kind. The resulting correlation coefficient predictions are useful for a range of problems related to seismic hazard and the response of structures. Past uses of previous cor- relation predictions are described, and future applications of the new predictions are proposed. These applications will allow analysts to better understand the properties of single- and multicomponent earthquake ground motions.
Premorbid personality indicators of schizophrenia‐related psychosis in a hypothetically psychosis‐prone college sample

Bolinskey, P. K. & Gottesman, I. I. (2010). Premorbid personality indicators of schizophrenia-related psychosis in a hypothetically psychosis-prone college sample. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 51, 68–74. Research into psychosis proneness has established the Chapman Psychosis Proneness Scales (CPPS), certain personality disorders, certain response patterns on the MMPI-2, and social withdrawal as being valid indicators of liability. The current study extends our understanding of premorbid indicators of schizophrenia-related psychosis (SRP) by examining whether individuals identified as hypothetically psychosis prone (HPP) by virtue of their CPPS scores also show differences on other premorbid indicators of SRP. Results indicate that HPP individuals evidence more deviancy in the schizophrenic direction. By providing additional construct validity for the CPPS and other endophenotypic indicators of premorbid processes, strategies for understanding the development of SRP are enhanced.
Redefining the web: toward the creation of large-scale distributed applications

The objective of this paper is to illustrate how object-oriented programming is used to generate distributed object programming (DOP): a novel framework for developing multi-user distributed applications that exploit WWW (World Wide Web) infrastructure. The paper first briefly introduces notions of HTML, CGI, CORBA, and Java. Next, it describes the development process of a multi-user distributed construct in terms of CORBA and WWW-based Java applets. Finally, it presents an overview of an operational structure of the multi-user distributed system developed. A brief analysis of the DOP related issues, conclusions and recommendations are given.
A multi-layered adaptive load management (ALM) system: Information exchange between market participants for efficient and reliable energy use

In this paper, we propose a multi-layered adaptive load management (ALM) system capable of integrating large-scale demand response efficiently and reliably. At the tertiary layer, the system/market operator utilizes demand bid curves provided by the load aggregators on behalf of the end-users they serve. This information is processed by the system/market operator together with the bid curves provided by the generators. The information is further used to estimate electricity price and send it to load aggregators. Similarly, at the secondary layer, the load aggregators utilize the demand curves provided to them by the individual end-users. Based on the end-users' requests and the estimated electricity price given by the system/market operator, load aggregators create aggregate demand curves on behalf of all their users, and share them with both the system operator and their own customers. Finally, at the primary layer, individual end-users create their own demand functions while taking into consideration their own needs and preferences. They provide this information to their load aggregator. The proposed ALM system is best implemented online. In this paper, we provide a basic formulation of the multi-layered multi-directional decision making and information exchange in support of the ALM system. We illustrate this process using simple simulations. The proposed ALM can be used to implement demand response for different industry rules, such as fixed rate, time-of-use, and real-time pricing.
Pilot studies of pressure-immobilization bandages for rattlesnake envenomations.

Study objective. Pressure-immobilization bandages sequester venom in extremities and are recommended for snakebites without local toxicity. Pilot studies were performed to determine the time of onset of toxicity and efficacy of pressure-immobilizations bandages in a porcine model of rattlesnake envenomation. Methods. After IACUC approval, anesthetized pigs were injected subcutaneously in a distal hind leg with 200 mg of Crotalus atrox venom. After 1 min, pigs received either a pressure-immobilization bandage (N = 3) or no treatment (N = 3). At 24 h, surviving pigs received antivenin and then the pressure-immobilization bandages were removed. Surviving subjects were followed for 1 week. Chi-square analysis and paired t-test were used. Results. Pigs with pressure-immobilization bandages survived for 24 h, whereas untreated pigs died at 13.68 ± 3.42 h (p = 0.014). Surviving pigs walked on the extremity at 7 days. Potassium rose from 4.033 ± 0.252 at baseline to 17.767 ± 5.218 mEq/L (p < 0.0001) at time of de...
Dielectric mirror embedded optical fiber couplers

Dielectric mirrors in multimode and single-mode silica fibers have been produced by a fusion-splicing technique. Mirrors oriented normally and at a 45/spl deg/ angle to the axis have been studied. Fibers with angled internal mirrors serve as compact directional couplers with low excess optical loss (/spl ap/0.2 dB for multimode and 0.5 dB for single mode at 1.3 /spl mu/m) and excellent mechanical properties. The reflectance is found to be wavelength dependent and strongly polarization dependent. Far-field scans of the reflected output power measured with a white-light source show a pattern that is almost circularly symmetric. The splitting ratio in a multimode coupler measured with a laser source is much less dependent on input coupling conditions than in conventional fused biconical-taper couplers. Spectral properties of multilayer mirrors oriented normally to the fiber axis have been investigated experimentally, and a matrix analysis has been used to explain the results. >
Marital Satisfaction A s Perceived by Wives

This study was designed to determine the relative importance of specific sociological, economic, and psychological variables in explaining marital satisfaction. Data were collected from 163 two- parent families living in small towns in southwestern Iowa. Multivariate regression was used to analyze the data. The results of this study partially supported the general hypothesis that sociability and psychological factors would be more closely associated with marital satisfaction than would socioeconomic factors. The findings indicated that going places together as a family and marital decision making (jointly made by husbands and wives) regarding the best place for the family to live were positively related to marital satisfaction. On the other hand, borrowing and exchanging favors frequently with neighbors and frequency of money problems related to savings were negatively related to marital satisfaction.
Calculated K Auger-electron and K X-ray transition energies for the multiply ionized neon atom

Abstract Presented here are the energies of all of the possible Auger-electron and X-ray transitions from particular states (described by LS coupling) in Ne 1+ to Ne 7+ and Ne 8+ . The values, calculated with Hartree-Fock wavefunctions, are compared with recent measured values for highly ionized neon produced by energetic heavy-ion bombardment. Comparison is also made with conventional electron bombardment data.
Efficacy of antimicrobials against Campylobacter jejuni on chicken breast skin.

SUMMARY Raw chicken is a significant source of the bacterial pathogen Campylobacter. The commercial processing of poultry for consumption presents many opportunities in which carcasses and other raw products can become newly contaminated or cross-contaminated with this microorganism. Increased use of chlorine and higher volumes of water during processing may not be effective for reducing Campylobacter populations. This study examined the efficacy of 10% trisodium phosphate (TSP), 0.1% acidified sodium chlorite (ASC), 0.1 and 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), 1% Tween 80, and water (50°C at application) for their ability to inactivate, reverse the attachment of, or inhibit the attachment of Campylobacter jejuni applied to chicken breast skin. Statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences in the reduction of C. jejuni populations were observed across chemical treatments and contact times (30 s, 3 min, or 10 min). When bacteria were applied before treatment, a reduction of >1.0 log10 cfu/skin was achieved with 0.5% CPC (2.89), 10% TSP (1.63), 0.1% ASC (1.52), and 0.1% CPC (1.42). When bacteria were applied after chemical treatment, a reduction of >1.0 log10 cfu/skin was achieved with 0.5% CPC (4.67) and 10% TSP (1.28). The commercial use of an effective antimicrobial chemical spray may help to reduce the level of Campylobacter on raw poultry carcasses and reduce the volume of rinse water applied for carcass washing.
Formulation and treatment: integrating religion and spirituality in clinical practice

Developing scientifically sound and clinically meaningful case formulations is so challenging that it may verge on becoming a "lost art." Pressures (scientific, economic, and cultural) remain that prevent child and adolescent psychiatrists from getting a complete understanding of the patient and family. Including a strong consideration of data related to religion, spirituality, and worldview may seem only to complicate an already arduous task. The clinician who includes these factors in treatment is faced with decisions of when to discuss these issues, how to discuss them and in what depth, and finally, when to refer to a religious/spiritual professional. Nonetheless, the importance of these factors in the lives of many children and families leaves no option but to address them as directly as possible. It is well worth the effort and, in many cases, will open new areas for clinical improvement in patients.
Linking precipitation and C3–C4 plant production to resource dynamics in higher‐trophic‐level consumers

In many ecosystems, seasonal shifts in temperature and precipitation induce pulses of primary productivity that vary in phenology, abundance, and nutritional quality. Variation in these resource pulses could strongly influence community composition and ecosystem function, because these pervasive bottom-up forces play a primary role in determining the biomass, life cycles, and interactions of organisms across trophic levels. The focus of this research is to understand how consumers across trophic levels alter resource use and assimilation over seasonal and interannual timescales in response to climatically driven changes in pulses of primary productivity. We measured the carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) of plant, arthropod, and lizard tissues in the northern Chihuahuan Desert to quantify the relative importance of primary production from plants using C3 and C4 photosynthesis for consumers. Summer monsoonal rains on the Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in New Mexico support a pulse of C4 plan...
An improved value of the lunar moment of inertia

The lunar gravitational research reported on by Gapcynski et al., (1975) has been extended to include an additional 600 days of the time variation of ascending node for the Explorer 49 spacecraft. Analysis of these additional data resulted in an improved value of the second-degree zonal harmonic coefficient C(20) = (-2.0219 equal to 0.0091) times 10 to the minus 4. This value of C(20) used in conjunction with the parameters beta equal to libration (631.27 + or - 0.03) times 10 to the minus 6 and gamma to (227.7 + or - 0.7) times 10 to the minus 6 yields a more accurate definition of the lunar moment of inertia ratio equal to 0.391 + or - 0.002.
Ultrathin Strained Si-on-Insulator and SiGe-on-Insulator Created using Low Temperature Wafer Bonding and Metastable Stop Layers

A method for fabricating smooth, uniform thickness, low defect density, monocrystalline SiGe alloys and strained Si on any desired substrate was developed, allowing for the creation of SiGe-on-insulator and strained Si-on-insulator. After wafer bonding and layer transfer via either delamination by hydrogen implantation, or back side grinding and Si etching, a selective SiGe etch was used to remove excess material and expose a strained Si stop layer. Recent improvements made to the process include more robust stop layers, low temperature wafer bonding, and improved selective SiGe etching. A major improvement involves the use of metastable films that allow for thicker stop layers. Experimental data for threading and misfit dislocation density for metastable Si layers on Si 0.75 Ge 0.25 virtual substrates is presented. Another improvement is the use of plasma activation prior to wafer bonding, allowing for strong low temperature bonding, while enabling metastable layers to retain their nonequilibrium strain state. Within the context of layer transfer followed by etching, a detailed analysis of SiGe selective etching stopping on strained Si was conducted. An etch consisting of nitric acid and dilute hydrofluoric acid was optimized to yield an acceptable selectively and etch rate. while not creatine any pinholes in the exposed stop layer.
Protein-Protein Interaction Prediction Using Single Class SVM

We study the single class SVM (SCSVM) classifier performance on the positive data points while considering the impact of SCSVM on negative protein pair data points. We compare the result with the AA classifier (amino acids maximum entropy classifier) [9] to see if a better performance can be achieved for the same data configuration. The conclusion is that although positive classifier is slightly better than the negative one, the SCSVM classifier performance does not outperform the AA classifier for current data configuration. The "vote" strategy does not change the SCSVM's ROC behavior but increase the confidence of the true positive. Our explanation is that in SCSVM, only one class of training data is available. It is very hard to determine how tight the decision boundary should be to best characterize the known class. Due to the same reason, SCSVM tends to over-fit and under-fit easily. Furthermore, the SCSVM's performance depends on testing data's distribution.
Janus Kinase 3 Activity Is Necessary for Phosphorylation of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 and Prostaglandin E2 Synthesis by Macrophages Infected with Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain

ABSTRACT Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, modulates the host immune response to gain a survival advantage within the host. One mechanism of immune evasion is the ability of F. tularensis to induce the synthesis of the small lipid mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2 ), which alters the host T cell response making the host more susceptible to Francisella growth. PGE 2 is synthesized by a tightly regulated biosynthetic pathway following stimulation. The synthesis of PGE 2 begins with the liberation of arachidonic acid (AA) from membrane phospholipids by cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA 2 ). AA is subsequently converted to the unstable intermediate PGH 2 by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and PGH 2 undergoes an isomerization reaction to generate PGE 2 . Our objective was to identify F. tularensis-activated host signaling pathways that regulate the activity of the enzymes in the PGE 2 -biosynthetic pathway. In this study, we show that cPLA 2 , p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) signaling are necessary for F. tularensis-induced PGE 2 production. Inhibition of JAK3 activity reduced the phosphorylation of cPLA 2 and COX-2 protein levels. In addition, JAK3 regulates cPLA 2 phosphorylation independent of transcription. Moreover, p38 MAPK activity is required for F. tularensis-induced COX-2 protein synthesis, but not for the phosphorylation of cPLA 2 . This research highlights a unique signaling axis in which JAK3 and p38 MAPK regulate the activity of multiple enzymes of the PGE 2 -biosynthetic pathway in macrophages infected with F. tularensis.
Effects of Deer Feeders, Habitat and Sensory Cues on Predation Rates on Artificial Turtle Nests

We used artificial nests modeled after those of Trachemys scripta, a wide-ranging freshwater turtle species, to evaluate the effects of deer feeders, habitat type and visual and olfactory cues on nest predation in northern Florida. Nests were placed at lake sites with and without deer feeders, and in three habitat types: road, edge and forest. Overall nest mortality due to predators was high (89%). Nest survival was 5.5 times higher at lakes without deer feeders than at those with feeders. Among habitat types, survival was highest at road nests (23%), while survival rates at forest (4%) and edge nests (6%) were lower than that at road nests. No significant difference in survival was detected with respect to the presence of visual or olfactory cues. Our results suggest that deer feeders reduce recruitment in freshwater turtle populations, and that generalizations regarding the negative impacts of roads should be made cautiously, in a taxon and site-specific fashion.
Dependable software through higher-order strategic programming.

Program transformation is a restricted form of software construction that can be amenable to formal verification. When successful, the nature of the evidence provided by such a verification is considered strong and can constitute a major component of an argument that a high-consequence or safety-critical system meets its dependability requirements. This article explores the application of novel higher-order strategic programming techniques to the development of a portion of a class loader for a restricted implementation of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The implementation is called the SSP and is intended for use in high-consequence safety-critical embedded systems. Verification of the strategic program using ACL2 is also discussed.
Should tidal volume be 6 mL/kg predicted body weight in virtually all patients with acute respiratory failure?

Over the last 2 decades, it has become clear that mechanical ventilation itself can cause lung injury and affect outcome. The development of ventilator-induced lung injury is strongly associated with overdistension of lung parenchyma, and limiting lung stretch saves lives in patients with acute lung injury. The debate in this paper is whether all patients on mechanical ventilation should be managed with a tidal volume (VT) of 6 mL/kg predicted body weight. Current data indicate that reducing lung stretch should be the standard for all patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome who require ventilatory support. However, insufficient data exist to indicate that a VT of 6 mL/kg predicted body weight should be the standard for all patients who require mechanical ventilation. Whether VT is the correct target for therapeutic interventions is debatable. Plateau pressure may be a better target for assessing and preventing alveolar overdistension. As the data evolve, it is conceivable that the actual VT used should be based on the individual patient9s lung mechanics rather than assuming that one VT will suit all patients. Consensus at this time is not possible, and this paper presents the arguments on both sides of the controversy.
Wuzzit Trouble: The Influence of a Digital Math Game on Student Number Sense

This study sought to determine if playing a digital math game could increase student number sense (mathematical proficiency in numeracy). We used a pre- and post-assessment to measure the number sense of two groups of third grade students with the same mathematics teacher. One group played the game Wuzzit Trouble and the other did not. Overall, the group who played Wuzzit Trouble showed a significant increase in number sense between the pre- and post-assessment, compared to the other group who did not. A qualitative analysis of a novel problem revealed differences between the treatment and comparison groups from pre- to post-. A discussion of these findings and features of the game are addressed. Namely, two features inherent in Wuzzit Trouble are associated with the learners’ increased number sense. First, Wuzzit Trouble promoted mathematical proficiency by requiring learners to attend to several mathematical constraints at once. Second, the game engaged learners in an iterative process of decision-making by calling for students to try, check, and revise their strategy as they played.