cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The UCLA Body Project II: Breast and Body Dissatisfaction among African, Asian, European, and Hispanic American College Women

Breast and global body dissatisfaction were examined in Asian (n = 237), European (n = 196), Hispanic (n = 109), and African (n = 58) American college women. Asian American women reported the lowest body satisfaction on the Appearance Evaluation Scale (Cash, T. F. The multidimensional body-self relations questionnaire users’ manual: 3rd revision, 2000) and greatest breast dissatisfaction on one of two breast dissatisfaction measures. Ethnic differences in breast dissatisfaction, but not in body dissatisfaction, disappeared when body size (BMI) was statistically controlled. Results were consistent with research showing that (1) ethnic differences in body dissatisfaction are small, (2) studies of ethnic differences must include appropriate controls for total or specific body size, and (3) Asian college women report lower global body satisfaction than women of African, European, or Hispanic heritage.
Steganalysis feature improvement using expectation maximization

Images and data files provide an excellent opportunity for concealing illegal or clandestine material. Currently, there are over 250 different tools which embed data into an image without causing noticeable changes to the image. From a forensics perspective, when a system is confiscated or an image of a system is generated the investigator needs a tool that can scan and accurately identify files suspected of containing malicious information. The identification process is termed the steganalysis problem which focuses on both blind identification, in which only normal images are available for training, and multi-class identification, in which both the clean and stego images at several embedding rates are available for training. In this paper an investigation of a clustering and classification technique (Expectation Maximization with mixture models) is used to determine if a digital image contains hidden information. The steganalysis problem is for both anomaly detection and multi-class detection. The various clusters represent clean images and stego images with between 1% and 10% embedding percentage. Based on the results it is concluded that the EM classification technique is highly suitable for both blind detection and the multi-class problem.
Stochastic analysis of two-phase flow in porous media: I. Spectral/perturbation approach

Stochastic analysis of steady-state two-phase (water and oil) flow in heterogeneous porous media is performed using the perturbation theory and spectral representation techniques. The governing equations describing the flow are coupled and nonlinear. The key stochastic input variables are intrinsic permeability,k, and the soil and fluid dependent retention parameter, г. Three different stochastic combinations of these two imput parameters were considered. The perturbation/spectral analysis was used to develop closed-form expressions that describe stochastic variability of key output processes, such as capillary and individual phase pressures and specific discharges. The analysis also included the estimation of the effective flow properties. The impact of the spatial variability ofk and г on the variances of pressures, effective conductivities, and specific discharges was examined.
An experimental investigation of dynamic crack propagation in a brittle material reinforced with a ductile layer

Abstract The fracture behavior of a dynamically loaded edge crack in a brittle-ductile layered material, as a function of applied loading rate, was experimentally investigated. Layered specimens were prepared by sandwiching a thin layer of ductile aluminum between two thick layers of brittle Homalite-100. The layers were bonded using Loctite Depend 330 adhesive, and a naturally sharp edge crack was introduced in one of the Homalite-100 layers. These single-edge notched specimens were loaded in dynamic three-point bending using a modified Hopkinson bar. The fracture process was imaged in real time using dynamic photoelasticity in conjunction with digital high-speed photography, and the applied load and load-point displacement histories were determined from the strain signals recorded at two locations on the Hopkinson bar. The results of this study indicated two distinct mechanisms of dynamic failure, depending on the applied loading rate. At lower loading rates, the starter crack arrested on reaching the aluminum layer and then caused delamination along the aluminum–Homalite interface. On the contrary, as the loading rate was increased, interfacial delamination was followed by crack re-initiation in the Homalite layer opposite to the initial starter crack. It was determined that the times required for crack initiation, delamination and crack re-initiation decreased as the loading rate was increased. However, it was also observed that the applied load values associated with each event increased with increasing loading rate. These observations indicate that both the dynamic failure process and plausibly the failure mode transition are affected by the rate-dependent properties of Homalite, aluminum and the interfacial bond. Finally, based on the measured peak loads and the observed failure mechanisms it was concluded that the incorporation of a thin ductile reinforcement layer can increase both the overall fracture toughness and strength of a nominally brittle material.
A quantitative assessment of the cultural knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of junior and senior dietetics students.

Abstract Objective To assess the cultural competence of dietetics majors. Design Self-administered questionnaire. Setting Classrooms at 7 universities. Participants Two hundred eighty-three students—98 juniors (34.6%) and 185 seniors (65.4%)—recruited during class time. Main Outcome Measures Knowledge was measured using a multiple-choice test, attitudes were assessed using scales, and experiences were measured using a list of activities. Analysis Descriptive statistics were obtained on all variables. Correlation analyses identified associations between competencies. Statistical significance was P Results Knowledge scores were highest on questions concerning food habits and lowest on questions concerning health beliefs. Approximately 45% of the students preferred to counsel clients from their own culture. A majority (89.2%) favored allocation of nutrition resources to assist culturally diverse clients in managing chronic diseases, and 65.7% favored the inclusion of more cultural information in their dietetics curriculum. The intercultural activities engaged in most often were eating ethnic food and watching films about other cultures, whereas those undertaken least often were completing a study abroad program or an internship abroad. Conclusions and Implications These students would benefit from more interactive intercultural learning opportunities to enhance their knowledge base and communication skills.
Anti-cytokine therapy in the treatment of psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease with many associated co-morbidities including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, psoriatic arthritis, and cardiovascular disease. It has long been known that psoriasis is a T cell-mediate disease and recent findings further demonstrate the important roles of the Th17 and Th22 arms of the immune system in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Our understanding of this disease has progressed greatly and agents that target the cytokines involved in disease activity are under development or currently being used to treat psoriasis. A comprehensive review of the literature for cytokine-targeted therapies, their safety concerns, and efficacy in psoriasis are discussed here.
Linear Modifications in the Maxwell Field Equations

Expressions, accurate to the first order in ${e}^{2}$, are obtained for the charge and current densities which, according to positron theory, are induced in vacuum by an electromagnetic field. Because the corresponding correction terms in the Maxwell field equations involve integral operators, it does not seem possible to treat the modified field equations by Hamiltonian methods.
Breast milk: a truly functional food.

In the past several decades, there has been increased documentation of what many practitioners and researchers had believed for a long time: that breast milk provides a multitude of unique components and nutrients in a well-balanced supply, leading to health, growth, and development that is difficult or impossible to mimic with any other kind of diet. Our knowledge of the composition of breast milk and how it may be affected by maternal nutritional status and dietary intake or resist external and internal challenges such as poor nutrition, infections, drugs, etc., has increased considerably. Components of breast milk, such as cells, proteins, triacylglycerols, fatty acids, oligosaccharides, and forms of vitamins, have been isolated and characterized in detail. The beneficial effects of breast feeding on health have been better documented, and the importance of immune factors, gut microflora, and milk components in the defense against a variety of pathogenic microorganisms has been explored. The unique growth pattern of breastfed infants has been better defined, and the potential long-term consequences of breast-feeding on chronic diseases have been evaluated in epidemiologic studies. Nevertheless, there are many areas that need to be investigated in more detail, and new clouds have appeared on the horizon, such as transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through breast milk. I believe that the research in the early part of the new millennium will tell us considerably more about the intricacies of breast milk and breast feeding, in particular with regard to the mechanisms behind many of the observations made, and further document the beneficial effects for the newborn in affluent and low-income areas alike. I hope this will be coupled with social and political changes to allow a larger proportion of infants worldwide to be breast fed, even if contraindicated in some populations because of HIV. In this essay, I emphasize the areas of research where most progress is needed or expected, without trying to prioritize among the areas.
Concentration of humic acid from tapwater

Abstract Membrane filter procedures previously used for concentration of virus from tapwater were modified to concentrate humic acid. These procedures were capable of recovering approximately 50% of added humic acid from tapwater. Thirty milligrams of naturally occurring humic acid was detected in 1000-1. samples of tapwater.
Caylobolide B, a Macrolactone from Symplostatin 1-Producing Marine Cyanobacteria Phormidium spp. from Florida

A Phormidium spp. collection from Key West, Florida, afforded caylobolide B (1), an analogue of the known macrolactone caylobolide A, previously isolated from a Lyngbya majuscula collection from the Bahamas. The planar structure of 1 was determined using NMR and MS experiments. The relative configuration for subunits C7−C9 and C25−C29 was assigned using Kishi’s Universal NMR Database. Caylobolide B (1) displayed cytotoxic activity against HT29 colorectal adenocarcinoma and HeLa cervical carcinoma cells with IC50 values of 4.5 and 12.2 μM, respectively.
Maximisation of directive gain for circular and elliptical arrays

The paper begins with a general formulation of the gain-optimisation procedure for an array with an arbitrary geometrical configuration. The formulation is then specialised to apply to a planar array. In particular, extensive computed data for the maximum obtainable directive gain of circular and elliptical arrays are presented and compared with those with a uniform amplitude and cophasal excitation. For small element separations, a supergain situation results under optimum-gain conditions. A main-beam radiation efficiency is defined, which serves as an additional performance index. In a supergain situation, a proper design represents a suitable compromise between the directive gain and the main-beam radiation efficiency.
Ouabain induction of cycling of multiple spike responses in hippocampal slices is delayed by lithium

Alterations in sodium- and potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase) activity have been associated with changes of mood states and lithium treatment in bipolar illness. We examined the effects of ouabain and lithium on evoked population responses in rat hippocampal slices. In vitro 3.3 microM ouabain induced cycling between epliptiform activity and unresponsiveness in 18.5% of slices. In vitro ouabain, at 1-10 microM, induced epileptiform multiple spike responses. In vivo lithium pretreatment for 10-21 days produced a significant delay in the onset of this ouabain-induced epileptiform activity compared to control animals. These findings are consistent with other work which suggests that Na, K-ATPase inhibition can both activate and suppress excitable tissues and that lithium pretreatment can mitigate these effects. The implications of these results and others regarding the pathophysiology of bipolar illness are discussed.
Dissolved organic matter characteristics within the Lake Superior watershed

Abstract Within the aquatic carbon cycle, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) plays key roles: as a link between terrestrial and aquatic systems, a major food source for biota, a player in photochemical reactions and a sunscreen/competitor for light for aquatic organisms. The molecular-level composition of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) is believed to determine the efficacy of DOM in these roles. While much detailed compositional information is available on selected DOM isolates from both freshwater and marine systems, relatively few studies have presented molecular information for multiple sites within the same system and few of these have focused upon large lakes. Therefore, we present an initial study of surface water DOM characteristics in a temperate large lake (Lake Superior, USA) and selected tributaries. UV–visible spectroscopy, electrospray mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses of bulk DOM, along with FTIR and direct temperature-resolved mass spectrometry analyses of C 18 extracts, illustrate a shift from higher molecular weight organic matter enriched in protein and lignin at the tributary sites toward compositionally different material in the open lake. Differences in optical characteristics and DOC concentration between tributary and open lake sites are consistent with possible photodegradation of tributary DOM. Comparison of our FTIR data with those from a previous Chesapeake Bay study indicates that DOM in both the freshwater tributaries and the open lake contain a wider range of aromatic and carbohydrate components than that in the saltwater tributary and bay. This highlights the need for further cross system comparisons of natural organic matter composition.
Three Widely Divergent Views on Effective Treatment of Abuse

Treating Abuse in Families: A Feminist and Community Approach, Elaine Leeder. New York: Springer Publishing, 1994. 216 pp., $41.95, ISBN: 0-8261-8530-4.Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures, Francine Shapiro. New York: Guilford Press, 1995. 398 pp., $40.00, ISBN: 0-89862-960-8.Ending the Cycle of Abuse: The Stories of Women Abused as Children and the Group Therapy Techniques That Helped Them Heal, Philip G. Neyand Anna Peters. New York: Brunner/Maxel, 1995. 246 pp., $23.95, ISBN: 0-87630-752-7.
Action reflection learning: a learning methodology based on common sense

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the origins and evolution of action reflection learning, a methodology of learning developed over the last 30 years by practitioners working with the MiL Institute in Sweden and LIM, Leadership in International Management LLC.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a descriptive exploratory qualitative study conducted by the author to explore the principles and elements of ARL. The research included a literature review, a survey and interviews with 23 ARL practitioners from Europe, USA and Latin America. The paper presents the elements identified in that study and the assumptions on which the ARL approach is grounded.Findings – While the elements can be related to a broad body of knowledge and conceptual theories, the ARL practice has evolved almost oblivious of scholarly models, raising interesting questions about the usefulness for adult educators of theoretical frameworks, as well as the development process of what is called “common sense”....
Nitric oxide is not permissive for cutaneous active vasodilatation in humans

The precise role of nitric oxide (NO) in cutaneous active vasodilatation in humans is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that NO is necessary to permit the action of an unknown vasodilator. Specifically, we investigated whether a low-dose infusion of exogenous NO, in the form of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), would fully restore vasodilatation in an area of skin in which endogenous NO was inhibited during hyperthermia. This finding would suggest a ‘permissive’ role for NO in active vasodilatation. Eight subjects were instrumented with three microdialysis fibres in forearm skin. Sites were randomly assigned to (1) Site A: control site; (2) Site B: NO synthase (NOS) inhibition during established hyperthermia; or (3) Site C: NOS inhibition throughout the protocol. Red blood cell flux was measured using laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC; LDF/mean arterial pressure) was normalized to maximal vasodilatation at each site. In Site B, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) infusion during hyperthermia reduced CVC by ∼32 % (65 ± 4 % CVCmaxvs. 45 ± 4 % CVCmax; P < 0.05). Vasodilatation was not restored to pre-NOS inhibition values in this site following low-dose SNP infusion (55 ± 4 % CVCmaxvs. 65 ± 4 % CVCmax; P < 0.05). CVC remained significantly lower than the control site with low-dose SNP infusion in Site C (P < 0.05). The rise in CVC with low-dose SNP (ΔCVC) was significantly greater in Site B and Site C during hyperthermia compared to normothermia (P < 0.05). No difference in ΔCVC was observed between hyperthermia and normothermia in the control site (Site A). Thus, NO does not act permissively in cutaneous active vasodilatation in humans but may directly mediate vasodilatation and enhance the effect of an unknown active vasodilator.
Phalangeal cone shaped epiphysis of the hands (PhCSEH) and chronic renal disease - The conorenal syndromes

The phalangeal cone shaped epiphysis of the hands (PhCSEH1) observed in the extended Saldino-Mainzer syndrome (SMS), including nephronophthisis, are typed in accordance with standard tables. Of the more than 40 known types, type 28 and/or 28A were found in all eight cases available for analysis, frequently also associated with types 38, 38A, 37 and others. Similar PhCSEH are also observed in asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia (ATD), as well as in some cases of peripheral dysostosis combined with dwarfism. The striking similarity of the PhCSEH formula in our eight cases and of some cases of ATD, all suffering from chronic renal disease, suggests a common pathogenetic pathway of these conditions. The collective name of “conorenal syndromes” is suggested.
Rethinking Intensive Quantities via Guided Mediated Abduction

Some intensive quantities, such as slope, velocity, or likelihood, are perceptually privileged in the sense that they are experienced as holistic, irreducible sensations. However, the formal expression of these quantities uses a/b analytic metrics; for example, the slope of a line is the quotient of its rise and run. Thus, whereas students' sensation of an intensive quantity could serve as a powerful resource for grounding its formal expression, accepting the mathematical form requires students to align the sensation with a new way of reasoning about the phenomenon. I offer a case analysis of a middle school student who successfully came to understand the intensive quantity of likelihood. The analysis highlights a form of reasoning called abduction and suggests that sociocognitive processes can guide and mediate students' abductive reasoning. Interpreting the child's and tutor's multimodal action through the lens of abductive inference, I demonstrate the emergence of a proportional concept as guided media...
Effects of diphenylhydantoin and trimethadione on seizure activity during cobalt experimental epilepsy in the rat.

Abstract Rats rendered chronically epileptic by the application of cobalt to the right parietal cortex were simultaneously prepared with permanent cortical and temporalis muscle electrodes for longitudinal recording of the electroencephalogram and electromyogram. Automatic injections of trimethadione (100 mg/kg per 6 hr and 100 mg/kg per 3 hr) or diphenylhydantoin (5 mg/kg per 6 hr and 10 mg/kg per 6 hr) were administered through indwelling intraperitoneal cannulae from days 7–13 after cobalt placement. At this time, spontaneous seizure activity in saline treated cobalt epileptic rats was maximal. Although neither anticonvulsant completely suppressed seizures, the higher dose of diphenylhydantoin and the lower dose of trimethadione caused a significant reduction in the incidence of completely generalized grand mal convulsions. While neither dose of diphenylhydantoin had any influence on the frequency of occurrence of incompletely generalized seizures, the incidence of this type of seizure activity after the lower dose of trimethadione was actually increased. Upon termination of chronic diphenylhydantoin administration at either dosage level, a significant enhancement of incompletely generalized seizure activity occurred. Scizure activity in cobalt-epileptic rats after termination of treatment with either dose of trimethadione, on the other hand, remained similar to that of controls. These results suggest that the chronic model of epilepsy resulting from cerebral cobalt application in the rat may provide a suitable indicator of the effectiveness of anticonvulsants in chronic seizure disorders.
Computational Design of Corrosion-Resistant Fe–Cr–Ni–Al Nanocoatings for Power Generation

A computational approach has been undertaken to design and assess potential Fe-Cr-Ni-Al systems to produce stable nanostructured corrosion-resistant coatings that form a protective, continuous scale of alumina or chromia at elevated temperatures. The phase diagram computation was modeled using the THERMO-CALC ® software and database (Thermo-Calc ® Software, 2007, TH E RMO - CALC for Windows Version 4, Thermo-Calc Software AB, Stockholm, Sweden; Thermo-Calc ® Software, 2007, TCFE5, Version 5, Thermo-Calc Software AB, Stockholm, Sweden) to generate pseudoternary Fe-Cr-Ni-Al phase diagrams to help identify compositional ranges without the undesirable brittle phases. The computational modeling of the grain growth process, sintering of voids and interface toughness determination by indentation, assessed microstructural stability, and durability of the nanocoatings fabricated by a magnetron-sputtering process. Interdiffusion of Al, Cr, and Ni was performed using the DICTRA ® diffusion code (Thermo-Calc Software ® , DICTRA, Version 24, 2007, Version 25, 2008, Thermo-Calc Software AB, Stockholm, Sweden) to maximize the long-term stability of the nanocoatings. The computational results identified a new series of Fe-Cr-Ni-Al coatings that maintain long-term stability and a fine-grained microstructure at elevated temperatures. The formation of brittle σ-phase in Fe-Cr-Ni-Al alloys is suppressed for Al contents in excess of 4 wt %. The grain growth modeling indicated that the columnar-grained structure with a high percentage of low-angle grain boundaries is resistant to grain growth. Sintering modeling indicated that the initial relative density of as-processed magnetron-sputtered coatings could achieve full density after a short thermal exposure or heat-treatment. The interface toughness computation indicated that the Fe-Cr-Ni-Al nanocoatings exhibit high interface toughness in the range of 52-366 J/m 2 . The interdiffusion modeling using the DICTRA software package indicated that inward diffusion could result in substantial to moderate Al and Cr losses from the nanocoating to the substrate during long-term thermal exposures.
Excision of pyrimidine dimers from the DNA of Neurospora.

Germinated conidia of Neurospora have been monitored for their ability to excise pyrimidine dimers. Dimer concentration was measured in DNA extracted immediately after UV treatment, and it was compared to that of DNA from cells which had a post-UV incubation before extraction. Two methods were used to assay dimer level in DNA: 1) measurement of the number of single-strand breaks (as revealed in alkaline sucrose gradients) produced by a dimer-specific endonuclease; 2) monitoring the ability to compete for binding to dimer-specific antibodies in a radioimmuno assay. Both methods showed efficient excision of dimers by wild-type and by uvs-2, even though an earlier study had reported that uvs-2 was unable to excise dimers. UV-induced mutation shows a dose-rate effect: acute UV yields several times as many mutations as does the same dose of chronic UV. There is a parallel effect on dimer accumulation. The concentration of dimers at the conclusion of the UV treatment shows a strong correlation with the resultant mutation frequency.
CALCULATION OF CORRELATION EFFECTS FOR GRAIN-BOUNDARY AND DISLOCATION-PIPE SELF-DIFFUSION.

Abstract The correlation factor for grain-boundary and dislocation-pipe self-diffusion was calculated for a vacancy mechanism by assuming the applicability of the geometric model previously formulated by the authors. The correlation factor is temperature dependent and substantially lower than that for lattice self-diffusion due to correlated vacancy motion. The calculations and experimental isotope effects for silver are consistent with a vacancy-dislocation (or grain boundary) binding energy that decreases 0.05–0.10 eV per atomic spacing away from the dislocation or grain boundary and many-body saddlepoint interactions which are greater than those for lattice self-diffusion via vacancies.
Assignment of the Gene Encoding the Human Apolipoprotein B mRNA Editing Enzyme (APOBEC1) to Chromosome 12p13.1

The human apo B mRNA editing enzyme gene was isolated from a human genomic library in Lambda FIX II by hybridization with the insert from the human apo B mRNA editing enzyme cDNA. This lambda genomic clone (TF-1) contained an insert of approximtaely 17 kb. Portions of this genomic clone, including several intron-exon junctions, have been sequenced and shown to be identical to the recently reported cDNA sequence.
WISE-SPL: bringing multi-tenancy to the weather InSights environment system

Weather conditions affect many cities and companies. The WISE (Weather In Sights Environment) system serves as a central place to gather and present weather related information for decision makers. It was initially developed to fit a single tenant. Due to a multi-tenant opportunity, WISE is evolving to be deployed on a Cloud environment to support on-demand computing resources and multiple clients. Software product line techniques were applied to model common and variable features of tenants. WISE-SPL enables the derivation of products for each client and also the deployment on Cloud infrastructure. The contribution of this work is a demonstration and discussion of benefits and limitations in applying SPL techniques, following a extractive approach, to build a multi-tenant Cloud application.
Micro-RNA-155 Inhibits IFN-γ Signaling in CD4+ T cells

Micro-RNA (miR) are increasingly recognized as critical regulators of tissue-specific patterns of gene expression. CD4+ T cells lacking miR-155, for example, exhibit bias towards Th2 differentiation, indicating that the absence of individual miR could alter CD4+ T-cell differentiation. We now show that miR-155 is induced upon T-cell activation and that it promotes Th1 differentiation when over-expressed in activated CD4+ T cells. Antagonism of miR-155 leads to induction of IFN-gamma receptor alpha-chain (IFN-gammaRalpha), and a functional miR-155 target site is identified within the 3' untranslated region of IFN-gammaRalpha. These results identify IFN-gammaRalpha as a second miR-155 target in T cells and suggest that miR-155 contributes to Th1 differentiation in CD4+ T cells by inhibiting IFN-gamma signaling.
Functionally-modified egg white albumen hydrogels

Hydrogels were prepared by using egg white albumen (EWA) before and after chemical modification of its lysyl residues with ethylenediamine tetraacetic dianhydride (EDTAD) to incorporate carboxylic groups. This resulted in an increase in swelling ratio of the EWA hydrogels. The swelling ratio increased dramatically in deionized water substantially, more than in pH 7.4 buffer solution. The effects of medium pH, temperature and swelling were investigated, along with crosslinking of the gel network by glutaraldehyde (GLA), as well as acetone treatment. The gels denatured by acetone showed an insignificant increase in swelling ratio for the gels crosslinked with GLA during gel preparation, which is in contrast to the gels crosslinked subsequent to gel formation. The swelling behavior was positively affected by temperature and time. However, an insignificant effect of pH was observed due to electrostatic screening of the carboxylic groups by sodium ions in the buffer solution. Availability of various functional groups on EWA has resulted in adsorption of metals (Cu+2 ions) and non-metals (PO4−2 anions). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Eph/ephrin signaling in epidermal differentiation and disease.

Eph receptor tyrosine kinases mediate cell–cell communication by interacting with ephrin ligands residing on adjacent cell surfaces. In doing so, these juxtamembrane signaling complexes provide important contextual information about the cellular microenvironment that helps orchestrate tissue morphogenesis and maintain homeostasis. Eph/ephrin signaling has been implicated in various aspects of mammalian skin physiology, with several members of this large family of receptor tyrosine kinases and their ligands present in the epidermis, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and underlying dermis. This review focuses on the emerging role of Eph receptors and ephrins in epidermal keratinocytes where they can modulate proliferation, migration, differentiation, and death. The activation of Eph receptors by ephrins at sites of cell–cell contact also appears to play a key role in the maturation of intercellular junctional complexes as keratinocytes move out of the basal layer and differentiate in the suprabasal layers of this stratified, squamous epithelium. Furthermore, alterations in the epidermal Eph/ephrin axis have been associated with cutaneous malignancy, wound healing defects and inflammatory skin conditions. These collective observations suggest that the Eph/ephrin cell–cell communication pathway may be amenable to therapeutic intervention for the purpose of restoring epidermal tissue homeostasis and integrity in dermatological disorders.
Generation and amplification of 350 fs, 2 μm pulses in Tm:fiber

Amplified ultrashort pulses at 2 μm are of great interest for atmospheric sensing, medical, and materials processing applications. We describe the generation and amplification of femtosecond 2 μm pulses in thulium doped silica fiber. Mode-locked eye-safe laser pulses at ~2 μm were generated in a Tm:fiber oscillator using a single-walled carbon nanotube saturable absorber. Stable mode-locking was achieved at a repetition rate of 70 MHz with soliton pulses reaching energies of ~40 pJ with a spectral bandwidth of ~8 nm. Autocorrelation measurements indicated bandwidth limited pulses of ~500 fs duration. This oscillator was used to seed a Tm:fiber amplifier in both free space and fiber coupled configurations. Effects of dispersion compensation and pulse amplification are reported.
Balancing of legged mechanism with multiple segments

The purpose of this paper is to investigate what kinds of effects the multi-segmental body with actively controlled body part have on balancing. As part of the research, a biped mechanism is simplified to multi-segmental legged model in sagittal plane where the model is comprised of a stance leg, foot and actively controlled body part. Not only the system parameters are in place but also necessary and sufficient conditions for balancing have been implemented as constraints. The algorithm that we proposed iteratively solves nonlinear constrained optimization problems. The balanced state domain is constructed by connecting velocity extrema. The proposed algorithm is used to identify the balanced state domain in a deterministic scheme using numerical optimization.
New insights into the origin of two contrasting Himalayan granite belts

The two parallel belts of Miocene granite that extend along much of the Himalaya differ in age, petrogenesis, and emplacement style. We suggest that their origin is linked to shear heating on a continuously active decollement that cuts through previously metamorphosed Indian supracrustal rocks that were transformed into basement during the initial stages of the Indian-Asian collision. Numerical simulations assuming a shear stress of 30 MPa indicate that initiation of slip on the Himalayan thrust at 24 Ma could trigger discontinuous melting reactions leading to formation of the High Himalayan granite chain from 24 to 20 Ma and the North Himalayan belt from 18 to 12 Ma. This model result agrees well with observation as do model predictions regarding emplacement style and location.
Statistical Survey of Transition States and Conformational Substates of the Sperm Whale Myoglobin−CO Reaction System

The distribution of activation energies for ligand rebinding in conformational substates of sperm whale myoglobin is investigated with a molecular dynamics−quenching method. The technique approximately locates transition states for curve crossing processes using an interpolating Hamiltonian as in Marcus's electron transfer theory. Linear free energy relations are examined. The transition from the dissociated state to the activated state involves a collective motion of the protein. The activation energy is correlated more to the extent of the collective motion of the protein than to the change of any single bond or bond angle. The predicted average structures of fast and slow rebinding substates which will soon be accessible to determination by cryogenic X-ray crystallography are compared. The CO geometry of the activated protein complex from the simulation agrees well with the structure of a low temperature photodissociated intermediate determined by Schlichting et al.
Electromechanical Model of an Active Polymer Thin Circular Disk

Ionic polymers exhibit an electromechanical response similar to a piezoelectric bender. It has been shown that material properties similar to piezoelectric properties can be used to effectively model ionic polymer devices. One proposed ionic polymer device is a circular disk fabricated from the ionic polymer material for shape and vibration control can be accomplished through electrical boundary conditions applied to the ionic polymer rather than by adding external actuators. This paper extends the formulae for natural frequencies and mode shapes of a thin disk to include quasi-piezoelectric properties and electrical boundary conditions. An electromechanical model for ionic polymers using equivalent circuit representation has been previously developed. Three materials properties, which are compatible with accepted piezoelectric actuator and transducer relationships were derived and experimentally verified. The equivalent Young’s modulus, dielectric permittivity, and the strain coefficient were found to be frequency dependant over the range 0.1 Hz to 500 Hz. In this paper the variational energy method is applied to develop a two-dimensional model of a thin electro-active polymer disk. The variational model relies on an extension of the electromechanical material properties derived for ionomeric materials. An example of a disk with simply supported geometric boundary conditions is presented and operational deflection shapes are simulated for electrical excitation between 0.1 and 500 Hz. The model predicts that the frequency dependence of the material properties will produce modal responses with both real and imaginary components, indicating the existence of travelling waves in the disk. Voltage to deflection transfer functions are also developed for several geometric boundary conditions using this model and then compared to experimental results. The model correctly predicts damped resonant frequencies as a result of the viscoelastic properties. It also accurately predicts low frequency phase lag and resonant frequencies of the electromechanical response.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Slovakia and the Triumph of Nationalist Populism

Abstract Since the collapse of communism in 1989, two dominant political orders have been established in Eastern Europe: nationalist populism and social democracy. This paper argues that the division of Eastern Europe into a nationalist-populist South and a social democratic North is the result of the evolution of two different types of political cultures and political institutions. These two types of political cultures and institutions, which I call “traditional” and “civic,” arose as a result of different historical experiences. The paper argues that traditional political cultures and institutions are the legacies of political subjugation and backward socio-economic conditions, while civic political cultures and institutions arose as a result of greater political autonomy and industrialization. The paper concludes that, by suppressing democratic norms and perpetuating a vast network of patronage, Slovakia's traditional legacy has facilitated the rise of a nationalist-populist regime.
Little bag dynamics

Abstract In the quark bag theory of baryons, pions are coupled to the bag surface in such a way as to make the axial-vector current continuous across the boundary. Inside the bag, the axial-vector current is carried by the quarks; outside by the gradient of the pion field. The discontinuity of the pion field at the bag surface provides a source, of definite strength, of pions there. From this source function a pion current is calculated in a straightforward fashion. Dynamics involving pion emission or absorption is then prescibed. As an example of such dynamics, the decay width of the Δ(1232) isobar is calculated, and found to be Γ Δ = [ 3j 1 (k π R) k π R ] 2 MeV , where kπ is the momentum of the emitted pion kπ = 228MeV. This calculated width is not far from the empirical value as long as the bag radius R is less than ≈ 0.5 fm.
Age Differences in Computer Anxiety: The Role of Computer Experience, Gender and Education

Research in the area of computer anxiety has traditionally concentrated on the younger adult. In this study older adults (55 years and over) were compared to younger adults (30 years and under) on ...
Substance abuse treatment client experience in an employed population: results of a client survey.

Background Understanding client perspectives on treatment is increasingly recognized as key to improving care. Yet information on the perceptions and experiences of workers with private insurance coverage who receive help for substance use conditions is relatively sparse, particularly in managed behavioral health care organization (MBHO) populations. Furthermore, the role of several factors including prior service use has not been fully explored.
Functional Characterization of a Na+-Coupled Dicarboxylate Carrier Protein from Staphylococcus aureus

We have cloned and functionally characterized a Na+-coupled dicarboxylate transporter, SdcS, from Staphylococcus aureus. This carrier protein is a member of the divalent anion/Na+ symporter (DASS) family and shares significant sequence homology with the mammalian Na+/dicarboxylate cotransporters NaDC-1 and NaDC-3. Analysis of SdcS function indicates transport properties consistent with those of its eukaryotic counterparts. Thus, SdcS facilitates the transport of the dicarboxylates fumarate, malate, and succinate across the cytoplasmic membrane in a Na+-dependent manner. Furthermore, kinetic work predicts an ordered reaction sequence with Na+ (K0.5 of 2.7 mM) binding before dicarboxylate (Km of 4.5 μM). Because this transporter and its mammalian homologs are functionally similar, we suggest that SdcS may serve as a useful model for DASS family structural analysis.
The Neo-Traditional Period (ca. 800–1900) in Chinese History: A Note in Memory of the Late Professor Lei Hai-tsung

Most periodization schemes of Chinese history would note the significance of a “great divide.” It may be placed before the T'ang period, considering from ethnological as well as cultural standpoints such factors as the first major influx of non-Han conquering groups, the march toward the sub-tropics, the penetration of Buddhism, and so forth. It may be placed much later, around 800 A. D. or after, roughly from the late T'ang to the early Sung, noting the general characteristics of the society and fundamental changes that shaped die political and socio-economic structures of subsequent centuries. Even the Marxist view or revisionist interpretations thereof would not dispute the importance of such changes.
Creating Open-celled Solid-state Foams Using Ultrasound

Open-celled solid-state foams are expected to have many applications, such as filtration, biochemical sensing, and tissue engineering scaffolding. For bio-related applications, the solid-state foaming process has a unique advantage, i.e., the process does not involve any organic solvent that could leave residues harmful to biological cells. The disadvantage, however, is that solid-state foams are mostly close-celled and do not allow biological cells or fluids to permeate through. This article presents a parametric study on a novel fabrication method to create open-celled solid-state foams using ultrasound. Biodegradable polymer was foamed in a solid-state foaming process. Ultrasound was then applied to break the pore walls. The parameters examined in this study included the pore size, ultrasound power, ultrasound frequency, and water temperature. The inter-pore connectivity was verified using permeability measurements, dye diffusion, and a degradability test. The permeability values were further used to a...
Monitoring the Monitors: Understanding Election Observation in Today's World

The Pseudo-Democrat's Dilemma: Why Election Observation Became an International Norm. By Susan D. Hyde. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2011. 248 pp., $35 hardcover (ISBN-13: 978-0-801-44966-6). Monitoring Democracy: When International Election Observation Works, and Why It Often Fails. By Judith G. Kelley. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2012. 342 pp., $35 paperback (ISBN-13: 978-0-691-15278-3). As the Third Wave of democracy spread, elections grew in number and importance, coming to symbolize not the apotheosis of a democratic transition, but the first step on a long and uncertain path of political change. And as elections spread, so did election observation; while only 9% of national elections were observed between 1945 and 1990, 63% were observed between 1990 and 2011. Election observers' pronouncements became front-page news, yet new doubts emerged regarding monitors' ability to constrain incumbents from stealing elections. As of the late 2000s, however, there had been little scholarly attention to election monitoring. Two new books have fortunately filled this gap—Susan Hyde's The Pseudo-Democrat's Dilemma and Judith Kelley's Monitoring Democracy . The books significantly contribute to our understanding of the who, what, why, and where of election monitoring. Indeed, they have much in common. Each fuses a practitioner's understanding of the technical and political demands of election monitoring with a researcher's eye for theory-building and data collection. Each book evaluates the efficacy of election observation, but also offers a more complex portrait of its origins and evolution. They should therefore interest scholars of democracy promotion, international norms, and experimental methods. Yet Hyde and Kelley's contributions also diverge in purpose, theory, and methods. Kelley more eagerly addresses questions of the impact of election monitoring and consequently offers a more public policy-friendly critique of its practice. Hyde, in contrast, is more interested in constructing a new theory of how international norms originate. In essence, Kelley has written a book on the practice of election monitoring, while Hyde has written a book on the norm of election monitoring. The authors also come to divergent conclusions regarding the impact of election monitors. Both Kelley and Hyde begin their books by pointing to several empirical facts now familiar to political scientists: …
Rural-Urban Differences in Depression Treatment and Suicidality

OBJECTIVES: Because there are fewer per capita providers trained to deliver mental health services in rural areas, the authors hypothesized that depressed rural individuals would receive less outpatient treatment and report higher rates of hospital admittance and suicide attempts than their urban counterparts. METHODS: The authors recruited 74% of eligible participants (n = 470) from a 1992 telephone survey and followed up 95% of subjects for 1 year. The authors collected data from subjects on psychiatric problems and service use and from insurers/providers on treatment and expenditures. RESULTS: Although there were no rural-urban differences in the rate, type, or quality of outpatient depression treatment, rural subjects made significantly fewer specialty care visits for depression. Depressed rural individuals had 3.05 times the odds of being admitted to the hospital for physical problems (P = 0.02) and 3.06 times the odds of being admitted for mental health problems (P = 0.08) during the year. Elevated rates of hospital admittance disappear in models controlling for number of specialty care depression visits in the previous month. Rural subjects reported significantly more suicide attempts during the period of 1 year (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Additional work is warranted to determine how to alter barriers to outpatient specialty care if the rural health care delivery system is to provide cost-effective depression care. Language: en
Understanding the Intersection of Individual Needs and Choices With Organizational Practices: The Case of Medication Management in Assisted Living

Purpose: Making choices about everyday activities is a normal event for many adults. However, when an adult moves into an assisted living (AL) community, making choices becomes complicated by perceived needs and community practices. This study examines the relationship between choice and need in the context of practices, using medication administration practices as the case in point. Design and Methods: A 5-year ethnographic study collected information from 6 AL settings in Maryland. Ethnographic interviews ( n = 323) and fi eld notes comprise the data described in this article. Results: AL organizations used practice rationales based on state regulations, professional responsibility, safety concerns, and social model values to describe and explain their setting-specifi c practices. The result was varying levels of congruence between the setting’s practices and individual resident’s needs and choices. That is, in some cases, the resident’s needs were lost to the organization’s practices, and in other cases, organizations adapted to resident need and choices. These fi ndings suggest that individuals and organizations adapt to each other, resulting in practices that are not bound by state requirement or other practice rationales. Implications: AL residences vary due to both internal and external forces, not just the public policies that defi ne them. State regulations need to be responsive to both the needs and the choices of individual residents and to the people who work in an AL.