cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“It’s Medically Proven!”: Assessing the Dissemination of Religion and Health Research

The recent proliferation of research on the connection between religion and health has raised concerns among some scholars about how these studies affect people’s understanding of that connection. However, such concerns assume that religion and health research reaches religious audiences and informs their understanding of the connection between religion and health. We explore the veracity of these assumptions, asking two questions: (1) Is religion and health research disseminating into the American public? (2) Do religious persons incorporate religion and health research into their understanding of the connection between religion and health? We conduct two studies to answer these questions. First, we search three newspapers (The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) and three news magazines (Newsweek, Time, and U. S. News and World Report) for articles that mention religion and health research. In the second study, we analyze interview transcripts for respondents’ mentions of religion and health research when discussing the relationship between religion and health. Our results indicate substantial growth over time in media reporting on religion and health research but reveal that only a limited portion of religious persons cite such research in explaining their conceptualizations of the connection between religion and health.
The Affordable Care Act's payment reforms and the future of hospitals.

Hospitals have remained consistent in their share of health care expenditures despite dramatic changes in the payment and financing of care, including the passage of the Patient Protection and Affo...
Phosphoenolpyruvate-Dependent Glucose Transport in Oral Streptococci

Streptococcus mutans, S sanguis, and S salivarius use a phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent phosphotransferase system that results in phosphorylation of glucose at carbon 6. This enzyme system is not sensitive to fluoride. Glucose uptake into resting cell suspensions is sensitive to fluoride because of inhibition of intracellular PEP production. The glucose phosphotransferase system is constitutive in oral streptococci.
Metal–metal bonding in the actinide elements: Conceptual synthesis of a pure two-electron U–U fδ single bond in a constrained geometry of U2(OH)10

Abstract By utilizing high symmetry and geometric constraints, it is proposed that a molecule with a pure U–U 5fδ bond can be constructed. The proposed molecule is D4h U2(OH)10 with the following geometric constraints: (1) All of the U–O–H linkages are linear, assuring that each linear hydroxide group has two filled π orbitals capable of donating to the U atoms, and (2) all of the U–U–O(eq) bond angles are 90°, which assures that all of the U valence orbitals except for the fδ[zxy] orbital are destabilized by ligand donation. Preliminary DFT calculations with relativistic effective core potentials indicate that the fσ orbital is not destabilized enough in this simple model, and that it is essentially degenerate with the fδ orbital, likely leading to a triplet (fσ)1(fδ)1 single bond. Single point calculations were used to estimate the U–U bond length and bond strength of the U–U single bond in constrained U2(OH)10 with an (fσ)2(fδ)0 configuration. We estimate that the bond length is 3.55 A and the bond strength is 9.7 kcal/mol for this very fragile molecule.
Competition between light and dark metabolism in Rhodospirillum rubrum

In the presence of both light and air, the metabolism of Rhodospirillum rubrum can be partly respiratory and partly photosynthetic. The relative rates of these modes of metabolism have been measured at a variety of light intensities and oxygen tensions.
What Good Is Commitment

That human beings make commitments of various sorts might seem so obviously a good thing that the question “What good is commitment?” might be thought to ask merely after the kind or kinds of good that commitment affords. To that question, one might respond that commitment is good in a variety of ways. Promises and contracts, two prominent types of commitment, have obvious utility as social coordination devices. The affirmation of one’s commitment to another or to bringing about some feature of her welfare promotes trust, something that has both social and moral value. Even personal commitments, such as a commitment to learning or to doing one’s job well, may enhance both the moral good of trust and the social goods of reliance and coordinated planning. Many commitments are good because they are morally required, strongly morally recommended, or constitutive of good moral character—for example, commitment to one’s children’s education or to acting with integrity. Finally, the social world is often so arranged as to quasi-force locking in one’s future via making commitments even when one would not otherwise have chosen to so firmly commit one’s future: others may be unwilling to embark on joint ventures with us on the basis of anything less than a promissory or contractual commitment, and the penalties for a change of plans may be sufficiently steep as to make lack of commitment to a plan unwise, as is the case when costly airline tickets are nonrefundable. In short, commitment has social, moral, and prudential value. In asking, “What good is commitment?” I do not aim to deny that commitment can be good in these ways. My interest is in a particular range of commitments that are often thought to be good because they
Reconceptualizing Efficacy in Substance Use Prevention Research: Refusal Response Efficacy and Drug Resistance Self-Efficacy in Adolescent Substance Use

The purpose of this study is to utilize the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) to expand the construct of efficacy in the adolescent substance use context. Using survey data collected from 2,129 seventh-grade students in 39 rural schools, we examined the construct of drug refusal efficacy and demonstrated relationships among response efficacy (RE), self-efficacy (SE), and adolescent drug use. Consistent with the hypotheses, confirmatory factor analyses of a 12-item scale yielded a three-factor solution: refusal RE, alcohol-resistance self-efficacy (ASE), and marijuana-resistance self-efficacy (MSE). Refusal RE and ASE/MSE were negatively related to alcohol use and marijuana use, whereas MSE was positively associated with alcohol use. These data demonstrate that efficacy is a broader construct than typically considered in drug prevention. Prevention programs should reinforce both refusal RE and substance-specific resistance SE.
Values of modified Bethe–Bloch stopping power parameters for polysulfone extracted from stopping power measurements with light projectiles

Abstract Recent measurements of the stopping powers of polysulfone for 0.66–1.74 MeV protons and 1.04–3.20 MeV alpha particles have been analyzed in terms of the modified Bethe–Bloch theory in order to extract values of the parameters characterizing the formalism utilized. Resulting values of mean excitation energy ( I ) and Barkas-effect parameter ( b ), respectively, were 83.3 eV and 1.05 for proton data, and 81.1 eV and 1.38 for alpha particle data. The lower energy alpha particle data were included by employing a single effective charge parameter ( λ ) evaluated at 1.63. The composite weighted value of mean excitation energy, 82.9 eV, lies some 6% above the additivity-based estimate, whereas the corresponding value of Barkas-effect parameter, 1.22, agrees quite well with the prescribed interval of 1.4±0.1.
Distribution, abundance, and diversity of stream fishes under variable environmental conditions

The effects of stream size and flow regime on spatial and temporal variability of stream fish distribution, abundance, and diversity patterns were investigated. Assemblage variability and species richness were each significantly associated with a complex environmental gradient contrasting smaller, hydrologically variable stream localities with larger localities characterized by more stable flow regimes. Assemblages showing the least variability were the most species-rich and occurred in relatively large, stable environments. Theory suggests that species richness can be an im- portant determinant of assemblage variability. Although this appears to be true in our system, we suggest that spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the environment largely determines both assemblage richness and variability, providing a more parsimonious explanation for the diversity-variability correlation. Changes in species richness of local assem- blages across time were coordinated across the landscape, and assemblages formed spatially and temporally nested sub- set patterns. These results suggest an important link between local community dynamics and community-wide occurrence. At the species level, mean local persistence was significantly associated with regional occurrence. Thus, the more widespread a species was, the greater its local persistence. Our results illustrate how the integrity of local stream fish assemblages is dependent on local environmental conditions, regional patterns of species distribution, and land- scape continuity.
Solubility Parameter and Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance of Nonionic Surfactants

The solubility parameters of various polyoxyethylated nonionic surfactants were compared with their hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) numbers. The compounds included three homologous surfactant series based on dodecanol, octylphenol, and fatty acid esters of sorbitan, respectively, a polyoxyethylated sorbitol ester, and a polyethylene glycol. Solubility parameters were calculated from measured heats of vaporization for the polyoxyethylated dodecanol series and from molar attraction constants for all three surfactant series. The values remained nearly constant and independent of the degree of polyoxyethylation, increasing at most by 1 (cal/cm3)1/2 while the HLB increased from 0 to 10. This discrepancy arose because HLB values are based on emulsification experiments, in which the polyoxyethylene or polyol moiety of the surfactants is hydrated, while the solubility parameter was calculated for anhydrous conditions. When the solubility parameter was corrected for hydration by including a hydrogen-bonding component, plots of HLB versus this new solubility parameter were nearly linear and parallel for the three series of surfactants, with slopes of 5.0 ± 0.2. The three lines were spaced apart only ˜1.2 (cal/cm3)1/2 despite structural differences among the surfactants, indicating that the chemical nature of the hydrocarbon moiety exerts only a limited effect on the solubility parameter. The HLB, which considers only the weight percent of the hydrocarbon moieties of nonionic surfactants and completely disregards differences in structural features, is, therefore, not as bad an approximation as had previously been thought.
High resolution spectral differentiation of enantiomers: benzo[a]pyrene tetrols complexed with a promiscuous antibody.

The interaction of the highly cross-reactive anti-PAH monoclonal antibody with four diastereomeric benzo[a]pyrene tetrols (BPTs) is studied by means of fluorescence line-narrowing spectroscopy. It is shown that the interaction of enantiomers of cis-BPT and trans-BPT with the antibody involves different complex geometries. These spatially different ligand−protein interactions alter the relative intensities of the excited-state vibrational frequencies of immunocomplexed molecules allowing for unambiguous spectroscopic resolution of all four enantiomeric isomers. This study represents the first example of a high-resolution, fluorescence-based spectroscopic method capable of enantiospecific differentiation.
SME–supplier alliance activity in manufacturing: contingent benefits and perceptions

We address the following two questions: how upstream vertical alliance (UVA) activity affects the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and how SME perceptions of that relationship influence the choice to engage in UVA activity. Using responses from a recent survey of business unit managers representing 200 SMEs, we find that UVA activity benefits SME performance when self-selection effects are controlled. Instead of being a source of differentiation advantages, UVA activity leverages the SME's existing advantages. And, while SME perceptions appear to drive the self-selection of UVA activity, those perceptions are inaccurate; the result is that the SMEs likely to benefit less from such activity engage in it more. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spoken language processing model: bridging auditory and language processing to guide assessment and intervention

Purpose This article outlines the author’s conceptualization of the key mechanisms that are engaged in the processing of spoken language, referred to as the spoken language processing model. The ac...
A higher-order method for stationary shock problems

An equidistant finite-difference method is proposed for quasilinear singularly perturbed boundary value problems. The method uses a combination of one sided schemes and a third-order three-point scheme. It is easy to implement and produces third-order accuracy away from shocks.
Improved methods for calculating formation constants for nucleotide-cation complexes

Abstract Two data reduction methods that can be used to calculate formation constants for nucleotidecation complexes are described. Both methods are used to analyze data obtained by an anion-exchange resin method, and either method can improve the accuracy of the calculated formation constants by more than 50%. The key to this significant improvement in accuracy is the realization that the equation for the mathematical model describing such systems is always nonlinear in terms of the formation constants and, in the general case, is higher order in the cation concentration. There are two major reasons for the improved quality of the results associated with the new model. First, successive linear extrapolations are eliminated, and error propagation is reduced. Second, all of the data are used for the simultaneous calculation of all formation constants, and the uncertainty due to random experimental errors is minimized.
The suicide in the thymus, a twisted trail.

How autoreactive thymocytes die remains a question that has not been fully answered. New results supporting a role for the death ligand TRAIL may take us a step closer to unraveling this mystery.
Effects Of The Number And Spacing Of Children On Marital And Parental Satisfaction

Analyzing data from a fifteen-year follow-up study of high school students originally surveyed in 1957-58 and resurveyed in 1973-74, this paper examines the effects of the number and spacing of children on marital and parental satisfaction. The results suggest that the number of children in the family has no direct effect on marital satisfaction but has a direct negative effect on parental satisfaction. Childspacing, as measured by the length of the average birth interval, is found to have no significant effect on either marital or parental satisfaction. Premarital pregnancy has a negative effect on both the marital and parental satisfaction of women.
Cardiac and renal lipases and prostaglandin biosynthesis

The tissue phospholipids of isolated Krebs perfused rabbit hearts and kidneys can be efficiently labeled with [14C]arachidonic acid. Subsequent stimulation of the prelabeled organ with hormones or ischemia results in release of [14C] prostaglandins (PG). There is a highly efficient acylation mechanism existing in these perfused organs. Thus, tissue lipase activity can only be quantitiatively assessed by measuring the [14C]arachidonic acid in the venous effluent in the presence of albumin infusion which “traps” the released fatty acid. Two types of tissue lipases appear to exist. One is a highly specific phospholipase which is hormone sensitive, thus selectively liberates [14C]arachidonate (but not [14C]oleate, linoleate, and palmitate) from tissue lipids. The other nonspecifically responds to noxious stimuli such as ischemia and releases all fatty acids (e.g., including arachidonic and oleic acid) from tissue lipids. The hormone sensitive lipase appears to be predominantly localized in the vascular tissue (in hearts and kidney cortex), while nonspecific lipase activity is widely distributed in myocardial cells and renal tubules. Therefore, hormone stimulation elicits tightly coupled PG synthesis in the vasculature which possess both phospholipase and the cyclooxygenase while ischemia induced deacylation in the entire, but the majority of the arachidonic acid released is not converted to PG due to a relative lack of cyclooxygenase activity in myocytes and renal tubules.
Teacher Preparation Programs— and Teacher Labor Markets How Social Capital May Help Explain Teachers’ Career Choices

A number of recent studies have shown that teachers are unevenly distributed across schools: compared to other students, students who are low-income, minority, limited-English proficient, low-performing, and/or from urban contexts tend to be taught by substantially less qualified teachers. Consequently, many researchers have analyzed how teachers are allocated to teaching positions. Few of these studies, however, have explored how teachers' preparation programs affect teachers' initial decisions about where to teach. This article introduces a theoretical framework that suggests that teacher preparation programs can facilitate the creation of social networks among candidates and between candidates and schools. In doing so, this article argues for such a sociologically based framework for use in studying teacher labor markets - a framework largely overlooked in current teacher labor market research. To illustrate and delineate key aspects of this framework, this article applies a social network approach to ...
Analysis of SCR performance differences caused from flow characteristics of wall flow and flow through type substrate: A simulation study

Abstract In recent years, the use of DeNO x catalyst on the substrate of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) has been extensively studied to increase the DeNO x functionality in a limited layout of vehicle application; the 2-way DPF/SCR is one example. The 2-way DPF/SCR inherently incorporates a wall flow type substrate in which the SCR catalyst is coated inside the wall. A number of studies have been performed on a conventional flow through type SCR reactor, so its behavior is relatively well known compared to the wall flow type SCR reactor. The purpose of this study is to identify characteristics of the wall flow type SCR reactor by comparison with the flow-through type SCR reactor. All the comparison studies are conducted by simulation models, which are thoroughly validated with experimental data for each type of reactor. Test cases include steady and unsteady operation and different space velocity and ammonia dosing conditions. Based on the results, SCR performance differences caused from flow characteristics are analyzed. Finally, non-dimensional performance parameters for each type of reactor are suggested.
LiBF3Cl as an alternative salt for the electrolyte of Li-ion batteries

LiBF3Cl was synthesized by reacting BF3 etherate and LiCl in an organic media, and evaluated as a salt for the electrolyte of Li-ion batteries. XRD results showed that LiBF3Cl has the same crystallographic structure as LiBF4 except for little difference in the lattice parameter. With a 3:7 (w/w) solvent blend of ethylene carbonate and ethyl methyl carbonate, LiBF3Cl electrolyte was found to have lower liquidus temperature than LiBF4 analogue either due to its higher solubility or due to its higher tendency in forming a super-cooling solution, which was related to the less symmetry of BF3Cl− anion. Meanwhile, LiBF3Cl electrolyte displayed excellent ability in passivating Al at high potentials due to the similar chemical composition of LiBF3Cl and LiBF4. Most importantly, the LiBF3Cl electrolyte was superior to the LiBF4 electrolyte in facilitating the formation of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on graphite electrode, which not only increased Coulombic efficiencies of the SEI formation, but also prolonged cycle life of the Li-ion batteries. The merits above make LiBF3Cl very promising as an alternative lithium salt for the electrolyte of Li-ion batteries. Published by Elsevier B.V.
A transient fictitious stress boundary element method for porothermoelastic media

The development of an indirect transient boundary element method for porothermoelastic media is described. Specifically, the fictitious stress method is extended to non-isothermal poroelasticity to solve coupled porothermoelastic problems. The fundamental solutions and numerical procedures are described and an application is presented. In particular, the model is used to study the stress and pore pressure distributions around a wellbore drilled in hot rock. There is good agreement between the numerical predictions and analytical results. The analysis is useful for determining the conditions for wellbore failure while drilling as well as for calculating the classical fracture initiation pressure for hydraulic fracturing. The results indicate that the transient formulation of the fictitious stress method is an accurate and suitable means for solving problems in porothermoelasticity.
Immunological Unresponsiveness in Leprosy

The various forms of leprosy form a clinical and immunological spectrum which offers extraordinary possibilities for insight into immunoregulatory mechanisms in man. At one pole, tuberculoid leprosy, patients develop high levels of cell-mediated immunity which ultimately results in killing of bacilli in the tissues, albeit often with damage to nerves. At the lepromatous pole, patients exhibit selective immunological unresponsiveness to antigens of M. leprae. Even though all currently known protein species of M. leprae and BCG are cross-reactive, lepromatous patients unreactive to M. leprae antigens frequently respond strongly to tuberculin. In vitro experiments suggest the existence of lepromin-induced suppressor activity, mediated by both monocytes and T cells. The T suppressor cells have the T8 phenotype of which 50% express the activation markers, Ia and FcR. The one unique species of antigen of the leprosy bacillus is a phenolic glycolipid, and it appears that the TS cells largely recognize the terminal trisaccharide of this unique antigen. Depletion of the TS cells restores in vitro reactivity of lymphocytes to lepromin in a portion of lepromatous patients, and addition of IL-2-containing supernatants partially restores responsiveness to M. leprae antigens. Vaccination of lepromatous patients with a mixture of M. leprae and live BCG restores cell-mediated immunity in the majority of lepromatous patients, and concomitantly reduces the in vitro suppressor activity and number of activated T8 cells. These experiments suggest the existence of stage-of-disease related suppressor cells in leprosy which appear to block the responsiveness of TH capable of responding to either specific or cross-reactive mycobacterial antigens. The mode of action of these TS appears to be the inhibition of production of IL-2 and other lymphokines. Successful immunotherapeutic vaccination appears to overcome this block in the majority of patients.
Multimodal Accessibility of Modern Roundabouts: Intelligent Management System Versus Common Signalization Scheme

Modern roundabouts have become popular in North America during the past decade. This popularity can be attributed to their great success in Europe and Australia. There has been significant debate, however, over their accessibility for pedestrians. With almost uninterrupted traffic flows, roundabouts make it difficult for the visually impaired to determine safe gaps, as they rely on auditory cues alone. Such crossing is particularly complicated by ambient noises and circulating vehicles on busy urban roundabouts. Various pedestrian signals have been installed at roundabouts overseas. The United States Access Board published a draft guideline proposing pedestrian signals at all roundabout crossings to ensure access for the visually impaired. Roundabout operations can be a complex process of transporting multimodal travelers. There is increased interest in harnessing artificial intelligence to address issues to improve transportation systems. This research developed a crosswalk signal and introduced fuzzy lo...
Mammal and flea relationships in the Great Basin Desert: from H. J. Egoscue's collections.

Host–parasite association among 58 flea species parasitizing 40 mammal species in the Great Basin Desert of the western United States was investigated. Increased flea species richness was correlated with larger geographic ranges and stable locomotion of hosts. Hosts from habitats of moderately low productivity (sage and grass) and of Peromyscus maniculatus size, 10–33 g, had the highest flea species richness. Larger hosts had fewer flea species, but fleas were more prevalent. Increased host species richness correlated with flea species eye size. Mammals clustered into 3 major and 1 minor ecological groups, and fleas clustered into 2 major groups among rodents, and 6 minor groups, forming 12 host–parasite biocenoses. Factors producing biocenoses were shared burrows of mice and rats; food chains of hares, rabbits, squirrels, and their predators; keystone mammals: Lagurus curtatus, Neotoma lepida, Ochotona princeps, and Spermophilus townsendii; keystone fleas: Megabothris abantis, and Meringis hubbardi; or h...
A method for mapping germ line sequences in Tetrahymena thermophila using the polymerase chain reaction

A method for mapping DNA sequences to specific germinal chromosomes in the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila has been developed. This mapping technique (PCR mapping) utilizes the polymerase chain reaction and template DNA derived from nullisomic strains to directly assign micronuclear DNA sequences to specific micronuclear chromosomes. Using this technique, a number of unique sequences and short repetitive sequences flanked by unique sequences have been mapped to four of the five germinal chromosomes.
Context and companionship in children’s short-term versus long-term friendships

Children (N = 341) and their mothers participated in interviews when children were in fourth and fifth grades. Mothers and children worked together to identify children’s friends across various contexts of their lives. Children rated the companionship of each friendship and friendships were coded as either short term or long term. Higher levels of companionship were associated with increased odds of a friendship being long term, as was a friendship being maintained within the contexts of neighborhood, family friend, relative-as-friend, and efforts of parents. A friendship being maintained in more contexts was associated with increased odds of the friendship being long term. The findings are discussed in terms of implications for the understanding and support of children’s friendships.
Malignant Mixed Exocrine-Endocrine Tumor of the Pancreas with Unusual Intracytoplasmic Inclusions

A case of malignant mixed exocrine-endocrine tumor of the pancreas is reported. Electron microscopy revealed abundant neurosecretory granules in most cells. Zymogen granules indicating acinar differentiation were seen in a few cells. Ductal features, including microvilli with prominent filamentous cores and intracytoplasmic mucin granules, were also noted in this lesion. Immunocytochemical stains were positive for serotonin and glucagon. Unusual intracytoplasmic fibrillary inclusions are described and their possible origin discussed.
Structural and functional manifestations of human atherosclerosis: do they run in parallel?

Luscher and colleagues have presented the much-awaited results of the ENCORE II multicentre trial.1 Its intent was to determine whether long-acting nifedipine, given in addition to statins, reverses endothelial dysfunction and retards progression of coronary atherosclerosis over 18–24 months in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Considered broadly, this study investigated the relationship between functional and structural expression of atherosclerosis. Coronary endothelial function was assessed with acetylcholine, a measure of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability (see Figure 1 ).2 In 214 patients, as compared with placebo, nifedipine significantly improved coronary endothelial function. ENCORE II reinforces the conclusions of ENCORE I which found improved coronary endothelial function after just 6 months of nifedipine treatment and in the absence of background statins.3 The consistency of these findings indicates that multicentre trials of coronary endothelial testing yield reproducible results when conducted by capable investigators. While confirming the ENCORE I results, ENCORE II also demonstrates that the nifedipine-induced improvement in endothelial function persists for 2 years. Furthermore, as study drugs were washed out in advance of the follow-up endothelial testing, nifedipine appears to have favourably altered the biology of human atherosclerosis. In ENCORE II, change in coronary plaque volume was assessed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). In 193 patients, nifedipine as compared with placebo failed to retard the increase in plaque volume (1.0 vs. 1.9% increase in plaque size, nifedipine vs. placebo, respectively, P = non-significant). Thus, while nifedipine improved coronary endothelial function, it did not alter the progression of atherosclerosis. As endothelial function and atherosclerosis progression are both viewed as ‘barometers of cardiovascular risk’,4,5 the apparent dissociation between endothelial function and structural atherosclerosis in ENCORE II may not seem at first glance very satisfying. However, this result suggests that endothelial function and measures of structural atherosclerotic progression provide … *Corresponding author. Tel: +1 415 206 3024, Fax: +1 415 206 5447, Email: ganzp{at}medsfgh.ucsf.edu
Cutting Edge: B7/CD28 Interactions Regulate Cell Cycle Progression Independent of the Strength of TCR Signaling

The role of B7/CD28 signals in Ag-induced cell cycle progression of CD4 + T cells was examined using the technique of CFSE dye dilution and flow cytometry. In wild-type T cells, proliferation was directly related to the concentration of Ag available to the APC. Consistent with this, the rate of G 0 →G 1 cell cycle progression varied with the concentration of Ag. However, cell division by T cell blasts occurred at a constant rate, independent of Ag concentration. G 0 →G 1 phase progression by CD28-deficient CD4 + T cells or wild-type T cells cultured in the presence of neutralizing anti-B7 mAbs was slowed, confirming that a synergy does exist between TCR and CD28 signaling in the initial activation of the T cells. However, unlike the TCR, the strength of CD28 stimulation was also shown to play a unique role in controlling the rate of cell division by T cell blasts.
Rites of Passage at Adolescence: A Ritual Process Paradigm:

Concepts which relate rites of passage to the developmental process at adolescence are reviewed. Selected concepts are assembled to serve as a new interdisciplinary paradigm of ritual processes aff...
Alignment of dynamic cardiac PET images for correction of motion

A technique was developed to align images from dynamic cardiac N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Inaccurate alignment of images from these scans stems from breathing, motion of the heart within the thorax, and overall motion of the patient (particularly during pharmacologic stress). The images from these scans represent changing distributions, from high blood pool concentrations to predominantly myocardial uptake, and are generally noisy. In this technique, templates are defined from a long, late frame (5-10 min). These templates include a myocardial template, which matches late frames, a blood pool template, which matches frames in which the left ventricle blood pool is dominant, and a modified blood pool template, which reduces the effect of activity in the right ventricle. The correlation function is used as the maximized parameter over shifts between each three-dimensional image frame and the appropriate template. The technique was tested on phantom, human, and animal data with myocardial defects. Phantom data showed the technique to be reliable to within one voxel (1.7/spl times/1.7/spl times/4.2 mm/sup 3/), and motion which was apparent in human data was reduced significantly. Blood flow values measured from corrected data showed two traits: higher values, due to better matching regions of interest to images, and better fits, due to smoother time-activity curves.
A Study of Silica‐Fume‐Modified Cements of Varied Fineness

Pastes and mortars of portland cements with varying fineness were studied. The effect of blending the cements with silica fume up to 10% is presented. Thermogravimetry, heat of hydration, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, compressive strengths, and microhardness measurements were used to evaluate the pastes and mortars. The study reveals that properties and strengths of existing portland cements may be enhanced through the addition of silica fume. Coarse cements are benefited greatly through the blending. Energy savings during grinding may be realized through this process.
Parents as agents of change for childhood obesity prevention: a clinical nursing research programme

Abstract Behavioural and environmental practices are important components of paediatric nursing care. A programme of research that focuses on best behavioural practices or interventions can provide paediatric nurses with evidence and confidence that the intended outcomes of their interventions/nursing care will be achieved and in a timely fashion. This paper discusses a clinical nursing research programme dedicated to identifying best practices for promoting child health and wellness, particularly related to the prevention and reduction of childhood obesity. The conceptual model that guides the research programme is described. This model focuses on parents or parent–child dyads as agents of change in behavioural interventions for health promotion and disease prevention. The research literature upon which the programme is based, specifically childhood obesity and behavioural parenting interventions, is reviewed, and three research studies currently underway are discussed. Each of the research projects involves interdisciplinary partnerships, a focus on environmental and behavioural factors that predict childhood obesity, parents as key stakeholders and components of evidence-based behavioural strategies including parent training and motivational interviewing.
Abdominal aortic hemodynamic conditions in healthy subjects aged 50-70 at rest and during lower limb exercise: in vivo quantification using MRI.

Abstract The prevalence of atherosclerosis in the abdominal aorta increases with age and is hypothesized to be related to adverse hemodynamic conditions including flow recirculation and low wall shear stress. Exercise has been shown to modulate these adverse conditions observed in the infrarenal aorta of healthy young subjects at rest. A custom magnetic resonance (MR)-compatible stationary cycle, an open MRI, and custom image processing software were used to quantify hemodynamic conditions in the abdominal aorta at rest and during cycling exercise in healthy subjects aged 50–70 years. The subjects increased their heart rate from 63±8 bpm at rest to 95±12 bpm during cycling exercise. Supraceliac blood flow increased from 2.3±0.4 to 6.0±1.4 l/min ( P P 2 at the supraceliac level ( P 2 at the infrarenal level ( P
Looking for Simulation Resources? Try SIRC!

Abstract This manuscript provides a review of the National League for Nursing online Simulation Innovation Resource Center. This review includes a description of online continuing education courses and other resources available through this Web site for nurse educators who wish to advance their knowledge and use of simulation.
Coordination of Price Promotions in Complementary Categories

In this paper, I investigate the outcome of a price competition between two firms, each producing two complementary products. Specifically, I study each firm's decision to coordinate price promotions of its products. Consumers are divided into loyals, who purchase both products from their preferred firm, and heterogeneous switchers, who choose between four possible bundles or buy a product in a single category. The switchers are willing to pay some price premium in order to purchase two complementary products that share the same brand name and are produced by the same firm, because they believe that these products are a better match than two complementary products with different brand names. I find that each firm predominantly promotes its complementary products together. This finding is correlationally supported by data in the shampoo and conditioner and in the cake mix and cake frosting categories. This paper was accepted by Pradeep Chintagunta, marketing.
Reversing Dislocations: African Contributions to Brazil in the Works of Manuel Querino, 1890–1920

While Africa is inextricably linked to the formation of Brazilian identity in all its manifestations and ramifications, the discourses of hybridity in Latin America have minimized the significant impact of Africa in that cultural contact zone by encouraging the propaganda of racial harmony, mythological state of racelessness, and non-racism while fundamentally masking the contentious terrains of struggle for institutional, economical, and cultural equality among different races. Through the analysis of select works of Manuel, this article argues that the reversal of perpetual dislocations in African diaspora discourses that emanate from myopic rendering and simplification of complex cultural realities and contexts, must begin with a close examination of the contributions of each racialized group in order to better understand the extent of the strategic contribution of every race, and deliberate marginalization of African diaspora voices in Brazilian continuously problematic racial democracy.
A Qualitative Experiment Research on Mediated Meaning Construction Using a Hybrid Approach

This article presents a hybrid methodological technique that fuses elements of experimental design with qualitative strategies to explore mediated communication. Called the “qualitative experiment,...
Technical Issues and Controversies in Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

The goal of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is to safely palliate dyspnea in patients suffering from emphysema. Successful LVRS demands attention to the details of patient selection, preoperative preparation, intraoperative anesthetic and surgical technique and multidisciplinary postoperative care. Expertise in and effective communication between pulmonary medicine, thoracic surgery, thoracic anesthesia, pain management services, critical care medicine, respiratory therapy and rehabilitation medicine are vital components to any LVRS program. In experienced centers, bilateral approaches yield nearly twice the physiologic benefit to unilateral LVRS without adversely affecting operative morbidity or mortality. Current practice favors stapled resection over laser ablation to achieve volume reduction. Controversy persists regarding open versus video-assisted operations. The cost-effective need for and choice of materials to buttress staple-lines to reduce the incidence of postoperative air leak have yet to be defined. Ongoing multi-center, randomized, controlled trials should define the utility and durability of LVRS for appropriately selected patients and resolve some of the residual technical controversies. Therapeutic innovations may further reduce the invasiveness of lung volume reduction strategies and allow a more tailored approach to palliate patients with moderate to severe emphysema.
On Disaster Response and Emergent Systems: A New Taxonomy for Operations Management

Disaster response is not readily categorized by the influential taxonomies of operations management (OM). Through the inductive research process of iterative triangulation, we identify patterns of evidence in case studies and other literature to develop a new taxonomy for OM, one which explicitly positions disaster-related operations relative to other industries. This new taxonomy divides the OM domain into the four categories of prescriptive, compliant, swarm and emergent systems. Closer examination of those systems grouped into the emergent sector reveals intriguing similarities between operations such as disaster response and endeavors such as rapid software development and artistic ensembles. These similarities include the simultaneous use of hierarchical and collaborative organizational structures, dual reliance on well-developed rules and provisions to break them, the concept of trajectory as a performance metric, the use of short, iterative planning cycles and a reliance on unstructured communication through some open forum. Each of these patterns suggests research opportunities to further OM’s understanding of how best to operate in a highly uncertain environment, findings of potential value to both disaster response and any ‘normal’ business that might suffer disruption.
Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle

We establish in this section an integral $$\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} \hfill {\left[ {\int_{\mathbb{R}} {{{{(x - b)}}^{2}}|\psi (x)} {{|}^{2}}dx} \right]\left[ {\int_{\mathbb{R}} {|\psi \prime (x){{|}^{2}}dx - 2ia} \int_{\mathbb{R}} {\psi \prime (x)\bar{\psi }(x)dx} } \right.} \\ \hfill {\left. { + {{a}^{2}}\int_{\mathbb{R}} {|\psi (x){{|}^{2}}dx} } \right] \geqslant \frac{1}{4}{{{\left[ {\int_{\mathbb{R}} {|\psi (x){{|}^{2}}dx} } \right]}}^{2}},} \\ \end{array}$$ (6.1.1) to as Heisenberg’s inequality, for a sufficiently nice function Ψ : ℝ → ℂ where a, b ∈ ℝ. Even though Ψ is allowed to be complex-valued the second factor on the left-hand side of (6.1.1) will be non-negative. This inequality, which is a purely mathematical result of course, will be shown to form the basis for a precise formulation of Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. The discussion of this principle in Chapter 1 was brief and non-rigorous. For now, we proceed strictly along mathematical lines.
Instrumental Variables Estimators for State Space Models of Time Series

The instrumental variable method, also known as the method of moments, has been used extensively both in the engineering and the econometric literature. For example, Ŝoderstrom and Stoica (1983), and Ljung (1987); and Bowden and Turkington (1984), White (1984), and Sagan (1988) are books, respectively, in engineering and econometrics, which discuss the method. There are also numerous journal articles cited in these books. In the econometric literatures, the instrumental variable method is usually . splied to statis regression models. In the engineering literature, the metod is .splied to (scalar-valued) dynamic processes in ARMA or related representations. When .splied to state space models, one usually converts them into equivalent ARMA or regression model forms before the method is .splied.
Defense Mechanisms of Arthropods. VIII. Secretion of Salicylaldehyde by a Carabid Beetle

The large carabid beetle Calosoma prominens Lee, when disturbed, discharges a spray from the tip of its abdomen, aiming it toward the particular region of the body stimulated. The active principle of the secretion is salicylaldehyde, identified by infrared and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The spray is an effective deterrent to attack by ants, and to varying degree protects also against vertebrates.
Activation of Dihydrogen and Silanes by Cationic Iron Bis(phosphinite) Pincer Complexes

Treatment of iron POCOP-pincer hydride complexes cis-[2,6-(iPr2PO)2C6H3]Fe(H)(PMe3)2 (1-H), [2,6-(iPr2PO)2C6H3]Fe(H)(PMe3)(CO) (2-H, trans H/CO; 2′-H, cis H/CO), and cis-[2,6-(iPr2PO)2C6H3]Fe(H)(CO)2 (3-H) with HBF4·Et2O in CD3CN/THF-d8 results in a rapid evolution of H2. Except for the reaction of 1-H, which leads to decomposition of the pincer structure, all other hydrides are converted cleanly to acetonitrile-trapped cationic complexes. Protonation of these hydrides with the weaker acids CF3CO2H and HCO2H establishes the basicity order of 1-H > 2-H > 2′-H > 3-H, with 3-H bearing the least basic hydride ligand. An alternative method of abstracting hydride by [Ph3C]+[BF4]− gives complicated products; the reaction of 2-H generates two pincer products, [HPMe3]+[BF4]− and Gomberg’s dimer, which supports a single electron transfer pathway. Cationic complexes {[2,6-(iPr2PO)2C6H3]Fe(CO)(PMe3)(CH3CN)}+[BF4]− (2+-BF4, trans CO/CH3CN) and cis-{[2,6-(iPr2PO)2C6H3]Fe(CO)2(CH3CN)}+[BF4]− (3+-BF4) are prepared from p...
Reviews: Compiled by David Buisseret

Jesuit Accounts of the Colonial Americas includes papers in English and French based on the proceedings of two seminars held at the Center for Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Studies of the Wil...
Vitamin D and androgen receptor-targeted therapy for triple-negative breast cancer

Anti-estrogen and anti-HER2 treatments have been among the first and most successful examples of targeted therapy for breast cancer (BC). However, the treatment of triple-negative BC (TNBC) that lack estrogen receptor expression or HER2 amplification remains a major challenge. We previously discovered that approximately two-thirds of TNBCs express vitamin D receptor (VDR) and/or androgen receptor (AR) and hypothesized that TNBCs co-expressing AR and VDR (HR2-av TNBC) could be treated by targeting both of these hormone receptors. To evaluate the feasibility of VDR/AR-targeted therapy in TNBC, we characterized 15 different BC lines and identified 2 HR2-av TNBC lines and examined the changes in their phenotype, viability, and proliferation after VDR and AR-targeted treatment. Treatment of BC cell lines with VDR or AR agonists inhibited cell viability in a receptor-dependent manner, and their combination appeared to inhibit cell viability additively. Moreover, cell viability was further decreased when AR/VDR agonist hormones were combined with chemotherapeutic drugs. The mechanisms of inhibition by AR/VDR agonist hormones included cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in TNBC cell lines. In addition, AR/VDR agonist hormones induced differentiation and inhibited cancer stem cells (CSCs) measured by reduction in tumorsphere formation efficiency, high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, and CSC markers. Surprisingly, we found that AR antagonists inhibited proliferation of most BC cell lines in an AR-independent manner, raising questions regarding their mechanism of action. In summary, AR/VDR-targeted agonist hormone therapy can inhibit HR2-av TNBC through multiple mechanisms in a receptor-dependent manner and can be combined with chemotherapy.
The Trend and Characteristics of Overseas Study on Labor Market Segmentation

The theory of Labor Market Segmentation, a very important branch in labor economics, was born in 1970s. This theory studies the operation of market from the angle of systemic characteristics of labor market and its structural characteristics. It proposes that labor market segmentation is the important reason to cause poverty, discrimination and inequality. Since 1980s, western scholars have made a lot of empirical researches on labor market segmentation. And this research also transfers from developed countries to developing countries at the same time. This thesis introduces in particular the levels of research on labor market segmentation and summarizes the present situation of research on labor market segmentation in China.