cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Is the Relationship Between Sexual Orientation, Bisexuality and Creativity?

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to examine historical, empirical, and present literature on the relationship between sexual orientation, bisexuality, and creativity. Few empirical studies have been implemented since the removal of homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Stereotypes and popular beliefs still exist in society and literature without empirical evidence, indicating that gay men are more creative. Yet, the only empirical evidence, both historical and recent, indicates the opposite. More research is needed to explore creativity in sexual orientation minorities. In particular, it appears that there may be a higher empirical relationship between bisexuality and creativity, yet few studies have been implemented. Furthermore, there is a vital need to include gender and the study of women in relation to creativity and sexual orientation research. Creativity research has only begun to explore the dynamics of gender and culture. The next step is to incl...
Human-caused effect on the content of organic substances in the water of rice fields

A good ability of rice fields for self-purification has been observed. By the end of the period of irrigation, the concentration of oxygen dissolved in water was not less than 5 mg O2/L, the biochemical consumption of oxygen for 5 days was no more than 6 mg O2/L, and, before discharge the water from the checks, the consumption did not exceed the maximum allowable concentration.
Closing in on complete pathways of biotin biosynthesis

Biotin is an enzyme cofactor indispensable to metabolic fixation of carbon dioxide in all three domains of life. Although the catalytic and physiological roles of biotin have been well characterized, the biosynthesis of biotin remains to be fully elucidated. Studies in microbes suggest a two-stage biosynthetic pathway in which a pimelate moiety is synthesized and used to begin assembly of the biotin bicyclic ring structure. The enzymes involved in the bicyclic ring assembly have been studied extensively. In contrast the synthesis of pimelate, a seven carbon α,ω-dicarboxylate, has long been an enigma. Support for two different routes of pimelate synthesis has recently been obtained in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. The E. coli BioC–BioH pathway employs a methylation and demethylation strategy to allow elongation of a temporarily disguised malonate moiety to a pimelate moiety by the fatty acid synthetic enzymes whereas the B. subtilis BioI–BioW pathway utilizes oxidative cleavage of fatty acyl chains. Both pathways produce the pimelate thioester precursor essential for the first step in assembly of the fused rings of biotin. The enzymatic mechanisms and biochemical strategies of these pimelate synthesis models will be discussed in this review.
Bias correction in maximum likelihood logistic regression

This paper provides an expression for bias of the maximum likelihood logistic regression estimates for use with small sample sizes. This bias correction is based on an expansion of the maximum likelihood equation. Simulation results show these corrections to be highly effective in small samples.
Cloned MPC 11 myeloma cells express two kappa genes: a gene for a complete light chain and a gene for a constant region polypeptide

Abstract Cloned MPC 11 mouse plasmacytoma cells synthesize a complete kappa light chain and also a kappa light chain constant region fragment. Partial amino terminal sequences of the in vitro forms of these two proteins have been determined. Both in vitro products contain typical light chain leaders; leaders are defined as the amino terminal sequences present on in vitro products but absent from the in vivo products found in living cells. The in vitro form of the MPC 11 complete light chain contains a leader sequence plus variable and constant region sequences. The in vitro form of the MPC 11 light chain constant region fragment contains a different leader sequence attached directly to a complete constant region sequence and has no variable region sequences. Thus the MPC 11 light chain fragment is not a degradation product of the MPC 11 complete light chain (or of any other complete light chain) and must be coded by a separate gene. The results reveal two unusual features of MPC 11 cells: first, expression of a unique variant light chain gene coding the light chain constant region fragment, and second, expression of two different kappa light chain genes (coding the complete light chain and the variant constant region fragment) in a single cell. In addition, evidence is provided that the in vitro forms of kappa light chains, three of which are presented here for the first time, include a minimum of three partially homologous but quite different leader sequences.
The role of steroid modulation of amino acid transmitters in the regulation of female reproduction

The amino acid transmitters can be placed in two general categories, excitatory and inhibitory. This discussion focuses on the role of the inhibitory transmitter GABA and the excitatory amino acids aspartate and glutamate in the control of gonadotropin secretion and reproductive behavior. GABAergic neurotransmission in the preoptic area inhibits gonadotropin secretion via direct synaptic contact with LHRH neurons and possibly through presynaptic inhibition of noradrenergic fibers that stimulate LH release. In the arcuate-median eminence, GABA acting at GABA A receptors increases gonadotropin release by inhibiting a currently unidentified inhibitory interneuron
Mechanisms of drug-induced liver injury: from bedside to bench

The mechanisms of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) are not well understood. In this Review, the authors propose that a bedside to bench approach involving the study of clinicopathological features of patients with DILI can provide insight into the mechanisms underlying this condition. The authors also discuss the potential role of several factors, including mitochondrial toxicity and the host immune system, in the etiopathogenesis of DILI.
499 EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF ROCKY MT SPOTTED FEVER (RMSF) IN N.C. 1979–80

A prospective, case controlled, epidemiologic study of RMSF was begun in Rowan and Cabarrus Counties in July, 1979. A confirmed case has a 4 × fold rise in specific R. rickettsii antibodies. [indirect hemagglutination (IHA), microimmunofluorescence (MIF) or latex agglutination (LA)] or presence of IgM-MIF R. rickettsii antibodies. Disconfirmed cases have no detectable antibodies or stationary titers. Disconfirmed cases and case controls selected by age and neighborhood proximity have been compared to confirmed cases of RMSF. 78 suspect cases were identified in 1979 and 151 in 1980. 22 cases were confirmed in 1979 and 21 in 1980. These data produce an estimated rate of 12.4 confirmed symptomatic cases/100,000/year in Rowan and Cabarrus Counties, N.C. The 3 groups of patients did not differ in the month of onset of illness or sex. The majority of serologically confirmed cases occurred in males. Females were less likely to contract disease over 10 years of age. There is a striking preponderance of white patients. The possibility of hyperendemic foci for disease is suggested by geographical clustering of confirmed cases. There was a greater likelihood of a history of tick exposure or bite in proven cases, but it was not satistically different from the other 2 groups. Children are brought sooner for medical care with an illness than adults seeking assistance for themselves. Delay in initiation of therapy results from failure to make the diagnosis rather than from failure to seek medical care. There is no correlation of educational differences in patients or parents with delay in seeking physician assistance.
Pediatric Mitochondrial Disease: Do We Have the Energy to Make the Diagnosis?

It is impossible for the anatomic or clinical pathologist to reliably “rule out mitochondrial disease”. Nevertheless, we should gather the energy to work with our clinical colleagues and those in the research arena to better define these diseases over the next decade. One needs only to look at the progress made in peroxisomal diseases and fatty oxidation defects to know that such collaboration would lead to a better understanding of these complicated disorders [19].
A Review of David Watts' Bedside Manners

A review of David Watts' Bedside Manners critiquing writing style, content, and lack of overt statements about policy.
Soil Properties Predict Plant Community Development of Mitigation Wetlands Created in the Virginia Piedmont, USA

The study investigated vegetative and soil properties in four created mitigation wetlands, ranging in age from three to ten years, all created in the Virginia Piedmont. Vegetation attributes included percent cover, richness (S), diversity (H′), floristic quality assessment index (FQAI), prevalence index (PI), and productivity [i.e., peak above-ground biomass (AGB) and below-ground biomass]. Soil attributes included soil organic matter (SOM), gravimetric soil moisture (GSM), pH, and bulk density (Db) for the top 10 cm. Species dominance (e.g., Juncus effusus, Scirpus cyperinus, Arthraxon hispidus) led to a lack of differences in vegetative attributes between sites. However, site-based differences were found for GSM, pH, and SOM (P SC2 > SC3 > SC4, trended more to less developed). When vegetation attributes were compared between SC groups, greater SOM, lower Db, more circumneutral pH, and higher GSM, all indicative of maturation, were associated with higher H′ (P < 0.05), FQAI (P < 0.05), and total and volunteer percent cover (P < 0.05), and lower AGB (P < 0.001), PI (P < 0.05), and seeded percent cover (P < 0.05). The outcome of the study shows that site age does not necessarily equate with site development with soil and vegetation developmental rates varying both within and among sites. The inclusion of soil attributes in post-construction monitoring should be required to enhance our understanding and prediction of developmental trajectory of created mitigation wetlands.
Medical treatment of functional pituitary tumors

Medical therapy with a dopamine agonist is the most effective for treatment of a prolactin-producing adenoma and is considered as primary treatment. Surgery and pituitary radiation are reserved for patients who either do not tolerate or do not respond to a dopamine agonist drug. A somatostatin analogue is effective medical therapy for patients with acromegaly, and this is usually administered if there is persistent GH hypersecretion after surgical resection. Medical treatment for patients with Cushing's disease is directed at the adrenal glands to reduce cortisol hypersecretion. Unfortunately, there is no effective medical therapy to reduce pituitary corticotropin production. Medical therapy for a gonadotrope adenoma with a dopamine agonist or somatostatin analogue has limited utility but is employed in patients who are unable to undergo surgery and may delay or prevent additional tumor growth. Many patients with a pituitary adenoma can be successfully treated with one treatment, either a dopamine agonist for a prolactinoma or surgery for other types of tumors. A substantial number of patients require multimodality therapy, however, including medical therapy, surgery, and pituitary radiation. Because the biologic behavior of pituitary adenomas varies considerably, a patient with a pituitary adenoma requires lifelong regular monitoring for hormone hypersecretion, tumor recurrence, and development of new pituitary hormone deficiency. A coordinated plan of care among endocrinologists, neurosurgeons, neuroophthalmologists, and radiation therapists is necessary to provide optimal care for these patients.
The risk of sudden infant death from gastroesophageal reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been a suspected cause of infant deaths and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). We examined our 10-year experience with 499 consecutive infants 6 months of age or less who had extended (18 to 24 hours) esophageal pH monitoring performed to evaluate for GER. The data extracted from the esophageal pH records included the pH score, the pattern of GER (type I, II, or III), and the mean duration of reflux during sleep (ZMD). All infants were followed to determine the occurrence and cause of death during the first year of life. Of the 19 deaths found in the series, three were classified as SIDS and two were in-hospital deaths caused by reflux-induced aspiration. All five of these infants who died had a prolonged ZMD (greater than 3.8 minutes) and received either basic medical (n = 4) or no (n = 1) antireflux therapy. Four infants also had the type I pattern of GER. There was a 9.1% (4/44; 95% confidence limits, 2.5% to 21.7%) incidence of reflux-related or SIDS deaths in infants with type I GER and a prolonged ZMD who were treated nonoperatively, compared with none (0/83, P = .03) in the same group of infants treated with antireflux surgery. The incidence of SIDS was higher in infants with type I GER and a prolonged ZMD who were treated nonoperatively (3/44, 6.8%) compared with all other infants treated nonoperatively (0/265, 0%; P = .003).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Examination of attachment and phagocytic uptake of Listeria species by mammalian intestinal cells

Abstract Strains of Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria innocua, Listeria ivanovii, Listeria welshimeri and Listeria seeligeri isolated from diverse source were examined in an attempt to determine if their potential for attachment to intestinal epithelial cells and their behavior towards gut phagocytes was similar. Blood phagocytes were included for a comparison of their phagocytic activity with gut macrophages. Guinea pig small intestine was the source of intestinal epithelial cells and gut macrophages for the assays. Attachment of the bacteria to whole tissue was performed by incubation at 37°C of Listeria with small pieces of bowel, followed by staining and examination under light microscopy. Phagocytic cells were isolated from the gut by the use of EDTA, collagenase and DNAse, and peripheral blood cells were separated by differential centrifugation with Ficoll-Hypaque. Phagocytic activity was allowed to take place for 15 min at 37°C and the phagocytic index (PI) was determined from the number of ingested bacteria. Assays with gentamicin were included in order to assess the fate of ingested Listeria with respect to viability. Attachment of Listeria stains to the gut epithelial cells varied and could not be correlated either with the strain or with the source of the bacteria. The most significant differences in phagocytic activity were observed at the gut cell level. Overall, the PI was higher for L. monocytogenes than for L. innocua. A great variability occurred in the results and was due mostly to animal variation.
Physicochemical characterization of some fully aromatic polyamides

The characterization of eight fully aromatic polyamides are described with the procedures required to yield film- and fiber-forming materials. Solutions of these aromatic polyamides in dimethylacetamide were characterized by NMR and the effects of dissolved lithium chloride on these spectra investigated. The NMR resonances for specific protons in these polymers are assigned. The IR spectra of thin films and fibers of these polyamides are also reported, together with glass transition temperatures as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The value of NMR and IR to identify specific polyamide homopolymers and copolymers is discussed.
Microstructural Characterization of Bombyx mori Silk Fibers

The microstructure of Bombyx mori silk fibers before and after degumming was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), and low-voltage high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (LVHRSEM). LVHRSEM micrographs of the neat cocoon revealed a network of pairs of twisting filaments. After degumming, there were only individual filaments showing a surface texture consistent with an oriented fibrillar structure in the fiber interior. WAXS patterns confirmed the oriented β-sheet crystal structure common to silkworm and spider (dragline) silks. Low-dose SAED results were consistent with the WAXS data and revealed that the crystallographic texture did not vary significantly across the fiber diameter. TEM observations of individual microtomed fibers indicated a nominally triangular cross section and a 0.5−2 μm sericin coating. After degumming to remove the sericin, a banded feature was revealed with a characteristic spacing of ...
An experimental/theoretical investigation of interfacial instabilities in superposed pressure-driven channel flow of Newtonian and well characterized viscoelastic fluids

Abstract Purely viscous and purely elastic interfacial instabilities as well as the layer encapsulation phenomena in superposed pressure-driven channel flow of well characterized Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids have been studied. We have characterized both the base and the perturbed flows by measuring velocity profiles and encapsulation rates as well as determining the stability of the interface. Specifically, it has been shown that above a critical depth and viscosity ratio, encapsulation occurs and the rate of encapsulation is a strong function of viscosity ratio at a given depth ratio. In addition, for the first time purely viscous and purely elastic interfacial instabilities in superpose plane Poiseuille flows have been experimentally observed. Specifically, it has been shown that the incipient instability is two-dimensional and well described by theoretical predictions using linear stability theory with a constitutive equation that can accurately describe the rheology of the test fluids. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that in absence of encapsulation and significant second normal stresses in the test fluids the interfacial waves are nearly two-dimensional in the weakly non-linear regime.
Quantitative trait loci and psychopharmacology.

Unlike simple Mendelian characteristics, individual differences in behavior, including behavioral responses to drugs, are generally distributed continuously, show substantial non-genetic as well as...
Comparison of elastic versus nonelastic compression in bilateral venous ulcers: a randomized trial.

Background There is controversy regarding the effectiveness of elastic vs nonelastic compression in the healing of venous leg ulcers. To gain insight into this controversy, we randomly compared a four-layer elastic bandage with a nonelastic garment (CircAid) in patients with venous leg ulcers. Methods Twenty-four extremities of 12 patients with bilateral leg ulcers were randomized to have a four-layer elastic bandage in 1 extremity and a nonelastic compression garment CircAid in the contralateral limb. The CEAP classification in 22 extremities was C 6 S ; E S ; A D6,14,15,P18 ; P R ; 1 extremity in 2 patients was C 6 S ; E S ; A D 6,14,15,P18 ; P RO . There were seven men and five women. Age ranged from 45 to 82 years, with a mean of 61 years. All patients had postthrombotic leg ulcers diagnosed clinically by duplex ultrasonography (n = 8) or by phlebography (n = 4). Every 4 weeks, patients had the ulcer area measured in square centimeters by a computerized scanning method and had the limb girth measured in centimeters at the foot, ankle, and calf. The ankle-brachial index was determined in all cases. Color photographs of the ulcer areas were taken monthly to assess healing progress. All patients were compliant. Results were assessed at 12 weeks. A patient satisfaction sheet was filled out by the patient, who circled one of the following scores: 3, very satisfied; 2, moderately satisfied; and 1, not satisfied. Cox proportional hazards models or paired t tests were used for comparison. Results The 24 limbs were randomized and divided into 2 groups of 12 each. Group A received CircAid, and group B, a four-layer elastic bandage. Duplex scanning showed a pattern of reflux in 11 limbs of each group. One limb in each group had a pattern of obstruction documented by air plethysmography (n = 2). Phlebography demonstrated the anatomic site in both limbs. The initial ulcer area in group A was 48.98 ± 14.13 cm 2 and was 50.08 ± 18.30 cm 2 in group B ( P = .9285). The ulcer healing rate was significantly faster in group A compared with group B (hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.96; P = .0173). Ulcers with hemodynamic obstruction had a protracted course when compared with the contralateral limbs with reflux. There was no significant difference in girth reduction between groups A and B (hazard ratio, 2.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-18.52; P = .3580). The ankle-brachial index was normal (≥1.0) in all patients. Conclusions In compliant patients, venous leg ulcers randomized to nonelastic compression had a significantly faster healing rate per week than ulcers treated by the conventional four-layer compression system.
A polymorphic variant of the lactate dehydrogenase B subunit in the rat

A new electrophoretic variant of the lactate dehydrogenase B subunit was found in the erythrocytes of the COP strain of the rat. The location of the band after the electrophoresis suggested a product of the structural gene for the B subunit. Two alleles that regulated the high amount (Ldh-2a)or the low amount (Ldh-2b)of the B subunit were found and segregated in Mendelian fashion. The activity was regulated by the closely linked (<1 cM) regulatory gene Ldr-1.
Dimensions of quality control in oncology.

Driven by economic factors, health care reform is in progress throughout the world (1). The price-driven market that has emerged in the U.S.A. poses threats to quality of care. As cancer hospitals, treatment centres and physician groups cut costs, they enter the price-driven, highly competitive system of care that contains incentives to provide less expensive care and runs the risk of compromising quality, particularly for the poor and the uneducated consumer (2).
Agmon Coerciveness and the Analysis of Operators with Formally Positive Integro-Differential Forms

For Sobolev spaces in Lipschitz domains with no imposed boundary conditions, the Aronszajn–Smith theorem algebraically characterizes coercive formally positive integro-differential quadratic forms. Recently, linear elliptic differential operators with formally positive forms have been constructed with the property that no formally positive forms for these operators can be coercive in any bounded domain. In the present article 4th order operators of this kind are shown by perturbation to have coercive forms that are (necessarily) algebraically indefinite. The perturbation here from noncoercive formally positive forms to coercive algebraically indefinite forms requires Agmon's characterization of coerciveness in smoother domains than Lipschitz.
Robust Engineering Design for Failure Prevention

To advance the state of the art of engineering design, we introduce a new concept on the “robustness” of a structure by measuring its ability to sustain a sudden loss of a part without causing an immediate collapse. The concept is based on the premise that most structures have built-in redundancy such that when the loss of a single part leads to a load redistribution, the “crippled” structure tends to seek a new stability configuration without immediate collapse. This property of a “robust” structure, when coupled with a continuous or periodic inspection program using nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques, is useful in failure prevention, because such structure is expected to display “measurable” signs of “weakening” long before the onset of catastrophic failure. To quantify this “robustness” concept, we use a large number of simulations to develop a metric to be named the “Robustness Index (RBI).” To illustrate its application, we present two examples: (1) the design of a simple square grillage in support of a water tank, and (2) a classroom model of a 3-span double-Pratt-truss bridge. The first example is a “toy” problem, which turned out to be a good vehicle to test the feasibility of the RBI concept. The second example is taken from a textbook in bridge design (Tall, L., Structural Steel Bridge , 2nd ed., page 99, Fig. 4.3(b), Ronald Press, New York NY, 1974). It is not a case study for failure analysis, but a useful classroom exercise in an engineering design course. Significance and limitations of this new approach to catastrophic failure avoidance through “robust” design, are discussed.Copyright © 2008 by ASME and U.S. Government
Scale of gravity and the cosmological constant within a landscape

It is possible that the scale of gravity, parametrized by the apparent Planck mass, may obtain different values within different universes in an encompassing multiverse. We investigate the range over which the Planck mass may scan while still satisfying anthropic constraints. The window for anthropically allowed values of the Planck mass may have important consequences for landscape predictions. For example, if the likelihood to observe some value of the Planck mass is weighted by the inflationary expansion factors of the universes that contain that value, then it appears extremely unlikely to observe the value of the Planck mass that is measured within our universe. This is another example of the runaway inflation problem discussed in recent literature. We also show that the window for the Planck mass significantly weakens the anthropic constraint on the cosmological constant when both are allowed to vary over a landscape.
Directional interaction of midbrain and hypothalamus in the control of carbachol-induced aggression

Microinjection of carbachol into the ventromedial part of the anterior hypothalamus or the ventrolateral part of the mesencephalic central gray elicits affective aggression in the cat. Pretreatment with atropine in the same site blocks carbachol-induced aggression. Prior administration of atropine into the midbrain blocks aggression induced by carbachol injections into the hypothalamus, but atropine injected into the hypothalamus does not prevent affective aggression elicited by carbachol administered into the midbrain. The results demonstrate a directional interaction between midbrain and hypothalamus, and provide suggestive evidence for a hierarchal organization of these limbic structures in the control of cholinergically-mediated affective aggression.
Not all effect sizes are the same: Comments on Holden (2008)

Despite the common belief that response bias is a significant moderator of psychological tests in field settings, these biases have been notoriously difficult to identify. Holden (2008) has recently presented evidence suggesting this paradox may at least in part be explained by problems inherent to the use of moderated regression with self-report indicators of response bias. His article offers an innovative proposal for understanding a central issue in applied test use. However, the conclusions drawn about both moderated regression and the general validity of response bias indicators are open to alternative explanations. It would be premature to assume these factors are important contributors to the ephemeral character of response bias effects.
Shared- and distributed-memory parallelization of a Lagrangian atmospheric dispersion model

This paper describes parallelization of a 3-D Lagrangian stochastic atmospheric dispersion model using both distributed- and shared-memory methods. Shared-memory parallelism is implemented through the use of OpenMP compiler directives. Distributed-memory parallelism relies on the MPI message-passing library. One or both (using MPI for inter-node and OpenMP for intra-node communication) of the parallel modes can be used depending upon the requirements of the problem and the computational platform available. The distributed-memory version achieves a nearly linear decrease in execution time as the number of processors is increased. As the number of particles per processor is lowered, performance is limited by the decrease in work per processor and by the need to produce one set of output files. The shared-memory version achieves a speedup factor of ∼1.4 running on machines with four processors.
Morphological and mechanical characteristics of the reconstructed rat abdominal wall following use of a wet electrospun biodegradable polyurethane elastomer scaffold.

Abstract Although a variety of materials are currently used for abdominal wall repair, general complications encountered include herniation, infection, and mechanical mismatch with native tissue. An approach wherein a degradable synthetic material is ultimately replaced by tissue mechanically approximating the native state could obviate these complications. We report here on the generation of biodegradable scaffolds for abdominal wall replacement using a wet electrospinning technique in which fibers of a biodegradable elastomer, poly(ester urethane)urea (PEUU), were concurrently deposited with electrosprayed serum-based culture medium. Wet electrospun PEUU (wet ePEUU) was found to exhibit markedly different mechanical behavior and to possess an altered microstructure relative to dry processed ePEUU. In a rat model for abdominal wall replacement, wet ePEUU scaffolds (1 × 2.5 cm) provided a healing result that developed toward approximating physiologic mechanical behavior at 8 weeks. An extensive cellular infiltrate possessing contractile smooth muscle markers was observed together with extensive extracellular matrix (collagens, elastin) elaboration. Control implants of dry ePEUU and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene did not experience substantial cellular infiltration and did not take on the native mechanical anisotropy of the rat abdominal wall. These results illustrate the markedly different in vivo behavior observed with this newly reported wet electrospinning process, offering a potentially useful refinement of an increasingly common biomaterial processing technique.
The Disconnection In Online Politics: the youth political web sphere and US election sites, 2002–2004

In recent years, candidates and other political actors have dramatically increased their presence and activities online. Although the notion of these activities reaching beyond a limited set of early-adopters is relatively new, younger citizens have long been at the forefront of new developments on the web and continue to make up a substantial proportion of those seeking political information online. Given longstanding concern over levels of civic and political engagement among young people, questions concerning what young people seeking information and opportunities for political involvement online might find there are particularly relevant. In particular, we explore political websites that are directly targeted at younger voters (e.g. Rock the Vote and similar sites), websites produced by candidates and political parties, and possible linkages between these two web spheres. Based on content and hyperlink analyses spanning the 2002 and 2004 US election cycles, we find a complex evolution of the online po...
Time Domain Measurements, Characterization and Modeling of Interconnects

Single and coupled uniform and nonuniform interconnects associated with high speed electronic packages are characterized by calibrated time domain reflection and transmission (TDR/measurements. One- and two-port calibration techniques have been developed in time domain and are used to construct lumped, distributed as well as hybrid circuit models for interconnects and associated packages by using basic dynamic deconvolution techniques. Methods for calibration, de-embedding and general distributed model extraction are presented together with the measured data and equivalent circuit models for several test structures. These include uniform and nonuniform isolated and coupled interconnects, discontinuities and a Triquint multilayered ceramic package. The accuracy of the circuit models is ascertained by comparing the simulated time domain response with the measured data.
Kantian dignity and social economics

Many social economists endorse the ethics of Immanuel Kant, specifically his emphasis on the dignity of humanity and the equal respect due all persons. Based on these tenets, Kant mandates a social outlook in which concern for others, characterized by negative duties of respect and positive duties of beneficence, are broadly required of all rational agents. However, some of the positions that social economists derive from Kantian dignity actually violate it, such as support for a welfare state and opposition to the institution of wage employment. I will show that both of these positions are inconsistent with the traditional understanding of Kantian dignity, suggesting that social economists should either ground their positions on a different concept of dignity, or revise them to remain consistent with Kant's specific sense of dignity.
Similarity and attraction in homosexual males: The effects of age and masculinity-femininity

Recent research on homosexual partner preferences has focused on sexual attraction, but little attention has been paid to stable, long-term relationships in this population. The present research is concerned with the roles of similarity and complementarity in relatively durable relationships. One-hundred and eleven homosexual males completed a questionnaire describing themselves, including their masculinity and femininity (Bem, 1974), and characteristics of their ideal partner. Results indicated a desire for a partner who was logical and expressive, similar in age, and similar in masculinity—femininity. No special features of homosexuality nor sex roles seem necessary to explain these results.
2-DG-induced glucopenia does elicit feeding in rats with lesions of the zona incerta ☆

Abstract Rats with lesions of the rostral zona incerta (ZI) were maintained on either a palatable liquid diet or Purina Laboratory Chow and tested for their ability to respond to acute cellular glucoprivation. Food intake was measured at two-hour intervals during a six-hour feeding test following the administration of either 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) or insulin (4 U/rat). ZI-lesioned rat maintained on the liquid diet responded vigorously to both 2-DG and insulin-induced glucopenia. In contrast, ZI-lesioned animals consuming chow failed to augment feeding following 2-DG administration, although they did increase food intake as a function of insulin administration. These data suggest that dietary factors play an important role in the feeding responses of ZI-lesioned animals and must be considered when drawing conclusions about feeding behavior in brain-damaged animals.
Structural, electronic and optical properties of carbon nitride

Abstract Carbon nitride was proposed as a superhard material and a structural prototype, β-C3N4, was examined using several theoretical models. Some reports claiming experimental verifications have been made recently. The current status of the theory and experiment is reviewed, and a detailed discussion is presented of calculations of the electronic and optical properties of this material. These calculations predict that β-C3N4 will have a minimum gap which is indirect at 6.4 ± 0.5 eV. A discussion of the possibility of carbon nitride nanotubes is also presented.
Selective aortic arch perfusion during cardiac arrest: Enhanced resuscitation using oxygenated perflubron emulsion, with and without aortic arch epinephrine

Abstract Study objective: To evaluate selective aortic arch perfusion (SAAP) with an oxygenated fluorocarbon emulsion, with and without aortic arch epinephrine during cardiac arrest. Methods: This randomized, controlled study, undertaken at a university research laboratory, involved 15 mixed-breed dogs. After 10 minutes of ventricular fibrillation and 30 seconds of CPR, the dogs were randomized to three groups, each comprising five dogs. Group 1 (controls) dogs were given CPR and intravenous epinephrine, .01 mg/kg, at 10.5 minutes and then every 3 minutes. Group 2 dogs (IVE-SAAP) were treated with CPR and intravenous epinephrine (IVE) in the same fashion as the control group but were also subjected to SAAP with 275 mL of oxygenated 60% wt/vol perflubron emulsion over 30 seconds. Group 3 dogs (AoE-SAAP) received the same treatment as the IVE-SAAP group, except that the first epinephrine dose was given intraaortically. Results: Coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) increased during SAAP in both the IVE-SAAP and AoE-SAAP groups but was greater in the AoE-SAAP group. CPR diastolic CPP after SAAP was significantly greater in the AoE-SAAP group than in the control group. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) occurred in two control dogs, all five IVE-SAAP dogs, and all five AoE-SAAP dogs. The time elapsed from the initiation of CPR to ROSC was 6.1±1.9 minutes in the AoE-SAAP group, compared with 11.0±5.8 minutes in the IVE-SAAP group. Conclusion: SAAP with oxygenated perflubron emulsion improved ROSC, both with and without aortic arch epinephrine. The combination of SAAP with perflubron emulsion and aortic arch epinephrine resulted in higher CPP and more rapid ROSC. [Manning JE, Batson DN, Payne FB, Adam N, Murphy CA, Perretta SG, Norfleet EA: Selective aortic arch perfusion during cardiac arrest: Enhanced resuscitation using oxygenated perflubron emulsion, with and without aortic arch perfusion. Ann Emerg Med May 1997; 29:580-587.]
Local Structure of the Convective Boundary Layer from a Volume-Imaging Radar.

Abstract The local structure and evolution of the convective boundary layer (CBL) are studied through measurements obtained with a volume-imaging radar, the turbulent eddy profiler (TEP). TEP has the unique ability to image the temporal and spatial evolution of both the velocity field and the local refractive index structure-function parameter, C2n. Volumetric images consisting of several thousand pixels are typically formed in as little as 1 s. Spatial resolutions are approximately 30 m by 30 m by 30 m. CBL data obtained during an August 1996 deployment at Rocks Springs, Pennsylvania, are presented. Measurements of the vertical C2n profile are shown, exhibiting the well-known bright band near the capping inversion at zi, as well as intermittent plumes of high C2n. Horizontal profiles show coherent 100-m-scale C2n and vertical velocity (w) structures that correspond to converging horizontal velocity vectors. To quantify the scales of structures, the vertical and streamwise horizontal correlation dista...
The use of H2 antagonists in treating and preventing NSAID-induced mucosal damage

Pain affects the quality of life for millions of individuals and is a major reason for healthcare utilization. As populations age, medical personnel will need to manage more and more patients suffering from pain associated with degenerative and inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an effective treatment for both acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain; however, their use is associated with potentially significant gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity. Guidelines suggest various strategies to prevent problems in those at risk for NSAID-associated GI complications. In this article, we review the data supporting one such strategy - the use of histamine type-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) - for the prevention of GI adverse events in NSAID users. Older studies suggest that high-dose H2RAs are effective in preventing upper GI ulcers and dyspepsia. This suggestion was recently confirmed during clinical trials with a new ibuprofen/famotidine combination that reduced the risk of ulcers by 50% compared with ibuprofen alone.
A 1.07 Tbit/s 128×128 swizzle network for SIMD processors

A novel circuit switched swizzle network called XRAM is presented. XRAM uses an SRAM-based approach producing a compact footprint that scales well with network dimensions while supporting all permutations and multicasts. Capable of storing multiple shuffle configurations and aided by a novel sense-amp for robust bit-line evaluation, a 128×128 XRAM fabricated in 65nm achieves a bandwidth exceeding 1Tbit/s, enabling a 64-lane SIMD engine operating at 0.72V to save 46.8% energy over an iso-throughput conventional 16-lane implementation at 1.1V.
Regulated nuclear trafficking of the homeodomain protein otx1 in cortical neurons.

Otx1 is a homeodomain protein required for axon refinement by layer 5 neurons in developing cerebral cortex. Otx1 localizes to the cytoplasm of progenitor cells in the rat ventricular zone, and remains cytoplasmic as neurons migrate and begin to differentiate. Nuclear translocation occurs during the first week of postnatal life, when layer 5 neurons begin pruning their long-distance axonal projections. Deletion analysis reveals that Otx1 is imported actively into cell nuclei, that the N-terminus of Otx1 is necessary for nuclear import, and that a putative nuclear localization sequence within this domain is sufficient to direct nuclear import in a variety of cell lines. In contrast, GFP‐Otx1 fusion proteins that contain the N-terminus are retained in the cytoplasm of cortical progenitor cells, mimicking the distribution of Otx1 in vivo. These results suggest that ventricular cells actively sequester Otx1 in the cytoplasm, either by preventing nuclear import or by promoting a balance of export over import signals.
Error-Pattern-Correcting Cyclic Codes Tailored to a Prescribed Set of Error Cluster Patterns

A new class of cyclic codes is discussed which is highly tailored to a prescribed set of dominant error cluster patterns. The cyclic code construction is based on a generator polynomial that produces a distinct syndrome set for each error pattern in the target set. By tailoring the generator polynomial specifically to the set of dominant error patterns, the code becomes highly effective in handling single and multiple occurrences of dominant error patterns at a very high code rate. A list decoding strategy based on a set of test word-error events is developed for the proposed codes, which efficiently utilizes both the algebraic information from the captured syndrome and the reliability measures provided by the local correlators matched to the dominant error patterns. By forcing a decoder to correct a single-pattern event for each test input word, multiple decoders running in parallel on the list of test words can effectively correct multiple error-pattern occurrences within the channel detector output word.
Weight of the skeleton during postnatal development.

The weight of all bones and the length of humeri, radii, femora and tibiae have been determined in a series of 150 dry, fat-free skeletons from American Whites and Negroes of both sexes, ranging in age from 23 days to 22 years. Six skeletons were eliminated from the series because of evidence of previous illness. A comparison of the lengths of femur plus tibia of this series with the mean statures of a large series of living children at given ages indicates similarity in the growth patterns. Statistical analyses of the data show that the skeletal weight cannot be estimated reliably from age by cither an exponential growth equation or by a logistic function. The weight of the skeleton, however, is related to the lengths of the measured limb bones by allometric equations, and such equations involving each of the four bones are presented for estimation of skeletal weight in the living. Although the standard errors of estimate of the equations based on lengths of each of these four bones differ very little, the radius is recommended over the other three because it is more readily accessible in the living for a roentgenogram and its shadow on the film shows least distortion.
A unified explanation for secondary ion yields

The pure element secondary ion yields under oxygen and cesium ion bombardment are shown to be solely dependent on a) the ionization potential (or electron affinity for negative ionization) of the sputtered atom and b) the reciprocal of the matrix sputtering yield which determines the equilibrium concentration of implanted oxygen or cesium. This unified approach accounts for the yields of C±, Si±, Ge± and Sn± from the pure elements as well as of Ga± and As± from gallium arsenide.
Reliability of DSM-III diagnoses of hospitalized children.

The reliability of diagnoses of 46 child psychiatric inpatients made using three independent instruments —an unstructured interview with the parent and child that produced the chart diagnosis, a structured interview with the parent, and a structured interview with the child—was assessed. These diagnoses were then compared with a review diagnosis, which was based on all information available at the patient's discharge. Substantial disagreement between the diagnoses resulting from the structured and unstructured interviews was found in onet-hird of the cases. The review diagnosis disagreed with the chart diagnosis in 33 percent of the cases but disagreed with the diagnosis resulting from the structured interview with the parent in 13 percent of the cases. While structured interviews can contribute to the standardization of diagnoses, the reliability and validity of child psychiatric diagnoses remain problematic.
Mars is Heaven: Ray Bradbury's Martian Landscape as a Mythological Setting for His Philosophical and Religious Ideas.

“From here on, a lot of science fiction is going to be theological — a combination of theology and science — because a lot of the same problems attract theologians and writers. We’re all up to the same thing.” (Ray Bradbury. From an interview with the Christian Science Monitor, November 25, 1980. Interview included in: Conversations with Ray Bradbury. Edited by Steven Aggelis. University Press of Mississippi, Jackson. 2004. p. 108.)Citing primarily interviews and his own writing, this paper looks at Bradbury’s efforts to demonstrate, articulate, and define, philosophical and religious ideas within the setting of a Fantasy and Science Fiction world created by his imagination. Nathaniel Hawthorne frequently spoke of his stories as tales, rather than stories. The reason he did this was that he wanted to create a world where the human condition could be explored in an imaginary (as opposed to a realistic) realm. This allowed him to be more creative in expressing his ideas. Bradbury does the same in much of his writing—he creates a sort of mythological world in which his ideas (many of them religious and philosophical) can be demonstrated and explored.While he has stories which are located in the asteroid belt, on Venus, and on Earth, the setting he uses most frequently for much of his theological myth-making is the surface of the planet Mars. In this setting — created in his imagination — Bradbury explores the nature and meaning of man, the existence or definition of God, the creation of ethics, the power of love and hope, the adaptation of religious symbolism, the question of love, and many other ideas impacting the attempt to define values and meaning in our lives.This paper will look at both how he accomplishes this, and what some of the primary ideas are that he seems to want to convey in his writing. How does he accomplish this? Why does he do it? What are some of the fundamental issues that regularly rise to the surface in Bradbury’s stories?
NONINVASIVE MODEL OF SCIATIC NERVE CONDUCTION IN HEALTHY AND SEPTIC MICE: RELIABILITY AND NORMATIVE DATA

Neuromuscular disorders frequently complicate sepsis and other critical illnesses in patients. Mice are the major species used as a model for sepsis. Nerve conduction studies (NCS), the primary tool for noninvasive assessment of nerve and muscle function, is challenging to perform in small animals. A reliable method for noninvasive, repeated NCS testing has not been reported in mice. We developed and validated a method for the repeated measurement of mouse sciatic nerve conduction in normal and septic mice. Our sedated and awake NCS system enabled minimally invasive long-term repeated measurements. The mean compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude and latency were 17.4 mV and 1.11 ms, respectively (n = 59). There was an excellent intertester reproducibility by linear regression in both normal (r = 0.95) and septic (r = 0.98) mice. We also showed significant, time-dependent isoflurane-induced CMAP suppression in all animals, which was further exacerbated in septic mice. This study provides a new tool for the assessment of peripheral nerve/muscle function in mouse neuromuscular disease models that require repeated, long-term, and minimally invasive monitoring.