cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CHLOROPLAST STRUCTURE OF THE CRYPTOPHYCEAE : Evidence for Phycobiliproteins within Intrathylakoidal Spaces

Selective extraction and morphological evidence indicate that the phycobiliproteins in three Cryptophyceaen algae (Chroomonas, Rhodomonas, and Cryptomonas) are contained within intrathylakoidal spaces and are not on the stromal side of the lamellae as in the red and blue-green algae. Furthermore, no discrete phycobilisome-type aggregates have thus far been observed in the Cryptophyceae. Structurally, although not necessarily functionally, this is a radical difference. The width of the intrathylakoidal spaces can vary but is generally about 200-300 A. While the thylakoid membranes are usually closely aligned, grana-type fusions do not occur. In Chroomonas these membranes evidence an extensive periodic display with a spacing on the order of 140-160 A. This periodicity is restricted to the membranes and has not been observed in the electron-opaque intrathylakoidal matrix.
The Impact of Motor Activity and Inactivity on the Brain Implications for the Prevention and Treatment of Nervous-System Disorders

Since Donald Hebb's pioneering observations in the 1940s, much research has focused on the effects of variations in physical activity and environmental complexity on behavioral performance and brain structure. Beneficial effects on brain health have been linked to physical fitness, skilled training, and exposure to complex environments, though in rodents these effects may be negated by sudden changes in social structure. Such manipulations can alleviate the deficits associated with several nervous-system disorders and aging. But how increased activity produces its beneficial effects is still not fully understood. How does unskilled physical activity (e.g., repetitive exercise) compare to training in skilled activities or exposure to complex environments? In injury states, is task-specific training a better rehabilitative strategy than general exercise? How do changes in motor activity affect specific brain regions, and can the intensity and timing of therapeutic movement be adjusted to produce optimal out...
Periodontal Disease in Dogs: Etiopathogenesis, Prevalence, and Significance

Periodontal disease is very common and often very severe in dogs. It is caused by accumulation of bacterial plaque, particularly Gram-negative anaerobic rods. Tissue destruction results from autodegradation induced by the continuing inflammatory response. Small dogs are particularly at risk. Prevention by retarding accumulation of plaque is the key concept.
Regression analyses as a tool for studying reading processes: Comment on Just and Carpenters eye fixation theory

Just and Carpenter (1980) presented a theory of reading based on eye fixations wherein their “psycholinguistic” variables accounted for 72% of the variance in word gaze durations. This comment raises some statistical and theoretical problems with their use of simultaneous regression analysis of gaze duration measures and with the resulting theory of reading. A major problem was the confounding of perceptual with psycholinguistic factors. New eye fixation data are presented to support these criticisms. Analysis of fixations within words revealed that most gaze duration variance was contributed by number of fixations rather than by fixation duration.
Organic and inorganic arsenic speciation through ion exchange chromatography with particle beam-glow discharge mass spectrometry detection

A mixture of organic and inorganic arsenic compounds has been separated using ion exchange liquid chromatography and detected using a particle beam glow discharge mass spectrometer (PB-GDMS). The particle beam interface makes use of nebulization and momentum separation to deliver a stream of dry analyte particles to the glow discharge source from the LC output. In the glow discharge, the analyte particles are vaporized and ionized at or near the cathode surface. The ions are analyzed by a quadrupole mass spectrometer collecting data in either single ion monitoring (SIM) or total ion counting (TIC) modes. The separation of arsenobetaine (2-(trimethylarsonio)acetate), arsenic(III) chloride and dimethylarsenic acid was performed on a universal cation-exchange column using an isocratic mobile phase, with a total elution time of less than four minutes. The mass spectrum for each of these compounds contains a strong elemental arsenic signal as well as the molecular fragments that allow for the identification of the specific species responsible for the chromatographic peak. The limits of detection (LOD) for organic arsenic (dimethylarsenic acid) were found to be 2 ppm (90 ng DMA molecular ion) in the TIC mode and 15 ppb (0.8 ng As from DMA) in the SIM mode. Inorganic arsenic(III) chloride has an LOD of 11 ppb or 0.55 ng As absolute. This work suggests that the PB-GDMS has high potential as a comprehensive (inorganic/organic) detector for both biological and environmental speciation work.
Luminescence from thulium and samarium doped amorphous AlN thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering and the effect of thermal activation on luminescence

Thin films of thulium and samarium doped AlN are deposited on silicon (111) substrates at 77 K by rf magnetron sputtering method. 200–400 nm thick films are grown at 100–200 watts RF power and 5–8 mtorr nitrogen, using a metal target of Al with Tm and Sm separately. X-rays diffraction results show that films are amorphous. Cathodoluminescence studies are performed at room temperature and two dominant peaks are observed in Tm at 467 nm from transition and 480 nm from 1 G 4 to the ground state 3 H 6 transition. Other peaks in the visible region are obtained at 650 nm and 685 nm due to and transitions. Peaks in the ultraviolet and infrared region are also obtained at 371 nm, and 802 nm as a result from and transition respectively. Sm gives four peaks at 564 nm, 600 nm, 648 nm and 707 nm as a result of , , and transitions. Films are thermally activated at 1200 K for half an hour in a nitrogen atmosphere. Thermal activation enhances the intensity of luminescence.
Effects of consecutive thiouracil exposures in the juvenile and adult single comb White Leghorn chicken on body weight and reproductive performance

The effects of consecutive exposures to dietary thiouracil (TU) in juvenile and adult Single Comb White Leghorn chickens on plasma thyroxine (T4) concentrations, egg production (EP), egg weight (EW), concentrations eggshell quality were determined. Thiouracil was provided in the feed at levels of 0, 0.1, or 0.2% (PTRT) from 0 to 6 wk of age and at levels of 0 or 0.1% (TRT) from 32 to 38 wk of age. Body weight gain was simulated but T4, EW, EP, and eggshell quality were generally reduced by 0.1% TU TRT. However, TU PTRT alleviated a latent depressing effect of TU TRT on BW after 38 wk of age. Thiouracil PTRT, particularly at the 0.2% level, induced significant decreases in EW but increased EP between 32 and 50 wk. The effects of early thyroid suppression in juveniles with TU PTRT on the subsequent reproduction of adults were primarily in response to a delay in the onset of sexual maturity, and not directly to prolonged responses in T4 or BW that extended into lay.
The evolution of North Sister: A volcano shaped by extension and ice in the central Oregon Cascade Arc

Along with magma supply rates, glacial ice and local tectonics influence the eruptive style and preservation of arc volcanoes. We present the results of geologic mapping and 20 new 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dates for the mafic composite North Sister Volcano, the adjoining Little Brother shield volcano, and Matthieu Lakes Fissure in the central Oregon Cascade Arc, along with major-and trace-element analyses. North Sister is the oldest and most mafic of the Three Sisters Volcanoes and has produced dike-fed, low-K basaltic andesitic (52.5%–55% SiO 2 ) agglutinated lava, scoria, and tuffs over its 3 volume of North Sister was produced during the first two stages. The >11-km-long, north-trending Matthieu Lakes Fissure (75–11 ka) transects North Sister and erupted in three magmatic pulses, yielding a series of thick lavas, scoria cones, and subglacially erupted flow-dominated tuyas. Glacial ice has been present during much of the eruptive history of North Sister. Palagonitic tuffs, tuyas, and ice-contact lava flows as well as major unconformities between eruptive stages correlate with the δ 18 O of seawater global climate record at ca. 250 ka, 180–130 ka, and 80–18 ka. Time-integrated eruption rates at North Sister appear to have slowed from 0.18 to 0.12 km 3 per k.y. between 3 per k.y. between ca. 100 ka and 50 ka. The waning of volcanism at North Sister coincides with a decrease in Ni and MgO concentrations, indicating that olivine fractionation dominated the later stages. Also, toward the end of volcanism at North Sister, dikes changed from a radial pattern to a N-S pattern, parallel to faults and vent alignments associated with E-W extension of the High Cascades graben. The Matthieu Lakes Fissure represents the final overprinting of the edifice and distribution of magma supply away from the North Sister center.
The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Paroxetine Decreases Breakpoint of Rats Engaging in a Progressive Ratio Licking Task for Sucrose and Quinine Solutions

Increased serotonergic activity has been shown to reduce motivation to ingest, which may involve, in part, gustatory processes. Here, we examined the effect of paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, on appetitive responding for a preferred and an avoided taste solution using a progressive ratio (PR) task in which licking was employed as the operant. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 8/taste stimulus) were trained to respond for a concentration series of sucrose or quinine on fixed and PR schedules of reinforcement. Performance for sucrose was assessed while the rats were partially food- and water-restricted and nondeprived, and performance for water and quinine was assessed while the rats were water-deprived. Then, the rats were injected with vehicle (10% dimethyl sulfoxide, 1mL/kg intraperitoneal [ip], −1h) or paroxetine (5mg/kg), and their responding on a PR schedule for sucrose measured when the rats were nondeprived or for water and quinine when the rats were water-deprived. Paroxetine decreased breakpoint, which was defined as the number of operant (e.g., dry) licks in the final reinforced ratio, for water, quinine, and sucrose. This demonstrates that a general systemic increase in serotonergic activity decreases the appetitive-based responses to both preferred and nonpreferred fluids under different deprivation states.
Evapotranspiration estimates from heat‐budget measurements over a field crop

The heat-transfer processes which occur at the Earth's surface have direct bearing on many of the physical problems in agriculture that relate to the plant environment. The evapotranspiration from a crop can be estimated from the disposition of solar and sensible energy available at the earth-air interface. A suitable measurement of the heat budget, including net radiation, heat transfer by soil conduction, air-temperature gradient above the crop, and vapor pressure gradient above the crop, will account for the fraction of solar energy used hourly or daily for evapotranspiration. The simple theory, a brief description of the experimental equipment, and some illustrative measurements are discussed.
EMBRYONIC MORTALITY AND ABNORMALITIES OF AQUATIC BIRDS: APPARENT IMPACTS OF SELENIUM FROM IRRIGATION DRAINWATER

Abstract Severe reproductive impacts were found in aquatic birds nesting on irrigation drainwater ponds in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Of 347 nests studied to late incubation or to hatching, 40.6% had at least one dead embryo and 19.6% had at least one embryo or chick with an obvious external anomaly. The deformities were often multiple and included missing or abnormal eyes, beaks, wings, legs and feet. Brain, heart, liver and skeletal anomalies were also present. Mean selenium concentrations in plants, invertebrates, and fish from the ponds were 22–175 ppm (dry weight), about 12 to 130 times those found at a nearby control area. Bird eggs (2.2–110 ppm) and livers (19–130 ppm) also contained elevated levels of selenium. Aquatic birds may experience similar problems in other areas where selenium occurs at elevated levels.
Separated Ownership and Control Grain Farming: Bounded by Agency Costs or Crowding Out?

This paper examines technical efficiency of more separated ownership and control (SOC) grain and oilseed farms relative to combined ownership and control (COC) in the U.S. Theory has provided specific benefits to why SOC firms can be more efficient, thus more likely to survive, despite SOC being prone to agency costs. Though, the literature often contends that the evolution to more SOC farming - particularly in grain farming - is bounded by agency costs, allowing COC to persist and dominate. However, some commentators have noted the rise of “corporate farming” which has manifested into public policy to constrain types of SOC farming through anti-corporate farming laws. We use Agriculture Resource and Management Survey (ARMs) data and estimate technical efficiency of SOC, mixed, and COC grain farms using stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). We examine whether SOC grain and oilseed farms are crowding out COC farms, or whether the evolution to more SOC farming is bounded by agency costs.
Evaluating mobile phone handoff behavior using chi-square statistical test

Mobile networks reuse frequency bands based on a color map to increase the capacity of the network. A handoff should occur when a mobile unit moves from the influence of one base station with weaker signal into another's that has stronger signal. Handoff behavior of all units is an important factor in quality of service of a mobile phone service. Handoff decisions, also called mobility decisions, are made by mobile phone based on the observed power from base stations. Premature, delayed or exceedingly sensitive decisions are considered poor decisions. Excessive poor decisions result in degradation of service quality in otherwise a healthy mobile system. Conventional research focuses on improving hand-off algorithms. Most of the published work on verification of effectiveness of handoff algorithms is analytical or focuses on data collected under pristine laboratory conditions. A unit that makes good mobility decisions, theoretically or in the laboratory, may not behave as expected in the real world however. We propose a process of evaluating hand off behavior using large amount of diagnostic phone data collected in the real world that is used for identification of adverse trends or aberrant behavior of various models. In this paper, we discuss a chi-square statistical test to evaluate the performance of specific mobile unit model by comparing the behavior of a test mobile unit against a well- established behavior profile. If the behavior of the test model deviates significantly from the well-established profile, it is considered deficient in its handoff behavior that deserves further analysis. The test was developed in such a way that a large amount of units can quickly be tested. The same test can be used to compare performance of all mobile phones in one region to performance of same mobile phones in other regions. Furthermore, our test is useful in determining difference of handoff behavior when the mobile units are moving in opposite directions.
Synthesis of [18F]xenon difluoride as a radiolabeling reagent from [18F]fluoride ion in a micro-reactor and at production scale

Abstract [ 18 F]Xenon difluoride ([ 18 F]XeF 2 ), was produced by treating xenon difluoride with cyclotron-produced [ 18 F]fluoride ion to provide a potentially useful agent for labeling novel radiotracers with fluorine-18 ( t 1/2 = 109.7 min) for imaging applications with positron emission tomography. Firstly, the effects of various reaction parameters, for example, vessel material, solvent, cation and base on this process were studied at room temperature. Glass vials facilitated the reaction more readily than polypropylene vials. The reaction was less efficient in acetonitrile than in dichloromethane. Cs + or K + with or without the cryptand, K 2.2.2, was acceptable as counter cation. The production of [ 18 F]XeF 2 was retarded by K 2 CO 3 , suggesting that generation of hydrogen fluoride in the reaction milieu promoted the incorporation of fluorine-18 into xenon difluoride. Secondly, the effect of temperature was studied using a microfluidic platform in which [ 18 F]XeF 2 was produced in acetonitrile at elevated temperature (≥85 °C) over 94 s. These results enabled us to develop a method for obtaining [ 18 F]XeF 2 on a production scale (up to 25 mCi) through reaction of [ 18 F]fluoride ion with xenon difluoride in acetonitrile at 90 °C for 10 min. [ 18 F]XeF 2 was separated from the reaction mixture by distillation at 110 °C. Furthermore, [ 18 F]XeF 2 was shown to be reactive towards substrates, such as 1-((trimethylsilyl)oxy)cyclohexene and fluorene.
Resolution of chronic delta hepatitis after 12 years of interferon alfa therapy

Chronic delta hepatitis is an uncommon but severe form of chronic viral hepatitis for which there is currently no satisfactory therapy. A patient with chronic delta hepatitis was treated with interferon alfa, 5 million units daily for 12 years. Serial serum samples were tested for routine liver tests and selected samples for quantitative levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis delta virus RNA. Liver biopsies were performed before, during, and after an initial 1-year course of therapy and again after 3 and 10 years of continuous therapy. With initiation of interferon therapy, serum aminotransferase levels decreased to normal range, became abnormal again when the dose was reduced, and increased to pretreatment levels when therapy was stopped. With reinstitution and prolonged therapy, aminotransferase levels became persistently normal; after several years, both hepatitis delta virus RNA and serum HBsAg became undetectable. Liver biopsy, which initially revealed cirrhosis, showed gradual improvement in inflammatory and fibrosis scores and, after 10 years, no abnormalities or fibrosis. Therapy was stopped, and the patient remained free of evidence of infection. In conclusion, long-term therapy with interferon alfa in high doses led to resolution of chronic delta hepatitis, disappearance of hepatitis delta and B virus markers, and improvement in fibrosis.
Ion probe measurements of Os, Ir, Pt, and Au in individual phases of iron meteorites

We have developed a technique to measure abundances of Os, Ir, Pt, and Au in situ in Fe-Ni metal on a microscale using secondary-ion mass spectrometry. A Cs^+ beam is used to generate negative secondary ions, and interferences from molecular ions are eliminated by a combination of 40 eV of energy filtering and a mass resolution of ∼1900. Ion yields for Fe, Co, Ni, and the PGEs vary considerably from spot to spot in meteoritic metal samples. Ion yield variations for Os and Ir correlate strongly with the Fe ion yield, that for Pt is weakly correlated, and that for Au is essentially uncorrelated. From ion yields for meteorite standards and the correlations with Fe ion yield, it is possible to obtain concentrations of Os, Ir, Pt, and Au in meteorite samples. Using this technique, a Cs^+ beam current of 10 nA gives a spatial resolution of 10–20 μm and detection limits of less than 1 ppm for Os, less than 0.1 ppm for Ir, and 10–20 ppb for Pt and Au. With refinement, it should be possible to measure Rh, Pd, and Ag and to improve the spatial resolution. However, Re, Ru, W, and Hf can only be measured as positive secondary ions. We have measured the abundances of Os, Ir, Pt, and Au in kamacite, taenite, and/or plessite in five iron meteorites: Canyon Diablo (IA), Cape York (Agpalilik) (IIIA), Colomera (IIE), Cruz del Aire (Anom), and Wallapai (IID). Our measurements show that Os, Ir, Pt, and Au partition preferentially into taenite relative to kamacite during slow cooling. Measured abundance ratios (taenite/kamacite) range from ∼1.3 to ∼2.1 for Os, Ir, and Pt, and from ∼2 to ∼6 for Au. These ratios are consistent with those determined recently by laser-ablation ICPMS, but differ significantly from those determined by earlier workers. Low-temperature taenite/kamacite distribution coefficients inferred from our data are ∼2.1 for Os, ∼1.6 for Ir, ∼1.9 for Pt, and ∼6 for Au. PGEs are not enriched in taenite as much as Ni. Partitioning is controlled by the interplay of the size and electron configuration of Os, Ir, Pt, and Au and the crystal structures of kamacite and taenite. The ion probe can be used to further investigate the distribution and subsolidus redistribution of PGEs and Au in iron meteorites and in the metal in chondrites and stony irons.
Cap-independent translation of heat shock messenger RNAs.

An early concept in the development of the field of translational control was that mRNAs differ in their intrinsic efficiencies of binding to ribosomes (Lodish 1976). Dozens of examples of mRNAs have now been described for which differences in efficiency of translation are attributed to differences in cap accessibility, secondary structure, sequence context of initiation codons, primary structure motifs, etc. Some of the first mRNAs to be studied in the context of translational control were those encoding the heat shock proteins (HSPs). Extensive investigations of the HSP mRNAs and the changes in the translational apparatus which accompany heat shock have provided one of the clearest examples of translational control. Despite these efforts, the mechanism(s) which direct the switchover from translation of non-HSP mRNAs to HSP mRNAs are not well understood. New insight into this problem has been provided by the discovery of cap-independent translation. The study of picornavirus infection, reviewed elsewhere in this volume, has led to the view that some mRNAs are initiated by a mechanism which is qualitatively different from that of most cellular mRNAs and which does not require the cap at all, much less the cellular machinery which recognizes the cap. It has now become apparent that there are numerous similarities between translation in heat-shocked cells and translation in picornavirus-infected cells and other cells which predominately carry out cap-independent translation. The evidence suggests that HSP mRNAs may be translated by the cap-independent route.
Memory Optimizations For Fast Power-Aware Sparse Computations

We consider memory subsystem optimizations for improving the performance of sparse scientific computation while reducing the power consumed by the CPU and memory. We first consider a sparse matrix vector multiplication kernel that is at the core of most sparse scientific codes, to evaluate the impact of prefetchers and power-saving modes of the CPU and caches. We show that performance can be improved at significantly lower power levels, leading to over a factor of five improvement in the operations/Joule metric of energy efficiency. We then indicate that these results extend to more complex codes such as a multigrid solver. We also determine a functional representation of the impacts of such optimizations and we indicate how it can be used toward further tuning. Our results thus indicate the potential for cross-layer tuning for multiobjective optimizations by considering both features of the application and the architecture.
Regulating assisted reproductive technologies: Public health, consumer protection, and public resources

T rhe extent to which the clinical provision of assisted reproductive technology (ART) should be under regulatory control in the United States has received recent heightened attention. Media reports of apparently both deliberate 1 and unintentional 2 misuse and loss of embryos in ART clinics have aroused the concern of the public as well as that of individual patients. In addition, clinicians, consumers, and the media have raised the issue of whether the low probability of pregnancy using these techniques is stated clearly by providers or understood by potential users. 3 We will focus on several aspects of the questions related to ART regulation. First, in terms of ART as a public health concern, what are the numbers for the use of these procedures, that is, what is the impact of the availability of these techniques on the population? Second, what are the issues regarding ART as a consumer protection concern, what is current law regarding ART, and how does it address consumer concerns? Third, what are the costs of ART in terms of public resources? Lastly, what are the other questions that should be addressed as we consider regulation of ART?
Attachment of Flagellar Basal Bodies to the Cell Envelope: Specific Attachment to the Outer, Lipopolysaccharide Membrane and the Cytoplasmic Membrane

A procedure is described for the purification of the Escherichia coli outer membrane (lipopolysaccharide or L membrane) with flagella still attached. The resulting lipopolysaccharide membrane was in the form of vesicles that had a trilaminar structure in thin section and contained about 55% lipopolysaccharide and 45% protein. T2 or T4 phage preadsorbed to E. coli were found attached to the purified lipopolysaccharide membrane. Flagella were bound to the purified lipopolysaccharide membrane specifically at the basal body ring closest to the hook (the L ring). The cytoplasmic membrane in preparations from osmotically lysed E. coli spheroplasts or Bacillus subtilis protoplasts was specifically attached to flagella at the basal body ring farthest from the hook (the M ring). In the E. coli preparation, lipopolysaccharide membrane was also present and was attached to the L ring. From these data and a knowledge of the structure and dimensions of the E. coli flagellar basal body and cell envelope, a model for flagellar attachment is deduced.
Peroxisomal Disorders A Review of a Recently Recognized Group of Clinical Entities

The peroxisome is a small organelle present in almost all cells. The peroxisomal disorders are a newly recognized group of disease entities that share structural and/or functional abnormalities of the peroxisomes, are inherited, and may have profound neurologic and systemic effects. Some of the disorders lack peroxisomes in cells, while others have single or multiple peroxisomal enzymatic deficiencies despite the presence of normally appearing peroxisomes. The prototype of the peroxisomal disorders is Zellweger syndrome. X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy, infantile Refsum disease, hyperpipecolic acidemia and Refsum disease are some of the other disease entities presently classified as peroxisomal disorders. Accurate methods of pre- and postnatal diagnosis are available. Treatment strategies are being developed, but at this time prenatal diagnosis and appropriate genetic counseling is the best therapeutic intervention for those peroxisomal disorders characterized by profound neurologic handicap and early death.
From Developmental Metaphor To Developmental Model: The Shrinking Role of Language in the Talking Cure:

Psychoanalysts have invoked infant development diversely to understand nonverbal and unspoken aspects of lived experience. Two uses of developmental notions and their implications for understanding language and the therapeutic action of psychoanalysis are juxtaposed here: Hans Loewald's conception of developmental metaphors to illuminate ineffable aspects of the clinical situation and Daniel Stern's currently popular developmental model, which draws on findings from quantitative research to explain therapeutic action in the nonverbal realm. Loewald's metaphorical use of early development identifies and thus potentiates a central role for language in psychoanalytic treatment. By contrast, Stern and his colleagues exaggerate the abstract, orderly, and disembodied qualities of language, and consequently underestimate the degree to which lived interpersonal experience can be meaningfully verbalized, as demonstrated here with illustrations from published clinical material. As contemporary psychoanalysis moves toward embracing developmental models such as Stern's, it is concluded, psychoanalysts accept a shrinking role for language in the talking cure.
A global empirical evaluation of new communication technology use and democratic tendency

Is the dramatic increase in Internet use associated with a commensurate rise in democracy? Few previous studies have drawn on multiple perception-based measures of governance to assess the Internet's effects on the process of democratization. This paper uses perception-based time series data on "Voice & Accountability," "Political Stability," and "Rule of Law" to provide insights into democratic tendency. The results of regression analysis suggest that the level of "Voice & Accountability" in a country increases with Internet use, while the level of "Political Stability" decreases with increasing Internet use. Additionally, Internet use was found to increase significantly for countries with increasing levels of "Voice & Accountability." In contrast, "Rule of Law" was not significantly affected by a country's level of Internet use. Increasing cell phone use did not seem to affect either "Voice & Accountability," "Political Stability" or "Rule of Law." In turn, cell phone use was not affected by any of these three measures of democratic tendency. When limiting our analysis to autocratic regimes, we noted a significant negative effect of Internet and cell phone use on "Political Stability" and found that the "Rule of Law" and "Political Stability" metrics drove ICT adoption.
Large-scale co-visualization for LAMMPS using vl3

In this poster we propose to interconnect LAMMPS and vl3, our parallel framework for large-scale visualization and analysis. The goal is co-visualization and exploration at interactive frame rates of large-scale atomistic simulations. We describe the architecture of the proposed system, as well as a preliminary implementation that runs on GPU-based visualization clusters.
Childhood injury in Rowan County.

Unintentional childhood injury is a public health problem of enormous magnitude. Its relative impact is actually increasing as deaths due to disease continue to decline. Despite this, I am heartened by the fact that this field is receiving more attention, more funding, and is the subject of more research each year. National organizations are providing leadership for state and county health departments which, in turn, provide information and resources at the local level. My studies in Rowan County confirm these effects. Ultimately we want to use the available data to formulate effective interventions that will greatly reduce death and disability. The implementation of such interventions is imperative--the most precious resource of any community is its children. Language: en
INBREEDING DEPRESSION IN A SELF-COMPATIBLE, ANDRODIOECIOUS CRUSTACEAN, EULIMNADIA TEXANA.

The observation that offspring produced by the mating of close relatives are often less fit than those produced by matings between unrelated individuals (i.e., inbreeding depression) has commonly been explained in terms of the increased probability of expressing deleterious recessive alleles among inbred offspring (the partial dominance model). This model predicts that inbreeding depression should be limited in regularly inbreeding populations because the deleterious alleles that cause inbreeding depression (i.e., the genetic load) should be purged by regularly exposing these alleles to natural selection. We indirectly test the partial dominance model using four highly inbred populations of an androdioecious crustacean, the clam shrimp Eulimnadia texana. These shrimp are comprised of males and hermaphrodites, the latter capable of either self-fertilizing or mating with a male (i.e., outcrossing between hermaphrodites is impossible). Hermaphrodites are further subdivided into monogenics (produced via self-fertilization) and amphigenics (produced via self-fertilization or outcrossing). Electrophoretic evidence suggests significant differences in heterozygosity among populations, but that selfing rates were not statistically different (average s = 0.67). Additional electrophoretic analyses reveal that three previously described sex-linked loci (Fum, Idh-1, and Idh-2) are all tightly linked to each other, with crossing over on the order of 1% per generation. Although selfing rates are clearly high, we present evidence that early inbreeding depression (hatching rates, juvenile survival, and age at sexual maturity) exists in all four populations. For all of these factors, inbreeding depression was inferred by the positive correlation of multilocus heterozygosity and fitness. Cumulative inbreeding depression (8) is between 0.41 and 0.47 across all populations, which appears to be too low to limit the effects of purging via identity disequilibrium. Instead, we suggest that the maintenance of inbreeding depression in these populations is due to the observed linkage group, which we suggest contains a large number of genes including many related to fitness. Segregation of such a large linkage group would explain our observations of the predominance of amphigenic hermaphrodites in our field samples and of survival differences between monogenics and amphigenics within selfed clutches. We propose that a modified form of the overdominance model for inbreeding depression operating at the level of linkage groups maintains the observed levels of inbreeding depression in these populations even in the face of high rates of selfing.
Social Science and Public Policy: An Examination of the Political Foundations of Modern Research*

Economics, sociology, psychology, and the other social sciences have in recent times begun to play a new and problematic role with respect to national and international policy. The problem of social policy has become acute precisely to the extent to which social science has become exact. Legitimation of policy recommendations from social scientists emerges in this period and not in previous periods because of a demonstrable feasibility of putting social science and social theory into a framework of political action. Demand for operations research analysts, tactical data systems, war gaming and simulation experts now rivals the search for basic engineering personnel. There is a paucity of exact information on how this transvaluation took place, due in part to the novelty of the situation and in part to the novelty of self-examination in the social sciences. What is at stake as a result of this newly acquired influence is not the feasibility of social science, but the credibility of social scientists. Any discussions of villains and values, which inevitably is what the study of social science and public policy boils down to, involves two distinct areas. One is the empirical basis of present relationships between social science and public policy, its formation and its
Pharmaceutical Perspective on Opalescence and Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation in Protein Solutions

Opalescence in protein solutions reduces aesthetic appeal of a formulation and can be an indicator of the presence of aggregates or precursor to phase separation in solution signifying reduced product stability. Liquid–liquid phase separation of a protein solution into a protein-rich and a protein-poor phase has been well-documented for globular proteins and recently observed for monoclonal antibody solutions, resulting in physical instability of the formulation. The present review discusses opalescence and liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) for therapeutic protein formulations. A brief discussion on theoretical concepts based on thermodynamics, kinetics, and light scattering is presented. This review also discusses theoretical concepts behind intense light scattering in the vicinity of the critical point termed as “critical opalescence”. Both opalescence and LLPS are affected by the formulation factors including pH, ionic strength, protein concentration, temperature, and excipients. Literature reports...
Time Domain Integral Equation Methods in Computational Electromagnetism

Time domain integral equations have become a major tool in the computational analysis of electromagnetic scattering problems. Classically it was difficult to ensure a stable numerical solution of standard boundary integral formulations of the problem. In this chapter we shall discuss both theoretical and numerical aspects of one approach that solves the stability problem: convolution quadrature. We start with scattering from a perfectly conducting object and develop the electric field integral equation, as well as an error analysis of the fully discrete problem using finite elements in space. After presenting a brief discussion of some special numerical features of this problem, and some numerical results, we move on to scattering by a penetrable object. We end with a general discussion of computational electromagnetism illustrating the role that time domain integral equations can play.
XPS, UPS and thermal desorption studies of alcohol adsorption on Cu(110): I. Methanol

Abstract The adsorption of methanol on clean and oxygen dosed Cu(110) surfaces has been studied using temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS), ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Methanol was adsorbed on the clean surface at 140 K in monolayer quantities and subsequently desorbed over a broad range of temperature from 140 to 400 K. The UPS He (II) spectra showed the 5 highest lying emissions seen in the gas phase spectrum of methanol with a chemisorption bonding shift of the two highest lying orbitais due to bonding to the surface via the oxygen atom with which these orbitals are primarily associated. A species of quite a different nature was produced by heating this layer to 270 K. Most noticeably the UPS spectrum showed only 3 emissions and the maximum coverage of this state was approximately 1 2 monolayer. The data are indicative of the formation of a methoxy species, thus showing that methanol is dissociated on the clean Cu(110) surface at 270 K. The same dissociated species was observed on the oxygen dosed surface, the main difference in this ease being the production of large amounts of H2CO observed in TPRS at 370 K.
Mechanisms that Determine the Differential Stability of Stx+ and Stx− Lysogens

Phages 933W, BAA2326, 434, and λ are evolutionarily-related temperate lambdoid phages that infect Escherichia coli. Although these are highly-similar phages, BAA2326 and 933W naturally encode Shiga toxin 2 (Stx+), but phage 434 and λ do not (Stx−). Previous reports suggest that the 933W Stx+ prophage forms less stable lysogens in E. coli than does the Stx− prophages λ, P22, and 434. The higher spontaneous induction frequency of the Stx+ prophage may be correlated with both virulence and dispersion of the Stx2-encoding phage. Here, we examined the hypothesis that lysogen instability is a common feature of Stx+ prophages. We found in both the absence and presence of prophage inducers (DNA damaging agents, salts), the Stx+ prophages induce at higher frequencies than do Stx− prophages. The observed instability of Stx+ prophages does not appear to be the result of any differences in phage development properties between Stx+ and Stx− phages. Our results indicate that differential stability of Stx+ and Stx− prophages results from both RecA-dependent and RecA-independent effects on the intracellular concentration of the respective cI repressors.
Knowledge by Acquaintance and Description

In the two previous chapters, concerned with inferential and immediate knowledge, the use of the verb ‘to know’ has been considered in relation to propositions expressed in clausal form, ‘I know that P.’ However, the verb is not always followed by a clause. It may also govern a noun in the accusative case, ‘I know A.’ Objects or persons may be ‘known’ as well as propositions, for example, ‘I know Exeter’, ‘I know John.’ Philosophers describe this use as knowledge by acquaintance.1
US Economic Outlook: Beyond the Credit Crunch

Rarely have opinions on the US economic outlook differed so much. Some observers interpret the sharp slowdown in US growth in late 2007 and early 2008 as the beginning of a long and nasty recession during which the US needs to purge itself of its excessive addiction to credit. Many of these pessimists had maintained for years that the comparatively strong US economic performance for the last 5, 10 or even 15 years was built on unsustainable foundations which have now – belatedly – started to crumble. However, others see the current calamity as a temporary and comparatively shallow interruption in a remarkable uptrend.
Listening to the Patient: Women Veterans' Insights About Health Care Needs, Access, and Quality in Rural Areas.

ABSTRACTObjectives: Many work to ensure that women veterans receive appropriate and timely health care, yet the needs of those living in rural areas are often ignored. This is a critical oversight given the multitude of reports documenting rural access problems and health disparities. Lacking this, we are unable to plan for and evaluate appropriate care for this specific group. In this project, we spoke with rural women veterans to document service needs and quality of care from their perspective. Methods: Rural women veterans' views about health care access and quality were ascertained in a series of five, semistructured focus groups (n = 35) and completion of a demographic questionnaire. Content analysis documented focus-group themes. Results: Participants said that local dental, mental health, and gender-specific care options were needed, as well as alternative healing options. Community-based support for women veterans and interaction with female peers were absent. Participants' support for telehealth...
Anti-guiding in implant-defined vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays

Arrays of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers have been investigated as potential high-power, single-mode sources. Proton-implantation definition of laser apertures has been demonstrated as a simple and effective method to create coherently coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays [1, 2]. In this work, the thermal and carrier characteristics of these arrays are considered and the coupling mechanism is described. As has been observed in edge emitters, it is demonstrated that the coupling between implant apertures is a result of index anti-guiding [3]. This reveals that it is possible to make strongly coupled anti-guided VCSEL arrays without many of the complicated fabrication processes previously required [4–6]. The behavior of these laser arrays is described theoretically and compared to experiment.
Surface heterogeneity and surface area from linear inverse gas chromatography. Application to glass fibers.

Abstract A new method of measuring surface heterogeneity of non-porous adsorbents by inverse gas chromatography (IGC) is developed. In contrast with the methods described in the literature which are based on nonlinear chromatography (thermodynamics of adsorption) this method is based on linear chromatography (kinetics of adsorption). The mass balance equation of linear chromatography with axial diffusion term and the Langmuir kinetic equation on an open (non-porous) heterogeneous surface are solved by the method of Laplace transforms. The expressions for four semi-invariants of an elution profile are obtained. These are linear combinations of the moments of the distribution of sites in residence time of adsorbed molecule with coefficients determined from elution profile of non-adsorbing gas. Four semi-invariants of elution profiles of benzene and methane on a column packed with E-glass fiber were determined experimentally at temperatures around 100 °C. The mean, the standard deviation of the normal distribution in adsorption energy as well as the sticking coefficient and pre-exponential factor of the Frenkel equation are determined for benzene on E-glass. A method of the specific surface determination from linear IGC is proposed.
Segmentation of Gliomas in Pre-operative and Post-operative Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Volumes Based on a Hybrid Generative-Discriminative Framework

We present an approach for segmenting both low- and high-grade gliomas in multimodal magnetic resonance imaging volumes. The proposed framework is an extension of our previous work [6,7], with an additional component for segmenting post-operative scans. The proposed approach is based on a hybrid generative-discriminative model. Firstly, a generative model based on a joint segmentation-registration framework is used to segment the brain scans into cancerous and healthy tissues. Secondly, a gradient boosting classification scheme is used to refine tumor segmentation based on information from multiple patients. We evaluated our approach in 218 cases during the training phase of the BRAin Tumor Segmentation (BRATS) 2016 challenge and report promising results. During the testing phase, the proposed approach was ranked among the top performing methods, after being additionally evaluated in 191 unseen cases.
Evaluation of an Unfractionated Heparin Pharmacy Dosing Protocol for the Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism in Nonobese, Obese, and Severely Obese Patients.

Background: Despite large interpatient variability in dose response, heparin is utilized for treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Current data on the optimal heparin dosing in obese patients are conflicting. Objective: The objective was to evaluate the time and dose required to achieve a therapeutic activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in nonobese, obese, and severely obese patients using a pharmacist-directed heparin dosing protocol. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study in a single-center community hospital inpatient setting. Adult patients receiving heparin for VTE treatment from July 1, 2013, to July 31, 2015, were evaluated. Patients were categorized into 3 groups: nonobese (BMI < 30 kg/m2), obese (BMI = 30-39.9 kg/m2), and severely obese (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2). Data on height, weight, initial bolus dose, initial infusion rate, time to therapeutic aPTT, and therapeutic infusion rate were collected. Dosing body weight (DBW) was utilized for patients 20% over their ideal body weight (I...
Presidential Leadership, the News Media, and Income Inequality:

Most research on media in the post-broadcast age of politics focuses on how media affect the public, not on the interinstitutional relationships between the presidency and news media. This study ta...
Kant's 'formula of humanity' and assisted reproductive technology: a case for duties to future children.

The paper asks the question whether Kant’s ethical theory can be applied to issues in assisted reproductive technology (ART). It argues against three objections to applying Kant’s ethics to ART: (i) the non-identity objection, (ii) the gen-ethics objection, and (iii) the care-ethics objection. After showing that neither of the three objections is sufficiently persuasive the paper proposes a reading of Kant’s ‘formula of humanity,’ and especially its negative clause (i.e., the ‘merely as means’ clause), that can be of some guidance in ART. The paper conclude that although Kant’s ‘formula of humanity’ cannot be used as a simple litmus test for determining whether an ART practice is morally permissible or not, it nonetheless can supply us with some guidance in our moral deliberation.
Effect of Water Imbibition on Fracture Generation in Mancos Shale under Isotropic and Anisotropic Stress Conditions

AbstractDuring hydraulic fracturing in shale oil and gas reservoirs, hydration swelling due to shale water imbibition is believed to create secondary fractures that improve permeability, as observe...
Pattern Recognition Using Hopfield Neural Networks

In the last chapter, we saw how a generalized delta rule (backwards error propagation) network could slowly learn to recognize a series of patterns. The delta rule network adapted slowly while training repetitively on a set of examples (sometimes a set of training examples passes through the network over 100,000 times!).
Meeting Patients Where They Are

When patients undertake behavior change, the physician's role is that of an athletic coach or tour guide, providing direction on the trip but leaving the itinerary up to the patient.