cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Das Schweigen auf einen Antrag im Sinne des § 362 I HGB

§ 362 I 1 HGB bestimmt, das ein Kaufmann, dessen Gewerbebetrieb die Besorgung von Geschaften fur andere mit sich bringt, verpflichtet ist, unverzuglich zu antworten, wenn ihm ein Antrag uber die Besorgung solcher Geschafte von jemandem zugeht, mit dem er in Geschaftsverbindung steht; sein Schweigen gilt als Annahme des Antrags. Das gleiche gilt nach § 362 I 2 HGB, wenn einem Kaufmann ein Antrag uber die Besorgung von Geschaften von jemandem zugeht, dem gegenuber er sich zur Besorgung solcher Geschafte erboten hat.
Years of Potential Life Lost Because of Cardiovascular Disease in Asian‐American Subgroups, 2003–2012

Background Asian-American subgroups (Asian-Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese) display varied cardiovascular disease mortality patterns, especially at younger ages. This study aims to examine the years of potential life lost because of ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease among the 6 largest Asian-American subgroups compared with non-Hispanic whites. Methods and Results We used National Center for Health Statistics Multiple Causes of Death mortality files from 2003 to 2012 to calculate race-specific life expectancy, mean years of potential life lost, and years of potential life lost per 100 000 population for each Asian subgroup and non-Hispanic whites. Asian-American subgroups display heterogeneity in cardiovascular disease burden. Asian-Indians had a high burden of ischemic heart disease; Asian-Indian men lost 724 years per 100 000 population in 2012 and a mean of 17 years to ischemic heart disease. Respectively, Vietnamese and Filipino men and women lost a mean of 17 and 16 years of life to cerebrovascular disease; Filipino men lost 352 years per 100 000 population in 2012. All Asian subgroups for both sexes had higher years of life lost to cerebrovascular disease compared with non-Hispanic whites. Conclusions Cardiovascular disease burden varies among Asian subgroups, and contributes to greater premature mortality in certain subgroups. Asian-Indian and Filipino populations have the highest years of life lost because of ischemic heart disease and Filipino and Vietnamese have the highest years of life lost because of cerebrovascular disease. Analysis of risk factors and development of subgroup-specific interventions are required to address these health disparities.
Periodic rhythms in conversational speech.

Spectral analysis of the on-off vocal activity patterns from six conversations indicates that spontaneous speech tends to alternate regularly between periods of high and low activity. These regular cycles are approximately 3 minutes and 6 minutes long. These interaction rhythms may be an emergent property of social systems, or they may be due to internal cognitive or physiological rhythms that affect readiness to initiate activity. The 3-and 6-minute cycles are too long to be accounted for in terms of the existing research on cognitive planning cycles of turn-taking. These cycles are an instance of a nonobvious temporal regularity in speech, which coexists with the turn-taking and grammatical regularities that are apparent to naive observers.
The Portuguese Energy Sector: Its Multiple Aspects and Challenges - A Country Study

Due to the infusion of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and European Union policies, Portugal is one of the worlds’ leaders in producing clean renewable energy. In the process, Portugal has reduced the use of more traditional forms of energy, such as oil and coal. In addition, Portugal has diversified among types of clean energy it is producing, based on the variety found in Portugal’s geography. Regions suited for massive solar farms are complementary to regions suited to wind farms, making it most efficient to pursue both strategies simultaneously depending on the locus of energy production. As a result, Portugal is currently “ahead of the curve” as one of the largest producers of clean energy in the European Union. This paper addresses the origins of Portugal’s quest for “clean” energy and the diversification of Portugal’s plans to ignite the use of clean energy in the economy.
Adventure-Based Programming with at-Risk Youth: Impact upon Self-Confidence and School Attachment

A consensus exists among practitioners and researchers that further empirical evidence is needed to develop effective programs that will increase resiliency from delinquency. The purpose of this st...
Bottom hypoxia alters the spatial distribution of pelagic intermediate consumers and their prey

While recent research has shed insight into how bottom hypoxia affects pelagic food webs in coastal marine ecosystems and natural lakes, its effects on man-made lake (reservoir) food webs remains m...
The impact of reflective practice on teacher candidates’ attitudes towards individuals with disabilities and professional identity

With the global rise of inclusive educational practices, it is important to understand teacher candidates’ perceptions of disability and inclusion. The purpose of this one group experimental resear...
Salary Determinants of Entry Level Academic Economists and Factors Influencing Hiring on the Tenure Track

This paper examines the characteristics of entry level academic economists and investigates the determinants of market salaries. Contrary to what might be expected we find that nominal salaries are not systematically adjusted to reflect observable differences in the cost of living and salary premiums are not paid to entry-level economists hired into higher ranked departments. Completing one's Ph.D. degree at a university with a highly ranked department, being hired on the tenure track, and accepting a position in a department within a business school with a ranked economics department all significantly influence academic salaries. Being hired on the tenure track is found to be particularly important. After analyzing the factors that influence salaries, we make predictive statements about the impact that observable characteristics have on the probability of being hired into tenure track positions.
Medical therapy of gonadotropin-producing and nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas

Clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas are one of the most common types of pituitary tumors. Unless they present with symptoms related to local mass effect, most tumors are detected incidentally when imaging studies are performed for other reasons. Although clinically nonfunctioning, most of these tumors have evidence, in vitro, of gonadotropin hormone or glycoprotein subunit production. The gonadotropins or their monomer submits rarely cause clinically identifiable effects. When these tumors present as macroadenomas, often with associated mass effect and hypopituitarism, primary therapy is neurosurgery. The role for medical therapy will be reviewed here.
AWSOS Pulse Sequence and High‐resolution UTE Imaging

This chapter illustrates the use of an approach for fast, high-resolution imaging of short T2 species. The approach, termed acquisition-weighted stack of spirals (AWSOS), relies on the concurrent use of two-dimensional spiral readouts and variable post-excitation delay to achieve high-resolution and ultra-short echo time, respectively. The technical considerations involved in the selection of the AWSOS acquisition parameters are discussed and examples for Neuroimaging and Musculoskeletal application are presented. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the salient advantages, as well as potential disadvantages, for the proposed techniques. Keywords: ultra-short TE; fast high-resolution imaging; musculoskeletal MRI
Sleep-Related Dissociative Disorders

In sleep-related dissociative disorders, phenomena of the psychiatrically defined dissociative disorders arise during the major sleep period. They occur during sustained wakefulness either in the transition to sleep or following an awakening from NREM or REM sleep. Only a small number of cases have been reported to date. A wide range of behaviors have been observed during episodes, including reenactment of childhood abuse; confused wandering; agitated, frightened activity; self-injury and self-mutilation; assault; and fugue states. Almost all cases have dissociative episodes in the daytime as well. Childhood sexual and physical abuse are frequently found. Patients are predominantly female. Episodes tend to occur frequently, and the course appears to be chronic. Diagnosis is based on both clinical history and polysomnography; differential diagnosis primarily involves other parasomnias and nocturnal seizures. Little has been written about treatment, though therapy of daytime dissociative disorders in adults is often lengthy and difficult.
Fire Investigation and Cognitive Bias

Attorneys, judges, and juries often rely on the conclusions of forensic scientists from a variety of fields to understand how an incident occurred and who was involved. The distorted conceptual framework created by cognitive bias can influence those conclusions in subtle but powerful ways. Some common factors tending to implicate bias in any forensic examination are particularly prominent in many aspects of fire investigation. These factors include an imprecise method heavily reliant on human interpretation, an examination conducted in the field rather than a laboratory, and a lack of genuine independence from law enforcement. This article explores the most common forms of cognitive bias found in the field of fire investigation, provides case-study examples, and gives recommendations on how these biases might be minimized. Keywords: cognitive bias; confirmation bias; expectation bias; selective re-examination; role bias; fire scene examination; flashover; fire investigation; negative corpus; accelerant detecting canine
PARENCHYMAL SIDEROSIS IN PATIENTS WITH PREEXISTING PORTAL CIRRHOSIS. A PATHOLOGIC ENTITY SIMULATING IDIOPATHIC AND TRANSFUSIONAL HEMOCHROMATOSIS.

Summary The association of excessive iron deposition in the liver and other tissues of patients with portal cirrhosis has implied a pathogenetic relationship between iron storage and tissue damage. In the present report patients with portal cirrhosis without iron storage, as proved by liver biopsy examination, eventually developed extensive hepatic and other parenchymal cell siderosis. Histologic examination of autopsy material disclosed pathologic features similar to those described in idiopathic and exogenous hemochromatosis. Because there is as yet no experimental evidence to justify the assumption that iron overloading can cause hepatic damage, it seems reasonable to assume that some instances of so called idiopathic or transfusional hemochromatosis actually represent parenchymal siderosis in preexisting portal cirrhosis. These cases are not recognized because of the lack of biopsy material before the accumulation of iron in the previously cirrhotic liver.
Education's Elusive Future, Storied Past, and the Fundamental Inequities Between

This article situates current educational realities and reforms within a broader historical context and argues we are at the end of a period of retrenchment and currently in a transitional phase that could usher in a new era of opportunity expansion. However, none of the current reform proposals are capable of seizing this opportunity. Each of the current reforms suffers from one of two flaws: a refusal to take seriously the lessons of past reform efforts or an insistance that we do more of the same. The task of educational reform is, first, to appreciate that, based on historical cycles, the opportunity for significant change is possible in the near future and, second, to redouble efforts to develop theoretical frameworks that can animate a new era.
Operational and design approaches to computer integrated manufacturing in electronics manufacturing and assembly

Summary form only given. The author has investigated approaches and algorithms for achieving computer-integrated manufacturing in the following aspects of electronics assembly and manufacturing: real-time control for responding to machine failures in flexible assembly cells; planning and scheduling in multistate systems with random yields or reentrant structure; multifacility coordination and material flows in vertically integrated stages of computer assembly; and product and process design in very-large-scale integration and printed-circuit-board assembly systems. He has developed an approach for real-time control of a flexible assembly cell for chip insertion onto printed-circuit boards based on a hierarchical structure and a release policy for multistate systems subject to random-yield or a reentrant structure such as test stages in a printed-circuit board line or the front end of a VLSI facility. Combined component ordering and facility manufacturing management policies have been developed for integrated manufacturing environments with IC chip facilities in cascade with printed-circuit-board facilities, which in turn meet demand from the final computer assembly plants. >
Prevention in mental health: organizational and ideological perspectives

Primary prevention is often viewed as people's strengths and to identify and an ideal method of practice for commuremove pathogenic factors in people's nity mental health.1 This thinking has physical and social environments. Poor been promoted colloquially by such schools, inadequate recreational op maxims about stitches in time saving portunities, disordered families, op nine and ounces of prevention balancpressive working conditions, and con ing pounds of cure and by such constant stress are all examples of temporary sources as the President's pathogenic social factors. When these Commission on Mental Health.2 Nonefactors dominate people's lives, they theless, defining and studying primary adversely affect mental health.4 prevention continues to be complex Many reports on prevention suggest and unwieldy.3 that it is primarily a lack of financial Prevention as a general concept support that prohibits agencies from means to identify and reinforce conducting prevention programs.5 Looking for further explanations, the author studied types of organizational Joseph A. Walsh, Ph.D., is Director of variables and ideological factors that Consultation and Education, Institute affected whether a given community of Psychiatry Northwestern Memorial hea,th center conducted prevention Hospital, ana Associate Professor, Northwestern University Medical programs. School, Chicago, Illinois. This article is Organizational theory is concerned a revised version of a paper presented the role of the director or super ar the annual conference of the Amerivisor in influencing the focus of subor can Public Health Association, New dinates' work.6 The assumption is that York, New York, November 1979. the director shapes the goals of a given organization by his or her attitudes, program priorities, and allocation of rewards to the staff. The organization's goals may be supported or impeded by informal objectives of the staff, train ing relevant to the organization's goals that is available to staff members, and relationships among subordinates in the agency. The organization's attitude toward prevention is, in effect, the pre disposition of the staff to respond posi tively or negatively to the need for pre vention in their community. One meaning of "attitude" is a state of readiness, a tendency to act or react in a predictable manner when con fronted with certain stimuli. An organi zational attitude is reflected in part by the beliefs and behavior of the director
Dimethyl Sulfoxide–Silver Tetrafluoroborate

(DMSO) [67-68-5] C2H6OS (MW 78.13) InChI = 1S/C2H6OS/c1-4(2)3/h1-2H3 InChIKey = IAZDPXIOMUYVGZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N (AgBF4) [14104-20-2] BF4Ag (MW 194.68) InChI = 1S/Ag.BF4/c;2-1(3,4)5/q+1;-1 InChIKey = CCAVYRRHZLAMDJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent for conversion of alkyl halides to aldehydes and ketones) Physical Data: DMSO: mp 18.55 °C; bp 189 °C/760 mmHg; 76 °C/16 mmHg; d (25 °C) 1.0958 g cm−3; dielectric constant (25 °C) 46.7. AgBF4: mp 200 °C. Solubility: DMSO: miscible with water and most organic solvents. AgBF4: sol water, ether, toluene, nitromethane, DMSO; moderately sol benzene and cyclohexane. Form Supplied in: DMSO: clear anhyd liquid, widely available. AgBF4: crystalline white solid, widely available. Drying: DMSO: generally quite dry when freshly opened, but very hygroscopic; distill from CaH2 under reduced pressure. AgBF4: very hygroscopic; dry in vacuo at 80 °C. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: see Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Silver(I) Tetrafluoroborate.
Photoinduced Ullmann C-N coupling: demonstrating the viability of a radical pathway.

Carbon–nitrogen (C–N) bond-forming reactions of amines with aryl halides to generate arylamines (anilines), mediated by a stoichiometric copper reagent at elevated temperature (>180°C), were first described by Ullmann in 1903. In the intervening century, this and related C–N bond-forming processes have emerged as powerful tools for organic synthesis. Here, we report that Ullmann C–N coupling can be photoinduced by using a stoichiometric or a catalytic amount of copper, which enables the reaction to proceed under unusually mild conditions (room temperature or even –40°C). An array of data are consistent with a single-electron transfer mechanism, representing the most substantial experimental support to date for the viability of this pathway for Ullmann C–N couplings.
Effects of arthritis exercise programs on functional fitness and perceived activities of daily living measures in older adults with arthritis.

Abstract Objective To ascertain the effectiveness of the National Arthritis Foundation (NAF) aquatic and on-land exercise programs on functional fitness and perceived ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) measures in older adults with arthritis. Design The effects of aquatic and on-land exercise intervention programs were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance by using a planned comparison approach with an independent 3×2 (group by test) design. ω 2 analyses were used to ascertain the relative treatment magnitude of each dependent variable. Setting Testing in an indoor track facility; exercise programs conducted in community settings. Participants A volunteer sample of 30 men and women with arthritis (osteoarthritis, n=22; rheumatoid arthritis, n=8), randomly assigned into either an aquatic exercise (n=10), on-land exercise (n=10), or control group (n=10). Intervention Eight-week on-land and aquatic exercise program. Main outcome measures Functional fitness, ADLs, and hand-held dynamometry measures assessed on a 1-day pretest and posttest session, before and after an 8-week exercise program. Results Aquatic and on-land exercise subjects showed significant improvements on 9 of 12 functional fitness, 3 of 4 ADLs, and 7 of 8 hand-held isometric strength tests after their respective exercise programs. No significant changes were found in any of these measures for the control group. Conclusion Both NAF exercise programs appear to be effective in improving functional physical fitness and perceived ability to perform ADL measures in older adults with arthritis.
Nanosecond high-power dense microplasma switch for visible light

Spark discharges in high-pressure gas are known to emit a broadband spectrum during the first 10 s of nanoseconds. We present calibrated spectra of high-pressure discharges in xenon and show that the resulting plasma is optically thick. Laser transmission data show that such a body is opaque to visible light, as expected from Kirchoff's law of thermal radiation. Nanosecond framing images of the spark absorbing high-power laser light are presented. The sparks are ideal candidates for nanosecond, high-power laser switches.
COLLAPSE LOADS OVER TWO-LAYER CLAY FOUNDATION SOILS

ABSTRACT A strict upper bound solution to limit loads on strip footings over two-layer clay foundation soil is presented. Two mechanisms of failure are considered: one with a continually deforming field, and a rigid-block mechanism. The multi-block mechanism was found to be very flexible in terms of being able to assume different shapes of the deformation pattern. Consequently, this mechanism yielded the least upper bound to the bearing pressure. The method used was adapted to calculations of bearing capacity of strip footings subjected to loads with horizontal components. If the depth of the second layer of clay is sufficiently large, the shear strength of this layer will not affect the bearing capacity. This depth is referred to here as the critical depth, and it depends on the footing width and the combination of the undrained shear strength in the two layers. If the undrained shear strength of the bottom layer is small compared to the top layer, the critical height may be as much as twice the footing width.
On the Construction of Families of Cyclic Polynomials Whose Roots Are Units

For several values of m, we show ways to construct some families of cyclic monic polynomials of degree m with integer coefficients and constant terms ±1, and to express their roots in terms of Gaussian periods. We give several examples illustrating those techniques. With the aim to find other methods to construct such families of polynomials, we consider the question whether one of them can be obtained by means of rational transformations of a given ordinary family F(t, X) ∈ ℤ[t][X] (at the parameter t) of cyclic monic polynomials of degree m (such families F are easy to find). We show a method, due to Rene Schoof, that allows us to answer at least the simpler question whether a family G(t, X) ∈ ℚ[t][X] of cyclic monic polynomials of degree m prime with constant term in ℚ× (independent of t) can be obtained from F by means of rational transformations.
Thermogelling chitosan and collagen composite hydrogels initiated with β-glycerophosphate for bone tissue engineering

Chitosan and collagen type I are naturally derived materials used as cell carriers because of their ability to mimic the extracellular environment and direct cell function. In this study beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GP), an osteogenic medium supplement and a weak base, was used to simultaneously initiate gelation of pure chitosan, pure collagen, and chitosan-collagen composite materials at physiological pH and temperature. Adult human bone marrow-derived stem cells (hBMSC) encapsulated in such hydrogels at chitosan/collagen ratios of 100/0, 65/35, 25/75, and 0/100 wt% exhibited high viability at day 1 after encapsulation, but DNA content dropped by about half over 12 days in pure chitosan materials while it increased twofold in materials containing collagen. Collagen-containing materials compacted more strongly and were significantly stiffer than pure chitosan gels. In monolayer culture, exposure of hBMSC to beta-GP resulted in decreased cell metabolic activity that varied with concentration and exposure time, but washing effectively removed excess beta-GP from hydrogels. The presence of chitosan in materials resulted in higher expression of osterix and bone sialoprotein genes in medium with and without osteogenic supplements. Chitosan also increased alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition in osteogenic medium. Chitosan-collagen composite materials have potential as matrices for cell encapsulation and delivery, or as in situ gel-forming materials for tissue repair.
Unified Model of Damage Annealing in CMOS, from Freeze-In to Transient Annealing

Irradiation studies at 76°K are described which demonstrate that radiation-produced holes in SiO2 are immobile at this temperature. If an electric field of either polarity is present in the SiO2 during 76°K irradiation, to sweep out the mobile electrons, the holes will virtually all be trapped where created and produce a uniform positive charge density in the oxide. This predicts ?VT ? dox2 , which is observed. The magnitude of the observed shift is consistent with 18 eV required per hole-electron pair generated. All CMOS transistors of the same oxide thickness exhibit the same initial ?VT, for a given exposure level, regardless of oxide type or process. The rate of annealing differs, both as a function of oxidation process and oxide thickness. Thin oxides have two advantages: a smaller ?VT (stable shift) and faster annealing. If a CMOS device is irradiated for sufficient time at 76°K to build in an appreciable field, further irradiation with zero gate-substrate bias will produce little additional change in VT, since the field in the oxide tends to keep all generated electrons in the oxide, where they recombine with trapped holes. Room temperature annealing following a pulsed gamma exposure occurs in two regimes. The first regime can be quite fast, and occurs prior to 10-4 seconds. The magnitude of this early-time recovery is both process dependent and thickness dependent.
Fast Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging via Prolate Wavelets

Abstract Our objective is to improve the time-resolution of functional magnetic resonance imaging by sampling only a small fraction of the Fourier transform of the spin density and using a prolate wavelet (P-wavelet) filter to approximately obtain not the usual susceptibility map, but instead the integral, I(t), of the difference in susceptibility between task and pretask, over a prespecified region of interest in the brain at successive time-points, t. This space–time trade-off thus allows us to obtain, at high time-resolution, the total activity, I(t), in a specified region, B, of the brain which processes the specific stimulus or task to learn or verify where the brain function takes place. We find that for a typical region, B, of the brain, say describing the hippocampus, believed to be involved in memory, consisting of say 100 points in a 64×64 brain image space, that our optimal choice of Fourier sampling region, A, has a=400 points, which then gives a 10-fold speed-up compared to the usual method of sampling, since the usual sampling needs 642 points which exceeds 10 times 400. Of course we get this speed-up at the price of spatial resolution. Even faster sampling of the integral of the susceptibility difference ought to be possible for a set B of 100 points in this level of pixelization. Once A is fixed, the mathematical problem of choosing the optimal P-wavelet filter can be viewed as a natural generalization to 2 and 3 dimensions of the theory of prolate spheroidal wave functions, due to Landau, Pollak, and Slepian. The first prolate spheroidal wave function for fixed A, B is that function φ which is maximally concentrated on B and whose Fourier transform vanishes except on A. The problem of choosing the sampling region A, for fixed size a=∣A∣, to maximize the concentration on the given B remains open and is probably NP-complete, i.e., probably involves exponential search. However, we give a very simple heuristic for choosing a set A, which seems to give excellent results in the examples we have studied, and we give the optimal P-wavelet filter, φ=φB, for the choice of A, based on our heuristic. The heuristic is to take as it A the scaled polar set of B, i.e., A= k : max x , y ∈ B ( k , x − y ) c , (1) where c is chosen so that the size of A is a, as desired to achieve a given time-resolution for I(t). We give evidence to support our claim that A gives good results.
Accommodation of Springback Error in Channel Forming Using Active Binder Force Control: Numerical Simulations and Experiments

Springback in a forming process is due to the elastic deformation of the part during unloading. This manufacturing defect can be accounted for through proper tooling design or through proper design and control of the magnitude and history of restraining force. Using finite element analyses of the process : (1) the effects of restraining force on the springback phenomena when stamping channels from aluminum sheet are investigated ; (2) a strategy to control the binder force during the forming operation in order to reduce springback and simultaneously avoid tearing failure is described ; and (3) a binder force control strategy which provides robustness in the presence of process parameter uncertainty is implemented. The process history and controller designed using finite element analyses is then experimentally verified : excellent agreement between simulation and experiments is obtained. A binder force history, which leads to a significant reduction in the amount of springback incurred by the formed part without reaching critical stretching conditions, was proposed. Although an optimal forming history was found, in order to ensure that part shape error remained minimized even in the event of variations in processing parameters such as friction, a closed-loop control algorithm was developed whereby the binder force is altered during the process in order to provide a robust, repeatable stretching history. Experiments were performed using a double-action servo-controlled process and were found to produce the desired results demonstrating both the accuracy of the numerical simulation and the success of the proposed active-binder force control method to obtain net shape.
The Statistical analysis of adherence data obtained from markers

Adherence markers provide new kinds of clinical trial data. Adherence data on individual participants obtained from markers can be used for designing the trial sample size and stratification, evaluating the adequacy of randomization, directing the management of adherence, and analyzing and interpreting the trial's final results. Examples of these are presented. Analyses of adherence data can employ conventional procedures. Box plot techniques are proposed for flagging extreme values of the distribution of adherence either at a single time point or in a time continuum. The effect of difference in distribution of the markers in two or more groups in a clinical trial is discussed. Survival analysis is illustrated as one technique in univariate and multivariate analysis of markers with covariate effects. Design considerations with markers in a clinical trial are discussed, with particular emphasis on some of the assumptions and biases that must be considered for the analysis.
Bibliography of monographic works on drug delivery systems and controlled-release preparations

A bibliography of English language books, conference proceedings, and journal special issues, published between 1980 and 2004, covering drug delivery systems and controlled release preparations for therapeutic and prophylactic agents was compiled as an aid for students and researchers. This work may also serve those who wish to track the history of this field of study and aid in the development of related library collections.
Validity of a Residualized Dependent Variable After Pretest Covariance Adjustments: Still the Same Variable?

The authors empirically examined whether the validity of a residualized dependent variable after covariance adjustment is comparable to that of the original variable of interest. When variance of a dependent variable is removed as a result of one or more covariates, the residual variance may not reflect the same meaning. Using the pretest–posttest design as a general framework, the authors compared the nomological validity network for the (a) original dependent variable scores and (b) residualized dependent variable scores after having covaried-out variance explainable by a pretest. Heuristic and empirical examples are provided that demonstrate potential variation in construct validity of residualized dependent variables is a function of correlations among dependent, covariate, and validity variables.
The agent takes the stage

The deployment of virtual characters in intermedia performance drives divergent agendas of this research group. From the perspective of performance studies, we examine the effect of computer-based characters as actors and believe explorations of mediated agency can open up new forms of engagement for live productions. From the visualisation point of view, we are interested in how abstraction and animation techniques, based on motion tracking and procedural methods, convey character and warp and extend the gestural repertoire of a human actor. In terms of interactive drama, we are working on stream of consciousness characters: algorithmically recombining text to create a psychological entity with an autonomous inner structure. From an artificial intelligence perspective, we investigate how to design and use intelligent agents as actors. These agendas reflect an odd mix of aesthetic and technical concerns, and rightly so, as they are driven by the different goals of our interdisciplinary team.
Structure, control, and the evolution of power

Richard Newbold Adams. Energy and Structure: A Theory of Social Power. Austin and London: University of Texas Press. 1975. xviii + 353 pp. Figures, tables, references, and index. $15.00 cloth, $4.95 paper.
Object dependent sweep width reduction with spectral-spatial EPR imaging.

For spectral-spatial EPR imaging, prior knowledge about the spatial support of an imaged object can be exploited in two ways. We can shrink the spatial field of view (FOV) to closely wrap the object in a sphere or reduce the sweep width in a projection dependent fashion. Use of a smaller spatial FOV with the same number of samples enhances spatial resolution by reducing voxel volume at the expense of signal-to-noise and a consequent degraded line width resolution. We have developed another approach to define sweep width that prunes away the portions of the projection sweep with no signal. This reduces data acquisition time for the continuous wave (CW) EPR image proportional to the sweep width reduction. This method also avoids voxel volume reduction. Using the reduced-sweep method, we decreased the data acquisition time by 20% maintaining spatial and linewidth resolution.
Effect of one-legged exercise on the strength, power and endurance of the contralateral leg. A randomized, controlled study using isometric and concentric isokinetic training.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of one-legged exercise on the strength, power and endurance of the contralateral leg. The performance of the knee extensor and flexor muscle of 20 healthy young adults (10 men and 10 women) was first tested by Cybex II+ and 340 dynamometers. Then 10 subjects were chosen at random to train using one leg three times a week for 7 weeks whilst the other 10 served as controls. During the 8th week, the tests were repeated. Both quadriceps and hamstring muscles of the trained subjects showed a cross-transfer effect from the trained limb to the untrained side. This concerned the strength and power, as well as endurance characteristics of these muscles. The average change in peak torque of the quadriceps muscle was + 19% (P<0.001) in the trained limb, + 11% (P<0.01) in the untrained limb and 0% in the control limbs. In hamstring muscles the changes were + 14% (P<0.01), + 5% and −1%, respectively. Concerning muscle endurance (work performed during the last 5 contractions in the 25-repetition test) the corresponding changes were + 15% (P<0.01), +7% (P<0.01), and −1% in quadriceps muscle, and + 17% (P<0.05), +7%, and −3% in hamstring muscles. The average strength benefit in the untrained limb was +36% (hamstring muscles) and +58% (quadriceps muscle) of that achieved in the trained limb. Untrained hamstring muscle showed better benefits in the endurance parameters than in strength or power parameters, while in the quadriceps muscle this effect was reversed. A positive relationship was observed between the changes (greater improvement in the trained limb resulted in greater improvement in the untrained limb) (hamstring muscles:r=0.83,P<0.001, quadriceps muscle:r=0.53,P<0.001). In endurance parameters, this relationship was almost linear while in the strength and power parameters the results were more in favour of a curvilinear relationship with limited benefit.
Swan-Ganz catheter-induced pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm: review of radiological diagnosis and management

Iatrogenic pulmonary pseudoaneurysm is a well-known but uncommon complication related to Swan-Ganz catheters. The radiologist can play an important role in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of this potentially lethal complication. The authors present a case demonstrating the typical clinical and radiological presentation, and describe the role of interventional radiologic management.
Therapy Insight: guidelines for selection of contraception in women with rheumatic diseases

Use of contraceptives by women with rheumatic diseases, especially those with systemic lupus erythematosus, has long been thought to carry risks, such as disease exacerbation, thrombosis and other adverse effects. The use of effective contraception has, therefore, been avoided, despite many affected women being of reproductive age. Knowledge of risks and benefits of contraceptive methods in the general population has improved, as have the safety and effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. Methods of administration have evolved and now include transdermal and intravaginal routes, a progesterone-releasing intrauterine device, and an extended-cycle oral contraceptive. Birth control pills are not all alike; the risk of adverse effects varies depending on the amount of estrogen and type of progestin used. Data show that patients with stable systemic lupus erythematosus are not at increased risk of disease flare while taking standard oral contraceptives. Despite a lack of randomized studies, evidence strongly suggests that the elevated risk of thrombosis makes estrogen-containing contraceptives unsuitable for patients with antiphospholipid antibody. Other important issues include potential interactions between hormonal contraceptives and other medications and possible risk of infection if an intrauterine device is used. Rheumatologists are increasingly working with gynecologists and patients to make choices about which contraceptive methods to use. Decisions should be individualized according to the patient's medical status, personal preference, and stage of reproductive life.
Optical Channels: Practical Limits with Photon Counting

In optical communication, ideal amplification of the received signal leads to a limiting signaling rate of 1 nat per photon. This is much inferior to the optimum limit of kT joules/nat, which we can theoretically approach by counting photons. Practically, the rates we can attain by photon counting will be limited by how elaborate codes we can instrument rather than by thermal photons.
Characterization of third-harmonic generation from femtosecond laser-excited silicon

Third-harmonic generation (THG) from silicon crystals excited by femtosecond pulses has been studied. THG as a function of probe pulse delay from linear and circularly polarized probe pulses was examined. Both polarizations exhibit a fast, 300 fs drop in THG when the Si is pumped by pulses with fluence above the melting threshold. This drop for both polarizations indicates that electronic effects dominate THG in laser-melted Si since structural effects should principally influence THG from linearly polarized probes, suggesting that care needs to be exercised in interpreting THG signal as an ultrafast probe of crystalline structure in semiconductors.
Sp1/Sp3 and PU.1 Differentially Regulate β5Integrin Gene Expression in Macrophages and Osteoblasts

Murine osteoclast precursors and osteoblasts express the integrin alpha(v)beta(5), the appearance of which on the cell surface is controlled by the beta(5), and not the alpha(v), subunit. Here, we show that a 173-base pair proximal region of the beta(5) promoter mediates beta(5) basal transcription in macrophage (osteoclast precursor)-like and osteoblast-like cells. DNase I footprinting reveal four regions (FP1-FP4) within the 173-base pair region, protected by macrophage nuclear extracts. In contrast, osteoblast nuclear extracts protect only FP1, FP2, and FP3. FP1, FP2, and FP3 bind Sp1 and Sp3 from both macrophage and osteoblast nuclear extracts. FP4 does not bind osteoblast proteins but binds PU.1 from macrophages. Transfection studies show that FP1 and FP2 Sp1/Sp3 sites act as enhancers in both MC3T3-E1 (osteoblast-like) and J774 (macrophage-like) cell lines, whereas the FP3 Sp1/Sp3 site serves as a silencer. Mutation of the FP2 Sp1/Sp3 site totally abolishes promoter activity in J774 cells, with only partial reduction in MC3T3-E1 cells. Finally, we demonstrate that PU.1 acts as a beta(5) silencer in J774 cells but plays no role in MC3T3-E1 cells. Thus, three Sp1/Sp3 sites regulate beta(5) gene expression in macrophages and osteoblast-like cells, with each element exhibiting cell-type and/or activation-suppression specificity.
The effect of language on Chinese and American 2- and 3-year olds’ small number identification

Recent research has found that linguistic cues may affect children's number word acquisition. Two studies were undertaken to evaluate the use of singular/plural markings and small number words in Chinese and English and its effect on children's number concepts. The first study utilized the CHILDES data and investigated how singular/plural markings and number words of "one," "two," and "three" are used in Chinese and compared it with that of English. The second study entailed testing twenty-four 2.4- to 3.3-year-old Chinese- and English-speaking children on number identification tasks. Results show that the English-speaking children performed significantly better than Chinese-speaking children in identifying "two," "three," and "four" as referents for collections of multiple items but not in identifying those number words as referents for specific pluralities. Additionally, the results show that English-speaking children were more inclined to count when quantifying small number sets than Chinese-speaking children.
Suppression of Acceptor Solubilities in BaTiO3 Densified in Highly Reducing Atmospheres

The solubilities or acceptor impurities are strongly suppressed when BaTiO 3 is densified in highly reducing atmospheres. This is evidenced by a shirt in the minimum in the equilibrium electrical conductivity to higher oxygen activities, a decrease in the ionic contribution to the conductivity, and a decrease in the leakage current and the rate or leakage current degradation under temperature-voltage stress. The normal solubility is restored by subsequent anneals in air that result in substantial grain growth, and the properties then revert to those or BaTiO 3 sintered in air. The solubility suppression is attributed to a mass-action interaction between the processes that generate oxygen vacancies, those that result from the compensation or acceptor centers, and those that result from reduction
Early acquisition of homozygous deletions of p16/p19 during squamous cell carcinogenesis and genetic mosaicism in bladder cancer

We looked for p16/p19 deletion and p16 promoter methylation, as well as loss of 9p21 heterozygosity in pure squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), and in transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) of the bladder with SCC components. Homozygous deletion of p16/p19 was detected in 11 of 21 (52%) cases of pure SCCs and in three of ten (30%) cases of TCC with SCC. Three cases of TCC with SCC had p16/p19 deletion, hypermethylation of the p16 promoter, or LOH on 9p21 only in the SCC components, suggesting that these molecular alterations occurred preferentially in SCC. Interestingly, homozygous deletion of p16/p19 was observed in squamous metaplasia from bladder cancer patients (five of 11, 45%), showing that this change occurred in preneoplastic cells. On the other hand, p16/p19 deletions were not found in squamous metaplasias from non cancerous patients. Hypermethylation of the p16 promoter was observed in two of 14 tumors (14%) and none of seven metaplasias examined. These data suggest that: (a) p16/p19 deletion is associated with early carcinogenesis of SCC of the bladder, and squamous metaplasia of the bladder cancer patient has already sustained genetic changes found in cancer, and (b) genetic mosaicism occurs in cases of TCC with SCC, with the SCC component showing more frequent 9p21 alterations than the TCC component.
Quaternary structure and function in phage lambda repressor: 1H-NMR studies of genetically altered proteins.

Abstract The quaternary structure and dynamics of phage λ repressor are investigated in solution by 1H-NMR methods. λ repressor contains two domains separable by proteolysis: an N-terminal domain that mediates sequence-specific DNA-A binding, and a C-terminal domain that contains strong dimer and higher-order contacts. The active species in operator recognition is a dimer. Although the crystal structure of an N-terminal fragment has been determined, the intact protein has not been crystallized, and there is little evidence concerning its structure. 1H-NMR data indicate that the N-terminal domain is only loosely tethered to the C-terminal domain, and that its tertiary structure is unperturbed by proteolysis of the “linker” polypeptide. It is further shown that in the intact repressor structure a quaternary interaction occurs between N-terminal domains. This domain-domain interaction is similar to the dimer contact observed in the crystal structure of the N-terminal fragment and involves the hydrophobic pac...
Membrane depolarization accumulates during acquisition of an associative behavioral change

Long-lasting electrical changes of identified Hermissenda neurons, the type B photoreceptors, can account for concomitant associative behavioral changes. Depolarization of the type B cells after paired light and rotation accumulates (as monitored with intracellular electrodes) with reptition. This accumulation was specific to stimulus pairing (versus light alone or explicitly unpaired stimuli) and to the orientation of the nervous system with respect to the center of rotation; it provides a neural step in the acquisition of associative behavioral changes for gastropod mollusks and possibly other species.
Use of antidepressant medication and risk of type 2 diabetes: results from three cohorts of US adults

Aims/hypothesis The results of several studies have suggested a potential positive association between use of antidepressant medication (ADM) and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus. We examined this association in three cohorts of US adults. Methods We followed 29,776 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS, 1990–2006), 61,791 women in the Nurses’ Health Study I (NHS I, 1996– 2008) and 76,868 women in NHS II (1993–2005), who were free of diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline. The mean baseline ages for participants from the HPFS and NHS I and II were 56.4, 61.3 and 38.1 years, respectively. ADM use and other covariates were assessed at baseline and updated every 2 years. A time-dependent Cox proportional hazards model was used, and HRs were pooled together across the three cohorts. Results During 1,644,679 person-years of follow-up, we documented 6,641 new cases of type 2 diabetes. ADM use was associated with an increased risk of diabetes in all three cohorts in age-adjusted models (pooled HR 1.68 [95% CI 1.27, 2.23]). The association was attenuated after adjustment for diabetes risk factors and histories of high cholesterol and hypertension (1.30 [1.14, 1.49]), and further attenuated by controlling for updated BMI (1.17 [1.09, 1.25]). Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other antidepressants (mainly tricyclic antidepressants) were both associated with an elevated risk of diabetes, with pooled multivariate-adjusted HRs of 1.10 (1.00, 1.22) and 1.26 (1.11, 1.42), respectively. Conclusions/interpretation The results suggest that ADM users had a moderately elevated risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus compared with non-users, even after adjustment for BMI.
The Bleeding Edge: Resistance as Strength and Paralysis:

The study of feminism as a mark of feminist agency is examined across a range of feminist scholarship followed by reflections on the concluding scene of Ashapurna Devis novel in Bangla Pratham Pratisruti and ends with some conclusions based upon ethnographic work on Indian women and inheritance. The explorations of different sites of fiction and ethnography indicate that individual acts of womens resistance should be kept separate from the systemic changes that organized movements seek to effect. (authors)