cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human microvascular endothelial cell toxicity caused by Brazilian purpuric fever-associated strains of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius.

An in vitro cytotoxicity model that uses an immortalized human microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC-1) differentiates Brazilian purpuric fever (BPF)-associated Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius (HAE) strains from non-BPF-associated HAE strains. Toxic strains produced a characteristic HMEC-1 phenotype at an MOI of 1000 bacteria/TCC to produce an observable effect. The cytotoxic phenotype was characterized by the presence of large clumps of HMEC-1 cells, which detached from the monolayer within 48 h of inoculation by HAE cells. The cytotoxic phenotype was observed with 100% of BPF-associated HAE (40/40) and 14% of non-BPF-associated HAE (8/57; P < .001). The ability to study a BPF-associated phenotype in vitro using human microvascular cells should enhance our knowledge of BPF pathogenesis.
Heat shock inhibits cytokine-induced nitric oxide synthase expression by rat and human islets.

In this study the effects of heat shock on interleukin-1β (IL-1)-induced inhibition of islet metabolic function were examined. Treatment of rat islets for 18 h with IL-1 results in a potent inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The inhibitory effects of IL-1 on insulin secretion are completely prevented if islets are pretreated for 60 min at 42 C before cytokine stimulation. Heat shock also prevents IL-1-induced inhibition of insulinoma RINm5F cell mitochondrial aconitase activity. The protective effects of heat shock on islet metabolic function are associated with the inhibition of IL-1-stimulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS or NOS II) expression. Islets heat shocked for 60 min at 42 C fail to express iNOS (messenger RNA or protein) or produce nitrite in response to IL-1. IL-1-induced iNOS expression by rat islets requires activation of the transcriptional regulator nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Heat shock prevents IL-1- induced NF-κB nuclear localization by inhibiting inhibitory pro...
Improvement of a simple method to purify ribonucleotide reductase.

Abstract The use of an ATP-agarose column to purify ribonucleotide reductase from human D-98 cells was recently reported.1 The column selectively retains < 99.9% of the contaminating nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase from crude preparations of ribonucleotide reductase. It was presently found, however, that extending the length of the column caused the ribonucleotide reductase to dissociate into subunits. One subunit appeared in the low ionic strength buffer wash while the other required 0.5 M KC1 for elution. The enzyme could also be recovered Intact (non-dissociated) by equilibrating the enzyme preparation and the column with 0.5 M KC1 prior to chromatography. Either method greatly improved the overall yield and the specific activity of the ribonucleotide reductase because it prevented the binding and subsequent loss of any of the subunits. In addition, the use of a larger column permitted the gel-filtration properties of the ATP-agarose to separate the bulk of the residual (not bound) NDP kinase from ...
Metal-clad planar four-layer optical waveguide

The results deduced for a waveguide geometry consisting of four planar dielectric layers in a different context [ J. Opt. Soc. Am. A4, 2141 ( 1987)] are adapted to obtain the attenuation coefficient of the guided mode supported by a metal-clad planar dielectric waveguide for both the transverse electric and the transverse magnetic modes.
Differential binding to soluble nuclear receptors and effects on cell viability of retinol and retinoic acid in cultured retinoblastoma cells

Abstract Human retinoblastoma cells in culture contain soluble receptors for both 3H-retinol and 3H-retinoic acid which are separate and distinct as assessed by specificity, enzyme susceptibility and binding affinity. Total cellular binding of retinol correlates well with its rapid effect on cell mortality. A limited number of soluble nuclear receptor sites for 3H-retinoic acid but not 3H-retinol are observed after incubation of the 3H-retinoid with intact cells indicating a possible preferential effect of retinoic acid at the gene level.
Comparing the use of evidence and culture in targeted colorectal cancer communication for African Americans

Abstract Objective This study examined the effects (affective reactions, cognitive reactions and processing, perceived benefits and barriers and intent to screen) of targeted peripheral + evidential (PE) and peripheral + evidential + socio-cultural (PE + SC) colorectal cancer communications. Methods This study was a two-arm randomized control study of cancer communication effects on affective, cognitive processing, and behavioral outcomes over a 22-week intervention. There were 771 African American participants, 45–75 years, participating in the baseline survey related to CRC screening. Three follow-up interviews that assessed intervention effects on affective response to the publications, cognitive processing, and intent to obtain CRC screening were completed. Results There were no statistically significant differences between PE and PE + SC intervention groups for affect, cognitive processing or intent to screen. However, there were significant interactions effects on outcome variables. Conclusions The advantages and disadvantages of PE + SC targeted cancer communications and implications of sex differences are considered. Practice implications While there do not appear to be significant differences in behavioral outcomes when using PE and PE + SC strategies, there appear to be subtle differences in affective and cognitive processing outcomes related to medical suspicion and ethnic identity, particularly as it relates to gender.
Verbal commands as discriminative stimuli in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris)

Abstract Domestic canids now have more uses than as pets and hunting partners. For example, humans have found them useful in the detection of drugs, as companions (e.g. those used in therapy for the mentally handicapped), and as aids to the physically handicapped. In this study, three dogs were used as subjects in five separate experimental tasks to test the abilities of these animals for increased usefulness as service dogs for the handicapped. The tasks included retrieving a particular wooden object in a three-choice situation as requested by the handler, locating the same objects at varying heights, retrieving the objects from behind a barrier, retrieving the objects when replaced by plastic ones, and returning to the handler without an object when the requested item was missing from a group of three presented objects. All three subjects were able to complete all five experimental tasks at a correct performance level of 83% or above (range 83–92%). In addition, their performances were comparable to those which have been studied in other (non-human) species. Thus, in this study, the dogs showed that it may be possible for humans to increase the difficulty of tasks required and, hence, the usefulness of domestic dogs as aids to the handicapped.
QUINONE AND PIGMENT COMPOSITION OF CHLOROPLASTS AND QUANTASOME AGGREGATES FROM SPINACIA OLERACEA.

Abstract Quantsome aggregates isolated from spinach chloroplasts have the same pigment and quinone composition as do whole chloroplasts. The pigments comprise chlorophylls a and b, violaxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin and β-carotene as the main components. The quinone compounds include plastoquinone A and B, phylloquinone (vitamin K1), α-tocopherylquinone and α-tocopherol. Pigments and quinones together constitute about 27% of the quantasome lipids. Quinones and total carotenoids contribute equally to the lipid portion. The data described here lend further support to the assumption that the quantasome represents a functional photosynthetic unit.
GABAergic modulation of motor-driven behaviors in juvenile Drosophila and evidence for a nonbehavioral role for GABA transport

We have identified specific GABAergic-modulated behaviors in the juvenile stage of the fruit fly, Drosophilamelanogaster via systemic treatment of second instar larvae with the potent GABA transport inhibitor DL-2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DABA). DABA significantly inhibited motor-controlled body wall and mouth hook contractions and impaired rollover activity and contractile responses to touch stimulation. The perturbations in locomotion and rollover activity were reminiscent of corresponding DABA-induced deficits in locomotion and the righting reflex observed in adult flies. The effects were specific to these motor-controlled behaviors, because DABA-treated larvae responded normally in olfaction and phototaxis assays. Recovery of these behaviors was achieved by cotreatment with the vertebrate GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin. Pharmacological studies performed in vitro with plasma membrane vesicles isolated from second instar larval tissues verified the presence of high-affinity, saturable GABA uptake mechanisms. GABA uptake was also detected in plasma membrane vesicles isolated from behaviorally quiescent stages. Competitive inhibition studies of [3H]-GABA uptake into plasma membrane vesicles from larval and pupal tissues with either unlabeled GABA or the transport inhibitors DABA, nipecotic acid, or valproic acid, revealed differences in affinities. GABAergic-modulation of motor behaviors is thus conserved between the larval and adult stages of Drosophila, as well as in mammals and other vertebrate species. The pharmacological studies reveal shared conservation of GABA transport mechanisms between Drosophila and mammals, and implicate the involvement of GABA and GABA transporters in regulating physiological processes distinct from neurotransmission during behaviorally quiescent stages of development. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2004
Hydrologic Setting of Two Interdunal Valleys in the Central Sand Hills of Nebraska

The Sand Hills of Nebraska, one of the largest grass-stabilized dune regions in the world, has nearly 5000 km2 of wetland environments and is one of the most productive waterfowl regions of the United States. Yet, the hydrology of the region is not well defined. This paper presents the results of a two-and-a-half-year study to characterize the hydrology of two distinctly different interdunal valleys within the Sand Hills. The valleys, located at the Gudmundsen Sand Hills Laboratory in the central Sand Hills, reflect the two major types of interdunal environments: dry, short grass valleys (the east valley) and subirrigated wet meadows (the west valley). In the west valley, ground water flows from west to east and there are significant, upward vertical gradients (0.005 to 0.045). In contrast, ground water in the east valley predominantly flows from west-southwest to east-northeast. Where vertical gradients exist, they are downward (0.0025 to 0.07). Therefore, the east valley is a “recharge” or flow-through valley. Seasonal ground water table fluctuations indicate that net recharge is greatest between growing seasons. The relatively high topographic relief of the water table on the flanks of the west valley, resulting from higher topographic relief of the adjacent dunes, drives ground water discharge into the valley wetland, developing a local flow system. In contrast, the topography of the water table in the east valley, which is flanked by dunes with lower relief, is insufficient to generate a distinct local ground water flow system.
TWO YEARS OF SALMONID WINTER CULTURE EXPERIMENTS IN COASTAL ALABAMA1

Experiments in the winter culture of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) in brackish water were conducted during the fall and winter 1971–72 and 1972–73. Similar experiments with coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) were conducted during the fall and winter of 1972–73. Gains produced during each culture period with rainbow trout were substantial and resulted in a product we consider of marketable size. Coho salmon did not match gains produced on rainbow trout; however, their tolerance to warm-water enabled their culture to be extended 6-weeks beyond that of rainbow trout. This paper discusses culture techniques used and production data obtained during these 2 years of salmonid winter culture.
Introduction of entomogenous nematodes into trickle irrigation systems to control striped cucumber beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Infective juveniles of Neoaplectana carpocapsae Weiser were successfully recovered in a uniform distribution from both biwall and triwall trickle tube irrigation emitters, indicating that this method of nematode distribution may be feasible in controlling soil insects in irrigated vegetables. Heterorhabditts sp. and N. carpocapsae were both highly effective in laboratory experiments against striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum (F.), larvae. Field tests, in which Heterorhabditis sp. infective juveniles were introduced manually and through trickle irrigation, were inconclusive due to low levels of striped cucumber beetles; however, the technique of application of nematodes through trickle irrigation should be more thoroughly tested.
A Risk Allele for Nicotine Dependence in CHRNA5 Is a Protective Allele for Cocaine Dependence

Background A nonsynonymous coding polymorphism, rs16969968, of the CHRNA5 gene that encodes the alpha-5 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) has been found to be associated with nicotine dependence. The goal of this study was to examine the association of this variant with cocaine dependence. Methods Genetic association analysis was performed in two independent samples of unrelated case and control subjects: 1) 504 European Americans participating in the Family Study on Cocaine Dependence (FSCD) and 2) 814 European Americans participating in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). Results In the FSCD, there was a significant association between the CHRNA5 variant and cocaine dependence (odds ratio = .67 per allele, p = .0045, assuming an additive genetic model), but in the reverse direction compared with that previously observed for nicotine dependence. In multivariate analyses that controlled for the effects of nicotine dependence, both the protective effect for cocaine dependence and the previously documented risk effect for nicotine dependence were statistically significant. The protective effect for cocaine dependence was replicated in the COGA sample. In COGA, effect sizes for habitual smoking, a proxy phenotype for nicotine dependence, were consistent with those observed in FSCD. Conclusions The minor (A) allele of rs16969968, relative to the major G allele, appears to be both a risk factor for nicotine dependence and a protective factor for cocaine dependence. The biological plausibility of such a bidirectional association stems from the involvement of nAChRs with both excitatory and inhibitory modulation of dopamine-mediated reward pathways.
Windows of opportunity to improve diabetes care when patients with diabetes are hospitalized for other conditions.

OBJECTIVE —The overwhelming majority of hospitalizations for patients with diabetes occur for treatment of comorbid conditions. This study assessed broad-based interventions to improve diabetes care for patients hospitalized with cardiac conditions. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —A pre-post quasi-experimental study design was used to evaluate the implementation of two quality improvement interventions: 1 ) revision of the hospital’s capillary blood glucose monitoring form into a color-coded process control chart and 2 ) a clinical path for type 2 diabetes as a secondary diagnosis. Interventions were implemented on the medical and surgical cardiac care units (not including the intensive care units on these services) of a tertiary academic medical center. A chart abstraction sample included 328 subjects with no exposure to the interventions and 336 subjects hospitalized after both interventions were implemented. Telephone surveys were conducted after discharge on 446 patients. RESULTS —The frequency of patients with severe hyperglycemia (at least one glucose level >400 mg/dl) and prolonged hyperglycemia (at least three consecutive glucose levels >250 mg/dl) decreased from 12 and 17% preintervention to 6.6 and 10% postintervention ( P = 0.017 and P = 0.013, respectively). We found that 9% of the patients preintervention and 5% of the patients postintervention ( P = 0.05) had nosocomial infections. Patient-reported receipt of self-care instruction varied from 44 to 69% on nine survey items preintervention. Postintervention linear regression slopes for receipt of self-care instruction were all greater than preintervention slopes, but the differences did not achieve statistical significance. We found that 40% of the patients had important diabetes knowledge deficits. CONCLUSIONS —Our broad-based interventions were associated with a decreased frequency of prolonged and severe hyperglycemia and a decreased frequency of nosocomial infections. We also identified opportunities to improve diabetes self-care instruction before discharge and to address important knowledge deficits of patients.
Medical hypnosis for temporomandibular disorders: treatment efficacy and medical utilization outcome.

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a particular behavioral medicine treatment modality, medical hypnosis, on reducing the pain symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Methods: Twenty-eight patients who were recalcitrant to conservative treatment for TMD participated in a medical hypnosis treatment program and completed measures of their pain symptoms on 4 separate occasions: during wait list, before treatment, after treatment, and at a 6-month follow-up. In addition, pretreatment and posttreatment medical use were examined. Results: Statistical analysis of this open trial suggests that medical hypnosis is a potentially valuable treatment modality for TMD. Patients reported a significant decrease in pain frequency (F [3, 87] = 14.79, P
Chemical fractionation of uranium isotopes

Abstract Precise measurements were made of the chemical fractionation of uranium-235 and uranium-238 between several forms of U(IV) and U(VI) salts. The observed separation factors were very much smaller than previously supposed. It is shown that the chemical exchange method of isotope separation is unlikely to be economically or technically useful.
Carrier frequency and envelope of an electromagnetic wave

Two commonly used envelope representations of an electromagnetic field are compared. The analytic signal representation is shown to be preferable in that it leads to a more slowly varying envelope.
Perceived Counseling Effectiveness as a Function of Counselor's Self-Disclosure and Client's Prompting

The use of a counselor's self-disclosure as a constructive technique in the counseling interview has long been debated. Some counselors using self-disclosure were evaluated by subjects significantly more favorably than those who did not (2) though there is evidence to the contrary (I), i.e., no clear preference by subjects for self-disclosing intcrviewers. Further, a counselor's self-disclosure may, in certain instances, be detrimental to the effectiveness of the counseling process. The present study attempted to provide additional evidence concerning the effectiveness of self-disclosure as a counseling technique. The scudy also investigated the effects of a client's prompting of a counselor's self-disclosure on the perceived effectiveness of the counseling interview. The 40 undergraduates were randomly divided into four experimental groups. Thus, there were 10 subjects within each cell of a 2 X 2 (disclosure X prompting) factorial design. One-half of the subjects received brief written dialogs of a counseling session which included the counselor's self-disclosure. The other 20 subjects received dialogs containing a standard paraphrased response substituted for the self-disclosing statement. Also, within each level of the disclosure variable, one-half of the subjects received dialogs in which the client requested personal information from the counselor. The dependent measure was a questionnaire containing eight questions answered on a seven-point scale measuring subjects' dissatisfaction with the counselor's levels of understanding, activeness, caring, promotion of communication, and professionalism. One question involved the subject's willingness to recommend the counselor in the dialog to a friend. An analysis of variance of the total scores of dissatisfaction showed a main effect for disclosure (P = 10.21, p < .01). Self-disclosing counselors were seen more favorably over-all. A main effect for prompting was also found (P = 6.92, p < .05). Counselors conducting interviews in which there was prompting by a client were rated as less effective, regardless of the counselor's subsequent response. No interaction berween variables was found. Analyses of each of eight measures yielded four significant main effects for disclosure and two main effects for prompting. No interactions were found. The question involving subjects' willingness to recommend the counselor to a friend showed main effects for disclosure (p < .001) and prompting (p < .05). The main effect for the disclosure variable supports the results of many researchers promoting the use of self-disclosure in counseling. The finding that a client's responses may alter the perceived effectiveness of a counselor regardless of the counselor's response holds interesting implications and appears to warrant further smdy.
Response of a slotted orifice flow meter to an air/water mixture

Abstract The ability of a flow meter to respond predictably to the presence of liquid and gas is important to the natural gas industry and to users of steam. In both cases, the gas can become saturated and some liquids can condense in the line. The response of orifice flow meters to the presence of liquids is erratic and produces considerable uncertainty. Turbine flow meters can sustain severe damage when subjected to two phase flow. The slotted orifice flow meter has been developed to address the problem of upstream flow conditioning. This device has been shown to be insensitive to the upstream velocity profile. To further evaluate the flow meter for use by the natural gas industry, the effects of adding liquid to a gas flow upon the meter performance has been investigated by subjecting a slotted orifice flow meter with an equivalent β ratio of 0.50 to a two phase flow consisting of air and water.
Process controlling the slow sorption of quinoline onto clay during transport in columns

Abstract The sorption of quinoline onto clay-modified alumina was studied in order to determine 1) the cause of the observed slow approach to equilibrium, and 2) the validity of describing retarded transport with an effective K d approach. Possible rate-limiting mechanisms include aqueous diffusion into the porous particles, Knudsen diffusion, and chemical kinetics. Column experiments with nonsorbing ( 3 H) and sorbing ( 45 Ca, CaCl 2 ) tracers all exhibited fast sorption, indicating that diffusion processes are fast and ion exchange can be fast. In contrast, a slow approach to equilibrium is observed with quinoline. Quinoline sorption kinetics are therefore controlled by a specific quinoline/montmorillonite interaction (slow ion exchange or near-surface diffusion) because ordinary diffusion would have affected all of the solutes. The slow sorption may be caused by steric hindrance because the quinoline molecule is bulky and has only a single exchange site. Quinoline sorption to the surface was found to be generally nonlinear; but linearity below 10 mg/L enabled the exchange reaction to be represented as a first-order reversible reaction. The average desorption rate (k b ) for quinoline was 7.0 × 10 −4 /sec. It increased with increasing pH, indicating chemical control. Although most larger-scale field systems are likely to be essentially at equilibrium, the importance of determining the sorption rate-limiting mechanism will aid in designing remediation strategies, which can involve short-time manipulations of conditions over smaller scales.
The effects on frog neuromuscular transmission of agents which act upon microtubules and microfilaments

Abstract The effects of colchicine, colchicine-like agents and cytochalasin B were analyzed on end-plate potentials (epps) recorded intracellularly from frog sartorius muscles in which neuromuscular transmission was partially blocked with low Ca2+— high Mg2+ Ringer solutions. Colchicine and podophyllotoxin decreased the mean quantal content of the epp (m) while griseofulvin increased m. Vinblastine sulfate and cytochalasin B had no effect on transmitter release in the concentrations employed in the study. To determine whether or not the site of drug action was on the nerve terminal membrane or at a more intracellular level, the influence of the compounds on mobilization of transmitter was studied according to the frequency facilitation technique described by Maeno and Edwards (1969). The results indicate that colchicine, podophyllotoxin and griseofulvin act on the nerve terminal membrane to alter the probability of transmitter release and that the effects on m do not result from an intracellular effect on transmitter mobilization.
The dynamics of entrepreneurs’ networks in a transitioning economy: the case of Russia

Despite its theoretical and practical importance, the evolution and development of entrepreneurs’ networks has attracted a little attention of researchers. The emerging research literature on this topic found that the dynamics of entrepreneurial networks were contingent upon venture lifecycle, industry and region, and resource needs of the firm. In addition and contrast to the previous research, this article examines the effects of the initial network structure, and firm performance of previous years on the changes in entrepreneurs' network structure, relations, and resources over 4 years. The empirical data is composed of the face-to-face interviews with 75 Russian entrepreneurs in 1995, and the follow-up interviews with 56 original respondents in 1999. I found that the greater the initial network size, the less the increase in network size, strong and weak ties, and resources over time. Further, the findings indicate that revenue growth of previous years predicts the changes in networks in the reverse m...
Context-specific infinite mixtures for clustering gene expression profiles across diverse microarray dataset

Motivation: Identifying groups of co-regulated genes by monitoring their expression over various experimental conditions is complicated by the fact that such co-regulation is condition-specific. Ignoring the context-specific nature of co-regulation significantly reduces the ability of clustering procedures to detect co-expressed genes due to additional 'noise' introduced by non-informative measurements. Results: We have developed a novel Bayesian hierarchical model and corresponding computational algorithms for clustering gene expression profiles across diverse experimental conditions and studies that accounts for context-specificity of gene expression patterns. The model is based on the Bayesian infinite mixtures framework and does not require a priori specification of the number of clusters. We demonstrate that explicit modeling of context-specificity results in increased accuracy of the cluster analysis by examining the specificity and sensitivity of clusters in microarray data. We also demonstrate that probabilities of co-expression derived from the posterior distribution of clusterings are valid estimates of statistical significance of created clusters. Availability: The open-source package gimm is available at http://eh3.uc.edu/gimm Contact: Mario.Medvedovic@uc.edu Supplementary information: http://eh3.uc.edu/gimm/csimm
PHARMACOKINETICS AND METABOLISM OF TOPIRAMATE

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetic interactions of topiramate (TPM) in humans have been studied quite extensively. The available information on TPM pharmacokinetics is derived from studies that were specifically designed for this purpose. In contrast to most conventional antiepileptic drugs, the pharmacokinetic profile of TPM combines most of the properties that are desirable for an antiepileptic drug. Topiramate is rapidly absorbed, with a high bioavailability that is not affected by concomitant food intake. The volume of distribution is 0.6-0.8 l/kg, suggesting distribution into total body water. The binding of TPM to serum proteins is low, which precludes the displacement interactions that are seen between highly bound drugs such as valproate and phenytoin. The elimination kinetics of TPM are strictly linear and, accordingly, there is a linear relationship between maintenance dose and steady-state plasma levels. Topiramate is excreted predominantly by the kidneys as unmetabolized drug. This is generally associated with lower interpatient variability in elimination kinetics. Approximately 20% of orally administered TPM is metabolized in the liver and this fraction may increase up to 50% in the presence of enzyme-inducing drugs, such as phenytoin or carbamazepine. During chronic ingestion of TPM, there is no clinically significant accumulation of any active metabolite, even in patients taking enzyme-inducing drugs. The elimination half-life of TPM is relatively long and does not require more frequent than twice-daily dosing. Finally, TPM has a relatively low potential for drug interactions. The clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions between TPM and other antiepileptic drugs are limited to an increase in the clearance of TPM when inducing drugs such as phenytoin or carbamazepine are added. TPM has little or no effect on the pharmacokinetics of other antiepileptic drugs, but it can increase the clearance of the estrogenic component of oral contraceptives by up to 30%.
Global Educational Expansion and Socio-Economic Development: An Assessment of Findings from the Social Sciences

Summary Among development agencies, conventional wisdom holds that educational expansion improves economic welfare and health, reduces inequalities, and encourages democratic political systems. We investigate the empirical foundations for these expectations in recent social science research. Consistent evidence indicates that health and demographic benefits result from educational expansion, and suggests that education enhances, but does not ensure, individuals’ economic security. However, the impact of educational expansion on growth remains debated, and decades of sociological studies offer evidence that educational expansion does not necessarily narrow social inequalities. Finally, considerable controversy surrounds the implications of educational expansion for democratization. Reasonable forecasts of the consequences of further educational expansions need to consider the diverse social contexts in which these expansions will occur.
Improved metal vapor neutralization and resolution in neutralization‐reionization mass spectrometry

Increased differential pumping improves the simultaneous sequential operation of ion-beam neutralization, neutral dissociation, neutral product ionization, and ion product dissociation for neutralization-reionization (NR) mass spectrometry. Following Porter's developments for neutralized ion-beam spectroscopy, instrument modifications allow a wider variety of metals (vaporization up to 800 °C) to be used for neutralization and eliminate multiplier instabilities seen previously using neutralization metals such as sodium. Irreproducibility of recovered precursor ion signals using metal vapors of low ionization potential has been traced to mercury background. Double focusing of the ionized neutral beam yields NR mass spectra of the highest resolution yet reported.
Geometry is everywhere, part XLVII: metrics, nets, dimensions, and measures

The idea of a metric space is among the most basic of geometric concepts, and so appears in a great variety of applications and algorithms, sometimes in disguise. For a given metric, the idea of a net, in the general sense of a "collection of nicely distributed points," appears naturally, but there are many conceptions of what it means to be nicely distributed; often this is a function of a parameter e > 0, which might be for example the minimum distance between pairs of points in the net. For a given version of nets, the idea of dimension appears naturally, as the exponent in the growth rate of nets as a function of e, while measures on metric spaces give the constant factor in that growth rate. As the parameter e is varied, the scale of relevant "features" of the metric space changes; that is, variation in e is a simple form of "multi-resolution analysis." I will survey a little bit of the wealth of variations and implications of these beautiful ideas, both those familiar to the SOCG community and those a little more obscure, with such topics as: the greedy algorithm and other algorithms for building nets; curvature-based metrics; the energy dimension and its relation to random projection; the interplay between continuous concepts and discrete applications; and different versions of multi-resolution.
Colonialism and its Contradictions: Indians, Blacks and Social Power in Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century Mexico

This article examines patterns in the black/Indian relationship in Mexico during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It focuses on microlevels of society and on the practice of power in two pivotal domains, one centered on instances of labor coercion and civil control, and the other on what was labelled “witchcraft.” The analysis suggests that Spanish colonialism embodied contradictions at its very foundations as it created sites of power for both blacks and Indians, who were alternately constituted as dominating and subordinated subjects vis-a-vis each other and the Spanish colonizers.
Packing Fraction Differences Among Heavy Elements

A group of new packing-fraction-difference measurements are reported for the following elements: chromium, gadolinium, gold, lutecium, molybdenum, osmium, platinum, ruthenium, strontium, tantalum, tin, uranium, ytterbium and zirconium. By combining these differences with known packing fractions a number of new packing fractions are deduced. These are plotted on a packing-fraction curve. Atomic weights of osmium and lutecium are calculated. The atomic weight of osmium is still below the chemical value, while that of lutecium is shown to be the same as a recent chemical determination.
Theory of gas diffusion and permeation in inorganic molecular-sieve membranes

Theoretical models of gas diffusion and permeation in microporous molecular-sieve membranes are presented. The effect of the adsorbed diffusant on the total transmembrane flow is insignificant for permanent gases. For highly adsorbable gases the effect of the adsorbed molecules on the total transmembrane flux may be high at low temperatures. The activation energy of diffusion increases when the kinetic diameter of the diffusant increases. The activation energy of gas diffusion compares well with the values calculated based on the Lennard-Jones potential. Maximum possible permeability coefficients calculated for He in the molecular-sieve membranes do not exceed [approximately] 30,000 Barrer at room temperature. The experimentally observed value for He permeability is [approximately] 1,000 Barrer (T = 30 C) because of the high tortuosity ([tau] [approx] 25) and low porosity ([theta] = 0.22) of the membrane porous structure.
Multiple sessions of liposomal doxorubicin delivery via focused ultrasound mediated blood-brain barrier disruption: a safety study

Abstract Transcranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound is a rapidly advancing method for delivering therapeutic and imaging agents to the brain. It has the ability to facilitate the passage of therapeutics from the vasculature to the brain parenchyma, which is normally protected by the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The method's main advantages are that it is both targeted and noninvasive, and that it can be easily repeated. Studies have shown that liposomal doxorubicin (Lipo-DOX), a chemotherapy agent with promise for tumors in the central nervous system, can be delivered into the brain across BBB. However, prior studies have suggested that doxorubicin can be significantly neurotoxic, even at small concentrations. Here, we studied whether multiple sessions of Lipo-DOX administered after FUS-induced BBB disruption (FUS-BBBD) induces severe adverse events in the normal brain tissues. First, we used fluorometry to measure the doxorubicin concentrations in the brain after FUS-BBBD to ensure that a clinically relevant doxorubicin concentration was achieved in the brain. Next, we performed three weekly sessions with FUS-BBBD ± Lipo-DOX administration. Five to twelve targets were sonicated each week, following a schedule described previously in a survival study in glioma-bearing rats (Aryal et al., 2013). Five rats received three weekly sessions where i.v. injected Lipo-DOX was combined with FUS-BBBD; an additional four rats received FUS-BBBD only. Animals were euthanized 70 days from the first session and brains were examined in histology. We found that clinically-relevant concentrations of doxorubicin (4.8 ± 0.5 μg/g) were delivered to the brain with the sonication parameters (0.69 MHz; 0.55–0.81 MPa; 10 ms bursts; 1 Hz PRF; 60 s duration), microbubble concentration (Definity, 10 μl/kg), and the administered Lipo-DOX dose (5.67 mg/kg) used. The resulting concentration of Lipo-DOX was reduced by 32% when it was injected 10 min after the last sonication compared to cases where the agent was delivered before sonication. In histology, the severe neurotoxicity observed in some previous studies with doxorubicin by other investigators was not observed here. However, four of the five rats who received FUS-BBBD and Lipo-DOX had regions (dimensions: 0.5–2 mm) at the focal targets with evidence of minor prior damage, either a small scar (n = 4) or a small cyst (n = 1). The focal targets were unaffected in rats who received FUS-BBBD alone. The result indicates that while delivery of Lipo-DOX to the rat brain might result in minor damage, the severe neurotoxicity seen in earlier works does not appear to occur with delivery via FUS-BBB disruption. The damage may be related to capillary damage produced by inertial cavitation, which might have resulted in excessive doxorubicin concentrations in some areas.
On the interlaminar stresses of a composite plate around the neighborhood of a hole

Abstract The author in this paper investigates the 3-D stress field in the immediate vicinity of a bonded interface and the free edge of a hole in a laminated composite plate. The laminates are assumed to be of homogeneous and Isotropic materials, but of different elastic properties. As to loading, a uniform tensile load is applied in the plane of the plate and at points far remote from the hole (shown in Fig. 1). In constructing the local asymptotic solution, the author assumes the 3-D field in a certain form which then permits a straightforward Williams approach for the determination of the stress singularities. The displacement and stress fields are recovered explicitly and a stress singularity is shown to exist for certain shear moduli ratios of G 2 /G 1 In general, the stress singularity is shown to be a function of the respective ratios of the shear moduli and Poisson's ratio. Moreover, the presence of a second singularity is observed which has significant implications for the problem of adhesion. An extension of the results to anisotropic layers is also discussed.
Unique Benefits of Conference Attendance as a Method of Professional Development for LIS Professionals

Many conference events are held annually by organizations in and related to the Library and Information Science (LIS) field. This article examines whether conferences are a beneficial method of professional development, how to decide which events to attend, and what benefits can be accrued by conference attendance. In particular, it seeks to isolate those benefits of conference attendance that are unique, meaning that they could not be achieved through any of the numerous other methods of continuing education 1 (listservs, blogs, online training sessions, etc.). The conclusion is reached that conferences are indeed an important method of professional development that affords LIS professionals unique benefits based on recent scholarship in the professional literature and positive evaluation of recent conferences through observation and program analysis.
A transport equation model and diffusion approximation for the walk of whirligig beetles

The circular walk of whirligig beetles, in the absence of swarming behaviour, is described by a coupled system of transport equations. For this system, an approximate description is derived in the form of coupled damped wave equations and ultimately in the form of a scalar diffusion equation. The resulting diffusion coefficient is quite different from what one would get for a walk on straight lines with tumbling (as in bacterial motion).
Youth Maltreatment and Gang Involvement

Although childhood maltreatment has been found to contribute to a variety of youth problem behaviors, the implications of being maltreated on gang involvement remain unclear. This research examines whether physical and sexual maltreatment raises the risk of gang involvement among secondary school students. Findings show that being maltreated increases the probability of gang involvement, independent of demographic factors. When youth are subjected to extreme levels of maltreatment, their odds of participating in gang activities differ only slightly from youth who report occasional maltreatment, suggesting that prevalence measures may be better predictors of gang involvement than incidence measures. When youth are beaten physically and molested sexually, their odds of gang involvement are four times higher than youth who do not experience maltreatment. Finally, being maltreated is a much more robust correlate of gang involvement than the level of support, communication, educational interest, and supervisio...
Topical fat reduction from the waist

Objective: Topical fat reduction from the thigh in women using aminophylline cream has been demonstrated, but the local fat reduction in other body areas or in men by lowering the local lipolytic threshold has not been demonstrated. This study is designed to test the hypothesis that aminophylline cream application to the waist will reduce waist circumference compared with a control. Research methods and procedures: Fifty men and women who are 21–65 years of age with a BMI greater than 27 kg/m2 and a waist to hip ratio ≥average were randomized in a 1 : 1 ratio to 0.5% aminophylline cream to the waist twice a day or no treatment to the waist. All subjects were instructed to follow a 1200 kcal balanced diet, participate in a walking program and return biweekly to encourage compliance. A theophylline level was drawn monthly, and the waist, BMI and waist to hip ratio were remeasured at 12 weeks. Results: At week 12, there was a significant reduction in BMI from baseline that was not different between the groups. The reduction in waist circumference was 11 ± 1.0 cm in the aminophylline cream group and 5.0 ± 0.6 cm in the control group (p < 0.001). The reduction in waist circumference was significant for both women and men, but the women lost significantly more waist girth. The waist to hip ratio, a measure of fat distribution, declined. Aminophylline levels were undetectable, and there were no adverse events. Discussion: Aminophylline cream offers a safe and effective method for cosmetic local fat reduction from the waist.
Hispanic-American Poverty

Since 1970, the Hispanic-American population has grown rapidly and has become a progressively larger proportion of the overall American population. Over the same time period, the Hispanic share of total American poverty has grown at an even more rapid pace. Hispanic-Americans, however, are not a homogeneous cultural or economic segment of the population. Although Hispanics in general have experienced poverty rates which far exceed the national rates, there are large differences among various Hispanic ethnic groups. The purpose of this article is to examine the patterns of poverty within the Hispanic-American community.
Consequences of Lineage-Specific Gene Loss on Functional Evolution of Surviving Paralogs: ALDH1A and Retinoic Acid Signaling in Vertebrate Genomes

Genome duplications increase genetic diversity and may facilitate the evolution of gene subfunctions. Little attention, however, has focused on the evolutionary impact of lineage-specific gene loss. Here, we show that identifying lineage-specific gene loss after genome duplication is important for understanding the evolution of gene subfunctions in surviving paralogs and for improving functional connectivity among human and model organism genomes. We examine the general principles of gene loss following duplication, coupled with expression analysis of the retinaldehyde dehydrogenase Aldh1a gene family during retinoic acid signaling in eye development as a case study. Humans have three ALDH1A genes, but teleosts have just one or two. We used comparative genomics and conserved syntenies to identify loss of ohnologs (paralogs derived from genome duplication) and to clarify uncertain phylogenies. Analysis showed that Aldh1a1 and Aldh1a2 form a clade that is sister to Aldh1a3-related genes. Genome comparisons showed secondarily loss of aldh1a1 in teleosts, revealing that Aldh1a1 is not a tetrapod innovation and that aldh1a3 was recently lost in medaka, making it the first known vertebrate with a single aldh1a gene. Interestingly, results revealed asymmetric distribution of surviving ohnologs between co-orthologous teleost chromosome segments, suggesting that local genome architecture can influence ohnolog survival. We propose a model that reconstructs the chromosomal history of the Aldh1a family in the ancestral vertebrate genome, coupled with the evolution of gene functions in surviving Aldh1a ohnologs after R1, R2, and R3 genome duplications. Results provide evidence for early subfunctionalization and late subfunction-partitioning and suggest a mechanistic model based on altered regulation leading to heterochronic gene expression to explain the acquisition or modification of subfunctions by surviving ohnologs that preserve unaltered ancestral developmental programs in the face of gene loss.
Motivation, Personality Organization, and the Four Psychologies of Psychoanalysis

Four psychologies currently significant in psychoanalytic thinking are described. An attempt is made to (a) advance developmental proposals describing how the phenomena of each of the four achieve motivational status in the intrapsychic life of the individual and (b) develop a model for the understanding of personality organization across the four psychologies, based on the development of personal hierarchies that establish which issues are superordinate and which subordinate. Taken together, these two points are used to suggest that the four psychologies may not simply represent differing perspectives on intrapsychic phenomena (though they do that, in part) but that they also, simultaneously, represent relatively independent ways in which intrapsychic life is organized.
Recent improvements in superconducting cable for accelerator dipole magnets

The superconducting magnets required for the SSC (Superconducting Super Collider) have provided a focus and a substantial challenge for the development of superconducting wire and cable. The number of strands in the cable has been increased from 23 for the Tevatron to 30 for the SSC inner layer cable and 36 for the SSC outer cable. Critical current degradation associated with cabling has been reduced from 15% for the Tevatron to less than 5%. R&D which has led to these improvements is described and the opportunities for further advances are discussed. >