cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The cost of cataract surgery in a public health eye care program in Nepal

Abstract Using data from the Lumbini Zonal Eye Care Program in Nepal, the authors estimated marginal costs, capital costs, and average recurring costs for a public health cataract program with and without donor agency overhead expenditures. Each estimate is useful for guiding decisions under certain conditions. Marginal costs are appropriate for short-term planning. Average in-country recurring cost figures are needed to project budgets for longer term program costs or major program expansion. A portion of donor agency overhead costs should be included if expansion requires more donor agency contributions. Marginal costs are estimated at US $3.01 per case. In-country recurring costs are about $13.91. Capital costs excluding hospital construction are an additional $2.42. Seva's USA administrative expenditures in support of the cataract component of the program add about another $5.38. Total costs were about $21.71 per case.
Hydrogen component fugacity coefficients in binary mixtures with ethane: Pressure dependence

The fugacity coefficients of hydrogen in binary mixtures with ethane were measured. Data were taken using an experimental chamber which is divided into two regions by a semipermeable membrane through which hydrogen, but not ethane, can penetrate. The measurement of the gas pressures inside and outside the membrane gives the hydrogen component fugacity at a given temperature, binary mixture mole fraction, and mixture pressure. In this paper, results are reported at mixture pressures of 5.25, 6.97, 10.21, and 13.47 MPa. In each case, the temperature of the mixture was maintained at an average value of 130°C (403.15 K). The general qualitative features of the data are discussed, and comparisons are made with predictions obtained from the Redlich-Kwong and Peng-Robinson equations of state.
Contrastive Stress and Children’s Interpretation of Pronouns

Contrastive stress signals the hearer that the speaker thinks that certain information is not shared by the speaker and hearer. In the case of stressed pronouns the speaker is signalling the inappr...
Connection between energy relations of solids and molecules

The universal energy relation, discovered for metallic and covalent solids as well as nuclear matter, is tested for diatomic molecules. It is found that it applies well to covalent diatomic bonds, but that ionic diatomic bonds are in a distinct class. A simple extension of the universal binding energy relation that includes the effects of ionicity ensues. It yields accurate prediction of spectroscopic data for both ionic and covalent bonds in 150 molecules. The form of the covalent part is given by the universal relation, suggesting an intimate relationship between the energetics of solids and diatomic molecules.
Identification of two types of autoreactive T lymphocyte clones cultured from cardiac allograft-infiltrating cells incubated with recombinant mycobacterial heat shock protein 71.

Abstract Recent studies in several laboratories have advanced the concept that during cellular rejection, the allograft undergoes a stress response which upregulates the expression of stress proteins (or heat shock proteins, hsp) and triggers the recruitment and activation of hsp-reactive lymphocytes. In a rat of heterotopic heart transplants we have found that allograft-infiltrating lymphocytes respond to recombinant mycobacterial hsp and irradiated syngeneic spleen cells as a source of self-APC (antigen-presenting cells). This report describes T cell clones generated by culturing ACI into Lewis rat cardiac allograft-derived lymphocytes with mycobacterial hsp71, syngeneci spleen cells and IL-2 (interleukin-2). Two groups of self-APC-reactive T cell clones have been distinguished, all of them are CD3 + , CD8 − . One group is referred to as hsp71-dependent, autoreactive T cells because these clones respond to self-APC but only in the presence of hsp71. No reactivity is seen with mycobacterial hsp65 or when hsp71 is tested with allo-APC from ACI donors or third-party APC from Brown Norway (BN) rats. Treatment of hsp71 with trypsin, polymyxin B or ATP-agarose chromatography abrogates the hsp71 effect thus indicating that structrually intact hsp71 molecules must interact with self-APC which then activate hsp71-dependent, autoreactive T cells. The second group of clones reacts to self-APC and while their response does not require the presence of hsp71, their proliferation is often augmented by hsp71 but not by hsp65. These hsp71-independent, autoreactive clones do nor respond to allo-APC from ACI donos nor third-party APC from BN rats. Polymyxin or trypsin treatment had no significant effect on their proliferative responses. The data with the anti-TCR-αβ monoclonal antibody R73 offer additional evidence for two functioanally different types of self-APC reactive CD4 cells infiltrating the allograft. R73 inhibits the proliferation of self-APC induced responses of hsp71-independent clones as well as the allo-APC induced responses of alloreactive T cell clones. In contrast, this antibody augments the responses of hsp71-dependent T cells. Moreover, clones can also proliferate in response to self-APC when hsp71 is substituted by R73. The hsp71-dependency of self-APC reactive T cell reactivity represents a previously unrecognized mechanism of cellular immunity to allografts. This mechanism might be related to the peptide binding properties of hsp71 and the ability of stress proteins to function as molecular chaperones in antigen processing.
EXPANDING THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH CONCESSION AGREEMENTS: LESSONS FROM LATIN AMERICA

Driven by fiscal constraints and disappointment with the performance of state-provided services, national and subnational governments have turned to the private sector for solutions in financing, constructing, and providing transportation services. Key concession package features and their effect on reaching closure in urban transportation agreements are analyzed. Case studies drawn from the major attempts to develop urban transportation infrastructures in Latin America through concession agreements are considered. Results indicate that features common to large infrastructure projects (e.g., high capital costs and asset indivisibility), urban transportation (e.g., high intermodal competition and the uncertainty of accurate demand forecasts), and developing countries (e.g., incipient financial markets) are negatively associated with reaching successful financial closure of the agreements. These results suggest that governments should pay close attention to risk allocation in a concession plan. By illustrating the intricate interdependencies among package features and how complex and tailored to a specific context successful concession agreements must be, it is concluded that governments face more rather than fewer decisions when developing an infrastructure through concession agreements.
Space Charge in Ionic Crystals. II. The Electron Affinity and Impurity Accumulation

By relaxing the condition that all defect densities be small, the calculation of the defect distribution in ionic crystals containing divalent cationic impurities is extended to lower temperatures. The impurity accumulation near the surface and the electron affinity are discussed.
Stochastic dynamics of microtubules: A model for caps and catastrophes

We introduce and solve a phenomenological model for the so-called catastrophes, the abrupt transitions from the growing to the shrinking state of microtubules. The model may explain existing experimental results and resolve some long-standing apparent contradictions. In particular, the model reproduces observed catastrophe rates and waiting times for catastrophes upon sudden dilution. It may also explain why recent experiments fail to measure the GTP content in growing microtubules and provides a mechanism for so-called coupled hydrolysis.
Regge pole model of quark-quark amplitudes and total cross sections of the hadrons☆

Abstract It is shown that one can easily accomodate the quark decomposition hypothesis in the Regge pole model. In doing a five parameter set of equation is obtained which gives a quantitative description of all the known high energy meson-baryon and baryon-baryon total cross sections.
Probabilistic Approach to Assessing Scoured Bridge Performance and Associated Uncertainties Based on Vibration Measurements

AbstractWhereas application of sensors that directly detect bridge scour at the foundation may be hindered because of their installation difficulty and vulnerability to floods, the identified scour rarely has been used to assess the bridge performance. This paper presents a new probabilistic approach to assessing the structural integrity of scoured bridges through Bayesian inference based on vibration measurements. The contributions of this paper include (1) introducing a novel application of Bayesian inference for assessing the structural integrity of scoured bridges; (2) parameterizing bridge scour, environmental variation impacts, and their associated uncertainties; (3) integrating the bridge model with the effective sampling algorithm to derive probability distributions of uncertain scour damage and other system properties; and (4) unifying uncertainties of identified scour and the probability of failure of scoured bridges. The proposed approach is illustrated and examined through a numerical study, a...
Difficulty scaling of recognition items.

Usual system: take as scale value the normal deviate corresponding to the areap″ = (p −p 0)/(1 −p 0), wherep is the proportion of correct answers andp 0 is the chance proportion. Ifp ≦p 0, the item difficulty is unscalable. Proposed system: take as scale value the normal deviate corresponding to the areap′ =p x , withx so chosen thatp′ = .5 whenp is half-way betweenp 0 and 1. Table givesD (=500 + 100z) forp = .00(.01)1.00 and forα (= number of alternatives) 2,3,4,5,6,7, ∞.
Spatially Resolved Raman Spectroscopy of Carbon Electrode Surfaces: Observations of Structural and Chemical Heterogeneity

Raman spectroscopy and Raman imaging were used to examine several types of carbon electrode materials, including glassy carbon (GC) and highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Variations in the intensity ratio of the D and E2g Raman bands across the carbon surface indicated varying carbon microstructure. The D/E2g ratio for polished GC and pyrolytic graphite edge (PG) was relatively constant, while that of basal HOPG and PG varied significantly due to defects. The spatial heterogeneity of Rhodamine 6G Raman intensity following physisorption to carbon surfaces indicated that adsorption occurs at disordered regions, particularly defects on HOPG. This observation provides visual confirmation of previously reported correlations of defect area and physisorption. Chemisorption of dinitrophenylhydrazine was observed only at edge plane regions, confirming the localization of surface carbonyl groups on graphitic edge plane. Finally, chemisorption of nitroazobenzene radical formed from a diazonium precursor occur...
Camelina: Seed yield response to applied nitrogen and sulfur

Abstract Camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) has received worldwide attention in recent years as a biofuel crop and as a broadleaf option in cereal-based cropping systems. The objective of our 3-year study was to determine camelina seed yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) as affected by six applied nitrogen (N) rates at four rainfed sites in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) of the United States. An N + sulfur (S) variable was also included. Seed oil content as affected by applied N and S was also evaluated in 2010. The four sites and their average annual crop-year precipitation during the 3 years were Lind, WA (228 mm); Pendleton, OR (421 mm); Moscow/Pullman, ID (695 mm); and Corvallis, OR (1085). The majority of precipitation occurs in the winter and summers are comparatively dry. Camelina responded differently to applied N among sites based upon precipitation and available soil N. Seed yield did not respond to N rate treatments at Lind, presumably due to sufficient soil residual N and limited precipitation. Seed yield increased with applied N at Pendleton, Moscow/Pullman, and Corvallis. Optimum applied N rates ranged from 0 to 90 kg ha−1 depending on annual precipitation and soil available N. Maximum seed yield increases attributable to applied N ranged from 19% at Pendleton to 93% at Moscow/Pullman. Camelina NUE was greatest at Moscow/Pullman although it decreased gradually with increasing applied N rates at all sites. Lind, Pendleton, and Corvallis had the same decrease in NUE of -0.06 kg seed for each additional kg of available N. Camelina did not respond to applied S at any site. Seed oil content was not affected by applied N or S. Based upon the results of this study, camelina requires about 12 kg N ha−1 per 100 kg of expected seed yield.
Oxidation of iron in the vicinity of its Curie temperature

Abstract The oxidation kinetics of iron have been investigated in the vicinity of its Curie temperature θ c = 1043 K using a gravimetric technique. Large differences were found in the oxidation kinetics above and below θ c . A comparison is made between our results and those previously reported by Measor and Afzulpurkar.
930. Engineering Human Deoxycytidine Kinase for Improved Prodrug Sensitivity for Cancer Gene Therapy

Top of pageAbstract Suicide gene therapy, unlike chemotherapy, offers a localized and selective cancer treatment. This is accomplished through the introduction of a gene encoding an enzyme into cancer cells. Upon administration of the prodrug, the enzyme converts the prodrug selectively into its toxic form, thereby resulting in the elimination of cancer cells. However, there are several limitations of the current gene delivery systems as well as the specificity of targeting tumor cells. One approach to circumvent these limitations is to create mutant enzymes with enhanced activity towards the prodrugs. Our studies target the human pyrimidine salvage enzyme deoxycytidine kinase (dCK). Specifically, our goal is to create mutant dCK enzymes with enhanced activity towards the anti-neoplastic nucleoside analog gemcitabine (dFdC). To improve prodrug activity regio-specific random mutagenesis was performed. This approach is especially applicable to structure/function studies of enzymes and can lead to the development of enzymes with altered or novel functions. Over 19,000 transformants were surveyed for enhanced prodrug specificity in an E. coli selection system. Approximately 335 mutants display super-sensitivity towards gemcitabine at the lowest concentration of prodrug examined. The sequences of variants that display increased activity towards gemcitabine reveal particular residues that appear to be important. The altered activity of the super-sensitive mutants was then verified by a semi-quantitative enzyme assay using bacterial cell lysates. From these data eight super-sensitive mutants with over 35,000-fold increased activity to dFdC compared to wild-type dCK were chosen for further evaluation. Determination of the alterations in the kinetic parameters of the best mutant enzymes was assessed with two substrates, deoxycytidine and dFdC. In vitro evaluation of the eight super-sensitive dCK mutants for improved cancer cell killing and bystander effect is ongoing. Data obtained from this mutagenesis study will reveal important structural and functional information regarding catalysis, structural integrity, and substrate specificity that will provide insight for further enzyme improvements and novel anti-cancer drug design. Furthermore, this research is significant because it will provide an exciting, novel alternative gene for suicide gene therapy applications for a wide variety of cancers.
What Counts as Evidence in Linguistics: The Case of Innateness edited by PENKE, MARTINA, & ANETTE ROSENBACH.

The article reviews the book "What Counts As Evidence in Linguistics: The Case of Innateness," edited by Martina Penke and Anette Rosenbach.
Considerations for Integrating Bicycling and Walking Facilities into Urban Infrastructure

Several manuals, handbooks, and web resources provide varied guidance on planning for and designing bicycle and pedestrian facilities, yet there are no specific indications which treatments in these guides work well for users. In this study, best practices are highlighted and program characteristics associated with high levels of nonmotorized travel are identified, with an emphasis on bicyclists and pedestrians in the California communities of Davis, Palo Alto, and San Luis Obispo, cities known for being bicycle and pedestrian friendly. Analyses of a user preference survey of more than 630 residents in the case study communities, interviews with operators, and review of related literature reveal several factors that matter most to stakeholders for creating bicycleand pedestrian-friendly places. These factors include (a) acceptable bicycling and walking distances to desired activities, (b) direct routes, (c) good route connectivity, and (d) separation of motorized and nonmotorized transportation modes. Rec...
Membrane Effects of Ethanol in Excitable Cells

Ethanol has a wide range of biochemical and behavioral effects. Many of these can be explained by the ability of ethanol to reduce the amount of order, or increase the fluidity, in biological membranes. During chronic ethanol administration, membrane fluidity in the absence of ethanol and the sensitivity of membrane fluidity to added ethanol are decreased. Changes in membrane lipid composition that are consistent with decreased fluidity or with resistance to ethanol including increases in membrane cholesterol, reductions in the double bond index of phospholipid acyl chains, and increases in anionic phospholipids, have been reported during ethanol treatment. These changes are not found uniformly, however, and membrane tolerance and resistance have been reported in their absence. A variety of changes in lipid metabolism have been reported; their possible relevance to these adaptive changes is discussed. Ethanol treatment affects several transport systems in membranes; Na+, K+-ATPase, Ca++-ATPase, and other Ca++ transport systems all appear to undergo adaptive changes during ethanol treatment. Alterations in these systems may account for some of the effects of ethanol on activity-dependent energy metabolism and neurotransmitter release. Paradoxes in the membrane actions of ethanol remain to be resolved, including the weakness of membrane fluidization by ethanol in vitro compared to the evidence that it occurs in vivo, and the consistency with which adaptive changes in membrane fluidity and in Na+, K+-ATPase are observed compared to the inconsistency in changes in membrane composition.
Heterogeneous Motion of Secretory Vesicles in the Actin Cortex of Live Cells: 3D Tracking to 5-nm Accuracy†

Fluorescence microscopy tracks the three-dimensional motion of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled large dense-core secretory vesicles (LDCVs) within the actin cortex of live PC12 cells. In this study, we achieve a 26-ms time resolution and a spatial accuracy of 5 nm or better in each dimension (one standard deviation in one dimension, σ1D). The resulting high-resolution trajectories reveal not only heterogeneity among vesicles but also heterogeneity within single-vesicle trajectories. As in earlier work, we observe three apparent groups of vesicles: the immobile, mobile, and directed-motion groups, but the distinctions among the groups are blurred. The directed trajectories exhibit segments with kinesin-like speed punctuated by pauses and changes in speed and direction. The immobile vesicles nearest the plasma membrane jump among sub-25-nm-diameter “mini-traps”. Comparison with microrheological data from entangled F-actin solutions suggests that the jumps may be caused by local remodeling of F-actin...
Honey Bee Photoresponse as Influenced by Age. Part II: Drones and Queens

Drone and queen honey bees, Apis mellifera L., were tested to ascertain their photoresponse at different ages. Drones, in groups of 40, were each tested 10 times in succession for their photoresponse. Drones ranging in ago from 1 to 2 days postemergence and flight age responded photopositively in highly significant numbers. Newly emerged drones were immobile, and therefore it was not possible to test their response to light. Queens up to 2 days after emergence were photonegative. During the day(s) approximating their mating flight, they became photopositive. After they had mated and started to lay eggs, they again became photonegative. All of these results were found to be highly significant.
Reliability and validity of the perspectives of Support From God Scale.

► Background; Existing spiritual support scales for use with cancer survivors focus on the support believed to come from a religious community, clergy, or health care providers. ► Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of a new measure of spiritual support believed to come from God in older Christian African American cancer survivors. ► Methods: The Perceived Support From God Scale was administered to 317 African American cancer survivors aged 55-89 years. Psychometric evaluation involved identifying underlying factors, conducting item analysis and estimating reliability, and obtaining evidence on the relationship to other variables or the extent to which the Perceived Support From God Scale correlates with religious involvement and depression. Results: The Perceived Support From God Scale consists of 15 items in two subscales (Support From God and God's Purpose for Me). The two subscales explained 59% of the variance. Cronbach's α coefficients were .94 and .86 for the Support From God and God's Purpose for Me subscales, respectively. Test-retest correlations were strong, supporting the temporal stability of the instrument. Pearson's correlations to an existing religious involvement and beliefs scale were moderate to strong. Subscale scores on Support From God were negatively correlated to depression. ► Discussion: Initial support for reliability and validity was demonstrated for the Perceived Support From God Scale. The scale captures a facet of spirituality not emphasized in other measures. Further research is needed to evaluate the scale with persons of other racial/ethnic groups and to explore the relationship of spirituality to other outcome measures.
The function of TLR2 during staphylococcal diseases.

Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile pathogen causing a wide range of infections. It has been a major threat both in hospitals and in the community for decades. S. aureus is a pyogenic bacterium that elicits recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils) to the site of infection. Neutrophils are among the first immune cells to migrate to an infection site attracted by chemoattractant gradients, usually initiated in response to inflammation. Neutrophil recruitment to an inflammation and/or infection site is a sophisticated process involving their interaction with endothelial and epithelial cells through adhesion molecules. Phagocytes have various receptors to detect pathogens, and they include Toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLRs have been extensively studied over the last ten years and it is now established that they are critical during bacterial infections. However, the function of TLRs, and more particularly TLR2, during staphylococcal infections is still debated. In this review we will consider recent findings concerning the staphylococcal ligands sensed by TLR2 and more specifically the role of staphylococcal lipoproteins in TLR2 recognition. A new concept to emerge in recent years is that staphylococcal components must be phagocytosed and digested in the phagosome to be efficiently detected by the TLR2 of professional phagocytes. Neutrophils are an essential part of the immune response to staphylococcal infections, and in the second part of this review we will therefore describe the role of TLR2 in PMN recruitment in response to staphylococcal infections.
Detection of viral-specific nucleic acid and intracellular virions in ventral horn neurons of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus infected C58 mice

C58 mice which have been immunosuppressed by treatment with cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg) one day prior to infection with the C strain of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV-C) develop poliomyelitis. Using in situ hybridisation, we found that some ventral horn neurons in these mice contain cytoplasmic viral-specific nucleic acid. Viral-specific nucleic acid was also found within a few small cells located near inflammatory foci. In addition, mature virus particles were observed by electron microscopy in some ventral horn neurons, indicating that these cells are productively infected in C58 mice. Neither viral nucleic acid nor virions were found in the ventral horn neurons of poliomyelitis-resistant mouse strains or C58 mice that were not immunosuppressed prior to infection. Ventral horn neurons which contained viral nucleic acid or virions within cytoplasmic vesicles generally were normal in appearance and were not located within poliomyelitis inflammatory foci. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that infected neurons first replicate virus and subsequently are attacked and cleared by inflammatory cells.
Management considerations for differentiated thyroid carcinoma presenting as a metastasis to the skull base.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To characterize the salient features of skull base metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma, discuss the diagnostic and treatment strategies, and propose rational management guidelines for such tumors. Study Design: Case report. Methods: Review of English literature from MEDLINE with the addition of our case. Results: Skull base metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma is rare, with only 20 cases reported to date, including our case report. On the basis of a review of all reported cases, both follicular and papillary thyroid cancers can metastasize to the skull base. Our case is unique because the lesion extends locally into the cavernous sinus and beyond. Histopathologic diagnosis is limited by the remote location of lesions. Most tumors are highly vascular, and there is potential for significant morbidity and mortality associated with surgical resection. The overall survival ranges from less than one year to 10+ years from the discovery of the metastasis and is similar in both tumor subtypes. There is no clear consensus on the management strategy for skull base metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Interestingly, surgical resection of both the primary and metastatic lesions yields similar survival when compared with resection of the primary tumor alone. Conclusions: Distant metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of destructive skull base lesions, regardless of the patient's age. Histopathologic tissue diagnosis should always be attempted, followed by total thyroidectomy, radioiodine, or external beam radiation, and chronic thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression. Surgical resection of the metastatic lesion should only be performed in carefully selected cases because it is associated with significant morbidity.
Basic constants for neutron dosimetry.

Abstract Radiation quality is discussed briefly. Principles for the measurement of absorbed dose in tissue are discussed. Ionization chambers are considered as a suitable instrument for this purpose. The basic quantities needed are discussed: the energy W to form an ion pair, stopping power of gases and solids, and the response fujnction for neutrons and photons. It is concluded that systematic uncertainties in absolute dose may exceed 10% due to a lack of adequate knowledge of all these quantities.
The perception of emotionally toned sentences by right hemisphere-damaged and aphasic subjects

The perception of 60 emotionally toned sentences, divided into meaningful and meaningless utterances, by high- and low-verbal aphasics and right hemisphere-damaged subjects who were not aphasic was investigated. The intended moods were happiness, sadness, and anger. Results indicated (a) significant differences between the aphasic groups in identifying the intended emotion but none between groups in identifying the intended emotion but none between either of these groups and the right hemispheric dysfunction subjects; (b) sentence meaningfulness only affected the responses of high-verbal aphasics; and (c) while the happy mood seemed to be the least frequently selected among the three moods, closer inspection indicated that the subjects in absence of response bias were distinguishing among the three moods with equal success.
Neutrophil adherence-augmenting and chemotactic plasma activities in acute myocardial infarction: effect of fibrynolytic treatment

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) participate in the development of myocardial reperfusion injury during fibrynolytic treatment. In 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction, we evaluated the effect of streptokinase treatment on plasma activity augmenting PMN adherence and chemotactic plasma activity in peripheral venous blood with the use of neutrophils obtained from healthy donors. In all patients we observed the appearance of marked plasma chemotactic activity and plasma activity augmenting PMN adherence. Peak values of both plasma activities in the conventionally treated group were reached on the third day following the onset of symptoms. In streptokinase treated patients both plasma activities reached a peak on the second day after the onset of symptoms. Furthermore, streptokinase in vitro induced adherence of control PMNs in a dose-dependent manner, as well as increasing both chemotaxis and random migration of control cells. Thus, both chemotactic plasma activity and neutrophil adherence augmenting plasma activity may be used for monitoring the inflammatory response to myocardial infarction. However, during fibrynolytic treatment the presence of chemotactic stimuli in peripheral blood may be affected by streptokinase per se.
Potency Trends of Δ9-THC and Other Cannabinoids in Confiscated Cannabis Preparations from 1993 to 2008†

The University of Mississippi has a contract with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to carry out a variety of research activities dealing with cannabis, including the Potency Monitoring (PM) program, which provides analytical potency data on cannabis preparations con- fiscated in the United States. This report provides data on 46,211 samples seized and analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) during 1993-2008. The data showed an upward trend in the mean D 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (D 9 -THC) content of all confiscated cannabis preparations, which increased from 3.4% in 1993 to 8.8% in 2008. Hashish potencies did not increase consistently during this period; however, the mean yearly potency varied from 2.5-9.2% (1993-2003) to 12.0-29.3% (2004-2008). Hash oil potencies also varied considerably during this period (16.8 € 16.3%). The increase in cannabis preparation potency is mainly due to the increase in the potency of nondomestic versus domestic samples.
Antenna synthesis and optimization using generalized characteristic modes

A set of modes called generalized characteristic modes is described. Previously developed characteristic modes exhibit orthogonality properties over an obstacle surface as well as the complete sphere at infinity. The generalized characteristic modes described here also exhibit orthogonality properties over the obstacle surface, but rather than showing orthogonality over the sphere at infinity, they are orthogonal over any region of space, similar to generalized Inagaki modes. Theories developed for antenna pattern synthesis and directivity optimization using generalized Inagaki modes can be applied in an entirely parallel fashion using generalized characteristic modes. Comparisons are made between generalized characteristic modes and generalized Inagaki modes through three examples. >
Oligodendrocyte Development in Culture Systems

The oligodendrocyte has as its primary recognized function the task of producing a prodigious amount of membrane, possibly unequaled by any other cell type, and maintaining it for a lifetime. Morell and Norton (1980) estimate that during development, these otherwise rather diminutive cells produce several times their mass in myelin membrane each day. Additional interest is occasioned by the manner in which oligodendrocytes send multiple copies of this specialized membrane a substantial distance from their cell bodies before amplifying it into vast sheets that become wrapped and compacted around qualified axons (Peters, 1964; M. B. Bunge et al., 1962; Hirano, 1968; R. P. Bunge, 1968). Thus, oligodendrocytes engage in membrane biogenesis on a scale to intrigue the membrane biochemist.
Preeclampsia: Recent Insights

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication with serious consequences for mother and infant. The disorder is diagnosed by gestational hypertension and proteinuria but is far more than pregnancy induced hypertension. Preeclampsia is proposed to occur in 2 stages. Stage 1 reduced placental perfusion is postulated as the root cause and to lead to the maternal syndrome, Stage 2. Why perfusion is reduced, how this translates to a maternal disease in some but not all women and what is the linkage of the 2 stages are topics of intense study. In the last decade such studies have provided valuable insights into pathophysiology that now guide ongoing clinical trials.
Kinematic observers for articulated rovers

A state estimator design is presented for a Mars rover prototype. Odometry estimates are obtained by utilizing the fall kinematics of the vehicle including the nonlinear internal kinematics of the rover rocker-bogey mechanism as well as the contact kinematics between the wheels and the ground. Additional sensing using gyroscopes, accelerometers and visual sensors allows for robust rover motion state estimation. Simulation as well as experimental results are presented to illustrate the estimator operation.
Exposure to lead and the developmental origin of oxidative DNA damage in the aging brain

Oxidative damage to DNA has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Developmental exposure to lead (Pb) has been shown to elevate the Alzheimer's disease (AD) related beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta), which is known to generate reactive oxygen species in the aging brain. This study measures the lifetime cerebral 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (oxo8dG) levels and the activity of the DNA repair enzyme 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (Ogg1) in rats developmentally exposed to Pb. Oxo8dG was transiently modulated early in life (Postnatal day 5), but was later elevated 20 months after exposure to Pb had ceased, while Ogg1 activity was not altered. Furthermore, an age-dependent loss in the inverse correlation between Ogg1 activity and oxo8dG accumulation was observed. The effect of Pb on oxo8dG levels did not occur if animals were exposed to Pb in old age. These increases in DNA damage occurred in the absence of any Pb-induced changes in copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), manganese-SOD (SOD2), and reduced-form glutathion (GSH). These data suggest that oxidative damage and neurodegeneration in the aging brain could be impacted by the developmental disturbances.
An experimental evaluation of IP4-IPV6 IVI translation

While IPv6 deployment in the Internet continues to grow slowly at present, the imminent exhaustion of IPv4 addresses will encourage its increased use over the next several years. However, due to the predominance of IPv4 in the Internet, the transition to IPv6 is likely to take a long time. During the transition period, translation mechanisms will enable IPv6 hosts and IPv4 hosts to communicate with each other. For example, translation can be used when a server or application works with IPv4 but not with IPv6, and the effort or cost to modify the code is large. Stateless and stateful translation is the subject of several recent IETF RFCs. We evaluate performance of the new IVI translator, which is viewed as a design for stateless translation by conducting experiments in both LAN and Internet environments using a freely available Linux implementation of IVI. To study the impact of operating system overhead on IVI translation, we implemented the IVI translator on a bare PC that runs applications without an operating system or kernel. Our results based on internal timings in each system show that translating IPv4 packets into IPv6 packets is more expensive than the reverse, and that address mapping is the most expensive IVI operation. We also measured packets per second in the LAN, roundtrip times in the LAN and Internet, IVI overhead for various prefix sizes, TCP connection time, and the delay and throughput over the Internet for various files sizes. While both the Linux and bare PC implementations of IVI have low overhead, a modest performance gain is obtained due to using a bare PC.
Residential Mobility and Trajectories of Adiposity among Adolescents in Urban and Non-urban Neighborhoods

Using data from the 1994-2008 National Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (Add Health), this research examines the relationship between residential mobility and weight gain over time among urban and non-urban young adults. It is theorized that changes in residence act as a barrier to achieving an active lifestyle, which would increase an individual's body mass index (BMI) over time. Relying on linear mixed-effects growth curve models, the results indicate that mobility is protective against weight gain over time after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. For young adults who are residentially stable in urban neighborhoods, increases in physical activity are associated with a linear decline in BMI. In non-urban areas where respondents are residentially mobile, body weight does not fluctuate as sedentary behavior increases. However, in those areas, weight increases as sedentary behavior increases for those who did not move. Overall, the results suggest that the effect of mobility on weight gain is partially due to the kind of health behaviors that one engages in as well as whether or not one lives in an urban area. Policies geared toward relocating residents (such as Moving to Opportunity), and neighborhood processes that can lead individuals to change residences (such as foreclosures or gentrification) may have adverse health effects depending on whether they are occurring in urban or non-urban areas.
Sequential deregulation of NK cell subset distribution and function starting in acute HIV-1 infection

Natural killer (NK) cells are critical in the first-line defense against viral infections. Chronic HIV-1 infection leads to a perturbation in the NK cell compartment, yet the kinetics of this deregulation and the functional consequences are unclear. Here, we characterized changes in the NK cell compartment longitudinally by multiparameter flow cytometry, starting in acute HIV-1 infection. Acute HIV-1 infection was associated with elevated NK cell numbers, with an expansion of CD3(neg)CD56(dim)CD16(pos) NK cells and an early depletion of CD3(neg)CD56(bright)CD16(neg) NK cells. Ongoing viral replication resulted in a depletion of CD3(neg)CD56(dim)CD16(pos) NK cells with a paralleled increase in functionally anergic CD3(neg)CD56(neg)CD16(pos) NK cells, accompanied by reduced functional activity, as measured by CD107a expression and cytokine secretion. Taken together, these studies demonstrate a sequential impairment of NK cell function with persistent viral replication resulting from a progressive deregulation of NK cell subsets with distinct functional properties.
THE SPIROCHETAL FLORA OF THE NORMAL MALE GENITALIA

The varieties of spirochetes enumerated and photomicrographed from the male smegma flora represent practically every form hitherto described by Nankivell and Sundell and by Patterson in the specimens of urine from trench fever cases (Figs. 32 and 33). The urethral flora, as studied by Stoddard, seem to contain more varieties, but, except those of his more detailed morphological descriptions, every form observed by him is among those found in the smegma. Stoddard saw certain forms with hooked ends suggestive of the Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae of infectious jaundice, but the resemblance ends with this one feature, and differentiation should always be possible under the dark-field microscope, by means of which the leptospira reveals its highly characteristic minute elementary spirals, presenting the appearance of a chain of dots (Fig. 18). Fig. 19 shows that a very favorable fixation with the osmic acid vapor followed by Giemsa's staining may also bring out the elementary spirals. Of all the spirochetes, none has so closely set spirals as the jaundice leptospira, the distance between two spirals being only 0.5 micro. Various methods, including Fontana's, Benians', the mordant gentian violet stain, or Burri's India ink method, are inadequate to differentiate the leptospira from other spirochetes (Figs. 12, 14, 15, 16, 17). Why a positive spirochete finding with the films from the urethra and in the specimens of urine was not obtained, is difficult to explain, except on the grounds of the paucity of specimens examined. At all events, the recent negative results reported by Fiessinger with French soldiers and invalids after cleansing of the urethra and glans seem to be in harmony with my results. In conclusion it may be stated that Spironema refringens, Treponema calligyrum, and Treponema minutum represent practically all the spirochetal forms observed in the male smegma flora. A leptospira has never been conclusively shown to be present in the specimens of normal urine or smegma. For the satisfactory microscopic demonstration of a leptospira a dark-field illuminator is indispensable.
Education for Extinction: American Indians and the Boarding School Experience, 1875-1928

The last "Indian war" was fought against Native American children in the dormitories and classrooms of government boarding schools. Only by removing Indian children from their homes for extended periods of time, policymakers reasoned, could white "civilization" take root while childhood memories of "savagism" gradually faded to the point of extinction. In the words of one official, "Kill the Indian and save the man." Education for Extinction offers the first comprehensive account of this dispiriting effort. Much more than a study of federal Indian policy, this book vividly details the day-to-day experiences of Indian youths living in a "total institution" designed to reconstruct them both psychologically and culturally. Based upon extensive use of government archives, Indian and teacher autobiographies, and school newspapers, it is essential reading for anyone interested in Western history, Native American studies, American race relations, educational history, or multi-culturalism.
Russian Commercial Nuclear Initiatives and U.S. Nuclear Nonproliferation Interests

(2003). Russian commercial nuclear initiatives and U.S. nuclear nonproliferation interests. The Nonproliferation Review: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 97-112.
Genetic and morphometric differences demonstrate fine‐scale population substructure of the yellow perch Perca flavescens: need for redefined management units

Whole-body morphometrics and 15 nuclear DNA microsatellite loci were analysed for 158 Perca flavescens collected during the spawning season from four spawning locations in central Lake Erie, two along the northern shore and two along the southern shore, to evaluate fine-scale variation (spanning 17-94 km). Results showed significant morphological and genetic differences among P. flavescens from the four locations. The magnitudes of differences were unrelated to geographic distance, demonstrating spatially heterogeneous levels of genetic divergence. These results linked morphometric and genetic variation, showing a discontinuity of scale between currently defined management units and population structure of P. flavescens in Lake Erie, and support that P. flavescens might exist as one or more metapopulations. Findings demonstrate the value of using complementary techniques for evaluating population structure.
Response surface models for the growth kinetics of Escherichia coli O157:H7

Abstract Growth curve data which had been fitted using the Gompertz function were submitted to response surface analysis to develop mathematical models for describing the effects of temperature (10-42°C), initial pH (4·5-8·5), sodium chloride concentration (5-50 g l -1 ), and oxygen availability (aerobic us anaerobic) on the growth of a three strain mixture of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Models were developed for the Gompertz B and M terms only after supplemental analyses indicated that the growth kinetics of the organism were independent of inoculum size and that the maximum population density achieved by E. coli were largely independent of the cultural variables. A total of 193 aerobic and 145 anaerobic growth curves representing 84 and 71 distinct variable combinations, respectively, were evaluated, with separate models being generated for the aerobic and anaerobic data. The data were analyzed using natural logarithm and square root transformations in combination with quadratic and cubic models. Subsequent evaluations indicated that the most effective response surface models were those based on a logarithmic transformation in combination with a quadratic model. These models provide a rapid means of estimating the effects of the four variables on the growth of E. coli O157:H7.
Agonistic behavior and social organization in a herd of goats as affected by the introduction of non-members

The purpose of the project was (1) to identify the pattern of social organization in a herd of goats, and (2) to study the effects of introducing two “non-members” (one male and one female) into an established group. Observations consisted of a combination of focal animal sampling and a diary technique, focusing primarily on three measures of agonistic behavior: displacements, threats, and butting incidents. A nearly perfect linear hierarchy was found in the original group. As expected, this social structure was generally disrupted by the introduction of the two non-members, resulting in significant increases (P < 0.05) in the three measures of agonistic behavior. Of more specific interest was a notable lack of aggression between the male non-member and the dominant male in the resident herd. The pattern of breeding cycles is seen as being responsible for this development, in that the lack of aggression is a function of the lack of sexual competition between the two males.
Why do People Vote? A Psychological Analysis of the Causes of Voter Turnout

A great deal of scholarship has explored why some democratic citizens vote while others do not. This article reviews that literature through a lens presuming that a person’s likelihood of turning out on election day is a multiplicative function of his or her ability to vote, her or her motivation to vote, and the difficulty of obtaining the needed information and carrying out the behavior of voting. We conclude that (a) turnout is made more difficult and less likely by onerous registration procedures; (b) turnout is more likely among some demographic groups because of greater motivation or ability or less difficulty; (c) the social setting in which a person lives and the psychological dispositions he or she possesses can affect turnout by shaping motivation, ability, or difficulty; (d) characteristics of a specific electoral contest can inspire or discourage turnout; and (e) canvassing and interviewing people about an election can increase turnout, but preelection polls and election-day outcome projections do not. Consequently, an individual citizen’s turnout behavior is a joint function of his or her social location, his or her psychological dispositions, the procedures involved in voting, and events that occur at the time of each election. One of the most fundamental questions challenging political psychologists is why citizens in a democratic country vote. Hundreds of articles, chapters, and books have been published on this issue during the last century. In this article, we offerareviewofthisliteraturetohighlightmanyofthefascinating(andsometimes surprising) findings that have emerged from this work, and to propose hypotheses and puzzles to be addressed by researchers in the future.