cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hawaiʻi: Mesic Grasslands and Shrublands

Abstract This article provides an overview of the Hawaiian islands mesic grasslands and shrublands, including current status, stressors, and future viability. The mesic grassland and shrubland biome in Hawaiʻi receives between 1200 and 2500 mm of rainfall each year. It exists on both windward and leeward slopes of the main Hawaiian islands, and is found in both lowland and montane-subalpine zones ( Gagne and Cuddihy, 1999 ). The lowland and montane mesic zones vary by elevation and climate which influences the composition of species within each of the mesic grassland and shrubland ecotypes ( Gagne and Cuddihy, 1999 ). Mesic grasslands and shrublands were distributed across all of the main Hawaiian islands historically, with the majority occurring on the islands of Hawaiʻi and Maui. This biome is still found on all of the main Hawaiian islands however it is now composed of a mixture of both native and non-native grassland and shrubland ecotypes. Current ecotypes include, the native lowland and montane-subalpine mesic grasslands and shrublands, and three introduced ecotypes: perennial grasslands, evergreen shrublands and deciduous shrublands. Stressors to the mesic grasslands and shrublands are introduced weeds and ungulates, fire, natural disasters (i.e., hurricanes), climate (i.e., drought), plant diseases, and human development/agriculture. Ongoing conservation efforts are helping to protect the mesic grassland and shrubland biome in Hawaiʻi and depend on the combined efforts of the state and federal government, private landowners, and non-profit organizations. Management efforts are primarily focused on the removal of invasive species (weeds and ungulates) and protection of native grasslands and shrublands through the construction of fenced conservation areas. Our assessment of mesic grassland and shrubland viability is based on the likelihood of persistence over the long term, using the ecological concepts of representation, redundancy, and resiliency. We have evaluated the condition of the mesic grassland and shrubland biome in the foreseeable future (to year 2035) based on different scenarios involving the conservation management parameters of funding and public support for conservation management activities; conservation and biosecurity-related laws; and state/civic planning for conservation planning and land use and development.
ESD Protection Impact and Modelling of Bias-Dependent Series Resistance in Diodes

An investigation of different forward-bias and reverse-bias on-resistance in diodes is presented. The impact of this often neglected effect on ESD protection design is demonstrated. A macro-model of a diode has been developed to account for the bias dependent resistance. This has been used in SPICE-type circuit level ESD simulation.
Zenker's diverticulotomy with bipolar tissue sealer: Retrospective review of safety and short-term outcomes.

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study is to analyze and report the institution's experience using the Enseal bipolar tissue sealing device to perform endoscopic Zenker's diverticulotomy. Safety and early functional outcomes are presented as primary endpoints of the study. Materials & methods This is a retrospective study of consecutive patients with Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) treated via a transoral approach using a rigid endoscope and a bipolar tissue sealer between 2011 and 2019. Demographic data, ZD size, complications and preoperative versus postoperative symptoms were assessed. The Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) questionnaire was used to evaluate functional outcomes, and statistical comparisons were made using the student's t-test. Results Nineteen ZD patients were identified who underwent rigid endoscopic diverticulotomy using a bipolar tissue sealer. The mean age was 71 years and 74% were male. The mean diverticulum size was 3.1 cm. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications identified. Average pre-operative EAT-10 score was 21 and post-operative EAT-10 score was 12 at one to two weeks after surgery (p = .05). Conclusions Evidence from this preliminary study of endoscopic Zenker's diverticulotomy using the Enseal device indicates that it is both safe and effective. Several features of the device, including its narrow profile, articulation and rotation capability, rapid repeatable activation, and low risk of collateral thermal injury, make it an appealing option for endoscopic Zenker's diverticulotomy.
Stability of Listeria monocytogenes in non-fat dry milk powder during isothermal treatment and storage.

Abstract Dry dairy powder is a commonly used ingredient for ready-to-eat foods. It has been implicated in multiple foodborne outbreaks. Listeria monocytogenes can survive in low moisture conditions for a long duration. However, there is no information on Listeria survival in dry milk powder during storage and thermal treatments. The objectives of this study were to examine the stability of L. monocytogenes in non-fat dry milk (NFDM) during extended storage and further analyze thermal resistance of L. monocytogenes in NFDM under different water activities (aw) and its thermal stability after 1-year storage. We observed approximately 1.75 and 2.93 log CFU/g reduction of L. monocytogenes in aw 0.25 NFDM over 1-year storage at 4 and 22 °C, respectively. Thermal resistance of L. monocytogenes was inversely related to aw, and the inactivation kinetic curves of L. monocytogenes in NFDM at target aw showed a log-linear trend under all tested conditions. For aw 0.25, 0.30, and 0.45 NFDM, the ranges of D-values, were 66.2 - 21.3, 33.5 - 9.4, and 14.6- 4.3 min at 70, 75 and 80 °C, respectively. The z-values for L. monocytogenes in NFDM at aw 0.25-0.45 were 14.62 - 15.95 °C. Furthermore, the thermal stability of L. monocytogenes in aw 0.25 NFDM post 6-month or 12-month storage under refrigerated or ambient storage did not deviate much from that in NFDM prior to the storage. Data indicated that a 60-min heat treatment at 80 °C resulted in ∼ 5-log reduction of L. monocytogenes in NFDM of aw 0.30. This provides a promising intervention strategy to enhance bactericidal efficacy of thermal treatment while maintaining the quality of milk powder.
The new breed.

Structural changes within the health system--particularly in the organization and financing of services--have made new and different opportunities available to physicians interested in management. What types of physicians are currently going into management? How do they compare to others who have been in management for a longer period of time and to the "traditional" portrait of the physician executive? The author profiles the emerging, contemporary physician executive and explores the implications for the viability of the field of medical management as a whole.
Molecular dynamics simulations of the response of pre-damaged SrTiO3 and KTaO3 to fast heavy ions

We investigate the energy dissipation and track formation due to ion irradiation in SrTiO3 and KTaO3. We use molecular dynamics simulations combined with the inelastic thermal spike model to simulate 21 MeV Ni ion irradiation in pristine and predamaged samples. The results are validated against experimental findings, showing that the level of initial disorder affects the electron-phonon interactions and the energy dissipation and deposition to the atoms. It is predicted that the ion track size increases linearly for low disorder levels, while its size saturates for high levels of disorder.
Summary and implications for clinical practice and research in pediatric populations

Diabetes has been recognized for over 5000 years. For generations, the ability to effectively treat it was virtually nonexistent. Fortunately, over the past few decades, there has been a virtual explosion of advances that have significantly changed the ability to control the disease. These include the discovery and production of insulin, the growth of a wide array of pharmacologic treatments, and the increasing use of advanced technologies that enable us to assess the adequacy of therapy and make appropriate therapeutic decisions. For example, the introduction of using glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, systems that enable patients to measure their glucose at home, and the continuing rise of continuous glucose monitoring have significantly improved therapeutic strategies and patients’ ability to self-manage their condition. In addition, the role of education in achieving more optimal outcomes is now widely recognized and routinely integrated into routine care.
Decoding diversity in a coral reef fish species complex with restricted range using metagenomic sequencing of gut contents

Aim Identification of the processes that generate and maintain species diversity within the same region can provide insight into biogeographic patterns at broader spatiotemporal scales. Hawkfishes in the genus Paracirrhites are a unique taxon to explore with respect to niche differentiation, exhibiting diagnostic differences in coloration, and an apparent center of distribution outside of the Indo-Malay-Philippine (IMP) biodiversity hotspot for coral reef fishes. Our aim is to use next-generation sequencing methods to leverage samples of a taxon at their center of maximum diversity to explore phylogenetic relationships and a possible mechanism of coexistence. Location Flint Island, Southern Line Islands, Republic of Kiribati. Methods A comprehensive review of museum records, the primary literature, and unpublished field survey records was undertaken to determine ranges for four "arc-eye" hawkfish species in the Paracirrhites species complex and a potential hybrid. Fish from four Paracirrhites species were collected from Flint Island in the Southern Line Islands, Republic of Kiribati. Hindgut contents were sequenced, and subsequent metagenomic analyses were used to assess the phylogenetic relatedness of the host fish, the microbiome community structure, and prey remains for each species. Results Phylogenetic analyses conducted with recovered mitochondrial genomes revealed clustering of P. bicolor with P. arcatus and P. xanthus with P. nisus, which were unexpected on the basis of previous morphological work in this species complex. Differences in taxonomic composition of gut microbial communities and presumed prey remains indicate likely separation of foraging niches. Main conclusions Our findings point toward previously unidentified relationships in this cryptic species complex at its proposed center of distribution. The three species endemic to the Polynesian province (P. nisus, P. xanthus, and P. bicolor) cluster separately from the more broadly distributed P. arcatus on the basis of relative abundance of metazoan sequences in the gut (presumed prey remains). Discordance between gut microbial communities and phylogeny of the host fish further reinforce the hypothesis of niche separation.
CHAPTER 10 – Matrices and Determinants

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses matrices and determinants. By conventional agreement, an m × n matrix has m rows and n columns. A square matrix has as many columns as rows. From a system of linear equations, a coefficient matrix can be obtained by using the coefficients of the variables as entries. An augmented matrix, which includes the right-hand sides of the equations, can also be obtained by this system of linear equations. The methods of Gaussian elimination—now called elementary row operations—can be applied to an augmented matrix of a linear system of equations to obtain the solution. Two matrices are equal if they have the same dimension and if their corresponding elements are equal. Matrices are added by adding corresponding element. The product of an m × n matrix times an n × r matrix is a matrix of dimension m × r. Multiplication of matrix is associative and not cumulative. A square n × n matrix A is invertible if an n × n matrix B can be found such that AB = BA = I, with I being the identity matrix of order n. In such a case, B is the inverse of A. If AX = B is a linear system, with A being the coefficient matrix, and if the inverse A−1 of A exists, then the system has exactly one solution X = A−1 B.
Progress of mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction in septic children

Sepsis is a complicated pathophysiological disorder arising from a systemic inflammatory response to infection.Because of high morbidity, high mortality and high cost of treatment, sepsis has caused global attention and become a hot spot in pediatric intensive medical research.Increasing number of studies have shown a close correlation between the occurrence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and mitochondrial dysfunction in sepsis.A major feature in sepsis is dysfunction of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.This review discusses the dysfunction of mitochondrial respiratory chain in sepsis. Key words: Sepsis; Mitochondrial respiratory chain
Industrial possibilities and false necessity: rethinking production, employment and labor dynamics in the global economy1

Much of contemporary comparative political–economic thinking about global industrial production accepts the following claims (a) that manufacturing is destined to leave rich political economies for lower wage ones;(b) that global industrial production is hierarchically structured with higher value operations concentrated in the rich countries and intermediate component production distributed across increasingly specialized clusters in emerging political economies;(c) that digital technological advance, automation and massive platform firms are ushering in a new historical regime of capitalism that is generating high rates of inequality and threatens to thoroughly degrade work for less educated and less skilled workers all over the globe This article argues that these three arguments are deeply flawed because they present only a partial picture of contemporary global industrial dynamics They exclude from view many concurrent developments that suggest that alternative political and economic practices and trajectories are possible And they downplay the role that politics and struggle have played and can play in the constitution of the political economy By deconstructing these three arguments, this article attempts to recover possibility from the constraints of false necessity in thinking about global industrial production dynamics
Local and global convergence of a general inertial proximal splitting scheme for minimizing composite functions

This paper is concerned with convex composite minimization problems in a Hilbert space. In these problems, the objective is the sum of two closed, proper, and convex functions where one is smooth and the other admits a computationally inexpensive proximal operator. We analyze a family of generalized inertial proximal splitting algorithms (GIPSA) for solving such problems. We establish weak convergence of the generated sequence when the minimum is attained. Our analysis unifies and extends several previous results. We then focus on $$\ell _1$$l1-regularized optimization, which is the ubiquitous special case where the nonsmooth term is the $$\ell _1$$l1-norm. For certain parameter choices, GIPSA is amenable to a local analysis for this problem. For these choices we show that GIPSA achieves finite "active manifold identification", i.e. convergence in a finite number of iterations to the optimal support and sign, after which GIPSA reduces to minimizing a local smooth function. We prove local linear convergence under either restricted strong convexity or a strict complementarity condition. We determine the rate in terms of the inertia, stepsize, and local curvature. Our local analysis is applicable to certain recent variants of the Fast Iterative Shrinkage---Thresholding Algorithm (FISTA), for which we establish active manifold identification and local linear convergence. Based on our analysis we propose a momentum restart scheme in these FISTA variants to obtain the optimal local linear convergence rate while maintaining desirable global properties.
Visual versus Text Attribute Representation in Choice Experiments

Abstract We examine the impact of attribute representation format in choice experiments on willingness to pay (WTP), and serial stated attribute non-attendance. Subjects in an online choice experiment were randomly assigned to a Visual or Text Treatment. Participants in both treatments were given the same choice sets but those in the Visual Treatment were shown pictures of the product alternatives in the choice sets as they would appear in a grocery store, while those in the Text Treatment were presented with text descriptions. Results from random parameters logit models accounting for serial stated attribute non-attendance show that more attributes were significant in the Text Treatment than the Visual Treatment, and among variables significant in both treatments, attribute WTP was higher in the Text Treatment than in the Visual Treatment. Hence, the attribute representation format should be considered when designing choice experiments.
Thoracic paravertebral nerve catheter reduces postoperative opioid use for vertebral body tethering patients.

PURPOSE Vertebral body tethering is increasingly being performed, yet postoperative pain management has not yet been optimized. We sought to determine whether the addition of a thoracic paravertebral block in addition to a standard multimodal postoperative pain management program could provide greater pain relief, reduced analgesic requirement, and reduced length of stay. METHODS Patients who underwent VBT at a single tertiary referral center were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received a single-shot intrathecal (IT) injection at the completion of the procedure in addition to a standardized multimodal pain management program. 45 patients received a thoracic paravertebral catheter with lidocaine infusion (TPVB) which was left in place for 4-6 days, whereas 24 control patients did not have a TPVB. Length of stay, maximum postoperative Numeric Pain Intensity Scale (NPIS), and total dose of opioids, ibuprofen, ketorolac and acetaminophen administered during hospitalization were evaluated. RESULTS 69 patients met inclusion criteria. The mean cumulative dose of opioids administered during hospitalization was 148 oral morphine milligram equivalent (MME) in the control group vs. 47 MME in the TPVB group (p < 0.0001). Severe postoperative NPIS of ≥ 7 was reported in 9 out of the 24 control patients (38%) and in 13 out of the 45 patients (29%) who received a TPVB in addition to the standardized care (p = 0.46). There was no significant difference in the mean cumulative dose of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, ketorolac) consumed by the control group compared to the TPVB group (2632 mg vs. 1630 mg, p = 0.77). Mean length of stay in the control group was 3.8 vs. 3.0 days in the TPVB group (p < 0.001). There were no major complications associated with use of the TPVB. CONCLUSION In this series compared to controls, patients treated with a TPVB had reduced postoperative requirement of opioids and decreased length of hospital stay.
The British Library’s Philatelic Collections – Interview With Richard Morel

In this installment of “Conversations,” Richard Morel, curator of the British Library’s Philatelic Collections, discusses his professional background and the British Library’s Philatelic Collection...
Atmospheric Transformations of Pollutants

The intent of this paper is to present, from a meteorologist’s viewpoint, a brief review of the processes responsible for transforming and removing pollutants from the atmosphere. Such processes include dry deposition, precipitation scavenging, and chemical and physical transformations; and to facilitate the meteorology-oriented nature of this presentation, we shall discuss them here within the framework of the familiar equations of mass continuity. For conservation of pollutant mass in the gas phase (in air, that is), these equations are (1) (A = component index = 1, 2, ..., N; y signifies “gas phase” where the time rate of change of airborne pollutant concentration is related to the divergence and source-sink terms in the conventional manner. Here we are interested primarily in rAy and wA, which we shall call the “gas-phase reaction*” and “interphase transport” terms, respectively, rAy accounts for all chemical and physical reaction that occurs in the gas phase, and wA depicts the loss of material by the gas phase via transport to the aqueous phase, (i.e., rain, snow, fog, ...). One should note here the consistency of units of rAy and wA, which are mass/volume • time.
The Hanford Engineer Works

The Hanford Engineer Works represented even more of a gamble than its counterpart in Tennessee. The uranium enrichment facilities at Clinton were complex, plagued with difficulties, and subject to constant design changes, but at least involved processes that were in principle familiar to mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineers. At Hanford, the story was completely different. In 1943, there was no established nuclear industry, or even a discipline of nuclear engineering. Nobody had ever before designed or constructed a large-scale reactor, and there was no cadre of experienced operators ready to walk into a control room. Also, the dangers of this proposed new technology were immense.
Ethics and the Business of children's public television programming

While a great deal has been written condemningcommercial children's television programming,merchandising, and advertising, children'sprogramming on the Public Broadcasting System(PBS) has largely escaped scrutiny. PBSchildren's programming has generally been cededthe higher moral ground in the debate about theethics of marketing to children via televisionprogramming. With recent cut backs in fundingto public television, revenue raising hasbecome a matter of survival for public TV. Hasthe overwhelming onslaught of children's publicTV merchandising sacrificed the moral trust ofthe viewing public? This paper examines themerchandising of ``educational'' television froman ethical perspective.
Error probabilities for FFH/BFSK with ratio-statistic combining and soft decoding in a fading channel with partial-band jamming

An error probability analysis is performed for a communications link with convolutional coding and soft-decision Viterbi decoding implemented on a fast frequency-hopped binary frequency-shift (FFH/BFSK) spread spectrum system. The generated signal is transmitted through a frequency nonselective, slowly fading channel with partial-band jamming and additive white Gaussian noise. To reduce the effects of partial-band jamming, ratio-statistic combining is introduced at the receiver before the soft decision Viterbi decoding. With the use of convolutional coding and soft decision Viterbi decoding, the performance of the receiver is improved dramatically when the E/sub b//N/sub j/ is greater than about 12 dB, and multiple hops per bit are not required in order to force the jammer to move from a partial-band to a full-band jamming strategy. >
The Chilling Effect and Family Secrets: Examining the Role of Self Protection, Other Protection, and Communication Efficacy.

Two studies were conducted to test a theoretical model of the psychological and communicative links that mediate the impact of the chilling effect on the continued concealment of secrets in families. More specifically, we argued that individuals' continued concealment of a secret from aggressive family members would be mediated by the desire for protection (both of self and others). It was also hypothesized that the need for protection would negatively influence whether people felt that they had the communication efficacy to reveal their secret to these family members, which would also foster continued concealment. The results from Study One suggested that protection mediated the connection between family members' aggression and individuals' concealment of secrets from them. In addition, regardless of whether people believed they could communicate the secret to aggressive family members or not, they were likely to continue to conceal the secret if they were afraid that it would either hurt themselves or others. Results from follow up interviews in Study Two verified the model and also elaborated on the role of communication efficacy in this process.
Metabolic engineering of microbes for oligosaccharide and polysaccharide synthesis

Metabolic engineering has recently been embraced as an effective tool for developing whole-cell biocatalysts for oligosaccharide and polysaccharide synthesis. Microbial catalysts now provide a practical means to derive many valuable oligosaccharides, previously inaccessible through other methods, in sufficient quantities to support research and clinical applications. The synthesis process based upon these microbes is scalable as it avoids expensive starting materials. Most impressive is the high product concentrations (up to 188 g/L) achieved through microbe-catalyzed synthesis. The overall cost for selected molecules has been brought to a reasonable range (estimated $ 30–50/g). Microbial synthesis of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides is a carbon-intensive and energy-intensive process, presenting some unique challenges in metabolic engineering. Unlike nicotinamide cofactors, the required sugar nucleotides are products of multiple interacting pathways, adding significant complexity to the metabolic engineering effort. Besides the challenge of providing the necessary mammalian-originated glycosyltransferases in active form, an adequate uptake of sugar acceptors can be an issue when another sugar is necessary as a carbon and energy source. These challenges are analyzed, and various strategies used to overcome these difficulties are reviewed in this article. Despite the impressive success of the microbial coupling strategy, there is a need to develop a single strain that can achieve at least the same efficiency. Host selection and the manner with which the synthesis interacts with the central metabolism are two important factors in the design of microbial catalysts. Additionally, unlike in vitro enzymatic synthesis, product degradation and byproduct formation are challenges of whole-cell systems that require additional engineering. A systematic approach that accounts for various and often conflicting requirements of the synthesis holds the key to deriving an efficient catalyst. Metabolic engineering strategies applied to selected polysaccharides (hyaluronan, alginate, and exopolysaccharides for food use) are reviewed in this article to highlight the recent progress in this area and similarity to challenges in oligosaccharide synthesis. Many naturally occurring microbes possess highly efficient mechanisms for polysaccharide synthesis. These mechanisms could potentially be engineered into a microbe for oligosaccharide and polysaccharide synthesis with enhanced efficiency.
What Matters in Social Accounts? The Roles of Account Specificity, Source Expertise, and Outcome Loss on Acceptance

Although we know that social accounts favorably affect fairness outcomes, we still do not know what makes them work. An experimental design was used to assess the impact of message specificity, source expertise, and outcome loss on account acceptance. Also examined was how account acceptance mediates the relationship between these factors and a range of fairness outcomes. Specificity had a main effect on acceptability, but interacted with expertise across levels of loss. Expertise had a slight positive effect on acceptance under low loss conditions, but its effect turned sharply negative under conditions of higher loss. Acceptability partially mediated the relationship between specificity and all fairness outcomes, and fully mediated the impact on commitment to the trainer.
On the most Weight $w$ Vectors in a Dimension $k$ Binary Code

Ahlswede, Aydinian, and Khachatrian posed the following problem: what is the maximum number of Hamming weight $w$ vectors in a $k$-dimensional subspace of $\mathbb{F}_2^n$? The answer to this question could be relevant to coding theory, since it sheds light on the weight distributions of binary linear codes. We give some partial results. We also provide a conjecture for the complete solution when $w$ is odd as well as for the case $k \geq 2w$ and $w$ even. One tool used to study this problem is a linear map that decreases the weight of nonzero vectors by a constant. We characterize such maps.
Phylogenetic Relationships among Tick Subfamilies (Ixodida: Ixodidae: Argasidae) Based on the 18S Nuclear rDNA Gene

Phylogenetic relationships among tick subfamilies have been estimated using morphological and molecular characters. However, the phylogeny based on a portion of the 16S mitochondrial rDNA gene differed from the morphologically based phylogeny in a number of important respects. The entire 18S rDNA gene was examined in 18 taxa from all tick subfamilies to test the 16S rDNA based phylogeny. The 18S phylogeny supports the earlier 16S based phylogeny in placing members of Hyalomminae on a common branch with members of the Rhipicephalinae and in indicating long branch lengths among soft tick taxa. However, unlike the 16S phylogeny, Amblyomminae was monophyletic and members of Haemaphysalinae did not arise within Amblyomminae. Argasinae formed a monophyletic group within Argasidae and was not a sister taxon of the hard ticks. In most respects, the phylogeny based on the 18S rDNA gene resembles the morphologically based phylogeny.
Use of the Areva BWR Crud Model to Study High Zinc Operation at a US Plant

The Paper presents the results of applying the AREVA NP Inc. BWR Crud Model to determine the effect a high zinc injection operational program at a US Plant has on the fuel.
Mass distributions for thermal-neutron-induced fission of $sup 255$Fm and $sup 251$Cf

Mass distributions for thermal-neutron-induced fission ($n, f$) of $^{255}\mathrm{Fm}$ and $^{251}\mathrm{Cf}$ have been determined radiochemically. Both mass distributions are asymmetric with a peak-to-valley ratio of about 2.6 for $^{255}\mathrm{Fm}$ and about 13 for $^{251}\mathrm{Cf}$. Cross sections were determined to be 3200\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}320 b for $^{255}\mathrm{Fm}(n, f)$ and 5300\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}530 b for $^{251}\mathrm{Cf}(n, f)$.NUCLEAR REACTIONS, FISSION $^{255}\mathrm{Fm}(n, f)$, $^{251}\mathrm{Cf}(n, f)$, $E=0.025$ eV; measured radiochemical mass yields and ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{f}$.
Preventing gender-based violence engendered by conflict: The case of Côte d'Ivoire.

Despite a growing awareness of the increased prevalence of intimate partner violence and sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict settings, much less is known about the dynamics, as well as the interventions that would be effective at individual, relational, and structural levels. In addition to the human capital lost by conflict violence, gender-based violence (GBV) poses a grave threat to the post-conflict rehabilitation process. With regard to violence that occurs during and post conflict, research must take into consideration the different types of violence that share similar causes as the larger conflict as well as become widespread as a result of the conflict and use existing frameworks to build future interventions. Researchers are trying to understand the interplay of personal, situational, and socio-cultural factors in conflict settings that combine to cause GBV and lead to guidelines for program planning to address the health and social needs of survivors as well as to prevent further GBV. These actions result from a growing recognition that violence represents a serious public health problem, is an important cause of many physical and psychological illnesses, and can cause social disruptions that impede reconstruction efforts for generations. This review studies the manifestations of GBV during and following the Ivoirian Civil War, juxtaposes them against narratives, as well as lists relevant interventions at the individual, relational, community, and institutional levels. Part of a growing literature that aims to better understand the nature of violence during and after conflict and to plan effective responses to it, this study hopes to suggest solutions for the situation of Cote d'Ivoire and elsewhere.
Characteristics of Serially Propagated Monkey Kidney Cell Cultures with Persistent Rubella Infection

Maassab, H. F. (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), and J. A. Veronelli. Characteristics of serially propagated monkey kidney cell cultures with persistent rubella infection. J. Bacteriol. 91:436-441. 1966.-A persistent infection of LLC-MK(2) cells with rubella virus has been established and maintained for over 3 years. This "carrier culture," designated as LLC-MK(2)-RAL, possesses distinct morphological and biological characteristics when compared with the original uninfected LLC-MK(2) line. The mechanism of viral persistance has not been entirely elucidated, but available data suggest a regulated infection with transmission of the virus directly from cell to cell or through cell division. Interferon was isolated from RAL (rubella-associated line) culture, which explains partly the wide spectrum of resistance to superinfecting viruses. Amantadine, although inhibiting cultures of LLC-MK(2) cells infected with rubella virus, failed to cure the "carrier culture."
Marijuana smoking: effects of varying puff volume and breathhold duration.

Two studies were conducted to quantify biological and behavioral effects resulting from exposure to controlled doses of marijuana smoke. In one study, puff volume (30, 60 and 90 ml) and in a second study, breathhold duration (0, 10 and 20 sec) were systematically varied while holding constant other smoking topography parameters (number of puffs = 10, interpuff interval = 60 sec and inhalation volume = 25% of vital capacity). Each study also varied levels of delta 9-tetrahydro-cannabinol marijuana cigarette content (1.75% and 3.55%). Regular marijuana users served as subjects (n = 7 in each experiment). Subjects smoked 10 puffs in each of six sessions; a seventh, nonsmoking session (all measures recorded at the same times as in active smoking sessions) served as a control. Variations in puff volume produced significant dose-related changes in postsmoking plasma delta 9-tetrahydro-cannabinol levels, carbon monoxide boost and subjective effects (e.g., "high"). In contrast, breathholding for 10 or 20 sec versus 0 sec increased plasma delta 9-tetrahydro-cannabinol levels but not CO boost or subjective effects. Task performance measures were not reliably influenced by marijuana smoke exposure within the dosing ranges examined. These findings confirm the utility of the controlled smoking technology, support the notion that cumulative puff volume systematically influences biological exposure and subjective effects, but cast doubt on the common belief that prolonged breathholding of marijuana smoke enhances classical subjective effects associated with its reinforcing value in humans.
Thermodynamic and Kinetic Stability Constants of Selected Carboxylic Acids and Iron

Thermodynamic stability constants for complexes of lactic, malic, succinic and citric acids with both ferrous and ferric iron were determined. The rate of transfer of iron to apotransferrin, which has been defined as the kinetic stability constant, was also determined for both these and ascorbic acid complexes. The thermodynamic stability constants for malate and succinate were similar to ascorbate while that for lactate was somewhat lower. The kinetic stability constants in ascending order were as follows: lactate, ascorbate and malate, succinate and citrate. However, data from this study indicated that the slope of the Initial portion of the iron exchange curves might be a better measure of potential bioavailability. In descending order the slopes were: ascorbate, lactate, malate, citrate, and succinate.
Mechanistic Study of Iron(III) [Tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)Porphyrin Triflate (F20TPP)Fe(OTf) Catalyzed Cyclooctene Epoxidation by Hydrogen Peroxide

We have recently proposed a mechanism for the epoxidation of cyclooctene by H2O2 catalyzed by iron(III) [tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)]porphyrin chloride, (F20TPP)FeCl, in solvent containing methanol [Stephenson, N. A.; Bell, A.T. Inorg. Chem. 2006, 45, 2758−2766]. In that study, we found that catalysis did not occur unless (F20TPP)FeCl first dissociated, a process facilitated by the solvation of the Cl- anion by methanol and the coordination of methanol to the (F20TPP)Fe+ cation. Methanol as well as other alcohols was also found to facilitate the heterolytic cleavage of the O−O bond of H2O2 coordinated to the (F20TPP)Fe+ cation via a generalized acid mechanism. In the present study, we have shown that catalytic activity of the (F20TPP)Fe+ cation can be achieved in aprotic solvent by displacing the tightly bound chloride anion with a weakly bound triflate anion. By working in an aprotic solvent, acetonitrile, it was possible to determine the rate of heterolytic O−O bond cleavage in coordinated H2O2 unaffect...
Divided Government and Constitutional Reform in France and Germany

The constitutional reforms in France and Germany moved the potential for divided government to complicate governance in opposite directions. This outcome highlights the limits of constant-cause analyses of institutional reform. While theoretical models of institutional change that embrace constant-cause explanations may be able to account for the recent expansion of the Bundesrat's power, they are unable to account for the French amendment to reduce the presidential mandate (Article 6), whose purpose was to prevent the recurrence of divided government. Indeed, constant-cause models predict that constitutional reforms will in all cases expand the universe of political strategies, not limit it. The French reform does not preclude the recurrence of cohabitation; it does, however, make it less likely. By focusing on critical junctures in each country's constitutional history, a contextualized historical analysis of divided government and constitutional reform in France and Germany accounts for this outcome and demonstrates the strength of path-dependent explanations.
Conservation through intensification? The effects of plantations on natural forests

The rapid growth in plantation forestry over the past two decades attests to the sector's importance in meeting rising global demand for timber, fuel and fiber. However, plantation forests differ dramatically from natural forests in the types of ecosystem services they can provide. As a result, it is important to understand the aggregate effects of plantation expansion on natural forests. Using a simple partial equilibrium model and a global panel dataset of forest statistics, this paper assesses the impacts of plantation expansion upon the extent of natural forests. The analysis shows that plantation expansion has resulted in a contraction of natural forests dedicated to forest product extraction, but an expansion of un-harvested natural forests and the associated generation of ecosystem services. The model and empirical evidence emphasize, however, that there is significant heterogeneity in this outcome depending upon the own-price elasticity of demand for forest products and, as a result, the trade intensity of the forestry sector. The potential for beneficial effects of plantation expansion on un-harvested natural forests is diminished in countries with trade-oriented forestry sectors.
What’s Class Got to Do with It? Community Development and Racial Identity

: This research documents the importance of class and racial identities to urban community development activities. It explores the symbolic meanings of class and the nature of inter-class relations within the black community. The research is based on three years of ethnographic fieldwork in a Philadelphia neighborhood with an active grassroots community development agenda. The author concludes that the residents most active in the neighborhood's redevelopment activities display a particular middle-class identity (“multi-class”) that links them to lower-class blacks and structures their vision of the neighborhood as a micro-level racial justice project. The community development activities in this neighborhood are a product of the multi-class residents’ attempt to articulate and affirm their racial identity and ideology. However, the unacknowledged class bias of these residents prevents them from creating the type of inclusive Black community that they envision.
Lessons learned from obstetric anesthesia

I want to thank the SOAP Board of Directors for inviting me to give this lecture in memory of Dr. Fred Hehre, who was a pioneer in the development of our subspecialty. The opportunity to give this lecture is one of the greatest privileges of my professional career. I have entitled my lecture, ‘‘Lessons Learned from Obstetric Anesthesia,’’ with a subtitle, ‘‘What the Textbooks – Even My Own – Will Not Teach You.’’ Textbooks, of course, do not teach good judgment. Good judgment comes from experience, and experience sometimes comes from bad judgment. As a surgery intern at the Mayo Clinic in 1978, I learned how to speak with confidence. One of my mentors told me that if I had performed one case, I should say, ‘‘In my experience, I have observed the following.’’ If I had done two cases, I should say, ‘‘In my series of cases, I have learned. . . .’’ And if I had done three cases, I should confidently declare: ‘‘In case after case after case, it is clear. . . .’’ Some les-
Inhibitors of sterol synthesis. Concerning the structure of 15β-methyl-5α,14β-cholest-7-ene-3β,15α-diol, an inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis

The chemical synthesis of 3β-p-bromobenzoyloxy-15β-methyl-5α,14β-cholest-7-en-15α-ol from 15β-methyl-5α, l4β-cholest-7-ene-3β,15α-diol is described. The structure of the former compound was unambiguously determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The space group of the crystal was P21 with unit cell parameters a = 12.611 A, b = 9.826 A, c = 13.221 A, b = 91.71° and Z = 2. The structure was solved by the heavy atom method and refined to a final R of 0.041. Asymmetry parameters indicated that ring A is a symmetrical chair, that rings B and C are half chairs, and that ring D is a 15α-envelope.
Incorporating convection into one-dimensional solute redistribution during crystal growth from the melt I. The steady-state solution

Abstract A one-dimensional mathematical analysis is made of the redistribution of solute which occurs during crystal growth from a convected melt. In this analysis, the important contribution from lateral melt convection to one-dimensional solute redistribution analysis is taken into consideration via an annihilation/creation term in the one-dimensional solute transport equation. Calculations of solute redistribution under steady-state conditions have been carried out analytically. It is found that this new solute redistribution model overcomes several weaknesses that occur when applying the Burton, Prim and Slichter solute segregation equation (1953) in real melt growth situations. It is also found that, with this correction, the diffusion coefficients for solute's in liquid silicon are now found to be in the same range as other liquid metal diffusion coefficients.
Induction of mitosis in ocular tissue by chemotoxic agents.

Abstract Ocular inflammation has been induced in a number of species by a variety of chemical agents, including methylene blue. Initial cell destruction and subsequent repopulation by mitogenesis in lens epithelium and corneal endothelium were observed using techniques for living and fixed tissue. During the course of the chemical inflammation response, the lens displayed a prominent, anterior pole subcapsular opacity underlying the area of maximal epithelial destruction. Near-normal transparency returned with recovery of the lens tissue cytoarchitecture. Elevated protein concentrations in aqueous humor were found throughout the course of the experiments. Similar alterations in aqueous humor were observed in the course of immunogenic uveitis although lenticular or corneal endothelial destruction and subsequent proliferation were not detected.
Isolation and characterization of the hydrophobic COOH-terminal domains of the Sindbis virion glycoproteins

Digestion of intact Sindbis virions with α-chymotrypsin produced a single membrane-associated peptide derived from each of the two virion glycoproteins (referred to as RE1 and RE2, or roots derived from El and E2, respectively). Amino acid composition data and NH_2-terminal sequence analysis established their location at the extreme COOR-terminal end of each glycoprotein. REI and RE2 are rich in hydrophobic amino acids and insoluble in aqueous solutions in the absence of detergents, and show differential solubility in organic solvent systems designed for the extraction of lipids. Essentially all of the covalently attached palmitic acid associated with El and E2 was found to be clustered in their hydrophobic. membrane-associated roots. Beginning six to seven residues from their NH2 termini, RE1 and RE2 contain uninterrupted sequences of hydrophobic amino acids similar in terms of amino acid composition and length to the transmembrane anchors found in other bitopic integral membrane proteins. By comparing the sequence and composition data obtained here with the sequences of E1 and E2 deduced from complementary DNA sequence analysis (Rice & Strauss, 1981) we can make several observations. First, following their uncharged, putative intramembrane segments (33 and 26 amino acids, respectively), El and E2 contain clusters of predominantly basic amino acids. By structural analogy to known transmembrane proteins, El probably spans the bilayer but contains only a few residues exposed on the inner face of the virion envelope. In contrast, E2 and PE2 (the precursor to E2), which have been shown to span the bilayer completely, contain an additional 33 COOR-terminal residues, which could be either exposed on the cytoplasmic face of the lipid bilayer or which could loop back into the membrane. This region at the extreme COOR-terminal end of E2, which is protected by the virion envelope from digestion by α-chymotrypsin, contains a second uncharged domain (23 amino acids in length) whose orientation is unknown, but which may be involved in the highly specific interaction of the transmembrane glycoproteins in the plasma membrane with the cytoplasmic nucleocapsid during budding.
Localization of cholesterol in membranes of erythrocyte ghosts.

A method for the fine structural localization of cholesterol in red cell membranes by exchanging the membrane cholesterol for the osmate ester of cholesterol, without addition of other density either as fixative or stain, is described. The osmate ester of 3 H-cholesterol was prepared and dispersed with lecithin by sonication. Red cell ghosts containing 14 C-cholesterol were incubated with this dispersion and equal exchange between the 14 C-cholesterol and the osmate ester of 3 H-cholesterol took place. Breakdown of the osmate ester did not occur during the incubation period. During processing of the ghosts for electron microscopy, all the newly exchanged cholesterol osmate ester was lost. Pretreatment of the ghosts with thiocarbahydrazide retained 20%, while fixation of the ghosts with digitonin-glutaraldehyde retained 40%. Electron microscopy of the ghosts treated with digitonin showed pentalaminar structures, apparently caused by the fixative. Thiocarbahydrazide-treated ghosts labeled with osmium—cholesterol showed electron dense particles 20–30 A in diameter dispersed throughout the thickness of the membrane, while those ghosts viewed directly had electron dense particles approximately 100 A in diameter dispersed randomly over the surface. The implications of these results in terms of the distribution of cholesterol in the ghost membrane are discussed.
A simple model to calculate when drought causes plants to die

To build a realistic ecosystem model requires, among other things, designing a way to calculate when plants will persevere through hostile conditions and when they will wither and die. Using a simplified model of trees' internal hydrological systems, Manzoni et al. have built a model meant to calculate when changes in environmental conditions will cause a tree stress and when they will push it toward critical failure.