cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Second International Workshop on Bioprinting, Biopatterning and Bioassembly

The Second International Workshop on Bioprinting, Biopatterning and Bioassembly was held at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), located in the beautiful, historic city of Charleston. The workshop attracted > 50 participants from 10 different countries, including mechanical and chemical engineers, molecular, cell and developmental biologists, biophysicists, mathematicians, clinicians, humanists and artists. Bioprinting can be defined as computer-aided, automatic, layer-by-layer deposition, transfer and patterning of biologically relevant materials. The workshop goal was to gather the world's experts and leaders, present the latest results, assess future trends, explore new applications, and promote international collaborations and academic-industrial partnerships. The workshop demonstrated the multidisciplinary and global character of ongoing efforts in the development of bioprinting technology, galvanised an evolving community of bioprintists, and demonstrated feasibility as well as strong potential for a broad spectrum of applications of bioprinting technology. The Third International Workshop on Bioprinting, Biopatterning and Bioassembly is planned for Japan in 2006.
"On the network, off the map": Developing intervillage and intragender differentiation in rural water supply

Despite decades of water-supply development programs in the Global South, their effect on gendered access to water remains both unclear and contradictory. This paper addresses this lacuna by examining the expansion of a rural water-supply network aimed at reducing household water scarcity in the arid zone of Rajasthan, India. Specifically, the Indira Gandhi Canal was conceived and constructed during the green revolution to ‘green the Thar Desert’. But now, through a complex network of reservoirs, treatment facilities, distribution centers, and supply pipelines, it connects much of rural and urban western Rajasthan to a drinking water-supply network. The paper examines the interaction of water-supply technologies, social power relations and dynamic socioecological change operating within these development processes. To do so it draws on household surveys, interviews with water users and government engineers, and participant observation with women and children water collectors. The paper finds that this ong...
Creation of stable molecular junctions with a custom-designed scanning tunneling microscope.

The scanning tunneling microscope break junction (STMBJ) technique is a powerful approach for creating single-molecule junctions and studying electrical transport in them. However, junctions created using the STMBJ technique are usually mechanically stable for relatively short times (<1?s), impeding detailed studies of their charge transport characteristics. Here, we report a custom-designed scanning tunneling microscope that enables the creation of metal?single molecule?metal junctions that are mechanically stable for more than 1?minute at room temperature. This stability is achieved by a design that minimizes thermal drift as well as the effect of environmental perturbations. The utility of this instrument is demonstrated by performing transition voltage spectroscopy?at the single-molecule level?on Au?hexanedithiol?Au, Au?octanedithiol?Au and Au?decanedithiol?Au junctions.
Perissodactyla of the Sespe Eocene, California.

One of the outstanding peculiarities of the Eocene faunas known from the Sespe deposits of California is the continued absence of any evidence of the Equidae. Aside from lack of representatives of this family, however, the Perissodactyla include members of the Rhinocerotoidea and Brontotheriidea. Two types have already been recorded.(1) It is the purpose of the present paper to draw attention to additional fossil material belonging to the Tapiroidea and Rhinocerotoidea.
Dreams, mirrors and subjective filtration in Ivan's Childhood

AbstractThough Ivan's Childhood (1962) is often viewed in the context of Andrei Tarkovsky's later masterpieces it easily stands on its own considerable merits, offering a compelling synthesis of form and theme. This article examines the thematic implications of the film's complex narrative structure and its bold manipulation of perspective. Tarkovsky's first feature-length film uses prominent visual motifs, such as mirrors and mirrored images, across two distinct, yet occasionally interacting narrative planes. An analysis of the shifts in spatial attachments, objective and subjective camera angles sheds new light on the relationship between the title character Ivan and Lieutenant Gal'tsev, as well as the film's enigmatic closing scene. Far from being an extradiegetic coda tacked on by a young and inexperienced artist, the final dream sequence fits quite naturally into the narrative progression of the film despite the logical contradiction that the apparent dreamer, Ivan, is dead when it takes place.
The transition in ethylene copolymers: The β-transition

The well-established data which gives a complex composition dependence for the relaxation of ethylene copolymers has been reexamined. Emphasis is placed on the β-transition. In the reanalysis of the data two new experimentally determined concepts are introduced. These are that this transition is definitely found in the homopolymer linear polyethylene, and that it is a reflection of segmental motions which take place within the interfacial region. With these principles it is possible to separate the β-transition from the glass temperature and thus explain the very unique composition relations.
Metabolism of testosterone-4-14C by hamster skin and flank organ.

The metabolism of testosterone-4- 14 C by hamster skin and flank organ was studied; flank organ metabolized more testostrone than an equal weight of adjacent skin. Androstenedione, † androsterone, androstanedione, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 3α-androstanediol were identified by chromatography and reverse isotopic dilution as metabolites formed by flank organ. The metabolites of flank organ and general body skin showed identical chromatographic mobilities. Flank organ produced 4 times as much DHT as an equal weight of adjacent skin. The ratio of total 5α-metabolites formed by both tissues was the same as the DHT ratio, indicating that the greater amount of DHT formed is due to greater formation of 5α-metabolites, in general. In contrast, both tissues produced the same amount of 17-ketosteroids from testosterone and had similar DNA contents, suggesting that the observed difference in 5α-reduction was not due to differences in cellularity but to a greater capacity of the flank organ to reduce testosterone. No 3β-hydroxysteroids, the formation of which has been reported in human skin were found.
View updates for an extended entity-relationship model

Abstract Recently, several graphical query languages have emerged that allow users to manipulate a database schema with diagram-manipulation operators until the modified schema represents the view of the data that satisfies a user query. The research in this area has also shown how updates can be graphically specified and how updates propagate for various semantic models. In this paper we continue this work by investigating view definition and view updates for an extended entity-relationship model. We define views by invoking diagram-manipulation operators to transform an original schema into a view schema. Our diagram-manipulation operators have an object-traceability property that allows us to trace the identity of any entity object in any view to a unique entity object in the underlying database and to trace the identity of any relationship object in any view either to a unique relationship object or to a unique set of component relationship objects in the underlying database. Based on object traceability, we define and discuss properties of update operators to modify, insert, and delete objects in views.
Design and analysis of filament-wound cylinders in compression

The objective of the study was to develop a more accurate model for the prediction of the compressive behavior of filament-wound composite cylindrical shells. Results from a closed-form analytical model and a three-dimensional finite element model show that the extensional and bending stiffness of the laminate is significantly reduced in tow cross-over regions and that bending-extension coupling is increased in comparison with classical lamination theory. The material properties predicted by a micromechanics analysis are included in a global finite element model of a filament-wound circular cylindrical shell which also incorporates variations in the laminate stacking thickness. Results from the global shell analysis are compared with experimental data.
Short-Term Effects of Land Leveling on Soil Chemical Properties and Their Relationships with Microbial Biomass

Spatial variability and distributions of soil chemical properties and the relationships between soil chemical and biological properties are not well characterized in agroecosystems that have been land leveled to facilitate more uniform delivery of irrigation water. The objectives of this study were to characterize the short-term impacts of land leveling on the magnitudes, spatial variability, and spatial distributions of soil chemical properties and to evaluate the impact of land leveling on the relationships between soil chemical properties and microbial biomass in a Stuttgart silt loam (fine, smectitic, thermic Albaqultic Hapludalf) used for irrigated soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in the Mississippi Delta region of eastern Arkansas. A grid-sampling approach was used to characterize pre- and postleveling soil chemical properties and microbial biomass. Results of this study demonstrate that land leveling, a severe form of anthropogenic soil disturbance, causes significant alteration of the magnitudes, spatial variability, and spatial distributions of many soil chemical properties. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) and the contents of P, K, Mg, Na, S, Mn, and Cu in the top 10 cm significantly increased, while soil pH and organic matter (OM) and Fe contents significantly decreased, as a result of land leveling. Land leveling also significantly altered many linear relationships among soil chemical properties and microbial biomass. The benefit of improved water distribution must be weighed against the relatively severe and immediate alteration of soil properties and natural processes brought on by land leveling. Further research is required to ascertain long-term effects of altered soil biogeochemical properties on crop growth as a result of land leveling.
Garnet and clinopyroxene solid solutions, and geothermometry based on fe-mg distribution coefficient

The available thermodynamic mixing data of aluminosilicate garnet and clinopyroxene have been critically reviewed, and integrated with the thermochemical and selected experimental data to express the Fe-Mg distribution coefficient (KD) between these phases as function of pressure, temperature and composition. The predicted compositional dependence of KD agrees with the available experimental and observational data. Owing to the lack of adequate data on the mixing properties of Jadeite with diopside and hedenbergite, the geothermometric application of the model has to be currently restricted to the Na-poor bulk compositions. The temperature of a variety of rocks that have equilibrated under a wide range of P-T conditions have been estimated, and found to agree, on the average within 25°C, with other reliable temperature estimates of these rocks. The latter are, however, often in sharp disagreement with the temperatures determined on the basis of Raheim and Green's (1974, Contrib. Mineral. Petrol.48, 179–203) experimental calibration of KD as function of temperature and pressure on tholeiitic bulk composition.
The localization of phosphomonoesterase and aminopeptidase in brush borders isolated from intestinal epithelial cells.

Abstract 1. 1. Brush borders were isolated from hamster intestinal mucosa by sedimentation from a homogenate prepared with dilute EDTA. By comparing the enzyme content of the isolated particles with that of the whole homogenate it can be determined whether a given enzyme is predominantly localized in the brush-border region of the mucosal epithelial cell. 2. 2. By this method it has been shown that leucine aminopeptidase and alkaline phosphatase are predominantly localized in the brush border. Acid phosphatase does not have a similar localization.
A Critical Interplay between Ca2+ Inhibition and Activation by Mg2+ of AC5 Revealed by Mutants and Chimeric Constructs

Adenylyl cyclase type 5 (AC5) is sensitive to both high and low affinity inhibition by Ca2+. This property provides a sensitive feedback mechanism of the Ca2+ entry that is potentiated by cAMP in sources where AC5 is commonly expressed (e.g. myocardium). Remarkably little is known about the molecular mechanism whereby Ca2+inhibits AC5. Because previous studies had showed that Ca2+antagonized the activation of adenylyl cyclase brought about by Mg2+, we have now evaluated the Mg2+-binding domain in the catalytic site as the potential site of the interaction, using a number of mutations of AC5 with impaired Mg2+activation. Mg2+ activation exerted contrasting effects on the high and low affinity Ca2+ inhibition. In both wild type and mutants, activation by Mg2+ decreased the absolute amount of high affinity inhibition without affecting theKi value, whereas the Ki value for low affinity inhibition was decreased. These effects were directly proportional to the sensitivity of the mutants to Mg2+. Parallel changes were noted in the efficacies of Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+ in the mutant species, suggesting a simple mutation in a shared domain. Strikingly, forskolin, which activates by a mechanism different from Mg2+, did not modify inhibition by Ca2+. Deletion of the N terminus and the C1b domain of AC5 and a chimera formed with AC2 confirmed that the catalytic domain alone was responsible for high affinity inhibition. We therefore conclude that both low and high affinity inhibition by Ca2+ are exerted on different conformations of the Mg2+-binding sites in the catalytic domain of AC5.
Submillimeter laser Stark spectroscopy of 14ND3

Abstract A submillimeter laser Stark spectrum of fully deuterated ammonia (14ND3) has been observed with the 195-μm and 195′-μm lines of the DCN laser. The spectra observed were identified as dipole forbidden a ← a and s ← s rotation-inversion transitions, the multiplet JK = 5K←4K in the ground vibrational state for K = 1, 2, 3, and 4. The forbidden zero-field rotation-inversion transition frequencies are given, and the K-dependent dipole-moment values are determined by virtue of the fact that the same transition could be observed at two different laser frequencies.
History: Pushing the climate frontier

The first large-scale environmental surveys, carried out on the US arid lands, hold scientific lessons for policy-making still relevant today, explains K. John Holmes.
Growth and structure of zirconium hydrous polymers in aqueous solutions

Abstract Zirconium oxychloride solutions prepared at different pH were heated at elevated temperatures for various aging periods to gain an understanding of the growth mechanism and structure of zirconium hydrous polymers. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements were made on these solutions. It was observed that shape of clusters at the earlier stages of growth is close to a rod rather than a sheet as suggested earlier. The scattering data indicate that a rod-shaped primary particle is formed at pH 1.2, and on an increase in the pH, the primary particles become more branched. On aging more than 1250 min at 92°C, these primary particles form large aggregates while retaining the primary particle structure. These aggregates, which are mass fractal in nature, restructure while growing in size and eventually transform into dense particles. Scattering data in this study were not enough to determine a specific kinetic growth model of the aggregates because the scattering intensity at lowqconstantly changes with time during the restructuring process.
Role of cell-matrix contacts in cell migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation

Abstract Epithelial cells make contact with extracellular matrix via receptors on the basal surface that interact with the basal actin cortex. In 3D matrix, the mesenchymal cell makes contact with matrix all around its circumference via similar receptors. When moving, the fibroblast is constantly constructing a new front end. We postulate in a ‘fixed cortex’ theory of cell motility that the circumferential actin cortex is firmly attached to matrix and that the myosin-rich endoplasm slides past it into the continually forming new front end. During epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, the presumptive mesenchymal cell seems to turn on the new front end mechanism as a way of emigrating from the epithelium into the underlying matrix with which it makes ‘fixed’ contacts. Master genes may exist that regulate the expression of epithelial genes on the one hand, and mesenchymal genes on the other.
Inhibition of a soman- and diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP)-detoxifying enzyme by mipafox

Abstract Mipafox, N , N ′-diisopropylphosphordiamidofluoridate, has been found to be a reversible competitive inhibitor of a diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate hydrolyzing enzyme (DFPase) isolated from hog kidney and Escherichia coli . Heretofore, this DFPase was characterized by its more rapid hydrolysis of Soman (1,2,2-trimethylpropyl methylphosphonofluoridate), its stimulation by Mn 2+ , and its wide distribution. In sharp contrast, Mipafox did not inhibit the DFPase found only in cephalopod nerve, hepatopancreas, and saliva, and further characterized by its more rapid hydrolysis of DFP than of Soman, and its indifference to Mn 2+ . Neither of these two DFPases hydrolyzed Mipafox.
Chromoplexy: A New Category of Complex Rearrangements in the Cancer Genome

Widespread structural alterations of cancer genomes are increasingly observed in a broad spectrum of tumors. In a recent issue of Cell, Baca and colleagues describe large chains of rearrangements that coordinately affect multiple chromosomes in prostate cancer. This phenomenon of chromoplexy may define cancer subtypes and drive punctuated tumor evolution.
Propionibacterium persists in the skin despite standard surgical preparation.

Background Propionibacterium acnes, which normally resides in the skin, is known to play a role in surgical site infection in orthopaedic surgery. Studies have suggested a persistence of propionibacteria on the skin surface, with rates of positive cultures ranging from 7% to 29% after surgical preparation. However, as Propionibacterium organisms normally reside in the dermal layer, these studies may underestimate the true prevalence of propionibacteria after surgical skin preparation. We hypothesized that, after surgical skin preparation, viable Propionibacterium remains in the dermis at a much higher rate than previously reported. Methods Ten healthy male volunteers underwent skin preparation of the upper back with ChloraPrep (2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 70% isopropyl alcohol). Two 3-mm dermal punch biopsy specimens were obtained through the prepared skin and specifically cultured for P. acnes. Results Seven volunteers had positive findings for Propionibacterium on dermal cultures after ChloraPrep skin preparation. The average time to positive cultures was 6.78 days. Conclusions This study found that Propionibacterium persists in the dermal tissue even after surface skin preparation with ChloraPrep. The 70% rate of persistence of propionibacteria after skin preparation is substantially higher than previously reported. Clinical relevance Propionibacteria are increasingly discussed as having an association with infection, implant failure, and degenerative disease. This study confirms the possibility that the dermal layer of skin may be the source of the bacteria.
Meshing the gears of the cyanobacterial circadian clock

Aphysiological black box is to a biologist what an ornately decorated package is to a small child: a mysterious treasure that promises delightful toys within. With fitting elan, a small community of scientists has ripped open the packaging of the cyanobacterial circadian clock, compiled the parts list, examined the gears, and begun to piece together the mechanism. Over the past 2 years, the 3D molecular structures have been solved for the core components of the cyanobacterial circadian clock: KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC (1–6). In a surprisingly literal analogy to mechanical timepieces, the protein that seems to be at the heart of the clock mechanism, KaiC, forms a hexameric ring that even looks like a cog: the escape wheel, perhaps (5, 7, 8). Previous work has shown that KaiC has an autophosphorylation activity, and that the presence of KaiA and KaiB modulates the extent to which KaiC is phosphorylated (6, 9). In this issue of PNAS, Nishiwaki et al. (10) biochemically identify two amino acid residues on KaiC to which phosphoryl groups covalently attach, and show the necessity in vivo of a phosphorylation-competent residue at these positions. By searching the crystal structure for evidence of phosphorylated sites, Xu et al. (11) pinpoint a third residue that may “borrow” the phosphoryl group dynamically. Together, their work contributes richly to our understanding of what makes the gears mesh and turn to crank out a 24-h timing circuit. The emerging model of the cyanobacterial circadian oscillator differs markedly from those that have been proposed for various eukaryotic systems (12, 13). In the latter schemes, many of the central components are either transcription factors that directly stimulate the …
Promoting culturally targeted chronic disease prevention research through an adapted participatory research approach: The Qassim-Stanford Universities project

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), similar to other countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, has been experiencing a recent rapid increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases and associated risk factors. To begin to take advantage of the chronic disease prevention and health promotion (CDPHP) knowledge available from other nations, researchers at a newly established University in the Qassim Province of the KSA have partnered with Stanford University in the United States of America. To ensure that CDPHP research and interventions are culturally relevant and appropriate, a participatory research approach has been adopted where local researchers are the target “community.” Contextual challenges of conducting CDPHP research in the KSA, at the individual, social/cultural, organizational and environmental/policy levels, are identified, as well as examples of CDPHP intervention strategies that may be culturally appropriate at each level.
Alterations in left ventricular relaxation during atrioventricular pacing in humans

To determine whether the asynchronous left ventricular contraction-relaxation sequence that exists during right ventricular pacing alters left ventricular relaxation, measurements of both the maximal rate of decline of left ventricular pressure (peak negative dP/dt) and the time constant of left ventricular relaxation were obtained during atrial and atrioventricular (AV) pacing in 25 patients referred for diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Heart rate was maintained at 10 to 15 beats/min above the sinus rate at rest, and relaxation was assessed during atrial pacing, AV pacing and repeat atrial pacing. The patients were classified into two groups. Group 1 included 10 patients with normal left ventricular systolic function at rest (ejection fraction greater than 0.55) and without evidence of prior myocardial infarction. Group 2 included 15 patients with a depressed left ventricular ejection fraction or akinesia of one or more left ventricular segments on the contrast ventriculogram, or both. Heart rate, peak left ventricular systolic pressure, end-systolic pressure and end-diastolic pressure remained constant during atrial, AV pacing and repeat atrial pacing in all patients. In group 1 patients, the decrease in peak negative dP/dt (1,507 +/- 200 versus 1,424 +/- 187 mm Hg/s) and the increase in the time constant of left ventricular relaxation (48 +/- 11 versus 51 +/- 11 ms) during AV pacing was not significantly different when compared with values during atrial pacing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ambulatory patient classifications and the regressive nature of medicare reform: is the reduction in outpatient health care reimbursement worth the price?

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the impact of the proposed Ambulatory Patient Classification (APC) system on reimbursement for hospital outpatient Medicare procedures at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Radiation Oncology. Methods and Materials: Treatment and cost data for the MGH Department of Radiation Oncology for the fiscal year 1997 were analyzed. This represented 66,981 technical procedures and 41 CPT-4 codes. The cost of each procedure was calculated by allocating departmental costs to the relative value units (RVUs) for each procedure according to accepted accounting principles. Net reimbursement for each CPT-4 procedure was then calculated by subtracting its cost from the allowed 1998 Boston area Medicare reimbursement or from the proposed Boston area APC reimbursement. The impact of the proposed APC reimbursement system on changes in reimbursement per procedure and on volume-adjusted changes in overall net reimbursements per procedure was determined. Results: Although the overall effect of APCs on volume-adjusted net reimbursements for Medicare patients was projected to be budget-neutral, treatment planning revenues would have decreased by 514% and treatment delivery revenues would have increased by 151%. Net reimbursements for less complicated courses of treatment would have increased while those for treatment courses requiring more complicated or more frequent treatment planning would have decreased. Net reimbursements for a typical prostate interstitial implant and a three-treatment high-dose-rate intracavitary application would have decreased by 481% and 632%, respectively. Conclusion: The financial incentives designed into the proposed APC reimbursement structure could lead to compromises in currently accepted standards of care, and may make it increasingly difficult for academic institutions to continue to fulfill their missions of research and service to their communities. The ability of many smaller, low patient volume, high Medicare mix hospital-based radiation oncology departments to continue to deliver their current level of care could be compromised. APC reform may carry monetary and opportunity costs which far outweigh its apparent savings. As payment systems continue to place pressure on operating margins, it becomes even more critical that both academic and community radiation oncology practices know the cost of providing services.
Diffusion-processed sweet potato pulp, a new product with broad appeal

Peeled sweet potato slices of two standard varieties were soaked for 120 min, drained, boiled for 20 min, and mashed. The pulp was prepared in 6 simple dishes and tested organoleptically by a trained taste panel. The pulp was also prepared and evaluated by 30 families. Sugar and protein contents were compared to those of untreated uncooked sweet potato, and untreated cooked sweet potato. Diffusion processing lowers the content of all sugars, but subsequent cooking increases reducing sugar content. Processing also removes water soluble phenolic substances and results in less polyphenolic discoloration before and after cooking. Protein and starch contents are also reduced, the former by diffusion, and the latter by diffusion and by erosion on boiling. Dishes made from the pulp were highly acceptable, more moist in texture, less sweet, and more attractive than dishes from non-processed sweet potatoes. People who do not like to eat sweet potatoes found diffusion processed pulp highly acceptable as a staple food.
Cytochrome P-450 and NADPH cytochrome c reductase in rat brain: formation of catechols and reactive catechol metabolites.

Microsomes isolated from whole rat brain were found to contain cytochreme P-450 (0.025 to 0.051 nmoles/mg) and NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity (26.0 to 55.0 nmoles/mg/min). The oxidation of estradiol to a reactive metabolite that became covalently bound to rat brain microsomal protein was inhibited 63% by an atmosphere of CO:O2 (9:1), indicating the involvement of a cytochrome P-450 oxygenase. In contrast, this atmosphere had no effect on the binding of either the catechol estrogen, 2-hydroxyestradiol, or several catecholamines to rat brain microsomes. An antibody prepared against NADPH cytochrome c reductase was found to decrease significantly both the formation of 2-hydroxyestradiol from estradiol by rat brain microsomes and the covalent binding of the catechol estrogen and catecholamines to rat brain microsomal protein.
Affirmative Action and Liberal Capitulation

This article examines and responds to arguments advanced by leading liberals who contend that affirmative action (AA) has been both ineffectual and counterproductive, triggering a backlash that defeats the liberal agenda. Contrary to the general assumption that AA failed as policy, it is argued that AA has been a dramatic success, resulting in significant desegregation of both blue-collar and white-collar occupations. In response to the claim that AA should be based on class rather than race, it is argued that AA was designed to address inequalities of caste, not class. Insofar as AA enhances democracy and erodes racism, liberals who oppose AA contradict their own political credo. On the other hand, the gutting of AA imperils many of the gains of the post-civil rights era.
Serum renin activity during normal pregnancy: effect of alterations of posture and sodium intake.

Abstract Serum renin activity (SRA) was measured in 7 pregnant normotensive females on an unrestricted sodium intake and on a low sodium diet (10 mEq/day). All pregnant subjects showed significantly elevated levels of SRA, which were further increased with assumption of the upright posture and institution of a low sodium intake. This response was similar to that of normal subjects. These observations are consistent with a maternal renal origin for the elevation of SRA in normal pregnancy.
Trends in Elderly Criminal Victimization from 1973 to 1984

Trends in elderly victimization are analyzed for the years 1973-1984. Criminal victimization rates are declining for all types of crime, including those committed against the elderly. The elderly experienced greater declines over time than the general population. Crimes involving a combination of personal contact and economic motivation declined faster than other crimes committed against the elderly. It is possible that the observed declines may be attributable more to changes in the demographic structure of the American population than to public policy.
Rationality and the psychology of inference

Recent advances in the cognitive psychology of inference have been of great interest to philosophers of science. The present paper reviews one such area, namely studies based upon Wason's “4-card” selection task. It is argued that interpretation of the results of the experiments is complex, because a variety of inference strategies may be used by subjects to select evidence needed to confirm or disconfirm a hypothesis. Empirical evidence suggests that which strategy is used depends in part on the semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic context of the inference problem at hand. Since the factors of importance are also present in real-world science, and similarly complicate its interpretation, the selection task, though it does not present a “quick fix”, represents a kind of microcosm of great utility for the understanding of science. Several studies which have examined selection strategies in more complex problem-solving environments are also reviewed, in an attempt to determine the limits of generalizability of the simpler selection tasks. Certain interpretational misuses of laboratory research are described, and a claim made that the issue of whether or not scientists are rational should be approached by philosophers and psychologists with appropriate respect for the complexities of the issue.
The influence of substrate composition on the kinetics of olefin epoxidation by hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by iron(III) [tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)] porphyrin

Abstract We have recently proposed a mechanism for the epoxidation of cyclooctene by hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by iron(III) [tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)] porphyrin chloride. The expressions for the rate of hydrogen peroxide consumption and the yield of epoxide derived from this mechanism are in excellent agreement with experimental observations for a wide range of reaction conditions. An interesting feature of the expressions for the apparent rate coefficient and the yield of epoxide relative to peroxide consumed is that they are independent of the properties of the olefin. The present work was undertaken with the aim of determining whether this is a general result applicable to the epoxidation of other olefins. To this end, the rates of epoxidation of cyclooctene, styrene, cis-stilbene, cyclohexene, and norbornene were measured under identical conditions. For cyclooctene, styrene, and cis-stilbene, the observed kinetics and yield of epoxide were independent of the substrate, and no evidence was found by either UV–visible or 1H NMR spectroscopy for olefin coordination to the iron cation of the porphyrin. By contrast, the rates of cyclohexene and norbornene epoxidation and the corresponding epoxide yields were significantly lower than those of the other three olefins. The lower catalyst activity and lower epoxide yield correlated with both UV–visible and 1H NMR evidence for olefin coordination to the iron cation of the porphyrin. Olefin coordination increases the electron density on the iron cation and promotes homolytic cleavage relative to heterolytic cleavage of the oxygen-oxygen bond of coordinated hydrogen peroxide. This has the effect of reducing both the apparent rate coefficient for hydrogen peroxide consumption and the epoxide yield.
Management of the N0 neck during salvage laryngectomy.

Background: Radiotherapy is effective treatment for laryngeal carcinoma. Early-stage laryngeal carcinoma has a low incidence of cervical metastasis. Patients initially clinically N0 usually remain N0 when they fail at the primary site. The incidence of subclinical metastasis in these patients is not well described. Watchful waiting or elective neck dissections are advocated. Objective: Examine the incidence of subclinical metastatic disease in patients undergoing elective neck dissections with salvage laryngectomy. Study Design : Prospective study (1991-1996) of patients who failed radiotherapy and underwent salvage laryngectomy with elective neck dissection. Methods: Thirty-four patients underwent salvage laryngectomy with neck dissection (30 bilateral, 4 unilateral). All were clinically N0 at initial presentation and remained N0 at recurrence. Pathologic study of the neck dissection specimens was undertaken. Patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years (mean, 4 y). Results: The male-to-female ratio was 4.5:1, with a mean age of 62 years (range, 38 to 75 y). Metastatic disease was present in 6 patients (17%); 4 of 14 (28%) supraglottic, and 2 of 20 (10%) glottic. Presence of disease in the neck according to stage at recurrence was as follows: T2, 2 of 12; T3, 3 of 14; and T4, 2 of 8. Neck disease was ipsilateral in 4 and contralateral in 2 patients (both supraglottic primaries). Conclusions: Subclinical cervical metastasis may be present in N0 laryngeal carcinoma patients who have recurrence following radiotherapy. Morbidity of a lateral neck dissection is minimal, with excellent control of the neck being possible. Supraglottic and advanced glottic (T3-T4) patients may benefit the most.
Emission Source Characterization for Proactive Flare Minimization during Ethylene Plant Start-ups

Ethylene plant start-ups generate huge amounts of off-spec products for flaring, which cause negative environmental and societal impacts, as well as tremendous raw material and energy losses that could be unitized to generate much more needed products. Thus, cost-effective start-up flare minimization strategies through proactive process design and operation are becoming more important and attractive to the industry. However, fundamental and quantitative studies on start-up flaring emissions are still lacking, such as (i) what kinds of emission species are contained in the flaring sources; (ii) how much of each emission source will be generated during one start-up; and (iii) what is the dynamic emission profile of each emission source with respect to the start-up time? In this paper, rigorous plant-wide dynamic simulations are employed to characterize flaring emission sources under different flare minimization strategies for an ethylene plant start-up. Deep insights of the emission source distribution and ...
TV parenting practices: is the same scale appropriate for parents of children of different ages?

Purposes: Use multidimensional polytomous item response modeling (MPIRM) to evaluate the psychometric properties of a television (TV) parenting practices (PP) instrument. Perform differential item functioning (DIF) analysis to test whether item parameter estimates differed across education, language, or age groups. Methods: Secondary analyses of data from three studies that included 358 children between the ages of 3 and 12 years old in Houston, Texas. TV PP included 15 items with three subscales: social co-viewing, instructive parental mediation, and restrictive parenting. The multidimensional partial credit model was used to assess the performance. DIF was used to investigate the differences in psychometric properties across subgroups. Results: Classical test theory analyses revealed acceptable internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s α: 0.72 to 0.83). More items displaying significant DIF were found across children’s age groups than parental education or language groups. A Wright map revealed that items covered only a restricted range of the distribution, at the easier to respond end of the trait. Conclusions: TV PP scales functioned differently on the basis of parental education, parental language, and child age, with the highest DIF among the latter. Additional research is needed to modify the scales to minimize these moderating influences. Some items may be age specific.
Learning strategy trumps motivational level in determining learning-induced auditory cortical plasticity.

Associative memory for auditory-cued events involves specific plasticity in the primary auditory cortex (A1) that facilitates responses to tones which gain behavioral significance, by modifying representational parameters of sensory coding. Learning strategy, rather than the amount or content of learning, can determine this learning-induced cortical (high order) associative representational plasticity (HARP). Thus, tone-contingent learning with signaled errors can be accomplished either by (1) responding only during tone duration (‘‘tone-duration” strategy, T-Dur), or (2) responding from tone onset until receiving an error signal for responses made immediately after tone offset (‘‘tone-onset-to-error”, TOTE). While rats using both strategies achieve the same high level of performance, only those using the TOTE strategy develop HARP, viz., frequency-specific decreased threshold (increased sensitivity) and decreased bandwidth (increased selectivity) (Berlau & Weinberger, 2008). The present study challenged the generality of learning strategy by determining if high motivation dominates in the formation of HARP. Two groups of adult male rats were trained to bar-press during a 5.0 kHz (10 s, 70 dB) tone for a water reward under either high (HiMot) or moderate (ModMot) levels of motivation. The HiMot group achieved a higher level of correct performance. However, terminal mapping of A1 showed that only the ModMot group developed HARP, i.e., increased sensitivity and selectivity in the signal-frequency band. Behavioral analysis revealed that the ModMot group used the TOTE strategy while HiMot subjects used the T-Dur strategy. Thus, type of learning strategy, not level of learning or motivation, is dominant for the formation of cortical plasticity.
Overlapping communication with computation using OpenMP tasks on the GTS magnetic fusion code

Application codes in a variety of areas are being updated for performance on the latest architectures. In this paper we examine an application, which comes from magnetic fusion for performance acceleration with a particular emphasis on methods that are applicable for many/multicore and future architectural designs. We take an important magnetic fusion particle code that already includes several levels of parallelism including hybrid MPI combined with OpenMP. We study how to include new advanced hybrid models, which extend the applicability of OpenMP tasks and exploit multi-threaded MPI support to overlap communication and computation. Experiments carried out on Cray XT4 and XT5 machines resulting in a speed-up of up to 35% of the investigated GTS particle shifter kernel show the benefits and applicability of this approach.
Coexistence through ARQ retransmissions in fading cognitive radio channels

This paper considers the problem of user coexistence in cognitive radio networks operating under fading. The core idea of this work is to exploit the opportunities occurring during retransmissions of a primary system to allow the coexistence of cognitive radios. Several protocols are proposed depending on the amount of the channel knowledge available at the cognitive transmitter about the network links while avoiding the assumption of non-causal knowledge of the primary user data that appears in some existing works. The protocols presented allow the cognitive link to achieve non-trivial throughput while causing minimal effects on the throughput of the primary link. Performance analysis of the protocols is presented and their effectiveness is verified via simulations.
Factors affecting complement activation by Staphylococcus aureus cell walls, their components, and mutants altered in teichoic acid

In a previous study, Staphylococcus aureus purified cell walls (PCW), consisting of peptidoglycan (PG) plus covalently linked teichoic acid (TA), were found to be more active in complement consumption than isolated PG. Isolated TA has now been shown to be capable of activating complement. Mild sonication markedly increased the ability of PG to activate complement but had essentially no effect on the activities of PCW and TA. Optimal sonication of PG did not yield activities equal to those of PCW in dose-response and kinetic studies, which may imply that TA plays some role in complement consumption. Sonication did not lead to solubilization of PCW or PG but may have enhanced the activity of PG in complement consumption by better dispersing PG particles, thereby exposing more surface area. Lysostaphin solubilization of PCW and PG markedly decreased their activities in complement consumption. The PCW of an S. aureus TA-deficient mutant, which were mostly PG, caused similar amounts of complement consumption as the parent strain PCW. Of the treatments of PCW commonly used to isolate PG, formamide and periodate extractions in particular led to PG preparations with lower activities in complement consumption than the PCW from which they were prepared, although these activities were stimulated by sonication. When whole organisms were studied by using a TA-deficient mutant, a mutant with an additional cell surface polymer, and the TA-containing parent strains and complement consumption by these strains was compared, no difference was found in either the rate or the degree of complement activation. This led to experiments demonstrating that both material released extracellularly from staphylococci and the cytoplasmic fraction of S. aureus were active in complement consumption. The results of these experiments indicate that both physical and chemical factors must be considered in studies of complement activation by isolated bacterial cell wall components. Under certain conditions, staphylococcal TA may enhance complement activation, but studies with whole organisms clearly show that this cell wall constituent does not play an essential role in this process. In addition, studies of complement consumption with intact organisms have demonstrated that there may be contributions both from cell surface components and from material released by the cells.
A monetary valuation of individual religious behaviour: the case of prayer

The majority of the US population is religious. The value of a fundamental religious behaviour, prayer, is determined using the well-being valuation method. Theoretically appropriate Instrumental Variables (IV) are used to avoid bias in estimating the effects of household income and the frequency of prayer on well-being. The marginal value of an additional weekly prayer session for individuals already at the national mean is estimated to be $6550 per annum (2004 dollars). Praying at the frequency of the national mean of 8.1 prayer sessions weekly is valued at $53 055 (2004 dollars) per annum. This is larger than the median household income in the US in 2004: $44 684. This suggests that the perception of communion with God is highly valued by religious individuals.
Transforming HMMs for speaker-independent hands-free speech recognition in the car

In the absence of HMMs trained with speech collected in the target environment, one may use HMMs trained with a large amount of speech collected in another recording condition (e.g., quiet office, with high quality microphone). However, this may result in poor performance because of the mismatch between the two acoustic conditions. We propose a linear regression-based model adaptation procedure to reduce such a mismatch. With some adaptation utterances collected for the target environment, the procedure transforms the HMMs trained in a quiet condition to maximize the likelihood of observing the adaptation utterances. The transformation must be designed to maintain speaker-independence of the HMM. Our speaker-independent test results show that with this procedure about 1% digit error rate can be achieved for hands-free recognition, using target environment speech from only 20 speakers.
Keap1 Controls Postinduction Repression of the Nrf2-Mediated Antioxidant Response by Escorting Nuclear Export of Nrf2

The transcription factor Nrf2 regulates cellular redox homeostasis. Under basal conditions, Keap1 recruits Nrf2 into the Cul3-containing E3 ubiquitin ligase complex for ubiquitin conjugation and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Oxidative stress triggers activation of Nrf2 through inhibition of E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, resulting in increased levels of Nrf2 and transcriptional activation of Nrf2-dependent genes. In this study, we identify Keap1 as a key postinduction repressor of Nrf2 and demonstrate that a nuclear export sequence (NES) in Keap1 is required for termination of Nrf2-antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling by escorting nuclear export of Nrf2. We provide evidence that ubiquitination of Nrf2 is carried out in the cytosol. Furthermore, we show that Keap1 nuclear translocation is independent of Nrf2 and the Nrf2-Keap1 complex does not bind the ARE. Collectively, our results suggest the following mechanism of postinduction repression: upon recovery of cellular redox homeostasis, Keap1 translocates into the nucleus to dissociate Nrf2 from the ARE. The Nrf2-Keap1 complex is then transported out of the nucleus by the NES in Keap1. Once in the cytoplasm, the Keap1-Nrf2 complex associates with the E3 ubiquitin ligase, resulting in degradation of Nrf2 and termination of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Hence, postinduction repression of the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response is controlled by the nuclear export function of Keap1 in alliance with the cytoplasmic ubiquitination and degradation machinery.