cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Authoritarianism, Social Dominance, and Contesting Human Rights in Latin America

This article examines support for the restriction of human rights in Latin America, arguing that rising crime rates and personal experience with crime are only part of the story. Despite an emphasis on the protection of human rights in the aftermath of military regimes and civil war in Latin America, some citizens contest the defense of these rights across the region. Arguing that protecting human rights only keeps criminals out of jail, these citizens support policies and crime control measures that violate the rights of criminal suspects and other marginalized groups. Using public opinion data, this article demonstrates a relationship between individuals’ worldviews and their attitudes toward the human rights abuses committed against criminal suspects. Resumen Este articulo se trata del apoyo ciudadano a las restricciones de los derechos humanos perpetrado por el estado. Sostiene que el aumento de las tasas de delincuencia y las experiencias personales con el crimen no cuentan toda la historia. A pesar del enfasis al respeto de los derechos humanos despues de las ultimas dictaduras militares y guerras civiles en la region, algunos ciudadanos disputen la defensa de estos derechos. Razonando que los derechos humanos solo dejan libres a los delincuentes fuera de la carcel, estos individuos apoyan politicas de control de delitos que violan los derechos de los presuntos delincuentes y de otros grupos marginales. Utilizando datos de opinion publica, este articulo muestra una relacion entre las cosmovisiones del ciudadano y sus actitudes hacia las violaciones de derechos humanos cometido contra los presuntos delincuentes.
Patent Fakes: How Fraudulent Inventions Threaten Public Health, Innovation, and the Economy

Because there is no practical way for patent examiners to verify that the inventions claimed in patent applications actually work, a surprising number of patents are issued for inventions that have turned out to be imaginary, fraudulent or otherwise non-existent. What's more, as illustrated by the recent attempt by Labrador Diagnostics to assert a patent acquired from now-defunct Theranos against firms developing testing kits for COVID-19, these patents present a genuine threat to businesses operating in important sectors of the economy. While it is unrealistic to expect patent examiners to verify the functionality of every claimed invention, there are a range of administrative adjustments that could be made to reduce the number of fake inventions subject to patents.
How Much do Teachers Earn

In the continuing debate over how to improve education systems, many people argue that teachers` salaries need to be increased. This paper seeks to establish a reliable method for analyzing the issue using household survey data from Bolivia.
Low frequency interictal EEG biomarker for localizing seizures

Objective: We want to identify seizure onset zone (SOZ) from interictal EEG biomarkers. We hypothesize that a combination of interictal EEG biomarkers, including a novel low frequency marker, can predict mesial temporal involvement and can assist in prognosis related to surgical resections. Methods: Interictal direct current wide bandwidth invasive EEG recordings from 83 patients implanted with 5,111 electrodes were retrospectively studied. Logistic regression was used to classify electrodes and patient outcomes. A feed-forward neural network was implemented to understand putative mechanisms. Results: Interictal infraslow frequency EEG activity was decreased for SOZ electrodes while faster frequencies such as delta (2-4 Hz) and beta-gamma (20-50 Hz) activity were increased. These spectral changes comprised a novel interictal EEG biomarker that was significantly increased for mesial temporal SOZ electrodes compared to non-SOZ electrodes. Interictal EEG biomarkers correctly classified mesial temporal SOZ electrodes with a specificity of 87% and positive predictive value of 80%. These interictal EEG biomarkers also correctly classified patient outcomes after surgical resection with a specificity of 91% and positive predictive value of 87%. Interpretation: Interictal infraslow EEG activity is decreased near the SOZ while higher frequency power is increased, suggesting distinct underlying physiologic mechanisms. Decreased interictal infraslow activity may reflect the loss of neural inhibition. Narrowband interictal EEG power bands provide information about the SOZ and can help predict mesial temporal involvement in seizure onset. Together with interictal epileptiform discharges and high frequency oscillations, these interictal biomarkers may provide prognostic information prior to surgical resection.
Posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity modulates avoidance of positive emotions among trauma-exposed military veterans in the community.

OBJECTIVE Theoretical and empirical evidence links emotional avoidance to the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, few studies have tested whether these findings extend to positive emotional avoidance. Addressing this important gap in the literature, the current study examined the moderating role of PTSD symptom severity in the relation between positive emotional intensity and positive emotional avoidance. METHOD Participants were 465 trauma-exposed veterans recruited from the community (Mage = 38.00, 71.6% male, 69.5% White). RESULTS The interaction between positive emotional intensity and PTSD symptom severity on positive emotional avoidance was significant. Analysis of simple slopes revealed that positive emotional intensity was significantly positively associated with positive emotional avoidance when participants endorsed high, but not low, levels of PTSD symptom severity. CONCLUSIONS Veterans with more severe PTSD symptoms may utilize avoidance strategies in the context of intense positive emotions. These findings may suggest the potential need for addressing positive emotional avoidance in interventions to reduce PTSD symptom severity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Mind Your Own Business: Reflective Aretaic Responsibility

The distinctive depth and seriousness of moral responsibility is often thought to stem from the seriousness of violating moral obligations. But this raises questions about being morally responsible for normative failure that does not belong to the deontic realm. This paper focuses on actions that we might, in the Aristotelian tradition, call ethical, and which concern how we order relations with ourselves; they concern certain fundamental conditions for agency. The paper provides a novel defense of the depth of self-directed aretaic appraisal as intrapersonal responsibility; it also explains and provides a defense for Gary Watson’s claim that “Responsibility is important to issues about what it is to lead a life, indeed what it is to have a life in a biographical sense, and the quality and character of that life.” The depth of self-directed aretaic appraisal, I argue is a function of three features: its structure, the violation of normative standards and the reflective activity that it requires. Reflective human beings have an interest in leading lives that are rich, rewarding and expressive of our values and concerns. From the first-personal point of view, a life that is impoverished along any of these dimensions is defective in the aretaic sense. Protecting these interests requires discernment of these values and is accordingly a deep and serious form of appraisal. Because violation of these standards explains why at least one class of responsibility appraisal is deep and serious, depth and seriousness may have a plurality of explanations.
A Game- Theoretic Approach for Uncoordinated Access to Cognitive Resources

Cognitive radio networks are evolving as a strong enabler of Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity in newer generations of wireless communication systems such as 5G and beyond 5G (B5G). This connectivity presents challenges specifically in heterogeneous networks with spectrum sharing and primary users' constraints. The setup considered in this work is representative of a heterogeneous environment of IoT users (devices) competing for channel access with present primary users. This work proposes a game-theoretic strategy for uncoordinated channel access in a communication environment to alleviate the overhead of coordination and protect primary user's constraints. A multi-user cognitive environment is investigated in this article, where secondary users of the system communicate over a channel licensed to the primary user while satisfying the outage probability requirements of the primary user of the channel. Focusing on one secondary user, we devise a channel access strategy that achieves the intended performance objectives while satisfying the quality of service constraints. The secondary user of interest is modeled as a resource-constrained device that chooses to transmit over the channel only during select time intervals. The dynamical interaction between the secondary users is modeled using iterated zero-determinant game-theoretic strategies. The results of this work indicate that the selected secondary user has the potential to achieve its long-term target performance using the iterated game-theoretic strategies and show the impact of the strategy parameters on the performance metrics.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Blood Pressure Among US Adults, 1999-2018

Racial and ethnic differences in blood pressure (BP), regardless of antihypertensive medication use, contribute to cardiovascular disease disparities. We analyzed systolic BP (SBP) data from US adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2002 through 2015 to 2018 (n=51 743) to determine if racial and ethnicity disparities have changed over time. Among US adults not taking antihypertensive medication, the mean age-adjusted SBP (95% CI), mm Hg, in 1999 to 2002 and 2015 to 2018 was 119.6 (118.7-120.5) and 119.4 (118.7-120.1) for non-Hispanic White adults, 124.7 (123.7-125.7) and 124.9 (123.8-125.9) for non-Hispanic Black adults and 120.4 (118.6-122.2) and 120.4 (119.7-121.2) for Hispanic adults. The mean multivariable-adjusted SBP was 4.1 mm Hg (2.7-5.4) higher in 1999 to 2002 and 3.8 mm Hg (2.6-5.0) higher in 2015 to 2018 among non-Hispanic Black adults compared with non-Hispanic White adults, while there was no evidence of a difference between Hispanic adults and non-Hispanic White adults in 1999 to 2002 (-0.2 mm Hg [95% CI, -1.9 to 1.5]) or 2015 to 2018 (-0.8 mm Hg [95% CI, -1.8 to 0.1]). Among US adults taking antihypertensive medication, the mean age-adjusted SBP (95% CI), mm Hg, in 1999 to 2002 and 2015 to 2018 was 129.6 (126.7-132.4) and 127.1 (125.6-128.6) for non-Hispanic White adults, 136.9 (133.8-140.0) and 135.3 (132.5-138.1) for non-Hispanic Black adults and 133.9 (128.0-139.7) and 131.8 (127.6-136.0) for Hispanic adults. After multivariable adjustment, in 1999 to 2002 and 2015 to 2018, mean SBP was 4.8 mm Hg (1.8-7.8) and 6.5 mm Hg (4.5-8.4) higher, respectively, among non-Hispanic Black adults versus White adults, and 2.4 mm Hg (-2.6 to 7.3) and 3.6 mm Hg (0.8 to 6.4) higher, respectively, among Hispanic adults versus non-Hispanic White adults. In the United States, non-Hispanic Black adults continue to have higher SBP levels compared with non-Hispanic White adults.
“To the Detriment of the Institution”: The Missouri Student's Fight to Desegregate the University of Missouri

This study analyzes the advocacy role of a white university newspaper on behalf of African Americans and desegregation during the two decades prior to the modern civil rights movement. This analysi...
Support of Multidimensional Parallelism in the OpenMP Programming Model

OpenMP is the current standard for shared-memory programming. While providing ease of parallel programming, the OpenMP programming model also has limitations which often effect the scalability of applications. Examples for these limitations are work distribution and point-to-point synchronization among threads. We propose extensions to the OpenMP programming model which allow the user to easily distribute the work in multiple dimensions and synchronize the workflow among the threads. The proposed extensions include four new constructs and the associated runtime library. They do not require changes to the source code and can be implemented based on the existing OpenMP standard. We illustrate the concept in a prototype translator and test with benchmark codes and a cloud modeling code.
Autonomic and Coevolutionary Sensor Networking

(WSNs) applications are often required to balance the tradeoffs among conflicting operational objectives (e.g., latency and power consumption) and operate at an optimal tradeoff. This chapter proposes and evaluates a architecture, called BiSNET/e, which allows WSN applications to overcome this issue. BiSNET/e is designed to support three major types of WSN applications: , and hybrid applications. Each application is implemented as a decentralized group of, which is analogous to a bee colony (application) consisting of bees (agents). Agents collect sensor data or detect an event (a significant change in sensor reading) on individual nodes, and carry sensor data to base stations. They perform these data collection and event detection functionalities by sensing their surrounding network conditions and adaptively invoking behaviors such as pheromone emission, reproduction, migration, swarming and death. Each agent has its own behavior policy, as a set of genes, which defines how to invoke its behaviors. BiSNET/e allows agents to evolve their behavior policies (genes) across generations and autonomously adapt their performance to given objectives. Simulation results demonstrate that, in all three types of applications, agents evolve to find optimal tradeoffs among conflicting objectives and adapt to dynamic network conditions such as traffic fluctuations and node failures/additions. Simulation results also illustrate that, in hybrid applications, data collection agents and event detection agents coevolve to augment their adaptability and performance.
Normal and 5-bromodeoxyuridine-inhibited development of herpes simplex virus. An electron microscope study.

Abstract The general morphological features of the replication of herpes simplex in HeLa cells are consonant with those already published, but with the additional observations here of a notable relationship between virus and Golgi bodies and lysosomes. The increase in cell-associated infectivity following the eclipse period and at a time when only naked particles are seen suggests that at least some of these particles are infective. Bromodeoxyuridine inhibits the replication cycle at the early step of naked particle formation. It is suggested that formation of naked particles is dependent upon structurally intact progeny DNA whereas synthesis of certain structural components such as viral antigen is specified only by the parental genome.
Enforcing Constitutional Constraints

I examine the enforcement of constitutional constraintson government. Citizens must be able to identify and prevent(or correct) observed violations of the constitution to successfullyenforce constraints. Identification requires specialized knowledgenecessitating employment of experts in constitutional law. Collectiveaction and coordination problems can also plague constitutionalenforcement efforts. I argue that judicial review is a relativelyefficient enforcement mechanism which substantially mitigatesthese problems.
The Psychology of Enhancing Human Performance: The Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment (Mac) Approach

Part I: Theoretical and Empirical Foundations Chapter 1: Understanding Functional and Dysfunctional Human Performance: The Integrative Model of Human Performance (IMHP) Pre-Performance Phase Dispositional Characteristics Environmental Stimuli Performance Demands Performance Phase Post-performance Response Phase Behavioral Avoidance Cognitive Avoidance Introduction to the Acceptance-based Approach.
The Impact of State-Enforced Personal Status Laws on Human Rights (Chapter 3 in Human Rights Under State-Enforced Religious Family Laws in Israel, Egypt and India)

About one-third of the world's population currently lives under pluri-legal systems where governments hold individuals subject to the purview of ethno-religious rather than national norms in respect to family law. How does the state-enforcement of these religious family laws impact fundamental rights and liberties? What resistance strategies do people employ in order to overcome the disabilities and limitations these religious laws impose upon their rights? Based on archival research, court observations and interviews with individuals from three countries, Yuksel Sezgin shows that governments have often intervened in order to impress a particular image of subjectivity upon a society, while people have constantly challenged the interpretive monopoly of courts and state-sanctioned religious institutions, re-negotiated their rights and duties under the law, and changed the system from within. He also identifies key lessons and best practices for the integration of universal human rights principles into religious legal systems.
Molecular transformations of phenolic SOA during photochemical aging in the aqueous phase: competition among oligomerization, functionalization, and fragmentation

Abstract. Organic aerosol is formed and transformed in atmospheric aqueous phases (e.g., cloud and fog droplets and deliquesced airborne particles containing small amounts of water) through a multitude of chemical reactions. Understanding these reactions is important for a predictive understanding of atmospheric aging of aerosols and their impacts on climate, air quality, and human health. In this study, we investigate the chemical evolution of aqueous secondary organic aerosol (aqSOA) formed during reactions of phenolic compounds with two oxidants – the triplet excited state of an aromatic carbonyl (3C∗) and hydroxyl radical ( • OH). Changes in the molecular composition of aqSOA as a function of aging time are characterized using an offline nanospray desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometer (nano-DESI MS) whereas the real-time evolution of SOA mass, elemental ratios, and average carbon oxidation state (OSC) are monitored using an online aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). Our results indicate that oligomerization is an important aqueous reaction pathway for phenols, especially during the initial stage of photooxidation equivalent to ∼ 2 h irradiation under midday winter solstice sunlight in Northern California. At later reaction times functionalization (i.e., adding polar oxygenated functional groups to the molecule) and fragmentation (i.e., breaking of covalent bonds) become more important processes, forming a large variety of functionalized aromatic and open-ring products with higher OSC values. Fragmentation reactions eventually dominate the photochemical evolution of phenolic aqSOA, forming a large number of highly oxygenated ring-opening molecules with carbon numbers (nC) below 6. The average nC of phenolic aqSOA decreases while average OSC increases over the course of photochemical aging. In addition, the saturation vapor pressures (C∗) of dozens of the most abundant phenolic aqSOA molecules are estimated. A wide range of C∗ values is observed, varying from 10 µg m−3 for small open-ring species. The detection of abundant extremely low-volatile organic compounds (ELVOC) indicates that aqueous reactions of phenolic compounds are likely an important source of ELVOC in the atmosphere.
Measurement precautions for high-resistivity silicon solar cells

Several measurement characteristics have been identified that are unique to high-performance, high-resistivity silicon cells. These unique characteristics, which are due to features such as bulk carrier lifetimes on the order of 1 ms, excellent surface passivation, and light trapping, can lead to large performance measurement errors; however, they also offer insight into the physical mechanisms occurring in these devices. The characteristics that were found to have the largest influence on measured performance are described. These include a strong fill factor dependence on voltage sweep rate and direction, sublinear short-circuit current versus irradiance, light-soaking influence on open-circuit voltage and fill factor, and enhanced spectral response beyond 1100 nm due to optical light trapping. Cell measurements and analyses have included both small-area concentrator cells and large-area one-sun cells from various sources. >
Strategy and Entrepreneurship

In his book "Invention," Professor Norbert Wiener (1993), commenting on the relative importance accorded to individuals and institutions in historical narratives of science and inventions, asks us to imagine Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" without either Romeo or the balcony. The story is just not the same. He likens much of the study of the economic history of science and accounts of inventions as "all balcony and no Romeo." The balcony for Norbert Wiener captures the context in which the story unfolds?the culture, the institutions, the constraints, and the catalysts that move the plot forward and thicken it. Romeos, for Wiener, play the leading parts in the story, because there is a strong fortuitous element to inventions and there is no inevitability that a possible discovery will be made at a given time and space. Take away either one, Romeo or the balcony, and the whole story falls apart. In a similar vein, we would liken studies of strategic management to "all balcony and no Romeo." But if we accuse strategic management of being "all balcony and no Romeo," strategic management scholars could legitimately accuse entrepreneurship of being "all Romeo and no balcony."
Urban Water-Supply Reinvention

Cities in drought-prone regions of the American West and Australia provide examples of innovative approaches to utilizing local water resources to achieve more resilient water supplies. Geographical realities, population growth, and favorable economic conditions can create the impetus for investments in new technologies, while support by activist groups and NGOs can encourage more sustainable approaches using locally sourced water. New approaches–whether desalination, stormwater use, water recycling, or potable reuse–share a common path to mass adoption. After a period of piloting and demonstration-scale projects, water providers with few options become early adopters of new technologies. And after the early adopters have gained experience and have used it to support the new approaches, the costs and risks of failure decrease for other providers. Thus, a wider cross section can adopt the new approach. The pioneering projects described herein are the first stage of the reinvention of our urban water systems.
Effects of physical activity on common side effects of breast cancer treatment

Motivating women with breast cancer to engage in regular physical activity may be an enormous challenge given the common side effects of breast cancer treatment. The objective of this narrative review is to briefly summarize recent research evidence examining the influence of physical activity on commonly occurring side effects of breast cancer treatment. Overall, current research evidence indicates that regular participation in physical activity after breast cancer diagnosis may mitigate common side effects of breast cancer adjuvant therapy, including fatigue, depression, impaired quality of life, decreased muscular strength, decreased aerobic capacity, and weight gain. Future research could examine the influence that physical activity has on the effectiveness of breast cancer treatment. Implications for health care professionals are discussed.
The activation of lymphocytes is in their CARMA.

Lymphocyte activation via antigen receptors initiates adaptive immune responses. Two papers in this issue of Immunity demonstrate that CARMA-1, a CARD carrying member of the MAGUK family proteins, is essential for lymphocyte activation. CARMA-1 functions by coupling antigen receptor signals to NF-κB induction and JNK activation.
Intellectual Property Rights, Genetic Markers, and Hybrid Seed Production

Abstract Interests in the legal protection of plants (e.g., plant proprietary rights) has arisen from the rising costs of private and public research investment, and the economic value intrinsic in these intellectual properties. Moreover, recent advances in molecular biology (e.g., plant transformation) and the complex ramifications it holds for gene manipulation [i.e., potential specific insertion of a foreign gene(s)] has caused increased scrutiny by investors. Thus, it has become an economic necessity to protect research products that can provide incentives for future investment. In the United States there are five main categories of plant protection: (1) trade secrets; (2) contracts; (3) Plant Patent act (PPA); (4) Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA), and; (5) utility patents. In Europe, plants are protected under “Plant Breeders Rights.” It is clear that disparity exists with regards to the legal relevance of genetic marker loci for plant variety protection. The purpose of this article is to explore ...
Congressional Delegation of Spending Power to the Defense Department in the Post-9–11 Period

The advantages of increased delegation of resource management authority by Congress have long been argued by defense leadership. It is an important issue because of its relevance to congressional assessment of defense management, budget priorities, and how to enforce policy preferences. This paper investigates the series of supplemental appropriations for the war on terrorism to determine (a) under what conditions, and how and why Congress delegates budget authority to defense, (b) what happened with respect to the degree of delegation after appropriation during budget execution, and (c) what this case teaches us about the evolving budgetary relationship between Congress and the Defense Department.
Perimeter Radiation Monitors for the Control and Physical Security of Special Nuclear Materials

Perimeter radiation monitors are gamma-ray and neutron measurement systems that can provide timely notice of theft or diversion of special nuclear material (SNM). The monitors may be hand-held instruments operated by security inspectors or automatic pedestrian or vehicle monitors located in exit pathways. A monitor's performance depends on its design, the characteristics of SNM and the operating environment, and proper monitor calibration and maintenance. Goals of ASTM Subcommittee C26.12 are to describe monitoring technology, how to apply it, and how to test its performance. 3 refs., 6 figs.
THE OCCURRENCE OF PUTRESCINE AND A NEW GUANIDINO AMINO ACID IN SEEDS OF LATHYRUS TINGITANUS.

Abstract The natural occurrence of L-homoarginine in seeds of Lathyrus sativus ( Rao, Ramachandran and Adiga, 1963 ), of L. cicera , L. cymenum and others ( Bell, 1962a ) has recently been noted. Further, seeds of L. tingitanus contain the unusual amino acid lathyrine — β-(2-amino-pyrimidine-4-yl) alanine ( Bell, 1962b ). The possible role of homoarginine as a precursor of lathyrine has been suggested ( Rao et al. , 1963 ; Bell, 1962c ), and it has also been speculated that γ-hydroxyhomoarginine or its lactone — which may spontaneously undergo ring closure to yield tetrahydrolathyrine — could be expected to occur in L. tingitanus ( Rao et al. , 1963 ). We present herein some evidence for the presence of a new guanidino amino acid in the seeds. Some of the properties noted for this amino acid are akin to those anticipated for the lactone of γ-hydroxyhomoarginine. The seeds also contain a substantial amount of putrescine.
First-trimester endocervical irrigation: Feasibility of obtaining trophoblast cells for prenatal diagnosis

We sought to determine the feasibility of obtaining trophoblast cells for first-trimester prenatal diagnosis using endocervical irrigation. We studied 20 pregnant patients between 7–10.5 weeks' gestation who presented for elective pregnancy termination. Under ultrasound guidance, a specially designed plastic catheter was advanced to the level of the internal cervical os. Gentle flushing and aspiration was performed with 3 mL of normal saline. The material obtained was fixed and stained. A placental pathologist identified trophoblast cells using light microscopy. In another five cases, we attempted to culture the endocervical washings. Trophoblast cells were identified by microscopy after staining the cultured material with an anti-alpha-hCG-antibody bound stain. In ten of 20 cases (50%), trophoblast material was retrieved on irrigation. Of the five additional cases on which culture was attempted, trophoblast was successfully cultured in one, the results were equivocal in two, and culture was unsuccessful in the other two. Trophoblast cells for prenatal diagnosis can be obtained in a significant percentage of cases by first-trimester endocervical irrigation. The advantages of irrigation include technical simplicity, brief duration (less than 3 minutes), and suitability to first-trimester diagnosis. Further testing is necessary to determine the risks.
An operations research approach to solve complex and unstructured problems illustrated for the case of cost-plus-award fee contracts

A technique which uses a combination of quantitative tools to solve a complex and unstructured problem is demonstrated. The technique involves analyzing empirical data through the use of multiple regression analysis in conjunction with the linear programming simplex method.
Outbreak of Bacteremia Due to Burkholderia contaminans Linked to Intravenous Fentanyl From an Institutional Compounding Pharmacy

Importance Many health care facilities compound medications on site to fulfill local demands when customized formulations are needed, national supply is critically low, or costs for manufactured pharmaceuticals are excessive. Small, institutional compounding facilities may perform the same high-risk procedures as large distributors of compounded medications. Objectives To investigate an outbreak related to contamination of compounded sterile preparations and to determine processes to prevent future outbreaks. Design, Setting, and Participants We performed an outbreak investigation of inpatients at Duke University Hospital from August 31 through September 6, 2012. The investigation included a case-control study, compounding facility inspection and environmental sampling, observation of a mock compounding demonstration, and microbiologic and molecular testing of sequestered medication. Exposures Intravenous fentanyl prepared by an institutional compounding pharmacy. Main Outcomes and Measures Microbiologic and molecular evidence of contamination of a compounded sterile preparation and failure of routine sterility testing. Results Blood cultures of 7 patients during a 7-day period at Duke University Hospital yielded pan-susceptibleBurkholderia cepaciacomplex bacteria. The risk factor common to all patients was receipt of continuous fentanyl infusion prepared by our institutional compounding pharmacy (odds ratio, 11.22; 95% CI, 2.09-∞;P = .01). The outbreak was terminated after sequestration of compounded fentanyl. An intensive evaluation of the compounding facility, its practice, and its procedures was completed. Investigators evaluated the clean room, collected targeted microbiologic samples within the compounding pharmacy environment, and observed a mock demonstration of compounding practice. TheB cepaciacomplex was found in the anteroom sink drain and pH probe calibration fluid from the compounding clean room. Multiple microbiologic analyses of sequestered fentanyl initially failed. Ultimately, a batched, vacuum-assisted filtration method producedB cepaciacomplex from a single lot. Molecular analyses using repetitive element polymerase chain reaction and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis confirmed a clonalBurkholderia contaminansstrain from patients, fentanyl, and environmental samples. Conclusions and Relevance An outbreak ofB contaminansbacteremia was linked to contamination of locally compounded intravenous fentanyl. Health care facilities that house institutional compounding facilities must be vigilant in efforts to prevent, recognize, and terminate medication-related outbreaks.
A 28-kDa cerebral neuropeptide from Manduca sexta: relationship to the insect prothoracicotropic hormone.

1. A 28-kDa peptide from the brain of the tobacco hornworm,Manduca sexta, was purifiedvia HPLC. The peptide copurified with the insect neurohormone, prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH), through two HPLC columns. 2. Immunocyctochemistry using polyclonal antibodies against the 28-kDa peptide revealed that the peptide was produced in the same protocerebral neurons that produce PTTH. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the 28-kDa peptide and big PTTH are different molecules. 3. A PTTHin vitro bioassay indicated that despite having chromatographic properties similar to those of big PTTH and being produced by the same neurons, the 28-kDa peptide did not have PTTH activity. 4. Amino acid sequence analysis yielded a 27 N-terminal amino acid sequence that had no similarity with known peptides. 5. Immunocytochemical studies revealed that the 28-kDa peptide is present as early as 30% embryonic development and is absent by adult eclosion. This is in contrast to big PTTH, which is expressed throughout theManduca life cycle. 6. These data suggest that the 28-kDa peptide is another secretory phenotype of the lateral neurosecretory cell group III (L-NSC III) which may have functions distinct from those for big PTTH or may act synergistically with big PTTH.
Getting to guanine: mechanism and dynamics of charge separation and charge recombination in DNA revisited.

The mechanism and dynamics of charge separation and charge recombination in synthetic DNA hairpins possessing a stilbenedicarboxamide linker and a single guanine–cytosine base pair have been reinvestigated. The combination of femtosecond broad-band pump probe spectroscopy, nanosecond transient absorption experiments, and picosecond fluorescence decay measurements permits analysis of the formation and decay of the stilbene anion radical. Reversible hole injection resulting in the formation of the stilbene–adenine contact radical ion pair is found to occur on the picosecond time scale. The mechanism for charge separation across two or more base pairs is revised from single step superexchange to a multi-step process: hole injection followed by hole transport and hole trapping. The mechanism of charge recombination remains assigned to a superexchange process.
Evaluation of the reliability and validity of the repeatable cognitive-perceptual-motor battery

Abstract To provide further validation for the Repeatable Cognitive-Perceptual-Motor Battery (RCPM) as a measure of attention/psychomotor speed, its sensitivity to a clinically relevant dose of diazepam (10mg) was studied in a randomized, double-blind format. Convergent validity was assessed with tasks sensitive to diazepam, namely, Discriminant Fraction Time (DRAT) and Visual Analogue Sedation Ratings (VASRs). Divergent validity was assessed with untimed verbal and visual-spatial tasks. Forty undergraduates, randomly assigned to either drug or placebo condition, were tested three times in two sessions with the RCPM, the DRAT, and the VASRs, with verbal and visual-spatial measures added for the post-drug (second session) condition. The first two pre-drug testings were 1 week apart and established reliability as well as provided baseline measurements. Repeated measures analysis of variance and discriminant analysis of post-drug scores supported the sensitivity and convergent/dive gent validity of the RCPM.
NOD2 deficiency results in increased susceptibility to peptidoglycan-induced uveitis in mice

Purpose. The innate immune receptor NOD2 is a genetic cause of uveitis (Blau syndrome). Intriguingly, in the intestine where polymorphisms of NOD2 predispose to Crohn's disease, NOD2 reportedly suppresses inflammation triggered by the bacterial cell wall component, peptidoglycan (PGN). Whether NOD2 exerts a similar capacity in the regulation of ocular inflammation to PGN has not been explored.
A high-speed voltage-regulating and static-excitation system for A-C aircraft generators

WITHIN the past few years there has been developed a new type of voltage-regulating and static-excitation system for a 40-kva (kilovolt-ampere) a-c aircraft generator. The system is unique in its manner of excitation control, and exhibits rather remarkable performance. This paper describes the system and its principle of operation, and presents performance data.
Substance abuse and parenting among African American mothers of adolescents.

Maternal substance use can alter a mother’s ability to provide positive parenting, yet few studies have examined factors that contribute to perceptions of successful parenting among such an at-risk population. Using data from a sample of 103 mother adolescent dyads, this research examined factors associated with parenting self-efficacy and parenting behaviors among substance abusing (N = 44) and non-substance abusing (n = 59) African American mothers. Parenting efficacy was positively correlated with adolescent academic performance and negatively correlated with adolescent externalizing behaviors among substance abusing mothers. Academic performance of youth uniquely contributed explained variance to parenting efficacy. Efficacy was not associated with youth reported positive parenting behaviors among either group; however, for substance abusing mothers, family and contextual stress as well as social support were negatively associated with positive parenting behaviors. These findings indicate distinct factors influence perceptions of parenting and reported parenting behaviors for substance-abusing mothers. The importance of these factors for the development of parenting interventions among the population is discussed.
From privatization to re-nationalization: What went wrong with privatizations in Argentina?

The privatization process in Argentina is analysed. Beginning with a very ambitious programme, a weak regulatory environment was created because of lack of experience and as a result of the lobbying power of the newly created enterprises. Numerous exclusive privileges were assigned to these sectors, making them the most profitable industries during the 1990s. As the economy crashed in 2001 and the local currency was devalued, a new government took office, which renegotiated all contracts. This resulted in re-privatization and re-nationalization of many services. The pro- and anti-privatization arguments are reviewed, using empirical evidence from Argentina. An in-depth study is also provided of the three sectors where this negotiation was most intense: the railways, water and sewerage and postal services.
Ribosome content and the rate of growth of Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract Cultures of Salmonella typhimurium were grown at steady-state rates fro3 0.08 to 2.5 generations per h. Lysates of these cells were subjected to analytical ultracentrifugation and the resultant schlieren patterns analyzed for content of various subcelullar components. The ribosome concentration, expressed as the ratio of ribosomes to soluble proteins, was a direct and linear function of the growth rate.
Underground phenomena imaging using electromagnetic geophysical tomography: Electromagnetic geophysical tomography is a new technique used to characterize prospective urban subways, locating tunnels and natural caverns, mapping fractures in rock, and in delineating groundwater pathways

Electromagnetic geophysical tomography, an adaptation of the CAT (computerized axial tomography) concept, was developed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to investigate rock below the ground surface. Electromagnetic geophysical tomography (EGT) can be used to characterize prospective urban subways, locating tunnels and natural caverns, mapping fractures in rock, and delineating groundwater pathways. In most applications where EGT systems are used, the sensors (antennas) are placed within two boreholes. The transmission characteristics of radio waves are measured between numerous transmitter and receiver locations. Since the electrical properties of rock mass affect radio waves passing through it, it is possible to calculate the electromagnetic properties of the rock sampled by the waves. By moving the antennas up and down the boreholes, multiple views of the rock are obtained. The EGT image is reconstructed using a computer and is then displayed on a CRT and analyzed. The image provides a detailed map of the electrical properties of the rock. These images enable an interpreter to understand the geologic structures and materials present.
In vivoDetection of Nitric Oxide and NOxSpecies Usingex vivoElectron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Abstract Nitric oxide is a paramagnetic molecule that exhibits high affinity for heme proteins, forming a mixture of nitrosylated valency hybrids that can be precisely characterized using low-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. In red blood cells, nitric oxide will form paramagnetic complexes with deoxyhemoglobin or be oxidized to nitrite and nitrate by oxyhemoglobin with formation of paramagnetic methemoglobin. We have developed a technique to monitor temporal changes in local nitric oxide productionin vivo,by sampling arterial and venous blood across a tissue bed and measuring changes in hemoglobin–nitric oxide and methemoglobin concentrationex vivousing electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Changes in local nitric oxide concentration are further clarified by quantifying plasma nitrite/nitrate levels. With these techniques, we have observed that whole body hyperthermia increases portal venous concentrations of hemoglobin–nitric oxide and organic radicals that are consistent with enhanced nitric oxide synthase activity, cytotoxic leukocyte activity, and cellular oxidative stress in splanchnic tissues.
Efficient computer-user interface in electronic mail systems

Abstract This paper explores the question of improving the user-computer interface. The approach is one of observing and codifying various parameters that influence the efficiency of the interface in the context of electronic mail tasks. First, we observe “expert” and “regular” users of a mail system and identify the sources of efficiency. The data indicates that experts use a different, more specialized set of commands in performing standard mail tasks. While experts perform these tasks with fewer errors and more “completely”, it is not clear that they achieve this any faster than regular users. Recommendations for system design are made. In addition, errors made by subjects are codified. The major proportion of errors observed fall under syntactic and typographical categories. Implications for error recovery and prevention are discussed.
Perspectives for grain production in the U.S.S.R.

Abstract Over the past ten years, increased variability of weather has caused a substantial shortfall in grain production in the U.S.S.R. This shortfall has a very great effect on the whole Soviet economy and also on the global balance of grain supply and demand. To overcome the shortage of grain the U.S.S.R. has increased purchases of grain on the international market sevenfold above the level of the early 1970's. The U.S.S.R. is also attempting some measures to increase grain output in the country, but the rate of this increase is not compatible with the growing Soviet demand for grain. In addition to the impact of weather, Soviet economics, natural resources and other factors create some limitations for successful fulfillment of their goals. A thorough insight of these problems will help in the assessment of the future potential for grain production in the U.S.S.R. which is the world's second largest grain producer and the largest grain importing nation.
Unemployment expectations and human capital formation

Abstract This paper analyses the demand for education in the framework of the human capital theory extended with employment prospects that depend on the amount of education. Unemployment considerations are especially important for the European countries in the 1980s. By using comparative statics we derive the theoretical properties of the model. In a number of important respects these results differ from their counterparts in the traditional human capital literature. By fitting a binomial logit model to a sample of educational choices of Dutch high school graduates we find substantial empirical support for the theory. High unemployment, by itself, does not drive youth towards additional education, but youth strives for more education in order to improve their employment prospects.
Theoretical Expected Genetic Gains for Among-and-Within-Family Selection Methods in Perennial Forage Crops

Genetic gains in forage yield lag far behind the gains made in grain yield of cereal crops, partly because of the use of ineffi cient selection methods that make little use of additive genetic variance within half-sib or full-sib families. The objectives of this study were (i) to compute expected genetic gains for among-and-withinfamily (AWF) selection methods, (ii) to compare these selection methods to standard family and progeny-test selection methods, and (iii) to defi ne the conditions under which AWF selection methods may be superior to progeny-test selection. Among-and-within-family selection is equal to or better than family selection under all circumstances provided the within-family selection criterion (X or Y) is heritable and has a positive genetic correlation with the desired trait (Y). Among-and-within-family selection is favored over progeny-test selection by (i) high heritability on an individual-plant basis (relative to heritability on a family-mean basis), (ii) withinfamily selection intensity ≥ among-family selection intensity, and (iii) possibly a shorter cycle time (for some species and some breeding programs). These conditions are more frequently achieved for half-sib mating systems due to the greater partitioning of additive genetic variance within families, but AWF selection can also be heavily favored in a full-sib mating system under conditions that are a bit more restrictive.
Nitrogen fertilization of potatoes

1. Yield increases under irrigated Long Island conditions were obtained with applications up to 210 pounds of nitrogen per acre with Cobbler and Katahdin varieties. 2. Nitrogen distribution had little effect on yield as long as vines were allowed to go to maturity. 3. When less than 70 pounds of the total nitrogen was applied at planting, maturity was delayed. 4. In general, the earlier the nitrogen was applied the higher was the specific gravity. 5. The nitrogen sources gave similar responses in all determinations made.
Mass-Per-Unit-Length Determination by Stem

Mass-per-unit-length is key to defining filament symmetry. STEM measures mass and length simultaneously on freeze-dried, unstained specimens. The accuracy is usually better than 5% for mass and 0.5% for length. Spatial resolution is typically 3nm at an electron dose of 10el/A2, so heterogeneity can be measured along the traced length. Also, the projected mass profile determined directly from the image can be compared with simulated models or transformed to a radial density profile. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is included in all specimens as an internal control for structural preservation and freedom from salt artifacts. Application to prions, amyloids and filamentous viruses will be described.The Brookhaven STEM operates at 40 keV with a probe size of 0.3nm obtained by focusing a beam from a cold field emission source. The specimen is maintained at −160°C to reduce mass loss. Specimens are fast frozen, freeze dried overnight and transferred under vacuum to the microscope. Quantum efficiency detectors measure every electron passing through the specimen as: unscattered (bright field), scattered at small angles (SA) or scattered at large angles (LA, dark field). The LA signal is used for mass measurements since it is free of coherent scattering effects (defocus phase contrast, diffraction contrast on crystals). Off-line analysis masks particles to determine background, finds filament segments and measures signal minus background, converting to mass-per-unit-length. All measurements are stored in a database with statistical analysis. http://www.bnl.gov/biology/stem/