cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A critical number of workers in a honeybee colony triggers investment in reproduction

Social insect colonies, like individual organisms, must decide as they develop how to allocate optimally their resources among survival, growth, and reproduction. Only when colonies reach a certain state do they switch from investing purely in survival and growth to investing also in reproduction. But how do worker bees within a colony detect that their colony has reached the state where it is adaptive to begin investing in reproduction? Previous work has shown that larger honeybee colonies invest more in reproduction (i.e., the production of drones and queens), however, the term ‘larger’ encompasses multiple colony parameters including number of adult workers, size of the nest, amount of brood, and size of the honey stores. These colony parameters were independently increased in this study to test which one(s) would increase a colony’s investment in reproduction via males. This was assayed by measuring the construction of drone comb, the special type of comb in which drones are reared. Only an increase in the number of workers stimulated construction of drone comb. Colonies with over 4,000 workers began building drone comb, independent of the other colony parameters. These results show that attaining a critical number of workers is the key parameter for honeybee colonies to start to shift resources towards reproduction. These findings are relevant to other social systems in which a group’s members must adjust their behavior as a function of the group’s size.
Localized giant pseudopolyposis of the colon in ulcerative and granulomatous colitis

The occurrence of localized large clusters of colonic pseudopolyps in 4 patients is described. The underlying disease was chronic ulcerative colitis in 2 cases and granulomatous colitis in 2 others. Each lesion presented as a bulky polypoid mass causing partial or total occlusion of the transverse segment or splenic flexure of the colon. The radiographic and pathologic features of this rare entity are illustrated, and the previously reported 10 cases are briefly reviewed.
Concise synthesis and characterization of 30-membered macrocyclic monomer for poly(ether ether ketone)

A 30-membered macrocyclic arylene ether ketone monomer for poly(ether ether ketone) was synthesized by a two-step method. The first step involves synthesis of a long bisphenol from hydroquinone and 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone. The second step is the cyclization of the bisphenol with 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone. The pure macrocycle was isolated and characterized by IR, NMR, MS, TGA and DSC techniques. The X-ray structure of the macrocycle was also determined.
Intra- and Extracultural Perceptions of Competence in Rural African American Youth.

Abstract This study was designed to determine the extent to which adults' ratings of cognitive and social competence among rural African American children converge. Hypotheses about the conditions under which intracultural and extracultural raters perceive children's competencies similarly were also tested. Mothers, fathers, relatives, family friends, and teachers independently assessed cognitive and social competence for a sample of 91 rural African American children. The data supported predictions that ratings of cognitive competence would be more similar across raters than would ratings of social competence, and that parents' involvement in their children's schools would be associated with more similarity in parents' and teachers' ratings of child competence. Identification of the processes that help African American children to function well in both intracultural and extracultural settings is important.
Photoionization from the excited p states of the rare-gas atoms

A systematic quantitative estimation of the photoionization cross section from the excited $p$ states of the rare-gas atoms is carried out in a single-configuration calculation. Our calculation has shown that the photoionization from these excited states is quasihydrogenic in nature. At a fixed photoelectron energy, the cross section is found to decrease as the effective quantum number ${n}^{*}$ increases from state to state and to scale approximately as ${({n}^{*})}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. As the photon energy $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ increases, the cross section decreases approximately as ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. Our result is also found to compare favorably with the available experimental and theoretical data.
Empowering Neighborhoods Via Increased Citizen Participation or a Trojan Horse from City Hall: The Neighborhood Strategic Planning (NSP) Process in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This study examines the distribution of federal funds in Milwaukee, Wisconsin between 1988–2008 under a new Neighborhood Strategic Planning (NSP) process designed to increase citizen participation and empower neighborhoods residents by giving them an increased role in the distribution of federal urban renewal funds used for the period 1998–2008. It was then compared it to the old Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) funding allocation process used between 1988–1997. This study documents that while citizen participation in the distribution of federal CDBG funds increased under the NSP process, federal funding to low-income communities decreased because city officials had the power to restructure funding priorities and allocations patterns. Also, federal funds distributed to low-income neighborhoods via community-based organizations (CBO) decreased under the NSP because the city government created new policies to increase its share of CDBG dollars to finance city services and staff funded by tax levy dollars. In effect, the city used federal funds designed to help low income communities to pay for city services and staff instead of raising its middle class residents’ property taxes to pay for them.
Amylolytic activity of Byssochlamys fulva

Byssochlamys fulva was found to produce a glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3) that exhibited its maximal activity at 50°C and had a broad optimum pH range of 4.5.2. The K m and V max values of the crude enzyme for amylopectin were 0.15% and 17.9 mg glucose 1 −1 min −1 , respectively. The molecular weight of the enzyme as estimated by the gel-filtration method was 34 kDa
Identification of adenylate cyclase-coupled β-adrenergic receptors in the developing mammalian palate

Abstract A direct radioligand binding technique utilizing a β-adrenergic antagonist [ 3 H]Dihydroalprenolol ([ 3 H]DHA) was employed in the identification and characterization of fetal palatal β-adrenergic receptors. [ 3 H]DHA binding was saturable (Bmax 16 fmol/mg protein) with high affinity and an apparent equilibrium dissociation constant (K D ) of 1.5 nM. Binding of [ 3 H]DHA was displaced by the competitive β-adrenergic antagonist propranolol in a concentration-dependent manner. Dissociation kinetic studies demonstrated almost complete reversibility of radioligand binding within 60 min. The functionality of these β-adrenergic receptors was demonstrated by showing that fetal palatal mesenchymal cells responded to catecholamine agonists with dose-dependent accumulations of intracellular cAMP. This effect could be entirely blocked by the β-antagonist, propranolol. The relative potency order of catecholamines in eliciting an elevation of cellular cAMP was characteristic of a β 2 -adrenergic receptor-mediated response: (−) isoproterenol > (−) epinephrine > (−) norepinephrine. In addition, this response was found to be stereospecific with (−) isoproterenol being significantly more potent than (+) isoproterenol. Both the [ 3 H]DHA binding characteristics and the catecholamine sensitivity of fetal palatal tissue support the presence of adenylate cyclase-coupled β-adrenergic receptors in the developing mammalian secondary palate.
Automatic program debugging for intelligent tutoring systems

Program debugging is an important part of the domain expertise required for intelligent tutoring systems that teach programming languages. This thesis explores the process by which student programs can be automatically debugged in order to increase the instructional capabilities of these systems. This research presents a methodology and implementation for the diagnosis and correction of nontrivial recursive programs. In this approach, recursive programs are debugged by repairing induction proofs in the Boyer-Moore Logic. The potential of a program debugger to automatically debug widely varying novice programs in a nontrivial domain is proportional to its capabilities to reason about computational semantics. By increasing these reasoning capabilities a more powerful and robust system can result. This thesis supports these claims by examining related work in automated program debugging and by discussing the design, implementation, and evaluation of Talus, an automatic debugger for LISP programs. Talus relies on its abilities to reason about computational semantics to perform algorithm recognition, infer code teleology and to automatically detect and correct nonsyntactic errors in student programs written in a restricted, but nontrivial, subset of LISP. Solutions can vary significantly in algorithm, functional decomposition, role of variables, data flow, control flow, values returned by functions, LISP primitives used, and identifiers used. Solutions can consist of multiple functions, each containing multiple bugs. Empirical evaluation demonstrates that Talus achieves high performance in debugging widely varying student solutions to challenging tasks.
Pharmacological activity of 1-, 2-, and 3-hydroxypromazine and 7-methoxychlorpromazine

Abstract The pharmacological activities of promazine, various members of the group of mono-hydroxypromazines, 7-methoxychlorpromazine and chlorpromazine sulfoxide were compared in two tests: (a) potentiation of hexobarbital sleeping time, and (b) ability to maintain balance on a rotating rod. Mice were the subjects in both experiments. 3-Hydroxypromazine, a metabolite of promazine, was equally or somewhat less active than promazine. On the basis of the present and previous work, 3- and 4-hydroxypromazine proved to be about equally active. 1- and 2-hydroxypromazine were considerably less active. 3-Hydroxypromazine produced its maximal effect sooner than did promazine in the rotating rod test. In this test the durations of effects of promazine and 3-hydroxypromazine were essentially the same for at least the first 3 hr. 7-Methoxychlorpromazine and chlorpromazine sulfoxide were inactive in the sleeping time potentiation test and markedly less active than chlorpromazine in the rotating rod test. The different activity of 1- and 2-hydroxypromazine as contrasted with 3- and 4-hydroxy-promazine, and the possible role of metabolites in the pharmacological and clinical activities of the phenothiazine drugs, are discussed.
Family Variables as Mediators of the Relationship Between Work-Family Conflict and Marital Adjustment Among Dual-Career Men and Women

Abstract Selected social-psychological processes within the family were examined as potential mediators of the relationship between work-family conflict and marital adjustment among career men and women in the United States. Seventy-nine men and 198 women who were professionals in psychology participated in the study. A path-analytic model was used to test two specific family variables–perceptions of equity in spousal home division of labor and perceptions of spousal social support–as potential mediators of the proposed negative relationship between work-family conflict and marital adjustment. Spousal social support and equity in spousal home division of labor played an important, albeit small, mediating role in the negative relationship between work-family conflict and marital adjustment for men and women. Contrary to expectations, gender exhibited no overall indirect effect on marital adjustment.
A characterization of special laguerre planes and extended dual affine planes

A special Laguerre plane is a nondegenerate transversal 3-design such that the residue of each point is a dual affine plane. A special Laguerre plane is equivalent to an optimal code with three information digits and maximal length. An extended dual affine plane is an incidence structure (whose objects will be called points and blocks) such that the residue of each point is a dual affine plane, and each pair of points is in at least one block. Finite extended dual affine planes exist only of order 2, 4, and (dubiously) 10. We show that any finite incidence structure having the residue of each point a dual affine plane either is a transversal 3-design or has a block through each pair of points. Hence theorem: If a finite nondegenerate connected incidence structure θ has the residue of each point a dual affine plane, then θ is either an extended dual affine plane or a special Laguerre plane.
Variability and biomechanics of synergy patterns of some lower-limb muscles during ascending and descending stairs and level walking.

Electromyographic patterns of selected lower-limb muscles were investigated in highly-trained male athletes and nonathletes during ascending and descending stairs and level walking. Significant variability is found between the individual patterns for ascending and descending, although primary patterns can be identified. Some of the primary patterns found are different from those previously reported. The atypicalities are not related to athletic training nor to the incidence of knee injury/surgery among the athletes. All gaits appeared kinematically similar and some general biomechanical observations are presented.
Probing Lorentz and CPT violation with space-based experiments

Space-based experiments offer sensitivity to numerous unmeasured effects involving Lorentz and $\mathrm{CPT}$ violation. We provide a classification of clock sensitivities and present explicit expressions for time variations arising in such experiments from nonzero coefficients in the Lorentz- and $\mathrm{CPT}$-violating Standard-Model Extension.
The plundering generation : corruption and the crisis of the Union, 1849-1861

This book examines the extent of political corruption in the 1850s, the vehement rhetoric against it, and the causes of corruption - the return of prosperity in the 1840s (the gold rush), the decline of the Jacksonian party system, the growth of the spoils system, the land boom, railroad mania, and the professionalisation of party politics. The author also emphasises the corruptness of the press, especially in connection with party politics. Finally, he argues that the concern with corruption in the 1850s was related in important ways to the sectional crisis over slavery that came to a head during that decade. Students of American history.
A defense of political constructivism

In Political Liberalism, John Rawls describes a metaethical procedure – political constructivism – whereby political theorists formulate political principles by assembling and reworking ideas from the public political culture. To many of his moral realist and moral constructivist critics, Rawls's procedure is simply a recent version of the ‘popular moral philosophy’ that Kant excoriates in the Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals. In this article, I defend the idea of political constructivism on philosophical and political grounds. Initially, I argue that political constructivism is the best available methodology for self-legislating, socially embedded and fallible human beings; then I show that political constructivism may produce principles that could garner the principled assent of Euro-American Muslims such as Taha Jabir Al-Alwani. The article concludes by considering how political constructivism might be employed to formulate new political principles for Euro-American societies experiencing and confronting the Islamic revival.
Neuroautoantibody immunoreactivity in relation to aging and stress in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Abstract Progressive disruption of both the neuroendocrine and immune systems has been correlated with age-associated pathogenesis in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and in mice lacking apolipoprotein E (ApoE). In this study, we examined neuroautoimmune and neuroendocrine activities in relation to aging and stress in ApoE-deficient mice. An elevated level of autoantibodies against brain antigens was found in sera from ApoE-deficient mice compared to that of wild-type mice as early as 7–8 weeks of age. However, there was no significant difference between the two genotypes at this age in the effect of stress on serum corticosterone or autoantibody titers. Higher titers of autoantibodies were observed in ∼12-week-old ApoE-deficient mice, especially in those exposed to chronic stress. Based on Western analysis, sera from ApoE-deficient mice showed a strong immunoreactivity with ∼78 kDa and ∼40 kDa brain abundant polypeptides, ∼58 kDa non-brain tissue abundant antigen, and others of ∼, 80–82 kDa in both the brain and non-brain tissues. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy showed that the major cellular components recognized by the autoimmune sera from ApoE-deficient mice were associated with neuronal cell nuclei and fiber-like structures in different regions of the brain, including the frontal cortex, lateral cortex and hippocampus. These results suggest that neuroautoimmunity associated with the aging process and exposure to chronic stress may be involved in early development of neurodegeneration in mice with ApoE-deficiency.
Bulk acoustic microwave delay lines: design, fabrication and performance

This paper presents a review of the state of the art on bulk acoustic delay lines, the main feature of which is to achieve large delays, up to 100 μs, in very small size packages. The structure uses piezoelectric thin-film transducers working at microwave frequencies (1 to 10 GHz). Basic design considerations show the range of specifications, mainly bandwidth, insertion loss and delay time, which can be reached by such devices. The fabrication process of the zinc oxide on sapphire structure is described, including thin-film deposition, impedance matching and packaging operations. We give the specifications of some typical delay lines working in transmission and reflection modes. Finally, we mention some applications of these delay lines to calibration and radar signal processing.
Effect of Operating Conditions on the Performance of Two-Bed Closed-Cycle Solid-Sorption Heat Pump Systems

The effect of two operating parameters, the regeneration temperature and the ambient temperature, on the performance of two-bed, closed-cycle solid-sorption heat pumps is investigated. The results show that increasing the regeneration temperature can improve both the COP and cooling capacity, and the effect on cooling capacity is more significant than the COP. Increasing the regeneration temperature from 184°C to 260°C, the cooling capacity increases by 50 percent and the COP improves 20 percent. When the ambient temperature drops, the system performance increases significantly. When the ambient temperature decreases by 10°C from the design point of 35°C, the COP and cooling capacity increases by 50 percent and 40 percent, respectively. Also, the bed cycling speed should be increased to achieve the optimum system performance when the regeneration temperature is higher or the ambient temperature becomes lower.
Pharmacological studies with a nonpeptidic, delta-opioid (-)-(1R,5R,9R)-5,9-Dimethyl-2’-hydroxy-2-(6-hydroxyhexyl)-6,7-benzomorphan hydrochloride ((-)-NIH 11082)

Abstract In the search for a selective delta-opioid receptor agonist, (−)-(1 R ,5 R ,9 R )-5,9-dimethyl-2′-hydroxy-2-(6-hydroxyhexyl)-6,7-benzomorphan hydrochloride ((−)-NIH 11082) and the (+)-enantiomer were synthesized and tested. (−)-NIH 11082 displayed antinociceptive activity in the paraphenylquinone test (PPQ test) in male ICR mice [ED 50 = 1.9 (0.7–5.3) mg/kg, s.c.] and showed little, if any, activity in the tail-flick and hot-plate assays. The (+)-enantiomer was essentially inactive indicating stereoselectivity. Opioid receptor subtype characterization studies indicated that naltrindole, a delta-opioid receptor antagonist, was potent versus the ED 80 of (−)-NIH 11082 in the PPQ test [AD 50 = 0.75 (0.26–2.20) mg/kg, s.c]. beta-Funaltrexamine and nor-binaltorphimine, selective mu- and kappa-receptor antagonists, respectively, were inactive versus the ED 80 of (−)-NIH 11082. In rats with inflammation-induced pain, (−)-NIH 11082 produced antihyperalgesic effects that were attenuated by naltrindole. In morphine-dependent rhesus monkeys of both sexes, (−)-NIH 11082 neither substituted for morphine nor exacerbated withdrawal signs in the dose range of 4.0 to 32.0 mg/kg, s.c. Neither convulsions nor other overt behavioral signs were observed in any of the species tested. The results indicate that (−)-NIH 11082 has delta-opioid receptor properties.
Further simplification of cryoprecipitate coagulum pyelolithotomy without thrombin

Abstract Deletion of thrombin simplifies the surgical procedure of cryoprecipitate coagulum pyelolithotomy and subsequently eliminates the proposed risk factors associated with thromboembolism. The ideal ratio is 20 parts of cryoprecipitate to I part of I0% calcium chloride. The modified technique is presented.
Immunohistochemical localization of adrenal ferredoxin in bovine adrenal cortex

Abstract Adrenal ferredoxin, the iron-sulfur protein associated with cytochrome P-450 in adrenocortical mitochondria, has been localized at the light microscopic level in bovine adrenal cortex. Localization was achieved through the use of rabbit antiserum to bovine adrenal ferrodoxin in an unlabeled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. When sections of bovine adrenal glands were exposed to the adrenal ferredoxin antiserum, intense staining was observed in parenchymal cells of the three cortical zones. Staining for adrenal ferredoxin was not detected in the medullary chromaffin cells. The presence of adrenal ferredoxin in the three cortical zones was verified by electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry. These determinations also revealed that while the zona fasciculata and the zona reticularis contained approximately equal concentrations of adrenal ferredoxin, the concentration of the iron-sulfur protein in the zona glomerulosa was considerably lower. Similar results were obtained when the levels of cytochrome P-450 were determined in the three cortical zones. These results represent the first immunohistochemical localization within an intact tissue or cell of any component of an NADPH-dependent electron transport sequence which is responsible for the reduction of cytochrome P-450.
Hydrate phase diagrams for methane + ethane + propane mixtures

Abstract In this work, we present the hydrate phase behavior of methane, ethane, propane, and water systems. Phase diagrams for the ternary and each binary hydrocarbon mixture with excess water have been generated at 277.6 K (∼ deep sea floor temperature) using a Gibbs free energy minimization flash routine. Each pseudo-binary phase diagram (excluding water) is related to the pseudo-ternary. The main focus is the phase behavior of the pseudo-ternary hydrocarbon mixture around the incipient hydrate formation pressures at 277.6 K . Phase diagrams at this temperature are presented for pressures ranging from 10 to 45 atm . Unexpected phenomena such as the coexistence of hydrate structures, solid melting on pressure increases, and several four phase regions (L w –sI–sII–V and L w –sI–sII–L hc ) were encountered. Similar phenomena may exist when a real natural gas contacts water.
The Absorption Spectrum of GaCl

The absorption spectrum of GaCl has been measured and analyzed to provide values for molecular constants. The energy of dissociation for the ground state has been determined from a predissociation limit as less than 5.00 volts and probably greater than 4.98 volts.
Type II collagen Pro-α-chains containing a Gly574Ser mutation are not incorporated into the cartilage matrix of transgenic mice

Abstract The biochemical consequences of a type II procollagen mutation that contained a Gly574Ser amino acid substitution were analyzed in a transgenic mouse strain. The mutation correlated with one previously characterized in a patient with the lethal human chondrodysplasia, hypochondrogensis [horton et al., 1992], and resulted in a similar shortlimbed phenotype. There were fewer collagen fibrils present in the transgenic cartilage and reduced immunofluorescence of cartilage matrix using a type II collagen antibody. Pepsin-extracted collagen from transgenic mouse embryocartilage was analyzed electrophoretically and indicated less type II as well as type XI collagen compared to their wild-type littermates. A pulse-chase experiment was performed to evaluate the biosynthesis and fate of type II collagen. Chondrocytes isolated from transgenic tissue synthesized fewer stable molecules, resulting in decreased secretion of the procollagen chains. By amino acid sequence analysis of the type II collagen peptides from cartilage of transgenic mouse embryos, serine was not detected at residue 574, the site mutated in the transgene. Based on sequence data, we believe that the molecules incorporated into collagen fibrils of the extracellular matrix, while fewer in number, were composed of normal α1(II) chains.
Purification of Human Telomerase Complexes Identifies Factors Involved in Telomerase Biogenesis and Telomere Length Regulation

The identities and roles of proteins associated with human telomerase remain poorly defined. To gain insight, we undertook an affinity purification of endogenously assembled human telomerase complexes. We show that specific subsets of H/ACA, Sm, and hnRNP proteins associate with active and inactive telomerase RNPs, while two NTPase proteins associate preferentially with active enzyme. All three core H/ACA-motif binding proteins are telomerase holoenzyme components essential for RNP accumulation. On the other hand, telomerase RNPs lacking interaction with Sm proteins or hnRNP C remain fully functional for telomere elongation. Curiously, overexpression of either associated hnRNP protein (hnRNP C and hnRNP U) or either NTPase protein (NAT10 and GNL3L) induced telomere shortening. Our findings suggest that endogenous human telomerase complexes are more heterogeneous than those of single-celled eukaryotes, have predominantly shared rather than telomerase-specific proteins, and make numerous regulatory interactions.
Some Observations on an Adenovirus Isolated from Specific Pathogen Free Chickens

Abstract An avian adenovirus associated with high mortality and lesions of hepatitis, pancreatitis, and anemia was isolated from chemically bursectomized progeny of a breeder flock maintained under specific pathogen free conditions and monitored for adenovirus infection by the agar gel precipitin test. The chemical immunosuppression appeared to trigger the clinical disease in the progeny and lead to the recognition of virus infection in parent flock. Infection was eradicated in subsequent generations of breeders by use of a standard technique for disinfection of premises and a special surveillance program for adenovirus infection. The isolant induced a severe lymphoid depletion in the bursa and spleen of experimentally infected chicks. Serotyping, using specific antiserum to this isolant, indicated that the isolant shares antigenic determinants with 2 of the 10 serotypes of the avian adenovirus group. The suggested designation for this isolant is Regional Poultry Laboratory type.
Information Embedding with Distortion Side Information

We use the distortion side information (DSI) frame-work to study the gains in information embedding when the encoder exploits sensitivity of the source samples. Our study for the Gaussian source model extends the dirty paper coding result by Costa to the case of a weighted power constraint with the weights only known to the transmitter. A coding scheme based on fixed codebook variable-partition codes is presented for this problem. We also present another coding scheme that exploits the knowledge of DSI and is robust against intentional attacks. Finally, we study a related problem of Wyner-Ziv coding with reliability side information (RSI) at the decoder. This latter setup illustrates that fixed codebook variable-partition codes could also be fundamental in systems that rely on conventional distortion measures.
Photometric Geodesy of main-belt asteroids. I. Lightcurves of 26 large, rapid rotators

A 'photometric geodesy' program is selected on the basis of light-curve data from five years' observations of large, rapidly rotating asteroids, where the observing protocol was designed to obtain precise, absolute photometry at a wide variety of orbital longitudes and phase angles. A total of 257 complete or partial light-curves are obtained for 26 asteroids; the data set will allow the future determination of pole positions and shapes, as well as to constrain the geophysical traits of these bodies.
An access control architecture for programmable routers

Programmable networks allow the router's functionality to be extended dynamically through the use of active extensions. This flexible architecture facilitates the deployment of new network protocols and services. However, the programmable nature of a network also raises serious safety and security concerns. These concerns must be addressed before programmable networks can be deployed. One particular security question is how we can limit what resources and data active extensions can access on the router. While existing operating systems address this question for end-points and servers, routers have been designed to perform a different task, namely forwarding packets, and the existing OS solutions turn out to be inadequate for routers. We look at how we can restrict active extensions' access to link bandwidth and data traffic. Our solution is based on access control lists that are used to check all active extensions' operations that may affect the use of link bandwidth, or may involve access to user traffic. We implemented these mechanisms in Darwin, an example of a programmable network.
Pharmacology of Alcohol

Ethanol is the most abused substance in the world today. In the United States, roughly two thirds of the population drinks alcoholic beverages without ill effects. However, over 7% of adults, based on a 1992 survey, are considered alcoholic, with many more classified as alcohol abusers (B. F. Grant et al., 1994). Excessive ethanol consumption accounts for 3% of all deaths, including 50% of traffic fatalities, 38% of drowning deaths, 50% of homicides, 30% of suicides, most cases of cirrhosis of the liver, and fetal alcohol syndrome, the leading cause of mental retardation. This chapter provides the essential pharmacology of ethanol, including its basic properties, how the body processes it when ingested, its behavioral effects, and its possible mechanisms of action.
Secondary energy transfer and nonparticipatory Yb 3+ ions in Er 3+ -Yb 3+ high-power amplifier fibers

The energy exchange processes within Er3+–Yb3+-codoped silica fibers manufactured for high-power optical amplifiers are investigated through luminescent decay measurements and rate-equation modeling. The Er3+ and Yb3+ luminescence, as functions of pump power, exhibit an unquenchable Yb3+ to Er3+ cooperative energy transfer (CET) that does not subside with saturation of the Er3+ inversion. Consistent with the experimental results is the occurrence of secondary energy transfer to excited Er3+ ions in their metastable 4I13/2 state. The transfer coefficient for this secondary 4I13/2 CET is determined to be of the same order of magnitude as that for the initial Yb3+ to ground-state Er3+ CET. Additionally, the decay measurements and modeling indicate that a fraction of Yb3+ ions does not participate in energy exchange with the Er3+. These nonparticipatory Yb3+ ions amounted to ~15% of the total Yb3+ concentration and could constitute Yb3+ clusters. Both secondary CET and nonparticipatory Yb3+ will lower Er3+–Yb3+ fiber amplifier efficiencies.
Modified Wise closure of the conjunctival fornix-based trabeculectomy flap

We present modifications to the Wise fornix-based conjunctival trabeculectomy flap technique that have minimized early wound leakage in our experience. A retrospective chart review of 509 consecutive eyes revealed a 2.9% leak rate in the first postoperative month and 1.6% returned to the operating room to resuture a persistent leak. If meticulously performed, this modified closure technique may provide watertight closure as commonly as limbal-based techniques. Financial Disclosure Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
CMB fluctuation amplitude from dark energy partitions

Abstract It is assumed that the dark energy observed today is frozen as a result of a phase transition involving the source of that energy. Postulating that the dark energy decoherence which results from this phase transition drives statistical variations in the energy density specifies a class of cosmological models in which the cosmic microwave background (CMB) fluctuation amplitude at last scattering is approximately 10−5.
Excised larynx evaluation of wedge-shaped adjustable balloon implant for minimally invasive type I thyroplasty.

Objectives/Hypothesis To describe the method of inserting a wedge-shaped adjustable balloon implant (wABI) via a minithyrotomy for medialization thyroplasty and evaluate its effect on a range of phonatory parameters using the excised larynx bench apparatus. Study Design Repeated measures with each larynx serving as its own control. Methods A prototype wABI was deployed in six excised canine larynges of various sizes through a minithyrotomy and then filled with saline. Mucosal wave, aerodynamic, and acoustic parameters were measured for three conditions: normal, vocal fold paralysis, and paralysis with the wABI. Results Phonation threshold pressure (P < .001), flow (P < .001), and power (P = .002) were significantly lower for wABI compared to paralysis trials; values did not differ significantly from normal trials. Percent jitter (P = .002) and percent shimmer (P = .007) were also significantly decreased compared to the paralysis condition, and values were not significantly different compared to normal. The mucosal wave was preserved after insertion of the wABI. Conclusions Effective vocal fold medialization with preservation of the mucosal wave was observed with the wABI in this preliminary excised larynx experiment. The wABI offers the potential for a minimally invasive insertion in addition to postoperative adjustability. Further studies in living animals and humans are warranted to evaluate clinical utility. Level of Evidence NA. Laryngoscope, 124:942–949, 2014
Soapberry Bug (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae: Serinethinae) Native and Introduced Host Plants: Biogeographic Background of Anthropogenic Evolution

Soapberry bugs (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae: Serinethinae) have recently colonized introduced and invasive plants in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), and they have rapidly differentiated as a result. These plants have been carried among continents at many places and times, and they may possess alien coevolutionary histories with other soapberry bug genera and species, exposing native bugs worldwide to both new challenges and new opportunities in host exploitation. To provide geographic and phylogenetic contexts for this human-catalyzed evolution, we analyzed the worldwide host relations of the three soapberry bug genera on native versus non-native sapinds. We found that the adopted introduced hosts are taxonomically distant from native hosts in six of seven global biogeographic regions. Only a few genera account for most of the introductions, and natives and non-natives are now reciprocally distributed across several pairs of continents. The evolutionary result may be local diversification, but also global convergence on currently rare bug phenotypes when plants with small endemic ranges are widely exported.
Microbiological Oxidation and Reduction of Iron

Many bacteria oxidize iron and deposit iron oxides or hydroxides as insoluble cell-associated precipitates. Some produce intracellular magnetite. The acid tolerant oxidizers use the energy of oxidation for growth. The neutral pH iron oxidizers are generally heterotrophs. The morphology of heterotrophic iron oxidizers often resembles forms seen in recent and ancient iron deposits. Whether or not bacteria form extensive natural iron precipitates is not known, but they are almost always associated with such precipitates. The physiology of iron oxidizing bacteria is not well understood and this precludes extrapolation to pre-Phanerozoic sedimentary iron deposits.
Prolonged Incubation and Extensive Subculturing Do Not Increase Recovery of Clinically Significant Microorganisms from Standard Automated Blood Cultures

An extensive blood culture protocol, including prolonged incubation of cultures, for 215 patients believed to have had endocarditis yielded only 3 clinically relevant results. Twenty-four Haemophilus, Actinobacillus, Cardiobacterium, Eikenella, and Kingella (i.e., HACEK) organisms were recovered from standard 5-day blood cultures during the same time period. Specialized methods and not extended incubation times are recommended for recovery of fastidious agents of septicemia.
A PRELIMINARY NOTE ON TRICHINOSIS INVESTIGATIONS IN ALASKA

Brief account of research by the U.S. Public Health Service, Alaska, beginning in 1949, which revealed infections in the polar bear, arctic and red foxes, white whale, Eskimo dog, brown and grizzly bears, wolf and wolverine, after "nearly all species of land carnivores in Alaska" had been examined.
A long-duration propulsive lunar landing testbed

Affordable test articles for descent and landing are crucial for developing commercial lunar landing capability. To ensure successful lunar landing, flight software must be tested over mission-length durations on hardware exhibiting dynamics analogous to those of true flight articles. Energetic and structural constraints typically preclude affordable long-duration lander tests.
Identifying inhibitors of the SARS coronavirus proteinase

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a serious respiratory illness that has recently been reported in parts of Asia and Canada. In this study, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and docking techniques to screen 29 approved and experimental drugs against the theoretical model of the SARS CoV proteinase as well as the experimental structure of the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) proteinase. Our predictions indicate that existing HIV-1 protease inhibitors, L-700,417 for instance, have high binding affinities and may provide good starting points for designing SARS CoV proteinase inhibitors.
Geographic distribution and genetic diversity of Ceanothus-infective Frankia strains.

Little is known about Ceanothus-infective Frankia strains because no Frankia strains that can reinfect the host plants have been isolated from Ceonothus spp. Therefore, we studied the diversity of the Ceonothus-infective Frankia strains by using molecular techniques. Frankia strains inhabiting root nodules of nine Ceanothus species were characterized. The Ceanothus species used represent the taxonomic diversity and geographic range of the genus; therefore, the breadth of the diversity of Frankia strains that infect Ceanothus spp. was studied. DNA was amplified directly from nodular material by using the PCR. The amplified region included the 3′ end of the 16S rRNA gene, the intergenic spacer, and a large portion of the 23S rRNA gene. A series of restriction enzyme digestions of the PCR product allowed us to identify PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) groups among the Ceanothus-infective Frankia strains tested. Twelve different enzymes were used, which resulted in four different PCR-RFLP groups. The groups did not follow the taxonomic lines of the Ceanothus host species. Instead, the Frankia strains present were related to the sample collection locales.
The impact of feedback and self-efficacy on performance in training.

This field experiment examined the main and interactive effects of self-efficacy and feedback (i.e. the use of feedback versus no feedback) on performance in a speed reading class. Results showed that the provision of feedback was beneficial to the performance of all subjects, however as subject self-efficacy increased, the beneficial effects of feedback to the subject's performance also increased. Subjects who received feedback on their performance experienced significantly greater increases in self-efficacy than subjects who received no feedback. The more positive the performance feedback received, the greater the increase in individual self-efficacy. The implications of these results for training programs are discussed.
Psychosocial factors and early childhood caries among low-income African-American children in Detroit.

Objectives: This study sought to advance knowledge of the social determinants of oral health, by examining how several specific maternal health beliefs, behaviors, and psychosocial factors relate to young children's early childhood caries (ECC) status in a lower-income African-American population. Methods: Data were collected by the Detroit Dental Health Project (NIDCR grant), a population-based study of 1021 African-American families with at least one child under 6 years of age and living in 39 low-income Census tracts in Detroit, Michigan. Analyses were limited to 719 children aged 1-5 years and their biological mothers, and conducted in SUDAAN to account for the complex sampling design. Survey data included health belief scales on mothers' self-efficacy, feelings of fatalism, knowledge about appropriate bottle use and children's oral hygiene needs, brushing habits, psychosocial measures of depressive symptoms (CES-D), parenting stress, and availability of instrumental social support. The child's age, dental insurance status, dental visit history, and 1-week brushing frequency were also included in the model. Children's ECC status, based on a dental examination, was the main outcome. The dental team used the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) criteria for caries detection. Each child was classified as either caries-free or having ECC or severe ECC (S-ECC) based on the case definition of ECC proposed by an expert panel for research purposes with preschool-aged children. Results: The dental team followed a specific examination protocol and established reliable and consistent ratings of ECC based on the ICDAS criteria. The inter-rater reliability kappa was 0.83 overall, and the intra-rater reliability kappa was 0.74 overall. One-third of the children had ECC, and 20% had severe ECC. Age of the child and lower parenting stress scores were each positively associated with ECC, while higher education and income were protective. Maternal oral health fatalism and knowledge of children's hygiene needs were associated with ECC among preschool-aged children. ECC was higher among younger children who had past restorative care. Conclusions: These findings call attention to the high prevalence of ECC in this population and the need to consider psychosocial as well as traditional risk factors in developing interventions to reduce oral health disparities.
Genotype-Environment Interaction Effects in Peanut Variety Evaluation

Data of both early-and late-maturity groups from the Georgia peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) variety trails under irrigated and non-irrigated management at two locations in 1975 and 1976 were used to estimate the magnitude of the variety x environment interaction of pod yield, %TSMK, %OK, %DK, %TK, %ELK, %Fancy and g/100 seed. Irrigation treatments caused marked responses of varieties and interaction effects for some of these traits. Both first-and second-order interactions varied under different treatments and for different traits. The significant varieties x locations x years interaction in most traits examined indicated that the varieties x years interaction varied with location. The relatively small values for varieties x location and for varieties x years indicate that there were no consistent location or year effects on differential varietal response for most of those traits during this period of testing. However, results indicate that the variety component significantly exceeded the firstand the second-order interactions and suggest that the varietal effect would be consistently present, especially for pod yield and size factors (g/100 seed, %Fancy and %ELK).
A comparative study of the accuracy of various time domain nonorthogonal mesh methods

A number of numerical methods have been developed for solving Maxwell's equations, with dispersion analysis being the standard method of studying the accuracy of discrete wave propagation methods. Typical skewed mesh dispersion results have been obtained for the quadrilateral mesh methods described by R. Holland (1983). Several different triangle-based schemes are examined. Three different discretizations are compared: a Voronoi mesh finite-difference technique, the modified finite-volume method and the discrete surface integral technique. The results obtained indicate that there is no clear-cut reason based on dispersion errors to prefer the triangle-based schemes considered to the quadrilateral methods (or vice versa). >
Capture of Bactrocera fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in traps baited with liquid versus solid formulations of male lures

Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and B. cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) are important agricultural pests of the Pacific region. Detection and control of these species rely largely on traps baited with malespecific attractants (parapheromones), namely methyl eugenol for B. dorsalis and cue lure for B. cucurbitae. Presently, these lures (plus naled, an insecticide) are applied in liquid form, although this procedure is timeconsuming, and naled as well as methyl eugenol may pose human health risks. Recently, a solid formulation (termed a wafer) has been developed that contains both male lures (plus DDVP, an insecticide), and here we present data from field tests in California and Hawaii that compare the effectiveness of liquid versus solid formulations of the lures in capturing marked, released males of these two Bactrocera species. For both species and in both California and Hawaii, traps baited with the solid formulation of the male lure captured similar or significantly more released flies than the liquid formulation for both fresh and aged baits. Traps in Hawaii also captured wild (unmarked) males of both B. dorsalis and B. cucurbitae, and the results obtained for wild flies were similar to those recorded for released flies for both species. Collectively, the results presented suggest that the solid dispenser of the male lures constitutes a reliable substitute for the liquid formulation in detecting incipient Bactrocera outbreaks.
ENSO and PDO Effects on Hydroclimatic Variations of the Upper Colorado River Basin

Abstract Linkages between tropical Pacific Ocean monthly climatic variables and the Upper Colorado River basin (UCRB) hydroclimatic variations from 1909 to 1998 are analyzed at interseasonal timescales. A study of the changes in these linkages through the years and their relationship to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) is also investigated. Tropical Pacific climate variations were represented by atmospheric/oceanic ENSO indicators. For the UCRB, warm season (April–September) streamflow totals at Lee's Ferry, Arizona, and precipitation averages at different periods (cold season: October–March; warm season: April–September; and annual: October–September) were used to study the UCRB's response to tropical Pacific climatic forcing. A basinwide ENSO signature was found in the significant correlations between warm season precipitation in the UCRB and warm season SST averages from the Nino-3 region in most of the stations around the UCRB. This link is more evident during the warm phase of ENSO (El Nino), wh...