cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reassessing the new madrid seismic zone

The central enigma of the mid-continent region in the United States known as the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ; Figure 1) involves the mechanisms that give rise to recurrent great earthquakes far from plate boundaries. Given the lack of significant topographic relief that is the hallmark of tectonic activity in most actively deforming regions, most of us feel a need to “pinch ourselves to see if we're dreaming” when confronted with evidence that, at some probability levels, the earthquake hazard throughout the NMSZ is comparable to that estimated for the San Francisco Bay region. Although assessing the hazard in the NMSZ is in many ways more challenging than in the western United States, and the uncertainties are much greater, careful scientific study has led to a consensus on the issues most critical to seismic hazard assessment.
The fabrication of both n-type and p-type GaAs thin films deposited by troide sputtering

Abstract Thin films of GaAs were deposited with a triode sputtering system onto single-crystal GaAs semi-insulating substrates. The films were doped to various densities by co-sputtering a silicon or magnesium target with an adjustable duty cycle. The electrical resistivity and Hall effect were measured by the Van der Pauw technique to obtain the carrier concentration and mobility as functions of temperature. It was determined that the dopant density was controlled by the duty cycle of the bias voltage on the dopant target. The resistivity of the films at room temperature ranged from 0.036 to 20.8 × 10 3 ohmcm. The variation of the carrier concentration as a function of temperature was found to be well described by a merged conduction-dopant band model. The electron mobility of the n-type films at room temperature ranged from 81 to 261 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . The most important mobility limitations were found to be grain boundary scattering in all films and ionized impurity scattering in the most highly doped films. The average grain size was found from the grain boundary scattering analysis to be about 50–100 A and this size was confirmed by reflection electron diffraction and electron-beam-induced current analysis.
Mechanism of Greater Oxygen Desaturation During Walking Compared With Cycling in Patients With COPD

Background Patients with COPD exhibit greater oxyhemoglobin desaturation during walking than with cycling. The purpose of this investigation was to investigate differences in ventilatory responses and gas exchange as proposed mechanisms for this observation. Methods Arterial blood gas and lactate levels were measured in 12 patients with COPD (aged 68 ± 6 years) during incremental treadmill and cycle exercise. The primary outcome to assess the ventilatory response to exercise was Pao 2 . The primary outcome to assess impairment in exercise gas exchange was the difference between partial pressures of alveolar and arterial oxygen (Pao 2 − Pao 2 ). Results Pao 2 in patients was significantly lower at peak exercise for treadmill walking (51.4 ± 6.8 mm Hg) compared with cycling (60.4 ± 10.7 mm Hg) ( P = .002). The initial increase in Pao 2 with cycling occurred prior to the onset of the anaerobic threshold. At peak exercise, Pao 2 was significantly higher with cycling compared with walking ( P = .004). The anaerobic threshold occurred at a lower oxygen consumption during cycling than walking ( P = .001), and peak lactate levels were higher with cycling ( P = .019). With progressive exercise, Pao 2 − Pao 2 increased similarly during treadmill and cycle exercise. Conclusions The higher Pao 2 during cycling minimized the magnitude of oxyhemoglobin desaturation compared with walking. The enhanced respiratory stimulation during cycling appears due to an initial neurogenic process, possibly originating in receptors of exercising muscles, and a subsequent earlier onset of anaerobic metabolism with higher lactate levels during cycling.
An experimental investigation of the effects of acute sleep deprivation on panic-relevant biological challenge responding

Prospective research indicates sleep deprivation potentiates anxiety development, yet relatively little research has examined the effects of sleep deprivation in terms of specific types of anxiety. The current study tested the association between acute sleep deprivation and panic-relevant biological challenge responding among nonclinical participants. One hundred and two participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental (acute sleep deprivation) or control (no sleep deprivation) group. The day prior to and following the experimental (sleep) manipulation, participants completed a 5-minute 10% carbon dioxide-enriched air laboratory-based biological challenge. As predicted, sleep deprivation increased anxious and fearful responding to the challenge. Findings suggest sleep deprivation may be an important factor to consider in models of panic development. There are several areas in this general domain that warrant additional investigation.
Alteration of the fatty acid substrate specificity of lysophosphatidate acyltransferase by site-directed mutagenesis

The JC201 strain of Eschericia coli contains a temperature-sensitive lesion in lysophosphatidate acyltransferase (LPAT) activity. The LPAT gene from JC201 was isolated by PCR and a single mutant nucleotide, adenine-440, was identified by DNA sequence analysis. Site-directed mutagenesis converted the mutant adenine-440 back to the native guanine-440 nucleotide. The restored LPAT gene rescued JC201 cells at the non-permissive temperature. The fatty acid substrate specificity of LPAT from Eschericia coli was altered by site-directed mutagenesis of a single amino acid in the restored LPAT gene. Threonine-122 of LPAT was changed to alanine or leucine. A change from threonine-122 to alanine increased the substrate specificity in vitro for oleoyl-CoA and linoleoyl-CoA; whereas a change to leucine increased the substrate specificity for lignoceroyl-CoA.
Measurements in the turbulent boundary layer with slot injection of helium

Hot‐wire anemometry and digital techniques are used to develop time series for the streamwise and transverse velocity components and for the mass fraction of helium in the low‐speed turbulent boundary layer of air involving the slot injection of helium. Profiles are developed at several streamwise stations. In the present contribution the data are presented principally in terms of conventional, unconditioned averages. It is found that the mean velocity and concentration profiles develop in the downstream direction in the expected fashion but that the intensities of the velocity, concentration, and density fluctuations increase sharply downstream of the slot and peak in the region where the mixing region from the splitter plate impinges on the wall. Close to the wall where the helium concentration is relatively high counterfluxes of helium are found. The data at one streamwise station are reanalyzed in terms of Favre‐averaging so that the two means of averaging can be compared in a flow involving significant density fluctuations.
Three-Dimensional Fourier Monolayer Stress Microscopy

Many important biological processes, such as endothelial mechanotransduction of hemodynamic forces and neutrophil extravasation, involve the transmission of stresses across a cell monolayer. During these processes, the monolayer undergoes both lateral distortion due to the in-plane traction forces generated by the cells, and bending due to the out-of-plane component of the traction forces. However, the contribution of this bending to the monolayer stresses has been neglected in the literature. Here, we present a novel technique to determine monolayer stresses that considers both lateral distortion and bending. To illustrate the method, and to quantify the relative importance of the lateral and bending stresses, we measure the monolayer stresses in micropatterned endothelial cell islands of varying sizes and shapes. The cell islands are cultured on flexible polyacrylamide gels embedded with fluorescent beads, which deform due to traction forces exerted by the cells. We measure the three-dimensional gel deformation using previously established 3D Traction Force Microscopy methods, and recover the monolayer stresses from the measured deformation using Kirchoff-Love thin plate theory. The equations are solved numerically in an efficient manner using a Fourier pseudo-spectral method. The boundary conditions corresponding to the geometry of the cell islands are enforced within the Fourier framework using a relaxation iterative method. Our results indicate that, regardless of island shape, the three-dimensional bending stresses are dominant at the center of the island while the lateral stresses are more important near the island edge. Also, comparing the results from islands of different sizes shows that the relative importance of the bending stresses decreases with island size. These results suggest that it is necessary to resolve bending stresses to accurately determine the monolayer stresses, and reveal that the transmission of forces across cell junctions is three-dimensional and more complex than previously believed.
Self-Separation in Terminal Areas Using CDTI

The Langley Research Center is participating in a joint NASA/FAA program designed to explore the potential benefits and liabilities of Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) for a broad range of applications. As a part of this effort, part-task piloted simulations have been conducted to determine the effect of various display parameters and separation criteria on terminal area in-trail following using CDTI. Current experiments are evaluating cockpit procedures and crew workload aspects of self-separation tasks in a simulated full-system terminal area environment. This paper will summarize the results of the part-task terminal area experiments and discuss the current full-system simulation experiments involving active self-separation tasks.
Effect of Storage up to 48 Hours on Response to Transfusions of Platelet Rich Plasma

The effect of in vitro storage of platelet rich plasma (PRP) on the circulating platelet count following platelet transfusion was evaluated in patients with thrombocytopenia and acute leukemia. PRP was obtained by plasmapheresis using ACD anticoagulant. There was little or no decline in response to PRP up to seven hours after donation whether kept at room temperature or at 4 C. In order to study the effect of storage at 4 C. for 24 and 48 hours, a protocol was designed which limited donor-patient variables. PRP stored 24 and 48 hours was 62 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively, as effective as fresh PRP in elevating the platelet count in the recipient one hour after transfusion. Stored platelets are less than 5 per cent as effective as fresh PRP in maintaining elevation of platelet count 20 hours after transfusion. These studies define, quantitatively, the effect of short-term storage on response to transfusions of platelet rich plasma.
A numerical study of the effects of ambipolar diffusion on the collapse of magnetic gas clouds

The gravitational collapse of isothermal, nonrotating magnetic gas clouds have been calculated numerically, including the effects of ambipolar diffusion. The fractional ionization in the clouds is approximated by a power-law function of the gas density, f = K/n to the q-power, where K and q are adjustable parameters. Eleven numerical experiments were run, and the results indicate that the asymptotic character of collapse is determined mainly by the value of q and is largely independent of the other parameters characterizing a cloud (e.g., K, cloud mass). In particular, there is nearly a one-to-one correspondence between q and the slope, x, of the central magnetic field strength-gas density relationship. If q is no more than 0.8, a cloud collapses asymptotically, as though the magnetic field were 'frozen' to the neutral matter. The magnetic field strength at the center of a collapsing cloud is strongly amplified during collapse even for values of q of about 1, despite extremely low values of fractional ionization. A discussion of the theoretical basis for this unexpected behavior is given. Possible implications of our results for the problems of magnetic braking of rotating protostars and star formation in general are also presented.
The basicity and steric configuration of the diterpene alkaloids veatchine and atisine.

Die Basizitat und das verschiedene chemische Verhalten der Isomerenpaare Veatchin-Garryin und Atisin-Isoatisin werden mit der sterischen Konfiguration dieser Verbindungen in Zusammenhang gebracht.
Both high- and low voltage-activated calcium currents contribute to the light-evoked responses of luminosity horizontal cells in the Xenopus retina

We examined the contribution of two intrinsic voltage-dependent calcium channels to the light-evoked responses of a non-spiking retinal neuron, the horizontal cell (HC). HC's isolated from the Xenopus retina were studied by the whole cell version of the patch clamp. In a mixture of agents which suppressed Na- and K-dependent currents, we identified a transient, low voltage-activated Ca current suppressed by Ba2+ and blocked by Ni2+ (T-type) and a sustained, high voltage-activated, dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca current that was enhanced by Ba2+ (L-type). We made simultaneous intracellular recordings from rods and HC's in the intact, dark-adapted Xenopus retina. Under certain stimulus conditions, transient oscillations appeared in HC responses but were absent in rod light-evoked waveforms. One type of transient was seen at relatively hyperpolarized potentials (<-45 mV), was enhanced by Sr2+ and inhibited by Ni2+. It thus appears to depend on a T-type Ca-current. A second type of oscillation was seen to be superimposed on a prolonged depolarizing wave following light off in the HC and as spike-like depolarizations in rods. These oscillations were enhanced by Ba2+ and Sr2+, but blocked by the dihydropyridine, nifedipine, indicating their dependence on an L-type calcium conductance. All calcium-dependent oscillations were suppressed by 0.05–0.5 mM Co2+. Suppression of glutamate neurotransmission with CNQX or kynurenate, or glycine neurotransmission with strychnine, enhanced the HC oscillations.
An Island in a Sea of Madness: The Uses of Theory for In-Patient Adolescent Treatment

This paper explores the ways an integrated psychodynamic theory helps practitioners to maintain their therapeutic equilibrium. I discuss adolescent treatment at Chestnut Lodge Hospital, using case examples of projective identification and splitting on the milieu. I argue that theory helps the therapist to contain his own reactions to the intense, evocative work, which in turn helps him to contain the patient. I also discuss the ways theory can help us to make therapeutic use of countertransference enactments, allowing us to use discursive language to understand previously wordless experience. An integrated psychodynamic theory allows us to bridge the intrapsychic and intersubjective realms. It both facilitates, and helps us to understand, the novel attachment the patient forms in psychotherapy. Theory guides us regarding what psychological skills the patient has failed to master and organizes our efforts to impart these skills to him.
COMPLICATIONS OF HAND AND WRIST SURGERY IN THE ATHLETE

The hand injuries reviewed in this article are those about which the treating physician should be suspicious, whether an athlete presents with them on the field or shortly thereafter in the emergency department or clinic. Education on the part of the physician and the patient are the primary safeguards to limiting complications.
Asymptotic decay width of excited hadronic clusters

The principle of detailed balance is used to investigate the asymptotic behavior of the average decay width of hadronic clusters in the framework of models, such as the dual resonance and statistical bootstrap models, in which quasi-two-body decays are dominant, resulting in linear cluster decay chains. An expression for the width is derived in the high-mass limit, and its implications are discussed.
Immunomodulators as an antimicrobial tool

The spectrum of infectious diseases has shifted in the past 50 years to include those caused by microbes that cause disease predominantly in immunocompromised individuals. This phenomenon has underscored the dependence of microbial virulence on the immune status of the host. The limited efficacy of the available antimicrobial armamentarium in immunocompromised individuals, combined with increasing resistance to these agents, has led to an urgent need for new therapies for infectious diseases. Immunomodulation represents a novel approach to antimicrobial therapy that depends on bolstering host immunity, rather than direct antimicrobial activity. Immunomodulators can be divided into those that are specific to pathogens (pathogen-specific) and those that are not specific to pathogens (non-specific). However, to date only a few immunomodulators have been evaluated for their efficacy as antimicrobial tools.
A stereo visual pattern image coding system

Abstract A binocular stereo system for images coded by Visual Pattern Image Coding (VPIC) is presented and evaluated. The use of VPIC for stereo vision applications is motivated by the capability of its coding primitives to reflect meaningful physical properties of projected real-scene surfaces: high-information edge regions and uniform regions. An algorithm for spatial matching of VPIC primitives is proposed. It involves the solution of a complex optimization problem satisfying VPIC-related constraints. A dense disparity map is obtained and then used, together with one of the VPIC coded images of the stereo pair, to predict the second stereo image. The proposed stereo system allows a very high compression of the overall stereo information. Experimental results are presented to illustrate the performance of both stereo VPIC matching and predicting algorithms in test images.
Combining history of medicine and library instruction: an innovative approach to teaching database searching to medical students.

Library faculty members at the Health Sciences Library at the LSU Health Shreveport campus offer a database searching class for third-year medical students during their surgery rotation. For a number of years, students completed “ten-minute clinical challenges,” but the instructors decided to replace the clinical challenges with innovative exercises using The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus to emphasize concepts learned. The Surgical Papyrus is an online resource that is part of the National Library of Medicine's “Turning the Pages” digital initiative. In addition, vintage surgical instruments and historic books are displayed in the classroom to enhance the learning experience.
CORRELATIONS OF SCORES OF MAXIMUM SECURITY INMATES ON WECHSLER ADULT INTELLIGENCE SCALE-REVISED AND PEABODY PICTURE VOCABULARY TEST-REVISED

29 men (15 white, 14 black) who were inmates at a maximum security penitentiary were given the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised on which the full scale IQs correlated .80. This suggests the Peabody would serve as an effective screening test for this population.
Parental Abusive versus Supportive Behaviors and Their Relation to Hostility and Aggression in Young Adults.

The relation of parental support to abuse has rarely been considered in research on the sequelae of childhood abuse in adulthood. In this study, using the Exposure to Abusive and Supportive Environments Parenting Inventory (EASE-PI), young adults who reported higher emotionally abusive parenting (EA) consistently reported significantly lower love and support from both parents. The relation between physically abusive parenting (PA) and love/support depended upon gender of parent and child. EA was significantly related to higher hostility and higher aggression, as measured by the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, for both men and women, and to reports of physical fights within the family, for women only. PA was significantly related to higher aggression but not higher hostility. Lower support by fathers, but not by mothers, was significantly related to higher hostility. However, lower support of daughters by mothers was significantly related to increased physical fights in the family. Results indicate that less severe abusive behaviors, especially EA, may have detrimental outcomes of hostility and aggression and that supportive behaviors by both mothers and fathers may be important factors in the outcome.
A Geostatistical Modeling of Urban Land Values in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Abstract Most studies on urban land values focus on the determinants, using hedonic land price models with the consideration of the physical and socio-economic factors. This article employs geostatistical methods to analyze urban land values. Through a case study of Milwaukee, we set up semivariogram models and 3-D TIN surface models for urban land values, and explore anisotropy characteristics and the relationships of land values among different types of land use. We have found that spatial dependency is a salient feature of urban land values, and spatial clustering of land values varies with type and location of land use. Our models can detect and well explain spatial autocorrelations of urban land values. We demonstrate that geostatistical methods have a great potential when applied in the urban context.
Antireflection coating for photo-pumped IV-VI semiconductor light-emitting devices

An antireflection coating material for optically pumped group IV-VI lead-chalcogenide semiconductor light emitting devices has been proposed. The coating has been used to increase the photo-pumping efficiency. Theoretical model showed that with the proposed AR coating with a quarter wavelength thickness, 0.008% reflectivity could be achieved in the 980nm-982nm wavelength region. The antireflection property of the coated film was investigated by FTIR-spectroscopic reflectance measurement. Room temperature continuous-wave photoluminescence measurement from AR-coated multiple quantum well structures showed up to 4-times increment in the PL intensity, compared to uncoated ones.
Pneumoperitoneum after sexual assault in a patient who had hysterectomy 30 years ago: case report.

Abstract Background A non-surgical etiology accounts for approximately 10% of cases of pneumoperitoneum. However, in the patient with pneumoperitoneum, one must be suspicious of the less common non-surgical etiologies, including coitus, to avoid unnecessary laparotomy. Objectives To report a case of pneumoperitoneum caused by coitus during sexual assault in a patient who had a hysterectomy 30 years ago. Case Report The authors present a case of non-surgical pneumoperitoneum after sexual assault occurring over 30 years after abdominal hysterectomy. Conclusion This case is an important reminder that a thorough sexual and gynecologic/obstetrical history is an essential tool in identifying the patient who does not require laparotomy.
Buying Insurance for Disaster-Type Risks: Experimental Evidence

This paper presents a series of experiments that confront subjects with low probability, high loss situations. A rich parameter set is examined and we find subjects respond to low probability, high loss risks in predictable ways. As loss events become more likely, or loss amounts get larger, or the cost of insurance falls, subjects are more likely to buy indemnifying insurance, even for the class of low probability risks that usually presents problems for standard expected utility theory. A novel application of Cameron's method to estimate willingness to pay from dichotomous choice responses allows us to estimate willingness to pay for insurance. We do not observe the bimodal distribution of bids found in other studies of similar risk situations.
Mechanisms of reactions of BH2+, HBOH+, and H2BOH2+ with H2O. An experimental gas phase isotope labeling and theoretical ab initio study

Abstract The reactions of BH2+, HBOH+, and H2BOH2+ with H2O have been studied in the gas phase by using a tandem flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube apparatus. Proton transfer to H2O has been observed in the reactions with HBOH+ and H2BOH2+; addition and elimination of a hydrogen molecule occurs in the reaction with BH2+. The mechanisms of these reactions have been elucidated by labeling the reagents with deuterium and 18O isotopes. An alternative pathway for proton transfer from HBOH+ and H2BOH2+ to H2O has been observed, which involves intermediate formation of a boron-oxygen bound adduct and scrambling of oxygen atoms within it. The proposed mechanisms are supported by ab initio theoretical calculations that have been carried out at Moller–Plesset (MP2) (full)/6–311G(d, p) level. Rate constants for the reactions have been measured and found to be close to theoretical collision rates in the gas phase.
Effect of container type and seedling size on survival and early height growth of Pinus palustris seedlings in Alabama, U.S.A.

Three hardwall container types, one styroblock® container type, and two mesh-covered plugs were used to grow longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedlings at a nursery in Louisiana. In 2001, these container types, along with bare-root seedlings (from a different seed source), were outplanted on two old-field sites and two cutover sites. There were significant site by treatment interactions. Second-year survival was higher on cutover sites than on old-field sites. Root-collar diameter of container-grown stock was positively related to root growth potential (RGP) and height after two growing seasons. Container-grown stock with the lowest RGP exhibited the lowest overall seedling survival. On three sites, field performance of seedlings grown in mesh-covered plugs was less than seedlings grown in other types of containers. For styroblock® trays, treating cell walls with copper increased RGP but did not affect field performance. Increasing the spacing between container cells increased diameter and height after two growing seasons. A root bound index (RBI) was developed and was calculated for each container seedling by dividing root-collar diameter by the diameter of the container cell. Survival was low when RBI was greater than 27%. Although large-diameter bare-root stock can be advantageous as far as survival and growth is concerned, the same may not be true for containers. Some 7-month old container seedlings might become too large for some container types.
Squid-Derived Chitin Oligosaccharides Are a Chemotactic Signal during Colonization by Vibrio fischeri

Chitin, a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), is noted as the second most abundant biopolymer in nature. Chitin serves many functions for marine bacteria in the family Vibrionaceae ("vibrios"), in some instances providing a physical attachment site, inducing natural genetic competence, and serving as an attractant for chemotaxis. The marine luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri is the specific symbiont in the light-emitting organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. The bacterium provides the squid with luminescence that the animal uses in an antipredatory defense, while the squid supports the symbiont's nutritional requirements. V. fischeri cells are harvested from seawater during each host generation, and V. fischeri is the only species that can complete this process in nature. Furthermore, chitin is located in squid hemocytes and plays a nutritional role in the symbiosis. We demonstrate here that chitin oligosaccharides produced by the squid host serve as a chemotactic signal for colonizing bacteria. V. fischeri uses the gradient of host chitin to enter the squid light organ duct and colonize the animal. We provide evidence that chitin serves a novel function in an animal-bacterial mutualism, as an animal-produced bacterium-attracting synomone.
System identification from closed-loop data with known output feedback dynamics

This paper formulates a method to identify the open-loop dynamics of a system operating under closedloop conditions. The closed-loop excitation data and the feedback dynamics are assumed to be known. Two closed-loop configurations are considered where the system has either a linear output feedback controller or a dynamic output feedback controller. First, the closed-loop excitation data are used to compute the closed-loop Markov parameters, from which the open-loop Markov parameters are recovered from the known feedback dynamics. The Markov parameters are then used to compute a state space representation of the open-loop system. Examples are provided to illustrate the computational steps involved in the proposed closed-loop identification method.
TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION AND CURRICULUM: THE HIGH TECH, HIGH TOUCH SOCIAL WORK EDUCATOR

Martha Haffey and Richard L. Beaulaurier, eds. (2005). Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press (214 pp., $27.00, softcover, ISBN# 9780789029621). The omnipresence of technology in society requires a basic kn...
Toward 10 10 contrast for terrestrial exoplanet detection: demonstration of wavefront correction in a shaped-pupil coronagraph

Experimental demonstration of wavefront control with shaped pupils. Contrast level is maintained across different wavelengths and 10% broadband light. Further improvements in contrast believed to have been possible with more time and parameter optimizations.
Evidence of phospholipase A2 in the sea urchin egg: Its possible involvement in the cortical granule reaction

Fertilization of the sea urchin egg involves an exocytotic event known as the cortical granule reaction (CGR). In many cell systems, phospholipase A2 is implicated in regulation of the secretory event. Indirect evidence suggests that phospholipase A2 mediates the CGR; however, there has been no direct demonstration of phospholipase A2 activity in the sea urchin egg. We report here evidence of phospholipase A2 activity in egg homogenate of the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus. The enzyme was calcium-dependent and had a pH optimum near the intracellular pH of the unfertilized egg. Neither exogenous calmodulin nor trifluoperazine had any apparent effect on enzyme activity. Quinacrine, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, blocked the enzyme activity in the egg homogenate. In intact eggs, quinacrine blocked the CGR in a dose-dependent, egg-concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of quinacrine on the CGR could not be overcome by the phospholipase A2 activator melittin or by the calcium ionophore A23187. Quinacrine did not inhibit sperm-egg binding or sperm incorporation. These results lend further support to the hypothesis that phospholipase A2 is involved in the CGR.
Cardiovascular effects of the DPP-4 inhibitors:

Type 2 Diabetes continues to rise in prevalence throughout the globe, and cardiovascular diseases remain the most common cause of morbidity and mortality among patients. Dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are a newer class of oral anti-hyperglycemic agents whose effect is mediated through the incretin hormones, GLP-1 and GIP. In this review, we discuss the incretin system, DPP-4 inhibitors and their mechanism of action and, principally, the potential impact of DPP-4 inhibition on the cardiovascular system. Some pre-clinical data, small mechanistic studies and post-hoc analyses of randomized clinical trials suggest a possible beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk. However, the relationship between DPP-4 inhibition and actual cardiovascular outcomes remains unknown. We therefore also review ongoing large, randomized clinical trials examining this very question.
Avian Community Responses to Mechanical Thinning of a Pinyon-Juniper Woodland: Specialist Sensitivity to Tree Reduction

ABSTRACT: Natural area managers in regions of the semi-arid west, particularly on the Colorado Plateau, are presently dealing with expanding pinyon (Pinus spp. Engelm.) — juniper (Juniperus spp. Engelm.) woodlands on rangelands. Increased equipment costs associated with ‘chaining’, and dangers associated with prescribed fires, have resulted in more instances where mechanical thinning of woodlands is being used. Our 2005 to 2006 study within Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah, examined responses of breeding birds to the mechanical reduction of pinyon-juniper woodlands within a randomized 4-block design that incorporated 11 control and nine treatment bird count stations. We surveyed birds within 3.1-ha bird-count stations (n = 20) prior to, and following, pinyon-juniper mechanical reduction treatments. Thinning in April 2006 removed a mean of 92% (+ 6.4% SE) of live trees from treatment blocks. The avian guild most greatly influenced by mechanical thinning included pinyon-juniper obligate spe...
INTRA- AND INTERSPECIFIC CHARACTERIZATIONS OF BURROW USE AND DEFENSE BY JUVENILE AMBYSTOMATID SALAMANDERS

We conducted two laboratory experiments with juveniles of Ambystoma opacum and A. maculatum to test for intra- and interspecific competition for burrows. Experiment 1 examined how the behavior of an intruder (i.e., an individual that enters an occupied burrow) was influenced by the presence of a resident salamander that had been placed in the test chamber 5 d earlier. In Experiment 2, we investigated patterns of cohabitation when salamanders were introduced singly, as conspecific pairs, or as heterospecific pairs during a 7-d test period. The results of these exper- iments indicate that (1) when maintained alone, juvenile A. opacum were observed more frequently outside of the burrow than were juvenile A. maculatum; (2) A. maculatum were more likely to enter unoccupied burrows compared to burrows that were occupied by conspecific or heterospecific sal- amanders; (3) A. maculatum intruders were bitten more frequently by resident A. opacum than by resident A. maculatum; (4) when two individual salamanders shared a burrow, A. maculatum were more likely to leave a cohabited burrow whereas use of shared burrows by A. opacum was not influenced by the presence of another salamander in the burrow. These experiments demonstrate that juvenile A. opacum may defend burrow space by excluding heterospecific salamanders. How- ever, our results also indicate that species-specific behavioral differences may influence patterns of burrow use, which may reduce the importance of agonistic interactions under natural conditions.
Complex-scaling generalized pseudospectral method for quasienergy resonance states in two-center systems: Application to the Floquet study of charge resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization of molecular ions in intense low-frequency laser fields

We present a complex-scaling generalized pseudospectral method for accurate and efficient treatment of resonance states in two-center molecular systems, involving optimal nonuniform grid discretization of the Hamiltonian in prolate spheroidal coordinates. The procedure is applied to the first converged non-Hermitian Floquet study of multiphoton ionization of molecular ions in intense low-frequency (1064 nm) laser fields. We explore the underlying mechanism responsible for the ionization enhancement of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$ at some critical internuclear distances. Several features of the complex quasienergy states are observed. A detailed analysis of the nature and dynamical behavior of these quasienergy states reveals that the ionization enhancement is mainly due to the effect of charge-resonance-enhanced multiphoton resonances of the $1{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{g}$ and $1{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{u}$ states with excited electronic states at some particular internuclear distances. These ``critical'' distances depend on the details of molecular electronic structure and the laser frequency and intensity used in the study.
The influence of pre- and post-purchase service on prices in the online book market

We examine the ability of customer ratings of pre-purchase and post-purchase service to explain price variations in the online book market. In addition, we test whether market leaders leverage their branding advantage by charging higher prices. E-tailer prices were modeled using a market basket of identical books whose posted prices were sampled repeatedly over a 4-month period. Contrary to expectations, posted prices were relatively constant across the time period that included a highly competitive 2000 holiday selling season. E-tailers whose customers were more satisfied with the level of post-purchase service charged significantly higher prices. Differences in satisfaction with pre-purchase service did not explain price differences across all e-tailers. The higher prices of the three market leaders were most likely due to higher satisfaction ratings for both pre- and post-purchase satisfaction. We discuss the implications of these results for managers and academics.
Paternal confidence and paternal investment: A cross cultural test of a sociobiological hypothesis

Abstract Previous work has suggested a possible relation between cultural patterns affecting the probability that a man is the genitor of his wife's children and patterns of male investment in children. It is only biologically adaptive for a male to invest in his wife's children when they in fact bear the male's genes. When it is unlikely that they do, males should prefer to direct their investment elsewhere. Using cross-cultural tests of association, we show that males tend to aim investment at their wives' children when paternal confidence is high and away from these children when it is low.
Effects of Maternal Hospitalization in Early Childhood: Anticipated Anxiety Associated with an Analog Separation for Childbirth and Surgery

Assessed early childhood anticipation of anxiety in response to analog 3-day maternal hospitalization for surgery or childbirth. Reaction to analog nonhospital separation was also assessed. Within each condition, gender effects were examined. Participants were 120 first-grade children at four elementary schools. Between-groups comparisons showed maternal separation for surgery was anticipated as more anxiety provoking, whereas anxiety associated with separation for childbirth and nonhospital separation was anticipated as similar. In general, within each separation situation, girls and boys anticipated similar levels of anxiety.
On finding a minimal functional description of a finite-state machine for test generation for adjacent machines

In some applications, it is desirable to find for a circuit a minimal partial description that allows a certain task to be carried out. A partial circuit description allows the task to be carried out more efficiently since fewer decision points exist based on a partial description compared to the full circuit description. We consider this problem with respect to finite state machines and the following tasks. Starting from a functional description of a finite state machine M in the form of a state table ST, we select a minimal subset of state-transitions ST/sub part//spl sub/ST such that every output sequence that can be produced using state-transitions out of ST can also be produced using state-transitions out of ST/sub part/. We also formulate a similar problem related to the propagation of fault effects from the inputs to the outputs of M and describe a procedure for solving this problem. Applications of these tasks include test generation for circuits described as interconnections of finite-state machines. Experimental results presented show that ST/sub part/ contains a small fraction of the state-transitions of ST.
Narcissistic Organizational Identification: Seeing Oneself As Central to the Organization's Identity

An unexplored paradox of organizational identification is its possible association with behaviors that exploit the organization for personal benefit. In this article we address why, for some individuals in positions of power and authority in the organization, organizational identification is a path to viewing the organization as eminently exploitable. We introduce “narcissistic organizational identification,” a form of organizational identification that features the individual's tendency to see his/her identity as core to the definition of the organization, in contrast to conventional conceptualizations of organizational identification, where the individual sees the organization as core to the definition of self. We provide theory explaining how antecedents of conventional organizational identification—including a sense of control and influence over the organization, a sense of psychological ownership of the organization, a sense that the organization is regarded highly by others, and a sense that others ...
On the Diels–Alder Approach to Solely Biomass‐Derived Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): Conversion of 2,5‐Dimethylfuran and Acrolein into p‐Xylene

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a polymeric material with high global demand. Conventionally, PET is produced from fossil-fuel-based materials. Herein, we explored the feasibility of a sustainable method for PET production by using solely bio-renewable resources. Specifically, 2,5-dimethylfuran (derived from lignocellulosic biomass through 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural) and acrolein (produced from glycerol, a side product of biodiesel production) were converted into the key intermediate p-xylene (a precursor of terephthalic acid). This synthesis consists of a sequential Diels-Alder reaction, oxidation, dehydration, and decarboxylation. In particular, the pivotal first step, the Diels-Alder reaction, was studied in detail to provide useful kinetic and thermodynamic data. Although it was found that this reaction requires low temperature to proceed efficiently, which presents a limitation on economic feasibility on an industrial scale, the concept was realized and bio-derived p-xylene was obtained in 34% overall yield over four steps.
Optimization and assessment of shape, alignment, and structure of InP/InGaAsP waveguide vertically coupled optical add-drop multiplexers

An investigation of optimal waveguide layout shapes for vertically-coupled, wafer-bonded InP/InGaAsP optical add-drop multiplexers has been performed through integration of the coupled-mode Ricatti equation, providing potential sidelobe levels of less than -32 dB and filter bandwidths over 20% narrower than those of previous devices. Effects of nonideal processing conditions on filter performance are analyzed as well.
The Co-Construction of Roles and Patterns of Interaction in Family Discourse

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature on the discourse analysis of spoken interaction in the family context. Specific aspects of family discourse are discussed, including the co-construction of identity, the specific roles and identities of family members, and the patterns of interaction found in the discourse. Since gender is an important aspect of family roles, an overview of the research on gender and spoken interaction is included. The concepts of framing and power, as they relate to family interaction are also discussed given the salience researchers have attached to these concepts. This is followed by a review of the literature on language and identity, including the co-construction of identity in interaction, and discourse analysis studies on particular family member roles and family identity. Discourse patterns specific to family interaction are discussed in the last section. The review concludes that although discourse analysis research on family talk has shed light on family-specific patterns of interaction, it has nevertheless focused on a narrowlydefined concept of what constitutes a family and has largely been based on short-term data collection.
Systems of random mappings with a common fixed point

Mappings from a set of Lipschitz-continuous mappings are applied successively on an initial point x 0 in a complete metric space. All mappings possess the same fixed point x∗ and are applied at random with repetitions. A lower bound is found for the probability that the system's state after n iterations, xn , is within a p-neighbour-hood of the common fixed point x∗. Moreover, sufficient conditions on the Lipschitz constants and on the probabilities of occurrence of the mappings which guaranteee convergence of the system's state to x∗ in the mean-square sense are found.
Annealing studies of magnetron-sputtered CoCr thin films

Abstract The microstructure and magnetic properties of annealed CoCr thin films of various thicknesses, deposited on glass substrates, were examined. In general, little grain growth upon annealing was observed. Low-angle grain boundaries, present in as-sputtered films of thickness ⩽50 nm, were absent in annealed films. This occurs simultaneously with a decrease in the measured electrical resistivity. A reduction in the in-plane film stress occurs with annealing, correspondingly the experimentally measured anisotropy field values change markedly. A noticeable feature of the microstructure is the appearance of Cr-rich regions in annealed films 50 nm thick and above. These regions are thought to account for the observed increases in the saturation magnetization and coercivity with annealing time.
H3K9me3-Dependent Heterochromatin: Barrier to Cell Fate Changes

Establishing and maintaining cell identity depends on the proper regulation of gene expression, as specified by transcription factors and reinforced by epigenetic mechanisms. Among the epigenetic mechanisms, heterochromatin formation is crucial for the preservation of genome stability and the cell type-specific silencing of genes. The heterochromatin-associated histone mark H3K9me3, although traditionally associated with the noncoding portions of the genome, has emerged as a key player in repressing lineage-inappropriate genes and shielding them from activation by transcription factors. Here we describe the role of H3K9me3 heterochromatin in impeding the reprogramming of cell identity and the mechanisms by which H3K9me3 is reorganized during development and cell fate determination.
The Theory of Rods

A theory of rods 2 or, equivalently, a one-dimensional theory of solids is a characterization of the behavior of slender three-dimensional solid bodies by a set of equations having the parameter of a certain curve and the time as the only independent variables. The formidable mathematical obstacles presented by three-dimensional continuum theories dictate the need for tractable, accurate, and illuminating one-dimensional models.
A Movement’s Legacy: Southern Echo and the Continued Struggle for Racial Justice in the Delta

Recent research has complicated popular understandings of the civil rights movement, calling into question its timeline, key players, and biggest victories. Scholars have highlighted the role of community organizing, arguing that capacity-building and leadership development were the movement’s real wins. Yet little research has examined how contemporary organizers view and use this history in their current work. Drawing upon interview and observational data from a qualitative case study, this article explores how one Delta organization, Southern Echo, responds to the movement of the 1950s and 1960s in its organizing today. We argue that Echo organizers and leaders see the civil rights movement as an ongoing struggle, and we show that Echo adopts a critical stance in analyzing past civil rights work; Echo’s structure and strategies are a direct response to this history. Our analysis offers a new, critical perspective to understandings of the civil rights movement.
NoSQL in database education: incorporating non-relational concepts into a relational database course: panel discussion

Due to the growth of data accumulation, NoSQL databases using non-relational database models are becoming more prevalent within industry. Students must be equipped with knowledge about these new techniques, and how they are affecting current database designs within industry. This panel will discuss the obstacles and benefits of introducing students to non-relational database models in conventional database courses. Central points of discussion will include, the impact of NoSQL databases on a traditional database curriculum, assessment of these curricular changes, and also how NoSQL databases can be used within industry to improve scalability.