cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
X-ray diffraction studies on human tendon show age-related changes in collagen packing

In this report, X-ray diffraction on native hydrated tendon is established as a monitor of human aging. X-ray diffraction patterns were recorded on toe extensor tendons of persons ranging from 1.6 years to 87 years old. All patterns show a set of 67 nm meridional reflections derived from the collagen fibril axial repeat, and the ratio of the intensities of the 16:17 orders showed a linear increase with age. The spacing of the equatorial maximum, which relates to the lateral packing of molecules in collagen fibrils, was also greater in older tendons. The observed changes in X-ray parameters follow those seen for rat-tail tendons subjected to in vitro non-enzymatic glycosylation. Age-related increases reported for the fluorescence of Maillard products and the concentration of the sugar-derived cross-link pentosidine are similar to the trends in X-ray parameters reported here. Our results support the cumulative nature of non-enzymatic glycosylation in connective tissues during the human lifespan and indicate that structural changes accompany the chemical alterations. The X-ray parameters show a large degree of scatter for ages older than 60 years, suggesting other complicating factors are present. Studies on a small number of diabetic tendons show small, but not significant, increases compared to age-matched controls.
Measures of Assortativity

This paper discusses alternative measures of assortative matching and relates them to Sewall Wright’s F-statistic. It also explores applications of measures of assortativity to evolutionary dynamics. We generalize Wright’s statistic to allow the possibility that some types match more assortatively than others, and explore the possibility of identifying parameters of this more general model from the observed distribution of matches by the partners’ types.
Enhancing immunity to HIV through APOBEC

A small molecule that interferes with HIV Vif promotes the antiviral activity of the human protein APOBEC3G.
Improving children's coping with everyday stress: transporting treatment interventions to the school setting.

Children are continuously confronted with everyday stressors in their daily routine, and their ability to deal with these stressors has been found to be significantly related to their psycho- logical adjustment. In fact, numerous studies have indicated that having a repertoire of coping skills at a young age can be a "buffer" or moderator" of the effects of negative life stress on the development of psychological maladjustment. Because of the importance of develop- ing adequate skills to navigate life's daily challenges, a number of school-based interventions have been designed with the goal of teaching children specific "problem-focused" skills that are presumed to enhance coping, yet fewer programs have taught children "emotion focused" skills such as cognitive restructuring or emotional regulation to deal with more uncontrollable stressors. This paper begins with a review of the theoretical and empirical literature on chil- dren's coping with everyday stress and then provides a description of several existing coping skills training programs for children, highlighting those that are school-based interventions. A description is provided of a brief, school based intervention that was recently implemented to determine the differential effects of teaching young children "problem-focused" skills and teaching "emotion-focused" skills on children's subsequent use of specific coping strategies. The study and its outcomes are reviewed. The final section of the paper focuses on issues related to conducting intervention research in the schools, and specific suggestions for re- searchers are delineated for every stage in the process of school based research, to best assure that the research program can be implemented in the schools efficiently and effectively.
From conversion to coercion: the police role in medication compliance

This paper examines the role of the police in supporting community based mental health services for the chronically mentally ill in a mid-sized midwestern city. Cooperation between the police and mental health system, as reflected in training and procedural agreements for emergency evaluations and hospitalization, achieves the conversion of the police to a medical model view of mental illness which stresses the importance and effectiveness of medication compliance so that the police will act upon this belief in their handling of the mentally ill. However, police recognition of the limits of the medical model and organizational change impacts upon cooperative police practices. Police experience conflict over the assumed therapeutic goals of community treatment and the important gatekeeping function community mental health systems perform under deinstitutionalization. Erosion of the police belief in the effectiveness of community mental health, and the resulting change in practices, may provide an important, yet partial, counterbalance to the control exerted by the medical model. The availability of police authority to assure compliance, or in some cases to reinforce the consequences of non-compliance with medication, raises questions about police-mental health relationships that are too cooperative.
Review of “Splitting: Protecting Yourself While Divorcing Someone With Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder,” by Bill Eddy and Randi Kreger

This book should be read by all partners who are planning to seek a divorce, those who are already divorced but have not yet processed what happened before, during, and after the divorce, and, even...
THE TWO-DIMENSIONALIST REDUCTIO

: In recent years two-dimensional semantics has become one of the most serious alternatives to Millianism for the proper interpretation of modal discourse. It has origins in the works of a diverse group of philosophers, and it has proven popular as an interpretation of both language and thought. It has probably received most of its attention, however, because of its use by David Chalmers in his arguments against materialism. It is this more metaphysical application of two-dimensionalism that is the concern in this paper. For though there is probably something salvageable from two-dimensionalism as a way to explain the content of thought, as a metaphysical tool it should be abandoned. In this paper I aim to establish this point by reductio: if ‘metaphysical’ two-dimensionalism is assumed, it can be shown to be false.
Child care health consultants still in demand: pediatric nurses are an asset.

Nurses in the role of Child Care Health Consultants can best provide education and services to positively impact the health and safety of child care programs and child health outcomes. RESEARCH AND RECOMMENDATIONS substantiating the value of child care health consultants (CCHCs, 2009) have been circulating in the form of professional articles, research papers, and policy initiatives for over two decades. A CCHC is a health professional with experience in pediatric care and knowledge in resources and regulations related to the care of children in day care settings (American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP], American Public Health Association, and National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education, 2002). According to the United States Census Bureau (2010), 24% of children aged 0–4 years spend most of the time in a center-based setting, such as a day care, nursery schools, preschools, and Head Start (http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/famsoc3.asp). With a significant amount of the pediatric population enrolled in center-based settings, the CCHC has the knowledge and expertise to impact the health status of this population. In the current era of health care reform, when community-based care and interdisciplinary collaboration are paramount, the CCHC is in a pivotal position to endorse the licensure of day care settings and to provide consultation to day care providers to make a safe and positive impact on individual and population health outcomes. Nakatsukasa-Ono, Loe, and Harris (2006) suggest that providing health care consultations to child care professionals improves child health outcomes. This was further substantiated by Graville (2011). Graville also advocates for the role of the CCHC in improving child outcomes and day care centers in today's health care and child care environments. She noted that day care settings that use CCHCs experience improvements in child health outcomes in the following areas: compliance with health polices, improved immunization rates, increased access to medical and dental
An SU(5) heterotic standard model

Abstract We introduce a new heterotic Standard Model which has precisely the spectrum of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), with no exotic matter. The observable sector has gauge group SU ( 3 ) C × SU ( 2 ) L × U ( 1 ) Y . Our model is obtained from a compactification of heterotic strings on a Calabi–Yau threefold with Z 2 fundamental group, coupled with an invariant SU ( 5 ) bundle. Depending on the region of moduli space in which the model lies, we obtain a spectrum consisting of the three generations of the Standard Model, augmented by 0, 1 or 2 Higgs doublet conjugate pairs. In particular, we get the first compactification involving a heterotic string vacuum (i.e., a stable bundle) yielding precisely the MSSM with a single pair of Higgs.
Variational principle for spreading speeds and generalized propagating speeds in time almost periodic and space periodic KPP models

Spatial spread and front propagation dynamics is one of the most important dynamical issues in KPP models. Such dynamics of KPP models in time independent or periodic media has been widely studied. Recently, the author of the current paper with Huang established some theoretical foundation for the study of spatial spread and front propagation dynamics of KPP models in time almost periodic and space periodic media. A notion of spreading speed intervals for such models was introduced in the above-mentioned paper and was shown to be the natural extension of the classical concept of the spreading speeds for time independent or periodic KPP models and that it could be used for more general time dependent KPP models. A notion of generalized propagating speed intervals of front solutions and a notion of traveling wave solutions to time almost periodic and space periodic KPP models were also introduced, which are the generalizations of wave speeds and traveling wave solutions in time independent or periodic KPP models. The aim of the current paper is to gain some further qualitative and quantitative understanding of the spatial spread and front propagation dynamics of KPP models in time almost periodic and space periodic media. By applying the principal Lyapunov exponent and the principal Floquet bundle theory for time almost periodic parabolic equations, we provide various useful estimates for spreading and generalized propagating speeds for such KPP models. Under the so-called linear determinacy condition, we show that the spreading speed interval in any given direction is a singleton (called the spreading speed). Moreover, in such a case we establish a variational principle for the spreading speed and prove that there is a front solution of speed c in a given direction if and only if c is greater than or equal to the spreading speed in that direction. Both the estimates and variational principle provide important and efficient tools for the spreading speeds analysis as well as the spreading speeds computation. Based on the variational principle, the influence of time and space variation of the media on the spreading speeds is also discussed in this paper. It is shown that the time and space variation cannot slow down the spatial spread and that it indeed speeds up the spatial spread except in certain degenerate cases, which provides deep insights into the understanding of the influence of the inhomogeneity of the underline media on the spatial spread in KPP models.
RootLM: a simple color image analysis program for length measurement of primary roots in Arabidopsis

The Arabidopsis root is a model system for studying root growth, development, and response to environmental stresses. Due to its small size, many Arabidopsis seedlings can be cultured in a single nutrient-containing agar plate. Two of the common parameters used to evaluate root growth are the root length and the elongation rate. Various methods including manual measurement and digital image analysis can be used to measure the root length. In this paper, we report the development of a simple color image analysis program, RootLM, in combination with a modified marking technique of root growth on the surface of a Petri dish, for length measurement of primary roots. Our method provides an alternative tool to quickly generate accurate and reproducible root growth measurement with a minimum equipment requirement. In addition, the program is free for public download.
Interaction of the lathyrogen beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) with a copper-containing amine oxidase.

SummaryPig plasma amine oxidase, an enzyme thought to closely resemble the oxidase functional in collagen and elastin cross-linking, was assayed in the presence of a lathy rogen. BAPN was shown to inhibit enzyme activity competitively and reversibly and to form a complex with the active site of the enzyme. The product of the enzymatic oxidative deamination of BAPN was isolated and partially characterized. Its properties indicate the existence of a highly reactive aldehyde intermediate in BAPN metabolism. The data presented suggest two likely alternatives for the mechanism of action of BAPN. (a) BAPN may compete with native substrate molecules for the active site of the amine oxidase functional in crosslinking, or (b) BAPN or a highly reactive aldehyde derived from BAPN by the action of amine oxidase may react with the functional groups of strategic lysyl side chains of collagen and elatstin and
Phlogopite mica-based compressive seals for solid oxide fuel cells: effect of mica thickness

Abstract Commercially available Phlogopite mica papers of varying thickness, ∼0.1, ∼0.2, and ∼0.5 mm, were evaluated as potential solid oxide fuel cell (SPFC) seal materials. The micas were tested in two forms: plain and hybrid. The hybrid form involved the addition of glass interlayers between the mica and the adjacent components. For each sample, about 30 thermal cycles were conducted and the 800 °C leak rates were determined. The results showed an excellent thermal cycle stability of the Phlogopite micas in the hybrid design in that the leak rates remained almost constant after ∼10 cycles. In addition, the leak rate appeared to increase with increasing mica thickness in the hybrid design, but showed no thickness dependence for mica in the plain design. The Phlogopite micas also showed good mid-term (∼500 h) stability in both air and reducing environments. Microstructure characterization showed no distinct degradation such as fragmentation and particle formation after thermal cycle and the mid-term stability tests.
Rating scales for musical interests.

(1949). Rating Scales for Musical Interests. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 245-253.
Proton Selective Substate of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore: Regulation by the Redox State of the Electron Transport Chain†

The permeability transition pore of rat liver mitochondria can be closed by chelating free Ca2+, with respect to the passage of large molecules such as mannitol and sucrose. However, an apparent H+-conducting substate remains open under these conditions, as indicated by the persistence of maximal O2 consumption rates and by the failure to recover a membrane potential. Agents which favor a closed pore, such as cyclosporin A, ADP, Mg2+, or bovine serum albumin, do not close the H+-conducting substate, but it closes spontaneously when respiration becomes limited by the availability of O2. Closure provoked by an O2 limitation requires free Mg2+ in the sub-micromolar concentration range and becomes less efficient with increasing time spent in the presence of free Ca2+. The H+-conducting substate is apparently regulated by the redox status of the electron transport chain, with a reduced form favoring closure. A physical association (or equivalence) between the pore and one of the respiratory chain complexes is supported. These characteristics suggest that the transition is irreversible in vivo, if it involves a small fraction of total mitochondria, and would lead to their elimination and/or replacement by the cell. The implications of this proposal are considered, as they relate to a possible role for the transition in cellular apoptosis and the elimination of mitochondria containing mutated DNA.
Revisiting Abbott Thayer: non-scientific reflections about camouflage in art, war and zoology.

This paper reviews the achievements of Abbott Handerson Thayer (1849–1921), an American painter and naturalist whose pioneering writings on animal camouflage addressed shared concerns among artists, zoologists and military tacticians. It discusses his beliefs about camouflage (both natural and military) in the context of his training as an artist, with particular emphasis on three of his major ideas: countershading, ruptive (or disruptive) coloration and background picturing.
Using advanced diagnostics to detect subsurface damage in sapphire

The microstructure of sapphire modulus of rupture bars has been examined before and after a high-temperature anneal using a variety of characterization methods, collectively described as 'advanced diagnostics'. These methods include the localized techniques of transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and high magnification polarized light microscopy, as well as the global techniques of x-ray diffraction topography, polariscope and wave font analysis. Comparison of data before and after annealing indicate that no change has occurred in the long-range strain distribution or subgrain structure. However, changes in microstructure consistent with the motion of dislocations within approximately 100 nm of the surface were observed.
Empirical Evaluation of Oligonucleotide Probe Selection for DNA Microarrays

DNA-based microarrays are increasingly central to biomedical research. Selecting oligonucleotide sequences that will behave consistently across experiments is essential to the design, production and performance of DNA microarrays. Here our aim was to improve on probe design parameters by empirically and systematically evaluating probe performance in a multivariate context. We used experimental data from 19 array CGH hybridizations to assess the probe performance of 385,474 probes tiled in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) region of the X chromosome. Our results demonstrate that probe melting temperature, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and homocytosine motifs all have a strong effect on probe behavior. These findings, when incorporated into future microarray probe selection algorithms, may improve microarray performance for a wide variety of applications.
A microbiological study of pediatric vaginitis.

Summary The vaginal microbiological organisms of premenarchal girls were studied in an effort to determine the etiology of vaginitis and to determine the changes that occur in the prevalence of these organisms when the child is under the influence of an estrogenic substance. Neisseria gonorrhoeae occurred in 21 per cent of the patients and could definitely be incriminated as etiologically related to vaginitis. The chisquare test of significance supported this conclusion. The gonococcus was not recovered in girls who received an estrogenic cream which was applied topically to the vulvar region and in whom an adult-type of vaginal epithelium developed with a concurrent establishment of Doderlein's bacillus and a pH of 4. Trichomonas vaginalis occurred in 5.2 per cent of the patients, but not at all in the control children. This organism is believed to be etiologically related to the vaginitis observed in these cases. The chi-square test, however, did not support this conclusion. It is believed that the sample of data was too small to obtain statistical support of the clinical impression. Estrogenic cream had no effect on the course of infection with this organism. The occurrence of coagulase-positive strains of M. pyogenes var. aureus was similar in both patient and control groups and could not be correlated with the observed vaginitis. No enteropathogenic strains of E. coli were isolated from vaginitis patients. The organism, H. vaginalis , was not recovered from any of the premenarchal patients. A large number of species of various bacteria were isolated from vaginitis patients and from normal control girls in approximately equal percentages. These data when subjected to the chisquare test indicated that the probability of such observations occurring by chance was high and, therefore, any one of these organisms had little significance to the obscrved vaginitis. These data are in keeping with those of other investigators who call such cases “nonspecific” vaginitis. The hypothesis is made that some viral agent or agents e.g., the echo, adenovirus, Coxsackie, or possibly some other as yet unrecognized virus, may be responsible for the clinical entity called “nonspecific” vaginitis.
Pharmacokinetics, safety and tissue residues of sustained‐release sulfamethazine in sheep

Concentration-time profiles and the rates of absorption, extent of distribution and half-lives of sulfamethazine (SMZ), administered intravenously, orally as a water solution and as a sustained-release formulation (CalfSpan) were determined in 10 healthy sheep. The geometric mean half-life of elimination of i.v. SMZ was 10.8 h, compared to 14.3 h for the sustained-release preparation (CalfSpan) and 4.3 h for the oral water solution. Blood levels of SMZ were at or above 50 micrograms/ml for more than 48 h for CalfSpan, for 24 h after i.v. SMZ (100 mg/kg body wt), and for less than 24 h after p.o. SMZ (100 mg/kg body wt). The mean bioavailability of the oral SMZ solution was 58.3% (AUCp.o./AUCi.v.). The estimated bioavailability of the CalfSpan preparation was 52.5%. The safety of the sustained-release preparation was tested by dosing sheep with multiples (one, three and five times) of the recommended dose (one tablet, 8 g SMZ, per 20 kg body wt), once a day for 3 days. Clinical blood chemistries showed a significant increase in serum iron, and a decrease in serum phosphorus in animals treated at the 3x and 5x dose levels. Necropsies of the 5x dose animals did not show any gross signs that could be attributed to SMZ, and histological examination of tissues from the 5x animals revealed no organ pathology. Residues of SMZ in liver, fat, kidney and skeletal muscle were measured in 20 animals that received one bolus per 20 kg body wt. The results indicate that SMZ residues are cleared rapidly, and are at or below the tolerance level of 0.1 mg/kg within 8 days after dosing so that the 18-day withdrawal time used in cattle would provide an appropriate margin of safety if used in sheep.
Electrical properties of transition-metal carbides of group IV

Electrical resistivities of six single crystals of group-IVB transition-metal carbides are reported for temperatures between 4 and 1000 K. Hall coefficients of the crystals are reported for temperatures to 350 K. The chemical analyses of the ratio of carbon-to-metal atoms in the crystals (0.89 to 0.99) were verified by an inverse linear relationship between the carbon-vacancy concentration and the low-temperature Hall mobilities. Bloch-Gr\"uneisen theory provides a fit to the temperature dependence of the resistivity data that passes the ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{2}$ test for ${\mathrm{TiC}}_{\mathrm{x}}$ and ${\mathrm{ZrC}}_{\mathrm{x}}$ but not for ${\mathrm{HfC}}_{0.99}$. The measurements reveal a tendency toward resistivity saturation at high temperature that is well described by a parallel-resistance model in which the saturation resistivity corresponds to a carrier mean free path roughly equal to the lattice constant. The measurements are compared to earlier experimental studies and to predictions of band-structure calculations. Theories of electronic transport are evaluated.
Approaches to Evaluating Dry Deposition of Atmospheric Aerosol Pollutants onto Lake Surfaces

Abstract Atmospheric transport may be a significant pathway of pollutants to lake water, but its quantitative evaluation is elusive. Dry deposition of particulate matter onto the surfaces of lakes is especially elusive because of its being less extensively documented than deposition by precipitation scavenging, but it cannot be assumed to be negligible. Several approaches to the laboratory and field investigation of dry deposition of aerosols to lake surfaces may be taken. Simultaneous investigation of watershed contributions to lake chemistry should also be undertaken.
Modular stability tools for distributed computation and control

Much recent functional modelling of the central nervous system, beyond traditional ‘neural net’ approaches, focuses on its distributed computational architecture. This paper discusses extensions of our recent work aimed at understanding this architecture from an overall non-linear stability and convergence point of view, and at constructing artificial devices exploiting similar modularity. Applications to synchronization and to schooling are also described. The development makes extensive use of non-linear contraction theory. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Storage stability of jet fuels

Abstract Storage stabilities of jet fuels derived from petroleum were determined using laser light scattering, sediment formation and oxygen uptake measurements. Fuel degradation was monitored in the presence of the following added specific compounds: 2,5-dimethylpyrrole (DMP), N-methyl pyrrole (NMP), thiophenol, thiophene, decanethanol, dibutyl sulphide, dibutyl disulphide, tetrahydrothiophene, hexadiene, 1-hexene, indene, iron(II), and copper(II)-phthalocyanines (FePc, CuPc) and mixtures of some of these at various temperatures. The light scattering results are correlated with extent of deposit formation, which is an accepted measure of stability, and with oxygen uptake results. Light scattering intensity, weight of deposit and oxygen uptake increase with increase in storage time, concentration of added specific compound and stress temperature. Temperature variations of these measurements give activation energies of the degradation reactions. The first direct evidence has been obtained of the pyrrole radicals in DMP and NMP when a fuel is degraded in the presence of pyrrole. These two pyrrole radicals give different electron paramagnetic resonance parameters: g and linewidth values. The degradation products obtained in the presence of FePc and CuPc show properties which indicate that CuPc interacts with petroleum JP-5 with added DMP more strongly than does FePc.
A Comparison of Intimacy in First-Married and Remarried Couples:

The purpose of the study reported here was to compare intimacy in first-married and remarried couples. Data gathered from 33 first-married and 33 remarried couples with the Waring Intimacy Questionnaire revealed no significant differences between first-marrieds and remarrieds on total intimacy scores and seven subscale scores. Only one type of intimacy—conflict resolution—was significantly lower among the remarrieds. A comparison of the intimacy scores of couples married one year with those married five years (all couples—both first-marrieds and remarrieds) revealed significant differences in total intimacy, affection, cohesion, compatibility, and expressiveness. However, among remarrieds only, no significant differences between those married one and five years were found.
Understanding interaction effects of climate change and fire management on bird distributions through combined process and habitat models

Avian conservation efforts must account for changes in vegetation composition and structure associated with climate change. We modeled vegetation change and the probability of occurrence of birds to project changes in winter bird distributions associated with climate change and fire management in the northern Chihuahuan Desert (southwestern U.S.A.). We simulated vegetation change in a process-based model (Landscape and Fire Simulator) in which anticipated climate change was associated with doubling of current atmospheric carbon dioxide over the next 50 years. We estimated the relative probability of bird occurrence on the basis of statistical models derived from field observations of birds and data on vegetation type, topography, and roads. We selected 3 focal species, Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata), Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), and Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), that had a range of probabilities of occurrence for our study area. Our simulations projected increases in relative probability of bird occurrence in shrubland and decreases in grassland and Yucca spp. and ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) vegetation. Generally, the relative probability of occurrence of all 3 species was highest in shrubland because leaf-area index values were lower in shrubland. This high probability of occurrence likely is related to the species' use of open vegetation for foraging. Fire suppression had little effect on projected vegetation composition because as climate changed there was less fuel and burned area. Our results show that if future water limits on plant type are considered, models that incorporate spatial data may suggest how and where different species of birds may respond to vegetation changes.
Song Acquisition among Rural Shona-Speaking Zimbabwean Children from Birth to 7 Years

This study is an analysis of samples of one years vocal productions of 92 children between birth and age 7 in the Nharira Communal Lands of Zimbabwe to determine at what stage and to what degree children's melodic efforts resembled adult song prototypes. Results indicate a common sequence of song acquisition that parallels the age-related phases observed in children of other cultures. Milestones were the use of characteristic tune segments and musical conventions at 3 years; ability to sing independently with larger ranges and forward motion at age 4; marked improvement of pitch precision at age 5; and tonal consistency throughout a song at 5.5 years. Few differences emerged in cognitive capacities between Nharira children and those in Western studies. Perhaps because of the importance of personal music-making in the environment, a dramatic difference appeared in singing accuracy. Nharira children produced more correct contours, intervals, and stable phrase endings than comparable children in the United S...
Retrieval of Hourly Records of Surface Hydrometeorological Variables Using Satellite Remote Sensing Data

AbstractA new algorithm is formulated for retrieving hourly time series of surface hydrometeorological variables including net radiation, sensible heat flux, and near-surface air temperature aided by hourly visible images from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) and in situ observations of mean daily air temperature. The algorithm is based on two unconventional, recently developed methods: the maximum entropy production model of surface heat fluxes and the half-order derivative–integral model that has been tested previously. The close agreement between the retrieved hourly variables using remotely sensed input and the corresponding field observations indicates that this algorithm is an effective tool in remote sensing of the earth system.
Democracy and the Environment: An Empirical Assessment

This article examines empirically the relationship between democracy and the environment. Theorists and policy-makers have been eager to put forward the virtues of democracy as a benign political influence on the environment, especially in contrast to the obvious environmental degradation under Communism that became obvious after its fall. Six measures of environmental protection or degradation are examined as the dependent variables, with the independent variables emerging from earlier tests of the impact of the environment on democracy. In the multiple regression analyses of three of the environmental indicators, deforestation, carbon dioxide emission, and soil erosion by water, the statistically significant effect of democracy on the environment actually was negative, contrary to prediction. In the fourth case, protected land area, the impact of democracy was positive while in the remaining two instances, freshwater availability and soil erosion by chemicals, there was no significant effect of democracy on the environment. Other variables such as economic development, agricultural density, European location, age of the polity, and precipitation behaved empirically as one would intuitively expect. These findings suggest that democracy cannot be viewed unidimensionally in its relationship to the environment, and that assumptions by theorists and policy-makers concerning the positive effect of democracy on the environment need to be re-examined.
A multi-emission frequency domain modulator

The development of mobile and portable multi-emission transceivers for analog and digital transmission over a wide frequency range requires the development of integrated modulator and demodulator systems. An experimental multi-emission frequency domain modulator that operates in the frequency range from approximately 5 MHz to 1 GHz is described. Using passive integrated components such as splitters, hybrids, and double-balanced mixers, as well as monolithic broadband amplifiers, the modulator modulates a carrier with a baseband signal in AM, SSB, DSB, FM, PM, or a variety of n-phase-shift keying (PSK)-modes. The analog modulations are generated using frequency domain techniques, i.e., the carrier and each sideband pair are independently generated. The n-PSK modes are developed by combining inphase, +or-90 degrees , and 180 degrees components using amplifiers/attenuators and an in-phase combiner. The performance of this modulator is discussed, as well as extensions to this technique to wideband FM, spread spectrum, and demodulation. Suitable architectures for a transceiver that incorporates this circuit, including integration of this modulator into a monolithic package, are considered. >
Transduction of High-Frequency Micromechanical Resonators Using Depletion Forces in p-n Diodes

We present in this paper the design and fabrication of a homogeneous silicon micromechanical resonator actuated using forces acting on the immobile charge in the depletion region of a symmetrically doped p-n diode. The proposed resonator combines the high quality factor Q of air-gap-transduced resonators with the frequency-scaling benefits of internal dielectrically transduced resonators. Using this transduction method, we demonstrate a thickness-longitudinal-mode micromechanical resonator with Q~18000 at a resonant frequency of 3.72 GHz at room temperature, yielding an f ·Q product of 6.69 × 1013 Hz, which is the highest reported value for a silicon micromechanical resonator to date.
Neurotrophin signaling and visceral hypersensitivity

Neurotrophin family are traditionally recognized for their nerve growth promoting function and are recently identified as crucial factors in regulating neuronal activity in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The family members including nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) are reported to have distinct roles in the development and maintenance of sensory phenotypes in normal states and in the modulation of sensory activity in disease. This paper highlights receptor tyrosine kinase (Trk) -mediated signal transduction by which neurotrophins regulate neuronal activity in the visceral sensory reflex pathways with emphasis on the distinct roles of NGF and BDNF signaling in physiologic and pathophysiological processes. Viscero-visceral cross-organ sensitization exists widely in human diseases. The role of neurotrophins in mediating neural cross talk and interaction in primary afferent neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and neurotrophin signal transduction in the context of cross-organ sensitization are also discussed.
Linking in with LinkedIn[R]: Three Exercises That Enhance Professional Social Networking and Career Building

Getting students to network with one another can be one of the biggest challenges in college courses, despite being a highly important function of higher education. Networking can, in fact, lead to that first job or to professional advancement, and technology can improve the success of individual and institutional efforts. This article describes how one instructor moved from a systemwide “Meet the Classmates” assignment nested within the learning management system to the use of a free social networking system, LinkedIn®, and how one icebreaker assignment evolved to three larger, more comprehensive assignments that better leveraged certain social networking system characteristics for greater career preparedness. Exploratory data from 154 respondents from undergraduate capstone strategy courses provides insights into some possible advantages and limitations of the free social networking system to offset networking challenges as well as to enhance those professional and career-based advantages associated wit...
A Conversation With Ray Aldag and Belle Rose Ragins: The 2013 Midwest Scholars of the Midwest Academy of Management

As editors of this special issue, we strive to showcase interesting and timely scholarship that focuses on current topics in management, as well as seek ways to continue to strengthen the connection between JLOS and the Midwest Academy of Management. In this vein, we are proud to feature this conversation with Drs. Ray Aldag and Belle Rose Ragins, the 2013 Midwest Scholars. They discuss their reactions to what we view as critical, timely challenges in the field of management and provide developmental advice for students and junior faculty.
SPACE-MAC: enabling spatial reuse using MIMO channel-aware MAC

Smart antennas present a radical way to improve the capacity of wireless networks. The advantages of such antennas can be leveraged by the MAC and higher layers. In this paper, we present SPACE-MAC, a MAC protocol which enables "spatial reuse" of the medium by multiple transmit/receive pairs which are in the same collision domain. SPACE-MAC prevents interference between such pairs by selectively nulling the signals from potentially interfering transmissions. This is achieved in a totally distributed fashion utilizing channel state information (CSI) at both transmitter and receiver to adjust antennas weights for each packet transmission. SPACE-MAC can operate effectively in cluttered (e.g., indoor) environments. SPACE-MAC achieves spatial reuse without requiring a separate channel for exchanging channel state information. This allows considerably better channel utilization. We investigate performance improvements of SPACE-MAC with respect to IEEE 802.11 DCF MAC using omnidirectional antennas.
Prostaglandin Endoperoxide Synthase in Rat Ovarian Follicles: Content, Cellular Distribution, and Evidence for Hormonal Induction Preceding Ovulation*

These studies were undertaken to determine if the content of prostaglandin endoperoxide (PGH) synthase (PGS) was regulated in rat ovarian follicles in a time-, tissue-, and dose-dependent manner. For quantitation and localization of the enzyme by immunoblot and immunofluorescent analyses, respectively, a polyclonal antibody to highly purified (95%) ovine seminal vesicle PGS [mol wt, (Mr), 72,000] was generated in a rabbit, and an immunoglobulin G fraction of the antiserum was purified by elution from a PGS affinity resin. Soluble cell extracts were prepared from: 1) small antral (SA) and preovulatory (PO) rat follicles before and at selected time intervals after exposure to increasing doses (0.25-10.0 IU) of hCG, 2) granulosa and thecal cells of these same follicles, and 3) granulosa cells of hypophysectomized (H) rats before and after treatment with estradiol (HE), estradiol and FSH (HEF), and 10 IU hCG. Immunoblot analyses demonstrated that the content of PGS (Mr, 72,000) was low (negligible) in granulosa and thecal cells of SA and PO follicles, was induced preferentially (approximately 15-fold) in granulosa cells between 1 and 7 h after hCG treatment (0.5, 2.0, or 10 IU), and declined between 12-24 h after administration of 10 IU hCG, reaching undetectable amounts in corpora lutea isolated 48 h after hCG treatment. PGS (Mr, 72,000) was also induced by 10 IU hCG in granulosa cells of HEF rats, but was low in granulosa cells of H, HE, and HEF rats. In contrast, prostacyclin synthase was present in granulosa cells of preantral (H and HE rats), SA, and PO follicles, was not induced by hCG, and was highest in thecal cells. Immunofluorescent analyses confirmed both the tissue-specific localization and induction of PGS in granulosa cells of rat PO follicles treated with 10 IU hCG and the subcellular fractionation analyses showing that the PGS that was induced by hCG was localized primarily to a membrane (plasma membrane?) fraction of granulosa cells. Immunofluorescent data also demonstrated immunoreactive PGS in the vascular tissue of the rat corpus luteum but not in the luteal cells. Results of these studies document unequivocally that the synthesis of prostaglandins that is increased by LH/hCG in rats preceding ovulation is associated with an increased PGS content, that induction of the induced enzyme is transient, and that the enzyme is primarily localized to granulosa cell membrane fractions.
Design of a Bio-Inspired Spherical Four-Bar Mechanism for Flapping-Wing Micro Air-Vehicle Applications

Design of flapping-wing micro air-vehicles presents many engineering challenges. As observed by biologists, insects and birds exhibit complex three-dimensional wing motions. It is believed that these unique patterns of wing motion create favorable aerodynamic forces that enable these species to fly forward, hover, and execute complex motions. From the perspective of micro air-vehicle applications, extremely lightweight designs that accomplish these motions of the wing, using just a single, or a few actuators, are preferable. This paper presents a method to design a spherical four-bar flapping mechanism that approximates a given spatial flapping motion of a wing, considered to have favorable aerodynamics. A spherical flapping mechanism was then constructed and its aerodynamic performance was compared to the original spatially moving wing using an instrumented robotic flapper with force sensors.© 2008 ASME
Women in engineering: Statistical analysis of ACT data and proposed procedure to reverse trend

Women have historically been underrepresented both in college majors and professional careers in STEM fields. This disparity can be observed in many countries, though it is most evident in the US. In this paper we analyze historical ACT data over a 30-year span and correlate gender differences with ACT scores and expressed interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related college majors. SPSS software was used to analyze the data and examine the historical trends of students' expressed interest in STEM related majors. Results show that there is a significant discrepancy between the number of men and women students who expressed interest in engineering majors. The data also show that social influences such as the emergence of computer fields including computer gaming and the dot.com era have profound influence in students' interest in STEM fields. To help develop specific strategies for timely remediation and help reverse this trend students were grouped into three categories — well prepared (ACT ≥ 28), under prepared (27 ≤ ACT ≥ 19), and unprepared (ACT &#60;19). Of the total number of students who expressed interest in engineering majors there are many who appear either completely unprepared or relatively under prepared for the demands of these fields. Results from this analysis demonstrate the importance of earlier interventions to encourage students who still have enough time to prepare for opportunities that interest them. It is also probable that students are making college major choices based on little or no data, and may, therefore, be at retention risk if they are admitted into an engineering program. This paper also highlights ongoing efforts to share data and work with high school counselors in an effort to help students identify more realistic career options or to timely target students for effective math remediation and help encourage increased participation in STEM majors and careers. Based on the data found in these analyses, we will next be surveying high school career guidance counselors. This survey will help gain insight into the high school counselors' understanding and potential biases regarding engineering and engineers.
A Congruence for Generalized Frobenius Partitions with 3 Colors Modulo Powers of 3

In 1919 Ramanujan conjectured congruences for certain classes of ordi­nary partitions modulo powers of 5 and 7 which were later proved by G.N. Watson. The corresponding congruences for colored generalized Frobenius partitions with 5 and 7 colors were recently derived by establishing a relationship between these partitions and ordinary partitions [5]. In this paper we prove similar congruences for colored generalized Frobenius partitions with 3 colors modulo powers of 3 using certain generating function identities and the modular equation of order 3.
Influence of Crossflow-Induced Swirl and Impingement on Heat Transfer in an Internal Coolant Passage of a Turbine Airfoil

Detailed heat transfer distributions are presented inside a two-pass coolant channel with crossflow-induced swirl and impingement. The impingement and passage crossflow are generated from one coolant passage to the adjoining coolant passage through a series of straight or angled holes along the dividing wall. The holes provide for the flow turning from one passage to another typically achieved in a conventional design by a 180-deg U-bend. The holes direct the flow laterally from one passage to another and generate different secondary flow patterns in the second pass. These secondary flows produce impingement and swirl and lead to higher heat transfer enhancement. Three different lateral hole configurations are tested for three Reynolds numbers (Re = 10,000, 25,000, 50.000). The configurations were varied by angle of delivery and location on the divider wall. A transient liquid crystal technique is used to measure the detailed heat transfer coefficient distributions inside the passages. Results with the new crossflow feed system are compared with the results from the traditional 180-deg turn passage
The Relationships Between Senior Auditor Budget Participation, Job Structuring, Job Consideration And Staff Auditor Time Budget Pressure

This study employs a two-person model to examine relationships between senior auditor behaviors and staff auditor time budget pressure (TBP). Specifically, the study examined the relationships between staff auditor TBP and (1) senior participation in the audit budgeting process, (2) senior structuring of staff auditor's job tasks, and (3) senior consideration of staff auditors. Senior audi- tor subjects were asked to indicate the extent of their audit budget participation on a specific audit while the staff auditor subjects were asked to respond to questions indicating the extent of senior job structuring and consideration on that same audit. Both senior and staff auditors were asked to indicate their perceptions of the staff auditor TBP on the specified audit. Surprisingly, the results showed no correlation between senior and staff auditors' perceptions of the extent of the TBP faced by the staff auditors on the specified audits. Specifically, greater senior budgetary partici- pation was associated with higher staff auditor TBP perceptions (i.e., positive association) while, on the other hand, senior auditors perceived staff auditors as having less TBP when there was greater senior budgetary participation (i.e., negative association). Finally, less senior job structuring of the staff auditor’s job tasks was found to be associated with greater staff auditor TBP (i.e., negative association) while only mixed evidence of an association between senior auditor consideration and staff auditor TBP was found.