cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kindred spirits or intergovernmental competition? The innovation and diffusion of energy policies in the American states (1990–2008)

The innovation of environmental policies and their subsequent diffusion throughout the American states has been the subject of significant academic attention. Using an event history analysis, a traditional geographic model for policy diffusion is tested against a model where states learn from peer groups, defined by political culture. There is evidence for state learning within peer groups but less support for diffusion across state borders. Policy characteristics, environmental conditions, economic resources, and political constraints and opportunities are tested as drivers of differences in policy adoption. More than any other factor, politics and political culture explains the adoption of energy and climate-change policies. These results also suggest that restricted models that test geographical mechanisms of policy diffusion likely omit important characteristics that are correlated across states, leading to biased findings regarding the geographical state diffusion models in the extant literature.
Differences in Aggressiveness in the Midas Cichlid Fish (Cichlasoma citrinellum) in Relation to Sex, Reproductive State and the Individual

The Midas cichlid, Cichlasoma citrinellum, is monogamous and biparental. Because of competition for limited spawning sites and intense predation on their young, vigorous defense of their territory is essential. Although both sexes engage in defense, they differ in aggressiveness. The aggressive responses of both sexes were measured by counting the number of bites and bumps each fish directed toward its own mirror image. The size of the fish's genital papilla was also recorded to estimate its reproductive state. Compared with females, males had higher median mirror scores with greater variance. The scores of individual males were also more consistent through time than were those of females. Females close to spawning had the highest mirror scores, whereas male scores were highest early in the reproductive cycle. Selection has apparently favored aggressiveness in both sexes. We argue, however, that differences in aggression are the result of selection acting dissimilarly on the two sexes.
The adhesion molecules of inflammation.

BRUCE N. CRONSTEIN and GERALD WEISSMANN Inflammation is characterized by the accumula- tion of leukocytes and other mesenchymal cells at sites of injury or infection. When inflammation results from invasion by a microorganism, the inflammatory re- sponse is designed to localize, destroy, and eliminate the offending organism. However, persistent inflam- mation in the absence of an identifiable irritant or microorganism is often as destructive to the host as any invader; it is, of course, the hallmark of such inflammatory diseases as rheumatoid arthritis. The recent explosion of information on the molecules which govern the emigration of leukocytes from blood vessels and their accumulation at loci of inflammation has completely changed our understand- ing of inflammation and may lead to new strategies in the treatment of acute and chronic inflammation. We describe here current ideas as to the pathogenesis of inflammation, the biochemistry and function of the adhesive molecules involved in inflammation, and what we know of their role in rheumatic disease. We also indicate how drugs presently used to treat these diseases affect adhesion molecules.
Concordance of play behavior and physiology in preschool friends

Abstract Close friends and acquaintances were identified among 34 nursery school toddlers and preschoolers based on behavioral observation sociograms and child and teacher sociometric ratings. The children were then paired with their friends and acquaintances for dyadic play interactions. Play behaviors were coded for the videotaped play sessions, heart rate was monitored, and cortisol levels were assayed from saliva samples. Greater concordance was noted for friend versus acquaintance pairs on some play behaviors, on baseline heart rate, and on cortisol levels, suggesting that friends become attuned to each others' behaviors and physiological rhythms as early as the toddler/preschool stage. Furthermore, findings suggest that stress experienced by young children may be reduced by the presence of a close friend, thereby reinforcing the notion that early friendships play an important role in development.
Building information systems for mobile environments

It is expected that in the near future, tens of millions of users will have access to distributed information systems through wireless connections. The technical characteristics of the wireless medium and the resulting mobility of both data resources and data consumers raise new challenging questions regarding the development of information systems appropriate for mobile environments. In this paper, we report on the development of such a system. First, we describe the general architecture of the information system and the main considerations of our design. Then, based on these considerations, we present our system support for maintaining the consistency of replicated data and for providing transaction schemas that account for the frequent but predictable disconnections, the mobility, and the vulnerability of the wireless environment.
Cardiac Frequency and Caloric Cost of Aerobic Dancing in Young Women

Abstract Our primary purpose was to characterize cardiac frequency during aerobic dancing. A continuous ECG tape recording was obtained on 13 women (21 ± .5 yrs; [Xbar]± SEM) during aerobic dance classes. The tape was subsequently analyzed by microcomputer for min-by-min heart rate (HR) characteristics. During the main dancing phase of 35 min, the total elapsed time the subjects' HR was greater than or equal to HR reserve thresholds of 60%, 70%, and 80% was 23.9 ± 2.29 min, 17.2 ± 2.75 min, and 9.5 ± 2.24 min, respectively. The longest continuous time that HRs exceeded the minimal threshold of 60% was 17.8 ± 2.64 min; this value decreased at the higher thresholds of 70% and 80% to 12.4 ± 2.28 and 6.8 ± 1.80 min, respectively. Aerobic dancing can sustain an elevated cardiac frequency, although not all participants demonstrated this response. The caloric cost of aerobic dancing was estimated from HR during dance and the subjects' HR - oxygen consumption relationship determined in the laboratory. The caloric...
Fine-Resolution 4DVAR Data Assimilation for the Great Plains Tornado Outbreak of 3 May 1999

Abstract The National Centers for Environmental Prediction fine-resolution four-dimensional variational (4DVAR) data assimilation system is used to study the Great Plains tornado outbreak of 3 May 1999. It was found that the 4DVAR method was able to capture very well the important precursors for the tornadic activity, such as upper- and low-level jet streaks, wind shear, humidity field, surface CAPE, and so on. It was also demonstrated that, in this particular synoptic case, characterized by fast-changing mesoscale systems, the model error adjustment played a substantial role. The experimental results suggest that the common practice of neglecting the model error in data assimilation systems may not be justified in synoptic situations similar to this one.
Sexting among young adults.

Purpose: Sexting has stirred debate over its legality and safety, but few researchers have documented the relationship between sexting and health. We describe the sexting behavior of young adults in the United States, and examine its association with sexual behavior and psychological well-being. Methods: Using an adapted Web version of respondent-driven sampling, we recruited a sample of U.S. young adults (aged 18 –24 years, N 3,447). We examined participant sexting behavior using four categories of sexting: (1) nonsexters, (2) receivers, (3) senders, and (4) two-way sexters. We then assessed the relationships between sexting categories and sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behavior, and psychological well-being. Results: More than half (57%) of the respondents were nonsexters, 28.2% were two-way sexters, 12.6% were receivers, and 2% were senders. Male respondents were more likely to be receivers than their female counterparts. Sexually active respondents were more likely to be two-way sexters than non–sexually active ones. Among participants who were sexually active in the past 30 days, we found no differences across sexting groups in the number of sexual partners or the number of unprotected sex partners in the past 30 days. We also found no relationship between sexting and psychological well-being. Conclusions: Our results suggest that sexting is not related to sexual risk behavior or psychological well-being. We discuss the findings of this study and propose directions for further research on sexting.
Conservation in Brazil's Chocolate Forest: The Unlikely Persistence of the Traditional Cocoa Agroecosystem

/ In southern Bahia, Brazil, the traditional cocoa agroecosystem with a dense shade canopy of native trees is now recognized as a secondary conservation route for highly endangered Atlantic Rainforest species. This "chocolate forest" of the densely shaded farms persists despite a massive 20-year Brazilian government modernization program in which shade was seen as a chief impediment to raising cocoa production. The objective of this study was to determine how this traditional agroecosystem endured. Although dense shade limits cocoa yield, it provides several agroecological benefits: control of insect pests and weeds, microclimate stability, and soil fertility maintenance. A keycomponent of modernization efforts was a shade-tree removal program designed to maximize cocoa production by using low shade and fertilizer while substituting agrochemicals for many beneficial roles of the overhead trees. This research found that many farmers rejected, or only partially accepted, the shade reduction process although it promised much higher cocoa yield and profit. Farmers employing a wide range of shading were interviewed, and it was found that decisions to remove or maintain the shade trees were linked to both agroecological and risk-minimization factors. Farmers' perceptions of the agroecological functions of the shade trees and individual willingness to entertain the economic risk associated with substituting agrochemicals for these were important. A less-profitable, but lower-risk approach of occasional fertilizer and agrochemical use with the traditional shade intact was a rational and widespread choice. Policies designed to maintain the traditional agroecosystem through the current economic crisis should heed the multiple functions of the overhead trees. KEY WORDS: Conservation; Brazil; Atlantic Rainforest; Cocoa; Agroecology; Risk; Agroforestry
Effects of pole and zero locations on response

THIS digest extends a method devised by Mulligan1 whereby the maxima and minima of the step response of fixed linear systems are determined without having to evaluate the entire response by using distances and angles between pole and zero locations of the system function.
The future of health disparities research: 2008 and beyond.

Division of General Internal Medicine, Center for Health Disparities Research, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA; Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Center for Aging and Human Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Cheap talk price signaling in laboratory markets

Abstract This paper uses laboratory posted offer markets to investigate the market impact of non-binding price signals. U.S. airlines have recently attracted antitrust attention due to their shared electronic pricing system. This system may facilitate collusion by allowing airlines to signal pricing intentions to their rivals and build consensus on fare actions. The airlines often posted fare proposals through the system before they were available for sale, so the proposals were non-binding ‘cheap talk.’ In the experiment sellers frequently use signals, increasing prices in some circumstances. However, the signals lose their impact over time, which suggests that price signaling does not lead to new behavioral equilibria.
Instability of flat spacetime in semiclassical gravity

Abstract The semiclassical theory of gravity is considered in which an asymptotically flat background metric is coupled to quantized matter. We show that, in general, there are modes with spacelike wave vectors for small metric fluctuations around flat spacetime. Besides the usual axioms of quantum field theory in flat spacetime, the proof rests on the existence of a hard trace anomaly in the energy-momentum tensor due to matter self-couplings. Two possible interpretations of the result are discussed.
Flexibility of the capital utilization rate in a rational expectations macro model

This paper presents the supply side of a rational expectations macro model with an endogenous capital utilization rate. Price-level surprises affect real variables, including the usage of the flow of capital services, which equals the product of the capital utilization rate and the flow of capital services obtainable by fully utilizing the fixed capital stock. Usage of capital services varies procyclically and more widely than output. Further, with sufficiently inelastic labor supply, capital varies more widely than labor usage, and the real wage and average labor productivity vary procyclically. Also, the real wage can vary less than employment.
Pseudosubstrate inhibition of protein kinase PKR by swine pox virus C8L gene product.

The interferon-induced protein kinase PKR is activated upon binding double-stranded RNA and phosphorylates the translation initiation factor eIF2alpha on Ser-51 to inhibit protein synthesis in virally infected cells. Swinepox virus C8L and vaccinia virus K3L gene products structurally resemble the amino-terminal third of eIF2alpha. We demonstrate that the C8L protein, like the K3L protein, can reverse the toxic effects caused by high level expression of human PKR in yeast cells. In addition, expression of either the K3L or C8L gene product was found to reverse the inhibition of reporter gene translation caused by PKR expression in mammalian cells. The inhibitory function of the K3L and C8L gene products in these assays was found to be critically dependent on residues near the carboxyl-termini of the proteins including a sequence motif shared among eIF2alpha and the C8L and K3L gene products. Thus, despite significant sequence differences both the C8L and K3L proteins function as pseudosubstrate inhibitors of PKR.
Paraoccupational exposure to mixed solvents

AbstractExposure to solvent vapors resulted in a sensory neuropathy and mild encephalopathy in a 44-yr-old female cook. The route of exposure was unusual: a ventilation system cross-connection between her restaurant and an adjacent upholstery shop. Possible “paraoccupational” exposures should be sought in cases of neurologic or other unexplained symptoms possibly caused by toxic substances. The role of solvent mixtures in the genesis of nervous system disorders is reviewed.
Photoenhancement mechanism for oxygen chemisorption on GaAs(110) using visible light

Visible light from an argon ion laser (514.5 nm, 3 W/cm2) is seen to increase oxygen chemisorption on cleaved GaAs(110) surfaces up to a final coverage between one and two monolayers. Using photoemission spectroscopy to measure the oxygen coverage after simultaneous exposure of the surface to oxygen and light, we have determined that oxygen uptake for photoenhanced exposures is independent of sample temperature and doping type. In addition, significantly less enhancement is seen for weakly bound oxidizing molecules (N2O) relative to the effects with molecular oxygen. These results are explained by a photoenhancement mechanism in which energy is released in a surface recombination event, possibly in the form of nonthermal phonons, causing physisorbed gas molecules to dissociate and thereby overcoming a major rate limiting step of the reaction in the dark. This reaction mechanism is supported by calculations of the surface recombination rates and free carrier densities at the surface which show that only the recombination rate is correlated with enhanced oxygen uptake. Other mechanisms and experimental data are also discussed.
Dynamics of noradrenergic circadian input to the chicken pineal gland

Abstract To analyze the dynamics of sympathetic input to the chicken pineal the concentrations of catecholamines, indoleamines and some of their metabolites were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC) in the pineal glands of young chickens killed at different times of day. Rhythmic variations over 24 h were observed in tissue levels of dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), N-acetylserotonin (NAS) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), while norepinephrine (NE) concentrations exhibited no significant change. DA content peaked 2 h after onset of darkness and NAS was detectable only during the night. A bimodal pattern of 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels was observed with peak tissue levels occurring at dawn and dusk. To determine the possible differential effects of light on these biogenic amines, birds were sacrificed at midday, midnight and at midnight following a 1 h exposure to light, and their pineals processed for HPLC-EC. NE, DA and 5-HT levels were similar at midday and midnight, while 5-HIAA and NAS were elevated during the night. Midnight illumination decreased NE and NAS levels, increased 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels and had no effect on DA levels. Temporal variations in NE turnover were determined by pretreating young chickens with α-methyl- p -tyrosine, a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor, and measuring the rates of decline in NE content over 2 h at midday and midnight in birds held on light cycles at mid-subjective day in birds held in constant darkness (DD). NE declined slowly at midday and mid-subjective day but did not decline at all at midnight, indicating NE turnover, release and/or metabolism is highest during the day. Together, these data suggest that the chicken pineal receives circadian input from sympathetic fibers which mediates pineal indole metabolism.
Supreme Court Justices as Human Decision Makers: An Individual-Level Analysis of the Search and Seizure Cases

This paper applies a fact model of decision making to the justices of the United States Supreme Court. The theoretical model assumes that the justices, as human decision makers, are incapable of considering the hundreds of facts that can affect a particular case. Rather, they rely upon a relative handful of cues to guide their decisions. The model is tested using the votes on search and seizure cases by the justices at the center of the Burger Court: White, Stewart, Powell and Stevens. The results show that a significant proportion of the variation in each justice's decisions can be explained by a small number of facts. Finally, it is shown that for these justices and these cases, there is no evidence that judges become more conservative with age.
Evaluations of neonatal nurse practitioners: How accurately do they reflect current practice?

Abstract Today, neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) practice in a variety of settings. Tertiary and secondary nurseries are still the largest employer of NNPs. Follow-up clinics and home care agencies employ NNPs as well. In each of these arenas a performance evaluation is necessary. Standardization of role expectations, agreed-on competencies, and expected outcomes is lacking. Yet NNPs are evaluated each day on a set of criteria that is often institutionally derived. The evolution of the NNP role and the need for standardized evaluation measures are addressed in this report. Strategies for accomplishing this task are presented. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Aesthetics and the Cultural Whole: A Study of Kono Dance Occasions

Aesthetic appreciation has often been investigated only in terms of what is defined as art in a Euro-American sense. This article examines a successful dance occasion among the Kono of eastern Sierra Leone and suggests that appreciation can only be fully understood if analyses take account of the wider cultural framework within which a particular form is produced and used.
Contextual effects of bilingual programs on beginning reading.

This study of 1,338 Spanish-speaking 1st graders examined contextual effects of bilingual programs on reading comprehension and the effect of language of instruction within these contexts. The study included 128 classrooms in 32 schools located in border Texas and in urban Texas and California. These classrooms used either English immersion or Spanish maintenance bilingual programs. Detailed observations of teachers' instructional language were made, sampled within the year. The analyses allowed classroom-level differences to be separated from student-level differences, and for Spanish and English passage comprehension to be considered simultaneously. While mean differences between programs were reduced for English passage comprehension, maintenance programs still outperformed immersion programs in Spanish. Results also indicated large program and locale covariance differences at the classroom level, implying important differences in how these programs operate in these locales.
Miniature On-Board Angle of Attack Measurement System for Hypersonic Facilities

The most prevalent method of establishing model angle of attack (AoA) in hypersonic wind tunnel facilities is using an encoder in the model support system then calculating sting/balance deflections based on balance output. This method has been shown to be less accurate than on-board methods in subsonic and transonic facilities and preliminary indications, as compared to optical methods, show large discrepancies in a hypersonic facility as well. With improvements in Micro-Electro- Mechanical Systems (MEMS) accelerometer technology more accurate onboard AoA measurement systems are now available for the small models usually found in hypersonic research facilities.
Complexation in dense gases: concentrations of argon monomers, dimers and trimers

A classical statistical mechanical cluster formalism is presented for computing the thermodynamic properties and equilibrium state of aggregation of a fluid composed of structureless monomeric units which are capable of forming weakly bound van der Waals complexes. The general procedure is not restricted to any particular definition of the clusters, provided that the definition used satisfies certain reasonable criteria. The formalism is illustrated by applying it to two different cluster definitions. Calculations based on these definitions have been performed for the concentrations of argon monomers, dimers and trimers. It is found that gas imperfections due to cluster-cluster interactions can significantly affect the calculated values of these concentrations.
Low voltage, room temperature, ridge waveguide green-blue diode laser

Ridge waveguide quantum well (QW) diode lasers in the green/blue region have been operated at voltages as low as 7 V in ZnCdSe/ZnSSe/ZnMgSSe pseudomorphic separate confinement heterostructures. These lasers include a p-Zn(Se, Te) graded gap ohmic contact layer to the top metal electrode. Without any attempt at heatsinking, and without reflective facet coatings, these devices have operated at pulsed duty cycles of 20% at room temperature, with average power output of several milliwatts.
New method for determination of surface pKa using second harmonic generation

Abstract A new method to determine the p K a of chemical species at aqueous insulating interfaces is based on the discovery that the interface potential is linearly proportional to the measured second harmonic electric field. The proportionality constant is the effective third-order susceptibility and is the same for all aqueous interfaces studied, which has its origin in the polarization of bulk water induced by the charged form of the acid or base at the interface. We have determined that CH 3 (CH 2 ) 21 NH + 3 at the air/water interface has a p K a of 9.9±0.2 versus 10.6 in bulk water.
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate: A nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor for the treatment of HIV infection

Abstract Background: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (DF) is the first nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor approved for use in combination with other antiretroviral agents in the treatment of HIV-1 infection in the United States. Unlike the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which must undergo 3 intracellular phosphorylation steps for activation, nucleotide analogues such as tenofovir require only 2 such steps. This reduction in the phosphorylation requirement has the potential to produce more rapid and complete conversion of the drug to its pharmacologically active metabolite. Objective: This article describes the pharmacologic properties and potential clinical usefulness of tenofovir DF. Methods: Relevant information was identified through searches of MEDLINE (1996–April 2002), Iowa Drug Information Service (1996–April 2002), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970–April 2002), as well as from meeting abstracts of major HIV/AIDS conferences (1996–2002), using the search terms enofovir, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, PMPA, bis(POC)PMPA, GS-4331-05, acyclic nucleoside phosphonate , and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor . Additional information was obtained from material submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration by the manufacturer of tenofovir DF in support of its New Drug Application. Results: In vitro, tenofovir DF has exhibited anti-HIV activity in various HIV-infected cell lines and has produced a synergistic or additive effect against HIV when combined with other antiretroviral agents. In adult humans, tenofovir has a volume of distribution of 0.813 L/kg, is minimally bound to plasma protein (7.2%), has a plasma elimination half-life of 12.0 to 14.4 hours, and is mainly excreted unchanged in urine (70%–80%). Dose adjustment based on sex or body weight does not appear to be necessary, although dose reduction may be necessary in the elderly; there are currently no data on tenofovir DF in renal or hepatic insufficiency. The results of clinical trials suggest the efficacy of tenofovir DF in reducing plasma levels of HIV-1 RNA when used as an add-on to a stable antiretroviral regimen. The most commonly (⪢3%) reported adverse events in clinical trials have included nausea, diarrhea, asthenia, headache, vomiting, flatulence, abdominal pain, and anorexia. The most commonly (⪢2%) reported laboratory abnormalities (grade III or IV) included increases in creatine kinase, triglycerides, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase, as well as hyperglycemia and glucosuria. Serious adverse events leading to discontinuation of tenofovir DF were infrequent (5%), occurring with an incidence similar to that with placebo (8%). The recommended dosage of tenofovir DF in adults is 300 mg/d PO; pharmacokinetic and efficacy studies in children are ongoing. Conclusion: Although additional studies are needed, tenofovir DF appears to be a promising agent for the treatment of HIV infection.
Petrology and trace element geochemistry of Robert Massif 04261 and 04262 meteorites, the first examples of geochemically enriched lherzolitic shergottites

Abstract Shergottites sampled two distinct geochemical reservoirs on Mars. Basaltic and olivine-phyric shergottites individually sampled both geochemically enriched and depleted reservoirs, whereas lherzolitic shergottites are previously known only to exhibit a relatively limited intermediate geochemical signature that may have resulted from the mixing of the two geochemical end-member reservoirs. Here we show that recently discovered shergottites Robert Massif (RBT) 04261 and RBT 04262 are the first examples of lherzolitic shergottites originating from the enriched reservoir. RBT 04261 and RBT 04262, initially identified as olivine-phyric shergottites, are actually lherzolitic shergottites. Both meteorites exhibit nearly identical textures and mineral compositions, suggesting that they should be paired. Each consists of two distinct textures: poikilitic and non-poikilitic. The poikilitic areas are composed of pyroxene oikocrysts enclosing olivine grains; all pyroxene oikocrysts have pigeonite cores mantled by augite. The non-poikilitic areas are composed of olivine, pyroxene, maskelynite and minor amounts of merrillite, chromite and ilmenite. Olivine and pyroxene show the lowest Mg-number, and maskelynite has the lowest anorthite component among the lherzolitic shergottites. Moreover, the modal abundances of maskelynite in these two meteorites are distinctly higher than the other lherzolitic shergottites. The rare earth element (REE) budgets of RBT 04261 and RBT 04262 are dominated by merrillite. The slightly light rare earth element (LREE)-enriched pattern of this mineral is similar to that of merrillite in the geochemically enriched basaltic shergottites Shergotty and Zagami, and unlike the LREE-depleted pattern of merrillite in the other lherzolitic shergottites. The REE patterns of both high- and low-Ca pyroxenes are also similar to those in Shergotty and Zagami. The REE pattern of a melt calculated to be in equilibrium with the core of a pyroxene oikocryst is parallel to that of the RBT 04262 whole-rock as well as whole-rock compositions of other geochemically enriched basaltic shergottites. These observations imply that RBT 04262 sampled an enriched and oxidized reservoir similar to that sampled by some of the basaltic shergottites and are consistent with an oxidizing condition for the formation of RBT 04262 (log f O 2 = QFM-1.6). The petrographic and geochemical observations presented here suggest that RBT 04261 and RBT 04262 represent the most evolved magma among the lherzolitic shergottites and that this magma originated from a geochemically enriched reservoir on Mars. Based on an evaluation of the relationship between petrographic, geochemical and chronological signatures for shergottites including RBT 04261 and RBT 04262, we propose that both geochemically enriched and depleted shergottites were ejected from the same launch site on Mars.
PROPERTIES OF REDUCED‐FAT COMPOSITES OF SUGAR ALCOHOLS, WHEY ISOLATES AND PECTIN

The effect of replacing 40% of the sugar with sugar alcohols, as well as replacing 50 to 75% of the fat with whey isolates and pectin in sugar/milk fat composites was investigated. Sucrose, sugar alcohols (either sorbitol or lactitol), butter oil, whey isolates and pectins formulated to mimic confectionary products, were converted into syrupy consistencies through an evaporative process. Selected components were mixed (30% solids) and evaporated under vacuum at 60C for 60 min, leading to the formation of syrup composites with ordered structures. Portions of the composites were cooked further for 60 s, in a microwave oven to <18% moisture, producing toffee-like candies of varying consistency. The reduced fat composites after microwave cooking were significantly (P<0.05) softer than the other products. Sugar alcohol substituted syrups were similar to traditional sucrose syrups, but after microwave cooking, sugar alcohol products became significantly (P<0.05) darker.
The dynamics of giant unilamellar vesicle oxidation probed by morphological transitions

We have studied the dynamics of Lissamine Rhodamine B dye sensitization-induced oxidation of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), where the progression of the underlying chemical processes was followed via vesicle membrane area changes. The surface-area-to-volume ratio of our spherical GUVs increased after as little as ten seconds of irradiation. The membrane area expansion was coupled with high amplitude fluctuations not typical of GUVs in isoosmotic conditions. To accurately measure the area of deformed and fluctuating membranes, we utilized a dual-beam optical trap (DBOT) to stretch GUV membranes into a geometrically regular shape. Further oxidation led to vesicle contraction, and the GUVs became tense, with micron-scale pores forming in the bilayer. We analyzed the GUV morphological behaviors as two consecutive rate-limiting steps. We also considered the effects of altering DOPC and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl) (RhDPPE) concentrations. The resulting kinetic model allows us to measure how lipid molecular area changes during oxidation, as well as to determine the rate constants controlling how quickly oxidation products are formed. Controlled membrane oxidation leading to permeabilization is also a potential tool for drug delivery based on engineered photosensitizer-containing lipid vesicles.
Assessing future climate change and energy price scenarios: institutional building investment

As global temperatures may increase due to climate change, so would energy use for building heating and cooling. Additionally, energy prices fluctuate in relation to climate change socio-economic impacts and related policies, which in turn further influence future building operational costs. A new method is presented to consider climate change and future energy price scenarios for institutional building owners to compare investment options for various energy conservation measures related to heating and cooling. Heating and cooling energy use are predicted for office buildings in Boston (Massachusetts) and Phoenix (Arizona) using a range of different climate change and energy price scenarios. The results allow building owners (1) to understand building performance under a spectrum of possible futures, and (2) to determine the associated risk ranges present when choosing between design solutions. For the example buildings, it is shown that a financial payback of 15 years is possible for an advanced retrofit...
Part one: Introduction, bladder cancer, and brain cancer

This is the first of a multi-part series detailing the metastatic spread and natural history of 18 common tumors. The introduction summarizes (1) the concept of symptom/problem anticipation and early identification; (2) the process of cancer metastasis; and (3) the 18 tumors that each cause more than 6,000 deaths per year in the United States. Bladder cancer is discussed, with information included on tumor types, metastatic spread and invasion, and common symptoms. Obstructive uropathy is the oncologic emergency most commonly associated with bladder cancer. Sites of spread, resulting problems, and assessment parameters are presented as a table. Brain cancer (and brain metastasis) is discussed, with information included on tumor types, invasion (the primary means of spread in primary brain cancer), and common symptoms. Increased intracranial pressure and, to a lesser extent, spinal cord compression are the oncologic emergencies most commonly associated with brain cancer. Sites of spread, resulting problems (including site-specific symptoms), and assessment parameters are presented as a table.
Three-dimensional finite element analysis of self-acting foil bearings

Abstract The air bearing thickness and pressure generated when a magnetic tape moves at high speed over a recording head are governed by the coupled equation of motion of the tape and the Reynolds lubrication equation. The steady-state solution to this system of equations is obtained by direct integration using a finite element discretization. Compressibility and slip flow are incorporated into the thin film lubrication equation, and flexural rigidity is retained in the tape motion equation. The model is based on auxiliary dependent variables and uses mixed interpolation involving the four-noded Lagrangian bilinear element and the twelve-noded Adini rectangle. The semidiscrete Galerkin equations are integrated in time using a generalized Newmark method. The head/tape separations for two, fully three-dimensional, recording head geometries are analyzed using the model.
Biomolecular imaging with a C60-SIMS/MALDI dual ion source hybrid mass spectrometer: instrumentation, matrix enhancement, and single cell analysis.

We describe a hybrid MALDI/C60-SIMS Q-TOF mass spectrometer and corresponding sample preparation protocols to image intact biomolecules and their fragments in mammalian spinal cord, individual invertebrate neurons, and cultured neuronal networks. A lateral spatial resolution of 10 μm was demonstrated, with further improvement feasible to 1 μm, sufficient to resolve cell outgrowth and interconnections in neuronal networks. The high mass resolution (>13,000 FWHM) and tandem mass spectrometry capability of this hybrid instrument enabled the confident identification of cellular metabolites. Sublimation of a suitable matrix, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, significantly enhanced the ion signal intensity for intact glycerophospholipid ions from mammalian nervous tissue, facilitating the acquisition of high-quality ion images for low-abundance biomolecules. These results illustrate that the combination of C60-SIMS and MALDI mass spectrometry offers particular benefits for studies that require the imaging of intact biomolecules with high spatial and mass resolution, such as investigations of single cells, subcellular organelles, and communities of cells.
Modeling the sorption kinetics of divalent metal ions to hematite

The sorption kinetics of the divalent metals Zn, Co, Ni, and Cd to hematite were studied in single sorbate systems with high sorbate/sorbent ratios (from 1.67 to 3.33mol sorbate/mol sorption sites) in 10mM Na-piperazine N,N'-bis 2-ethane sulfonic acid (Na-PIPES) solution at pH 6.8. The experimental data showed a rapid initial sorption (half-time about 1min) followed by slower sorption that continued for 1-5 days. The sequence of fast to slow sorption kinetics was modeled by slow inner-sphere (IS) complexation in equilibrium with outer-sphere (OS) complexes. Although the OS reaction was fast and considered to be in equilibrium, the extent of OS complexation changed over time due to increased surface potential from the IS complexes. For example, the model showed that the dimensionless OS complexation function, K(os), decreased from 0.014 initially to 0.0016 at steady state due to sorption of 4x10(-5)M Zn(II) to 2gL(-1) hematite. Sorption rate constants, k(ads), for the various divalent metals ranged from 6.1 to 82.5M(-1)s(-1). Desorption rate constants, k(des), ranged from 5.2x10(-7) to 6.7x10(-5)s(-1). This study suggests that the conversion from OS to IS complex was the rate-determining step for the sorption of divalent metals on crystalline adsorbents.
Homicide and Inequality in “The Murder Capital”

For decades sociologists have hypothesized that inequality in resources is a contributing factor in violent criminality. In this article, this hypothesis is examined in a jurisdiction where homicide rates and apparent inequality have been lamented for decades. Time series analysis is used to analyze data for the period 1960–1996 for Washington, DC. The findings based on a conservative test indicate no relationship, but it is proposed that standard methods of time series analysis appear to “miss” the relationship due to the partialing fallacy. Follow-up analyses consistently result in strong and robust relationships between inequality and homicide.
Parameter Optimization of a Microfabricated Surface Acoustic Wave Sensor for Inert Gas Detection

This work is related to designing, fabricating, and testing a surface acoustic wave sensor to be used for detecting metastable inert gases, particularly helium. The assembly consists of two microsensor configurations: (a) a reference device with no deposition at the delay line and (b) a sensing device with an Au-activated TiO{sub 2} e-beam-deposited thin film on the delay line. The interdigitated transducers and delay lines are fabricated by photolithography techniques on a single Y-cut LiNbO{sub 3} substrate oriented for Z-propagation of the acoustic waves. Variation in electrical conductivity of the Au-activated TiO{sub 2} film due to exposure to metastable He is translated as a frequency change in the assembly. Various characteristics of the surface acoustic microsensor have been studied to better understand and optimize the variation of acoustic wave velocity and the operating frequency of the microdevice. Methods for the TiO{sub 2} thin-film deposition are discussed.
Lean catalytic combustion of alkanes at short contact times

The catalytic combustion of methane, ethane, propane, andn-butane in air over platinum coated ceramic foam monoliths at contact times ranging from 3 to 25 ms and catalyst temperatures between 800 and 1100°C has been examined for compositions leaner than the homogeneous flammability limits. The extinction limits for heterogeneous reaction for these fuels has been determined as a function of preheat temperature up to 700°C in order to simulate the performance of a catalytic combustor or incinerator with exhaust gas preheat. The effect of the superficial velocity on the extinction limits has also been examined. We observe that the extinction composition decreases with increasing preheat temperature and increases with increasing flow rate for all fuels, and the reactivity of the fuels increases with the length of the carbon chain. Methane can be made to react completely as lean as 2.3% in air, while ethane, propane, and butane can be made to react completely as lean as 0.6, 0.4 and 0.2% respectively. For butane we observe only a single steady state for preheat temperatures above 200°C and a bifurcation diagram showing the extinction behavior for this system was constructed.
Coping with jealousy: the association between maladaptive aspects of jealousy and drinking problems is mediated by drinking to cope.

Abstract Previous research has shown that both alcohol use and jealousy are related to negative relationship outcomes. Little work, however, has examined direct associations between alcohol use and jealousy. The current study was aimed to build upon existing research examining alcohol use and jealousy. More specifically, findings from current jealousy literature indicate that jealousy is a multifaceted construct with both maladaptive and adaptive aspects. The current study examined the association between maladaptive and adaptive feelings of jealousy and alcohol-related problems in the context of drinking to cope. Given the relationship between coping motives and alcohol-related problems, our primary interest was in predicting alcohol-related problems, but alcohol consumption was also investigated. Undergraduate students at a large Northwestern university (N = 657) in the US participated in the study. They completed measures of jealousy, drinking to cope, alcohol use, and alcohol-related problems. Analyses examined associations between jealousy subscales, alcohol use, drinking to cope, and drinking problems. Results indicated that drinking to cope mediated the association between some, but not all, aspects of jealousy and problems with alcohol use. In particular, the more negative or maladaptive aspects of jealousy were related to drinking to cope and drinking problems, while the more adaptive aspects were not, suggesting a more complex view of jealousy than previously understood.
An Exploratory Study of Science Educators' Use of the Internet

As is true of all segments of society, science educators' use of the Internet has been increasing. Yet little research is available on the current use of this medium by science educators. This study was conducted with two surveys on two populations. The first, a telephone survey concerning use of the Internet, was administered to a known group of science educators. The second instrument, a revision of the first survey, was administered through the Internet to an unknown population of science educators. Results from the Internet survey showed that time online could be categorized into use of e-mail, bulletin boards, gopher sites, or other uses. In addition, most of the respondents accessed a fee network, rather than a commercial, or fee-paid network. Readers are cautioned that response to the survey was limited, therefore this study does not represent a general statement of science educators' use of the Internet. This study, while it has some limitations, is important in the exploration of Internet use by science educators.
Fathers entering substance abuse treatment: An examination of substance abuse, trauma symptoms and parenting behaviors

Abstract Objective The relationship between fatherhood and both psychiatric distress and severity of substance abuse (SA) among men entering SA treatment has not been well explored. This study was designed to (a) examine differences in symptoms of men presenting for SA assessment based on fatherhood status and (b) determine how posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and severity of SA were associated with parenting for men who were fathers. Methods PTSD symptoms, severity of SA, and parenting data reported on structured questionnaires were collected from 126 men presenting for an SA evaluation at a forensic drug diversion clinic. Results There were no differences in severity of alcohol or drug use between fathers and nonfathers; however, fathers with more PTSD symptoms reported greater severity of alcohol and drug use. Among the fathers, PTSD symptoms correlated significantly and positively with negative parenting behaviors, whereas SA did not. Fathers with more significant PTSD symptoms were more likely to want help with parenting. Conclusions Further exploration of the impact of trauma-related symptoms on the parenting behaviors of substance-abusing men is warranted.
The non-B-DNA structure of d(CA/TG)n does not differ from that of Z-DNA

A number of recent studies have shown that simple repetitive d(CA/TG) dinucleotide sequences adopt a left-handed non-B-DNA structure under negative superhelical stress. The pattern of chemical reactivities and the helical parameters observed for these sequences differ significantly from those of standard Z-DNA. In this study, the data for two naturally occurring d(CA/TG)n sequences are reevaluated by a statistical mechanics treatment of the B- to Z-DNA transition. The behavior of these sequences under negative superhelical stress is accurately simulated by this model, including the multiple and discrete transitions observed for the rat prolactin promoter. Furthermore, the average helical twist for the left-handed structure of d(CA/TG)n deviates < 2% from that expected for standard Z-DNA. Finally, the predicted distribution of the junctions between B- and Z-DNA are shown to account for differences observed in the patterns of chemical reactivity of d(CA/TG)n and d(CG)n. Thus, no new left-handed structure that differs from Z-DNA is needed to describe the supercoil-induced conformation in d(CA/TG)n sequences.
Imaging of the Axillary Subsegment of the Right Upper Lobe

The bronchial supply of the lateral or axillary area of the right upper lobe is variable. In 16 percent of normal subjects, an independent ramus of the posterior right upper lobe bronchus supplies an axillary subsegment. Airspace disease in the axillary subsegment has a characteristic appearance on radiographs. The CT appearance of disease in the axillary subsegment correlates closely with classic anatomic studies. Recognizing that disease is located in the axillary subsegment can help in directing bronchoscopy or biopsy.