cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variation in nesting patterns affecting nest temperatures in two populations of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) with temperature-dependent sex determination

Mechanisms maintaining sex ratios in populations with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) remain elusive. Although geographic variation in embryonic sex determination (i.e., pivotal temperature) has been widely investigated in reptiles exhibiting TSD, no previous studies have directly addressed geographic variation in maternal behavior affecting nest thermal conditions. I evaluated patterns of nest-site selection and its effects on thermal and hydric nest conditions for a population of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii) exhibiting TSD in New Mexico. These results are compared to data collected from a well-studied, conspecific population experiencing relatively cooler climatic conditions in Illinois. Since canopy vegetation cover reduces nest temperatures in Illinois, I expected females in New Mexico to nest under high amounts of canopy vegetation cover. However, females from New Mexico placed nests under significantly less canopy vegetation cover, but closer to standing water, than did females from Illinois. Experimental nests in New Mexico demonstrated that increased canopy vegetation cover and soil moisture reduced nest temperatures. By nesting close to standing water rather than under canopy vegetation cover, females in New Mexico nested in habitats more closely associated with maximizing moisture around nests rather than reducing nest temperatures through shading. Mean July nest temperatures were similar for both populations. Since nest hydric conditions affect hatching success and hatchling size in C. picta, nesting patterns in New Mexico may primarily reflect selection for microhabitats affecting offspring survivorship or size.
Lean-Burn Stationary Natural Gas Reciprocating Engine Operation With a Prototype Fiber Coupled Diode End Pumped Passively Q-Switched Laser Spark Plug

To meet the ignition system needs of large bore lean burn stationary natural gas engines a laser diode side pumped passively Q-switched laser igniter was developed and used to ignite lean mixtures in a single cylinder research engine. The laser design was produced from previous work. The in-cylinder conditions and exhaust emissions produced by the miniaturized laser were compared to that produced by a laboratory scale commercial laser system used in prior engine testing. The miniaturized laser design as well as the combustion and emissions data for both laser systems was compared and discussed. It was determined that the two laser systems produced virtually identical combustion and emissions data.
13C-NMR study of labeled vinyl groups in paramagnetic myoglobin derivatives

Abstract The 13C-NMR spectra of high-spin met-aquo myoglobin, spin-equilibrium met-azido myoglobin, low-spin met-cyano myoglobin, deoxy myoglobin and carbonmonoxy myoglobin from sperm whale reconstituted with hemin 13C enriched at both vinyl α or β positions have been recorded. In all cases the labeled vinyl 13C signals are clearly resolved and useful spectra could be obtained within approx. 15 minutes. The decoupling of multiplet structure due to attached proton(s) has led to the specific assignment of vinyl 13Cα signals in all paramagnetic derivatives and the 13Cβ signals in met-cyano myoglobin. In all other cases, the collapse of the proton multiplet structure as a function of 1H decoupling frequency has located, but not assigned, the attached 1H resonance positions which are obscured by the intense diamagnetic envelope in the 1H-NMR spectrum. The resulting vinyl 13C hyperfine shifts follow Curie behavior, and the patterns closely resemble those in the appropriate model complexes in the same oxidation/spin/ligation state, except that the protein exhibits more in-plane asymmetry. The hyperfine shift patterns are indicative of dominant π contact shifts for all ferric complexes. Deoxy myoglobin vinyl 13C and 1H contact shifts provide little evidence for π bonding.
Immunogenicity of a non-class I MHC expressing murine tumor transfected with the influenza virus hemagglutinin or murine interleukin-2 genes.

The transfection of murine SP1 tumor cells with the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of influenza virus results, after fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS), in the selection of high-HA-expressing cell lines called H4A and H4B. Both lines fail to grow in syngeneic animals at doses that result in 100% tumor take of non-transfected tumor cells. Both grow in immunosuppressed mice. SP1 and H4A or H4B cells express few class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens but do express class II IAk antigens. H4A or H4B cells engender a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response but cannot protect against a challenge with SP1 cells. This CTL response is inhibited by anti-CD4 but not anti-CD8 antibodies. Using FACS, we were able to select a population (called H5AK5) with high class-I MHC antigen expression. Like H4A and H4B, H5AK5 cells fail to grow in syngeneic animals but do grow in immunosuppressed mice. However, unlike H4A or H4B, H5AK5 can induce protection against a challenge with 1 × 105 SP1 cells. These studies indicate that the immunogenicity ofHA-transfected SP1 cells may correlate with the cell-surface expression of class II MHC antigens. However, HA-expressing SP1 cells seem able to induce a protective response against a parent SP1 cell challenge only if they also express class I MHC antigens. This view is supported by the observations that SP1 cells expressing murine interleukin-2 do not express class I MHC antigens, fail to grow in syngeneic animals, do grow in immunosuppressed mice but do not protect against a challenge with parental SP1 cells.
Mechanisms of SMP production in membrane bioreactors: Choosing an appropriate mathematical model structure

Being able to predict the soluble microbial product (SMP) concentration, an important foulant in membrane bioreactors (MBRs), with mathematical models provides the opportunity to use foulant production as an MBR design and optimization parameter. This study examined the ability of three mathematical model structures to describe two distinct mechanisms of SMP production. The production mechanisms evaluated are (1) the erosion or hydrolysis of floc-associated extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and (2) decay of active cells. The models were compared based on their ability to predict SMP concentrations observed in an MBR system during a period of increased SMP and floc-associated EPS production due to increased predation. Predation was an important contributor to overall biomass decay. Short-term batch experiments were also preformed to examine model assumptions related to the (1) production of SMP due to decay of active cells, (2) production of SMP due to erosion of floc-associated EPS, (3) degradability of SMP present in the MBR mixed liquor during increased predation and (4) degradability of eroded floc-associated EPS. Both erosion of floc-associated EPS and decay of active cells were shown to be important independent mechanisms of SMP production. Therefore, a mathematical model used to predict SMP concentrations should provide the ability to capture both mechanisms independently. SMP produced during increased predation were slowly degradable while eroded floc-associated EPS was rapidly degradable. Model results demonstrate that the slowly biodegradable SMP fraction will dominate the bulk phase SMP concentration.
A technique for measuring the effect of economic base on opportunity for blacks.

An assessment of the occupational opportunities for selected groups of in-migrants (i.e., Negroes) requires a technique which controls for effects of both national and local employment patterns. We suggest a measure based upon the location quotient and referred to as the “differential opportunity ratio” as a method which provides the necessary controls. It is applicable in the comparative studies of cities and in analyses of other population groups for which data are available.
Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration Comparison for Apple Juice Clarification

Unpasteurized raw apple juice processed by microfiltration (MF) or ultrafiltration (UF) was evaluated for quality and the methods compared for process efficiency. Juice permeate was analyzed for total solids, soluble solids, color, turbidity, pH and acidity. Apple juice processed by MF was significantly (p < 0.05) darker, more turbid, contained higher total and soluble solids than juice processed with UF, and was preferred by a taste panel. MF processed more permeate per unit time than UF under similar operating conditions with no noticeable difference in power consumption (watt-hr/L).
An Investigation of Alternating Group Dissections in Medical Gross Anatomy

Background: Reduction in contact hours has led to the use of more efficient teaching approaches in medical education, yet the efficacy of such approaches is often not fully investigated. Purpose: This work provides a detailed analysis of alternating group dissections with peer-teaching in Medical Anatomy (MA). Methods: MA I and II percentages of the alternating (ALT) and nonalternating (NALT) groups were compared, scores of ALT subgroups (A and B) were compared, and subgroup performance on practical exam questions was compared. Results: MA I and MA II percentages indicated no significant difference in median scores (pMAI = 0.581, pMAII = 0.223) between ALT and NALT. Subgroup analysis and assessment of question types showed that student performance and ability to identify a structure were not dependent on dissection group assignment. Conclusion: Alternating dissections offered students more unscheduled time for independent learning activities, such as studying or shadowing preceptors, and reduced student-t...
Two-photon fluorescence confocal microscopy with a passively Q-switched Nd:YAG microchip laser

Of increasing interest is miniature and portable instrumentation for non- or minimally-invasive functional microscopy. Two-photon fluorescence confocal microscopy is one optical image modality not yet exploited in this context primarily because of the large physical size of the laser light sources needed to stimulate the two-photon absorption process. As a possible alternative, we report on the successful application of light at 1064 nm from a passively, Q-switched Nd:YAG microchip laser for two-photon fluorescence microscopy of biological samples. The high peak power in a small optomechanical package makes the microchip laser an attractive starting point for development of portable two-photon fluorescence imaging system for medical endoscopy and other remote sensing applications.
Experimental determination and modeling of the heat capacity of coal in various atmospheres

During the development of transferable measurement techniques for the heat capacity of raw coal, it was observed that the atmosphere in sealed sample cells affected the thermal behavior, particularly during the initial measurements. The model which had been used to represent the specific heat of coal did reproduce the results in air but failed to reproduce the deep exotherm of the thermograms obtained in nitrogen. The specific heat of coal has been determined in helium, argon, and carbon monoxide to provide insight into possible modifications to the model. The results of initial and repeat runs in the five different atmospheres and the impact of these results on the modeling are presented and discussed. The agreement between the experimental heat capacity and that predicted by the model, up to 500 K, is excellent and supports Merrick's predictions for the heat capacity of coal.
Intraday reliability of ground reaction force data

Abstract Based upon independent parameter reliability and minimum sample size evaluations, a sample size of 25 trials was identified as necessary to provide accurate ground reaction force (GRF) data describing a subject's running performance. Intraday parameter reliability based on this sample size was approximately 75% indicating that subject variability must be acknowledged when comparing the effects of different running shoes. The minimum differences in GRF parameter values that are biomechanically significant have been estimated at 1 N/kg and 2% for force and relative temporal measures, respectively.
A uniform convergence result for semilinear singular perturbation problems violating the standard stability condition

Abstract Semilinear singularly perturbed boundary value problems are considered in the case when the standard stability condition is not satisfied. Based on the behavior of the analytic solution which exhibits one or two boundary layers of power type, a numerical method is proposed and its second-order accuracy, uniform in the perturbation parameter, is proved. The method uses the classical finite differences on a special nonequidistant discretization mesh. Numerical results are presented for a problem arising in application.
Countering the Isomorphic Study of Isomorphism: Coercive, Mimetic, and Normative Isomorphic Trends in the Training, Supervision, and Industry of Marriage and Family Therapy

This theoretical piece explores the ways in which the study of isomorphism by the marriage and family therapy (MFT) field has taken on a narrow or isomorphic form. It also outlines discussion points for addressing isomorphic structures in clinical supervision from an interdisciplinary perspective. This study examines the MFT field as an industry and draws upon sociological theory to explore three differing types of isomorphic structures in the MFT field: coercive, mimetic, and normative isomorphism. The author outlines his supervisory experience employing the three forms of isomorphic trends during supervision of 65 practicum/field placement students over a seven-year period (2000–2007).
Subsurface detection and characterization of Hertzian cracks in advanced ceramic materials using optical coherence tomography.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an active optical imaging technique that is capable of three-dimensional resolution better than 10 microns in all dimensions. OCT was originally developed as a non-invasive technique in biomedical field. It also found uses in the NDE of various materials including ceramics, plastics and composites. In various ceramics OCT can be used to detect microscopic, subsurface defects at depths approaching hundreds of microns. The depth of penetration depends on the material and on the wavelength of light. Here we demonstrate an application of OCT to the subsurface imaging in various materials and, in particular, to the detection of a surface-penetrating Hertzian crack in a Si3N4 ceramic ball. We present measured subsurface trajectory of the crack and compare it to theoretical predictions. These cracks represent one of the most important failure mechanisms in advanced ceramic materials. The ability to map subsurface trajectories of cracks is a valuable tool in the evaluation of different existing theories. Better theoretical understanding of various properties of crack initiation and propagation can lead to engineering of improved ceramic materials.
"Pulling Teeth and Torture" : Musical Memory and Problem Solving

A concert pianist the second author videotaped herself learning J.S. Bach's Italian Concerto Presto, and commented on the problems she encountered as she practised. Approximately two years later the pianist wrote out the first page of the score from memory. The pianist's verbal reports indicated that in the early sessions she identified and memorised the formal structure of the piece, and in the later sessions she practised using this organisation to retrieve the memory cues that controlled her playing. The practice and recall data supported this account. Both were organised by the formal structure of the music. Practice segments were more likely to start and stop at boundaries of the formal structure than at other locations, and recall was higher for the beginnings of sections than for later portions. Like other forms of expert memory, pianistic memory appears to be based on use of a highly practised retrieval scheme which permits rapid retrieval of information from long-term memory.
Rhodium carbene complexes as hydrosilylation catalysts

The catalytic activity of various rhodium carbene complexes has been investigated. These complexes are active for the hydrosilylation of a wide variety of unsaturated organic molecules such as olefins, acetylenes and dienes. Their activity is comparable to other rhodium(I) complexes previously used as hydrosilylation catalysts. The yield of products is found to vary with catalyst, silane and organic substrate.
Temperature dependence of CO2 solubility in high pressure quenched glasses of diopside composition

Abstract The temperature dependence of carbon dioxide solubility in glasses of diopside composition, quenched from 20 kbar, has been investigated using a combination of high-temperature mass spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy. CO 2 -charged diopside glasses were synthesized in a piston-cylinder apparatus. Because of diffusion of hydrogen through the platinum capsules, significant amounts of H 2 O, CH 4 and CO were detected along with CO: in the diopside glasses. All three carbon species show a bimodal release pattern in the mass pyrograms. The CO 2 solubility shows a linear and negative temperature dependence. We do not observe any maxima in the solubility curve as was reported previously ( Mysen and virgo, 1980a). None of the additional bands observed in Raman spectra of CO 2 -charged diopside glasses compared to those in the spectrum of diopside glass can be assigned to molecular CO 2 . These bands are caused by CO −2 3 ions and indicate that the physical solubility of molecular carbon dioxide is negligible. The bimodal release pattern observed for CO 2 in the mass pyrograms, is consistent with the Raman data which strongly suggests that CO −2 3 ions are present in at least two distinct sites in the glass.
Preservation as Obstacle or Opportunity? Rethinking the Preservation-Access Model in the Age of MPLP

This article documents and challenges the representation of preservation as an obstacle to access by the authors and supporters of MPLP. Until now, the application of MPLP to preservation consists of eliminating routine preservation actions, such as the removal of metal fasteners, and advocating for improving the environmental control of archival storage facilities. Challenging this limited scope, the author advocates that the application of preventive conservation ensures continued and sustainable access to archival collections. Strategies for implementing a preventive conservation program are discussed and the 5 activities that define preventive conservation (environmental control; policies and procedures for handling, use, and maintenance for storage, exhibition, packing, and transport; emergency preparedness and response; integrated pest management; reformatting and duplication) are summarized in the appendix.
Flow-rate dependent capture of circulating tumor cells in bio-functional microchannels

The capture of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in shear flow is studied systematically by driving suspensions of breast cancer cells, with different EpCAM receptor expression levels, through microchannels functionalized with EpCAM antibody ligands at various densities. The dependence of cell capture efficiency on flow rate is established and can be described by an exponential function; a characteristic flow rate immerges as the most dominant parameter affecting the capture efficiency. Utilizing this characteristic flow rate as a scaling factor, all measured capture efficiencies for the tested receptor and ligand densities can be expressed using a single exponential formula. The effect of both ligand and receptor densities on the characteristic flow rate is found to be a product of two independent cumulative distributions.
Amartya K. Sen's Contributions to the Study of Social Welfare

The oeuvre of Amartya K. Sen is very considerable in magnitude, nearly twenty books (with two forthcoming) and about 250 articles, mostly in learned journals but also in the higher level of the popular press, and lectures. It has nevertheless a very considerable degree of unity. It is motivated throughout by concern for the welfare of the individuals in an economy, with special interest in the lower part of the income spectrum; starvation, poverty, and economic development have been the objects of fruitful, important, and socially valuable study and have motivated his basic research into the concepts of individual and social welfare. All of this work is of very high quality and makes important contributions to our understanding and to the formation of policy. But I will isolate for special consideration that large subset which revolves about the conceptual question: what is meant by, "better off socially"? A major portion of his work falls directly into this category. The value of Sen's analysis of social welfare and the conceptual questions relevant to it have now been recognized by the award of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science. Unlike some other work which has been awarded this Prize, especially in economic theory, we cannot do justice to Sen's work in social welfare on the basis of one or two seminal papers, although there have been several such, as I will point out. Rather it is the work as a whole and the way the various parts interplay that must be understood to see the importance of Sen's contribution. His exploration of the notions of social welfare takes place at every level of analysis, formal-mathematical, conceptual, and empirical. It is by far the most comprehensive study of its kind, drawing on profound understanding of both economics and moral philosophy. It is useful to note that he is regarded by philosophers as one of their leading lights, and he has published extensively in philosophical journals. In view of the comprehensive and far-flung nature of his work, it is not surprising that his role has been somewhat different in various specific aspects. In some, indeed, he has opened and defined new fields with strong results. In others, he has perfected and enriched earlier results or contributed along with others. In still others, he has raised new inquiries whose chief value has been the stimulation to others. What is striking is the consistency
Acquaintance Ratings of the Big Five Personality Traits: Incremental Validity Beyond and Interactive Effects With Self-Reports in the Prediction of Workplace Deviance

It is widely established that the Big Five personality traits of conscientiousness, agreeableness, and emotional stability are antecedents to workplace deviance (Berry, Ones, & Sackett, 2007). However, these meta-analytic findings are based on self-reported personality traits. A recent meta-analysis by Oh, Wang, and Mount (2011) identified the value of acquaintance-reported personality in the prediction of job performance. The current investigation extends prior work by comparing the validities of self- and acquaintance-reported personality in the prediction of workplace deviance across 2 studies. We also hypothesized and tested an interactive, value-added integration of self- with acquaintance-reported personality using socioanalytic personality theory (R. T. Hogan, 1991). Both studies assessed self- and acquaintance-rated Big Five traits, along with supervisor-rated workplace deviance. However, the studies varied the measures of workplace deviance, and the 2nd study also included a self-rated workplace deviance criterion for additional comparison. Across both studies, the traits of conscientiousness and agreeableness were strong predictors of workplace deviance, and acquaintance-reported personality provided incremental validity beyond self-reports. Additionally, acquaintance-reported conscientiousness and agreeableness moderated the prediction of workplace deviance by interacting with the corresponding self-reported traits. Implications for personality theory and measurement are discussed along with applications for practice.
Government Information Collections and Services in the Social Sciences: The Subject Specialist Integration Model.

Abstract Use of government information by social sciences researchers has not increased since the 1980's. This article argues that academic libraries must begin to focus less on government organization and function and begin to collect government information and offer reference and instruction services within the context of disciplines. Subject librarians are better positioned to develop collections and provide reference and instruction services within today's academic library. This change in focus—from governments to disciplines—holds greater promise for increasing the use of government information by social sciences researchers.
Inhibition by puromycin of amino acid transport by embryonic chick bone

Abstract 1. 1. Puromycin (0.01 mM) inhibits the accumulative transport of α-aminoisobutyric acid, cycloleucine, leucine, and proline by embryonic chick bone. 2. 2. This inhibition is reversible if the inhibited bones are transferred to a medium without puromycin. 3. 3. Although inhibition by puromycin of amino acid incorporation is immediate, the inhibition of transport is only expressed after a 1–2-h delay. The reversal of inhibition is also delayed.
Central integration of muscle reflex and arterial baroreflex in midbrain periaqueductal gray: roles of GABA and NO

It has been suggested that the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a neural integrating site for the interaction between the muscle pressor reflex and the arterial baroreceptor reflex. The underl...
A role-based administration model for attributes

Attribute based access control (ABAC) provides flexibility and scalability for securely managing access to resources, particularly in distributed environments. In ABAC, access requests are authorized through policies evaluated with respect to attributes of various entities such as users, subjects, objects, context, etc. Administration of user attributes is one of the major issues in ABAC. However, there has been little research in this area. This paper proposes a framework to administer user attributes using role based access control (RBAC). Our motivation is that RBAC has demonstrated advantages in ease of administration and is widely deployed in the industry. Thus, an appealing possibility is to use RBAC to manage user attributes. In this paper we propose a generalized version of the user role assignment model in the ARBAC97 administrative role based access control model. The generalized version treats role as just one possible attribute of the user. The paper explores the model's advantages and limitations and provides guidance for future development of more comprehensive user attribute administrative models.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Human Papillomavirus Awareness and Vaccination among Young Adult Women

ABSTRACT Objective: To examine racial and ethnic disparities in human papillomavirus (HPV) awareness and vaccination among young adult females aged 18–24 years. Design and Sample: Descriptive correlational study. One thousand nineteen women aged 18–24 years who self-identified as Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, or non-Hispanic White. Measures: Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses using data from the 2007–2008 National Survey of Family Growth. Results: Approximately 90% of non-Hispanic White women, 80% of non-Hispanic Black women, and 56–60% of Hispanic women reported an awareness of HPV infection and vaccination, and yet, vaccine receipt across racial and ethnic groups was 23%, 8%, and 6%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black women were less aware than non-Hispanic White women of HPV infection (OR=0.10, 95% CI=0.05, 0.19; OR=0.23, 95% CI=0.13, 0.40) and vaccination (OR=0.13, 95% CI=0.07, 0.27; OR=0.27, 95% CI=0.14, 0.52) and also less likely to report vaccine receipt (OR=0.44, 95% CI=0.21, 0.90; OR=0.16, 95% CI=0.07, 0.35). Conclusions: Despite moderate to high levels of awareness, HPV vaccination rates were low among this national population of young adult women. Continued surveillance is imperative to monitor vaccine uptake, including racial and ethnic disparities. Further research exploring HPV knowledge and vaccination barriers across diverse cultural groups is needed to inform the development of more effective public health interventions.
Multilag Singular Value Decomposition Analysis of ENSO Convection with Tropical Stratospheric Temperature

Abstract Multilag singular value decomposition (MLSVD) analysis is developed and applied to diagnosing the impact of interannual variations of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) on tropical stratospheric temperature changes. MLSVD is designed to analyze simultaneously variations at multiple levels and for a large number of temporal lags and leads. The two dominant MLSVDs are strongly related to El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The associated patterns of tropical OLR are similar to the canonical ENSO SST patterns with strong negative sign regions stretching along the equator in the eastern and central Pacific. These dominant modes are strongly linked to temperature perturbations at a wide range of lags. At the lowest analyzed level (200 hPa) and zero lag positive temperatures anomalies are in the region of low OLR. In the lower stratosphere near 100 hPa, strong negative temperature perturbations replace the positive values of the lowest level. Higher in the stratosphere near 20 hPa, equatorial temperatu...
On the performance of using Covert Timing Channels for node authentication

Authentication over a network is an important and difficult problem. Accurately determining the authenticity of a node or user is critical in maintaining the security of a network. Our proposed technique covertly embeds a watermark, or identifying tag, within a data stream. By implementing this model on a LAN, WLAN, and VPN connection we show that this method is easily adaptable to a variety of networking technologies, and easily scalable. While our technique increases the time required for data to be transferred, we show that the throughput of the link during the brief authentication window is decreased by no more than 8 percent in a switched LAN, 11 percent in a WLAN, and 9 percent in a VPN. During our empirical analysis we were able to detect the watermark with 100 percent accuracy in a LAN, WLAN, and VPN environment. We also investigate the detectability of the covert channel, and show that this method produces a relatively stealthy covert channel. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of early body shape for epidemiological research in absence of objective measurements

Introduction Developing countries are undergoing epidemiological transitions with increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD). The role of early life exposure in the aetiology of many NCD9s particularly the role of body shape and size for given age is increasingly appreciated. However, many environments in resource-limited settings lack early life records of birth and growth so it is not possible to correlate early life characteristics with risk of disease in these populations. Our study evaluated the use of body images as an estimator of body size and characteristics. Method 1058 workers at a government office in Nigeria were enrolled in a study of body size, dietary energy intake, physical activity and anthropometric characteristics. Results The mean age (SD) of participants was 41.5 (9.3) years and mean BMI (SD) was 27.0 (4.9), mean waist (SD) =75.4 (26.8) cm, mean hip circumference (SD) =86.7 (33.1) cm, mean waist hip ratio (WHR) =0.88 (0.10) and mean weight (SD) =74.6 (14.2) kg. There was strong correlation between the interviewee perception of their current body type and that of the interviewer (r=0.73, p Conclusions Our results suggest that participants perception of body image correlate well with BMI and can be used in epidemiological studies where availability of objective measures are limited.
Disparate effects of relaxin and TGFβ1: relaxin increases, but TGFβ1 inhibits, the relaxin receptor and the production of IGFBP‐1 in human endometrial stromal/decidual cells

Background The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of progestin, relaxin (RLX) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) on the content of relaxin receptor (LGR7) mRNA. The effect of RLX on insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) production was determined to evaluate the biological function of RLX/receptor in human endometrial cells. Methods and results The levels of LGR7 mRNA and the effect of hormones were determined by real-time PCR in endometrial cells. LGR7 mRNA was found to be relatively abundant in endometrial glands and decidual cells and much less in endometrial stromal cells. In stromal cells, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), or MPA plus RLX, significantly increased the LGR7 mRNA and RLX alone had little effect. In decidual cells, RLX increased LGR7 mRNA in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. TGFbeta1 reduced the LGR7 mRNA. In stromal cells, MPA alone caused a slight increase (2-4-fold) of the production rate of IGFBP-1 whereas MPA plus RLX synergistically increased (>40-fold) the IGFBP-1 production. In decidual cells in which the basal production rate was already approximately 50-fold higher than in stromal cells, RLX alone caused an additional increase (>30-fold) on the production rate. TGFbeta1 inhibited the IGFBP-1 production. Conclusion The present study showed that in undifferentiated endometrial stromal cells, progestin increases the RLX receptor content to enhance the effect of RLX on the target gene (IGFBP-1). In decidual cells, RLX alone up-regulates its receptor, resulting in a large scale induction of IGFBP-1. TGFbeta1 has an inhibitory effect on LGR7 and IGFBP-1.
MEMS technology for the fabrication of RF magnetic components

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology can be utilized for the fabrication of magnetic structures in multiple frequency ranges, ranging from low-megahertz metal-core devices for dc-dc converters to high-frequency dielectric or air core devices for RF application. These devices can also be fabricated in multiple locations: integral with silicon chips, in the interconnect layer between chip and board, and directly on the printed wiring board, in order to yield ultracompact magnetic microsystems. This paper describes examples of each of these fabrication approaches: high-frequency dielectric-core inductors for CMOS power amplifiers integrated on-chip, high-frequency air-core inductors fabricated within the interconnect layer between chip and board, and low-frequency metal-core inductors for dc-dc power conversion.
A Lagrangian Particle Dynamics Approach for Crowd Flow Segmentation and Stability Analysis

This paper proposes a framework in which Lagrangian particle dynamics is used for the segmentation of high density crowd flows and detection of flow instabilities. For this purpose, a flow field generated by a moving crowd is treated as an aperiodic dynamical system. A grid of particles is overlaid on the flow field, and is advected using a numerical integration scheme. The evolution of particles through the flow is tracked using a flow map, whose spatial gradients are subsequently used to setup a Cauchy Green deformation tensor for quantifying the amount by which the neighboring particles have diverged over the length of the integration. The maximum eigenvalue of the tensor is used to construct a finite time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) field, which reveals the Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) present in the underlying flow. The LCS divide flow into regions of qualitatively different dynamics and are used to locate boundaries of the flow segments in a normalized cuts framework. Any change in the number of flow segments over time is regarded as an instability, which is detected by establishing correspondences between flow segments over time. The experiments are conducted on a challenging set of videos taken from Google Video and a National Geographic documentary.
Cleaning up That Mess: A Framework for Classifying Educational Apps.

As tablet technologies continue to evolve, the emergence of educational applications (apps) is impacting the work of teacher educators. Beyond online lists of best apps for education and recommendations from colleagues, teacher educators have few resources available to support their teaching of how to select educational apps. In response, this article puts forward a framework for choosing educational apps based on their purpose, content, and value. The framework first classifies educational apps into four categories before delineating them into smaller subcategories. A sample of apps that are representative to each category and subcategory are included. This framework provides teacher educators with a much-needed resource to support their instruction of educational apps.
Diffusion-weighted MR in hypoglycemic coma

Sequelae following hypoglycemic coma are rare, dependent on the severity and duration of hypoglycemia, and include profound memory loss, persistent vegetative state, and death in 2 to 4% of cases. MRI reports are limited and characterized by lesions that involve cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and basal ganglia.1-3⇓⇓ Diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) detects change in water diffusion with cellular dysfunction and primarily identifies early ischemic changes in stroke.4 We here report DWI in association with hypoglycemic coma and consider its prognostic importance. A 53-year-old man with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and HIV infection was taken to the Hartford Hospital emergency department after being found unresponsive at home. A friend found the patient “sleeping” and gave him his morning insulin dose; when he failed to awaken after several hours, emergency medical services was called. On arrival they found the patient unresponsive with pinpoint pupils, shallow respirations, and hypotension. Blood glucose was 23 mg/dL and the patient was given 1 mg of glucagon and 1.4 mg of naloxone hydrochloride IM without improvement. Medical …
Practical Disk Diffusion Test for Detecting Group B Streptococcus with Reduced Penicillin Susceptibility

Although group B streptococcus (GBS) has been considered to be uniformly susceptible to β-lactams, the presence of GBS with reduced penicillin susceptibility (PRGBS) was recently confirmed genetically. We developed a feasible and reliable method for screening PRGBS in clinical microbiology laboratories using a combination of ceftibuten, oxacillin, and ceftizoxime disks.
ANTIBODY TO CULTURED HUMAN INSULINOMA CELLS IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES

Circulating antibodies to live tissue-cultured human-insulinoma cells were identified in 34 out of 39 insulin-dependent diabetic patients by an indirect immunofluorescent technique. The antibodies were unrelated to insulin therapy since 8 of 9 sera obtained before insulin-replacement treatment were antibody positive and the test results were not influenced by prior addition of porcine insulin to sera. The antibodies were of the IgM and IgG classes. The findings suggest that autoimmune mechanisms are important in the pathogenesis of most cases of insulin-requiring diabetes.
Possible association of embryonal antigen(s) with several primary 3-methylcholanthrene-induced murine sarcomas.

Lymph-node cells from pregnant BALB/c mice multiparous by BALB/c males, as compared to lymph-node cells from age-matched virgin female BALB/c mice, inhibit the in vitro colony formation of several lines of primary syngeneic strain female 3-methyl-cholanthrene-induced murine sarcomas. Colony formation of normal female BALB/c or female BALB/c x C3H fibroblastic cells is not similarly inhibited.
Corrin ring-induced redox tuning

The density functional calculations suggest that the expansion of the corrin macrocycle's N(4) core by 0.06-0.10 A leads to an appreciable lowering of 100-150 mV vs. saturated calomel electrode in the reduction potentials of two biologically important B(12) cofactors namely methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin respectively. This redox tuning of B(12) cofactors may encourage the electron transfer-based activation mechanism for B(12)-dependent enzymes.
The Prudent Village: Risk Pooling Institutions in Medieval English Agriculture

The prudent peasant mitigated the risk of crop failures by scattering his arable land throughout his village, Deirdre McCloskey argued, because alternative risksharing institutions did not exist. But, alternatives did exist, this essay concludes. Medieval English peasants formed two types of farmers' cooperatives. Fraternities protected members from the perils of everyday life. Customary poor laws redistributed resources towards villagers beset by bad luck. In both institutions, the expectation of reciprocation motivated farmers with surpluses to aid neighbors with shortages. Deirdre McCloskey's theory of the prudent peasant has three tenets.1 Scattering farm fields reduced the variance of crop yields and thus the risk of starvation. Scattering farm fields reduced average crop yields and thus peasants' incomes. Scattering farm fields was the only way in which medieval English peasants mitigated risk. Translating the tenets into terms of portfolio theory forms the foundation of McCloskey's model. The risk to each farmer as measured by the variance of total output was reduced by diversifying holdings among many small plots facing different weather, weed, water, rodent, insect, and soil conditions. If one plot did poorly and another did well, a farmer could still harvest enough grain to survive from all of his plots put together. However, diversification was expensive. Scattered holdings yielded 10 percent less grain than their consolidated counterparts. So, scattering entailed an exchange of return for risk. The prudent peasant chose to scatter his farm fields to protect himself and his family from idiosyncratic agricultural shocks because better alternatives did not exist. Peasants had no better
Paravirtualization for Scientific Computing: Performance Analysis and Prediction

Resource virtualization technologies have recently increased in popularity. The emergence of cloud computing, which requires provisioning isolated environments on shared resources, is one reason for this. Virtualization adds flexibility in terms of resource provisioning, but it can impact application performance. In this work, we analyze the performance of medical image processing and computational fluid dynamics applications when run on virtualized resources. We then apply the observed performance characteristics to a performance prediction model. We measure the impact of virtualization by performing several benchmarks on virtualized and non-virtualized resources. We evaluate the accuracy of the performance prediction model in this environment. We find that virtualization can slow down some applications by more than 200%, but usually the performance impact is below 15%. The overhead itself is predictable if general application characteristics are known. Execution time in a virtual environment can be predicted to within 13% using a simple mathematical prediction model.
The Gaseous Environment of the Chick Embryo in Relation to Its Development and Hatchability: 5. Effect of Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen Levels during the Terminal Days of Incubation

Abstract TESTING an assumption that the developing chick embryo may have different requirements at different stages of incubation, four previous reports of this series (Taylor et al., 1956; Taylor and Kreutziger, 1965; 1966; 1969) have demonstrated a progressive increase in tolerance to higher levels of CO2 to the end of the 16th day of incubation. A fluctuating response to high O2 levels was observed. An early tolerance was followed by a decreased resistance, then by a reversal of trend toward a very high resistance in the 13-16 day period. Responses to low O 2 levels were within a very narrow range and without a significant trend. The final days of incubation are normally characterized by the highest levels of mortality of chick embryos. The present report involves results of various gassing levels for the two 4-day periods of 17-20 and 18-21 days respectively. During these days the chick embryo undergoes critical…
Educating Managers From an Evidence-Based Perspective

Evidence-based management (EBM) means managerial decisions and organizational practices informed by the best available scientific evidence. In this essay we describe the core features of educational processes promoting EBM. These include mastering behavioral principles where the science is clear and developing procedural knowledge based on practice, feedback, and reflection. We also identify key factors in organizational research, education, and management practice that inhibit EBM’s use and ways these can be overcome.
Spectral resolution of states relevant to photoinduced charge transfer in modified pentacene/ZnO field-effect transistors

Pentacene field-effect transistors incorporating ZnO quantum dots can be used as a sensitive probe of the optical properties of a buried donor-acceptor interface. Photoinduced charge transfer between pentacene and ZnO in these devices varies with incident photon energy and reveals which energies will contribute most to charge transfer in other structures. A subsequent slow return to the dark state following the end of illumination arises from near-interface traps. Charge transfer has a sharp onset at 1.7 eV and peaks at 1.82 and 2.1 eV due to transitions associated with excitons, features absent in pentacene FETs without ZnO.
A Viterbi decoder for the SCAMP terminal

The author describes the design and performance of the Viterbi decoder used in the ASCAMP (Advanced Single-Channel Anti-jam Man Portable) terminal. The subject is introduced by giving some background information on the terminal itself. This is followed by a discussion of the system constraints as seen from the decoder's perspective. The desired decoder operation and the resultant hardware are discussed, and the author concludes with a description of the test setup and the measured error rates. >
Longing, radicalism, sentimentality: reflections on Breyten Breytenbach's a season in paradise

A Season in Paradse' is an account of a three-month visit that Breyten Breytenbach, the celebrated Afrikaans writer and painter living in exile in Paris, made to South Africa with his French-born Vietnamese wife, Yolande, in 1972-73. Breytenbach had left South Africa in 1959, not as an exile, but as a young, would-be artist, eager to test himself and make his mark in Europe. In 1961 he settled in Paris, and later that year he married Yolande. The effect of this marriage, as Andre Brink has recorded, was to transform Breytenbach's 'sojourn in Europe into permanent exile.'2 As a Vietnamese, Yolande was officially classed as 'non-white' under South African law, and this rendered her marriage to Breytenbach in contravention of the provisions of the Mixed Marriages Act, which prohibits marriage 'across the color line'. Yolande was persona non grata in South Africa, and this meant that, assuming he stayed married to her, Breytenbach could no longer look forward to returning to South Africa to live. To all intents and purposes, he had become a permanent exile. Strange though it may seem, it appears that when he married Yolande, Breytenbach was ignorant of the implications of the marriage under South African law. In 1964, Breytenbach was awarded the Afrikaanse Pers Beperk (Afrikaans Press Corporation) prize for his first two publications, a book of poems called Die ysterkoei moet sweet, and a collection of short stories, Katastrofes. 3 He was eager to return to South Africa to receive this award in person, but the authorities denied Yolande a visa to accompany him. The denial evidently took Breytenbach by surprise.4
Looking backwards and living forwards: the EMU and the history of monetary unions in Western Europe

European monetary history prior to 1950 presents many attempts at international monetary coordination, but none were as bold and as far reaching as the European Monetary Union envisioned in the Delors Report of 1989 and enacted through the 1991 Treaty on the European Union in Maastricht. This paper looks backwards to past monetary unions in Western Europe and the transition of the international reserve currency from the Pound Sterling to the US Dollar to understand better the implications of the first decade of the Euro and to extend this understanding forwards to Europe and beyond.