cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Federalism, Fiscal Authority, and Centralization in Latin America

This book explores the politics of fiscal authority, focusing on the centralization of taxation in Latin America during the twentieth century. The book studies this issue in great detail for the case of Mexico. The political (and fiscal) fragmentation associated with civil war at the beginning of the century was eventually transformed into a highly centralized regime. The analysis shows that fiscal centralization can best be studied as the consequence of a bargain struck between self-interested regional and national politicians. Fiscal centralization was more extreme in Mexico than in most other places in the world, but the challenges and problems tackled by Mexican politicians were not unique. The book thus analyzes fiscal centralization and the origins of intergovernmental financial transfers in the other Latin American federal regimes, Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela. The analysis sheds light on the factors that explain the consolidation of tax authority in developing countries.
Maturation of the head of bacteriophage T4. III. DNA packaging into preformed heads.

Abstract An estimate was made of the amount of DNA packaged into gene 49 -defective heads when P49 is activated by a temperature shift. The uptake of DNA into preformed heads following activation of P49 was studied using bromo-deoxyuridine as a label. The rate of inactivation by visible light of the phage matured in the presence of BrdU as well as their buoyant density in CsCl, indicate that over half of the particles package, on the average, at least 25% of the DNA complement following P49 activation. This is a minimum estimate, since the BrdU-labeled DNA has to compete with unlabeled DNA. Analysis on alkaline sucrose gradients of the size of the DNA extracted from phage matured in the presence of BrdU following irradiation reveals that extended irradiation at 313 nm breaks the DNA close to half of its original size. These experiments clearly show that up to half of the DNA can be packaged into the preformed heads made at high temperature following activation of the product of gene 49 (P49), strongly supporting the pathway for phage head maturation described by Laemmli & Favre (1973). The so-called τ-particles, which accumulate in 24-defective cells, can serve as precursors of the mature phage (Bijlenga et al ., 1973). We have measured the uptake of BrdU-labeled DNA into τ-particles during their maturation. We find that a very large proportion of DNA made after activation of P24 is apparently incorporated into preformed τ-particles as these particles are converted into mature heads. This indicates that the τ-particles contain very little or no DNA prior to P24 activation and supports the pathway described by Laemmli & Favre (1973).
Twenty Years of Trials, Tribulations, and Research Progress in Bioethanol Technology

The projected cost of ethanol production from cellulosic biomass has been reduced by almost a factor of four over the last 20 yr. Thus, it is now competitive for blending with gasoline, and several companies are working to build the first plants. However, technology development faced challenges at all levels. Because the benefits of bioethanol were not well understood, it was imperative to clarify and differentiate its attributes. Process engineering was invaluable in focusing on promising opportunities for improvements, particularly in light of budget reductions, and in tracking progress toward a competitive goal. Now it is vital for one or more commercial projects to be successful, and improving our understanding of process fundamentals will reduce the time and costs for commercialization. Additionally, the cost of bioethanol must be cut further to be competitive as a pure fuel in the open market, and aggressive technology advances are required to meet this target.
Development Of An Award Winning Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program: A Case Study

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, sponsored by the IRS, offers free tax services for individuals with low-to-moderate incomes, the elderly, disabled and/or those who lack English language proficiency. Although established by the IRS in 1969, it is administered by partnering community based volunteer organizations throughout U.S., like universities, schools, religious groups, credit unions or other non-profit organizations. Many VITA sites are sponsored and run by universities through their Accounting departments. The 2012 Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council Public Report indicated that in 2010 only 3% of qualifying tax returns were prepared at VITA sites, with 62% of qualifying returns being prepared by paid preparers (IRS, 2012, p.51). In addition, there are still a large number of individuals who fail to file returns at all often leaving potential tax refunds and credits unclaimed (Lim, DeJohn and Murray, 2012). The purpose of this paper is to share the best practices used at our university to create an award winning VITA program. The specific topics to be addressed are location, layout, operating hours, staffing & training, process, promotion, electronic filing, other services and things to avoid. These topics are not only what we believe to be the most important in running a successful VITA site but the American Taxation Association 2007 Best Practices Report lists these same topics as well (ATA, 2007). We will conclude the paper with a discussion of our plans for the future growth of the program.
Electrical and hemodynamic function produced by stimulation of atropine sensitive right ventricular nerves in humans

In mammalian ventricles including humans, it is recognized that parasympathetic ganglia innervate the heart. Little is known about the location and function of right ventricular parasympathetic nerves in humans. We hypothesized that in humans: (1) there are parasympathetic ganglia that supply the right ventricle that can be stimulated via an endocardial catheter and (2) stimulation of these fibers will alter the electrical and hemodynamic function of the right ventricle. Parasympathetic nerve stimulation was performed via an endocardial catheter placed along several sites of the right ventricle, superior vena cava, and right internal jugular area in humans. The spatial extent of parasympathetic innervation was mapped in 1-cm zones across the right ventricle. Cardiac output, heart rate, and atrioventricular conduction were monitored to provide independent assessment of parasympathetic innervation. In all 22 patients, ventricular refractoriness shortened from 12 ± 3 to 3 ± 1 ms during parasympathetic nerve stimulation, and the greatest shortening of refractoriness was observed at the base of the right ventricle (p = 0.01). No significant shortening in ventricular refractoriness occurred in areas beyond 2 cm from the right ventricular base. These results were compared by using T table test. The parasympathetic nerve stimulation protocol decreased cardiac output, reaffirming the principle effect of parasympathetic ganglia. Atropine was administered in seven patients. All effects from nerve stimulation were abolished after atropine administration. These results were also compared by using T table test. These data provide the first demonstration of the electrical and hemodynamic function by stimulation of atropine sensitive nerves of the human right ventricle. Greater understanding of parasympathetic innervation may lead to novel therapies for arrhythmias.
The process of rational-emotive therapy

This paper describes the process of rational-emotive psychotherapy. Not a “how to do it” cookbook, it distinguishes RET as following four overlapping stages, called rational-emotive psychodiagnosis, rational-emotive insight, and rational-emotive working through I and II. The reader is encouraged to use this model of RET's process to understand what is done in RET and why.
Daylighting simulation in the DOE-2 building energy analysis program

Abstract A daylighting calculation has been intergrated grated into the DOE-2 building energy analysis computer program. Users can, for the first time in a widely-accepted, publicly-available program, determine the impact of daylight utilization on heating and cooling loads, energy use, energy cost, and peak electrical demand. We describe the algorithms which simulate hourly-varying interior illuminance, management of windows for sun and glare control, and the operation of electric lighting control systems. Sample DOE-2 daylighting output reports are presented and results of program validation against scale model illuminance measurements using the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory sky simulator are discussed.
The source of unusually low surface salinities in the gulf stream off Georgia

Abstract In September 1973, surface water salinities of the Gulf off Georgia were observed to be anomalously low. Salinity values of 35·5 to 36·4%0 are typical of thir area but values as low as 34.5%0 were observed. A conservative estimate of the onbserved volume flux of freshwater in the Gulf Stream was 1·2 km3 day−1. A possible source is runoff from the southeast United States; however, the total runoff flux is ca. 0·1 k;m3 day−1, which is not sufficient to supply the oberved flux. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the low water is of Mississippi River origin. This argument is further strengthened by observations of northern extension of the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current and Low salinity water is the Straits of Florida.
Synthesis and cellular studies of an octa-anionic 5,10,15,20-tetra[3,5-(nido-carboranylmethyl)phenyl]porphyrin (H(2)OCP) for application in BNCT.

Abstract The total synthesis of 5,10,15,20-tetra[3,5-(carboranylmethyl)phenyl]porphyrins 2–5 containing 36–43% boron by weight are reported. All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods and, in the case of 2, by X-ray crystallography. The water-soluble nido-carboranylporphyrin 5 (H2OCP) was found to have low dark toxicity toward V79 lung fibroblasts (CS50 ⩾ 250 μM), to be readily taken up by human glioblastoma T98G cells in culture and to localize subcellularly preferentially in the cell lysosomes. In comparison with a known tetra(nido-carboranyl)porphyrin (6), H2OCP (5) is taken up slower and to a lower extent by T98G cells, possibly as a result of its higher hydrophilic character. The metal-free H2OCP (5) was also found to accumulate to a higher extent in T98G cells compared with its zinc(II) complex analog 4. Our studies show that carboranylporphyrins bearing eight nido-carborane cages can still accumulate intracellularly and have low dark toxicity toward cells in culture, and therefore might have promise for application in BNCT.
REGULARIZED ITERATIVE IMAGE RESTORATION BASED ON AN ITERATIVELY UPDATED CONVEX SMOOTHING FUNCTIONAL

The determination of the regularization parameter is an important issue in regularized image restoration, since it controls the trade-off between fidelity to the data and smoothness of the solution. A number of approaches have been developed in determining this parameter. In this paper, we propose the use of a regularization functional instead of a constant regularization parameter. The properties such a regularization functional should satisfy are investigated, and two specific forms of it are proposed. An iterative algorithm is proposed for obtaining a restored image. The regularization functional is defined in terms of the restored image at each iteration step, therefore allowing for the simultaneous determination of its value and the restoration of the degraded image. Both proposed iteration adaptive regularization functionals are shown to result in a smoothing functional with a global minimum, so that its iterative optimization does not depend on the initial conditions. The convergence of the algorithm is established and experimental results are shown.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
COMPARISON OF FINITE ELEMENT NON-LINEAR BEAM RANDOM RESPONSE WITH EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

A finite element formulation combined with the equivalent linearization technique and normal mode method is developed for the non-linear random response of beams subjected to acoustic and thermal loads applied simultaneously. To validate the present formulation and solution procedure, results are compared with the classical continuum solution and the Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov equation solution. Comparison is also made with experimental data for a pre-stretched clamped beam. Random responses of thermally buckled simply supported beam, clamped beam and simply supported-clamped beam are presented. The comparison of the present simultaneously loaded response with the existing sequentially loaded results shows a significant difference between them.
Gas-phase bovine ubiquitin cation conformations resolved by gas-phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange rate and extent

Abstract The gas-phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange of [M + n H] n + ( n = 5–13) ions of bovine ubiquitin with the H/D exchange reagent D 2 O are examined by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry. All of the odd or all of the even charge states were isolated by stored waveform inverse Fourier transform excitation and simultaneously reacted with D 2 O leaked steadily into the ICR cell for reaction periods ranging from 1 s to 1 h. Different gas-phase protein conformations could be resolved according to difference in extent of H/D exchange. The 5+ and 6+ charge states display broad distributions of conformations ranging from 0–80% deuterium incorporation. In contrast, each of the higher charge states, 7–11+ and 13+, displays a single major isotopic distribution, whereas the 12+ charge state separates into two isotopic distributions of comparable abundance. In general, H/D exchange rates decrease with increasing charge state. External electrospray ionization source conditions (capillary current and external accumulation period) were varied while observing the conformational distribution of the 7+ charge state: increased heating in either region reduced the number of slow-exchanging conformations. At 9.4 T, it is possible to trap a large number of ions for a long reaction period (up to 1 h) at relatively high pressure (2 × 10 −7 Torr). These results demonstrate the capability of FT-ICR mass analysis following gaseous H/D exchange of electrosprayed proteins to disperse different gas-phase protein conformations for subsequent isolation and characterization.
The Socializing of Personal Constructions

This response contains a resubmission of the claim that the social processes involved in these cross-comments exemplify the major tenet of the principal essay: personal constructs stand as a central strand of the context surrounding interactions wherein actors carry on the psychological work of evolving social constructions. Responding-from their personal construct systems, Burkitt (1996) and Wortham (1996) reiterate the invalidity of the use of constructs suggesting individualism, descry the putative limited view of context found in the theoretical formulations offered in the principal essay (Mancuso, 1996), and repeat the social constructionist's objections to the use of cognitivist formulations. This response to their comments attempts to focus on and to elaborate those propositions in the principal essay that were aimed at obviating the points which they raise.
Altering Fate: Why the Past Does Not Predict the Future

Chance and Necessity .Three Fixed Ideas.Traditional Models of Change. Development in Context. Progress and the Metaphor of Development. Behavior Serves Many Masters. Newton, Einstein, Piaget, and the Self. Consciousness and Being. Adaptation and the Nature of Social Life. Time, Sudden Change, and Catastrophe. Cure or Care.
Simulation of High-Voltage Injection-Enhanced 4H-SiC N-Channel IGBTs with Forward Drop Approaching that of a PiN Junction Rectifier

For SiC devices capable of blocking very high voltages (>4kV), it becomes imperative to use bipolar devices because of unacceptably large on-state losses of unipolar devices. The IGBT offers the potential for high current density operation and ease of turn off using a MOS gate structure. In this work, 15kV 4H-SiC n-channel UMOS PT (Punch Through) IGBTs with injection enhancement effect near the top emitter and transparent pemitter structure at the collector have been demonstrated to have a forward drop approaching that of a PiN junction rectifier. With proper design, a PiN-like carrier distribution in the drift region can be achieved, which allows a better trade-off between collector-emitter saturation voltage (VCE(sat)) and turn-off loss (Eoff) than conventional SiC UMOS IGBTs.
Broad relays hormone signals to regulate stem cell differentiation in Drosophila midgut during metamorphosis

Like the mammalian intestine, the Drosophila adult midgut is constantly replenished by multipotent intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Although it is well known that adult ISCs arise from adult midgut progenitors (AMPs), relatively little is known about the mechanisms that regulate AMP specification. Here, we demonstrate that Broad (Br)-mediated hormone signaling regulates AMP specification. Br is highly expressed in AMPs temporally during the larva-pupa transition stage, and br loss of function blocks AMP differentiation. Furthermore, Br is required for AMPs to develop into functional ISCs. Conversely, br overexpression drives AMPs toward premature differentiation. In addition, we found that Br and Notch (N) signaling function in parallel pathways to regulate AMP differentiation. Our results reveal a molecular mechanism whereby Br-mediated hormone signaling directly regulates stem cells to generate adult cells during metamorphosis.
Thermal Conductivity of He 4 near the Superfluid Transition in a Restricted Geometry

We report measurements of the thermal conductivity of $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ at vapor pressure confined in a glass capillary array of thickness 3 mm with holes 2\ensuremath{\mu}m in diameter. The finite geometry rounds the superfluid transition, resulting in a finite thermal conductivity at the bulk transition temperature ${T}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$. Below ${T}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$ the thermal conductivity becomes effectively infinite when the bulk correlation length becomes small compared to the size of the confining holes.
Very Early Formation of Big, Liquid Drops Revealed by ZDR in Continental Cumulus

Abstract Examination of the early radar echo histories of several vigorous, cumulus clouds in northeast Colorado and northwest Kansas, with sensitive, dual-polarization radar, reveals the formation of millimeter-sized water drops at about the same time that the conventional, first precipitation echo (from ice) forms aloft. The early, positive ZDR values appear in the vicinity of the 0°C level (the radar data do not specify height accurately) and soon extend both above and below it. Positive ZDR is found within and to the upwind side of the updraft, separate from the conventional first precipitation echoes, which appear first at higher altitude, generally downwind of the updraft core, and have no significantly positive ZDR. Big, liquid drops were not expected this early in the formation of continental cumulus. The early presence of supercooled water drops larger than cloud droplets may be a significant factor in the glaciation of these clouds. The kind of early radar coverage illustrated here would be a pr...
Topology of ballooning modes

I identified the topology and main physical characteristics of plasma modes that can be driven unstable by the periodically unfavorable magnetic-field curvature, along a given field line in a magnetic confinement configuration. The relevant analysis has been carried out in order to explain the results of numerical fluid codes recently developed and to connect them with those obtained by a nonfluid (kinetic) analysis of microinstabilities in regimes of thermonuclear interest.
A Flexoelectric Micro-Accelerometer

In this paper new acceleration sensors using flexoelectric barium strontium titanate (BST) were designed, fabricated and tested for vibration monitoring. The flexoelectric sensors were configured as rectangular and trapezoidal cross-section micro-unimorphs with a BST layer bonded onto a Si substrate. Proof masses were attached to unimorph tips to amplify the transverse flexoelectric responses of the BST layers. The theoretical model was developed and validated by vibration tests using the prototyped flexoelectric micro-unimorphs. The prototyped accelerometer showed a stable sensitivity of 0.84 pC/g in the frequency range of 100 Hz ∼ 1.6 kHz, which agreed well with the analytical results. The aging property of the flexoelectric sensor was demonstrated to be much better than that of the reported piezoelectric materials right after poling. Scaling effect analysis was performed for flexoelectric unimorphs. The test results and initial scaling effect analysis indicate that micro/nano flexoelectric sensing hold promise for a broad range of applications.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Does circular stapled esophagogastric anastomotic size affect the incidence of postoperative strictures

Background Postoperative anastomotic strictures produce significant morbidity after esophagectomy. Previous reports have described a variable association between the diameter of the circular end-to-end anastomosis (EEA) stapler commonly used in esophagogastric anastomoses and the incidence of stricture formation. Stapler technology has improved. We investigated an association between stapler diameter and the incidence of postoperative anastomotic strictures in a contemporary series. This has renewed importance given the limited diameter of trans-oral staplers that are being increasingly used. Methods Retrospective chart review revealed that of 194 patients undergoing an esophagectomy over a 10-y period (10/1998–8/2008) at our institution, an EEA stapler was used in 91. EEA size information and follow-up were available in 89 patients. Patients were divided into two groups based on EEA size: ‘small’ = 23–25 mm ( n = 24) and ‘large’ = 28–33 mm ( n = 65). Patients with strictures were identified based on symptoms of dysphagia requiring an esophageal dilation procedure. Patients with postoperative leaks were excluded when analyzing for the association of stricture with EEA size, as postoperative leaks are known to be associated with stricture. Wilcoxon and Fisher’s exact tests were used for statistical analysis; a 5% α error was accepted. Results Fifteen (16.8%) of 89 patients developed a stricture postoperatively. The anastomotic leak rate was 3.3%. There was no statistically significant association between EEA size group and stricture formation ( P = 0.7506). Conclusions No association was found between the size of the EEA stapler used and stricture formation. EEA size should be determined at surgery by the native esophageal diameter.
Validation of Cervista HPV HR DNA Testing Assay in SurePath Pap Specimens

Conclusions: We found that aliquoting HPV co-test specimens prior to processing the ThinPrep vials is a more efficient process than forwarding the ThinPrep vials to Virology once Pap testing is completed. The new aliquoting process wasmodified slightly from the original aliquoting process to improve quality and consistency for these specimens. This change caused an increase in the amount of time spent aliquoting compared to the hypothetical calculations; however, it also helped to reduce the number of errors that occurred. Virology also changed their HPV testing process, resulting in a minimal increase in the turnaround time of the new aliquoting process compared to that of the original aliquoting process. Cytology plans to continue monitoring the new aliquoting process to ensure that it is the most efficient method for processing the HPV co-test specimens.
Oil prices, speculation, and fundamentals: Interpreting causal relations among spot and futures prices

Abstract A consensus that the world oil market is unified begs the question, where do innovations in oil prices enter the market? Here we investigate where changes in the price of crude oil originate and how they spread by examining causal relationships among prices for crude oils from North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East on both spot and futures markets. Results indicate that innovations first appear in spot prices for Dubai–Fateh and spread to other spot and futures prices while other innovations first appear in the far month contract for West Texas Intermediate and spread to other exchanges and contracts. Links between spot and futures markets are relatively weak and this may have allowed the long-run relationship between spot and future prices to change after September 2004. Together, these results suggest that market fundamentals initiated a long-term increase in oil prices that was exacerbated by speculators, who recognized an increase in the probability that oil prices would rise over time.
Organoboranes for synthesis 17. Generality of hydroboration-amination for the conversion of terpenes into enantiomerically pure terpenylamines. Their utility for gas chromatographic analysis of chiral carboxylic acids

Abstract The generality of our new convenient synthesis of isopinocampheylamines by hydroboration-amination of α-pinene has been established by converting representative terpenes into optically pure terpenylamines, such as (−)- cis -caran- trans -2-amine, (−)- cis -caran- trans -4-amine, (−)-longifolamine, and (+)- cis -myrtanylamine. The synthesis involves converting the terpene into the B -chloroditerpenylborane by treatment with chloroborane-methyl sulfide. This is treated with trimethylaluminum to form the B -methylditerpenylborane, and the latter is converted into the amine by treatment with hydroxylamine- O -sulfonic acid. cis -Myrtanylamine has been shown to be as effective as isopinocampheylamine for the gas chromatographic analysis of racemic carboxylic acids as their diastereomeric amides, suggesting the generality of this application of terpenylamines as chiral derivatizing agents.
Self-Regulated Strategy Development and Generalization Instruction: Effects on Story Writing and Personal Narratives among Students with Severe Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

The effects of Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) and generalization instruction with 3 second and third grade students with severe emotional/behavioral disorders, in one self-contained classroom were examined. The effects of the intervention on multiple measures of story writing were examined at baseline, postinstruction and maintenance. A generalization measure was administered at baseline and postinstruction to assess if the effects of the intervention would transfer to writing personal narratives. Student self-efficacy and social validity of SRSD were also investigated. At both postinstruction and maintenance, students wrote stories that were longer, contained more essential elements, and were qualitatively better than baseline stories. In addition, effects generalized to writing personal narratives, as these papers became longer, contained more essential elements, and were of overall better quality following SRSD instruction. Self-efficacy for writing improved for two of the three students. A...
Delta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase in the house fly and its possible role in oxidative resistance to insecticides

Abstract δ-Aminolevulinic acid synthetase (ALA synthetase EC 2.3.1.37) is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway leading to heme and cytochrome formation in animals. The occurrence of ALA synthetase in house fly mitochondria was established and its possible relationship to oxidative resistance to insecticides was investigated. Levels of ALA synthetase in five house fly strains were measured and compared with levels of microsomal oxidases and cytochrome P-450 in the same strains. ALA synthetase was elevated in those strains with elevated levels of microsomal oxidases and cytochrome P-450 and was highest in the strain with the highest levels of microsomal oxidases and P-450. A possible regulatory role for ALA synthetase in relation to oxidative resistance to insecticides in the house fly is discussed.
Polypeptide Materials: New synthetic methods and applications

A review of recent developments in polypeptide synthesis is provided. This article is focused on development of new materials based on polypeptides rather than on reproduction or applications of natural protein-based materials. Synthetic methods fall into two major categories: biological and chemical. The most successful biological approaches utilize cellular protein synthesis machinery to perform the task of assembling the polymeric molecules. Adaptation of this machinery for production of new, artificial polypeptide sequences and use of this machinery for incorporation of artificial amino acids into polypeptides have been the key recent contributions in this area. Advances in chemical polypeptide syntheses include new applications in solid and solution phase peptide coupling reactions as well as advances in the polymerization of a-amino acid-N-carboxyan- hydride (NCA) monomers. The use of transition metal initiators in NCA polymerizations has allowed the preparation of very well defined homopolypeptides and may lead to facile routes into peptide block copolymer materials. The presence of stable, chiral structural elements in polypeptides results in self-assembly into ordered films, composites, and liquid crystals. If their sequences are designed and constructed properly, artificial polypeptides have considerable potential for use in construction of artificial tissues and implants, ordered inorganic/organic composites, and in medical diagnostics and biosensors.
Tear sodium, potassium, chloride, and calcium at various flow rates: children with cystic fibrosis and unaffected siblings with and without corneal staining.

When compared to their unaffected siblings, children with cystic fibrosis in this study had: high tear Ca 2+ especially at slow flow rates, low tear Na + at slow flow rates but the same tear Na + at fast rates, the same tear K + and Cl − at all flow rates, and the same minimal and maximal flow rates. Age, sex, environmental factors, and ocular bacterial infection could not account for the greater incidence of superficial punctate fluorescein staining of the cornea in the patients with cystic fibrosis, none of whom had signs or symptoms of any ocular disease, including those associated with vitamin A deficiency.
Mantle discontinuities under southern Africa from precursors to P′ P′df

We investigate the reflection properties of upper-mantle discontinuities beneath southern Africa using precursors to the df branch of PKPPKP (P′ P′). The P′ P′df branch is weaker than the ab and bc branches, but it does not have the complication of a caustic and appears across a wider distance range. Stacks from hundreds of short-period seismograms recorded in California from the March 9, 1994 Tonga earthquake (Mw = 7.6) show an ∼5% reflection (at 3.5 s dominate period) from 660-km depth indicating a sharp “660” under southern Africa. A 3.5 s period reflection from 410-km depth is also visible in these stacks, but only ∼2% the strength of P′ P′df. This result contrasts with the observation of the “410” and the “660” reflecting comparable amounts of high-frequency energy under the Indian Ocean [Benz and Vidale, 1993a], indicating either a diffuse “410” boundary under southern Africa or global variations in the impedance change across the “410”. A 1.5 s period reflection may indicate the existence of fine-scale heterogeneity near 320-km depth. Reflectivity synthetic seismograms also show that a previously claimed reflection from 785-km depth has the more likely explanation as PcPPKP.
Chaotic states in a random world: Relationship between the nonlinear differential equations of excitability and the stochastic properties of ion channels

Excitable membranes allow cells to generate and propagate electrical signals. In the nervous system these signals transmit information, in muscle they trigger contraction, and in heart they regulate spontaneous beating. A central question in excitability theory concerns the relationship between the aggregate properties of membranes (marcoscopic) and the properties of channels in the membranes (mircoscopic). Hodgkin and Huxley (1952) laid the foundations of membrane excitability, and Neher and Sakmann (1976) developed techniques to study individual channels. This article focuses on the relationship between the macroscopic domain, in which non-linear differential equations determine the electrical properties of cells, and the microscopic domain, in which the probabilistic nature of channels establishes the pattern of activity. Using nerve cell membranes as an example, we examine how information in one domain predicts behavior in the other. We conclude that the probabilistic nature of channels generates virtually all macroscopic electrical properties, including resting potentials, action potentials, spontaneous firing, and chaos.
The Effects of Prior Information upon Perceptions of Exceptional Children.

Abstract Students in a university special education course were shown three identical videotapes of children in a school setting. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups, each receiving different written background information (“positive,” “neutral,” or “negative”) prior to viewing the videotapes. It was found that the variations in written information had significant effects upon the subjects' perceptions of the children's behavior, and upon the degree to which the children were regarded as able to function successfully in a regular classroom. These findings suggest that attitudes toward exceptional children are influenced by the way in which prior information, such as that contained in a child's educational records, is presented. Teacher and peer acceptance of exceptional children can be increased if information is presented in a realistic and positive manner.
A social judgment theoretic approach to sex discrimination in faculty salaries

Abstract This study used the methodology of Social Judgment Theory to measure the extent of sex bias in the salaries of faculty members. A lengthy, confidential questionnaire describing the professional careers of faculty members was developed using input from many influential university groups. A total of 349 (49.5%) usable questionnaires were returned, from which 175 profiles (representative of the total faculty) were constructed. These consisted of 28 variables selected by stepwise regression analyses and by judgments of importance by various university faculty. Sex was not included as a variable so that the decisions on the profiles could not reflect sex bias. Salary was highly predictable for the 349 respondents from a linear combination of these data (R = .91). Forty-two faculty judges assigned salary values to the profiles. Each judge's salary equation was applied to the data describing the 349 questionnaire respondents yielding a distribution of 42 predicted salaries for each respondent. These 42 predicted salaries were then averaged for each respondent and the mean predicted value was subtracted from the respondent's actual salary. These discrepancy scores were summed separately for each sex. The average value for men was +$245.61 and that for women was −$44.02. A second analysis transformed each judge's predictions so that their mean and standard deviation equalled the mean and standard deviation of the actual university salaries. A “composite judge” analysis and an analysis using equations developed from the 28 subjective importance weights assigned by each judge were also accomplished. Women were consistently overpredicted in all four analyses, while men were underpredicted. The differential values in favor of men were $289.63, $361.12, $290.62, and $504.04, respectively, for the four analyses. The consistency of these analyses suggests that there is a modest degree of bias against women faculty in salaries. Actual mean difference between male and female respondents was $2274.99. Recommendations were made to the appropriate university administrator.
Skin Calcium-Binding Protein Is a Parvalbumin of the Panniculus Carnosus*

Skin calcium-binding protein (SCaBP) is a calcium binding protein purified from whole rat skin. It has a molecular weight of approximately 12,000 daltons but migrates at Mr 13,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels. On nitrocellulose blots of SDS-polyacrylamide gels, 6 different antisera to SCaBP reacted equally well with SCaBP and parvalbumin (PV), an 11,500-dalton calcium-binding protein purified from rat skeletal muscle, which also migrates at Mr 13,000 on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Rabbit antiserum to muscle PV also recognized both PV and SCaBP, and either protein absorbed specific antibodies against either antigen from both types of antisera. Soluble protein extracts from whole adult rat and mouse skin contained a Mr 13,000 protein which was recognized on nitrocellulose blots of SDS gels by both antisera. Blots of extracts from epidermis, dermis, whole skin, and skin scraped on the dermal side to remove hypodermal tissue revealed that the Mr 13,000 PV/SCaBP cross-reacting antigen was restricted to the hypodermal tissue removed by scraping. Immunofluorescent staining of Bouin-fixed skin sections with these antisera confirmed the localization of PV/SCaBP to the panniculus carnosus, a hypodermal muscle layer. Newborn mouse skin does not contain this antigen. Additional polypeptides of Mr 10,500 and 12,000 on SDS gels of extracts from the epidermis of newborn and adult rats and mice were found to be immunoreactive with anti-SCaBp serum. These polypeptides were not recognized by the PV antiserum, and the reactivity of anti-SCaBP for these antigens was not absorbed by purified PV or SCaBP. Our results indicate that SCaBP is antigenically indistinguishable from PV and is localized in the adult rodent panniculus carnosus, and that antisera to SCaBP are poly-specific, recognizing epidermal proteins in addition to SCaBP/PV.
Eigen-Representations, Data Compression, And Transmission For Medical Images And Related Structures

If any data compression scheme for medical images shows some level of success, then this necessarily implies information redundancy in the image data. The information capacity of the system therefore must be larger than the information content. A powerful way to analyze and exploit the possibilities for optimum data-compression, transmission methods, and other useful image-processing options is to seek the eigenfunction representation of the image. By transforming the image-data into the eigen-representation, we obtain a transformed image array (the q-space image) which is the irreducible representation of the data for that imaging system. The coefficients of the irreducible representation are, in the parlance of information theory, "non-interfering symbols". Preliminary studies show that the eigen-representation allows immediate, direct, and predictable compression of the system data capacity to the image data information content. Our analysis of medical images from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans has allowed us to demonstrate some specific data-compression strategies which will be most beneficial, rapid and flexible for PACS applications
Effect of a change in policy regarding the timing of prophylactic antibiotics on the rate of postcesarean delivery surgical-site infections.

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a change in policy regarding the timing of antibiotic administration on the rates of postcesarean delivery surgical-site infections (SSI). Study Design This was a retrospective cohort study of 1316 term, singleton cesarean deliveries at 1 institution. A policy change was instituted wherein prophylactic antibiotics were given before skin incision rather than after cord clamp. The primary outcome that was examined was SSI; secondary outcomes were the rates of endometritis and cellulitis. Multivariable regression was performed to control for potential confounders. Results The overall rate of SSI fell from 6.4-2.5% (P = .002). When we controlled for potential confounders, there was a decline in overall SSI with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.33 (95% CI, 0.14,0.76), a decrease in endometritis (aOR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.13,0.92), and a trend towards a decrease in cellulitis (aOR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.05,1.22). Conclusion At our institution, a change in policy to administer prophylactic antibiotics before skin incision led to a significant decline in postcesarean delivery SSIs.
Comparative analysis of urban reflectance and surface temperature

Abstract Urban environmental conditions are strongly dependent on the biophysical properties and radiant thermal field of the land cover elements in the urban mosaic. Observations of urban reflectance and surface temperature provide valuable constraints on the physical properties that are determinants of mass and energy fluxes in the urban environment. Consistencies in the covariation of surface temperature with reflectance properties can be parameterized to represent characteristics of the surface energy flux associated with different land covers and physical conditions. Linear mixture models can accurately represent Landsat ETM+ reflectances as fractions of generic spectral endmembers that correspond to land surface materials with distinct physical properties. Modeling heterogeneous land cover as mixtures of rock and/or soil Substrate, Vegetation and non-reflective Dark surface (SVD) generic endmembers makes it possible to quantify the dependence of aggregate surface temperature on the relative abundance of each physical component of the land cover, thereby distinguishing the effects of vegetation abundance, soil exposure, albedo and shadowing. Comparing these covariations in a wide variety of urban settings and physical environments provides a more robust indication of the global variability in these parameter spaces than could be inferred from a single study area. A comparative analysis of 24 urban areas and their non-urban peripheries illustrates the variability in the urban thermal fields and its dependence on biophysical land surface components. Contrary to expectation, moderate resolution intra-urban variations in surface temperature are generally as large as regional surface heat island signatures in these urban areas. Many of the non-temperate urban areas did not have surface heat island signatures at all. However, the multivariate distributions of surface temperature and generic endmember fractions reveal consistent patterns of thermal fraction covariation resulting from land cover characteristics. The Thermal-Vegetation (TV) fraction space illustrates the considerable variability in the well-known inverse correlation between surface temperature and vegetation fraction at moderate (
223 NONNUTRITIVE SUCKING(NNS) ENHANCES MATURATION OF THE SUCKING REFLEX IN PREMATURE INFANTS

Coordinated sucking during feeding is rarely achieved until 33 -34 wks. gestation. To define sucking patterns after birth & to determine the influence of pacifier stimulation (NNS) during gavage(NG) feeding, 20 medically stable, NG fed AGA infants (mean gest. age(GA) 32 wks.(range 28-34) were studied. Infants matched for birthwt. & GA were randomized into 2 groups. NNS received a pacifier prior to and during every NG feeding, the control received no pacifier. Intraoral negative(suction) pressure and suck ing patterns were recorded weekly during NG feedings. Both groups at 30-33 wks. gest. had low suction pressure(35-65mmHg); after 33 wks., intraoral pressure increased and sucks were organized into repetitive bursts(>3 rapidly consecutive sucks) with fewer sporadic sucks. However, the NNS group showed greater suction pressures(p<.05) from 34 wks.(89vs.62mmHg) to 39 wks.(120vs.73mmHg). In both groups, burst frequency increased from 7 to 12/2min; however, sucks/burst were greater in NNS(p<.05) from 34wk(8vs5/burst through 39wk(12vs7/burst) with fewer sporadic sucks (avg. 2.5vs. 7.5/2 min, p<.05). Finally, the NNS completed their first bottle feeding more rapidly(6.4±2.1 vs10.4±4.3min/oz avg±SD, p<.05) and made an earlier transition to total PO feeding(10±2.7 vs. 16±6.8 days, p<.02). Conclusion: Following birth, the sucking pattern in prematures is characterized by an increase in intraoral negative pressure and a transition from sporadic sucking to organized bursts; NNS opportunities significantly enhance this pattern and also facilitate an easier transition to bottle feedings.
Spatially ioslated redox orbitals - an update

Abstract The concept of the “spatially isolated orbital” was introduced to rationalize the unusual optical and magnetic properties determined for metal chelate complexes, ML 3 n+ , in which a chelate ligand, L, as 2,2′-bipyridine possesses low energy π * orbitals. Optical excitation or electrochemical reduction produces a species whose effective symmetry is that of the ligand alone. This review discusses the results associated with the redox orbital emphasizing anomalies that occur.
Thermostability of membrane protein helix–helix interaction elucidated by statistical analysis

A prerequisite for the survival of (micro)organisms at high temperatures is an adaptation of protein stability to extreme environmental conditions. In contrast to soluble proteins, where many factors have already been identified, the mechanisms by which the thermostability of membrane proteins is enhanced are almost unknown. The hydrophobic membrane environment constrains possible stabilizing factors for transmembrane domains, so that a difference might be expected between soluble and membrane proteins. Here we present sequence analysis of predicted transmembrane helices of the genomes from eight thermophilic and 12 mesophilic organisms. A comparison of the amino acid compositions indicates that more polar residues can be found in the transmembrane helices of thermophilic organisms. Particularly, the amino acids aspartic acid and glutamic acid replace the corresponding amides. Cysteine residues are found to be significantly decreased by about 70% in thermophilic membrane domains suggesting a non-specific function of most cysteine residues in transmembrane domains of mesophilic organisms. By a pair-motif analysis of the two sets of transmembrane helices, we found that the small residues glycine and serine contribute more to transmembrane helix-helix interactions in thermophilic organisms. This may result in a tighter packing of the helices allowing more hydrogen bond formation.
Effect of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors on gastric emptying and small intestinal transit in humans.

Abstract Endogenous prostaglandins regulate smooth muscle activity; prostaglandins and cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors influence gastrointestinal motility in inflammatory states such as postoperative ileus in animal models. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two COX-2 inhibitors on gastric emptying and intestinal transit in healthy humans. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study, 66 healthy volunteers were randomized to one of two commercially available oral COX-2 inhibitors (celecoxib and rofecoxib), cisapride (positive control), or placebo. Following 7 days on therapy, study participants underwent a test of gastric emptying and small bowel transit of liquids and solids using scintigraphy. Data were analysed using Kruskal–Wallis (anova on ranks)and Mann–Whitney rank sum tests. There were significant group effects on transit of solids: gastric emptying (anova, P = 0.005) and small bowel transit (anova, P = 0.056). However, neither COX-2 inhibitor significantly accelerated the liquid or solid gastric emptying or small bowel transit compared with placebo. The positive control, cisapride, accelerated gastric emptying of solids (post-lag slope of gastric emptying, P < 0.05), and small bowel transit of solids (t10%, P = 0.016). At maximum clinically approved dosages, celecoxib and rofecoxib have no significant effects on gastric emptying or small intestinal transit in healthy humans. Cisapride accelerates gastric emptying and small bowel transit in healthy humans.