cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emotions and Redefining Black Masculinity: Movement Narratives of Two Profeminist Organizers

Using an intersectional analysis of Black masculinities, we explored how 2 African American men’s personal emotions regarding violence against women and their perceptions of masculinity became politicized by experiences that led to their participation in the founding of 2 separate profeminist men’s organizations. Through the public use of their personal narratives, the men used organizational activities to foster new raced-gendered feeling rules regarding emotion that challenge hegemonic masculinity generally and Black hegemonic masculinities, in particular. Narrative themes indicating reconceptualization of Black masculinity and feeling rules for men included (a) ‘‘becoming aware’’ of an injustice to a woman that generated negative emotions, and (b) ‘‘becoming active’’ in the profeminist men’s movement that allowed the transformation of negative emotions into positive ones. We make recommendations for future research that pays particular attention to how depictions of Black masculinity stigmatize Black m...
DEVELOPMENT OF A SARDINE‐LIKE PRODUCT FROM MUMMICHOG (Fundulus heteroclitus)

Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), an abundant but underutilized fish species often known as minnow, was evaluated for possible use as human food. Fish meal from steamed mummichog was fed as the sole source of protein to rats for 54 days. Dietary protein levels of 20, 30 and 40% were tested to assess the presence of any antinutritional factor. Growth patterns at these protein levels, were about the same, and were similar to those on the casein controls. However, at a protein level of only 9% as employed in the PER (Protein Efficiency Ratio) study a considerable difference was observed between the two sources of protein. PER for mummichog protein was found to be 4.2 compared to 3.4 of casein. Fried and nonfried mummichogs were then canned like sardines in two packing media: tomato sauce and olive oil. Organoleptic evaluation by a panel of judges indicated best acceptance for the tomato sauce-packed nonfried samples.
Top-down search for coordinating the hierarchical plans of multiple agents

Uncertain and complex environments demand that an agent be able to anticipate the actions of others in order to avoid resource conflicts with them and to realize its goals. Conflicts during plan execution can be avoided by reducing or eliminating interactions by localizing plan effects to particular agents and by merging/coordinating the individual plans of agents by introducing synchronization actions. We describe a method for coordinating plans at abstract levels that takes advantage of hierarchical representations of plan information and that retains the flexibility of plans used in robust plan execution systems such as procedural reasoning systems (PRS). In order to coordinate at abstract levels in plan hierarchies, information about how abstract plans can be refined must be available in order to identify and avoid potential conflicts. We address this by providing procedures for deriving summary information for non-primitive plans that capture the external preconditions and effects of their refinements. We also describe a general search algorithm and an implementation to show how to use this information to coordinate hierarchical plans from the top down to primitive actions.
A direct resazurin test for measuring chemical toxicity

A rapid, simple, and inexpensive biochemical test for use in the mass screening of chemical compounds for toxicity was developed. The test is based on direct measurement of the inhibition of microbial dehydrogenase activity, as affected by a toxicant, in a well buffered DMSO-resazurin solution. The addition of 5% DMSO to the reaction mixture allows the toxicity determination of compounds with low water solubility, thus facilitating measurement of the effects of important environmental contaminants on microbiota. The test has been applied to 15 selected chemicals which represent a vast range of environmental contaminants. As well as a routine screening procedure for chemical toxicity, this new resazurin test can be used as a tool in the study of structure-activity relationship.
A measurement of the Flight Path 12 cold H2 moderator brightness at LANSCE

Abstract We have measured the brightness of the Flight Path 12 upstream/back-scattering partially coupled cold hydrogen moderator at LANSCE. This measurement was performed in the neutron energy range of 0.8–76.9 meV by using a time-of-flight technique in conjunction with a two-pinhole collimator system. Cold neutrons were observed with a redundant 6Li-loaded glass scintillation detector having an efficiency of close to unity. The detector viewed an area of 0.93 cm2 on the center of the 12×12 cm2 moderator surface. A maximum brightness of 1.25×108 neutrons s−1 sr−1 cm−2 meV−1 μA−1 was measured at 3.3-meV neutron energy. Statistical and systematic errors of the measurement are 3% and 7%, respectively. The measured brightness is compared to the result of a model calculation and there is a significant disagreement, by a factor of 1.5 at the peak. The performance of the m=3 supermirror neutron guide system on Flight Path 12 was also studied with the two pinhole-detector system.
Handgrip Strength, Positive Affect, and Perceived Health Are Prospectively Associated with Fewer Functional Limitations among Centenarians.

This study assessed the association between perceived health, fatigue, positive and negative affect, handgrip strength, objectively measured physical activity, body mass index, and self-reported functional limitations, assessed 6 months later, among 11 centenarians (age = 102 ± 1). Activities of daily living, assessed 6 months prior to assessment of functional limitations, were also included in the model. Handgrip strength, positive affect, and self-rated current health were associated with higher functioning, expressed as either global, upper body, or lower body functioning (r > .60). Objectively measured physical activity was inversely related to the aforementioned measures of functioning. Thus, physical health as assessed by handgrip strength, but not by physical activity, is associated with better functioning in centenarians.
Developing spatial cognitive skills among middle school students.

In 1992, an initial grant was awarded from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the US and a course was developed and implemented at Michigan Tech to help firstyear engineering students to develop their 3-D spatial skills. The course syllabus was created with topics sequenced in a fashion known to enhance spatial skills. A textbook (Baartmans and Sorby 1995) was written in support of the class outline. Computer exercises that utilized computer-aided design software were developed as a part of this initial grant activity with exercises designed to reinforce topics from class lectures (Sorby and Baartmans 2000). During freshman orientation in 1993, students who had declared majors of mechanical, civil, environmental, metallurgical, or general engineering were administered the PSVT:R (Guay 1977). In this initial year, a total of 96 out of 535 students failed the PSVT:R with a score of less than 60%. A random sample of 24 students who failed the PSVT:R was selected for participation in the experimental course and the remaining 72 students became the comparison group for the initial study. In examining the results from the PSVT:R for this initial group of students, the following observations were made. Although women made up only about 17% of the group taking the PSVT:R, they were about 43% of the group failing the test, making women nearly three times as likely to fail the PSVT:R than their male counterparts. Furthermore, of the 45 students who received perfect scores, only three were women. Male–female differences in failure and perfect score rates were statistically significant (P\ 0.01). In January 1998, a new grant was awarded from the NSF to replace the computer exercises that were developed as part of the initial funding (that were based on CAD software) with stand-alone multimedia software modules. Along with this software, a workbook was developed with sketching problems similar to those found to be helpful in helping students to develop their spatial skills. The result is a set of materials that was published by Cengage Learning in July 2002. The software modules, included as a CDROM in the back of the workbook, are stand alone and work with either a Mac or a PC. The software and workbook have been rigorously assessed to determine their effectiveness in improving spatial skills and to determine their usability from both a student’s and faculty member’s perspective. Through this evaluation, the effectiveness of the materials has been demonstrated for the use with firstyear engineering students (Gerson et al. 2001). Other findings from longitudinal studies conducted with engineering students are: (1) students with weak spatial skills who participated in the spatial skills training course earned better grades in a variety of follow-on engineering, science, and mathematics courses when contrasted with a similarly chosen comparison group and (2) women with weak spatial skills who participated in the spatial skills training course were more likely to be retained at the university when contrasted with women in a similarly chosen comparison group (Sorby 2001).
Identification of Two Novel TAF Subunits of the YeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae TFIID Complex

Using a combination of ion exchange and immunoaffinity chromatography we have purified the general transcription initiation factor TFIID to near homogeneity fromSaccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast TFIID is composed of TBP, the TATA box binding protein, and 14 distinct TBP-associated factors (TAFs), which range in size from 17 to 150 kDa. Twelve of the TAF subunits have been previously identified, but two, TAF48p and TAF65p, are novel. TAF48p exhibits significant sequence similarity to the conserved C-terminal region of Drosophila TAF110p, human TAF130p, and human TAF105p and is encoded by a previously identified gene MPT1. TAF65p shows no significant sequence homology to any previously identified TAFp. The genes encoding TAF48p and TAF65p are single copy and essential for normal yeast cell growth. Furthermore, neither TAF48p nor TAF65p are associated with the histone acetylase Spt-Ada-Gcn5 complex or other non-TFIID TBF·TAF complexes. The significance of these results in terms of TFIID structure, function, and organization is discussed.
Oats may grow better in water depleted in oxygen 18 and deuterium

WHILE growing oats at different temperatures in water of different 18O and deuterium (D) abundances, we noticed that oats grown in Antarctic water in which is depleted in 18O and D by −49‰ and −400‰, relative to standard mean ocean water (SMOW used as a comparative reference in hydrogen and oxygen isotope studies), showed initial growth 1–2 weeks sooner than did oats grown in water containing greater 18O and D concentrations. The oats seemed to grow better in water which was most depleted in the stable isotopes throughout the growth period.
Biochemical Basis of Immunological and Retroviral Responses to DNA-targeted Cytosine Deamination by Activation-induced Cytidine Deaminase and APOBEC3G

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) and APOBEC3G catalyze deamination of cytosine to uracil on single-stranded DNA, thereby setting in motion a regulated hypermutagenic process essential for human well-being. However, if regulation fails, havoc ensues. AID plays a central role in the synthesis of high affinity antibodies, and APOBEC3G inactivates human immunodeficiency virus-1. This minireview highlights biochemical and structural properties of AID and APOBEC3G, showing how studies using the purified enzymes provide valuable insight into the considerably more complex biology governing antibody generation and human immunodeficiency virus inactivation.
"Jump start and gain" model for dosage compensation in Drosophila based on direct sequencing of nascent transcripts.

Summary Dosage compensation in Drosophila is mediated by the MSL complex, which increases male X-linked gene expression approximately 2-fold. The MSL complex preferentially binds the bodies of active genes on the male X, depositing H4K16ac with a 3′ bias. Two models have been proposed for the influence of the MSL complex on transcription: one based on promoter recruitment of RNA polymerase II (Pol II), and a second featuring enhanced transcriptional elongation. Here, we utilize nascent RNA sequencing to document dosage compensation during transcriptional elongation. We also compare X and autosomes from published data on paused and elongating polymerase in order to assess the role of Pol II recruitment. Our results support a model for differentially regulated elongation, starting with release from 5′ pausing and increasing through X-linked gene bodies. Our results highlight facilitated transcriptional elongation as a key mechanism for the coordinated regulation of a diverse set of genes.
Energy-related emissions from telework

Telework is a growing phenomenon that is thought to save energy and air emissions. This paper applies a systems model to telework and nontelework scenarios in order to quantify greenhouse gas and other air emissions from transportation, heating, cooling, lighting, and electronic and electrical equipment use both at the company and the home office. Using United States data, a WWW-based, scalable decision-support tool was created to evaluate the environmental impacts of teleworkers. For a typical case reflecting United States teleworker patterns, the analysis found that telework has the potential to reduce air emissions. However, Monte Carlo simulation employed to perform a probabilistic analysis over a set of likely parameters has revealed that telework may not affect equally the emissions of all types of pollutants. It may decrease CO2, NOx, SO2, PM10, and CO but not N2O and CH4 emissions. Therefore, the scope and goal of telework programs must be defined early in the implementation process. Work-related transportation (commuting) impacts could be reduced as a result of telework; however, home-related impacts due to an employee spending additional time at home could potentially offset these reductions. Company office-related impacts may not be reduced unless the office space is shared with other employees during telework days or eliminated entirely. In states with high telework potential (California, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Texas), telework could save emissions, but it would depend on commuting and climatic patterns and the electricity mix. Environmentally beneficial telework programs are found to depend mainly on commuting patterns, induced energy usage, and characteristics of the office and home space and equipment use.
Who Mobilizes? Participatory Democracy in Chávez's Bolivarian Revolution

This article assesses popular mobilization under the Chavez government's participatory initiatives in Venezuela using data from the AmericasBarometer survey of 2007. This is the first study of the so-called Bolivarian initiatives using nationally representative, individual-level data. The results provide a mixed assessment. Most of the government's programs invite participation from less active segments of society, such as women, the poor, and the less educated, and participation in some programs is quite high. However, much of this participation clusters within a narrow group of activists, and a disproportionate number of participants are Chavez supporters. This partisan bias probably reflects self-screening by Venezuelans who accept Chavez's radical populist discourse and leftist ideology, rather than vote buying or other forms of open conditionality. Thus, the Venezuelan case suggests some optimism for proponents of participatory democracy, but also the need to be more attuned to its practical political limits.
The use of memoranda of understanding in fostering inter-agency collaboration: A qualitative study of health services agencies serving vulnerable populations in baltimore, usa

Introduction:We examined whether mandated collaboration reflected in memoranda of understanding (MOUs) developed by health agencies to meet funder expectations is effective in fostering inter-agency collaboration.Methods:We conducted 22 semi-structured interviews from late 2010 to early 2012 in Baltimore, USA, with representatives of 17 HIV service agencies, three local health department units, and one agency that closed in 2008 (two interviews).Results:While there was no consensus, most respondents perceived MOUs negatively, mainly because the process of obtaining signed MOUs was time consuming; frontline staff was mostly unaware of MOUs, agencies did not necessarily work with agencies they signed MOUs with and MOUs were rarely evaluated after being signed. A few agencies reported that MOUs could keep agencies focused and set mutual expectations. The local health department acknowledged shortcomings in MOUs but emphasized that MOUs could help agencies plan for referring clients when their own capacity wa...
Second-order closure for turbulent nonpremixed flames: scalar dissipation and heat release effects

A second-order closure model for reacting turbulent flows is presented and evaluated by comparing the results with measurements in a turbulent nonpremixed flame. In particular, a model for the Reynolds stress components, which specifically includes the effects of chemical heat release on the Reynolds stress components, is put forward. Predictions with this new closure are in agreement with the present experimental data. The analysis shows that the heat release terms are of importance for the time-scale ratio. The time-scale ratio is not constant and is sensitive to density fluctuations. Accordingly, the heat release due to combustion affects the scalar field differently than the velocity field.
Reactions of Pt3Ru6(CO)2(μ3-H)(μ-H)3 with Phos[phanes — The Synthesis and Structural Characterizations of [Pt(PMe3)3H][Pt3Ru6(CO)21(μ3-H)(μ-H)2] and [Pt3Ru6(CO)20(PPh3)(μ-H)3(μ3H)]

The reactions of [Pt3Ru6(CO)21(μ-H)3(μ3-H)] (1) with PMe3 and PPh3 have produced the salts [Pt(PR3)3H]-[Pt3Ru6(CO)21(μ3-H)(μ-H)2], 5a and 5d, R = Me and Ph in the yields 9% and 22%, respectively. By contrast the reaction of 1 with PPh3 in the presence of Me3NO has yielded the phosphane-substituted derivative [Pt3Ru6(CO)20(PPh3)μ-H)3(μ3-H)] }(6) in 22% yield. Compounds 5a and 6 were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 5a and 5d are salts of the anion [Pt3Ru6(CO)21(μ3-H)(μ-H)2]−. The anion contains a layer segregated Ru3Pt3Ru3 structure similar to that of 1 with two bridging hydride ligands on one Ru3 triangle and one semi-triply bridging hydride ligand on the other. The cation [Pt(PR3)3H]+ was evidently formed by the abstraction of platinum from other molecules of 1. Compound 6 is a PPh3 derivative of the parent 1 that also contains the layer segregated stacking of Ru3 and Pt3 triangles. The PPh3 ligand is coordinated to one of the ruthenium atoms in an axial position.
Questioning Copyrights in Standards

Widespread adoption of uniform standards is essential to the smooth operation of our modern global economy. When private organizations develop such standards, copyright protection of those standards often creates a conoict between private intellectual property rights and society’s need for standards. This conoict is especially apparent when a local or state government adopts a privately drafted standard as law. This Article considers whether coding system standards should be eligible for copyright protection as a matter of U.S. copyright law by examining the case law’s treatment of copyright protection for coding system standards and considering the policy concerns implicated by copyrights in standards. The Article concludes that, in light of case law, the statutory exclusion of systems from U.S. copyright protection, the scenes a faire and merger of idea and expression doctrines, and broader policy considerations, standards should fall outside the scope of U.S. copyright protection.
The classic environmental issue

Environmental issues are rarely straightforward. The construction of the Tellico Dam not only proved to be an exceptionally complex environmental problem but also developed into a major political issue in its own right. Following the discovery of a previously unknown species of fish near the site of the nearly completed dam, environmentalists began a long legal battle to halt construction work and protect the habitat of the fish. The United States Supreme Court found in their favour, but local political interests, through a series of clever manoeuvres, succeeded in exempting the dam from all legislation to secure its completion. The blatant use of political expediency to resolve an environmental dilemma makes the Tellico Dam a classic case study for students of environmental policy and decision-making.
Thermosteric anomaly and the analysis of serial oceanographic data

Abstract The pressure terms in the anomaly of specific volume of sea water are found to be negligible for hydrostatic computation in such regions as the upper layers of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. It is proposed that the anomaly of specific volume with pressure terms omitted be called thermosteric anomaly. This quantity is recommended for routine use in the tabulation and analysis of serial data. The systematic analysis of a vertical section can include hydrostatic computation by either of two graphical methods, one being Werenskiold 's method.
Hypophosphatasia: Clinical and metabolic studies

Seven patients in 2 family groups with hypophosphatasia were studied. Two infant siblings were found to have low levels of urinary hydroxyproline and high levels of urinary calcium, even in the absence of hypercalcemia. Neither prednisone nor oral phosphate was effective therapeutically. In 1 infant the diagnosis was indicated by determination of the concentration of the cord serum alkaline phosphatase which was 0.5 Bodansky units.
Structural dielectrics for multifunctional capacitors

As U.S. Army systems and vehicles become more dependent on electronic devices and subsystems, there is an increasing need for improving the mass- and volume-efficiency of energy storage components. The conventional approach for saving mass and volume is to increase component energy density. Alternatively, overall system weight can be reduced by replacing purely structural components, such as armor or frame members, with structures that also store energy. Specifically, we are developing capacitors that can also carry structural loads by intercalating glass fiber reinforced polymer dielectric layers with metallized polymer film electrodes. In previous work, we developed a metric, the multifunctional efficiency (MFE), for comparing various structural capacitor preparations and guiding multifunctional design. Modeling and characterization of fiber composite-based structural capacitors has shown that the MFE is sensitive to fiber shape, orientation, volume fraction, and dielectric constant. In this work, various dielectric materials are studied against this MFE metric and the effect of fiber properties and volume fraction on MFE is explored experimentally.
CRT-69 Non Invasive Evaluation Of Cocaine Induced Chest Pain Reduces Cost Compared To Invasive Strategy

Evaluate the effect of invasive (IT) and non-invasive treatment (NIT) modalities on hospitalization cost and readmission rate in patients admitted with cocaine induced chest pain (CICP). As cocaine use has become more widespread, the number of cocaine-related cardiovascular events and cost of care
Suspended Activated Carbon Particles and Ozone Formation in Aqueous-Phase Pulsed Corona Discharge Reactors

The effects of suspended activated carbon particles and oxygen flow through the high-voltage electrode in liquid-phase pulsed corona discharge reactors were evaluated for the degradation and removal of phenol. Experimental studies showed that phenol can be effectively degraded with a wide range of reactor conditions; however, the most efficient removal of phenol occurred when activated carbon and ferrous sulfate solutions were utilized in the liquid-phase corona reactor. The most efficient TOC removal occurred in the above conditions with the addition of oxygen flow. The oxygen gas flow leads to ozone formation, and the subsequent reactions of the dissolved ozone enhance reactions with the oxidation byproducts of phenol. The ferrous sulfate leads to Fenton's reactions from the hydrogen peroxide generated by the discharge. Through the combination of experimental measurements and a mathematical model accounting for adsorption, mass transfer, and surface reaction on the activated carbon, it was found that th...
Modulation of the prostaglandin e receptor: a possible mechanism for infection-induced preterm labor

Objective: To evaluate the modulatory effects of interleukin (IL)-1β and prostaglandin (PG)E2 on the PGE2 receptor subtype EP1 in amnion cell cultures. Methods: Amnion cell cultures were incubated in increasing concentrations of (IL)-1β or PGE2. Cultures were also incubated in high concentrations of IL-1β and PGE2 in combination. Changes in EP1 receptor levels were evaluated by western and northern blot analysis. Culture fluid PGE2 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: EP1 receptor protein levels decreased with increasing levels of PGE2 (r = −0.82, P < .05). EP1 receptor protein (r = 0.95, P < .05), EP1 mRNA (r = 0.95, P < .01), and culture fluid PGE2 levels (P < .01) were all increased after IL-1β administration. EP1 receptor levels also increased approximately fourfold in response to IL-1β incubation even in the presence of high agonist (PGE2) concentrations (P < .01). Conclusion: The results of this study show that IL-1β might be involved in infection-induced preterm labor by interfering with the normal regulation of EP1 receptor levels and with the promotion of increased PGE2 production in amnion tissue.
Simulation of Mixing Effects in Antisolvent Crystallization Using a Coupled CFD-PDF-PBE Approach

Antisolvent crystallization is widely used in the production of pharmaceuticals. Although it has been observed experimentally that the crystal size distribution is strongly influenced by the imperfect mixing of the antisolvent with the solution, these effects have not been adequately quantified. In this work, a turbulent computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code was coupled with a multienvironment probability density function (PDF) model, which captures the micromixing in the subgrid scale, and the population balance equation, which models the evolution of the crystal size distribution. The population balance equation (PBE) was discretized along the internal coordinate using a high-resolution central scheme. The presence of solids was addressed by treating the suspension as a pseudo-homogeneous phase with a spatial variation in the effective viscosity. This coupled CFD-PDF-PBE algorithm was applied to an antisolvent crystallization process in an agitated semibatch vessel, where the rising liquid level was m...
Community Wildfire Events as a Source of Social Conflict.

The literature notes that natural disasters, including wildfires, that damage human settlements often have the short-term effect of "bringing people together." Less recognized is the fact that such events can also generate social conflict at the local level. This study examines the specific sources of such social conflict during and after community wildfire events. Examining qualitative data generated from six case studies of wildfires in the American West, we suggest that integrating the theories of Weber, Giddens, and Habermas with community interaction theory provides a context for understanding such conflict. Rationalized forms of interaction and problem solving imposed by extra-local organizations during and after wildfire events are often resisted by local actors who are also inhibited from acting due to local capacity limitations. Thus, conflict occurs when social relations are disembedded by non-local entities, and there is a perceived loss of local agency. Language: en
Overexpression of CRABPI in suprabasal keratinocytes enhances the proliferation of epidermal basal keratinocytes in mouse skin topically treated with all-trans retinoic acid.

Abstract We investigated whether ectopic expression of CRABPI, a cellular retinoic acid binding protein, influenced the actions of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in transgenic (TG) mice. We targeted CRABPI to the basal vs. suprabasal layers of mouse epidermis by using the keratin 14 (K14) and keratin 10 (K10) promoters, respectively. Greater CRABPI protein levels were detected in the epidermis of adult transgenic(+) mice than in transgenic(−) mice for both transgenes. In adult mouse skin CRABPI overexpression in the basal or suprabasal keratinocytes did not cause morphological abnormalities, but did result in decreased CRABPII mRNA levels. Ectopically overexpressed CRABPI in suprabasal keratinocytes, but not in basal keratinocytes, enhanced the thickening of the epidermis induced by topical ATRA treatments (10 μM, 400 μl for 4 days) by 1.59 ± 0.2-fold (p
The Effects of Metrifonate on the Cognitive, Behavioral, and Functional Performance of Alzheimer's Disease Patients

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of metrifonate, a long-acting acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, in patients clinically diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease of mild-to-moderate severity. METHOD This was a prospective, multicenter, 26-week, double-blind, parallel group study. The 264 randomized patients met diagnostic criteria of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association for probable Alzheimer's disease. Patients had Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores of 10-26 and ischemic scores (Rosen modification) of <4. Metrifonate-treated patients received a single 50-mg dose once daily. The efficacy of metrifonate was investigated with respect to 3 symptom domains. Cognitive performance was analyzed using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) and the MMSE. Psychiatric and behavioral disturbances were analyzed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the ADAS-Noncognitive subscale (ADAS-Noncog). The ability to perform instrumental and basic activities of daily living was evaluated using the Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD) scale. Additionally, global state was assessed using the Clinician Interview-Based Impression of Change with Caregiver Input (CIBIC-Plus) scale. RESULTS After 26 weeks of metrifonate therapy, a statistically significant benefit of metrifonate was observed in the cognitive performance of Alzheimer's disease patients (ADAS-Cog, t = 2.55, df = 237, p = .012; MMSE, t = 4.60, df = 237, p = .0001). Metrifonate also significantly attenuated the deterioration in activities of daily living of the patients (DAD total score, t = -2.11, df = 233, p = .036) and relieved patients' psychiatric and behavioral disturbances (NPI total score, t = 2.51, df = 233, p = .013). In addition, metrifonate significantly improved the scores for the global state of the patients (CIBIC-Plus, t = 2.07, df = 232, p = .039). Metrifonate was well tolerated; adverse events were predominantly mild in intensity, and no hepatotoxicity was observed. CONCLUSION In this study, metrifonate was safe and well tolerated. It benefited the cognitive decline, psychiatric and behavioral disturbances, impaired ability to perform instrumental and basic activities of daily living, and global state of patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Temperature and heat flux dependence of thermal resistance of water/metal nanoparticle interfaces at sub-boiling temperatures

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulations of heat transport through nanoscale metallic systems in contact with water are performed to investigate the effects of temperature and heat flux on thermal resistance across the interface. Non-equilibrium MD simulations are performed using 4 different metals: gold, silver, copper, and aluminum. The simulation space is composed of a 5-nm wide nanochannel of water between two parallel metallic walls, with one wall serving as a heat source and the second serving as a heat sink. 60 simulations are performed at heat source temperatures spanning from 300 K to 650 K at intervals of 25 K, and fixed heat sink temperatures of 250 K. Steady-state wall and fluid temperatures at the interfaces and the imposed energy required maintaining each wall temperature are recorded to measure system heat flux. The interfacial thermal resistance is calculated for each wall temperature and metal combination, and the wall temperatures, heat fluxes, and resistance data is presented for all cases where the interfacial water temperature is below 373 K. Using two-dimensional least squares regression, linear fit coefficients for the calculation of interfacial thermal resistance as a function of wall temperature and heat flux are compiled. These fitting coefficients may be used to implement temperature and heat flux-dependent interfacial resistances for each metal for a variety of thermal applications.
High resolution 4-D spectroscopy with sparse concentric shell sampling and FFT-CLEAN

Recent efforts to reduce the measurement time for multidimensional NMR experiments have fostered the development of a variety of new procedures for sampling and data processing. We recently described concentric ring sampling for 3-D NMR experiments, which is superior to radial sampling as input for processing by a multidimensional discrete Fourier transform. Here, we report the extension of this approach to 4-D spectroscopy as Randomized Concentric Shell Sampling (RCSS), where sampling points for the indirect dimensions are positioned on concentric shells, and where random rotations in the angular space are used to avoid coherent artifacts. With simulations, we show that RCSS produces a very low level of artifacts, even with a very limited number of sampling points. The RCSS sampling patterns can be adapted to fine rectangular grids to permit use of the Fast Fourier Transform in data processing, without an apparent increase in the artifact level. These artifacts can be further reduced to the noise level using the iterative CLEAN algorithm developed in radioastronomy. We demonstrate these methods on the high resolution 4-D HCCH-TOCSY spectrum of protein G’s B1 domain, using only 1.2% of the sampling that would be needed conventionally for this resolution. The use of a multidimensional FFT instead of the slow DFT for initial data processing and for subsequent CLEAN significantly reduces the calculation time, yielding an artifact level that is on par with the level of the true spectral noise.
Moral Structure and Moral Content: Their Relationship to Personality.

The relationship between personality as embodied in the moral content of the Survey of Ethical Attitudes (SEA) and moral structure as measured by the Kohlberg Moral Judgment Interview (MJI) was investigated using 99 male college students. No relationship was found between scores on the SEA and Moral Maturity Scores on the MJI, although this finding was qualified by the fact that the MJI Scores for most students were restricted to Kohlberg's conventional range of morality. However, SEA scores were significantly correlated with the Moral Orientation scores obtained from the MJI. In contrast to scores on the SEA, scores on the MJI were significantly related to age. The problem of confusing content and structure in moral development research was explored. The theoretical implications of a personality component being involved in choice of moral orientation were discussed as well.
A Hybrid SIMD/MIMD Architecture For Image Understanding

This paper presents an integrated parallel architecture for image analysis and computer vision. The architecture consists of an SIMD array processor with multiple broadcast busses, an MIMD multiprocessor with orthogonal access busses, and a two-dimensional memory array shared by both processor systems. Low-level image processing is performed on the SIMD array, while interme-diate and high-level image analysis is performed on the multiprocessor system. The interaction between the two levels is supported by a common shared memory. To illustrate the power of such a two-level system we show that a wide class of image and vision analysis tasks can be performed efficiently on the architecture. Representative problems include transitive closure, histogramming image component labeling, pyramid computation, Hough transform, pattern clustering, and scene labeling.
The Economy and Policy Mood: A Fundamental Dynamic of Democratic Politics?

changes in their political environment. tudents of American Politics have, in recent years, proposed a close causal connection between changes in the aggregate policy preferences of citizens and changes in public policy (Shapiro and Jacobs 1989; Erikson, Wright, and McIver 1994; Stimson, MacKuen, and Erikson 1995; Erikson, Stimson, and MacKuen 2001). If this kind of "dynamic representation" is real, it supports a normative theory of democracy in which the public's role is closer to Rousseau's vision of a directing "general will" than to the Madisonian view that elections are the only reliable link between voters and politicians (Schumpeter 1942; Riker 1982). The normative message of "dynamic representation" lacks force, however, if changes in aggregate policy preferences are not themselves meaningful. If policy preferences are uninformed and vary capriciously (Berelson, Lazarsfeld, McPhee 1954; Converse 1964; Delli Carpini and Keeter 1996) or are easily manipulated by politicians (Riker 1982) then policy responsiveness to these changes can hardly be considered a virtue. Such questions have motivated empirical researchers to explore the meaning of aggregate opinion change by trying to identify its systematic causes (e.g., Page and Shapiro 1992). This article adds to this effort by including economic performance among the potential sources of change in aggregate policy opinion, and, unlike previous efforts that have focused on the United States, by examining the question in a large sample of western democracies. To anticipate the conclusion and to indicate the direction of the argument, the findings indicate that the aggregate policy preferences of citizens in fourteen Western democracies respond systematically to changes in the economies of those countries. Further, these responses are realized rather slowly through time and, despite the many historical, cultural, and institutional differences separating western publics, are similar within each country in the sample. These findings sustain the normatively appealing conclusion that change in aggregate policy preference reflects the measured response of many individuals to changes in their political environment. I demonstrate here these conclusions using data from the post-war histories of fourteen western democracies. I begin with a discussion of the
Low-rate LDPC codes with simple protograph structure

This paper provides a construction method for low-rate low density parity check codes. Inspired by recently proposed accumulate-repeat-accumulate (ARA) codes, and hybrid concatenated codes, in this paper we extend the construction to low rates. Such codes can be viewed as hybrid concatenations of simple modules such as accumulators, repetition codes, differentiators, and punctured single parity check codes. These codes constitute a subclass of LDPC codes with very fast encoder structure. They also have a projected graph or protograph representation that allows for high-speed decoder implementation. Based on density evolution, we show through some examples that low iterative decoding thresholds close to the channel capacity limits can be achieved, as the block size goes to infinity. Iterative decoding simulation results for short blocks are provided for a few examples that show near-capacity performance and very low error floor
Differential voltammetric measurement of catecholamines and ascorbic acid at surface-modified carbon filament microelectrodes

Triple-barrel carbon filament microelectrodes were chemically and electrochemically oxidized to allow resolution of ascorbic acid from catecholamines during differential pulse voltammetric scans. The contribution of current from DOPAC to the catecholamine signal was minimized by this treatment. These electrodes exhibit linearity over a wide range of concentrations and long-term response stability.
Regulation of transcription of glnA, the structural gene encoding glutamine synthetase, in glnA::Mu d1 (ApR, lac) fusion strains of Salmonella typhimurium

Using the Casadaban Mu d1 phage (Casadaban and Cohen 1979) we fused cis-acting regulatory sites for the Salmonella typhimurium glnA gene, the structural gene encoding glutamine synthetase, to lacZ so that transcription of lacZ was controlled by the glnA promoter-operator. Activities of β-galactosidase in two glnA:: Mu d1 fusion strains were high, approximately 25% and 125% the induced level of β-galactosidase when transcription of lacZ is under control of the lac promoter, indicating that glutamine synthetase is not required to activate transcription of its own structural gene. Introduction of nitrogen regulatory mutations ntrA:: Tn10 or ntrC:: Tn10 into fusion strains resulted in greatly decreased synthesis of β-galactosidase indicating that the positive regulatory factors encoded by ntrA and ntrC activate glnA expression at the level of transcription. Comparison of β-galactosidase activities in fusion strains with those in fusions carrying ntrC or ntrA mutations indicated that: 1) the magnitude of activation of glnA expression is at least 43-fold; 2) the magnitude of repression is approximately 13-fold and repression occurs at the level of transcription; 3) the degree of modulation of glnA expression by ntr products is at least 560-fold (13x43); and 4) glutamine synthetase is not required for repression of transcription of its own structural gene. In contrast to strains carrying non-polar mutations in glnA, strains carrying glnA insertion mutations, including glnA:: Mu d1 fusions, are apparently defective in activating expression of some nitrogen controlled genes other than glnA. Defects cannot be accounted for by the absence of glutamine synthetase protein or catalytic activity; they appear to be due to decreased expression of nitrogen regulatory genes ntrB and/or ntrC, which are adjacent to glnA.
Becoming citizens of empire: Albanian nationalism and fascist empire, 1939–1943

This article uses the case of Albanian nationalism during the period of Italy’s occupation of Albania (1939–1943) to challenge prevailing conceptions of nationalism that define it primarily as a political doctrine that espouses national self-rule. Using archival research, the article discusses the nationalist discourse of Albania’s pro-Italian political and cultural elites during Italian domination and examines the discursive strategies employed by these elites in reconciling nationalism with foreign domination. Among other techniques, the article shows how both empire and fascism’s claim to universality enabled such reconciliation. More fundamentally, the article shows how nationalism’s historical power does not primarily lie in the enunciation of a political doctrine of national self-rule, but rather its constitution of the “inner” cultural sphere of the nation around the problem of split temporality, in which tradition and modernity co-exist disharmoniously. The resolution of this cultural problem requires the exercise of state power within both the political and cultural realms, a solution that Albanian nationalists saw in empire and fascism. A small race, left in a truncated state of only one million, surrounded by enemies and in an envious geographic location, could not survive without reliance on the force and protection of a friendly nation. History, reason and patriotism counseled Albanians that before the European clash, they rely on the Italian people, and therefore it was necessary, reasonable and secure for our redemption and national development that Albania enter into a personal union with Italy under the blessed Dynasty of Savoy. Tomori,
Influence of temperature and phase state on x-ray sensitivity of yeast☆

Abstract 1. 1. The radiosensitivity of haploid yeast increases slowly for increased irradiation temperatures in the range from 0 to 40 ° with a temperature coefficient of 0.0034/deg. 2. 2. At temperatures where heat inactivation of yeast becomes important (50 ° and above), there is a greatly increased radiosensitivity. 3. 3. Additivity studies using heat and x-rays show that heat applied during irradiation is most effective in killing yeast; preirradiation heat treatment is more effective than postirradiation heat treatment. However, delays between consecutive treatments with heat and x-rays allow the cell to recovery possibly because of some metabolic processes. 4. 4. Supercooled (−0.5 to −10 °, liquid phase) yeast suspensions have the radiosensitivity characteristic of the temperature region from 0 to 40 °. 5. 5. Yeast suspensions irradiated at −10 °, solid phase, are approximately twice as resistant to x-rays as yeast suspensions irradiated at −10 °, liquid phase. This difference is believed to be due to a decrease in the diffusion of irradiation “poisons” in the solid phase. 6. 6. In the region from −10 to −0.5 °, solid phase, the sensitivity of yeast to x-rays increases approximately linearly with temperature. This may be due to an increasing amount of free water within the cell. 7. 7. There is no significant change in the radiosensitivity from −10 to −30 °, solid phase; this suggests that inactivation of yeast for temperatures below −10 ° is due to the “direct action” of the radiations. 8. 8. The fact that there is no significant difference in the radiosensitivity at 0 ° and at −2.5 °, solid phase, indicates that diffusing poisons are largely produced within the cell. 9. 9. From the low-temperature studies it is believed that approximately half of the x-ray inactivation of haploid yeast in the temperature region from 0 to 40 ° is due to diffusing poisons. 10. 10. Supplementary studies on T2 bacteriophage give results that are consistent with the above interpretations.
Micro Ultrasonic Machining Using Oil Based Abrasive Slurry

Advanced engineering materials posses excellent properties such as high wear resistance, and inertness to corrosion and chemical reactions. Since these materials are usually hard, brittle, chemically inert, and electrically nonconductive, they pose serious machinability challenges. Micro ultrasonic machining (Micro USM) is an emerging method for the micromachining of hard and brittle materials without any thermal damage. This paper presents the results of micro ultrasonic machining using oil based abrasive slurry. Details of the in-house built experimental setup used to conduct the experiments are explained. The influence of process parameters such as slurry medium, slurry concentration, and abrasive particle size on the performance of micro USM are reported. It was noticed that the evidence of three body material removal mechanism is predominant for micro USM using oil based slurry. In general, the material removal rate increases with the increase in the abrasive particle size for both aqueous abrasive slurry and oil based abrasive slurry. Further, material removal rate is consistently higher for experiments conducted with aqueous abrasive slurry medium. On the other hand, it is noticed that the oil based slurry medium provides better surface finish. It is also noticed that the smaller abrasive grains provide better surface finish for both aqueous, and oil based abrasive slurry mediums. Role of slurry concentration is ambiguous, as no clear trend of its effect of on process performance is evident in the available experimental results.Copyright © 2008 by ASME