cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Androstenediol Levels in Human Peripheral Plasma12

ABSTRACT Unconjugated androstenediol has been identified and measured in the plasma of normal adults. Identification of the steroid in ether extracts of plasma was based upon its affinity for “testosterone binding globulin,” chromatographic mobility before and after derivative formation, and identity after acetylation with carrier androstenediol diacetate upon recrystallization. By means of competitive protein binding analysis, peripheral plasma androstenediol levels were determined to be 68.2 ± 24 (sd) ng/100 ml in normal women, 124 ± 45 ng/100 ml in normal men. The androstenediol concentration in men averages twenty percent of the testosterone level, that of women is nearly twice their testosterone level. Since available data indicates that androstenediol is moderately androgenic, this steroid appears to contribute significantly to total androgenicity in women and may play a role in certain hyperandrogenic states.
The velocity potential and the interacting force for two spheres moving perpendicularly to the line joining their centers

The velocity potential around two spheres moving perpendicularly to the line joining their centers is given by a series of spherical harmonics. The appropriateness of the truncation is evaluated by determining the residual normal surface velocity on the spheres. In evaluating the residual normal velocity, a recursive procedure is constructed to evaluate the spherical harmonics to reduce computational effort and truncation error as compared to direct transformation or numerical integration. We estimate the lift force coefficient for touching spheres to be 0.577771, compared to the most accurate earlier estimate of 0.51435 by Miloh (1977).
Potential Effects of Global Climate Warming on the Growth and Prey Consumption of Great Lakes Fish

Abstract We used fish bioenergetics models to assess the effect ofglobal climate warming on the growth and prey consumption of warm-, cool-, and coldwater fishes at three sites spanning the range of thermal environments in the Great Lakes. Historical air and water temperature data and projected air temperature changes from three global climate models were used as input to regression models, which generated projections of water temperature changes before and after climate warming that would result from a doubling in atmospheric CO2 concentration. The bioenergetics simulations indicated that annual growth by yearling fish would increase with climate warming if prey consumption increased, but would decrease if prey consumption was constant. Changes in growth would be most pronounced in spring and autumn owing to a lengthening of the period during which fishes may behaviorally thermoregulate to find their optimal temperature for growth. Fish unable to thermoregulate (e.g., due to hypolimnetic oxygen depletion...
The importance of the pre-history of a sample on its thermal behavior. Part 1

Abstract In solid samples where the dominant effect of pre-history is the initial loss of material before the thermal decomposition commences, the effect of the pre-history is shown theoretically to lower the peak temperatures and the peak heights of the derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curves. The thermogravimetric and DTG curves shift to a lower temperature range without changing the character of the reaction function. The results of using the single-heating-rate methods show that the correct activation energy can be obtained for the reaction function in the form of (1 - α)n (differential form) where a is the extent of the reaction and n an exponent. The frequency factor can be calculated by substitution back into the Arrhenius equation. However, for other forms of reaction mechanism such a direct calculation is not possible. The results of the use of the multi-heating-rate methods show that they present a method by which the correct activation energy can be obtained which is not affected by the pre-history of the samples.
Splenic T-killer cells can be generated by allogeneic thymic cells in conjunction with assisting factor.

CELL-MEDIATED lympholysis (CML) is known to be brought about by thymus-derived (T) killer cells that have acquired reactivity towards antigens borne on target cells. To generate such T killer cells, cooperation between two subsets of T cells within the effector population is required—namely, T helper and T pre-killer cells1–3. Helper T cells are thought to recognise Ia antigens4,5 and/or unique H–2 antigens6, while T pre-killer cells are known to recognise H–2 antigens4,5. Ia antigens are found on B cells as well as on a certain sub-population of T cells7, whereas H–2 antigens have been described on virtually all B and T cells7. Plate has shown that a soluble factor from alloantigen-activated T helper cells assisted T pre-killer cells to differentiate into killer cells8. In this instance, soluble helper factor was generated in separate cultures containing mixtures of allogeneic cells, which was then assayed in a CML system from which T helper cells had been serologically removed. Since most thymic cells are known to lack Ia antigens7, they are conceded to be poor stimulators in both CML and mixed lymphocyte reactions5,9–11. Nevertheless, they possess H–2 antigens and we reasoned that they might still serve to stimulate the generation of killer cells provided an assisting factor was incorporated from an exogenous source. In this way, T killer cells might be generated without at all disturbing the effector cell population by serological deletions. The data presented here support the idea that thymocytes alone are incapable of activating T helper cells, but that in the presence of exogenously produced assisting factor they do trigger development of T killer cells. The data also indicate a simple way by which assisting factors may be studied and by which requirements for CML may be delineated.
Expression, purification and characterization of recombinant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus non-structural protein 1

The coronavirus (CoV) responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), SARS-CoV, encodes two large polyproteins (pp1a and pp1ab) that are processed by two viral proteases to yield mature non-structural proteins (nsps). Many of these nsps have essential roles in viral replication, but several have no assigned function and possess amino acid sequences that are unique to the CoV family. One such protein is SARS-CoV nsp1, which is processed from the N-terminus of both pp1a and pp1ab. The mature SARS-CoV protein is present in cells several hours post-infection and co-localizes to the viral replication complex, but its function in the viral life cycle remains unknown. Furthermore, nsp1 sequences are highly divergent across the CoV family, and it has been suggested that this is due to nsp1 possessing a function specific to viral interactions with its host cell or acting as a host specific virulence factor. In order to initiate structural and biophysical studies of SARS-CoV nsp1, a recombinant expression system and a purification protocol have been developed, yielding milligram quantities of highly purified SARS-CoV nsp1. The purified protein was characterized using circular dichroism, size exclusion chromatography, and multi-angle light scattering.
Federalism and The Politics of Tobacco

Late in 1998, the United States acquired a new regime of tobacco control engineered by the states' attorneys general. Nearly all of them had filed lawsuits against the major cigarette manufacturers, allegedly with the aim of recouping Medicaid costs attributable to smoking. Despite latent differences of culture and interest in regard to tobacco control, all of the states eventually joined in settlements with the industry that exacted large payments and restricted the industry's advertising and marketing practices. This article explains how it was possible for many different polities to agree on the settlement terms, and asks what the case shows about the impact of federalism on tobacco policymaking. It concludes that tobacco policymaking in the 30 years prior to the lawsuits (1964-1994) was more consonant with constitutional principles and not ineffective in achieving control.
UV Repair and Resistance to Solar UV-B in Amphibian Eggs: A Link to Population Declines?

Abstract The populations of many amphibian species, in widely scattered habitats, appear to be in severe decline; other amphibians show no such declines. There is no known single cause for the declines, but their widespread distribution suggests involvement of global agents--increased UV-B radiation, for example. We addressed the hypothesis that differential sensitivity among species to UV radiation contributes to these population declines. We focused on species-specific differences in the abilities of eggs to repair UV radiation damage to DNA and differential hatching success of embryos exposed to solar radiation at natural oviposition sites. Quantitative comparisons of activities of a key UV-damage-specific repair enzyme, photolyase, among oocytes and eggs from 10 amphibian species were reproducibly characteristic for a given species but varied > 80-fold among the species. Levels of photolyase generally correlated with expected exposure of eggs to sunlight. Among the frog and toad species studied, the highest activity was shown by the Pacific treefrog (Hyla regilla), whose populations are not known to be in decline. The Western toad (Bufo boreas) and the Cascades frog (Rana cascadae), whose populations have declined markedly, showed significantly lower photolyase levels. In field experiments, the hatching success of embryos exposed to UV radiation was significantly greater in H. regilla than in R. cascadae and B. boreas. Moreover, in R. cascadae and B. boreas, hatching success was greater in regimes shielded from UV radiation compared with regimes that allowed UV radiation. These observations are thus consistent with the UV-sensitivity hypothesis.
Visualization of Particle-Toughening Mechanism in Transparent Polyurethanes

Highly cross-linked polyurethanes have a high elastic modulus and creep resistance, but they undergo a brittle fracture below the glass transition temperature. Unfortunately, a large number of glassy polyurethanes are prone to brittle fracture without undergoing large elastic deformations; in particular, brittle failure is common under conditions such as low temperature and high strain rates. While the rigidity in polymers is required for practical applications, the lack of resistance against crack propagation is essential to avoid catastrophic failures. The toughening of polymers is a crucial aspect of improving the strength and ductility at specific temperatures and deformation rates. One method that has shown promise in recent years is the creation of local regions of reduced modulus that absorb strain energy and toughen the polymer. For instance, rubbers are typically added to epoxy which phase separate upon polymerization and create local elastic regions that significantly toughen the polymer.In this study, a variety of two-phase transparent polyurethanes in the form of single inclusions is designed to study the toughening mechanism of the local regions of reduced modulus with an embedded crack. Synthesized heterogeneous polyurethanes show a transition from brittle to ductile behavior in addition to a drastic increase in the maximum load that the polymer can withstand. Compact tension experiments demonstrate that a small reduction in the inclusion’s Young’s modulus (∼10%) leads to an increase in the toughness by factor of 7 (∼700%). Moreover, digital image correlation is performed to map the strain distribution around the crack in order to visualize possible toughening mechanism. Comparison between the induced strain field in samples with inclusion and samples without inclusion reveals an efficient toughening mechanism of the polymers.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
The development of hemodynamics in the extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries.

Abstract To investigate the development of hemodynamics in the extracranial carotid and vertebral artery system, a prospective color duplex sonography study was performed in 94 healthy children and adolescents between 3 and 18 y old. Angle-corrected flow velocities and luminal diameters were measured; waveform parameters and flow volumes were calculated. Side-to-side differences of volumetric data were analyzed. In 53 children, an intrasession test-retest flowmetry of the internal carotid and vertebral arteries was performed. From 3 to 18 y old, flow volumes decreased significantly in the vertebral arteries (p ≤ 0.01) and increased in the external carotid artery (p ≤ 0.0001); the luminal diameter increased in all the carotid arteries (p ≤ 0.0001) and remained constant in the vertebral arteries; mean flow velocities declined in the common and internal carotid arteries and in the vertebral arteries (p ≤ 0.0001), but increased in the external carotid arteries (p ≤ 0.01). Flow volume rate was lower in the right than the left vertebral artery (p ≤ 0.0001), and there was no side difference in any of the carotid arteries. The test-retest correlation of volumetric data was high (0.81 ≤ r ≤ 0.97; p ≤ 0.0001). By comparing the reference data presented here with analogous adult data, we were able to delineate the physiologic development of extracranial and cerebral hemodynamics from childhood to adulthood. These data make possible the clinical application of quantitative flowmetry in extracranial cerebral arteries of children and adolescents.
Cross-Cultural Markets and Consumer Behaviors: The Case of China and Turkey

ABSTRACT China and Turkey both experienced economic liberalization at nearly the same time, and created multibillion-dollar emerging markets. The two countries with varied socioeconomic backgrounds share similar developing market segments. Prevailing middle-tier markets appear promising, yet challenging. Both countries are growing economically with respective trade infrastructures, increasingly well-educated consumers who make more intelligent purchasing choices, and influential young-generation consumers. This article considers the business contexts of the two environments and highlights consumer behaviors and changing consumption patterns. Cultural sensitivity, product innovation, consumer segmentation, quality and price, and direct competition with home companies are some of the remaining challenges.
Interactions between reward, feedback, and timing structures on dual-target search performance

Individuals who conduct visual searches that can contain more than one target face many challenges. Such multiple-target visual searches can be especially error prone, as identification of one target often makes identification of a second target less likely. Given that many real-world searches can be multiple-target searches (e.g., radiological examinations, baggage screening, military searches), it is important to understand what can affect performance. Multiple-target search is particularly sensitive to top-down influences such as anticipatory anxiety (Cain, Dunsmoor, LaBar, & Mitroff, VSS 2011), and here we explore the impact of reward motivation. Participants completed a paradigm that reliably produces dual-target errors (Fleck, Samei, & Mitroff, 2010). When we simply motivated participants with a performance-based, ten-percent chance of winning an additional d50 in compensation (Experiment 1), the performance decline on dual-target trials was eliminated, while accuracy on single-target trials remained the same. Further, without monetary motivation, adding trial-by-trial feedback (Experiment 2) did not significantly improve dual-target accuracy; however, the presence of both monetary motivation and feedback (Experiment 3) resulted in substantial performance benefits for both single- and dual-target conditions compared to Experiments 1 and 2. Finally, in the presence of top-down monetary motivation, trial-based time limits (Experiment 4) did not affect performance (i.e., participants performed equivalently with or without a time limit). This is in contrast to prior data without monetary incentives (Fleck et al., 2010), in which time limits negatively affected performance. Collectively, these experiments demonstrate that (1) motivation alone is sufficient to enhance dual-target search performance, (2) such benefits are enhanced when paired with trial-by-trial feedback, and (3) time limits hurt performance in the absence of motivation but have no effect with motivation. These findings provide key information about the role of top-down motivation on performance and how this can successfully improve performance on critical dual-target searches.
Multiphase elastomeric networks prepared from poly(dimethylsiloxane) and butadiene–acrylonitrile copolymer

Isothermes de contrainte-deformation et variation de l'energie de rupture avec la composition des reseaux
Synthesis and conformations of hypothalamic hormone releasing factors: two QRF-analogues containing backbone N-methyl groups

SINCE its isolation and characterisation1,2, the hypothalamic hormone-releasing factor TRF (pGlu–His–Pro–NH2) has been the subject of several conformational studies. Most investigations have indicated that the steric characteristics of the three adjacent rings strongly limit the backbone conformational flexibility and support a preference for an extended structure. The importance of each functional group in the molecule in terms of biological potency has been systematically investigated (for review, see ref. 3). With one exception (methylation of the histidyl side chain in the Nτ position) all the chemical modifications which have been made to date were accompanied by a substantial loss of biological activity. We have shown4 that most of these modifications do not significantly affect the preferred backbone conformation of the hormone, emphasising the critical role of each functional group in TRF for optimal binding to the receptor sites.
Is the Articulatory Loop Articulatory or Auditory? Reexamining the Effects of Concurrent Articulation on Immediate Serial Recall

Abstract Results from the paradigm of immediate serial recall form the basis of the influential "articulatory loop" model of auditory-verbal short-term memory (Baddeley, 1986). Central to the development of these ideas have been results obtained in immediate serial recall under the condition of concurrent articulation . We reexamine the affects of concurrent articulation and show that findings from immediate serial recall do not uniquely support the articulatory rehearsal hypothesis: the data can be accounted for by assuming a purely auditory rehearsal process. The question of whether the rehearsal process in fact has an "articulatory" component or is purely "auditory" has significance beyond the immediate domain of working memory, and makes contact with a number of important issues concerning phonological processing. We describe a series of experiments aimed at discriminating between the two hypotheses. Our results support an articulatory component in rehearsal, but also indicate that auditory interference plays a significant, but previously unrecognized, role in the concurrent articulation effect.
Mutation of Cysteine Residue 455 to Alanine in Human Topoisomerase IIα Confers Hypersensitivity to Quinones: Enhancing DNA Scission by Closing the N-Terminal Protein Gate†

Several quinone-based metabolites of industrial and environmental toxins are potent topoisomerase II poisons. These compounds act by adducting the protein, and previous studies suggest that they in...
Echocardiographic Pattern of Right Ventricular Diastolic Volume Overload in Children

Echocardiograms were performed on 20 children who were 1-14 years old. Ten children had secundum atrial septal defects (ASD 2°); four had partial and two had complete atrioventricular canal defects (AVC); and three had partial and one had total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (APVC). Twenty-eight normal children were also examined. Echocardiograms of nine patients with ASD 2° revealed increased right ventricular dimension index (RVDI) and abnormal (paradoxic) ventricular septal (VS) motion. The remaining patient with ASD 2°, who had a Qp/Qs of 1.2 (smallest in the series), had a normal echocardiogram. All four patients with APVC had increased RVDI, and three had abnormal VS motion. The patient with normal septal motion had associated mild aortic stenosis, but he too had a small left-to-right shunt (19%). The echocardiograms of two patients with partial AVC revealed features similar to ASD 2°, but in the third patient who had significant mitral regurgitation (MR) the VS motion was normal, indicating that the degree of associated MR influences the VS motion in this anomaly. The septal motion was normal in both patients with complete AVC. Three patients in the series had abnormal systolic anterior motion of mitral valve. Postoperative echocardiograms revealed persistence of increased RVDI and "paradoxic" VS motion.
Behavioral response of altricial and precocial rodent fetuses to acute umbilical cord compression

Norway rat fetuses (Rattus norvegicus) exhibit a stereotypic behavioral response when the umbilical cord is experimentally compressed with a vascular clamp. In this study, the development of the fetal behavioral response to cord compression was compared in altricial and precocial rodents, which differ markedly in neural and motor maturity at the time of birth. Both altricial and precocial species showed some form of behavioral response to umbilical cord compression. Fetuses of two altricial species, Norway rats and Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), expressed hyperactivity in response to cord compression throughout the last third of gestation. In contrast, precocial cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus) did not respond to cord compression until relatively late in gestation. Thus, altricial and precocial species do not express the cord compression response during comparable periods of neural development: precocial species are much more mature at the earliest expression of this behavior than altricial species. These findings are consistent with the interpretation that the cord compression response is a behavioral adaptation that can promote survival of the fetus in utero.
Transport of water due to a temperature gradient in unsaturated frozen clay

Abstract As reported experimental data indicate, the net flux of water f in a fine-grained soil column was assumed to be given as: f=−D 1 (w,T) αw αx −ρD 2 (w,T) αT αx where ϱ is the dry density, T is the temperature (°C), w is the content of water in all phases, x is the coordinate, and empirical functions D1 and D2 are the properties of a given soil. Under this assumption a new experimental method was introduced to determine D2 of a soil with known D1. The D2 of Morin clay was determined as a function of w at several temperatures ranging between − 1.0 and 1.0°C. A common feature found is that D2 increases with increasing w, attains its maximum near or not far from a point where w is equal to the equilibrium unfrozen water content, and then decrease when T is negative. However, D2 increases with increasing w up to about 14%, and then remains more or less constant as w increases when T is positive. Because of this behavior of D2 a sudden change (or discontinuity) of D2 occurs near a point where T = 0°C when w is greater than 14%. The validity of the assumed functional description of the flux f is discussed based on some recent results of mathematical analysis on degenerate quasi-linear equations of parabolic type.
Facilitating preservice students’ development of thematic units

Abstract Five faculty members taught elementary education students how to compose thematic integrated units. Before teaching about thematic integration, faculty co‐constructed a view of thematic teaching, planned events to engage students in learning about thematic teaching, and developed an assignment description that supported the students’ unit writing. Unit development involved selecting and studying a theme, selecting learning opportunities and materials, and composing and presenting the unit. Student and faculty reflection on the unit‐development process resulted in the recommendation that faculty and students compose a sample unit. Developing a shared view of integrated curricula was a challenge for the faculty, but the process of deliberation was rewarding and essential to project success.
Mechanism of Turbulent Friction Reduction in Pipes by Dissolved Additives

GADD1 has summarized some of the recent work in friction reduction by high molecular weight additives and concludes that the primary mechanism is a thickening of the laminar sublayer. Investigations of the effect of such additives on pipe flow carried out at West Virginia University support this explanation.
Inventing Vietnam: The United States and State Building, 1954-1968

This book considers the Vietnam war in light of U.S. foreign policy in Vietnam, concluding that the war was a direct result of failed state-building efforts. This U.S. nation building project began in the mid-1950s with the ambitious goal of creating a new independent, democratic, modern state below the 17th parallel. No one involved imagined this effort would lead to a major and devastating war in less than a decade. Carter analyzes how the United States ended up fighting a large-scale war that wrecked the countryside, generated a flood of refugees, and brought about catastrophic economic distortions, results which actually further undermined the larger U.S. goal of building a viable state. Carter argues that, well before the Tet Offensive shocked the viewing public in late January, 1968, the campaign in southern Vietnam had completely failed and furthermore, the program contained the seeds of its own failure from the outset.
Small-Animal Whole-Body Photoacoustic Tomography: A Review

With the wide use of small animals for biomedical studies, in vivo small-animal whole-body imaging plays an increasingly important role. Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is an emerging whole-body imaging modality that shows great potential for preclinical research. As a hybrid technique, PAT is based on the acoustic detection of optical absorption from either endogenous tissue chromophores, such as oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin, or exogenous contrast agents. Because ultrasound scatters much less than light in tissue, PAT generates high-resolution images in both the optical ballistic and diffusive regimes. Using near-infrared light, which has relatively low blood absorption, PAT can image through the whole body of small animals with acoustically defined spatial resolution. Anatomical and vascular structures are imaged with endogenous hemoglobin contrast, while functional and molecular images are enabled by the wide choice of exogenous optical contrasts. This paper reviews the rapidly growing field of small-animal whole-body PAT and highlights studies done in the past decade.
Lasing characteristics of visible AlGaInP/AlGaAs vertical-cavity lasers.

We report the lasing characteristics of gain-guided AlGaInP/AlGaAs visible vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diodes. At room temperature, continuous-wave operation is achieved over the wavelength range of 657–685 nm with the minimum threshold current at 670 nm. Devices with a 10-μm diameter have threshold currents as low as 1.25 mA at room temperature (297 K) and 0.8 mA at 250 K. In addition, a single predetermined linear polarization state is found, independent of the lasing mode order and operating temperature.
Variational Technique for Scattering Theory

A stationary variational functional for the $T$ matrix that uses trial $T$ matrices rather than trial wave functions is discussed. Taking a trial $T$ matrix expressed as a general linear combination of matrices leads to a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind for the coefficient vector. The special case of a trial function having the same form as the Born series, except with variable coefficients, is treated in detail. Requiring the functional to be stationary with this trial form leads to the previously established result of Pad\'e approximants to the scattering amplitude. Approximate techniques are used to evaluate the high-order Born integrals, and the behavior of the Pad\'e approximants and the Born series is investigated for a Yukawa potential. An upper bound on the series is used to estimate its radius of convergence as a function of energy and potential strength. The variational calculations converge rapidly even for cases where the Born series diverges.
The long road to semantic interoperability in support of public health

Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted While available, clinical data standards are rarely used in practice.We analyze policies for improving interoperability among health information systems.Existing policies focus on clinical providers and term translation, which is hard.A different strategy may lead to greater, upstream use of data standards.Improved use of data standards supports better health delivery and outcomes. Proliferation of health information technologies creates opportunities to improve clinical and public health, including high quality, safer care and lower costs. To maximize such potential benefits, health information technologies must readily and reliably exchange information with other systems. However, evidence from public health surveillance programs in two states suggests that operational clinical information systems often fail to use available standards, a barrier to semantic interoperability. Furthermore, analysis of existing policies incentivizing semantic interoperability suggests they have limited impact and are fragmented. In this essay, we discuss three approaches for increasing semantic interoperability to support national goals for using health information technologies. A clear, comprehensive strategy requiring collaborative efforts by clinical and public health stakeholders is suggested as a guide for the long road towards better population health data and outcomes.
Strained InGaAs/InAiAS High Eledron Mobility Transistors

The direct current (dc) and microwave performance of InP-based In(x),Gal-Js/Zno~52Alo,48As strained high electron mobility transistcrs are described. Its design is based on theoretical and experimental studies incl'rlding iow- and high-field transport characterisation of heterostructures with different strains. Mobilities as high as 13,900; 74,000 snd 134,000 cm2/Vs are measured at 300,77. and 4.2 K in a heterostructure with the value ofxbeing 0.65. Shubnikov-de Haas measurements indicate that the change inthe effective mass with increasing In is not sigrfificant in n-HEMTs and isnot responsible for the enhancement in mobilities. We believe that the improvement results from reduced alloy scattering, reduced inter sub band scattering, and reduced impurity scattering, all of which result from ahigher conduction-band offset and increased carrier confinement in thetwo-dimensiona e ectron gas. The high field eiectron velocities have been measured in these samples using pulsed current-voltage and pulsed Hai:measurements. A monotonic increese in velocities is osbzmed both at 300and 77 K with an increase of In content in the channel. Velocities of1.55 x 10' and 1.87 x 10' cm/s are measured at 300 and 77 K, respectively,in a Ino.asGao3 ~ s N n o . sr~slAo m ~o ciulation-doped heterostructure In 1.4pm gate HEMTs, the maximuni intrinsic dc transconductor is 700 rnS/mmwhen x = 0.65. The highest values of fr and f,, are 45 GHz and 60 GHzrespectively. These figures clearly indicate their superiority over identical lattice-matched devices, primarily resulting from increased first sub-band confinement in the pseudomorphic quantum well channel. It is expected that by reducing gate lengths tc submicron dimensions and making some growth-reiated changes in heterostructure design, the best millimetre wavesolid-state low-noise amplifiers and oscillators can be realised.
Market frictions and the competitive advantage of internal labor markets

Research summary: We show that frictions in labor and capital markets can be a source of competitive advantage for affiliates of corporate groups over stand-alone firms in environments where benefits from internal markets' flexibility are high. We argue that the advantage of flexibility in changing labor inputs is related to how difficult it is to change capital inputs. We predict that if substituting labor with capital is difficult, the group advantage of flexibly changing labor would be stronger in countries with high levels of financial development. Consistent with this prediction, we find a stronger competitive advantage for group affiliates in countries with rigid labor markets but flexible capital markets. In these environments, group affiliates are more prevalent and outperform stand-alone firms in terms of growth and profitability. Managerial summary: This research shows that the capacity to redeploy workers across internal units of the firm can be a source of competitive advantage in countries that impose strict employment protection laws. We show that the strategic advantage of labor flexibility is affected by how difficult it is to change capital inputs and that labor flexibility is a stronger source of competitive advantage in countries where developed financial markets allow for more flexible capital adjustment. In these settings, strategies designed to lower costs of internal mobility (e.g., locations of greater geographic concentration between units and in regions with less competitive external markets), development of corporate culture supportive of frequent change, and personnel development through internal rotation can result in substantial financial payoffs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment in Social Skills Training Methodological and Conceptual Issues for Research and Practice

Assessment methodology in social skills training has been criticized on several fronts. Most notably, behaviors have not been selected for training based on Students' individual-specific deficits, nor has attention been given to determining whether trained behaviors result in socially important outcomes among students. The concept of social validity is an important, yet frequently ignored, consideration in social skills training assessment. This article describes methodological and conceptual issues for assessment in social skills training. Specifically, assessment techniques for determining individual-specific deficits are presented within a framework for integrating information and identifying reciprocal relationships. Employing socially valid measures is discussed with regard to determining target behaviors that predict relevant outcomes and to assessing training efficacy. Conceptual issues for research and practice are addressed.
Mutation analysis of the fusion domain region of St. Louis encephalitis virus envelope protein

The immune response to flavivirus infections produces both species-specific and flavivirus cross-reactive antibodies. The presence of cross-reactive antibodies complicates serodiagnosis of flavivirus infections, especially secondary infections caused by a heterologous virus. A successful public health response to the growing global threat posed by flaviviruses necessitates the development of virus-specific diagnostic antigens. The flavivirus envelope (E) glycoprotein is the principle antigen stimulating protective immunity during infection. Using recombinant St. Louis encephalitis virus-like particles (VLPs), we have identified amino acid residues involved in flavivirus cross-reactive epitope determinants. Most significant among the residues studied are three highly conserved amino acids in the fusion peptide: Gly104, Gly106, and Leu107. Substitutions of these residues dramatically influenced VLP secretion and cross-reactive monoclonal antibody reactivity. These results provide critical insight into the antigenic structure of the flaviviral E protein and toward development of species-specific diagnostic antigens that should improve both flavivirus diagnosis and estimates of disease burden.
An effect of mood on the perception of geographical slant

Previous research has shown that hills appear steeper to those who are fatigued, encumbered, of low physical fitness, elderly, or in declining health (Bhalla & Proffitt, 1999; Proffitt, Bhalla, Gossweiler, & Midgett, 1995). The prevailing interpretation of this research is that observers' perceptions of the environment are influenced by their capacity to navigate that environment. The current studies extend this programme by investigating more subtle embodied effects on perception of slant; namely those of mood. In two studies, with two different mood manipulations, and two estimates of slant in each, observers in a sad mood reported hills to be steeper. These results support the role of mood and motivational factors in influencing spatial perception, adding to the previous work showing that energetic potential can influence perception.
A 7-Year Case of Furosemide-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia

Immune thrombocytopenia has been attributed to many causes. Several drugs have been implicated as culprits in causing drug-induced thrombocytopenia. Although the mechanism for this type of thrombocytopenia is not well understood, at least three types of antibodies appear to be involved: drug-dependent antibodies, hapten-dependent antibodies, and drug-induced platelet-reactive autoantibodies. In this report, we describe a case in which furosemide was identified as the probable cause of drug-induced thrombocytopenia in an 84-year-old man with chronic symptomatic idiopathic thrombocytopenia for seven years before discovery. The patient's platelet count and daily furosemide dose, both intravenous and oral, were documented throughout his medical history. A dose-dependent change in platelet count was observed in association with the furosemide dose. His platelet count increased on discontinuation of furosemide and beginning of torsemide. Several months after discontinuation of furosemide, his platelet count increased to a 9-year high of 206 × 10³/mm³ from a low of 36 × 10³/mm³ while receiving furosemide therapy. Based on the observations of this case report, clinicians should more readily consider furosemide as a potential cause of thrombocytopenia.
Stalking the paratext: speculations on hypertext links as a second order text

In the popular conception of hypertext as nonlinear writing, primary emphasis typically falls on the construction, character, and quantity of constituent lexias that comprise any given hypertext. This paper, however, will focus on what the text would reveal if an ordered collection were made of the links emerging from the main (first order) text. Such a collection, as a second order text or parallel text, which I propose to call the paratext, comprises the layerworld of links, of intertextual referents that could be subjected to cluster analyses that reveal aspects of cohesion, breadth, and other speculative characteristics of the first order text.
New questions for vocational psychology: Premises, paradigms, and practices.

The innovative responses of vocational psychology and career counseling to the important questions raised by people living in information societies will continue the disciplines’ tradition of helpi...
CFD study and PCHE design for secondary heat exchangers with FLiNaK-Helium for SmAHTR

Abstract Printed Circuit Heat Exchangers (PCHEs) were selected from a variety of heat exchanger candidates as a starting point for a Secondary Heat Exchanger (SHX) design with FLiNaK-Helium working fluids in Advanced High Temperature Reactors (AHTRs). Since experimental data are not currently available for the PCHEs with FLiNaK-Helium, a numerical study using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code was performed to investigate thermal-hydraulic performance on the PCHE under the expected SHX condition. A local pitch-averaged method was used to develop local dimensionless parameters from CFD results. The Fanning factor and Nusselt number provided from the current CFD study were compared to the correlations that were previously developed for several different working fluids. A large discrepancy and unusual behavior were observed for the Fanning factor multiplied by Reynolds number on the FLiNaK side. Based on our suggested design procedure, a cost analysis was performed to combine pros and cons of the heat exchanger size and the associated pressure drop. Finally, an appropriate Reynolds number operating range where the PCHE is to meet the design requirements was suggested for the SHXs with different banking configurations. Furthermore, considering the heat exchanger size, pressure drop, and cost comprehensively, we proposed a reasonable SHX design for the 125-MWth SmAHTR.
Asymptotic properties of solutions of systems of nonlinear functional differential equations of neutral type

We establish sufficient conditions for systems of nonlinear functional differential equations of neutral type to have solutions that are continuously differentiable and bounded for t ∈ ℝ (together with their first derivatives) and investigate the asymptotic properties of these solutions.
Evolution of chitin-binding proteins in invertebrates

Analysis of a group of invertebrate proteins, including chitinases and peritrophic matrix proteins, reveals the presence of chitin-binding domains that share significant amino acid sequence similarity. The data suggest that these domains evolved from a common ancestor which may be a protein containing a single chitin-binding domain. The duplication and transposition of this chitin-binding domain may have contributed to the functional diversification of chitin-binding proteins. Sequence comparisons indicated that invertebrate and plant chitin binding domains do not share significant amino acid sequence similarity, suggesting that they are not coancestral. However, both the invertebrate and the plant chitin-binding domains are cysteine-rich and have several highly conserved aromatic residues. In plants, cysteines have been elucidated in maintaining protein folding and aromatic amino acids in interacting with saccharides [Wright HT, Sanddrasegaram G, Wright CS (1991) J Mol Evol 33:283–294]. It is likely that these residues perform similar functions in invertebrates. We propose that the invertebrate and the plant chitin-binding domains share similar mechanisms for folding and saccharide binding and that they evolved by convergent evolution. Furthermore, we propose that the disulfide bonds and aromatic residues are hallmarks for saccharide-binding proteins.
The Nuer Concept of Covenant and Covenantal Way of Life

The Nuer have a strong covenantal tradition but without the "federal" political apparatus associated with two or more "levels" of "government" in afederal system of government. There are importantfeatures ofNuersocietypertaining to ideas ofcovenant, breach ofcovenant, and reestablishing the bonds of covenantal relationships that have important implications for all covenanting societies. The way they think about themselves, their relationships with each other, and their relationships with the larger world, are essential elements in what constitutes their way of life.
Effects on metastases of drug therapy during developing and established tumor immunity.

The effectiveness of treatment with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil was studied during the s.c. and pulmonary growth of syngeneic C3H/He mammary carcinomas. Treatments with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil during the primary induction of immunity against a mouse mammary carcinoma inhibited the growth of the tumor, but also inhibited the development of an effective immune resistance against subsequent implants of the same tumor. However, drug treatments of mice with established tumor immunity gave added benefit without detectable depression of immune resistance.
Prognostics of machine condition using soft computing

This paper presents a system for monitoring and prognostics of machine conditions using soft computing (SC) techniques. The machine condition is assessed through a suitable 'monitoring index' extracted from the vibration signals. The progression of the monitoring index is predicted using an SC technique, namely adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). Comparison with a machine learning method, namely support vector regression (SVR), is also presented. The proposed prediction procedures have been evaluated through benchmark data sets. The prognostic effectiveness of the techniques has been illustrated through previously published data on several types of faults in machines. The performance of SVR was found to be better than ANFIS for the data sets used. The results are helpful in understanding the relationship of machine conditions, the corresponding indicating features, the level of damage/degradation and their progression.
Inverse Analysis of Plate Load Tests to Assess Subgrade Resilient Modulus

Cyclic plate load testing is commonly used to investigate subgrade response under repetitive loads. Two frameworks for performing inverse analysis are described for backcalculating resilient moduli on the basis of measured key outputs. In the first approach, an elastic modulus is backcalculated in each selected domain; in the second, selected parameters in the resilient modulus model are estimated. The axisymmetric finite element model analysis results suggest that the second approach is more robust because it allows the modulus to be distributed in the selected domain. A series of sensitivity analyses was conducted with the second approach to illustrate how the assumed properties or model geometry affects the backcalculated parameters. Discrepancies between the backcalculated parameters and their known values were observed when the distance to the boundary—that is, the radial distance from centerline to sidewall—was not properly assigned. When backcalculating only selected parameters in the resilient modulus equation, it is necessary to assign the other parameters carefully (i.e., from laboratory tests or references). An example analysis shows the application of the proposed approach to an actual plate load test.
Impact of a Psychoeducational Program on Three Types of Caregiver Burden among Spouses

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which a psychoeducational intervention called “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” (PTC) influences burden of spouse caregivers. Specifically, this study examined whether spouse caregivers who attended PTC exhibited reductions in stress burden, relationship burden, and objective burden compared to a comparison group. Design and Methods The 6 week intervention used a self-efficacy framework to train caregivers to focus on self-care, communicate effectively, and manage emotions. This quasi-experimental study included 115 participants from the PTC group and 95 participants from a comparison group. Assessments were completed before and after the intervention for the PTC group and within a 6 week time period for the comparison group. Results Analyses using structural equation modeling showed that participants in the PTC group reported significantly lower levels of stress and objective burden than the comparison group. There were no group differences in relationship burden. Implications The findings indicate that PTC can be an effective resource for reducing psychological distress and objective burden among spouses caring for disabled partners. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.