cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The inertia of social structure: Affirmative action or seniority in layoffs?*

This paper argues that social structure provides an inherent inertia that necessarily circumscribes the effects of certain kinds of social policies. The argument is illustrated by a study of how much advantage affirmative‐action guidelines for layoffs provide over seniority‐based plans in hastening the attainment of increased minority representation. The research uses a computer simulation model of a hypothetical work force; hiring to fill subsequent vacancies in the work force is governed by an affirmative‐action program, except when layoffs necessitated by a permanent reduction in force (RIF) intervene. Dimensions for contrasting the effects of layoff schemes include the size and timing of RIFs, the age distribution of the initial work force, and the bases (affirmative action or seniority) for layoffs. The results indicate that affirmative‐action guidelines for layoffs enjoy no or only a very small advantage over seniority bases in the time to reach program goals. This result, which many find counterint...
Pneumoretroperitoneum and Perirenal Air Associated with Tension Pneumothorax

I report a case of a low-birthweight infant delivered by cesarean section because of maternal preeclampsia and breech presentation. The infant developed pneumoretroperitoneum and perirenal air associated with tension pneumothorax.
Two decades of glaciological investigations in South and Central Greenland

Abstract This report is the first of two papers summarizing the glaciologal observations made on the southern and central parts of the Greenland Ice Sheet during two field campaigns conducted during the 1980s by scientists at The Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center. Three large clusters of survey stations, as well as a strain grid leading to the Dye‐3 borehole, were deployed and surveyed in 1980, and resurveyed the next summer (1981). In 1987 and 1989, similar surveys were conducted in the Summit region as part of the GISP2 site selection. The primary objectives of these field campaigns were to measure absolute surface velocities and to obtain 20–30 year average accumulation rates from shallow firn cores. Velocities were determined using the U.S. Navy Navigational Satellite System, otherwise known as the TRANSIT system. To obtain accurate positions for survey stations on the ice sheet, the short‐arc method was used, in which satellite tracking stations at two stationary coastal stations wer...
Patient satisfaction with quality of life as a predictor of survival in pancreatic cancer

The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between patient satisfaction with quality of life (QoL) and survival in pancreatic cancer patients undergoing care in a community hospital comprehensive cancer center. A consecutive case series of 55 cases of histologically confirmed pancreatic cancer treated at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® at Midwester Regional Medical Center was studied between 04/01 and 11/04. The Quality of Life Index (QLI) was utilized to assess patient satisfaction with QoL. QLI measures global QoL as well as the QoL in four major subscales: health and physical, social and economic, psychological and spiritual, and family. All scores range from 0 to 30 with higher scores indicating a better QoL. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival. Log-rank test was used to study the equality of survival distributions. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were then performed to evaluate the joint prognostic significance of those QoL and clinical factors that were shown to be prognostic in univariate analyses. Of the 55 patients, 28 were newly diagnosed and 27 had prior treatment history. The median age was 55 yr (range 33–74 yr). A majority (34) had stage IV disease at diagnosis. Health and physical subscale, family subscale, and global QoL were significantly associated with survival upon univariate analysis. Health and physical subscale was marginally significant upon multivariate analysis after controlling for the effects of stage at diagnosis. We found that baseline patient satisfaction with QoL, as measured by the QLI, provides useful prognostic information in patients with pancreatic cancer. While these findings require further investigation in large patient cohorts, they may have important implications for patient stratification in clinical trials, as well as aid in clinical decision-making.
Predictors of Hyperacute Clinical Worsening in Ischemic Stroke Patients Receiving Thrombolytic Therapy

Background and Purpose— Although long-term outcome determinants in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients have been defined, less is known about those predicting hyperacute worsening after thrombolytic therapy (TT). We investigated predictors of short-term clinical worsening (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] change ≥4 within 24 hours of admission). Methods— We studied 201 AIS patients who received TT within 6 hours of symptom onset. We determined baseline demographics, comorbidities, NIHSS at baseline and at 24 hours after TT, head computed tomography scan before and within 24 hours after TT, and angiographic recanalization in patients treated with intra-arterial (IA) thrombolysis. Significance of relationships was evaluated by t test or Wilcoxon signed rank sum test. Logistic regression model (LRM) was fitted to determine independence of significant variables. Results— Of 201 patients, 13% worsened, 39% improved, and 48% remained unchanged 24 hours after TT. Most patients (72%) received I...
Repeated holdout cross-validation of model to estimate risk of Lyme disease by landscape characteristics

We previously modeled Lyme disease (LD) risk at the landscape scale; here we evaluate the model's overall goodness-of-fit using holdout validation. Landscapes were characterized within road-bounded analysis units (AU). Observed LD cases (obsLD) were ascertained per AU. Data were randomly subset 2,000 times. Of 514 AU, 411 (80%) were selected as a training dataset to develop parameter estimates used to predict observations in the remaining 103 (20%) AU, the validation subset. Predicted values were subtracted from obsLD to quantify accuracy across iterations. We calculated the percentage difference of over- and under-estimation to assess bias. Predictive ability was strong and similar across iterations and datasets; the exact number of obsLD cases per AU were predicted almost 60% of the time. However, the three highest obsLD AU were under-predicted. Our model appears to be accurate and relatively unbiased, however is conservative at high disease incidence.
A stable pulsed light source using low-cost light-emitting diodes☆

Abstract A light pulser, using low-cost gallium arsenide phosphide light-emitting diodes, has been designed that offers pulses whose height and length may be adjusted, good resolution (3% typical) and excellent stability (0.5% typical). Stability is achieved by using integrated circuits and operating the diode in a current rather than voltage mode.
Investigation of uncertainties associated with actuation modeling error and sensor noise on real time hybrid simulation performance

Real time hybrid simulation (RTHS) is a promising cyber-physical method for the experimental evaluation of civil engineering structures. RTHS allows for simulation of highly complicated civil engineering structures by partitioning them into numerical and physical (experimental) substructures, reducing the costs and time associated with a single test. Numerical and experimental RTHS substructures must be integrated with high fidelity at run-time. In recent years, a great deal of progress has been made to address the many challenges in conducting the physical portion of these simulations, such as hydraulic actuation and control, magneto-rheological (MR) dampers, and sensors, making RTHS a reality. However, systematic and random uncertainties developed in the physical/experimental substructure are inevitable and can have substantial impacts on the quality of the simulation results. Due to the interaction of the numerical and physical substructures in RTHS, uncertainties associated with the physical portion are amplified and degrade the quality of RTHS results. Compared to shake table testing, it has been shown that the reliability of hybrid simulation results is highly dependent upon how successfully experimental uncertainties are mitigated. Further studies are required to understand and quantify the impacts of various sources of physical uncertainties on the quality of the simulation results. In this paper, the impact of two inevitable uncertainties on the quality of the RTHS results is studied.
Age, growth, maturity, and mortality of the Alaska skate, Bathyraja parmifera , in the eastern Bering Sea

The Alaska skate, Bathyraja parmifera, is the most abundant species of skate on the eastern Bering Sea shelf, accounting for over 90% of total skate biomass. However, little is known regarding the life history of this species despite its common occurrence as bycatch in several Bering Sea fisheries. This is the first study to focus on the age and growth of B. parmifera. From 2003 to 2005, more than one thousand specimens were collected by fisheries observers and on scientific groundfish surveys. Annual banding patterns in more than 500 thin sections of vertebral centra were examined for age determination. Caudal thorns were tested as a potentially non-lethal ageing structure. Annual band pair deposition was verified through edge and marginal increment analyses. A three-parameter von Bertalanffy growth function and a Gompertz growth function were fit to observed length-at-age data. Both models provided significant fits, although the Gompertz function best described the overall pattern of growth in both males and females, based upon statistical criteria and parameter estimates. Age and size at 50% maturity were 9 years and 92 cm TL for males and 10 years and 93 cm TL for females. The maximum observed ages for males and females were 15 years and 17 years, respectively. Estimates of natural mortality (M) ranged from 0.14 to 0.28, and were based on published relationships between M and longevity, age at maturity, and the von Bertalanffy growth coefficient. Due to these life history characteristics and a lack of long-term species-specific stock data, a conservative management approach would be appropriate for B. parmifera.
Effect of intermediate‐ and high‐purity factor VIII concentrates on immune function in HIV‐seropositive haemophiliacs as assessed by quantitative CD 4 counts

Intermediate-purity factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates are believed to adversely influence cellular immune function and accelerate HIV progression in haemophiliac patients. There are reports that cellular immunity, as measured by serial CD4 lymphocyte counts, is better preserved in HIV-infected haemophiliacs who receive high-purity concentrates compared with those receiving intermediate- or low-purity products. We retrospectively evaluated the rate of CD4 cell count decrease in 44 asymptomatic HIV-seropositive severe haemophilia A patients whose purity of prescribed FVIII concentrate was primarily determined by State of residence. Prior to January 1989 all study subjects received treatment with intermediate- or low-purity products. In January 1989 the patients from Mississippi (n = 15) began to exclusively receive a high-purity, monoclonal antibody purified, plasma-derived product from their State Department of Health. The Mississippi cohort was subsequently converted to a high-purity, recombinant FVIII product in May 1993. Patients from Tennessee and Arkansas (n = 29) received intermediate-purity factor during the entire analysis period. Patients were monitored for an average of 68 months with an average of 11 CD4 cell count measurements. The rate of CD4 cell count decrease was derived from the calculated slope of a simple regression in order to account for large individual CD4 count fluctuations during the study period. There was no statistically significant difference in starting CD4 cell count between the 2 study groups. The rate of CD4 cell count decrease was 21.8 ± 52.9 cells μL(-1) year(-1) and 17.0 ± 32.6 cells μL(-1) year(-1) in the high-purity FVIII group and inter-mediate-purity FVIII group, respectively (P = 0.83). The difference in rate of CD4:CD8 ratio decrease between the two groups was also not statistically significant (P = 0.41). These data suggest that the use of the more costly, high-purity monoclonal antibody purified and recombinant FVIII concentrates does not influence the rate of decrease in CD4 cell count in HIV-seropositive haemophiliacs compared with concentrates of lower specific activity obtained using standard chromatographic techniques.
Phosphorous and nitrogen dual heteroatom doped mesoporous carbon synthesized via microwave method for supercapacitor application

Abstract Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) dual heteroatom doped mesoporous carbon (PNDC) synthesized by microwave assisted carbonization of tannin cross-linked to melamine in the presence of polyphosphoric acid was evaluated electrochemically for supercapacitor application. Controlling the N content by varying the amount of tannin to melamine in the carbonization process produced varying nitrogen, phosphorus and oxygen functionalities along with different physical properties. Electrochemical characterization studies revealed that N content is responsible for pseudocapacitance and high surface area plays a vital role in improving the capacitative behavior by enhanced electric double layer formation. In 1.0 M H 2 SO 4 and 6.0 M KOH, PNDC-2 showed a high specific capacitance of 271 F g −1 and 236 F g −1 , respectively. XPS results demonstrate the presence of pyridinic–N, quaternary–N as well as quinone type oxygen functionalities, which accounts for redox reactions and likely play an important role in the transportation of electrons during the charge/discharge process. Thus, the microwave assisted synthesis of doped carbon can provide a novel method of synthesizing materials useful for the fabrication of cheap and high performance supercapacitors.
Levels of DNA polymerases α,β, and γ control and repair-deficient human diploid fibroblasts

The activities of DNA polymerases alpha, beta, and gamma were determined in control and repair-deficient human fibroblasts (xeroderma pigmentosum complementation groups A, C, and D; Fanconi's Anemia; and Bloom's syndrome). Assays were done on 103,000XG supernatants which had been chromatographed on DEAE cellulose to remove nucleic acids and on fractions containing polymerase activities which had been separated from one another on a second DEAE cellulose column. All repair-deficient cell types contained all three DNA polymerase activities. Caffeine, which has been observed to inhibit some DNA-repair processes in intact cells, had no effect on DNA polymerase activities from XP-A, XP-C, XP-D or XP-variant cells. These data indicate that all three polymerases are present in cells which have reduced or absent repair functions and that the caffeine effects observed in living cells are probably not due to the direct action of caffeine on DNA polymerases.
The Cultured Human Cervical Epithelium: A New Model for Studying Paracellular Transport

Objective Human cervical cells form confluent cultures on filters with a relatively high degree of paracellular permeability. We sought to determine the extent to which acute and reversible changes in permeability in responses to modulators of paracellular resistance affect the resistance of the lateral intercellular space (RLIS), or of the tight junctions (RTJ). Methods The question was approached experimentally by measuring the effects of combinations of physical/chemical conditions whose actions on the paracellular resistance are relatively well understood (e.g., changes in hydrostatic gradients, medium tonicity, and medium calcium concentration). Changes in paracellular permeability were determined relative to changes in transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and to the epithelial permeability to the trisulfonic acid pyranine (Ppyr). Changes in RTJ were determined relative to changes in the transepithelial cation selectivity, as determined from changes in dilution potential. Results 1) Low extracellular calcium abrogates the TER and decrease transepithelial cation selectivity (i.e., decreases RTJ). 2) Changes in TER induced by changes in hydrostatic gradients and medium tonicity modulate TER but have no effect on cation selectivity (i.e., the effect was on RLIS). 3) Low-calcium-related decreases in TER are additive to those of hydrostatic and hypertonic gradients and hypotonic conditions. 4) Subluminal to luminal hydrostatic and hypertonic gradients decrease TER, but the effects are nonadditive. Conclusions These results indicate that RLIS and RTJ can be selectively modulated. Based on quantitative analysis of the data it is predicated that RLIS and RTJ constitute the TER of the cultured cervical epithelium, and contribute about 25 and 75%, respectively, to the total resistance.
SEARCH FOR A PHOSPHAGEN IN TETRAHYMENA PYRIFORMIS.

Abstract 1. 1. The question whether the protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis possesses a phosphagen was investigated. An approach to the problem was made by characterization of the guanidine compounds of this organism and by hydrolysis studies of the phosphate-containing compounds. 2. 2. The predominant guanidine present was arginine. Two other unidentified guanidine compounds were found in trace amounts. Apparently neither of these three compounds served as a phosphagen . 3. 3. Several bases which could possibly serve as phosphagens were tested for ability to stimulate ATPase activity. Neither creatine, arginine, taurocyamine, histidine nor arcaine functioned in this respect. The addition of boiled supernatant also had no effect on ATPase activity. 4. 4. Production of inorganic phosphate by extracts of Tetrahymena under mild acid conditions was also determined. The amount produced could be accounted for by the hydrolysis of ATP. 5. 5. When decamethionium bromide was used to inhibit motility of the cells, there was no increase in acid-labile phosphate which would correspond to an increase in the amount of phosphagen present. 6. 6. No evidence for the presence of inorganic polyphosphate was found.
A Quantitative Method for Modeling Blend Composition Distributions in the Presence of Agglomerates

This paper communicates a methodology that uses experimental data and a new statistical method that uses a simulation to reconstruct the composition distribution of a powder blend containing drug agglomerates. The reconstructed distribution can be used subsequently to optimize sampling protocols, compute operating characteristic curves, and estimate process capability for blends containing agglomerates. A blend containing a cohesive API and an excipient is prepared in a blender. Although the API is sieved (mesh 100 μm) prior to its addition to the blender, API agglomerates are found in samples after blending. These agglomerates have either survived the mixing operation, or been created by the operation. The population of sample concentrations is used to estimate the parameters of a statistical model that combines multiple distribution functions to describe the binary mixture with the minor component partially agglomerated. The local concentration for the non-agglomerated portion of the minor component throughout the entire blend is estimated using a Gaussian distribution with parameters $ \overline{x} $ (mode) and s (standard deviation) that are typically well established. The function and the parameters that describe the population of agglomerates of the minor component are estimated using (typically sparse) experimental data. The optimization of the parameters describing the agglomerate population is performed using a simulation of the powder bed in an iterative manner. The simulated blend, built using the statistical model, is extensively examined and a distribution of RSD estimates is obtained. The iterative process for seeking the parameters that describe the agglomerate population converges when the mode of the distribution of RSD estimates matches the experimental RSD value, which is the best available estimate of the blend homogeneity. This methodology is applied to populations of samples for different binary formulations prepared in different blenders. In all cases, after iterating to adjust the parameters of the model, there is an agreement between the experimental and the simulated population of samples with a confidence of, at least, 95%. The methodology described here is an effective tool to create an accurate representation of agglomerated blends based on limited sampling results.
Reverse-flow scapular osteocutaneous flap for head and neck reconstruction.

Background The scapular osteocutaneous flap can be used for the reconstruction of a variety of head and neck defects. In this study, we describe use of the reverse-flow scapular osteocutaneous flap in the setting of a vessel-depleted neck. Methods and Results A retrospective review of patients who underwent scapular osteocutaneous free flap reconstruction over a 5-year period revealed 3 patients who underwent reverse-flow osteocutaneous scapular flaps. Indications for surgery included a large recurrent desmoid tumor of the mandible, recurrent alveolar ridge carcinoma, and osteoradionecrosis. All patients had a history of neck dissection and radiotherapy. Exploration of the contralateral neck was required to identify recipient vessels in all cases. Arterial and venous anastomoses were performed to the distal end of the thoracodorsal artery and subscapular vein, respectively, and no vein grafts were required. There were no cases of flap failures or donor site complications. Conclusion This series demonstrates the safety and efficacy of the reverse flow osteocutaneous flap for complex mandibular reconstruction in cases where recipient vessels are limited. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012
Mitotic Spindle Positioning in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Is Accomplished by Antagonistically Acting Microtubule Motor Proteins

Proper positioning of the mitotic spindle is often essential for cell division and differentiation processes. The asymmetric cell division characteristic of budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, requires that the spindle be positioned at the mother–bud neck and oriented along the mother–bud axis. The single dynein motor encoded by the S. cerevisiae genome performs an important but nonessential spindle-positioning role. We demonstrate that kinesin-related Kip3p makes a major contribution to spindle positioning in the absence of dynein. The elimination of Kip3p function in dyn1Δ cells severely compromised spindle movement to the mother–bud neck. In dyn1Δ cells that had completed positioning, elimination of Kip3p function caused spindles to mislocalize to distal positions in mother cell bodies. We also demonstrate that the spindle-positioning defects exhibited by dyn1 kip3 cells are caused, to a large extent, by the actions of kinesin- related Kip2p. Microtubules in kip2Δ cells were shorter and more sensitive to benomyl than wild-type, in contrast to the longer and benomyl-resistant microtubules found in dyn1Δ and kip3Δ cells. Most significantly, the deletion of KIP2 greatly suppressed the spindle localization defect and slow growth exhibited by dyn1 kip3 cells. Likewise, induced expression of KIP2 caused spindles to mislocalize in cells deficient for dynein and Kip3p. Our findings indicate that Kip2p participates in normal spindle positioning but antagonizes a positioning mechanism acting in dyn1 kip3 cells. The observation that deletion of KIP2 could also suppress the inviability of dyn1Δ kar3Δ cells suggests that kinesin-related Kar3p also contributes to spindle positioning.
Decoupling Capacitor Placement in Power Delivery Networks Using MFEM

The impedance of the power distribution network (PDN) needs to be minimized in order to prevent unwanted voltage fluctuations at frequencies where current transients occur. To reduce PDN impedance, one can place decoupling capacitors that act as local current sources. However, selecting and placing the right capacitors at the right locations are problematic because of the complexity of modern package and board structures. In addition, decoupling capacitors are not effective at higher frequencies, requiring more complicated techniques such as embedded decoupling. This paper introduces a method of reducing the effort expended by the complex task of decoupling capacitor placement: a genetic algorithm that is customized for the selection and placement of decoupling capacitors. The core engine of this optimizing algorithm is a recently developed technique, the multilayer finite element method (MFEM), which solves for PDN impedances. This paper also highlights a method of incorporating vertical circuit elements into MFEM. Using several test cases, it proves the validity of the inclusion of vertical elements in MFEM and the effectiveness of the optimizer.
Microbial secretor–cheater dynamics

Microbial secretions manipulate the environment and communicate information to neighbours. The secretions of an individual microbe typically act externally and benefit all members of the local group. Secreting imposes a cost in terms of growth, so that cheaters that do not secrete gain by sharing the benefits without paying the costs. Cheaters have been observed in several experimental and natural settings. Given that cheaters grow faster than secretors when in direct competition, what maintains the widely observed patterns of secretion? Recent theory has emphasized the genetic structure of populations, in which secretors tend to associate spatially with other secretors, reducing direct competition and allowing highly secreting groups to share mutual benefits. Such kin selection can be a powerful force favouring cooperative traits. Here, I argue that, although kin selection is a factor, the combination of mutation and demographic processes dominate in determining the relative fitness of secretors versus cheaters when measured over the full cycle of microbial life history. Key demographic factors include the local density of microbes at which secretion significantly alters the environment, the extent to which secretion enhances microbial growth and maximum local density, and the ways in which secretion alters colony survival and dispersal.
Providers’ Perspectives About Helpful Information for Evaluating Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services A Practice Note

This practice note presents findings from a statewide survey of domestic violence and sexual assault agency directors (n = 80; 77% response rate), regarding their opinions about the outcome information that should be collected from victims during evaluations of five commonly provided services: legal advocacy, medical advocacy, group services, individual counseling, and shelter. The findings showed that four information types were repeatedly ranked among the most important to collect to understand whether services helped victims including victims' satisfaction with services, victims' progress toward meeting their goals, changes in the extent of violence and/or trauma that victims experienced, and changes in victims' knowledge.
Detection analysis of the MX-MLD with noncoherent integration

The detection performance of the maximum mean level detection (MX-MLD) when noncoherent integration is used under both nonfluctuating and chi-square fluctuating target models is analyzed. Finite series are obtained in all cases. Required thresholds and constant false-alarm rate loss curves are presented, with emphasis on the important Swerling case II model. >
rrnDB: documenting the number of rRNA and tRNA genes in bacteria and archaea

A dramatic exception to the general pattern of single-copy genes in bacterial and archaeal genomes is the presence of 1–15 copies of each ribosomal RNA encoding gene. The original version of the Ribosomal RNA Database (rrnDB) cataloged estimates of the number of 16S rRNA-encoding genes; the database now includes the number of genes encoding each of the rRNAs (5S, 16S and 23S), an internally transcribed spacer region, and the number of tRNA genes. The rrnDB has been used largely by microbiologists to predict the relative rate at which microbial populations respond to favorable growth conditions, and to interpret 16S rRNA-based surveys of microbial communities. To expand the functionality of the rrnDB (http://ribo some.mmg.msu.edu/rrndb/index.php), the search engine has been redesigned to allow database searches based on 16S rRNA gene copy number, specific organisms or taxonomic subsets of organisms. The revamped database also computes average gene copy numbers for any collection of entries selected. Curation tools now permit rapid updates, resulting in an expansion of the database to include data for 785 bacterial and 69 archaeal strains. The rrnDB continues to serve as the authoritative, curated source that documents the phylogenetic distribution of rRNA and tRNA genes in microbial genomes.
Multiple Traumatic Experiences and the Development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This study assesses the differential and combined impacts of multiple lifetime stressors in the development and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. One hundred and four clinical and 64 nonclinical participants were assessed for their exposure to four types of interpersonal trauma: physical and sexual abuse in childhood, lifetime community violence, and domestic violence in adulthood. PTSD symptomatology was assessed using the Los Angeles Symptom Checklist (LASC). Results indicated that exposure to lifetime multiple traumatic experiences was positively correlated with severity of PTSD symptoms. Clinical participants had experienced significantly more multiple traumas and had a higher rate of PTSD than the nonclinical participants. Results also suggested that adults who had experienced childhood sexual abuse were at higher risk for the development of PTSD related to interpersonal violence than adults who were not sexually abused as children.
TREATMENT OF MARITAL CONFLICT AND PREVENTION OF DIVORCE

This paper provides a review of previous literature reviews on the effectiveness of marital therapy and evaluates the long-term efficacy of couples therapy in preventing marital separation and divorce. There is general agreement that marital therapy can be effective in reducing marital conflict and promoting marital satisfaction, at least in the short term. Research examining the long-term efficacy of couples therapy for the prevention of marital separation and divorce is sparse but promising with respect to its effectiveness in promoting marital stability. Predictors of successful marital therapy outcomes, the clinical significance of marital therapy outcomes, and the cost effectiveness of marital therapy are also discussed.
The [PSI+] Prion Exists as a Dynamic Cloud of Variants

[PSI+] is an amyloid-based prion of Sup35p, a subunit of the translation termination factor. Prion “strains” or “variants” are amyloids with different conformations of a single protein sequence, conferring different phenotypes, but each relatively faithfully propagated. Wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolates have SUP35 alleles that fall into three groups, called reference, Δ19, and E9, with limited transmissibility of [PSI+] between cells expressing these different polymorphs. Here we show that prion transmission pattern between different Sup35 polymorphs is prion variant-dependent. Passage of one prion variant from one Sup35 polymorph to another need not change the prion variant. Surprisingly, simple mitotic growth of a [PSI+] strain results in a spectrum of variant transmission properties among the progeny clones. Even cells that have grown for >150 generations continue to vary in transmission properties, suggesting that simple variant segregation is insufficient to explain the results. Rather, there appears to be continuous generation of a cloud of prion variants, with one or another becoming stochastically dominant, only to be succeeded by a different mixture. We find that among the rare wild isolates containing [PSI+], all indistinguishably “weak” [PSI+], are several different variants based on their transmission efficiencies to other Sup35 alleles. Most show some limitation of transmission, indicating that the evolved wild Sup35 alleles are effective in limiting the spread of [PSI+]. Notably, a “strong [PSI+]” can have any of several different transmission efficiency patterns, showing that “strong” versus “weak” is insufficient to indicate prion variant uniformity.
Using genetic mouse models to study the biology and pathology of autophagy in the central nervous system.

Abstract Autophagy is a cellular self‐eating process that plays an important role in neuroprotection as well as neuronal injury and death. The detailed pathway of autophagy in these two opposing functions remains to be elucidated. Neurons are highly specialized, postmitotic cells that are typically composed of a soma (cell body), a dendritic tree, and an axon. Here, we describe methods for studying autophagy in the central nervous system (CNS). The first involves the use of recently developed transgenic mice expressing the fluorescent autophagosome marker, GFP‐LC3. Although CNS neurons show little evidence for the presence of GFP‐LC3‐containing puncta under normal conditions, under pathological conditions such neurons exhibit many GFP‐LC3 puncta. The onset and density of GFP‐LC3 puncta have been found to vary significantly in the subcompartments of the affected neurons. These studies suggest that autophagy is distinctly regulated in CNS neurons and that neuronal autophagy can be highly compartmentalized. While transgenic mice expressing GFP‐LC3 are a valuable tool for assessing autophagic activity in the CNS, caution needs to be taken when interpreting results solely based on the presence of GFP‐LC3 puncta. Therefore, traditional ultrastructural analysis using electron microscopy remains an important tool for studying autophagosomes in vivo . Additional reporters of autophagy are constantly being sought. For example, recently a selective substrate of autophagy p62/SQSTM1 has been shown to be specifically regulated by autophagic activity. Therefore, p62/SQSTM1 protein levels can be used as an additional reporter for autophagic activity.
Dense grid framelets with symmetric lowpass and bandpass filters

The paper presents new tight frame dyadic limit functions with dense time-frequency grid. The underlying lowpass and band-pass filters possess linear phase. The filterbank has additionally two highpass filters which are identical within one sample shift. This leads to wavelets which approximate shift-invariance. The filters in this paper are FIR and have vanishing moments.
Electrodynamics and Thermomechanics of Material Bodies

We consider a material body emersed in space and, relative to an aether frame, the balance laws which govern its interaction with an electromagnetic, thermal and mechanical environment. A detailed formulation of a non-relativistic theory for studying thermomechanical–electromagnetic processes in deformable media is presented and certain invariance issues are discussed. The idea of an isolated process in a given aether frame is introduced and we identify a related non-increasing Lyapunov function for such processes. This function suggests the structure of a class of minimization problems within the statical theory and we discuss a typical problem within the area of elastic dielectrics.
Carbon monoxide production is not enhanced by nitrogenase activity

A diverse group of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and two heme degraders were grown with and without fixed nitrogen sources under oxic and suboxic conditions, with and without addition of heme-containing compounds. Several of the strains produced carbon monoxide (CO) under one or more of these conditions, but nitrogenase activity did not stimulate rates of production relative to controls. Although nitrogenase can reduce CO2 to CO in vitro in the absence of N2, this process likely contributes minimally to CO production in soils under in situ conditions. In contrast, myoglobin or hematin addition under oxic conditions significantly stimulated CO production by the heme degraders. However, estimates of CO production from microbial heme turnover suggest that this too is likely to be only a small source of CO in soils in situ.
Partial purification of the aggregation pheromone nippolure from female Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda)

Partial purification of a pheromone of the zooparasitic nematodeNippostrongylus brasiliensis was achieved. The polypeptide pheromone is degraded by Pronase while increased recovery is obtained after treatment with the protease inhibitors phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride orl-1-tosylamide-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone. The pheromone has a net negative charge, based on retention on DEAE cellulose and an approximate isoelectric point of 7.3. A combination of double treatments with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and gel filtration enables storage up to nine days which yields biological activity similar to fresh, untreated chromatographic fractions.
Synthesis and mechanical properties of novel photosensitive polyimides

This paper surveys novel photoimageable polyimides (PHIMPI), with emphasis on synthesis. Details of the chemistry and synthesis techniques on PHIMPI are discussed. A number of associated issues such as swelling, storage stability, shrinkage, photospeed, solvent developability, moisture absorption, thermal expansion and mechanical properties are presented. Most of the photoimageable polyimides that are commercially suitable to date are negative-acting, although recent developments in positive-acting PHIMPI are included.
EMI and the First CT Scanner

The invention and development of the CT scanner is one of the most fascinating tales in the history of radiology. It includes of one of the 20th century's most important recording companies, perhaps the most influential recording group of all time, and a Nobel laureate in medicine and physiology who never attended medical school or earned a PhD. The story of the CT scanner offers important lessons for radiologists on the interaction between medicine and business that are at least as important today as they were decades ago.
A truncating hash algorithm for processing band-join queries

The truncating-hash band join algorithm for evaluating band joins is described. This algorithm is based on the idea of truncating join attribute values in order to execute band joins in a way similar to hash join algorithms for equijoins. Unlike previously proposed algorithms for band joins, it does not sort either of the input relations during its execution. A comparison between the truncating-hash band join algorithm and previous algorithms for band joins using an analytical model is presented. The model also compares an evaluation of band join for a parallel implementation on a shared-nothing multiprocessor system. The results show that the truncating-hash band join algorithm outperforms the other band join algorithms because of a significantly lower CPU cost. >
TCP with sender-side intelligence to handle dynamic, large, leaky pipes

Transmission control protocol Westwood (TCPW) has been shown to provide significant performance improvement over high-speed heterogeneous networks. The key idea of TCPW is to use eligible rate estimation (ERE) methods to intelligently set the congestion window (cwnd) and slow-start threshold (ssthresh) after a packet loss. ERE is defined as the efficient transmission rate eligible for a sender to achieve high utilization and be friendly to other TCP variants. This work presents TCP Westwood with agile probing (TCPW-A), a sender-side only enhancement of TCPW, that deals well with highly dynamic bandwidth, large propagation time/bandwidth, and random loss in the current and future heterogeneous Internet. TCPW-A achieves this goal by adding the following two mechanisms to TCPW. 1) When a connection initially begins or restarts after a timeout, instead of exponentially expanding cwnd to an arbitrary preset sthresh and then going into linear increase, TCPW-A uses agile probing, a mechanism that repeatedly resets ssthresh based on ERE and forces cwnd into an exponential climb each time. The result is fast convergence to a more appropriate ssthresh value. 2) In congestion avoidance, TCPW-A invokes agile probing upon detection of persistent extra bandwidth via a scheme we call persistent noncongestion detection (PNCD). While in congestion avoidance, agile probing is actually invoked under the following conditions: a) a large amount of bandwidth that suddenly becomes available due to change in network conditions; b) random loss during slow-start that causes the connection to prematurely exit the slow-start phase. Experimental results, both in ns-2 simulation and lab measurements using actual protocols implementation, show that TCPW-A can significantly improve link utilization over a wide range of bandwidth, propagation delay, and dynamic network loading.
Thin Film Rheology and Tribology of Chocolate

We investigated relations between food texture and thin film properties rather than bulk properties. Such thin film rheological or‘tribological’effects may characterize physical behavior and physical perceptions of food products. Experiments were done on three chocolate samples. The Surface Forces Apparatus (SFA) proved to be effective for studying the very complex chocolate system. Very complex thin film behavior was found to be quite different for the three samples. Fat constitution and average particle size were important in determining the type of friction forces generated between shearing/sliding surfaces separated by thin films of chocolate. Such studies can help characterize specific physical qualities of chocolate.
Heavy Metals Uptake by Sardinian Natural Zeolites: Experiment and Modeling

Sardinian natural clinoptilolites are examined to evaluate their performance for heavy metals, i.e., lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc, removal. The natural material is either used as received or once converted into the sodium homoionic form. Equilibrium data for heavy metals in aqueous solutions and the natural material are obtained. The corresponding behavior is quantitatively correlated using classical adsorption isotherms as well as the ion-exchange equilibria model developed by Melis et al. (Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1995, 34, 3916), whose parameters are estimated by fitting the equilibrium data. To evaluate removal performance under dynamic conditions, breakthrough experiments are also conducted. The latter ones are compared with different ion-exchange rate laws (namely, equilibrium model, linear driving force (LDF), and film model rate approximations, along with Nernst−Planck model) with the aim of pointing out the importance of the hindrance effect of intra- and interphase mass transport when using the n...
Atovaquone Tolerance in Plasmodium falciparum Parasites Selected for High-Level Resistance to a Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor

Atovaquone is a component of Malarone, a widely prescribed antimalarial combination, that targets malaria respiration. Here we show that parasites with high-level resistance to an inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase demonstrate unexpected atovaquone tolerance. Fortunately, the tolerance is diminished with proguanil, the second partner in Malarone. It is important to understand such "genetic cross talk" between respiration and pyrimidine biosynthesis since many antimalarial drug development programs target these two seemingly independent pathways.
Using Q Methodology in the Literature Review Process: A Mixed Research Approach

Because of the mixed research-based nature of literature reviews, it is surprising, then, that insufficient information has been provided as to how reviewers can incorporate mixed research approaches into their literature reviews. Thus, in this article, we provide a mixed methods research approach—Q methodology—for analyzing information extracted from literature reviews. Specifically, after describing the history and characteristic of Q methodology, we show how this approach can be mapped onto the literature review process—a process that we call a Q Methodology Research Synthesis (QMRS). In particular, we outline the steps involved in a QMRS. We contend that our framework represents a first step in an attempt to help literature reviewers analyze and interpret information extracted from literature reviews in an optimally rigorous way.
Hemodilution, cerebral O2 delivery, and cerebral blood flow: a study using hyperbaric oxygenation.

Hemodilution reduces blood viscosity and O2content ( Ca O 2 ) and increases cerebral blood flow (CBF). Viscosity and Ca O 2 may contribute to increasing CBF after hemodilution. However, because hem...
Valuing Investment Decisions: Flotation Costs And Capital Budgeting

We highlight a measurement problem inherent in the prevalent approach to factoring flotation costs in capital budgeting decision-making. This arises because the traditional method calculates a higher cost of capital, while keeping the initial cash-flow unchanged. We demonstrate an alternate approach that corrects for this problem by assigning a higher initial investment due to flotation costs, while keeping the cost of capital unchanged.
Complex Litigation: Presumptions of Reliance

Commentary and analysis of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Regents of the University of California v. Credit Suisse First Boston (USA) Inc., 2007 WL 816518 (5th Cir. March 19, 2007), reversing class certification against the banking defendants in the Enron litigation. By reversing class certification against the banking defendants, the Fifth Circuit foreclosed classwide recovery against another set of potential actors involved in the Enron collapse. The article discusses the Fifth Circuit’s circumscribed reading in this decision of the doctrine of presumed reliance in securities fraud class actions, which presumption permits claimants to satisfy the Rule 23(b)(3) predominance requirement for class certification, without having to show individual reliance by each class member. The Fifth Circuit narrowly construed the prevailing fraud-on-the-market presumption articulated by the U.S. Supreme Court in Basic v. Levinson, 485 U.S. 224 (188) and Affiliated Ute Citizens v. U.S., 406 U.S. 128 (1972). In applying the narrower construction of presumed reliance, the Fifth Circuit rejected the possibility for class certification in this litigation. In addition the article discusses the conflict among the circuit courts with respect to the scope of primary liability for secondary actors in schemes to defraud consumers under the securities laws.
Valuing Proactive Policing: A Hedonic Analysis of Stop & Frisk's Amenity Value

This paper measures the value households place on street-level intensive policing practices. It utilizes a large, spatially detailed data set that includes more than one hundred thousand real property sales and four million police-citizen encounters in New York City from 2006-2012. A hedonic analysis of this data shows that the New York Police Department's practice of Stop, Question & Frisk policing was likely seen as a neighborhood dis-amenity by home buyers. Using finely partitioned geographical areas to control for variation in omitted variables and precise spatial statistics describing location relative to surrounding amenities and dis-amenities, I find that properties exposed to more intense Stop & Frisk activity sold for significantly lower prices. In a novel application, this paper shows one way in which housing prices can be used to inform administrative policy related to the provision of public services.
Well Excuse Me! - Remorse, Apology, and Criminal Sentencing

There is a growing body of literature on apology and law. Until recently, most of this literature has dealt with apology in private or civil law, but there is now a significant body of literature developing on apology in criminal law. Most of this literature is very positive about the potential legal role of apology and in this way extends into law a general cultural celebration of apology and other expressions of remorse - a celebration so pervasive that some have even referred to present day America as a "culture of apology." In this essay the author expresses considerable skepticism about our culture of apology and raises doubts about the general idea of integrating apology and remorse into criminal sentencing.