cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The tempo of trophic evolution in small-bodied primates

Objectives: As a primary trophic strategy, insectivory is uncommon and unevenly distributed across extant primates. This pattern is partly a function of the challenges that insectivory poses for large-bodied primates. In this study, I demonstrate that the uneven distribution is also a consequence of variation in the rate of trophic evolution among small-bodied lineages. Methods: The sample consisted of 307 species classified by primary trophic strategy and body size, creating an ordered three-state character: small-insectivorous, small-herbivorous, and large-herbivorous. I tested for rate heterogeneity by partitioning major clades from the rest of the primate tree and estimating separate rates of transition between herbivory and insectivory for small-bodied lineages in each partition. Results: Bayesian analysis of rate estimates indicates that a model with two rates of trophic evolution provides the best fit to the data. According to the model, lorisiforms have a trophic rate that is 4-6 times higher than the rate for other small-bodied lineages. Conclusions: The rate heterogeneity detected here suggests that lorisiforms are characterized by traits that give them greater trophic flexibility than other primates. Previous discussions of trophic evolution in small-bodied primates focused on the low frequency of insectivory among anthropoids and the possibility that diurnality makes insectivory unlikely to evolve or persist. The present study challenges this idea by showing that a common transition rate can explain the distribution of insectivory in small-bodied anthropoids and nocturnal lemurs and tarsiers. The results of this study offer important clues for reconstructing trophic evolution in early primates.
Switching sides: changing power, alliance choices and US–China–Russia relations

How should alliance patterns respond to changing relative power? If states ally against the greatest threat, they should switch alliances if a shift in relative power makes a new state more threatening than the previous adversary. For some states, a “threat transition” will occur when the risk of a preventive war from the declining state falls below the risk of a revisionist war from the rising state, prompting a switch from the rising to the declining state. Such a threat transition may occur before, after or even in the absence of a power transition, in which the second-ranked state overtakes the most powerful state in the system. I present a model of alliance choice over time with changing relative power that develops the dynamic balance of threat perspective. I then discuss US–Chinese–Russian relations as an illustration of the model.
A new approach to integrating patient-generated data with expert knowledge for personalized goal setting: A pilot study.

Abstract Introduction Self-monitoring technologies produce patient-generated data that could be leveraged to personalize nutritional goal setting to improve population health; however, most computational approaches are limited when applied to individual-level personalization with sparse and irregular self-monitoring data. We applied informatics methods from expert suggestion systems to a challenging clinical problem: generating personalized nutrition goals from patient-generated diet and blood glucose data. Materials and methods We applied qualitative process coding and decision tree modeling to understand how registered dietitians translate patient-generated data into recommendations for dietary self-management of diabetes (i.e., knowledge model). We encoded this process in a set of functions that take diet and blood glucose data as an input and output diet recommendations (i.e., inference engine). Dietitians assessed face validity. Using four patient datasets, we compared our inference engine’s output to clinical narratives and gold standards developed by expert clinicians. Results To dietitians, the knowledge model represented how recommendations from patient data are made. Inference engine recommendations were 63 % consistent with the gold standard (range = 42 %–75 %) and 74 % consistent with narrative clinical observations (range = 63 %–83 %). Discussion Qualitative modeling and automating how dietitians reason over patient data resulted in a knowledge model representing clinical knowledge. However, our knowledge model was less consistent with gold standard than narrative clinical recommendations, raising questions about how best to evaluate approaches that integrate patient-generated data with expert knowledge. Conclusion New informatics approaches that integrate data-driven methods with expert decision making for personalized goal setting, such as the knowledge base and inference engine presented here, demonstrate the potential to extend the reach of patient-generated data by synthesizing it with clinical knowledge. However, important questions remain about the strengths and weaknesses of computer algorithms developed to discern signal from patient-generated data compared to human experts.
Instant Soup Scald Injuries in Children

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Scald burns are a major cause of preventable injury in the pediatric population. Prior studies have estimated that each year approximately 100,000 children sustain scald burns because of spilled food and beverages in the United States. Microwaveable instant soups have been previously identified as one source of scald burns. The objectives of this study are to quantify the risk of these injuries in pediatric patients and to describe the patient characteristics, mechanisms of injury and injury patterns …
10-nm SRAM Design Using Gate-Modulated Self-Collapse Write-Assist Enabling 175-mV V MIN Reduction With Negligible Active Power Overhead

A 21-Mb/mm2 SRAM design using 0.0367- $\mu {\mathrm{ m}}^{2}$ HCC bitcell on a 10-nm CMOS technology is presented. Gate-modulated self-collapse (GSC) write-assist is utilized to enable 175 mV $V_{\mathrm{ MIN}}$ reduction with negligible active energy overhead, and a modest 5.5% array area overhead on a 256-Kb instance. Compared to NBL and TVC write-assist techniques, GSC delivers comparable $V_{\mathrm{ MIN}}$ improvement across a wide frequency range with 31%–108% write energy reduction.
Externalities of the Sharing Economy: Evidence from Ridesharing and the Local Housing Market

This study highlights the externalities of the sharing economy on local economies. Using the introduction of Uber X as a staggered shock, I assess how ridesharing influences the local housing market through the interaction with public transit. After ridesharing’s entry, housing prices and market rents increase at the zip code level. The effect is more pronounced in locations with greater access to public transit and lower driving probability, consistent with the notion that ridesharing complements public transit. Similarly, there is a larger increase in housing prices and rents in zip codes with larger populations, lower median ages and more minorities, consistent with Uber X users’ characteristics. Also, price appreciation is strongest for houses that are just beyond walking distance to public transit, suggesting that ridesharing helps solve the “last mile” problem and redistributes the public transit premium. Overall, this study highlights the externalities of the sharing economy and provides important policy implications.
The Stage Was Set for Disaster: For-Profit Nursing Homes, Federal Law, and COVID-19

For-profit nursing homes came to dominate nursing-home care in the United States in the second half of the twentieth century, especially after the passage of Medicare and Medicaid legislation in the 1960s. However, for-profit nursing homes on average provided inferior care when compared to state-run and nonprofit nursing homes. Congress attempted to address the problems in nursing homes in the final decades of the twentieth century, but massive statutes and abundant regulations served mostly to legitimize the problematic for-profit nursing home. COVID-19 then tragically underscored the flaws in the legally sanctioned for-profit nursing home as a major socio-legal institution in American life.
Symmetry Breaking Homoclinic Chaos

The essentially spatio-temporal dynamics of extended physical systems is still poorly understood, Indeed, in spite of the success of dynamical systems theory to explain the deterministic chaos occurring in confined situations, this approach is unable to handle the complex behaviors appearing when the spatial structure is not frozen. From this point of view, turbulence may be seen as the ultimate complex system, and it seems interesting to study models of extended systems somewhat “simpler” than the Navier-Stokes equations but nevertheless retaining some of the essential physics of the problem. In such models (one-dimensional P.D.E.’s, cellular automata), a transition to turbulence via spatio-temporal intermittency is often observed [1,2,3]. Such regimes are characterized by the coexistence of clusters of laminar cells and groups of coherent cells within a sea of turbulent patches. Now, a most intriguing problem in the theory of hydrodynamic turbulence is the formation of large-scale, coherent structures (C.S.) in a flow performing random turbulent motion of small scales. The C.S. are important in transport of heat, mass and momentum, and they are responsible for the intermittent nature of turbulence in many shear and boundary layer flows. Is it possible that the dynamics of C.S. are related to spatio-temporal intermittences observed in simpler, lower-dimensional systems?
The Characteristics of a Firm's Information Environment and the Predictive Ability of Insider Trades

This study examines the relation between the ability of insider trades to predict future returns and the availability of firm information. It investigates the marginal effect of three information sources: financial statements, analyst following, and firm information provided by voluntary disclosures or general news coverage. Timely disclosure of value relevant information reduces insiders' ability to trade profitably on private information. Investors acquire timely information from a variety of sources, and information provided by one source can affect the production of information by other sources. Thus, we examine these major sources simultaneously to understand the marginal effects of each. We find that the ability of insider trades to predict future returns diminishes in situations of increased analyst following and financial statement informativeness. However, we are unable to find a significant relation between the availability of company news and the predictive ability of insider trades.
Book Review of "Breaking Out II: The Complete Guide to Building a Positive LGBTI Identity"

This book is an excellent hands-on manual for helping LGBTI individuals develop a positive self-image and acceptance of who they are within society. The author provides recommendations for better understanding one’s self and connecting to LGBTI culture and the dominant culture, while also addressing the unique concerns of LGBTI adolescents. The author offers a step-by-step guide for improving one’s self-esteem and self-acceptance through the use of worksheets, charting, visualization, goal-setting, and other experiential exercises. Also included are self-evaluations that assist readers in gauging their own improvement in the skill areas discussed.
Absence of marginal zone B cells in Pyk-2–deficient mice defines their role in the humoral response

The lymphoid organs contain specialized microanatomic structures composed of lymphoid, myeloid and stromal cells that are vital to the generation of an effective adaptive immune response. Although the existence of these specialized structures has been known for over a century, the developmental signals that generate them and the specific roles of these structures in the immune response have remained largely elusive. Because of their position adjacent to the marginal sinuses, marginal zone B (MZB) cells are amongst the first population of cells seen by blood born antigens and are presumed to have a critical role in host defense against bacterial pathogens. Here we demonstrate that a deficiency of the tyrosine kinase (Pyk-2) results in a cell autonomous defect of MZB cell production. In response to repetitive polysaccharide antigens (T-independent type II (TI-II)) Pyk-2-deficient mice displayed marked suppression of IgM, IgG3 and IgG2a production. Furthermore, complement receptor engagement proved necessary for the specific targeting of polysaccharide antigens to MZB cells. These results suggest how innate immune responses mediated through complement coupling are translated into an adaptive response by MZB cells, and provide a potential mechanism for the T cell independence of humoral responses to polysaccharide antigens.
Seeing eye to eye: A dyadic investigation of the effect of relational demography on perceptions of mentoring activities

Purpose – To examine the influence of demographic differences on congruence of mentors' and proteges' perceptions of developmental support and frequency of communication.Design/methodology/approach – Data on demographics (organizational tenure, age, gender, and educational level), mentoring functions, and frequency of communication were collected from both the mentor and protege in 27 mentoring dyads from two medium‐sized high technology companies. Correlation and pattern analysis were used to analyze the data.Findings – Results indicated significant congruence between mentor and protege perceptions of developmental mentoring and frequency of communication. Differences between the mentor and protege on organizational tenure and age reduced congruence of perceptions, whereas differences with respect to gender and education did not.Research limitations/implications – The small sample size limits the statistical power of the analysis and the inclusion of high technology companies limits generalizability.Prac...
Using Computers in Evaluating Vertebrate Pest Control Procedures

Computer use in vertebrate pest management has been suggested for allocating research funds and justifying budgets, and a technique for doing so is suggested. An algorithm for deciding when to use computers is given. Injury and damage are defined, and the role of the computer in determining the marginal difference is supported. Eight specific applications for computers are recommended, including increased use of nonparametric statistical techniques. The use of the computer as a deductive aid in data analysis for managerial decision making is suggested. A regional or national computer program is described both as a means for improving vertebrate pest damage control decisions and as a concept essential for improved evaluation of control procedures.
V-Volcano: Addressing Students' Misconceptions in Earth Sciences Learning through Virtual Reality Simulations

Research in teaching and learning about Earth Sciences indicates that first year geology students not only lack knowledge about basic concepts, but that they may also have developed their own potentially incorrect explanations of those phenomena. Understanding volcanic concepts is one of the areas in which noticeable misconceptions occur, as a significant number of students seem to acquire their knowledge from non-traditional sources such as sensationalist media and catastrophic films. This paper presents V-Volcano, a virtual reality volcano activity learning environment that immerses students in a scientifically-accurate simulation of volcanic systems. Students are able to generate and manipulate volcanic eruptions in real-time with data monitoring to explore the effects of changing conditions. The goal is to provide a geoscience tool that can be used to correct student misunderstandings about volcanic phenomena.
Comparison of left ventricular stroke volume assessment by two- and three-dimensional echocardiography in a swine model of acute myocardial infarction validated by thermodilution method.

Background: Accurate left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV) measurement is clinically important in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction. Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) is expected to overcome limitations of two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE). However, inaccuracy in volumetry by 3DE has often been reported hindering further clinical application. This study aimed at comparing agreement and correlation with the thermodilution method (TDM) between 2DE and 3DE measurement of LVSV. Methods: Swine model of myocardial infarction was created and LVSV was measured by 3DE by subtracting end-systolic from end-diastolic volume (3DE-method). Pulsed Doppler ultrasound and left ventricular outlet tract area were used to measure LVSV by 2DE (2DE-method). TDM was performed by the Swan-Ganz catheter. Bland–Altman analysis followed by assessment of intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were performed between 2DE-method and TDM as well as 3DE-method and TDM. Results: A total of 25 comparisons revealed a significant overestimation of LVSV by the 2DE-method (bias = 6.5 mL; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9–9.0 mL; P < 0.0001), whereas there was no significant bias by the 3DE-method (bias =–1.6; 95% CI, –4.3 to 1.1 mL; P = 0.22). The ICC between 2DE and TDM was 0.49 (95% CI, 0.14–0.74) whereas ICC between 3DE and TDM was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.51–0.88). Conclusions: This study elucidated that LVSV is better estimated by 3DE-method compared to the conventional 2DE-method. This investigation will provide a more accurate, quick and noninvasive way of LVSV and cardiac output assessment at bedside by further application of 3DE.
ΔguaBA attenuated Shigella flexneri 2a strain CVD 1204 as a Shigella vaccine and as a live mucosal delivery system for fragment C of tetanus toxin

The ΔguaBA Shigella flexneri 2a vaccine candidate, CVD 1204, was evaluated as a delivery system for the non-toxic C-terminal of tetanus toxin (fragment C), either as a polypeptide expressed in the bacteria or as a DNA vaccine. CVD 1204 was transformed with plasmid pTETnir15 which encodes the fragment C gene (tetC) under the control of the inducible prokaryotic nir15 promoter or a DNA vaccine plasmid pcDNA3tetC which encodes tetC under the eukaryotic hCMV promoter. Guinea pigs immunised intranasally (i.n.) with either recombinant strain mounted a secretory immune response against S. flexneri 2a Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and were protected against ocular challenge with wild-type S. flexneri 2a. Both strains were effective in eliciting a serum IgG response against fragment C in guinea pigs following i.n. immunisation. Furthermore, serum from guinea pigs immunised with CVD 1204(pTETnir15) contained tetanus toxin neutralising antibodies. These results demonstrate that this S. flexneri 2a vaccine candidate can serve as a vehicle for the delivery of foreign antigens to the systemic immune system while retaining its capacity to serve as a mucosal Shigella vaccine.
Sustainability and Success of the Acute Care Surgery Model in the Nontrauma Setting

Background The use of an acute care surgical model has been shown to improve patient care and efficiency. We propose that it is possible to apply this model to emergency general surgery patients at a nontrauma hospital. With this acute care surgery service, no change in the quality of care will occur, and improvements in quality, cost, and outcomes may be achieved and sustained. Study Design A retrospective review was performed of all emergency surgery operations performed at a tertiary referral community hospital without a trauma service. Data were collected from 1 year before and each year up to 4 years after the implementation of an acute care surgical (ACS) service. Results There were fewer overall complications with ACS (21% to 12%, p Conclusions An acute care surgery service can be successfully implemented at a nontrauma hospital. The improvements seen in outcomes and finances are sustainable over time. This sort of coordinated, consistent care is successful and allows alignment of the goals of surgeons, hospitals, and patients.
Temporal accumulation of Organochlorine pesticides in shorebirds wintering on the south Texas coast, 1979–80

Organochlorine pesticide residues were determined in 168 shorebirds of three species collected at approximate bimonthly intervals during the fall and winter months of 1979–80 near Port Mansfield on the south Texas coast. The study was conducted to determine if shorebirds wintering on mudflats at the outlets of agricultural drains in Texas accumulated pesticides during this period. The predominant Organochlorine residues detected in shorebirds were DDE, dieldrin, and toxaphene. Ninety-five % of the skinned carcasses analyzed contained detectable levels of DDE, 13% contained dieldrin, and 22% contained toxaphene. DDE significantly increased in all species of shorebirds from October to December, with potentially dangerous levels accumulating in some long-billed dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus) and American avocets (Recurvirostra americana), but DDE residues seldom exceeded 0.5 ppm in carcasses of western sandpipers (Calidris mauri). After about two months on the study area, no further residue increases were documented. The high levels of DDE detected in a large proportion of the dowitchers, and to a lesser extent in the avocets, are near or within the range known to inhibit reproduction in some avian species. This study demonstrates that certain aquatic areas near agricultural lands on the south Texas coast may be potential threats to waterbirds eight years after the use of DDT was banned in the United States.
Effects of biological explanations for mental disorders on clinicians’ empathy

Mental disorders are increasingly understood in terms of biological mechanisms. We examined how such biological explanations of patients’ symptoms would affect mental health clinicians’ empathy—a crucial component of the relationship between treatment-providers and patients—as well as their clinical judgments and recommendations. In a series of studies, US clinicians read descriptions of potential patients whose symptoms were explained using either biological or psychosocial information. Biological explanations have been thought to make patients appear less accountable for their disorders, which could increase clinicians’ empathy. To the contrary, biological explanations evoked significantly less empathy. These results are consistent with other research and theory that has suggested that biological accounts of psychopathology can exacerbate perceptions of patients as abnormal, distinct from the rest of the population, meriting social exclusion, and even less than fully human. Although the ongoing shift toward biomedical conceptualizations has many benefits, our results reveal unintended negative consequences.
The Remineralization of Fluoride-treated Bovine Enamel Surfaces

Various etching methods are examined with respect to their ability to induce the surface nucleation and growth of fluorapatite from solutions of low, sustained supersaturation with respect to hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite. The constant composition kinetics method enables the rates of remineralization to be precisely determined, and the possibility of the direct growth of fluorapatite on calcium fluoride crystals in calcium phosphate solutions of low supersaturation has also been examined.
Burgers turbulence with random forcing: Similarity functional solution of the Hopf equation.

For the problem of Burgers turbulence with random forcing, a similarity functional solution of the Hopf equation is presented and compared with scaling arguments and replica Bethe-ansatz treatments. The corresponding field theory is almost nonanomalous. In one dimension the local fluctuations develop self-similar time-dependent behavior, while relative fluctuations within the correlation length form a steady state with Gaussian distribution. This is the precise meaning of the so-called fluctuation-dissipation theorem. The one-dimensional properties are also studied numerically. It is shown that the fluctuation-dissipation theorem is invalid above one dimension and higher-order cumulants are nonzero. In two dimensions the cumulants exhibit a logarithmic spatial dependence, which is close to but different from that in the Edwards-Wilkinson case. No other similarity functional solution is found, which may indicate that the ``strong-coupling'' results are not described by the forced Burgers equation.
Geriatric mental health policy: Impact on service delivery and directions for effecting change

The treatment of mental health problems in older adults has advanced considerably over the past several decades. Nevertheless, the mental health needs of the nation's elderly population remain substantially unmet. This article identifies the significant but previously neglected role of regulatory policies and administrative practices in limiting the use and provision of geriatric mental health services. Such factors are the least recognized and understood by psychologists, although they are the very factors on which psychologists can have the most potential influence. This article subsequently identifies salient legislative proposals and regulatory developments, while addressing the importance of advocacy on agenda setting and policy change. The final section provides specific proposals and mechanisms at micro and macro levels for improving the geropsychology service system.
Sudden Advanced Illness An Emerging Concept Among Palliative Care and Surgical Critical Care Physicians

Background:End-of-life discussions in critically-ill patients with acute surgical conditions may be rushed and occur earlier during hospitalization. This study explores the concept of sudden advanced illness (SAI) and its relevance to patients requiring Palliative and Surgical Critical Care.Methods:Semi-structured interviews were completed with 16 physicians, querying each about (1) definitional components, (2) illustrative cases, and (3) comfort with SAI. Analysis was done by grounded theory.Results:SAI was characterized as unforeseen, emerging abruptly and producing devastating injury, often in healthy, younger patients. There is (1) prognostic uncertainty, (2) loss of capacity, and (3) unprepared surrogate decision-making. Cases are emotionally-charged and often personal.Conclusion:The emerging concept of SAI is important for understanding how Palliative Care can enhance care for this subset of patients.
Resolution Effects and Enslaved Finite-Difference Schemes for a Double Gyre, Shallow-Water Model

We study numerical solutions of the reduced-gravity shallow-water equation on a beta plane, subjected to a sinusoidally varying wind forcing leading to the formation of a double gyre circulation. As expected the dynamics of the numerical solutions are highly dependent on the grid resolution and the given numerical algorithm. In particular, the statistics of the solutions are critically dependent on the scheme's ability to resolve the Rossby deformation radius. We present a method, applicable to any finite-difference scheme, which effectively increases the spatial resolution of the given algorithm without changing its temporal stability or memory requirements. This enslaving method makes use of properties of the governing equations in the absence of time derivatives to reduce the overall truncation error. By examining statistical measures of stochastic solutions at resolutions near the Rossby radius, we show that the enslaved schemes are capable of reproducing statistics of standard schemes computed at twice the resolution.
Ministerial effectiveness: A review of recent research

Effectiveness of ministers is difficult to measure. Ideally, the goal would be to find out if they have been helpful in reconciling people to God and to each other. However, these criteria can only be assessed indirectly. This essay proposes a model of effectiveness and reviews several studies designed to assess one or more of its facets. Although results are only somewhat conclusive, the methods are promising and future research on this foundation is indicated.
Experimental Studies of Solar and Solar-Dehumidification Lumber Drying.

A 1.2-m highly efficient and economical solar kiln, heated with external solar collectors built from recycled aluminum beverage cans, has been designed and constructed to dry green lumber to 15% moisture content. Yellow-poplar lumber was effectively dried in all seasons of the year in less time by solar kiln drying than by air drying. Solar kiln drying was most effective in the summer and early fall, when kiln efficiencies were 90% to 67%, respectively, and drying times were 2 to 3/2 times faster than air drying. A 1.5-kW dehumidifier was installed in the solar dryer to determine the performance of a combined solar-dehumidification dryer. During winter operation the solar-dehumidification system was able to dry green lumber down to 8% moisture content in 18 days. Also, energy consumption and time to dry to 15% moisture content was less with solar-dehumidification drying than with just solar drying.
Optimal bit allocation for channel-adaptive multiple description coding

Multiple Description Coding (MDC) techniques have been explored in recent years as an alternative to other methods to provide robustness to multimedia information in the presence of losses. In a MDC approach some redundancy is preserved in the source coding so that, after appropriate packetization, if packet losses occur it is possible to recover by exploiting the redundancy (statistical or deterministic) between what was received and what was lost. While MDC techniques have shown some promising results, one potential drawback is the fact that changing their redundancy level may entail significant changes to the system. Since the level of redundancy should be adjusted to match the specific channel conditions, the difficulty in adapting can be a significant problem for time varying transmission scenarios. As an example, MDC techniques based on transform coding would require a modification of the transform at encoder and decoder each time the channel conditions change. In our previous work, we have proposed a simple approach for MDC that involves using a polyphase transform and deterministic redundancy (e.g., each sample of input data is transmitted several times, with different coding rates). This approach is useful in that it greatly simplifies the design of a MDC scheme, since the rate allocation determines the amount of redundancy. Moreover, it provides a great deal of flexibility as it enables the choice of redundancy to be almost arbitrary. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our system we introduce an optimal bit allocation algorithm that allows us to select the amount of redundancy to be introduced in the signal that best matches a given target packet loss rate. It is clear that such a trade- off exists, as the level of redundancy should increase when the packet loss rate increases, at the cost of some degradation in the corresponding error free performance. Our results show significant differences between optimal and suboptimal choices of redundancy. Moreover, given that the decoder remains unchanged when the bit allocation changes it is possible to adapt very simply to the changes in channel behavior without requiring a change in the packet sizes, or the structure of the decoder.
Iron (III) derivatives of 4,7-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline.

Abstract The chemistry of the iron (III) derivatives of 4,7-dihydroxy-l,10-phenanthroline has been studied in detail. Oxidation of the intensely red tris(4,7-dihydroxy-l,10-phenanthroline) iron (II) ion results in a grey compound, tris(4,7-dihydroxy-l,10-phenanthroline)iron(III), which is stable below pH 10. Above pH 10 the grey compound is partially converted into an amber compound in which the ratio of phenanthroline to iron is 2:1. The amber compound is the conjugate base of a purple 2:1 compound with pKa = 9·77. The visible absorption spectra of the three species at various pH values are reported. For 4,7-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline pK3, as determined by ultraviolet absorptometry, is 12·62 ± 0·2.
The use of genetically altered astrocytes to provide nerve growth factor to adrenal chromaffin cells grafted into the striatum

Transplantation of adrenal chromaffin cells into the striatum of Parkinson's disease patients is unlikely to become a reliable therapy unless techniques are devised to improve cell survival. To address this issue, we investigated the use of genetically altered astrocytes that constitutively secrete β-nerve growth factor (NGF) to provide trophic support for adrenal chromaffin cells grafted into the dopamine-denervated striatum of the rat. Primary rat astrocytes were altered genetically in vitro by infection with a retroviral vector harboring a mouse β-NGF transgene under constitutive long terminal repeat transcriptional control. Confluent cultures of these genetically altered astrocytes secrete NGF into their culture medium at a rate of approximately 9 pg/105 cells/h. This rate of NGF secretion is at least 10-fold higher than that of confluent sister cultures of uninfected astrocytes. The effects of the NGF-secreting astrocytes on the survival and neuronal transformation of dissociated adrenal chromaffin cells were assessed in vitro and following transplantation into the dopamine-denervated striatum of the adult rat. In vitro experiments demonstrated that neuritic outgrowth is stimulated when postnatal day 12 chromaffin cells are grown on a monolayer of the genetically altered astrocytes. When co-grafted with genetically altered astrocytes, young postnatal chromaffin cells displayed extensive neuritic outgrowth within the host brain 2 weeks postimplantation, whereas chromaffin cells grafted alone or with normal astrocytes retain an endocrine-like morphology. Survival of the chromaffin cells is also enhanced 3–6-fold when co-grafted with the genetically altered astrocytes. In addition, the neuronally transformed chromaffin cells appear to lose adrenergic properties as assessed by diminished immunoreactivity to the adrenergic marker,phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase. Although their survival is also enhanced approximately 4-fold relative to controls, adult chromaffin cells do not convert to a neuronal morphology when co-grafted with the genetically altered astrocytes. These studies demonstrate that rat astrocytes carrying a mouse NGF transgene provide trophic support for intrastriatal chromaffin cell grafts.
Evidence for the role of actin filaments in regulating cell swelling.

Actin filaments could play a role in regulation of cell swelling by two distinct mechanisms. One is by a tensile mechanism involving the coordinated interaction of actin and actinassociated proteins with all plasma membrane domains. The actin-membrane linkage would restrain cell swelling in the event of the influx of water. In shark rectal gland cells, conditions that cause massive cell swelling (i.e., high K medium, exposure to mercurials) are associatd with disruption of membrane-associated actin filaments. Under conditions that result in only moderate swelling (Na-pump inhibition, Li substitution) the actin filaments remain associated with the cell membrane. Thus, in this cell type, disruption of the actin-membrane organization is correlated with increased swelling
Marital assortment and phenotypic convergence: Longitudinal evidence

Abstract This study provides a direct test of whether the observed similarity of spouses is due to initial assortment rather than to convergence of phenotypes. With data from three well‐known longitudinal studies, phenotypic convergence is examined using both variable‐ and person‐centered analyses. The longitudinal evidence does not support the hypothesis that couples increasingly resemble each other with time. Spouse correlations most likely reflect initial assortment at marriage and not the convergence of phenotypes.
Multi-kilohertz control of multiple robots via IEEE-1394 (firewire)

We present a specialized FireWire protocol that takes advantage of broadcast messages and peer-to-peer transfers to minimize the number of transactions, and thus the software overhead, on the control PC, thereby enabling fast real-time control. We provide an open source Verilog implementation of a Link Layer Controller (LLC) that supports this design on an FPGA-based motor controller. Performance is measured on a da Vinci® Research Kit that contains 8 of these controllers to drive 28 axes. Compared to a conventional asynchronous transfer-based solution, this protocol decreases the I/O time by more than a factor of 4. This performance gain can be used to increase the control frequency to 6kHz, scale to a larger number of axes, or provide greater tolerance to timing variations due to a non-real-time operating system, such as the standard Linux kernel.
A Rapid Method Employing Impregnated Charcoal and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry for the Determination of Mercnry

A quantitative procedure has been developed for the determination of submicrogram quantities of mercury in atmospheric, biological, and aquatic samples. In the analysis of biological and water samples, organically bound mercury is oxidized with nitric acid, and all mercury present is reduced to the elemental state with stannous chloride. The liberated mercury is driven by an air current through impregnated charcoal for approximately 2 minutes. A glass tube packed with impregnated charcoal is used to take integrated atmospheric samples. All charcoal samples are analyzed directly for mercury with an atomic absorption sampling boat assembly. Measurement of the recorder peak height is used to determine the quantity of mercury present. The total analysis time is less than 5 minutes for aqueous samples, and the minimum detectable quantity of mercury is 0.02 microgram. After collection of mercury, the charcoal samples may be stored for later analysis.
DYNAMICS OF CELLULAR AND EXTRACELLULAR cAMP IN ANABAENA FLOS-AQUAE (CYANOPHYTA): INTRINSIC CULTURE VARIABILITY AND CORRELATION WITH METABOLIC VARIABLES1

The production and extracellular release of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP) by the blue-green alga Anabaena flos-aquae (Lyngb.) Breb. varied greatly within and between active growth phase and stationary phase and under differing nutrient regimes. Enhanced cellular cAMP production was found in actively growing Anaebaena inoculated into media deficient in nitrate or phosphate, or into fresh media containing non-limiting nutrient concentrations. In stationary phase Anabaena, but not actively growing cells, the concentrations of intracellular cAMP present in cells grown under a variety of nutrient regimes could be significantly correlated to (/sup 14/C)-bicarbonate uptake by an exponential relationship.
Effects of limiter biasing on the ATF torsatron

Positive limiter biasing on the currentless Advanced Toroidal Facility (ATF) torsatron produces a significant increase in the particle confinement with no improvement in the energy confinement. Experiments have been carried out in 1-T plasmas with {approximately}400 kill of electron cyclotron heating ECM. Two rail limiters located at the last closed flux surface (LCFS), one at the top and one at the bottom of the device, are biased at positive and negative potentials with respect to the vessel. When the limiters are positively biased at up to 300 V, the density increases sharply to the ECH cutoff value. At the same time, the H{sub {alpha}} radiation drops, indicating that the particle confinement improves. When the density is kept constant, the H{sub {alpha}} radiation is further reduced and there is almost no change in the plasma stored energy. Under these conditions, the density profile becomes peaked and the electric field becomes outward-pointing outside the LCFS and more negative inside the LCFS. In contrast, negative biasing yields some reduction of the density and stored energy at constant gas feed, and the plasma potential profile remains the same. Biasing has almost no effect on the intrinsic impurity levels in the plasma.
Kinetics of intramolecular electron exchange between phthalimide groups (PI) of the PI-CH2-(cyclohexane)-CH2-PI⨪ radical anions

Abstract We have determined at various temperatures the frequency of the intramolecular electron transfer between the phthalimide groups, (PI), of the radical anions PI-CH 2 -(cyclohexane)-CH 2 -PI ⨪ (in which the substituents are placed in the equatorial positions on carbon atoms 1 and 4 or 1 and 3 of the cyclohexane ring) and compared it with the frequency of intramolecular exchange in the flexible radical anions PI-(CH 2 ) 6 -PI ⨪ and PI-(CH 2 ) 5 -PI ⨪ , respectively.
Activity- and mTOR-dependent suppression of Kv1.1 channel mRNA translation in dendrites

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is implicated in synaptic plasticity and local translation in dendrites. We found that the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, increased the Kv1.1 voltage-gated potassium channel protein in hippocampal neurons and promoted Kv1.1 surface expression on dendrites without altering its axonal expression. Moreover, endogenous Kv1.1 mRNA was detected in dendrites. Using Kv1.1 fused to the photoconvertible fluorescence protein Kaede as a reporter for local synthesis, we observed Kv1.1 synthesis in dendrites upon inhibition of mTOR or the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor. Thus, synaptic excitation may cause local suppression of dendritic Kv1 channels by reducing their local synthesis.
Redshifted intergalactic He + 3 8.7 GHz hyperfine absorption

Motivated by recent interest in redshifted 21 cm emission of intergalactic hydrogen, we investigate the 8.7 GHz $^{2}\mathrm{S}_{1/2}$ $F=0\ensuremath{-}1$ hyperfine transition of $^{3}\mathrm{He}^{+}$. While the primordial abundance of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ relative to hydrogen is ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$, the hyperfine spontaneous decay rate is 680 times larger. Furthermore, the antenna temperature is much lower at the frequencies relevant for the $^{3}\mathrm{He}^{+}$ transition compared to that of $zg6$ 21 cm emission. We find that the spin temperature of this 8.7 GHz line in the intergalactic medium is approximately the cosmic microwave background temperature, such that this transition is best observed in absorption against high-redshift, radio-bright quasars. We show that intergalactic 8.7 GHz absorption is a promising, unsaturated observable of the ionization history of intergalactic helium (for which $\mathrm{He}\text{ }\mathrm{II}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{He}\text{ }\mathrm{III}$ reionization is believed to complete at $z\ensuremath{\sim}3$) and of the primordial $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ abundance. Instruments must reach $\ensuremath{\sim}1\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{Jy}$ RMS noise in bands of 1 MHz on a 1 Jy source to directly resolve this absorption. However, in combination with H i $\mathrm{Ly}\ensuremath{\alpha}$ forest measurements, an instrument can statistically detect this absorption from $zg3$ with $30\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{Jy}$ RMS noise in 0.1 MHz spectral bands over 100 MHz, which may be within the reach of present instruments.
Retrospective Voting and Future Expectations: The Case of the Budget Deficit in the 1988 Election

According to theories of retrospective voting, voters hold an incumbent administration responsible for problems or achievements that occur during its term. During the Reagan administrations, the deficit was one such problem. In this article, the interplay between the deficit issue and the voting decision is investigated. The major findings of this study are the following: (a) The deficit was a salient issue in 1988, and for many voters it was the most important problem facing the nation; (b) voters recognized that the deficit was a Reagan-era phenomenon; (c) an individual's perception of which party was better able to solve the deficit problem strongly influenced the vote; (d) many thought the Republican Party would better manage the deficit issue in the future. Thus Republicans suffered very little at the ballot box as a result of the issue. Future refinements of retrospective-voting theory must take into account this failure to hold the incumbent party accountable for problems encountered during its term.
Asymmetrical Brain Electrical Activity Discriminates Between Psychometrically-Matched Verbal and Spatial Cognitive Tasks

This study compared the asymmetry of different features of brain electrical activity during the performance of a verbal task (word finding) and a spatial task (dot localization) that had been carefully matched on psychometric properties and accompanying motor activity. Nineteen right-handed subjects were tested. EEG was recorded from F3, F4, C3, C4, P3, and P4, referred to both Cz and computer-derived averaged-ears references, and Fourier transformed. Power in the delta, theta, alpha, and beta bands was computed. There were significant Task X Hemisphere effects in all bands for Cz-referenced data and for the alpha and beta bands for ears-referenced data. The effects were always either greater power suppression in the hemisphere putatively most engaged in task processing or greater power in the opposite hemisphere. Correlations between EEG and task performance indicated that Cz-referenced parietal alpha asymmetry accounted for the most variance in verbal task performance. Power within individual hemispheres or across hemispheres was unrelated to task performance. The findings indicate robust differences in asymmetrical brain physiology that are produced by well-matched verbal and spatial cognitive tasks.
Just Skin Deep? The Impact of Interviewer Race on the Assessment of African American Respondent Skin Tone

Over the last decade, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has seen a significant increase in the number of discrimination claims based on skin shade. However, in some ways, substantiating colorism has proven to be more difficult than documenting racism, as skin tone data are rarely collected and few existing skin tone measures have been validated. The present study examines an increasingly popular skin tone scale that includes a professionally designed color guide to enhance rater consistency. Logistic regression analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and General Social Survey indicates that despite the addition of the color guide, the race of the interviewer matters for the assessment of respondent skin tone. On average, African American respondents with a white interviewer were about 3 times more likely to be classified as dark than those with an African American interviewer. We argue that failing to appropriately account for this race-of-interviewer effect can significantly impact colorism findings.
Solid–Electrolyte Interphase Formation and Electrolyte Reduction at Li-Ion Battery Graphite Anodes: Insights from First-Principles Molecular Dynamics

Understanding the nature and formation of the solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed in electrochemical storage devices, such as Li-ion batteries, is most important for improving functionality. Few experiments exist that adequately probe the SEI, particularly in situ. We perform predictive ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of the anode–electrolyte interface for several electrolytes and interface functionalizations. These show strongly differing effects on the reducibility of the electrolyte. Electrolyte reduction occurs rapidly, on a picosecond time scale. Orientational ordering of electrolyte near the interface precedes reduction. The reduced species depend strongly on surface functionalization and presence of LiPF6 salt. While LiPF6 salt in ethylene carbonate is more stable at a hydrogen-terminated anode, oxygen/hydroxyl termination causes spontaneous dissociation to form LiF and other fluorophosphates. LiF migrates to the interface creating chainlike structures, consistent with experimental o...