cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Choice, Voice & Exit: School Vouchers in Milwaukee

In this analysis, I examine the relationship between school vouchers and parents’ attitudes. Particular attention is paid to how school choice programs are related to how parents use voice and exit. Original survey data from parents participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, the nation’s oldest and largest urban voucher program, are analyzed. Voucher students were matched to a set of public school students based on a sophisticated matching algorithm. The comprehensive nature of the survey instrument and the large sample size allow for an unprecedented assessment of how school choice works. Rather than voice and exit working as substitutes, I find voucher parents say that they are more willing than public school parents to use voice over exit. Further, I find little evidence that school vouchers “privatize” parents’ attitudes toward education or the government. Compared to parents of public school children, voucher parents exhibit higher levels of participatory coproduction, but lower levels of independent coproduction.
On the centrally symmetric ovals circumscribing invariant maximal quadrilaterals

If in a centrally symmetric oval all the inscribed convex quadrilaterals of maximal area and/or perimeter have the property that for any point on the oval there is exactly one such quadrilateral having that point as a vertex, does the oval have to be an ellipse? In this paper we will give an answer ranging from partial to complete to this multiple question
Local log-linear models for capture-recapture

Log-linear models are often used to estimate the size of a closed population using capture-recapture data. When capture probabilities are related to auxiliary covariates, one may select a separate model based on each of several post-strata. We extend post-stratification to its logical extreme by selecting a local log-linear model for each observed unit, while smoothing to achieve stability. Our local models serve a dual purpose: In addition to estimating the size of the population, we estimate the rate of missingness as a function of covariates. A simulation demonstrates the superiority of our method when the generating model varies over the covariate space. Data from the Breeding Bird Survey is used to illustrate the method.
The construction of technology and place: Concentrating solar power conflicts in the United States

Abstract There is sufficient space in the United States to site large-scale renewable energy technologies, yet siting decisions are often highly contentious with conflicting land-use values. This paper examines conflicts surrounding large-scale solar power siting through the lens of place-making and the co-shaping of place and technology. It traces the place-based conflicts over the Ivanpah solar power plant in California over five years, from designed to operational, in order to understand the evolving public engagement process in issues of place. Place-making can aid in understanding conflicts over renewable energy siting by interpreting stakeholder values. Through the place-making process, both the place and technology were shaped but could only be bent so far until they became something else entirely, making the negotiation of trade-offs difficult and the object of the negotiation a moving target. Moving forward, the challenge should be addressed that the technology and place must be sufficiently concrete to engage the public in siting decisions but accomplished early enough to avoid polarization and to facilitate mutual accommodation. Innovative forms of place-based participation are needed that would help citizens to debate the properties and trade-offs of energy systems in constructive ways downstream without damaging or breaking trust.
Annotating the Focus of Negation in terms of Questions Under Discussion

Blanco & Moldovan (Blanco and Moldovan, 2011) have empirically demonstrated that negated sentences often convey implicit positive inferences, or focus, and that these inferences are both human annotatable and machine learnable. Concentrating on their annotation process, this paper argues that the focus-based implicit positivity should be separated from concepts of scalar implicature and neg-raising, as well as the placement of stress. We show that a model making these distinctions clear and which incorporates the pragmatic notion of question under discussion yields κ rates above .80, but that it substantially deflates the rates of focus of negation in text.
Recovery of Debt Collection Fees in California and Other States

Creditors often refer delinquent accounts to debt collection agencies. Frequently the debt collector will attempt to collect a fee in addition to the amount owed. Under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) debt collectors are prohibited from collecting any amount that the consumer does not owe, but creditors will sometimes include a contract provision stating that the consumer agrees to pay a collection fee if the principal debt is not paid on time. The question arises whether such contracted-for collection fees are enforceable. This issue has been particularly interesting in the State of California, where such fees may be viewed as unlawful liquidated damages provisions. In other states, the issue has often not been addressed directly, so the matter is uncertain. This paper focuses primarily on the recovery of fees in California, but a brief overview of the law in other states is discussed as well.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Identification in Direct Smears by a Fluorescent Antibody-Counterstain Method

Direct smears from female patients have been considered unreliable for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by fluorescent-antibody (FA) methods because of inadequate background contrast of the fluorescent-stained smears and a scarcity of organisms on the smear. Evans blue dye employed as a counterstain eliminated the nonspecific background staining and increased the reliability of the direct FA procedure. Direct smears demonstrating positive fluorescence were obtained from 86% of a group of culturally positive named female contacts. The FA-counterstain technique is as sensitive as the presently recommended cultural procedures.
Lipoproteins, nutrition, and heart disease

This article reviews the current status of our knowledge of lipoproteins, nutrition, and coronary heart disease (CHD). Special emphasis is placed on CHD risk assessment, dietary intervention studies, diet-gene interactions, and current dietary guidelines and the contributions of my laboratory to these areas. CHD remains a major cause of death and disability, and risk factors include age, sex, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, elevated serum LDL cholesterol, and low HDL cholesterol. Emerging independent risk factors include elevated serum concentrations of lipoprotein(a), remnant lipoproteins, and homocysteine. The cornerstone of CHD prevention is lifestyle modification. Dietary intervention studies support the concepts that restricting saturated fat and cholesterol and increasing the intake of essential fatty acids, especially n - 3 fatty acids, reduces CHD risk. The variability in LDL-cholesterol response to diet is large, related in part to APOE and APOA4 genotype. The use of antioxidants in intervention studies has not been shown to reduce CHD risk. Compliance with dietary recommendations remains a major problem, and directly altering the food supply may be the most effective way to ensure compliance. The available data indicate that the recommendation to use fats, oils, and sugars sparingly for CHD prevention should be modified to a recommendation to use animal, dairy, and hydrogenated fats; tropical oils; egg yolks; and sugars sparingly and to increase the use of vegetables, fruit, and whole grains.
Cooley-Tukey FFT like algorithms for the DCT

The Cooley-Tukey FFT algorithm decomposes a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of size n = km into smaller DFT of size k and m. In this paper we present a theorem that decomposes a polynomial transform into smaller polynomial transforms, and show that the FFT is obtained as a special case. Then we use this theorem to derive a new class of recursive algorithms for the discrete cosine transforms (DCT) of type II and type III. In contrast to other approaches, we manipulate polynomial algebras instead of transform matrix entries, which makes the derivation transparent, concise, and gives insight into the algorithms' structure. The derived algorithms have a regular structure and, for 2-power size, minimal arithmetic cost (among known DCT algorithms).
Time‐dependent effects of transcription‐ and translation‐halting drugs on the spatial distributions of the Escherichia coli chromosome and ribosomes

Summary Previously observed effects of rifampicin and chloramphenicol indicate that transcription and translation activity strongly affect the coarse spatial organization of the bacterial cytoplasm. Single-cell, time-resolved, quantitative imaging of chromosome and ribosome spatial distributions and ribosome diffusion in live Escherichia coli provides insight into the underlying mechanisms. Monte Carlo simulations of model DNA-ribosome mixtures support a novel nucleoid-ribosome mixing hypothesis. In normal conditions, 70S-polysomes and the chromosomal DNA segregate, while 30S and 50S ribosomal subunits are able to penetrate the nucleoids. Growth conditions and drug treatments determine the partitioning of ribosomes into 70S-polysomes versus free 30S and 50S subunits. Entropic and excluded volume effects then dictate the resulting chromosome and ribosome spatial distributions. Direct observation of radial contraction of the nucleoids 0–5 min after treatment with either transcription- or translation-halting drugs supports the hypothesis that simultaneous transcription, translation, and insertion of proteins into the membrane (‘transertion’) exerts an expanding force on the chromosomal DNA. Breaking of the DNA-RNA polymerase-mRNA-ribosome-membrane chain in either of two ways causes similar nucleoid contraction on a similar timescale. We suggest that chromosomal expansion due to transertion enables co-transcriptional translation throughout the nucleoids.
Expression of hepatic pyruvate carboxylase mRNA in C57BL/6J Ahb/b and congenic Ahd/d mice exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The activity and level of hepatic pyruvate carboxylase (PC) has been reported to be altered by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) treatment in mice. If alteration in PC level/activity by TCDD influences TCDD toxicity, one would expect to observe an early post-exposure reduction in PC mRNA. To examine the molecular events responsible for the alteration of PC activity in livers of TCDD-treated mice, we designed a synthetic DNA oligonucleotide probe specific for PC mRNA. Northern blot analysis on RNA extracts from hepatic tissue at various times and doses post-TCDD exposure were done. Furthermore, to elucidate the role of the dioxin Ah locus on alterations of PC activity by TCDD, we utilized C57BL/6J (Ahb/b, Ah high TCDD affinity) mice and a congenic (Ahd/d, Ah low TCDD affinity) mouse strain. At 8 days post TCDD treatment, a dose-dependent reduction of hepatic PC mRNA levels was observed in Ahb/b mice. The response, reduction in PC mRNA levels, in the Ahb/b strain was about 10-fold greater than that of comparably exposed congenic Ahd/d mice. These results indicate that previously reported reductions in PC activity/level by TCDD treatment of mice is a consequence of a reduction in PC mRNA levels and that the effect requires a competent Ah receptor. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Hull Fouling of Maritime Vessels as a Pathway for Marine Species Invasions to the Hawaiian Islands

The natural barriers to species invasions that exist in isolated marine environments such as Hawaii are overcome by anthropogenic influences on the dispersal patterns of marine organisms. This creates a situation where the marine habitats of the Hawaiian Archipelago are more readily exposed to marine non-indigenous species. A case study of a particular anthropogenic dispersal mode, maritime vessel hull fouling, is reviewed. This mode has effects on altered environments, such as harbors, as well as unaltered coastal habitats. Hull fouling of commercial maritime vessels is documented as a transport vector, and an inter-island dispersal mechanism for marine non-indigenous species to the main Hawaiian Islands.
Nicotine administration in the cholinergic basal forebrain increases alcohol consumption in C57BL/6J mice.

Background Alcohol and nicotine are the most commonly abused drugs. The frequent co-morbidity of alcohol and nicotine addiction has led to the hypothesis that they may act via a common substrate: the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) especially α4β2 and α7 subtypes, the most prevalent nAChRs in the brain. Compelling evidence suggests that alcohol enhances the function of α4β2 subtype. The FDA approved smoking cessation drug, varenicline (“Chantix”), a partial agonist of α4β2 nAChR subtype, reduces alcohol self-administration and alcohol craving in humans and rodents. The cholinergic basal forebrain (BF) controls various functions including arousal, attention, and cognition, and there is a predominance of α4β2 and α7 subtypes. We have shown that the BF has an important role in mediating the effects of alcohol and local infusion of nicotine in the BF activates nucleus accumbens. Does BF have any role in mediating the effect of nicotine on alcohol consumption? This study was designed to address this question. Methods Under standard surgical procedure, C57BL/6J mice were stereotaxically implanted with bilateral stainless steel guide cannula above the BF. Following post operative recovery and habituation, the animals were exposed to the “drinking-in-the-dark” paradigm whereby alcohol (20%) was presented for 2 hours daily for 3 days. On the fourth day, nicotine or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) was microinjected bilaterally in the BF. After 1 hour, mice were exposed to alcohol and allowed to self-administer for 4 hours. The effect of BF nicotine infusion on sucrose consumption was also examined. On completion, mice were euthanized, brain removed and processed to localize the BF injection sites. Results As compared with the ACSF, bilateral nicotine injections into the BF significantly (p < 0.05; n = 5/group) increased alcohol consumption. Sucrose consumption remained unaffected. Conclusions Based on our results, we believe that the BF may have an important role in nicotine–alcohol co-use.
Non-epithelial tumors of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx: a clinico-pathologic study XI. fibrous histiocytomas

As part of our review of non-epithelial tumors involving the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and nasopharynx, nine fibrous histiocytomas (FH) are reported. FH probably are derived from undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells that have the ability to differentiate into two different pathways, one fibroblastic and the other histiocytic. The proportion of these two different elements varies greatly in different lesions. The cell population ranges from cytologically benign (small bland nuclei and no mitoses) to overtly malignant (marked anaplasia and numerous mitoses). Based on our cases and on 12 previously reported tumors, FH involving the upper respiratory passages may cause clinical problems similar to those produced by other soft tissue neoplasms affecting this area, (nasal obstruction, a mass or swelling in the involved area, epistaxis, loosening of teeth, or facial pain). Physical examination may show a mass projecting into the nasal, sinus, or oral civity; facial asymmetry; proptosis; or a periorbital mass. Radiographic studies may demonstrate sinus opacification or cloudiness, a mass, or bone destruction. Treatment has included polypectomy, wide local excision, partial maxillectomy, or radical maxillectomy, depending on the size and extent of the lesion. When involving the upper respiratory passages, FH, if incompletely excised, may recur locally, requiring a more extensive resection. A minority of these tumors have metastasized via lymphatic and/or venous channels. Histologic features appear to correlate with clinical course.
Retroviruses and Their Play-pals

A 28-year-old man with a previous history of Neissena infection presented with diminished vision, disc swelling, and panuveitis. Serologic tests revealed positive titers for both HIV and syphilis. Current epidemiology and treatment of such cases are discussed.
Tunable optical cavity for an x-ray free-electron-laser oscillator

An x-ray free-electron laser oscillator proposed recently for hard x rays [K. Kim, Y. Shvyd'ko, and S. Reiche, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 244802 (2008)] can be made tunable by using an x-ray cavity composed of four crystals, instead of two. The tunability of x-ray energy will significantly enhance the usefulness of an x-ray free-electron laser oscillator. We present a detailed analysis of the four-crystal optical cavity and choice of crystals for several applications: inelastic x-ray scattering, nuclear resonant scattering, bulk-sensitive hard x-ray photoemission spectroscopy, other high-energy-resolution ($\ensuremath{\lesssim}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{meV}$) spectroscopic probes, and for imaging with hard x rays at near-atomic resolution ($\ensuremath{\simeq}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{nm}$).
A review of thermoelectric refrigeration

The advantages of thermoelectric refrigeration, some of its possible applications and its principles of operation are briefly presented. The current state of the art in thermoelectric materials is discussed. The design problems in developing thermoelectric devices and some of the current techniques used to solve them are reviewed. Some information is provided on devices that have been built for the U. S. Navy and for commercial application.
The development of an active transport system for potassium in the embryonic avian erythrocyte.

Abstract Measurements were made of water, Na, and K content of the albumin, yolk, subembryonic liquid, and whole blastula of the chick 24 hr after fertilization. The close similarity of cell Na and K concentrations to those of the subembryonic liquid (Na, 22:27; K, 24:31) and the absence of ouabain-inhibitable uptake of 42 K by the blastula suggested that cells and subembryonic liquid were in diffusion equilibrium. The loss of virtually all nonerythrocyte cells upon the transfer of the deembryonated blastula to a culture medium allows investigation for evidence of development of an Na:K pump in the erythrocyte. At 24 hr the cultured cells maintained cation gradients of 40:140 mequiv/liter for Na and 49:5 mequiv/liter for K. At 48 hr the figures were 33:140 mequiv/liter for Na and 58:5 mequiv/liter for K. The cells cultured for 24 hr took up 13.4% of available 42 K without ouabain and 2.8% with 10−5 M ouabain, (P
Applying Multitheoretical Psychotherapy Integration to Family Therapy

Therapeutic integration has increased in recent years with respect to the helping profession and training within the field. The integrative features of therapy have widened in their scope to address the needs of the individual, family, and couple. Models of integrative adherence provide flexible and innovative ways for practitioners to utilize an assortment of clinical tools that best meet the needs of the client. Consequently, the multitheoretical psychotherapy integration model (MTP) offers an integration of unitary models and applied conceptualization skills to attend to the presenting problems faced by couples' and family therapists. The authors provide an overview of psychotherapeutic integration and offer an application of the MTP to family therapy. Implications for professional practice and recommendations are provided.
Atrial flutter. I. Electrophysiologic substrates and modes of initiation and termination.

Abstract Forty-one of 525 consecutively studied patients had sustained (2 or more minutes) atrial flutter in response to programmed atrial simulation. Of these 41 patients, 31 had previously documented spontaneous atrial flutter or fibrillation, or both, and 10 had paroxysmal palpitations without documentation of the cause. Programmed atrial stimulation and atrial endocardial mapping were used to analyze the substrate of atrial conduction as well as the mode of initiation and termination of flutter. Atrial conduction defects were present in 36 of the 41 patients. Atrial flutter was induced by one or two atrial extrastimuli in 31 patients. In most of these patients the onset of flutter was characterized by a brief period of irregular atrial activity in one or more intracardial leads. Stimulation from the high right atrium was more successful (29 of 31 patients) than that from the coronary sinus (6 of 12 patients). Rapid atrial pacing at cycle lengths of 350 to 200 ms initiated flutter in 29 of 35 patients in whom it was attempted (in 27 of 35 from the high right atrium and in 10 of 18 from the coronary sinus). Termination of flutter was accomplished by rapid pacing in 34 patients at cycle lengths 20 to 55 ms less than the flutter cycle length. Failure to terminate flutter was associated with local areas of atrial fibrillation in one or more intracardiac leads.
The Subthreshold Autism Trait Questionnaire (SATQ): Development of a Brief Self-Report Measure of Subthreshold Autism Traits

The current study was motivated by a need for a self-report questionnaire that assesses a broad range of subthreshold autism traits, is brief and easily administered, and is relevant to the general population. An initial item pool was administered to 1,709 students. Structural validity analysis resulted in a 24-item questionnaire termed the Subthreshold Autism Trait Questionnaire (SATQ; Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = .73, test–retest reliability = .79). An exploratory factor analysis suggested 5 factors. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated the 5 factor solution was an adequate fit and outperformed two other models. The SATQ successfully differentiated between an ASD and student group and demonstrated convergent validity with other ASD measures. Thus, the current study introduces and provides initial psychometric support for the SATQ.
Analysis of Testosterone Effects on Sonic Hedgehog Signaling in Juvenile, Adolescent and Adult Sprague Dawley Rat Penis

ABSTRACT Introduction Smooth muscle apoptosis is a major contributing factor to erectile dysfunction (ED) development in prostatectomy and diabetic patients and animal models. A critical regulator of penile smooth muscle and apoptosis is Sonic hedgehog (SHH). The SHH protein is decreased in ED models and SHH treatment of cavernous nerve (CN) injured rats prevents smooth muscle apoptosis. A close association between androgen deficiency and ED has been suggested in the literature, but few studies have examined the molecular effects on penile smooth muscle and on known signaling mechanisms that regulate morphology. Aim Examine testosterone and SHH interaction in eugonadal adult, adolescent and juvenile rats by performing castration studies and treatment with supraphysiological testosterone. Methods The eugonadal adult Sprague Dawley rats were either treated with testosterone for 7 or 14 days (N = 14) or were castrated for 4 or 7 days (N = 12). The juvenile rats were treated with testosterone for 8 days (N = 7). The adolescent rats were castrated and sacrificed at P88 (N = 8). The control rats had empty vehicle (N = 22) or sham surgery (N = 20). Main Outcome Measures The active form of SHH protein and mRNA were quantified by semi-quantitative immunohistochemical analysis and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Testosterone treatment did not alter SHH signaling in juvenile rats. Shh mRNA increased 3.2-fold and SHH protein increased 1.2-fold in rats castrated during puberty. In adult rats, castration decreased Shh mRNA 3.2-fold but did not alter SHH protein. Testosterone supplement in adult rats increased Shh mRNA 2.3-fold and decreased SHH protein 1.3-fold. Conclusions SHH signaling is independent of testosterone in normal juvenile rats and is sensitive to testosterone during adolescence, while testosterone supplement in the adult adversely impacts SHH signaling in a very similar manner to that observed with CN injury. Bond CW, Angeloni NL, and Podlasek CA. Analysis of testosterone effects on sonic hedgehog signaling in juvenile, adolescent and adult Sprague Dawley rat penis.
Atomistic Simulation of Estrogen Receptor-Coactivator Peptide Complexes to Identify Specific Binding Sites

Estrogen Receptors (ER) can lead to gene transcriptions that are found responsible for certain type of cancers including 70% of breast cancers. However, the process of gene transcription is preceded by the binding of an estrogenic ligand to the ER and then binding of this liganded ER with an activator protein which mediates the signal to the DNA. There are antiestrogenic compounds that can bind to the ER and block the binding of any coactivator protein to the liganded ER. However, no single antiestrogenic compound is found to work in all tissues - that means it cannot always block the binding of the coactivator protein. A successful drug molecule need to inhibit the liganded ER in all tissues. This needs a detail atomic level understanding of the interaction pattern of the liganded ER with coactivator protein. We investigate liganded ER interaction with small peptides to identify specific binding sites. Details of our investigation will be reported at the meeting.Acknowledgements: Authors acknowledge financial support from the National Institutes of Health (grant number 5P20MD002725-03-0002), through the NCMHD -RIMI program.
Etiology and dental treatment of severe involuntary orofacial-cervical movement disorders

A number of electromyographic studies have demonstrated evidence of the effects of dental sensation on stomatognathic muscle function. Dental occlusal imbalances have been shown to affect markedly altered EMG patterns: asynchronism, hyperactivity, and loss of bilateral balance have been noted. In most patients, distorted dental occlusions affect muscle function so that the changes remain observable only on EMG recordings. In some patients, however, the asynchronism, hyperactivity, and loss of bilateral balance may become distressing to the patient and clinically observable. Dental occlusal therapy in two patients reduced involuntary dyskinetic movements involving the face, mouth, and neck. Sustained improvement has been noted for over 8 years.
Outcome of surgical myectomy after unsuccessful alcohol septal ablation for the treatment of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Objectives We sought to determine the outcome of myectomy after unsuccessful alcohol ablation. Background Alcohol septal ablation results in symptomatic improvement and a reduction in dynamic obstruction in most hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patients. However, a few patients remain with severe symptoms and obstruction and need surgery. The outcome of these cases is not well known. Methods The medical records of 375 patients who underwent alcohol ablation at our institution were reviewed. Twenty patients (5.3%, mean age 53 ± 18 years, 17 women) subsequently needed surgical myectomy. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, angina class, exercise duration, left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient, ejection fraction, and septal thickness were tabulated. The anatomy and distribution of the septal perforator arteries were examined. Results After ablation, NYHA functional class (3 to 2.5; p 0.5). Myectomy was performed at 19 ± 15 months after ablation. There was no operative mortality, but permanent pacing was needed in 2 patients after surgery, and 3 other cases needed pacing before, or as a complication of, alcohol ablation. A significant improvement was noted, with the NYHA functional class decreasing to 1, exercise duration increasing to 423 ± 171 s, and LVOT gradient decreasing to 6 ± 11 mm Hg (all p Conclusions Myectomy can be successfully performed after failed alcohol ablation, but with a higher incidence of heart block than in cases where only surgery is performed. Otherwise, alcohol ablation does not appear to adversely affect surgical outcome.
Benchmark Study of Isotropic Hyperfine Coupling Constants for Hydrogen: Influence of Geometry, Correlation Method, and Basis Set

Isotropic hyperfine coupling constants (iHFCCs) can be easily measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy in solution, but they have proven difficult to calculate from first principles. We test the performance of the newly developed (aug-)cc-pVXZ-t5s basis sets for hydrogen with Dunning's (aug-)cc-pVXZ and -pCVXZ basis sets for non-hydrogen atoms. Correlation is included by CCSD and CCSD(T) using UHF and ROHF references. A two-point extrapolation of cc-pVDZ:cc-pVDZ-t5s-a5 and cc-pVTZ:cc-pVTZ-t5s-a6 hydrogen iHFCCs is found to be very useful. Diffuse functions have nearly no influence on extrapolated iHFCCs. We also explore the dependence of the calculated iHFCCs on the level of theory used in optimizing the geometries. For this purpose, we optimized geometries up to the UHF-CCSD/cc-pCVQZ and UHF-CCSDT/cc-pCVTZ levels and extrapolated to the “complete basis set” limit. The calculated iHFCCs are compared to reference values, which are experimental numbers corrected for solvent and the most important vi...
Factor Analyses of Measures of Home Environment

This study employed exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis techniques to probe the dimensionality of measures of home environment. Thirty-five (35) demographic, attitudinal, and behavioral indicators were derived from telephone interviews with a probability sample of 2000 parents of seventh-graders participating in a national longitudinal study. The measures included such frequently used indicators as socioeconomic status, home resources, parent expectations, and parent-child communication. LISREL analysis with cross-validation supported a two-factor structure over alternative specifications. The factors were interpreted as family resources and communication-interaction. Results indicate that comprehensive measures of home environment are needed in studies of familial influence on educational and psychological outcomes.
Calculations Combining the Multi-Configuration Hartree-Fock Method and Many-Body Perturbation Theory

The possibility of combining the non-relativistic multi-configuration Hartree-Fock theory and many-body perturbation theory is considered and preliminary results are presented for the ground state of the neutral beryllium atom. It is argued that this approach should provide a valuable alternative in relativistic calculations, where the technical difficulties associated with either approach are considerably greater.
HIGH-THROUGHPUT LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF ROFECOXIB IN HUMAN PLASMA USING A FULLY AUTOMATED ON-LINE SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION SYSTEM‡

A fully automated on-line solid-phase extraction method combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection for the determination of rofecoxib in human plasma is described. A Spark Holland PROSPEKT system was used to perform all the automated on-line sample extraction and quantitation tasks, including sample loading, cartridge conditioning and washing, analyte elution, and start of a data acquisition system. Under postcolumn ultraviolet–irradiation conditions, the analytes were photochemically converted to highly fluorescent products and then monitored by a fluorescence detector. The assay was validated in the concentration range of 0.5–100 ng/mL using 0.25 mL of human plasma. The utility of this method was demonstrated by analysis of plasma samples from human subjects receiving oral doses of rofecoxib. ‡ This work was presented at the Fifteenth Annual International Symposium on Laboratory Automation and Robotics, October 1997, Boston, MA, USA.
Raman spectra and normal coordinate analysis of the planar vibrations of iron phthalocyanine

Raman spectra have been obtained for solid iron phthalocyanine and a 10−6 M solution of its tetrasulfonated derivative with Kr+ laser excitation using the 6471 A line. A normal coordinate analysis was carried out to determine assignments for the observed frequencies in terms of the various Raman active planar modes of vibration of the complex. Good agreement was obtained between calculated and observed frequencies using an adjusted valence force field (AVFF) and incorporating empirical correlations for related types of force constants. The assignments of the normal modes of vibration appear to be generally consistent with other avilable experimental and theoretical information for phthalocyanine complexes and the related metalloporphins; however, the extensive mixing of the internal coordinates within the calculated normal modes shows clearly that the assignment of specific vibrational frequencies to individual internal coordinates is not justified. Rather, the vibrational kinematics appear to involve concerted motions of the various interior and exterior ring systems.
Angiogenesis in Diabetic Nephropathy

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature, plays a key role in both physiologic and pathologic events, including wound healing, cancer, and diabetes. Neovascularization has been implicated in the genesis of diverse diabetic complications such as retinopathy, impaired wound healing, neuropathy, and, most recently, diabetic nephropathy. Diabetic nephropathy is one of the major microvascular-associated complications in diabetes and is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide. In this review we describe the major factors involved in the pathologic glomerular microvascular alterations in response to hyperglycemia and the possible use of anti-angiogenic therapies for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
Reproducibility of linear tumor measurements using PACS: Comparison of caliper method with edge-tracing method

The aim of this study was to evaluate inter- and intra-observer reproducibility when making electronic caliper linear tumor measurements on picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) and compare them with linear measurements obtained from circumferential tracing of tumor perimeter. Three radiologists measured 64 masses from 30 patients on body CT scans in two separate settings. Long axis and perpendicular short axis were measured using electronic calipers. The edge of each tumor was traced electronically and the long and short axes were calculated by computer software. The reproducibility of a measurement was evaluated by computing and comparing the absolute value of the mean difference between initial and subsequent measurements. The mean differences +/-95% confidence interval (CI) between two measurements of the long by short axis were 3.8+/-2.6x3.1+/-1.8 mm when the caliper method was used and 3.5+/-2.0x3.2+/-1.5 mm when the tumor tracing method was used. There was no statistically significant difference in individual intra-observer reproducibility of tumor axes measurements. Neither long- nor short-axis single-dimension measurements resulted in significantly greater or lesser intra-observer reproducibility. When comparing caliper and tracing measurements, the overall mean difference (3.42+/-1.8 vs 3.38+/-1.4 mm) was not statistically significant. There was close correlation between the individual measurements made by each observer whether these were made by electronic calipers and when these were calculated from electronic tracings (Pearson correlations between 0.79 and 0.949). Current PACS systems allow reproducible linear, long or short axis, tumor measurements. There is no significant difference in reproducibility of measurements whether these are made directly with electronic calipers or calculated from tumor edge tracings.
Developing Civic Engagement in General Education Political Science.

How can we promote student and civic engagement amongst our students? At Texas AM helping the students to stay abreast with the news; and improving their attitude toward politics. The paper will also examine whether reading the New York Times has stimulated a desire to make a difference in their communities. The expectation is that students using the newspaper will demonstrate gains in all four attitudes about civic engagement in comparison to students not using the New York Times.
Fluorimetric determination of trace nitrates

Abstract Nitrate is determined by reacting it with fluorescein in solutions of high sulfuric acid concentrations. Since fluorescein fluoresces and the reaction product does not, nitrate can be determined down to 0.01 μg ml-1 in the final reaction solution by measurement of the fluorescence suppression. The method is easy to use and has good reproducibility. Suggestions are offered to eliminate potential interfering ions.
The psychiatrist’s duty to protect

Responding to the California Supreme Court's decision and its related legal obligations in Tarasoff v. Regents of Univ. of California over 30 years ago has become a standard part of mental health practice. This case influenced legal requirements governing therapists' duty to protect third parties in nearly every state in the country. The final ruling in Tarasoff emphasized that therapists have a duty to protect individuals who are being threatened with bodily harm by their patients. This article will provide a brief overview and update on duty to protect legal requirements. Clinical guidelines for addressing threats and the duty to protect will be discussed, along with risk management approaches. The article will conclude with a sample vignette illustrating these principles.
Bright monomeric photoactivatable red fluorescent protein for two-color super-resolution sptPALM of live cells.

Rapidly emerging techniques of super-resolution single-molecule microscopy of living cells rely on the continued development of genetically encoded photoactivatable fluorescent proteins. On the basis of monomeric TagRFP, we have developed a photoactivatable TagRFP protein that is initially dark but becomes red fluorescent after violet light irradiation. Compared to other monomeric dark-to-red photoactivatable proteins including PAmCherry, PATagRFP has substantially higher molecular brightness, better pH stability, substantially less sensitivity to blue light, and better photostability in both ensemble and single-molecule modes. Spectroscopic analysis suggests that PATagRFP photoactivation is a two-step photochemical process involving sequential one-photon absorbance by two distinct chromophore forms. True monomeric behavior, absence of green fluorescence, and single-molecule performance in live cells make PATagRFP an excellent protein tag for two-color imaging techniques, including conventional diffractio...
PS1-02: Health Behaviors in Asian-Indian and White, Non-Hispanic Vegetarian Males in the California Men’s Health Study (CMHS)

Background Studies show a reduced risk of chronic diseases among vegetarians. A vegetarian diet based on fruits, vegetables, and legumes is popular among Asian-Indians. The purpose of this study is to determine if race/ethnicity, Asian-Indian and white non-Hispanic (WNH), modifies the association between a vegetarian diet and health behaviors.
Fundamental Analysis of the Secondary Flows and Jet-Wake in a Torque Converter Pump—Part I: Model and Flow in a Rotating Passage

Previously, experimental results for the velocity field in a torque converter pump showed strong jet/wake characteristics including backflows and circulatory secondary flows. To understand the fundamental flow behavior simplified analytical/numerical Navier-Stokes flow models were developed herein to independently analyze the pump pressure-to-suction side jet/wake flow, the core-to-shell side jet/wake flow, and the secondary flows. Parametric studies were undertaken to evaluate the effect that operating conditions and geometry had on the characteristics. Two relatively simple models were employed: (i) a rotating two-dimensional straight-walled duct to model the pressure-to-suction side jet/wake flow due to rotational Coriolis forces and (ii) a 180 deg flow bend to model the core-to-shell side jet/wake flow due to rapid radial/axial flow turning. The formation and development of the pump jet/wake flow was studied in detail
Purification and characterization of arginine kinase from the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

The isolation and characterization of homogeneous arginine kinase from the cockroach is reported. The purification protocol produces 6.6 mg of pure enzyme from 6.8 g of whole cockroach. The purified enzyme cross-reacts with a heterologous antibody and monoclonal antibody against arginine kinase from the shrimp. Both antibody preparations also cross-react with extracts from several species known to contain monomeric arginine kinase, but fail to react with extracts from organisms containing dimeric arginine kinase. Cockroach arginine kinase has a molecular mass of approximately 43,000 determined from measurements by gel filtration and gel electrophoresis. Compared with other arginine kinases, the enzyme from the cockroach is relatively thermostable (50% activity retained at 50 degrees C for 10 min) and has a pH optima of 8.5 and 6.5-7.5, for the forward and reverse reactions, respectively. Treatment with 5,5'dithiobis[2-nitrobenzoic acid] indicates that arginine kinase has a single reactive sulfhydryl group and, interestingly, the reaction is biphasic. The Michaelis constants for the phosphagen substrates, arginine: 0.49 mM, phosphoarginine: 0.94 mM, and nucleotide substrates MgATP: 0.14 mM, MgADP: 0.09 mM, are in the range reported for other arginine kinases. A 1% solution of pure enzyme has an absorbance of 7.0 at 280 nm. Calculations based on circular dichroic spectra indicate that arginine kinase from the cockroach has 12% alpha-helical structure. The intrinsic protein fluorescence emission maximum at 340 nm suggests that tryptophan residues are below the surface of the protein and not exposed to solvent. Arginine kinase from the cockroach and shrimp are known to be deleterious immunogens towards humans. The availability of pure protein, its characterization and potential regulation of activity, will be useful in developing agents to control the cockroach population and its destructive role in agriculture and human health.
Training Teen Mothers as Motivational Interviewers: A Feasibility Study

When teen mothers do not graduate from high school, they and their children risk a lifetime of negative outcomes. They face major economic and health difficulties, often repeated across generations. To address this growing national concern that particularly impacts Hispanic teen mothers, we began by training young nonprofessional peer mentors in motivational interviewing (MI) to provide one-to-one support for teen mothers. To our knowledge, young non-clinicians have never before been formally evaluated for MI competency. Our preliminary investigation tested whether teen mothers who had succeeded in graduating could use MI effectively in conversations with their peers who had not yet completed high school. The six peer mentors were able to attain basic competency in MI. Some of their demonstrated skills went beyond competency to MI proficiency as measured by the MITI coding system. They also expressed their enthusiasm for the experience. They fully participated in the study protocols and also maintained the spirit of MI throughout the study. These findings are being used to design a training strategy for the peer mentors that can be used in schools and clinics throughout New Mexico. The question we asked was: “Can these young mothers, who have succeeded in graduating from high school, competently use MI to support other teen moms to continue their education?” The answer in this feasibility study was “yes”.
Brand personality and brand equity: evidence from the sportswear industry

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the personalities of sportswear brands and their relationship to brand equity using Aaker’s methodology in the context of sportswear brands. Design/methodology/approach – This paper used Aaker’s brand personality framework to empirically investigate the personality of sportswear brands and the impact of brand personality on brand equity based on data collected from 420 college students. Findings – Results revealed that the personality of sportswear brands can be described in seven dimensions and 53 personality traits: competence, attractiveness, sincerity, innovation, activity, excitement and ruggedness. The study identified that four dimensions among all the seven personality dimensions, namely, competence, attractiveness, Sincerity and innovation, are the positive and significant contributing factors to the creation and enhancement of sportswear brand equity. Originality/value – This study makes an important contribution to the understanding of brand personality and ...
Ultrastructural localization of Leu5-enkephalin immunoreactivity in mesocortical neurons and their input terminals in rat ventral tegmental area.

Enkephalin (ENK) immunoreactivity is widely distributed in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), where endogenous ENK and dynorphin opioid peptides are known to have opposing actions in reward, stress, cognition, and fear-related behaviors. Many neurons in the VTA give rise to mesocortical projections terminating in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and these projections have been implicated to varying extents in all these functions. To determine whether there is a synaptic basis for ENK and/or dynorphin modulation of cortically projecting neurons within the VTA, we combined retrograde tract-tracing from the mPFC with dual immunocytochemical-labeling electron microscopy in the rat VTA. The retrograde tracer Fluorogold (FG) was microinjected into mPFC. At optimal survival periods, sections through the VTA were processed for immunolabeling of anti-FG and a Leu5-ENK antibody recognizing both ENK and dynorphin peptides. Over 26% of the retrogradely labeled neuronal somatodendritic profiles (n = 177) were contacted by ENK-immunoreactive axonal profiles including small axons and axon terminals. The axon terminals varied in their subcellular distribution of ENK immunoreactivity and also differed in forming either inhibitory-type (symmetric) or excitatory-type (asymmetric) synapses. Many of the axonal profiles also were apposed to FG-labeled somata or dendrites without forming recognizable synapses. Approximately one-third of the mesocortical neuronal perikarya also showed sparsely distributed somatodendritic ENK-immunoreactivity. Our results provide ultrastructural evidence that ENK and possibly dynorphin in the rat VTA have distributions consistent with involvement in diverse physiological actions affecting the output of mesocortical neurons, some of which also contain one or both peptides. Synapse 52:38–52, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Involving patients in clinical decisions: impact of an interactive video program on use of back surgery.

Background.Back surgery rates are rapidly rising in the United States. This surgery is usually elective, so patient preferences are important in the treatment decision.Objectives.The objective of this study was to determine the impact on outcomes and surgical choices of an interactive, diagnosis-spe
A SOURCE OF THEME UNITS FOR LITERATURE‐BASED READING INSTRUCTION

(1992). A SOURCE OF THEME UNITS FOR LITERATURE‐BASED READING INSTRUCTION. Reading & Writing Quarterly: Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 313-316.