cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Die reg op selfbeskikking van godsdiensgroepe in Suid-Afrika

Die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika, 1996, is ’n godsdiens-vriendelike manifes omdat vryheid van godsdiens nie alleen in die lewe van die gelowige van belang is nie, maar ook vir die staat van groot waarde kan wees. Die Grondwet maak onder meer voorsiening vir die reg op selfbeskikking van godsdiensgroepe, wat beteken dat lede van godsdienstige gemeenskappe hulle godsdiens kan beoefen sonder ongegronde staatsinmenging. Die reg op selfbeskikking is egter nie ’n absolute reg nie en is onder meer aan die bepalings van die Handves van Regte ondergeskik. Daar word in die verband verwys na regspraak wat op godsdiensonderrig in skole, en die toepassing van gedragskodes in die onderwys wat met godsdienstige gebruike in stryd mag wees, van toepassing is, asook na ’n verset teen die verbod op lyfstraf, omdat die verbod sogenaamd met godsdienstige leerstelling in stryd sou wees. Suid-Afrika onderhou ook die soewereiniteit in eie kring van godsdiensorganisasies, wat daarop neerkom dat die staat nie sal inmeng in interne besluite en praktyke van kerke en ander godsdiens-gerigte organisasies nie. Regspraak wat in die verband ter sprake kom, het betrekking op tugmaatreels wat teen ’n lid van die Ortodokse Joodse gemeenskap van Johannesburg ingestel is omdat hy ’n kerklike onderhoudsbevel verontagsaam het, en die afdanking van ’n vroulike predikant van die Metodiste Kerk in Rondebosch omdat sy met ’n ander vrou in die huwelik getree het. Die afdanking van ’n orrelonderwyser in die Kunsakademie van die Moreletaparkse gemeente van die NG Kerk as gevolg van sy selfdegeslagverhouding is egter nie deur die Gelykheidshof gehandhaaf nie, omdat die dienste van die orrelonderwyser as ’n onafhanklike kontrakteur nie met die geestellike roeping van die Kerk te make gehad het nie. Die beleid van die staat ten opsigte van die kerk en godsdienstige praktyke kan as ’n beleid van objektiwiteit beskryf word.
Sleep deprivation impairs binding of information with its context

Binding information to its context in long-term memory is critical for many tasks, including memory tasks and decision making. Failure to associate information to its context could be an important aspect of sleep deprivation effects on cognition, but little is known about binding problems from being sleep-deprived at the time of encoding. We studied how sleep deprivation affects binding using a well-established paradigm testing the ability to remember auditorily presented words (items) and their speakers (source context). In a laboratory study, 68 healthy young adults were randomly assigned to total sleep deprivation or a well-rested control condition. Participants completed an affective item and source memory task twice: once after 7-hour awake during baseline and again 24 hours later, after nearly 31 hours awake in the total sleep deprivation condition or 7 hours awake in the control condition. Participants listened to negative, positive, and neutral words presented by a male or female speaker and were immediately tested for recognition of the words and their respective speakers. Recognition of items declined during sleep deprivation, but even when items were recognized accurately, recognition of their associated sources also declined. Negative items were less bound with their sources than positive or neutral items, but sleep deprivation did not significantly affect this pattern. Our findings indicate that learning while sleep-deprived disrupts the binding of information to its context independent of item valence. Such binding failures may contribute to sleep deprivation effects on tasks requiring the ability to bind new information together in memory.
Rapid RNase inhibitor production to enable low-cost, on-demand cell-free protein synthesis biosensor use in human body fluids.

Human body fluids contain biomarkers which are used extensively for prognostication, diagnosis, monitoring, and evaluation of different treatments for a variety of diseases and disorders. Application of biosensors based on cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) offers numerous advantages including on-demand and at-home use for fast, accurate detection of variety of biomarkers in human fluids at an affordable price. However, current CFPS-based biosensors use commercial RNase inhibitors to inhibit different RNases present in human fluids and this reagent is ~90% of the expense of these biosensors. Here the flexible nature of E. coli-lysate-based CFPS was used for the first time to produce murine RNase Inhibitor (m-RI) and to optimize its soluble and active production by tuning reaction temperature, reaction time, reduced potential, and addition of GroEL/ES folding chaperons. Furthermore, RNase inhibition activity of m-RI with the highest activity and stability was determined against increasing amounts of three human fluids of serum, saliva, and urine (0-100% v/v) in lyophilized CFPS reactions. To further demonstrate the utility of the CFPS-produced m-RI, a lyophilized saliva-based glutamine biosensor was demonstrated to effectively work with saliva samples. Overall, the use of CFPS-produced m-RI reduces the total reagent costs of CFPS-based biosensors used in human body fluids ~90%. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Fouling of microfiltration membranes by bidisperse particle solutions

Abstract Fouling of filtration membranes is a key process that degrades performance and reduces membrane lifetime. Nevertheless, obtaining direct information about fouling mechanisms is still a significant challenge, especially fouling that occurs within the internal pore spaces. Here, we combined highly multiplexed single-particle tracking methods with alternating laser excitation, which allowed the direct visualization of the transport of nanoparticles within microfiltration membranes, where the advective motion and retention of 200 nm and 40 nm diameter particles was simultaneously imaged within filtration membranes with 650 nm nominal pore size, as membranes became increasingly fouled as a function of total particle throughput. We found that internal membrane fouling consisted of three stages, fouling site formation, fouling site growth, and fouling site coalescence. Larger particles had a greater chance to be retained initially, nucleating the fouling sites. These sites tended to capture other particles passing through the membrane, causing the fouling sites to grow in size. Eventually, isolated fouling sites grew large enough to coalescence with neighboring sites, blocking a large region of membrane pores, leading to significant fouling. Importantly, the presence of small numbers of large particles significantly increased the retention of small particles and also accelerated the rate of particle retention. This mechanistic information about internal membrane fouling will assist in the design and optimization of filtration processes to reduce membrane fouling and expand the fundamental understanding of complex mass transport of polydisperse particle distributions.
Insights into end-organ injury in HIV infection: dynamics of monocyte trafficking to the brain in SIV encephalitis.

Neurocognitive impairment (collectively named as HIV-1–associated neurocognitive disorders or HAND) is highly prevalent in HIV-1–infected patients, including those receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).1 Monocyte and macrophage infiltration in the brain is associated with HAND development2; however, precise timing and dynamics of this infiltration remain debatable. Researchers recapitulate HIV infection in nonhuman primates (macaque model) by infecting with SIV. For the first time, by using SIV-infected animals that developed SIV encephalitis (SIVE), Nowlin et al3 studied monocyte-to-macrophage turnover in the central nervous system (CNS) under physiological conditions.4
Chapter 13 Mine waste characterization

Publisher Summary This chapter describes mine waste, discusses the sampling, sample preparation, physical and chemical properties of mine waste, and focuses on various analytical methods. Mine waste is usually an inhospitable environment for a re-establishment of native plant communities, which is a necessary step in a successful reclamation effort. The physical and chemical properties of many mine wastes are far less than optimal for plant growth. The three basic types of sampling plans normally used are simple random, stratified random, and systematic. The chapter also describes some of the most useful physical property measurements for the mine wastes and includes bulk density, particle size distribution, and water content. The mine waste also contains low levels of major nutrients (e.g., N, P, K) essential for plant growth and potentially toxic levels of metals (e.g., Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Pb) and metalloids. The methods presented in the chapter represent some of the most widely used methods and are chosen based on method simplicity, reliability, and cost considerations. However, there remains a great need to develop simpler, reliable, and cost-effective mine waste characterization methods.
Systolic product-sum circuit for GF ((2 2 ) m ) using neuron MOSFETs

A quaternary systolic product-sum computation circuit for GF((2^2)^m) using voltage-mode vMOSFETs is presented. The design is composed of four basic cells connected in a pipelined fashion. Each basic cell is composed of 2 Galois field adders, 2 Galois field multipliers, and 7 flip-flops. The circuit was simulated using Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment tool supplied by Cadence, and it has shown to perform correctly. The quaternary circuit for GF((2^2)^2) shows a significant amount of savings in both transistor count and number of connections compared to the one that uses the binary field GF(2^4).
Changes in serum glucose, sodium, and tonicity in cats treated for diabetic ketosis

Objective – To examine serum sodium, glucose, and tonicity in cats with diabetic ketosis. Design – Retrospective study. Setting – A university-based referral hospital. Animals – Cats admitted to the ICU during the period 1998 to 2002 with a diagnosis of diabetic ketosis. Interventions – None. Routine clinical management of diabetes and associated conditions. Measurements – Serum biochemistry assessments. Main Results – Abnormalities of glucose, sodium and serum tonicity (ST) were common in the study group. Serum sodium but not glucose correlated closely with ST. A subset of cats treated with intravenous insulin and an isotonic sodium-containing solution for 72 hours showed a significant decrease in glucose from admission values at 48 and 72 hours (but not at 24 hours). Serum sodium, potassium, and ST were not significantly different from admission values at any time over the 72-hour period. However, the relative contribution of individual osmolytes varied over the course of treatment. Although glucose decreased >120% from admission values over the 72-hour treatment period, the approximately 5% rise in serum sodium that occurred offset the osmotic effect of falling glucose and the overall ST change was <3%. Conclusions – The incidence of osmotic-mediated neurologic complications during treatment of cats with diabetic ketosis is low in part because the minimal fluctuation in ST during treatment likely prevents the development of osmotic gradients between serum and central nervous system tissues. The use of isotonic sodium-containing fluids in the treatment of feline diabetes acts to minimize large osmotic shifts by adding sodium to the serum compartment as the glucose concentration falls.
On the Interaction of Inclusions with Migrating Grain Boundaries

The interaction energy of a grain boundary with a precipitate particle or inclusion of a second phase is considered in detail. When the nature of the inclusion is considered, two regimes emerge: (a) the grain boundary may enter and pass through certain coherent inclusions, leaving them coherent; (b) more commonly, the grain boundary may envelop and bypass the inclusion, causing one which was coherent to lose coherency. The maximum pinning force exerted by an inclusion or particle on a boundary depends on its nature.
A Fine-Grain, Message-Passing Processing Node

This paper describes a processing node for a fine-grain message-passing concurrent computer. The node consists of a processor, a communication unit, and a memory. To reduce the overhead of message passing and task switching to 5µs, the node incorporates a send instruction, a fast communication system, hardware message buffering and dispatch, and a general translation mechanism. These mechanisms work together to implement a fine-grain programming system.
Early use of renal-sparing agents in liver transplantation: A closer look

Renal dysfunction is a critical issue for liver transplant candidates and recipients. Acute nephrotoxicity and chronic nephrotoxicity, however, are the compromises for the potent immunosuppression provided by calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). To maintain the graft and patient survival afforded by CNIs while minimizing renal dysfunction in liver transplant patients, the reduction, delay, or elimination of CNIs in immunosuppression regimens is being implemented more frequently by clinicians. The void left by standard-dose CNIs is being filled by nonnephrotoxic immunosuppressants such as mycophenolates and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors. The results of studies of renal-sparing regimens in liver transplant recipients have been inconsistent, and this may be explained upon a closer examination of several study-related factors, including the study design and the duration of follow-up. Liver Transpl 19:826-842, 2013. © 2013 AASLD.
Nonlinear Time Series Modeling: An Introduction

Recent developments in nonlinear time series modelling are reviewed. Three main types of nonlinear model are discussed: Markov Switching, Threshold Autoregression and Smooth Transition Autoregression. Classical and Bayesian estimation techniques are described for each model. Parametric tests for nonlinearity are reviewed with examples from the three types of model. Finally forecasting and impulse response analysis is developed.
A full-reference color image quality measure in the DWT domain

In this paper, we present a new objective quality measure for color images. In any frequency domain transform, the coefficients in different frequency bands have different magnitudes. The 2-dimensional Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) separates a given image into four bands: LL, HL, LH, and HH. After applying the DWT to both the original and degraded images, we compute the absolute value of the difference of the magnitudes in each band, and obtain the standard deviation (SD) of these differences. The proposed measure is defined as the mean of four SD values. Correlation of the subjective ratings and objective scores gives the performance of the measure. A comparison with the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and two state-of-the-art metrics, Q and MSSIM, shows that our results correlate better with the judgment of human observers.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy as a Maintenance Treatment.

IMPORTANCE The US Food and Drug Administration adopted labeling for nicotine patches to allow use beyond the standard 8 weeks. This decision was based in part on data showing increased efficacy for 24 weeks of treatment. Few studies have examined whether the use of nicotine patches beyond 24 weeks provides additional therapeutic benefit.
A robotic system for neuronal control

In order to investigate neuronally derived algorithms for feedback and control, one joint of a conventional robotic arm was fitted with sensory and motor devices consistent with biological memory-motor models. In this system, a single potentiometer senses angular position of a given joint. From this signal, the forward and reverse velocity are derived, as are the acceleration and deceleration. Controlling the stepper motor that drives this joint is an IC-based artifical neuron that has been specifically designed for this task. It possesses multiple excitatory and inhibitory input ports, and its output signals are amplified to a full 5-V level. The system has been constructed and successfully used to demonstrate empirical physiologically based models of inhibitory positional feedback and synaptic learning. >
L 2 regularization for learning kernels

The choice of the kernel is critical to the success of many learning algorithms but it is typically left to the user. Instead, the training data can be used to learn the kernel by selecting it out of a given family, such as that of non-negative linear combinations of p base kernels, constrained by a trace or L1 regularization. This paper studies the problem of learning kernels with the same family of kernels but with an L2 regularization instead, and for regression problems. We analyze the problem of learning kernels with ridge regression. We derive the form of the solution of the optimization problem and give an efficient iterative algorithm for computing that solution. We present a novel theoretical analysis of the problem based on stability and give learning bounds for orthogonal kernels that contain only an additive term O(√p/m) when compared to the standard kernel ridge regression stability bound. We also report the results of experiments indicating that L1 regularization can lead to modest improvements for a small number of kernels, but to performance degradations in larger-scale cases. In contrast, L2 regularization never degrades performance and in fact achieves significant improvements with a large number of kernels.
The positive contributions of hope to maintaining and restoring health: An integrative, mixed-method approach

A link between hope and physical well-being has long been suspected. To shed further light on this issue, an integrative theory of hope was used to design three health-related studies. In studies one and two, an integrative hope scale was used. In study one, greater hope was associated with depth of commitment to a healthier diet and regular exercise. In study two, the integrative hope scale was associated with a wider array of health behaviors as compared to a standard goal-oriented hope scale. In study three, a hope-centered content analysis of testimonies provided by long-term breast cancer survivors revealed a strong reliance on attachment and spirituality, dimensions typically neglected in psychological studies of this [hope] construct. An integrative approach to hope offers a framework for further research on hope and health as well as a blueprint for developing positive interventions to sustain and restore physical well-being.
An autoradiographic study of the development of [3H]hemicholinium-3 binding sites in human and baboon basal ganglia: a marker for the sodium-dependent high affinity choline uptake system.

Abstract The developmental distribution of the sodium-dependent high affinity choline uptake (SDHACU) system has been studied in the caudate and putamen of the baboon and of the human by in vitro autoradiography with the ligand, [3H]hemicholinium-3 ([3H]HCh3). Our results show that [3H]HCh3 binding sites in the newborn baboon and fetal human neostriatum are localized to patches, and then adopt a ‘striosome-like’ distribution in the juvenile baboon brain. These findings indicate a reorganization of [3H]HCh3 binding site distribution during the ontogeny of the primate neostriatum.
Repeated and continuous exposure of laboratory animals to acrolein.

Abstract Experimental animals were repeatedly exposed to acrolein vapors 8 hr/day, 5 days/wk for 6 consecutive weeks in 2 studies at concentrations of 0.7 and 3.7 ppm. Four continuous exposures to acrolein were conducted 24 hr/day for 90 days at concentrations of 0.21, 0.23, 1.0, and 1.8 ppm. Each experimental group of animals contained rats, guinea pigs, monkeys, and dogs. The animals were observed for toxic signs, mortality, and weight changes, and hematologic, biochemical, pathologic, and histopathologic examinations were made on the surviving animals. In both of the lower-level continuous exposures and in the 0.7 ppm repeated exposure, the animals appeared normal throughout the studies and gained weight. In the higher-level continuous exposures and the 3.7 ppm repeated study, the dogs and monkeys were visibly affected, and abnormal weight patterns were observed in some animals. The data from repeated studies support the current Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 0.1 ppm. A tentative 90-day Confined Space Guideline (CSG) of 0.02 ppm is suggested based on data obtained from these studies.
12(S)-HETE-induced microvascular endothelial cell retraction results from PKC-dependent rearrangement of cytoskeletal elements and αVβ3 integrins

Abstract 12(S)-HETE, a lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid, has been demonstrated to induce a reversible retraction of vascular endothelial cells (EC). 12(S)-HETE-induced microvascular EC retraction was blocked by a selective protein kinase C inhibitor, calphostin C, but not by the protein kinase A inhibitor, H8. EC exposed to 12(S)-HETE demonstrated a gradual dissolution of actin microfilaments and a decrease of vinculin-containing focal adhesions. The intermediate filaments, vimentin, also underwent extensive reorganization (i.e., filament bundling and enrichment to the cell filapodia) following 12(S)-HETE treatment. In vivo phosphorylation studies revealed that 12(S)-HETE induced a hyperphosphorylation of several major cytoskeletal proteins including myosin light chain, actin, and vimentin. The increased phosphorylation of these cytoskeletal proteins following 12(S)-HETE stimulation was abolished by calphostin C but not by H8. Confluent EC express αvβ3 in focal adhesions at both the cell body and the cell-cell borders. 12(S)-HETE induced a sequential rearrangement of the αvβ3-containing focal adhesions, resulting in a general decrease in αvβ3 integrin receptors, especially in those retracted EC. 12(S)-HETE-induced rearrangement of αvβ3 was inhibited by calphostin C but not by H8. In contrast to αvβ3, confluent EC enrich α5β1 integrin receptors primarily at the cell-cell borders, colocalizing with extracellular fibronectin and cell cortical microfilaments. 12(S)-HETE treatment also disrupted the cell-border distribution pattern of α5β1 as EC retracted, but no distinct alterations (such as time-related redistribution and quantitative differences) in α5β1 were observed.
The role of phosphorus in the eutrophication of receiving waters: a review

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for all life forms, It is a mineral nutrient. Orthophosphate is the only form of P that autotrophs can assimilate. Extracellular enzymes hydrolyze organic forms of P to phosphate. Eutrophication is the overenrichment of receiving waters with mineral nutrients. The results are excessive production of autotrophs, especially algae and cyanobacteria. This high productivity leads to high bacterial populations and high respiration rates, leading to hypoxia or anoxia in poorly mixed hottom waters and at night in surface waters during calm, warm conditions. Low dissolved oxygen causes the loss of aquatic animals and release of many materials normally hound to hottom sediments including various forms of P. This release of P reinforces the eutrophication. Excessive concentrations of P is the most common cause of eutrophication in freshwater lakes, reservoirs. streams, and headwaters of estuarine systems. In the ocean, N becomes the key mineral nutrient controlling primary production. Estuaries and continental shelf waters are a transition zone, where excessive P and N create prohlems. It is best to measure and regulate total P inputs to whole aquatic ecosystems, but for an easy assay it is hest to measure total P concentrations, induding particulate P, in surface waters or NIP atomic ratios in phytoplankton.
Pulmonary venous flow patterns by transesophageal pulsed Doppler echocardiography: Relation to parameters of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function

Abstract We have previously shown that the systolic and diastolic pulmonary venous flow (PVF) distribution is predictive of left atrial pressure. This study was designed to define the confounding influences of left atrial expansion, descent of the mitral anulus, and left ventricular contractile function on that relationship; to define normal PVF patterns; and to document the interaction of PVF with mitral inflow. Therefore we studied 27 consecutive intraoperative patients with coronary artery disease (22 men and 5 women, ages 35 to 78 years) using transesophageal echocardiography. A group of 12 normal subjects served as a control. Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiographic parameters were obtained simultaneously with monitoring pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). We found that neither left atrial expansion nor the descent of the mitral anulus influencedthe relationship between PVF and PCWP, but that left ventricular fractional shortening confounded this relationship. In normal subjects PVF was dominant in systole, whereas PVF in patients with elevated PCWP was dominant in diastole (systolic fraction of 68 ± 6% [SD] in normals versus 42 ± 15% in patients with PCWP ≥ 15 mm Hg). PVF velocities interacted with transmittal flow velocities. Peak early diastolic mitral inflow velocities increased linearly with peak early diastolic PVF velocities ( r = 0.62). We conclude that systolic and diastolic PVF distribution is mainly determined by the level of PCWP and to a lesser extent by left ventricular contraction, but not by left atrial expansion or by mitral anulus descent. Transesophageal pulsed Doppler echocardiography of PVF provides useful clinical information about the level of PCWP in intraoperative patients with coronary artery disease.
The dynamoelectric amplifier-class a operation

Previous papers have described the basic operating principles of several dynamoelectric amplifiers and their behavior under d-c transient conditions. This paper compares the various dynamoelectric amplifiers to the electronic amplifier, and discusses the static and dynamic characteristics of both the single -and 2-stage dynamoelectric amplifiers from an a-c steady-state point of view. The dynamic characteristics are calculated from equivalent circuits and compared with test results in the form of frequency response and phase angle curves. Negative feed-back circuits and response curves also are presented and the effects of feedback pointed out. Methods of obtaining the equivalent circuit parameters from test are discussed briefly.
The Family Caregiver as Interpreter in the Geriatric Medical Interview

Analysis of transcripts of 40 medical interviews with a doctor, an older patient, and a family caregiver led to the identification of the caregiver as interpreter, in the sense of someone who facilitates communication between the layperson and the health professional. Three communication modes of the family caregiver were derived from the data: Facilitator, Intermediary, and Direct Source. Caregivers acted both as patient substitutes and doctor substitutes in the interactions. Comparisons of the family members' modes of communication and bilingual interpreter issues of role shifting, power, and divided loyalties are discussed. Implications for future research are addressed.
Collisionally induced fragmentation of protonated oligoalanines and oligoglycines

In a hybrid instrument under minimal multiple-collision conditions, the collision-induced fragmentation of the [M + H]+ ions of tetraalanine and tetraglycine are dominated by the gamma 2 fragment, in distinction to the fragmentation of the [M + H]+ ions of hexa- and octaalanine and -glycine; these latter fragmentations are instead a distribution of b and y ions, and to a lesser extent a ions. This difference may be rationalized on the basis of control of the fragmentation by the most basic site in the peptide, which may be identified by taking internal hydrogen bonding into account. On increasing the collision energy from 10 to 150 eV, a, b and y ions of lower mass appear; and in several cases a peak due to a smaller b ion becomes the base peak. The ion distribution in the spectra of these protonated peptides serves as a baseline from which the effects of conformation on side-group rearrangements and other fragmentations may be explored.
Application of semi-ab initio method of band structure calculation to semiconductor superlattices

Abstract We used an efficient direct-space orthogonalized linear combination of atomic orbitals method to calculate the band structures of most common elemental, III–V and II–VI semiconductors, obtaining correct locations and magnitudes of the band gaps. The atomic-like minimal basis and the atomic-like potentials obtained from these calculations can be used to calculate the band structures of semiconductor superlattices. As an example of such an application, we show the results of calculations on 100 Si bilayers (313 A in width) randomly stacked in the [111] direction. This structure represents a realistic one-dimensional model system with off-diagonal disorder in the z-direction and hexagonal translational symmetry in the x-y plane. Highly localized states at both the conduction band and the valence band edges are identified and analyzed. These electron states are compared with those obtained from similar calculations on perfect Si-bilayers of same width as in diamond lattice and those containing intrinsic and extrinsic types of stacking faults.
Revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Context:Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common surgical procedures, with more than 200,000 ACL tears occurring annually. Although primary ACL reconstructio...
The effects of homicides and suicides on the population longevity of the United States

The purpose of this study was to analyze population longevity relative to homicide and suicide deaths in light of competing risks. Mortality data by age and sex derived from Vital Statistics and data from the U.S. Census were utilized to calculate life tables. The causes of death for this study were classified according to the Eighth Revision of the Internal Classification of Disease, Adapted (ICDA) (World Health Organization). The ICSA code for the causes examined in this study are homicides (E960–E987) and suicides (E950–E959). Calculations based upon public health data and cause deletion indicate a loss in population life expectancy due to homicide and suicide deaths of 0.70456 years for males and 0.2606 years for females. When the findings are translated to the life expectancy of the population in terms of time, a total of 1,305,805 person years per decade are irretrievably lost from suicide and homicide deaths.
Comparison of propranolol-binding plasma proteins in sheep with those in humans, dogs and rats.

Abstract Alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), a plasma protein responsible for the binding of a variety of basic lipophilic drugs including propranolol, is different from other plasma proteins in being nonprecipitable after treatment with 1.2 M perchloric acid (PCA). To assess the contribution of AGP to drug disposition in sheep and three other species (rats, dogs, and humans), the binding of [3H]propranolol was measured before and after PCA precipitation. PCA precipitation reduced propranolol binding 14-fold in sheep, compared to 2- to 3-fold in the other species. This implied either that sheep AGP binds less propranolol than other species, or that the AGP in sheep is more precipitable. It was not due to inherently poor propranolol binding, as whole sheep plasma bound a higher fraction than the other species. When samples of PCA-precipitated sheep plasma were analyzed using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the concentration of AGP was 10–20% that of the other species. Phenobarbital induction was used as a tool to examine the changes in the plasma protein profile. Phenobarbital induced propranolol binding and AGP along with two other proteins in sheep. One of these proteins migrated similarly to AGP deglycosylated by peptide-N-glycosidase F. It is postulated that the greater precipitability of propranolol binding in sheep is due to a less glycosylated form of AGP which is not important in other species.
Revised, fast, flexible algorithms for determination of electron number densities in plasma discharges

Abstract This article is an electronic publication in Spectrochimica Acta Electronica (SAE), the electronic section of Spectrochimica Acta Part B (SAB). The hard copy text is accompanied by a disk with two electron number density ( n e ) calculation programs written in Turbo Basic (NNE.EXE) and C language (NE.EXE), data mes ( ∗ .DAT), a text file (NE.WP) with the hard copy paper in WordPerfect 5.1 and a text file (README) for the introduction of the data files and programs. The theoretical aspects and applications of NNE.EXE and NE.EXE are described in the main article for three plasmas having a wide range of electron number density (4 × 10 13 to 1 × 10 17 cm −3 ). The descriptions of the procedure, data format, and hardware requirements can be found in the Appendix and the README file. The determination of n e . is accomplished by least-squares fitting of the entire emission profile or the wing portions of the emission profile of the H β line (486.13 nm) to the theoretical Stark broadened profiles, compiled at electron temperature 2500, 5000, 10000 and 20000 K. This approach can reduce errors in the determination of n e owing to the structural dip in the center of the Stark profiles depending on n e value. The curve-fitting routine employs an interval-halving algorithm to produce new interpolated Stark profiles, reduces number of iterations and time required for calculation, and allows the calculation of n e to the limits set by instrument spectral resolution and the availability of theoretical spectral data. Additionally, each program provides graphic displays allowing the reader to observe the interpolated Stark profiles, the fitting process, and magnitude of residuals during the course of calculation, and the effects of plasma temperatures and spectral resolution on the estimation of n e . In addition to H β , theoretical profiles also are included for H α and H γ to illustrate the suitability and drawbacks of these lines for n e estimation. These programs are extended versions of a program reported earlier in Spectrochimica Acta 44B , 175 (1989).
An Index of Damping Non-Proportionality for Discrete Vibrating Systems

Abstract In this paper a unified analytical basis for the measurement of damping non-proportionality through indexing is presented. A new index is proposed better to clarify the characteristics of non-proportional damping. The monotonicity, independency and validity of the index are formulated and proved. Applications in error analysis are discussed and illustrated by several numerical examples.
Aspects of the fundamental chemistry of cesium extraction from acidic media by HCCD

It is well known that cesium extraction from acidic media by HCCD proceeds through a liquid-liquid ion exchange extraction mechanism. Four data sets with 25 experimental measurements of Cs distribution ratios, DCs = [Cs]org/[Cs]aq, at a variety of initial conditions (various concentrations of [HCCD] and [HNO3]) have been modeled using the SXLSQI computer program developed at ORNL. The SXLSQI program was used in this analysis to help elucidate the general chemical equilibria operative in the extraction of Cs+ into an organic phase comprised of HCCD in FS-13. The experimental data sets are best modeled with four chemical equilibria (T = 25°C). The equilibrium constant for the primary exchange reaction of log Keq = 3.07 is in excellent agreement with values reported in the literature of log Keq = 3.00 for the HCCD/nitrobenzene system. In general, the equilibria representing the mechanism of Cs extraction by HCCD are consistent with earlier literature reports, albeit derived by different experimental and modeling schemes.
Changing Meanings, Changing Institutions: An Institutional Analysis of Patent Legislation

Conceptions of patents have changed significantly over the past two centuries, reflecting broad changes in state structures and the international system. In the late eighteenth century, the creation of democratic states such as the United States and France encouraged the conceptualization of patents as an economic and political right belonging to an individual, rather than to a corporate body such as a guild. A second conception of patents arose in the nineteenth century in which patents become a state-based mechanism for motivating economic growth. In the late twentieth century, patents have become conceptualized as an essential part of the economic infrastructure of a state, for both industrialized and less developed countries. This conceptualization has allowed international development organizations to become central in the diffusion of patent legislation to less developed countries. These changes in conceptions about patents did not always occur smoothly, however. Major controversies over the role and usefulness of patents occurred in each century, implying that the diffusion of patent legislation was by no means inevitable. This paper illustrates these arguments with a historical discussion of patents and a statistical analysis that models the adoption of patent legislation for all countries from 1790–1984.
The preparation and characterization of dimethylaluminum γ-picoline dimer

Abstract Reduction of dimethylchloroaluminum γ-picoline, (CH3)2ClAl·NC5H4CH3, with lithium affords [(CH3)2Al·NC5H4CH3]2. The latter was characterized by analytical and spectroscopic means, 1H, 13C and 27Al NMR, and its electronic spectrum is reported. A structure and MO bonding scheme is suggested which explains the observed diamagnetic character of the dimer as well as its extensive electronic spectrum.
Action of dextroamphetamine on dopamine sensitive cells in the snail brain.

Abstract Presynaptic and postsynaptic actions of dextroamphetamine (DEX) were studied on dopamine (DA) sensitive neurons of the subesophageal ganglion of the garden snail Helix aspersa utilizing standard microelectrode techniques. Dextroamphetamine (5.5 × 10 −7 –10 −4 M) produced effects on DA-sensitive neurons similar to that caused by DA (5.5 × 10 −7 –10 −4 M). On cells excited by DA, surfused DEX (5.5 × 10 −7 M) caused an excitation that could be blocked by chlorpromazine (0.5–1 × 10 −6 M) or haloperidol (0.5–1 × 10 −6 M). Elevating the extracellular Mg 2+ from 4 to 20 mM reduced the depolarization caused by DEX from 11 to 2.5 mV without affecting the response to DA. The response remaining is attributed to a direct response to DEX on DA receptors. Surfused DEX caused an inhibition of cells inhibited by DA. Both DA and DEX effects were selectively blocked by dihydroergotamine (0.5–1 × 10 −6 M). Elevating the [Mg 2+ ] decreased the hyperpolarization caused by DEX from 11 to 3 mV without affecting the DA response. The effect of elevated magnesium in decreasing responses to surfused DEX suggests that the primary action of DEX is at the nerve terminal to cause DA release. Iontophoretic application of DEX caused minimal excitation or inhibition of DA neurons. This is attributed to the fact that DA receptors at the site of drug application are not associated with synaptic innervation. The response obtained with iontophoretically applied DEX suggest a weak direct action on DA receptors.
Long-term ethanol exposure impairs glycosylation of both N- and O-glycosylated proteins in rat liver

Carbohydrate residues of glycoproteins play important roles in their functions. We have previously shown that long-term ethanol treatment in rats alters the normal glycosylation pattern of plasma transferrin and apolipoprotein (apo) E. Glycosylation of proteins is a posttranslational process that is regulated by both glycosyltransferases and glycosidases, the resident enzymes of hepatic subcellular organelles. In this investigation using rat transferrin and apo E as model N- and O-glycosylated proteins, respectively, we have explored the effects of long-term ethanol treatment on the (1) incorporation of various labeled sugar precursors into these specific glycoproteins, (2) activities of mannosyltransferase, galactosyltransferase, and sialytransferases, and (3) hepatic synthetic rate of N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase (2,6-ST). The relative ratio of labeled sugar to leucine incorporation (glycosylation index) showed a 43% (P < .01) decrease for relative mannosylation of transferrin molecule at both the microsomal and Golgi level in the ethanol group (AN) versus the control group (CN). For apo E, relative mannosylation was reduced by 48.9% (P < .01) and 46.9% (P < .01), respectively, at the microsomal and Golgi level in the AN versus CN. More importantly, relative sialation of transferrin was reduced by 86% (P < .001) in AN as compared with CN. Relative sialation of apo E was reduced by 35% (P < .01) in AN as compared with CN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sub-Quarter Micron Metallization Using Ionized Metal Plasma Technology

Ionized Metal Plasma (IMP) technology has been developed for liners and wetting layer deposition of sub-quarter-micron devices. Numerical modeling showed the unique advantages of IMP source over ECR source and long throw sputtering in enhancing bottom coverage. Ti and TiN bottom coverage up to 70% were demonstrated on 0.18μm contact holes. The deposition rate, uniformity, bottom coverage and film stress were optimized by tuning RF and DC powers, process pressure and bias power. In situ TiSi2 were formed in high aspect ratio contacts by depositing IMP Ti at an elevated temperature. The precisely controlled microstructure of IMP TiN film enabled low temperature aluminum planarization. The extendibility to 0.13μm technology node was demonstrated, and the application in copper metallization was revealed.
Palladium‐catalyzed electroless plating of gold on latex particle surfaces

Gold can be deposited onto a latex particle surface via the growth of metal islands with the electroless plating method. A new method is proposed for the electroless plating of gold on the surface of poly(styrene-co-vinylimidazole) latex particles, which is catalyzed by palladium present on the latex particle surfaces. The palladium ions are anchored to the latex particle surfaces by the formation of a palladium–imidazole complex, and palladium nanoparticles are nucleated by a reductant. These palladium islands act as catalytic sites, so gold is preferentially deposited onto the latex particle surfaces. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and sucrose density gradient column results indicate that the palladium is associated with the imidazole-functionalized latex particles. Different gold loading levels and reductant types were explored. Latex particles were partially encapsulated by finely dispersed gold nanoparticles less than 2 nm in diameter or by gold islands with sizes ranging from 10 to 100 nm up to a gold loading level of 3.1 mg of Au/m2 of latex. However, using higher gold loading levels led to uncontrollable electroless plating of gold because gold reduction in the water phase became very dominant even in the presence of catalytic palladium on the latex particle surface. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
The utility of computerized visual communication for improving natural language in chronic global aphasia: Implications for approaches to treatment in global aphasia

A computerized communication system (C-VIC) was employed as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool to identify propositional language abilities in a chronic, globally aphasic patient. The patient demonstrated the ability to construct sentences during training according to abstract syntax-like rules by manipulating iconic symbols representing nouns and verbs. Further, he produced correct symbolic order to express the thematic relationships in sentences. The effect of C-VIC as a therapeutic intervention to improve the patient's natural language abilities was examined using pre- and post-training assessments. Improvements specific to training were observed but neither improvements in natural language nor generalization to production of multiple sentences using C-VIC was found. The results are discussed with regard to current debates concerning treatment approaches and the use of augmentative communication devices for globally aphasic patients.
Estimating the Cost of Equity for Property-Liability Insurance Companies

Due to the highly skewed and heavy-tailed distributions associated with the insurance claims process, we evaluate the Rubinstein-Leland (RL) model for its ability to improve the cost of equity estimates of insurance companies because of its distribution-free feature. Our analyses show that there is as large as a 94-basis-point difference in the estimated cost of insurance equity between the RL model and the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) for the sample of property-liability insurers with more severe departures from normality. In addition, consistent with our hypotheses, significant differences in the market risk estimates are found for insurers with return distributions that are asymmetrically distributed, and for small insurers. Third, we find significant performance improvements from using the RL model by showing smaller values of excess return of the expected return of the portfolio to the model return for a portfolio of insurers with returns that are more skewed and for a portfolio of small insurers. Finally, our panel data analysis shows the differences in the market risk estimates are significantly influenced by firm size, degree of leverage, and degree of asymmetry. The implication is that insurers should use the RL model rather than the CAPM to estimate its cost of capital if the insurer is small (assets size is less than $2,291 million), and/or its returns are not symmetrical (the value of skewness is greater than 0.509 or less than −0.509).
GreedyDual* Web caching algorithm: exploiting the two sources of temporal locality in Web request streams

The relative importance of long-term popularity and short-term temporal correlation of references for Web cache replacement policies has not been studied thoroughly. This is partially due to the lack of accurate characterization of temporal locality that enables the identification of the relative strengths of these two sources of temporal locality in a reference stream. In [ACM Sigmetrics'00, June, 2000 (to appear), Computer Science Technical Report BUCS1999-014, Boston University], we have proposed such a metric and have shown that Web reference streams differ significantly in the prevalence of these two sources of temporal locality. These findings underscore the importance of a Web caching strategy that can adapt in a dynamic fashion to the prevalence of these two sources of temporal locality. In this paper, we propose a novel cache replacement algorithm, GreedyDual^*, which is a generalization of GreedyDual-Size. GreedyDual^* uses the metrics proposed in [ACM Sigmetrics'00, June, 2000 (to appear), Computer Science Technical Report BUCS1999-014, Boston University] to adjust the relative worth of long-term popularity versus short-term temporal correlation of references. Our trace-driven simulation experiments show the superior performance of GreedyDual^* when compared to other Web cache replacement policies proposed in the literature.