cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theory of the delocalized binding of Mg(II) to DNA: Preliminary analysis for low binding levels

Abstract A simple theoretical equation for the binding of Mg 2+ to DNA in the presence of excess l : l salt is derived from a model that does not specify discrete binding sites but rather allows the associated metal ions to move freely near the surface of the DNA polyion. Use of a numerical value for the free volume, determined uniquely, in a separate communication, by a free energy minimization, leads to predicted values for the Mg 2+ binding constant that are in essential agreement with measured values taken from the literature.
Agrarian conflict and the origins of Korean capitalism

To fully appreciate the uneven, conflict‐ridden, historical transition from an agrarian to an industrial economy in East Asia, this article examines the Korean case through agrarian conflict theory, which views agrarian conflict and its resolution as key to capitalist transformation. In particular, the article explores how this conflict influenced colonial industrialization and land reform, which crucially shaped the path of Korea's transformation. Agrarian conflict theory is shown to greatly enhance the current understanding of Korean (and by extension East Asian) transformation by examining more than just the political economy of development.
Electric vector potentials and the effective lagrangian for long distance Yang-Mills theory

Abstract We use electric vector potentials, originally introduced by Mandelstam, to describe long distance SU(2) Yang-Mills theory. We require that the effective long distance lagrangian is the simplest gauge invariant expression involving these potentials which yields a 1 q 4 gluon propagator in the abelian limit. From the resulting lagrangian we obtain equations of motion with solutions corresponding to tubes of electric color flux quantized in units of e 2 (e is the Yang-Mills coupling constant). This is the criterion for electric confinement of color.
Dopamine and extinction: a convergence of theory with fear and reward circuitry.

Abstract Research on dopamine lies at the intersection of sophisticated theoretical and neurobiological approaches to learning and memory. Dopamine has been shown to be critical for many processes that drive learning and memory, including motivation, prediction error, incentive salience, memory consolidation, and response output. Theories of dopamine’s function in these processes have, for the most part, been developed from behavioral approaches that examine learning mechanisms in reward-related tasks. A parallel and growing literature indicates that dopamine is involved in fear conditioning and extinction. These studies are consistent with long-standing ideas about appetitive–aversive interactions in learning theory and they speak to the general nature of cellular and molecular processes that underlie behavior. We review the behavioral and neurobiological literature showing a role for dopamine in fear conditioning and extinction. At a cellular level, we review dopamine signaling and receptor pharmacology, cellular and molecular events that follow dopamine receptor activation, and brain systems in which dopamine functions. At a behavioral level, we describe theories of learning and dopamine function that could describe the fundamental rules underlying how dopamine modulates different aspects of learning and memory processes.
CQI in Policy Implementation: Advance Directives

Recognition of patients' rights is growing in the healthcare field in this country, as is recognition of the need for advance directives. Advance directives are documents that indicate treatment choices and preferences made by an individual while he or she is still competent. Through the use of continuous quality improvement (CQI) tools and the development of a CQI team, the author's facility was able to implement the important process of having patients complete advance directives.
Three New Species of Vernonia (Compositae: Vernonieae) from Mexico

Three new Mexican species ofVernonia,V. macphersonii,V. pugana andV. tequilana, are described.
Recovery from prior stimulation II: Effects upon intensity discrimination

We obtained just-noticeable differences (jnds) for the intensity of pure tones following a forward masker. The masker was a 100-ms burst of narrow-band noise centered at 1000 Hz presented at 90 dB SPL; the pure-tone signal was at 1000 Hz and was 25 ms in duration. The masker-signal delay was 100 ms. Under these conditions, there is no threshold shift for the detection of the pure-tone signal following the forward masker. In contrast with the absence of a forward-masker effect upon detection thresholds, unusually large midlevel (40-60 dB SPL) jnds were observed. These large midlevel jnds were measured as a function of signal delay, revealing that they are not completely recovered to the normal (unmasked) values by 400 ms. We interpret these data as a consequence of the slower recovery of low-spontaneous rate, high-threshold neurons following prior stimulation (Relkin and Doucet, 1990). These experiments may therefore provide psychophysical evidence that the low-spontaneous rate, high-threshold neurons are a necessary physiological component in the coding of the large dynamic range for intensity. In addition, the present data provide evidence that the assumption that the effect of forward masking is limited to 100-200 ms is inappropriate, as this recovery time does not necessarily apply to suprathreshold tasks.
Active Control Schemes to Satisfy Separation Distance Constraints

T HE proposed NASA benchmark tetrahedron constellation is a complex formation to be maintained at every apogee point. In previous papers, the authors developed a strategy and determined the initial conditions to maintain the tetrahedron formation [1,2]. With this strategy, the constellation maintains the separation distance constraints for a limited number of orbits, depending on the specific size of the NASA benchmark problem [3]. After a pair of satellites violates the separation distance constraints [1,2], a control strategy is needed to maintain the separation distance conditions [3]. The NASA benchmark problem [3] establishes that the nominal separation distance between any pair of satellites within the constellation is 10 km at the apogee point, and, at any other point in the orbit, the separation distance cannot be less than 1 km. To explain the dynamics of a pair of satellites in an elliptical orbit, the linearized Tschauner–Hempel (TH) equations are used. In the TH equations, the coefficient term that varieswith the true anomaly angle will affect the control scheme that is used to maintain the separation distance between a pair of satellites. The control strategy is based on the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) which was used by Bainum, Strong, and Tan (BST) [4–6]. These authors used the LQR control scheme to maintain the separation between a pair of satellites in an along-track formation (string of pearls), and the varying coefficient was adapted in a piecewisemanner. Instead, Carter–Humi (CH) [7,8] used a different approach in which the cost function is defined in terms of the true anomaly angle, and this control scheme will be adapted here to the LQR strategy. These two control schemes will be compared to determine the best response from the BST and CH control approaches. After the constellation is corrected, the Satellite Tool Kit (STK) [9] software is used to propagate the constellation motion and determine when the constellation will again violate the separation distance constraints. Hence, the main objective of this engineering note is to compare and apply these two techniques for the first time to the NASA Benchmark Tetrahedron Constellation to correct the violation of the separation distance constraints [3]. II. Definition of the Specific Sizes (or Phases)
Impact of graft material configuration on stent-graft endoleak in vitro

PURPOSE To assess the effect of different attachment patterns between graft materials and stents on type I endoleak. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nitinol stents were covered with a coating of Tegaderm in either a straight-edged pattern across the stent cells or a contoured zigzag pattern conforming to the stent skeleton's honeycomb-shaped cells. The stent-grafts were deployed in an ex vivo circuit across a gap of tubing to simulate an aneurysm cavity. Fluid leaking from the gap for more than 30 minutes was recorded as endoleak. Two contoured attachment patterns (short and long necks) and four straight-edged patterns with necks of varying length were tested. Each experiment was repeated 15 times. RESULTS The length of the aneurysm neck covered by the graft material was inversely related to the rate of endoleak. The zigzag pattern of graft attachment demonstrated significantly less endoleak than the straight-edged pattern in the setting of a short aneurysm neck (0.25 mL vs 47.3 mL). CONCLUSION Adopting the contoured (zigzag) attachment of graft material to stents minimizes endoleak in vitro, particularly in the setting of a short aneurysm neck.
On archival pluralism: what religious pluralism (and its critics) can teach us about archives

Recent work has stressed the importance of pluralism in archival education, practice, and research. By examining the promises and perils of pluralism as it has been constructed in another field—religion—this article analyzes, expands, and delineates the notion of archival pluralism in a way that helps form the conceptual foundation for further work on pluralistic approaches to archival education, theory and practice. More specifically, it argues that archival pluralism can learn from four basic principles of religious pluralism—energetic engagement, understanding, strengthened commitment, and dialog—while at the same time avoiding four major perils: claims of universality, inattention to power, silencing dissent, and collapsing of difference. First, this article presents a brief discourse analysis tracing the emergence and development of archival pluralism in the literature to date. Next, turning to how pluralism has been constructed in another field, this article gives a brief overview of conceptions of religious pluralism using the work of two of its most prominent American scholars as guideposts and then addresses the strengths and weaknesses of this conceptualization of pluralism in the religious sphere. Next, this article proposes how religious pluralism’s main principles and pitfalls can be adapted and applied in the realm of memory keeping in order to strengthen the conceptual framework for archival pluralism. It concludes by suggesting aspects of a research agenda for future work in archival pluralism.
Teaching about Sex Differences in Language

(1982). Teaching about Sex Differences in Language. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 55, No. 9, pp. 410-413.
Beyond “Cold” Cognition: Exploring Cognitive Control of Emotion as a Risk Factor for Psychosis

The past 20 years of research examining psychosis risk factors has predominantly focused on “cold” cognitive (i.e., non-affective) processes. Despite identification of potential cognitive and associated brain-based vulnerability markers, our ability to identify those individuals at highest risk for future psychosis has not substantially improved. Consequently, researchers have begun to examine emotion-processing deficits as potential psychosis vulnerability markers. Here we propose that a particular emotion-processing domain, cognitive control of emotion, is a potential transdiagnostic mechanism underlying the heterogeneity of clinical presentation and psychosocial impairments observed in high-risk populations. Recent investigations indicate impaired cognitive control of emotion is observable across the psychosis spectrum and relates to important clinical and psychosocial outcomes relevant to the high-risk state. Moreover, preliminary evidence indicates treatment interventions aimed at improving cognitive control of emotion could reduce psychotic symptoms and improve functioning. We highlight gaps in current knowledge and propose five key avenues for future investigations.
Sperm penetration through the zona pellucida of salt‐stored hamster eggs is delayed

One of the problems in assaying sperm capacitation is that live eggs mount a block to polyspermy at the zona pellucida. To circumvent this problem, researchers have started to use salt-stored eggs to assay sperm capacitation (Boatman et al., Gamete Res 19:19–29, 1988; Yoshimatsu et al., Gamete Res 21:115–126, 1988). These researchers have demonstrated that the zonae of salt-stored eggs were penetrable by capacitated sperm, but they did not examine whether the timing of penetration of fully capacitated sperm was altered. This report shows that zona penetration by fully capacitated sperm is delayed in both short-term salt-treated eggs (2 hr) and in eggs stored in salt for >2 days. These results indicate that the zona is modified when eggs are treated with a high-salt solution. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A penile prosthesis for a sex offender

The request by a convicted sexual offender to have a penile implant presents an ethical dilemma that is analyzed in this case report. The conclusions include the fact that ethical decisions require a team approach and shared responsibility among practitioners and that there are ethical questions that have not been completely answered. In this case the unanswered question is whether autonomy should trample justice or justice should trample autonomy.
EXPRESSION AND REGULATION OF INTERFERON-GAMMA -INDUCIBLE PROTEIN 10 GENE IN RAT LEYDIG CELLS

In the present study, we report the cloning of a gene that is differentially expressed in normal adult rat Leydig cells and whose expression is inhibited by hCG but is induced by interferon-γ (IFNγ). DNA sequence analysis identified this gene as rat IFNγ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), a member of the -C-X-C- chemokine superfamily of proinflammatory cytokines. High levels of IP-10 messenger RNA (mRNA) were constitutively expressed in freshly isolated and primary cultured Leydig cells. hCG inhibited this expression in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of 1 ng/ml hCG inhibited IP-10 mRNA levels more than 80%. Conversely, IP-10 mRNA levels were markedly increased in response to murine interleukin-1α, murine tumor necrosis factor-α, and murine IFNγ by 3.3-, 10-, and 26-fold, respectively. Concomitant addition of murine interleukin-1α, murine tumor necrosis factor-α, and murine IFNγ synergistically increased IP-10 mRNA levels by 58-fold. Furthermore, in addition to one previously described rat IP-10 mRNA tra...
The garrison state revisited: civil–military implications of terrorism and security

Lasswell’s original vision of the garrison state was spurred by the increasing militarization of states in the industrial age. The advent of the Cold War seemed to confirm Lasswell’s predictions. In the post-industrial age, conventional warfare and the attendant mobilization of societies seem less probable, but the changing threat of terrorism may lead to a variation of Lasswell’s construct. While states no longer appear likely to evolve into a system of armed camps directed at one another, this article argues that the threat of terrorism may necessitate the garrisoning of society and enhance the role of military and police organizations, as Lasswell warned.
Selective detection of organometallics in gas chromatographic effluents by flame photometry

Abstract A spectrophotometric channel was added to a regular flame ionization detector and used to determine several volatile organometallics. The minute flame proved capable of exciting a number of atomic species well enough for analytical ends. Both air-rich and hydrogen-rich flames were tested to establish relevant analytical parameters including vertical emission profiles. The hydrogen-rich flame was the preferable one, with sensitivities in the lower nanogram ranges for iron, tin and lead compounds, and strong discrimination against hydrocarbons.
Effects of ambient temperature on free radical generation, antioxidant defenses and life span in the adult housefly, Musca domestica

Life spans of poikilotherms like the housefly are shortened by elevation of ambient temperature. The objective of this study was to examine the possible involvement of active oxygen species in temperature induced life-shortening of the adult male housefly. Effects of varied ambient temperature, 20 degrees C and 28 degrees C, on life span, cyanide-resistant respiration, H2O2 concentration, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities and glutathione (GSH) concentration were examined. Average life span of flies raised at 28 degrees C was about 52% lower than those raised at 20 degrees C. Rate of cyanide-resistant respiration, an indicator of oxygen free radical generation, was higher in flies raised at 28 degrees C, whereas steady-state concentration of H2O2 was decreased at this temperature. Catalase activity and GSH concentration were lower at 28 degrees C while SOD activity was unaffected by the ambient temperature. Results of this study suggest that life-shortening effects of elevated ambient temperature may be due, in part, to increased oxidative stress.
Reflections on WebGuide: seven issues for the next generation of collaborative knowledge-building environments

A number of software environments have been developed as media to support collaborative knowledge building, typically featuring a Web-based threaded discussion facility. We have recently developed such a system, known as WebGuide. The distinctive feature of this system is support for structuring collaboration and knowledge construction with personal, group and comparison perspectives. While piloting WebGuide in a middle school classroom and a graduate seminar, we encountered a variety of issues related to both software design and classroom practices. Some of these issues are common to experiences with similar systems and some have to do specifically with support for perspectives. In this paper we review seven of the major issues encountered with an eye toward suggestions for future work.
Disinfection and inactivation of the human T lymphotropic virus type III/Lymphadenopathy-associated virus.

This study was aimed at investigating the inactivation by reagents and conditions commonly used in research laboratories of human T-lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus (HTLV-III/LAV). The following proposed inactivators were tested: isopropyl rubbing alcohol ethyl alcohol absolute alcohol household bleach Tween-20 paraformaldehyde Lysol and H202. Separate tubes of virus and inactivator were 1st serially diluted and then inoculated together into cell cultures. A sensitive and quantitative bioassay for infectious virus was used to evaluate virus inactivation. Both the observed reduction in titer of infectious virus after exposure to disinfectants (interpreted by comparison with appropriate controls) and empirical estimates of efficacy derived by extrapolation from dose-response plots were used as indicators of virus inactivation. The results indicate that alcohols hypochlorite the detergent NP-40 (but not Tween-20) H202 phenolics and paraformaldehyde are all effective inactivators of HTLV-III/LAV at concentrations well below those usually formulated for use as a disinfectant or in laboratories. These findings can be applied to dried virus as well provided that disinfection procedures result in penetration of disinfectant into dried material or cause dissolution or suspension of the virus into disinfectant. These data should be of interest to laboratory personnel and others who are concerned with potential exposure to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Hormonal basis during pregnancy for the onset of maternal behavior in the rat

This article reviews the current state of our knowledge about the hormonal basis of maternal behavior in the rat. Considered are the ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone, the pituitary hormones beta-endorphin and prolactin, and the hormone oxytocin, secreted by several hypothalamic nuclei and associated brain regions. The hormones of pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone, prime the female to respond to a terminal rise in estrogen that stimulates a high level of maternal responsiveness even before parturition begins. Studies on the role of prolactin, using hypophysectomy, prolactin release blockers and anterior pituitary and prolactin replacement, indicate that prolactin is required for the ovarian hormones to be effective in stimulating maternal behavior. During the latter half of pregnancy, placental lactogen may displace prolactin in this role. Although prolactin serves as a chronic stimulus for maternal behavior, it also may act over a short period. Oxytocin stimulates maternal behavior in a specific strain of rat, but not in other strains, and only when administered introcerebroventricularly (ICV) in estrogen-primed females. The decline in the high brain levels of beta-endorphin around parturition has been proposed as a requirement for the onset of maternal behavior; morphine blocks the onset of maternal behavior and disrupts ongoing maternal behavior and maternal aggression in lactating females. However, blocking beta-endorphin action at parturition interferes with pup cleaning and eating of the placenta as well.
PREDICTING EPISODE-BASED CARE COSTS FOLLOWING CORONARY INTERVENTION

Bundled payment models for healthcare offer cost reduction opportunities, although such models have yet to be applied to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-related treatment. Episode-based cost prediction may advantage providers taking on additional financial risk in an emerging landscape of
Orographic influence on deep convection: case study and sensitivity experiments

The non hydrostatic convection resolving model MOLOCH is employed in order to evaluate its capability to realistically simulate the evolution of the mesoscale convective system responsible for an episode of extremely heavy rainfall and flood over southeastern France (Gard event, 2002). Numerical experiments indicate large sensitivity of modelled precipitation amounts and distribution, due to different cell organization and propagation, to the specification of the initial conditions. Among different experimented initialization times (00, 06 and 12 UTC, September 8) the run starting at 06 UTC is able to predict the development and the almost stationary behaviour of the convective system, at least in the early stage of the event. Additional experiments, aimed at studying the role played by the orography in triggering the convection and controlling its evolution, have been performed in order to characterize sensitivity to ambient wind and orography. Simulations demonstrate that the presence of the orographic barrier is crucial for both triggering and maintaining the mesoscale convective system. Moreover, the location and intensity of precipitation turns out to be sensitive to variations of the mountain height and of the mean meridional wind component. A partial explanation of this behaviour in terms of the Froude number is suggested.
Relationships among L1 print exposure and early L1 literacy skills, L2 aptitude, and L2 proficiency

Authors examined the relationship between individual differences in L1 print exposure and differences in early L1 skills and later L2 aptitude, L2 proficiency, and L2 classroom achievement. Participants were administered measures of L1 word decoding, spelling, phonemic awareness, reading comprehension, receptive vocabulary, and listening comprehension in 1–5th grades, and then followed into 9–10th grades where measures of L2 aptitude, L2 proficiency, and L1 print exposure were administered. Students’ responses on the L1 print exposure measure were used to divide them into High, Average, and Low Print groups. Findings showed significant differences between the High versus Low Print groups on all L1 skill measures, L2 aptitude and L2 proficiency tests, and L2 classroom achievement after controlling for IQ. L1 skill differences between the groups emerged as early as 1st grade. L1 phonemic awareness, L1 word decoding, and L1 spelling measures were the best discriminators of L1 print exposure among the three groups. Results suggest that early success in L1 reading and reading volume prior to L2 study may be related to differences in L2 aptitude, L2 proficiency, and L2 achievement several years later.
Cutaneous manifestations of Corynebacterium group JK sEPSIS

A 14-year-old boy developed group JK corynebacteria sepsis and a generalized erythematous macular and papular skin eruption following chemotherapy for relapse of acute lymphocytic leukemia. Lesional skin biopsy demonstrated effacement of eccrine glands by numerous pleomorphic gram-positive bacilli, morphologically consistent with Corynebacterium and confirmed by culture. This is the first known report documenting the generalized skin manifestations and histopathologic features associated with Corynebacterium sepsis.
Epidemiological survey-based formulae to approximate incidence and prevalence of neurological disorders in the United States: a meta-analysis.

Background This study aims to create a convenient reference for both clinicians and researchers so that vis-a-vis comparisons between brain disorders can be made quickly and accurately. We report here the incidence and prevalence of the major adult-onset brain disorders in the United States using a meta-analysis approach. Material and Methods Epidemiological figures were collected from the most recent, reliable data available in the research literature. Population statistics were based on the most recent census from the US Census Bureau. Extrapolations were made only when necessary. The most current epidemiological studies for each disorder were chosen. All effort was made to use studies based on national cohorts. Studies reviewed were conducted between 1950 and 2009. The data of the leading studies for several neurological studies was compiled in order to obtain the most accurate extrapolations. Results were compared to commonly accepted values in order to evaluate validity. Results It was found that 6.75% of the American adult population is afflicted with brain disorders. This number was eclipsed by the 8.02% of Floridians with brain disorders, which is due to the large aged population residing in the state. Conclusions There was a noticeable lack of epidemiological data concerning adult-onset brain disorders. Since approximately 1 out of every 7 households is affected by brain disorders, increased research into this arena is warranted.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lead guidelines : Do pediatricians know them?

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) fellows responded to a questionnaire measuring knowledge of 1991 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Generalists' scores on a knowledge scale were positively correlated with reporting CDC and AAP documents as knowledge sources, and negatively correlated with private practice, medical school as a knowledge source, and age. However, private practitioners who read AAP documents scored well.
Supramolecular magnetorheological polymer gels

Novel magnetorheological fluids—supramolecular magnetorheological polymer gels (SMRPGs)— were investigated. Supramolecular polymer deposited on the surface of iron particles was suspended in the carrier fluids. The supramolecular network was obtained by metal coordination between terpyridine monomers and zinc ion. These SMRPGs had such advantages as controllable off-state viscosity, a reduced iron particle settling rate, and stability. The viscoelastic behavior of SMRPGs with small- and large-amplitude oscillatory shear was investigated using the amplitude and frequency sweep mode. The effects of strain amplitude, frequency, and magnetic field strength on the viscoelastic moduli were measured. The linear viscoelastic (LVE) strain range was obtained by the oscillation and static stress strain methods. The maximum LVE value was equal to the preyield strain point, 0.3%. Microstructural variation of SMRPG is proposed as an explanation of the rheological changes in the oscillation tests. The results of this research indicate that off–state viscosity and particle settling can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of supramolecular polymer gel. Dynamic yield stress significantly increased with an external magnetic field up to ∼23,500 Pa under a magnetic flux density of 500 mT. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 2464–2479, 2006
Fatigue crack propagation in single-crystal CMSX-2 at elevated temperature

The fatigue crack propagation (FCP) behavior of the nickel-base superalloy CMSX-2 in single-crystal form was investigated. Tests were conducted for two temperatures (25 and 700 °C), two orientations ([001][110] and [001][010]), and in two environments (laboratory air and ultra-high vacuum 10-7 torr). Following FCP testing, the fracture surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The FCP rates were found to be relatively independent of the temperature, environment, and orientation when correlated with the conventional mode I stress-intensity factor. Examination of the fracture sur-faces revealed two distinct types of fracture. One type was characterized by 111 fracture surfaces, which were inclined relative to both the loading and crack propagation directions. These features, al-though clearly a result of the fatigue process, resembled cleavage fractures along 111 planes. Such fea-tures were observed at 25 and 700 °C; they were the only features observed for the 25 °C tests. The second type had a macroscopically dull loading appearance, was microscopically rough, and grew normal to the loading axis. These features were observed on the specimens tested at 700 °C (in both air and vacuum) and appeared similar to conventional fatigue fractures. Although in this region the crack plane was mac-roscopically normal to the loading direction, it deviated microscopically to avoid shearing the y ’ precipi-tates. In view of the complex crack growth mechanisms, mixed fracture modes, and lack of any difference in FCP rates, it is hypothesized that the correlation between FCP rates and the stress-intensity parameter is probably coincidental. The implications for life prediction of higher temperature turbine components based on conventional fracture mechanics are significant and should be investigated further.
Evidence for percutaneous inoculation as the mode of transmission for chromoblastomycosis

The exact pathogenesis of chromoblastomycosis is unknown. Direct percutaneous inoculation, inhalation, and hematogenous dissemination have been implicated. We report a case of chromoblastomycosis that followed a well-defined episode of penetrating trauma. The causative organism, Fonsecaea pedrosi, was cultured from the patient's lesion and from the tree branch responsible for the trauma. This "natural" experiment supports the contention that one cause of chromoblastomycosis is traumatic cutaneous implantation of the fungus.
Investigating excited electronic states of I 2 + and I 2 2+ produced by strong-field ionization using vibrational wave packets

In pump-probe experiments with a femtosecond near-uv laser, a wave packet is launched onto an excited electronic state of I{sub 2}{sup +} through strong field ionization, and starts vibrating in the corresponding potential well. The vibrational wave packet is further ionized by a probe pulse to an excited electronic state of I{sub 2}{sup 2+} that dissociates into I{sup 2+}+I{sup 0+}. Projecting the vibrational wave packet onto the dissociation channel reveals characteristics of both potential curves via the periodic variations in kinetic energy distribution of the dissociating fragments. The experimental results are consistent with theoretical simulations that are sensitive to the shape of the potential curves. We find that the intermediate state in I{sub 2}{sup +} is A{sup 2}{pi}{sub u,3}/{sub 2} and ionization to this state has an anomalous angular dependence. Moreover, we extract the I{sup 2+}+I{sup 0+} potential energy curve and find evidence for a truly bound potential well, in contrast to the metastable ground state potential energy curves.
MINERAL CONTENT OF SOME CALIFORNIA WINES

Fourteen wines of various types were analyzed for 17 minerals. Two of the white wines and two of the red wines were experimental wines made from varietal grapes. The experimental wines were Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Colbalt, cadmium, nickel and selenium contents were below levels of detectability of 0.3, 0.05, 0.3 and 0.02 ppm respectively, in all wines analyzed. Of the minerals measured, potassium sodium phosphorous, magnesium and calcium were found in greatest concentration. Higher sodium contents were noted in bulk produced, commercial wines than in the experimental wines. The K/Na ratio of the experimental white wines varied from 62.1–87.4 while the K/Na ratio of commercial white wines ranged from 9.6–16.5. Similar differences were noted when the K/Na ratios of experimental red wines were compared with commercial red wines.
1H NMR study of lithium d-lactate

Abstract Polycrystalline d -lactic acid lithium salt [( R )-2-hydroxypropanoic acid lithium salt, lithium d -lactate] has been investigated by pulsed proton magnetic resonance methods between 77 and 300 K at 25 MHz. The main relaxation mechanism is methyl rotation; the motion is characterized by an activation energy E a = 14.5 ± 0.5 kJ/mol and time factor τ 0 = (1.5 ± 0.5) × 10 −13 , s. The activation energy is higher than the potential barrier obtained by ESR and ENDOR techniques for methyl rotation in the lactate radical. The methyl rotation is also responsible for a reduction of the dipolar second moment. Below 100 K the reduction of the dipolar second moment is ascribed to quantum-mechanical tunneling; an excitation energy of 6.1 ± 1 kJ/mol is derived from a contribution to the spin-lattice relaxation times from the tunneling.
Progress and Caution: Indonesia's Democracy

Abstract Indonesians have political power, freedom of voice, and an array of civil and political rights that fifteen years ago would have been unimaginable. It is undeniable how much positive change has occurred in such a short amount of time. Indonesia's experience, like other countries in Asia, serves as an example of both the successes in democratization and the difficulties and challenges in consolidating democracy. This article looks at the status of democracy in Indonesia today. It asks how well democracy has been consolidated in Indonesia and what the continued challenges are. It focuses specifically on four significant challenges: corruption, military abuses, protection of minority rights, and Islamic radicalism.
Optimal SISO and MIMO Spectral Efficiency to Minimize Hidden-Node Network Interference

In this letter, the optimal spectral efficiency for a given message size that minimizes the probability of causing disruptive interference for ad hoc wireless networks or cognitive radios is investigated. Implicitly, the trade being optimized is between longer transmit duration and wider bandwidth versus higher transmit power. Both single-input single-output (SISO) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) links are considered. Here, a link optimizes its spectral efficiency to be a "good neighbor." The probability of interference is characterized by the probability that the signal power received by a hidden node in a wireless network exceeds some threshold. The optimization is a function of the transmitter-to-hidden-node channel exponent. It is shown that for typical channel exponents a spectral efficiency of slightly greater than 1 b/s/Hz per antenna is optimal.
Host Finding and Acceptance Preference of the Yellowmargined Leaf Beetle, Microtheca ochroloma (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), on Cruciferous Crops

The yellowmargined leaf beetle, Microtheca ochroloma Stal (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is an introduced pest of cruciferous crops in the southern United States, and arguably the most damaging pest of organic crucifer vegetable production in the region. Studies were conducted in the greenhouse and laboratory to investigate host finding and acceptance preference of M. ochroloma on four commonly grown cruciferous crops: cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. variety capitata), collards (B. oleracea L. variety acephala), napa cabbage [B. pekinensis (Lour.)], and turnip (B. rapa L.) First, adult beetles were allowed to choose among the four plants in a multiple-choice greenhouse cage experiment and host preference was evaluated by using three parameters: number of beetles on each plant, number of larvae on each plant, and plant damage ratings. The results showed that M. ochroloma adults actively discriminated among the four host plants, with significantly higher numbers recorded on turnip and napa cabbage than on cabbage or collards. Significantly higher numbers of larvae also were recorded on turnip and napa cabbage starting on day 10. Similarly, higher damage ratings were recorded on turnip and napa cabbage than on the remaining two hosts. Results of four-choice olfactometer experiments, which compared attraction of M. ochroloma to headspace volatiles of the four host plants, demonstrated that host preference is mediated primarily by plant volatiles. Both sexes were significantly more attracted to napa cabbage than to the remaining treatments, with turnip being the second most attractive plant. These results confirm that turnip and napa cabbage are two preferred host plants of M. ochroloma, and may support the development of a trap crop system and attractant-based strategies for managing M. ochroloma in crucifer production.
Risk Factors to Predict Renal Failure and Death in the Medical Intensive Care Unit

The ability to predict outcomes based on admission criteria has important implications, both prognostically and for assessing interventions on comparable groups. Use of severity of disease scoring systems such as the APACHE II score for predicting mortality has become widespread. There is no comparable formula for acute renal failure. We prospectively evaluated 115 consecutive admissions to the medical intensive care unit to define risk for renal failure from admission data and to assess the impact of admission hypoalbuminemia levels on outcome. Diagnosis, age, serum creatinine and albumin levels, urinary electrolyte concentrations and osmolality, daily serum creatinine levels, and urine output were recorded. Admission APACHE II score was calculated. Admission hypoalbuminemia (57% of patients) was associated with both acute renal failure and death (odds ratios, 16.19 and 8.06, respectively). The Glasgow coma score distinguished between patients in whom acute renal failure developed and in those it did not...
A Taxonomy of Branch Mispredictions, and Alloyed Prediction as a Robust Solution to Wrong-History Mispredictions

The need for accurate conditional-branch prediction is well known: mispredictions waste large numbers of cycles, inhibit out-of-order execution, and waste power on mis-speculated computation. Prior work on branch-predictor organization has focused mainly on how to reduce conflicts in the branch-predictor structures, while relatively little work has explored other causes of mispredictions. Some prior work has identified other categories of mispredictions, but this paper organizes these categories into a broad taxonomy of misprediction types. Using the taxonomy, this paper goes on to show that other categories- especially wrong history mispredictions-are often more important than conflicts. This is true even if just a very simple conflict-reduction technique is used. Based on these observations, this paper proposes alloying local and global history together in a two-level branch predictor structure. This simple technique, a generalization of the bi-mode predictor, attacks wrong-history mispredictions by making both global and local history simultaneously available. Unlike bi-mode prediction, however, alloying gives robust performance for branch-predictor hardware budgets ranging from very large to very small. Finally, this paper shows that individual branch references can also suffer wrong-history mispredictions as they alternate between using global and local history, a phenomenon that favors dynamic rather than static selection in hybrid predictors.
Autotrophic Ethos in Mill's Arboretum

In this paper, I use the tree analogy at the heart of Mill’s discussion of individuality as a lens through which to interpret On Liberty and its connection to Utilitarianism. I propose five alternative interpretations: (1) the tree as a symbol for Enlightenment progress as an outgrowth of originality, (2) the tree as a symbol for the capacity for choice within Mill’s hedonistic conception of happiness, (3) the tree as the mystery of human choice, (4) the tree as the uninhibited human spirit, arising out of a plant-animal dialectic, and (5) the tree as the embodied ideal conception of the self. I then argue that the multiplicity of interpretations lends itself to an autotrophic intellectual ethos, wherein the tree becomes as a symbol of the liberty of interpretation.
Listening to the Brain With Photoacoustics

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI), providing the unique contrast of optical absorption and the superb scalability of spatial resolution and penetration, has emerged as an enabling technique in both basic and translational brain research. In this paper, first, mechanisms behind neuro-PAI of endogenous absorber-encoded functional information (e.g., the concentration of hemoglobin, the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, blood flow, oxygen metabolism, and water accumulation) and exogenous probe-labeled molecular targets (e.g., neural activity, glucose uptake, aberrant protein aggregation, and malignancy) are introduced. Then, two technical innovations—functional connectivity photoacoustic tomography and high-speed functional photoacoustic microscopy—for spatio-temporal interrogation of the brain at resting and activated states are highlighted, and two application niches in vascular cognitive impairment and brain cancer are discussed. Finally, the prospect of neuro-PAI is envisioned.
2D images of 3-D oriented points

A number of vision problems have been shown to become simpler when one models projection from 3-D to 2-D as a nonrigid linear transformation. These results have been largely restricted to models and scenes that consist only of 3-D points. It is shown that, with this projection model, several vision tasks become fundamentally more complex in the somewhat more complicated domain of oriented points. More space is required for indexing models in a database, more images are required to derive structure from motion, and new views of an object cannot be synthesized linearly from old views. >
Skin only or silo closure in the critically ill patient with an open abdomen

Abstract Background: The morbidity and mortality of various open abdominal techniques remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective review was made of all trauma or general surgery patients who underwent an open abdominal closure from January 1997 to December 2000, at a large urban acute care hospital. Data are mean ± SD. Results: From 1997 to 2000, 181 patients (aged 39.8 ± 16.5 years) had an open abdomen for abdominal infection, planned reexploration, abdominal compartment syndrome, inability to reapproximate fascia, or as part of a “damage control” procedure. Twenty-three patients went on to develop an abdominal compartment syndrome. Gastrointestinal fistulas occurred in 26 patients, and 9 patients had a dehiscence. The overall mortality was 44.7%. Of the survivors, 52% went on to fascial closure, requiring 1 to 7 additional abdominal operations. Conclusions: The morbidity of the open abdomen varies with the particular indication. Gastrointestinal fistulas are the most common acute complication and an abdominal wall hernia, the most common chronic complication.
Revisiting Organizational Legitimation: Cognitive Diffusion and Sociopolitical Factors in the Evolution of Bulgarian Newspaper Enterprises, 1846-1992

Arguments about constitutive and sociopolitical legitimation of organizational forms are applied to studying the evolutionary dynamics of the Bulgarian news paper industry as it transitioned through multiple political and institutional environments. The notion of relegitimation is advanced in the context of comparing the cognitive diffusion of the organizational form prior to the Communist takeover in 1946, and its revival in the collective memory of the public after 1989. Variation in the rate of organizational founding is also linked empirically to the strength of political turbulence. Violent political conflict deters new foundings, while institutionally mediated political activism has a positive effect on the rate of organizational entry.
Water intake and factors affecting water intake of growing beef cattle

Abstract A study was conducted to measure water intake in 7 to 9 mo old growing beef cattle, and to determine the effect of breed composition, gender, dry matter intake and body weight (BW) gain on water consumption. Growing bulls, steers, and heifers (n = 146; average starting BW of 276 ± 67 kg) were housed in an open-sided barn for a period of 13 wk. Feed and water intake were measured individually in cattle reared in groups of 16 to 18 animals using the GrowSafe™ system. Cattle were weighed weekly. Mean BW gain was 1.41 kg/d. Mean water intake was 29.98 L ± 8.56 L/ head/d. Cattle of Brahman and Romosinuano breeding consumed less water than British and Continental influenced cattle at the same metabolic BW (P
Lhx3 and Lhx4 suppress Kolmer–Agduhr interneuron characteristics within zebrafish axial motoneurons

A central problem in development is how fates of closely related cells are segregated. Lineally related motoneurons (MNs) and interneurons (INs) express many genes in common yet acquire distinct fates. For example, in mouse and chick Lhx3 plays a pivotal role in the development of both cell classes. Here, we utilize the ability to recognize individual zebrafish neurons to examine the roles of Lhx3 and its paralog Lhx4 in the development of MNs and ventral INs. We show that Lhx3 and Lhx4 are expressed by post-mitotic axial MNs derived from the MN progenitor (pMN) domain, p2 domain progenitors and by several types of INs derived from pMN and p2 domains. In the absence of Lhx3 and Lhx4, early-developing primary MNs (PMNs) adopt a hybrid fate, with morphological and molecular features of both PMNs and pMN-derived Kolmer–Agduhr′ (KA′) INs. In addition, we show that Lhx3 and Lhx4 distinguish the fates of two pMN-derived INs. Finally, we demonstrate that Lhx3 and Lhx4 are necessary for the formation of late-developing V2a and V2b INs. In conjunction with our previous work, these data reveal that distinct transcription factor families are deployed in post-mitotic MNs to unequivocally assign MN fate and suppress the development of alternative pMN-derived IN fates.
Buffer stock saving in retirement accounts

Abstract We use a dynamic programming model to explore the possibility and extent of precautionary saving in tax-sheltered accounts such as the 401(k). The main policy experiment examines the behavior of saving for different levels of unemployment insurance (UI), which is a perfect substitute for precautionary saving against job loss. Our results indicate that increasing the generosity of UI crowds out 401(k) contributions made by younger workers, who save primarily for precautionary reasons. At the aggregate level, we find that 401(k)s increase national saving and that the magnitude of the effect depends on the generosity of UI.