cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A qualitative examination of intentions and willingness for heavy drinking among young adult high-intensity drinkers.

Objective Heavy episodic drinking (HED) and high-intensity drinking (HID) are common in young adulthood but pose unique risks. Quantitative studies have used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Prototype-Willingness Model (PWM) to understand decision-making processes underlying alcohol misuse. However, our understanding of intentions (plans) and willingness (openness) for HED/HID is in its nascent stages. This study represents the first qualitative examination of relationships between intentions and willingness to engage in HED/HID. Method We conducted individual interviews among 28 young adult high-intensity drinkers (12 male, 15 female, 1 trans male; M age = 23 years). Interviews focused on HED/HID events with open-ended questions examining: (a) variability in intentions/willingness by occasion and within a drinking event; (b) formation of intentions for consumption and/or intoxication; and (c) interplay of willingness and intentions on heavy drinking nights. Verbatim transcripts were coded within NVivo software and content was analyzed using applied thematic analysis. Results Participants described intentions and willingness as varying by occasion and perceived their shifting across a drinking event. Intentions for heavy drinking reflected a desired level of intoxication, rather than a specific number of drinks. Willingness, rather than intentions, to engage in heavy drinking/HID was more evident. Conclusions Findings have significant implications for future measurement work in this area. There may be value in assessing intentions and willingness multiple times per day and during the drinking event itself. We also recommend that intentions for both consumption and intoxication levels be assessed, particularly in studies aiming to examine impaired control. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Rocking Behavior of High-Aspect-Ratio Cross-Laminated Timber Shear Walls: Experimental and Numerical Investigation

Abstract Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a mass timber product that has recently garnered considerable attention for lateral-force resisting system (LFRS) applications. The main objectives of this ...
Testing P-Technique Factor Analysis With Non-Normal Time Series.

There is an increasing need to analyze multivariate time series data due to the rapid development of data collection tools such as smartphone APPs, wearable sensors, and brain imaging techniques. P...
The Ends Dictate the Means: Promoter Switching in Herpesvirus Gene Expression.

Herpesvirus gene expression is dynamic and complex, with distinct complements of viral genes expressed at specific times in different infection contexts. These complex patterns of viral gene expres...
Comparative evaluation of polynomial and Lorentzian lineshape-fitted amine CEST imaging in acute ischemic stroke

Purpose Chemical exchange saturation transfer signals from amines are sensitive to pH, and detection of these signals can serve as an alternative pH imaging method to amide proton transfer (APT). However, conflicting results regarding amine CEST imaging at 2 ppm in ischemic stroke have been reported. Here, we correlated amine CEST with APT in animal stroke models to evaluate its specificity to pH, and investigated the reason for the different results through simulations and sample studies. Methods A three-point quantification method was used to quantify APT. A polynomial fit method and a multiple-pool Lorentzian fit method were used to quantify amine CEST. Samples of creatine and glutamate were prepared to study the different CEST effects from arginine amine and fast exchanging pools. Samples of tissue homogenates with different pH were prepared to study the variation in CEST signals due only to changes in pH. Results The polynomial fit of amine CEST at 2 ppm had a significant correlation with APT, whereas the Lorentzian fit did not. Further studies showed that arginine amine contributed to the polynomial fit, whereas both the arginine amine and the fast exchanging pools contributed to the Lorentzian fit with their CEST effects varying in opposite directions after stroke. The CEST signal from the fast exchanging pool decreased, probably due to the reduced pool concentration but not pH. Conclusion The variation in opposite directions led to an insignificant correlation of the Lorentzian fit of amine CEST with APT and the different results in different experimental conditions.
Biosynthesis of uridine diphosphate D-xylose. IV. Mechanism of action of uridine diphosphoglucuronate carboxy-lyase.

Abstract UDP-d-glucuronic acid labeled with tritium at either C-3, C-4, or C-5 was converted to UDP-d-xylose by UDP-glucuronate carboxy-lyase (EC 4.1.1.35) from wheat germ and Cryptococcus laurentii. A kinetic isotope effect (Vt/Vh) of 0.32 and 0.42 for the C. laurentii and wheat germ enzymes, respectively, was observed with the C-4-labeled substrate but not with the C-3- or C-5-labeled substrate. Labeled UDP-d-xylose obtained from UDP-d-glucuronic acid-5T was converted with phosphodiesterase to labeled α-d-xylosyl phosphate. The latter was oxidized with periodic acid to yield d-phosphodiglycolic aldehyde from C-1 and C-2 and from C-4 and C-5; hypobromite oxidation of the dialdehyde yielded d-phosphodiglycolic acid. Acid hydrolysis of this compound released unlabeled glyoxalic acid (which originated from C-1 and C-2) and labeled glycolic acid (from C-4 and C-5). The latter was converted to unlabeled glyoxalic acid upon oxidation with glycolic oxidase from spinach, which is specific for that hydrogen atom in glycolic acid sterically equivalent to the α-hydrogen of l-lactic acid. These results show that the configuration at C-5 changed from S to R during the decarboxylation of UDP-d-glucuronic acid. Since UDP-glucuronate carboxy-lyase requires NAD for activity, these data suggest that the reaction involves oxidation at C-4 to yield UDP-4-keto-d-glucuronic acid, followed by decarboxylation and formation of UDP-4-keto-d-xylose, which is then stereospecifically protonated at C-5 and reduced at C-4 to yield product. The presence of an isotope effect with UDP-d-glucuronic acid-4T means that either the initial oxidation or the final reduction is the rate-limiting step of the reaction; it is not possible to differentiate between these two possibilities on the basis of the available data.
Starting with complex primitives pays off

For the specification of formal systems for a grammar formalism, conventional mathematical wisdom dictates that we start with primitives (basic primitive structures or building blocks) as simple as possible and then introduce various operations for constructing more complex structures. Alternatively, we can start with complex (more complicated) primitives that directly capture crucial linguistic properties and then introduce some general operations (language independent operations) for composing them. This latter approach has led to the so-called strongly lexicalized grammars, providing some new insights into syntactic description, semantic composition, discourse structure, language generation, psycholinguistic and statistical processing, all with computational implications. In this paper, we will illustrate some of these insights in the context of the lexicalized tree-adjoining grammar (LTAG).
A Proposed Legislative Solution for Private Equity Fund Disclosures

Private equity funds have managed for years to fit into a unique hole in federal securities laws. As long as they meet certain requirements, such as a limited number of sophisticated investors, they are exempted from disclosure. As a result, they are not generally required to make information about their investments publicly available. Due to recent lawsuits filed under state Freedom of Information Acts and Public Records Acts, many of private equity funds' wealthiest investors, including public universities and state pension funds, must disclose information about their investments. Consequently, information about the funds they invest in is being cast into a public light for the first time. The reaction from the venture capital community has been primarily negative, with some of the more prestigious funds going so far as to ban public institutional investors altogether. This Article discusses how private equity firms have found exemptions in federal securities laws to avoid disclosing information about their investments. It then describes how state public disclosure laws intended to benefit the public may be hurting the public by causing private equity firms to kick public institutions out of funds rather than face disclosure. Finally, the Article considers statutory, regulatory, and political solutions to the problem, and concludes that a uniform state law strikes an appropriate balance between respecting the privacy of private equity firms and protecting the public by shedding light on investment returns.
Activation of blood coagulation in Crohn's disease

Abstract We have examined the relationships among activation of blood coagulation, generation of monocyte procoagulant activity, and clinical activity in patients with Crohn's disease. Subclinical activation of blood coagulation was measured using a radioimmunoassay for fibrinopeptide A. Fibrinopeptide A levels were strongly correlated with the level of disease activity as measured by the Crohn's disease activity index. Patients with active disease who were successfully treated either medically or surgically demonstrated a reduction of fibrinopeptide A levels. Failure of fibrinopeptide A to return to the normal range predicted an early relapse. Monocyte tissue factor generation was assessed in both unstimulated and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mononuclear cell cultures obtained from the peripheral blood of patients with Crohn's disease. A strong correlation (r = 0.89) was observed between plasma fibrinopeptide A levels and monocyte tissue factor generation. These results suggest that monocyte procoagulant generation may contribute to the activation of blood coagulation in this inflammatory bowel disease. Moreover, fibrinopeptide A levels in Crohn's disease may provide a useful quantitative measure of inflammatory activity.
Pressure dependence of the interfacial structure of potassium chloride films on iron

Abstract Potassium chloride films on a clean iron surface are used as a model system to explore the interfacial structure of the films and the dependence of that structure on film thickness and pressure. The interfacial structure of one-, two-, three- and four-layer films is measured experimentally using low-energy electron diffraction. Those findings are then complemented by molecular dynamics simulations in which the atomic interaction between the film and substrate is tuned to match film thickness-dependent sublimation activation energy obtained from temperature-programmed desorption measurements. The resultant simulation reliably predicts the structure of thicker films and is then used to study the effect of pressure on the distribution of the lattice constant within and between each layer of the potassium chloride films. Findings indicate that both film thickness and pressure affect the structure within the films as well as the degree of registry between the film and adjacent substrate.
An Approach to Modularization of Distributed Systems.

Modularization is an important architectural principle underlying many types of complex systems. It tends to tame the complexity of systems, to facilitate their management, and to enhance their flexibility with respect to evolution. In software, modularization has been practiced and studied thoroughly in local, i.e. non-distributed systems. But very little attention has been paid so far to modularization in distributed systems. This is, in part, because distributed systems are inherently modularized, in the sense that the internals of each component of such a system is inaccessible to other components, thus satisfying the Parnas hiding principle. It is, however, the thesis of this paper that there is much to be gained by being able to treat groups of distributed components as modules, called here distributed modules. And that besides the conventional hiding principle, distributed modularization should provide additional capabilities, which rarely, if ever, figure in conventional modularized systems. These capabilities include, but are not limited to: the ability to impose constraints on which kind of messages can be sent from a given distributed-module to its outside; and the ability to create AOP-like crosscutting modules. This paper introduces a model of modular distributed system, orMDS, which satisfies such capabilities, and which is implemented via the LGI middleware.
SURGICAL TREATMENT OF CHRONIC DISLOCATION OF THE STERNO-CLAVICULAR JOINT

The costo-clavicular ligament is always ruptured in dislocation at the sterno-clavicular joint. Anterior, superior or posterior displacement of the medial end of the clavicle may occur. Acute dislocation usually responds to conservative treatment and operation is seldom required. Chronic, or recurrent, dislocation may cause pain and disability on strenuous activity and necessitate surgical treatment. The operation of tenodesis of the subclavius tendon with capsulorrhaphy described by Burrows (1951) has been adopted. The intraarticular meniscus is often damaged and displaced, and may block reduction; its removal is then necessary. In addition, a threaded Steinmann pin transfixing the joint has been found useful to maintain the stability of reduction. The operation has been performed on five patients, four of whom had excellent results. The fifth patient disrupted the repair in a drinking bout shortly after the operation.
Chronic Consumption of a Moderately Low Protein Diet Does Not Alter Hematopoietic Processes in Young Adult Mice

The current studies examined whether hematopoiesis in the bone marrow and T-cell development in the thymus were attenuated in young adult A/J mice fed a moderately low protein diet (MPD, 50 g protein/kg) for 15 wk compared with mice fed a control protein diet (CPD, 180 g protein/kg). Flow cytometric analyses using antibodies against CD31 and Ly-6C as well as CD4 and CD8 were performed to identify stem, mixed progenitor, erythroid, lymphoid, granuloid and monocytic compartments in the bone marrow and four thymocyte subsets, respectively. Chronic restriction of young adult mice to MPD neither decreased the cellularity nor altered the distribution of subpopulations in either primary tissue. Subsequently, a new set of mice were provided with CPD and a low protein diet (LPD, 25 g protein/kg). After 5 wk, body and thymus weights in LPD group were reduced 26 and 30%, respectively, which was accompanied by a 505% increase in serum corticosterone. Surprisingly, LPD did not alter the number or distribution of cells in the bone marrow and the percentages of thymocyte subsets, supporting the findings from the MPD group. We conclude that chronic consumption of a marginal protein diet by young adult mice does not disrupt hematopoietic processes.
Hyperbolic horseshoe for circle diffeomorphisms with break

We construct a hyperbolic horseshoe for a renormalization operator acting on commuting pairs of functions that correspond to circle diffeomorphisms with break.
A p53 mutation in exon 5 associated with adenovirus transformation

The adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) 55-kDa E1B oncoprotein has been shown to form complexes with the p53 tumor suppressor protein. These complexes are thought to interfere with normal p53 activity and may be responsible for the paucity of p53 mutations in cells transformed by these viruses. This report describes an example of a p53 mutation in exon 5 in an Ad5-transformed cell line that exhibited less expression of E1B 55-kDa protein and a longer tumor-latency phenotype than another Ad5-transformed cell line expressing wild-type p53. The finding of a p53 mutation in an Ad5-transformed cell line is unusual, especially considering the current theory that p53-E1B interactions play an important role in adenovirus transformation. This mutation could represent an alternative method of inactivating p53 function in the absence of sufficient levels of E1B 55-kDa oncoprotein.
AKT signaling within the ventral tegmental area regulates cellular and behavioral responses to stressful stimuli.

Background The neurobiological mechanisms by which only a minority of stress-exposed individuals develop psychiatric diseases remain largely unknown. Recent evidence suggests that dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) play a key role in the manifestation of stress vulnerability. Methods Using a social defeat paradigm, we segregated susceptible mice (socially avoidant) from unsusceptible mice (socially interactive) and examined VTA punches for changes in neurotrophic signaling. Employing a series of viral vectors, we sought to causally implicate these neurotrophic changes in the development of avoidance behavior. Results Susceptibility to social defeat was associated with a significant reduction in levels of active/phosphorylated AKT (thymoma viral proto-oncogene) within the VTA, whereas chronic antidepressant treatment (in mice and humans) increased active AKT levels. This defeat-induced reduction in AKT activation in susceptible mice was both necessary and sufficient to recapitulate depressive behaviors associated with susceptibility. Pharmacologic reductions in AKT activity also significantly raised the firing frequency of VTA dopamine neurons, an important electrophysiologic hallmark of the susceptible phenotype. Conclusions These studies highlight a crucial role for decreases in VTA AKT signaling as a key mediator of the maladaptive cellular and behavioral response to chronic stress.
Reducing vulnerability to oil shortages

Abstract It is vitally important that government agencies and industry not be misled by the current petroleum surplus. Short-term fluctuation in supply and demand can induce a false sense of security. In California the Energy Commission and other agencies are continuing preparations to reduce the impact of future fuel shortages. The current efforts include state level contingency planning and shortage contingency plans prepared by local government. In addition, the California Energy Commission is sponsoring research and development work to increase the efficiency of transportation vehicles and facilities. The Commission also is engaged in development projects to stimulate the production and use of alcohol fuels. By continuing emergency planning, sponsoring research and development to improve transportation system efficiencies, and by promoting alternative fuels, we hope to reduce vulnerability to fuel supply disruption.
Hatching asynchrony that maintains egg viability also reduces brood reduction in a subtropical bird

In birds, hatching failure is pervasive and incurs an energetic and reproductive cost to breeding individuals. The egg viability hypothesis posits that exposure to warm temperatures prior to incubation decreases viability of early laid eggs and predicts that females in warm environments minimize hatching failure by beginning incubation earlier in the laying period, laying smaller clutches, or both. However, beginning incubation prior to clutch completion may incur a cost by increasing hatching asynchrony and possibly brood reduction. We examined whether Florida scrub jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) began incubation earlier relative to clutch completion when laying larger clutches or when ambient temperatures increased, and whether variation in incubation onset influenced subsequent patterns of hatching asynchrony and brood reduction. We compared these patterns between a suburban and wildland site because site-specific differences in hatching failure match a priori predictions of the egg viability hypothesis. Females at both sites began incubation earlier relative to clutch completion when laying larger clutches and as ambient temperatures increased. Incubation onset was correlated with patterns of hatching asynchrony at both sites; however, brood reduction increased only in the suburbs, where nestling food is limiting, and only during the late nestling period. Hatching asynchrony may be an unintended consequence of beginning incubation early to minimize hatching failure of early laid eggs. Food limitation in the suburbs appears to result in increased brood reduction in large clutches that hatch asynchronously. Therefore, site-specific rates of brood reduction may be a consequence of asynchronous hatching patterns that result from parental effort to minimize hatching failure in first-laid eggs. This illustrates how anthropogenic change, such as urbanization, can lead to loss of fitness when animals use behavioral strategies intended to maximize fitness in natural landscapes.
Elevation in relative levels of brain membrane unsaturated fatty acids in Alzheimer's disease: high resolution proton spectroscopic studies of membrane lipid extracts.

Unsaturation indices of cerebral cortex membrane phospholipids in Alzheimer's disease were determined utilizing high resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of lipid extracts. The unsaturation index of Alzheimer's brain was found to be significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that of age-matched controls. The study provides further support for the hypothesis that alteration in phospholipid metabolism, especially an elevation in unsaturated fatty acids, may play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc.
Problems with the use of oxycodone compound in patients with chronic pain.

Abstract In a pain management program (200 patients), a group of daily users of oxycodone compound (29 patients) and a subgroup who were taking a “high dose” of oxycodone compound (13 patients) were compared with a group of 171 non-users of oxycodone compound. A significantly lower treatment success rate was observed in the users ( P = 0.04) and high-dose users ( P = 0.03). A similar trend was seen in preliminary data available in a larger sample (514 patients). Continued study of these findings is necessary. Meanwhile, in patients with chronic pain, there should be cautious use of this compound.
Sticky ions in biological systems.

Aqueous gel sieving chromatography on Sephadex G-10 of the Group IA cations (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+) plus NH4+ as the Cl- salts, in combination with previous results for the halide anions (F-, Cl-, Br-, I-) as the Na+ salts [Washabaugh, M.W. & Collins, K.D. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 12477-12485], leads to the following conclusions. (i) The small monovalent ions (Li+, Na+, F-) flow through the gel with water molecules attached, whereas the large monovalent ions (K+, Rb+, Cs+, Cl-, Br-, I-) adsorb to the nonpolar surface of the gel, a process requiring partial dehydration of the ion and implying that these ions bind the immediately adjacent water molecules weakly. (ii) The transition from strong to weak hydration occurs at a radius of about 1.78 A for the monovalent anions, compared with a radius of about 1.06 A for the monovalent cations (using ionic radii), indicating that the anions are more strongly hydrated than the cations for a given charge density. (iii) The anions show larger deviations from ideal behavior (an elution position corresponding to the anhydrous molecular weight) than do the cations and dominate the chromatographic behavior of the neutral salts. These results are interpreted to mean that weakly hydrated ions (chaotropes) are "pushed" onto weakly hydrated surfaces by strong water-water interactions and that the transition from strong ionic hydration to weak ionic hydration occurs where the strength of ion-water interactions approximately equals the strength of water-water interactions in bulk solution.
An exploratory study of FDA new drug review times, prescription drug user fee acts, and R&D spending

Abstract FDA approval times have declined significantly since the enactment of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) in 1992. As a result, present value expected returns to pharmaceutical RD therefore, the social benefits of PDUFA (over and above the benefits of more rapid consumer access) are likely to be substantial.
Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase Isoforms in the Ovine Fetal Brain: Alteration by Hormonal and Hemodynamic Stimuli

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized in the brain through the action of three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The local generation of NO in neurons, glia, and vasculature modulates neuronal activity, as well as regional cerebral blood flow. We propose that, in the fetal brain, cerebral hypoperfusion alters the expression of NOS isoforms, and that estrogen administration modulates the NOS response to hypoperfusion. Sixteen chronically catheterized fetal sheep of known gestational age (124 to 128 days’ gestation) were subjected to a 10-minute period of brachiocephalic occlusion (BCO) or to sham BCO; half of these fetuses were subjected to subcutaneous implant, which released 17s-estradiol (E2; 0.25 mg/d) or placebo. Brain tissue was collected for mRNA and protein extraction 1 hour after the start of the BCO or sham BCO. All three isoforms of NOS were identified in fetal brain at both the mRNA and protein levels. BCO increased NOSI (hippocampus, brainstem), NOS2 (hypothalamus), and NOS3 (hippocampus, cortex) at the protein level. Estradiol alone increased NOSI (brainstem, cortex), NOS2 (hippocampus, hypothalamus), and NOS3 (brainstem, cerebellum) at the protein level, changes that were not mirrored at the mRNA level The combination of BCO and estradiol produced smaller changes in NOSI (brainstem, cortex), NOS2 (hippocampus, hypothalamus), and NOS3 (brainstem) protein levels than those produced by either stimulus alone. We conclude that the fetal brain expresses all isoforms of NOS, and thai NOS expression is altered by both BCO and estradiol, but that the most prevalent effect of estradiol is to reduce specific NOS responses to cerebral hypoperfusion. The present results suggest the possibility that the neuroendocrine responses to estradiol and BCO are modulated by central nervous system (CNS) NO biosynthesis.
Hydrodynamic study of short range interactions in single-stranded polynucleotides.

Abstract Equations are presented for the analysis of sedimentation-molecular weight and viscosity-molecular weight data on flexible polymers, which enable determination of the effective monomer length b in nonideal solvents. The treatment is applied to published data on single-stranded polynucleotides. b decreases from 14.4 ± 0.8 A in 0.013 M Na+ to 12.9 ± 0.8 A in 0.2 M Na+, but appears to remain constant at higher ionic strengths. These results are consistent with the damping out of repulsive Coulombic interactions between the phosphates, and may also reflect an increase in the amount of single-stranded helix, with increasing salt.
Homosexuality in female monozygotic twins.

Monozygotic female twins concordant for homosexuality reveal a normal karyotype number and two X chromosomes with some variation in size.
Airway cells from atopic asthmatic patients exposed to ozone display an enhanced innate immune gene profile

This study identifies transcriptional phenotypes of sputum samples from normal volunteers and atopic asthmatics exposed to ozone. Network analyses suggest that asthmatics elevate immune signaling following oxidative stress, while nonasthmatics attempt to mitigate the ozone-induced response.
Stage-specific expression of B cell translocation gene 1 in rat testis.

B Cell translocation gene 1 (BTG1) is a member of a new family of putative antiproliferative factors. They are characterized by their rapid, but transient, expression in response to factors that induce growth arrest and subsequent differentiation. In immature rat Sertoli cell cultures, BTG1 messenger RNA (mRNA) increases rapidly after FSH stimulation. We obtained the full-length coding sequence of rat BTG1 complementary DNA for Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization to determine the temporal expression and spatial distribution of BTG1 mRNA in the rat testis. Northern analysis of isolated adult germ cells and in situ hybridization analysis of adult seminiferous epithelium demonstrated that BTG1 expression was first evident in late primary spermatocytes. The level of BTG1 mRNA was also elevated in secondary spermatocytes, but was maximal in postmeiotic round spermatids where levels were 5 times the background. BTG1 mRNA was not detectable in cells in the M phase of meiosis or spermatids undergoing...
Defensive burying by mice: intraspecific genetic variation and retention.

Genotypically based within-species differences in defensive burying were examined in 180 mice representing 15 inbred strains. Each mouse was tested twice in a cylindrical test chamber containing two similar prods. In the first test, one of the prods was electrified, whereas in the second test (24 h later), neither prod was. Although most strains selectively buried the shock prod in the first test (as determined by bedding-height-at-prod and position-of-highest-bedding-pile criteria), some strains did not discriminate between the shock and dummy prods and still others displayed little prod-directed bedding displacement at all (thereby resembling a heterogeneous nonshocked control group). In general, burying tended to be somewhat reduced in the second test, but strain differences in retention were observed. Factors contributory to the observed differences among strains and the need for multiple measures of burying are discussed. Collectively, these findings indicate that intraspecific genetic variation, acting at multiple burying-relevant behavioral levels, can be an important determinant of the expression of the defensive-burying response in mice.
Dynamic analysis of flexible strip foundations in the frequency domain

Abstract This work deals with the development and presentation of a frequency domain hybrid numerical method for determining the dynamic response of surface strip-foundations under conditions of plane strain placed on an elastic soil medium and subjected to either externally applied forces or seismic disturbances. The elastic, isotropic, and homogeneous soil medium is treated with the boundary element method, while the flexible and massive foundation is treated with the finite element method. The two methods are appropriately combined through equilibrium and compatibility conditions at the soil-foundation interface. Several numerical examples are worked out to demonstrate and attest the efficiency and accuracy of the method.
The Influence of Fairness Perceptions and Goal Commitment on Managers' Performance in a Budget Setting

Recent budgeting research suggests that fairness perceptions play a role in performance. In particular, prior work demonstrates a positive relation between fairness and performance during budgeting. The process by which fairness perceptions translate into improved performance, however, remains unaddressed. This study contributes to the accounting literature by investigating whether fairness perceptions improve performance via participation by increasing managers' commitment to budgetary goals. Structural equation models are proposed in which both fairness perceptions and goal commitment influence managers' performance during budgeting. Questionnaire data collected from one field site in the midst of downsizing were used to test the models. The results suggest that increased participation during budgeting fosters a sense of fairness, which, in turn, increases managers' commitment to budgetary goals and subsequently enhances performance ratings. The direct path between fairness perceptions and performance, ...
A hospital-based prospective study of perinatal infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1*

Most infants with pediatric acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and infections with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are infected perinatally by their mothers. To determine the proportion of exposed infants who are infected, we conducted a hospital-based prospective study in HIV-1-infected women whose infants were delivered at a single metropolitan hospital in Miami, Fla. A population of uninfected women and their infants was also enrolled and followed longitudinally for 2 years to assess laboratory and clinical measurements. The median follow-up is now 18 months for 82 infants born to HIV-1-infected mothers. The proportion of infected infants in this group is 0.30 (25/82). None of the infants born to 110 HIV-1-seronegative mothers were seropositive. Infected infants were easily distinguished from noninfected infants by virus isolation. No single immunologic or hematologic measure was predictive of infection for all infants at risk for HIV-1 infection who were 6 months of age or younger. As a group, however, infected infants could be distinguished from uninfected index infants by a number of immunologic measures by 6 months of age; the absolute number of CD4 + lymphocytes and the CD4 + /CD8 + lymphocyte ratio were the variables most predictive of infection. As in retrospective studies, clinical disease developed in 80% of infected infants within the first 24 months of life. This study provides documentation of HIV-1 perinatal transmission risk and early correlates of infection in young infants from a single hospital.
Absorption effects in photorefractive volume-holographic memory systems. I. Beam depletion

We consider how absorption-induced beam depletion alters the index-modulation profile, the diffracted beam profile, and the Bragg selectivity of volume holograms. We derive theoretical equations that consider beam depletion (in the absence of two-beam coupling) and compare these with experimental observations. We also derive a smart scheduling technique whereby such absorption effects can be compensated for during the scheduled recording of multiple holograms. In our smart scheduling approach, during recording the profile of the input signal beam is modified such that during recall its output profile is uniform.
Libéralisme et tensions identitaires : éléments de réflexion sur le désarroi des sociétés modernes

Le present texte propose une reflexion exploratoire sur la crise larvee qui caracterise les societes liberales democratiques modernes — que certains ont appele la « crise du lien social » ou la « perte de sens ». Ce qui apparait comme une crise est en fait le produit de la mecanique naturelle de l’histoire des societes. Le proces de fragmentation avec lequel les societes modernes semblent aux prises est inscrit dans la logique inherente au liberalisme. L’impression de crise est liee au proces moderne d’individualisation et aux tensions identitaires qu’il porte. Celles-ci en effet intensifient les contradictions de la communaute politique. La difficulte qu’eprouvent les societes modernes a gerer et a surmonter les defis ideologiques et conceptuels que posent ces contradictions contribue a la perplexite ambiante.
Function of DNA topoisomerases as replication swivels in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract We have examined the roles of eukaryotic DNA topoisomerases I and II in DNA replication by the use of a set of four isogenic strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that are TOP1+ TOP2+, TOP1+ top2 ts, Δtop1 TOP2+, and Δtop1 top2 ts. Cells synchronized by treatment with the α-mating factor, or by cycles of feeding and starvation, were released from cell-cycle arrest, and the size distribution of DNA chains that were synthesized after the cells re-entered the S-phase was determined as a function of time. The results indicate that synthesis of short DNA chains several thousand nucleotides in length can initiate in the absence of both topoisomerases, but their further elongation requires at least one of the two topoisomerases. Inactivation of DNA topoisomerase II does not alter significantly the time dependence of the patterns of nascent DNA chain synthesis, which is consistent with the notion that the requirement of this enzyme for viability is due to its essential role during mitosis, when pairs of intertwined newly replicated chromosomes are being segregated. The absence of DNA topoisomerase I leads to a temporary delay in the extension of the short DNA chains; this delay in chain elongation is also reflected in the rate of total DNA synthesis in the Δtop1 mutant during the early S-phase. Thus, in wild-type cells. DNA topoisomerase I is probably the major replication swivel. The patterns of DNA synthesis in asynchronously grown Δtop1 top2 ts cells at permissive and non-permissive temperatures are also consistent with the above conclusions.
Improvements in Parallel Chimera Grid Assembly

Parallel implementation and performance assessment of the grid assembly function in a chimera grid approach, realized by the Beggar code, are presented. A mixed programming model is used combining message passing with shared-memory programming constructs using standard POSIX calls. The POSIX calls are used to store large, common data structures in shared memory. The associated reduction in the total memory requirements allows more processors to be used. The effective utilization of this increased processor count is based on improvements in load balancing because of a finer decomposition of the work associated with the grid assembly function. Parallel efficiency is demonstrated using a three-store, ripple release, trajectory calculation
Comparison between Kelvin–Helmholtz instability experiments on OMEGA and simulation results using the CRASH code

Abstract The Center for Radiative Shock Hydrodynamics (CRASH) at the University of Michigan has developed a Eulerian radiation-hydrodynamics code with dynamic adaptive mesh refinement, CRASH, which can model high-energy-density laser-driven experiments. One of these experiments, performed previously on the OMEGA laser facility, was designed to produce and observe the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. The target design included low-density carbonized-resorcinol-formaldehyde (CRF) foam layered on top of polyamide–imide plastic, with a sinusoidal perturbation on the interface and with the assembled materials encased in beryllium. The results of a series of CRASH simulations of these Kelvin–Helmholtz instability experiments are presented. These simulation results show good agreement both quantitatively and qualitatively with the experimental data.
Purification, characterization, and molecular cloning of a pyranose oxidase from the fruit body of the basidiomycete, Tricholoma matsutake.

A new H2O2-generating pyranose oxidase was purified as a strong antifungal protein from an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Tricholoma matsutake. The protein showed a molecular mass of 250 kDa in gel filtration, and probably consisted of four identical 62 kDa subunits. The protein contained flavin moiety and it oxidized D-glucose at position C-2. H2O2 and D-glucosone produced by the pyranose oxidase reaction showed antifungal activity, suggesting these compounds were the molecular basis of the antifungal property. The V max, K m, and k cat for D-glucose were calculated to be 26.6 U/mg protein, 1.28 mM, and 111/s, respectively. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 7.5 to 8.0 and at 50°C. The preferred substrate was D-glucose, but 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol, L-sorbose, and D-xylose were also oxidized at a moderate level. The cDNA encodes a protein consisting of 564 amino acids, showing 35.1% identity to Coriolus versicolor pyranose oxidase. The recombinant protein was used for raising the antibody.
STOCK EVALUATION USING FUZZY LOGIC

We use fuzzy logic engineering tools to detect human behavior in the finance arena, specifically in the technical analysis field. Since technical analysis theory consists of indicators used by experts to evaluate stock prices, the new proposed method maps these indicators into new inputs that can be fed into a fuzzy logic system. This system can create an optimum computerized model to evaluate stock price movement. This method relies on human psychology to predict human behavior when certain price movements or certain price formations occur. The success of the system is measured by comparing system output versus stock price movement. The new stock evaluation method is proven to exceed market performance and it can be an excellent tool in the technical analysis field. The flexibility of the system is also demonstrated.
Effect of amplitude fluctuations on radiation pressure

The effect of amplitude fluctuations of a radiation field on the motion of a two-level atom is calculated. The results are compared with a similar calculation of Cook for the effect of phase fluctuations on such motion.
Rapid and simple method for the quantitative extraction of corn endosperm proteins

Abstract Rapid quantitative extraction of corn endosperm proteins is accomplished by presolubilization of the zeins in 70% ethanol ( v v ), followed by addition of dilute NaOH solution to the ethanolic slurry. The effectiveness of this technique rests primarily on the rapid solubilization of the zeins in weakly ethanolic dilute NaOH solution and on the prescribed sequence of addition of reagents. The extraction conditions of endosperms of vitreous and floury phenotypes differ as to sample particle size and optimum concentrations of NaOH.
Women and Kidney Transplantation

Kidney transplant is the best kidney replacement treatment for end-stage kidney disease. The first step in moving toward kidney transplantation is referral to a transplant center for transplant evaluation. Education of dialysis staff and health-care providers may help increase referrals for evaluation. Patient education has been shown to enhance patient completion of the evaluation process. Patients have difficulty asking others to donate a kidney, but this process can be improved with home and community education. Living donors are more likely to be women than men, especially spousal donors. Deceased donors are more likely to be males younger than 35 years of age. There is a slight decrease in the rate of transplantation of women as compared with men, although not statistically significant. Pretransplant development of anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies is more common amongst women and can be a barrier to successful transplantation and may prolong the waiting time for transplant. The long-term management of cardiovascular risk factors, osteoporosis, and age-appropriate cancer screening need to be addressed with posttransplant recipients. Women have an overall increased patient and graft survival as compared with men after transplant.
Characterization of cell-associated and soluble forms of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) produced by fibroblast cells in vitro.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a mitogenic and chemotactic factor for cultured fibroblasts that has been implicated in wound healing, fibrotic disorders and uterine function. Although the primary translational products of the mouse, human and pig CTGF (mCTGF, hCTGF, pCTGF) genes are predicted to be secreted and of approximate Mr 38,000, 10 kDa biologically active forms of pCTGF have recently been described. In this report, we show that human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) and mouse connective tissue fibroblasts contained 2.4kb CTGF transcripts, stained positively with an anti-CTGF[81-94] peptide antiserum, and produced a 38 kDa protein that was immunoprecipitated by an anti-CTGF[247-2601 peptide antiserum. While 38 kDa CTGF was readily detected in cell lysates, it was non-or barely detectable in conditioned medium. 38 kDa CTGF remained cell-associated for at least 5 days after synthesis and was not releasable by treatment of the cells with trypsin, heparin, 1 M NaCl or low pH. Purification of CTGF...
Gender Roles in Tween Television Programming: A Content Analysis of Two Genres

This content analysis of gender role portrayals in 49 episodes of 40 distinct United States tween television programs aired in 2011 examined two genres: teen scene (geared towards girls) and action-adventure (geared towards boys). This programming is of interest because tweens are a lucrative market, they watch more television than any other age group, and television programs are created specifically for them. Furthermore, members of this special group are in an important developmental stage in which social and intellectual schema are established and identity and gender are explored. The analysis focused on the numbers of male and female characters in both genres, and the gender role portrayals of characters in terms of appearance, behaviors, and personality characteristics in the two genres. Results show that females, compared to the U.S. population, were underrepresented in the action adventure genre, but that the gender distribution in the teen scene genre mirrored the male–female distribution in the U.S. population. Overall, compared to males, females were more attractive, more concerned about their appearance, received comments about their “looks.” Females were presented similarly in both genres. Overall, males were shown in varying levels of attractiveness, and were portrayed more stereotypically in the action adventure genre. Exploring these results through the lenses of cultivation theory and social cognitive theory shows that tween viewers could potentially develop narrow conceptions about their range of possibilities in the world.
Vascular reactivity and platelet aggregability during the first five years of insulin-dependent diabetes in children

Skin microvascular reactivity and platelet aggregation in response to collagen and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was studied prospectively in a population-based cohort of children with newly acquired type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM), who have now been followed up longitudinally for 5 years. The skin microvascular vasodilation in response to ischaemia was recorded by means of transcutaneous oximetry at 37°C and compared with that in a control group of 58 healthy children. Platelet aggregation was compared with 42 healthy control children. Sixty months after diagnosis, the same degree of impairment of vasodilatory capacity was noted as previously recorded at 24 months and on admission, on all these occasions being significantly lower than the control value and the results from the 12-month follow-up. A sex difference was noted, diabetic girls both during and after puberty exhibiting a greater impairment of vasodilator capacity as compared with diabetic boys. The same degree of platelet aggregation in response to collagen was noted 60 months after diagnosis as had been recorded previously at 24 and 12 months, all significantly increased as compared with the results from admission, but not different from those in controls. By contrast, the aggregation in response to ADP was now lower than that observed on admission. No statistically significant gender difference was noted. The implication of the impaired skin microvascular vasodilation and of the changing pattern of platelet aggregation for later diabetic angiopathy needs to be evaluated in the coming decade.
Toward a Theory of Commitment To Environmental Education Teaching.

Abstract In this article, the question of why some teachers are more committed than other teachers to educating their students about the environment is addressed. A theoretical perspective is offered that links teachers' commitments to teaching environmental education (EE) to significant life experiences, as well as to beliefs and attitudes about teaching EE concepts. The purposes of the paper are to (a) explain the reasons such a theory may be useful in EE research and training, (b) summarize the synthesis and reasoning that led to the theory, and (c) outline the theory and its implications for further research. Four areas of existing research and theory provide a basis for the theoretical development: field theory, the theory of planned behavior, life-span developmental theory, and research on life experiences that influence environmentally responsible behavior. Each theory is examined for its value in describing teachers' commitments to EE and its explanatory power for use in the proposed Model of Envi...