cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implicit contracts between regulator and industry: protection and deregulation in Japanese casualty insurance

Abstract This paper models the repeated interaction between the government, a regulator and an industry. The regulator grants the industry rents in exchange for cooperation as part of an implicit contract enforced by a trigger strategy. The government chooses regulatory autonomy, balancing the costs of monitoring against the cost of autonomy in terms of regulatory subgoal pursuit. This model describes well the observed regulatory dynamics in the Japanese casualty insurance industry, where Ministry of Finance (MoF) regulation created and protected high industry rents throughout most of the post-war period. Following recent socio-economic changes, the government has begun to monitor the regulator more closely, and as a result, a more competitive outcome emerges.
The evidence base for evidence-based mental health treatments: Four continuing controversies.

Substantial disagreement continues to divide mental health professionals on the evidence base that underlies evidence-based practices. This article considers four of the most hotly debated unresolved issues underlying this controversy; suggests the nature of evidence that might permit their resolution; and speculates on the consequences that might follow a failure in efforts at resolution. Resolution of these issues is crucial to the future of evidence-based practices. [Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 4:243–254 (2004)]
Engineering in genomics/spl minus/combinatorial methods for DNA physical mapping

To build a physical map biologists use different biochemical techniques to derive indirect information about the map and combinatorial methods to reconstruct the map from these data. Several experimental approaches to DNA physical mapping exist, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. They lead to different combinatorial problems but unfortunately, for most of these problems polynomial algorithms are still unknown; moreover, many of them are NP-complete. To solve some of these problem a number of combinatorial techniques have been suggested, in particular: homometric sets analysis, interval graphs, flows in networks, separation theory and minimum cycles mean in graphs. The author discusses: small-scale mapping; probed partial digestion; progress toward a basic map. >
Effects of resynchronization therapy on sympathetic activity in patients with depressed ejection fraction and intraventricular conduction delay due to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

This study assesses the effect of biventricular pacing on sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in patients with depressed ejection fraction and intraventricular conduction delay (IVCD). Biventricular pacing has been shown to result in hemodynamic improvement in patients with depressed ejection fraction and IVCD. The effect of biventricular pacing on SNA, however, remains unclear. A total of 15 men with a mean ejection fraction of 25 ± 4% were enrolled. Arterial pressure, central venous pressure and SNA were recorded during 3 minutes of right atrial (RA) pacing and RA-biventricular pacing. Pacing was performed at a rate 5 to 10 beats faster than sinus rhythm, with an atrioventricular interval equal to 100 ms during RA-biventricular pacing. RA-biventricular pacing resulted in greater arterial pressures (p <0.05) than RA pacing (146 ± 15/83 ± 11 vs 141 ± 15/80 ± 10 mm Hg). There were no differences in central venous pressures between the 2 pacing modes (p = 0.76). SNA was significantly less during RA-biventricular pacing (727 ± 242 U) than during RA pacing (833 ± 332 U) (p <0.02). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between baseline QRS duration and the decrease in SNA noted with RA-biventricular pacing (r = 0.58, p = 0.03). Biventricular pacing results in improved hemodynamics and a decrease in SNA compared with intrinsic conduction in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and IVCD. If the current findings are also present with chronic biventricular pacing, then this form of therapy may have a positive impact on mortality.
Charge compensation and mixed valency in LaAlO 3 /SrTiO 3 heterointerfaces studied by the FLAPW method

The electronic structures and properties of heterointerfaces in the perovskite oxide superlattices ${\mathrm{LaAlO}}_{3}∕{\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}[001]$ are presented using the first-principles all-electron full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave (FLAPW) method. Superlattices with three types of interfaces, (i) electron-doped, (ii) hole-doped, and (iii) both electron- and hole-doped, are studied and compared. For the electron-doped interface, the mixed valency of Ti along with the Jahn-Teller effect are found to explain the metallicity, in agreement with experiment, whereas for the hole-doped interface metallicity is found, in contrast to experiment. Oxygen vacancies introduce an additional $n$-type carrier to compensate the holes present at the interface, which now becomes insulating and agrees well with experiment. For a system with both types of interfaces, the metallicity found for the unrelaxed structure is changed to insulating after relaxation is included. For all cases, the relaxation results in a complicated buckled geometry, which is a good indication of the adjustment due to polarity discontinuity. Our findings support recent experimental results, namely, (i) the mixed-valence character of Ti at the electron-doped interface, and (ii) the existence and importance of oxygen vacancies at the hole-doped interface.
Highlights from ACM SIGSPATIAL GIS 2010: The 18th ACM SIGSPATIAL International Conference on Advances in Geographic Information Systems (San Jose, California - November 2--5, 2010)

ACM GIS 2010 was the eighteenth event of a series of conferences, symposia, and workshops that began in 1993 with the mission of bringing together researchers, developers, users, and practitioners carrying out research and development of novel systems based on geo-spatial data and knowledge. The conference fosters interdisciplinary discussions and research in all aspects of Geographic Information Systems and Science (GIS) and provides a forum for original research contributions covering all conceptual, design, and implementation aspects of GIS ranging from applications, user interface considerations, and visualization to storage management, indexing, and algorithmic issues.
Characterization of amino polyaromatic hydrocarbon–DNA adducts using continuous‐flow fast atom bombardment and collision‐induced dissociation: Positive and negative ion spectra

Continuous-flow fast atom bombardment (CF FAB) mass spectrometry has been investigated for the detection and structural characterization of amino polyaromatic hydrocarbon DNA nucleoside adducts. Full scan CF FAB mass spectra can be recorded using fewer than 50 ng, and corresponding tandem mass spectra are obtained from only 20–40 ng of adduct. This represents a 20-30-fold increase in sensitivity over single-scan spectra recorded using a static FAB probe. The flow injection nature of the apparatus simplifies the handling of samples. Positive ion spectra generally exhibit protonated molecular species, [MH]+, and protonated aglycone species, [AH2]+, resulting from loss of the deoxyribose sugar. Further structural detail is provided by collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the appropriate ion with B/E linked scans. By recording the CID spectra of both the [MH]+ and the [AH2]+ions, information about the base, sugar, polyaromatic hydrocarbon xenobiotic and site of covalent linkage may be obtained. Additionally, reaction monitoring of the metastable transition from [MH]+ to [AH2]+ provides a reliable method of detection for these adducts at picogram levels with the potential for even lower detect limits. CF FAB spectra acquired in the negative ion mode exhibit interesting features when compared with positive ion spectra. Included among these is an enhancement in the relative intensity of the [M - H]− ion for most adducts and complementary fragmentation in certain cases.
Role of Cholesterol in the Regulation of Growth Plate Chondrogenesis and Longitudinal Bone Growth

Inborn errors of cholesterol synthesis are associated with multiple systemic abnormalities, including skeletal malformations. The regulatory role of cholesterol during embryogenesis appears to be mediated by Shh, a signaling molecule in which activity depends on molecular events involving cholesterol. Based on this evidence, we hypothesized that cholesterol, by modifying the activity of Ihh (another of the Hedgehog family proteins) in the growth plate, regulates longitudinal bone growth. To test this hypothesis, we treated rats with AY 9944, an inhibitor of the final reaction of cholesterol synthesis. After 3 weeks, AY 9944 reduced the cumulative growth, tibial growth, and the tibial growth plate height of the rats. To determine whether cholesterol deficiency affects bone growth directly at the growth plate, we then cultured fetal rat metatarsal bones in the presence of AY 9944. After 4 days, AY 9944 suppressed metatarsal growth and growth plate chondrocyte proliferation and hypertrophy. The inhibitory effect on chondrocyte hypertrophy was confirmed by the AY 9944-mediated decreased expression of collagen X. Lastly, AY 9944 decreased the expression of Ihh in the metatarsal growth plate. We conclude that reduced cholesterol synthesis in the growth plate, possibly by altering the normal activity of Ihh, results in suppressed longitudinal bone growth and growth plate chondrogenesis.
Facilities for diesel exhaust studies

Abstract It is the major intent of this report to examine the animal inhalation facilities at the EPA Health Effects Research Laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio, associated with the exposure to the exhaust of diesel-powered equipment. The facility serves as a center for toxicologic evaluation, in relevant animal models, of potentially hazardous environmental pollutants from diesel engine exhaust. Briefly, the entire engine exhaust is mixed with filtered and conditioned air in a dilution tube. That diluted exhaust enters a large volume mixing chamber and a portion passes through dynamic flow irradiation chambers (to simulate sunlight) and is then conducted to animal exposure chambers. The system provides nonirradiated exhaust in the same concentration (directly from the mixing chamber) and also filtered, conditioned ambient air for control animal exposure. The major physical components of the diesel emission system include: air purifiers, animal exposure chambers, engine-dynamometers, irradiation chambers, monitoring instrumentation and data acquisition systems.
Gamma knife radiosurgery for arteriovenous malformations located in eloquent regions of the brain

Background : Stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective treatment strategy for selected group of patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Aim : The aim of this study was to evaluate the obliteration rates, complications, and patient outcomes after Gamma knife radiosurgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) located in eloquent regions of the brain with an emphasis on neurological morbidity. Materials and Methods : Between 2000 and December 2005, 37 patients with AVMs in eloquent locations (sensory, motor, speech, visual cortex, basal ganglia, and brain stem) underwent stereotactic radiosurgery. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of these patients to asses the outcomes. Of the 37 patients, only two patients had prior embolization. Three underwent prospective staged volume radiosurgery. Two patients needed redo-radiosurgery for residual AVM. Mean target volume was 9.1 cc. Three lesions had nidus volume more than 20 cc. Average marginal dose was 18.75 Gy. The median duration of follow-up was 23 months (range, 6-60 months). 15 patients had follow-up of more than 36 months. Results : A total of 15 patients had follow-up of more than 36 months, thus available for evaluation of angiographic obliteration rates. Complete angiographic obliteration was documented in seven patients (46.7%). Four patients experienced hemorrhage during the latency period. One patient who had subsequent hemorrhage on follow-up developed worsening of neurological deficit. One patient developed significant sensory symptoms which resolved after steroids. No additional clinical deterioration related to treatment was noted in rest of the patients. Conclusions : AVMs located in eloquent and in deep locations can be treated safely with stereotactic radiosurgery with acceptable obliteration rates and minimal morbidity.
Three-dimensional autoregressive model under rotation

The invariance and covariance of extracted features from an object under certain transformation play quite important roles in the fields of pattern recognition and image understanding. For instance, in order to recognize a 3D object, we need specific feature extracted from a given object. These features should be independent of the pose and the location of an object. In this paper, as one of the feature extracting methods, we present 3D autoregressive model and its higher dimensional extensions. 1D and 2D autoregressive model has been considered as one of the feature extracting methods.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Personality traits in juvenile delinquents: relation to criminal behavior and recidivism.

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the relation between personality traits and criminal behavior and to determine whether such factors are predictive of future recidivism. Method A sample of 481 incarcerated males (mean age = 16 years) completed questionnaires assessing distress and restraint relating to personality characteristics. In addition, official criminological data were gathered from subjects' records. A subsample of 148 juveniles was followed up to 4.5 years after release and examined for rearrests and time out of prison since last incarceration. Results Results indicate a significant association between selfreported levels of distress and restraint and prior criminal behavior as well as behavior during incarceration. Furthermore, of the sample surveyed, 67% were rearrested. Personality traits measured during incarceration were predictive of recidivism rates, above and beyond the effects of such criminological factors as age and number of prior offenses. Conclusions The results support the view that juvenile delinquents are a heterogeneous population in terms of personality features. These traits have discriminant and predictive validity. Adding personality measures to the assessment of delinquents may further our understanding of how personality influences criminal activity and future recidivism. We may be able to use this understanding to target specific domains of functioning to develop more effective intervention strategies.
Graded electronic structure in a 3 nm strained Ge40Si60 quantum well.

Spatially resolved electron energy loss spectra of the Si 2p core excitation are obtained in transmission through a single cross section of a 3 nm thick Ge 40 Si 60 quantum well. The spectra yield the positions of the L 1 and Δ 1 conduction band minima, and the biaxial strain splitting of Δ 1 . From annular dark field images, the well composition appears to be graded over three to four layers on the cap side. The conduction band offset varies from 0 eV at the well edge to +25 meV in the well center, relative to the Si substrate and cap. The biaxial strain splitting is 0.28 eV in the well center and shows an asymmetry with position that is consistent with the annular dark field data
Left ventricular dimensions and function during exercise in dogs with chronic right ventricular pressure overload

Left ventricular (LV) dimensions and shortening at rest and during treadmill exercise were examined before and after 4 weeks of pulmonary artery (PA) constriction in 6 conscious dogs. The dogs were preinstrumented with LV and right ventricular (RV) catheters, an LV micromanometer, a PA inflatable cuff occluder and ultrasonic crystals to measure an LV anteroposterior, a septal-lateral, an apex-base and a free wall segment chord. With PA constriction, RV pressures increased from 49 +/- 4/2 +/- 1 mm Hg (systolic/end-diastolic) to 104 +/- 5/2 +/- 1 at rest and from 71 +/- 9/2 +/- 1 to 133 +/- 8/14 +/- 2 at peak exercise (mean +/- standard error of the mean). Heart rate, LV pressure and LV dP/dt were similar before and after RV pressure overload at rest and with exercise. During exercise at control, systolic shortening increased significantly in all chords. With chronic PA constriction at rest, shortening of all chords also remained normal despite decreases in end-diastolic dimensions, which were most marked in the septal-lateral chord (23% decrease, p less than 0.01). However, during exercise in the presence of RV pressure overload, septal-lateral shortening decreased 46% (p less than 0.01) despite increases in systolic shortening in the other chords similar to the control response. Therefore, although LV function at rest in chronic RV pressure overload is normal, exercise may induce regional abnormalities of LV contraction that appear to be mediated by a reduced contribution of the ventricular septum to LV ejection.
VARIABILITY OF NITRATE UPTAKE CAPACITY IN MACROCYSTIS PYRIFERA (LAMINARIALES, PHAEOPHYTA) WITH NITRATE AND LIGHT AVAILABILITY1

The nitrate uptake capacity of mature blade tissue of the giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Ag., was examined as a function of the availability of light and nitrate. Time course measurements indicated that nitrate uptake rate, as measured by the incorporation of 15N, was significantly increased by N starvation. The response was linear over the first hour of exposure regardless of the N status of the tissue indicating that surge uptake was not responsible for the increase. The Michaelis-Menten parameters Vmax and Ks, however, were not significantly changed by either growth nitrate concentration or growth irradiance as a result of high variability among blades. Similarly, the initial slope (α) of the nitrate uptake kinetics curves was unaffected. Concentration of photosynthetic pigments increased in response to increased nitrate availability but not to increased growth irradiance. Time course and pigment data demonstrated that mature blade tissue responds to increased N availability by decreasing its capacity to take up nitrate and by increasing its investment in photosynthetic pigments, perhaps for N storage or enhanced light-harvesting capabilities and the increase in reducing power available for N assimilation. This study provides evidence for a dynamic regulatory system that responds to changes in nitrate availability in an integrated manner.
THE OLD SHAIQI LANGUAGE IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

riverain Sudan, residing in the Nile bend below the Fourth Cataract as far as the borders of Nubian-speaking Dongola. Independent confirmation of the existence of the Shaiqiya under that name can be found in European sources of the sixteenth century, while charters, chronicles, saints' lives, and orally-preserved traditions allude to their participation in the political and cultural life of the wider kingdom of Sinnar, of which they formed a part. In November 1820 the Shaiqiya made one of their most dramatic contributions to the historical record by offering determined resistance to the invading Turkish armies of Muhammad Ali, Viceroy of Egypt. When they were defeated twice in quick succession, their homeland was subjected to six weeks of concentrated vengeance before the invaders marched on south. The erstwhile Shaiqi elite took service with the Turks as mercenary colonial troops and departed forever; slave revolts flared on the princely demesnes adjoining their vacant castles, and the servile entourages of the old lords disbanded and decamped. The survivors who remained, largely non-slave peasant cultivators, set out to build a new society under the tutelage of Turkish colonial officials.1 It is this nineteenth and early twentietfi-century colonial society, as popularized internationally by the Shaiqi novelist al-Tayyib Salih and the Shaiqi ethnographer Haydar Ibrahim, that is usually understood today to constitute the traditional, historically authentic, premodem reality of the Shaiqiya experience.2 Historians have advanced two very different conceptual paradigms for the organization and interpretation of empirical evidence about the Shaiqiya and their neighbors. Partisans of Orientalism embrace and elaborate on the living community's own strong sense of Islamic and Arab identity; they structure history on a tree of real or conjectural genealogy extending back, via migrations from
S - wave pion - pion scattering length from reaction π− + p → πo + πo + n at 378 MeV

Abstract The differential energy distributions of neutrons from the reaction π − + p → π o + π o + n were measured at four different neutron lab angles. Fitting the distributions with the Chew-Mandelstam solution for π − π phase shift, we obtain a value a SO = (0.28 ± 0.21) μ −1 for the S-wave π − π scattering length.
Forest Edge Effects and Their Influence on Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Egg Mass Distribution

Quantifying the presence of an edge effect in the distribution of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) egg masses is important in sampling egg masses to determine unbiased population density estimates. Egg masses were counted on trees along the forest edge and on trees two chains (40.2 m) in from the forest edge in 16 locations in Virginia. Edge trees had about 2.4 times more egg masses than interior trees. The edge side of edge trees had about 3.2 times more egg masses than the edge side of interior trees and about 4.8 times more egg masses than the interior side of these same trees. Samples taken at or near the forest edge will overestimate population levels, or they will increase the probability of incorrectly classifying populations as being over thresholds if applied to larger areas using currently available sampling methods. In the areas studied, the edge effect on the distribution of egg masses is a function, in part, of the morphology of edge trees. The bias of an edge effect may not be a consideration when the edge area itself is the area of interest.
James F. Crow: Storied Teacher, Leader, and Colleague at the University of Wisconsin

ALL told, the two of us knew James F. Crow for 105 years. Rayla Greenberg Temin received her Ph.D. in genetics in 1963 with Jim as her major professor. After receiving her degree, Rayla remained in Jim’s lab for many years as a research scientist working in collaboration with Jim. In 1978 she
Hyperstable stacked-disk structure of tobacco mosaic virus protein: electron cryomicroscopy image reconstruction related to atomic models.

The stacked disk aggregate of tobacco mosaic virus protein is an intriguing object due to its high degree of stability, in spite of indications that the aggregate is held together to a great extent by water-mediated interactions between adjacent protein rings. Here, we present a set of models that were constructed using the atomic coordinates of the four-layer aggregate, and compare these with a three-dimensional reconstruction of the stacked disk obtained by means of cryoelectron microscopy and helical image processing. The comparison of the four possible models of the stacked disk with the data shows that there is a better correlation of the data with the left-handed model built from the A-A ring pair coordinates than with the two models involving the A-B ring pair, or with the right-handed model of the A-A ring pair. This establishes that the packing of the protein subunits in the stacked disk is different from that previously believed. We also note some differences between the observed structure and A-A ring pair model in the region of the flexible loop at small radius that might be an indication of conformational differences that give rise to the stability of the aggregate.
A practical approach to developing a web-based geospatial workflow composition and execution system

Motivated by lacking the capability of supporting geospatial workflow composition and execution in a Web environment from leading GIS (such as ESRI ArcGIS), we have developed a prototype system by integrating mature open source and commercial software packages in an innovative way. Our prototype system includes a client module for visual and interactive workflow editing based on Ptolemy II (a modeling and design system), a geospatial actor library representing 500+ ArcGIS geoprocessing tools for drag-and-drop-based workflow composition, a middleware as a workflow engine to schedule and execute ArcGIS Geoprocessing tools based on composed geospatial workflows, and, a Web-GIS to visualize original and derived data along a workflow processing pipeline. By reusing the mature software packages, we are able to complete the prototype development within weeks instead of months or years. A site selection problem that involves multiple geospatial operations are used to demonstrate the functionality and features of the prototype system.
Computer analysis of Doppler color flow mapping images for quantitative assessment of in vitro fluid Jets

Abstract To determine the ability of Doppler color flow mapping to accurately and reproducibly assess the flow volume and kinetic energy of in vitro fluid Jets, a Doppler color flow mapping system was interfaced with an image processing computer. An aliasing correction algorithm was used to extend the upper limit of measurable velocity to 184 cm/s. Images were analyzed for jet area (equal to the total number of image pixels) and jet energy (equal to the sum of all pixel velocities squared), both integrated over all frames of the injection and in single maximal frames. The Doppler flow mapping area and energy measurements were compared with known flow volume and delivered kinetic energy, and the effects of four experimental variables (orifice area, gain setting, chamber compliance and chamber size) were evaluated. Jet area correlated nonlinearly with flow volume and was markedly affected by each of these experimental variables, increasing by 40 to 150% from the smallest to the largest orifice size, 15 to 94% with the highest versus the lowest gain setting, 1 to 54% with greater chamber compliance and 7 to 70% in the large versus the small chamber. In contrast, jet energy correlated linearly with delivered kinetic energy up to 350,000 ergs, at which point velocities started to exceed the extended velocity range and second wrap aliasing occurred. The relation was not affected by orifice area, gain or compliance, and was only minimally affected by chamber size. The relations between jet area and injection volume were best described by second degree polynomial equations, and coefficients of determination (R 2 ) were highest when examining each individual experimental setting separately (R 2 = 0.91 to 0.99) rather than when grouping data for all settings of each of the four variables (R 2 = 0.53 to 0.91). The relation between jet energy and delivered kinetic energy was best described by linear regression, and examining each individual setting separately (R 2 = 0.89 to 0.99) did not improve the fit of the data over grouping data for each of the four variables (R 2 = 0.92 to 0.98). Doppler color flow mapping area measurements have limited ability to predict flow volume because the relation between the two is curvilinear and affected by a number of variables. In contrast, Doppler flow mapping energy measurements in an in vitro setting appear to be linearly related to delivered kinetic energy, are not affected by these variables and may therefore allow Doppler flow mapping quantification of kinetic energy transfer by fluid jets.
Characterization of sites of different thermodynamic affinities on the same metal center via isothermal titration calorimetry

Abstract We investigate the binding thermodynamics of a series of phosphorus ligands to a model compound, PdCl2(solv)2, where solv refers to a molecule of solvent, using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). ITC allows for the quantification of the equilibrium binding constant, the binding enthalpy, and the binding stoichiometry all in a single experiment. For systems in which two equivalents of ligand were able to bind to the Pd center, the binding sites on each Pd center in solution showed a different thermodynamic affinity for the same ligand. Changes in binding modes between different phosphorus ligands were due to steric bulk and poor electron-donating ability of such ligands. Our results demonstrate ligand binding was strongly enthalpy-driven due to solvent reorganization, which is the rearrangement of solvent molecules in the bulk solvent and the solvent molecules surrounding the solvated species.
Recent developments in radar absorbing paints and the Zinc oxide tetrapod whisker

Recent advancements in the field of material science have created several novel materials whose ElectroMagnetic (EM) properties make them ideal candidates for use as Radar Absorbing Materials (RAM). The new types of RAM materials can be applied as very thin layers of paints and still maintain their absorption effectiveness making them ideal for Radar Cross Section (RCS) reduction on aircraft, bridges, ships, and other structures. An ideal RAM paint would have significant bandwidth, excellent durability in harsh environments, and not affect the aerodynamic properties. This paper presents a brief review of the classes of RAM and an analysis of Zinc-Oxide tetrapod whiskers as RAM.
Self-Efficacy and Parenting Quality: Findings and Future Applications

Abstract Appreciation for cognitive factors associated with parental competence and satisfaction is increasingly evident in recent developmental research. In particular, parental self-efficacy beliefs have emerged as both a powerful direct predictor of specific positive parenting practices and a mediator of the effects of some of the most thoroughly researched correlates of parenting quality including maternal depression, child temperament, social support, and poverty. Parental self-efficacy beliefs embody an estimation of the degree to which parents perceive themselves as capable of performing the varied tasks associated with this highly demanding role. The overall objective of this review is to synthesize the extant findings related to parental self-efficacy in order to shed light on the importance of the construct for both theoretical and applied purposes. A foundation in self-efficacy theory and general self-efficacy research is offered initially, followed by an exploration of the empirical findings relevant to parenting self-efficacy. Mechanisms through which self-efficacy beliefs are likely to develop and influence parenting are subsequently described. Finally, the possibility of therapeutic intervention designed to alter competency perceptions among parents who are at-risk or who are currently experiencing difficulty in parenting is examined and avenues for future investigative work are suggested.
Family self‐sufficiency and housing

Abstract Since the early 1980s, an increasing number of initiatives have been introduced to link housing programs and policies with efforts designed to promote family economic self‐sufficiency. This article reviews a set of programs that have worked to manipulate various components of the housing bundle to improve the economic well‐being of acutely poor families. They include programs that modify the characteristics and services available in the local community, alter families’ residential location, provide incentives and opportunities for homeownership, and link the provision of housing subsidies to increasing local capacity for service delivery. This article suggests that the centrality of housing in fostering or impeding economic mobility makes it a key element in dealing with acute poverty and part of a creative strategy for intervening in the dynamics of poverty. Several important areas need to be taken into account when evaluating current policy; and multiyear evaluations will be necessary to determ...
Congenital leukemia associated with mongolism

Summary The clinical and pathological findings of a case of mongolism associated with acute lymphatic leukemia in a newborn male infant is reported. The relation between the two conditions is briefly discussed.
The Public Perception of “Cults” and “New Religious Movements”

The term “cult” has attracted much criticism from several sociologists of religion and religious studies scholars in recent years, and many scholars have dropped the word for a less pejorative term such as “new religious movement” (NRM). This research note seeks to determine if simply substituting an alternative term for cult changes people's attitudes toward a religious group. To this end, over 2,400 randomly selected Nebraskans were asked how comfortable they would feel if their neighbor joined a cult, NRM, or a “new Christian church,” and whether the government should regulate the activities of these groups. The survey results reveal the remarkably negative view Nebraskans have of cults, their general acceptance of NRMs, and their broad support for new Christian churches.
Control design for magnetic suspension

Through proper design, it is possible to build an electromagnetic bearing system, using a ferromagnetic rotor, such that there exists an equilibrium position in the magnetostatic field which is unstable only in the axial direction. In order to achieve axial stability, a regulator may be employed to vary the current in the coils whenever the rotor is displaced from the equilibrium position. The idea is to vary the current in such a way that the resultant change in the magnetic, field produces a restoring force to the rotor. This study is devoted to an investigation of the relative merits of various control laws which could be implemented by the regulator. The rotor is to be maintained in the vicinity of the equilibrium point even if an external force is present which enters the system as an unknown but bounded function of the system state and time. Recent magnetic suspension systems have been designed using a regulator based on linear state variable feedback. It is shown here that asymptotic stability cannot be maintained for the system in the presence of an external force if linear feedback control is used. The effect of an unknown but bounded external force on the system is vividly demonstrated by using qualitative methods to find the boundary of the set reachable under this force. Linear state variable feedback can maintain partial controllability of the system to some neighbourhood of the equilibrium point provided a simple inequality relationship between the feedback parameters and the bounds on the external force is maintained. Finally, it is shown that a game theoretic approach may be used for a nonlinear regulator design which will result in an asymptotically stable system in the presence of an unknown but bounded external force.
Mutations of the Walker B Motif in the First Nucleotide Binding Domain of Multidrug Resistance Protein MRP1 Prevent Conformational Maturation

Abstract ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters couple the binding and hydrolysis of ATP to the translocation of solutes across biological membranes. The so-called “Walker motifs” in each of the nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) of these proteins contribute directly to the binding and the catalytic site for the MgATP substrate. Hence mutagenesis of residues in these motifs may interfere with function. This is the case with the MRP1 multidrug transporter. However, interpretation of the effect of mutation in the Walker B motif of NBD1 (D792L/D793L) was confused by the fact that it prevented biosynthetic maturation of the protein. We have determined now that this latter effect is entirely due to the D792L substitution. This variant is unable to mature conformationally as evidenced by its remaining more sensitive to trypsin digestion in vitro than the mature wild-type protein. In vivo, the core-glycosylated form of that mutant is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum and degraded by the proteasome. A different substitution of the same residue (D792A) had a less severe effect enabling accumulation of approximately equal amounts of mature and immature MRP1 proteins in the membrane vesicles but still resulted in defective nucleotide interaction and organic anion transport, indicating that nucleotide hydrolysis at NBD1 is essential to MRP1 function.
Dissemination of empirically supported treatments for anxiety disorders: Introduction to the special issue

Effective exposure therapies for anxiety disorders have been available for half a century. Over that time we have made great strides increasing the potency of these powerful methods. Yet, most of us in practice still have a conversation like the following with our new patients: Therapist: “So what treatments have you had for your anxiety symptoms to date?” Patient: “I have seen numerous therapists over the last 10 years.” Therapist: “Great, so what did you do?” Patient: “We talked about things. And I learned relaxation and breathing techniques.” Therapist: “Did a therapist ever help you face your fears?” Patient: “What do you mean?” Therapist: “I mean did you directly confront feared situations, perhaps with your therapist outside the office?” Patient: “No, why, is that important?” This oft-repeated conversation highlights the disconnect between the well-established efficacy of exposure-based treatments for pathological anxiety and their inaccessibility to most anxious clients. This failure to successfully disseminate exposure-based empirically supported treatments is the motivation for this special issue. The articles that follow consider the causes of this dissemination failure, highlight areas of success, and offer constructive remedies for addressing this important public health problem.
GENETIC CONTROL OF LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN SUBCLASSES

In a study of lipoprotein subclasses in 79 healthy members of sixteen nuclear families evidence was obtained that low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) subclass patterns determined by gradient-gel electrophoresis are influenced by a common allele at a single genetic locus. The estimated frequency of the allele leading to the phenotype characterised by predominance of small, dense LDL subclasses was about 15%. Expression of this phenotype appears to be age dependent, in that most affected subjects in this population were older than 40 years. Although plasma lipid levels were normal in most subjects with this trait, levels of plasma apoprotein B and triglyceride were higher and levels of apoprotein AI and HDL2 lower than in unaffected family members. It is possible that this genetic trait may interact with other genetic or environmental variables in predisposing affected individuals to atherogenic lipoprotein and apoprotein profiles.
The effect of ethanol, ethanol metabolizing enzyme inhibitors, and Vitamin E on regulating glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, and S-adenosylmethionine in mouse primary hepatocyte

We studied changes in the antioxidant systems involved in hepatoprotection after ethanol exposure in primary culture of mouse hepatocytes. Ethanol decreased glutathione (GSH) levels and the S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) to S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) ratio by 53% and 22%, respectively. Cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was significantly lower in ethanol exposed hepatocytes, which was accompanied by an increase in GST activity in the culture medium. When specific substrates for mu- and pi-class GST were utilized, ethanol significantly decreased the mu- and pi-class GST activity by 53% and 13%, respectively. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), assessed by the thiobarbituric acid assay, increased to 221% of control by ethanol and was potentiated by cyanamide, an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor. The changes in LPO, cytosolic GST activity, GSH levels and SAMe/SAH ratio in ethanol exposed hepatocytes were completely or partially reversed by either Vitamin E or 4-methylpyrazole, an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) inhibitor. Retinoid X receptor alpha-deficient (RXRalpha KO) mice, which are more susceptible to ethanol-induced liver toxicity, have decreased pi-class GST (56%), mu-class GST (28%), and glutathione peroxidase (35%) activities compared with wild type. Taken together, primary hepatocyte provides a valuable model to analyze ethanol-induced oxidative stress. The inhibition of mu-class GST activity by ethanol and the decreased pi-class GST activity in RXRalpha KO mice implicate the importance of these isozymes in ethanol detoxification process.
Culturally Compatible Conversations in Native American Classrooms.

Abstract To better understand the cultural specificity of learning, this article considers the formal education of a group of students, Native Americans, who have not traditionally done well in school, and suggests a cultural mismatch between the home culture of these students and the culture of the western school. Teacher-student conversation is one element of schooling that is affected by cultural differences and influences school success. A review of the research literature reveals that culture influences three aspects of teacher-student conversations with Native Americans: (a) discourse styles, (b) expectations for classroom behavior, and (c) classroom social organization. Classroom conversational settings con be arranged to better fit what Native American students expect, are more comfortable and familiar with, and will thus tend to promote students' more active participation and engagement.
Comparison of Genetic Evaluations from Animal Model and Modified Contemporary Comparison

Comparisons were made between characteristics of Modified Contemporary Comparison and animal model evaluations with data available for January 1989 USDA-DHIA genetic evaluations. The animal model system's requirement that cows have a valid first lactation record resulted in a decrease in cows and daughters included. New flexible comparison groups were slightly larger for small herds and much smaller for large herds, which resulted in overall smaller and more uniform-sized comparison groups. Determining the optimal method of defining management groups was not undertaken. Correlations between bull evaluations from the two procedures ranged from .92 to .95 across breeds. Increases in reliability over repeatability were substantial for bulls with limited daughter information and small for widely used bulls. Correlations between evaluations for cows born in 1985 were .92 to .96, whereas those for cows born in 1980 (old enough to have daughters affecting animal model evaluations) were lower (.90 to .93), as expected. Reliabilities for cows were .02 to .05 higher than repeatabilities. Cows with more daughters increased more in evaluation and accuracy between the two procedures and were genetically superior. Bulls and cows with more prior information, cows with higher past evaluations, and Holstein bulls with higher past evaluations tended to have larger increases in PTA. Genetic trend estimates were different for the animal model, which resulted in changes in evaluations of various magnitudes depending on breed, sex, and birth year of animal.
Simultaneous stability of D = 0 and D ≠ 0 for multiplicative viabilities at two loci: An analytical study

Abstract The phenomenon of simultaneous stability of D = 0 and D ≠ 0 in a discrete generation, deterministic, two locus, two allele model with multiplicative viabilities and overdominance is studied using analytical techniques based on bifurcation theory. It is shown that in any model without symmetry, this phenomenon will occur. The importance of the phenomenon increases as the asymmetry increases, and as the range of recombination values over which D = 0 is stable increases. Evolutionary implications of the results are discussed. Other applications of the analytical techniques used are indicated.
Grinding of single crystal sapphire: workpiece roughness correlations

Abstract Experiments were performed on single crystal sapphire with a selection of bound abrasive cup tools to produce fine ground surfaces with rms roughness on the order of 1 μm. Both workpiece roughness and the ease of material removal (as quantified by Preston's coefficient or the specific grinding energy) were found to decrease with decreasing chip thickness. However, great variability was observed even for a fixed chip thickness as a result of differences in tool performance. A strong correlation was also found between Preston's coefficient and the workpiece roughness. Data for all tool bond types (resin, metal, and vitrified), abrasive sizes (2–80 μm diamond), surface conditions (as-dressed and glazed), and tool geometries fell on the same curve. This behavior has important practical effects during infeed controlled grinding. Only above a certain ‘critical roughness’, which depended on the workpiece size, was grinding able to remove the programmed infeed depth.
Cytological localization of adenosine kinase, nucleoside phosphorylase-1, and esterase-10 genes on mouse chromosome 14

We have determined the regional locations on mouse chromosome 14 of the genes for mouse adenosine kinase (ADK), nucleoside phosphorylase-1 (NP-1), and esterase-10 (ES-10) by analysis of rearranged mouse chromosomes in γ-irradiated Chinese hamster × mouse hybrid cell lines. Irradiated clones were screened for expression of the murine forms of these enzymes; segregant clones that expressed only one or two of the three markers were karyotyped. The patterns of enzyme expression in these segregants were correlated with the presence of rearranged chromosomes. The Adkgene was localized to bands A2 to B, Np-1to bands B to C1, and Es-10to bands D2 to E2.
Integrated structure/control design of micropositioner for boring bar tool insert

Previous papers by these authors presented an effort to develop a prototype boring tool, utilizing a piezoelectric actuator and photosensitive detectors to actively control a cutting insert. This paper describes an effort to redesign the system using an integrated structural/control methodology. The purpose of the micro-positioner is to improve precision by: i) isolating the finish cutter from tool vibrations, ii) absorbing energy from the tool during rough cuts, and iii) compensating for small geometric or thermal errors. These characteristics enable tools with large length to diameter ratios (LID) without loss in machining precision, and facilitate automated tool changes. The integrated structural/control design variables consist of the structural shape of the mechanism, including the piezoelectric actuator, and the controller feedback gains. The design variables are determined simultaneously in a single optimization problem. The objective and constraints equations quantify system performance, stability, actuator saturation, and life expectancy as explicit functions of the design variables. The proposed integrated methodology both simplifies the design process of the prototype boring tool, and improves the performance over the original design, as shown by simulation results.
Physically Associated Synthetic Hydrogels with Long-Term Covalent Stabilization for Cell Culture and Stem Cell Transplantation

Although the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) is primarily a self-assembled structure, a large emphasis has been placed in recent years on the development of covalently crosslinked hydrogel scaffolds for tissue regeneration and stem cell transplantation. These hydrogels allow for cell spreading and migration through cell-mediated protease degradation [1, 2] or hydrolytic hydrogel degradation [3, 4]. However, in vivo cells do not always migrate and spread following matrix degradation; cells are able to navigate through protein fibers [5, 6]. Further, the requirement of matrix degradation to achieve cell migration and spreading results in a change in the mechanical properties of these hydrogels with time, which makes it challenging to decouple chemical cues from mechanical cues. Hydrogel materials that can mimic non-protease mediated cell spreading and migration and do not require active matrix degradation to achieve these cellular processes can offer an alternative system to study stem cell differentiation in vitro and overcome some of the current limitations of purely covalently crosslinked hydrogels.