cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reliability-based load and resistance factor design for piping: an exploratory case study

This paper presents an exploratory case study on the application of Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) approach to the Section III of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel code for piping design. The failure criterion for defining the performance function is considered as plastic instability. Presently used design equation is calibrated by evaluating the minimum reliability levels associated with it. If the target reliability in the LRFD approach is same as that evaluated for the presently used design equation, it is shown that the total safety factors for the two design equations are identical. It is observed that the load and resistance factors are not dependent upon the diameter to thickness ratio. A sensitivity analysis is also conducted to study the variations in the load and resistance factors due to changes in (a) coefficients of variation for pressure, moment, and ultimate stress, (b) ratio of mean design pressure to mean design moment, (c) distribution types used for characterizing the random variables, and (d) statistical correlation between random variables. It is observed that characterization of random variables by log-normal distribution is reasonable. Consideration of statistical correlation between the ultimate stress and section modulus gives higher values of the load factor for pressure but lower value for the moment than the corresponding values obtained by considering the variables to be uncorrelated. Since the effect of statistical correlation on the load and resistance factors is relatively insignificant for target reliability values of practical interest, the effect of correlated variables may be neglected.
F.N. Speller Award Lecture: Corrosion Considerations Related to Permanent Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste

Abstract The designated site for a high-level radioactive waste geologic repository at Yucca Mountain is located approximately 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, on the western boundary of t...
When remembering is not enough: Reflecting on self-defining memories in late adolescence

This study examined which kinds of self-defining memories show spontaneous references to larger meanings, and listener responses to two kinds of meaning-lessons and insights. Narratives of three self-defining memories and episodes of telling the memories to others were collected from each of 168 late adolescents (M age=19). Narratives were coded for event type (relationship, mortality, achievement, and leisure) and for references to tension and to meaning (lesson or insight). Narratives of memorable episodes of having told the memories to others were coded for listener response (positive or negative). References to meaning emerged in one-fourth of the memory narratives, and meaning was more common for self-defining memory narratives that contained references to tension. Memories that reportedly had not been told to others in the past showed the same proportion of meaning as did memories that had been told to others (23%), with insights more prevalent than lessons. For memories that had been told to others, insights were more likely to be accepted by listeners than lessons. Implications were discussed for understanding the development of meaning in self-defining memories and the collaborative construction of identity.
Navigating the current job market--grab hold of your future now!

Although the U.S. federal government, the National Science Foundation, and other influential groups have called for American universities to educate and train more scientists, a recent article in the Washington Post and broadcasting on National Public Radio affirmed a harsh reality: there are too few jobs for today’s young scientists. Essentially, landing a job in science doesn’t just happen, you must prepare! The intent of this education track session, targeted to students, postdoctorates, junior faculty, and other early- to midcareer professionals was to provide insights on trends in the current job market and offer strategies and resources to be competitive. The session featured speakers representing different work environments, such as academia, industry, health care institutions, public relations, and entrepreneurial positions.
Alterations in the mRNA Expression of the Epidermal Growth Factor Family in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia 304

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) leads to profound and often fatal pulmonary hypoplasia. However the mechanism by which growth is inhibited at a cellular level is not known. The epidermal growth factor family is believed to have a significant role in fetal lung growth. We investigated whether alterations in expression in this growth factor family may play a role in pulmonary hypoplasia in CDH. We used a fetal rat model of CDH induced by administering 2,4, dichlorophenyl-p-nitrophenyl ether (Nitrofen) to 7 pregnant rat mothers on day 11 of a 21 day gestation. The lungs were harvested on day 21 and compared to littermates without CDH. We performed RT-PCR on the mRNA of the CDH and non-CDH lungs for epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor α (TGFα), and their receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The PCR bands were normalized to β actin PCR bands and converted to densitometric units. The data are mean±s.e.m. and were compared by paired t-tests.
The Demand for Money: A Cross-Section Study of Business Firms

Introduction, 405. — Demand for money by business firms, 407. — Empirical results and the question of economies of scale, 409. — An alternative formulation, 415. — Possible limitations, 418. — Conclusion, 420. — Appendix, 422.
Molybdenum cofactor deficiency presenting with severe metabolic acidosis and intracranial hemorrhage

Molybdenum cofactor deficiency leads to combined deficiency of sulfite oxidase, xanthine dehydrogenase, and aldehyde oxidase enzyme activities. The major clinic symptom is intractable seizures seen soon after birth. No definite therapy is available. We report here a newborn with molybdenum cofactor deficiency-associated Dandy-Walker malformation who presented with severe lactic acidosis and intracranial hemorrhage.
On the atomistic and kinetic nature of strained epitaxy and formation of coherent 3D island quantum ☐es

Some remarkable recent results of the in situ scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) studies of InAs coherent 3D island initiation and evolution on GaAs(001) are presented in the larger context of the field of strained epitaxy. The role of nano and meso scale mesas in manipulating stress/strain is illustrated through examples of growths on in situ, purely growth control prepared stripe and square mesas with linear dimensions as small as ∼ 40 nm. A set of basic kinetic processes and their strain dependence is identified and suggested to form a good core that has the potential for providing a unified framework for understanding strained epitaxy ranging from low misfits to high misfits.
Responses to gonadotrophin in intact and hypophysectomized immature female rats as related to age.

SummaryOvarian and uterine responses of 28-, 30-, and 33-day-old normal and hypophysectomized rats to a single dosage of pregnant mare's serum (PMS) gonadotropin 24 hours prior to autopsy indicate that the intact pituitary is elaborating measurable amounts of gonadotropin during this time interval. The amount of endogenous gonadotrophin circulating in the intact 28-day animal is approximately equivalent to 10 I.U. of PMS as a reference standard. Larger equivalent quantities of gonadotrophin appear to be circulating at 30 and 33 days of age as adjudged by the end organ responses.
SU‐GG‐T‐62: Helical Tomotherapy for Craniospinal Irradiation with Field Junctioning

Purpose: To present an algorithm for craniospinal radiation using helical tomotherapy (HT). Braintumor patients at risk for tumordiffusion through the cerebrospinal fluid often require craniospinal irradiation. Craniospinal treatments require large radiation fields, up to 80cm. When treated with conventional radiotherapy, craniospinal treatments require one or more junctions which might result in high/low dose regions within the target and normal tissue. This study will present a technique to reduce the junctioning effect using HT. Method and Materials: Twelve craniospinal irradiation plans were created using HT for six patients. Each case is planned using two treatment plans; the first is designed to irradiate the cranial region, while the second is for the spinal region. The field length involved in craniospinal treatments dictates the split into two plans. The cranial region plans use 1cm jaw width for pediatric cases and 2.5cm for adults, while the spinal region plans use 2.5cm jaws for pediatric cases and 5cm jaws for adults. The small jaws result in good dose conformity and critical organ avoidance in the brain region, while the large jaws are needed in the spinal region to keep the treatment time reasonable. A junction region between the cranial and the spinal regions is defined to minimize the overlap between the two fields. Results: The treatment plans for the six cases show acceptable dose distribution for the spinal, cranial and junction regions, while keeping the dose to critical organs under tolerance. Dose uniformity in the junction region stays within 10% of the prescribed dose. Total treatment time for both plans depends on the target length in the cephalo‐cauded direction and stays within 25 minutes for a 75cm target length. Conclusion:Treatment plans for the six cases show that field junctioning in HT, when carefully designed, can generate acceptable treatment plans for craniospinal irradiation.
Private Company Restructuring: Conflicts of Interest Between Various Stakeholders

Venture capital (VC) firms are increasingly facing issues related to restructuring their private portfolio companies, especially in the current economic environment. With the restructuring of private companies comes a diverse set of issues-both similar to and different from issues arising in public company restructurings-that need to be addressed. In particular, VC firms face issues pertaining to valuation, intellectual property rights (IPR), and executory contracts. The common thread through all of these issues is conflicts of interest that arise within the Board and between investors when a private company faces financial distress. This article addresses these issues as well as common methods to appropriately respond to some of these challenges.
Differentiating cyber bullying perpetration from non-physical bullying: commonalities across race, individual, and family predictors.

Objective: We are surprisingly limited in our understanding of mechanisms specific to cyber-bullying perpetration, and how these might be modified by subgroup differences such as race. Social learning theory was used to assess the role of maladaptive family social dynamics on cyber-bullying and nonphysical bullying (i.e., verbal and relational) involvement through individual risk and protective factors. Method: Moderated mediation models were analyzed using multiple regression analysis across three time points (each six months apart) to examine predictors of bullying perpetration among 1,023 early adolescents (5th through 7th grades). Students completed questionnaires assessing bullying perpetration, family conflict, parental monitoring, hostility, depressive symptoms, empathy, and alcohol and drug use (AOD). Two- and three-way interactions assessed moderation by race and gender. Results: At the simple bivariate level, cyber-bullying appears to have significant overlap with nonphysical bullying. Longitudinal analyses, however, reveal less overlap. Specifically, parental monitoring was associated with higher levels of cyber-bullying at wave 3, via AOD use (only for White females). Nonphysical bullying levels were associated with both higher family violence and lower parental monitoring, which were explained by hostility (for White males) and depressive symptoms (for African American males). Conclusions: Findings validate the importance of familial socialization but suggest that cultural context and gender modify the specific patterns. Further study is needed to determine the necessity of separate prevention strategies for cyber-bullying, as current findings suggest that comprehensive (universal) prevention programs that target self-regulation and social competencies would impact both forms of bullying, and are more feasible than family targets.
A CULTURAL-ECOLOGICAL VIEW OF THE FORMER ABORIGINAL SETTLEMENT IN THE AMAZON BASIN

(1966). A CULTURAL-ECOLOGICAL VIEW OF THE FORMER ABORIGINAL SETTLEMENT IN THE AMAZON BASIN. The Professional Geographer: Vol. 18, No. 6, pp. 346-351.
Studies of a membrane aerated bioreactor for wastewater treatment

Abstract This study was undertaken specifically to collect engineering and process performance information on the behaviour of a membrane supported bio-film in a well-characterised bioreactor. A novel membrane aerated bioreactor has been tested in the laboratory on synthetic sewage, and also piloted for the treatment of primary effluent at a local municipal wastewater treatment plant. The reactor's design employs gas-permeable, hollow-fibre membranes that are submerged in the wastewater. Air is blown through the inside of the fibres. Aeration costs for such a reactor are likely to be lower than conventional systems because gas compression is not required. Thick bio-films grow on the outside of the fibres and effectively treat the wastewater. The bio-films grown in this manner are capable of biological oxygen demand (BOD) removal, nitrification, denitrification, and simultaneous sludge digestion. The character of the bio-film is very different from conventional bio-films grown on inert surfaces, since in this case the bio-film receives its oxygen and the wastewater components from different directions. In pilot studies, a reactor having a hydraulic residence time of 6.5 h and equipped with no sedimentation tank achieved 70–75% BOD and nitrogen removal, and produced an effluent containing less than 30 mg/l total suspended solids.
A novel surface-wave antenna design using a thin periodically loaded ground plane

This paper presents a novel surface-wave antenna that realizes a low-profile configuration using a thin patch-loaded grounded slab, which has an in-phase reflection coefficient for plane waves, but no band gap for surface waves. When a dipole antenna is horizontally positioned near this artificial ground plane, it works like a transducer that converts the energy from the feeding probe into surface waves in the ground plane. The propagation and diffraction of the surface waves generate a monopole-type radiation pattern. The attractive antenna height, which is less than 10% of a typical monopole antenna, is desirable for wireless-communication systems. The performance of the surface-wave antenna is demonstrated through both the FDTD simulations and the measured results. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 47: 240–245, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21136
A review of the USEPA's single breath canister (SBC) method for exhaled volatile organic biomarkers.

Exhaled alveolar breath can provide a great deal of information about an individual's health and previous exposure to potentially harmful xenobiotic materials. Because breath can be obtained non-invasively and its constituents directly reflect concentrations in the blood, its use has many potential applications in the field of biomarker research. This paper reviews the utility and application of the single breath canister (SBC) method of alveolar breath collection and analysis first developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in the 1990s. This review covers the development of the SBC technique in the laboratory and its application in a range of field studies. Together these studies specifically show how the SBC method (and exhaled breath analysis in general) can be used to clearly demonstrate recent exposure to volatile organic compounds, to link particular activities to specific exposures, to determine compoundspecific uptake and elimination kinetics, and to assess the relative importanc...
When fitness trackers don't 'fit': end-user difficulties in the assessment of personal tracking device accuracy

Personal tracking technologies allow users to monitor and reflect on their physical activities and fitness. However, users are uncertain about how accurately their devices track their data. In order to better understand this challenge, we analyzed 600 product reviews and conducted 24 interviews with tracking device users. In this paper, we describe what methods users used to assess accuracy of their tracking devices and identify seven problems they encountered. We found that differences in users' expectations, physical characteristics, types of activities and lifestyle led them to have different perceptions of the accuracy of their devices. With the absence of sound mental models and unclear understanding of the concepts of accuracy and experimental controls, users designed faulty tests and came to incorrect conclusions. We propose design recommendations to better support end-users' efforts to assess and improve the accuracy of their tracking devices as required to suit their individual characteristics and purposes.
3-D Microstructure Analysis of Fuel Cell Materials: Spatial Distributions of Tortuosity, Void Size and Diffusivity

Due to the minute length scales and heterogeneous nature of fuel cell components, experimental quantification of the key properties of these materials can be expensive and quite difficult to conduct, if not impossible. The objective of this work is to introduce 3-D microstructure analysis tools for “direct” quantification of the key structure-related transport measures of porous fuel cell materials. Two important microstructure analysis tools are presented for the evaluation of tortuosity and void (i.e., pore) size distribution. The first tool is aimed at quantification of the tortuosity distribution in an internal structure using a shortest path search method. The second tool is aimed at quantification of orientation-resolved chord length distributions of a phase (e.g., void, solid) in a given 3-D microstructure dataset to extract the orientation and size related statistics of a selected phase. Various other key structure metrics (e.g, phase-specific volume fraction, phase connectivity, internal surface area etc.) are also successfully extracted by using these tools. Additionally, a 3-D diffusion model is presented to determine the effective structural diffusivity coefficient based on the measured microstructure. For demonstration purposes, these methods are applied to the measured microstructure datasets of the micro-porous
Photophysics in bipyridyl and terpyridyl platinum(II) acetylides

Abstract The photophysical properties of mononuclear Pt II chromophores of the general structural formulae: Pt(LL)(C CR) 2 and [Pt(LLL)(C CR)] + (LL = substituted or unsubstituted 2,2′-bipyridine; LLL = substituted or unsubstituted 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine; R = aryl or alkyl) are described. Topics related to their preparation, spectroscopy, photochemistry, and photophysics are reviewed.
Stuttering frequency on content and function words in adults who stutter: a concept revisited

This study investigated stuttering frequency as a function of grammatical word type (i.e., content and function). Ten adults who stutter participated. Participants recited aloud a list of 126 words consisting of an equal number of content and function words, which were presented individually and visually via a laptop computer. Each word belonged to a single grammatical category. Further, words were matched for initial sound and approximate number of syllables. The results indicated that adults who stutter exhibited significantly greater stuttering frequency on content words when presented in isolation (p = 0.018). It was conjectured that the responsible factor contributing to differences in stuttering frequency in adults who stutter resides in word frequency disparities between the two classes of words categories. That is, because the function words are limited in number and are used frequently, repeated use on the part of adults who stutter may lead to a generalized adaptation effect for function words and hence reduced stuttering frequency (as compared with content words).
Pindolol augmentation of antidepressant treatment: recent contributions from brain imaging studies

Abstract Preclinical studies suggest that augmentation of selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitors by the 5-HT1A receptor agent pindolol might reduce the delay between initiation of treatment and antidepressant response, an effect largely mediated by blockade of 5-HT1A autoreceptors in the dorsal raphe nuclei. Although some controlled clinical trials suggest that pindolol might reduce latency to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor response in acute depressive episodes, the effect is moderate and highly variable. Recent positron emission tomography studies investigating the occupancy of 5-HT1A receptors in humans by pindolol have shown that at the dose used most often in clinical trials the occupancy is low and variable, which might explain the inconsistent clinical results. Positron emission tomography studies also suggest that pindolol might be more potent at blocking 5-HT1A autoreceptors than at blocking postsynaptic receptors, a property that may be useful in this pharmacologic strategy. Thus, the positron emission tomography data support the potential of pindolol to augment the antidepressant response of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but also imply that this potential has not been fully evaluated. Here we review the clinical trials, the positron emission tomography studies, and the possible mechanisms of pindolol augmentation. It is also suggested that positron emission tomography may be used to define therapeutic dosing early on in the process of clinical evaluation of new treatment strategies.
Jurassic and cretaceous plate tectonic reconstructions

Abstract Five plate tectonic reconstructions are presented illustrating the breakup of Pangea and the evolution of the world's ocean basins during the Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian), Late Jurassic (Volgian), Early Cretaceous (Aptian), Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian), and latest Cretaceous (Maestrichtian). Indicated on the maps are the location of the spreading centers, intracontinental rifts, subduction zones, and transform faults which were active during each interval.
Comparative Study of Optimum Designs of Steel High Rise Building Structures Using Allowable Stress Design and Load and Resistance Factor Design Codes

The writers recently created a fuzzy discrete multicriteria optimization model for automated design of large steel structures subjected to the actual constraints of commonly used design codes. In this work, the model is used to perform a comparative study of optimum designs of steel high rise building structures using AISC allowable stress design and load and resistance factor design (LRFD) codes. Results are presented for two large structures, a 36-story space moment-resisting frame with cross bracings and a 144-story super high-rise building structure with over 20,000 members. LRFD code results in the cost savings in the range of 3.0-6.9% for the 36-story steel structure and 1.7-4.3% for the 144-story steel structure. When serviceability (stiffness) is more of a controlling factor, the LRFD code in general yields a much smaller advantage for weight savings.
Altered messenger RNA expression of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase gene in infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been described as a mediator of smooth muscle relaxation in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. The enzyme neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) catalyzes the formation of NO. We examined the expression of the neuronal NOS gene at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level in pyloric smooth-muscle biopsy specimens from six patients with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. For controls, smooth-muscle layer specimens of pylorus (n = 3), ileum (n = 2), and colon (n = 2) were used. With 31 cycles of PCR reaction, control specimens revealed detectable signals for neuronal NOS mRNA. In contrast, signals of IHPS specimens were undetectable in five cases and very weak in one. By increasing the PCR to 37 cycles, detectable signals for neuronal NOS mRNA were observed in all IHPS specimens, but they were significantly weaker than those of controls. Since a low level of neuronal NOS mRNA may lead to impaired production of NO, our observations indicate that the excessively contracted, hypertrophied pyloric muscle in IHPS is a result of reduced expression of the neuronal NOS gene at the mRNA level.
Between Reform and Revolution: Political Struggles In the Peruvian Andes 1969–1991

Between Reform and Revolution: Political Struggles In the Peruvian Andes 1969–1991., Linda J. Seliqmann. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1995. xiv + 268 pp., figures, maps, photographs, appendixes, notes, refer- ences Index.
History of the Naukan Yupik Eskimo dictionary with implications for a future Siberian Yupik dictionary

Naukan is a Yupik Eskimo language spoken now by only a few people on the Russian side of the Bering Strait, but with strong Alaskan affinities. Naukan speaker Dobrieva of Lavrentiya, linguist Golovko of St. Petersburg, and linguists Jacobson and Krauss of Fairbanks have compiled a Naukan dictionary in two parallel volumes: Naukan in a latin-letter orthography to English, and Naukan in the modified Cyrillic alphabet used for Chukotkan Eskimo languages to Russian. It was both appropriate and beneficial that this project involved people from Alaska, European Russia, and Chukotka. The dictionary was recently published by the Alaska Native Language Center of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The Naukan dictionary in two parallel volumes can serve as a model for a new dictionary of (Central) Siberian Yupik, a language spoken, at least ancestrally, by roughly equal numbers on St. Lawrence Island Alaska and in the New Chaplino-Sirenik area of Chukotka, Russia. Such a dictionary could help to reinvigorate that language and allow it better to serve as a bridge between the two halves of a single people and culture divided only in recent decades by a boundary not of their own making.
Direct Focused Ion Beam Drilling of Nanopores

Focused 30keV gallium ion beam, single-pixel drilling combined with backside particle detection is used to fabricate pores having exit diameters as small as ~11 nm in 200 nm-thick silicon nitride membranes. The backside channelplate detector response obtained about the onset of breakthrough is interpreted by plan-view transmission electron microscopy investigations of hole morphology. Immediately prior to breakthrough, there is a rise in detector signal as the local membrane thickness is reduced. This likely occurs as a result of ion transmission and, possibly, forward sputtering. At the dose required for breakthrough a maximum detector signal is obtained thus providing a potential method for end point detection. The focused ion drilling technique avoids broad area beam exposure methods that are often used to reduce hole diameter to nanometer dimension. In addition, the current approach overcomes difficulties in determining a required dose for breakthrough such as those that arise from an inhomogeneous membrane thickness, redeposition, or ion channeling.
Role of spurious reflections in ring-down spectroscopy.

Spurious coherent reflections from optical elements that re-enter an exit port of a two-mirror ring-down cavity can significantly change the effective reflectivity of the cavity mirrors, thus altering the cavity decay time. For a 25-cm-long Fabry-Perot cavity with a decay constant of 40 mus , we find that a specular reflection of only 10(-4) of the transmitted ring-down power that is mode matched back toward the cavity could change the decay time by as much as +/-0.4 mus , depending on the phase of the returning reflection. The perturbation of the decay time is proportional to the electric field, so a decrease in the spurious reflected power of 100 times will result in a perturbation that is only 10 times smaller. We demonstrate the effect with a cw system by purposely introducing a spurious reflection.
Effect of a Parasitic Nematode,Chondronema passaliLeidy (Incertae sedis), on the Size and Strength of the Horned Passalus,Odontotaenius disjunctusIlliger (Coleoptera: Passalidae)

ABSTRACT The horned passalus, Odontotaenius disjunctus (Illiger), is host to a variety of parasites, including a little-studied nematode, Chondronema passali (Leidy), that can number in the thousands in a single beetle. We attempted to determine the effects of this parasite on two measures of host fitness, physical strength and body size of adult beetles collected from hardwood logs at two sites in Georgia, USA. For a subset of the beetles, we measured their individual pulling strength using a dynamometer and data-logging apparatus. We also recorded the live weight of all beetles and from another subset a composite measure of body size based on digital images. Beetles were dissected and nematode infection status was assessed for all beetles. Of all beetles examined in this study (49 females, 44 males), we detected C. passali in 63 (67.7%) individuals. Prevalence in males did not differ from females. Infections ranged from 10 to over 1,000 individual nematode larvae per beetle. There was no significant eff...
Continuity and Change in Mexican Politics: The Legacies of the Mexican Revolution

The Revolution set Mexican politics on a unique course. After years of internecinestruggle,theRevolutioneventuallygaverisetooneofhistory’s longest surviving and most durable one-party, authoritarian regimes. Steeped in contradiction, the sui generis post-Revolutionary system combined conflict with stability, authoritarianism with a democratic constitution, repression with inclusiveness, uninterrupted elections with oneparty hegemony, corporatism with pluralism, centralized control within a federalist framework, almost unlimited presidential power coupled with periodic peaceful successions, and even institutionalized revolution. Bolsteredbydecadesofstrong,state-managedeconomicgrowthknownasthe Mexicanmiraclethisnovelsystemprovedamazingly capableatmanaging the changes necessary to stay in power up until the end of the century. Owing to these extraordinary features or starting point, Mexican politics also followed a unique path of change. In striking contrast to the numerous cases of democratization during the last quarter of the 20 th century ‐ the so called third wave ‐ the Mexican transition was gradual, protracted, and piecemeal, in some ways almost unrecognizable. 1 There was no dramatic military march back to the barracks, a celebrated negotiated pact among the ruling elite, the purging of a brutal dictator, a foreign invasion, or mass protests demanding change. Instead, the system eroded gradually, over time, becoming less and less effective at surmounting the challenges of a modernizing society, and slipping ever so gently from the PRI’s grip. 2 Indeed, the unique nature of the transition makes it difficult not only to date its beginning with precision, but its culmination as well. 3 Following the economic crisis of the 1980s and the imposition of austerity measures and neoliberal reforms, the state’s and the PRI’s already declining legitimacy eroded further, the government’s ability to parlay the system’s spoils into political support or acquiescence ‐ what Alan Knight (1996, 223) once referred to as “chequebook peacekeeping” ‐ slowly dried up, and opposition parties began to attract even more voters to the polls and/or to the streets to demand change. Though reformist efforts contained and channeled these demands for a while, by the mid-1990s the
In Defense of Diplomacy

PUBLICATION of Politics Among Nations is another important milestone in the development of systematic studies of international political phenomena into an established and recognized branch of higher learning. Comparison of this impressive treatise with any work published before 1914 reveals in dramatic fashion how much ground has already been covered. Before World War I, as Grayson Kirk has described,1 the study of international relations was largely carried on in the sterile atmosphere of international law and conventionalized diplomatic history. The crusade for the League of Nations opened up a new field and gave great impetus to the study of world organization. This newcomer practically stole the show during the 1920's. But the course of world events did not fulfill the bright hopes fostered by schemes for disarmament, outlawry of war, collective security, judicial settlement of disputes, and codification of international law. Teachers and writers, however, continued to play the same old records, which sounded more and more unconvincing as the dictators prepared the stage for another world war. Gradually during the 1930's, and against great initial resistance, a few pioneers chopped a new trail through the forest. Frederick Schuman was one of those pioneers. The first edition of his International Politics2 swept a fresh breeze of new thinking into the academic classrooms of the middle 1930's. Frank Simonds and Brooks Emeny followed with a different but equally realistic approach in The Great Powers in World Politics, first published in 1935.8
Nonsurgical and surgical treatments for sleep apnea.

Untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) introduces increased risks to anesthesia and surgery [1]. From the initial management of the airway to the increased incidence of stroke and myocardial infarction, the management of patients with OSA has important implications for the anesthesiologist. OSA should be suspected in patients with large tonsils, a large tongue, poor nasal airway, an edematous uvula, a small mandible (often disguised by a beard in males), a collar size greater than 17 inches, and obesity [1]. Treatment is based on relieving the various levels of obstruction. Modern surgical management of OSA is designed to create site-specific alterations of the upper airway to eliminate airway obstruction. This article reviews the various treatments currently available for OSA and discusses some newer and more controversial therapies.
PKCα Activation of p120-Catenin Serine 879 Phospho-Switch Disassembles VE-Cadherin Junctions and Disrupts Vascular Integrity

Rationale:Adherens junctions (AJs) are the primary intercellular junctions in microvessels responsible for endothelial barrier function. Homophilic adhesion of vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin forms AJs, which are stabilized by binding of p120-catenin (p120). p120 dissociation from VE-cadherin results in loss of VE-cadherin homotypic interaction and AJ disassembly; however, the signaling mechanisms regulating p120 dissociation from VE-cadherin are not understood. Objective:To address the mechanism of protein kinase C (PKC)-α function in increasing endothelial permeability, we determined the role of PKCα phosphorylation of p120 in mediating disruption of AJ integrity. Methods and Results:We showed that PKCα phosphorylation of p120 at serine (S)879 in response to thrombin or lipopolysaccharide challenge reduced p120 binding affinity for VE-cadherin and mediated AJ disassembly secondary to VE-cadherin internalization. In studies in mouse lung vessels, expression of the phosphodeficient S879A-p120 mutant pr...
Immunopathologic Demonstration of T Lymphocyte Subpopulations and Interleukin 2 in Graneloma Annulare

: Immunopathologic aspects of granuloma annulare were studied in frozen sections of nine skin biopsy specimens with monoclonal antibodies directed against T lymphocytes, Langerhans'cells, interleukin 2, and interleukin 2 receptors in conjunction with immunoperoxidase techniques. The predominant lymphocyte was an activated T lymphocyte (Leu 1+, HLA-DR−) with an excess of helper/inducer phenotype (Leu 3a+) as compared with suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype (Leu 2a+). Langerhans'cells were increased in the epidermis and numerous 0KT6+ cells were observed in the perivascular and granulomatous infiltrate. Both interleukin 2-positive cells and interleukin 2 receptor-positive cells were identified in the dermal lesions according to observed reactivity with the corresponding monoclonal antibodies. These findings suggest that a cell-mediated immune response producing cytokines may be important in the pathogenesis of granuloma annulare. Comparison of theese results with skin specimens from patients with sarcoidosis and from a patient with granuloma annulare having some of the histologic features of sarcoidosis, suggests that the cutaneous infiltrate in granuloma annulare represents a response distinct from that of sarcoidosis.
Carbocationic Polymerizations for Profit and Fun

This presentation consists of two largely independent parts: The first for Profit part concerns a bird's eye view of recently commercialized carbocationic processes and materials created by these processes in the author's laboratories whose marketing started during the past ∼5 years by various companies. These materials/processes include liquid telechelic polyisobutylene (PIB) for architectural sealants, poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) (PSt-b-PIB-b-PSt) triblocks for thermoplastic elastomers, PIB/PSt-based blocks for coating of medical devices, and PIB-based microemulsions for surface protection of painted metal surfaces. It is concluded that in order to enhance and solidify research in polymer synthesis it would behoove the scientific community to pay increased attention to intellectual property protection. Appropriately managed patenting and publishing activities are self-reinforcing and may be quite profitable. The second for Fun part concerns a brief review of the design, synthesis and characterization of two novel fully aliphatic star-block copolymers: O(PIB-b-PNBD) 3 and O(PNBD-b-PIB) 3 (where PNBD = polynorbomadiene). The constituent moieties of these star-blocks are identical except their block sequences are reversed. Motivation for the synthesis of O(PIB-b-PNBD) 3 , consisting of a low Tg (∼-73°C) PIB inner-corona attached to a high Tg (∼320°C) PNBD outer corona, was the expectation that this star-block would exhibit thermoplastic elastomer characteristics, and that it could be used in applications where similar polyaromatic-based TPEs cannot be employed (e.g., magnetic signal storage). The other star-block, O(PNBD-b-PIB) 3 , comprises the same building blocks with the PIB and PNBD sequences reversed. We found that the secondary chlorine at the PNBD chain end, in conjunction with TiCl 4 , is able to initiate the polymerization of isobutylene. Details of the carbocationic polymerization of NBD, together with the microstructure of PNBD, will be discussed.
Englishization and contact linguistics

ABSTRACT: This issue-oriented paper presents several dimensions of the hegemony of the English language across some of the world's major languages, and their implications for various approaches to contact linguistics. The importance of the issues raised here is related to the multidimensional character of the spread of English; the unique sociolinguistic contexts of English across cultures; the ‘love-hate’ attitudes toward the language; and the development of CONTACT LITERATURES in world Englishes (e.g., in South and West Asia, South, West and East Africa). It is argued that, to explore the all-pervasive impact of English, interdisciplinary research is needed on various literatures of the world; processes of literary creativity; introduction of new or modified literary genres; expansion of the thematic range; patterning of the discoursal and stylistic strategies, and issues of ideology and power. The discussion is divided into the following major sections: The spheres of Englishization; Deficit vs. dominance hypothesis; Exponents of Englishization; Englishization beyond the sentence; ‘Great tradition’ vs. ‘Little tradition’; Thematic range and literary experimentation; Englishization and code development; Englishization and linguistic schizophrenia; Contact linguistics and language policies. Finally, as an aside, the paper draws attention to Englishization and APPLIED contact linguistics.
Near-Shannon-Limit Linear-Time-Encodable Nonbinary Irregular LDPC Codes

In this paper, we present a novel method to construct nonbinary irregular LDPC codes whose parity check matrix has only column weights of 2 and t, where t ≥ 3. The constructed codes can be encoded in linear time and in a parallel fashion. Also, they can achieve near-Shannon-limit performance over both AWGN and Rayleigh fading channels with a moderate field size. Analysis based on nonbinary EXIT charts is presented. Codes constructed by the proposed method with block lengths ranging from 1,000 bits to 10,000 bits are simulated. Simulation results show that codes of rate 1/2 and length 10,000 bits can achieve block-error-rate (BLER) of 10-5 within 1.1 dB and 1.3 dB away from the Shannon limits of the AWGN and Rayleigh channels, respectively. In an AWGN channel, codes of rate r = 8/9 and length around 4,000 bits can achieve BLER of 10-5 within 1.1 dB from the Shannon limit, while codes of rate r = 15/16 and length around 9,000 bits can achieve BLER of 10-5 within 1.0 dB from the Shannon limit. We conjecture that to further lower the error floor (e.g., to a BLER of 10-10), a column weight no less than 3 is preferred and may be necessary, especially for codes with high rate and over Galois fields of small to moderate sizes.
Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography of Pacemaker Endocarditis

![Figure][1] [![Graphic][3] ][3][![Graphic][4] ][4] A62-year-old man developed pleuritic chest pain, fever, chills, and diaphoresis 3 days after radiofrequency ablation for atrial flutter. He had a history of nonischemic cardiomyopathy and had a biventricular pacemaker-
Inhibition of Porphyromonas gingivalis adhesion to Streptococcus gordonii by human submandibular-sublingual saliva.

Abstract Porphyromonas gingivalis W50 adheres in vitro to biofilms of Streptococcus gordonii G9B. This phenomenon is believed to facilitate the initial colonization of the oral cavity by P. gingivalis and to contribute to the maturation of dental plaque. In this report, we describe the modulating effects of human submandibular-sublingual saliva (HSMSL) on this in vitro model of intergeneric bacterial adhesion (coaggregation). HSMSL inhibited P. gingivalis adhesion to S. gordonii by 50% at a concentration of 57 micrograms of protein per ml. Maximum inhibitory activity was associated with a 43-kDa protein obtained by sequential Sephadex G200 gel filtration and CM52 ion-exchange chromatography of HSMSL. Pools of other column fractions of HSMSL showed no effect or were slightly stimulatory for bacterial adhesion. The binding of radioiodinated column fractions containing the 43-kDa protein by P. gingivalis was accompanied by their rapid enzymatic degradation. Treating P. gingivalis at 60 degrees C for 30 min or with protease inhibitors (phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and sodium iodoacetate) reduced adherence to streptococcal biofilms. These treatments did not prevent P. gingivalis from binding soluble HSMSL saliva components, although subsequent proteolysis was nearly eliminated. These observations indicate that surface-associated proteases of P. gingivalis, either independently or in concert with adjacent surface adhesins, interact with surfaces of oral streptococci to facilitate interbacterial adhesion. The adhesion-blocking properties of HSMSL, particularly the 43-kDa protein, may represent an important host defense mechanism in the oral cavity.
Comparative assessment of three common algorithms for estimating the variance of the area under the nonparametric receiver operating characteristic curve

The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC )c urve is often used to summarize and compare the discriminatory accuracy of a diagnostic test or modality, and to evaluate the predictive power of statistical models for binary outcomes. Parametric maximum likelihood methods for fitting of the ROC curve provide direct estimates of the area under the ROC curve and its variance. Nonparametric methods, on the other hand, provide estimates of the area under the ROC curve, but do not directly estimate its variance. Three algorithms for computing the variance for the area under the nonparametric ROC curve are com- monly used, although ambiguity exists about their behavior under diverse study conditions. Using simulated data, we found similar asymptotic performance be- tween these algorithms when the diagnostic test produces results on a continuous scale, but found notable differences in small samples, and when the diagnostic test yields results on a discrete diagnostic scale.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Crystal Structures of Metal Amide Cage Complexes Containing a M4O4 (M = Nb, Ta) Core Unit

Metal cage complexes [(Me2N)3MO]4 (M = Nb, 3; Ta, 4) have been prepared from the reactions of M(NMe2)5 (M = Nb, 1; Ta, 2) with water. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of 3 and 4 reveal that they adopt cubane-like structures with M–O bridges. Variable-temperature NMR studies of –NMeAMeB rotations in 3 and 4 have been performed to give the following activation parameters for the exchanges: ΔH ≠ = −1.4(1.1) kJ/mol, ΔS ≠ = −209(8) J/mol K, $$ \Updelta G_{{_{{ 30 8\;{\text{K}}}} }}^{{^{ \ne } }} = 6 4\left( 2\right)\;{\text{kJ}}/{\text{mol}} $$ for 3, and ΔH ≠ = −0.9(1.2) kJ/mol, ΔS ≠ = −2.1(0.2) × 102 J/mol K, $$ \Updelta G_{{ 30 8\;{\text{K}}}}^{{^{ \ne } }} = 6 3\left( 6\right)\;{\text{kJ}}/{\text{mol}} $$ for 4.
Health Insurance Costs and Employment Outcomes by Age

Health insurance costs are one reason that employers may be reluctant to hire older workers. Higher health insurance costs are often correlated with other factors of employment, such as firm size, which can also be correlated with employment outcomes. This paper uses state health insurance mandates, which are correlated with higher health care costs, as a source of exogenous variation in an instrumental variables (IV) strategy to identify the causal effects of health care costs on employment of older workers. Using this instrument, I find that increasing health care costs significantly lower men’s employment. Thus it appears that rising health insurance costs for older workers are partly responsible for decreasing employment of older potential workers. Although people with higher health care costs are less likely to be employed, older workers do not seem to be singled out; employment and labor force rates for older potential workers are in fact less affected by higher health care costs than are employment outcomes for younger.
Understanding healthy eating behaviors at casual dining restaurants using the extended theory of planned behavior.

Abstract This study examined the effects of customers’ psychological factors on their healthy eating behaviors (e.g., selecting low-calorie menu items) at restaurants within an extended version of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), which consists of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intentions. This extension was implemented by incorporating two new constructs (prototype and willingness) and subdividing the original TPB constructs of attitudes (affective and cognitive attitudes) and social norms (injunctive and descriptive norms). Data were collected using on-line surveys. Structural equation modeling revealed that healthful menu item selection was better predicted by the willingness-based reactive decision-making process than by the intention-based rational process. Results also indicated that affective attitude and injunctive norms had stronger and more consistent effects on behavioral intentions and willingness to choose healthful menu items than did cognitive attitude and descriptive norms. Prototype image had a positive effect on behavioral willingness. By extending the existing theory, this study makes contribution by remedying the shortcomings of the original theory and providing practical implications to encourage people to select healthy menu items.