cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface emitting characteristics of silicon waveguides

This paper concerns the surface emitting characteristics of silicon waveguides in the millimeter-wave frequency band. The waveguides used in the experiment are rectangular slabs of high resistivity silicon (30,000 ohm-cm). A series of periodic perturbations on the waveguide surface provide a radiating antenna. A rectangular grating with a period of Λ=1.8 mm, a height of 0.35 mm, and a duty cycle of 0.46 was sawn into the top surface of a silicon waveguide with a width of 3 mm and a height of 1.41 mm. Experiments were performed to measure the attenuation, dispersion and the radiation characteristics of the waveguides. The test setup was used to monitor the frequency, radiation angle, and the radiated power. Measurements are made over a band of frequencies around the second Bragg frequency. The detector was scanned from 88–95 GHz and changes were observed in the attenuation constant, dispersion relation and the far field radiation pattern. From these results we were able to verify the grating theory.
Visualization of oxygen concentration fields and measurement of concentration gradients at bubble surfaces in surfactant-contaminated water

A laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique is employed for visualizing a thin two-dimensional (2D) dissolved oxygen concentration field and measuring local oxygen concentration gradients near the surface of an oxygen bubble in water containing surfactant (Triton X-100, SigmaAldrich, St Louis, MO, USA)). The fluorescence of pyrene butyric acid (PBA) is induced by a planar pulse of nitrogen laser light. Oxygen transferring from the bubble to the deoxygenated water quenches the fluorescence of the PBA. Images of the fluorescence fields are captured by a UV-intensified CCD camera. The intensity of fluorescence quenching at each image pixel is used to measure dissolved oxygen concentration in a 2D field. Images of bubbles are obtained at 200 ppm, 100 ppm, and 50 ppm Triton X-100-containing water and in ultra clean deionized water. Higher surfactant concentrations decrease local and average concentration gradients of oxygen at the bubble surface. The ensemble means of dissolved oxygen concentration boundary layer thicknesses of 0.160 mm, 0.130 mm, and 0.072 mm, for the images of bubbles obtained at 200 ppm, 100 ppm, and 50 ppm Triton X-100-containing water, respectively. Local concentration boundary layer thickness increases from the top to the bottom along the bubble surface. A series of images of the bubble flow fields are analyzed to measure the oxygen concentration gradients in water in the presence of surfactant. The images captured in clean water are not fully resolvable because of their poor resolution. The formation of the attached wake in the fluorescence field images at the bottom of the bubbles in clean water tends to be promoted by increasing oblateness owing to the presence of surfactant at the surface.
Designing Search: Effective Search Interfaces for Academic Library Web Sites

ABSTRACT Academic libraries customize, support, and provide access to myriad information systems, each with complex graphical user interfaces. The number of possible information entry points on an academic library Web site is both daunting to the end-user and consistently challenging to library Web site designers. Faced with the challenges inherent in designing online search interfaces and the ever-growing amount of resources available online, Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries sought to explore how to build effective search interfaces that, at the same time, support a wide variety of computer users and provide comprehensive access to assorted collections of electronic resources. Over a nine-month period, the libraries designed, implemented, and tracked the usage of two different search interfaces on their home page. Each interface allowed users to choose between four different search targets. In this case study, the authors discuss the complexities of designing search interfaces, outline findings...
Differential Laminar Expression of Particulate and Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Genes in Rat Retina

Abstract Expression of both particulate and soluble forms of guanylate cyclase have been identified in adult rat retina using reverse transcriptase-PCR amplification of retinal RNA and sequencing of the cloned cDNAs. Over a 267-amino acid region, the retinal particulate guanylate cyclase was found to be identical in sequence to the GC-A form of the enzyme found in many tissues. No expression of the closely related GCB or GCα forms of the enzyme was found. mRNA corresponding to both subunits of the soluble form of guanylate cyclase were detected in retinal. The sequence corresponding to the 70-kDa subunit was identical to that from rat lung over a 304-amino acid region and the sequence corresponding to the 82-kDa subunit showed only one amino acid difference over a 275-amino acid region. From Northern analyses the level of expression of the soluble guanylate cyclase in retina was higher than that in lung. In situ hybridization to sections of adult retina indicated that the particulate guanylate cyclase was expressed predominantly in rod photoreceptors. Although the soluble form of the enzyme was detected in all retinal layers, the level of expression was much higher in the inner nuclear layer. The results suggest that multiple enzymes and hence multiple regulatory pathways may control cGMP levels in rod photoreceptors and that cGMP may play an important role in neurons of the inner retina.
The Relevance of Culture for the Study of Political Psychology and Ethnic Conflict

There is a powerful tension between the context-specific analyses which figure prominently in the social sciences in recent years and the emphasis on universal human dynamics which characterizes cross-cultural psychology. Using the example of ethnic conflict, I seek to bridge the two and suggest that underlying the thick description of single conflicts as the parties understand them is what an earlier generation of psychological anthropologists called “the psychic unity of mankind,” referring to deep structural similarities in all cultures, which make us human (Spiro, 1987). I propose that a cultural analysis of ethnic conflict can effectively build an explanation putting each conflict in a context which highlights what the parties believe is at stake; identifying both the concrete interests and threats to identity crucial to the disputants; linking interests and identities to psychocultural interpretations and the motives underlying them; and proposing that successful settlement of ethnic conflicts means that the parties themselves must actively work toward proposals which address both their competing interests and core identity needs.
Determination of Bicycle Handle Diameters considering Hand Anthropometric Data and User Satisfaction

Ergonomic product design considering both anthropometric variability and user preference is required for harmonizing the target users and products. In this study, bicycle handle diameters for three size categories were determined by considering anthropometric variability and preference. To design the bicycle handles, a four-step process was applied: (1) define anthropometric data, (2) develop size chart, (3) define a design equation, and (4) determine design values. In the first step, the 1988 US Army data was chosen as anthropometric data for the design target population. In the second step, to develop a size chart of bicycle handle, hand length and circumference were selected as key dimensions by principal component analysis on six representative hand dimensions. Next, a size chart of three categories (small: 175.5 mm, medium: 186.7 mm, and large: 196.2 mm) were derived by K-means clustering analysis for hand length and circumference. In the third step, the design equation accounting geometrical relatio...
In situ Thermal Observation of Explosive Compound-Formation Reaction During Mechanical Alloying

The formation of Al-Ni compounds by ball-milling of elemental powders has been investigated by means of in situ thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that AlNi forms in an explosive, exothermic reaction, driven by the large heat of compound formation. The mechanism discovered is suggested to explain the mechanical alloying of other systems.
The coastal ocean off Oregon and northern California during the 1997–8 El Niño

Abstract The evolution and decay of El Nino 1997–8 was observed in coastal waters off Oregon in a sequence of cruises along 44.6°N from the coast to more than 150 km offshore. Hydrographic observations were made during eleven cruises between July 1997 and April 1999 at stations on the Newport Hydrographic Line, which had been occupied regularly from 1961 to 1971. The data from the earlier decade provide a basis for defining ‘normal’ conditions and allow comparisons with the recent El Nino in terms of T, S, spiciness and geostrophic velocity. Independent of El Nino, the ocean in July 1997 was already anomalously warm offshore of 50 km and above 100 m. By September 1997 there were unambiguous indications of El Nino: isotherms and isohalines sloped down toward the coast indicating poleward flow over shelf and slope, and anomalously spicy water was present at the shelf-break. In November 1997 and February 1998 shelf-break waters were even warmer, and there was strong poleward flow inshore of 100 km, extending to depths greater than 200 m. The April 1998 section closely resembled that of April 1983 (another El Nino year) but by June 1998 the anomalies were mostly gone. November 1998 was near normal and the sections from subsequent cruises resemble the mean sections from 1961–1971. Four cruises between November 1997 and November 1998 included sampling at several latitudes between 38° and 45°N. As expected, these sections show significant alongshore gradients, but also a surprising degree of homogeneity in the anomalous features associated with El Nino (in the temperature, salinity, spiciness and geostrophic velocity fields). The anomalous signature of El Nino was stronger at its winter peak in 1998 than in 1983, but the signature in the temperature and spiciness fields, and in coastal sea level, did not persist as long as in 1983. By April 1999, the coastal ocean from 38°N to 45°N was significantly colder than it had been in April 1984.
Calculations of two-fluid linear response to non-axisymmetric fields in tokamaksa)

The zero-frequency linear plasma response to static applied non-axisymmetric fields is calculated using a resistive two-fluid model in diverted, toroidal geometry. Within this model, the effects on the plasma response of resistivity, rotation, differential ion and electron velocity, and dissipation are explored. Rotation is generally found to inhibit the formation of islands in the plasma, in qualitative agreement with theoretical results. When two-fluid effects are included, it is found that the penetration of the non-axisymmetric fields is generally greatest when the part of the electron rotation perpendicular to the equilibrium magnetic field is small at the mode-rational surface. Strong rotation shear in the edge is found to enhance the plasma response there. The entire plasma, including the separatrix and scrape-off layer, is included in the computational domain.
A new volatiles-based differentiation method of Chinese spirits using longpath gas-phase infrared spectroscopy

The volatile compounds of different brands of Chinese spirits differ with respect to their composition and concentration. The infrared spectral characteristics of volatile gases from several brands of Chinese spirits were studied. We used a longpath gas cell to enhance the performance of the gas-phase infrared spectroscopy. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for the discrimination of the different brands of spirits. It is demonstrated that different brands of Chinese spirits with the same flavour and from the same origin can be successfully differentiated.
The Given-New Contract in Speech to Infants

Abstract This study examined the interaction of two sets of speaker practices which are useful to listeners-the acoustic reduction of given as opposed to new words in speech and the acoustic and grammatical modifications typical of speech to infants. English-speaking mothers described a puppet show to their 14- month-old infants and to an adult. This task elicited the repeated use of a common set of target words in spontaneous utterances. First- and second-mentioned target words differed in similar ways in infant- and adult-directed speech: Repeated words were shorter, quieter, lower-pitched, and less variable in pitch than first-mentioned words. Repeated words were also placed in less prominent positions relative to other words in the same utterance: That is, they were less likely than new words to be utterance-final, to receive sentence stress, and to occur on an utterance pitch peak. Thus, the attenuation of given information in speech appears insensitive to large differences in the speaker′s view of the listener′s sophistication. We suggest that some of the benefits of the distinction between given and new words might be available to the infant listener: The acoustic difference between given and new words might serve to automatically attract infants′ attention to new words at the expense of background information.
Design of small molecules targeting transcriptional activation by NF-κB: overview of recent advances

Background: The transcription factor NF-κB plays a central role in immune signaling and the inflammatory response. It also activates transcription of antiapoptotic factors in tumor cells, leading to enhanced cell survival. Because of the importance of NF-κB in inflammation and cancer, there is considerable interest in development of drugs that inhibit NF-κB activation or NF-κB-directed transcription. Recent elucidation of the intracellular pathways that activate NF-κB and mechanisms for transcriptional regulation by NF-κB has identified molecular targets for rational design of such drugs. Objective: This review provides an update on NF-κB signaling and an overview of three classes of NF-κB inhibitors: i) inhibitors of IκB kinase-β (also called IKK2), an essential link in the inflammatory response; ii) agents that react with NF-κB and prevent its binding to DNA; and iii) ligands for nuclear receptors such as the glucocorticoid receptor, PPARs and liver X receptor, which interfere with NF-κB-mediated transc...
Analyst-trainable fusion algorithms for surveillance applications

The Toolkit for Image Mining (TIM) is a prototype software environment that enables users with no knowledge of image processing and machine learning to interactively create image search and image analysis tools. TIM is being used as a testbed for the study of issues related to data fusion and on-the-fly training in the context of target recognition in DARPA's Semi-Automated IMINT Processing system. Experiments done in this environment suggest that on-the-fly training is technically feasible, need not pose an extra burden on image analysts, and can increase the flexibility and adaptability of surveillance algorithms.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Correlates of cervical cancer screening among underserved Hispanic and African-American women.

BACKGROUND: Substantial subgroups of American women, specifically those of ethnic minorities, have not been screened for cervical cancer or are not screened at regular intervals. The rates for receipt of female-related cancer screening tests remain far below the goals set forth in Healthy People 2010. OBJECTIVE: This study applied a well-known, recently revised theoretical model of health care access and utilization, the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations, to examine the correlates of the adherence to cervical cancer screening guidelines among publicly housed Hispanic and African-American women, two of the most vulnerable segments of our population. METHODS: This study conducted a cross-sectional survey of a community-based random sample of 230 African-American and Latino female heads of household, from a geographically defined area, the three urban public housing communities in Los Angeles County, CA. RESULTS: Only 62% of our sample had received a screening for cervical cancer within the past year. Yet, 29% of the sample claimed that no health care provider had ever told them that they needed a screening test for cervical cancer. Hispanic and older women are by far less likely to adhere to screening guidelines; in this study, 51% of Hispanics and 22% of African-Americans reported no screening within the last year. Multivariate analysis shows that affordability, continuity of care, and receiving advice from health care providers regarding a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear were significant predictors of up-to-date to cervical cancer screening. CONCLUSION: This study documents a significant disparity in screening for cervical cancer among underserved minorities, particularly Hispanic, uninsured, and older women. The continuity of obtaining medical services and receiving recommendations from physicians remain the core factors that are significantly associated with obtaining cervical cancer screening. These results underscore the need for continued efforts to ensure that medically underserved minority women have access to cancer screening services.
Solid-liquid-vapor phase behavior of the methane-carbon dioxide system

The phase behavior of the methane-carbon dioxide system has been determined experimentally along the solid-liquid-vapor locus. Pressure-temperature measurements were made along this locus from the triple point of carbon dioxide to −284°F. Compositions of the vapor phase along the solid-liquid-vapor locus were determined with sampling techniques over a composition range of 0.1 to 12% carbon dioxide. Liquid-phase compositions were obtained from crystal-point determinations on eleven methane-carbon dioxide mixtures ranging from 0.16 to 20% carbon dioxide. With the pressure-temperature for the solid-liquid-vapor locus as the termination locus of the dew and bubble data of Donnelly and Katz (2), consistent liquid- and vapor-phase compositions were obtained over the remaining concentration range. Changes in the pressure-temperature relationship of the solid-liquid-vapor locus caused by using a methane stock containing 0.56 mole % nitrogen are also reported.
Conceptual models and the Cuban missile crisis

The Cuban missile crisis is a seminal event. For thirteen days of October 1962, there was a higher probability that more human lives would end suddenly than ever before in history. Had the worst occurred, the death of 100 million Americans, over 100 million Russians, and millions of Europeans as well would make previous natural calamities and inhumanities appear insignificant. Given the probability of disaster—which President Kennedy estimated as “between 1 out of 3 and even”—our escape seems awesome. This event symbolizes a central, if only partially thinkable, fact about our existence. That such consequences could follow from the choices and actions of national governments obliges students of government as well as participants in governance to think hard about these problems.Improved understanding of this crisis depends in part on more information and more probing analyses of available evidence. To contribute to these efforts is part of the purpose of this study. But here the missile crisis serves primarily as grist for a more general investigation. This study proceeds from the premise that marked improvement in our understanding of such events depends critically on more self-consciousness about what observers bring to the analysis. What each analyst sees and judges to be important is a function not only of the evidence about what happened but also of the “conceptual lenses” through which he looks at the evidence. The principal purpose of this essay is to explore some of the fundamental assumptions and categories employed by analysts in thinking about problems of governmental behavior, especially in foreign and military affairs.
The influence of altruism on influenza vaccination decisions

Game theory is based on the assumption that individuals act according to self-interest and make decisions that maximize their personal payoffs. To test this fundamental assumption, we conducted a survey study in the context of influenza vaccination decisions. Contrary to the assumption of self-interest, we found that altruism plays an important role in vaccination decisions. Nevertheless, altruistic motivation has not yet been considered in epidemiological models, in predictions of vaccination decisions or in the design of vaccination policies. To determine the impact of altruism on the adherence to optimal vaccination policies and on resulting disease burden, we incorporated altruism into a game-theoretic epidemiological model of influenza vaccination. We found that altruism significantly shifted vaccination decisions away from individual self-interest and towards the community optimum, greatly reducing the total cost, morbidity and mortality for the community. Therefore, promoting altruism could be a potential strategy to improve public health outcomes.
ETS1 regulates the expression of ATXN2

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by the expansion of a CAG tract in the ATXN2 gene. The SCA2 phenotype is characterized by cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy and slow saccades. SCA2 foreshortens life span and is currently without symptomatic or disease-modifying treatments. Identifying function-specific therapeutics for SCA2 is problematic due to the limited knowledge of ATXN2 function. As SCA2 is likely caused by a gain-of-toxic or gain-of-normal function like other polyglutamine disorders, targeting ATXN2 expression may represent a valid therapeutic approach. This study characterized aspects of ATXN2 expression control using an ATXN2 promoter-luciferase (luc) reporter construct. We verified the fidelity of construct expression by generating transgenic mice expressing the reporter construct. High reporter expression was seen in the cerebellum and olfactory bulb in vivo but there was relatively low expression in other tissues, similar to the expression of endogenous ataxin-2. We verified the second of two possible start codons as the functional start codon in ATXN2. By evaluating deletions in the ATXN2 promoter, we identified an E-twenty six (ETS)-binding site required for ATXN2 expression. We verified that endogenous ETS1 interacted with the ATXN2 promoter by an electromobility supershift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation polymerase chain reaction. ETS1 overexpression increased ATXN2-luc (ATXN2-luciferase) as well as endogenous ATXN2 expression. Deletion of the putative ETS1-binding site abrogated the effects on the expression of ATXN2-luc. A dominant negative ETS1 and an ETS1 short-hairpin RNA both reduced ATXN2-luc expression. Our study broadens the understanding on the transcriptional control of ATXN2 and reveals specific regulatory features of the ATXN2 promoter that can be exploited therapeutically.
Improving the Environment for Learning: An Expanded Agenda.

The need for change in the design of learning spaces demands radical rethinking of many powerful traditional assumptions, yet this activity is vital to the success of higher education in the future.
Evaporative evolution of a Na–Cl–NO3–K–Ca–SO4–Mg–Si brine at 95°C: Experiments and modeling relevant to Yucca Mountain, Nevada

A synthetic Topopah Spring Tuff water representative of one type of pore water at Yucca Mountain, NV was evaporated at 95°C in a series of experiments to determine the geochemical controls for brines that may form on, and possibly impact upon the long-term integrity of waste containers and drip shields at the designated high-level, nuclear-waste repository. Solution chemistry, condensed vapor chemistry, and precipitate mineralogy were used to identify important chemical divides and to validate geochemical calculations of evaporating water chemistry using a high temperature Pitzer thermodynamic database. The water evolved toward a complex "sulfate type" brine that contained about 45 mol % Na, 40 mol % Cl, 9 mol % NO3, 5 mol % K, and less than 1 mol % each of SO4, Ca, Mg, ∑CO2(aq), F, and Si. All measured ions in the condensed vapor phase were below detection limits. The mineral precipitates identified were halite, anhydrite, bassanite, niter, and nitratine. Trends in the solution composition and identification of CaSO4 solids suggest that fluorite, carbonate, sulfate, and magnesium-silicate precipitation control the aqueous solution composition of sulfate type waters by removing fluoride, calcium, and magnesium during the early stages of evaporation. In most cases, the high temperature Pitzer database, used by EQ3/6 geochemical code, sufficiently predicts water composition and mineral precipitation during evaporation. Predicted solution compositions are generally within a factor of 2 of the experimental values. The model predicts that sepiolite, bassanite, amorphous silica, calcite, halite, and brucite are the solubility controlling mineral phases.
Conditions for the voicing of Old English fricatives, II: morphology and syllable structure

Old English fricatives at points of morpheme juncture are studied to determine whether they conform to the rule of voicing between voiced sounds that applies morpheme-internally. Should we expect a voiced or a voiceless fricative in words like OE heorð-weorod, Wulfweard, and stīðlīce? The evidence examined regards chiefly compounds and quasi-compounds (the latter comprising both forms bearing clear derivational affixes and ‘obscured’ compounds, those in which the deuterotheme has lost its lexical independence), though a small amount of evidence in regard to voicing before inflectional suffixes is considered. Evidence is derived from place-names, personal names, and common nouns, on the basis of Modern English standard pronunciation, assimilatory changes in Old English, modern dialect forms, post-Conquest and nonstandard Old English spellings, and analogous conditioning for the loss of OE /x/. A considerable preponderance of the evidence indicates that in compounds as well as in quasi-compounds, fricatives were voiced at the end of the prototheme when a voiced sound followed, but not a voiceless one. It follows from the evidence that there was no general devoicing of fricatives in syllable-final position in Old English, despite Anglo-Saxon scribes' use of for etymological [Γ] in occasional spellings like and . Old English spellings of this kind need be taken to imply nothing more than a tendency for and to be used interchangeably in noninitial positions, due to the noncontrastive distribution of the sounds they represent everywhere except morpheme-initially. Rare early Middle English spellings of this kind may or may not have a phonological basis, but they cannot plausibly be taken to evidence a phonological process affecting /v, ð, z/.
Wideband Active Interference cancellation techniques for military applications

Deploying Counter IED jammers, Electronic Warfare (EW) systems, on tactical vehicles has significantly improved the survivability of personnel and platform against the threat of IEDs. However, EW systems, operating in close proximity to or co-located with the friendly Communication Systems have also produced inadvertent adverse effects on the communications. There have been numerous reports about such impact of electromagnetic interference between friendly systems. The challenges are: a) proliferation of EW systems at the individual platform level and b) the threat, or RF triggering devices often occupying similar frequency ranges as the Communication systems, i.e., on-channel jamming. Therefore, achieving electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) or suppressing the electromagnetic interference (EMI) effect between jammers and friendly RF systems is of paramount in term of both technical complexity and operational importance to the Army from the point of view of operational impact and technical complexity. This paper will briefly discuss various technologies, techniques, and approaches which have been exploited and employed to mitigate the undesirable EMI as a part of integrated effort. However, the majority of discussion will be on Active Interference cancellation technology and technique which would eventually yield the enduring and adaptable capability.
Creativity in Older Adults: A Plethora of Possibilities

Aging continues to be an important topic of study. For many older adults, the elder years can be a challenging, if not difficult, time. Creativity interventions have been shown to positively affect mental and physiological health indicators. The process of creating and one's attitude toward life may be more important than the actual product or tangible outcome. While many activities are those typically thought of as creative, such as painting, there are also a number of useful interventions that are not traditionally identified as creative ones, but that are, in fact, creative activities. This paper describes recent work with creativity in older adults, including research and clinical projects, and earlier works that could be refined as creative interventions. Recommendations for further investigation of creativity also are presented.
Designing globally, working locally: using personas to develop online communication products for international users

Extending digital products and services to global markets requires a communication design approach that considers the needs of international (e.g. non-U.S.) users. The challenge becomes developing an approach that works effectively. The concept of personas, as applied in user experience design (UX), can offer an effective solution to this situation. This article examines how this idea of personas can expand communication design practices to include users form other cultures.
Psychiatric social epidemiology in Cuba I: Contextual and developmental considerations

This review is reported in two parts. This first article lays the groundwork for the analysis of psychiatric social epidemiology by (a) drawing in broad strokes the developmental phases followed by the Cuban Revolution, as the contextual base on which to build this analysis; (b) exploring the development of the field of psychiatric epidemiology in the Island; (c) delineating the development of human and material resources in health and mental health; (d) reviewing issues of access to care by traditionally underserved populations; (e) exploring gradual changes in the character of mental health care as reflected by service utilization patterns; and (f) discussing changes in the attitude of the population towards mental health and illness, as reflected by pathways to care. Overall, this section provides evidence of a rapid development and deployment of resources in this domain and of their egalitarian distribution and general accessibility to the population.
Estimating Abundances of Volatile and Other Mobile Components in Evolved Silicic Melts Through Mineral–Melt Equilibria

to variable degrees of accuracy from source (partitioning between and earths residual minerals and anatectic melts), through melt fractionation (partitioning between igneous minerals and residual melts), to the end stages of magma solidification, where higher concentrations of normally trace elements may promote saturation in their crystalline phases. The magmatic abundance of rare alkalis and alkaline earths
Organized Interests and Agenda Setting in the U.S. Supreme Court

Participation as amicus curiae has long been an important tactic of organized interests in litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court. We analyze amicus curiae briefs filed before the decision on certiorari and assess their impact on the Court's selection of a plenary docket. We hypothesize that one or more briefs advocating or opposing certiorari increase the likelihood of its being granted. We test this hypothesis using data from the United States Reports and Briefs and Records of the United States Supreme Court for the 1982 term. The statistical analysis demonstrates that the presence of amicus curiae briefs filed prior to the decision on certiorari significantly and positively increases the chances of the justices' binding of a case over for full treatment—even after we take into account the full array of variables other scholars have hypothesized or shown to be substantial influences on the decision to grant or deny.
Hydrostatic intestinal edema induced signaling pathways: potential role of mechanical forces.

Background Hydrostatic intestinal edema initiates a signal transduction cascade that results in smooth muscle contractile dysfunction. Given the rapid and concurrent alterations in the mechanical properties of edematous intestine observed with the development of edema, we hypothesize that mechanical forces may serve as a stimulus for the activation of certain signaling cascades. We sought to examine whether isolated similar magnitude mechanical forces induced the same signal transduction cascades associated with edema. Methods The distal intestine from adult male Sprague Dawley rats was stretched longitudinally for 2 h to 123% its original length, which correlates with the interstitial stress found with edema. We compared wet-to-dry ratios, myeloperoxidase activity, nuclear signal transduction and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 and nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B DNA binding, STAT-3 phosphorylation, myosin light chain phosphorylation, baseline and maximally stimulated intestinal contractile strength, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and sodium hydrogen exchanger 1–3 messenger RNA (mRNA) in stretched and adjacent control segments of intestine. Results Mechanical stretch did not induce intestinal edema or an increase in myeloperoxidase activity. Nuclear STAT-3 DNA binding, STAT-3 phosphorylation, and nuclear NF-kappa B DNA binding were significantly increased in stretched seromuscular samples. Increased expression of sodium hydrogen exchanger 1 was found but not an increase in iNOS expression. Myosin light chain phosphorylation was significantly decreased in stretched intestine as was baseline and maximally stimulated intestinal contractile strength. Conclusion Intestinal stretch, in the absence of edema/inflammatory/ischemic changes, leads to the activation of signaling pathways known to be altered in intestinal edema. Edema may initiate a mechanotransductive cascade that is responsible for the subsequent activation of various signaling cascades known to induce contractile dysfunction.
Bone Mineral Density in the Complete Androgen Insensitivity and 5α-Reductase-2 Deficiency Syndromes

Context: Subjects with complete androgen insensitivity (CAI) and 5α-reductase-2 deficiency (5αRD-2) are natural human models to study the direct effect of androgens on bone mineral density (BMD). Objective: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that androgens have a direct effect on BMD in men. Design: This was a prospective, observational study (1989–1999) using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Setting: The study was set in an outpatient specialty referral center. Patients or Other Participants: All known subjects with these conditions (12 CAI and 16 5αRD-2) from diverse sociodemographic backgrounds were recruited for the study. Interventions: There were no interventions. Main Outcome Measure: Mean Z score and weight-matched Z score at lumbar spine and femoral neck for CAI and 5αRD-2 subjects were determined. Results: Twelve CAI subjects had mean Z score at L2–L4 of −2.84 (±0.97, P < 0.001) and a mean weight-matched Z score of −2.52 (±0.94, P < 0.001). The mean Z score at the femoral ne...
Diagnostic Methods in Liver Disease

At the present time the biochemical, serologic, and technological resources available in academic centers for the diagnosis of hepatic diseases are impressive. In that type of setting, and using the appropriate combination of diagnostic procedures discussed here, it is possible to determine with a considerable degree of accuracy the nature of the hepatic disease present, its extent, and, to a greater or lesser degree, its prognosis. Investigation in less favored centers must settle for diagnostic short-cuts and inevitably a lesser degree of accuracy. In either case, the state of the art is weighted heavily in favor of diagnosis and against successful therapy of most of the disease disclosed to be present. Radioisotope scanning, using $sup 67$Ga, $sup 198$Au, and $sup 99$Tc, is discussed as a reliable method of diagnosis. (auth)
‘Every Man's Work Shall Be Made Manifest’: Religious Callings in the Age of Organizational Spirituality

Prior research has examined how viewing one’s work as a “job,” a “career,” or a “calling” influences the satisfaction individuals derive from their work. However, research has considered only non-religious (secular) connotation of callings. This paper examines whether or not there is a link between believing that one’s work is a calling in the religious sense and an individual’s work satisfaction. More specifically, it is argued there is a positive relationship between religious callings and job satisfaction. In addition, it is hypothesized that this relationship is moderated by a third factor: organizational spirituality. After providing an overview of the organizational (or workplace) spirituality movement, the author contends that for organizations that are “spiritual” the positive link between religious callings and job satisfaction will be strengthened; while for non-spiritual organizations, the relationship will be either attenuated or negated. Hence, if employers want to increase the satisfaction that employees – both religious and non-religious – derive from their work, then they should strive to increase the spirituality of their organizations.
Elizabeth I’s Virginity and the Body of Evidence: Jonson’s Notorious Crux

In a famous, frequently quoted statement, Ben Jonson claims that Queen Elizabeth I “had a membrana on her which made her uncapable of man.” This essay reinvestigates the basis for Jonson’s 400-year-old crux and, more broadly, argues for the relevance of an unexplored area of critical studies on Elizabeth: what early modern medicine and culture thought about lifelong virginity and its distinctive perils for the queen’s aging body natural. Finally, looking at the inner-circle gossip about Tudor and Stuart queens’ health and various records documenting Elizabeth’s identified illnesses, including hysterica passio, the essay uncovers how virgins’ diseases were thought to afflict Elizabeth over her reign and possibly contribute to her death.
Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Genotype Predicts Pain Severity in Hospitalized Burn Patients

Increasing evidence suggests that stress system activation after burn injury may contribute to burn-related pain. If this is the case, then genetic variations influencing the function of important stress system components, such as the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), may predict pain severity after thermal burn injury. The authors evaluated the association between COMT genotype and pain intensity in 57 individuals hospitalized after thermal burn injury. Consenting participants at four burn centers were genotyped and completed daily 0 to 10 numeric rating scale pain assessments on 2 consecutive days including evaluation of waking, least, and worst pain. The association between COMT genotype and individual pain outcomes was calculated using a linear mixed model adjusting for sociodemographic and burn injury characteristics. Overall pain (combination of least, worst, and waking pain scores) was significantly higher in patients with a COMT pain vulnerable genotype (6.3 [0.4] vs 5.4 [0.4], P = .037). Individuals with a COMT pain vulnerable genotype also had significantly higher “least pain” scores (3.8 [0.5] vs 2.6 [0.4], P = .017) and significantly higher pain on awakening (6.8 [0.5] vs 5.3 [0.4], P = .004). Differences in worst pain according to genotype group were not significant. COMT pain vulnerable genotype was a stronger predictor of overall pain severity than burn size, burn depth, or time from admission to pain interview assessment. These findings suggest that genetic factors influencing stress system function may have an important influence on pain severity after burn injury. Further studies of genetic predictors of pain after burn injury are needed. (J Burn Care Res 2012;33:518–523)
Multifluorophore localization as a percolation problem: limits to density and precision

We show that the maximum desirable density of activated fluorophores in a superresolution experiment can be determined by treating the overlapping point spread functions as a problem in percolation theory. We derive a bound on the density of activated fluorophores, taking into account the desired localization accuracy and precision, as well as the number of photons emitted. Our bound on density is close to that reported in experimental work, suggesting that further increases in the density of imaged fluorophores will come at the expense of localization accuracy and precision.
Differences in EDNO contribution to arteriolar diameters at rest and during functional dilation in striated muscle

This study was designed to determine the physiological role of endothelium-dependent nitric oxide (EDNO) in the control of arteriolar diameter during rest and muscle stimulation. Diameters of first...
Using Predictions in Online Optimization: Looking Forward with an Eye on the Past

We consider online convex optimization (OCO) problems with switching costs and noisy predictions. While the design of online algorithms for OCO problems has received considerable attention, the design of algorithms in the context of noisy predictions is largely open. To this point, two promising algorithms have been proposed: Receding Horizon Control (RHC) and Averaging Fixed Horizon Control (AFHC). The comparison of these policies is largely open. AFHC has been shown to provide better worst-case performance, while RHC outperforms AFHC in many realistic settings. In this paper, we introduce a new class of policies, Committed Horizon Control (CHC), that generalizes both RHC and AFHC. We provide average-case analysis and concentration results for CHC policies, yielding the first analysis of RHC for OCO problems with noisy predictions. Further, we provide explicit results characterizing the optimal CHC policy as a function of properties of the prediction noise, e.g., variance and correlation structure. Our results provide a characterization of when AFHC outperforms RHC and vice versa, as well as when other CHC policies outperform both RHC and AFHC.
Neurogenetics of connectomes: from fly to fish.

The Journal of Neurogenetics presents this special issue entitled “Neurogenetics of connectomes: from fly to fish.” In this special issue, we invited established researchers to review and present c...
Reporting Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes

The presence of many tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in primary cutaneous melanoma is associated with a better prognosis. The degree of lymphocytic interaction with the tumor cells is graded as “brisk”, “non-brisk” or “absent” as defined below:
Condensate mobility actuated by microsurface topography and wettability modifications

As phase change, specifically boiling becomes an ever more popular and advanced mechanism for cooling electronics, efforts must be made to find methods of increasing the thermal performance of condensers.
Competitive PIRT and PI(4,5)P2 Interactions Modulate TRPM8

Phosphoinositide regulator of TRP (PIRT) is a small human membrane protein that has been shown to modulate the function of specific TRP channels. PIRT has been implicated in fine-tuning the roles that TRP channels play in thermosensing, ligand activation, and pruritus. In an effort to better understand the role of PIRT in TRP channel modulation, PIRT has been expressed and purified in a biologically relevant state. Solution NMR studies of human PIRT have given way to backbone resonance assignment allowing for experimental determination of its membrane topology and residue specific characterization of PIRT interactions with the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) and the TRPM8 sensing domain (helices S1-S4). PIRT contains a relatively unstructured N-terminus with two transmembrane helices followed by a positively charged PIP2 interacting site in the juxtamembrane region near the C-terminus. The binding affinity of PIRT to PI(4,5)P2 indicates the protein–lipid interaction is physiologically relevant. Interestingly, residues that specifically bind PI(4,5)P2 also specifically interact with the TRPM8 sensing domain. The overlap in PIRT binding sites between TRPM8 and PI(4,5)P2 suggests a lipid shuttling mechanism that could add an additional layer of regulation to TRPM8 function. These studies provide a structural and molecular framework to begin to dissect the regulatory mechanism of the tripartite PIRT–TRPM8–PI(4,5)P2 complex.
Platelet Activation and Inhibition in Sickle Cell Disease (PAINS) Study

Abstract Abstract 5147 Platelet activation/aggregation in sickle cell disease (SCD) may promote tissue ischemia, suggesting antiplatelet therapy may be useful. However, assessing platelet function and the effect of antiplatelet therapy in blood from SCD patients may be confounded by hemolysis with release of ADP. Here we evaluate levels of platelet activation markers in SCD adolescents vs. normal controls and compare, by multiple methods, the effect of in vitro blockade of the platelet ADP receptor P2Y12 by prasugrel’s active metabolite, R-138727. Platelet activation markers in blood from SCD adolescents (n=15) and healthy adults (n=10), and the effect of R-138727 (0. 1 – 10 μM) added in vitro, were evaluated with and without ADP stimulation. Circulating levels of platelet-monocyte and platelet-neutrophil aggregates were significantly higher (p Disclosures: Frelinger: Eli Lilly: Consultancy, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; GLSynthesis: Research Funding. Jakubowski: Eli Lilly: Employment. Heeney: Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Eli Lilly and Company: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy. Michelson: Eli Lilly: Data monitoring committee and idependent external monitor of clinical trials, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Oxygen Biotherapeutics: Research Funding; Alexion: Research Funding; Omthera: Research Funding.
Monuments and Monumentality

In his article “The Variety of Scale” in the December issue, Cecil Elliott discussed a concept which, though of manifold intellectual ramifications, is relatively free from emotive content. The cas...
Representations of Finnishness in Sweden

More than half a million Swedes – one in twenty – is of Finnish descent. This book explores Finnishness, multilingualism and identities of young people with Finnish background in Sweden. What does it mean to grow up in a Finnish family in Sweden? Who are ‘real Finns’ and what does it take to be(come) one? Is a shared minority language essential for the survival of the minority, or can a minority culture stay viable without it? What is Finnishness and who, in the end, can define ethnicity? How to make sense of, and how to present interviews that are rich with imitations of accents, jokes and laughter? Representations of Finnishness is Sweden is an ethnographic interview study in the domain of applied language studies. This book is aimed at readers interested in sociolinguistics, linguistic ethnography, and the study of identities. Interviewees’ voices take a central position in this book and interview excerpts are used not only as illustrations, but also serve as starting points for discussing broader theoretical concepts. The author, Dr. Lotta Weckstrom, grew up bilingual – Finnish and Swedish – in Finland. She studied linguistics and migration studies in Germany and the Netherlands, and in this longitudinal study encompasses her expertise.
What Went Wrong and Why – An Essay on Post-Hussein Iraq

Analyzing the lessons learned in Iraq, the author of this article explores whether the American experience embracing our fundamental beliefs on human rights and other related ideologies, including separation of church and state, freedom of individuals to choose their leaders and their form of government through a democratic forum, authority of a constitutional rule of law, and a concept of impartial justice, is an exportable commodity.