cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring consumers' flow experiences in virtual shopping: an exploratory study

The purpose of this study was to use flow theory to characterise consumers’ experiences of visiting stores in the virtual world for the first time and to examine their intentions to use a virtual world for shopping. 119 Midwest US apparel merchandising university students responded to a survey after completing a course assignment introducing them to Second Life and shopping in a virtual world. A hypothesised model consisting of exogenous constructs of web skills and perceived challenges and endogenous constructs of perceived control, concentration, enjoyment, telepresence and shopping intention, guided the analysis. Results revealed that perceived control and enjoyment are significantly stronger than the other model constructs and that web skills and perceived challenge are critical elements influencing the intention to shop in Second Life. Perceived concentration and telepresence did not have significant effects on shopping intentions nor did web skills positively influence perceived telepresence in Second Life.
Studies on the removal of Lissamine Green B from clays and soil in comparison with contemporary approaches

A combination of Fenton's reagent with electrochemistry has been demonstrated to be a efficient method for removing a dye (Lissamine Green B) from clays (kaolin, montmorillonite) and soil. The two-step approach described here involved quantitative extraction with hot water, followed by quantitative removal of the Lissamine Green dye by column chromatography using Octolig®. The advantage of this procedure is success without the need for Fenton reagents or electricity. A disadvantage is the process would not work with polycyclic hydrocarbons such as phenanthrene, though the electro-Fenton degradation does.
Consumer Utilization of Food Labeling as a Source of Nutrition Information

The factors which influence consumer usage of food labels are investigated by a qualitative response model using the 1987–1988 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey data. Econometric results show that economic, sociodemographic, and consumer health awareness variables are determinants of food label usage. The implications of these findings include formulating government food labeling regulations and consumer educational programs and evaluating consumer health benefits of using food labels.
Effect of dietary electrolytes and histidine on histidine metabolism and acid-base balance in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Abstract 1. 1. Rainbow trout fingerlings were fed diets containing 1.2, 1.8 and 2.6% histidine and two mixtures of Na, K and Cl ( Na + K - C 1 = 0 or −200 meq / kg diet ) in a factorial design. 2. 2. Growth and efficiency of feed conversion were not affected by histidine in the diet when it contained the −200 meq/kg electrolyte mixture, but with the 0 meq/kg level, 2.6% histidine depressed both measures of response. 3. 3. Histidine increased plasma and muscle histidine levels, increased hepatic histidase activity, but did not affect hepatic histidine-pyruvate aminotransferase activity. 4. 4. Muscle-free histidine concentrations were markedly higher and lysine concentrations were lower in trout receiving 0 meq/kg than those receiving the −200 meq/kg electrolyte mixture. 5. 5. The electrolyte balance of the diet has a marked effect on the metabolism of histidine in trout.
SLR2000: eye-safe and autonomous single-photoelectron satellite laser ranging at kilohertz rates

SLR2000 is an autonomous and eyesafesatellite laser ranging station with an expected single shot range precision of about one centimeter and a normal point precision better than 3 mm. The system will provide continuous 24 hour tracking coverage. Replication costs are expected to be roughly an order of magnitude less than current operational systems, and the system will be about 75% less expensive to operate and maintain relative to the manned systems. Computer simulations have predicted a daylight tracking capability to GPS and lower satellites with telescope apertures of 40 cm and have demonstrated the ability of our current autotracking algorithm to extract mean signal strengths as small as 0.000 I photoelectrons per pulse from background noise. The dominant cost driver in present SLR systems is the onsite and central infrastructure manpower required to operate the system, to service and maintain the complex subsystems (most notably the laser and high precision timing electronics), and to ensure that the transmitted laser beam is not a hazard to onsite personnel or to overflying aircraft. In designing the SLR2000 system, preference was given to simple hardware over complex, to commercially available hardware over custom, and to passive techniques over active resulting in the prototype design described here. This general approach should allow long intervals between maintenance visits and the "outsourcing" of key central engineering functions on an "as needed" basis. As a result, many of the signal extraction techniques and engineering designs employed here may have application in remotely operated or even spacebome lidar applications. SLR2000 consists of seven major subsystems: (1) Time and Frequency Reference Unit; (2) Optical Subsystem; (3) Tracking Mount; (4) Correlation Range Receiver; (5) Meteorological Station; (6) Environmental Shelter with Azimuth Tracking Dome; and (7) System Controller. The Optical Subsystem in tum consists of a 40 cm aperture telescope and associated transmit/receive optics, a passively Q-switched microlaser operating at 2 KHz with a transmitted single pulse energy of 135 μJ, a start detector, a quadrant stop detector for simultaneous ranging and subarcsecond angle tracking, a CCD camera for automated star calibrations, and spectral and spatial filters to reduce the daylight background noise. The meteorological station includes sensors for surface pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation type and accumulation, visibility, and cloud cover. The system operator is replaced by a software package called the "pseudooperator" which, using a variety of sensor inputs, makes all of the critical operational decisions formerly made by onsite personnel. Keywords: laser ranging, microlasers, laser altimetry, lidar, single photon detection, meteorological instrumentation, satellites, autonomous instruments
The interaction of supernova 1987A with dense circumstellar gas

The light travel time effects on the evolution of line fluxes, line profiles, and spatial structure of the emission from supernova 1987A are described. Current high spectral resolution observations suggest a lower limit to the age of the shell of 5000 yr and suggest a relatively low shell velocity. The narrow lines are predicted to shift to the red at a rate depending on the shell age. Observations of X-rays below 10 keV by the Ginga satellite are difficult to interpret in terms of circumstellar interaction because of the time variability.
Metaplasia of the duodenum shows a Helicobacter pylori-correlated differentiation into gastric-type protein expression.

The origin of gastric metaplasia of the duodenum (GMD) remains enigmatic. We studied expression of mucins and trefoil peptides in GMD to gain insight into its phenotype and origin. We examined duodenal tissue of 95 patients (0 to 83 years old, 26 with gastric Helicobacter pylori infection) for the presence of GMD. Expression was examined immunohistochemically of secretory mucins (MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC6), trefoil peptides (TFF1, TFF2, and TFF3), and sucrase-isomaltase (SI). GMD, found in 37 patients, correlated positively to gastric H. pylori infection, age, and villus atrophy. MUC2 and TFF3, expressed in normal goblet cells, were absent from 100% and 87% of GMD, respectively. GMD ubiquitously expressed MUC5AC, whereas MUC5AC expression in adjacent goblet cells was closely correlated with the extent of GMD. TFF1, TFF2, and MUC6 were found in 84%, 92%, and 65% of GMD, respectively. MUC5B was absent from epithelium and GMD. SI, expressed by villus enterocytes, was absent from GMD. Brunner's glands ubiquitously expressed MUC5B, MUC6, and TFF2. GMD was characterized by the expression of gastric-type proteins MUC5AC, MUC6, TFF1, and TFF2 and the absence of intestinal markers MUC2, TFF3, and SI. In terms of the location of metaplastic cells, our results suggest that epithelial cells migrating toward villus tips switch to gastric-type secretory cells. Positive correlation with infection suggests an inductive role H. pylori in the development of GMD.
Do Industrial Relations Institutions Influence Foreign Direct Investment? Evidence from OECD Nations

The potential impact of industrial relations institutions on economic outcomes has been a key element in analyzing the governing of the global workplace. We present case information and analysis that show that there are trade-offs between higher levels of economic outcomes and greater equity and employee voice associated with more and deeper labor market institutions. The estimates from the model show the impact of industrial relations system policies within a nation on a country's foreign direct investment (FDI) from other nations for the period 1985 through 2000 using data from nations that are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Examples of the impact of major transformations in national industrial relations systems on FDI for UK and New Zealand also are presented. Our results show that higher levels of industrial relations institutions from the firms’ perspective are usually associated with lower levels of FDI.
Toxicity of aerosol propellants in the respiratory and circulatory systems. VII. Influence of pulmonary emphysema and anesthesia in the rat.

Abstract Experimental induction of pulmonary emphysema caused an increase in sensitivity of the rat to toxicity from inhalation of propellants. The emphysematous rat showed an exaggerated reduction in pulmonary compliance in response to inhalation of trichlorofluoromethane (FC 11). In emphysematous and nonemphysematous rats without anesthesia the inhalation of FC 11 caused tachycardia, arrhythmias and other abnormalities in the electrocardiogram. The tachycardiac response was eliminated by induction of barbiturate anesthesia, which increased the sensitivity of the heart to occurrence of abnormalities in the electrocardiogram in response to inhalation of FC 11 as well as of dichlorodifluoromethane (FC 12) and difluoroethane (FC 152a). The acceleration in heart rate in response to inhalation of FC 11, hypoxia or hypercapnea was prevented by prior treatment with a beta-blocking drug.
Teachers’ job satisfaction: Analyses of the Teacher Follow-up Survey in the United States for 2000–2001

Abstract This study examined teachers’ satisfaction with various aspects of their job through multilevel analyses of national surveys conducted in the United States. The data came from the National Center for Education Statistics Schools and Staffing Survey for 1999–2000 and Teacher Follow-up Survey for 2000–2001. We found that teachers were least satisfied with work conditions and compensation, and that minority teachers were generally less satisfied with their job than were non-minority teachers. We also found that teachers’ job satisfaction varied with gender, years of teaching, and career status. These findings provide significant implications for educational policy aimed at retaining teachers in education.
Antibody Production in Pheasant-Turkey Hybrids

Abstract IT IS known that there is a great deal of variation among different species of animals, including humans, in their ability to produce antibodies against different kinds of antigens. It has been shown that the chicken is an excellent precipitin producer and the pheasant a fair producer (Wolfe and Dilks, 1949) when injected with bovine serum albumin but the turkey, and guinea fowl and some other species of birds are poor producers of antibody when injected with the same substance. Turkeys were mated with pheasants by artificial insemination (Asmundson and Lorenz, 1955). The offspring, which are sterile, were intermediate to the two species in regard to size and general appearance. The study of antibody production of such hybrids was undertaken and compared to the parent species. METHODS AND MATERIALS The animals used in these experiments were male and female pheasants and turkeys as well as hybrids of these animals One …
A Mother‐Centered Approach to Skin‐to‐Skin in the Operating Room

Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program A large body of evidence demonstrates that skin‐to‐skin (STS) contact at birth is beneficial to newborns. Newborns who experience STS at the time of vaginal birth have better temperature stability, higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge, and better glucose levels. Implementing early skin‐to‐skin in the obstetric operating room (OOR) can be challenging. However, a growing body of research shows that STS decreases maternal perception of pain while in the OOR and increases maternal satisfaction with the birthing experience. Proposed Change At a large women's hospital, with more than 5,000 deliveries annually, STS in the OOR on routine, repeat, scheduled cesarean deliveries was initiated. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation Expected outcomes will be that the patient will report that her delivery experience was more meaningful and family‐centered than she experienced previously and she will not need any additional pain medication other than the initial, routine combined spinal dose. Maternal satisfaction will be measured by a follow‐up questionnaire, whereas maternal pain control will be evaluated by reviewing the anesthesia record for any additional medications administered during the cesarean. Implications for Nursing Practice Nursing implications will include but are not limited to ensuring that the woman wants the infant placed on her skin immediately, ensuring that the involved staff proceeds with the woman's request, and that proper equipment is used and placed in a manner that skin‐to‐skin contact is attainable. The ultimate goal of translating STS in the OOR on all qualifying cases is to decrease maternal pain perception and increase satisfaction with birth experience.
Monitoring global change: Comparison of forest cover estimates using remote sensing and inventory approaches.

Satellite-based remote sensing offers great potential for frequent assessment of forest cover over broad spatial scales, however, calibration and validation using ground-based surveys are needed. In this study, forest cover estimates for the United States from a recently developed land surface cover map generated from satellite remote sensing data were compared to state-level inventory data from the U.S. National Resources Planning Act Timber Database. The land cover map was produced at the U.S. Geological Survey EROS Data Center and is based on imagery from the AVHRR sensor (spatial resolution ∼1.1 km). Vegetation type was classified using the temporal signal in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index derived from AVHRR data. Comparisons revealed close agreement in the estimate of forest cover for extensively forested states with large polygons of relatively similar vegetation such as Oregon. Larger forest cover differences were observed in other states with some regional patterns in the level of agreement apparent.
Exposure to dust mite allergen and endotoxin in early life and asthma and atopy in childhood

Background There has been no longitudinal study of the relation between concurrent exposure to dust mite allergen and endotoxin in early life and asthma and atopy at school age. Objectives To examine the relation between exposure to dust mite allergen and endotoxin at age 2 to 3 months and asthma, wheeze, and atopy in high-risk children. Methods Birth cohort study of 440 children with parental history of atopy in the Boston metropolitan area. Results In multivariate analyses, early exposure to high levels of dust mite allergen (≥10 μg/g) was associated with increased risks of asthma at age 7 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1-7.9) and late-onset wheeze (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.5-16.4). Exposure to endotoxin levels above the lowest quartile at age 2 to 3 months was associated with reduced odds of atopy at school age (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.2-0.9). In contrast with its inverse association with atopy, endotoxin exposure in early life was associated with an increased risk of any wheeze between ages 1 and 7 years that did not change significantly with time (hazard ratio for each quartile increment in endotoxin levels, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.07-1.43). Conclusion Among children at risk of atopy, early exposure to high levels of dust mite allergen is associated with increased risks of asthma and late-onset wheeze. In these children, endotoxin exposure is associated with a reduced risk of atopy but an increased risk of wheeze. Clinical implications Early endotoxin exposure may be a protective factor against atopy but a risk factor for wheeze in high-risk children.
Salvage of a below-elbow amputation stump with a free latissimus dorsi muscle flap: a case report.

Abstract No single procedure has been universally accepted to deal with the difficult problem of covering post-traumatic elbow defects. 1–4 Primary closure, split-thickness skin grafting, local flaps, and distant flaps have both advantages and disadvantages. Free tissue transfer offers the distinct advantage of covering a large defect without lengthy immobilization. We do not know of a prior report describing the use of such a flap to salvage a below-elbow amputation in order to maintain good shoulder and elbow function and to allow use of a below-elbow prosthesis.
Simplification of total-energy and pressure calculations in solids

In addition to presenting an expression for the pressure which is valid for all treatments of exchange and correlation, we derive a new relation for the kinetic energy of the cores which, in the muffin-tin approximation, leads to an algebraic cancellation of various core contributions to the pressure. Thus, numerical difficulties associated with total-energy and pressure calculations are greatly reduced.
The elegant plume: ostrich feathers, African commercial networks, and European capitalism

Ostrich feathers have long been an important export from Africa to different European markets. The ostrich plume was a key part of the luxury trade across Mediterranean shores for centuries. The main source of ostrich feathers was from wild ostriches especially from North and West Africa. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the rising economic value of ostrich plumes triggered colonial French and British competition over this luxury commodity, leading to the establishment of domesticated ostrich farms by the French in North and West Africa and by the British in South Africa. This article uses an economic historical framework to understand colonial ostrich feather trade and its impact on French and British relations during the nineteenth century in Africa. We examine the ostrich feather commercial networks that began to emerge particularly by the middle of nineteenth century, and focus on the sources of ostrich feathers and the local practices for hunting and raising ostriches. We argue that by lookin...
Lymphotoxin β Receptor (LtβR): Dual Roles in Demyelination and Remyelination and Successful Therapeutic Intervention Using LtβR–Ig Protein

Inflammation mediated by macrophages is increasingly found to play a central role in diseases and disorders that affect a myriad of organs, prominent among these are diseases of the CNS. The neurotoxicant-induced, cuprizone model of demyelination is ideally suited for the analysis of inflammatory events. Demyelination on exposure to cuprizone is accompanied by predictable microglial activation and astrogliosis, and, after cuprizone withdrawal, this activation reproducibly diminishes during remyelination. This study demonstrates enhanced expression of lymphotoxin beta receptor (Lt betaR) during the demyelination phase of this model, and Lt betaR is found in areas enriched with microglial and astroglial cells. Deletion of the Lt betaR gene (Lt betaR-/-) resulted in a significant delay in demyelination but also a slight delay in remyelination. Inhibition of Lt betaR signaling by an Lt betaR-Ig fusion decoy protein successfully delayed demyelination in wild-type mice. Unexpectedly, this Lt betaR-Ig decoy protein dramatically accelerated the rate of remyelination, even after the maximal pathological disease state had been reached. This strongly indicates the beneficial role of Lt betaR-Ig in the delay of demyelination and the acceleration of remyelination. The discrepancy between remyelination rates in these systems could be attributed to developmental abnormalities in the immune systems of Lt betaR-/- mice. These findings bode well for the use of an inhibitory Lt betaR-Ig as a candidate biological therapy in demyelinating disorders, because it is beneficial during both demyelination and remyelination.
A study of turbulent energy over complex terrain (STATE, 1978)

The complex structure of the earth's surface influenced atmospheric parameters pertinent to modeling the diffusion process during the 1978 ‘STATE’ field study. The Information Theory approach of statistics proved useful for analyzing the complex structures observed in the radiometric surface temperature signals as measured from an aircraft. Results show that regardless of their complexities, these temperature processes are well approximated as Gaussian processes. Turbulent kinetic energy is shown to increase as the surface temperature signals become more complex. The nature of these variations is examined for five different categories of agricultural land as defined by percent cultivation and percent forestation.
Kinematics simulation of serial manipulators

This paper presents a systematic development for finding position, velocity, and acceleration of one or more points of interest on one or more links of a serial manipulator. The system of equations given is well suited for direct kinematics and effectively supplies the influence coefficients or velocity Jacobians needed for a subsequent dynamics or kinetostatics simulation. An alternative to the Denavit-Hartenberg matri ces is suggested, and a direct vector statics solution for actua torforces and torques is provided. It is shown that all veloci ties and accelerations (linear and angular) are simply expressed in terms of certain so-called star matrices. By exploiting the skew symmetry of these matrices as well as sparseness properties wherever possible, it is shown that the arithmetic operation counts can be reduced significantly in the calculations. The ideas presented here have been imple mented in a computer program that was used to partially verify the practicality and efficiency of the techniques dev...
Money Might Matter Somewhere: A Response to Hedges, Laine, and Greenwald

Over the past quarter century, there has been an attempt to use systematic statistical analysis to inform educational policy. This analysis has not been greeted enthusiastically by educators, particularly because it has clearly indicated that their current operations are inefficient and broadly ineffective (Hanushek, 1989). The recent analysis of Larry Hedges, Richard Laine, and Rob Greenwald (1994) addresses the overall conclusions in my article about the lack of relationship between resources and performance. In this response, I endeavor to make clear that, when the dust settles, the previous conclusions and perspective on educational policy remain intact and are, perhaps, even strengthened by their reanalysis.
Finite element implementation of stress-jump and stress-continuity conditions at porous-medium, clear-fluid interface

The boundary conditions at the interface between clear-fluid and porous-medium domains are very important for solving flow through an open domain adjoining a porous medium. In this Galerkin finite-element (FE) based simulation of such interface flows employing Stokes and Brinkman equations, the traditional interfacial condition based on the continuity of stress in fluid and porous media is compared with the stress-jump condition proposed by Ochoa-Tapia and Whitaker using the rigorous volume averaging method. A novel FE formulation employing a second-order adjustable tensor is proposed to implement this new stress-jump condition for full three-dimensional flows. The paper also clarifies the hitherto obscure relationship between flow variables in the fluid and porous media for the conventional stress-continuity condition. In the first validation study involving numerical predictions of flow parallel to the interface, our FE implementation of the new stress-jump condition agree very well with the analytical solution for flow parallel to the interface, thereby proving the soundness of our adjustable tensor approach. Similar excellent results were obtained for FE implementation of the stress-continuity condition as well. A good match with analytical solution for a constant cross-flow superimposed on the parallel flow was also achieved while differences in velocity profiles near the interfaces were studied for the two conditions. Lastly a complex 3D flow simulation involving a fluid and porous media interface within the unit-cell of a non-crimp stitched fiber mat, used in liquid composite molding process during the manufacture of composite materials, is undertaken. The permeability of this dual-scale fibrous porous medium, estimated using the newly implemented stress-jump condition, agrees well with the experimental result thereby pointing to the accuracy of the FE implementation of the condition. Our simulations reveal that the stress-jump condition leads to a much smaller boundary layer within porous medium near the interface as compared to the stress-continuity condition, and hence to a lower, more accurate net flow-rate through the unit cell. However the two interfacial conditions yield similar results with a decrease in the porosity.
Hydromagnetic interplanetary shock waves

Adiabatic motion of hydromagnetic fluid behind spherical fast shock wave for Parker solar wind model
A fully second order implicit/explicit time integration technique for hydrodynamics plus nonlinear heat conduction problems

We present a fully second order implicit/explicit time integration technique for solving hydrodynamics coupled with nonlinear heat conduction problems. The idea is to hybridize an implicit and an explicit discretization in such a way to achieve second order time convergent calculations. In this scope, the hydrodynamics equations are discretized explicitly making use of the capability of well-understood explicit schemes. On the other hand, the nonlinear heat conduction is solved implicitly. Such methods are often referred to as IMEX methods [2,1,3]. The Jacobian-Free Newton Krylov (JFNK) method (e.g. [10,9]) is applied to the problem in such a way as to render a nonlinearly iterated IMEX method. We solve three test problems in order to validate the numerical order of the scheme. For each test, we established second order time convergence. We support these numerical results with a modified equation analysis (MEA) [21,20]. The set of equations studied here constitute a base model for radiation hydrodynamics.
The evaluation of true coincidence summing effect on CTBTO-type sample geometry

The CTBTO sample geometry is filter paper compressed to a 7 cm diameter disk counted directly on the endcap of a HPGe detector. This geometry has high efficiency, but the activity calculated from the spectrum is affected by true coincidence summing (TCS). TCS reduces the peak area for coincidence gamma rays, thus the calculated activity will be low unless TCS is accounted for. NIST-traceable standards were used to calibrate the detectors and measure the TCS effect for both the 5 mm and 15 mm thick disks. Results show the TCS impact on /sup 134/Cs to make the reported activity about 25% low if the summing correction is not applied.
Two theorems on higher dimensional singularities

Definition 1.t. Let p be a normal isolated singularity in the n-dimensional analytic space Vand let zr : M ~ Vbe a resolution of V. p is a rational singularity if R~zr.(d~), the i-th direct image sheaf of the structure sheaf ~ on M, vanishes near p for i>0. Equivalently, since W~t,(O)=0 at the regular points of V, p is rational if dirlimHi(Tr-l(U),~)=0 for i>0, where U runs over a fundamental set of neighborhoods ofp in V. Several examples were found of such singularities by Burns [5], especially the Arnold singularities of [1], and all quotient singularities. The condition for p to be rational is in fact independent of the choice of the resolution by [9], Corollary 2, p. 153. In this paper the following two theorems are proved.
The identity crisis of sustainable development

Purpose – There are many different conceptualizations to sustainable development and these different approaches may have led to confusion amongst the public. The purpose of this paper is to explore the identities of the term and how the confused identity may be leading to problems for sustainable development efforts. Design/methodology/approach – The design is exploratory, using both secondary and primary data to understand the different sustainable development concepts. Findings – There is no consistent understanding or use of the term “sustainable development” among various groups. Research limitations/implications – Future research should include a larger sample that is more representative of people from different backgrounds and geographical areas. Practical implications – The public is generally willing to support only projects that it understands. Without a clear understanding of sustainable development, the public will be less inclined to support these efforts. Originality/value – This study examin...
MEMS for Optical Functionality

We discuss key features of MEMS technology which enable new functionalities of microphotonic devices, that can by summarized as "arrayability", i.e. the ability to make massively parallel optical devices in a small form factor, "reconfigurability," the ability to change optical properties spatially and temporaly, and "nano positioning," the ability to position micro-scale devices with nanometer accuracy. We present an overview of cases where a combination of these features has led to commercial successes by creating new optical functionalities, and discuss materials-related challenges and future trends for optical MEMS research and commercialization.
Serologic Response of Horses to the Structural Proteins of Equine Arteritis Virus

Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is the causative agent of equine viral arteritis, an apparently emerging disease of equids. In this study, the antibody response of horses to the structural proteins of EAV was evaluated using gradient-purified EAV virions and baculovirus-expressed recombinant EAV structural proteins (G L ,G S, M, N) as antigens in a Western immunoblotting assay. Thirty-three sera from horses that previously had been naturally or experimentally infected with EAV were evaluated, including samples from mares, geldings, and both persistently and nonpersistently infected stallions. Sera also were evaluated from 4 horses that had been vaccinated with the commercial modified live EAV vaccine. The data suggest that the serologic response of individual horses to EAV may vary with the infecting virus strain and duration of infection. The M protein was most consistently recognized by the various serum samples, whereas the response to the N and GL proteins was variable and the GS protein was bound by only 1 serum sample. The immunoblotting assay definitively established the protein specificity of the humoral response of horses to EAV; however, it clearly is less sensitive than the standard serum neutralization (SN) test—2 of the 37 sera that were seropositive by the SN test failed to react in the immunoblot assay with any EAV structural protein. Furthermore, the GL protein expresses the known neutralization determinants of EAV, yet only 22 of the 37 sera that had SN antibodies bound the GL protein in the immunoblotting assay. Information from this study will assist ongoing efforts to develop improved methods for the serologic diagnosis of EAV infection of horses.
A phylogenetic analysis of armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), based upon nuclear, mitochondrial, and endosymbiont gene sequences

Armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) are among the most invasive insects in the world. They have unusual genetic systems, including diverse types of paternal genome elimination (PGE) and parthe- nogenesis. Intimate relationships with their host plants and bacterial endosymbionts make them poten- tially important subjects for the study of co-evolution. Here, we expand upon recent phylogenetic work (Morse and Normark, 2006) by analyzing armored scale and endosymbiont DNA sequences from 125 spe- cies of armored scale insect, represented by 253 samples and eight outgroup species. We used fragments of four different gene regions: the nuclear protein-coding gene Elongation Factor 1a (EF1a), the large ribosomal subunit (28S) rDNA, a mitochondrial region spanning parts of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and cytochrome oxidase II (COII), and the small ribosomal subunit (16S) rDNA from the primary bacterial endosymbiont Uzinura diaspidicola. Maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses were performed produc- ing highly congruent topological results. A comparison of two datasets, one with and one without missing data, found that missing data had little effect on topology. Our results broadly corroborate several major features of the existing classification, although we do not find any of the subfamilies, tribes or subtribes to be monophyletic as currently constituted. Using ancestral state reconstruction we estimate that the ancestral armored scale had the late PGE sex system, and it may as well have been pupillarial, though results differed between reconstruction methods. These results highlight the need for a complete revision of this family, and provide the groundwork for future taxonomic work in armored scale insects.
Social Science and Systemic Failure

Invisible Hands, Russian Experience, and Social Science: Approaches to Understanding Systemic Failure. By Stefan Hedlund. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011. 324p. 35.99 paper.In recent decades the study of social phenomena has been characterized by the increasing specialization of academic subdisciplines. At the same time, social science has had great difficulty in accounting for instances of systemic failure that challenge the artificial typologies often promoted by specialized scholarship. Increasing theoretical sophistication thus arguably has come at the expense of grasping the particular and unique nature of historical events. In Invisible Hands, Russian Experience, and Social Science, Stefan Hedlund examines the postcommunist Russian encounter with capitalism and the global financial crisis as examples of unprecedented events that challenged social scientists' assumptions about the causes of human behavior and the functioning of social and political institutions. In this symposium a group of political scientists have been asked to critically assess the book's account and to comment more broadly on what systemic failure can tell us about social science theorizing.—Jeffrey C. Isaac, Editor
Prospective randomized trial of talc slurry vs bleomycin in pleurodesis for Symptomatic malignant pleural effusions

Objective Symptomatic malignant pleural effusions are common sequelae in patients with certain malignancies. Pleurodesis via bedside thoracostomy is the current treatment option most commonly used. To our knowledge, this is the first prospective randomized trial to examine which agent, bleomycin or talc slurry, is superior in terms of effectiveness, safety, and cost. Patients and Methods Between July 1992 and March 1995, 35 patients presenting to our medical center with symptomatic malignant pleural effusions were prospectively randomized to undergo chemical pleurodesis with either bleomycin or talc slurry via bedside thoracostomy. The conditions of patients were assessed and graded before and after treatment concerning pain, dyspnea, and chest radiographs. Results Twenty-nine patients who underwent 33 treatments (14 with bleomycin and 19 with talc) were available for follow-up. Follow-up ranged from 2 weeks to 8 months (mean, 1.7 months). Both groups demonstrated notable improvement in both pain and dyspnea following treatment, but there were no statistically significant differences between groups in the amount of improvement (two-tailed Student's t test). Permanent control of effusions, defined objectively on chest radiograph, was achieved with 11 bleomycin treatments (79%) and 17 talc treatments (90%) (p=0.388). The procedures were well tolerated and no significant adverse effects were observed. Talc is a much less costly agent than bleomycin ($12.36 cost to our medical center per treatment for talc vs $955.83 for bleomycin). Conclusions Given the similar efficacy and significant cost advantage, we conclude that talc is the agent of choice when utilizing pleurodesis for control of symptomatic malignant pleural effusions.
Acid Pits and Birth Defects: A Case Study of Stringfellow Acid Pits Dump Site and Congenital Anomalies

This paper examines the relationship between a toxic waste• site and congenital anomalies. The Stringfellow acid pits dump site (SAP) located near the City of Riverside, California, is the focus of this study. Congenital anomalies are examined in relation to various demographic and socioeconomic variables. Our analyses suggest that hydrological and geological proximity to the dump site has a significant relationship to birth defects. An analysis of infant mortality rates showed that the death rate for congenital anomalies was higher in Riverside County than California, while the state's rate was higher than the national average. In order to substantiate a causal nexus, there is a need for longitudinal follow-up studies. Without an adequate longitudinal study, the long term impact of SAP on children born in the SAP area and its impact on subsequent generations will remain a subject of continued speculation.
Using an aqueous two-phase polymer-salt system to rapidly concentrate viruses for improving the detection limit of the lateral-flow immunoassay.

The development of point-of-need (PON) diagnostics for viruses has the potential to prevent pandemics and protects against biological warfare threats. Here we discuss the approach of using aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) to concentrate biomolecules prior to the lateral-flow immunoassay (LFA) for improved viral detection. In this paper, we developed a rapid PON detection assay as an extension to our previous proof-of-concept studies which used a micellar ATPS. We present our investigation of a more rapid polymer-salt ATPS that can drastically improve the assay time, and show that the phase containing the concentrated biomolecule can be extracted prior to macroscopic phase separation equilibrium without affecting the measured biomolecule concentration in that phase. We could therefore significantly decrease the time of the diagnostic assay with an early extraction time of just 30 min. Using this rapid ATPS, the model virus bacteriophage M13 was concentrated between approximately 2 and 10-fold by altering the volume ratio between the two phases. As the extracted virus-rich phase contained a high salt concentration which destabilized the colloidal gold indicator used in LFA, we decorated the gold nanoprobes with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to provide steric stabilization, and used these nanoprobes to demonstrate a 10-fold improvement in the LFA detection limit. Lastly, a MATLAB script was used to quantify the LFA results with and without the pre-concentration step. This approach of combining a rapid ATPS with LFA has great potential for PON applications, especially as greater concentration-fold improvements can be achieved by further varying the volume ratio. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 2499-2507. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Achieving k -anonymity privacy protection using generalization and suppression

Often a data holder, such as a hospital or bank, needs to share person-specific records in such a way that the identities of the individuals who are the subjects of the data cannot be determined. One way to achieve this is to have the released records adhere to k- anonymity, which means each released record has at least (k-1) other records in the release whose values are indistinct over those fields that appear in external data. So, k- anonymity provides privacy protection by guaranteeing that each released record will relate to at least k individuals even if the records are directly linked to external information. This paper provides a formal presentation of combining generalization and suppression to achieve k-anonymity. Generalization involves replacing (or recoding) a value with a less specific but semantically consistent value. Suppression involves not releasing a value at all. The Preferred Minimal Generalization Algorithm (MinGen), which is a theoretical algorithm presented herein, combines these techniques to provide k-anonymity protection with minimal distortion. The real-world algorithms Datafly and µ-Argus are compared to MinGen. Both Datafly and µ-Argus use heuristics to make approximations, and so, they do not always yield optimal results. It is shown that Datafly can over distort data and µ-Argus can additionally fail to provide adequate protection.
Dynamic origins of seismic wavespeed variation in D

The D″ discontinuity is defined by a seismic velocity increase of 1–3% about 250 km above the core–mantle boundary (CMB), and is mainly detected beneath locations of inferred paleosubduction. A phase change origin for the interface can explain a triplicated arrival observed in seismic waveform data and is supported by the recent discovery of a post-perovskite phase transition. We investigate the interaction of slabs, plumes, and the phase change within D″ in 2-D compressible convection calculations, and predict waveform complexity in synthetic seismic data. The dynamic models produce significant thermal and phase heterogeneity in D″ over small distances and reveal a variety of behaviors including: (1) distinct pPv blocks separated by upwellings, (2) notches at the top of a pPv layer caused by plume heads, (3) regions of Pv embedded within a pPv layer due to upwellings. Advected isotherms produce complicated thermal structure that enable multiple crossings of the phase boundary. Perturbations to S, SdS, and ScS arrivals (distances 80 degrees).
Transducin subunit stoichiometry and cellular distribution in rod outer segments

Abstract Transducin is a heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein found in the outer segment of vertebrate retinas that links the photoactivation of rhodopsin (R∗) with activation of a robust type VI cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE6). Association of the alpha subunit of Transducin (Gαt) with the beta-gamma complex (Gβγ) is necessary for interaction of the holoprotein with R∗ and exchange of a GTP for a previously bound GDP. We have investigated the abundances of the three Transducin subunits by eluting them from bovine rod outer segment membranes by centrifugation under various conditions in vitro. We find that a substantial amount of Gβγ is eluted from ROS under conditions that do not elute Gαt and that there is an overall three to fourfold molar excess of Gβγ to Gαt in rod outer segments. These results suggest that the production and/or turnover of Gαt, Gβ, and Gγ in the rod outer segment are controlled independently.
A 14.1-GHz dual-modulus prescaler in 130nm CMOS technology using sequential implication logic cells

In this work, we demonstrate the use of a non-traditional logic for the implementation of a dual-modulus prescaler. The proposed prescaler consumes less power than TSPC designs and is faster than ETSPC designs. The maximum speed reaches up to 96% of that of a single divide-by-2 D-flip-flop, the theoretical limit. Implemented in 130-nm CMOS technology, the maximum input frequency reaches 14.1GHz with a power consumption of 1.2mW.
Thermal Expansion of Alkali Borate Glasses

The thermal expansion behavior of lithium, sodium, potassium, and rubidium borate glasses was measured. The results indicate that the “borate anomaly” in the thermal expansion coefficient occurs at ∼20 mol% alkali oxide. A maximum in the glass transformation and dilatometric softening temperatures also occurs at ∼27 mol% alkali oxide. No evidence for phase separation was observed in this study. These effects are related to the structural changes reported for these glasses by Bray and coworkers.
Molecular Solution Approach To Synthesize Electronic Quality Cu2ZnSnS4 Thin Films

Successful implementation of molecular solution processing from a homogeneous and stable precursor would provide an alternative, robust approach to process multinary compounds compared with physical vapor deposition. Targeting deposition of chemically clear, high quality crystalline films requires specific molecular structure design and solvent selection. Hydrazine (N2H4) serves as a unique and powerful medium, particularly to incorporate selected metallic elements and chalcogens into a stable solution as metal chalcogenide complexes (MCC). However, not all the elements and compounds can be easily dissolved. In this manuscript, we demonstrate a paradigm to incorporate previously insoluble transitional-metal elements into molecular solution as metal-atom hydrazine/hydrazine derivative complexes (MHHD), as exemplified by dissolving of the zinc constituent as Zn(NH2NHCOO)2(N2H4)2. Investigation into the evolution of molecular structure reveals the hidden roadmap to significantly enrich the variety of building blocks for soluble molecule design. The new category of molecular structures not only set up a prototype to incorporate other elements of interest but also points the direction for other compatible solvent selection. As demonstrated from the molecular precursor combining Sn-/Cu-MCC and Zn-MHHD, an ultrathin film of copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) was deposited. Characterization of a transistor based on the CZTS channel layer shows electronic properties comparable to CuInSe2, confirming the robustness of this molecular solution processing and the prospect of earth abundant CZTS for next generation photovoltaic materials. This paradigm potentially outlines a universal pathway, from individual molecular design using selected chelated ligands and combination of building blocks in a simple and stable solution to fundamentally change the way multinary compounds are processed.
Classical Liberal Constitution or Classical Liberal Construction

In The Classical Liberal Constitution: The Uncertain Quest for Limited Government (2013), Richard Epstein says that he "incorporates but goes beyond" originalist theory by calling for adjudication "in sync with" classical liberal theory political theory, which Professor Epstein claims underlies the Constitution. Without in any way detracting from the numerous virtues of this book, I argue that this is primarily a work of constitutional construction rather than constitutional interpretation. From the standpoint of interpretation, the background rules that best supplement the constitutional text are found in eighteenth-century fiduciary law rather than in classical liberal political theory, though the latter is relevant in many contexts. From the standpoint of adjudication, the Constitution implicitly prescribes a set of default rules, rather than reliance on political theory, to govern in the face of interpretative indeterminacy. Hence, Professor Epstein’s adjudicative scheme cannot be derived from interpretation of the Constitution but must result from constitutional construction.
Nutrition and gastric cancer risk : an update

Data from epidemiologic, experimental, and animal studies indicate that diet plays an important role in the etiology of gastric cancer. High intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, lycopene and lycopene-containing food products, and potentially vitamin C and selenium may reduce the risk for gastric cancer. Data also suggest that high intake of nitrosamines, processed meat products, salt and salted foods, and overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk for gastric cancer. However, current data provide little support for an association of β-carotene, vitamin E, and alcohol consumption with risk for gastric cancer.