cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High Temperatures Health Monitoring of the Condensed Water Height in Steam Pipe Systems

Ultrasonic probes were designed, fabricated and tested for high temperature health monitoring system. The goal of this work was to develop the health monitoring system that can determine the height level of the condensed water through the pipe wall at high temperature up to 250 °C while accounting for the effects of surface perturbation. Among different ultrasonic probe designs, 2.25 MHz probes with air backed configuration provide satisfactory results in terms of sensitivity, receiving reflections from the target through the pipe wall. A series of tests were performed using the airbacked probes under irregular conditions, such as surface perturbation and surface disturbance at elevated temperature, to qualify the developed ultrasonic system. The results demonstrate that the fabricated air-backed probes combined with advanced signal processing techniques offer the capability of health monitoring of steam pipe under various operating conditions.
Erratum to: The Great Recession and the Changing Geography of Food Stamp Receipt

Fig. 2 LISA map of county-level change in SNAP receipt, 2007–2009. Source US Department ofAgriculture. Notes Moran’s I = 0.47. ‘Low–low’ refers to counties at the center of geographic clusterswith signiﬁcantly lower change in SNAP receipt than would be expected at random. ‘High–high’ refers tocounties at the center of geographic clusters with signiﬁcantly higher change in SNAP receipt than wouldbe expected at random308 T. Slack, C. A. Myers
Is crime a man's world? Issues in the exploration of criminality

Although the role of the woman offender in the scientific study of criminality has traditionally been largely unexplored, recent studies indicate both an increase in reported female crime and an upsurge in interest on the subject. The general state of the literature is examined and suggestions for the improvement of research in the area are offered.
Interactions between colloidal poly(tetrafluoroethylene) latex and sodium poly(styrenesulfonate)

The translational and rotational diffusion of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) latex in aqueous solutions of unbound sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) were measured by dynamic light scattering. Both quantities were affected by the viscosity of the poly(styrenesulfonate), which was itself a function of added salt. Adjusted for viscosity, the rotational diffusion decreased with added salt but did not depend on the polymer concentration in the range studied. This suggests that rotational diffusion of a probe particle can be used to sense the local ionic environment. Visual observations and static light scattering showed that salt-induced aggregation of the latex can be prevented or reversed by small amounts (several milligrams per milliliter) of sodium poly(styrenesulfonate).
Transactivation activity of human, zebrafish, and rainbow trout aryl hydrocarbon receptors expressed in COS-7 cells: greater insight into species differences in toxic potency of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin, dibenzofuran, and biphenyl congeners.

Transactivation assays were used to compare the potency and efficacy of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD), dibenzofuran (PCDF), and biphenyl (PCB) congeners in activating aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhRs) from rainbow trout (rtAhR2alpha and rtAhR2beta), zebrafish (zfAhR2), and human (huAhR), respectively. All AhRs were expressed with their species-specific AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) in COS-7 cells. Transactivation activity was determined for two PCDD, two PCDF, and seven PCB congeners with each of the four AhR/ARNT pairs using prt1Aluc, a luciferase reporter driven by two dioxin-responsive enhancer elements (DREs) from the rainbow trout cyp1A gene. Maximal-fold induction, EC50, and relative potency values were calculated for congeners that exhibited dose-related activity in the assay. Of the four AhR/ARNT pairs tested with PCDD, PCDF, and non-ortho PCB congeners, three exhibited high activity (rainbow trout AhR2alpha, zebrafish AhR2, and human AhR), while rainbow trout AhR2beta had very weak or no activity. Comparisons between these AhRs showed that while mono-ortho PCBs were able to activate the human AhR, they were generally ineffective in activating rainbow trout and zebrafish AhR2s. This supports the hypothesis that structural differences between mammalian and fish AhRs may account for differences in relative potencies of the mono-ortho PCBs between mammals and fish. Another important finding was a significant difference in transactivation activity between the two rainbow trout AhR2 isoforms despite the fact that they are 95% identical at the amino acid level. For all PCDD, PCDF, and PCB agonists tested, rainbow trout AhR2alpha was significantly more active than AhR2beta. However, rainbow trout AhR2beta is active as a 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-activated transcription factor, with enhancer elements from the mouse cyp1A gene. This suggests that AhR2beta may have evolved to serve a different physiological function than AhR2alpha in salmonid fish species.
SEMI-AUTOMATIC EXTRACTION USING A ROTARY EXTRACTOR.

A SIMPLE rotary extraction procedure has been developed for the extraction of urine with chloroform. It has been found to be efficient for the extraction of unconjugated aldosterone from urine. It virtually obviates emulsion formation and has been adopted for routine use in this laboratory; it appears to be suitable for wide application in liquid–liquid extraction systems.
Results of the Inner Electrode Modification on the ZaP Flow Z-Pinch

The ZaP Flow Z-Pinch is a basic plasma physics experiment that uses sheared flows to stabilize an otherwise unstable configuration. The inner electrode is replaced with a larger version (15 cm diameter presently versus 10 cm previously). The goal of this modification is to increase temperature through increased adiabatic compression and to allow greater flexibility of neutral-gas injection through a greater number of gas-puff valves. Results are presented regarding the effect of neutral-gas injection characteristics and charge voltage on pinch stability. Increasing capacitor bank voltage and mass of gas injected increases stability and proximity to the machine axis. A four-chord HeNe interferometer is used to determine density at z = 0 cm and total temperature using magnetic field information from the z = 0 azimuthal array of magnetic probes. Total temperatures of 100–150 eV and densities of 2–3 × 1022 m−3 are calculated; temperatures are consistent with measured electron and ion temperatures.
Developing a sociological perspective on mental illness through reading narratives and active learning: A book club strategy

IF WE TOOK SERIOUSLY the importance of students' life experiences and designed our courses with these experiences as a primary consideration, both the structure and content of many of our courses would look dramatically different. I first realized this when I taught a large section of the sociology of mental illness at a small, highly selective, liberal arts institution. At this school, the sociology of mental illness is an upper-level elective. Although there are no mandatory prerequisites for the course, some sociology is strongly suggested; thus students who come to this course are either sociology majors or have some familiarity with sociology as a way of thinking about and viewing the world. Among sociology students, the sociology of mental illness course draws disproportionately upon two groups of students: persons with mental illness and those who are close to persons with mental illness. Therefore, students come to this course not only because it helps them complete a course of study in sociology, but also because it matters to them personally. Many hope to use their chosen discipline as a way to provide a context for developing a deeper understanding of their own and their
Comparative performance of comorbidity indices in predicting health care-related behaviors and outcomes among Medicaid enrollees with type 2 diabetes.

Abstract No single gold standard of comorbidity measure has been identified, and the performance of comorbidity indices vary according to the outcome of interest. The authors compared the Charlson Comorbidity Index, Elixhauser Index (EI), Chronic Disease Score (CDS), and Health-related Quality of Life Comorbidity Index (HRQL-CI) in predicting health care-related behaviors (physicians' concordance with diabetes care standards and patients' oral antidiabetic drug [OAD] adherence) and outcomes (health care utilization and expenditures) among Medicaid enrollees with type 2 diabetes. A total of 9832 diabetes patients who used OAD were identified using data from the MarketScan Medicaid database from 2003 to 2007. Predictive performance of the comorbidity index was assessed using multiple regression models controlling for patient demographics, diabetes severity, and baseline health care characteristics. Among the 4 indices, the CDS was best at predicting physician's concordance with care standards. The CDS and H...
Optimization of the High-Frequency Radar Sites in the Bering Strait Region

Monitoring surface currents by coastal high-frequency radars (HFRs) is a cost-effective observational technique with good prospects for further development. An important issue in improving the efficiency of HFR systems is the optimization of radar positions on the coastline. Besides being constrained by environmental and logisticfactors,suchoptimizationhastoaccountforpriorknowledgeoflocalcirculationandthetargetquantities (such as transports through certain key sections) with respect to which the radar positions are to be optimized. In the proposed methodology, prior information of the regional circulation is specified by the solution of the 4D variational assimilation problem, where the available climatological data in the Bering Strait (BS) region are synthesized with dynamical constraints of a numerical model. The optimal HFR placement problem is solved by maximizing the reduction of a posteriori error in the mass, heat, and salt (MHS) transports through the target sections in the region. It is shown that the MHS transports into the Arctic and their redistribution within the Chukchi Sea are best monitored by placing HFRs at Cape Prince of Wales and on Little Diomede Island. Another equally efficient configuration involves placement of the second radar at Sinuk (western Alaska) in place of Diomede. Computations show that 1) optimization of the HFR deployment yields a significant(1.3‐3times)reductionofthetransporterrorscomparedtononoptimalpositioningoftheradarsand2) error reduction provided by two HFRs is an order of magnitude better than the one obtained from three mooringspermanentlymaintainedintheregion for thelast 5yr.Thisresult showsasignificantadvantageofBS monitoringbyHFRs comparedtothemore traditional techniqueofinsitu mooredobservations.The obtained results are validated by an extensive set of observing system simulation experiments.
Directions for drivers and design

The Design International Technology Working Group for the 2001 International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) renewal consisted of over 50 international experts. Together, this group developed a new System Drivers chapter in the ITRS, a revised Design chapter, and a number of basic models (clock frequency, layout density, power dissipation, etc.) that define elements of the Overall Roadmap Technology Characteristics (ORTCs). This article excerpts several highlights of these contributions.
Global Population Genetic Structure and Male-Mediated Gene Flow in the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas): Analysis of Microsatellite Loci

We assessed the degree of population subdivision among global populations of green sea turtles, Chelonia mydas, using four microsatellite loci. Previously, a single-copy nuclear DNA study indicated significant male-mediated gene flow among populations alternately fixed for different mitochondrial DNA haplotypes and that genetic divergence between populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans was more common than subdivisions among populations within ocean basins. Even so, overall levels of variation at single-copy loci were low and inferences were limited. Here, the markedly more variable microsatellite loci confirm the presence of male-mediated gene flow among populations within ocean basins. This analysis generally confirms the genetic divergence between the Atlantic and Pacific. As with the previous study, phylogenetic analyses of genetic distances based on the microsatellite loci indicate a close genetic relationship among eastern Atlantic and Indian Ocean populations. Unlike the single-copy study, however, the results here cannot be attributed to an artifact of general low variability and likely represent recent or ongoing migration between ocean basins. Sequence analyses of regions flanking the microsatellite repeat reveal considerable amounts of cryptic variation and homoplasy and significantly aid in our understanding of population connectivity. Assessment of the allele frequency distributions indicates that at least some of the loci may not be evolving by the stepwise mutation model.
Tolerability of levonorgestrel emergency contraception in adolescents.

Abstract Objective We evaluated the tolerability of emergency contraception in adolescents. Study design In this descriptive study, 1 0.75 mg levonorgestrel tablet was administered to 52 females aged 13-16 with instructions to take the second tablet 12 hours later (unprotected intercourse was not an entry requirement). Participants kept diaries of side effects and menstrual patterns. We assessed correct use, side effects caused by treatment, and impact on menstrual cycle. Results Virtually all participants used the drug correctly, with no serious adverse events. Minor expected side effects occurred, including nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. There was no difference in reporting of side effects by age. Adolescents' mean duration of menses was comparable pre- and post-treatment (5.3 vs 5.0 days; P = .146), and onset of menses was within the expected range. Ninety percent of participants reported they would recommend emergency contraception to a friend or relative if needed. Conclusion Adolescents tolerated the medication well, experiencing transient side effects.
Art Isn’t Easy . . . But It Makes Learning Easier: Using Art to Improve Cognition

This paper describes an innovative assignment in which students associate marketing concepts with artwork from a specified photographic exhibit. During the encoding process, linking various topics with pieces of art activates high-involvement learning, creative elaboration, and analytical reasoning. Consequently, students experience higher levels of learning, specifically synthesis, in this environment than in a “straight lecturing” learning environment. Implementation of this assignment in undergraduate consumer behavior and introductory marketing courses increased cognition and achievement of learning outcomes compared with sections without this assignment. In addition, students reported high levels of satisfaction with completing a nontraditional assignment that challenged them creatively.
Termination rate constant in radical polymerization

On the basis of the assumption that the primary radical immerses into a polymeric radical, the rate constant of primary radical termination was derived. By applying and developing further the same treatment, the rate constant of chain termination was derived. This rate constant was experimentally confirmed. It was found that the rate constant of chain termination for the polymerization of some methacrylates depends on the distance of translation of radical chain end per collision, solvent viscosity, and the Taft polar constant for ester group.
Nanostructures of designed geometry and functionality enable regulation of cellular signaling processes.

Extracellular matrices (ECM) triggered cellular signaling processes often begin with the clustering of the cellular receptors such as integrin and FceRI. The sizes of these initial protein complexes or clusters are tens to 100 nm in dimension; therefore, engineered nanostructures could provide effective mimics of ECM for investigation and control of the initial and downstream specific signaling processes. This current topic discusses recent advances in nanotechnology in the context of design and production of matching chemical functionality and geometry for control of specific cellular signaling processes. Two investigations are reported to demonstrate this concept: (a) how the presentation of antigen at the nanometer scale would influence the aggregation of FceRI, which would impact the formation of activation complexes, leading to the rearrangement of actin in cytoskeleton and degranulation or activation of mast cells; (b) how the engineered nanostructure could guide the initial integrin clustering, which would impact the formation of focal adhesion and downstream cell signaling cascades, leading to polarization, migration, and morphological changes. Complementary to engineered ECMs using synthetic ligands or peptides, or topographic control at the micrometer scale, nanostructures of designed geometry and chemical functionality provide new and effective biochemical cues for regulation of cellular signaling processes and downstream behaviors.
A special type-independent programming approach using available underlying constructs in a programming language

Facilities such as templates, STL, and Boost libraries are popular sources for generic programming and present a high-level view of the machine to the students of programming. The approach presented in this paper emphasizes on a different method of type independent programming that presents a lower-level view of the machine to the students. The merit of this approach is that students will gain some insight into the implementation of generics and better understand the underlying constructs available to them. Programming in this task becomes innovative and more challenging and enriches in-debt knowledge of the students in underlying layers in certain courses of computer science, and potentially contributes to computing education. Prospective C++ built-in constructs (other than templates) were studied to obtain their feasibility of how each or a combination of them can be employed to write data-type independent programs. Several code segments were developed and tested to confirm the genericness and applicability of each of them individually or as a combination.
Finding η Car Analogs in Nearby Galaxies Using Spitzer. I. Candidate Selection

The late-stage evolution of the most massive stars such as ??Carinae is controlled by the effects of mass loss, which may be dominated by poorly understood eruptive mass ejections. Understanding this population is challenging because no true analogs of ??Car have been clearly identified in the Milky Way or other galaxies. We utilize Spitzer IRAC images of seven nearby ( 4?Mpc) galaxies to search for such analogs. We find 34 candidates with a flat or rising mid-IR spectral energy distributions toward longer mid-infrared wavelengths that emit >105 L ? in the IRAC bands (3.6 to 8.0 ?m) and are not known to be background sources. Based on our estimates for the expected number of background sources, we expect that follow-up observations will show that most of these candidates are not dust enshrouded massive stars, with an expectation of only 6 ? 6 surviving candidates. Since we would detect true analogs of ??Car for roughly 200?years post-eruption, this implies that the rate of eruptions like ??Car is less than the core-collapse supernova rate. It is possible, however, that every M > 40 M ? star undergoes such eruptions given our initial results. In Paper?II we will characterize the candidates through further analysis and follow-up observations, and there is no barrier to increasing the galaxy sample by an order of magnitude. The primary limitation of the present search is that Spitzer's resolution limits us to the shorter wavelength IRAC bands. With the James Webb Space Telescope, such surveys can be carried out at the far more optimal wavelengths of 10-30 ?m, allowing identification of ??Car analogs for millennia rather than centuries post-eruption.
Optimizing polyimide cure using infrared spectroscopy and a factorial design

The cure of a polyimide derived from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and oxydianiline (ODA) has been studied using infrared spectroscopy. A factorial experimental design, combined with regression analysis, was used to find the optimum curing conditions. It was shown that five micron films can be cured by heating at 230–250°C for times of five minutes or longer, while samples cured initially at 150°C did not cure completely when heated to higher temperatures.
The American design adventure, 1940-1975

"The American Design Adventure" continues the fascinating and detailed examination of industrial design begun by Arthur Pulos in "American Design Ethic." The first volume discussed and illustrated the objects and artifacts, the major designers and schools of design from Colonial times to the 1940s. This second splendidly illustrated volume carries the story into the heroic era of American industrial design, from the 1940s to the 1970s.These were the decades of American industrial design's dominance, when special exhibitions and world fairs made design a subject of national pride. Big business realized the influence that trademarks, packaging, and corporate identity programs could have on their bottom line, and the world of fashion created a consumer demand for name brands and well designed products. Industrial design flourished under the capable hands of Raymond Loewy and Charles Eames, while corporations like IBM, RCA, Herman Miller, and Knoll were sponsors of the great American design adventure.The extraordinary collection of illustrations that Pulos has assembled documents all of these important design trends while evoking the nostalgia of the 50s and 60s when Pop and Rock held sway.Pulos probes all aspects of industrial designers and their work - in education and private corporations, in professional organizations and governmental agencies. He also covers prefabricated housing, graphics, manufactured products from the exotic to the pragmatic, and public systems from the sociopolitical to the economic.
Preparation of chiral surfaces from achiral molecules by controlled symmetry breaking.

Hereinwe report a fundamentally new methodfor the preparation of chiral organicfilms which allows control over boththe absolute handedness and enantio-meric excess of adsorbed molecules, yetunlikeotherapproachestotheformationof chiral surfaces, our method involvesno chiral inputs. Instead, mirror symme-try is broken in a layer of achiralmolecules by controlling their arrange-ment on a single-crystal substrate with aliquid-crystal solvent and a magneticfield.We studied films of the compound 4-cyano-4’-octylbiphenyl (8CB) on graph-ite,aroom-temperaturesmectic-Aliquidcrystal (LC). When placed in contactwith graphite, 8CB forms a single poly-crystalline monolayer at the interfacebetween the substrate and bulk fluidsupernate.
Distribution of the fungus-gardening ant (Trachymyrmex septentrionalis) during and after a record drought

Insects are known to be influenced by global climate change, especially by drought and increased temperatures. 2. Although ants are widely regarded to be indicator or keystone species and eco- system engineers, we do not know how ants may respond to global climate change. 3. This study reports the range contraction of an extremely abundant fungus-gar- dening ant (Trachymyrmex septentrionalis) over a 3-year period that coincided with the end of a record drought in southeastern North America. 4. Reduction in nest number appears to be the result of an increase in water-table levels and decrease in soil aridity. 5. Therefore T. septentrionalis should be expected to increase its abundance and presumably its ecological impact during multiyear droughts.
A pilot study of using crowds in the classroom

Industry relies on higher education to prepare students for careers in innovation. Fulfilling this obligation is especially difficult in classroom settings, which often lack authentic interaction with the outside world. Online crowdsourcing has the potential to change this. Our research explores if and how online crowds can support student learning in the classroom. We explore how scalable, diverse, immediate (and often ambiguous and conflicting) input from online crowds affects student learning and motivation for project-based innovation work. In a pilot study with three classrooms, we explore interactions with the crowd at four key stages of the innovation process: needfinding, ideating, testing, and pitching. Students reported that online crowds helped them quickly and inexpensively identify needs and uncover issues with early-stage prototypes, although they favored face-to-face interactions for more contextual feed-back. We share early evidence and discuss implications for creating a socio-technical infrastructure to more effectively use crowdsourcing in education.
Initiation of sequential packaging of bacteriophage P22 DNA

Abstract Bacteriophage P22 is thought to package and cut its double-stranded DNA chromosome from concatemeric replicating DNA in a “processive,” sequential fashion. According to this model, during the initial event in such a series the packaging apparatus first recognizes a base sequence, called pac, on the concatemeric phage DNA, and then condenses DNA within the phage head unidirectionally from that point. The DNA is cut at or near the pac site before or during this condensation, and a second cut is made, which separates the packaged DNA from the unpackaged DNA, when the head is full. Subsequent packaging events on that concatemeric substrate molecule then proceed from the end generated by the first event, in the same direction along the concatemer as the first event. In this paper we present evidence that the cuts made at the pac site are in fact not exact, but occur predominantly in six regions, called end sites, located within a 120 base-pair portion of the P22 chromosome.
Bioactive sphingolipids: metabolism and function

Sphingolipids (SLs) are essential constituents of eukaryotic cells. Besides playing structural roles in cellular membranes, some metabolites, including ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate, have drawn attention as bioactive signaling molecules involved in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, senescence, and apoptosis. Understanding the many cell regulatory functions of SL metabolites requires an advanced knowledge of how and where in the cell they are generated, converted, or degraded. This review will provide a short overview of the metabolism, localization, and compartmentalization of SLs. Also, a discussion on bioactive members of the SL family and inducers of SL enzymes that lead to ceramide generation will be presented.
Escape/Aggression Incidence in Sexually Abused Juvenile Delinquents.

The psychological impact of sexual abuse on children is not a well-understood phenomenon. It has been suggested, however, that such an experience renders the child more aggressive and antisocial. Juvenile delinquency crime data represent a strong test of that assumption. This study reports a continuation of prior research testing a theoretical model which predicts that juveniles subjected to abuse will not become aggressive but will engage in escape and social avoidance behaviors. Analysis of the juvenile delinquency patterns of sexually abused children later arrested for juvenile crimes supported the hypothesis derived from the theoretical model. Abuse did not lead to aggression significantly more than in a control sample of nonabused juveniles, but did significantly increase the frequency of escape infractions.
Hermanas de Corazón y Alma

Friendship is a relationship that can traverse generations or be located within a specific era of a person’s life. In this article, the author examines the role that her childhood friendship played in shaping her understanding of gender, ethnicity, poverty, immigration, spirituality and family processes. This friendship was during emerging adolescence and helped the author navigate and develop mestiza consciousness. These lessons were reinforced during her graduate training and have influenced her identity as a Chicana feminist therapist and the manner in which she connects with clients in psychotherapy. After presenting the story of her friendship, the author incorporates the theoretical perspectives of Chicana Feminism and Spirita to demonstrate how this friendship has influenced her clinical work with women. Specific themes discussed are language, invisibility, and cultural formulations of gender and spirituality.
Geostatistical Analysis of Devonian Shale Production in Southwestern West Virginia: ABSTRACT

The success rate for Devonian shale wells in southwestern West Virginia is greater than 90%, yet the geologic factors determining hydrocarbon distribution are poorly understood. Initial potentials (IP) vary, but are generally low. Siting a new well may have little more justification than proximity to successful wells with acceptable to high open flows. Such a procedure can be made objectively through the use of geostatistics that measure the degree of randomness in the distribution of dry penetrations and the spatial variation in IP's. Semivariograms were calculated to show (1) average difference in success between wells relative to the distance separating them, and (2) average difference in open flow between wells relative to distance. The semivariogram for gas IP showed a large degree of noise, but some spatial autocorrelation. Similarly, dry penetrations were found to be clustered. Success probability and gas IP contoured from kriged estimates exhibit clustering of dry penetrations and nonrandom patterns in IP's, in particular, linear highs and lows paralleling structural features. Highest flows correspond to flanks of known anticlines. One linear trend in IP follows a lineament that might represent a cross-strike structural discontinuity. Significant correlation between IP at each well site with that predicted f om surrounding wells demonstrates the efficacy of the geostatistical approach. End_of_Article - Last_Page 266------------
The explicit relation between component cost analysis and balanced coordinates

To provide a mathematical basis for a systematic analysis of high gain state feedback, one must first understand limits of generalized state-space systems under transformations by restricted system equivalence. This is the basic question addressed in the paper. The relationship between balanced coordinates and cost-decoupled coordinates are given. When the output and weight matrices are appropriately defined the cost-decoupled coordinates produce the balanced coordinates as a special case. >
The Arrangement of Information in DNA Molecules

The anatomy of DNA molecules isolated from mature bacteriophage is reviewed. These molecules are linear, duplex DNA consisting mainly of uninterrupted polynucleotide chains. Certain phage (T5 and PB) contain four specifically located interruptions. While the nucleotide sequence of most of these molecules is unique (T5, T3, T7, λ), some are circular permutations of each other (T2, T4, P22). Partial degradation of these DNA molecules by exonuclease III predisposes some of them to form circles upon annealing, but indicating they are terminally redundant.
Toxicologic Characterization of a Novel Explosive, Guanidinium 3,4-Dinitropyrazolate (GDNP), in Female Rats and Ames Mutagenicity Assay

Sustainable use of military training ranges requires the development of compounds that have a minimal impact to the environment when used in a weapon system. Guanidinium 3,4-dinitropyrazolate (GDNP) is a novel explosive compound of interest for application in some weapon systems. Little is known of its toxicologic properties. To ensure the health of potentially exposed personnel and the environment, initial toxicity investigations were conducted and the results were compared with another widely used energetic (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine [RDX]). In a microplate Ames assay, GDNP was not cytotoxic to bacterial tester strains at concentrations less than 100 μg/mL. However, GDNP was mutagenic to 4 of 5 bacterial strains with and without S9 metabolic incubation at concentrations as low as 0.7 μg/mL. Unlike RDX, GDNP did not have an affinity for the γ-aminobutyric acid(A) receptor convulsant site and was predicted to not induce seizure. After acute oral dosing in female rats, the median lethal dose in female rats of GDNP in tap water solution was determined to be 720 mg/kg. Daily oral exposure to 500 mg/kg per d of GDNP for 14 days caused weight loss, increased liver and spleen weights, and adverse histopathologic events in kidney and spleen. These adverse events were not observed in animals receiving lower doses of GDNP. In this study, the lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level from oral exposure to GDNP for 14 days was 500 mg/kg per d and the no-observable-adverse-effect-level was 152 mg/kg per d.
African American Fathers Myths and Realities About Their Involvement With Their Firstborn Children

Much of the literature on African American fathers has tended to perpetuate a stereotype of absent and unsupportive parenting. This study employs a life course perspective to investigate the extent and predictors of involvement by young fathers. Data come from the Rochester Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study that has followed a representative sample of urban youth since they were in the seventh or eighth grade. Analysis is based on the young men in the sample who became fathers by age 22, of whom 67% are African American. Results suggest that African American fathers do not differ significantly from other young fathers in their contact with and support provided to their eldest biological child. For African American fathers, fulfilling a father role is, as hypothesized, related to the success of transition to adult roles and relationships and to prosocial behavior and problem behavior.
Lagrangian trajectories on the Oregon shelf during upwelling

Abstract Neutrally buoyant, isopycnal-following floats were deployed on the Oregon continental shelf during the upwelling seasons of 2000 and 2001 and were carried southward by the mean current. The floats made CTD profiles and obtained GPS fixes twice daily, thus providing a hydrographic section along a known track. The floats followed the water accurately while at depth, but were displaced from the trajectories of the deep water during semidiurnal surfacings. These effects were large for water depths shallower than 100 m, but small on the rest of the shelf. Float trajectories, corrected for advection while on the surface, showed significant error when near the shore, but little net effect offshore. Some floats moved onshore and upward along the sloping isopycnals as expected during upwelling. Although the position of the isopycnal could be predicted accurately from the wind, the motion along the isopycnal showed significant fluctuations unrelated to the wind. These may be due to barotropic shelf waves. Some floats moved southward, roughly following the isobaths around Heceta Bank to Cape Blanco. Here they underwent large vertical and cross-shelf excursions and eventually moved offshore. Two floats passed through this region 25 days apart following different trajectories, indicating an unsteady flow. Overall, these data show the expected mix of a classical upwelling circulation in the north, an offshore jet with eddies in the south, and a strong influence of topography on both the mean flow and its fluctuations.
The Influence of Communication Context on Political Cognition in Presidential Campaigns: A Geospatial Analysis

Due to targeting strategies employed by political campaigns, campaign intensity is not uniform across the whole country. This study investigates how an individual's communication context, defined by geospatial characteristics created by campaigns, would influence his or her political learning. Data for this study come from three separate studies conducted during the 2000 U.S. presidential election. The results from a series of multilevel modeling analyses indicate that contextual-level political advertising and candidate appearances moderate the relationship between newspaper use and political knowledge, and the relationship between political discussion and political knowledge. This study not only demonstrates that conditional communication effects hinge on geospatial factors but also helps to develop contextual theories of communication that specifically address effects of contextual factors and cross-level interactions.
Digital communications : fundamentals and applications

For courses in Digital Communications. Exceptionally accessible, this book presents the often "difficult" concepts of digital communications in an easy-to- understand manner-without diluting the mathematical precision. Using a student-friendly approach, it develops the important techniques in the context of a unified structure (in block diagram form)-providing organization and structure to a field that has, and continues, to grow rapidly, and ensuring that students gain an awareness of the "big picture" even while delving into the details (the most up-to-date modulation, coding, and signal processing techniques that have become the basic tools of our modern era). It traces signals and key processing steps from the information source through the transmitter, channel, receiver, and ultimately to the information sink.
Alternative Igneous Source Term Model for Tephra Dispersal at the Yucca Mountain Repository

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission uses the ASH-PLUME model in its evaluation of the basaltic volcanism scenario at the possible Yucca Mountain repository. The mixing of magma with the spent-fuel waste form is tied to a reasonable but unverified model that predicts that no dense tephra/fuel particles would form. An alternative model uses a mixing rule that allows the formation of dense tephra/fuel particles that would be transported in the volcanic plume differently. The alternative model shows significant sensitivity to the spent-fuel particle size distribution. However, differences in results between the two models are on average less than a factor of 2.
FcγR cross-linking mediates NF-κB activation, reduced antigen presentation capacity, and decreased IL-12 production in monocytes without modulation of myeloid dendritic cell development

Stimulation of monocytes (MO) through receptors for the Fc region of immuno- globulin G (FcR) activates a variety of re- sponses, including phagocytosis, antibody (Ab)- dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and production of cytokines. We previously reported that the MO subpopulation that expresses Fc Ri n high density produces high levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-) compared with FcR-negative MO. Here, we show that cross-linking MO via FcRI or FcRII but not via FcRIII activates nuclear regulatory factor-B (NF-B), a tran- scription factor involved in regulation of TNF-. NF-B activation peaked at 2.75 h after FcRI cross-linking, involved p65 and p50 (het- erodimer) and not c-rel-containing NF-B com- plexes, and was mediated via IB degradation. Cross-linking FcRI, -II, as well as -III inhib- ited interleukin (IL)-12 (p70) production in MO, whether stimulated with Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (P<0.02) or lipopolysaccharide (P<0.02). Inhibition of IL-12 by FcR cross- linking was not mediated by TNF-, as the pres- ence of an anti-TNF- Ab could not restore the reduced IL-12 production. Decreased IL-12 production correlated with reduced antigen pre- sentation capacity (P<0.01) in the FcR-cross- linked MO. Blood MO can give rise to myeloid dendritic cells (DC). FcR cross-linking did not modulate in vitro maturation of MO to fully func- tional myeloid DC. Allostimulatory capacity in mixed leukocyte reaction and DC marker ex- pression (CDla, CD80, CD86) was not different between control and FcRI cross-linked DC. These results suggest that signals mediated via FcRI, -II, and -III have overlapping yet distinct effects on MO, which are likely to be involved in the fine-tuning of the immune responses to vari- ous stimuli. J. Leukoc. Biol. 72: 657- 667; 2002.
Endogenous mediators in emergency department patients with presumed sepsis: are levels associated with progression to severe sepsis and death?

Abstract Study Objective: We sought to determine whether levels of the endogenous mediators tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL) 6, and nitric oxide (NO) measured in patients with presumed sepsis (systemic inflammatory response syndrome [SIRS] and infection) are different than levels in patients with presumed noninfectious SIRS, whether levels are associated with septic complications, and whether there are potential relationships between mediators. Methods: A prospective, observational tricenter study of a convenience sample of adults presenting to the emergency department meeting Bone's criteria for SIRS (any combination of fever or hypothermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, or WBC count aberration) was performed. Mediator levels were determined and associated with deterioration to severe sepsis (hypotension, hypoperfusion, or organ dysfunction) and death in subjects admitted to the hospital with presumed sepsis. Results: One hundred eighty subjects with SIRS were enrolled and classified into 3 groups: group 1 (SIRS, presumed infection, admitted; n=108), group 2 (SIRS, presumed infection, discharged; n=27), and group 3 (SIRS, presumed noninfectious, admitted; n=45). Group 1 TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly higher than those found in the other groups. NO levels for groups 1 and 2 were significantly lower than those for group 3. TNF-α and IL-6 levels were higher in the group 1 subjects who had bacteremia or progressed to severe sepsis or death. NO levels were not associated with these outcomes. Conclusion: ED patients admitted with presumed sepsis have elevated cytokine levels compared with patients with sepsis who are discharged and with those patients with presumed noninfectious SIRS. An association appears to exist between cytokines and subsequent septic complications in these patients. The importance of these measures as clinical predictors for the presence of infection and subsequent septic complications needs to be evaluated. [Terregino CA, Lopez BL, Karras DJ, Killian AJ, Arnold GK. Endogenous mediators in emergency department patients with presumed sepsis: are levels associated with progression to severe sepsis and death? Ann Emerg Med . January 2000;35:26-34.]
The Antarctic Circumpolar Wave: A Beta Effect in Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling over the Southern Ocean

The Antarctic circumpolar wave (ACW) is a nominal 4-yr climate signal in the ocean‐atmosphere system in the Southern Ocean, propagating eastward at an average speed of 6‐8 cm s21, composed of two waves taking approximately 8 years to circle the globe. The ACW is characterized by a persistent phase relationship between warm (cool) sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and poleward (equatorward) meridional surface wind (MSW) anomalies. Recently, White and Chen demonstrated that SST anomalies in the Southern Ocean operate to induce anomalous vortex stretching in the lower troposphere that is balanced by the anomalous meridional advection of planetary vorticity, yielding MSW anomalies as observed. In the present study, the authors seek to understand how this atmospheric response to SST anomalies produces a positive feedback to the ocean (i.e., an anomalous SST tendency displaced eastward of SST anomalies) that both maintains the ACW against dissipation and accounts for its eastward propagation. To achieve this, we couple a global equilibrium climate model for the lower troposphere to a global heat budget model for the upper ocean. In the absence of coupling, the model Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) advects SST anomalies from initial conditions to the east at speeds slower than observed, taking 12‐14 years to circle the globe with amplitudes that become insignificant after 6‐8 years. In the presence of coupling, eastward speeds of the model ACC are matched by those due to coupling, together yielding a model ACW of a nominal 4-yr period composed of two waves that circle the globe in approximately 8 years, as observed. Feedback from atmosphere to ocean works through the anomalous zonal surface wind response to SST anomalies, yielding poleward Ekman flow anomalies in phase with warm SST anomalies. As such, maintenance of the model ACW is achieved through a balance between anomalous meridional Ekman heat advection and anomalous sensible-plus-latent heat loss to the atmosphere. This balance requires the alignment of covarying SST and MSW anomalies to be tilted into the southwest‐northeast direction, which accounts for the spiral structure observed in global SST and sea level pressure anomaly patterns around the Southern Ocean. Eastward coupling speeds of the model ACW derive from a beta effect in coupling that displaces a portion of the anomalous meridional Ekman heat advection, and its corresponding anomalous SST tendency, to the east of SST anomalies. Therefore, the ACW is an example of self-organization within the global ocean‐ atmosphere system, depending upon the spherical shape of the rotating earth for its propagation and the mean meridional SST gradient for its maintenance, and producing a net poleward eddy heat flux in the upper ocean that tends to reduce this mean gradient.
Psychological Stress Induces Visceral Analgesic or Hyperalgesic Response in Rodents: A Role of Preconditions.

A dual action of stress on pain modulation has been well characterized in the somatic pain studies, while much less is known in the visceral field. In the context of clinical observations that stress plays a critical role in the pathophysiology, symptoms presentation and clinical outcome of functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a number of acute and chronic stress models have been developed in rodents. Recent data have demonstrated that the state of the animal tested (naive vs. exposed to surgery), its social environment (group housing vs. single housing), the methods used to record visceromotor responses (EMG requiring surgery and antibiotic after surgery vs. manometry not requiring surgery/antibiotic) can significantly affect the analgesic response to exteroceptive stressors. Growing body of evidence indicates that a new noninvasive solid-state manometric method to monitor viscero motor response is valuable to unravel both analgesia and hyperalgesia without confounding factors. This is of critical importance regarding the recently recognized role of a compromised engagement of the inhibitory descending pain pathways in IBS patients. Better understanding of mechanisms of stress-related modulation of visceral pain leading to analgesia and hyperalgesia, along with the role of sex-dependent factors and complex interactions of the brain-gut-enteric microbiota axis may lead to new therapeutic targets in IBS.
New upper Paleocene species of the bivalve Plicatula from Southern California

Three new species of the shallow-marine, warm-water bivalve Plicatula are reported from the upper Paleocene Santa Susana Formation of southern California. Plicatula simiensis new species is from the middle part of the formation on the south side of Simi Valley and occurs as a displaced specimen in deep-marine turbidites. Plicatula lapidicina new species and P. trailerensis new species are both from coralline-algal-rich muddy siltstone just beneath a nearshore, coralline-algal limestone interval in the upper part of the formation in the Santa Ynez Canyon area, east-central Santa Monica Mountains. These three new species represent the first late Paleocene records of genus Plicatula on the west coast of North America and the first Paleocene records of this genus in southern California.
Land Institutions and Chinese Political Economy: Institutional Complementarities and Macroeconomic Management

This article critically examines the origins and evolution of China’s unique land institutions and situates land policy in the larger context of China’s reforms and pursuit of economic growth. It a...