cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional consequences of climate change-induced plant species loss in a tallgrass prairie

Future climate change is likely to reduce the floristic diversity of grasslands. Yet the potential consequences of climate-induced plant species losses for the functioning of these ecosystems are poorly understood. We investigated how climate change might alter the functional composition of grasslands for Konza Prairie, a diverse tallgrass prairie in central North America. With species-specific climate envelopes, we show that a reduction in mean annual precipitation would preferentially remove species that are more abundant in the more productive lowland positions at Konza. As such, decreases in precipitation could reduce productivity not only by reducing water availability but by also removing species that inhabit the most productive areas and respond the most to climate variability. In support of this prediction, data on species abundance at Konza over 16 years show that species that are more abundant in lowlands than uplands are preferentially reduced in years with low precipitation. Climate change is likely to also preferentially remove species from particular functional groups and clades. For example, warming is forecast to preferentially remove perennials over annuals as well as Cyperaceae species. Despite these predictions, climate change is unlikely to unilaterally alter the functional composition of the tallgrass prairie flora, as many functional traits such as physiological drought tolerance and maximum photosynthetic rates showed little relationship with climate envelope parameters. In all, although climatic drying would indirectly alter grassland productivity through species loss patterns, the insurance afforded by biodiversity to ecosystem function is likely to be sustained in the face of climate change.
Adp Ribosylation Factor-like Protein 2 (Arl2) Regulates the Interaction of Tubulin-Folding Cofactor D with Native Tubulin

The ADP ribosylation factor-like proteins (Arls) are a family of small monomeric G proteins of unknown function. Here, we show that Arl2 interacts with the tubulin-specific chaperone protein known as cofactor D. Cofactors C, D, and E assemble the α/β- tubulin heterodimer and also interact with native tubulin, stimulating it to hydrolyze GTP and thus acting together as a β-tubulin GTPase activating protein (GAP). We find that Arl2 downregulates the tubulin GAP activity of C, D, and E, and inhibits the binding of D to native tubulin in vitro. We also find that overexpression of cofactors D or E in cultured cells results in the destruction of the tubulin heterodimer and of microtubules. Arl2 specifically prevents destruction of tubulin and microtubules by cofactor D, but not by cofactor E. We generated mutant forms of Arl2 based on the known properties of classical Ras-family mutations. Experiments using these altered forms of Arl2 in vitro and in vivo demonstrate that it is GDP-bound Arl2 that interacts with cofactor D, thereby averting tubulin and microtubule destruction. These data establish a role for Arl2 in modulating the interaction of tubulin-folding cofactors with native tubulin in vivo.
On Discrete Choice Models of Housing Demand

Abstract This paper explores several specifications of discrete choice models in estimating housing consumption for purposes of projection and policy simulation. We view housing consumption comprehensively as it includes the choice between three types of homeownership, five types of rented housing, and, as a ninth alternative, not heading a household. The familiar multinomial logit specification is rejected by several specification tests. The paper therefore studies a variety of nested multinomial logit models of hierarchical choice that allow a richer substitution pattern among the very disparate housing choices enumerated above. Estimations of different nesting structures reveal strong and plausible differences among nesting structures.
Suicide: a review of calls to an adolescent peer listening phone service

Calls about suicide to a teen peer listening phone service over a period of 5 1/2 years are described. The majority of those calling about suicide were females. The phone contacts were of longer duration and later in the evening than calls about other concerns. Those concerned with suicide also discussed other serious issues such as self-esteem, family problems, substance use, and abuse and were less likely to be calling "just to talk."
Zanzibari women’s discursive and sexual agency: Violating gendered speech prohibitions through talk about supernatural sex:

This article analyzes a conversation with two Zanzibari women about sex between humans and spirits. This research demonstrates how they navigate gender-based restrictions on discourse to discuss sex and desire, violating a hegemonic language ideology that would silence them. Whereas previous work has focused on how Swahili women subvert gendered speech prohibitions by nonverbally taking up discourse produced by others, this article examines how they produce resistant discourse themselves. The analysis is contextualized in terms of three social elements that shape women’s talk about (supernatural) sex: (1) a discursive culture that emphasizes equivocal interpersonal communication; (2) a language ideology informed by an Islamic emphasis on discretion; and (3) the extension of cultural transgressions allowed during spirit possession to transgressions during talk about spirit possession and other occult phenomena.
1640 REDUCED EFFECTIVE PULMONARY BLOOD FLOW MAY LEAD TO INCREASED MORBIDITY IN INFANTS RESIDING AT HIGH ALTITUDE

1640 REDUCED EFFECTIVE PULMONARY BLOOD FLOW MAY LEAD TO INCREASED MORBIDITY IN INFANTS RESIDING AT HIGH ALTITUDE
Actions Following Words: Critical race theory connects to critical pedagogy

(2004). Actions Following Words: Critical race theory connects to critical pedagogy. Educational Philosophy and Theory: Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 167-182.
Postoperative sore throat: influence of tracheal tube lubrication versus cuff design.

The incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat was evaluated in six groups of 20 patients each after elective orthopedic surgery. Groups I to V had tracheal intubation with Portex disposable polyvinylchloride tracheal tubes and group VI had mask anaesthesia. All groups were exposed to heated humidified gases. Tracheal tubes in groups I—III were uncuffed and lubricated with four per cent lidocaine jelly (group I), four per cent lidocaine hydrochloride anaesthetic solution (group II) or normal saline (group III). Patients in group IV had unlubricated tubes with large residual volume cuffs, patients in group V unlubricated tubes with small residual volume cuffs and patients in group VI (mask anaesthesia) had the lowest incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat while those in group I had the highest incidence and most severe postoperative sore throats. Patients in group V had a lower incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat than patients in all other groups, except group VI. Postoperative sore throat was equally common and severe in patients in groups II, III, and IV. The data indicate that, with the use of heated humidified gases, tracheal intubation with either cuffed or uncuffed tubes produces a greater incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat than mask anaesthesia. In addition, our findings suggest that lubrication of tracheal tubes provides no advantage in terms of reducing postoperative sore throat and, depending on the lubricant, can increase the incidence and severity, Finally, our results demonstrate that the tracheal tube causing the least incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat is one with an unlubricated low residual volume cuff.
Pulmonary resection of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Over a ten-year period, 44 patients with known primary renal cell cancer underwent thoracotomy for pulmonary metastases. The median postthoracotomy survival for all patients was 33 months. The five-year survival was 27 percent. Postthoracotomy survival was significantly better in those patients with a disease free interval of >24 months and patients with metastatic lesions ≥ 3 cm. No difference in survival was detected in patients with one versus more than one lesion or in patients undergoing complete resection versus incomplete resection or biopsy only. Age, sex, grade of tumor, or location of the pulmonary metastasis had no influence on survival.
Trait anxiety: It's not what you think it is

Trait anxiety began as a psychodynamic concept, poorly tied to observables, and requiring Freudian defense mechanisms to explain recurrent anxiety episodes. Spielberger's thoughtful efforts improved the concept, but some important limitations remained. Lilienfeld, Turner, and Jacob (1989, 1993, 1996) uncritically accepted Spielberger's work on trait anxiety and asserted that it is the standard against which the concept of anxiety sensitivity should be judged (see also Lilienfeld, 1996). Taylor (1996) and McNally (1989, 1996) distinguished anxiety sensitivity from trait anxiety by noting that, whereas trait anxiety predicts future anxiety generally, anxiety sensitivity predicts future fear to anxiety sensations specifically. An important additional difference is that the two constructs use different indicators (past anxiety experiences versus ASI beliefs) to predict future anxiety and fear. Furthermore, only anxiety sensitivity implies that some phobics perceive the feared object to be harmless; what they fear is an uncontrollable anxiety/panic reaction to the stimulus, not the dangerous nature of the stimulus itself.
Racial disparities in clinical presentation, surgical treatment and in-hospital outcomes of women with breast cancer: analysis of nationwide inpatient sample database

To examine racial/ethnic disparities in stage of disease and comorbidity (pre-treatment), surgical treatment allocation (breast-conserving surgery versus mastectomy), and in-hospital outcomes after surgery (post-treatment) among women with breast cancer. Nationwide inpatient sample is a nationwide clinical and administrative database compiled from 44 states representing 95 % of all hospital discharges in the Unites States. Discharges of adult women who underwent surgery for breast cancer from 2005 to 2009 were identified. Information about patients and hospitals characteristics was obtained. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the risk adjusted association between race/ethnicity and the aforementioned outcomes (pre-treatment, treatment, and post-treatment). We identified 75,100 patient discharges. Compared to Whites, African-Americans (1.17, p < 0.001), and Hispanics (1.20, p < 0.001) were more likely to present with regional or metastatic disease. Similarly, African-American (1.58, p < 0.001) and Hispanics (1.11, p 0.003) were more likely to have comorbidity. Compared to Whites, African-Americans (0.71, p < 0.001), and Hispanics (0.77, p < 0.001) were less likely to receive mastectomy. Compared to Whites, African-Americans were more likely to develop post-operative complications (1.35, p < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (1.87, p 0.13). Other racial groups showed no statistically significant difference compared to Whites. After controlling for potential confounders, we found racial/ethnic disparities in stage, comorbidity, surgical treatment allocation, and in-hospital outcomes among women with breast cancer. Future researches should examine the underlying factors of these disparities.
Patterns and Exemplars: Compelling Strategies for Teaching Parallel and Distributed Computing to CS Undergraduates

Parallel programming patterns provide enduring principles that serve as a conceptual framework to orient students when they set out to solve problems. Learning patterns enables students to quickly gain the intellectual and coding skills they will need to embrace the future of parallel and distributed computing (PDC). Exemplars consisting of representative and compelling applied problems, together with implementations in different parallel technologies, constitute a valuable resource for learning and teaching. Parallel programming patterns and exemplar applications naturally complement each other, and together provide a unified and practical strategy for PDC education at multiple course levels. We present two strategies we have used for incorporating patterns into undergraduate CS courses, examine the potential of exemplars, and indicate how patterns and exemplars reinforce each other.
Childhood Obesity and Schools: Evidence from the National Survey of Children's Health.

BACKGROUND: The international prevalence of childhood obesity and obesity-related diseases has received increasing attention. Applying data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we explore relationships between childhood obesity and school type, National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) eligibility, membership in sports clubs and other sociodemographic, and household factors. METHODS: Nonlinear regression models with interaction terms were developed to investigate the effects of school type, physical activity, and NSLP/SBP, etc, on children's body mass index (BMI). Probit models then examine the probability of a child being overweight. RESULTS: Though clinically small, statistically significant effects on BMI were found for children from households eligible for the NSLP/SBP, attending public schools. They have a mean BMI value 0.401 higher than counterparts attending private schools (p < .05). If the child both attends public school and is eligible for the NSLP/SBP, then his or her BMI is 0.725 higher (p < .001). Children taking part in the NSLP or SBP have a 4.5% higher probability of being overweight (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of household socioeconomic status, children attending public schools have higher BMI than those attending private schools. Eligibility for free or reduced-cost lunch or breakfast programs at public schools is positively correlated with children's BMI. Children attending public schools are more likely to be overweight. In lower socioeconomic status households, school type does not have a significant effect on the probability of being overweight. Policy recommendations for factors to address childhood obesity are discussed.
Effect of Chlorophenoxyacetic Acid Growth‐Regulator Sprays on Residues in Canned Apricots and Grapes

SUMMARY— A, gas-liquid chromatographic method coupled with an electron capture detector has been developed for analyzing chlorinated phenoxyacetic acid residues in canned fruits. The technique involves converting the acid to its methyl ester with diazomethane, chromatography on a 5% silicone grease SE-30 column at 210°C, and subsequent detection of the compound by an electron capture detector. As low as 0.02 ppm of the residue could be detected. The method is superior to the calorimetric method because parachlorophenoxyacetic acid (PCPA), 2,4-D, and 2,4,5-T can be separated and quantitatively determined simultaneously. However, separate standard curves are needed for each, because they differ in chlorine content and in sensitivity toward the electron capture detector. Levels of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T residues in canned apricots, and of PCPA in canned grapes are reported.
Mainstreaming in Secondary Schools: How Successful Are Plans To Implement the Concept?

In a study of teachers in Wisconsin, three researchers wanted to learn why implementing the concept of "least restrictive envi ronment" is difficult in secondary schools and to identify the problems that hinder the process. They explain here what they discovered.
Uncertain Reasoning for Detection of Selling Stolen Goods in Online Auctions Using Contextual Information

This work describes the design of a decision support system for detection of fraudulent behavior of selling stolen goods in online auctions. In this system, each seller is associated with a type of certification, namely “proper seller,” “suspect seller,” and “selling stolen goods.” The certification level is determined on the basis of a seller’s behaviors and especially on the basis of contextual information whose origin is outside online auctions portals. In this paper, we focus on representing knowledge about sellers in online auctions, the influence of additional information available from other Internet source, and reasoning on bidders’ trustworthiness under uncertainties using Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence. To demonstrate the practicability of our approach, we performed a case study using real auction data from Czech auction portal Aukro. The analysis results show that our approach can be used to detect selling stolen goods. By applying Dempster-Shafer theory to combine multiple sources of evidence for the detection of this fraudulent behavior, the proposed approach can reduce the number of false positive results in comparison to approaches using a single source of evidence.
Individual differences in hypnotizability and effectiveness of hypnosis or biofeedback

Abstract 8 high and 8 low hypnotizable Ss used biofeedback and hypnosis to lower blood pressure in one session and forehead EMG activity in another session. Results were analyzed by repeated measures analyses of covariance using baseline physiological level on the dependent variable as the covariate. Electromyographic level was reduced more immediately by biofeedback than by hypnosis. When the task was to lower blood pressure, blood pressure and skin conductance were more effectively reduced by hypnosis than by biofeedback, considcring only the first half of each session to eliminate within-session transfer effects. Hypnotizability did not predict overall outcome. Factors which may have prevented demonstrating a clearer relationship between hypnotizability and success using biofeedhack or hypnosis are discussed. State and trait anxiety, cognitive strategies used during the tasks, and self-reported hypnotic depth are examined for correlates of successful perforrnance.
47,XXX IN AN ADOLESCENT WITH PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

Background: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is often associated with autoimmune disorders. The 47,XXX karyotype has also been associated with POF and other genitourinary abnormalities. Following is a case of a 17 year old with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), POF, 47, XXX and a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA).Case Report: A 17 year old Caucasian female was referred to the Adolescent Health Clinic for evaluation of oligomenorrhea with secondary amenorrhea. Thelarche occurred at 12 years, and menarche at 13 years of age. Since then she had a total of five menstrual periods, spaced 1-15 months apart and lasting 3-5 days. Her last menstrual period was six months prior to presentation. Past medical history was significant for chronic ITP diagnosed seven months prior to presentation, when she developed easy bruising. She was treated with IV gamma globulin and had a moderate response, but relapsed several weeks later. She was started on oral prednisone and had a good response, but continued to relapse whenever steroids were tapered. She was therefore maintained on prednisone 10 mg QOD. There was no family history of irregular menses or autoimmune disease. Physical exam revealed a well-appearing, slightly Cushingoid 17 year old. Physical and cognitive development were age-appropriate. There were no stigmata of Turner Syndrome. The thyroid was normal. Breasts were Tanner 5; public hair was Tanner 3. The external genitalia were normal and appeared well-estrogenized. The remainder of the exam was unremarkable. Pelvic ultrasound demonstrated a normal uterus and ovaries. Laboratory evaluation was significant for elevated gonadotropins and nondetectable estradiol. ANA was positive at 1:320 with a speckled pattern. Blood counts, serologies, complement levels, and coagulation studies were otherwise normal. Cytogenetic studies revealed a 47,XXX karyotype. The patient was placed on an estrogen/norethindrone hormone replacement patch for premature ovarian failure. To date, she has developed no further symptoms, and does not meet criteria for a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosis.Conclusions: A 47,XXX karyotype was found in a 17 year old with POF and ITP with a positive ANA. The presence of known autoimmune disease in a woman with POF should not dissuade the physician from evaluating for a potential genetic cause.
The chromokinesin Kid is necessary for chromosome arm orientation and oscillation, but not congression, on mitotic spindles

Chromokinesins have been postulated to provide the polar ejection force needed for chromosome congression during mitosis. We have evaluated that possibility by monitoring chromosome movement in vertebrate-cultured cells using time-lapse differential interference contrast microscopy after microinjection with antibodies specific for the chromokinesin Kid. 17.5% of cells injected with Kid-specific antibodies have one or more chromosomes that remain closely opposed to a spindle pole and fail to enter anaphase. In contrast, 82.5% of injected cells align chromosomes in metaphase, progress to anaphase, and display chromosome velocities not significantly different from control cells. However, injected cells lack chromosome oscillations, and chromosome orientation is atypical because chromosome arms extend toward spindle poles during both congression and metaphase. Furthermore, chromosomes cluster into a mass and fail to oscillate when Kid is perturbed in cells containing monopolar spindles. These data indicate that Kid generates the polar ejection force that pushes chromosome arms away from spindle poles in vertebrate-cultured cells. This force increases the efficiency with which chromosomes make bipolar spindle attachments and regulates kinetochore activities necessary for chromosome oscillation, but is not essential for chromosome congression.
Characterization of the mechanical behavior of an electrically actuated microbeam

We present a nonlinear model of electrically actuated microbeams accounting for the electrostatic forcing of the air gap capacitor, the restoring force of the microbeam and the axial load applied to the microbeam. The boundary-value problem describing the static deflection of the microbeam under the electrostatic force due to a dc polarization voltage is solved numerically. The eigenvalue problem describing the vibration of the microbeam around its statically deflected position is solved numerically for the natural frequencies and mode shapes. Comparison of results generated by our model to the experimental results shows excellent agreement, thus verifying the model. Our results show that failure to account for mid-plane stretching in the microbeam restoring force leads to an underestimation of the stability limits. It also shows that the ratio of the width of the air gap to the microbeam thickness can be tuned to extend the domain of the linear relationship between the dc polarization voltage and the fundamental natural frequency. This fact and the ability of the nonlinear model to accurately predict the natural frequencies for any dc polarization voltage allow designers to use a wider range of dc polarization voltages in resonators.
DNA at aqueous/solid interfaces: chirality-based detection via second harmonic generation activity.

We present electronic spectra of single-strand and duplex DNA oligonucleotides covalently attached to fused quartz/aqueous interfaces and demonstrate that a strong nonlinear optical linear dichroism response is obtained when adenine and thymine bases undergo Watson−Crick base pairing to form a double helix. Complementary χ(3) charge screening studies indicate that the signal originates from 5 × 1011 strands per square centimeter, or 6 attomoles of surface-bound oligonucleotides. The label-free, molecular-specific nature afforded by nonlinear optical studies of DNA at aqueous/solid interfaces allows for the real-time tracking of interfacial DNA hybridization for the first time.
Conditioning-based model for the regulatory activities of microRNAs in specific dietary contexts

For the first time, we studied the applicability of a conditioning-based model to a heterogeneous data set composed of expression values for microRNA, total mRNA and polysomal mRNA resulting from experiments about two dietary contexts. The results suggest that some of the microRNAs are likely to be involved in the regulation of a large set of genes and not just their putative targets. Furthermore, the regulatory activities of intestinal microRNA appear to be dependent on the sub-cellular location of mRNA within the cell.
Abnormality, cognitive virtues, and knowledge

Causal analyses of one’s knowing that p have recently emphasized the involvement of cognitive virtues in coming to believe that p. John Greco suggests that in order to deal with Gettier-type cases, a virtue analysis of knowing should include a requirement that one’s knowing does not in a certain way involve abnormality. Yet Greco’s emphasis on statistical abnormality either renders his analysis subject to a generality problem or to objections regarding certain Gettier-type cases. When we instead consider abnormality in the sense of a causally differentiating factor in relation to a causal contrast situation, the account remains unclear concerning its application to an interesting non-Gettier-type case concerning chance. The exploration of these shortcomings casts doubt on the epistemological usefulness of the schema, ‘If you know, then there is no abnormality in your being right.’
Soft tissue aspiration cytopathology.

BACKGROUND Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy as a diagnostic modality for the pathologic evaluation of soft tissue neoplasms and non-neoplastic soft tissue mass lesions is uncommon and controversial. This procedure contrasts with more traditional diagnostic methods such as marginal excision, incisional (open) biopsy, or even core biopsy to procure tissue from somatic sites. METHODS The authors reviewed the results of cytopathologic diagnoses obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy over a consecutive 11-month period in patients that presented primarily with a palpable soft tissue mass. A few patients with deep non-palpable soft tissue masses also were evaluated by radiologically guided FNA. Cytopathologic diagnoses were verified by different means including tissue examination either by concurrent cell block or subsequent surgical biopsy, flow cytometry, clinical outcome, or repetition of the FNA procedure. Patients were followed for a minimum of one year to evaluate the mass clinically, to determine whether any further therapy was administered, and to assess disease status. RESULTS Eighty-two aspirates were performed without complications from 77 patients ranging from 12–88 years of age (mean = 50 yrs.) with men outnumbering women 1.5:1. Soft tissue masses were most common in the extremities (41 cases), followed by the trunk (34 cases), retroperitoneum (5 cases), and head and neck (2 cases). Fine-needle aspirates were diagnosed as malignant in 42 (51%), benign in 32 (39%), nondiagnostic in 6 (7%), and atypical in 2 (2%) cases. Malignant aspirates were comprised of 24 sarcomas (57%), 9 carcinomas (21%), 6 malignant lymphomas (14%), and 3 melanomas (7%). Twenty-two aspirates (52%) had an initial diagnosis of malignancy, whereas 18 (43%) represented metastatic and 2 (5%) recurrent neoplasms. Confirmation of the cytopathologic diagnosis was by concurrent or subsequent tissue examination in 57%, flow cytometry in 5%, clinical outcome in 34%, and repeat aspiration in 4%. One false negative and no false positive diagnoses were issued for a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 97% respectively in distinguishing benign and malignant lesions by FNA. Of the malignant aspirates, 83% could be subtyped whereas 72% of benign aspirates were correctly subtyped. For primary soft tissue sarcomas, 12 of 19 (63%) were accurately subtyped. In 48% of cases a concurrent cell block was obtained and found diagnostically useful in 54% of them. CONCLUSIONS Aspiration cytopathology of soft tissue mass lesions using FNA biopsy can be an accurate and minimally invasive method for the initial pathologic diagnosis of primary benign and malignant soft tissue masses, for the pathologic confirmation of metastatic tumors to soft tissue, and for the documentation of locally recurrent soft tissue neoplasms. FNA cytopathology is capable of specifically subtyping a large percentage of primary and metastatic soft tissue tumors if cellular material either in the form of a cell block or flow cytometry is obtained in addition to cell smears. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2000;90:292–8. © 2000 American Cancer Society.
Differences in the mechanism of NADPH- and cumene hydroperoxide-supported reactions of cytochrome P-450.

Abstract The mechanism of NADPH- and cumene hydroperoxide-supported hydroxylation of benzo(a)pyrene as catalyzed by liver microsomes was studied using high pressure liquid chromatography, fluorescence, and spectrophotometric methods. Repetitive scan difference spectral analysis clearly demonstrated that during the steady state of these reactions, different products were formed. While the major products noted with NADPH were phenols, only low concentrations of phenols were observed in the presence of cumene hydroperoxide using all three analytical methods. With the organic hydroperoxide, the metabolite profile was shifted from the preponderate production of phenols and dihydrodiols to the production of the three quinone isomers of the hydrocarbon. At several concentrations of cumene hydroperoxide, epoxide hydrase activity and the stability of the arene oxide substrates tested were unaffected during a 2-min incubation period. The transient nature of benzo(a)pyrene phenol formation was investigated; the 3- and 6-phenols were easily oxidized to quinones by cumene hydroperoxide in a cytochrome P-450-dependent oxidation process which most likely involves the formation of free radicals by a one-electron process. These results indicate that the reaction mechanism operative in the presence of the organic hydroperoxide differs in several regards from that functional in the presence of NADPH and that a common oxidative mechanism may not exist.
Fractionation of arginase-loaded erythrocyte ghosts with Percoll density gradients.

Abstract Arginase-loaded human erythrocyte ghosts prepared by a slow dialysis technique were fractionated into enzyme-enriched populations by density-gradient centrifugation in Percoll. The enzyme-enriched populations contain up to 12-times more arginase than normal intact erythrocytes and up to 7-times more arginase than the average of the arginase-loaded erythrocyte ghost pool. The ability to isolate, rapidly and preparatively, ghosts which are highly enriched with enzyme can be useful for enzyme replacement studies.
CULTURAL AFFILIATION AND ADJUSTMENT AMONG MALE MEXICAN-AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS

Biculturally affiliated male Mexican-American students were expected to show better adjustment to the college environment than mono-culturally affiliated students. On the Coping Response Inventory 13 subjects classified as bicultural on the Biculturalism Inventory reported less stress and less interference from stress in the interpersonal area than 10 monocultural subjects, with no differences in the familial or academic areas, or in cumulative grade point average. Monocultural students with a primary Chicano affiliation reported more interference from stress in the interpersonal area than bicultural students and had a higher grade-point average than monocultural students with a primary Anglo-American affiliation. Results were discussed in terms of DeVos' 1980 model of adaption by an ethnic minority.
FAITH‐BASED SOCIAL SERVICES: FROM COMMUNITARIAN TO INDIVIDUALISTIC VALUES

. This article argues that a primary, contemporary product of four moments in the history of faith-based social services has been a highly selective and inconsistent use of the notion of human rights by churches and church leaders. Churches still occasionally reference a communitarian sense of human rights and public good but now more commonly use the rhetoric of individual rights to contest specific political positions and social policies in the arena of the social service agencies these churches sponsor. Changing church views of human nature are not sweeping changes, but small changes of degree that still have the power to powerfully reorient social relations. In this sense, churches that sponsor social services increasingly espouse a privatized, economic, and individualistic “Civil Society” in sharp contrast to communitarian notions of social citizenship that formerly better reflected churches’ operating ontology.
Organic Inferiority and the Inferiority Attitude

Resume on a fait une analyse de l'Echelle d'Evaluation Minnesota pour la Mesure des Attitudes d'Inferiorite en rapport des resultats des examens physiques des etudiants universitaires de premiere annee. On a trouve l'existence d'une relation positive tres definie quand on analyse les caracteristiques physiques specifiques separement, et quand on fait la correlation des resultats de “defaut total” avec les resultats de l'Echelle d'Evaluation. Quand on analyse les defauts et les caracteristiques rapportes par les etudiants eux-memes, la relation devient beaucoup plus marque que quand on analyse ainsi les resultats objectifs, c'est-a-dire, les diagnostics faits par les medecins. La tendance generale des resultats indique que la relation entre l'inferiorite organique et les sentiments de l'inferiorite trouves par Adler dans ses etudes cliniques se trouve aussi dans la population “normale” quand on analyse les donnees de la maniere decrite.
CHARACTERIZATION OF A MULTILEAF COLLIMATOR SYSTEM

Abstract Commissioning measurements for a multileaf collimator installed on a dual energy accelerator with 6 and 15 MV photons are described. Detailed dosimetric characterization of the multileaf collimator is a requirement for modeling the collimator with treatment planning software. Measurements include a determination of the penumbra width, leaf transmission, between-leaf leakage, and localization of the leaf ends and sides. Standard radiographic film was used for the penumbra measurements, and separate experiments using radiochromic film and thermoluminescent dosimeters were performed to verify that distortions of the dose distribution at an edge due to changing energy sensitivity of silver bromide film are negligible. Films were analyzed with a scanning laser densitometer with a 210 micron spot. Little change in the penumbra edge distribution was noted for different positions of a leaf in the field. Experiments localizing the physical end of the leaves showed less than 1 mm deviation from the 50% decrement line. This small difference is attributed to the shaped end on the leaves. One side of a single leaf corresponded to the 50% decrement line, but the opposite face was aligned with a lower value. This difference is due to the tongue and groove used to decrease between-leaf leakage. For both energies, approximately 2% of photons incident on the multileaf collimator are transmitted and an additional 0.5% leakage occurs between the leaves. Alignment of the leaves to form a straight edge results in a penumbra profile which compares favorably with the standard technique of using alloy blocks. When the edge is stepped, the isodose lines follow the leaf pattern and the boundary is poorly defined compared to divergent blocks.
Psychosocial adjustment and quality of life in women with breast cancer and benign breast problems : A controlled comparison

Comparison of psychosocial adjustment in women with breast cancer (BC) and women with benign breast problems (BBP) has been hampered by a failure to control for age differences between these groups, as well as a failure to assess positive psychosocial adaptation in addition to psychological distress. Age-matched women with breast cancer (n = 80) and benign breast problems (n = 80) completed measures of psychological distress, positive psychosocial adaptation, and general quality of life (QOL). Breast cancer patients had completed primary treatment for breast cancer a mean of 24.6 months prior to participation (range, 6-57 months). Comparison of the BC and BBP groups indicated that the BC group reported (1) poorer physical health and functioning, (2) no differences in psychological distress, and (3) greater positive psychosocial adaptation, such as improved life outlook, enhanced interpersonal relationships, and deeper spiritual and religious satisfaction. Results support the theoretical position that cancer is a transitional event, that is, a traumatic event that alters an individual's assumptive world with the potential to produce long-lasting changes of both a positive as well as negative nature. This underscores the importance of using measures of both psychological distress and positive psychosocial adaptation when assessing psychological adjustment following transitional events such as breast cancer.
Paleodemography of India and Ceylon since 3000 B.C.

Biological and cultural adaptations of prehistoric man in South Asia are surveyed against the background of geological-climatic-biotic changes occurring within Pleistocene and post-Pleistocene times. The earliest human remains discovered thus far in the Indian sub-continent are skeletons associated with Late Stone Age (Mesolithic) cultural materials. These series and those associated with subsequent cultural horizons (Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Harappan, Iron Age and Early Historic) are reviewed in terms of their suitability for palaeodemographic study. In South Asia this kind of research is best approached through the analysis of local sites where skeletal material is available and where reconstruction of ancient ecological settings is feasible. Three cases are presented: (1) population displacement and mobility in the pre-Vedda and Vedda biological continuum in Ceylon; (2) influence of changing nutritional factors upon the pathology of jaws and teeth for the Late Stone Age skeletal series from Langhnaj; (3) causes of death at Mohenjo-daro, with a discussion of the undue emphasis in the anthropological literature upon trauma and neglect of significant attempts to discern causes of death where these are relevant to pathology and to specific ecological adaptations.
Improved Monodispersity of Plasmonic Nanoantennas via Centrifugal Processing

Noble metal nanoparticle clusters underlie a variety of plasmonic devices and measurements including surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Because of the strong dependence of plasmonic properties on nanoparticle cluster aggregation state, the elimination of non-SERS-active structures and the refinement of the nanoparticle cluster population are critical to realizing uniform and reproducible structures for plasmonic nanoantenna applications such as SERS-based sensors. In this Letter, we report a centrifugal sorting technique for gold core/silica shell nanoparticles that host SERS reporter molecules at the gold/silica interface. The relatively massive nanoparticle clusters are sorted by sedimentation coefficient via centrifugation in a high-viscosity density gradient medium, iodixanol, which yields solutions that contain a preponderance of one aggregation state and a diminished monomer population, as determined by transmission electron microscopy, extinction spectroscopy, and SERS. A quantitative anal...
Specific adhesion of vesicles to compliant bio-adhesive substrates

Abstract Cell behavior is mediated by variety of physiochemical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Mechanical stiffness of ECM, in particular, is found to be a major regulator for the multiple aspects of cellular function. Experiments show that cells generally exhibit an apparent adhesion preference for stiffer substrates. The effect of substrate elasticity is also found to be strongly coupled with adhesivity of the substrate. To understand the underlying physics of rigidity sensing mechanism in cells, in this study we use a vesicle-substrate system to model cell adhesion as a first order approximation. Within this framework, an equilibrium thermodynamic analysis is undertaken to elucidate the interplay between substrate compliance and equilibrium configuration of an adherent vesicle. The equilibrium adhesion is assumed to ensure minimization of the free energy contributed by substrate deformation and interfacial adhesive and repulsive interactions between the membrane and substrate. The predictions of this purely mechanistic model are found to be qualitatively analogous to some of the characteristic features of cell adhesion to compliant bio-adhesive substrates. This observation suggests that the physical aspects of the membrane–substrate interfacial interactions could passively contribute in regulation of the rigidity sensing by cells.
Cash Dividend Announcements and Abnormal Returns in Lodging and Restaurant Sectors: An empirical examination

ABSTRACT Dividend relevance has been a subject of significant recent interest for academicians and researchers in the area of hospitality finance. The subject has attracted noticeable controversy, given the stringent or no-dividend payout policies observed in many hospitality firms. This study builds on existent dividend literature in hospitality finance by examining the relevance of cash dividends for public lodging and restaurant firms in U.S. equity markets. It uses the event study approach to investigate abnormal returns for lodging and restaurant firms caused by cash dividend announcements during the period 1994–2002. Results are suggestive of the fact that at least during the test period, cash dividend increases were positively received by equity holders in both lodging and restaurant sectors. Results also suggest that dividend effect and abnormal returns were significantly different for the two sectors. As such, the issue of dividend relevance in hospitality firms and the need for more prudent divi...
STUDIES ON VIGOR. VI. THE EFFECT OF STARVATION. ON THE SPONTANEOUS ACTIVITY OF CASTRATED RATS

In a previous report (Hoskins, 1925-a) it was shown that castration in rats results in a marked depression of spontaneous activity. Similar results have been obtained by Allen (1925) at the Phipps Psychiatric Clinic of the Johns Hopkins Hospital. An animal deprived of its testes at about the time of puberty manifests throughout what would otherwise have been its most vigorous period a degree of activity corresponding to that of the early senile phase. Such observations lend plausibility to the theory that a part of the inactivity of old age is due primarily to lack of testicular hormone. Whether this inactivity is due merely to lack of some stimulating element or to secondary structural changes is by no means clear. The problem is under investigation in our laboratory. It is significant that castrated rats, like castrated farm animals, show no obvious decrease in actual strength, though adequate determination of endurance are lacking. It is not improbable that deficiency of testicular hormone may play a s...
Single-Crystal Reflectance Studies of Tetrathiafulvalene Tetracyanoquinodimethane

The polarized reflectance of single crystals of tetrathiafulvalene tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF-TCNQ) at 300 K is reported over the frequency range 300 to 4000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, with unpolarized data extending to 50 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. A Kramers-Kronig analysis is used to obtain the frequency-dependent conductivity ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{1}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ and dielectric function, ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{1}(\ensuremath{\omega})$, for both $a$ and $b$ crystallographic axes. The results establish the existence of the energy gap and provide a quantitative measurement of the oscillator strength and relaxation time of the collective mode.
Newspaper Coverage of Global Warming and Climate Change (GWCC) as a Public Health Issue

The current and potential future toll of global warming and climate change (GWCC) on human health is becoming increasingly clear (Balbus, Ebi, Finzer, Malina, Chadwick et al., 2008; Costello, Abbas, Allen, Ball, Bell et al., 2009; Ebi, Balbus, Kinney, Lipp, Mills et al., 2008; Maibach, Chadwick et al., 2008a; Weathers, Maibach, & Nisbet, in press). Media are considered to be the major information channels that transmit useful information to the public and deliver news about the latest developments regarding health issues (Andsager & Powers, 1999; Cho, 2006; Pratt, Ha, & Pratt, 2002). This study content analyzed 354 news stories on GWCC as a public health issue from two national and three regional U.S. newspapers from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008. Findings indicate that public health threats have been a dramatically underreported dimension in climate change news coverage, both nationally and locally. By examining the discourse surrounding GWCC in health contexts, this study provides a baseline asse...
A Portrait in Four Encounters: William Alonso:

William Alonso was awarded the first Ph.D. in regional science. The book based on his dissertation is often credited with launching the field of urban economics and remains probably the most cited work by far in regional science. Saltonstall Professor of Population Policy at Harvard, Alonso also made numerous major contributions to the study of migration, regional development, and the politics of numbers. His work ranged from meticulous mathematical theory to far-ranging think pieces. This portrait of the scholar and his research is a collage of four reminiscences describing various stages of Professor Alonso’s career.
Rise of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates containing both erm(B) and mef(E) genes from an adult tertiary care community hospital system.

The emergence of macrolide- and lincosamide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae is a worldwide concern. Of particular interest is the increasing prevalence of erythromycin and clindamycin-resistant isolates containing both erm(B) and mef genes. This study determined the prevalence of erythromycin and clindamycin resistance in 596 clinical S. pneumoniae isolates from 2 adult tertiary care hospitals over a 4-year period (2001–2004). Erythromycin resistance increased from 24% to 34%, but S. pneumoniae isolates resistant to clindamycin as well as to erythromycin increased from 3% in 2001 to 15.5% in 2004 (5-fold increase). Among erythromycin-resistant isolates, those also resistant to clindamycin (MLSB phenotype) increased 3-fold (12.8–45%). Of forty-one erythromycin/clindamycin-resistant S. pneumoniae isolates tested, 29 (71%) contained both erm(B) and mef(E) genes. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis performed on 28 erm(B) + mef(E) positive isolates identified 2 predominant and possibly related clones, which made up 64% of the isolates.
Changes in enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of noradrenaline and adrenaline after psychosocial stimulation.

THE important role of catecholamines in behaviour has been recognized1. Increased adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion has been observed in anxiety-provoking situations and in states of anger and aggression2,3. Drugs used in affective disorders cause marked changes in uptake, storage, release and metabolism of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline in the peripheral and central nervous systems4,5. Because of the growing understanding of the implication of catecholamines in behavioural changes, we examined the effect of psychosocial stimulation and deprivation on the activity of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of catecholamines. Groups of mice were raised in social isolation or were subjected to prolonged and increased social interaction, and the catecholamine synthesizing (tyrosine hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase) and metabolizing (monoamine oxidase and catecholamine-O-methyl transferase) enzymes were examined in the adrenal gland. We wish to report marked changes in enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis and metabolism in the adrenal glands of these mice.