cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A survey of light-vehicle driver education curriculum on sharing the road with heavy vehicles.

INTRODUCTION: Light-vehicle driver education programs that contain content about sharing the road with heavy vehicles may be helpful in reducing future light-vehicle/heavy-vehicle interactions. However, the extent of curricula in the United States including such content is unclear. METHOD: Researchers developed an online survey targeted at instructors/administrators of state driver education programs to identify curricula addressing heavy vehicles and to determine perceived effectiveness. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of respondents indicated that the light-vehicle driver education curriculum they teach/administer included a component covering how to safely share the road with heavy vehicles (82% perceived this component to be effective). DISCUSSION: Although a large proportion of these programs included a component on how to safely share the road with heavy vehicles, participants indicated there may be room for improvement. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Participants recommended that future improvements to driver education programs include updated materials and student hands-on experience with heavy vehicles. Language: en
Perceived Control is a Transdiagnostic Predictor of Cognitive–Behavior Therapy Outcome for Anxiety Disorders

Perceived control has been proposed to be a general psychological vulnerability factor that confers an elevated risk for developing anxiety disorders, but there is limited research examining perceived control during cognitive–behavioral therapies (CBT). The present study examined whether treatment resulted in improvements in perceived control, and the indirect effects of CBT on changes in symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder via changes in perceived control. Participants (n = 606) were a large clinical sample presenting for treatment at an outpatient anxiety disorders clinic. Participants completed a series of self-report questionnaires and a structured clinical interview at an intake evaluation and at two follow-up assessments 12 and 24 months later, with the majority of participants initiating CBT between the first two assessments. Results of latent growth curve models indicated that individuals initiating CBT subsequently reported large increases in perceived control and significant indirect effects of treatment on intraindividual changes in each of the four anxiety disorders examined via intraindividual changes in perceived control. These results suggest that the promotion of more adaptive perceptions of control is associated with recovery from anxiety disorders. Furthermore, the consistent finding of indirect effects across the four anxiety disorders examined underscores the transdiagnostic importance of perceived control in predicting CBT outcomes.
FIELD’S SAVING TRUTH FROM PARADOX: SOME THINGS IT DOESN’T DO

I will discuss Field’s book mainly by comparison with Saul Kripke’s Outline of a Theory of Truth. I will point out important properties of Kripke’s “least fixed point” that are absent from Field’s constructions and theory. I do this not to demean Field’s superb work on truth but rather to suggest that there may be no really satisfactory conditional connective for languages containing their own truth predicates.
Modulation-doped superlattice AlGaN barrier GaN/AlGaN HFETs

For nitride heterojunction field-effect transistors, the heterojunction forming the electron barrier has to be designed based on trade-offs between lattice mismatch, two-dimensional electron gas concentration, and alloy scattering. In this work, we study the use of a superlattice-based barrier which effectively increases the heterojunction barrier while reducing the lattice mismatch and alloy scattering. The structure studied consists of a five-period superlattice of 2 nm Al 0.2 Ga 0.8 N + 2 nm Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 N on GaN grown using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on a 6 H SiC conducting substrate. The barriers of the second and third period of the superlattice are Si-doped to give the effect of modulation doping. Devices fabricated from the structure exhibit a high g m of ∼299 mS/mm and an I ds max of 0.85 A/mm. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the use of superlattice structure for improvement of the barrier properties in a nitride HFET.
Propensity for spontaneous succinimide formation from aspartyl and asparaginyl residues in cellular proteins

One mechanism for the spontaneous degradation of polypeptides is the intramolecular attack of the peptide bond nitrogen on the side chain carbonyl carbon atom of aspartic acid and asparagine residues. This reaction results in the formation of succinimide derivatives and has been shown to be largely responsible for the racemization, isomerization, and deamidation of these residues in several peptides under physiological conditions (Geiger, T. & Clarke, S. J. Biol. Chem. 262, 785-794 (1987]. To determine if similar reactions might occur in proteins, I examined the sequence and conformation about aspartic acid and asparagine residues in a sample of stable, well-characterized proteins. There did not appear to be any large bias against dipeptide sequences that readily form succinimides in small peptides. However, it was found that aspartyl and asparaginyl residues generally exist in native proteins in conformations where the peptide bond nitrogen atom cannot approach the side chain carbonyl carbon to form a succinimide ring. These orientations also represent energy minimum states, and it appears that this factor may account for a low rate of spontaneous damage to proteins by succinimide-linked reactions. The presence of aspartic acid and asparagine residues in other conformations, such as those in partially denatured, conformationally flexible regions, may lead to more rapid succinimide formation and contribute to the degradation of the molecule. The possible role of isoimide intermediates, formed by the attack of the peptide oxygen atom on the side chain carboxyl group, in protein racemization, isomerization, and deamidation is also considered.
Public administration and conflict management in plural societies: the case for representative bureaucracy

Public administration affects the management of ethnic conflict by (1) the criteria employed in recruitment to state bureaucracies and (2) policies and practices that determine the distribution of the benefits and costs of government among members of competing ethnic communities. The goals pursued by mobilized ethnic communities include domination, secession, integration, power-sharing and minority rights, each of which is implemented by state-sanctioned policies and practices. Recent experience with civil and military bureaucracies in India and South Africa, two highly pluralistic and conflict-prone societies, suggests that ethnically representative bureaucracy, though by no means trouble-free, contributes to the legitimacy of government by demonstrating that members of all ethnic communities can and actually do participate in the administration of public affairs. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A multiple unit radiometric respirometer for the measurement of the metabolism of carbon-14 labelled substrates

Abstract An improved radiometric respirometer is described which permits periodic sampling of both the envolved C 14 O 2 and the activity remaining in the substrate solution, as well as the complete recovery of added radioactivity. The system, although described for use with plant tissue may be used with insects or small animals. A procedure for the use of the system is described, and a typical experiment utilizing irradiated carrot tissue is discussed.
The Economics of Poverty Traps and Persistent Poverty: Empirical and Policy Implications

The moral and economic imperatives to intervene in poverty traps motivate the identification of poverty traps and their structural causes so as to inform the design of appropriate policy responses....
Abstract 4761: Defining the adaptive kinome response to BRAF and MEK inhibition in melanoma

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Early clinical studies have shown that concurrent administration of BRAF and MEK inhibitors, dabrafenib and trametinib, is more active in patients with BRAFV600E/K melanoma than either single agent alone. Even though the combination of BRAF/MEK inhibitors is initially highly effective in treating melanoma in a subset of patients, progression to resistance ultimately occurs–commonly via reactivation of the BRAF/MEK/ERK pathway. Therefore, therapeutic strategies to counter primary resistance and prevent the emergence of secondary resistance are needed. Following pharmacological or progressive genetic perturbations, dynamic and system-wide adaptive changes (“reprogramming”) in the expression and activity of multiple kinases (collectively termed the kinome) clearly occur in tumor cells. Rich networks of serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases, many of which are understudied, are integrated into the signaling systems controlled by oncogenes known to drive melanoma. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the kinome at baseline, during the adaptive response to kinase inhibitor treatment, and in the context of acquired resistance is critical. We use Multiplexed Inhibitor Beads (MIBs), mixtures of covalently immobilized, linker-adapted kinase inhibitors coupled with mass spectrometry (MS), to assess changes in activation of kinases in untreated samples, during acute inhibition of BRAF and/or MEK and in the context of acquired resistance. Our enhanced MIB/MS technology allows us to study over 75-80% of the expressed kinome (and numerous lipid and metabolic kinases) simultaneously using lysates from cell lines, genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) tumors, patient-derived xenografts or human melanoma. We have identified several kinases (e.g. PDGFRβ, DDR1, MAP3K1) that are activated upon acute treatment with dabrafenib, trametinib, or dabrafenib/trametinib as well as in drug-resistant human melanoma cells and BRAFV600E/PTEN-/- GEMM-derived tumors and cell lines. Thus, studies using MIB/MS to measure dynamic kinome responses have identified kinases that have not been previously shown to be involved in the adaptive response to BRAF and/or MEK inhibition. We are currently targeting kinases involved in adaptive kiome reprogramming, pharmacologically or by RNAi, to determine whether their activation leads to vulnerability. This work will lead to the identification of novel and rationally predicted therapies for patients with advanced melanoma. Citation Format: Steven P. Angus, Timothy J. Stuhlmiller, Rachel Reuther, Trang T. Pham, Deborah A. Granger, David B. Darr, Jamie L. Jordan, Stergios J. Moschos, Gary L. Johnson, Norman E. Sharpless. Defining the adaptive kinome response to BRAF and MEK inhibition in melanoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4761. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4761
Aflatoxin M1 removal from aqueous solutions by Flavobacterium aurantiacum

In liquid cultures growing and stationary phase cells ofFlavobacterium aurantiacum NRRL B-184 eliminated aflatoxin M1. Toxin concentrations of 15µg/ml and 37.5µg/ml interfered with bacterial growth, and at the higher level 4.4µg M1 was removed from the growth medium by a milligram (dry weight) of bacteria. Toxin was completely removed from the liquid medium by incubating 5 × 1010 resting cells per milliliter with 8µg/ml of aflatoxin M1 for 4 h. Attempted recovery of M1 from cells following incubation of the bacteria with the toxin demonstrated that the M1 was essentially nonextractable. Bacterial cells also removed aflatoxin M1 from toxin-contaminated milk.
In search of the Sarnoff “radio music box” memo

An immigrant who became CEO of RCA and NBC at age 39, David Sarnoff claimed that he predicted broadcasting in 1915 in his “Radio Music Box Memo.” The Memo stated that Sarnoff had “in mind a plan of development which would make radio a ‘household utility’. …” This Memo contributed to his renown as a prescient architect of broadcasting, but new evidence analyzed in this article suggests that the oft‐cited Memo was written, notin 1915, butin 1920, when broadcasting was literally around the corner. Consequently, historians must revise their assessment of Sarnoff's early contributions.
Computerized Feeding Management Systems for Economic Decision-Making

Linear programming has been useful in the formulation of feeding guidelines for lactating cows. The most economical rations can be fed. Newer feeding management systems are being developed as new nutritional findings permit greater refinement. This report describes the use of computerized feeding management systems in helping dairy farmers make sound economic decisions. Such procedures are useful to the feed industry, dairy consultants, and in development of extension education programs.
Optimal Scheduling of Urgent Preemptive Tasks

Tasks’ scheduling has always been a central problem in the embedded real-time systems community. As in general the scheduling problem is NP-hard, researchers have been looking for efficient heuristics to solve the scheduling problem in polynomial time. One of the most important scheduling strategies is the Earliest Deadline First (EDF). It is known that EDF is optimal for uniprocessor platforms for many cases, such as: non-preemptive synchronous tasks(i.e., all tasks have the same starting time and cannot be interrupted), and preemptive asynchronous tasks (i.e., the tasks may be interrupted and may have arbitrary starting time). However, Mok showed that EDF is not optimal in multiprocessor platforms. In fact, for the multiprocessor platforms, the scheduling problem is NP-complete in most of the cases where the corresponding scheduling problem can be solved by a polynomial-time algorithm for uniprocessor platforms. Coffman and Graham identified a class of tasks for which the scheduling problem can be solved by a polynomial time algorithm, that is, two-processor platform, no resources, arbitrary partial order relations, and every task is nonpreemptive and has a unit computation time. Our paper introduces a new non-trivial and practical subclass of tasks, called urgent tasks. Briefly, a task is urgent if it is executed right after it is ready or it can only wait one unit time after it is ready. Practical examples of embedded real time systems dealing with urgent tasks are all modern building alarm systems, as these include urgent tasks such as ‘checkingfor intruders’, ‘sending a warning signal to the security office’,‘informing the building’s owner about a potential intrusion’, and so on. By using propositional logic, we prove a new result in schedulability theory, namely that the scheduling problem for asynchronous and preemptive urgent tasks can be solved in polynomial time.
Effects of Minimum Competency Testing for Minority Students: A Review of Expectations and Outcomes.

As a new approach to educational accountability, minimum competency testing (MCT) has created considerable controversy. While its supporters believe that the new policy will be of particular value to students from minority and low-income backgrounds, critics are concerned about the possible adverse consequences for these groups. A review of research evidence and results of statewide MCT programs indicate that there is a substantial discrepancy between the initial test performances of black students and their white classmates and that, in some cases, post-test remediation seems relatively ineffective for blacks. Moreover, blacks may be receiving a disproportionate share of all diploma sanctions imposed on repeated MCT failers. It is proposed that some problems currently associated with competency testing can be avoided by emphasizing the remedial rather than the punitive function of these programs.
Expanding frontiers in deep subsurface microbiology

Abstract The subsurface biosphere on Earth appears to be far more expansive and physiologically and phylogenetically complex than previously thought. Here, several aspects of subsurface microbiology are discussed. Molecular and biogeochemical data, as well as characteristics from new isolates, suggest that ecosystems below deep-sea hydrothermal vents are inhabited primarily by thermophilic archaea and bacteria. The void spaces and conduits in basalt at mid-ocean ridges, and, even more so, at sediment-covered hydrothermal vent sites represent promising hunting grounds for novel chemosynthetic archaea and bacteria. As examples, we highlight the subsurface microbial communities within the basalt flanks of the Juan de Fuca Ridge off British Columbia, and the hydrothermal sediments at the Guaymas Basin in the Gulf of California and at Middle Valley on the Juan de Fuca Ridge. In the deep continental subsurface, microbial studies have primarily targeted aquifers in basaltic and granitic rock, with an almost exclusive emphasis on H2-driven chemolithoautotrophy. For example, in the subsurface water from Lidy Hot Springs, Idaho (USA), H2-consuming methanogenic archaea represent the most populous organisms, comprising >95% of all cells. Besides H2, other potential sources of chemical energy (reducing power) are considered, including abiotically synthesized organic matter and reduced sulfur compounds. In addition, the well-established sequences of redox couples in microbial metabolism are investigated at elevated temperatures using a thermodynamic approach. Values of peo for 11 common reduction half-reactions are tabulated at 25, 50, 100, and 150 °C. Although many modes of metabolism may be employed by subsurface biota, sulfate reduction appears to be one of the more ubiquitous strategies. Recent studies of sulfate-reducing archaea and bacteria in marine and continental systems are reviewed.
Characterization of the transmission during cytoductant formation of the 2 μm DNA plasmid from Saccharomyces

The transmission of the yeast 2 μm DNA plasmid has been examined in heterokaryons formed between a haploid donor cell containing the plasmid and a haploid recipient cell lacking the plasmid. Strains lacking the plasmid were mated to donor strains and cytoductants, haploid exconjugants arising from heterokaryons, were selected. The cytoductants bearing the genotype of the recipient cells were then tested for the presence of 2 μm DNA. The frequency with which the recipient received plasmid copies varied between 0 and 46%. This frequency depended on the recipient strain but was not highly dependent on whether or not the donor strain carried a kar1 mutation. Exceptional cytoductants, which had acquired a chromosome from the mating partner, were examined and found to have a much greater probability of acquiring plasmid DNA than cytoductants in general. This correlation supports the contention that plasmid copies are associated with the nucleus. In one mating the donor strain contained nearly equal amounts of two physically distinct plasmid types. Of the cytoductants bearing the recipient genotype which had acquired the plasmid during mating, most contained only one of the two plasmid types present in the donor. Analysis of this result using a Poisson distribution indicates that the average number of plasmid copies transmitted between nuclei of a heterokaryon is 0.2.
Touch Wire: Interactive Tangible Electricty Game for Kids

This paper presents Touch Wire, a learning environment for teaching the basics of electricity and electronic design to young children. Touch Wire combines a digital touch screen interface with tangible components to bring the concepts of electronic circuitry to the forefront, while removing the tedium of tasks such as wiring for young children. Grounded in constructivist theories of learning, Touch Wire will overlay information about the underlying electrical mechanics on the tablet interface to scaffold children's learning of electronics. Our demonstrations have given us insight into how to best move forward developing the blended tangible and graphical interfaces of Touch Wire to both enhance the fun experience for children and support their learning of electronic circuitry.
Relationship between patterns of infant temperament, child behavior ratings, and interactions during toddlerhood.

This longitudinal study examined the relationship of temperament ratings during infancy, subsequent child behavior problems, and mother-child interaction. The authors considered the effect of change in mothers' perceptions of their infants' temperament during infancy (e.g., from easy to difficult or from difficult to easy) on subsequent developmental outcomes. Data from a predominantly middle-class Caucasian sample of 49 mother-child dyads are presented here. Findings revealed that children with discontinuities in 4 and 8-month ratings on the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire (e.g, Easy/Difficult or Difficult/Easy) had significantly higher problem and intensity scores on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory than those with stable temperament ratings (Carey & McDevitt, 1978a). No significant differences were found in maternal behaviors between mothers of children rated easy or difficult at 4 or 8 months. These results suggest that continuity of infant temperament ratings is an important factor for consideration in subsequent maternal identification of toddler behavior problems, and that difficult temperament alone may not predict such problems.
Implications of Bioeconomy-Based Fuel Production for Transportation Infrastructure in Iowa:

The bioeconomy-based energy production strategy utilizes outputs of the bioeconomy (i.e., farm products) to produce fuel. This strategy is aimed at reduction of dependence on nonrenewable sources of energy. On the basis of the abundance of agricultural outputs, replacing imported energy with biomass is a logical choice for Iowa. It will not only help address its domestic energy needs but also reduce the rising costs of maintaining access to distant markets and supply lines. The move to bioeconomy-based fuel sources has several consequences for transport infrastructure, particularly the local road systems, because of the role that these roads play in the production and distribution of fuels. Further, changing the fuel sources from a petroleum basis to a bioeconomy basis will change the magnitude of truck shipments required to transport raw materials and fuels. A simple approach to estimate these changes in truck shipments is provided, and their impacts on Iowa's secondary road system are discussed.
Comparison of renal and hepatic effects of fasting, cortisone administration and glucose infusion in normal and adrenalectomized rats.

The authors have measured gh-cogen deposition and changes in the activity ofthe enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase in rat liver and kidneys in several metabolic states. The administration of cortisone did not result in the accumulation of kidney glycogen, in sharp contrast to the marked and well known resulting accumulation of liver glycogen. Hyperglycemia and glucosuria, however, whether clue to alloxan diabetes or to glucose infusions in the presence of a functionally intact pancreas, produced a small but significant increase in kidney glycogen. Glucose-6-phosphatase activity was found to be increased in similar fashion in both liver and kidneys of intact animals in metabolic states associated with accelerated endogenous glucose production, such as in fasting or in the diabetic state. In adrenalectomized animals this response to fasting no longer occurred. Substitutiontherapy with cortisone restored the normal glucose-6-phosphatase response to fasting in both organs.
Clinical utility of the test of variables of attention (TOVA) in the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Ability of the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) to distinguish between referred children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other (OTHER) clinical diagnoses were studied. The ADHD group differed from the OTHER group on TOVA variables and most measures from the Revised Conners Teacher Rating Scale (RCTRS) and ADD-H Comprehensive Teacher's Rating Scale (ACTeRS). The criteria of any one TOVA variable > 1.5 standard deviations from age and sex adjusted means correctly identified 80% of the sample with attention deficit disorders and 72% of the sample without attention deficit disorder. Cases misclassified by teacher ratings were often correctly classified by the TOVA and conversely. The TOVA makes a unique and important contribution to diagnostic evaluations.
Augmenting the separation of gadolinium and europium and europium and samarium mixtures in ion exchange elutions with EDTA.

Abstract Scrutiny of thermodynamic data and proposed models for the hydrated ethylenediaminetetraacetato (EDTA) chelates of the rare earths has suggested a rather obvious means of improving displacement chromatographic separations of Gd-Eu and Eu-Sm mixtures on cation exchange columns. Increasing the operating temperature from 25 to 92° was found to effect an increase in the Gd-Eu separation factor from a skimpy 1.1 to a robust 1.47 ± 0.07 and the Eu-Sm separation factor from 1.4 to 1.8, presumably by destroying a degree of internal hydrogen bonding which occurs to a varying extent in the case of the less constrained lighter rare earth EDTA chelates at room temperature. Apparently this type of internal hydrogen bonding is not possible in the case of the smaller heavier rare earth EDTA chelates (Gd through Lu). This interesting and important effect has been correlated with a similar trend noted in the stability behavior of terbium, dysprosium and holmium β-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetates with increased temperature.
Portraying disease: Sorolla’s Sad Legacy

In 1899, the Spanish painter Joaquin Sorolla represented, in a large canvas, a group of children probably with sequels of poliomyelitis bathing at Valencia’s beach. The title of this painting was Sad Legacy. This work contributed to the international diffusion of Sorolla’s artistic creation. We briefly report some facts regarding the painter and his work referring to those portraits of children and especially of sick children.
Systems engineering considerations in body-mounted sensing

The desire to augment human performance with additional information and sensing capabilities remains great and is perhaps becoming even more desirable as witnessed by the recent initiation of a few large technology development programs. Considerable advances have been made recently on focal planes that could possibly be used in bodymounted sensing. Advances in optical technology yielded the potential for lighter and smaller objective and eyepiece lenses. However, the systems engineering implications of these new focal planes, optics, displays, and performance augmentation technologies have not been adequately considered. This paper will examine engineering trades in body-mounted sensing. Issues such as sensor resolution, the use of color, body supported loads, power, processing and computational power, along with offensive and defensive capabilities will be considered. A case for the replacement of traditional, piece-wise system development with integrated body-mounted system development will also be presented.
Futurism and the Feminine: New Perspectives

La Femme futuriste. Mythes, modeles et representations de la femme dans la theorie et la litterature futuristes. By Silvia Contarini (Paris: Presses Universitaires de Paris 10, 2006), 341 pp. €30,0...
Ongoing commissioning of water-cooled electric chillers using benchmarking models

Abstract This paper proposes two different types of benchmark models for the comparison of energy performance of water-cooled electric chillers: correlation-based models and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models. Different techniques are proposed to establish the models and are evaluated with data collected from two chillers installed in an existing central cooling and heating plant. Both chillers have identical capacity and performance characteristics; however, they have quite different operating hours. The results show that models developed in this case study with 7 days of data monitored at the beginning of the summer season provide accurate results over the remaining of the summer and for the following summer. The proposed Multivariable Polynomial (MP) models for chillers provide the most accurate prediction with CV(RMSE) below 7% over the remaining of the summer season, and below 8% for the following summer season.
Database theory for supporting specification-based database system development

We report on the development of a formal theory of databases designed to support specification-based development of database systems. This theory formalizes database systems which include non-first normal form relations, complex integrity constraints, transactions, and embedded data types such as integers, character strings, and user-defined types. Our theory is based on two axiomatized algebras (abstract data types) and is being used to mechanically prove the properties of relational algebra and functional dependencies, as well as the relationships between integrity constraints and the primitive operations on databases, e. g., inserts and deletes of tuples. We are also using the theory to prove whether or not specific transactions obey complex integrity constraints which can include universal and existential quantifiers. The latter proofs (as well as failed attempts at proofs) can be used during the design of specific systems and in the optimization of system implementations.
Intimal tears and their relationship to long-term patency in the rat femoral artery

The prognostic importance of arterial intimal tears is not certain in the long term. We have developed a model to evaluate pure intimal damage in the absence of other soft tissue injury or arterial anastomoses to study the effect of isolated traumatic arterial intimal tears. Groups of ten rats each were examined at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 48 weeks and were shown to have no incidence of thrombosis of the femoral artery following traumatic intimal tears. Histologically, there was persistence of medial disorganization and smooth muscle hypertrophy up to 48 weeks. We feel that intimal lesions alone do not predispose a rat femoral artery to thrombosis but might do so in the presence of significant soft tissue injury or an arterial anastomosis.
Superficial Friends: A Content Analysis of Nonprofit and Philanthropy Coverage in Nine Major Newspapers:

Hundreds of empirical studies indicate that the media can tell us not only what to think about but what to think. It is therefore likely that media coverage of nonprofits may have profound effects on the public's perception of the voluntary sector. Unfortunately, there is little empirical research about media coverage of nonprofits and almost none that is framed by communication theories. This article uses two such theories, agenda setting and media framing, to explore how nonprofits are portrayed in the media. A content analysis of 1,034 randomly sampled newspaper stories reveals that although nonprofit coverage is generally quite favorable, it is often episodic and not thematically framed. In addition, the results indicate that on the comparatively rare occasions when newspaper stories focus on the nonprofit sector as a whole instead of individual nonprofit organizations, the proportion of stories favorable toward nonprofits declines.
Noncardiovascular findings associated with heart disease in the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome

Heart disease characterized by endomyocardial fibrosis is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. From our series of 50 patients with idiopathic hypereosinophilia, we defined the noncardiovascular characteristics that distinguish patients at risk of developing endomyocardial fibrosis from those who remain free of heart disease. These groups did not differ with respect to the extent of eosinophilia or the duration of disease. Patients with clinically overt heart disease were more likely (p less than 0.05) to be male and HLA-Bw44 positive and have splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, elevated serum levels of vitamin B12, and hypogranular or vacuolated eosinophils and abnormal early myeloid precursors in the peripheral blood. These idiopathic hypereosinophilic patients with heart disease were also more likely to have fibrosis and decreased megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. In contrast, those who remained free of heart disease tended to be female and have angioedema, hypergammaglobulinemia, elevated serum levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), and circulating immune complexes. Therefore, in the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome, male patients with a myeloproliferative type disorder and the HLA-Bw44 haplotype were at a much increased risk for the development of endomyocardial fibrosis. However, those patients with a hypersensitivity-like illness and angioedema who were female did not develop heart disease. Appreciation of this relative degree of risk for the major complication of the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome should prove useful in the early identification and appropriate treatment of patients in whom endomyocardial fibrosis might develop.
Food habits of black-tailed jack rabbits in southern Nevada.

Forage plants of black-tailed jack rabbits ( Lepus californicus deserticola Mearns) at Jackass Flat in southern Nevada were studied by microscopic analysis of stomach contents. It was determined that from spring through early summer the major forage plants are grasses, Oryzopsis, Stipa, Bromus (not native) and annuals. During the period of late summer through winter, the woody perennials, chiefly Larrea, Coleogyne, Krameria and Eurotia are eaten.
A method for the determination of stability constants of some enzyme-metal complexes.

Abstract A method is presented which can be used to determine the stability constants of moderately stable enzyme-metal complexes. The data required are those giving the relationship between metal ion concentration and enzyme activity over a range of metal ion concentrations but at constant concentration of substrate. Where the metal is complexed to independent groups, the equilibrium constant is obtained by determing the active enzyme: inactive enzyme ratio and estimating the free metal ion concentration. This method may be used even with very impure enzyme preparations if the ratio active enzyme: inactive enzyme changes slowly enough with changes in the metal ion concentration. The application of this method to the L -leucine amino-exopeptidase-manganous ion complex gives a value of log 10 of the stability constant of 4.65 at 40° and an ionic strength of 0.1 and a pH = 8.
Use of hydrogel coating to improve the performance of implanted glucose sensors

Abstract In order to protect implanted glucose sensors from biofouling, novel hydrogels (146–217% water by mass) were developed based on a copolymer of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and 2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate (DHPMA). The porosity and mechanical properties of the hydrogels were improved using N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (VP) and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The results of SEM and DSC FT-IT analyses showed that the hydrogel (VP30) produced from a monomeric mixture of 34.5% HEMA, 34.5% DHPMA, 30% VP and 1% EDGMA (mol%) had an excellent pore structure, high water content at swelling equilibrium (Weq = 166% by mass) and acceptable mechanical properties. Two kinds of VP30-coated sensors, Pt/GOx/VP30 and Pt/GOx/epoxy-polyurethane (EPU)/VP30 sensors were examined in glucose solutions during a period of 4 weeks. The Pt/GOx/VP30 sensors produced large response currents but the response linearity was poor. Therefore, further studies were focused on the Pt/GOx/EPU/VP30 sensors. With a diffusion-limiting epoxy-polyurethane membrane, the linearity was improved (2–30 mM) and the response time was within 5 min. Eight Pt/GOx/EPU/VP30 sensors were subcutaneously implanted in rats and tested once per week over 4 weeks. All of the implanted sensors kept functioning for at least 21 days and 3 out of 8 sensors still functioned at day 28. Histology revealed that the fibrous capsules surrounding hydrogel-coated sensors were thinner than those surrounding Pt/GOx/EPU sensors after 28 days of implantation.
Rabies Virus and Canine Distemper Virus in Wild and Domestic Carnivores in Northern Kenya: Are Domestic Dogs the Reservoir?

Rabies virus (RV) and canine distemper virus (CDV) can cause significant mortality in wild carnivore populations, and RV threatens human lives. We investigated serological patterns of exposure to CDV and RV in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas), spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena) and African lions (Panthera leo), over a 10-year period, in a Kenyan rangeland to assess the role domestic dogs may play in the transmission dynamics of these two important canid pathogens. Observed patterns of RV exposure suggested that repeated introduction, rather than maintenance, occurred in the wild carnivore species studied. However, RV appeared to have been maintained in domestic dogs: exposure was more likely in domestic dogs than in the wild carnivores; was detected consistently over time without variation among years; and was detected in juveniles (≤1-year-old) as well as adults (>1-year-old). We conclude that this domestic dog population could be a RV reservoir. By contrast, the absence of evidence of CDV exposure for each carnivore species examined in the study area, for specific years, suggested repeated introduction, rather than maintenance, and that CDV may require a larger reservoir population than RV. This reservoir could be a larger domestic dog population; another wildlife species; or a "metareservoir" consisting of multiple interconnected carnivore populations. Our findings suggest that RV risks to people and wild carnivores might be controlled by domestic dog vaccination, but that CDV control, if required, would need to target the species of concern.
An analysis of audit scores of adolescent offenders in two midwestern counties

The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test provides an accurate measure of risk associated with alcohol-related problems across sex, age, and cultures. As a recommended screening tool to detect patients who are appropriate candidates for brief, preventive alcohol interventions, it was given to 78 adolescents in a diversion program for drunk drivers in two southeastern Nebraska counties during routine alcohol-dependency evaluations. The subjects were grouped by age (18 and younger and over 18 years) and by sex. Based on a previous study, it was hypothesized that the responses to the first three AUDIT questions, related to alcohol consumption, would reflect sex and age differences. A 2 x 2 analysis of variance of scores on separate items indicated significant main effects for age (F1,74= 10.40, p .01), and sex (F1,74= 4.12, p< .05) on Question 3 with the older boys' group indicating that they more frequently consumed six or more drinks on one occasion. It is recommended that the AUDIT-C be included in drug and alcohol assessments with adolescents similar to those tested here, and professionals be alert to the possibilities of sex and age differences in response to questions related to consumption.
Pseudogaps in nearly one-dimensional metals

Abstract The linear chain conductors called the Bechgaard salts are materials where the electronic band is half filled, electron–electron interactions are moderate and the interchain transfer integral is varied from salt to salt. Spectroscopic evidences point to a transition from a (1D) insulating, Mott–Hubbard (MH) state to a conducting state when the interchain transfer integral exceeds the MH pseudogap. The conducting state is that of a correlation induced semimetal with the majority of charge excitations gapped, and with charge–spin separation. Spectroscopic evidences also point to a Tomonaga–Luttinger liquid at energies exceeding the interchain transfer integral.
Humanoid social robots as a medium of communication

This article examines the emerging phenomenon of humanoid social robots and human-humanoid interactions. A central argument of this article is that humanoid social robots belong to a special type of robotic technology used for communicating and interacting with humans. These robotic entities, which can be in either mechanical or digital form, are autonomous, interactive and humanlike. Some of them are used to interact with humans for utilitarian purposes and others are designed to trigger human emotions. Incorporation of such robotic entities into the realm of social life invariably alters the condition as well as the dynamics of human interaction, giving rise to a synthetic society in which humans co-mingle with humanoids. More research is needed to investigate the social and cultural impact of this unfolding robotic revolution.
Multivariate Refinable Interpolating Functions

Abstract In this paper we present an algorithm for the construction of uniformly continuous, compactly supported refinable interpolating functions for arbitrary dilation matrices. We investigate the asymptotic behavior of their symbols and we develop a link to the theory of translation invariant MRA.
An evolving new paradigm: endothelial cells – conditional innate immune cells

Endothelial cells (ECs) are a heterogeneous population that fulfills many physiological processes. ECs also actively participate in both innate and adaptive immune responses. ECs are one of the first cell types to detect foreign pathogens and endogenous metabolite-related danger signals in the bloodstream, in which ECs function as danger signal sensors. Treatment with lipopolysaccharide activates ECs, causing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which amplify the immune response by recruiting immune cells. Thus, ECs function as immune/inflammation effectors and immune cell mobilizers. ECs also induce cytokine production by immune cells, in which ECs function as immune regulators either by activating or suppressing immune cell function. In addition, under certain conditions, ECs can serve as antigen presenting cells (antigen presenters) by expressing both MHC I and II molecules and presenting endothelial antigens to T cells. These facts along with the new concept of endothelial plasticity suggest that ECs are dynamic cells that respond to extracellular environmental changes and play a meaningful role in immune system function. Based on these novel EC functions, we propose a new paradigm that ECs are conditional innate immune cells. This paradigm provides a novel insight into the functions of ECs in inflammatory/immune pathologies.
Conceptualizing and measuring family quality of life.

Background Increasing emphasis on family-centred approaches to services and supports for families of children with disabilities has surfaced the issue of accountability for family outcomes. We present a review of literature about the impacts of children with disabilities on families as a backdrop to proposing family quality of life as a concept that encompasses impacts of disability and one that can be used to assess the impact of supports and services on families. Method We briefly introduce the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale, providing information about its factor structure, reliability and convergent validity. Results The Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale contains 25 items assessing family ratings of importance and satisfaction with five domains: Family interaction, Parenting, Emotional well-being, Physical/material well-being and Disability-related supports. Conclusion We present a framework for utilizing a measure of family quality of life as a long-term outcome in concert with other short-term measures of service outcomes for families.
NSF fellowships available

Application materials are available for 600 fellowships that the National Science Foundation (NSF) plans to award next spring for advanced study ‘to help meet the continuing national need for qualified personnel.’ The fellowships are divided among 3 programs: 500 are NSF Graduate Fellowships, 50 are NSF Minority Graduate Fellowships, and the remaining 50 are North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Postdoctoral Fellowships. All are subject to availability of funds. Competition for these awards is open to citizens and nationals of the United States. Awards will be made on the basis of merit for full-time graduate study in all fields of science.
An SEM analysis of the voltage induced upon a printed strip antenna by a transient plane wave

The singularity expansion method (SEM) is applied to study the interaction of a transient electromagnetic plane wave with a printed strip antenna. In SEM, the time-domain response of the element is separated into excitation-independent natural resonances and modes, which have considerable physical significance, and closed-form coupling terms which can be rapidly evaluated as the geometric or temporal properties of the source change. The SEM is demonstrated as applied to the transient microstrip problem, and the effect of varying the properties of the printed circuit substrate over a range of values typically found in microstrip antenna applications is studied. The transient response due to a step and Gaussian excitation is studied. It is found that the level of transient signal induced on a printed element increases with increasing substrate permittivity. The shape of the induced voltage or current waveform is highly dependent on the geometric and temporal properties of the source for elements printed on relatively thin substrates, while, for elements printed on thicker substrates, the shape of the induced waveform is much less sensitive to the form of the excitation, and resembles the oscillation of the fundamental resonance of the antenna. >
Compressive Uniaxial Stress Bandstructure Engineering for Transferred-Hole Devices

The transport properties of holes in Si, Ge, and Si1-xGe under high compressive stresses are studied with a Monte Carlo simulation method. Stress significantly improves the low-energy mass and mobility, while its effect is diminished in the high-energy bandstructure. The transient behavior of the carrier velocity exhibits a double-overshoot peak at high driving field. This double-overshoot behavior is manifested in carrier-velocity profiles in simulated short-channel PMOS devices. In steady state at lower field, the hole velocity exceeds the saturation velocity at high field. This leads to a negative differential resistance effect in simulated resistors. We propose to use this effect, generic to cubic semiconductors, for transferred-hole devices. An advantage of this approach is that it can be integrated into the conventional stress-engineered Si or Ge logic process.