cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of two active conditions of a brief intervention for heavy college drinkers.

Brief interventions for college heavy drinkers have shown promise in reducing drinking and alcohol-related negative consequences. However, intervention duration, content, method of delivery, and follow-up length vary across studies. It therefore remains unclear whether intervention length significantly influences the interventions' efficacy. The present study is a randomized clinical trial systematically evaluating the efficacy of two brief interventions aimed at reducing alcohol use and alcohol-related negative consequences among college student drinkers. Treatment mediators were also evaluated. Participants (N=278) were, on average, 20.1years old (SD=2.4), mostly Caucasian (87%) and female (71%). They were randomly assigned to a 10-minute brief intervention, a 50-minute brief intervention, or an attention-control group. Both active interventions were provided by clinical graduate students trained in Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS). As hypothesized, participants in both active conditions significantly reduced their alcohol consumption, as compared to the control group participants F(2,264)=9.84, p=.00, η(2)=.07. There were no significant differences in alcohol-related negative consequences F(2,264)=3.08, p=.06, η(2)=.02. The hypothesized mediators, alcohol drinking norms and coping behavioral strategies, explained significant variance in intervention efficacy, but neither self-efficacy nor alcohol expectancies were significant mediators. Given the preliminary nature of our investigation, more research is warranted to determine parameters of the critical mechanisms of change within brief alcohol interventions with college student drinkers. Language: en
NMDA receptor regulation of neuronal morphology in cultured hippocampal neurons.

Abstract The relationship of the activity of specific neurotransmitter receptors to neuronal morphology was studied in cultured dentate granule neurons from embryonic rat hippocampus. These experiments were made possible by the development of a defined serum-free culture medium for growth at densities low enough to observe isolated neurons. N- Methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) and its specific non-competitive antagonist, MK801, affected neuronal morphology in a reciprocal fashion. Like glutamate, NMDA stimulated extensive branching of neuronal processes. Not only was 75% of the branching blocked by MK801, but the longest process was 250% longer in the presence of MK801. These results suggest that neurotransmitters that act on the NMDA receptor may contribute to development and synaptogenesis.
Water relations of coastal plant communities near the ocean/freshwater boundary.

Salinity and isotope ratios were determined in water from several wells in the Florida Keys, and tidal inlets. Both D/H and 18O/16O ratios of water from wells and tidal inlets were highly correlated to their salinity. Water from standing pools was enriched in deuterium and oxygen-18 relative to their salinity because of evaporation processes. 18O/16O and D/H ratios of stem water from plants of several different communities at Sugar Loaf Key, ranging from hardwood hammocks to mangroves, were highly correlated to their predawn water potential. The correlation was consistent with the presence of high salinity in waters with high 18O and D content. Most individuals from each community were either utilizing water with isotopic characteristics typical of freshwater or of ocean water, while only a few individuals had stem water with isotopic ratios intermediate to these two water sources.
Shock metamorphism of carbonaceous chondrites

Shock effects were studied in 69 carbonaceous chondrites, including CM2, CO3, CV3, ungrouped C2-C4, and CK4-6 chondrites, using optical microscopy of thin sections. It is shown that the classification scheme of Stoeffler et al. (1991) for the progressive stages of shock metamorphism in ordinary chondrites is also applicable to carbonaceous chondrites. On the basis of shock effects in olivine, the 69 carbonaceous chondrites could be assigned to four shock stage, S1 to S4. The CM2 and CO3 groups were found to be the least shocked chondrite groups, whereas the CK4-6 and CV3 were the most strongly shocked groups.
Aberrant deoxyribonucleic acid methylation in human thyroid tumors

DNA methylation is a covalent modification of cytosine residues that occurs at the dinucleotide sequence CpG in vertebrates. Abnormal patterns of DNA methylation are observed consistently in human tumors, including widespread areas of genomic hypomethylation as well as regional sites of hypermethylation. We examined the DNA of benign and malignant human thyroid tumors for changes in the methylation state of the genes for human GH, platelet-derived growth factor B-chain, and H-ras. The human GH gene was aberrantly methylated in 6 of 22 (27%) nodules from multinodular goiters (MNG), 21 of 33 (64%) follicular adenomas (FA), and 10 of 16 (63%) papillary carcinomas (PC). Platelet-derived growth factor B-chain was also abnormally methylated in 4 of 13 (31%) MNG, 17 of 24 (71%) FA, and 9 of 13 (69%) PC. The H-ras gene, located within a region on chromosome 11p known to be a hot spot for hypermethylation in other tumors types, showed complex patterns of methylation (mainly hypermethylation) in 6 of 22 (27%) MNG, 22 of 35 (63%) FA, and 10 of 16 (63%) PC. Those tumors with methylation abnormalities tended to be affected at multiple loci (i.e. aberrant patterns with all 3 probes), whereas those that were negative were usually normal at all sites. Benign and malignant thyroid neoplasms show a high prevalence of aberrant methylation patterns of selected genes. Adenomatous nodules from multinodular goiters, consisting largely of hyperplastic tissue, have a lower frequency of these events. Aberrant DNA methylation may contribute to subsequent cell transformation through changes in DNA conformation, transcriptional activity, and/or increased fragile site instability. This suggests that widespread changes in DNA methylation may occur as a relatively early step in thyroid tumor formation.
The Balmer Law as an Equation of Motion

Dynamics of intra-atomic charges.---The attempt is provide an atom in which the radiating electrons have a unifrequentic motion. Modification of the classical conceptions of the electron and of kinetic reaction seem required. (1) Differentiation of "active" from "passive" charge of the electron. The passive charge (that acted upon by an external field) is supposed to consist of a dipole each element of which describes one of the two orbits involved in a transition and is acted on by the nucleus according to an inverse first power law. The active charge (that which produces an electromagnetic field) is assumed to lie on the line joining the two elements of the dipole and to pass gradually from one to the other during a transition. (2) Definition of kinetic reaction as a space change of velocity. The classical dynamics is replaced by a new dynamics in which the kinetic reaction is made proportional to the vector difference of the velocities at the same time of two points on the tangent to the path of the particle equal distnaces in front of and behind it. Since the active charge is a dipole, the force is proportional to the difference of the potentials at two points on the radius vector a finite distance apart. Under certain conditions the new dynamics reduces to the classical dynamics. (3) Application of the new dynamics to an atom containing only one electron leads to unifrequentic motion in an elliptical orbit with the nucleus at the focus, and when the quantum conditions are imposed an orbital frequency is obtained identical with the optical frequency deduced on the Bohr theory. The energy of the orbit agrees exactly with that obtained on the classical theory. The theory is applied to the case where the mass of the nucleus is finite (two body problem) and to linear simple harmonic motion, and leads to results identical with those of the Bohr theory. This theory accounts for the emission of series of the Balmer type and also for the absence of radiation in a stationary state.
Statistics of substitution polymers

Equations are developed for predicting the distributions of degree of substitution and block length in substitution copolymers which result when homopolymers are subjected to substitution reactions. Several different cases are treated differing in complexity from entirely random substitution to substitution affected by substituents already present on the same and on the neighboring repeat units. The equations are then applied to chlorinated polyethylene as an example of their use.
Gastric pathologic and biochemical changes induced by starvation of weanling rats

Abstract A differential response of weanling rats (21 days) versus post-weaned rats (24–180 days) to short-term starvation has been observed in the gastric mucosa. Starvation induces ulceration in the glandular mucosa but not in the forestomach of 21-day-old rats, and a reversal of this susceptibility to ulceration occurs in older rats. The development of glandular lesions in weanling rats progresses with the duration of the fast, and parallels thymic involution, increases in relative adrenal weight, and other stress responses. Gastric mucosal, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase decreases significantly at the fifth day of fasting. It is suggested that the fasted weanling rat may afford a useful tool in experimental gastroenterology, and that the development of gastric glandular lesions may relate to impaired carbohydrate metabolism of the mucosa.
Fighting the floating correlations: Expectations and complications in extracting statistical correlations from the string theory landscape

The realization that string theory gives rise to a huge landscape of vacuum solutions has recently prompted a statistical approach towards extracting phenomenological predictions from string theory. Unfortunately, for most classes of string models, direct enumeration of all solutions is not computationally feasible and thus statistical studies must resort to other methods in order to extract meaningful information. In this paper, we discuss some of the issues that arise when attempting to extract statistical correlations from a large data set to which our computational access is necessarily limited. Our main focus is the problem of 'floating correlations'. As we discuss, this problem is endemic to investigations of this type and reflects the fact that not all physically distinct string models are equally likely to be sampled in any random search through the landscape, thereby causing statistical correlations to float as a function of sample size. We propose several possible methods that can be used to overcome this problem, and we show through explicit examples that these methods lead to correlations and statistical distributions which are not only stable as a function of sample size, but which differ significantly from those which would have been naievely apparent from only a partialmore » data set.« less
Excel macros to quicken SOX auditing

Because of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and other factors, auditors are under tremendous pressure to produce quality testing effectively and efficiently. Often, auditors must manually filter and then copy/paste spreadsheet data. But this is slow and can cause errors. Is there a better way? Yes, say the authors of the article—and they give step-by-step instructions for automating the process. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Catalytic hydroprocessing of chlorophenols

The goal of this work is to extend the examination of catalytic dehalogenation by considering simultaneous dehalogenation and deoxygenation. Chlorinated benzenes and phenols were selected for study due to their prominence in many waste streams.
Lipoprotein-mediated transfer of 2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl into cultured human cells.

1. The very low density, low density and high density lipoproteins (VLDL, LDL, HDL), centrifugally separated from human plasma treated with 2,4,5,2′,4′,5′-hexachloro[14C]biphenyl (14C-HCB) contained approximately 50% of the 14C-HCB.2. Normal skin fibroblasts were incubated at 4°C or 37°C for varying times with medium containing 10% serum, LDL or HDL labelled with 14C-HCB. Cellular incorporation of 14C-HCB from serum was temperature-dependent and occurred mainly during the first 30 minutes. Cellular accumulation of 14C-HCB from isolated lipoproteins was also rapid and was more efficient from HDL than from LDL or serum. Accumulation from HDL was concentration-dependent and temperature-dependent.3. The efflux of 14C-HCB from cells into serum- or lipoprotein-containing medium occurred very rapidly and was most effective in the presence of 20% serum. The order of efficiency in removal of HCB from cells was 20% serum, 50 μg LDL protein/ml, and 120 μg HDL protein/ml. Little or no efflux from cells occurred into ...
INHIBITION OF FATTY ACID OXIDATION BY SULFONYLUREAS

Sulfonylureas potentiate the cellular action of insulin, not by changing membrane receptor number as previously thought, but by unknown postbinding mechanisms. We investigated the direct effects of tolazamide on fatty acid oxidation in isolated intact liver mitochondria, prepared from fed and fasted rats. Total ketone body formation and CO2 production (x10% of total oxidative products) were measured using 1−14C palmitate. Ketogenesis results are expressed in nmols/min/mg prot. (± SEM).
Summer Mortality of Striped Bass in Reservoirs of the United States

Abstract A survey of 80 reservoirs in the United States with striped bass Morone saxatilis populations indicated some summer mortality of the species in 27 (34%) of the impoundments. Most of the reported mortality was of medium sized to large adults (> 5 kg). More mortality was reported in July-September than in other months. Reservoirs for which summer striped bass mortality was reported had significantly greater mean surface area, volume, maximum depth, and depth of water release than those without reports of striped bass mortality. However, the presence or absence of reported striped bass mortality bore no discernible relationship to reservoir morphometric or limnological features when 20 such characteristics were examined by multivariate analysis. The results suggest overall that summer mortality of striped bass is widespread geographically in reservoirs of the United States, but its occurrence is highly variable and by no means universal.
Experimental investigation of target and transducer effects on quantitative image reconstruction in photoacoustic tomography

In principle, absorbed energy profiles can be exactly reconstructed from photoacoustic measurements on a closed surface. Clinical applications, however, involve compromises due to transducer focus, frequency characteristics, and incomplete measurement apertures. These tradeoffs introduce artifacts and errors in reconstructed absorption distributions that affect quantitative interpretations as well as qualitative contrast between features. The quantitative effects of target geometry, limited measurement surfaces, and bandpass transducer frequency response have been investigated using a ring transducer system designed for small animal imaging. The directionality of photoacoustic radiation is shown to increase with target aspect ratio, producing proportionate overestimates of absorption values for two-dimension apertures less than approximately 150 degrees. For all target geometries and orientations, mean absorption values approach the full view values for hemicircular measurement surfaces although the true spatial uniformity is recovered only with the complete surface. The bandpass transducer frequency spectrum produces a peaked amplitude response biased toward spatial features ranging from 1 to 8 times the system resolution. We discuss the implications of these results for design of clinical systems.
Modulators of haemocyanin oxygen affinity in the hypoxia- and sulphide-tolerant Baltic isopod Saduria entomon (L.).

Dialysed haemocyanin from the isopod Saduria entomon had a considerably increased oxygen affinity (lower P50) and Bohr factor (–1.71) compared to native haemocyanin (Bohr factor –1.36) indicating that dialysis removes a small molecule size modulating factor decreasing the affinity of native haemolymph. Dialysed haemocyanin had a slightly lower co-operativity (2.42±0.3) than native haemocyanin (2.9±0.2). L-Lactate (10 mmol l–1) improved oxygen affinity by 1–1.5 torr while urate had no effect. Mg2+ affected affinity in a pH-dependent manner (Bohr-factor increased to –1.67) while Ca2+ had no effect on the Bohr factor but increased affinity with ca 1 torr. Thiosulphate changed the Bohr factor to –1.75 to –1.82, similar to dialysed blood. Co-operativity was in neither case affected. The haemocyanin characteristics of S. entomon are similar to those of crustaceans from hydrothermal vents. These characteristics are probably general for crustaceans that are more or less permanently exposed to sulphide.
The source of aromatic ketoacids in tyrosinaemia and phenylketonuria.

Abstract The studies reported here support the observation that elevated excretion of p -hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid could occur in the presence of deficient hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase activity. The ketoacid need not have come either from the liver or from the kidney. It appears possible that the urinary ketoacid, both in tyrosine aminotransferase deficiency and in phenylketonuria, originates not in the liver but in other tissues which possess transaminase but which lack hydroxylase activity. What emerges from these studies is the view that the consequence of a single enzyme deficiency in one tissue may be modified by the distribution of isozymes or related enzymes in that tissue as well as in other tissues.
On the geometry of the rotating liquid drop

Here we consider the problem of a fluid body rotating with a constant angular velocity and subjected to surface tension. Determining the equilibrium configuration of this system turns out to be equivalent to the geometrical problem of determining the surface of revolution with a prescribed mean curvature. In the simply connected case, the equilibrium surface can be parameterized explicitly via elliptic integrals of the first and second kind. Here, we present two such parameterizations of the drops and we use the second of them to study finer details of the drop surfaces such as the existence of closed geodesics.
Flow simulations about steady-complex and unsteady moving configurations using structured-overlapped and unstructured grids

The limiting factor in simulating flows past realistic configurations of interest has been the discretization of the physical domain on which the governing equations of fluid flow may be solved. In an attempt to circumvent this problem, many Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) methodologies that are based on different grid generation and domain decomposition techniques have been developed. However, due to the costs involved and expertise required, very few comparative studies between these methods have been performed. In the present work, the two CFD methodologies which show the most promise for treating complex three-dimensional configurations as well as unsteady moving boundary problems are evaluated. These are namely the structured-overlapped and the unstructured grid schemes. Both methods use a cell centered, finite volume, upwind approach. The structured-overlapped algorithm uses an approximately factored, alternating direction implicit scheme to perform the time integration, whereas, the unstructured algorithm uses an explicit Runge-Kutta method. To examine the accuracy, efficiency, and limitations of each scheme, they are applied to the same steady complex multicomponent configurations and unsteady moving boundary problems. The steady complex cases consist of computing the subsonic flow about a two-dimensional high-lift multielement airfoil and the transonic flow about a three-dimensional wing/pylon/finned store assembly. The unsteady moving boundary problems are a forced pitching oscillation of an airfoil in a transonic freestream and a two-dimensional, subsonic airfoil/store separation sequence. Accuracy was accessed through the comparison of computed and experimentally measured pressure coefficient data on several of the wing/pylon/finned store assembly's components and at numerous angles-of-attack for the pitching airfoil. From this study, it was found that both the structured-overlapped and the unstructured grid schemes yielded flow solutions of comparable accuracy for these simulations. This study also indicated that, overall, the structured-overlapped scheme was slightly more CPU efficient than the unstructured approach.
U.S. Responses to Defeat in International Courts: A Contingent Model of Rule Compliance

I propose, in the present work, to begin the process of developing a testable, generalizable model of foreign policy decision-making that accounts for both domestic and international factors. The framework is designed to illustrate how to combine broad theoretical propositions with contextual, situation-based decisions. It provides an example of how to bridge game-theoretic formulations with case study material in order to develop mid-level causal models. Further, the framework is designed to allow for prediction of a certain range of policies. The model is rooted in a design that invites the researcher to answer a series of yes-or-no questions about the decision-making situation in question. By answering these simple questions, that require relatively little information, we can predict the likely outcome.
Exercise-induced hypoxemia in heart transplant recipient

Abstract Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine whether heart transplantation has an adverse effect on pulmonary diffusion and to investigate the potentially deleterious effects of impaired pulmonary diffusion on arterial blood gas dynamics during exercise in heart transplant reciplents. Background. Abnormal pulmonary diffusing capacity is reported in patients after orthotopic heart transplantation. Abnormal diffusion may be caused by cyclosporlne or by the persistence of preexisting conditions known to adversely affect diffusion, such as congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods. Eleven patients (mean age 50 ± 14 years) performed pulmonary function tests 3 ± 1 months before and 18 ± 12 (mean ± SD) months after heart transplantation. Transplant patients were assigned to groups with diffusion > 70% (n = 5) or diffusion Results. Significant improvements in forced vital capacity (17,4%), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (11.7%) and diffusion capacity (6.6%) occurred in the patients; however, posttransplantation vital capacity, forced expiratory volume and diffusion were lower (p ≤ 0.05) compared with values in 11 control subjects. Changes in blood gases were similar among groups at 40% of peak power output. At 76% of peak power output, arterial blood gases and pH were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower in transplant patients with low diffusion (arterial oxygen pressure 15 to 38 mm Hg below baseline) than in patients with normal diffusion and control subjects. Cardiac index did not differ (p ≥0.05) between transplant patients with noramal and low diffusion at rest or during exercise. Posttransplantation mean pulmonary artery pressure was significantly related to exercise-induced hypoxemia (r = 0.71; p = 0.03). Conclusions. Abnormal pulmonary diffusion observed in patients before heart transplantation persists after transplantation with or without restrictive or obstructive ventilatory defects. Heart transplant recipients exprience exercise-induced hypoxemia when diffusion at rest is
Stereochemical effects of chiral monolayers on enhancing the resistance to mammalian cell adhesion

This work describes the different durations of surface confinement of adhered mammalian cells by monolayers comprised of enantiomers of bio-inert polyol-terminated alkanethiols. Enhanced resistance to protein adsorption and cell adhesion is obtained on monolayers formed by a racemic mixture of the enantiomeric alkanethiols.
ASSESSMENT OF A PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE COMREY PERSONALITY FACTOR SYSTEM.

Six major factors of personality have been identified repeatedly in factor analytic studies by Comrey and his coworkers: Shyness, Dependence, Em- paths, Neuroticism, Compulsion, and Hostility. Analysis of the Guilford-Zimmerman test suggested that this system of six factors could be enlarged to include three additional factors : General Activity, Thoughtfulness, and Mas- culinity. An inventory designed to measure all these factors was administered to 259 volunteers, mostly from the general population. Analysis of the results by factor analytic methods showed that General Activity was well enough defined and confirmed to warrant adding it to the Comrey factor system. The other two additional factors failed to achieve this level of confirmation.
A Multifaceted Device for Discreetly Acquiring Natural Behaviors of Children with Autism

Autism is a multifaceted neurological disorder that affects the four fundamental areas of sensory processing, communication mechanisms, social interaction skills, and whole child/self-esteem. The underlying mechanisms and symptoms of the disorder have been shown to largely vary from patient to patient, and therefore, a durable, effective therapy is best achieved through multifaceted, multidisciplinary approaches that allow a direct assessment of each individual’s behavior, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The aim of this project was to simulate, design, manufacture, and assess a device that can help cultivate sensory, social, communication, and motor skills in autistic children while being able to extract data of the child’s behavior that could be used by the therapist. Critical components of the toy involve auditory and visual stimulation, as well as interactive mechanisms to promote development. The most important features of the toy are hidden cameras that discreetly monitor the child’s reactions in order to provide analytical feedback mechanisms, allowing parents, caregivers, or therapists to monitor and evaluate the child’s learning and therapy. The performance of the toy was examined on 17 children with autism at two specialized centers for child with developmental disorders. The results showed that the device was found satisfactory by the majority of children as assessed by their willingness to spend time accomplishing the tasks on the device, as well as by captured videos of their natural reactions throughout. Furthermore, improved performance was observed on the same population of children who were tested multiple times, indicating the potential use of the toy for therapeutic and learning purposes.
Local Dimensions of War and Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Trouble with the Congo: Local Violence and the Failure of International Peacebuilding. By Autesserre Severine. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. 311 pp., $28.99 paperback (ISBN-13: 978-0-52-115601-1). The Trouble with the Congo by Severine Autesserre is a timely addition to the peacebuilding literature. Autesserre explores a topic that has been largely neglected by policymakers and international relations theorists: the role of micro-level tensions and local violence in undermining international peacebuilding efforts. The primary aim of the book is to explain why the peacebuilding actors involved in the largest and most expensive peacekeeping mission ever undertaken by the United Nations (MONUC) failed to achieve a transition to sustainable peace and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The book provides a careful analysis of the nature and range of local, national, and regional causes of violence in the deadliest conflict since World War II. The second Congolese war involved numerous militias, three different national rebel movements, 14 foreign armed groups, and led to over three million deaths. Even after the 2003 Luanda peace agreement and the establishment of the Transitional Government of the DRC, which reduced the military presence of regional actors such as of Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe local conflicts proved intractable. An additional two million people died, many of them civilians, after the war had officially ceased. Autesserre's work consists of an elaborate case study of third-party intervention between 2003 and 2006, examining a wide variety of actors participating in international peacebuilding. While much of the literature focuses on evaluating the success of peacekeeping efforts through national level analyses, the unique contribution of this book is that it is multidimensional. It goes beyond the examination of MONUC peacekeepers, national or regional actors and includes local actors, diplomats, other UN actors, and non-governmental organizations into the analysis. The interlocking set of arguments in this book is based on primary data collected over 15 months of ethnographic research carried out between 2001 and 2007 in some of …
Generator Design Criteria for Large Gas Turbine Power Plants

Experience with large gas turbine power plants shows a trend of increasing operating hours, which demonstrates that for mid-range and baseload applications there is a need to consider efficiency as well as maintenance and environmental factors in the generator selection criteria. Three types of generators: open ventilated air-cooled, totally enclosed water-to-air-cooled, and totally enclosed hydrogen-cooled, are discussed, along with the classes of user operations which are defined as peaking, mid-range and baseload. Information is presented that shows the hydrogen-cooled generator (long the preferred type for steam plants) as the recommended choice for most installations operating in excess of 1500 hr per year.Copyright © 1982 by ASME
On a Local Heuristic for a Reverse Multicast Forwarding Game

We consider the problem of incentive compatible topology control for selfish all-to-one (reverse multicast) routing as modeled by a locally minimum cost forwarding game, with new focus in this work on efficient local implementability in the absence of complete global information for realistic scenarios. In this work we consider a new locally computable heuristic “recommendation algorithm”, which we refer to as LocalHeur for convenience. LocalHeur lies within the class of location based routing methods with particular similarity to the Nearest Forward Progress algorithm though from the perspective of game-theoretic reverse multicast routing. We find that LocalHeur actually outperforms DeltaHeur in terms of global optimality in random Euclidean power instances which model wireless networks, though at the expense of loosening the Nash equilibrium condition. Nonetheless, we find that the relaxation of the Nash condition is strongly bounded in multiple ways, with high probability: The vast majority of players are provably playing a best response, while simulation results demonstrate that the average deviation ratio from a best response is within a decimal point of 1. Furthermore, the player deviating most from his best response is provably still within O(log n) of the cost of his best response, while simulation results support a much smaller maximum deviation from the best response.
Coffee Consumption and Coronary Heart Disease : Paradoxical Effects on Biological Risk Factors versus Disease Incidence

Coffee consumption has been shown to have adverse effects on various biological markers of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, including serum cholesterol (1), blood pressure (2), insulin resistance (3), and plasma homocysteine (4). In contrast, higher coffee consumption has not been associated with a higher risk of CHD in prospective cohort studies (5)(6)(7). What could be the explanation for this “coffee paradox”? First, the acute effects of coffee consumption can be different from the effects of long-term habitual consumption. Second, the physiological effects of coffee can depend on the type of coffee consumed and are not necessarily the same as for caffeine in isolation. Third, coffee consumption may have beneficial effects on other biological pathways implicated in the development of CHD that could compensate for any adverse effects. Fourth, risk markers may not causally affect the development of CHD, or their effects may be too modest for any increase caused by coffee consumption to translate into a substantial increase in disease risk. Research supporting these explanations are discussed, with particular focus on the association between coffee consumption and homocysteine concentrations reported by Ulvik et al. in this issue of Clinical Chemistry (8). In caffeine-naive individuals, caffeine intake leads to a marked reduction in insulin sensitivity (3) and marked increases in postload glucose concentrations (9), epinephrine concentrations (10), and blood pressure (10). Within a week of initiating caffeine intake, however, an individual experiences an attenuation of coffee’s effects on epinephrine release and blood pressure (10). For blood pressure, only a partial tolerance develops, and a modest increase remains after several weeks (2). Given that caffeine’s stimulation of epinephrine release appears to contribute to insulin resistance (3), it is plausible that the effect of caffeine on glucose metabolism would also attenuate after continued caffeine intake. There is …
Inducible processing of interferon regulatory factor-2.

Abstract PRDI-BFc and PRDI-BFi are proteins that bind specifically to a regulatory element required for virus induction of the human beta interferon (IFN-beta). PRDI-BFc is a constitutive binding activity, while the PRDI-BFi binding activity is observed only after cells are treated with inducers such as virus or poly(I).poly(C) plus cycloheximide or in some cells by cycloheximide alone. In this paper we report that PRDI-BFc is interferon regulatory factor-2 (IRF-2), a known transcriptional repressor. In addition, we find that PRDI-BFi is a truncated form of IRF-2, lacking approximately 185 C-terminal amino acids. Thus, PRDI-BFi appears to be generated by inducible proteolysis. Although the affinity of PRDI-BFc/IRF-2 for the IFN-beta promoter does not appear to be affected by the removal of C-terminal amino acids, the ability of PRDI-BFi to function as a repressor in cotransfection experiments is significantly less than that of intact IRF-2. Studies have shown that IRF-2 can block the activity of the transcriptional activator IRF-1, which also binds specifically to the IFN-beta gene promoter. Thus, the inducible proteolysis of IRF-2 may be involved in the regulation of the IFN-beta gene or of other genes in which the ratio of IRF-1 to IRF-2 can affect the level of transcription.
A Historical Overview of Computer Architecture

Computer architecture concentrates on the logical aspects of computer design as opposed to the physical or electronic aspects. The underlying logical design of most modern computers is still based on that of the earliest electronic computers despite decades of progress in electronic circuitry. the innovations that have occurred in computer architecture have been driven by two different goals: higher performance and lower cost. Performance driven improvements have yielded computer systems with increasingly higher computation speeds and throughput. Cost driven improvements have yielded systems that are easier to use and applicable to a broader range of automatic control problems. Improvements in electronic circuitry have not led directly to architectural innovations; computers that pioneered new circuit technologies usually relied on older architectural concepts.
Antimony: a modular model definition language

Motivation: Model exchange in systems and synthetic biology has been standardized for computers with the Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) and CellML, but specialized software is needed for the generation of models in these formats. Text-based model definition languages allow researchers to create models simply, and then export them to a common exchange format. Modular languages allow researchers to create and combine complex models more easily. We saw a use for a modular text-based language, together with a translation library to allow other programs to read the models as well. Summary: The Antimony language provides a way for a researcher to use simple text statements to create, import, and combine biological models, allowing complex models to be built from simpler models, and provides a special syntax for the creation of modular genetic networks. The libAntimony library allows other software packages to import these models and convert them either to SBML or their own internal format. Availability: The Antimony language specification and the libAntimony library are available under a BSD license from
The Evaluator’s Role in Recommending Program Closure: A Model for Decision Making and Professional Responsibility

Evaluators face challenges when programs consistently fail to meet expectations for performance or improvement and consequently, evaluators may recommend that closing a program is the most prudent course of action. However, the evaluation literature provides little guidance regarding when an evaluator might recommend program closure. Given evaluators’ ethical responsibilities to the public good coupled with the inadequacy of methods currently used to justify program closure, we posit the development of a heuristic model designed to identify the point at which a program might be recommended for closure. The heuristic model depends on whether implementation factors are under the control of program administrators (i.e., flexible factors) or out of their control (i.e., immutable factors) and are potentially moderated by facilitating or inhibitory characteristics (e.g., political advocacy, community need, length of time in operation, performance quality). By delineating whether a poorly functioning program cou...
The subjectivist roots of James Buchanan's economics

When James Buchanan was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in economics the Nobel committee cited The Calculus of Consent,1 co-authored in 1962 with Gordon Tullock, as Buchanan’s most important work. But Buchanan himself has stated that he considers his 1969 book, Cost and Choice: An Inquiry in Economic Theory,2 to be his most important theoretical contribution.
Stress Analysis of Elastic-Plastic Contact Damage in Ceramic Coatings on Metal Substrates

An elastic-plastic analysis of damage in ceramic coatings on metal substrates from contacts with spherical indenters is made using finite element modeling. Computations are carried out specifically for plasma-sprayed alumina:titania on a soft steel. The algorithm assumes an elastic sphere with frictionless contact on a flat elastic-plastic layered specimen, and incrementally evaluates the expanding contact field as a function of applied load. Two key aspects of the contact field are examined: (i) the indentation stress-strain curve; (ii) the damage zone geometry. Composite coating/substrate indentation stress-strain curves are computed for two coating thicknesses, using input material parameters from iterative fits to data from control tests on free-standing coating and substrate materials. Contours of principal shear stresses, most notably those contours corresponding to yield zone boundaries in both the softer substrate and the harder coating, are mapped out in the fully plastic region. Corresponding distributions of tensile stresses are also mapped out, and are shown to correlate with the locations of transverse fractures in the coating. General implications concerning material and geometrical design of ceramic-based layer structures are discussed.
A 6–18 GHz 5-bit active phase shifter

This paper presents a 6-18 GHz active 5-bit phase shifter in 0.18-um SiGe BiCMOS technology based on a phase interpolation technique. An L-C resonance-based quadrature all-pass filter generates the I/Q reference signal with high I/Q accuracy over a wide bandwidth, and integrated current-mode DACs control the I/Q amplitudes to achieve 5-bit phase resolution. The phase shifter shows 19.5 dB of power gain with 1.1 dB of RMS gain variation for all 5-bit phase states at 12 GHz, and the 3-dB gain bandwidth is 7.5–15.2 GHz. The measured RMS phase error is 3 deg at 6.4–10.2 GHz and 5.6 deg at 6–18 GHz achieving greater than 5-bit accuracy. Within the 3-dB gain bandwidth, the NF ranges from 4 to 5.7 dB and the NF variation is +/− 0.12 dB for all phase states. The total current consumption is 18.7 mA (phase shifter core: ∼3 mA) from a 3.3 V supply voltage and overall chip size is 1.2×0.75 mm^2 (phase shifter core: 0.45×0.35 mm^2).
Reentry of Emerging Adults Adolescent Inmates' Transition Back Into the Community

This article is based on the sociological analysis of the experiences and perspectives of five young men making the transition out of one state's end-of-the-line maximum security juvenile correctional facility and attempting to reenter the community as emerging adults. As part of a larger ethnographic study of violent offenders in a cottage, these young men shared their observations as they faced their futures with both fear and hope. Upon their release from the institution, they found few people or services to rely on, and they struggled the best way they knew to cope with new and frightening responsibilities of independence and emerging adulthood.
Legume genomics: understanding biology through DNA and RNA sequencing.

Background The legume family (Leguminosae) consists of approx. 17 000 species. A few of these species, including, but not limited to, Phaseolus vulgaris, Cicer arietinum and Cajanus cajan, are important dietary components, providing protein for approx. 300 million people worldwide. Additional species, including soybean (Glycine max) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa), are important crops utilized mainly in animal feed. In addition, legumes are important contributors to biological nitrogen, forming symbiotic relationships with rhizobia to fix atmospheric N2 and providing up to 30 % of available nitrogen for the next season of crops. The application of high-throughput genomic technologies including genome sequencing projects, genome re-sequencing (DNA-seq) and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) by the legume research community has provided major insights into genome evolution, genomic architecture and domestication. Scope and conclusions This review presents an overview of the current state of legume genomics and explores the role that next-generation sequencing technologies play in advancing legume genomics. The adoption of next-generation sequencing and implementation of associated bioinformatic tools has allowed researchers to turn each species of interest into their own model organism. To illustrate the power of next-generation sequencing, an in-depth overview of the transcriptomes of both soybean and white lupin (Lupinus albus) is provided. The soybean transcriptome focuses on analysing seed development in two near-isogenic lines, examining the role of transporters, oil biosynthesis and nitrogen utilization. The white lupin transcriptome analysis examines how phosphate deficiency alters gene expression patterns, inducing the formation of cluster roots. Such studies illustrate the power of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic analyses in elucidating the gene networks underlying biological processes.
Relationship of Performance on Motor Activities and Reading Achievement.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of specific motor activities on elementary school-aged children's reading achievement. The subjects were 33 boys and 33 girls in Grade 2 enrolled in the regular program. They were separated equally into one of three groups: Experimental group 1 participated in Frostig activities, Experimental group 2 read books selected for their grade level, while a control group followed the traditional school routine. The two experimental groups were children from predominantly Mexican-American descent; the control group was primarily of Caucasian descent. During the 20-wk. period, the subjects met with their respective group three times per week in 1/2-hr. sessions. The first and second experimental groups showed no significant improvement in reading achievement. It was concluded that the added motor activities did not enhance reading achievement.
Preferences and concerns for quality of life technology among older adults and persons with disabilities: National survey results

Efforts to develop novel technologies that address the everyday challenges faced by older adults and persons with disabilities are constrained by limited understanding of their perspectives as potential end-users. We conducted a national, web-based survey with a non-probability sample of 1,610 adults (68% female; 47% age 45–64; 47% age 65+) with and without disability, to learn their views about technologies in development that will be capable of both discerning when and how to accommodate an individual’s need and desire for assistance and providing that desired assistance as appropriate. In the survey we described four families of engineered systems that could provide cognitive and physical support for personal and instrumental activities of daily living, including personal care, home management, and driving. Here we summarize respondents’ views about quality of life technologies in general and each family of engineered systems in particular. We also describe the recurring themes evident in respondents’ answers to our query about technologies that should be developed in the near future.
Plasticization of poly(dimethyl siloxane) by high‐pressure gases as studied by NMR relaxation

The molecular relaxation behavior of poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) exposed to various gases pressurized to 207 megapascals (MPa) was investigated by pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. For a gas of low solubility, such as helium, the gas acts only as a pressurizing medium allowing the effect of pressure on the glass transition to be determined. For gases of high solubility the gas acts not only as a pressurizing medium but also as a plasticizing agent, expanding the polymer lattice and increasing the frequency of molecular motions. The plasticizing effect of argon was found to increase the temperature dependence of the molecular correlation frequency.
Interest Inventories and the Developmental Framework

Interest inventories are of greatest usefulness for educational and vocational planning when the counselor is satisfied that the student is “ready” to indicate his interests. Since interests develop over time as the adolescent broadens his experiences, counselors are cautioned that more individual counseling is often necessary before interest inventories can be used as the basis of career decision-making. Viewed from this developmental point of view, interest inventories are examined as they are affected by the subject's age, social class, ego-strength, shift in major field, and ability. Judicious counseling could provide experiences to assist in raising career goals.
Image Formation in Wide-Field Microscopes Based on Leakage of Surface Plasmon-Coupled Fluorescence

A proof-of-concept imaging technique that combines the advantages of wide-field surface plasmon, leakage radiation, and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy methods is presented. High-contrast non-scanning images with subwavelength resolution of patterned and homogeneous samples coated with a fluorescent material were demonstrated. We show that the image formed in the back focal plane of the objective lens can be reconstructed from the image of the sample's surface using an algorithm similar to that used in computerized tomographic imaging. Our experimental results suggest that there is a 1-D Fourier transform relationship between any line amplitude profile at a given angle passing through the center of the sample's surface image and a line amplitude profile passing through the center of the back-focal-plane image at the same angle.