cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beliefs of Certified Public Accountants toward Distance Education: A Statewide Georgia Survey.

Abstract Although distance education is experiencing rapid growth in the United States, there is little research that measures the beliefs of certified public accountants (CPAs) toward the use of distance education in obtaining continuing professional education (CPE). This study examined the beliefs of CPAs in the state of Georgia concerning the effectiveness of distance education in providing CPE. The basic findings indicate that CPAs in the state of Georgia believe distance education to be an effective mode of learning. In addition, they indicate that the technological capabilities necessary to participate in distance education are available to them. However, with the exception of print‐based distance education, the percent of professional learning received via distance education is minimal. The results of this study may provide information beneficial to program planners of CPE.
Evaluation of methods for monitoring the potential exposure of small children to pesticides in the residential environment

A nine-home pilot study was conducted to evaluate monitoring methods in the field that may be used to assess the potential exposures of children aged 6 months to 5 years to pesticides found in the home environment. Several methods, some of which were newly developed in this study, were tested for measuring pesticide residues in indoor air, carpet dust, outdoor soil, and on the children's hands. Information was also collected on household characteristics, pesticides used and stored at the residence, and children's activities.
Pyritic shales and microbial mats: Significant factors in the genesis of stratiform Pb-Zn deposits of the Proterozoic?

Extensive horizons of pyritic shale occur in Mid-Proterozoic sediments of the eastern Belt basin, Montana, U.S.A. These pyritic shales are of striped appearance. Laminated pyrite beds alternate with nonpyritic shale beds. Laminated pyrite beds have wavycrinkly internal laminae and are interpreted as mineralized microbial mats. Pyrite is essentially the only sulfide mineral in these shales. Pyritic shale horizons occur along the basin margins, and it is feasible that colloidal iron was introduced by rivers into basin marginal lagoons and then incorporated into microbial mats and reduced to pyrite. The pyritic shales in the Newland Formation show great similarity to those that host the Pb-Zn deposits of Mt. Isa and McArthur River. It is suggested that pyritic shales of this kind are relatively common in Mid-Proterozoic shales, and that the processes that led to the occasional formation of Pb-Zn ore bodies in these shales are not related to those that formed the pyritic shales themselves.
Second Derivative Tunable Diode Laser Spectrometry for Line Profile Determination I. Theory

A technique of using second derivative spectra has been developed by which accurate infrared line widths and shapes may be measured using a single-beam tunable diode laser spectrometer both for a flat background and in the presence of a sloping background. It is shown that there exist easily measured parameters of the second derivative line profile which are independent of a small linearly sloping background. A procedure was developed which uses sets of precomputed model line profiles to allow an estimate of the true linewidth of a line to be derived from the second derivative spectrum. The accuracy of this technique is limited by the accuracy with which the second derivative line profile can be measured.
Low-noise 115-GHz receiver using superconducting tunnel junctions

A 110-118-GHz receiver based on a superconducting quasiparticle tunnel junction mixer is described. The single-sideband noise temperature is as low as 68 + or - 3 K. This is nearly twice the sensitivity of any other receiver at this frequency. The receiver was designed using a low-frequency scale model in conjunction with the quantum mixer theory. A scaled version of the receiver for operation at 46 GHz has a single-sideband noise temperature of 55 K. The factors leading to the success of this design are discussed.
Electrophysiological analysis of factors involved in the primary demyelinating diseases: the rabbit eye model system.

Abstract This study explores the longitudinal assessment of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in the rabbit as a method for defining factors underlying functional and structural changes associated with optic neuritis and the inflammatory demyelinating diseases. In rabbits with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by sensitization with guinea pig spinal cord myelin, injection of lymphokines into the posterior chamber of one eye (monocular challenge) produces an early inflammatory response in the retina and optic nerve, and an alteration in the VEP, all limited to the injected eye and its projections. The earliest changes in the timing and distribution of the cortical VEP occur within hours of ocular challenge and precede histopathological evidence of structural demyelination at the light microscope level. Prechallenge assessment allows the induced monocular prechiasmal effects to be distinguished from the more diffuse electrophysiological findings associated with EAE (i.e. those due to sensitization alone). In sensitized/challenged animals there is a clear correspondence between electrophysiological and morphological measures of dysfunction at the time points sampled. These results suggest that this model system affords an excellent opportunity to examine the precise structural correlates of the early functional changes associated with the onset of inflammatory demyelination within the CNS. Furthermore, the stability of the system provides the capacity to monitor alterations over the complete course of inflammation, demyelination and remyelination, induced by experimental manipulations.
Geochemical characteristics of naturally acid and alkaline saline lakes in southern Western Australia

Abundant shallow saline lakes on the Archean Yilgarn Craton in southern Western Australia exhibit a rare spectrum of geochemical conditions. Here the field geochemistry over three seasons (pH, salinity, and temperature), as well as major ions, trace elements, and H, O, and S stable isotopes of surface waters and shallow groundwaters from 59 ephemeral lakes in southern Western Australia (WA) are reported. Approximately 40% of the lakes and 84% of the measured groundwaters in WA are extremely acidic (pH 28%. The fluids are typically Na–Cl to Na–Mg–Cl–SO4 brines with variable yet locally high amounts of Ca, K, Al, Fe, Si, and Br. The acid brine fluid compositions are unusual. For example, in some fluids the amount of Al Ca, the amount of Br > K, and comparison of total S to SO 2 4 values suggest the presence of other uncommon S-bearing species. Trends in d 18 O and d 2 H illustrate the separation between surface lake water and shallow groundwaters, and indicate the contribution of meteoric waters to the lakes. The chemical and isotopic compositions of these fluids indicate a spatially and temporally dynamic, yet regionally consistent, history of brine evolution that is fundamentally different from most other terrestrial closed basin brines. The WA lake brines do not evolve from surface evaporation of dilute inflow waters, but rather are fed by highly evolved regionally acid saline groundwaters. The lake waters then diversify with locally varying surface and near-surface processes such as meteoric dilution by flooding, evapoconcentration, mineral precipitation and dissolution, and fluid mixing. The WA lake waters and groundwaters are somewhat similar to those in an entirely different geologic setting in northeastern Victoria, illustrating the potential for different geochemical pathways to lead to the formation of similar lacustrine acid brines. Although these types of environments are rare in modern settings, ancient ephemeral acid saline lake deposits have been recognized in the geologic record on Earth and on Mars, indicating that natural evolution of acid saline waters may be more ubiquitous than previously recognized.
The interaction energy between hydrocarbon chains

Abstract A method is proposed for the determination of the interaction energy between isolated, parallel oriented, saturated, aliphatic hydrocarbon chains and the calculation is extended to include the monolayer case. The treatment is based upon the use of the second-order perturbation theory of quantum mechanics for the determination of the attractive (dispersion) component of the interaction potential. It is made applicable to long saturated hydrocarbon chains by utilizing the bond polarizability approximation method. The results compared favorably with those obtained by other investigators. An approximate form for the repulsive component of the interaction potential is provided. The total interaction potential obtained is approximately of the (5–11) form. The minimum energy position is calculated for the hydrocarbon chain crystal model allowing free rotation around the molecular axes by rotational averaging of the polarizability. The minimum energy position may occur at 5.0 A interchain separation for the hexagonally packed hydrocarbon monolayer with 18 carbons per chain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome associated with interleukin-2 therapy.

BACKGROUND Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been extensively used in our institution in the treatment of cancer and has protean neurologic side effects. Carpal tunnel syndrome developing in patients receiving IL-2 appears to have a good prognosis and may spare the patient unneeded investigation. METHODS A retrospective evaluation was undertaken for all patients using our institution's Patient Studies database. The patients were examined and their charts reviewed. RESULTS We found eight patients with renal cell carcinoma who developed carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) during treatment with IL-2, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and alpha-interferon (α-IFN). The symptoms were bilateral in five patients and all patients improved with cessation of therapy. Three patients had recurrent symptoms with subsequent courses of therapy. Symptoms occurred during or shortly after IL-2 infusion and resolved after therapy was completed with conservative management. The number of courses given did not seem to correlate with the development of symptoms. Neurophysiologic studies demonstrated conduction velocity slowing without evidence of acute denervation. CONCLUSIONS IL-2 can produce focal entrapment of the median nerve at the wrist, which reverses with drug withdrawal. IL-2 mediates the inflammatory response and can cause interstitial edema that likely causes CTS to develop in predisposed patients undergoing treatment. Cancer 1996;77:1189-92.
CONFRONTING CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING E-PORTFOLIO VIA FACEBOOK IN A PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY

Abstract: As an alternative assessment, e-Portfolio via Facebook (evFb) has been introduced at De La Salle University (DLSU) specifically at Department of English and Applied Linguistics (DEAL) primarily to respond to the demands of 21 st century literacy. However, it was observed that despite the positive impact of evFb on students based on pilot-testing and related studies, there were still innumerable challenges that hindered its implementation. In this paper, these problems were identified, and were addressed using the lens of participatory development framework. Data were taken from interview and feedback forms of participants namely institution (represented by the department chair and project/program committee), implementers/teachers, and students, and were subjected to content analysis. The results showed three major issues classified as: (1) strong apprehension of students to publish their writing outputs on-line; (2) resistance of teachers towards FB as an educational tool; and, (3) concerns of institution as regards academic honesty and identity theft on-line. To confront these challenges and ensure effective implementation and sustainability of evFb at DEAL, improving participatory mechanisms was suggested and discussed. Finally, some opportunities and implications for policy relevant to evFb were also presented.
Latex-modified cement mortar reinforced by short carbon fibres

Abstract The addition to cement mortar of 0.37 volume% (vol%) of short, pitch-based carbon fibres, together with latex (styrene-butadiene) and antifoam, increased the flexural strength by 54% and the compressive strength by 30% at 28 days of curing; relative to mortar containing latex and antifoam, the fibres increased the flexural strength by 33%, had little effect on the compressive strength and increased the price by 17%. In addition, the fibres increased the flexural toughness and decreased the electrical resistivity. Fibre contents > 1.1 vol% resulted in substantial degradation of the compressive strength and slight degradation of the flexural strength at 7 days of curing, relative to the strengths at a fibre content of 0.37 vol%. The optimum latex/cement ratio was 0.2. The latex served to disperse the fibres and increase the bonding between the fibres and the matrix. Partial replacement of cement by silica fume in mortar containing latex, antifoam and fibres did not increase the flexural strength.
Electroencephalographic correlates of cataplectic attacks in narcoleptic canines

Cataplectic attacks were monitored behaviorally and polygraphically in 4 narcoleptic dogs, of which three inherited the disorder. The recorded EEG signals were evaluated by power spectral analysis. We found 3 distinct stages of cataplexy: an initial stage which resembled wakefulness with tonic suppression of EMG activity, a later stage which was highly similar to REM sleep, and a final transitional stage to wakefulness or NREM sleep. The first stage of cataplexy was characterized by full postural collapse, a waking-like EEG spectrum, visual tracking, and a hypotonic EMG. The second stage of cataplexy differed electrographically from the previous stage by the onset of hypersynchronous hippocampal theta activity, a REM-like EEG spectrum, larger amplitude EEG signals, and a higher peak theta frequency. Glazed eyes, sporadic rapid eye movements and muscle twitches were also present. The final stage of cataplexy was characterized by mixed amplitude, mixed frequency EEG activity, and by the absence of rapid eye movements, visual tracking, directed movements, and muscle twitches. The EEG spectra of two other narcoleptic phenomena, sleep-onset REM periods and NREM sleep onsets from cataplexy, were nearly identical to the spectra of the normally occurring REM and NREM sleep periods.
Inotropic influence of dehydration and hyperosmolal solutions on amphibian cardiac muscle

1. In vivo hyperosmolality was induced in two genera of amphibians (Bufo andRana) by dehydration or NaCl load, and maximal rate of rise of ventricular pressure and peak systolic pressure were measured with and without the conus arteriosus occluded. 2. Hyperosmolality and dehydration decreased maximal rate of rise of ventricular pressure. 3. Hyperosmolality and dehydration decreased resting and maximum ventricular systolic pressure. 4. The decline in ventricular muscle performance occurred despite a substantial degree of cell volume regulation in the ventricular muscle. 5. Potassium, sodium, and chloride contributed substantially to the increase in tissue solutes. 6. The negative inotropic effects of hyperosmolality and dehydration on amphibian cardiac muscle certainly contribute to the circulatory insufficiency associated with dehydration in amphibians.
Plant copper chaperones

Copper chaperones, soluble copper-binding proteins, are essential for ensuring proper distribution of copper to cellular compartments and to proteins requiring copper prosthetic groups. They are found in all eukaryotic organisms. Orthologues of the three copper chaperones characterized in yeast, ATX1, CCS and COX17, are present in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plants are faced with unique challenges to maintain metal homoeostasis, and thus their copper chaperones have evolved by diversifying and gaining additional functions. In this paper we present our current knowledge of copper chaperones in A. thaliana based on the information available from the complete sequence of its genome.
Comparison of moments and couple-generating forces near discontinuities in structural-acoustic systems.

In modeling vibration isolators in structural-acoustic systems, the isolator’s dynamic properties are often treated as acting only in the axial direction as moments are often neglected. Furthermore, the size, or scale, of the isolator is often neglected and the isolator is assumed to act at single points on the connected structures. Previous work has shown that concentrated moments can be particularly important when located near a fixed support or a structural discontinuity. This research extends that work to examine the importance of moment scale effects for a system containing a distributed structural discontinuity with its own scale. Moment scale effects are examined by determining the difference in radiated acoustic power for a simple system that is excited by a couple-generating distributed force and a concentrated moment. The distributed force produces a couple that is equivalent to the concentrated moment. As a result, only the scale is being examined. Particular interest occurs when the excitation is located near the structural discontinuity. Based on the cases studied here, moment scale is shown to be important at lower frequencies when the excitation is located near the edges of the discontinuity. At higher frequencies, any overlap of the excitation and discontinuity may warrant the need to consider moment scales.
Racism and Disparities in Women’s Use of the Depo-Provera Injection in the Contemporary USA:

In the 1960s and 1970s widespread reports of sterilization abuse directed at women of color in the USA emerged. While such cases involved coercive or deceptive surgical sterilizations, new contrace...
Safety features on LNG ships

Abstract The technology to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) safely by sea is well established and many variations of cargo containment systems have been tested and developed since the early 1950s. Examples of four current LNG ships incorporating different containment systems are briefly described. Safety features are examined, now considered standard practice on a modern LNG carrier, which have made a major contribution to the outstandingly good record of LNG ship operations. Examples are given of some LNG ship casualty incidents.
Identifying dramatic selection shifts in phylogenetic trees

The rate of evolution varies spatially along genomes and temporally in time. The presence of evolutionary rate variation is an informative signal that often marks functional regions of genomes and historical selection events. There exist many tests for temporal rate variation, or heterotachy, that start by partitioning sampled sequences into two or more groups and testing rate homogeneity among the groups. I develop a Bayesian method to infer phylogenetic trees with a divergence point, or dramatic temporal shifts in selection pressure that affect many nucleotide sites simultaneously, located at an unknown position in the tree. Simulation demonstrates that the method is most able to detect divergence points when rate variation and the number of affected sites is high, but not beyond biologically relevant values. The method is applied to two viral data sets. A divergence point is identified separating the B and C subtypes, two genetically distinct variants of HIV that have spread into different human populations with the AIDS epidemic. In contrast, no strong signal of temporal rate variation is found in a sample of F and H genotypes, two genetic variants of HBV that have likely evolved with humans during their immigration and expansion into the Americas. Temporal shifts in evolutionary rate of sufficient magnitude are detectable in the history of sampled sequences. The ability to detect such divergence points without the need to specify a prior hypothesis about the location or timing of the divergence point should help scientists identify historically important selection events and decipher mechanisms of evolution.
Multi-agent control in perfectly correlated environments☆

Abstract The basic Principal–Agent model is extended to a case in which there are two agents. The agents are risk-averse and their stochastic environments are perfectly correlated. Two cases are described in which the principal can extract all the rents from the agents while ensuring the optimal action from his point of view.
Needle sharing in opioid-dependent outpatients: psychological processes underlying risk

Needle sharing contributes to the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus and other health concerns and remains a persistent problem among injection drug users. We determined whether needle sharing may be related to the discounting of the value of delayed outcomes. Outpatients in treatment for heroin dependence indicated preference for immediate versus delayed hypothetical monetary and heroin outcomes in a titration procedure that determined indifference points at various delays. The degree to which the delayed outcomes lost value was estimated with a nonlinear decay model. Participants who agreed to share a needle in a scenario (N=15) discounted delayed money more steeply than did the nonsharing group (N=17). Both groups discounted delayed heroin more steeply than delayed money. Persistent needle sharing may be related to the relative inability of delayed outcomes to impact current behavior. Training to mitigate the effect of delay on outcome value may offer reductions in needle sharing and drug abuse.
High Throughput Live-Cell FRET Binding Assay by Flow Cytometry

Ratiometric live-cell fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assays hold significant promise for measuring binding affinity of protein-protein interactions. Compared to conventional in vitro binding assays, live-cell FRET gauges interaction within a native regime that favors proper folding, permits physiological modulation of association, and obviates costly purification of proteins. Previously, our lab developed a live-cell FRET binding assay (three-cube method) for cell-by-cell epifluorescence and confocal microscopy (Neuron31:973, J Microsc233:192). While accurate (Nat Commun4:1717), this approach is comparatively slow and labor intensive, challenging high-throughput application. Here we transformed this live-cell FRET approach into the realm of flow cytometry, allowing full binding curves encompassing data from thousands of cells within seconds. We were able to get similar results between the new configuration and microscope-based setup. As an example, we characterized well-studied interactions between Venus-tagged SH3 domains of Gad and a suite of Cerulean-tagged binding peptides. Three such interactions are illustrated with a range of affinities, in close agreement with in vitro iTC measurements. This new flow-cytometry approach (33-FRET-HTS) opens new possibilities for profiling protein-protein interactions in the native context.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Separation of Spores from Diploid Cells of Yeast by Stable-Flow Free-Boundary Electrophoresis

By the use of stable-flow free-boundary (Staflo) electrophoresis and the electrophoretic mobility difference between ascospores and diploid cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a mixture of the two can be separated into spore and diploid cell fractions. The spore fraction that is obtained can then be used for genetic analysis.
A nomogram for factor analysts

When a new reference vector is chosen graphically from the plane of two old ones, its direction cosines as well as the projections of the tests on it are most easily computed by applying certain multipliersd andSd to quantities which are already known. The nomogram quickly suppliesd, afterS has been read from the graph.
Flowfield characterization and simulation validation of multiple-geometry PDEs using cesium-based velocimetry

Abstract A diode-laser velocimeter based on cesium absorption spectroscopy has been used to measure the axial burned gas velocity in a pulse detonation engine (PDE) configured with and without a converging–diverging nozzle. These data are compared to simulation data from a frozen-chemistry computational model, as well as a finite-rate chemistry model with and without the effects of heat transfer included. Discrepancies between the data and the models are discussed and conclusions are drawn on the validity of each model. The velocity diagnostic requires cesium to be seeded into the PDE flowfield where it is then detected using a fixed-wavelength diode laser tuned to monitor the D2 transition of atomic cesium near 852 nm. Due to the unsteady nature of the PDE flowfield, the deposition of the cesium absorber into the flowfield occurs in a pulsating manner. The unsteady nature of this seeding process enables a time-of-flight measurement to be made as the absorber passes two parallel laser beams spaced 2–3 mm apart in the streamwise direction. Using this technique, PDE gas velocities ranging from −100 to 1000 m/s are measured with 20–100 μs time resolution over the duration of a single cycle. Results are presented for a C2H4/O2 (Φ = 1) fueled PDE operating both with and without a converging–diverging nozzle. Comparison of velocity data to each computational model suggests that for the case of the straight tube PDE, velocity can be accurately predicted over the thrust producing range of the engine cycle via an idealized, frozen-chemistry computational model. For the PDE outfitted with a converging–diverging nozzle, the blowdown time for a single cycle is substantially longer, and a less-idealized, finite-rate chemistry model which accounts for heat loss effects is required to capture the more complex wave dynamics.
Technological Diffusion: Tapping the wealth of Africans in the diaspora

Christian N. Madu investigates how to use ICTs as a way to tap the wealth of knowledge of Africans in the diaspora.
A NEW NONPARAMETRIC APPROACH TO GALAXY MORPHOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

We present two new nonparametric methods for quantifying galaxy morphology: the relative distribution of the galaxy pixel flux values (the Gini coefficient or G) and the second-order moment of the brightest 20% of the galaxy's flux (M20). We test the robustness of G and M20 to decreasing signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and spatial resolution and find that both measures are reliable to within 10% for images with average S/N per pixel greater than 2 and resolutions better than 1000 and 500 pc, respectively. We have measured G and M20, as well as concentration (C), asymmetry (A), and clumpiness (S) in the rest-frame near-ultraviolet/optical wavelengths for 148 bright local normal Hubble-type galaxies (E–Sd) galaxies, 22 dwarf irregulars, and 73 0.05 < z < 0.25 ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs). We find that most local galaxies follow a tight sequence in G-M20-C, where early types have high G and C and low M20 and late-type spirals have lower G and C and higher M20. The majority of ULIRGs lie above the normal galaxy G-M20 sequence because of their high G and M20 values. Their high Gini coefficients arise from very bright nuclei, while the high second-order moments are produced by multiple nuclei and bright tidal tails. All of these features are signatures of recent and on-going mergers and interactions. We also find that in combination with A and S, G is more effective than C at distinguishing ULIRGs from the normal Hubble types. Finally, we measure the morphologies of 491.7 < z < 3.8 galaxies from HST NICMOS observations of the Hubble Deep Field North. We find that many of the z ~ 2 galaxies possess G and A higher than expected from degraded images of local elliptical and spiral galaxies and have morphologies more like low-redshift ULIRGs.
99 VISITING BY SIBLINGS IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU)

Negative changes in sibling behavior have been documented following the birth of a newborn. They may be exaggerated by the prolonged hospitalization which occurs when sick neonates are admitted to NICUs. We randomly assigned 15 siblings (ages 3.8–7.25 years) of infants admitted to our NICU to a visiting group (n=8 permitted inside NICU, touch, hold neonate) or a control group (n=7 came to hospital for interview only). A structured interview was administered to sibs directly after the visit. Parents responded to questionnaires comparing the child's behavior before and after the neonate's birth, one week after admission to NICU and one week after experimental (or control) intervention. 80% of all children showed some behavioral changes after birth of the infant and both groups showed improved behavioral trends following the intervention. No differences were found between groups. 3/5 siblings in the control group and 0/5 in the visiting group gave negative or fearful descriptions of the hospital (p=0.08). None of the visits were disruptive of patient care and none of the children asked to leave the unit. Parents' comments were uniformly favorable. No nosocomial infections were documented following visits. In this study no detrimental effects and some favorable effects were found when siblings of this age were permitted to visit sick neonates in the hospital.
Error Reduction and Convergence in Climate Prediction

Abstract Although climate models have steadily improved their ability to reproduce the observed climate, over the years there has been little change to the wide range of sensitivities exhibited by different models to a doubling of atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Stochastic optimization is used to mimic how six independent climate model development efforts might use the same atmospheric general circulation model, set of observational constraints, and model skill criteria to choose different settings for parameters thought to be important sources of uncertainty related to clouds and convection. Each optimized model improved its skill with respect to observations selected as targets of model development. Of particular note were the improvements seen in reproducing observed extreme rainfall rates over the tropical Pacific, which was not specifically targeted during the optimization process. As compared to the default model sensitivity of 2.4°C, the ensemble of optimized model configurations had a larger and n...
The source of progesterone in preimplantation rabbit blastocysts

In vitro and in vivo synthesis of progesterone, sequestration of progesterone from the surrounding medium, and its subsequent conversion to metabolites was investigated in 146 hr post coitus preimplantation rabbit blastocysts. No significant conversion of 3H-pregnenolone to 3H-progesterone was observed throughout the 8 hr incubation. Progesterone content in blastocysts and culture medium did not change during the course of an 8 hr incubation. This suggests that the failure to detect incorporation of label into progesterone was not due to the presence of a large endogenous pool of pregnenolone. Significant uptake (p less than 0.05) of 3H-progesterone from the incubation medium was observed as was significant conversion of the 3H-progesterone to unidentified metabolites. Therefore it would appear that the preimplantation rabbit blastocyst is not capable of de novo synthesis of progesterone from pregnenolone prior to implantation but sequesters progesterone from the surrounding medium and converts it to progesterone metabolites.
Variance bounds using a theorem of Polya

Abstract This paper uses an extension of a theorem of Polya to derive bounds for the variance of a random variable. These are applied to maxima and minima of a sample and the bounds are found to be quite good.
Plant closing ethics root in American law

The harsh consequences of the American plant closing epidemic in recent years on workers, their families, and their communities, has raised widespread ethical and moral concerns. In the early 1970s, a diverse group of academics, social activists, public policy analysts, and special interest organizations developed a number of legislative proposals designed to restrict closings by law. The proposals encountered many formidable obstacles in an increasingly hostile free-market environment. The business community was itself moved to assume some of the burdens precipitated by closures either unilaterally or through collective bargaining. At the same time, powerful business interests tenaciously fought the enactment of mandatory closing restrictions into law. Nevertheless, through a prolonged and tortuous odyssey, the requirements of advanced notice and worker severence pay have now begun to root in law. Their success stands as evidence of a continuing American public policy receptivity to ethics-driven concerns.
Numerical study of multicomponent droplet vaporization at near critical conditions

A comprehensive numerical analysis of multicomponent droplet vaporization at near critical conditions has been carried out. The model is based on the full time-dependent conservation equations and accommodates various important high-pressure phenomena. As an example, the case involving a two-component (n-pentane and n-octane) fuel droplet in nitrogen gas is studied. The influences of transient effects, surface regression, ambient gas solubility, and phase-equilibrium relations on vaporization mechanisms are examined in detail.
High‐frequency asymptotic solution of the wave equation in an inhomogeneous medium

An explicit integral representation is obtained in the E→0 limit of the solution of the wave equation utt=c(x)2Δu on Rn (n≤3) with initial data of the form u(x,0)=f(x)eiS(x)/E. Estimates are given with respect to the energy norm and the representation is valid for any finite time interval. Away from caustics, the integral is asymptotically evaluated and it is found that the solution is determined by time‐dependent geometrical optics.
Reversed phase chromatographic analysis of Nostoc and Euglena isoleucyl-tRNAs aminoacylated in vitro in homologous and heterologous systems.

Abstract High pressure reversed-phase chromatography (RPC-5) of tRNA from the blue-green alga, Nostoc , acylated with [ 14 C]Ile in a homologous system indicated the presence of 2 major isoleucyl-tRNA species. Analysis of Nostoc tRNA acylated in a heterologous system (enzyme from green or aplastidic Euglena ) showed 2 isoleucyl-tRNA species present, one of which eluted from the column at a different salt molarity than that required for elution of either of the isoleucyl-tRNAs seen in the homologous Nostoc system. Omission of unlabeled valine from reactions in the heterologous system resulted in the appearance of a third elution peak, presumably Ile mischarged to tRNA Val . In the homologous Euglena system, if the source of tRNA, enzyme or both was from aplastidic cells then 2 isoleucyl-tRNA species were noted, with the peak of the earlier-eluting species being four times larger in size than that of the later-eluting species. If both enzyme and tRNA came from green Euglena then the 2 peaks of isoleucyl-tRNA seen were of equal size. We think that the earlier-eluting peak represents the cytosol species of isoleucyl-tRNA and suggest that the mitochondrial and chloroplast species coelute from the column at the higher salt molarity. Analysis of tRNA from green Euglena acylated by Nostoc enzyme revealed 2 isoleucyl-tRNA species with the elution position of neither corresponding to that attributed to the Euglena cytosol species. Under conditions tested Nostoc enzyme preparations could not charge Ile to tRNA from aplastidic Euglena . Differences noted in the elution profiles of isoleucyl-tRNA species when analyses of heterologous systems were compared to those of homologous systems may reflect modification as well as aminoacylation activities specific to each enzyme source.
A Slaveholders' Union: Slavery, Politics, and the Constitution in the Early American Republic. By George William Van Cleve. (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2010. Pp. 391. $26.00.)

This terrific book offers one of the most authoritative recent treatments of slavery's powerful place in the federal union between the American Revolution and the Missouri Crisis. Arguing that slav...
Structural and Chemical Comparison of Graphite and BN/AlN Caps Used for Annealing Ion Implanted SiC

The effectiveness of AlN/BN and graphite annealing caps for ion implanted SiC was examined morphologically, structurally, chemically, and electrically. The AlN/BN cap more effectively blocks the out-diffusion of silicon because it is essentially inert. Relatively small amounts of silicon from the SiC diffuse out into the graphite cap and react with it. This has the effect of lowering the Si vapor pressure so that it does not create blow holes in this relatively weak structure. The graphite cap can be removed easily with an oxygen plasma, while warm KOH has to be used to remove the nitride cap, and not all of it can be removed after an 1800°C anneal. The out-diffusion of silicon through the graphite cap is most severe at 1800°C, where it roughens the SiC surface and forms reaction products when the Si reacts with the graphite at a significant rate. At lower temperatures these reaction products form small particulates on the surface that are visible only at higher magnifications. In those regions where the graphite cap crystallized, isolated morphological damage on the SiC surface was also detected, appearing to be in the vicinity of the grain boundaries. Scratches on the substrate surface were not affected even at temperatures as high as 1800°C.
Overcoming strangeness and communication barriers: a phenomenological study of becoming a foreign nurse.

Background: This paper presents a study that explored the lived experience of foreign nurses working at hospitals in Iceland. Aim: The aim was to generate an understanding of this experience both for local and international purposes. Method: The methodology that guided the study was the Vancouver school of doing phenomenology. Sampling was purposeful and consisted of 11 registered nurse from seven countries. The data were collected in dialogues; the analyses were thematic. Findings: The findings are presented in five main themes that describe the essence of the experience with the overall theme of ‘Growing through experiencing strangeness and communication barriers’. The first theme portrays how the nurses met and tackled the multiple initial challenges. One of the challenges, described in the second theme, was becoming outsiders and needing to be let in. The third theme explores the language barrier the nurses encountered and the fourth theme the different work culture. The fifth then illuminates how the nurses finally overcame these challenges and won through. Conclusion: The findings and their international context suggest the importance of language for personal and professional well-being and how language and culture are inseparable entities.
Z1 dependence of K-shell X-ray production by heavy charged particles

Abstract New measurements on Al at 0.1 – 0.9 MeV/amu give K-shell ionization cross section ratios σ( He ) 4σ( H ) > 1 , contrary to the plane wave Born approximation prediction of unity. The effect is similar to the Z31 effect found in stopping powers and may be caused by the same atomic processes.
Comparative studies of circadian pacemaker coupling in opisthobranch molluscs.

Abstract The eyes of several marine molluscs contain circadian pacemakers. The ocular pacemakers of one mollusc, Bulla gouldiana , are mutually coupled, and this coupling can be demonstrated in vitro. Induced phase separations between the two ocular pacemakers are reduced if the pacemakers are allowed to interact. The interaction between the pacemakers is mediated by the exchange of optic nerve impulses from eye to eye. In contrast, in vivo studies with another mollusc, Aplysia californica , have revealed that this snail's pacemakers are not strongly coupled. We have now determined in Bursatella leachi plei , an Opisthobranch closely related to A. californica , that the ocular pacemakers are mutually coupled. By virtue of the interaction between the pacemakers of B. leachi plei , the period of the ocular rhythm is increased by 1.5 h. In addition, eyes that remain attached to the nervous system show an increase in the sustainability of the free-running rhythm compared with isolated eyes. The increase in sustainability however, is due to the effects of attachment to the cerebral ganglion, and not the contralateral eye, since most single eyes attached to the brain show sustained, short-period rhythms. Thus, two properties of a circadian system, the pacemaker period and pacemaker sustainability, may be influenced by separate physiololical mechanisms. We also confirm, using our in vitro techniques, the lack of strong coupling between the ocular pacemaker of A. californica .
High resolution isoelectric focusing of juvenile hormone esterase activity from the hemolymph of Trichoplusia ni (Hübner).

Juvenile hormone esterase (JHE) activity from the hemolymph of larvalTrichoplusia ni was analyzed by two different isoelectric focusing (IEF) methodologies. Use of techniques capable of progressively higher resolution split ultimately what appeared at lower resolution to be a single peak into two discrete peaks of JHE activity (pI 5.5 and 5.3). Neither peak was a degradation artifact of the other caused by conditions of IEF.
Parasitism of an insect Manduca sexta L. alters feeding behaviour and nutrient utilization to influence developmental success of a parasitoid

The effects of macronutrient balance on nutrient intake and utilization were examined in Manduca sexta larvae parasitized by Cotesia congregata. Insects fed an artificial diet having constant total macronutrient, but with varied ratios of protein and carbohydrate, with altered diet consumption in response to excesses and deficiencies of the individual macronutrients. Bivariate plots of protein and carbohydrate consumption for non-parasitized larvae demonstrated a curvilinear relationship between points of nutrient intake for the various diets, and the larvae grew best on carbohydrate-biased diets. The relationship was linear for parasitized larvae with the growth uniform across diets. On protein-biased diets, the larvae regulated the nitrogen content, containing similar amounts of nitrogen regardless of consumption. Efficiency of nitrogen conversion in non-parasitized larvae was greatest on carbohydrate-biased diets, while nitrogen conversion by parasitized larvae was greatest with intermediate nutrient ratios. Accounting for carbohydrate consumption, the lipid content decreased as dietary carbohydrate increased, but parasitized larvae contained significantly less lipid. The total biomass of parasites developing in individual host larvae was positively correlated with host protein consumption, but the individual parasites were similar in size. Parasitism influences host nutrient consumption in a manner that achieves uniform host growth under diverse nutritional regimes, thereby constraining blood nutrient concentrations within limits suitable for parasite growth and development.
Minimizing broadcast latency and redundancy in ad hoc networks

Network wide broadcasting is a fundamental operation in ad hoc networks. In broadcasting, a source node sends a message to all the other nodes in the network. In this paper, we consider the problem of collision-free broadcasting in ad hoc networks. Our objective is to minimize the latency and the number of transmissions in the broadcast. We show that minimum latency broadcasting is NP-complete for ad hoc networks. We also present a simple distributed collision-free broadcasting algorithm for broadcasting a message. For networks with bounded node transmission ranges, our algorithm simultaneously guarantees that the latency and the number of transmissions are within O(1) times their re spective optimal values. Our algorithm and analysis extend to the case when multiple messages are broadcast from multiple sources. Experimental studies indicate that our algorithms perform much better in practice than the analytical guarantees provided for the worst case.
Overview and Use of DSM-5 Cultural Formulation in Older Adults

The Cultural Formulation (CF) is a tool that clinicians and educators can use to enhance psychiatric diagnosis and treatment in ethnically diverse older adult populations. One of the important changes in DSM-5 is the introduction of a Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) that can be used in the initial assessment of culturally diverse patients. Additional “expansion modules” have also been developed to supplement the CFI. This session will include an overview of the CF and the CFI and guidelines for their use in assessing ethnically diverse older patients. Three in-depth case presentations will illustrate the application and clinical usefulness of the DSM-5 CF and CFI in assessment of ethnically diverse older patients. Faculty Disclosures: Iqbal “Ike” Ahmed, MD Nothing to disclose Rita Hargrave, MD Nothing to disclose Ladson Hinton, MD Nothing to disclose Daniel E. Jimenez, PhD Nothing to disclose PERSONALIZING TREATMENT FOR LATE-LIFE DEPRESSION: RESEARCH APPROACHES George Niederehe, PhD; Dolores E. Gallagher-Thompson, PhD; Ian A. Cook, MD; Marsha N. Wittink, MD, MBE NIMH, Bethesda, MD Stanford University, Stanford, CA UCLA, Los Angeles, CA University of Rochester, Rochester, NY Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 21:3, Supplement 1 S27
Perspectives on American Kinship in the Later 1990s

This paper reviews the current status of kinship research in the United States and identifies factors that might account for the declining interest in the subject among family researchers. The analysis uses both structural and cultural factors to illustrate how they can determine the diversity in kinship functioning that ranges from those family systems where kinship relationships flourish and those where they play a small part in family life. The structural and demographic variables determine the numbers and availability of kin, whereas the cultural variables determine the norms that establish the motivation to sustain kinship bonds. To illustrate how these factors operate among subgroups in the United States, I analyze three types of kinship systems: the lineal emphasis in White families of the very old; the collateral emphasis in the families of their Black counterparts; and the egocentric emphasis of White suburban families that are undergoing marital change.
Narrative configuration in qualitative analysis

Narrative inquiry refers to a subset of qualitative research designs in which stories are used to describe human action. The term narrative has been employed by qualitative researchers with a variety of meanings. In the context of narrative inquiry, narrative refers to a discourse form in which events and happenings are configured into a temporal unity by means of a plot. Bruner (1985) designates two types of cognition: paradigmatic, which operates by recognizing elements as members of a category; and narrative, which operates by combining elements into an emplotted story. Narrative inquiries divide into two distinct groups based on Bruner's types of cognition. Paradigmatic‐type narrative inquiry gathers stories for its data and uses paradigmatic analytic procedures to produce taxonomies and categories out of the common elements across the database. Narrative‐type narrative inquiry gathers events and happenings as its data and uses narrative analytic procedures to produce explanatory stories.
Democracy Still Matters: A Response to the Rejoinder of my Review of Teaching Against Global Capitalism and the New Imperialism: A Critical Pedagogy

I am delighted to have the opportunity to continue the dialogue on the issues raised by my review. The rejoinder that my review provoked seems, to me at least, to illustrate the divide between Marx...