cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hybrid Multiobjective Optimization Model for Regional Pavement-Preservation Resource Allocation

Because of a lack of reliable performance prediction models, many state departments of transportation (DOTs) use a needs-based budgeting process, namely, annual budget requests. Allocations of funding across maintenance activities and districts are developed on the basis of pavement maintenance needs derived from pavement inventory and annual or biannual condition data. This allocation of funding across maintenance activities and districts is challenging and often involves negotiation and balancing. A decision support model is proposed for the optimization of short-term pavement preservation budgeting based on two proven operations research techniques: goal programming for handling multiple objectives and an analytic hierarchy process for priority setting under multiple criteria. The model simultaneously considers two incommensurable and conflicting objectives: maximization of the preservation effectiveness in terms of extended service life and minimization of the total preservation cost. Application of the model is demonstrated with a short-term pavement preservation budgeting problem for a decentralized state DOT with nine maintenance districts. The illustrative example reveals that the proposed model is practical for supporting needs-based budgeting.
Abnormal sexual development and psychosexual issues

Animal models of gonadal hormone influences on the sexual differentiation of brain and behaviour are reviewed and discussed as a basis for predicting hormonal influences on human neurobehavioural development. Behavioural outcomes in clinical intersex cases, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen insensitivity syndrome, enzymatic deficiencies and situations in which hormones have been prescribed during pregnancy are reviewed. It is concluded that the prenatal or neonatal hormone environment contributes to the development of human behaviours that show sex differences, particularly childhood play behaviour, sexual orientation and core gender identity. There also is some evidence for influences on aggression and cognition. It is also concluded that additional research is needed to determine why some intersex patients assigned and reared as girls are not successful in this identity and role.
HIGHLY SELECTIVE INTRA-ARTERIAL CHEMOTHERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF PROGRESSIVE DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMAS (DIPG)

BACKGROUND: DIPG remains a uniformly fatal diagnosis with most children dying of disease between six months and two years from initial diagnosis. Radiation therapy remains the only intervention that alters the natural history of the disease, but is not curative. Given the frequent imaging feature of a non-contrast enhancing mass at diagnosis, the extent of systemic delivery of chemotherapeutics to the pons is uncertain. Attempts have been made to circumvent this issue by various methods including convention-enhanced delivery utilizing catheters inserted into the pons, blood-brain barrier disruption, and intra-arterial (IA) administration of chemotherapy into the vertebral circulation. This pilot study explores the safety, tolerability, and initial efficacy of highly selective intra-arterial administration of melphalan via the basilar artery at the time of clinical progression following initial radiotherapy for DIPG. METHODS: Subjects with a radiologic or biopsy proven diagnosis of DIPG are eligible at the time of symptom and/or radiographic progression in the months following initial irradiation. Consensus of the multidisciplinary Pediatric Neuro-Oncology conference faculty is required. Subjects with a documented hypercoagulable disorder or vasculopathy are not eligible, nor are subjects who have been re-irradiated. Two cycles of IA chemotherapy are planned 4 weeks apart. Under general anesthesia, the vertebral artery (right or left) is catheterized with a 4-French guide catheter. Following a baseline angiogram, a 1.5-French microcatheter is advanced into the mid basilar artery. After angiographic confirmation of positioning, IA delivery of 4 or 6 mg of melphalan is delivered over 30 minutes. Following completion of the procedure, subjects are observed overnight in the Pediatric Intensive Care prior to discharge the following day. Subjects are monitored for toxicity between, and following, IA administrations. RESULTS: To date, 2 children, of a planned cohort of 5 children, have been treated with IA melphalan. Both children tolerated the actual IA administrations without any procedural associated toxicity including the absence of stroke, hemorrhage, or other technical complications. The first child received one of two planned IA administrations but clinically deteriorated shortly before the second IA infusion was planned. The second child received both planned IA administrations and is in early follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Highly selective IA administration of melphalan to the basilar artery is feasible and acutely tolerated. Updated experience and follow-up with enrolled patients will be presented. SECONDARY CATEGORY: Clinical Neuro-Oncology.
Influence of dangling-bond defects on recombination in a -Si:H

Time-resolved photoinduced absorption (PIA) and steady-state photoconductivity (PC) experiments are used to study recombination processes in electron-irradiated hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). Defect densities measured by ESR range from 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{15}$/${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ to ${10}^{18}$/${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$. It is found that while increasing the dangling-bond density reduces the PC, the PIA decay rate increases. The results are discussed in the context of a recombination model where the defect density determines whether the carriers recombine through a fast bimolecular or a slower monomolecular process.
Characterization of Desulfomicrobium escambium sp. nov. and proposal to assign Desulfovibrio desulfuricans strain Norway 4 to the genus Desulfomicrobium

A sulfate-reducing bacterium, designated strain ESC1, was isolated and found to be a new species. Strain ESC1 is a strictly anaerobic, gram-negative, non-sporeforming, motile, short, round-ended rod often occurring in pairs. Of 31 fermentative substrates tested, only pyruvate was utilized. Sulfate enhanced growth with pyruvate and allowed growth with ethanol, lactate, formate and hydrogen. Both sulfate and thiosulfate were reduced. Lactate was incompletely oxidized to acetate and CO2. The strain was desulfoviridin negative. The G+C content is 59.9%. These data suggested placement of strain ESC1 in the genus Desulfomicrobium. Comparative 16S rRNA analysis showed that strain ESC1 shares 98% rRNA sequence similarity with Desulfomicrobium baculatum and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans strain Norway 4. The latter two strains shared greater than 99% 16S rRNA sequence similarity. Strain ESC1 has been designated as the new species Desulfomicrobium escambium. We also recommend that D. desulfuricans strain Norway 4 be considered for reclassification as a Desulfomicrobium species.
Chloroplast biogenesis 45: molecular structures of protochlorophyllide (E443 F625) and of chlorophyllide A (E458 F674)

Abstract The divinyl structure of protochlorophyllide (E443 F625) and of its chlorophyllide a (E458 F674) photoreduction product was ascertained by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and by fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy. These two phorbins are two newly discovered intermediates of the chlorophyll a biosynthetic pathway in higher plants. Both tetrapyrroles exhibited recognizable ABX spin-spin splitting patterns which ar characteristic of divinyl tetrapyrroles. Fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopic data further confirmed the presence of two vinyl groups per molecule of protochlorophyllide (E443 F625) and of chlorophyllide a (E458 F674).
A Dynamic Study of Racial Inequality in Home Equity during the Housing Bubble

From 2001 to 2005 the American housing market witnessed a housing bubble with rising housing prices and home ownership rates. Home equity that constitutes a large share of net worth for most families increases also during this housing bubble. This paper examines the degree to which the overall increase in housing prices and in home ownership rates affected the wealth accumulation of whites and various minority groups. Using data from the American Housing Survey of 2001 and 2005, we find that the distance between white and Black homeowners in home equity is amplified between 2001 and 2005, but the advantage of white owners over Hispanic owners disappears once other factors are held constant. Asians benefit dramatically from the housing bubble, their home equity surpasses that of whites after other variables are controlled. These findings further broaden our understanding about racial stratification in wealth in American society.
Dural-based Rosai–Dorfman disease: Differential diagnostic considerations

Extranodal sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman disease) is a non-neoplastic condition that has rarely been reported to involve the central nervous system. This report documents a 28-year-old man with Rosai-Dorfman disease who presented with a seizure and a dural-based mass that was thought to represent a meningioma. Resection showed a lesion marked by large, S-100 protein immunoreactive histiocytic cells with intermixed benign lymphocytes and plasma cells. Emperipolesis with intracytoplasmic lymphocytes and plasma cells was present. Differential diagnostic considerations will be discussed.
FREQUENCY OF EVENTS PRODUCING PULSARS.

IF the pulsed radio source found near the Crab Nebula1 is a remnant of the supernova event of 1054, then the secular change in its period (assumed to be intrinsic to the source) reported by Richards2 can be used to estimate the age of typical longer period pulsars and hence the frequency with which pulsar-producing events occur in the galaxy.
Antigenic relationships between Mojave toxin subunits, Mojave toxin and some crotalid venoms.

Abstract J. T. Henderson and A. L. Bieber . Antigenic relationships between Mojave toxin subunits, Mojave toxin and some crotalid venoms. Toxicon 24, 473 – 479, 1986. — Immunochemical responses of a number of pit viper venoms to antibodies derived separately from the acidic and basic subunits were investigated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Ouchterlony immunodiffusion. The polyclonal antisera to the basic subunit were generated in rabbits, whereas mouse hybridoma cell cultures were used to produce antibodies to the acidic subunit. The immunochemical response of a venom correlated well with published values for ld 50 dose for the test venom. Many venoms that elicited a positive response with antiserum to the basic subunit also reacted strongly with the hybridoma derived antibodies to the acidic subunit. The data support the conclusion that crotalid venoms which are more lethal have in common a potent venom component that is immunochemically related to Mojave toxin.
CCR2 expression by brain microvascular endothelial cells is critical for macrophage transendothelial migration in response to CCL2.

While the expression of chemokine receptors by endothelial cells is now well established, little is known of the function of these receptors at this cellular locale. However, given that chemokines are instrumental in directing leukocytes to specific parenchymal sites, one possibility is that endothelial chemokine receptors play a role in the process of leukocyte extravasation. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the contribution of CCR2, the major cognate receptor for the chemokine CCL2 (formerly known as MCP-1), to CCL2-stimulated transendothelial migration of macrophages (mO) across cultured brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC). Specifically, we prepared both BMEC and mO from wild-type (WT) mice and mice deficient in CCR2; i.e., CCR2 (-/-), and compared the ability of WT and CCR2 (-/-) BMEC to support CCL2-stimulated transendothelial migration of WT and CCR2 (-/-) mO. In response to CCL2, WT mO, but not CCR2 (-/-) mO, were stimulated to migrate across WT BMEC, consistent with the recognized obligatory role for CCR2 in mediating CCL2-stimulated responses. Remarkably, however, neither WT nor CCR2 (-/-) mO were stimulated by CCL2 to migrate across CCR2 (-/-) BMEC. In contrast, both types of mO were able to migrate similarly across both types of BMEC in response to another chemokine--CCL3 (formerly known as MIP-1alpha)--which utilizes receptors other than CCR2. Lastly, CCL2-induced mO transendothelial migration was blocked by treatment of WT BMEC with pertussis toxin, suggesting that CCR2 is functionally coupled to the inhibitory G protein Galphai, much as it is in other cell types. These results highlight a heretofore-unrecognized role for endothelial CCR2 in mediating transendothelial migration.
Therapeutic HPV DNA vaccines

It is now well established that most cervical cancers are causally associated with HPV infection. This realization has led to efforts to control HPV-associated malignancy through prevention or treatment of HPV infection. Currently, commercially available HPV vaccines are not designed to control established HPV infection and associated premalignant and malignant lesions. To treat and eradicate pre-existing HPV infections and associated lesions which remain prevalent in the U.S. and worldwide, effective therapeutic HPV vaccines are needed. DNA vaccination has emerged as a particularly promising form of therapeutic HPV vaccines due to its safety, stability and ability to induce antigen-specific immunity. This review focuses on improving the potency of therapeutic HPV vaccines through modification of dendritic cells (DCs) by [1] increasing the number of antigen-expressing/antigen-loaded DCs, [2] improving HPV antigen expression, processing and presentation in DCs, and [3] enhancing DC and T cell interaction. Continued improvement in therapeutic HPV DNA vaccines may ultimately lead to an effective DNA vaccine for the treatment of HPV-associated malignancies.
The use of tissue adhesive (isobutyl cyanoacrylate) and topical steroid (0.1 percent dexamethasone) in experimental tympanoplasty

Two main purposes in the present study were: 1. to determine the feasibility of using the tissue adhesive isobutyl 2-cyanoacrylate in reconstructive middle ear surgery; and 2. to learn whether a potent topical corticosteroid (0.1 percent dexamethasone) would have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects when placed in the tympanic cavity at the time of middle ear surgery. Tympanoplastic surgery was performed on 26 cat ears and six squirrel monkey ears; the animals were followed for six weeks to nine months postoperatively. The conclusions to be drawn from this experimental study are that presently the tissue adhesive isobutyl cyanoacrylate appears too toxic for use on the delicate middle ear structures; likewise, corticosteroids placed in the middle ear do not appear to have any beneficial effects in tympanoplasty surgery.
AMINE LEVELS, MONOAMINE OXIDASE AND DOPA-DECARBOXYLASE ACTIVITIES IN THE GASTRO-INTESTINAL TRACT OF THE RAT.

Abstract The concentrations of norepinephrine and 5-hydroxytryptamine were found to be highest in the duodenum and proximal jejunum with a gradual decline toward the distal portions of the small intestine. The norepinephrine levels were lower in the pyloric antrum than in the duodenum-proximal jejunum area, whereas 5-hydroxytryptamine levels were similar. Although regional differences in monoamine oxidase and dopa-decarboxylase activities existed in the gastro-intestinal tract of the rat, these regional differences were not correlated with the concentrations of the amines.
Innovation and the personality profiles of firms

Abstract A widely held view is that innovative behavior by firms is determined primarily or exclusively by the chance discovery of opportunities in combination with the external economic constraints to which a firm is subject. An alternative hypothesis is that firms have distinct personalities and that these personalities significantly influence innovative behavior. A firm's personality may evolve as a consequence of a sequence of historical accidents or, alternatively, may be predictable from its structural attributes. Our statistical analysis is based on published historical data for two samples of firms, namely, innovating firms comprising one sample and later entrants into the markets for new products comprising the control sample. A number of observed variables were used to predict a firm's personality profile. Some variables merely reflected past behavior patterns while others related to structural attributes of the firm - in particular, variables that are relevant to managerial incentives. Using principal components analysis, we were able to identify two distinct personality profiles, and they proved relevant to innovative behavior.
Mining game statistics from web services: a World of Warcraft armory case study

Collecting large sets of quantitative video game play data can take many months or years. This delays the progress of interpreting data and drawing interesting conclusions. Mining game data from publicly accessible web services allows us to quickly retrieve quantitative results. This will allow the pace of quantitative research in video games to increase, as well as provide pointers towards maximizing the efficiency of future qualitative study.
Acylamido analogs of endocannabinoids selectively inhibit cancer cell proliferation

A series of amide derivatives of long-chain fatty acids has been studied for their effects on the proliferation of cancer cells in vitro. Fatty acids ranged from palmitic to higher polyunsaturated types containing 22 carbon atoms. The amino portions of the molecules included ammonia, ethanolamine, various amino acids and dopamine. Several cell lines were used as models and these included HTB-125 (normal human breast cells), HTB-126 (human breast cancer cells), HeLa (cervical cancer cells), WI-38 (human embryonic lung cells), RAW264.7 (mouse macrophage tumor cells) and RBL-2H3 (rat basophilic leukemia cells). The HTB lines were obtained from the same donor, so, could be considered a matched pair, that is, normal control versus cancer cells and thus, provide a model for testing specificity of action for the acylamido analogs. While many compounds were efficacious in inhibiting the proliferation of various cell lines, only two analogs showed a high degree of specificity in the matched HTB cell lines. N-palmitoyl dopamine and N-palmitoyl tyrosine each demonstrated complete specificity of action at a concentration of 10muM and were highly efficacious in both cases. No clear structure-activity pattern could be derived from these studies since the intensity of the inhibitory action seemed to depend on three factors, namely, the fatty acid, the amine group and the cell type.
Double-negative feedback loops as a common design motif in the transcriptional networks regulating cell fate

The gene networks that regulate the choice of cell fate in living organisms contain a set of ubiquitous design motifs. We discuss the role of one such motif, the double-negative feedback loop, in producing discrete and stable steady states during the development of mammalian cell lineages. Several examples of this motif are described from the literature. Thereafter, we use an ordinary differential equation-based computational model of the double-negative feedback loop motif to illustrate the mechanism by which it generates stable cellular states. Stochastic simulations show how this motif ensures robustness of cell states to stochastic fluctuations in gene expression.
Digital configurable block based implementation of image enhancement algorithm using PSoC 5LP

In this paper four simple but very effective image enhancement technique is implemented in a digital configurable block on Programmable System on Chip (PSoC). This is done by converting a 2D gray image matrix to 1D vector and send it to PSoC5 LP Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART).The UART is communicating with a Verilog component which use Universal Digital Block Array (UDB) for implementing image enhancement algorithms. For implementing enhancement algorithm very simple Verilog components are developed by using Cypress PSoC Creator 2.2, It includes adder, subtracter, multiplier, 8 bit comparator, and multiplexer. Verilog components for constant values are also developed. Enhancement algorithms are implemented with the integration of arithmetic, logical and constant Verilog components.
Overlap of Voiding Symptoms, Storage Symptoms and Pain in Men and Women

Purpose: We quantified the degree of symptomatic overlap in individuals who reported urological symptoms and compared these patterns between men and women.Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of the Kaiser Permanente Northwest membership with no medical record evidence of pelvic malignancy or neurological disease. The questionnaire included the International Prostate Symptom Scale, Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index and Problem Index, and National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index. The 701 men and 745 women who reported urological symptoms were selected for analysis. The degree of overlap of storage symptoms, voiding symptoms and pain symptoms was assessed. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine symptom predictors.Results: There was a high degree of overlap among the 3 symptom categories with few observed differences between men and women. Of individuals with storage or voiding symptoms 34% of men and 43% of women also had pain symptoms. Of...
2-micron coherent Doppler lidar for space-based global wind field mapping

A space-based 2-micron coherent Doppler lidar can have a significant impact on climate research and numerical weather forecasting. This paper describes the key challenges of deploying such an instrument in space, and provides a status of the technology development activities.
Snowmelt Runoff Modeling: Limitations and Potential for Mitigating Water Disputes

Summary Conceptual snowmelt runoff models have proven useful for estimating discharge from remote mountain basins including those spanning the various ranges of the Himalaya. Such models can provide water resource managers with fairly accurate predictions of water availability for operational purposes (e.g. irrigation and hydropower). However, these models have limited ability to address characteristic components of water disputes such as diversions, storage and withholding. Contemporary disputes between India and Pakistan surrounding the snowmelt-derived water resources of the Upper Indus Basin highlight the need for improved water balance accounting methods. We present a research agenda focused on providing refined hydrological contributions to water dispute mitigation efforts.
Class A scavenger receptors mediate cell adhesion via activation of Gi/o and formation of focal adhesion complexes

Class A macrophage scavenger receptors (SR-A) are multifunctional receptors with roles in modified lipoprotein uptake, innate immunity, and macrophage adhesion. Our previous studies conducted in mouse peritoneal macrophages demonstrated that pertussis toxin (PTX) mediated inhibition of G(i/o) attenuated SR-A-dependent uptake of modified lipoprotein. The finding that SR-A-mediated lipoprotein internalization was PTX-sensitive led us to hypothesize that SR-A-mediated cell adhesion might be similarly regulated by G(i/o)-dependent signaling pathways. To test this hypothesis, SR-A was expressed in HEK cells under inducible control. Relative to HEK cells that lack SR-A, SR-A expressing cells displayed enhanced adhesion to tissue culture dishes. SR-A-mediated adhesion was significantly reduced following PTX treatment and was insensitive to chelating divalent cations with EDTA. SR-A-expressing cells exhibited a distinct cell morphology characterized by fine filopodia-like projections. Both polymerized actin and vinculin were codistributed with SR-A in the filopodia-like projections indicating the formation of focal adhesion complexes. Overall, our results indicate that the ability of SR-A to enhance cell adhesion involves G(i/o) activation and formation of focal adhesion complexes.
The Order of Genocide : The Dynamics of Genocide in Rwanda

Introduction To begin, I’d like to describe the origins of the research project that ultimately became The Order of Genocide. I first traveled to Rwanda as a journalist in the mid-1990s, and, during my travels there and in what was then Zaire, I became deeply interested in the dynamics that ultimately led to the 1994 genocide. From my perspective as a journalist traveling in the region, the genocide was an absolutely seminal event, but one that was poorly understood. Eventually I returned to the United States and began a PhD program in political science at the University of California, Berkeley, where I began to study the origins of genocide and mass violence, African politics, and the history of the Great Lakes region. The Order of Genocide is based on my PhD dissertation. Three related questions drove my initial inquiry. First, what explains the ability of Rwandan elites to mobilize a large number of citizens effectively and quickly during the genocide? The literature on African states consistently indicates that governments are relatively weak, especially outside the capital. Yet in Rwanda state authorities successfully solicited the participation of hundreds of thousands of citizens in an extermination campaign. Second, what explains the participation of ordinary civilians in the genocide? When I began to research Rwanda in the late 1990s there was much speculation but little by way of satisfactory answers to this question. Yet given the scale of participation, understanding the dynamics and conditions driving individuals seemed crucial. Third, why did the elites choose the strategy they did? The literature on Rwanda was clear that governing, military, and party officials fomented mass violence; the genocide was not a spontaneous eruption of hatred. Moreover, an instrumentalist consensus dominated the literature: elites were said to have deliberately advocated violence to protect and promote their interests. But instrumentalist hypotheses go only so far; they do not say why elites chose a strategy of genocide over alternatives. As I considered these questions, a separate set of concerns began to occupy me. In particular, I became concerned about the gap in detailed evidence about the genocide. Most existing empirical information was anecdotal or focused on the top (such as discussions of the history of ethnicity or examinations of national-level propaganda before and during the genocide). There was relatively little empirical information about the dynamics of the genocide in rural areas, where the absolute majority of violence occurred. In short, the situation I found as I began to research Rwanda was that a number of key questions remained unanswered and there was little systematically collected evidence that could be used to evaluate different hypotheses. To compensate, I sought to create a research design that would allow me to generate new empirical information and to evaluate different arguments. As many who read this journal know, generating evidence about the dynamics of genocide presents specific problems. Three in particular stood out for me as I started
Iron catalyzed enantioselective sulfa-Michael addition: a four-step synthesis of the anti-asthma agent Montelukast

A salen ligand based on a chiral cis-2,5-diaminobicyclo[2.2.2]octane scaffold forms an iron(III) complex with ferric chloride which catalyzes asymmetric addition of thiols to α,β-unsaturated ketones under mild conditions. The reaction (sulfa-Michael addition) produces β-thioketones in excellent yield and high enantiomeric excess from a wide range of aliphatic and aromatic thiols using chalcones and other conjugated enones as Michael acceptors. With α-substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones as acceptors, the addition shows strong preference (typically >50:1) for the syn diastereomer over the anti product. An asymmetric synthesis of (R)-Montelukast, the sodium salt of which is the commercial anti-asthma drug Singulair®, was devised using conjugate addition of a thiol catalyzed by our iron(III)–salen complex to an α,β-unsaturated ketone synthesized in a four-component, one-pot tandem Michael-aldol condensation. The reaction sequence to (R)-Montelukast proceeded in 72% overall yield over four steps from commercially available materials. A mechanism for our catalyzed asymmetric sulfa-Michael addition is advanced which coordinates the enone acceptor to the metal centre of the iron–salen complex in an open lower quadrant under the bicyclic scaffold, thereby exposing only the si face of the double bond to attack by the external nucleophilic thiol. Prior internal coordination of the thiol to the metal centre of the complex is proposed based on spectroscopic and chemical evidence and leads to activation of the catalyst through a trans ligand effect.
The evaluation of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation's Community Health Promotion Grant Program: design.

Abstract The Kaiser Family Foundation's Community Health Promotion Grant Program (CHPGP) provides funding and technical assistance in support of community-based efforts to prevent major health problems. The first phase of the program was implemented in 11 communities in the western United States. This paper describes the evaluation design of the CHPGP in the West, the methods of data collection, and the baseline comparability of intervention and control communities. Major features of the evaluation design include: (1) the randomization of qualified communities making application into funded and unfunded comparison groups; (2) a second set of matched control communities for some intervention sites; (3) data gathering through repeated surveys of community residents (probability samples of adults and adolescents) and institutions (health-related organizations and randomly sampled grocery stores and restaurants); and (4) the use of secondary data to monitor health events. Selected baseline data show that intervention and control communities differ in racial/ethnic composition, but relevant health behaviors and ratings of community activation for health promotion appear comparable.
Is Diversity Management Sufficient? Organizational Inclusion to Further Performance

This study focuses on the concept of organizational inclusion, which goes beyond diversity management, the dominant paradigm in the field of public administration. Although several studies in publi...
Pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes: targeting islet cell dysfunction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) continues to be a major health problem worldwide. It is well known that T2DM is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, which arises from insufficient pancreatic insulin secretion, insulin resistance in peripheral tissues, and inadequate suppression of glucagon production. This suppression results in inadequate uptake, storage, and disposal of ingested glucose accompanied by elevated hepatic production of glucose and profound hyperglycemia. Notably, these pathophysiologic processes can progress to a clinically significant degree even in patients with impaired glucose tolerance. As researchers begin to unravel the genetic basis of T2DM, the gradual accumulation of genetic polymorphisms in multiple genes-rather than the mutation of a single "diabetes gene"-appears to be the driving force behind the increase in T2DM risk. Emergent therapies for the management of T2DM include incretin-based agents, which can effectively target two key processes in T2DM by augmenting insulin secretion and inhibiting glucagon production.
Materials characterization, conduction development, and curing-effects on reliability of isotropically conductive adhesives

Three commercially available, silver filled, snap cure isotropically electrically conductive adhesives for surface mount applications were selected for study. Fundamental material characterizations were conducted on these materials, including thermal analysis [differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo-gravitational analysis (TGA), and thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA)] rheological, and dynamic mechanical analyses. Microstructural investigations [scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transverse electromagnetic (TEM), Auger] were performed to identify the silver flake size, distribution, and contact morphology. These analyses were related to the cure process and electrical conduction mechanisms of isotropically conductive adhesives (ICA's). The resistivity of these materials was monitored during cure and related to the cure kinetics of the epoxy matrix. The resistivity decreased dramatically (>k/spl Omega/ cm to m/spl Omega/ cm) around a specific temperature with ramp cure and over a narrow time range (<10 s) with isothermal cure. Successive heating (25-150/spl deg/C) and cooling cycles yielded different degrees of consecutive resistivity decreases for these materials which were cured according to the manufacturer's recommended schedules. Microstructure development during cure was studied with a hot stage in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) to relate morphological changes with the observed changes in resistance. No significant structural changes and silver flake movements were noticed during cure. The conduction development was accompanied by breakage and decomposition of the tarnish, organic thin layers which cover the silver flake surface, and by the enlargement of the contact area between silver flakes by thermal stress and shrinkage during the epoxy cure. The temperature coefficients of resistance (TCR) were measured for these materials; the TCR is closely related to a conduction mechanism dominated by constraint resistance between the flakes or by the silver flake metallic conduction. The resistivity and interfacial resistance of these materials with bare copper and gold plated pads (with five selected cure schedules) were measured through 85/spl deg/C/85% RH exposure up to 900 h. The bulk resistivity decreased in the first 100 h of exposure and did not change with humidity; however, the interfacial resistance increased with the copper pads for some materials. This is caused by the oxidation of the copper pads due to moisture attack.
Switch fault diagnosis of PM brushless DC motor drive using adaptive fuzzy techniques

An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is developed to diagnose open switch faults of PM brushless dc motor drives. Features extracted under healthy and faulty operations using wavelet transform are used to train ANFIS. Testing of the proposed diagnostic system shows it could not only diagnose the fault but identify the faulty switch as well. Good agreement between experimentation and simulation is obtained.
High electric field packaging of silicon carbide photoconductive switches

Photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSS) made from semi-insulating (SI) silicon carbide (SiC) are promising candidates for high frequency, high voltage, and low jitter switching. However, existing switches fail at electric fields considerably lower than the intrinsic dielectric strength of SiC (3 MV/cm) because of the field enhancements near the electrode-semiconductor interfaces. Various geometries were identified which could reduce the electric field near the contact regions. The switches were simulated with various parameters and compared. In all cases, it was determined that a high dielectric constant (high-k) encapsulant is a crucial requirement that reduces high fields within the bulk material while inhibiting surface flashover. Assorted high-k encapsulants were evaluated and a portion was subsequently tested in the lab. The observed dielectric strength and relative permittivity of the encapsulants are presented. Pseudo switches, employing sapphire substrates, were constructed and biased to electrical breakdown. The dielectric strength of the interface between the semiconductor and the encapsulant was tested and improvements were discussed.
Processing and Characterization of Pure and Doped Ba 0.6 Sr 0.4 TiO 3 Thin Films for Tunable Microwave Applications

Ba1−xSrxTiO3 thin films are being developed for high-density DRAM devices. The nonlinearity of its dielectric properties with respect to applied dc voltage makes it attractive for tunable microwave devices. For successful integration into microwave devices, extremely reliable Ba1−xSrxTiO3 thin films with enhanced dielectric and insulating properties are desired. Properties of Ba1−xSrxTiO3are typically varied by changing the Ba/Sr ratio and/or doping. In this paper, we reports on the effects of acceptor and donor doping on the microstructural and electrical properties of Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 (BST) thin films deposited by metalorganic solution deposition technique on platinum coated silicon substrates. The effects of doping on structure, dielectric permittivity, dielectric loss tangent, and leakage current have been analyzed. The structure of the films was analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD). The surface morphology of the films was examined by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The electrical measurements were conducted on MIM capacitors using Pt as the top and bottom electrode. It was possible to significantly improve the dielectric loss and leakage current characteristics, and control the dielectric tunability by doping the BST thin films.
Fate of the corpus albicans: a morphologic approach

Abstract Ten cases each of prepubertal, premenopausal, and postmenopausal ovaries were collected. Slides of these cases were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, Verhoeff's elastic, and Snook's reticulum stains. The slides were then studied with regard to any corpora albicantia present. The postulation that the corpus albicans is resorbed by the stroma of the premenopausal ovary has been presented.
International affairs : Botswana's foreign policy and the exit of superpowers from Southern Africa

Professor James J Zaffiro, of the Department of Political Science, Central College, Pella, Iowa, looks at Botswana's foreign policy in the post-Cold War era.
HYPERFINE STRUCTURE OF THE (5p)$sup 5$(6s)$sup 3$P$sub 2$ STATE OF $sub 54$Xe$sup 129$ AND $sub 54$Xe$sup 13$$sup 1$

The hyperfine structures of the metastable ${(5p)}^{5}(6s)^{3}P_{2}$ state of $_{54}\mathrm{Xe}^{129}$ and $_{54}\mathrm{Xe}^{131}$ have been measured by the atomic beam magnetic resonance method. The zero magnetic field intervals $f(F\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}{F}^{\ensuremath{'}})$ are: for ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{129}$, $f(\frac{3}{2}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\frac{5}{2})=5961.2577(9)$ Mc/sec; and for ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{131}$, $f(\frac{5}{2}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\frac{7}{2})=2693.6234(7)$ Mc/sec, $f(\frac{3}{2}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\frac{5}{2})=1608.3475(8)$ Mc/sec, and $f(\frac{1}{2}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\frac{3}{2})=838.7636(4)$ Mc/sec. The values of the quadrupole and octupole moments of ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{131}$, without polarization corrections and without corrections for any effects of configuration mixing, are $Q=\ensuremath{-}0.120(12)$ b and $\ensuremath{\Omega}=+0.048(12)$ nmb. The hyperfine-structure anomaly for the two isotopes due to the ${s}_{\frac{1}{2}}$ electron alone is $\ensuremath{\Delta}({s}_{\frac{1}{2}})=+0.0440(44)%$, in disagreement with the prediction of the single-particle model.
Ultrastructural analysis of small cell carcinomas of the ovary

Small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the ovary is a rare tumor of young females, frequently associated with hypercalcemia. Eight SCC specimens from six patients, including four with hypercalcemia, were examined by electron microscopy to determine if certain ultrastructural features were consistently present to be of diagnostic value and to assess histogenesis. Each tumor had epithelial features with frequent desmosome-like junctions and partial investment with basal lamina. The most consistent and prominent finding was abundant dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) forming large vesicles filled with homogeneous granular (proteinaceous) material of variable density. RER vesicles were identified in all six primary tumors and in both recurrent and metastatic lesions. Dense-core granules of neurosecretory type were absent. None showed immunohistochemical reactivity for parathyroid hormone. The ultrastructural features of SCC are sufficiently constant to be of diagnostic value in the differential diagnosis of ovarian neoplasms. Histogenesis remains obscure.
Control of the Western Harvester Ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, with Poisoned Baits

The western harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis (Cresson), is considered a pest of low-rainfall rangeland in the Western States. Trials with Kepone®(decaehlorooctahydro-1,3,4,-metheno-2 H -cyclobuta[cd]pentalen-2-one)-peanut meal-peanut oil bait and mirex (dodecachlorooletahydro-1,3,4-metheno-2 H -cyclobuta ( cd ) pentalene)-corncob grit-soybean oil baits were successful, but only when the materials were applied during the summer when the ants were actively foraging for seeds. These bait materials, as also Bayer 38920(6,7,8,9,10,10-hexachloro-l,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro-3-methyl-6,9-methano-2,4-benzodioxepin (chlorinated to contain 70% total chlorine content)) on corncob grits’ were readily accepted and carried into the nests by the ants. Results of individual hill tests can be confounded by the over-lap of foraging ants from different hills and by colonies moving their brood from one mound into another. Application of a 2× mirex fire ant bait (0.15% mirex) was tested successfully on 50-acre plots of rangeland, a 3-pound-per-acre rate being as effective on land averaging 23 hills per acre as 5 pounds of bait per acre on land averaging 37 hills per acre.
Prevention of exudative diathesis in chicks by factor 3 and selenium.

SummaryIt is shown that exudative diathesis in the chick, produced by vit. E-free Torula yeast diets, is prevented by crude sources and purified fractions of Factor 3. Selenium, recently identified as the integral part of Factor 3, was highly active. Protection was obtained with 10 μg of selenium per 100 g of diet in form of seleno-cystathionine or sodium selenite; 200 μg of elemental selenium also were effective. All 3 forms of the element stimulated growth.
On the Numerical Scheme to Solve a Realistic Chemical Vapor Infiltration Reactor Model

We describe the general mathematical model as well as the numerical integration procedure arising in modeling a realistic chemical vapor infiltration process. The numerical solution of the model ultimately leads to the solution of a large system of stiff differential algebraic equations. An operator splitting algorithm is employed to overcome the stiffness associated with chemical reactions, whereas a projection method is employed to overcome the difficulty arising from having to solve a large coupled system for the velocity and pressure fields. The resulting mathematical model and the numerical integration scheme are used to explore temperature, velocity, and concentration fields inside a chemical vapor infiltration reactor used in the manufacturing of aircraft brakes.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The Decision to Incision Curriculum: Teaching Preoperative Skills and Achieving Level 1 Milestones.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a preoperative skills curriculum, and to assess and document competence in associated Obstetrics and Gynecology Level 1 Milestones. Design The Decision to Incision curriculum was developed by a team of medical educators with the goal of teaching and evaluating 5 skills pertinent to Milestone 1: Preoperative consent, patient positioning, Foley catheter placement, surgical scrub, and preoperative time-out. Competence, overall skill performance, and knowledge were assessed by evaluator rating using checklists before and after the educational intervention. Differences between preintervention and postintervention skills performance and competence were assessed using Wilcoxon rank test and Fisher exact test, respectively. Setting Clinical Simulation Center at an academic medical center. Participants Overall, 29 fourth year medical students matriculating into Obstetrics and Gynecology residencies. Results The proportion of participants meeting Milestone competence significantly increased in all 5 skills, with competence achieved in 95.6% (95% CI: 92.1-99.0) of posttest skills assessments. Median overall performance also significantly improved for all 5 skills, with 83.6% (95% CI: 77.3-89.9) earning scores of 4 out of 5 or greater on the posttest. For knowledge testing, the proportion of correct responses significantly increased for both topics evaluated, from 45.2% to 99.7% (p Conclusions The decision to incision curriculum significantly improved preoperative skills, including skills that may be required on day 1 of residency. This curriculum also facilitated achievement and documentation of competence in multiple Milestones.
Is there an alternative to the randomized controlled trial

The advantages of the concurrently randomized controlled trial as a device to assess the efficacy of drugs intended for use in the field of psychiatry are reviewed. The importance of "assay sensitivity" is discussed and illustrations of errors that can arise when inferences about efficacy are based upon comparisons that find no difference between experimental and standard treatments are presented. These illustrations are derived from data collected in two different pre-marketing commercial drug development programs. Also discussed is the argument that controlled trials are inappropriate devices to test drug efficacy because of their alleged lack of sensitivity to drug effects.
Theoretical considerations of alpha and beta adrenergic activity.

It appears that N-alkyl groups necessary for beta adrenergic activity act directly on the receptor rather than by influencing the conformation of the side chain relative to the catechol ring or the charge distribution around the nitrogen. While alpha activity probably involves hydrogen bond formation between an onium proton and a negatively charged receptor, beta activity is likely to involve dispersion binding between the alkyl group and receptor such that the nitrogen may not be necessary for beta activity.