cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reducing the time needed to conduct conditioned place preference testing.

Abstract Calcagnetti, Daniel J. and Martin D. Schechter: Reducing the time needed to conduct conditioned place preference testing. Prog. Neuro-psychopharmacol. & Biol. Psychiat. 1992, 16(6): 969–976. 1. 1. The objective of the present experiment was to demonstrate whether four days of twice-a-day conditioned place conditioning produces a preference that is equivalent to that produced by using eight days of once-a-day training. Two doses of the amphetamine-like stimulant drug cathinone (0.2 and 1.6 mg/kg) were selected to demonstrate the effectiveness of twice-a-day (morning-vehicle; afternoon-drug pairings) conditioning. 2. 2. The 0.2 mg/kg dose of cathinone failed to affect the expression of place preference, whereas the 1.6 mg/kg dose produced a significant (p 3. 3. These results demonstrate that twice-a-day pairings over four days effectively shorten the total duration of training without changing the development of place preference produced by once-a-day over eight conditioning day schedule.
The fiction of corporate scapegoating

If the agent responsible for an action is to be given praise or blame by the moral community for that action, then accurate responsibility ascriptions must be made. Since the moral community may have to evaluate the actions of corporate agents, care must be taken to insure that the assumption of Methodological Individualism (MI) does not infect that process. Nevertheless, there is no guarantee that accurate responsibility ascriptions will be made in cases connected with corporate action as long as corporate scapegoating may occur. Because corporate scapegoating is a behavior pattern that attempts to falsify correct responsibility ascriptions it will be of interest to the moral theorist. Once I have considered three objections to the idea of corporate scapegoating I shall offer a fictional description of it found in Ayn Rand's work,Atlas Shrugged. Finally, I shall raise a question about its present day use by corporations in our society.
REGENERATION AND INDUCED POLYPLOIDY IN FERNS

Induced apospory, or the regeneration of prothalli from the young leaves of ferns, has been known since I908, when Goebel (8) described the appearance of prothallial tissue on the detached primary leaves of members of the Polypodiaceae and the Cyatheaceae. Pteris longifolia regenerated prothalli from the surface of the leaf and from the petiole. Rhizoids and sex organs were present on the prothalli, but sporophytes never appeared. Ceratopteris thalictroides produced prothallus-like structures which bore rhizoids and antheridia, and also stomata near the antheridia. Some leaves of this same fern developed buds on the petioles from which there arose structures intermediate between leaves and prothalli. Gymnogramme chrysophylla also produced prothallus-like outgrowths which contained stomata. When the primary leaves of Polypodium aureum were cut off, sporophytes grew from the buds produced on the epidermal cells. Alsophila van Gertii produced adventitious buds on the leaves, typical prothalli, and intermediate structures such as prothalli containing stomata. Later Goebel (9) described regeneration from a third family. Primary leaves of Osmunda regalis developed typical prothalli bearing rhizoids. Woronin (25) made similar experiments with the leaves of some apogamous ferns as well as with some which reproduced sexually. Trichomanes Kraussii of the Hymenophyllaceae was apogamous and its leaves developed prothalli by apospory, especially if they were cut off and kept growing on a suitable substratum. The apospory could go still further in that the border cells of the leaves produced antheridia. This condition was termed " apoprothallia." Two species of Pellaea, both of which were apogamous, were capable of regenerating. Pellaea nivea produced filamentous prothallus-like outgrowths from the surface cells of detached leaves. Only the primary leaves of Pellaea flavens regenerated; but sometimes the secondary leaves 1 Papers from the Department of Botany of the University of Michigan No. 365. [The Journal for March (I9' 205-30I) was issued March 25, I932.] 303
Formation of uranium based nanoparticles via gamma-irradiation

Abstract The ability to fabricate nuclear fuels at low temperatures allows for the production of complex Uranium metal and alloys with minimum volatility of alloy components in the process. Gamma irradiation is a valuable method for the synthesis of a wide range of metal-based nanoparticles. We report on the synthesis via room temperature radiolysis and characterization of uranium (depleted, d-U) metal and uranium–lathanide (d-ULn, Ln = lanthanide surrogates) alloy nanoparticles from aqueous acidic salt solutions. The lanthanide surrogates chosen include La and Eu due to their similarity in ionic size and charge in solution. Detailed characterization results including UV–vis, TEM/HR-TEM, and single particle EDX (elemental analyses) are presented for the room temperature formed nanoparticle products.
Arabian Shield ophiolites and Late Proterozoic microplate accretion

Fragments of Late Proterozoic ocean crust and mantle (ophiolites) occur within six major fault zones that mark sutures between crustal blocks (microplates) that were accreted between about 630 and 715 Ma to form the Arabian Shield. We report new U-Pb zircon ages for ophiolitic gabbro, diorite, and plagiogranite that range from 840 to 700 Ma and establish these complexes among the oldest proven ophiolites. By dating the ophiolitic rocks we are able to monitor the magmatic ages of sea-floor spreading events during accretion of the Arabian Shield. Comparison of the ophiolitic dates with the ages of the adjacent crustal blocks provides a more complete basis for plate-tectonics reconstruction of the shield than has previously been possible. Our new zircon ages confirm earlier Sm-Nd mineral isochrons for ophiolites of the northwestern Arabian Shield, show that the ophiolites are among the oldest oceanic rocks in each terrane, support near- or within-arc tectonic settings for the ophiolites, suggest that the Bir Umq suture extends north along the Nabitah mobile belt into the northern shield, and suggest that older (>1250 Ma) continental crustal material is locally present in the dominantly “oceanic” western shield. We suggest that Indonesia and Alaska provide Phanerozoic analogues for stages in the accretion history.
Modulatory role of cyclooxygenase-2 in cerebrovascular coupling.

To investigate the role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the cerebrovascular coupling, hemodynamic and neuronal responses to forepaw stimulation were measured in a-chloralose-anesthetized rats (N = 18) before and after intravenous administration of Meloxicam (MEL), a preferential COX-2 inhibitor, and following a bolus of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a prominent vasodilatatory product of COX-2 catalyzed metabolism of arachidonic acid. The cerebral blood flow (CBF) and blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) response was quantified using continuous arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging. Neuronal activity was measured by recording somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) via intracranial electrodes. Both MEL and PGE2 had a significant effect on the activation-elicited CBF (P <1 0 6 ) and BOLD (P <1 0 6 ) responses, without affecting the baseline perfusion. Meloxicam decreased brain COX enzymatic activity by 57 T 14% and decreased the stimulation-induced CBF response to 32 T 2% and BOLD to 46 T 1% of their respective pre-drug amplitudes. In turn, PGE2 bolus resulted in a partial recovery of functional hyperemia, with the CBF response recovering to 52 T 3% and the BOLD response to 56 T 2% of their values prior to MEL administration. There was no concomitant decrease in either amplitudes or latencies of SEP components. These findings suggest a modulatory role of COX-2 products in the cerebrovascular coupling and provide evidence for
Factors Influencing Metabolic Activity of Bull Spermatozoa. VI. Metabolic CO2 and Fructose

Summary Sixteen samples of semen and 17 samples of washed spermatozoa were used to study the effect of metabolically produced CO 2 and added fructose on the aerobic metabolism of bovine spermatozoa. The spermatozoa, in seminal plasma or saline suspensions, were diluted with saline and saline containing fructose and incubated at 37C for 4 hr. Dixon-Keilin flasks were used which enabled the cells to respire in the presence of their own produced CO 2 and the CO 2 to be removed by KOH for determination of oxygen uptake at any desired time. This was routinely done at the end of 1, 2, 3, and 4 hr. The results showed that metabolic CO 2 significantly stimulated the O 2 consumed by sperm cells in the presence of seminal plasma, but not in its absence. Added fructose depressed O 2 uptake during the 4 hr when seminal plasma was present and also during the first hour with washed cells. However, after the first hour, when the washed cells have utilized all their endogenous substrates, fructose was necessary for continued metabolism.
Role of Beta Blockade in the Treatment of Myocardial Ischemia

A number of antianginal drugs and therapeutic strategies are now available for the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial ischemia. Of the available antianginal drugs, beta blockers appear to be most effective in suppressing myocardial ischemia. The superior anti-ischemic efficacy of beta blockers can be explained by their beneficial actions on hemodynamic parameters, vasomotion, and platelet function. Compared with other anti-ischemic drugs, beta blockers appear to be more efficacious in reducing the magnitude of myocardial ischemia during routine daily activities. In addition, the results of recent studies indicate that treatment with beta blockers not only suppresses myocardial ischemia, but also improves the clinical outcome in patients with CAD. These beneficial effects, along with the well-demonstrated cardioprotective effects of beta blockade in the postinfarction period, clearly suggest that this class of anti-ischemic drugs is an ideal therapeutic choice in most patients with CAD.
Sequence preference in DNA binding: de novo designed helix–turn–helix metallopeptides recognize a family of DNA target sites

The DNA-binding behavior and target sequences of two designed metallopeptides have been investigated with an iterative electrophoresis mobility shift assay followed by PCR amplification, and by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Peptides P3W and P5b were designed based on the structural similarity of the helix–turn–helix motif of homeodomains and the EF-hand motifs of calmodulin, as previously described for P3W. Like P3W, P5b binds both Eu(III) (K d=12.6±1.9 μM) and Ca(II) (K d=70±8 μM) with reasonable affinity. Binding selection from a library of randomized 8-mer DNA oligonucleotide sequences identified one target family for CaP5b [5′-pur-T-pur-G-(G/C)-3′], and two target sites for CaP3W [5′-(A/T)-G-G-G-(T/C)-3′ and 5′-A-T-(G/T)-T-G-3′]. Circular dichroism studies indicate that unlike EuP3W, EuP5b is poorly folded in the absence of DNA. In the presence of DNA containing target-binding sites for both peptides, both EuP3W and EuP5b increase in helical content, in the latter case significantly. These results suggest that EuP5b binding to target DNA involves an induced-fit mechanism. These small chimeric metallopeptides have been found to bind selectively to DNA targets, analogous to natural protein–DNA interactions. This corroborates our earlier conclusions (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125:6656, 2003) that sequence-preferential DNA cleavage by Ce(IV)P3W was due to sequence recognition.
Effects of fire severity and pre-fire stand treatment on plant community recovery after a large wildfire

Abstract The Rodeo–Chediski fire burned approximately 189,650 ha in east–central Arizona from June 18 to July 7, 2002, 113,700 ha of it on White Mountain Apache tribal land. In 2004 and 2005, we measured plant canopy cover and richness in areas of high and low burn severity in each of two treatments: (1) cutting and prescribed burning, or (2) untreated, in the 11 years prior to the wildfire. Total understory plant canopy cover was significantly higher in areas of high severity ( p = .0002 in 2004 and p = .0001 in 2005). Overall, there was high richness of exotic species but cover was surprisingly low at Triticum aestivum L.). Wheat had a strong presence in the plant community in 2004, but was uncommon by 2005. Indicator Species Analysis showed the indicators of high severity were seeded or early successional species. In contrast, indicators of low severity included several perennial bunchgrasses. While our results show that wheat declined quickly and exotic plants were uncommon, any longer-term impacts of the fire on the plant community can only be addressed by continued monitoring of these sites.
Nanohybrids from liquid crystalline extended amphiphilic dendrimers.

A novel extended amphiphilic dendrimer with linear poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) attached to a PEO-like dendritic core as hydrophilic fraction and eight docosyl chain branches as hydrophobic fraction ...
Characterization of nuclear 18S rRNA gene sequence diversity and expression in an individual lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)

Summary The unexpected discovery of extensive intraindividual variation of the 18S rRNA gene in nine North American species of sturgeon (and its absence in the North American paddlefish) was described in a previous paper by Krieger and Fuerst (2002b). As part of the study, genomic 18S rRNA genes from a lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) individual were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloned and sequenced, resulting in the identification of at least 17 different sequence variants. Because of the number of variants detected and the improbability that such a large number of different alleles are required for survival, these sequence variants were subjected to further analyses (sequence comparison, phylogenetic and relative rate) to examine the possibility that some variants may be pseudogenes. The cDNA produced by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR amplification of 18S rRNA isolated from lake sturgeon liver tissue was also sequenced. The topology of the phylogenetic tree produced suggests a split of the sequence variants into two groups: paddlefish-like (PL) alleles and non-paddlefish-like (NPL) alleles. Relative rate comparisons of these two groups indicate that the alleles within the NPL allele group are evolving more quickly than those in the paddlefish-like (PL) group, and so are likely under relaxed functional constraints. Less than one-third of nucleotide changes in the non-paddlefish-like (NPL) alleles occur at positions that are considered to be highly conserved in a universal eukaryotic model of rRNA structure. No substitutions at eukaryotic universally conserved sites occur in the PL alleles. Analysis of the sequence of the RT-PCR product shows that a single lake sturgeon 18S rDNA sequence variant is expressed in major quantities in the liver, and that this single product is identical to the allele most similar in sequence to the paddlefish. These results provide support for the idea that many variants are unimportant for proper cellular function or are pseudogenes. Although concerted evolution has apparently failed to homogenize the many rDNA sequence variants found within sturgeon, the detection of a single major expressed sequence variant in lake sturgeon indicates that the expression of the variants is in fact under the control of selective factors.
WaveGrid: a scalable fast-turnaround heterogeneous peer-based desktop grid system

We propose a novel heterogeneous scalable desktop grid system, WaveGrid, which uses a peer-to-peer architecture and can satisfy the needs of applications with fast-turnaround requirements. In WaveGrid, hosts self-organize into a timezone-aware overlay network, which supports straightforward, quick resource discovery. Scheduling methods in WaveGrid take heterogeneity into account in selecting scheduling and migration targets. WaveGrid then rides the wave of available cycles by migrating jobs to hosts located in idle night-time zones around the globe. We evaluate WaveGrid using a heterogeneous host CPU power profile based on empirical data collected from the global computing project BOINC. The simulation results show that WaveGrid perform consistently well with fast turnaround time and low migration overhead. It performs much better than other systems with respect to turnaround, stability and minimal impacts on hosts.
Interfacial Reactions in Lead Oxide-Bearing Enamel-Metal Systems

Interfacial reactions involving the use of lead oxide-bearing enamels fused directly to steel substrates were studied. Particular emphasis was given to the lead borate enamels. Metallic lead precipitated from all lead oxide-bearing enamels when they were fused in air in contact with steel; no such precipitation could be detected as a result of fusion on copper substrates. Interfacial compounds were identified by X-ray analysis. Electron micrographs taken at ×2900 and ×20,000 showed that the interfacial region consisted of bands, each of which contained metallic lead, iron borate, Fe2Si04, or glass, depending on the specific system and layer. The development of a band structure did not appear to promote adherence within the firing and compositional limits investigated.
Vacating of Arbitration Awards as Diminishment of Conflict Resolution

The traditional perspective about arbitration has been that the award of the arbitrator is final and binding on all parties. Generally, arbitration has resolved the conflict. However, a trend has emerged in which the losing party seeks a court as a second forum for the resolution of the dispute in order to have the decision of the arbitrator vacated. This study analyzed 101 randomly selected cases out of a population of 573 cases in which vacatur of an arbitration award was sought. In approximately 30% of these cases, the arbitration award was in fact vacated. Case characteristics, applicable laws, legally based behaviors and arbitrator behaviors were analyzed to develop an understanding of the contexts in which arbitration awards are vacated. Implications for arbitrators and the advocates are suggested.
Combined desmopressin (DDAVP) and chlorpropamide therapy for diabetes insipidus with absent thirst.

A patient with neurogenic diabetes insipidus and defective thirst regulation due to a craniopharyngioma is described who responded to a combination of desmopressin (DDAVP) and chlorpropamide with improved thirst regulation and decreased urine output. When DDAVP was discontinued he became hypernatremic. This patient required both DDAVP and chlorpropamide to maintain normonatremia.
The U.S. current account deficit and public policy

Abstract The late Herb Stein, Chairman of President Richard Nixon's Council of Economic Advisers, once famously quipped that “something that's growing too fast forever will stop”. And so it is with the high and rising U.S. current account deficit relative to GDP. That ratio cannot rise forever, but many possibilities exist for adjustment. Where economists in the academic and policymaking communities can be particularly useful is in defining what our concerns should be about the U.S. current account deficit. This essay focuses on three principal questions. First, from an economic perspective, how should we frame worries about the size of the U.S. current account deficit? Second, understanding economic forces behind the current account deficit, how large is the deficit likely to be before adjustments take place to reduce its size? Third, what guidance does economic analysis offer for U.S. policy? This third question is of particular interest, as present policy discussion 25 contains as much mischief as useful guidance. After reviewing the steps policymakers should not take, I focus on two questions, which should be of particular relevance. To wit: Is there a role for fiscal policy toward U.S. household saving? And, what role might fundamental tax reform play? I conclude with some questions for economic analysis.
Bringing cross-layer MIMO to today's wireless LANs

Recent years have seen major innovations in cross-layer wireless designs. Despite demonstrating significant throughput gains, hardly any of these technologies have made it into real networks. Deploying cross-layer innovations requires adoption from Wi-Fi chip manufacturers. Yet, manufacturers hesitate to undertake major investments without a better understanding of how these designs interact with real networks and applications.This paper presents the first step towards breaking this stalemate, by enabling the adoption of cross-layer designs in today's networks with commodity Wi-Fi cards and actual applications. We present OpenRF, a cross-layer architecture for managing MIMO signal processing. OpenRF enables access points on the same channel to cancel their interference at each other's clients, while beamforming their signal to their own clients. OpenRF is self-configuring, so that network administrators need not understand MIMO or physical layer techniques.We patch the iwlwifi driver to support OpenRF on off-the-shelf Intel cards. We deploy OpenRF on a 20-node network, showing how it manages the complex interaction of cross-layer design with a real network stack, TCP, bursty traffic, and real applications. Our results demonstrate an average gain of 1.6x for TCP traffic and a significant reduction in response time for real-time applications, like remote desktop.
Photolyase Confers Resistance to UV Light but Does Not Contribute to the Symbiotic Benefit of Bioluminescence in Vibrio fischeri ES114

Recent reports suggest that the selective advantage of bioluminescence for bacteria is mediated by light-dependent stimulation of photolyase to repair DNA lesions. Despite evidence for this model, photolyase mutants have not been characterized in a naturally bioluminescent bacterium, nor has this hypothesis been tested in bioluminescent bacteria under natural conditions. We have now characterized the photolyase encoded by phr in the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri ES114. Consistent with Phr possessing photolyase activity, phr conferred light-dependent resistance to UV light. However, upon comparing ES114 to a phr mutant and a dark ΔluxCDABEG mutant, we found that bioluminescence did not detectably affect photolyase-mediated resistance to UV light. Addition of the light-stimulating autoinducer N-3-oxo-hexanoyl homoserine lactone appeared to increase UV resistance, but this was independent of photolyase or bioluminescence. Moreover, although bioluminescence confers an advantage for V. fischeri during colonization of its natural host, Euprymna scolopes, the phr mutant colonized this host to the same level as the wild type. Taken together, our results indicate that at least in V. fischeri strain ES114, the benefits of bioluminescence during symbiotic colonization are not mediated by photolyase, and although some UV resistance mechanism may be coregulated with bioluminescence, we found no evidence that light production benefits cells by stimulating photolyase in this strain.
Mechanism of Chaperone Function in Small Heat Shock Proteins DISSOCIATION OF THE HSP27 OLIGOMER IS REQUIRED FOR RECOGNITION AND BINDING OF DESTABILIZED T4 LYSOZYME

Mammalian small heat shock proteins (sHSP) form polydisperse and dynamic oligomers that undergo equilibrium subunit exchange. Current models of their chaperone activity hypothesize that recognition and binding of protein non-native states involve changes in the oligomeric state. The equivalent thermodynamic representation is a set of three coupled equilibria that includes the sHSP oligomeric equilibrium, the substrate folding equilibrium, and the equilibrium binding between the sHSP and the substrate non-native states. To test this hypothesis and define the binding-competent oligomeric state of human Hsp27, we have perturbed the two former equilibria and quantitatively determined the consequences on binding. The substrate is a set of T4 lysozyme (T4L) mutants that bind under conditions that favor the folded state over the unfolded state by 10(2)-10(4)-fold. The concentration-dependent oligomer equilibrium of Hsp27 was perturbed by mutations that alter the relative stability of two major oligomeric states including phosphorylation-mimicking mutations that result in the dissociation to a small multimer over a wide range of concentrations. Correlation of binding isotherms with size exclusion chromatography analysis of the Hsp27 oligomer equilibrium demonstrates that the multimer is the binding-competent state. Binding occurs through two modes, each characterized by different affinity and number of binding sites, and results in T4L.Hsp27 complexes of different hydrodynamic properties. Mutants of the Hsp27 phosphorylation mimic that reverse the reduction in oligomer size also reduce the extent of T4L binding. Taken together, these results suggest a central role for the oligomeric equilibrium in regulating the chaperone activity of sHSP. The mutants identify sequence features important for modulating this equilibrium.
Methods and Considerations for the Development of Emerging Manufacturing Technologies into a Global Aerospace Supply Chain

Global aerospace manufacturing has resulted in a direct need for the development of new manufacturing techniques and machines. These emerging technologies require a specific approach to technology, supplier and enterprise communication development. However, a global strategy for aerospace supply-chains is difficult to develop, specifically for new manufacturing technologies. Within large aerospace companies, it is challenging to assess emerging technologies with respect to manufacturing readiness level and risk. The research provided discusses a technique used to assess risk coupled with manufacturing readiness level maturation for emerging technologies using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Developing customer requirements for a new manufacturing technology is challenging when multiple customers exist for the proposed technology. Technology experts are found within the company and executive champions are solicited to assist in sponsoring the emerging technology. This research covers proven heur...
Foundations of Inference in Survey Sampling

(1980). Foundations of Inference in Survey Sampling. Technometrics: Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 279-280.
The economics of public school closings

Abstract A community containing a fixed number of schools is assumed to close a school. A model is developed which traces the impact of the closing upon transportation costs, tax liability, quantity of education, and utility of the individuals residing in the city. The analysis suggests three explanatory variables that will affect a school closing decision by an optimizing school administrator. A test of the significance of these variables in predicting school closure decisions is conducted for the school district in Madison, Wisconsin.
ANGPT2 genetic variant is associated with trauma-associated acute lung injury and altered plasma angiopoietin-2 isoform ratio.

Rationale: Acute lung injury (ALI) acts as a complex genetic trait, yet its genetic risk factors remain incompletely understood. Large-scale genotyping has not previously been reported for ALI. Objectives: To identify ALI risk variants after major trauma using a large-scale candidate gene approach. Methods: We performed a two-stage genetic association study. We derived findings in an African American cohort (n 5 222) using a cardiopulmonary disease‐centric 50K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Genotype and haplotype distributions were compared between subjects with ALI and without ALI, with adjustment for clinical factors. Top performing SNPs (P , 1024) were tested in a multicenter European American trauma-associated ALI case-control population (n 5 600 ALI; n 5 2,266 population-based control subjects) for replication. The ALI-associated genomic region was sequenced, analyzed for in silico prediction of function, and plasma was assayed by ELISA and immunoblot. MeasurementsandMainResults:FiveSNPsdemonstratedasignificant association with ALI after adjustment for covariates in Stage I. Two SNPs in ANGPT2 (rs1868554 and rs2442598) replicated their significant association with ALI in Stage II. rs1868554 was robust to multiple comparison correction: odds ratio 1.22 (1.06‐1.40), P 5 0.0047. Resequencing identified predicted novel splice sites in linkage disequilibrium with rs1868554, and immunoblots showed higher proportion of variant angiopoietin-2 (ANG2) isoform associated with rs1868554T (0.81 vs. 0.48; P 5 0.038). Conclusions :A nANGPT2 region is associated with both ALI and variation in plasma angiopoietin-2 isoforms. Characterization of
Intestinal Malrotation and Catastrophic Volvulus in Infancy

Background Intestinal malrotation in the newborn is usually diagnosed after signs of intestinal obstruction, such as bilious emesis, and corrected with the Ladd procedure.
Out-of-Field Teachers and Student Achievement: Evidence from Matched-Pairs Comparisons

This study examines whether subject-specific teacher certification and academic degrees are related to teacher quality. The research design exploits contemporaneous, within-student comparisons made possible by a unique feature of the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88). Specifically, NELS:88 contains subject-specific outcomes for eighth-grade students in two subjects as well as data on their teachers for those subjects. The analysis of these data indicates that assignment to a subject-certified teacher is associated with higher test scores. However, these gains appear to be concentrated in social studies and mathematics. Furthermore, the authors also find that subject-certified teachers are not more effective at promoting the intellectual engagement of their students but are more likely to have negative opinions of a given student's performance.
An exploratory study of constructions of masculinity, sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Namibia, Southern Africa

The goal of the current study was to explore notions of masculinity and their linkages to HIV/AIDS among Owambo men and women in Namibia, where an estimated one-fifth of 15-49 year-olds have acquired HIV. Thirteen open-ended interviews and three focus groups were conducted with 50 male and female participants aged 19-50 in rural and urban Namibia. Qualitative analysis revealed six central themes: the evolving meanings of masculinity, power dynamics between men and women, women as active agents, the tension between formal and informal education and HIV transmission, alcohol and masculinity, and the blending of masculinity and explanations of HIV and AIDS. The findings suggest both direct and indirect linkages between notions of masculinity and AIDS, and highlight the need for prevention efforts that focus on providing alternative avenues for attaining culturally recognized markers of masculinity.
HIGH CONFINEMENT SUSPENDED MICRO-RING RESONATORS IN SILICON-ON-INSULATOR

We demonstrate suspended micrometer-scale ring resonators with quality factors exceeding 15,000. The high quality factor is achieved by using a suspension method where the disturbance of the optical mode due to the support arms is minimized. We show an insertion loss of less than .02dB per suspension bridge.
Bimodal crystalline orientation in polypropylene: Mechanism of formation

Melt-spun polypropylene fibers have two sets of crystallites, each with a different preferred orientation. A probable kinetic mechanism of nucleation and growth of the two sets of crystallites, based on an analysis of crystallization in oriented polymers, is proposed. Experimental data on the fractions of these two sets of crystallites in as-spun fibers and the effect of subsequent drawing or thermal annealing on the relative amounts of these two sets are presented.
Financial Exploitation and Psychological Mistreatment Among Older Adults: Differences Between African Americans and Non-African Americans in a Population-Based Survey

744 Purpose: To examine racial differences in (a) the prevalence of financial exploitation and psychological mistreatment since turning 60 and in the past 6 months and (b) the experience—perpetrator, frequency, and degree of upset—of psychological mistreatment in the past 6 months. Design and methods: Random digit dial telephone recruitment and population-based survey (telephone and in-person) of 903 adults aged 60 years and older in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania (693 non-African American and 210 African American). Covariates included sex, age, education, marital status, household composition, cognitive function, instrumental activities of daily living/ activities of daily living difficulties, and depression symptoms. Results: Prevalence rates were signifi cantly higher for African Americans than for nonAfrican Americans for financial exploitation since turning 60 (23.0% vs. 8.4%) and in the past 6 months (12.9% vs. 2.4%) and for psychological mistreatment since turning 60 (24.4% vs. 13.2%) and in the past 6 months (16.1% vs. 7.2%). These differences remained once all covariates were controlled in logistic regression models. There were also racial differences in the experience of psychological mistreatment in the past 6 months. Risk for clinical depression was also a consistent predictor of financial exploitation and psy chological mistreatment. Implications: Although the results will need to be replicated in national surveys, the study suggests that racial differences in elder mistreatment are a potentially serious issue deserving of continued attention from researchers, health providers, and social service professionals.
Right ventricular myocardial infarction: an underrecognized aetiology of McConnell's sign.

A 71-year-old hypertensive male presented with presyncope leading to frequent falls in the 3 days prior to presentation. Electrocardiogram revealed sinus rhythm, third-degree atrioventricular block, and an inferior ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI; Panel A ). Coronary angiography showed total occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA; arrow; Panel B ), and three drug-eluting stents were placed in the RCA ( Panel C …
PGE2 increases substance P release from renal pelvic sensory nerves via activation of N-type calcium channels.

Activation of renal pelvic sensory nerves by increased pelvic pressure results in a renal pelvic release of substance P that is dependent on intact prostaglandin synthesis. An isolated renal pelvic...
Electric Birefringence Dynamics

The rate at which macromolecules in a solution orient under the influence of an applied electric field determines the time dependence of the optical birefringence. It is well known from studies of dielectric dispersion and nuclear magnetic resonance in ordinary liquids that molecular reorientation processes of small molecules normally occur with lifetimes of 10−11 to 10−9 sec. Longer relaxation times are encountered with macromolecules in solution and the direct measurement of these relaxation times through electro-optic effects is now an important method for studying the sizes and shapes of macromolecules.
Brachial Plexopathy Following Wrist Arthroscopy.

THE PATIENT The patient is a healthy 56-year-old right-handed woman with gradual onset of right wrist pain for 1 year. She works as a registered nurse. On physical examination, she has pain over the scaphotrapeziotrapezoid joint, and no pain provoked with trapeziometacarpal grind test. Radiographs confirm the presence of scaphotrapeziotrapezoid osteoarthritis. After a trial of orthosis fabrication, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, and 2 corticosteroid injections that provided temporary partial relief, the patient underwent right wrist arthroscopic distal scaphoid excision, as previously described. Before surgery, she received an interscalene block for postoperative pain control; surgery was then performed under general anesthesia with a laryngealmask airway, with an arm tourniquet inflated to standard pressure during the procedure. The right arm was placed in a wrist traction tower with 12 pounds of traction applied, and all bony prominences well padded. Routine diagnostic arthroscopy followed by arthroscopic distal scaphoid excision was carried out in the usual fashion.
The Similar Defect Chemistry of Highly-Doped SrBi2Ta2O9 and SrBi2Nb2O9

The equilibrium electrical conductivities of undoped SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) and SrBi2Nb2O9 (SBN) have been shown to behave quite differently. SBT has the behavior expected for a 1% acceptor-doped oxide, while SBN behaves like a 1% donor-doped oxide. This difference has been related to the substantial cation place exchange that occurs between the Bi+ 3 and Sr+ 2 ions in the alternating layers of the structure. It was proposed that this place exchange is not entirely self-compensating, as would be expected for a simple, isotropic oxide, but that there is some local compensation within each layer by lattice and/or electronic defects. It is now shown that the equilibrium conductivity of 3% donor-doped SBT is similar to that of undoped SBN, while the equilibrium conductivity of 3% acceptor-doped SBN resembles that of undoped SBT. Thus the defect chemistrys of the two compounds are quite similar, but the equilibrium conductivities are displaced along a doping axis.
Ultrafast excited-state dynamics and photolysis in base-off B12 coenzymes and analogues: absence of the trans-nitrogenous ligand opens a channel for rapid nonradiative decay.

Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy was used to investigate the photochemistry of adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl), methylcobalamin (MeCbl), and n-propylcobalamin (PrCbl) at pH 2 where the axial ...
Nonlinear thermal lens signal of the (Δυ = 6) C–H vibrational overtone of C6H6 in liquid solutions of n-C6H14 and CCl4

The thermal lens technique is applied to vibrational overtone spectroscopy of solutions of benzene. The pump and probe thermal lens technique has been found to be very sensitive for detecting samples of low concentration in transparent solvents. The C–H fifth vibrational (Δυ = 6) overtone spectrum of benzene is detected at room temperature for compositions per volume in the range (1 to 1 × 10−4) using CCl4 and n-C6H14 as solvents. By detecting the absorption band in a 100-ppm solution, the peak absorption of the signal is approximately (2.2 ± 0.3) × 10−7 cm−1. The parameters that determine the magnitude of the thermal lens signal such as the pump laser power and the thermodynamic properties of the solvent and solute are discussed. A plot of normalized integrated intensity as a function of composition of benzene in solution reveals a nonlinear behavior. The nonlinearity cannot be explained assuming solvent enhancement at low concentrations. A two-color absorption model that includes the simultaneous absorption of the pump and probe lasers explains the enhanced magnitude and the nonlinear behavior of the thermal lens signal for solutions of composition below 0.01.
Conversion to Intermittent Self-Catheterization Simplified

AbstractPatients with indwelling catheters often resist conversion to intermittent self-catheterization because they fear urine leakage between catheterizations. We have taught our male patients to catheterize themselves through the lumen of an external condom catheter, which they wear until they achieve continence and feel safe with the new method. We herein report on the effectiveness of this approach to conversion to self-catheterization.
Required Reading: The Most Impactful Articles in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery.

Objective Endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery has become widely accepted in neurosurgery and otolaryngology over the last 15 years. However, there has yet to be a formal curation of the most impactful articles for an introductory curriculum to its technical evolution. Methods The Science Citation Index Expanded was used to generate a citation rank list (October 2015) on articles relevant to endoscopic skull base surgery. The top 35 cited articles overall, as well as the top 15 since 2009, were identified. Journal, year, author, study population, article format, and level of evidence were compiled. Additional surgeon experts were polled and made recommendations for significant contributions to the literature. Results The top 35 publications ranged from 98 to 467 citations and were published in 10 different journals. Four articles had more than 250 citations. A period of frequent contribution occurred between 2005 and 2009, when 21/35 reports were published. 18/35 articles were case series, and 13/35 were technical reports. There were 11/35 articles focused primarily on pituitary surgery and 10/35 on extrasellar lesions. The top 15 articles since 2009 had 8/15 articles focused on extrasellar lesions. Polled surgeons consistently identified the most prominently cited articles, and their recommendations drew attention to cerebrospinal fluid leak as well as extrasellar management. Conclusions Identification of the most cited works within endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery shows greater anatomic access and safety over the last 2 decades. These articles can serve as an educational tool for novices or midlevel practitioners wishing to obtain a greater understanding of the field.
Hyperglycemia exacerbates antiretroviral drug combination induced blood-brain barrier endothelial toxicity

In this study, we sought to investigate how concomitant hyperglycemia influences the impact of combination antiretroviral therapy on blood-brain barrier (BBB) endothelial function. Immortalized human brain microvascular endothelial cell line (hCMEC/D3) was exposed to azidothymidine (AZT; a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) and/or indinavir (IND; protease inhibitor) in normal glycemic (5.5mM) or hyperglycemic (HG; 25mM) media containing D-glucose for 24-72h. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondria-specific superoxide levels were assayed in addition to membrane potential to determine the extent of mitochondrial dysfunction. Nrf2 expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence. Our results indicated a significant increase in BBB endothelial toxicity (decreased ATP) by HG and AZT+IND with progression of time (24-72h). Concurrent HG and antiviral drug combination synergistically elevated BBB endothelial ROS induced by either condition alone. Further, HG and AZT+IND mutually interact to elicit a pronounced increase in mitochondrial superoxide levels post 24h (vs. either condition alone or controls). In addition, HG and AZT+IND complemented each other to induce potential loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. While HG or AZT+IND alone for 24h increased Nrf2 nuclear distribution, co-exposure conditions induced a potential loss of Nrf2 expression/nuclear translocation in BBB endothelium. In summary, our data strongly suggest that antiretroviral drug combination potentially interacts with concomitant HG and triggers exacerbated mitochondrial dysfunction and BBB endothelial toxicity, possibly through dysregulation of Nrf2 signaling. Thus, this study warrants the critical need for safety evaluation and monitoring of neurovascular complications of HAART regimens in HIV-infected diabetic patient cohort.
Broken connections of wetland cultural knowledge

As global agriculture intensifies, cultural knowledge of wetland utilization has eroded as natural resources become more stressed, and marginal farmers move away from the land. The excellent paper ...
A New High-Pressure Reciprocating Cryogenic Pump

Reciprocating positive displacement pumps are distinguished from dynamic (kinetic) and rotary positive displacement types by their ability to pump nonviscous liquids to high pressures in one compression stage, Both reciprocating and rotary positive displacement pumps are further characterized by their given rate of volume flow. The theoretical ability of the reciprocating pump to obtain high pressures in one stage is limited by the effectiveness of the high-pressure seals and, in common with all other types of cryogenic pumps, the control of cavitation is the most important design consideration.
The Anti-politics of Market Liberalism: the Libertarian Party, 1972–84

One notable strain of the American character has been a desire, as it were, to “end history” by establishing a Utopian order free of strife and hence free of the need for the “conflict resolution” of politics.1 From the civic republicanism of the Revolutionary generation to the recent communitarian movement, Americans have often sought a social order that denied or minimized conflict.
Pitfalls and Potentials of Home Energy Monitoring Feedback: An Information Experience Critique

Our ageing energy grid, the fundamental resource for human activity, remains one of the great societal challenges. Governments and the energy industry are visioning a future of an engaged society that sustainably produces and consumes energy via a shared multi-directional Smart Grid. This vision; however, depends on our current efforts to increase public’s awareness and comprehension of energy as a limited consumer product, involving personal choice. Energy monitoring and feedback, along with home automation, are fast emerging markets to support this vision. We reviewed 75 currently available home energy-monitoring systems (HEMS) and discussed their pitfalls and potentials. We hope to encourage discussions about the role user experience design could play in personal information visualization, and in addressing fundamental societal problems. We call for experience centric explorations into HEMS’ design to address the energy feedback needs of the future.
The missing link in building customer brand identification: The role of brand attractiveness

Abstract The brand management literature has long acknowledged the strategic importance of managing brand identity. However, prior empirical research has largely ignored brand attractiveness in building such identity in the eyes of consumers. Focusing on the airline industry, this study investigates the role of brand attractiveness in fostering customer brand identification. The empirical testing of the conceptual model suggests that brand prestige, brand distinctiveness, and memorable brand experiences have a significant indirect effect on customer brand identification through brand attractiveness, while brand social benefits contributes directly to such identification. The results also challenge prior empirical findings by providing strong support for the need to include brand attractiveness in cultivating identification. When brand attractiveness is incorporated in the model, the effects of brand prestige, brand distinctiveness, and memorable brand experiences became non-significant in predicting customer brand identification. The findings highlight the importance of projecting a brand identity that is attractive to target consumers in order to achieve customer brand identification.
Mean centering, multicollinearity, and moderators in multiple regression: The reconciliation redux

In this article, we attempt to clarify our statements regarding the effects of mean centering. In a multiple regression with predictors A, B, and A × B (where A × B serves as an interaction term), mean centering A and B prior to computing the product term can clarify the regression coefficients (which is good) and the overall model fit R2 will remain undisturbed (which is also good).