cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Women's work and development in Latin America.

The discussion explores the problem of womens employment patterns under capitalist development in Latin America first by analyzing the way in which womens work has been conceptualized within modernization theory. It then goes on to examine the 2 types of work in which most Latin American women are engaged -- domestic service and informal work such as selling produce and taking in laundry -- to provide evidence for challenging modernization theory and for developing a more useful approach. Subsequently the discussion considers womens domestic and informal work within the context of capitalist development which provides some insight into the broader structures shaping womens employment. Finally the discussion proposes some reconceptualizations of womens work and development. Modernization theorists analyze womens work in the cities within a variety of constructs interpreting it as a backward manifestation of traditional society a reflection of womens inadequate training for the modern sector an indication of womens primary orientation to the family or as a phenomenon that is too tangential to warrant examination. The primary assumption is that modernization improves womens status and the conditions of their lives as it brings greater productivity more advanced technology and more highly differentiated institutions. Assumptions concerning womens absorption into the modern sector and the equalization of work roles between men and women are not borne out by actual employment trends which reveal the persistent concentration of women in domestic work informal jobs and the lower-paying service jobs. Despite their predominance domestic service and informal jobs are infrequently included in employment statistics and are virtually ignored in studies of development yet these 2 types of work are the primary forms of work for Latin American women. Even when modernization theorists recognize the proliferation of informal and domestic service jobs they see it as part of a progressive development stage with displaced rural laborers becoming incorporated into the modern sector by way of informal jobs. In most Latin American countries rural women become a permanent part of the services and the informal labor market when they move to the cities. There is little sign of their transition to industrial employment. In general capitalist development marginalizes Latin American women who in several important ways lose status. The range of pursuits considered womens work should include their activities within the infromal labor sector. Informal work is still virtually unexplored especially as it relates to wage work in underdeveloped countries. Informal labor is not registered in the census nor is it included in the gross national product. Yet it is a major component of womens work. Domestic service and infromal jobs should be seen in relation to other forms of labor and to total social production.
Current Diffusion in a Shock Tube with Varying Magnetic Field

The electric current-diffusion layer near the current sheet in a magnetic shock tube is analysed by extending Falk and Turcotte's method to the case in which the driving magnetic field varies with time. Some numerical results for the temperature, velocity, density, pressure and magnetic field are presented in terms of similarity variable when the driving magnetic field varies as a power of time. The results show that the back end of the flowing gas is displaced from its infinite conductivity position by introducing the thermal and electrical conductivities, and the temperature at the back end of the gas becomes finite, the value of which depends on the ratio of thermal to electrical diffusion parameter specified by ν.
Flow characteristics of Halon 1301 in pipelines

Halon systems are designed to deliver specific agent concentrations. The author discusses the effects of temperature, pressure, and two-phase flow on the flow characteristics of Halon 1301.
Rotationally resolved electronic spectra of 2- and 3-methylanisole in the gas phase: a study of methyl group internal rotation.

Rotationally resolved fluorescence excitation spectra of several torsional bands in the S1 ← S0 electronic spectra of 2-methylanisole (2MA) and 3-methylanisole (3MA) have been recorded in the collision-free environment of a molecular beam. Some of the bands can be fit with rigid rotor Hamiltonians; others exhibit perturbations produced by the coupling between the internal rotation of the methyl group and the overall rotation of the entire molecule. Analyses of these data show that 2MA and 3MA both have planar heavy-atom structures; 2MA has trans-disposed methyl and methoxy groups, whereas 3MA has both cis- and trans-disposed substituents. The preferred orientations (staggered or eclipsed) in two of the conformers and the internal rotation barriers of the methyl groups in all three conformers change when they are excited by light. Additionally, the values of the barriers opposing their motion depend on the relative positions of the substituent groups, in both electronic states. In contrast, no torsional mo...
Radium and radon in water supplies from the Texas Gulf Coastal aquifer

Abstract A sampling of the domestic water for two isotopes of the uranium (U)-238 series, radium (Ra)-226 and radon (Rn)-222, was conducted in parts of the Texas Gulf Coast (in and around Greater Houston and Harris County) to better understand the distribution patterns of these radioisotopes in residential and commercial water supplies. Samples were obtained from consumers' taps, as well as at well heads to evaluate variation due to location and depth of water sources. Analyses were conducted at the University of Texas, School of Public Health (UTSPH) in Houston. Computer mapping and statistical analyses were used to depict patterns of Ra and Rn distribution. The concentrations varied depending on water source. No measurable Ra or Rn were found in surface water supplies, whereas up to 23 pCi l−1 of Ra and 3300 pCi l−1 of Rn were observed in some of the wells in northwest and southwest Harris County. The Rn concentrations were observed to increase with depth, but for Ra peak concentrations were found between 180 and 320 m below the surface (at depths roughly corresponding to the top of the Evangeline aquifer). High concentrations of Ra and Rn were associated with wells developed on the flanks of piercement-type salt domes, along faults, and near streams. This study documents high Ra in Tertiary clastic coastal aquifers and suggests that it may be external sources, e.g. salt domes, uranium, or leaky faults, and not the bulk mineralogy of the aquifer which cause elevated concentrations. This is an important consideration when decisions are made about sites for drilling water wells.
Route of delivery for patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Over the past 15 years, we managed 19 pregnancies in 18 women afflicted with immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Our policy has been to treat the mother with corticosteroids if her platelet count was below 100 X 10(9)/L and to use cesarean section only for obstetric indications; 14 patients received corticosteroids. The perinatal outcomes were intrauterine fetal death (two), neonatal death (0), and live birth (17). The methods of delivery for the 17 live-born infants were spontaneous vaginal (seven), low forceps or midforceps (five), cesarean section (five). Although seven of the live-born infants (41%) were thrombocytopenic (less than 100 X 10(9)/L), only two received therapy, and none suffered significant hemorrhagic morbidity. Maternal treatment with corticosteroids did not affect the neonatal platelet count, nor was there a correlation between maternal and neonatal platelet counts. On the basis of our experience, we think that cesarean section is not routinely indicated as the method of delivery for parturient patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
Intensity‐modulated radiotherapy outcomes for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients stratified by p16 status

BACKGROUND: Patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) were stratified by p16 status, neck dissection, and chemotherapy to correlate these factors with outcomes. METHODS: A total of 112 patients with OPSCC treated with IMRT from 2002 to 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received RT to 66-70 Gray. Forty-five of the tumors were p16 positive (p16+), 27 were p16 negative (p16−), and 41 had unknown p16 status. Sixty-two patients had postradiation neck dissections. Nine patients with p16− tumors and 28 patients with p16+ tumors received chemotherapy. The distribution of T, N, and stage grouping among the p16+ and p16− patients was not significantly different, and 87.5% patients had stage III/IV disease. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 26.3 months. For patients with p16+ tumors, p16− tumors, and the overall cohort, the actuarial 3-year locoregional progression-free survival rate was 97.8%,73.5%, and 90.5% respectively (P = .006) and the disease-free survival rate was 88.2%, 61.4%, and 81.7%, respectively (P = .004). Patients with p16+ tumors had an 89.5% and 87.5% pathologic complete response (CR) on neck dissection with and without chemotherapy, respectively. In contrast, patients with p16− tumors had a 66.7% and 25.0% pathologic CR on neck dissection with and without chemotherapy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, p16 status was found to be a significant predictive biomarker and patients with p16+ tumors had much better outcomes than patients with p16− tumors. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether less intense therapy is appropriate for selected patients with p16+ OPSCC, whereas more aggressive strategies are needed to improve outcomes in patients with p16− disease. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Learning by doing: offering a university practicum in personal financial planning

Abstract Given the importance of interpersonal relationships in the financial planning process, it is surprising that relatively few registered financial planning programs explicitly provide students the opportunity to meet with real clients on a one-to-one basis. This paper describes the structure of a financial planning practicum developed for the purpose of providing such experience to future financial planners. It is hoped that this information will encourage others to consider offering experiential learning opportunities to those seeking positions in the financial services industry.
Novel Insights into the Cellular Mechanisms of the Anti-inflammatory Effects of NF-κB Essential Modulator Binding Domain Peptides

The classical nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway is under the control of the IκB kinase (IKK) complex, which consists of IKK-1, IKK-2, and NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO). This complex is responsible for the regulation of cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Dysregulation of this pathway is associated with several human diseases, and as such, its inhibition offers an exciting opportunity for therapeutic intervention. NEMO binding domain (NBD) peptides inhibit the binding of recombinant NEMO to IKK-2 in vitro. However, direct evidence of disruption of this binding by NBD peptides in biological systems has not been provided. Using a cell system, we expanded on previous observations to show that NBD peptides inhibit inflammation-induced but not basal cytokine production. We report that these peptides cause the release of IKK-2 from an IKK complex and disrupt NEMO-IKK-2 interactions in cells. We demonstrate that by interfering with NEMO-IKK-2 interactions, NBD peptides inhibit IKK-2 phosphorylation, without affecting signaling intermediates upstream of the IKK complex of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, in a cell-free system of IKK complex activation by TRAF6 (TNF receptor-associated factor 6), we show that these peptides inhibit the ability of this complex to phosphorylate downstream substrates, such as p65 and inhibitor of κBα (IκBα). Thus, consistent with the notion that NEMO regulates IKK-2 catalytic activity by serving as a scaffold, appropriately positioning IKK-2 for activation by upstream kinase(s), our findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms by which NBD peptides exert their anti-inflammatory effects in cells.
Free-Edge Effects in Anisotropic Laminates Under Extension, Bending and Twisting, Part I: A Stress-Function-Based Variational Approach

A variationalm method involving Lekhnitskii's stress functions is used to determine the interlaminar stresses in a multilayered strip of laminate subjected to arbitrary combinations of axial extension, bending, and twisting loads. The stress functions in each layer are approximated by polynomial functions of the thickness coordinate
Prevention of preterm birth: a renewed national priority.

Purpose of review To summarize some recent major epidemiological changes, evidence-based interventions, shifting paradigms, and national initiatives targeting the prevention of preterm birth in the United States. Recent findings Noteworthy epidemiological changes in preterm births include a shift from 40 to 39 weeks as the most common length of gestation for singleton births in the United States; significant jumps in late preterm births, which is the major contributor to increasing preterm rates: more multiple births with rates highest for non-Hispanic whites; dramatic increases in births to women of advanced maternal age; and substantial increases in cesarean births. Key paradigm shifts have also occurred such as considering most spontaneous preterm birth as a common complex disorder highlighting the importance of interactions of biological predispositions and environment; support for the fetal origins hypothesis requiring a life course perspective, including preconception health promotion to improve perinatal health and enhance equity; and a renewed focus on preventing recurrence. The March of Dimes National Prematurity Campaign, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development leadership on late preterm birth, the 2006 Institute of Medicine's report on preterm birth, and passage of the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who Deliver Infants Early Bill with the resultant 2008 Surgeon General's Conference underscore the national resolve to prevent preterm births. Summary Despite the complex changing environment of perinatal care, shrinking resources and higher risk pregnancies, innovative strategies, expanded, interdisciplinary partnerships, a focus on perinatal quality initiatives, more evidence-based interventions, tools to better predict preterm labor/birth, dissemination of effective community-based programs, a commitment to enhance equity, promoting preconception health, translation of research findings from the bench to bedside to curbside, effective continuing education for busy clinicians and culturally sensitive, health literacy appropriate patient education materials can collectively help to reverse the increasing rates of preterm births.
Acoustics measurements in a lean premixed combustor operated on hydrogen/hydrocarbon fuel mixtures

In this study, acoustics and emissions measurements in hydrocarbon flames enriched with hydrogen were obtained for a range of operating conditions. Methane and propane fuels enriched with up to 40% hydrogen (by volume) were used. Fully premixed reactants were burnt in an atmospheric pressure, swirl-stabilized combustor replicating typical geometric features of land-based gas turbines. Acoustics data indicated an increase in the total sound power with an increase in the adiabatic flame temperature. Hydrogen enrichment of methane produced higher sound levels as compared to non-enriched methane with a single frequency band around 450 Hz. Hydrogen-enriched propane flames had lower sound levels, with multiple frequency bands appearing on an intermittent basis. Results suggest that the changes in the combustor dynamics should be considered together with the known benefits of hydrogen addition, i.e., the extended lean blow off limit and lower nitric oxide and carbon monoxide emissions.
Identification of a transposon-related RNA down-regulated by retinoic acid in embryonal carcinoma and embryonic stem cells.

Abstract The differential display polymerase chain reaction was employed to identify changes in mRNA expression during retinoic acid-induced differentiation in embryonal carcinoma PCC4.aza1R cells. In this study, we report on one cDNA, EC1 , that was identified by this method. EC-1 encodes a 0.6-kb mRNA that is present in PCC4.aza1R cells and down-regulated by retinoic acid. Sequence analysis revealed that EC-1 exhibits a 47% identity with the early transposon RNA ETn and does not contain a long open reading frame. EC-1 mRNA expression was reduced by 50% after 24 h of treatment with 10 nM retinoic acid and was undetectable after 48 h. Down-regulation of EC-1 mRNA was observed at retinoic acid concentrations as low as 0.1 nM. EC-1 was found to be expressed in several other embryonal carcinoma cell lines as well as in embryonic stem cells but was undetectable in differentiated cell types obtained after RA treatment. Northern blot analysis using RNA from multiple mouse tissues demonstrated that the expression of EC-1 is restricted to the testis. Treatment of PCC4.aza1R cells with an RAR-selective agonist also repressed the expression of EC-1 mRNA while treatment with an RXR-selective agonist reduced EC-1 expression slightly. The RARα-specific antagonist Ro 41-5253 had little effect on the down-regulation of EC-1 by retinoic acid. Our observations indicate that the repression of EC-1 is associated with the induction of differentiation in embryonal carcinoma and embryonic stem cells and involves an RAR-activated signaling pathway.
Fourier Analysis of Commutated-Capacitor-Type Integrator Output Signal

It is shown that an operational amplifier with four commutated capacitors in the feedback path produces an output signal whose fundamental is equal in magnitude but 180 degrees out of phase with the input. The analysis is carried out by expressing the output signal in a Fourier series.
A multiphasic characterization of the impact of the herbicide acetochlor on freshwater bacterial communities.

A multiphasic characterization of the impact of the herbicide acetochlor on freshwater bacterial communities
EEG oscillations and recognition memory: theta correlates of memory retrieval and decision making.

Studies of memory retrieval have identified electroencephalographic (EEG) correlates of a test item’s old–new status, reaction time, and memory load. In the current study, we used a multivariate analysis to disentangle the effects of these correlated variables. During retrieval, power of left-parietal theta (4–8 Hz) oscillations increased in proportion to how well a test item was remembered, and theta in central regions correlated with decision making. We also studied how these oscillatory dynamics complemented event-related potentials. These findings are the first to demonstrate that distinct patterns of theta oscillations can simultaneously relate to different aspects of
A back telemetry-capable active high efficiency rectifier in standard CMOS process

In this paper, we present an active rectifier with high power conversion efficiency (PCE) implemented in a 0.5- mum 5 V standard CMOS process with two modes of built-in back telemetry; short- and open-circuit. As a rectifier, it ensures a PCE > 80%, taking advantage of active synchronous rectification technique in the frequency range of 0.125 - 1 MHz. The built-in complementary back telemetry feature in this rectifier can be utilized in implantable microelectronic devices, radio frequency identification (RFID), and wireless sensor applications to reduce the silicon area, improve the reading range, and increase the data rate with load shift keying (LSK).
Diagnostic Performance of a Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction Test for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus first appeared in swine in Canada in the late 1970s, in the United States in the mid 1980s, and in Europe in 1990.23 Since that time, PRRS virus infection has become endemic in most pork-producing areas of the world. Although infection is frequently subclinical, PRRS virus plays a significant role in swine health, as reflected in the number of cases submitted to veterinary diagnostic laboratories located in swine-dense areas. For instance, in 1998 the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ISU-VDL) performed 90,608 serologic tests for the detection of PRRS virus antibody (J. Zimmerman, personal communication), and among diagnostic cases involving swine, 83% of samples (5,026/6,023) submitted for virus isolation included a request for isolation of PRRS virus (K.-J. Yoon, personal communication). Economically, PRRS is generally perceived to be the most significant infectious disease of swine in North America. Over the last several years, the economic impact of PRRS virus on swine production has stimulated a substantial investment of research resources into the search for effective disease control strategies. The development of accurate and rapid diagnostic assays has been an essential part of this effort. Numerous procedures have been developed and implemented for the diagnosis of PRRS, including serum antibody assays, virus isolation techniques, and antigen detection and visualization in tissues by immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence microscopy.24 In addition, a number of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and in situ hybridization techniques have been developed for the detection of PRRS virus RNA in clinical specimens, including serum, semen, and tissues.4,9–12,16,17 The transfer of PCR technology into the diagnostic setting has been of particular interest to diagnosticians and swine practitioners. Generally, PCR is considered to offer distinct advantages over other techniques, including faster availability of results, higher diagnostic sensitivity, and higher diagnostic specificity. At the present time, however, documentation of the specific diagnostic performance characteristics of PCR assays is sparse. Here, we report observations on the diagnostic performance of a PCR assay for the detection of PRRS virus. The original intent of this research was to use a reverse transcription-nested PCR (RT-nPCR) to detect PRRS virus genomic material in field samples collected from 20 commercial swine herds. Field samples (n 5 756) were submit-
Congress and Foreign Policy: Congressional Action on the Darfur Genocide

As of January 2008, more than 400,000 people have been killed and more than 2.5 million people have been displaced in the regions of Darfur and Chad. This event has not gone unnoticed in the United States, as the 109th United States Congress (2005–2006) considered several measures in the House of Representatives to provide funding and peacekeeping forces to quell the violence in Darfur. The goal of this article is to explain individual members' of Congress (MCs') support for Darfur legislation by examining the influence of their individual, district, and institutional characteristics. The Darfur case provides the opportunity to analyze factors critical to congressional behavior in a context where there is reason to expect an MC's usual set of incentives—e.g., reelection and adherence to party—to be less prominent. In all, we contribute to congressional and foreign policy research by parceling out the determinants of congressional support for foreign policy in comparison to domestic policy.
Carbofuran occupational dermal toxicity, exposure and risk assessment

BACKGROUND: Carbofuran is a carbamate insecticide that inhibits AChE. Although toxic by ingestion in mammals, it has low dermal toxicity, with relatively few confirmed worker illnesses. This risk assessment describes its time of onset, time to peak effect and time to recovery in rats using brain AChE inhibition in acute and 21 day dermal studies; in vitro rat/human relative dermal absorption for granular (5G) and liquid (4F) formulations; occupational exposure estimates using the Pesticide Handlers' Exposure Database and Agricultural Handlers' Exposure Database (PHED/AHED). RESULTS: The point of departure for acute risk calculation (BMDL10) was 6.7 mg kg−1 day−1 for brain AChE inhibition after 6 h exposure. In a 21 day study, the BMDL10 was 6.8 mg kg−1 day−1, indicating reversibility. At 75 mg kg−1 day−1, time of onset was ⩽30 min and time to peak effect was 6–12 h. Rat skin had ca tenfold greater dermal absorption of carbofuran (Furadan® 5G or 4F) than human skin. Exposure estimates for 5G in rice and 4F in ten crops had adequate margins of exposure (>100). CONCLUSION: Rat dermal carbofuran toxicity was assessed in terms of dose and time-related inhibition of AChE. Comparative dermal absorption in rats was greater than in humans. Worker exposure estimates indicated acceptable risk for granular and liquid formulations of carbofuran. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
The dynamics of social capital in scientific collaboration networks

Scientific collaboration is considered a cornerstone of 21st Century Science and a springboard for economic prosperity. At a more basic level, it is also considered to be a fundamental part of the development of scientific human capital. From that perspective, scientific collaboration is facilitated through social capital, which is acquired through an investment cycle. Through a series of collaborative interactions, scientists move to positions within collaboration networks, which in turn creates future opportunities for collaboration. Prior research has either focused on the positioning of scientists within their respective networks, or scientists’ network activity and career stage, but few studies have looked at the dynamics of positioning due to the presence, timing, and sequencing of collaborative interactions on future opportunities. The reason for this gap was the intractability of the problem. In this paper, a research proposal is outlined that will attempt to address this deficiency by employing machine learning to identify patterns in the career trajectories of scientists in a research community.
Enantioselective synthesis of oasomycin A, part III: fragment assembly and confirmation of structure.

Herein we address the total synthesis of the natural product oasomycin A by assembly of the C1–C12, C13–C28, and C29–C46 subunits, whose syntheses have been described in the preceding Communications. The synthesis plan (Scheme 1) incorporates a speculative late-stage macrolactonization of the linear seco acid precursor to form a 42-membered lactone that upon global deprotection would provide the natural product. Since oasomycin A is known to rearrange to the oasomycins D and E under basic conditions, an acid-mediated global deprotection was obligatory. It was our intention to assemble the requisite seco acid by using an aldol addition of the C1–C28 ketone I to the C29–C46 aldehyde II with a concomitant installation of the C29 stereocenter, followed by a stereoselective reduction of the C27 ketone. The assembly of ketone I through a Kocienski–Julia olefination of the C13–C28 aldehyde III with C1–C12 fragment IV was undertaken first (Scheme 2). Sulfone 1 was selectively deprotonated with KHMDS and treated with aldehyde 2 to afford the coupling product 3a as a 7:1 mixture of E/Z isomers (57% yield). In addition, a significant amount of a by-product was consistently formed in 15–25%
Disturbance and landscape dynamics in the Chequamegon National Forest Wisconsin, USA, from 1972 to 2001

Land uses, especially harvesting and road building, are considered to be the primary cause of forest fragmentation in many parts of the world. To test this perception, we (1) quantified changes and rates of change in vegetative composition and structure within the Washburn Ranger District in northern Wisconsin using Landsat images, (2) examined changes in landscape structure, (3) assessed changes within the area of road influence (ARI), and (4) investigated changes in landscape composition and structure within the context of forest management activities. Our landscape classifications included six dominant cover types: mixed hardwood (MH), jack pine (JP), red pine (RP), mixed hardwood/conifer (MHC), non-forested bare ground (NFBG), and regenerating forest or shrub (RFS). Increases in NFBG and RFS, by 196% and 28% respectively, reflect expansion of the pine-barrens. Windthrow in the mature hardwoods during the late 1970s and jack pine budworm outbreaks during the mid-1990s correlated with decreases in those classes over the corresponding intervals. A 69% decrease in mean patch size and a 60% increase in edge density reflect increased fragmentation. An inverse relationship existed between the compositional trends of forested (excluding JP) cover types and RFS and NFBG cover types. ARI covered 8% of the landscape affecting species composition within the MH, RFS, and NFBG. Results from this study are key in assessing the links between management activities and ecological consequences and thereby facilitate adaptive management.
Gene expression profiling of human alveolar macrophages of phenotypically normal smokers and nonsmokers reveals a previously unrecognized subset of genes modulated by cigarette smoking.

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of the respiratory diseases collectively known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While the pathogenesis of COPD is complex, there is abundant evidence that alveolar macrophages (AM) play an important role. Based on the concept that COPD is a slow-progressing disorder likely involving multiple mediators released by AM activated by cigarette smoke, the present study focuses on the identification of previously unrecognized genes that may be linked to early events in the molecular pathogenesis of COPD, as opposed to factors associated with the presence of disease. To accomplish this, microarray analysis using Affymetrix microarrays was used to carry out an unbiased survey of the differences in gene expression profiles in the AM of phenotypically normal, ∼20 pack-year smokers compared to healthy nonsmokers. Although smoking did not alter the global gene expression pattern of AM, 75 genes were modulated by smoking, with 40 genes up-regulated and 35 down-regulated in the AM of smokers compared to nonsmokers. Most of these genes belong to the functional categories of immune/inflammatory response, cell adhesion and extracellular matrix, proteolysis and antiproteolysis, lysosomal function, antioxidant-related function, signal transduction, and regulation of transcription. Of these 75 genes, 69 have not been previously recognized to be up- or down-regulated in AM in association with smoking or COPD, including genes coding for proteins belonging to all of the above categories, and others belonging to various functional categories or of unknown function. These observations suggest that gene expression responses of AM associated with the stress of cigarette smoking are more complex than previously thought, and offer a variety of new insights into the complex pathogenesis of smoking-induced lung diseases.
Several practical configurations of a grid-tied induction generator constructed from inexpensive single phase induction motors

Three configurations of a unique single-phase power generation system based on inexpensive single-phase induction motors are proposed in this paper. All of these configurations are well suited for residential or equivalent small-scale grid-tied power generation schemes because of their reduced cost, smaller footprint and minimum or no required maintenance. The wind power generation schemes presented in this paper could be used in stand-alone or grid-parallel mode without using any energy storage. Various characteristics of these configurations are summarized in this paper with necessary simulation and experimental results. In addition, an analytical model of the single-phase induction generator is presented to identify its operating characteristics.
Metaevaluation of a university teacher education assessment system.

METAEVALUATION OF A UNIVERSITY TEACHER EDUCATION ASSESSMENT SYSTEM Katherine A. Shanahan March 25, 2014 Metaevaluation is the evaluation of an evaluation or evaluation system (Scriven, 1969). It serves as a mechanism to ensure quality in evaluation approaches and implementation. Operationally metaevaluation is defined as “the process of delineating, obtaining, and applying descriptive information and judgmental information – about the utility, feasibility, propriety, and accuracy of an evaluation and its systematic nature, competent conduct, integrity/honesty, respectfulness, and social responsibility to guide the evaluation and/or report its strengths and weaknesses” (Stufflebeam, 2001, p.185). This study was a metaevaluation of an assessment system designed for accreditation requirements to support continuous improvement in teacher education programs at the University of Louisville. The study was intended to serve as a formative metaevaluation to identify strengths and weaknesses in the University of Louisville, College of Education and Human Development’s (CEHD) teacher education assessment system to support improvement of the system and better support continuous improvement of teacher education programs. The study took careful consideration of accountability and accreditation requirements, as well as evaluation and metaevalaution standards and practices. The study utilized Stufflebeam’s structure for metaevaluation (2001), which
Sherlock Holmes and Clinical Reasoning: Empiric Research on a Methodology to Teach Clinical Reasoning

Formalized teaching of clinical decision making to medical students remains a formidable task. Critical cognitive skills constitute a specific body of knowledge. What is needed is an imaginative way to teach and practice them. Selected Sherlock Holmes short stories contain most of the principles of nominative and managerial decision-making found in standard textbooks of medical decision-making. When matched with appropriate clinical cases, they constitute material suitable for a formal course. It is inappropriate to teach clinical reasoning skills independent of clinical content. Twelve second-year medical students who took our elective course on Sherlock Holmes as a model diagnostician were matched for gender, MCAT scores and GPA with twelve students who did not take the elective. The performances of the two groups of students on six MCQ exams given in a separate required course on clinical problem solving were compared. The mean scores on individual questions and the whole course were statistically significantly higher for the students who also took the Sherlock Holmes elective.
Mega-Corporatism and the Authoritarian State

This essay uses the financial collapse of 2008-2010 as a backdrop to argue that the nature of the present American state capitalist system is inherently authoritarian, not libertarian.
Mechanical Behavior of O-Rings

Abstract O-ring deformation is approximated as a plane strain contact problem. An integral equation is written for the contact stress which is solved for small deflections. The contact area agrees with the results of the conventional Hertz theory. The displacements of the deformed o-ring are found by requiring zero displacement at the center of the circular cross section. Experimental results on silicone rubber cylinders and o-rings agree with the theory up to approximately 15 per cent strain. A linear viscoelastic solution is constructed from the elastic solution for an o-ring held at fixed deflection for t > 0. For this case the contact area remains constant and the average load is proportional to the relaxation modulus.
John Donne's use of numbers.

John Donne wanted to live the leisurely life of a gentleman undisturbed by financial difficulties, devoting his life to entertaining his audience with his witty insights into life and, especially, love. However, his marriage, which was frowned upon by traditional society as a betrayal of his professional (tutorial) trust, and the subsequent arrival of his children on an annual basis, put him in the very modern dilemma of the man who does not have the money to support his preferred life-style. His family had been staunchly Roman Catholic and so, although he had been educated at Oxford, he left without a degree to avoid taking an oath which would have compromised his religious beliefs. Instead, he transferred his studies to Cambridge, but did not apply for a degree there either.
Building Cross-National, Longitudinal Data Sets: Issues and Strategies for Implementation

With recent advances in computing power enhancing the ability of social scientists to analyze newly available “big data,” there is a new set of challenges for researchers building cross-national, longitudinal data sets. While scholars should embrace these new sources of data, we must carefully consider cleaning and coding decisions and how these influence our ultimate findings. In this article, we outline five common issues that researchers may face in building large cross-national, longitudinal data sets and suggest strategies for how to address each: (1) country data consistency including births, deaths, splits, unifications, and name changes, (2) longitudinal string matching, (3) identifying different types of missing data, (4) using these types of missing data in developing a theoretically and empirically grounded imputation strategy, and (5) understanding whether systemic change is driven by real world processes or by coding/cleaning choices. We also touch briefly on some general technical and techno...
The Luscher Color Test: A Validity Study:

Concurrent validity of the Luschet Color Test was studied by correlating these scores and those on the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis for 50 male and 48 female undergraduates. Specific relatio...
Selective Growth of GaP on Si by Metal Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy

Extremely flat layers of GaP were grown on 4° miscut (100) Si substrates by selective Metal- Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy. An enhancement of Re@3 was measured at the growth edges, which corresponds to a Sherwood number of 12.5. Defect-free growth is obtained at the edge of the silicon nitride mask. A gradual transition to growth with a large defect density is observed with increasing distance from the mask edges. In the defect free areas, a recovery of the (100) crystal plane is consistently measured on top of the grown mesas. This seems to indicate a pure layer-bylayer homoepitaxial mode (Frank-van der Merve mode) after the island mode nucleation (Volmer- Weber mode) on Silicon is completed, forming a thin smooth seed layer. High Resolution TEM shows a uniform Si-GaP transition. Micro-Raman Spectroscopy with spatial resolution of ˜1 micrometer was performed to assess the crystal quality as a function of the distance from the growth edge.
Choice Criteria Revisited

This investigation replicates, in part, a 1974 study examining the relative importance of different attributes across four industrial product types. Similar conclusions are found.
The Development of Roman Mailed Cavalry

The willingness of the Romans to adopt foreign military practices and to modify, and hereby strengthen, legionary organization, equipment, and tactics is well-documented and thas been discussed frequently by modern scholars. One manifestation of this pragmatic approach, however, has not received the attention it deserves—viz. their attempts during the Empire to develop an effective cavalry. In this effort the Romans employed a variety of cavalrymen and cavalry tactics, but one of the most interesting and certainly one of the most enduring products was the mailed cavalry. The origin, development and success of this force—which became a prominent branch of the Roman army after the first century A.D.—cannot be analysed without some reference to earlier experiments with cavalry equipment and tactics in the Mediterranean area. The Romans did not invent the heavy-armoured horseman: on the contrary, the innovators were the Assyrians, whose monuments uniquely illustrate the evolution of cavalry technique in antiquity. Delineation of the Assyrian development is instructive, for they were required to solve many of the technical and tactical problems which later confronted the Romans. Moreover, the tactics employed and the cavalry types created by the Assyrians are remarkably similar to the later Roman. To facilitate comparison of the Assyrian and Roman experience, in the following assessment the equivalent Greek and Latin terminology has been supplied for each phase in the Assyrian development.
Abstract 067: Endothelial S1P/S1P1 Signaling is Critical Regulator of Blood Flow and Pressure

Background and objectives: Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is emerging as a pivotal signaling molecule within the vasculature. S1P has been known as a potent endothelial nitric oxide synthase activator through G-protein coupled receptor S1P1 and less abundant S1P3 on endothelial cells (EC). Although it has been recently shown that S1P/S1P1 signaling mediates EC alignment in response to flow, the role of S1P1 signaling in the pathogenesis of hypertension remains unknown. FTY720, an S1P1 functional antagonist, recently approved by the FDA to treat autoimmune conditions, induces a modest and transient decrease in heart rate in both animals and humans, suggesting that drugs targeting sphingolipid signaling affect cardiovascular functions in vivo. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate whether S1P-S1P1 signaling pathway is crucial in blood flow and pressure regulation. Methods: The BP was evaluated in conscious mice with tail cuff system, whereas the vascular reactivity was examined with pressure myograph system in mesenteric arteries isolated from age matched WT and EC-S1P1-/- mice. Results. Here we report for the first time that S1P1-mediated signaling protects from hypertension. Administration of SEW 2871, an agonist of S1P1, to angiotensin-II-induced hypertensive mice lowered blood pressure to normotensive levels (110.7±3.1 vs. 160.7±2.4 mmHg, SEW 2871 vs. vehicle respectively). Pharmacological inhibition of S1P1 with W146 (100 nM and 1 μM) markedly reduced flow-induced vasodilation (Emax 25.2±3.8 and 2.5±2.3 vs. 48.6±4.9 μm, W146 100 nM and 1μM respectively vs. WT). These data were corroborated by using a genetic approach: mice EC-S1P1-/- were hypertensive (124.7±1.9 vs. 109±1.7 mmHg, EC-S1P1-/- vs. S1P1f/f mice) and showed a reduced response to flow-induced vasodilation (Emax 15.2±3.0 vs. 53.8±5.0 μm, EC-S1P1-/- vs. S1P1f/f mice mesenteric artery). Conclusion: Our study identifies S1P-S1P1 signaling as a new regulatory pathway of blood flow and pressure homeostasis, providing a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of hypertension.
Analysis on the hydrogenperoixde and pH and formaldehyde of residua content in waterishlogged food products

Objective:To know the hydrogenperoixde and sodium hydroxide and formaldehyde residua content of waterishlogged food products in ShenZhen District.Methods: A method GB/T 23499-2009 was used to test hydrogenperoixde residua content in the sample,using the method NY5172-2002 to test pH and formaldehyde. Results: Formaldehyde was not detected in the sample,but the detection rate of hydrogenperoixde was relatively high(85.1%),the hydrogenperoixde content of the sample ranged for 35 mg/kg～1400 mg/kg;the pH of the sample for 4.21～10.8. Conclusion: Hydrogenperoxide is commonly used for bleaching waterishlogged food products.
Immunology of the Eye

The eye is a remarkably complex organ with one known function – the unfettered transmission of photons from the ocular surface to the retina where signals are transmitted to the brain where they are translated into images – a process we commonly call vision. Crucial tissues in the eye are amitotic and cannot regenerate. Therefore, unrestrained inflammation can threaten vision. Accordingly, the eye and the immune system have struck a compromise in which certain immune and inflammatory responses are either dampened or excluded from the eye, a phenomenon called ‘immune privilege.’ In this article, we discuss the mechanisms that produce immune privilege in the eye, the conditions in which immune privilege is terminated, and the consequences of failed immune privilege.
Insights from first-semester computer science end-of-course exams

This paper reports insights gained from the scoring of 83,000 end-of-course examinations of introductory computer science students. The information was gleaned specifically from experience of the Chief Reader for Advanced Placement® Computer Science with responsibility for the 2009 through 2012 examinations. Common themes in the associated student performance include difficulties with: array, list and string processing; parameters, local variables, and return values; iteration control structures; the use of null; object-oriented programming; and addressing problem specifications. The paper concludes with potential hypotheses for future investigations.
Freda Matassa. Museum Collections Management: A Handbook. London: Facet Publishing, 2011. 258p. ISBN 978-1-85604-701-2. $110.

Writing from the United Kingdom, Freda Matassa prepared her textbook Museum Collections Management: A Handbook as a text for museum professionals and students in British classrooms, yet the clearly laid out information is equally relevant to a range of different types of cultural heritage institutions outside England. In the first part of her book, Matassa covers big-picture issues and defines the scope of collection management, before introducing day-to-day collection management activities in the second part of the text. Her treatment covers the full scope of collection management including registrarial responsibilities as well as physical collection care duties. As a central . . .
Metallothionein metal composition is a determinant of its induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition

Metallothionein is rapidly induced by a broad range of stress mediators, such as interleukin 1, interleukin 6, interferon gamma, steroids, and catecholamines [1]. Mitochondria play a significant role in stress through the production of ATP, oxygen free radicals [2], maintenance of intracellular calcium homeostasis [3], and the initiation of apoptosis [4]. Our initial finding was that apometallothionein was capable of transferring electrons to cytochrome c [5]. Since cytochrome c is a component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain we hypothesized that metallothionein would modulate mitochondrial function. As these experiments progressed we were encouraged by the finding of Sakurai et al that the organelle with the highest amount of metallothionein was the mitochondrion [6].
Kinetics of the Reaction of the CCl2 Biradical with Molecular Chlorine

The kinetics of the reaction of CCl2 with molecular chlorine has been studied using the laser photolysis/photoionization mass spectrometry technique. Dichloromethylene biradicals were produced by the pulsed laser photolysis of carbon tetrachloride, and the kinetics of their decay due to reaction with Cl2 were monitored in direct time-resolved experiments. Rate constants were determined as a function of temperature (300−750 K) and can be described by the Arrhenius expression k1 = (1.3 ± 0.3) × 10-11 exp(−(281 ± 96) K/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1. Rate constants of reaction 1 are independent of the bath gas density within the experimental range [He] = (3−12) × 1016 atoms cm-3. CCl3 was observed as a primary product of the reaction.