cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The impact of normative, ipsative, and idiothetic information on feelings about academic performance ☆

Abstract The purpose of this research was to evaluate the relative impact of three different comparative standards on how people feel, specifically, social (normative), temporal (ipsative), and imaginary (idiothetic) ones. In previous research, we found that judgments based on each of these standards are highly related in a natural setting. Consequently, in the present studies we compared the impact of information based on each standard in a setting (academic performance) in which they could be experimentally unconfounded. In three studies we consistently found that each of the standards may impact how people feel, but that social comparisons have by far the strongest impact. We discuss how our approach can be used to compare these three standards in other contexts, but suggest that the dominant impact of social comparison on how people feel about their academic performance has important implications for education.
Regulation of epiblast cell movements by chondroitin sulfate during gastrulation in the chick.

Avian gastrulation is dependent on the ingression of outer layer cells into the interior of the embryo by means of a transient structure referred to as the primitive streak. As the growing streak progresses through the central area pellucida of the blastoderm, selective de-epithelialization of epiblast cells results in the initial migratory cells of the primitive mesoderm and endoderm. Here, we have examined the possibility that extracellular matrix molecules of the epiblast basal lamina influence the selection of streak-specific epiblast cells. By using whole embryo culture, we have found that removal of chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans at gastrulation stages leads to defective streak formation. In situ hybridization with streak-specific markers in these embryos reveals ectopic patterns of gene expression, suggesting that differentiation of primitive streak precursors in the pregastrula epiblast is independent of normal streak morphogenesis. In addition, in vitro assays with chondroitin sulfate containing matrices suggest that specific cells of the epiblast are inhibited from joining the streak during gastrulation. Taken together, these results indicate that the presence of chondroitin sulfate in the epiblast basal lamina facilitates the allocation of cells to the primary germ layers by preventing ectopic axis formation. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On joint deterministic grid modeling and sub-grid variability conceptual framework for model evaluation

The general situation (but exemplified in urban areas), where a significant degree of sub-grid variability (SGV) exists in grid models poses problems when comparing grid-based air-quality modeling results with observations. Typically, grid models ignore or parameterize processes and features that are at their sub-grid scale. Also, observations may be obtained in an area where significant spatial variability in the concentration fields exists. Consequently, model results and observations cannot be expected to be equal. To address this issue, we suggest a framework that can provide for qualitative judgments on model performance based on comparing observations to the grid predictions and its SGV distribution. Further, we (a) explore some characteristics of SGV, (b) comment on the contributions to SGV and (c) examine the implications to the modeling results at coarse grid resolution using examples from fine scale grid modeling of the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system.
The histone-binding code of nuclear receptor co-repressors matches the substrate specificity of histone deacetylase 3.

Ligands for nuclear receptors facilitate the exchange of co-repressors for coactivators, leading to chromatin modifications that favour the activation of gene transcription. Here, we show that the repressed state of an endogenous retinoic acid-regulated gene is quickly re-established after ligand removal. As expected, repression is characterized by recruitment of N-CoR/SMRT–HDAC3 (histone deacetylase 3) co-repressor complexes, leading to local histone hypoacetylation. The achievement of the repressed state involves the ordered deacetylation of lysines in H4 tails. This order is determined by the inherent substrate specificity of HDAC3, and unexpectedly predicts the binding preference of N-CoR/SMRT for submaximally acetylated H4 tails. The match between the specificity of acetyl-histone deacetylation by HDAC3 and the histone-binding preference of N-CoR/SMRT allows the co-repressor complex to stabilize and propagate repression of nuclear hormone receptor gene targets.
Denervation and the time course of resting membrane potential changes in skeletal muscle in vivo.

The effect of denervation on the skeletal muscle resting membrane potential (RMP) was studied in the soleus muscle of the intact rat. The RMP decreased much later than reported in previous in vitro studies. With a very short nerve stump (less than 2 mm), the RMP began to decrease 18 h after denervation and 4 h after miniature end-plate potentials ceased. With a longer nerve stump (39 to 43 mm) the decrease in RMP was delayed about 3 h. Our findings in vivo fail to confirm previous arguments against a role for acetylcholine in regulating the muscle RMP. The influence of usage and the possible effects of spontaneous quantal and nonquantal acetylcholine release or other hypothetical factors are discussed.
Performance Requirements for Glucose Assays in Intensive Care Units

Treatment of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU)2 with intravenous insulin became popular after initial reports suggesting that such treatment led to decreased in-hospital and 30-day mortality (1–3). Such treatment became controversial when several subsequent studies failed to confirm the improved clinical outcomes (4–6). The latter studies, however, used different methods for glucose measurement, and the measurements typically were made less frequently (7). If we wish to optimize glucose monitoring in patients being treated with intravenous insulin while in the intensive care unit, we need answers to several questions: 1) How frequently should glucose be measured? 2) What quality of glucose measurement is needed? 3) What protocol should be used to guide insulin treatment? 4) How much nursing time will be required to conduct such monitoring? 5) Will such monitoring lead to improved outcomes? This editorial concerns itself primarily with the first 3 of these, but the last 2 are extremely important considerations in the clinical arena. Computer simulation studies offer several advantages for answering such questions. First, they entail no risk to patients. Second, many thousands (or millions) of patient-care episodes can be simulated; moreover, various treatment protocols and the effects of different measurement frequencies can be considered simultaneously with evaluation of the analytical requirements for glucose assays. Finally, simulations can predict surrogate markers of patient outcomes such as rates of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, time in range, and within-patient variation of glycemia. This issue of Clinical Chemistry contains 2 reports of novel computer simulation studies of glycemic control in ICU patients (8, 9). These studies may help to answer questions regarding what analytical quality is required of glucose assays, and what impact more-frequent measurement has on patient outcomes and/or the analytical performance requirements of glucose measurement. Although earlier modeling studies of …
A numerical study on the effect of hydrogen/reformate gas addition on flame temperature and NO formation in strained methane/air diffusion flames

Abstract This paper investigates the effects of hydrogen/reformate gas addition on flame temperature and NO formation in strained methane/air diffusion flames by numerical simulation. The results reveal that flame temperature changes due to the combined effects of adiabatic temperature, fuel Lewis number and radiation heat loss, when hydrogen/reformate gas is added to the fuel of a methane/air diffusion flame. The effect of Lewis number causes the flame temperature to increase much faster than the corresponding adiabatic equilibrium temperature when hydrogen is added, and results in a qualitatively different variation from the adiabatic equilibrium temperature as reformate gas is added. At some conditions, the addition of hydrogen results in a super-adiabatic flame temperature. The addition of hydrogen/reformate gas causes NO formation to change because of the variations in flame temperature, structure and NO formation mechanism, and the effect becomes more significant with increasing strain rate. The addition of a small amount of hydrogen or reformate gas has little effect on NO formation at low strain rates, and results in an increase in NO formation at moderate or high strain rates. However, the addition of a large amount of hydrogen increases NO formation at all strain rates, except near pure hydrogen condition. Conversely, the addition of a large amount of reformate gas results in a reduction in NO formation.
On-farm production of inoculum of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and assessment of diluents of compost for inoculum production

On-farm production of arbuscular mycorrhizal [AM] fungus inoculum can be employed to make the benefits of the symbiosis more available to vegetable farmers. Experiments were conducted to modify an existing method for the production of inoculum in temperate climates to make it more readily adoptable by farmers. Perlite, vermiculite, and peat based potting media were tested as diluents of yard clippings compost for the media in which the inoculum was produced using bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) as host plant. All produced satisfactory concentrations of AM fungus propagules, though vermiculite proved to be better than potting media (89 vs. 25 propagules cm(-3), respectively). Two methods were tested for the growth of AM fungi indigenous to the farm: (1) adding field soil into the vermiculite and compost mixture and (2) pre-colonizing the bahiagrass seedlings in media inoculated with field soil prior to transplant into that mixture. Adding 100 cm(3) of field soil to the compost and vermiculite produced 465 compared to 137 propagules cm(-3) for the pre-colonization method. The greater flexibility these modifications give will make it easier for farmers to produce inoculum of AM fungi on-the-farm.
Stage specific embryonic defects following heat shock in Drosophila

Heat shock of pre-adult Drosophila disrupts development and causes phenotypic abnormalities. Type of abnormality depends on developmental stage at time of shock. Defects probably result from disruption of stage specific processes by the heat shock response (which includes reduction of normal mRNA and protein production). This study uses heat shock to study stage specific processes in early development. Short, intense shocks (2–3 min, 42–43°C) are administered to carefully staged embryos within the first 5 h of development. Stage specific defects occur following shock at syncitial blastoderm or later. Abnormal segmentation follows shock at syncitial or cellular blastoderm. Segmentation is also disrupted by shocks 1 h after the onset of gastrulation, but not by shocks at the onset of gastrulation. Segmentation defects include phenocopies of pair rule mutants, which lack parts of alternate segments. Defective shortening of the germ band is common following shock at the onset of gastrulation. Germ band shortening normally occurs several hours after the time of shock; thus heat shock specifically affects control of a later developmental process. Development does not simply cease at the time of the distrupted process; rather a specific step in the developmental sequence is omitted or altered. Stage specific defects do not occur following pre-blastoderm shock. Pre-blastoderm eggs have few or no normal processes controlled by transcription, and poor ability to induce the heat shock response. This suggests that stage specific defects require disruption of transcription controlled processes. Pre-blastoderm eggs survive a 3-min shock less well than older eggs. The ability of older eggs to induce the heat shock response probably enhances survival. The mutant hairy was also investigated. Extreme alleles show a striking pair rule phenotype, while a weak allele does not. Heat shock of animals heterozygous or homozygous for the weak allele at blastoderm specifically increases the frequency of the extreme hairy phenotype. Thus heat shock may disrupt the same developmental process as is altered by the mutation.
Stable limit sets in a dynamic parts feeder

We describe a one-joint planar arm which repeatedly throws and catches parts on its surface, and we demonstrate that proper choice of the throw velocity and arm geometry guarantees that the part will enter a unique recurrent motion pattern from a large set of initial configurations. The resulting system resembles an open-loop stable juggler of polygonal parts. Combined with a simple 1-bit sensor, the system can be used as a parts feeder.
The effects of fire on the thermal stability of permafrost in lowland and upland black spruce forests of interior Alaska in a changing climate

Fire is an important factor controlling the composition and thickness of the organic layer in the black spruce forest ecosystems of interior Alaska. Fire that burns the organic layer can trigger dramatic changes in the underlying permafrost, leading to accelerated ground thawing within a relatively short time. In this study, we addressed the following questions. (1) Which factors determine post-fire ground temperature dynamics in lowland and upland black spruce forests? (2) What levels of burn severity will cause irreversible permafrost degradation in these ecosystems? We evaluated these questions in a transient modeling‐sensitivity analysis framework to assess the sensitivity of permafrost to climate, burn severity, soil organic layer thickness, and soil moisture content in lowland (with thick organic layers, 80 cm) and upland (with thin organic layers, 30 cm) black spruce ecosystems. The results indicate that climate warming accompanied by fire disturbance could significantly accelerate permafrost degradation. In upland black spruce forest, permafrost could completely degrade in an 18 m soil column within 120 years of a severe fire in an unchanging climate. In contrast, in a lowland black spruce forest, permafrost is more resilient to disturbance and can persist under a combination of moderate burn severity and climate warming.
Characteristics of a Large Shared Memory Production Workload

This paper characterizes the production workload that highly utilizes the NCSA Origin 2000. The characterization includes the distributions of job interarrival time, requested number of processors, requested memory, requested runtime, actual runtime as a fraction of requested runtime, and the ratio of memory usage to memory request. Conditional distributions are defined as needed for generating a synthetic workload with the same characteristics, including the key correlations observed among the job parameters. Characteristics of the O2K workload that differ from previously reported production workload characteristics are also noted.
A study of age group track and field records to relate age and running speed.

AGE affects man's ability to run fast but to date there has been little interest in quantitating the relationship. The few published studies, such as the one by Dill on marathon runner Clarence DeMar1, are concerned mainly with reporting lung volume, heart rate, and other physiological characteristics of notable performers, with only brief reviews of race performances over the runner's life span.
The relationship between motherhood and re-incarceration

Using matched administrative records from the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, this paper finds that mothers' rates of re-incarceration are higher than those of women without children. It is also found that incarcerated mothers whose children have been in foster care have a higher re-incarceration rate than do women without children. The re-incarceration rate is particularly higher among mothers whose children were placed in foster care at the time of their first incarceration and mothers who had children in foster care but lost their custody before their first incarceration. These findings are more pronounced among white women with records of drug-related offenses or drug addiction than among their African-American counterparts.
Highly Crosslinked UHMWPE Doped with Vitamin E

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the diffusion of vitamin E in radiation crosslinked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and the properties of this new generation UHMWPE. It is not yet clear by how much the longevity of the implants improved clinically, and how much the fatigue strength improvement will allow the use of the new material in younger and more active patients. However, this analysis continually focuses on the manipulation of the chemistry and semicrystalline morphology of UHMWPE to achieve the goal of obtaining a failure-resistant bearing surface. The method of incorporating vitamin E into UHMWPE is to blend vitamin E with UHMWPE powder prior to consolidation. When consolidated, the blend can be crosslinked with the use of ionizing radiation. However, the presence of vitamin E in UHMWPE during irradiation reduces the efficiency of crosslinking. An alternative method is the diffusion of vitamin E into UHMWPE following radiation crosslinking. The crosslinking efficiency of UHMWPE is not adversely affected in this method because vitamin E is not present during irradiation. This chapter discusses the use of vitamin E as a stabilizer for UHMWPE for total joint implant components; the data on the biocompatibility and efficacy of vitamin E are mostly based on oral supplementation. It explores the outcome of these studies in the context of the possible local and systemic effects of an intra-articular dose of vitamin E. The main goal of diffusing vitamin E into radiation crosslinked UHMWPE is to obtain enough vitamin E throughout joint implant components to protect the material against long-term oxidation.
Microstructural changes in Beta-silicon nitride grains upon crystallizing the grain-boundary glass

Crystallizing the grain-boundary glass of a liquid-phase-sintered Si3N4 ceramic for 2 h or less at 1500 C led to formation of delta-Y2Si2O7. After 5 h at 1500 C, the delta-Y2Si2O7 had transformed to beta-Y2Si2O7 with a concurrent dramatic increase in dislocation density within beta-Si3N4 grains. Reasons for the increased dislocation density are discussed. Annealing for 20 h at 1500 C reduced dislocation densities to the levels found in as-sintered material.
On weighting the rates in non‐response weights

A basic estimation strategy in sample surveys is to weight units inversely proportional to the probability of selection and response. Response weights in this method are usually estimated by the inverse of the sample-weighted response rate in an adjustment cell, that is, the ratio of the sum of the sampling weights of respondents in a cell to the sum of the sampling weights for respondents and non-respondents in that cell. We show by simulations that weighting the response rates by the sampling weights to adjust for design variables is either incorrect or unnecessary. It is incorrect, in the sense of yielding biased estimates of population quantities, if the design variables are related to survey non-response; it is unnecessary if the design variables are unrelated to survey non-response. The correct approach is to model non-response as a function of the adjustment cell and design variables, and to estimate the response weight as the inverse of the estimated response probability from this model. This approach can be implemented by creating adjustment cells that include design variables in the cross-classification, if the number of cells created in this way is not too large. Otherwise, response propensity weighting can be applied.
Towards Recovery of 3D Chromosome Structure

The objectives of this work include automatic recovery and visualization of a 3D chromosome structure from a sequence of 2D tomographic reconstruction images taken through the nucleus of a cell. Structure is very important for biologists as it affects chromosome functions, behavior of the cell and its state. Chromosome analysis is significant in the detection of diseases and in monitoring environmental gene mutations. The algorithm incorporates thresholding based on a histogram analysis with a polyline splitting algorithm, contour extraction via active contours, and detection of the 3D chromosome structure by establishing corresponding regions throughout the slices. Visualization using point cloud meshing generates a 3D surface. The 3D triangular mesh of the chromosomes provides surface detail and allows a user to interactively analyze chromosomes using visualization software.
Primers on Molecular Pathways – Cycling toward Pancreatic Cancer

Human cells divide and proliferate during the early stages of life to support development, and throughout adult life to support normal cellular turnover. Each dividing cell follows an orderly and tigh
Invariant Recognition of Spatio-Temporal Patterns in The Olfactory System Model

This paper presents a model of a network of integrate-and-fire neurons with time delay weights, capable of invariant spatio-temporal pattern recognition. Spatio-temporal patterns are formed by spikes according to the encoding principle that the phase shifts of the spikes encode the input stimulus intensity which corresponds to the concentration of constituent molecules of an odor. We applied the Hopfield's phase shift encoding principle at the output level for spatio-temporal pattern recognition: Firing of an output neuron indicates that corresponding odor is recognized and phase shift of its firing encodes the concentration of the recognized odor. The temporal structure of the model provides the base for the modeling of higher level tasks, where temporal correlation is involved, such as feature binding and segmentation, object recognition, etc.
Studies on the radiocarbon sample from the shroud of turin

In 1988, radiocarbon laboratories at Arizona, Cambridge, and Zurich determined the age of a sample from the Shroud of Turin. They reported that the date of the cloth’s production lay between a.d. 1260 and 1390 with 95% confidence. This came as a surprise in view of the technology used to produce the cloth, its chemical composition, and the lack of vanillin in its lignin. The results prompted questions about the validity of the sample. Preliminary estimates of the kinetics constants for the loss of vanillin from lignin indicate a much older age for the cloth than the radiocarbon analyses. The radiocarbon sampling area is uniquely coated with a yellow–brown plant gum containing dye lakes. Pyrolysis-mass-spectrometry results from the sample area coupled with microscopic and microchemical observations prove that the radiocarbon sample was not part of the original cloth of the Shroud of Turin. The radiocarbon date was thus not valid for determining the true age of the shroud. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory in Athletic Training Education: A Literature Review.

Objective: Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory offers insight into the development of learning styles, classification of learning styles, and how students learn through experience. Discussion is presented on the value of Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory for Athletic Training Education. Data Sources: This article reviews research related to experiential learning theory and learning styles in athletic training education and other allied health professions. Studies reviewed include published articles and dissertations involving experiential learning, learning styles, and clinical educator behaviors. Data Synthesis: Learning styles research related to athletic training is inconclusive due to the differences in vocabulary and measuring instruments used by researchers. Conclusions/Recommendations: This review illustrates the need to conduct more research on learning styles and how experiential learning theory might be used to facilitate education in athletic training education programs.
Towards Usable and Secure Natural Language Processing Systems

Natural Language Processing (NLP) systems must be both secure and usable, but this remains an elusive objective. This work considers the relationship between usability and security in NLP systems. Development and lifecycle practices are discussed with the goal of a more integrated, comprehensive process for NLP system development.
Quantitative analysis of truck driver EEG during highway operations

Scalp electroencephalograms (EEGs) were collected from each of 80 male, commercial truck drivers during one week of open-highway driving (4 or 5 round trips per week; about 50 hours of driving per driver) as part of the Driver Fatigue and Alertness Study funded by the Federal Highway Administration. Features of the central EEG were selected for extraction based upon known characteristics of the EEG spectrum during sleep onset. Data reduction focused on the contributions to total EEG power from the theta, alpha, sigma and beta spectral bands. The means and regression slopes for the EEG measures were calculated on the time axis and used to estimate EEG values at the beginning and end of each leg of each trip for each driver. The weekly patterns of EEG power appeared to be interpretable by reference to expected circasemidian rhythms. The EEG sigma/beta ratio may provide an index of midafternoon sleepiness while driving. Language: en
ATP-binding Cassette (ABC) Transport System Solute-binding Protein-guided Identification of Novel d-Altritol and Galactitol Catabolic Pathways in Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58

Innovations in the discovery of the functions of uncharacterized proteins/enzymes have become increasingly important as advances in sequencing technology flood protein databases with an exponentially growing number of open reading frames. This study documents one such innovation developed by the Enzyme Function Initiative (EFI; U54GM093342), the use of solute-binding proteins for transport systems to identify novel metabolic pathways. In a previous study, this strategy was applied to the tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic transporters. Here, we apply this strategy to the ATP-binding cassette transporters and report the discovery of novel catabolic pathways for d-altritol and galactitol in Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58. These efforts resulted in the description of three novel enzymatic reactions as follows: 1) oxidation of d-altritol to d-tagatose via a dehydrogenase in Pfam family PF00107, a previously unknown reaction; 2) phosphorylation of d-tagatose to d-tagatose 6-phosphate via a kinase in Pfam family PF00294, a previously orphan EC number; and 3) epimerization of d-tagatose 6-phosphate C-4 to d-fructose 6-phosphate via a member of Pfam family PF08013, another previously unknown reaction. The epimerization reaction catalyzed by a member of PF08013 is especially noteworthy, because the functions of members of PF08013 have been unknown. These discoveries were assisted by the following two synergistic bioinformatics web tools made available by the Enzyme Function Initiative: the EFI-Enzyme Similarity Tool and the EFI-Genome Neighborhood Tool.
Programming Ubiquitous and Mobile Computing Applications with TOTA Middleware

Computer-based systems will be increasingly embedded in many of our everyday objects and in much of our environment. Typical systems will be communication enabled and able to interact with each other in the context of complex distributed applications.
On Quasi-Idempotent Matrices

(1955). On Quasi-Idempotent Matrices. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 62, No. 5, pp. 334-339.
EVOLUTION OF A TRIHYBRID UNISEXUAL FISH (POECILIOPSIS, POECILIIDAE).

A diploid all-female fish of the genus Poeciliopsis (Poeciliidae) inhabits the Rio Fuerte of northwestern Mexico. From both morphological and biochemical studies, it is clear that this form, designated P. monachalucida (Schultz, 1969), arose by hybridization between P. monacha and P. lucida. (Schultz, 1969; Vrijenhoek, 1972). Unisexual populations persist in nature by mating with males of P. lucida; such matings result in all-female progeny with both maternal and paternal traits. All-femaleness is maintained from one generation to the next by a unique reproductive isolating mechanism, called hybridogenesis (Schultz, 1969), that prevents reassortment of monacha and lucida genomes. Oogonia, dividing prior to maturation divisions, form unipolar spindles that transmit only the monacla chromosomles to the ova; the paternal (lucida) chromosomes are lost in the process and do, not contribute to the genome of the ova (Cimino, 1972). Fertilization of the resulting haploid monacha ova by sperm from P. lucida reestablishes all-female F1 monacha-lucida hybrids. Another diploid unisexual form, P. Cx (Schultz, 1961, 1966), occurs in the Rio Mocorito, 200 km south of the Rio Fuerte. Although P. Cx resembles P. monacha-lucida and also reproduces hybridogenetically, subtle differences exist between this and the Rio Fuerte fish that might be attributable to P. viriosa, a species closely related to P. monacka. Since P. monacha is not known to occur in the Rio Mocorito, the presence of a population resembling P. monachalucida needs to be explained. Genetic ex-
Low - Temperature Defect - Induced Aging of GaAs Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Degradation in optical and electrical properties has been observed for high-purity and high-mobility p-type GaAs layers which contain significant concentrations of an unidentified shallow acceptor-like defect, labeled “A”, that is frequently incorporated in crystals grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Low-temperature photoluminescence and variable temperature Hall-effect measurements were employed to monitor the aging process in samples stored for about one year at room temperature. Profound changes in the exciton recombination spectra, indicative of increasing concentration of the “A” defect, have been accompanied by a decrease in hole mobility and an increase in carrier concentration. These results are discussed in the context of the acceptor-pair defect model, originally proposed by Eaves and Halliday [J. Phys. C: Solid State Phys. 17, L705 (1984)].
Multimodal multiphoton microscopy of carcinogenesis

Adaptively shaping supercontinuum pulses from a photonic crystal fiber source enables multimodal multiphoton microscopy for the longitudinal investigation of structural, metabolic, and molecular changes in carcinogenesis.
US-Ukraine Relations In The Post-Soviet Era

The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 radically altered the world order. The Cold War was over, and the USSR became 15 independent states. This interdisciplinary research focuses on the political history of the bi-lateral relationship between the US and Ukraine in the post-Communist Era, primarily by analyzing executive-level interactions between both states. The purpose of this study is to explain how US-Ukrainian relations have evolved from Ukraine’s independence from the USSR to the present day in an effort to determine the future of US-Ukrainian relations in the short- and long-term future. This study includes an analysis of US government documents, official communications by the US, Ukrainian, and Russian governments, media reports from all three states, and the integration of numerous academic publications on the subject. Our central argument is that the policies pursued by the United States and Ukraine in this time frame reflect what International Relations scholars term “realism”. In sum, all of the realism criteria are met in the case of US-Ukraine Relations. This leads us to conclude that as states, the US and Ukraine will continue to act in a rational self-interested manner, for their own self-preservation, without regard to the expressions of international organizations.
Giovanni Battista Della Porta’s Experiments with Musical Instruments

ABSTRACTA section of Giovanni Battista Della Porta’s Magia naturalis (1589) celebrates the powers of musical instruments. Most of these powers are rooted in neo-Platonist natural magic: Della Porta explains that the materials of instruments retain their original properties, shaping the body and soul of the listener through their mutual sympathy or antipathy. In a series of three demonstrations presented at the end of this section on music, however, Della Porta uses musical instruments in a different fashion: like telescopes and other scientific instruments of the early modern era, his lyra—likely a lira da braccio, which held pride of place in Italian academies of the sixteenth century—becomes a vehicle for open-ended discovery and the creation of new knowledge.
The constraints of the social

A basis in the logic of the social, beyond its association with the concept of the public interest, has a number of other ramifications for approaches to the study of international relations. This basis, combined with an acceptance of historical contingency, allows one to use an approach as a lens through which to look at the social bases of international politics, and the processes of social construction and change of those politics, in a way that is impossible otherwise. Both constructivism and classical realism meet these conditions, and as a result display this potential to help us understand international politics. But the combination of the logic of the social and of historical contingency also places constraints on what can be done with these approaches, by forcing scholars who use them to accept that social constructions matter, that they differ across identity groups and other social entities (in turn complicated by the fact that identity groups overlap), and that they change over time. Among these constraints are the need to contextualize power, the need for reflexivity, and the need for research methods that are both social and contextual. These three constraints can all be deduced through similar reasoning, which involves the application of the logics of the social and of historical contingency to specific questions of ontology, epistemology, and methodology. The reasoning in all three cases focuses on a combination of intersubjectivity and historicity.
Open Books, Close Divides

The classroom is bland. The walls are institutional white; nothing hangs on them. The only color comes from the dry erase markers, most of which are running out of ink and mark only faintly on the large white board. Fluorescent lights flicker above and cast a yellowish hew over everything.
Soft Matter in Lipid–Protein Interactions

Membrane lipids and cellular water (soft matter) are becoming increasingly recognized as key determinants of protein structure and function. Their influences can be ascribed to modulation of the bilayer properties or to specific binding and allosteric regulation of protein activity. In this review, we first consider hydrophobic matching of the intramembranous proteolipid boundary to explain the conformational changes and oligomeric states of proteins within the bilayer. Alternatively, membranes can be viewed as complex fluids, whose properties are linked to key biological functions. Critical behavior and nonideal mixing of the lipids have been proposed to explain how raft-like microstructures involving cholesterol affect membrane protein activity. Furthermore, the persistence length for lipid–protein interactions suggests the curvature force field of the membrane comes into play. A flexible surface model describes how curvature and hydrophobic forces lead to the emergence of new protein functional states ...
Climate change and health. SESPAS report 2010

Objectives To present the available evidence on the impacts of climate change on health, to analyze the situation in Spain in relation to the European context, to discuss barriers to and catalysts for climate change, and to recommend policy options to reduce the effects of climate change on health. Methods We reviewed the literature on the impact of climate change on health. The proposals for adaptation to climate change identified in the framework of the European project coordinated by the WHO/Europe on "Climate, Environment and Health action plans and information systems" were analyzed. Results The effects of climate change on health include: 1) an increase in the impacts of extreme weather events; 2) an increase of the frequency of respiratory diseases due to changes in air quality and pollen distribution; 3) an increase in the incidence of food-borne, zoonotic and waterborne diseases; and 4) a change in the distribution of infectious diseases and/or their vectors. In Spain, the morbidity and mortality due to heat waves are expected to increase. The main impact related to atmospheric contamination is a predicted increase in fine particles and ozone. There is also a risk of an increase in the geographical distribution of vector borne diseases that are already established in Spain or the establishment of new subtropical vectors. Spain is one of the first European countries to have developed a climate change adaptation plan. This plan provides a framework for coordination among public institutions on activities to evaluate the impacts of climate change, as well as vulnerability and adaptation to this phenomenon, and makes reference to the health sector. Conclusions Policy options to reduce the impacts of climate change on health include: 1) integrating health in all policies, strategies and interventions to mitigate and adapt to climate change; 2) strengthening health systems and public health systems to improve their ability to prevent, prepare and respond to the impacts of climate change; 3) raising awareness among all sectors to promote the co-benefits to health of adaptation and mitigation strategies; and 4) promoting research, technological development, data sharing and information exchange across sectors.
Work and intimate partner violence: powerful role of work in the empowerment process for middle-class women in abusive relationships

ABSTRACTBecause middle-class women do not report intimate partner violence (IPV) due to social stigma, few interventions address their problems. In addition, there is a dearth of literature on the ...
Magnetic Lyogels for Uranium Recovery from Wet Phosphoric Acid

The work introduces composite magnetic materials designed to capture uranium from wet-process phosphoric acid (WPA) containing 6 M H3PO4, 2% H2SO4, sodium fluoride, and metal salts of Fe(III) and Al(III). The materials include poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) covalently modified with N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTC) or O,O-diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP) moieties by nucleophilic substitution of the >C–Cl bonds of PVC. To maintain the polymer processability, the maximum substitution degree was kept below 42%. The modified PVC formed stable organic gel (lyogel) materials with liquid uranium extractants such as di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (DEHPA) or a liquid mixture of trialkylphosphine oxides, Cyanex 923. To impart the magnetic recoverability to the lyogels, iron nanoparticles (20–50 nm) coated by carbon for chemical stability were incorporated. The resulting magnetic lyogels contain variable contents of liquid extractants, maintain particle shape, exhibit very low leaching of the extractants, and are chemic...
Pollen and Sporormiella evidence for terminal Pleistocene vegetation change and megafaunal extinction at Page-Ladson, Florida

Abstract Two cores from the Page-Ladson archaeological site, Florida were analyzed for pollen and the dung fungus Sporormiella. The cores contained stratified deposits spanning the Pleistocene-Holocene transition: a period characterized by the widespread extinction of Pleistocene megafauna and abrupt changes in vegetation type and distribution. The disappearance of Sporormiella, a well-established proxy for large herbivore abundance, by ∼12,700 cal BP is consistent with the timing of Terminal Pleistocene megafaunal extinction elsewhere in North America. However, a resurgence of Sporormiella between ∼10,750–10,200 cal BP suggests an Early Holocene incursion of extant megaherbivores such as bison. Pollen evidence from the site also reflects dramatic vegetation changes, which are likely a response to both changing climate and fluctuating herbivore populations. Prior to 14,500 cal BP, the pollen assemblage reflects a relatively cool and dry climate. Between ca. 14,500–12,600 cal BP, the sediments are characterized by an increase in hardwood forest and mesic plant taxa, indicating an increase in both temperature and precipitation. After 12,600 cal BP, a decrease in arboreal pollen, with the exception of oak, alongside an increase in herbaceous pollen, indicates drier, warmer conditions. These results contextualize changes in human behavior at the onset of the Holocene.
Perioperative outcomes of aspirin use in partial nephrectomy.

698Background: Increasing cardiovascular disease has led to increases in the patient population on anti-platelet therapy who require urologic surgery. We sought to study perioperative outcomes for those undergoing partial nephrectomy (PN) while taking or not taking perioperative aspirin (pASA). Methods: A retrospective review of those undergoing PN was performed on the Premier Hospital Database from 2003 to 2015, with survey projection weighting resulting in a cohort of 10,807 patients. Two groups were formed – those continued on pASA (group 1, n = 774) and those with no pASA (group 2, n = 10,033). In-hospital complication rates were studied: major bleeding, overall transfusion, day-of-surgery transfusion, prolonged ( > 4 days) length of stay (LOS), and prolonged ( > 285 minutes) operative time. We also assessed 90-day rates of: cardiovascular catastrophe, readmission, major complication, and DVT/PE. Unadjusted rates were calculated for all PN patients and further subdivided into open and minimally invasi...
Biodegradable and Biobased Polymers

Abstract Biodegradable polymers have undergone extensive investigation since the 1970s. They can be either natural or synthetic and can be derived from either renewable or nonrenewable resources. A series of truly biodegradable petroleum-based synthetic polymers has been developed. However, owing to concerns over environmental pollution and the depletion of fossil oils, intensive research is being conducted for developing biodegradable polymers and plastic materials from renewable natural resources such as starch, cellulose, and soy protein. Polylactic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoates are the two most important biodegradable polymers derived from renewable resources. They are thermoplastics and show mechanical properties and processability similar to some petroleum-based polymers. There have been many research achievements in biodegradable and biobased polymers, including naturally occurring biodegradable polymers, biodegradable polymers derived from renewable resources, and biodegradable polymers based on petroleum, although several biobased polymers may not be biodegradable.
Clustering-Based Threshold Model for Condition Assessment of Concrete Bridge Decks with Ground-Penetrating Radar:

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been extensively studied for condition assessment of concrete bridge decks in North America. Although several methods for analyzing GPR data have been proposed, the commonly accepted method evaluates the condition of concrete bridge decks on the basis of the difference between reflection amplitudes of the top rebar layer. It is assumed in the method that strong reflection indicates sound concrete, whereas the area with high-amplitude attenuation is associated with concrete corrosion. The final result is a contour map of reflection amplitude in decibel scale with the thresholds selected arbitrarily to define the severity of concrete deterioration. Because subjective determination of threshold values may lead to inconsistency in the result obtained, this paper proposes a robust method for resolving that issue. Specifically, after depth correction was performed for top rebar amplitudes, on the basis of K-means clustering technique these amplitude data were grouped into a nu...
The Space of Sings: C.S. Peirce’s Critique of Psychologism

Despite the efforts of his father, the mathematician Benjamin Peirce, to dissuade him (Brent, 78) from doing so, Charles Peirce devoted himself to logical investigations with a singular passion. Even in his later life, he identified himself most often as a logician.1 From the first moment he spoke publicly on “The Logic of Science”2 to the end of his life, he was strenuously opposed to all attempts to ground logic in psychology (W 1). His opposition to psychologism could not have been more thoroughgoing. This is true even though in looking back upon his own work he in later years discerned some of his own writings to be tainted by this doctrine. For example, in his 1903 lectures on pragmatism, he implicitly recalled the essay in which he first put forth his pragmatic maxim,3 though without naming it. Near the center of Peirce’s pragmatism, in his mature as well as youthful formulation, was a conception of belief borrowed from the Scottish psychologist Alexander Bain (5.12).4 In 1903, he noted: “belief consists mainly in being deliberately prepared to adopt the formula believed in as the guide to action” (5.27). In 1878, he wrote, more simply: “The essence of belief is the establishment of a habit” (5.398). Doubt indicates the disruption of belief and, as such, instigates a struggle to recover the settled state of an efficacious habit. Peirce identified this struggle as the process of inquiry (see, e.g., 5.374). This doubt-belief theory of inquiry was the context in which the pragmatic maxim was first proposed and afterwards always defended. But, when Peirce after 18985 returned to the topic of pragmatism, he was especially sensitive to the transformation of his own logical doctrine into a psychological teaching.6 Hence, in the opening lecture of the 1903 series on this topic, he stressed:
Working memory and the brain: a review of models, and clinical and neuroimaging studies

This paper presents a review of literature aimed at a general discussion on memory, working memory (WM) and the brain, based on a three-pronged source of evidence from clinical, behavioral, and, more importantly, neuroimaging studies. The review is organized following an initial, threefold discussion on (1) the segmentation of memory; (2) WM models; and (3) the prefrontal cortex; in the fourth section it resorts to neuroimaging studies. The objective is to illustrate what possible contributions have already been, and still can be, derived from neuroimaging within the study and modeling of WM, with previous theories and findings as the starting point.
Can Governments Foster the Development of Venture Capital

Exploring a novel dataset and a unique policy experiment, this paper examines the role of government intervention in the emergence of venture capital (VC) in China during 1999-2013. Using difference-in-difference methodology, I find that the central government program leads to an increase in local investment from both government and private VCs, which doubles the number of successful companies. The positive impact is most pronounced in relatively less developed regions and during the early development of the VC sector. I present two micro-level transmission channels of the crowding-in effects, through networks formed by previous investments and through co-ownership in VC affiliates.