cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patterns of Personality Consistency and Change From Childhood Through Adolescence

Consistency and change in personality development is typically studied through examination of correlations indexing the consistency of individ- ual differences over time Despite well-known difficulties which inherently limit this approach, few empincal efforts take advantage of alternative methods We utilize a "person-center ed" approach which permits separate and mdepen- dent measurement of consistency and change for each person studied Such measures were detained covering four intervals between ages 3 and 18 in a lon- gitudinally studied sample These analyses and subsequent results extend and elaborate earlier results reported m Lives through Time (Block, 1971) It is ap- parent that there are wide individual differences in the degree of personality consistency and change manifested by subjects, and that the degree and timing of change permit the descnption of vanous different developmental trajectones These pathways are descnbed and compared to results obtained by Block (1971) This research is intended as an illustration of the possibilities obtained through person-centered approaches to the study of personality consistency and change
Graph theoretic prefix codes and their synchronizing properties

This paper presents a study of a class of D -nary exhaustive prefix codes which are generated by graphs. In addition to its use as the representation of a code, the structure of a graph is utilized for decoding purposes. The concept of the inclusion property is introduced, and an algorithm for the construction of an inclusion code equivalent to any specified exhaustive prefix code is given. it is shown that the inclusion property is a sufficient condition for a code to have an equivalent graph theoretic realization. Such a graph, which will always have less branches than the tree representation of the code, can be found easily. It is demonstrated that exhaustive variable-length inclusion codes are neither anagrammatic nor uniformly composed. Therefore, a necessary and sufficient condition for such codes to be self-synchronizable is g.c.d. (lengths) = 1.
Effect of applied tensile stress on intergranular corrosion of AA2024-T3

The effect of uniaxial tensile stress on intergranular corrosion (IGC) of AA2024-T3 was studied using the foil penetration technique. Standard ASTM G49 fixed-displacement jigs were modified to allow the use of sheet samples, which were then attached to an electrochemical cell as in the foil penetration setup. The time for IGC to penetrate samples of varying thickness was monitored. This method provides a new approach to bridge the gap between IGC and intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC). Samples with various orientations relative to the rolling direction were studied in 1.0 M NaCl at controlled anodic potentials. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements indicated that the two breakdown potentials typically observed for AA2024-T3 were lower for stressed samples than for unstressed samples, and the current at a given potential was higher. The penetration rate depended on potential and was higher for stressed samples than for unstressed samples. The primary form of attack above the higher breakdown potential was IGSCC, whereas pitting dominated between the two breakdown potentials. Stress had a larger effect on penetration rate at higher applied potentials, indicating that pitting is less susceptible to the effects of stress than a properly oriented IGC crevice. The effects of stress on the penetration rates in various orientations were strongly linked to the anisotropic microstructure. X-ray microfocal radiography and optical microscopy of cross-sections were used to characterize IGSCC defects in thin penetrated foils. In certain orientations, crack faces were parallel rather than perpendicular to the stress direction as a result of the constraints of the microstructure on the orientation of the IGC. Implications for the mechanisms of IGC and IGSCC are discussed.
Estimation of left and right ventricular filling pressures after heart transplantation by tissue Doppler imaging

Abstract Current Doppler methods have been unreliable in estimating filling pressures in heart transplants. Tissue Doppler imaging is a technique that permits evaluation of myocardial relaxation; combined with transvalvular E velocity, it could improve estimation of these pressures. To investigate this possibility, we evaluated 50 patients by right-sided cardiac catheterization and Doppler echocardiography simultaneously. Their mean ±SD age was 53 ± 15 years and the mean age of donor hearts was 30 ± 12.5 years. The mitral E velocity was combined with the early myocardial relaxation (Ea) velocity by tissue Doppler at the lateral border of the mitral annulus. Likewise, the tricuspid E velocity was combined with Ea at the lateral corner of the tricuspid annulus. Mean wedge pressure related weakly to mitral inflow variables but strongly to E/Ea [r = 0.8; wedge pressure=2.6+1.46(E/Ea)]. In 25 repeat right-sided cardiac catheterizations, changes in mean wedge pressure were well detected by Doppler, with a mean difference of −0.7 ± 3 mm Hg. Mean right atrial pressure related weakly to routine tricuspid inflow variables but strongly to tricuspid E/Ea [r = 0.79; n = 38; right atrial pressure=1.76(E/Ea)−3.7]. In 18 repeat right-sided cardiac catheterizations, changes in mean right atrial pressure were well detected by Doppler, with a mean difference of 0 ± 3.45 mm Hg. Mean wedge pressure and mean right atrial pressure can be estimated in heart transplants with reasonable accuracy using the ratio of E/Ea. Furthermore, this method can accurately track changes in filling pressures.
Literacy-appropriate educational materials and brief counseling improve diabetes self-management.

Objective In this pilot study, we evaluated the impact of providing patients with a literacy-appropriate diabetes education guide accompanied by brief counseling designed for use in primary care.
The Role of Resistance Exercise Intensity on Muscle Fibre Adaptations

Although many training variables contribute to the performance, cellular and molecular adaptations to resistance exercise, relative intensity (% 1 repetition maximum [%1RM]) appears to be an important factor. This review summarises and analyses data from numerous resistance exercise training studies that have monitored percentage fibre type, fibre type cross-sectional areas, percentage cross-sectional areas, and myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression. In general, relative intensity appears to account for 18-35% of the variance for the hypertrophy response to resistance exercise. On the other hand, fibre type and MHC transitions were not related to the relative intensity used for training. When competitive lifters were compared, those typically utilising the heaviest loads (> or =90% 1RM), that is weightlifters and powerlifters, exhibited a preferential hypertrophy of type II fibres when compared with body builders who appear to equally hypertrophy both type I and type II fibres. These data suggest that maximal hypertrophy occurs with loads from 80-95% 1RM.
The clustering of oxygen in solid solution in niobium—I. Experimental

Abstract Elastic after-effect and low frequency internal friction measurements have been made on niobiumoxygen alloys containing oxygen in solid solution in the range 0.1–1.5 at. %. The data are analyzed into either three or four distinct relaxation processes, depending upon the oxygen concentration. The rate parameters, τ io and ΔH i , and the variation of the component relaxation strengths, A i , with temperature and oxygen concentration are determined for these processes. A comparison of these results with information from other investigations suggests that the relaxation spectrum involves the stress-induced ordering of single, unassociated oxygen atoms (the Snoek effect) and the relaxation of small (two-to-four atom) oxygen clusters.
Efficacy of chlorine dioxide gas as a sanitizer for tanks used for aseptic juice storage

Abstract An aseptic tank model system was used to study the efficacy of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) gas as a potential sanitizing agent for commercial epoxy-lined juice storage tanks. Selected spoilage micro-organisms (Lactobacillus buchneri, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Eurotiumspp.,Penicilliumspp,Candidaspp. andSaccharomyces cerevisiae) were surface inoculated on to epoxy-coated stainless steel strips, placed in the model tank and subjected to different ClO2gas treatments. The varied treatment conditions consisted of 2–14 mg l−1ClO2gas, 50–98% relative humidity, 5–120 min exposure time, and temperatures ranging from 9–31°C.L. buchneriwas used as the target micro-organism and was found to be most resistant to selected ClO2gas treatments, followed byL. mesenteroides, followed by the yeasts and molds studied. Inactivation ofL. buchneriandL. mesenteroidesincreased with greater concentration of ClO2gas, higher holding temperature, higher relative humidity, and more exposure time. Under the conditions of this study, all the selected micro-organisms could be completely inactivated, resulting in a sterilized surface. The recommended treatments for assuring sterility were 10 mg l−1ClO2gas for an exposure time of 30 min coupled with (a) high relative humidity (>90%) and holding temperatures between 9 and 28°C, or (b) high holding temperatures (25–28°C) and relative humidity above 69%.
Characterizing the impact of 25 years of DCIS treatment

The significant increase in the detection and treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) since the introduction of screening mammography has not been accompanied by the anticipated reduction in invasive breast cancer (IBC) incidence. The prevalence of DCIS requires a reexamination of the population level effects of detecting and treating DCIS. To further our understanding of the possible impact of DCIS diagnosis and treatment on IBC incidence in the U.S., we simulated breast cancer incidence over 25 years under various assumptions regarding the baseline incidence of IBC and the progression of DCIS to IBC. The simulations demonstrate a tradeoff between the expected increased incidence of IBC absent any DCIS detection and treatment and the rate of progression of DCIS to IBC. Our analyses indicate that a high progression of DCIS to IBC implies a significant increase in incidence of IBC over what is observed had we not detected and treated DCIS. Conversely, if we assume that there would not have been a significant increase over and above the observed incidence evident in SEER, then our model indicates that the rate of DCIS progression to clinically significant IBC is low. Given the tradeoff illustrated by our model, we must reevaluate the assumption that DCIS is a short-term obligate precursor of invasive cancer and instead focus on further exploration of the true natural history of DCIS.
Instrument-independent database for collisionally activated dissociation in RF-only quadrupoles. The case of C2H3O+ and C3H

Dynamically correct (i.e., instrument-independent) branching ratios can be measured under single-collision conditions in tandem mass spectrometers incorporating RF-only quadrupole collision cells. The absolute branching ratios were measured as a function of the center-of-mass interaction energy ECM for the collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) of CH3CO+ (m/z43) from several source compounds (ethanol, oxirane), and CH3CO-X (where X = H, CH3, CH3CH2, CH3CO, CH3COCH2, and C6H5)). The energy dependences of the branching ratios for C2H3O+ from CH3CO-X source compounds are quite distinct from those observed for C2H3O+ from ethanol or ethylene oxide, or for the C3H+7 ions (also m/z 43) from n-pentane. Hence, one can use the CAD of m/z 43 to distinguish CH3CO-X compounds from other source compounds, including sources of C3H7+ ions. Therefore, the characteristic branching ratios of ionic substructures may provide for tandem mass spectrometry a „fingerprinting” capability analogous to the use of group frequencies in infrared spectroscopy.
Exploring Age-Related Differences in Prospective Memory Inside and outside of the Lab:

Age differences in the performance of two prospective memory tasks (activity-based and event-based) were investigated both in laboratory and naturalistic settings. Forty young and 40 older adults p...
Two-dimensional vacancy trapping in yttria doped ceria

Abstract Thin film processing methods offer a number of means to investigate and engineer ion conduction in solid electrolytes. In this work, we present fabrication and characterization of Y-doped CeO 2 thin films where the Y-dopants were distributed homogeneously or were condensed into increasingly concentrated layers, to the limit of alternating layers of pure Y 2 O 3 and pure CeO 2 . Both the entire film thickness and net Y-concentration were kept constant such that only the spatial distribution of dopants was altered. Space charge regions formed at interfaces between regions with varying vacancy concentrations, yielding vacancies trapped within two-dimensionally arranged accumulation regions. A Gouy–Chapman model was implemented in order to further investigate the distribution of the accumulated oxygen vacancies in the space charge regions of pure CeO 2 layers. Comparison of the measured activation energy of conduction indicates that in films with intermediate dopant condensation, conduction occurred predominantly by vacancies trapped in the Y-containing layers. Conversely, in the film composed of alternating layers of Y 2 O 3 and CeO 2 , vacancies trapped in the CeO 2 space charge regions became significantly conductive, thus providing a means to determine the properties of vacancies in ceria that are trapped near dopants.
Tyrosinase positive oculocutaneous albinism among the Zuni and the Brandywine triracial isolate: biochemical and clinical characteristics and fertility.

Zuni albinos develop increased pigmentation in hair and eyes, and decreased nystagmus and photophobia with age. Hair bulbs cultured in l-tyrosine produced pigment. Ultrastructure of melanocytes demonstrated a predominance of Stage II and early Stage III premelanosomes that readily converted to mature Stage IV melanosomes after incubation in 1-tyrosine. Eleven obligate heterozygotes failed to demonstrate diaphanous irides. Data on the fertility of Zuni and Brandywine male albinos did not indicate that they had more offspring than pigmented males. As the physical features of this form of albinism overlap those of many normal Caucasians, it is probably not a particularly deleterious trait with high selective value under the recent conditions of Zuni life.
Ein verallgemeinerter Geburten- und Todesprozeß zur Erklärung der Entwicklung des deutschen Volkseinkommens, 1851–1939

Die heute popul~iren Theorien der Wirtschaftsentwicklung 2) sind meist deterministisch und ergeben einen linearen oder exponentiellen Trend. Eine Ausnahme davon sind die Ideen yon HAAVELMO~). ES besteht kein Einwand gegen die Verwendung eines exponentiellen Trends ftir kurzfristige Voraussagen, aber f/it die Theorie der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung scheint ein logistischer Trend besser geeignet zu sein, da es sich immer um langfristige Voraussagen handelt4). Wir haben versucht, einen einfachen stochastischen Prozei3 zu konstruieren, der einen logistischen Trend ergibt~). Es sei x eine wirtschaftliche Gr6Be, z .B. das Volkseinkommen. Definieren wir p(x, t) als die Wahrscheintichkeitsdichte, d. h. die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dab (zur Zei t t) x zwischen x und x -tdx liegt. Dann gilt die folgende Differential-Integral-Gleicbung f/.ir p (x, t):
The effect of standing biomass on flow velocity and turbulence in Spartina alterniflora canopies

Abstract Plant-flow interactions on the surface of tidal wetlands result in flow characteristics that are profoundly different from non-vegetated flows. Reductions in mean flow velocity and turbulence, especially the vertical components, limit vertical mixing and may impact a wide range of processes including geochemical exchanges at the sediment water interface, larval recruitment and dispersion, and sediment deposition and retention. The goal of this paper is to quantify horizontal and vertical components of velocity, turbulence intensity and total turbulent kinetic energy in Spartina alterniflora canopies in southeastern North Carolina and to relate flow characteristics to particulate transport on the marsh surface. Another aim of this paper is to assess the extent to which the distribution of standing biomass affects mean flow and turbulence by comparing S. alterniflora data to other canopy types and through a series of canopy manipulations which altered canopy height and stem densities. The results of this study indicate that flow velocity, turbulence intensity, and total turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) are significantly reduced within the vegetated canopy and that this reduction is inversely related to the amount of biomass present in the water column. Within the canopy, approximately 50% of the initial mean velocity and TKE is reduced within 5 m of the canopy edge. Within the canopy, mean velocity and TKEhoriz usually exceeded vertical velocity or TKEvert and the vertical components of flow were attenuated more strongly than the horizontal. These results suggest that within the vegetation, turbulence contributes more to lateral advection than to vertical mixing. As a result, total suspended solid concentrations were shown to decrease logarithmically with distance from the canopy edge and to decrease at a faster rate in more densely vegetated regions of the canopy (i.e. lower TKEvert) as compared to areas of sparser vegetation (i.e. higher TKEvert).
Competitive sport involvement and substance use among adolescents: a nationwide study.

Background: The empirical research examining the impact of sports participation on alcohol and other drug use has produced mixed results. Part of this problem may be the result of how different typ...
Should 123I-MIBG scintigraphy be part of the workup for pheochromocytomas?

This Practice Point commentary discusses the findings and limitations of a retrospective study by Bhatia et al. that compared the performance of 123I-labeled metaiodobenzylguanide (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy with that of cross-sectional CT and MRI for the detection of pheochromocytomas. The sensitivity of 123I-MIBG scintigraphy for detection of adrenal pheochromocytomas was higher than that for extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas (85% versus 58%). Adrenal pheochromocytomas ≥5 cm in diameter were more likely to be detected by 123I-MIBG scintigraphy than those <5 cm (92% versus 79%, respectively). The rate of detection by 123IMIBG scintigraphy for extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas was not influenced by tumor size. I discuss how the characteristics of affected patients (e.g. hereditary syndromes, history of previous pheochromocytoma, and the presence of multifocal, bilateral, extra-adrenal disease, etc.) influence imaging decisions and interpretation. The findings of Bhatia et al. suggest that abdominal MRI or CT should be the initial imaging modality in a patient with a (biochemically) suspected pheochromocytoma.
Dynamics of Concentrated Colloidal Suspensions Probed by X-ray Correlation Spectroscopy

We report x-ray intensity fluctuation spectroscopy (XIFS) measurements of the equilibrium dynamics of colloidal suspensions of charge-stabilized ${\mathrm{Sb}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{5}$ spheres of radius $250\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}40 \mathrm{\AA{}}$ in glycerol. The dynamics were investigated for times between 4 and several thousand seconds, and for wave vectors, $Q$, from 0.003 to 0.012 ${\mathrm{\AA{}}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$, well beyond wave vectors that can be studied with visible light. The unique advantages of XIFS for studies of concentrated suspensions composed of refractive-index-mismatched components have not previously been explored. Here, we study a dilute sample (sample I) and a concentrated sample (sample II). For sample I, the diffusion coefficient is independent of $Q$, with a value consistent with the Stokes-Einstein relation. For sample II (effective hard-sphere volume fraction, $\ensuremath{\varphi}=0.18)$, the diffusion coefficient exhibits a minimum at the peak of the structure factor, indicating modifications to Brownian behavior due to interparticle interactions.
Analysis of periodic 3D viscous flows using a quadratic discrete Galerkin boundary element method

A discrete Galerkin boundary element technique with a quadratic approximation of the variables was developed to simulate the three-dimensional (3D) viscous flow established in periodic assemblages of particles in suspensions and within a periodic porous medium. The Batchelor's unit-cell approach is used. The Galerkin formulation effectively handles the discontinuity in the traction arising in flow boundaries with edges or corners, such as the unit cell in this case. For an ellipsoidal dilute suspension over the range of aspect ratio studied (1 to 54), the numerical solutions of the rotational velocity of the particles and the viscosity correction were found to agree with the analytic values within 0.2% and 2% respectively, even with coarse meshes. In a suspension of cylindrical particles the calculated period of rotation agreed with the experimental data. However, Burgers' predictions for the correction to the suspension viscosity were found to be 30% too low and therefore the concept of the equivalent ellipsoidal ratio is judged to be inadequate. For pressure-driven flow through a fixed bed of fibres, the prediction on the permeability was shown to deviate by as much as 10% from the value calculated based on approximate permeability additivity rules using the corresponding values for planar flow past a periodic array of parallel cylinders. These applications show the versatility of the technique for studying viscous flows in complicated 3D geometries.
Immunolocalization of extensin and potato tuber lectin in carrot, tomato and potato

Tissue-specific expression of two members of the cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (HRGP) family, extensin and potato tuber lectin, was examined by immunolocalization at the light microscope level in various organs (leaves, stems, roots, fruit, tuber) of carrot (Daucus carota cv. Thumbelina), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Pixie Hybrid II), and potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Kennebec). Extensin was prominently expressed in vascular tissue, particularly xylem and also phloem, although virtually all cells displayed some degree of staining which varied as a function of the tissue, organ, and plant under study. Antibodies against potato tuber lectin (PTL) displayed a localization pattern similar to that observed for extensin; notably PTL did not stain cambium but did stain epithelial cells lining secretory cavities. These distribution patterns are consistent with a role for extensin, and possibly PTL, in providing mechanical support in tissues subjected to compression or torsional stress imparted by vascular growth, or by similar stress brought about by transport of vascular fluids.
Adhesion-contractile balance in myocyte differentiation

Tissue cells generally pull on their matrix attachments and balance a quasi-static contractility against adequate adhesion, but any correlation with and/or influence on phenotype are not yet understood. Here, we begin to demonstrate how differentiation state couples to actomyosin-based contractility through adhesion and substrate compliance. Myotubes are differentiated from myoblasts on collagen-patterned coverslips that allow linear fusion but prevent classic myotube branching. Post-fusion, myotubes adhere to the micro-strips but lock into a stress fiber-rich state and do not differentiate significantly further. In contrast, myotubes grown on top of such cells do progress through differentiation, exhibiting actomyosin striations within one week. A compliant adhesion to these lower cells is suggested to couple to contractility and accommodate the reorganization needed for upper cell striation. Contractility is assessed in these adherent cells by mechanically detaching one end of the myotubes. All myotubes, whether striated or not, shorten with an exponential decay. The cell-on-cell myotubes relax more, which implies a greater contractile stress. The non-muscle myosin II inhibitor blebbistatin inhibits relaxation for either case. Myotubes in culture are thus clearly prestressed by myosin II, and this contractility couples to substrate compliance and ultimately influences actomyosin striation.
Execution Engine for Robotic Surgery Support Functions in an Unmanned Operating Room

An unmanned robotic operating room consists of a tele-operated surgical robot and various other subsystems that perform surgery support functions such as dispensing tools and supplies. Execution Engine for such an operating room has to coordinate the subsystems to perform surgery support functions. A support function consists of a series of tasks along with other constructs such as conditional statements. A task, in turn, is composed of subsystem level actions connected by complex synchronization constraints. Previous research has focused on developing a language for specifying tasks and modeling the constraints between them. We present an approach where a task is specified as a data-structure rather than a language. This has the advantage of implicitly encoding the synchronization constraints in the data-structure itself, making it easy to write, debug and maintain task programs. We model a task as a directed acyclic graph and propose an algorithm to execute the task graph. The algorithm is general and language independent, thus eliminating the need for a special purpose language to specify tasks. We discuss implementation results on an emulated system.
The Indus basin model : a special application of two-level linear programming

A basic and verbal description of the Indus Basin Model is presented. The model is an example of a strategic planning exercise designed to aid in the specification of surface and ground water related policies in Pakistan. It is also a special application of the two-level linear programming problem. The concept of multi-level programming is introduced, and the general two-level linear program is described as a non-convex problem. It is shown, however, that linear programming techniques can be used in the particular application of the Indus Basin Model.
Power allocation and routing in multibeam satellites with time-varying channels

We consider power and server allocation in a multibeam satellite downlink which transmits data to N different ground locations over N time-varying channels. Packets destined for each ground location are stored in separate queues and the server rate for each queue, i, depends on the power, p/sub i/(t), allocated to that server and the channel state, c/sub i/(t), according to a concave rate-power curve /spl mu//sub i/(p/sub i/,c/sub i/). We establish the capacity region of all arrival rate vectors (/spl lambda//sub 1/,...,/spl lambda//sub N/) which admit a stabilizable system. We then develop a power-allocation policy which stabilizes the system whenever the rate vector lies within the capacity region. Such stability is guaranteed even if the channel model and the specific arrival rates are unknown. Furthermore, the algorithm is shown to be robust to arbitrary variations in the input rates and a bound on average delay is established. As a special case, this analysis verifies stability and provides a performance bound for the choose-the-K-largest-connected-queues policy when channels can be in one of two states (ON or OFF ) and K servers are allocated at every timestep (K<N). These results are extended to treat a joint problem of routing and power allocation in a system with multiple users and satellites; a throughput maximizing algorithm for this joint problem is constructed. Finally, we address the issue of interchannel interference and develop a modified policy when power vectors are constrained to feasible activation sets. Our analysis and problem formulation are also applicable to power control for wireless systems.
Endoglin mediates fibronectin/α5β1 integrin and TGF‐β pathway crosstalk in endothelial cells

Both the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and integrin signalling pathways have well-established roles in angiogenesis. However, how these pathways integrate to regulate angiogenesis is unknown. Here, we show that the extracellular matrix component, fibronectin, and its cellular receptor, α5β1 integrin, specifically increase TGF-β1- and BMP-9-induced Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation via the TGF-β superfamily receptors endoglin and activin-like kinase-1 (ALK1). Fibronectin and α5β1 integrin increase Smad1/5/8 signalling by promoting endoglin/ALK1 cell surface complex formation. In a reciprocal manner, TGF-β1 activates α5β1 integrin and downstream signalling to focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in an endoglin-dependent manner. α5β1 integrin and endoglin form a complex on the cell surface and co-internalize, with their internalization regulating α5β1 integrin activation and signalling. Functionally, endoglin-mediated fibronectin/α5β1 integrin and TGF-β pathway crosstalk alter the responses of endothelial cells to TGF-β1, switching TGF-β1 from a promoter to a suppressor of migration, inhibiting TGF-β1-mediated apoptosis to promote capillary stability, and partially mediating developmental angiogenesis in vivo. These studies provide a novel mechanism for the regulation of TGF-β superfamily signalling and endothelial function through crosstalk with integrin signalling pathways.
The need for radiopaque denture base materials: A review of the literature

The need for esthetic and functionally acceptable radiopaque denture base materials is reflected by numerous reports of patients who ingested or aspirated portions of dentures and reports of difficulties encountered in the removal of these dentures because they could not be located radiographically. The type of denture most commonly ingested or aspirated is a maxillary partial consisting of a palatal piece to which is attached one or more anterior teeth. It may or may not have clasps. Ingestion or aspiration of the foreign body commonly occurs when either broken or ill-fitting dentures are being worn. Few cases have been reported where patients swallowed portions of complete dentures. Previous attempts at providing radiopacity have included addition of heavy metal salts or radiopaque inserts to denture base resins. None of these attempts has been entirely successful. Elimination of dentures as foreign bodies requires a greater effort toward preventive measures by the dentist and the patient. When dentures are swallowed or inhaled, the dentist should immediately seek medical assistance for the patient. The common symptomless period following ingestion or aspiration should not lead the dentist to believe that there will not be serious subsequent complications.
Collective action and the eco subpolitical: Revisiting Bill McKibben and The End of Nature

This essay reappraises the importance of Bill McKibben 's The End of Nature in the developing canon of important environmental political and social theory. The End of Nature was published at an opportune moment in the development of advanced industrial society that saw the collapse of the Soviet bloc, the opening of many nations to globalization, and a rapid increase in middle-class populations around the world. This essay provides a critical appreciation of McKibben's project while at the same time highlighting the power of intrinsic technological and institutional forces in the subpolitical organization of production and consumption that make it very difficult to make environmental improvements through individual moral resolutions and actions.
The bark beetle holobiont: why microbes matter.

All higher organisms are involved in symbioses with microbes. The importance of these partnerships has led to the concept of the holobiont, defined as the animal or plant with all its associated microbes. Indeed, the interactions between insects and symbionts form much of the basis for the success and diversity of this group of arthropods. Insects rely on microbes to perform basic life functions and to exploit resources and habitats. By “partnering” with microbes, insects access new genomic variation instantaneously allowing the exploitation of new adaptive zones, influencing not only outcomes in ecological time, but the degree of innovation and change that occurs over evolutionary time. In this review, I present a brief overview of the importance of insect-microbe holobionts to illustrate how critical an understanding of the holobiont is to understanding the insect host and it interactions with its environment. I then review what is known about the most influential insect holobionts in many forest ecosystems—bark beetles and their microbes—and how new approaches and technologies are allowing us to illuminate how these symbioses function. Finally, I discuss why it will be critical to study bark beetles as a holobiont to understand the ramifications and extent of anthropogenic change in forest ecosystems.
Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration of chromate anion from aqueous streams

Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration can be used to remove multivalent anions or cations from aqueous streams. In the removal of chromate ions (CrO), the cationic surfactant hexadecylpyridinium chloride is added to the solution, and the chromate ions preferentially adsorb at the surface of the highly charged surfactant micelles. The solution is processed by ultrafiltration, using a membrane with pore sizes small enough to block the passage of the micelles and adsorbed ions. The permeate solution has a chromate concentration less than 0.1% that in the original stream. A new equilibrium model, combining the simple two-phase polyelectrolyte theory of Oosawa with thermodynamic activity, material-balance, and charge-balance equations, successfully correlates ultrafiltration and equilibrium dialysis results for chromate solutions.
The Consequences of Religious Market Structure Adam Smith and the Economics of Religion

In a largely ignored chapter of The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith laid the foundation for an economic theory of religious institutions. Smith emphasized the importance of market structure, describing in detail the differences between state-sponsored religious monopolies and competitive religious markets. This article builds on Smith's discussion both theoretically and empirically. The author formalizes the concept of a religious market, defends its relevance, and derives predictions concerning the observable effects of religious market structure. Data on the religious characteristics of 17 developed, Western nations confirm Smith's claim that monopoly and government regulation impede religious markets just as they do secular ones. Across Protestant nations, rates of church attendance and religious belief are substantially higher in highly competitive markets than in markets monopolized by established churches.
Post emplacement environment of waste packages

Experiments have been conducted as part of the Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations Project to determine the changes in water chemistry due to reaction of the Topopah Spring tuff with natural groundwater at temperatures up to 150{sup 0}C. The reaction extent has been investigated as a function of rock-to-water ratio, temperature, reaction time, physical state of the samples, and geographic location of the samples within the tuff unit. Results of these experiments will be used to provide information on the water chemistry to be expected if a high-level waste repository were to be constructed in the Topopah Spring tuff. 6 references, 5 figures, 1 table.
A Study of Graduate Nursing Students’ Reflections on The Art of Tibetan Medicine

This global perspective column focuses on a humanbecoming hermeneutic study of first semester graduate nursing students' reflections on an art museum exhibit titled; Bodies in Balance: The Art of Tibetan Medicine. The research question that guided the study was "what is the emerging meaning of living balance as depicted in the exhibit? The students' essays were interpreted in light of the humanbecoming perspective. The essays were summarized and yielded four themes; surprising and amazing, interconnectedness of all things, unexpected elements and commonalities, and attention to daily living. Parse's three core knowings of living quality (fortifying wisdom, discerning witness and penetrating silence) were considered with the emergent meanings from the students' essays on living balance as depicted in The Art of Tibetan Medicine exhibit. This study showed the use of art in the teaching about global health in graduate nursing education.
PHYLOGEOGRAPHY AND POPULATION STRUCURE OF AEDES AEGYPTI IN ARIZONA

Aedes aegypti, the mosquito responsible for transmitting dengue, has colonized many cities and towns throughout Arizona. Determining both the migration between, and the origin of, local Ae. aegypti populations is important for vector control and disease prevention purposes. Amplified fragment length polymorphism was used to infer geographic structure and local substructure, and effective migration rates (M, migrants per generation) between populations, and to determine genetic differentiation between populations (PT). Three geographically and genetically differentiated groups of populations were identified. Population substructure was only detected in the border town of Nogales. Reliable estimates of M between regions ranged from 1.02 to 3.41 and between cities within regions from 1.66 to 4.44. In general, pairwise PT were lowest between cities within regions. The observed patterns of genetic differen- tiation suggest infrequent migration between populations and are compatible with the idea of human transport facili- tating dispersal between regions.
The Economics of Mutual Funds: Rewards and Risks

This chapter discusses the structure of and distribution channels in the mutual fund industry. Expenses, loads, and other costs are also explored. The coverage also includes investment and redemption provisions, tax effects, the relation between fund flows/size and performance, and governance issues.
Comparative Study of Autoantibody Responses between Lung Adenocarcinoma and Benign Pulmonary Nodules.

Abstract Introduction The reduction in lung cancer mortality associated with computed tomography (CT) screening has led to its increased use and a concomitant increase in the detection of benign pulmonary nodules. Many individuals found to have benign nodules undergo unnecessary, costly, and invasive procedures. Therefore, there is a need for companion diagnostics that stratify individuals with pulmonary nodules into high-risk or low-risk groups. Lung cancers can trigger host immune responses and elicit antibodies against tumor antigens. The identification of these autoantibodies (AAbs) and their corresponding antigens may expand our knowledge of cancer immunity, leading to early diagnosis or even benefiting immunotherapy. Previous studies were performed mostly in the context of comparing cancers and healthy (smoker) controls. We have performed one of the first studies to understand humoral immune response in patients with cancer, patients with benign nodules, and healthy smokers. Methods We first profiled seroreactivity to 10,000 full-length human proteins in 40 patients with early-stage lung cancer and 40 smoker controls by using nucleic acid programmable protein arrays to identify candidate cancer-specific AAbs. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of promising candidates were performed on 137 patients with lung cancer and 127 smoker controls, as well as on 170 subjects with benign pulmonary nodules. Results From protein microarray screening experiments using a discovery set of 40 patients and 40 smoker controls, 17 antigens showing higher reactivity in lung cancer cases relative to the controls were subsequently selected for evaluation in a large sample set (n = 264) by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A five-AAb classifier (tetratricopeptide repeat domain 14 [TTC14], B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase [BRAF], actin like 6B [ACTL6B], MORC family CW-type zinc finger 2 [MORC2], and cancer/testis antigen 1B [CTAG1B]) that can differentiate lung cancers from smoker controls with a sensitivity of 30% at 89% specificity was developed. We further tested AAb responses in subjects with CT-positive benign nodules (n = 170), and developed a five-AAb panel (keratin 8, type II, TTC14, Kruppel-like factor 8, BRAF, and tousled like kinase 1) with a sensitivity of 30% at 88% specificity. Interestingly, messenger RNA levels of six AAb targets (TTC14, BRAF, MORC family CW-type zinc finger 2, cancer/testis antigen 1B, keratin 8, type II, and tousled like kinase 1) were also found to increase in lung adenocarcinoma tissues based on The Cancer Genome Atlas data set. Conclusion We discovered AAbs associated with lung adenocaricnoma that have the potential to differentiate cancer from CT-positive benign diseases. We believe that these antibodies warrant future validation using a larger sample set and/or longitudinal samples individually or as a panel. They could potentially be part of companion molecular diagnostic modalities that will benefit subjects undergoing CT screening for lung cancer.
Progress on PCR diagnostic techniques for human immunodeficiency virus

Human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) is a RNA virus which can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS) and other related diseases.The main laboratory diagnostic methods include detection of antigen and antibody in body fluid of HIV infectors,which is simple,and easy to use.Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) diagnostic techniques appeared in recent years aim to detect HIV gene with good sensibility and specificity,which can get early diagnosis and quantitative analysis,and its importance in HIV detection has been gradually concerned by people.The article summarizes the basic principles of conventional PCR,Nested PCR,multiplex PCR,reverse transcription PCR and immuno-PCR,as well as the application status among HIV infectors.The author introduces emphatically the research status of real-time PCR that can conduct the load analysis at home and abroad,and make a prospect for the progress of real-time PCR in the future.
Effect of zeranol on sexual development of crossbred bulls.

Three groups of 1/2 Simmental X 1/4 Brahman X 1/4 Hereford bull calves were used during two different years to study effects of zeranol on sexual development. At 154 d of age, half the calves were implanted with 36 mg zeranol and half, not implanted, served as controls. Implanted calves were reimplanted at 90-d intervals throughout the trial (9 mo) each year. Trial 1 was conducted with 24 calves and Trial 2 was conducted the following year with 10 bulls. Twenty-four days after weaning (200 d of age) and at 28-d intervals thereafter, bulls in drylot in Trial 1 were weighted, scrotal circumference (SC) was measured and an ejaculate of semen was collected by electroejaculation to determine puberty. At these times, bulls were given 200 micrograms of GnRH i.m. and blood was collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 h after GnRH. Serum concentrations of LH and testosterone (TEST) were determined. At slaughter, testis weight, length and circumference and pubertal status were recorded. Bulls implanted with zeranol had smaller SC than control bulls during the entire 9-mo period (P less than .0001). More control bulls reached puberty than did implanted bulls (82.4 vs 23.5%, respectively; P less than .001). Control bulls had larger testis measurements at slaughter (P less than .0001). Implants did not alter total weight gain or ADG (P greater than .10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Impact of Urban Form Configuration on the Urban Heat Island: The Case Study of Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract It is recognized that ambient air temperatures (Ta) inside urban cores are higher than that in their rural surroundings, forming what is known as the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon. During the summer in hot and dry regions, the UHI intensity is significantly influenced by the extreme direct solar radiation and leads to outdoor thermal discomfort during the entire day. The present study aims to investigate the thermal performance of three different urban configurations and street geometries in the metropolitan city of Baghdad, Iraq: traditional compact, modern attached, and modern detached. To ensure that the urban configuration is the only factor for comparison, vegetation was excluded and materials for buildings and streets were unified in all examined study cases. The evaluation of the ambient air temperature (Ta), street surface temperature (Ts) inside the urban canyon, and mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) was conducted by utilizing the three-dimensional numerical software Envi-met 4.0. The three variables Ta, Ts, and Tmrt were measured at the center of the street in each urban configuration. The investigation of this study has provided a better understanding of the role of urban form configurations in forming the UHI that affect the microclimate in hot and dry regions, which has therefore helped to generate guidelines of urban design and planning practices for a better thermal performance in cities. In particular, the study has contributed to the validation of the impacts of urban canyons on the temperature variations in built environment.
Effects of thyroid state on venous compliance and left ventricular performance in rats.

The cardiovascular system of hypothyroid, normal, and hyperthyroid rats was studied by evaluation of the peripheral venous circulation and left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic performance in rats. Cardiac index (CI) and CI during a volume load were measured in open-chest rats. When compared with control, hypothyroid rats showed a decrease in heart rate, aortic pressure, LV systolic pressure, first derivative for LV pressure (LV dP/dt), CI, and CI during a volume load. LV pressure-volume relation was shifted to the right, muscle stiffness was unchanged, and LV relaxation was prolonged. There was a decrease in mean circulatory filling pressure (MCFP) to 6.3 +/- 0.2 from 7.6 +/- 0.2 mmHg in control rats. This was associated with an 11% decrease in unstressed vascular volume and 12% decrease in total blood volume but no change in venous compliance. In hyperthyroid rats there was an increase in heart rate, LV systolic pressure, LV dP/dt, CI, and CI during a volume load. LV chamber stiffness was increased, but muscle stiffness and LV relaxation were unchanged. There was an increase in MCFP to 9.5 +/- 0.3 mmHg and a decrease in venous compliance to 2.65 +/- 0.12 compared with 3.20 +/- 0.09 ml.mmHg-1.kg-1 in control rats. Unstressed vascular volume and total blood volume were unchanged. In conclusion, hyperthyroid rats have augmented LV systolic function and altered diastolic function which, combined with changes in the venous circulation, result in increased venous return and thus cardiac output. In hypothyroid rats both LV systolic and diastolic function are altered. When combined with changes of the venous circulation the changes result in a decrease in cardiac output.
How the Political Context and Agency Responsibilities Shape Government Strategic Planning

This paper integrates insights from public administration and political science scholarship to develop original propositions about the influence of key elements of the political context and responsibilities of agencies on the conduct of government strategic planning. The propositions highlight the importance of external shocks, legislative involvement, an agency’s political support, and an agency’s reliance on collaboration and capital investments in shaping whether an agency conducts strategic planning purposefully, passively, politically, perversely, formally, or informally. A brief examination of strategic planning by U.S. government agencies that operate in the area of national security provides support for several of these propositions.