cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sexual Preference and the Self-Reported Role of Olfaction in Mate Selection

Olfactory cues are important in mating in many species, including humans. These odorants may be relevant because of their value as a cue to the reproductive fitness of a potential mate (Trivers 1972), but they could also be important as a signal of mate appropriateness in terms of sexual preference (Lubke and Pause 2015). One way to discriminate between these ideas is to examine whether the importance of olfaction in determining a mate is decreased in homosexual individuals, for whom selecting a mate is dissociated from the selection of a reproductive partner. The present research question asked whether the value of olfactory cues for attraction varies between homosexual and heterosexual groups. The present study examined odor importance in mating by presenting the Romantic Interest Survey (Herz and Inzlich 2002) to 453 individuals: 142 heterosexual women, 161 heterosexual men, and 150 gay men. Regression analysis indicated that heterosexual men valued the sense of smell when selecting a mate more than gay men did. In contrast, gay men valued the sound of a partner’s voice more than did heterosexual men. Heterosexual men and women did not differ by sex in terms of the value of olfaction; both men and women value olfactory aspects of a potential mate highly. The higher value of olfactory cues to heterosexual individuals supports the idea that olfaction in mate selection may act as a cue to reproductive fitness, and indicates that olfactory information is not as valuable to gay men in mate selection. These findings suggest that many people seem to be looking for similar attributes when searching for a potential romantic partner, and that olfaction is an important aspect of the process.
Team Composition, Distributed Leadership, and Performance: It’s Good to Share:

The contemporary work environment encourages new models of leadership that support influential behavior across teams. Leadership shared in this way improves team effectiveness and performance and is of interest to both scholars and practitioners. We examine shared leadership influences in the presence of other characteristics that distinguish teams, namely, team size and sex diversity. Using hierarchical multiple regression tests on information gathered from 241 teams during a strategy simulation exercise, we find evidence of a positive relationship between shared leadership and performance over and above the influence of team size and sex diversity. Additionally, we dimensionalize performance to examine impacts of team characteristics on different desirable outcomes and find that team size has a positive relationship with financial performance but a negative relationship with strategic performance. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Augmented probability simulation for accelerated life test design

Designing accelerated life tests presents a number of conceptual and computational challenges. We propose a Bayesian decision-theoretic approach for selecting an optimal stress-testing schedule and develop an augmented probability simulation approach to obtain the optimal design. The notion of a ‘dual utility probability density’ enables us to invoke the concept of a conjugate utility function. For accelerated life tests, this allows us to construct an augmented probability simulation that simultaneously optimizes and calculates the expected utility. In doing so, we circumvent many of the computational difficulties associated with evaluating pre-posterior expected utilities. To illustrate our methodology, we consider a single-stage accelerated life test design; our approach naturally extends to multiple-stage designs. Finally, we conclude with suggestions for further research. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Tactile Ethics of Soft Robotics: Designing Wisely for Human–Robot Interaction

Abstract Soft robots promise an exciting design trajectory in the field of robotics and human–robot interaction (HRI), promising more adaptive, resilient movement within environments as well as a safer, more sensitive interface for the objects or agents the robot encounters. In particular, tactile HRI is a critical dimension for designers to consider, especially given the onrush of assistive and companion robots into our society. In this article, we propose to surface an important set of ethical challenges for the field of soft robotics to meet. Tactile HRI strongly suggests that soft-bodied robots balance tactile engagement against emotional manipulation, model intimacy on the bonding with a tool not with a person, and deflect users from personally and socially destructive behavior the soft bodies and surfaces could normally entice.
To Repair or Not to Repair Cracked Wood

If only wood could be defect-free, then the minimum strength of solid-wood beams and other structures could be much higher. Structural failures could be avoided, and-or less material might be required in some applications. Cracks in wooden structures can be filled with adhesives or with thermoplastic composite material. But to approach the intended strength of defect-free wood, it is necessary to use other strategies such as glued rods and surface patches. The ultimate answer may lie in better species selection, tree breeding, forestry strategies, lumber cutting practices, and lumber drying practices to avoid cracks in the first place.
Clinical and imaging correlation in patients with pathologically confirmed tumefactive demyelinating lesions.

Objectives To characterize clinical and imaging features in patients with pathologically confirmed demyelinating lesions.
Conceptualizing transparency: Propositions for the integration of situational factors and stakeholders’ perspectives:

In communication research on transparency, information has been predominantly regarded as an objective and ascertainable construct – for example, evaluated by its amount – resulting in the neglect ...
Shaped by Campus Culture: Intersections Between Transformative Learning, Civic Engagement, and Institutional Mission

This ethnographic case study describes how civically engaged students understand their commitment to social change. Literature on civic engagement and service-­learning abounds, yet gaps remain in understanding how students understand and act on campus mission and culture with respect to civic engagement. Using the frameworks of transformative learning, emerging adulthood, and civic engagement, this study attempted to understand a subculture of 24 undergraduate students at a Jesuit university. Ethnographic case study methodology was used in order to understand broader context and culture within which this subculture existed. Findings help to further understand how students interact with campus mission and culture relative to civic engagement. Emic and etic themes were distilled into 10 overarching umbrella themes. Implications for future research focus on the intersection of culture, context, and civic engagement at both faith­-based and secular institutions.
Estimating asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) scores from claims data.

Background: Asthma control is the main focus of treatment guidelines. Valid instruments such as the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) require prospective survey. These surveys may be challenging f...
The struggle is real: self-employment and short-term psychological distress

Abstract We test whether self-employed individuals report more short-term psychological distress compared to paid employees. The ability to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams could lead self-employed individuals to experience feelings of positive emotion, autonomy, and confidence that can lower short-term psychological distress. Yet, the significant demands of self-employment undertakings might also induce feelings of negative emotions, helplessness, and lack of control typically associated with increased short-term psychological distress. We investigate the relationship between self-employment and self-reported, short-term psychological distress using a sample of 171,883 respondents from the 1997–2015 cross-sectional surveys of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Results indicate that self-employment has a positive association with psychological distress. Findings are robust to matched-pair sampling and alternate measures of levels of psychological distress.
Discovery of Dynein and its Properties: A Personal Account

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the research carried out on the dynein motor protein reflecting its role in the life of a cell. It describes how Ian Gibbons, as the first person of his family to attend a university, participated in discovering the properties of this fascinating and extremely complex protein, dynein motor protein. Describing Ian’s experiences at Cambridge and Harvard, it throws light on how Ian, along with other scientists, came about the discovery of dynein protein and its characteristics. The results of the discovery are described in the form of diagrams and tables in the chapter. Furthermore, it gives an overview of the protein chemistry of dynein protein, revealing its complexity. The study of dyneins came about as a revolution in cell biology and revealed various isoforms of dynein in the process. Also, properties like dynein’s microtubule binding domain and cycling of dynein ATPase were understood. Following this, the chapter discusses the process of transition from protein chemistry to molecular biology, throwing light on the sequencing of DNA coding and experimental assay of nucleotide-binding to beta and gamma heavy chain subunits of outer-arm dynein. Finally, the chapter describes studies on bend initiation, growth, and propagation of dynein protein, also throwing light on some areas of research on dynein protein yet to be explored.
Teaching Play Skills to Children with Disabilities: Research-Based Interventions and Practices

Play is a critical milestone that contributes to the learning and development of young children in multiple ways and is essential to their well-being. Play is also considered as a central component to promote school readiness and incorporates pre-literacy, language and numeracy skills. However, play deficits seem to be acutely apparent in some children with disabilities. This highlights the need to come to terms with the best evidence and explore the promising practices related to improved play skills for young children with disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of play-based learning in early childhood and early childhood special education and provide research-based recommendations on teaching play skills to young children with disabilities.
Law and the Modern Identity

This essay explores the plural elements of our modern identity and their significance for the legal order. This modern identity is all-pervasive and envelops us. It comprises goods that may be in conflict, but "for all that they don't refute each other." The essay provides an explication of and commentary on Charles Taylor's magisterial accounts of the modern identity. I agree that "if we are going to live by the modern identity, it better be by an examined version of it." I suggest ways in which in the legal world too, "modernity urgently needs to be saved from its most unconditional supporters." Finally, I argue that an account of modernity is a necessary step in identifying the tasks of a general theory of legal procedure.
A historical look at theories of change in early childhood education research

Abstract • After decades of program implementation and evaluation, the early childhood education (ECE) field needs to move towards more effective and efficient strategies. One tool that has been developed to support this shift is theory of change (TOC). Though TOCs have been widely recognized for their potential utility, the extent to which they have been employed consistently in ECE research is unclear. In this paper, we draw upon a comprehensive, systematically developed archival database of high-quality ECE evaluations (N = 277) conducted over nearly five decades (1960–2007) to explore how the field has historically described and measured TOCs. We find that some components of TOCs have been used widely, and also that evaluators have increasingly measured implementation fidelity and standardization of program strategies over time. However, we additionally find that most ECE research has yet to move beyond the investigation of overall impacts towards more precise explanations of causal pathways. Instead, it remains common to focus on understanding whether a program is “effective” but relatively rare to explore how, why, for whom, and under what conditions an ECE program does or does not work.
Analysis of a series of urban-scale chlorine dispersion experiments and implications on indoor health consequences

Abstract In the United States, industrial compounds are routinely transported by rail in pressurized vessels, often near urban areas. A rupture of a vessel, for example due to a derailment, can result in the rapid release of a liquid-aerosol-gas mixture. The health consequences of such a release, especially close to population centers, are not well understood. To address this question, a series of controlled experimental releases of pressurized chlorine (Cl2) was conducted at the Dugway Proving Ground (Dugway, Utah). Each trial consisted of the sudden breach of a tank containing at least 4,500 kg (kg) of pressurized liquid Cl2. In this paper, we report on measured Cl2 concentrations in three test structures downwind of the release. Based on these data, we estimate the indoor-outdoor exchange, transport through a multi-room structure, and the first-order loss rate due to reaction or sorption. This loss rate is particularly important for consequence assessment. For example, in a mobile office with a ventilation rate of about three air changes per hour, the reaction loss rate was approximately 2.5 h−1. This accounts for a nearly 20 percent reduction in toxic load to indoor occupants. Finally, the paper discusses the modeling and analysis of a typical urban hazard assessment.
The Role of Physical Chemical Properties of Gases in Whitecap Facilitated Gas Transfer

Air-sea gas exchange is one of the most important processes that controls both biogeochemical cycles and the earth’s climate. The need to accurately quantifying gas exchange under the range of temperatures, wind speeds and gases has been recognized as a priority over the last three decades and parameterizations have improved over this period. To date however, there remains a concern of applying parameterizations tuned to a subset of gases broadly to many gases. Here we present some of the physical chemical differences across gases that when considered could lead to better gas flux estimates and improve the margins of error in air-sea gas exchange.
Transgressing twoness: The performative possibilities of Marie Arana’s American Chica and Braulio Muñoz’s The Peruvian Notebooks

This essay examines the transnational racial and ethnic politics of Marie Arana’s American Chica and Braulio Munoz’s The Peruvian Notebooks, two literary writings that feature characters who navigate Peruvian, US American, and Latinx connections. As each text’s characters migrate between Peru and the United States, they perform a range of regional, ethnic, and cultural identities that are circumscribed within US American and Peruvian national markers, and in so doing, they expose the myth of national homogeneity. I utilize performance as a theoretical lens through which to examine, first, characters’ transmissions of multiple identities and embodied conflicts and, second, an understanding of ethnic and racial categories as constructed. I investigate the extent to which performativity can function as a space through which to explore alternatives to the otherness that is imposed on transnational subject positions that challenge the boundaries of Latinidad.
Mechanobiology of Cartilage Impact Via Real-Time Metabolic Imaging

Cartilage loading is important in both structural and biological contexts, with overloading known to cause osteoarthritis (OA). Cellular metabolism, which can be evaluated through the relative measures of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, is important in disease processes across tissues. Details of structural damage coupled with cellular metabolism in cartilage have not been evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the time- and location-dependent metabolic response to traumatic impact loading in articular cartilage. Cartilage samples from porcine femoral condyles underwent a single traumatic injury that created cracks in most samples. Before and up to 30 min after loading, samples underwent optical metabolic imaging. Optical metabolic imaging measures the fluorescent intensity of byproducts of the two metabolic pathways, flavin adenine dinucleotide for oxidative phosphorylation and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ± phosphate for glycolysis, as well as the redox ratio between them. Images were taken at varied distances from the center of the impact. Shortly after impact, fluorescence intensity in both channels decreased, while redox ratio was unchanged. The most dramatic metabolic response was measured closest to the impact center, with suppressed fluorescence in both channels relative to baseline. Redox ratio varied nonlinearly as a function of distance from the impact. Finally, both lower and higher magnitude loading reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide fluorescence, whereas reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ± phosphate fluorescence was associated only with low strain loads and high contact pressure loads, respectively. In conclusion, this study performed novel analysis of metabolic activity following induction of cartilage damage and demonstrated time-, distance-, and load-dependent response to traumatic impact loading.
Leukemoid reaction causing arterial thrombus in a patient with lung adenocarcinoma

A leukemoid reaction is typically defined as white blood cell (WBC) count >50×109/L, predominantly neutrophil precursors, that are not due to tumour involvement in the bone marrow and not derived from clones. Leukemoid reactions associated with malignancy, known as paraneoplastic leukemoid reactions, are less common and are most notably seen with non-small cell lung cancer. A 64-year-old woman presented with right leg painful ulceration. On examination, she had multiple venous stasis ulcers more severe on the right, with no palpable pulses in her lower extremities. Her WBC count was 124×109/L and platelets were 517×109/L. Arterial dopplers showed limb-threatening arterial insufficiency which prompted right femoral endarterectomy. Few months earlier she was diagnosed with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma to the bone and she had leukemoid reaction with WBC 43.920× 109/L with 90% neutrophils. Repeat imaging showed progression of her malignancy and she passed shortly after. Inflammation is a key element of carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Among the different tumours, lung cancer is a non-haematologic malignancy that is most closely associated with leucocytosis. Some studies have found that leucocytosis was significantly associated with metastasis and shorter survival irrespective of other factors such as age or sex. The mechanism remains unclear however elevated levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (CSF), granulocyte macrophage-CSF and interleukin 6 have been linked to this phenomena. The degree of leucocytosis seen in our patient is suggestive of CSF production leading to a paraneoplastic leukemoid reaction.
Asymptotic Variance of Test Statistics in ML and QML Frameworks

In this study, we consider the test statistics that can be written as the sample average of data and derive their limiting distribution under the maximum likelihood (ML) and the quasi-maximum likelihood (QML) frameworks. We first generalize the asymptotic variance formula suggested in Pierce (1982) in the ML framework and illustrate its applications through some well-known test statistics: (i) the skewness statistic, (ii) the kurtosis statistic, (iii) the Cox statistic, (iv) the information matrix test statistic, and (v) the Durbin's h-statistic. We next provide a similar result in the QML setting and illustrate its applications by providing two examples. Illustrations show the simplicity and the effectiveness of our results for the asymptotic variance of test statistics, and therefore, they are recommended for practical applications.
100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint: Data-Driven Protein Design

The design of synthetic proteins with the desired function is a long-standing goal in biomolecular science, with broad applications in biochemical engineering, agriculture, medicine, and public hea...
Amygdala Allostasis and Early Life Adversity: Considering Excitotoxicity and Inescapability in the Sequelae of Stress

Early life adversity (ELA), such as child maltreatment or child poverty, engenders problems with emotional and behavioral regulation. In the quest to understand the neurobiological sequelae and mechanisms of risk, the amygdala has been of major focus. While the basic functions of this region make it a strong candidate for understanding the multiple mental health issues common after ELA, extant literature is marked by profound inconsistencies, with reports of larger, smaller, and no differences in regional volumes of this area. We believe integrative models of stress neurodevelopment, grounded in "allostatic load," will help resolve inconsistencies in the impact of ELA on the amygdala. In this review, we attempt to connect past research studies to new findings with animal models of cellular and neurotransmitter mediators of stress buffering to extreme fear generalization onto testable research and clinical concepts. Drawing on the greater impact of inescapability over unpredictability in animal models, we propose a mechanism by which ELA aggravates an exhaustive cycle of amygdala expansion and subsequent toxic-metabolic damage. We connect this neurobiological sequela to psychosocial mal/adaptation after ELA, bridging to behavioral studies of attachment, emotion processing, and social functioning. Lastly, we conclude this review by proposing a multitude of future directions in preclinical work and studies of humans that suffered ELA.
Quantum dash multi-wavelength lasers for Tbit/s coherent communications and 5G wireless networks

We report on the design, growth, fabrication, and performance of InAs/InP quantum dash (QD) multi-wavelength lasers (MWLs) developed by the National Research Council (NRC) Canada. The key technical specifications investigated include optical and RF beating spectra, relative intensity noise (RIN), and optical phase noise of each individual wavelength channel. Data bandwidth transmission capacity of 5.376 Tbit/s and 10.8 Tbit/s respectively in the PAM-4 and 16-QAM modulation formats are demonstrated using only a single C-band QD 34.2-GHz MWL chip. We have also developed a monolithic InAs/InP QD dual-wavelength (DW) DFB laser as a compact optical beat source to generate millimeter-wave (MMW) signals. Due to the common cavity, highly coherent and correlated optical modes with optical linewidth as low as 15.83 kHz, spectrally pure MMW signals around 46.8 GHz with a linewidth down to 26.1 kHz were experimentally demonstrated. By using this QD DW-DFB laser, a one GBaud (2 Gbps) MMW over-fiber transmission link is demonstrated with PAM-4 signals. The results show that the demonstrated device is suitable for high speed high capacity MMW fiber-wireless integrated fronthaul of 5G networks.
Get it Before it’s Gone: Understanding Scarcity Perceptions in Fashion: An Abstract

Retailers in the fashion industry are constantly employing new strategies in attempts to increase demand and revenue. The premise of such strategies often involves the use of scarcity perceptions which can take the form of various restrictions set by a firm in terms of purchase limits, purchase conditions, time limits, and product limits (Inman et al. 1997). Although numerous positive benefits may result from scarcity purchases, this study reveals a potential dark side to how marketers can use consumers’ perceptions of scarcity to capitalize on consumer buying behaviors. Such practices are labeled as “manufactured scarcity,” and combines both types of true scarcity (demand and supply) in an attempt to influence the “psychology of scarcity.” This term was identified by Kizilbash and Smart (1975) and refers to “the changing behavioral patterns of firms and individuals as a result of actual or perceived shortages (p. 64).” This is believed to potentially induce a state of panic or impulse buying.
Working set size reduction by restructuring APL workspaces

APL Workspaces usually have a random distribution of the defined APL functions. The physical location of a defined APL function within an APL workspace depends on its history of creation, modification, or copying. Furthermore in APL a good programming style results in a large number of small functions. The execution of an APL program in a virtual storage environment usually leads to comparatively large working set sizes because the APL functions are scattered over the workspace. However, the interrelation between the functions can be analysed and exploited to reorganize a workspace and thus reduce the working set sizes. Methods of restructuring an APL workspace are proposed. Results of an investigation on a large APL/CMS workspace using these methods are presented.
Sex differences in forearm vasoconstrictor response to voluntary apnea (1171.1)

Clinical evidence indicates that obstructive sleep apnea is more common and more severe in men compared to women. Sex differences in the vasoconstrictor response to hypoxemia-induced sympathetic ac...
A preliminary comparison of daylit and night Cn2 profiles measured by thermosonde

Abstract : The refractive index structure constant C(2/n) is needed to characterize optical wave propagation in a refractive turbulent scattering medium. A limited number of in situ measurements of C(2/n) made during day and night conditions from the surface to 10 km above sea level are compared in three different atmospheric boundary layer environments: dry convective, moist convective, and marine inversion. C(2/n) on average appears to be higher through the convective boundary layer depth during the day compared to night for the same air mass type and location but is generally lower than night values within the stable marine inversion layer. Calculations of path scintillation effects for slant paths in the lower atmosphere at near-infrared wavelengths are also compared for day and night conditions associated with the different air mass types.
Analysis and testing of a new prototype power transmission structure and an alternative design approach for longitudinal loads

As the power transmission infrastructure is expanded, structures that can be rapidly constructed and are cost efficient, reliable, and sustainable will be needed. A prototype power transmission structure designed to address the issue of cascading collapse, be efficiently constructed, and be easily repaired in the event of a catastrophic load such as a transmission line break was investigated. This structure utilizes post-tensioning and a joint to allow for large deflections. The specially designed joint isolates inelastic deformation to structural fuses that are inexpensive and easy to replace. The structure’s high deflection capacity could isolate damage from extreme loads to a few structures near the origin of the load and prevent a cascading collapse. A scale model was constructed and tested in the laboratory. The test procedure and structural behavior are discussed and compared to predictions from alternative methods of analysis. The prototype satisfied primary design objectives for behavior and could offer significant advantages relative to current design practice for power transmission structures. Currently, many resources exist to help designers accurately define and apply transverse loads to power transmission structures. However, there is less guidance available for longitudinal loads such as those applied by broken conductors. Current practice focuses on mitigating the effects of cascade events rather than stopping them altogether. An alternative approach for considering longitudinal loading is discussed that could prevent cascades through the use of the prototype structure that can sustain high loads while undergoing large longitudinal deflections. Such an approach could increase system reliability and security while reducing both initial and life-cycle costs of the power transmission infrastructure.
Citric acid etching of GaAs1-xSbx, Al0.5Ga0.5Sb, and InAs for heterostructure device fabrication

Citric acid/hydrogen peroxide at volume ratios from 0.2:1 to 20:1 was found to provide selective etching between , , , and various III–V semiconductor materials for use in new and based heterostructure transistors and optoelectronic devices. By choosing different concentration volume ratios of citric acid to hydrogen peroxide , highly selective as well as uniform (nonselective) etching regions were found to exist in these material systems. Etchant selectivities greater than 50 were found for most combinations of the III–V semiconductor materials under investigation, with selectivities of over 100 measured for and material combinations, and with selectivities of over 3850 calculated for to 13,650 for . The highest overall etch rates were measured for and the lowest etch rates were found for . The etch rate for the materials systematically decreased from the highest etch rate for the smallest Sb mole fraction examined of to the lowest etch rate for . The dramatic change in etch rate with citric acid/hydrogen peroxide volume ratio previously observed for the material system was also observed for , but this effect was not seen in higher Sb mole fraction alloys of examined. and were found to have very low etch rates with this etchant system at all volume ratios, making both materials suitable as an etch stop layer for simplified processing in device fabrication. Finally, citric acid/hydrogen peroxide can be used to preferentially etch these materials through a photoresist mask, since it does not erode photoresist at any volume ratio.
Expert‐Novice Differences on a Recognition Memory Test of Physics Diagrams

This study used a recognition memory test and specially constructed pairs of physics diagrams to measure differences between physics experts and novices (who have not taken college physics) in the way simple physics diagrams are encoded in memory. Results show that although physics experts encode aspects and features of physics diagrams that novices do not, in some specific cases novices encode features that experts do not. Physics experts were more likely to encode features of diagrams that were more relevant to the physics depicted. This suggests that the knowledge and experience of physics experts influences the way in which they conceptualize physics diagrams, even in the absence of a question prompt.
s-Triazines. II. The synthesis of some new cyclopoly-s-triazinylene thioethers and disulfides

A number of new cyclopoly-s-triazinylene thioethers and disulfides have been prepared in dilute solution. Their structures and methods of formation are discussed. A thermo-gravimetric analysis of cyclopoly-2-phenyl-s-triazinylene-4,6-monosulfide is included.
Risky States and Risky Behavior

Enforcing Cooperation: Risky States and Intergovernmental Management of Conflictedited by Gerald Schneider and Patricia A. Weitsman
THE BRANCHING RATIO ${\rm{Br}}(\Omega^- \to \Xi^0 e^- \bar{\nu}_e)$: AN ALGEBRAIC APPROACH

The branching ratio is calculated using a broken symmetry algebraic approach to QCD, namely asymptotic flavor SU(3) symmetry. Our result is in better agreement with experiment than previous theoretical results based on naive SUF(3) and yields .
Intercalation of dodecyl sulfate into layered double hydroxides

The intercalation of sodium dodecyl sulfate and exchange of dodecyl sulfate anion into layered double hydroxides has been examined by means of X-ray diffraction, infrared and thermogravimetric procedures. Three types of derivatives were obtained having mean interlayer spacings of ≈26 A, 36 A and 47 A, respectively. These interlayer distances did not correlate with the amount of organic incorporated between the layers but, as shown by computer simulations, depended upon the orientation of the chains within the interlamellar space. In several reactions both intercalation of neutral sodium dodecyl sulfate as well as exchange of the dodecyl anion took place. Attempts to remove the alkyl sulfate chains with dilute acid resulted in dissolution of the more basic metals producing non-stoichiometric layered products.
A Visual Representation of the Grief Cycle for Use by Teachers with Families of Children with Disabilities

Data from current studies of the grief process experienced by parents whose children have disabilities have been incorporated with the results of observations of 130 parents from two support groups to develop a visual representation of this process. The current model is useful in working with parents to facilitate their movement through stages of the grief process into more functional behavior. Behaviors from the traditional models of grief are organized into clusters for a conceptualization that will aid professionals in its use as a counseling tool with families of children with disabilities. Implications drawn from the grief cycle for use with parents and other family members are described including the full range of interactions in this model. These interactions make it unnecessary for the professional to view the parent or family members as dysfunctional.
Structure-Function Relationships in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Poly(A) Polymerase: IDENTIFICATION OF A NOVEL RNA BINDING SITE AND A DOMAIN THAT INTERACTS WITH SPECIFICITY FACTOR(S)

We have constructed deletions in the nonconserved regions at the amino and carboxyl ends of the poly(A) polymerase (PAP) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and examined the effects of these truncations on function of the enzyme. PAP synthesizes a poly(A) tail onto the 3′-end of RNA without any primer specificity but, in the presence of cellular factors, is directed specifically to the cleaved ends of mRNA precursors. The last 31 amino acids of PAP are dispensable for both nonspecific and specific activities. Removal of the next 36 amino acids affects an RNA binding domain, which is essential for the activity of the enzyme and for cell viability. This novel RNA binding site was further localized using additional deletions, cyanogen bromide cleavage of PAP cross-linked with RNA or 8-azido-ATP, and a monoclonal antibody against a COOH-terminal PAP epitope. A deletion that partially disrupts this domain has reduced nonspecific activity but functions in specific polyadenylation. In contrast, deletion of the first 18 amino acids of PAP has no effect on nonspecific polyadenylation but completely eliminates specific activity. This region is essential for enzyme function in vivo and is probably involved in the interaction of PAP with other protein(s) of the polyadenylation machinery.
Fuzzy component based object detection

Component based object detection approaches have been shown to significantly improve object detection performance in adversities such as occlusion, variations in pose, in and out of plane rotation and poor illumination. Even the best object detectors are prone to errors when used in a global object detection scheme (one that uses the whole object as a single entity for detection purpose), due to these problems. We propose a fuzzy approach to object detection that treats an object as a set of constituent components rather than a single entity. The object detection task is completed in two steps. In the first step, candidates for respective components are selected based on their appearance match and handed over to the geometrical configuration classifier. The geometrical configuration classifier is a fuzzy inference engine that selects one candidate for each component such that each candidate is a reasonable match to the corresponding component in terms of appearance and also a good fit for the overall geometrical model. The detected object consists of candidates that are not necessarily the best in terms of appearance match or the closest to the geometrical model in terms of placement. The output is a set of candidates that is an optimal combination satisfying both criteria. We evaluate the technique on a well known face dataset and show that the technique results in detection of most faces in a scale-invariant manner. The technique has been shown to be robust to in-plane rotations and occlusion.
Fast Huber-Markov edge-preserving image restoration

In general, image restoration problems are ill posed and need to be regularized. For applications such as realtime video, fast restorations are also needed to keep up with the frame rate. Restoration based on 2D FFT's provides a fast implementation assuming a constant regularization term over the image. Unfortunately, this assumption creates significant ringing artifacts on edges as well as blurrier edges in the restored image. On the other hand, shift-variant regularization will reduce edge artifacts and provide better quality but it destroys the structure that makes use of the 2D FFT possible, thus no longer have the computational efficiency of the FFT. In this paper, we use a Bayesian approach-maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation to compute an estimate of the original image given the blurred image. To avoid the smoothing of edges, shift-variant regularization must be used. The Huber-Markov random field model is applied to preserve the discontinuities on edges. For fast minimization of the above model, a new algorithm involving the Sherman-Morrison matrix inversion lemma is proposed. This results in a restored image with good edge preservation and less computation. Experiments show restored images with sharper edges. Convergence is fast, and the computational speed can be improved considerably by breaking the image into subimages.
Comparison of Interplanetary CME Charge State Composition with CME-associated Flare Magnitude

This paper describes a study of the charge state composition of interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) ejecta in the heliosphere within the context of remote-sensing CME observations at the Sun. First, CME-ICME pairs are examined to determine if a given CME is associated with a flare event. Then, for each ICME, the charge states, O+7/O+6 and QFe, are averaged over the event and compared with the associated flare magnitude. We find that events originating between E30° and W45° solar longitude are more likely to contain significantly higher charge states. The charge states in these "central events" display a moderate correlation with flare magnitude, indicating that enhanced charge states in the solar wind are the result of flare-related heating in the corona.
Co-morbidity is a Strong Predictor of Early Death and Multi-organ System Failure among Patients with Acute Pancreatitis

A small but significant percentage of patients with acute pancreatitis die within 2 weeks of hospitalization, usually with multiorgan system failure. To determine the effect of chronic medical comorbidities on early death, we conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients who were hospitalized in California with first-time pancreatitis between 1992 and 2002. Among 84,713 patients, 1514 (1.8%) died within 2 weeks. In a risk-adjusted multivariate model, the strongest predictors of early death were age 65 to 75 years (OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 2.2-3.1 versus <55 years), age over 75 years (OR = 5.2, 95% CI: 4.4-6.1), and the presence of either two chronic comorbid conditions (OR = 3.5, CI: 2.7-4.6) or three or more comorbidities (OR = 7.4, 95% CI: 5.7-9.5). Among the 14,280 patients younger than 55 years who had no chronic comorbid conditions, only 14 (0.1%) died in the first 14 days compared to 701 (5.9%) of 24,852 patients 64 years or older who had three or more comorbidities (RR = 29, 95% CI: 17-50). Comorbid conditions associated with early death included recent cancer, heart failure, renal disease, and liver disease. We conclude that advancing age and the number of chronic comorbid conditions are very strong predictors of early death among patients with acute pancreatitis.
Transport of 2,4,5,2′,4′,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl by lipoproteins in vivo

Lipoproteins are currently being recognized as transport vehicles for lipophilic drugs and xenobiotic chemicals in plasma. The weight of in vitro evidence suggests lipoproteins as the principal carries of 2,4,5, 2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (6-CB) in plasma from normolipidemic rats and humans. The present study examined the in vivo distribution of 6-CB among lipoproteins as well as the influence of time on the absolute amount and proportion of 6-CB associated with each density fraction. Plasma obtained between 1 min and 24 hr after an iv injection of 6-[14C]CB was separated into very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) fractions by sequential ultracentrifugation. The in vivo results corroborate the in vitro data which suggest LDL to be a major transport vehicle for 6-CB in plasma. However, the preference of 6-CB for LDL existed for only a short time following injection. From 6 to 24 hr after administration of 6-CB, there was a shift in the distribution of the PCB from LDL to HDL and the remaining protein-rich bottom fraction. By 24 hr, the proportion of 6-CB in LDL had declined from 80% of the plasma concentration to 30%, while that in HDL had doubled. Furthermore, the amount of 6-CB in the bottom fraction accounted for 35% of the radioactivity in plasma at 24 hr as opposed to less than 5% up to 1 hr after administration. The absolute contents of 6-CB in both HDL and the bottom fraction also increased during the later time points. Analysis of the decay curves of 6-CB among the various lipoproteins further substantiated a change in the distribution of 6-CB over time. The decay of 6-CB in LDL most closely resembled its disappearance from plasma. The content of 6-CB remaining in plasma at 24 hr was equally distributed among LDL, HDL, and the bottom fraction. Changes in lipoprotein composition during the 24-hr period could not explain 6-CB redistribution, since there were no significant differences in the proportion of constituents comprising VLDL, LDL, HDL, or the bottom fraction.
Raman spectroscopic investigations of dinuclear gold ylide complexes; further relationships of Au–Au bond lengths versus Au–Au stretching frequencies

Abstract Raman spectroscopic data have been collected for the singly bonded Au(II) halogen complexes Au 2 (MTP) 2 X 2 (MTP=CH 2 P(S)Ph 2 − ; X=Cl, Br, I) with bands at 157, 125, and 105 cm −1 for Cl, Br, and I, respectively, being assigned to ν (Au–Au). The corresponding Au–X vibrations have also been identified. The trend observed in the shift of ν (Au–Au) with changes in halogen is comparable to the situation with the analogous [Au(CH 2 ) 2 PPh 2 ] 2 X 2 series reported by Clark et al., for which the corresponding values are 162, 132, and 103 cm −1 . In both cases, these data show a trend toward decreasing Au–Au and Au–X stretching frequencies with increasing halide size. Interestingly, a plot of r (Au–Au) versus ν (Au–Au) for the six oxidized complexes does not yield a single line, but instead two nearly parallel lines. The general relationship between metal–metal bond lengths and stretching vibrations for the six complexes are compared with other single-bonded dinuclear complexes in the light of various proposed empirical relationships.
Atmospheric Lagrangian coherent structures considering unresolved turbulence and forecast uncertainty

Abstract To obtain more realistic approximations of atmospheric Lagrangian coherent structures, the material surfaces which form a template for the Lagrangian transport, two concepts are considered. First, the effect of unresolved turbulent motion due to finite spatiotemporal resolution of velocity field data is studied and the resulting qualitative changes on the FTLE field and LCSs are observed. Stochastic simulations show that these changes depend on the probabilistic distribution of position of released virtual particles after backward or forward time integration. We find that even with diffusion included, the LCSs play a role in structuring and bifurcating the probability distribution. Second, the uncertainty of the forecast FTLE fields is analyzed using ensemble forecasting. Unavoidable errors of the forecast velocity data due to the chaotic dynamics of the atmosphere is the salient reason for errors of the flow maps from which the FTLE fields are determined. The common practice for uncertainty analysis is to apply ensemble forecasting and here this approach is extended to FTLE field calculations. Previous work has shown an association between LCS passage and fluctuations in microbial populations and we find that ensemble FTLE forecasts are sufficient to predict such passages one day ahead of time with an accuracy of about 2 h.
An Aqueous Thermodynamic Model for the Solubility of Potassium Ferrate in Alkaline Solutions to High Ionic Strengths from 283.15 to 333.15 K

Potassium ferrate, K2FeO4(cr), has numerous promising environmental applications. An aqueous thermodynamic model applicable to high ionic strengths is essential for guiding its applications. In this study, a thermodynamic model is developed for the solubility of K2FeO4(cr) in aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solutions, from 283.15 to 333.15 K to high ionic strengths, up to saturation of KOH and NaOH, based on the Pitzer activity coefficient model for aqueous species. The solubility products for K2FeO4(cr) at infinite dilution in the temperature range from 283.15 to 333.15 K were obtained. Based on the thermodynamic solubility product of K2FeO4(cr) at 298.15 and its temperature dependence, in combination with thermodynamic properties for $$ {\text{FeO}}_{4}^{2 - } $$ and K+ from the literature, standard thermodynamic properties of K2FeO4(cr) at 298.15 K and 0.1 MPa (1 bar) are derived for the first time as follows: Δf G 0 = −(896 ± 8) kJ·mol−1, Δf H 0 = −(1026 ± 4) kJ·mol−1, and S 0 = (130 ± 17) J·mol−1·K−1. Using the above thermodynamic properties for K2FeO4(cr), the potential presence or preservation of K2FeO4(cr) in the Martian soils under the conditions relevant to Mars were quantitatively evaluated. Thermodynamic calculations pertaining to the Martian conditions indicate that the presence or preservation of K2FeO4(cr) as a strong oxidant in the Martian soils can be supported.
Solid-fluid response of packed-bed regenerators by Crump's numerical inversion of Laplace transforms

The temperature histories in the fluid and the solid phases of a fixed-matrix (packed-bed) thermal storage unit in the regenerative mode of operation, with complete reversals of the flow direction, are traced. The heat conduction and energy storage are considered in the solid, but neglected in the fluid. The problem is solved numerically by the technique of Laplace transforms, with the inversion effected by a fast and robust scheme due to Crump. Sample results are plotted and discussed in physical terms.