cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Conjoint Patterns of Alcohol and Tobacco Use Throughout Emerging Adulthood

ABSTRACTBackground: The concurrent use of alcohol and tobacco has a multiplicative effect on both social and physical consequences. While it is known that alcohol and tobacco use are strongly correlated in emerging adulthood, there is significant individual variability in use. However, little research has examined how patterns of concurrent use are related over time. Objectives: The current study explores these longitudinal conjoint trajectories, as well as the associated sociodemographic factors. Methods: We used sequential latent class growth analysis to explore the co-occurring longitudinal patterns of recent alcohol and tobacco use across emerging adulthood (10 data collection periods, 2004-2009) with a diverse sample of 2,244 college students (60% female; 54% White). Results: Twenty distinct patterns of conjoint alcohol and tobacco use were found. There was more variation in tobacco use trajectories among alcohol users than variation in alcohol trajectories among tobacco users. Using multinomial logi...
Keep Watching the Skies!: The Story of Operation Moonwatch and the Dawn of the Space Age. By W. Patrick McCray

While the title of W. Patrick McCray’s book invites readers to “keep watching the skies,” the author’s interest lies at the other end of the telescope with the participants, administrators, and det...
Towards An Autonomous Agent that Provides Automated Feedback on Students' Negotiation Skills

Although negotiation is an integral part of daily life, most people are unskilled negotiators. To improve one's skill set, a range of costly options including self-study guides, courses, and training programs are offered by various companies and educational institutions. For those who can't afford costly training options, virtual role playing agents offer a low-cost alternative. To be effective, these systems must allow students to engage in experiential learning exercises and provide personalized feedback on the learner's performance. In this paper, we show how a number of negotiation principles can be formalized and quantified. We then establish the pedagogical relevance of several automatic metrics, and show that these metrics are significantly correlated with negotiation outcomes in a human-agent negotiation. This illustrates the realism and helps to validate these principles. It also shows the potential of technology being used to quantify feedback that is traditionally provided through more qualitative approaches. The metrics we describe can provide students with personalized feedback on the errors they make in a negotiation exercise and thereby support guided experiential learning.
Managing expectations of the patient following sacral neuromodulation

Abstract Fecal incontinence can have a drastic effect on patients' quality of life. Traditional procedures for incontinence have been effective, but are not durable. Sacral nerve stimulation has been shown to be an effective treatment for fecal incontinence with good long-term results and low morbidity. As with any procedure, it is important to identify patient expectations of therapy, define patient's outcome goals and measure outcomes as to how well patients' goals are achieved.
Multi-Dimensional, First-Order, Linear Systems: Solution

This chapter characterizes the evolution of a vector of state variables in multi-dimensional, first-order linear systems. It develops a method of solution for these multi-dimensional systems, and it characterizes the trajectory of the vector of state variables, in relation to the system’s steady-state equilibrium, examining the local and global (asymptotic) stability of this steady-state equilibrium.
Biomimetic Systems for Artificial Photosynthesis

The increased understanding of photosynthetic energy conversion and advances in chemical synthesis have made it possible to create artificial biomimetic systems and semibiological hybrids which are able to carry out parts of the natural photosynthetic process.
Cardiovascular Disease and Maxillofacial Surgery

Patients undergoing noncardiac surgeries can be at risk of significant cardiovascular events. The preoperative cardiovascular evaluation constitutes a set of tools to help identify patients are at higher risk of events who may benefit from specific strategies to optimize their outcome. In this chapter, we first discuss the initial clinical evaluation which includes obtaining medical history, physical examination, and functional status assessment. Second, we address current models for risk stratification and recommended management based on assessed risk. Third, how to determine if further and which cardiac testing is needed to further elucidate the risk. Finally, we discuss appropriate management and optimization of patients with cardiac conditions, from medications to coronary revascularization.
DNA Methylation Detection Using Resonance and Nanobowtie-Antenna-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract We show that DNA carrying 5-methylcytosine modifications or methylated DNA (m-DNA) can be distinguished from DNA with unmodified cytosine by Raman spectroscopy enhanced by both a bowtie nanoantenna and excitation resonance. In particular, m-DNA can be identified by a peak near 1000 cm −1 and changes in the Raman peaks in the 1200–1700 cm −1 band that are enhanced by the ring-absorption resonance. The identification is robust to the use of resonance Raman and nanoantenna excitation used to obtain significant signal improvement. The primary differences are three additional Raman peaks with methylation at 1014, 1239, and 1639 cm −1 and spectral intensity inversion at 1324 (C 5 =C 6 ) and 1473 cm −1 (C 4 =N 3 ) in m-DNA compared to that of DNA with unmodified cytosine. We attribute this to the proximity of the methyl group to the antenna, which brings the (C 5 =C 6 ) mode closer to experiencing a stronger near-field enhancement. We also show distinct Raman spectral features attributed to the transition of DNA from a hydrated state, when dissolved, to a dried/denatured state. We observe a general broadening of the larger lines and a transfer of spectral weight from the ∼1470 cm −1 vibration to the two higher-energy lines of the dried m-DNA solution. We attribute the new spectral characteristics to DNA softening under high salt conditions and find that the m-DNA is still distinguishable via the ∼1000 cm −1 peak and distribution of the signal in the 1200–1700 cm −1 band. The nanoantenna gain exceeds 20,000, whereas the real signal ratio is much less because of a low average enhanced region occupancy even with these relatively high DNA concentrations. It is improved when fixed DNA in a salt crystal lies near the nanoantenna. The Raman resonance gain profile is consistent with A-term expectations, and the resonance is found at ∼259 nm excitation wavelength.
Studies on delayed ettringite formation in heat-cured mortars: II. Characteristics of cement that may be susceptible to DEF

Abstract Expansions of mortar bars, stored over (but not in) water after simulated steam curing to 85 °C, were related to certain cement compositional parameters. The relationship is expressed in the form of a “delayed ettringite formation (DEF) index.” The DEF index is computed as the joint product of the SO 3 /Al 2 O 3 molar ratio of the cement, the sum of its SO 3 and Bogue C 3 A percentages divided by 10 and the square root of the alkali content expressed as equivalent % Na 2 O. The mortars studied were made with 18 different cements, prepared from a set of six representative clinkers by incorporating Terra Alba gypsum to total SO 3 contents that were 1% below optimum, at optimum and 1% above optimum (as defined in ASTM C 563). Measurements of expansion were recorded at intervals for up to 1400 days. Severe cracking and prominent DEF-induced expansions were observed in mortar bars derived from four of the six ‘oversulfated’ cements and lesser expansions from three of the six cements prepared at optimum SO 3 contents. No expansion was found for cements of DEF index below a threshold value; above this value expansions were approximately proportional to the difference between DEF index and its threshold value. The relationship confirms the significance of all three compositional parameters making up the index, e.g., the SO 3 /Al 2 O 3 molar ratio, the joint contents of SO 3 and C 3 A, and the alkali content, in influencing the extent of DEF-induced expansion. In these measurements, the apparent pessimum effect for SO 3 content previously reported by others was not found, although SO 3 contents examined spanned the supposed pessimum value of 4%. Rather, expansion increased with increasing SO 3 content for mortars made with all clinkers exhibiting expansion.
Role of Imaging Biomarkers in Drug Development

Publisher Summary Anatomical imaging of tumor dimensions is the only imaging biomarker that is accepted as a measure of tumor response but many other imaging biomarkers can also provide valuable data for drug development purposes in both preclinical and clinical trials. In preclinical stages of drug development, biomarker imaging is used to validate targets, confirm mechanisms of action, provide prognostic indicators, assess pharmacokinetic profiles, and obtain early indicators of bioactivity of candidate drugs. Biomarker imaging is noninvasive so the data can be collected at several points in time from an entire animal or an entire tumor at any site in the body. Therefore, each animal can serve as its own control, decreasing both interanimal variability and the number of animals needed for the studies. Early indicators of bioactivity lessen the time needed for preclinical experiments. At the same time, the ability to collect data from orthotopic and/or spontaneous tumors at any site in the body facilitates the study of more realistic models of human cancers and may increase the likelihood that animal studies translates into effective clinical therapies. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic imaging in clinical trials can be helpful in dose selection or, if a pharmacokinetic profile is poor, may suggest toxicity and lead to early suspension of less promising drug candidates. Imaging can demonstrate whether or not the drug has its predicted bioactivity early after the onset of therapy and could potentially shorten the duration of clinical trials. Imaging biomarkers that assess gene expression in tumors could be used to select patients most likely to respond to a particular therapy.
Water Quality and the Economic Efficiency of Appropriative Water Rights

Many economists have studied the economic efficiency of appropriative water rights under conditions of common access to surface water. The studies in this literature often focus on the issue of how to define appropriative rights in order to promote economic efficiency. An important lack in existing studies is that they typically assume constant water quality, despite the fact that declining water quality is associated with the consumptive use of water from many western rivers. This chapter extends existing analyses by introducing variable water quality into an economic model of appropriative rights, and derives some results involving the efficient definition of appropriative rights under conditions of varying water quality. In addition, the feasibility of integrating water quality considerations into the administration of appropriative rights in California are discussed through a detailed examination of that State’s rights-granting institutions and procedures.
Strategic Human Resources Management Performance Metrics for Unit-Level Managers: An Exploratory Study of U.S Casual Restaurants

Many restaurant organizations have committed a substantial amount of effort to studying the relationship between a firm’s performance and its effort to develop an effective human resources management reward-andretention system. These studies have produced various metrics for determining the efficacy of restaurant management and human resources management systems. This paper explores the best metrics to use when calculating the overall unit performance of casual restaurant managers. These metrics were identified through an exploratory qualitative case study method that included interviews with executives and a Delphi study. Experts proposed several diverse metrics for measuring management value and performance. These factors seem to represent all stakeholders’interest.
Evaluating the risk profile of quetiapine in treating delirium in the intensive care adult population: A retrospective review.

Abstract Purpose Dosing regimens of quetiapine to treat delirium in critically ill patients are titrated to effect, and may utilize doses higher than previously reported. This study aimed to assess the safety of quetiapine for this indication. Materials and methods A retrospective medical chart review was conducted, identifying 154 critically ill adults that were initiated on quetiapine to treat delirium and monitored for QTc prolongation. Results The median average daily dose was 150 mg (79–234) and median max dose was 225 mg (100–350). The overall range was 25–800 mg daily. The time to peak dose was 3 days (1–8). Patients with QTc prolongation were significantly older (age 54 ± 11 vs 45 ± 17 years (p = 0.002)) and with higher baseline QTc (454 ± 33 vs 442 ± 30 (p = 0.045)). Regression analysis revealed only dose as a significant factor (OR = 1.006 (1.003–1.009) (p Conclusion The dose of quetiapine has very little correlation with QTc and change from baseline. A small number of side effects were observed. Overall, titrating quickly to large doses of quetiapine is safe for treating delirium.
Imaging Biological Compounds Using The CARS Microscope

The microscopic spatial distribution of biological compounds can be imaged using a coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscope. Spatial resolution of less than one micrometer has been achieved and excellent molecular discrimination using chemically similar molecular species has been obtained using digital image processing techniques.
Exploring the Use of Mindful Andragogy to Create Inclusive Classrooms

ABSTRACTResearchers have indicated that mindful teaching approaches support students and educators throughout the learning process. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to exp...
Calculation of surface diffusivity and residence time by molecular dynamics with application to nanoscale selective-area growth

Abstract The surface diffusivity and residence time were calculated by molecular dynamics simulations in order to solve the surface diffusion equations for selective-area growth. The calculations for CdTe/CdS material system were performed in substrates with Cd termination and S termination. The surface diffusivity and residence time were obtained at different temperatures (600 K, 800 K, 1000 K, 1200 K, and 1400 K). The thermal activation energies were extracted from Arrhenius equation for each substrate termination. Thereafter, values obtained by molecular dynamics were used in a surface diffusion model to calculate the surface concentration profile of adatoms. Alternating the surface termination has the potential to achieve nanoscale selective-area growth without the need of a dielectric film as a mask.
Control of response duration by delayed reinforcers: A systematic replication.

Abstract Three rats responded under schedules of delayed reinforcement in which sweetened condensed milk delivery depended upon lever-press durations exceeding or falling under a programmed value. For all rats, response durations increased compared to those emitted under a fixed-ratio 1 schedule when unsignaled delayed reinforcers were programmed for lever-press durations exceeding 1 s. For two of the rats, response durations also decreased when delayed reinforcer delivery was programmed for durations less than 1 s. Extinction reduced response rate, but did not affect response duration. Data suggest that the rate decreasing effects of unsignaled delayed reinforcers may be separated from the effects those reinforcers have on a targeted continuous dimension.
Robust outer volume suppression utilizing elliptical pulsed second order fields (ECLIPSE) for human brain proton MRSI.

PURPOSE The robust and reliable utilization of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) at high fields is hampered by several key technical difficulties, including contamination from extracranial lipids. To that end, this work presents novel lipid suppression sequences for proton MRSI in the human brain utilizing elliptical localization with pulsed second-order fields (ECLIPSE). METHODS Two lipid suppression methods were implemented with the ECLIPSE gradient insert. One method is a variable power, 4-pulse sequence optimized to achieve outer volume suppression (OVS) and compared against a standard, 8-slice OVS method. The second ECLIPSE method is implemented as an inversion recovery (IR) sequence with elliptical inner volume selection (IVS) and compared against a global IR method. RESULTS The ECLIPSE-OVS sequence provided a 116-fold mean lipid suppression (range, 104-134), whereas an optimized 8-slice OVS sequence achieved 15-fold suppression (range, 13-18). Furthermore, the superior ECLIPSE-OVS suppression was achieved at 30% of the radiofrequency (RF) power required by 8-slice OVS. The ECLIPSE-based IR sequence suppressed skull lipids by 155-fold (range, 122-257), compared to 16-fold suppression (range, 14-19) achieved with IR. CONCLUSION OVS and IVS executed with ECLIPSE provide robust and effective lipid suppression at reduced RF power with high immunity to variations in B1 and T1 .
Perioperative Provider and Staff Competency in Providing Culturally Competent LGBTQ Healthcare in Pediatric Setting.

Introduction Children and adolescents identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ) may feel reluctant to seek medical care due to stigma and the possibility of negative interactions with health care providers. Due to the short duration of the perioperative period, the interaction in this setting is limited and providers may not have the time to develop a rapport with the patient. It is imperative that staff are trained to address the patient and family in a culturally competent manner. Methods We undertook surveys before and after a 2 part educational series among the pediatric perioperative staff to understand the impact of providing education and cultural competency training regarding caring for patients who identify as LGBTQ. Providers self-reported their knowledge and comfort on a 1-5 point scale (5 being most knowledgeable or comfortable) in 6 domains of caring for LGBTQ patients. Objective knowledge of LGBTQ issues was assessed using 7 questions based on lecture material. On objective assessment, knowledge of LGBTQ issues improved after cultural competency training. Results The analysis included 90 responses. Before training, median ratings of knowledge and comfort were 3 or 4 out of a maximum of 5 for each domain. The pre-training median score on the 7-item test of LGBTQ cultural competency was 5 (IQR: 4, 6). After training, knowledge and comfort self-ratings did not improve, but the score on the objective knowledge test increased to a median of 6 (IQR: 4, 7; p=0.011) of 7 possible points. Discussion Anesthesia providers participating in LGBTQ cultural competency training self-reported high levels of knowledge and comfort with providing care to LGBTQ patients even before formal training was provided. On objective assessment, knowledge of LGBTQ issues improved after cultural competency training.
Abstract MP43: Urine And Plasma Metabolome of Healthy Adults Consuming the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet: A Pilot Study

The mechanisms of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on various health markers remain unclear. The objective of this study was to identify plasma and urine metabolites altered ...
Laser Cut Layered Gels for Lighting Design

Recent advancements in lighting design have focused on the visualization and simulation of programmable LED lighting fixtures. However, single-bulb conventional fixtures alongside subtractive color filter gels are still widely used in many art galleries and installations, photography studios, and experimental theatres due to their low cost and existing prevalence in industry. We introduce a novel approach to creating lighting effects for single-bulb fixtures with gels, which enables designers to quickly and inexpensively produce complex, multi-colored effects approximating a target digital image. Our system uses a grid-based approach which cuts small openings in different colored gels and layers them together, forming color combinations when lit. Our work expands the design space of lighting gels with a precise and expressive method, enabling designers to experiment with novel lighting effects through an iterative personal fabrication process.
A Latency-Optimized Reconfigurable NoC for In-Memory Acceleration of DNNs

In-memory computing reduces latency and energy consumption of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) by reducing the number of off-chip memory accesses. However, crossbar-based in-memory computing may significantly increase the volume of on-chip communication since the weights and activations are on-chip. State-of-the-art interconnect methodologies for in-memory computing deploy a bus-based network or mesh-based Network-on-Chip (NoC). Our experiments show that up to 90% of the total inference latency of a DNN hardware is spent on on-chip communication when the bus-based network is used. To reduce the communication latency, we propose a methodology to generate an NoC architecture along with a scheduling technique customized for different DNNs. We prove mathematically that the generated NoC architecture and corresponding schedules achieve the minimum possible communication latency for a given DNN. Furthermore, we generalize the proposed solution for edge computing and cloud computing. Experimental evaluations on a wide range of DNNs show that the proposed NoC architecture enables 20%–80% reduction in communication latency with respect to state-of-the-art interconnect solutions.
Don’t Give Up the Ship: The Future of the Endowment Model

The endowment model, long thought to be superior, has recently come under criticism because of poor returns relative to stock and bond benchmarks in the past decade. The author argues that the long-run prospects for the endowment model are favorable because (1) the model relaxes many of the constraints that keep other types of investors from achieving maximal risk-adjusted return, (2) the model is focused on the very long run, and (3) the current prospects for stocks and bonds, at least in the United States but potentially elsewhere, are problematic. The author concludes that, although it is subject to agency costs such as the temptation to take risk now and allow someone else to deal with the consequences later, the endowment model is sound and can continue to be pursued by skilled investors. TOPICS:Foundations & endowments, portfolio theory, risk management, performance measurement Key Findings ▪ Endowment funds have structural advantages that should allow them to earn above-market risk-adjusted returns in the long run. ▪ The last decade’s poor relative performance of endowment funds was caused as much by high returns on public US equities and bonds as it was by poor performance of the alternatives held by endowments. ▪ The near future for stocks and bonds looks problematic, so endowments with their historical commitment to alternatives should be able to outperform again.
A write update cache coherence protocol for MIN-based multiprocessors with accessibility-based split caches

The authors present a cache coherence protocol for MIN-based multiprocessors with two distinct private caches: private-block caches containing information private to a processor and shared-block caches containing data accessible by all processors. The protocol utilizes a coherence control bus (snooping) for connecting all shared-block cache controllers. Timing problems due to variable transit delay through the MIN are dealt with by introducing transient states in the protocol. Assuming homogeneity of all nodes, a single-node queuing model is developed to analyze the system performance. This model is solved using the mean-value-analysis technique with protocol state probabilities, and few communication delays as input parameters. System performance measures are verified through simulation.
An early signaling transcription factor regulates differentiation in Giardia

Abstract Transcriptional regulation of differentiation is critical for parasitic pathogens to adapt to environmental changes and regulate transmission. How early signaling transcription factors (TF) activate signal transduction to initiate encystation remains an open question in Giardia. Here, we generate a CasRX-mediated knockdown system, together with an established CRISPRi system to screen early signaling TFs in Giardia lamblia. We identified an early response TF, GARP4 that regulates cyst wall protein (CWP) levels during encystation. Depletion of GARP4 increases encystation efficiency resulting in increased cyst production. Interestingly, cyst viability and CWP1 trafficking are not altered in GARP4 knockdowns, suggesting GARP4 regulates the restriction point controlling the portion of cells that terminally differentiate into cysts. Consistent with previous studies, we find that stimulation of encystation shifts the distribution of cells to the G2/M phase and these cells exhibits higher levels of CWP1, indication that entry into the encystation pathway is cell cycle regulated. Key to this increase of CWP1 in G2/M cells is activation of MYB2, a TF commonly observed during the early phase of encystation in Giardia. Remarkably, activated GARP4 only exhibits in G1/S cells, suggesting it has a role in preventing encystation until G2/M. Furthermore, we demonstrate that depletion of GARP4 activates MYB2 and overexpression of GARP4 represses MYB2. Our findings provide the first molecular mechanism underlying the restriction point regulating differentiation during early signaling of encystation in Giardia lamblia.
A PILOT STUDY EVALUATING THE TIMINGOF VESTIBULAR THERAPY AFTER SPORT-RELATED CONCUSSION: EARLIER IS BETTER:

Background:Vestibular dysfunction, characterized by nausea, dizziness, imbalance and/or gait disturbance, represents an important sport-related concussion (SRC) subtype associated with prolonged re...
Selection, Drift, and the Aims of Evolutionary Theory

According to textbook presentations of evolutionary theory, evolutionary change is a result of the interaction of a number of biological processes that together shift a population away from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Among the factors typically mentioned are genetic mutation, gene flow (emigration and immigration), nonrandom mating, selection, and drift (“chance”).1 By constructing equations which factor in specific values for each of these processes, evolutionary biologists try to explain why a population follows a particular evolutionary trajectory. Hence, much of evolutionary biology is concerned with the empirical determination of values for each process, and the ways in which the various processes can and do interact with one another to produce evolutionary change.
Coherent Communications over Long Range Underwater Acoustic Telemetry Channels

The underwater acoustic channel is characterized as a rapidly fading time dispersive channel with Doppler effects. In order to achieve both power efficiency of coherent communications and diversity improvement from multipath propagation over such channels, we address the problem of joint optimization of synchronization and equalization techniques.
Delirium and its motoric subtypes: A study of 614 critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the motoric subtypes of delirium in critically ill patients and compare patients aged 65 and older with a younger cohort. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: The medical intensive care unit (MICU) of a tertiary care academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred fourteen MICU patients admitted during a process improvement initiative to monitor levels of sedation and delirium. MEASUREMENTS: MICU nursing staff assessed delirium and level of consciousness in all MICU patients at least once per 12-hour shift using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit and the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale. Delirium episodes were categorized as hypoactive, hyperactive, and mixed type. RESULTS: Delirium was detected in 112 of 156 (71.8%) subjects aged 65 and older and 263 of 458 (57.4%) subjects younger than 65. Mixed type was most common (54.9%), followed by hypoactive delirium (43.5%) and purely hyperactive delirium (1.6%). Patients aged 65 and older experienced hypoactive delirium at a greater rate than younger patients (41.0% vs 21.6%, P<.001) and never experienced hyperactive delirium. Older age was strongly and independently associated with hypoactive delirium (adjusted odds ratio=3.0, 95% confidence interval=1.7–5.3), compared with no delirium in a model that adjusted for other important determinants of delirium including severity of illness, sedative medication use, and ventilation status. CONCLUSION: Older age is a strong predictor of hypoactive delirium in MICU patients, and this motoric subtype of delirium may be missed in the absence of active monitoring.
Organometallic chemistry : X. The reaction of 2-sodionorbornene with benzaldehyde and benzophenone☆☆☆

Abstract When 2-sodionorbornene, prepared by the metalation of norbornene with amylsodium, reacts with benzaldehyde, the products formed are benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid, benzyl benzoate, and endo -2-norbornyl phenyl ketone. None of the anticipated 2-norbornenyl phenyl carbinol was found in the product mixture. Benzophenone reacts with 2-sodionorbornene to produce a mixture of endo - and exo -2-hydroxy-3-benzhydrylidenenorbornane in which the exo isomer is believed to predominate. Accompanying this mixture of carbinols is a trace of the corresponding ketone, 3-benzhydrylidenenorcamphor, as well as benzhydrol and benzopinacol. The exo carbinol is produced when the norcamphor derivative is reduced with sodium borohydride and a conformational argument is advanced to account for this result.
Unified Gauge Theories of Strong, Weak and Electromagnetic Interactions

I am going to try to sketch the form of a recent unified gauge (renormalizable) theory of strong, weak and electromagnetic interactions,1,2,3 and report briefly on some new developments. Before giving any details, I would like to go over a few of the more salient features of thes e models.
Religious Parties in Secular States: Comparing Catholic and Sunni Political Activism in Mexico and Turkey

Why do political parties engage in religious mobilization in some environments but not in others? This paper develops a cross-national comparison of patterns of religious mobilization in Sunni- and Catholic-majority countries, with an emphasis on the cases of Turkey and Mexico. In many Sunni-majority contexts, political parties maintain strong and explicit ties to religious communities, relying on their mobilization to compete in what are often hostile political environments. In Catholic environments, political parties generally avoid making claims about religious doctrine or forming entangling alliances with sectarian movements, with candidates seeking to court religious voters doing so primarily through generic appeals to religious values and identities. What explains these differences in religious mobilization in the political arena? I argue that the crucial factors that explain this historically contingent divergence are pattern of secular regulations, electoral laws, and religious communities. The paper uses both quantitative and qualitative research methods to explore and evaluate this argument. First, relying on an original dataset covering 198 elections in 65 countries from 1990-2002, I examine the current distribution of different forms of religious mobilization across Sunni-majority and Catholic-majority countries. Then, I compare the evolution of religious parties in two critical, most-similar cases: Turkey and Mexico. Despite their analogous patterns of religious mobilization early in the 20th century and their comparable socio-economic and geopolitical situations, crucial differences in the evolution of their religious communities and secularist institutions expanded sectarian mobilization in Turkey while depressing it in Mexico. By exploring the patterns of religious mobilization across two world religions and critical country-cases, this paper highlights the contingent quality of religion's impact on politics in general and electoral competition in particular.
Genetic transformation studies: III. Effect of ultraviolet light on the molecular properties of normal and halogenated deoxyribonucleic acid

Abstract The transforming activity of 5-bromodeoxyuridine-labeled DNA is more sensitive to ultraviolet light than that of normal (non-labeled) DNA. The more rapid ultraviolet-irradiation inactivation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine labeled DNA, as compared with nonlabeled, is reflected also by (a) greatly increased affinity of ultraviolet-irradiated 5-bromodeoxyuridine-labeled DNA for the methylated albumin column, (b) decrease in density (dehalogenation) and very pronounced band spreading (degradation, increased heterogeneity), as revealed by CsCl equilibrium-density centrifugation of ultraviolet-irradiated native 5-bromodeoxyuridine-labeled DNA's, and (c) marked cross-linking between complementary strands of 5-bromodeoxyuridine-labeled DNA, as determined with ultraviolet-irradiated and denatured material centrifuged in the Cs 2 SO 4 density gradient.
Tuberculosis and Pregnancy

Tuberculosis (TB) is a common infectious disease causedbyMycobacterium tuberculosis, which commonly attacks the lungs (as pulmonary TB) but can also affect other organ systems. Over one third of the world’s population now carries the TB bacterium. Not everyone infected develops active TB, and latent (asymptomatic) infection is common. TB is a problem not only in the developing world and an increasing number of people in the developed world are contracting TB. The World Health Organization declared TB a global health emergency in 1993 (1, 2, 3). From the earliest recognition of TB, the scientific community has had widely differing beliefs about its implications for maternal and fetal health and well being. Two millennia ago, the ancient Greeks felt that women with TB who became pregnant had a much better disease course than their non-pregnant counterparts. In fact, they believed that pregnancy was so beneficial for women with active TB that these women were encouraged to become pregnant if they were not already so. This belief persisted through the Middle Ages and into the early nineteenth century. There was a drastic change in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, when the prevailing sentiment was that women with TB did much worse after becoming pregnant. Therapeutic abortions were not only common, but were recommended and for a time were the standard of care (4, 5). We now have evidence that suggests that pregnancy does not alter the course of TB. Though the studies done to support this evidence are small, they nonetheless demonstrate that women with TB who become pregnant are not at increased risk for an adverse maternal or fetal outcome (6). However, with increasing rates of TB infection in this country, partially as a result of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, and partially because of larger populations of immigrants from areas of the world with high prevalence of TB, screening for and treatment of TB during pregnancy are becoming more important. In disadvantaged populations with limited access to care, often the only contact with the health care system is during pregnancy (7, 8). Since screening
Performance of a six-legged planetary rover: power, positioning, and autonomous walking

The authors quantify several performance metrics for the Ambler, a six-legged robot configured for autonomous traversal of Mars-like terrain. They present power consumption measures for walking on sandy terrain and for vertical lifts at different velocities. They document the accuracy of a novel dead reckoning approach, and analyze the accuracy. They describe the results of autonomous walking experiments in terms of terrain traversed, walking speed, number of instructions executed and endurance. >
Infrared Conductivity and Superconducting Energy Gap in MgB 2

Submillimeter-wave and far-infrared conductivities of MgB2 have been investigated using different experimental techniques. The data provide clear experimental evidence for the onset of a superconducting gap at 24 cm−1 at T = 5K. On increasing temperature the gap energy increases, contrary to what is expected in isotropic BCS superconductors. The small zero-temperature gap value and its unconventional increase on increasing temperature can be explained by a highly anisotropic or multiple gap function. A peak in the temperature-dependent conductivity is observed at low frequencies, which qualitatively resembles the coherence peak predicted by BCS-theory.
Integrating engineering and technology into a core curriculum

Temple University has a core curriculum in which science and technology is a component. The university requires each of its students to select two courses in science and technology from a list of approved courses. Four years ago the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department began to offer a menu of engineering and technology courses to the student body as part of the science and technology component of the core. These courses have been taught on three of Temple's campuses and are available to every student in the university. This paper presents the rationale that led the department faculty to make such a major commitment of its intellectual resources. Also described are the courses that have been offered and how they have been accepted by the student body at large. Lessons learned from our experiences are presented as well as what is hoped to be achieved in the future.
Does Body Mass Index/Morbid Obesity Influence Outcome in Patients Who Undergo Pancreatoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma?

The obesity epidemic coupled with epidemiologic evidence of the link between pancreatic cancer and obesity has raised the interest in the impact of body mass index (BMI) on outcomes for resected pancreatic cancer. All patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma from 1981 to 2007 were categorized into four groups according to their BMI (<25, 25 to <30, 30 to <35, and ≥35). Associations of these BMI groups with perioperative (operating time, blood loss, complications, in-hospital mortality), pathologic (tumor diameter, tumor stage, differentiation, lymph node status, R0 status) features and long-term patient outcome were evaluated using Kruskal–Wallis and chi-square tests, logistic regression, and Cox proportional hazards regression. A second set of analyses were performed by dichotomizing patients into morbidly obese (BMI ≥ 35) in comparison to the rest. Of the 586 consecutive patients studied, there were 232 (39.6%) with BMI <25, 232 (39.6%) with BMI 25 to <30, 89 (15.2%) with BMI 30 to <35, and 33 (5.6%) with BMI ≥ 35. Operating time (P = 0.003) and intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.001) increased with BMI, although none of the remaining perioperative features differed significantly among the BMI groups. Similarly, there were no significant associations between BMI group and the pathological features studied, particularly lymph node status (P = 0.98). BMI was not associated with lymph node status even after adjusting for tumor diameter. All analyses were repeated for the morbidly obese. Cox regression did not demonstrate an impact of BMI or morbid obesity on overall or disease-free survival. BMI (and morbid obesity) does not appear to influence long-term outcomes for patients undergoing PD. Surgeons should be vigilant of the greater risk of perioperative blood loss with increasing BMI.
The influence of positive affective states on task perceptions and satisfaction

Abstract The present study investigated the influence of temporary affective states on perceptions of task characteristics and task satisfaction. Affective states, or moods, were defined as emotion-like states which lack an obvious referent and tend not to disrupt ongoing activity. Subjects evaluated teaching assistant candidates under two levels of task design (enriched vs unenriched). Half the subjects were placed in a positive mood state by showing them a brief videotape of television/movie bloopers. The other subjects received no mood induction and were treated as controls. Dependent variables were ratings of task characteristics and task satisfaction. Consistent with previous research, a strong main effect for task design was found on both task characteristics and satisfaction. More central to this investigation, affective states also had a significant effect on task characteristics and satisfaction. Implications of these results for interpretation and use of the job characteristics model were discussed.
The Facilitative Role of Kosteletzkya pentacarpos in Transitioning Coastal Agricultural Land to Wetland During Sea Level Rise

Rising sea level is increasing soil salinity and flooding frequency, directly impacting low-lying coastal farmlands. In response to reduced production of traditional crops, dikes may be built which will prevent inland migration of wetlands. Seashore mallow, Kosteletzkya pentacarpos, is being developed as an alternative crop for such areas. Eventually, when the crop can no longer be harvested because of flooding, we hypothesize that seashore mallow will facilitate the establishment of desirable wetland species by acting as a nurse crop through this transitional period. Four treatments were planted in flood-irrigated plots at an upland field site adjacent to a salt marsh. The control, Spartina patens, K. pentacarpos, and combined treatments were laid out in a complete randomized block design with replication. These were sampled for species percent vegetative cover, morphological traits, above-ground biomass, and leaf litter. The presence of seashore mallow enhanced S. patens and Baccharis halimifolia recruitment and did not negatively impact growth of planted S. patens. Communities established around K. pentacarpos were both productive and diverse, and leaf litter was increased by K. pentacarpos. Our findings support the use of K. pentacarpos as a low-cost nurse crop in salinized agro-ecosystems. Such a strategy would prolong agricultural function and minimize loss of ecological services by allowing gradual inland wetland migration.
How to treat the persistent perineal sinus after rectal excision.

As surgery for more advanced and complex pelvic malignancies continues to expand to include larger and more exenterative techniques, dealing with the resulting pelvic and perineal defect has become an increasingly frequent necessity. The goal is both to close the defect and to accomplish complete healing. Methodology for managing the perineal wound, which results after proctocolectomy for cancer and more recently, after exenterative resection of the rectum, sacrum, uterus, vagina, bladder and larger areas of soft tissue (i.e. perineum), varies between simple closure on one hand and creation of complex gluteal and rectus abdominus flaps on the other. We examined these methodologies in terms of indications, technical details, complications and outcomes. Finally, the newest techniques for eliminating persistent perineal sinus tracts are detailed.
Adult judgments of infant emotions: Replication Studies within and across laboratories

Questions about the biological patterning of facial expression have led to studies of presymbolic infants to see whether there are agreed-upon expressions of emotion relevant for caregiving. The current study assessed the reliability of emotion identification among adult judges who responded to context-free photographs of infant faces which conveyed emotions ranging widely in intensity and clarity of signal. Judges gave free response labels which were subsequently sorted into 10 emotion categories by use of a standard lexicon. Paired groups of judges from two laboratories labeled four sets of infant pictures. Agreement, assessed by correlating one group's judgments of the emotions present in a picture set with a second group's judgments, were very high for joy, interest, distress-sadness, and surprise, and somewhat lower for bored-sleepy, anger, and fear. The pattern of agreement was similar between and within laboratories. The results provide evidence that untrained judges agree to a remarkable extent on the emotionally patterned signal value of infants' facial expressions.
Plant uptake of pentachlorophenol from sludge-amended soils

A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effects of sludge on plant uptake of {sup 14}C-pentachlorophenol (PCP). Plants included tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), lettuce (Latuca sativa L.), carrot (Daucus carota L.), and chile pepper (Capsicum annum L.). Minimal intact PCP was detected in the fescue and lettuce by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. No intact PCP was detected in the carrot tissue extracts. Chile pepper was not analyzed for intact PCP because methylene chloride extracts contained minimal {sup 14}C. The GC/MS analysis of soil extracts at harvest suggests a half-life of PCP of about 10 d independent of sludge rate or PCP loading rate. Rapid degradation of PCP in the soil apparently limited PCP availability to the plant. Bioconcentration factors (dry plant wt./initial soil PCP concentration) based on intact PCP were <0.01 for all crops, suggesting little PCP uptake. Thus, food-chain crop PCP uptake in these alkaline soils should not limit land application of sludge.
Effect of calcium ions on rigor contractions in skinned frog muscle fibers.

Abstract Rigor contractions were examined in skinned frog muscle fibers. The concentrations of calcium ions, pCa = 9.0−5.0, in the solutions which caused rigor were shown to affect the magnitude and time course of the contractions.
Long-patch Base Excision DNA Repair of 2-Deoxyribonolactone Prevents the Formation of DNA-Protein Cross-links with DNA Polymerase β

Oxidized abasic sites are a major form of DNA damage induced by free radical attack and deoxyribose oxidation. 2-Deoxyribonolactone (dL) is a C1′-oxidized abasic site implicated in DNA strand breakage, mutagenesis, and formation of covalent DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) with repair enzymes such as DNA polymerase β (polβ). We show here that mammalian cell-free extracts incubated with Ape1-incised dL substrates under non-repair conditions give rise to DPCs, with a major species dependent on the presence of polβ. DPC formation was much less under repair than non-repair conditions, with extracts of either polβ-proficient or -deficient cells. Partial base excision DNA repair (BER) reconstituted with purified enzymes demonstrated that Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) efficiently excises a displaced oligonucleotide containing a 5′-terminal dL residue, as would be produced during long-patch (multinucleotide) BER. Simultaneous monitoring of dL repair and dL-mediated DPC formation demonstrated that removal of the dL residue through the combined action of strand-displacement DNA synthesis by polβ and excision by FEN1 markedly diminished DPC formation with the polymerase. Analysis of the patch size distribution associated with DNA repair synthesis in cell-free extracts showed that the processing of dL residues is associated with the synthesis of ≥2 nucleotides, compared with predominantly single nucleotide replacement for regular abasic sites. Our observations reveal a cellular repair process for dL lesions that avoids formation of DPCs that would threaten the integrity of DNA and perhaps cell viability.