cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Equity and Distributive Justice in European Health Care Reform

Equity is a central objective of most European health care systems, yet equity, particularly in the form of distributive justice, has not been a central objective of many recent health sector reforms. This article considers three aspects of the relationship between equity and recent health reforms. After defining what is meant by equity in the health sector, the author briefly examines available evidence on present levels of equality then discusses the equity implications of ongoing reforms in European health care systems.
Fourier analyses of water-reinforced response rates at two levels of thirst in the rat

Rats were trained under a 24-h water-deprivation regimen to press either of two bars to obtain water reinforcement in a daily 32-min operant session, then tested after a 47-h water-deprivation period. Measures were made of uncertainty of left- or right-bar response sequences and of the Fourier frequency spectra of 30-sec response rates throughout each session. Coefficients of variation of frequency magnitudes, but not uncertainty values, were significantly reduced by increased thrist.
Stability of division-related protein and nucleic acid fractions in synchronized Tetrahymena.

The kinetics of RNA synthesis have been studied under various growth conditions using synchronized Tetrahymena pyriformis GL. The curves obtained are approximately linear in growth-supporting media but vary under other circumstances. The presence of amino acids in the medium stimulates RNA synthesis in Tetrahymena as it does in bacteria. Since these induced variations do not influence the essential features of the pre-cytokinetic period it is inferred that fluctuations in the rate of RNA synthesis described by others are probably not essential features of temperature-induced synchrony. In addition, the translational stability of division-related templates at synchronizing temperatures has been investigated. The synthesis of proteins necessary for cytokinesis is shown to be greatly reduced under conditions simulating a heat-shock. Inhibitor studies using cycloheximide indicate that protein synthesis is required longer into the cytokinetic phase than had previously been thought. Collectively the data are all compatible with the hypothesis that synthesis of division-related proteins is drastically reduced in heat-shocked Tetrahymena and that the basis for this reduction is hydrolysis of template RNA without concurrent translation.
Changes in secondary teachers' perceptions of barriers to portfolio assessment

Abstract Portfolio assessment has become a popular medium for merging classroom assessment with large-scale testing, but adoption of portfolios in the classroom for external assessment purposes may be difficult because the use of such portfolios may require changes in the curriculum, instructions, and assessments used by teachers. As a result, there are numerous potential barriers to the adoption of portfolios that can be used for large-scale assessment purposes. This study investigates how secondary teachers' perceptions of portfolio implementation barriers changed when teachers participated in a 1-year portfolio implementation effort. Survey results are analyzed with a Rasch rating scale model. Results suggest that teachers' apprehension about portfolio barriers increased slightly, but that this increase can be attributable to teachers with little portfolio experience. Furthermore, teachers' concerns about the amount of time required to develop and score portfolios increased substantially while concerns about the availability of resources and resistance from parents decreased.
Explaining how and explaining why: developmental and evolutionary explanations of dominance

There have been two different schools of thought on the evolution of dominance. On the one hand, followers of Wright [Wright S. 1929. Am. Nat. 63: 274–279, Evolution: Selected Papers by Sewall Wright, University of Chicago Press, Chicago; 1934. Am. Nat. 68: 25–53, Evolution: Selected Papers by Sewall Wright, University of Chicago Press, Chicago; Haldane J.B.S. 1930. Am. Nat. 64: 87–90; 1939. J. Genet. 37: 365–374; Kacser H. and Burns J.A. 1981. Genetics 97: 639–666] have defended the view that dominance is a product of non-linearities in gene expression. On the other hand, followers of Fisher [Fisher R.A. 1928a. Am. Nat. 62: 15–126; 1928b. Am. Nat. 62: 571–574; Burger R. 1983a. Math. Biosci. 67: 125–143; 1983b. J. Math. Biol. 16: 269–280; Wagner G. and Burger R. 1985. J. Theor. Biol. 113: 475–500; Mayo O. and Reinhard B. 1997. Biol. Rev. 72: 97–110] have argued that dominance evolved via selection on modifier genes. Some have called these “physiological” versus “selectionist,” or more recently [Falk R. 2001. Biol. Philos. 16: 285–323], “functional,” versus “structural” explanations of dominance. This paper argues, however, that one need not treat these explanations as exclusive. While one can disagree about the most likely evolutionary explanation of dominance, as Wright and Fisher did, offering a “physiological” or developmental explanation of dominance does not render dominance “epiphenomenal,” nor show that evolutionary considerations are irrelevant to the maintenance of dominance, as some [Kacser H. and Burns J.A. 1981. Genetics 97: 639–666] have argued. Recent work [Gilchrist M.A. and Nijhout H.F. 2001. Genetics 159: 423–432] illustrates how biological explanation is a multi-level task, requiring both a “top-down” approach to understanding how a pattern of inheritance or trait might be maintained in populations, as well as “bottom-up” modeling of the dynamics of gene expression.
A Model for Producing Caries-like Lesions in Enamel and Dentin Using Oral Bacteria in vitro

Subsurface enamel lesions and root surface caries-like lesions were consistently produced in vitro using Streptococcus mutans FA1 cultured in thioglycollate broth containing 3.5% w/v dextrose and 2% w/v gelatin. When viewed in polarized light and after imbibition in water, the enamel lesions had a negatively birefringent surface zone and positively birefringent body of the lesion. Those lesions produced after six weeks, after imbibition in quinoline, exhibited a dark zone. The root surface caries-like lesions exhibited a lessradiolucent surface zone above a heavily demineralized body of the lesion. However, no reactionary dentin was seen in the in vitro lesions.
Unveiling the hidden epidemic: a review of stigma associated with sexually transmissible infections

Stigma has long accompanied sexually transmissible infections (STI) and hindered prevention and control efforts. It not only acts as a formidable barrier to STI testing, treatment and disclosure, but has a multitude of consequences for the health and quality of life of infected individuals. This review summarises the literature related to STI stigma and offers practical approaches to counter STI-associated stigma through multi-level efforts. Specifically, it describes the key sources that breed and perpetuate stigma, outlines how STI-associated stigma has been conceptualised and measured in the literature, documents the impact of stigma on infected and uninfected individuals, and summarises the stigma reduction strategies recommended in the literature. Gaps in the literature are identified and areas for further research are suggested, along with practical strategies for moving forward.
Survival of Colletotrichum acutatum in Soil and Plant Debris of Leatherleaf Fern

Leatherleaf fern anthracnose is incited by a new pathotype of Colletotrichum acutatum. Fern anthracnose appeared in Florida in 1993, has spread rapidly, and produces losses that approach 100% in some ferneries. To help develop recommendations for control and management of fern anthracnose, the survival of the pathogen in soil and diseased plant material and on clothing was investigated in laboratory and field experiments. Survival of conidia, sclerotia, and conidia in infected leaf debris was studied in soil maintained at five soil moisture levels. Survival of conidia and sclerotia declined rapidly under moist conditions (≥12% moisture, vol/wt), but under dry conditions, viable conidia could be detected up to 12 months after incorporation into soil. Similar results were obtained in field experiments in which infected leaf debris was buried in soil. Viable conidia were recovered for up to 3 months in leaf debris stored under laboratory conditions. Conidia applied to denim fabric were recovered up to 5 weeks after application. This indicated that contaminated clothing could transport conidia effectively within and between ferneries. Inoculating ferns with dilutions of conidia demonstrated that at least 100 conidia per ml is required to infect and colonize leatherleaf fern leaves. This threshold provides an estimate of levels of conidia populations likely to result in disease and levels that sanitation or cultural practices must exceed to be effective management methods.
Band shapes in the infrared spectra of thin organic films on metal nanoparticles

The shape of bands in surface-enhanced infrared spectra of molecules near the surface of metal nanoparticles is shown to depend on whether or not the nanoparticles have exceeded the percolation threshold. If the nanoparticles are in the form of independent metal islands, the absorption bands of molecules within 5 nm of the surface are symmetrical. Immediately after the percolation threshold has been exceeded, the bands start to assume a dispersive shape. The greatest enhancement is found immediately after the percolation threshold has been exceeded. This effect was shown both for the metals that are most commonly applied to surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) studies, namely silver and gold, but also to zinc for which surface enhancement has not previously been reported and appears to be applicable to all metals.
The renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system and calcium-regulatory hormones

There is increasing evidence of a clinically relevant interplay between the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and calcium-regulatory systems. Classically, the former is considered a key regulator of sodium and volume homeostasis, while the latter is most often associated with skeletal health. However, emerging evidence suggests an overlap in regulatory control. Hyperaldosteronism and hyperparathyroidism represent pathophysiologic conditions that may contribute to or perpetuate each other; aldosterone regulates parathyroid hormone and associates with adverse skeletal complications, and parathyroid hormone regulates aldosterone and associates with adverse cardiovascular complications. As dysregulation in both systems is linked to poor cardiovascular and skeletal health, it is increasingly important to fully characterize how they interact to more precisely understand their impact on human health and potential therapies to modulate these interactions. This review describes the known clinical interactions between these two systems including observational and interventional studies. Specifically, we review studies describing the inhibition of renin activity by calcium and vitamin D, and a potentially bidirectional and stimulatory relationship between aldosterone and parathyroid hormone. Deciphering these relationships might clarify variability in outcomes research, inform the design of future intervention studies and provide insight into the results of prior and ongoing intervention studies. However, before these opportunities can be addressed, more effort must be placed on shifting observational data to the proof of concept phase. This will require reallocation of resources to conduct interventional studies and secure the necessary talent.
Grooming behavior induced by ACTH involves cerebral cholinergic neurons and muscarinic receptors

The grooming behavior induced by intracerebroventricular administration of ACTH was specifically antagonized by the muscarinic receptor antagonists, atropine and scopolamine. The antagonism occurred in a dose-dependent manner with an ED50 of 0.2 mg/kg (i.p.) for atropine, and 0.03 mg/kg (i.p.) for scopolamine. Neither methylscopolamine nor methylatropine, injected intraperitoneally affected grooming induced by ACTH (except for a small inhibition at the largest dose of methylscopolamine), but pronounced inhibition occurred when these drugs were administered intracerebroventricularly. The grooming induced by ACTH was also inhibited by prior intracerebroventricular administration of hemicholinium-3, a cholinergic antagonist that acts presynaptically by inhibiting the uptake of choline and hence, the synthesis of acetylcholine. These data suggest a role for cholinergic neurons and muscarinic receptors in the CNS in grooming behavior induced by ACTH.
Effects of exercise on Pavlovian fear conditioning

Exercise promotes multiple changes in hippocampal morphology and should, as a result, alter behavioral function. The present experiment investigated the effect of exercise on learning using contextual and auditory Pavlovian fear conditioning. Rats remained inactive or voluntarily exercised (VX) for 30 days, after which they received auditory-cued fear conditioning. Twenty-four hours later, rats were tested for learning of the contextual and auditory conditional responses. No differences in freezing behavior to the discrete auditory cue were observed during the training or testing sessions. However, VX rats did freeze significantly more compared to controls when tested in the training context 24 hr after exposure to shock. The enhancement of contextual fear conditioning provides further evidence that exercise alters hippocampal function and learning.
Factors affecting placebo acceptability: deception, outcome, and disease severity.

Abstract A burgeoning body of evidence supports the efficacy and elucidates the mechanisms of placebo analgesia. Debate persists, however, concerning their ethical use, with many of the present arguments being philosophically based. The present web-based study empirically investigated the acceptability of an analgesic placebo treatment. Participants (103) responded to vignettes depicting patients receiving a placebo analgesic. We experimentally manipulated: 1) placebo treatment instructions (level of deception); 2) treatment outcome; and 3) patients’ pain severity. Participants rated vignettes on outcome measures of deception, physician-patient relationship, and patient mood. Participants then characterized a range of placebo acceptability through ratings of deceptiveness, effectiveness, and negative consequences. Results showed that placebos described as “medication shown to be a powerful analgesic in some people” were equally deceptive as those described as “standard drug treatment.” Ratings of patient mood and physician approval were determined as much by treatment instruction as by treatment outcome and an analgesic response mitigated the negative consequences of deceptive administration. Participants tolerated moderate effectiveness and considerable negative consequences in an acceptable placebo, although results suggest lay individuals may not have a sophisticated conceptualization of placebo effectiveness. Studies altering individuals’ understanding of placebo effectiveness and mechanisms are needed to identify additional factors determining placebo acceptability. Perspective This study represents an empirical examination of analgesic placebo acceptability among lay individuals. This article is the first to systematically manipulate deception, treatment outcome, and disease severity to determine how these factors interact to differentially determine placebo acceptability—a highly relevant finding that informs the clinical use of placebo.
New algorithms for preserving edges in low‐bit‐rate wavelet‐based image compression

With the growing importance of low-bandwidth applications such as wireless access to the Internet, images are often sent or received at low bit rates. At these bit rates, images suffer from significant distortion and artifacts, making it difficult for those viewing the images to understand them. In this paper, we present two progressive compression algorithms that focus on preserving the clarity of important image features, such as edges, at compression ratios of 100:1 and higher. The first algorithm transmits a standard SPIHT bit stream and then detects the location of edges in the compressed image. The decoder applies a linear edge-enhancement procedure to improve the clarity of the encoded edges. The second algorithm extracts the locations of straight-line edges in the image at the encoder, and the decoder applies edge extraction, combination, and a linear edge-enhancement procedure to improve the clarity of the edges. With both algorithms, features in the images that may be important for recognition are well preserved, even at very low bit rates. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
L∞-approximation in probability spaces

Abstract Let (Ω, A , μ) be a probability space and let B be a subsigma algebra of A . Let A= L∞Ω, A , μ , let A= L∞Ω, B , μ, and let f ϵ A. It is shown that best L∞-approximations of f by elements of B comprise an interval in B; that is, there exists f , f ϵB such that a function g ϵ B is a best L∞-approximation to f if and only if f ⩽ g ⩽ f a.e. on Ω. The difference, f − f , of f and f is completely characterized in terms of special sets that have been developed in [2]. Then it is established that the best best L∞-approximation, f B ,∞, to f by elements of B is the average of f and f , where the function f B ,∞ is defined by f B ,∞(ω) limp → ∞f B ,P(ξ) and f B ,P denotes the best Lp-approximation to f elements of Lp(Ω, B , μ).
Rap1A regulates generation of T regulatory cells via LFA-1-dependent and LFA-1-independent mechanisms

The small GTPase Rap1A has a critical role in regulating cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion. In T lymphocytes, Rap1A mediates LFA-1 activation and LFA-1-mediated adhesion. LFA-1 reduces the threshold of TCR signals for low affinity ligands. Previously, we determined that mice expressing constitutively active Rap1A on T cells have increased frequency of CD103(+) T regulatory cells (Treg). We hypothesized that Rap1A-GTP might affect the differentiation of Treg by regulating LFA-1 activation. Using Foxp3-GFP-KI, LFA-1-KO and Rap1A-GTP-Tg mice we determined that Rap1A has an active role in the development of thymic Treg but LFA-1 is not mandatory for this function. Rap1A is also involved in the generation of peripheral Treg and this effect is mediated via LFA-1-dependent and LFA-1-independent mechanisms. Identification of the signaling pathways via which Rap1-GTP contributes to the differentiation of Treg will provide new insights to the function of Rap1A and to designing targeted approaches for generation of Treg for therapeutic applications.
Overview of waste stabilization with cement

Cement can treat a variety of wastes by improving physical characteristics (solidification) and reducing the toxicity and mobility of contaminants (stabilization). Potentially adverse waste-binder interactions are an important consideration because they can limit solidification. Stabilization occurs when a contaminant is converted from the dissolved (mobile) phase to a solid (immobile) phase by reactions, such as precipitation, sorption, or substitution. These reactions are often strongly affected by pH, so the presence of components of the waste that control pH are critical to stabilization reactions. Evaluating environmental impacts can be accomplished in a tiered strategy in which simplest approach would be to measure the maximum amount of contaminant that could be released. Alternatively, the sequence of release can be determined, either by microcosm tests that attempt to simulate conditions in the disposal zone or by mechanistic models that attempt to predict behavior using fundamental characteristics of the treated waste.
Postsurgical glenohumeral anchor arthropathy treated with a fresh distal tibia allograft to the glenoid and a fresh allograft to the humeral head.

The treatment of extensive glenoid chondral defects in young, active patients remains a challenge. Chondrolysis and extensive chondral defects of the glenohumeral joint in young patients have been reported after shoulder surgery and have been associated with the use of thermal capsulorrhaphy, intra-articular pain pumps, and implanted fixation devices, such as suture anchors. Prominent glenohumeral anchors have been implicated in the early development of postoperative glenohumeral degenerative changes. A proud implant may cause local wear on the glenoid and the humerus, contributing to chondral loss, decreased range of motion, mechanical symptoms, and pain. Recently, a novel treatment of glenoid bone loss has been proposed that uses a distal tibia allograft. As our group described in a previous report, this technique was initially for the treatment of glenohumeral instability secondary to extensive glenoid bone loss. The lateral aspect of the distal tibia has excellent conformity to the radius of curvature of the humeral head and has been used as a fresh allograft for the treatment of glenoid bone loss. Given its successful early outcomes, this technique can potentially have broader applications in glenohumeral pathology. We present the case of a young, active patient with focal but extensive glenohumeral degenerative changes.
Spatial Layout and Face-to-Face Interaction in Offices—A Study of the Mechanisms of Spatial Effects on Face-to-Face Interaction:

This research was made possible by a contract (4806X37) from the US General Services Administration.
Iron limits the cell division rate of Prochlorococcus in the eastern equatorial Pacific

Prochlorococcus, a small unicellular cyanobacterium, is an important member of the phytoplankton community in the eastern equatorial Pacific. When these waters were enriched with iron during IronEx II, the chlorophyll per cell and cell size of Prochlorococcus increased, implying that they were iron limited. The extent of this limitation was unclear, however, and the number of Prochlorococcus remained constant. To examine whether cell division rates were stimulated significantly by iron, we used a cell cycle analysis approach to measure them in and out of the Fe-enriched patch and in Fe-enriched bottles. The cell division rate increased from 0.6 to 1.1 d 21 over 6 d of exposure to the elevated iron concentrations in the patch. Cells incubated in bottles with additional iron had rates of 1.4 d 21 or two doublings per day. Prochlorococcus mortality rates, measured independently, nearly doubled after the addition of iron. This matched the increase in the cell division rate and maintained a relatively constant population size. Thus the cell division rates of even the smallest phytoplankton in the equatorial Pacific are significantly iron limited, but biomass is constrained by both iron limitation and microzooplankton grazing. The differential response of individual phytoplankton groups to the addition of iron during IronEx II was at least partially a result of differential mortality rates over the time course of the experiment. How the community would respond to sustained fertilization, however, is not obvious.
Small RNA binding-site multiplicity involved in translational regulation of a polycistronic mRNA

In animal systems, mRNAs subject to posttranscriptional regulation by small RNAs (sRNAs) often possess multiple binding sites with imperfect complementarity to a given sRNA. In contrast, small RNA–mRNA interactions in bacteria and plants typically involve a single binding site. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the Escherichia coli sRNA SgrS base pairs with a site in the coding region of the first gene of a polycistronic message, manXYZ. This interaction was shown to be responsible for translational repression of manX and to contribute to destabilization of the manXYZ mRNA. In the current study, we report that translational repression of the manY and manZ genes by SgrS requires a second binding site located in the manX–manY intergenic region. Pairing at this site can repress translation of manY and manZ even when mRNA degradation is blocked. Base pairing between SgrS and the manX site does not affect translation of manY or manZ. Pairing at both sites is required for optimal SgrS-mediated degradation of the full-length manXYZ mRNA and for a particular stress phenotype. These results suggest that bacterial sRNAs may use target-site multiplicity to enhance the efficiency and stringency of regulation. Moreover, use of multiple binding sites may be particularly important for coordinating regulation of multiple genes encoded in operons.
Computer control systems for automotive power trains

The problems of idle speed control and transmission control are reviewed to illustrate how control-theoretic techniques are used in the design of power-train control systems. The structure of current automobile control systems is examined. Possible future system structures and the role of control theory in the development of such systems are discussed. >
Differential Superior-Subordinate Relations, Perceptions of Fairness, and Coworker Communication

This study examines the complex relationships between differential superior-subordinate relations, fairness perceptions, and coworker communication. Data gathered from employees in a variety of organizations indicate that differential treatment from a supervisor to his or her subordinates influences coworker communication by (a) leading coworkers to talk about the differential treatment itself, and (b) influencing the nature of the communication relationships among the coworkers. Data also provide insight into issues of perceived organizational fairness, indicating that fairness perceptions are often socially constructed by work group members through discourse.
Laws of Sustainable Soil Management

The challenge of doubling the world’s food grain production by 2030 is even more daunting because of the decrease in per capita arable land area and renewable fresh water resources; increase in risks of soil and environmental degradation; and threat of decrease in use efficiency of inputs because of the projected climate change. Thus, the need for identifying processes, practices and policies that govern sustainable management of soil resources is more critical now than ever before. The goal is to minimize risks of soil degradation by enhancing its resilience and improving ecosystem services of the finite and fragile soil resource. Here, 10 principles are given for sustainable management of soil. This report is an introductory article of the book Sustainable Agriculture, published by Springer, EDP Sciences (Lichtfouse et al. 2009).
Determining the High-temperature Properties of Thin Films Using Bilayered Cantilevers

High-temperature applications of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), especially in new temperature sensor designs, require an accurate knowledge of the temperature-dependent thermophysical properties of the materials. Although the measurement of the mechanical properties of materials at room temperature has been widely conducted, the same techniques often cannot be used for high-temperature property measurements. In this study, a new technique was developed to find the thermal expansion coefficient of thin films at high temperatures. Bilayered cantilever beams undergo thermally induced deflection at high temperatures, which can be measured and correlated to material properties. An imaging system was developed for the experimental measurement of the beam curvature for temperatures up to 1000°C. To find the high-temperature property of thin films, a bilayered beam, consisting of polycrystalline silicon and silicon dioxide, was designed such that the change in the property of SiO 2 had little effect on the curvature of the beam. Furthermore, numerical analysis showed that the Young's modulus of Si also had negligible effect on the curvature. Therefore, the analytical model for beam curvature was simplified to be only a function of the thermal expansion coefficient of Si layer. Using this model, the thermal expansion coefficient of polycrystalline Si film was determined for temperature range between room temperature and 1000°C. The method can be easily modified to find the Young's modulus of Si, as well as properties of SiO 2 .
Middle-Way Strategies for Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture

Sustainable intensification is a widely shared idealistic vision for agriculture, in which production and other ecosystem services jointly increase to meet the future needs of humanity and the biosphere. Realizing this vision will require an outcome-driven approach that draws on all available practices and technologies to design agroecosystems that negotiate the difficult trade-offs associated with reconciling sustainability along production, economic, and environmental performance dimensions. To create such “middle-way” strategies for sustainable intensification, we call for strongly transdisciplinary research systems that coordinate integrative research among major streams of agriculture via ethical and philosophical orientation provided by “purposive disciplines,” such as applied ethics and design. Middle-way research partnerships can be strengthened by linking outcomes to mutually agreeable goals, such as “net agroecosystem aggradation.” We illustrate our proposals by outlining a potential middle-way strategy for weed management, describing its ethical rationale, and suggesting a research policy agenda for sustainable intensification via middle-way agriculture.
An Intersectional Approach to Social Determinants of Stress for African American Men Men’s and Women’s Perspectives

Stress is a key factor that helps explain racial and gender differences in health, but few studies have examined gendered stressors that affect men. This study uses an intersectional approach to examine the sources of stress in African American men's lives from the perspectives of African American men and important women in their lives. Phenomenological analysis was used to examine data from 18 exploratory focus groups with 150 African American men, ages 30 years and older, and eight groups with 77 African American women. The two primary sources of stress identified were seeking to fulfill socially and culturally important gender roles and being an African American man in a racially stratified society. A central focus of African American men's daily lives was trying to navigate chronic stressors at home and at work and a lack of time to fulfill roles and responsibilities in different life domains that are traditionally the responsibility of men. Health was rarely mentioned by men as a source of stress, though women noted that men's aging and weathering bodies were a source of stress for men. Because of the intersection of racism and economic and social stressors, men and women reported that the stress that African American men experienced was shaped by the intersection of race, ethnicity, age, marital status, and other factors that combined in unique ways. The intersection of these identities and characteristics led to stressors that were perceived to be of greater quantity and qualitatively different than the stress experienced by men of other races.
The influence of political ideology on trust in science

In recent years, some scholars, journalists, and science advocates have promoted broad claims that ‘conservatives distrust science’ or ‘conservatives oppose science’. We argue that such claims may oversimplify in ways that lead to empirical inaccuracies. The Anti-Reflexivity Thesis suggests a more nuanced examination of how political ideology influences views about science. The Anti-Reflexivity Thesis hypothesizes that some sectors of society mobilize to defend the industrial capitalist order from the claims of environmentalists and some environmental scientists that the current economic system causes serious ecological and public health problems. The Anti-Reflexivity Thesis expects that conservatives will report significantly less trust in, and support for, science that identifies environmental and public health impacts of economic production (i.e., impact science) than liberals. It also expects that conservatives will report a similar or greater level of trust in, and support for, science that provides new inventions or innovations for economic production (i.e., production science) than liberals. Analyzing data from a recent survey experiment with 798 adults recruited from the US general public, our results confirm the expectations of the Anti-Reflexivity Thesis. Conservatives report less trust in impact scientists but greater trust in production scientists than their liberal counterparts. We argue that further work that increases the accuracy and depth of our understanding of the relationship between political ideology and views about science is likely crucial for addressing the politicized science-based issues of our age.
Strain amplitude dependence of shear modulus in heavy oils: Rheometer versus tension/compression technique

ABSTRACTAlthough heavy oils are an enormous resource and a common seismic monitoring target, their geophysical properties remain poorly understood. The shear modulus is of particular interest, because under the right conditions, these oils can transmit S-waves. However, there is a large uncertainty on how to measure the shear modulus of heavy oils. The use of the rheometer, common in chemical engineering applications, has been proposed as a good alternative to tension/compression techniques. Rheometers are an attractive alternative for measuring the shear modulus because of their widespread use and availability. In order to test the validity of the rheometer as a method to measure the shear modulus of heavy oils for geophysical applications, we tested two samples using techniques familiar to geophysics (tension/compression and ultrasonic) and compared the results with the rheometer measurements. We noticed a difference in the measured shear modulus between the two techniques. The samples showed a solid-li...
Retinal Toxicity of Intravitreal Polyethylene Glycol 400

Abstract Purpose: Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-400 is a clear, colorless viscous liquid that readily dissolves many hydrophobic drugs. It is a widely used commercial solvent and vehicle for many pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. The purpose of this study is to investigate the intravitreal safety of PEG-400 to determine its suitability as a potential vehicle for intraocular drug delivery. Methods: Six healthy, male, Dutch Belted rabbits, weighing between 2.0 and 3.0 kg, were used for this experiment. The left eye of each animal received a single 0.1 mL intravitreal injection of PEG-400. Complete eye exams and dark- and light-adapted electroretinograms (ERG) were obtained at baseline and at 1 and 4 weeks after injection. After the 4-week ERG was completed, animals were euthanized, eyes were enucleated, and histology and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed. Results: Ophthalmic examinations demonstrated diffuse signs of retinal degeneration and cataract formation in all 6 eyes injected with...
Three-dimensional separated flow structure over prolate spheroids

Colour poster paints were used for water-tunnel visualization of the surface flow patterns over prolate spheroids of axis-ratios b/a = ${\textstyle\frac{1}{2}}$, ${\textstyle\frac{1}{3}}$ and ${\textstyle\frac{1}{4}}$ at incidence from 0-90 degrees. Results display the surface flow pattern over the entire body presumably for the first time in terms of completeness and clarify unsettled questions in the literature.
ELISE, a code for intensity dependent effects

ELISE (electron ring limits on intensity, stability, and emittance) is a program which duplicates many of the functions provided by the more general program ZAP. The motivation for the code was to provide an interactive system for quick answers that could be used during accelerator commissioning. A lattice program, IDA, developed earlier by the author provides a good model of the type of user-friendly interaction that would be desirable in such a code. >
Kallikrein Gene Delivery Improves Cardiac Reserve and Attenuates Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction

In this study, we used the somatic gene delivery approach to explore the role of the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) in cardiac remodeling and apoptosis after myocardial infarction (MI). Rats were subjected to coronary artery ligation to induce MI, and adenovirus carrying the human tissue kallikrein or luciferase gene was injected into the tail vein at 1 week after surgery. Cardiac output gradually decreased from 2 to 6 weeks after MI, whereas delivery of the kallikrein gene prevented this decrease. Cardiac responses to dobutamine-induced stress were improved in rats receiving kallikrein gene as compared with rats receiving control virus at 6 weeks after MI. Kallikrein significantly improved cardiac remodeling by decreasing collagen density, cardiomyocyte size, and left ventricular internal perimeter and increasing capillary density in the heart at 6 weeks after MI. Kallikrein gene transfer attenuated myocardial apoptosis, which was positively correlated with remodeling parameters in the heart at 2 weeks after MI. Endothelial dysfunction, characterized by increased vascular resistance, decreased left ventricular blood flow, and decreased cardiac nitric oxide levels, existed in remodeled hearts at 2 weeks after MI, whereas kallikrein gene transfer improved these parameters. Kallikrein gene delivery improved cell survival parameters as shown by increased phospho-Akt and reduced caspase-3 activation at 2 weeks after MI. This study indicates that the kallikrein-kinin system plays an important role in preventing the progression of heart failure by attenuating cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, improving endothelial function, and inhibiting myocardial apoptosis through the Akt-mediated signaling pathway.
Diabetes in the elderly and in women: cardiovascular risks

The prevalence of diabetes in the United States is on the rise because of changing characteristics of our population. Ours is an aging population; women who are older than 75 years constitute the fastest growing segment of our population. Our population is increasingly more overweight and sedentary and the numbers of minority persons who have a higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes are on the rise. Currently, at least 17 million persons have known diabetes; another 4 million have the disease but have not been diagnosed. There also is a much larger population-perhaps up to 60 million per-sons-who has the metabolic syndrome. Up to 60% of persons who have essential hypertension have impaired insulin resistance and other characteristics of this syndrome. This article focuses on the metabolic syndrome and diabetes in women and the elderly.
Identification of Two Genes, sll0804 and slr1306, as Putative Components of the CO2-Concentrating Mechanism in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803

Insertional transposon mutations in the sll0804 and slr1306 genes were found to lead to a loss of optimal photoautotrophy in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 grown under ambient CO(2) concentrations (350 ppm). Mutants containing these insertions (4BA2 and 3ZA12, respectively) could grow photoheterotrophically on glucose or photoautotrophically at elevated CO(2) concentrations (50,000 ppm). Both of these mutants exhibited an impaired affinity for inorganic carbon. Consequently, the Sll0804 and Slr1306 proteins appear to be putative components of the carbon-concentrating mechanism in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803.
Phosphate‐binding efficacy of crushed vs. chewed lanthanum carbonate in hemodialysis patients

Lanthanum carbonate, a chewable noncalcium-containing phosphorus (P) binder, is useful for treating secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients who have hypercalcemia and cannot swallow whole tablets. However, some patients cannot chew tablets or prefer to crush and mix them with food. This study was conducted to determine the P-binding efficacy of crushed lanthanum and compare it with chewed lanthanum in hemodialysis (HD) patients. After a 1-week washout period, 11 hemodialysis patients (7 men, 4 women) were randomized to receive, in a crossover fashion, lanthanum 1000 mg 3 times daily chewed with meals and lanthanum 1000 mg 3 times daily crushed into a fine powder, mixed with applesauce and taken with meals, for 4 weeks each. Serum P was measured at the end of each washout (baseline) and weekly during treatment. Changes in serum P from baseline for crushed lanthanum were compared with chewed lanthanum using paired sample t test. Administration of crushed lanthanum resulted in a significant reduction in serum P from baseline (P reduction [mg/dL] for crushed lanthanum in week 1: 2.1 ± 0.4, week 2: 1.7 ± 0.5, week 3: 1.7 ± 0.5, week 4: 1.7 ± 0.4, P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in serum P reduction from baseline and serum P attained during treatment with crushed when compared with chewed lanthanum. Crushed lanthanum is effective in reducing serum P and have similar P-binding efficacy to chewed lanthanum. Crushing lanthanum and mixing it with food can thus be an option for patients who are unable to chew or swallow whole tablets.
Randomized comparison of diaziquone and carmustine in the treatment of adults with anaplastic glioma.

PURPOSEWe conducted a phase III trial comparing intravenous (IV) diaziquone (AZQ) and carmustine (BCNU) as single agents in patients with cerebral anaplastic gliomas who had received surgery and radiotherapy. Its purpose was to compare the efficacy of AZQ with that of BCNU, the standard agent for brain tumor chemotherapy.PATIENTS AND METHODSRandomization between the two regimens occurred 8 weeks after completion of radiotherapy. A total of 251 patients were randomized to receive either AZQ or BCNU, and there were no significant differences between the two treatment arms in any of the known prognostic variables, including age, histologic grade, and Karnofsky performance status (KPS).RESULTSThere was no significant difference in either time to tumor progression or survival between the two treatment arms. Age and histology were strong predictors of outcome, whereas KPS had relatively less effect. Three groups of patients with distinctly different outcomes could be identified: (1) older age (45+) and glioblas...
INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALTY, SEX, AND IMAGINATIVENESS OF PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS

A 2 x 4 (Sex x Instructional specialty) analysis of variance was conducted. The method of least squares was used because of unequal cell frequencies. The observed Factor M means and standard deviations were as follows: Social Studies (M = 6.1, SD = 1.7); English (M = 6.7, SD = 1.8); Music (M = 5.7, SD = 1.8); Science (M = 5.6, SD = 1.7); males (M = 6.3, SD = 1.7) ; females (M = 5.9, SD = 1.8). A significant main effect for instructional specialty (F3.m = 2.76, p < .05; MSB = 8.37; MSw = 3.03) was observed. Post hoc comparisons (ScheffC's method) of the instructional specialties indicated that Factor M means of the students enrolled in English were significantly greater than those of the students enrolled in Science (P3.m = 2.83, p < .05). These results indicate that students who are currently enrolled in a course of study to prepare them for teaching science on the secondary school level achieve lower Factor M scores (indicating less imaginativeness) on the 16 PF than those students preparing to teach English. The contention (1) has been made that, when compared with other professions, scientists as a group generally achieve lower Factor M scores on the I6 PF, while writers exhibit higher than average Factor M scores than individuals employed in other occupations. Thus these findings raise the possibility that the personality characteristics of individuals aspiring to provide instruction in the areas of science and English may be somewhat similar to those individuals in professional fields which involve scientific and literary endeavors, respectively.
Use of a telehealth system by older adults with hypertension

We conducted a feasibility study of a home telehealth system that monitored blood pressure and bodyweight. A total of 34 participants with hypertension (10 males and 24 females) had the telemedicine system installed in their homes. Their mean age was 72 years and 94% of them self-identified as Hispanic. The telehealth system transmitted blood pressure and bodyweight data to a server. There was also a messaging function that was used to send a daily reminder to the participants. Participants used the telehealth system for six months. Ten participants were lost to follow up and 24 participants completed the entire study. Participants had strong positive perceptions regarding the usability and usefulness of the telemedicine system. Most of them (92%) found the device easy to use and 96% felt that the training they received prepared them to use the device. The providers indicated that use of the system improved their ability to manage their patients. The results of the study suggest that use of the telehealth system for home monitoring in Hispanic patients with hypertension is feasible.
Simulation of ablating hypersonic vehicles with finite-rate surface chemistry

For the purpose of predicting the environment encountered by hypersonic, ablating vehicles employing non-charring thermal protection systems, the coupling of a NavierStokes solver to both a material response code and finite-rate surface chemistry code is described. The Navier-Stokes solver used in this study is LeMANS, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics code used to simulate hypersonic flow fields including gasphase nonequilibrium thermochemistry. The material response solver used in this study is MOPAR, an implementation of the one-dimensional control-volume finite-element method for modeling heat conduction and pyrolysis gas behavior. The finite-rate surface chemistry code used in this study is a generalized framework that allows for any number of several types of surface reactions, such as adsorption/desorption, Eley-Rideal recombination, Langmuir-Hinshelwood recombination, oxidation/reduction, and sublimation/condensation to be considered. The test case used in this study is the nosetip of the IRV-2 vehicle, which employed a thermal protection system composed of non-charring carbon. A detailed discussion is given of the strategies used to couple the flow field solver, the surface chemistry solver, and the material response solver. The results produced using two finite-rate surface chemistry models are compared to previous results produced using the assumption of chemical equilibrium at the surface of the vehicle for a number of trajectory points of the IRV-2 vehicle.
Normalization of input patterns in an associative network

Numerous brain structures have a cerebellum-like architecture in which inputs diverge onto a large number of granule cells that converge onto principal cells. Plasticity at granule cell-to-principal cell synapses is thought to allow these structures to associate spatially distributed patterns of granule cell activity with appropriate principal cell responses. Storing large sets of associations requires the patterns involved to be normalized, i.e., to have similar total amounts of granule cell activity. Using a general model of associative learning, we describe two ways in which granule cells can be configured to promote normalization. First, we show how heterogeneity in firing thresholds across granule cells can restrict pattern-to-pattern variation in total activity while also limiting spatial overlap between patterns. These effects combine to allow fast and flexible learning. Second, we show that the perceptron learning rule selectively silences those synapses that contribute most to pattern-to-pattern variation in the total input to a principal cell. This provides a simple functional interpretation for the experimental observation that many granule cell-to-Purkinje cell synapses in the cerebellum are silent. Since our model is quite general, these principles may apply to a wide range of associative circuits.