cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Current Status of the SAPHIRE Risk Analysis Software

As a supporting organization for risk activities at a variety of government agencies including the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Department of Energy (DOE), the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has been a principal developer of probabilistic risk and reliability analysis tools for over 35 years. The current state-of-the-practice has evolved to the use of the SAPHIRE software. This tool started in the mid-1980s as part of the NRC’s general risk activities. In 1986, work commenced on the precursor to the SAPHIRE software — this software package was named IRRAS. While limited to the analysis of only fault trees of medium size, version 1 of IRRAS was the initial step in the progress that today has led to the SAPHIRE software, software that is capable of running on multiple processors simultaneously and is able to handle extremely complex analyses. SAPHIRE has been designed to handle large fault trees, where a tree may have up to 64,000 basic events and gates. To handle the fault trees, two mechanisms for developing and modifying the fault tree are available — a graphical editor and a hierarchical logic editor. In risk applications, there are two predominant event tree analysis methods, the “large event tree” approach and the “fault tree linking” approach. A couple of key identifying attributes of the large event tree approach is that the number of accident sequences becomes very large (measured in the millions or more) and the event tree branches are represented by probability values. For the fault tree linking approach, the number of sequences is low and fault trees represent the event tree branch points. The INL has designed SAPHIRE to handle both event tree methods. SAPHIRE uses logic models to determine minimal cut sets. Once the dominant cut sets are determined, the group of cut sets must be quantified to determine the overall probability of frequency. After the cut sets are generated, they are used to obtain the importance measures for each basic event in the cut sets. The resultant cut sets are also used to propagate (using either Monte Carlo or Latin Hypercube sampling) the basic event’s epistemic uncertainty.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Effect of Musical Accompaniment on Attitude: The Guitar as a Prop for Persuasion

This study examined the effects on attitude, mood, and recall of embedding a communication in different musical art forms. Subjects listened to four folk songs, each of which either had or did not have guitar accompaniment, and which were either sung or dramatically spoken. Results indicated greater positive emotional arousal and greater persuasion with the presence of guitar accompaniment. The sung-spoken variation had few effects. The results were interpreted as supporting a conclusion of Dabbs and Janis (1965) that a pleasant activity such as eating creates a momentary mood of compliance toward a communication's recommendations. The present study generalized Dabbs and Janis' conclusion to a stimulus situation involving instrumental music. An alternative interpretation that the music inhibited counterargument production was discussed and rejected. The implications of the study for a more general arousal-persuasion model were noted.
Strategies for Providing Effective Reference Services for International Adult Learners

Summary In their mission or goals statements, most universities declare their commitment to promoting a multicultural campus. A multicultural campus can only come about with the creation of an environment that provides the support and encouragement that allows for academic growth and success for international students. Reference librarians serve a special role as information providers and can play a significant part in ensuring the academic success of these students. To achieve this, we must first increase our basic understanding of the cultural and economic impact of international students at a national and university level. Further, recognizing the unique pressures under which these international students function will increase awareness and help us to position ourselves to effectively meet their information needs. This paper will describe obstacles and problems international students generally deal with in choosing to pursue studies abroad and then suggest practical strategies for overcoming these prob...
Six-Membered Ring Systems: Pyridines and Benzo Derivatives

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the synthesis and chemistry of six-membered ring systems, particularly pyridines and benzo derivatives. Pyridine and pyridine-derived structures are privileged pharmacophores in medicinal chemistry and an essential functionality for organic chemists. As the prototypical π-deficient heterocycle, pyridine illustrates distinctive chemistry as both substrate and reagent. The basicity and metallophilic high donor number of these π-deficient systems have long favored their use as ligands in metal catalysis. Pyridine derivatives lend themselves for many roles in the spirited field of supramolecular chemistry–whether as the ligand backbone of metal-organic polymers or presiding over the key electronic stations of nanodevices. In biochemistry, pyridine-containing cofactors are necessary nutrients on which lives depend. The reactivity of pyridine extends far beyond the confines of its structure. While functionalization of this system is exceptionally important, the pyridine moiety is also a crucial Lewis base, functional group, and synthon. Demonstrably versatile, pyridine is synthetically equivalent to a host of frameworks that are not immediately apparent.
Comparison of nitrophenylethyl and hydroxyphenacyl caging groups.

Nitrophenylethyl (NPE)- and hydroxyphenacyl (HPA)-caged nucleotides were employed in a time-resolved Fourier transform IR spectroscopy study on Ras-catalyzed guanosine triphosphate (GTP) hydrolysis. A fast kinetic component was observed following the photolysis of NPE-caged nucleotides in the NPE-GTP-Ras complex. However, this kinetic component was not observed in the HPA-GTP-Ras experiment. This fast kinetic component was likely due to a chemical reaction between Ras and the detached caging group, nitrosoacetophenone. This communication serves as a note of caution in interpreting spectral changes and kinetic behavior of the enzymatic systems employing NPE-caged compounds.
Increased carbonylation, protein aggregation and apoptosis in the spinal cord of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Previous work from our laboratory implicated protein carbonylation in the pathophysiology of both MS (multiple sclerosis) and its animal model EAE (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis). Subsequent in vitro studies revealed that the accumulation of protein carbonyls, triggered by glutathione deficiency or proteasome inhibition, leads to protein aggregation and neuronal cell death. These findings prompted us to investigate whether their association can be also established in vivo. In the present study, we characterized protein carbonylation, protein aggregation and apoptosis along the spinal cord during the course of MOG (myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein)(35-55) peptide-induced EAE in C57BL/6 mice. The results show that protein carbonyls accumulate throughout the course of the disease, albeit by different mechanisms: increased oxidative stress in acute EAE and decreased proteasomal activity in chronic EAE. We also show a temporal correlation between protein carbonylation (but not oxidative stress) and apoptosis. Furthermore, carbonyl levels are significantly higher in apoptotic cells than in live cells. A high number of juxta-nuclear and cytoplasmic protein aggregates containing the majority of the oxidized proteins are present during the course of EAE. The LC3 (microtubule-associated protein light chain 3)-II/LC3-I ratio is significantly reduced in both acute and chronic EAE indicating reduced autophagy and explaining why aggresomes accumulate in this disorder. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest a link between protein oxidation and neuronal/glial cell death in vivo, and also demonstrate impaired proteostasis in this widely used murine model of MS.
Apparent molar volumes, isobaric expansion coefficients, and isentropic compressibilities for some non-aqueous carbohydrate solutions☆☆☆

Abstract The molar volumes and isentropic compressibilities of a number of carbohydrates and some of their deuterated isomers have been determined in several non-aqueous solvents (dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide, ethylene glycol, and methanol) at several temperatures. The results are compared with similar measurements in aqueous solvents. A correlation of the limiting apparent molar volumes with solvent compressibility is discussed.
Modeling and experimental implementation of infrared thermography on concrete masonry structures

Abstract This paper is a combined numerical and experimental study which aims to demonstrate the implementation of the infrared thermography (IRT) method for the non-destructive evaluation of concrete masonry structural components. Specifically, a three-dimensional finite element (FE) analysis is formulated and implemented to predict both steady state and transient heat transfer in masonry specimens. A micro-element approach is followed to build the FE model geometry of the masonry walls. The model provides surface temperature contours which are the prime interest of infrared thermography. Three different scaled masonry specimens with identical thermal properties are considered for this study. The FE simulation results of heat diffusion are initially compared with finite difference method predictions for one specimen. Subsequently, the FE results are validated by implementing experimentally the IRT method on the other two specimens. The numerically predicted temperature values agree well with the actual measured values which validate the use of the IRT method for the nondestructive evaluation of concrete masonry components.
Performance Measures for Transform Data Coding

This paper develops performance criteria for evaluating transform data coding schemes under computational constraints. Computational constraints that conform with the proposed basis-restricted model give rise to suboptimal coding efficiency characterized by a rate-distortion relation R(D) similar in form to the theoretical rate-distortion function. Numerical examples of this performance measure are presented for Fourier, Walsh, Haar, and Karhunen-Loeve transforms.
Analysis for hydrogen by nuclear reaction and energy recoil detection

Abstract The use of MeV ion beams to measure hydrogen concentration profiles is reviewed. Both nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) and energy recoil detection (ERD) methods are discussed. Details of experimental approaches used and the effects of these different approaches on the analytic characteristics obtained are considered. The use of Doppler spectroscopy in both NRA and ERD to study the bonding of hydrogen in solids is briefly reviewed. The different methods are compared in terms of their advantages and disadvantages for certain analytic characteristics including accuracy, beam damage effects, sensitivity, and depth resolution.
Money Targeting in a Modern Forecasting and Policy Analysis System: An Application to Kenya

We extend the framework in Andrle and others (2013) to incorporate an explicit role for money targets and target misses in the analysis of monetary policy in low-income countries (LICs), with an application to Kenya. We provide a general specification that can nest various types of money targeting (ranging from targets based on optimal money demand forecasts to those derived from simple money growth rules), interest-rate based frameworks, and intermediate cases. Our framework acknowledges that ex-post adherence to targets is in itself an objective of policy in LICs; here we provide a novel interpretation of target misses in terms of structural shocks (aggregate demand, policy, shocks tomoney demand, etc). In the case of Kenya, we find that: (i) the setting of money targets is consistent with money demand forecasting, (ii) targets have not played a systematic role in monetary policy, and (iii) target misses mainly reflect shocks to money demand. Simulations of the model under alternative policy specifications show that the stronger the ex-post target adherence, the greater the macroeconomic volatility. Our findings highlight the benefits of a model-based approach to monetary policy analysis in LICs, including in countries with money-targeting frameworks.
Automated design of machining fixtures: tolerance and sequential operations

The long lead time for jig and fixture design is a serious bottle-neck in modern manufacturing. Efforts to automate the fixture design process using intelligent CAD systems have not been taken beyond the prototype stage, mainly because of impediments which include the requirement of complex data structures to represent the workpiece and its attributes. Two deficiencies in existing systems for fixture design are addressed; design for a sequence of operations and design with tolerance considerations. Tolerance and process specifications are obtained from the user during an interactive session. A knowledge-based design system, AutoFix II, designs a fixture for the workpiece. The fixture is optimised for a particular datum specification and sequence of operations. It is analysed and presented via the CAD system. AutoFix II is automated to minimise user-induced errors.
Ultrasonic Determination of Recrystallization

Metals are currently used in a wide variety of applications ranging from simple structural to complex heat engine components. Each use has a different set of engineering characteristics that must be met by the material being considered for use. One method to tailor material properties to meet engineering requirements is thermomechanical processing (TMP).1-2 If TMP involves cold working, metals generally show a marked increase in strength, but this increase does not continue without limit as the microstructure becomes distorted and exhibits high internal stress. These residual stresses are generally detrimental to the end use applications.
Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for retinoblastoma.

Purpose To determine the incidence of diagnostic fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in eyes with retinoblastoma (RB) as well as its indications and potential complications. Methods A retrospective study by survey was designed and a questionnaire inquiring on FNAB use in RB diagnosis during the past 15 years was submitted to 12 high-volume ocular oncology clinics. Results A total of 3,651 patients with RB have been diagnosed and treated in 12 clinics since 1985. During the same period, eight biopsies were obtained for diagnostic purposes and six of these proved to be RB by cytology; the other two showed inflammatory cells and benign retinal cells. The median age for the biopsied patients was 46 months; 6 of the biopsied children were older than 4 years of age. The average age at the time of biopsy was 46 months. Most of the cases were biopsied with clinical diagnosis of uveitis/endophthalmitis through the limbus and pars plana with 25- and 27-gauge needles. Five of six cases of RB had enucleation and one patient had cryotherapy and I-125 brachytherapy after FNAB. The average follow-up time for biopsy-proven RB cases was 10.8 years with no recurrent disease. Conclusion The results of this survey suggest that FNAB indication for RB diagnosis is rare; the majority of cases can be diagnosed and treated by ocular oncologists without invasive procedures.
The feels good theory of pleasure

Most philosophers since Sidgwick have thought that the various forms of pleasure differ so radically that one cannot find a common, distinctive feeling among them. This is known as the heterogeneity problem. To get around this problem, the motivational theory of pleasure suggests that what makes an experience one of pleasure is our reaction to it, not something internal to the experience. I argue that the motivational theory is wrong, and not only wrong, but backwards. The heterogeneity problem is the principal source of motivation for this, otherwise, highly counterintuitive theory. I intend to show that the heterogeneity problem is not a genuine problem and that a more straightforward theory of pleasure is forthcoming. I argue that the various experiences that we call “pleasures” all feel good.
SEMI-PERIPHERAL COUNTRIES AND THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD CRISIS*

If the philosophy of praxis affirms theoretically that every 'truth' believed to be eternal and absolute has had practical origins and has represented a 'practical' value. . ., it is still very difficult to make the people grasp 'practically' praxis itself, without in so doing shaking the convictions that are necessary for action. . . This is the reason whty the proposition [in Marx] about the passage from the reign of necessity to that of freedom must be analyzed and elaborated with subtlety and delicacy.
Students' Perceptions of Constructivist Learning in a Community College American History 11 Survey Course:

In constructivist teaching all learning is filtered through the learner's lens of reality. This qualitative study explored community college students' perceptions of constructivism applied in an Am...
Beginning to Respond: Well-Prefaced Responses to Wh-Questions

This article reports on the occurrence of well within an analytically delimited sequential environment: turn-initial position in the second pair-part position of adjacency pair sequences launched by a wh-question. We show that these well-prefaces operate as general alerts that indicate nonstraightforwardness in responding, and we compare this form of alert to others that operate in talk-in-interaction. We conclude by addressing the relationship of answering to responding, and by considering the relationship of well-prefacing to preference organization.
The Legitimacy-conferring Authority of the U.S. Supreme Court: An Experimental Design

Convention holds that the Supreme Court, because of its special constitutional role, can confer an element of legitimacy on a policy simply by endorsing it. In this study, we conducted an experimen...
Mechanisms of action of peptide inhibitors of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase targeting quaternary structure.

Mammalian ribonucleotide reductase (mRR) is a chemotherapeutic target. The enzyme is composed of 2 subunits (mR1 and mR2) and is inhibited by Ac-FTLDADF (denoted P7), corresponding to the C-terminus of mR2, which competes with mR2 for binding to mR1. mRR has 2 physiologically important active forms, mR12mR22 and mR16(mR22)j (j = 1–3). Here we report on the mechanism of action of recently identified peptide derivatives having higher activities than P7 toward inhibition of one or both active forms. A significant feature of both P7 and these new inhibitors is that they are more potent vs. mR12mR22 than mR16(mR22)j. For some of these peptides, this is due in part to their preferential binding to the mR1 monomer. The possible application of these peptide derivatives in cancer chemotherapy is discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci), 2005
Dyson's probability expression for Gerstsenshtein coupling between Photons and Graviton interaction with a B field in a GW detector of given pre determined frequency for GW entering the GW detector

As of 2012, and put in a journal in 2013, Dyson came up with criteria as to the Gertsenshtein process in photon-graviton coupling, with criteria as to the likelihood as to if the Gertsenshtein process actually can occur. This methodology is applied to a small spatial geometry as to Tokamak’s generating external to the GW detector GW which are measured in a GW detector with a 100% probability of Gertsenshtein coupling of gravitons and photons, if there is a magnetic field of magnitude 10 to the 9th power, Gauss inside the GW detector. For a Tokamak generating GW measured by a new prototype GW detector, which has a strong magnetic field contained within the GW detector. We propose this form of arrangement due to a misunderstanding by Dyson as to the analysis of GW , which can be measured. If a GW detector has a very strong magnetic field, with weak magnetic field outside the GW detector, then the long distance approximations by Dyson do not hold and the problem, by default is far simpler than what Dyson proposed. Furthermore, we will in the conclusion allude to the Gertsenshtein GW – magnetic field interaction within the detector, which generates photons as less efficient in photonic signal production to another process which is listed in this manuscript. Finally the analysis of using the Earth surface area as a GW detector for solar produced Gravitons is unnecessary and scarcely believable as to there allegedly being 1 detected graviton out of 10 to the 43rd power number of Gravitons, in a ‘scattering experiment’ arrangement most similar to Mott Scattering which has no connections as to the Gertenshtein process. Finally the Gertenshtein process is not the last word in how GW and Gravitons interacting with a static magnetic field produce photon signals. These considerations have been muddled by Dyson due to his mistaken emphasis upon magnetic fields outside the GW detector. Hence, his unphysical assumption that a static magnetic field must be analyzed for kilometer long trajectories of Gravitons to a GW detector.
A combined NRVS and DFT study of Fe(IV)=O model complexes: a diagnostic method for the elucidation of non-heme iron enzyme intermediates.

FeIV=O biomimetic model complexes have been characterized using nuclear vibrational resonance spectroscopy (NRVS). Features and systematic trends in the low energy region reflect equatorial and axial bonding differences that relate to differences in reactivity. These trends have been computationally extended to predict the spectra of putative FeIV=O intermediates in non-heme iron enzymes and show the utility of the NRVS method for structural insight.
Annealing of self-radiation damage in238 puO2

Abstract The annealing of self-radiation damage in 238PuO2 has been studied in samples which have reached a saturation damage level. Isothermal and isochronal anneals have been used to define the recovery behavior to 1200°C. The annealing is complex and consists of a very rapid fist stage due to I-V annihilation followed by more complicated recovery processes. The activation energy for Stage I recovery is 4 kcal. The isochronal annealing curves are strongly dependent on the residual helium concentration.
Regulation of the Glucosyltransferase (gtfBC) Operon by CovR in Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus mutans is an important etiological agent of dental caries in humans. The extracellular polysaccharides synthesized by cell-associated glucosyltransferases (encoded by gtfBC) from sucrose have been recognized as one of the important virulence factors that promote cell aggregation and adherence to teeth, leading to dental plaque formation. In this study, we have characterized the effect of CovR, a global response regulator, on glucosyltransferase expression. Inactivation of covR in strain UA159 resulted in a marked increase in the GtfB and GtfC proteins, as analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. With the use of a transcriptional reporter system of a single chromosomal copy of the PgtfB-gusA and PgtfC-gusA fusions, we confirmed the transcriptional regulation of these promoters by CovR. By in vitro electrophoretic mobility shift assays with purified CovR protein, we showed that CovR regulates these promoters directly. DNase I footprinting analyses suggest that CovR binds to large regions on these promoters near the transcription start sites. Taken together, our results indicate that CovR negatively regulates the expression of the gtfB and gtfC genes by directly binding to the promoter region.
A comparison of optical buffering technologies

We describe the practical and fundamental limitations of the more prominent optical buffering approaches. The architectural implementation and needs of an optical packet switch are used as a foundation for the study. We also present initial results for a buffered, all-optical, 40 Gb/s packet switch.
The Psychiatric Council: applied psychiatry in an antipoverty program.

The Psychiatric Council of the Elm Haven Concerted Services Program represents a planned collaboration of a group of psychiatrists with the health, educational, and welfare resources organized for the tenants of New Haven's largest low-cost housing project. The work of this Council is described and evaluated.
A U.S. perspective on AHSCs: a future of increased diversification.

Academic Health Sciences Centres (AHSCs) have long been viewed much as the historic battleship - possessing great force, power and bulk, but increasingly vulnerable to forays of lighter and more agile competitors. This commentary reviews the efforts of leaders of AHSCs in the United States to reposition their institutions at the centre of integrated delivery systems, partly as a result of greatly increased reliance on clinical revenue to support the historic teaching mission. While Lozon and Fox point to increased involvement of AHSCs in broad regional systems of care financed through a coordinated strategy, integrated systems in the United States may be fragmenting as marketplace-driven financial schemes actually discourage integrated care. From the perspective of organizational theory, the future seems to imply a diversification of organizational forms for the AHSCs in the United States, with a corresponding strategy of lessening reliance on clinical revenues through enhancement of research funding.
Correcting for position-related bias in estimates of the acoustic backscattering cross-section

Under low signal-to-noise conditions, measurements of the acoustic backscattering cross-section σbs depend upon the position of the target in the beam. Split- and dual-beam measurements of σbs increase as the target moves away from the acoustic axis, leading to substantial overestimates of acoustic size for off-axis targets. We show how this phenomenon can be largely explained by measurement error in split-beam estimates of position, and by the effect of a minimum voltage threshold. We demonstrate a two-step correction to remove most of the bias. First, smoothed estimates of position are used to obtain an improved estimate of the beam directivity effect for each echo. Second, the statistical bias induced by the minimum voltage threshold is estimated and subtracted.
Grade Assignments and the Teacher Pipeline A Low-Cost Lever to Improve Student Achievement?

Research on teacher stability typically focuses on the extent to which teachers remain in the same school, district, or the teaching profession from one year to the next. I investigate another facet of stability—whether teachers remain in the grade they teach. Drawing on administrative data from a large district in California, I find that high shares of teachers switch grades. Disproportionately, these are early career teachers who come from low-achieving or high-minority schools. Teachers who switch grades leave schools at higher rates than their colleagues and exhibit lower impacts on their students’ achievement. For teachers who switch to a nonadjacent grade, these negative effects can wipe out any gains due to increased experience and can persist in the year after the switch occurs.
Vascular Gap Junctional Communication Is Increased in Mineralocorticoid-Salt Hypertension

Cells rely on gap junctions for intercellular communication, which is important for growth and contractility. For example, gap junctional communication in the uterus increases near parturition, with a concomitant increase in oscillatory contractions. Because arterial responsiveness to contractile agonists is increased in hypertension, we tested the hypothesis that gap junctional communication is increased in hypertension. We examined thoracic aortas from deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)–salt hypertensive and sham normotensive rats using isolated tissue baths and Western blotting techniques. The concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine necessary to produce a threshold response was significantly lower in aortas from DOCA-salt (4 nmol/L) compared with sham (100 nmol/L) rats; this was also true for norepinephrine and KCl. In these same aortas, the appearance of spontaneous oscillatory contractions, which are sensitive to the gap junctional inhibitor heptanol (0.3 mmol/L), was more frequent in DOCA-salt arteries (93% versus 14% in sham). Heptanol (1 mmol/L) normalized the DOCA-salt aortic contraction to 5-hydroxytryptamine to levels similar to those of the response of the sham aorta in the presence of heptanol. Western analyses revealed that the density of connexin43 immunoreactivity, the connexin being a constituent of gap junctions, was found to be threefold more abundant in aortic homogenates of DOCA-salt rats compared with that of sham rats. This finding supports the hypothesis that gap junctional communication is increased in hypertension, at least at the protein level. We speculate that this increase results in a portion of the increased vascular reactivity and appearance of contractile oscillations in vascular smooth muscle.
The cross-modal coordination of interpersonal timing: six-week-olds infants' gaze with adults' vocal behavior.

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that 6-week-old infants are capable of coordinated interpersonal timing within social interactions. Coordinated interpersonal timing refers to changes in the timing of one individual's behavior as a function of the timing of another individual's behavior. Each of 45, first-born 6-week-old infants interacted with his or her mother and a stranger for a total of 14 minutes. The interactions were videotaped and coded for the gaze behavior of the infants and the vocal behavior of the mothers and strangers. Time-series regression analyses were used to assess the extent to which the timing of each of the infants' gazes was coordinated with the timing of the adults' vocal behavior. The results revealed that (a) coordinated timing occurs between infants and their mothers and between infants and strangers as early as when infants are 6 weeks old, and (b) strangers coordinated the timing of their pauses with the infants to a greater extent than did mothers. The findings are discussed in terms of the role of temporal sensitivity in social interaction.
Polymorphism of Eimerian Oocysts Can be a Problem in Naturally Infected Hosts: An Example from Subterranean Rodents in Bolivia

Since 1986, 364 tuco-tucos (Ctenomys spp.) representing 7 species were collected from 16 major collecting areas representing at least 4 distinct ecological habitats in Bolivia, South America. All were examined for coccidia, and 125 (34%) had oocysts in their feces including 84 of 236 (36%) Ctenomys boliviensis from tropical palm/savanna habitats; 1 of 3 (33%) Ctenomys conoveri from a chaco thorn forest; 3 of 7 (33%) Ctenomys frater from medium altitude grass habitats; and 6 of 8 (75%) Ctenomys lewisi and 31 of 35 (88%) Ctenomys opimus from high altitude/puna habitats. None of 3 Ctenomys leucodon (high altitude/puna) or 72 Ctenomys steinbachi (tropical palm/savanna) were passing oocysts when examined. The 5 infected host species all had oocysts of Eimeria opimi Lambert, Gardner, and Duszynski, 1988, in their feces. These oocysts and their sporocysts varied greatly in size, both within and between host species, but qualitative characters (e.g., residua and wall texture) remained constant. Our conclusion, that all oocysts seen were E. opimi, was supported by multigroup discriminant analysis of 256 individual oocysts, 30-67 selected randomly from each Ctenomys sp. Minimum polygons enclosing the centroid (= multivariate mean) and the spread of individuals for each species group (OTU) showed significant overlap in discriminant space, and Geisser classification showed a 55% miss rate of individuals being classified into the wrong OTUs. Thus, oocyst and sporocyst lengths and widths cannot be used to separate morphotypes of E. opimi from different Ctenomys spp. from different geographic regions of Bolivia.
Genetic connectivity and diversity of pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) in southern Wyoming

The pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), a leporid of the Great Basin and southern Wyoming, resides in habitats dominated by big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). Because of the patchy distribution of mature big sagebrush in southern Wyoming, we expected pygmy rabbits to exhibit genetic attributes associated with genetic isolation: high levels of spatially structured differentiation. We also predicted some reduction in genetic diversity in the peninsular Wyoming portion of the geographic range, relative to its Great Basin core. We used 14 microsatellite loci to compare genetic attributes between geographically distinct pygmy rabbit populations, and a subset of these microsatellite loci to compare with those of 2 sympatric cottontails (Sylvilagus spp.), both presumptive habitat generalists. Pygmy rabbits displayed moderate genetic diversity that was lower than that reported from locations near the core of the geographic range (Idaho and Montana). We observed only low levels of genetic differentiation in pygmy rabbits among sampling sites within Wyoming. Similarly, we observed low levels of differentiation in one species of cottontail sympatric with pygmy rabbits; however, the other species of sympatric cottontail displayed levels of differentiation congruent with those of populations at panmixia. Isolation-by-distance was the dominant genetic pattern observed, although examination of our data suggested that a 4-lane highway (Interstate 80) might affect gene flow measurably. In the recent evolutionary past, habitat connectivity and dispersal capacity for pygmy rabbits have been high enough to maintain gene flow among sites across southern Wyoming. Conservation of the species should focus on maintaining the connectivity among preferred habitats: old stands of big sagebrush.
Formation of interfacial traps upon surface protonation in small molecule solution processed bulk heterojunctions probed by photoelectron spectroscopy

This work expands on the recently reported protonation of the donor molecule 7,7′-(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-silolo[3,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl)bis(4-(5′-hexyl-[2,2′-bithiophen]-5-yl)-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridine) (d-DTS(PTTh2)2) by the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) interlayer to include an electrostatic picture of interfacial energetic states. Ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy results initially suggested favorable band level alignment for hole extraction between d-DTS(PTTh2)2 and PEDOT:PSS. However photovoltaic device performance yields a low fill factor and photovoltage, indicative of poor hole-extraction at the hole-collecting interface, relative to the nickel oxide device. Further investigation into the interfacial composition via theory and X-ray photoelectron studies of both the interface and a control system of d-DTS(PTTh2)2 reacted with p-toluenesulfonic acid verify the presence of a chemically unique species at the interface arising from protonation reaction with the residual acidic protons present in PEDOT:PSS that was masked in the UPS experiment. From these results, the energy band diagram is re-interpreted to account for the interfacial chemical reaction and modified interfacial density of states. Additionally, the detrimental protonation reaction is avoided when the pyridyl[1,2,5]thiadiazole acceptor unit was replaced with a 5-fluorobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole acceptor unit, which shows no such reaction with the PEDOT:PSS substrate. These results indicate the necessity of using a large analytical toolkit to elucidate the energetics and mechanisms of buried interfaces that will impact dynamics of hole collection.
Race Relations Models and Social Change.

Policy discussions of race relations imply underlying theoretical frameworks however simplistic and however vaguely articulated. This paper develops in some detail two perspectives which are the basis for much of the discussion by more radical theorists and activists. These are the ghetto as colony and blacks as a marginal working class. The former draws on a Third World perspective, stressing domination of one racial group by another, and sees independence of the subject people as the goal. The latter model draws on Marxian theory, perceiving the position of blacks in the U.S. in class terms. These two approaches are first distinguished from the more familiar “concerned liberal” analysis and then compared and synthesized. Attention is given to interpreting the attitudes reflecting implicit acceptance of each of the models. Finally, the implications of the analysis are examined.
Food Preservation with Modified Atmospheres

This chapter addresses the various methods of modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP) that are used to alter the gaseous environment on and around foods for the purpose of extending shelf life. By and large, it consists of the various ways in which carbon dioxide (CO2) is used as a food preservative. That increased concentrations of CO2 will extend the shelf life of fresh meats has been known since 1882, and the actual application of this gas to extend the shelf life of red meats has been practiced for many decades (Table 14-1). The effect of CO2 on some plant products was recorded as early as 1821.84 About 90% of boxed beef in the United States is packed under vacuum/MAP, and 90–95% of fresh pasta sold in the United Kingdom is MAP76 Further information may be obtained from a number of excellent reviews and monographs.
Efficacy and Cost Effectiveness of Grain Protectants Applied to Farm-Stored Wheat at Harvest and Later

Studies were conducted in 1989 and 1990 in wheat stored on farms in Kansas and Oklahoma to compare the recommended harvest-time application of grain protectant with a delayed application (4-6 wk after harvest) to a portion of the grain mass. In 1989, chlorpyrifos-methyl was applied by both methods to unaerated wheat. In 1990, the two application procedures were compared as part of an integrated program of insect pest management, and either chlorpyrifos-methyl or malathion was applied. Although the delayed application of chlorpyrifos-methyl appeared to reduce the number of insects captured in probe traps, and produced 98 ± 1.1% mortality when bioassayed after 5 mo of storage, it did not significantly reduce insect density in samples from aerated lots and was not cost effective compared with no grain protectant. When malathion was used, neither the delayed application nor the application at harvest significantly reduced insect density in the stored wheat. Treatment with chlorpyrifos-methyl, either at harvest or later, significantly (P <0.05) reduced insect density in grain samples in fall 1989 compared with the nontreated lots. In both trials, the application of grain protectant at harvest was associated with a greater overall cost index than no protectant treatment.
Evidence that CD8 T-cell homeostasis and function remain intact during murine pregnancy.

Evolving models of immune tolerance have challenged the view that the response of the maternal immune system to environmental or fetal antigens must be suppressed or deviated. CD8 T cells play a central role in the immune response to viruses and intracellular pathogens so the maintenance of both the number and function of these cells is critical to protect both the mother and fetus. We show that the numbers of maternal CD8 T cells in both the spleen and the uterine draining lymph nodes are transiently increased at mid-gestation and this correlates with enhanced CD8 T-cell proliferation and an increased relative expression of both pro-survival and pro-apoptotic molecules. In transgenic mice bearing T-cell antigen receptors specific for the male HY or allo-antigens, the transgenic CD8 T cells retain the ability to proliferate and function during pregnancy. Moreover, anti-HY T-cell receptor transgenic mice have normal numbers of male pups despite the presence of CD8 T cells at the maternal–fetal interface. These data suggest that pregnancy is a dynamic state in which CD8 T-cell turnover is increased while the function and ending size of the CD8 T-cell compartment are maintained.
Reciprocal collision avoidance with acceleration-velocity obstacles

We present an approach for collision avoidance for mobile robots that takes into account acceleration constraints. We discuss both the case of navigating a single robot among moving obstacles, and the case of multiple robots reciprocally avoiding collisions with each other while navigating a common workspace. Inspired by the concept of velocity obstacles [3], we introduce the acceleration-velocity obstacle (AVO) to let a robot avoid collisions with moving obstacles while obeying acceleration constraints. AVO characterizes the set of new velocities the robot can safely reach and adopt using proportional control of the acceleration. We extend this concept to reciprocal collision avoidance for multi-robot settings, by letting each robot take half of the responsibility of avoiding pairwise collisions. Our formulation guarantees collision-free navigation even as the robots act independently and simultaneously, without coordination. Our approach is designed for holonomic robots, but can also be applied to kinematically constrained non-holonomic robots such as cars. We have implemented our approach, and we show simulation results in challenging environments with large numbers of robots and obstacles.
Electrochemical Infrared Characterization of Carbon-Supported Platinum Nanoparticles: A Benchmark Structural Comparison with Single-Crystal Electrodes and High-Nuclearity Carbonyl Clusters

Electrode potential-dependent infrared spectra for carbon monoxide dosed onto carbon-supported platinum nanoparticle films, significant as commercial fuel-cell catalysts as well as of fundamental importance, are reported with the aim of elucidating their structure as a function of particle size. The need to acquire absolute unipolar, rather than bipolar, spectra by means of potential-difference infrared tactics for such nanoparticle films is demonstrated, given the broad asymmetric C−O stretching band shapes. For larger particle diameters (d ≥ 4 nm), the potential-dependent peak stretching frequencies ( ) for saturated CO are closely similar to atop CO on Pt(111) electrodes, indicating a preponderance of 9-coordinate Pt sites. However, for nanoparticle diameters in the range d ≈ 2−4 nm, the values at a given potential, E, redshift sharply with decreasing d, approaching frequencies compatible with those measured at the same surface potential for atop CO in chargeable high-nuclearity Pt carbonyl solutes. Th...
The learning, physical, and emotional environment of the home in the context of poverty: The infant health and development program☆

Abstract The impact of individual environmental and biological risks and the number of risks on the home environment of 3-year-olds is examined in a sample of low birth weight, premature infants enrolled in the Infant Health and Development Program (IHDP). The IHDP is a large clinical trial designed to test the efficacy of early intervention services. The effects of 13 risk factors upon the HOME are examined separately for poor and non-poor families. Compared to nonpoor families, poor families experienced more multiple risk factors and had lower HOME scores. The number of risk factors was associated with less stimulating home environments, in both poor and non-poor families. Early intervention services were associated with higher learning scores but not higher physical or emotional environment scores. In terms of learning experiences, non-poor mothers who experienced the greatest number of risks benefitted more from the treatment than mothers with fewer risk factors. The pathways through which poverty influences learning experiences and intervention strategies to improve the home environments of young children are proposed.
Experiment, Numerical Modeling, Numerical Simulation, and Their Roles in the Study of Convection

A casual observer of a turbulent flow, say a cigarette plume or the eddying motion downstream of a waterfall, can easily get the impression that turbulence behaves as it pleases locally in space and time. Any constraints on its behavior seem to come with a long leash.
Who Might Respond to Financial Incentives That Use Lower Cost Sharing to Change Behavior? Findings from the 2010 Health Confidence Survey

This paper examines whether health care consumers would be interested in, or might find useful, financial incentives that are aimed at changing an individual’s health behavior. Understanding how individuals respond to financial incentives in their health coverage is crucial to the design of plans that are effective in steering them to high-quality, cost-effective providers. Data for this paper are from the EBRI/MGA 2010 Health Confidence Survey (HCS), a survey that examines a broad spectrum of health care issues, including Americans’ satisfaction with health care today, their confidence in the future of the health care system and the Medicare program, and their attitudes toward health care reform. The impact of incentives varies with selected demographics: There was no significant difference between men and women, but younger individuals were more likely than older ones to report that incentives to choose the most effective treatment would be extremely or very useful. There is also evidence that minorities and lower-income individuals are more likely to find lower cost-sharing incentives useful when it comes to using more effective treatments. No difference was found by education level. Individuals who are not satisfied with the quality of care they have received are more likely to report that lower cost sharing would be a useful incentive to choose a more effective treatment. The PDF for the above title, published in the December 2010 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another December 2010 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “Employee Tenure Trend Lines, 1983-2010.”
Discriminated Functional Communication for Attention: Evaluating Fixed and Varied Durations of Reinforcer Availability

Discriminated functional communication (DFC) training has been used to teach children to attend to naturally occurring discriminative stimuli when manding for attention. In this study, the participant was taught to only mand for attention during experimenter non-busy periods. The participant could only discriminate busy and non-busy activities during more naturalistic varied reinforcer availability periods following prior exposure to a fixed duration of availability. These data suggest that DFC may first have to be taught under more predictable conditions prior to transitioning to more naturalistic conditions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.