cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Sport Commitment Model Perspective on Adult Tennis Players’ Participation Frequency and Purchase Intention

Although sport commitment has received wide spread theoretical and empirical attention over the past 15 years, its application to adult sport participants has gone largely ignored. This study examined the determinants of adult tennis players’ motivation to continue involvement using the sport commitment model (Scanlan, Carpenter, Schmidt, Simons, & Keeler, 1993) as a theoretical framework, and extended the model to participation frequency and purchase intention. Based on previous research using the sport commitment model, a revised direct/indirect model, in which enjoyment was the mediator of the relationships between determinants and level of commitment, was also tested. Data were gathered via a web-based questionnaire from community tennis association members (N = 537). Relationships among variables were tested and a comparison of models was tested using structural equation modelling. With the sport commitment model, personal investment, enjoyment, involvement opportunities, and social support were found to be significant predictors of sport commitment, while commitment significantly predicted participation frequency and purchase intention. Tests of the direct/indirect model indicate acceptable model fit, although not as good as the original model. However, this model suggests involvement alternatives and social constraints on tennis enjoyment. Results can be used to develop customer-oriented marketing strategies targeted for the adult tennis participant.
Super-resolution imaging by high-index microspheres immersed in a liquid

We demonstrate that the super-resolution imaging of a commercial Blu-ray® disk containing a one-dimensional array of 200 nm width stripes separated by 100 nm width grooves can be achieved using high-index microspheres in a liquid environment. By using barium titanate glass microspheres (2–20 μm diameters) with index around 1.9 totally immersed in isopropanol with index 1.37 we demonstrate better than λ/6 far field resolution, where λ= 600 nm is the peak wavelength of the white-light illumination system. The results of this work can be used in biomedical microscopy, microfluidics and nanophotonics applications for imaging individual cells and/or nanoparticles in a liquid environment.
Influence of Alloy Composition and Membrane Fabrication on the Pressure Dependence of the Hydrogen Flux of Palladium−Copper Membranes

Several Pd−Cu composite membranes with different alloy compositions were made by electroless deposition on ceramic supports, and permeation rates for pure H2 and N2 were measured. The alloy composition was found to have a strong influence on the hydrogen permeance for these membranes. The effect of alloy composition on the H2 permeance was found to be in qualitative agreement with literature reports. A Pd60Cu40 composite membrane was prepared, and it was found to exhibit a permeance of 0.32 cm3 (STP)/cm2·s·cmHg1/2 at 350 °C, the highest among all of the membranes studied. Also, we present experimental data from the testing of another Pd−Cu composite membrane that showed an ideal selectivity for H2 over N2 of well over 7000 and discuss how this outcome might be related to changes in the membrane fabrication method. The influence of temperature and alloy composition on the exponential dependence (n value) of hydrogen diffusion through palladium−copper composite membranes is also discussed. Values for n osci...
Delaying Streptococcus mutans colonization in children leads to reduced caries experience.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information A Cohort Study on the association of early mutans streptococci colonisation and dental decay. Laitala M, Alanen P, Isokangas P, Soderling E, Pienihakkinen K. Caries Res 2012;46:228-33. Reviewer Jeffrey A. Banas, PhD Purpose/Question To test the null hypothesis that children colonized with Streptococcus mutans by age 2 years will experience caries at a similar rate as children who have yet to be colonized by S. mutans at age 2 years Source of Funding Association of Dentists in Health Centres, the Academy of Finland Terttu project, and the Central Ostrobothnia Regional Fund Type of Study/Design Cohort study Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable
Stellar winds and the evolution of luminous stars

The effect of a stellar wind on the evolution of stars in the mass range 7-60 solar masses has been investigated for stellar models in which Carson's opacities have been employed. Several cases of mass loss have been considered. It is found that the assumption of heavy mass loss from both blue and red supergiants can account well for the relevant observations of OBN stars, WN stars, and very luminous supergiants of all spectral types. But no amount of mass loss can account adequately for the properties of the B supergiants of lowest luminosity. A critical comparison is made between the present results and some earlier results based on the adoption of Cox-Stewart opacities.
Buoyancy driven flows originating from heated cylinders submerged in a finite water layer

Abstract Flow visualization and temperature measurements are used to study conditions in shallow water layers heated from below by cylindrical sources and cooled from above by an air interface. Experiments have been performed for a single horizontal cylinder and for an array of five cylinders, with Rayleigh numbers in the range from 105 to 106. The free convection boundary layer which develops on the cylinders is laminar, and boundary layer merger occurs at the top of the cylinders without separation. Although the plume which rises above the single cylinder is laminar, its interaction with the air interface produces a horizontal turbulent mixing layer in which vortex rings are formed and penetrate into the underlying fluid. The interaction of plumes generated by the array of cylinders occurs in different ways, depending upon the height ratio.
Creating an autonomous dancing robot

A robot with the ability to dance autonomously has many potential applications, such as serving as a prototype dancer for choreographers or as a participant in stage performances with human dancers. A robot that dances autonomously must be able to extract several features from audio in real time, including tempo, beat, and style. It must also be able to produce a continuous sequence of humanlike gestures. We chose the Hitec RoboNova to use as a robot platform in our work on these problems. We have developed a beat identification algorithm that can extract the beat positions from audio in real time for multiple consecutive songs. Our RoboNova can now produce sequences of smooth gestures that are synchronized with the predicted beats and match the tempo of the audio. Our algorithm can also be easily moved to the HUBO, a large humanoid robot that can move in a very humanlike manner.
Safety and potential usefulness of liver biopsy in HIV-seropositive haemophiliacs employing a transjugular venous approach.

Summary. Chronic liver disease has affected a majority of haemophiliacs exposed to factor VIII and factor IX concentrates before effective viral attenuation techniques were introduced. Progressive hepatitis and liver failure have increasingly become causes of morbidity, especially in haemophilia patients also seropositive for HIV. Encouraging reports of recombinant alpha interferon to reverse the histological, laboratory and clinical deterioration of chronic active hepatitis justifies obtaining liver biopsies to assess the severity of liver damage; however, the percutaneous method carries a significant risk of bleeding. Therefore, we employed a transjugular venous approach for liver biopsies in six HCV-, HBSAb- and HIV-seropositive adults with severe haemophilia A (n = 5) or B (n = 1) with persistent liver function abnormalities. Adequacy of the specimens and lack of haemorrhagic complications leads us to conclude that this procedure appears to be safe and effective in individuals with severe haemophilia or other congenital or acquired coagulopathies.
A single restraint stress exposure potentiates analgesia induced by intrathecally administered DAGO.

Abstract In rats, restraint exposure potentiates the magnitude and duration of analgesia following both the peripheral and intracerebroventricular administration of several opioid agonists as compared to non-stressed controls. It has been suggested that the site of action whereby restraint leads to potentiated opioid analgesia is located supraspinally. However, the possible contribution of spinal analgesic mechanisms also warrants investigation. Thus, the purpose of the present study was two-fold: (1) to determine whether a single exposure to restraint stress would result in the dose-dependent potentiation of analgesia following the intrathecal (i.t.) administration of the mu (μ)-receptor selective opioid agonist [ d - Ala 2 , N- Me-Phe 4 , Gly 5 -ol ] enkephalin (DAGO) and (2) to quantify the degree of analgesia in restrained vs. non-restrained rats using the tail-flick and hot-plate analgesic assays. Using rats implanted with chronic i.t. cannula, dose- and the time-course curves were observed following the i.t. administration of DAGO. The results demonstrate that both the duration and magnitude of analgesia was significantly potentiated in restrained rats compared to non-restrained controls. Restraint-treated rats receiving 0.15–0.6 μg of DAGO i.t. showed 1.3–1.5-fold potentiation of analgesia in the tail-flick assay and a 2.3–5.6-fold potentiation using the hot-plate assay. Restraint immobilization potentiated the magnitude and duration of DAGO-induced analgesia administered by the i.t. route as measured by the tail-flick and hot-plate assays. These data suggest that spinal analgesic mechanisms significantly contribute to the enhanced analggesic potency of opioids in subjects exposed to restraint stress.
Massive Blowing Experiments

A massively blowing wedge was studied in a supersonic arc tunnel. The shock wave and separation streamline were visualized in the low-density flow by two chemiluminescent techniques. The data obtained under a variety of conditions were found to be correlated by a linear relation between two nondimensional blowing parameters derived by an approximate momentum balance analysis. Viscous interaction effects were found to be important in determining pressure levels and shock-wave angles at a Reynolds number of ^178. The relation between the blowing parameters found for the wedge also seems to hold for a blowing cone when the three-dimensional geometry is taken into account.
Design of clinical trials using an adaptive test statistic

Since the treatment effect of an experimental drug is generally not known at the onset of a clinical trial, it may be wise to allow for an adjustment in the sample size after an interim analysis of the unblinded data. Using a particular adaptive test statistic, a procedure is demonstrated for finding the optimal design. Both the timing of the interim analysis and the way the sample size is adjusted can influence the power of the resulting procedure. It is possible to have smaller average sample size using the adaptive test statistic, even if the initial estimate of the treatment effect is wrong, compared to the sample size needed using a standard test statistic without an interim look and assuming a correct initial estimate of the effect. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Asymmetry of rCBF in schizophrenia: relationship to AP-gradient and duration of illness

This article examines patients with schizophrenia and controls to determine whether asymmetry and anteroposterior (AP) gradient of cerebral blood flow (CBF) are related to duration of illness, and whether they are themselves correlated. CBF was measured with the 133xenon inhalation technique in 108 patients and 108 age-matched and gender-matched controls while the subjects were at rest. Two sets of analyses were performed. The first analyses indicated AP-gradient to be reduced in patients, and hemispheric asymmetry scores to be different from controls only in the temporal area. The second set of analyses were based on two groups of 27 patients, selected to represent extremes on duration of illness (less than 5 and greater than 12 years) and equal numbers of age-matched and gender-matched controls. These analyses revealed patients of both short and long duration of illness to have significantly greater temporal asymmetry, whereas only long-duration patients had significant AP-gradient relative to both controls and short-duration patients. Regression analyses from each data set found AP-gradient to be related to duration of illness, whereas temporal asymmetry was not, temporal asymmetry and AP-gradient were not correlated. These results suggest AP-gradient and temporal asymmetry may reflect independent processes.
Characteristics of Children Hospitalized With Infective Endocarditis

Background— Infective endocarditis in children is rare, and most reports describe the experience in referral centers. The purpose of our study was to assess the characteristics of children with infective endocarditis in a large national sample. Methods and Results— We analyzed hospital discharge records with International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, codes indicating infective endocarditis among admissions of patients <21 years of age in the Kids’ Inpatient Databases 2000 and 2003; analyses for the 2 years were combined. In 1588 hospitalizations, the age distribution was bimodal, with peaks in infancy and late adolescence. The organism was coded in 632 admissions; Staphylococcus aureus was most common (57%), followed by the viridans group of streptococci (20%). Preexisting heart disease was present in 662 patients admitted (42%), among whom 81% had congenital heart disease, 8% had prosthetic valve endocarditis, and 5% had rheumatic heart disease. In-hospital mortality occurred in 84 patient...
Architecting an LTE base station with graphics processing units

Due to the rapid growth of mobile communication, wireless base stations are becoming a significant consumer of computational resources. Historically, base stations have been built from ASICs, DSP processors, or FPGAs. This paper studies the feasibility of building wireless base stations from commercial graphics processing units (GPUs). GPUs are attractive because they are widely used massively parallel devices that can be programmed in a high level language. Base station workloads are highly parallel, making GPUs a potential candidate for a cost effective programmable solution. In this work, we develop parallel implementations of key kernels to evaluate the merits of using GPUs as the baseband signal processor. We show that the digital processing subsystem for a 75 Mbps LTE base station can be built using two NVIDIA GTX 680 GPUs with power consumption of 188 W.
Risk analyses for shallow land burial and greater confinement of alpha-contaminated wastes

To evaluate the possible disposal techniques for Los Alamos stored and buried TRU wastes, several risk scenarios are analyzed. For several inactive waste areas, intrusion scenarios are summarized from previous work. The effect of deeper burial reduces the number of scenarios for intrusion by man, eliminates intrusion by biotic communities, and reduces concerns for surface erosion. However, transport of uranium and neptunium daughter products of plutonium isotopes to groundwater could occur in approximately one million years. This latter pathway needs further calculational refinement to narrow the uncertainties in time estimates and adsorption characteristics of the involved geological media at Los Alamos. At sites with high rainfall or water tables located close to buried wastes, an analysis of the transport of daughter products from decay of transuranic elements should be performed.
Insulin binding in the hypothalamus of lean and genetically obese Zucker rats

Recent reports have suggested that the obesity and hyperphagia of the genetically obese Zucker rat may be related to defective insulin action or binding in the hypothalamus. We used quantitative autoradiography to determine if insulin binding is altered in specific hypothalamic nuclei associated with food intake. Insulin binding was measured in the arcuate (ARC), dorsomedial (DMN), and ventromedial (VMN) hypothalamic nuclei of 3-4-month-old lean (Fa/Fa) and genetically obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. A consistently reproducible 15% increase in the total specific binding of 0.1 nM [125I]-insulin was found in the ARC of the obese genotype. A slight increase in insulin binding in the DMN was also found. No difference in specific insulin binding was found between genotypes in the VMN. Nonlinear least squares analysis of competitive binding studies showed that the Kd of the ARC insulin binding site was 33% higher in the lean rats than in the obese rats, indicating an increased affinity for insulin. No difference in site number (Bmax) was found in the ARC, DMN or VMN, and no evidence was found for reduced insulin binding in the hypothalamus of the obese (fa/fa) genotype. The results suggest that hyperphagia and obesity of the obese (fa/fa) Zucker rat genotype may be associated with increased insulin binding in the arcuate nucleus.
Cruciform porphyrin pentamers

Cruciform porphyrin pentamers 15 and 16 are obtained in good yield by acid-catalyzed tetramerization of ZnII–pyrroloporphyrin 14, followed by oxidation with DDQ; pyrroloporphyrins are in turn obtained from the corresponding pyrrolochlorins by Diels–Alder type reactions of porphyrins involving thermal extrusion of sulfur dioxide from a pyrrole-fused 3-sulfolene.
Fiscal Decentralization to Rural Local Governments in India: A Case Study of West Bengal State

Rural local governments in India provide essential services to over 70 percent of the national population. Yet, little is known about the efficacy of the financing system that supports these local governments, nor is there a fiscal information system that will allow a tracking of rural local government expenditures and revenues. In this article, we describe the role of rural local governments in India's; federal system, and use a database, newly gathered for West Bengal State, to present an analysis of rural local government financing patterns. We find that expenditures are significantly higher in less populated and more backward gram panchayats. At the margin, however, higher rates of literacy also are associated with higher levels of spending, suggesting an education effect.
Betulinic Acid Selectively Increases Protein Degradation and Enhances Prostate Cancer-Specific Apoptosis: Possible Role for Inhibition of Deubiquitinase Activity

Inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) of protein degradation is a valid anti-cancer strategy and has led to the approval of bortezomib for the treatment of multiple myeloma. However, the alternative approach of enhancing the degradation of oncoproteins that are frequently overexpressed in cancers is less developed. Betulinic acid (BA) is a plant-derived small molecule that can increase apoptosis specifically in cancer but not in normal cells, making it an attractive anti-cancer agent. Our results in prostate cancer suggested that BA inhibited multiple deubiquitinases (DUBs), which resulted in the accumulation of poly-ubiquitinated proteins, decreased levels of oncoproteins, and increased apoptotic cell death. In normal fibroblasts, however, BA did not inhibit DUB activity nor increased total poly-ubiquitinated proteins, which was associated with a lack of effect on cell death. In the TRAMP transgenic mouse model of prostate cancer, treatment with BA (10 mg/kg) inhibited primary tumors, increased apoptosis, decreased angiogenesis and proliferation, and lowered androgen receptor and cyclin D1 protein. BA treatment also inhibited DUB activity and increased ubiquitinated proteins in TRAMP prostate cancer but had no effect on apoptosis or ubiquitination in normal mouse tissues. Overall, our data suggests that BA-mediated inhibition of DUBs and induction of apoptotic cell death specifically in prostate cancer but not in normal cells and tissues may provide an effective non-toxic and clinically selective agent for chemotherapy.
Early Discrimination among Small Object Collections.

Abstract Two studies are presented which examine the young child's ability to discriminate between two small object collections on the basis of numerosity and to maintain that discrimination across changes in number-related cues. A transfer procedure and counting tasks were also included. In Study 1, 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds were reinforced for choosing either a two- or three-item array when length-density cues were manipulated across two training phases of 20 trials each. Training was followed by a transfer task in which one- and four-item arrays were displayed. Most 2-year-olds were able to learn the discrimination while at the same time displaying little quantitative ability. Further, their transfer responses were transpositional in nature. In Study 2, 2-year-olds were given a similar discrimination task in which numerosity was contrasted simultaneously with length-density and area-brightness cues. Again, most children learned the discrimination and transferred that learning on the basis of relational cues.
Sudden Vegetation Dieback in Atlantic and Gulf Coast Salt Marshes.

Abstract Salt marshes rank as the most productive ecosystems on the planet. Biomass production can be greater than 3 kg dry matter/m2/year, which is 40% more biomass than tropical rainforests produce. Salt marshes provide multiple benefits to mankind. For example, coastal communities receive protection from storm surges and wave erosion. Salt marshes absorb excess nitrogen and phosphorus from sewage and fertilizer run-off into rivers, which, in turn, prevents algal blooms and hypoxia in coastal waters. In addition, these unique ecosystems provide habitat and shelter for many hundreds of species of shellfish, finfish, migratory and sedentary birds, and other marine animals. Despite the richness in animal species, the intertidal marshes of the salt marsh ecosystem are dominated by only a few plant species. Of these, the most prevalent plant species in a marsh are the tall and short forms of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). The first recorded account of a dieback in a U.S. salt marsh was in the earl...
Benefit/Cost Ratio in Systems Engineering: Integrated Models, Tests, Design, and Production

We have previously described our methodology for quantification of risk and risk reduction, and the use of risk, quantified as a dollar value, in the Value Engineering and decision tradeoff process. In this work we extend our example theme of the safety of reactive materials during accidental impacts. We have begun to place the validation of our impact safety model into a systems engineering context. In that sense, we have made connections between the data and the trends in the data, our models of the impact safety process, and the implications regarding confidence levels and reliability based on given impact safety requirements. We have folded this information into a quantitative risk assessment, and shown the assessed risk reduction value of developing an even better model, with more model work or more experimental data or both. Since there is a cost incurred for either model improvement or testing, we have used a Benefit / Cost Ratio metric to quantify this, where Benefit is our quantification of assessed risk reduction, and cost is the cost of the new test data, code development, and model validation. This has left us with further questions posed for our evolving system engineering representation for impact safety and its implications. We had concluded that the Benefit / Cost Ratio for more model validation was high, but such improvement could take several paths. We show our progress along two such paths; simple and high fidelity modeling of the impact safety process, and the implications of our knowledge and assumptions of the probability distribution functions involved. At the other end of the systems engineering scale, we discuss the implications of our linkage from model validation to risk on our production plant operations. Naturally, the nature of most such methodologies is still evolving, and this work represents the views of the authors and not necessarily the views of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
An object-oriented approach towards the automatic segmentation of bones in pediatric hand radiographs

Past work in image segmentation have a lack of substantial a priori knowledge utilized in the process. The goal of this dissertation is to develop a robust and accurate method that automatically segments phalangeal and epiphyseal bones from digital pediatric hand radiographs. The method was tested on distal phalangeal objects to be segmented from 77 cases of pediatric hand images obtained from UCLA clinical PACS. Patient age ranges from newborn to 18 years. The algorithm uses an object-oriented approach comprising of several stages beginning with the most general objects to be segmented and proceeding in a succession of stages to the most specific object. Each stage carries custom operators unique to the needs of that specific stage. The method is further aided by a knowledge base where all model contours and other information are stored. Shape models, 1-D wrist profiles, as well as an interpretation tree are used to map model and data contour segments. Shape analysis is performed using an arc-length orientation transform. Results are verified by the implementation of a feedback control loop at various intermediate stages. A committee of four pediatric radiologists qualitatively assessed the results of the object contours and were found to be accurate in over 90% for both cases of non-fused bones and fused bones as well. The method can be applied toward areas such as the determination of bone age, the development of a normal hand atlas, and the characterization of many congenital and acquired growth diseases. Output results are aligned for use with other database query systems. Furthermore, the method can be applied to other objects of segmentation like the chest, the brain, or the heart.
c-fos regulates neuronal excitability and survival.

Excitotoxicity is a process in which glutamate or other excitatory amino acids induce neuronal cell death. Accumulating evidence suggests that excitotoxicity may contribute to human neuronal cell loss caused by acute insults and chronic degeneration in the central nervous system1,2,3,4. The immediate early gene (IEG) c-fos encodes a transcription factor5,6. The c-Fos proteins form heterodimers with Jun family proteins, and the resulting AP-1 complexes regulate transcription by binding to the AP-1 sequence found in many cellular genes7,8,9. Emerging evidence suggests that c-fos is essential in regulating neuronal cell survival versus death10. Although c-fos is induced by neuronal activity, including kainic acid-induced seizures11,12,13,14, whether and how c-fos is involved in excitotoxicity is still unknown. To address this issue, we generated a mouse in which c-fos expression is largely eliminated in the hippocampus. We found that these mutant mice have more severe kainic acid–induced seizures, increased neuronal excitability and neuronal cell death, compared with control mice. Moreover, c-Fos regulates the expression of the kainic acid receptor GluR6 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), both in vivo and in vitro. Our results suggest that c-fos is a genetic regulator for cellular mechanisms mediating neuronal excitability and survival.
A Binding Interface on the I Domain of Lymphocyte Function-associated Antigen-1 (LFA-1) Required for Specific Interaction with Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1)

Previous studies have shown that lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) molecules containing the human α (CD11a) and human β (CD18) subunits but not the murine α and human β subunits can bind to human intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Using human/mouse LFA-1 α subunit chimeras, we mapped regions required for binding to ICAM-1 N-terminal to amino acid (aa) residue 359. Ligand binding sites were mapped in greater detail by scanning this region with murine sequences from 56 down to 17 aa in length and finally by introducing single or few murine aa residue replacements into the human sequence. Replacement of two non-contiguous regions of aa residues 119-153 and 218-248 in the I domain with the corresponding mouse sequences abolished most binding to human ICAM-1, without affecting αβ subunit association or expression on the surface of transfected COS cells. Specific residues within the I domain found to be important were Met-140, Glu-146, Thr-243, and Ser-245. Using the recently solved structure of the Mac-1 (CD11b) I domain as a model (Lee, J.-O., Rieu, P., Arnaout, M. A., and Liddington, R.(1995) Cell 80, 631-638), these residues are shown to be located on the surface of the I domain surrounding the site to which Mg2+ is chelated, and define a ligand binding interface. Mapping of the epitopes of a panel of mouse anti-human and rat anti-mouse monoclonal antibodies gave concordant results. Epitopes were mapped to two different regions in the N-terminal domain, four regions within the I domain, and two regions between the I domain and the EF hand-like repeats. Monoclonal antibodies to epitopes within the mid- to C-terminal portion of the I domain and the N-terminal portion of the region between the I domain and the EF hand-like repeats gave good inhibition of LFA-1-dependent homotypic aggregation with cells that express either ICAM-1 or ICAM-3 as the major LFA-1 ligand.
Urges/craving to smoke: Preliminary results from withdrawing and continuing smokers

Abstract Urges/craving to use drugs may be conceptualized as affective states indexing appetite motivation for drug use. To explore urges/cravings among cigarette smokers, we measured attitudinal/verbal, physiological and behavioral responses of withdrawing, continuing and non-smokers under experimental conditions theoretically or empirically related to enhanced urges/craving to smoke, i.e. drug-associated stimuli, drug-availability and noxious stimulation. Preliminary results suggested that urges/craving to smoke might be subserved by different processes in withdrawing and continuing smokers. They differed in phasic heart rate responses, self-reported mood, arousal and drug craving. Of particular interest, for withdrawing smokers self-reported craving was associated with negative affect, whereas for continuing smokers craving was associated with positive affect or low levels of negative affect. These findings are discussed in the context of current theory.
The electoral consequences of alienation: Nonvoting and protest voting in the 1992 presidential race

Abstract This article focuses on the context of the 1992 national elections in order to determine why certain alienated individuals chose to stay home on election day while others responded by voting for a third party Presidential candidate. Two dimensions of alienation, internal and external political inefficacy, are linked to lower levels of voting, as is consistent with previous research on voting behavior. In addition, we find that, among those who voted, those individuals who expressed political cynicism or external inefficacy were more likely to vote for Ross Perot. We conclude that, while many alienated individuals do not vote, the Perot candidacy in 1992 led certain alienated individuals to engage in “protest” voting by casting their vote for an unlikely winner in the presidential race.
Orientations of liquid crystals on mechanically rubbed films of bovine serum albumin: a possible substrate for biomolecular assays based on liquid crystals.

We report the uniform planar anchoring of thermotropic liquid crystals on films of bovine serum albumin (BSA) covalently immobilized on the surface of glass microscope slides and mechanically rubbed using a cloth. The azimuthal orientations of the liquid crystals were measured to be parallel to the direction of rubbing. Following immersion and removal of these rubbed films of BSA from aqueous solutions containing either BSA, fibrinogen, lysozyme, anti-FITC immunoglobulin G (IgG), or anti-streptavidin IgG, we measured liquid crystals placed onto these surfaces to largely retain their uniform alignment. In contrast, following immersion of a rubbed film of BSA into an aqueous solution of anti-BSA IgG, we observed liquid crystals on these surfaces to assume nonuniform orientations. We conclude that specific binding of anti-BSA IgG to the film of rubbed BSA erased anisotropy induced within the film of BSA by rubbing. This result suggests that the spatial scale of anisotropy within the rubbed film of BSA is com...
Effects of slip on fretting behavior: experiments and analyses

The role of relative slip on fretting behavior was investigated by conducting experiments and analyses. The first series of tests was conducted at different substrate applied stress amplitudes, and the second series at different applied fretting pad displacements with a constant substrate stress amplitude. A fretting map was developed using fretting fatigue life, relative slip range and normal force. This map provides useful information about the inter-relationships between these parameters and contact conditions (partial and gross slip) as well as about damages induced by these conditions. Partial and gross slip conditions were modeled using finite element analysis (FEA). FEA showed that gross slip simply shifted the stress distribution and the location of the trailing edge without any appreciable change in magnitude. Modified shear stress range (MSSR) parameter, a critical plane-based multi-axial fatigue model, was used to characterize fretting fatigue crack initiation behavior. With increasing applied relative slip, the MSSR parameter initially increased and the fatigue life decreased; thereafter the MSSR remained constant but the fatigue life increased. This increase in the fatigue life appears to be due to an increased wear rate. There was thus a competition between crack initiation and material removal during fretting as the contact condition changed from partial slip to gross slip.
Genetic analysis and fine mapping of the pubescence gene GL6 in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The pubescence of the leaf blade surface is an important agronomic characteristic for rice morphology and significantly influences rice growth as well as physiological characteristics. This characteristic was analyzed in F1 and F2 plants derived by crossing cultivar 75-1-127 with the indica cultivar Minghui 63, as well as the glabrous cultivar Lemont and indica cultivar 9311. Results indicated that the pubescence of the leaf blade surface was a dominant trait and controlled by a single gene. The GL6 gene was primarily mapped on rice chromosome 6 with recessive F2 population derived from 75-1-127/Minghui 63 by combining bulked segregation analysis and recessive class analysis using the Mapmaker3.0/MapDraw software. The genetic distances between the simple sequence repeat markers RM20491 and RM20547 were 7.2 and 2.2 cM, respectively. The GL6 gene was fine mapped in the interval between InDel-106 and InDel-115 at genetic distances of 0.3 and 0.1 cM, respectively. The large, recessive F2 population was derived from 75-1-127/Minghui 63. A high-resolution genetic and physical map of GL6 was constructed. Derived from the map-based sequences published by the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project, the GL6 gene was localized at an interval of 79 (japonica) and 116.82 kb (9311) bracketed by InDel-106 and InDel-115 within the BAC accession numbers AP008403 and AP005760. Seven annotated genes (japonica) and eight annotated genes (9311) were present. The basis was further set for GL6 cloning and function analysis.
Maximum principle for hypersurfaces

We give an intrinsic proof and a generalization of the interior and boundary maximum principle for hypersurfaces in Riemannian and Lorentzian manifolds. Moreover, we show some new applications to manifolds with lower Ricci curvature bounds. E.g. we prove a local and a Lorentzian version of Cheng's maximal diameter theorem and a non-existence result for closed minimal hypersurfaces.
9-cis-Retinoic Acid Selectively Activates the Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein-II Gene in Human Neuroblastoma Cells

Two families of nuclear retinoid receptors, retinoic acid receptor and retinoid X receptor (RAR and RXR respectively), and a family of cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins (CRABPI and II) participate in the retinoic acid (RA) signaling pathway. The presence and function of many of these receptors and cellular binding proteins have not been fully explored in RA-responsive human neuroblastoma cells. We have previously shown that RAR transcripts and protein are present in human neuroblastoma cells, and that all-trans RA induces the expression of the RAR beta mRNA. In this paper, we demonstrate that human neuroblastoma cells express mRNA for RXR alpha and beta. The mRNA for CRABPI is present in untreated human neuroblastoma cells, whereas the mRNA for CRABPII is induced in cells treated with either all-trans RA or 9-cis RA. Furthermore, 9-cis RA, a ligand that binds to both the RAR and the RXR families, selectively activates the CRABPII gene. In contrast, all-trans RA and 9-cis RA are equally effective in the induction of RAR beta transcript and inhibition of cell proliferation. Since both retinoids inhibit human neuroblastoma cell proliferation, it appears that induction of RAR beta rather than of CRABPII is more likely linked to the regulation of human neuroblastoma cell growth.
The advantages of using photographs and video images in telephone consultations with a specialist in paediatric surgery.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the advantages of a telephone consultation with a specialist in paediatric surgery after taking photographs and video images by a general practitioner for the diagnosis of some diseases. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study of the reliability of paediatric surgery online consultation among specialists and general practitioners. Results: Of 26 general practitioners included in the study, 12 were working in the city and 14 were working in districts outside the city. A total of 41 pictures and 3 videos of 38 patients were sent and evaluated together with the medical history and clinical findings. These patients were diagnosed with umbilical granuloma (n = 6), physiological/pathological phimosis (n = 6), balanitis (n = 6), hydrocele (n = 6), umbilical hernia (n = 4), smegma cyst (n = 2), reductable inguinal hernia (n = 1), incarcerated inguinal hernia (n = 1), paraphimosis (n = 1), burried penis (n = 1), hypospadias (n = 1), epigastric hernia (n = 1), vulva synechia (n = 1), and rectal prolapse (n = 1). Twelve patients were asked to be referred urgently, but it was suggested that only two of these patients, who had paraphimosis and incarcerated inguinal hernia be referred in emergency conditions. It was decided that there was no need for the other ten patients to be referred to a specialist at night or at the weekend. All diagnoses were confirmed to be true, when all patients underwent examination in the pediatric surgery clinic in elective conditions. Conclusion: Evaluation of photographs and video images of a lesion together with medical history and clinical findings via a telephone consultation between a paediatric surgery specialist and a general practitioner provides a definitive diagnosis and prevents patients from being referred unnecessarily.
An Interferometer Method of Studying the Vibrations of an Oscillating Quartz Plate

An expression involving the fringe brightness as a function of the amplitude of vibration is obtained for the case of a Michelson or a similar interferometer in which one of the returning mirrors executes S.H.M. in a direction perpendicular to its plane. A detailed discussion of the application of this expression to the measurement of the amplitude of vibration of a quartz plate is given, together with the observations upon four such plates. The superposition of either the first or second overtone upon the fundamental is also considered.The observed vibrations are predominantly flexural. The experimental results of Doerffler relating to the frequency dependence of the velocity of flexural waves are confirmed and found to apply to X-waves in a Y-cut. There is evidence of low frequency flexural waves propagated diagonally across a quartz plate.An interferometer method is suggested for distinguishing between flexural and longitudinal vibrations.
Differential Analysis of Human Leukocytes by Dielectrophoretic Field-Flow-Fractionation

The differential analysis of human leukocytes has many important biological and medical applications. In this work, dielectrophoretic field-flow-fractionation (DEP-FFF), a cell-separation technique that exploits the differences in the density and dielectric properties of cells, was used to separate the mixtures of the major human leukocyte subpopulations (T- and B-lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes). The separation was conducted in a thin chamber equipped with an array of microfabricated interdigitated electrodes on the bottom surface, and the separation performance was characterized by on-line flow cytometry. To investigate optimal separation conditions for different leukocyte mixtures, elution fractograms at various DEP field frequencies were obtained for each leukocyte subtype. With appropriately chosen conditions, high separation performance was achieved in separating T- (or B-) lymphocytes from monocytes, T- (or B-) lymphocytes from granulocytes, and monocytes from granulocytes. DEP-FFF does not involve cell-labeling or cell-modification step, and provides a new approach to hematological analysis.
Importance of Local Pattern Properties in Spiral Defect Chaos

We analyze experimental data from Rayleigh-B\'enard convection in a large aspect ratio cell using a new, efficient method applicable to disordered striped patterns from biological, chemical, optical, and fluid systems. We present statistics of various local pattern properties such as the local wave-vector magnitude, local pattern orientation, and defect densities. Using these statistics, we provide quantitative evidence demonstrating that the stability boundaries derived for infinite systems are applicable to local patches within disordered patterns. We also present the first experimental observation of multiple length scales within spiral defect chaos.
On the Use of Facet Importance as a Weighting Component of Job Satisfaction

Though past research has not supported the strategy of using importance weights in constructing an overall index of job satisfaction from measures of satisfaction with diverse workplace facets, res...
Monitoring of formic acid in urine of humans exposed to low levels of formaldehyde

This study documented the formaldehyde exposures of a group of veterinary medicine students. It also investigated the feasibility of biologically monitoring the exposures. The biological monitoring was based on the fact that the formaldehyde is metabolized in the body to formic acid, and may then be excreted in the urine. Therefore, exposures to formaldehyde could theoretically create a shift in the formic acid levels in the urine. Normal baseline levels of urinary formic acid were first established for each subject. The baselines of most students were quite variable. Very few exhibited a “tight variability” in their baseline. Next, three sets of pre- and post-exposure urine samples were taken. A series of paired t-tests were run on these “pre” and “post” sets. The results indicated that no significant formic acid shift was seen. A subset of the samples was “corrected” for specific gravity. However, this adjustment did not have an effect upon the relative formic acid levels. In addition, no significant fo...
“Bad” Neighborhoods, Fast Food, “Sleazy” Businesses, and Drug Dealers: Relations between the Location of Licit and Illicit Businesses in the Urban Environment:

This study explores the demographic and ecological characteristics of urban neighborhoods according to variations in their levels of visible drug sales. In addition to standard socio-demographic measures, extensive data on a number of licit businesses located in different neighborhoods are also included. These range from those that residents are likely to consider desirable (e.g., bookstores) to those they are likely to consider undesirable (e.g., massage parlors). It is suggested that an elaboration of the concept of collective efficacy may be useful in understanding the relation between business location and public drug dealing. Specifically, we propose that collective efficacy can be understood not only in terms of neighborhood residents' capacity to resist the incursion of factors perceived as threatening, but also their capacity to attract those perceived as potentially enhancing the quality of life. The results indicate that the neighborhoods most burdened by visible drug markets are distinctive not...
Development of an Accessible Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (A-CASI) to Screen for Abuse and Provide Safety Strategies for Women With Disabilities

To increase safety and minimize the risk of interpersonal violence, it is critical that women with disabilities and Deaf women have an opportunity to identify whether or not abuse is happening in their lives. Awareness and knowledge of what constitutes abusive behaviors is an essential first step in addressing interpersonal violence. This article includes a description of the development and evaluation of the Safer and Stronger Program (SSP), an audio computer-assisted self-interview program, which was created for women with disabilities and Deaf women for the purposes of increasing awareness of abuse, encouraging safety-planning behaviors, and providing information about community resources.
Design, synthesis and structure–activity relationship studies of novel and diverse cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors as anti-inflammatory drugs

Because of the pivotal role of cyclooxygenase (COX) in the inflammatory processes, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that suppress COX activities have been used clinically for the treatment of inflammatory diseases/syndromes; however, traditional NSAIDs exhibit serious side-effects such as gastrointestinal damage and hyper sensitivity owing to their COX-1 inhibition. Also, COX-2 inhibition-derived suppressive or preventive effects against initiation/proliferation/invasion/motility/recurrence/metastasis of various cancers/tumours such as colon, gastric, skin, lung, liver, pancreas, breast, prostate, cervical and ovarian cancers are significant. In this study, design, synthesis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) of various novel {2-[(2-, 3- and/or 4-substituted)-benzoyl, (bicyclic heterocycloalkanophenyl)carbonyl or cycloalkanecarbonyl]-(5- or 6-substituted)-1H-indol-3-yl}acetic acid analogues were investigated to seek and identify various chemotypes of potent and selective COX-2 inhibitors for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, resulting in the discovery of orally potent agents in the peripheral-inflammation model rats. The SARs and physicochemical properties for the analogues are described as significant findings. For graphical abstract: see Supplementary Material. ( www.informahealthcare.com/enz ).