cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disruption of the Sec24d Gene Results in Early Embryonic Lethality in the Mouse

Transport of newly synthesized proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi is mediated by the coat protein complex COPII. The inner coat of COPII is assembled from heterodimers of SEC23 and SEC24. Though mice with mutations in one of the four Sec24 paralogs, Sec24b, exhibit a neural tube closure defect, deficiency in humans or mice has not yet been described for any of the other Sec24 paralogs. We now report characterization of mice with targeted disruption of Sec24d. Early embryonic lethality is observed in mice completely deficient in SEC24D, while a hypomorphic Sec24d allele permits survival to mid-embryogenesis. Mice haploinsufficient for Sec24d exhibit no phenotypic abnormality. A BAC transgene containing Sec24d rescues the embryonic lethality observed in Sec24d-null mice. These results demonstrate an absolute requirement for SEC24D expression in early mammalian development that is not compensated by the other three Sec24 paralogs. The early embryonic lethality resulting from loss of SEC24D in mice contrasts with the previously reported mild skeletal phenotype of SEC24D deficiency in zebrafish and restricted neural tube phenotype of SEC24B deficiency in mice. Taken together, these observations suggest that the multiple Sec24 paralogs have developed distinct functions over the course of vertebrate evolution.
Tunable two-dimensional femtosecond spectroscopy

We have developed a two-dimensional (2D) Fourier-transform femtosecond spectroscopy technique for the visible spectral region. Three-pulse photon echo signals are generated in a phase-matched noncollinear four-wave mixing box geometry that employs a 3-kHz repetition-rate laser system and optical parametric amplification. Nonlinear signals are fully characterized in amplitude and phase by spectral interferometry. Unlike for previous setups, we achieve long-term phase stability by employing diffractive optics and interferometric accuracy of excitation-pulse time delays by using movable glass wedges. As an example of this technique, 2D correlation and relaxation spectra at 600 nm are shown for a solution of Nile Blue dye in acetonitrile.
Coronary revascularization in older women and men in the United States: trends in ethnic differences.

Abstract Background Many reports of ethnic differences in utilization of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have been published in the past 2 decades. However, revascularization trends in elderly ethnic minorities have received little attention. Objectives The purpose of the present study was to determine whether ethnic differences in rates of CABG and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) decreased after 1990 among elderly women and men. Methods Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services were examined for the years 1990 through 1997–99. Numbers of CABG and PTCA procedures performed in Medicare enrollees were used to compute rates per 100,000 non-HMO beneficiaries by year, sex, and ethnicity for persons aged ≥65 years. Results In women and men, the rate of CABG increased in African Americans and in European Americans between 1990 and 1996. However, a decline in numbers and rates of CABG was noted for the first time in 1997. Between 1990 and 1997, the ratio of rates in European Americans to those in African Americans declined somewhat (eg, in women, from 1.79 in 1990 to 1.55 in 1997). Along with steady rapid increases in rates of PTCA in both groups, a decrease in this ratio was noted (eg, in women, from 2.09 in 1990 to 1.54 in 1997 to 1.44 in 1999). This ratio was higher at ages 75 to 84 years than at 65 to 74, declining most at 75 to 84. Conclusions Despite apparent decreases in ratios of rates in European Americans to those in African Americans for CABG and inpatient PTCA from 1990–1999, large ethnic differences in utilization of CABG and PTCA persist in the elderly, requiring further evaluation and possible intervention.
Porous structure of the periclase plates of steel-teeming ladle slide gates

An investigation of the porous structure of refractories for steel-teeming ladle fused and sintered periclase base slide gates confirmed the presence of primarily fine voids in the samples.
Projections on cones, chi-bar squared distributions, and Weyl's formula

Using Weyl's formula for the volume of the tube about a manifold in the unit sphere, we show that the distribution of the squared length of the projection of the normal variate to any smooth convex cone is a mixture of chi-squared distributions and we give the explicit formulas for the weights. We also give the application of our work to circular cones.
Building the Continental Empire: American Expansion from the Revolution to the Civil War

In this fresh survey of foreign relations in the early years of the American republic, William Earl Weeks argues that the construction of the new nation went hand in hand with the building of the American empire. Mr. Weeks traces the origins of this initiative to the 1750s, when the Founding Fathers began to perceive the advantages of colonial union and the possibility of creating an empire within the British Empire that would provide security and the potential for commercial and territorial expansion. After the adoption of the Constitution-and a far stronger central government than had been popularly imagined-the need to expand combined with a messianic American nationalism. The result was aggressive diplomacy by successive presidential administrations. From the acquisition of Louisiana and Florida to the Mexican War, from the Monroe Doctrine to the annexation of Texas, Mr. Weeks describes the ideology and scope of American expansion in what has become known as the age of Manifest Destiny. Relations with Great Britain, France, and Spain; the role of missionaries, technology, and the federal government; and the issue of slavery are key elements in this succinct and thoughtful view of the making of the continental nation.
Bridging the gap between town and gown: Local government expertise and the role of the university

This paper challenges the claim of the public administration community that universities are playing an important role in transferring public sector technology to local governments. We provide data from the Lower Mississippi Delta to show that graduate programs in public management and planning are not filling the severe expertise gap facing nonrnetropolitan counties and municipalities. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations on how universities can better fulfill their promise of technology transfer.
Long-Term Variations of the Electron Slot Region and Global Radiation Belt Structure

We report the observations of changes of the nominal position of the quiet-time radiation belt slot over the solar cycles. It has been found that the slot region, believed to be a result of enhanced precipitation losses of energetic electrons due to their interactions with VLF waves in the magnetosphere, tends to shift to higher L (approximately 3) during a solar maximum compared to its canonical L value of approximately 2.5, which is more typical of a solar minimum. The solar-cycle migration of the slot can be understood in terms of the solar-cycle changes in ionospheric densities, which may cause the optimal wave-particle interaction region during higher solar activity periods to move to higher altitudes and higher latitudes, thus higher L. Our analysis also suggests that the primary wave-particle interaction processes that result in the slot formation are located off of the magnetic equator.
A gas-permeable ESR sample tube

Abstract A technique is described by which the oxygen concentration in a liquid ESR sample can be conveniently controlled while the sample remains in the microwave cavity. A thin-wall polytetrafluoroethylene sample tube, which is permeable to oxygen and nitrogen but not to most liquids, allows the oxygen concentration in the sample to come to equilibrium with the oxygen concentration in the gas stream which is used to maintain temperature control. Thus, by regulating the concentration of oxygen in the gas stream, the partial pressure of oxygen in the sample can be varied from 0 to 1 atm.
Chlorido(2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octa-ethyl-porphyrinato)iron(III) dichloro-methane sesquisolvate.

The title mol­ecule, [Fe(C36H44N4)Cl]·1.5CH2Cl2, is a high-spin square-pyramidal iron(III) porphyrinate with an average value for the equatorial Fe—N bond lengths of 2.065 (3) A and an axial Fe—Cl distance of 2.2430 (13) A. The iron cation is displaced by 0.518 (1) A from the 24-atom mean plane of the porphyrin ring. These values are typical for high-spin iron(III) porphyrinates.
Cross Relaxation between Some Paramagnetic Ions in Crystals Observed by an Optical Method

An optical-absorption method of monitoring the population changes within the ground Zeeman doublet of paramagnetic ions has been utilized in an optical-microwave double-resonance experiment to measure cross-relaxation effects in mixed crystals. The spin dynamics of the following systems are reported and discussed: Pr-Er(ethylsulfate), Ce-Nd(ethylsulfate), Pr-Ni(double nitrate), and Pr-Sm(ethylsulfate). Experimental results are compared to relevant theories of the spin dynamics and interaction mechanisms which are expected for these ions. The theories of the phonon bottleneck are discussed in terms of their ability to explain some nonexponential decays which are observed in the experiment. A method of estimating the cross-relaxation rate due to virtual-phonon exchange is developed which uses measured spin-lattice relaxation rates to eliminate unknown parameters. The relaxation measurements generally indicate very rapid energy transfer between dissimilar ions which have overlapping resonances, even in a case where the magnetic dipole-dipole interaction is absent.
Optical inverse radon transform

Abstract Mathematical formulation of an optical processesor that implements the inverse radon transform is described. This operation is of use in X-ray computed tomography, transaxial scanning and other image construction systems. The optical system outlined uses the convolution of two two-dimensional functions to achieve the inverse radon transform by a new implementation method.
Controlling factors in the direct formation of H2O2 from H2 and O2 over a Pd/SiO2 catalyst in ethanol

Abstract The direct formation of H2O2 in ethanol over a Pd/SiO2 catalyst has been studied under conditions that yield good selectivities for the peroxide, moderate rates of formation, and concentrations of H2O2 that approach 2 wt.%. Several factors, including the partial pressures of H2 and O2, the presence of protons along with chloride and/or bromide ions, and the reaction temperature significantly affect the rate of H2O2 formation, the selectivity of the reaction, and the loss of palladium from the support. Mass transport, which is a function of a particular system, may also limit the rate of peroxide formation. Halide ions (Cl− or Br−) and protons (derived from H2SO4 in this study) are essential for limiting the combustion reaction; i.e., in the absence of these ions almost no peroxide was formed. A selectivity for H2O2 approaching 80% was achieved using 2 × 10−5 M Br− and 0.12 M H2SO4 with an O2/H2 ratio of 15. Bromide is particularly useful as the halide because it inhibits the loss of Pd from the support. The net formation rate for H2O2 was found to be first order with respect to H2 and zero order with respect to O2. The effects of changing the temperature from 5 to 15 °C were evaluated, and it was observed that the system was most stable at the lowest temperature. As might be expected, the initial rate of peroxide formation and the conversion of H2 was the largest at 15 °C, but as the reaction proceeded the rate of peroxide formation and the selectivity decreased. These results further establish the complexity of this three-phase system that involves a network of reactions and the possibility that the catalyst undergoes change with time.
Patricia Goldman-Rakic: A Remembrance

With gratitude to Linda Porrino, Ellen deWitt, Thelma Galkin, Marvin Snyder, and Mort Mishkin for discussions about Pat's life at NIMH.
Analyzing developmental trajectories: A semiparametric, group-based approach

Carnegie Mellon UniversityA developmental trajectory describes the course of a behavior over age or time. Agroup-based method for identifying distinctive groups of individual trajectorieswithin the population and for profiling the characteristics of group members isdemonstrated. Such clusters might include groups of "increasers." "decreasers,"and "no changers." Suitably defined probability distributions are used to handle 3data types—count, binary, and psychometric scale data. Four capabilities are dem-onstrated: (a) the capability to identify rather than assume distinctive groups oftrajectories, (b) the capability to estimate the proportion of the population followingeach such trajectory group, (c) the capability to relate group membership probabil-ity to individual characteristics and circumstances, and (d) the capability to use thegroup membership probabilities for various other purposes such as creating profilesof group members.
A theory of piezoelectric activity and ion-movements in the relation of flagellar structures and their movements to the phototaxis of Euglena

Abstract A review of the literature on the flagellar undulations and phototactic movements of Euglena indicates that the flagellum functions as an ATP-using motor, triggered and mediated by cations, especially H3O+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+, and driven by energy from ATP. The undulatory waves are assumed to be started by means of repetitive pulses due to a redox reaction at the base of the flagellum. It is also assumed that the axoneme and paraflagellar rod are composed of asymmetrically-crystalline proteinaceous fibrils which are piezoelectric, i.e. they bend when energy passes through or along them, thus acting as a motor, and when bending they deliver a current, thus acting as a generator. This piezoelectric activity displaces cations and drives them ahead of it, triggering sequential bending and straightening of segments of the flagellum from base to tip. The paraflagellar swelling (“photoreceptor”) is also assumed to be piezoelectric, reactive to light, acting as a capacitor. It discharges as the intensity of light striking it is changed by the alternative shading effect of the stigma (“eyespot”) and exposure to light as the Euglena gyrates in swimming. The charge delivered by the photoreceptor augments the effects of ion-movements along the flagellum, also augmenting the amplitude and force of the flagellar undulations and altering the position of the flagellum relative to the body and the direction of swimming. The body is tipped away from the original path and swims either toward or away from the light, depending on the ultimate alteration of the path of swimming.
Bounds on the Tradeoff Between Decoding Complexity and Rate for Sparse-Graph Codes

Khandekar and McEliece suggested the problem of per bit decoding complexity for capacity achieving sparse-graph codes as a function of their gap from the channel capacity. We consider the problem for the case of the binary symmetric channel. We derive a lower bound on this complexity for some codes on graphs for Belief Propagation decoding. For bounded degree LDPC and LDGM codes, any concatenation of the two, and punctured bounded-degree LDPC codes, this reduces to a lower bound of O (log (1/isin-)). The proof of this result leads to an interesting necessary condition on the code structures which could achieve capacity with bounded decoding complexity over BSC: the average edge-degree must converge to infinity while the average node-degree must be bounded. That is, one of the node degree distributions must have a finite mean and an infinite variance.
A ground reaction curve based upon block theory

Discontinuities in a rock mass can intersect an excavation surface to form discrete blocks (keyblocks) which can be unstable. Once a potentially unstable block is identified, initial normal and shear stresses on each block face are calculated using elastic theory, and are then modified by discontinuity deformations as the keyblock displaces. The modified stresses are summed into resultant forces to evaluate block stability. Since the resultant forces change with displacement, successive increments of block movement are examined to see whether the block ultimately becomes stable or fails. Calculated keyblock stability increases with larger in situ stress magnitudes, larger lateral stress ratios, and larger shear strengths. Discontinuity stiffness controls block displacement more strongly than it does stability itself. Large keyblocks are less stable than small ones, and stability increases as blocks become more slender.
An atomic-scale analysis of catalytically-assisted chemical vapor deposition of carbon nanotubes

Growth of carbon nanotubes during transition-metal particles catalytically-assisted thermal decomposition (also referred to as chemical vapor deposition or CVD) of methane in hydrogen as a carrier gas has been analyzed at the atomic scale using a kinetic Monte Carlo method. The method is parameterized by the rates of various nanotube surface and edge reactions (e.g. adsorption of hydrocarbons and hydrogen onto the surface of the transition-metal particles and onto the surface of carbon nanotubes, carbon atom attachment to the growing end of nanotubes, nucleation and growth of the outer nanotubes walls, etc.). Simulations of the carbon nanotubes growth are found to yield predictions regarding the effect of nominal and local processing conditions on the nanotubes morphology and growth rates in very good (qualitative and quantitative) agreement with their experimental counterparts. In addition, formation of new walls during growth is found to take place quite readily suggesting that the fabrication of single walled carbon nanotubes by CVD may be a formidable task.
Signals on the immune tract

See article on page 190 Recent studies have shown that cytokines produced by T lymphocytes and antigen presenting cells play an important role in both the induction and perpetuation of chronic intestinal inflammation.1-5 In particular, the balance between interleukin 12/interferon γ and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) responses has been shown to regulate the occurrence of chronic intestinal inflammation.6 The TGF-β superfamily consists of multifunctional cytokines, including TGF-β 1–3, activins, inhibins, and bone morphogenetic proteins. TGF-β1 mediates its functions by binding to the accessory TGF-β type III receptor that serves as a ligand for the TGF-β type II receptor. Receptor bound TGF-β1 recruits TGF-β type I receptor into the complex leading to formation of a heteromeric complex that finally results in phosphorylation and activation of receptor …
Combining Socratic Questions With the “ADAPT” Problem-Solving Model: Implications for Couple's Conflict Resolution

The purpose of the article is to integrate the use of Socratic questions into a developmental problem-solving model for couples. Following an overview to the theory behind the model along with a re...
Asking the Stakeholders: Perspectives of Individuals With Aphasia, Their Family Members, and Physicians Regarding Communication in Medical Interactions.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of patients with aphasia, their family members, and physicians related to communication during medical interactions. Method Face-to-face, semistructured interviews were conducted with 18 participants—6 patients with aphasia, 6 family members involved in patient care, and 6 practicing physicians. A qualitative description approach was used to collect and summarize narratives from participants' perspectives and experiences. Participants were asked about experiences with communication during medical interactions in which the family member accompanied the patient. Interviews were audio- and/or video-recorded, transcribed, and then coded to identify main themes. Results Patients and family members generally described their communication experiences as positive, yet all participants discussed challenges and frustrations. Three themes emerged: (a) patients and family members work as a team, (b) patients and family members want physicians to “just t...
Two Are Better Than One: The Joint Influence of Maternal Preparedness for Parenting and Children's Self-Esteem on Academic Achievement and Adjustment

Research Findings: This study investigated the joint influence of maternal cognitive readiness to parent and children's self-esteem on children's academic achievement and behavioral adjustment in the classroom at age 10. Participants were 153 adolescent mothers and their firstborn children. Findings indicated that low levels of prenatal maternal cognitive readiness to parent were associated with impairments in children's achievement and adjustment at age 10, regardless of the children's level of self-esteem. Among dyads in which mothers were more cognitively prepared for the parenting role, however, children with higher self-esteem showed notably better achievement and adjustment compared to those with lower self-esteem. These results illustrate the joint influence of mothers' preparedness for parenting and children's self-esteem on the school performance of children who are generally considered to be at high risk for impairments in achievement and adjustment. Practice or Policy: Findings are discussed in...
Neuropeptide proctolin (H-Arg-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH): immunological detection and neuronal localization in insect central nervous system

Abstract Proctolin (H-Arg-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH) is a pentapeptide first extracted from cockroaches. It is known to have many neurohormonal effects and has been associated with specific, identified cockroach neurons. We have produced proctolin antisera and report here on their application in detecting proctolin-like immunoreactivity (PLI) in the cockroach central nervous system. Radioimmunoassay, capable of detectable 50 fmol of proctolin, was used to quantify the distribution of PLI. Highest concentrations were detected in the genital ganglia and lowest in the cerebral ganglia. Immunohistochemistry on the cockroach central nervous system demonstrated that PLI is localized to neurons. Neurons stained by using immunohistochemistry were widespread in the ganglia. Cell bodies were found to be in constant positions from animal to animal and to occur in bilaterally symmetrical pairs. These neurons are potentially identifiable.
Preserved stable isotopic signature of subaerial diagenesis in the 1.2-b.y. Mescal Limestone, central Arizona: Implications for the timing and development of a terrestrial plant cover

A Precambrian exposure surface in the 1.2-b.y. Mescal Limestone has been isotopically examined for indications of a carbon isotopic signature that might indicate the presence of a subaerial vegetative cover in the middle Proterozoic. δ 18 O values of the Mescal carbonates show two distinct data sets: (1) dolomites from an unaltered zone which were unaffected by sub-aerial diagenesis having δ 18 O values ranging from +19.9 to +25.6‰ Standard Mean Ocean Water (SMOW) with cherts averaging +30‰, and (2) dolomites from a dissolution zone subaerially exposed in the Precambrian with δ 18 O values ranging from +13.9 to +22.4‰ and cherts averaging +25‰. δ 13 C of dolomite ranges from +3.7‰ Pee Dee Belemnite (PDB) in the unaltered zone to 0‰ in the dissolution zone. The dissolution zone consists of a karst breccia of recemented dolomite and chert fragments with numerous clastic solution dikes. Isotopic and field data indicate that the δ 18 O of the unaltered dolomite was fixed during early meteoric-water diagenesis, including dissolution-silicification of evaporites and dolomitization. During a later subaerial exposure event, a large flux of meteoric water flushed through the dissolution zone and produced the same isotopic patterns that Allan and Matthews documented for younger examples as indicative of a vegetatively covered land surface. Alternative explanations for producing the observed δ 13 C variations in the absence of vegetation do not seem feasible. We therefore suggest that the subaerial environment 1.2 b.y. ago was a biologically active zone.
Push, pull, and reverse: self-interest, responsibility, and the global health care worker shortage.

The world is suffering from a dearth of health care workers, and sub-Saharan Africa, an area of great need, is experiencing the worst shortage. Developed countries are making the problem worse by luring health care workers away from the countries that need them most, while developing countries do not have the resources to stem the flow or even replace those lost. Postmodern philosopher Emmanuel Levinas offers a unique ethical framework that is helpful in assessing both the irresponsibility inherent in the current global health care situation and the responsibility and obligation held by the stakeholders involved in this global crisis. Drawing on Levinas’ exploration of individual freedom and self-pursuit, infinite responsibility for the Other, and the potential emergence of a just community, we demonstrate its effectiveness in explaining the health care worker crisis, and we argue in favor of a variety of policy and development assistance measures that are grounded in an orientation of non-indifference toward Others.
Improved nutritional management of phenylketonuria by using a diet containing glycomacropeptide compared with amino acids

Background: Phenylketonuria (PKU) requires a lifelong low-phenylalanine diet that provides the majority of protein from a phenylalanine-free amino acid (AA) formula. Glycomacropeptide (GMP), an intact protein formed during cheese production, contains minimal phenylalanine. Objective: The objective was to investigate the effects of substituting GMP food products for the AA formula on acceptability, safety, plasma AA concentrations, and measures of protein utilization in subjects with PKU. Design: Eleven subjects participated in an inpatient metabolic study with two 4-d treatments: a current AA diet (AA diet) followed by a diet that replaced the AA formula with GMP (GMP diet) supplemented with limiting AAs. Plasma concentrations of AAs, blood chemistries, and insulin were measured and compared in AA (day 4) and GMP diets (day 8). Results: The GMP diet was preferred to the AA diet in 10 of 11 subjects with PKU, and there were no adverse reactions to GMP. There was no significant difference in phenylalanine concentration in postprandial plasma with the GMP diet compared with the AA diet. When comparing fasting with postprandial plasma, plasma phenalyalanine concentration increased significantly with the AA but not with the GMP diet. Blood urea nitrogen was significantly lower, which suggests decreased ureagenesis, and plasma insulin was higher with the GMP diet than with the AA diet. Conclusions: GMP, when supplemented with limiting AAs, is a safe and highly acceptable alternative to synthetic AAs as the primary protein source in the nutritional management of PKU. As an intact protein source, GMP improves protein retention and phenylalanine utilization compared with AAs.
Significant parameters in the optimization of MALDI-TOF-MS for synthetic polymers

One of the most significant issues in any analytical practice is optimization. Optimization and calibration are key factors in quantitation. In matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), instrument optimization is a limitation restricting quantitation. An understanding of the parameters that are most influential and the effects of these parameters on the mass spectrum is required for optimization. This understanding is especially important when characterizing synthetic polymers by MALDI-TOF-MS, due to the breadth of the polymer molecular mass distribution (MMD). Two considerations are important in quantitation, additivity of signal and signal-to-noise (S/N). In this study, the effects of several instrument parameters were studied using an orthogonal experimental design to understand effects on the signal-to-noise (S/N) of a polystyrene distribution. The instrument parameters examined included detector voltage, laser energy, delay time, extraction voltage, and lens voltage. Other parameters considered were polymer concentration and matrix. The results showed detector voltage and delay time were the most influential of the instrument parameters for polystyrene using all trans-retinoic acid (RA) as the matrix. These parameters, as well as laser energy, were most influential for the polystyrene with dithranol as the matrix.
Transarterial wall oxygen gradients at a prosthetic vascular graft to artery anastomosis in the rabbit

Abstract Purpose: Artery-wall hypoxia has been proposed to contribute to many kinds of artery-wall pathologic conditions, including atherosclerosis and intimal hyperplasia. Intimal hyperplasia is common at sites of arterial injury, including an anastomosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a prosthetic vascular graft (PVG)-to-artery anastomosis on the delivery of oxygen to the artery wall. Methods: The transarterial wall oxygen gradient in the infrarenal aorta of New Zealand White rabbits 2 mm distal to a PVG-to-artery anastomosis was measured with an oxygen microelectrode. Results: Oxygen tensions were significantly decreased in the outer artery wall immediately after the creation of the anastomosis and showed a further decrease in oxygen tensions at days 7 and 14, which correlated with the absence of a vasa vasorum. After day 14, the oxygen tensions gradually increased, returning to normal by postanastomosis day 42, correlating with a return of the vasa vasorum. These changes were noted without differences in blood pressure or arterial blood oxygen concentrations. Conclusion: The delivery of oxygen to the artery wall is altered by the creation of a PVG-to-artery anastomosis. Low arterial oxygen tensions at a PVG-to-artery anastomosis support a role for artery-wall hypoxia in the formation of intimal hyperplasia at the site of a PVG-to-artery anastomosis. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:1229-39.)
Community Perceptions of Theft Seriousness: A Challenge to Model Penal Code and English Theft Act Consolidation

In the middle of the 20th century, criminal law reformers helped pass laws that consolidated previously distinct common-law offenses such as larceny, embezzlement, false pretenses, extortion, blackmail, and receiving stolen property into a unified offense of theft, imposing uniform punishments for a diversity of methods of stealing and a diversity of types of property that could be stolen. The result was a “consolidated” scheme of theft, with a single, broad definition of property (typically, “anything of value”) and a single scheme of grading (based, roughly, on the value of the thing stolen). In this study, participants were given two sets of scenarios—one involving variations in the means by which a theft was committed, the other involving variations in the type of property stolen—and asked to rate these thefts in terms of blameworthiness and punishment deserved. They drew sharp distinctions across both means of theft and type of property, not adopting a consolidated view. Under the principle of fair labeling—the idea that criminal law offenses should be divided and labeled so as to represent widely felt views about the nature and magnitude of law breaking—such data provide the basis for a significant challenge to modern theft law.
A Comparison of Plastic Responses to Competition by Invasive and Non-invasive Congeners in the Commelinaceae

Evidence supporting an association between phenotypic plasticity and invasiveness across a range of plant taxa is based primarily on comparisons between invasive species and native species whose potential invasiveness is typically unknown. Comparison of invasive and non-invasive exotic species would provide a better test of whether plasticity promotes invasion. Such comparisons should distinguish between adaptive and non-adaptive plasticity because they have different consequences for invasiveness. Adaptive plasticity is expected to promote the invasion of multiple habitats, but non-adaptive plasticity may reflect specialization for invading more favorable habitats only. We grew four invasive and four non-invasive species of the Commelinaceae with and without competitors and compared their putatively adaptive plasticity of three traits related to competitive ability and non-adaptive plasticity in performance. The invasive species grew significantly more than the non-invasive species only in the non-competitive environment. The invasive species had greater plasticity of performance (total biomass) in response to competition than non-invasives, but there was no consistent difference in the plasticities of the traits related to competitive ability. These results are consistent with specialization of these invasive taxa for invading the more productive non-competitive environment rather than a superior ability to invade both competitive and non-competitive environments. A comprehensive understanding of the relationship between plasticity and invasiveness will require many more comparisons of the plasticity of invasive and non-invasive taxa in a range of traits in response to a variety of environments.
Deploying CogTool: integrating quantitative usability assessment into real-world software development

Usability concerns are often difficult to integrate into real-world software development processes. To remedy this situation, IBM research and development, partnering with Carnegie Mellon University, has begun to employ a repeatable and quantifiable usability analysis method, embodied in CogTool, in its development practice. CogTool analyzes tasks performed on an interactive system from a storyboard and a demonstration of tasks on that storyboard, and predicts the time a skilled user will take to perform those tasks. We discuss how IBM designers and UX professionals used CogTool in their existing practice for contract compliance, communication within a product team and between a product team and its customer, assigning appropriate personnel to fix customer complaints, and quantitatively assessing design ideas before a line of code is written. We then reflect on the lessons learned by both the development organizations and the researchers attempting this technology transfer from academic research to integration into real-world practice, and we point to future research to even better serve the needs of practice.
Numerical experiments in climate stability.

Two semiempirical climate models are formulated as time-dependent problems in order to study the stability of their asymptotic steady state equilibrium solutions to perturbations in internal (in this case, initial) conditions. For fixed external conditions the time-dependent versions of these models exhibit fully transitive behavior to positive perturbations in initial conditions, slight intransivity to negative perturbations up to -18 K, and an ice-covered earth regime is obtained for extremely large negative perturbations in initial temperatures (below -18 K). The parametrization found to be most critical in these models is the albedo-temperature coupling, especially in tropical regions. The temperature albedo parametrization from an intransitive climate model used in a time-dependent form of one of the preceding models is found to be highly sensitive to negative perturbations in both internal and external conditions. Numerical experimentation with these semiempirical models shows the important role of the tropics in maintaining the equilibrium climate and suggests that the radiation balance in equatorial latitudes might have a controlling influence on the equatorward extent of the polar ice cap.
Measurements of Gas Bubble Size Distributions in Flowing Liquid Mercury

ABSTRACT Pressure waves created in liquid mercury pulsed spallation targets have been shown to induce cavitation damage on the target container. One way to mitigate such damage would be to absorb the pressure pulse energy into a dispersed population of small bubbles, however, measuring such a population in mercury is difficult since it is opaque and the mercury is involved in a turbulent flow. Ultrasonic measurements have been attempted on these types of flows, but the flow noise can interfere with the measurement, and the results are unverifiable and often unrealistic. Recently, a flow loop was built and operated at Oak Ridge National Labarotory to assess the capability of various bubbler designs to deliver an adequate population of bubbles to mitigate cavitation damage. The invented diagnostic technique involves flowing the mercury with entrained gas bubbles in a steady state through a horizontal piping section with a glass-window observation port located on the top. The mercury flow is then suddenly stopped and the bubbles are allowed to settle on the glass due to buoyancy. Using a bright-field illumination and a high-speed camera, the arriving bubbles are detected and counted, and then the images can be processed to determine the bubble populations.more » After using this technique to collect data on each bubbler, bubble size distributions were built for the purpose of quantifying bubbler performance, allowing the selection of the best bubbler options. This paper presents the novel procedure, photographic technique, sample visual results and some example bubble size distributions. The best bubbler options were subsequently used in proton beam irradiation tests performed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The cavitation damage results from the irradiated test plates in contact with the mercury are available for correlation with the bubble populations. The most effective mitigating population can now be designed into prototypical geometries for implementation into an actual SNS target.« less
The Reduction of Uncertainty and Troubleshooting Performance

Two problem-solving experiments were conducted to determine the effects of prior knowledge of problem intermittency on human troubleshooting performance. In-termittency was defined as the rate at w...
Currency Management Under A Hybrid System: Case Of The Yuan

The purpose of this research paper is to analyze the Renminbi (the Chinese currency) , suggesting whether or not the currency should be allowed to float. The paper makes the use of four popular approaches to determine whether or not the currency is currently undervalued , and if so, what mechanisms should be used to allow for its proper valuation. According to the purchasing power parity (PPP) , balance of payments approach, and the asset management approach, the Chinese currency is undervalued and will therefore appreciate in the future. For the long run, the floating of the currency is advisable ; however, in the short run, it will not be in the best interest of the Chinese economy given the nature of its banking system . Adopting a pure float could possibly cause major macro and micro economic imbalances that would be difficult to tackle. Instead, suggest ing the pegging of the Renminbi against a basket of currencies to ensure system wide flexibility and stability is the best course of action .
Structuring Change: Familiarity and Formal Interventions in Problem-Solving Groups

This article presents evidence for an incremental change process in decision-making groups whereby change unfolds through self-generated interruptions. Group members initiate self-interruptions by ...
Adoption of riparian forest buffers on private lands in Nebraska, USA

Pesticide and nutrient runoff from agricultural fields is a socio-environmental problem in the Midwestern United States. Riparian forest buffers (RFBs) are a proven conservation practice that effectively manage this problem, though adoption rates are low. A mail survey was conducted to determine differences between adopter and nonadopter characteristics and attitudes with regard to the use of RFBs. Data were collected from 48 RFB adopters and 261 RFB nonadopters in two Nebraska watersheds. Inferential and multivariate statistics were used to identify differences between adopter status and producer status groups. About half (50.8%) the respondents were nonproducers. Nonproducers are agricultural landowners not farming that make decisions about whether to install conservation practices on their land. Among the adopter respondents, non-farming agricultural landowners (nonproducers, n=25) were as likely to adopt RFBs as producers (n=23). Adopters were more informed about RFBs and willing to accept government payments. Receiving technical and financial assistance was a major key to adoption. The research has identified important opportunities for more effective and targeted RFB extension education programming.
Effects of stream channel morphology on golden trout spawning habitat and recruitment

Populations of stream-dwelling salmonids (e.g., salmon and trout) are gen- erally believed to be regulated by strong density-dependent mortality acting on the age-0 life stage, which produces a dome-shaped stock-recruitment curve. Although this paradigm is based largely on data from anadromous species, it has been widely applied to stream- resident salmonids despite the fact that the processes limiting or regulating stream-resident populations remain poorly understood. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether stream channel morphology affects the availability of spawning habitat for Cali- fornia golden trout, and whether spawning habitat availability influences the production of age-0 trout and recruitment into the adult population. Wide stream reaches contained significantly more spawning habitat and a higher density of nests and age-0 trout than did narrow reaches. In contrast to the idea that salmonid populations are regulated by density-dependent mortality of age-0 fish, we found that the mortality of age-0 trout was largely density independent. In addition, over most of the range of observed fish densities, the density of a particular cohort was positively correlated between years for age-0, age-1, and age-2 trout. Therefore, our golden trout study population was limited by spawning habitat, with spawning habitat availability influencing the pro- duction of age-0 trout as well as recruitment into the adult population. Grazing by cattle has widened the study streams, and our current findings help to explain why stream sections subject to grazing had more spawning habitat and higher golden trout densities than ungrazed sections. Individual growth rates of golden trout are apparently negatively density dependent, and these grazing-related increases in trout density have likely resulted in decreased growth rates. Our study demonstrates that it is only by gaining an understanding of how processes operate that we will be able to predict the effects of habitat alteration on populations.
Charism and Commerce: Business Education in the Mercy Context.

This article explores the current and historical importance of business to the Mercy ministries, and the ways in which business programs at Mercy colleges and universities exemplify and promote their charism. Mission statements, faculty and staff development activities, research, curricular and extracurricular initiatives, community service, and alumni/alumnae engagement are examined using survey results and publicly available information. Examples of best practices in each category are highlighted.
Description of a new genus and two new species of alpheid shrimps from Guam (Crustacea, Decapoda)*

Bruceopsis n. gen. is established for two species, Bruceopsis projectus n. gen., n. sp., and Bruceopsis guamensis n. gen., n. sp., both from Guam, Mariana Islands, in the tropical western Pacific. The new genus is characterised by having the eyes at least partly covered dorsally and laterally by orbital hoods, the latter with sharp or blunt teeth; the chelipeds equal or unequal in size, symmetrical or asymmetrical in shape, carried extended, moderately or feebly enlarged, with carpus and merus bearing rows of setae mesially, and with simple chelae, lacking a snapping mechanism on the fingers; the third to fifth pereiopods with dorsally notched dactyli; the first to fourth pereiopods with small dorsolateral coxal lobes; the second pleomere conspicuously enlarged in females; and the posteroventral angle of the sixth pleonite with a welldeveloped, sometimes projecting articulated plate. Bruceopsis n. gen. resembles Alpheopsis Coutiere, 1896 in general appearance, but may be more closely related to the western Atlantic genera Coutieralpheus Anker & Felder, 2005 and Harperalpheus Felder & Anker, 2007.
Changes in the OASI Benefit Distribution Under Various Social Security Reform Alternatives

This paper examines changes in the distribution of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) benefits (the primary Social Security program) resulting from various widely discussed Social Security reform alternatives. It focuses on five alternatives: Current-law benefits; gradually reducing benefits; increasing the normal retirement age; adopting progressive price indexing, which would affect upper-income beneficiaries more than lower-income ones; and a combination of raising the retirement age and progressive price indexing. This analysis focuses on Americans born in specific years (cohorts) whose OASI benefits commence at age 62 or older and who have not received any other Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits before that age. The PDF for the above title, published in the April 2006 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the full text of another April 2006 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: Tax Expenditures and Employee Benefits: Estimates From the FY 2007 Budget.
Striatal Circuits as a Common Node for Autism Pathophysiology

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by two seemingly unrelated symptom domains-deficits in social interactions and restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavioral output. Whether the diverse nature of ASD symptomatology represents distributed dysfunction of brain networks or abnormalities within specific neural circuits is unclear. Striatal dysfunction is postulated to underlie the repetitive motor behaviors seen in ASD, and neurological and brain-imaging studies have supported this assumption. However, as our appreciation of striatal function expands to include regulation of behavioral flexibility, motivational state, goal-directed learning, and attention, we consider whether alterations in striatal physiology are a central node mediating a range of autism-associated behaviors, including social and cognitive deficits that are hallmarks of the disease. This review investigates multiple genetic mouse models of ASD to explore whether abnormalities in striatal circuits constitute a common pathophysiological mechanism in the development of autism-related behaviors. Despite the heterogeneity of genetic insult investigated, numerous genetic ASD models display alterations in the structure and function of striatal circuits, as well as abnormal behaviors including repetitive grooming, stereotypic motor routines, deficits in social interaction and decision-making. Comparative analysis in rodents provides a unique opportunity to leverage growing genetic association data to reveal canonical neural circuits whose dysfunction directly contributes to discrete aspects of ASD symptomatology. The description of such circuits could provide both organizing principles for understanding the complex genetic etiology of ASD as well as novel treatment routes. Furthermore, this focus on striatal mechanisms of behavioral regulation may also prove useful for exploring the pathogenesis of other neuropsychiatric diseases, which display overlapping behavioral deficits with ASD.