cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Subjective objectivity: therapists' affection and successful psychotherapy.

A recent review of research on the outcome of psychotherapy led to the conclusion that patients who are better liked by therapists show greater improvement in treatment. Although a closer analysis of the relevant studies suggested that the findings were contradictory and inconclusive, a pattern was discernible: it appeared that liked patients tended to improve more than less-liked patients only when therapists' ratings of improvement were used but not when objective measures of outcome were employed. This study tested that pattern. Therapists' affection for patients was tested for association with improvements as rated by therapists and as reflected in objective test and interview measures. The results showed a significant link between therapists' affection and ratings of patients' improvement, but no significant relationship between therapists' affection and independent outcome data. Thus the pattern was confirmed. The analyses also yielded no significant relationship between therapists' outcome ratings ...
Picture recall skills correlate with 2D:4D ratio in women but not men

Abstract We analyzed sex differences in spatial and recall abilities of college students while also examining the relationship to 2D:4D ratio. The 2D:4D ratio is thought to be an indirect measure of testosterone and estrogen exposure in fetal development. Participants completed a mental rotation (MR) test, free recall tests, and placement recall tests. It was predicted and confirmed that males have lower 2D:4D ratio and higher MR scores. Additionally, females outscored males on picture free recall and picture placement. Higher scoring females on these two measures had higher 2D:4D ratios, that is, more "feminine" looking hands. The results from our study are consistent with the hypothesis that fetal hormones affect 2D:4D ratio while also directly or indirectly influencing visual recall abilities in females. The tendency of sexually dimorphic cognitive skills to correlate with 2D:4D ratio in only one sex may be typical of traits that were evolutionarily adaptive in one sex, but not maladaptive in the opposite sex.
Preliminary observations on the use of the Palmaz stent in the distal portion of the abdominal aorta

Abstract The opportunities to avoid surgical treatment of distal abdominal aortic occlusive disease are expanding because of the proliferation in catheter-based techniques. Since January 1990, 24 symptomatic patients with distal abdominal disorders have been treated percutaneously with balloon angioplasty and intraluminal stenting. A total of 38 Palmaz stents were deployed at distal abdominal aortic sites; 21 additional iliac stents were implanted. After the procedure all patients improved clinically, and 83% (2124) improved by objective measurement (average ABI 0.93 ± 0.21). Three access-related complications occurred (two hematomas, one thrombus), but no complications were related to the stents. At up to 29 months of follow-up (average 10.3 ± 6.7 months), clinical improvement persists in all patients (average ABI 0.93 ± 0.22). In 11 patients eligible for follow-up aortography, all aortic stents are patent without evidence of restenosis. With the low likelihood for restenosis in the abdominal aorta, the long-term out-come of aortic stenting looks promising and may equal or surpass that found in the iliac region.
Antibacterial polypropylene via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization.

Polypropylene (PP) coated by a non-leachable biocide was prepared by chemically attaching poly(quaternary ammonium) (PQA) to the surface of PP. The well-defined poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA), a precursor of PQA, was grown from the surface of PP via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The tertiary ammine groups in PDMAEMA were consequently converted to QA in the presence of ethyl bromide. Successful surface modification was confirmed by ATR-FTIR, contact angle measurement, and an antibacterial activity test against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The biocidal activity of the resultant surfaces depends on the amount of the grafted polymers (the number of available quaternary ammonium units). With the same grafting density, the surface grafted with relatively high MW polymers (Mn > 10,000 g/mol) showed almost 100% killing efficiency (killing all of the input E. coli (2.9 × 105) in the shaking test), whereas a low biocidal activity (85%) was observed for the surface grafted with sho...
The Coding and Noncoding Architecture of the Caulobacter crescentus Genome

Caulobacter crescentus undergoes an asymmetric cell division controlled by a genetic circuit that cycles in space and time. We provide a universal strategy for defining the coding potential of bacterial genomes by applying ribosome profiling, RNA-seq, global 5′-RACE, and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) data to the 4-megabase C. crescentus genome. We mapped transcript units at single base-pair resolution using RNA-seq together with global 5′-RACE. Additionally, using ribosome profiling and LC-MS, we mapped translation start sites and coding regions with near complete coverage. We found most start codons lacked corresponding Shine-Dalgarno sites although ribosomes were observed to pause at internal Shine-Dalgarno sites within the coding DNA sequence (CDS). These data suggest a more prevalent use of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence for ribosome pausing rather than translation initiation in C. crescentus. Overall 19% of the transcribed and translated genomic elements were newly identified or significantly improved by this approach, providing a valuable genomic resource to elucidate the complete C. crescentus genetic circuitry that controls asymmetric cell division.
Evolution of long-span bridge response to wind-numerical simulation and discussion

Flutter and buffeting are two important phenomena of long-span bridges susceptible to wind actions. When the wind velocity increases to the bridge flutter velocity, an initial or self-excited multi-frequency vibration in laminar flow becomes single-frequency flutter instability. Similarly, in turbulent flow, the multi-frequency buffeting vibration develops into a single-frequency dominated divergent vibration that can also be interpreted as flutter instability. Even though this transition from buffeting to flutter was observed in wind tunnel tests, the mechanism of transition from multi-frequency type of buffeting to single-frequency type of flutter has not been well demonstrated numerically. Some existent explanations on the occurrence of flutter are very generic and even somewhat confusing. An attempt to reinvestigate numerically the transition of these two phenomena was made in the present study. The established procedure demonstrates numerically how a pre-flutter multi-frequency free vibration and a multi-frequency buffeting vibration merge into a single-frequency dominated flutter at the flutter critical wind velocity. It is concluded that the modal coupling effect forces all modes to vibrate mainly in a frequency close to the oscillation frequency of the critical flutter mode. The oscillation frequency of each mode itself does not merge to that of the critical mode. As a result, some confusing concepts in flutter vibrations are clarified and the mechanisms of the vibration transition process are better understood. Numerical analyses of the Humen suspension bridge with a main span of 888 m were conducted to facilitate the discussions.
Cardiac Morbidity and Related Mortality in Children With HIV Infection

Objective. —Dysrhythmias, hemodynamic instability, congestive heart failure, and sudden death are serious complications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection that, to our knowledge, have not been studied systematically. We sought to determine the cumulative incidence and clinical predictors of these adverse events in a cohort of HIV-infected children. Design. —Historical cohort study. Setting. —University-affiliated, primary and tertiary care pediatric hospital and ambulatory care center. Participants. —Eighty-one HIV-infected children who had one or more cardiac evaluations between 1984 and 1991 form the study cohort. The initial cardiac evaluation occurred at a median age of 1.5 years, and children were followed up to a median age of 3.6 years. Main Outcome Measures. —Mortality (related to cardiac dysfunction as well as noncardiac causes), tachycardia, bradycardia, hypertension, hypotension, marked sinus arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and chronic congestive heart failure. Results. —Hemodynamic abnormalities and dysrhythmias occurred frequently. Eight unexpected cardiorespiratory arrests occurred in seven children (9%). Chronic congestive heart failure was noted in 10% of patients. Thirty children died, 10 with significant cardiac dysfunction. As HIV-infected children progressed from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)—related complex to AIDS, significant cardiac problems were more likely to occur. Both nonneurologic AIDS and encephalopathy were strongly associated with most severe cardiac outcomes. However, encephalopathy was the strongest correlate of cardiorespiratory arrest ( P =.002). Epstein-Barr virus coinfection was the strongest correlate of chronic congestive heart failure ( P Conclusions. —Cardiac morbidity and mortality are more common with advanced HIV infection. The presence of encephalopathy or Epstein-Barr virus coinfection identifies HIV-infected children at especially high risk for adverse cardiac outcomes. ( JAMA . 1993;269:2869-2875)
Association of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors with Coated Pit Adaptins via a Tyrosine Phosphorylation-regulated Mechanism

We investigated the mechanism by which ligand-activated epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) associate with coated pit adaptor protein (AP) complexes. In vivo association, assayed by coimmunoprecipitation of AP with mutant EGFR, required tyrosine kinase activity, intact autophosphorylation sites, and the regulatory carboxyl terminus of EGFR. The role of autophosphorylation of EGFR in interaction with AP was examined in vitro using a BIAcore instrument. Purified active EGFR, immobilized on the biosensor surface, was reversibly autophosphorylated or dephosphorylated by treatment with ATP or phosphatase. Autophosphorylation of EGFR significantly increased AP binding. Once formed, EGFR AP complexes were resistant to disassembly by dephosphorylation of EGFR or competition with phosphotyrosine, indicating that phosphorylated tyrosine residues do not directly participate in AP binding. Induction of conformational changes in EGFR by treatment with urea increased AP binding up to 10-fold in the absence of EGFR autophosphorylation. A recombinant EGFR carboxyl terminus specifically bound the AP complex and each of the isolated alpha- and beta-subunits of AP2. We conclude that tyrosine autophosphorylation of EGFR exposes structural motif(s) in the carboxyl terminus of EGFR that interact specifically with AP2.
Urban Teachersí Use of Productive and Reproductive Teaching Styles Within the Confines of the National Curriculum for Physical Education

The main purpose of this study was to describe the teaching styles employed by a sample of 18 teachers working in an urban setting under the conditions of the first revision of the National Curriculum for Physical Education. A second purpose was to compare the teaching styles used by this urban sample of teachers with those employed by a rural sample we had studied previously. Two lessons taught by each teacher to pupils in Years 7, 8, or 9 during one summer term were videotaped and coded with the Instrument for Identifying Teaching Styles, a systematic observation instrument designed to record the percentages of time in which teachers employ each of eight teaching styles. Descriptive statistics were computed across all 36 lessons and for lessons on striking/fielding games, track and field events, and tennis. Independent t-tests were used to compare the teaching styles used by the urban sample of teachers in the present study and those used by the rural sample previously studied. Results indicated that th...
Low vitamin D levels, prediabetes and prehypertension in healthy African American adults.

Abstract Aims To determine if customary lower serum vitamin D concentrations in healthy African American (AA) adults are associated with modest elevations in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and/or resting blood pressure (BP). Numerous health disparities between African American (AA) and Caucasian American (CA) adults, especially those which increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, have been attributed to lower serum vitamin D concentrations in the AA. Prediabetes (PreDM) and prehypertension (PreHTN) are significantly more prevalent in healthy disease free CA adults with serum vitamin D concentrations below the 75th percentile for the Caucasian cohort. We hypothesized that despite overall lower serum vitamin D concentrations in AA, an increase in the prevalence for PreDM and PreHTN would be seen in those with low vitamin D levels. Methods and results Disease free AA adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2006 were assessed. PreDM and PreHTN were diagnosed using the ADA and JNC 7 criteria: (FPG) 100–125 mg/dL and resting systolic (SBP) 120–139 and/or diastolic (DBP) 80–89 mm Hg, respectively. Logistic regression was employed to assess effects of low vitamin D concentrations on the odds for PreDM and PreHTN ( n = 621). Age, gender and BMI adjusted odds ratio for co-morbid PreDM and PreHTN in AA men ( n = 343) and women ( n = 278) with vitamin D levels ≤45.4 versus >45.4 nmol/L was 2.02 (1.11, 3.68), ( p Conclusions Evaluating serum vitamin D levels, with consideration for supplementation in seemingly healthy AA adults with prediabetes, prehypertension, or co-existing prediabetes and prehypertension, has merit.
Transmission electron microscopy study of domain boundaries in PbTiO3

Abstract Domain boundary structures of flux-grown polydomain lead titanate single crystals have been studied using transmission electron microscopy. Inclined 90° and 180° domain boundaries show fringe contrast and were systematically analyzed under various diffraction conditions. Although 90° domain boundaries are supposedly δ-type boundaries in BaTiO 3 , our results show that displacement plays an important role at boundaries and that the extreme fringe contrast (EFC) behavior of 90° boundaries is of the (α,δ)-mixed type. In the present work, an analysis based upon the two-beam dynamic theory was conducted and a selection rule similar to stacking-fault contrast analysis was established to predict the geometric configuration of 180° domain boundaries using EFC behavior. Examples are given and verified by tilting experiments and electron diffraction. The results are highly consistent and offer a convenient way to distinguish between 90° and 180° boundaries.
The Higgs - Higgs Bound State

Abstract The binding of two Higgs bosons is calculated using the N/D method. Bound states occur for m H > 1.3 TeV. The binding is weak and even when m H = 2 TeV the binding energy is only about 150 GeV. Higgs bosons with masses in the TeV range have widths comparable to their masses. Accordingly, so do their bound states.
Instruction and self-regulation in mentally retarded adults in a vocational setting

The effects of self-instructional and external instructional training procedures on the performance of mentally retarded adults in a sheltered workshop situation were compared. In addition, the influence of several subject variables (general verbal and performance abilities, and specific linguistic and memory skills) on task behavior was examined. Forty-four workers were trained to perform a complex sorting task. During training, which utilized modeling, feedback, and social praise procedures, instructional control was gradually transferred to clients in both intervention conditions. Results indicated that positive changes in performance of self-instructionally trained individuals was not found to be significantly better than that of externally instructed individuals. The hypothesis that self-instruction would be more effective with subjects who were linguistically deficient was not supported. The results suggest that ceding of instructional control, not self-verbalization, may be the critical factor producing performance improvement in self-instructional training programs. Analyses of the relationships between subject ability characteristics and task behavior suggest that performance abilities were more important than verbal abilities in producing effective task performance. The implications of the results for future research are discussed.
Analysis of polypeptides in tacaribe virus-infected cells

Two virus-induced polypeptides designated p79 (mol wt, 79,000) and p105 (mol wt, 105,000) in BHK21 or Vero cells infected with Tacaribe (Tac) virus have been identified. Both polypeptides were found in immune precipitates with antiserum to Tac virus, suggesting that they are virus specific. Two-dimensional gel analysis of Tac virus-infected Vero cell extracts indicated that p79 and p105 were acidic proteins which did not comigrate with any polypeptides from uninfected cells. Neither of the polypeptides was found to be phosphorylated under conditions in which phosphorylation of the N (nucleocapsid) protein was detected. Comparison of one-dimensional peptide maps of the p79 polypeptide and the nucleoprotein indicated that they are unrelated in primary sequences.
Effects of the transient Mode II on the steady state crack growth in Mode I

Abstract Turbo-generator shafts in power plant systems are often subjected to transient torques due to electric faults and high-speed reclosures. These transient torques cause the initiation and growth of cracks in Modes II and III. However, these cracks are further subjected to cyclic bending (Mode I crack growth) due to the turbine shaft weight or possible misalignments. Such load histories are also very common in railroad tracks. An existing crack may be subjected to a sudden Mode II, followed by a steady state Mode I. In order to predict the fatigue life, the effect of the transient Mode II on a subsequent Mode I crack growth must be understood. In this paper the effects of the Modes I and II overloads on a subsequent Mode I crack growth are studied on the AISI 4340 and spherodized AISI 1090 steels using three- and four-point bending specimens. The results show that in contrast to Mode I overloads, where the crack is either arrested or retarded for a distance of the order of magnitude of the transient plastic zone size, Mode II overloads give rise to the crack growth acceleration (for a very short distance, much smaller than the Mode II transient plastic zone size with no retardation afterwards). The three known mechanisms of the crack closure in Mode I (plasticity-, roughness- and oxide-induced crack closures) were examined for the Mode II overloads and were found not to be applicable for that Mode. Fractography analysis of 1090 steel at the point of Mode II overload showed a significant amount of shear cracks and cavities. Such cavities could contribute to the crack growth acceleration in the subsequent Mode I crack growth.
Absorption coefficient and photoionization yield of NO in the region 580-1350 A.

Photoionization yield and absorption coefficient of nitric oxide were measured at many wavelengths in the region 580–1350 A. H2 emission and helium continuum sources were used with a 1-m monochromator. Absolute intensity measurements were based on a calibrated thermocouple.
“Sixth Grade Madness”: Parental Emotion Work in the Private High School Application Process

This ethnographic look at sixth graders and their parents as they apply to private high schools highlights the emotion work parents do as they push their children through a process they dislike. Parents manage their own emotions, forcing themselves to believe that the private school system is necessary, so that they can manage their children's emotions: motivating them, preparing them for disappointment, and comforting them. This emotion work challenges and deepens social, cultural, and human capital theories by problematizing the transfer of capital resources. It shows that, unlike the automatic inheritance of money, the inheritance of other forms of capital is done through a great deal of work, tension, and anxiety for parents and children. It also demonstrates, through the exploration of an extreme case, the parental work involved in securing a good education for children and the dilemmas parents face trying to motivate children and make them feel confident and loved.
Analysis of transmission errors under load of helical gears with modified tooth surfaces

This paper presents a model for the analysis of transmission errors of helical gears under load. The model accommodates the modification of tooth surfaces, gear misalignments and the deformation of tooth surfaces caused by contact load. In this model, the gear contact load is assumed to be nonlinearly distributed along the direction of the relative principal curvature between the two contacting tooth surfaces. As compared with conventional tooth contact analysis (TCA) that assumes gear surfaces as rigid bodies, the model presented in this paper provides more realistic simulation results on the gear transmission errors and other gear meshing characteristics when the tooth surfaces are deformed under load. The proposed model is applied to a pair of helical gears in the numerical example included in the paper.
Coastally Trapped Wind Reversals along the United States West Coast during the Warm Season. Part I: Climatology and Temporal Evolution

Abstract The northerly winds that predominate along the U.S. west coast during April–September are interrupted periodically by abrupt reversals to southerly flow. The climatology and composite temporal evolution of these reversals from Point Conception to the Canadian border are documented using hourly data from moored coastal buoys and Coastal-Marine Automated Network stations for the period 1981–91. The reversals are divided into two categories: coastally trapped reversals, in which the southerly flow is highly ageostrophic and restricted to the coastal zone, and synoptic reversals, which are associated with landfalling troughs or fronts. Coastally trapped events occur on average about 1.5 times per month along the central and northern California coast, about twice a month near the California–Oregon border, and about once a month near the Oregon–Washington border. The ratio of coastally trapped reversals to synoptic reversals is higher during July–September and lower during April–June, particularly in t...
Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli from Nonenriched Stool Specimens by Real-Time PCR in Comparison to Enzyme Immunoassay and Culture

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) bacteria are a frequent cause of food-borne gastroenteritis, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Because antimicrobial agents are generally contraindicated in patients infected with STEC, a sensitive and specific diagnostic test with rapid turnaround is essential. Current culture methods may fail to detect non-O157 STEC. We evaluated a Stx gene real-time PCR assay using hybridization probes and the LightCycler instrument with 204 prospectively collected stool specimens, which were also tested for Stx by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (ProSpecT STEC; Remel, Lenexa, KS) and by culturing on chromogenic agar (Chromagar O157; BD BBL, Sparks, MD). In addition, 85 archived stool specimens previously tested for Stx (by EIA) and/or E. coli O157:H7 (by culture) were tested by PCR. Sample preparation for PCR included mixing the stool in sterile water and extraction of nucleic acid using the MagNA Pure LC instrument (Roche Diagnostics). The PCR assay had 100% sensitivity and specificity compared to EIA and culture for specimens collected prospectively (4 of 204 specimens were positive) and compared to culture and/or EIA for archival specimens (42 of 85 specimens were positive). Both the EIA and PCR produced positive results from a specimen containing an O103 serotype STEC in the prospective specimens, and the PCR test detected three positive specimens that contained nonviable STEC in the archived specimens. The PCR assay demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity compared to EIA and/or culture and more rapid turnaround than either EIA or culture.
Evaluation of new cold forging lubricants without zinc phosphate precoat

Zinc phosphate coatings plus metal soap lubrication system is required in nearly all steel cold forging operations. However, the chemical byproducts of this lubricant system are difficult to dispose of and have a negative environmental impact. In order to replace zinc phosphate based lubricants partially or completely, candidate lubricants were sought from lubricant manufacturers worldwide. The performance evaluation of these lubricants was conducted using the double cup backward extrusion test developed at the Engineering Research Center for Net Shape Manufacturing (ERC/NSM). With the use of the commercial FEM code DEFORM, friction factor calibration curves, i.e. cup height ratio vs. punch stroke, were established for different friction factor values. By matching the cup height ratio and the punch stroke from experiment to that obtained from FE simulations, the friction factor of the lubricants was determined. Three lubricants; namely, MEC Homat, Daido AquaLub, and MCI Z-Coat, were found to perform comparable to or better than zinc phosphate.
Sensor Allocation for Source Localization With Decoupled Range and Bearing Estimation

The source localization accuracy is known to be affected by the placement of sensors. This paper addresses the problem of optimum sensor allocation for decoupled range and bearing estimation, as well as position estimation of an emitting source, under the constraint that all sensors must be confined within a certain area. The source is assumed to be distant and has a curved wavefront when arriving at the sensors. The optimization criterion is the minimum estimation variance defined by the Cramer-Rao lower bound that is derived under Gaussian noise model. A geometric approach is employed to arrive at the optimum geometries and no complicated optimization technique is required. The optimum sensor allocations for time difference of arrival (TDOA), angle of arrival (AOA), and time of arrival (TOA) positionings are derived and their estimation accuracies are contrasted. The optimum geometries belong to the generic structure of a ring array plus some sensors at the center. TDOA and TOA are found to have identical optimum geometries for bearing estimation and yield the same accuracy, although the position localization accuracy of TDOA is known to be worse than that of TOA. Simulations are included to confirm the theoretical development and illustrate the improvement of using an optimum array compared to a random sensor placement array.
Rapid Water Table Rise

ABSTRACT: There are unpublished reports of rapid and large rises in the water table which are out of proportion to the infiltrated volumes of water. The phenomenon seems to result from the conversion of a tension saturated zone to phreatic water by one of several mechanisms. The effect could be triggered when the tension saturated zone intersects: the ground surface, a saturated soil horizon, or a coarse zone. The phenomenon could prove to be a common link in explaining several seemingly diverse phenomena which characterize non-Hortonian runoff in a humid environment. Under certain conditions storm peaks are dominated by flow from small, restricted, “variable source” areas that contributed runoff when saturated from below by rising water tables; for other streams, ground water input forms the major part of the flood peak. The explanation for these observations could lie in an understanding of the rapid water table rise phenomenon. Such a mechanism. if widespread, would provide the means for producing saturation at or near the surface shortly after rainfall commences. The phenomenon should be documented and closely analyzed from a number of perspectives to define its true role in the hydrology of humid environments.
Challenges facing practical DFT for MEMS

Defect and fault tolerance techniques have played a substantial role in the evolution of silicon digital integrated circuits (ICs). The complex and several mechanisms causing defects in the as-manufactured IC could be represented by simple functional defects ("stuck-at" faults, etc.) and. given these simple functional defects, a variety of testing techniques (including "built-in self-test") could be deployed. Defect tolerance by reconstructing an IC emerged rather early in RAMs and in various array-based architectures. Field-useable testing techniques capable of isolating the site of a defect causing a functional failure farther extended capabilities to allow field-correction or self-correction when failures occurred. Analog ICs present a more sophisticated challenge, though several capabilities for defect tolerance (e.g., laser adjustment of resistances or capacitances) and for fault tolerance (including modular redundancy) emerged. The microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology (also called "microsystems technology"-MST) has matured to the point where more extensive applications can be commercially realized. moving beyond the relatively limited number of significant commercial applications now seen. Addition of defect and fault tolerance to the MEMS technology in a manner which abstracts details to achieve simple models will, however, be difficult.
Display controller IC for Amharic numerals

The design of a controller circuit for an Amharic numerical display is described. The Amharic numerals, comprising numerals from 0 to 19, are displayed on two 5*7 dot or light-emitting-diode matrixes. The circuit controls the state (i.e. on or off) of each dot to display the desired Amharic numerals. The design is compiled in an integrated circuit chip form using a silicon compiler tool. Prototypes were manufactured and tested. The possible insertion of the design in a TV display control system is discussed. >
The oxyhalides of the III-B elements

Abstract : The chemistry of the oxyhalides of boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, and thallium is reviewed. Topics include methods of preparation, thermal stabilities, crystal structures, and chemical reactivities toward six classes of reactants. Boron differs from the heavier III-B elements in that its oxyhalides, principally oxyfluorides and oxychlorides, are not stable under ordinary conditions. The boron oxyhalides can be studied only by physico-chemical methods that infer the existence and properties of gaseous molecules, which are stable only at high temperatures, or when kinetically trapped at very low temperatures after initial generation at high temperatures. In addition to crystalline oxyhalides that are stable at ordinary temperatures, a comparable chemistry of high-temperature molecules exists for the aluminum oxyhalides, but structural differences arise between such molecules and the boron oxyhalides. (Author)
Patterns of Death Penalty Abolition, 1960–2005: Domestic and International Factors

On the eve of World War II, eight countries had completely abolished the death penalty and another six had banned it for ordinary crimes. As of early 2008, 92 countries had prohibited capital punishment for all crimes and 10 more had ruled it out for ordinary crimes. The goal of this article is to account for the pattern of national abolition of the death penalty since 1960. We hypothesize that certain kinds of democracies are more liable to end capital punishment than others. Specifically, the negotiated form of democracy produced by parliamentary systems with proportional representation (consensus democracy in Lijpharts terms) is more likely to do away with the death penalty than are other forms of democracy. As previous research indicates, democratic transitions also increase the likelihood of abolition. Finally, international influences can also tip countries toward abolition. We suggest that incentives provided by international organizations, particularly in Europe, have drawn some countries toward abolition. The empirical analysis of approximately 150 countries for the period 19602005 confirms our expectations.
Rapid formation of gap‐junction‐like structures induced by glycerol

Intercellular junctions, in identified in freeze-fracture by narrowing of the intercellular gap and codistribution of P-face membrane particles, proliferate during incubation of excised rat prostate tissue in 30% glycerol solution. These junctions fulfill the criteria used to identify gap junctions in freeze-fracture replicas with respect to the size and uniformity of their component particles, the codistribution of the particle aggregates on P-faces of adjacent membranes, and the narrowing of the extracellular cleft at the junction. These gap-junction-like structures form on the lateral surfaces of epithelial cells, where they are normally scarce, within minutes after exposure to glycerol. Glycerol-induced junction formation is not blocked by DNP, a metabolic uncoupler, or by cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor. Newly formed junctions occur initially in clusters and the number per cluster decreases as individual junctions become larger with longer periods of incubation, suggesting that the clusters coalesce. The structural changes that precede and accompany the formation of these junctions at early times of incubation are comparable to the changes reported to precede the formation of gap junctions accompanying hormonal treatment, development, and other means of natural induction.
Anterior hip joint force increases with hip extension, decreased gluteal force, or decreased iliopsoas force

Abnormal or excessive force on the anterior hip joint may cause anterior hip pain, subtle hip instability and a tear of the acetabular labrum. We propose that both the pattern of muscle force and hip joint position can affect the magnitude of anterior joint force and thus possibly lead to excessive force and injury. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hip joint position and of weakness of the gluteal and iliopsoas muscles on anterior hip joint force. We used a musculoskeletal model to estimate hip joint forces during simulated prone hip extension and supine hip flexion under four different muscle force conditions and across a range of hip extension and flexion positions. Weakness of specified muscles was simulated by decreasing the modeled maximum force value for the gluteal muscles during hip extension and the iliopsoas muscle during hip flexion. We found that decreased force contribution from the gluteal muscles during hip extension and the iliopsoas muscle during hip flexion resulted in an increase in the anterior hip joint force. The anterior hip joint force was greater when the hip was in extension than when the hip was in flexion. Further studies are warranted to determine if increased utilization of the gluteal muscles during hip extension and of the iliopsoas muscle during hip flexion, and avoidance of hip extension beyond neutral would be beneficial for people with anterior hip pain, subtle hip instability, or an anterior acetabular labral tear.
Thinking globally, acting locally. The promise of cardiovascular gene therapy.

Most diseases are local problems, whereas most treatments are systemic in nature. This simple, maddening imbalance remains one of the major causes of the ineffectiveness of our current pharmacological armamentarium. The notion of treating local disease with localized therapy has however emerged as one of the great promises of gene therapy. Two articles1 2 in this issue of Circulation Research eloquently demonstrate this point. Although the major rationale for early gene therapy efforts was to deliver functional copies of defective genes for a variety of inherited conditions, the emphasis has most recently shifted. As demonstrated in the two articles published in this issue, there is increasing interest in using gene therapy techniques to deliver therapeutic products to diseased tissues or organs for any of a number of acquired conditions. Underlying these efforts is the hope to express therapeutic molecules that have great local benefit but which have limiting systemic toxicities. The study of Nishida and colleagues1 applies this concept to a model of arterial thrombosis. To achieve their local objectives, they have constructed a recombinant adenovirus encoding tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). TFPI is a curious molecule whose biological activity was noted more than 40 years ago but was only cloned relatively recently.3 The molecule is composed of three tandem Kunitz-type proteinase domains that appear to be responsible for the interaction of TFPI with factor Xa.4 Indeed, TFPI is thought to form …
Transport of rate-limited sorbing solutes in an aggregated porous medium: A multiprocess non-ideality approach

The purpose of this work is to investigate the transport of rate-limited sorbing solutes in a saturated, aggregated porous medium. Data obtained from miscible displacement experiments are used to examine the transport of solutes constrained by rate-limited sorption and mass transfer, to examine the synergistic effects of two non-ideality factors, and to test the capability of a multiprocess non-equilibrium (MPNE) model to simulate transport. The input parameters were obtained independently, allowing the model to be used in a predictive mode. The independent predictions obtained with the MPNE model provided very good descriptions of the experimental data for several organic solutes with different structures. The effects of multiple non-ideality factors controlling solute transport were explored, and flow interruption experiments provided additional evidence regarding the synergistic effects of rate-limited sorption and rate-limited mass transfer. Our analyses have shown quantitatively that both mass distribution and characteristic reaction time are important factors influencing transport. Solute characteristics controlled the degree to which each factor influenced transport behavior for a given porous medium. The velocity dependency of the mass-transfer and desorption rate coefficients and the resultant impact on solute transport were also examined.
UVA Irradiation of Human Lens Proteins Produces Residual Oxidation of Ascorbic Acid Even in the Presence of High Levels of Glutathione

Abstract The oxidation products of ascorbic acid (AscH − ) can rapidly glycate and crosslink lens proteins in vitro, producing fluorophores and browning products similar to those present in cataractous lenses. The accumulation of AscH − oxidation products, however, would largely be prevented by the millimolar levels of glutathione (GSH) present in human lens. Here we investigate whether protein aggregation could allow the oxidation of AscH − by UVA-induced reactive oxygen species in the presence of physiological levels of GSH. The metal-catalyzed oxidation of 1.0 mM AscH − by 50 μM Cu(II) was almost complete after 1 h, but no oxidation was seen in the presence of GSH concentrations as low as 0.5 mM. UVA irradiation of protein aggregates from human lens, which accumulated more than 2.0 mM singlet oxygen after 1 h, caused a 50–60% oxidation of 1.0 mM AscH − . The addition of 2–4 mM GSH, however, decreased AscH − oxidation by less than half, and 30% of the AscH − was oxidized even in the presence of 15 mM GSH. This diminished protection may be due, in part, to the ability of AscH − , but not GSH, to penetrate to the sites of singlet oxygen generation located within the protein. Consistent with this hypothesis, greater GSH protection was seen when a proteolytic digest of the human proteins was subjected to the same irradiation or when singlet oxygen was chemically generated from 3-(4-methyl-1-naphthyl)propionic acid endoperoxide (MNPAE) at 37°C in the medium. The addition of 50 μM Cu(II) had no effect on the rate of degradation of dehydroascorbic acid (DHA). Singlet oxygen, either UVA- or MNPAE-generated, increased the rate of DHA loss. This secondary oxidation of DHA by singlet oxygen would allow the accumulation of AscH − oxidation products not reducible by GSH. Therefore, the data presented here argue that the protein aggregation seen in older human lenses may permit oxidized AscH − -induced crosslinking to occur even at physiological GSH levels.
The impact of cognitive appraisal, locus of control, and level of exposure on the computer anxiety of novice computer users

With the mass introduction of computers in the workplace researchers have spent considerable time, over the last two decades, investigating methods to effectively integrate this technology into the daily routines of employees at all levels within the organization [1–3]. An exogenous variable, and precursor to introduction of computers, is computer anxiety [4–6]. Computer anxiety is generally defined as an anxious response by the individual to the anticipated or actual contact with computers [7].This article examined the relationship of cognitive appraisal, locus of control, prior exposure, and computer anxiety. It was hypothesized that an individual's appraisal of a computing situation, whether the person was internally or externally focused, and their prior experience with computers would affect their level of computer anxiety as measured by the Computer Concerns Questionnaire. A stepwise multiple regression was performed and the results indicated that cognitive appraisal and exposure were significant pr...
Will the stork return to Europe and Japan? Understanding fertility within developed nations.

We seek to explain the differences in fertility rates across high-income countries by focusing on the interaction between the increasing status of women in the workforce and their status in the household, particularly with regards to child care and home production. We observe three distinct phases in women's status generated by the gradual increase in women's workforce opportunities. In the earliest phase, characteristic of the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, women earn low wages relative to men and are expected to shoulder all of the child care at home. As a result, most women specialize in home production and raising children. In an intermediate stage, women have improved (but not equal) labor market opportunities, but their household status lags. Women in this stage are still expected to do the majority of child care and household production. Increasing access to market work increases the opportunity cost of having children, and fertility falls. Female labor force participation increases. Working women in this phase of development have the strongest disincentives to having additional children since the entire burden of child care falls on them. In the final phase of development, women's labor market opportunities begin to equal those of men. In addition, the increased household bargaining power that comes from more equal wages results in much higher (if not gender-equal) male participation in household production. Female labor force participation is higher than in the intermediate phase. The increased participation of men in the household also reduces the disincentives for women to have additional children, and fertility rates rise compared to the intermediate phase. The intermediate, low-fertility phase might describe Japan, Italy, and Spain in the present day, while the Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, and the modern-day United States may be entering the final phase. After presenting the empirical evidence, we predict that high-income countries with the lowest fertility rates are likely to see an increase in fertility in the coming decades.
Optical disector counting in cryosections and vibratome sections underestimates particle numbers: effects of tissue quality.

Optical disector counting is currently applied most often to cryosections, followed in frequency by resin-embedded tissues, paraffin, and vibratome sections. The preservation quality of these embedding options differs considerably; yet, the effect of tissue morphology on numerical estimates is unknown. We tested whether different embedding media significantly influence numerical estimates in optical disector counting, using the previously calibrated trochlear motor nucleus of hatchling chickens. Animals were perfusion-fixed with paraformaldehyde (PFA) only or in addition with glutaraldehyde (GA), or by Methacarn immersion fixation. Brains were prepared for paraffin, cryo-, vibratome- or celloidin sectioning. Complete penetration of the thionin stain was verified by z-axis analysis. Neuronal nuclei were counted using an unbiased counting rule, numbers were averaged for each group and compared by ANOVA. In paraffin sections, 906 ± 12 (SEM) neurons were counted, similar to previous calibrated data series, and results obtained from fixation with Methacarn or PFA were statistically indistinguishable. In celloidin sections, 912 ± 28 neurons were counted—not statistically different from paraffin. In cryosections, 812 ± 12 neurons were counted (underestimate of 10.4%) when fixed with PFA only, but 867 ± 17 neurons were counted when fixed with PFA and GA. Vibratome sections had the most serious aberration with 729 ± 31 neurons—a deficit of 20%. Thus, our analysis shows that PFA-fixed cryosections and vibratome sections result in a substantial numerical deficit. The addition of GA to the PFA fixative significantly improved counts in cryosections. These results may explain, in part, the significant numerical differences reported from different labs and should help investigators select optimal conditions for quantitative morphological studies.
Rapid Recovery with an Effective Therapist: A Comment on Hansen, Lambert, and Vlass

The person of the therapist is a robust predictor of psychotherapy outcome (Wampold & Imel, 2015). Additionally, some clients make rapid improvements, or sudden gains, in therapy and little is known about the mechanisms underlying this process. In the target article Hansen, Lambert, and Vlass (2015) explore the interaction between these two facets of psychotherapy and discuss how one therapist was able to obtain sudden gains with a high percentage of her clinical caseload. In our comment, we discuss aspects of the therapist who was the focus of the Hansen et al. that we believe contributed to her status as an effective therapist. Furthermore, we discuss the sudden gains obtained by the therapist in Hansen et al., review these improvements within the context of the larger body of evidence and suggest that both case mix as well as therapist skills played a significant role in the exceptional outcomes.
Quality in consumer-driven health systems

In the global quest for improved 'quality' in health care, the purely clinical quality of health care should not be confused with the quality of the health care experience. Although the former is central to the latter, it is the latter that determines the overall quality of a health system. Americans have long had trouble with this crucial distinction. A survey of several distinct dimensions of the quality of the entire health care experience, for example, can help to explain why the technically sophisticated, expensive and often very luxurious American health system tends to earn relatively low scores in cross-national surveys in which respondents are asked to rate the overall quality of their health system. Many useful insights can undoubtedly be had from the system's myriad experiments with continuous improvements in the clinical quality of health care (just as Americans, however, could learn from similar experiments abroad). On the other hand, the bewildering and ethically dubious financial and managerial systems that Americans have put in place to foster continuous quality improvement in their health care may be self-defeating in the end. Policy analysts and policy makers in other countries may learn from the American experience to spare their citizens the agony.
Induced Moulting in Laying Fowls

Concurrent with increased interest by the commercial poultry industry, the scientific community has devoted a considerable amount of effort to the subject of induced moulting. A majority of the art...