cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Territorial male salamanders have foraging tactics attractive to gravid females

During courtship periods, female red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus, 'squash' male faecal pellets and prefer to associate with males that have the residue of lightly armoured prey (termites) in their faeces relative to males with the residue of highly armoured prey (ants). Apparently this rapid assessment of a male's diet allows females to assess his territorial quality. Two hypotheses, derived from these data, were tested. In a habitat where ants are common but termites are rare, (1) males should preferentially feed on termites in a choice situation with ants and (2) males should need to learn less about foraging tactics used to capture termites than to capture ants. Males were trained for 21 days on a diet of only termites, only ants, both prey types together, or neither (dipterans as a diet) and then were compared for their foraging successes when presented with an equal ratio of termites and ants. Under all conditions of training, males preferred to eat termites. Males learned to begin attacks on ants faster when trained on ants, and on termites faster when trained on termites. Those trained on ants learned to capture ants more efficiently (fewer tongue-strikes per capture) and, thus, they reduced the time from encounter to capture relative to other training conditions. However, training had no significant influence on capture efficiency (consistently high) and time from encounter to capture of termites (consistently short). Therefore, males have to learn more to refine their foraging tactics with ants than with termites and are more efficient foragers on a prey type that makes them attractive to females.
Nietzsche on human nature

(1989). Nietzsche on human nature. History of European Ideas: Vol. 11, No. 1-6, pp. 883-892.
A model for the origin of the constant-phase-angle and related nonclassical admittance functions based on fractional Brownian motion

Abstract A number of recently developed models for the origin of the constant-phase-angle admittance bear a strong formal relationship to a system of particles exhibiting fractional Brownian motion, a modification of classical Brownian motion in which particles display a positive or negative tendency to persist in motion without changing direction. Some important characteristics of this type of motion are discussed, and the description of diffusion-like processes displaying persistence or antipersistence by a generalized random walk and a set of coupled differential equations is examined.
The future of peritoneal dialysis: PD in 2010 and beyond

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been used to treat patients with stage V chronic kidney disease since 1976. The number of patients on PD varies from country to country and was only about 8% of the U.S. population by the end of 2009, despite the fact that medical outcome data would seem to favor more utilization of PD. For instance, data from the United States Renal Data Systems suggests that the relative risk of death for patients on PD versus center hemodialysis (CHD) has been improving, tending to favor those on PD for longer periods of time. In addition, infectious complications have been markedly reduced. In these economic times it is important to note that PD is less costly than CHD, which has influenced anticipated changes in government reimbursement—such as the bundling of dialysis-related services in the U.S. These facts should stimulate a renewed interest in home therapies, especially PD. However, for this therapy to be more successful, the PD community must better educate its members (in the U.S., PD education during fellowship is often lacking, many current PD units are small and the number of well-trained PD nurses may not be able to optimally meet an increase in demand). Peritoneal dialysis will face many challenges, such as: frequent hemodialysis schedules that may be more and more appealing to patients and providers; the aging of the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population; regulatory issues; lack of infrastructure at some units; and problems related to long-term use of PD. This article will review some of these challenges.
Successive higher-harmonic bifurcations of a polarization self-modulated external cavity semiconductor laser

Abstract Higher harmonic bifurcations and associated hysteresis behaviour in a polarization self-modulated external cavity semiconductor laser have previously been experimentally observed. In this work, a relatively simple model is presented which is able to demonstrate numerically these features fairly well. The work indicates that the polarization self-modulated laser is closely related to the class of delayed nonlinear feedback systems which have been studied earlier by Ikeda and other researchers.
Biological Sample Injection for Open Tubular Liquid Chromatography

Abstract Two injection procedures for open tubular liquid chromatography have been evaluated for their ability to directly sample biological components in minute volumes of body fluids. The techniques provided R.S.D.s in peak heights of less than 12% for injections of low nL volumes of human serum spiked with a test compound. A dynamically modified open tubular column was employed to separate the anti-tumor drug doxorubicin hydrochloride and two of its metabolites.
Race and pregnancy-related care in Brazil and South Africa

This study examines women's use of pregnancy-related medical care in Brazil and South Africa, two multiracial societies with very different histories of race-related legislation that could affect medical care utilization. The analysis uses nationally representative household-level data to show that inequality in the distribution of socioeconomic resources across racial groups and differences in the sociodemographic conditions surrounding individual pregnancies explain much of the racial difference in women's use of prenatal and delivery care in both countries. Even if these characteristics and resources were equalized across women however, the results suggest that non-White South African women would still be less likely than Whites to initiate prenatal care in the first trimester or to have a doctor present at the time of delivery. The mechanisms through which race works to influence the use of care are examined, and the Brazilian and South African contexts are discussed. These findings suggest that although state-sanctioned racism may help to explain the greater racial inequality in stunting in South Africa than in Brazil, reducing the disadvantage for non-Whites in South Africa and Brazil will depend on reducing fundamental inequalities in the distribution of socioeconomic resources and medical services that characterize many nations.
Egg White Catalase: 1. Catalatic Reaction

Abstract LOEW (1901) briefly looked at egg white (EW) as a source of catalase. He found what he believed was a catalatic reaction and reported EW as a poor source of catalase. The egg was used as a model system by Winternitz and Rogers (1910) to study the relationship of catalase activity to embryonic development. They found that catalase activity of EW increased as embryonic growth occurred. Pennington and Robertson (1912) confirmed the above studies. In addition, they noted that the activity in EW did not decrease as the shell egg or frozen EW was stored. Lineweaver et al. (1948) found that the catalatic activity of EW could be destroyed by heating EW to 63°C. or by holding EW at pH 3. They also noted large egg to egg variation in catalatic activity and reported activities ranging from 7 × 10−3 to 69 × 10−3 Kat.f. They estimated that 85% of…
Adding immersion to collaborative tools

While three dimensional collaborative environments have been used for industrial design or interactive games, workgroup collaboration has largely remained in the two-dimensional realm. In this paper, we examine the collaborative capabilities of the Collaborative Virtual Workspace, and how it is used. We then describe our effort to augment this system with an immersive display. By developing an immersive interface to an existing collaboration tool rather than adding collaboration to an immersive world, we hope to discover the advantages and pitfalls that immersive collaboration environments might offer. The first step in this process is to design the immersive environment to provide natural interactions for the activities users normally perform while working within the collaborative environment.
Development of a Pediatric Neurocritical Care Service

Objective To describe the development of a Pediatric Neurocritical Care (PNCCM) service; define the patient population that requires the service and describe important outcome parameters.
Dysregulation of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Pathway in Thyroid Neoplasia

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway is an important regulator of many cellular events, including apoptosis, proliferation, and motility. Enhanced activation of this pathway can occur through several mechanisms, such as inactivation of its negative regulator, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN), and activating mutations and gene amplification of the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of PI3K (PIK3CA). These genetic abnormalities have been particularly associated with follicular thyroid neoplasia and anaplastic thyroid cancer, suggesting an important role for PI3K signaling in these disorders. In this article, the role of PI3K pathway activation in thyroid cancer is discussed, with a focus on recent advances.
Streamer propagation model for high-gain photoconductive switching

A streamer model for high gain photoconductive switching in GaAs is proposed and described. The electric field associated with the streamer is strongly inhomogeneous, having a peak intensity at the streamer tip several times larger than the average applied field. Such a large field incites impact ionization effectively, allowing the streamer to propagate at speeds well in excess of the saturated drift velocity. This model is consistent with all observations of high gain photoconductive switching, including transient measurements.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dynamic structural equation models for tracking topologies of social networksy

Many real-world processes evolve in cascades over complex networks, whose topologies are often unobservable and change over time. However, the so-termed adoption times when blogs mention popular news items, individuals in a community catch an infectious disease, or consumers adopt a trendy electronics product are typically known, and are implicitly dependent on the underlying network. To infer the network topology, a dynamic structural equation model is adopted that captures the relationship between observed adoption times and the unknown edge weights. Assuming a slowly time-varying network and leveraging the sparse connectivity inherent to social networks, edge weights are estimated by minimizing a sparsity-regularized exponentially-weighted least-squares criterion. An alternating-direction method of multipliers solver is developed to this end, and preliminary tests on synthetic network data corroborate the effectiveness of the novel algorithm in unveiling the dynamically-evolving network topology.
Some Comments on the Special Cognitive Functions Claimed for the Hippocampus

Abstract This paper challenges the idea that memory is the special function of any single brain structure, an idea that developed from clinical cases of amnesia that had lesions in and around the hippocampus. There are many instances of amnesia and other evidence of me mory functions in brain areas that do not involve the hippocampus. The evidence that medial temporal lobe lesions in animals produce uncontaminated memory deficits is reviewed and rejected, as well as the evidence that the memory task used in these experiments has any special relationship to the hippocampus. It is proposed that memory is not the function of any one structure, but is a part of local neuronal operations carried out in all cortical areas where the information to be remembered is processed and perceived. If this suggestion is correct, then a local lesion will cause a loss of local function and the memory for that function.
Transitional Boundary-Layer Considerations for the Heating Analyses of Lifting Re-Entry Vehicles

The characterization of boundary-layer transition to turbulence, both the condition for onset and the progressive development from laminar to fully turbulent flow, is shown to have a major influence on the magnitude of lifting re-entry body heating rates. A transition model with a finite development zone, rather than instantaneous transition, substantially reduces the level of peak heating rates and its sensitivity to the uncertainty of the onset condition. Limited experimental data are presented to show gross characteristics of the transition zone; however, additional data are required to verify its scaling behavior. System design implications and advantages connected with probable reductions in heating levels are discussed in order to motivate further experimental research.
Health tourism in a Czech health spa.

This paper is about the changing shape of health tourism in a Czech spa town. The research focuses on balneotherapy as a traditional Czech healing technique, which involves complex drinking and bathing therapies, as it is increasingly being incorporated into the development of a Czech health tourism industry. Today, the health tourism industry in Marianske Lazne is attempting to 'harmoniously' combine three elements--balneology, travel and business activities. One detects subtle shifts and consequent incongruities as doctors struggle for control over the medical portion of spa hotels. At the same time, marketing groups are creating new packages for a general clientele, and the implementation of these new packages de-medicalizes balneotherapy. Related to the issue of the doctor's authority in the spa, the changes occurring with the privatization of tourism entails the entrance of 'tourists' to Marianske Lazne who are not necessarily seeking spa treatment but who are still staying at spa hotels. There is a general consensus among spa doctors and employees that balneotherapy has become commodified. Thus, while balneotherapy remains a traditional form of therapy, the commercial context in which it exists has created a new form of health tourism.
Program evaluation of physical medicine and rehabilitation departments using self-report Barthel

Abstract The Barthel Index measures performance of personal care (feeding, dressing, hygiene) and mobility (transferring, walking/wheeling) activities. Since its inception, several revisions of this index have increased its accuracy in measuring functional ability of patients during medical rehabilitation. However, this activities of daily living (ADL) scale is rarely used to determine the abilities of individuals after discharge, leaving assessment of functional outcome incomplete. In this study this index has been converted to a self-report format, which can be completed easily by the patient or family member both during the rehabilitation stay and after discharge. The reliability of the self-report version is examined, by comparing the assessments of patients to those made by the health professionals. A sample of persons at an inpatient rehabilitation facility, who could both read and write, completed the self-report during the week before discharge. Results comparing the assessments of professionals and patients showed a statistically significant difference with p
Pressure and particle velocity measurements in solids subjected to dynamic loading

The behavior of a material subjected to dynamic loading conditions should include sufficient information about the major hydrodynamic variables (pressure, volume, and particle velocity) to properly describe an equation of state. Shock speed, a phase component of particle velocity and the easiest characteristic to measure, does not provide sufficient information to serve as the universal experimental diagnostic. Pressure and particle velocity, parameters which yield to relatively accurate experimental measurements, provide direct ties to theoretical studies, as well as to determining tables of coefficients for an equation of state. At the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, pressure and particle velocity gauge measurements in both reactive and nonreactive materials are conducted at our large-bore gun facility, where projectiles of up to 1.5 kg reach speeds as high as 2.2 mm/μs. Described here are in-situ foil gauges for both pressure and particle velocity measurements. In addition, the optical Fabry-Perot interferometer for observing particle and free surface velocities in transparent media is discussed. Although these techniques are not new, they have been continuously improved and upgraded at our facility to yield greater accuracy, reliability, and state-of-the-art performance. The emphasis in this paper is on the operational features of the measuring techniques, but examples of experimental results are also included.
Modeling mid-rotation fertilizer responses using the age-shift approach

Abstract Growth and yield modelers have incorporated mid-rotation fertilizer responses by: modifying site index; developing new models to include fertilizer responses directly; using multipliers or additional terms to scale existing models. We investigated the use of age-shifts to model mid-rotation fertilizer responses. Age-shift prediction models were constructed from 43 installations of a nitrogen (0, 112, 224 and 336 kg ha−1 elemental) by phosphorus (0, 28 and 56 kg ha−1 elemental) factorial experiment established in mid-rotation loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) pine stands in the southeastern US. Age-shifts for dominant height and basal area increased with time after fertilization, to a maximum and then either remained fairly constant, or declined. The initial rate of increase, maximum age-shift and decline were functions of the rate and combinations of fertilizers applied, as well as stand density and age at fertilization. Volume age-shifts increased linearly throughout the 10-year measurement period for most treatments with the rate of increase being a function of the elements applied, stocking, site index and age at fertilization. A mid-rotation fertilizer application of 224 and 28 kg ha−1 elemental N and P, respectively, resulted in age-shifts of 1.1, 1.9 and 2.4 years for dominant height, basal area and volume, respectively, 10 years after fertilization. The age-shifts were incorporated into growth and yield models.
Behavioral effects of the highly selective serotonin releasing agent 5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindan

Abstract The behavioral effects of 5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindan (MMAI) were examined using the drug discrimination procedure and direct observation for classification of the characteristic syndrome induced by MMAI. The stimulus effects of MMAI were studied in 5 different groups of rats trained to discriminate MMAI (1.71 mg/kg; 8 μM/kg), MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; 1.75 mg/kg; 7.6 μM/kg), (+)-MBDB ((+)- N -methylamino-(1,3-benzodioxo-5-yl)-2-butanamine; 1.75 mg/kg; 7.18 μM/kg), (+)-amphetamine (1 mg/kg; 5.4 μM/kg), or LSD ((+)-lysergic acid diethylamide tartrate; 0.08 mg/kg; 186 nM/kg) from saline. In substitution tests in rats trained to discriminate MMAI from saline, all the compounds which fully mimicked MMAI were serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) releasing agents. This substitution is symmetrical for MDMA and (+)-MBDB. Nevertheless, the dose-response curve of MMAI is parallel to those of (+)-fenfluramine ( m -trifluoromethyl- N -ethylamphetamine) and p -chloroamphetamine. The results also show that MMAI lacks amphetamine-like and LSD-like discriminative stimulus effects, suggesting that MMAI is neither a psychostimulant nor a hallucinogen. Tests of the discriminability of MMAI after 5-HT depletion with the selective serotonin synthesis inhibitor p -chlorophenylalanine (2×200 mg/kg i.p., pretreatment 72 h before test), showed only saline appropriate responding. Prolonged block (ca. 1 week) of the MMAI cue by p -chlorophenylalanine further supports the conclusion that endogenous 5-HT is essential for MMAI discrimination. Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) or paroxetine (2.5 mg/kg), both selective 5-HT uptake inhibitors, reduced the discriminability of MMAI to 40% and 50%, respectively. None of the antagonists (ketanserin, methiothepin, pindolol, yohimbine, haloperidol) used in antagonism tests inhibited the stimulus properties of MMAI. These results and data from radioligand binding studies support the conclusion that direct activation or inhibition of known neurotransmitter receptors did not play a significant role in the discriminative cue of MMAI. The administration of 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg of MMAI to rats induced a behavioral syndrome consisting of hypolocomotion with accompanying catalepsy-like posture, turning, Straub tail, flat body posture, and suppressed sleeping time. In general, this is qualitatively similar to what is seen after administration of 5-HT precursors or 5-HT receptor agonists. In conclusion, the data from the drug discrimination study and the behavioral syndrome induced by MMAI suggest that MMAI is a potential selective releaser of serotonin.
Distributed resources for transmission congestion and expansion management

Among alternatives that are investigated for distributed generation of electricity are a number of unconventional sources including photovoltaic, fuel cells, wind, combustion engines, microturbines, combined cycles units, hydro) as well as storage facilities (e.g., flywheels, compressed air coupled with combustion turbines, supercapacitors and superconducting magnetic energy storage). In this presentation, the authors apply the PV-battery system. However, the study applies to other types of DR as well.
Congenital Hypoprothrombinemia: The First Reported Case in Japan

A Japanese boy with congenital hypoprothrombinemia, who was discovered in the newborn period when umbilical bleeding occurred, is described. On the 6th day after birth, the patient was found to have a markedly low thrombotest and prolonged prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time. The administration of vitamin K failed to correct the coagulation defects, and the specific coagulation and immnological assay disclosed an extreme decrease of prothrombin activity and antigen. A slight increase of prothrombin activity and antigen in the patient was observed during the first year of life. The half-lives of prothrombin activity and antigen were both10–11 hrs in the first phase, and32–33 hrs in the second phase. The inheritance mode of the disease seemed to be an autosomal recessive from the test results of the family members.
Experimental Study of Kinematics of Large Transient Wave in 2-D Wave Tank

Increased attention has recently been focused on determination and reproduction of realistic properties of extreme sea waves for use in numerical and physical modelling and design load computations. Results of recent research on laboratory synthesis of extreme waves and experimental investigation of wave-fluid particle kinematics just prior to breaking using laser Doppler anemometry is presented. An extreme transient wave similar to those found in hurricane Camille and an 'equivalent' regular Stokes wave often used for design purposes were generated and their kinematics measured. Due to particular asymmetries not present in the Stokes wave, the transient wave kinematics under the crest are shown to be much more severe above the still water level and somewhat less severe below. This comparison suggests that it would be worthwhile to further investigate the use of extreme, transient waves as new, more realistic design waves.
Walking on two legs? reflections on a China visit

Abstract The economic progress that has been achieved in China is evident and impressive and has been ably analysed in many recent writings by economists. But the lessons to be learned from China's experience are not all positive. This report, written in May 1978, presents a non-specialist's very tentative view of part of the order side of the coin.
Creature Double Feature: On Style and Subject in the Art of Caricature

A caricature is a distinctive drawing in which the essence of a subject is rendered in the style of an artist. The question is: How do artists make distinctive drawings and how do viewers see subject and style? Here I explore this question in a series of three investigations on contour drawings of animal silhouettes. First, I present a descriptive study of how different artists (styles) create freehand drawings of different animals (subjects). Next, I present a predictive model of how viewers compare contours when they recognize similarity in subject and style. Last, I present a generative program that creates caricatures using automated algorithms to simulate the cognitive processes of human artists. The resulting drawings are shown to exhibit and exaggerate the style and subject of human drawings. In closing, I discuss practical applications of caricature for improving human-system interaction and I outline possible extensions of contour analysis to other media like music and language.
Sucrose metabolic pathways in sweetgum and pecan seedlings.

Summary Sucrose metabolism and glycolysis were studied in one- to two-year-old seedlings of sweetgum (Liquidamhar styracijua L.) and pecan (Curya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) C. Koch). The sucrose synthase pathway was identified as the dominant sucrose metabolic activity in sucrose sink tissues such as terminal buds and the root cambial zone. The sucrose synthase pathway was completely dependent on uridine diphosphate and pyrophosphate and it was activated by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Both acid and neutral invertases were less active than sucrose synthase in sucrose sink tissues. According to the magnitude of seasonal changes in activity, sucrose synthase, the pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase, and fructokinase were identified as adaptive enzymes, whereas neutral invertase, uridine diphosphateglucopyrophosphorylase, phosphoglucomutase, and the nonspecific, nucleotide triphosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase were identified as maintenance enzymes. The periodically high activities of pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase indicate that pyrophosphate can serve as an energy source in trees. The observations support the hypothesis that sucrose glycolysis and gluconeogenesis in plants proceed by a network of alternative enzymes and substrates.
Template-Dependent Initiation of Sindbis Virus RNA Replication In Vitro

Recent insights into the early events in Sindbis virus RNA replication suggest a requirement for either the P123 or P23 polyprotein, as well as mature nsP4, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, for initiation of minus-strand RNA synthesis. Based on this observation, we have succeeded in reconstituting an in vitro system for template-dependent initiation of SIN RNA replication. Extracts were isolated from cells infected with vaccinia virus recombinants expressing various SIN proteins and assayed by the addition of exogenous template RNAs. Extracts from cells expressing P123C>S, a protease-defective P123 polyprotein, and nsP4 synthesized a genome-length minus-sense RNA product. Replicase activity was dependent upon addition of exogenous RNA and was specific for alphavirus plus-strand RNA templates. RNA synthesis was also obtained by coexpression of nsP1, P23C>S, and nsP4. However, extracts from cells expressing nsP4 and P123, a cleavage-competent P123 polyprotein, had much less replicase activity. In addition, a P123 polyprotein containing a mutation in the nsP2 protease which increased the efficiency of processing exhibited very little, if any, replicase activity. These results provide further evidence that processing of the polyprotein inactivates the minus-strand initiation complex. Finally, RNA synthesis was detected when soluble nsP4 was added to a membrane fraction containing P123C>S, thus providing a functional assay for purification of the nsP4 RNA polymerase.
TRENDS IN FEMALE DELINQUENCY

National arrest statistics combined with juvenile court, self-report, and field observational data are used to evaluate current conceptions of the changing nature of female delinquency. Adolescent females made arrest gains in the categories of larceny (e.g., shoplifting). liquor law violations (e.g. underage drinking), and runaways. Studies of juvenile gangs show no increase in female violence or gang-related delinquencies while self-report data show that, with the exception of marijuana use and drinking, female delinquency has remained generally stable over the past decade. We conclude that patterns of female delinquency, especially as revealed in nonofficial sources of evidence, have changed very little in recent years and that female delinquency continues to reflect traditional sex roles. The evidence suggests that the Women's Movement has had little or no effect on female delinquency. At the end of the report. we suggest alternative views regarding female delinquency and the forces shaping it.
NADPH oxidase links endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, and PKR activation to induce apoptosis

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–induced apoptosis and oxidative stress contribute to several chronic disease processes, yet molecular and cellular mechanisms linking ER stress and oxidative stress in the setting of apoptosis are poorly understood and infrequently explored in vivo. In this paper, we focus on a previously elucidated ER stress–apoptosis pathway whose molecular components have been identified and documented to cause apoptosis in vivo. We now show that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced oxidase (NOX) and NOX-mediated oxidative stress are induced by this pathway and that apoptosis is blocked by both genetic deletion of the NOX subunit NOX2 and by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Unexpectedly, NOX and oxidative stress further amplify CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) induction through activation of the double-stranded RNA–dependent protein kinase (PKR). In vivo, NOX2 deficiency protects ER-stressed mice from renal cell CHOP induction and apoptosis and prevents renal dysfunction. These data provide new insight into how ER stress, oxidative stress, and PKR activation can be integrated to induce apoptosis in a pathophysiologically relevant manner.
An NC algorithm for finding minimum weighted completion time schedule on series parallel graphs

The authors present a parallel algorithm for solving the minimum weighted completion time scheduling problem for transitive series parallel graphs. The algorithm takes O(log/sup 2/ n) time with O(n/sup 3/) processors on a CREW (concurrent-read exclusive-write) PRAM (parallel random-access machine), where n is the number of vertices of the input graph. It is noted that this is the first NC algorithm for solving the problem. >
Possibility of measuring intrinsic electronic correlations in graphene using a d -wave contact Josephson junction

Using a tight-binding Bogoliubov--de Gennes formalism we show that nearest-neighbor spin-singlet (SB) correlations in graphene strongly enhance proximity effect and Josephson current in unconventional $d$-wave contact graphene Josephson junctions. We also establish a $1/(T\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c})$ functional dependence for the superconducting decay length, where ${T}_{c}$ is the superconducting transition temperature for the intrinsic SB correlations. We therefore propose that these junctions will provide a promising experimental system for measuring the effective strength of the intrinsic SB correlations in graphene.
Comparative Experiments To Examine the Effects of Heating on Vegetative Cells and Spores of Clostridium perfringens Isolates Carrying Plasmid Genes versus Chromosomal Enterotoxin Genes

Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) is an important virulence factor for both C. perfringens type A food poisoning and several non-food-borne human gastrointestinal diseases. Recent studies have indicated that C. perfringens isolates associated with food poisoning carry a chromosomal cpe gene, while non-food-borne human gastrointestinal disease isolates carry a plasmid cpe gene. However, no explanation has been provided for the strong associations between certain cpe genotypes and particular CPE-associated diseases. Since C. perfringens food poisoning usually involves cooked meat products, we hypothesized that chromosomal cpe isolates are so strongly associated with food poisoning because (i) they are more heat resistant than plasmid cpe isolates, (ii) heating induces loss of the cpe plasmid, or (iii) heating induces migration of the plasmid cpe gene to the chromosome. When we tested these hypotheses, vegetative cells of chromosomal cpe isolates were found to exhibit, on average approximately twofold-higher decimal reduction values (D values) at 55 degrees C than vegetative cells of plasmid cpe isolates exhibited. Furthermore, the spores of chromosomal cpe isolates had, on average, approximately 60-fold-higher D values at 100 degrees C than the spores of plasmid cpe isolates had. Southern hybridization and CPE Western blot analyses demonstrated that all survivors of heating retained their cpe gene in its original plasmid or chromosomal location and could still express CPE. These results suggest that chromosomal cpe isolates are strongly associated with food poisoning, at least in part, because their cells and spores possess a high degree of heat resistance, which should enhance their survival in incompletely cooked or inadequately warmed foods.
Multidimensional Facets of Cultural Competence

Calls for incorporating cultural competence in psychology have been hindered for a number of reasons: belief in the universality of psychological laws and theories, the invisibility of monocultural policies and practices, differences over defining cultural competence, and the lack of a conceptual framework for organizing its multifaceted dimensions. A proposed multidimensional model of cultural competence (MDCC) incorporates three primary dimensions: (a) racial and culture-specific attributes of competence, (b) components of cultural competence, and (c) foci of cultural competence. Based on a 3 (Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills) × 4 (Individual, Professional, Organizational, and Societal) × 5 (African American, Asian American, Latino/Hispanic American, Native American, and European American) factorial combination, the MDCC allows for the systematic identification of cultural competence in a number of different areas. Its uses in education and training, practice, and research are discussed.
The interaction of materialist and postmaterialist values in predicting dimensions of personal and social identity

The postmaterialist values paradigm has long argued whether materialist and postmaterialist values are opposite ends of a single continuum or two values on separate continua, ignoring the possibility that these values are interactive as well. In two studies, using a strong inference approach, we tested whether a previously unexplored interactive formulation of the materialism-postmaterialism relationship explained more variance than Inglehart’s unidimensional or a bidimensional conceptualization. Using a revised materialism-postmaterialism scale (R-MPMI), we assess the individual and interactive utility of these values in predicting dimensions of personal and social identity (DPSI), key correlates of Inglehart’s postmaterialist theory. Results indicate that the interactive conceptualization explains more variance of DPSI. The findings suggest that a restructuring of the conceptualization of postmaterialism is necessary, and a rubric toward that end is discussed.
Decoupling of taxonomic and ecologic severity of Phanerozoic marine mass extinctions

There have been five major mass extinctions among the marine biota during the ∼0.6 b.y. history of metazoan life on Earth. These mass extinctions have been ranked from the largest to the smallest by the severity of taxonomic diversity losses, but they have not been ranked by the severity of the ecologic changes that they produced. Here we utilize a system of paleoecological levels that allows for the ranking of ecological degradation or shifts associated with significant taxonomic events, along with an analysis of large-scale paleoenvironmental patterns of two of the great evolutionary faunas, to compare the relative ecologic degradation caused by two major mass extinctions. The Late Ordovician and Late Devonian mass extinctions produced similar taxonomic losses (marine families declined ∼22% and 21%, respectively). However, our analyses show that whereas the Late Ordovician extinction resulted in only minimal permanent ecological change, the Late Devonian extinction resulted in the complete restructuring of many components of the marine ecosystem. Thus, the large-scale taxonomic and ecological significance of these extinction events are decoupled, implying that some taxa are ecologically more critical than others.
Coastal zone management

Bangladesh, St Lucia, the Philippines and dozens of other countries are affected by serious storms and flooding. The damage from these and other hazards could be reduced through effective programmes that control the type, density and location of coastal settlements. It is particularly important that such programmes preserve natural landforms that take the brunt of storms and thus protect lives and community structures.
Effect of thermal buoyancy on fluid flow and inclusion motion in tundish without flow control devices - Part II: Inclusion motion

Following up the fluid flowsi mulation in a 60 t tundish,the trajectories of inclusions in the 60 t tundishwithout flowcontrol are si mulated by considering the force balance between the drag force and the inertial buoyancyforce . The Stochastic model yields more accurateinclusion motionthanthe non-Stochastic model due toincluding theeffect of the turbulent fluctuation. The average residence ti me of inclusions decreases withincreasing size . The ther-mal buoyancy favors inclusions removal especially the small inclusions . Using solute transport like the dye injectionin water model and copper additionin the real steel tundish cannot accurately study the motion of the inclusions .Inthe si mulation, more than 68 %inclusions bigger than 10μmare removed to the top ,and less than 32 %enters themold . The thermal buoyancy has little effect on the fraction of inclusions moved to the top of the inlet zone ,and itmainly favors the removal of inclusions smaller than 100μmto the top surface of the outlet zone .For inclusions big-ger than 100μm,the effect of thermal buoyancy on their motion can be ignored compared to the inertial buoyancyeffect .
Causation of Drug Abuse and Treatment Strategy A Comparison of Counselors’ Perceptions of Faith-Based and Secular Drug Treatment Programs

Many offenders participate in drug abuse treatment programs while in prison or on probation or parole. Among other benefits, this treatment may lessen the risk of recidivism. Thus, understanding counselor treatment philosophy is important as their attitudes toward treatment can be influential in the strategies they use and ultimately affect treatment outcomes. Analyzing data from 110 drug abuse treatment counselors, this study compared counselors' perceptions of causation of drug abuse and treatment strategy between faith-based and secular treatment programs. It was found that counselors from faith-based programs were more likely to endorse religious models and less prone to support disease models as an explanation of drug use. With regard to treatment strategy, counselor's group affiliation was not predictive of a focus on either a client religious need or a medical treatment model. Nevertheless, the extent of counselor's religiosity was correlated with tackling clients' religious needs as a treatment strategy. On the other hand, certified (licensed) counselors were found to be more supportive of the medical model as a treatment approach. Limitations of the current study and policy implications are discussed.
Infants Born Preterm Exhibit Different Patterns of Center-of-Pressure Movement Than Infants Born at Full Term

Background Infants born preterm are at risk for developmental impairments related to postural control. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether infants born preterm and infants born at full term differed in postural control at 1 to 3 weeks after term age. Design This study included 17 infants born preterm (mean gestational age=31.9 weeks, range=25.0–34.6) and 15 infants born at full term (mean gestational age=38.9 weeks, range=37.3–40.6). All infants were without diagnosed neurological or genetic conditions. Measurement Center-of-pressure (COP) data were recorded at 5 Hz while each infant was positioned supine on a pressure-sensitive mat in an alert behavioral state. Root mean square (RMS) displacement and approximate entropy (ApEn) were used to describe the COP movement variability in the time series. Differences between groups were identified using independent t tests. Results The COP time series were found to be deterministic, suggesting order in the time series. Infants born preterm exhibited significantly larger RMS values in the caudal-cephalic direction than infants born at full term (1.11 and 0.83 cm, respectively; t =−2.6, df =30, P =.01). However, infants born at full term had significantly larger ApEn values in the caudal-cephalic direction (1.19 and 1.11, respectively; t =2.4, df =30, P =.02). The 2 groups did not differ in RMS or ApEn values in the medial-lateral direction or the resultant. Conclusions Infants born at full term exhibited COP displacements in the caudal-cephalic direction that were smaller in amplitude, but may be considered more complex or less predictable, than those of infants born preterm. One explanation is that infants born preterm exhibited more stereotypic patterns of movement, resulting in large, but repetitive, COP excursions. A combination of linear and nonlinear measures may provide insight into the control of posture of young infants.
LES Model Sensitivities to Domains, Grids, and Large-Eddy Timescales

Abstract This study has addressed the sensitivity of large-eddy simulation (LES) models to domain size, grid resolution, and the number of large-eddy turnover times (t∗) of integration, and their respective effects on the characteristic turbulence statistics computed from the simulation of convective flows in planetary boundary layers (PBLs). This includes the review of relevant results from past LES studies, as well as new findings using LES models for Type I cloud-topped boundary layers with ice and snow. Horizontal domains in this study were varied from 5 km × 5 km to 10 km × 10 km, grid length varied from 125 m × 125 m to 78 m × 78 m, and three t∗ times of 11, 15, and 19. Adequate results for horizontal variance were obtained for the 10 km × 10 km domain, the 78 m × 78 m grid, and all the t∗ values, based on the evaluation criteria introduced to replace the time-averaging methodology. Similar results were found for vertical velocity skewness; however, 19t∗ offered improvement over 11t∗ and 15t∗, showi...
The Acid Phosphatase AcpA Is Secreted In Vitro and in Macrophages by Francisella spp.

Francisella tularensis is a remarkably infectious facultative intracellular pathogen that causes the zoonotic disease tularemia. Essential to the pathogenesis of F. tularensis is its ability to escape the destructive phagosomal environment and inhibit the host cell respiratory burst. F. tularensis subspecies encode a series of acid phosphatases, which have been reported to play important roles in Francisella phagosomal escape, inhibition of the respiratory burst, and intracellular survival. However, rigorous demonstration of acid phosphatase secretion by intracellular Francisella has not been shown. Here, we demonstrate that AcpA, which contributes most of the F. tularensis acid phosphatase activity, is secreted into the culture supernatant in vitro by F. novicida and F. tularensis subsp. holarctica LVS. In addition, both F. novicida and the highly virulent F. tularensis subsp. tularensis Schu S4 strain are able to secrete and also translocate AcpA into the host macrophage cytosol. This is the first evidence of acid phosphatase translocation during macrophage infection, and this knowledge will greatly enhance our understanding of the functions of these enzymes in Francisella pathogenesis.
Depression and cognitive decline after coronary artery bypass grafting

Summary Background Depression is commonly reported after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and after cardiac surgery in general. Many earlier reports relied on non-standard assessments of depression, which may have overestimated its frequency. Cognitive decline has also been reported after CABG. We assessed the frequency of depression after CABG by a validated depression measure (Center for Epidemiological Study of Depression, CES-D), and examined the relation between depression and cognitive decline. Methods Patients were tested before CABG and 1 month and 1 year after surgery with a series of neuropsychological tests that assessed a range of cognitive areas. Depressed mood was measured by the CES-D scale, and defined as a score above 16. Findings 90 (73%) of the 124 patients were not depressed before surgery, and 34 were depressed at that time. Only 12 (13%) of patients not depressed before surgery were depressed at 1 month afterwards, whereas 18 (53%) of those who were depressed before surgery were depressed at 1 month (p Interpretation Of those patients who were depressed after CABG, the large majority were depressed before surgery. There was no correlation, moreover, between depressed mood and cognitive decline after CABG, which suggests that depression alone cannot account for cognitive decline
Esomeprazole for Acid Peptic Disorders

OBJECTIVE:To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of esomeprazole, a new proton-pump inhibitor (PPI).DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search (1966–March 2001) was conducted for relevant literature using the terms esomeprazole, Nexium, and H199/18. Abstracts from the XXXII Nordic Meeting of Gastroenterology and journal articles provided by AstraZeneca were reviewed.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All available studies on the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of esomeprazole were reviewed.DATA SYNTHESIS:Esomeprazole is a new PPI and is the S—isomer of racemic omeprazole. Esomeprazole has demonstrated acid control comparable to that of the other PPIs currently available. Esomeprazole undergoes less hepatic metabolism compared with omeprazole, and thus may result in less interpatient variability among slow and fast metabolizers of CYP2C19. The oral bioavailability of esomeprazole is approximately 89% with a dose of 40 mg, and the half-life is approxima...