cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parents' Rights in Special Education: The Readability of Procedural Safeguards:

To make informed educational decisions, parents must be able to read and comprehend the information that is given to them by their school. The purpose of the current study was to examine the readability of Parents' Rights documents of all states. Results indicated that only 4% to 8% of Parents' Rights documents were written at the recommended reading level. To the contrary, 20% to 50% of the documents were written at a college reading level or higher, and other text characteristics may have added to their difficulty. These findings suggest that parents of students with special needs are likely to find Parents' Rights documents very difficult to read and understand. Parents' Rights documents should be rewritten to make them accessible to more parents.
Adding wavelet image technology and adaptive resonance theory to a common control system for unmanned aerial vehicles

This paper discusses a possible improvement for a common control system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The common control system will provide command, control and data dissemination for tactical UAVs. Adding wavelet image technology and adaptive resonance theory to the common control system will provide an advanced foundation for interoperability and commonality to the tactical UAV family and the common core software elements.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Automatic and efficient evaluation of memory hierarchies for embedded systems

Automation is the key to the design of future embedded systems as it permits application-specific customization while keeping design costs low. A key problem faced by automatic design systems is evaluating the performance of the vast number of alternative designs in a timely manner. For this paper, we focus on an embedded system consisting of the following components: a VLIW processor, instruction cache, data cache, and second-level unified cache. A hierarchical approach of partitioning the system into its constituent components and evaluating each component individually is utilized. The performance of each processor is evaluated independent of its memory hierarchy, and each of the caches is simulated using the traces from a single reference processor. Since the changes in the processor architecture do indeed affect the address traces and thus the performance of the memory hierarchy, the overall performance is inaccurate. To overcome this error, the changes in the processor architecture are modeled as a dilation of the reference processor's address trace, where each instruction block in the trace is conceptually stretched out by the dilation coefficient. This approach provides a projected cache performance that more accurately accounts for changes in the processor architecture. In order to understand the accuracy of the dilation model, we separate the possible errors that the model introduces and quantify these errors on a set of benchmarks. The results show that the dilation model is effective for most of the design space and facilitates efficient automatic design.
Processing biometric data of game players using body sensors

Biometric data processing resting on sensor systems has been a growing field with a plethora of applications. However, to the best of our knowledge, a system of such kind based on random finite set theory and body sensor networks has not been developed and analyzed. For instance, there are many moments in basketball that when the game is either on the line or in a crucial situation, teams often succumb to pressure and this manifests itself in poor shot attempts, turnovers, and shot-clock violations. The severe movement of players introduces a fast changing channel that affects data transmission of body sensors. Data may be lost at the receiving side due to degenerated channel conditions. In this paper, we describe a system used to monitor stress and exhaustion of game (e.g. basketball) players in realtime during a game. Stress and exhaustion will be quantified and encapsulated within an equation that symbolizes player “readiness” and will include factors such as player talent, and player importance. Furthermore, a formal Bayesian toolkit, namely Random Finite Set Theory, is considered and enabled to process biometric data. Here ‘data’ is a generalized concept that encompasses ‘empty state’ indicating failed data reception. Using this system, a coach can decide to alter his strategy, personnel and the game flow based on the individual readiness of his players. A coach will receive these metrics from the sensors on the players' themselves wirelessly transmitted.
The Determinants of Economic Liberalization in Latin America

Previous work on political institutions and economic reform provides a number of testable hypotheses that are rarely examined in a multivariate framework. Divided government, political polarization...
The effect of an epoxide–nucleophile reaction upon hydrogen bonding involving the nucleophile

The aim of this study has been to determine how the hydrogen bond between formaldehyde and ammonia is affected by the ring-opening interaction of protonated ethylene oxide with the ammonia nitrogen. Our purpose is to gain insight into the possible effect of carcinogenic epoxides upon the hydrogen bonding within DNA base pairs; it is known that such epoxides react with nucleophilic sites in DNA, including amine nitrogens that are involved in hydrogen bonds to carbonyl groups. We have used an ab initio self-consistent-field molecular orbital procedure to compute optimized structures, interaction energies, and other properties of interest. The H2CO·HNH2 system and the protonated epoxide were found to form two stable complexes, with syn and anti orientations. Their formation is accompanied by a significant overall strengthening of the H2CO·HNH2 hydrogen bond, as indicated by both calculated force constants and bond lengths. An analysis of these and other properties, such as atomic charges, suggests that the interaction is leading to the formation of N-protonated ethanolamine, which is linked to the formaldehyde through the proton on the nitrogen. If carcinogenic epoxides have a similar strengthening effect upon some of the hydrogen bonds in DNA, it could interfere in the replication and transcription processes.
Parameters Influencing Distal Tip Loading of Pacemaker and Defibrillator Leads

More than 235,000 pacemakers and 130,000 implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) were implanted in the United States in 2009 [1] for the treatment of various cardiac arrhythmias. Traditional pacemakers and ICDs deliver therapy to the patient through a transvenous lead that extends from a subcutaneously-implanted pulse generator, through the subclavian or cephalic vein, the superior vena cava (SVC), and into the heart. Attachment of the distal tip of the lead into the cardiac muscle is accomplished through either an active fixation mechanism where a metal helix is screwed into the cardiac wall at the time of implantation, or a passive fixation mechanism where silicone tines are ensnared by the fibrous trabeculae within the heart. Implantation of both active and passive leads is aided by the insertion of a stylet, or thin wire, into the lead to provide additional stiffness and steerability as the device is pushed through the vasculature and to the implant site.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The Disappearance of Communities from National Urban Policy

Using data primarily from suburban cities in the United States, three arguments are developed: (1) Current patterns of unequal development of communities are partly caused by governmental organization and action. (2) Community inequalities create long-term social problems and fiscal crises that can be anticipated in the short term. (3) Current national urban policy will aggravate rather than ameliorate these problems. In this sense, communities have disappeared from national urban policy.
Measure for Measure(s): Performance-testing the Adaptation Hypothesis

In early 2013 Hoosier Bard staged the first double-bill production of two versions of Measure for Measure, based on John Jowett's “genetic text” of the play in the Oxford Middleton. One version was the familiar Folio text, set in Vienna, allegedly an adaptation by Middleton in 1621. The other version was a conjectural reconstruction of the play written entirely by Shakespeare and performed by the King's Men in 1604; this version removed material attributed to Middleton, and set the play in Ferrara, Italy. The cast and crew worked on the play for eight weeks. This experiment demonstrated that some small changes identified by Jowett (“O death's a great disguiser” and the transposed third and fourth scenes) made no discernible difference. However, overall, actors and audiences found the two versions powerfully different. We consider various scholarly objections made to the adaptation hypothesis since 1994, and test them against performance and rehearsal experience and audience responses. Our illustrated anal...
SU-EE-A1-01: Development of a System to Measure Neutron Microdosimetry Spectra in a Mixed Proton-Neutron Field

Purpose: To develop a miniature tissue‐equivalent proportional counter (TEPC), timing‐coincidence veto, and pulse‐height analysis system for the purpose of measuring neutronMicrodosimetry spectra in a proton beam. Method and Materials: TEPC's were constructed with active volume geometry consisting of a 2.5mm right circular cylinder and employing a 10μm diameter stainless steel wire as the detector anode centered on the axis of an A150 tissue‐equivalent plastic cylinder with 2mm thick wall. Stainless steel field tubes define the active volume which is filled with propane based tissue‐equivalent gas to 168torr simulating a tissue density volume with 2μm diameter. Two fully depleted transmission‐type silicon detectors with diameter of 31.6mm will be operated in timing coincidence with the proportional counter as a charged particle veto system. Detector pulses are digitized in a 60MS/s sampling ADC and the data acquisition software is written in the LabVIEW graphical programming language which acquires and writes pulse waveforms to disk where pulse heights and timing information are extracted for further analysis.Results: A TEPC was tested in a mixed field produced in a proton treatment room with the proton beam incident on a closed tungsten MLC. The timing and energy resolutions for the TEPCs can be estimated from alpha spectra taken with a FWT LET‐1/2 detector attached to the data acquisition system. Timing and lineal energy resolution for the TEPCs are estimated to be 200ns and >15keV/μm, respectively. Conclusion: Preliminary testing shows that the TEPC and silicon detector timing‐coincidence veto system is a viable method for extracting neutronMicrodosimetry spectra from the mixed fields present in a proton therapy treatment room. This work was supported by the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command under Contract Agreement No. DAMD17‐W81XWH‐07‐2‐0121. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the US Army.
Mechanisms of trichome-specific Mn accumulation and toxicity in the Ni hyperaccumulator Alyssum murale

Mechanisms of Mn accumulation and toxicity in and around trichomes on the Ni hyperaccumulator Alyssum murale were investigated. Plants were grown aeroponically with variable amounts of Mn and Ni. Total metals were determined and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) and synchrotron-based micro x-ray fluorescence (μ-SXRF) spectroscopy were used to evaluate metal distribution. Synchrotron techniques (μ-XANES, μ-EXAFS) along with infrared spectroscopy (DRIFT) were used to determine Mn speciation. At lower Mn concentrations or when grown together with Ni, Mn is confined to the trichome basal compartment in the +2 oxidation state in a complex with phosphate. At tissue concentrations >1,150 μg g−1 Mn-rich lesions develop around some trichomes in which greater amounts of Mn 3+ is found. Mn is preferentially stored in trichomes on the plant surface which at higher concentrations enters the cell wall or apoplastic space of neighboring cells resulting in the formation of brown reaction products and oxidized Mn species. We propose a mechanism by which lesion formation and oxidized Mn species around some trichomes is possibly due to induction of the peroxidase system by excess Mn, triggering the accumulation of toxic phenoxy radicals and Mn3+.
Chemically diverse environmental interfaces and their reactions with ozone studied by sum frequency generation

Abstract Using tailor-made organic compounds tethered to solid substrates through organo-silane chemistry, we present a reductionist model study aimed at understanding the mechanisms of heterogeneous organic oxidation reactions at solid/air interfaces. The surface vibrational spectra of glass slides functionalized with the tropospherically relevant olefins 1-pentene, 2-hexene, cyclopentene, cyclohexene, and a menthenol derivative via aniline-silane linkers have been obtained through polarization-resolved broadband vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG). The olefinic and aliphatic CH stretches located above and below 3000 cm−1, respectively, are clearly discernable and their spectral intensities are used to track, with 10 s time resolution, C C double bond oxidation reactions of surface-bound cyclohexene at room temperature and with low ppm amounts of ozone at 1 atm. The olefinic CH stretching mode disappears at a rate of 0.05(1) s−1, and the aliphatic asymmetric stretch modes increase at a rate of 0.04(1) s−1. Analogous experiments show the formation of methyl groups even for those olefins under investigation that do not originally possess methyl groups. The implications for heterogeneous organic oxidation chemistry involving tropospheric dust particles are discussed.
Molecular cloning of a mouse extracellular signal regulated kinase (erk-1)

A complementary DNA has been cloned and sequenced for the mouse extracellular signal regulated kinase (erk-1). The nucleotide sequence of the 1.7 kb mouse erk-1 cDNA clone (merk-1-34) is 93.5% identical to the published rat DNA sequence (Boulton et al. (1990) Science 249, 64-67). The mouse clone, as with all other reported sequences, did not contain an in-frame translation initiation codon and, therefore, does not appear to be full-length. Attempts to generate cDNA sequence upstream of the 5' end of merk-1-34 using thermostable reverse transcriptase and chemical melting of the mRNA (methylmercury hydroxide) were unsuccessful.
Spin-spin correlation function in the two-dimensional Ising model with linear defects. I.T<Tc

The dispersion expansion for the spin correlation function in the two-dimensional Ising model with linear defects belowTc is derived. The asymptotic behavior is computed by a steepest descent analysis. The lattice is divided into four domains with different asymptotic behaviors. In particular, the correlation length inside certain domains is a function of the defect.
Sodium Chloride Content of Gastro-Intestinal Secretions.

ConclusionAdditional evidence is presented to support the Bancroft colloidal coagulation theory of disinfectant action. A new measure of the efficiency of antiseptic agents, the Toxicity Coefficient, is defined on the basis of the Ostwald toxicity equation.
‘My hunger has brought business’: ‘efficiency’ and the de-moralizing logic of maize distribution in an era of market liberalization

The adoption of maize market liberalization policies in Zambia marked the beginning of a radical transformation of government institutions and ideologies. The maize marketing boards and input credit schemes that characterized the post-independence humanist project in Zambia were replaced by the ideology of ‘efficiency’ and a reification of markets as the vehicle to poverty reduction and food security. Using ethnographic and historical data, this article situates the ‘farming as a business’ development model within the broader context of this political economic transition. It shows how the interaction between the growing legitimacy of business-oriented maize farming and liberalized maize markets create conditions for a cycle of hunger in rural Zambia, by eroding the terms by which food insecure people acquire maize through piecework systems, loans, and food gifts.
The effects of starvation and refeeding on carbohydrate and lipid reserves of Anolis carolinensis

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of starvation (20 days) and refeeding (10 days) were determined in Anolis carolinensis upon body weight changes, liver and muscle glycogen, liver lipid, fat body weight and plasma glucose. 2. 2. Liver glycogen was rapidly reduced in response to starvation; maximum depletion was observed by day 6 of starvation, and upon refeeding was rapidly replenished. Plasma glucose levels were reduced by starvation but were unaltered by refeeding. 3. 3. Liver lipid and fat body weights were reduced by starvation. Liver lipid levels were unaffected by refeeding and fat body weights increased only after the sixth day of refeeding.
A fully integrated video digital-to-analog converter with minimized gain error

We propose a 1.5V 10-bit 400MHz fully integrated digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The proposed DAC uses a current-steering architecture with Red/Green/Blue channels to support video display. To improve the integration density, we use an on-die current and voltage reference circuit to replace the off-chip resistor in traditional reference generation approaches. Our reference circuit is temperature insensitive because of using the temperature coefficient of poly resistors. To compensate the gain error mainly caused by process variation in current reference, we further propose an auto-calibration scheme to detect and calibrate the DAC gain error. Simulation results show that the gain error in our fully integrated DAC is minimized to 2.8% through different Process-Temperature (PT) variation conditions.
Information processing in molecular systems

Abstract Information processing, or selective dissipation, is mediated by switching elements in classical systems and by enzyme catalysis in biochemical systems. There are important differences in the character of this dissipation (from the standpoint of energy and control) in self-reproducing systems based on molecular interactions and those based on conventional computers. Conventional computers process information in a single level mode, i.e., the state of each unit of the system is accessed independently. This includes the manipulable memory units which store the computer program. In contrast, molecular self-reproducing systems process information in a hierarchical mode, based on the fact of hierarchy in molecular structure. In particular, the enzyme is described genetically at the primary level of structure (amino acid sequence) but functions at the higher, tertiary level on the basis of the interactions of many manipulable units. As a consequence it is not possible to program a biochemical system in any conventional sense. However, this is compensated by an increased capacity for accumulating appropriate information through evolution by variation and natural selection. This is possible because systems operating in the hierarchical mode are amenable to gradual modification of function. The degree of gradualness is itself an evolved property of biological molecules.
Biological sciences: mRNA is expected to form stable secondary structures

MOST sequenced RNAs have the potential to form secondary structures by means of local base pairing and loop formation. Arguments have been advanced that these structures are the result of evolutionary pressure, or of requirements for unique functions such as virus packaging1–7. To determine whether secondary structure is an intrinsic or anomalous property of RNA we have investigated random sequences generated by computer. These sequences, which contain no real biological information, can be arranged into thermo-dynamically stable secondary structures with about 50% base pairing. The results imply that one should expect a high degree of base pairing in RNA, consistent with early estimates of helical content in random copolynucleotides8 and the constraints accompanying structure formation in a hypothetical tRNA molecule9,10. Therefore, the mere existence of secondary structure does not necessarily implicate special biological functions, although the potential for functional interactions clearly exists.
Formation of pyrophosphate, tripolyphosphate, and phosphorylimidazole with the thioester, N, S-diacetylcysteamine, as the condensing agent

Reaction of 0.20M orthophosphate with 0.20M N,S-diacetylcysteamine in 0.40M imidazole at pH 7.0 or 8.0 under drying conditions at 50°C for 6 days yields pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate in the presence and absence of 0.10M divalent metal ion. The efficiency of utilization of N,S-diacetylcysteamine in the formation of pyrophosphate linkages ranges from 3 – 8% under the above conditions. The thioester, N,S-diacetylcysteamine, and imidazole are required for phosphoanhydride formation. Reaction of 0.40M orthophosphate with 0.20M N, S-diacetylcysteamine in 0.40M imidazole at ambient temperature for 6 days yields phosphorylimidazole in the absence or presence of 0.05M MgCl2. Phosphorylimidazole and pyrophosphate are formed in the presence of 0.05M CaCl2; pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate are formed with 0.15M CaCl2. The efficiency of utilization of N,S-diacetylcysteamine in the formation of pyrophosphate linkages is roughly 7% at 6 days of reaction with 0.15M CaCl2. The thioester, N,S-diacetylcysteamine and imidazole are required for the formation of phosphoanhydrides. The significance of these reactions to molecular evolution is discussed.
Long-term nonprogressors with HIV disease.

BACKGROUND Although biomedical research is being conducted on long-term nonprogressors with HIV disease, there is relatively little research on the psychosocial factors influencing this phenomenon. OBJECTIVE To describe the perceptions of long-term nonprogressors of their HIV disease and its course. METHOD A naturalistic study design was used to elicit information from 25 men and women who were long-term nonprogressors (HIV positive for 7 or more years, CD4 count > 500, and free of opportunistic infections and/or AIDS-defining illnesses). Audiotaped interviews were transcribed verbatim, and content analysis and constant comparison were used to elicit themes. RESULTS Themes include viewing HIV as a manageable illness, taking care of my physical health, human connectedness, taking care of my emotional/mental health, and spirituality. Specific ways of adapting to HIV are identified within each theme. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study can be used by nurses who work with HIV positive individuals in an effort to help them adopt strategies that may assist them in maintaining their health. However, longitudinal studies that follow this group over time and that include biomedical markers of disease progression would provide knowledge that would assist in the refinement of these interventions.
Interfacial nanochemistry and electrical properties of Pb(Zr0.3Ti0.7)O3 films on GaN/sapphire

Abstract The structure, interfacial nanochemistry, and electrical properties of sol–gel derived Pb(Zr0.3Ti0.7)O3 or PZT (30 / 70) thin films on metal–organic chemical vapor deposited (0001) GaN/sapphire substrates are reported. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed a phase-pure and highly oriented (111) PZT and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy was used to ascertain the Zr/Ti ratio. The secondary ion mass spectrometry depth profile and electron energy loss spectroscopy with high energy and spatial resolution indicated a chemically sharp PZT/GaN interface with insignificant interdiffusion between Pb, Zr, or Ti in PZT and Ga and N in GaN. The lower capacitance density (C / A = 0.35 μF/cm2) and asymmetrical polarization (P ∼ 4 μC/cm2) hysteresis loops of PZT in Pt/PZT/GaN or metal-ferroelectric-semiconductor configuration were attributed to the high depolarization field (Edepol) within PZT. In contrast, PZT in Pt/PZT/Ru/GaN or metal-ferroelectric-metal configuration exhibited high capacitance density (C / A = 1.25 μF/cm2) and polarization (P ∼ 30 μC/cm2).
Self-concept, school self-image, satisfaction, and involvement in an alternative high school

Alternative education emphasizes students' psychological development and academic achievement. The present paper reports a case study of the psychological correlates of students' adjustment to a small urban free school. It was expected that: (a) students would have high general self-concept, school selfimage, satisfaction, and involvement; (b) self-concept would discriminate between those high and low in school adjustment: and (c) there would be a positive relationship between school self-image, satisfaction, and involvement. Forty male and thirty female students voluntarily answered the New Morning Student Questionnaire (1972) and the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (Fitts, 1965). Results showed that students were psychologically well adjusted; they had a somewhat higher self-concept than the norm for high school students; self-concept was a good predictor of school self-image and satisfaction; and there was a positive relationship between school self-image, satisfaction, and involvement.
Multiple arcs: Evidence for an active ionospheric role in the M-I coupling

Observations of high-latitude auroral-electrodynamic structures have provided evidence that the M-I coupling is more complex than typically assumed in large scale magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models. The observational evidences from multiple arcs, their widths and multiplicity, will be discussed in the context of solar, ionospheric, and magnetospheric conditions. These relationships, along with more detailed knowledge of the electrodynamics (currents, electric fields, and conductivities), lead to MHD model constraints. Since several different types of MHD models have been developed to include the M-I coupling at high latitudes, a comparison of the constraints and their implementation in these models will be undertaken. The crux of the problem being addressed is whether the magnetosphere simply imposes on the ionosphere multiple arcs, i.e., a pure driver, or whether it is possible for the M-I coupling itself to have the capability of creating this structure. At this time, MHD models that use an ionospheric Ohms Law for M-I coupling and the Knight relationship to modulate ionospheric conductivity simply map magnetospheric electrodynamics into the ionosphere. Studies of multiple arcs with these types of models need to impose the “multiple arcs” empirically into the magnetosphere. By way of contrast the USU M-I coupling model self-consistently generates multiple arcs with realistic spacings and widths as well as dependences on solar, ionospheric, and magnetospheric conditions without externally imposing them. This leads us to believe the active form of the M-I coupling is present at high latitudes.
In search of prognostic indicators for lymphomatoid papulosis: a retrospective study of 123 patients.

Background Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a benign recurrent papulonodular skin eruption with histologically malignant features that sometimes (10%-20%) progresses to lymphoma. Objective We retrospectively evaluated the clinical course of patients with LyP and identify prognostic factors possibly indicating a malignant course. Methods Clinical, histopathologic, and immunologic features and molecular genetics were examined and correlated with clinical course and outcomes. Immunophenotyping and chemokine profiling were performed in select skin biopsy samples. A follow-up questionnaire was sent to patients. Clinical course and association with neoplastic disorders were correlated with LyP subtypes, molecular genetics, and immunophenotyping studies. Results Of 123 patients with LyP (1991-2008) followed up a mean of 4 years (range, 2 months to 14 years), 17 (14%) had an associated hematologic malignancy, 8 of which were mycosis fungoides. Histopathologic analyses demonstrated classic LyP type A (n = 69), B (n = 13), or C (n = 6), and a slight predominance of T-cell CD8 marker expression for type A. More than one type of lesion was present in 9 patients with a higher incidence of hematologic malignancies. T-cell receptor gene rearrangement positivity was about two times higher, with LyP associated with hematologic malignancy (82% vs 44%; odds ratio 5.7; P = .02). Chemokine studies in a subset of 25 patients showed chemokine receptor (CCR) CCR4 + and thymus and activation-related chemokine (TARC + ) in all LyP types and CCR3 + and chemokine-related receptor (CXCR) CXCR3 + in types B and C. Limitations Retrospective study design is a limitation. Conclusions Positive T-cell receptor gene rearrangement or diagnosis of mixed-type LyP may be a prognostic indicator of disease more prone to progress to lymphoma.
Low cost passive and active devices for FTTH systems

A passive optical network (PON) comes to front for cost reduction of FTTH systems. The PON shares the cost of fiber and an optical line termination (OLT) among several customers. The "triple-play services", broadband internet access, video and telephone on the PON, play the role of an engine for explosive growth of the FTTH. The triple-play services on the PON consist of passive devices, optical splitters and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) modules, and active devices, an OLT and several optical network units (ONU). This paper reviews the technologies for low cost passive and active devices and describes our arrayed WDM filter module for video distribution and bi-directional transceiver device for OLT and ONU on the PON.
Fractal analysis and thermal-elastic modeling of a subvolcanic magmatic breccia: The role of post-fragmentation partial melting and thermal fracture in clast size distributions

[1] This paper examines the development of a subvolcanic magmatic breccia located along the contact of a granitic intrusion using fractal analysis and thermal-elastic modeling. The breccia grades from clast-supported, angular clasts adjacent to unfractured host rock to isolated, rounded clasts supported by the granitic matrix adjacent to the intrusion. Field observations point to an explosive breccia mechanism, and clast size distribution analysis yields fractal dimensions (Ds > 3) that exceed the minimum value known to result from explosion (Ds > 2.5). Field observations, clast size distribution data, clast circularity data, and boundary roughness fractal dimension data suggest that the clast sizes and shapes reflect post-brecciation modification by partial melting and thermal fracture. Numerical modeling is employed to explore the possible thermal-elastic effects on the size distribution of clasts. Instantaneous immersion is assumed for metasedimentary clasts of a fractal size distribution in a superheated granitic matrix for different matrix volume percentages. Thermal analysis is restricted to conductive heat transfer corrected for latent heat. Partial melting of metasedimentary clasts is an effective secondary modification process that was probably responsible for markedly altering the clast size distribution for clast populations adjacent to the intrusion. Diabase clasts experienced late-stage fracture due to the instantaneous thermal pulse in which angular clasts with high surface area to volume ratios were preferentially fractured, although this process does not appear to have markedly influenced the clast size distribution.
Women drivers!: The emergence of folklore and stereotypic opinions concerning feminine automotive behavior

Abstract Although often presented in a humorous context, folklore concerning the behavior of women automobile drivers, and the development of a stereotype concerning them, emerged for very serious social reasons. They were attempts to both ‘keep women in their place’ and to protect them against what were believed to be corrupting influences for women in society. In the male-dominated America of the early twentieth century, women at the wheel posed a serious threat to long-established ideas and practices. The automobile threatened to restructure the social status of women and the meaning of family life in America. As a result, defenders of the status quo sought a means by which female use of the motor car might be limited. Hence, the emergence of folklore concerning the alleged disabilities of feminine motorists, and the eventual development of the full-blown, negative ‘woman driver’ stereotype.
Correlates of Self-efficacy among Rural Smokers

Self-efficacy has been related to intent to stop smoking, abstinence success, and risk for relapse. Because limited research exists regarding self-efficacy among rural smokers, the current study examined correlates of self-efficacy among rural primary care patients smoking > or =10 cigarettes per day. Participants completed a telephone survey assessing demographics, smoking history, and psychosocial variables (e.g. motivation, depression). Among the 750 participants, lower self-efficacy was correlated with high depression scores, shorter previous abstinence, lower autonomous motivation, younger age, higher nicotine dependence, readiness to quit, and being female. Future studies should examine the potential to improve self-efficacy by addressing depression and autonomous motivation.
Ethnic Pride, Traditional Family Values, and Acculturation in Early Cigarette and Alcohol Use Among Latino Adolescents

A structural equations model examined the influence of three cultural variables of ethnic pride, traditional family values and acculturation, along with the mediating variables of avoidance self-efficacy and perceptions of the “benefits” of cigarette smoking, on cigarette and alcohol use in a sample of Latino middle school students in the Southwest. Girls (N = 585) and boys (N = 360) were analyzed separately. In both groups, higher ethnic pride and traditional family values exerted indirect effects on less cigarette smoking and alcohol use when mediated through greater self-efficacy and less endorsement of the “benefits” of cigarette smoking. Among the girls, greater ethnic pride also had a direct effect on less cigarette and alcohol use. Also, greater acculturation directly predicted more cigarette and alcohol use among the girls, but not among the boys. However, differences between the boys and girls were generally nonsignificant as revealed by multiple group latent variable models. These results offer implications for incorporating cultural variables into the design of culturally relevant prevention interventions that discourage cigarette and alcohol use among Latino adolescents.
Impact of Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum Application on Water Quality in a Coastal Plain Soil

There are growing concerns regarding the fate of nutrients, especially phosphorus (P), from land application of animal waste. One approach being studied to reduce runoff losses of P is to treat manure or the soil receiving manure with chemical amendments such as gypsum. This study used rainfall simulations to examine the impact of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum application on runoff nutrient losses on a Coastal Plains soil (Luverne sandy loam; fine, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Hapludults). Four rates of FGD gypsum (0, 2.2, 4.4, and 8.9 Mg ha) were applied to plots of Coastal Bermudagrass ( L.) that had received application of 13.4 Mg ha poultry litter. Plots with 8.9 Mg ha FGD gypsum but no poultry litter and plots with neither poultry litter nor FGD gypsum were also used. Rainfall simulation was used to generate water runoff for 60 min, and samples were analyzed for soluble reactive P (SRP) and soluble Al, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and Zn. Total concentration of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Mn, and Zn and concentration of heavy metals Ar, Hg, Al, Sb, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Ni, Si, V, Se, Tl, and hexavalent chromium were also analyzed. Results indicated a maximum of 61% reduction in SRP concentration in runoff with the application of 8.9 Mg ha FGD gypsum. This translated to a 51% reduction in total SRP load during the 60-min runoff event. Concentrations of heavy metals in runoff were all found to be below detection limits. The results indicated that use of 4.4 Mg ha FGD gypsum on Coastal Plains pastures receiving poultry litter could be an effective method of reducing SRP losses to the environment.
Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis unusual clinical presentations

Abstract The association of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis with renal-cell carcinoma and the loss of a kidney homograft because of this disorder suggest that in certain cases altered immunologic competence might be an etiologic factor in this disease. This entity may develop acutely over a four-month period and can occur during the first year of life. It is not necessarily associated with non-function of the involved kidney during excretory urography. Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis may be a segmental renal disease and may also occur bilaterally. Subtotal nephrectomy is the treatment of choice in these instances. Studies of calcium and phosphorus excretion in patients with this disease should be implemented in an effort to clarify the pathophysiologic aspects of the disease.
Property Taxes, Services, and the Calculating Voters

This paper presents a study of the relationships between the services-Abstract property tax nexus and votes for and against a statewide property tax limit. Positive correlations between tax rates and favorable votes and a negative relationship between city residence and favorable votes are reported. Small towns and unincorporated areas produced lower percent ages of votes favorable to the limitation; however, such towns and areas did vote for the limitation at a greater rate per dollar of property tax rate. The logic of tax-service relationships suggests that, despite increasing percentages of favorable votes cross-sectionally with increasing property tax rates, the provision of municipal services contributed to the defeat of the measure through lessening the pressure for a property tax limit within cities, In this case, where a broad range of local government services was threatened, the institutional arrangements for collective choice encouraged voters to consider both sides of the tax-service nexus, an...
L-Band Variable-Delay-Time YIG-YAG-YIG and YAG-YIG-YAG Delay Lines

Two types of YIG variable-delay-time microwave delay lines are described. These are the YIG-YAG-YIG and YAG-YIG-YAG configurations, both of which provide /spl sim/2 /spl mu/s of variable delay in L-band. Two-port operation is achieved in both of these devices with leakage of the undelayed pulse between input and output being attenuated more than 100 dB. These are completely self-contained devices with internal permanent magnets and terminals for connecting a control signal to vary the delay time. Insertion loss, bandwidth, and VSWR data are presented as well as curves showing delay variation with control current. A comparison of these two types of delay lines is also presented, pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
Maturational changes in rabbit renal cortical phospholipase A2 activity

Maturational changes in rabbit renal cortical phospholipase A 2 activity. Several studies have demonstrated that the neonatal kidney has a markedly attenuated response to parathyroid hormone (PTH); however, the cause for this blunted response is unknown. PTH stimulated cAMP production by 215 ± 18% in neonatal proximal tubule suspensions compared to a 35 ± 7% increase in adult proximal tubules. Thus, neonatal proximal tubules have functioning PTH receptors and a greater adenylate cyclase response than the adult segment. In adult proximal tubules, PTH stimulates phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) activity and the inhibition of Na,K-ATPase activity by PTH is blocked by inhibitors of PLA 2 . We examined whether maturational changes in renal cortical activity could play a role in the attenuated response to PTH in the neonatal proximal tubule. Compared to adults, neonates had a lower renal cortical cytosolic PLA 2 (cPLA 2 ) activity, assessed as the release of 14 C-arachidonic acid (AA) from labeled phosphatidyl choline (0.44 ± 0.10 vs. 0.74 ± 0.06% 14 C-AA released/min/mg protein, P > 0.05) and microsomal PLA 2 activity (0.32 ± 0.03 vs. 1.20 ± 0.13% 14 C-AA released/min/mg protein, P > 0.001). The protein abundance of cPLA 2 was not different between the neonatal and adult renal cortex as assessed by immunoblot assay. Thus, the difference in activities must be due to a difference in regulation of cPLA 2 . Annexin 1 (lipocortin 1) has been shown to inhibit PLA 2 activity by binding to phospholipid substrate. Annexin 1 protein abundance was higher in neonatal than in adult renal cortex ( P > 0.001). Thus, the lower activity of PLA 2 in the neonatal tubules may be due in part to higher expression of annexin 1. PLA 2 activation by PTH, 8-bromo-cAMP and PMA was assessed as 3 H-AA release from prelabeled suspensions of neonatal and adult proximal tubules. PTH (10 −7 M), 8-bromo-cAMP (10 −4 M) and PMA (5×10 −8 M) significantly increased 3 H-AA release from adult tubules ( P > 0.05) but had no effect on neonatal tubules ( P = NS). Thus, PTH, 8-bromo-cAMP and PMA stimulated PLA 2 in adult but not neonatal proximal tubules. In conclusion, the maturational changes in renal cortical PLA 2 activity may be a factor in the blunted response of neonatal proximal tubules to PTH.
Cell adhesion and detachment on gold surfaces modified with a thiol-functionalized RGD peptide.

The dynamic nature of cell adhesion and detachment is critically important to a variety of physiological and pathophysiological phenomena. Much, however, still remains uncertain and controversial about the mechanochemical players and processes involved in cellular adhesion and detachment. This leads to the need for quantitative characterization of the adhesion and detachment of anchorage-dependent cells. Here, cell adhesion and detachment up to subcellular level are examined using gold surfaces modified with a thiol-functionalized arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide. A thiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on top of the gold surfaces is reductively desorbed with activation potential to spatiotemporally manipulate both cell adhesion and detachment. This method maintains cells of interest living and intact during experiments, making it possible to quantify cell adhesion and detachment as close as possible to in vivo conditions. Experimental characterizations for NIH 3T3 fibroblasts are carried out with a focus on the following issues: the effect of the size and geometric shape of gold surfaces on cell adhesion; the effect of cell confluency, cell shape, and activation potential magnitude on cell detachment; changes in the material properties of cells during cell detachment. The findings of this study should lead to better understanding of cellular dynamics in anchorage-dependent cells.
Asynchronous group mutual exclusion

Mutual exclusion and concurrency are two fundamental and essentially opposite features in distributed systems. However, in some applications such as Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) we have found it necessary to impose mutual exclusion on different groups of processes in accessing a resource, while allowing processes of the same group to share the resource. To our knowledge, no such design issue has been previously raised in the literature.In this paper we address this issue by presenting a new problem, called Congenial Talking Philosophers, to model group mutual exclusion. We also propose several criteria to evaluate solutions of the problem and to measure their performance. Finally, we provide an efficient and highly concurrent distributed algorithm for the problem in a shared-memory model where processes communicate by reading from and writing to shared variables. The distributed algorithm meets the proposed criteria, and has performance similar to some naive but centralized solutions to the problem.
THE EFFECT OF COMBINATION WITH DIAZO COMPOUNDS ON THE IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIVITY OF ANTIBODIES

Sufficient coupling with any of five different diazo compounds eventually destroyed the reactivity of all the antisera here studied. The rates of inactivation varied considerably among the several antisera. By stopping the reaction at intervals, it was possible to prepare partially inactivated antibodies of peculiarly modified reactivity. Thus, the flocculating activity of diphtheria antitoxin with toxin was completely destroyed long before there was any demonstrable impairment of its protective titer in vivo. The first change induced in antipneumococcus horse sera was the apparently complete loss of reactivity with the capsular carbohydrate at a time when the agglutinating, animal-protecting and complement-fixing activity of the sera were only slightly affected. On further coupling, the sera no longer caused visible agglutination; but aggregation of the serum-treated bacteria could be induced by centrifugation. Still further coupling destroyed all antibody activity. Rabbit antisera to egg albumen and horse serum no longer precipitated the homologous antigen after treatment with diazo compounds, probably due to their failure to combine with the antigen. The hemolytic, complement-fixing and lipoid-flocculating activity of coupled rabbit antisera to sheep red blood cells fell off in parallel; the hemagglutinin seemed somewhat more resistant. The reagin of syphilitic serum was destroyed almost instantaneously by comparatively small amounts of diazo compounds. Finally, in the case of antityphoid agglutinin, the isoelectric point of the coupled antibody, measured on the surface of specifically sensitized bacteria, was found to shift from an original value of pH 4.7 to one of less than pH 2.7 as progressively more sulfanilic acid radicals added on to the antibody molecule. The groups in protein which participate in its reaction with diazo compounds probably include aliphatic amines, the imidazole ring of histidine, the indole group of tryptophane, the NH of proline and hydroxyproline and the phenyl group of tyrosine. Although it has been possible to modify antibodies chemically so that they combine with the corresponding antigens without causing their aggregation, the experiments here described furnish no indication as to which of these groups in antibody protein are primarily concerned in the antigen-antibody reaction, and which are responsible for the secondary flocculation. Such localization awaits the development of a technic for attacking individual groups in the protein molecule.
Cytomegalovirus encephalitis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Cytomegalovirus encephalitis (CMVE) is frequently diagnosed only at postmortem because its specific clinical features have not been fully identified. We have described the clinical, radiologic, and laboratory features of CMVE in a retrospective review of 14 autopsy-confirmed cases of CMVE and compared them with a control group of demented acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients without CMVE. CMVE was more common among homosexual men, and a subacute onset was more typical (mean duration of presenting symptoms was 3.5 weeks versus 18 weeks in demented controls). Median survival times were 4.6 weeks for CMVE and 28 weeks for controls. CMVE was accompanied by prominent systemic CMV infection at autopsy, including CMV adrenalitis (92%), CMV pneumonitis (42%), systemic Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI; 58%), and CMV retinitis (58%). Hyponatremia and MAI bacteremia were found in 58% of CMVE cases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of CSF samples identified CMV genome in 33% of CMVE cases. CMVE was associated with periventricular enhancement on CTs and periventricular lesions with meningeal enhancement on MRI scans. CMVE should be particularly suspected in homosexual men presenting with subacute encephalopathy who have had AIDS for more than 1 year and have a history of systemic CMV infection. Other features supporting the diagnosis of CMVE include periventricular lesions, hyponatremia, and identification of CMV genome in CSF by PCR.