cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cosmology and the Institutionalization of Hierarchy in the Maya Region

Shamanism, some would argue, is the key to understanding classic Maya rulers (Freidel 1992; Freidel et al. 1993). But what does kingship have to do with priests, healers, witches, and seers who stand with one foot in society and the other in an ethereal liminality? Animal spirits, ancestors, and supernaturals would seem strange bedfellows for the worldly king who wielded power, organized military forays, and extracted labor services from his populace. Years ago, Eliade (1970:333-336) wrote of shamanism as the ecstasy of religious expression, hinting at the deep, Asian roots of shamanism in the Americas. Likewise, ethnographers, have enjoyed a long tradition of anthropological investigation of shamanism among Native Americans (see Furst 1974, among others). But in neither case was shamanism linked with power of an earthly kind or viewed as a pathway to rulership. More recently, however, scholars have proposed a wedding of shamanic power with political authority to produce “shaman kings,” or as Chang 0983:112) has written in reference to state formation in China, “shamanistic politics.” This approach, which models societal cosmology as having been deftly shaped into political ideology, suggests that the transition from leaders to rulers is as much about how we think as it is about what valuables we possess, with whom we ally, or who we can best militarily.
Plasticity of the Circadian System: Linking Metabolism to Epigenetic Control

Control of a large variety of neuronal, behavioral and physiological responses has been linked to the circadian clock, made possible through a transcriptional regulatory network that governs a significant portion of the genome. The harmonic oscillation of gene expression is paralleled by critical events of chromatin remodeling that appear to provide specificity and plasticity in circadian regulation. Accumulating evidence shows that the circadian epigenome appears to share intimate links with cellular metabolic processes, suggesting that the circadian epigenome might constitute the functional basis of tissue-specificity within biological pacemakers, specifically in neurons.
Predicting interstate motor carrier crash rate level using classification models

Ensuring safe operations of large commercial vehicles (motor carriers) remains an important challenge, particularly in the United States. While the federal regulatory agency has instituted a compliance review-based rating method to encourage carriers to improve their safety levels, concerns have been expressed regarding the effectiveness of the current ratings. In this paper, we consider a crash rate level (high, medium, and low) rather than a compliance review-based rating (satisfactory, conditional satisfactory, and unsatisfactory). We demonstrate an automated way of predicting the crash rate levels for each carrier using three different classification models (Artificial Neural Network, Classification and Regression Tree (CART), and Support Vector Machine) and three separate variable selection methods (Empirical Evidence, Multiple Factor Analysis, Garson's algorithm). The predicted crash rate levels (high, low) are compared to the assigned levels based on the current safety rating method. The results indicate the feasibility of crash rate level as an effective measure of carrier safety, with CART having the best performance.
Growing the Constituency: A Twenty-First Century Challenge

Interest groups that have hitherto shaped disaster policies are too small, too limited in scope and too impermanent to effect meaningful long term improvements. A major expansion of public involvement is called for. This chapter identifies three progressively larger groups that are differentially affected by disasters – the permanent, fluctuating and latent constituencies. Each of these has the potential to grow in different ways that, collaboratively, can create a revitalized basis for action capable of addressing the challenges that lie ahead.
Response of Lagerstroemia x ‘Tuscarora’ to Multiple Applications of Pistill

Abstract Profuse flowering, followed by heavy fruit set and cessation of vegetative growth, extends the production cycle of many crapemyrtle cultivars, particularly ‘Tuscarora’. A study was conduct...
Edgeworth’s time series model: Not AR(1) but same covariance structure

Abstract In an 1886 paper, Edgeworth developed a method for simulating time series processes with substantial dependence. A version of this process with normal errors has the same means and covariance structure as an AR(1) process, but is actually a mixture of a very large number of processes, some of which are not stationary. That is, joint distributions of lag 3 or greater are not normal but are mixtures of normals (even though all successive pairs are bivariate normal). Thus, it serves as a cautionary example for time series analysis: though the AR(1) process cannot be distinguished from the Edgeworth Process by second order properties, inferences based on an AR(1) assumption can fail under the Edgeworth model. This model has many additional surprising features, among which is that it has Markov structure, but is not generated by a one-step transition operator.
Inflammatory biomarkers in deep venous thrombosis organization, resolution, and post-thrombotic syndrome.

Abstract Objective Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common disease with potentially devastating and long-term sequelae, such as pulmonary embolism and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Given the mortality risk, prevalence of VTE, and limited access to diagnostic imaging, clinically relevant biomarkers for diagnosis and prognostication are needed. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize the data on clinically applicable biomarkers that best indicate acute VTE and chronic PTS. Methods We reviewed the medical and scientific literature from 2001 to 2019 for VTE biomarkers. Randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and review articles were included. Primary basic research papers with no clinical applicability, opinion papers, institutional guidelines, and case reports were excluded. Results We highlight the diagnostic value of D-dimer alongside other promising biomarkers, including cellular adhesion molecules, P-selectin, cytokines (interleukins 6 and 10), fibrin monomer complexes, and coagulation factors (factor VIII). Conclusions High-sensitivity D-dimer remains the most clinically established VTE biomarker. Current research endeavors are under way to identify more precise biomarkers of VTE and PTS.
A Generalization of the Steiner Inellipse

We classify the conics passing through six points on the sides of a triangle equidistant from the corresponding midpoints. We use tools from synthetic geometry and real algebraic geometry.
Cross‐boundary disruptors: powerful interindustry entrepreneurial change agents

Based on comparative case studies of Apple Computer's strategic actions in the music and cellular telephony industries, we develop the concept of cross-boundary disruptor as a new type of entrepreneurial actor in interindustry strategic dynamics. We document how the confluence of forces that drove the convergence of the music and computing industries gave rise to Apple becoming a defining example of a cross-boundary disruptor to the music industry, and examine Apple's chances to do the same in the cellular telephony industry. Using our preliminary conceptual framework, we further examine what kind of company could become a cross-boundary disruptor in the U.S. health care industry to help overcome its long-standing stasis. We summarize our case study-based findings into a preliminary substantive theory of the cross-boundary disruption phenomenon, and discuss several implications for further strategic entrepreneurship research and strategic leadership practice. Copyright © 2008 Strategic Management Society.
A Test of Two Models of Reference Price Effects

Findings are reported of a test of two process models of reference price effects. Major differences between the Urbany, Bearden, and Weilbaker model and the Biswas and Blair model are the relationships among perceived benefits of search, perceived offer value,and behavioralintentions.Results indicate that the appropriate model may depend on the product category, with the Biswas and Blair model more appropriate for high involvement products and the Urbany, Bearden, and Weilbaker model more appropriate for low involvement products.
Estimation of watershed width function: a statistical approach using LiDAR data

Terrain variability and channel network characteristics critically influence the hydrologic response of watersheds. Width function represents this response under idealized flow conditions of constant velocity and absence of losses, and can be estimated solely using the terrain data. However, the width function, in its graphical form, is less tractable for further analytical applications such as in the derivation of link-based geomorphological instantaneous unit hydrograph. In this study, we systematically redress these issues in the following manner: (a) develop a framework for the functional estimation of width functions using a mixture of truncated skew-normal distributions that captures a wide variety of distribution shapes, (b) provide a basis for model selection based on the Bayesian Information Criterion, (c) demonstrate the utility of a functional estimation approach by identifying hydrologically similar watersheds based on divergence measures applied to the width function estimates, and (d) illustrate the utility of efficient statistical estimation of geomorphic functions and metrics, which affords data reduction and can be scaled to very-large terrain datasets.
Electricity: A Cursed Resource?

The natural resource curse is a widely documented hypothesis that attempts to explain why countries that receive large oil and mineral revenues often fail to better the lives of their citizens, often lowering standard of living. This study looks to examine the effects of electricity exports on quality of life in Africa. This project data from the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, and the CIA World Factbook to examine twenty-five countries from 2005-2008, providing one hundred observations. OLS regression results show that electricity exports in Africa significantly increase levels of corruption, and that the increase in corruption negatively affects standard of living, supporting the project’s hypothesis that electricity exports are the source of a natural resource curse in Africa.
Abstract 2119: Gene mapping in high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia pedigree identifies risk locus at chromosome 2q22.1

Chronic lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is an age-related heterogeneous B-cell leukemia. In familial studies CLL has been consistently shown to be one of the most heritable cancers, indicating that genetics play a factor in the risk of developing CLL. However, only a few genes so far have been found to confer disease-risk of CLL. We used shared genomic segment (SGS) analysis in one exceptionally large high-risk CLL pedigree of European ancestry and identified a genome-wide significant 0.93 Mb region on chromosome 2q22.1. This region was inherited through 26 meiosis to seven cases in the pedigree (p=2.0 × 10−7). This region overlaps a locus identified in a previous CLL linkage study, which adds evidence to this as a candidate region harboring disease risk alleles. There are two genes within our SGS region, CXCR4 and THSD7B. In particular, CXCR4, a B-cell chemokine receptor, is a strong functional candidate as it is overexpressed in many cancers, including CLL, and is current drug target for treatment of CLL. Rare germline mutations in CXCR4 have been previously identified in CLL cases and at least one variant (rs56400844) was found to segregate within a CLL pedigree. Interrogation of the germline coding space of the SGS region in five of the seven sharers did not identify any predicted deleterious shared alleles. Many non-coding alleles were shared, but further investigation will be necessary to prioritize those as potentially regulatory or if a haplotype of multiple alleles modulates the transcriptome. We next explored the germline coding space in the SGS region in two other existing data sources: 48 WGS from early onset, clinical high-risk or familial CLL cases and 161 WES from population-level CLL cases as part of the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (ORIEN) Avatar Program. We identified a coding missense CXCR4 variant (rs377287446, AF= 0.0000559, CADD=26.2) in one case and an extremely rare 39 UTR variant (*290C>T, AF= 0.000007, singleton in gnomAD v3.0) present in two other cases. In summary, in the single largest high-risk pedigree studied to date, we have identified a genome-wide significant small region ( Citation Format: Julie Ellen Feusier, Michael J. Madsen, Karl Voelkerding, Martha Glenn, Nicola Camp. Gene mapping in high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia pedigree identifies risk locus at chromosome 2q22.1 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 2119.
3D cone-beam tomosynthesis provides axial imaging of the spine with lower radiation compared to computed tomography.

Three imaging techniques were compared using porcine spines. To compare image acquisition time, radiation exposure, pedicle width measurement, assessment of screw breach, and image artifact between cone-beam tomosynthesis (CBT) single mode, CBT dual mode (stereotactic CBT), and computed tomography (CT) imaging with and without spinal implants. CT is the standard for axial imaging of orthopedic procedures. CBT technology is being developed, allowing real-time intraoperative imaging and 3D surgical guidance. CBT may deliver useful axial imaging quicker with less radiation than current technologies. Six porcine spines were instrumented with bilateral pedicle screws at six levels connected with 5.5 mm rods. Dosimeters were attached to four surfaces of spines. CT, CBT single and CBT dual images were acquired pre-implant and post-implant. Image acquisition and 3D reconstruction times were recorded. Pedicle widths were measured before and after instrumentation. Screw medial breaches were graded (0: no breach, 1: 4 mm). Artifact and/or distortion of each image was ranked (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = large). Image acquisition and reconstruction times, radiation dose, pedicle width, screw breach and artifact were compared between techniques. Total image acquisition and reconstruction times of CBT was significantly less (single: 9.9 ± 0.2 s, p 0.5, post-implant: p > 0.9) and pedicle width change (p > 0.4) was similar amongst all techniques. Breach assessment was not different between groups (p = 0.257). CBT images had consistently lower artifact grades than CT. Although CBT axial image quality appeared subjectively inferior to CT, it enabled consistent assessment of pedicle width and screw breach, at half time and 10× lower radiation exposure. With continued refinements, CBT technology may allow for adequate intra-operative axial imaging using low radiation exposure.
From Camp to Conferences: Experiences in Leveraging Tech Conferences to Inspire Black and Latinx Girls to Pursue Coding and Tech Careers

This experience report highlights the impact of taking Black and Latinx middle and high school girls to tech conferences. INTech Camp for Girls took five girls who previously participated in our summer camps and after school program to the #blackcomputeHER Conference in Washington, DC where they were able to network with Black women in tech, participate in a coding workshop designed just for them, and hear from Black Girls ROCK! Founder and DJ, Beverly Bond. Additionally, four IN Tech High School scholars earned an all expenses paid trip to the Facebook Achievement Summit as a result of their project submission and participation in the Facebook Engineer for the Week program. While at the summit, Team IN Tech participated in a one day hackathon where worked along Facebook engineers to build an app called “Air to Spare” using Scratch. Our team placed top eight in the country amongst twenty teams, as well as, won the Best Pitch Award. While in Silicon Valley, they were also able to meet 13 Apple Engineers, as well as, receive a tour of the Netflix HQ and speak with two engineers and a User Experience designer about what life in tech is like. This report describes how these experiences inspired IN Tech girls to pursue coding and technical careers.
An Essential Introduction to Maya Character Rigging

While some rigging books focus too much on the theory of rigging and provide little instruction, others do the exact opposite and offer no reasoning behind the button-pushing. An Essential Introduction to Maya Character Rigging, 2nd Edition, however, offers a perfect balance. Cheryl Briggs’ text is built for the classroom, with step-by-step tutorials that guide the reader through the rigging process. With vibrant screenshots and a plethora of helpful tips, this book provides a strong foundation in character rigging for anyone who wants to pursue 3D animation or more advanced rigging topics. Features Provides readers with fundamental techniques to give them a firm grasp on Maya character rigging. Thorough step-by-step tutorials, which provides instruction on how to create biped, quadruped, and prop rigs. Continuous updates and further support can be located at www.cherylcreates.com Cheryl Briggs (formerly Cabrera) is an award-winning animated short film director. She has advised and guided aspiring animators, game artists, and visual effects artists for 20 years. Since 2009, Cheryl has taught all aspects of production in the Character Animation specialization in the School of Visual Arts and Design at the University of Central Florida. She also taught as Professor of Animation at the Savannah College of Art and Design from 2001 to 2009. Cheryl is currently on the Board of Directors for the Animation Hall of Fame. She also is a member of the Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques (SIGGRAPH), the International Animated Film Society (ASIFA-Hollywood), Women in Animation, Women in Film and Television, and the Society for Animation Studies. Cheryl is also an Autodesk Certified Professional and an Autodesk Certified Instructor in Maya. She is the author of An Essential Introduction to Maya Character Rigging (Focal Press, 2008), Reel Success: Creating Demo Reels and Animation Portfolios (Focal Press, 2013), and Animating Short Stories: Narrative Techniques and Visual Design (Bloomsbury Academic, 2019). Cheryl holds a B.A. and M.Ed. in Education and an M.F.A. in Computer Art with a specialization in 3D Animation. She is a digital artist and animator that blends the lines between digital imagery and the traditional painting medium. She has participated is numerous group and solo exhibitions in the United States and her work is featured in several private collections. Her award-winning students have been featured in animation festivals worldwide, and many have gone on to work within the entertainment industry.
Which Hormones and Contraception for Women with APS? Exogenous Hormone Use in Women with APS

Use of exogenous estrogen carries significant risk for patients with prothrombotic disorders including those with antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). This review summarizes current knowledge of contraceptive and other hormone therapies for aPL-positive and APS women and highlights knowledge gaps to guide future research. Studies support very low risk for most progestin-only contraceptives in patients with increased thrombotic risk, but suggest increased VTE risk with depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate. Highest efficacy contraceptives are intrauterine devices and subdermal implants, and these are recommended for women with aPL/APS. Progestin-only pills are effective and low risk. Perimenopausal symptoms may be treated with nonhormone therapies in aPL/APS patients: vasomotor symptoms can improve with nonhormonal medications and cognitive behavioral therapy, and genitourinary symptoms often improve with intravaginal estrogen that has limited systemic absorption.
Sleep duration, quality and timing during confinement amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: As of March 2020, most U.S. states and territories issued statements advising people “stay at home” to avoid spreading the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). This resulted in an unprecedented number of people practicing physical confinement and social distancing. This study examined self-reported changes in sleep duration, quality and timing in response to confinement and isolation. Methods: We developed the “Anonymous Survey on Confinement during the COVID-19 Pandemic” to collect information on the American population practicing social distancing and some level of confinement. The survey collected information on demographics, duration and degree of confinement, and sleep-wake dynamics. The online survey was available for completion by any individual ≥18 years of age through the Penn Medicine Clinical Research page from May 16th to November 11th 2020. Descriptive statistics characterized the nature of confinement and non-parametric correlations evaluated the relationships between confinement and sleep-wake dynamics. Results: N=226 participants completed the survey (n=176 female [77.8%];n=47 male [20.8%]). The average age was 44.9±17.4 years. N=215[95.1%] reported confinement since March 2020 for an average of 89.3±41.7 days in confinement. Surveyed participants in confinement reported sleeping more than before confinement [40.0%], taking the same amount of time to fall asleep [56.6%], and felt that they were getting enough sleep [66.3%]. However, 36.3% of participants reported going to bed earlier and waking up earlier. Participants that engaged in naps prior to confinement reported taking more naps in confinement [50.8%]. Participants reported more daytime sleepiness [42.9%] and more disturbed sleep quality during confinement relative to before confinement [42.5%]. There were no significant correlations between time in confinement and sleep outcomes. Conclusion: During the confinement amid the COVID-19 pandemic, participants responded by sleeping more and at different times, which could reflect circadian disruption of sleep. Changes in sleep amount and sleeping timing were accompanied by increased daytime sleepiness and a reduction in sleep quality. These changes may have been due to age, stressors experienced during the pandemic, social isolation, and/or a change in behavioral routines in response to changing demands and schedules. Our findings suggest that attention to changes in sleep-wake dynamics due to prolonged confinement is likely important to maintain healthy behaviors.
Higher Radiation Doses to Motor Regions Predict Decline in Fine Motor Skills After Brain RT: NTCP Analysis of a Prospective Trial.

Purpose/objective(s) Impairment in fine motor skills (FMS), including motor speed and coordination, can occur after brain radiotherapy. FMS are essential for activities of daily living including writing, typing, and eating. Using a normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) framework, we sought to determine dosimetric predictors of FMS decline in a prospective cohort of brain tumor patients treated with RT. Materials/methods On a prospective clinical trial, 52 primary brain tumor patients receiving fractionated brain RT underwent volumetric MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and FMS assessments (Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Trail Making Test Motor Speed [DKEFS-MS], Grooved Pegboard Dominant [PDH] and Non-dominant [PNDH] Hands) at baseline and 6 months post-RT. Reliable change indices adjusting for practice effects (RCI-PEs) were calculated, with RCI-PE > 0.5 considered FMS decline. Motor regions of interest (ROIs) were autosegmented using an open-source software for processing and analyzing brain MRI images and atlas-based tractography, including: sensorimotor cortices and superficial white matter (WM), corticospinal tracts, cerebellar cortices and WM, and basal ganglia. Censoring masks excluded tumor, surgical cavity, scarring, and edema from analyses. Planning CTs were co-registered to MRIs to extract DVH parameters for each ROI, including maximum/mean doses and Vx (structure volume receiving ≥ x Gy). Fisher's exact test on median splits and logistic regressions were used to test for dosimetric predictors of FMS decline. Results At baseline and 6 months, 41 and 39 patients completed DKEFS-MS and PDH/PNDH tests, respectively. Median prescription dose was 59.4 Gy. Most patients (84.3%) were right-handed. There were several significant associations between increasing doses in left-sided ROIs and decline on PDH performance at 6 months, which occurred in 14 of 41 patients (Table, P Conclusion Increasing doses to left-sided motor ROIs including cortical, WM, and basal ganglia structures were associated with decline in dominant hand FMS at 6 months post-RT in this largely right-handed cohort. These areas may represent avoidance targets for preserving FMS in brain tumor patients.
A gasoline-grade biofuel formed from renewable polyhydroxybutyrate on solid phosphoric acid

Abstract Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is an energy storage material formed from renewable feedstock in many bacterial species. The biopolyester (C 4 H 6 O 2 ) n was degraded, deoxygenated and reformed into hydrocarbon oil (C 6 –C 18 ) on solid phosphoric acid (SPA) in one-pot reaction. The reaction started at 213 °C and completed below 240 °C as measured with a differential scanning calorimeter. In addition to the oil, other products included carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), propylene (C 3 H 6 ), water (H 2 O) and some char-like solid. The mass yields in a typical reaction were determined with a total mass recovery of 94 wt%. About 80% of oxygen in PHB was removed as CO 2 via decarboxylation. By using a gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer, the oil composition was analyzed according to the chemical structure and carbon number of major compounds. In contrast to conventional biofuels derived from plant biomass, the PHB–oil has a high content of alkenes or aromatics, depending on the solid acid catalyst. The catalyst properties that affected the reaction include the calcination temperature in catalyst preparation, the catalyst dosage in the reaction, the total acid and free acid contents of fresh or used catalyst, and working time when the catalyst was repeatedly reused. The hydrocarbon oil (30 wt% yield) was separated into two fractions according to their boiling temperature range: a light oil (bp 40–240 °C) with 23 wt% yield and a heavy oil (bp 240–310 °C) with 7 wt% yield. The light oil has the same elemental composition and high heating value (HHV 41.4/kg) of a commercial gasoline and the heavy oil (HHV 38.4 MJ/kg) has the similar elemental composition of biodiesel. The oil is a good source of bio-based alkenes and aromatics that can improve the performance of bio-based fuels in modern motor engines.
Simple Stochastic Parity Games

Many verification, planning, and control problems can be modeled as games played on state-transition graphs by one or two players whose conflicting goals are to form a path in the graph. The focus here is on simple stochastic parity games, that is, two-player games with turn-based probabilistic transitions and ω-regular objectives formalized as parity (Rabin chain) winning conditions. An efficient translation from simple stochastic parity games to nonstochastic parity games is given. As many algorithms are known for solving the latter, the translation yields efficient algorithms for computing the states of a simple stochastic parity game from which a player can win with probability 1.
Energy efficiency in developing countries: Roles for sector regulators

Abstract In addition to implementing Renewable Energy (RE) initiatives, sector regulators also have roles to play in promoting Energy Efficiency since EE can be expanded via utility actions (incentivized and monitored by the regulator) and actions by other agencies. The former include reduced line losses, improvements in load patterns and system reliability, decision-relevant customer billing information, energy audits, and smart grids. The adequacy and cost-effectiveness of utility programs clearly fall under regulatory oversight. Other agencies set appliance standards and provide government financial support. The sector regulator must then factor in the interdependencies among EE programs when determining the cost-effectiveness of utility-based programs. EE promotes energy conservation, so such programs impact utility revenues and costs (directly through changes in consumption and production patterns and in program costs). These impacts mean that the energy sector regulator can promote or block some EE initiatives carried out by the electric utilities.
Diet and apoptosis.

A range of compounds in or derived from the diet modulates apoptosis in cell cultures in vitro. These observations have important implications concerning the mechanisms whereby dietary components affect health. Proapoptotic compounds could protect against cancer by enhancing elimination of initiated, precancerous cells, and antiapoptotic compounds could promote tumor formation by inhibiting apoptosis in genetically damaged cells. Proapoptotic compounds could also contribute to age-related degenerative diseases by activating cell death in postmitotic cells or shifting the normal balance of mitosis and apoptosis in tissues with regenerative capacity. Many age-related diseases, for example macular degeneration and Parkinson's disease, appear to have oxidative stress as an underlying component that interacts with genetic, dietary, and environmental factors to determine relative risk in an individual. Oxidative stress activates apoptosis, and antioxidants protect against apoptosis in vitro; thus, a central role of dietary antioxidants may be to protect against apoptosis. However, little in vivo data are available to directly link diet with altered apoptosis as an underlying determinant of disease. Moreover, the possible antagonistic effects of different dietary components and the uncertainty about whether proapoptotic compounds that may protect against cancer could contribute to degenerative diseases and vice versa indicate that there is a great need for better in vivo assessment of apoptosis and that caution should be exercised when extrapolating in vitro data on apoptosis to in vivo dietary recommendations.
Organizational climate: Another look at a potentially important construct.

Abstract : Organizational climate is examined from the standpoint of the need to demonstrate interrater reliability (agreement) among individuals' perceptions of psychological climate. It is shown that if prior estimates of interrater reliability are accurate, then organizational climate is a moot issue. It is then demonstrated that at least some prior estimating procedures likely provided underestimates of interrater/perceptual agreement. A new procedure for estimating interrater reliability is suggested and illustrated. The new procedure provided substantially higher estimates of interrater reliability than prior methods. It is concluded that the concept of organizational climate is potentially salvageable, although more attention needs to be given to the appropriate level of explanation for climate variables. (Author)
Molecular and cellular prospects for repair, augmentation, and replacement of the failing heart

Abstract Molecular and cellular biology offer the promise of new approaches to the treatment of heart failure. This article discusses the basic science background, the current state of investigation, and the potential for therapeutic application of these new sciences. It also emphasizes the limitations and unknowns in this frontier. Three approaches are presented: First, increasing the number of myocytes in the heart, previously held to be untenable because postnatal cardiomyocytes do not divide, may be possible by regulating the cell cycle to reinduce cardiac growth. Also, nonmyocytes extant in the heart may be coaxed into differentiating into cardiomyocytes, or exogenous muscle cells may be grafted into the myocardium. Second, cardiac function may be augmented by molecular therapies that increase contractile protein function or regulate β-adrenergic receptors or Ca ++ channels. Third, improved prospects for transplantation of the failed heart may occur by genetic modification of a xenograft donor heart that reduces the chance of immune rejection by the human recipient. The formulation for the successful application of any of these therapies depends on not only the creativity of scientists but also the wisdom of physicians. (Am Heart J 1997;134:577-86.)
Asymptotic properties of sample proportions under a markovian renewal structure

It is assumed that a population consists of two different types of items, each item being characterized by a random variable called the item's amount. Each type of item may have a different distribution of amounts. Samples are selected from this population so as to contain a fixed total amount rather than a fixed number of items. Some asymptotic properties of the sample amount proportions are derived for the case in which the sampled items have Markov dependence property with respect to type. Estimation of the asymptopic variance is discussed and an application to line of areas is given.
US electric industry response to carbon constraint: a life-cycle assessment of supply side alternatives

Abstract This study explores the boundaries of electric industry fuel switching in response to US carbon constraints. A ternary model quantifies how supply side compliance alternatives would change under increasingly stringent climate policies and continued growth in electricity use. Under the White House Climate Change Initiative, greenhouse gas emissions may increase and little or no change in fuel-mix is necessary. As expected, the more significant carbon reductions proposed under the Kyoto Protocol (1990—7% levels) and Climate Stewardship Act (CSA) (1990 levels) require an increase of some combination of renewable, nuclear, or natural gas generated electricity. The current trend of natural gas power plant construction warrants the investigation of this technology as a sustainable carbon-mitigating measure. A detailed life-cycle assessment shows that significant greenhouse gas emissions occur upstream of the natural gas power plant, primarily during fuel-cycle operations. Accounting for the entire life-cycle increases the base emission rate for combined-cycle natural gas power by 22%. Two carbon-mitigating strategies are tested using life-cycle emission rates developed for US electricity generation. Relying solely on new natural gas plants for CSA compliance would require a 600% increase in natural gas generated electricity and almost complete displacement of coal from the fuel mix. In contrast, a 240% increase in nuclear or renewable resources meets the same target with minimal coal displacement. This study further demonstrates how neglecting life-cycle emissions, in particular those occurring upstream of the natural gas power plant, may cause erroneous assessment of supply side compliance alternatives.
Blood gas, plasma lactate and bronchoalveolar lavage cytology analyses in racehorses with respiratory disease

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology, arterial blood gases and plasma lactate concentration during a standardised treadmill test (STT) in racehorses with small-airway inflammation (SAI), or exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). Sixteen Thoroughbred and 20 Standardbred actively racing racehorses, were divided into a control group (n = 10), EIPH group (n = 13) and SAI group (n = 13). Each STT consisted of a 2 min trot at 4 m/s followed by 5 x 1 min, incremental speed steps (6, 8, 10, 11 and 12 m/s) at 10% incline for Thoroughbred and 5% for Standardbred horses, followed by a 15 min recovery period. Blood was collected via a transverse facial artery catheter at the end of each step. Total nucleated cell count of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected from horses with EIPH was significantly higher than controls. Neutrophil count and percentage in BALF collected pre-STT from horses with SAI were significantly higher than controls. Horses with EIPH or SAI exhibited a more severe exercise-induced arterial hypoxaemia than control horses during the first 4 steps of the STT (P < 0.001). Poorly performing horses were more severely hypercapnic than control horses during the STT recovery period (P < 0.05). Five and 15 min post exercise, horses with SAI and EIPH had higher blood lactate and lower blood bicarbonate concentrations than control horses (P < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that lung ventilation-perfusion mismatch may be more severe in horses with respiratory disease. BALF of horses with SAI and EIPH was characterised by neutrophilic and lymphocytic inflammation, respectively. Very few parameters were significantly different between groups of good and poor performers.
Vortex Trajectories Around a Circular Cylinder in Oscillatory Plus Mean Flow

The vorticity-stream function equations and a third-order in time, second-order in space, three-level predictor-corrector finite-difference scheme has been used to carry out numerical experiments on laminar pulsatile flow (with non-zero mean). The results have revealed, for the first time, the existence of a very interesting wake comprised of three rows of heterostrophic vortices at certain Keulegan-Carpenter numbers and relative current velocities. The existence of such a street has been vindicated by physical experiments. The calculations have also shown that the drag and inertia coefficients for K=4-6 are in reasonable agreement with those obtained experimentally at corresponding relative current velocities.
Accurate energies of nS, nP, nD, nF, and nG levels of neutral cesium.

Extensive measurements have been performed to determine the absolute energies of the n ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${S}_{1/2}$ (n=8--31), n ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${P}_{1/2}$ (n=6,9--80), n ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${D}_{5/2}$ (n=5,7--36), n ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${F}_{5/2}$ (n=6--65), and n ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${G}_{7/2}$ (n=6--54) levels of Cs by using nonresonant and resonantly enhanced Doppler-free two-photon spectroscopy. The excitation mechanisms employed include resonantly enhanced dipole-quadrupole and quadrupole-quadrupole transitions. All energies were measured directly with respect to the 6 $^{2}S_{1/2}$ ground state. The laser wavelengths were measured by high-precision Fabry-Perot interferometry yielding an uncertainty of 0.0002 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ for most Cs levels. Ionization energies derived by fitting the modified Ritz formula to each of the five series observed coincide within 0.000 05 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. Taking account of possible systematic errors, the Cs ionization energy is 31 406.467 66(15) ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$.
The Analysis of Discrete Fine Particles by Raman Spectroscopy

A conventional laser Raman spectrometer has been modified and used to obtain useful Raman spectra from discrete solid particles as small as 0.7 μm in linear dimensions. Spectra obtained from single, micrometer-sized particles of several inorganic and organic compounds are reported. Simplified calculations are discussed which provide an estimate of detectability levels and other problems associated with these measurements. Certain parameters that must be considered in the design of an instrument especially intended for use in the chemical characterization of single fine particles are reviewed in the light of this work.
Amperostatic-potentiometric detection for micro high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract Constant current is applied to a microelectrode which is “bathed” in the effluent from a micro-LC column. A micro indicator electrode senses the potential as electroactive solutes undergo electron transfer at the working electrode surface. In the absence of analyte, mobile phase components (principally water) are reduced or oxidized, generating a significant working electrode potential. Because the measured signal (potential or charge density) is significant near the detection limit, detection sensitivity may, under optimum conditions, be higher than for conventional amperometric detection. We report on the design, fabrication and evaluation of amperostatic-potentiometric (ASPEN) detection for micro-LC. The determination of phenol, o -chlorophenol, 2,4-dimethylphenol and p -benzylphenol, each at the femtomole level (injected amount), has been performed with a packed fused-silica capillary (250 μm I.D.), operating in the reversed-phase mode. The real and apparent limitations to this technique will be presented.
Still stressful after all these years: a review of lesbians' and bisexual women's minority stress.

This article reviews the conceptualization of, and empirical literature on, lesbians’ and bisexual women's sexual minority stress. In much of the early research, the experiences of sexual minority women and men were considered together (or women's experiences were inferred from men's), obscuring important differences. There is empirical and theoretical justification to consider the experiences of women and men separately and to develop and evaluate comprehensive models of sexual minority stress for women. Existing conceptualizations of sexual minority stress that include assessment of discrimination, victimization, harassment, concealment, internalized homonegativity may be applied, and perhaps adapted, to facilitate understanding of the unique stressors associated with women's sexual minority status. Future research must include mediators of the relationship between stressors and outcomes such as individual (e.g., coping and resilience) and group (e.g., social support, identification with a sexual minori...
The absorption of solar energy and the heating rate in the atmosphere of Venus

Abstract The Solar Flux Radiometer (LSFR) experiment on the large probe of the Pioneer Venus (PV) mission made detailed measurements of the vertical profile of the upward and downward broadband flux of sunlight at a solar zenith angle of 65.7°. These data have been combined with cloud particle size distribution measurements on the PV mission to produce a forward-scattering model of the Venus clouds. The distribution of clouds at high altitudes is constrained by measurements from the PV orbiter. Below the clouds the visible spectrum and flux levels are consistent with Venera measurements at other solar zenith angles. The variations in the optical parameters with height and with wavelength are summarized in several figures. The model is used to evaluate the solar heating rate at cloud levels as a function of altitude, solar longitude, and latitude for use in dynamical studies.
Effect of target bending in normal impact of a flat-ended cylindrical projectile near the ballistic limit

Abstract The current work is concerned with the normal impact of flat-nosed cylindrical projectiles striking at a velocity in the vicinity of the ballistic limit on metallic targets. The ratio of target thickness to striker diameter ranges from ¼ to ½. The resulting penetration model extends existing theories to include the extensive deformation of the target resulting from the bending effect. The dynamic and static stress-strain relations of 2024-0 aluminum are obtained by means of the split-Hopkinson bar technique and an Instron machine, respectively. A series of tests with 0.8 mm diameter pre-drilled holes in each target is conducted to assess the relative effects of bending and shear on the plate deformation. A total of 20 shots are executed to examine the phenomenon of the plate response under impact loading. The 12.7 mm diameter hard-steel projectiles are fired with a pneumatic gun against 3.18, 4.76, and 6.35 mm aluminum targets at a velocity of up to 182 m s −1 . A dynamic plastic bending theory is proposed that will be superposed on the previously developed one-dimensional phenomenological penetration model of Liss et at. (Int. J. Impact Engng 1, 321–324 (1983)), to permit a more accurate prediction of target response. This phenomenological model is numerically analyzed and compared with the experimental findings and the two-dimensional Lagrangian computational codes Dyna2d and Autodyn using a Cray X/MP-48 and PC-AT, respectively. Excellent correspondence with data is obtained for the projectile exit velocity when a higher impact speed is employed. The final deformation field computed from the model is not limited to a narrow zone and shows good correlation with the experimental data, especially for thinner targets.
Einstein-Maxwell theory from torsion

The Einstein-Maxwell formulation of gravitation and electromagnetism is developed in U4 spacetime by using a Lagrangian which produces propagating torsion. The resulting equations turn out to be identical to the Einstein-Maxwell formulation except that here the torsion vector represents the electromagnetic potential.
Dynamics of pigmentation induction by repeated ultraviolet exposures: dose, dose interval and ultraviolet spectrum dependence

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) induces melanogenesis in human skin. However, there have been few quantitative studies of melanogenesis induced by repetitive UV exposures (as in real life). In this area, our knowledge derives primarily from the classic studies led by Parrish, Pathak, Kaidbey and Kligman 1-4. They showed that daily suberythemogenic doses enhance pigmentation and subsequently lower the erythema threshold. Exposures given at 48-hr intervals produced less erythemogenic reactions4. Recent studies have shown that repeated, suberythemal exposures to UVA-rich sources are more effective in producing a tan than are those from UVB-rich sources (including solar simulators) 1;5-7. de Winter et al. 8 showed that exposures given three times weekly for 3 weeks (using increasing doses) resulted in increased pigmentation as measured by L* (measure of skin ’lightness’). However, they suggest that exposures be given less frequently than three times weekly to reduce DNA damage accumulation. Ruegemer et al 9 observed an “obvious increase in pigmentation” in 99 human subjects who used a commercial sunbed 2×/wk for 6 weeks. Instrumentally, the L* values changed by a modest 2.6 chromametric units (C.U.) or less. Cumulative doses were between 11,300 and 14,600 J/m2 but unfortunately they were not wavelength-weighted with the erythema action spectrum and, thus, cannot be easily compared with data from other studies, including this one. Caswell 10 evaluated effects of exposures repeated according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for sunlamp manufacturers 11. After 2 weeks of thrice weekly suberythemal exposures, new pigmentation became apparent. After 7 weeks of increasing exposures (up to 550 J/m2 – eryth. eff.), a dark pigmentation with no visible erythema was produced. Cumulative doses were ca. 9,300 J/m2. Our pilot study 12 indicated that pigmentation can be induced by repeated exposures with cumulative doses much lower than those used in prior studies and commercial practice. To learn more about melanogenesis induced by repetitive UV exposures, we explored the effects of dose, dose interval, and UV source emission spectrum in a larger cohort of human subjects. The results are presented in this paper.
A Contemporary Look at Social Linguistics in the Classroom: A Book Review of Talkin’ Black Talk: Language, Education and Social Change

Alim, H. S., & Baugh, J. (Eds.) (2007). Talkin' Black Talk: Language, Education and Social Change. New York, NY: Teachers College Press. ISBN 978-0807747469 (paperback). Talkin' Black Talk: Languag...