cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Buck Stops Where? Federalism, Uncertainty, and Investment in the Brazilian Water and Sanitation Sector

This paper documents how regulatory uncertainty may undermine public service when different levels of government share a mandate on public service provision. I examine the Brazilian water and sanitation sector, which presents a natural experiment of shared provision between state and municipal companies. Using a difference-in-differences framework, I study a legal reform that clarified the relationship between municipal and state providers and eliminated any takeover threat by state companies. I find that after the reform, municipal companies almost doubled their total system investment, leading to significant increases in system access and decreases in child mortality.
VPN+ Towards Detection and Remediation of Information Leakage on Smartphones

Smartphones carry a plethora of sensitive and personally identifiable information (PII) such as email addresses, GPS coordinates, names, and phone numbers. A common occurrence in the design of many popular smartphone applications is to harvest this user data for consumer market analysis and targeted advertising. Transmitting sensitive PII data without the user’s explicit knowledge has been given the name “information leakage Unfortunately, the permission systems employed by modern smartphone OSes are too coarse grained, presenting an “all or nothing” choice to users making it largely insufficient to defend against information leakage attacks. In this paper we propose a network-filtering based solution, which uses an entirely on-device VPN to capture and scan network packets for PII data. Our novelty is a specially designed string searching algorithm used to scan network packets, and a Naive Bayes classifier to learn and predict the user’s desired action when information leakage occurs. We evaluate and compare our work to other recent literature. We achieve 2MB/s throughput with our string searching algorithm and ~66% accuracy with our Naive Bayes classifier after building a training set of only 50 observations.
Nocardia prophylaxis, treatment, and outcomes of infection in lung transplant recipients: A matched case-control study

Background Lung transplant recipients are at heightened risk for nocardiosis compared to other solid organ transplant recipients, with incidence rates as high as 9% and up to 30% associated mortality. No controlled studies assessing risk factors for nocardiosis in this high-risk population have been reported. Methods Patients undergoing lung transplantation at a single center between 2012 and 2018 and diagnosed with nocardiosis post-transplant were matched 1:2 to uninfected control subjects on the basis of age, transplant date, and sex. Results The incidence of nocardiosis in this lung transplant population was 3.4% (20/586), occurring a median of 9.4 months (range 4.4-55.2) post-transplant. In multivariable analysis, consistent use of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) in the 12 weeks prior to diagnosis was independently associated with protection against nocardiosis (OR 0.038; 95% CI 0.01-0.29; P = .002). Augmented immunosuppression in the 6 months prior to diagnosis was independently associated with the development of nocardiosis (OR 9.94; 95% CI 1.62- 61.00; P = .013). Six case patients (30%) had disseminated disease; all-cause 6-month mortality was 25%. The most common species was Nocardia farcinica (7/17 isolates), which was associated with dissemination and mortality. The most active antibiotics were TMP/SMX (100%), linezolid (100%), and amikacin (76%). Imipenem was only active against 4/17 isolates (24% susceptibility), with two isolates becoming non-susceptible later in therapy. Conclusions Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis was shown to be protective against nocardiosis in lung transplant recipients, while augmented immunosuppression conferred increased risk. Institutional epidemiologic data are needed to best guide empiric therapy for Nocardia, as historical in vitro data may not predict local susceptibilities.
Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Use and Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the California Teachers Study

The aim of this study was to examine whether use of regular aspirin and/or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In the California Teachers Study cohort (N = 88,481) we identified diagnoses of AMD up to December 31, 2012 by linkage to statewide hospital discharge records. Aspirin, ibuprofen, other NSAIDs, and acetaminophen use and comprehensive risk factor information were collected via self-administered questionnaires at baseline in 1995–1996 and a follow-up questionnaire in 2005–2006. We employed Cox proportional hazard regression to model AMD risk. We did not find any associations between AMD and frequency and duration of aspirin or ibuprofen use reported at baseline. In the subsample with more specific information on medication use, we observed a 20% decrease in risk of AMD among low-dose aspirin users (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.70–0.95) and a 55% decrease among cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor users (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26–0.78) during 6.3 years of average follow-up. The decrease in risk of intermediate- or late-stage AMD among women who reported regular use of low-dose aspirin or specific COX-2 inhibitors suggests a possible protective role for medications with COX-2 inhibitory properties or aspirin at doses used for cardiovascular disease prevention.
Fully Decentralized Planner-Guided Robot Swarms

Robot swarms hold great potential for accomplishing missions in a robust, scalable, and flexible manner. However, determining what low-level agent behavior to implement in order to meet high-level objectives is an unsolved inverse problem. Building on previous work on partially-centralized planner-guided robot swarms, we present an approach that achieves total decentralization of executive and deliberator functions, adds robustness and performance optimization through dynamic task switching, and employs agent-initiated superrational planning to coordinate agent activity while responding to changes in the environment. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique with three swarm robotics scenarios.
The Importance of Methodological Pluralism in Nonprofit Finance

The study of nonprofit finance and financial management is growing in popularity. The numerical focus and availability of archival U.S. data have fueled the growth of the field; however, this availability has also influenced the research questions and methods utilized by researchers. Despite the dominance of large-scale quantitative analysis in the literature, there are a wide variety of research methods available in the field. Each approach has strengths and limitations that should be utilized to answer different research questions in different ways. We catalog these techniques and include recommendations on how and why to deliberately cultivate methodological pluralism in nonprofit finance and financial management research.
Exploring Property based Aluminum Specifications

One of the limiting factors to increased use of scrap in alloys is problematic tramp elements that accumulate in the scrap stream. Currently, alloy producers make use of blending models to assist in choosing from a large number of inputs (scrap sources, primary aluminum, and alloying elements) to manufacture a portfolio of alloys within specification. Alloys are batched to specification to maximize alloy function which includes a complex set of desired properties. While AA specifications have been put in place to guide batch blending decisions, often maximum constraints result in conservative scrap utilization, thus minimizing the potential for environmental and economic savings. This work begins to quantify the trade-offs in an approach where property based constraints are substituted for compositional constraints using a linear programming aluminum blending model tracking up to twenty alloying elements. Results show that increased scrap utilization is possible for a set of specific cases.
Over 16% efficiency large area-multicrystalline silicon solar cell

Since 1989, Kyocera has been carrying out research into high efficiency solar cells using multicrystalline silicon substrates (15 cm/spl times/15 cm) made by the Sumitomo Sitix Co. Ltd. The bifacial Silicon nitride solar cell (BSNSC) fabrication process developed by Kyocera has been applied to this large area solar cell. A conversion efficiency of 16.4% (global AM 1.5, 100 mW/cm/sup 2/, 25/spl deg/C) for the 15 cm/spl times/15 cm multicrystalline silicon solar cell has been obtained by optimizing the front surface structure to reduce the reflective losses, and by improving the front electrode pattern using an evaporation method. >
Compact drive system for planetary rovers and space manipulators

Space robotics requires a new generation of actuators that have high torque densities and high efficiencies, high positioning resolutions, high torque capacities and torsional stiffnesses. Ideally they should be lightweight and low-cost. This paper presents a new hardware actuator technology concept to address the above needs. In the concept, a compact integrated motor-transmission-joint mechanism is optimized for size and torque density, while providing good joint support. This is achieved by novel arrangement of multi-function mechanical components and external-rotor motor technology and advantageous use of structural symmetry. Finite element results show the potential to deliver more than 200 Nm of continuous torque at 50 Deg/s in a package as small as a human elbow joint. With its small size and weight and its large torque output, the proposed actuator concept could benefit numerous applications, ranging from space manipulators to actuated prosthetics and medical devices.
Oogenesis in Xenopus laevis (Daudin). II. The induction and subcellular localization of tyrosinase activity in developing oocytes.

Abstract Tyrosinase activity is increased at specific stages of development in Xenopus laevis oocytes in mature females by an injection of 1000 units of human chorionic gonadtropin (HCG). Enzyme activity is stimulated slightly in stage II oocytes, greatly (5- to 6-fold) in stage III and early stage IV oocytes, slightly in late stage IV, and not at all in stage V oocytes. Tyrosinase activity has been localized cytochemically in oocytes by the DOPA-reaction. The DOPA-reaction product is found in the distal cisterna of the Golgi complex and in an anastomosing network of smooth-surfaced tubules associated with the Golgi complex. No reaction product is found in the clustered elements of smooth endoplasmic reticulum which gives rise to the premelanosomes. Substantial melanization of the premelanosomes does not occur until the DOPA-positive Golgi complexes move into proximity with the premelanosomes at the oocyte periphery. Biochemical assay of the isolated melanin granules shows that premelanosomes isolated from stage III and IV oocytes contain significant tyrosinase activity. This activity appears to decrease in the later stages of melanization. It is concluded that the metabolic activities leading to the formation of oocyte pigmentation are stimulated by gonadotropins and the degree of response to the stimulation is quantitatively regulated according to parameters typical of the specific stage of oocyte development.
Large-scale coherent structures in free turbulent flows and their aerodynamic sound

Observed physical features of large-scale coherent structures in free shear flows are first interpreted from a point of view that involves the results from conservation principles, including, for instance, the role of fluctuating disturbances on the spreading rate, mode-mode interactions, the growth and decay of coherent structures and their negative production rate and energy exchanges between the various scales of motion. This sets the stage for discussing the large-scale coherent structures as a source of aerodynamic sound in turbulent jets. The aerodynamic sound is worked out from Lighthill’s formulation and it is found that the lower frequency sound, which comes from lower frequency coherent structures that peak further downstream, radiates preferentially nearer the jet axis; the peak radiation moves away from the jet axis as the frequency increases with the higher frequency contributions coming from coherent structures that peak in regions nearer the nozzle lip; the peak frequency near the jet axis being independent of the jet velocity. These striking resemblances with observations are a direct consequence of Lighthill’s formulation of the aerodynamic sound problem, being brought about by taking into account as sources the spectrally-dependent growing and decaying large-scale coherent structures in a real turbulent jet.
The binding of recombinant human relaxin to human spermatozoa

Porcine relaxin has been reported to stimulate various human sperm functions. In this paper we report that human recombinant relaxin binds to human sperm with a high affinity (Kd = 6.5 x 10(-10)). The bound 125I-relaxin was not displaced by insulin, or human chorionic gonadotropin, however, it was displaced by unlabeled relaxin. In sperm function studies, recombinant human relaxin stimulated sperm motility, zona-free hamster egg penetration, and the acrosome reaction.
Fast protein monitoring in fermentation broth using non-porous micropellicular reversed-phase columns

Abstract The use of a short non-porous polymeric reversed-phase column is described for the rapid monitoring of the formation of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor in fermentation broths. The described procedure is capable of completing the assay in less than 10 min. Validation of the method showed acceptable recovery, accuracy, precision and specificity.
Rationalizing the Strength of Hydrogen-Bonded Complexes. Ab Initio HF and DFT Studies

A comparative study of the relative stabilities of 17 multiply hydrogen-bonded complexes has been carried out using ab initio Hartree−Fock and density functional methods at the HF/6-311(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311(d,p) levels, respectively. Predicted hydrogen-bond geometries, relative stabilities, solvent and structural effects, and electrostatic potential contours are discussed in conjunction with experimental data. The B3LYP method, which secures a better agreement of the optimized geometries with the available X-ray data, has also been applied to calculate the gas-phase free energies and enthalpies. The computations reveal that the frequently used incremental approach, which takes into consideration the primary and secondary electrostatic interactions, can often be deceptive in interpreting the stabilities of the multiply hydrogen-bonded dimers. The explanation that reduced entropy enhances the stability of dimers involving intramolecular hydrogen bonds in their monomeric parts compared to similar structures ...
Global processing of spectrally complex sounds in macaques (Macaca mullata) and humans.

How nonhuman species perceive the world is a biological question of fundamental importance, and has major significance for establishing the validity and possible limitations of animal models of human sensory function and perception. Studies in comparative hearing have revealed that almost all animals, including monkeys, are worse than humans at discriminating tone frequencies. Less is known, however, about comparative differences in discriminating more spectrally complex sounds. We compared the capacity of macaques and humans to discriminate complex sound patterns by measuring spectral-contrast sensitivity using stimuli having sine-modulated power spectra, analogous to sine-wave gratings used in visual studies. We found that the auditory system of the macaque is far less sensitive than the human system over the sine-profile frequency range tested (0.5–2.0 cycles/octave). These results indicate that rhesus macaques hear at least some spectrally complex sounds with less fidelity than do humans, and demonstrate large differences in primate species' abilities to process low-resolution spectral patterns. These results cannot be accounted for by traditional, narrowband peripheral filter models of spectral analysis, but instead, imply the involvement of a central, frequency integration process that may differ significantly across species.
Leadership Situations in Academic Departments: Relations Among Measures of Situational Favorableness and Control.

Measures of attributes of leadership situations faced by chairmen in academic divisions and departments were theoretically and empirically related. Measures of task structure and member relations were derived from Fiedler's (1967) Contingency Model of Leadership, and measures of total control and relative control were derived from Tannenbaum's (1967) Control Graph Theory. Two correlational studies using samples of community college divisions and university departments indicated that hypotheses derived from research undertaken in business and military settings were not generally supported in higher educational settings. Consistent findings across both studies indicated that high task structure (faculty homogeneity and academic task structure) is associated with better member relations and greater cooperation on administrative matters. Implications for administrators are briefly discussed.
Element concentrations in the lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. after 3 years of transplanting along Lake Michigan

Abstract Improvements in air quality in air polluted areas are often followed by recolonization of habitats by sensitive lichens that had died out when air quality was worse. To test the hypothesis that air quality at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has improved such that lichens could recolonize the area, samples of a species that once grew in the park, Hypogymnia physodes , were transplanted from Door County, Wisconsin to the park and three other sites along the western shore of Lake Michigan, including one at the site of origin as a control. The lichens were sampled for 3 years and tissue concentrations of 20 chemical elements were measured. There were no significant differences between concentrations over the 3 year study duration at the control site in Door County, suggesting that transplanting itself had no impacts on tissue concentrations. All but two elements increased in concentration from north to south with the greatest increases occurring in the third year of the study. Lichens at Indiana Dunes at the end of the study had suffered severe mortality. Chromium increased the most from north to south but concentrations were not higher than maxima observed in other studies. Arsenic and sulfur, however, exceeded known toxic thresholds or maxima observed in other studies on this species. Four hypotheses are presented to explain the toxicity of elements to this species.
Sixty Years of Modern Human Origins in the American Anthropological Association

We present a review of the history of scientific inquiry into modern human origins, focusing on the role of the American Anthropologist. We begin during the mid-20th century, at the time when the problem of modern human origins was first presented in the American Anthropologist and could first be distinguished from more general questions about human and hominid origins. Next, we discuss the effects of the modern evolutionary synthesis on biological anthropology and paleoanthropology in particular, and its role in the origin of anthropological genetics. The rise of human genetics is discussed along two tracks, which have taken starkly differ- ent approaches to the historical interpretation of recent human diversity. We cover varying paleoanthropological interpretations, in- cluding paleoanthropologists' reactions to genetic interpretations. We hope to identify some of the crucial inflection points in which the debate went astray, to rectify some of the points of misunderstanding among current scientists, and to clarify the likely path ahead. (Keywords: multiregional evolution, recent African origin, bottleneck, polygenism, race)
Faceting of tilt boundaries in NiO

Abstract The structure of low angle tilt boundaries in NiO was studied using an electron microscope technique that is sensitive to the change in mean inner potential at the core of dislocations. The two boundaries examined were both faceted, one in particular having a complex dislocation content in facets with a period of ~ 8.8 nm. Using the experimentally determined rotation axis, angle and boundary plane, Bollmann's O-lattice theory was applied to determine the geometry and dislocation content of the facets. The predictions of the theoretical analysis were in excellent agreement with all details of the observed geometry and dislocation content, demonstrating that Bollmann's theory is valid to predict the detailed structure of tilt boundaries in NiO. It is suggested that in NiO a tilt boundary with an arbitrary rotation axis will be faceted.
Weighted matching with vertex weights: An application to scheduling training sessions in NASA space shuttle cockpit simulators

Abstract Necessary and sufficient conditions are provided for optimality of a matching in a weighted matching problem for which the weight of edge (i, j) is the sum of non-negative values, wi and wj. The impact of adding one or more dummy vertices i with wi = 0 is investigated. Results are exploited in the design of a heuristic approach for weekly scheduling of NASA space shuttle training sessions in each of two cockpit simulators.
Lettuce and the Sycomore: sex and romance in ancient Egypt

In ancient Egypt, lettuce was considered an aphrodisiac and was featured in the yearly festival of Min, an ithyphallic god of fertility and procreation. The Greeks considered it an antiaphrodisiac and its use as a soporific continued into this century. The sycomore fig has a highly specialized fertilization biology, but does not produce seed in Egypt for want of the proper species of wasp. Ripening has been hastened since ancient times by gashing the syconia. To the ancient Egyptians it was a sacred trysting tree inhabited by the goddess of love and was the focus of a body of love poetry. Some selected verses are presented.
Purification and properties of a chicken liver glutathione S-transferase.

Abstract The minimum number of glutathione S -transferase species in adult chicken liver cytosol is four, as judged by O -(carboxymethyl)-cellulose chromatography. One species of enzyme, the second activity peak eluted from O -(carboxymethyl)-cellulose with a linear 0–200 m m KCl gradient, was purified by various procedures including DEAE-cellulose chromatography, ammonium sulfate precipitation, O -(carboxymethyl)-cellulose chromatography, and preparative isoelectric focusing. The purified protein had a specific activity of 3.4 units/mg of protein when 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was used as a substrate. The molecular weight of the protein, as determined by gel filtration, was 45,000. Electrophoresis under denaturing conditions revealed a single band of molecular weight about 23,000, indicating the enzyme is composed of two subunits of approximately equal size. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 8.8, and isoelectric point of 8.9, and an apparent K m of 0.35 m m for reduced glutathione and 1.92 m M for the substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. The enzyme exhibited an obligate requirement for reduced glutathione as the thiol donor. Like the mammalian enzyme, the purified chicken hepatic glutathione S -transferase also demonstrated multiple substrate specificities and was able to conjugate 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene, p -nitrobenzyl chloride, 1,2-epoxy-3-( p -nitrophenoxy) propane, trans -4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one, and ethacrynic acid. In addition to its catalytic activity, the purified transferase was also able to bind hemin. Fluorescence quenching studies of the binding of hemin to the enzyme indicated a dissociation constant of 2.2 × 10 −8 , m and a 1:1 molar ration of hemin binding to the purified enzyme. Kinetic analyses showed that hemin inhibited enzyme activity; inhibition by hemin was competitive with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene but noncompetitive with reduced glutathione ( K i ∼- 10 −6 m ). The ability of the enzyme to bind hemin suggests a possible role for glutathione S -transferase in the modulation of free intracellular heme levels, which may regulate the induction of S -amino-levulinic acid synthase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway.
What variables condition syntactic transfer? A look at the L3 initial state

This study investigates transfer at the third-language (L3) initial state, testing between the following possibilities: (1) the first language (L1) transfer hypothesis (an L1 effect for all adult acquisition), (2) the second language (L2) transfer hypothesis, where the L2 blocks L1 transfer (often referred to in the recent literature as the ‘L2 status factor’; Williams and Hammarberg, 1998), and (3) the Cumulative Enhancement Model (Flynn et al., 2004), which proposes selective transfer from all previous linguistic knowledge. We provide data from successful English-speaking learners of L2 Spanish at the initial state of acquiring L3 French and L3 Italian relating to properties of the Null-Subject Parameter (e.g. Chomsky, 1981; Rizzi, 1982). We compare these groups to each other, as well as to groups of English learners of L2 French and L2 Italian at the initial state, and conclude that the data are consistent with the predictions of the ‘L2 status factor’. However, we discuss an alternative possible interpretation based on (psycho)typologically-motivated transfer (borrowing from Kellerman, 1983), providing a methodology for future research in this domain to meaningfully tease apart the ‘L2 status factor’ from this alternative account.
2-Pyridones: 1-(Heterocyclic)-1,2-dihydro-2-oxopyridine-5-carboxylic Acids and Derivative

A series of derivatives including esters, amides, and substituted amides of 1-(heterocyclic)-1,2,-dihydro-2-oxopyridine-5-carboxylic acids have been synthesized. The 1-(heterocyclic) moiety has been varied as pyridine, thiazole, and thiadiazole units. The compounds were prepared for an evaluation of their effect upon the central nervous system.
The Ocean Appliance: Complete Platform Provisioning for Low-Cost Data Sharing

We report on our progress towards an Ocean Appliance - envisioned as a complete, pre-built "server-in-a- box" equipped with an ocean observation database, a forecast engine, a web server publishing an extensible web interface, a suite of web services establishing interoperability, and a library of data ingest and processing functions. Collectively, these services allow efficient ingest, organization, analysis, and distribution of observations and model results with minimal on- site configuration. By packaging the hardware as well as the software, the effort required to install and adapt the tools to the environment of the local data provider is minimized, streamlining the adoption of interoperability standards and simplifying environmental data management. We report results from a pilot project using the appliance to support cruise operations and describe preparations for an upcoming multi-ship experiment involving real-time telemetry and coordinated, simultaneous analysis of forecasts and observations.
Changes over thirty years in an index of gynaecological health

The gynaecological index (GYNDEX) was developed to facilitate observing differences in gynaecological health among and between groups of women. It takes into account menstrual characteristics, premenstrual changes, and gynaecological diagnoses and treatments. The objective of this study is to contribute to knowledge of the changes in gynaecological health at different times in the reproductive life cycles of women and to develop a measurement technique which can be used in future studies in women's health. In this investigation a GYNDEX is determined for each of the first three decades postmenarche in a sample of 54 women who have been followed in a longitudinal study since birth, and the characteristics of the changes in the GYNDEX over time are analysed. There is a significant increase in the GYNDEX (P less than 0.05) in each successive decade. Further studies are being done to determine to what extent factors that occurred in the childhood and adolescence act as predictors of adult gynaecological health. Knowledge of these relationships will provide a rationale for planning health care programmes for women of all ages.
Personality Patterns Among Black, White, and Hispanic Combat Veterans

Little is known about racial and ethnic differences in personality pathology in combat veterans. Thisinvestigation explored the relationship between race, ethnicity, and personality disorders (PDs) in asample of 96 combat veterans. Ethnoracial group status was based on self-identification, and the groupswere mutually exclusive. PDs were assessed with the MCMI-III , posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)was assessed with the Clinician Administered PTSD scale, and combat exposure was assessed with theCombat Exposure Scale. The findings suggest that Hispanic veterans were more likely to have cluster APDs compared to non-Hispanic veterans, even after controlling for demographics, level of combatexposure, and current PTSD. Implications of the results for the research and treatment of culturallydiverse individuals with PDs are discussed.Keywords: personality disorder, combat veteran, race, ethnicity
Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome Complicating Influenza A Infection in a Young Child

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a potentially lethal but rare complication of influenza infection. We report a case of TSS and influenza A infection in a 5-year-old boy without respiratory symptoms, in whom tracheal aspirate bacterial culture grew a toxin-producing strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Bacterial culture of the upper respiratory tract should be considered in patients with influenza-associated toxic shock syndrome.
TCDD and PCBs inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro

The effects on cell proliferation of arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists in estrogen-responsive T47D and ZR-75-1 cells were investigated. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and the non-ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, PCB 77, PCB 81, PCB 126, and PCB 169 each inhibited 17beta-estradiol (E(2))-stimulated cell proliferation in a dose-responsive manner. In the absence of added E(2), TCDD, PCB 77, PCB 81, and PCB 169 had no significant effect on cell proliferation, while PCB 126 at high concentrations caused slight elevations. The order of effective inhibition of E(2)-stimulated cell proliferation by the PCB congeners was: PCB 81>PCB 126 approximately = PCB 169>PCB 77. In the comparative literature, mammalian TEFs for these congeners toxic potency are in the order: PCB 126>PCB 169>PCB 81 approximately = PCB 77 [Organohalogen Compd. 34 (1997) 237]. Our results thus show an unexpected different pattern for the inhibitory effects of PCBs congeners on E(2)-mediated cell proliferation.
Voting as an Influential Behavior: Child and Adolescent Beliefs

This study investigates preadult learning about voting and its ability to convey wants and influence the government. Its framework is the Easton-Dennis (1969) socialization model. Past research has concentrated on vote socialization as a "support" input, whereas this work treats voting as a "demand" input. A survey was administered to a widely diversified sample composed of 1692 preadults from grades four through high school. Using both closed- and open-ended questions, it was found that preadults recognize and evaluate voting effectiveness to influence government. Effectiveness evaluations are quite diverse, although a simple majority in all groups believe voting can be effective to a degree. Respondents are also capable of contrasting voting effectiveness with other forms of participation. In comparison with other participations, voting is viewed by all age groups as a relatively less effective demand behavior.
Effective use of current core and post concepts.

The need for reinforcement of endodontically treated teeth is well documented.1-20 The restorative problem is related to the brittleness of teeth caused by an impaired blood supply and loss of tooth structure.2’ Endodontitally treated teeth have a seriously compromised blood supply because a collateral supply from the periodontal membrane and bone is all that remains. A portion of the intracoronal hard structures has also been removed to gain access to the pulp, while considerable extracoronal structure has been lost from caries and/or trauma. There is unanimity among authors that prosthodontic abutments should be restored with a post and a core’~‘G~20 and that almost all endodontically treated teeth should be reinforced. Patients occasionally comment that root canals do not work because the tooth can break and has to be taken out anyway. It is unfortunate for both patient and dentist to have endodontics performed and a crown placed without reinforcement only to have the tooth fracture. “Many practitioners have found, however, that methods that simply restore the crown portion leave the tooth susceptible to fracture in the future.“” Rather than performing endodontics and restoring an unreinforced tooth, it seems more practical to perform the endodontics with coronal radicular stabilization and strongly suggest to the patient that a crown be constructed in the future. The cost of root canal therapy, a post, and a crown concomitantly is prohibitive for many patients.
Alkoxides of molybdenum and tungsten: metal—metal bonds and organometallic chemistry

Abstract Recent developments in the chemistry of alkoxides of molybdenum and tungsten are described. Two aspects of particular emphasis are (i) metal—metal bonds and (ii) the potential role of alkoxide ligands in organometallic chemistry.
Assembly of vesicles into fractal and prong patterns on substrates

Spherical vesicles of surfactants are unique building blocks. Control over their assembly into higher order structures may aid in the creation of new soft materials that are important from both technological and fundamental standpoints. In this paper, we report fractal assemblies of lithocholic acid (LCA) vesicles on glass slides by diffusion-limited aggregation. With the use of capillary flow generated in an evaporating vesicle solution confined by two parallel glass slides, we are able to assemble LCA vesicles into pronglike structures. The fusion of linear aggregated LCA vesicles within these assemblies can lead to the formation of fractal and prong patterns of LCA tubes.
BIG PEOPLE HIT LITTLE PEOPLE: SEX DIFFERENCES IN PHYSICAL POWER AND INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE*

The role of physical size and strength in sex differences in violence is examined using a sample of ex-offenders, ex-mental patients, and the general population. In incidents not involving weapons, males are more likely than females to engage in attacks and injure their adversaries, and females are more likely to be attacked and injured, primarily because of differences in physical power. In incidents involving weapons, the greater power of males is partially neutralized, and females are more likely than males to injure their adversary. The results show that physical differences between men and women are an important factor in explaining sex differences in violence.
Influence of electric current density on the bactericidal effectiveness of pulsed electric field treatments

Abstract A procedure applying equivalent pulsed electric field (PEF) treatments of similar peak electric field intensity, total treatment time, and treatment temperature, while delivering different amounts of electric current, was successfully developed in this study. Listeria innocua suspended in McIllvaine buffer was subjected to five PEF treatments, each with a peak electric field intensity of 28.85 kV/cm applied for 60 μs at 44.3 °C, with peak electric currents of 1.94, 2.20, 2.76, 3.51, and 4.21 kA, respectively. To apply the described treatments, the charge voltage, pulsing frequency, and initial temperature and electrical conductivity of the treated media were adjusted, based on calculations made using pertinent fundamental mathematical models. Neither the amount of electric current flowing through the treated product, nor the amount of delivered electric energy or the electric conductivity of the studied media showed any influence on the bactericidal effectiveness of the applied treatments within the studied range.
Stratigraphy and Structure of Middle Paleozoic Section, Independence Quadrangle, Inyo Mountains, California: ABSTRACT

The middle Paleozoic section in the central Inyo Mountains is represented by slightly more than 2,000 ft of dark-colored hornfels with beds of limestone, impure chert, sandstone, and conglomerate near the base. Four formations have been differentiated: a previously unrecognized Middle Devonian unit, and the Perdido Formation, Chainman Shale, and Hamilton Canyon Formation of probable Late Mississippian age. The Middle Devonian rocks lie unconformably on beds ranging in age from Early Devonian to Middle Ordovician. A second unconformity separates the Middle Devonian section from the Perdido Formation. In the northern half of the Independence quadrangle, the upper part of the Chainman Shale, Hamilton Canyon Formation, and overlying carbonates of the Permo-Pennsylvanian Keele Canyon Formation are complexly folded, whereas the underlying rocks apparently lack this deformation. This suggests that the upper part of the sequence has been involved in a decollement. End_of_Article - Last_Page 567------------
Finding time for allosteric interactions

A chromatographic method characterizes allosteric interactions between drugs and their targets.
Flux lattice melting in high- T c superconductors

We derive the wave-vector-dependent elastic moduli for a flux line lattice in compounds with underlying tetragonal crystalline symmetry. We find that it is essential to retain wave-vector dependence of the moduli when dealing with compounds where \ensuremath{\kappa} is large, as it is in the high-${T}_{c}$ materials. We use our results to establish a Lindemann criterion for flux lattice melting, which we then compare with experimental data on two materials, and find excellent agreement. The melting curves are suppressed well below the mean-field superconducting-normal transition line and are linear in temperature over a wide range of magnetic fields. The point H=0, T=${T}_{c}$ is approached as 1-T/${T}_{c}$\ensuremath{\sim}${H}^{1/2}$. The degree of suppression of the melting curves among the different compounds is accounted for in the main by differences in mass anisotropy.
Conformational properties of the osmium tetraoxide bispyridine ester of 1-methylthymine and a comment on the linearity of the trans OOsO group

The preparation and crystal and molecular structure of the osmium tetraoxide bispyridine ester of 1-methylthymine are reported. The complex crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with a = 11.493(6)A, b = 16.655(7)A, c = 6.082(2)A, α = 92.07(3)°, β = 90.58 (3)°, γ = 71.36(4)°, V = 1102.4 Ap3, Dm = 1.85(1) g cm−3, Dc = 1.84 g cm−3. The unit cell contains 2 osmium tetraoxide bispyridine esters of 1-methylthymine, 2 waters of crystallization and 1 disordered pyridine of solvation. Intensities for 3814 independent reflections were collected by counter methods. The structure was solved by standard heavy-atom techniques and has been refined by full-matrix least squares, based on F, to a final R value of 0.065. The osmium complex binds as a cis osmate ester to the C(5)–C(6) bond of the methylated pyrimidine in a fashion which is expected to be similar to the binding of the complex to thymidine residues in nucleic acids. The conformation of the 1-methylthymine ester is that of a half chair with C(6) showing a substantial deviation, 0.55 A, from the best mean plane of the thymine moiety. The primary coordination sphere about the Os(VI) atom is completed by 2 axial OsO bonds and the binding of the 2 pyridine ligands in cis positions in the equatorial plane containing the ester linkages. The OOsO group is substantially nonlinear, 164.0(5)°, and this nonlinearity is attributed to intracomplex electronic effects.
Microvascular changes during acne lesion initiation and scarring is revealed in vivo using optical microangiography

Acne is a common skin disease in society and often leads to scarring. In this paper, we demonstrate the capabilities of swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in detecting specific features of acne lesion initiation and scarring on human facial skin in vivo over 30 days. Optical microangiography (OMAG) technique made it possible to image 3D tissue microvasculature changes up to 1 mm depth in vivo without the need of exogenous contrast agents in ~10 seconds. The presented results show promise to facilitate clinical trials of treatment and prognosis of acne vulgaris by detecting cutaneous microvasculature and structural changes within human skin in vivo .
Application of an Internally Consistent Material Model to Determine the Effect of Tool Edge Geometry in Orthogonal Machining

It is well known that the edge geometry of a cutting tool affects the forces measured in metal cutting. Two experimental methods have been suggested in the past to extract the ploughing (noncutting) component from the total measured force: (1) the extrapolation approach and (2) the dwell force technique. This study reports the behavior of zinc during orthogonal machining using tools of controlled edge radius. Application of both the extrapolation and dwell approaches showed that neither produces an analysis that yields a material response consistent with the known behavior of zinc. Further analysis shows that the edge geometry modifies the shear zone of the material and thereby modifies the forces. When analyzed this way, the measured force data yield the expected material response without requiring recourse to an additional ploughing component.
Pre-enrichment of modified low density lipoproteins with alpha-tocopherol mitigates adverse effects on cultured retinal capillary cells.

PURPOSE. We determined whether pre-enrichment of low density lipoproteins (LDL) with a-tocopherol mitigates their adverse effects, following in vitro glycation, oxidation or glycoxidation, towards cultured bovine retinal capillary endothelial cells (RCEC) and pericytes. METHODS. LDL, while still in plasma obtained and pooled from non-diabetic humans, was supplemented in vitro with a-tocopherol. It was then isolated and modified in vitro by glycation, minimal oxidation, and glycoxidation. Bovine RCEC and pericytes were exposed to LDL (100mg protein/ ml) for three days. Cell count was determined by cell counting, supernatant levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) by ELISA, and nitrite levels by spectroscopic colorimetric assay. RESULTS. While pre-enrichment of LDL with a-tocopherol did not reduce the measured extent of lipoprotein modification, it abolished the reduction in cell count observed with glycated, oxidized and glycoxidized LDL v. normal LDL. Pre-enrichment of ...
A global classification of solar radiation

Abstract A series of indices has been constructed in an attempt to regionalize the annual march of solar radiation on a global scale. Over one thousand sampling points were used in order to derive the spatial distribution of the 12-month radiation curve. Each of these seasonal graphs was analyzed according to its wave-height (height of maximum input of energy), wave fluctuation (amplitude between the highest and lowest input), wavelength (for latitudes beyond 66 1 2 °) and shape of curve (phase angle). These indices were finally combined into a system of “solar radiation climates”, which showed definite regional patterns on a global basis.
The transparent lens and cornea in the mouse and zebra fish eye

The lens and cornea combine to form a single optical element in which transparency and refraction are the fundamental biophysical characteristics required for a functional visual system. Although lens and cornea have different cellular and extracellular specializations that contribute to transparency and refraction, their development is closely related. In the embryonic mouse, the developing cornea and lens separate early. In contrast, zebra fish lens and cornea remain connected during early development and the optical properties of the cornea and lens observed by slit lamp and quasielastic laser light scattering spectroscopy (QLS) are more similar in the zebra fish eye than in the mouse eye. Optical similarities between cornea and lens of zebra fish may be the result of similarities in the cellular development of the cornea and lens.
Bit error rate evaluation of GSTDN/TDRSS communication links

Statistical studies of telemetry errors were made on data from the Solar Mesosphere Explorer Satellite. An examination of frame sync words within the data stream, as received at the ground station, indicated a wide spread of bit error rates among stations. A study of the distribution of errors per station pass revealed a tendency for the station software to add an even number of spurious errors to the court. Ground station reporting of observed errors was found to fall into one of three major types of error distributions discovered. A detailed examination of instrument science data, using a fourth-order wild point algorithm rejecting dropouts and other system errors, yielded on average a random bit error rate of 3.1x10" 6 with 99% confidence limits of (2.63.8) X10 ~ 6. The system errors were typically found to be from 5 to 100 times more frequent than the identified random errors.
Synergistic stimulation of alkaline phosphatase activity in bovine aortic endothelial cells grown in the presence of retinoids and glucocorticoids.

Low concentrations of retinol (10 nM-10 microM) and dexamethasone (0.1 nM-1.0 microM) elevated activity of alkaline phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.1) in bovine endothelial cells in culture. The effect was apparent after 48 hr of growth in the presence of either of the two compounds, prior to any growth stimulatory effects. A synergistic stimulation of alkaline phosphatase was achieved in the presence of both retinol and dexamethasone implying different mechanisms of induction. Retinoic acid and retinyl acetate also elevated alkaline phosphatase but the retinol analogue reduced in the side chain (perhydroretinol) was inactive. The ability of steroids to elevate alkaline phosphatase activity was associated with the structure commonly required for glucocorticoid activity; however, competitors for the steroid receptor binding failed to prevent the elevation by dexamethasone or the synergism in the presence of retinol and dexamethasone.