cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic Disease Among African American Families: A Systematic Scoping Review

Introduction Chronic diseases are common among African Americans, but the extent to which research has focused on addressing chronic diseases across multiple members of African American families is unclear. This systematic scoping review summarizes the characteristics of research addressing coexisting chronic conditions among African American families, including guiding theories, conditions studied, types of relationships, study outcomes, and intervention research. Methods The literature search was conducted in PsycInfo, PubMed, Social Work Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, CINAHL, and Family and Society Studies Worldwide to identify relevant articles published from January 2000 through September 2016. We screened the title and abstracts of 9,170 articles, followed by full-text screening of 530 articles, resulting in a final sample of 114 articles. Fifty-seven percent (n = 65) of the articles cited a guiding theory/framework, with psychological theories (eg, social cognitive theory, transtheoretical model) being most prominent. The most common conditions studied in families were depression (70.2%), anxiety (23.7%), and diabetes (22.8%), with most articles focusing on a combination of physical and mental health conditions (47.4%). Results In the 114 studies in this review, adult family members were primarily the index person (71.1%, n = 81). The index condition, when identified (79.8%, n = 91), was more likely to be a physical health condition (46.5%, n = 53) than a mental health condition (29.8%, n = 34). Among 343 family relationships examined, immediate family relationships were overwhelmingly represented (85.4%, n = 293); however, extended family (12.0%, n = 41) and fictive kin (0.6%, n = 2) were included. Most (57.0%, n = 65) studies focused on a single category of outcomes, such as physical health (eg, obesity, glycemic control), mental health (eg, depression, anxiety, distress), psychosocial outcomes (eg, social support, caregiver burden), or health behaviors (eg, medication adherence, disease management, health care utilization); however, 43.0% (n = 49) of studies focused on outcomes across multiple categories. Sixteen intervention articles (14.0%) were identified, with depression the most common condition of interest. Conclusion Recognizing the multiple, simultaneous health issues facing families through a lens of family comorbidity and family multimorbidity may more accurately mirror the lived experiences of many African American families and better elucidate intervention opportunities than previous approaches.
Developing initial conditions for simulations of asymmetric membranes: a practical recommendation.

Abstract It has been proposed that the surface tension difference between leaflets (or differential stress) in asymmetric bilayers is generally nonvanishing. This implies that there is no unique approach to generate initial conditions for simulations of asymmetric bilayers in the absence of experimentally derived constraints. Current generation methods include individual area per lipid (APL) based, leaflet surface area (SA) matching, and zero leaflet tension based (0-DS). This work adds a bilayer-based approach that aims for achieving partial chemical equilibrium by interleaflet switching of selected lipids via P21 periodic boundary conditions. Based on a recently proposed theoretical framework, we obtained expressions for tensions in asymmetric bilayers from both the bending and area strains. We also developed a quantitative measure for the energetic penalty from the differential stress. The impacts of APL-, SA-, and 0-DS-based approaches on mechanical properties are assessed for two different asymmetric bilayers. The lateral pressure profile and its moments differ significantly for each method, whereas the area compressibility modulus is relatively insensitive. Application of P21 periodic boundary conditions (APL/P21, SA/P21, and 0-DS/P21) results in better agreement in mechanical properties between asymmetric bilayers generated by APL-, SA-, and 0-DS-based approaches, in which changes are the smallest for bilayers from the SA-based method. The estimated differential stress from the theory shows good agreement with that from the simulations. These simulation results and the good agreement between the predicted and observed differential stress further support the theoretical framework in which bilayer mechanical properties are outcomes of the interplay between intrinsic bending and asymmetric lipid packing. Based on the simulation results and theoretical predictions, the SA/P21-based, or at least the SA-based (when the differential stress is small), approach is recommended as a practical method for developing initial conditions for asymmetric bilayer simulations.
Race and Policing in America: Conflict and Reform

Race and Policing in America is about relations between police and citizens, with a focus on racial differences. It utilizes both the authors' own research and other studies to examine Americans' opinions, preferences, and personal experiences regarding the police. Guided by group-position theory and using both existing studies and the authors' own quantitative and qualitative data (from a nationally representative survey of whites, blacks, and Hispanics), this book examines the roles of personal experience, knowledge of others' experiences (vicarious experience), mass media reporting on the police, and neighborhood conditions (including crime and socioeconomic disadvantage) in structuring citizen views in four major areas: overall satisfaction with police in one's city and neighborhood, perceptions of several types of police misconduct, perceptions of police racial bias and discrimination, and evaluations of and support for a large number of reforms in policing.
Human immunodeficiency virus-related conditions in children and adults with hemophilia: rates, relationship to CD4 counts, and predictive value.

To further elucidate the natural history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, we studied intermediate HIV-related conditions occurring before acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a prospectively observed multicenter cohort of 738 HIV-infected persons with hemophilia. We analyzed the frequency in adults and children of common HIV-related conditions and the relative risk of AIDS after occurrence of these conditions, controlling for age at seroconversion and the percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequently observed condition with cumulative incidences of 43% +/- 7% in adults and 27% +/- 6% in children and adolescents by 10 years after seroconversion. Oral candidiasis, fever, weight loss, and non-AIDS pneumonia were two to four times more common in adults than children, whereas herpes zoster risk was similar in the two age groups. HIV- related conditions were infrequent during the first 4 years of infection, particularly in children. With the exception of thrombocytopenia, mean CD4 counts were less than 350 cells/microL at the onset of the conditions. The relative hazard of AIDS after oral candidiasis was 18 in children and 3.8 in adults. Relative hazard in adults was also increased after persistent fever (10), weight loss (3.2), and non-AIDS pneumonia (2.2). Herpes zoster and thrombocytopenia were not significantly associated with AIDS in either age group. We conclude that intermediate HIV-related conditions occur more frequently in adults than in children with hemophilia. Persistent fever is the strongest predictor of AIDS in adults, whereas oral candidiasis is the strongest predictor in children. These findings should facilitate the design and conduct of clinical trials as well as the management of HIV- infected children and adults.
The Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study: interim quality of life findings after initial medical or surgical treatment of glaucoma.

Abstract Objective To present interim quality of life (QOL) findings in the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study (CIGTS) using all available follow-up through 5 years from treatment initiation. Design Randomized controlled clinical trial. Participants Six hundred seven newly diagnosed patients with open-angle glaucoma from 14 clinical centers. Intervention Patients were randomly assigned to either initial medical therapy or initial trabeculectomy. After treatment initiation and early follow-up, patients received clinical and QOL evaluations at 6-month intervals. QOL assessments were administered by telephone at a centralized interviewing center. Main outcome measures The CIGTS collected comprehensive QOL information that included both generic and vision-specific QOL measures. This article focuses on initial treatment group differences related to symptom reporting, as measured by a Symptom and Health Problem Checklist, and changes in daily visual functioning, as measured by the Visual Activities Questionnaire (VAQ). Results Across both treatment groups, there was an overall decline in the percent of participants reporting symptoms over time. Of 43 possible symptoms, 12 symptoms were reported with greater frequency by the surgically treated group and 7 symptoms more frequently by the medically-treated group. The surgical patients reported more total Symptom Impact Glaucoma ( P = 0.005) and, in particular, more bother related to local eye symptoms. Very few treatment group differences were noted in visual functioning, although surgical patients reported more problems with activities related to their visual acuity ( P = 0.024). The percentage of patients across treatment groups reporting worry about blindness was 50% at baseline but declined to approximately 25% over time. Conclusions Overall, the QOL impact reported by the two treatment groups as measured by instruments used in this study is remarkably similar, with relatively few significant study group differences observed after up to 5 years of follow-up in the CIGTS. When significant differences in visual function have been detected using the VAQ, they are consistent with the clinical outcomes. To date, the most persistent QOL finding is the increased impact of local eye symptoms reported by the surgical group compared with the medical group. Although no changes are recommended in the treatment of newly diagnosed glaucoma patients at the time of this interim report, further follow-up will allow for more definitive answers to the QOL impact of these two treatment approaches.
Rotationally robust data hiding in JPEG images using a tunable spreading function

Digital media is incredibly easy to create, store, copy and manipulate. For these reasons it is desirable to authenticate, trace and otherwise fingerprint digital media at the point of origination. These objectives can be accomplished by digital watermarking whereby a digital signature is embedded in imperceptible portions of cover media. Since the marked media may undergo friendly operations such as filtering, compression and scaling the watermark must be robust. One of the more difficult operations that the digital watermark must survive is geometric manipulation. In this paper we present a digital watermarking algorithm that can survive the combined compression/rotation attack and still remain detectable
Getting it 'Right': The Everchanging NLRB Precedents on Co-Worker Presence at Investigatory Interviews

This article considers the circumstances surrounding questioning of employees who are not represented by a union. Employers' investigatory interviews of unrepresented employees that can lead to disciplinary actions are in question to the extent that the employee requests the presence of a co-worker during the interview and such request is denied by the employer. Where over 90% of employees are unrepresented by a union in the United States, this issue clearly is of urgent importance to most workers. Courts have imposed limits on employees in this regard, although the case law is in a state of flux, leaving employers on notice that they should carefully consider accommodating an employee's request for the presence of a co-worker during an investigatory interview.
Diode-pumped Nd:glass kHz regenerative amplifier for subpicosecond microjoule level pulse

Summary form only given. Diode-pumped lasers are being developed as cost effective and compact systems. To date, most of the research on direct diode-pumped femtosecond sources has concentrated on mode-locked oscillators. Recently, however, a diode pumped regenerative laser amplifier was reported pushing direct diode pumped amplifiers into the femtosecond regime. Nd:glass, with a strong absorption band at 800 nm, would be a good material for a diode-pumped amplifier system.
Troponin I chimera analysis of the cardiac myofilament tension response to protein kinase A.

Viral-mediated gene transfer of troponin I (TnI) isoforms and chimeras into adult rat cardiac myocytes was used to investigate the role TnI domains play in the myofilament tension response to protein kinase A (PKA). In myocytes expressing endogenous cardiac TnI (cTnI), PKA phosphorylated TnI and myosin-binding protein C and decreased the Ca 2+ sensitivity of myofilament tension. In marked contrast, PKA did not influence Ca 2+ -activated tension in myocytes expressing the slow skeletal isoform of TnI or a chimera (N-slow/card-C TnI), which lack the unique phosphorylatable amino terminal extension found in cTnI. PKA-mediated phosphorylation of a second TnI chimera, N-card/slow-C TnI, which has the amino terminal region of cTnI, caused a decrease in the Ca 2+ sensitivity of tension comparable in magnitude to control myocytes. Based on these results, we propose the amino terminal region shared by cTnI and N-card/slow-C TnI plays a central role in determining the magnitude of the PKA-mediated shift in myofilament Ca 2+ sensitivity, independent of the isoform-specific functional domains previously defined within the carboxyl terminal backbone of TnI. Interestingly, exposure of permeabilized myocytes to acidic pH after PKA-mediated phosphorylation of cTnI resulted in an additive decrease in myofilament Ca 2+ sensitivity. The isoform-specific, pH-sensitive region within TnI lies in the carboxyl terminus of TnI, and the additive response provides further evidence for the presence of a separate domain that directly transduces the PKA phosphorylation signal.
A comparative analysis of transcriptomic, biochemical, and physiological responses to elevated ozone identifies species-specific mechanisms of resilience in legume crops

Current concentrations of tropospheric ozone ([O3]) pollution negatively impact plant metabolism, which can result in decreased crop yields. Interspecific variation in the physiological response of plants to elevated [O3] exists; however, the underlying cellular responses explaining species-specific differences are largely unknown. Here, a physiological screen has been performed on multiple varieties of legume species. Three varieties of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) were resilient to elevated [O3]. Garden pea showed no change in photosynthetic capacity or leaf longevity when exposed to elevated [O3], in contrast to varieties of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Global transcriptomic and targeted biochemical analyses were then done to examine the mechanistic differences in legume responses to elevated [O3]. In all three species, there was an O3-mediated reduction in specific leaf weight and total non-structural carbohydrate content, as well as increased abundance of respiration-related transcripts. Differences specific to garden pea included a pronounced increase in the abundance of GLUTATHIONE REDUCTASE transcript, as well as greater contents of foliar glutathione, apoplastic ascorbate, and sucrose in elevated [O3]. These results suggest that garden pea may have had greater capacity for detoxification, which prevented net losses in CO2 fixation in an elevated [O3] environment.
Incorporation of Blood-Clotting Proteins into Phospholipid Langmuir Monolayers: A Fluorescence Microscopy Study.

Abstract Phospholipid monolayers adsorbed at an air–water interface are model cell membranes and have been used in this work to study interactions with blood-clotting proteins. Factor I (non–membrane binding) was used as a control protein, and its association with L -α-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine Langmuir monolayers was compared to factor VII, a membrane-binding protein. Fluorescence micrographs indicated that factor I penetration of the lipid monolayers in the phase transition region occurred extensively, causing condensation of the lipid film. The association of factor I with phospholipid monolayers was deemed nonspecific. Factor VII was shown to associate with the periphery of lipid domains in the absence of calcium ions, causing flattening of domain edges. In the presence of calcium, factor VII induced expansion of the lipid monolayer. This effect is a specific interaction attributed to exposure of hydrophobic residues upon calcium binding, followed by protein association with lipid hydrocarbon chains.
Influence of salts on the uptake of streptomycin by Escherichia coli.

A PREVIOUS report from this laboratory1 described the kinetics of uptake of streptomycin labelled with carbon-14 by Escherichia coli W growing in mineral-citrate-glucose medium A2. In the procedure used, the cells were separated from the medium on a membrane filter and washed with distilled water before determination of radioactivity. We now find that the uptake had been markedly enhanced by a step not reported previously: dilution of each sample with several volumes of distilled water immediately before filtration. (This predilution in water was considered trivial because the subsequent washing with water removed little of the radioactivity on the filter, although almost all of it could be removed by washing with medium A.) When this predilution step was omitted the radioactivity retained on the filter was lower by 50 to 80 per cent (Fig. 1), but there was still, as previously reported, an immediate ‘primary’ uptake and, after a lag, a gradually increasing ‘secondary’ uptake. (Szybalski and Mashima3 have reported kinetics of streptomycin uptake which are difficult to compare with ours since their first sample was not taken until 1 hr. had elapsed and they measured the radioactivity retained after washing with non-radioactive streptomycin.)
Ground Penetrating Radar Imaging of Cap Rock, Caliche and Carbonate Strata

Abstract Field experiments show ground penetrating radar (GPR) can be used to image shallow carbonate stratigraphy effectively in a variety of settings. In south Florida, the position and structure of cap rock cover on limestone can be an important control on surface water flow and vegetation, but larger scale outcrops (tens of meters) of cap rock are sparse. GPR mapping through south Florida prairie, cypress swamp and hardwood hammock resolves variations in thickness and structure of cap rock to ∼3 m and holds the potential to test theories for cap rock–vegetation relationships. In other settings, carbonate strata are mapped to test models for the formation of local structural anomalies. A test of GPR imaging capabilities on an arid caliche (calcrete) horizon in southeastern Nevada shows depth penetration to ∼2 m with resolution of the base of caliche. GPR profiling also succeeds in resolving more deeply buried (∼5 m) limestone discontinuity surfaces that record subaerial exposure in south Florida.
An elementary design discussion of thermoelectric generation

AT THE PRESENT TIME, many electric power sources of unconventional nature are being pursued vigorously in research and development. One of these, thermoelectric generation, has enjoyed renewed interest because of the development of semiconductor thermoelectric materials yielding efficiencies which are now practical for some devices and encouraging for others.
Biomechanical strategies for accuracy and force generation during stone tool production

Abstract Multiple hominin species used and produced stone tools, and the archaeological record provides evidence that stone tool behaviors intensified among later members of the genus Homo . This intensification is widely thought to be the product of cognitive and anatomical adaptations that enabled later Homo taxa to produce stone tools more efficiently relative to earlier hominin species. This study builds upon recent investigations of the knapping motions of modern humans to test whether aspects of our upper limb anatomy contribute to accuracy and/or efficiency. Knapping kinematics were captured from eight experienced knappers using a Vicon motion capture system. Each subject produced a series of Oldowan bifacial choppers under two conditions: with normal wrist mobility and while wearing a brace that reduced wrist extension (∼30°–35°), simulating one aspect of the likely primitive hominin condition. Under normal conditions, subjects employed a variant of the proximal-to-distal joint sequence common to throwing activities: subjects initiated down-swing upper limb motion at the shoulder and proceeded distally, increasing peak linear and angular velocities from the shoulder to the elbow to the wrist. At the wrist, subjects utilized the ‘dart-thrower's arc,’ the most stable plane of radiocarpal motion, during which wrist extension is coupled with radial deviation and flexion with ulnar deviation. With an unrestrained wrist, subjects achieved significantly greater target accuracy, wrist angular velocities, and hand linear velocities compared with the braced condition. Additionally, the modern wrist's ability to reach high degrees of extension (≥28.5°) following strike may decrease risk of carpal and ligamentous damage caused by hyperextension. These results suggest that wrist extension in humans contributes significantly to stone tool-making performance.
Estimating instantaneous false alarm rate in a CFAR system by Bayesian and empirical Bayesian methods

In this paper it is shown that the instantaneous false alarm rate in a constant false alarm Rate (CFAR) system fluctuates from scan to scan and that Bayesian and Empirical Bayesian estimators can be applied to decrease the error between the actual and the assumed false alarm rate. The instantaneous false alarm rate is a random variable and its probability density function is derived for different system configurations. Bayesian estimators are applied in cases where analytical expressions of the mean and variance of the instantaneous false alarm rate can be derived. The mean square error in the estimated false alarm rate is shown to be less than the mean square variations of the instantaneous false alarm rate. Empirical Bayesian estimators are introduced and applied to cases where statistical properties of the false alarm rate are unknown. Empirical Bayesian estimators rely on past data to estimate the current false alarm rate and it is shown that they will converge asymptotically to the equivalent Bayesian estimators as the amount of past data gets large.
A subminiature radio EEG telemeter for studies of disturbed children

Abstract 1. 1. The 10-g radio telemeter described permits a child at play to move about unencumbered by wires or heavy equipment. 2. 2. Continuous monitoring for periods up to 5 h is feasible using standard hearing aid type batteries. 3. 3. Electrode sway artifact and 60-c/sec interference have been virtually eliminated Muscle artifact is reduced by filters in the receiver. 4. 4. Either needle or disc electrodes can be used. 5. 5. No special receiving equipment is required. A commercially available FM tuner with minor modifications is used. 6. 6. Tests have shown excellent correlation between direct recordings and telemetered EEGs of normal adults.
Planting date and nitrogen rate effects on spring malting barley.

(...) This study was conducted to determine planting date and N rate effects on grain yield, grain protein, kernel plumpness and yield components of spring malting barley grown under a production system that minimized crop water stress. Between 1984 and 1988, Klages' barley was planted at 2-wk intervals between 15 April and 19 May (expressed as days from 1 January) at Powell, WY on a Garland clay loam. Ammonium nitrate was applied at rates of 0, 67, 134, and 202 kg N ha -1 (...)
Estrogen receptor protein of pancreas.

Abstract A cytosol receptor protein for estriol and estradiol-17β has been demonstrated in the pancreas of the dog, baboon and man. Sedimentation in sucrose gradient revealed this protein to be in 3.7–4.2 S range. The binding capacity of the cytosol was destroyed by proteolytic enzymes, pointing to the protein nature of the binding component. Following incubation of pancreatic tissue at 37°C (but not at 4°) extraction of the washed nuclei with 0.4 M KCl revealed the presence of a protein with a 4.6 S sedimentation characteristic. The findings indicate that specific receptor proteins for estrogens may be present in tissues not considered to be target organs for these hormones.
An Electronic Differential Analyzer

An electronic differential analyzer is described, capable of solving ordinary differential equations of orders through the sixth, both linear and nonlinear, and with coefficients that are either constant or variable. This analyzer has a high speed of operation and is extremely flexible with regard to equation parameters and initial conditions. The flexibility permits rapid investigation of wide ranges of equation solutions with regard to periodicity, instability, and discontinuities. It renders practicable the solution of end-point boundary-value problems; that is, problems in which the final rather than initial values are specified. Two new computing elements, an electronic function generator and an electronic multiplier, are employed in this differential analyzer. A diode clamping circuit permits the use of ac coupled amplifiers. A number of representative differential equations of the linear and nonlinear types have been solved. Comparison of observed and calculated solutions reveals an accuracy of from 1 to 5 per cent, while the precision (or repeatability) of the solutions ranges from 0.002 to 0.1 per cent. An analysis of the errors introduced into the differential-equation solutions by the frequency limitations of the computing elements, such as the integrators and adders, has been made, and the results of this analysis have been verified experimentally.
Three-dimensional surface approximation from incomplete data using distance transform

Three-dimensional (3-D) object surface reconstruction is an important step toward non-destructive measurements of surface area and volume. Laser triangulation technique has been widely used for obtaining 3-D information. However, the 3-D data obtained from triangulation are not dense enough or usually not complete for surface reconstruction, especially for objects with irregular shape. As a result of fitting surfaces with these sparse 3-D data, inaccuracy in measuring the surface area or calculating the volume of the object is inevitable. A computer vision technique combining laser triangulation and distance transform has been developed to improve the measurement accuracy for objects with irregular shape. A 3-D wire-frame model is generated first with all available 3-D data. Each pixel within the image boundary is given the distance information using distance transform. The distance information of each pixel is then used as the constraints for surface fitting and interpolation. With this additional information from distance transform, more accurate surface approximation can be achieved. The measurement accuracy of this technique is compared with other interpolation techniques for the volume measurement of oyster meats.
Fracture of polycrystalline silicon

Abstract The present work investigates the fracture behavior of polycrystalline silicon grown by chemical vapor deposition. The critical stress intensity factor, KIc, was measured using disk-shaped compact tension specimens with non-zero crack tip radii. Grain size effects and the effects of crack plane orientation and crack propagation direction were investigated with respect to microstructural texture. Fracture tests were performed at temperatures ranging from 25 to 1075 °C to identify a transition in toughness with temperature, and complete fracture toughness measurements were made at room temperature and 925 °C. Fracture surface analysis was performed to identify changes in fracture mode associated with increased temperature. There were only minor changes in critical stress intensities with respect to microstructure for material tested at room temperature. KIc increased from 1.5 to 1.8 MPa m1/2 at room temperature to 3.3 MPa m1/2 at 925 °C, which was associated with a change in the roughness of the fracture surface. There was no evidence of ductile fracture found even at the highest test temperature of 1075 °C.
The tracer method of curriculum analysis: identifying changes in oncology subject matter in medicine

Summary Changes occurring in oncology subject matter in an undergraduate medical curriculum over a 5-year period were documented using the tracer method of curriculum analysis. The tracer method is an empirical approach somewhat analogous to tracing one thread through a tapestry, as a way of following a subject matter interwoven throughout a curriculum. Advantages of the method can be to bring particular material to the attention of teaching staff and students, to facilitate more efficient instruction, and to introduce peer review of educational material.
The effect of latency variables on repeated measures inference applied to the measurement of risk-taking as a function of psychopathy

In numerous psychology studies, subjects are asked to perform some task a number of times, T. The effect of the choice of T on the associated inference, however, is usually not assessed. We investigate the appropriate choice of T empirically by using data collected in a study on the relationship between psychopathy and risk-taking in 90 inner city drug users enrolled in a residential treatment program. We show that, when studying this relationship, the latency variable usually discarded from the analysis behaves exponentially allowing a natural division of the study period 1, . . . , T into two distinct subperiods. These subperiods yield significantly different results—in the early period only (which we call “reactive”), subjects with high psychopathy scores exhibit lower sensitivity to reward and punishment in our risk taking experiment. The later period (which we call “stable”) shows no relationship between sensitivity to reward and punishment and psychopathic tendencies.
Morula decompaction (mdn), a Preimplantation Recessive Lethal Defect in a Transgenic Mouse Line

Abstract The βS12 transgenic line carries an insertion of exogenous DNA and a deletion of approximately 2 cM on chromosome 1. Transgenic heterozygotes (βS12/+) were viable and fertile, but homozygous mice (βS12/βS12) could not be produced. To determine the stage at which developmental arrest occurred in homozygotes, embryos derived from intercrosses among heterozygotes or from control crosses were examined at various stages. No homozygotes could be detected at postimplantation stages, suggesting that the mutation affected embryogenesis before implantation. Recovery of embryos at 1.5 or 3.5 days postcoitum, followed by culture in vitro , revealed an abnormal class of embryos which constituted one-fourth of the progeny from intercrosses, and thus appeared to represent the βS12/βS12 homozygotes. These embryos cleaved normally to the 8-cell stage and formed compacted morulae, but then decompacted without forming a blastocyst, and ceased dividing at approximately the 16-cell stage. Nearly all blastomeres were viable at the time of decompaction, as demonstrated by trypan blue exclusion, indicating that the loss of compaction is not simply a consequence of cell death. When labeled with a short-term lineage marker and aggregated with normal embryos at the early 8-cell stage, homozygous mutant embryos failed to contribute to the resulting blastocysts, indicating that the defect in the maintenance of compaction is cell autonomous. Based on the mutant phenotype, we conclude that this genetic lesion affects a gene (or genes) required for the maintenance of compaction, and propose that it be named morula decompaction ( mdn ). The phenotype of mdn/mdn embryos appears to be distinct from those caused by other previously described preimplantation lethal mutations or chromosomal deletions.
The origin and fate of microbodies in the fat body of an insect.

The structure and life history of insect microbodies are described during the development of the fat body from the 4th to 5th larval molt through the 5th to pupal molt. The mature microbodies are flattened spheres about 1.1 x 0.9 µ, with a depression on one side where a dense mass connects the limiting membrane to the core of coiled tubules. They contain catalase and urate oxidase. The precise synchrony of development of insect cells during the molt/intermolt cycle makes it easy to study the life history of particular organelles. Phases of growth are correlated with the hormonal milieu. Mature 4th stage microbodies decrease in size before ecdysis to the 5th stage when they atrophy at the same time as the new 5th stage generation arises. The 5th stage microbodies form as diverticula of the RER and, grow while confronted by RER cisternae. The mature microbodies decrease in size when the fat body engages in massive larval syntheses. At the end of the 5th larval stage, the microbodies are invested by isolation membranes and destroyed before pupation. There are thus two mechanisms for microbody destruction: atrophy of the 4th stage organelles and isolation with autophagy at the end of the 5th stage.
Keeping the Marines in the Field

A package of took for military managers to implement a program for effective human service activities in the unit was developed and evaluated as a pretest-posttest quasi-experiment with a matched control group. The package was comprised of a set of activities modeled after well-known principles of effective leadership behavior. Several effects of the program on commanders, unit members, and unit absenteeism rates were found, including a 50% reduction in absenteeism. Relevance of the findings to military human service programs, evaluation research, and absentee&m research are discussed.
Physical realisation of n ≥ 4 vector models☆

Abstract We have performed renormalisation group analysis of several n ≥ 4 systems. The first-order transitions in Cr, Eu, UO2, MnO and TbP can be explained by noting that the Hamiltonians have no stable fixed-points in 4-ϵ dimensions. The phase transitions in TbAu2, DyC2, Tb, Ho, Dy, TbD2, Nd, MnS2 and K2IrCl6 are described by n ≥ 4 Hamiltonians with a stable fixed point, and we have calculated critical exponents corresponding to this fixed point.
Historical changes in channel network extent and channel planform in an intensively managed landscape: Natural versus human-induced effects

Abstract Humans have become major geomorphological agents, effecting substantial change in the characteristics of Earth's physical landscapes. The agricultural Midwest of the United States is a region marked by pronounced human influence at the landscape scale. Humans undoubtedly have strongly influenced critical zone processes, including fluvial processes, in intensively managed agricultural landscapes, yet the exact nature of human alteration of these processes is unknown. This study documents historical changes in the extent of the stream channel network and in channel planform within the upper Sangamon River basin — an intensively managed agricultural watershed in Illinois. Results indicate that the modern channel network is nearly three times more extensive than the channel network in the 1820s. Most change in drainage density has occurred in headwater portions of the basin where numerous drainage ditches have been added to the network to drain flat uplands. No detectable change in channel position is evident between 1940 and 2012 along about 60% of the total length of the Sangamon River and its major tributaries. Nearly 30% of the total length exhibits change related to meander dynamics (cutoffs and lateral migration), whereas about 8% has changed as a result of channelization. Channelized sections typically remain straight for decades following human modification, supporting the notion that humans produce long-lasting catastrophic change in channel planform in this region. The findings confirm that humans are effective agents of morphological change in fluvial systems in this intensively managed watershed. Documenting human-induced versus natural changes in fluvial systems is important for evaluating how other critical zone processes in intensively managed landscapes have been affected by these changes. Human-induced changes in channel extent and planform most likely have altered this landscape from one dominated by biogeochemical transformations and storage of water and sediment prior to agricultural development into one now characterized by enhanced fluxes of water, sediment, and nutrients.
Edge Effects in Composites by Moire Interferometry

The very high sensitivity of moire interferometry has permitted the present edge effect experiments to be conducted at a low average stress and strain level, assuring linear and elastic behavior in the composite material samples tested. Sensitivity corresponding to 2450 line/mm moire was achieved with a 0.408 micron/fringe. Simultaneous observations of the specimen face and edge displacement fields showed good fringe definition despite the 1-mm thickness of the specimens and the high gradients, and it is noted that the use of a carrier pattern and optical filtering was effective in even these conditions. Edge effects and dramatic displacement gradients were confirmed in angle-ply composite laminates.
Gas phase reactions near the solid-gas interface of a deflagrating double-base propellant strand

quencies," Combustion and Flame, Vol. 10, No. 4, Dec. 1966, pp. 367-380. 8 Oberg, C. O., "Combustion Instability: The Relationship Between Acoustic and Nonacoustic Instability," AIAA Journal, Vol. 6, No. 2, Feb. 1968, pp. 265-271. 9 Culick, F. E. C., "Some Non-Acoustic Instabilities in Rocket Chambers Are Acoustic," AIAA Journal, Vol. 6, No. 7, July 1968, pp. 1421-1423. 10 Culick, F. E. C., "Acoustic Oscillations in Solid Propellant Rocket Chambers," Astronautica Ada, Vol. 12, No. 2, 1966, pp. 113-126. 11 "T-Burner Manual," CPIA Publ. 191, Nov. 1969, Interagency Chemical Rocket Propulsion Group, Chemical Propulsion Information Agency, Silver Spring, Md. 12 "Experimental Studies on the Oscillatory Combustion of Solid Propellants," NWC TP 4393, March 1969, Aerothermochemistry Division, Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, Calif. 13 Horton, M. D., "Testing the Dynamic Stability of Solid Propellants; Techniques and Data," ttOTS TP 3610, Aug. 1964, U. S. Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, Calif; also Horton, M. D. and Price, E. W., "Dynamic Characteristics of Solid Propellant Combustion," Ninth Symposium (International) on Combustion, Academic Press, New York, 1963, pp. 303310. 14 Beckstead, M. W., "Low Frequency Instability: A Comparison of Theory and Experiment," Combustion and Flame, Vol. 12, No. 1, Oct. 1968, pp. 417-426. 15 Fowling, J. and Smith, W. A. W., "The Surface Temperatures of Ammonium Perchlorate Burning at Elevated Pressures," Tenth Symposium (International) on Combustion, The Combustion Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1965, pp. 1373-1380. 16 Culick, F. E. C., "Calculation of the Admittance Function for a Burning Surface," Astronautica Ada, Vol. 13, No. 3, MayJune 1967, pp. 221-238. 17 Beckstead, M. W. and Boggs, T. L., "The Effect of Oxidizer Particle Size on Nonacoustic Instability," 4th Combustion Conference, Interagency Chemical Rocket Propulsion Group, Chemical Propulsion Information Agency, CPIA Publ. No. 162, Vol. 1, Silver Spring, Md., Dec. 1967, pp. 337-346. 18 Culick, F. E. C., "Some Problems in the Unsteady Burning of Solid Propellants," NWC TP 4668, Feb. 1969, Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, Calif.
Subsurface damage in some single crystalline optical materials

We present a nondestructive method for estimating the depth of subsurface damage (SSD) in some single crystalline optical materials (silicon, lithium niobate, calcium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and sapphire); the method is established by correlating surface microroughness measurements, specifically, the peak-to-valley (p–v) microroughness, to the depth of SSD found by a novel destructive method. Previous methods for directly determining the depth of SSD may be insufficient when applied to single crystals that are very soft or very hard. Our novel destructive technique uses magnetorheological finishing to polish spots onto a ground surface. We find that p–v surface microroughness, appropriately scaled, gives an upper bound to SSD. Our data suggest that SSD in the single crystalline optical materials included in our study (deterministically microground, lapped, and sawed) is always less than 1.4 times the p–v surface microroughness found by white-light interferometry. We also discuss another way of estimating SSD based on the abrasive size used.
Treatment of calcium nephrolithiasis in the patient with hyperuricosuria

Nearly one-third of patients with calcium stones have hyperuricosuria. In vitro studies and clinical trials have investigated the relationship between uric acid and calcium stones, but the association between hyperuricosuria and calcium stone formation in patients is still being debated. Uric acid appears to cause salting out of calcium oxalate in human urine. However, the importance of this in vitro phenomenon to the proposed association is not supported in cross-sectional observational studies. A small placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial showed that allopurinol decreased the rate of recurrent calcium oxalate calculi in patients with hyperuricosuria and normocalciuria. An assessment of the effect of combination therapy of allopurinol with indapamide showed no additive effect. Allopurinol may have antioxidant effects that are responsible for its reducing calcium stone formation, which are independent of xanthine oxidase inhibition. In addition, a newer xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor, febuxostat, may also be effective in the prevention of calcium stones, as it reduces urinary uric acid excretion.
In-situ acoustic emission monitoring during electron microscopy of a model composite system

Three-point-bend testing of a continuous unidirectional glass reinforced unsaturated polyester composite was chosen as a model to study the acoustic emission (AE) response and associated damage events in composite materials. Conventional three-point-bend samples were tested over a wide range of span-to-depth ratios, with failure modes established by post-failure scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. In addition, in-situ AE monitoring with simultaneous SEM recording was undertaken during three-point-bend testing inside an SEM vacuum chamber. These two test methods, using different equipment and sample geometry, were found to yield similar mechanical and AE results. The in-situ tests enabled the development of the various stages of damage to be observed while the AE response was simultaneously monitored. This enabled the AE signals to be unambiguously assigned to specific damage accumulation mechanisms. It was concluded that the AE amplitude distribution can be divided into three main ranges in this system: 60 to 65 dB, 75 to 85 dB, and larger than 90 dB corresponding to matrix damage, fiber-matrix debonding, and fiber breakage, respectively. It has been demonstrated that the coupling of AE monitoring with SEM recording of a composite system undergoing mechanical loading is a very powerful technique in the study of damage accumulation in advanced composite materials.
Affective, physiological, and attitudinal consequences of audience presence

Numerous social facilitation studies have shown that the presence of an audience increases the emission of dominant responses in a variety of learning-performance situations. Extending these notions to attitude change, the effects of audience observation should result in enhanced persuasion whenever acceptance tendencies following a persuasive message are dominant. A persuasive communication which had previously been shown to produce large acceptance responses was presented to male and female subjects who were either alone or in the presence of an audience. Contrary to social facilitation expectations, subjects indicated more acceptance of the communication when they were alone. Results of self report affect measures showed that subjects felt significantly more anxious and hostile when they were being observed. Autonomic measures (heart rate and skin conductance) tended to be unrelated to the audience manipulation, subjects’ feeling states, and their attitudinal responses. Apparently, subjects’ attitudinal responses were mediated more by competing feelings and cognitions, noncompliance tendencies, and response moderation than mechanisms of drive or arousal.
Triplet excition emissions of octafluoronaphthalene crystalline complexes with naphthalene and durene

Abstract The phosphorescence spectra of naphthalene-octafluoronaphthalene and durene-octafluoronaphthalene at 4.2 K reveal a localized exciton emission from octafluoronaphthalene, a weak intercomponent triplet-states quasi-resonance and a weak exciton-phonon coupling.
Virtual Experiments or Worked Examples? How to Learn the Control of Variable Strategy

This research investigates the role of virtual experiments and worked examples in the learning of the control of variable strategy (CVS). Sixty-nine seventh-grade students participated in this study over a span of 6 weeks and were engaged in worked example learning and/or virtual experimentation to study the knowledge and procedures associated with CVS. The results show that learning from only worked examples or virtual experiments yields minimal knowledge gain on CVS. While worked examples can be effective learning tools, additional instructional support and hands-on experiences are critical to elicit deeper understanding of CVS. Moreover, virtual experimentation alone is not sufficient given the cognitive demands it requires for students to discover CVS on their own. However, when integrated with worked example learning, conducting virtual experiments with computer visualizations can lead to positive learning outcomes. This work corresponds to the growing research on productive failure, and opens up further discussions on optimal strategies for learning CVS.
Basilar membrane mechanics in the hook region of cat and guinea-pig cochleae: sharp tuning and nonlinearity in the absence of baseline position shifts.

A heterodyne laser interferometer was used to observe the movements of small (approximately 20 microns) stainless-steel beads placed on the basilar membrane in the hook region of cat and guinea-pig cochleae. In several preparations, the displacement patterns observed exhibited sharp nonlinear tuning; in one cat this tuning was comparable to that commonly observed in single auditory-nerve fibers. The most sensitive frequencies of the preparations ranged from 31-40 kHz in the cat, and 28-32 kHz in the guinea-pig. The sharp tuning and nonlinearity of the basilar membrane responses was not apparent in surgically or acoustically traumatized preparations. The response nonlinearities were susceptible to temporary threshold shifts and disappeared within a few minutes post-mortem. Stimulus-related shifts in the baseline position of the basilar membrane were not apparent at low stimulus levels. Such shifts were occasionally observed at higher stimulus levels (e.g., > 90 dB SPL), but never approached the fundamental (oscillatory) component of basilar membrane vibration in magnitude. These findings are discussed in relation to previous observations by other workers.