cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Finding survivable routes in multi-domain optical networks with geographically correlated failures

This work presents the problem of survivable path pair routing in multi-domain optical networks with geographically correlated failures. The objective is to minimize the risk of simultaneous failure of both the primary and backup paths. We develop a probabilistic model to calculate the simultaneous failure probability of both the paths under circular geographic failures with uniform and non-uniform distributions of epicenter location. We develop topology aggregation techniques and an interdomain minimum overlapping area routing algorithm based on the aggregated information from each domain. Our algorithm is compared to Suurballe’s Algorithm (SUR) and an approach with full information shared amongst domains, and we show that our heuristic approach is effective in reducing the total probability of simultaneous failure.
Maternal nicotine dependence is associated with longitudinal increases in child obesogenic eating behaviors.

BACKGROUND Meta-analysis shows that parental cigarette smoking is associated with child obesity. OBJECTIVES This study tested for associations between severity of maternal nicotine dependence and longitudinal changes in child eating behavior in archival data analysis. METHODS Maternal nicotine dependence was assessed with the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence. Child eating behavior was assessed with the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire when children were ages 4, 6, 8, and 10. RESULTS Over and above the influence of child age, child biological sex, and family income-to-needs ratio, more severe maternal nicotine dependence was associated with greater increases in child Food Responsiveness (γ = 0.07, SEγ = 0.03, P = .014, 95% CI [0.01, 0.13]) and Emotional Overeating (γ = 0.06, SEγ = 0.03, P = .024, 95% CI [0.01, 0.11]) across 6 years. CONCLUSIONS Maternal nicotine dependence may be a transdiagnostic risk factor that identifies children at risk for reward-driven, obesogenic eating behavior.
Processing-In-Memory Acceleration of Convolutional Neural Networks for Energy-Effciency, and Power-Intermittency Resilience

Herein, a bit-wise Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) in-memory accelerator is implemented using Spin-Orbit Torque Magnetic Random Access Memory (SOT-MRAM) computational sub-arrays. It utilizes a novel AND-Accumulation method capable of significantly-reduced energy consumption within convolutional layers and performs various low bitwidth CNN inference operations entirely within MRAM. Power-intermittence resiliency is also enhanced by retaining the partial state information needed to maintain computational forward-progress, which is advantageous for battery-less IoT nodes. Simulation results indicate $\sim \pmb{5.4}\times\mathbf{ higher}$ energy-efficiency and $9\times\mathbf{speedup}$ over ReRAM-based acceleration, or roughly $\sim \pmb{9.7}\times \mathbf{higher}$ energy-efficiency and $\pmb{13.5}\times\mathbf{speedup}$ over recent CMOS-only approaches, while maintaining inference accuracy comparable to baseline designs.
Item response theory evaluation of the Light and Spectroscopy Concept Inventory national data set

Item response theory evaluation of light and spectroscopy concept inventory national data set yields methodological and instructional insights.
Civilizing Disability Society: The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Socializing Grassroots Disabled Persons' Organizations in Nicaragua

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is increasingly used to civilize grassroots disabled persons' organizations (DPOs) around the world. The international disability rights movement actively promotes the CRPD's key norm that disabled persons mobilize in support of their rights under the Convention. The unintended consequence of these activities, however, is that local groups focused on social support and service provision, rather than disability-rights advocacy, are targeted for change. While the resources provided by international actors to grassroots organizations provide new opportunities, they also create barriers to local groups' ability to promote full civic participation of their members in the local community. Through a detailed account of grassroots DPOs in Nicaragua, Civilizing Disability Society demonstrates how local organizations navigate pressures from abroad as they attempt to concretely address the health, education and economic needs of their members at home.
Pathogenicity of Endocrine Dysregulation in Autism: The Role of the Melanin-Concentrating Hormone System

The voluminous daily output of autism research has become increasingly disconnected, existing largely within highly specific subspecialty areas, and lacking cross-disciplinary linkages of context, theory, and findings to inform a unified body of knowledge. Robust syntheses of published research across the fields of psychiatry, cellular and molecular biology, neurology, endocrinology, immunology, behavioral and social sciences, and pedagogy may help clarify and extend current knowledge by guiding more efficient future research efforts investigating underlying causes, developmental divergences, novel treatments, and specific, sensitive biological markers in autism. This synthesis of interdisciplinary research indicates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) stress axis may be at the center of an interaction among sex steroids, immune function, signaling protein transcriptions, neurogenesis, and dysregulation of brain structures sending or receiving projections from the HPA stress axis. These interactions manifest observably as a range of sexually dimorphic behaviors and functional limitations often falling within the current diagnostic features of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The pathogenicity of endocrine dysregulation may serve as a valuable model for developing a cohesive theory of ASD by explaining how the HPA and connected brain areas respond to extreme conditions of dysregulated endocrine signaling to cause symptoms associated with autism.
Factors influencing the reinforcing and subjective effects of d-amphetamine in humans.

There has been little study of the abuse liability of ephedrine, a naturally occurring drug used in medicine for thousands of years and currently sold as a “legal” stimulant. The present study measured the reinforcing and subjective effects of ephedrine in a group of 27 adults (18 females and 9 males) with no history of drug dependence. A discrete-trial choice procedure was used to assess the reinforcing effects of a single oral dose of ephedrine selected to produce a moderate subjective response in each subject (range: 37.5-75 mg). A number of variables (gender, current and past drug use, personality, and baseline mood and arousal) were examined in an attempt to identify sources of variability in response to ephedrine. Of the 27 subjects, 5 chose ephedrine on either 2 or 3 out of a possible 3 occasions; overall, ephedrine was chosen on 17% of occasions. In the group as a whole, ephedrine had no effect on ratings of drug liking, but did increase ratings of “high” and scores on the MBG (“euphoria”) scale of the Addiction Research Center Inventory. Ephedrine also increased scores on a number of mood scales reflecting CNS stimulation and anxiety. Ephedrine choice was positively associated with current use of marijuana and lower levels of baseline anxiety and hunger, as well as with lower scores on two scales measuring dimensions of the personality trait of harm avoidance. Males and females differed in their response to ephedrine — males chose ephedrine more frequently than females and showed a more positive mood response to the drug. When compared to the results of a prior study of the same design withd-amphetamine, these results demonstrate that ephedrine produces a different profile of subjective effects and is a less efficacious reinforcer than amphetamine, suggesting that ephedrine has a lower liability for abuse.
Employment impact on hospitality and tourism students' academic journey: the HBCU students' perspective.

Concurrent paid employment and full-time undergraduate studies is inevitable for many hospitality and tourism students. The purpose of this exploratory study was to understand how Historically Blac...
Psychotherapy research is needed to improve clinical practice for clients with HIV

This introductory article to the special issue on psychotherapy and HIV provides an overview of the state of HIV intervention research, recommendations for future psychotherapy practice, and an emphasis on how psychotherapy researchers focusing on HIV should move away from the typical public health model. We provide information about how historical bias impacts HIV clinical decision-making now. In addition, we include an analysis of how public health definitions of intervention research have limited psychotherapy research-specifically the importance of common factors and process-oriented components in psychotherapy. In this introductory article, we highlight the 13 articles that comprise the 5 following sections included in the special issue: (a) General Guidelines for Psychotherapy Practice for People With HIV, (b) HIV Stigma in Psychotherapy Process and Techniques, (c) Sexual Functioning and Romantic Relationships for People with HIV, (d) A Focus on Specific Disorders (Chronic Pain and Trauma) Comorbid With HIV, and (e) A Focus on Specific Populations (Adolescents and South African Populations). We conclude by offering recommendations to researchers to focus on the sociocultural context for clients with HIV and for psychotherapists to use an intersectional approach in their work with clients with HIV. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Erratum to “On the Model Validation of Active Implantable Medical Device for MRI Safety Assessment”

In the original article [1] , a declaration of financial interest is missing. The declaration is given as follows:
Hormonal Contraception and Bone Health in Adolescents

Hormonal contraception is prescribed commonly to adolescents for myriad indications from pregnancy prevention to treatment for acne, hirsutism or dysmenorrhea. Although use of these hormones generally has no effect or benefits bone health in mature premenopausal women, the same may not be true for adolescents. The teen years are a critical period for acquiring peak bone strength. Sex hormones, growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) interact to modulate the changes in bone size, geometry, mineral content, and microarchitecture that determine skeletal strength. Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and intramuscular depo medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) can compromise the expected gains in adolescence by altering estrogen and IGF concentrations. Use of these medications has been associated with slower accrual of bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk in some studies. Far less is known about the skeletal effects of the newer long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). This review takes a critical look at the gaps in current knowledge of the skeletal effects of COCs, DMPA, and LARCs and underscores the need for additional research.
Tenofovir alafenamide and rifabutin co-administration does not lead to loss of HIV-1 suppression: A retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is a preferred nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in the treatment of HIV. Co-administration of TAF with rifabutin (RFB) is not recommended due to concerns that RFB decreases TAF gastrointestinal absorption. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy regimens that include the co-administration of TAF and RFB. METHODS Persons with HIV (PWH) who received TAF-RFB co-administration for ≥1 month were identified retrospectively. The primary outcome was the maintenance of HIV viral load <200 copies/mL (cpm) for those already on HIV therapy at RFB initiation, or suppression of viral load to <200 cpm for those with unsuppressed HIV viral load prior to TAF-RFB co-administration. RESULTS Twenty-two PWH met the inclusion criteria. Four out of five patients (80%) maintained a viral load <200 cpm and 15/17 (88%) achieved a viral load <200 cpm during TAF-RFB co-administration. After the exclusion of patients who self-discontinued therapy or were lost to follow-up, 19/19 (100%) met the combined primary endpoint of HIV viral load <200 cpm. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that TAF-RFB co-administration may be effective despite concerns that RFB could reduce TAF absorption.
Deep Brain Stimulation as a Treatment for Obesity

Bariatric surgery is widely recognized as the most effective long-term treatment for severe obesity, though it does have limitations with some patients experiencing significant weight regain. Due to the neuroendocrinological effects that impact weight loss and weight, neuromodulation may have a role in the treatment of obesity, particularly in those who have failed bariatric surgery. The lateral hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens are associated with the neural circuitry of obesity and are proposed targets for deep brain stimulation (DBS). DBS administers reversible electrical stimulation to specific portions of the brain, making those areas of the brain inactive without ablating them (or destroying them). The scope of obesity impacting the population is large and is having a global impact. Although deep brain stimulation may not be suitable for all patients, there are likely subsets of patients who would greatly benefit from such therapy. Further trials of the use of deep brain stimulation at the lateral hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens targets to treat obesity are needed.
Withdrawn Spin-Offs: An Empirical Analysis

We examine market reaction to corporate spin-offs that are eventually withdrawn. These spin-offs do not experience the significant positive share price response reported for spin-offs generally. The overall market reaction to both the initial spin-off announcement and the withdrawal announcement is not significant. When a reason is provided for withdrawing a spin-off, there is a significant positive market reaction, otherwise, there is a significant negative reaction. Firms that withdraw a spin-off without stating a reason experience significant deterioration in industry-adjusted operating performance in the three years following the withdrawal. These results indicate the market is able to anticipate the viability of withdrawn spin-offs at the time of the initial announcement.
Malonate utilization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa affects quorum-sensing and virulence and leads to formation of mineralized biofilm-like structures.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that uses malonate among its many carbon sources. We recently reported that, when grown in blood from trauma patients, P. aeruginosa expression of malonate utilization genes was upregulated. In this study, we explored the role of malonate utilization and its contribution to P. aeruginosa virulence. We grew P. aeruginosa strain PA14 in M9 minimal medium containing malonate (MM9) or glycerol (GM9) as a sole carbon source and assessed the effect of the growth on quorum sensing, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance. Growth of PA14 in MM9, compared to GM9, reduced the production of elastases, rhamnolipids, and pyoverdine; enhanced the production of pyocyanin and catalase; and increased its sensitivity to norfloxacin. Growth in MM9 decreased extracellular levels of N-acylhomoserine lactone autoinducers, an effect likely associated with increased pH of the culture medium; but had little effect on extracellular levels of PQS. At 18 hr of growth in MM9, PA14 formed biofilm-like structures or aggregates that were associated with biomineralization, which was related to increased pH of the culture medium. These results suggest that malonate significantly impacts P. aeruginosa pathogenesis by influencing the quorum sensing systems, the production of virulence factors, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance.
Effects of the white blood cell count on labeling efficiency using indium-111

2412 Objectives The objective of this study was to determine whether or not the white blood cell (WBC) count of the patient affects the labeling efficiency of the white blood cells with indium-111 for imaging. Before the matter was researched, it was thought that increased number of white blood cells would lead to a higher WBC label efficiency. Methods Random patient data were collected from the past two years consisting of a total of 100 patients. The patient’s medical record, current WBC count at the time of the labeling, and the labeling efficiency of the study were all recorded and graphed. A scatter plot was used to correlate a relationship between the patient’s WBC count and the corresponding labeling efficiency of the study. Results Graphing the patient’s WBC count against the labeling efficiency highlighted the relationship between the WBC count and the labeling efficiency. There is a consistent plateau showing that WBC counts ranging between 2,700 cells per microliter to 57,500 cells per microliter all generate adequate WBC label efficiency percents ranging from 70% to 97%. Even though normal WBC counts are between 4,500 cells per microliter and 10,000 cells per microliter, efficient labeling can occur outside the norm. Point A (96.3, 57.5) shows that even with a relatively increased WBC count, the percent is the same as if the patient had a WBC count of only 2,700 cells per microliter (Point A1: 96, 2.7). Comparing Point B (70, 4.8) with Point B1(90,3) shows that even with a normal WBC count, the labeling percent can be lower than a WBC count lower than the norm. Conclusions Graphing the patient’s WBC count against the labeling efficiency highlighted that there is not a definite relationship between the WBC count and the labeling efficiency. From relatively high to rather low WBC counts, the adequacy of the labeling percentage did not seem to be affected. Research Support Dugdale, David. "WBC count." MedicinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 15 Dec. 2010. Web. 26 Jan. 2011.
Extension of the focusable mass range in distance‐of‐flight mass spectrometry with multiple detectors

RATIONALE Distance-of-flight mass spectrometry (DOFMS) is a velocity-based mass separation technique in which ions are spread across a spatially selective detector according to m/z. In this work, we investigate the practical mass range available for DOFMS with a finite-length detector. METHODS A glow-discharge DOFMS instrument has been constructed for the analysis of atomic ions. This instrument was modified to accommodate two spatially selective ion detectors, arranged co-linearly, along the mass-separation axis of the analyzer. With this geometry, each detector covers a different portion of the distance-of-flight spectrum and ions are detected simultaneously at the two detectors. The total flight distance covered by the two detectors is 106 mm and simulates DOF detection across a broad mass range. RESULTS DOFMS theory predicts that ions of all m/z values are focused at a single flight time, but at m/z-dependent flight distances. Therefore, ions that are detected across a wide portion of the DOF axis should all yield the same peak widths. With a focal-plane camera detector and a micro-channel plate/phosphor-screen detection assembly, we found simultaneous, uniform focus of 40Ar2+ and of 65Cu+ and 63Cu+ with the ions spread 82 mm across the DOF axis. This detection length, combined with the current instrument geometry, allows for a simultaneously detectable m/z value of 4:3 (high mass-to-low mass). CONCLUSIONS These results are the first experimental verification that constant-momentum acceleration (CMA)-DOFMS provides energy focus across an extended detection length. Evidence presented demonstrates that DOFMS is amenable to detection with (at least) a 100-mm detector surface. These results indicate that DOFMS is well suited for detection of broader mass ranges. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Putting non-functional requirements to good use

Non-functional requirements are often ignored or given little importance in the curriculum. This is unfortunate, because there are many interesting and important learning opportunities to be gained from a serious consideration of them. In addition, there is currently no separate document associated with these requirements. This paper introduces the Performance Case to remedy this situation.Performance Cases are closely modeled on Use Cases that are used for documenting functional requirements. Finally, several enrichment exercises using Performance Cases are given.
Diffusing-wave spectroscopy of dynamics in a three-dimensional granular flow.

Diffusing-wave spectroscopy was used to measure the microscopic dynamics of grains in the interior of a three-dimensional flow of sand. The correlation functions show that minutely separated grains fly from collision to collision with large random velocities. On a time scale 10(3) to 10(4) times longer than the average time between collisions, the grains displayed slow, collective rearrangements, which, at the long-time limit, produced diffusive dynamics.
Equilibrium and Nonequilibrium Foundations of Free Energy Computational Methods

Statistical mechanics provides a rigorous framework for the numerical estimation of free energy differences in complex systems such as biomolecules. This paper presents a brief review of the statistical mechanical identities underlying a number of techniques for computing free energy differences. Both equilibrium and nonequilibrium methods are covered.
Type Classes with Functional Dependencies

Type classes in Haskell allow programmers to define functions that can be used on a set of different types, with a potentially different implementation in each case. For example, type classes are used to support equality and numeric types, and for monadic programming. A commonly requested extension to support 'multiple parameters' allows a more general interpretation of classes as relations on types, and has many potentially useful applications. Unfortunately, many of these examples do not work well in practice, leading to ambiguities and inaccuracies in inferred types and delaying the detection of type errors. This paper illustrates the kind of problems that can occur with multiple parameter type classes, and explains how they can be resolved by allowing programmers to specify explicit dependencies between the parameters. A particular novelty of this paper is the application of ideas from the theory of relational databases to the design of type systems.
Outcomes of ovarian stimulation after treatment with chemotherapy.

Purpose Chemotherapeutic agents have a known gonadotoxic effect; however, it is difficult to predict the impact they may have on ovarian stimulation. The objective of this study was to evaluate response to ovarian stimulation in patients exposed to chemotherapy compared with patients who were chemotherapy-naive.
E-OTD positioning algorithm performance improvement

This paper presents a performance study of the E-OTD based positioning algorithm for locating mobile stations in GSM networks, and proposes two enhancements that make the positioning calculation function more robust, more generic and less CPU consuming.
STATE SENATE REAPPORTIONMENT IN THE SOUTHEAST1

ABSTRACT Traditionally the numbers and distribution of state senators in the southeastern states have been determined primarily by counties rather than by population. Generally, rural districts have been overrepresented while urban areas have been underrepresented. Malapportionment has been reduced substantially as a result of federal court actions during the 1960s. At-large districts in some metropolitan areas have prevented the election of Republicans and Negroes at a time when each group is becoming politically more powerful. Rural political power has been partially maintained after reapportionment, especially in multi-county districts, by numbered election posts and minimum county population requirements.
Ovarian development in 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis

In humans the XY ovary is degenerative, there being scant evidence of persistence of that organ beyond the perinatal period. Here we describe indications of functional ovarian tissue in a 17-year-old female with male karyotype, H-Y+ cellular phenotype, and some signs of the Turner syndrome. Her gonads were removed after the onset of secondary amenorrhea. Histological examination revealed a degenerative right ovary devoid of germ cells and follicles, and a left streak gonad. There was no trace of testicular development in either side.
Phase transition in D=3 Yang-Mills Chern-Simons gauge theory.

SU({ital N}) Yang-Mills theory in three dimensions, with a Chern-Simons term of level {ital k} (an integer) added, has two-dimensionful coupling constants {ital g}{sup 2}{ital k} and {ital g}{sup 2}{ital N}; its possible phases depend on the size of {ital k} relative to {ital N}. For {ital k}{gt}{ital N}, this theory approaches topological Chern-Simons theory with no Yang-Mills term, and expectation values of multiple Wilson loops yield Jones polynomials, as Witten has shown; it can be treated semiclassically. For {ital k}=0, the theory is badly infrared singular in perturbation theory, a nonperturbative mass and subsequent quantum solitons are generated, and Wilson loops show an area law. We argue that there is a phase transition between these two behaviors at a critical value of {ital k}, called {ital k}{sub {ital c}}, with {ital k}{sub {ital c}}/{ital N}{approx_equal}2{+-}0.7. Three lines of evidence are given. First, a gauge-invariant one-loop calculation shows that the perturbative theory has tachyonic problems if {ital k}{le}29{ital N}/12. The theory becomes sensible only if there is an additional dynamic source of gauge-boson mass, just as in the {ital k}=0 case. Second, we study in a rough approximation the free energy and show that for {ital k}{le}{ital k}{sub {ital c}}more » there is a nontrivial vacuum condensate driven by soliton entropy and driving a gauge-boson dynamical mass {ital M}, while both the condensate and {ital M} vanish for {ital k}{ge}{ital k}{sub {ital c}}. Third, we study possible quantum solitons stemming from an effective action having both a Chern-Simons mass {ital m} and a (gauge-invariant) dynamical mass {ital M}. We show that if {ital M}{approx_gt}0.5{ital m}, there are finite-action quantum sphalerons, while none survive in the classical limit {ital M}=0, as shown earlier by D`Hoker and Vinet. There are also quantum topological vortices smoothly vanishing as {ital M}{r_arrow}0. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}« less
Development of state-managed publishing in China: Ancient texts, Qing History and current gazetteers

This article examines the development and status of state-managed publishing in China by introducing and analyzing the history and development of the three most important national level directorates, i.e., the National Leading Group for the Planning of Collating and Publishing of Ancient Texts, the National Leading Group for Compiling Qing History, and the National Leading Group for Local Gazetteers. The article explores the history, publishing policies and operations of the three directorates, and the reasons why the state commits significant political, human and financial resources to publishing. It is argued that collaboration and unity between scholars and state, instead of independent scholarship and constructive dialogue, are ultimately pursued in the unprecedented large-scale publishing projects.
THE EXPERIENCE CYCLE AND THE SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE: CONCEPTUALIZATION AND APPLICATION TO SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS

Abstract The sexual response cycle as a heuristic for understanding sexual responding has emerged from sexuality literature. Another cyclic heuristic, the experience cycle, has been developed in Personal Construct Psychology (PCP) literature to conceptualize how persons anticipate, encounter, and then evaluate experiences in terms of validation/invalidation and potential need for construct system change. The present article maps these two cycles onto each other to offer a PCP framework for understanding sexual responding, sexual dysfunctions, and therapy targeting sexual function.
Nonlinear vector-valued diffusions with application to texture segmentation

We present a multiscale region-merging segmentation algorithm based on nonlinear diffusion equations. The algorithm is applicable to vector-valued images such as color images, or feature images obtained by pre-processing a texture image. The algorithm is experimentally shown to provide accurate segmentations for texture images.
Organizational change: The role of climate and job satisfaction in child welfare workers' perception of readiness for change

Abstract Background When organizations embark on deliberate efforts to increase effectiveness through organizational-level changes, those that demonstrate greater readiness for change tend to have better outcomes. In contrast, when the organization is not ready, a change effort may result in resistance, conflict and, eventually, failure. However, studies addressing how agency climate and job satisfaction influence workers' perception of the organization's readiness for change in child welfare or human service organizations are scarce. Methods Data for this study was obtained from a sample of 356 direct care and clinical child welfare workers employed at eight not-for-profit child welfare agencies under contract to provide a variety of services in a large northeastern state. Workers were surveyed on their agency's readiness for change, organizational climate, and job satisfaction. The Spector Job Satisfaction Survey measured nine subscales and Parker Organizational Climate survey measured four primary domains: role, job, supervision, and organizational dimensions. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on nine questions derived from the Organizational Readiness for Change survey that measured workers' perceptions of organizational readiness for change. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to determine climate and satisfaction influences on voluntary child welfare workers' readiness for change. Results The results of SEM confirmed that the exogenous independent indicators of role ambiguity, supervisor goal emphasis, organizational innovation, satisfaction with communication, and the number of years in current position were predictive of workers' perception of readiness for change with significant positive coefficients. Implications This study highlights the importance of certain organizational climate and job satisfaction factors that child welfare workers' identify for the success of agency change efforts. Workers perceive that organizations may have a higher level of readiness to implement successful change initiatives when: (1) workers feel their role is clear, supervisors articulate change goals, and job performance is held to a high standard and is measurable; (2) agency leaders establish organizational communication that is explicate, and they encourage workers to develop ideas and try new ways of doing the job; and (3) the greater the number of years workers are in their current position, the more likely change initiatives are perceived to be successful. Most importantly, this study suggests that not all organizational climate or job satisfaction factors are recognized by workers as supporting change equally.
Revisiting the Dorfman-Steiner Static Advertising Theorem: An Application to the Processed Grapefruit Industry

Dorfman and Steiner's article in the early 1950s set forth the theorem that "a firm which can influence the demand for its product by advertising will, in order to maximize its profits, choose the advertising budget and price such that the increase in gross revenue resulting from a one dollar increase in advertising expenditures is equal to the ordinary elasticity of demand for the firm's product"(p. 826). This theorem has similar implications for an industry when in fact the industry can influence the total level of advertising. In particular, the theorem provides an additional policy tool for many commodity markets where the producers of the commodity support a generic-type advertising program. The simplicity of the Dorfman and Steiner theorem is appealing; however, its empirical counterpart is often difficult to generate due to the complexity of measuring advertising effectiveness. This paper will, however, present an application of the theorem where the simplicity of the DorfmanSteiner demand model is representative of the industry studied. Specifically, an empirical measure of the effectiveness of generic advertising of canned, single-strength grapefruit juice (CSSGJ) is presented (Ward). The model is useful for evaluating alternative advertising levels when the commodity price can and cannot be influenced by aggregate industry pricing strategies. Two policy questions of primary concern to the processed grapefruit industry relate to what the effects of the overall generic advertising program have been and what gains could be realized if better coordination of advertising and pricing were possible. The Dorfman-Steiner theorem is relevant for addressing these questions. A review of the Dorfman-Steiner theorem will be presented in the first section followed by a description of the marketing system for CSSGJ. An application of the theorem and its implication for the grapefruit industry are discussed in the last two sections.
Experimental hematogenic metastases of malignant schwannoma in the rat.

To study development, growth patterns and morphology of metastatic schwannomas in an animal model, adult Lewis rats were injected intravenously with tissue culture cells derived from a malignant schwannoma induced in a female LEW/mai rat by transplacental administration of ethylnitrosourea (LNU). Groups of animals received a single injection of 0.1×105; 0.5×105; 1.0×105; 5.0×105; 10×105 or 100×105 cells via the femoral vein.
An autoradiographic study of the projections of the pretectum in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta): evidence for sensorimotor links to the thalamus and oculomotor nuclei.

Autordiographic tracing methods were used to determine the differential projections of the pretectal nuclei, in the rhesus monkey, in relation to their inputs. The sublentiform (SL) and olivary (ON) nuclei receive projections from the visual cortex, superior colliculus (SC) and equal bilateral projection from the retina. The nucleus of the posterior commissure (NPC) and its subdivisions do not receive any of these inputs. The projections of the pretectum involve a number of structures within the thalamus and brain stem and there are differences in the projection targets of the pretectal region which receives direct visual input (i.e., SL and ON) and the region which does not (i.e., nucleus of the posterior commissure, NPC). For example, while all pretectal regions project within the pretectum and to the SC, accessory oculomotor nuclei, reticular formation, intralaminar nuclei and hypothalamus, it is only the retinorecipient zone which projects to rostral regions such as the visceral oculomotor nuclei, the lateral pulvinar, the border between the lateral pulvinar and medial pulvinar, the oral pulvinar as well as to the thalamic reticular nucleus, ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, zona incerta and other structures. It is concluded that the retina, SC and cortex which influence the visceral oculomotor nuclei can only do so by virtue of their projections to the pretectum, and that any consideration of accommodative and pupillary reflexes must view the pretectum as an obligatory link through which various structures can influence the intrinsic musculature of the eye. In contrast to the SC, the pretectum does not project to any of the visual relay nuclei of the thalamus, such as the inferior pulvinar, which project to the visual cortices. Instead, the pretectum projects directly to visuomotor, visceromotor and arousal systems.
Renormalization of the Heat-Diffusion Central Peak in K H 2 P O 4

Light-Scattering measurements of energy fluctuations coupled to order-parameter fluctuations by an applied electric field are presented. A firm experimental demonstration of the static and dynamic properties of the central-peak equation is obtained. Immediately above the transition both the specific heat and the thermal diffusivity extrapolated to zero field are found to be temperature independent. The specific heat agrees with the lattice value, whereas the diffusivity appears anomalously small.
Effect of nitrogen fertilizers on leaf and soil nitrogen levels in highbush blueberries

Abstract Leaf N and soil nitrate and ammonium levels were monitored in 1986 and 1987 following N fertilization of 8–9 year old highbush blueberries. Urea was applied at 76 kg N/ha in a single application at bud break or in two applications (split) at bud break and petal fall. Controlled release fertilizers (CRF), of two different residual effects (Osmocote 3 mo., Osmocote 8 mo.) were applied at 38 kg N/ha or 76 kg N/ha at bud break. Compared to controls, N applications increased soil ammonium and nitrate levels early in the season and leaf N levels throughout the season. Urea provided a greater increase in leaf N and soil ammonium levels than CRF. Split urea applications increase leaf levels slightly over single urea treatments. Fertilizers increased soil ammonium and nitrate levels below the root zone, indicating that some leaching losses occurred.
Common-path fourier-domain optical coherence tomography in ophthalmology applications

We have demonstrated in vivo three-dimensional imaging and estimated localized and quantitative hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO 2 ) of blood vessel by using a simple, easy to operate common-path Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) system. The common-path OCT system can be easily integrated with various surgical tools and we demonstrated its usefulness by imaging outer and inner intraocular tissues such as cornea and neurosensory retinal layers as well as detecting SO 2 level from a chicken embryo. The system uses 800nm near infrared broadband light sources and has axial resolution as low as 3μm in air. Self-adaptive scanning mechanism with real-time surface recognition and feedback control was also applied to the probe where the scanning probe tracks the sample surface variance and effective imaging depth was largely extended to the probe's free-moving range.
New Horizons for Cholesterol Ester Transfer Protein Inhibitors

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels bear an inverse relationship to cardiovascular risk. To date, however, no intervention specifically targeting HDL has been demonstrated to reduce cardiovascular risk. Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) mediates transfer of cholesterol ester from HDL to apolipoprotein B–containing particles. Most, but not all observational cohort studies indicate that genetic polymorphisms of CETP associated with reduced activity and higher HDL cholesterol levels are also associated with reduced cardiovascular risk. Some, but not all studies indicate that CETP inhibition in rabbits retards atherosclerosis, whereas transgenic CETP expression in mice promotes atherosclerosis. Torcetrapib, the first CETP inhibitor to reach phase III clinical development, was abandoned due to excess mortality associated with increases in aldosterone and blood pressure. Two other CETP inhibitors have entered phase III clinical development. Anacetrapib is a potent inhibitor of CETP that produces very large increases in HDL cholesterol and large reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, beyond those achieved with statins. Dalcetrapib is a less potent CETP inhibitor that produces smaller increases in HDL cholesterol with minimal effect on LDL cholesterol. Both agents appear to allow efflux of cholesterol from macrophages to HDL in vitro, and neither agent affects blood pressure or aldosterone in vivo. Two large cardiovascular outcomes trials, one with anacetrapib and one with dalcetrapib, should provide a conclusive test of the hypothesis that inhibition of CETP decreases cardiovascular risk.
Development and evaluation of a thermosensitive vaginal gel containing raltegravir + efavirenz loaded nanoparticles for HIV prophylaxis

The objective of this investigation was to develop a thermosensitive vaginal gel containing raltegravir+efavirenz loaded PLGA nanoparticles (RAL+EFV-NPs) for pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV. RAL+EFV-NPs were fabricated using a modified emulsion-solvent evaporation method and characterized for size and zeta potential. The average size and surface charge of RAL+EFV-NP were 81.8±6.4 nm and -23.18±7.18 mV respectively. The average encapsulation efficiency of raltegravir and efavirenz was 55.5% and 98.2% respectively. Thermosensitive vaginal gel containing RAL+EFV-NPs was successfully prepared using a combination of Pluronic F127 (20% w/v) and Pluronic F68 (1% w/v). Incorporation RAL+EFV-NPs in the gel did not result in nanoparticle aggregation and RAL+EFV-NPs containing gel showed thermogelation at 32.5°C. The RAL+EFV-NPs were evaluated for inhibition of HIV-1(NL4-3) using TZM-bl indicator cells. The EC(90) of RAL+EFV-NPs was lower than raltegravir+efavirenz (RAL+EFV) solution but did not reach significance. Compared to control HeLa cells without any treatment, RAL+EFV-NPs or blank gel were not cytotoxic for 14 days in vitro. The intracellular levels of efavirenz in RAL+EFV-NPs treated HeLa cells were above the EC(90) for 14 days whereas raltegravir intracellular concentrations were eliminated within 6 days. Transwell experiments of NPs-in-gel demonstrated rapid transfer of fluorescent nanoparticles from the gel and uptake in HeLa cells within 30 min. These data demonstrate the potential of antiretroviral NP-embedded vagina gels for long-term vaginal pre-exposure prophylaxis of heterosexual HIV-1 transmission.
The use of morse—RKR curves in diatomic calculations

Abstract The potential curves for diatomic states which have known vibrational constrants but unknown rotational constants can be approximated well by a combination Morse—RKR curve. The approximation is tested on 25 well-known potentials.
Investigations of angiosperms from the Eocene of southeastern North America: samaras of Fraxinus wilcoxiana Berry

Abstract Fruits of Fraxinus L. from Eucene sediments of North America constitute the oldest unequivocal macrofossil evidence of the genus, of the subfamily Oleoideae, and of the family Oleaceae. We briefly review North American Paleogene records of Fraxinus , and report the results of a study of 30 samaras of Fraxinus wilcoxiana Berry (including the holotype) from two localities in the Middle Eocene Claiborne Formation of western Tennessee, USA. The diagnosis and description of this species are emended to include new information on its persistent calyx, fruit and seed cuticles, and variation in samara dimensions and morphology. The fossil samaras lack characters used in the systematic grouping of infrageneric taxa, and therefore cannot be assigned to a modern section or subsection of the genus. However, samara cuticle bears striae and two distinct classes of peltate trichomes useful in confirming the oleaceous affinities of the fossils. Fraxinus wilcoxiana samaras are essentially modern in terms of their morphology, seed size, single basal pendulous seed, and cuticle ornamentation. The presence of Fraxinus in Paleogene sediments attests to an early divergence of the subfamilies Oleoideae (basal chromosome number 23) and Jasminoideae (basal chromosome number 11, 12 or 14). Fraxinus wilcoxiana samaras also demonstrate that anemochory (wind dispersal of disseminules) is an ancient dispersal strategy among Oleaceae.
Anti-uterotrophic response of immature mice to 3-methylcholanthrene.

As well as its ability to induce cancer in various tissues, the polycyclic hydrocarbon 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) is capable of affecting the activity of certain endocrine glands1–3 and altering the metabolism of several hormones4–7. Indirect evidence from several sources6,8–12 indicates that, in various experimental conditions, MCA may be capable of inhibiting, potentiating or mimicking the activity of certain steroid hormones. We have conducted preliminary experiments aimed at testing more rigorously the alleged steroidal activity of MCA. In the experiment reported here, MCA was tested for oestrogenic (uterotrophic) activity in a four point assay using oestrone as the reference standard.
On computing the Weierstrass points of a plane algebraic curve

Weierstrass points are an important geometric feature and birational invariant of an algebraic curve. A place P on a curve of genus g is a Weierstrass point if the corresponding point on the canonical embedding of the curve is an inflection point where the tangent plane is tangent to order at least g. This condition is equivalent to there being a holomorphic differential with a g-fold zero at P.Knowing the Weierstrass points of a curve gives you information about its automorphisms, since an automorphism must carry a Weierstrass point to a Weierstrass point of the same type. Also there is ongoing research into determining the gonality of a curve by studying its Weierstrass points.In this poster, we present an algorithm to compute the Weierstrass points of a curve and show technical improvements over the classical method. We partially estimate the complexity of this algorithm at O(g9d2) operations for certain key steps.The algorithm follows a classical construction that determines Weierstrass points by the vanishing of the Wronskian determinant. Our improvements relate to two aspects:1. avoiding the direct computation of the full Wronskian determinant as a rational function in favor of an interpolation strategy where we evaluate the determinant at closed points, and2. computing a partial resultant of the Wronskian numerator polynomial with the curve equation to obtain the factors corresponding to Weierstrass points, thus avoiding the contribution of singularities.A manuscript describing this work in detail can be found at the website listed above.
Metal-binding properties of a single-sited transferrin fragment.

Abstract A single-sited iron-binding fragment of transferrin, prepared by proteolytic cleavage with thermolysin, has been characterized. The fragment, bearing no carbohydrate, must be derived from the N-terminal half of the protein's two homologous domains. The strength of iron-binding at pH 6.7 and 7.4, and the EPR spectroscopic features of its iron and copper complexes, establish it as carying the ‘b’ site of transferrin.
The Economics of Rumours

This paper studies a class of information transmission processes which we call rumours. The distinctive features of these processes are that the information transmission takes place in such a way that the recipient does not quite know whether or not to believe the information, and that the probability that someone receives the information depends on how many people already have it. Specifically, we study an example in which there is an investment project with returns only known to a few people. These people have a cost of undertaking the project and this cost is private information. The only information the other agents receive is that someone else has invested. They are not told whether that person actually knew the returns, or whether he too was just acting on the basis of his observation of others. They use their optimal Bayesian decision rule to decide whether to invest. We show that, for a wide class of alternative specifications, this decision rule has the property that a positive fraction of those who observe the rumour will not invest. In this sense a rumour cannot mislead everybody. Counter-intuitive comparative statics results are obtained. For example, more information and higher productivity may reduce welfare, while changing the speed with which the rumour spreads has no welfare effect.
A Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Route to Alkaline Anion Exchange Membranes: Development of Hydroxide-Conducting Thin Films from an Ammonium-Functionalized Monomer

We report the development of a facile ring-opening olefin metathesis route to alkaline anion exchange membranes via the copolymerization of a tetraalkylammonium-functionalized norbornene with dicyclopentadiene. The thin films generated are mechanically strong and exhibit high hydroxide conductivities and exceptional methanol tolerance.