cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal-induced irreversible straining of ultrathin boron nitride nanosheets

We investigate the thermal-induced mechanical deformations in mono- and few-layer hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) on flat silicon dioxide substrates by using atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy techniques. The measurements reveal that the deformation of thin BNNS follows the reversible expansion/contraction of the substrate at relatively low temperatures. Irreversible deformations in BNNS are observed at elevated temperatures, which are attributed to interfacial sliding on the BNNS-substrate interface that is caused by the temperature-dependent thermal expansion mismatch of BN and substrate materials. Monolayer BNNS is found to possess the highest onset temperature of irreversible straining, which decreases with an increase in the BNNS thickness. The interfacial load transfer characteristics of the BNNS-substrate interface are quantitatively investigated using a micromechanics model. The analysis reveals that monolayer BNNS possesses a maximum interfacial shear strength of about 28.38 MPa on its binding interface with substrates at about 525 °C. The findings are useful to better understand the fundamental structural and mechanical properties of BNNS and in pursuit of its applications, in particular, those involved with high temperature processing and/or working environments.
Behavioral Approaches to Language Training for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Behavior analysis is among the most sought-after early-intervention programs for children with developmental disabilities, with language training being a common primary objective. Many early-intervention programs subscribe to a traditional conceptualization of language skills and focus on developing a robust vocabulary. Conversely, Skinner's (Verbal behavior. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1957) conceptualization of language emphasized the function of an individual’s language use rather than the topography. To assist in understanding Skinner’s conceptualization, this chapter is designed to introduce readers to four elementary verbal operants (i.e., mands, tacts, echoics, and intraverbals). In doing so, we provide a definition for each operant, outline the importance of and specific environmental variables responsible for each, provide some basic guidelines for teaching, and discuss their implications for practitioners.
Difference equations as models of evolutionary population dynamics

ABSTRACTWe describe the evolutionary game theoretic methodology for extending a difference equation population dynamic model in a way so as to account for the Darwinian evolution of model coefficie...
Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Carbanucleosides

A general strategy has been developed for enantioselective synthesis of diverse carbanucleosides. The key step is a Pd(0)-catalyzed enantioselective allylic amination of cis-3,5-dibenzoyloxycyclopent-2-ene 10a with the nucleobase. With guanine-derived nucleobase 13 and chiral ligand 9, a 93−96% ee was obtained, while 6-chloropurine and chiral ligand 8 gave 94% ee. The reaction was followed by a second Pd(0)-catalyzed allylic alkylation with phenylsulfonyl(nitro)methane 6. The nitrosulfone, thus obtained, served as a versatile intermediate for divergent synthesis in which the phenylsulfonyl(nitro)methyl group is a surrogate for the hydroxymethyl side chain. With the guanine-derived nucleobase 13, (−)-carbovir was obtained in only four steps from 10a. With 6-chloropurine as an adenine equivalent, the obtained nitrosulfone intermediate 26 could be converted into both (−)-aristeromycin and (−)-neplanocin A as well as their 2‘,3‘-diepi isomers.
Role of Interest Groups in Technology Policy:A Case Study of Policies on Agricultural Biotechnology in India

Objectives: We identify various interest groups involved in the GM policy debate surrounding Bt brinjal in India,examine their interactions and interconnectedness, and quantify their role in the debate. Methods/Statistical analysis: We use content analysis to review media coverage of the Bt brinjal debate in India and abroad, followed by a modified social network analysis (SNA) to identify the interconnectedness between these interest groups (actors) and quantify their role in the policy debate. Findings: Although past literature provided comprehensive accounts of the events surrounding the biotech policy formation process in India, they lacked any complementary quantitative criteria to test such narratives. For instance, they have not quantitatively measured the importance of various interest groups in these debates. Using the Bt brinjal case in India, we identified several interest groups that were involved in the GM crop debate in India and quantified their interactions with each other and the government in the debate that shaped public policy. This exercise allows us to quantitatively confirm some of the existing findings and bring forward new ones. We find that anti-GM civil society interest groups played a more important role Bt brinjal policy debate compared to pro-GM industry groups. Additionally, unlike the Bt cotton debate where cotton farmers actively supported the technology, vegetable farmers were not active in the Bt brinjal debate and we provide some explanations. The science community's divided opinion on Bt brinjal also likely played a role in government's decision to put a moratorium. Application/Improvements: This study shows the value of using content analysis and SNA in public policy research.
Depression presentations, stigma, and mental health literacy: A critical review and YouTube content analysis.

Abstract We review knowledge concerning public presentations for depression. These presentations impact illness beliefs and may influence public stigma, self-stigma, and depression literacy. We provide a critical review of messages, images, and information concerning depression's causes, continuum conceptualization, timeline, curability, coping/treatment regimen, and strengths. To provide data regarding the prevalence of particular presentations, we conducted a content analysis of 327 videos about depression representative of material on the YouTube social media platform. YouTube presentations of depression indicate that depression: 1) is caused by either biological (49.5%) or environmental (41.3%) factors; 2) is a categorical construct (71%); 3) is treatable, with 61% of relevant videos (n = 249) presenting recovery as “likely”; 4) is chronic, found in 76% of videos mentioning timeline; 5) is recurrent (32.5%); 6) is mostly treated via medication (47.4%) or therapy (42.8%), although diet/exercise (28.4%) and alternative treatments (22.6%) are commonly endorsed; and 7) is rarely associated with strength (15.3%). Nearly one-third of videos were uploaded by non-professional vloggers, while just 9% were uploaded by mental health organizations. We discuss how these presentations may influence stigmatizing attitudes and depression literacy among people with and without depression and suggest future research directions to better understand how to optimize public presentations.
(Isonitrile)platinum(II) Complexes of an Amido Bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) Pincer Ligand

Five Pt(II) complexes bearing a 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,8-bis(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-9H-carbazole (BIMCA) backbone and different isonitrile ancillary ligands were synthesized and photophysically characteriz...
Thermoregulatory reflex control of cutaneous vasodilation in healthy aging

Reflex cutaneous vasodilation during heating is attenuated in healthy human aging secondary to blunted increases in efferent skin sympathetic nervous system activity (SSNA) and reductions in end-or...
Evaluations of Female and Male Strippers and Strip Club Attendees

Female exotic dancers are often viewed negatively, while research on male exotic dancers is scarce. Given that exotic dance is often perceived as atypical, exotic dance club attendees may also face negative social reactions. Two experiments investigated evaluations of male and female strippers and exotic dance club patrons. In Experiment 1286 MTurk participants evaluated a fictitious target individual in order to examine whether target gender and target occupation (stripper or bartender) influenced evaluations of targets. Results illustrate that strippers were more negatively evaluated compared to bartenders; this pattern was particularly evident by those who possess negative exotic attitudes. No differences emerged between evaluations of male and female strippers. In Experiment 2, 302 MTurk participants evaluated a fictitious target individual in order to examine whether target gender and target attendance (whether the target attended an exotic dance club or a dance club) influenced evaluations of the target. Results illustrate that exotic dance club attendees were evaluated more negatively than dance club attendees; this pattern was particularly evident by those who possess negative exotic attitudes. Additionally, female exotic dance club attendees were evaluated more positively than male exotic dance club attendees. Overall, results suggest that a general negativity associated with exotic dance still exists, but there are some differences in evaluations of exotic dancers and exotic dance club patrons.
Analysis of late preclassic period lime plaster floors at Holmul, Guatemala

Abstract This article investigates lime plaster composition and floor construction at the ancient Maya center of Holmul in northern Guatemala during the Late Preclassic period (400 BCE – 250 CE). The mineralogical and chemical composition of these lime plaster floor samples were obtained through the analysis of thin sections via Polarizing and Optical Microscopy, SEM-EDS, and portable XRF. Examination of these archaeological plasters determined that significant improvements were made to the lime plaster technology at Holmul during the Late Preclassic period and were accompanied by the incorporation of barite into the lime plaster. This research also revealed the early utilization of alternative materials for floors in civic-ceremonial centers, as one floor sample was composed of clay plaster and another of a compacted sascab. Finally, by building upon prior plaster studies conducted at neighboring centers, this article provides a better understanding of plaster production in the Cival region. It also offers insight into a potential local tradition involving the addition of barite to the lime plaster at the sites of Cival, Holmul, and San Bartolo.
Disseminated-cutaneous sporotrichosis in an immunocompetent adult.

Classically known for causing ‘rose gardeners' disease’, Sporothrix schenkii is a dimorphic fungus ubiquitous in plant matter.1 Sporotrichosis infection typically follows minor cutaneous trauma, causing localized lymphocutaneous (up to 95% of cases) or fixed-cutaneous (up to 30%) forms. A rare disseminated-cutaneous form occurs in up to 8%, primarily in immunodeficient patients.1,2
Physiology of Peritoneal Dialysis

The peritoneal cavity is lined by a monolayer of mesothelial cells. Several models have been proposed to explain the physiology of peritoneal transport: the three-pore model, the pore-matrix model, and the distributive model. During peritoneal dialysis, solutes move bidirectionally between the peritoneal capillary blood and the peritoneal cavity, mainly by diffusion, and to a less extent by convection. Ultrafiltration is achieved either by creation of an osmotic gradient across the peritoneal membrane or by inducing water flow with a colloid agent. During peritoneal dialysis, fluid is lost from the peritoneal cavity via lymphatic vessels and by absorption into the surrounding tissues. The net ultrafiltration represents the difference between transcapillary ultrafiltration of fluid into the peritoneal cavity and the lymphatic reabsorption of fluid from the peritoneal cavity. The peritoneal equilibration test is used in clinical practice to evaluate the peritoneal solute transfer rate of individual patients and patients are divided into high, high average, low average, or low transporter groups. Morphological changes occur in the peritoneal membrane in patients over time in long-term peritoneal dialysis. Prolonged exposure to glucose and glucose degradation products leads to production of proinflammatory and angiogenic factors. This leads to increased small solute transport across the peritoneal membrane, resulting in rapid loss of osmotic gradient and a decline in net ultrafiltration.
The Future of Training and Practice in Neuromodulation: An Interventional Psychiatry Perspective.

Psychiatrists have been proceduralists dating back almost 100 years, nearly to psychiatry's inception as a medical specialty. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was developed as a procedure in the 1930s and refined over time, with impressive efficacy and response rates (1). However, due to a lack of understanding of the pathophysiology of many psychiatric conditions, combined with disastrous outcomes from premature adoption of other procedural treatments such as transorbital lobotomy (2), procedural options for psychiatric treatment have been limited. In recent years this landscape is changing, again introducing the potential for procedural therapies in neuropsychiatric disease management. The subspecialty focused on procedure-based psychiatric care, specifically utilization of neurotechnologies to treat psychiatric disorders has become known as “interventional psychiatry.” Interventional psychiatry frequently employs treatments under the umbrella of “psychiatric neuromodulation,” which we define as the collection of nervous system stimulation therapies focused on modulating dysfunctional brain circuitry for therapeutic benefit, including use of electrical, magnetic, ultrasonic, and photic stimulation (see Table 1 for examples). As practically applied, interventional psychiatry also often incorporates procedure-based pharmacologic interventions such as ketamine infusion therapy and psychedelic therapies, which similarly involve a medical intervention applied to a treatment-refractory patient population and require familiarity with procedural consent and monitoring. Here we outline the state of the field, as well as implications for training and the role of the interventional psychiatrist in the treatment team. Table 1 Proposed competency areas for trans-disciplinary fellowship in interventional psychiatry or psychiatric neuromodulation.
Assessing the perfluoroalkyl acid-induced swelling of Förster resonance energy transfer-capable poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels.

As a method to combat the extensive contamination of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water supplies, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgels copolymerized with 2,2,2-trifluoroethylacrylate (TFEA) represent a potential sensing tool for recognizing PFAS at dilute aqueous concentrations. The microgels exhibit exceptional temperature responsiveness, transitioning from a swollen z-average diameter of 890.8 ± 19.8 nm to a collapsed diameter of 246.4 ± 10.3 nm below and above their lower critical solution temperature, respectively, for non-fluorinated gels, offering broad size fluctuations that are susceptible to coadded contaminants. Monitoring size perturbations as a function of analyte concentration, the polymers were observed to deswell in the presence of perfluorooctanoic acid, octanoic acid, phenol, and sodium 1-octane sulfonate while tetraethylammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate (TPFOS) augmented swelling. Adding up to 40 mol% TFEA to the networks lowered the concentration at which the microgels' normalized z-average diameter demonstrated a significant deviation from 0.25 mM to 0.1 mM for TPFOS, indicating fluorophilicity as a key contributor to the copolymers' associative capacity. Implanting Forster resonance energy transfer-compatible dyes, cyanine 3 and cyanine 5, into non-fluorinated microgels largely reiterated results from light scattering, as expected for the size-dependent energy transfer mechanism. Including dyes did, however, reinforce the customizability of this system, leaving windows open for functionalization with other signal transduction motifs to lower the detection limits of the polymer further. The swelling changes for PNIPAM microgels stimulated by the acidic constituents of PFAS highlight the polymer as a candidate for detecting the substances following additional development.
Late Breaking Abstract - Functional benefits of post COVID-19 multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation program

Background: COVID-19 has been linked to debilitating chronic illness related to altered pulmonary function, reduced exercise performance, higher anxiety and depression events. The aim of our study is to assess feasibility and analyze efficacity of a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Two months post hospital discharge, Covid-19 patients were admitted to a 10 ambulatory sessions comprehensive PR. In this cohort study, functional exercise performance measures (6-minute walk distance, 6MWD), Pulmonary function tests (Forced expiratory volume;FEV1, Forced vital capacity;FVC), quality of life (COPD assessment test, CAT score, Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, mMRC) and psychological evaluation (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) were assessed before and after PR. Results: Twenty-one patients who completed the 10 PR sessions were included in the study with a male to female ratio of 2.125 with a media age of 60.16 [52-69]. On admission, patients had a 6MWD 354m [255.5-434], an FVC 63% [50.05-72], an FEV1 69% [57.25-82], the post 6-MWT fatigability scale 2.5 [0-3.75], a CAT score 16 [10.5-22.5], an mMRC score 2 [1.25-3], an HADS (anxiety 7[4-9.5], depression 6.5 [4-10]). At PR completion, patients significantly improved in 6MWD 445m [383-489.75]; p Conclusion: Our study shows that PR is an effective therapeutic option in post COVID-19 patients.
Public Opinion of Diesel Odor

This paper describes the results of a public opinion survey on testing of diesel exhaust odors conducted during 1969 and 1970. Major goals of the research were to relate public opinion of the odors and the objectionability associated with them to odor intensity, and to obtain a dose-response curve as the primary result. It was found that a relationship existed between perceived diesel exhaust odor intensity and the objectionability of these odors. The nature of this relationship was that increasingly intense diesel exhaust odors were considered increasingly objectionable.
Ecology of invasive mosquitoes: effects on resident species and on human health

Investigations of biological invasions focus on patterns and processes that are related to introduction, establishment, spread and impacts of introduced species. This review focuses on the ecological interactions operating during invasions by the most prominent group of insect vectors of disease, mosquitoes. First, we review characteristics of non-native mosquito species that have established viable populations, and those invasive species that have spread widely and had major impacts, testing whether biotic characteristics are associated with the transition from established non-native to invasive. Second, we review the roles of interspecific competition, apparent competition, predation, intraguild predation and climatic limitation as causes of impacts on residents or as barriers to invasion. We concentrate on the best-studied invasive mosquito, Aedes albopictus, evaluating the application of basic ecological theory to invasions by Aedes albopictus. We develop a model based on observations of Aedes albopictus for effects of resource competition and predation as barriers to invasion, evaluating which community and ecosystem characteristics favour invasion. Third, we evaluate the ways in which invasive mosquitoes have contributed to outbreaks of human and animal disease, considering specifically whether invasive mosquitoes create novel health threats, or modify disease transmission for existing pathogen–host systems.
Maternal-child adrenocortical attunement in early childhood: Continuity and change

This study evaluated continuity and change in maternal-child hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis attunement in early childhood. Participants were drawn from a prospective study of 1,292 mother-child dyads, which were racially diverse, predominantly low-income, and non-urban. Child focused stress tasks designed to elicit anger, fear, and frustration were administered during early infancy, later infancy, and toddlerhood. Mothers' and children's saliva samples (later assayed for cortisol) were collected before and after the tasks. The strength of mother-child adrenocortical attunement was conserved across infancy and toddlerhood. The magnitude of maternal-child adrenocortical attunement decreased in response to the child-focused stress tasks. Maternal sensitivity and the child's task-related emotional reactivity moderated adrenocortical attunement across the task, with greater maternal sensitivity during a free-play, and lower levels of child emotional reactivity during the stress tasks, stabilizing attunement from pre- to post-task levels. The findings advance our understanding of individual differences in the social regulation of adrenocortical activity in early childhood.
Effect of Lactation and Calcium Deficiency, and of Fluoride Intake, on Bone Turnover in Rats: Isotopic Measurements of Bone Resorption and Formation

The rates of bone formation and resorption were investigated, using isotopic measurements, in calcium-deficient lactating rats and compared to those of calcium-sufficient non-lactating animals. Bone formation was measured by 3H-proline uptake and 3H-hydroxyproline formation, and resorption was measured by the loss of previously incorporated 3H-tetracycline, in whole humerus. The effect of 50 ppm fluoride in the drinking water on both parameters was also examined. The stress of lactation and calcium deficiency significantly increased the rates of bone resorption and formation, but the increase in resorption was greater than in formation which resulted in a net decrease in bone mineral and matrix. Fluoride had no effect on various parameters measured.
Microscopic platelet size and morphology in various hematologic disorders

Microscopic evaluation of apparent platelet size and morphology was examined in a variety of hematologic disorders. The time of preparation of the blood smear was important. An artifactual increase in platelet size was noted on blood films from 20 normal individuals that were prepared either immediately or 180 min after venipuncture. The clearest differentiation of patient categories was obtained with smears prepared 60 min after venipuncture using blood anticoagulated with K3EDTA. Under these conditions, normal size and morphology values were found in thrombocytopenic patients with aplasia or with increased splenic pooling. In contrast, large size values were a reliable finding in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patients, whose platelet counts were less than 50,000/microleter. Large size values were also noted in patients with infiltrated bone marrows or myeloproliferative syndromes regardless of the platelet count. The last two groups usually showed abnormal platelet morphology with greater than 10% hypogranular platelets. Normal platelet size and morphology were observed in patients with iron-deficiency and megaloblastic anemias and in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and systemic lupus erythematosus who had normal platelet counts.
A Bayesian methodology for semi-automated task analysis

This research proposes a new task analysis methodology that combines the fuzzy Bayesian model with classic task analysis methods to develop a semiautomated task analysis tool to better help traditional task analysts identify subtasks. We hypothesize that this approach could help task analysts identify activity units performed by the call center agent. The term activity units, in our study, represent the subtasks the agents perform during a remote troubleshooting process. We also investigate whether this tool could help predict the activity units as well. An effort-intensive field-based data collection for the call center's naturalistic decision making's environment was accomplished. A human expert and an additional 18 Purdue students participated in the validation of the assigned subtasks. The machine learning tool's performance was then examined. The preliminary results support our hypotheses that the fuzzy Bayesian based tool is able to learn and predict subtask categories from the agent/customer narrative telephone conversations.
Chromospheric oscillations observed in the 1336-A C II line with OSO-8

Satellite observations of velocity and intensity oscillations of the upper-chromospheric C II line at 1336 A were made. The dominant period of oscillation is 300 s, with little evidence of the power peak in the range 150-200 s which has been observed in other chromospheric lines. Peak-to-peak amplitudes are 2 km/s and 8% in velocity and intensity, respectively. Tentative evidence for a 900-s periodicity is presented. Relative phase measurements show that the maximum intensity for the 300-s oscillation leads the maximum blueshift by approximately 145 s. Comparison of line and background (scattered light) intensity variation shows upward wave propagation with time delays between the 1800-A continuum and the 1336-A C II variation of 27 s and 70 s for different cases.
Association between urinary levels of bisphenol A and its monochlorinated derivative and obesity

Population-based studies suggest the association between exposures to bisphenol A (BPA) and obesity. However, no human studies are available that link exposures to chlorinated derivatives of BPA with obesity biomarkers. The objective of this exploratory post hoc analysis of our cross-sectional study's dataset was to evaluate the association between urinary levels of BPA and monochlorinated BPA (mono-ClBPA) with body mass index (BMI) in a random sample of 223 adults (≥18 years) from the general population in Cyprus. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regressions were performed for descriptive statistics and estimating odds ratio (OR) of above normal BMI, respectively. We observed a relatively weak positive association between urinary mono-ClBPA and BMI, such as (i) 76 ng g(-1) in participants with above normal BMI (≥25 kg m(-2)) versus 55 ng g(-1) in those with normal BMI (<25 kg m(-2)) (P for mean difference = 0.053) and (ii) higher percentage of participants with above normal BMI in the high urinary mono-ClBPA tertile (63% in tertile 3 and 57% in tertile 2 versus 50% in tertile 1, P for trend = 0.056). Similar tests of association between urinary BPA and BMI showed null outcome. A dichotomously-classified group analysis showed an increased odds ratio (OR) for higher BMI in the group with high creatinine-adjusted urinary levels of BPA and mono-ClBPA when compared with the participants group with low levels for both compounds [logistic model adjusted for gender and health status as potential confounders; adjusted OR (95% CI): 2.34 (1.10, 5.10), P = 0.027]. Measurements of both BPA and its trace chlorinated derivative in human matrices may be warranted for a comprehensive exposure assessment towards improving our understanding of their obesogenic effects.
Pediatric pacemakers and ICDs: how to optimize perioperative care

An increasing number of pediatric patients with permanent pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) require cardiac and noncardiac surgery. It is critical that the anesthesiologist caring for these patients understands the management of the device and the underlying heart disease. Children with these devices are more vulnerable to lead failure and inappropriate shocks compared with the adult population. Preoperative assessment and appropriate reprogramming of the device, in addition to minimizing sources of electromagnetic interference, are keystones in the perioperative care of these patients. Prior consultation with qualified programmers is recommended to enable timely optimization of the device. Magnets may be used in emergency situations but it is important to appreciate the limitations of magnet use on different models of pacemakers and ICDs. Safe and successful perioperative care is dependent upon a well-organized and coordinated multidisciplinary team approach.
Regulation of the Salmonella typhimurium metA gene by the metR protein and homocysteine.

The DNA sequence of the Salmonella typhimurium metA control region is presented. S1 nuclease mapping was used to determine the transcription initiation site. By measuring beta-galactosidase levels in Escherichia coli strains lysogenized with lambda phage carrying a metA-lacZ gene fusion, the MetR protein was shown to activate the metA gene. Homocysteine, an intermediate in methionine biosynthesis, plays a negative role in the MetR-mediated activation mechanism. Gel mobility shift assays and DNase I protection experiments showed that the MetR protein binds to a DNA fragment carrying the metA control region and protects a 26-bp region beginning 9 bp upstream of the -35 promoter sequence. Images
Daylighting; Daylight Simulation and Public Health: Low-Energy Lighting for Optimal Vision/Visual Acuity and Health/Wellbeing

Indoor Ecology (IE) is an emerging research field that aims to develop new approaches and technologies which allow indoor environments and occupants to dynamically co-adapt to each other in order to enhance human wellbeing and productivity while simultaneously optimizing energy efficiency. The central idea in IE is that humans, building systems and the interior environment form a single, integrated complex 'ecosystem'. One way to IE optimization is though lighting, especially daylighting and daylight simulation. Current approaches to energy-efficient buildings emphasize only limited aspects of interior lighting, such as the carbon footprint, without regard to the multiple effects lighting has on human health, wellbeing and productivity which must be considered if truly sustainable interior spaces are to be designed. This paper documents five on- going investigations which study various aspects of the lighting-human interaction in a variety of circumstances. For example, students in the classroom setting are exposed to wide changes in lighting as well as inadequate light during early classes, likely affecting attention, retention and performance. Subjects displayed a marked preference for natural lighting when given the option; supporting a general hypothesis that daylighting might be a solution to the twin problems of promoting health and productivity while decreasing energy use.
Kings and commoners at Copan: Isotopic evidence for origins and movement in the Classic Maya period

Abstract Eight human interments were excavated in the 1990s beneath the Acropolis at the Classic Maya site of Copan in Honduras, which was the capital of a Maya kingdom from ca. AD 400 to 800. These human remains come from both royal tombs and less elaborate burials dating to the early part of this period and lie deep in the accumulated architectural layers of the Acropolis. We present a brief summary of the context, contents, and external links represented by these interments. Several lines of evidence point to connections between early Copan and Teotihuacan in the Central Highlands of Mexico, and Tikal in the central Maya lowlands of the Peten in Guatemala. The bioarchaeology of the interred individuals from the Copan Acropolis is summarized in terms of major characteristics and life history. The focus of this study is the isotopic investigation of these individuals, which included both light and heavy isotopes. We have measured carbon and nitrogen in some of the burials along with strontium, carbon, and oxygen in tooth enamel. In addition, we have a substantial database of strontium isotopes from human burials and both ancient and modern fauna at the site that help to characterize the local isotope ratio at Copan. This information is compared with the larger Maya region and the site of Teotihuacan in the Central Highlands of Mexico to examine questions of human migration and interaction in the Classic Maya period. Focus is on the primary burial identified as K’inich Yax K’uk’ Mo’, the first dynastic ruler of Copan. Epigraphic information on his early years and subsequent events in his life are compared to isotopic data on his place of birth and possible movements. The isotopic evidence suggests that several of the individuals buried in the Acropolis at Copan, including K’inich Yax K’uk’ Mo’, were not born in the local area, but came to this ancient city from elsewhere.
Grinnellian and Eltonian niches and geographic distributions of species.

In the recent past, availability of large data sets of species presences has increased by orders of magnitude. This, together with developments in geographical information systems and statistical methods, has enabled scientists to calculate, for thousands of species, the environmental conditions of their distributional areas. The profiles thus obtained are obviously related to niche concepts in the Grinnell tradition, and separated from those in Elton’s tradition. I argue that it is useful to define Grinnellian and Eltonian niches on the basis of the types of variables used to calculate them, the natural spatial scale at which they can be measured, and the dispersal of the individuals over the environment. I use set theory notation and analogies derived from population ecology theory to obtain formal definitions of areas of distribution and several types of niches. This brings clarity to several practical and fundamental questions in macroecology and biogeography.
A new water bear, Minibiotus julianae, from the Caribbean Island of Dominica (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada: Parachela: Macrobiotidae)

Abstract A new species of tardigrade, Minibiotus acadianus, is described from a moss sample collected in June 2009 from a rainforest palm tree on the island of Dominica, West Indies. The new species has a buccal tube with a single anterior curvature, two macroplacoids, and a microplacoid. The cuticle is smooth with small, evenly-distributed circular or elliptical pores. Eggs have a reticulated shell surface and short inverted goblet egg process; a dentate margin on the distal dish of the processes bears 10–12 short teeth. The new species is most similar to Minibiotus acadianus Meyer & Domingue, 2011; both have wider buccal tubes than other species in the genus. The new species is easily distinguished from M. acadianus in lacking cuticular gibbosities and in some characters of the egg.
Can Agents Influence Property Perceptions Through Their Appearance and Use of Pathos

This study takes 1594 potential homebuyers on a Web-based audio/visual tour of a typically priced home in their area. Using a voice-altering software as well as before and after extreme makeover photos, we are able to isolate the effect of real estate agent characteristics—attractiveness, gender, and pathos—on their ability to change the opinions of potential homebuyers. We find that attractive female agents who employ pathos are significantly able to alter the impression of the property in the minds of respondents. Furthermore, agents using pathos are not viewed as less trustworthy than agents not using pathos.
How project strategy is used in project management: Cases of new product development and software development projects

Project strategy is an emerging concept in the research literature on project management. Many authors suggest that such a strategy should be used by a project team as a guideline for effectively performing project activities. In this study, we explore how project strategy is used. We found that the project teams applied various forms of project strategy, namely, Product Superiority, Customer Intimacy, and Time-to-Market strategies. A combination of these strategies was also used. This study contributes to the literature in the area of strategic alignment and strategy implementation. It also helps practitioners better understand how to implement project strategy.
Empirical Bayes Estimation for the Finite Population Mean on the Current Occasion

Abstract Many finite populations which are sampled repeatedly change slowly over time. Then estimation of finite population characteristics for the current occasion, l, may be improved by the use of data from previous surveys. In this article we investigate the use of empirical Bayes procedures based on two superpopulation models. Each model has the same first stage: The values of the population units on the ith occasion are a random sample from the normal distribution with mean μ i and variance σ 2 i . At the second stage we assume that either (a) μ 1, …, μ l are a random sample from the normal distribution with mean θ and variance δ 2, or (b) given σ 2 i and τ, μ i has the normal distribution with mean θ and variance σ 2 i τ (independently for each i), whereas the σ 2 i are a random sample from the inverse gamma distribution with parameters η/2 and κ/2. In (a) the σ 2 i , θ, and σ 2 are assumed to be unknown, whereas in (b) θ, τ, and κ are unknown. We develop empirical Bayes point estimators and confide...
The influence of thermally activated flux creep on the ac response of a hard superconductor

A theoretical and experimental study is presented of the influence of thermally activated flux creep on the ac response of a type II superconductor in the mixed state. The theory describes the ac response of a cylindrical superconductor in the mixed state in an axial dc magnetic field and a superposed parallel ac field of low amplitude and low frequency. Thermally activated flux creep gives rise to flux motion at the peak and the valley of the sinusoidal ac applied field and a frequency-independent phase shift of the voltage induced in a pickup coil wound about the sample. The instantaneous voltage at the peak or valley of the ac applied field is related to the critical-current density J/sub c/ and the pinning-energy barrier normalized by the temperature U/kT. The ac loss voltage and the voltage waveform were measured for a cold-worked NbZr sample. For temperatures T below 4.2 K, the measured values of kT/U are nearly proportional to the temperature. Both J/sub c/ and U were observed to depend on magnetic field history.
Never audit alone--the case for audit teams.

On-site audits, conducted by technical and quality assurance (QA) experts at the data-gathering location, are the core of an effective QA program. However, inadequate resources for such audits are the bane of a QA program and, frequently, the proposed solution is to send only one auditor to the study site. There are several reasons why audits should be performed by more than one person: 1. Safety: Audits of EPA projects frequently involve hazardous chemicals or other environmental hazards. They also often involve working after normal work hours inremote locations with dangerous equipment.It is unsafe to work alone under such conditions. 2. Skills: Many of EPA's projects are multidisciplinary, involving multiple measurements systems, several environmental media, and complex automated data collection and analysis systems. It is unlikely that one auditor would have the requisite skills to assess all of these operations. 3. Separateness: Two auditors can provide two (sometimes differing) perspectives on probl...
Determination of chlordiazeporide plasma concentrations by electron capture gas-liquid chromatography

Abstract Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) plasma concentrations were determined in a group of eleven subjects by a gas chromatographic method involving the use of an electron capture detector. The drug was extracted from 1 ml of alkalinized plasma in n-heptane containing 1.5% of isoamyl alcohol. Determination of plasma concentrations following administration of oral doses of 20 mg or more pro die was achieved by injecting directly into the chromatograph aliquots of this heptane extract. At lower doses, plasma levels were determined after re-extracting the drug from the heptane into small volumes of aqueous and organic solvents. The two known metabolites of the drug, the lactam and N-desmethyl chlordiazepoxide, did not interfere with the analysis of the unmetabolized compound, nor did a number of other psychotropic drugs analyzed according to the procedure described. The response of the electron capture detector to amounts of chlordiazepoxide as low as 0.5 ng permits the determination of the drug in 1-ml plasma samples after administration of a single 5-mg dose. Chlordiazepoxide plasma concentrations encountered in the samples analyzed ranged from 17 μg-% after ingestion of a single 5-mg dose to 689 μg-% following administration of multiple 50-mg doses.
Locating Practical Theology in Catholic Theological Discourse and Practice

Catholic pastoral theology has existed as a curricular heading in seminaries but not as a discipline in U.S. universities, at least not with the same meaning and intention as in Protestant schools. Catholic theology is largely produced by university theologians where the subject and teaching of ministry has not been a central feature. Scholarship pertaining to practice, sometimes linked with practical theology, is gaining attention among U.S. Catholics, though the way in which Catholics organize theology as a discipline, its ecclesial authority structure, and the numerous approaches to theology today, make practical theology one disciplined inquiry among many. Its appearance as a fully-formed discipline in Catholic thought is still not present. 21 Locating Practical Theology in Catholic Theological Discourse and Practice
Modulation of multidrug resistance with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to mdr1 mRNA.

Background: P-glycoprotein (Pgp), a 170-kDa adenosine triphosphate-dependent membrane drug-efflux pump encoded by themdr1 gene, mediates cross-resistance in tumor cells to structurally unrelated cancer drugs. We investigated the capacity for modulating multidrug resistance by selectively inhibiting synthesis of Pgp using an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide complementary to the initiation codon ofmdr1 messenger RNA.
Electro-optic transceivers for terahertz-wave applications

Because of the reciprocal behavior of the optical rectification and the electro-optic effect in a nonlinear optical crystal, an electro-optic transceiver can alternately transmit pulsed electromagnetic radiation (optical rectification) and detect the return signal (electro-optic effect) in the same crystal. However, the optimal condition of the electro-optic transceiver may be very different from that of the spatially separated emitter and receiver. We present a detailed description of the crystal-orientation dependence of the electro-optic terahertz devices (transmitter, receiver, and transceiver). It is found that for a (110) zinc-blende electro-optical crystal, the efficiency of the electro-optic transceiver will be optimized when the angle between the polarization of the optical pump beam and the crystallographic z axis [0, 0, 1] is 26°. Meanwhile, for a (111) crystal, the angle between the optical beam and the crystallographic direction [-1, -1, 2] should be 23°. The experimental results from a (110) ZnTe transceiver verify theoretical calculations and demonstrate a direct way to optimize the working efficiency of an electro-optic terahertz transceiver.
Catalysis by crystalline aluminosilicates: III. Dehydration of isopropyl alcohol catalyzed by sodium faujasite in the presence of CO2

Catalytic activity for the dehydration of isopropyl alcohol is reversibly induced in sodium faujasite (Linde 13X) by the presence of carbon dioxide. Kinetic and sorption studies suggest that the catalytic sites are formed by chemisorption of carbon dioxide molecules. If it is assumed that the character of the set of sites is independent of the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide, then it can be shown that the relation between the number of sites and partial pressure satisfies the Langmuir equation. Monolayer coverage by carbon dioxide is achieved when on an average of about one molecule of the gas is sorbed for each two supercages of the zeolite. This estimate was arrived at by extrapolating the sorption values observed under reaction conditions. The nonequivalence of the zeolitic supercages makes it unlikely that the chemisorption of CO2 is associated with the sodium ions; impurity cations or defect centers are probably responsible for the sorption.
Enculturation, perceived stress, and physical activity: implications for metabolic risk among the Yup'ik--the Center for Alaska Native Health Research Study.

Objectives. American Indians and Alaska Natives (ANs) report among the lowest levels of physical activity in the USA, but there is very little systematic research examining the determinants of physical activity patterns in these populations. This study investigated the relationships between enculturation (or cultural traditionality), psychosocial stress, and physical activity in a community-based sample of Yup'ik women and men living in rural AN communities. Associations between these variables and several metabolic risk factors were also examined.Design. A sample of 488 Yup'ik participants (284 women and 204 men) from six villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region completed a wellness survey and an array of physiological assessments [e.g., body mass index (BMI), blood pressure]. A subset of 179 participants also completed a 3-day pedometer assessment of physical activity.Results. Multivariate linear regression models indicated that participants who were more enculturated (i.e., living more of a traditi...
Enhanced functional ability in drug-treated dystrophic chickens: trial results with indomethacin, diphenylhydantoin, and prednisolone.

Line 413 early-onset, genetically homozygous dystrophic chickens were given in two separate trials twice-daily i.p. injections of indomethacin and diphenylhydantoin, pharmacological antagonists of calcium flux. An additional trial consisted of treatment with prednisolone, an antiinflammatory corticosteroid. Chemotherapy in each case significantly prolonged the righting ability of the treated dystrophic chickens, as measured by a periodic, standardized flip test for functional ability. The characteristically elevated plasma creatine phosphokinase activities were not markedly affected by any of the treatments. Small decreases in the abnormal blood serotonin concentrations were found in each trial. Intracellular calcium concentrations in the muscle, but not in the blood, of the dystrophic chickens (mean, 15.4 ± 2.7 μmol calcium/g noncollagen protein) were found to be significantly higher (P < 0.02) than those in the corresponding normal chickens (6.8 ± 0.2 μmol/g). This finding may partially account for the enhancement in functional ability seen in dystrophic chickens receiving drugs inhibitory to calcium flux.
Environmental management codes and continuous environmental improvements: insights from the chemical industry

The chemical industry has the highest quantity of toxic releases and hazardous waste generation in the US. We present survey results that examined compliance with seven major environmental statutes at small and medium-sized chemical facilities. This survey was designed to complement the findings of the US Environmental Protection Agency/Chemical Manufacturers Association ‘Root Cause’ survey, which attempted to determine reasons for environmental noncompliance at large chemical facilities. Results of our study indicated that 30% of the respondents did not have an Environmental Management System in place, including Responsible Care, even though Responsible Care is required for active membership in their trade association. Also, survey respondents looked beyond their own facility for meeting their compliance assistance needs. Statistical analysis of the results showed that for six of seven environmental laws examined, company size had a statistically significant correlation with awareness of compliance requirements. Only in the case of one major environmental statute was the hypothesized relationship not statistically significant. The results point to the need for trade associations, state and federal government and management to devote additional resources to improving environmental compliance for smaller chemical companies. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment