cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Privacy and Confidentiality Considerations for Collecting HIV Risk Network Data among Men who Have Sex with Men and Implications for Constructing Valid Risk Networks.

Abstract Studies aiming to construct risk networks have historically collected network members' names, demographic characteristics and relational data (i.e., type, strength, duration, frequency of interaction, and HIV-related risk behaviors between the pair). Due to difficulties in constructing risk networks stemming from partner anonymity and the use of nicknames, some studies also collect network members’ screen names, phone numbers, physical attributes, and scars/tattoos to assist with entity resolution. In-depth interviews with 20 men who have sex with men and transgender women in Kentucky assessed privacy/confidentiality concerns as well as accuracy/recall issues associated with providing these details. Most preferred providing alters’ nicknames/first names only or a first name with the first letter of the last name. Many perceived screen names, phone numbers, and scars/tattoos to be too personal/identifying. Willingness to provide more detailed information varied by relationship type/strength, which could influence the validity of the resulting network.
Fecundability in relation to use of fertility awareness indicators in a North American preconception cohort study

Objective To quantify the frequency of use of selected fertility awareness indicators and to assess their influence on fecundability. Design Web-based prospective cohort study. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Female pregnancy planners, aged 21–45 years, attempting conception for ≤6 cycles at study entry. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) We ascertained time to pregnancy, in menstrual cycles, with bimonthly questionnaires. We estimated adjusted fecundability ratios (FRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) using proportional probabilities models, controlling for age, income, education, smoking, intercourse frequency, and other lifestyle and reproductive factors. Result(s) A total of 5,688 women were analyzed, with a mean age of 29.9 years and mean time trying of 2.1 cycles at baseline; 30% had ever been pregnant. At baseline, 75% were using one or more fertility indicators (counting days or charting menstrual cycles [71%], measuring basal body temperature [BBT, 21%], monitoring cervical fluid [39%], using urine LH tests [32%], or feeling for changes in position of the cervix [12%]). Women using any fertility indicator at baseline had higher subsequent fecundability (adjusted FR 1.25, 95% CI 1.16–1.35) than those not using any fertility indicators. For each individual indicator, adjusted FRs ranged from 1.28–1.36, where 1.00 would indicate no relation with fecundability. The adjusted FR for women using a combination of charting days, cervical fluid, and urine LH was 1.48 (95% CI 1.31–1.67) relative to women using no fertility indicators. Conclusion(s) In a North American preconception cohort study, use of fertility indicators indicating the fertile window was common, and was associated with greater fecundability.
Objections to the Benefits to Inquiry Argument

In this chapter I outline and respond to a number of objections to the Benefits to Inquiry Argument. I begin with what I take to be the weakest objections and conclude with the strongest objections. The most promising objection to the Benefits to Inquiry Argument is that it conflates practical reasons with epistemic reasons. I respond to this by arguing that future epistemic benefits should indeed be considered benefits of epistemic reasoning. But the objection succeeds only if synchronic epistemic reasons are the only type of epistemic reasons included in one’s account of epistemic rationality. But an all-things-considered epistemic rationality will include both synchronic and diachronic epistemic reasons.
Mobile sanctuary: Latina/o Evangelicals redefining sanctuary and contesting immobility in Fresno, CA

Scholars have examined how illegality operates spatially to constrain immigrants’ movements and how immigration laws spark new tactics for immigrants’ survival and resistance. This paper examines h...
SHP2 Inhibition Abrogates Adaptive Resistance to KRASG12C-Inhibition and Remodels the Tumor Microenvironment of KRAS-Mutant Tumors

KRAS is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancer, and KRAS inhibition has been a longtime therapeutic goal. Recently, inhibitors (G12C-Is) that bind KRASG12C-GDP and react with Cys-12 were developed. Using new affinity reagents to monitor KRASG12C activation and inhibitor engagement, we found that, reflecting its action upstream of SOS1/2, SHP2 inhibitors (SHP2-Is) increased KRAS-GDP occupancy, enhancing G12C-I efficacy. SHP2-Is abrogated feedback signaling by multiple RTKs and blocked adaptive resistance to G12C-Is in vitro, in xenografts, and in syngeneic KRASG12C-mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) models. Biochemical analysis revealed enhanced suppression of ERK-, MYC-, anti-apoptotic-, and cell-cycle genes, and increased pro-apoptotic gene expression in tumors from combination-treated mice. SHP2-I/G12C-I also evoked favorable changes in the immune microenvironment, decreasing myeloid suppressor cells, increasing CD8+ T cells, and sensitizing tumors to PD-1 blockade. Experiments using cells expressing inhibitor-resistant SHP2 showed that SHP2 inhibition in PDAC cells is required for tumor regression and remodeling of the immune microenvironment, but also revealed direct inhibitory effects on angiogenesis resulting in decreased tumor vascularity. Our results demonstrate that SHP2-I/G12C-I combinations confer a substantial survival benefit in PDAC and NSCLC and identify additional combination strategies for enhancing the efficacy of G12C-Is.
Fat quantification of the rotator cuff musculature using dual-energy CT-A pilot study.

Abstract Purpose To assess the ability of dual-energy CT (DECT) as a novel technique to quantify the degree of rotator cuff fat degeneration. Method Clinically indicated shoulder CT exams for evaluation of osteoarthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy, pain or instability, or preoperative planning were acquired using dual-source CT systems. Rotator cuff DECT fat fraction after material decomposition was calculated off the sagittal image. Fat fractions were also assessed using CT numbers from dual energy virtual monochromatic images (70 keV) and single-energy CT (SECT) images (100 kV). Visual subjective Goutallier scores of the rotator cuff muscles were used as the reference standard. Results 12 shoulders from 10 patients were analyzed, with bilateral shoulders evaluated in two patients (mean age 69 years (range 19–97)). Three patients were male and seven were female, with mean BMI of 32 (range 26–41). Mean fat fraction of the teres major and subcutaneous fat were, 2.9 % ± 4.0 % and 99.5 % ± 2.6 %, respectively, rendering these as reliable internal standards for 0% and 100 % fat. Mean DECT fat fractions of the rotator cuff were compared to Goutallier scores, revealing a high strength of rank correlation: ρ = 0.92, p Conclusions DECT direct fat fraction after material decomposition presents a novel approach to quantitative assessment of fatty degeneration, which has excellent correlation with clinically accepted standards.
From Small Woodcuts to Experimental Printmaking: Xu Bing in the 1980s

This essay examines Xu Bing’s training and practice as a printmaker in the 1980s, highlighting the significance of his local beginnings. It traces his evolution from an art student excelling in making small woodcuts in a Chinese academic style to an artist exploring experimental printmaking. In this formative decade, Xu investigated the formal and conceptual properties of various print mediums, managing to straddle the blurred line between mainstream and avant-garde art spheres, and developed a nascent interest in language that would later deeply inform his art making.
Combining Benzyl Alcohol Oxidation Saturation Kinetics and Hammett Studies as Mechanistic Tools for Examining Supported Metal Catalysts

Understanding and quantifying how the active sites in supported metal catalysts can be modified are critical for rationally designing catalysts. This problem is particularly complex for reactions t...
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Company’s Decision Making

Today organizations have become more and more complex which has complicated the task of decision making. Indeed, these situations require rapid and effective intervention by experts who are not necessarily available. This document is interested in complex decisions that must be taken in a collective framework to design and develop a Decision Support System (DSS) for a company where a group of decision-makers (participants), who may not be in the same place. Then, the performance of the group of decision-makers, as well as the quality of the decision to be chosen, depends on the quality of the exchange of information, and points of view. For this, the system must guarantee the management of participants’ private and public spaces. It must also guarantee the efficient and complete unfolding of the process followed. However, artificial intelligence (AI) is a system that is based on the sharing of knowledge and skills on several intelligent entities that must organize and coordinate their actions to achieve the overall objective of the system. They are formulated on complex interaction models that translate into resolution strategies such as cooperation, coordination, negotiation. Their modularity principle makes it possible to reduce the design complexity of the overall system and improve its maintenance. The objective of this work is to provide an informational platform for researchers and developers of the field of the intelligent decision in a society, which allows to get the right decisions and as soon as possible.
Combatting carelessness: Can placement of quality check items help reduce careless responses?

There is extensive literature on identifying careless responses in survey data and acknowledging their negative impact on accurate data analysis (Goodman, Cryder, & Cheema, 2013; Huang et al., 2015a, b; Meade and Craig, 2012). However, there are very limited findings on how researchers can help prevent participants from responding carelessly in the first place. The current study manipulated the placement of a quality check item (i.e., early placement versus late placement) and showed that participants were less likely to carelessly respond when the quality check items were placed later in the survey. Quality check items were also able to identify careless responses more than other approaches (i.e., LongString index, completion time index, and self-reported indicators). When using quality check items, it appears to be best when used toward the end of the survey. There are plenty of opportunities for future studies to expand on this research to uncover ways that can help deter careless responding.
In Situ Studies of Methanol Decomposition Over Cu(111) and Cu2O/Cu(111): Effects of Reactant Pressure, Surface Morphology, and Hot Spots of Active Sites

The dissociative adsorption of methanol was investigated on Cu(111) and ultrathin Cu2O films. We employed synchrotron-based Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (AP-XPS) and Scanning T...
On Epps effect and rebalancing of hedged portfolio in multiple frequencies

Correlations of financial asset returns play a central role in designing investment portfolios by using Markowitz's modern portfolio theory (MPT). Correlations are calculated from asset prices that happen at various trading time intervals. Therefore, trading frequency dictates correlation values. This phenomenon is called the Epps effect in finance. We present variations of correlations as a function of trading frequency to quantify Epps effect. The results reiterate that portfolio rebalancing, particularly in multiple trading frequencies, requires good estimation of correlations in order to deliver reliable hedging.
Development of pulmonary fibrosis in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients: A case series

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, was first identified in December 2019 and declared a pandemic by the WHO in March 2020. Knowledge about COVID-19 is growing exponentially, but long-term pulmonary outcomes and factors influencing the development of fibrosis, such as intubation status, remain uncertain. We present three patients with no previous underlying pulmonary disease who developed post-ARDS fibrosis secondary to COVID-19 and continue to be severely impaired six months after initial hospitalization. Case Series: Three patients developed post-ARDS pulmonary fibrosis secondary to COVID-19 within one month of acute infection. Two males and one female, aged 56 to 75, were admitted 4 to 7 days after symptom onset and required ICU admission. One patient required 12 days of mechanical ventilation and was managed with noninvasive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) for 15 days and one was managed with HFNC for 37 days. One patient receiving oxygenation via HFNC and oxymask developed pneumomediastinum on day 30 of admission and was managed conservatively. All patients demonstrated characteristic bilateral ground-glass opacities on CT chest and follow up scans showed traction-bronchiectasis with diffuse fibrotic changes. C-reactive protein level on admission ranged from 41.22 to 30.79, and all patients received systemic corticosteroids along with therapeutic anticoagulation. All patients met criteria for home oxygen on discharge. Discussion: Post-ARDS pulmonary fibrosis in COVID-19 appears to be multifactorial. Possible outcome predictors identified include: advanced age, illness severity, length of ICU stay, mechanical ventilation, smoking, and chronic alcoholism. While the mechanism remains uncertain, virus-induced cell injury and inflammatory mediators may be responsible for the accelerated lung damage observed. Management has evolved over the course of the pandemic from emphasis on early intubation to maximal use of non-invasive pressure ventilation, taking into consideration the potential harm associated with patient self-inflicted lung injury versus ventilator induced injury. Our case series demonstrates three patients with varying comorbidities and elevated inflammatory markers, who received steroids and therapeutic anticoagulation. All patients had similar clinical outcomes irrespective of intubation status. Conclusion: Intubation status did not appear to have an impact on progression to post-ARDS pulmonary fibrosis in our case series of three patients. All patients developed fibrosis and continued to experience severe dyspnea requiring home oxygen six months after acute infection. Long-term observational cohort studies are required to better establish if mechanical ventilation is a predictor of post-ARDS pulmonary fibrosis from COVID-19.
Science Diplomacy at the International Atomic Energy Agency: Isotope Hydrology, Development, and the Establishment of a Technique:

This essay examines the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) role in the entry of hydrological isotopic analysis techniques into the developing world. The notion of using radioisotopic tra...
The challenges of hydrodynamic forces on cells used in Cell Manufacturing and Therapy

Abstract Six years ago I was asked to write an article for Current Opinions in Chemical Engineering title: Mixing, aeration and cell damage, 30+ years later: what we learned, how it affected the cell culture industry and what we would like to know more about. This contribution continues that focus on the hydrodynamic forces on cells by extending it to cells used in Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing. As with the general field of cell culture over 30 years ago, a general rule of thumb was that mammalian cells are too sensitive for traditional suspended culture. However, recent studies are indicating that some of the more commonly used cells, such as human T-cells and human Meschymal stem cells can, in fact, be grown in suspension. These reports are put in context of other studies on both cells and characterization of hydrodynamic conditions in various processing systems.
Comparison of thermoresponsive Diels-Alder linkers for the release of payloads from magnetic nanoparticles via hysteretic heating

Abstract Investigation into the use of thermally reversible Diels-Alder chemistry coupled with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles has grown over the last decade. This technology has been used for a variety of applications such as thermoresponsive materials, catalytic chemistry, and drug delivery systems. In this study, we evaluate two distinct thermally labile Diels-Alder linkers for the release of payloads from the surface of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Density functional theory (DFT) computational predictions of the Gibbs free energy and enthalpy reaction barriers were performed and revealed a dramatic difference in reverse energy barriers between the two linkers. These thiophene-based cycloadducts were then synthesized, conjugated to the surface of iron oxide nanoparticles, and characterized by NMR and ESI-MS. The results of the modeling were confirmed when the functionalized nanoparticles were subjected to immersion heating and the payload release rates observed were in agreement with the DFT calculations. Similarly, AMF-RF hysteretic heating of the functionalized nanoparticles revealed payload release rates that correlated with the DFT calculations and the data from the heat immersion studies. Together, these results indicate that these distinct thermally labile Diels-Alder linkers can be used to fine-tune the kinetics of payload release from nanoparticles.
Complexity of Rule Sets Induced from Incomplete Data Sets Using Global Probabilistic Approximations

We consider incomplete data sets using two interpretations of missing attribute values: lost values and “do not care” conditions. Additionally, in our data mining experiments we use global probabilistic approximations (singleton, subset and concept). The results of validation of such data, using global probabilistic approximations, were published recently. A novelty of this paper is research on the complexity of corresponding rule sets, in terms of the number of rules and number of rule conditions. Our main result is that the simplest rule sets are induced from data sets in which missing attribute values are interpreted as “do not care” conditions where rule sets are induced using subset probabilistic approximations.
Incorporation of extra amino acids in peptide recognition probe to improve specificity and selectivity of an electrochemical peptide-based sensor

We investigated the effect of incorporating extra amino acids (AA) at the n-terminus of the thiolated and methylene blue-modified peptide probe on both specificity and selectivity of an electrochemical peptide-based (E-PB) HIV sensor. The addition of a flexible (SG)3 hexapeptide is, in particular, useful in improving sensor selectivity, whereas the addition of a highly hydrophilic (EK)3 hexapeptide has shown to be effective in enhancing sensor specificity. Overall, both E-PB sensors fabricated using peptide probes with the added AA (SG-EAA and EK-EAA) showed better specificity and selectivity, especially when compared to the sensor fabricated using a peptide probe without the extra AA (EAA). For example, the selectivity factor recorded in the 50% saliva was ∼2.5 for the EAA sensor, whereas the selectivity factor was 7.8 for both the SG-EAA and EK-EAA sensors. Other sensor properties such as the limit of detection and dynamic range were minimally affected by the addition of the six AA sequence. The limit of detection was 0.5 nM for the EAA sensor and 1 nM for both SG-EAA and EK-EAA sensors. The saturation target concentration was ∼200 nM for all three sensors. Unlike previously reported E-PB HIV sensors, the peptide probe functions as both the recognition element and antifouling passivating agent; this modification eliminates the need to include an additional antifouling diluent, which simplifies the sensor design and fabrication protocol.
High Temperature Superconductivity in Praseodymium Doped (0%, 2%, 4%) in Melt-Textured Y(1-X)PR(X)Ba2cu3o(7-Delta) Systems

A study of the magnetic and structural properties of the alloy Y(1-x)Pr(x)Ba2Cu3O(7-delta) of 0%, 2%, and 4% doping of praseodymium is presented. The resulting oxides of the alloy series are a high-temperature superconductor Y-Ba-Cu-O, which has an orthorhombic superconducting crystal-lattice. Magnetic relaxation studies have been performed on the Y-Pr-Ba-CuO bulk samples for field orientation parallel to the c-axis, using a vibrating sample magnetometer. Relaxation was measured at several temperatures to obtain the irreversible magnetization curves used for the Bean model. Magnetization current densities were derived from the relaxation data. Field and temperature dependence of the logarithmic flux-creep relaxation was measured in critical state. The data indicates that the effective activation energy U(eff) increases with increasing T between 77 K and 86 K. Also, the data shows that U(eff)(T) and superconducting transition temperature, Tc, decreased as the lattice parameters increased with increasing Pr ion concentration, x, for the corresponding Y(1-x)Pr(x)Ba(x)Cu3O(7-delta) oxides. One contribution to Tc decrease in this sampling is suspected to be due to the larger ionic radius of the Pr(3+) ion. The upper critical field (H(sub c2)) was measured in the presence of magnetic field parallel to the c axis. A linear temperature dependence with H(sub c2) was obtained.
Low-Energy p -Wave π − π Interaction

A sum rule, based on forward dispersion relations, is discussed which makes possible the calculation of the $p$-wave $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\pi}$ scattering amplitude near threshold using as input principally the parameters of the $\ensuremath{\rho}$-meson resonance. This sum rule contains kinematic factors which suppress both the $s$-wave amplitude at threshold and the high-energy behavior. The $p$-wave scattering length is found to be ${a}_{1}=0.040\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005$ (units of ${{m}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$) which is compared with predictions based on partially conserved axial-vector current and with the $\ensuremath{\rho}$-meson "tail."
Relaxation through homogenization for optimal design problems with gradient constraints

The problem of the relaxation of optimal design problems for multiphase composite structures in the presence of constraints on the gradient of the state variable is addressed. A relaxed formulation for the problem is given in the presence of either a finite or infinite number of constraints. The relaxed formulation is used to identify minimizing sequences of configurations of phases.
Spacecraft Technologies: Satellite Reliability

Reliability has long been recognized as a critical design attribute for space systems. Since physical access to these high-value assets is difficult or impossible, maintenance cannot be relied upon to compensate for substandard reliability. It is therefore imperative to design high reliability into satellites. Statistical analysis of flight data, in particular of actual on-orbit failure data, would provide particularly useful feedback to spacecraft designers. For example, such analysis can help guide satellite test and screening programs and provide an empirical basis for subsystem redundancy and reliability growth plans. This chapter provides a nonparametric statistical analysis of satellite reliability. Parametric fits using a Weibull and mixture distributions are also provided and discussed. The relative contribution of each subsystem to the failure of satellites is quantified, and the “culprit” subsystems driving unreliability are identified. Keywords: reliability; satellite; satellite subsystems; statistical analysis; Weibull distribution; probability plot; maximum likelihood estimation; mixture distribution
A fuzzy logic controller for a splitter in a house cooling system

Describes the design and implementation of a fuzzy logic controller for a splitter in a house cooling system. The fuzzy controller uses nine rules to determine the flow of cool air needed in different rooms depending on the temperature level and humidity level. The controller is implemented using FUZZLE 1.8, a rule based logic shell for generating fuzzy logic inference engines. The results indicate that fuzzy controllers can emulate the ability to reason and use approximate data to maintain the comfort level in a house. >
Resolution by diagonal gel mobility shift assays of multisubunit complexes binding to a functionally important element of the rat growth hormone gene promoter

DNase I footprinting identifies a tissue-general factor, GHF3, binding to the rat growth hormone promoter between nucleotides -239 and -219. Mutation of the GHF3-binding site reduces promoter activity to 30% of that of the wild-type promoter after transfection into GC cells. Southwestern blotting and protein/DNA cross-linking experiments demonstrate that the GHF3-binding factor migrates as a 43-kDa protein. However, multiple GHF3 factor/DNA complexes with different electrophoretic mobilities are detected by gel retardation analysis. A novel technique, the diagonal gel mobility shift assay, is used to demonstrate that five of the different complexes represent multisubunit structures containing a common DNA-binding subunit. In this method, the multisubunit complexes resolved by one-dimensional gel mobility shift assays are observed to partially dissociate during electrophoresis in a second dimension with the DNA-binding subunit detected as a common signal directly below those signals representing the undissociated complexes which lie on a diagonal line. Two of the five complexes also contain an additional subunit in common whereas two other complexes appear to contain completely different subunits interacting with the common DNA-binding subunit. All five complexes copurify during GHF3-binding site-specific DNA affinity chromatography, and this fraction stimulates in vitro transcription in a GHF3-binding site-dependent fashion. Thus, a functionally important region of the rat growth hormone gene promoter interacts with a DNA-binding transcription factor which in turn acts as a docking site for other proteins.
Sleep Interventions: A Developmental Perspective

Sleep is fundamental for multiple domains of health and functioning across development. There is a 60–80 % increase in the odds of being a short sleeper among children who are obese (Cappuccio et al., 2008), there is robust evidence that sleep deprivation undermines emotion regulation among youth (McGlinchey et al., 2011; Talbot, McGlinchey, Kaplan, Dahl, & Harvey, 2010), and inadequate sleep compromises learning (Dewald et al., 2010; Sadeh, Gruber, & Raviv, 2003). Clearly, inadequate or disturbed sleep in childhood and adolescence may have immediate adverse effects in domains important for optimal development, with potential long-term consequences of great concern.
Exploratory Factor Analysis: Basics and Beyond

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is a statistical method used to answer a wide range of research questions pertaining to the underlying structure of a set of variables. A primary goal of this chapter is to provide sufficient background information to foster a comprehensive understanding for the series of methodological decisions that have to be made in an EFA and how those decisions can impact factor solutions. Topics addressed include determining whether data is suitable for analysis, factor retention procedures, extraction techniques, and options for factor rotation. Example analyses using items from a personality inventory concretely illustrate the key methodological decisions that have to be made when conducting an EFA. Expanding beyond the basics of EFA, we describe extensions that permit one to rigorously evaluate the convergence of factor structures across samples and estimate how an EFA-derived model may fare when evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. The chapter should serve as a useful reference when conducting EFA and it helps highlight novel ways this statistical approach may be applied to answer empirical questions. Keywords: exploratory factor analysis; principal components analysis; data reduction methods; construct validity
Role of biogenic thiols in the solubility of sulfide minerals

Abstract Efforts to account for observed trace metal concentrations in anoxic marine waters have had only limited success due in part to the lack of knowledge of the identity and concentration of the organic sulfur compounds that are present. There have been no previous attempts to measure trace metals concentrations simultaneously with the inorganic and organic sulfur species in marine waters. In addition to the conventional methods for the determination of the inorganic species, we are developing methods for the determination of the biogenic thiols and disulfides using an HPLC separation coupled to selective electrochemical detection. Preliminary results on the analysis from anoxic sediment pore waters will be presented. Current thermodynamic models describing the solubility of sulfide minerals in anoxic marine waters will be refined to include complexation of chalcophile trace metals by organic thiols.
Evolution of Marine Symbiosis‐‐A Simple Cost‐Benefit Model

A simple cost—benefit analysis of symbiosis from the guest's point of view is developed for (1) the conditions under which symbiosis should form, (2) the extent to which the association should be facultative or obligatory for the guest, (3) the conditions for the evolution of mutualistic activity by the guest, and (4) the optimum amount of mutualistic activity by the guest. Some predictions are that: rate species and species with short life—spans in a taxon of potential hosts should have fewer coevolved parasites; facultative parasites on unpalatable or well—protected hosts should be more deleterious to their hosts than those on comparatively vulnerable hosts; and mutualism should only evolve in hosts of intermediate survival ability. The use of the theory is illustrated with data on the damselfish—sea—anemone associations.
Misplaced marketing: A service economy whose employees say: “customer service is not my job!”

Describes how certain segments of business are increasingly “turning into a service economy” but “customer service” is not treated as a priority. Cites several experiences of poor customer service, ranging from airlines to restaurants. Concludes that in customer service the marketing questions are straightforward and simple. Therefore, it is all the more perplexing when marketing gets doubly misplaced, with a failure to ask marketing questions and substituting customer service instead.
THE LOUISIANA COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM: A BRIEF HISTORY

The Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) was created in 1999 to bring together into one governance body almost all of the state's community and technical colleges. Driven primarily by the need for increased workforce training capabilities, Governor M.J. “Mike” Foster and other top governmental officials promoted the idea as a simplification of the complex and inefficient governance structure in operation at the time. Using the three-pronged California system of higher education as a model, the proponents of the LCTCS sought to take the first step in shifting typical community college functions from expensive four-year institutions to the more economical community colleges. Doughtery's (1994) State Relative Autonomy Theory provides the best theoretical framework for understanding the process behind the establishment of the LCTCS.
Airport X-rays and floppy disks: no cause for concern

A controlled study was done to test the possible effects of X-rays on the integrity of data stored on common sizes of floppy disks. Disks were exposed to doses of X-rays up to seven times that to be expected during airport examination of baggage. The readability of nearly 14 megabytes of data was unaltered by X-irradiation, indicating that floppy disks need not be given special handling during X-ray inspection of baggage.
Does Operations Research Address Strategy

Several recent comments published by leading operations researchers leave the impression that OR does not address strategic business or government issues and, furthermore, that the field would have to develop new analysis methods to address these issues. In fact, however, many OR practitioners are addressing strategic issues these days, and the failure of OR commentators to recognize this explicitly carries dangers for the future development of the field.
On dislocations formed by the collapse of vacancy discs

Abstract The formation of dislocations by the collapsing vacancy disc mechanism is examined for aluminium, copper, silicon and germanium. It is shown that this mechanism can be important in the case of metals. In the case of silicon and germanium dislocation loops produced by the above mechanism, during usual crystal growth from the melt, will not roach sizes detectable by means of the optical microscope.
Low-frequency noise in mid-wavelength infrared InAs/GaSb type-II superlattice based focal plane arrays

Low-frequency noise has been studied in a mid-wavelength infrared InAs/GaSb type-II superlattice-based focal plane array. Low-frequency noise is observed under reverse bias but not at zero bias, even in the presence of photo-current. The magnitude of low-frequency noise was separately measured as a function of operating temperature and operation bias. The low-frequency noise is linearly correlated with the generation-recombination component of the dark current. No correlation of low-frequency noise with photo-current or diffusion dark current was found.
Wave propagation through alumina-porous alumina laminates

Abstract A Brazilian disk geometry of an alumina layered composite with alternating dense and porous layers was dynamically loaded using a Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus under compression. High-speed imaging and transmitted force measurements were used to gain an insight into stress wave propagation and mitigation through such a layered system. Uniformly distributed porosities of 20 and 50 vol% were introduced into the interlayers by the addition of fine graphite particles which volatilized during heat treatment. Brazilian disk samples were cut from the cylinders which were drilled out of the sintered laminated sample. The disks were subjected to dynamic impact loading in perpendicular and parallel orientations to the layers in order to investigate the influence of the direction of impact. The dynamic failure process of the layered ceramic consisted of the initiation and propagation of the cracks mainly along the interphases of the layers. Upon impact, the impact energy was dissipated through fracture in parallel orientation (0°) but transmitted in perpendicular (90°) orientations. The high degree of correlation between the transmitted force, microstructure and orientation in which the layered systems were impacted is discussed.
A macrophage-mediated factor that increases the high energy phosphate content of skeletal muscle.

Abstract A marked cellular infiltrate accompanies wounding. The phagocytic and bacteriocidal activities of this infiltrate require increased substrate and O 2 consumption. This rapid utilization of available oxygen and substrates could jeopardize an already compromised resident cellular component of a wound. Recent studies have demonstrated macrophage-mediated cell stimulatory agents which induce proliferation of nonlymphoid mesenchymal cells. This study was designed to examine macrophage-resident tissue interactions and their possible significance in wounded tissue. A reconstituted wound system was designed which combines the major components of a λ-carrageenan skeletal muscle wound (muscle + macrophages). The extensor digitorum long (EDL) of male Fisher rats were incubated in a standardized fashion [12]. The groups of EDL were muscle incubated alone, muscle with the addition to the incubate of activated peritoneal macrophages or muscle with the addition of a conditioned supernatant from the incubation of activated or nonactivated peritonal macrophages. Muscle ATP and CP content were noted to be increased 46 and 22%, respectively, when macrophages and skeletal muscle were coincubated. Macrophage-conditioned media from activated or nonactivated macrophages increased the ATP and CP muscle content 44 and 37%, respectively. Preliminary characterization of this high energy phosphate (HEP) promoting factor demonstrates it to be heat and cold stable and less than 10,000 Da. Therefore, a macrophage-mediated transferable factor is capable of increasing the HEP content of skeletal muscle in an in vitro system. This may have important consequences in maintaining host cell integrity following injury.
Electron Number Density Distribution in the Laminar Air Boundary Layer on Sharp Cones

The governing equations for flow on sharp wedges and cones with the Levinsky and Fernandez chemical kinetic model for air are reduced to ordinary differential equations. These equations have known solutions except the species equations which require numerical solution. The species equations include the nonsimilar terms and give electron number densities about half the value obtained when these terms are neglected. The analysis indicates how to correlate the results, and this is used to compare the present results with finite-difference solutions.
Purification of PCDD synthesis products by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with pyrenylethylsilylated and octadecylsilylated silica gel

Abstract Pure chlorinated dioxin congeners (including 20 of the 22 TCDDs) were isolated from synthetic reaction mixtures by reversed phase liquid chromatography on two stationary phases.
Respiratory motion of the heart: kinematics and the implications for the spatial resolution in coronary imaging

Respiratory motion is a major limiting factor in improving image resolution and signal-to-noise ratio in MR coronary imaging. In this work the effects of respiration on the cardiac position were studied quantitively by imaging the heart during diastole at various positions of tidal respiration with a breath-hold segmented fast gradient echo technique. It was found that during tidal breathing the movement of the heart due to respiration is dominated by superior-inferior (SI) motion, which is linearly related to the SI motion of the diaphragm. The motion of the heart due to respiration is approximately a global translation. These results provide motivation for employing adaptive motion correction techniques to reduce image blurring in nonbreath-hold coronary MR imaging.
On-the-job moms: work and breastfeeding initiation and duration for a sample of low-income women.

Objectives: As both employed and breastfeeding mothers increase, more women are facing the decision of whether and how to combine the behaviors. This paper examines three hypotheses for a sample of low-income women: 1) Mothers who expect to return to work after the birth of their baby will be less likely to initiate breastfeeding; 2) The timing of the return to work and quitting breastfeeding will coincide; 3) Mothers in professional jobs and Stay-at-Home (SAH) Moms will breastfeed for longer durations than mothers with other types of jobs. Methods: The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a sample of mostly low-income, unmarried U.S. mothers, offers a unique opportunity to study this issue, as there is reason to believe that employment may impact breastfeeding differently for low-income women. Logistic regression determines the relationship between the expectation of work and breastfeeding initiation, and discrete-time logit models examine breastfeeding duration, the timing of the return to work, and occupation type. Results: Expecting to work in the year after the baby's birth does not impact breastfeeding initiation. The timing of quitting breastfeeding and the return to work are closely and powerfully linked, and mothers in administrative and manual positions quit earlier than other women. Interestingly, women in service occupations do not differ in breastfeeding duration from SAH mothers or professionals. Conclusions: This research demonstrates that low-income women are having difficulty combining work and breastfeeding, which has important health implications for their infants, and that women working in administrative and manual occupations may face special constraints.
Electron Microscopy Study of Hypostoichiometric Fe-Pd Nanocomposites Resulting from Combined Reactions Thermomechanical Processing

Hypostoichiometric Fe-Pd binary alloys (35-45 at% Pd) were severely deformed (>90%) and subsequently aged to induce concomitant recrystallization, precipitation, and ordering. This thermomechanical processing strategy was articulated by Hornbogen [1] over thirty years ago. The resulting exchange-coupled ferromagnets contain ferrite precipitates and a complex metastable two-phase lamellar transformation product comprised of ordered L10 and a metastable FCC phase. The later duplex microconstituent is suggested to form in conjunction with a so-called pseudospinodal reaction [2] involving emerging cubic and tetragonal phases, whereby phase separation and ordering result from continuous changes in composition and a reduction in symmetry, cubic to tetragonal. The deformation texture of the parent austenite is substantially retained in the transformation product, resulting in anisotropy of the magnetic properties as determined by magnetometry (VSM). This paper presents electron microscopy results elucidating the crystallography and morphology of the phase mixtures including HREM. Magnetic field annealing is also included as a branch of our thermomechanical processing strategy, and we discuss the influence of the external fields on recrystallization, precipitation, and ordering.
Policy Effectiveness and the Slopes of IS and LM Curves: A Graphical Analysis

(2000). Policy Effectiveness and the Slopes of IS and LM Curves: A Graphical Analysis. The Journal of Economic Education: Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 374-381.
Electrophysiological properties of newborn and adult rat spinal cord glycine receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Abstract The properties of glycine receptors (GlyRs) from newborn and adult rat spinal cord were studied in Xenopus oocytes injected with whole mRNA or the heavy (H) or light (L) mRNA fractions encoding their respective GlyRs. Mean open times and conductances of channels gated by H- or L-GlyRs were determined by noise analysis or voltage jumps. We found that adult H- and L-GlyRs opened channels that differed in their mean open time but had the same channel conductance. Both H- and L-GlyRs gated Cl- currents that displayed a similarly strong outward rectification. Nevertheless, single channels of adult H- and L-GlyRs did not rectify and their mean open times were only slightly altered by voltage. It follows that the outward rectification of adult GlyRs is due mainly to a reduction in the number of open channels. In contrast to H-GlyRs, whose characteristics seem to remain essentially unchanged with age, L-GlyRs from newborn and adult rats have different properties. Channels of newborn L-GlyRs have a higher conductance, longer open time, and greater voltage dependency than those from the adult. Interestingly, properties of newborn GlyRs expressed by whole mRNA were markedly different from those encoded by newborn or adult L or H mRNA. These results demonstrate that the functional heterogeneity of GlyRs is developmentally regulated.
Sarcoid Masquerading as Optic Nerve Sheath Meningioma

Sarcoid manifesting as an optic nerve tumor without evidence of systemic disease is uncommon. Throughout a 2-year period, a 22-year-old white woman had progressive monocular loss of vision to the level of no light perception. Optic atrophy but no uveitis was noted in the affected eye. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed thickening and enhancement of the apical optic nerve, with "tram-tracking." The presumptive diagnosis was optic nerve sheath meningioma; however, a biopsy specimen from the optic nerve revealed sarcoid. Extensive postoperative investigations revealed no systemic sarcoidosis. To our knowledge, 17 cases similar to ours, with the diagnosis proved by optic nerve biopsy, have been previously reported in the English-language literature. Most of these were mistaken preoperatively for optic nerve sheath meningioma. None of the patients had evidence of systemic sarcoidosis on initial postoperative testing. Neuroimaging, serum level of angiotensin-converting enzyme, and clinical characteristics such as age, race, sex, and optochoroidal collaterals do not distinguish optic nerve sheath meningioma from sarcoid of the optic nerve. In the absence of uveitis or systemic involvement, optic nerve sarcoid manifesting as an orbital tumor is virtually impossible to diagnose without results of biopsy.
Evaporative losses of fine particulate nitrates during sampling

Abstract Laboratory and field data for losses of nitrates during sampling with filters and impactors are compared with theoretical predictions for evaporative losses. Predicted sampling efficiencies are in qualitative agreement with measured values. Both theoretical analysis and experimental data indicate that significant nitrate losses from filters and impactors can occur, although losses from impactors are far less than from filters. For both types of sampler, evaporative losses increase as the ratio of the gas-phase concentration to the particle concentration increases. For filters, losses become significant when this ratio exceeds a value in the range of 0.1–1.0; a value in the range 1.0–10.0 is required for losses to be significant for impactors.
Simulations relevant to the beam instability in the foreshock

The results presently obtained from two-dimensional simulations of the reactive instability for Maxwellian beams and cutoff distributions are noted to be consistent with recent suggestions that electrons backstreaming into earth's foreshock have steep-sided cutoff distributions, which are initially unstable to the reactive instability, and that the back-reaction to the wave growth causes the instability to pass into its kinetic phase. It is demonstrated that the reactive instability is a bunching instability, and that the reactive instability saturates and passes over into the kinetic phase by particle trapping.
The Far Infrared Absorption of Benzene

The absorption of benzene has been studied from 40-135\ensuremath{\mu} under high resolution. Five weak bands, interpreted as difference bands, have been found in the liquid. The observations lend strong support to the plane symmetrical hexagonal model for benzene.
Invariant manifolds and projective combinations of solutions of the Riccati differential equation

Abstract In this paper, we show how families of solutions of the general Riccati differential equation (RDE) can be generated via projective combinations of a given number of reference solutions. Our approach is based upon the extension of the domain of the equation to the Grassmannian manifold and the application of the Radon Lemma. In this context, we briefly discuss the relevance of our results to the study of the invariant manifolds of the equation and compare them to existing results concerning representation formulas for solutions of (RDE). The results of the paper have been motivated by the recent characterization of solutions of the (RDE) given in M. Pavon, D. D'Alessandro, Families of solution of matrix Riccati differential equations, SIAM J. Control Optim., 35(1) (1997) 194–204, which extends the classical results on the algebraic Riccati equation due to Willems, Coppel and Shayman.