cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theoretical study of ion-pair formation and Penning and associative ionization in low- to intermediate-energy He* (2 1,3S) + Li collisions

A semiclassical treatment based on a molecular orbital expansion is used to study ion-pair formation and Penning- and associative-ionization processes in ${\mathrm{He}}^{\mathrm{*}}$(2 $^{1,3}$S)+Li collisions in the energy regime from 100 to 1000 eV. Although these processes are usually important in different energy ranges, here they are found to compete with each other to an appreciable degree and hence to provide a rare opportunity for investigating collision dynamics that require an equal-footing treatment between autoionization to the continuum and a discrete transition. The present cross sections for these processes compare favorably with the measurement of Wang, Tang, and Neynaber [J. Phys. B 20, 1527 (1987)].
Tribology of pulsed laser deposited thin films of cesium oxythiomolybdate (Cs2MoOS3)

Abstract High temperature solid lubricants are required for use on silicon nitride bearings with application temperatures of 600 °C and beyond. In the present research, the tribological properties of cesium oxythiomolybdate (Cs2MoOS3) thin films grown via pulsed laser deposition were studied as a function of temperature from 25 to 800 °C. When deposited on Si3N4, the coefficient of friction, μ, was 0.03 at 600 °C. When deposited on Al2O3, ZrO2 and Inconel, μ≈0.15 at 600 °C. The friction coefficient generally increased with decreasing temperature. Wear rates were low on all substrates between 400 and 600 °C. Friction remained low up to 750 °C on Si3N4 substrates, but failure occurred above 750 °C. The tribomechanisms are discussed.
Alterations in the adrenal cortex of the rat induced by sodium deficiency: correlation of histologic changes with steroid hormone secretion.

DEANE, Shaw and Greep (1) demonstrated hypertrophy and alterations in lipid content of the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex in rats fed a sodium-deficient diet. Their observations have been confirmed by other workers (2, 3) and similar changes have been found in human adrenal glands (4). The purpose of the present investigation was to study further the effects of chronic sodium deficiency in order to correlate the histologic appearance with adrenal steroid secretion in the same animals. The experiments were designed so that the early development and progress of the adrenal alterations could be followed. Chemical data, including steroid secretion, are presented in the preceding paper (5). In this paper, histologic results are presented and their significance discussed with respect to adrenal steroid secretion.
Addition of CpG ODN to recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoProtein A conjugates of AMA1 and Pfs25 greatly increases the number of responders

Both the blood-stage protein apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) and the 25-kDa sexual-stage protein (Pfs25) of Plasmodium falciparum are two leading candidates in malarial vaccine development. We have previously demonstrated that conjugation of these malarial antigens to recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoProtein A (rEPA) significantly increased the mean-specific functional antibody responses in mice; however, some mice responded poorly and were unable to demonstrate a functional response. We hypothesized that the immunogenicities of these two malarial antigens could be further enhanced by the inclusion of a CpG oligodeoxynucleotide in the formulation. Mice were immunized with either rEPA-conjugated or unconjugated AMA1 and Pfs25 formulated on Alhydrogel with or without the addition of CPG 7909. Mice received the formulations on days 0 and 28, and mouse sera were collected on day 42. ELISA analyses on these sera showed that the addition of CPG 7909 to AMA1-rEPA and Pfs25-rEPA formulated on Alhydrogel induced significantly higher mean antibody titers than the formulations without CPG 7909, and led to a mixed Th1/Th2 response as demonstrated by the production of mouse IgG1 and IgG2a subclasses. The presence of CPG 7909 in the formulations of both conjugated antigens greatly increased the proportion of responders with antibody titers sufficient to inhibit blood-stage parasite growth in vitro or block transmission of sexual-stage parasites to mosquitoes. The results obtained in this study indicate the potential use of a combination strategy to increase the number of responders to malarial antigens in humans.
Does Store Brand Patronage Improve Store Patronage

We investigate the relationship between a household's store brandpatronage and store patronage through its impact on store revenuesand profits. The nature of the relationship will help answer thequestion: Do store brands contribute to greater store differentiationor to greater price sensitivity in the market? Our results show supportfor the store differentiation argument.
Optical properties of fiber optics materials

Abstract The advances in optical waveguides have permitted a clear measurement of many glass properties normally obscured by impurities in conventional glasses. Among these is the intrinsic optical absorption in both the infrared and ultraviolet regions. The wavelength dependence and the statistical fluctuations of another intrinsic property, the refractive index, have also been determined in detail. Knowing accurately the foregoing characteristics of “pure” glasses, deviations due to additives are easier to detect. This has led to absorption determinations for atomic defects and selected impurities as well as for deliberate additions of other oxides.
Pin1 Acts Catalytically to Promote a Conformational Change in Cdc25

Pin1 is an essential protein that can peptidyl-prolyl-isomerize small phosphopeptides. It has been suggested that Pin1 regulates entry into mitosis by catalyzing the cis/trans-isomerization of prolines on critical protein substrates in response to phosphorylation. We show that Pin1 catalytically generates a conformational change on the mitotic phosphatase Cdc25, as assayed by limited protease digestion, differential reactivity to a phosphoserine-proline-directed monoclonal antibody (MPM-2), and by changes in Cdc25 enzymatic activity. Pin1 catalytically modifies the conformation of Cdc25 at stoichiometries less than 0.0005, and mutants of Pin1 in the prolyl isomerase domain are not active. We suggest that, although difficult to detect, phosphorylation-dependent conformational changes mediated by prolyl isomerization may play an important regulatory role in the cell cycle.
Effects of silencing leukocyte-type 12/15-lipoxygenase using short interfering RNAs

The leukocyte-type 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LO) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes. 12/15-LO and its products are associated with LDL oxidation, cellular growth, migration, adhesion, and inflammatory gene expression in monocytes/macrophages, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Our objective, therefore, was to develop novel expression vectors for short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting 12/15-LO to evaluate its functional relevance in macrophages and VSMCs. We used a PCR-based approach to rapidly identify effective siRNA target sites on mouse 12/15-LO and initially tested their efficacy on a fusion construct of 12/15-LO cDNA and enhanced green fluorescent protein. We then cloned these U6 promoter+siRNA PCR products into plasmid vectors [short hairpin siRNAs (shRNAs)] to knockdown endogenous 12/15-LO expression in mouse macrophages and also rat and mouse VSMCs. Furthermore, the functional effects of shRNA-mediated 12/15-LO knockdown were noted by the reduced oxidant stress and chemokine [monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)] expression in a differentiated mouse monocytic cell line as well as by the reduced cellular adhesion and fibronectin expression in VMSCs. Knocking down 12/15-LO expression also reduced the expression of inflammatory genes, MCP-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and interleukin-6 in VSMCs. Our results illustrate the functional relevance of 12/15-LO activation in macrophages and VSMCs and its relationship to oxidant stress and inflammation.
Music-information retrieval in environments containing acoustic noise

In the field of Music-Information Retrieval (Music-IR), algorithms are used to analyze musical signals and estimate high-level features such as tempi and beat locations. These features can then be used in tasks to enhance the experience of listening to music. Most conventional Music-IR algorithms are trained and evaluated on audio that is taken directly from professional recordings with little acoustic noise. However, humans often listen to music in noisy environments, such as dance clubs, crowded bars, and outdoor concert venues. Music-IR algorithms that could function accurately even in these environments would therefore be able to reliably process more of the audio that humans hear. In this paper, I propose methods to perform Music-IR tasks on music that has been contaminated by acoustic noise. These methods incorporate algorithms such as Probabilistic Latent Component Analysis (PLCA) and Harmonic-Percussive Source Separation (HPSS) in order to identify important elements of the noisy musical signal. As an example, a noise-robust beat tracker utilizing these techniques is described.
Discontinuation of chronic diuretic therapy in stable congestive heart failure secondary to coronary artery disease or to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract To assess the feasibility of diuretic discontinuetion in patients with stable congestive heart failure (CHF) and to identify risk factors for subsequent development of congestion, a prospective, 12-week clinical trial of unmasked diuretic withdrawal was conducted with continuation of background CHF therapy and double-blind randomization to placebo or lisinoprl. Forty-one patients with a history of CHF and continuous diuretic use for ≥3 months had all diuretic therapy discontinued, and therapy with lisinopril 5 mg (target 20 mg)/day (n = 20) or placebo (n = 21) begun the next day. A diuretic was restarted if new or worsening CHF symptoms and signs developed. Twelve patients (299% did not require diuretic reinitiation at any time during follow-up, whereas 29 (71%) restarted diuretic therapy after a median of 15 days (range 2 to 42). Fourteen patients taking lisinopril and 15 taking placebo required diuretic drugs (p = NS). The baseline daily furosemide dose of >40 mg, a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤0.27, and history of systemic hypertension were independently predictive of early diuretic reinitintion by Cox proportional-hazards analysis. The probability of remaining diurstic-free after 6 weeks was 71% if none of these criteria were present. This trial demonstrates the feasibility of discontinuing diuretic drugs in certain patients with stable CHF and predicts those patients likely to require reinitiation of therapy. Diuretic withdrawal may be warranted when the furosemide dose is ≤40 mg/day, left ventricular ejection fraction is >0.27 and when no history of systemic hypertension is present.
Mechanism of Chlordiazepoxide Enhancement of 4‐Aminobutyrate‐Receptor Desensitization Investigated with 82Br− Radiotracer

Mechanism of chlordiazepoxide enhancement of 4-aminobutyrate-receptor desensitization investigated with 82Br− radiotracer Rates of desensitization of a rapidly desensitizing 4-aminobutyrate (4-Abu) receptor (t1/2=33 ms at saturation) were measured in a previously characterized experimental system from rat cerebral cortex. Desensitization was measured at times between 100 ms and several s. Measurements with 300-ms or 1-s 82Br− influx assays after prior incubation of the membrane with 4-Abu covered the whole 4-Abu concentration range of response. Desensitization was not affected by the low Br− concentrations (≤ 1 mM) present. The presence of the tranquilizing drug chlordiazepoxide (Librium) in the prior incubation increased the desensitization rate at 4-Abu concentrations below saturation. This drug changed the dependence of desensitization rate on 4-Abu concentration from the sigmoid response, previously reported with 4-Abu alone, to a hyperbolic dependence. In the presence of chlordiazepoxide the measurements approximated linear Eadie-Hofstee and Lineweaver-Burk plots. This extended the range of response to lower 4-Abu concentrations, so that the relative increase of desensitization rate became larger with decreasing 4-Abu concentration and was about sixfold at 1 μM 4-Abu. The maximum rate, at saturation with 4-Abu was unchanged by chlordiazepoxide. This observation parallels the change in the mechanism of channel opening due to chlordiazepoxide previously reported. All the measurements could be fitted to a simple minimal kinetic model, in which the effect of chlordiazepoxide could be attributed to a change in the receptor with one bound 4-Abu molecule. This could be an increase in desensitization rate or a decrease in dissociation constant of the receptor with one bound 4-Abu molecule and no other change. The effects of the tranquilizer, chlordiazepoxide with this receptor are to extend the 4-Abu concentration range of response 10-fold, to lower 4-Abu concentrations, so that the major part of the response occurs between 0.3 μM and 1000 μM 4-Abu. In addition to the effect on channel opening, the receptor desensitization rate is affected in the same way.
Body Size Stereotyping and Internalization of the Thin Ideal in Preschool Girls

Despite the multitude of negative outcomes associated with thin-ideal internalization for girls and women living in westernized societies, we know very little about how early in development thin-ideal internalization occurs or how it might manifest in very young children. This cross-sectional investigation assessed body size stereotyping and thin-ideal internalization in 55 preschool girls (ages 3–5 years) from the Southwestern U.S. using a new method of assessment that is more sensitive to the cognitive developmental stage of this age group. Results suggest that girls as young as 3 years old are already emotionally invested in the thin ideal. Discussion considers moving beyond the demonstration of fat stigmatization per se to measure how personally invested preschool children may be in beauty ideals.
The Importance of Angel Investing in Financing the Growth of Entrepreneurial Ventures

Investigation of the role of angel investing in financing private businesses in the US is important. Many observers consider angel investments to be one of the key drivers behind the startup and growth of new businesses (Council on Competitiveness, 2007), despite a paucity of information to confirm whether or not this is true. Unlike venture capital investments, angel investments are made by individual investors who do not make up a known population. Therefore, much of what is reported about angel investing comes from anecdotes and surveys of convenience samples, which are prone to biases and inaccuracies. Moreover, research on this topic is plagued by definitional confusion, in which different investigators confound informal investors, friends and family who invest in startups, accredited and unaccredited angel investors, and individual and group investing; this confusion makes it difficult to compare findings across studies. This report seeks to provide an accurate understanding of the role of angel investing in the entrepreneurial finance system. It defines angel investing and reviews the current state of understanding of the phenomenon, focusing on answering four questions: (1) How large is the angel capital market? (2) How much demand is there for angel capital? (3) What are the primary characteristics of angel investments? (4) What do the companies that receive angel financing look like? It answers these questions by reviewing the literature, providing a statistical evaluation of data sources drawn from representative samples of known populations, examining new non-representative surveys of angel investors, and comparing the results of these new analyses to previous studies of non-representative samples of business angels.
Use of widgets as information management tools in online shared spaces

Abstract Online shared spaces are destinations where people of common interests interact to achieve common goals or borrow each other's expertise for personal pursuits. Due to a multitude of users, such spaces generate large amounts of content, thus creating a potential for information overload. To deal with it, users of online shared spaces develop information management strategies that frequently involve the use of information technology. In this paper we present a case study of the use of widgets as information management tools in uCern, an online shared workspace where healthcare industry stakeholders get involved in various types of interactions. To understand how widgets served the purpose of information management and whether they were considered useful, we administered an online questionnaire ( n = 183) followed by qualitative interviews ( n = 5). Data analysis revealed that study participants used widgets as tools that promoted their situation and activity awareness of events and activities going on in uCern and helped them with organizing and accessing the content in a quick and efficient manner. We also describe issues associated with the use of widgets and their usefulness as reported by participants and propose implications for design and development of online shared spaces in relation to information management tools.
Beam steering of a microstrip flat reflectarray antenna

Beam steering was demonstrated on a microstrip flat reflectarray antenna. A 12-element array of rectangular microstrip patches was designed to achieve beam steering between the angles of -30 degrees and +20 degrees from broadside using a 1-bit digital phase shifter at 10 GHz. >
PSYCHOSOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF REJECTION AND STIGMA FEELINGS IN PSORIASIS PATIENTS

Background. Many studies as well as clinical experience indicate that patients often feel stigmatized by their psoriasis and may experience rejection due to their skin disease. Methods. In this study of connections between feelings about having psoriasis, rejection by others, and the impact on work experience, alcohol use, and psychiatric help-seeking, 100 adults with moderate to severe psoriasis responded to a specially designed questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis is used to determine whether, and how, rejection experience and stigma feelings are associated with the three psychosocial outcomes after controlling for psoriasis severity. Results. Nineteen percent of the subjects experienced 50 episodes of gross rejection as a result of their psoriasis, most often from a gym, pool, hairdresser, or job. Rejection experience leads to feeling stigmatized, which is then associated with help seeking and, to some degree, with interference with work. Rejection can lead to feeling stigmatized and to increased alcohol consumption, but the data show that patients may drink without conscious awareness of their feelings. Conclusions. When patients experience psoriasis-related rejection, they may feel stigmatized and suffer further adverse effects on their emotional and occupational life. It is urgent that ways of helping people deal with the impact of psoriasis, its stigmatizing potential, and the consequences of psoriasis-induced rejection be emphasized.
Low Cord Blood Pneumococcal Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Antibodies Predict Early Onset Acute Otitis Media in Infancy

Low maternally derived serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides (PS) combined with the inability of infants to produce anti-PS antibody may explain onset of otitis media in the first 6 months of life. To explore this relation, cord blood samples were assayed for anti-PS IgG antibodies from 414 of 592 infants enrolled in a study of early onset otitis media between 1991 and 1994. Infants' ears were examined at health supervision and illness visits for the first 6 months of life in a large Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, health maintenance organization. Antibodies to seven common pneumococcal serotypes (3, 4, 6B, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F) were measured by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Cox's regression analysis revealed that among infants with a sibling otitis media history, those with low concentrations of type 14 or 19F anti-PS cord blood antibody had earlier otitis media onset than those with higher cord blood antibody concentrations (relative risks (RR) (95% confidence intervals (CI)) = 1.77 (1.05-2.99) and 1.89 (1.11-3.23), respectively). Day care attendance also increased risk (RR = 1.56, 95% CI 0.96-2.52). Breastfeeding, parental smoking, and low anti-PS antibody to pneumococcal serotypes 3, 4, 6B, 18C, and 23F did not significantly affect the risk of early otitis media.
Polarizable Atomistic Calculation of Site Energy Disorder in Amorphous Alq3

A polarizable molecular dynamics simulation and calculation scheme for site energy disorder is presented in amorphous tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum (Alq3) by means of the charge response kernel (CRK) method. The CRK fit to the electrostatic potential and the tight-binding approximation are introduced, which enables modeling of the polarizable electrostatic interaction for a large molecule systematically from an ab initio calculation. The site energy disorder for electron and hole transfers is calculated in amorphous Alq3 and the effect of the polarization on the site energy disorder is discussed.
Rhodoglobus vestalii gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel psychrophilic organism isolated from an Antarctic Dry Valley lake

A novel, psychrophilic, Gram-positive bacterium (designated strain LV3T) from a lake near the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica, has been isolated and characterized. This organism formed red-pigmented colonies, had an optimal growth temperature of 18 °C and grew on a variety of media between −2 and 21 °C. Scanning electron micrographs of strain LV3T that showed small rods with unusual bulbous protuberances during all phases of growth were of particular interest. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was approximately 62 mol%. The cell walls contained ornithine as the diamino acid. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Cells grown at −2 °C contained significant amounts of anteiso-C15 : 1. The major menaquinones found in strain LV3T were MK-11 and MK-12. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain LV3T was a member of the family Microbacteriaceae and related to, but distinct from, organisms belonging to the genera Agreia, Leifsonia and Subtercola. In addition, alignments of 16S rRNA sequences showed that the sequence of strain LV3T contained a 13 bp insertion that was found in only a few related sequences. Based on the low growth temperature, unusual cell shape, distinct 16S rRNA gene sequence and structure and cell-wall amino acid and menaquinone compositions, Rhodoglobus vestalii gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain LV3T (=ATCC BAA-534T =CIP 107482T).
Spread Spectrum System Using Noise Band Shift Keying

A new spread spectrum technique using band-limited Gaussian noise for transmission and incoherent detection at the receiver has been discussed. The proposed system called noise band shift keying (NBSK) may be considered as a modified form of the frequency-shift keying (FSK) system. In the NBSK system nonoverlapping bandlimited noise is transmitted instead of pure tones as in the FSK system and the center frequency of the noise is chosen on the basis of the binary data signal. For this system, an expression for the probability of error has been derived and it has been shown that its performance under nonfading channel conditions is identical to that of the FSK system with frequency diversity under Rayleigh fading conditions. Compared to the conventional spread spectrum systems, the proposed method is considerably more simple to implement and is attractive where adequate bandwidth is available.
Distributions of durations of perception in the binocular rivalry of contours.

Summary Durations of four categories of perceptions in the binocular rivalry of 3.9° bright contours were considered. Distributions of durations of perceptions of each of the rivalry categories and of all rivalry reports together were tested against five standard distributions. The empirical distributions showed no tendency to fit any of the standard theoretical distributions well. The results suggest that speculations concerning the underlying mechanisms of binocular rivalry based on observations of the durations of rivalry reports may not be useful until the distributions of durations are satisfactorily described.
Optimized Analyzing Magnet for Measurements of Polarization of Gamma Quants at 10 MeV

Described here are calculations and the test of the magnet for measurement of polarization of gammas by its helicity-dependent attenuation in magnetized iron. Magnet is a compact device which size is ∼ ten times smaller, than the worldwide analogues.
The Effect of Lifting Speed on Cumulative and Peak Biomechanical Loading for Symmetric Lifting Tasks

Background: To determine the influence of lifting speed and type on peak and cumulative back compressive force (BCF) and shoulder moment (SM) loads during symmetric lifting. Another aim of the study was to compare static and dynamic lifting models. Methods: Ten male participants performed a floor-to-shoulder, floor-to-waist, and waist-to-shoulder lift at three different speeds [slow (0.34 m/s), medium (0.44 m/s), and fast (0.64 m/s)], and with two different loads [light (2.25 kg) and heavy (9 kg)]. Two-dimensional kinematics and kinetics were determined. A three-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to calculate peak and cumulative loading of BCF and SM for light and heavy loads. Results: Peak BCF was significantly different between slow and fast lifting speeds (p < 0.001), with a mean difference of 20% between fast and slow lifts. The cumulative loading of BCF and SM was significantly different between fast and slow lifting speeds (p < 0.001), with mean differences � 80%. Conclusion: Based on peak values, BCF is highest for fast speeds, but the BCF cumulative loading is highest for slow speeds, with the largest difference between fast and slow lifts. This may imply that a slow lifting speed is at least as hazardous as a fast lifting speed. It is important to consider the duration of lift when determining risks for back and shoulder injuries due to lifting and that peak values alone are likely not sufficient.
The role for invasive monitoring in acute lung injury.

Because acute lung injury (ALI) may arise from diverse and heterogeneous clinical insults, monitoring strategies for patients with ALI are heterogeneous as well. This review divides the monitoring strategies for ALI into three distinct phases. The "at-risk phase" is the period in which patients are at risk for ALI, and interventions may be applied to minimize or eliminate this risk. The "ALI phase" is the period during which ALI has occurred and requires attentive clinical management. The "resolution phase" is the period defined by resolution of ALI and successful discontinuation of mechanical ventilation. These phases are arbitrary, but they provide a useful framework for discussing the temporal changes in patient condition and monitoring goals in ALI.Invasive hemodynamic monitoring has specific roles in each phase of therapy for patients with ALI: pre-ALI, peri-ALI, and post-ALI. The primary goals are to optimize fluid resuscitation to prevent organ dysfunction, including ALI, and if ALI occurs to additional optimize fluid balance vis-a-vis the lung. By judicious application of invasive hemodynamic monitoring, particularly in its more modern iterations, clinicians can optimize the ebb and flow phases common to critically ill patients. This is vitally important given our current and growing understanding of the relationship between fluid balance and important clinical outcomes, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and mortality.
TFTR CAMAC power supplies reliability

Since the life expectancy of the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) has been extended into the early 1990s, the issues of worn-out equipment, when to refurbish/replace, and the costs associated with these decisions must be faced. The management of the maintenance of the TFTR Central Instrumentation Control and Data Acquisition System (CICADA) power supplies within the CAMAC network is a case study of a set of systems to monitor the reliability, costs, and results of action of repairable systems. The CAMAC network is composed of approximately 500 racks, each with its own power supply. By using a simple reliability estimator on a coarse time interval in conjunction with determining the root cause of individual failures, a cost-effective repair and maintenance program has been realized. The estimator, some of the specific causes for recurring failures and steps toward correcting them, and the subsequent effects on estimator reliability are described. By extending this program, the continued viability of CAMAC power supplies can be assessed into the future, predicting wear-out and developing cost-effective refurbishment/replacement policies. >
Home environmental treatment improves asthma in inner city children

Abstract Rationale Since home environmental pollutants and allergens have been associated with asthma morbidity, a comprehensive program to reduce exposure should improve morbidity Methods We randomized 100 inner city families with asthmatic children to Treatment group (TG) receiving room HEPA air filter, mattress/pillow encasing, cockroach/mouse extermination, education or Control group (CG) with delayed treatment. During the one-year study, symptom and environment questionnaires were administered at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 months, home evaluation (inspection, dust Blag1, Musm1, PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2) administered at 0,6, 12 months and clinic evaluation (skin test, RAST, FEV1) administered at 0,12 months. Results TG and CG homes contained smokers (73 vs 68%) and high levels of Blag1 and Musm1. At baseline most TG and CG children were atopic (68 vs 70%), had normal FEV1 (101 vs 94% predicted) and some took controller medications (28% vs 34%). 97% of families completed the study. Bedroom PM2.5 decreased more in TG (38 to 22 μg/m3) than in CG (30 to 29 μg/m3; p=0.001) at 6 months and remained lower at 12 months. Bedroom Blag1 decreased more in TG (4.9 to 2.2 U/gm) compared to CG (2.8 to 6.9 U/gm p=.06) and remained lower at 12 months. Daily asthma symptoms decreased in TG children (58% to 35%) and increased in CG children (41% to 66%) (p=0.03). Conclusions Reducing exposure to home allergens and pollutants over a year is feasible in inner city homes and is associated with improved clinical status in asthmatic children living in these homes.
The Permanent Transition In Africa

Abstract: The negative impact of hegemonic neoliberal policies on women has been well documented globally, but it is more intense and absolute in Sub-Saharan Africa because of specific economic characteristics frequently found there. With few exceptions, its national economies are small, with especially small industrial sectors. Their orientation towards primary product exports, dominated by men locally and globally, remains strong from colonial rule, ended less than 50 years ago. Recent structural adjustment programs (SAPs) have only reinforced this imbalance. The credit and demand restraints associated with SAPs cause deep economic hardship among women and the poor, as consumers and workers. Capital shortage and unreliable infrastructure inhibit the anticipated supply response from local entrepreneurs or foreign investment. Widespread layoffs, higher user fees and government cutbacks in already minimal public services increase poor women's domestic drudgery, health care burdens and income pressures, while reducing their employment prospects and earnings.
Spectrophotometric Study of iron‐2‐hydroxymethyl‐ 6(2′‐ hydroxymethyl ‐ 5′‐hydroxy‐4′‐pyrone‐6′) pyranyl [3,2‐b]pyran‐4,8‐dione complex

A spectrophotometric study has been made of the reddish-orange product formed in the interaction of the WOODs reagent, 2-hydroxymethyl-6(2′-hydroxymethyl-5′-hydroxy-4′-pyrone-6′)pyranyl[3,2-b]pyran-4,8-dione, with iron. Absorbance measurements by the mole ratio method gave definite evidence of a 2 to 1 mole tario product of the WOODs reagent to iron. Durch spektrophotometrische Untersuchung des orangeroten Reaktionsproduktes aus WOODs Reagens (s. „Summary”) und Eisen(III)-ionen wird auf ein Molverhaltnis Reagens: Fe(III) = 2:1 geschlossen
Accounts as a reconstruction of an event's context

Persons offer accounts of their actions in problematic situations to change the meaning of an event. This linguistic practice of accounting has been studied primarily for its functions—how accounts manage meanings. This line of research is extended by examining the procedures persons use to accomplish accounts. The reconfiguring of the event's context is the key to understanding how accounts change meanings. The view of context as hierarchically organized is drawn upon to construct a model of accounts. Accounts are accomplished by the procedures of: (1) specifying contextual objects, (2) organized by the actor's rules to warrant, (3) the reconfiguration of the hierarchical levels of context.
The Labor Component of Private Investor Real Estate Returns

Executive Summary. This paper offers theoretical foundation as to how the addition of human capital enters into the return calculation for privately owned real estate investments. A two-part model ...
Dynamic Constitutive Behavior of Reinforced Hydrogels inside Liquid Environment

Dynamic compressive behavior of three different types of hydrogels used for soft tissue applications are tested using a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar. Three kinds of hydrogels: (a) plain epoxy hydrogels, (b) epoxy hydrogels reinforced with three-dimensional polyurethane fibers and (c) fumed silica nano particles reinforced hydrogels with different cross linking densities are considered in this study. The three dimensional pattern of the fibers are generated by a rapid robo-casting technique. A pulse shaping technique is used to increase the rising time of the incident pulse to obtain dynamic stress equilibrium. A novel liquid environment technique was implemented to observe the dynamic behavior of hydrogels when immersed in water. Experiments are carried out for different strain rates with and without water environment. Preliminary results show that the yield strength of these hydrogels decreases when they are immersed in water.
Photoelectrochemical behavior of n-type Si(111) electrodes coated with a single layer of graphene.

The behavior of graphene-coated n-type Si(111) photoanodes was compared to the behavior of H-terminated n-type Si(111) photoanodes in contact with aqueous K_3[Fe(CN)_6]/K_4[Fe(CN)_6] as well as in contact with a series of outer-sphere, one-electron redox couples in nonaqueous electrolytes. The n-Si/Graphene electrodes exhibited stable short-circuit photocurrent densities of over 10 mA cm^(–2) for >1000 s of continuous operation in aqueous electrolytes, whereas n-Si–H electrodes yielded a nearly complete decay of the current density within 100 s. The values of the open-circuit photovoltages and the flat-band potentials of the Si were a function of both the Fermi level of the graphene and the electrochemical potential of the electrolyte solution, indicating that the n-Si/Graphene did not form a buried junction with respect to the solution contact.
New Procedures For Preprocessing 0–1 Models With Knapsack-Like Constraints And Conjunctive And/Or Disjunctive Variable Upper Bounds

AbstractWe present some preprocessing techniques for 0–1 models by taking advantage of the special structure provided by conjunctive and disjunctive variahle upper bounds, which are often used to express logical constraints. These new procedures include variable fixing, generation of clique and coverinduced inequalities, and coefficient reduction and related constraint generation procedures. By considering the information provided by the variable upper bound constraints, the procedures can be applied when the conditions required by the standard methods are not satisfied. Although some of our procedures require the solution of 0–1 problems arising from the original model, the subproblems (mainly, subset sum and set covering models) are usually small. In any case, our methodology can also be applied by using easily computed upper bounds on the optimal values of the subproblems.
Validation and testing of a MEMS piezoelectric permanent magnet current sensor with vibration canceling

Abstract The work presented here documents the characterization and testing of a novel, proximity-based AC current sensor. By using a pair of cross-coupled MEMS piezoelectric cantilevers that have oppositely-oriented magnets on their free ends, a sensor has been created that needs no external power source and that measures AC current without the need for galvanic contact with, or fully encircling of, the current-carrying conductor. The resulting device is 11.2 mm long and has an output sensitivity of 5.8 mV/G at 6.8 mm from the center of the conductor. The sensor device has been characterized at frequencies of 60⬜200 Hz. Common-mode rejection ratio calculations demonstrate the effectiveness of the cancellation technique at frequencies other than those corresponding to the first resonant mode of the device.
Glucocorticoid action in human corneal epithelial cells establishes roles for corticosteroids in wound healing and barrier function of the eye.

Glucocorticoids play diverse roles in almost all physiological systems of the body, including both anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive roles. Synthetic glucocorticoids are one of the most widely prescribed drugs and are used in the treatment of conditions such as autoimmune diseases, allergies, ocular disorders and certain types of cancers. In the interest of investigating glucocorticoid actions in the cornea of the eye, we established that multiple cell types in mouse corneas express functional glucocorticoid receptor (GR) with corneal epithelial cells having robust expression. To define glucocorticoid actions in a cell type-specific manner, we employed immortalized human corneal epithelial (HCE) cell line to define the glucocorticoid transcriptome and elucidated its functions in corneal epithelial cells. Over 4000 genes were significantly regulated within 6 h of dexamethasone treatment, and genes associated with cell movement, cytoskeletal remodeling and permeability were highly regulated. Real-time in vitro wound healing assays revealed that glucocorticoids delay wound healing by attenuating cell migration. These functional alterations were associated with cytoskeletal remodeling at the wounded edge of a scratch-wounded monolayer. However, glucocorticoid treatment improved the organization of tight-junction proteins and enhanced the epithelial barrier function. Our results demonstrate that glucocorticoids profoundly alter corneal epithelial gene expression and many of these changes likely impact both wound healing and epithelial cell barrier function.
Community benthic paleoecology from high-resolution climate records: Mollusca and foraminifera in post-glacial environments of the California margin

Abstract Paleoecological reconstructions of past climate are often based on a single taxonomic group with a consistent presence. Less is known about the relationship between multi-taxon community-wide change and climate variability. Here we reconstruct paleoecological change in a Late Quaternary (16.1–3.4 ka) sediment core from the California margin (418 m below sea level) of Santa Barbara Basin (SBB), USA, using Mollusca (Animalia) and Foraminifera (Rhizaria) microfossils. Building upon previous investigations, we use multivariate ordination and cluster analyses to interpret community-scale changes in these distinctly different taxonomic groups across discrete climate episodes. The strongest differences between seafloor biological communities occurred between glacial (prior to Termination IA, 14.7 ka) and interglacial climate episodes. Holocene communities were well partitioned, indicating that sub-millennial oceanographic variability was recorded by these microfossils. We document strong evidence of chemosynthetic trophic webs and sulfidic environments (from gastropod Alia permodesta and bivalve Lucinoma aequizonata), which characterized restricted intervals previously interpreted as well oxygenated (such as the Pre-Bolling Warming). Mollusc records indicate first-order trophic energetic shifts between detrital and chemosynthetically-fixed carbon. Molluscs associated with widely different physiological preferences occur here within single, decadal intervals of sediment, and as such mollusc assemblages may reflect significant inter-decadal oceanographic variability. Foraminifera assemblages provide exceptional records of the sequential, chronological progression of the deglacial climatic and oceanographic events, whereas mollusc assemblages reflect non-chronological similarities in reoccurring communities. Foraminifera taxa that drive community similarity here are also independently recognized as marker species for seafloor hypoxia regimes, which provides support for the idea that oxygenation change is a principal driver of seafloor environmental variability.
Denton Arthur Cooley, MD.

Denton Arthur Cooley, MD, a pioneering heart surgeon, died November 18, 2016, at age 96. He was born in Houston, TX, on August 22, 1920, to Ralph Clarkson Cooley and Mary Fraley Cooley. From the beginning, Cooley’s career in medicine and his contributions to humanity seem to have been foreshadowed. His father was a prominent Houston dentist, and the attending obstetrician at his birth was Dr Ernst William Bertner. Bertner would be part of the team that developed the renowned Texas Medical Center where Denton Cooley later established the now world-acclaimed Texas Heart Institute (THI). In the early 1890s, Cooley’s paternal grandfather, Daniel Denton Cooley, helped found the Houston Heights, a major suburb of the growing city of Houston. Denton A. Cooley’s pioneering career spanned the history of modern cardiovascular surgery. Beginning in the late 1940s, he developed many of today’s commonly used cardiovascular procedures and devices. Nevertheless, he is probably best known for performing the first successful human heart transplant in the United States (1968) and the world’s first human implantation of an artificial heart (1969). Many of Cooley’s other contributions, however, are equally important: the first repair of an aortic aneurysm (1949); the first repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (1954); the first repair of a ventricular septal defect that developed after a heart attack (1956); the first successful carotid endarterectomy (1956); new techniques for repairing diseased heart valves and congenital heart defects…the list goes on to include >30 such firsts. In some way, Cooley participated in every major development in cardiovascular surgery. With characteristic humility, he always said, “My good fortune professionally came from the fact that I began my career when heart surgery was in its infancy, when surgeons were free to discover and innovate. I’ve been a participant in so many breakthroughs primarily because …
Lower extremity muscle structure in incomplete spinal cord injury: a comparison between ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Ultrasound (US) measures of muscle thickness are used in the management and monitoring of muscle changes during rehabilitation, but it is unknown how this measure compares to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Six participants with incomplete SCI underwent US imaging and MRI of their gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles. Significant correlations were found between US muscle thickness and MRI CSA in the gastrocnemius (R=0.91, P<0.001), and TA muscles (R=0.58, P<0.05). US muscle thickness in the gastrocnemius and TA of patients with incomplete SCI may be used as a cheaper alternative measure of CSA as measured using MRI, and this measure may be clinically useful to track progress in muscle gains during rehabilitation.
A note on the “Aharonov–Vaidman operator action representation theorem”

The original Aharonov–Vaidman operator action theorem relates the action of an Hermitian operator \({\hat{A}} \) upon a state \(|\psi \rangle \) to its associated mean value \(\langle \psi |\hat{{A}}|\psi \rangle \), its uncertainty \(\Delta A\), and an orthogonal companion state \(|{\psi ^{\bot }} \rangle \). Here a slightly more general version of the original theorem and of the associated Aharonov–Vaidman gauge transformation is posited. It is shown that these more general versions are—and must clearly be—invariant under U(1) gauge transformations of \(|{\psi ^{\bot }}\rangle \). A new simple method for determining the nth moment of a Hermitian operator is also obtained using the operator action theorem for both the actions \({\hat{A}} |{\psi ^{\bot }} \rangle \) and \({\hat{A}} |\psi \rangle \).
Universidade Federal de São Carlos: memórias da criação de um Programa de Mestrado em Educação (Federal University of São Carlos: memories of the creation of a Masters Program in Education)

Statement on the creation and implementation of PPGE / UFSCar. Depoimento sobre a criacao e implantacao do PPGE/UFSCar.
The State of Essential Newborn Care by Delivery Location in Bangladesh.

Introduction Essential newborn care (ENC) around the time of birth is critical in improving neonatal survival. There is currently a gap in our knowledge of the use of ENC by place of delivery in Bangladesh. This study assesses the provision of ENC and examines the odds of newborns receiving ENC by different levels of delivery care in Bangladesh. Methods Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were performed on ENC practices from the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey dataset. ENC practices included nonapplication of substances to the cord; application of antiseptic to the cord; drying newborn within 5 min; wrapping newborn within 5 min; delaying first bath until the first 72 h; and breastfeeding within 1 h. Key predictors included home delivery with a lay attendant, delivery with primary healthcare services and delivery with higher-level healthcare services. Results Coverage of ENC practices was low. Women who delivered with primary and higher-level healthcare services generally reported greater odds of their newborns receiving recommended ENC than women who had home delivery with a lay attendant, the referent category. However, the odds of delayed first bath until 72 h and breastfeeding within 1 h were not statistically different for newborns who were delivered with primary healthcare services. Discussion These findings have significant public health implications as primary healthcare facilities are the first point of entry into the healthcare system. Provision of ENC, particularly delayed first bath until 72 h and breastfeeding within 1 h, should be encouraged for all healthy mother-newborn pairs in Bangladesh.
The Humanizing Voice: Speech Reveals, and Text Conceals, a More Thoughtful Mind in the Midst of Disagreement:

A person's speech communicates his or her thoughts and feelings. We predicted that beyond conveying the contents of a person's mind, a person's speech also conveys mental capacity, such that hearing a person explain his or her beliefs makes the person seem more mentally capable-and therefore seem to possess more uniquely human mental traits-than reading the same content. We expected this effect to emerge when people are perceived as relatively mindless, such as when they disagree with the evaluator's own beliefs. Three experiments involving polarizing attitudinal issues and political opinions supported these hypotheses. A fourth experiment identified paralinguistic cues in the human voice that convey basic mental capacities. These results suggest that the medium through which people communicate may systematically influence the impressions they form of each other. The tendency to denigrate the minds of the opposition may be tempered by giving them, quite literally, a voice.