cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring Callous Unemotional Behaviors in Early Childhood: Factor Structure and the Prediction of Stable Aggression in Middle Childhood

This study sought to replicate the results of our earlier study, which were published in this Journal (Willoughby et. al 2011), that used mother-reported items from the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment to develop a screening measure of callous unemotional (CU) behaviors for use with preschool-aged children. We further sought to extend those results by exploring the predictive validity of the CU measure with aggression trajectories in early-/mid- childhood. The current study involved secondary data analysis of the NICHD Study of Early Childhood and Youth Development (NICHD-SECCYD) dataset. Factor analyses included N = 1,176 children who participated in the age 3 year assessment of the NICHD-SECCYD. Predictive models included N = 1,081 children for whom four of the six possible teacher ratings of aggressive behavior were available from annual assessments spanning 1st–6th grades. Consistent with prior work, a three-factor confirmatory factor model, which differentiated CU from oppositional defiant (ODD) and attention deficit/hyperactive-impulsive (ADHD) behaviors, provided the best fit to the data. Among children with disorganized attachment status, the combination of high levels of mother-rated ODD behaviors and CU behaviors, was predictive of stable elevated levels of teacher-rated aggression from 1st–6th grade (predicted probability = 0.38, compared with a base rate of 0.07). These results demonstrate that CU behaviors can be reliably measured by parent report in young children and are dissociable from more commonly assessed dimensions of disruptive behavior. Three-year-old children who exhibit elevated levels of ODD and CU behaviors, and who have disorganized attachments, are at increased risk for exhibiting elevated levels of aggression across middle childhood. Results are discussed from the perspective of early assessment and intervention.
A note on nonexistence of posterior moments

Bayesian analyses often take for granted the assumption that the posterior distribution has at least a first moment. They often include computed or estimated posterior means. In this note, the authors show an example of a Weibull distribution parameter where the theoretical posterior mean fails to exist for commonly used proper semi-conjugate priors. They also show that posterior moments can fail to exist with commonly used noninformative priors including Jeffreys, reference and matching priors, despite the fact that the posteriors are proper. Moreover, within a broad class of priors, the predictive distribution also has no mean. The authors illustrate the problem with a simulated example. Their results demonstrate that the unwitting use of estimated posterior means may yield unjustified conclusions.
Variation in the Management of Infants Hospitalized for Bronchiolitis Persists after the 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics Bronchiolitis Guidelines

Objective To describe variation across US pediatric hospitals in the utilization of resources not recommended for routine use by the American Academy of Pediatrics guideline for infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis and to examine the association between resource utilization and disposition outcomes. Study design We conducted a cross-sectional study of infants ≤12 months hospitalized for bronchiolitis from 2007-2012 at 42 hospitals contributing data to the Pediatric Health Information System. Patients with asthma were excluded. The primary outcome was hospital-level variation in utilization of 5 resources not recommended for routine use: albuterol, racemic epinephrine, corticosteroids, chest radiography, and antibiotics. We also examined the association of resource utilization with length of stay (LOS) and readmission. Results In total, 64 994 hospitalizations were analyzed. After adjustment for patient characteristics, albuterol (median, 52.4%; range, 3.5%-81%), racemic epinephrine (20.1%; 0.6%-78.8%), and chest radiography (54.9%; 24.1%-76.7%) had the greatest variation across hospitals. Utilization of albuterol, racemic epinephrine, and antibiotics did not change significantly over time compared with small decreases in corticosteroid (3.3%) and chest radiography (8.6%) use over the study period. Utilization of each resource was significantly associated with increased LOS without concomitant decreased odds of readmission. Conclusions Substantial use and variation in 5 resources not recommended for routine use by the American Academy of Pediatrics bronchiolitis guideline persists with increased utilization associated with increased LOS without the benefit of decreased readmission. Future work should focus on developing processes that can be widely disseminated and easily implemented to minimize unwarranted practice variation when evidence and guidelines exist.
Variance preferences and variance shifts in group investment decisions

Abstract In this study 58 subjects made five investment decisions first as individuals and then in groups. The subjects were led to believe that they were basing their decisions on actual current stock market data, but in fact they were responding to an investment simulation. The simulation controlled for the probabilities, the pay-offs, and the variances of all choices. It was found that both groups and individuals displayed definite variance preferences, but that groups had substantially greater preference for high variance, high risk securities. It is concluded that variance is an important variable for both individual and group risk-taking and decision-making studies. The results also tend to confirm and extend the generality of earlier studies of group risk taking by introducing a task which is different from that used in previous studies and which is, perhaps, more directly related to typical forms of organizational decision making.
Enhancement of β-adrenergic responses by Gi-linked receptors in rat hippocampus

Abstract Many excitable cells express a class of neurotransmitter receptors functionally defined by their ability to increase potassium conductance through G proteins of the G i /G o class that directly activate the potassium channels. Biochemical studies have shown that these same receptors can also inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase, although the functional significance of this effect remains unclear. In this study electrophysiological techniques were used to examine how activation of serotonin and γ-aminobutyric acid receptors belongingtothis class affect β-adrenergic responses signaled through adenylyl cyclase. Surprisingly, activation of these receptors not only failed to inhibit but actually enhanced β-adrenergic responses. These observations are consistent with evidence indicating that G i -linked receptors can enhance the ability of G s to stimulate certain adenylyl cyclases.
A simple analytical model for counter-current flow limiting phenomena with vapor condensation

Abstract A simple analytical model has been employed to analyze the effect of vapor condensation on the counter-current flow limiting (CCFL) phenomenon. It is shown that vapor condensation affects greatly the CCFL phenomenon and may significantly enhance the CCFL breakdown. The model also predicts a hysteresis effect in the subcolled CCFL phenomenon.
Bank debt, insider trading, and the return to corporate selloffs

Abstract Recent theoretical models suggest that banks carry out an evaluation and monitoring function for borrowers that entails the collection of private information from borrowers. In this paper, we present empirical evidence that the benefits of this evaluation and monitoring are reflected in the share price reaction to announcements of corporate selloff decisions. We also find a consistency in the pattern of selloff returns with respect to bank debt and insider trading. This implies that decisions of both quasi-insiders (banks) and traditionally recognized insiders (management) convey important information to financial market participants about the valuation of a major managerial announcement.
Low‐level VLF and LF radio emissions observed at Earth and Jupiter

Major observational features of magnetospheric VLF-LF radio noise that have been uncovered by the IMP, Hawkeye and ISEE satellites, are examined with emphasis on the capabilities of the noise to diagnose local and remote plasma parameters. The relationship of the radiation to not less than 1-mV/m electrostatic upper hybrid emissions is assessed, and indirect observational evidence suggests that upper noise is associated with the generation of the VLF-LF radiation. Theoretical luminosities of mechanisms including synchrotron radiation, linear mode conversion of upper hybrid waves and nonlinear scattering of upper hybrid waves off plasma density irregularities are estimated, and the wave-wave scattering hypothesis is considered to be a viable mechanism if the presence of low-frequency waves as a scattering agent can be established.
A Vulnerability Interpretation of the Geography of HIV/AIDS in Ghana, 1986–1995

Ten years after the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) was first reported in Ghana, it continues to spread throughout the country following patterns that are rare in other African countries. HIV is seen in twice as many females as males, more frequently in rural than urban regions, and regions with high rates of polygamy have significantly lower rates. The evidence presented in this paper shows that HIV diffusion patterns probably reflect the spatial distribution and social networks of vulnerable social groups. While information-based campaigns are still necessary in the fight against HIV/AIDS, they fail to enable or empower vulnerable people to protect themselves against infection.
Helping Families Search for Solutions: Working with Adolescents.

In this column, the author focuses on the ways that family counselors can use solution-based therapies (solution-oriented and solution-focused) to work with families with adolescents in individual and/or family therapy. The theoretical foundation for solution-based therapies suggests techniques that help families focus on solutions and not remain stuck in problem thinking. These solution-based strategies facilitate the process of empowering families to find solution in the future while drawing on their own expertise and strengths to promote their desired change.
Circulating immune complexes in the seronegative spondyloarthropathies

Abstract Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were determined in a large population of patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathies. In addition, we attempted to correlate the presence and levels of CIC with other parameters of disease activity in a serial fashion. CIC were measured using the Raji cell assay and the solid-phase Clq assay. A total of 92 patients were studied. These included 30 with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 30 with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), 20 with Reiter's syndrome, and 12 patients with Crohn's arthritis (CA). Elevated levels of CIC were found in 73.3% (22 of 30) of AS patients, 60% (18 of 30) of PsA patients, 80% (16 of 20) of Reiter's patients, and 67% (8 of 12) of Crohn's patients studied. Both assays yielded concordant results. There was a significant correlation with disease activity, in particular arthritis, and the levels and incidence of CIC markedly declined in all groups when disease activity was under better control. Density gradient analysis of several sera revealed immune complex reactive material mainly in the 19 S region. This study suggests that CIC may play a role in the pathogenesis of some of the clinical manifestation of these conditions.
Complications of temporary pancreatic stent insertion for pancreaticojejunal anastomosis during pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Abstract Background Morbidity associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy usually results from complications associated with the pancreaticojejunal anastomosis, in particular, a pancreatic leak. Four patients with retained transanastomotic pancreatic stent-induced complications after pancreaticduodenectomy were identified. Methods Medical records for the 4 patients were reviewed, and telephone interviews were conducted. Observations Each patient underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for a peripapillary tumor with creation of a pancreaticojejunal anastomosis by using an internal 8F Silastic stent. Subsequent evaluation for steatorrhea (n=3) or recurrent pancreatitis (n=1) led to discovery of a retained pancreatic stent. In one patient, the stent was incidentally discovered. Steatorrhea significantly improved (n=1) or resolved (n=2) after stent removal. The patient with pancreatitis has not experienced another episode. Conclusions The possibility of a retained stent should be considered in patients presenting with steatorrhea or pancreatitis after pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Healing times of pedal ulcers in diabetic immunosuppressed patients after transplantation

Abstract Objective: To compare the healing time of neuropathic plantar ulcers treated by total-contact casting (TCC) in diabetic, immunosuppressed patients after organ transplantation with the healing time of plantar ulcers in control nonimmunosuppressed patients. Design: A case-control design with the control group matched for age, race, sex, body dimensions (height, weight, and body mass index), presence of sensory neuropathy, foot deformity presence and location, and pedal ulcer area and depth. Setting: An outpatient physical therapy clinic in a regional tertiary-care hospital and academic medical center. Participants: Nine patients with chronic diabetes mellitus and a previous organ transplantation who were currently receiving lifelong immunosuppressive drug therapy were treated for a neuropathic plantar ulcer by means of TCC. Fourteen group-matched control subjects with diabetes mellitus and a plantar ulcer but who had never had an organ transplantation and were not taking immunosuppressive agents were also studied. Interventions: TCC with partial weight-bearing using an assistive device until ulcers healed. Main Outcome Measure: Healing time was defined as the number of days in the total-contact cast until the skin completely closed. Results: All diabetic foot ulcers healed with casting. Immunosuppressed/transplanted patients healed in a mean time of 111 ± 25 days; ulcers of control subjects healed in 47 ± 18 days ( p Conclusions: TCC is a highly effective and rapid method of healing neuropathic pedal ulcers in diabetic immunosuppressed/ transplantation patients, although it may take several weeks longer than it would for patients who were not immunocompromised.
Single-tablet enantiomeric purity assay of amphetamine by rotation enhancement.

Abstract Enhancement of the optical rotation of dextroam‐phetamine by production of an optically active chromophore through reaction with 1‐fluoro‐2, 4‐dinitrobenzene to give a‐methyI‐ N ‐(2, 4‐dinitrophenyI)‐β‐phenylethylamine is reported. This reaction forms the basis of an assay for both the content and optical purity of dextroamphetamine sulfate at single‐dose levels (5 mg). Results of assays of standard solutions and of commercial tablets demonstrate the suitability of the method for the determination of enantiomeric purity and amphetamine content.
A simple organ bath for electrical stimulation and superfusion of rat brain slices

A simple organ bath was designed for the rapid screening of drugs using electrically stimulated brain slices. Control parameters for the release of 3H-5-HT from rat caudate slices using a simple pulse sequence were developed. Field-stimulated release of serotonin was shown to be calcium dependent and was not inhibited by tetrodotoxin. Preliminary experiments into the inhibition of 3H-5-HT release by lysergic acid diethylamide showed moderate inhibition of electrically stimulated overflow from rat caudate at low concentrations. The ratio of postdrug tritium overflow (S2) to predrug tritium overflow (S1) was determined and used as the measure of inhibition in these experiments. An investigation into drug-stimulated 3H-5-HT release from rat hippocampal slices by methylenedioxyamphetamine revealed significant stimulation of tritium overflow. Overall the new organ bath has fulfilled our need for a rapid central nervous system screening procedure by demonstrating experimental versatility and reproducible results.
Property rights, ecosystem management, and John Locke's labor theory of ownership

Abstract This paper examines John Locke's labor theory of ownership from an ecological perspective, and explores its role in western US property rights disputes. The labor theory of ownership describes how an individual, through application of labor, can justifiably acquire a private property right to the yield of commonly-held natural resources. The presence of ecosystem processes and services beneficial to humans, coupled with equity and no-harm principles, places limits on the extent to which strong labor-based rights can be justified. Property claims to areas that have not undergone physical transformation due to human labor are less-strongly justified. Rather than continue in its inappropriate role in support of strong private property rights in the western US, the labor theory can play a new role in justifying and limiting ecosystem management regulation of private and government-owned lands and who should pay. If ecosystem management regulations prevent, reduce, or eliminate harms to ecosystem services and processes, the costs of such management can justifiably fall on private landowners and private users of public lands. If such programs augment existing ecosystem services and processes, costs should fall on the government.
Absence of sexual dimorphism in the goat: Induction of luteinizing hormone discharge in the castrated male and female and in the intersex with estradiol benzoate.

Abstract Gonadectomized male (n = 5) and female (n = 5) and intact intersex goats (n = 2) were injected i.m. with 50 μg 17 β -estradiol benzoate (EB). After treatment, there was a transient 6- to 9-hr decrease in circulating levels of LH followed by a preovulatory-like discharge of LH in all goats. Release peaked at 12 to 18 hr after EB treatment. The magnitude of discharge and the time from treatment until peak of release were not influenced by the goat's sex. These findings suggested that the positive feedback effects of estrogen on LH release were not sexually differentiated in the goat. Since tonic concentrations of LH prior to EB treatment were not different among the groups, the studies also suggested that the intersex goats lacked the inhibitory gonadal influences on gonadotropin release that characterize intact animals.
Policy spillover and the policing of protest in New York City, 1960–2006

Scholars have suggested that the policing of protest have become more permissive in Western democracies since the 1960s. While widely accepted, studies affirming a softening of police conduct have focused on national trends despite awareness that police tactics have unevenly diffused across the USA. This study examines the temporal trends in protest policing in New York City to evaluate how and why the dominant strategies of protest control have changed over time. Drawing on the widespread privatisation of public space in New York during the 1980s coupled with the adoption of Broken Windows crime control strategies, I develop an alternative explanation of the temporal dynamics of protest policing that is based on policy spillover, or the unintentional spillover effects that policy decisions unrelated to protest policing may nonetheless have on police conduct. Using a sample of 6147 protest events occurring in New York between 1960 and 2006, I confirm that the prevalence of arrests and other forms of polic...
Investigation of possible adverse allergic reactions to mycoprotein (‘Quorn’)

Mycoprotein ('Quorn') is a food produced for human consumption from Fusarium graminearum. Crossreactivity studies showed that mycoprotein shared multiple common allergenic determinants with Aspergillus fumigatus and Cladosporium herbarum and some with Alternaria alternata. There is, therefore, a potential for mould allergic patients to react adversely to inhaled or ingested mycoprotein. Mycoprotein RAST screening of mycoprotein production workers was made during a 2 year period. Two of the production workers had specific RAST binding > or = 2% but none reported symptoms. Two of 10 patients referred to hospital following vomiting and diarrhoea after ingestion of mycoprotein had a mycoprotein skin-prick test weal > or = 2 mm but none had a significantly raised RAST. These largely negative results are important and reassuring because consumption of the product in the U.K. is now widespread and increasing.
Surface magnetic relaxation rates in spin-polarized hydrogen

The short-wavelength surface contributions to the magnetic relaxation times (${T}_{1}$ and ${T}_{2}$) are calculated for a dilute H\ensuremath{\downarrow} gas, in the classical, low-temperature regime. Both surface rates are highly anisotropic with respect to the direction of the stabilizing field. Of experimental interest is the potentially long ${T}_{1}$ in samples with most of the surface area oriented perpendicular to the stabilizing field.
Osmotic properties of the squid giant axon and their modifications.

1. Volume and morphological changes of the squid giant axons in response to hyper- and hypoosmotic media were examined. 2. In hyperosmotic media, which were made by adding sucrose or sodium chloride to the artificial seawater, the axons behaved approximately as ideal osmometers. The fraction of the osmotically inactive volume was less than 0.05. 3. In hypoosmotic media down to half the osmolality of the artificial seawater, intact squid axons did not show significant volume increases. However, following a combined treatment with hyaluronidase and collagenase, the volume of the squid axons increased in these hypoosmotic media. 4. A wrinkled pattern appeared on the surface of the axons while they were in hyperosmotic media containing excess NaC1 or KC1. Trypsin treatment prevented appearance of this surface pattern. Furthermore, no such patterns appeared in media which were made hyperosmotic by the addition of sucrose or sodium glutamate.
Parity anomaly in a \(\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}\)-symmetric quartic Hamiltonian

In this paper, two independent methods are used to show that the non-Hermitian \(\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}\)-symmetric wrong-sign quartic Hamiltonian H = (1/2m)p2 − gx4 is exactly equivalent to the conventional Hermitian Hamiltonian \(\tilde H = ({1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 {2m}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {2m}})p^2 + 4gx^4 - \hbar ({{2g} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{2g} m}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} m})^{{1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 2}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 2}} x\). First, this equivalence is demonstrated by using elementary differential-equation techniques and second, it is demonstrated by using functional-integration methods. As the linear term in the Hermitian Hamiltonian \(\tilde H\) is proportional to ℏ, this term is anomalous; that is, the linear term in the potential has no classical analog. The anomaly is a consequence of the broken parity symmetry of the original non-Hermitian \(\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}\)-symmetric Hamiltonian. The anomaly term in \(\tilde H\) remains unchanged if an x2 term is introduced into H. When such a quadratic term is present in H, this Hamiltonian possesses bound states. The corresponding bound states in \(\tilde H\) are a direct physical measure of the anomaly. If there were no anomaly term, there would be no bound states.
Quantitative classification of cryptosporidium oocysts and giardia cysts in water using UV/vis spectroscopy

Cryptosporidium and Giardia are enteric protozoa which cause waterborne diseases. To date, the detection of these organisms in water has relied upon microscopic immunofluorescent assay technology which uses antibodies directed against the cyst and oocyst forms of the protozoa. In this paper, the uv/vis extinction spectra of aqueous dispersions of Cryptosporidium and Giardia have been studied to investigate the potential use of light scattering-spectral deconvolution techniques as a rapid method for the identification and quantification of protozoa in water. Examination of purified samples of Cryptosporidium and Giardia suggests that spectral features apparent in the short wavelength region of the uv/vis spectra contain information that may be species specific for each protozoa. The spectral characteristics, as well as the particle size analysis, determined from the same spectra, allow for the quantitative classification, identification, and possibly, the assessment of the viability of the protozoa. To further increase the sensitivity of this technique, specific antibodies direction against these organisms, labelled with FITC and rhodamine are being used. It is demonstrated that uv/vis spectroscopy provides an alternative method for the characterization of Giardia and Cryptosporidium. The simplicity and reproducibility of uv/vis spectroscopy measurements makes this technique ideally suited for the development of on-line instrumentation for the rapid detection of microorganisms in water supplies.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A 5-GHz CMOS LC Quadrature VCO With Dynamic Current-Clipping Coupling to Improve Phase Noise and Phase Accuracy

This paper presents a quadrature voltage-controlled oscillator (QVCO) employing a proposed dynamic current-clipping coupling technique to provide around 90° phase shift in the coupling paths. The phase shift given by the coupling network not only improves the phase noise, but also desensitizes the phase error to component mismatches in the QVCO. The coupling network furthermore reduces the noise injected into the LC tank at the most vulnerable time (zero crossing points). The proposed current-clipping coupling allows the use of a strong coupling ratio to minimize the quadrature phase sensitivity to mismatches without degrading the phase noise performance. The proposed QVCO is implemented in a 130-nm CMOS technology. The measured phase noise is -121 dBc/Hz at 1-MHz offset from a 5-GHz carrier. The QVCO consumes 4.2 mW from a 1-V power supply, resulting in an outstanding figure of merit of 189 dBc/Hz.
Cross-National Differences in Educational Achievement Inequality.

School systems are called not only to instruct and socialize students but also to differentiate among them. Although much research has investigated inequalities in educational outcomes associated with students’ family background and other ascriptive traits, little research has examined cross-national differences in the total amount of differentiation that school systems produce, the total achievement inequality. This article evaluates whether two dimensions of educational systems—variations in opportunities to learn and intensity of schooling—are associated with achievement inequality independent of family background. It draws data from the Programme for International Student Assessment for more than 50 school systems and models the variance in achievement. Findings suggest that decreasing the variability in opportunities to learn—in the form of greater homogeneity in teacher quality and the absence of tracking—within the school system might reduce achievement inequality. More intense schooling is also re...
Adaptations of wild populations of the estuarine fish Fundulus heteroclitus to persistent environmental contaminants

Many aquatic species, including the estuarine fish Fundulus heteroclitus (mummichogs), adapt to local environmental conditions. We conducted studies to evaluate whether highly exposed populations of mummichogs adapt to toxic environmental contaminants. These fish populations are indigenous to an urban estuary contaminated with persistent and bioaccumulative contaminants (dioxin-like compounds, or DLCs) that are particularly toxic to the early development of fish. We conducted laboratory challenge experiments to compare mummichog embryos and larvae from reference sites and this highly contaminated site [New Bedford Harbor (NBH), Massachusetts, USA] for their sensitivity to DLCs. While there was variation in DLC-responsiveness within each group, fish from NBH were profoundly less sensitive to DLCs than reference fish. Specifically, concentrations of DLCs similar to those measured in NBH-collected mummichog eggs were lethal to reference embryos. Further, DLC-responsiveness was inherited and independent of maternal contaminant contributions. These findings are consistent with the conclusion that DLC contamination in NBH has contributed to the selection of fish that are resistant to the short-term toxic effects of these environmental-contaminant exposures. This adaptation may be a critical mechanism by which fish populations persist in this highly contaminated site. Further evaluation of this ecosystem may provide important information concerning the direct and indirect consequences of this “unnatural” selection.
Exclusivist Republicanism and the Non-Monarchical Republic

The idea that a republic is the only legitimate form of government and that non-elective monarchy and hereditary political privileges are by definition illegitimate is an artifact of late eighteenth century republicanism, though it has roots in the “godly republics” of the seventeenth century. It presupposes understanding a republic (respublica) to be a non-monarchical form of government. The latter definition is a discursive practice that goes back only to the fifteenth century and is not found in Roman or medieval sources. This article explains how the definition emerged in Renaissance Italy.
Cervical cytokine network patterns during pregnancy: the role of bacterial vaginosis and geographic ancestry

Abstract Few studies have examined the coordinated regulation of the extensive network of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors involved in the immune response to bacterial vaginosis (BV) during pregnancy. We compared these patterns between women with (BV + ) and without (BV − ) bacterial vaginosis and between women of African and of European ancestry. This cohort included 83 Whites (28 BV + and 55 BV − ) and 80 Blacks (41 BV + and 39 BV − ). Pairwise correlations were determined for 28 factors that included cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. In Whites, there were significantly more correlations involving immunoregulatory cytokines in BV − compared with BV + women. In Blacks, there were no significant differences in the correlation patterns between BV + and BV − women. Overall, in BV − women, there were no significant differences in the correlation patterns between Whites and Blacks. Conversely, in BV + women, Blacks have a stronger correlated response to infection than Whites. This indicates that Whites and Blacks have different correlated immune responses to BV that may at least partially explain the disparity observed in the prevalence of this disease.
Transforming the Self Through Poetry

(1985). Transforming the Self Through Poetry. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 58, No. 6, pp. 256-260.
“Forgive and Forget”: A Case Example of Contextual Marital Therapy

The following is a case example of contextual marital therapy in the treatment of a couple who presented for therapy because of an extramarital affair. It contains background information concerning presenting issues, a theoretical conceptualization, a narrative of the therapy process, discussion, and conclusions. The focus of this case centers on how the idea of forgiveness might be utilized to facilitate reconciliation in conflicted relationships.
FlexDex™: A Minimally Invasive Surgical Tool With Enhanced Dexterity and Intuitive Actuation

This paper presents the design and fabrication of a novel minimally invasive surgical (MIS) tool — FlexDex™ — that provides enhanced dexterity, intuitive actuation, and natural force feedback in a cost-effective compact package. These attributes are accomplished by means of a fundamentally new MIS tool design paradigm that employs a tool reference attached to the surgeon’s arm, and utilizes a virtual center at the tool input that coincides with the surgeon’s wrist. The resulting physical configuration enables a highly intuitive one-to-one mapping of the surgeon’s arm and hand motions at the tool input to the end-effector motions at the tool output inside the patient’s body. Furthermore, a purely mechanical design ensures low-cost, simple construction, and natural force feedback. A functional decomposition of the proposed design paradigm and associated physical configuration is carried out to identify key modules in the system. This allows for the conceptual and detailed design of each module, followed by system-level integration. The key innovative aspects of the tool design include a three-dimensional parallel-kinematic virtual center mechanism, a decoupled 2DoF end-effector design, and the associated transmissions system.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α in fasting-mediated oxidative stress

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) regulates lipid homeostasis, particularly in the liver. This study was aimed at elucidating the relationship between hepatosteatosis and oxidative stress during fasting. Fasted Ppara-null mice exhibited marked hepatosteatosis, which was associated with elevated levels of lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide synthase activity, and hydrogen peroxide accumulation. Total glutathione (GSH), mitochondrial GSH, and the activities of major antioxidant enzymes were also lower in the fasted Ppara-null mice. Consequently, the number and extent of nitrated proteins were markedly increased in the fasted Ppara-null mice, although high levels of protein nitration were still detected in the fed Ppara-null mice while many oxidatively modified proteins were only found in the fasted Ppara-null mice. However, the role of inflammation in increased oxidative stress in the fasted Ppara-null mice was minimal based on the similar levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha change in all groups. These results with increased oxidative stress observed in the fasted Ppara-null mice compared with other groups demonstrate a role for PPAR alpha in fasting-mediated oxidative stress and that inhibition of PPAR alpha functions may increase the susceptibility to oxidative damage in the presence of another toxic agent.
Quantum beat determination of lifetimes and disalignment cross sections in neon

Abstract Quantum beat spectroscopy has been used to determine the lifetimes and disalignment cross sections of the 2p 2 and 2p 5 states in the 2p 5 ( 2 P 1 2 ) 3p manifold of neon. Time-resolved differential lineshape data permit a simple extraction of the lifetimes and cross sections to a precision that matches or exceeds the best previous measurements. The results are in good agreement with previous experimental values, but the agreement with theory is less certain.
Higher order finite element techniques for viscoelastic flow problems with change of type and singularities

Abstract The stability, accuracy and computational efficiency of higher order Galerkin ( hp -type) methods with and without separation of the extra stress tensor into purely elastic and viscous components for steady inertial flow of viscoelastic fluids under change of type conditions have been investigated. It has been shown that the hp -Galerkin technique without splitting the stress gives rise to a stable discretization with an exponential convergence rate toward the exact solution, but with an upper viscoelastic Mach number limitation for a given elasticity number. The hp -Galerkin method with the separation of the stress (EVSS/ hp -Galerkin) is also stable with an exponential convergence rate toward the exact solution and in the parameter span of this study no Mach or elasticity number limitations have been detected. In contrast, lower order Galerkin discretization based on separation of the stress (EVSS/Galerkin) does not provide a stable discretization to problems with change of type while the streamline upwind version of this technique (EVSS/SU) does. However, the EVSS/SU method has an extremely slow convergence rate toward the exact solution which makes its use for this class of problems prohibitively expensive. Based on a comparison of higher and lower methods, we have shown that higher order methods are highly efficient and effective for inertial flows with change of type and are superior to their lower order counterparts. In addition, the stability of this class of techniques for steady viscoelastic flows with singularities has been studied. These studies are based on a one-dimensional problem in which a discontinuity is imposed by a Dirac delta function. Various discretization techniques are considered and it is shown that when the extra stress tensor is fractioned into viscous and elastic components, a stable and accurate discretization is obtained. For this particular discretization the optimum performance is obtained when the velocity field is approximated with a polynomial degree of one order higher than the viscoelastic extra stress tensor. Moreover, a special discretization that utilizes a polynomial space for the extra stress tensor that is higher by one than the velocity vector produces a stable discretization when the extra stress tensor is not partitioned. However, the performance of this discretization is not as good as the one based on splitting the stresses.
Inbreeding Within an Artificially Bred Dairy Cattle Population

Abstract Purebred artificially bred daughters of 200 Holstein bulls were investigated for the occurrence of inbreeding by utilizing the relationship between their sire (S) and maternal grandsire (MGS). The existence of such a relationship would denote an inbred individual. Among the DHIA lactation records available, this group of 200 bulls sired 87% of the artificially bred purebred cows. Seven artificial breeding studs were represented among the 200 bulls studied. The proportion of related bull pairs was 4.4% and among the related pairs the mean coefficient of relationship was 16%. Within the five studs having at least ten bulls represented in the group, there were 2, 7, 7, 8, and 15% related pairs. The 17,490 cows, whose S and MGS were among the selected sample of 200 bulls, comprised 21% of the total number of purebred cows. Some 1,300, or 7.4% of the cows, were estimated to be inbred. The mean inbreeding per cent among the inbred cows was 4.9%. The mean inbreeding per cent for the entire sample was .4%. The inbreeding depression of mean milk and fat deviations from herd-mates as measured by the intrasire linear regression on inbreeding per cent was −33.7 and −.9lb, respectively.
A field (researcher's) guide to cortisol: tracking HPA axis functioning in everyday life

Abstract Researchers have been incorporating ambulatory cortisol sampling into studies of everyday life for over a decade. Such work provides an important supplement to acute laboratory stress paradigms and provides a novel perspective on the interrelationships between stress, psychological resources, and health. However, the results of many field studies have been inconclusive and more studies have been undertaken than published. We describe some of the challenges facing naturalistic cortisol researchers, including lack of power, methodological and analytical problems, and patterns of confusing or conflictual results. We then summarize key findings of published naturalistic cortisol studies to date, grouped by type of cortisol outcome (morning awakening response, diurnal slope, area under the curve, and associations between momentary experiences and cortisol). We propose research questions relevant to everyday stress researchers and suggest next steps for researchers who are interested in incorporating n...
On the light requirement for replication of plastids in polytrichum

Abstract The chloroplasts of germinating spores of the moss Polytrichum replicate in darkness to a lesser extent than in light. A stable number of plastids is attained by 48 h in darkness, i.e. the plastids become light-dependent with respect to replication. Light stimulates the plastids to replicate. When red light is used, the promotive effect of the light can be completely reversed by far red light.
Post-Islamism and the religious discourse of 'ABD al-Salam yasin

For more than a decade, post-Islamism has been at the center of a major debate in French academia regarding the historical evolution of Islamism. The concept was put forth in the early 1990s as an attempt to apprehend the apparent crisis within many Islamic movements of the Middle East. In Iran, the increasingly authoritarian character of the Islamic republic, as well as the predominance of the mullahs' discretionary powers, seemed to undermine the credibility of the Islamist alternative. Elsewhere, as in Egypt and Algeria, the advent of an Islamic order never came to pass and appeared illusory. Islamists were unable to cope with the repression and the containment policies of secular states. Therefore, a number of French scholars argued that Islamism—that is, the holistic, populist, and often revolutionary ideology whose goal is the establishment of an Islamic state and the governance of all aspects of society according to Islamic principles—had reached a dead end. Ruhollah Khomeini, Sayyid Qutb, and Abu al-Ala al-Mawdudi were passe. An era of post-Islamism was dawning.
NODULATION AND GROWTH OF LABLAB PURPUREUS (DOLICHOS LABLAB) IN RELATION TO RHIZOBIUM STRAIN, LIMING AND PHOSPHORUS

Greenhouse experiments were done with two purposes: (1) to identify strains of rhizobia effective and acid-tolerant in symbiosis withLablab purpureus, and (2) to determine whether soil acidity or the symbiotic condition increased the phosphate requirement for growth. Five rhizobial strains were tested in one neutral soil, two acid soils, and the two acid soils limed to pH 6.6. In the neutral and limed soils, three of the strains were effective (CB1024, CB756, TAL169), but only two strains (CB756, TAL169) remained effective in acid soil. Strain CB756 and plus-N treatments were further compared in a factorial trial involving combinations of five levels of P with lime, no lime and CaCl2 treatments, applied to an acid soil. Some of the treatments were also applied to plants inoculated with CB1024. Between the N-fertilized and CB756 treatments there was no clear difference in growth response to applied P, and the critical internal concentration of P for 95% of maximal growth was the same (0.22% shoot dry weight). Increasing P beyond levels needed for maximal growth increased nodulation and N concentration in plants inoculated with CB756. It lowered N concentration in N-fertilized plants. There was evidence suggesting that the P requirement of symbiotic plants increased if the soil was acid, or if CB756 were replaced by CB1024 as microsymbiont; but the critical statistical interactions were not significant.
Self-Consistent Rate-Equation Approach to Nucleation and Growth in Point/Extended Island Models of 1-D Homoepitaxy

A self-consistent rate equation (RE) approach to submonolayer growth on a one-dimensional surface is presented. This approach explicitly takes into account the existence of gaps between clusters and can successfully predict the coverage dependence of the average densities of monomers N1, and clusters, N. It also implies an unusual dependence for the monomer-monomer capture number σ1 as a function of monomer density. To obtain the island size-distribution, a second set of mean-field equations is used describing the evolution of the size-dependent capture zones and leading to explicit size- and coverage-dependent capture numbers. The solution of this fully self-consistent RE approach is then compared with kinetic Monte Carlo results
PROBIT WITH SPATIAL AUTOCORRELATION

ABSTRACT. Commonly-employed spatial autocorrelation models imply heteroskedastic errors, but heteroskedasticity causes probit to be inconsistent. This paper proposes and illustrates the use of two categories of estimators for probit models with spatial autocorrelation. One category is based on the EM algorithm, and requires repeated application of a maximum-likelihood estimator. The other category, which can be applied to models derived using the spatial expansion method, only requires weighted least squares.
Solving linear and quadratic programs with an analog circuit

Abstract We present the design of an analog circuit which solves linear programming (LP) or quadratic programming (QP) problem. In particular, the steady-state circuit voltages are the components of the LP (QP) optimal solution. The paper shows how to construct the circuit and provides a proof of equivalence between the circuit and the LP (QP) problem. The proposed method is used to implement an LP-based Model Predictive Controller by using an analog circuit. Simulative and experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Dynamic voltage and frequency scaling for shared resources in multicore processor designs

As the core count in processor chips grows, so do the on-die, shared resources such as on-chip communication fabric and shared cache, which are of paramount importance for chip performance and power. This paper presents a method for dynamic voltage/frequency scaling of networks-on-chip and last level caches in multicore processor designs, where the shared resources form a single voltage/frequency domain. Several new techniques for monitoring and control are developed, and validated through full system simulations on the PARSEC benchmarks. These techniques reduce energy-delay product by 56% compared to a state-of-the-art prior work.
Previously Infected Chimpanzees Are Not Consistently Protected against Reinfection or Persistent Infection after Reexposure to the Identical Hepatitis C Virus Strain

Protective immunity after resolved hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been reported. However, the breadth of this immunity has remained controversial, and the role of neutralizing antibodies has not been well-defined. In the present study, two chimpanzees (CH96A008 and CH1494) with resolved monoclonal H77C (genotype 1a) infection were rechallenged with low-dose homologous H77C virus about 12 months after viral clearance; CH96A008 became persistently infected, and CH1494 had transient viremia lasting 2 weeks. CH1494 was subsequently either partially or completely protected following five homologous rechallenges with monoclonal H77C or polyclonal H77 and after six heterologous rechallenges with HC-J4 (genotype 1b) or HC-J6 (genotype 2a) viruses. Subsequently, a final challenge with H77C resulted in persistent HCV infection. In both chimpanzees, serum neutralizing antibodies against retroviral pseudoparticles bearing the H77C envelope proteins were not detected during the initial infection or during rechallenge. However, anamnestic cellular immune responses developed during the initial homologous rechallenge, in particular in CH96A008, which developed a persistent infection. Polyprotein sequences of viruses recovered from CH1494 after the two homologous rechallenges that resulted in transient viremia were identical with the H77C virus. In contrast, the polyprotein sequences of viruses recovered from both chimpanzees after homologous rechallenge resulting in persistent infection had numerous changes. These findings have important implications for our understanding of immunity against HCV; even in the best-case scenario with autologous rechallenge, low-level viral persistence was seen in the presence of primed T-cell responses.