cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differentiating Coordination and Overlap in Banking Regulation

This chapter explores the adverse consequences of conflating the overlap/distinct and coordination/independence dimensions of regulatory authority by focusing on Congress's restructuring of federal banking regulation after the crash of 2008 in the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010. Legislators and financial experts concluded that excessive overlap before 2010 in prudential regulatory authority created three problems: (1) wasteful duplication of effort, (2) inconsistent and conflicting regulatory treatment of financial institutions, and (3) regulatory arbitrage that prompted a race to the bottom among prudential regulators, which increased the risk of systemic failures. Congress addressed the first two problems by requiring greater regulatory coordination, but the chapter contends that the creation of more distinct authority, either substantively or functionally, may have been preferable in light of the weak form of coordination mandated by Dodd-Frank. Dodd-Frank's response to the third problem was misguided for a different reason. Banking regulation experts and policymakers attributed arbitrage to excessive overlap, when in fact it arises from distinct authority among banking regulators. As a result, Congress failed to consider an option that might have been superior to enhanced but non-hierarchical coordination-the creation of more overlap to prevent financial institutions from choosing exclusive regulation by the weakest prudential regulator.
Biovar-related differences apparent in the flea foregut colonization phenotype of distinct Yersinia pestis strains do not impact transmission efficiency

Yersinia pestis is the flea-transmitted etiological agent of bubonic plague. Sylvatic plague consists of complex tripartite interactions between diverse flea and wild rodent species, and pathogen strains. Transmission by flea bite occurs primarily by the Y. pestis biofilm-mediated foregut blockage and regurgitation mechanism, which has been largely detailed by studies in the model interaction between Y. pestis KIM6+ and Xenopsylla cheopis. Here, we test if pathogen-specific traits influence this interaction by determining the dynamics of foregut blockage development in X. cheopis fleas among extant avirulent pCD1-Y. pestis strains, KIM6+ and CO92, belonging to distinct biovars, and a non-circulating mutant CO92 strain (CO92gly), restored for glycerol fermentation; a key biochemical difference between the two biovars. Separate flea cohorts infected with distinct strains were evaluated for (i) blockage development, bacterial burdens and flea foregut blockage pathology, and (ii) for the number of bacteria transmitted by regurgitation during membrane feeding. Strain burdens per flea was determined for fleas co-infected with CO92 and KIM6+ strains at a ratio of 1:1. Strains KIM6+ and CO92 developed foregut blockage at similar rates and peak temporal incidences, but the CO92gly strain showed significantly greater blockage rates that peak earlier post-infection. The KIM6+ strain, however, exhibited a distinctive foregut pathology wherein bacterial colonization extended the length of the esophagus up to the feeding mouthparts in ~65% of blocked fleas; in contrast to 32% and 26%, respectively, in fleas blocked with CO92 and CO92gly. The proximity of KIM6+ to the flea mouthparts in blocked fleas did not result in higher regurgitative transmission efficiencies as all strains transmitted variable numbers of Y. pestis, albeit slightly lower for CO92gly. During competitive co-infection, strains KIM6+ and CO92 were equally fit maintaining equivalent infection proportions in fleas over time. We demonstrate that disparate foregut blockage pathologies exhibited by distinct extant Y. pestis strain genotypes do not influence transmission efficiency from X. cheopis fleas. In fact, distinct extant Y. pestis genotypes maintain equivalently effective blockage and transmission efficiencies which is likely advantageous to maintaining continued successful plague spread and establishment of new plague foci.
Cerebral Oxygen Metabolic Stress, Microstructural Injury, and Infarction in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease.

Objective To determine the patient- and tissue-based relationships between cerebral hemodynamic and oxygen metabolic stress, microstructural injury, and infarct location in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods Control participants and patients with SCD underwent brain MRI to quantify cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) within normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and infarcts on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery. Multivariable linear regression examined the patient- and voxel-based associations between hemodynamic and metabolic stress (defined as elevated CBF and OEF, respectively), white matter microstructure, and infarct location. Results Of 83 control participants and patients with SCD, adults with SCD demonstrated increased CBF (50.9 vs 38.8 mL/min/100 g, p Conclusion Elevated OEF, a putative index of cerebral oxygen metabolic stress, may provide a metric of ischemic vulnerability that could enable individualization of therapeutic strategies in SCD. The patient- and tissue-based relationships between elevated OEF, elevated MD, and cerebral infarcts suggest that oxygen metabolic stress may underlie microstructural injury prior to the development of cerebral infarcts in SCD.
The Need to Mitigate Unconscious Bias to Improve Sponsorship Opportunities for Underrepresented Faculty in Academic Radiology.

Women physicians and those from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in medicine face unique barriers to career advancement in academic medicine, especially in specialties that lack diversity ...
Predicting Success with a First-Generation Hybrid Closed-Loop Artificial Pancreas System among Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: A Model Development and Validation Study.

Background Hybrid Closed Loop (HCL) systems aid individuals with type 1 diabetes in improving glycemic control, however, sustained use over time has not been consistent for all users. This study developed and validated prognostic models for successful 12-month use of the first commercial HCL system based on baseline and 1-month or 3-month data. Methods and materials Data from participants at the Barbara Davis Center (N=85) who began use of the MiniMed 670G HCL were used to develop prognostic models using logistic regression and Lasso model selection. Candidate factors included sex, age, duration of diabetes, baseline HbA1c, race, ethnicity, insurance status, history of insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor use, 1-month or 3-month Auto Mode use, boluses per day, and time in range (70-180 mg/dL; TIR), and scores on behavioral questionnaires. Successful use of HCL was predefined as Auto Mode use ≥60%. The 3-month model was then externally validated against a sample from Stanford University (N=55). Results Factors in the final model included baseline HbA1c, sex, ethnicity, 1-month or 3-month Auto Mode use, Boluses per Day, and TIR. The 1-month and 3-month prognostic models had very good predictive ability with area under the curve values of 0.894 and 0.900, respectively. External validity was acceptable with an area under the curve of 0.717. Conclusions Our prognostic models use clinically accessible baseline and early device-use factors to identify risk for failure to succeed with 670G HCL technology. These models may be useful to develop targeted interventions to promote success with new technologies.
Predicting individual acclimation to the cross-coupled illusion for artificial gravity.

Background The cross-coupled (CC) illusion and associated motion sickness limits the tolerability of fast-spin-rate centrifugation for artificial gravity implementation. Humans acclimate to the CC illusion through repeated exposure; however, substantial inter-individual differences in acclimation exist, which remain poorly understood. To address this, we investigated several potential predictors of individual acclimation to the CC illusion. Methods Eleven subjects were exposed to the CC illusion for up to 50 25-minute acclimation sessions. The metric of acclimation rate was calculated as the slope of each subject's linear increase in spin rate across sessions. As potential predictors of acclimation rate, we gathered age, gender, demographics, and activity history, and measured subjects' vestibular perceptual thresholds in the yaw, pitch, and roll rotation axes. Results We found a significant, negative correlation (p = 0.025) between subjects' acclimation rate and roll threshold, suggesting lower thresholds yielded faster acclimation. Additionally, a leave-one-out cross-validation analysis indicated that roll thresholds are predictive of acclimation rates. Correlations between acclimation and other measures were not found but were difficult to assess within our sample. Conclusions The ability to predict individual differences in CC illusion acclimation rate using roll thresholds is critical to optimizing acclimation training, improving the feasibility of fast-rotation, short-radius centrifugation for artificial gravity.
The role of natural capital in sustaining livelihoods in remote mountainous regions: The case of Upper Svaneti, Republic of Georgia

In the Greater Caucasus of the Republic of Georgia, proponents of a new ski tourism zone and long-term timber concessions claim that new wage opportunities will benefit households. These developments will also limit access to common-pool resources (CPRs). This study uses the sustainable livelihoods framework to identify the conditions under which a development strategy will improve livelihood outcomes in the region. Analysis of original household survey data, in-depth interviews, and field observation reveals that households depend on CPRs for a range of market and non-market benefits. Low-income households depend on CPRs for up to 60% of their total income. OLS regression estimates show that households in villages farthest from market centers have a higher income dependence on CPRs and are more likely to participate in forest use activities. A majority of households report that there are few available substitutes. To improve livelihood outcomes, a development strategy should secure access to market benefits from CPRs, or wage income must increase in proportion to lost CPR income and affordable substitutes must be provided. Access to non-substitutable components of CPRs must be secured, and the distribution of changes in access to natural capital and new wage opportunities must be accounted for.
Inpatient Glycemic Protocol for Patients with Diabetes Undergoing Bariatric Surgery.

Bariatric surgery is a recommended treatment for diabetes in severely obese patients. Their immediate post-operative anti-hyperglycemic requirements differ from other hospitalized diabetics, yet no standardized protocols addressing glycemic control for this group exist. We aimed to create a safe, easily implemented protocol for immediate post-operative glycemic control, which we defined as the first 30 days. The protocol was designed by an interdisciplinary workgroup using review of available literature, approved institutional glycemic guidelines, and team members’ experience with caring for bariatric surgery patients. Patients are offered post-discharge recommendations using the inpatient glycemic protocol. We designed a protocol with low risk of hypoglycemia that addresses the unique glycemic needs of diabetic bariatric population in the immediate post-operative period.
Android Epistemology For Babies: Relections On Words, Thoughts And Theories

Words, Thoughts and Theories arguesthat infants and children discover the physical and psychological featuresof the world by a process akin to scientific inquiry, more or less asconceived by philosophers of science in the 1960s (the theory theory).This essay discusses some of the philosophical background to analternative, more popular, “modular” or “maturational” account ofdevelopment, dismisses an array of philosophical objections to the theorytheory, suggests that the theory theory offers an undeveloped project forartificial intelligence, and, relying on recent psychological work oncausation, offers suggestions about how principles of causal inference mayprovide a developmental solution to the “frame problem”.
Becoming Zimbabwe From Below: Multiple Narratives of Zimbabwean Nationalism

There is no doubt that the editors and authors of Becoming Zimbabwe were driven by a commitment to challenge post-colonial versions of Zimbabwean history, particularly those 'narrowly constructed' (Raftopoulos and Mlambo 2009: xxxiii) by the ZANU(PF) regime. The liberation struggle is a significant part of those histories. In the last decade, this historiography has witnessed the emergence of a new and much narrowed, ZANU(PF)-backed nationalist narrative, which some have called 'patriotic history' (Ranger 2004), through which distinctions have been drawn between those who can and those who cannot legitimately lay claim to Zimbabwe's nationalist history. This has elevated and valorised the anti-colonial guerrilla war and the roles of ex-guerrillas, and marginalized other historical subjects in Zimbabwe's nationalist past. The effectiveness with which this new historical rhetoric was been deployed means it is critically important to disrupt and debunk such renderings of Zimbabwe's nationalist history. This ...
Special Cubic Fourfolds

A cubic fourfold is a smooth cubic hypersurface of dimension four; it is special if it contains a surface not homologous to a complete intersection. Special cubic fourfolds form a countably infinite union of irreducible families $$C_d $$ , each a divisor in the moduli space $$C $$ of cubic fourfolds. For an infinite number of these families, the Hodge structure on the nonspecial cohomology of the cubic fourfold is essentially the Hodge structure on the primitive cohomology of a K3 surface. We say that this K3 surface is associated to the special cubic fourfold. In these cases, $$C_d $$ is related to the moduli space $$N_d $$ of degree d K3 surfaces. In particular, $$C $$ contains infinitely many moduli spaces of polarized K3 surfaces as closed subvarieties. We can often construct a correspondence of rational curves on the special cubic fourfold parametrized by the K3 surface which induces the isomorphism of Hodge structures. For infinitely many values of d, the Fano variety of lines on the generic cubic fourfold of $$C_d $$ is isomorphic to the Hilbert scheme of length-two subschemes of an associated K3 surface.
Defiance of the Patriots: The Boston Tea Party and the Making of America – By Benjamin L. Carp

To aid the foundering East India Company, Parliament, in 1773, passed the Tea Act, which allowed the company to dump a surplus of taxed tea on the American market. Colonists opposed this, since it ...
Rapid Colony Screening Method for Identifying Hydrogenase Activity in Rhizobium japonicum

A method has been developed for the rapid screening of Rhizobium japonicum colonies for hydrogenase activity based on their ability to reduce methylene blue in the presence of respiratory inhibitors and hydrogen. Hydrogen uptake-positive (Hup) colonies derepressed for hydrogenase activity were visualized by their localized decolorization of filter paper disks impregnated with the dye. Appropriate responses were seen with a number of Hup and Hup wild-type strains of R. japonicum as well as Hup mutants. Its specificity was further confirmed in selected strains on the basis of comparisons with chemolithotrophic growth and the presence of other genetic markers. Utilization of the method in identifying Hup colonies among 16,000 merodiploid derivatives of the Hup mutant strain PJ17nal containing cloned DNA fragments of the Hup strain 122 DES has demonstrated its applicability as a screening procedure in the genetic analysis of the R. japonicum hydrogen uptake system.
Swing Your Way to Skill in Beginning Modern Dance

(1978). Swing Your Way to Skill in Beginning Modern Dance. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 49, No. 9, pp. 76-78.
A characterization of spaces with discrete topological fundamental group

We offer a counterexample to a theorem in the literature and then repair the theorem as follows: The fundamental group of a locally path connected metric space inherits the discrete topology in a natural way if and only if the underlying space is semilocally simply connected.
The Tissue Mast Cell

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights the tissue mast cell. The mast cells are the ubiquitous element of the connective tissue. Carefully made whole mounts of mesentery and skin or spreads of connective tissue afford visualization of the entire mast cell and its environment. Large numbers of mast cells float freely in the peritoneal cavities of rats, mice, and hamsters and can be collected in good physiological condition by simple lavage. Such collections consist of mast cells, leucocytes, mesothelial cells, macrophages, and varying quantities of red blood cells depending on the amount of trauma induced. They can be employed in various types of microscopic studies. The precise location of the chemical constituents of cells is possible from analysis of fractions obtained by differential centrifugation of disrupted cells. The growth of mast cells in tissue cultures affords possibilities for microscopic observations and for the accumulation of large populations of pure mast cells for chemical studies. The tissue mast cell is distinguished usually by its dense accumulation of large cytoplasmic granules that stain metachromatically with certain basic dyes. Its size, shape, and degree of granulation vary considerably from species to species and in different tissues from individual animals.
Membrane proteins of uninfected and Rous sarcoma virus- transformed avian cells.

Abstract A method for preparing large membrane fragments and cell ghosts was developed for uninfected and Rous sarcoma virus-transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts in culture. Membrane proteins were analyzed by electrophoresis in acrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate. A major amino-acid-containing component of uninfected cell membranes was greatly diminished in amount or absent in membranes of virus-transformed cells. This component, called MP-1, had an electrophoretic mobility in sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing gels similar to that of a protein of a mol wt of 1.42 × 105. MP-1 was not altered by changes in cell growth rate or in cells infected with the nontransforming virus RAV-1.
Moisture induced package cracking in plastic encapsulated surface mount components during solder reflow process

The process compatibility and potential component reliability problems associated with surface-mount technology are investigated. Major reliability concerns observed during qualification of vendors' surface mount ICs are reported. Moisture-induced package cracking and its implication for the corrosion resistance of the package are discussed. The application of acoustic microscopy techniques such as scanning laser acoustic microscopy (SLAM) and C-mode scanning acoustic microscopy (C-SAM) for examining internal package cracking is described. The concept of threshold (safe) moisture level in a surface-mount package and the proper procedures for determining it are discussed. >
Testing fast ADC's at sample rates between 20 and 140 MSPS

The performance of high-speed analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) suitable for use at the Superconducting Super Collider and the Large Hadron Collider has been tested. A test bench has been built to evaluate the performance of ADCs in the range of sampling rates from 20 to 240 megasamples per second (MSPS), thus permitting tests of devices under identical conditions and with identical parameter definitions. For each device, a large number of parameters have been measured, such as number of effective bits, noise level, aperture jitter, integral and differential nonlinearity, analog bandwidth, and total harmonic distortion. The authors describe some of the lessons learned from this test program and present results on a range of eight and ten bit devices. >
Adenosine Modulation of Calcium Currents and Presynaptic Inhibition of GABA Release in Suprachiasmatic and Arcuate Nucleus Neurons

Chen, Gong and Anthony N. van den Pol. Adenosine modulation of calcium currents and presynaptic inhibition of GABA release in suprachiasmatic and arcuate nucleus neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 3035–...
Behavioral variability as a function of response topography and reinforcement contingency.

Long-Evans rats were reinforced for generating variable sequences of responses on two operanda. The current sequence of four left and right responses was required to differ from each of the previous five sequences. Variability under thisvary schedule was compared with that under ayoke control schedule where reinforcement was independent of the sequences. Three different response topographies were compared: two levers were pressed in one case, two keys pushed in another, and two wires pulled in a third. Both reinforcement contingency (vary vs. yoke) and response topography (leverpress, key push, and wire pull) significantly influenced sequence variability. As is the case for operant dimensions, behavioral variability is jointly controlled by reinforcement contingency and response topography.
Guns, Suicide, and Homicide: Individual-Level Versus Population-Level Studies

This issue contains a systematic review and meta-analysis that finds that access to firearms is associated with risk for both completed suicide and being the victim of homicide. Although the result...
Validation of an arterial tortuosity measure with application to hypertension collection of clinical hypertensive patients

Hypertension may increase tortuosity or twistedness of arteries. We applied a centerline extraction algorithm and tortuosity metric to magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) brain images to quantitatively measure the tortuosity of arterial vessel centerlines. The most commonly used arterial tortuosity measure is the distance factor metric (DFM). This study tested a DFM based measurement’s ability to detect increases in arterial tortuosity of hypertensives using existing images. Existing images presented challenges such as different resolutions which may affect the tortuosity measurement, different depths of the area imaged, and different artifacts of imaging that require filtering. The stability and accuracy of alternative centerline algorithms was validated in numerically generated models and test brain MRA data. Existing images were gathered from previous studies and clinical medical systems by manually reading electronic medical records to identify hypertensives and negatives. Images of different resolutions were interpolated to similar resolutions. Arterial tortuosity in MRA images was measured from a DFM curve and tested on numerically generated models as well as MRA images from two hypertensive and three negative control populations. Comparisons were made between different resolutions, different filters, hypertensives versus negatives, and different negative controls. In tests using numerical models of a simple helix, the measured tortuosity increased as expected with more tightly coiled helices. Interpolation reduced resolution-dependent differences in measured tortuosity. The Korean hypertensive population had significantly higher arterial tortuosity than its corresponding negative control population across multiple arteries. In addition one negative control population of different ethnicity had significantly less arterial tortuosity than the other two. Tortuosity can be compared between images of different resolutions by interpolating from lower to higher resolutions. Use of a universal negative control was not possible in this study. The method described here detected elevated arterial tortuosity in a hypertensive population compared to the negative control population and can be used to study this relation in other populations.
Phase-shifting scatterplate interferometer

The advantages of common path interferometers for reducing effects of vibrations are well known. A scatterplate interferometer is one common-path interferometer that is well suited for the testing of large concave mirrors, however due to the common path characteristics it is difficult to perform phase-shifting. This paper describes a phase-shifting scatterplate interferometer where the phase-shifting is achieved by making use of the polarization characteristics of a birefringent scatterplate. The major advantage of this design is that it does not require any optical components to be placed near the surface under test. The theory of the interferometer is presented and experimental results are shown.
Cesium-133 NMR studies of Cs+ salts in various solvents

During the past few years a number of invest igat ions have shown that the nuclear magnetic resonances of a lka l i elements can act as very sensi t ive probes of the environment of a l ka l i ions in solut ions. In par t i cu la r a f a i r amount of at tent ion was directed at the sodium-23 and l i th ium-7 magnetic resonances ( I ) . Studies on the heavier nuclei 39K, 87Rb and 133Cs have been much more sparse and, in general, confined to aqueous solut ions (2-5). We wish to report some prel iminary resul ts obtained in a systematic study of the inf luence of solute-solvent and solute-solute in teract ions on the 133Cs magnetic resonance. Cesium chlor ide, bromide, iodide, perchlorate, n i t r a t e , and thiocyanate were of reagent grade qua l i t y and were used as received except for drying. Cesium tetraphenylborate was prepared by a metathetical reaction between cesium chlor ide and sodium tetraphenylborate in tetrahydrofuran-water mixture. Solvents were pur i f ied by previously described techniques ( I ) . The NMR measurements were carr ied out at 7.871MHz and a f i e l d of 1.409 T in a pulsed Fourier transform mode with a Varian DA-60 spectrometer equipped with a wideband probe (6) and an external proton lock. A 0.500 M aqueous CsBr solut ion was used as external reference. The 133Cs sh i f t s are reported re la t i ve to the CS+(aq~., ion at i n f i n i t e d i l u t ion . The sh i f t s are also corrected for the bulk diamagnetic suscep t i b i l i t y d i f ference between water and the nonaqueous solvents. Chemical sh i f t s were measured in water and in eleven nonaqueous solvents, general ly in the 0.001-0.5 M concentration range. In a l l cases the chemical sh i f t s were strongly concentration-dependent indicat ing some contact ion pair formation even in polar solvents of high donic i ty . The large radius and the low charge-to-surface ra t io of the Cs + ion makes i t a rather poorly solvated ion and thus cesium sal ts are more l i ab le to form contact ion pairs than l i th ium or sodium salts in polar solvents such as dimethylformamide. In the case of cesium thiocyanate, chlor ide, bromide and iodide, the 133Cs resonances
Effects of developer temperature on electron-beam-exposed hydrogen silsesquioxane resist for ultradense silicon nanowire fabrication

The effects of developer temperature on hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) resist for the fabrication of ultradense silicon nanowires are reported. At higher developer temperatures, the contrast of HSQ significantly increased and sharply defined gratings were obtained. In addition, higher developer temperature provided larger processing windows for various grating periodicities. Pattern transfer with HSQ masks using both dry and wet etching processes to fabricate silicon nanowires on silicon-on-insulator substrates is demonstrated. 27-nm-period silicon nanowire arrays obtained using the high temperature development along with the two etching processes are presented and discussed.
The Search for Authentic Practice Across the Disciplinary Divide

Abstract This article describes the investigation of four first-year faculty at a comprehensive state university. We each explored and evaluated our teaching philosophies, strategies, and roles as educators and researchers, using Bain's definition of authentic teaching and learning, the “natural critical learning environment.” We identified four elements of authentic teaching and learning that cross disciplinary boundaries. A collaborative model of professional development across the disciplinary divide is outlined, as is a model for authentically engaged teaching practices that upholds standards, while revitalizing teaching and learning in the college classroom.
Use of animal models in elucidating disease pathogenesis in IBD

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are a collection of diseases characterized by chronic gastrointestinal inflammation resulting from an exuberant immune response to commensal flora in genetically susceptible individuals. Rapid advances in the field of genomics have resulted in the identification of at least 163 loci that contribute susceptibility to both Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Similar to other complex diseases, however, the “curse of missing heritability” remains a significant concern in understanding the mechanisms underlying IBD. While genetic discoveries, to date, only account for 7–14 % of disease variance for IBD, studies have increasingly demonstrated a role for environmental factors in disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, the use of animal models of IBD has led to a greater understanding of disease pathogenesis implicating various aspects of the innate immune response including the bacterial, fungal, and viral microbiome and adaptive immune response such as the interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 pathway.
Stable carbon isotopic analyses of lignin-derived CuO oxidation products by isotope ratio monitoring-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (irm-GC-MS)

In this paper, we evaluate compound-specific isotope analyses of lignin reaction products through the combined application of alkaline CuO oxidation and isotope ratio monitoring-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (irm-GC-MS). Analyses of phenol standards as trimethylsilyl ethers/esters by irm-GC-MS yield accurate (±0.5‰) estimates of their isotopic signatures after correcting for added derivative carbon with precisions ≥1‰. CuO oxidation of purified lignin polymers yields reaction products that retain the isotopic composition of their polymeric precursors (within ±1‰). Analyses of a variety of vascular plant tissues reveal important differences in the isotopic compositions of lignin phenols from C3 (average of all compounds = −30.4‰ ± 3.9‰) and C4 (−16.9 ± 2.7‰) plants. These differences are apparent in organic matter concentrates from several sediments and can be used to estimate the principal sources of lignin and vascular plant remains in a variety of settings. Finally, comparative analyses of bulk sediment and organic matter concentrate from the same sample show that it is possible to characterize directly the isotopic composition of sedimentary lignins by combined application of alkaline CuO oxidation and irm-GC-MS without the need for prior demineralization.
Salmon P. Chase and Constitutional Politics

[Review] John Niven. Salmon P. Chase: A Biography. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. Pp. xii + 546. $35.00.
Detection of reflecting surfaces by a statistical model

Remote sensing is widely used assess the destruction from natural disasters and to plan relief and recovery operations. How to automatically extract useful features and segment interesting objects from digital images, including remote sensing imagery, becomes a critical task for image understanding. Unfortunately, current research on automated feature extraction is ignorant of contextual information. As a result, the fidelity of populating attributes corresponding to interesting features and objects cannot be satisfied. In this paper, we present an exploration on meaningful object extraction integrating reflecting surfaces. Detection of specular reflecting surfaces can be useful in target identification and then can be applied to environmental monitoring, disaster prediction and analysis, military, and counter-terrorism. Our method is based on a statistical model to capture the statistical properties of specular reflecting surfaces. And then the reflecting surfaces are detected through cluster analysis.
The sliding singlet mechanism in N = 1 supergravity gut

Abstract We show how the sliding singlet mechanism may be successfully incorporated in SU(6) grand unified theories coupled to N = 1 supergravity, to keep the weak doublet Higgs light, while its color triplet partner acquires a large mass.
Existence of a Slowly Exchangeable Pool of Body Sodium in Normal Subjects and Its Diminution in Patients with Primary Aldosteronism

Radiosodium administered to 7 normal young men exchanged with 41.2 mEq/kg body weight within 24 hr, and continued to exchange with an exponentially enlarging pool of Na for up to 28 days. Cutaneous and fecal losses of Na were found to average 4.4 mEq/day, and thus could not explain more than 15 % of the mean increment in exchangeable Na with time (121.8 mEq/4 days). The computed lines relating “log. relative Nae” with time for each subject (where “relative Nae” was defined as the daily value of Nae expressed as a percentage of the Nae at 24 hr) were shown to be parallel. A common regression was derived for the 7 normal subjects, expressing the changes in “log. relative Nae” with time. Of 6 patients with primary aldosteronism, 3 showed no progressive increase in exchangeable Na with time, while 2 showed smaller increments than any of the normal subjects. The group as a whole showed significantly less (P < .005) expansion of Na0 with time than the 7 normal subjects. It is concluded that a slowly exchangeabl...
Optimizing gene delivery vectors for the treatment of heart disease

Background: Cardiac gene therapy is approaching reality, with clinical trials entering Phase II/III. Even so, challenges exist to improve the efficacy of even the most successful therapies. Objective: The merits of different gene therapy vectors are weighed to assess the current feasibility of each in specific cardiac applications. Major obstacles are discussed, along with recent advances in vector development to overcome or circumvent those difficulties. Methods: This review focuses primarily on gene delivery via naked DNA, adenovirus, lentivirus, and adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. Conclusion: Gene therapy via adenovirus and AAV vectors has developed into a promising option for the treatment of heart disease. The merits of gene therapy compared with emerging stem cell and microRNA-based treatments are discussed.
Detection of genetic variation in Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110 variants using DNA fingerprints generated with GC rich arbitrary PCR primers

Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110 has been shown to contain several genetically similar naturally occurring colony morphology variants. These variants differ in symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability and in the utilization of various carbon substrates. They have been shown to share extensive DNA homology and appear to be derived from a common ancestor. Despite these similarities certain B. japonicum USDA 110 variants have been shown to be devoid of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. One of these variants (L2-110), however, was recently shown to possess significant levels of ex planta nitrogen fixation and to synthesize functional dinitrogenase enzyme within bacteroids. In an effort to identify genetic markers which could explain differences in symbiotic nitrogen fixation between B. japonicum variants, DNA fingerprints were generated by PCR using arbitrary primers. Two of these primers with GC rich sequences were able to differentiate between B. japonicum USDA 110 variants 1-110, L2-110, and MN-110. Unique markers have now been identified which could be examined further to determine if they explain the differences in symbiotic nitrogen fixation between USDA 110 variants.
Body Fat and Body-Mass Index among a Multiethnic Sample of College-Age Men and Women

Obesity prevalence and average body composition vary by US race and gender. Asian Americans have the lowest prevalence of obesity. Relying on body-mass index (BMI) to estimate obesity prevalence may misclassify subgroups that appear normally weighted but have excess body fat. We evaluated percentage body fat (PBF) and BMI to determine whether BMI reflects PBF consistently across different races. 940 college students were recruited from a local public university over four consecutive years. We measured PBF by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), weight by physicians’ scales, and height with stadiometers. Our sample comprised Asians (49%), Caucasians (23%), Hispanics (7%), and Other (21%). Participants averaged 21.4 years old; BMI was 22.9 kg/m2; PBF was 24.8%. BMI and PBF varied significantly by race and gender (P value = 0.002 and 0.005 for men; 0.0009 and 0.0008 for women). Asian-American women had the lowest BMI (21.5 kg/m2) but the second highest PBF (27.8%). Linear association between BMI and PBF was the weakest () among Asian-American women and BMI had the poorest sensitivity (37%) to detect PBF. The high PBF with low BMI pattern exhibited by Asian-American women suggests that they could escape detection for obesity-related disease if BMI is the sole measure that estimates body composition.
Phase Behavior and Rheological Properties of Polyelectrolyte Inks for Direct-Write Assembly

Three-dimensional (3-D) structures with micron-sized features have been fabricated via the direct-write assembly of polyelectrolyte inks. By mixing oppositely charged species under solution conditions that promote polyelectrolyte exchange reactions, we have created concentrated fluids capable of flowing through microscale deposition nozzles. Ink deposition into an alcohol/water coagulation reservoir yielded polyelectrolyte filaments that rapidly solidify to enable three-dimensional patterning of microperiodic structures with self-supporting features. The influence of ink and reservoir chemistry on the phase behavior, rheological properties, and assembly of concentrated polyelectrolyte complexes is reported with an emphasis on the optimal conditions for 3-D writing.
Androgen secretion by the fetal and neonatal rhesus monkey.

The capacity of the gonad to produce androgens was studied in the fetal rhesus monkey. At approximately days 45 and 60 of fetal life the testes converted 14C-pregnenolone to testosterone (T) and androstenedione (Δ) in vitro. By days 45, 60 and 80 of fetal life, the ovary is relatively quiescent with regard to its ability to synthesize T and Δ from pregnenolone. Measurement of T and Δ in pools of umbilical artery plasma (UAP) and gonads of the monkey at 100, 125 and 150 days of gestation showed more T in plasma from male compared to female fetuses. Δ Concentrations did not differ with fetal sex. Similarly, greater quantities of T were found in the systemic plasma of mothers with male fetuses. During the neonatal period, androgens in the plasma were high on days 1 or 2 but diminished to low levels with time. Fetal testicular tissue contained large quantities of T that fell to low or undetectable amounts in the neonatal period. Ovarian or adrenal tissue contained Δ but no T. These data demonstrate that the f...
The Dynamics of "Tokenism": How College Students Are Affected by the Proportion of Women in Their Major.

This study provides an empirical test of Kanter's theory of “tokenism” (1977a,b)—that individuals will be affected adversely by declining representation of their own gender within an environment. Using students' college major as the environmental backdrop, this study examines how the proportion of women in a major affects students' college grades, academic self-concept, mathematical self-concept, social selfconcept, satisfaction with the major, and persistence in the major. Data are drawn from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program's 1985 Freshman Survey and 1989 Follow-Up Survey. The sample includes 7,641 women and 5,074 men in 344 fouryear colleges and universities. Regression results indicate that the proportion of women in the major has essentially no impact on the cognitive and affective development of college students. Instead, this study illustrates how the relationship between the gender composition of the major and student outcomes can be accounted for by characteristics of students, aspects of the college environment, and the effects of major field.
A Period of Unusual Microbial Susceptibility in an Experimental Staphylococcal Infection

good reason to believe that this is so on an experimental basis (McCune et al, 1956), it seemed advantageous to discover whether or not staphylococci exhibited any variation in vulnerability. Such variation has been found in this experimental staphylococcal infection. Although the specific timing and agent may not be transferable from species to species, nevertheless, the underlying biologic phenomenon of the temporary increased susceptibility of infecting organisms seems well established. In previous reports (McCune et al, 1956, 1960) our experience with experimental staphylococcal infections in mice
Investigation of ion-exchange ‘stuffed’ glass structures by molecular dynamics simulation

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulations were used to examine ion-exchange ‘stuffed’ glass structures by substitution of Na + ions with K + ions in xNa 2 O·(100 − x)SiO 2 , x = 9, 16, and 23 mol%. After substitution, relaxation was performed under varied boundary conditions, including NVT and NPT ensembles. Structural features of stuffed glasses were compared with those of the host glass and of the as-formed, compositionally-equivalent potassium silicate glass. Stuffing K + ions had oxygen coordination number near that of the as-formed potassium silicate. Ion-exchange stuffed glasses were topologically confined, showing little Q n distribution or ring size distribution change compared to the host glass. Intertetrahedral re-orientation occurred to bear some of the network strain. Resulting molar volume change of ion-exchange stuffed systems was 58–67% of the difference between the as-formed sodium silicate host and the as-formed end-member potassium silicate glass. This accounted for a portion of the reduced experimental surface compression observed during ion exchange relative to that expected from the linear elastic suppression of the difference of as-melted molar volumes.
Cell settling effects on a thermal inkjet bioprinter

This paper seeks to quantify cell settling in the print media reservoir of a bioprinter in order to determine its effect on consistent cell delivery per printed drop. The bioprinter studied here is based on the thermal inkjet HP26A cartridge, but any system that dispenses controlled volumes of fluid may be affected similarly. A simple model based on Stokes' law suggests that the cell concentration in the bottom of the reservoir should increase linearly up to some maximum and that the cell concentration in the printed drops should follow this trend. The results show that cell output initially followed the predicted increasing trend, but then peaked and decreased. The timing and rate of the decrease related to the number of use cycles for the cartridges. The results provide guidance for modifications to the printing process to ensure consistent printing of cells.
Testing and analyzing conformal windows with null optics

The principle of Offner's refractive null lens has been extended to test the transmission wavefront through conformal window optics and provide feedback during surface fabrication. First, the basic theory of the refractive null lens is reviewed followed by design examples for conformal optics. Second, given a specific window shape, the results and interpretation of a conformal widow test are described. Finally, a method of data analysis to reduce the transmission wavefront map to a more useful sag table is presented.
Alternative Methods of Estimating Export Demand: A Monte Carlo Comparison

A simple two-country trading model is used to compare three methods of estimating export demand: ordinary least squares, two stage least squares, and two stage least squares applied to importer domestic equations (from which were derived excess demand). The performance of the estimators depends primarily on relative error variances around excess supply and demand. While there are situations where ordinary least squares performs well, it often gives very poor estimates. The third method is superior in the general case. On utilise un modele classique d'analyse du commerce exterieur entre deux pays afin de comparer trois methodes d'estimation de la demande pour l'exportalion. Ces methodes utilisees pour quantifier la demande excedemaire correspondent respectivement a: 1 un simple modele line'aire 2 un modele general aequations multiples 3 un modele aequations multiples s'appliquant uniquement aux fonctions d'offres et de demandes du pays importateur Le rendement des coefficients estimes depend, en majeure partie, de la variation relative de l'erreur associee aux offres et demandes excedentaires. En particulier, le simple modele lineaire ne permet pas, sauf exception, d'estimer correctement les coefficients. Dans le cas general, la troisieme methode donne lieu a de meilleures estimations des coefficients.
Inhibition of ras prenylation: A novel approach to cancer chemotherapy

The demonstration that Ras requires prenylation for its cancer-causing activity led several groups of investigators to an intense search for farnesyltransferase and geranylgeranyltransferase inhibitors as potential anticancer drugs. Rational design of small organic molecules that mimic the carboxyl terminal tetrapeptide prenylation site on Ras resulted in pharmacological agents capable of inhibiting Ras processing and selectively antagonizing oncogenic signaling, and suppressing human tumor growth in mouse models without side effects. These agents presently are undergoing advanced preclinical studies. This review describes the efforts of several groups to design, synthesize and evaluate the biological activities of several classes of prenyltransferase inhibitors. Several important issues, such as mechanism of action of prenyltransferase inhibitors and potential mechanisms of resistance to inhibition of K-Ras farnesylation, are also discussed.
Externalizing behavior problems among polydrug cocaine-exposed children: Indirect pathways via maternal harshness and self-regulation in early childhood.

This study examined direct and indirect associations between prenatal cocaine exposure (CE) and children’s externalizing problems in kindergarten via higher maternal harshness and lower self-regulation in early childhood. Other environmental risk variables such as child exposure to community violence and experience of hunger were used as additional predictors. The sample consisted of 216 mother-infant dyads recruited at delivery from local area hospitals (116 cocaine-exposed, 100 non-exposed). Maternal harshness was coded from observations of mother-toddler interactions at 2 years of age, and children’s self-regulation was measured at 3 years of age using several laboratory paradigms. Maternal reports of externalizing behavior problems were obtained at both time points and at kindergarten. Teacher reports were obtained and classroom observations of externalizing behaviors were conducted in the kindergarten classroom. Results indicated significant indirect associations between CE and maternal reports of externalizing problems via higher maternal harshness at 2 years and higher externalizing problems at 3 years of child age. A second indirect path from CE to externalizing problems in the school setting via higher maternal harshness at 2 years and lower self-regulation at 3 years was also significant. There were significant associations between community violence exposure and maternal reports of externalizing problems, and between hunger and externalizing problems in the school setting. Results highlight the role of parenting and self-regulation in early childhood as critical process variables in the indirect association between CE and externalizing behavior problems in kindergarten.