cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patient and Provider Perspectives on Acceptability, Access, and Adherence to 17-Alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate for Preterm Birth Prevention.

Background: Preterm birth (PTB) is a pressing maternal and child health issue with long-standing racial inequities in outcomes and care provision. 17-Alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17OHPC) has been one of few clinical interventions for recurrent PTB prevention. Little is known about the factors influencing successful administration and receipt of 17OHPC among mothers in the Medicaid program. Materials and Methods: We conducted individual semistructured interviews with 17OHPC-eligible pregnant women and obstetric providers from two academic medical centers in Philadelphia, PA. Patient participants were publicly insured, eligible for 17OHPC treatment, and purposively sampled as either (1) actively receiving treatment or (2) declining/discontinuing treatment. Providers had experience providing care to Medicaid-enrolled patients. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed to identify themes related to treatment acceptability, access, and adherence. Results: Of the 17 patient participants, the mean age was 30 years. Ten providers (MDs, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses) were also interviewed. Factors facilitating 17OHPC uptake and adherence among patients included severity of prior PTB, provider counseling, and coordination among the clinic, pharmacy, and insurance. Pain was cited as the most significant barrier to 17OHPC for patients, while providers perceived social adversity and beliefs about patients' commitment to treatment to be primary patient barriers. For providers, clinical experience and practice guidelines contributed to their use of 17OHPC. Administrative complexity and coordination of services were the primary provider barrier to 17OHPC administration. Conclusions: Patient-provider communication is a primary driver of 17OHPC acceptability and adherence. Comprehensive patient-centered consultation may improve uptake of clinical therapies among pregnant women at high risk for PTB.
The Role of Biotin-Dependent Pyruvate Carboxylase in L-Lysine Production

The promotive effect of biotin (200~500 µg/liter) on l-lysine formation was investigated in Brevibacterium lactofermentum. This effect was observed only when glucose or pyruvate was used as sole carbon source, and accompanied with the specific incorporation of 18CO2 into γ-CH2 group of l-lysine. Brev. lactofermentum AJ 3445 (AECr) could grow on pyruvate medium supplemented with biotin at more than 200 µg/liter, while the same growth was observed with the addition of TCA cycle members or glutamate to pyruvate medium.Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase deficient mutant derived from AJ 3445 could not grow on glucose as sole carbon source, but on glucose plus 200 µg/liter of biotin. AJ 3445 grown on lactate medium containing 500 µg/liter of biotin and KHCO3 contained the biotin-dependent pyruvate carboxylase.These data suggest that this promotive effect of excess biotin on l-lysine formation may be brought about through the activation of pyruvate carboxylase by biotin.
Theory of Self-Directed Learning-Oriented Assessment: A Non-technical Introduction to the Theoretical Foundations and Methodologies of Cognitive Diagnostic Assessment

This chapter presents key ideas and examples of cognitive diagnostic assessment informed by Rasch measurement theory and the application of Rasch measurement. The methods involved in Rasch measurement might appear daunting at first sight, but with the availability of such user-friendly software as Winsteps, teachers and all others who develop assessments can quickly and thoughtfully create assessments that lend themselves to the collection and analysis of data for evidence-based decision making. In this chapter, a non-mathematical and applied approach is used to explain Rasch measurement to provide concepts and techniques that are easy to read, digest, and apply immediately to problems in cognitive diagnostic assessment. Furthermore, new perspectives about the benefits of using Rasch measurement will also be presented for experienced users.
Language modeling experiments with random forests

L. Breiman recently introduced the concept of random forests (randomly constructed collection of decision trees) for classification. We have modified the method for regression and applied it to language modeling for speech recognition. Random forests achieve excellent results in both perplexity and error rate. They can be regarded as a language model in HMM form and have interesting properties that achieve very robust smoothing.
High-Resolution Multibeam Survey of Hydrate Ridge, Offshore Oregon

A new 30 kHz multibeam echo-sounder survey of part of the Oregon margin imaged Hydrate Ridge at a higher resolution than previous surveys conducted in the same area. The bathymetric data show that a northern ridge rises to 588 m and a southern ridge to 773 m. Moderate-to-high backscatter areas, interpreted to indicate patchy, discontinuous chemosynthetic communities, authigenic carbonate, or hydrate accumulations cover about 26 km 2 of the summit area of the northern ridge. Similar moderate-to-high backscatter areas comprise about 4.9 km 2 of the southern ridge. However, the southern ridge does have about 0.095 km 2 of high-backscatter that is believed to be associated with nearly continuous carbonate and hydrate outcrop on the western edge of the summit. A site on the southern ridge where intercalated carbonate and hydrate deposits were previously recovered is within the region with only patchy outcrop.
Central administration of pan‐somatostatin agonist ODT8‐SST prevents abdominal surgery‐induced inhibition of circulating ghrelin, food intake and gastric emptying in rats

Background Activation of brain somatostatin receptors (sst1–5) with the stable pan-sst1–5 somatostatin agonist, ODT8-SST blocks acute stress and central corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-mediated activation of endocrine and adrenal sympathetic responses. Brain CRF signaling is involved in delaying gastric emptying (GE) immediately post surgery. We investigated whether activation of brain sst signaling pathways modulates surgical stress-induced inhibition of gastric emptying and food intake. Methods Fasted rats were injected intracisternally (i.c.) with somatostatin agonists and underwent laparotomy and 1-min cecal palpation. Gastric emptying of a non-nutrient solution and circulating acyl and desacyl ghrelin levels were assessed 50 min post surgery. Food intake was monitored for 24 h. Key Results The abdominal surgery-induced inhibition of GE (65%), food intake (73% at 2 h) and plasma acyl ghrelin levels (67%) was completely prevented by ODT8-SST (1 μg per rat, i.c.). The selective sst5 agonist, BIM-23052 prevented surgery-induced delayed GE, whereas selective sst1, sst2, or sst4 agonists had no effect. However, the selective sst2 agonist, S-346-011 (1 μg per rat, i.c.) counteracted the abdominal surgery-induced inhibition of acyl ghrelin and food intake but not the delayed GE. The ghrelin receptor antagonist, [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 (0.93 mg kg−1, intraperitoneal, i.p.) blocked i.p. ghrelin-induced increased GE, while not influencing i.c. ODT8-SST-induced prevention of delayed GE and reduced food intake after surgery. Conclusions & Inferences ODT8-SST acts in the brain to prevent surgery-induced delayed GE likely via activating sst5. ODT8-SST and the sst2 agonist prevent the abdominal surgery-induced decrease in food intake and plasma acyl ghrelin indicating dissociation between brain somatostatin signaling involved in preventing surgery-induced suppression of GE and feeding response.
Some Issues in the Robust Estimation of Multivariate Location and Scatter

This paper gives a selective overview and discusses some contemporary issues in the robust estimation of multivariate location and scatter. Special emphasis is placed on the seeming trade off between local and global robustness properties of affine equivariant estimators, and in particular of M-estimators, MVE-estimators and S-estimators. Furthermore, a reappraisal of the breakdown point of redescending M-estimators is made.
Rock modeling and matching for autonomous long-range Mars rover localization: Research Articles

This paper introduces the concept and design of a new integrated approach to long-range autonomous Mars rover localization based on the incremental bundle adjustment and visual odometry technologies that have been individually experimented with during the 2003 Mars Exploration Rover mission. The design result indicates that a rover would have a varying performance in traversing from 7.5 to 118 m within one traverse leg under various scenarios including camera systems and traverse geometry, while maintaining the onboard rover localization accuracy at 1p. To implement the proposed integrated approach, the key is to develop autonomous cross-site tie point selection algorithms for automatic generation of a sufficient number of high quality tie points to link all the images and to form the image network. New methods of rock extraction, rock modeling, and rock matching from multiple rover sites are developed to automate cross-site tie point selection. Rocks are extracted from three-dimensional ground points generated by stereo image matching, and then modeled using analytical surfaces such as hemispheroid, semiellipsoid, cone, and tetrahedron. Rocks extracted and modeled from two rover sites are matched by a combination of rock model matching and rock distribution pattern matching. The matched rocks are used as cross-site tie points for a subsequent bundle adjustment. The presented results show that the proposed cross-site tie point selection approach functions successfully for medium-range (up to 26 m) traverse legs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Kinetics of intermixing in Au/Ag(110) heteroepitaxy: A molecular-dynamics study

Molecular-dynamics simulations with a corrected-effective-medium potential have been applied to study the kinetics of intermixing in Au/Ag(110) heteroepitaxy. Significant intermixing of Au and Ag at the interface has been observed at room temperature. A variety of interesting kinetic mechanisms have been revealed. Our study demonstrates that the kinetics of intermixing have a complex dependence on the local geometry of the Ag substrate, Au-Au interactions, and a long-range coupling of adatom motions via adsorbate-induced relaxation of the surface atoms.
Karl Marx and the philosophy of praxis

(1990). Karl Marx and the philosophy of praxis. History of European Ideas: Vol. 12, No. 6, pp. 855-857.
Functionally diverse biotin-dependent enzymes with oxaloacetate decarboxylase activity.

Abstract Biotin-dependent enzymes catalyze carboxylation, decarboxylation and transcarboxylation reactions that participate in the primary metabolism of a wide range of organisms. In all cases, the overall reaction proceeds via two half reactions that take place in physically distinct active sites. In the first half-reaction, a carboxyl group is transferred to the 1-N′ of a covalently tethered biotin cofactor. The tethered carboxybiotin intermediate subsequently translocates to a second active site where the carboxyl group is either transferred to an acceptor substrate or, in some bacteria and archaea, is decarboxylated to biotin and CO 2 in order to power the export of sodium ions from the cytoplasm. A homologous carboxyltransferase domain is found in three enzymes that catalyze diverse overall reactions: carbon fixation by pyruvate carboxylase, decarboxylation and sodium transport by the biotin-dependent oxaloacetate decarboxylase complex, and transcarboxylation by transcarboxylase from Propionibacterium shermanii . Over the past several years, structural data have emerged which have greatly advanced the mechanistic description of these enzymes. This review assembles a uniform description of the carboxyltransferase domain structure and catalytic mechanism from recent studies of pyruvate carboxylase, oxaloacetate decarboxylase and transcarboxylase, three enzymes that utilize an analogous carboxyltransferase domain to catalyze the biotin-dependent decarboxylation of oxaloacetate.
Label-free detection of proteins using SERS-based immuno-nanosensors

This paper describes the development and optimization of a novel class of SERS-based immuno-nanosensors for the label-free detection of specific proteins in complex environments (e.g., cell culture matrices and intracellular environments). These SERS-based nanosphere sensors are fabricated by depositing multiple layers of silver on silica nanospheres, followed by binding of the antibody of interest to the silver surface via a short rigid crosslinker. In these studies, several different crosslinkers were characterized and evaluated for optimal nanosensor activity. The crosslinkers evaluated contained either thiol or isothiocyanate functionalities, which bind to the silver surface on one end, while the other end of the crosslinker contained either a carboxylic or primary amine group, which reacts readily with the antibodies. These SERS-based nanosensors were also optimized for underlying silica sphere diameters, silica sphere coating conditions during silver deposition, number of silver layers applied, and silver surface coverage with crosslinkers. Upon optimization, the nanosensors were evaluated by monitoring their response to various antigens (e.g., human insulin or interleukin II) in complex environments.
How not to survey developers and repositories: experiences analyzing language adoption

We present cross-sectional analyses of programming language use and reflect upon our experience in doing so. In particular, we directly analyze groups of 1,500-13,000 developers by using questionnaires and 260,000 developers indirectly so by mining 210,000 software repositories. Our analysis reveals programming language adoption phenomena surrounding developer age, birth year, workplace, and software repository preference.We find that survey methods are increasingly accessible and relevant, but there are distinctive problems in examining developers and code repositories. We show that analyzing software repositories suffers from sample bias problems similar to those encountered when directly polling developers. Such bias limits the general validity of research claims based on analysis of software repositories. We aid future empirical researchers by describing concrete practices and opportunities to improve the results of developer and software repository surveys.
Compensatory articulation in Broca's aphasia

Thirteen patients clinically diagnosed as Broca's aphasics, were administered a vowel bite block task to ascertain their on-line compensatory articulation ability. Formant frequencies for F1 and F2 were obtained from a pitch-synchronous spectral analysis of digitized vowel waveforms. Bite block/i/productions were consistently characterized by higher F1 and lower F2 frequencies compared to normal vowel productions. Undershooting of tongue elevation and fronting explains this result. No consistent pattern of "off-target" productions were found for/a/tokens. A multiple correlation analysis among clinically derived quantitative measures (BDAE score, oral and verbal apraxia), experimentally derived measures (bite block performance, articulatory reaction time), and neurological measures (brain lesion volume) was highly successful despite a relatively small sample size. Compensatory articulation was significantly related to both oral apraxia scores (r = -.70) and the BDAE total score (r = -.51). A multiple regression analysis nearly reached statistical significance (p = .11) in predicting bite block performance, with oral apraxia the most powerful predictor variable. Descriptive accounts of loci of brain lesion vis-a-vis compensatory articulation ability are given to delimit brain areas thought to possibly mediate this articulatory adaptive skill. Preliminary speculation supports the notion that an intact Area 44 is a prerequisite for successful compensatory ability.
Endothelial Caveolae Have the Molecular Transport Machinery for Vesicle Budding, Docking, and Fusion Including VAMP, NSF, SNAP, Annexins, and GTPases

Transport by discrete vesicular carriers is well established at least in part because of recent discoveries identifying key protein mediators of vesicle formation, docking, and fusion. A general mechanism sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) is required for the transport of a divergent group of vesicular carriers in all eukaryotes. Many endothelia have an abundant population of noncoated plasmalemmal vesicles or caveolae, which have been reported with considerable controversy to function in transport. We recently have shown that like other vesicular transport systems, caveolae-mediated endocytosis and transcytosis are inhibited by NEM (Schnitzer, J. E., Allard, J., and Oh, P.(1995) Am. J. Physiol. 268, H48-H55). Here, we continue this work by utilizing our recently developed method for purifying endothelial caveolae from rat lung tissue (Schnitzer, J. E., Oh, P., Jacobson, B. S., and Dvorak, A. M.(1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 92, 1759-1763) to show that these caveolae contain key proteins known to mediate different aspects of vesicle formation, docking, and/or fusion including the vSNARE VAMP-2, monomeric and trimeric GTPases, annexins II and VI, and the NEM-sensitive fusion factor NSF along with its attachment protein SNAP. Like neuronal VAMPs, this endothelial VAMP is sensitive to cleavage by botulinum B and tetanus neurotoxins. Caveolae in endothelium are indeed like other carrier vesicles and contain similar NEM-sensitive molecular machinery for transport.
Estimation of appropriate background concentrations for assessing mercury contamination in fish.

One goal of environmental restoration at contaminated industrial or hazardous waste sites is the prevention of any further release of contaminants. As a consequence of successful remediation, it is hoped that elevated contaminant concentrations in biota will return to levels characteristic of environments uncontaminated by point sources. To evaluate the efficacy of such an environmental cleanup, it is necessary to know what background contaminant concentrations would typify uncontaminated conditions in the systems of interest. An accurate estimate of an appropriate background mercury concentration in fish is needed to determine the extent to which industrial mercury discharges produce elevated mercury concentration in fish in receiving waters, and to determine the concentration in fish that would represent restoration to uncontaminated status. Losses of large quantities of mercury in the 1950s at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee resulted in continued chronic contamination of several small streams and the downstream river/reservoir system. mercury concentrations in axial muscle of fish exceed 1 [mu]g/g wet wt. near the source, and decline to much lower concentrations 20 km downstream in Watts Bar Reservoir. Although remedial efforts are underway, the facility remains a continuing source of mercury contamination to the downstream waters.more » This study measures mercury concentration in bluegill and redbreast sunfish from streams and reservoirs near Oak Ridge, TN that are presumed to be relatively unimpacted by anthropogenic point sources of mercury to determine appropriate background levels in fish to apply in evaluating local contaminated streams and reservoirs. 16 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.« less
Composition of Araucana Eggs

Abstract Eggs produced by Araucana hens were collected from numerous sources throughout the Midwest and compared with white shelled eggs and brown shelled eggs (from the same sources when possible). Analyses were made on individual eggs and on composited samples. Electrophoretic studies revealed no differences in kind or amount of albumen proteins in eggs produced by Araucana, Leghorn, or Plymouth Rock hens. Proximate analyses showed that albumen from Araucana eggs was higher in percentage solids, but not significantly so. Various analyses of egg white from Araucana, Leghorn, or Plymouth Rock eggs revealed no significant difference. Proximate analyses of yolks from Araucana, Leghorn, or Plymouth Rock eggs indicated no significant difference in composition. The cholesterol content of Araucana egg yolks averaged about 4% higher than yolks from Leghorn eggs. Brown shelled eggs were intermediate. Shell thickness measurements indicated that Leghorn egg shells were thinnest, brown shelled eggs intermediate, and Araucana egg shells thickest. Differences, however, were not statistically significant. There was no difference in cholesterol content among Araucana eggs collected from 11 midwestern states.
Retention by children of device technique for inhaled asthma drugs between visits.

This study determined retention by children of drug delivery device technique between visits. Patients had asthma requiring the daily use of at least one medication delivery device. Seventy-two patients completed the study; 24 used only the metered dose inhaler (MDI) (group 1), while 48 used the MDI and 1 other device (group 2). Patients or caregivers were initially instructed on and demonstrated the correct use of their medication delivery device(s). At their next visit, they demonstrated their technique for each device. At follow-up, 36% correctly performed all components of the MDI. Group 1 (50%) was higher than group 2 (29%). The percent of correct MDI components for group1 (84) was also higher than group 2 (78) but not significantly. For both groups and devices, breathing out before inhalation and breath holding was problematic. This study reinforces the need to demonstrate and observe the correct use of inhalation devices at each clinic visit.
Modeling transient slag-layer phenomena in the shell/mold gap in continuous casting of steel

Mold-slag friction and fracture may cause heat-transfer variations in continuous casting, which leads to steel shell temperature and stress variations, resulting in surface cracks. Analytical transient models of liquid slag flow and solid slag stress have been coupled with a finite-difference model of heat transfer in the mold, gap, and steel shell to predict transient shear stress, friction, slip, and fracture of the slag layers. The models are validated by comparing with numerical models and plant measurements of mold friction. Using reported slag-fracture strength and time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagrams, the models are applied to study the effect of casting speed and mold-powder viscosity properties on slag-layer behavior between the oscillating mold wall and the solidifying steel shell. The study finds that liquid-slag lubrication would produce negligible stresses. A lower mold-slag consumption rate leads to high solid friction and results in solid-slag-layer fracture and movement below a critical value. Crystalline slag tends to fracture near the meniscus and glassy slag tends to fracture near the mold exit. A medium casting speed may be the safest to avoid slag fracture, due to its having the lowest critical lubrication consumption rate. The high measured friction force in operating casters could be due to three sources: an intermittent moving solid slag layer, excessive mold taper, or mold misalignment.
Determination of initial rates for a general class of chemical reactions: A methodology

The initial rate of any general nth order (n not necessarily integer) chemical reaction can be accurately and easily computed from the slope of a chord joining two points on the progress curve. Expressions for calculating the intermediate concentration corresponding to the initial rate are provided. Examples of the technique applied to second- and the third-order reactions as well as an example of a reaction with fractional order (n=0.6) are given
Quantitative Evaluation of the Segmental Left Ventricular Response to Dobutamine Stress by Tissue Doppler Echocardiography

Abstract Tissue Doppler imaging displays color-coded myocardial velocity on-line and has potential to objectively quantify regional left ventricular function. Sixty patients, aged 56 ± 10 years, were studied to determine the normal and abnormal segmental endocardial velocity response to dobutamine stress, and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of tissue Doppler imaging for detecting abnormal wall motion at peak stress as defined by routine visual interpretation. Separate 2-dimensional routine gray scale and color tissue Doppler image sets were acquired at rest and peak dobutamine stress in a digital cineloop format. Routine wall motion interpretation from gray scale images and color-coded peak systolic endocardial velocity from tissue Doppler images were determined independently. Twenty-two patients who reached their target heart rate and had normal wall motion at peak stress served as a control group. There were 19 patients who had wall motion abnormalities at peak stress. Segmental peak endocardial velocities increased significantly in all segments in the control group. Endocardial velocity was significantly lower at peak stress in the pooled abnormal segments than in the pooled normal segments: 3.1 ± 1.2 versus 7.2 ± 1.9 cm/s, respectively (p
Sedation medication received and adverse events related to sedation for brain MRI in children with and without developmental disabilities

Summary Background: There are few studies on sedation medication requirements and sedation related adverse events in developmentally disabled children. Objectives: The objectives of our study were to compare sedation medication received and sedation related adverse events for brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between children with and without developmental disabilities. We hypothesized that developmentally disabled children would require increased doses of sedative medications and will have increased frequency of adverse events when compared with normal children. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review on children 1–18 years, who required sedation for an elective brain MRI. Children were excluded if they required sedation for diagnostic imaging other than brain MRI, belonged to ASA category >3, or required general anesthesia. Data on developmental status, demographics and details of sedation medications received along with adverse events were collected. Results: About 53.5% (260/486) of the patients were classified as developmentally disabled. Pentobarbital and fentanyl were the two most common medications used for sedation in children with and without developmental disability. There was no difference in the mean dosages of pentobarbital (3.02 mg·kg−1 vs 3.06 mg·kg−1; P = 0.2) and fentanyl (1.01 mcg·kg−1 vs 1.02 mcg·kg−1; P = 0.81) in the two groups. There was a threefold increased incidence of hypoxia noted in children with developmental disability (11.9% vs 4.9%; P < 0.01). Presence of developmental disability alone was significantly associated with sedation related hypoxia (OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.8, 6.94; P < 0.01). Conclusions: Children with developmental disabilities have similar requirements for sedation medications but are three times more likely to experience hypoxia when compared with normal children.
Progastrin-like immunoreactivity in porcine antrum: Identification and characterization with region-specific antisera

Abstract In an effort to identify and characterize precursors of gastrin in tissues, we generated region-specific antisera against a synthetic progastrin peptide, Tyr-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-Gly-Arg-Arg (GL9), as deduced from the nucleotide sequence of gastrin mRNA. This antisera did not cross-react with gastrin or progastrin peptides with shorter carboxyl-terminal extensions. Progastrin-like immunoreactivity (PGLI) was measured in porcine antrum at a concentration of 6.8 ± 1.2 pmol/g wet weight (mean ± SE, n = 5), or roughly 0.2% of that of gastrin. On Sephadex G50 chromatography, a major peak of PGLI was eluted as a slightly larger molecule than gastrin heptadecapeptide (G17) but possessed the same N-terminal immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that G17 may be formed by processing of a carboxyl-terminally extended precursor as an alternative to cleavage of big gastrin (G34).
Antecedents and consequences of separation anxiety in first-time mothers: infant, mother, and social-contextual characteristics

Maternal separation anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state of worry, guilt, and sadness experienced by mothers during a short-term separation from their infant (Hock, McBride, & Gnezda, 1989). Guided by Belsky’s [Child Dev. 55 (1984) 83] multidimensional model of parenting, influences of the three major determinants of parenting, namely maternal characteristics, social-contextual resources, and infant characteristics, on individual differences in maternal separation anxiety were examined. The linkage between mothers’ separation anxiety and their responses to infant social signals during dyadic interactions was also investigated. Fifty-three first-time mothers participated in the present study during the transition to parenthood from their third trimester of pregnancy to 6 months postpartum. Results showed that low maternal trait anxiety, high marital quality, high satisfaction with social network emotional support, and low infant temperamental negativity (indexed by both maternal ratings and behavioral measures) were associated with heightened child- and employment-related separation concerns. Furthermore, general separation anxiety was linked to mothers’ over sensitivity to infant negative signals, but under sensitivity to infant positive signals during social interactions. Factors shaping individual and developmental differences in parents’ separation anxiety are discussed.
Cognitive and situational factors predict alcoholic beverage selection

It has been clearly established that individuals' alcohol consumption tends to covary with the rate and absolute quantity of a drinking partner. Sixty men and 73 women participated in a two-part study designed to examine the role of modeling and alcohol-related expectancies in predicting whether individuals would model the type of beverage selected by a confederate. A stepwise logistic regression designed to predict whether an individual would select an alcoholic or nonalcoholic drink indicated that confederate beverage choice and personal alcohol expectancy (social/physical pleasure) predicted beverage selection. Nonsignificant predictors included gender of the participant, whether participant and confederate were of the same gender, fear of negative evaluation, and typical drinking. The results indicate the importance of evaluating both individual and situational variables in predicting behavior.
LMXB luminosity function and connection to globular cluster in early type galaxies

Abstract We derive bias-corrected X-ray luminosity functions (XLFs) of LMXBs detected in 14 E and S0 galaxies observed with Chandra. After correcting for incompleteness, the individual XLFs are statistically consistent with a single power-law. A break at or near L X , Eddington , as previously reported, is not required in any individual case. The combined XLF with a reduced error, however, suggests a possible break at L X = 5 × 10 38 erg s −1 , which may be consistent with the Eddington luminosity of neutron stars with the largest possible mass (3 M ⊙ ), or of He-enriched neutron star binaries. We confirm that the total X-ray luminosity of LMXBs is correlated with the the near-IR luminosities, but the scatter exceeds that expected from measurement errors. The scatter in L X (LMXB)/ L K appears to be correlated with the specific frequency of globular clusters, as reported earlier. We cross-correlate X-ray binaries with globular clusters determined by ground-based optical and HST observations in 6 giant elliptical galaxies. With the largest sample reported so far (∼300 GC LMXBs with a 5:2 ratio between red and blue GCs), we compare their X-ray properties, such as X-ray hardness, XLF and L X / L B and find no statistically significance difference between different groups of LMXBs. Regardless of their association with GCs, both GC and field LMXBs appear to follow the radial profile of the optical halo light, rather than that of more extended GCs. This suggests that while metallicity is a primary factor in the formation of LMXBs in GCs, there may be a secondary factor (e.g., encounter rate) playing a non-negligible role.
A superconvergent method for approximating the bending moment of elastic beams with hysteresis damping

Abstract In this paper we introduce a method for finding improved approximations to second derivatives of solutions to certain initial-boundary value problems related to elastic beam models. These approximations are based on post-processing finite element solutions of the integro–partial-differential equation involved. Illustrative numerical examples for this method and its applications to an inverse problem of such models are provided.
Strain differences in organ weights of behaviorally defined rats

Adrenal, brain, pituitary, spleen, thymus, and thyroid weights were obtained for 577 rats from 12 inbred strains: ACI, A990, A35322, F344, INR, IR, MNR/Har, MNRA, MR/Har, TS1, TS3, WAG. The results provide parametric data for methodological use and add to the standardization of these strains as behaviorally defined lines.
Hermes Global Orbiter: A Discovery Mission in Gestation

The hermes Global Orbiter (HGO) is a Discovery class mission under study, which is investigating the possibility of placing a small spacecraft in highly elliptical polar orbit about mercury. The purpose of the mission is to conduct observations of the planet's surface, atmosphere and magnetosphere.
Nations and numbers, 1980

Any analysis of population trends and prospects must deal with variations among individual nations. Over the 1950-1980 period the population of the world increased by 70% from 2.5 billion to 4.4 billion. During this period Europe experienced an increase of 23% and the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics both had increases of just under 50%. In contrast the developing countries almost doubled their population. The prospects until the year 2000 are for a slowing of growth rates for all areas except Africa. Projections of the United Nations foresee continued declined in the rate of population growth in developed countries. Over the second 1/2 of the 20th century developed countries are likely to have increased their populations by about 1/2 (from around 1.7 billion to 1270 million) and the developing countries are likely to have had a 3-fold increase in population (from around 1.7 billion to around 4.9 billion). The crude birthrates for less developed countries in 1965 and 1975 with populations in excess of 35 million are presented in table form.
The effect of simazine and cytokinins on potato tuber protein, nitrogen content and yield1,2

Experiments were conducted on potted potato plants to evaluate the potential of simazine and cytokinins to increase tuber protein content. Foliar sprays with higher concentrations of simazine (2 to 4 mg per litre) decreased yield. Repeated applications during tuber development tended to increase tuber nitrogen content; however, large increases in nitrogen were difficult to reproduce. Weekly applications of simazine (150 ml of 0.025 to 0.2μM) to the soil during tuberization and tuber development did not increase tuber nitrogen or protein, but tended to increase yields. A single soil application of SD 83393, kinetin or benzyladenine did not increase tuber nitrogen or protein. These methods of simazine and cytokinin application do not appear practical as a means of increasing potato tuber protein content.
The Role of Language Policy in South African Education

OPSOMMINGDie rol van taalbeleid in die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwysHierdie referaat ondersoek die rol van taalbeleid in die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwys. 'n Geskiedkundige oorsig van taalbeplannings-aktiwiteite op onderwysterrein word aangebied, dan word 'n aantal eietydse taalbeleide bespreek. Die "moedertaalbeginsel" word heel breedvoerig behandel, en daar word besin oor ander taalbeleide soos die instelling van swarttaalonderrig in blanke skole, die skepping van 'n gemeenskaplike gebare-leksikon vir die onderrig van Dowes, spelreelstandaardisering en leksikale ontwikkeling in die swart tale, die taalverwante aanbevelings van die De Lange Kom-missie, en ten slotte, die moontlike rol van "Kleurling-Afrikaans" as voertaal in die onderwys. Die referaat sluit af met 'n toekomsblik op taalbeplanning in Suid-Afrika.RESUMOLa rolo de lingva politiko en sudafrika edukadoSudafriko havas longan, firme establitan tradicion de lingva planado. Kvankam ili tusis aliajn mediojn, plejparte tiuj lingvoplanaj agadoj direktigis al la lernejoj. Tiu ci artikolo ekzamenas la rolon de lingva politiko en sudafrika edukado. La aŭtoro prezentas historian superrigardon de lingvoplanaj agadoj en la eduka medio, kaj poste diskutas diversajn nuntempajn lingvajn politikojn. La principo "denaska lingvo," la kredo, ke infano devus ricevi almenaŭ sian komencan edukon en sia denaska lingvo, estas iom detale traktata, kaj inter la aliaj lingvaj politikoj tusataj estas la enkonduko de nigrulaj lingvoj en blankulajn lernejojn, la kreado de komuna gesta leksikono por utiligo en la klerigado de Surduloj, ortografia normigo kaj leksika evoluigo de la nigrulaj lingvoj, la rekomendoj de la Komisiono De Lange rilataj al lingvoj, kaj, fine, la ebla rolo de "kolora afrikansa" kiel eduka perilo. La artikolo finigas per perspektiva superrigardo de la estonteco de lingva planado en Sudafriko.
Automatic identification of informal social groups and places for geo-social recommendations

Mobile locatable devices can help identify previously unknown ad hoc or semi-permanent groups of people and their meeting places. Newly identified groups or places can be recommended to people to enhance their geo-social experience, while respecting privacy constraints. For instance, new students can learn about popular hangouts on campus or faculty members can learn about groups of students routinely having research discussions. This paper presents a clustering algorithm based on user copresence that identifies such groups and places even when group members participate to only a certain fraction of meetings. Simulation results demonstrate that 90 96% of group members can be identified with negligible false positives when the user meeting attendance is at least 50%. Experimental results using one-month of mobility traces collected from smart phones running Intel's PlaceLab location engine successfully identified all groups that met regularly during that period. Additionally, the group places were identified with good accuracy.
Asymptotically Optimum Over-Stress Tests to Estimate the Survival Probability at a Condition with a Low Expected Failure Probability

This paper is concerned with the optimum allocation of test units to overstress conditions when it is desired to estimate the survival probability at a design condition with a low expected failure probability. The criterion is that of minimizing the large sample variance: a logistic model is assumed. Expressions and charts for allocating test units to the accelerated stresses are provided and procedures for determining the stresses when these are not all specified are given. The gain in efficiency from using these plans versus testing exclusively at the design condition is analyzed. The requirement for some testing at the design stress and at an intermediate stress is also considered.
Departmental acquisitions policies for small college libraries

The idea of “levels of support” or “levels of collection density, ”which is fundamental to modern collection development policies, is suitable for large research libraries but not for small college libraries, where the primary problem is not deciding at what level to support individual collections, but picking and choosing from among books on the intermediate levels. One way a small college library can deal with this problem is by developing departmental acquisitions policies which ensure that books on the intermediate levels are evaluated and selected systematically instead of haphazardly and intuitively.
Sources of uncertainty in flood inundation maps

Flood inundation maps typically have been used to depict inundated areas for floods having specific exceedance levels. The uncertainty associated with the inundation boundaries is seldom quantified, in part, because all of the sources of uncertainty are not recognized and because data available to quantify uncertainty seldom are available. Sources of uncertainty discussed in this paper include hydrologic data used for hydraulic model development and validation, topographic data, and the hydraulic model. The assumption of steady flow, which typically is made to produce inundation maps, has less of an effect on predicted inundation at lower flows than for higher flows because more time typically is required to inundate areas at high flows than at low flows. Difficulties with establishing reasonable cross sections that do not intersect and that represent water-surface slopes in tributaries contribute additional uncertainties in the hydraulic modelling. As a result, uncertainty in the flood inundation polygons simulated with a one-dimensional model increases with distance from the main channel.
Large mammal fossil occurrences and associated archaeological evidence in Pleistocene contexts of peninsular India and Sri Lanka

The Indian subcontinent represents a rich source of diverse paleoanthropological data in the form of pollen assemblages, various isotopic records, vertebrate and invertebrate fossil assemblages, and prehistoric stone tools in a range of palaeoecological contexts. Most of the Quaternary fossil evidence, including hominin specimens, comes from the fluvial sediments of the Narmada and other similar rivers. Although abundant and well-preserved vertebrate fossil assemblages are known from the Siwalik Hills and Karewa deposits in the north, similar evidence is less well-known from peninsular India and Sri Lanka to the south. With the exception of two occurrences in Gujarat and Bihar, there is an almost complete absence of Neogene fossil evidence older than the Middle Pleistocene in peninsular India and late Middle Pleistocene in Sri Lanka. The richest non-fluvial sources of vertebrate fossils are represented by the Kurnool cave-complex in southern India and numerous cave and open-air deposits in Sri Lanka, the majority of which are Upper Pleistocene age. This unique faunal record of peninsular India and Sri Lanka probably played a critical role in influencing the dispersal, settlement, and subsistence behaviors of Pleistocene hominins. This paper summarizes the known Pleistocene megafauna fossil occurrences from peninsular India and Sri Lanka and includes key lithic associations with these assemblages.
A role for sensitization in craving and relapse in cocaine addiction

Sensitization to cocaine refers to the behavioral model of cocaine addiction where the motor stimulant effect of cocaine is augmented for months after discontinuing a regimen of repeated cocaine injections. There has been speculation that the neuroadaptations mediating this sensitization phenomenon may, in part, underlie the behavioral changes produced by chronic cocaine abuse, including paranoia, craving and relapse. Criteria are proposed that may assist in determining which neuroadaptations are most relevant in this regard. Using these criteria, a model is presented that endeavors to incorporate neuroadaptations issuing directly from the pharmacological effects of cocaine and those arising from learned associations the organism makes with the cocaine injection procedure and pharmacological actions. It is proposed that the pharmacological neuroadaptations predominate in the manifestation of cocaine-induced paranoia, while the changes derived from learning may provide more critical underpinnings for cocaine craving and relapse.
HIV-Disease and Host Allelic Polymorphism in Long-Term Non-Progressors

Since its recognition in the early 1980's, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has become a pandemic, and in 1997 it was estimated that 30-40 million individuals worldwide are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). While it remains an incurable and potentially devastating infection, particularly in regions where modern health care is unavailable, recent years have seen striking advances in the understanding of AIDS pathology, development of diagnostic modalities, and rational design of new treatments. Recently it has been recognized that there exists a subset of individuals who, while infected with HIV, remain asymptomatic with regard to the classical manifestations of AIDS. These individuals have been called “long-term survivors” or “long-term non-progressors” (LTNPs). Similarly, there appears to exist a subset of exposed-uninfected individuals who, while exposed to virus multiple times, remain uninfected. This article reviews the current understanding of how these individuals remain resistant to HIV progression. Normal 0 false false false EN-CA X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Lack of Evidence for Infection with Known Human and Animal Retroviruses in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

We investigated 21 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome who were identified through the surveillance system of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta for the presence of several human and animal retroviruses. In addition, we evaluated 21 CDC employee controls matched with the patients for age (+/- 5 years), gender, and race. The viruses tested included human T-lymphotropic viruses types I and II; human spuma retrovirus; simian T-lymphotropic virus type I; simian retroviruses types 1, 2, and 3; bovine leukemia virus; feline leukemia virus; and gibbon ape leukemia virus. Samples of peripheral blood lymphocytes and leukocytes from patients and controls were analyzed in a blinded fashion for retroviral sequences; polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification assays and Southern blot hybridization to 32P-labeled internal oligoprobes were used. All PCR assays were optimized for maximal sensitivity on respective infected cell lines or plasmids, and sensitivity controls were included in each experiment. All samples from patients and controls were negative for the tested retroviral sequences. Our data indicate that none of these retroviruses plays an etiologic role or is a cofactor in the chronic fatigue syndrome illnesses of our study population.
A novel 7.2 kV fault current limiter for use in the FREEDM Project

This paper presents a novel fault current limiter topology that is designed to limit the fault current to two times the rated current. The proposed topology is a possible solution for fault management in the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Project. Comparing existing devices, the proposed device offers low conduction losses, near instantaneous response time (µs) and is able to withstand the power requirements long enough for circuit breakers to operate. The ac semiconductor switch is made up from 10 kV/10A SiC MOSFETs and a low voltage preliminary experimental model has been built and successfully tested.
Nonparametric estimation for the three-stage irreversible illness-death model.

Summary. In this paper, we present new nonparametric estimators of the stage-occupation probabilities in the three-stage irreversible illness-death model. These estimators use a fractional risk set and a reweighting approach and are valid under stage-dependent censoring. Using a simulated data set, we compare the behavior of our estimators with previously proposed estimators. We also apply our estimators to data on time to Pneumocystis pneumonia and death obtained from an AIDS cohort study.