cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
African Customary Law, Customs, and Women's Rights

The sources of law in most African countries are customary law, the common law and legislation both colonial and post-independence. In a typical African country, the great majority of the people conduct their personal activities in accordance with and subject to customary law. Customary law has great impact in the area of personal law in regard to matters such as marriage, inheritance and traditional authority, and because it developed in an era dominated by patriarchy some of its norms conflict with human rights norms guaranteeing equality between men and women. While recognizing the role of legislation in reform, it is argued that the courts have an important role to play in ensuring that customary law is reformed and developed to ensure that it conforms to human rights norms and contributes to the promotion of equality between men and women. The guiding principle should be that customary law is living law and cannot therefore be static. It must be interpreted to take account of the lived experiences of the people it serves.
Evidence against an Essential Role of COPII-Mediated Cargo Transport to the Endoplasmic Reticulum-Golgi Intermediate Compartment in the Formation of the Primary Membrane of Vaccinia Virus

Vaccinia virus assembles two distinct lipoprotein membranes. The primary membrane contains nonglycosylated proteins, appears as crescents in the cytoplasm, and delimits immature and mature intracellular virions. The secondary or wrapping membrane contains glycoproteins, is derived from virus-modified trans-Golgi or endosomal cisternae, forms a loose coat around some intracellular mature virions, and becomes the envelope of extracellular virions. Although the mode of formation of the wrapping membrane is partially understood, we know less about the primary membrane. Recent reports posit that the primary membrane originates from the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). According to this model, viral primary membrane proteins are cotranslationally inserted into the ER and accumulate in the ERGIC. To test the ERGIC model, we employed Sar1H79G, a dominant negative form of the Sar1 protein, which is an essential component of coatomer protein II (COPII)-mediated cargo transport from the ER to the ERGIC and other post-ER compartments. Overexpression of Sar1H79G by transfection or by a novel recombinant vaccinia virus with an inducible Sar1H79G gene resulted in retention of ERGIC 53 in the ER but did not interfere with localization of viral primary membrane proteins in factory regions or with formation of viral crescent membranes and infectious intracellular mature virions. Wrapping of intracellular mature virions and formation of extracellular virions did not occur, however, because some proteins that are essential for the secondary membrane were retained in the ER as a consequence of Sar1H79G overexpression. Our data argue against an essential role of COPII-mediated cargo transport and the ERGIC in the formation of the viral primary membrane. Instead, viral membranes may be derived directly from the ER or by a novel mechanism.
Mother-Child Attachment Representation and Relationships Over Time in Mexican-Heritage Families

Continuity and intergenerational transmission of representations of attachment were examined in a longitudinal sample of 88 Mexican immigrant mothers and their children who participated in the local intervention group of the Early Head Start Evaluation Study. The authors interviewed mothers with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and Parent Attachment Interview (PAI). Mothers and children were observed when the children were 14 months old with the Attachment Q-Set (AQS), and children were interviewed at 54 months with the MacArthur Story Stem Battery. Early maternal AAI and PAI scores were associated with toddler-age children's AQS scores and preschool Story Stem scores. Mothers who were more secure in their attachment representations in the AAI had children who were also more secure, as measured by the AQS and in their Story Stem narratives. Mothers' high comfort and low enmeshment PAI scores predicted children's Story Stem security. Mothers' AAI security scores predicted children's Story Stem narrativ...
False-positive preliminary radiograph interpretations in a pediatric emergency department: clinical and economic impact.

A prospective, case control study at a university-affiliated, academic pediatric emergency department was undertaken to determine the clinical impact and cost of false-positive preliminary radiograph interpretations and to compare the cost of false-positive interpretations with the estimated cost of a 24-hour on-site pediatric radiologist. Data were collected on all patients undergoing radiography of the chest, abdomen, lateral (soft tissue) neck, cervical spine, or extremities during a 5-month period. A total of 1,471 radiograph examinations was performed, and 200 (14%) misinterpretations (false-positive and false-negative) by the pediatric emergency medicine physicians were identified. As reported previously, 20 (10%) of the false-negative interpretations were noted to be clinically significant. In the current analysis, 103 (7%) false-positive radiograph interpretations were identified. False-positive interpretations were noted more frequently (14%) for soft tissue lateral neck radiographs than for any other radiograph type. Of the 103 total false-positive radiographs, nine (0.6%) resulted in an increased patient cost totaling $764.75. These data show that false-positive radiograph interpretations have limited economic and clinical impact.
Persistence of hypercoagulable state after resection of intra-abdominal malignancies.

Background The hypercoagulable state associated with cancer imparts considerable risk for venous thromboembolism. Surgical resection of malignancies should theoretically reverse tumor-induced hypercoagulability. However, coagulation changes in cancer patients postresection have not been described thoroughly. Conventional coagulation tests are unable to detect hypercoagulable states. In contrast, rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) can detect hypo- or hypercoagulable conditions. We hypothesized that the cancer-induced hypercoagulable state would improve after surgical resection. Methods After informed consent, blood samples of patients undergoing surgical resection for curative intent were analyzed with serial ROTEM. Results Thirty-five patients (mean ± SD age 66 ± 17 years; 67% male) had cancers involving the pancreas (n = 12 [34%]), esophagus (n = 10 [29%]), stomach (n = 7 [20%]), bile ducts (n = 3 [9%]), and duodenum (n = 3 [9%]). Preoperative ROTEM identified 14 (40%) who were hypercoagulable. After surgical resection, patients became progressively hypercoagulable with more rapid clot formation time (low clot formation time, high alpha) and higher maximum clot firmness. By week one, 86% (n = 30) had abnormal ROTEM values, including 17 of 21 (81%) who had normal coagulation profiles preoperatively. Most (n = 30 [86%]) remained hypercoagulable at 3 to 4 weeks. Conclusions Rotational thromboelastography identifies baseline hypercoagulability in more than one third of patients with intra-abdominal malignancies. This is among the first studies to demonstrate progressive hypercoagulability that persists for at least 1 month after resection. These data support postdischarge thromboprophylaxis regimens in high-risk cancer patients.
Nitric oxide signaling as a common target of organohalogens and other neuroendocrine disruptors.

Organohalogen compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are global environmental pollutants and highly persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals that produce adverse effects in humans and wildlife. Because of the widespread use of these organohalogens in household items and consumer products, indoor contamination is a significant source of human exposure, especially for children. One significant concern with regard to health effects associated with exposure to organohalogens is endocrine disruption. Toxicological studies on organohalogen pollutants primarily focused on sex steroid and thyroid hormone actions, and findings have largely shaped the way one envisions their disruptive effects occurring. Organohalogens exert additional effects on other systems including other complex endocrine systems that may be disregulated at various levels of organization. Over the last 20 years evidence has mounted in favor of a critical role of nitric oxide (NO) in numerous fu...
Local Government Portfolios and Regional Growth: Some Combined Dynamic CGE/Optimal Control Results

A theoretical policy model is presented that combines regional dynamic CGE modeling and optimal control to explore the role of local government taxation and expenditure in enhancing regional growth. It contributes to the regional CGE literature by explicitly solving for an optimal policy and augments earlier regional optimal control models by adding endogenous optimization of producer and consumer agents in response to endogenously determined prices. Results of three policy regimes are analyzed in terms of gains in the objective function, impacts on income inequality, and sensitivity to model parameterization.
Urticarial dermatitis: clinical features, diagnostic evaluation, and etiologic associations in a series of 146 patients at Mayo Clinic (2006-2012).

Background Few studies have examined patients initially presenting with clinical features of urticarial dermatitis (UD). Objective We sought to examine clinical and laboratory evaluations and final diagnoses of patients with clinical features of UD. Methods This was a retrospective review of patients with UD seen at Mayo Clinic between 2006 and 2012, and formal review of available skin biopsy specimens to identify any patients who also met microscopic criteria for UD. Results Of 146 patients with clinical features of UD (mean age at onset, 60 years), 88 (60%) were female. The most common final diagnoses were: UD (70 patients [48%]); dermatitis not otherwise specified (24 [16%]); urticaria (14 [10%]); drug reaction (9 [6%]); bullous pemphigoid (6 [4%]); atopic dermatitis (5 [3%]); and contact dermatitis (4 [3%]). Of 40 patients with clinical and microscopic features of UD, 46% (16 of 35) had no response to treatment, whereas 10% (4 of 40) had a newly diagnosed concurrent malignancy (within 4 months of UD onset). Limitations This was a retrospective study. Conclusion Clinical features of UD occur in various dermatologic diseases. Some patients with clinical and microscopic features of UD have associated malignancies. Further studies should assess optimal evaluation and management of UD.
Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: Baseball

This 3-volume work profiles over 1,450 baseball luminaries, including current stars, former major league players, managers, umpires, executives, and Negro League and All-American Girls Professional Baseball League stars.
The Value of “Silence” in the Lives of Postincarcerated Women

The increase in the female inmate population in the United States has brought attention to issues related to women's incarceration. Due to a host of reasons—some personal, some based on society's view of female inmates—many women find it challenging to speak about their experiences prior, during, and after their incarceration. This article explores the challenges postincarcerated women face as they engage the process of speaking their stories into life. The participants' stories suggest silence as a necessary, valuable, and protective strategy for women who are living through a process of reconnecting with themselves, their families, and their communities.
Asymptotic mean ergodicity of average consensus estimators

Dynamic average consensus estimators suitable for the decentralized computation of global averages of constant or slowly-varying local inputs include the proportional (P) and proportional-integral (PI) estimators. We analyze the convergence properties of these estimators when run on i.i.d. random graphs which are connected and balanced on average, but need not be connected or balanced at each time step. The statistics of the steady-state process are found using the Kronecker product covariance and an ergodic theorem is used to determine whether the steady-state process is mean ergodic. We show that for constant inputs the P estimator is asymptotically mean ergodic only for systems with non-zero forgetting factor which do not have zero steady-state error on average. The PI estimator has both the asymptotic mean ergodicity property and zero steady-state error in expectation for constant inputs independent of initial conditions, proving that the time-averaged output of each agent robustly converges to the correct average.
Cost Accounting as a Tool for Increasing Cost Transparency in Selective Hepatic Transarterial Chemoembolization

Abstract Purpose To increase cost transparency and uncover potential areas for savings in patients receiving selective transarterial chemoembolization at a tertiary care academic center. Materials and Methods The hospital cost accounting system charge master sheet for direct and total costs associated with selective transarterial chemoembolization in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 was queried for each of the four highest volume interventional radiologists at a single institution. There were 517 cases (range, 83–150 per physician) performed; direct costs incurred relating to care before, during, and after the procedure with respect to labor, supply, and equipment fees were calculated. Results A median of 48 activity codes were charged per selective transarterial chemoembolization from five cost centers, represented by the angiography suite, units for care before and after the procedure, pharmacy, and observation floors. The average direct cost of selective transarterial chemoembolization did not significantly differ among operators at $9,126.94, $8,768.77, $9,027.33, and $8,909.75 ( P = .31). Intraprocedural costs accounted for 82.8% of total direct costs and provided the greatest degree in cost variability ($7,268.47–$7,691.27). The differences in intraprocedural expense among providers were not statistically significant ( P = .09), even when separated into more specific procedure-related labor and supply costs. Conclusions Cost accounting systems could effectively be interrogated as a method for calculating direct costs associated with selective transarterial chemoembolization. The greatest source of expenditure and variability in cost among providers was shown to be intraprocedural labor and supplies, although the effect did not appear to be operator dependent.
Enkephalin pseudopeptides: Resistance to in vitro proteolytic degradation afforded by amide bond replacements extends to remote sites

Abstract Five analogs of leucine enkephalin containing the CH 2 S group as an amide bond replacement were evaluated with respect to resistance toward degradation by human serum in an HPLC-based assay using both ultraviolet and electrochemical detection. Analogs with the modification at the 1–2, 2–3, 3–4, or 4–5 peptide linkages demonstrated half-lives of 118, 85, 134, and 318 min vs. 12 min for the parent peptide. A pseudopeptide analog with additional D-Ala 2 protection had a half-life of >1000 min, while the potent [D-Ala 2 ]-leucine enkephalin analog showed approximately a 10-fold increase in stability. The significant increase in stability for a compound with protection only at the C-terminus suggests that serum enzymes may have greater specificity toward backbone changes than previously realized.
Race vs Class in Teachers' Expectations:

A study from the University of Florida showed that race of student did not affect teachers' estimates of his achievement. In an extension and replication, the present sudy indicates that social class did influence 118 teachers' expectations, based on 1-paragraph descriptions, for black and white boys of working and middle-class families.
Particle transport through two-dimensional, saturated porous media: influence of physical structure of the medium

Abstract Recent work in the transport of particulate matter (e.g. bacteria, viruses, colloids, mineral grains, etc.) through saturated porous media has indicated that the physical structure of the porous medium plays an important role in both the ability of the particles to be transported and the distribution of the particles deposited within the medium. The present paper addresses the influence on particle transport within saturated porous media of high-permeability pathways and contacts between different grain size distributions. The experiments discussed in the present paper were conducted in two dimensions. The porous media were constructed from glass beads and the tracer utilized consisted of latex spheres in the size range 2–90 μm (2–30 μm in most experiments). Among the media designs investigated were simple layers in which flow was parallel to layers, simple layers in which flow was at an angle to layers, a simple form of heterogeneity including non-parallel layers and disjoint inclusions, and a complex heterogeneity involving three interconnected permeabilities. Results from these experiments demonstrated that significantly greater numbers of particles were deposited at media contacts where water moved from larger to smaller diameter glass beads. Further, it was observed that outflow concentrations of particles for media containing continuous flow paths within the coarse glass beads were substantially higher than outflow concentrations of particles for media containing a number of interfaces between different-sized glass beads. Specifically, a comparison of the results for a medium in which flow was parallel to layers with results from a medium in which flow was at an angle to the layers led to the observation of higher concentrations of latex particles in the outflow from the former medium and high concentrations of particles remaining in the region of layer contacts within the latter medium. Similar observations were made in a comparison of the simple and complex heterogeneities. Based on these results and prediction of straining based on the filtration literature, it is argued that the enhanced deposition observed near contacts results from sorption leading to increased straining in regions of lower uniformity in the glass bead distribution. These results demonstrate the importance of particle transport along high-permeability pathways and the enhanced deposition which may occur at contact surfaces within heterogeneous porous media.
Quantifying cell death in the myocardium: Myosin specific antibody in the evaluation of membrane defects

Methods for evaluating cardiac myocyte necrosis utilizing antibodies specific for the heavy or light chains of cardiac myosin are reviewed. Cell death, associated with sarcolemmal disruption, results in the leakage of myosin light chains from the cytoplasm as well as the accessibility of myosin heavy chains to exogenous specific antibodies. Measurement of plasma light chain concentration has been useful in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, though more recently, patients with congestive cardiomyopathy associated with an inflammatory infiltrate have been identified by an elevated plasma light chain concentration. The binding of myosin heavy chains to necrotic myocytes has been useful in the study of mechanisms of ischemic cell death in cell culture, in the diagnosis and quantification of myocardial infarction, both experimentally and clinically, and more recently in the study of experimental myocarditis and cardiac transplantation. It is hoped that these methods may evolve as useful clinical tools in the identification of those cardiomyopathy patients whose course is characterized by rapid myocyte loss.
Electron Injection Dynamics from Ru Polypyridyl Complexes to ZnO Nanocrystalline Thin Films

Electron injection dynamics from Ru(dcbpyH2)2(NCS)2 (RuN3) and (Bu4N)2Ru(dcbpyH)2(NCS)2 (N719) to nanocrystalline ZnO thin films were studied using transient IR spectroscopy. The injection dynamics using 400 nm excitation were found to be biphasic, consisting of a distinct <100 fs component (14−20%) and slower nonexponential rise that is fitted by a biexponential function with time constants of ∼20 ps and ∼200 ps. The fast component amplitude decreases to ∼5% at 530 nm excitation. Dye agglomeration was shown not to affect injection dynamics, although it reduced injection yield, suggesting the agglomerates do not contribute to electron injection within 1 ns. A two-state injection model, previously used to describe injection dynamics in TiO2, was proposed for ZnO. The fast and the slow components were attributed to injection from unthermalized and relaxed excited states, respectively. Using this model, the injection time scales for these states were estimated to be 1.5 and 150 ps, respectively, both of whic...
Characterization of a photoexposed sulfhydryl group of bovine rhodopsin available for chemical modification.

Summary Alkylation of rhodopsin in 40 mM cetyltrimethylammonium bromide revealed that the ratio of the light:dark formation of [ 14 C]carbamidomethylated-opsin was 1.0:0.1. A rhodopsin photo-exposed sulfhydryl group was demonstrated in rod outer segment membranes with [ 14 C]parachloromercuribenzoate and [ 14 C]iodoacetamide. Amino acid analysis of native and S-carbamidomethylcysteinyl-opsin, before and after performic acid oxidation, indicated that 1.2–1.3 sulfhydryl groups were available for alkylation per 4.9 total half-cystinyl residues in illuminated rhodopsin.
Adrenalectomy Attenuates Kainic Acid‐Induced Spectrin Proteolysis and Heat Shock Protein 70 Induction in Hippocampus and Cortex

Glucocorticoids have been shown to exacerbate the damaging effects of a variety of neurotoxic insults in the hippocampus and other brain areas. Evidence suggests that the endangering effects of glucocorticoids may be due to augmenting the cascade of events, such as elevations in intracellular calcium levels, because of excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptor stimulation. A potential mechanism responsible for EAA-induced neuronal damage is activation of calcium-sensitive proteases, such as calpain, which then proteolytically degrade cytoskeleton structural proteins, such as spectrin. The present study was designed to determine if glucocorticoids can regulate the spectrin proteolysis produced by the EAA agonist, kainic acid. Rats were adrenalectomized (ADX) or sham operated and 7 days later injected with kainic acid (10 mg/kg). Twenty-four hours later rats were killed and tissues obtained for western blot analyses of the intact spectrin molecule and the proteolytically derived breakdown products. Kainic acid produced an approximate sevenfold increase in the 145-155-kDa spectrin breakdown products in the hippocampus relative to ADX or sham rats injected with vehicle. ADX attenuated the kainic acid-induced increase in breakdown products by 43%. In a similar way, kainic acid produced a large 10-fold increase in spectrin breakdown products in the frontal cortex, which was also significantly attenuated (-80%) by ADX. Induction of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) by neurotoxic insults has been suggested to be a sensitive indicator of cellular stress in neurons. Kainic acid induced large amounts of hsp70 in both hippocampus and frontal cortex of sham-operated rats that was markedly attenuated (85-95%) by ADX.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Remembering the future: A commentary on “Intergenerational discounting: A new intuitive approach”

Sumaila and Walters (2005) described a new approach to valuing benefit streams in resource economics. In contrast to conventional methods, their “intergenerational discounting” recognizes two categories of benefits: those accruing to present stakeholders and those accruing to future generations. The new method has clear application whenever alternative management strategies for natural resources are compared in the metric of net present value (NPV). The intergenerational approach provides a sensible way to integrate economics into policy considerations. To us, it seems far more reasonable than the conventional discounting approach, in which future benefits become of negligible value after a few generations. That aspect of conventional discounting is troublesome tomany resource biologists, policy analysts, andeconomists. To carry theargument further, if onebelieves that amajor goal of economics is to quantify human preferences (and the corresponding goal of resource economics is to quantify societal preferences), it can be demonstrated by syllogism that the use of conventional discounting is logically inconsistent:
Surface Location In Scene Content Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to describe techniques and algorithms for the location in three dimensions of planar and curved object surfaces using a computer vision approach. Stereo imaging techniques are demonstrated for planar object surface location using automatic segmentation, vertex location and relational table matching. For curved surfaces, the locations of corresponding 'points is very difficult. However, an example using a grid projection technique for the location of the surface of a curved cup is presented to illustrate a solution. This method consists of first obtaining the perspective transformation matrix from the images, then using these matrices to compute the three dimensional point locations of the grid points on the surface. These techniques may be used in object location for such applications as missile guidance, robotics, and medical diagnosis and treatment.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
On polynomial function approximation with minimum mean squared relative error and a problem of Tchebychef

We consider the problem of constructing a polynomial approximation to a function f ( x ) over the interval - 1 , 1 ] that minimizes the mean squared relative error (MMSRE) over the interval. We establish sufficient conditions for solving the problem. We then consider a classic problem from a paper of Tchebychef and compare his solution to MMSRE, demonstrating that in some cases the latter approach can yield a more appealing solution and one that it is applicable in a number of situations where the Tchebychef approach is not.
Effects of work zone presence on injury and non-injury crashes

Work zones in the United States have approximately 700 traffic-related fatalities, 24,000 injury crashes, and 52,000 non-injury crashes every year. Due to future highway reconstruction needs, work zones are likely to increase in number, duration, and length. This study focuses on analyzing the effect of work zone duration mainly due to its policy-sensitivity. To do so, we created a unique dataset of California freeway work zones that included crash data (crash frequency and injury severity), road inventory data (average daily traffic (ADT) and urban/rural character), and work zone related data (duration, length, and location). Then, we investigated crash rates and crash frequencies in the pre-work zone and during-work zone periods. For the freeway work zones investigated in this study, the total crash rate in the during-work zone period was 21.5% higher (0.79 crashes per million vehicle kilometer (MVKM)) than the pre-work zone period (0.65 crashes per MVKM). Compared with the pre-work zone period, the increase in non-injury and injury crash rates in the during-work zone period was 23.8% and 17.3%, respectively. Next, crash frequencies were investigated using negative binomial models, which showed that frequencies increased with increasing work zone duration, length, and average daily traffic. The important finding is that after controlling for various factors, longer work zone duration significantly increases both injury and non-injury crash frequencies. The implications of the study findings are discussed in the paper.
WINNING A BOND ISSUE FOR A NEW LIBRARY: The Chesapeake, Virginia, Campaign

In the fall of 1988, our library system was well below state and national standards for facilities and books. We knew of no additional municipal appropriations that were earmarked for our system beyond normal operating expenses. To stay viable, we saw but one choice — a bond referendum. Accordingly, we convinced the city council to put a $10.6 million library bond referendum on the ballot.
5-Azidoindole binding to the Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase α2β2 complex

Abstract The tryptophan synthase α 2 β 2 complex catalyzes tryptophan (Trp) biosynthesis from serine plus either indole (IN) or indole-3-glycerol phosphate (InGP). The photoreactive 5-azido analog in IN (AzIN), itself a substrate in the dark, was utilized to examine the substrate binding sites on this enzyme. When irradiated with AzIN at concentrations approaching IN saturation for the IN → Trp activity (0.1 m m ), in the absence of serine, the enzyme was increasingly inactivated (up to 70–80%) concomitant with the progressive binding of a net of 2 mol AzIN per αβ equivalent. Little or no cooperativity in the binding of the 2 mol AzIN was observed. In contrast, there was minimal effect on the IN → InGP activity. Under these conditions AzIN appeared to be incorporated equally into each subunit. No significant inactivation nor binding occurred in the presence of serine. A quantitatively similar inactivation of InGP → Trp activity was observed over the same AzIN concentration range, suggesting common IN sites for Trp biosynthesis from either indole substrate. At higher concentrations (0.1–0.7 m m ), no further inactivation occurred, although there was extensive additional binding (up to 10 mol/αβ equivalent). These data are consistent, although more clear-cut quantitatively, with the high- and low-affinity sites proposed from equilibrium dialysis studies. AzIN binding studies utilizing the isolated β 2 subunit confirmed earlier reports suggesting the existence of many nonspecific IN binding sites on this subunit.
Nanowire Structured Hybrid Cell for Concurrently Scavenging Solar and Mechanical Energies

Conversion cells for harvesting solar energy and mechanical energy are usually separate and independent entities that are designed and built following different physical principles. Developing a technology that harvests multiple-type energies in forms such as sun light and mechanical around the clock is desperately desired for fully utilizing the energies available in our living environment. We report a hybrid cell that is intended for simultaneously harvesting solar and mechanical energies. Using aligned ZnO nanowire arrays grown on surfaces of a flat substrate, a dye-sensitized solar cell is integrated with a piezoelectric nanogenerator. The former harvests solar energy irradiating on the top, and the latter harvests ultrasonic wave energy from the surrounding. The two energy harvesting approaches can work simultaneously or individually, and they can be integrated in parallel and serial for raising the output current and voltage, respectively, as well as power. It is found that the voltage output from t...
The Impact of Volatility on Firms Holding Growth Options

ABSTRACT “Abuses of real option valuation were partly behind the ramping and subsequent deramping of the 2000 internet techno bubble. No one ever got to eat the free lunch these real option 'theorists' promised. No one ever will; no one ever could.” (Mayor 2001, 53) Growth options contribute to over 95% of the market value of Internet stocks such as Amazon.com, America Online, and eBay. Finance theory often promotes market volatility as being desirable for investors holding financial options. Is volatility also desirable for firms holding growth options? While many argue that it is, this paper presents a simple example illustrating that increasing volatility can destroy growth option value, especially for firms holding “quality” growth options.
Manipulation, Compatibilism, and Moral Responsibility

This article distinguishes among and examines three different kinds of argument for the thesis that moral responsibility and free action are each incompatible with the truth of determinism: straight manipulation arguments; manipulation arguments to the best explanation; and original-design arguments. Structural and methodological matters are the primary focus.
An inverse predissociation in molecular nitrogen

Abstract An unusual intensity enhancement in emission bands involving rotational levels of probably the b′1Σu+ state near 13.336 ev is attributed to a two-body recombination along a slightly attractive potential energy curve. The observation of this inverse predissociation confirms a predicted dissociation limit at 13.334 ev and, together with additional new spectroscopic evidence, provides powerful arguments in favor of D 0 0 (N 2 ) = 9.7588 ± 0.0055 ev (78,715 ± 44 cm−1).
Phospholipid acyl group stability in cultured fibroblasts. Differences between human cell lines of fetal and adult origin.

Abstract Human fibroblasts of both fetal and adult origin incorporated [1- 14 C]acetate] primarily into phospholipid acyl groups (70–80% of total radioactivity). When these labeled cells were replated in non-radioactive medium, there was continuous loss of 14 C from steroids, triacylglycerols and non-lipid material. In contrast, after some initial loss, cell lines of fetal origin completely retained 14 C in cellular phospholipids during continued cell division. Unlike cells of fetal origin, fibroblasts of adult origin continued to lose radio-activity from their phospholipid acyl groups during growth in unlabeled medium. Loss of radioactivity from [1- 3 H]acetate incorporated into phospholipids of adult cells cannot be attributed to cell death since it was not accompanied by any loss of previously incorporated [ Me - 14 C ]thymidine. If cellular phospholipids were labeled with [U- 14 C]glycerol, both fetal and adult fibroblasts continued to lose radioisotope from the cells during growth in nonradioactive medium. Thus, there is turnover of the phospholipid molecules themselves in fetal human fibroblasts grown in vitro, but their acyl groups are retained within cellular phospholipids. In this respect, fibroblasts of fetal origin resemble established cell lines such as the L fibroblast. Fibroblasts of adult origin do not exhibit this complete conservation of their phospholipid acyl groups.
Myocardial strain imaging with radial acquisitions (SIRA) reduces tag fading compared to Cartesian sampling

Background Myocardial tagging is considered a gold-standard technique to derive myocardial strain using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in large epidemiologic studies. Nevertheless technical limitations related to tag line fading (via T1 relaxation) limit generalizability and reproducibility of this technique. Our purpose was to test myocardial tagging with radial k-space acquisition against routinely utilized Cartesian k-space sampling techniques, in order to potentially minimize tag-line fading over the cardiac cycle. Methods We compared a new tagging sequence with radial acquisitions for cardiac MRI to a routinely-utilized clinical tagging sequence with Cartesian sampling. Both sequences were added pre-contrast to routine clinical scans of 14 patients. The per phase change in grayscale contrast due to T1 relaxation ("tag fading”) of tagged myocardium was modeled using a non-linear fit with maximum likelihood estimation to an exponential decay curve and compared between groups. Peak Eulerian circumferential strain (Ecc) was compared using HARP software. Results 14 patients (mean age 54 ± 16 years and 36% were men) and mean left ventricular ejection fraction 53 ± 16% (LVEF) were included. Tag fading differed significantly between radial and Cartesian sampling; the exponential decay coefficient was -0.045 ± 0.011 for the Cartesian and significantly higher than the-decay coefficient value of 0.029 ± 0.007 for radial read-outs (p < 0.001). Due to less tag fading myocardial strain could be evaluated for more segments acquired with radial, compared to Cartesian read-outs (p < 0.001). The intra-observer reliability for Ecc was higher for radial (r = 0.99, p < 0.001) than Cartesian (r = 0.86, p=<0.001) images (p = 0.002 for comparison). The bias was 0.9% and limits of agreement -4.1 to 6.0% with concordance = 0.86 (p < 0.001) for Ecc-radial versus Ecc-Cartesian. Both tagging methods correlated with LVEF, r = -0.86 (p < 0.001) for Ecc-radial versus r = -0.83 (p < 0.001) for Ecc-Cartesian. Conclusions
Urinary Porphyrin Excretion in Normal Children and Adults

The relationship of random urinary porphyrin and creatinine values as functions of age and sex was examined in a normal population. Total urinary porphyrin was measured by a solvent extraction technique, while urinary creatinine was evaluated by an alkaline picrate method. Random urine specimens from 120 healthy patients (81 children and 39 adults) were evaluated. In both pediatric and adult populations, a strong correlation was found between urinary concentrations of porphyrin and creatinine ( r = 0.7, P r = -0.59, P r = -0.61, P P P P P P P P P
Friendship quality and sociometric status: between-group differences and links to loneliness in severely abused and nonabused children

Abstract Objective: There were two main aims: first, to illuminate the difference between abused children’s general popularity with classmates and success in close friendships; second, to examine the specific interactional qualities of abused children’s friendships and their links to loneliness. Method: Thirty-five severely abused children and 43 matched, nonabused children were compared on peer-rated sociometric status, self-reported loneliness, and observed and self-reported friendship quality. Results: Abused children were not rated significantly lower sociometrically, nor did they differ significantly from control children on several measures of friendship quality, such as resolving conflicts and helping each other. However, abused children were observed to be more negative and less proactive in their interactions. They also reported their friendships as being more conflictual, and as higher on betrayal and lower on caring. Only observational friendship variables predicted loneliness. Conclusions: The results challenge the assumption that abused children’s peer relationships are uniformly more maladaptive than nonabused children’s, and point to the possible benefits of structured interventions for “normalizing” their friendship interactions. The pattern of difficulties exhibited by abused children (e.g., conflict) provides foci for more specific interventions. Multi-method assessments are necessary and the multi-dimensional nature of children’s social adjustment is important to understand.
Interaction of Two Bacillus thuringiensis δ-Endotoxins with the Digestive System of Lygus hesperus

The active-toxin form of Cry1Ac (65 kDa) or Cry2Ab was fed to a non-susceptible insect, Lygus hesperus, in an artificial diet. Biochemical and immunocytochemical methods were used to determine the distribution of ingested toxin. The toxins did not elicit a feeding deterrent response. Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab were ingested; small amounts were absorbed into the hemolymph as holoproteins, but most was excreted. SDS-PAGE analysis of Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab incubations with salivary gland homogenate showed a small decrease in the molecular weight of the active toxins. Proteolytic processing of the toxins also occurred in vivo, within the digestive system of L. hesperus. Excreted Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab retained activity toward lepidopteran larvae. Immunocytochemical in vivo localization studies showed negligible association of Cry1Ac with L. hesperus tissues. In contrast, strong extracellular association of Cry2Ab was observed with L. hesperus midgut brush border microvilli and basement membrane, as well as with cellular outlines within the hemolymph and fat body.
Automatic and effortful processing in aging and dementia: event-related brain potentials.

Abstract Automatic and effortful processes were investigated using event-related brain potentials (ERPs) recorded from moderately impaired subjects with probable Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), normal elderly, and normal young controls. The effects of effortful attention on ERPs to loud noises and the effects of stimulus intrusiveness on effortfully elicited ERPs were studied. First, ERPs to task relevant and irrelevant startling noises were compared. Second, ERPs to startling noises and moderate tones were compared when both were targets. The effects of age (young vs. elderly controls) and effects of dementing disease (AD subjects vs. elderly controls) were also assessed. Effortful attention augmented noise-elicited P300 amplitude in elderly subjects, but not in young. Intrusiveness augmented task-relevant P300 amplitude in young subjects, but not in elderly. Neither variable affected P300 amplitude in AD subjects. Thus, effects of age and disease depended on how P300 was elicited: when effortfully elicited, P300 amplitude was affected by disease but not age; when automatically elicited, P300 amplitude was affected by age but not disease. N1 effects differed from P300 effects.
Spectroscopy of Hydrothermal Reactions 21. Decomposition Reactions and Kinetics of Ni(CO)4, Co(CO)4- and (η5-C5H5)Co(CO)2 in High Temperature Water

The decomposition behavior of aqueous Ni(CO)4, NaCo(CO)4, and (η5-C5H5)Co(CO)2 was studied by infrared spectroscopy using a titanium flow reactor with sapphire windows. A pressure of 275 bar was applied to prevent gas−liquid phase separation. Ni(CO)4 was investigated in the 50−270 °C temperature range with selected partial pressures of CO in the range of 0−60 bar. Without added CO, the Arrhenius parameters were Ea = 10.4 ± 1.3 kcal/mol and ln(A, s-l) = 10.4 ± 1.9 in the 50−90 °C range where a first-order rate law was followed. Complete decomposition took place at 170 °C within 23 s. The addition of excess CO raised the decomposition temperature. Aqueous Ni(CO)4 could be detected for at least 5 s at 270 °C with a 60 bar partial pressure of CO. The isoelectronic ion Co(CO)4- was found to be more stable than Ni(CO)4. Its decomposition was characterized in the 200−240 °C range without added CO. A first-order rate law was followed up to 50% decomposition, yielding Ea = 29.9 ± 3.7 kcal/mol and ln(A, s-1) = 25.9...
Beam-deflection optical tomography

We report two-dimensional density measurements in a supersonic expansion using beam-deflection optical tomography. Quantitative, high-resolution images with absolute accuracy to 3.5% and spatial resolution to 50 μm were taken with a helium–neon laser and simple apparatus.
Multimethod Approaches to Understanding the Complexity of e-Government.

Electronic government is a complex phenomenon which involves technical, organizational, institutional and environmental aspects. Researchers from different disciplines are increasingly finding that using multiple methods can help to deal with complexity and obtain more comprehensive explanations. This paper argues that multi-method approaches can be useful for egovernment research. A set of advantages and challenges to multi-method approaches are introduced and then used to frame a case analysis. Two case studies involving multi-method approaches to e-government research are presented to illustrate strategies for responding to implementation challenges in both large-scale and small-scale projects. This case analysis contributes to the discussion about multi-method research designs and their role in digital government research. Insights into management strategies specifically designed to respond to the digital government context and the adoption of relevant methodologies drawn from the experiences of the authors are provided.
Autumn Food of Recently Planted Young Brown Trout in Small Streams of Central New York

Abstract Populations of young brown trout, Salmo trutta L., (from 66 to 111 millimeters in total length) were sampled during late August to November at known intervals after they had been planted in two streams. The stomach contents of 75 were analyzed. Two days after planting, 16 out of 26 stomachs contained some food; 82 per cent by volume was of aquatic origin. Only insects were eaten, and of these Ephemeroptera and Diptera were most important. After 16 days each of 20 stomachs contained food. Aquatic food still predominated (86 per cent), and a large part (93 per cent) was insect. Ephemeroptera and Diptera were still most important, although beetles (Coleoptera) were present to the extent of 21 per cent by volume. Earthworms, Arachnida, and isopods also were eaten. After 42 days, 10 trout were obtained. Aquatic organisms still made up a large part (79 per cent) of the stomach contents. Insects still predominated (86 per cent), and, while mayflies (Ephemeroptera) were still most important, Diptera, Ort...
The Cost of Parenthood: Unraveling the Effects of Sexual Orientation and Gender on Income*

Objectives. Prior research has repeatedly shown that parenthood affects employment outcomes; mothers have, on average, lower wages and are less likely to be hired than childless women. Some research indicates that this effect of parenthood on employment outcomes is dependent on sexual orientation. In particular, lesbian mothers might be treated more like childless women by those making employment decisions. This article examines the degree to which the lesbian wage advantage can be explained by lesbians avoiding the motherhood wage penalty experienced by heterosexual women. Methods. Drawing on 2000 U.S. Census data, this issue is first explored via ordinary least squares regression equations that estimate the effect of having a child present in the household on income. The Blinder-Oaxaca method is then employed to decompose the earnings differential between heterosexual and gay individuals. Results. Results indicate that lesbians appear to experience a motherhood advantage that increases their wages by approximately 20 percent. Further, results support the notion that lesbians receive different returns to the presence of children in the household than do heterosexual women. Approximately 35 percent of the wage differential between lesbians and heterosexual women is attributable to differences in returns to child rearing. Conclusion. These findings have relevance for state and federal anti-discrimination laws and work/family policies, as they provide further insight into the role that gender, and gender-based assumptions, play in determining employment outcomes.
Optimal routing and power allocation for wireless networks with imperfect full-duplex nodes

We study a wireless full-duplex network with imperfect interference cancellation and we solve the routing and power allocation problem for a single source to destination pair. Our interference model includes residual self-interference due to operating in full-duplex. We present a procedure to solve for the optimal power allocation of a given route with individual maximum power constraints for each node. The solution to the problem given a route involves finding polynomial roots of equations associated to the achieved rate at each hop. We then propose a modification to Dijkstra's algorithm with a priority metric that cannot be decoupled, but is efficiently solved by our procedure for a given route. The algorithm finds the joint route and power allocation that achieve the maximum throughput among all possible routes and power allocations. Through simulations we show that, even with imperfect interference cancellation, operating in full-duplex achieves a higher throughput than half-duplex or direct transmission for moderate maximum transmission power.