cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do US City Crime Rates Follow a National Trend? The Influence of Nationwide Conditions on Local Crime Patterns

This study considers the degree to which the crime rates of US cities follow a uniform national trend. A nationwide trend has consequences for theories that explain aggregate changes in crime, but how closely subnational units hold to a common time path has received almost no research attention. Using annual panel data, the current study presents analyses that attempt to measure the correspondence between city-level and national-level crime rates. The results of each analysis are consistent with a clear single pattern that operates across the nation’s major urban areas. This supports the idea that a meaningful national trend exists, and it suggests the desirability of continuing efforts to explain it.
Preliminary study of smoke formed in the combustion of various jet fuels

A simplified, disk-stabilized combustor has been used to study participate sampling methodology and fuel effects on combustion zone particulate concentration. These samples were extracted via filtration with subsequent gravimetric analysis at six axial positions ranging from 3.8 to 29.2 cm from the fuel injector. Sampling techniques, including the effects of sample temperature, particle deposition, sample drying, and sampling rate, have been evaluated. Measurement guidelines are proposed. Five fuels—petroleum-based Jet A, low-aromatic Jet A, Jet A blended with 15% rubelene, petroleum based JP-4, and JP-5 refined from an oil shale derived syncrude—were investigated. Axial concentration profiles suggest a particulate emission dependence on fuel hydrogen (or aromatic) content as well as volatility. Measured primary zone particulate concentrations were two orders of magnitude greater than exhaust values. I. Introduction W ITHIN the last two years the necessity for future utilization of U.S. coal and oil shale reserves to supplement and eventually replace disappearing crude oil reserves has become increasingly apparent. Although oil shale syncrudes are quite similar to petroleum crudes in analysis,l they are generally somewhat more viscous, less volatile, and higher in aromatic content. Efficient utilization of these syncrudes will therefore require either that fuel processing and resultant expenses increase to meet present fuel specifications or that specifications be changed to minimize processing costs at the expense of engine emissions and performance in existing combustors. To create a reasonable balance between these alternatives, it will be necessary to better understand the effects of fuel properties on combustion processes. This paper presents the initial results from a study of the influence of fuel properties on smoke formation in gas turbine engines. Smoke formed in gas turbine combustors is composed of small, almost pure carbon particles.2 These particles have been reported to appear as agglomerates having diameters of about 0.5 /mi which are composed of solid particles an order of magnitude smaller.3 Problems arising from these smoke particles include engine damage due to increased radiative heat transfer to the combustor walls, deposition on and erosion of turbine blades, visible pollution in the engine exhaust plume, and health hazards resulting from particle inhalation. To date, these problems have been fairly well controlled in engines burning present specification petroleum based fuels; however, in recent tests with coal and oil shale derived fuels,1'4 smoke emissions (by SAE smoke no.) have been shown to be up to 70% higher than with similar petroleum fuels. This increase has generally been attributed to increased fuel aromatic content, but the mechanism by which aromatic content increases smoke emission is not well understood, and effects due to other fuel properties have not been fully investigated.
Theoretical study of triatomic silver (Ag3) and its ions with coupled-cluster methods and correlation-consistent basis sets.

Coupled-cluster calculations including non-iterative effects of triple excitations (CCSD(T)) have been made with correlation-consistent basis sets to study a range of properties of Ag3, Ag3−, and Ag3+. The methodology was tested on atomic and diatomic silver systems. The accuracy achieved for these systems suggests that predictive-quality results can be expected for the triatomic systems. Properties of the triatomic systems studied include structures and energies of ground and excited states (bent and linear geometries), dissociation energies, ionization energies, and vertical electron detachment energies. In the absence of experimental structural data, the present calculated data serve as reliable predictions. The calculated dissociation energies are near the middle of the experimental range (253 ± 13 kJ mol−1). The calculated ionization energies clearly favor the lower of the two experimental measurements (i.e. 5.66 eV). Our calculated vertical electron detachment energies of linear Ag3− match the observed photoelectron data fairly well. Overall the higher levels of theory used in the present study achieve consistent accuracy for a range of properties. In contrast, some prior density-functional theory studies provide good results for certain properties, but are lacking in accuracy for others. Another feature of the present study is that it has not been necessary to empirically correct results on the triatomic systems because of known deficiencies in the results on atomic and diatomic systems. The majority of prior wave function-based studies cannot make this claim.
Commentary: Retrograde ejaculation and the use of rhBMP-2 for anterior lumbar interbody fusion: what does the evidence say to surgeons and to patients?

COMMENTARY ON Comer GC, Smith MW, Hurwitz EL, et al. Retrograde ejaculation after anterior lumbar interbody fusion with and without bone morphogenetic protein-2 augmentation: a 10-year cohort controlled study. Spine J 2012;12:881–90 ( in this issue ).
Laser-gain scanning microscopy: a new characterization technique for dopant engineered gain media

We demonstrate an optical technique, called laser-gain scanning microscopy (LGSM), to map dopant concentration profiles in engineered laser gain-media. The performance and application range of this technique are exampled on a Nd3+ concentration profile embedded in a YAG transparent ceramic sample. Concentration profiles measured by both LGSM and SIMS techniques are compared and agree to within 5% over three-orders of magnitude in Nd3+ doping level, from 0.001 at.% to 0.9 at.%. One of the unique advantages of LGSM over common physical methods such as SIMS, XPS and EMPA, is the ability to correlate optical defects with the final doping profile.
Oil prices, SUVs, and Iraq: An investigation of automobile manufacturer oil price sensitivity

Abstract There has been much speculation about the recent upsurge in crude oil prices and the effect it will have on the economy and business. The objective of this paper is to investigate the relationship between oil prices and stock prices of automobile manufacturers. We add an oil price factor, measured alternatively by the excess change in WTI crude oil prices or the excess return on an energy ETF, to the Fama–French three-factor model over the period March 20, 2001 to September 30, 2008. Our dependent variable is the excess return on a price-weighted index of automobile manufacturers. Results indicate that oil prices add value to the pricing model, particularly for manufacturers specializing in SUVs and for a subperiod following the Iraq invasion on March 19, 2003.
Digital staining for histopathology multispectral images by the combined application of spectral enhancement and spectral transformation

In this paper we introduced a digital staining method for histopathology images captured with an n-band multispectral camera. The method consisted of two major processes: enhancement of the original spectral transmittance and the transformation of the enhanced transmittance to its target spectral configuration. Enhancement is accomplished by shifting the original transmittance with the scaled difference between the original transmittance and the transmittance estimated with m dominant principal component (PC) vectors;the m-PC vectors were determined from the transmittance samples of the background image. Transformation of the enhanced transmittance to the target spectral configuration was done using an nxn transformation matrix, which was derived by applying a least square method to the enhanced and target spectral training data samples of the different tissue components. Experimental results on the digital conversion of a hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained multispectral image to its Masson's trichrome stained (MT) equivalent shows the viability of the method.
Managing user services personnel as a facilitator

User Services professionals are bright, creative people who often resent autocratic, directive management. They want to be active participants in the direction-setting and policy-making process for their department. Yet, they still wish to have support and direction provided from management personnel. Managing and working with these professional requires mangers to be inventive, people-oriented, and administratively effective without being intrusive in order to create a cooperative and collaborative work environment and yet simultaneously maintain the traditional lines of authority. This paper outlines some ideas for creating such a work environment.
Effect of fluticasone propionate on virus-induced airways inflammation and anti-viral immune responses in mice

Abstract Background Inhaled corticosteroids are commonly used in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but their effects on viral loads and anti-viral responses are poorly characterised. The aim of this study was to assess effects of inhaled fluticasone propionate on rhinovirus infection in vivo, in a mouse model. We tested the hypothesis that this treatment would reduce virus-induced airways inflammation but that the effect would be confounded by interference with anti-viral immune responses, leading to delayed viral clearance. Methods C57BL/6 mice were intranasally dosed with fluticasone propionate (1 mg/kg) or vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide, control), 1 h before infection with rhinovirus 1B. We assessed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) inflammatory cell numbers, and measured gene expression, protein production of innate mediators, or both by quantitative RT-PCR or ELISA. We compared mice treated with fluticasone with controls at various timepoints after infection. In additional experiments, recombinant interferon (IFN) beta was administered with fluticasone and rhinovirus 1B in both groups of mice. Findings At 24 h post infection, fluticasone treatment suppressed rhinovirus induction of type I and III IFNs in the airways (for the fluticasone-treated group compared with controls: mean IFNβ BAL protein 20·2 pg/mL [SD 16·7] vs 103·0 [30·9]; mean IFNλ BAL protein 102·6 pg/mL [17·4] vs 217 [44·6], p 5 copies [SD 1·3] vs 2·6 × 10 5 [0·8], p 5 [0·012] vs 0·59 × 5 [0·39], p 5 [0·044] vs 0·45 × 10 5 [0·11], p vs 107·6 [7·1], p=0·0165) and MUC5B proteins (623·8 arbitrary units [231·9] vs 413·5 [70·5], p=0·0476) in BAL at day 7 post infection. Administration of intranasal recombinant IFN beta (10 4 units) with fluticasone and rhinovirus 1B led to upregulation of interferon-inducible cytokines OAS and CXCL10/IP-10 compared with control mice treated with fluticasone and rhinovirus alone and improved viral clearance without having any effect on suppression of inflammation by fluticasone. Interpretation Our findings suggest that fluticasone treatment suppresses rhinovirus-induced airways inflammation in vivo but also impairs anti-viral immune responses and increases viral titres, leading to mucus hypersecretion. Since asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are both associated with inherent deficient IFN responses to rhinovirus, inhaled corticosteroids might interact synergistically with disease to inhibit IFN and thus lead to increased severity of exacerbation. The clinical applicability of these findings requires confirmation in human models of disease. Funding Wellcome Trust.
Assessing Children's Mealtime Problems With the Mealtime Behavior Questionnaire

A caregiver questionnaire that assesses mealtime problems in children aged 2 to 6 years old was developed. Community caregivers (n = 712) completed the Mealtime Behavior Questionnaire (MBQ) and measures of child behavior and family mealtime behaviors and environment. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed and validated the MBQ's 4 subscales (food refusal/avoidance; food manipulation; mealtime aggression/distress; and choking/, gagging/vomiting). Mealtime problems occurred from “sometimes” to “always” for 1% to 61% of the sample. The MBQ demonstrated excellent to fair internal consistencies, and preliminary evidence for validity was found.
Practical implementation of a C O 2 -laser-coupled quantum heat engine

We show how it is possible to improve the efficiency of a laser system by adding a classical heat engine cycle to the laser's gaseous working media that can recover both thermal and internal waste energy from the gas. Experimental implementation of a pulsed $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ laser combined with a gas expansion cycle is discussed.
Structural Response in Steady-State Flow of a Multi-Component Driven System: Interacting Lattice Gas Simulation

Abstract The effects of molecular weights ( M A , M B ) on the self-organized segregation of immiscible constituents ( A , B ) driven by pressure bias ( H = 0.0 –1.0) generated by geologic processes are examined by an interacting lattice gas Monte Carlo simulation. Constituents ( A , B ) , released from a source at the bottom according to their lattice concentrations, can escape the lattice from top or bottom. The longitudinal steady-state density profiles ( A , B ) depend on their molecular weight and bias with linear, exponential, and non-monotonic decays with the height. The transverse density profiles show signatures of partial layering. The total number ( N ) of constituents remains nearly constant in steady state and seems to decay with the bias, N ∝ H - 0.14 for all but extreme range of H . At M A = 0.1 , M B ⩾ 0.8 , number of constituents ( N A , N B ) show non-monotonic dependence on H with N B ⪢ N A but a maximum in N A and minimum in N B .
Birdsfoot Trefoil Flowering Response to Photoperiod Length

Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) is an indeterminate Old World perennial forage legume that is widely adapted to environments ranging from Scandinavia in the north to highlands near the equator in the south. Because of poor root and crown rot resistance, natural reseeding in pastures is desired. Therefore, birdsfoot trefoil genotypes that flower and set seeds at lower latitudes would be desirable to aid persistence and thus improve pasture forage quality. The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of photoperiod length and collecting site ecogeography on flowering of 68 birdsfoot trefoil accessions from the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) collection. The flowering response index (FRI) described accession flowering in 10-, 13-, 16-, and 19-h photoperiod lengths. As photoperiod length increased from 13 to 19 h, the percentage of accession clones that flowered increased. Photoperiod lengths equal to 16 h were too long to differentiate germplasm differences, and thus are not suited as a selection criterion for flowering at low latitudes. Under 13-h photoperiod length, as collecting site latitude increased, the FRI and percentage of clones in an accession that flowered decreased. Only an induced mutant flowered in the 10-h photoperiod length treatment. Since wild accessions were collected from habitats as little as 7° N latitude, a new natural minimal critical photoperiod requirement at 12.5 h was inferred. When selecting genotypes for use in low latitude pastures, the flowering response at 13-h photoperiod length should be considered if reseeding is desired.
Time Evolution of Entangled Excitonic State in Two Coupled Quantum Dots Interacting with a Squeezed Coherent Field

For two coupled semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) initially prepared in a maximally entangled excitonic Bell state we have investigated quantum statistical properties when the QDs are interacting with a squeezed coherent light.
Coping with treatment-related stress: Effects on patient adherence in hemodialysis.

With a modified version of the Ways of Coping Checklist, the relation of coping to adherence among 57 hemodialysis patients was examined. The association of a particular type of coping to adherence was predicted to depend on the specific type of stressful encounter being considered. As predicted, coping efforts involving planful problem solving were associated with more favorable adherence when used in response to stressors involving a relatively controllable aspect of the hemodialysis context. For less controllable stressors, coping efforts involving emotional self-control were associated with more favorable adherence. The seeking of informational support in response to an uncontrollable encounter was associated with poorer fluid-intake adherence. Confrontive coping was associated with poorer adherence for both high- and low-control situations.
Outcomes of a diabetes professional education seminar.

Sixty seven practicing diabetes edu cators attended a day-long seminar on patient education in Nashville, Ten nessee. At the end of the conference, participants recorded specific inten tions to revise their practice and the extent of actual accomplishment was assessed via mail three months later. On the average, each participant listed just over three intentions and had a 60% implementation rate. Results are discussed in terms of the strengths and weaknesses of the evaluation tech nique.
Effects of multiple delayed rewards on delay discounting in an adjusting amount procedure.

It has been suggested that when the delivery of several rewards is separated in time, e.g. one reward immediately and a second reward a few moments later, the value of an alternative that includes these "bundled" rewards will be the sum of the hyperbolic discount functions of the individual rewards. The current study examined this hypothesis using an adjusting amount procedure. In this procedure, rats chose between a delayed food alternative and an immediate food alternative, where the amount of immediate food altered according to each rat's choices. The size of the immediate reward when rats were indifferent between the delayed and immediate alternatives indexed the value of the delayed alternative. Discount functions describing the relationship between the indifference points and the delay to food were created for conditions in which the delay alternative consisted of a single reward (150mul of sucrose solution) delayed by 0, 2, 4, 8, or 16s following the reinforced response. These functions were used to predict the indifference points in other conditions for which an additional 150mul of sucrose solution was delivered at 0, 4, 8, or 16s following the reinforced response. The model fit the data well. However, there were systematic deviations that suggested animals were sensitive to the context within which delays were presented, in addition to the delays themselves. That is, preference for the delayed alternative was lower than predicted when the delay to the additional reward was long (8 or 16s) and higher than the predicted values when it was short (0 or 4s).
Editorial [EDS's strategy for Open Access]

The Editor-in-Cheif describes the history and develoopment of the ED Society strategy for Open Access.
The Geometry of the Snail Ball

The snail ball is a device that rolls down an inclined plane, but very slowly, repeatedly coming to a stop and staying motionless for several seconds. The interior of the ball is hollow, with a sma...
High-throughput study of the influence of H2O and CO2 on the performance of nitrogen storage and reduction (NSR) catalysts

Abstract This paper describes the application of parallel high-throughput experimentation based on FTIR spectral imaging to a tolerance study for NOx storage and reduction (NSR) catalysts with respect to CO2 and H2O in the feed. It was found that both gases decrease the storage capacity of platinum/barium based NSR catalysts, with H2O having a stronger effect than CO2.
Dilemmas in Evaluating Planning, or Back to Basics: What is Planning For?

The UK's “best value” performance assessment regime mandated Local Authorities to demonstrate the added value of their planning. Evaluating planning in these terms raises the basic question: What is planning for? The paper reviews various teleological definitions of planning that address this question and discusses their implications for evaluation and practice. General instrumental teleologies and universal normative ones are useless for practical purposes; real evaluation of planning must be based on a positive contingent teleology that determines: What is this planning for? This conclusion is operationalized from an institutional design perspective to show how planning agencies could demonstrate the value of local planning.
NONLINEAR DYNAMICS OF ACOUSTIC INSTABILITY IN A COSMIC RAY SHOCK PRECURSOR AND ITS IMPACT ON PARTICLE ACCELERATION

An acoustic instability of a shock precursor driven by the pressure gradient of accelerated particles is studied in the nonlinear regime. The nonlinearity steepens unstable acoustic waves and turns them into shocks. The shocks form a "shocktrain" but they may merge into each other. Traveling wave solutions are obtained analytically in two different cases. In the first case, only acoustic instability is included and the characteristic scale (distance between the shocks) is limited only by the system size (while shocks merge). In the second case, the instability develops out of cyclotron unstable seed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves. The spatial distance between the MHD wave packets sets the scale of the acoustic shocktrain. The internal structure of the individual shocks is presumably determined by the ion skin depth c/ω pi and by the relaxation length of slightly superthermal particle distributions near these shocks. The shocks are assumed to be arbitrarily thin compared with the distance between them which is ensured by a small viscous term. Both types of solutions are dynamically verified by numerical calculations. The hydromagnetic flow in the shock precursor emerging from the acoustic instability is crucial for two recently suggested phenomena in diffusive shock acceleration. One phenomenon is the enhancement of the acceleration rate well above its standard (Bohm) value due to the narrowing of the shock precursor. The second phenomenon is the amplification of the long-scale magnetic field by an inverse cascade of Alfven waves generated by accelerated particles and scattered in k-space on the acoustic perturbations.
The Ontology of Abstract Labor: A Discussion of Value: The Representation of Labour in Capitalism

An examination of recent attempts by Diane Elson and others, to come to grips with the ontological implications of Marx's labor theory of value. The contention is supported that an adequate understanding of Marx's ontology of social relations helps differentiate the aims of Marxist, from other value theories is supported. It is argued, however, that this differentiation must rest on a holistic methodology, while also being linked to historical materialism.
Studying Convergence of Markov Chain Monte Carlo Algorithms Using Coupled Sample Paths

Abstract I describe a simple procedure for investigating the convergence properties of Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling schemes. The procedure uses coupled chains from the same sampler, obtained by using the same sequence of random deviates for each run. By examining the distribution of the iteration at which all sample paths couple, convergence properties for the system can be established. The procedure also provides a simple diagnostic for detecting modes in multimodal posteriors. Several examples of the procedure are provided. In Ising models, the relation between the correlation parameter and the convergence rate of rudimentary Gibbs samplers is investigated. In another example, the effects of multiple modes on the convergence of coupled paths are explored using mixtures of bivariate normal distributions. The technique is also used to evaluate the convergence properties of a Gibbs sampling scheme applied to a model for rat growth rates.
Effect of bariatric surgery on obstructive sleep apnoea in adolescents

Summary Obese adolescents, particularly those with extreme obesity (body mass index ≥40kg/m 2 ), are developing serious medical complications at an unexpectedly high rate. As non-operative approaches to weight loss have shown less than optimal results, paediatric patients are increasingly seeking bariatric surgical intervention. Bariatric surgical procedures are designed to restrict stomach size or impair macronutrient absorption. They typically result in substantial weight loss. As with adult studies, paediatric studies generally report good obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)-related outcomes after bariatric surgery. Therefore, in patients meeting eligibility criteria, bariatric surgery can be a valuable approach for achieving significant weight loss and resolution of serious comorbidities such as OSA. Studies that focus on long-term assessment of OSA are needed to understand whether OSA resolution after adolescent bariatric surgery is sustainable over the lifetime.
Policy Implications of the Effects of Maltreatment Type, Age, Recurrence, Severity, and Other Ecological Risks on Persistent Offending Among Disadvantaged Boys

Although research indicates that the presence of maltreatment affects delinquency when comparing maltreated with nonmaltreated children, studies examining maltreatment dimensions have been confounded by conceptual and methodological problems. This study featured within-group analyses that included methodological controls to examine effects of four maltreatment dimensions and other ecological risks on persistent youth offending among maltreated children. Results indicate that supervisory neglect, maltreatment recurrence, and maltreatment severity produce direct effects on persistent youth offending after controlling for individual and other environmental risks. Comparisons of effects indicate that supervisory neglect is the strongest predictor. The study highlights the value of an ecological approach in explaining the maltreatment/ delinquency link and discusses the implications for policy and research.
Microtexture, micro structure and plastic anisotropy of AA2195

Abstract The anisotropic tensile behavior of a commercial lithium-containing aluminum alloy was studied in both rolled plate and extruded forms in solution-treated and quenched and T8 tempers. Microtexture and other electron microscopy techniques were used to correlate grain orientation and morphology, load direction and inhomogeneous plastic deformation in T8 material. The ratio of yield strengths between 45° and 0° test directions was the same for as-quenched and T8 material. The plate and extruded materials had strong Brass, 110〈112〉, textures. Pronounced slip bands were found in Brass oriented grains after 45° loading, on slip planes parallel to both the working direction and long axis of the grains; in a range from 0.02 to 20% average strain. An attempt to increase the area fraction of the T 1 precipitate variant on these planes had no effect on anisotropy. The intergranular fracture surfaces show coarse, linear features which suggest a connection between the planar slip bands and delamination fracture.
Special Classes of Normal Families

Normal families of functions consisting of those meromorphic functions in the unit disc that avoid three fixed continuous functions that also avoid each other are investigated. We show that if the functions avoided are all meromorphic, then the family contains uncountably many functions, and that the only limit functions not in the family are the functions avoided. This is not necessarily the case when the functions avoided are continuous but not all meromorphic; an example is given of three continuous functions that avoid each other for which the family of meromorphic functions avoiding these three functions is empty. This example is a consequence of another example giving a single continuous function that no holomorphic function can avoid. Examples are given to illustrate some other possibilities.
The Microfoundations of the Tiebout Model

The authors extend the argument of the marginal consumer to show an important way in which the microlevel requirements of the Tiebout model can be met. They critique the existing literature on the microlevel requirements and argue that the way research has been conducted on the information about public goods possessed by citizens has been flawed in its theoretical presumptions. An alternative view is articulated in which citizens are viewed not to use "objective" information about tax service bundles that might be detectable in survey research but, instead, to use informational heuristics and proxies that permit them nonetheless to locate in jurisdictions that provide them with desired levels of public services.
Androgen regulation of RNA polymerase activity in isolated mouse kidney nuclei.

Abstract 1. 1. Isolated mouse kidney nuclei have RNA polymerase activity. The reaction is dependent on DNA, divalent cations (Mg 2+ , Mn 2+ ) and the four ribonucleoside triphosphates. The amount of RNA obtained was decreased by the addition of actinomycin D, ribonuclease or deoxyribonuclease to the enzyme system. The addition of Mn 2+ and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 greatly enhanced the activity. The optimum was 8.1 at the high and 8.8 at the low ionic concentration. 2. 2. Castration of adult male mice produced a sharp decrease in the RNA polymerase activity of the isolated nuclei of the kidney. Testosterone propionate reversed the effect of castration. The addition of Mn 2+ and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 to the incubation system enhanced the enzyme activity but decreased the percent differences. The stimulating effect of the androgen was evident within 2 h after subcutaneous injection and was dose dependent. 3. 3. Adrenalectomy further decreased the RNA polymerase activity, which was not only restored but also increased by testosterone propionate to the same level as in non-adrenalectomized castrated mice. 4. 4. The suspension of the kidney nuclei in a solution of three of the nucleotides and the addition of the fourth nucleotide to the enzyme system in varying amounts resulted in a higher maximal polymerase activity for the castrated mice when CTP was varied and a lower value with GTP. Thus, the effects of castration and androgen were much less with the former and greater with the latter nucleotide. 5. 5. The incorporation of all the nucleotides in RNA was decreased by castration and restored to normal by testosterone propionate. The base composition of the newly synthesized RNA was not markedly changed. The A+U G+C ratio was approx. 0.50 for the three groups. The androgen caused a slight increase in the ratio. The addition of Micrococcus lysodeikticus RNA polymerase to the enzyme system did not produce any significant changes. The addition of (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 produced an increase in the incorporation of the nucleotides and an increase in the A+U G+C ratio to approx. 1.0.
The conversion of β-amino esters by alkylaluminum compounds into β-lactams

Abstract β-Amino esters with an unsubstituted amino group such as 1 or 19 can be cyclized by two equivalents of alkylaluminum compounds such as triisobutylaluminum in yields up to 61% to the corresponding β-lactams 2 or 20.
Experimental study of the effects of optison® concentration on sonoporation in vitro

Lethal sonoporation and reparable sonoporation were observed in Jurkat lymphocytes in suspension with the addition of varying amounts of Optison®, a commercially available bubble-based contrast agent. For given ultrasound (US) exposure conditions (spatial peak-pressure amplitude of 0.2 MPa, duty cycle 10% and 2-MHz frequency), sonoporation was directly related to the bubble-to-cell ratio (in a range from 0 to 230). It was found that the nearest bubble-cell spacing was also related to the occurrence frequency of bioeffects. A constant bubble-to-cell ratio often provided very different results for two different initial cell concentrations (200,000 cells/mL and 600,000 cells/mL), with the higher cell concentration generally exhibiting higher levels of sonoporation. In contrast, a constant bubble-to-cell spacing provided similar results between the two initial cell concentrations. The frequency of reparable and lethal sonoporation was seen to decay as the inverse-cube power of the nearest bubble-cell spacing. Significant reparable sonoporation was observed at a bubble-cell spacing that was 10 μm larger than the minimum spacing at which significant lethal sonoporation was observed. Preliminary analysis also suggests the possibility of a step-wise increase in lethal sonoporation as spacing decreases; further experiment is needed.
National trends in the utilization of robotic-assisted radical cystectomy: an analysis using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Abstract Objectives To determine temporal and regional trends in utilization of robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) in the United States and to explore factors associated with utilization of robotic assistance. Materials and methods Using 2009 to 2011 data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we identified radical cystectomy cases that were performed using either open or robotic assistance and applied Nationwide Inpatient Sample discharge weights to determine national incidence. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed to assess regional trends and characteristics associated with having RARC. Descriptive analysis was performed using the chi-square test, the Student t test, and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results Of the 29,719 radical cystectomy patients, 3,733 were RARC (12.6%). Although there was no change in the proportion of RARC performed annually (P = 0.702). Length of stay was 1 day longer for open cystectomy than RARC (P Conclusions Regional variation in utilization should be monitored to ensure equal access to new technology and to assess potential overuse of new technology. Although RARC is associated with higher median hospital costs, further studies to assess its benefits are warranted.
Role of TnrA in Nitrogen Source-Dependent Repression of Bacillus subtilis Glutamate Synthase Gene Expression

Synthesis of glutamate, the cell's major donor of nitrogen groups and principal anion, occupies a significant fraction of bacterial metabolism. In Bacillus subtilis, the gltAB operon, encoding glutamate synthase, requires a specific positive regulator, GltC, for its expression. In addition, the gltAB operon was shown to be repressed by TnrA, a regulator of several other genes of nitrogen metabolism and active under conditions of ammonium (nitrogen) limitation. TnrA was found to bind directly to a site immediately downstream of the gltAB promoter. As is true for other genes, the activity of TnrA at the gltAB promoter was antagonized by glutamine synthetase under certain growth conditions.
New Perspectives on Diffusion of Earthquake Knowledge

Abstract This article contrasts different perspectives concerning the diffusion of earthquake knowledge among non‐scientific audiences. The perspective that underlies much of current information dissemination efforts is a “producer‐user” model. This model assumes a stable set of knowledge producers and an identifiable set of knowledge users. An alternative perspective is an “issue networks” model. This model assumes a more fluid set of actors and issues linked by common concerns about earthquake hazards. This latter model is suggested as a more accurate depiction of knowledge diffusion within the state and local earthquake policy arenas. This portrayal also leads to consideration of new strategies for disseminating seismological, earthquake engineering and related knowledge.
Mothers’ Trait Verbal Aggressiveness as a Predictor of Maternal and Child Behavior During Playtime Interactions

This article explores associations between mothers’ trait verbal aggressiveness (VA) and maternal and child behavior during playtime interactions. Forty mothers completed a 10-minute play period with one of their children (range = 3–8 years) and then responded to D. A. Infante and C. J. Wigley’s (1986) trait VA scale. Mothers’ trait VA was associated positively (r = .48) with their rate of directing and inversely (r =−.44) with their child’s rated cooperation. Qualitative analyses of a subset (n = 8) of interactions suggest that mothers high in trait VA used directives to control the choice, rate, and duration of activities, and used physical negative touch along with directives, more than low-VA mothers. Behaviors associated with trait VA occur even during brief mother–child interactions in which triggers for aggressive behavior largely are absent.
Contrast Transesophageal Echocardiography in the Diagnosis and Localization of Diffuse Pulmonary Telangiectasias

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas are rare, usually related to the Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, and are detected by chest CT scan or pulmonary angiography. In a 14-year-old boy without Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, but with clinical evidence of a right-to-left shunt, ancillary diagnostic studies were negative for pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas, and the final diagnosis was made by contrast transesophageal echocardiography. Saline echo-contrast medium injected peripherally was seen emerging from each pulmonary vein and filling the left chambers. These findings, in light of other negative test results, established the diagnosis of diffuse telangiectasias at the capillary level in both lungs. After 6 years of medical therapy, the patient remains cyanotic but functions well.
Distribution of Hoplolaimus Species in Soybean Fields in South Carolina and North Carolina

Hoplolaimus columbus is an important nematode pest of soybean in South Carolina and North Carolina. Tolerant cultivars are available for the management of this plant-parasitic nematode; however, variation in the response of soybean cultivars to H. columbus populations has been observed. This variation may be due to the presence of different species or high genetic diversity of H. columbus populations. The objective of this study was to identify the Hoplolaimus spp. present in fields representing the main soybean-growing regions in South Carolina and North Carolina and to examine the genetic variability of these populations. In South Carolina, the only species found associated with soybean was H. columbus but, in North Carolina, H. stephanus was the dominant species. The two species were never found together. Genetic variability analyses of a mitochondrial and a nuclear marker showed that only one haplotype was shared by the H. columbus populations. H. stephanus showed higher genetic variability, with private haplotypes per sampling location. Knowledge of the distribution and genetic variability of these two Hoplolaimus spp. is valuable to growers to determine potentially damaging infestations of these plant-parasitic nematodes in soybean fields.
The morphology and development of the monogenetic trematode Sphyranura oligorchis (Alvey 1933) and the description of Sphyranura polyorchis n. sp.

The description of Sphyranura oligorchis (Alvey, 1933) and S. polyorchis n.sp. is presented together with an account of the development of the former. Study of the life history of S. oligorchis , and a review of the literature on the life cycles of the Monogenea, show that at a corresponding time in their development embryonic stages similar to Dactylogyrus are present. It is postulated that Dactylogyrus is near the primitive ancestral type of the Monogenea, and that all of the parasitic platyheminthes may have arisen from a common planula ancestor.
Doodles and doilies, non-simple symmetric Venn diagrams

In this paper, we create and implement a method to construct a non-simple, symmetric 11-Venn diagram. By doing this we answer a question of Grunbaum. Daniel Kleitman's mathematics seems to be remote from this area, but in fact, his results inspired this solution, which holds promise of settling the general case for all prime numbers, and the promise to find simple doilies with 11 and more curves as well.
Well Logging in Ground‐Water Hydrologya

In 1966 more than 50 billion gallons of water was pumped daily from an estimated 10 to 15 million water wells in the United States. This was more than one-sixth of the national withdrawal of water. On the basis of past rates of increase, a much greater future use of ground water is suggested. Our annual investment in water wells is one-half to three-quarter billion dollars, not including pumps and plumbing. In 1964 approximately 436,000 new wells were drilled; however, less than 1 percent of these wells were logged by any geophysical means. The application of _ge_o.phy.sical well logging to ground-water hydrology is comparable to its use in petroleum exploration in the 1930's; however, we can take advantage of equipment and interpretation techniques developed in the oil industry that are available now for use in ground-water investigations. Although most petroleum well logging techniques may be utilized in hydrology; modifications in equipment and interpretation are necessary because of basic economic and environmental differences between petroleum and ground-water evaluation. If logging is to be widely applied to ground-water exploration and evaluation, the expense of equipment and services must be reduced. Fortunately, this can be accomplished, because most water wells are not as deep as oil wells and the temperatures and pressures are lower. The Water Resources Division of the U. S. Geological Survey is conducting research on the application of borehole geophysics to ground-water hydrology. The following logging devices are utilized in the evaluation of ground-water environments: spontaneous potential, resistivity, gamma, gamma-gamma, neutron, radioactive tracer, flowmeter, caliper, fluid resistivity, gradient and differential temperature, and sonic velocity. Lightweight logging sondes and control modules are operated by one man, either on a vehicle-mounted 6,000-foot logger or on a suitcase-mounted 500-foot logger. An inexpensive magnetic tape system has been developed and is used routinely for log recording and playback. If commercial well logging service is to be widely used in ground-water exploration and development, water well contractors, and State and municipal agencies must be educated on the advantages of obtaining more information from each hole drilled. It will be necessary also to demonstrate how well logging can provide much of this information. In addition, the well logging industry must adapt their equipment and services to the requirements of ground-water hydrology. The need for additional logging capability in this field exists at the present time and is expected to increase. Hopefully industry will be able to fill the gap.
Effect of Glutaraldehyde Concentration on the Physical Properties of Polymerized Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers

Artificial blood substitutes based on glutaraldehyde cross-linked hemoglobin (PolyHb) are currently being developed for use in human subjects needing blood transfusions. Despite the commercial development of PolyHb dispersions, a systematic study of the effect of varying the glutaraldehyde to hemoglobin (G-Hb) molar ratio on the resulting PolyHb physical properties (molecular weight distribution and oxygen binding parameters) has not been conducted to date. The results of this study show that increasing the G-Hb molar ratio elicits a general decrease in the P50 (partial pressure of oxygen at which Hb is half saturated with oxygen) and cooperativity and a simultaneous increase in the weight averaged molecular weight (Mw) of the PolyHb dispersion and methemoglobin (MetHb) level. Three PolyHb dispersions (20:1, 30:1, and 40:1 G-Hb molar ratios) displayed potential as artificial blood substitutes. The 20:1 PolyHb dispersion resulted in the presence of more intramolecularly cross-linked and non-cross-linked tetramers versus cross-linked species that were larger than a tetramer ( approximately 75% tetrameric and approximately 25% higher-order species), lower MetHb level (8%), and P50 (20.1 mmHg) similar in magnitude to that of non-cross-linked Hb. The 30:1 PolyHb dispersion consisted of more higher-order species ( approximately 76%), higher MetHb level (28%), and lower P50 (13.3 mmHg). The 40:1 PolyHb dispersion resulted in a similar P50 of 13.0 mmHg and similar MetHb level (30%); however, this PolyHb dispersion only consisted of species larger than a tetramer. The molecular weight distribution of PolyHb dispersions was determined using asymmetric flow field-flow fractionator (AFFF) coupled with multiangle static light scattering (MASLS). This is the first time that AFFF-MASLS has been used to characterize the molecular weight distribution of PolyHb dispersions.
Similarities and Differences Between Working Memory and Long-Term Memory: Evidence From the Levels-of-Processing Span Task

Two experiments compared the effects of depth of processing on working memory (WM) and long-term memory (LTM) using a levels-of-processing (LOP) span task, a newly developed WM span procedure that involves processing to-be-remembered words based on their visual, phonological, or semantic characteristics. Depth of processing had minimal effect on WM tests, yet subsequent memory for the same items on delayed tests showed the typical benefits of semantic processing. Although the difference in LOP effects demonstrates a dissociation between WM and LTM, we also found that the retrieval practice provided by recalling words on the WM task benefited long-term retention, especially for words initially recalled from supraspan lists. The latter result is consistent with the hypothesis that WM span tasks involve retrieval from secondary memory, but the LOP dissociation suggests the processes engaged by WM and LTM tests may differ. Therefore, similarities and differences between WM and LTM depend on the extent to which retrieval from secondary memory is involved and whether there is a match (or mismatch) between initial processing and subsequent retrieval, consistent with transfer-appropriate-processing theory.
Chemistry and biology of asparagine-linked glycosylation

The biosynthesis of glycoprotein conjugates is a complex process that involves the collective action of numerous enzymes. Recent research on the chemistry and biology of asparagine-linked glycosylation in our group has been focused on two specific areas. These are the development of potent inhibitors of oligosaccharyl transferase and the investigation of the conformational consequences of the glycosylation process. Since asparagine-linked glycosylation is an essential eukaryotic process, an understanding of the details of this complex transformation is of utmost importance both to fundamental biochemistry and to a consideration of the mechanisms of homeostatic control.
Business Student And Practitioner Work Goals And Their Implications

The correspondence between individual work goals and available organizational rewards is a primary determinant of job satisfaction and motivation and is also likely to impact job performance. Differences between upper and lower division business students’ work goals suggest that changes had occurred as the students progressed through the curriculum that are likely to be functional for their work adjustment in modern organizations affected by current trends in job and organization design. However, some student priorities remained poorly matched with the available rewards and work requirements they are likely to find in these organizations. The mismatched priorities contrasted sharply with those displayed by U.S. managers in a previous study.