cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The European Energy Charter Treaty: Reality or illusion?

The European Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) initiated by the European Union and signed 17 December 1994, addresses opportunities for investment in energy resource development by Western companies in Eastern Europe and Russia. The overall objective is the transfer of Western technology to the East, providing hard currency and economic security thereby encouraging development of democratic institutions. Basic provisions of the ECT are examined including environmental implications, national sovereignty and exceptions to national treatment, as well as outstanding issues and prospects for success.
Reconfigurable mapping functions for online architectures

Content addressable memory is an expensive component in fixed architecture systems however it may prove to be a valuable tool in online architectures (that is, run-time reconfigurable systems with an online decision algorithm to determine the next reconfiguration). In this paper we define a related problem called an arbitrary mapping function and describe an online architecture. We look at four implementations of an arbitrary mapping function component and compare them in terms of space (number of CLB used), reconfiguration time, and component latency. All of the implementations offer low latency; which is the primary reason to use a content addressable memory or an arbitrary mapping function. Three of the implementations trade large size for very fast reconfiguration while the last implementation is extremely conservative in space but has a large reconfiguration time.
Assessing bone health in children and adolescents

During normal childhood and adolescence, the skeleton undergoes tremendous change. Utilizing the processes of modeling and remodeling, the skeleton acquires its adult configuration and ultimately achieves peak bone mass. Optimization of peak bone mass requires the proper interaction of environmental, dietary, hormonal, and genetic influences. A variety of acute and chronic conditions, as well as genetic polymorphisms, are associated with reduced bone density, which can lead to an increased risk of fracture both in childhood and later during adulthood. Bone densitometry has an established role in the evaluation of adults with bone disorders, and the development of suitable reference ranges for children now permits the application of this technology to younger individuals. We present a brief overview of the factors that determine bone density and the emerging role of bone densitometry in the assessment of bone mass in growing children and adolescents.
Drug lords. The rise and fall of the Cali cartel. The richest, most powerful crime syndicate in history

This is an interesting and riveting story of the Cali cartel. It is well written and it is difficult to stop reading until one finishes it. The book appears to be well researched and the author pro...
PYRIDOXINE DEPENDENCY: REPORT OF A CASE OF INTRACTABLE CONVULSIONS IN AN INFANT CONTROLLED BY PYRIDOXINE

A case of convulsions in an infant requiring pyridoxine for their control has been described. On oral dosage of pyridoxine 2 mg./day, seizures have now been controlled for 21 months, with no increase in dosage being required. A continuing need for pyridoxine is demonstrated by the recent reappearance of seizures following a short lapse of pyridoxine administration. In the absence of biochemical evidence of pyridoxine deficiency, as measured by xanthurenic acid excretion following a tryptophane load, and with meager clinical evidence for the complete picture of such deficiency, the authors prefer to designate this phenomenon "pyridoxine dependency" The hypothesis has been propounded that this infant suffers a metabolic anomaly in pyridoxine metabolism resulting in convulsions in the absence of regular dietary pyridoxine supplements.
The Arab Spring in North Africa: Still Winter in Morocco?

This chapter focuses on Morocco, presenting research conducted on the Moroccan blogosphere between 2007 and 2009, before the Arab Spring, in which a burgeoning civil society space with some evidence of collective action was apparent. Despite this online activism and the highest level of Internet penetration in North Africa, the Moroccan government withstood Arab Spring protests. While the religious and political legitimacy of the Moroccan monarchy is a key factor in explaining this difference, there are also significant socioeconomic and linguistic cleavages that were mirrored in the online space. Nevertheless, the Moroccan blogosphere leading up to the events of 2011 provides a rich public narrative that includes collective action unique to this historically authoritarian North African country. The chapter will utilize selected collective action literature to examine the nature of this narrative and then examine it in light of several Arab Spring protests that did occur in Morocco, concluding that, while the monarchy retains its power and online collective action does not reach the majority of citizens, online social and political expression do represent a potentially significant development in Morocco’s public sphere.
Charge remote fragmentation of peptides following attachment of a fixed positive charge: A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization postsource decay study

A fixed positive charge can be placed at the N-terminus of a peptide by addition of a tris[(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphonium]acetyl group. The usefulness of these charged derivatives has been demonstrated in fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. After ion formation and acceleration, these derivatized peptide ions dissociate and their fragment ions can be analyzed in a postsource decay experiment by using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-postsource decay spectra are very different from what may be expected based on fragment ions observed from protonated peptide molecules. Cleavage of CHR-C(O) bonds dominates to form a series of a type ions. Mechanistic possibilities are evaluated. When aspartic acid residues are encountered, the chemistry radically changes. This appears to be due to the formation of geometrically accessible intermediates that can dissociate via low energy processes. This chargeremote chemistry parallels that for much simpler systems, resulting in spectra that are very easy to interpret.
Biomimetic fabrication and freeze-casting of collagen-apatite hydrogels for bone tissue engineering

Collagen-apatite (Col-Ap) scaffolds have been widely employed for bone tissue engineering. In the current study, we fabricated Col-Ap hydrogels with a biomimetic structure and freeze-dried Col-Ap hydrogels with a hierarchical lamellar structure. Col-Ap hydrogel was prepared using a biomimetic approach combining self-assembling of collagen molecules with simultaneous mineralization in a modified simulated body fluid (m-SBF). A novel two-temperature process involving gelation at 25 o C and then 40 o C was applied to increase the diameter of mineralized collagen fibers. Col-Ap hydrogel consisting of collagen bundles reinforced by apatite nano-particles was further subjected to self-compression and controlled freeze-casting. The freeze-dried hydrogel exhibits a hierarchical lamellar structure consisting of co-aligned macro and micro pores. Moreover, this novel lamellar structured scaffold supports the attachment and spreading of MC3T3-E1osteoblasts. Therefore, owing to the biomimetic composition, hierarchical lamellar structure and good biocompatibility of this novel freeze-dried Col-Ap hydrogel, it has great potential to be used in bone tissue engineering applications.
From under the rubble: computing and the resuscitation of Romania

How does an entire country return to life?The dictatorship of Nicolae and Elena Ceaucescu turned Romania into a political, social and economic wasteland that was vividly pictured in the world media after the overthrow of the Stalinist couple in December 1989. Their regime left the country in shambles: with an old or mangled physical plant, a currency worthless abroad and nearly worthless at home, a legacy of secret police abuses, terrible health and sanitary conditions, and a highly centralized, warped, and inefficient scientific and industrial infrastructure.
Classification of some metric automorphisms defined by Standish

Abstract Let F be a finite set with a probability distribution {Pi: i ϵ F} and (Ω F , P) denote the product space of countably many copies of (F, P). A permutation (bijection) φ of the integers induces an invertible measure preserving transformation Tφ on (Ω F , P) given by the equation (Tφw)i = wφ(j). Such metric automorphisms we call S-automorphisms. We show in this paper that S-automorphisms are ergodic if and only they are Bernoulli shifts and two ergodic S-automorphisms are isomorphic if and only if their associated permutations are conjugate. We also show that S-automorphisms have discrete spectrum if and only if they have zero entropy and every S-automorphism is either a Bernoulli shift, has discrete spectrum, or is a product of a Bernoulli shift and an automorphism with discrete spectrum. S-automorphism with discrete spectrum are those whose associated permutations contain only cycles of finite length. These automorphisms are studied according to the number of such finite cycles. Those whose permutations have infinitely many finite cycles with unbounded lengths are shown to be antiperiodic and those whose permutations have infinitely many finite cycles of bounded length are periodic with almost no fixed points. An example is given of two automorphisms of this latter type which are isomorphic but whose permutations are not conjugate. A complete isomorphism invariant is given for S-automorphisms whose associated permutations consist of finitely many finite cycles. Using this invariant we show that if φ is either a product of k disjoint cycles of prime power pα, or a single cycle of length pq where p and q are primes, or a product of k disjoint cycles of prime lengths p1
Swarm Manipulation of a Disabled Vessel: Elimination of Velocity Measurements

In this paper, an observer/controller strategy is developed for a swarm of autonomous tugboats with the collaborative mission of manipulating a disabled surface marine vessel into a desired position and orientation. Specifically, this design focuses on the elimination of direct velocity measurements/calculations during implementation by the formulation of a model based nonlinear observer. The tracking control algorithm is based on the measured tracking error signal as opposed to an estimated tracking error signal in an effort to provide improved performance.
Introduction to “Little's Law as Viewed on Its 50th Anniversary”

In 1961, Operations Research published a short, fivepage article by John D. C. Little, then of Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve University), entitled a “A Proof for the Queuing Formula: L= W ” Little (1961). This paper has become one of the five most cited papers ever published in the journal. And its influence goes far beyond the professional literature. In the paper, Little proves that under very general conditions, the average length of a queue, in steady state, will be equal to the arrival rate into the queue times the average wait in the queue. Remarkably, this relationship is not influenced by the arrival process distribution, the service distribution, the service order, or practically anything else. Nor does it depend on the structure of the queueing system: “Little’s Law” holds not just at the individual queue level but also at the system level. Complicated systems can be analyzed simply by looking at the queue length and waiting time relative to the system. For such a simple relationship, Little’s Law has had a tremendous impact in practically every field of endeavor. Whether you are trying to access a Web page of a heavily utilized server or standing in line at an amusement park attraction, Little’s Law governs the length of the wait for service. Little’s Law has been used to calculate the spread of genes in a population and in analyzing complex project management systems. Given the generality of the conditions that are needed for Little’s Law to apply, it acts as a quick heuristic analysis for systems of all kinds. Fifty years after publication, John Little has put together a paper (Little 2011) summarizing the influence of his original paper. In the new paper, he outlines both the theoretical advances and the practical applications of the Law. For a five-page paper with a forbidding title, the 1961 paper has had a tremendous impact on the profession and beyond. We are pleased to have this retrospective on this important anniversary. To celebrate this occasion, the OR Forum area of the journal has asked a number of luminaries to provide comments on the impact that the paper has had both on practice and on theory. These authors include Ron Wolff, Ed Kaplan, Tim Lowe, and Sridhar Tayur. Their comments are published in an online companion at http://orforum.blog.informs.org. This is also the place for readers of the journal and the community at large to share their experiences and comment on this beautiful piece of work published exactly 50 years ago!
Electronic absorption spectra, optical line strengths, and crystal-field energy-level structure of Nd3+ in hexagonal [Nd(H2O)9](CF3SO3)3

Abstract Optical absorption measurements are used to locate and assign 79 crystal-field (Stark) levels split out of the 4f 3 electronic configuration of Nd 3+ in single crystals of neodymium nonahydrate tris(trifluoromethanesulfonate), [Nd(H 2 O) 9 ](CF 3 SO 3 ) 3 , denoted hereafter as NdTRF. Line strengths are determined for 56 transitions between Stark levels. Single crystals of NdTRF have hexagonal, P6 3 /m(C 6h 2 ) space-group symmetry, and each Nd 3+ ion is coordinated to nine water molecules in a slightly distorted tri-capped trigonal prism structure of C 3h symmetry. The energy-level structure of 4f 3 (Nd 3+ ) in NdTRF is analyzed in terms of a model Hamiltonian that includes consideration of both one-electron crystal-field and two-electron correlation-crystal-field interactions, the latter interactions making important contributions to the energy-level structures of several 4f 3 [ SL ] J multiplet manifolds. Line strength data obtaibned for NdTRF is analyzed in terms of a general 4f → 4f transition intensity model in which the details of the 4f-electron/crystal-field/electric-dipolar radiation-field interactions are represented in parametric form. The derived parameters provide information about structural properties and interaction mechanisms that contribute to 4f → 4f transition intensities. The general crystal-field and intensity parameters are further analyzed in terms of a set of ‘intrinsic’ parameters that are related to contributions from individual Nd 3+ OH 2 pairwise interactions.
Effect of Cold Temperatures on the Morphology of Gastrointestinal Tracts of Two Microtine Rodents

Microtus ochrogaster and Dicrostonyx groenlandicus are closely related species that share many life-history characteristics, but have different food habits; D. groenlandicus primarily eats dicots, such as evergreen and deciduous shrubs, while M. ochrogaster primarily eats forbs and grasses. We compared the size of gastrointestinal tracts of these two species acclimated to either 5 or 23'C. In both species, animals acclimated to cold ambient temperatures (50C) had longer gastrointestinal tracts than did those acclimated to warmer temperatures (23'C). In addition, animals acclimated to colder temperatures also carried a greater mass of digesta in their gastrointestinal tracts. Only in M. ochrogaster did the wet mass of the tract increase in response to cold-temperature acclimation. In general, D. groenlandicus had larger and heavier tracts than did M. ochrogaster. The small intestine and cecum increased in size at cold temperatures, but this increase occurred differently in each species. The differences we observed can be attributed to differences in the additional food eaten by each species in the cold.
A formation study of NN interactions between 1.09 and 3.45 GeV/c (II). Strange particles

Abstract A systematic study of p p and p d reactions producing strange particles between 1.09 and 3.45 GeV/ c has been completed. Reaction and resonance cross-section data are presented at 11 p p and 13 p d momentum settings. Evidence for a broad shoulder in the K K 3π final state near 1.8 GeV/ c is presented and contrasted to previously published work on a portion of the final data sample. No evidence for a p n → K 0 K − ω effect near 1.3 GeV/ c is found, ruling out an association of K K ω effects with the nearby isospin one enhancement in the total cross section. Finally, we find no evidence for a p p → K K ω enhancement near 1.8 GeV/ c .
Structure and magnetism of amorphous alloys

The effect of structure on the magnetic properties of amorphous alloys is discussed, with emphasis on the effect of fluctuations in the local atomic structure. It is pointed out that the structural fluctuations are best described by the internal stresses of long, medium or atomic range, and some of the magnetic properties are discussed in terms of these stresses. The properties discussed include the Curie temperature, saturation magnetization, magnetostriction, spin wave stiffness, paramagnetic susceptibility, changes in the Curie temperature, induced anisotropy and magnetic after-effect. The role of the structural defects on the last three is also discussed.
Purification and characterization of HIV–human protein complexes

To fully understand how pathogens infect their host and hijack key biological processes, systematic mapping of intra-pathogenic and pathogen–host protein–protein interactions (PPIs) is crucial. Due to the relatively small size of viral genomes (usually around 10–100 proteins), generation of comprehensive host–virus PPI maps using different experimental platforms, including affinity tag purification-mass spectrometry (AP-MS) and yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) approaches, can be achieved. Global maps such as these provide unbiased insight into the molecular mechanisms of viral entry, replication and assembly. However, to date, only two-hybrid methodology has been used in a systematic fashion to characterize viral–host protein–protein interactions, although a deluge of data exists in databases that manually curate from the literature individual host–pathogen PPIs. We will summarize this work and also describe an AP-MS platform that can be used to characterize viral-human protein complexes and discuss its application for the HIV genome.
Murine Functional Liver Mass is Reduced Following Partial Small Bowel Resection

Introduction Liver mass is regulated in precise proportion to body mass in health and is restored by regeneration following acute injury. Despite extensive experimental analyses, the mechanisms involved in this regulation have not been fully elucidated. Previous investigations suggest that signals from the bowel may play an important role. The purpose of the studies reported here was to determine the effect of proximal partial small bowel resection on liver mass in a murine model.
Can OCT be sensitive to nanoscale structural alterations in biological tissue

Exploration of nanoscale tissue structures is crucial in understanding biological processes. Although novel optical microscopy methods have been developed to probe cellular features beyond the diffraction limit, nanometer-scale quantification remains still inaccessible for in situ tissue. Here we demonstrate that, without actually resolving specific geometrical feature, OCT can be sensitive to tissue structural properties at the nanometer length scale. The statistical mass-density distribution in tissue is quantified by its autocorrelation function modeled by the Whittle-Mateŕn functional family. By measuring the wavelength-dependent backscattering coefficient μb(λ) and the scattering coefficient μs, we introduce a technique called inverse spectroscopic OCT (ISOCT) to quantify the mass-density correlation function. We find that the length scale of sensitivity of ISOCT ranges from ~30 to ~450 nm. Although these sub-diffractional length scales are below the spatial resolution of OCT and therefore not resolvable, they are nonetheless detectable. The sub-diffractional sensitivity is validated by 1) numerical simulations; 2) tissue phantom studies; and 3) ex vivo colon tissue measurements cross-validated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, the 3D imaging capability of ISOCT is demonstrated with ex vivo rat buccal and human colon samples.
Length Scale Effect on Deformation and Failure Mechanisms of Ultra-Fine Grained Aluminum

The deformation and failure processes in ultra-fine and nanograined metals over different length scales have been probed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in combination with a micromechanical in situ straining device. This novel straining device affords the opportunity to directly correlate the macroscopic mechanical properties with the microscopic deformation and failure mechanisms. Through use of this device it has been shown that increased film thickness results in a transition between limited plasticity and intergranular fracture to global plasticity and shear failure for deposited aluminum samples of similar grain size but different thickness.
Post–liver transplant cholestatic hepatitis C: A systematic review of clinical and pathological findings and application of consensus criteria

Liver transplantation is currently the only definitive modality for the treatment of end-stage liver disease due to chronic hepatitis C. However, recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation is nearly universal. Cirrhosis may develop in 20% of recipients within 5 years, and recurrent hepatitis C may lead to graft failure, retransplantation, and even death. A subset of recipients may develop post-liver transplant cholestatic hepatitis C (PLTCHC), which is characterized by cholestasis, hepatocyte ballooning, and rapid progression to graft failure. We present a systematic review of PLTCHC that is focused on hepatitis C-infected liver transplant recipients. We compare the pathological definitions of PLTCHC, clinical factors, management strategies, and outcomes reported in studies. We found differences among studies in the types of histological criteria used to diagnose PLTCHC during liver biopsy and in the types of clinical information provided. Three of the 12 studies published after 2003 used the definition of PLTCHC published by the first International Liver Transplantation Society expert panel consensus conference on liver transplantation and hepatitis C. We propose that studies on PLTCHC use the consensus criteria for diagnosis and suggest clinical information that should be provided in future studies with the goal of improving our understanding and management of this deadly disease.
Effect of wave‐particle interactions on ring current evolution for January 10–11, 1997: Initial results

We simulate the ring current evolution during the magnetic storm caused by Earth passage of the January 1997 magnetic cloud. Compared to previous studies, we include for the first time energy diffusion caused by wave-particle interactions. The modeled Dst index agrees reasonably well with the measured one, corrected for magnetopause currents and currents induced in the solid Earth. We compare H+distributions calculated from our model with those measured by the HYDRA instrument on the POLAR spacecraft and find that: a) the agreement between theory and data at large Lshells (L>5.5) is very good; b) although the agreement at low Lshells is improved when scattering by EMIC waves is included, the result is not entirely satisfactory, suggesting that either transport in a more realistic magnetospheric electric field or additional loss processes should be considered.
Married Couples' Conflict Responses and Marital Quality

In order to further our understanding of conflict within a marital relationship, this study had two purposes: (i) to identify married couples' conflict response profiles, and (ii) to relate these conflict profiles to appraisals of marital quality. Spouses in 173 intact married couples completed a questionnaire that included measures of a sample of aggressive, withdrawing, and problem-solving responses occurring during conflict episodes, and indices of marital quality. Cluster analyses of married dyads' conflict responses generated four conceptually interesting profiles - two symmetrical ('distancing couples' and `engaging couples') and two asymmetrical ('distancing husbands' and `distancing wives'). Results indicated that couples who endorse different conflict profiles could be distinguished according to their level of marital adjustment. The advantages to understanding conflict responses within a marriage by studying the couple as the unit of analysis were highlighted.
Two-phase coexistence and semimetallic states in conducting polymers.

We study a simple model of conducting polymers, such as polyacetylene, which consists of a quasi-one-dimensional coupled electron-phonon system with short-range electron-electron repulsions. The problem is solved in the Hartree-Fock approximation. A variety of experimentally measurable properties of the system, especially the infrared absorption spectrum, are computed. (i) As a function of doping, the interchain coupling causes the system to undergo a phase transition from a correlated soliton-lattice state to a metallic state, described by a weakly interacting but highly anisotropic three-dimensional Fermi liquid. The result is consistent with a previous renormalization-group treatment. (ii) When interactions with counterions are included, the nonmetal--metal transition is very sensitive to the arrangement of counterions relative to the polymer chain: a minor change in the arrangement will either stabilize or destabilize the soliton state allowing the coexistence of the metallic and the soliton states. (iii) For realistic three-dimensional band structures, a semimetallic phase intervenes the nonmetallic (Peierls) and metallic (Fermi-liquid) phases.
El nexo asiático: APEC Y ASEM

Dentro de la estructura internacional de hoy en dia existen tres centros que se han ido configurando como importantes polos de desarrollo: America, Europa y Asia. De los tres, este ultimo es quizas el mas debil, aunque tambien se presenta como una region de grandes oportunidades. A partir de la configuracion de APEC, a finales de los ochenta, Asia ha intentado establecer relaciones con la cuenca del Pacifico y, a partir 1996, con Europa, su relacion mas debil dentro de este esquema tripolar. Si en Europa el nucleo de la region es la Union Europea, en America lo es el NAFTA, que reune a Estados Unidos, Mexico y Canada y que podria convertirse en el embrion de una gran area de libre comercio en las Americas (ALCA). En Asia, aun no existe un nucleo formal. Este articulo describe como la region se encuentra en un proceso de formacion de su identidad, y como de su resultado depende la posicion y relaciones que se daran entre los tres polos ya mencionados.
Successful Chain Extension of Polyacrylate and Polystyrene Macroinitiators with Methacrylates in an ARGET and ICAR ATRP

Well-defined block copolymers poly(n-butyl acrylate)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate-co-styrene) and polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate-co-styrene) were synthesized using activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) and initiators for continuous activator regeneration (ICAR) for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). In order to overcome the poor initiation efficiency of polystyrene and poly(n-butyl acrylate) macroinitiators during chain extension with methacrylates, a small amount of styrene was used as a comonomer in the second block. To determine the percentage of styrene necessary for efficient chain extension, studies with low molecular weight alkyl halide initiators that model the poly(n-butyl acrylate) and polystyrene macroinitiators, respectively, were performed. Extension from the macroinitiators was then conducted using the appropriate methyl methacrylate/styrene comonomer mixture to obtain well-defined block copolymers, for example, starting from poly(n-butyl acrylate) macroinitiato...
Spontaneously relapsing and remitting primary CNS lymphoma in an immunocompetent 45-year-old man

A 45-year-old immunocompetent man with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) presented with multiple spontaneous relapses and remissions in the absence of steroid treatment. Because of the fluctuations with improvement in both the clinical course and MRI findings, alternative disorders were considered that led to delay of diagnosis and treatment prior to brain biopsy. This case and a handful of others with single remissions emphasize that PCNSL cannot be reliably ruled out by improving or␣disappearing symptoms, signs or traditional MR imaging abnormalities.
Mystifying What Matters: Erotic Antiquarianism in Erasmus Darwin's Portland Vase

Critics from the eighteenth century to the present have largely agreed in portraying Erasmus Darwin as an apostle of sexual liberation. One of Darwin’s career-long themes, that erotic love unifies the visible universe and the invisible, reaches its apotheosis in The Botanic Garden (1792) with his account of the famous Portland Vase as reproduced by Josiah Wedgwood. According to Darwin, the vase represents the Eleusinian Mysteries, an ancient fertility ritual where the god Eros presides. Darwin’s interest in this tradition parallels the contemporary antiquarian movement, represented particularly by the Society of Dilettanti, which researched the sacramental character of sexuality in the pagan world. I argue, however, that such work more often perpetuated an ideology of sexual restraint than of freedom. The antiquarians discerned two different myths of Eros: that of the divine progenitor from the esoteric rites, and that of the impish mischief-maker from popular tradition. By valorizing the former at the expense of the latter, they sublimated the socially and ontologically disruptive qualities of sexuality itself into decorous abstractions. Reading Darwin alongside these antiquarians helps bring into relief his own anxieties about the way that raw sexuality, and raw matter in general, challenges a unitary vision of the cosmos. For Darwin, the Portland Vase ultimately becomes a fetish—a mystification of the material realities not only of sexual desire but also of industries like Wedgwood’s.
Response of Larval Sea Lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) to Pulsed DC Electrical Stimuli in Laboratory Experiments

Four electrical factors that are used in pulsed DC electrofishing for larval sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) were evaluated in two laboratory studies to determine the optimal values to induce larval emergence over a range of water temperatures and conductivities. Burrowed larvae were exposed to combinations of pulsed DC electrical factors including five pulse frequencies, three pulse patterns, and two levels of duty cycle over a range of seven voltage gradients in two separate studies conducted at water temperatures of 10, 15, and 20°C and water conductivities of 25, 200, and 900 μS/cm. A four-way analysis of variance was used to determine significant (α = 0.05) influences of each electrical factor on larval emergence. Multiple comparison tests with Bonferroni adjustments were used to determine which values of each factor resulted in significantly higher emergence at each temperature and conductivity. Voltage gradient and pulse frequency significantly affected emergence according to the ANOVA model at each temperature and conductivity tested. Duty cycle and pulse pattern generally did not significantly influence the model. Findings suggest that a setting of 2.0 V/cm, 3 pulses/sec, 10% duty, and 2:2 pulse pattern seems the most promising in waters of medium conductivity and across a variety of temperatures. This information provides a basis for understanding larval response to pulsed DC electrofishing gear factors and identifies electrofisher settings that show promise to increase the efficiency of the gear during assessments for burrowed sea lamprey larvae.
Control of plasma non-esterified fatty acids in pregnancy and the puerperium.

SummaryThe amount and timing of glucose administered to fasting post partum women receiving intravenous insulin determines the amount and direction of change in plasma NEFA. Twenty-five grams of glucose inhibits the characteristic response of NEFA to insulin while half this dosage either enhances the insulin effect or causes secondary decrements in non-esterified fatty acid. These results suggest that the regulation of plasma NEFA is a complex function that may involve fatty acid synthesis, utilization and recycling as well as controlled release from fat depots.
The Potential Impact of Social Accountability Certification on Marketing: A Short Note

Social Responsibility (SA) 8000 registration/certification is a response by the business community to address consumer and investor perceptions of the importance of emerging global social issues such as child labor, worker rights, discrimination, compensation, etc. As more U.S. and European firms outsource production to less developed nations, social, environmental, and reputational issues have become more important. SA8000 is a series of behavioral standards that represents a comprehensive, and potentially global, corporate social responsibility registration system that provides a standard of socially responsible treatment of workers. This paper explores how SA8000 adoption may impact a firm's marketing activities.
Providing smoking cessation programs to homeless youth: The perspective of service providers

There is almost no information available on cigarette smoking among homeless youth, whether they are currently receiving services for smoking cessation, and how to best help them quit. This paper presents data collected from a series of semi-structured telephone interviews with service providers from 23 shelters and drop-in centers serving homeless youth in Los Angeles County about their current smoking cessation programming, interest in providing smoking cessation services to their clients, potential barriers to providing this service, and ways to overcome these barriers. Results indicated that 84% of facilities did not offer smoking cessation services, although nearly all (91%) were interested in doing so. Barriers to implementing formal smoking cessation programs on site included lack of resources (e.g., money, personnel) to support the programs, staff training, and concern that smoking cessation may not be a high priority for homeless youth themselves. Overall, service providers seemed to prefer a less intensive smoking cessation program that could be delivered at their site by existing staff. Data from this formative needs assessment will be useful for developing and evaluating a smoking cessation treatment that could be integrated into the busy, complex environment that characterizes agencies that serve homeless youth.
A Multiscale Model of Interleukin‐6–Mediated Immune Regulation in Crohn's Disease and Its Application in Drug Discovery and Development

In this study, we have developed a multiscale systems model of interleukin (IL)-6-mediated immune regulation in Crohn's disease, by integrating intracellular signaling with organ-level dynamics of pharmacological markers underlying the disease. This model was linked to a general pharmacokinetic model for therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and used to comparatively study various biotherapeutic strategies targeting IL-6-mediated signaling in Crohn's disease. Our work illustrates techniques to develop mechanistic models of disease biology to study drug-system interaction. Despite a sparse training data set, predictions of the model were qualitatively validated by clinical biomarker data from a pilot trial with tocilizumab. Model-based analysis suggests that strategies targeting IL-6, IL-6Rα, or the IL-6/sIL-6Rα complex are less effective at suppressing pharmacological markers of Crohn's than dual targeting the IL-6/sIL-6Rα complex in addition to IL-6 or IL-6Rα. The potential value of multiscale system pharmacology modeling in drug discovery and development is also discussed.CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology (2014) 3, e89; doi:10.1038/psp.2013.64; advance online publication 8 January 2014.
The effects of consultee-centered consultation on teacher behavior†

The purpose of this investigation was to respond to two deficiencies in past consultation research. It described the consultee-centered consultation techniques which were used, and it attempted to demonstrate the effectiveness of consultee-centered consultation in changing observable teacher behavior. Evidence was presented to show how consultation was followed by a reduction in the negative verbal behavior of two out of three teachers who participated in the study. An attempt was made to show how this study related to Caplan's (1970) assumptions regarding consultee-centered case-consultation. It was concluded that multiple baseline designs offer a viable approach to experimental research in consultation with small numbers of subjects.
Entrepreneurs' Perseverance During the Startup Process: A Multiple-case Study

This study unravels the underlying mechanisms that influence entrepreneurs’ behavior during the startup process. Theories of entrepreneurial behavior have assumed that entrepreneurs try to achieve ...
Optimum activity of the phosphofructokinase from Ascaris suum requires more than one metal ion.

Phosphofructokinase (PFK) catalyzes the phosphorylation of fructose 6-phosphate (F6P) to give fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) using MgATP as the phosphoryl donor. As the concentration of Mg 2+ increases above the concentration needed to generate the MgATP chelate complex, a 15-fold increase in the initial rate was observed at low MgATP. The effect of Mg 2+ is limited to V/K MgATP , and initial rate studies indicate an equilibrium-ordered addition of Mg 2+ before MgATP. Isotope partitioning of the dPFK: MgATP* complex indicates a random addition of MgATP and F6P at low Mg 2+ , with the rate of release of MgATP from the central E:MgATP:F6P complex 4-fold faster than the net rate constant for catalysis. This can be contrasted with the ordered addition of MgATP prior to F6P at high Mg 2+ . The addition of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (F26P 2 ) has no effect on the mechanism at low Mg 2+ , with the exception of a 4-fold increase in the affinity of the enzyme for F6P. At high Mg 2+ , F26P 2 causes the kinetic mechanism to become random with respect to MgATP and F6P and with MgATP released from the central complex half as fast as the net rate constant for catalysis. The latter is in agreement with previous studies [Gibson, G. E., Harris, B. G., and Cook, P. F. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 5451-5457]. The overall effect of Mg 2+ is a decrease in the rate of release of MgATP from the E:MgATP:F6P complex, independent of the concentration of F26P 2 .
Evaluation of a Holistic Model of Mental Health Symptoms in African American Women

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which a holistic model of mental health problems applies to the understanding and prediction of general mental health symptoms in an urban sample of 289 African American women. Our holistic model examines effects of eight variables on mental health problems: life events, social support, religious orientation, internalized racialism, physical health problems, marital status, socioeconomic status, and developmental status. From relationships hypothesized among variables, a structural equation model was formulated. Overall, the proposed model fit the data quite well. At the level of intervariable relationships, 7 of 8 hypotheses were partially to completely corroborated. Results were compared with parallel application of the holistic model to the understanding and prediction of alcohol consumption.
On the uniqueness of solutions to linear complementarity problems

This paper characterizes the classU of all realn×n matricesM for which the linear complementarity problem (q, M) has a unique solution for all realn-vectorsq interior to the coneK(M) of vectors for which (q, M) has any solution at all. It is shown that restricting the uniqueness property to the interior ofK(M) is necessary because whenU, the problem (q, M) has infinitely many solutions ifq belongs to the boundary of intK(M). It is shown thatM must have nonnegative principal minors whenU andK(M) is convex. Finally, it is shown that whenM has nonnegative principal minors, only one of which is 0, andK(M)≠R n , thenU andK(M) is a closed half-space.
"GENRE" AND "DISCOURSE" IN VICTORIAN CULTURAL STUDIES

developments in the explicit theorization of race, class, gender, sexuality, empire, nation, state, and culture. The vicissitudes of this latter abstraction make the period crucial in the history of cultural studies, for both Arnoldian and anthropological notions of culture are Victorian formulations. If one broad agenda of cultural studies has been to advance our understanding of the historical life of abstractions, another has been to urge the discipli nary self-awareness that constantly questions and historicizes its own conceptual tools. These thoughts on the categories of "discourse" and "genre" are meant to be a part of that enterprise. Cultural studies signals its dedication to questions of formalization in its widespread use of the term "cultural formations," which (taking off from Foucault's "discursive formations") can be used to name with equal ease both texts and all sorts of other social texts and cultural practices ? institutional, disciplinary, everyday. The terms "discourse" and "genre," too, can also float across this wide spectrum of applicability. Each term has its own heritage, of course, and each comes to us with a lot of baggage, but that baggage
Upper lid blepharoplasty and blepharoptosis repair

Blepharoplasty refers here specifically to the repair of dermatochalasis, an excess of upper lid fold skin, orbicularis, with or without prolapse of preaponeurotic fat, for either cosmetic or functional indications. Blepharoptosis (ptosis) repair is defined as the repair of an abnormally low lid margin position, in most cases because of an abnormality of the levator muscle. Differentiation between these two entities is possible with meticulous measurements of lid position and levator function. The initial dissection and surgical landmarks are the same in both procedures. However, because ptosis repair involves advancement, reattachment, or resection of the levator, greater experience and judgment are required to adjust the lid level, contour, and symmetry. Greater risk of corneal exposure exists if the levator function is abnormal. Details of the patient evaluation, surgical techniques, and potential complications are discussed, with emphasis on surgical technique.
Use of the index of biotic integrity to assess physical habitat degradation in warmwater streams

Indices of biotic integrity (1131) were computed for two annual fish collections from 27 locations along the bluffline bordering the Mississippi River alluvial plain in northwestern Mississippi. Study sites exhibited varying degrees of physical habitat degradation due to accelerated channel erosion. Objectives of index application were to quantify existing environmental quality and to test the IBI as a tool for relating fish population characteristics to physical degradation. Physical habitat data were collected concurrently with fish at all sites, and physical habitat descriptors were compared with the IBI scores and component metrics.
Paul Wheatley, 1921–1999

(2001). Paul Wheatley, 1921–1999. Annals of the Association of American Geographers: Vol. 91, No. 4, pp. 734-747.
Where the twain meet: Reconciling science and politics in analysis

It is argued that the conceptual and practical differences of intent and application that characterize politics and science - as professions and processes - are so great as to render interaction between them problematic. In fact, analysis is postulated as a third distinct alternative, having its own imperatives, purposes, and uses; furthermore, the relationships between science, analysis, and politics are identified and found to be of potentially greater significance to those concerned with the policy process than is normally imagined.
WAIS functioning of cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic alcoholics.

This study was done to determine whether the cognitive dysfunction often found in chronic alcoholics would be greater for alcoholics with Laennec's cirrhosis than for alcoholics without cirrhosis. It was hypothesized that cirrhotic alcoholics would score lower than non-cirrhotic alcoholics, who in turn would score lower than non-alcoholic, non-cirrhotic controls on (1) WAIS Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ; (2) scaled score configuration; and (3) the Wechsler Deterioration Quotient. The WAIS was administered in a Veterans Administration Center to 60 Caucasian male patients aged 35-64 who had been assigned to one of the three groups (N = 20 per group). No differences were found among groups on age, education, or the Information and Vocabulary subtests (p greater than .05). Significant differences (p less than .05) were found on Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ, the remaining nine subtests, and the Deterioration Quotient. A stepwise discriminate function analysis substantiated these differences. It was concluded that Laennec's cirrhosis is a physical condition that negatively affects intellectual functioning in alcoholics.
Fighting a smoky fire: an analysis of Philip Morris's CEO speeches according to image restoration strategies

Purpose – This paper seeks to investigate Philip Morris's responses to a decade‐long crisis through the analysis of its CEO's speeches. It also aims to reveal the rich potential of corporate speeches as examples of crisis management strategies.Design/methodology/approach – In total, 67 speeches of Philip Morris's CEO are analyzed using centering resonance analysis. The data are also cluster‐ and factor‐analyzed. Combining quantitative and qualitative examination of the dataset provides a broader understanding of the organization's rhetoric strategies.Findings – Philip Morris's CEO crafted specific frames and image repair strategies to fit different stages of the crisis. The frames and restorations strategies used are, respectively: profitable multinational bolstering, minimization, and attack the accuser (1994‐1996); litigation target, transcendence (1997‐1998); and corporate good citizen, bolstering and transcendence (1999‐2001).Research limitations/implications – The paper highlights the significance of...
Novel Epoxide Initiators for the Carbocationic Polymerization of Isobutylene

Summary: We recently reported the synthesis of polyisobutylene (PIB) via direct initiation by epoxycyclohexyl isobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS®) (Figure 1) in conjunction with titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4). This system successfully initiated the living carbocationic polymerization of isobutylene (IB) in hexane/methyl chloride (Hx/MeCl -60/40, v/v) at T = −80 °C, yielding an asymmetric telechelic PIB with one POSS® cage head group and one tert-Cl end group.1 This paper will discuss IB polymerizations initiated by 1,2-epoxycyclohexane and bis[3,4-(epoxycyclohexyl)ethyl]-tetramethyl-disiloxane, in conjunction with TiCl4.