cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abilities, skills and knowledge in measures of health literacy.

Abstract Objective Health literacy has been recognized as an important factor in patients’ health status and outcomes, but the relative contribution of demographic variables, cognitive abilities, academic skills, and health knowledge to performance on tests of health literacy has not been as extensively explored. The purpose of this paper is to propose a model of health literacy as a composite of cognitive abilities, academic skills, and health knowledge (ASK model) and test its relation to measures of health literacy in a model that first takes demographic variables into account. Methods A battery of cognitive, academic achievement, health knowledge and health literacy measures was administered to 359 Spanish- and English-speaking community-dwelling volunteers. The relations of health literacy tests to the model were evaluated using regression models. Results Each health literacy test was related to elements of the model but variability existed across measures. Conclusion Analyses partially support the ASK model defining health literacy as a composite of abilities, skills, and knowledge, although the relations of commonly used health literacy measures to each element of the model varied widely. Practice implications Results suggest that clinicians and researchers should be aware of the abilities and skills assessed by health literacy measures when choosing a measure.
Findings on Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography and Pancreatic Function Test in Suspected Chronic Pancreatitis and Negative Cross-Sectional Imaging

Background & Aims The diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (CP) often relies on cross-sectional imaging, which may be insensitive for early disease. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of cholecystokinin pancreatic function test and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for the diagnosis of CP in patients with negative or inconclusive cross-sectional imaging. Methods Consecutive patients with suspicion of CP and negative or inconclusive cross-sectional imaging (computerized tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) were evaluated with cholecystokinin-stimulated endoscopic pancreatic function test (ePFT) and ERCP. The setting was a referral center for difficult diagnostic scenarios. Pancreatograms were scored according to Cambridge classification (I–IV). The ePFT was used to determine the peak lipase concentration in pancreatic juice during timed duodenal aspiration. The gold standard for the diagnosis of CP was long-term clinical follow-up evaluation. Results Thirty-five patients met the study criteria. The median duration of follow-up evaluation was 7 years (25th, 75th percentiles: 3, 7). Twenty-four of the 35 patients were diagnosed with CP based on long-term follow-up evaluation with a clinical composite reference standard. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 96%, 37%, 77%, and 80% for ePFT and 71%, 91%, 94%, and 59% for ERCP, respectively. A low peak lipase concentration on the initial ePFT was associated with development of steatorrhea during the follow-up period ( P = .02). Conclusions ePFT is a sensitive test for the diagnosis of patients with suspicion of CP and negative or inconclusive cross-sectional imaging. ERCP has modest sensitivity and high specificity for this purpose. A normal ePFT rules out CP with a high degree of certainty. An abnormal test result requires follow-up evaluation and diagnostic confirmation.
REVOLUTION, REACTION, AND REFORM: THE CHANGE THEORY OF PARSONS'S MIDDLE PERIOD

The “conflict school” in contemporary sociology emerged in large part as a critique of the theory of social change that Talcott Parsons developed during his middle period, which began with the empiricallyoriented essays that appeared after The Structure of Social Action (Parsons, 1937), and extended through the simultaneous publication of Towards a General Theory of Action (Parsons and Shils, 1951) and The Social System (Parsons, 1951). The conflict critique, now enshrined in textbook lore and highbrow writing alike, accused Parsons of a static, idealist bias that ignored issues of process, conflict, and change. While Parsons's attitude toward change, during this and later periods of his development, was complex and often ambiguous, this evaluation was certainly incorrect. I will demonstrate, in fact, that in this middle period Parsons actually produced a more systematic and compelling approach to conflict and change than the theories produced by the conflict critics themselves. In the first part of this paper, I will present the formal elements of Parsons's change theory. The second part will add substance to this theory by showing how Parsons applied it to the empirical problematics of recent Western development. In the third section, I will relate this formal and substantive theorizing to the vastly misunderstood deviance paradigm from The Social System. In conclusion, I will return to the question with which I began: What is the real relationship between the conflict theorists and their very useful straw man, “Talcott Parsons”?1
On the Derivation of Empirical Limits on the Helium Abundance in Coronal Holes Below 1.5 RS

We present a simple technique describing how limits on the helium abundance, a, the ratio of helium to proton number density, can be inferred from measurements of the electron density, temperature and their gradients below 1.5 R,. As an illustration, we apply this technique to emission line intensities in the extreme ultraviolet, measured in polar coronal holes. The example indicates that or can be significantly large in the inner corona. This technique could be applicable to the more extensive data to be obtained from coordinated ground and space-based observations during the Ulysses south polar passage and the Spartan flight, and subsequently during the SOHO mission. Limits on the helium abundance in the solar wind can thus be derived from its source region and compared to interplanetary values.
Zur Frage der Konditionierbarkeit der Veränderungen der Thrombozytenzahl und anderer Komponenten des menschlichen Kapillarblutes

Es wurde versucht, den Anstieg der Thrombozytenzahl im menschlichen Kapillarblut an einen Reiz zu binden, der normalerweise keine Thrombozytose hervorruft, d. h. diesen Anstieg zu konditionieren. Als unbedingter Reiz diente bei 5 gesunden Mannern dynamische Muskelarbeit am Fahrradergometer (18 mkp/sec, 30 min), als bedingter (= konditionierter) Reiz wurde ein in kurzen Zeitabstanden unterbrochenes Lichtsignal verwendet. Nach 4, 7 und 11 Bekraftigungen (je 1/Tag) konnte bei allen Versuchspersonen ein bedingt-reflektorischer Anstieg der Thrombozytenzahl im Kapillarblut festgestellt werden. Der ausgebildete bedingte Reflex blieb in allen Fallen auch nach 18 Tagen ohne Bekraftigung — wenn auch in leicht abgeschwachter Form — erhalten. Es wird angenommen, das dieser bedingte Reflex mit der direkten Teilnahme der Thrombozyten an nervalen Prozessen zusammenhangt.
Vasopressin exhibits a rhythmic daily pattern in cerebrospinal fluid but not in blood

Examination of vasopressin concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid continuously withdrawn from free-ranging cats revealed a large daily rhythm, with high concentrations occurring during daylight hour...
Examining the Link Between Leader Member Exchange and Subordinate Performance: The Role of Task Analyzability and Variety as Moderators

Results from afield study with 152 members of a large urban hospital indicate that the relationship between the quality of leader-member exchange (LMX) and subordinate performance is moderated by perceptions of task analyzability and variety. LMX and performance are found to be significantly related when task challenge is either very high or very low. Under these task conditions, data indicate that there is a positive link between LMX and performance such that a higher quality leader-member exchange correlates with higher levels of performance. On the other hand, analyses also reveal that when tasks are perceived to be moderately challenging, no significant relationship between LMX and performance is present. In other words, these data suggest that characteristics of the task act as moderating agents of the LMX/performance relationship. Results are discussed in terms of theory development, managerial implications, andfuture LMX research.
Ultrastructural study of membrane glycocalyx in primary and metastatic human and rat mammary carcinoma

The glycocalyx of primary and metastatic tumors was compared by ruthenium red staining and electron microscopy. Two systems were studied: human primary and metastatic breast tumors and rat primary and metastatic mammary carcinomas. A considerable diminution in the amount of glycocalyx was detected in both systems when primary tumors were compared with metastases. These results are consistent with observations of others showing that metastatic tumors shed glycoprotein antigens to the circulation; this may provide an immune escape mechanism for tumor cells, allowing their dissemination.
Joanna Baillie's Stardom: Social Claims, Literary Objects, and Scholarly Lenses

This essay surveys recent scholarship on Joanna Baillie, noting that much of it addresses the social effects of her plays. To account for that finding, I consider how scholarly lenses have increasingly opened to cultural constellations instead of focusing on isolated literary objects. Baillie “stars” in this new academic universe, I posit, because her work grapples so fully and explicitly with issues of gender, justice, and national identity that continue to be of urgent concern. Baillie's stated confidence in her plays to foster more sympathetic social relations is newly meaningful in light of studies that theorize social change in terms of performativity, and revaluations of her ideas shed light on the relationship between literature and lived experience.
Race and Gender Differences in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders in Young Adolescents

ABSTRACT Objective Most children and adolescents with mental illness remain untreated. Evidence suggests that race is a factor in the referral of children for treatment. This study examines race and gender differences in treatment of adolescent psychiatric disorders. Method During a two-stage, school-based, epidemiological study of depression, data were collected on 478 adolescents. Instruments included the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children and the Children's Global Assessment Scale. Results Twenty-two percent of the sample had contact with professionals during the prior year, including 56% of adolescents with a psychiatric diagnosis. Significant odds ratios (ORs) were found between all diagnoses and treatment. Trends for undertreatment of females and African- Americans were evident in univariable and multivariable models. The OR (0.34) for African-American females was significant in the multivariable model. African-Americans were significantly more likely to receive only one or two treatment contacts. Conclusion Data suggest race and gender differences in the treatment of adolescent psychiatric disorders. Possible explanations include referral bias, low cultural competence of mental health professionals, and cultural differences in the expression and tolerance of symptoms and help-seeking behaviors. Further study of factors influencing treatment decisions is needed.
Thermal analyses of flame-retardant twills containing cotton, polyester and wool

Medium weight twill fabrics constructed from cotton and cotton blended with polyester and/or wool were analyzed under nitrogen by three thermoanalytical techniques. Fabrics were tested both before and after treatment with [tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium] sulfate (THPS), urea, and trimethylolmelamine. The presence of all fibers was distinguishable in differential scanning calorimetric analysis (DSC) of untreated fabrics; the relative positions of the endothermic, decomposition peak temperatures were only slightly changed. After flame-retardant (FR) treatment, the blended cotton and wool fibers were altered. Both fibers decomposed as exotherms during DSC analysis. These data supported earlier microscopical, X-ray evidence that wool fibers were actually reacting with the FR treatment. The two DSC peaks for polyester polymer melting and decomposing remained unaffected by either blending with other fibers or the presence of the FR finish on the fabric. There was excellent agreement between DSC peak temperatures and the temperature of maximum rate of weight loss obtained from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Blending cotton with either of these fibers increased the residue measured after TGA. The increased residue correlated with increased flame resistance as measured by the 45° angle, edge-ignition burning rate test.
Understanding Off-the-Books Politics: Conducting Inference on the Determinants of Sensitive Behavior with Randomized Response Surveys

This study presents a survey-based method for conducting inference into the determinants of sensitive political behavior. The approach combines two well-established literatures in statistical methods in the social sciences: the randomized response (RR) methodology utilized to reduce evasive answer bias and the generalized propensity score methodology utilized to draw inferences about causal effects in observational studies. The approach permits one to estimate the causal impact of a multivalued predictor variable of interest on a given sensitive behavior in the face of unknown interaction effects between the predictor and the confounders as well as nonlinearities in the relationship between the confounders and the sensitive behavior. Simulation results point to the superior performance of the RR relative to direct survey questioning using this method for samples of moderate to large size. The utility of the approach is illustrated through an application to corruption in the public bureaucracy in three countries in South America.
Physical stabilization techniques for mitigation of environmental pollution from dioxin contaminated soils

Abstract Techniques for physically stabilizing dioxin contaminated soils with Portland cement and asphalt have been investigated in the laboratory. The results
A comparison of the Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy and the Levenberg–Marquardt method for solving multidimensional inverse transport problems

Abstract The Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy (CMA-ES), a powerful optimization algorithm that mimics the process of evolution in nature, is applied to the inverse transport problems of interface location identification, source composition identification, and material mass density identification (both separately and combined) in cylindrical radioactive source/shield systems. The energies of discrete gamma-ray lines emitted by the source are assumed to be known, while the uncollided line fluxes are assumed to be measured at points external to the system. CMA-ES is compared to the Levenberg–Marquardt method, a standard gradient-based optimization algorithm, on numerical test cases using both simulated data that is perfectly consistent with the optimization process and with realistic data simulated by Monte Carlo. Numerical results indicate that the Levenberg–Marquardt method is more adept at problems with few unknowns (i.e. ⩽3), but as the number of unknowns increases, CMA-ES becomes the superior strategy. Results also indicate that a parallel version of CMA-ES would be more robust than, and have competitive run times with, the Levenberg–Marquardt method for many inverse transport problems.
Spin discrimination of new heavy resonances at the LHC

If a new resonance is discovered at the LHC, the problem of discriminating between two spin hypotheses is in the category of simple hypothesis testing if the angular distributions of the decay products are fully specified by the models. We discuss the interpretation of the likelihood ratio statistic for discriminating between a Z' boson (spin 1) and a graviton (spin 2), contrasting this interpretation with previously published work. Inclusion of the possibility of a spin-0 resonance makes the unambiguous identification of either spin-1 or spin-2 resonances more difficult.
A unique reversal of elution order during direct enantiomeric resolution of amide derivatives of 1‐phenyl‐2‐aminopropane by high performance liquid chromatography on chiral stationary phases

Enantiomeric amide derivatives of (S)- and (R)-1-phenyl-2-aminopropane (dextro- and levoamphetamine, respectively) were resolved by high performance liquid chromatography on commercially available ionically and covalently bonded chiral stationary phases ((R)-N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)phenylglycine). Ten enantiomeric amide pairs were synthesized and chromatographed on the columns by using a mobile phase of hexane-isopropanol (97 : 3), a flow rate of 2 ml/min, and a column temperature of 20°C. The (R)-isomer of all 10 amides eluted first on the covalent column as did the (R)-isomer of nine derivatives on the ionic column. however, the 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl amide of (S)- amphetamine eluted before the (R)-isomer on the ionic column. This reversal in enantiomeric elution order reveals the complexity of the interactions occurring on these columns and emphasizes the hazards of relying on observed elution order as an a priori indication of absolute configuration.
The radiative association of O and O

Abstract The formation of the oxygen molecular cation O+2 by radiative association of an O(3P) atom and an O+(4So) ion is investigated. The radiative association is due mainly to approach in the A 2Πu state of O+2. Explicit calculations are carried out for association following approach in the vibrational continuum of the A 2Πu state with the emission of photons into bound vibrational-rotational levels of the X 2Πg state. The rate coefficient is obtained and found to be of the order of 5 × 10−18 cm3 s-1 for temperatures above 1000 K, but it drops rapidly for temperatures below 300 K due to the presence of a repulsive quadrupole interaction in the long-range molecular potential. Numerous shape resonances are manifest in the cross section at low temperatures.
carving up the profits: apprenticeship and structural flexibility in a contemporary African craft market

For decades, social scientists have cited the importance of tapping indigenous sources of entrepreneurship as a crucial mechanism in furthering economic development (e.g., Hoselitz, Shinohara, and Fisher 1968; Marris and Somerset 1971). To this end, they have often suggested that infusions of capital into small local "businesses" may provide a useful first step in the evolution of larger, more dynamic enterprises. In the African literature, apprentice workshops are among the nascent "enterprises" most often targeted for growth. With considerations of the formalist-substantivist debate in mind, Verdon (1979) recently attacked prevailing interpretations of the African apprentice workshop and its implications for economic development. He argues that interpretations of these institutions as standard "wage-labor enterprises" ignore their unique sociostructural properties (to be outlined below). He contends that these workshops lack the necessary "elasticity" in personnel to respond to shifting market demands, and thus render unattractive, or even irrational, continuous reinvestment of profits into the business. Verdon chastizes anthropologists, developmental economists, and others who view these organizations as embryonic enterprises which merely require an infusion of capital to achieve a dramatic rise in productivity. He argues that these workshops are not "enterprises" in the Western sense at all; they are, instead, unique institutions with their own dynamics and are best understood without any reference to an "entrepreneurial" continuum. Finally, he takes this alleged misunderstanding as evidence of a general myopia on the part of Western economists, whose imposition of a "formalist" economic model on non-Western situations frequently blinds them to indigenous realities. The present paper by no means seeks to refute Verdon point for point. In fact, his treatment of the Adabraka (Accra) apprenticeship workshops may well be correct; yet the imAfrican apprentice workgroups have structural limitations at the level of the individual unit which hinder the elasticity of their response to market fluctuations. Substantivists have noted that analysis of these institutions as classic Western "enterprises" may therefore be misleading. However, their divergence from this model need not totally invalidate examination of such workgroups from a formalist perspective. Under the guidance of entrepreneurs, individual units may be temporarily integrated into broader structural networks which are sensitive to market demands. Hence, a melding of economic perspectives may prove most fruitful in analyzing such institutions. [economics, social organization, culture change, art]
A class of triangular derivations having a slice

Consider a Ga-action on Cn(n ≥ 3) given by the derivation D = p(X2,…, Xn)∂1 + q(X3,h., Xn) δ2. It is shown that (Cn)Ga ∼- Cn− if gcd(p,q) = 1 and that Cn is equivariantly isomorphic to Ga × Cn−1 if the Ga-action is fixed point free.
RECEPTOR CELL OUTER SEGMENT DEVELOPMENT AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE DISK MEMBRANES IN THE RETINA OF THE TADPOLE (RANA PIPIENS).

The development of the retinal receptor outer segment was studied in the tadpole eye, where a good preservation of the cell structures, as well as the relationship between the receptor cells and the pigment epithebium, could be obtained. In the tip of the connecting structure, which had developed from one of the inner segment centrioles, the plasma membrane formed a balloon-like expansion. At a somewhat later stage asymmetrically arranged disks, approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the receptor cell, were found. The observations show that the outer segment disks in both rods and cones are formed by invaginations of the plasma membrane at the basal surface of the outer segment. As the disk grows, its base of invagination is moved toward the edge of the outer segment opposite the connecting structure and then sclerally along this edge. In the cones the disks remain continuous with the plasma membrane, but in the rods the great majority of them become pinched off. No systematic relationship between vesicular structures and the formation of disks was seen. At high resolution, a globular substructure was observed in the disk membranes and in the plasma membrane of the outer segment.
Reanalysis of the NRC Field Trials of Color-Matching Functions

On the basis of a more accurate calibration of the Donaldson colorimeter, a reanalysis of the 1958–1959 NRC field trials of color-matching functions was carried out. This has resulted in a revision of some of the conclusions reached with regard to the 10° color-matching functions proposed by the CIE in 1959. The results of the reanalysis strongly suggest that the proposed 10° color-matching functions predict adequately the observations made by actual observers on the Donaldson colorimeter. A failure of additivity in large-field color matching cannot be detected with certainty for the observational mean of 10 observers. However, for individual observers there remains the possibility of a failure of additivity.
1030-8 Changes in β-Actin mRNA Expression in a Canine Model of Left Ventricular Remodeling

Increased expression of the gene coding for the cytoskeletal protein β-actin has been associated with hypertrophy in different cell systems, however its expression in cardiac tissue following myocardial injury remains largely uncharacterized. β-actin mRNA expression was examined in a canine model of left ventricular damage caused by transmyocardial, direct current shock which results in remodeling of the undamaged myocardium. Myocardial RNA was harvested from the LV of normal, unshocked dogs and from the LV distant from the scar 24 hours, 72 hours, 5 days, 10 days and 30 days after DC shock. Northern analysis indicated a 3-fold increase in β-actin mRNA expression that was sustained 5 to 30 days following DC shock. Reverse transcriptase (RT) PCR was also used to examine β-actin mRNA expression with primers derived from the human β-actin sequence. A 297 bp PCR product was generated from amplification of normal canine LV tissue. Amplification of LV tissue from DC-shocked animals resulted in a progressive change from a 297 bp to a 472 bp PCR product. The ratio of 297/472 bp product was 9/1 24 hours after shock. From 3 to 5 days after shock, RT-PCR resulted in approximately equal generation of 297 and 472 bp product. Ten to 30 days after shock the 472 bp product represented over 85% of the β-actin PCR product generated. Sequencing of these PCR products confirmed that both were closely related to β-actin. The observed change in β-actin could represent alternate splicing of a single gene or expression of two different β-actin genes. Differential expression of β-actin mRNA in canine myocardium may contribute-to the already documented growth of the viable myocardium in this model.
Structural efficiency of orthotropic cylindrical shells subjected to axial compression.

Structural efficiency of orthotropic materials for cylindrical shells under axial load, including examination of fibrous composites characteristics
Regulation of segmentation and segmental identity by Drosophila homeoproteins: the role of DNA binding in functional activity and specificity.

Recent advances have shed new light on how the Q50 homeoproteins act in Drosophila. These transcription factors have remarkably similar and promiscuous DNA-binding specificities in vitro; yet they each specify distinct developmental fates in vivo. One current model suggests that, because the Q50 homeoproteins have distinct biological functions, they must each regulate different target genes. According to this ‘co-selective binding’ model, significant binding of Q50 homeoproteins to functional DNA elements in vivo would be dependent upon cooperative interactions with other transcription factors (cofactors). If the Q50 homeoproteins each interact differently with cofactors, they could be selectively targeted to unique, limited subsets of their in vitro recognition sites and thus control different genes. However, a variety of experiments question this model. Molecular and genetic experiments suggest that the Q50 homeoproteins do not regulate very distinct sets of genes. Instead, they mostly control the expression of a large number of shared targets. The distinct morphogenic properties of the various Q50 homeoproteins may principally result from the different manners in which they either activate or repress these common targets. Further, in vivo binding studies indicate that at least two Q50 homeoproteins have very broad and similar DNA-binding specificities in embryos, a result that is inconsistent with the ‘co-selective binding’ model. Based on these and other data, we suggest that Q50 homeoproteins bind many of their recognition sites without the aid of cofactors. In this ‘widespread binding’ model, cofactors act mainly by helping to distinguish the way in which homeoproteins regulate targets to which they are already bound.
The differentiation of the skin and its appendages. II. Altered development of papillary ridges following neuralectomy

In order to test the hypothesis that the nervous system is an important determinant of skin differentiation, deletions of the left lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), the sources of cutaneous afferents to the left hindpaw, were performed on opossum pups at day 1 when hindpaws have just begun to be innervated. At birth, each lumbosacral DRG measures about 200 μm rostrocaudally and a deletion measuring 1 mm would span 4–5 DRGs. Following survival periods of 5–24 days, serial sections through the trunk documented partial left lumbosacral DRG deletion and a variable degree of spinal cord destruction. The blood supply to the trunk and hindpaws was preserved. Bilateral enlargement of residual DRGs was observed and regenerating skin at the site of the deletion was hyperplastic and hyperinnervated. The skin of the plantar pads of the hindpaws was studied following the neuralectomies. Statistically significant differences were observed between the left (experimental) and right (control) hindpaws. The density of innervation of the left hindpaw was reduced compared to the right hindpaw, development of papillary ridges was retarded by 3–4 days, and non-innervated Merkel cells were hypogranulated. This period of delay in ridge development is probably a reflection of the expansion of residual DRGs into the peripheral domains of deleted DRGs. The present study confirms a role for afferent nerves in the timing of cutaneous differentiation and a mutual trophic dependence between cutaneous nerves and Merkel cells in the epidermis.
Not Every Family: Selective Reunification in Contemporary US Immigration Laws

This article questions the notion that family reunification is the cornerstone of US immigration policies and points to the violation of the right to family reunification in US law. It specifically looks at the forcible separation of legal residents from their families, including foreign domestic workers in the Labor Certification Program; US-born children with undocumented relatives, including parents and siblings; and guest workers. We argue that the growing influence of nationalist politics and big businesses trumps the interests of the family in US immigration policies, resulting in the prolonged and forcible separation of working-class and poor migrant families.
Three-dimensional laminar slip-flow and heat transfer in a rectangular microchannel with constant wall temperature

Abstract Three-dimensional laminar slip-flow and heat transfer in rectangular microchannels having constant temperature walls are studied numerically using the finite-volume method for thermally and simultaneously developing flows. The Navier–Stokes and energy equations are solved with velocity slip and temperature jump at the wall. A modified convection–diffusion coefficient at the wall–fluid interface is defined to incorporate the temperature-jump boundary condition. Validity of the numerical simulation procedure is established and the effect of rarefaction on hydrodynamicaly developing flow field, pressure gradient and entrance length is analyzed. A correlation for the fully developed friction factor is presented as a function of Knudsen number (Kn) and aspect ratio (α). The influence of rarefaction on the Nusselt (Nu) number is investigated for thermally and simultaneously developing flows. The effect of velocity slip is found to increase the Nu number, while the temperature-jump tends to decrease it, and the combined effect could result in an increase or a decrease in the Nu number. In the fully developed region, there could be high as 15% increase or low as 50% decrease in Nu number is plausible for the range of parameters considered in this work.
Induction of protein-protein interactions in live cells using light

Protein-protein interactions are essential for many cellular processes. We have developed a technology called light-activated dimerization (LAD) to artificially induce protein hetero- and homodimerization in live cells using light. Using the FKF1 and GIGANTEA (GI) proteins of Arabidopsis thaliana, we have generated protein tags whose interaction is controlled by blue light. We demonstrated the utility of this system with LAD constructs that can recruit the small G-protein Rac1 to the plasma membrane and induce the local formation of lamellipodia in response to focal illumination. We also generated a light-activated transcription factor by fusing domains of GI and FKF1 to the DNA binding domain of Gal4 and the transactivation domain of VP16, respectively, showing that this technology is easily adapted to other systems. These studies set the stage for the development of light-regulated signaling molecules for controlling receptor activation, synapse formation and other signaling events in organisms.
Force deficits after repeated stretches of activated skeletal muscles in female and male rats

Force deficits after stretches of activated plantar flexor muscles were measured in six male Sprague-Dawley rats (285 +/- 10 g, age 62 +/- 4 days, mean +/- SE) and compared with six age-matched (193 +/- 6 g, age 67 +/- 3 days) and six weight-matched female rats (273 +/- 7 g, age 141 +/- 9 days). Twenty stretches, imposed on isometric contractions at 90 degrees (0.2 ms pulse duration, 80 Hz, 5.4 +/- 0.3 V, duty cycle 0.006), were produced by ankle rotation from 90 to 40 degrees. Before the stretch protocol, weight-matched groups had similar isometric forces at an ankle position of 90 degrees at 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 Hz but forces were lower for age-matched females. For all groups, normalized force-frequency relationships were similar. During the stretch protocol, deficits for isometric force at 90 degrees and peak stretch force at 40 degrees with stretch number were similar for all groups. One hour after the stretches, isometric force deficits at 90 degrees at 40, 60 and 80 Hz were larger for females in weight-matched groups (e.g. 80 Hz, female: 47.8 +/- 1.7%; male: 41.1 +/- 1.7%; P < 0.05), perhaps because of a difference in age (P < 0.05). For age-matched groups, isometric force deficits at 90 degrees were similar at all frequencies. The susceptibility for force deficits by stretches of activated skeletal muscles was not gender-dependent for 2-month-old rats.
A New Species of Nama (Hydrophyllaceae) in Guatemala

The preparation of the taxonomic treatment of Nama L. (Hydrophyllaceae) for the Flora Mesoamericana resulted in the discovery of a new species from Guatemala. Nama segetale Ricketson is described and illustrated.
Perturbation training improves knee kinematics and reduces muscle co-contraction after complete unilateral anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

Background and Purpose. Dynamic knee stabilization strategies of people who successfully compensate for the absence of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) (“copers”) are different from those of people who do not compensate well for the injury (“noncopers”). Early after injury, certain patients (“potential copers”) can increase the likelihood of successfully compensating for the injury by participating in 10 sessions of perturbation training. The purpose of this study was to determine how perturbation training alters muscle co-contraction and knee kinematics in potential copers. Subjects. Seventeen individuals with acute, unilateral ACL rupture who were categorized as potential copers and 17 subjects without injuries who were matched by age, sex, and activity level were recruited for this study. Methods. Motion analysis and electromyographic data were collected as subjects walked across a stationary or moving platform (horizontal translation) before and after perturbation training. Results. Before training, potential copers had higher co-contraction indexes and lower peak knee flexion angles than subjects without injuries. After training, potential copers' movement patterns more closely resembled those of subjects without injuries (ie, they showed reduced co-contraction indexes and increased peak knee flexion angles during stance). Discussion and Conclusion. Perturbation training reduced quadriceps femoris-hamstring muscle and quadriceps femoris-gastrocnemius muscle co-contractions and normalized knee kinematics in individuals with ACL rupture who were classified as potential copers. Findings from this study provide evidence for a mechanism by which perturbation training acts as an effective intervention for promoting coordinated muscle activity in a select population of people with ACL rupture.
Conference report of INTED 2015, the International Technology and Education for Development Conference

Purpose – This article is a conference report dealing with instructional technology. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology adopted is an overview of a conference report. Findings – There is much to take away from INTED2015. Originality/value – This article is the only report of INTED2015.
Rejoinder---Can Behavioral WOM Measures Provide Insight into the Net Promoter© Concept of Customer Loyalty?

We examine the ability of the “Net Promoter” of Morgan and Rego (2006) measure constructed using behavioral word-of-mouth (WOM) data to provide insights into the Net Promoter© customer loyalty concept popularized by Reichheld (2003), which is indicated by a score constructed using attitudinal “intention-to-recommend” data. We show that despite differences in data and operationalization, the two measures are very closely correlated and behave remarkably similarly when examined relative to a third related variable, customer satisfaction.
Japan's ‘Research Whaling’ in the Antarctic Southern Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean in the Face of the Endangered Species Convention (CITES)

Over the past 20 years, Japanese whalers have taken more than 10,000 whales from the Antarctic Southern Ocean and the north Pacific Ocean for ‘scientific purposes’, under a controversial exemption clause in the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW). After analyzing the relationship of the ICRW regime with other applicable multilateral agreements, this article concludes that Japan's current pelagic ‘research whaling’ programmes are not only a growing embarrassment for the country's meritorious ongoing research in both polar regions; they are also in open breach of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In light of different options for international legal action, the author recommends the initiation of ‘compliance procedures’– potentially leading to a collective trade embargo – in accordance with CITES Conference Resolution 14.3 (2007).
Outage Capacity of the Fading Relay Channel in the Low-SNR Regime

In slow-fading scenarios, cooperation between nodes can increase the amount of diversity for communication. We study the performance limit in such scenarios by analyzing the outage capacity of slow fading relay channels. Our focus is on the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and low outage probability regime, where the adverse impact of fading is greatest but so are the potential gains from cooperation. We showed that while the standard Amplify-Forward protocol performs very poorly in this regime, a modified version we called the Bursty Amplify-Forward protocol is optimal and achieves the outage capacity of the network. Moreover, this performance can be achieved without a priori channel knowledge at the receivers. In contrast, the Decode-Forward protocol is strictly suboptimal in this regime. Our results directly yield the outage capacity per unit energy of fading relay channels
Free Health Care Policy in Nepal: Recent Trend and Challenges

The willingness to pay for services can not be equated with ability to pay for it. Despite of Alma-Ata declaration in 1978, developing countries have numerous challenges to meet the goal of health for all. In the quest for increasing access to health for all, Government of Nepal has recently introduced free health care policy. The efficacy of its implementation, operational challenges and issues related to the free health care, need to be reviewed. The unnecessary use of services, quality of care, risk of medicalization of public health services, mismanagement of drugs and health worker resistance towards the policy are some of its key challenges. To overcome these, community awareness and participation to monitor implementation of the policy is necessary and long term efficacy of this service has yet to be observed. Key words: community monitoring system; free health care policy; participation DOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v7i2.3024 Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol.7(2) Apr 2009 138-139
Damaging effects of deicing chemicals on concrete materials

Abstract The damaging impact of various deicing chemicals and exposure conditions on concrete materials was investigated. Five deicing chemicals (sodium chloride, calcium chloride with and without a corrosion inhibitor, potassium acetate, and an agricultural product) were studied. Freezing–thawing (F–T) and wetting–drying (W–D) exposure conditions were considered. Mass loss, scaling, compressive strength, chemical penetration, and micro-structure of the paste and concrete subjected to these deicing chemicals and exposure conditions were evaluated. Results indicated that the various deicing chemicals penetrated at different rates into a given paste and concrete, resulting in different degrees of damage. Among the deicing chemicals tested, two calcium chloride solutions caused the most damage. Addition of a corrosion inhibitor into the calcium chloride solution delayed the onset of damage, but it did not reduce the ultimate damage. Chloride-related deicing chemicals often brought about leaching of calcium hydroxide, as well as chemical alterations in concrete. Potassium acetate caused minor scaling, associated with alkali carbonation of the surface layer of concrete. Although producing a considerable number of micro-pores on the surface of the samples, the agricultural deicing product resulted in the least chemical penetration and scaling damage of paste and concrete.
Monogamy versus Consensual Non-Monogamy: Alternative Approaches to Pursuing a Strategically Pluralistic Mating Strategy.

This study examined the frequency of partner-directed mate retention behaviors and several self- and partner-rated romantic relationship evaluations (i.e., sociosexuality, relationship satisfaction, mate value, and partner ideal measures) within monogamous and consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships. Measures were compared (1) between monogamous and CNM participants and (2) between two concurrent partners within each CNM relationship (i.e., primary and secondary partners). We found that individuals in currently monogamous relationships (n = 123) performed more mate retention behaviors compared to those currently in CNM relationships (n = 76). Within CNM relationships, participants reported engaging in more mate retention behaviors with primary partners compared to secondary partners. Likewise, CNM participants reported talking about their extra-dyadic sexual experiences and downplaying these sexual experiences more often with their primary partner compared to their secondary partner. There were no significant differences between ratings of monogamous and primary partners in participants’ overall relationship satisfaction. However, monogamous participants reported less satisfaction with the amount of communication and openness they had with their partner compared to CNM participants’ reports of their primary partner, but not secondary partner. By comparison, CNM participants reported higher overall relationship satisfaction with primary compared to secondary partners and considered their primary partner to be more desirable as a long-term mate than their secondary partner. We interpret these results within the context of previous research on monogamous and CNM relationships and hypothesize that these relationship configurations are alternative strategies for pursuing a strategically pluralistic mating strategy.
Federalism and Judicial Independence: Supreme Court Review of State Statutes, 1987-2000

To analyze Supreme Court invalidation of state statutes, I incorporate the innovations that Anna Harvey and Barry Friedman developed in their groundbreaking work on the Court’s judicial review of federal statutes. I use their techniques to correct for selection bias and to accurately compare ideological preferences across institutions. Unlike the findings by Harvey and Friedman concerning judicial review of federal statutes, I do not find evidence supporting the constraint model in invalidations of state legislation. The analysis indicates that the Supreme Court employs a different calculus when it reviews the constitutionality of legislation passed in the states as opposed to that enacted by Congress.
Polymer Crystallization History and Resultant Properties

Abstract Mechanical properties of semicrystalline polymeric materials are strongly influenced by the morphology into which these materials crystallize. In addition the morphology can be altered by changes in crystallization temperature and regime, crystallization pressure, melt treatment conditions, shear history, and probably other processing conditions. The mechanical properties reflect the changes in morphology not only in the initial moduli values but also the overall stress-strain relationships, including the fracture mechanism. A strong influence is noted, at least in the polymers cited, even when slight changes occur in average spherulite size, spherulitic fine structure, and in the nature of interlamellar ties. Smaller, finer textured spherulites with higher interconnections arc apparently more susceptible to yielding by neck formation and elongation to high values than are the larger, coarser textured spherulites than tend to fail by random brittle failure mechanisms at low elongations. In additi...
Typical, atypical, and asymptomatic presentations of new-onset atrial fibrillation in the community: Characteristics and prognostic implications

Background The prognostic significance of the clinical presentation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is poorly defined. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency, associations, and prognostic impact of different clinical presentations of new-onset AF. Methods One thousand patients with incident AF in Olmsted County, Minnesota, were randomly selected (2000–2010). Patients with AF that was complicated at presentation (heart failure [n = 71], thromboembolism [n = 24]), provoked (n = 346), or unable to determine symptoms (n = 83) were excluded. In the remaining patients, characteristics and prognosis associated with different types of symptoms were examined. Results Among 476 patients, 193 had typical (palpitations), 122 had atypical (other non-palpitation symptoms), and 161 had asymptomatic AF presentation. Patients with typical presentation had lower CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores (mean 2.3 ± 2) compared to atypical and asymptomatic presentation (mean 3.2 ± 1.8 and 3.3 ± 1.9, respectively; P 2 DS 2 -VASc score and age (hazard ratio [HR] 3.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.65–7.48, and HR 2.70, 95% CI 1.29–5.66, respectively), and associations remained statistically significant after further adjustments including comorbidities and warfarin use. Asymptomatic AF was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (HR 3.12, 95% CI 1.50–6.45) and all-cause mortality (HR 2.96, 95% CI 1.89–4.64) compared to typical AF after adjustment for CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score and age. Conclusion The type of clinical presentation may have important implications for the prognosis of new-onset AF in the community.
Penicillin skin testing : A 20-year study at the west Los Angeles veterans affairs medical center

Penicillin (PCN) may cause a reaction in up to 10% of the population. No study has examined PCN skin testing longitudinally over a 20-year period. A total of 122 patients underwent PCN skin testing between September 1978 and May 1998. Patients were skin tested with the major determinant, penicilloyl polylysine, and three minor determinants, PCN, benzylpenilloate, and benzylpenicilloate. Ten of a total of 122 patients had positive skin test reactions. Nine reactions were to penicilloyl polylysine and one reaction was to the minor determinant benzylpenilloate. There was a total of four patients (3.6%) with false-negative results on skin testing. PCN skin testing with both the major and minor determinants should be performed when there is a history of PCN allergy, a serious illness, and no suitable alternatives. If either the major or minor determinants are positive without suitable alternative antibiotics, then the patient should undergo desensitization.