cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validation of Maternal Report of Receipt of Iron Folic-Acid Supplementation During Antenatal Care in Rural Southern Nepal.

Background Coverage of iron folic-acid (IFA) supplementation is a key indicator for tracking programmatic progress within and across countries. However, the validity of maternal report of this information during household surveys has yet to be determined. Objective This study aimed to examine the validity of maternal recall of receipt of IFA supplementation during antenatal care and factors associated with accuracy of maternal recall. Methods A longitudinal cohort design was employed. The direct observation of the IFA received during all antenatal care visits at the five study health posts served as the "gold standard" to the maternal report of IFA received during the postpartum interview. Individual-level validity was assessed by calculating indicator sensitivity, specificity and area under the operating curve (AUC). The inflation factor (IF) measured population-level bias. A multivariable log-binomial model was used to assess factors associated with accurate recall. Results The majority (95.8%) of women were observed receiving IFA during pregnancy. Women overreported the number IFA tablets received compared to what was observed during ANC visits (mean difference = 45 tablets). Maternal report of any IFA receipt was moderate (AUC = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.71) and population bias was low (IF = 1.01). However, the individual-level validity was poor across the seven IFA tablet count categories; the AUC for categories ranged from misleading to moderate. Driven by the trend of maternal overreport, the inflation factor indicated that maternal report drastically underestimated the coverage of lower tablet categories and overestimated the coverage of higher tablet counts. Accuracy of maternal report was not associated with months since last ANC observation nor any maternal characteristics. Conclusions Maternal report of the amount of IFA supplementation received during pregnancy produced extremely biased population coverage and performed poorly to moderately for individual level validity. It is imperative to improve this indicator, as it is used in global frameworks and national program planning.
The Whitewashing of Social Work History: How Dismantling Racism in Social Work Education Begins With an Equitable History of the Profession

Severe racial inequity has characterized the incorporation of ethnic minorities’ contributions to U.S. history and advancements (Sandoval et al., 2016). These disparities are inextricably connected to White Supremacist ideologies and practices, and are perpetuated in higher education through textbooks, pedagogy, and research. Social work, like many disciplines, teaches about its early roots with a whitewashed historical lens. Indeed, review of the social work literature reveals the scarcity of attributions to Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC). Without a more racially diverse perspective on social work’s history, social work scholars promote and sustain White Supremacy. The implications of this are crucial since social work education is predominantly populated by privileged White students who adopt this mentality, unaware of Black, Brown, Latino, Asian, Native or Other ethnic “Jane Addams” who have massively promoted the social welfare of communities for decades without historical recognition or the privileged positions of Addams and Richmond. Historical distortions also potentially discourage BIPOC social work students’ self-efficacy and future efforts to contribute and excel in the discipline. To properly address this issue, social work history must be refaced with a more equitable and just lens. This review seeks to address the gap in the literature pertaining to the need for a greater integration and infusion of racially diverse social work historical contributions in several ways. Recommendations will be made for future research in this area to dismantle racist perspectives in social work history, and strategies will be offered to help social work educators and researchers address this critical issue.
Cerebellar agenesis: An extreme form of cerebellar disruption in preterm neonates

Cerebellar agenesis (CA) may result from both a genetically mediated as well as a disruptive etiology. In preterm neonates, the cerebellum is highly susceptible to injury. Different neuroimaging findings have been reported in disrupted cerebellar development in preterm neonates. We report the association of CA and severe periventricular leukomalacia in a 7-year-old girl with spastic tetraparesis, profound cognitive impairment, epileptic seizures and posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus who was born at 25 wk of gestation. The neuroimaging studies performed during the first wk of life had shown a normal structure of the cerebellum and brainstem confirming a disruptive, rather than a malformative etiology. CA is the most severe form of cerebellar disruption in preterm neonates. Differentiation between malformative and disruptive etiologies of CA is important for prognosis and genetic counseling of the affected children and their families.
A Large Sample Comparison of Grade Based Student Learning Outcomes in Online vs. Face-to-Face Courses.

Comparisons of grade based learning outcomes between online and face-to-face course formats have become essential because the number of online courses, online programs and institutional student enrollments have seen rapid growth in recent years. Overall, online education is largely viewed by education professionals as being equivalent to instruction conducted face-to-face. However, the research investigating student performance in online versus face-to-face courses has been mixed and is often hampered by small samples or a lack of demographic and academic controls. This study utilizes a dataset that includes over 5,000 courses taught by over 100 faculty members over a period of ten academic terms at a large, public, four-year university. The unique scale of the dataset facilitates macro level understanding of course formats at an institutional level. Multiple regression was used to account for student demographic and academic corollaries—factors known to bias course format selection and grade based outcomes—to generate a robust test for differences in grade based learning outcomes that could be attributed to course format. The final model identified a statistical difference between course formats that translated into a negligible difference of less than 0.07 GPA points on a 4 point scale. The primary influence on individual course grades was student GPA. Interestingly, a model based interaction between course type and student GPA indicated a cumulative effect whereby students with higher GPAs will perform even better in online courses (or alternatively, struggling students perform worse when taking courses in an online format compared to a face-to-face format). These results indicate that, given the large scale university level, multi course, and student framework of the current study, there is little to no difference in grade based student performance between instructional modes for courses where both modes are applicable.
The Room Temperature Moisture Kinetics of Kevlar 49 Fabric/Epoxy Laminates,

Hydrothermal effects can significantly influence the failure behavior of high performance epoxy-based composites. As such, it is necessary to determine, for one, the moisture diffusion rates in the composite's principal axes so that moisture densities and distributions can be estimated for life-cycle exposures. In this study, moisture diffusion coefficients are determined for quasi-isotropic Kevlar 49 181-style fabric reinforced Narmco 5208 epoxy laminates, and for the epoxy and fabric components individually. A microbalance technique is employed to continuously monitor the percentage weight gain of specimens exposed to 76 percent relative humidity at room temperature. The anisotropy of moisture diffusivity in the composite laminates is determined by use of a slope ratio (absorption vs time) technique and specimens of appropriate geometry. Results show that moisture diffuses in the laminate plane (6.1 x 10/sup -8/ cm/sup 2//sec) two orders of magnitude faster than through the thickness (1.7 x 10/sup -10/ cm/sup 2//sec). These values compare to a resin diffusivity of 6.5 x 10/sup -10/ cm/sup 2//sec. It is speculated that the rapid inplane diffusion is due to the preferential diffusion of moisture in the filament along its length.
Vitamin B6 in blood, urine, and liver of monkeys.

Blood and urinary vitamin Be and urinary 4-pyridoxic acid values are reported for 3 rhesus monkeys before and after a 5-day period of pyridoxol-HCl sup plementation. Blood and liver vitamin Be values are given for a group of free-ranging howler monkeys. Microbiological procedures employing Saccharomyces carlsbergensis ATCC 9080, Streptococcus faecium 0 51 NCDO 1229 and Lactobacillus casei ATCC 7469 were used for the vitamin B8 analyses and a microprocedure of the lactone method was used for 4-pyridoxic acid determinations. Large increments of vitamin Be in blood and urine and increased excretion of 4-pyridoxic acid were observed in the rhesus monkeys following supplementation. Of significance was the prolonged elevation of values several days after supplementation had ceased. Blood values for the howler monkeys were higher than those for the rhesus. Differential assay of liver hydrolysates from howler monkeys revealed that most of the vitamin was present in the pyridoxamine form. A lesser amount was in the pyridoxal form and the amount of pyridoxol was negligible.
Pump-wavelength detuning method for forward-pumped distributed Raman amplification systems

We propose a novel pump-wavelength detuning method for forward-pumped DRA systems that can suppress the excess noise caused by ND-FWM and the RIN transfer between the pump and signal lights in a WDM transmission system.
Collaborating on mobile app design through pair programming: A practice-oriented approach overview and expert review

In many of today's small companies and startups, developers may not give enough attention to the importance of UX/UI design for the product under development. Moreover, such small teams may lack the required organization skills that help them to collaborate and work together. As a result, such teams usually face problems with delivering the “right” product, as well as not being able to follow a sustainable development process. In a similar context, CS students in programming classes are facing almost the same problems of small teams in industry. To tackle these problems, various approaches for integrating agile development methods and UX design methods have been proposed to help developers carefully consider the UX requirements, and to be able to organize their work environment. In this paper, we explore how such integration can be a good fit for both CS students and software developers, especially for those who work on mobile development. We present our proposed set of integration guidelines, and then we focus on Pair Programming (PP) as an agile practice that promotes a collaborative work environment. The expert reviews conducted in this paper helped us exlore how PP can be introduced to CS students (and later, to developers in the market) to support collaborative work environments. Moreover, Using PP in class provides an adaptive and collaborative teaching approach that can be used in CS programming labs. We also discuss the pitfalls that can affect developers during PP sessions, and how to avoid such negative effects. We conclude by providing a set of recommended practices that can be applied to introduce PP for developers in both academic and industrial contexts.
New measurements of turbulent shear stresses in hypersonic boundary layers

Measurements in the turbulent hypersonic boundary layer over a slender sharp cone at Me = 7.1 have been made with X-array hot wires for both cold (7H,77^= 0.41) and adiabatic (Tw/T0e =0.8) wall conditions. In both cases, 1 he hot-wire signals have been resolved to provide the entropy and vorticity fluctuation intensities and the double correlation terms appearing in the compressible shear stress expression. The results, which are consistent with previous findings at Mach 9.4, indicate a significant reduction in the "Reynolds stress" component p u'v' with increasing Me and show further that the effects of Mach number dominate those of heat transfer.
Accurate bit error rates from multicanonical monte carlo simulations

We apply the multicanonical Monte Carlo method to compute bit error rates and eye diagrams in a chirped return-to-zero (CRZ) system. Our results agree with the covariance matrix method over 20 orders of magnitude.
Different patterns of rDNA organization at interphase in nuclei of wheat and rye

The physical location of the rDNA repeating units (25 S, 18 S and 5.8 S rRNA genes and the intergenic spacer sequences) was investigated in rye (Secale cereale L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) root tip meristematic cells by in situ hybridization using light and electron microscopy. The rDNA sequences are organized differently in the two related and intercrossable species. In rye (2n = 14, one pair of chromosomes with nucleolar organizing regions, NORs), two condensed blocks of rDNA-containing chromatin occurred in each interphase nucleus. The blocks were associated with the periphery of nucleoli and a single-labelled, decondensed rDNA fibre extended into the nucleolus from the block. We term this expression pattern terminal decondensation. In wheat (2n = 6x = 42, five pairs of chromosomes with NORs), inactive condensed labelled chromatin was found unassociated with nucleoli. Active NORs had some condensed rDNA associated with the nucleolar periphery, but, in contrast to rye, condensed rDNA was also found within the nucleolus. The condensed labelled rDNA in wheat nucleoli was visible as fluorescent foci in the light microscope and labelled condensed chromatin in the electron microscope. Its absence in rye shows that condensed rDNA need not be present in active plant nucleoli. Diffuse labelled sites of rDNA, likely to represent actively transcribed rDNA, were found in both rye and wheat. Active rDNA loci in wheat have many expressed segments separated by unexpressed, condensed, rDNA-fragmented decondensation-while each locus in rye has a single, unexpressed perinucleolar condensed block of rRNA genes. Thus the positions of actively transcribed genes within the tandem arrays of rDNA at each locus are fundamentally different in the two cereals. The NOR chromosome appeared to extend through the nucleolus, and active rDNA sequences did not loop out from chromatin into the nucleolus as is frequently described in nucleolar models.
Dural cavernous angioma: MR features

The imaging features of a cavernous angioma, which originated from the meninges, are presented. The patient harbored a second cavernous angioma within the brain parenchyma. Cavernous angioma should be included in the differential diagnosis of dural lesions, especially when other cavernous angiomas are present.
Global regime and national change

This article sheds light on the design of the global climate change regime by drawing lessons from the literature produced by international cooperation, international institutions and other interna...
Review: Putative mutagens and carcinogens in foods. IV. Malonaldehyde (malondialdehyde)

Malonaldehyde or malondialdehyde (MA) is an ubiquitous dietary constituent formed by the peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids and of the food additive, sorbate. The average US citizen consumes between 0.2 and 0.6 microgram of MA each day from fresh and processed meats alone. This figure might have been considerably higher in past decades when meat was packaged and stored under less optimal circumstances. No studies seem to have been performed to determine if free MA is released under physiological conditions, such as in simulated gastric juice. Although pure enzymologically synthesized MA is a weak mutagen for a new Salmonella frameshift tester strain containing a polyadenine sequence, reports of more pronounced mutagenicity and carcinogenicity are very likely erroneous. The impure chemically synthesized MA samples used in the strongly positive tests for genotoxic activity were contaminated with mutagenic methoxy- and ethoxyacroleins that would not be expected to constitute important components of foodstuffs. Thus, the greatest importance of MA and other carbonyls in foodstuffs may be their ability to catalyze nitrosation reactions in the presence of free nitrite and as indicators of the presence of other lipid oxidation products.
Lipids in fed and starved Biomphalaria glabrata (gastropoda)

Abstract 1. 1. Gravimetric, thin-layer Chromatographic, and histochemical studies were done on lipids in fed and starved Biomphalaria glabrata. 2. 2. Total lipids of fed snails averaged 4.0 mg/snail compared to 3.5 mg in snails starved for 2–3 weeks. The percentage of total lipid basd on snail wet weight averaged 5.0% in fed snails and 15% in starved snails. 3. 3. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) showed that the main neutral lipid fractions in both fed and starved snails were free sterols and triacylglycerols, along with lesser amounts of sterol esters, free fatty acids and methyl esters. 4. 4. TLC showed a reduction in the free fatty acid and triacylglycerol fractions of starved snails. 5. 5. Oil Red O staining showed the presence of neutral lipids in the liver of fed snails; starved snails were Oil Red O negative.
Acute pulmonary edema after cardioversion of cardiac arrhythmias

Abstract Objective: To examine the occurrence of acute pulmonary edema after cardioversion of arrhythmias. Methods: Cases, case series, and related articles on the subject identified through a comprehensive literature search were examined. Results: Thirty cases (23 males) of post cardioversion acute pulmonary edema were identified. The mean age was 53.8±13 years (range, 18 to 75 years). Underlying arrhythmias were atrial fibrillation (69%), atrial flutter (24%), supraventricular tachycardia (4%), and ventricular tachycardia (4%). The duration of arrhythmia preceding cardioversion varied widely ranging from 1 day to 13 years. Twenty-six (87%) patients had concomitant cardiovascular disease comprising of coronary artery disease (38%), rheumatic heart disease (23%), cardiomyopathy (23%), and hypertension (8%). Direct current electrical cardioversion was used in 28 (93%) patients and pacing in two (7%) patients. Occurrence of pulmonary edema was independent of the amount of energy used for cardioversion (range 20 to 1280 Joules, mean 263±27 Joules). Short acting general anesthetic drugs were administered in 14 (47%) and sedation in eight (27%) patients. Sinus rhythm was established in 23 (77%) patients. Duration to develop pulmonary edema after cardioversion was available in 23 patients and ranged from immediately to 96 h. Pulmonary edema occurred within 15 min after cardioversion in 22%, within 3 h in 30%, within 24 h in 30%, within 48 h in 17% and within 96 h in remaining 4% of patients. Three patients required mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: The rare complication of acute pulmonary edema after cardioversion has been reported mostly in patients with underlying cardiac disease, and is independent of the amount of energy used for cardioversion.
Studies of the Desorption of Oxygen from Cu-Zeolites During NO Decomposition

The problem of the desorption of oxygen from transition metal ion base-exchanged zeolites during NO decomposition is considered. The TPD patterns of fully oxidized CuZSM-5-14-114 and CuY-2.5-75 were determined. Both contained nearly identical peaks from O[sub 2] that desorbed at T 773 K, but the former zeolite also had two peaks that appeared in the range 572 K < T < 723 K which have been associated with that formed during the NO decomposition reaction. The TPD data could be related to binding energies obtained from van't Hoff plots of dissociation pressures from preparations preevacuated at several different temperatures. The low-temperature form is probably a molecular chemisorption, while those with substantial binding energies desorbing at higher temperatures are atomically bound extralattice oxygens. The exchange of [sup 18]O[sub 2] with the [sup 16]O of the catalyst was studied, as well as the products formed from the decomposition of [sup 15]N[sup 18]O into the elements. The results from these experiments defined an important role for the lattice oxygen in the atom recombination and desorption of O[sub 2] from the catalyst. 18 refs., 5 figs., 2 tabs.
Stance in spoken and written university registers

Abstract Numerous studies have investigated the linguistic expression of stance and evaluation in university registers, focusing especially on academic research writing and to a lesser extent classroom teaching. The present study extends previous research in two ways: (1) it compares and contrasts the use of a wide range of lexico-grammatical features used for the expression of stance (rather than focusing on a particular feature), and (2) it describes major patterns of register variation within the university, comparing the marking of stance in academic versus ‘student management’ registers, within both speech and writing. The study shows that the expression of stance is important in all university registers. However, at the same time, the study shows that there are important register differences in the particular kinds of stance meanings that are expressed, the grammatical devices used to express stance, and in the overall extent to which stance is expressed at all.
Catalytic oxidation of 4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde by gold nanoparticles. Part I. Reaction characterization

Abstract Absorption spectra collected for samples in aerobic and anaerobic conditions show that gold nanoparticles in an aqueous medium in the presence of dissolved oxygen catalyze the oxidation of 4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde to 4-(dimethylamino)benzoic acid in the pH range 2.6–11.7. GC and GC–MS results show that at acidic pH the only additional product is 4-(methylamino)benzoic acid whereas at basic pH a variety of by-products are formed. The 15 nm diameter gold particles employed are much larger than the gold particle diameters typically used for CO oxidation. An indirect mechanism in which chemisorbed atomic oxygen serves as the oxidizing agent is proposed.
The Cheat-O-Meter: Talking About What it Means to “Be Faithful”

ABSTRACT Many HIV/AIDS prevention programs advocate that audiences “be faithful” to their partners to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, yet beliefs about what exactly constitutes faithfulness and ‘cheating’ are rarely explicitly discussed in relationships. The Cheat-O-Meter is an activity that encourages participants to explore and discuss their own beliefs and values surrounding sexual fidelity.
Torsional surface waves in inhomogeneous elastic media

The dispersion of torsional surface waves in two types of inhomogeneous elastic media is discussed (1) in a half-space with shear modulus varying linearly with depth and with constant density (Gibson'S half-space) and (2) in a half-space with shear modulus varying with the square-root of the depth co-ordinate and with constant density. Inhomogeneous media with constant shear wave velocity are also reviewed and the obtained solutions are discussed in relation to appropriate boundary conditions.
NLOS UV Communications Using M-ary Spectral-Amplitude-Coding

We present an M-ary spectral amplitude code (SAC) modulation technique to improve the performance of free-space optical (FSO) communication systems. Although this approach can be used in any dispersive FSO system, in this paper we focus on non-line of sight (NLOS) ultraviolet (UV) systems relying on atmospheric scattering. Spectral amplitude encoding is applied on a broadband UV source using the same code families for the M-ary alphabet as used previously in SAC optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) systems. A differential structure using two photomultiplier tubes is utilized in conjunction with various demodulation algorithms to decode the received signal. Intersymbol interference (ISI), received beam divergence and shot noise are considered as the main factors limiting the system performance. An upper bound on the bit error probability is presented and compared with simulation results for various geometries and for different code parameters. The maximum bit rate for a fixed bit error probability is calculated in terms of the link length, and results for different alphabet sizes are shown. By sacrificing spectral efficiency without becoming more susceptible to ISI, the proposed system can support higher rates and longer distances for the same performance compared with on-off keying systems.
Estimating survival rates with time series of standing age‐structure data

It has long been recognized that age-structure data contain useful information for assessing the status and dynamics of wildlife populations. For example, age-specific survival rates can be estimated with just a single sample from the age distribution of a stable, stationary population. For a population that is not stable, age-specific survival rates can be estimated using techniques such as inverse methods that combine time series of age-structure data with other demographic data. However, estimation of survival rates using these methods typically requires numerical optimization, a relatively long time series of data, and smoothing or other constraints to provide useful estimates. We developed general models for possibly unstable populations that combine time series of age-structure data with other demographic data to provide explicit maximum likelihood estimators of age-specific survival rates with as few as two years of data. As an example, we applied these methods to estimate survival rates for female bison (Bison bison) in Yellowstone National Park, USA. This approach provides a simple tool for monitoring survival rates based on age-structure data.
Self-Regulated Strategy Development for Students with Learning Disabilities

Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) is a well-established, thoroughly validated instructional model In this article, we discuss the rationale and steps for implementing it. We also provide practical information for use in teaching and evaluating strategy instruction. This article is intended to guide teacher educators as they help fiture teachers develop a practical working knowledge of how to effectively implement strategy instruction in the classroom.
Discordance between patient report and chart review of risk factors for antimicrobial resistance in ED patients

Objectives The objective of this study is to identify the level of agreement between patient self-report and chart review for presence of antimicrobial resistance (AR) risk factors in emergency department (ED) patients.
Crop volume, nectar concentration and hummingbird energetics.

Abstract 1. 1. X-ray measurements of hummingbirds indicated that initially food passed only to the crop. 2. 2. Food intake experiments with nine tropical species of hummingbirds (2·7–10·1 g) indicated that crop volume is a linear function of body weight. 3. 3. Nectar concentrations of flowers visited by hummingbirds in the lowlands were equivalent to 0·61–1·23 M sucrose, while nectar from highland flowers was equivalent to 0·29–0·68 M sucrose. 4. 4. At a given ambient temperature, small hummingbirds have less storage capacity in their crops relative to their metabolic rates per g than larger hummingbirds. 5. 5. A major factor for the energetics of hummingbirds is the lower nectar concentration from flowers in the highlands where the hummingbirds are exposed to lower ambient temperatures.
Spatial Statistical Analysis of Large Astronomical Datasets

The future of astronomy will be dominated with large and complex data bases. Megapixel CMB maps, joint analyses of surveys across several wavelengths, as envisioned in the planned National Virtual Observatory (NVO), TByte/day data rate of future surveys (Pan-STARRS) put stringent constraints on future data analysis methods: they have to achieve at least N log N scaling to be viable in the long term. This warrants special attention to computational requirements, which were ignored during the initial development of current analysis tools in favor of statistical optimality. Even an optimal measurement, however, has residual errors due to statistical sample variance. Hence a suboptimal technique with significantly smaller measurement errors than the unavoidable sample variance produces results which are nearly identical to that of a statistically optimal technique. For instance, for analyzing CMB maps, I present a suboptimal alternative, indistinguishable from the standard optimal method with N 3 scaling, that can be rendered N log N with a hierarchical representation of the data; a speed up of a trillion times compared to other methods. In this spirit I will present a set of novel algorithms and methods for spatial statistical analyses of future large astronomical data bases, such as galaxy catalogs, megapixel CMB maps, or any point source catalog.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Automatic partitioning of unstructured meshes for the parallel solution of problems in computational mechanics

Most of the recently proposed computational methods for solving partial differential equations on multiprocessor architectures stem from the 'divide and conquer' paradigm and involve some form of domain decomposition. For those methods which also require grids of points or patches of elements, it is often necessary to explicitly partition the underlying mesh, especially when working with local memory parallel processors. In this paper, a family of cost-effective algorithms for the automatic partitioning of arbitrary two- and three-dimensional finite element and finite difference meshes is presented and discussed in view of a domain decomposed solution procedure and parallel processing. The influence of the algorithmic aspects of a solution method (implicit/explicit computations), and the architectural specifics of a multiprocessor (SIMD/MIMD, startup/transmission time), on the design of a mesh partitioning algorithm are discussed. The impact of the partitioning strategy on load balancing, operation count, operator conditioning, rate of convergence and processor mapping is also addressed. Finally, the proposed mesh decomposition algorithms are demonstrated with realistic examples of finite element, finite volume, and finite difference meshes associated with the parallel solution of solid and fluid mechanics problems on the iPSC/2 and iPSC/860 multiprocessors.
Utilitarian and hedonic shopping value in the US discount sector

Abstract General merchandise discount retailers in the US have evolved to offer higher levels of hedonic shopping value, thereby intensifying levels of intra- and inter-type competition within the industry. Academic research on consumer reactions to these efforts is limited. This study investigates consumers’ perceptions of utilitarian and hedonic shopping value associated with the two leading US general merchandise discounters. Findings suggest differences in perceptions of the level of hedonic benefits offered by the discounters and provide useful insight for the further development of marketing strategies.
Effect of fatiguing resistive loads on the level and pattern of respiratory activity in awake goats

The effect of respiratory muscle fatigue on inspiratory muscle electrical activity (EMG), transdiaphragmatic pressure and ventilation during spontaneous breathing was examined in three awake goats. Studies were performed during progressive hypercapnia before and immediately after inspiratory muscle fatigue induced by flow resistive loading (IRL). IRL caused a decrease in the high-low ratio of the diaphragm and intercostal EMG and a decrease in Pdi during electrophrenic stimulation. After IRL, inspiratory time, the breathing duty cycle (inspiratory time/total breath cycle time), peak integrated activity of the diaphragm and external intercostal EMG per breath and per minute were all decreased at any given level of PCO2. Changes in the timing of respiratory motor activity and reduced muscle performance after IRL resulted in a decrease in transdiaphragmatic pressure and ventilation during hypercapnia. In conscious goats studied during spontaneous, chemically stimulated breathing, inspiratory muscle fatigue is associated with reductions in diaphragm and external intercostal muscle electrical activity and reductions in transdiaphragmatic pressure and ventilation.
Stabilization of aqueous nanoscale zerovalent iron dispersions by anionic polyelectrolytes: adsorbed anionic polyelectrolyte layer properties and their effect on aggregation and sedimentation

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) particles are 5–40 nm sized Fe0/Fe-oxide particles that rapidly transform many environmental contaminants to benign products and are a promising in situ remediation agent. Rapid aggregation and limited mobility in water-saturated porous media limits the ability to deliver NZVI dispersions in the subsurface. This study prepares stable NZVI dispersions through physisorption of commercially available anionic polyelectrolytes, characterizes the adsorbed polymer layer, and correlates the polymer coating properties with the ability to prevent rapid aggregation and sedimentation of NZVI dispersions. Poly(styrene sulfonate) with molecular weights of 70 k and 1,000 k g/mol (PSS70K and PSS1M), carboxymethyl cellulose with molecular weights of 90 k and 700 k g/mol (CMC90K and CMC700K), and polyaspartate with molecular weights of 2.5 k and 10 k g/mol (PAP2.5K and 10K) were compared. Particle size distributions were determined by dynamic light scattering during aggregation. The order of effectiveness to prevent rapid aggregation and stabilize the dispersions was PSS70K(83%) > ≈PAP10K(82%) > PAP2.5K(72%) > CMC700K(52%), where stability is defined operationally as the volume percent of particles that do not aggregate after 1 h. CMC90K and PSS1M could not stabilize RNIP relative to bare RNIP. A similar trend was observed for their ability to prevent sedimentation, with 40, 34, 32, 20, and 5 wt%, of the PSS70K, PAP10K, PAP2.5K, CMC700K, and CMC90K modified NZVI remaining suspended after 7 h of quiescent settling, respectively. The stable fractions with respect to both aggregation and sedimentation correlate well with the adsorbed polyelectrolyte mass and thickness of the adsorbed polyelectrolyte layers as determined by Oshima’s soft particle theory. A fraction of the particles cannot be stabilized by any modifier and rapidly agglomerates to micron sized aggregates, as is also observed for unmodified NZVI. This non-dispersible fraction is attributed to strong magnetic attractions among the larger particles present in the polydisperse NZVI slurry, as the magnetic attractive forces increase as r6.
Facile synthesis of [16,16,17-2H3]-testosterone, -epitestosterone and their glucuronides and sulfates

The analysis of trace components in complex biological matrices requires the use of reliable internal standards. For the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) analyses, the stable isotope-labelled analogues of the analyte molecules are the most appropriate internal standards. In this work high-yield synthetic procedures for stably labelled and isotopically pure [16,16,17-2H3]-testosterone and- epitestosterone are reported. Synthetic methodologies for the glucuronidation and sulfation were established with the commercially available epitestosterone. Structure characterization of 4-androsten-17 alpha-ol-3-one methyl-2',3',4'-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucuronate was made by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (COSY). Subsequently glucuronidation of [16,16,17-2H3]-testosterone and sulfation of [16,16,17-2H3]-epitestosterone were carried out at greater than 60% yield. However, the yield from the glucuronidation of epitestosterone was not as high. Electrospray mass spectrometry of four conjugates: testosterone sulfate, epitestosterone sulfate, testosterone glucuronide and epitestosterone glucuronide was carried out in the positive ion mode at a number of orifice voltages (50-95 V). Studies of the collisionally induced dissociation at both the interface and in the collision cell (MSMS) confirmed that the glycosidic bond of epitestosterone glucuronide was more labile than that of testosterone glucuronide. Use of the deuterated internal standards is reported to demonstrate the direct analysis of the steroid conjugates by HPLC/MS.
Representations of solutions to integral equations with difference kernels on the unit disk

Abstract We study integral equations with kernels that depend on the distance between two points. The domain of integration is the unit disk. We show how to construct the general solution to this integral equation from two specific solutions. As examples of our results, we give the solutions to the integral equations which correspond to solutions of the three-dimensional Dirichlet and Neumann problems of finding functions which are harmonic in the exterior of the unit disk.
Reading the Prophets as Meaning-making Literature for Communities under Siege

The "literarization" of prophecy, that is, the shift from oral prophecy to writing, involves massive shifts in meaning and social worlds. The oral performance of the prophetic word departs from a safe homeland for a tapestry of textual constructions in dangerous diaspora. Along the way it traffics in symbolic transformations for communities under siege. More specifically, written prophecy attends to survivors of war and as such functions as a resilient counter script, a meaning-making map of hope, for disoriented and dislocated people. As a sidebar, this essay considers the implications of this reading for contemporary Christian communions aligned with the state. Such an alignment creates a hermeneutical divide that may make the prophetic literature indecipherable.
A defense of ethical relativism as rhetorically grounded

The paper reviews the philosophical stance of ethical relativism and some problems that arise from it. Relativism is sometimes accused of being caught between moral impotence and self‐contradiction. The paper argues that grounding relative ethical values in rhetorical communication rather than in cultures allows relativists to judge other cultures without inconsistency.
Effects of ovariectomy, social instability and social status on female Macaca fascicularis social behavior

The effects of ovariectomy, social instability and social status on affiliative and agonistic behavior were studied in 44 females housed in 10 unimale groups. Five of the groups contained ovariectomized females and five groups contained intact females. The membership among three groups of intact females (n = 13) and three groups of ovariectomized females (n = 13) was reorganized every three months (unstable), and the other groups were left undisturbed (stable) for the 22 month study. The behavior of each female was recorded during 160 (stable) or 190 (unstable) 15 min focal observations of each subject. The social status of each female was determined by outcomes of agonistic interactions. It was hypothesized that the effects of social instability and status would be more pervasive than the effects of ovariectomy. It was found that ovariectomy reduced interfemale affiliation and increased male-female agonism. Social instability increased submissions to males and females and time spent alone, and decreased interfemale affiliation. Dominant animals were more aggressive and less submissive than subordinates. Thus, ovariectomy influenced both isosexual and heterosexual social interaction, implying mediation of these behaviors, at least in part, by ovarian hormones.
Asymmetric Synthesis of Silylated α-Amino Acid Esters through Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

Esters of three types of silylated α-amino acids have been prepared from appropriate zirconaaziridines. Slow addition (syringe pump) of the (R,R) carbonate of trans-stilbene gave metallacycles with the maximum possible diastereomeric excess (as determined by the diastereomeric excess produced by the Hoffmann testthe same reaction but with racemic carbonate). Methanolysis gave esters (RO2C)CH(R‘)(NHPh) (R‘ = Me3Si, Me3SiCH2, and p-Me3SiC6H4) with the same optical purity at the α carbon.
Deafferentation of the vestibular organ: Effects on atropine-resistant EEG in rats

Cortical and hippocampal EEG patterns that persist after atropine sulfate administration are defined as atropine-resistant. In the rat, such patterns are movement-related, cortical low-voltage fast activity (LVFA) and movement-related, hippocampal rhythmic slow activity (RSA or “theta”). A close relationship exists between head movement and activation of atropine-resistant EEG. In the present study, we asked whether manipulation of vestibular sensory input would affect atropine-resistant EEG. To allow experimenter control, 6 vestibular-intact rats were made cataleptic with haloperidol and were then injected with atropine sulfate. Movement of the rats* heads by the experimenter (passive head movement) failed to activate atropine-resistant EEG. These animals were then rotated on a turntable. Such vestibular stimulation, the effectiveness of which was reflected by postrotatory ocular nystagmus, &lso failed to activate atropine-resistant EEG. These and 5 other rats were then subjected to surgical or chemical deafferentation of the labyrinth. They were tested for EEG atropine resistance before and after this surgery. Although atropine-resistant EEG patterns in response to active bodily movements still appeared after vestibular deafferentation, the frequency of hippocampal RSA during active movement was reduced with or without atropine. In contrast, &n atropine-sensitive component in the hippocampal EEG during immobility was not changed by vestibular deafferentation. We conclude that vestibular reafferent feedback is neither necessary nor sufficient for the atropine-resistant EEG, but that such feedback from active movement has a modulatory effect on hippocampal RSA.
STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENESIS OF FEVER : XII. ELECTROLYTIC FACTORS INFLUENCING THE RELEASE OF ENDOGENOUS PYROGEN FROM POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUCOCYTES

The metabolic reactions responsible for the release of endogenous pyrogen from rabbit granulocytes incubated in 0.15 M NaCl are specifically inhibited by the presence of K(+) (and by related alkali metal ions, Rb(+) and Cs(+)) in the medium. The inhibitory action of K(+) apparently involves penetration of the cell membrane and is directly antagonized by the cardiac glycoside, ouabain. It is concluded, therefore, that the inhibition of pyrogen release by extracellular K(+) is due to transport of K(+) into the cell. Although the precise molecular mechanisms which are responsible for the release of pyrogen from granulocytes incubated in K-free saline have not been elucidated, further study of the process has revealed: (a) that it is preceded by the accumulation of pyrogen within the cell, (b) that it depends upon the catalytic action of one or more sulfhydryl-containing enzymes, (c) that it does not require energy, either from glycolysis or from reactions depending on molecular oxygen, and (d) that its inhibition by K(+) and by arsenite is qualitatively similar to the depression caused by these same reagents on the release of other leucocytic proteins; i.e., lysozyme and aldolase.
Homocysteine levels and decline in physical function: MacArthur studies of successful aging

Abstract Purpose To test whether elevated homocysteine levels are associated with an increased risk of decline in physical function in older persons. Methods We performed a prospective cohort study of 499 highly functioning men and women aged 70 to 79 years who were enrolled in the MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging. We measured total homocysteine levels and performance-based physical function at baseline; physical function measures were repeated an average of 28 months later. A summary measure of physical performance from tests of balance, gait, lower body strength and coordination, and manual dexterity was developed, and a change score was calculated as the difference in scores from 1988 to 1991. Results The mean (±SD) homocysteine level was 11.6 ± 4.3 μmol/L. With each SD increase in homocysteine, there was an increased risk of being in the worst quartile of decline in physical function (odds ratio=1.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.2 to 1.9) in analyses that adjusted for age, sex, baseline physical performance, smoking status, vitamin B 12 levels, and incident stroke. Similar results were seen when change in physical performance was treated as a continuous variable. Conclusion Older persons with elevated plasma homocysteine levels are at an increased risk of decline in physical function.
Adventitious bud formation in culture of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (MIRB.) Franco)

Abstract Douglas fir cultures derived from excised embryos were established on a defined medium supplemented with 5 μM each of auxins — indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) — and cytokinins — 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP) and 6-(3-methyl-2-butenylamino)purine (2iP). Organogenesis in vitro was achieved by subjecting a culture to an elevated concentration of exogenous cytokinin (0.5–1.0 mM), prior to its transferral to a cytokinin-less medium. The growth of adventitious bud was stimulated by a low salt medium without addition of growth regulators. Cotyledon explants obtained from 1–3-week-old seedlings were also capable of producing adventitious buds when similar procedure was applied. Moreover, tissue subcultured 3–4 times at about 3-week intervals still retained its totipotency for bud formation.
Non-classical hair on black holes

Black holes can have non-classical hair, i.e. they can be characterized by observable quantum numbers associated with discrete charges which are not coupled to long range propagating gauge fields. This blurs the apparent distinction between small black holes and elementary particles, as well has having important implications for wormhole physics.
A layout planning systems with multiple criteria and a variable domain representation

This paper describes a new system capable of solving detailed facility layout problems. The system allows the consideration of multiple objectives on the layout solution. Criteria related to weighted distance between interacting layout elements, the structure of the final layout design, the use of circulation space in the layout and the satisfaction of special adjacency requirements, are included in the formulation. The paper includes a comparison of this new procedure to existing procedures using problems selected from the literature.
Superacidic activation of 1- and 3-isoquinolinols and their electrophilic reactions.

Isomeric 1- and 3-isoquinolinols (11 and 12) when activated in CF3SO3H−SbF5 acid system undergo selective ionic hydrogenation with cyclohexane to give 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1(2H)- and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3(2H)-isoquinolinones (22 and 27). Under the influence of aluminum chloride similar products were also obtained along with 3,4-dihydro-1(2H)- and 1,4-dihydro-3(2H)-isoquinolinones (23 and 28), respectively. Compounds 11 and 12 also condense with benzene in the presence of aluminum halides, under mild conditions, to give 3,4-dihydro-3-phenyl-1(2H)- and 1,4-dihydro-1-phenyl-3(2H)-isoquinolinones (24 and 29), respectively. Prolonged reaction time or catalysis under strongly acidic HBr−AlBr3 provides an alternative reaction pathway to yield 5,6-dihydro-6,8-diphenyl-1(2H)- and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6,8-diphenyl-3(2H)-isoquinolinones (25 and 30), respectively. Products 24 and 29 were also found to revert back to 11 and 12 in the presence of aluminum halides in o-dichlorobenzene. The mechanism of these intriguing react...