cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Be careful what you wish for…”: A quantitative and qualitative investigation of “fata1 attractions”

This study uses questionnaire data from 301 terminated romantic relationships to investigate hypotheses concerning the conditions under which a quality that is initially appealing in a partner is later disliked (i.e., a “fatal attraction”). Individuals are expected to be prone to fatal attractions when they are attracted to a quality in a romantic partner that is “different” in any of three ways: (1) different from the individual's own qualities (i.e., dissimilar); (2) different from average (i.e., extreme, or unique); or (3) different from normative expectations (i.e., gender atypical). Such attractions are less likely, however, when individuals are drawn to similarity in another. Findings from a logistic regression analysis provide support for four of the five hypotheses. Fatal attractions are significantly more likely when an individual is drawn to partner characteristics seen either as “dissimilar” from her or his own, as “unique,” or as “extreme” in nature. When these characteristics are viewed as “similar,” disenchantment is less likely. Fatal attractions are neither more, nor less, probable, however, when partner qualities contradict gender stereotypes. A qualitative analysis of open-ended questionnaire responses provides further support for these attraction patterns. The findings have implications for diverse theories, including those of mate selection and dialectics.
Exploration of multivariate atmospheric particulate compositional data by projection pursuit

Abstract With the availability of analytical methods that can measure multiple chemical species in a single sample and automated samplers that can obtain large numbers of samples, it is possible to obtain large data sets characterizing some portion of the atmospheric environment. The problem that arises with these large multivariate data sets is that they are too big to be easily visualized and numerical methods are needed to permit the identification of structures that exist in such data. One of these exploratory analysis methods is called projection pursuit. Projection pursuit is a method for projecting high dimension data into fewer and hence comprehensible number of dimensions that capture the main features of the data. Projection pursuit is a relatively new method for identifying interesting lower-dimensional views of multivariate data by optimizing a criterion index that measures how interesting each projection is. The basic methodology is outlined and its application to coarse and fine particle composition data obtained during the Regional Air Pollution Study of St. Louis, Missouri, are presented. The method permits the identification of clusters of samples that are influenced by the same emission sources. By examining the average wind direction for the clusters, it is possible to identify the individual sources that contribute material to those samples.
Kant on International Relations

This paper explores some of the problems which arise from Immanuel Kant’s commitment to both human rights and the rights of states. Michael Doyle believed it was contradictory for Kant to defend both human rights and non-intervention by states in the affairs of other states, but I argue that for Kant there was no such contradiction, and I explore Kant’s claim that the state is “a moral personality.” I also discuss Kant’s belief that “Nature guarantees” that perpetual peace will obtain, and I consider Kant as a teleologist.
Decentralized adaptive control of electrically-driven manipulators

Abstract This paper presents two new decentralized strategies for motion control of uncertain electrically-driven manipulators. The first controller is an adaptive position regulation scheme which ensures semiglobal asymptotic convergence of the position error if no external disturbances are present and semiglobal convergence of the error to an arbitrarily small neighborhood of zero in the presence of bounded disturbances. It is shown that the regulation scheme can be modified to provide accurate trajectory tracking control through the introduction of adaptive feedforward elements in the control law; this second control strategy retains the simple decentralized structure of the first controller and ensures arbitrarily accurate tracking in the presence of bounded disturbances. Each of the adaptive schemes is very efficient computationally and requires virtually no information concerning either the manipulator or actuator models. The results of computer simulations and laboratory experiments with both terrestrial and space manipulators demonstrate that accurate and robust motion control can be achieved by using the proposed approach.
Selection of Antiepileptic Drugs: A Practical Approach

The selection of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is increasingly more complex as new agents become available. We discuss an individualized approach to selection of an AED that is tailored to each patient's needs by considering the following six factors: effectiveness of the drug in controlling seizures, adverse effects profile, pharmacokinetic properties, special or unique patient situations, drug interactions, and cost of treatment. When these factors are considered, treatment complications and failure can be minimized by anticipating incompatibilities among drugs or between the drugs and the patient's condition. We emphasize the concept that the best AED therapy is dependent on optimal seizure control and absence of unacceptable side effects. In the current environment of medical practice, the cost of treatment has also become a mao jor concern. With rare exceptions, no single factor dictates the choice of an AED. In the long term, the most cost-effective treatment will be the one that provides the most therapeutic benefit with the fewest complications and maximal patient satisfaction.
Factors influencing long-term follow-up clinic attendance among survivors of childhood cancer

Introduction Attendance at long-term follow-up clinic is necessary for survivors of childhood cancer to facilitate education about cancer-related health risks, early detection of treatment-related morbidity, and implementation of health-promoting interventions. Despite the need for continued care, barriers to clinic attendance exist. The purpose of this prospective study was to identify the demographic, medical, and logistic factors impacting clinic attendance and long-term follow-up care among survivors of childhood cancer.
Synobins: an intermediate level towards annotation and semantic retrieval

To reason about the meaning of an image, useful information should be provided with that image; however, images often contain little to no textual information about the objects they are depicting, which is the precise reason why there is a need for CBIR systems that exploit only the correlations present in the raw pixel data. In this paper, we proposed a new type of image feature, which consists of patterns of colors and intensities that capture the latent associations among images and primitive features in such a way that the noise and redundancy are eliminated. We introduced the synobin, a new term for content-based image retrieval literature, which is the equivalent of a synonym word from text retrieval, to name the bin that is synonymous with other bins of a color feature, in the sense that they are similarly used across the image database. In a formal definition, a group of synobins is given by the most important bins participating in forming of a useful pattern, that is, the bins having the highest coefficients in the linear combination defining that pattern. Incorporating our feature model into a CBIR system moves the research in image retrieval beyond simple matching of images based on their primitive features and creates a ground for learning image semantics from visual content. A system developed using our proposed feature model will have the capability of learning associations not only between semantic concepts and images, but also between semantic concepts and patterns. We evaluated the performance of our system based on the retrieval accuracy and on the perceptual similarity order among retrieved images. When compared to standard image retrieval methods, our preliminary results show that even if the feature space was reduced to only 3%-5% of the initial space, the accuracy and perceptual similarity for our system remain the same or better depending on the category of images.
Facial edema, oral ulcers, and a cutaneous eruption following a dental procedure utilizing diflunisal and mepivacaine

HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS A 48-year-old Asian male was referred to our outpatient allergy clinic after experiencing oral ulcers, angioedema, and a penile skin eruption following tooth extraction and gum irrigation. Less severe reactions had occurred following two prior dental procedures. These reactions consisted of painful buccal blisters developing within 3 hours of each procedure, progressing over the next 3 days to extensive oral ulcerations. Penicillin was given before the first dental procedure in 1990. Ciprofloxacin was given before the second procedure in 1994. He did not receive any antibiotics before the third extraction in 1997. Thirty minutes before all procedures, the patient was pre-medicated with 1000 mg of oral diflunisal. During each procedure, 5.5 mL of the local anesthetic mepivacaine (2%) with the sympathomimetic vasoconstrictor neo-cobefin (1 20,000) was administered by injection. Within 1 hour following the third dental procedure, the patient complained of lip and facial swelling accompanied by burning eyes. Eighty milligrams of triamcinolone and 50 mg of diphenhydramine were given intramuscularly with moderate relief of facial swelling. He was sent home on a regimen of oral dexamethasone 1 mg tid and oral diphenhydramine 50 mg tid. Approximately 3 hours after the procedure, the patient noted the appearance of painful blisters on the buccal mucosa. The blisters progressed to oral ulcers in a manner and time course similar to that following the two prior dental procedures. On the third day post-procedure, the patient complained of severe dysphagia and noted a painful bullous, erythematous penile lesion. Neosporin ointment along with fluocinolone .025% ointment was applied topically to the penile lesion each day. Corticosteroid eye drops were also used daily. The symptoms continued to persist throughout the next 2 months, gradually diminishing in severity, and completely resolving within 3 months.
Metastasizing chordoma in early childhood: Report of a case at 1.5 T

Abstract We present here the first report of an extraskeletal metastasizing presacral chordoma found in a child. MRI of this large lesion showed heterogeneous signal intensity on both the SE 550 30 and on SE 2440 100 images. MRI demonstrated this mass to be separate from the sacrum and provided nonionizing cross-sectional imaging prior to attempted surgical resection.
The impact of achievement press on student success in elementary schools

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the relative impact of achievement press on student success in elementary schools in the Southwestern USA.Design/methodology/approach – Data from individual teacher assessments and student achievement tests are collected and aggregated at the campus level. Hierarchical linear modeling is utilized to calculate the Intra Class Correlation (ICC), then campus level scores for achievement press (along with control variables) are regressed on school success indicators in order to determine the relative impact of achievement press on various levels of school attainment.Findings – The results of these analyses demonstrate that achievement press made a statistically significant independent contribution to school success, both near term (one year) and longitudinally (over three years).Research limitations/implications – Via the use of a reliable and valid diagnostic tool, this investigation adds to the extant literature on school climate, achievement, and school eff...
Estimation of elastic coefficients for a multiple beam structure

In this paper, we consider the estimation of spatially dependent elastic parameters in a static distributed model of a simple structure composed of two beams at a fixed angle to one another. We formulate the potential energy functional of the system and obtain existence of optimal estimators to a regularized-output least-squares estimation problem. We discuss regularity and approximation results for the basic problem and penalized problem in which nonconforming elements are used to model the junction of the beams. Numerical examples are presented and generalizations to multiple-beam systems are discussed.
Exploring the concept of affective quality: Expanding the concept of retail personality

Abstract Recently, there has been increasing attention paid to the affective side of consumer and patronage behavior. Whereas previous store image studies have focused primarily on its traditional cognitive or functional antecedents, this paper more fully accounts for a store's personality by considering its perceived affective, as well as functional, quality. A study is described which provides evidence that affect associated with retail environments is an important element in defining more fully the meaning of an environment in consumers' semantic networks. In addition, the study demonstrates a fairly strong degree of relatedness between affective quality and consumer perceptions of a store's more tangible or functional characteristics. Implications and extensions of this exploratory research are discussed.
Numerical solutions of the linearized Euler equations for unsteady vortical flows around lifting airfoils

A linearized unsteady aerodynamic analysis is presented for unsteady, subsonic vortical flows around lifting airfoils. The analysis fully accounts for the distortion effects of the nonuniform mean flow on the imposed vortical disturbances. A frequency domain numerical scheme which implements this linearized approach is described, and numerical results are presented for a large variety of flow configurations. The results demonstrate the effects of airfoil thickness, angle of attack, camber, and Mach number on the unsteady lift and moment of airfoils subjected to periodic vortical gusts. The results show that mean flow distortion can have a very strong effect on the airfoil unsteady response, and that the effect depends strongly upon the reduced frequency, Mach number, and gust wave numbers.
A NEW FLUOROGENIC ASSAY FOR MONITORING AND DETERMINING PLANKTONIC AND BIOFILM FORMS OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA VIABLE COUNT IN VITRO

A new method was developed to rapidly monitor the Pseudomonas aeruginosa viable counts using alamar blue (AB). The 96-well microtiter plates were used to perform the assay. This procedure is based on fluorogenic measurement as a result of reduction of nonfluorescent AB to red fluorescent form by the viable cells of P. aeruginosa. The correlation between conventional plate count and fluorogenic AB method was highly satisfactory for quantification of planktonic (R2 = 0.9487) and biofilm cells of P. aeruginosa (R2 = 0.9296). PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The new fluorogenic method can rapidly monitor Pseudomonas aeruginosa counts in vitro with a high correlation with the conventional plating method. The results indicate that fluorogenic method requires much shorter time (2 h) than the conventional plate count (24 h), is a more cost-effective way, quite amenable to high throughput, and continuous monitoring of P. aeruginosa viability is achievable in the kinetic in vitro models without interference with the cell viability.
Prediction of Functionally Linked Interface (FLIP) Regions in Residue Interaction Network (RIN) Models of Protein Structures

Various cellular processes involve participation of proteins as monomers or oligomers. The function of the oligomers is often related to their structural stability and interaction capabilities. Here, we continue our work on the characterization of the physico-chemical patterns of amino acid residues involved in quaternary interactions that form Functionally Linked Interfaces of Proteins (FLIPs). Proteins are represented as a network with residues as nodes and proximity between residues (both bonded and non-bonded interactions) being the edges (a residue interaction network or RIN). Our previous studies of RINs have shown that FLIPS can be distinguished from Functionally uncorrelated Contacts (FunCs) with ∼74% accuracy, indicating residues show organizational differences in the interfaces of FLIPS and FunCS. In the current work, we identify threshold values of network centrality features that predictively distinguish FLIP, FunC, and non-interface regions of RINs.
A stochastic model for the analysis of age-specific prevalence curves in schistosomiasis.

INTRODUCTION IN AN attempt to gain further knowledge into the mechanisms involved in a disease it is often useful to construct a model which describes in mathematical form the essential features of the disease process. To date several models have been presented which deal with various aspects of schistosomiasis and their scope ranges from describing the entire cycle of the disease (given by Macdonald [l], Coffman and Warren [Z], Hairston [3], and Nasell and Hirsch [4]) to describing specific aspects of the disease in the human host (given by Hairston [S] and Tallis and Leyton [6]). The model presented in this paper focuses attention on the manifestation of schistosomiasis in the human host. In this development we consider the following essential features of the lifecycle: (i) the entry of the parasite into the host, (ii) the pairing of female and male parasites, (iii) the shedding of eggs by the host infected with schistosome pairs, and (iv) the death of the parasite within the host. The model we develop for the frequency distribution of the size of the population of worms within the host is the immigration-death process, and we illustrate how this model might be used to describe the mathematical form of the age--specific prevalence curves for schistosomiasis.
Cheddar cheese from ultrafiltered whole milk retentates in industrial cheese making

Abstract Transporting whole milk retentates of ultrafiltration to a distant large industrial Cheddar cheese making site resulted in 16 lots of Cheddar cheese from vats containing 2,546 to 16,360 kg of cheese milk. Whole milk retentates concentrated by ultrafiltration to 4.5:1 were added to cheese milks to give mixtures concentrated 1.2:1 and 1.3:1 with approximately 20 and 30% more protein and fat, respectively, than in unsupplemented control whole milks or unsupplemented commercial reference milks. Gross composition of Cheddar cheese made from commercial reference, control, and retentate-supplemented milk generally showed no major differences. Yield increased in cheese made from retentate-supplemented milk. Yield efficiency per kilogram total solids rose in retentate cheese over controls but not among commercial reference, control, and retentate lots based on per kilogram fat or total protein. Milk components were higher in wheys from retentate cheeses, but loss of components per kilogram cheese obtained generally showed lower values in whey from retentate cheese. General quality of retentate Cheddar cheese was equal to that of reference unsupplemented commercial cheese and higher than unsupplemented control Cheddar cheeses. It appears technically feasible to ultrafilter milk at one site, such as the farm, collecting station, or specialized center, and transport it to an industrial site for Cheddar cheese making.
Vitamin B12 dependent protozoa: A model system for aging

The characteristics of senescent cells, both in vivo and in vitro, were compared with vitamin B12 deficient Euglena. The changes that accompany aging mammalian cells are remarkably similar to those of vitamin B12 deficient protozoa. Both systems share the following: an unbalanced growth state, decline in proliferative capacity, obstruction of DNA synthesis, altered RNA and protein synthesis and cell hypertrophy. It is suggested that vitamin B12 dependent protozoa could serve as a model system to study the macromolecular changes that accompany the primary characteristic of aging in individual mammalian cells — the loss of proliferative capacity. Unlike model systems derived from multicellular organisms, where responses to specific stimuli depend on complex extracellular, cellular and/or hormonal interactions, aging-like phenomena in this proposed protozoa model can be regulated by a single component, normally found in its environment.
ESR evidence for the formation of the ring-opened cation CH2OCH2± from ethylene oxide

Abstract ESR results show that the radical cation formed from ethylene oxide in the solid state is the ring-opened 2-oxa-trimethylene cation with a symmetrical (C2ν) planar structure similar to that of the isoelectronic allyl radical. In contrast, the trimethylene oxide radical cation retains the ring structure of the parent molecule and its ESR parameters are characteristic of an oxygen-centred species.
AML-loaded DC generate Th1-type cellular immune responses in vitro.

BackgroundThe generation of AML-specific T-lymphocyte responses by leukemia-derived DC has been documented by multiple investigators and is being pursued clinically. An obstacle to widespread use of this strategy is that it has not been possible to generate leukemic DC from all patients, and an alternative approach is needed if the majority of leukemia patients are to receive therapeutic vaccination in conjunction with other treatment protocols.MethodsIn the present study, we generated DC from CD14-selected monocytes isolated from healthy donor PBPC and loaded them with a total cell lysate from AML patient blasts.ResultsImmature in vitro-derived DC exhibited robust phagocytic activity, and mature DC demonstrated high expression of CD80, CD83, CD86 and the chemokine receptor CCR7, important for DC migration to local lymph nodes. Mature, Ag-loaded DC were used as APC for leukemia-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) induction and demonstrated cytotoxic activity against leukemic targets. CTL lysis was Ag-sp...
Effect of crystallinity on gas permeation in miscible polycarbonate–copolyester blends

Permeation rates of helium, methane, and carbon dioxide in miscible blends of polycarbonate and a copolyester were measured at 35°C. The permeabilities for semicrystalline blends having copolyester cyrstallinity induced by annealing were compared to fully amorphous blends. Crystallinity caused a slightly greater impedance to carbon dioxide transport than it did for helium or methane. The relative rates of permeation of one gas compared to another, an issue important for membrane separations, varied greatly with blend composition; however, the effect of crystallinity was not large.
Personality Measures as Predictors of Success in a Counselor Education Master's Degree Program

This study examined the predictive validity of the 18 scales of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) and of two scales of the Opinion Scale relative to success criteria in graduate school as measured by grades in individual courses, performance on the Master's Comprehensive Examinations (MCE), and graduate grade-point average (GGPA). Subjects were 107 graduate students in a master's degree program in Counselor Education. Scores on CPI scales of Self-acceptance, Responsibility, Tolerance, Achievement via Independence, and Intellectual Efficiency were correlated .18, .19, .20, .21, and .19 (all p < .05), respectively, with MCE performance. Scores on the CPI scales of Psychological-Mindedness and Flexibility were correlated .24 (p < .01) and .27 (p < .01), respectively, with MCE performance. Significant correlations of .22, .17, and .19, respectively, were also found between scores on each of the factors of Tolerance, Achievement via Independence, and Psychological-Mindedness and grades in Educationa...
Revisiting “Ella's Song”

Abstract Ella Josephine Baker (1903–1986), an African-American human rights activist, influenced the trajectory of the modern civil rights movement with her emphasis on local action, liberative pedagogy, and grassroots involvement. She modeled a pedagogy of liberation convinced that grassroots efforts at participatory democracy could empower diverse communities for the ongoing struggle for human rights and equality. In this address, the words to “Ella's Song,” penned by Bernice Johnson Reagon in tribute to Baker, inspire the reflections on the 2012 theme. They are used to explore the collective struggle for freedom and justice, sharing faith in the struggle for liberation, and religious education practice.
Centrally acting and metabolically stable thyrotropin-releasing hormone analogues by replacement of histidine with substituted pyridinium.

Metabolically stable and centrally acting thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analogues were designed by replacing the central histidine with substituted pyridinium moieties. Their analeptic and acetylcholine-releasing actions were evaluated to assess their potency as central nervous system (CNS) agents. A strong experimental connection between these two CNS-mediated actions of the TRH analogues was obtained in subject animals. The analogue 3-(aminocarbonyl)-1-(3-[2-(aminocarbonyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]-3-oxo-2-{[(5-oxopyrrolidin-2-yl)carbonyl]amino}propyl)pyridinium (1a) showed the highest (TRH-equivalent) potency and longest, dose-dependent duration of action from a series of homologous compounds in antagonizing pentobarbital-induced narcosis when administered intravenously in its CNS-permeable prodrug form (2a) obtained via reduction of the pyridinium moiety to the nonionic dihydropyridine. The maximum change in hippocampal acetylcholine concentration upon perfusion of the pyridinium-containing tripeptides i...
Under-represented college students and extracurricular involvement: the effects of various student organizations on academic performance

Several studies indicate that students who are involved in extracurricular activities during college are more academically successful than are those who are not; however, most studies do not distinguish between different types of activities nor do they adequately consider the unique experiences of under-represented college students. Drawing on Ogbu’s theory of oppositional culture and Tinto’s theory of educational departure, I examine the effect of involvement in six different types of student organizations, as well as involvement in a co-ethnic student organization, on the academic performance of African American and Latino college students attending 27 different selective colleges. I find that student organizations differentially affect academic performance, depending on the type of organization and the race and gender of the students.
Climate change and land use drivers of fecal bacteria in tropical Hawaiian rivers

Potential shifts in rainfall driven by climate change are anticipated to affect watershed processes (e.g., soil moisture, runoff, stream flow), yet few model systems exist in the tropics to test hypotheses about how these processes may respond to these shifts. We used a sequence of nine watersheds on Hawaii Island spanning 3000 mm (7500-4500 mm) of mean annual rainfall (MAR) to investigate the effects of short-term (24-h) and long-term (MAR) rainfall on three fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) (enterococci, total coliforms, and ). All sample sites were in native Ohia dominated forest above 600 m in elevation. Additional samples were collected just above sea level where the predominant land cover is pasture and agriculture, permitting the additional study of interactions between land use across the MAR gradient. We found that declines in MAR significantly amplified concentrations of all three FIB and that FIB yield increased more rapidly with 24-h rainfall in low-MAR watersheds than in high-MAR watersheds. Because storm frequency decreases with declining MAR, the rate of change in water potential affects microbial growth, whereas increased rainfall intensity dislodges more soil and bacteria as runoff compared with water-logged soils of high-MAR watersheds. As expected, declines in % forest cover and increased urbanization increased FIB. Taken together, shifts in rainfall may alter bacterial inputs to tropical streams, with land use change also affecting water quality in streams and near-shore environments.
Analysis of Wire-Bonded Micro Heat Pipe Arrays

Flat micro heat pipes utilizing arrays of parallel metal wires sandwiched between two thin metal sheets were conceptualized, modeled, and analyzed. An experimental facility was fabricated and experimental tests were conductedtoverifytheconcept,aswellastovalidatetheproposedmodel.Themodeling resultswerethencompared with the results of the experimental investigation. In the analytical portion of the investigation, a one-dimensional steady-stateanalyticalmodel,whichincorporatedtheeffectsoftheliquid ‐vaporphaseinteractionandthevariation inthecross-sectionalarea,wasdevelopedtopredicttheheattransferperformanceandoptimumdesignparameters. The mass distribution, optimum charge, and maximum heat transport capacity were all obtained by solving the one-dimensionalgoverningequationsnumerically.Theresultsindicatedthatthemaximumheattransportcapacity increased with increases in wire diameter and that the overall value was proportional to the square of the wire diameter. The wire diameter was also found to affect the optimum operating temperature within the overall operating temperature range of the working e uid. In addition to determining the effect of the wire diameter, the numerical model provided a mechanism by which the effects of the wire spacing and evaporator heat e ux could be determined. The results indicated that the maximum heat transport capacity increased with increases in the wire spacing and that there exists an optimal cone guration that yields the maximum heat transport capacity. The optimum charge volume was shown to decrease rapidly with increases in the evaporator heat e ux. The results of the analytical model were compared with experimental results available in the literature and indicated good agreement between the predicted and measured maximum heat transport capacity for these types of wire-bonded e at heat pipes. Nomenclature Ac;l = liquid-phase cross-sectional area, m 2 Ac;v = vapor-phase cross-sectional area, m 2 Ai = liquid‐vapor interface cross-sectional area, m 2 Al;w = liquid‐wall contact area, m 2 Av;w = vapor‐wall contact area, m 2 Cp = specie c heat capacity, J/kg K Dh;l = hydraulic diameter of liquid, m Dh;v = hydraulic diameter of vapor, m dw = wire diameter, m fl = liquid friction factor fv = vapor friction factor g = gravity acceleration, m/s 2 H = height of the triangle, m h fg = latent heat of vaporization, J/kg kl = thermal conductivity of liquid, W/K ¢m kv = thermal conductivity of vapor, W/K ¢m Lc = length of condenser section, m Le = length of evaporator section, m Lt = total length of the micro heat pipe, m M = mass, kg ml = liquid mass e ow rate, kg/s mv = vapor mass e ow rate, kg/s P = pressure, Pa Pc = capillary pressure, Pa Pl = liquid pressure, Pa Pv = vapor pressure, Pa
In and out of Iraq: A vote-seeking explanation of Berlusconi's Iraq policy

This article seeks to explain the Iraq policy of Silvio Berlusconi's second government. Why did Berlusconi's Government declare ‘non-belligerency’ when the American-led war with Iraq began in March 2003? Why did the Government send a mission of 3,000 Italian troops to Iraq in April 2003? Why did Berlusconi announce the progressive withdrawal of that contingent in March 2005? This article recognises the Berlusconi Government's ideologically-rooted pro-American tendencies, but draws on liberal international relations theory to stress the importance of the electoral motive to explain the timing and nature of the Government's decisions. As the Italian public was highly critical of the Iraq war, the Berlusconi Government could not actively participate in the war; it had to frame the deployment as a peace mission and had to begin withdrawing Italian troops before Iraq was stable and secure.
A Canine Distemper Model of Virus-Induced Anergy

For development of an animal model of virus-induced anergy, the effect of canine distemper virus (CDV) upon cell-mediated immunity in dogs was investigated. First, canine cutaneous reactions and in vitro lymphocyte responses to soluble protein antigens were characterized. Dogs immunized with picryl guinea pig albumin and with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (both in complete Freund's adjuvant) responded reproducibly to intracutaneous challenge with these antigens. Reactivity peaked in 20-40 days (maximal induration, 6-50 mm). Lymphocytes from these animals responded in vitro to stimulation with keyhole limpet hemocyanin or purified protein derivative. This stimulation was antigen-specific and was maximal on day 6 of culture. Infection with CDV depressed cutaneous reactivity and lymphocyte response in vitro to antigens and mitogens. This effect was transient in animals previously vaccinated with attenuated CDV; however, gnotobiotic puppies (susceptible to CDV) had prolonged depression of cell-mediated immunity and lymphopenia. Some of these animals developed neurologic symptoms and died. The findings indicate that CDV infection is a potentially useful model for study of virus-induced depression of T (thymus)-cell responses and support the hypothesis that there is more than one mechanism responsible for this phenomenon.
Directed percolation in 2+1 dimensions

The author presents results of Monte Carlo simulations for directed percolation in 2+1 dimensions very close to the percolation threshold. His values for pc for bond and site percolation on the BCC and simple cubic lattices are more precise than previous estimates by one to two orders of magnitude. The improvement on the critical exponents describing the behaviour at pc is less impressive, but they are also substantially more precise than previous ones.
Preliminary interpretive criteria for disk diffusion susceptibility testing of SCH 27899, a compound in the everninomicin class of antimicrobial agents

Abstract As antimicrobial resistance among Gram-positive species becomes more common, alternative agents need to be developed for the therapy of serious infections. SCH 27899 is a compound from the everninomicin class of antimicrobial agents that possesses a potent Gram-positive spectrum. We evaluated three disk concentrations (0.25,1, and 5 μg) of three SCH 27899 formulations including SCH 27899 base (SCHB), N-methylglucamine SCH 27899 (NMG-SCH), and NMG-SCH complexed with hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin. Disk zone diameters were correlated with minimum inhibitory concentration for 209 aerobic, nonfastidious Gram-positive strains and selected Gram-negative bacilli to develop disk diffusion interpretive criteria. No significant differences in activity were noted among the three SCH 27899 preparations. Of the three disk concentrations, the correlation coefficient was greatest ( r = 0.88) for the 5-μg SCHB disk test. For a tentative break point of ≤2 μg SCHB/ml, preliminary disk interpretive criteria were: susceptible at ≥12 mm, intermediate at 10–11 mm, and resistant at ≤9 mm (absolute categorical agreement, 99.5%). Zones were small secondary to drug solubility and diffusion limitations. Using these criteria for the SCHB 5-μg disks, nearly all of the tested Gram-positive organisms were susceptible including methicillin-resistant staphylococci and vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
Excise tax differences at Oklahoma smoke shops: an opportunity for inter-tribal coordination.

Background Oklahoma's tribal tobacco shops are distributed throughout the state, including in urban areas. During the time frame of this study, state excise tax rates for cigarettes varied by tribe and region, and took five distinct levels, ranging from 5.75 cents to $1.03 per pack. Purpose To describe the pricing behavior of these smoke shops in a way that could support potential increases in the tribal taxation of cigarettes within the state. Methods Two waves (2010 and 2011) of site visits were conducted, covering nearly all tribal smoke shops in the northeastern quarter of the state, an area containing the city of Tulsa and 60% of all tribal outlets. Researchers recorded representative prices and verified the tax rate paid (via tax stamp) for each shop. Data were analyzed in 2013. Results Lower-taxed tribal cigarettes tended to be priced at discounts that were even greater than the differential in tax rates. For example, across waves, the average pack of Marlboros from a shop with a 5.75-cent tax stamp sold for 52 cents less than the same pack from a 25.75-cent shop and 60 cents less than from a 51.5-cent shop. The minimal inter-tribal price response to the discontinuation of large quantities of contraband cigarette sales suggests that inter-tribal price competition in the Tulsa area is not as intense as expected. Conclusions Ample scope exists for either unilateral or coordinated cross-tribal tax and price increases that will increase tribal cigarette tax revenue collections and improve public health.
Selective addition to iridium of aryl C-H bonds ortho to coordinating groups. Not chelation-assisted.

Precursors of the pincer-ligated iridium species, (PCP)Ir, react with nitrobenzene or acetophenone at ambient temperature to give O,C-chelated complexes resulting from addition of an aryl C−H bond and coordination of a nitro or acetyl oxygen. The C−H additions appear to be completely regioselective for the position ortho to the functional group; however, structural characterization and low-temperature NMR studies demonstrate that the reaction does not proceed via coordination of the functional group followed by C−H addition. In the case of nitrobenzene, kinetic preference for the para and meta positions is demonstrated at low temperature. Addition occurs more slowly at the ortho position, without assistance by the functional group; the ortho-C−H addition product is then trapped by chelation.
Cyclopentenylglycine, a precursor of deidaclin in Turnera ulmifolia

Abstract When [2- 14 C]cyclopentenylglycine was synthesized and fed to seedlings of Turnera ulmifolia , the label was incorporated into the nitrile group of the cyanogenic glycoside deidaclin. The amino acid cyclopentenylglycine was also found to occur naturally in Turnera ulmifolia . These findings indicate that cyclopentenyl cyanogenic glycosides are synthesized from the corresponding amino acids by the same pathway utilized in the biosynthesis of other cyanogenic glycosides.
High-performance liquid chromatography of polychlorinated biphenyls

Abstract High-performance liquid chromatography on a reversed-phase, microparticle column (μBondapak C18) employing gradients of water and acetonitrile as the mobile phase has been used to resolve the commercial mixtures of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Aroclor 1221, 1016 and 1254. Individual PCBs (49) have been chromatographed under similar conditions and used as standards upon which the tentative identification and quantitation of some of the major components of the Aroclors have been based.
Dealing with complaints--are we doing well?

Investigates the views of complainants and how they felt that their complaints had been handled. Complainants from a three‐month period were sent a nine‐question questionnaire to which the response rate was 52.3 per cent. Shows that, on the whole, complaint‐response times were being met; the complaints system was seen as user friendly; and, overall, complainants were satisfied with the way in which their complaints were handled.
Reading guide and index to the cancer‐virology literature

An alerting service to the pertinent articles in the field of cancer-virology has been in operation, successfully, for four years. By cooperative efforts, approximately 200 investigators are kept aware of useful information in 230 journals. Its low cost, ease of operation, and extensive up-to-date coverage make it an attractive model for many other applications. An information retrieval addition to this system is discussed.
The computation of structure from fixed-axis motion: Rigid structures

We show that an assumption of rigidity or quasi-rigidity is not necessary, in principle, for the computation of three-dimensional structure and motion from changing retinal images. In particular, we show that the three-dimensional structure of certain nonrigid objects, namely objects whose texture elements rotate about a common axis but at varying angular velocities, can in principle be computed from three successive retinal images of four texture elements, or from four successive images of two texture elements. We then show that in both cases the computed structure matches the actual structure of the object with probability one.
Balancing pro- and anti-inflammatory TLR4 signaling

Limiting immune responses is critical for protecting the host from harm. The p110δ isoform of the kinase PI(3)K acts as a balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory TLR4 signaling in dendritic cells.
Nonanatomic hepatic resection with a pledgetted suturing technique

Abstract Background/Purpose: Anatomic hepatic resection is dependent on the segmental infrastructure of the liver, whereas nonanatomic resection is independent of structural planes and is often fraught with excessive bleeding. The authors describe their experience with a novel technique using pledgetted suturing for extensive liver resection in patients with benign or malignant hepatic tumors. Methods: Four children, (mean age, 24.7 ± 12.5 months) underwent liver resection for the following hepatic lesions: hepatoblastoma, invasive Wilms' tumor, Caroli's disease, and infantile hemangioendothelioma. In the child with hepatoblastoma, the lesion was considered unresectable by segmental anatomy. A surgical technique was designed in which nonabsorbable 2-0 Teflon felt pledgetted sutures were placed through the liver parenchyma in a nonanatomic resection plane. The mattress sutures were sequentially tied until the resection plane was defined. The resection was sharply completed with a scalpel along the line of pledgetted sutures, independent of hepatic segmental anatomy. Results: Complete surgical resections of the hepatic lesions were obtained in all cases. Estimated blood loss was minimal with a mean of 5.3 ± 0.9 mL/kg. No patient received a blood transfusion as a result of the hepatic resection. There were no postoperative hepatic complications resulting from the resection. The child with hepatoblastoma had a delayed recovery, resulting in reexploration that ruled out a subphrenic abscess. Conclusions: The pledgetted suturing technique for hepatic resection is relatively bloodless, safe, easy to perform, and may enable a complete surgical resection of otherwise unresectable lesions. We advocate this technique when approaching a large hepatic lesion that would entail a difficult or incomplete anatomic resection in infants. J Pediatr Surg 36:209-212. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Potassium and sodium measurements at clinical concentrations using phase-modulation fluorometry

We describe the possibility of measuring sodium and potassium at the concentrations present in whole blood using lifetime-based sensing and phase-modulation fluorometry. The probe SBFO was shown to display changes in phase or modulation at sodium concentrations near 100 mM, and to be mostly independent of interfering effects due to potassium. The probe CD222 was found unsuitable for measurements of potassium in blood using intensity-ratio measurements, due to similar spectral changes induced by sodium. However, sodium at blood concentrations near 100 mM causes only a minor change in the lifetime of CD222. Hence, CD222 and lifetime-based sensing can be used to measure blood levels of potassium in the presence of 130 mM sodium. Similarly, sodium causes only a modest change in the lifetime of the potassium probe PBFI, which displays potassium-dependent lifetimes. For both CD222 and PBFI, the presence of blood levels of sodium increases the apparent potassium dissociation constants into the blood physiological range. In total, these results demonstrated the possibility of lifetime-based sensing of sodium and potassium at the extracellular cation concentrations present in blood or blood serum.
Co-localization of erythrocyte Ca++-Mg++ ATPase and vitamin D-dependent 28-kDa-calcium binding protein

Co-localization of erythrocyte Ca ++ -Mg ++ ATPase and vitamin D-dependent 28-kDa-calcium binding protein. We have previously shown that the human kidney distal convoluted tubule (DCT) contains epitopes of the human erythrocyte Ca ++ -Mg ++ ATPase pump (J Clin Invest 80: 1225-1231, 1987). To determine whether vitamin D-dependent 28-kilo-dalton-calcium binding protein (28kDa-CaBP) and Ca ++ -Mg ++ ATPase are present in the same cells of the human kidney, kidney tissue was examined for immunoreactivity with antibodies directed against these proteins. Double-label immunohistochemistry showed that a majority of the distal convoluted tubules contain epitopes to both of these proteins. Portions of the distal nephron which were positive for 28kDa-CaBP did not show anti-Ca ++ -Mg ++ ATPase antibody binding. All other portions of the nephron were negative for both proteins. Western blot analysis of kidney homogenates by 7% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), showed binding of an anti-Ca ++ -Mg ++ ATPase monoclonal antibody to a major band of Mr=140,000. Western blots of kidney homogenates by 10% SDS-PAGE also showed binding of an anti-28kDa-CaBP polyclonal antibody to a protein band at Mr=28,000. Incubation of parallel blots from the same 10% gel with 45 CaCl 2 demonstrated that the Mr=28,000 band binds calcium. This work demonstrates, for the first time, that epitopes of vitamin D-inducible 28kDa-CaBP and human erythrocyte Ca ++ -Mg ++ ATPase pump are present in the same cells of the human kidney. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that 28kDa-CaBP binds calcium in a manner analogous to calmodulin, a known regulator of the erythrocyte Ca ++ -Mg ++ ATPase pump [J Biol Chem, 1987], Taken together, these findings suggest a possible role for vitamin D-dependent 28kDa-CaBP and Ca ++ -Mg ++ ATPase in a calcium transport mechanism in the human kidney DCT.
Laboratory Evaluation of BL-S786, a Cephalosporin with Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity

Biological and physicochemical properties of BL-S786 were compared with those of cephalothin, cephaloridine, and cefazolin. With few exceptions, BL-S786 was more active than the reference compounds against major gram-negative pathogenic species and its antibacterial spectrum was broader than that of cephalosporins currently available for clinical use. Although BL-S786 was generally less active than the control cephalosporins against gram-positive pathogens, it inhibited their growth at concentrations that should readily be achieved in humans after standard parenteral dosage. Streptococcus faecalis , a species relatively unsusceptible to cephalosporins in general, was an exception. BL-S786 was an effective bactericidal agent for strains of various gram-negative organisms. After intramuscular administration to mice, BL-S786 achieved high concentrations in blood, and its biological half-life was longer than that of the other three cephalosporins.
Analysis of postsystolic myocardial thickening work in selective myocardial layers during progressive myocardial ischemia.

Background Myocardial function is transmurally heterogeneous. Postsystolic work may functionally reflect ischemic but viable myocardium. We calculated systolic and postsystolic regional myocardial work index (RMWi) in subendocardial and subepicardial layers of myocardium supplied by a slowly occluding coronary artery. Methods Progressive stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery lasting 11 ± 5 days (end point) was induced in 10 dogs, and pressure-strain loops were obtained from subendocardial and subepicardial layers of apical and middle anterior segments by intracardiac ultrasound. Results At baseline, the RMWi was significantly higher ( P P Conclusion A significant subendocardial postsystolic RMWi at rest suggests an impending ischemic injury in coronary artery disease when segmental function is still preserved.