cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How are California local jurisdictions incorporating a strategic environmental assessment in local comprehensive land use plans

Lack of early incorporation between planning and decision-making has affected the effectiveness of environmental assessment. This study measures the ability of local jurisdictions in California to incorporate strategic environmental assessment (SEA) into comprehensive land use plans and develops an empirical method with measurable indicators to examine the strengths and weaknesses of integrating SEA into local comprehensive land use plans. The results indicate that local jurisdictions in California have generally addressed many local environmental elements, but have not fully incorporated strategic environmental impacts and related tools into local plans.
Quality of life among women living with HIV: The importance violence, social support, and self care behaviors

This paper describes the relationship between psychosocial factors and health related quality of life among 287 HIV-positive women using items from the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey to measure physical functioning, mental health and overall quality of life. Multivariate models tested the relative importance of sociodemographic characteristics, HIV-related factors and psychosocial variables in explaining these quality of life outcomes. A history of child sexual abuse and adult abuse, social support and health promoting self-care behaviors were the psychosocial factors studied. Women in the sample were on average 33 years old and had known they were HIV-positive for 41 months; 39% had been hospitalized at least once due to their HIV; 83% had children; 19% had a main sex partner who was also HIV-positive. More than one-half of the women (55%) had a history of injection drug use and 63% reported having been physically or sexually assaulted at least once as an adult. A history of childhood sexual abuse. reported by 41% of the sample, was significantly related to mental health after controlling for sociodemographic and HIV-related characteristics. Women with larger social support networks reported better mental health and overall quality of life. Women who practiced more self-care behaviors (healthy diet and vitamins, adequate sleep and exercise, and stress management) reported better physical and mental health and overall quality of life. The high prevalence of physical abuse and child sexual abuse reported by this sample underscores the importance of screening for domestic violence when providing services to HIV-positive women. That such potentially modifiable factors as social support and self care behaviors are strongly associated with health-related quality of life suggests a new opportunity to improve the lives of women living with HIV.
V(D)J recombinase-mediated deletion of the hprt gene in T-lymphocytes from adult humans.

Abstract The hprt T-cell cloning assay allows the detection of mutations occurring in vivo in the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase ( hprt ) gene of T-lymphocytes. We have shown previously that the illegitimate activity of V(D)J recombinase accounts for about 40% of the hprt mutations in T-lymphocytes of human newborns as measured with umbilical cord blood samples (Fuscoe et al., 1991). This mechanism results in deletion of hprt exons 2 + 3. In this report, we examined a collection of 314 HPRT-deficient clones derived from adult humans for evidence that the mutations were caused by this mechanism by analyzing exons 2 + 3 deletion mutations. DNA sequence analysis of deletion breakpoint junctions showed that 8 of the mutations were the result of V(D)J recombinase activity. The frequency of the recombinase-mediated mutations was similar in the adults and newborns (2–4 × 10 −7 ). However, since the hprt mutant frequency is about 10-fold higher in the adult than in the newborn, the recombinase-mediated mutations account for only a few percent of the adult mutations. These mutations are likely to have occurred during early development and persist into adulthood. Unregulated expression of V(D)J recombinase activity may be an important mechanism for genomic rearrangements in the genesis of cancer.
THE EFFECTS OF AMINOBUTYRATE AND PROPIONATE ON ARGININE LEVELS IN NEUROSPORA.

Abstract The growth of Neurospora crassa in the presence of either α-amino- n -butyric acid or of sodium propionate has been found to be accompanied by the depression of the intramycelial concentration of free arginine to levels as low as 5% of normal. The suggestion is made that the growth of certain pyrimidineless mutants of the mold in pyrimidine-free media containing aminobutyrate or propionate is due to interference with arginine biosynthesis by these substances or by their metabolic derivatives. Data are presented which indicate that the mechanism by which the growth-promoting compounds act to lower the arginine concentration does not involve the repression of ornithine transcarbamylase or the direct inhibition of this enzyme.
Respiratory–cardiovascular physiology and xenobiotic gill flux in the lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)

Abstract An in vivo respirometer–metabolism chamber was used to obtain respiratory–cardiovascular physiology under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, and xenobiotic gill absorption (flux) data on adult lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ) over a 48-h exposure period at 11±1°C. An oral membrane was used to separate inspired and expired water flows, providing the first direct measurements of chemical flux across the gills of lake trout. Overall mean values (±S.D.) for normoxic respiratory function were: ventilation rate (V R )=53±9 # min −1 , ventilation volume (Q V )=7±2 l kg −1 h −1 , respiratory stroke volume (SV R )=2±1 ml, oxygen consumption (VO 2 )=39±8 mg kg −1 h −1 , oxygen utilization (U)=53±14%, and effective respiratory volume (Q W )=4±1 l kg −1 h −1 . The resting Q V , Q W , and VO 2 seen in these lake trout were lower than seen previously in other salmonids. No significant differences ( P ≥0.05) in respiratory function were detected between males and females. Trout subjected to hypoxia (30% of saturation) showed no changes in U or VO 2 , while V R decreased (42±6 # min −1 ), Q V increased (22±6 l kg −1 h −1 ) and SV R increased (8±3 ml). Cardiovascular and blood gas measurements determined under normoxic conditions were heart rate (H R )=73±8 # min −1 , cardiac output (Q C )=15±2 ml kg −1 min −1 , cardiac stroke volume (SV H )=0.2 ml kg −1 min −1 , dorsal aortic blood pressure (D BP )=34±1 mm Hg, ventral aortic blood pressure (V BP )=45±1 mm Hg, and venous oxygen partial pressure (P V O 2 )=26±2 mm Hg. Initial 1-h mean±S.D. chemical gill extraction efficiencies (EE) for tetrachloroethane (TCE), pentachloroethane (PCE), and hexachloroethane (HCE) were 42±8, 58±16, and 68±17%, respectively. Forty-eight hour EE of 9±1% for TCE (log K OW =2.39) and 21±4% for PCE (log K OW =3.06) indicated they were approaching steady-state, in contrast to 54±13% for HCE (log K OW =4.04) which was not near steady-state. The EE for all three chloroethanes were significantly ( P X ) values for waterborne TCE, PCE, and HCE were 64±11, 120±14, and 226±29 l kg −1 , respectively. Lake trout Cl X and Q W for TCE, PCE, and HCE demonstrated an approximate 1:1 relationship indicative of water-flow limited gill absorption. Chemical gill absorption observed for the lake trout and chloroethanes was similar to the rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) from previous investigations and provided further support for the water-flow limited model of chemical flux across fish gills for mid-hydrophobic chemicals (log K OW =3.0–6.0).
Fracture toughness of fabrics as composite reinforcements

An experimental technique is developed to measure the fracture toughness of fabrics using the variables normally associated with fracture mechanics: stress and crack length. The technique uses a fabric with a slit (crack) of known length wrapped around an expandable cylinder. Pneumatic pressure is used to apply stress to the fabric until the crack propagates. The results suggest that fracture toughness is independent of initial crack length. Crack tip micromechanics measurements are made during the toughness experiments, and these results are compared with a finite element model of the experiment. Crack-opening displacement and the distribution of effective strain ahead of the crack tip are in reasonable agreement when fiber sliding is included in the finite element model. The conclusions are that a crack in a fabric can be characterized by linear elastic fracture mechanics, and that fracture toughness can be used as a description of fabric damage tolerance.
Implicit pricing across residential rental submarkets

This paper examines implicit price differences of rental housing characteristics across various property types to measure whether determinants of rents are valued in the aggregate or separately. The results show that hedonic price functions are not identical across property types, which suggests that ordinary least squares is not the appropriate estimation technique when modeling the implicit prices for an aggregate rental market. Generalized least squares estimation of a random coefficient model removes the restriction of fixed parameters imposed by OLS and allows estimation of implicit prices for rental markets containing multiple property types.
Cytokines and T cell homeostasis

In recent years it has become apparent that the long-term survival of T cells requires continuous contact with external stimuli. At least two types of stimuli, namely self antigens and cytokines, are involved in maintaining T cell viability. As discussed here, the factors controlling T cell survival and turnover in vivo differ considerably from one T cell subset to another.
Electroretinogram of the Frog during Embryonic Development

Eyes removed from frog embryos at various stages of development gave a definite pattern of change in the electroretinogram. From the 7th to 9th days the electroretinogram consisted of slow, purely cornea-negative potentials. From the 9th to 10th days the responses were negative but included a prominent fast, negative component superimposed on the slow potentials. During the 11th to 17th days positive potentials appeared and developed. From the 20th day on, the typical electroretinogram of the adult obtained.
Slow hydrogen-bond switching dynamics at the water surface revealed by theoretical two-dimensional sum-frequency spectroscopy

Using our newly developed explicit three-body (E3B) water model, we simulate the surface of liquid water. We find that the timescale for hydrogen-bond switching dynamics at the surface is about three times slower than that in the bulk. In contrast, with this model rotational dynamics are slightly faster at the surface than in the bulk. We consider vibrational two-dimensional (2D) sum-frequency generation (2DSFG) spectroscopy as a technique for observing hydrogen-bond rearrangement dynamics at the water surface. We calculate the nonlinear susceptibility for this spectroscopy for two different polarization conditions, and in each case we see the appearance of cross-peaks on the timescale of a few picoseconds, signaling hydrogen-bond rearrangement on this timescale. We thus conclude that this 2D spectroscopy will be an excellent experimental technique for observing slow hydrogen-bond switching dynamics at the water surface.
Dépendance entre l'épaisseur des couches magnétiques minces et le champ coercitif de déplacement des parois

La relation experimentale entre le champ coercitif et l'epaisseur des couches magnetiques minces n'est pas toujours en accord avec la theorie proposee par Neel. La discussion suivante montre que cette theorie n'est valable que pour les parois de Bloch et pour une fluctuation d'epaisseur independante de l'epaisseur elle-meme. En presence de parois de Neel, on demontre que le champ coercitif ne depend pas de l'epaisseur de la couche.
Theoretical Studies of Electronic State Localization and Wormholes in Silicon Quantum Dot Arrays

We present calculations for quantum dot (QD) arrays that are more realistic than most. They describe the arrays in atomic detail, using pseudopotentials fit to ab initio results to describe the electronic structure. Our results show that simple models, which regard QDs as (artificial) atoms, are a reasonable approximation to employ for some features of QD array electronic localization characteristics. But we also demonstrate important limitations. The need for realistic theoretical descriptions of QD arrays is highlighted.
Feeding Mastitic Milk to Calves: Review,

Milk from cows treated with antibiotics for mastitis and other disorders has been fed to young calves in fresh or fermented form. Growth of calves so fed has been similar to that of control animals offered fermented colostrum or other liquid feeds. Incidence of health disorders in mastitis milk-fed calves has been no greater than in those fed control milks. Mastitic milk preserved by addition of propionic acid or formaldehyde was relatively unpalatable to the calves. Limited data indicate that first-lactation cows fed mastitic milk as calves suffered no more udder trouble than did their mates formerly given other liquid feeds.
Benthic foraminiferal assemblage response to the onset of northern hemisphere glaciation: Paleoenvironmental changes and species trends in the northeast Atlantic

Abstract The response of the benthic foraminiferal community in the northeast Atlantic to the Late Pliocene onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation was investigated using closely spaced samples from DSDP-IPOD Site 548. Factor analysis of quantitative species abundance data shows that the replacement of aGlobocassidulina subglobosa assemblage first byBulimina mexicana and then byMelonis-Uvigerina dominated assemblages, accompanied the onset of glaciation. Also, the benthic assemblages became much more variable with progressive climatic deterioration. In order to examine benthic Foraminifera species responses to changing paleoenvironmental variables, measurements of planktonic foraminifera species abundances, benthic foraminifera stable isotope values and sediment grain size and composition were made. The planktonic data and oxygen isotope values were used to quantify paleoclimatic changes and changes in bottom water properties, the sediment analyses were used to quantify changes in the substrate, and a combination of planktonic assemblage data and benthic carbon isotope values were used to estimate changes in food supply (surface ocean productivity). Canonical correlation analysis of the species data and the independent paleoenvironmental indicators shows a strong relationship between planktonic assemblage diversity and the long term benthic trend of assemblage replacement. This trend could be a response to changing bottom water properties but it might also reflect increasing food supply at the sea-bed. In addition, the benthic assemblages show a strong relationship to changes in the carbonate content of the sediments. This latter fluctuates due to varying terrigenous input. Changes in substrate at Site 548 may influence the benthic foraminiferal assemblage. There remains, however, a significant fraction of species abundance variability, particularly in theUvigerina species, that cannot be explained with the paleoenvironmental indicators used in this study.
Reinforcement Learning in Repeated Interaction Games

We study long run implications of reinforcement learning when two players repeatedly interact with one another over multiple rounds to play a finite action game. Within each round, the players play the game many successive times with a fixed set of aspirations used to evaluate payoff experiences as successes or failures. The probability weight on successful actions is increased, while failures result in players trying alternative actions in subsequent rounds. The learning rule is supplemented by small amounts of inertia and random perturbations to the states of players. Aspirations are adjusted across successive rounds on the basis of the discrepancy between the average payoff and aspirations in the most recently concluded round. We define and characterize pure steady states of this model, and establish convergence to these under appropriate conditions. Pure steady states are shown to be individually rational, and are either Pareto-efficient or a protected Nash equilibrium of the stage game. Conversely, any Pareto-efficient and strictly individually rational action pair, or any strict protected Nash equilibrium, constitutes a pure steady state, to which the process converges from non-negligible sets of initial aspirations. Applications to games of coordination, cooperation, oligopoly, and electoral competition are discussed.
The Neuro-Ophthalmology Virtual Educational Library (NOVEL)

The Neuro-Ophthalmology Virtual Education Library (NOVEL) developed out of a collaboration between the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS) and the Spencer S. Eccles Health Science Li...
Douttia, a New Genus of New Hebridean Curculionidae (Coleoptera: Cryptorhynchinae)

Among some insects collected by Lt. R. L. Doutt, United States Air Force, while on duty in the southwest Pacific was a pair of weevils which represent a new genus and species. In spite of the exigencies of battle front conditions, Lt. Doutt made several collections of insects during spare moments, but all but one lot of specimens were lost. It is a pleasure to dedicate the newly discovered genus to Lt. Doutt in appreciation of his efforts to gather specimens of scientific value in spite of his preoccupation.
Neurovascular protection by post-ischemic intravenous injections of the lipoxin A4 receptor agonist, BML-111, in a rat model of ischemic stroke.

Resolution of inflammation is an emerging new strategy to reduce damage following ischemic stroke. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is an anti-inflammatory, pro-resolution lipid mediator with high affinity binding to ALX, the lipoxin A4 receptor. Since LXA4 is rapidly inactivated, potent analogs have been created, including the ALX agonist BML-111. We hypothesized that post-ischemic intravenous administration of BML-111 would provide protection to the neurovascular unit and reduce neuroinflammation in a rat stroke model. Animals were subjected to 90 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and BML-111 was injected 100 min and 24 h after stroke onset and animals euthanized at 48 h. Post-ischemic treatment with BML-111 significantly reduced infarct size, decreased vasogenic edema, protected against blood–brain barrier disruption, and reduced hemorrhagic transformation. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and matrix metalloproteinase-3 were significantly reduced following BML-111 treatment. Administration of BML-111 dramatically decreased microglial activation, as seen with CD68, and neutrophil infiltration and recruitment, as assessed by levels of myeloperoxidase and intracellular adhesion molecule-1. The tight junction protein zona occludens-1 was protected from degradation following treatment with BML-111. These results indicate that post-ischemic activation of ALX has pro-resolution effects that limit the inflammatory damage in the cerebral cortex and helps maintain blood–brain barrier integrity after ischemic stroke. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is a potent anti-inflammatory, pro-resolution mediator. Post-ischemic injections of BML-111, a LXA4 receptor agonist, significantly reduced infarct size, matrix metalloproteinases, microglial activation, and neutrophil infiltration, while providing protection to the blood–brain barrier at 48 h following middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. This suggests that activation and enhancement of the LXA4 resolution pathway may be a new target for therapeutics aimed at reducing neuroinflammation following ischemic stroke.
Studies on the flavor of autoxidized soybean oil

The flavor components of soybean oil in the early stages of autoxidation were isolated by distillation in a molecular still. The distillate consisted of an aqueous layer and an oily film. The oily film did not reproduce the autoxidized flavor when added to freshly deodorized oil. Gas chromatographic and organoleptic analysis indicated that the oily film contained hexanal, vinylamyl ketone, andtrans,cis-2,6-nonadienal. The aqueous layer reproduced the autoxidized flavor when added to freshly deodorized oil, and the flavor had a retention time on butandiol succinate columns between those of pentanal and hexanal. Mixtures of vinylethyl ketone and pentanal gave a flavor to freshly deodorized oil similar to the flavor of oil in the early stages of autoxidation. Vinylethyl ketone was identified in the distillate from autoxidized soybean oil as the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone.
Injuries in adolescent and preadolescent boys at two large wrestling tournaments

We evaluated injury patterns at two wrestling tourna ments involving 1742 participants, aged 6 to 16 years. The overall injury rate was 12.7%. Injuries requiring withdrawal from the tournament occurred in 4.6% of the participants. Of all participants, 3% sustained an injury in their first match, and 1.1 % sustained an injury during their first match that required withdrawal from the tournament. Primary areas of injury were the upper extremity (33%) and the neck and back (24%). Wil coxon rank-sum tests revealed that increasing age and increasing weight were correlated with injury, whereas multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that only increasing age was correlated with injury. These find ings suggest the need for medical supervision at large wrestling tournaments, where it is likely that severe injuries will occur. In addition, older wrestlers and per haps heavier wrestlers are at an increased risk for injury.
CRANIOFACIAL SURGICAL RESECTION: NEW FRONTIER IN ADVANCED HEAD AND NECK CANCER

Craniofacial surgery has revolutionized the management of extensive malignancies and histologically benign but locally invasive tumours which encroach upon or directly invade the undersurface of the brain case. Approaches have been devised for tumours that involve the anterior middle and posterior fossae. Teamwork between head and neck and neurological surgeons is essential. Comprehensive pre-operative evaluation, especially the adequacy of cross-fill of the cerebral circulation via the contralateral arterial system through the circle of Willis, must be done. Management of the internal carotid artery and cavernous sinus presents the most difficult surgical problems during the resection. During the closure, separation of the intracranial dissection from the paranasal sinuses and epipharynx by the use of flaps and grafts is essential to prevent cerebrospinal fluid leakage, cerebral support, and isolation of the carotid and dura from upper respiratory tract organisms. Well-planned and executed craniofacial surgery can be done with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates and reasonable survival rates.
Labor heterogeneity, wage bargaining, and agglomeration economies

Abstract The modern economy is characterized by increasing returns to scale, diverse production technology, and specialized labor requirements. With heterogeneous production technology, increasing returns to scale, and specific labor requirements, we show that average productivity increases with the size of the labor market. The larger the size of the market, the better the matches between workers and firms, resulting in lower on-the-job-training costs. Through the wage bargaining between firms and workers, the savings in training costs are transmitted into higher wages.
Osteogenic Potential of Poly(Ethylene Glycol)–Poly(Dimethylsiloxane) Hybrid Hydrogels

Growth factors have been shown to be potent mediators of osteogenesis. However, their use in tissue-engineered scaffolds not only can be costly but also can induce undesired responses in surrounding tissues. Thus, the ability to specifically induce osteogenic differentiation in the absence of exogenous growth factors through manipulation of scaffold material properties would be desirable for bone regeneration. Previous research indicates that addition of inorganic or hydrophobic components to organic, hydrophilic scaffolds can enhance multipotent stem cell (MSC) osteogenesis. However, the combined impact of scaffold inorganic content and hydrophobicity on MSC behavior has not been systematically explored, particularly in three-dimensional (3D) culture systems. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine the effects of simultaneous increases in scaffold hydrophobicity and inorganic content on MSC osteogenic fate decisions in a 3D culture environment toward the development of intrinsically osteoinductive scaffolds. Mouse 10T½ MSCs were encapsulated in a series of novel scaffolds composed of varying levels of hydrophobic, inorganic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and hydrophilic, organic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). After 21 days of culture, increased levels of osteoblast markers, runx2 and osteocalcin, were observed in scaffolds with increased PDMS content. Bone extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, collagen I and calcium phosphate, were also elevated in formulations with higher PDMS:PEG ratios. Importantly, this osteogenic response appeared to be specific in that markers for chondrocytic, smooth muscle cell, and adipocytic lineages were not similarly affected by variations in scaffold PDMS content. As anticipated, the increase in scaffold hydrophobicity accompanying increasing PDMS levels was associated with elevated scaffold serum protein adsorption. Thus, scaffold inorganic content combined with alterations in adsorbed serum proteins may underlie the observed cell behavior.
Perceived Occlusion and Comfort in Receiver-in-the-Ear Hearing Aids

Purpose This study examined self-perceived occlusion and physical comfort ratings by hearing aid users with receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aids using different sizes of domes. Method Twenty-one older adults with hearing impairment were fitted with bilateral RITE hearing aids and tested with 3 dome conditions (open, plus, and power domes) and 1 control condition (participants' own aids). Participants ranked self-perceived occlusion across dome size conditions and across recorded and own voice conditions. Participants also ranked their level of physical comfort across dome sizes. Results Self-perceived occlusion increased as dome size increased, with open domes and participants' own aids resulting in the least amount of occlusion. Although this effect was demonstrated in both recorded and own voice conditions, the effect of dome size was greatest in the own voice test conditions. Perceived physical comfort decreased as dome size increased. Conclusions Self-perceived occlusion was greatest for power dome...
Discovering the events expert practitioners extract from dynamic data streams: the modified unit marking technique

One of the cornerstones of expert performance in complex domains is the ability to perceive problem situations in terms of their task-relevant semantic properties. One such class of properties consists of phenomena that are defined in terms of patterns of change over time, i.e., events. A basic pre-requisite for working towards tools to support event recognition is a method for understanding the events that expert practitioners find meaningful in a given field of practice. In this article we present the modified unit marking procedure (mUMP), a technique adapted from work on social perception to facilitate identification of the meaningful phenomena which observers attend to in a dynamic data array. The mUMP and associated data analysis techniques are presented with examples from a first of a kind study where they were used to elicit and understand the events practitioners found meaningful in a scenario from an actual complex work domain.
Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in a Magneto-Plasma Filled Coaxial Structure: II, Experimental

Measurements have been made of electromagnetic propagation in a coaxial electrode structure filled with longitudinally magnetized plasma. The annular plasma region had a 9.55 cm outer diameter, a 3.82 cm inner diameter and was approximately 60 cm long. A magnetic field of 300 gauss was employed. Electromagnetic wave frequencies were in the range .5 to 2.4 GHz. The plasma was generated by a continuous glow discharge. The resulting ? vs. s curves closely follow the predicted curves for the "quasi-TEM" mode. On the basis of this model, plasma frequencies were 40 - 80% of the cyclotron frequency, depending on magnitude of the glow discharge current.
Performance measurement and government productivity

To be able to compete in the global economy, firms must become more efficient, more flexible and, above all, more customer‐oriented. The competitive edge of firms is determined not only by their own strategic choices, but also by what their respective governments do (or fail to do) in terms of providing a supportive infrastructure that helps them compete. This paper examines the changing nature of government, and in particular the changing nature of performance measurement and management as governments attempt to balance accountability for the resources they manage with flexibility in terms of the services they provide.
Surface structural evolution during the thermal decomposition of a PdO(101) thin film

Abstract We used scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to characterize PdO(101) thin films grown on Pd(111), and the structural changes that occur during isothermal decomposition. We find that the PdO(101) thin films have high-quality surface structures that are characterized by large, crystalline terraces with low concentrations of point defects. Small domains of single-layer oxide are also present on the top layer of relatively thick PdO(101) films grown at 500 K. The thinner PdO(101) films exhibit negligible quantities of such domains, apparently because new domains agglomerate rapidly as the film thickness decreases. We find that the isothermal decomposition rate of a PdO(101) film at 720 K exhibits an autocatalytic regime in which the rate of oxygen desorption increases as the oxide decomposes. Our STM results demonstrate that reduced sites created during oxide decomposition catalyze further PdO decomposition, and reveal strong kinetic anisotropies in the decomposition. The kinetic anisotropies produce one-dimensional reaction fronts that propagate preferentially along the atomic rows of the PdO(101) surface, resulting in the formation of long chains of reduced sites. We also find that reduced sites promote oxygen recombination in neighboring rows of the Pd(101) structure, causing loops and larger aggregates of reduced sites to form. The promotion of decomposition across the atomic rows can qualitatively explain the autocatalytic desorption kinetics. Finally, the STM images provide evidence that underlying PdO(101) layers transfer oxygen to reduced surface domains, thus producing large domains of PdO(101) islands that coexist with reduced domains as well as the larger PdO(101) terraces of the initial surface. Re-oxidation of the surface acts to sustain the autocatalytic decomposition kinetics, and provides a mechanism for oxygen atoms to ultimately evolve from the subsurface of the PdO(101) film.
Synthesis and properties of C(10) isopropyl and isopropylidene analogs of bilirubin

Abstract Analogs of bilirubin with isopropyl ( 1 ) and isopropylidene ( 2 ) groups attached to the central C(10) carbon were synthesized and evaluated by a combination of NMR, UV-vis and circular dichroism spectroscopy and molecular dynamics calculations. These methods and 1 H{ 1 H}-homonuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) experiments in CDCl 3 solutions indicate that the rubins' carboxylic acid groups are tethered to the dipyrrinone lactams and/or pyrroles by intramolecular hydrogen bonds and confirm that the pigments adopt a folded, ridge-tile shape in solution.
Oxygen utilization by rat skin exposed to several cryoprotective solutions during liquid nitrogen storage.

Abstract The respiratory activity of paired samples of rat skin was determined with a recording oxygen electrode immediately after excision, after 2 hrs of soaking at 4 °C, and after 1 week of liquid nitrogen storage. The soaking solutions used were 0.9% NaCl, 10% dimethyl sulfoxide, 10% glycerol, and 10% DMSO-10% sucrose. Exposure to 0.9% NaCl or the cryoprotective solutions for 2 hrs at 4 °C did not cause consistent alterations in skin oxygen uptake. After 1 week of storage in a liquid nitrogen cryostat and rapid thawing, skin stored in any of the three cryoprotective solutions had significantly higher oxygen utilization rates than samples stored in 0.9% NaCl. The 10% glycerol solution appeared to protect skin respiration most effectively. Skin from older rats (500 g) did not tolerate soaking or freezing as well as younger (250 g) rats' skin. Analysis of the oxygen depletion curves revealed that some of the frozen-thawed skin cells were probably losing their ability to consume oxygen after rapid thawing.
Specificity of the cis-Isomers of Inhibitors of Uredospore Germination in the Rust Fungi

Abstract The cis- but not the trans-isomers of the natural inhibitors, methyl ferulate and methyl 3,4-dimethoxycinnamate, inhibit germination of the uredospores of wheat-stem rust. Minimum concentrations for 50% inhibition are about 7 and 140 nM, respectively. Ultraviolet radiation activates the trans-isomers by partial conversion to the cis-forms, and partially inactivates the cis-form by the reverse transformation. About 100 molecules of the germination stimulant, n-nonyl alcohol, are required per molecule of methyl cis-ferulate to overcome inhibition and restore 50% germination. Seasonal and age differences in sensitivity of spores to inhibitor may be related to variations in content of stimulant.
Assessing reflective thinking: pre‐service teachers’ and professors’ perceptions of an oral examination

This paper investigates the role questioning occupies in an oral examination as it relates to King and Kitchener’s theory of critical, reflective thinking. Pre‐service teachers’ experience of sitting an oral examination and professors’ reflections on conducting the assessment in a small liberal arts university are considered. Findings from this research reflect upon the learning process in an oral examination and review the relationship between the examiners’ probing questions and the assessment of reflective thinking in pre‐service teachers.
A Novel Analysis Technique For Determining Area Per Lipid And Electron Density Profiles From Large Lipid Bilayer Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Determination of the area per lipid (AL) and electron density profiles (EDP) from molecular dynamics simulations of lipid bilayers is complicated in large systems where mesoscopic undulations develop. Typically, AL is determined by a projection onto the xy-plane (often using the periodic box dimensions or Voronoi tessellation). However, this approach underestimates AL by not accounting for the out-of-plane undulations. As an alternative, we have used interpolated surfaces to more accurately characterize the simulated AL. We apply a 2-dimensional spatial filter with a frequency response optimized to a characteristic wave-number, q0, as determined by Lindahl and Edholm. In so doing, the interpolated bilayer surface captures the desired low-q modes of undulation while damping the undesirable high-q protrusions. AL values from our filtered trajectories yield an increase of 1-3 A2 over that of the traditional calculations. Regarding EDPs, current algorithms parse the atoms into bins orthogonal to the normal of the bilayer. In large bilayer simulations, undulations introduce heterogeneous sampling in the z-slices. This heterogeneity convolves an averaging function with the electron density, resulting in a smoothed profile, an artifact of the calculation. Subsets of the simulated bilayer, however, with lengths that are less than the characteristic wavelength corresponding to q0, are locally flat. By transforming each local patch to a coordinate frame whose z-axis is parallel to the normal of the plane of that patch, we can implement homogeneous z-slicing to accurately determine the EDP.
The effect of covariance estimator error on cosmological parameter constraints

Extracting parameter constraints from cosmological observations requires accurate determination of the covariance matrix for use in the likelihood function. We show here that uncertainties in the elements of the covariance matrix propagate directly to increased uncertainties in cosmological parameters. When the covariance matrix is determined by simulations, the resulting variance of the each parameter increases by a factor of order $1+{N}_{b}/{N}_{s}$, where ${N}_{b}$ is the number of bands in the measurement and ${N}_{s}$ is the number of simulations.
A Novel Semi-Supervised Deep Learning Framework for Affective State Recognition on EEG Signals

Nowadays the rapid development in the area of human-computer interaction has given birth to a growing interest on detecting different affective states through smart devices. By using the modern sensor equipment, we can easily collect electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, which capture the information from central nervous system and are closely related with our brain activities. Through the training on EEG signals, we can make reasonable analysis on people's affection, which is very promising in various areas. Unfortunately, the special properties of EEG dataset have brought difficulties for conventional machine learning methods. The main reasons lie in two aspects: the small set of labeled samples and the noisy channel problem. To overcome these difficulties and successfully identify the affective states, we come up with a novel semi-supervised deep structured framework. Compared with previous deep learning models, our method is more adapted to the EEG classification problem. We first adopt a two-level procedure, which involves both supervised label information and unsupervised structure information to jointly make decision on channel selection. And then, we add a generative Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM) model for the classification task, and use the training objectives of generative learning and unsupervised learning to jointly regularize the discriminative training. Finally, we extend it to the active learning scenario, which solves the costly labeling problem. The experiments conducted on real EEG dataset have shown both the convincing result on critical channel selection and the superiority of our method over multiple baselines for the affective state recognition.
Photon spectrum outside the earth's atmosphere

The number of photons available outside the earth's atmosphere is computed from Johnson's data for the spectral irradiance at zero air mass. The total number of photons corresponding to the solar constant of 1396 watts per square meter is 6.43 × 1017 per square centimeter per second and their average energy is 1.36 ev. The number of available photons in various bands with different energy cut-off is also calculated. The numbers so determined are nearly the same as those determined for a 6000 degrees K black body with an integrated power output equal to the solar constant.
Treatment of SVC syndrome and hemoptysis in a patient with mediastinal fibrosis

Mediastinal fibrosis can present with a multitude of symptoms, most commonly cough, dyspnea and hemoptysis. We describe a case of mediastinal fibrosis secondary to histoplasmosis, which presented with both superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) and hemoptysis. Our patient was successfully treated with bronchial artery embolization followed by SVC stent placement during a brief hospital stay.
Influence of Leaders on Mean Square Consentability in Biologically-Inspired Stochastic Networks

In this work, we study a discrete-time consensus protocol for a group of agents which communicate over a class of stochastically switching networks inspired by fish schooling. The network model incorporates the phenomenon of numerosity that has a prominent role on the collective behavior of animal groups by defining the individuals’ perception of numbers. The agents comprise leaders, which share a common state, and followers, which update their states based on information exchange among neighboring agents. We write a closed form expression for the asymptotic convergence factor of the protocol, which measures the decay rate of disagreement among the followers’ and the leaders’ states. Numerical simulations are conducted to validate analytical results and illustrate the consensus dynamics as a function of the group size, number of leaders in the group, and the numerosity.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Oxidative Stress, DNA Damage, and Breast Cancer

Oxidative stress is a disturbance in the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses. It occurs when excessive production of ROS overwhelms the antioxidant defense system or when there is a significant decrease or lack of antioxidant defenses. Oxidative stress, in turn, is known to cause DNA damage and mutations of tumor suppressor genes that are critical initial events in carcinogenesis. Interestingly, early findings of the studies suggest that environmental factors, such as high psychological stress and poor nutritional profile (eg, low antioxidant and high fat intake), increase ROS production. Given that breast cancer is a complex disorder in which gene-environment interactions play a significant role in the development of cancer, oxidative stress may be an excellent model for exploring mechanisms mediating gene-environment interactions for nurse scientists and advanced practice nurses. Such investigations may help to suggest future strategies for nonpharmacological interventions for decreasing cancer risk.
An open trial of videoconference-mediated exposure and ritual prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder

The gold-standard treatment for OCD is exposure and ritual prevention (ERP), yet despite its well-established efficacy, only a small percentage of OCD patients have access to this treatment. Remote treatments (e.g., videoconferencing) are becoming increasingly popular avenues for treatment delivery and show promise in increasing patient access to evidence-based mental health care. The current pilot study utilized an open trial to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of videoconference-mediated, twice weekly, ERP for adults (n=15) with OCD. Results revealed that ERP was associated with significant improvements in OCD symptoms and large within-group effect sizes. Among the 10 individuals who completed a 3-month follow-up assessment, 30% of participants no longer met DSM-IV-TR criteria for OCD and 80% of participants were rated as very much or much improved on the CGI. This study adds to the growing body of literature suggesting that videoconference-based interventions are viable alternatives to face-to-face treatment.
Binding Mechanisms of PEGylated Ligands Reveal Multiple Effects of the PEG Scaffold

A series of synthetic ligands consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), capped on one or both ends with the hapten 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP), were previously shown to be potent inhibitors of cellular activation in RBL mast cells stimulated by a multivalent antigen [Baird, E. J., Holowka, D., Coates, G. W., and Baird, B. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 12739-12748]. In this study, we systematically investigated the effect of increasing length of the PEG scaffold on the binding of these monovalent and bivalent ligands to anti-DNP IgE in solution. Our analysis reveals evidence for an energetically favorable interaction between two monovalent ligands bound to the same receptor, when the PEG molecular mass exceeds approximately 5 kDa. Additionally, for ligands with much higher molecular masses (>10 kDa PEG), the binding of a single ligand apparently leads to a steric exclusion of the second binding site by the bulky PEG scaffold. These results are further corroborated by data from an alternate fluorescence-based assay that we developed to quantify the capacity of these ligands to displace a small hapten bound to IgE. This new assay monitors the displacement of a small, receptor-bound hapten by a competitive monovalent ligand and thus quantifies the competitive inhibition offered by a monovalent ligand. We also show that, for bivalent ligands, inhibitory capacity is correlated with the capacity to form effective intramolecular cross-links with IgE.
Chinese Indians in Fire: Refractions of Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality and Citizenship in Post-Colonial India's Memories of the Sino-Indian War

This article utilises the representation of the Chinese characters in the film Fire (1996) as a strategic site from which to examine the institutional marginalisation of India's Chinese minority co...
A method to capture six-degrees-of-freedom mechanical measurements of isometric shoulder and elbow torques during event-related fMRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments investigating cortical activity while controlling task performance are difficult to conduct due to the high magnetic field environment and a lack of compatible measurement tools. We describe a method to measure the generation of isometric shoulder and elbow torques with a six-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) load cell during an event-related fMRI study. Feasibility of this method is demonstrated by finding cortical activity on the motor cortices in a participant during an event-related study of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion. The described methodology permits researchers to control and measure intersubject and intrasubject motor task performance during event-related brain imaging.
ENERGY -MOMENTUM DISTRIBUTION IN e+e- ANNIHILATION

In this lecture we present a model for hadronic momentum distribution in e+e−annihilation based on an approximation to the gluon distribution in QCD1. Using an expression derived by Etim, Pancheri and Touschek2 for the 4-momentum distribution d4P(K) of the emitted radiation in any QED process, earlier we were ab le to obtain (an exponential) transverse momentum damping3. In the present workl we have extended that analysis to the energy as well as the longitudinal momentum distribution of the radiation.
Extracellular Matrix Fibronectin Stimulates the Self-Assembly of Microtissues on Native Collagen Gels

Fibronectin is an adhesive glycoprotein that is polymerized into extracellular matrices via a tightly regulated, cell-dependent process. Here, we demonstrate that fibronectin matrix polymerization induces the self-assembly of multicellular structures in vitro, termed tissue bodies. Fibronectin-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts adherent to compliant gels of polymerized type I collagen failed to spread or proliferate. In contrast, addition of fibronectin to collagen-adherent fibronectin-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cell number, and induced the formation of three-dimensional (3D) multicellular structures that remained adherent and well-spread on the native collagen substrate. An extensive fibrillar fibronectin matrix formed throughout the microtissue. Blocking fibronectin matrix polymerization inhibited both cell proliferation and microtissue formation, demonstrating the importance of fibronectin fibrillogenesis in triggering cellular self-organization. Cell proliferation, tissue body formation, and tissue body shape were dependent on both fibronectin and collagen concentrations, suggesting that the relative proportion of collagen and fibronectin fibrils polymerized into the extracellular matrix influences the extent of cell proliferation and the final shape of microtissues. These data demonstrate a novel role for cell-mediated fibronectin fibrillogenesis in the formation and vertical assembly of microtissues, and provide a novel approach for engineering complex tissue architecture.