cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From theory to practice: Lessons learned in the application of the ATM approach to developing logic models

Abstract The topic of logic models has received significant attention in the evaluation and social science literature, focusing either on the theory of logic models or methodology for program design. The evaluation and social science literature dedicated to logic models has been criticized for being overly complex and too difficult for practitioners to understand and utilize. Agencies such as the Kellogg Foundation and the United Way have championed initiatives to bridge the theory–application gap. They have done so by publishing simple, step-by-step instructions as how to create a logic model, intended primarily for those responsible for implementing human service programs. The difficulty with these prescriptive publications is that they unintentionally mislead the practitioner into believing that the task of creating a logic model is as simple as completing a one-page table. The understanding that logic modeling is a process, the results of which can then be summarized in a one-page table, is lost. This misunderstanding is partly due to the dearth of literature devoted to the logic model process. In 2002, a systematic three-step process to creating a logic model, coined the ATM approach, was published in an attempt to meet this need. Since its publication, the ATM approach has been used in a variety of settings. The purpose of this paper is to report on the practical lessons learned in the process of creating a logic model using the ATM approach.
Cognitive Resources and Leadership Performance

Le role et la fonction des ressources cognitives que sont les aptitudes intellectuelles, l'experience et les connaissances specialisees ont longtemps ete une enigme tacitement ignoree dans la theorie du leadership. En pratique, tout protocole de selection ou de promotion d'un manager ou d'un leader evalue soigneusement les aptitudes intellectuelles du candidat, ses connaissances et son experience professionnelle. Pourtant, rien de tout cela n'est en forte correlation, voire tout simplement en correlation, avec les performances de leader. Cet article, qui s'appuie sur la theorie des ressources cognitives (CRT), fait la synthese aussi bien des recherches recentes que de nouveaux travaux qui eclairent le role des ressources cognitives dans le phenomene de leadership, et en tire des indications permettant d'ameliorer les performances des leaders. The role and function of such cognitive resources as intellectual abilities, experience, and expertise, have presented a long-standing but tacitly ignored enigma in leadership theory. Practically all managerial and leadership selection and promotion processes carefully weigh the leader's intellectual abilities, expertise, and job-related experience. However, none of these correlates highly, if at all, with leadership performance. This paper, based on Cognitive Resource Theory (CRT), summarises recent research, as well as new findings, that clarifies the role of cognitive resources in the leadership process, and spells out implications for more effective leadership performance.
Depression in Children from Single-Parent Families

The study examined depression in 53 eldest children between six and ten years old who were living in mother-headed one-parent families. None of the children were involved in counseling or psychological treatment at the time of the study. Child report scores on the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) were regressed on three variables, gender of the children, a self-report measure of the mother's depression, and the amount of time since the parents' separation. Analyses revealed that only gender of the child was a significant predictor of CDI scores, with boys reporting significantly greater depressive symptomatology. Contrary to expectation, neither time since separation nor depression in the mother added significantly to the prediction. Mother's ratings of the child on DSM-III criteria for depression were also regressed on the same three factors, revealing that only the mother's depression score was a significant predictor of her perceptions of the child's depressive symptoms. Results are discussed in t...
Managing glenoid bone loss virtual surgery—A software solution

Abstract Inaccurate placement of glenoid prosthesis in shoulder arthroplasty can lead to early loosening, instability, and failure. To address difficult glenoid morphology, patient-specific instrumentation and navigation techniques have been developed. Advanced imaging data has demonstrated utility in preoperative decision making. Cadaveric studies have subsequently shown that the application of advancing imaging and navigation can lead towards increased accuracy with prosthesis placement. Clinical trials have also shown increased accuracy with navigation and advanced imaging, but data demonstrating improved long-term outcomes and decreased complication rates is not yet available. This technology continues to evolve as a method to address glenoid bone loss and abnormal morphology.
Analytical sensitivity of assays used for detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus in semen samples from the Southeastern United States.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a significant pathogen that can be shed in the semen of infected bulls. Thus, screening for BVDV in semen of bulls is recommended prior to their entry into an artificial insemination center. No previous research has compared the analytical sensitivity of reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) and virus isolation assays for detection of BVDV in semen from an infected bull. Therefore, the goals of this research were to compare the analytical sensitivity of RT-nPCR and virus isolation assays for BVDV in semen and to apply these assays to determine the prevalence in the Southeastern United States of bulls that lack viremia yet shed BVDV in semen. Semen collected from a bull that was persistently infected with BVDV was serially diluted (1/10) in semen from uninfected bulls and frozen in liquid nitrogen as raw, partially extended or fully extended semen. Subsequently, samples of semen were assayed by virus isolation and RT-nPCR. Viral detection was more sensitive in extended semen samples than in raw semen samples and more sensitive by RT-nPCR than virus isolation. After this evaluation of analytical sensitivity, serum and semen were collected from 558 post-pubertal bulls in our region. These samples were tested for BVDV by virus isolation. Partially extended semen was also assayed for BVDV by RT-nPCR. All samples were negative by all assays for BVDV. The application of analytically sensitive assays reveals a very low prevalence (≤0.54%) of BVDV in semen from bulls in the Southeastern United States.
Acetylenic compounds. II. Preparation and properties of stearolic acid and the related substances

1. 9,10-Dibromostearic acid has been prepared in different grades of purity through urea-inclusion compounds from natural sources of fatty acids. This facilitated preparation of stearolic acid.
A Dual-Mesh Approach to Enhance Accuracy of the Boundary Conditions for Unstructured Grid Modeling of Turbomachinery Flows

Although unstructured grids have gained wide acceptance in many engineering applications, they still suffer from difficulties in achieving high accuracy at the inflow, outflow and mixing-plane interface boundaries of multi-stage turbomachinery configurations. To overcome these difficulties and hence to increase the accuracy of unstructured grid methods, a novel dual mesh approach is proposed. In contrast to conventional CFD techniques, the dual mesh approach works on two sets of meshes at the boundaries: one is the original mesh and the other is an auxiliary surface mesh created at run time. By properly coupling of such double meshes, the dual mesh approach can effectively increase the accuracy and conservation of the solutions at the inflow, outflow and mixing-plane interface boundaries, and it can also enjoy most of the sophisticated numerical algorithms originally developed for the structured-grid boundary conditions. With both compressor and turbine test cases, the dual mesh approach is demonstrated to be superior to the conventional method while its CPU-time penalty is marginal. Additionally the dual mesh approach may be also useful for any structured CFD solvers subject to some restrictions on the structured grid distributions at the inflow, outflow and mixing-plane interface boundaries, e.g. mesh uniformity in the circumferential direction.Copyright © 2010 by Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada
Hydrolysis of Cellulose Acetate and Cellulose Acetate Butyrate Pseudolatexes Prepared by a Solvent Evaporation-Microfluidization Method

AbstractAqueous colloidal Cellulose acetate dispersions have recently been introduced as an alternative to organic polymer solutions for the coating of osmotically active cores with a semipermeable membrane. Cellulose esters are known to hydrolytically degrade in an aqueous environment. This study followed the chemical degradation of pseudolatexes of the cellulose esters, cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate butyrate, over time and as a function of temperature. The pseudolatexes were prepared by a microfluidization-solvent evaporation method. The hydrolysis of the cellulose esters was followed by determining the pH and the amount of the acidic degradation products, acetic and butyric acid, in the aqueous phase of the polymer dispersions with an HPLC assay. The degradation followed a pseudo first-order equation and rate constants and activation energies were calculated. In addition to chemical instability, agglomeration and gelling of the colloidal particles occurred. The pseudolatexes were stable at 4°...
CAN MIXING MATERIALS MAKE ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNALS TRAVEL FASTER

Suppose that a composite is constructed from two phases and that we propagate an electromagnetic signal through it. The velocity of the signal in the composite depends on the microstructure. What microstructures are associated with the maximum and minimum speeds of the electromagnetic signal? Here we show that the group velocity of a pulse can be higher in the composite than in either of the two phases. We derive sharp bounds for the relative increase and decrease in the group velocity of the electromagnetic signal in the composite and give the associated optimal microstructures. We also find that a pulse in a composite can have substantially smaller dispersion and, at the same time, substantially larger group velocity than pulses traveling in the pure phases.
Global variability of precipitation according to the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission

Numerous studies have documented the effect of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on rainfall in many regions of the globe. The question of whether ENSO is the single most important factor in interannual rainfall variability has received less attention, mostly because the kind of data that would be required to make such an assessment were simply not available. Until 1979 the evidence linking El Nino with changes in rainfall around the world came from rain gauges measuring precipitation over land masses and a handful of islands. From 1980 until the launch of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) in November 1997 the remote sensing evidence was confined to ocean rainfall because of the very poor sensitivity of the instruments over land. In this paper we summarize the results of a principal component analysis of TRMM's 60-month (January 1998 to December 2002) global land and ocean remote-sensing record of monthly rainfall accumulations. Contrary to the first principal component of the rainfall itself, the first three indices of the anomaly are most sensitive to precipitation over the ocean rather than over the land. With the help of archived surface station data the first TRMM rain anomaly index is extended back several decades. Comparison of the extended index with the Southern Oscillation Index confirms that the first principal component of the rainfall anomaly is strongly correlated with the ENSO indices.
Okadaic acid inhibits angiotensin II stimulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and calcium signalling in rat hepatocytes

OKA2 and CL-A significantly inhibit the ability of angiotensin II, ATP and vasopressin to raise [Ca2+]i in rat hepatocytes, with a partial inhibition of the initial spike, and a complete inhibition of the following plateau. In contrast, the [Ca2+]i response to thapsigargin, which releases intracellular calcium stores through a mechanism independent of inositol phosphates, is much less affected. The ability of angiotensin II to stimulate Ins(1.4.5)P3 production is also reduced by OKA, with kinetics consistent with the inhibited [Ca2+], response. Since OKA and CL-A are potent and selective inhibitors or phosphoprotein phosphatases. these results provide further evidence that agonist-stimulated Ins(1,4,5)P3 signalling can be inhibited by protein phosphorylation.
Use of a Color Coded Chart for Teaching the Basic Principles of Sexuality Counseling to Adolescents

Background All adolescents should have regularly scheduled visits with an experienced health professional for routine risk reduction counseling. Information on postponing sexual involvement, contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, should be provided as appropriate. This paper describes how a color coded chart may be used to simplify communication of this important data to young adults. Methods The various methods of contraception available to adolescents are listed on a one page chart which is used to facilitate sexuality counseling. The nine categories included are as follows: “saving sex,” birth control pills, condoms, cervical cap and diaphragm, vaginal sponge, other over the counter products for vaginal insertion (foam, cream, jelly, suppositories, etc), Depo-provera, Norplant and the “rhythm method” or withdrawal. A color coded scale is used to rate each item for reliability, side effects, disease prevention convenience, and cost. The best rating is green for good, followed by yellow for fair and red for poor. Special consideration is also given to “emergency contraception.” Results Over the past two years this instrument has been used as a starting point for teaching our adolescent patients about important sexuality concerns. Teenagers are very familiar with the comparison of the rating scale to a traffic light and can easily understand the implications of the color code. The benefits and drawbacks of available options are readily seen in contrast on the one page chart. It becomes quickly apparen to the patients that “saving sex” is the only item with a green rating for all of the categories listed. This format also highlights the fact that all methods are given a red rating for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases except “saving sex” which is given a green and the use of condoms which is given a yellow. The availability of “emergency contraception” and circumstances under which it should be considered are also stressed. Use of the chart is supplemented by patient care handouts, educational videotapes, and samples of contraceptive items when appropriate. Conclusion A color coded chart appears to be a very useful tool for educating adolescents about important sexuality concerns. This format is a simple, fast, and easily understood method for explaining the pros and cons of various methods of contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. The advantages of “saving sex” and the fact that there is no such thing as “safe sex” are highlighted with this teaching instrument. Clinicians can rapidly focus on these and other fundamental principles of sexuality counseling, such as the use of “emergency contraception,” as they review this material with their young adult patients. The information provided can also serve as a basis for further discussion as indicated.
Deleuze and the liberal tradition: normativity, freedom and judgement

This paper is a critical review article of Paul Patton's book, Deleuze and the Political , and analyzes the relationship between Deleuze and the 'liberal' tradition of political philosophy. It focuses on three concepts drawn from the liberal tradition - normativity, freedom and judgment - and in each case shows how these concepts are capable of being transformed in light of Deleuze's philosophy. For Deleuze, a truly 'normative' principle must be a principle of creation as well as critique: it must not only provide norms for condemning abuses of power, but also a means for transforming norms that have themselves become abuses of power. From a Deleuzian perspective, the normative is thus seen as the condition for the production of the new. The liberal notion of 'negative freedom' in turn finds itself transformed into the stronger notion of 'critical freedom' (Tully), which entails the freedom to critique and create, to transform (and not merely pursue) one's own interest and desires. This entails, finally, ...
Raman spectra of alkali fluoride crystals

Abstract Polarized Raman spectra of LiF, NaF, and CsF and preliminary unpolarized spectra of KF and RbF have been measured at 300°K. These spectra are compared with spectra predicted recently by Hardy and Karo, or with the two-phonon density of states. The calculated spectra are in good agreement for LiF and NaF, but show a 20 per cent discrepancy in peak positions and a different polarization in CsF.
The Melancholy Boy and the Religion of Humor: The Case of S. S. Adams

Drawing on earlier writings (Capps, Men, religion, andmelancholia: James, Otto, Jung, and Erikson, 1997, 2004) in which I argue that male melancholia has its origins in the boy’s emotional separation from his mother at age 3–5 years old, and that the three main forms of male religion—honor, hope, and humor—are responses to this loss, I focus in this article on S. S. Adams, the inventor of several practical jokes, as an illustration of the religion of humor. I suggest that Adams, son of Danish immigrants, coped with his melancholia through the invention of practical jokes, including the Dribble Glass, the Razzberry Cushion, and the Joy Buzzer. I contend that these inventions have similar iconic value in the religion of male melancholia to the prayer cards, rosary beads, and votive candles of traditional Christianity. I also propose that the S. S. Adams Factory in Neptune, NJ, USA may be viewed as a pilgrimage site for devotees of male melancholic religion.
Integrated Structural and Safety Engineering for Fire and Blast Design - Case Studies and Lessons Learned

An integrated structural and safety engineering approach to addressing fire and blast hazards on offshore oil and gas production facilities is discussed. This paper aims to demonstrate how to apply a risk based approach in practice and how it may yield significant savings and improvements in the design of safety systems. Using an integrated approach, only the credible fire and blast scenarios that are of structural significance need to be fully analyzed, using a consistent level of rigor for the hazard risk assessment and the structural response assessment. The paper discusses how, the simplicity of the integrated approach enables such studies to be undertaken relatively early on in the design process, when layout and structural configuration can still be influenced. Conclusions and observations from real case studies are presented and salient issues of industry importance are discussed.
Surgical Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure

Cardiac transplantation is the definitive surgical treatment for patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and congestive heart failure. Unfortunately, however, the supply of donor hearts remains severely limited, so transplantation is an option for only a minority of these patients. Even after being approved for a heart transplant, patients often have a long wait until a suitable donor heart can be found. This waiting period entails a significant mortality rate. Because the supply of donor hearts is not expected to increase, surgeons have introduced several alternatives to heart transplantation, including partial left ventriculectomy, mitral valve repair, myocardial revascularization, and endoventricular circular patch plasty. For maximal benefit, surgeons must refine the selection criteria for determining which patients are the best candidates for each of these procedures.
Phenomenal intentionality and the evidential role of perceptual experience: comments on Jack Lyons, Perception and Basic Beliefs

Perception and Basic Beliefs is a fine book. The overall dialectic is always kept clearly in view for the reader. The arguments are vigorously presented, are always provocative, and are often quite persuasive. The book is very well informed, both about the contours of recent epistemology and about pertinent work in cognitive science. The writing is elegant, crisp, and uncluttered. Lyons' way of parsing the landscape of epistemological positions concerning justified belief is very illuminating, especially because of his emphasis on the distinction between evidential and non-evidential forms of justification. The book was a pleasure to read, and I recommend it very strongly to any philosopher or philosophy graduate student interested in epistemology. That said, I also find myself in fairly strong disagreement with the position Lyons stakes out. My main goal here will be to explain why I am not persuaded by his overall argument, which will involve saying some things along the way about key aspects of an alternative approach to epistemic justification that I find more plausible than his. I will also say something about "zombie epistemology." At the end of Chapter 2, he gives a nice, pithy summary of the large-scale dialectical structure of his overall argument in the book, with reference to the following two principles:
Rapid serological analysis of bacterial lipopolysaccharides by electrotransfer to nitrocellulose

Techniques are described for the rapid screening of proteinase K-treated bacterial lysates by electroblot and immunoenzymatic detection to assess O-specificity of antigens and antisera. Conditions are outlined which permit the use of a single polyacrylamide gel for both electrotransfer to nitrocellulose and silver staining. Immunodetection of transferred LPS bands was equally sensitive to silver stain when whole cell or O-specific antisera were used. The techniques were utilized to identify at least 4 O-serotypes among sorbitol fermenting isolates of the fish pathogen, Yersinia ruckeri. Observed variations in the electrophoretic mobilities of lipopolysaccharides from 17 field isolates of Y. ruckeri were used to accurately predict the O-serotype.
The effect of chronic versus acute administration on the anabolic effect of PGE2 on bone in the OVX rat

THE EFFECT OF CHRONIC VERSUS ACUTE ADMINISTRATION ON THE ANABOLIC EFFECT OF PGE 2 ON BONE IN THE OVX RAT. W.J. Wechter, A.E. Bigornia, D. Kantoci, D.D. Quiggle, J. Lindeen, E.D. Murray, Jr., and R. Setterberg, Laboratory of Chemical Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA. The extant literature (Desimone & Bell)" had concluded that continuously administered low levels of PGE~ for 28 days from controlled release pell~ts produces local inflammation and loss of cancellous bone of the tibia without increasing plasma levels of the major PGE 2 metabolite. This suggested to us that the PGE 2 had been released acutely. We have repeated this experiment employing Alzet pumps as the delivery device over a range of doses. Doses of i, 3 or 6 mg/kg/day were compared with literature of these doses given s.q. Anabolic doses were administered to rats (7/group) 21 days post-OVX and plasma levels of DK-PGE~ were followed by RIA at weeks 1-3. All treated groups exhibited 0.3 to 0.6 ng of DHK-PGE 2 at all time points and measured AUCs of 1.4, 2.0 and 3.4 respectively. There were dose related significant effects on movement, eye grooming, alo~ecia, diarrhea to day 9 and facial and severe hind llmb edema after day 9. At necropsy, in the PGE2-treated animals the joint area of the distal tibia and paw exhibited an arthritic appearance with restricted movement, the high dose group being most severe. The distal tibia was much larger in diameter than the controls up to and including the tibia-fibular junction with considerable lamellar bone formation. PQCT of the groups exhibited major changes in the treated animals associated with the gross physical changes. Preliminary static histomorphometry supported these observations. The high dose group % trabecular area was equal to that of the aging controls. Th~se results not only establish non-performance of the controlled delivery device, but also the profound effects of continuously administered PGE~. It suggests experiments at even lower doses in order to avoid pathologic consequences while maintaining the desired anabolic effects. *J. Bone and Mineral Res., ~, 625-634 (1993).
Brachiopod tentacles: ultrastructure and functional significance of the connective tissue and myoepithelial cells in Terebratalia.

The fine structure of the tentacles of the articulate brachiopod Terebratalia transversa has been studied by light and electron microscopy. The epidermis consists of a simple epithelium that is ciliated in frontal and paired latero-frontal or latero-abfrontal longitudinal tracts. Bundles of unsheathed nerve fibers extend longitudinally between the bases of the frontal epidermal cells and appear to end on the connective tissue cylinder; no myoneural junctions were found. The acellular connective tissue cylinder in each tentacle is composed of orthogonal arrays of collagen fibrils embedded in an amorphous matrix. Baffles of parallel crimped collagen fibrils traverse the connective tissue cylinder in regions where it buckles during flexion of the tentacle. The tentacular peritoneum consists of four cell types: 1) common peritoneal cells that line the lateral walls of the coelomic canal, 2) striated and 3) smooth myoepithelial cells that extend along the frontal and abfrontal sides of the coelomic canal, and 4) squamous smooth myoepithelial cells that comprise the tentacular blood channel. Experimental manipulations of a tentacle indicate that its movements are effected by the interaction of the tentacular contractile apparatus and the resilience of the supportive connective tissue cylinder. The frontal contractile bundle is composed of a central group of striated fibers and two lateral groups of smooth fibers which function to flex the tentacle and to hold it down, respectively. The small abfrontal group of smooth myoepithelial cells effects the re-extension of the tentacle, in conjunction with the passive resiliency of the connective tissue cylinder and the concomitant relaxation of the frontal contractile bundle.
Image hardenings by uv-, pulsed-electron beams and crosslinking agents

For uv-hardening increase in oxygen concentration accelerates crosslinking rate than in air, and uv-exposure in nitrogen retards the reaction. Surfaces of photoresist images are photo-oxidized by intense uv-irradiation in air. However, the oxidized layer never extends over several hundred A depth as measured by ESCA. Crosslinking extends far deeper, although it depends on the irradiating wavelength. The degree of crosslinkages is far densier near the surface than in the interior. A combination of heating and uv-exposure helps uv-hardening by spreading and acclerate crosslinking in resist images. Deep-uv light never reaches deeper beyond a few micron thick layer of photoresists and of polyamic acids. Thus, uv-hardening has a limit of its application. High aspect ratio images can be fabricated with photoimageable polyamic acid. However, in high temperature curing the images flow, yielding only low aspect ratio images of polyimides. Pulsed electron beam hardening can solve these problems of thick photoresists and of polyamic acids. For both type of images about 200 pulses of electron beams at 25keV are required, each pulse having a dose from 1μC/cm2 to 10μC/cm2 with a duration of about 100 nsec. Another method of resist image stabilization is chemical crosslinking, using various crosslinking agents. These image hardening processes are discussed in terms of advantages and disadvantages of the processes and chemical mechanisms involved.
Knowledge Extraction for High-Throughput Biological Imaging

We present a multilayered architecture and spatiotemporal models for searching, retrieving, and analyzing high-throughput biological imaging data. The analysis is divided into low-and high-level processing. At the lower level, we address issues like segmentation, tracking, and object recognition, and at the high level, we use finite state machine-and Petri-net-based models for spatiotemporal event recognition.
Increased Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4 Expression in Monocytes from Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: Further Evidence of a Proinflammatory State

Context: Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. It is a pro-inflammatory state as evidenced by increased circulating biomarkers and monocyte activity. The toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors, expressed abundantly on monocytes. TLR2 and TLR4 are important in atherosclerosis. However, there is a paucity of data examining TLR2 and TLR4 expression in T1DM and examining its contribution to the proinflammatory state. Objective: Thus, we examined TLR2 and TLR4 expression in monocytes from T1DM patients compared with controls (n = 31 per group). Setting: The study was performed at the University of California Davis Medical Center. Patients: Healthy controls (n = 31) and T1DM patients (n = 31) were included in the study. Results: TLR2 and TLR4 surface expression and mRNA were significantly increased in T1DM monocytes compared with controls. Downstream targets of TLR, nuclear factor κB, myeloid differentiation factor 88, Trif, and phosphorylated IL-1 receptor-associated kinase were significantly up-regulated in T1DM. Finally, the release of IL-1β and TNF-α was significantly increased in monocytes from T1DM compared with controls and correlated with TLR2 and TLR4 expression (P < 0.005). In addition, TLR2 and TLR4 expression was significantly correlated to glycosylated hemoglobin, carboxymethyllysine, and nuclear factor κB (P < 0.02). Conclusion: Thus, we make the novel observation that TLR2 and TLR4 expression and signaling are increased in T1DM and contribute to the proinflammatory state.
The Pig and the Chicken in the Middle East: Modeling Human Subsistence Behavior in the Archaeological Record Using Historical and Animal Husbandry Data

The role of the pig in the subsistence system of the Middle East has a long and, in some cases, poorly understood history. It is a common domesticated animal in earlier archaeological sites throughout the Middle East. Sometime in the first millennium, BC pig use declined, and subsequently it became prohibited in large areas of the Middle East. The pig is an excellent source of protein, but because of low mobility and high water needs, it is difficult to move long distances. While common in sites, the pig is rarely mentioned in texts. In contrast, the use of cattle, sheep, and goats is extensively documented. In the human subsistence system of the arid and semiarid areas of the Middle East, the pig was a household-based protein resource that was not of interest to the central authority. Sometime in the late second or first millennium BC, the chicken was introduced into the Middle East. The chicken is an even more ideal household-based protein resource and, like the pig, is rarely mentioned in texts. In arid and semiarid areas of the Middle East, the pig and the chicken compete for food and labor in the human subsistence system. I hypothesize that in arid and semiarid areas of the Middle East, the chicken largely replaced the pig because the chicken is a more efficient source of protein, it produces a secondary product, the egg, and it is a smaller package; hence, a family can consume one in a day or two. This made the pig redundant and available for use in other human systems. The pig, however, never disappeared from the diet of humans in the Middle East.
Encapsulated Scintillators Monitor 3H-Solute Concentrations

The short range of the 3H beta allows shielding of microbeads of scintillator by a several um thick coating of a water based gel. Gels may be used which are permeable to a wide variety of tritiated molecules. Thus, the light output of a mixture of the coated beads and a solution of the tritiated compound is proportional to the solution concentration of the tritiated substance. The mixture may also contain particles to which the gel is impermeable, such as cells, vesicles, large proteins, etc., but which can alter the concentration of the tritiated compound by uptake or release. In this case, the light output monitors the fractional uptake of the tritiated material. This article reports on the design criteria for encapsulating the scintillators and dynamically monitoring the scintillation output. A simple method for encapsulating plastic scintillator microbeads, suitable for monitoring slow concentration changes, is described and tested.
Neutron Stars as Dense Matter Laboratories

I describe how recent observations of precession (nutation) in neutron stars can be used to probe fundamental properties of matter at densities currently inaccessible in terrestrial laboratories.
Synthesis of an optically active C-funtiopnalized cyclam: (S)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetra-azacyclotetradecane and itws nickel(II) complex

An optically active cyclam ligand bearing a functionalized side chain appended to a ring carbon and its nickel(II) complex are readily prepared from a diamino acid precursor.
Partner violence and psychosocial distress among female sex workers in China

BACKGROUND: Despite recognized vulnerability of female sex workers (FSW), most data on this population are focused on their HIV and STI prevalence; studies on their experience of partner violence and psychosocial distress are limited, especially FSW in China. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A cross-sectional survey was administered among 1,022 FSW recruited from 9 different types of commercial sex venues in Southwest China. Partner violence scales were adapted from WHO's Women's Health and Domestic Violence scale and psychosocial distress was measured by five indicators, including alcohol intoxication, drug use, suicidal behavior, depression, and loneliness. Random effects modeling was used to control for cluster effects.About 58% of FSW ever experienced violence from their stable partners, and 45% suffered it from their clients. Partner violence was strongly associated with each of the five measures of psychosocial distress, even after controlling for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: This study is one of the first to examine the association between partner violence and psychosocial distress among FSW in China. The high prevalence of violence experience and distress in this population suggests urgency for intervention. The public health programs targeting FSW should go beyond the focus on HIV/STI prevention and care for the fundamental health and human rights of millions of FSW in China. Language: en
Solvent Dependence of Electronic Relaxation in All-trans Retinal Studied by One- and Two-Photon Induced Transient Absorption

One- and two-photon excited ultrafast transient absorption measurements are reported for all-trans retinal in polar, nonpolar, and hydrogen-bonding solvents. A comparison of the response following one- and two-photon excitation allows assignment of the observed decays to the 1Bu+-like and 1Ag--like excited states. In the polar, hydrogen-bonding solvent ethanol, the transient absorption changes following one-photon excitation are dominated by a 2-ps response observed both in the decay of transient absorption and in the decay of stimulated emission observed in the region from 600 to 750 nm. Because of the strong stimulated emission gain, this response can be assigned to decay of the strongly optically allowed “1Bu+” state. With two-photon excitation of all-trans retinal in ethanol, a 200−300 fs decay component appears as well and is assigned to decay of the “1Ag-” state, which has a large two-photon cross section. In contrast, for all-trans retinal in hexane, both 200−300 fs and 2-ps decay components are ob...
Compositional zoning characteristics of late dolomite cement in the cambrian bonneterre formation, Missouri: Implications for parent fluid migration pathways

Four major luminescent zones within dolomite cement of the Cambrian Bonneterre Formation can be recognized throughout much of southern Missouri. In the most complete zoning sequence, each of the first three major zones consists of an inner portion of dully luminescent (Fe-enriched) cement and an outer portion which is more brightly luminescent (Fe-depleted) and complexly banded. Manganese and iron determined by electron microprobe vary sympathetically within the zoning sequence, and the major control on luminescence is the absolute concentration of iron which quenches luminescence. Both the minor element variation and presence of dissolution surfaces within the cement are consistent with the zones forming from cyclical “pulses” of fluids originating in the source basin. The vertical variation in the number of luminescent growth bands in the Bonneterre is controlled by the presence of shaly horizons which acted as barriers to fluid flow. The number of observable growth bands and the proportion of iron-dampened luminescent bands within shale-defined subunits of the Bonneterre show similar regional variation. Both parameters decrease westward from the northwestern margin of the Mississippi Embayment and northward from south-central Missouri. These regional trends imply that parent fluids entered the region from the east and the south. The southerly source for fluids was probably the Arkoma Basin. The eastern source could have been either the Reelfoot Rift depression to the southeast or the Illinois Basin to the northeast. If fluids entered from the Reelfoot Rift, the ultimate source for these fluids could have been the Ouachita-Arkoma Basin, which may have been open to the Reelfoot Rift during much of the Paleozoic.
Tumor-induced suppressive CD8+ T cells: implications for cancer immunotherapy

Meeting abstracts The immune system has the potential to be a powerful tool to destroy tumors; however despite ample evidence of endogenous anti-tumor immune responses in many patients, as well as years of immunotherapy development, truly effective immune-based therapies remain out of reach. We
Evidence for the role of a trypsin-like enzyme in the hamster sperm acrosome reaction†

Acrosome reactions occurring in vitro in hamster sperm capacitated by bovine follicular fluid were severely inhibited by four synthetic trypsin inhibitors and by Zn2 +. Three polypeptide trypsin inhibitors and a synthetic chymotrypsin inhibitor did not inhibit the acrosome reaction, and Ca2 + overcame the inhibition by Zn2. These results suggest that a trypsin-like enzyme (possibly acrosin) plays a role in the acrosome reaction.
Reassortment and Interspecies Transmission of North American H6N2 Influenza Viruses

H6N2 influenza viruses were isolated from California chickens in 2000 and 2001. Here we report the characterization of these H6N2 viruses, one of the few descriptions of non-H5, non-H7 subtype influenza viruses in this host. The H6N2 viruses were nonpathogenic in experimentally infected chickens and could be divided into three genotypes. All three genotypes of virus had similar surface glycoproteins and all contained an 18 amino acid deletion in the neuraminidase, a characteristic of other chicken influenza viruses. Differences were apparent, however, in the complement of replicative protein genes between the genotypes. The presence of multiple H6N2 genotypes suggests that independent transmission and/or reassortment events may have taken place between aquatic bird and chicken influenza viruses.
The Evolution of Convective Storms from Their Footprints on the Sea as Viewed by Synthetic Aperture Radar from Space.

SEASAT synthetic aperture radar (SAR) echoes from the sea have previously been shown to be the result of rain and winds produced by convective stroms; rain damps the surface waves and causes ech-free holes, while the diverging winds associated with downdraft generate waves and associated echoes surrounding the holes. Gust fronts are also evident. Such a snapshot from 8 July 1978 has been examined in conjunction with ground-based radar. This leads to the conclusion that the SAR storm footprints resulted from storm processes that occurred up to an hour or more prior to the snapshot. A sequence of events is discerned from the SAR imagery in which new cell growth is triggered in between the converging outflows of two preexisting cells. In turn, the new cell generates a mini-squall line along its expanding gust front. While such phenomena are well known over land, the spaceborne SAR now allows important inferences to be made about the nature and frequency of convective storms over the oceans. The storm effects on the sea have significant implications for spaceborne wind scatterometry and rainfall measurements. Some of the findings herein remain speculative because of the great distance to the Miami weather radar-the only source of corroborative data.
Large systems with multiple low-dimensional delay channels

This article discusses the stability problem of systems with multiple delay channels. The problem is formulated in the form of coupled differential-difference equations with single independent delay in each channel. However, systems with multiple independent or dependent delays in some channels can be transformed into the standard form. Fundamental solutions, the stability of difference equations, and the construction of Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional are discussed. It is concluded that the formulation has substantial advantage over the traditional formulation, especially for systems with a large number of state variables with multiple low dimensional delay channels.
An integrated look at decision-making in bees as they abandon a depleted food source

While there has been considerable research on the behavioral processes that underlie animals’ ability respond to shifting rewards, it remains unclear how animals coordinate multiple processes over time. To investigate this, we compared the behavior of honeybees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees (Bombus impatiens), in an open-ended search task. Bees were given brief access to a high-quality food source, which then became non-rewarding. Then, over an extended period, we examined (1) bees’ tendency to persist at the depleted site, (2) their tendency to return to a different low-quality food source where they had been foraging previously, (3) their tendency to return to the hive, and (4) how previous reward history influenced their tendency to shift among these options. Compared to bumblebees, honeybees were much slower to abandon the depleted site and were much more likely to make trips to the hive while bumblebees were much more likely to return to the familiar low-quality site. These observed species differences are interpreted in terms of evolved individual and social differences between these species. We show evidence of well-studied behavioral processes such as extinction, negative contrast effects, and reliance on a social group, and provide, for the first time, a picture of how these processes interact with one another as part of a common sequential decision-making process.
Alternating minimization algorithm for quantitative differential-interference contrast (DIC) microscopy

A new iterative algorithm for quantitative image reconstruction for differential-interference contrast (DIC) microscopy is presented, along with simulations demonstrating key properties of the algorithm. The algorithm is an alternating minimization (AM) algorithm based on a diffraction imaging model for DIC images. The algorithm computes a specimen’s complex transmittance function (magnitude and phase) from the DIC images. This new method extends the rotational diversity (RD) method developed by Preza that is based on the assumption that the specimen does not absorb light (or that its magnitude is constant and can be ignored) and thus only the specimen’s phase function is computed from rotationally-diverse DIC images. The AM approach lifts the optimization problem to a higher dimensional space that is intimately tied to the underlying physics. The variables that are introduced in this lifting process are the unknown, unmeasurable phases on the data. The AM algorithm iterates between estimating the image given the phase of the data and estimating the phase given the image. The framework allows constraints and penalties on the magnitude and phase estimates to be incorporated in a principled manner. The performance of the AM method is evaluated using simulated noiseless data. Simulation results compare specimen magnitude (absorption) and phase estimated with the AM method to the true specimen parameters showing good quantitative agreement using the mean square error and difference images. The estimated phase is a significant improvement over the phase estimated with the RD method from the same DIC images as shown in a comparison between the two methods. The AM method provides a novel approach in extracting quantitative phase and amplitude information of the same field of view from a single microscope mode.
Biological studies of Amblyseius umbraticus (Acariña : Phytoseiidae).

A description and photographs of specimens of Amblyseius umbraticus Chant from New Jersey are presented, since they differ somewhat from the original species description. A. umbraticus was collected from 2 abandoned apple orchards but was not of widespread occurrence in this habitat. Laboratory studies were conducted at 25–26°C primarily on bean leaf discs with Tetranychus urticae Koch as the prey. The durations of the various developmental stages were similar for both sexes, averaging about 47 hours for eggs, 24 for larvae, and 43 for each of the 2 nymphal stages. Females which mated throughout their life had longer oviposition periods, laid more eggs, but did not live as long as females which mated only during the first few days of adulthood. Most aspects of the life history and habits of A. umbraticus are similar to other phytoseiids studied, but developmental times are longer, longevities greater, and oviposition rates lower than many other species. A. umbraticus was able to develop and reproduce on T. urticae, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), Calvolia lordi (Nesbitt), Aculus schlectendali (Nalepa), adults of Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock), and on apple pollen and cherry pollen. Adults of Agistemus fleschneri Summers and winter eggs of P. ulmi were not fed upon. Eggs, larvae, and protonymphs of T. urticae were the preferred prey for all stages of A. umbraticus . The optimum relative humidities for reproduction and development were high and narrow in range. Relative humidities of 75 and 85% caused desiccation and high mortality of larvae. A. umbraticus females overwintered primarily in cracks and crevices of small twigs. Winter mortality \estimates were 85–95%. Diapause was induced by exposure of the mites to a 12-hour photoperiod at 22°C during the complete developmental period. Diapausing females were less active, more cold hardy, and more resistant to starvation than females not in diapause.