cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survivors and Status: Widowhood and Family in the Early Modern Netherlands:

This study juxtaposes the theoretical continuity of customary law with the pragmatic realities of daily life, as these pertained to the rights and privileges of widows in the early modern north Netherlands.The database consists of approximately 1, 000 individuals from noble, gentry, and propertied middle-class families. These were tabulated and cross-referenced as part of a computer-assisted study using several hundred archival sources, in cluding prenuptial and marriage contracts, registers offiefs and other possessions, and testaments.The study demonstrates that widows' legal rights, exercised within and outside the family sphere, were the basis of their visible authority and power during the early modern period.' These individuals have been identified through a number of cross-referenced sources, of which the most useful are RA Utr., Booth, Inventaris Hands chriften, no. 378, which consists of more than twenty handwritten volumes by a seventeenth-century con temporary of many of the families under scru...
Breaking Loose: Principal Autonomy in Charter and Public Schools.

Because various aspects of the school organization matter, this study was designed to determine to what degree principals in both charter and traditional public schools experience autonomy. This qu...
CEO Compensation and Cross-Border Acquisition Activity: A Situational Promotion Focus Perspective

This study draws from regulatory focus theory to offer a novel psychological explanation for how certain compensation elements affect CEOs' motivations to engage in cross-border acquisitions. Specifically the â€˜gain/no gain' nature of stock options and retirement pay are theorized to elicit a situational regulatory promotion focus that increases attention on and sensitivity to reward aspects of risk taking. This subsequently increases the proclivity to engage in risk taking initiatives, such as cross-border acquisitions. The moderating role of managerial discretion arising from the external industry context and internal organizational leadership structure is also examined. The conceptual model is tested in a longitudinal sample of U.S. public companies operating in four industries with differing levels of industry discretion.
Mutagenesis of the yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase. A novel expression system

The plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a prototype for the mutagenic analysis of structure-function relationships in P-type cation pumps. Because a functional H+ pump is required for viability, wild-type ATPase must be maintained in the plasma membrane for normal cell growth. Our expression strategy involves a rapid switch in expression from the wild-type ATPase gene to a mutant allele followed by entrapment of the newly synthesized mutant enzyme in an internal, secretory vesicle pool. The isolated vesicles prove to be ideally suited for the study of the catalytic and transport properties of the ATPase. Work to date has focused on conserved residues in the vicinity of the aspartyl-phosphate reaction intermediate. Substitution of Asp378 with Glu, Ser, or Asn and of Lys379 with Gln prevents normal biogenesis of the mutant ATPase. The more conservative Lys379----Arg mutation was tolerated, but with a sixfold loss of activity and substantial alterations in Km for ATP and Ki for vanadate. Nonconservative replacement of Thr380, Thr382, or Thr384 with Ala led to inactive enzyme, whereas the conservative change to Ser caused a two to threefold reduction in ATP hydrolysis and H(+)-pumping. Taken together, the results are consistent with an essential role for these invariant residues in phosphate-binding and ATP hydrolysis.
GABAergic regulation of noradrenergic spinal projection neurons of the A5 cell group in the rat: An electron microscopic analysis

Recent studies have demonstrated an important contribution of the A5 noradrenergic cell group of the rostral medulla in the regulation of nociceptive messages at the level of the spinal cord. These noradrenergic controls parallel those arising from the serotonin-containing neurons of the nucleus raphe magnus. In the present study, we used postembedding immunogold staining to identify GABA-immunoreactive terminals that synapse upon identified spinally projecting noradrenergic neurons of the A5 cell group in the rat. A5 projection neurons were identified by Fluoro-Gold transport from the spinal cord; sections containing retrogradely labelled cells were then immunoreacted for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) to identify the catecholamine-containing, presumed noradrenergic, neurons. Double-labelled A5 cells were intracellularly filled with Lucifer Yellow (LY) and then the LY was photo-oxidized to an electron-dense product. Seven intracellularly filled TH-immunoreactive projection neurons were studied with postembedding immunocytochemistry. Each A5 neuron received a significant GABA-immunoreactive terminal input. Out of a pooled total of 151 terminal profiles found in apposition to intracellularly labelled somatic and dendritic profiles, 31 (20.5%) were GABA-immunoreactive. The proportion of GABA-immunoreactive terminals that contacted somatic profiles (12/72; 17%) was similar to the proportion that contacted TH-labelled dendritic profiles (19/79; 24%). There was a discernible synaptic specialization in about 50% of the labelled terminals that contacted the TH projection neuron. Both symmetric and asymmetric synaptic specializations were found. Labelled terminals contained round or pleimorphic vesicles, but not flat vesicles; many also contained dense-core vesicles. Our results indicate that noradrenergic neurons of the A5 cell group, which contribute to both antinociceptive and cardiovascular controls through their projection to the spinal cord, are regulated by local GABAergic, presumably inhibitory, mechanisms. Whether the initiation of A5 neuron activity results from a lifting of tonic GABAergic inhibitory control, as has been proposed for the neurons of the nucleus raphe magnus, remains to be determined.
A novel antigen is shared by retinal pigment epithelium and pigmented neural crest.

Pigment cells in vertebrate embryos are formed in both the central and peripheral nervous system. The neural crest, a largely pluripotent population of precursor cells derived from the embryonic neural tube, gives rise to pigment cells which migrate widely in head and trunk.The retinal pigment epithelium is derived from the optic cup, which arises from ectoderm of the neural tube. We have generated an antibody, ips6, which stains an antigen common to pigment cells of retinal pigment epithelium and neural crest. Ips6 stains retinal pigment epithelium and choroid as well as a subset of crest cells that migrate in pathways typical of melanoblasts. Immunoreactivity is seen first in the eye and later in a subset of migrating crest cells. Crest cells in the amphibian embryo migrate along specific, stereotyped routes; ips6 immunoreactive cells are found in some but not all of these pathways. In older wild-type embryos, cells expressing ips6 appear coincident with pigment-containing cells in the flank, head, eye and embryonic gut. In older animals, staining in the eye extends to the intraretinal segment of optic nerve and interstices between photoreceptors and cells at the retinal periphery. We suggest that the ips6 antibody defines an antigen common to pigment cells of central and peripheral origin.
World‐class quality

The aim of quality is meeting your customer's requirements. With its six point strategy, however, Corning is aiming to go beyond that and ‘delight’ its customers.
Pediatric Flexible Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Experience

Purpose: Therapeutic options currently available for urinary stones include shock wave lithotripsy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy and ureteroscopic treatment. While these treatment options have become the standard of care in the adult population, the same has not necessarily been applied to the pediatric population, despite an increasing prevalence of stone disease in children. We report our flexible ureteroscopic experience with urinary stones in children.Materials and Methods: A total of 170 ureteroscopic treatments were performed. Demographic information was collected. Stone burden was measured in millimeters. Operative access, operative times, intraoperative complications, stone-free status and postoperative complications were evaluated.Results: A total of 167 children (89 boys and 78 girls) underwent 170 ureteroscopic procedures for urinary calculi. Mean patient age was 62.4 months at the time of the procedure (range 3 to 218). Mean followup was 19.7 months (range 6 to 39). Mean stone burden was 6.12 ...
Blood smear from a pregnant cat that died shortly after partial abortion

A 1-year-old, 5- to 6-week pregnant cat was presented with a history of aborting 3 kittens the previous night. During the examination, the cat began to seizure and died. At necropsy, formalin-fixed tissues and blood smears prepared from an EDTA blood sample collected via cardiac puncture were submitted to a diagnostic laboratory. Examination of the blood smears revealed numerous large (15-75 microm) clumped macrophages containing dark blue intracytoplasmic organisms consistent with Cytauxzoon merozoites. Scattered erythrophagocytic macrophages were also observed. Within several erythrocytes, 1-2 small, round, ring-like piroplasms consistent with Cytauxzoon were observed. Histologic examination revealed numerous large, schizont-laden macrophages filling the blood vessels of multiple organs. The cytologic and histologic findings were diagnostic for Cytaxuzoon felis infection. This case was of particular interest because of the unusually large number of organism-laden macrophages in the cardiac blood sample, an uncommon finding in peripheral blood. Although the cat was presented for complications of abortion, it remains uncertain whether C felis organisms crossed the placenta and infected the fetuses or lead to the abortions.
Increased bilirubin conjugation in heterozygous Gunn rats treated with phenobarbital.

THE mechanism by which phenobarbital lowers serum bilirubin levels in some patients with jaundice is undefined1–3 although there is some evidence of enhanced synthesis of bilirubin glucuronyl transferase4–7, the hepatic microsomal enzyme which mediates the conjugation of bilirubin before it is excreted into bile. It is also possible, however, that phenobarbital acts by augmenting other excretory pathways involving the degradation of bilirubin to polar breakdown products1–3,8. If phenobarbital enhances the capacity of the liver to conjugate bilirubin, response to drug therapy should be associated with increased excretion of bilirubin into bile. If, on the other hand, phenobarbital augments the other excretory pathways, bile bilirubin should remain unchanged. I have investigated this in male heterozygous and homozygous Gunn rats and Sprague–Dawley rats, weighing 350–500 g.
Managing the Technology in a Desktop Publishing Course

Developing a course in desktop publishing is a technological, as much as a pedagogical, undertaking. Although a background in layout, document design, and typography is necessary, teaching these subjects with computers inevitably means teaching a particular combination of hardware and software. Students with little prior experience using computers must receive training in computer basics. Thus considerable familiarity, not only with desktop publishing software but also with personal computers, is necessary to teach a desktop publishing course.
Somaclonal variation among ex vitro ‘Thornless Evergreen’ trailing blackberries

‘Thornless Evergreen’ (TE) blackberry (Rubus laciniatus Willd.) is a periclinal chimera in which the epidermis has mutated to thornlessness (designated ‘t’), while the internal portions of the plant remain genetically thorny (tTT). Over 300 ex vitro plants (from shoot tip cultures of TE) were established in the field and observed over two fruiting seasons for various vegetative traits and fruiting characteristics. Both parental types and variants were included in the field plantings. Plants were evaluated for growth habit, vigor, flowering, and fruiting traits. Continuous variation for growth habit, vigor, flower number, and fertility was observed. Some of the variation could be explained in terms of chimeral segregation (pure thornless vs. chimeral types). Tissue culture-induced (somaclonal) variation was assumed to be the source of most of the other variation.
A yeast polyamine acetyltransferase.

An uncharacterized yeast gene has been shown to encode a polyamine acetyltransferase and named PAA1. The recombinant Paa1 protein readily acetylates various polyamines such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine. paa1 mutants are viable and grow normally under standard conditions. The mutants are sensitive to hydroxyurea, and they are synthetically temperature-sensitive with a rad53-21 mutation. The mutants also show genetic interactions with components of the transcriptional co-activator complex, SAGA, and partially suppress Spt– phenotypes of two spt mutants. These phenotypes suggest that acetylation of polyamines removes them from chromatin and makes the chromatin more accessible. It is known that spermine, but not acetyl spermine, is a precursor in the pathway for synthesis of coenzyme A in yeast. When Paa1 is overexpressed, leading to a lower level of spermine, cells show a growth dependence on either of two downstream compounds in the coenzyme A pathway, pantothenate or β-alanine. This demonstrates that spermine and perhaps other polyamines are the in vivo targets of Paa1.
Costs of care for lung and colon cancer patients receiving chemotherapy following FDA policy changes

Use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in US cancer care declined amidst post-marketing evidence of adverse effects and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) addition of a “black-box” warning to product labeling in March 2007. Because reduced ESA use may have led to more transfusions or increased anemia-related health care needs, we measured the policy’s impact on health care costs of lung and colon cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. In a retrospective cohort study of 13,630 lung and 3,198 colon cancer patients in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) between 2002 and 2008, we calculated anemia treatment (ESA and transfusion), cancer- and non-cancer-related, and total health care costs for the chemotherapy episode of care. We used multivariable regression to examine health care costs and utilization between patients whose chemotherapy was administered before (PRE) or after (POST) March 1, 2007. ESA costs declined and transfusion costs were similar, resulting in lower overall POST-period anemia treatment costs (lung, $526 lower, P < 0.01; colon, $504 lower, P < 0.01). Other cancer-related health care costs increased, resulting in markedly higher POST-period total health care costs (lung, $4,706 higher, P < 0.01; colon, $11,414 higher, P < 0.01). Although chemotherapy episode anemia treatment costs declined after the black-box warning, the savings were offset by increases in other cancer-related costs. Those increases were mainly in outpatient services and pharmacy, suggesting that likely drivers include adoption of new high-cost diagnostic approaches and therapeutic modalities. Additional research is needed to determine the effects of anemia management changes on patient outcomes and to more fully understand cost-benefit relationships in cancer treatment.
Risks worth taking: Safety agreements among discordant gay couples

As HIV research and prevention efforts increasingly target gay men in relationships, situational factors such as couple serostatus and agreements about sex become central to examinations of risk. Discordant gay couples are of particular interest because the risk of HIV infection is seemingly near-at-hand. Yet, little is known about their sexual behaviors, agreements about sex, and safer sex efforts. The present study utilized longitudinal semi-structured, qualitative interviews to explore these issues among 12 discordant couples. Findings show that nearly every couple had agreements about reducing the likelihood of HIV transmission from one partner to the other. Negotiating these agreements involved establishing a level of acceptable risk, determining condom use, and employing other risk-reduction techniques, such as seropositioning and withdrawal. For half of the couples, these agreements did not involve using condoms; only two couples reported consistent condom use. Despite forgoing condoms, however, none reported seroconversion over the course of data collection. Additional issues are raised where long-term HIV prevention is concerned. Future prevention efforts with discordant couples should work with, rather than fight against, the couple's decision to use condoms and endeavor to complement and accentuate their other safer sex efforts.
C-reactive protein and risk of cardiovascular disease: evidence and clinical application

Prospective epidemiologic data consistently show that elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are associated with an increased risk of subsequent cardiovascular events in apparently healthy populations, and accumulating laboratory research is uncovering possible mechanisms by which CRP may influence the development of atherothrombotic disease. CRP is a stronger predictor of cardiovascular disease than is low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. CRP adds prognostic information at all levels of the calculated Framingham risk score and at all levels of severity of the metabolic syndrome. Commercially available high-sensitivity assays suitable for use in clinical settings allow for the routine assessment of CRP as a useful adjunct in cardiovascular risk screening. When such assays are used, CRP levels of less than 1, 1 to 3, and greater than 3 mg/L differentiate patients at low, moderate, and high risk, respectively, for future cardiovascular events. Persons with high CRP but normal LDL cholesterol comprise a high-risk group frequently overlooked in clinical practice. Knowledge of their high-risk status may improve these patients’ compliance with recommended lifestyle changes that are likely to improve prognosis. Preliminary data suggest that individuals with elevated CRP but low LDL cholesterol may benefit from pharmacologic interventions, including statin therapy. Large-scale trials are underway to assess the net efficacy and public health impact of this approach to the primary prevention of myocardial infarction and stroke.
Incorporation of deuterium-labeledcis- andtrans-9-octadecenoic acids in humans: Plasma, erythrocyte, and platelet phospholipids

The objective of this study was to follow the uptake and distribution of oleic and elaidic acids into human erythrocytes, platelets, and plasma phospholipids. The use of dual and triple labeling methodology permitted a precise comparison of elaidic and oleic acid utilization. Elaidic acid (EI) was selectively concentrated in all the plasma phospholipids except for lysophosphatidylcholine. Three times more elaidic than oleic acid (OI) accumulated in the 1-acyl position of phosphatidylcholine, as determined by hydrolysis with phospholipase A2. Rapid incorporation and removal of elaidate were observed for all samples. These results support the concept that enzymes responsible for acylation of phospholipids are sensitive to double bond configuration and the physical properties of the fatty acid moieties. Labeled fatty acid levels in red cell and platelet phospholipids were much lower than for plasma phospholipids, indicating a relatively slow rate for the in vivo incorporation of fatty acids into blood cell membrane phospholipids. No isotope effect was found when oleic acid labeled with deuterium on the double bond was used.
Safe Genetic Modification of Cardiac Stem Cells Using a Site-Specific Integration Technique

Background—Human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) are a promising cell source for regenerative repair after myocardial infarction. Exploitation of their full therapeutic potential may require stable genetic modification of the cells ex vivo. Safe genetic engineering of stem cells, using facile methods for site-specific integration of transgenes into known genomic contexts, would significantly enhance the overall safety and efficacy of cellular therapy in a variety of clinical contexts. Methods and Results—We used the phiC31 site-specific recombinase to achieve targeted integration of a triple fusion reporter gene into a known chromosomal context in hCPCs and human endothelial cells. Stable expression of the reporter gene from its unique chromosomal integration site resulted in no discernible genomic instability or adverse changes in cell phenotype. Namely, phiC31-modified hCPCs were unchanged in their differentiation propensity, cellular proliferative rate, and global gene expression profile when compared...
Synthesis and analysis of future naval fleets

Abstract The Naval Sea Systems Command conducted an in-house, interdisciplinary study of alternative fleet architectures with a goal of addressing the high cost and extended duration of naval vessel design and construction. This paper describes the approach used and variables studied in the naval architectural and force architecture components of the study, that is, the fleet synthesis and analysis part. The methods and findings of other recent studies in this subject were reviewed, and an approach was developed that includes capabilities requirements, ship design and cost, and quantitative tracking of the long-term evolution of the fleet as ships are introduced and old ones are retired. It was found that procurement cost could be reduced by consolidating ship and system types; however, this initial result is conditioned by significant restrictions placed on the design space. It is recommended that future studies be pursued using this fleet synthesis method with fewer design constraints.
In vitro activity of sanfetrinem (GV104326), a new trinem antimicrobial agent, versus Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis

Sanfetrinem, formerly GV104326, is a new trinem antimicrobial agent with extensive in vitro activity for a variety of different bacteria. The activity of sanfetrinem was determined using a broth microdilution MIC method versus a large number of clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis obtained in a recent 30-center United States surveillance study. The sanfetrinem MIC50 and MIC90 values for these three organism groups were 0.015 and 0.5 microgram/ml, 0.25, and 0.5 microgram/ml, and 0.015 and 0.03, respectively.
Preference for signaled over unsignaled shock schedules: A reply to Furedy and Biederman

A portion of the literature concerning choice between signaled and unsignaled shock is reviewed. Based on this literature, several of the conclusions of Furedy and Biederman are challenged. Contrary to their conclusions, most researchers found a marked preference for the signaled shock condition whether shock was unscrambled, scrambled, or presented through surface electrodes.
Mechanism of specific force deficit in the senescent rat diaphragm

Aging is associated with a decline in the maximal in vitro specific force in the rat costal diaphragm. The purpose of this study was to determine if this force deficit is associated with a decrease in the concentration of myofibrillar protein in diaphragm fibers of senescent rats. Isometric twitch and tetanic contractile properties were measured on diaphragm strips from young adult (9-month-old: n = 12) and senescent (26-month-old: n = 13) male specific pathogen free-barrier protected Fischer 344 rats. Maximal tetanic force (Po) normalized to the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the in vitro diaphragm strips was 16.4% lower in the senescent diaphragms (21.03 +/- 0.4 N/cm2) compared to the young adult (25.16 +/- 0.5 N/cm2) (p < 0.001). Diaphragm water content was significantly higher in the senescent group (75.9% of total wet mass) compared to the young adult (72.1% of total wet mass, p < 0.05). Subtracting the contribution of water from the CSA of the diaphragm strips significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the senescent specific Po deficit (from -16.4 to -6.4%). Further, correcting Po for the contribution of myofibrillar protein to CSA resulted in no age group differences in specific force. These data indicate that the age-related decline in diaphragm in vitro maximal specific Po can be explained by an age-related increase in the water content of the diaphragm muscle. Future experiments are necessary to determine the mechanism(s) responsible for this observation.
Growth of the WW strain of Theiler virus in mouse central nervous system organotypic culture.

Myelinated organotypic cultures of mouse central nervous system (CNS) provide a favorable milieu for growth of the WW strain of Theiler virus (TV), WW-TV induced a cytopathic effect characterized by neuronal destruction and swelling of myelin sheaths. Tissue culture medium and homogenates of infected cultures produced neurologic disease in mice, and TV. was demonstrated in cultures by indirect immunoflourescence and electron microscopy. Ultrastructurally, severe alterations in neurons and the presence of cytoplasmic inclusions containing paracrystalline arrays of 30-nm virus particles were evident in astrocytes. Demyelination appeared to be secondary to lysis of oligodendrocytes by virus. CNS organotypic cultures provide an environment for the study of TV-induced demyelination.
Fine structure of active ribosomal genes.

The structure of active ribosomal genes in the newt Notophthalmus viridescens has been studied at the higher resolution permitted by negative staining. Spherical particles, 70 A to 100 A in diameter are seen on the non-transcribing “spacer” regions, but were absent from certain regions of the transcribing “matrix”. The matrix core often appears thicker than a double strand of DNA. These results are discussed in the light of the recently discovered subunit structure of chromatin, and in relation to the question of the disposition of histones during transcription.
On the organization of stereotyped response sequences

When pigeons are required to peck each of two keys in any order for reinforcement, stereotyped response sequences develop that are resistant to disruption by extinction, schedules of reinforcement, or contingencies requiring sequence variability. To test the hypothesis that stereotyped response sequences become integrated behavioral units, two experiments introduced within-sequence temporal delays of varying duration. Experiment 1 found that when a delay followed each peck in a sequence, there was substantial disruption of sequence performance that was independent of delay duration. However, such disruption was only temporary. Experiment 2 found that when the location of a delay within a sequence was varied, sequence disruption was a function of when, in a sequence, the delay occurred. Delays that occurred within sequence subunits had large effects, whereas delays that occurred between such subunits had small effects. The data indicate that pigeons can learn to bridge within-sequence delays, and suggest that response sequences are organized into “phrases.”
Adaptive lenses for vision correction and optical imaging

Our recent progress in adaptive liquid crystal lens and liquid lens for vision correction and three-dimensional biomedical optical imaging will be reported. The liquid lens with a rectangular aperture for cylinder power is theoretically analyzed.
Synthesis of highly sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) random (statistical) copolymers via direct polymerization

Novel biphenol-based wholly aromatic poly (arylene ether sulfones) containing pendant sulfonate groups were prepared by direct aromatic nucleophilic substitution polycondensation of disodium 3,3'-disulfonate-4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone (SDCDPS), 4,4'-dichlorodiphenylsulfone (DCDPS) and biphenol. Copolymerization proceeded quantitatively to high molecular weight in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone at 190°C in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate. Tough membranes were successfully cast from the control and the copolymers, which had a SDCDPS/DCDPS mole ratio of either 40:60 or 60:40 using N,N-dimethylactamide; the 100% SDCDPS homopolymer was water soluble. Short-term aging (30 min) indicates that the desired acid form membranes are stable to 220°C in air and conductivity values at 25°C of 0.110 (40%) and 0.170 S/cm (60%) were measured, which are comparable to or higher than the state-of-the art fluorinated copolymer Nafion 1135 control. The new copolymers, which contain ion conductivity sites on deactivated rings, are candidates as new polymeric electrolyte materials for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Further research comparing their membrane behavior to post-sulfonated systems is in progress.
Can Enforcement Constraints Explain the Patterns of Capital Flows After Financial Liberalizations

Abstract A standard, small open economy model would have problems accounting for the pattern of capital flows into capital-poor economies that open to the rest of the world: such types of models would predict extremely large and very sudden capital flows, putting these predictions at odds with the data. While the bulk of the literature has focused on the role of inputs frictions to produce slower capital flows, this article presents an exploration into the role of financial frictions (in particular, enforcement constraints) to produce endogenously slow capital flows. We are left with three main findings. First, enforcement constraints are helpful frictions for producing slow capital flows. However, these flows do not exhibit the degree of persistence observed in the data. Finally, when we extend our model to mimic declining values of financial autarky, the model is able to produce more persistent capital inflows that are more in line with the data. Although these deficits revert into surpluses more quickly than in the data, we are left with a finding that leads to a promising line of research: models that include endogenously increasing costs of defaulting are better suited to reproduce the patterns of capital flows into opening economies.
The science of science communication

We all need science for making effective decisions in our lives. Are the expected benefits of a medical procedure worth its risks? Does it make sense to rebuild homes along the seashore after a hurricane? How good are the predictions for storm surges? Should we sign a lease for hydrofracking on our property? What are the risks to our drinking water? Science is, potentially, the best source for the evidence needed to answer these questions. Realizing that potential will require effective two-way communication with those whom science hopes to serve–so that it produces relevant information and conveys it in a credible, comprehensible form. This special issue of PNAS presents scientific foundations for that communication. Its contributions recognize that communication about science does not occur in a vacuum. At the individual level, its success depends on the beliefs that individuals bring to it, such that some scientific results are difficult to comprehend whereas others go without saying. In some cases, communication just needs to fill the gaps in laypeople’s mental models. In other cases, it needs to overcome misconceptions, sometimes the product of clumsy communication, sometimes the result of effective disinformation campaigns. Learning what laypeople know and need to know requires empirical research. At the social level, the success of scientists’ communication depends on their awareness of the role that their work plays in the public discourse. Although scientists may know more than anyone about the facts and uncertainties, applications of that science can raise complex ethical, legal, and social questions, regarding which reasonable people may disagree. As a result, if scientists want to be effective in their … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: baruch{at}cmu.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Interface morphology development during stress corrosion cracking—II. Via volume diffusion

Abstract The initial response functions of the Fourier wave components for an infinitesimal surface notch in a single crystal sample under Mode I or tensile loading has been evaluated with respect to volume diffusion mechanisms of morphological change. The results are qualitatively similar to those found in Part I for a surface diffusion mechanism. A comparison of response rates between the surface and the volume diffusion mechanism is provided.
Sampling diced almonds for aflatoxin

To ensure that diced almonds meet the current FDA guideline limit for total aflatoxin, it is necessary to have a sampling plant that will allow representative sampling with defined precision-i.e., with confidence limits on the average aflatoxin found. A sequential sampling plan using 4.54-kg samples of diced almonds or 150-g samples of meal by-product (fines screened from diced nuts during production) was constructed with data from a study of aflatoxin distribution among samples of 2 selected lots of almonds. These 2 lots of whole nuts, estimated to have 400 and 25 ppb aflatoxin, were diced and boxed with normal processing equipment and procedures to approximate the distribution of aflatoxin in the product during commercial production. With a square root trans-formation of the data from 4.54-kg samples of diced nuts, the aflatoxin in samples of both lots approximated a normal distribu-tion and the within-lot variances were not significantly different, which allowed the statistical plan described. A supplemental study was made of aflatoxin distribution in the meal by-product. The lack of a significant difference between the results for diced nuts and those for the corresponding meal suggests that diced almonds can be monitored for aflatoxin indirectly by sampling the meal, which will allow the use of fewer analyses of 150-g samples of less expen-sive product to reach a decision.
Water in Martian Magmas: Clues from Light Lithophile Elements in Shergottite and Nakhlite Pyroxenes

Abstract There is abundant geomorphic evidence that Mars once had potentially significant amounts of water on its surface. Bulk martian meteorites are curiously dry, and hydrated minerals found in some of these rocks are also surprisingly low in water content. We look for evidence of pre-eruptive magmatic water by analyzing the abundances of Li, Be, and B, light lithophile elements that have proven useful in tracking water-magma interactions in terrestrial studies because of their solubility differences. We performed secondary ionization mass spectrometer (SIMS) analysis of these incompatible elements in pyroxenes of two nakhlites and two basaltic shergottites, with quite different results. In Nakhla and Lafayette, all three elements behave as incompatible elements, with increasing abundance with magma evolution from pyroxene cores to rims. In Shergotty and Zagami, Be increases, but both B and Li decrease from pyroxene cores to rims. From terrestrial studies, it is known that Be is virtually insoluble in aqueous hydrothermal fluids, whereas B and Li are quite soluble. We suggest, therefore, that the elemental decreases in the shergottite pyroxenes reflect dissolution and loss of B and Li in a hot, aqueous fluid exsolved from the magma. Consistent with our results, recent experimental work proposes that the shergottite parent magmas contained 1.8 wt% water (Dann et al., 2001) . We suggest that the pyroxene cores grew at depth (>4 km) where the water would remain dissolved in the magma. Once the magma began to ascend, the volatile component could gradually exsolve, removing the soluble species from the melt in the process. Upon eruption, the volatile component might then be lost through degassing, leaving a B- and Li-depleted magma to crystallize pyroxene rims and plagioclase. This magmatic water might have derived from the martian mantle or resulted from deep crustal contamination. If the water contents proposed for the shergottite magmas, and implied by our results, are typical of basaltic magmas on Mars, this mechanism could provide an efficient method of delivering substantial amounts of water to the martian surface at later times in martian history.
Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis Shows Promise For Brain Tumor Grading

This work proposes a novel non-invasive method for brain tumor grading using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MFDFA) [1] provides features that are useful for classification (grading) of brain tumors such as High Grade (HG) or Low Grade (LG) in MRI.
Comparative swelling of gels and polymer brush layers

Abstract The swelling of chemically end-grafted polystyrene brushes in a marginal solvent is investigated as a function of molecular weight M w , grafting density σ , and solvent quality τ = ( T − θ )/ T by specular neutron reflection and these swelling results are compared to previous measurements on swollen polymer networks. This comparison is motivated by the view of a polymer brush as a variety of “gel” where the crosslinks (grafting points) are constrained to lie on a surface. In accordance with this analogy, the temperature dependence of the brush and the network swelling is found to be qualitatively similar and the relative degree of brush and network swelling is found to diminish with an increase of σ and the cross-link density v , respectively. The network swelling data are taken from a previous study by Zrinyi and Horkay [1] who found an apparent universal master curve describing the swelling of uncharged gels with temperature. An attempt to describe the swelling of polymer brushes having a range of molecular weights by similar reduced variables led to a fairly good description of the brush swelling data, but the scaling curves for the gels and the brushes do not exactly coincide.
Realization of a SiC module-based indirect matrix converter with minimum parasitic inductances

Indirect matrix converters (IMCs) inherently provide more opportunity for higher power per volume densities than traditional back-to-back converters (BBCs). The use of new wide bandgap power semiconductor devices, like those based on silicon carbide (SiC), for different power converter applications is becoming more prevalent due to advantages realized at the system level when compared to conventional silicon (Si) devices. The small footprint and low switching losses of SiC devices allow for an increase in the power density of the power converter, but packaging them into a single module is a challenge. As power converters with higher volumetric densities are being pursued, an IMC based on SiC semiconductor devices provides a more than viable solution for exceeding current power density limits. The development of a 15kW, 480Vrms IMC based on a single power module realized using SiC 1200V, 50A MOSFETs and 1200V, 20A Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) to achieve a system level power density of 13 kW/liter is presented in this paper. The power stage is implemented in an interleaved input/output phase leg arrangement to reduce parasitic inductances in the critical dc-bus path. Experimental results are given to demonstrate the functionality of the proposed IMC system.
Long Lived NMR Signal in Bone

Solids and rigid tissues, such as bone, ligaments, and tendons, typically appear dark in MRI, which is due to the extremely short-lived proton nuclear magnetic resonance signals. This short lifetime is due to strong dipolar interactions between immobilized proton spins, which render it challenging to detect these signals with sufficient resolution and sensitivity. Here we show the possibility of exciting long-lived signals in cortical bone tissue with a signature consistent with that of bound water signals. It is further shown that dipolar coupling networks are an integral requirement for the excitation of these long-lived signals. The use of these signals could enhance the ability to visualize rigid tissues and solid samples with high resolution and sensitivity via MRI.
Ripening behavior and combined fungicide and prestorage heat effects on decay control of ‘Bosc’ pears in air or step-wise low oxygen storage

Abstract ‘Bosc’ pears ( Pyrus communis , L.) harvested at commercial maturity with flesh firmness (FF) of 75 Newton (N) from the southern district of Oregon were stored in either air or step-wise low O 2 at −1 °C during the 1992–'93 and 1993–'94 seasons. The levels of O 2 in the step-wise low O 2 storage were maintained and increased from 0.5% for four months to 1.0% for two months, and finally to 1.5% for two months while the CO 2 concentration in the storage was kept below 0.05%. Air-stored fruit were capable of ripening normally with good dessert quality after one, two, and three months of storage. These fruit softened to between 9.7 N and 15.0 N and reached the ethylene climacteric peak on day 7 or 8 of ripening at 20 °C. The ripened fruit developed a buttery and juicy texture as indicated by an apparent reduction of extractable juice (EJ) from 67 ml juice per 100 g fresh weight (FW) of unripened pulp tissue to less than 45.0 ml juice per 100 g FW of ripened pulp tissue. Fruit in air storage for four and five months reached the ethylene climacteric peak on day 4 of ripening but did not soften properly. Fruit stored in step-wise low O 2 for six, seven and eight months reached the ethylene climacteric peak on day 6 of ripening. Step-wise low-O 2 -stored fruit softened properly to 12 N or lower and reduced EJ to 49 ml 100 g −1 FW (six and seven months of storage) or 59 ml 100 g −1 FW (eight months of storage) on day 8 of ripening. Based on the analyses of ethylene production, fruit softening and reduction of EJ during ripening, fruit stored in the step-wise low O 2 storage for six, seven and eight months maintained a physiological state similar to the fruit stored in air for one to three months. The combination of prestorage heat (28 °C for one day) and step-wise low oxygen storage effectively reduced side rot by 60 and 63% in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Even greater decay control was obtained with the fungicides imazalil and Exp10412A on inoculated fruit, and thiabendazole plus captan on non-inoculated fruit.
The Effects of Minority/Majority Source Status on Attitude Certainty: A Matching Perspective

Building on recent work exploring metacognitive factors in minority/majority influence, three studies tested the hypothesis that when people receive persuasive messages from sources in the minority or majority, their attitude certainty can be determined by the extent to which source status and perceived argument quality match or mismatch. In Study 1, participants were presented with strong or weak arguments from a minority or majority source. Minority condition participants reported greater attitude certainty when arguments were weak rather than strong. Majority condition participants showed the opposite effect. Study 2 replicated this interaction using a manipulation of perceived rather than actual argument quality. In Study 3, these effects only emerged when message recipients' processing motivation was high. Taken together, the results suggest that attitude certainty can be high or low following minority or majority messages, depending on processing motivation and message recipients' assessments of other persuasive evidence.
LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF COAL WASTES FOR SECONDARY ROADS

Presented are the results of a laboratory investigation dealing with the properties of various composites made with different proportions of preconditioned fluidized bed combustion (FBC) spent bed, pulverized coal combustion (PCC) fly ash, natural fine aggregate, and portland cement. The extent to which the proposed composites can replace currently used materials is examined, and an alternate method for rebuilding low-volume county and other secondary roads is provided. Test results show that compressive strength and linear expansion of PCC-FBC composites improved with increases in PCC fly ash content of the matrix. In addition, compressive strength increased and expansion decreased when testing conditions changed from soaked to sealed to air-dried. When a low dosage of portland cement was added, an average increase of 50 percent in compressive strength and a decrease of 35 percent in 1-year linear expansion were found.
Visualization techniques for categorical analysis of social networks with multiple edge sets

Abstract The growing popularity and diversity of social network applications present new opportunities as well as new challenges. The resulting social networks have high value to business intelligence, sociological studies, organizational studies, epidemical studies, etc. The ability to explore and extract information of interest from the networks is thus crucial. However, these networks are often large and composed of multi-categorical nodes and edges, making it difficult to visualize and reason with conventional methods. In this paper, we show how to combine statistical methods with visualization to address these challenges, and how to arrange layouts differently to better bring out different aspects of the networks. We applied our methods to several social networks to demonstrate their effectiveness in characterizing the networks and clarifying the structures of interest, leading to new findings.
Fast least-squares orthogonal spline fitting and its applications to shape analysis

A recursive algorithm for building an orthogonal basis for n-degree spline space is developed. The basis functions, dubbed `O-splines,' can be computed symbolically for an arbitrary number of knots, preserving infinite precision in their rational coefficients. Using the O-spline basis, fitting can be accomplished via a single inner product for each O-spline. Furthermore, the fitting procedure is better conditioned when compared to conventional methods. Shape description of real images is shown as an application of this new technique.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Deliquescence in the Hydrolysis of Sodium Borohydride by Water Vapor

The interaction between sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and water vapor leading to hydrolysis and hydrogen generation has been investigated by a visual technique. In situ video monitoring confirms that reaction is preceded by deliquescence of NaBH4 upon exposure to water vapor, forming a viscous liquid solution that releases hydrogen. A regime of temperature and relative humidity under which the deliquescence is favorable has been determined. A relative humidity threshold exists below which NaBH4 powder does not absorb water vapor into the bulk to form a solution and thereby does not undergo reaction to form hydrogen. The deliquescence behavior of NaBH4 in water vapor provides an alternative reaction pathway that has potential to improve hydrogen storage density by reducing excess water and other additives.
Preparation of spin-labeled styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers and a new approach for quantitative determination of the resin loading using ESR spectroscopy

Abstract Several spin-labeled car☐yl-containing resins were prepared, containing different concentrations of spin labels (nitroxyl or verdazyl stable free radicals). ESR studies of the prepared resin specimens demonstrated that the dependence between their ESR signal area and estimated and/or calculated amount of attached spin labels is linear in the case of verdazyl radicals, which makes this non-destructive approach a promising fast and accurate method for a resin loading determination.