cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Plowman Sings: The Essential Fiction, Poetry, and Drama of America's Forgotten Regionalist Jay G. Sigmund

Review of: "The Plowman Sings: The Essential Fiction, Poetry & Drama of America's Forgotten Regionalist Jay G. Sigmund," edited by Zachary Michael Jack.
Real Estate Brokerage Earnings: The Role of Choice of Compensation Scheme

One of the more interesting characteristics about the real estate brokerage industry is that workers are presented with a choice regarding the sort of compensation scheme under which they want to work. An overwhelming majority of workers choose what is referred to as a commission split scheme in which the salesperson splits any commission that they earn with a supervising broker that they generally are required to work under. In this case the firm provides office support and administrative services to the salesperson and, in return, the salesperson must split any commissions that they earn with the firm. Under the alternative compensation scheme, workers pay a substantial up-front "desk" fee to the firm and then are allowed to keep 100% of any commissions that they earn. In spite of the large volume of research on the determinants of real estate salesperson earnings, to our knowledge there are no studies analyzing the choice of compensation scheme and its impact on the earnings of real estate salespersons. This study uses data from the 2001 and 2003 Membership Surveys of the National Association of REALTORs to analyze the impact of the real estate salespersons' choice of compensation scheme on their earnings.
The Dark Side of Our Digital World

When the first glimmerings of Web 2.0 were introduced to knowledge management (KM) communities, it felt like the promises of the digital pioneers were finally coming to fruition. Google’s search wa...
Spatial Hearing in Rooms and Effects of Reverberation

This chapter provides a multidisciplinary overview of the impacts of room acoustics and reflected sound on various human listening abilities. General concepts in the physical quantification of room acoustic effects are described, including impulse-response measures and a variety of other measures designed to predict aspects of sound perception and listening performance. Key areas and concepts in psychoacoustical research related to room listening environments are then summarized, including: basic sensitivity to room acoustic effects, sound localization in direction and distance, and speech intelligibility. The effects on subjective sound quality are also summarized, primarily related to the application of concert hall acoustics. Where known, neural bases and the impacts of hearing loss are discussed.
The Impact of Communicating Uncertainty on Public Responses to Precision Medicine Research.

BACKGROUND Precision medicine research depends upon recruiting large and diverse participant cohorts to provide genetic, environmental, and lifestyle data. How prospective participants react to information about this research, including depictions of uncertainty, is not well understood. PURPOSE The current study examined public responses to precision medicine research, focusing on reactions toward (a) uncertainty about the scientific impact of sharing data for research, and (b) uncertainty about the privacy, security, or intended uses of participant data. METHODS U.S. adults (N = 674; 51.9% male; 50% non-Hispanic white; Mage = 42.23) participated in an online experimental survey. Participants read a manipulated news article about precision medicine research that conveyed either certainty or uncertainty of each type (scientific, data). Participants then rated their attitudes toward the research, trust in the researchers, and willingness to join a cohort. We tested direct and mediated paths between message condition and outcomes and examined individual characteristics as moderators. RESULTS Overall attitudes were positive and a majority of participants (65%) reported being somewhat or very likely to participate in precision medicine research if invited. Conveying uncertainty of either type had no overall main effect on outcomes. Instead, those who reported perceiving greater uncertainty had lower attitudes, trust, and willingness to join, while those with more tolerance for uncertainty, support for science, and scientific understanding responded favorably to the scientific uncertainty disclosure. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest responses to precision medicine research uncertainty are nuanced and that successful cohort enrollment may be well-supported by a transparent approach to communicating with prospective participants.
A Social Movement

Research on emerging sports focuses primarily on participants’ lifestyles, motives, modes of expression, and consumption. Few scholars have examined sports as social movements. With this chapter, I attempt to fill this gap in the literature. In the late twentieth century, new types of collective action emerged, such as anti-nuclear energy protests, gay rights, alternative medicine, New Age, and ecology movements, which attracted the attention of several scholars and led some to reconceptualize social movements. Johnston, Larana, and Gusfield (New Social Movements: From Ideology to Identity, Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1994) identified three defining characteristics of new social movements. I argue that disc golf’s grow the sport movement (GSM) shares these attributes, which include (1) an alternative culture, (2) a social identity rooted in pragmatic objectives, and (3) a lack of central authority.
Boundary dynamics in competing critical black hole formation.

Expanding upon our previous study of competing critical phenomena in black hole formation, we numerically investigate the behavior of the dominant perturbative mode across the boundary separating asymptotically dispersing and collapsing regions in a two-dimensional phase space of initial data. We find that across the Type II section of the boundary the mode remains constant, equal to the reciprocal of Choptuik's well-known quasi-universal exponent, while across the Type I section the mode appreciably varies. We postulate that this change reflects the existence of a third critical solution in addition to the two primary competing attractors, whose dominant perturbative mode is close to that of the Type I critical solution.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human lactoferrin gene.

The lactoferrin protein possesses antimicrobial and antiviral activities. It is also involved in the modulation of the immune response. In a normal healthy individual, lactoferrin plays a role in the front-line host defense against infection and in immune and inflammatory responses. Whether genomic variations, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), have an effect on the structure and function of lactoferrin protein and whether these variations contribute to the different susceptibility of individuals in response to environmental insults are interesting health-related issues. In this study, the lactoferrin gene was resequenced as part of the Environmental Genome Project of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which operates within the National Institutes of Health. Ninety-one healthy donors of different ethnicities were used to establish common SNPs in the exons of the lactoferrin gene in the general population. The data will serve as a basis from which study the association of...
Advanced silver metallization for ULSI applications

In an attempt to make Ag-metallization more compatible with current IC manufacturing, we have successfully dry-etched Ag in oxygen plasma. The metallisation system uses an Ag/Ti/SiO/sub 2/ stack structure.
Structural analysis of nucleolar precursors of ribosomal ribonucleic acid. Studies on the 5'-terminal and alkali-resistant dinucleotides of nucleolar high molecular weight ribonucleic acid.

Abstract To estimate the chain lengths based upon the 5' terminals and to provide information on methylated oligonucleotides, nucleolar 28 S, 35 S, and 45 S RNAs were subjected to alkaline hydrolysis and the resultant oligonucleotides were separated and identified. The 5' terminal of each RNA class was found to be mainly (80%) the methylated dinucleoside triphosphate pCmpUp. In addition, smaller amounts of pCp (10%) and pAp (10%) were found. Based on the 5' terminal analysis, the ratio of the approximate chain lengths of the polynucleotide chains is 1:1.5:2.5 in nucleolar 28 S, 35 S, and 45 S RNA, respectively, and is in good agreement with ratios derived from hybridization studies and equilibrium sedimentation studies. An alkali-stable trinucleotide (UmpUmpCp) is present in all of the nucleolar RNA classes in amounts equimolar to the terminal pCmpUp. The 16 types of 2'-O-methylated alkali-stable dinucleotides present in the nucleolar 28 S, 35 S, and 45 S RNAs accounted for 1.2, 1.1, and 0.9% of the total residues in 28 S, 35 S, and 45 S nucleolar RNA, respectively. From these values, and the cleavage patterns derived from the hybridization data, a working model of nucleolar 45 S RNA is presented in which the 28 S nucleolar RNA is placed at the 5' end of the molecule.
Atom-light crystallization of Bose-Einstein condensates in multimode cavities: Nonequilibrium classical and quantum phase transitions, emergent lattices, supersolidity, and frustration

The self-organization of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in a transversely pumped optical cavity is a process akin to crystallization: when pumped by a laser of sufficient intensity, the coupled matter and light fields evolve, spontaneously, into a spatially modulated pattern, or crystal, whose lattice structure is dictated by the geometry of the cavity. In cavities having multiple degenerate modes, the quasicontinuum of possible lattice arrangements, and the continuous symmetry breaking associated with the adoption of a particular lattice arrangement, give rise to phenomena such as phonons, defects, and frustration, which have hitherto been unexplored in ultracold atomic settings involving neutral atoms. The present work develops a nonequilibrium field-theoretic approach to explore the self-organization of a BEC in a pumped, lossy optical cavity. We find that the transition is well described, in the regime of primary interest, by an effective equilibrium theory. At nonzero temperatures, the self-organization occurs via a fluctuation-driven first-order phase transition of the Brazovskii class; this transition persists to zero temperature and crosses over into a quantum phase transition. We make further use of our field-theoretic description to investigate the role of nonequilibrium fluctuations in the self-organization transition, as well as to explore the nucleation of ordered-phase droplets, the nature and energetics of topological defects, supersolidity in the ordered phase, and the possibility of frustration controlled by the cavity geometry. In addition, we discuss the range of experimental parameters for which we expect the phenomena described here to be observable, along with possible schemes for detecting ordering and fluctuations via either atomic correlations or the correlations of the light emitted from the cavity.
Decision-Making with Incomplete Information

We must often make decisions in situations such as routing, scheduling, compiling, and resource allocation, without crucial information about (respectively) the terrain topography, the execution times, the run-time environment, and the future requests. Information may be unavailable because of its temporal or distributed nature. A reasonable way to assess the effectiveness of a decision rule in such situations is to compare its outcome to the ideal optimum solution, attainable only if we had complete information. An algorithm is considered effective (or “competitive”) if its performance is a multiplicative constant away from the ideal solution. We review some recent and on-going work on this active area.
The Technique of Uncertainty Analysis as Applied to the Momentum Equation for Accident Reconstruction

In experimental work, it is well known that measured values are not exact. Statistical treatment of uncertainty in measured values is common. The propagation in measured values into calculated values is examined. This technique of uncertainty analysis presented provides a rigorous mathematical technique for the analysis of uncertainty propagation from experimentally measured values into calculated results. The method of uncertainty analysis is introduced in general and an application to the momentum equation is examined to demonstrate the technique. The example presented demonstrates the effectiveness of the technique by demonstrating the growth of uncertainty in the calculated results around a singularity in the equations. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 882390.
How Do Management Students Prefer to Learn? Why Should We Care?

This paper reports the findings of a study of the learning styles of students in the operations management class at a regional comprehensive university in southeastern United States. Extant learning styles are found to be highly diverse and differ by student gender. However, in contrast to at least one prior study, the learning styles of our respondents did not differ by stu dent major. Five areas of opportunity for future research arising from the results of this study are identified in the paper’s conclusion.
Heterologous expression of tyrosinase recapitulates the misprocessing and mistrafficking in oculocutaneous albinism type 2: Effects of altering intracellular pH and pink-eyed dilution gene expression

The processing and trafficking of tyrosinase, a melanosomal protein essential for pigmentation, was investigated in a human epithelial 293 cell line that stably expresses the protein. The effects of the pink-eyed dilution (p) gene product, in which mutations result in oculocutaneous albinism type 2 (OCA2), on the processing and trafficking of tyrosinase in this cell line were studied. The majority of tyrosinase was retained in the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment and the early Golgi compartment in the 293 cells expressing the protein. Coexpression of p could partially correct the mistrafficking of tyrosinase in 293 cells. Tyrosinase was targeted to the late endosomal and lysosomal compartments after treatment of the cells with compounds that correct the tyrosinase mistrafficking in albino melanocytes, most likely through altering intracellular pH, while the substrate tyrosine had no effect on the processing of tyrosinase. Remarkably, this heterologous expression system recapitulates the defective processing and mistrafficking of tyrosinase observed in OCA2 albino melanocytes and certain amelanotic melanoma cells. Coexpression of other melanosomal proteins in this heterologous system may further aid our understanding of the details of normal and pathologic processing of melanosomal proteins.
Binomial pricing of fixed-income securities for increasing and decreasing interest rate cases

The option features embedded in many bonds and fixed-income securities have made the binomial interest rate tree approach to bond valuation a valuable model for pricing debt securities. Fundamental to the application of the binomial model to bond valuation is the assumption about the underlying stochastic process. There are two general approaches to modelling stochastic interest rate movements using a binomial model – the equilibrium model and the calibration model. Both models assume that the interest rate's logarithmic return is normally distributed. However, a number of empirical studies have provided evidence that the return distributions of a number of securities exhibit persistent skewness. In modelling interest rate patterns, the existence of skewness in a binomial process impacts not only the values of the up and down parameters, but also the probabilities of the underlying rate increasing or decreasing each period. The purpose of this study is to show how a binomial model of interest rates can be...
Methylene-β-phenylethylimine formation from 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid and β-phenylethylamine

Abstract We have identified, by TLC, the product from the reaction between 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-MTHF) and β-phenylethylamine (βφEA) in rat brain extracts as methylene-β-phenylethylimine (MβφEI), a Schiff-base compound produced when formaldehyde, enzymatically formed from 5-MTHF, condenses with the amine. The formation of MβφEI in various brain regions, ranging from 517 ± 56 pmol formed per mg protein per hour in corpus striatum to 118 ± 9 pmol formed in hippocampus, is significantly correlated with that of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline formed from 5-MTHF and tryptamine (r = 0.88; p
de FACTo Nucleosome Dynamics

The factors required for the delivery of RNA polymerase II to class II promoters using naked DNA were all identified by 1998, yet their exact mechanisms of action were not fully understood in all cases, and in some instances, their precise function still remains unknown. Nonetheless, a complete understanding of the complexity of the RNA polymerase II transcription cycle necessitated the development of assays that include chromatinized DNA templates. At this time, the field was actively searching for factors that allow transcription initiation on chromatinized templates. We began studies using chromatin templates in an attempt to identify factor(s) that permit RNA polymerase II to traverse nucleosomes, i.e. that allow elongation on chromatinized DNA templates. The challenge herein was to develop an assay that directly measured the ability of transcriptionally engaged RNA polymerase II to traverse nucleosomes. This approach resulted in the isolation of FACT, a heterodimer in humans comprised of Spt16 and SSRP1. Defined functional biochemical assays corroborated genetic studies in yeast that allowed the elucidation of FACT function in vivo. Collectively, these approaches demonstrate that FACT is a factor that allows RNA polymerase II to traverse nucleosomes in vitro and in vivo by removing one H2A/H2B dimer. More recent studies using a fully defined chromatin reconstitution/transcription assay revealed that FACT activity is greatly stimulated by post-translational modification of the histone polypeptides, specifically by monoubiquitination of lysine 120 of human histone H2B.
Hölder type matrix inequalities of Pate, Blakley, and Roy extended to the inner product of Frobenius

Abstract Suppose m, n, and k are positive integers, and let 〈 · , · 〉 be the standard inner product on the spaces R p , p > 0 . Recently Pate has shown that if D is an m × n non-negative real matrix, and u and v are non-negative unit vectors in R n and R m , respectively, then 〈 ( DD t ) k Du , v 〉 ⩾ 〈 Du , v 〉 2 k + 1 , with equality if and only if 〈 ( DD t ) k Du , v 〉 = 0 , or there exists α > 0 such that Du = α v and D t v = α u . This extends to non-symmetric non-square matrices a 1965 result of Blakley and Roy, and resolves a special case of a graph theoretic inequality conjectured by Sidorenko. We generalize the above, obtaining pure matrix inequalities involving the Frobenius inner product, 〈 · , · 〉 f . In particular, we show that if k is a positive integer, and D, X, and Y are non-negative matrices that are m × n , n × p , and m × p , respectively, then ∑ i = 1 p ‖ x i ‖ ‖ y i ‖ 2 k 〈 D ( D t D ) k X , Y 〉 f ⩾ ( 〈 DX , Y 〉 f ) 2 k + 1 , where X has columns x 1 , x 2 , … , x p , Y has columns y 1 , y 2 , … , y p , and ‖ · ‖ is the 2-norm. Necessary and sufficient conditions for equality are also given.
Investigation of laminar flow in a helical pipe filled with a fluid saturated porous medium

Laminar flow in a helical pipe filled with a fluid saturated porous medium is investigated numerically. The analysis is based on a full momentum equation for the flow in porous media that accounts for the Brinkman and Forchheimer extensions of the Darcy law as well as for the flow inertia. Accounting for the flow inertia is shown to be important for predicting secondary flow in a helical pipe. The effects of the Darcy number, the Forchheimer coefficient as well as the curvature and torsion of the helical pipe on the axial flow velocity and secondary flow are investigated numerically.
Updated systematic review on older adult community mobility and driver licensing policies

An updated systematic review of literature related to the effects of driver licensing policies, community mobility programs, and driving cessation programs on older adult performance and participation was completed as a part of the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Literature Review Project. The results revealed that relicensing policies instituted by states yield inconsistent results in terms of reducing traffic crashes, traffic violations, and traffic-related fatalities. The evidence related to community mobility and driving cessation programs has suggested that programming to support the transition from driving to other modes of mobility can be beneficial for older adults and their family members. In addition, community contexts that are supportive of pedestrian travel significantly increase this mode of mobility. This evidence-based review informs occupational therapy practice and suggests that increased therapeutic attention should be directed toward supportive transitions from driving and sustaining community mobility for optimal engagement and participation.
Conditions of Americari-Soviet Commerce: The Beginning of Direct Cotton Trade, 1923-1924

The history of American-Soviet commerce contains numerous turning points, but none is perhaps so little appreciated as the commencement of direct cotton trade. This development occurred as a result of the visit of Viktor P. Nogin to America from November, 1923 to January, 1924.1 It is particularly informative to discuss the events of this period within a framework of general propositions concerning American-Soviet trade.
Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous low-impedance cardiac pacing in human volunteers using conventional polymeric defibrillation pads.

Study objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of transcutaneous cardiac pacing using low-impedance defibrillation-type, self-adhesive polymer electrode pads positioned in the same anatomic sites typical of such pad placement in emergency defibrillation attempts. Design: Prospective, randomized, single-blinded normal subject investigation. Methods: Thirty healthy unmedicated adult volunteers of both sexes were paced transcutaneously to the threshold of capture and beyond by an intensity factor of 125%. A commercial defibrillator-pacer operating in demand mode had its rate set-point higher than the subjects' base-line rate by 125%. Threshold was established as the pulse current required to effect 75% captured beats. Pacing was continued at the 125% level for two minutes, during which subjective discomfort levels were recorded on a 1-to-5 pain scale. Results: All subjects but one were able to complete the study as designed. The single exception complained of intolerable pain early in the two-minute trial. Capture current had a mean value of 80 mA while the pain assessment averaged 3.2 on our five-point scale. No subject showed any untoward cardiovascular effects either during or after the study. Conclusion: In normal human volunteers, transcutaneous cardiac pacing with low-impedance polymer pad electrodes is safe. By extrapolation from this study population, it is sufficiently effective to accommodate successfully the vast majority of clinical circumstances likely to be encountered in emergency medicine.
Spatial distribution of XUV emission and density in a loop prominence

The spatial distribution of XUV emission in the 14 August, 1973 loop prominence observed with the NRL spectroheliograph on Skylab is studied. The loop prominence consists of two large loops and is observed in lines from ions with temperatures ranging from 50,000 to 3,000,000 K. The loops seen in low temperature lines such as from He II, Ne VII, Mg VII, Mg VIII, and Si VIII are systematically displaced from loops seen in higher temperature lines such as from Si XII, Fe XV, and Fe XVI. The cross section of the loop, particularly in cooler lines is nearly constant along the loop. For hotter loops in Si XII, Fe XV, and Fe XVI, however, emission at the top of the loop is more intense and extended than that near the footpoints, which makes the loops appear wider at the top. The observed spatial displacement between cooler and hotter loops suggest that the 14 August loop prominence is composed of many magnetic flux tubes, each with its own temperature.
Family Forest Owners and Federal Taxes

Focus groups were conducted with family forest owners to investigate the effect of government tax policies on their decisions regarding their land. Two groups each were held in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Alabama, Wisconsin, and Washington, USA, one with owners enrolled in the state preferential property tax program for forested land and one with owners who were not so enrolled. Each focus group consisted of 8–10 owners and lasted approximately 2 h. Overall, only two beneficial federal income tax provisions (treatment of timber income as a long-term capital gain and timber depletion deductions) and five federal estate tax provisions (the effective exemption for estates, the annual exclusion for gifts, use of a will, the step-up in basis for inherited assets, and the effective exemption for gifts) were brought up in over half of the groups. Groups composed of tax program enrollees tended to discuss federal income tax provisions more distinct times than those composed of tax program non-enrollees, and tended to be familiar with more federal estate tax provisions; otherwise, there was little difference between them. Misconceptions about tax provisions were common. As well, groups in every region noted the negative effects of tax uncertainty and that not all professionals are knowledgeable about federal taxes as they apply to family forest owners.
Oxalate toxicity in LLC-PK1 cells: Role of free radicals

Oxalate, the most common constituent of kidney stones, is an end product of metabolism that is excreted by the kidney. During excretion, oxalate is transported by a variety of transport systems and accumulates in renal tubular cells. This process has been considered benign; however, recent studies on LLC-PK1 cells suggested that high concentrations of oxalate are toxic, inducing morphological alterations, increases in membrane permeability to vital dyes and loss of cells from the monolayer cultures. The present studies examined the basis for oxalate toxicity, focusing on the possibility that oxalate exposure might increase the production/availability of free radicals in LLC-PK1 cells. Free radical production was monitored in two ways, by monitoring the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium to a blue reaction product and by following the conversion of dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) to its fluorescent derivative, rhodamine 123. Such studies demonstrated that oxalate induces a concentration-dependent increase in dye conversion by a process that is sensitive to free radical scavengers. Specifically, addition of catalase or superoxide dismutase blocked the oxalate-induced changes in dye fluorescence/absorbance. Addition of these free radical scavengers also prevented the oxalate-induced loss of membrane integrity in LLC-PK1 cells. Thus it seems likely that free radicals are responsible for oxalate toxicity. The levels of oxalate that induced toxicity in LLC-PK1 cells (350 microM) was only slightly higher than would be expected to occur in the renal cortex. These considerations suggest that hyperoxaluria may contribute to the progression of renal injury in several forms of renal disease.
CHOP STIX: an exploitation metasystem

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR), electro-optical (EO) imagery, and motion-target indicators (MTI) are sensors utilized in prime surveillance/reconnaissance systems. Each sensor system can generate substantial volumes of data requiring vast computational resources to support exploitation, the problem is only aggravated in systems which support multiple sensor evidence fusion components. The dynamic nature of military operational settings often makes it difficult to efficiently apply the computational resources necessary for successful exploitation. Current limited research suggests that dynamic, scalable and heterogeneous computer systems may be an avenue to develop successful exploitation systems of the future. Existing research and development into systems of this type has not explicitly addressed their use for tactical imagery exploitation system. The Collaborative Heterogeneous Operations Prototype (CHOP) as part of DARPAs Scalable Tactical Imagery eXploitation (STIX) program conducted a review of existing state of the art commercial and non-commercial middleware and metasystem technology as applicable to STIX's technical objectives (the architectural characterization of a multiple source exploitation system appropriate for use in a dynamic military operational setting). The results of that review resulted in the design and development of a heterogeneous metasystem demonstrating state of the art near real time exploitation technology in the solution of multiple source imagery exploitation problems. The system was evaluated against measures of effectiveness and measures of performance applied to previously built and fielded imagery exploitation systems; its performance was consistent with those systems. CHOP STIX, however, offered automatic dynamic system reconfiguration to maximize system performance in an environment of changing mission requirements, sensor selection, data load, and computational resource availability. These characteristics made CHOP STIX appropriate for use in a wider range of operational settings than existing systems.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Ethical issues in graduate education

Concern about the employment prospects of Ph.D.’s in the sciences and engineering has prompted overdue interest in the ethical aspects of graduate education. It is not possible to isolate an ethical inquiry that focuses solely on job-related issues. The ethical problems in graduate education are each related to employment, but none is related to employment only. We can illuminate potential ethical problems by considering conflicts of interest at each point from the decision to offer a graduate program through the treatment of its alumni. Such consideration prompts reassessment of program content, relations with students, and the objectives of graduate programs.
A Bayesian Approach to Age Estimation in Modern Americans from the Clavicle

Clavicles from 1289 individuals from cohorts spanning the 20th century were scored with two scoring systems. Transition analysis and Bayesian statistics were used to obtain robust age ranges that are less sensitive to the effects of age mimicry and developmental outliers than age ranges obtained using a percentile approach. Observer error tests showed that a simple three-phase scoring system proved the least subjective, while retaining accuracy levels. Additionally, significant sexual dimorphism was detected in the onset of fusion, with women commencing fusion at least a year earlier than men (women transition to fusion at approximately 15 years of age and men at 16 years). Significant secular trends were apparent in the onset of skeletal maturation, with modern Americans transitioning to fusion approximately 4 years earlier than early 20th century Americans and 3.5 years earlier than Korean War era Americans. These results underscore the importance of using modern standards to estimate age in modern individuals.
The ontogeny of dopamine-dependent increase of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in the chick retina.

The adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate level of chick embryonic retina changes during the course of development. In retinas from 6- to 15-day-old embryos the cAMP level is approximately 7 pmol/mg protein. A sharp 3-fold increase is observed between the 16th and 18th embronic day and remains constant thereafter. A dopamine-dependent increase in cAMP of the chick retina is already present in 7-day-old embryos, and by the 8th embryonic day maximal response is attained. Glutamate promotes a 2-fold stimulation. Carbachol, γ-aminobutyric acid and glycine do not cause any significant change in the level of cAMP of the embryonic tissue. Guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate also accumulates during development. Its concentration is approx 0.5 pmol/mg protein from the 8th to the 14th embryonic day, then increases gradually until the 19th day of development when the level observed is approx 14 pmol/mg protein.
Tilt-modulated chiral sculptured thin films: an alternative to quarter-wave stacks

The reflectances and transmittances of light incident normally on a chiral sculptured thin film with a periodically modulated tilt angle are calculated using the piecewise homogeneity approximation method. The necessary concurrent modulation of the local permittivity dyadic are accounted for by using empirically determined parameters. For modulation lengths equal to half the unmodulated structural period of the film, the circular Bragg phenomenon displayed by unmodulated chiral STFs is destroyed. It is demonstrated that the chosen nanomaterial then acts as a conventional dielectric mirror.
Synthesis of 4,6,4′,6′- and 3,6,3′,6′-Dianhydro-(α-D-galactopyranosyl α-D-Galactopyranoside).

Unter den angegebenen Reaktionsbedingungen entsteht aus dem Ditosylat (Ia) die im Titel genannte Dianhydroverbindung (Ha), die auch als Acetat (IIb) charakterisiert wird.
Water column dynamics of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), nitrogen and O2 on Georges Bank during April, 1990

Abstract We measured dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), combined inorganic nitrogen, O2, chlorophyll a (Chl a), particulate carbon and nitrogen (PCN) along with selected additional parameters on Georges Bank during April. Summer conditions were developing in the region as reflected by elevated biological production at the margins of the Bank (Chl a and O2 levels > 16mg m−3 and> 109% saturated respectively) and nitrate depletion on mid-Bank. Oxygen supersaturations were maintained in the regions of low NO3 concentration, suggesting that a rapid supply of NO3 was occurring horizontally from deeper waters. The productive region was propagating into deeper waters as daylight increased but was not yet associated with the tidally mixed front on the western flank. Changes in DIC and O2 suggested net community production (NCP) of 0.24-0.42 g C m−2 day−1 on the flank. A collaborative purposeful tracer experiment on mid-Bank permitted a time series of net biological activity to be made and changes in both DIC and O2 indicated similarly large net respiration was occurring there (NCP = −1.4 g C m−2 day−1). A budget of particulate carbon and nitrogen suggested the biological character of the mid-Bank seston changed from autotrophy to heterotrophy and most of the remaining suspended particulates were detrital. Thus, the prolonged residence time of shelf water on the Bank contributes to efficient respiration of much of the organic matter formed locally and diminishes the Bank's role as a source of organic matter for off-shelf or down-shelf export. Based on an analysis that accounted for mixing effects between different water masses on the Bank, the ratio of DIC to NO3 consumption was significantly greater than the Redfield ratio of 6.6. Thus, in such eutrophic regions, estimates of NCP derived from new (nitrate) production may be low by as much as 40%.
B lymphocyte proliferation is suppressed by the opioid growth factor–opioid growth factor receptor axis: Implication for the treatment of autoimmune diseases

Opioid peptides function as immunomodulatory molecules. Reports have linked the opioid growth factor (OGF), [Met(5)]-enkephalin, and its receptor OGFr to autoimmune diseases. OGF repressed the incidence and magnitude of myelin oligodendrocyte-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice. Given the extensive connection between the immune system and autoimmune diseases, the present study was conducted to examine the relationship of the OGF-OGFr axis and T lymphocyte proliferation. Splenic-derived mouse lymphocytes were stimulated with phytohemagglutin (PHA). All non-stimulated and PHA-stimulated T lymphocytes had immunoreactivity for OGF-like enkephalin and OGFr. OGF markedly suppressed T lymphocyte number in a dose-dependent manner. However, PHA-stimulated T lymphocytes were not altered in cell number by a variety of natural and synthetic opioid-related compounds, some specific for μ, δ, and κ opioid receptors. Persistent blockade of opioid receptors with the general opioid antagonist naltrexone (NTX), as well as antibody neutralization of OGF-like peptides, had no effect on cell number. Non-stimulated T lymphocytes exhibited no change in cell number when subjected to OGF or NTX. Treatment of T lymphocytes with siRNAs for μ, δ, or κ opioid receptors did not affect cell number, and the addition of OGF to these siRNA-exposed cultures depressed the population of cells. T lymphocytes treated with OGFr siRNA also had a comparable number of cells to control cultures, but the addition of OGF did not alter cell number. DNA synthesis in PHA-stimulated T lymphocytes exposed to OGF was markedly decreased from PHA-stimulated cultures receiving vehicle, but the number of cells undergoing apoptosis or necrosis in these cultures was similar to control levels. T lymphocytes subjected to siRNA for p16 and/or p21 had a comparable number of cells compared to controls, and treatment with OGF did not depress cell number in preparations transfected with both p16 and p21 siRNA. These data reveal that the OGF-OGFr axis is present in T lymphocytes and is capable of suppressing cell proliferation. However, T lymphocytes are not dependent on the regulation of cell proliferation by this system. The results showing that the OGF-OGFr axis is an immunosuppressant, offers explanation for reports that autoimmune diseases can be modulated by this system.
Work function of metallic surfaces bombarded with cesium ions

Abstract Reduction of work function due to the build-up of cesium coverage on beryllium, molybdenum, and tungsten caused by cesium ion bombardment was investigated for incident energies between 5 eV and 1 keV. Surface characterization was performed as a function of incident ion energy and dose using Auger spectra and work function measurements. A steady state surface coverage is achieved in all cases for a dose of less than 10 16 ions/cm 2 . The coverage is strongly dependent on target mass. Beryllium has nearly monolayer coverage at all beam energies, while above 150 eV molybdenum has less than 50% coverage and tungsten has less than 20% coverage. The minimum steady state work function at 60% coverage can be achieved on molybdenum and tungsten at 100 and 45 eV, respectively. The effects of hydrogen coadsorption are also examined. The development of the surface coverage occurs due to the effects of implantation, reflection, and sputtering. A Monte Carlo calculation shows that a surface coverage of cesium on beryllium inhibits sputtering, which should be true for other light elements.
Suitability vs. fidelity: Toward better measures of goodness for single-photon guns

We propose a new measure, suitability, to assess the performance of single-photon guns in the context of specific applications. In particular, we demonstrate the requirements for applications to quantum key distribution (QKD) are quite different, and less stringent, than those for linear optical quantum computing.
Developing reflective interviewers and reflexive researchers

In this article the authors reflect on their experiences working on a collaborative research project within the context of a course on ‘Interview research’ at a research‐extensive university in the USA. Doctoral students engaged in a study that served three aims, to provide: (a) information for a client that could be used to inform organizational decision‐making; (b) opportunities for students to apply skills discussed and practiced in class; (c) a context for class discussion and reflection to prepare for further development as interviewers and reflexive researchers. Students’ written commentaries on their participation showed that use of a collaborative research project provided a productive context for developing their interview and research practices within research methods coursework. The paper concludes with a discussion of the limitations and possibilities of using these kinds of projects within the context of graduate coursework with novice researchers to assist in their development as reflexive r...
Endocrine secretion of prostaglandin F2α in cyclic gilts is decreased by intrauterine administration of exogenous oxytocin

Abstract When administered systemically, oxytocin (OT) stimulates secretion of uterine prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ) in swine, but the role of endometrially-derived OT in control of PGF 2α release is not clear. This study determined the effect of exogenous OT, administered into the uterine lumen of intact cyclic gilts, on PGF 2α secretion during late diestrus. Intrauterine infusion of 40 USP units OT (in 30 ml 0.9% saline) was performed for 30 min (1 ml/min) into each uterine horn between 7:00 and 9:00 h on days 10, 12, 14 and 16 after estrus. Beginning 20 min before infusion, samples of jugular venous blood were drawn at 5–10-min intervals for 140 min for quantification of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF 2α (PGFM), the major stable metabolite of PGF 2α . Progesterone was analyzed in samples collected 0, 60 and 120 min after initiation of OT infusion. Treatment with OT did not alter plasma concentrations of PGFM on days 10 or 12 but decreased ( P P =0.05) and day 16 ( P P P 2α and delay the decline in progesterone that occurs during luteolysis.
Effects of epidural analgesia on the course of labor and delivery: a natural experiment

Abstract Objective: Whether epidural analgesia prolongs labor and increases risk of cesarean delivery is still an unresolved debate. Randomized clinical trials are difficult to conduct effectively and ethically. We examined this issue in a unique population where epidural analgesia for labor was virtually unavailable but became available on request within a very short period. Study design: We systematically identified 498 nulliparous patients with a spontaneous onset of labor and vertex presentation in the 12 months before epidural was readily available (before period) and 396 patients when epidural became available upon request (after period). Medical records are reviewed. Results: Conclusions: Epidural analgesia prolongs the second stage of labor, but it does not prolong the first stage of labor, nor does it increase risk of operative deliveries. ∗ . Before (N = 498) After (N = 396) Epidural analgesia for labor 1% 84% ∗ Duration of labor Onset of labor to complete dilatation † 14 (8, 27) 15 (8, 28) Cervix dilatation from 4 cm to 10 cm † 6 (2, 11) 6 (3, 11) Complete dilatation to delivery † 0.7 (0.2, 2) 1.0 (0.4, 2.6)∗ Active phase ≥8 hours 26% 32% Active phase ≥10 hours 15% 16% 2nd stage ≥2 hours 12% 22% ∗ 2nd stage ≥3 hours 1% 5% ∗ Oxytocin use 56% 51% Method of delivery Spontaneous 63% 64% Outlet forceps/vacuum 8% 14% ∗ Low forceps/vacuum 14% 10% Cesarean delivery 15% 11% ∗ P † Median, 10th, 90th percentiles in hours.
Adolescent mothers' sexual, contraceptive, and emotional relationship content with the fathers of their children following a first diagnosis of sexually transmitted infection.

Abstract Purpose A sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis may profoundly change the meaning of adolescent women's relationships, particularly when the relationship involves a shared child. This study explored the sexual, contraceptive, and emotional characteristics of sexual partners with whom adolescent women had and did not have children in the 3 months after the first STI diagnosis. Methods Adolescent women (n = 387; age: 14–17 years at enrollment) were tested quarterly for STI and completed partner-specific items on emotional and sexual relationship content. We used nonparametric statistics (SPSS/18.0) to compare these characteristics between partners with whom these adolescent women did (n = 20) or did not (n = 118) share a child. Results Rates of condom use at last sex, overall condom use, and condom insistence were lower with sexual partners involving shared children as compared with childless sexual partners. Relationship status, commitment to partner, and using no method of contraception were more common in parous sexual relationships as compared with nulliparous sexual relationships after an STI. Conclusions After an STI, adolescent women have different sexual risk behaviors with the fathers of their children, even after a signal event such as a recent STI diagnosis. Tailored counseling may specifically address the challenges of STI prevention with partners who have the unique status of being the "father of the baby."
Radioluminescent polymers: Preparation of deutero- and tritopolystyrene

Deuterium and tritium exchanges were performed on the aromatic groups of polystyrene using DCl or TCl and TiCl 4 . Up to 5 deuterium atoms per monomer unit could be placed on the aromatic groups depending upon time, DCl pressure, and TiCl 4 concentration. Tritiated polystyrene mixed with zinc sulfide phosphor produced 1.06 Cd/m 2 of luminance
Chronic lung allograft rejection and airway microvasculature: Is HIF-1 the missing link?

Chronic lung allograft rejection, known as obliterative bronchiolitis (OB), is the leading cause of death in lung transplant patients. Although OB pathogenesis is not fully understood, in this issue of the JCI, Jiang and colleagues report that tissue hypoxia resulting in dysfunctional airway microvasculature precedes the airway fibrosis characteristic of OB. In addition, a relative deficiency of allograft endothelial cell–derived HIF-1α contributes to this process. Data showing that overexpressing HIF-1α restores the microvascular airway normoxia and prevents airway fibrosis highlight a novel role for vascular biology in OB pathogenesis.
Advances in managing breast cancer: a clinical update

Although substantial progress has been made in the screening and management of breast cancer, globally it remains the most common cause of cancer and cancer death in women. While breast cancer is potentially curable when detected at an early stage, it remains incurable in the metastatic setting. Thus, given its high prevalence, improved prevention and treatment of metastases remains a clinically meaningful unmet need. We review here the advances made in the last several years in the screening and treatment of breast cancer and explore how our increased insight into the underlying biology of breast cancer has influenced our efforts to individualize patient care.