cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the effective moduli of composite materials: Slender rigid inclusions at dilute concentrations

Using slender-body theory the effective elastic moduli of a certain class of composite materials are determined by analyzing the response of an infinite elastic medium, containing a single slender rigid inclusion, to a given applied strain. Solutions are found as perturbation expansions in the slenderness ratio of the inclusion, κ, which is small. These then yield the five independent elastic moduli, which characterize the macroscopic state of a dilute dispersion of slender rigid inclusions aligned in a common direction. The increase in rigidity due to the inclusions is found to be of orderφ/κ2 ln(2/κ) for the longitudinal Young's modulus and of order π for the other four moduli, where π is the volume fraction of inclusions. Although the general theory is restricted to axisymmetric inclusions having ends which are no more blunt than a prolate spheroid, the results are shown to be valid approximations for circular cylinders in certain cases.
Civic Culture and Government Performance in the American States

In a recent study, RobertD. Putnam reported a strong relationship between civic culture and government performance among the newly empowered regions of Italy. This article extends Putnam's methodology to the American states. Using similar techniques, we construct indices of civic culture and government performance for the states. When correlated, the results reveal a clear link between civicness and performance. States that are more civic tend to have governments that enact more liberal and innovative policies. This relationship between civicness and performance remains strong even after controlling for political culture, ideology, education, and other factors.
Degreeism: Disease or Cure?.

Drawing upon recent literature on educational inflation, overeducation, and the diploma disese, this paper examines analytically both the positive and negative aspects of degreeism in developed as well as in developing nations. Some of the positive effects of degreeism found are, for example, (1) a positive employment effect, (2) a proxy information effect, and (3) ritualistic effects. Among the major negative effects of degreeism discussed are (1) economic waste, (2) imbalance between job expectations and labor market realities, and (3) consumer deceit. Finally, alternative policy suggestions are presented for addressing the problem of degreeism. Some of the policies discussed are the degree tax, incomes policy, improved labor market information services, and modified civil service procedures. The major implication of such policies is to direct attention to the real issue of competency, not diplomas.
Torsion in protoplasm

Abstract 1. 1. A delicate glass needle suspended in a horizontal position on the end of a freely hanging strand of myxomycete protoplasm swings alternately to the right and to the left through an arc of about 40° when the protoplasm is in a state of flow. 2. 2. The swing of the needle is the result of a twisting of the living thread, brought about by streaming of the protoplasm. 3. 3. As a result of the spiral twist produced by streaming, a state of torsion is set up in the protoplasm. 4. 4. The period of swing of the needle is half the period of rhythmic flow in one direction. 5. 5. That the period of swing is but one-half the period of flow is due to a gradually increasing force brought about by increase in rate of flow up to the mid point of movement in one direction, after which there is a gradual lessening in the force applied and a consequent unwrapping of the protoplasmic thread. 6. 6. A molecular interpretation of the structural basis of spiral form and movement in protoplasm is given, based on the known asymmetry of molecules.
Pyruvic Oxime Nitrification and Copper and Nickel Resistance by a Cupriavidus pauculus, an Active Heterotrophic Nitrifier-Denitrifier

Heterotrophic nitrifiers synthesize nitrogenous gasses when nitrifying ammonium ion. A Cupriavidus pauculus, previously thought an Alcaligenes sp. and noted as an active heterotrophic nitrifier-denitrifier, was examined for its ability to produce nitrogen gas (N2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) while heterotrophically nitrifying the organic substrate pyruvic oxime [CH3–C(NOH)–COOH]. Neither N2 nor N2O were produced. Nucleotide and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the organism is a member of a genus (Cupriavidus) known for its resistance to metals and its metabolism of xenobiotics. The microbe (a Cupriavidus pauculus designated as C. pauculus strain UM1) was examined for its ability to perform heterotrophic nitrification in the presence of Cu2+ and Ni2+ and to metabolize the xenobiotic phenol. The bacterium heterotrophically nitrified well when either 1 mM Cu2+ or 0.5 mM Ni2+ was present in either enriched or minimal medium. The organism also used phenol as a sole carbon source in either the presence or absence of 1 mM Cu2+ or 0.5 mM Ni2+. The ability of this isolate to perform a number of different metabolisms, its noteworthy resistance to copper and nickel, and its potential use as a bioremediation agent are discussed.
Occupational Stratification of Hispanics, Whites, and Blacks in Southern Rural Destinations: A Quantitative Analysis

Since the 1990s, many rural communities in the Southern US have experienced an unprecedented influx of Latino migrants. Some research undertaken on such “new Hispanic destinations” suggests that the newcomers tend to assume low-status jobs shunned by non-Hispanic residents and thus form a segmented labor market, but other work indicates that they heavily compete with natives (particularly African Americans) for less-skilled positions. Drawing on data from the 2000 census and 2009–2011 American Community Survey, this paper examines patterns of occupational stratification between Latino, white, and black men in the rural South to identify whether Hispanic economic relations in the area are better characterized by segmentation or competition. Specifically, occupational dissimilarity indexes and status scores are calculated to map the groups’ relative economic positions in the rural portions of five Southeastern states home to fast-growing nonmetro Latino populations: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Consistent with the segmentation hypothesis, the results reveal that Latinos are highly occupationally dissimilar from non-Hispanic whites and blacks and rank significantly below both in mean occupational status. Standardization of the stratification measures shows that Hispanics’ labor market isolation and disadvantage can be substantially accounted for by their lower average levels of human capital and US citizenship.
Role of D1-like receptors in amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization: a study using D1A receptor knockout mice.

Rationale: The role played by D1-like receptors in amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization has been examined using both the D1-like receptor antagonist, SCH 23390, and the D1A receptor knockout mouse (i.e. D1A-deficient mice). Studies using these two approaches have provided conflicting evidence about the importance of D1-like receptors for amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to determine: (a) whether D1A-deficient mice exhibit amphetamine-induced locomotor sensitization after 3 and 17 drug abstinence days, and (b) whether SCH 23390, which binds to both D1A and D1B receptor subtypes, blocks development of amphetamine sensitization in wild-type and D1A-deficient mice. Methods: In the first experiment, adult wild-type and D1A-deficient mice were injected with amphetamine (0, 1, 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg, IP) for 7 consecutive days. In the second experiment, wild-type and D1A-deficient mice were pretreated with SCH 23390 (0, 0.15, or 0.5 mg/kg, IP) 30 min prior to being injected with amphetamine (0 or 8 mg/kg, IP). After each daily amphetamine injection, mice were placed in activity chambers where distance traveled (i.e. horizontal locomotor activity) was measured for 60 min. On the test days, which occurred after 3 or 17 drug abstinence days, mice were injected with 1 mg/kg amphetamine and locomotion was measured for 120 min. Results: Both wild-type and D1A-deficient mice exhibited amphetamine-induced locomotor sensitization. Pretreatment with 0.5 mg/kg SCH 23390 blocked the development of locomotor sensitization in wild-type mice, but did not alter the sensitized responding of D1A-deficient mice. Conclusions: It appears that D1-like receptors are necessary for the development of amphetamine sensitization in wild-type mice, while neither the D1A nor D1B receptor subtypes are necessary for the amphetamine-induced locomotor sensitization of D1A-deficient mice. A possible explanation for these conflicting results is that D1A-deficient mice may have a compensatory mechanism (not involving D1B receptors) that allows them to exhibit amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization in the absence of the D1A receptor.
Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor Reverses Inhibition by CNS Myelin, Promotes Regeneration in the Optic Nerve, and Suppresses Expression of the Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling Protein Smad2

After CNS injury, axonal regeneration is limited by myelin-associated inhibitors; however, this can be overcome through elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP), as occurs with conditioning lesions of the sciatic nerve. This study reports that expression of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is strongly upregulated in response to elevation of cAMP. We also show that SLPI can overcome inhibition by CNS myelin and significantly enhance regeneration of transected retinal ganglion cell axons in rats. Furthermore, regeneration of dorsal column axons does not occur after a conditioning lesion in SLPI null mutant mice, indicating that expression of SLPI is required for the conditioning lesion effect. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that SLPI localizes to the nuclei of neurons, binds to the Smad2 promoter, and reduces levels of Smad2 protein. Adenoviral overexpression of Smad2 also blocked SLPI-induced axonal regeneration. SLPI and Smad2 may therefore represent new targets for therapeutic intervention in CNS injury.
Internet resource discovery for chemistry where are those vast untapped resources

Description d'une base de donnees: AskNPAC About Chemistry Mailing List Archiv. Cette base a pour fonction d'etre un point d'acces aux listes de messagerie et aux groupes de discussion Usenet. Description de services permettant l'acces a des logiciels, par exemple The Chemistry Software Exchange (projet Chemistry Software and Information Resources)
Gueriniella and the cytotaxonomy of iceryine coccids (Coccoidea: Margarodidae).

The chromosome complement of Gueriniella serratulae (F.) Fernald, Tribe Iceryini, Subfamily Monophlebinae of the primitive coccid Family Margarodidae, is 2 n ♀=6; males are unknown. Reproduction is by thelytokous parthenogenesis. Meiosis is normal; polar bodies do not contribute to the formation of a zygote-substitute nucleus; and development is initiated by a haploid cleavage of the female pronucleus. Diploidy is restored by the fusion of the 2 nuclei resulting from this division. With the exception of Gueriniella, all cytologically known Iceryini are haplo-diploids, with a chromosome complement of n=2. The hypothesis is proposed that Gueriniella is a persistent primitive stemming from the ancestral iceryine stock prior to the loss of the sex chromosomes and the evolution of haplo-diploidy within the tribe. A review of the available evidence from cytology, taxonomy, endosymbiosis, behavior and distribution shows good agreement with this interpretation.
Measuring Health Literacy in Caregivers of Children: A Comparison of the Newest Vital Sign and S-TOFHLA

Objective. We examined the performance of the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) and the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA) in caregivers of children. Method. Caregivers of children ≤12 years old seeking care for their child in a pediatric emergency department (ED) were tested using the NVS and the S-TOFHLA to measure health literacy. The results were compared with ED use outcomes. Result. The S-TOFHLA was found to have a ceiling effect as compared to the NVS; few caregivers scored in low literacy categories (P < .0001). This finding was demonstrated in both lower (P = .01) and higher (P < .001) educational attainment groups. The NVS was predictive of ED use outcomes (P = .02 and P < .01) whereas the S-TOFHLA was not (P = .21 and P = .11). Conclusions. The measures do not seem to function similarly nor predict health outcomes equally. The NVS demonstrates sensitivity in identifying limited health literacy in younger adult populations.
Prospective evaluation of pancreatic sphincterotomy as a precut technique for biliary cannulation.

Background & aims: Pancreatic sphincterotomy has been described as an effective technique to obtain biliary access after standard methods fail. This prospective study evaluates its efficacy and compares its complication rate to conventional biliary sphincterotomy (BS). Methods: Between January 2001 and January 2004, patients in whom biliary cannulation failed underwent a pancreatic precut sphincterotomy (PPS) and were analyzed prospectively. Multivariate analysis was performed on the following variables with regard to their ability to predict successful biliary cannulation: age, gender, time to access bile duct after precut (≤10 or >10 minutes), final diagnosis, and operator. Complications of PPS were then compared with those resulting from endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with BS in 120 patients examined during the same period of time and matched by sex, gender, and disease process. Results: One hundred sixteen patients (50 male), mean age 58 ± 16 years, underwent PPS. Immediate biliary access was achieved after pancreatic precut in 99 cases (85%). Complications occurred in 14 patients (12%): 3 (2.6%) postsphincterotomy bleeding, 9 (8%) pancreatitis (8 mild, 1 moderate), and 2 (1.7%) retroperitoneal perforation managed conservatively. The factor statistically associated with successful biliary cannulation was the amount of elapsed time between completing the PPS and obtaining biliary access. No statistical difference was identified in the complication rate of pancreatitis between the PPS and BS groups. Conclusions: PPS is an effective precut technique to facilitate biliary cannulation. Success is correlated to the speed of biliary access after precut. In expert hands, its rate of pancreatitis is similar to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with BS.
Applying Multiple Knowledge Structures in Creative Thought: Effects on Idea Generation and Problem-Solving

Prior studies have indicated that multiple knowledge structures, schema, associations, and cases, are involved in creative thought. Few studies, however, have examined how these different knowledge structures operate together in idea generation and creative problem-solving. Accordingly, in the present study 247 undergraduates were asked to generate ideas relevant to a social innovation problem and then provide a potential solution to the problem. A training manipulation was used to encourage application of schematic, associational, or case-based knowledge either alone or in combination. It was found that prompting use of a single knowledge structure, specifically schema or associational knowledge, resulted in the production of more high quality ideas. However, prompting use of multiple knowledge structures, specifically combining either schema or associations with cases, resulted in the production of higher quality and more original problem-solutions. The implications of these findings for understanding t...
Infratentorial supracerebellar resection of a pineal tumor using a high definition video exoscope (VITOM

A telescope based high definition (HD) video system (VITOM®, Karl Storz GmBH & Co., Tuttlingen, Germany) has recently been proposed as an alternative to the operating microscope for microneurosurgery. It remains unclear which clinical situations will benefit from its advantages. In light of the uncomfortable surgeon position and fatigue often associated with pineal region surgery, we used the VITOM® HD exoscope system to perform an infratentorial supracerebellar resection of a pineal tumor. The VITOM® dramatically improved surgeon comfort and ease of operating by permitting the surgeon to stand upright and in a comfortable position and avoid the need to extend the arm or assume an awkward. position commonly encountered when using the microscope for these approaches. The marked improvement in surgeon comfort afforded by the VITOM® exoscope indicates that this system may have significant advantages over traditional microscope based surgery for tumors of the pineal region approached using an infratentorial supracerebellar approach.
Expression and function of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 and their cognate cannabinoid ligands in murine embryonic stem cells

Background. Characterization of intrinsic and extrinsic factors regulating the self-renewal/division and differentiation of stem cells is crucial in determining embryonic stem (ES) cell fate. ES cells differentiate into multiple hematopoietic lineages during embryoid body (EB) formation in vitro, which provides an experimental platform to define the molecular mechanisms controlling germ layer fate determination and tissue formation. Methods and Findings. The cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) are members of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family, that are activated by endogenous ligands, the endocannabinoids. CB1 receptor expression is abundant in brain while CB2 receptors are mostly expressed in hematopoietic cells. However, the expression and the precise roles of CB1 and CB2 and their cognate ligands in ES cells are not known. We observed significant induction of CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors during the hematopoietic differentiation of murine ES (mES)-derived embryoid bodies. Furthermore, mES cells as well as ES-derived embryoid bodies at days 7 and 14, expressed endocannabinoids, the ligands for both CB1 and CB2. The CB1 and CB2 antagonists (AM251 and AM630, respectively) induced mES cell death, strongly suggesting that endocannabinoids are involved in the survival of mES cells. Treatment of mES cells with the exogenous cannabinoid ligand D 9 -THC resulted in the increased hematopoietic differentiation of mES cells, while addition of AM251 or AM630 blocked embryoid body formation derived from the mES cells. In addition, cannabinoid agonists induced the chemotaxis of ES-derived embryoid bodies, which was specifically inhibited by the CB1 and CB2 antagonists. Conclusions. This work has not been addressed previously and yields new information on the function of cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, as components of a novel pathway regulating murine ES cell differentiation. This study provides insights into cannabinoid system involvement in ES cell survival and hematopoietic differentiation. Citation: Jiang S, Fu Y, Williams J, Wood J, Pandarinathan L, et al (2007) Expression and Function of Cannabinoid Receptors CB1 and CB2 and Their
Tuning Performance of Metamaterial-Based Frequency Selective Surfaces

A bandpass, miniaturized-element frequency selective surface with relatively high out-band rejection was recently reported whose unit cell dimensions are smaller than lambda 0 /10. The new FSS is made up of a metallic, square loop array and a metallic grid on either side of a thin dielectric substrate. Further analysis on this structure reveals that, a very wide frequency tuning can be accomplished by inserting lumped, variable capacitors in the gap between the loops. This paper presents the tunability performance of the miniaturized-element FSS. For experimental verification, a waveguide measurement approach is chosen to lower the fabrication cost. The FSS unit cell dimensions are modified appropriately to fit within a WR90 waveguide aperture and appear as a perfect periodic surface once image theory is applied. Prototypes of the structure in the form of a waveguide flange at X-band are fabricated and then loaded with fixed-valued, chip capacitors of different values. Each waveguide sample contains eighteen capacitors mounted on it. The measurement results show that a wide tuning range, with acceptable performance, from 8.49 to 11.48 GHz can be accomplished by altering the capacitance from 0.2 to 0.05 pF.
Macrophages in solid organ transplantation

Macrophages are highly plastic hematopoietic cells with diversified functions related to their anatomic location and differentiation states. A number of recent studies have examined the role of macrophages in solid organ transplantation. These studies show that macrophages can induce allograft injury but, conversely, can also promote tissue repair in ischemia-reperfusion injury and acute rejection. Therapeutic strategies that target macrophages to improve outcomes in solid organ transplant recipients are being examined in preclinical and clinical models. In this review, we discuss the role of macrophages in different types of injury and rejection, with a focus on macrophage-mediated tissue injury, specifically vascular injury, repair and remodeling. We also discuss emerging macrophage-centered therapeutic opportunities in solid organ transplantation.
Municipal solid waste composition and the behavior of metals in incinerator ashes

Disposal of solid and hazardous wastes has become a concern in recent years. Incineration is a promising option for both, however, there are questions of public health effects and environmental acceptability of incinerator outputs. Ideally, operating conditions could be controlled to limit toxicity of residuals; to develop process models and feed-back algorithms requires knowledge of the causal relationships between input and output to quantify induced responses. The composition of municipal solid wastes (MSW) from residential service areas was categorized and residuals from MSW incineration were examined for metal content and leachability. Sample size, sampling methodology, segregation by category and homogeneity of service area were determined to be dominant factors influencing the composition of MSW. There were notable differences in metal content of the fly and bottom ash residuals. Lead and zinc were the dominant trace metals in both ash residuals. Concentrations of cadmium and lead leached from the flyash were found to exceed EP limits. Lead and cadmium of both bottom ash and flyash fail proposed TCLP extraction limits by even larger margins. Permanent elimination of high-temperature process ashes, classified as hazardous, must be demonstrated.
A Subharmonic CMOS Mixer Based on Threshold Voltage Modulation

A novel CMOS subharmonic mixing technique based on threshold voltage modulation with higher LO-to-RF isolation is presented in this paper. A 2.1GHz subharmonic mixer is designed using this technique in a 0.18µm standard digital CMOS process by applying the LO signals at the bulk terminal of PMOS transistors. The mixer has a measured conversion gain of 10.5dB, an IIP3 of −3.5dBm, and a noise figure of 17.7dB while consuming 2.5mW in each mixer core. This circuit architecture increases the second harmonic LO-to-RF isolation to above 67dB and hence can mitigate LO leakage issues in wireless receivers.
Cardoso's Brazil: A Sellout?

Few contemporary figures in Latin America have aroused as much admiration, anger, and, above all, disappointment as Fernando Henrique Cardoso, president of Brazil from 1995 to 2002. As a left-wing scholar and social theorist, Cardoso had laid out persuasive accounts of the operations of international dependency that were the mother's milk of theory for many of us in the older generation of students of Latin America. He was a prominent opponent of the repressive military regime that came to power with U.S. connivance in 1964. It was, however, a distinctly right-wing alliance of forces that won the presidential election for him in 1994, defeating the left-wing candidate, Luis Inacio (Lula) da Silva. Nonetheless, many clung to the hope that Cardoso would represent a "third way" that would lead Brazil out of the mire of social and political inequalities that had plagued the nation for centuries. It is the intent of Petras and Veltmeyer in Cardoso's Brazil to put any such delusions to rest. They declare that "the Cardoso regime was Brazil's worst" in the century. They present a brief but richly documented analysis of the social and economic consequences of the Cardoso administration. Their conclusion is that Cardoso literally sold out Brazil, turning large and critical sectors of the economy over to foreign investors and subordi nating social policy to the demands of international finance, particularly the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Brazilians suffered declining economic growth rates, lower real wages, loss of access to social services, rising unemployment, and a significant shift of employment from the formal to the informal sector. Cardoso's declared goal of attacking "social exclusion" could not have been more clearly betrayed. Only in education, they write, did Cardoso significantly improve the life of Brazilians, and even there, achievements in elementary and secondary education were not matched by needed changes in higher education. They make the case that the prob lems created or intensified by Cardoso will live on far beyond his government because they have weakened domestic firms at the expense of foreign corporations, made the country more vulnerable to manipulation by more powerful ones, and undermined labor unions. Cardoso's administration coincided with, if it did not cause, the demobi lization of the "flowering of civil society associations and a proliferation of NGO's" that arose with the collapse of the military regime. Any evaluation of social and economic policy in a country as large and diverse as Brazil inevitably relies very heavily on statistical analysis. The barrage of statistics mar shaled to prove the case made in this book can be usefully poised against the extensive statistical presentations made in Ted Goertzel's (1999) work, a gushing paean of praise to Cardoso that clearly constitutes the Cardoso-approved official story. As Petras and Veltmeyer say, the definitive judgment on Cardoso's performance was incontrovertible
Non-coplanar quasi-free scattering

Abstract It is postulated that the angular correlation distributions of the coplanar and non-coplanar quasi-free proton scattering are controlled by the momentum distribution of the nuclear protons for medium weight nuclei. This assumption differs from that of Jacob and Maris, who suggested that the angular distribution would show a diffraction pattern. The incoming and outgoing protons are represented by waves distorted in a square well potential. It is shown that the two angular correlation distributions are very similar for the same magnitude of momentum transfer. It is also shown that if the distorting potential is real, the angular correlation distributions do not depend on the nuclear protons which have non-zero magnetic quantum number.
A new approach to reducing output ripple in switched-capacitor-based step-down DC-DC converters

Rapidly dropping power supply voltages and tight voltage regulation requirements for integrated circuits challenge power supply designers. A novel interleaved discharging (ID) approach is presented to reduce the output ripple in step-down switched-capacitor (SC) DC-DC converters. Simulation and experimental results of a four-stage SC DC-DC converter show that the TD approach can reduce the output ripple by a factor of three. The proposed ID approach also improves the converter efficiency by 7%. The ID approach is suitable for all step-down SC DC-DC converters and provides flexibility in design optimization.
Wide Variations in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Inoculum Dose and Latency-Associated Transcript Expression Phenotype Do Not Alter the Establishment of Latency in the Rabbit Eye Model

The latency-associated transcript (LAT) is required for efficient reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 from latent infection in the rabbit eye model, but LAT's mechanism of action is unknown. In addition to reactivation, the LAT region seems to correspond to multiple functions, with some LAT deletion mutants exhibiting increased virulence, increased neuronal death, and restricted establishment of latency. While a LAT promoter deletion mutant (17DeltaPst) seems to be primarily restricted in reactivation in the rabbit, subtle effects on virulence or the establishment of latency cannot be precluded at the normal high levels of virus inoculum used in the rabbit model. Since such additional LAT phenotypes may be more evident with lower doses of virus, we evaluated the influence of initial viral inoculum and LAT expression on the progression of acute infection and the establishment of latency. We have assayed both virus recovery rates and viral genome loads in rabbit corneas and trigeminal ganglia. Our results show that (i) in the corneas and trigeminal ganglia, the maximum amount of virus present during acute infection is independent of the LAT genotype and inoculum dose, although greater viral yields are obtained earlier with higher inoculum doses, and (ii) the range in numbers of latent genomes detected in the ganglia is independent of the inoculum dose and the LAT genotype and therefore no difference in establishment of latency is observed.
The Cosmological Constant in the Quantum Multiverse

Recently, a new framework for describing the multiverse has been proposed which is based on the principles of quantum mechanics. The framework allows for well-defined predictions, both regarding global properties of the universe and outcomes of particular experiments, according to a single probability formula. This provides complete unification of the eternally inflating multiverse and many worlds in quantum mechanics. In this paper we elucidate how cosmological parameters can be calculated in this framework, and study the probability distribution for the value of the cosmological constant. We consider both positive and negative values, and find that the observed value is consistent with the calculated distribution at an order of magnitude level. In particular, in contrast to the case of earlier measure proposals, our framework prefers a positive cosmological constant over a negative one. These results depend only moderately on how we model galaxy formation and life evolution therein.
SOLAR RETROFITTING OF EXISTING RESIDENCE WITH ALMOST ZERO DELTA TE SYSTEM

A distributed combined photovoltaic and house heating system, described as Solar One system and implemented in a first Solar One house at the University of Delaware was built in 1973. The results of the first three (3) years of testing indicated the need for concept re-evaluation and further development. A private residence is partially retrofitted in 1976 following these recommendations and first results are reported and analyzed. A payback analysis of the implemented energy conservation and solar energy conversion means is presented.
The Uniform Conservation Easement Act: Reflections of a Member of the Drafting Committee

The Uniform Law Commission (ULC), formerly known as the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, was established in 1892 by a group of state governments with support from the American Bar Association. The ULC improves the law by providing states with “non-partisan, well-conceived, and well-drafted legislation that brings clarity and stability to critical areas of state statutory law.” The purpose of the ULC is to “promote the principle of uniformity by drafting and proposing specific statutes in areas of the law where uniformity between the states is desirable.” The ULC can only propose laws—“no uniform law is effective unless and until a state legislature adopts it.”
Chromosomes of the brown algae

Abstract Investigations concerning brown algal chromosomes have contributed to our understanding of the reproductive biology of brown algae. Techniques used in observing chromosomes in the light microscope are briefly summarized. Mitosis and meiosis are discussed, with an emphasis on aspects that are distinctive in the brown algae. Observations of chromosome morphology, although limited by the small size of brown algal chromosomes, have provided evidence for the existence of sex chromosomes. The few investigations quantifying brown algal genomes, and the potential for such techniques in further studies, are discussed. Most studies of brown algal chromosomes have been concerned with chromosome numbers, and reports for 183 species are presented along with discussions of the implications of these numbers on discerning basic chromosome numbers and patterns of chromosome numbers in taxonomic groups, and polyploidy. Many studies of brown algal chromosomes have been made in conjunction with life history studies,...
Associated Factors in Children With Chronic Cough

Background Children presenting with chronic cough are common to the primary care physicians, but data on the etiology are scant. Methods We evaluated 40 children (age range, 5 to 12 years) with chronic cough (> 8 weeks duration) with no obvious cause who were referred by their primary care physicians. All patients underwent an extensive multispecialty workup that included pulmonary, GI, allergy, immunology, and otorhinolaryngology testing. Response to treatment was quantified pretreatment and 8 weeks after treatment by using a visual analog scale. Results Positive diagnostic test results were noted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (27.5%), allergy (22.5%), asthma (12.5%), infection (5%), aspiration (2.5%), and multiple etiologies (20%). Appropriate treatment for these factors resulted in a significant improvement in cough. Conclusion Reflux, allergy, and asthma accounted for > 80% of the likely etiologic factors of chronic cough in children and responded to a!ppropriate treatment.
A Review of the Mechanisms Implicated in the Pathogenesis of the Diabetic Foot

The developmental pathway toward diabetic foot ulceration is best described as multifactorial. A critical triad of neuropathy, minor foot trauma, and foot deformity has been identified in greater than 63% of foot ulcers. In addition to these risk factors, increased peak plantar pressures, autonomic and motor neuropathy, limited joint mobility, and impaired wound healing contribute to the formation of diabetic foot ulcers. It is essential to understand the pathogenesis of foot ulcers so that appropriate treatments may be developed.
VESGEN 2D: Automated, User‐Interactive Software for Quantification and Mapping of Angiogenic and Lymphangiogenic Trees and Networks

Quantification of microvascular remodeling as a meaningful discovery tool requires mapping and measurement of site-specific changes within vascular trees and networks. Vessel density and other critical vascular parameters are often modulated by molecular regulators as determined by local vascular architecture. For example, enlargement of vessel diameter by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is restricted to specific generations of vessel branching (Parsons-Wingerter et al., Microvascular Research72: 91, 2006). The averaging of vessel diameter over many successively smaller generations is therefore not particularly useful. The newly automated, user-interactive software VESsel GENeration Analysis (VESGEN) quantifies major vessel parameters within two-dimensional (2D) vascular trees, networks, and tree-network composites. This report reviews application of VESGEN 2D to angiogenic and lymphangiogenic tissues that includes the human and murine retina, embryonic coronary vessels, and avian chorioallantoic membrane. Software output includes colorized image maps with quantification of local vessel diameter, fractal dimension, tortuosity, and avascular spacing. The density of parameters such as vessel area, length, number, and branch point are quantified according to site-specific generational branching within vascular trees. The sole user input requirement is a binary (black/white) vascular image. Future applications of VESGEN will include analysis of 3D vascular architecture and bioinformatic dimensions such as blood flow and receptor localization. Branching analysis by VESGEN has demonstrated that numerous regulators including VEGF(165), basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor beta-1, angiostatin and the clinical steroid triamcinolone acetonide induce 'fingerprint' or 'signature' changes in vascular patterning that provide unique readouts of dominant molecular signaling.
Comparison of Temperature and pH Effects on Cells, Walls, and Autolysin of Listeria monocytogenes

SummaryCells and isolated walls of Listeria monocytogenes Strain 5 were labile, and autolysin was released from walls during dissolution. Cells, walls, and autolysin were similarly, but not identically, affected by pH and temperature.
Hosts and distribution records of Mexican smut fungi.

Hosts and distribution records are given for 39 species of smut fungi from Mexico, including some rarely collected species and new host records. Five new species are described: Sphacelotheca tepice...
Computational Modeling of Trickle Bed Reactors

In this study, a three-dimensional Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) reactive flow model is developed for the trickle flow regime in a packed bed. The experimental study of porosity distribution in a bed of extrudates has been performed and then used to implement the local porosity values in the CFD computational grid. The reactive flow study addressed gas and liquid reactant limited systems. For each case a closed form approach of coupling the bed and particle scale solution within the CFD framework is presented. Model predictions achieved satisfactory agreement with experimental data for liquid holdup, wetting efficiency, and reactant conversion.
Electrical impedance changes due to cracks in planar conductive structural elements

Changes in electrical resistivity due to cracks can be used to predict deterioration of mechanical performance caused by accumulation and growth of microcracks in electrically conductive structural...
Stress management in occupational settings.

SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS in documenting the role of psychosocial stress in the etiology and development of physical and mental disease has been made in the past 10 years. It is now known that not only are the classic psychosomatic disorders-such as hypertension, ulcers and asthma-strongly influenced by psychosocial stress, but even susceptibility to and recovery from infectious and genetic disorders (ranging from the common cold to cancer) are determined, at least in part, by stress in the environment and the person's way of coping with stress (1,2). Also in the past decade, substantial progress has been made in documenting effective behavioral approaches to the management of psychological and physiological responses to stress. We now know that various behavioral techniques including relaxation, meditation, biofeedback, and other psychological self-control procedures, can be helpful in treating some persons with mental and physical disorders (3). These behavioral techniques, when integrated, within a comprehensive, biobehavioral approach to health and illness, can also (a) enhance the effectiveness of biomedical treatments such as drugs and, in the process, reduce the dosage needed to produce a given clinical effect and (b) decrease susceptibility to future disease by promoting positive approaches to health. In other words, stress management procedures are not only useful in treatment, but they also may be useful in the prevention of illness. It should be recognized at the outset that most of the research conducted to date that links stress to illness is not based on data derived from occupational settings. Although a growing body of literature specifically documents the effects of occupational stress in the etiology and development of physical and mental disease (4,5), data that directly test the effects of stress management procedures in the treatment and prevention of stress-related disorders in occupational settings are scarce (6). The relative lack of data in this area is neither surprising noi discouraging, because it is only recently that basic and clinical research on stress has developed to the point of seriously justifying research and applications in occupational settings. Furthermore, industry just recently became aware of (a) Dr. Schwartz is a professor in the Department of Psychology, Yale University and the Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. This article is adapted from a background paper prepared for the National Conference on Health Promotion Programs in Occupational Settings; it was supported by contract No. 282-78-0174 with the Office of Health Information, Health Promotion and Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine, Public Health Service. Tearsheet requests to Dr. Gary E. Schwartz, Department of Psychology, Box HA, Yale Station, Yale University, New Haven, Conn. 06520.
Application of Physique and Psychology Medicare in Archery

In the angle of physical and psychological medicare in Archery,physique and psychology are closely interrelated during the race.Some concrete ways to adjust the athletes'physique and psychology are also discovered in the practice.
Postsurgical adjustment of male transsexual patients.

In the light of present knowledge, there is no known approach to the treatment of transsexualism other than surgery. Patients are convinced that this is the only route to follow. Long-term follow-up studies of operated transsexuals seek to ascertain whether surgical management has value in an otherwise untreatable condition.
Bystander Responses to Risk for Rape Perpetrated by a Friend, Acquaintance, or Stranger

ABSTRACTThis study explored bystander responses to risk for an alcohol-facilitated rape perpetrated by a friend, acquaintance, or stranger. Undergraduates (N = 331) were randomly assigned to read 1 of 3 scenarios in which an apparently sober male friend, acquaintance, or stranger leads an intoxicated woman into a bedroom. Participants completed self-report measures of intent to directly intervene and barriers to intervention. Compared to men, women reported greater intent to help the potential victim and fewer barriers to intervention. Participant gender moderated the effect of the bystander’s relationship with the potential perpetrator on intent to confront and responsibility to intervene. Men reported more confrontation and more responsibility to intervene when perpetrators were identified as either friends or acquaintances than strangers. In contrast, women reported more confrontation when perpetrators were identified as friends than either strangers or acquaintances. Bystander education programs that ...
The Neutral Hydrogen Content

The study of the content, distribution, and kinematics of the H I in M31 has led to a great deal of important understanding about the galaxy. This chapter concentrates on the question of the location and morphology of the hydrogen gas, while the vast amount of information that comes from the measurements of the velocities of the gas are discussed in Chapter 7.
Differential regulation of macrophage inflammatory activation by fibrin and fibrinogen

Abstract Fibrin is a major component of the provisional extracellular matrix formed during tissue repair following injury, and enables cell infiltration and anchoring at the wound site. Macrophages are dynamic regulators of this process, advancing and resolving inflammation in response to cues in their microenvironment. Although much is known about how soluble factors such as cytokines and chemokines regulate macrophage polarization, less is understood about how insoluble and adhesive cues, specifically the blood coagulation matrix fibrin, influence macrophage behavior. In this study, we observed that fibrin and its precursor fibrinogen elicit distinct macrophage functions. Culturing macrophages on fibrin gels fabricated by combining fibrinogen with thrombin stimulated secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10). In contrast, exposure of macrophages to soluble fibrinogen stimulated high levels of inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Macrophages maintained their anti-inflammatory behavior when cultured on fibrin gels in the presence of soluble fibrinogen. In addition, adhesion to fibrin matrices inhibited TNF-α production in response to stimulation with LPS and IFN-γ, cytokines known to promote inflammatory macrophage polarization. Our data demonstrate that fibrin exerts a protective effect on macrophages, preventing inflammatory activation by stimuli including fibrinogen, LPS, and IFN-γ. Together, our study suggests that the presentation of fibrin(ogen) may be a key switch in regulating macrophage phenotype behavior, and this feature may provide a valuable immunomodulatory strategy for tissue healing and regeneration. Statement of Significance Fibrin is a fibrous protein resulting from blood clotting and provides a provisional matrix into which cells migrate and to which they adhere during wound healing. Macrophages play an important role in this process, and are needed for both advancing and resolving inflammation. We demonstrate that culture of macrophages on fibrin matrices exerts an anti-inflammatory effect, whereas the soluble precursor fibrinogen stimulates inflammatory activation. Moreover, culture on fibrin completely abrogates inflammatory signaling caused by fibrinogen or known inflammatory stimuli including LPS and IFN-γ. Together, these studies show that the presentation of fibrin(ogen) is important for regulating a switch between macrophage pro- and anti-inflammatory behavior.
Survey on Robot-Assisted Surgical Techniques Utilization in US Pediatric Surgery Fellowships

Abstract Introduction: Robotic technology has transformed both practice and education in many adult surgical specialties; no standardized training guidelines in pediatric surgery currently exist. The purpose of our study was to assess the prevalence of robotic procedures and extent of robotic surgery education in US pediatric surgery fellowships. Materials and Methods: A deidentified survey measured utilization of the robot, perception on the utility of the robot, and its incorporation in training among the program directors of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) pediatric surgery fellowships in the United States. Results: Forty-one of the 47 fellowship programs (87%) responded to the survey. While 67% of respondents indicated the presence of a robot in their facility, only 26% reported its utilizing in their surgical practice. Among programs not utilizing the robot, most common reasons provided were lack of clear supportive evidence, increased intraoperative time, and incompatibi...
AD-WIRE: add-on for web item reviewing system

Over the past few decades as purchasing options moved online, the widespread use and popularity of online review sites has simultaneously increased. In spite of the fact that a huge extent of buying choices today are driven by numeric scores (e.g., rating a product), detailed reviews play an important role for activities like purchasing an expensive DSLR camera. Since writing a detailed review for an item is usually time-consuming, the number of reviews available in the Web is far from many. In this paper, we build a system AD-WIRE that given a user and an item, our system identifies the top-k meaningful tags to help her review the item easily. AD-WIRE allows a user to compose her review by quickly selecting from among the set of returned tags or writes her own review. AD-WIRE also visualizes the dependency of the tags to different aspects of an item so a user can make an informed decision quickly. The system can be used for different type of the products. The current demonstration is built to explore review writing process for the mobile phones.