cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Individual- and neighborhood-level factors associated with nonprescription counseling in pharmacies participating in the New York State Expanded Syringe Access Program

Abstract Objective To determine the individual- and neighborhood-level predictors of frequent nonprescription in-pharmacy counseling. Design Descriptive, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study. Setting New York City (NYC) during January 2008 to March 2009. Intervention 130 pharmacies registered in the Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP) completed a survey. Participants 477 pharmacists, nonpharmacist owners/managers, and technicians/clerks. Main outcome measures Frequent counseling on medical conditions, health insurance, and other products. Results Technicians were less likely than pharmacists to provide frequent counseling on medical conditions or health insurance. Regarding neighborhood-level characteristics, pharmacies in areas of high employment disability were less likely to provide frequent health insurance counseling and pharmacies in areas with higher deprivation were more likely to provide counseling on other products. Conclusion ESAP pharmacy staff members are a frequent source of nonprescription counseling for their patients in disadvantaged neighborhoods of NYC. These findings suggest that ESAP pharmacy staff may be amenable to providing relevant counseling services to injection drug users and warrant further investigation.
Norm inequalities for a certain class of ∞ functions

In 1936 the author showed that the function sin(π(x+1)/4) is the entire function of least exponential type (=π/4) among all entire functionsf(z) with the property thatf (n)(z) vanishes somewhere in the real interval [−1, 1] (n=0, 1,2,…). Now more precise results of this kind are obtained by working within the class ∞[−1, 1].
Tissue distribution and measurement of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in patients with magnetic resonance imaging‐detected bone bruises after acute anterior cruciate ligament tears

Histologic and immunostaining analyses were performed on articular cartilage/subchondral bone biopsy specimens overlying MRI-detected bone bruises in 12 patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. Staining with toluidine blue for proteoglycan revealed loss of staining from the superficial portion of the articular cartilage. Immunostaining for cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) showed an increased staining in the superficial matrix of the articular cartilage. Using polyclonal antisera against COMP, the authors performed a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on the synovial fluid from the injured and uninjured knees. There was an approximately 10-fold higher synovial fluid COMP levels in injured knees. The COMP levels were greater in those patients who had synovial fluid samples harvested closer to the date of initial injury. Western blot analysis of the synovial fluid showed an increased presence of COMP degradation fragments from injured knees. These results are indicative of a significant injury to the articular cartilage, and may represent preclinical posttraumatic osteoarthritic lesions.
Maternal testosterone in the avian egg enhances postnatal growth

The eggs of the canary (Serinus canaria) contain variable doses of maternal testosterone. The reported experiments investigated whether testosterone influences nestling growth and how this interacts with differences of the growth of nest mates that are caused by asynchronous hatching. Injections of testosterone into the yolk of unincubated eggs enhanced the growth after hatching compared to nestlings that had hatched simultaneously from control eggs. These differences were established within 22 hr of hatching. Exogenous testosterone promoted growth in both sexes and there was no sexual difference in the growth of control birds. Testoster-one-treated chicks also begged more often for food. Previous studies have shown that the content of maternal testosterone increases in each subsequently laid egg in a clutch. Consistent with the results obtained by testosterone injections nestlings that hatched from eggs with higher concentrations of maternal testosterone grew faster compared to chicks that hatched synchronously from eggs with lower testosterone concentrations. However, more testosterone did not compensate for reduced growth that was caused by later hatching due to asynchronous incubation of clutches. This direct effect of maternal testosterone on growth in combination with a flexible onset of incubation allows to selectively enhance the growth and fitness of individual offspring of a brood.
Prolongation of the p53 Response to DNA Strand Breaks in Cells Depleted of PARP by Antisense RNA Expression

The observation that 3-aminobenzamide, which inhibits a variety of ADP-ribose transferases, prolongs the gamma-irradiation-induced increase in intracellular p53 concentration suggested that one or more of such enzymes may determine the duration of the p53 response during G1 arrest. The role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), an abundant nuclear enzyme activated by DNA strand breaks, in the p53 response to y-irradiation was investigated in Burkitt's lymphoma AG876 cells stably transfected with an inducible PARP antisense construct. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the cellular content of PARP was reduced to virtually undetectable levels after incubation of transfected cells for 72 h with the inducer dexamethasone. In noninduced antisense cells, the p53 concentration reached a maximum 2 h after exposure to 6.3 Gy of gamma-radiation and returned to control values by 4 h. In contrast, the p53 response in PARP-depleted antisense cells peaked at 4 h, with the levels of p53 remaining elevated for up to 12 h after y-irradiation. The maximal increase in p53 concentration was similar in both induced and noninduced cells. These results thus indicate that PARP activity, in part, determines the duration, but not the magnitude, of the p53 response to DNA damage.
Using relevance feedback with short-term memory for content-based spine X-ray image retrieval

Managing large medical image databases has become a challenging task as more medical images are produced and stored in digital format. Computer-aided decision support for content-based image retrieval (CBIR) is an essential tool for medical image management. This paper presents a novel hybrid relevance feedback (RF) system for shape-based retrieval of spine X-ray images. A new shape similarity measure that considers both whole shape and partial shape matching is presented. The proposed RF architecture includes separate retrieval and feedback modes to solicit user's opinion for refining retrieval results. A unique short-term memory approach is implemented to avoid repeated request for user's feedback on the same, already approved, and retrieved relevant images. An automatic weight updating scheme is developed to present the images on which it is best for the user to provide feedback. Incorporating all these unique features, the proposed RF retrieval system is able to reduce the gap between high-level human visual perception and low-level computerized features. Experimental results show overall retrieval accuracy improvement of 22.0% and 17.5% after the second feedback iteration for retrieving spine X-ray images with similar osteophytes severity and type, respectively.
Modeling the effect of gel aging

Hydrothermal zeolite synthesis with aging of the amorphous gel at low temperature followed by elevated temperature crystallization is simulated by population balance methods. It is assumed that the aging step results in the formation of viable nuclei that effectively lie dormant until the temperature is raised. It is shown that the number of nuclei generated during aging strongly influences the crystallization history, while the size of these nuclei is relatively unimportant.
HIV and HCV Medications in End-Stage Renal Disease

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affect populations worldwide. With the availability of over 35 Food and Drug Administration approved medications for treatment of HIV, the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV has greatly improved. On the other hand, treatment options for HCV have been limited until very recently. While the use of protease inhibitors (such as boceprevir and telaprevir) has become standard of care for treatment of hepatitis C in the general population, data for individuals with impaired kidney function, particularly those on dialysis, are extremely limited. Use of medications in dialysis patients can be challenging given the dose adjustments that must be made for renally cleared molecules, and potentially increased impact of adverse effects such as anemia. Recommendations for dosing of marketed therapies for HIV and HCV are reviewed.
Transient Optical Reflectivity From Bounded Nonlocal Media

AbstractThe reflection of a finite duration optical pulse from a semi -infinite nonlocal medium for various ABC'sis investigated theoretically. We have obtained explicit expressions for the amplitude and phase of thetransient reflected field (local and nonlocal) and evaluated them numerically for different ABC's. The effects of spatial dispersion for the reflected transients associated with the light pulse are important forlaser frequency at the vicinity of an excitiongpolariton resonance. For various ABC's, we find quantitativedifferences in the magnitude of the amplitude and phase which can be used to analyse different ABC'sexperimentally. The time decay of the transients has also been obtained. I. Introduction Electromagnetic wave propagation in a bounded nonlocal dielectric has attracted a lot of attention inrecent years. In nonlocal media such as CdS, the center -of -mass motion of excitons renders the dielectricresponse function c(w,t) wave -vector dependent giving spatial dispersion near an exciton resonance withtransverse exciton polariton frequency wt. A monochromatic plane-polarized wave, in general, excites twotransverse wave and a longitudinal wave in the nonlocal medium. For electromagnetic pulses of finiteduration the transient effects give rise to precursors. For the local medium, the well -known Sommerfeldand Brillouin precursors are present while spatial dispersion gives rise to a third precursor, namely theexciton precursor. Reflection from a nonlocal interface has only been studied in the steady-state regimefor various angles of incident light and for various Additional Boundary Conditions (ABC's).' The need forABC's is based on the fact that the Maxwell boundary conditions cannot fully determine the structure of thewave field inside the nonlocal medium, since now two transverse waves propagate. Transient reflectivityfrom
Detection of cytochrome f, a c-Class cytochrome, with diaminobenzidine in polyacrylamide gels

Abstract c-Class cytochromes can be detected in polyacrylamide gels by labeling these hemoproteins with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine. The procedure consists of incubating the washed gels in a buffered solution of 3,3′-diaminobenzidine, in the presence of H2O2. The method is selective for c-class cytochromes and produces stable, reddish-brown bands in the gel, indicating the position of the labeled proteins. Additional proteins can be detected by subsequent staining of the gels with Coomassie blue, following standard procedures.
A Study of the Perceptions and Worldviews of Mature Age Pre-Service Teachers Aged Between 31 and 53

This study presents the perceptions and worldviews of 17 mature age second-career pre-service teachers in career transition. The aim was to explore the experience of becoming a primary school teacher after a first career. The second-career pre-service teachers were enrolled on a full-time basis at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE/UT). The primary data were collected from 17 separate interviews of approximately 1 h; over two separate calendar years, which totalled a five-month interviewing period. The interviewees volunteered to be part of the study and were aged between 31 and 53 and enrolled in two high academic entry-level accelerated programmes for graduates. The interviewees had previous undergraduate degrees and numerous years’ experience working in a variety of other careers. The overall findings are that individuals who have been involved in well-established careers, present distinct perceptions of teaching, that are not only separate from traditional younger pre-service teachers, but remain as significant factors throughout their teaching programmes. It is argued that perceptions could in turn shape their pedagogy in ways that are either profitable or problematic to primary teaching.
Lithium iodate, intracavity upconversion

We report cw intracavity upconversion using a lithium iodate crystal and an argon laser. A noise equivalent power of 5×10−14 W/Hz1/2 at 3.4 μm is reported. Noise properties of the upconverter were measured and are described herein.
Of Mice and Monkeys: National Institute on Aging Resources Supporting the Use of Animal Models in Biogerontology Research

The preponderance of our understanding of the biological changes that occur with aging has come from studies using rodents. Rodents are a valuable model for biogerontology research because of similarities to humans in the physiology and cell biology of aging. There are, however, many differences between rodents and humans, so application of findings in rodents to human aging requires the use of a model that is closer to humans at the genetic and physiological level. In aging research, the macaque has filled this need. There are many challenges associated with using nonhuman primates in aging research, not the least of which are the limited availability of aged monkeys and the cost of using them. To facilitate this research, the National Institute on Aging has developed several resources to assist investigators and promote the use of the nonhuman primate model in aging research.
Livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus: the United States experience.

Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacterium that colonizes a variety of animal species [1]. S. aureus infections in animals are most commonly reported as a cause of mastitis in dairyproducing animals (including cattle and goats) and “bumblefoot” in chickens [2], as well as being identified as a pathogen of farmed rabbits [3]. Most reports characterizing animalassociated S. aureus have demonstrated that strains affecting animals are distinct from those infecting humans, suggesting that there are host-specific lineages which only rarely cross species boundaries [4]. Livestock-associated strains may evolve on farms because of the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. These may be used as feed additives for growth promotion in industrial livestock and poultry [5], for prevention of disease within a herd, or for treatment of an existing disease outbreak. Agricultural-use antibiotics include many classes that are relevant for human health, including tetracyclines, macrolides, penicillins, and sulfonamides, among others. Antimicrobial resistance generated during animal husbandry may then be spread to the general human population in a number of different manners: contact with contaminated meat products (via handling or ingestion); occupational contact (farmers, meat packers, butchers, etc.) and potential secondary spread into the larger community from those who are occupationally exposed; entry into and transmission via hospitals or other health care facilities; or spread via environmental routes including air, water, or manure in areas in proximity to live animal farms or crop farms where manure has been used as a fertilizer (Fig. 1). While methicillin resistance has been the most commonly investigated phenomenon and will be the main topic of this review, resistance to any of these antibiotics can occur and can potentially be a threat to successful treatment of S. aureus infections and therefore to human health outcomes. As such, my research group and others have begun to look more broadly at any S. aureus present on farms, including those that may be susceptible to methicillin but resistant to other antibiotics.
Electrical Characterization of Gate Traps in FETs With Ge and III–V Channels

Many Ge and III-V-based MOSFETs, as well as GaN-based MOS-HEMTs, are significantly compromised in performance and reliability by their high densities of interface, border, and oxide traps. Problems may also arise when characterizing traps in FETs made on high-mobility channels due to their device structures and material properties that are different from their conventional counterparts. In this paper, we present the results of our study of these traps as obtained by the use of several electrical characterization techniques. In particular, we will discuss the ac transconductance technique that we have recently proposed, which enables us to probe interface traps in the band gap and border and bulk traps in the gate dielectrics even without a body contact. We will also show that the inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy offers the unique possibility to use electrical characterization to understand chemical origins of traps without using additional physical characterization techniques. Ionizing radiation-induced trapping of charges in MOSFETs and MOS-HEMTs made on III-V semiconductors is also reported and discussed.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided real-time fine-needle aspiration: clinicopathologic features of 60 patients.

Diagnosis of lesions of the gastrointestinal tract and adjacent structures is possible using an imaging modality, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a suitable and cost-effective technique for obtaining cytohistologic material to confirm the diagnosis. EUS is capable of both characterizing the lesion and then guiding the FNA under real-time (RT) ultrasound guidance using a through-the-scope needle aspiration system. The goal of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of this technique and to describe the clinicopathologic features. Sixty patients underwent EUS-guided RTFNA of 64 lesions, including pancreas (n = 45), periluminal lymph nodes (n = 12), mediastinal and retroperitoneal masses (n = 4) and hepatobiliary masses (n = 3). Follow-up data were obtained by surgery; histopathology, or clinical course. Thirty-one lesions were malignant, eight were atypical/ suspicious, 16 were non-neoplastic, and nine were non-diagnostic. Of the 55 lesions with sufficient material for interpretation, 54 had follow-up confirmation of the RTFNA diagnosis. The calculated sensitivity and specificity for malignancy was 90% and 100%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy for malignancy was excellent for gastrointestinal associated lymph nodes (100%), mediastinal and retroperitoneal masses (100%), somewhat less so for pancreatic tumors (94%), and poor for hepatobiliary lesions (33%) EUS-guided RTFNA is accurate for sampling small gastrointestinal tract-associated lesions. EUS-guided RTFNA should be considered as a procedure of choice in selected patients when the results will influence management decisions.
Methodological Considerations When Studying the Association between Patient-Reported Care Experiences and Mortality.

Health Services Research © Health Research and Educational Trust DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.12264 RESEARCH ARTICLE Methodological Considerations When Studying the Association between Patient-Reported Care Experiences and Mortality Xiao Xu, Eugenia Buta, Rebecca Anhang Price, Marc N. Elliott, Ron D. Hays, and Paul D. Cleary Objective. To illustrate methodological considerations when assessing the relation- ship between patient care experiences and mortality. Data Source. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (2000–2005) linked to National Health Interview Survey and National Death Index mortality data through December 31, 2006. Study Design. We estimated Cox proportional hazards models with mortality as the dependent variable and patient experience measures as independent variables and assessed consistency of experiences over time. Data Extraction Methods. We used data from respondents age 18 or older with at least one doctor’s ofﬁce or clinic visit during the year prior to the round 2 interview. We excluded subjects who died in the baseline year. Principal Findings. The association between overall care experiences and mortality was signiﬁcant for deaths not amenable to medical care and all-cause mortality, but not for amenable deaths. More than half of respondents were in a different care experience quartile over a 1-year period. In the ﬁve individual experience questions we analyzed, only time spent with the patient was signiﬁcantly associated with mortality. Conclusions. Deaths not amenable to medical care and the time-varying and multi- faceted nature of patient care experience are important issues to consider when assess- ing the relationship between care experience and mortality. Key Words. Patient care experiences, mortality, quality of care A cardinal feature of high-quality care is that it should be “patient-centered,” that is, “respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions” (Insti- tute of Medicine 2001). Asking patients about their care experiences is one way of assessing whether care is patient-centered (Cleary and McNeil 1988;
Endocytosis and Intracellular Trafficking of Human Natural Killer Cell Receptors

Natural killer (NK) cells play a vital role in the defense against viral infections and tumor development. NK cell function is primarily regulated by the sum of signals from a broad array of activation and inhibitory receptors. Key to generating the input level of either activating or inhibitory signals is the maintenance of receptor expression levels on the cell surface. Although the mechanisms of endocytosis and trafficking for some cell surface receptors, such as transferrin receptor and certain immune receptors, are very well known, that is not the situation for receptors expressed by NK cells. Recent studies have uncovered that endocytosis and trafficking routes characteristic for specific activation and inhibitory receptors can regulate the functional responses of NK cells. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of receptor endocytosis and trafficking, and integrate this with our current understanding of NK cell receptor trafficking.
Influence of Remote-Operation Time Delay on Crane Operator Performance

Abstract Cranes are used extensively in many industries throughout the world, in a wide array of environments, including some that are hazardous to humans. The vast majority of cranes are directly controlled by human operators. In some cases, it is necessary to remove the human operator from hazardous operating conditions, creating a crane that must be remotely operated. This, however, introduces additional challenges for the operator, who must now control the oscillatory payload while suffering from decreased perception of the environment and the potential time delays caused by remote operation. This paper presents two studies of crane operator performance with varying time delays. The results show that the type of crane control and duration of the communication time delay directly influence task completion time and difficulty. Input shaping control is shown to improve completion times and lower operator effort.
Genetic Markers and Their Influence on Cerebrovascular Malformations

Cerebrospinal vascular malformations are a group of anomalies affecting the arterial wall, the capillary arteriovenous interface, or the venous and lymphatic structures. Heritability and family studies allow identification of mutations in single genes associated with rare familial conditions causing cerebral or spinal vascular malformations, as is the case in hemorrhagic hereditary telangiectasia diseases. This article reviews the genetic and epigenetic influences increasingly reported in recent years as causal factors or triggers involved in the formation and growth of cerebromedullary vascular malformations.
The solubility of iron sulphides in synthetic and natural waters at ambient temperature

A critical evaluation of literature values for the solubility products, KspNBS = [Fe2+][HS−]γ Fe2+γ HS− (HNBS+)−1, of various iron sulphide phases results in consensus values for the pKs of 2.95 ± 0.1 for amorphous ferrous sulphide, 3.6 ± 0.2 for mackinawite, 4.4 ± 0.1 for greigite, 5.1 ± 0.1 for pyrrhotite, 5.25 ± 0.2 for troilite and 16.4 ± 1.2 for pyrite.
Understanding Healing in the Social World of Early Christianity

Healing is a culturally defined and culturally determined phenomenon. Western readers of ancient Mediterranean texts will benefit from a clearer understanding of their own Western understanding of healing and how it differs from the Mediterranean understanding of healing. This article guides the reader through a construction of two culturally different definitions of healing and presents a select list of books that can aid in this and other cross-cultural efforts at interpreting ancient Mediterranean texts.
Low Dielectric Constant Material from Hollow Fibers and Plant Oil

Abstract A new low dielectric constant (k) material suited to electronic materials applications was developed using hollow keratin fibers (HF) and chemically modified soybean oil. High-speed microelectronics is facilitated by preventing the “rubber necking,” or slow-down of electrons on the printed wires through the use of low-k dielectrics. The unusual low-k value of the HF composite material derives both from the air (k = 1) in the hollow microcrystalline keratin fibers (k = 1.7), and the triglyceride molecules (k = 2.7), and is in the range of 1.7 to 2.7, depending on the HF fraction. These values are lower than that of the conventional silicon dioxide (k = 3.8 to 4.2) or epoxy dielectric insulators. Also, the HF dielectric is lightweight (SG 2 GPa), with fracture toughness (1.0 MPa m1/2) and approximates the shape and feel of a silicon dioxide insulator. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the new material (67.4 ppm/°C) is low enough for electronic materials applica...
The Development of the Concept of a Standard Unit of Measure in Young Children

The purpose of this study was to find the degree to which young children recognize the importance of maintaining a standard unit of measure in a measurement operation and how they acquire the knowledge that the number of units measured is inversely related to the size of the unit. The study is an extension of earlier work on the development of measurement concepts in young children (Carpenter, 1975), in which it was concluded that a substantial number of firstand second-grade students do not recognize that using a smaller unit of measure increases the number of units in the measurement of a fixed quantity. In this earlier study children were asked to measure equal quantities with different-sized units of measure. Over 50% of the subjects maintained that the quantity that measured more units was greater, in spite of the fact that before measuring they had visually determined that the quantities were equal. Similar results have been found in studies by Carpenter (1971), Gal'perin and Georgiev (1969), and Piaget, Inhelder, and Szeminska (1960). What these studies essentially do is to generalize the findings of classical conservation problems to the measurement process. In the traditional liquid conservation problem, equal quantities are poured into different-shaped containers so as to appear visually unequal. In the measurement studies the distracting cues are numerical, the result of measuring with different-sized units of measure. Children fail to conserve or fail to interpret correctly the results of measurement operations because they center on a single dominant dimension, the height of the liquid in the conservation problem or the number of units in the measurement problem. These children fail to recognize the compensating relationship between the height and width of the containers in the conservation problem or between the unit size and number of units in the measurement problem. A common characteristic of the measurement studies discussed above is
Amino acid substitutions in LcrV at putative sites of interaction with toll-like receptor 2 do not affect the virulence of Yersinia pestis

LcrV, a component of the type III secretion system (T3SS) translocon in Yersinia pestis, has been concerned in suppressing inflammation through Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) by inducing expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). Previous studies have reported that LcrV aa E33, E34, K42 and/or E204 and E205 were important for interactions with TLR2 in vitro. While, recently there have been conflicting reports doubting this interaction and its importance in vivo. To further investigate the role of these residues, we replaced the wild-type lcrV gene on the pCD1Ap virulence plasmid of Y. pestis with lcrV2345 gene, which encodes a mutant protein by substituting all five of the amino acid residues with glutamine. The characteristics of the wild-type LcrV and mutant LcrV2345 were evaluated in tissue culture and mice. When purified protein was incubated with HEK293 cells synthesizing human TLR2 with or without CD14, LcrV2345 induced higher levels of IL-8 than wild-type LcrV, indicating that the LcrV2345 was not impaired in its ability to interact with TLR2. LcrV2345 stimulated higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production than LcrV in J774A.1 cells, while neither protein elicited significant levels of IL-10. We also found there was no statistically significant difference in virulence between strains with wild-type LcrV and with mutated LcrV2345 administered by either subcutaneous or intranasal route in mice. Additionally, there were no discernible differences in survival kinetics. Serum levels of cytokines, such as IL-10 and TNF-α, bacterial burden, and the extent of organ inflammation were also indistinguishable in both strains. Our data confirm that immunomodulation mediated by LcrV/TLR2 interactions does not play a significant role in the pathogenicity of Y. pestis.
The vernacular and the monumental: memory and landscape in post-war Berlin

Recent geographical literature has given extensive consideration to monumental landscapes and collective memory. Vernacular landscapes have been given limited attention, though they too bear testimony to collective memory. The vernacular and monumental are intertwined in urban space, and ambiguity and fluidity mark their border, yet their distinction remains significant. The monumental sustains collective memory, linking the past, present and future. The vernacular provides spatial forms for the routines of everyday life. Yet, professionals and critics often interpret and present the vernacular as a symbol of collective memory, or a monument, rather than recognizing that collective memory in the vernacular is critical when centered on the complex relation between space and lived experience. The case study of Berlin during post-WWII reconstruction as well as the reconstruction following reunification demonstrates consistency in problems arising from treating the vernacular as the monumental.
Socialism and the end of the perpetual reform state in China

Abstract This article examines the future of socialism in China. China is not socialist today, nor are its reforms likely to bring about socialism. Indeed, China has been “reforming” for over two decades, and the author argues that reform is no longer the appropriate description for the process of change in China. Change in China is increasingly characterized by uneven, often unpredictable events leading to rapid changes in some areas and stagnation in others. The institutions created over the post-Mao period contain volatile contradictions, and any socialist movement in China must take advantage of the contradictions and volatility to push for an agenda that promotes equality, democracy in both politics and economics, and international peace. These contradictions are examined empirically using the legal system, the class system, and the international system as lenses into the situation in China today and the possibilities for change. While there is a clear trend toward capitalism, this trend faces opposi...
Rotational dynamics of organic cations in the CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite

Methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) based solar cells have shown impressive power conversion efficiencies of above 20%. However, the microscopic mechanism of the high photovoltaic performance is yet to be fully understood. Particularly, the dynamics of CH3NH3(+) cations and their impact on relevant processes such as charge recombination and exciton dissociation are still poorly understood. Here, using elastic and quasi-elastic neutron scattering techniques and group theoretical analysis, we studied rotational modes of the CH3NH3(+) cation in CH3NH3PbI3. Our results show that, in the cubic (T > 327 K) and tetragonal (165 K < T < 327 K) phases, the CH3NH3(+) ions exhibit four-fold rotational symmetry of the C-N axis (C4) along with three-fold rotation around the C-N axis (C3), while in the orthorhombic phase (T < 165 K) only C3 rotation is present. At around room temperature, the characteristic relaxation times for the C4 rotation are found to be τC4 ≈ 5 ps while for the C3 rotation τC3 ≈ 1 ps. The T-dependent rotational relaxation times were fitted with Arrhenius equations to obtain activation energies. Our data show a close correlation between the C4 rotational mode and the temperature dependent dielectric permittivity. Our findings on the rotational dynamics of CH3NH3(+) and the associated dipole have important implications for understanding the low exciton binding energy and a slow charge recombination rate in CH3NH3PbI3 which are directly relevant for the high solar cell performance.
A single-crystal study of barium tungsten lithium oxide: a compound with a ten-layer structure

Abstract A single-crystal study of a sample of barium tungsten lithium oxide, supplied by Dr. T. Negas and identified as Ba5W3Li2O15, confirms the |(5)|(5)| layer stacking scheme (Zhdanov notation) for the ten BaO3 layers per unit cell. Pairs of face-sharing MO6 octahedra (MW or Li) are linked through corner sharing by strings of three corner-sharing octahedra. In these strings of three, the two outer octahedra are occupied by W; but no X-ray evidence was found for the existence of Li in the middle one. The compound has an hexagonal cell of dimensions a = 5.7614 ± 0.0008 A and c = 23.719 ± 0.007 A, probable space group P6 3 mmc , Z = 2 . Its structure was determined from 757 independent reflections, of which 426 were considered observed, collected by automated counter methods, and refined by least-squares methods to a conventional R of 0.064. The X-ray refinement based on the assumption that two octahedral sites in the unit cell are empty suggests formulas such as Ba5W3.2Li0.8O15 or Ba5W3LiO14.5 rather than the “ideal” formula Ba5W3Li2O15.
Accurate Event Detection for Simulating Hybrid Systems

It has been observed that there are a variety of situations in which the most popular hybrid simulation methods can fail to properly detect the occurrence of discrete events. In this paper, we present a method for detecting discrete which, using techniques borrowed from control theory, selects integration step sizes in such a way that the simulation slows down as the state approaches a set which triggers an event (a guard set). Our method guarantees that the state will approach the boundary of this set exponentially; and in the case of linear or polynomial guard descriptions, terminating on it, without entering it. Given that any system with a nonlinear guard description can be transformed to an equivalent system with a linear guard description, this technique is applicable to a broad class of systems. Even in situations where nonlinear guards have not been transformed to the canonical form, the method is still increases the chances of detecting and event in practice. We show how to extend the method to guard sets which are constructed from many simple sets using boolean operators (e.g. polyhedral or semi-algebraic sets) . The technique is easily used in combination with existing numerical integration methods and does not adversely affect the underlying accuracy or stability of the algorithms.
IS ROUTINE KARYOTYPING NECESSARY IN THE EVALUATION OF HYPOSPADIAS AND CRYPTORCHIDISM

Purpose: The incidence of intersex states has been reported to be 27% to 100% in patients with hypospadias and cryptorchidism, and routinely determining karyotypes has been recommended. This incidence seems much higher than in our experience. We reviewed the records of patients with hypospadias and/or chordee plus cryptorchidism as well as those referred with ambiguous genitalia to determine whether these findings were associated with a high incidence of chromosomal abnormalities and whether they warrant routine karyotype screening.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of patients with undescended testis plus hypospadias and/or chordee, and those with ambiguous genitalia who presented between 1986 and 1999. Patients without karyotype determination, and those with iatrogenic cryptorchidism, retractile testes, congenital adrenal hyperplasia or female-appearing external genitalia were excluded from study. Meatus and testis locations at surgery, and associated Mullerian structures and medical conditi...
Thin absorbing screens using metamaterial surfaces

Metamaterial surfaces can be conceptualized by a 2-dimensional periodic arrangement of many small flat inclusions on an otherwise homogeneous host surface. The electromagnetic properties of such metamaterial plates, which can indeed be regarded as frequency-selective surfaces, are influenced by the shape and geometry of these inclusions. When a metamaterial surface is closely placed above a perfectly conducting plate, at a certain frequency band, this structure may possess a high surface impedance at its top surface, thus providing a high-impedance ground plane (HIGP). The center frequency and bandwidth over which such a high-impedance electromagnetic surface is achieved depend on inclusion shapes and compositions, among other parameters. By placing a resistive sheet on top of this surface, we can achieve a thin structure that can be an efficient absorber for incident electromagnetic energy.
Descriptive Analyses of Caregiver Reprimands.

We conducted descriptive observations of 5 individuals with developmental disabilities and severe problem behavior while they interacted with their caregivers in either simulated environments (an inpatient hospital facility) or in their homes. The focus of the study was on caregiver reprimands and child problem behavior. Thus, we compared the frequency of problem behavior that immediately preceded a caregiver reprimand to that immediately following a caregiver reprimand, and the results showed that the frequency of problem behavior decreased following a reprimand. It is possible that caregiver reprimands are negatively reinforced by the momentary attenuation of problem behavior, and the implications for long- and short-term effects on caregiver behavior are discussed.
The Impact of Culture on Autism Diagnosis and Treatment: Considerations for Counselors and Other Professionals

This article explores the impact of culture on families’ perceptions of autism diagnosis and treatment. Competencies for counselors and other professionals that address the needs of children with autism and their families are presented. Therapeutic interventions, applications of technology, and strategies for responsive family-centered care and advocacy are highlighted.
Effect of preexisting immunity to Salmonella on the immune response to recombinant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium expressing a Porphyromonas gingivalis hemagglutinin

Recombinant attenuated Salmonella strains have received much attention recently for their potential as antigen delivery systems for mucosal immunization (4, 14, 20). One concern with the use of Salmonella strains as a vaccine carrier expressing heterologous antigens is the effect of introduction into immunized hosts or the repeated use of the organism. To date, few studies have focused on the effect of immunological experience on the immune response to foreign antigens delivered by recombinant Salmonella strains. Bao and Clements found that prior immunological experience potentiates the subsequent antibody response following oral immunization with recombinant salmonellae (2). Likewise, Whittle and Verma reported that not only did previous immunological experience with salmonellae not limit the immune response to a foreign antigen carried by the same organism but it also appeared to enhance the response (22), although in this case the intraperitoneal route was used. In contrast, Forrest reported impairment of immunogenicity of S. enterica serovar Typhi Ty21a due to preexisting cross-reacting intestinal antibodies in individuals from areas where the organism is not endemic (B. D. Forrest, Letter, J. Infect. Dis. 166:210–212, 1992). Similarly, Attridge et al. (1) and Roberts et al. (19) found reductions in serum responses in orally immunized mice as a consequence of prior exposure to the Salmonella carrier. We have been studying the use of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium χ4072 which is attenuated by mutations in the cya and crp genes (12). We have previously reported the expression of a Porphyromonas gingivalis hemagglutinin (HagB) in an active biological form (9) that has been shown to induce both systemic and mucosal immune responses specific to the HagB protein in orally immunized mice (8). In addition, we have demonstrated a recall response to HagB in mice following boosting at 14 weeks (16). Because of conflicting results regarding prior exposure to the Salmonella vector, we investigated the role of preexisting immunity to the Salmonella carrier strain χ4072 and its effect on subsequent immune responses to the HagB protein following oral immunization with the recombinant serovar Typhimurium χ4072/pDMD1 by examining mice boosted during the peak of primary response and mice previously immunized with the carrier alone.
Potential of fumarate reductase as a novel therapeutic target in Helicobacter pylori infection

Approximately 50% of the world’s population carries Helicobacter pylori, a gastric bacterial pathogen linked to diseases including gastritis, ulcers and gastric cancer. Chemotherapies are being routinely used to treat systemic H. pylori infection. The common regimens consist of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC) and two antibiotics. Although these regimens efficiently eradicate H. pylori, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant H. pylori strains, their severe side effects and high costs are major drawbacks of these treatments. More efficient, economic and friendly drugs need to be developed. Fumarate reductase (FRD) catalyses the reduction of fumarate to succinate in the Krebs cycle and is also a key enzyme in anaerobic respiration with fumarate as the terminal electron acceptor for many facultative bacteria. H. pylori FRD contains three subunits, FrdA, FrdB and FrdC. Genome analysis and experimental evidence indicate that this enzyme appears to play an important role in the e...
Landscaping Habitat for Humanity Homes: A Community Outreach Project.

The purpose of this project is to incorporate a community service component into a Biology course at Northern State University (NSU) in Aberdeen, SD. Students in an upper-level botany course (Plant Structure and Function) provide landscaping services to homeowners who have purchased homes through Habitat for Humanity. Homeowner satisfaction with the finished project and student learning are assessed through surveys.
RNA interference in human foreskin fibroblasts within the three-dimensional collagen matrix

The technique of RNA interference (RNAi) was trialed in primary human foreskin fibroblasts, both in monolayer culture and in the fibroblast-populated collagen matrix. Knockdown of lamin A/C, p53, and FAK was possible with low-confluency (<50%) monolayer fibroblasts, a transfection vehicle concentration of 1%, and an siRNA concentration of 25–50 nM. Knockdown also was possible in the collagen matrix using similar reagent concentrations and a cellular density of one million fibroblasts per ml of matrix. Optimization of transfection conditions appeared to be important to increase knockdown efficiency. Consistent with prediction, knockdown of FAK induced apoptosis in the fibroblast-populated collagen matrix.
Safeguarding Fledgling Democracies: The Primacy of Potent Legislatures

The failure of once-promising neodemocracies is one of the most salient trends in contemporary world politics. The euphoria of the early 1990s, when nearly the whole world seemed to be democratic, democratizing, or on the cusp of democratization, has given way to realization that maintaining open politics is a mighty task. While fixed or relatively stable conditions such as socioeconomic development and culture undoubtedly affect the democratization’s prospects, the role of institutions has also received considerable attention. After all, people can do little to transform a country’s level of development or culture, at least in the short run; but we can craft and build institutions. Electoral rules, the division of power between central and subnational authorities, and the independence of the judiciary have been scrutinized for their effects on democratization’s fate. While these institutions may be important, I hold that a single institutional factor has special significance: the strength of the national legislature. Whether the constitutional system is formally classified as “presidential,” “parliamentary,” or “semipresidential” is of less consequence than the actual amount of power vested in the legislature. Using recently published data on the powers of parliaments around the world, I argue that a robust legislature is the institutional key to avoiding reversion to authoritarianism. I examine the cross-national evidence on the link between the power of legislatures and the fate of democracy, focusing particularly on Africa and the postcommunist region. After weighing the evidence, I consider why strong legislatures are so important for robust democratization. The benefits of a muscular legislature for democracy are many, but the most important is the laudable effect that a strong assembly has on constraining overweening presidents, who have emerged as open government’s most formidable antagonists in recent decades.
Labor Markets and the Demand for Foreign Direct Investment

Existing research on foreign direct investment (FDI) focuses on how politics influences the supply of FDI inflows. In this article I shift focus to the demand for FDI inflows within recipient countries by examining individual preferences for FDI. I argue that FDI preferences are largely a function of FDI's effects on income. FDI raises wages, especially those of skilled labor because foreign firms require more highly skilled labor than their local counterparts. Accordingly, support for FDI should increase with respondents' skills. Using three years of extensive public opinion data from eighteen Latin American countries, I provide robust evidence that preferences are consistent with FDI's effects on income. There is relatively little support for alternate explanations including concerns about job security, opposition to privatization, and the socializing effects of higher education on economic policy preferences.