cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Root expression of nitrogen metabolism genes reflects soil nitrogen cycling in an organic agroecosystem

Background and aims Roots in agroecosystems encounter spatiallyand temporallyheterogeneous nitrogen (N) availability in soil. Understanding root physiological processes in concert with soil microbial N dynamics following spatially discrete N pulses under field conditions will aid in the management of agroecosystem processes for N use efficiency. Methods This study examined the short-term response (<5 days) of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) roots and soil N cycling to a pulse of inorganic N in an undisturbed soil patch on an organic farm using a novel combination of molecular and 15 N isotopic techniques. Results Tomato roots rapidly responded to and exploited the N pulse via upregulation of key N metabolism genes (e.g. cytosolic glutamine synthetase GS1) that comprise the core physiological response of roots to patchy soil N availability. Strong root activity limited accumulation of soil NO3 − despite high rates of gross nitrification. Roots out-competed soil microbes for the inorganic N, even on a short time scale, likely as a result of high plant N demand and microbial C limitation. The transient root gene expression response (absent by 4 days after the N pulse) underscored the sensitivity of root N uptake to local N availability. Conclusions Root expression of genes such as GS1 could complement soil inorganic N pools and measurements of soil microbial activity to serve as integrative indicators of rapid plant-soil N cycling.
Cognitive Vulnerability, Stress, and Symptom Specificity in Children and Adolescents

237 Address correspondence to Randy P. Auerbach, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, de Marneffe, Room 240, Belmont, MA 02478. E-mail: rauerbach@ mclean.harvard.edu; Benjamin L. Hankin, Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Frontier Hall, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208. E-mail: ben.hankin@psy.du.edu. AUERBACH AND HANKIN INTRODUCTION
Structural characterization of the micelle-vesicle transition in lecithin-bile salt solutions

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and dynamic light scattering (QLS) are used to characterize the aggregates found upon dilution of mixed lecithin-bile salt micelles. Molar ratios of lecithin (L) to taurocholate (TC) studied varied from 0.1 to 1, and one series contained cholesterol (Ch). Mixed aggregates of L and taurodeoxycholate (TDC) at ratios of 0.4 and 1 were also examined. In all cases the micelles are cylindrical or globular and elongate upon dilution. The radius of the mixed micelles varies only slightly with the overall composition of lecithin and bile salt which indicates that the composition of the cylindrical micelle body is nearly constant. The transition from micelles to vesicles is a smooth transformation involving a region where micelles and vesicles coexist. SANS measurements are more sensitive to the presence of two aggregate populations than QLS. Beyond the coexistence region the vesicle size and degree of polydispersity decrease with dilution. Incorporation of a small amount of cholesterol in the lipid mixture does not affect the sequence of observed aggregate structures.
Improved maternal health since the ICPD: 20 years of progress

Abstract Background The 1994 Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was a turning point in the field of sexual and reproductive health — repositioning population and development programs globally in the context of reproductive rights, gender equity, and women's empowerment. Progress since ICPD ICPD solidified the importance of women's health and safe motherhood alongside other health and development priorities while laying the groundwork for the Millennium Development Goals. Challenges Some goals envisioned by ICPD have been met. Others still need to be addressed. Global declines in maternal mortality are indicative of success, although improving measurement, quality of care and access to services, while addressing the social determinants that influence maternal health remain priorities. Recommendations Renewed political will to address the remaining challenges is necessary for the post-2015 development agenda so that women's health throughout the world continues to be supported with ambitious, yet feasible goals that take into account the world's evolving development priorities.
A model of human melanoma in cyclosporine-immunosuppressed rats.

Abstract A human malignant melanoma maintained in athymic nude mice has been successfully implanted and grown in cyclosporine (Cys)-immunosuppressed Lewis rats. Suspended melanoma cells (10 6 ) or solid tumor sections measuring 2–4 mm in diameter were implanted s.c. in rats receiving parenteral Cys doses of 15–50 mg/kg each day for 1 week, and 3 times per week thereafter. Eighty-five percent of solid tumor sections implanted in animals receiving 25 mg/kg resulted in tumor growth, whereas no tumors grew from cell suspension injection sites. The average maximum tumor growth rate was 2 cm 3 /day, with a doubling time of 8 days. Tumors retained pretransplant gross and microscopic morphology, karyotype, and labeling index. Possible advantages of this model over the athymic nude mouse include greater longevity, larger animal and tumor size, and less stringent aseptic environmental requirements. This model may prove useful for further study of the pathophysiology of melanoma and for testing of new antimelanoma therapies.
Efficient rare event simulation for heavy-tailed compound sums

We develop an efficient importance sampling algorithm for estimating the tail distribution of heavy-tailed compound sums, that is, random variables of the form SM=Z1+…+ZM where the Zi's are independently and identically distributed (i.i.d.) random variables in R and M is a nonnegative, integer-valued random variable independent of the Zi's. We construct the first estimator that can be rigorously shown to be strongly efficient only under the assumption that the Zi's are subexponential and M is light-tailed. Our estimator is based on state-dependent importance sampling and we use Lyapunov-type inequalities to control its second moment. The performance of our estimator is empirically illustrated in various instances involving popular heavy-tailed models.
Isolation and partial chemical characterization of a virus-like particle from a eukaryotic alga.

Abstract A virus-like particle (VLP) associated with the green alga Cylindrocapsa geminella has been purified and partially characterized. The Cylindrocapsa VLP (C-VLP) has a polygonal profile in sectional view, ranges in diameter from 200 to 230 nm, and has a complex, multilayered capsid. Purified VLPs, when analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, contained at least 10 proteins ranging in molecular weight from 10,000 to 160,000. The C-VLP contains DNA, most probably double-stranded, having an estimated molecular weight of 175–190 × 10 6 . Intracellular VLPs were only observed within single-celled germlings and all cultures examined produced the VLP. Generally, only 4–6% of the single-celled germlings contained VLPs, which resulted in cell death. The physicochemical and biological characteristics of the C-VLP support the conclusion that the C-VLP is, in fact, a virus.
Progress in Vibrotactile Threshold Evaluation Techniques: A Review

Vibrotactile threshold (VT) testing has been used for nearly a century to investigate activation of human somatosensory pathways. This use of vibrotactile stimuli provides a versatile tool for detecting peripheral neuropathies, and has been broadly used for investigation of carpal tunnel syndrome. New applications include investigation of drug-induced neuropathies and diabetes-related neuropathies. As a feedback device, the vibrotactile stimuli could be used as an information delivery system for rehabilitative feedback devices for upper limb musculoskeletal disorders or as information channels for the visually impaired. This review provides a comprehensive review of the advancement in VT measurement techniques over time and a comparison of these techniques in terms of various hardware features used and the testing protocols implemented. The advantages and limitations of these methods have been discussed along with specific recommendations for their implementation and suggestions for incorporation into clinical practice.
Beneficial Effects of a Novel IH636 Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract in the Treatment of Chronic Pancreatitis

Oxygen-derived free radicals mediate tissue damage in acute and chronic pancreatitis. Low levels of natural antioxidants in pancreatitis indicate their increased utilization as scavengers of free radi
Comparison of Interphase Models for a Crack in Fiber Reinforced Composite

Abstract The influence of a nonhomogeneous interphase on fracture mechanics of a fiber reinforced composite is studied. The stress intensity factor at the crack tips, maximum interfacial shear and normal stresses, maximum cleavage stress in the matrix and load diffusion along the length of the fiber are studied as a function of the fiber width, the interphase thickness, and the relative stiffness properties of the fiber, the matrix and the interphase. The normal stresses at the interface, which represents the possibility of debonding of the interface, is lowest for interphase thicknesses of the order of one-tenth of the fiber-diameter, when the crack is in the stiffer material. These normal stresses are highest at such interphase thicknesses if the crack is in the less stiffer material. The results obtained by using the nonhomogeneous interphase model are also compared with five other interphase models used in the literature for the interphase, namely the perfect, the homogeneous, the distributed uncoupled shear and normal springs, and the distributed shear springs. It is found that the trends of the above parameters as a function of interphase thicknesses are different for the spring and continuum models, if the crack is in a stiffer material.
Optimal estimation of non-gaussianity

We systematically analyze the primordial non-Gaussianity estimator used by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) science team with the basic ideas of estimation theory in order to see if the limited Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data is being optimally utilized. The WMAP estimator is based on the implicit assumption that the CMB bispectrum, the harmonic transform of the three-point correlation function, contains all of the primordial non-Gaussianity information in a CMB map. We first demonstrate that the Signal-to-Noise (S/N) of an estimator based on CMB three-point correlation functions is significantly larger than the S/N of any estimator based on higher-order correlation functions; justifying our choice to focus on the three-point correlation function. We then conclude that the estimator based on the three-point correlation function, which was used by WMAP, is optimal, meaning it saturates the Cramer-Rao Inequality when the underlying CMB map is nearly Gaussian. We quantify this restriction by demonstrating that the suboptimal character of our estimator is proportonal to the square of the fiducial non-Gaussianity, which is already constrained to be extremely small, so we can consider the WMAP estimator to be optimal in practice. Our conclusions do not depend on the form of the primordial bispectrum, only on the observationally established weak levels of primordial non-Gaussianity.
The implications of Istanbul Declaration on organ trafficking and transplant tourism.

Purpose of reviewOrgan trafficking, transplant tourism and transplant commercialism are now defined by the Declaration of Istanbul; the Declaration provides principles of practice based on those definitions. Organ trafficking and transplant tourism should be prohibited because they violate the princ
Incidence, Risk Factors and Morbidity of Unintended Bladder or Ureter Injury during Hysterectomy

To determine the incidence, risk factors and morbidity of unintended operative injury to the bladder or ureter during hysterectomy, a retrospective case–control study of women with these injuries from 1 January 1993 to 1 January 1998 was performed. The incidence of bladder and ureter injury, respectively, was 0.58% and 0.35% for abdominal hysterectomy, 1.86% and 0% for vaginal hysterectomy, and 5.13% and 1.71% for hysterectomies performed for obstetric indications. Women with injury during abdominal hysterectomy were found to have greater blood loss, longer operative times, longer postoperative stays, more febrile morbidity, and more frequent transfusions. Similar trends were seen for other hysterectomy types. The incidence of operative bladder or ureter injury is relatively low. However, even when recognized, these individuals experience greater operative and postoperative morbidity. This highlights the importance of surgical technique directed toward minimization of these injuries, and careful intra- and postoperative surveillance aimed at early detection.
A two‐step approach to finite element ordering

Abstract : A two-step approach to finite element ordering is introduced. The scheme involves ordering of the finite elements first, based on their adjacency, followed by a local numbering of the nodal variables. The ordering of the elements is performed by the Cuthill-Mckee algorithm. This approach takes into consideration the underlying structure of the finite element mesh, and may be regarded as a natural finite element ordering scheme. The experimental results show that this two-step scheme is more efficient than the reverse Cuthill-McKee algorithm applied directly to the nodes, in terms of both execution time and the number of fill-in entries, particularly when higher order finite elements are used. In addition to its efficiency, the two-step approach increases modularity and flexibility in finite element programs, and possesses potential application to a number of finite element solution methods. (Author)
STS-74/Mir photogrammetric appendage structural dynamics experiment

The Photogrammetric Appendage Structural Dynamics Experiment (PASDE) is an International Space Station (ISS) Phase-1 risk mitigation experiment. Phase-1 experiments are performed during docking missions of the U.S. Space Shuttle to the Russian Space Station Mir. The purpose of the experiment is to demonstrate the use of photogrammetric techniques for determination of structural dynamic mode parameters of solar arrays and other spacecraft appendages. Photogrammetric techniques are a low cost alternative to appendage mounted accelerometers for the ISS program. The objective of the first flight of PASDE, on STS-74 in November 1995, was to obtain video images of Mir Kvant-2 solar array response to various structural dynamic excitation events. More than 113 minutes of high quality structural response video data was collected during the mission. The PASDE experiment hardware consisted of three instruments each containing two video cameras, two video tape recorders, a modified video signal time inserter, and associated avionics boxes. The instruments were designed, fabricated, and tested at the NASA Langley Research Center in eight months. The flight hardware was integrated into standard Hitchhiker canisters at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and then installed into the Space Shuttle cargo bay in locations selected to achieve good video coverage and photogrammetric geometry.
Magnetic field dependence of the radio frequency size effect line width in gallium

Abstract For resonance with simple line shape. the reduced line width, [Δ H / H ][ d /δ], is found to be a function of the magnetic field strength, independent of field orientation and the sheet of the Fermi surface involved in the resonance. We discuss the possibility that this dependence of the finite spread of the wave functions of the resonating electrons.
Multiple diagnoses and procedures during hysterectomy

Seldom does a gynecologic patient, who needs a hysterectomy, have a single diagnosis. Among 2892 gynecologic patients who needed a hysterectomy, only 127 had a single diagnosis. The rest had two to ten separate diagnoses. Therefore, 96.4% also needed other gynecologic procedures at the time of hysterectomy — 4842 other operative procedures during 1925 abdominal hysterectomies, and 2356 associated operative procedures during 864 vaginal hysterectomies. Prior to the time of hysterectomy, 15.07% of these patients had had major gynecologic operations, but after hysterectomy (+ +) only 2.9% needed any subsequent gynecologic operations. We conclude that among gynecologic patients, chart reviews or coding systems which are based only on a single diagnosis, or computer systems which are limited to 2, 3, or 4 diagnoses, will usually be incomplete, inaccurate, and misleading.
3D Directional Temperature Responsive (N-(DL)-(1-Hydroxymethyl) Propylmethacrylamide-co-n-Butyl Acrylate) Colloids and Their Coalescence

A new family of colloidal dispersions containing N-(dl)-(1-hydroxymethyl) propylmethacrylamide (dl-HMPMA) and n-butyl acrylate (nBA) monomers was developed which exhibits temperature-responsive behavior. Particle size analysis, along with UV−vis and 1H NMR spectroscopic measurements, showed that aqueous p(dl-HMPMA/nBA) particle dispersions display second-order lower critical solution temperature (II-LCST) in the 27−37 °C range at which the particle size decreases from 81 to 47 nm. When p(dl-HMPMA/nBA) colloidal particles were coalesced to form films, which is facilitated by the lower Tg nBA component that maintains an adequate free volume for temperature-responsive dl-HMPMA segments, coalesced films exhibited 3D directional responsiveness to temperature. While shrinkage occurs in the x−y plane directions (length and width, respectively), expansion in the z direction (thickness) above II-LCST is observed. Computer thermodynamics molecular simulations combined with the experimental data showed that conforma...
Estimation of activation energies from differential thermal analysis curves

Abstract An average activation energy Δ E ‡ of 31.7 ± 10.0 kcal/mole was calculated from exothermic peaks of urea nitrate differential thermal analysis (DTA) curves using the Murray and White equation and various other reaction rate equations developed by the authors. An average enthalpy of activation, Δ H ‡ of 30.8 ±9.7 kcal/mole was calculated from the same results. The values of Δ E ‡ and Δ H ‡ differed by a fraction of a kcal/mole indicating that Δ E ‡ H ‡ cannot be differentiated experimentally in our study. Application of the Kissinger method of calculating Δ E ‡ and Δ H ‡ produced respectively 21.6 ±7.9 and 20.7 ±8.0 kcal/mole, which are quite low. The values of Δ E ‡ and Δ H ‡ calculated thermogravimetrically were 28.1, ± 1.1 kcal/mole and 27.6 ± 1.2 kcal/mole which are close to those obtained from the Murray and White approach and the authors' approach to treatment of the DTA data. These results illustrate the pronounced effect of self heating on calculation of activation energies. The Kissinger method of calculating the reaction order developed for endothermic DTA peaks produced good results when applied to the present DTA study.
Superallowed 0+ → 0+ β decay and CKM unitarity: A new overview including more exotic nuclei

The ft values for superallowed 0+ → 0+ nuclear β transitions are nearly independent of nuclear-structure ambiguities and depend uniquely on the vector part of the weak interaction. They thus provide access to clean tests of some of the fundamental precepts of weak-interaction theory and can even probe physics beyond the standard model. We have just completed a new survey and overview of world data on such transitions, including not just the nine cases considered in the past, but also eleven more from T = 1 parents: even-even Tz = - 1 nuclei from 18Ne to 42Ti; and odd-odd nuclei from 62Ga to 74Rb. These new cases all involve more exotic nuclei and, to yield comparable precision, present real experimental challenges. Nevertheless, three of these new cases are already known well enough to contribute - together with the nine well known transitions - to the setting of limits on fundamental weak-interaction parameters. The remaining eight cases show promise for making important contributions in future.
Conductivity Pulses Induced in Insulating Liquids by Ionizing Radiations

Conductivity pulses due to electron collection have been observed in liquid and solid argon exposed to $\ensuremath{\alpha}$- or $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-radiation. The maximum pulse sizes, ${P}_{M}$, for $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particles depend only on the field strength, $E$, and not on the electrode spacing, proving that the pulse limiting effect is columnar recombination and not electron trapping by impurities. The maximum pulse sizes obey the equation $(\frac{{P}_{M}}{{P}_{0}})=1\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}A{E}^{\frac{1}{2}})$, where ${P}_{0}$ is the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-pulse size in an argon gas counter. The counting efficiency for $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particles is close to 100 percent, but there is some variation in pulse size due to variation of columnar recombination with angle of emission. No $\ensuremath{\alpha}$- or $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-pulses were observed in liquid nitrogen or heptane, but weak $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-induced pulses were observed in liquid methane.The effects of nitrogen and oxygen in solution in liquid argon in decreasing the pulse sizes are interpreted as being due to electron capture by these molecules.
New Insights into the Binding and Catalytic Mechanisms of Bacillus thuringiensis Lactonase: Insights into B. thuringiensis AiiA Mechanism

The lactonase enzyme (AiiA) produced by Bacillus thuringiensis serves to degrade autoinducer-1 (AI-1) signaling molecules in what is an evolved mechanism by which to compete with other bacteria. Bioassays have been previously performed to determine whether the AI-1 aliphatic tail lengths have any effect on AiiA’s bioactivity, however, data to date are conflicting. Additionally, specific residue contributions to the catalytic activity of AiiA provide for some interesting questions. For example, it has been proposed that Y194 serves to provide an oxyanion hole to AI-1 which is curious given the fact the substrate spans two Zn(2+) ions. These ions might conceivably provide enough charge to promote both ligand stability and the carbonyl activation necessary to drive a nucleophilic attack. To investigate these questions, multiple molecular dynamics simulations were performed across a family of seven acylated homoserine lactones (AHL) along with their associated intermediate and product states. Distance analyses and interaction energy analyses were performed to investigate current bioassay data. Our simulations are consistent with experimental studies showing that AiiA degrades AHLs in a tail length independent manner. However, the presence of the tail is required for activity. Also, the putative oxyanion hole function of Y194 toward the substrate is not observed in any of the reactant or product state simulation trajectories, but does seem to show efficacy in stabilizing the intermediate state. Last, we argue through ionization state analyses, that the proton shuttling necessary for catalytic activity might be mediated by both water and substrate-based intra-molecular proton transfer. Based on this argument, an alternate catalytic mechanism is proposed.
Adult Attachment Style Dimensions in Women Who Have Gay or Bisexual Fathers

This study explored possible differences in adult attachment style dimensions between women with gay or bisexual fathers ( n = 68) and women with heterosexual fathers ( n = 68) using a revised version of the Adult Attachment Scale (Collins & Read, 1990b). Data analysis revealed highly significant differences between groups on all three adult attachment dimensions. Women with gay or bisexual fathers were significantly less comfortable with closeness and intimacy ( t = 5.264, P = .0001), less able to trust and depend on others ( t = 6.621, P = .0001), and experienced more anxiety in relationships ( t = −4.368, P = .0001) than women with heterosexual fathers. Theoretical and methodological issues, conclusions, and implications related to the findings are discussed.
Isolation, Structure Determination, and Anti-Cancer Activity of Apoptolidin D

The isolation, characterization, and preliminary biological activity of apoptolidin D, a new apoptolidin that exhibits anti-proliferative activity against H292 human lung carcinoma cells at nanomolar concentrations, are reported. Its equilibration with isoapoptolidin D and characterization of the latter are also described. [structure: see text].
Block edit models for approximate string matching

In this paper we examine string block edit distance, in which two strings A and B are compared by extracting collections of substrings and placing them into correspondence. This model accounts for certain phenomena encountered in important real-world applications, including pen computing and molecular biology. The basic problem admits a family of variations depending on whether the strings must be matched in their entireties, and whether overlap is permitted. We show that several variants are NPcomplete, and give polynomial-time algorithms for solving the remainder.
Improved Chromticity Control for 100 GeV Storage at Fermilab

The current capability of the horizontal sextupole magnets in the main ring has recently been doubled. This allows the chromaticity to be adjusted to near zero at 100 GeV. Effects upon beam lifetime are discussed.
Development of copepod swimming legs with unequal numbers of ramal segments

ABSTRACT Several different developmental patterns are responsible for inequalities in numbers of segments on the exopod and endopod of the same swimming leg of adult copepods. These patterns result from changes in two basic kinds of segment additions: (1) changes early in leg development of calanoids result in a leg whose endopod has fewer segments than its exopod, and in a leg whose exopod has fewer segments than its endopod in harpacticoids; (2) changes late in leg development in harpacticoids result in a leg whose endopod has fewer segments than its exopod.
Overcorrection of Aggressive Behavior in a Chronic Psychiatric Patient

A psychiatric patient who had been institutionalized for 43 years was treated for throwing small objects in the face of other patients and ward staff. Over-correction consisted of requiring her to perform the following behaviors contingent on each occurrence of object-throwing: (1) apologize to the offended person for her behavior, and (2) pick up objects from the floor and put them in the trash can for five minutes. This contingency reduced the frequency of the target behavior, whereas differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior had no effect. Elimination of object-throwing maintained over an 11-week posttreatment phase.
Restoring the Sagebrush Component in Crested Wheatgrass–Dominated Communities

Monotypic stands of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum [L] Gaertm. and Agropyron desertorum [Fisch.] Schult.), an introduced grass, occupy vast expanses of the sagebrush steppe. Efforts to improve habitat for sagebrush-associated wildlife by establishing a diverse community of native vegetation in crested wheatgrass stands have largely failed. Instead of concentrating on a diversity of species, we evaluated the potential to restore the foundation species, Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. wyomingensis [Beetle & A. Young] S. L. Welsh), to these communities. We investigated the establishment of Wyoming big sagebrush into six crested wheatgrass stands (sites) by broadcast seeding and planting seedling sagebrush across varying levels of crested wheatgrass control with glyphosate. Planted sagebrush seedlings survived at high rates (~ 70% planted sagebrush survival 3 yr postplanting), even without crested wheatgrass control. However, most attempts to establish sagebrush by broadcast seeding failed. Only at high levels of crested wheatgrass control did a few sagebrush plants establish from broadcasted seed. Sagebrush density and cover were greater with planting seedlings than broadcast seeding. Sagebrush cover, height, and canopy area were greater at higher levels of crested wheatgrass control. High levels of crested wheatgrass control also created an opportunity for exotic annuals to increase. Crested wheatgrass rapidly recovered after glyphosate control treatments, which suggests multiple treatments may be needed to effectively control crested wheatgrass. Our results suggest that planting sagebrush seedlings can structurally diversify monotypic crested wheatgrass stands to provide habitat for sagebrushassociated wildlife. Though this is not the full diversity of native functional groups representative of the sagebrush steppe, it is a substantial improvement over other efforts that have largely failed to alter these plant communities. We also hypothesize that planting sagebrush seedlings in patches or strips may provide a relatively inexpensive method to facilitate sagebrush recovery across vast landscapes where sagebrush has been lost.
Introduction to Special Section on Health Disparities

In this special section, we highlight the diverse ways in which behavioral medicine can contribute to the study of racial/ethnic health disparities. Health disparities are often described as differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, burden of disease, and other adverse health conditions or outcomes between minority and majority population groups [1]. Although this special section focuses on racial/ethnic health disparities, disparities have also been observed in gender, age, socioeconomic status (SES), geography, sexual orientation, disability, and special health care needs. Disparities occur among groups who have persistently experienced historical trauma, social disadvantage or discrimination, and systematically experience worse health or greater health risks than more advantaged social groups. In February 1998, President Clinton made a commitment on behalf of the U.S. government to work toward the elimination of health disparities in racial and ethnic minority populations by the year 2010. Although we have advanced our knowledge and approaches to reducing disparities, they still persist. One of the most striking demographic characteristics in health statistics continues to be mortality differences betweenAfrican Americans andWhites. The ageand genderadjusted death rate from all causes is significantly higher in African Americans than inWhites [2]. There are some limited positive signs for the health of minorities, however. For example, McWilliams et al. found differences between Black or Latino and White adults did not significantly change from 1999 to 2006 on four measures of disease control (ageand sex-adjusted rates of blood pressure control, mean systolic blood pressure, glycemic control, and mean hemoglobin A1c levels), although differences in rates of glycemic control between Latino and White adults broadened over that time period [3]. The goal of this special section is to contribute to our understanding of current health problems experienced by America's major races/ethnicities and economic groups. The papers fall into three general areas: testing of potential explanations and risk factors for disparities, identification of potential resilience factors that might narrow disparities, and interventions to improve health outcomes in populations affected by health disparities. They span a range of health conditions, risks, perceptions, and behaviors (e.g., asthma, obesity, hypertension control, coronary artery disease, self-rated mental and physical health, mortality, smoking) across the life span (from children to middle age to older adults), and investigate health disparities among Black and subpopulations of Latino men and women, including Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans. Three papers investigated risk factors for worse health outcomes and behaviors, such as low SES, discrimination, and illness representations [4–6]. In a sample of Black and White older adults, Thorpe et al. found that more than half (60%) of racial/ethnic differences in all-cause mortality K. E. Whitfield (*) Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA e-mail: kwhit1@duke.edu
William Perkins's “A Reformed Catholic”: A Psycho-Cultural Interpretation

It is remarkable that study of William Perkins (1558–1602) has had so little impact on conventional interpretations of English history. Of the work of this great pastoral theologian, William Haller observed that “no books… were more often to be found upon the shelves of succeeding generations of preachers, and the name of no preacher recurs more often in later Puritan literature.” In an article which commented upon Perkins's undeserved obscurity, Louis Wright suggested that in Perkins's thought Max Weber would have found “pertinent illustrations” for the famous argument about Protestantism and capitalism. Historical scholarship generally appears to have followed Wright's suggestion, mining Perkins's works for “pertinent illustrations” of established outlooks. Perkins has been pressed into service in economic and political versions of Haller's neo-Foxian epic which describes religious forces gathering relentlessly toward a mid-seventeenth-century climax. Other historians, encountering Perkins's insistent defense of the established church, have portrayed him as an Elizabethan moderate of varying degrees of sincerity and importance. Ultimately, these unproductive readings rest on an assumed typology of Anglicanism and Puritanism which casts Puritan theology as sectarian and disruptive while reserving the culturally integrative role of a churchly religion for Anglicanism. However faithfully this typology represents the outcome of seventeenth-century English history, it may have impeded fruitful analysis of Perkins's thought.
Teaching Women's History: I Offered Social History, They Took Away Heroes

When the field of women's history emerged, it almost entirely focused on the stories of elite, exceptional women rather than the story of ordinary people. Women's historians who are also social historians have attempted to move women's history toward history from below, focusing on the masses rather than one or two women worthies. When bringing women's history into the classroom as social history, students sometimes reject the lessons of social history and, instead, take away heroes. This article examines and attempts to explain this phenomenon.
Applied behavior analysis at West Virginia University: A brief history

The development of an emphasis on applied behavior analysis in the Department of Psychology at West Virginia University is traced. The emphasis began primarily in the early 1970s, under the leadership of Roger Maley and Jon Krapfl, and has continued to expand and evolve with the participation of numerous behavior analysts and behavior therapists, both inside and outside the department. The development has been facilitated by several factors: establishment of a strong behavioral emphasis in the three Clinical graduate programs; change of the graduate program in Experimental Psychology to a program in basic Behavior Analysis; development of nonclinical applied behavior analysis within the Behavior Analysis program; establishment of a joint graduate program with Educational Psychology; establishment of a Community/Systems graduate program; and organization of numerous conferences. Several factors are described that seem to assure a stable role for behavior analysis in the department: a stable and supportive “culture” within the department; American Psychological Association accreditation of the clinical training; a good reputation both within the university and in psychology; and a broader community of behavior analysts and behavior therapists.
Why doesn't marketing use the corporate data warehouse? The role of trust and quality in adoption of data‐warehousing technology for CRM applications

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate organizational factors to explain why a corporate data warehouse (CDW) was not used by marketing to the extent that it was expected to be used for CRM and other marketing purposes.Design/methodology/approach – A case study of a single health‐care payor organization is used in this study.Findings – Reveals the three primary implementation factors related to marketing's lack of trust in the data, low perceived data quality and perception of marketing needs not being met. Practically, the unique data needs of marketing should be considered in the implementation of a CDW and its interface.Originality/value – This is the first study of its kind to take the needs of marketing users into consideration.
“A Person of Good Character and Considerable Property”: James Forten and the Issue of Race in Philadelphia's Antebellum Business Community

James Forten (1766–1842) was in business in Philadelphia for almost half a century. A sailmaker by trade, he invested the profits from his sail-loft in real estate, bank stock, and shares in various ventures, including railroads. He was also a money-lender. Throughout his long career in business, Forten struggled to be accepted as an astute and successful member of the business community who happened to be a man of color. As this essay demonstrates, that was how some of his white peers saw him. To others, however, he was a man of color first and a man of business second.
The Effect of Race, Sex, and Insurance Status on Time-to-Listing Decisions for Liver Transplantation

Fair allocation of organs to candidates listed for transplantation is fundamental to organ-donation policies. Processes leading to listing decisions are neither regulated nor understood. We explored whether patient characteristics affected timeliness of listing using population-based data on 144,507 adults hospitalized with liver-related disease in Pennsylvania. We linked hospitalizations to other secondary data and found 3,071 listed for transplants, 1,537 received transplants, and 57,020 died. Among candidates, 61% () and 85.5% () were listed within 1 and 3 years of diagnosis; 26.7% () and 95% () of recipients were transplanted within 1 and 3 years of listing. Using competing-risks models, we found few overall differences by sex, but both black patients and those insured by Medicare and Medicaid (combined) waited longer before being listed. Patients with combined Medicare and Medicaid insurance, as well as those with Medicaid alone, were also more likely to die without ever being listed. Once listed, the time to transplant was slightly longer for women, but it did not differ by race/ethnicity or insurance. The early time period from diagnosis to listing for liver transplantation reveals unwanted variation related to demographics that jeopardizes overall fairness of organ allocation and needs to be further explored.
Beyond Knowledge Deficit to a Proposal for Information-Seeking Behaviors

TOPIC.Nursing assessment of knowledge or informational needs. PURPOSE.To present a brief evolutionary analysis of knowledge deficit in terms of its significance, application, and use, and to present a proposed diagnosis, “information-seeking behaviors.” SOURCES.Literature review of knowledge deficit and “information-seeking behaviors.” CONCLUSIONS. Knowledge deficit is a nursing diagnosis that is significant for identifying a patient's need for education or knowledge. Its application has revealed limitations to validity and subsequent use. “Information-seeking behaviors” is proposed as an alternative diagnosis. Antecedents and defining characteristics are presented and areas for future research proposed.
Work in progress - assessment of an electronic learning management system In bioengineering

The VaNTH Engineering Research Center (www.vanth.org) has developed an authoring system for electronic courseware (CAPE) that links to a learning management system (eLMS). The system provides formative feedback, adaptive delivery, and feedback to the instructor about student conceptions. We used the system to deliver two problems in a biomedical engineering systems physiology course. Half the class (treatment) used CAPE/eLMS and the other half (control) completed the problems in a traditional paper-and-pencil format. This study evaluated students' performance on the problems and on summative (exam) questions as well as students' perceptions. Students enjoyed one of the problems more and the other less via the CAPE/eLMS system. Students in control and treatment groups performed equally well on summative assessments. Technical and programming difficulties have been addressed and more data will be collected in Spring, 2007. The tentative conclusion is that an adaptive learning system can be beneficial, but the benefits may be problem-dependent to some extent.
Measuring youth outcomes from alcohol and drug treatment

Aims This report examines adolescent alcohol and drug treatment outcome research from a process-oriented, developmental perspective. A dynamic developmental model is proposed in which adolescent treatment outcome research incorporate considerations relevant to changes occurring typically during this stage of life as well as developmental distinctions pertinent to the early onset of abuse and dependence. Method Findings from our developmentally focused longitudinal research of adolescent treatment participants and the extant literature on adolescent treatment outcome are reviewed. Conceptual, research design and measurement recommendations are presented from this double developmental perspective of addiction. Findings Techniques for engaging youth in the research process, managing confidentiality and facilitating self-disclosure are described. Developmental considerations in the type and timing of outcome assessments, measurement content, predictor domains and data analytical approaches are discussed. Predictors and process measures for adolescent alcohol treatment outcome study are suggested based on current findings. Conclusions Inclusion of developmental considerations may enhance the utility of adolescent treatment outcome research.
A Mask Tells Us More Than a Face

Oscar Wilde's epigram (Redman 1959, 138) speaks directly to Jon Tilburt's concerns about the sometimes contradictory obligations of professionalism (Tilburt 2014). On the one hand, “professionalism...
Role of driver loading conditions on simultaneous switching noise

The nature of simultaneous switching noise (SSN) for CMOS drivers is analyzed and modeled. The modeling is done using CMOS equations and the results are verified using SPICE (simulation program with IC emphasis). The model includes the effect of parasitic inductance, load inductance and capacitance and negative feedback. >
Spontaneous and Age-Related Testicular Findings in Beagle Dogs:

This study was conducted to characterize spontaneous testicular and epididymal microscopic findings in eighty control beagle dogs from toxicity studies. Hypospermatogenesis, characterized by randomly scattered missing spermatids and/or spermatocytes within seminiferous tubules, was observed in 75% of dogs six to seven months of age and declined to fewer than 10% in dogs over eleven months of age. Atrophy/hypoplasia of seminiferous tubules, characterized by subcapsular triangular clusters of tubules containing no germ cells, was observed in 25 to 40% of dogs under twelve months old, decreasing with age to 14 to 17% in dogs twelve to thirty-six months old. Retained spermatids, multinucleate giant cells, intracytoplasmic vacuoles (presumably in Sertoli cells), and swollen spermatocytes were common findings of minimal severity. Six- and seven-month-old dogs had lower testicular weights, less filling of the epididymal tails with sperm, and a two-fold higher incidence of abnormal epididymal content compared to dogs more than eight months of age. Most male beagles were histologically sexually mature by eight to nine months of age. This study confirms published reports that dogs at least ten months of age at necropsy usually are adequate for routine microscopic evaluation of the testes. If evaluation of spermatogenesis is critical, the incidental findings can be minimized by using males over twelve months of age.
Base station cluster patterns for semi-static multi-cell cooperation in irregular network topologies

This paper proposes a clustering strategy for semi-static mul-ticell cooperation. Semi-static multicell cooperation exploits multiple predefined base station (BS) cluster patterns for improving cell-edge user throughput. The proposed clustering guarantees that every user communicates with their two closest BSs, so that users are protected from the dominant interferer. The key idea of the proposed clustering is to use the 2nd-order Voronoi region to form BS clusters. Each of the formed BS clusters is mapped into a particular cluster pattern by exploiting the edge-coloring in graph theory. Through simulations, the performance is compared to that of other conventional strategies. Our major finding is that the proposed clustering provides performance gains for cell-edge users compared to that of the conventional strategies.
A product yield study of the reaction of HO2 radicals with ethyl peroxy (C2H5O2), acetyl peroxy (CH3C(O)O2), and acetonyl peroxy (CH3C(O)CH2O2) radicals

The reaction between HO2 and RO2 radicals represents an important chemical sink for HOx radicals in the atmosphere. On the basis of a few product yield studies, these reactions are believed to form...
Cavity enhanced 1.5μm LED with silicon as a hole injector

Here we report the demonstration of a Si/InAlGaAs/InP PIN cavity enhanced LED around 1.5 um by using membrane transfer method. The silicon layer is acting not only as the optical guiding layer but also the hole injection layer. The new hybrid integrated LED could be further developed as laser source for silicon photonics.
Introduction: Panel: Reconsidering questions regarding mutual analysis

This introduction to the two-paper panel, “Reconsidering questions regarding mutual analysis,” provides a context for the two papers that follow. The historical antecedents and contemporary climate for the issue of mutual analysis–and analytic mutuality more generally–are described. Each author's contribution is introduced, as are the essential questions common to the panel as a whole.
Research Note on the Study of Socialism and Labor History in Paris

Scholars interested in European socialism and labor history have made frequent use of the rich collections in the International Institute for Social History in Amsterdam. The Institut Francais d'Histoire Sociale, a comparable institution though on a more limited scale, has not been utilized to the same extent and deserves far more attention from researchers than it has received.
Mutagenicity of dimethylglycine when mixed with nitrite: possible significance in human use of pangamates.

SummaryNearly all formulations of the health food product variously tradenamed “B15,” vitamin B15, pangamic acid, and pangamate contain either dichloroacetate (DCA) or dimethylglycine hydrochloride (DMG). We previously reported that DCA is mutagenic, and tested DMG in the current study under nitrosating conditions anticipated during human ingestion. It was not mutagenic alone. When DMG was pre-incubated with sodium nitrite to simulate exposure to salivary and gastric nitrites, and incubated at 37°C for 45 min at pH 4 to simulate the period before gastric emptying, and then tested using appropriate controls, a characteristic dose-related mutagenic effect was observed, presumably due to nitrosation products such as dimethylnitrosamine and nitrososarcosine.
Model confidence for nonlinear systems

Abstract This paper deals with defining measures of model closeness and establishing quantitative confidence bounds on nominal models. Confidence in a model is an indication of how uniquely identifiable the best fitting parameter values are from the data. These concepts are examined in both the linear and nonlinear regimes, with a practical example used to explore these propositions.