cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Polybian Moment: The Transformation of Republican Thought from Ptolemy of Lucca to Machiavelli

Recent research has emphasized the continuities in European republican political thought from the late Middle Ages until well into the Renaissance and even beyond. Two of the central figures in the story of the persistence of republicanism are Ptolemy of Lucca, who is commonly viewed as the quintessential late medieval republican, and Niccolo Machiavelli, whose work is generally regarded as the classic statement of early modern republicanism. We argue that these two remain conceptually at considerable remove from one another, a claim we illustrate by analyzing the impact of the reception, Latin translation and transmission of the Histories of Polybius, and especially the theory of constitutional change proposed in Book 6. The unavailability of the Histories to Ptolemy and its rather ample use by Machiavelli at the beginning of the Discourses signal an important divergence in the theoretical principles underlying the defense of republican institutions. In turn, this variation captures one facet of the dist...
Qi Visualizer: An Interactive Pulse Spectrogram Visualization using Mobile Participatory Biometrics

Qi is an ancient concept of life energy in various cultures and it represents continuous ineffable dialogues between the human heart with the body. The goal of Qi Visualizer is to translate the ineffable dialogues into a collective data visualization of pulse spectrograms via audience participation using smartphone photoplethysmography. Informed by our earlier studies, we believe spectrogram is the most effective visual language to invoke broader perception of Qi across cultures and disciplines. In our design process, we extend our notion of audience as constituents of a system for collective expression in this novel Qi Visualizer interactive installation. Specifically, we consider audience members as objects and their responses as processes in a system to guide our visualization strategies. Significance of this work is two fold. In terms of data visualization, we streamline data acquisition and visualization processes into an immediate interactive experience in Qi Visualizer installation. In terms of interactive art, the significance may be conceived as a new process shifting tactile-textual translations in a pulse examination to imaging-visual transformations of the pulse spectrograms visualization via audience participation. Similar to voiceprint, a heart rate harmonic signature in the spectrogram is seen as an artistic interpretation of Qi in this installation.
Creating Inclusive, Literacy-Embedded Play Centers in a Children's Museum: Connecting Theory to Practice.

Preservice teachers enrolled in an early literacy or developmental preschool course collaborated in order to create inclusive, literacy-embedded play centers at a local children's museum. Using a grounded theory approach, theoretical questions were generated after analyzing multiple data sources. The focus of this paper is how preservice teachers connected theory to practice in an authentic setting. The importance of connecting theory to practice, the place of play in assessment, and the viability of children's museums as alternative field placements are discussed. Implications for preservice teacher education are presented.
A multiscale micromechanics-hydration model for the early-age elastic properties of cement-based materials

Abstract The E-modulus of early age cement-based materials, and more importantly, its evolution in time, is one of the most critical material-to-structural design parameters affecting the likelihood of early-age concrete cracking. This paper addresses the problem by means of a multistep micromechanics approach that starts at the nanolevel of the C–S–H matrix, where two types of C–S–H develop in the course of hydration. For the purpose of homogenization, the volume fractions of the different phases are required, which are determined by means of an advanced kinetics model of the four main hydration reactions of ordinary portland cement (OPC). The proposed model predicts with high accuracy the aging elasticity of cement-based materials, with a minimum intrinsic material properties (same for all cement-based materials), and 11 mix-design specific model parameters that can be easily obtained from the cement and concrete suppliers. By way of application, it is shown that the model provides a quantitative means to determine (1) the solid percolation threshold from micromechanics theory, (2) the effect of inclusions on the elastic stiffening curve, and (3) the development of the Poisson's ratio at early ages. The model also suggests the existence of a critical water-to-cement ratio below which the solid phase percolates at the onset of hydration. The development of Poisson's ratio at early ages is found to be characterized by a water-dominated material response as long as the water phase is continuous, and then by a solid-dominated material response beyond the solid percolation threshold. These model-based results are consistent with experimental values for cement paste, mortar, and concrete found in the open literature.
Rocket Nozzle Flow Control Using a Reduced-Order Computational Fluid Dynamics Model

The use of proper orthogonal decomposition-based reduced-order computational e uid dynamics models for multidisciplinary optimization are investigated. An open-loop optimal control problem is solved concerning the regulation of a rocket engine thrust proe le. The control synthesis uses a numerical e owe eld solver as the plant model. Controllers are synthesized using both the full-order nonlinear e uid dynamics, which serves as a truth model, and a reduced-order model of the e owe eld generated via proper orthogonal decomposition. The latter has been successfully applied to reduce the order of both steady and unsteady subsonic e owe eld solutions obtained via computational e uid dynamics. Specie cally, the application of reduced-order e owe eld solvers to a rocket’ s thrustcontrollerdesign is explored.A quasi-one-dimensionalsupersonicconvergent-divergent nozzlewith varying backpressure is used as a model problem. Treating the nozzle e ow as one-dimensional, the reduced-order model is used to synthesize a nonlinear controller that controls thrust by varying nozzle throat area along an ascent trajectory. The performance of the reduced-order controller is quantie ed.
The Boston qualitative scoring system for the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure: Description and interrater reliability

Abstract This report describes a qualitative scoring method for the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) that provides scores for fragmentation, planning, organization, presence and accuracy of various features, placement, size distortions, perseveration, confabulation, rotation, neatness, symmetry, and immediate and delayed retention. Interrater reliability is reported for productions drawn by 60 adolescents and adults. Each production received 16 initial scores based on specific criteria. Six additional summary scores were then calculated using scores from all three conditions (i.e., copy, immediate, and delayed recalls). Kappa statistics and intraclass correlations indicated excellent interrater reliability. In sum, the Boston Qualitative Scoring System for the ROCF appears to be a highly reliable and informative method for scoring this widely used instrument.
Changes in plasma thyrotrophin, thyroxine, and triiodothyronine after acute or chronic administration of iodide to iodine-deficient rats.

The effect of chronic oral or acute iv administration of small graded doses of iodide was studied in severely iodine-deficient rats. Drinking water supplemented with 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 μg 127I−⁄ml was given for up to 42 days. Plasma T3, which was initially in the normal range, increased 2-3-fold on days 1 and 2 after initiation of iodide supplementation, then dropped to approximately the initial concentration at day 3. Plasma T4, initially undetectable, was calculated to increase approximately 20-fold within one day after beginning iodide supplementation, but was still climbing into the normal range at day 3. In all groups, the initially high plasma TSH fell significantly by day 1 and was in approximately the normal range for iodinesufficient rats by day 3. At 42 days, thyroid weight and I31I uptake were significantly elevated in all groups and inversely correlated with the dose of iodide, even though the thyroidal labeled T3⁄T4 ratio and plasma TSH, T4, and T3 were within the normal range. Intravenous inje...
Metamaterial-enhanced traveling wave tubes

We present the design of a folded waveguide traveling wave tube (TWT) periodically loaded by epsilon negative (ENG) metamaterial slabs. When a given folded waveguide slow-wave structure (SWS) is loaded with ENG metamaterials, its band diagram is shifted to higher frequencies. To shift the band diagram back to the desired (lower) frequency of operation, we scale up the structure's dimensions. This enlargement of the SWS, however, allows for increasing the beam tunnel diameter of the SWS for a given frequency of operation and also increases the interaction impedance of the TWT. Both of these physical phenomena can be exploited to increase the gain of the TWT for a given number of periods in the SWS and achieve a higher output power level. This concept is expected to be particularly useful at millimeter-wave frequencies where the beam diameter and current are usually limited by the small dimensions of the SWS thereby limiting the gain and total output power of millimeter-wave TWTs.
Medical excuse making and individual differences in self-assessed health: The unique effects of anxious attachment, trait anxiety, and hypochondriasis

Abstract Psychological processes are critical to understanding self-assessed health. While the literature suggests that motivated or self-enhancing processes contribute to this understanding, such processes have not been adequately explored. In a sample of healthy young adults ( n = 271; 49.1% female), we used structural equation modeling to examine whether trait anxiety (TA), hypochondriasis (H), and anxious attachment (AA) relate to self-assessed health through a motivated process of medical excuse-making. When each personality variable was examined individually, medical excuse-making partially mediated its relationship with self-assessed health. When the three individual difference variables were examined simultaneously, medical excuse-making partially mediated the relationship of TA and H with self-assessed health, but AA was no longer related to self-assessed health. All effects remained after statistically controlling reported medical conditions. Results suggest medical excuse-making substantially contributes to self-evaluations of health, particularly among anxiety-prone individuals.
Reduction by intracellular calcium chelation of acetylcholine secretion without occluding the effects of adenosine at frog motor nerve endings

1. The calcium chelators bis-(aminophenoxy)ethane-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) or dimethyl-BAPTA (DMBAPTA) were introduced into the cytoplasm of frog motor nerve endings by use of the AM loading technique. The effects of intracellular Ca2+ chelation was studied on quantal acetylcholine (ACh) release and on the action of adenosine. 2. Intracellular BAPTA or DMBAPTA prevented the increases in quantal ACh secretion normally evoked by caffeine. 3. Intracellular DMBAPTA decreased the number of ACh quanta released by individual nerve impulses and virtually eliminated the fast phase of facilitation in response to paired nerve impulses. 4. Adenosine reduced both spontaneous and evoked secretion of ACh quanta with its usual potency and efficacy in the presence of intracellular DMBAPTA. Adenosine had no significant effect on facilitation. 5. The results, which suggest that adenosine and intracellular DMBAPTA reduce ACh secretion by different mechanisms, are consistent with the hypothesis that adenosine inhibits ACh release by reducing the ability of Ca2+ to promote ACh secretion from frog motor nerve endings.
The Prejudical Use of Space: School Assignment Strategies in the United States

Abstract Various social and geographical strategies that have been used to assign children to schools in the United States are examined in order to: 1) support the contention that social space and geographic space are rarely considered in concert in the context of community problem solving, 2) point out the need for the consideration of various socio-spatial concepts such as action space, territoriality, and neighborhood in social scientific research addressing itself to the understanding of social issues, and 3) urge consideration of the fundamental changes overtaking American society, particularly the processes of time-space convergence which underlie the socio-geographical reorganization of earth space.
Dynamic buckling of a thin thermoviscoplastic rectangular plate

The dynamic buckling of a thin orthotropic thermoviscoplastic plate is studied by analyzing the stability of a stressed/deformed plate under superimposed infinitesimal perturbations. Elastic deformations are neglected. The wavelength of the perturbation that has the maximum initial growth rate is assumed to determine the buckled shape of the plate. The buckled shape of a rectangular plate loaded axially on two opposite edges thus ascertained is found to match well with the experimental findings.
Desensitization to intrathecal substance P in mice: possible involvement of opioids

Intrathecal (i.t.) injection of substance P (SP) results in a behavioral syndrome characterized by caudally directed biting and scratching. The present results indicate that repeated injections of 10 ng of SP, administered at 60 sec intervals, result in the rapid development of tachyphylaxis to this SP-induced behavioral phenomenon. Three injections of SP produced a greatly attenuated behavioral response compared to that of a single injection of SP. Mice injected with Freund's adjuvant in the hind foot pads to produce an arthritic-like condition exhibited significantly less desensitization to SP after repeated i.t. injection compared to that in saline-injected control mice. While large doses of naloxone (5 mg/kg s.c. or 1 microgram i.t.) combined with each injection of SP completely blocked the desensitization to the effect of SP in naive mice, a smaller dose of naloxone (0.5 mg/kg administered s.c.) failed to alter the apparent tachyphylaxis to SP similar to that seen in saline-treated control mice. Pretreatment with 0.5 micrograms i.t. of beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA) also failed to alter the degree of apparent tachyphylaxis to SP. Co-administration of 1 microgram of fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or 1 microgram of phentolamine, an alpha-adrenergic antagonist, completely blocked the development of tachyphylaxis to i.t. SP. These results indicate that tachyphylaxis to SP appears to involve activation of the endogenous opioid system. Desensitization also appears to involve activation and inhibition of the descending adrenergic and serotonergic systems respectively.
Plume separation by transient thermohaline convection in porous media

Research on thermohaline convection in porous media has borrowed heavily from the field of viscous liquid thermohaline convection. Transient thermohaline convection in porous media differs dramatically from that in viscous liquids because of thermal retardation. The effects of thermal retardation are well known in geothermal reservoir engineering for forced convection processes such as liquid reinjection. Thermal retardation causes heat to move at approximately the Darcy velocity, while solute moves at the pore velocity. The difference in transport of heat and solute makes transient thermohaline convection in porous media double-advective rather than double-diffusive. For upward moving plumes, dense solute is advected in front of the thermal plume and creates a density lid. For downward moving plumes, the dense solute plume separates from the thermal plume.
VARIATIONS IN TRANSFUSION RATES BETWEEN NICUS IS NOT EXPLAINED BY BIRTH WEIGHT ORILLNESS SEVERITY † 1530

VARIATIONS IN TRANSFUSION RATES BETWEEN NICUS IS NOT EXPLAINED BY BIRTH WEIGHT ORILLNESS SEVERITY † 1530
Cross-Chip Probe Matching Tool: A Web-Based Tool for Linking Microarray Probes within and across Plant Species

The CCPMT is a free, web-based tool that allows plant investigators to rapidly determine if a given gene is present across various microarray platforms, which, of a list of genes, is present on array(s), and which gene a probe or probe set queries and vice versa, and to compare and contrast the gene contents of arrays. The CCPMT also maps a probe or probe sets to a gene or genes within and across species, and permits the mapping of the entire content from one array to another. By using the CCPMT, investigators will have a better understanding of the contents of arrays, a better ability to link data between experiments, ability to conduct meta-analysis and combine datasets, and an increased ability to conduct data mining projects.
Sunday shopping and promotion possibilities

This is an empirical study of the Sunday shopper. Demographic data, motives and attitudes and the Sunday Shopping trip are all examined. Cues from the empirical information are identified for possible use in developing an effective promotional strategy.
Mechanical work on the lungs and work of breathing with positive end-expiratory pressure and continuous positive airway pressure.

The mechanical work on the lung required during spontaneous breathing with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was compared with different methods of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in nine young healthy athletes (surfers) at levels of 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm H 2 O. At the level of 20 cm H 2 O, PEEP increased the mean total work per minute by 116 percent and the total work per liter by 121 percent. The percent increase rose linearly with the level of PEEP. In contrast, with methods of CPAP that maintained the airway pressure (Paw) constant, the total work per minute decreased by 45 percent at a PEEP of 10 cm H 2 O and remained at this level with PEEP of 15 and 20 cm H 2 O. Use of PEEP did not increase the functional residual capacity (FRC) in these spontaneously breathing subjects. In contrast, CPAP resulted in a rise in FRC proportional to the level of CPAP. This suggests that CPAP must be applied in a manner that maintains Paw constant to provide optimal assistance to ventilation.
Chronic unilateral external ocular inflammation

To diagnose the cause of chronic unilateral external ocular inflammation, the physician must take into account many factors usually not considered in bilateral cases. We report on the diagnosis and treatment of ten unilateral cases encompassing a variety of ocular and systemic problems. The purpose of this report is to emphasize the importance of systematic consideration of all diagnostic possibilities and to suggest a diagnostic protocol to aid in the study of patients with chronic unilateral external ocular inflammation.
The design and validation of a novel phenotypic assay to determine HIV-1 coreceptor usage of clinical isolates

A phenotypic assay to determine coreceptor usage of HIV-1 has been developed for rapid testing of clinical samples. The assay is based on the synthesis of viral stock from full-length env amplicons isolated from patient's plasma. Pseudoviral stock is generated rapidly by using an overlapping PCR method to assemble a CMV promoter to env, followed by co-transfection into producer cells with a HIV plasmid (pNL4-3.Luc.R(-)E(-)) containing a non-functional env. The coreceptor used by the viral quasispecies is tested by infection into U87.CD4.CCR5 and U87.CD4.CXCR4 cells. Viral entry is indicated by the expression of the luciferase gene in relative light units (RLU). The use of CXCR4 coreceptor by minor variants is confirmed with sufficient suppression of RLU by a CXCR4 inhibitor. Two statistical tests are employed to confirm viral entry. This assay accurately assigned coreceptor usage of isolates of various subtypes and in the majority of samples of various viral loads. The sensitivity to detect minor species of CXCR4-using env is 1% at higher viral loads and 5% at less than 1,000 copies/ml. This assay provides a sensitive, efficient and relatively low-cost approach suitable for use by research laboratories for assessing HIV-1 coreceptor usage of plasma samples.
Application of current switching method to estimate the model parameters of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Abstract This paper presents a model parameter estimation method for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The parameter estimation method is based on the current switching technique, intentionally switching the output current of PEMFC to obtain the waveform of the transient terminal voltage. The parameter values are found by analyzing transient waveform measurement results from the current switching test. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the current switching method, the method is tested on a practical PEMFC stack. Good agreement between the experimental and simulated results is obtained. The test results show the parameter estimation method is efficient and reliable.
AI challenges for spacecraft control programs

The application of AI technology to the spacecraft and experiment command and control systems environment is proposed. The disadvantages of the present methods for analyzing and resolving spacecraft experiment command and control problems are discussed. The potential capabilities and advantages of using AI for the spacecraft and experiment command and control systems are described.
Effects of the substrate on the determination of thin film mechanical properties by nanoindentation

We examine the effects of the substrate on the determination of mechanical properties of thin films by nanoindentation. The properties of aluminum and tungsten films on the following substrates have been studied: aluminum, glass, silicon and sapphire. By studying both soft films on hard substrates and hard films on soft substrates we are able to assess the effects of elastic and plastic inhomogeneity, as well as material pile-up, on the nanoindentation response. The data set includes Al/glass and W/sapphire, with the film and substrate having nearly the same elastic properties. These systems permit the true contact area and true hardness of the film to be determined from the measured contact stiffness, irrespective of the effects of pile-up or sink-in. Knowledge of the true hardness of the film permits a study of the effects of the elastic modulus mismatch on the nanoindentation properties, using the measured contact stiffness as a function of depth of indentation.
Real-time prediction of disordered breathing events in people with obstructive sleep apnea

Conventional therapies for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are effective but suffer from poor patient adherence and may not fully alleviate major OSA-associated cardiovascular risk factors or improve certain aspects of quality of life. Predicting the onset of disordered breathing events in OSA patients may lead to improved strategies for treating OSA and inform our understanding of underlying disease mechanisms. In this work, we describe a deployable system capable of performing real-time predictions of sleep disordered breathing events in patients diagnosed with OSA, providing a novel approach for gaining insight into OSA pathophysiology, discovering population subgroups, and improving therapies. LArge Memory STorage and Retrieval artificial neural networks with 864 different configurations were applied to polysomnogram records from 64 patients. Wavelet transforms, measures of entropy, and other statistics were applied to six physiological signals to provide network inputs. Approximate statistical tests were used to determine the best performing network for each patient. The most important predictors of disordered breathing events in OSA patients were determined by analyzing internal network parameters. The average optimized individual prediction sensitivity and specificity were 0.81 and 0.77, respectively. Predictions were better than random guessing for all OSA patients. Analysis of internal network parameters revealed a high degree of heterogeneity among disordered breathing event predictors and may reveal patient subgroups. We report the first practical system to predict individual disordered breathing events in a heterogeneous group of patients diagnosed with OSA. The pattern of disordered breathing predictors suggests variable underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and highlights the need for an individualized approach to OSA diagnosis, therapy, and management.
A Retrospective Oral/Dental Evaluation of 92 Head and Neck Oncology Patients, Before, During and After Irradiation Therapy

Ninety-two head and neck radiation/oncology patients were referred for a pre-irradiation dental examination. Of these patients, 48 required at least one extraction, and 51 required at least one restoration. Only 19 patients did not require extractions, restorations or endodontic therapy. All but one patient required a dental prophylaxis. The oral complications of head and neck irradiation therapy were evaluated and discussed. The importance of adjuvant oral/dental care for the head and neck radiation/oncology patient is addressed. The distribution of patients requiring treatment (extractions, restorations and/or endodontic therapy) versus no treatment (a dental prophylaxis only) showed that a significantly higher number of patients (chi-square = 37.5; p less than 0.01) required treatment over no treatment.
Herpesvirus hominis: Isolation from Human Trigeminal Ganglion

Herpesvirus hominis was isolated from the trigeminal ganglion obtained at autopsy from 1 of 22 patients with no clinical evidence of active herpetic disease, and from one patient with malignant lymphoma who died with herpes zoster on the abdomen, pulmonary cytomegalic inclusion disease, and possible oral herpes simplex. Virus was isolated by cocultivation of explants of ganglion with monolayers of Vero green monkey kidney cells and required 3 weeks of culture before viral cytopathic effects were evident. These observations support the concept that latent infection of sensory ganglia may be the source of virus in recurrent herpetic disease in man.
NFκB, heat shock proteins, HSF-1, and inflammation

See article by Y. Chen and R.W. Currie [1] (pages 66–75) in this issue. Investigators are beginning to unravel the intricate relationship between NFκB, heat shock proteins (HSPs), and heat shock factor (HSF)-1. New information is added to this complex picture with the novel finding that HSF-1 modulates AP-1 activation, adding yet another layer of complexity [1]. HSF-1, a transcription factor for the heat shock proteins, is a key component of the heat shock response. The activation of HSF-1 drives the increase in HSPs in response to injury or stress. NFκB, a critical regulatory transcription factor, has both pro-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. Activation of the heat shock response yields activation of HSF-1 and increased transcription of the heat shock proteins. The heat shock proteins have an array of protective properties, including refolding denatured proteins, protecting folded proteins and targeting irreversibly denatured proteins for removal. However, it is increasingly evident that there are other mechanisms by which the … *Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, Genomics and Biomedical Sciences Facility, Rm 6317, University of California, Davis, 451 East Health Sciences Way, Davis, CA 95616, United States. Tel.: +1 530 752 5461; fax: +1 530 754 7167. Email address: aaknowlton{at}ucdavis.edu
Seismocardiography: waveform identification and noise analysis

The seismocardiogram (SCG) provides a convenient and reliable measure of left ventricular systolic and diastolic performance both at rest and immediately after exercise. An effective means has been developed to eliminate noise artifacts such as coughing, talking, and patient movement prior to any waveform averaging scheme. A computer algorithm has been developed to identify the significant points on the SCG waveform automatically. It accurately detects the mitral valve closure (MC), aortic valve opening (AO), onset of rapid ejection (RE), aortic valve closure (AC), mitral valve opening (MO), and the peak of rapid ventricular filling (RF) points, which allows for an automated method of calculating various quantitative indices off left ventricular systolic and diastolic performance. >
An eclectic photographic history of the IEEE Control Systems Society: a look at society events

As part of the planning process for the IEEE Control Systems Society's 50th anniversary celebration, a collection of photographs from Society events are assembled. The collection is not intended to have any profound meaning but is simply a way for the members to indulge in their individual and collective memories of past events and people, to impart a sense of where the Society has been and for its future course. This photographic journey by its very nature is visual rather than textual. Each image's caption provides information on the event and date and the individuals in the photograph. This photographic history, eclectic or otherwise, provides an archival snapshot of portions of the Society's past, and illustrates the importance of photography's role in preservation. Perhaps this photographic essay can also serve as a reminder to future volunteers and event organizers to ensure that the future is recorded for the benefit of subsequent generations.
Factors Affecting Franchise Decisions in the Restaurant Industry

Franchising captures a sizeable portion of the restaurant industry and plays an important role in its growth. However, despite the importance of franchising to the restaurant industry, little has been done to investigate the characteristics of restaurant firms that engage in franchising. This study intends to explain what characteristics of restaurant firms relate to franchising. Accordingly, a logistic regression model was developed to identify variables that best differentiate restaurant franchisor firms from nonfranchisor firms. The results indicated that (a) the degree of geographic dispersion and involvement in foreign countries increases the probability of becoming a restaurant franchisor; (b) as a restaurant firm ages, the probability of franchising decreases; and (c) the decrease of specific knowledge requirements increases the probability of franchising. This study also provides suggestions to help restaurant firms considering franchising for their operations.
Service Level Agreement Negotiation: A Theory-based Exploratory Study as a Starting Point for Identifying Negotiation Support System Requirements

IT outsourcing practices have recently proliferated an interest in service level agreement (SLA) negotiation relevant to engagements with either in-house or external IS service providers. An important research gap exists in establishing Negotiation Support System (NSS) requirements for the processes associated with SLA development. A first step in specifying such requirements is to examine relevant theoretical bases to identify and postulate reasonable propositions. A second step is to examine the efficacy of the theory-based propositions using the constructs adapted in the context of a relevant, practical and exploratory scenario. Accordingly, this paper discusses propositions that rely on theoretical bases from relevant sociological models, it identifies constructs adapted from prior Theory W research in NSS as an exemplar, it discusses an exploratory study related to the research gap identified, and it discusses findings that represent a starting point for identifying SLA NSS requirements.
Evolving Surgical Strategy for Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect: Effect on Sinus Node Function and Late Venous Obstruction

Background Our surgical strategy for repair of sinus venosus atrial septal defect has evolved chiefly to avoid sinus node dysfunction. We reviewed our experience with the single-patch, two-patch, and Warden repairs. Methods We identified 54 patients with repair of sinus venosus atrial septal defect from 1990 to 2006. Mean age was 9.5 ± 12.6 years; median age was 4.2 years. Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection was found in 52 patients (96%); drainage was to the right atrium in 8, right atrial–superior vena cava (SVC) junction in 17, and directly to the SVC in 27. Techniques were single-patch repair (24), two-patch repair (25), and Warden repair (5). Autologous pericardium was used in all patients. Echocardiogram and electrocardiogram follow-up were available for 48 patients (89%). Results There were no early or late deaths and no reoperations. No patient had pulmonary vein stenosis. Five patients had SVC stenosis: 2 mild after two-patch repair; 1 moderate and 1 mild after single-patch repair; and 1 severe stenosis after Warden procedure ( p = 0.3). The incidence of rhythm change from sinus to low atrial or junctional rhythm was 35% and was significantly greater among patients with two-patch repair (12 of 22, 55%) compared with single-patch repair (5 of 21, 24%), or the Warden repair (0 of 5, p = 0.02). Conclusions Repair of sinus venosus atrial septal defect with autologous pericardium is associated with a low incidence of late SVC or pulmonary vein stenosis with all techniques. Use of the two-patch technique, however, is associated with a significantly greater incidence of sinus node dysfunction. For the patients with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection entering the SVC, the Warden procedure avoids interfering with the sinus node and should be used preferentially. The single-patch technique remains the procedure of choice for sinus venosus atrial septal defect with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection entering the right atrium or right atrium–SVC junction.
Mattering and Suicide Ideation: Establishing and Elaborating a Relationship

Mattering is the belief that one makes a difference in the lives of others. We explore the effect of mattering on adolescent suicide ideation. The data source is the 2000 Youth At Risk Survey, composed of interviews with 2,004 youths, age 11-18 and screening interviews with their parents. Our analysis reveals that those who matter more are significantly less likely to consider suicide. In addition, we elaborate the relationship between mattering and suicide ideation by postulating a series of intervening variables (self-esteem and depression): mattering influences levels of self-esteem, which in turn influences depression, which ultimately leads to suicide ideation. Results demonstrate that mattering is mediated fully by these intervening variables, and that self-esteem is the primary source of the mediation. We discuss the implications of these results for adolescents' self-concepts.
C-reactive protein and heart failure after myocardial infarction in the community.

Abstract Background There is a paucity of data on the prognostic role of C-reactive protein (CRP) measured after myocardial infarction. We prospectively examined the association of CRP with heart failure and death among patients with myocardial infarction in the community. Methods and Results All Olmsted County residents who had a myocardial infarction meeting standardized criteria were prospectively enrolled to measure CRP on admission and followed for heart failure and death. A total of 329 consecutive patients (mean age 69 ± 16 years, 52% men) were enrolled. At 1 year, 28% of patients experienced heart failure and 20% died. There was a strong positive graded association between CRP and the risk of developing heart failure, as well as dying over the period of follow-up ( P Conclusions These prospective data indicate that among contemporary community subjects with myocardial infarction, heart failure and death remain frequent complications. CRP is associated with a large increase in the risk of heart failure and death, independently of age, sex, myocardial infarction severity, comorbidity, previous myocardial infarction, and recurrent ischemic events. These data suggest that inflammatory processes may play a role in the development of heart failure and death after myocardial infarction independently of other conventional prognostic indicators.
Effects of dust on the heating of Mars' Surface and atmosphere

An analysis performed to determine the effect dust particles suspended in Mars' atmosphere have on the radiation reaching the surface both directly and scattered by the dust is described. Additionally, the fraction of incident sunlight directly absorbed by the atmospheric dust is computed. These calculations are done for ranges of dust opacity, incidence angle, surface albedo, and dust albedo, representative of the conditions on Mars. The effect of atmospheric dust on the Bond albedo is discussed. It is shown that direct heating of the atmosphere by dust absorption of solar radiation is adequate to explain Mars' south polar spring temperature inversion. Under most circumstances the presence of dust in Mars' atmosphere produces a lowering of the average surface temperature; this is probably the cause of the anomalously slow south polar cap retreat of 1977. Explicit forms for both the surface heating and the atmospheric heating as a function of the dust opacity, incidence angle, surface albedo and dust albedo are given.
Multiple spatial codes and temporal overlap in choice-reaction tasks

Experiments by Umilta and Liotti (1987) and Lamberts, Tavernier, & d'Ydewalle (1992) examined the Simon effect (an influence of irrelevant stimulus location on reaction time) as a function of multiple frames of reference. The Simon effect was absent for all reference frames in the former experiment, leading Stoffer (1991) to propose that a spatial code is formed only if the last step in directing attention to the imperative stimulus is a lateral shift. However, the Simon effect was evident for all frames in the latter experiment. Hommel (1994) proposed that the multiple spatial codes implied by Lamberts et al.'s findings were also activated in Umilta and Liotti's experiment but had decayed by the time the relevant stimulus information had been identified. Experiments 1, 2, and 3 examined these accounts of attention shifting, multiple codes, and temporal overlap for variations of the Simon task in which the stimulus could occur in one of either eight or four possible stimulus locations. Three stimulus sets that differed in ease of discriminability were used in each experiment. Experiments 1 and 2 were replications and extensions of those of Lamberts et al. and Umilta and Liotti, respectively. In both experiments, two boxes, with a stimulus inside of one, appeared simultaneously, and the subject was to respond to the identity of the stimulus. Experiment 3 used a procedure in which the four stimulus locations were demarcated by three vertical lines. Two of the three experiments showed Simon effects with respect to multiple frames of reference, and the magnitude of these effects was a decreasing function of the difficulty of stimulus discriminability. Spatial compatibility proper was examined in Experiment 4 using the same layout as Experiment 3. In this case, only the relevant frame of reference was coded. On the whole, the results indicate that multiple codes are formed, but not automatically, and that those codes decay when irrelevant.
Characterization of cyst cell formation in the purple photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum centenum

Rhodospirillum centenum is an anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterium that is capable of differentiating into several cell types. When grown phototrophically in liquid, cells exhibit a vibrioid shape and have a single polar flagellum. When grown on a solid surface, R. centenum will differentiate into rod-shaped swarm cells that display numerous lateral flagella. Upon starvation for nutrients, R. centenum also forms desiccation-resistant cysts. In this study, it was determined that R. centenum has heat- and desiccation-resistance properties similar to other cyst-forming species. In addition, microscopic analyses of the morphological changes that occur during cyst cell development were performed. It was observed that R. centenum typically forms multi-celled clusters of cysts that contain from four to more than 10 cells per cluster. It was also determined that cell density has a minor effect on the percentage of cyst cells formed, with cell densities of 10(5)-10(7) cells per 5 micro l spot yielding the highest percentage of cyst cells. The striking similarities between the life cycle of R. centenum and the life cycle exhibited by Azospirillum spp. are discussed.
Driver injury severity resulting from single-vehicle crashes along horizontal curves on rural two-lane highways.

Horizontal curves have been identified as a target area for improving safety on rural two-lane highways in Texas. This study involved the development of multinomial logit models to assess driver injury severity resulting from single-vehicle crashes on such roads. Likelihood ratio tests warranted the development of separate injury severity models for curves of small, medium, and large radius. Various driver, vehicle, roadway, and environmental characteristics were found to affect injury severity among the 10,029 crashes analyzed. Run-off-the-road crashes, particularly those resulting in collisions with roadside objects, were found to increase injury severity significantly. Females were more likely to sustain injury and older drivers to be critically injured, particularly on curves of smaller radius. Various driver actions and behaviors were also significant determinants of injury severity. Unbelted drivers were up to 10 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries, and drivers who were uninsured, fatigued, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol were more likely to be seriously injured. Several of these behavioral factors were more pronounced on sharper curves.
Design and rationale of a retrospective clinical effectiveness study of aldosterone antagonist therapy in patients with heart failure.

Background Despite demonstrated efficacy in randomized trials, aldosterone antagonist therapy is not used in many eligible patients with heart failure. Questions remain about its clinical effectiveness and safety for patients who are underrepresented in randomized trials and those at risk for hyperkalemia. Methods The proposed study will evaluate the effectiveness of aldosterone antagonist therapy in eligible Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years old hospitalized for heart failure between 2005 and 2008. Data are from the GWTG-HF registry linked with Medicare inpatient and prescription drug event files. We will use inverse probability-weighted estimators to assess differences in mortality, cardiovascular readmission, and readmission for hyperkalemia between patients who receive or do not receive aldosterone antagonist therapy. Results The initial data set included 33,652 patients; 5,463 (16.2%) met all inclusion criteria. Compared with patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria, patients in the final cohort were more likely to be younger (77.3 vs 80.3 years) and male (63.8% vs 41.3%) and to have ischemic heart failure (74.2% vs 59.5%) (all P Conclusions The proposed study will evaluate the clinical effectiveness of aldosterone antagonist therapy in Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, an underrepresented population in clinical trials. By addressing this evidence gap, the study has the potential to inform clinical decision making and improve patient outcomes.
Phosphate Groups of Lipid A Are Essential for Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Virulence and Affect Innate and Adaptive Immunity

Lipid A is a key component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and stimulates proinflammatory responses via the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-MD2-CD14 pathway. Its endotoxic activity depends on the number and length of acyl chains and its phosphorylation state. In Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, removal of the secondary laurate or myristate chain in lipid A results in bacterial attenuation and growth defects in vitro. However, the roles of the two lipid A phosphate groups in bacterial virulence and immunogenicity remain unknown. Here, we used an S. Typhimurium msbB pagL pagP lpxR mutant, carrying penta-acylated lipid A, as the parent strain to construct a series of mutants synthesizing 1-dephosphorylated, 4'-dephosphorylated, or nonphosphorylated penta-acylated lipid A. Dephosphorylated mutants exhibited increased sensitivity to deoxycholate and showed increased resistance to polymyxin B. Removal of both phosphate groups severely attenuated the mutants when administered orally to BALB/c mice, but the mutants colonized the lymphatic tissues and were sufficiently immunogenic to protect the host from challenge with wild-type S. Typhimurium. Mice receiving S. Typhimurium with 1-dephosphorylated or nonphosphorylated penta-acylated lipid A exhibited reduced levels of cytokines. Attenuated and dephosphorylated Salmonella vaccines were able to induce adaptive immunity against heterologous (PspA of Streptococcus pneumoniae) and homologous antigens (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] and outer membrane proteins [OMPs]).
NECTAR SECONDARY COMPOUNDS AFFECT SELF-POLLEN TRANSFER: IMPLICATIONS FOR FEMALE AND MALE REPRODUCTION

Pollen movement within and among plants affects inbreeding, plant fitness, and the spatial scale of genetic differentiation. Although a number of studies have assessed how plant and floral traits influence pollen movement via changes in pollinator behavior, few have explored how nectar chemical composition affects pollen transfer. As many as 55% of plants produce secondary compounds in their nectar, which is surprising given that nectar is typically thought to attract pollinators. We tested the hypothesis that nectar with secondary compounds may benefit plants by encouraging pollinators to leave plants after visiting only a few flowers, thus reducing self-pollen transfer. We used Gelsemium sempervirens, a plant whose nectar contains the alkaloid gelsemine, which has been shown to be a deterrent to foraging bee pollinators. We found that high nectar alkaloids reduced the total and proportion of self-pollen received by one-half and one-third, respectively. However, nectar alkaloids did not affect female reproduction when we removed the potential for self-pollination (by emasculating all flowers on plants). We then tested the assumption that self-pollen in combination with outcrossed pollen depresses seed set. We found that plants were weakly self-compatible, but self-pollen with outcrossed pollen did not reduce seed set relative to solely outcrossed flowers. Finally, an exponential model of pollen carryover suggests that high nectar alkaloids could benefit plants via increased pollen export (an estimate of male function), but only when pollinators were efficient and abundant and plants had large floral displays. Results suggest that high nectar alkaloids may benefit plants via increased pollen export under a restricted set of ecological conditions, but in general, the costs of high nectar alkaloids in reducing pollination balanced or outweighed the benefits of reducing self-pollen transfer for estimates of female and male reproduction.