cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Price History? Functions of Narrative in Television Collectibles Shows

Dans cet article, l'A. realise une analyse de texte sur les programmes televises qui ont pour sujet principal des objets trouves ou ceux de collectionneurs. Il tente de nous expliquer, au travers d'exemples concrets d'emissions sur les chaines televisees de Boston, le role de la narration ( c'est-a-dire des actions symboliques commes les mots qui ont du sens pour ceux qui les expriment ) qui cree et change le sens des objets ramenes par les personnes en question. Confortes par l'appreciation d'experts, le proprietaire eprouve des sentiments lies a une valeur nouvellement apposee a l'objet. L'A. soutient par ailleurs que ce type d'emissions incite les telespectateurs a chercher chez eux des tresors potentiels
Communication About Symptoms and Quality of Life Issues in Patients With Cancer: Provider Perceptions

This study used qualitative data collection and analysis methods to describe provider perceptions of addressing patient-initiated communication about common or sensitive symptom and quality of life issues (SQIs) in oncology. Eligible participants were health care providers who had participated in a larger trial testing a patient-centered technology to assess cancer SQIs and support self-care. Audio-recorded vignettes were simulated based on recorded clinic visits from the larger trial and presented during semi-structured cognitive interviews with each participant. Transcripts of the interviews were content analyzed. Twelve providers participated. Participants’ responses included four themes: the institutional and clinical context, the complexity of addressing SQIs, strategies used to understand SQIs, and creating a plan to address SQIs. Participants felt that approaching SQIs inside and outside of the clinic required ongoing communication within a multidisciplinary team both to gather information and manage the SQI. Forming a relationship with the patient was one strategy to facilitate assessing SQIs. Most participants expressed a need for guidance about effective SQI communication. Providers perceived approaching SQIs as a routine part of interdisciplinary clinical care. The specific symptom and the complexity of its management influenced the process of assessing and managing SQIs. Findings have implications for institutional processes, training, evaluation, and program development.
Essential fatty acid depletion of renal allografts and prevention of rejection

A central hypothesis in transplantation biology is that resident leukocytes expressing class II histocompatibility antigens may determine the immunogenicity of an organ. By means of a novel method to deplete the kidney of resident leukocytes, essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD), this hypothesis was tested in an intact, vascular organ. Kidneys subjected to EFAD and thus depleted of resident Ia-positive macrophages survived and functioned when transplanted across a major histocompatibility antigen barrier in the absence of immunosuppression of the recipient. Control allografts were rejected promptly. Allografts from donors subjected to EFAD normalized their lipid composition and were repopulated with host macrophages by 5 days. Administration of Ia-positive cells at the time of transplantation established that the resident leukocyte depletion induced by EFAD was responsible for the protective effect. These observations may provide insights into the mechanisms underlying tissue immunogenicity and the population of normal tissues with resident leukocytes.
Genetic variability of genomic RNA 2 of four tobacco rattle tobravirus isolates from potato fields in the Northwestern United States.

Abstract Sequence analysis of RNA 2 of four Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) isolates collected from potato fields in Oregon (OR2, Umt1), Washington (BM), and Colorado (Cot2) revealed significant homologies to the ORY isolate from North America. Phylogenetic analysis based on a comparison of nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) sequences with other members of the genus Tobravirus indicates that the North American isolates cluster as a distinct group. All of the RNAs are predicted to contain open reading frames (ORFs) potentially encoding the coat protein (CP, ORF 2a) and 37.6 kDa (ORF 2b) ORFs. In addition, they all contain a region of similarity to the 3′ terminus of RNA 1 of ORY, including a truncated portion of the 16 kDa cistron from the 3′ end of RNA 1. Three of the isolates, which are nematode transmissible, OR2, BM, and Cot2, also contain a third putative ORF (ORF 2c) which encodes a protein of 33.6 kDa. The fourth isolate, Umt1, which is not nematode transmissible, is the most divergent of the isolates as it encodes a truncated version of ORF 2c. The ORF 2c deletion in Umt1 may contribute to its inability to be transmitted by the vector. The results reported in this article indicate again that the TRV genome is flexible. Interestingly, although both isolates Umt1 and Cot2 were mechanically transmitted to tobacco from potato, only Umt1 exhibits the deletion in RNA 2. TRV Isolate Umt1, therefore, appears to be another example of rapid adaptation of the TRV genome to non-field conditions.
Identification and Identification Failure for Treatment Effects Using Structural Systems

We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for effect identification, thereby characterizing the limits to identification. Our results link the nonstructural potential outcome framework for identifying and estimating treatment effects to structural approaches in economics. This permits economic theory to be built into treatment effect methods. We elucidate the sources and consequences of identification failure by examining the biases arising when the necessary conditions fail, and we clarify the relations between unconfoundedness, conditional exogeneity, and the necessary and sufficient identification conditions. A new quantity, the exogeneity score, plays a central role in this analysis, permitting an omitted variable representation for effect biases. This analysis also provides practical guidance for selecting covariates and insight into the price paid for making various identifying assumptions and the benefits gained.
From science, moral‐poetics: Dr. James Dobson's response to the fetal tissue research initiative

This essay analyzes a letter written by James Dobson to over 2 million constituents of Focus on the Family. The letter discusses the 1993 Fetal Tissue Research Initiative, and is a complex example of moral‐poetic discourse rising above the scientific ideal in American culture. I first employ a judgmental analysis to determine what Dobson's potential reading audience was being asked to believe. Second, using Kenneth Burke's distinction between semantic and poetic meaning I examine Dobson's discourse as a moral‐poetic response to the amoral stance of scientific discourse. Finally, I analyze the motive underpinning Dobson's discourse to understand the actions of Dobson's envisioned moral agent. This study found that Dobson provided a way out of the moral quagmire science has placed humans in by highlighting mankind's ability to morally act, thereby initiating an individual‐moral redemptive cycle.
Stimulation of suppressor cells in the bone marrow and spleens of high dose cyclophosphamide-treated C57Bl/6 mice

Systemic administration of a single dose (300 mg/kg) of cyclophosphamide (Cy) induced the appearance of a population of suppressor cells in the bone marrow and spleens of mice. Suppressor cells were assayed by their capacity to inhibit the concanavalin A (Con A) blastogenesis or the mixed-lymphocyte response of normal C57Bl/6 spleen cells. Cy-induced bone marrow (Cy-BM) suppressor cells were present as early as 4 days following Cy therapy and their activity gradually decreased over the next 2 weeks. Cy-induced splenic (Cy-Sp) suppressor cells were maximally present on Days 6 through 10 following Cy therapy. Studies were performed to characterize the suppressor cells of bone marrow obtained 4 days after Cy treatment and of normal bone marrow (N-BM). Some suppressor activity was present in normal bone marrow. N-BM suppressor cells resembled cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage in that they were slightly adherent to Sephadex G-10, sensitive to L-leucine methyl ester (LME), and insensitive to treatment either with anti-T-cell antibody and complement or with anti-immunoglobulin antibody and complement. Their suppressive activity was abrogated by incubation with either indomethacin or catalase. Cy-BM suppressor cells were also resistant to treatment with anti-T-cell and anti-immunoglobulin antibody and complement but were not adherent to Sephadex G-10 and not sensitive to LME. Their suppressive activity was partially eliminated by indomethacin alone or in combination with catalase. We conclude that Cy chemotherapy induces the appearance of a population of immune suppressive cells and that these cells appear first in the bone marrow and subsequently in the spleen.
Reconstitution of the influenza virus M2 ion channel in lipid bilayers

M2, an integral membrane protein of influenza A virus, was purified from either influenza A virus-infected CV-1 cells or from Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells infected with a recombinant-M2 baculovirus. The purified protein, when incorporated into phospholipid bilayer membranes, produced ion-permeable channels with the following characteristics: (1) The channels appeared in bursts during which unit conductances of diverse magnitudes (25-500 pS) were observed. (2) The most probable open state was usually the lowest unit conductance (25-90 pS). (3) The channels were selective for cations; tNa = 0.75 when 150 mM NaCl bathed both sides of the membrane. (4) Amantadine reduced the probablity of opening of the high conductance state and also the conductance of the most probable state. (5) Reducing pH increased the mean current through the open channel as well as the conductance of the most probable state. (6) The sequence of selectivity for group IA monovalent cations was Rb > K > Cs approximately Na > Li. The pH activation, amantadine block and ion selectivity of the M2 protein ion channel in bilayers are consistent with those observed on expression of the M2 protein in oocytes of Xenopus laevis as well as for those predicted for the proposed role of an ion channel in the uncoating process of influenza virus. The finding that the M2 protein has intrinsic ion channel activity supports the hypothesis that it has ion channel activity in the influenza virus particle.
Micellar Solubilization of Testosterone III: Dissolution Behavior of Testosterone in Aqueous Solutions of Selected Surfactants

The solution behavior of testosterone was studied with a view toward explaining an anomalous initial supersaturation observed in solubilized systems containing testosterone. This anomalous behavior was related to the conversion of an anhydrous crystal form of testosterone to a hydrate crystal form. The solution behavior of the anhydrous form was studied in several concentrations of polysorbate 20, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, and potassium laurate. In low concentrations of polysorbate 20 and potassium laurate, the time required to attain the solubility peak was less than that in distilled water. An increase in surfactant concentration resulted in a decrease in the solubility peak time. At higher concentrations, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide exhibited a pattern similar to that of polysorbate 20 and potassium laurate; at a low concentration, however, a prolongation of the peak solubility time was noted.
Weather Forecasting by Signal Radio Intensity: Part 1

Along the meridian from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Morgantown, West Virginia, and at a distance of 60 miles, the night intensity of KDKA sometimes rises above the day signal and sometimes falls below it. Observations during 1927 and 1928 have shown that this phenomenon foreshadows weather conditions from twelve to twenty-four hours ahead. A rising curve after nightfall indicates an approaching storm, while a falling curve is followed by fair weather. Typical curves are shown.
Product code processing on a triple-product processor.

A new application of the acoustooptic triple-product processor is described. Processing of spread spectrum communications and radar data for self-synchronization, message demodulation, and high-resolution ranging with a large processing gain for large time–bandwidth product signals is possible on the optical signal processor described.
Potential Role of Salicylates in Type 2 Diabetes

Objective:To review the evidence base supporting the use of salicylates for glucose level control in patients with type 2 diabetes and provide a comprehensive review of available information describing the potential role of salicylates and, in particular, salsalate, for glucose control in type 2 diabetes prevention and treatment. DATA SOURCES: A literature search using MEDLINE (1966–March 2010), PubMed, and Google Scholar was conducted using the search terms salicylates, salicylic acid, aspirin, salsalate, acetytsalicylic acid, insulin, glucose, glycemic control, diabetes, hyperglycemia, and nuclear factor. The bibliographies of identified articles were reviewed for additional citations.Study Selection and Data Extraction:All relevant English-language information on the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of salicylates for glucose control related to insulin resistance or diabetes prevention were reviewed. Preclinical data, clinical trials, and case reports were identified, evaluated, and included in this ...
Interdisciplinary mixed methods research with structurally vulnerable populations: case studies of injection drug users in San Francisco.

Research with injection drug users (IDUs) benefits from interdisciplinary theoretical and methodological innovation because drug use is illegal, socially sanctioned and often hidden. Despite the increasing visibility of interdisciplinary, mixed methods research projects with IDUs, qualitative components are often subordinated to quantitative approaches and page restrictions in top addiction journals limit detailed reports of complex data collection and analysis logistics, thus minimizing the fuller scientific potential of genuine mixed methods. We present the methodological logistics and conceptual approaches of four mixed-methods research projects that our interdisciplinary team conducted in San Francisco with IDUs over the past two decades. These projects include combinations of participant-observation ethnography, in-depth qualitative interviewing, epidemiological surveys, photo-documentation, and geographic mapping. We adapted Greene et al.’s framework for combining methods in a single research project through: data triangulation, methodological complementarity, methodological initiation, and methodological expansion. We argue that: (1) flexible and self-reflexive methodological procedures allowed us to seize strategic opportunities to document unexpected and sometimes contradictory findings as they emerged to generate new research questions, (2) iteratively mixing methods increased the scope, reliability, and generalizability of our data, and (3) interdisciplinary collaboration contributed to a scientific “value added” that allowed for more robust theoretical and practical findings about drug use and risk-taking.
Theoretical Design and Analysis of Multivolume Digital Assays with Wide Dynamic Range Validated Experimentally with Microfluidic Digital PCR

This paper presents a protocol using theoretical methods and free software to design and analyze multivolume digital PCR (MV digital PCR) devices; the theory and software are also applicable to design and analysis of dilution series in digital PCR. MV digital PCR minimizes the total number of wells required for “digital” (single molecule) measurements while maintaining high dynamic range and high resolution. In some examples, multivolume designs with fewer than 200 total wells are predicted to provide dynamic range with 5-fold resolution similar to that of single-volume designs requiring 12 000 wells. Mathematical techniques were utilized and expanded to maximize the information obtained from each experiment and to quantify performance of devices and were experimentally validated using the SlipChip platform. MV digital PCR was demonstrated to perform reliably, and results from wells of different volumes agreed with one another. No artifacts due to different surface-to-volume ratios were observed, and single molecule amplification in volumes ranging from 1 to 125 nL was self-consistent. The device presented here was designed to meet the testing requirements for measuring clinically relevant levels of HIV viral load at the point-of-care (in plasma, 1 000 000 molecules/mL), and the predicted resolution and dynamic range was experimentally validated using a control sequence of DNA. This approach simplifies digital PCR experiments, saves space, and thus enables multiplexing using separate areas for each sample on one chip, and facilitates the development of new high-performance diagnostic tools for resource-limited applications. The theory and software presented here are general and are applicable to designing and analyzing other digital analytical platforms including digital immunoassays and digital bacterial analysis. It is not limited to SlipChip and could also be useful for the design of systems on platforms including valve-based and droplet-based platforms. In a separate publication by Shen et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, DOI: 10.1021/ja2060116), this approach is used to design and test digital RT-PCR devices for quantifying RNA.
FILAMENTOUS BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM HUMAN ROOT SURFACE CARIES

Abstract Carious lesions in the root surfaces of extracted human teeth were sampled for the presence of filamentous bacteria. Strains of Rothia dentocariosa, Actinomyces viscosus, A. naeslundii, A. odontolyticus, and A. eriksonii were identified. One-third of the Actinomyces isolates could not be classified into species with the information available. Gnotobiotic rats monoinfected with isolates identified as A. viscosus and A. naeslundii developed severe periodontal infections and root surface caries.
Using population genetic tools to develop a control strategy for feral cats (Felis catus) in Hawai'i.

Population genetics can provide information about the demographics and dynamics of invasive species that is beneficial for developing effective control strategies. We studied the population genetics of feral cats on Hawai‘i Island by microsatellite analysis to evaluate genetic diversity and population structure, assess gene flow and connectivity among three populations, identify potential source populations, characterise population dynamics, and evaluate sex-biased dispersal. High genetic diversity, low structure, and high number of migrants per generation supported high gene flow that was not limited spatially. Migration rates revealed that most migration occurred out of West Mauna Kea. Effective population size estimates indicated increasing cat populations despite control efforts. Despite high gene flow, relatedness estimates declined significantly with increased geographic distance and Bayesian assignment tests revealed the presence of three population clusters. Genetic structure and relatedness estimates indicated male-biased dispersal, primarily from Mauna Kea, suggesting that this population should be targeted for control. However, recolonisation seems likely, given the great dispersal ability that may not be inhibited by barriers such as lava flows. Genetic monitoring will be necessary to assess the effectiveness of future control efforts. Management of other invasive species may benefit by employing these population genetic tools.
Remote mission specialist: a study in real-time, adaptive planning

A high-level planning architecture for robotic operations is presented. The remote mission specialist (RMS) integrates high-level directives with low-level primitives executable by a runtime controller for command of autonomous servicing activities. The planner has been designed to address such issues as adaptive plan generation, real-time performance, and operator intervention. >
A Practical Guide to a Space-Time Stochastic Error Model for Simulation of High Resolution Satellite Rainfall Data

Abstract For continual refinement of error models and their promotion in prototyping satellite-based hydrologic monitoring systems, a practical user guide that readers can refer to, is useful. In this chapter, we provide our readers with one such practical guide on a space-time stochastic error model called SREM2D (A Two Dimensional Satellite Rainfall Error Model) developed by Hossain and Anagnostou (IEEE Transactions on Remote Sensing and Geosciences, 44(6), pp. 1511–1522, 2006). Our guide first provides an overview of the philosophy behind SREM2D and emphasizes the need to flexibly interpret the error model as a collection of modifiable concepts always under refinement rather than a final tool. Users are encouraged to verify that the complexity and assumptions of error modeling are compatible with the intended application. The current limitations on the use of the error model as well as the various data quality control issues that need to be addressed prior to error modeling are also highlighted. Our motivation behind the compilation of this practical guide is that readers will learn to apply SREM2D by recognizing the strengths and limitations simultaneously and thereby minimize any black-box or unrealistic applications for surface hydrology.
Free Thermal Convection In Low Temperature Helium Gas

The results of a series of free thermal convection experiments with low temperature helium gas are reviewed. The scaling relations of various physical quantities in different aspect ratio cells are compared. An order parameter for non-Bousnessq effect is introduced and a quantitative theory is proposed.
Varicella and Herpes Zoster: A Perspective and Overview

The events leading to the isolation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are described beginning with the pioneering contributions of Ernest Tyzzer and Ernest Goodpasture and the early epidemiologic observations that indicated a relationship between varicella and zoster. Isolation, propagation, and immunologic proof of the coidentity of the viruses from the two clinical entities evolved from the introduction of human cell culture systems, a development that revolutionized virus research. Now the social significance of VZV is increasing. This reflects an aging population, increasing use of immunosuppressive therapeutic procedures, and the advent of a biologic immunosuppressive agent, the virus that causes AIDS. Currently there are unsolved problems: For unknown reasons varicella is often an adult disease in the tropics, and cell cultures fail to demonstrate VZV in throat washings from cases. These peculiarities warrant elucidation.
Whole-House Measurements of Standby Power Consumption

We investigated the variation in standby power consumption in ten California homes. Total standby power in the homes ranged from 14-169W, with an average of 67 W. This corresponded to 5 percent-26 percent of the homes' annual electricity use. The appliances with the largest standby losses were televisions, set-top boxes and printers. The large variation in the standby power of appliances providing the same service demonstrates that manufacturers are able to reduce standby losses without degrading performance. Replacing existing units with appliances with 1 W or less of standby power would reduce standby losses by 68 percent.
Neuroendocrine differentiation in basal cell carcinomas.

Ten consecutive cases of basal cell carcinomas were reviewed. Nine of these displayed the typical histology of basal cell carcinoma, the other case was composed of small spindle to ovoid cells with scant cytoplasm and a high mitotic rate, resembling an “oat cell” carcinoma. These were studied using the immunoperoxidase technique for tissue localization of calcitonin, insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, ACTH, gastrin and nerve growth factor. Three cases were negative for all hormones tested. Three cases were focally positive for a single hormone; one each for calcitonin, somatostatin, and ACTH. Two cases were focally positive for ACTH and somatostatin and two cases were focally positive for calcitonin, somatostatin and ACTH. None of the other hormones displayed activity. The positive staining was eliminated after absorption by the specific antigen. This immunohistochemical study illustrated neuroendocrine differentiation in basal cell carcinomas as has previously been suggested by the Grimelius stain and electron microscopy. Thus, as demonstrated in other epithelial neoplasms, basal cell carcinoma may also display neuroendocrine differentiation. This illustrates the potential multidirectional differentiation in neoplastic epithelial cells.
Rhamnolipid-Induced Removal of Lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Effect on Cell Surface Properties and Interaction with Hydrophobic Substrates

Little is known about the interaction of biosurfactants with bacterial cells. Recent work in the area of biodegradation suggests that there are two mechanisms by which biosurfactants enhance the biodegradation of slightly soluble organic compounds. First, biosurfactants can solubilize hydrophobic compounds within micelle structures, effectively increasing the apparent aqueous solubility of the organic compound and its availability for uptake by a cell. Second, biosurfactants can cause the cell surface to become more hydrophobic, thereby increasing the association of the cell with the slightly soluble substrate. Since the second mechanism requires very low levels of added biosurfactant, it is the more intriguing of the two mechanisms from the perspective of enhancing the biodegradation process. This is because, in practical terms, addition of low levels of biosurfactants will be more cost-effective for bioremediation. To successfully optimize the use of biosurfactants in the bioremediation process, their effect on cell surfaces must be understood. We report here that rhamnolipid biosurfactant causes the cell surface of Pseudomonas spp. to become hydrophobic through release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this study, two Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were grown on glucose and hexadecane to investigate the chemical and structural changes that occur in the presence of a rhamnolipid biosurfactant. Results showed that rhamnolipids caused an overall loss in cellular fatty acid content. Loss of fatty acids was due to release of LPS from the outer membrane, as demonstrated by 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The amount of LPS loss was found to be dependent on rhamnolipid concentration, but significant loss occurred even at concentrations less than the critical micelle concentration. We conclude that rhamnolipid-induced LPS release is the probable mechanism of enhanced cell surface hydrophobicity.
In the footsteps of Kurt Lewin: Practical theorizing, action research, and the psychology of social action

How and why do people become actively involved in doing good for others and for society by taking action to respond to social problems? Such involvement can take the form of participation in volunteerism and philanthropy, community groups and neighborhood organizations, and social activism and political movements. To understand the dynamics of these processes of social action, I draw on coordinated programs of basic and applied research, conducted in field and laboratory settings, to illustrate the complex interplay between features of persons and properties of their environments in determining why some individuals become involved in social action, what sustains their involvement over time, and the consequences of such action for individuals and for society. Then, building on the messages of these programs of research, and the theoretical perspectives guiding them, I consider implications for social policy issues of relevance to individuals, groups, and society as well as the ways in which the social sciences can contribute to the effective functioning of society and the well-being of its citizens.
Validating evolutionary algorithms on volunteer computing grids

Computational science is placing new demands on distributed computing systems as the rate of data acquisition is far outpacing the improvements in processor speed. Evolutionary algorithms provide efficient means of optimizing the increasingly complex models required by different scientific projects, which can have very complex search spaces with many local minima. This work describes different validation strategies used by MilkyWay@Home, a volunteer computing project created to address the extreme computational demands of 3-dimensionally modeling the Milky Way galaxy, which currently consists of over 27,000 highly heterogeneous and volatile computing hosts, which provide a combined computing power of over 1.55 petaflops. The validation strategies presented form a foundation for efficiently validating evolutionary algorithms on unreliable or even partially malicious computing systems, and have significantly reduced the time taken to obtain good fits of MilkyWay@Home’s astronomical models.
Hole traps in Be-doped MBE InGaP

Deep level transient spectroscopy has been used to characterise p-type In/sub 0.48/Ga/sub 0.52/P grown by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy. Three hole traps were detected in Be-doped material, with thermal emission energies of approximately 0.2-0.3, 0.7-0.8, and 1.0-1.3 eV and trap concentrations less than 4*10/sup 14/, 9*10/sup 14/, and 10/sup 15/ cm/sup -3/, respectively.
Central leptin modulates behavioral and neural responsivity to CCK

The mechanisms through which leptin, the protein product of theob gene, affects food intake remain to be determined. To assess whether the actions of leptin depend on modulation of within-meal sati...
Rapid detection of organophosphates in aqueous solution using a hybrid organic/inorganic coating on SH-SAW devices

Rapid detection of organophosphates pesticides (OPs) in groundwater is necessary to allow for real-time monitoring and cleanup. Detection of OPs in the liquid phase has already been demonstrated using poly(epichlorohydrin) [PECH] and polyurethane as the sensing layer. However, the response times are relatively long, on the order of hours. In this work, a hybrid organic/inorganic chemically sensitive layer [bisphenol A-hexamethyltrisiloxane (BPA-HMTS)] is synthesized and investigated for the rapid detection and analysis of organophosphate pesticides. Direct chemical sensing in aqueous solutions is performed using the guided shear horizontal surface acoustic wave sensor platform on 36° rotated Y-cut LiTaO 3 . It is shown that, for the same coating thickness, a 60% reduction in sensor response time is achieved without a significant reduction in sensitivity when compared with PECH. Considering the glass transition temperature, T g , for the polymers, it is seen that the faster sensor response exhibited by the BPA-HMTS coating is due to the porous siloxane backbone, HMTS. Furthermore, sensor signal analysis in the form of the extended Kalman filter (EKF) is employed on-line during the detection process. This allows for the steady-state sensor response and absorption time constant to be extracted on-line well before equilibrium, thus further reducing the time required for analyte identification and quantification. 500 µg/L of parathion has been detected and a limit of detection of 20 µg/L (ppb) for parathion and 100 µg/L (ppb) of paraoxon is reported for the present non-optimized sensor.
Religious and Spiritual Journeys: Brief Reflections from Mothers and Fathers in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

The birth of a child is often accompanied by elation and celebration, but when a birth results in admittance to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the typical emotions of joy and celebration may be tempered with anxiety and fear. Parents with a religious and spiritual worldview may find their faith and spiritual lens is an important aspect of coping with their NICU experience. There is a dearth of literature on this issue, and thus a pilot study was implemented that included eight mothers and fathers of babies admitted to the NICU. Parents responded to a brief interview 4 to 6 weeks after discharge that focused on how their religious or spiritual worldview changed as a result of their NICU experience, how they coped with their premature newborn after discharge, and the perceived impact on their spousal/partner relationship. Results indicated that parents who presented to the NICU with a religious or spiritual background indicated their faith grew as a result of their experience in the NICU. Parents without a religious or spiritual worldview also reported being able to adequately manage their NICU experience and reported little to no change in their religious or spiritual lives. Further, parents reported they coped well after their babies' discharge from the NICU and had supportive spousal relationships. This pilot study supported assessment of religious and spiritual experiences as a salient aspect in NICU parents' lives. Further study is necessary to elucidate how religiosity and spirituality can be strengthened for families during this challenging time.
Acknowledging the Stigmatized: Sex Offenders and Their Outlooks Versus Women in Relationships with Incarcerated Men and their Perceptions of the Criminal Justice System

Offenders are a stigmatized group of individuals, making it difficult for society to proffer second chances so willingly. Furthermore, many women in relationships with offenders suffer the stigma that offenders themselves experience. This study offers a theoretical contribution that focuses mostly on sex offenders in an attempt to help reshape their perceptions and bring clarity to an existing theoretical framework. Sex offenders’ outlooks were examined and placed into a three schema approach (instrumental, political, and cultural schemas), implemented from a previous study, based on their overall mentality and how they have rationalized their offenses. Similarly, women’s perceptions of the criminal justice system, based on society’s views toward their relationship with an offender, were categorized into the three schemas to contrast the varying types of stigma. In this study, about 40 letters from sex offenders, as well as select stories from a book containing sex offender accounts, were coded and analyzed under this framework using Atlas-ti. Additionally, twelve interviews were carried out with women in relationships with incarcerated men. Results suggest that while many sex offenders desire change, they do not take full responsibility for their actions, meaning that these particular offenders’ outlooks do not fit neatly into one schema. A fourth schema, christened the “chimerical schema”, is proposed to further explain offenders’ outlooks. Mostof the women’s perceptions, however, easily fit into one of the three schemas, rendering the fourth schema unnecessary. This study will add to an existing theoretical framework, making it more applicable to other marginalized groups.
The Analysis of Matrix Formatted Multicomponent Data

During the past two decades, the mini- and microcomputer revolution has introduced a new era of computerized instrumentation capable of acquiring large amounts of data in relatively short time periods. Consequently, the analytical chemist suddenly finds that the problem of acquiring reasonable amounts of accurate data has been transformed into one of what to do with huge amounts of data. This dilemma has resulted in many analytical chemists pursuing research into areas of data reduction. The period when the only mathematical need of the analytical chemist was “basic statistics” is long past. The use of more sophisticated mathematical techniques such as factor analysis(1,2) and pattern recognition(3,4) in analytical chemistry are noticeably present in the literature.
REIT Investments and Hedging Against Inflation

Executive Summary. This paper investigates the relationship between equity and mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) returns and inflation. The objective is to establish whether securitized ...
Coccinellids Associated with the Cotton Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Northeast Arkansas Cotton

Adult and larval coccinellids are important predators of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. Adult and larval Coccinellinae and Scymninae were sampled by beat-pan method and identified to species in a 3-year field study (1999 - 2001) conducted in northeast Arkansas. The coccinellids observed in descending order of abundance were Hippodamia convergens Guerin, Scymninae (Scymnus spp. and Diomus spp.), Coleomegilla maculata (Degeer), Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), and Coccinella septempunctata L. Population dynamics and community structure by species for C. maculata, H. axyridis and C. septempunctata were unpredictable within and among years. Based on population densities, timing of colonization, and consistent delayed density-dependent relationship with aphid populations, H. convergens and Scymninae genera (Scymnus spp. and Diomus spp.) were the most important predators of cotton aphids in northeast Arkansas.
NLRB Rule Making: The Impact of Regulatory Reform on Hospital Unionization

Many hospital executives feared that the National Labor Relations Board's 1991 decision to recognize eight hospital employee bargaining units would lead to increased union activity. However, this study shows that union activity actually decreased after that decision.
A comparison of canine prostate and wheat germ oil acid phosphatase.

SummaryCanine prostatic fluid contained a potent acid phosphatase which was more active against the natural β-glycerophosphate than several synthetic organic phosphates tested. A distinction between the enzymes from prostatic fluid and wheat germ oil could be made on the basis of optimal pH requirement. Stoichiometric determinations indicated that the simplicity of phosphate determination was to be preferred to measurement of the released phenyl group derivative.
The Design of Control Boost Air Temperature System on Marine Diesel Engine Based on Trials Curves

The air boost temperature cause a change in the specific fuel oil consumption, the exhaust gas amount and gas temperature and (NOx) emissions of the diesel engine. Controlling emissions is becoming a more and more important task in the development of diesel engines. Today the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is close to completing regulations prescribing the upper limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from engines running on ships. The charge air temperature is not constant but varies with the engine load. For the execution of this work we have taken as a model a marine diesel engine type Wartsila NSD 12 ZAV 40S installed a board car ferry. Engine manufacturers provide charts on relationships gas flow, power etc experiments on a dynamometers bench and some Trials aboard. This work is based on data curves and trials for modeling of the control system. The paper is divided into three parts
Evaluating the usage of cloud-based collaboration services through teamwork

ABSTRACTWith the proliferation of cloud computing for both organizational and educational use, cloud-based collaboration services are transforming how people work in teams. The authors investigated the determinants of the usage of cloud-based collaboration services including teamwork quality, computer self-efficacy, and prior experience, as well as its impact on team performance. The research model was empirically evaluated by applying structural equation modeling to survey data collected from 217 participants. The results reveal that teamwork quality and computer self-efficacy significantly and positively affect the usage of cloud-based collaboration services, which significantly and positively affects team performance.
Scaling strong motion fourier spectra by modified mercalli intensity, local soil and local geologic site conditions.

Empirical scaling of Fourier Amplitude Spectra in terms of the Modified Mercalli Intensity (M. M. I.), local soil conditions (“rock”, stiff soil, and deep soil) and local geologic conditions (basement rock, intermediate sites and sites on sediments) are presented. It is suggested that both soil and geological site effects should be used together in estimation of the site specific Fourier amplitude spectra.
Effect of in utero vesicostomy on pulmonary hypoplasia in the fetal lamb with bladder outlet obstruction and oligohydramnios: A morphometric analysis

Abstract A model of early gestation bladder outlet obstruction and oligohydramnios in the fetal lamb is characterized by small, immature lungs (pulmonary hypoplasia). The current study examines how in utero relief of urinary tract obstruction produced early in gestation modifies pulmonary hypoplasia. Bladder obstruction was created at 60 days gestation in fetal sheep (term = 140 days); 11 fetuses then underwent in utero decompression at 95 to 100 days; six were left obstructed. Five normal fetuses served as controls and two underwent sham obstruction and vesicostomy. All were delivered and sacrificed near term (135 days), the right lung was inflation-fixed and its volume determined. Relative volumes of alveoli, alveolar ducts, and tissue, alveolar surface area, and alveolar numerical density were estimated morphometrically. Kidneys were examined histologically. In all animals persistent bladder obstruction produced oligohydramnios. Bladder obstruction to term produced pulmonary hypoplasia with a mean right lung volume-to-body weight ratio (LV:BW) of 14.3 cc./kg. (normal = 36.4, p Even after 35 days (25% gestation) of obstruction, in utero urinary tract decompression permits better lung growth and maturation than in persistently obstructed animals. The degree of renal damage from obstruction appears to be a critical determinant in the correction of pulmonary hypoplasia.
"The Specter of Female Suffrage in Shakespeare's Revelations by Shakespeare's Spirit"

If I am getting ready to speak at length about ghosts, inheritance, and generations, generations of ghosts, which is to say about certain others who are not present, nor presently living…it is in the name of justice . Of justice where it is not yet, not yet there …It is necessary to speak of the ghost, indeed to the ghost and with it, from the moment that no ethics, no politics, whether revolutionary or not seems possible and thinkable and just …One can never distinguish between the future-to-come and the coming-back of a specter. – Jacques Derrida, Specters of Marx Few dead authors can claim to be as prolific as William Shakespeare. Every decade or so an apocryphal play, anonymous poem or previously unknown painting is unveiled, for which evidence is marshalled pointing to a Shakespearian pedigree. Invariably, and the recent publication of Double Falsehood under the impress of the respected Arden Shakespeare Series is no exception, a brouhaha erupts over the authenticity of the work. Since Thomas Betterton’s first visit to Stratford in the early eighteenth century, antiquarians have raided every attic and archive in Warwickshire in hopes of recovering even the faintest blips Shakespeare left on the documentary record. Yet when over 450 new poems filled with Shakespeare’s personal confessions and assorted musings surfaced in 1919, the reaction was one of utter and contemptuous silence. Most readers probably never made it past the title page: Shakespeare’s Revelations by Shakespeare’s Spirit Through the medium of his pen SARAH TAYLOR SHATFORD Dictated exactly as herein found. No illiteracies, no obliterations, Chargable to the Medium. My Hand and seal hereon. W.S. In spirit Contact was first established, according to Shatford, in her New York apartment on 19 December 1916, when the Immortal Bard employed an ouija board to compose three new lyric meditations on the need for peace, the reality of heaven and the evils of war. Soon afterwards Shakespeare’s Spirit dispensed with the board altogether and began to whisper a torrent of words directly into the right ear of this self-styled ‘clairaudient’.
Metal Extraction Through Chlorine Metallurgy

Abstract Chlorination has been an important process step in the extraction of many nonferrous metals from their ores and concentrates. Some of the important chlorinating agents are gaseous chlorine, hydrochloric acid, ferric chloride, carbon tetrachloride and some alkali or alkaline chlorides like, NaCl, CaCl2 and NH4C1. Because of their high reactivity at a moderate temperature, selectivity in chlorination of the desired metal values and their easy availability with low cost, these chlorinating agents are being widely used in opening up the ores and minerals, for preparaton of pure metal chlorides and in recovery of metal values from the scrap and other wastes. In this paper, the chemistry of the chlorination processes in various stages of the extraction of some important metals, has been discussed briefly. Some of the industrial processes using Chlorine Metallurgy have been outlined. A review of the research and developmental studies made in recent years, on dry and aqueous chlorination of some metal ox...
Secondary organic aerosol from atmospheric photooxidation of indole

Abstract. Indole is a heterocyclic compound emitted by various plant species under stressed conditions or during flowering events. The formation, optical properties, and chemical composition of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed by low-NOx photooxidation of indole were investigated. The SOA yield (1. 3 ± 0. 3) was estimated from measuring the particle mass concentration with a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and correcting it for wall loss effects. The high value of the SOA mass yield suggests that most oxidized indole products eventually end up in the particle phase. The SOA particles were collected on filters and analysed offline with UV–vis spectrophotometry to measure the mass absorption coefficient (MAC) of the bulk sample. The samples were visibly brown and had MAC values of ∼ 2 m2 g−1 at λ = 300 nm and ∼ 0. 5 m2 g−1 at λ = 400 nm, comparable to strongly absorbing brown carbon emitted from biomass burning. The chemical composition of SOA was examined with several mass spectrometry methods. Direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) and nanospray desorption electrospray high-resolution mass spectrometry (nano-DESI-HRMS) were both used to provide information about the overall distribution of SOA compounds. High-performance liquid chromatography, coupled to photodiode array spectrophotometry and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA-HRMS), was used to identify chromophoric compounds that are responsible for the brown colour of SOA. Indole derivatives, such as tryptanthrin, indirubin, indigo dye, and indoxyl red, were found to contribute significantly to the visible absorption spectrum of indole SOA. The potential effect of indole SOA on air quality was explored with an airshed model, which found elevated concentrations of indole SOA during the afternoon hours contributing considerably to the total organic aerosol under selected scenarios. Because of its high MAC values, indole SOA can contribute to decreased visibility and poor air quality.
The One Percent Solution: How Corporations Are Remaking America One State at a Time

In a time of increasing inequality and hardship for American workers, Gordon Lafer’s new book is timely, as it investigates the remaking of the nation’s economy through the corporate lobbies’ role ...
Ion-dependent activation and inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase from Lactobacillus leichmannii.

Abstract The activity of ribonucleotide reductase from Lactobacillus leichmannii is affected markedly by ions. These effects can be either stimulatory or inhibitory, depending upon the nature of the dithiol substrate. When dithioerythritol is the reductant, the enzyme is activated by a variety of anions, particularly fluoride, phosphate and acetate. The largest effect (approximately 17-fold) is obtained in the presence of 1.0 M fluoride. In contrast, anions are generally inhibitory when dihydrolipoic acid serves as the reductant. These results are considered in terms of the chaotropic (structure-disrupting) and anti-chaotropic (structure-forming) effects of anions on the conformation of the enzyme, particularly at the dithiol binding site.