cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, structure, and ionic conductivity of self-assembled amphiphilic poly(methacrylate) comb polymers

Methacrylate comb polymers were synthesized that have amphiphilic teeth of ethylene glycol oligomers capped with alkyl groups. Both segments are of exact length to promote self-organization and crystallization. The atactic methacrylate backbone plus close proximity to the polymer backbone inhibits crystallization of the oligoethyelene oxide segments, but the terminal alkyl segments readily crystallize. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry were used to characterize polymer side chain crystallization and its evolution as a function of the length of the amphiphilic teeth. An analysis of the d spacings places the oligoethylene glycol segment and the first eight carbon atoms of the alkyl chain in an amorphous phase. An ∼1 A/carbon atom increase in the d spacing is consistent with the crystalline segments being tilted relative to the polymer backbone. When the number of carbon atoms in alkyl segments is ≥14, addition of LiClO4 yields an ionic conducting ethylene oxide phase with re...
The macroscopic and microscopic effects of radiofrequency injury in the porcine tongue: A pilot study

Abstract Objective Current treatment protocols for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome with radiofrequency ablation of the base of the tongue are empiric. Injecting local anesthetics and saline into the treatment site is believed to shorten treatment duration and improve results. Our objective is to compare lesions at different energy levels, both macroscopically and histologically, and to determine if electrolyte solution injection results in a larger lesion. Study Design A prospective, experimental animal study. Setting University-affiliated institution. Subjects and Methods Five pigs each received four treatments on the right and four on the left side of the tongue. Three of four treatments were applied sequentially by increasing length of exposure (15, 30, or 60 seconds), and the fourth was conducted over 15 seconds after injecting 1 cc of a 1:1 local anesthetic-saline solution into the treatment site. The animals were recovered for three days and then sacrificed. Macroscopic measurements for each lesion were analyzed, and histological comparison was performed. Results The average volume of the lesions was 57.36, 65.18, and 60.50 mm3 for treatment durations of 60, 30, and 15 seconds, respectively, and there was no significant difference. Lesion volume at sites where anesthetic-saline was injected had a mean volume of 36.72 mm3. Paired comparison against the three treatment durations revealed significantly smaller lesion volume size (P = 0.0041, 0.0007, 0.0047, respectively). Conclusion The lesions created with radiofrequency energy were consistent and predictable. The volumes of the lesions did not differ significantly with regard to different energy levels. The lesion was significantly smaller after injection of anesthetic-saline at the treatment site.
Production Contracts and Productivity in the U.S. Hog Sector

This article measures the impact of contracting on partial and total factor productivity and the production technology of U.S. hog operations. A sample selection model accounts for the fact that unobservable variables may be correlated with both the operators’ decision to contract and farm productivity. Results indicate that the use of production contracts is associated with a substantial increase in factor productivity, and represents a technological improvement over independent production. Results also identify determinants of farmers’ decisions to contract and other factors influencing farm The rapid increase in the use of production contracts is a notable feature of the structural change taking place in the US hog industry. Between 1992 and 1998, the portion of feeder pig-to-finish hog operations using production contracts increased from 11% to 34%, while the share of output produced under contract increased from 22% to 63% (McBride, McBride and Key). Production contracts offer several potential advantages over independent production that could explain their growing prevalence. Contracts may serve to lower transaction costs associated with search, negotiation, and transfer; reduce asymmetric information between growers and processors about product quality; improve coordination of product delivery; and lower income risk for growers. In addition, contracting may raise farm productivity by improving the quality of managerial inputs, by speeding the transfer of technical information to growers, or by facilitating growers’ access to credit, thereby permitting the adoption of newer, more efficient technologies. In this article, we focus on identifying and measuring the farm-level productivity gains, if any, that can be attributed to contracting. The recent growth in contracting does not necessarily imply that contracts are associated with higher farm productivity. The increase in the use of contracts may have been propelled
Resistance to improper dependency relationships

Abstract Two hundred and twenty-eight college men and women were individually assigned to supervise the work of two same-sex peers who were eligible for a cash prize although no prize was available for the subject. One of the workers asked for help, either because of the experimenter's mistake (external locus of dependency), or because of the person's own deficiency (internal locus of dependency), while other information indicated the worker was either highly dependent, moderately dependent, or only slightly dependent upon the subject's help in order to gain the prize. The person asking for assistance was more disliked than the worker not requesting help, even when the former's dependency was externally created, presumably because the help request restricted the subject's behavioral freedom. The greatest dislike for the worker seeking help arose, however, when it was this person's own fault he needed help. In accord with Brehm's reactance theory, there was the least effort for the worker asking for help when this person was highly dependent upon the subject but needed assistance because of his own shortcomings; the illegitimate help request evidently gave the subject a suitable excuse, permitting him to succumb to the resentment (or reactance) arising from the great implied demand upon him. Although the women generally gave the worker more help than did the men, both sexes displayed this resentment at the improper help request and both tended to dislike the worker seeking assistance.
High-dose inhaled fluticasone and delayed hypersensitivity skin testing.

Introduction: Systemic steroids have been associated with anergy. Treatment with high-dose inhaled steroids has many documented systemic side effects, including adrenal suppression, reduction in growth velocity, and increased bone metabolism; however, little is known about their effect on delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). Study objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if a 28-day course of high-dose inhaled fluticasone suppresses DTH to a standard panel of antigens. Methods: Forty-five healthy, steroid-naive subjects volunteered for this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. All subjects had baseline DTH assessed by intradermal skin testing to a standard panel of antigens (tetanus, candida, mumps, and tuberculin) read 72 h after placement. Subjects were then randomized to receive placebo or high-dose inhaled fluticasone (880 μg/d) for 28 days, after which a second DTH panel was performed. A third DTH panel was performed after a 30-day washout period. Measurements and results: Of the 45 enrolled subjects, 38 subjects completed the study, including 20 subjects in the placebo group and 18 subjects in the drug group. There was no significant difference in the amount of induration between drug and placebo groups for any of the three periods tested. Conclusion: Twenty-eight days of treatment with high-dose inhaled fluticasone did not suppress DTH in healthy volunteers.
On cohesion stable graphs

Abstract The cohesion of a graph was introduced to model vulnerability of a graph relative to the neighborhoods of its vertices. We are concerned in this paper with the changes in this parameter when an edge is deleted. In particular, after displaying some results on stability under edge destruction, we go on to display various infinite classes of cohesion stable graphs. Several ways in which graphs or parts of graphs may be combined to produce stable graphs are also presented, along with a look at what cannot be stated at this time.
Retroperitoneal malignant fibrous histiocytoma: the angiographic and computed tomographic features of an unusual tumor.

Malignant fibrous histiocytomas are uncommon retroperitoneal soft tissue tumors. We report a case of a malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the retroperitoneum that was angiographically hypervascular and indistinguishable from renal cell carcinoma. Computerized tomography of the abdomen demonstrated extensive psoas muscle infiltration by tumor. This feature may be useful in differentiating a renal cell carcinoma from a primary retroperitoneal sarcoma.
Biosynthesis of acidic glycolipids in cotton fibers. Possible intermediates in cell wall synthesis

Abstract A particulate enzyme from cotton fibers transfers mannose from GDP-14C-mannose and glucose from UDP-14C-glucose to a phosphate-containing lipid which is present in these membrane particles. Both glycolipids are retained on DEAE-cellulose and both have identical Rf values in three different solvent systems. The sugar moieties of these lipids are very acid labile so that 50% of the sugar is released in 0.001 – 0.003 N HCl at 100° in 5 minutes. Both lipids are able to donate their sugar moieties to the respective nucleoside diphosphate to form sugar nucleotides (mannolipid to GDP to form GDP-mannose; glucolipid to UDP to form UDP-glucose). Thus, these lipids are similar in many respects to the mannosyl-phosphoryl-polyprenols synthesized from other sources. During studies on the biosynthesis of cell-wall polysaccharides by particulate extracts of cotton fibers, it was observed that radioactive mannose from GDP-14C-mannose was incorporated into chloroform:methanol (C:M) soluble products. Since the kinetics of incorporation suggested that the lipid might be turning over, we examined the properties of the mannolipid and found that it was quite similar to the mannosyl-phosphoryl-undecaprenol isolated by Scher et al (1) and shown to be an intermediate in mannan biosynthesis in Micrococci (2). Furthermore, the 14C-mannolipid can donate its mannosyl moiety to GDP to form GDP-14C-mannose. The particulate enzyme from cotton fibers also transfers glucose from UDP-14C-glucose to a lipid which has similar properties to those of the mannolipid. The lipid moieties of these glycolipids have not yet been identified but both of these compounds have similar Rf values to those reported for mannosyl-phosphoryl-polyprenols from bacteria (2) and mammalian sources (3).
Determinants of Business Response to Government Tax Incentives for Privately Financed Termination Benefit Programs

This study examines the industry and organizational factors that determine the likelihood of business response to government tax incentives for privately financed termination benefit programs and the substitution problems confronting government programs that use tax incentives to encourage businesses to provide these benefits to their employees. It concludes that government tax incentives will likely have marginal effects on the private provision of termination benefits, especially in large firms in industries with a strong market presence from government. These programs most likely will get high participation from large firms which already provide these benefits to salaried and hourly workers resulting in high substitution effects. They also are likely to extend benefits to hourly employees in firms that already provide similar benefits to salaried workers. However, these tax incentives are likely to have very limited inducement effects on small and medium-sized firms resulting in low overall target efficiency for these programs.
BUTORPHANOL TARTRATE: 2. SAFETY AND EFFICACY IN BALANCED ANAESTHESIA*

After premedication with diazepam and antisialogogues, butorphanol tartrate was used with thiopentone and pancuronium to induce surgical anaesthesia. The induction was smooth in all cases. Nitrous oxide (65 per cent) was used with supplementary small doses of butorphanol tartrate and pancuronium to maintain satisfactory conditions for major abdominal operations in 53 consenting patients. Respiration was invariably controlled with a mechanical respirator. Blood pressure was slightly elevated, pulse rate was stable, and the electrocardiogram was essentially unchanged (lead II) in the majority of patients. Recovery of adequate respiration was uneventful after reversal of the residual effects of pancuronium. Neostigmine and atropine were the reversal agents. Two patients were given naloxone as well, to reverse excessive drowsiness and respiratory depression apparently due to butorphanol tartrate. The incidence of other side-effects, such as nausea and vomiting, was not excessive. Amnesia for surgical events was complete in all cases and most of the patients were pleased with the anaesthetic management. Since butorphanol tartrate provides satisfactory analgesia for major surgery, is available synthetically, has a low propensity to addiction, and has little or no effect on the cardiorespiratory system or on liver and kidney function, we recommend further trial of this compound when a parenteral form of balanced anaesthesia is desired.
Blood Pressure Changes During Transient Myocardial Ischemia: Insights Into Mechanisms

Abstract Objectives. We investigated the contribution of changes in systemic blood pressure to the genesis of spontaneous myocardial ischemia. Background. Although increases in heart rate often precede the development of spontaneous myocardial ischemia, it remains a subject of controversy whether these are accompanied by simultaneous changes in blood pressure. Methods. Using an ambulatory monitoring device that triggered blood pressure recordings from the level of the ST segment, we documented systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate changes related to episodes of ST segment depression in 17 patients with stable coronary artery disease. Results. Systolic blood pressure and heart rate, but not diastolic pressure, increased significantly before the onset of ST segment depression and persisted throughout the ischemic episode. There was a significant correlation between the changes in heart rate and systolic blood pressure during episodes of myocardial ischemia (r = 0.5, p = 0.0005) and between heart rate and systolic blood pressure changes at 1-mm ST segment depression during treadmill exercise testing and ambulatory monitoring (r = 0.73, p = 0.0005 for heart rate; r = 0.77, p = 0.0008 for systolic blood pressure), indicating that patients with a low heart rate threshold during ischemic episodes also had a lower systolic blood pressure threshold before ischemia during both tests. Circadian changes in systolic blood pressure paralleled the variations in heart rate and ischemic episodes, with the lowest values at night. Conclusions. Significant increases in myocardial oxygen demand, including systolic blood pressure, occur during episodes of spontaneous myocardial ischemia. Patients with a lower heart rate threshold during ischemic episodes had a lower systolic blood pressure threshold during both ambulatory monitoring and treadmill exercise. The effects of antianginal therapy on blood pressure changes during ischemia need to be explored further.
The Scherrer Formula for X-Ray Particle Size Determination

An exact derivation of the Scherrer equation is given for particles of spherical shape, values of the constant for half-value breadth and for integral breadth being obtained. Various approximation methods which have been used are compared with the exact calculation. The tangent plane approximation of v. Laue is shown to be quite satisfactory, but some doubt is cast on the use of approximation functions. It is suggested that the calculation for the ellipsoidal particle based on the tangent plane approximation will provide a satisfactory basis for future work.
In vitro release of histamine by hypersensitive (allergic) serum in contrast to immune (treated) allergic serum in antigen and normal rabbit blood mixtures

Abstract 1.1. Our experiments with human sera show that rabbit whole blood can be used satisfactorily as a reservoir of bound histamine. 2.2. Histamine is released in vitro from normal rabbit blood cells into the plasma by nontreated allergic serum and specific antigen; it is not released by treated allergic serum and the same concentration of antigen. 3.3. On addition of larger quantities of antigen to treated allergic serum the excess antigen reacts with skin-sensitizing antibody and histamine is then released. 4.4. Only one-half of the nontreated allergic sera were inactivated when heated at 56° C. for 4 hours. 5.5. Practically all of the nontreated allergic sera were inactivated when heated at 56° C. for 10 hours. 6.6. Treated allergic sera were not inactivated by heating at 56° C. for 10 hours.
Corticosteroids and Granulopoiesis: Effects Upon In Vitro Colony Formation

6 alpha Methylprednisolone (MP) and prednisone treatment of mice and man causes reduced in vitro colony formation in soft agar in the presence of added colony stimulating activity (CSA). MP or prednisone administration sharply reduces the amount of CSA released from white blood cell feeder layers and the CSA released into the serum of mice given endotoxin. The reduction in colony formation by the marrow of MP treated subjects is explained by the diminished endogenous CSA elaboration by CSA producing cells over the seven day assay period; the colony forming cells (CFC) are capable of responding to increased added CSA. There is no evidence for diminished in vivo granulopoiesis following MP treatment; hence in vitro colony formation is not a valid corollary of in vivo granulopoiesis in the presence of high dose corticosteroid treatment.
EFFECTS OF HARDWARE DESIGN AND OPERATION CONDITIONS ON PEM FUEL CELL WATER FLOODING

In this paper, membrane electrode assemblies were constructed using catalyst-coated membranes to investigate proton-exchange membrane fuel cell water flooding. Two major fuel cell hardware variations, namely flowfield design and Teflon loading of the gas diffusion layer (GDL), were tested to explore their effects on water flooding. A flowfield with triple serpentine flow channels showed heavier water flooding than that with single serpentine flow channels. Increasing the Teflon loading in the GDL reduced water flooding effectively. Several fuel cell operating conditions, including air stoichiometry, current density, relative humidity (RH), backpressure, and temperature, were also tested to identify their effects on water flooding. It was observed that the water flooding severity increased with decreasing air stoichiometry, as well as with increasing temperature, RH, backpressure, and current density. Among these operation conditions, air stoichiometry (or air flow rate) and RH played more important roles ...
Dickkopf‐1 regulates bone formation in young growing rodents and upon traumatic injury

The physiological role of Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1) during postnatal bone growth in rodents and in adult rodents was examined utilizing an antibody to Dkk1 (Dkk1-Ab) that blocked Dkk1 binding to both low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) and Kremen2, thereby preventing the Wnt inhibitory activity of Dkk1. Treatment of growing mice and rats with Dkk1-Ab resulted in a significant increase in bone mineral density because of increased bone formation. In contrast, treatment of adult ovariectomized rats did not appreciably impact bone, an effect that was associated with decreased Dkk1 expression in the serum and bone of older rats. Finally, we showed that Dkk1 plays a prominent role in adult bone by mediating fracture healing in adult rodents. These data suggest that, whereas Dkk1 significantly regulates bone formation in younger animals, its role in older animals is limited to pathologies that lead to the induction of Dkk1 expression in bone and/or serum, such as traumatic injury. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Asymptotic eigenfrequencies of the Earth's normal modes

We derive asymptotic formulae for the toroidal and spheroidal eigenfrequencies of a SNREI earth model with two discontinuities, by considering the constructive interference of propagating SH and P-SV body waves. For a model with a smooth solid inner core, fluid outer core and mantle, there are four SH and 10 P-SV ray parameters regimes, each of which must be examined separately. The asymptotic eigenfrequency equations in each of these regimes depend only on the intercept times of the propagating wave types and the reflection and transmission coefficients of the waves at the free surface and the two discontinuities. If the classical geometrical plane-wave reflection and transmission coefficients are used, the final eigenfrequency equations are all real. In general, the asymptotic eigenfrequencies agree extremely well with the exact numerical eigenfrequencies; to illustrate this, we present comparisons for a crustless version of earth model 1066A.
In Vitro Growth Inhibition of Growth Factor-stimulated Meningioma Cells by Calcium Channel Antagonists

Studies have shown that a majority of meningiomas contain receptors for platelet-derived growth factor and epidermal growth factor and that these growth factors promote the proliferation of meningioma cells in culture. Although the mechanism of action has not been elucidated, intracellular calcium appears to be part of the signal transduction mechanism. Because alterations in intracellular calcium could interrupt this pathway and decrease cellular proliferation, we investigated the effects of calcium channel-blocking agents on the growth of meningioma cells in vitro. Primary meningioma cell cultures were established, and the cells were characterized by light and electron microscopy and by immunohistochemical studies. Then, the cultures were given growth factors and/or various calcium channel antagonists, and growth rates were measured. A dose-response decrease in cell growth was seen when verapamil, nifedipine, or diltiazem (voltage-dependent calcium channel-blocking agents) was added to serum-containing media. Also, these drugs blocked the growth stimulation of epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor in a similar fashion. Dantrolene, which inhibits the release of sequestered intracellular calcium, was also an effective blocker of the mitogenic stimulation of these growth factors.
Family values in black and white.

The sexual behaviour of penguins, although fascinating, does not offer the moral lessons that some popular commentators would have us believe.
Reliability and Concurrent Validity of the Kids' Eating Disorders Survey (KEDS) Body Image Silhouettes with Preadolescent Girls

Abstract We assessed the psychometric properties of the Body Image Silhouettes (BIS) from the Kids' Eating Disorders Survey (KEDS) with preadolescent girls. Two hundred and ninety-one fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade girls completed the BIS, the Eating Behaviors and Body Image Test (EBBIT) for Preadolescent Girls, and height and weight measurements were obtained. Test-retest reliabilities were adequate to good. Initial validity of the silhouettes was evaluated by correlating BIS ratings and scores on the EBBIT, Body Mass Index, and age. Race and age differences on the silhouette ratings were, also examined. Contrary to the results of a previous investigation, the KEDS BIS appears to be an appropriate instrument for evaluating body images in preadolescent Caucasian girls, but more research is warranted with African American girls.
The quartz-coesite-stishovite transformations: new calorimetric measurements and calculation of phase diagrams

Abstract High temperature solution calorimetry of synthetic quartz, coesite and stishovite provides enthalpies of transition. ΔH 975 0 for quartz-coesite and ΔH 298 0 for coesite-stishovite transition are 320 ± 70 and 11700 ± 410 cal mol −1 , respectively. The present transformation enthalpy data represent a small but significant revision of those of Holm et al. Using the published phase equilibrium data, thermal expansivity, compressibility and heat capacity data, ΔS 975 0 for the quartz-coesite and ΔS 298 0 for the coesite-stishovite transition are −1.2 ± 0.1 and −1.0 ± 0.4 cal K −1 mol −1 , respectively. These thermochemical data are used to calculate phase boundaries of the transitions. The calculated quartz-coesite transition boundary agrees well with the one determined experimentally by Bohlen and Boettcher. The calculated coesite-stishovite boundary is generally consistent with data by Yagi and Akimoto and by Suito.
Cooling Enhancement of Radiators Using Dimples and Delta Winglets

Cooled exhaust gas recirculation and lower intake manifold temperature (post compressor) are used to meet emission regulations for a turbocharged intercooled diesel engine. This places a significant demand on the cooling load and space constraint on the radiator of the engine. A typical radiator is a cross-flow fin-tube heat exchanger with coolant water flowing inside the tube and ambient air taking out heat from the fin and tube surfaces. The major resistance to heat transfer in this configuration is offered by the air-side heat transfer co-efficient. The current study focuses on enhancing convective cooling rates on air side in a typical radiator which helps in taking additional load of EGR cooling with minimal increase in space and radiator fan power. Published literature clearly indicates that specific geometrical structures such as delta winglets and dimples, when placed in a convective flow path, act as vortex generators. This ability helps in disturbing/disrupting a steady thermal boundary layer, resulting in enhanced convective heat transfer. Detailed CFD simulations have been carried out to study the individual and combined effect of dimples and delta winglets on the heat transfer rates in a typical radiator geometry. Delta winglets on the fins indicated significant heat transfer enhancement but with increased pressure drop. Dimples on the tubes also led to enhanced heat transfer rates, but with a comparatively lesser increase in the pressure drop. A combination of delta winglets on the fins and dimples on the tubes increased the heat transfer rates substantially (+40%) with a minimal increase in pressure drop compared to the baseline case.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Peer assessment in the digital age: a meta-analysis comparing peer and teacher ratings

Given the wide use of peer assessment, especially in higher education, the relative accuracy of peer ratings compared to teacher ratings is a major concern for both educators and researchers. This concern has grown with the increase of peer assessment in digital platforms. In this meta-analysis, using a variance-known hierarchical linear modelling approach, we synthesise findings from studies on peer assessment since 1999 when computer-assisted peer assessment started to proliferate. The estimated average Pearson correlation between peer and teacher ratings is found to be .63, which is moderately strong. This correlation is significantly higher when: (a) the peer assessment is paper-based rather than computer-assisted; (b) the subject area is not medical/clinical; (c) the course is graduate level rather than undergraduate or K-12; (d) individual work instead of group work is assessed; (e) the assessors and assessees are matched at random; (f) the peer assessment is voluntary instead of compulsory; (g) the...
Interleukin 1 or tumor necrosis factor can promote Coxsackie B3-induced myocarditis in resistant B10.A mice.

We have previously demonstrated that bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is capable of promoting Coxsackie B3 (CB3)-induced myocarditis in genetically resistant B10.A mice. Because LPS is known to increase production of various cytokines, we tested CB3-infected, LPS-treated mice for the presence of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). We found significantly increased amounts of both cytokines in the sera of CB3/LPS-treated mice compared with animals treated only with LPS. We also found immunohistochemical evidence for local production of these cytokines in the cardiac tissue of CB3/LPS-treated mice. Treatment with IL-1 or TNF alone promoted CB3-induced autoimmune myocarditis in resistant B10.A mice. Myocarditis was also observed when uninfected mice were immunized with syngeneic heart extract in the presence of IL-1 or TNF.
Zinc enhancement of LLC-PK1 renal epithelial barrier function

Summary Background and aims Earlier work by our group and others has documented improvement of epithelial barrier function in human gastrointestinal models. Here we tested zinc's ability to improve a renal epithelial model. Our aim was to compare the functional and structural effects of zinc on the tight junctional (TJ) complexes of these two very distinct epithelial cell types. Zinc's ability to achieve barrier enhancement in very different epithelial cell types by action upon distinct molecular targets in each epithelial model may suggest a fundamental general role for supplemental zinc in epithelial barrier improvement throughout the body. Methods Cell layers were exposed to 50 or 100 μM zinc on both cell surfaces for 48 h followed by measurement of transepithelial electrical resistance ( R t ) and transepithelial 14 C-mannitol flux ( J m ). TJ proteins in cell layers were analyzed by Western immunoblot. Results and conclusions Zinc supplementation improved the basal TJ barrier function of LLC-PK 1 renal cell layers, exemplified by increased R t and decreased J m . These zinc-induced changes were also accompanied by decreased NaCl dilution potentials. Of the tight junctional proteins that were tested (occludin, claudins 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and tricellulin), we did not observe a zinc-induced change in abundance of any of them, in detergent-soluble fractions of lysates of confluent differentiated cell layers. However, examination of cytosolic fractions showed concentration-dependent increases in the levels of claudins -2 and -4 in this compartment as a result of supplemental zinc. The effects of supplemental zinc on the tight junctional complexes and barrier properties of this renal epithelial model are contrasted with zinc effects on the CACO-2 gastrointestinal model.
A sliding threshold detector for the ternary 1-D channel

In this work we design a sliding threshold implementation of a Viterbi detector for a ternary 1-D recording channel. We show that the final detection scheme is both simple and easy to implement in analog fashion, much like the binary equivalent.
Tracking and detection of moving point targets in noise image sequences by local maximum likelihood

A pair of tracking and detection algorithms are proposed. The tracking is accomplished by many tracking blocks that have a size equal to the maximum velocity of the moving target. At the initial stage, the tracking blocks cover the whole image plane without overlap. A a tracking block adaptively moves so that its center moves to the pixel that has the largest intensity in the region covered by the block and the largest intensity is recorded. The detection is based on the pixel intensities recorded by each tracking block. The asymptotic probability that any pixel in the image plane is covered by some tracking blocks is shown to be l-e/sup -1/. The performance is analyzed and is fairly high. The results of simulation tests confirm to the theoretical analysis.
NANDA Diagnoses, NIC Interventions, and NOC Outcomes used in an Electronic Health Record with Elementary School Children:

This is a report of a secondary analysis of data from a published quasi-experimental feasibility study of the effects of implementing diagnoses from North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International, interventions from the Nursing Interventions Classification, and outcomes from the Nursing Outcomes Classification (referred to as NNN) on nurses' power and children's health outcomes. For this study, the NNN terms that were frequently used by nurses in the original study were identified through the nurses' printed reports of health-related visits (N = 766) with 103 New York City children in the 4th and 5th grades in six schools. The findings indicate that a large majority of nurses' efforts were focused on health promotion and management of risk states. Health problems such as pain and ineffective airway clearance were identified and were treated when present. Findings from this study can be combined with findings from previous studies to identify the diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes that are relevant for school settings. Use of the relevant NNN terms will provide data to support evidenced-based school nursing practice, education of school nurses, development of policies, and communication of the value of school nursing practice to stakeholders.
MEASUREMENT OF GROWTH IN CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

The clinical assessment of growth is a challenging, but essential, aspect of managing the health care of children with developmental disabilities. However, with standard equipment, modest training and some patience, almost all children can be measured reliably. Once reliable measurements are obtained, the interpretation or 'clinical meaning' of the measurements depends on their comparison with reference data from normal populations or, when available, with condition-specific reference data. More research is needed to improve our understanding of the clinical meaning of obtained measurements. The range of normal growth for some children with disabilities, particularly CP, remains to be defined. Research in the next ten years will, hopefully, lead to the development of growth charts for children with CP, and perhaps children with other conditions, which will facilitate the clinical interpretation of growth data and lead to improved management of health care for children with developmental disabilities.
Does the Endowment Effect Influence Outcomes in Takings Cases? An Exploratory Look at Some Important Cases and Suggestions for Additional Research

The endowment effect predicts that people value losses more than gains. I examine whether the effect sheds light on courts’ takings decisions. My findings include the following: (1) regulations that emphasize losses rather than gains are more likely to survive judicial review; (2) endowments can include comprehensive plans, development plans, permits, etc; (3) both governments and landowners can acquire endowments to sway courts in their favor; (4) occupying land creates a strong endowment; and (5) implementing plans helps to cement endowments. I suggest research that examines more cases, hypotheses that emerge from my analyses, and characteristics of the effect related to land.
Network synergism: Emergence of positive relations in ecological systems

Abstract Traditional evolutionary theory depicts survival of the fittest as a difficult existence based on danger, conflict and strife. But, another view is emerging of a more synergistic organization in which ecosystems on the whole provide hospitable conditions for life. This world is populated by organisms mutually adapted and beneficial by virtue of their direct and indirect interactions. Many examples of mutualism have been explicitly observed (Bronstein, J.L., 1991. Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am. 72, 6–8; Cushman, J.H., Beattie, A.J., 1991. Trends Ecol. Evol. 6, 193–195; Casti, J.L., Karlqvist, A. (Eds.), 1995. Cooperation and Conflict in General Evolutionary Processes, Wiley, New York, 435 pp.), and we view mutualism as an implicit consequence of indirect interactions and ecosystem organization. This paper extends a methodology based on input-output analysis that models these synergistic relationships (Patten, B.C., 1991. Theoretical Studies of Ecosystems: The Network Perspective, pp. 288–351; Patten, B.C., 1992. Ecol. Modell. 62, 29–69). We show for simple storage-flow models that direct zero-sum resource transactions between organisms, when considered in context of the whole-system organization, produce integral (direct plus indirect) relationships more positive than the direct ones. This phenomenon, `network synergism', is demonstrated for two simple networks and a complete three component model. We also show, by looking at a limiting case, that system-wide synergism is ubiquitous, occurring in all models of any size or complexity. Network synergism emerges in these models because of three network properties: symmetry, indirectness and openness.
Activity recognition on streaming sensor data

Many real-world applications that focus on addressing needs of a human, require information about the activities being performed by the human in real-time. While advances in pervasive computing have led to the development of wireless and non-intrusive sensors that can capture the necessary activity information, current activity recognition approaches have so far experimented on either a scripted or pre-segmented sequence of sensor events related to activities. In this paper we propose and evaluate a sliding window based approach to perform activity recognition in an on line or streaming fashion; recognizing activities as and when new sensor events are recorded. To account for the fact that different activities can be best characterized by different window lengths of sensor events, we incorporate the time decay and mutual information based weighting of sensor events within a window. Additional contextual information in the form of the previous activity and the activity of the previous window is also appended to the feature describing a sensor window. The experiments conducted to evaluate these techniques on real-world smart home datasets suggests that combining mutual information based weighting of sensor events and adding past contextual information to the feature leads to best performance for streaming activity recognition.
The role of targeted secretion in the establishment of cell polarity and the orientation of the division plane in Fucus zygotes

In this study, we investigate the role of polar secretion and the resulting asymmetry in the cell wall in establishing polarity in Fucus zygotes. We have utilized brefeldin-A to selectively interrupt secretion of Golgi-derived material into the cell wall as assayed by toluidine blue O staining of sulfated fucoidin. We show that the polar secretion of Golgi-derived material is targeted to a cortical site of the zygote identified by the localization of actin filaments and dihydropyridine receptors. The deposition of Golgi-derived material into the cell wall at this target site is temporally coincident with and required for polar axis fixation. We propose that local secretion of Golgi-derived material into the cell wall transforms the target site into the fixed site of polar growth. We also found that polar secretion of Golgi-derived material at the fixed site is essential for growth and differentiation of the rhizoid, as well as for the proper positioning of the first plane of cell division. We propose that the resulting asymmetry in the cell wall serves as positional information for the underlying cortex to initiate these polar events. Our data supports the hypothesis that cell wall factors in embryos, previously shown to be responsible for induction of rhizoid cell differentiation, are deposited simultaneously with and are responsible for polar axis fixation. Furthermore, the pattern of polar growth is attributable to a positional signal at the fixed site and appears to be independent of the orientation of the first cell division plane. Thus, the establishment of zygotic cell polarity and not the position of the first division plane, is critical for the formation of the initial embryonic pattern in Fucus.
Education reform and the global regulation of teachers’ education, development and work: A cross-cultural analysis

Abstract Current trends toward international accountability and standards adoption is strongly influenced by economic globalization forces as nations attempt to become competitive in the global market and try to shape their education systems to provide those skills needed in the growing global economy. As more rigorous research helps to uncover the important role of effective teachers on student learning, global and national policy increasingly points to teachers as a major factor on increasing learning and quality. Throughout the issue we examine the forces internal and global influencing policies directed at teachers in policy contexts lacking systematic and rigorous empirical evidence on the effectiveness of regulatory mechanisms introduced to control the teaching profession such as standard setting, teacher testing, evaluation and accreditation of teacher preparation.
Insinuations of Womanly Influence: An Aspect of the Christianization of the Roman Aristocracy

Here is one of the laws of history: every event begins with a woman. It is the woman who confers life or death. It is in conformity with the nature of things that Helena should have converted Constantine. It is contrary to the nature of things that Constantine should have converted Helena.While we may smile at the ruminations of a nineteenth-century bourgeois on the sexual politics of Constantine's conversion to Christianity, if we turn our attention for a moment from the Emperor to the Empire itself we will perceive that our own more scientific studies reflect a similar vision of Helena, refracted in the persons of pious matrons across the Empire. For we generally imagine the religious changes which swept the later Roman Empire as resulting from a fateful collaboration, that of a few unusually persuasive clerics with a multitude of devout Christian women, who enforced the views of their clerical friends at home, and shepherded their prominent husbands towards the once-only cleansing of baptism. The view has much to recommend it, and it has sparked some of the most interesting writing on late antiquity in recent decades, beginning with a celebrated contribution by Peter Brown to this journal.
Robust adaptive geometric tracking controls on SO(3) with an application to the attitude dynamics of a quadrotor UAV

This paper provides new results for a robust adaptive tracking control of the attitude dynamics of a rigid body. Both of the attitude dynamics and the proposed control system are globally expressed on the special orthogonal group, to avoid complexities and ambiguities associated with other attitude representations such as Euler angles or quaternions. By designing an adaptive law for the inertia matrix of a rigid body, the proposed control system can asymptotically follow an attitude command without the knowledge of the inertia matrix, and it is extended to guarantee boundedness of tracking errors in the presence of unstructured disturbances. These are illustrated by numerical examples and experiments for the attitude dynamics of a quadrotor UAV.
Specific Triggering of the Fas Signal Transduction Pathway in Normal Human Keratinocytes

The epidermis is continually exposed to genotoxic injury and requires an efficient mechanism to eliminate genetically altered cells. The membrane receptor, Fas, initiates apoptosis in many cell types, including keratinocytes. Receptor cross-linking is the vital post-ligand binding step in Fas signal transduction, and we have utilized FK1012, capable of oligomerizing proteins engineered to contain the FK506 binding protein (FKBP), to trigger Fas via FKBP-linked receptor cytoplasmic domains in human keratinocytes. An FKBP chimera containing the Fas cytoplasmic domain targeted to the plasma membrane induced an up to 89% decrease in viability of keratinocytes, as reflected by the activity of constitutive promoters, in response to FK1012. Oligomerization of Fas, either with engineered FasFKBP by FK1012 or via antibody cross-linking of full-length Fas-induced cellular changes consistent with apoptosis. The lpr Fas point mutation abolished this effect. A FasFKBP construct unlinked to the membrane was fully active in this assay. Early developmental age or pre-treatment of cells with GM-CSF, TGF-β, EGF, KGF, IFN-γ, or phorbol ester failed to protect against Fas effects. These findings reveal that the Fas signal transduction pathway is active in keratinocytes, requires no induction, and dominantly overrides growth stimuli.
Dispute Settlement Design for Unequal Partners: A Game Theoretic Perspective

When signatories of international agreements fail to comply unintentionally, sanctioning rules designed to deter intentional noncompliance are tested. To provide signatories with the best treaty value, we find that remedies in case of unilateral defection must account for the nature of the inequality between treaty partners, as well as the type of mixed motive game they are engaged in. Trigger type schemes, that rely on punishment by mutual defection, are the norm for sanctioning in treaty texts. Inequality is addressed by proposing that the process leading to retaliation be accelerated when a weaker partner faces the noncompliance of a stronger partner. Our analysis suggests instead that the prescription depends on the source of the inequality. If inequality stems from differences in the costs associated to compliance, the stronger partner, with the lower compliance costs, should be given more time, not less, to settle in the shadow of the law if he deviates. Despite their prevalence, trigger schemes are...
Role of the Internet as an information resource for surgical patients: a survey of 877 patients

Background This study was conducted to provide preliminary data regarding current Internet use practices for information about anaesthesia in patients undergoing elective surgical procedures at a major academic institution. Methods With IRB approval, 2936 patients coming for preanaesthetic evaluation at a tertiary academic hospital's preadmission testing (PAT) centre were invited to voluntarily participate in a 20-item questionnaire designed to obtain participants' characteristics and Internet use for information pertaining to their upcoming surgery. Data were analysed using statistical software SAS (Cary, NC, USA). Descriptive statistics were calculated for continuous variables using mean ( sd ), and for categorical data using n (%). Association analysis was performed using the Fisher's exact test. Results Eight hundred and seventy-seven patients (30%) responded. Of these, 356 (41%) looked for information about their medical condition, 321 (37%) for their surgery, 279 (32%) for surgeon, 163 (19%) for the hospital, and only 36 (4%) for information regarding anaesthesia. Of these 36 patients, 14 (39%) said the sites they used helped answer their questions regarding anaesthesia. Of the 831 patients who did not use the Internet for anaesthesia, 503 (57%) indicated that they would be receptive to being directed to specific websites for anaesthesia. Conclusions Of the patients coming for elective surgery who responded (30%), the majority did not use the Internet to seek information regarding anaesthesia. Respondents indicated a high degree of interest in being directed to appropriate websites for further information. These results suggest that it may be beneficial to include information regarding reliable web-based resources to interested patients at preoperative visits.
The Subprime Crisis and African Americans—Response

These remarks constitute a response to Sandra Philip’s consideration of the subprime mortgage crisis and African Americans. While Philip’s analysis of the recent collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market and its impact on African Americans is insightful and poignant, the scope of the analysis does not consider the role that race, inequality, political economy and stratification may have had. This response considers Philip’s treatment of the subprime crisis within a broader political economy context whereby the legacy of race, inequality and stratification may have provided incentives for financial institutions to engage in racially predatory lending practices that increased the level of risk—which ultimately caused the collapse of the subprime mortgage market, and the attendant financial crisis.