cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formalising the precepting process: A concept analysis of preceptorship.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To elucidate the terminology associated with preceptorships, articulate an operational description of preceptorship that may be useful in formalising the precepting process and provide guidance for constructing a clinical environment where precepting can thrive. BACKGROUND Precepting facilitates the transition of nurses into new roles. Precepting may improve patient outcomes and safety, as well as enhance nursing satisfaction. Most research focuses on preceptor preparation and perceptions. A comprehensive operational description of what is required to formalise the precepting process is missing from the literature. DESIGN This concept analysis was completed using a combination of Walker and Avant's and Rodger's methods. METHODS Existing literature relating to preceptorship was reviewed. Critical attributes, antecedents, consequences and empirical referents were identified. Model, contrary, related and borderline cases were developed. RESULTS Preceptorships have the specific attributes of being (i) one-on-one relationships, (ii) embedded within formalised programmes, (iii) that evolve over set amounts of time, (iv) to systematically facilitate practical experiences. Antecedents include how precepting is triggered and organisational supporting activities that may facilitate effective precepting. Consequences include new hire preparedness, confidence and increased retention. Empirical referents are provided for assessing hands-on clinical expertise, individualisation of precepting programmes and the preceptor-preceptee relationship. CONCLUSIONS This concept analysis provides a holistic view of the precepting process that shifts the focus from the people or checklist to formalised preceptorships. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Continuity throughout an organisation's system streamlines the process of hiring new employees and transitioning nursing students to practice. Organisational policies, dedicated resources and engagement in systematically improving the precepting process are critical. Nurse managers must promote and support formalised preceptorships by providing preceptors and preceptees the time and space needed and fostering a culture that supports preceptorships.
Designing Sustainable Models for Hot Cities: Planning an Energy Efficient Green Dubai

Climate change is happening and happening fast. Cities like Dubai are growing hotter by the day. In Dubai, where temperatures soar to unbearably high levels, work environments, especially for the blue-collar worker, become particularly insufferable. As Gulf News in March ’15 quoted, “there is one car for every 2 residents.” The needs for reduction in carbon emissions and improvements in human habitability are the needs of the hour. The sustainable design principles that may be employed while designing and planning hot urban environments, which result in an increase in energy efficiency, need to be researched by academicians and practitioners alike. The aim of this research paper is not only to analyze methods and draw on the solutions that have been tried and tested in hot global cities that aid in making urban microclimates more conducive, but also devise new strategies that can prove successful in extremely hot conditions. Having bagged the Expo 2020 bid, the need is larger for the Venice of the Middle East, to both maintain its world-class status and achieve new heights in sustainable city infrastructure. This, in turn, will pave the way for planning future cities with hot climates. There’s an urgency in this climate chaotic world for a paradigm shift from pure climate mitigation towards climate adaptation. A place-based approach that harbours healthy symbiotic relationships between physical, social and environmental infrastructural elements is essential in making this city climate resilient.
Visualization of gender, race, citizenship and academic performance in association with career outcomes of 15-year biomedical doctoral alumni at a public research university

It has long been thought that biomedical doctoral students pursue careers primarily as tenure-track/tenured faculty at research institutions. Recent reports showed, however, that the majority of biomedical doctoral alumni engage in a variety of careers. Wayne State University (WSU) undertook a project to understand the career trajectories of its biomedical doctoral alumni to create programs to better prepare its students for careers in multiple pathways. Data were collected on career outcomes of WSU's biomedical doctoral alumni who graduated in a 15-year period from 1999-2014. Careers were classified into three tiers by Employment Sector, Career Types and Job Functions and career paths were examined by alumni gender, race, U.S. citizenship status, and association with certain academic characteristics. Several statistically significant differences in career paths among all demographics were found. For example, women were more likely to be in teaching and providing healthcare, men in faculty and research; Black alumni pursued careers in Government at higher rates and Whites in For-Profit careers; Asians and non-U.S. citizens spent more time in training positions than others. There was no association of academic characteristics such as GRE, GPA, and Time-to-Degree completion with careers in the two largest sectors of Academia or For-profit. Since our trainees are engaged in this rich variety of careers essential to advancing biomedical science and research nationally, it is imperative for the graduate training community to embrace all careers as successful, and transform the model for biomedical doctoral training to foster student success across this broad career spectrum.
Kinetics and mechanisms of catalase in peroxisomes of the mitochondrial fraction.

1. The primary intermediate of catalase and hydrogen peroxide was identified and investigated in peroxisome-rich mitochondrial fractions of rat liver. On the basis of kinetic constants determined in vitro, it is possible to calculate with reasonable precision the molecular statistics of catalase action in the peroxisomes. 2. The endogenous hydrogen peroxide generation is adequate to sustain a concentration of the catalase intermediate (p(m)/e) of 60-70% of the hydrogen peroxide saturation value. Total amount of catalase corresponds to 0.12-0.15nmol of haem iron/mg of protein. In State 1 the rate of hydrogen peroxide generation corresponds to 0.9nmol/min per mg of protein or 5% of the mitochondrial respiratory rate in State 4. 3. Partial saturation of the catalase intermediate with hydrogen peroxide (p(m)/e) in the mitochondrial fraction suggests its significant peroxidatic activity towards its endogenous hydrogen donor. A variation of this value (p(m)/e) from 0.3 in State 4 to 0 under anaerobic conditions is observed. 4. For a particular preparation the hydrogen peroxide generation rate in the substrate-supplemented State 4 corresponds to 0.17s(-1) (eqn. 6), the hydrogen peroxide concentration to 2.5nm and the hydrogen-donor concentration (in terms of ethanol) to 0.12mm. The reaction is 70% peroxidatic and 30% catalatic. 5. A co-ordinated production of both oxidizing and reducing substrates for catalase in the mitochondrial fraction is suggested by a 2.2-fold increase of hydrogen peroxide generation and a threefold increase in hydrogen-donor generation in the State 1 to State 4 transition. 6. Additional hydrogen peroxide generation provided by the urate oxidase system of peroxisomes (8-12nmol of uric acid oxidized/min per mg of protein) permits saturation of the catalase with hydrogen peroxide to haem occupancy of 40% compared with values of 36% for a purified rat liver catalase ofk(1)=1.7x10(7)m(-1).s(-1) and k'(4)=2.6x10(7)m(-1). s(-1)(Chance, Greenstein & Roughton, 1952). 7. The turnover of the catalase ethyl hydrogen peroxide intermediate (k'(3)) in the peroxisomes is initially very rapid since endogenous hydrogen peroxide acts as a hydrogen donor. k'(3) decreases fivefold in the uncoupled state of the mitochondria.
A Report on Picosecond Studies of Electron Transfer in Photosynthetic Models

Considerable spectroscopic work on reaction centers (RC) from photosynthetic bacteria [1] and on photosystem I (PSI) particles from green plants [2] has established that the Initial photochemical step In these systems is the subnanosecond transfer of an electron resulting in the creation of an oxidized donor and a reduced acceptor. For both of these systems the electron donor is a dimer [3]. The acceptor for bacterial RC’s is bacteriopheophytin, a metal-free bacteriochlorophyll. The acceptor for PSI is thought to be chlorophylla. Recently a tetrameric complex was reported [4] to duplicate the ≤ 6 ps charge transfer (CT) reaction found In bacterial RC’s. This complex was present in an equilibrium mixture of pryropheophorbidea (PPheoa) ethylene glycol monoester and pyrochlorophylla (PChla) in toluene. The PChla dimeric core of the tetramer was reported to donate an electron to one of the attached PPheoa monoesters. Problems of Interpretation arising from excess PPheoa in solution were not addressed.
ROUGH SURFACE PLASTICITY AND ADHESION ACROSS LENGTH SCALES

The study of interacting rough surfaces, especially at mesoscale and nanoscale, has been playing a central role in a broad spectrum of novel applications, e.g. nanostructure fabrication and reliability. The multiscale nature of surface roughness, the structure- and size-sensitive material deformation behavior, and the importance of surface forces and other physical interactions give rise to very complex surface phenomena at mesoscale and nanoscale. In this work, we present a contact mechanics model based on the power spectral density function of the surface roughness. This is more relevant to large-scale rough surface contact with the use of classic plasticity theory. If using phenomenological strain-gradient plasticity theory, we can show that one can only flatten asperities in a certain frequency interval of the roughness spectrum. We also present a new scheme of modeling rough surface adhesion by using the Dugdale model and the self-affine fractal surface, which leads to a discussion of gecko adhesion. We also present some of our perspectives about the interaction between adhesion and micro-plasticity for, e.g., nano-imprinting and nano-welding applications.
Linguistic Tone and Internal Control Reporting: Evidence from Municipal Management Discussion and Analysis Disclosures

ABSTRACT We study the textual content of MD&A disclosures. Specifically, we model the determinants of linguistic tone (based on the fraction of positive or negative words) in municipal MD&A section...
Rearrangements and information theoretic inequalities

We investigate the interaction of functional rearrangements with information theoretic inequalities. In particular we will prove the Relative Fisher information from Gaussianity decreases on half-space rearrangement, as a consequence we get a qualitative sharpening of the usual Gaussian log-Sobolev inequality. Additionally, we compare this half space rearrangement’s interaction with distance from Gaussianity, with the spherical rearrangement’s role in entropy power inequalities.
Developments in Illinois in 1960

In Illinois 1,922 wells were drilled for oil and gas in 1960, a decrease of 5% compared with the 2,032 total in 1959. These figures are exclusive of water- or gas-input wells, salt-water disposal wells, and old wells worked over. Exploratory drilling increased 23.6% from 535 wells (FOOTNOTE 3) in 1959 to 661 in 1960. Eleven new pools, 43 extensions, and 26 new pays in pools were discovered in 1960. Total oil production increased from 76,727,000 bbls. in 1959 to 77,341,000 bbls. in 1960. Of the 11 new pools discovered in 1960, 5 oil pools and 1 gas pool produced from Mississippian sandstones and limestones, 2 oil pools from limestone of Devonian age, and 3 from carbonates of Silurian age.
Subjective inflation: phenomenology’s get-rich-quick scheme

How do we explain the seemingly rich nature of visual phenomenology while accounting for impoverished perception in the periphery? This apparent mismatch has led some to posit that rich phenomenological content overflows cognitive access, whereas others hold that phenomenology is in fact sparse and constrained by cognitive access. Here, we review the Rich versus Sparse debate as it relates to a phenomenon called subjective inflation, wherein minimally attended or peripheral visual perception tends to be subjectively evaluated as more reliable than attended or foveal perception when objective performance is matched. We argue that subjective inflation can account for rich phenomenology without invoking phenomenological overflow. On this view, visual phenomenology is constrained by cognitive access, but seemingly inflated above what would be predicted based on sparse sensory content.
Exploring sex differences in small cell lung cancer: Is this a hormonal issue?

e20077Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for about 10% to 15% of lung cancers among women and men. Though heavily associated with smoking, its incidence in women is rapidly increasi...
Interaction of Cu(II) 3,5-diisopropylsalicylate with human serum albumin--an evaluation of spectroscopic data.

The copper(II) complex of 3,5-diisopropylsalicylate is a lipophilic water-insoluble binuclear complex, Cu(II) (3,5-DIPS) , that has attracted interest because of a wide range of pharmacological activities. This study was undertaken to examine bonding interactions between the complex and human serum albumin (HSA) to help elucidate the mode of transport of the complex in vivo. Electron paramagnetic resonance, numerical magnetic resonance and UV-visible absorption spectroscopic studies were performed using 200 μM aqueous solutions (pH 7.5) of HSA to which had been added up to three molar equivalents of CuCl , CuSO , or Cu(II) (3,5-DIPS). Both EPR and UV-visible spectra demonstrated the presence of more than one copper bonding site on HSA, and proton NMR spectra showed that the 3,5-DIPS ligand is also bonded to HSA. These results indicate that there is no observable direct coordination of the ligand to copper in the presence of HSA, and that the majority of the copper and 3,5-DIPS bond to HSA at separate sites. Addition of solid Cu(II) (3,5-DIPS) to HSA at pH 7.5 similarly resulted in spectra that suggest that there are no ternary Cu(II)(3,5-DIPS), Cu(II)(3,5-DIPS) , or Cu(II) (3,5-DIPS) complexes formed with HSA. It is concluded that any ternary complexes formed in the presence of HSA are below the spectroscopic detection limits and represent less than 5% of the total copper. © Rapid Science 1998.
Women farmers in developed countries: a literature review

Very little research into women farmers in developed countries has been produced by economists, but much of what has been studied by scholars in other disciplines has economic implications. This article reviews such research produced by scholars in all disciplines to explore to what extent women farmers are becoming more equal to men farmers and to suggest further contributions to the literature. As examples, topics that has been widely researched in developing countries but have received almost no attention in developed countries include comparisons of men and women farmers’ productivity and their access to and use of resources. Discoveries in these and other areas will be important not only for their insights into the agricultural industry in developed countries, but also because they will inform, and be informed by, research on women farmers in developing countries.
Net Revenue Determination of Beans Marketers in Imo State, Nigeria

Agriculture has been the backbone in the growth and development of many developing countries.
Vibration-based damage detection techniques for structural health monitoring of civil infrastructure systems

Abstract: In order to mitigate deterioration and efficiently manage maintenance efforts on reinforced concrete (RC) bridge structures, two methodologies are needed: 1. A methodology to extend the service life of bridge structures 2. A methodology to monitor performance changes of bridge structures. While the use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites provides an efficient means for repair and strengthening of civil infrastructure, methods of structural health monitoring (SHM) of civil infrastructure provide the means of assessing the effectiveness and continued performance of the rehabilitated structure, including the determination of serviceability, reliability, and remaining functionality of the structure. This chapter provides both a general review of SHM techniques for dynamic testing and vibration-based damage detection and a case study showing the applicability of the technique on a FRP rehabilitated bridge system.
Cysteinyl maresins regulate the prophlogistic lung actions of cysteinyl leukotrienes

Background Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) are potent prophlogistic mediators in asthmatic patients; however, inhibition of CysLT receptor 1 is not a consistently effective treatment, suggesting additional regulatory mechanisms. Other cysteinyl-containing lipid mediators (LMs) derived from docosahexaenoic acid, namely maresin conjugates in tissue regeneration (MCTRs), were recently discovered. Therefore their production and actions in the lung are of considerable interest. Objective We sought to determine MCTR production, bioactions, and mechanisms in the human lung and in patients with experimental allergic airway inflammation. Methods LM metabololipidomic profiling of the lung was performed by using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Donor-derived human precision-cut lung slices were exposed to leukotriene (LT) D4, MCTRs, or both before determination of airway contraction. The actions of exogenous MCTRs on murine allergic host responses were determined in the setting of ovalbumin- and house dust mite–induced lung inflammation. Results Lipidomic profiling showed that the most abundant cysteinyl LMs in healthy human lungs were MCTRs, whereas CysLTs were most prevalent in patients with disease. MCTRs blocked LTD4-initiated airway contraction in human precision-cut lung slices. In mouse allergic lung inflammation MCTRs were present with temporally regulated production. With ovalbumin-induced inflammation, MCTR1 was most potent for promoting resolution of eosinophils, and MCTR3 potently decreased airway hyperreactivity to methacholine, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid albumin, and serum IgE levels. MCTR1 and MCTR3 inhibited lung eosinophilia after house dust mite–induced inflammation. Conclusion These results identified lung MCTRs that blocked human LTD4-induced airway contraction and promoted resolution of murine allergic airway responses when added exogenously. Together, these findings uncover proresolving mechanisms for lung responses that can be disrupted in patients with disease.
Black Box | White Palace | #MeToo

I was a law school teacher, and that's how I regard my role here with my [SCOTUS] colleagues, who haven't had the experience of growing up female and don't fully appreciate the arbitrary barriers t...
Emerging therapies for the treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Objective: To examine the evidence for emerging treatment options, buprenorphine or clonidine, as monotherapy for the treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) against standards of care, morp...
The Multiple Selves of Economic Self-Determination

In this Essay, I argue that the contemporary world requires an explicitly plural and flexible conception of economic self-determination and especially a broader vision of the economic “self” at its center. I contend that older dyadic understandings of economic self-determination, formed largely in light of twentieth-century anticolonial struggles, are no longer sufficient. Individuals can be economically constrained across multiple vectors by newly powerful actors and innovative forms of control. They are thus potentially implicated in multiple political and economic selves—not just personal but also local, national, and transnational. As such, those seeking to promote economic self-determination should more explicitly recognize and perhaps strategically enable and enhance this flexibility. At the same time, anyone working for change must remain aware of how each “self” can still be coopted and reshaped by those who would deliberately or inadvertently limit the economic potential of others in pursuit of their own benefit. We must avoid, for example, both an atomistic and counterproductive individualism and an uninterrogated support for elites shielded by the concept of the nation-state. At a deeper process level, we should also help build capacities and mechanisms that make the sources of economic unfreedom more visible and understandable and that enable the kinds of flexible economic self-definition and cross-cutting alliances that the contemporary moment requires.
Vapor-Deposited Glasses Highlight the Role of Density in Photostability.

Photoresponsive molecules can be integrated into glassy materials to probe the local environment and invoke responsive changes in polymer behavior. For example, recent experiments and simulations have studied increased stability in vapor-deposited glasses by examining the photoisomerization rate of a probe molecule. At the theoretical level, past work relied on coarse-grained simulations to explain the role of photoisomerization on glass behavior. In order to effectively exploit these molecular probes, an ability to quantify how the local environment influences the photoisomerization rate is needed. In this work, we present all-atom molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of molecular glasses of photoresponsive azobenzene (AB) molecules. The stability of these in-silico samples is probed using photoisomerization, where AB molecules can undergo trans → cis transition upon light exposure. Vapor-deposited and bulk-cooled glasses of AB are simulated using a classical dihedral-switching potential developed by Bockmann et al. (J. Phys. Chem. A 2010, 114, 745–754) to model the photoisomerization process. The MD simulations include thousands of molecules and run for tens of nanoseconds. These size and time scales allow us to explore the broad distribution of photoisomerization wait times, which yields two results. First, the wait-time distributions for both physical vapor deposition and bulk-cooled glasses depend strongly on sample and local density, showing that density or local packing is a primary factor in glass stability against photoisomerization and the experimentally measured photoresponse. Second, the distribution follows a power-law with exponent b ≈ 1.25–1.3 that extends to longer times with increasing density. The power-law distribution suggests a connection with previous experiments that related barriers to photoisomerization with an effective photoisomerization temperature.
Feeling angry: the effects of vaccine misinformation and refutational messages on negative emotions and vaccination attitude.

Vaccine misinformation circulated on social media has negatively impacted people’s vaccine beliefs and behaviors. Communication strategies to address misinformation including fact-checking and warn...
Mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide positively regulates neuropeptide secretion during diet-induced activation of the oxidative stress response

Mitochondria play a pivotal role in the generation of signals coupling metabolism with neurotransmitter release, but a role for mitochondrial-produced ROS in regulating neurosecretion has not been described. Here we show that endogenously produced hydrogen peroxide originating from axonal mitochondria (mtH2O2) functions as a signaling cue to selectively regulate the secretion of a FMRFamide-related neuropeptide (FLP-1) from a pair of interneurons (AIY) in C. elegans. We show that pharmacological or genetic manipulations that increase mtH2O2 levels lead to increased FLP-1 secretion that is dependent upon ROS dismutation, mitochondrial calcium influx, and cysteine sulfenylation of the calcium-independent PKC family member PKC-1. mtH2O2-induced FLP-1 secretion activates the oxidative stress response transcription factor SKN-1/Nrf2 in distal tissues and protects animals from ROS-mediated toxicity. mtH2O2 levels in AIY neurons, FLP-1 secretion and SKN-1 activity are rapidly and reversibly regulated by exposing animals to different bacterial food sources. These results reveal a previously unreported role for mtH2O2 in linking diet-induced changes in mitochondrial homeostasis with neuropeptide secretion.
Subgroup Analyses in Oncology Trials: Regulatory Considerations and Case Examples.

Subgroup analyses are assessments of treatment effects based on certain patient characteristics out of the total study population and are important for interpretation of pivotal oncology trials. However, appropriate use of subgroup analyses results for regulatory decision-making and product labeling is challenging. Typically, drugs approved by FDA are indicated for use in the total patient population studied; however, there are examples of restriction to a subgroup of patients despite positive study results in the entire study population and also extension of an indication to the entire study population despite positive results appearing primarily in one or more subgroups. In this article, we summarize key issues related to subgroup analyses in the benefit-risk assessment of a cancer drugs and provide case examples to illustrate approaches that the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE) has taken when considering the appropriate patient population for cancer drug approval. In general, if a subgroup is of interest, the subgroup analysis should be hypothesis-driven and have adequate sample size to demonstrate evidence of a treatment effect. In addition to statistical efficacy considerations, the decision on what subgroups to include in labeling relies on the pathophysiology of the disease, mechanistic justification, safety data, and external information available. The oncology drug review takes the totality of the data into consideration during the decision-making process to ensure the indication granted and product labeling appropriately reflect the scientific evidence to support patient population for whom the drug is safe and effective.
REVENUE AND TAXATION Tax Executions: Provide for Payment and Transfer

The Act requires the Tax Commissioner or collector to provide thirty-days'; written notice to a taxpayer that an execution will be issued if delinquent taxes are not paid. The Act also provides that a third party, other than a tax official or employee, may pay the tax and receive a transfer of the execution provided he has notified the individual against whom the execution has issued.
Chapter 21 – Kx blood group system

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the Kx blood group system. The terminology, expression, database accession numbers, and the carrier molecule related to the Kx blood group system are also reviewed. This blood group was named in 1990 when the Kx antigen was assigned system status. In the red blood cell (RBC) membrane, XK protein (Kx protein) is covalently linked at Cys 72 to Cys 347 of the Kell glycoprotein. The function and disease association of the Kx blood group system is also discussed. XK has structural characteristics of a membrane transport protein, and a homolog, ced-8, is involved in regulating cell death in C. elegans. XK is involved in the maintenance of normal cell membrane integrity. Absence of XK protein is associated with acanthocytosis and the McLeod syndrome, which manifests a compensated hemolytic anemia, elevated serum creatinine kinase and neuromuscular disorders including chorea, areflexia, skeletal muscle atrophy and cardiomyopathy.
Prediction of Pancreatic Cancer Survival through Automated Selection of Predictive Models

Cancer survival forecasting may be attempted using models constructed through predictive techniques of various kinds, including statistical multivariate regression and machine learning. However, no single such technique provides the best predictive performance in all cases. We present an automated meta-learning approach that learns to predict the best performing technique for each individual patient. The individually selected technique is then used to forecast survival for the given patient. We evaluate the proposed approach over a database of retrospective records of pancreatic cancer surgical resections.
Role of the arene oxide-oxepin system in the metabolism of aromatic substrates: I. In vitro conversion of benzene oxide to a premercapturic acid and a dihydrodiol

Abstract On incubation with rabbit liver microsomes, benzene oxide is converted enzymatically to trans-1,2-dihydro-l,2-dihydroxybenzene. The enzyme, “epoxide hydrase,” is found in both the microsomal and the soluble fractions and converts a variety of epoxides to 1,2-glycols. Hydration to glycols has been demonstrated for styrene oxide, indene oxide, and cyclohexene oxide. The trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxybenzene is dehydrogenated to catechol by the supernatant of microsomes. In the presence of acid, benzene oxide readily rearranges to phenol. This isomerization is also catalyzed by proteins, simple peptides, and acetamide, but not by N,N-dimethylacetamide. Consequently phenol is a major nonenzymatic product in all enzymatic studies with benzene oxide. An enzyme in the soluble fraction of rat liver catalyzes the addition of glutathione to benzene oxide forming the premercapturic acid, S-(1,2-dihydro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-glutathione.
Rosetta stone for parametrized tests of gravity

Several model-independent parametrizations of deviations from general relativity have been developed to test Einstein's theory. Although these different parametrizations were developed for different gravitational observables, they ultimately all test the same underlying physics. In this paper, we develop connections between the parametrized post-Newtonian, parametrized post-Keplerian, and the parametrized post-Einsteinian frameworks, developed to carry out tests of general relativity with Solar System, binary pulsar, and gravitational wave observations, respectively. These connections, although only valid under certain assumptions such as energy/momentum conservation, allow us to use knowledge gained from one framework to inform and guide tests using the others. Relating these parametrizations and combining the results from each approach strengthens our tests of general relativity.
Affirmative Action: Comparative Policies and Controversies

Although the phrase ‘affirmative action’ apparently originated in the United States, the practice of providing benefits or preferential treatment to individuals based on their membership of a disadvantaged group can be found in a wide variety of forms in many other countries, most notably India, which developed affirmative programs as early as 1927. Other countries that have more recently developed affirmative action programs that contrast in significant ways with US programs include Australia, Israel, and South Africa. Despite the potential benefits that derive from cross-national study of such differing approaches to comparable problems, comparative scholarship on this topic has been quite limited, although the final years of the 1990s saw a significant increase in published work in this area. After surveying this scholarship, the balance of this article will provide a comparative analysis of three particular issues: justifications for affirmative action, selection of beneficiary groups, and determination of individual eligibility.
Host-Range Restrictions of Murine Leukemia Viruses in Mouse Embryo Cell Cultures

Abstract Murine leukemia virus strains fall into three categories with respect to their ability to propagate in cells of National Institutes of Health (NIH) Swiss and BALB/c mouse embryos. Cultures of NIH cells are 100- to 1,000-fold more sensitive to “N-tropic” strains than BALB/c cell cultures, but are 30- to 100-fold less sensitive to “B-tropic” strains. Some virus strains (dually tropic or “NB-tropic”) propagate equally well in both cells. M-MSV pseudotypes show the host-range characteristics of the virus supplying the envelope, both in vitro and in vivo. The host-range characteristics appear to be genetically determined and could not be explained by host-induced modification or virus mixtures. There was no correlation between host range and Gross-AKR or FMR serotype.
Maternal attention and preterm infant feeding.

Abstract Purpose: Thepurposeofthisstudywastoexploretherelationshipsamongthe mother’s internal working model of feeding, attentional process,feeding behaviors, and responsiveness accounting for maternal psychologi-cal distress, which may contribute to preterm infants’ feeding difﬁculties. DesignandMethods: Inthisdescriptivestudy,21mother–preterminfantdyads were videotaped during feeding. Results: Surprisingly, the internal working model of feeding was a signiﬁ-cant negative predictor of maternal feeding behaviors and maternal atten-tion. All other correlations were non-signiﬁcant. Conclusions: Given the early timing of the data collection, it is possiblethat mothers had not developed a frame of reference of their infant as aperson. Research to help further understand factors and timing affectingmaternal feeding behaviors is needed. The predischarge period is an ideal time to identifyand inﬂuence a mother’s internal working model(IWM), or mental model, of feeding and her feedingbehavior. Feeding is one of the primary settings ofinteraction for very young infants. However, littleattention has been paid to how a mother thinksabout feeding (IWM) and her attentional process.Maternal attentional process includes the visualcues a mother focuses on and uses to make feedingdecisions.Maternalattentionisthoughttobeimpor-tant to the development of the mother’s sensitivityand responsivity during feeding. Feeding is impor-tant to the development of the mother–infantrelationship,andthustotheinfant’slong-termwell-being, including the infant’s ability to self-regulate(BrownPSchore,2001).Asensitiveand responsive mother is better able to respond tothe infant’s needs, support the infant’s ability toattain self-regulatory skills (Beebe et al., 2011), andassist the infant in actively participating in thefeeding.Amother’spsychologicaldistress(anxiety,depres-sion,andstress)hasbeenfoundtohaveunfavorableeffects on the mother’s feeding behaviors (Mills-Koonce, Gariepy, Sutton, & Cox, 2008; Zelkowitzet al., 2008). Extensive research has focused onthe relationship between a mother’s psychologicaldistress and her decreasing sensitivity and respon-siveness (Ainsworth, 1983; Bigelow, Littlejohn,Bergman, & McDonald, 2010; Moore et al., 2009).Fewer studies have focused on the development ofthe IWM that directs maternal attention to theinfant’s cues, and research on maternal attentionalprocesses themselves is non-existent. Therefore, thepurposeofthisstudywastoexploretherelationshipsamong the mother’s IWM of feeding, attentional
Probing the Electronic Structure of Fe ? S Clusters: Ubiquitous Electron Transfer Centers in Metalloproteins Using Anion Photoelectron Spectroscopy in the Gas Phase

Iron-Sulfur clusters are found in all forms of life, which constitute the active sites of a growing list of proteins in such essential life-sustaining processes as respiration, nitrogen fixation, and photosynthesis (Spiro 1982). The most prototypical and ubiquitous Fe-S cluster is the cubane-type [4Fe-4S] cluster, which, in addition to its catalytic and regulatory roles, appears to be nature’s favorite agent for electron transfer and storage, such as in ferrodoxins (Fds), high-potential iron proteins (HiPIPs), and the integral machineries of hydrogenases and nitrogenases (Bernnert et al. 1997; Einsle etal. 2002; Peters et al. 1998). In proteins, the cubane [4Fe-4S] unit is usually coordinated by the amino acid cysteine. The [4Fe-4S] core functions as electron transfer agent usually between the following oxidation states: [4Fe-4S]1+ ↔ [4Fe-4S]2+ ↔ [4Fe-4S]3+ . A fourth state, the all-ferrous species [4Fe-4S]0, was also detected in the iron protein of nitrogenase.
Falwell v. Flynt Trial, 1984

Asked about his first sexual experience by an interviewer, Reverend Jerry Falwell said, "I never really expected to make it with Mom, but then after she showed all the other guys in town such a good time, I thought 'What the hell!'" Falwell went on to describe a a Campari-fueled sexual encounter with his mother in an outhouse near Lynchburg, Virginia. Neither the incestuous sex nor the interview ever happened, of course. They sprang from the imagination of a parody writer for Hustler Magazine. When the Campari parody ad appeared in the November 1983 issue of Hustler, the founder of the politically-engaged organization Moral Majority sued, alleging defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The trial and appeals that followed would provide great theater, produce a landmark Supreme Court ruling on the First Amendment, and eventually lead to one of the most unlikely of friendships.
Distributed Consensus Algorithms for Image-Based Localization in Camera Sensor Networks

This chapter presents distributed algorithms for solving two classical computer vision problems: object localization, i.e., estimation of the 3-D pose of an object from multiple 2-D views; and camera sensor network localization, i.e., estimation of the 3-D camera poses from multiple 2-D views. These problems are posed as generalized consensus problems in the space of rigid-body motions and solved using extensions of classical consensus algorithms to this space. The convergence properties of the proposed algorithms are studied and compared to naive generalizations of Euclidean consensus, which fail to converge to the correct solution. Experiments on synthetic data evaluate the proposed methods.
Testing the nuclear test-ban treaty

A recent earthquake near a former Soviet nuclear test site has tested mechanisms for monitoring the test-ban treaty. Technical systems passed with flying colours, but relevant US agencies could have done better.
The Compensatory Relationship between Technological Relatedness, Social Interaction, and Knowledge Flow between Firms

Knowledge flow between two firms has been found to be enhanced by both technological relatedness and social interaction. We build on work in education psychology and consider how cognitive and social aspects of learning may be compensatory. Using a sample of 61 alliances involving Eli Lilly and its partners, we find the importance of social interaction between Lilly and its partner to partner learning decreased as their technological relatedness increased. Likewise, the importance of technological relatedness to partner learning decreased as social interaction increased. This study provides nuance on the criticality of technological relatedness and social interaction for learning.
The influence of LOCOS related oxide etch backs on thin oxide leakage in memory devices

The influence of oxide etch backs done in LOCOS based isolation technologies on the low level leakage and reliability of tunnel oxide capacitors has been studied. Tunnel oxide structures are part of nonvolatile memory devices such as Flash EEPROMs and are critical to their overall performance. LOCOS isolated, area and edge intensive capacitors with 94 A tunnel oxide have been manufactured and tested. Test results indicate that the extent of the etch back and the use of HF instead of buffered HF as etch chemical do not adversely affect the low level leakage of the tunnel capacitors. However, oxide endurance analysis based on constant current charge to breakdown tests shows a significant degradation if an aggressive pretunnel oxide etch back strategy is adopted.
LANDING GEAR AERODYNAMIC NOISE PREDICTION USING UNSTRUCTURED GRIDS

Aerodynamic noise from a landing gear in a uniform flow is computed using the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) equation. The time accurate flow data on the integration surface is obtained using a finite volume low-order flow solver on an unstructured grid. The Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation is solved using surface integrals over the landing gear surface and over a permeable surface away from the landing gear. Two geometric configurations are tested in order to assess the impact of two lateral struts on the sound level and directivity in the far-field. Predictions from the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings code are compared with direct calculations by the flow solver at several observer locations inside the computational domain. The permeable Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings surface predictions match those of the flow solver in the near-field. Far-field noise calculations coincide for both integration surfaces. The increase in drag observed between the two landing gear configurations is reflected in the sound pressure le...
High Performance Computing for CFD

This chapter describes some general aspects of high performance computing in CFD. High performance computing has been dominated by commodity clusters with large number of cheap processors. These systems provide exceptional opportunity in performance to cost but bring numerous difficulties in designing numerically efficient parallel CFD solution. We will discuss successively hardware/software solution for CFD and reemphasize the importance of algorithm and software libraries. We will also discuss new opportunities in aerospace engineering brought by large parallel systems. Keywords: Moore's law; parallel CFD; domain decomposition; MPI; openMP; Beowulf cluster
Multivariate Survival Analysis

In the previous chapters of this book, we have examined a variety of techniques for analyzing survival data. With few exceptions, these techniques are based on the assumption that the survival times of distinct individuals are independent of each other. Although this assumption may be valid in many experimental settings, it may be suspect in others. For example, we may be making inferences about survival in a sample of siblings or litter mates who share a common genetic makeup, or we may be studying survival in a sample of married couples who share a common, unmeasured, environment. A third example is where we are studying the times to occurrence of different nonlethal diseases within the same individual. In each of these situations, it is quite probable that there is some association within groups of survival times in the sample.
Nonlinear fracture mechanics for ferroelastic materials

Nonlinear fracture mechanics concepts for ferroelastic materials are presented. A phenomenological constitutive law for ferroelastic domain switching is implemented within a steady state finite element formulation to determine the stress and strain fields near growing cracks in ferroelastic materials. Hutchinson's I-integral is applied to determine the relationship between the far field applied energy release rate and the local crack tip energy release rate. Computations are performed on both unpoled and "mechanically poled" materials with and without T-stress to quantitatively determine the toughening due to domain switching in these situations. Results are discussed in comparison to "transformations toughening" type analytical models.
A quantitative assessment of ancient therapeutics: Poppy and pain in the Hippocratic Corpus

In an effort to develop a method to ascertain whether ancient physicians used certain drugs because of their efficacy or for other reasons (random process, tradition, etc.), the authors have devised a statistical test (Efficacy Quotient - EQ) to evaluate ancient therapeutic data quantitatively. They have applied the Efficacy Quotient to clarify whether the Hippocratic physician used poppy (opium) in the treatment of pain because he had recognized that it had analgesic properties or whether he used it as he used others plants devoid of such properties. The authors conclude that the analgesic properties of poppy were not recognized at the time. The appropriateness of using the Efficacy Quotient for the
Influence of abdominal temperature on epididymal function in the rat and rabbit.

The effects of body temperature on sperm maturation and sperm storage in the epididymis have been studied in rats and rabbits by surgical reflection of the epididymis into the abdomen without disturbing its continuity with a functional scrotal testis. Rats so treated remained fertile during a period of 13 months, as judged by a sequence of normal litters born to their female cage mates, and cryptepididymal rabbits remained fertile for four months or more according to the individual, as evidenced by eggs fertilized and litters born after artificial insemination or natural mating. By contrast, spermatozoa confined by ligatures within an abdominal cauda epididymidis never retain their potential for motility for more than a brief period (5 days in rat; 8–10 days in rabbit), as compared with several weeks in contra-lateral scrotal controls. It is uncertain whether their early death at abdominal temperatures resulted primarily from a suppressive effect of the temperature on the spermatozoa themselves, or on the caudal epithelium. Because of an increasing presence of apparently immature spermatozoa in the ejaculate of the first cryptepididymal rabbit between 7 and 11 months postoperatively, the rate of sperm transport through the epididymis of seven cryptepididymal rabbits was estimated by labelling with tritiated thymidine. As judged by the time of appearance of labelled spermatozoa in the ejaculate, transposition of the rabbit epididymis to the abdomen ultimately causes a progressive increase in the rate of sperm transport through it from a normal of nine days to two to five days in the cryptepididymal state. Thus, although maturation may eventually be compromised to some degree because of an increased rate of sperm passage, and sperm storage is inhibited, abdominal temperature apparently does not alter the essential biochemical nature of the epididymal milieu required for maturation. These results are reviewed in light of the suggestion (Bedford, '78) that the cauda epididymidis has been the prime mover in scrotal evolution.
Evaluating the clinical effectiveness of a specialized perinatal psychiatry inpatient unit.

Women experiencing severe perinatal mental illness during pregnancy or postpartum have unique needs when psychiatric hospitalization is indicated. Although many countries have established mother–baby psychiatric units, similar facilities have not been available in the US. In 2011, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill inaugurated the first Perinatal Psychiatry Inpatient Unit in the US. We describe the unique characteristics of the patient population and report clinical outcomes guiding development and refinement of treatment protocols. Ninety-two perinatal patients were admitted between September 2011 and September 2012, and 91 completed self-report measures at admission and discharge. Perinatal unipolar mood disorder was the most frequent primary diagnosis (60.43 %), and 11 patients (12 %) were admitted with psychosis. The data document clinically and statistically significant improvements in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and active suicidal ideation between admission and discharge (p < 0.0001), as assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. Overall functioning was also improved, demonstrated by a significant mean difference of −10.96 in total scores of the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (p < 0.0001). Data suggest that delivering specialized and targeted interventions for severe maternal mental illness in a safe and supportive setting produces positive patient outcomes.
Branching object generation and animation system with cubic hermite interpolation

This paper presents geometric modelling methods for branching object generation and animation with cubic Hermite curves. The procedure for creating a branching object involves two steps. First, the skeleton of an object is constructed. The skeleton consists of geometrical and topological information about the segments of the object. Secondly, cubic Hermite curves are used to deform and join consecutive segments in the skeleton in order to form the body of the object with C1 continuity. Cubic Hermite curves are also used to deform partial segments which allow an object to grow with desirable continuity in space and time. The techniques are easily implemented on any computer and allow the user to create a branching object using objects which have diverse shapes as segments.