cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Century of Votes for Women: American Elections Since Suffrage

How have American women voted in the first 100 years since the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment? How have popular understandings of women as voters both persisted and changed over time? In A Century of Votes for Women, Christina Wolbrecht and J. Kevin Corder offer an unprecedented account of women voters in American politics over the last ten decades. Bringing together new and existing data, the book provides unique insight into women's (and men's) voting behavior, and traces how women's turnout and vote choice evolved across a century of enormous transformation overall and for women in particular. Wolbrecht and Corder show that there is no such thing as 'the woman voter'; instead they reveal considerable variation in how different groups of women voted in response to changing political, social, and economic realities. The book also demonstrates how assumptions about women as voters influenced politicians, the press, and scholars.
Introducing Parallel Computing Concepts through a POGIL Activity: A Pilot Study

POGIL activities have been used for various computer science courses. However, there is no published POGIL activity for introducing parallel and distributed computing concepts. Recent ABET curriculum recommendations include the introduction of parallel and distributed computing concepts in undergraduate Computer Science/Engineering programs. In this work, we plan a cross-university study of evaluating the impact of using POGIL to introduce parallel computing topics in Data Structures and Algorithms or similar courses in an undergraduate computer science curriculum. We designed a POGIL tool that includes an unplugged activity that helps demonstrate some fundamental concepts of parallel computing. This unplugged activity is then followed by a set of reflective questions regarding potential advantages and challenges of using parallel computing. %NEEDED? WE SAY IT LATER: The POGIL tool also contains code written in Java, C/C++, and C\#. We plan to use PRE/POST surveys to collect data from undergraduate CS students from five universities located in different parts of the US with diverse student population. At the end of this work in progress, we will use the data to investigate how this POGIL activity helps students gain an understanding of parallel computing.
Chapter 42 – Seasonal Rhythms

Many free-living species show seasonal rhythms in baseline and stress-induced glucocorticoid release. Glucocorticoid titers, as well as glucocorticoid-binding proteins (CBG) and intracellular glucocorticoid receptors, vary with different life history stages over the course of the year. Concentrations are often highest during breeding. Seasonal glucocorticoid rhythms appear to be regulated by a mixture of hypothalamic, pituitary, adrenal, and glucocorticoid feedback mechanisms. Three hypotheses have been proposed to explain why seasonal glucocorticoid rhythms exist: to mediate seasonally different energetic needs, to initiate seasonally appropriate stress-induced behaviors, and/or to prepare for subsequent stressors whose frequency varies seasonally. Future work distinguishing between these hypotheses will help us understand how seasonal glucocorticoid rhythms likely aid the short-term survival of free-living animals. Finally, biomedical studies that ignore seasonal variation in glucocorticoid responses miss the rich variation in these responses that likely affect humans as well.
Ceftriaxone susceptibility testing and multi-antigen sequence typing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated in 2007 and 2012 from Nanjing, China

Objective To test the ceftriaxone susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) isolates from Nanjing city,and to assess their genotypes by using the NG multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) method.Methods A total of 204 NG strains isolated in 2007 and 81 in 2012 from Nanjing city were included in this study.The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ceftriaxone was determined for these strains using an agar dilution method.DNA was extracted by the Qiagen commercial kit from these strains followed by NG-MAST.Results All the isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone (MIC,≤ 0.25 μg/ml).The MIC of ceftriaxone was ≥ 0.06 μg/ml for 63.2％ of all the NG strains,70.6％ of those isolated in 2007 and 44.4％ of those in 2012,and ≥ 0.125 μg/ml for 31.6 ％ of all the NG strains,39.7％ of those isolated in 2007,11.1％ of those in 2012.Totally,166 genotypes were identified among the 285 isolates,of which,73 had been reported,and 93 were previously unreported.The most prevalent genotype was ST568 (n =13) in NG strains isolated in 2007,followed by ST270 (n =9),ST421 (n =7),ST2288 (n =5),ST1731 (n =4),ST1766 (n =4),ST1866 (n =4),ST1870 (n =4),while ST2318 (n =5),ST1053 (n =4),ST5990 (n =4),ST8726 (n =4) were the common genotypes in 2012.Those isolates with identical or similar genotypes tended to display similar MICs for ceftriaxone.Conclusions The prevalent genotypes of NG are markedly different between 2007 and 2012 in Nanjing region,and there is a strong association between the genotypes and ceftriaxone susceptibility of NG.NG-MAST results may serve as a genetic marker in the surveillance of antibiotic susceptibility in NG. Key words: Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Drug resistance; Ceftriaxone
Opioid-Induced Constipation and Acupuncture: A Case Discussion.

Abstract Background Use of acupuncture for treatment of functional constipation is well studied; however, studies examining use of acupuncture for opioid-induced constipation are limited. Case Description A 70-year-old woman with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma discovered after presentation to the emergency room with severe back pain. Pain management required use of opioids, escalating to effect. Hospital course was complicated by opioid-induced constipation causing abdominal pain, nausea, and ileus despite aggressive titration of stimulant and osmotic laxatives as well as administration of suppositories and enemas on multiple occasions. Prior to nasogastric tube placement for the ileus, the patient requested acupuncture treatment in attempt to relieve constipation. Shortly after acupuncture session, patient passed multiple stools with improvement in abdominal pain and nausea and avoidance of nasogastric tube. Conclusion Acupuncture for opioid-induced constipation may provide symptom relief through use of nonpharmacologic interventions; however, further studies are needed to determine the optimal therapeutic approach.
Noncanonical Wnt Signaling Promotes Myofibroblast Differentiation in Pulmonary Fibrosis.

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway initiates a signaling cascade that is critical in cell differentiation and the normal development of multiple organ systems. The reactivation of this pathway has been docu...
An electron microscopic study of pigeon aorta cell cultures. Cytodifferentiation and intracellular lipid accumulation.

Abstract Structural cytodifferentiation and progressive intracellular lipid accumulation have been examined in cultured aorta smooth muscle cells derived from atherosclerosis-susceptible White Carneau (WC) pigeons. Differentiated smooth muscle and interlaminar cells in aorta tissue fragments from 18-day pigeon embryos give rise to structurally undifferentiated cells in the area of cellular outgrowth when these segments are used as explants to initiate monolayer cultures. During subsequent periods of culture (5 to 21 days), various stages of smooth muscle cell development are observed and shown to be similar to the stages characteristic of developing smooth muscle cells in vivo . At approximately 14 to 16 days in culture, the partially differentiated smooth muscle cells derived from atherosclerosis-susceptible WC pigeons accumulate large lipid droplets and many of these cells subsequently develop into myogenic foam cells, while parallel cells cultured from atherosclerosis-resistant Show Racer (SR) pigeons do not exhibit this marked lipid deposition. The organelle changes associated with intracellular lipid accumulation are described. Cultured aorta smooth muscle cells derived from White Carneau pigeons are presented as a model for determining the mechanism(s) of lipid accumulation in atherosclerosis.
Rosetta Stone, Inc.: Pricing the 2009 IPO

This case examines the April 2009 decision of Rosetta Stone management to price the initial public offering of Rosetta Stone stock during one of the most difficult periods in capital-raising history. The case outlines Rosetta Stone’s unique language-learning strategy and its associated strong financial performance. Students are invited to value the stock and take a position on whether the current $15 to $17 per share filing range is appropriate. The case is designed to showcase corporate valuation using discounted cash flow and peer-company market multiples. The epilogue details the 40% first-day rise in Rosetta Stone stock from the $18 offer price. With this backdrop, students are exposed to a well-known finance anomaly — the IPO underpricing phenomenon — and are invited to critically discuss various proposed explanations.The case provides opportunities for the instructor to develop any of the following teaching objectives: 1. Review the institutional aspects of the equity issuance transaction. 2. Explore the costs and benefits associated with public share offerings. 3. Develop an appreciation for the challenges of valuing unseasoned firms. 4. Hone corporate valuation skills, particularly using market multiples. 5. Evaluate the received explanations of various finance anomalies, such as the IPO underpricing phenomenon.
A race to the top? A case study of food safety standards and African exports

Implementation of the European Union's new aflatoxin standards will reduce African exports to Europe of nuts, cereals, and dried fruits, products highly sensitive to the aflatoxin standards. The EU standards would reduce health risks by only about 1.4 deaths per billion a year but would cut African exports by 64 percent, or $670 million, compared with their level under international standards. Growing concern over health risks associated with food products is at the forefront of trade policy debate. At the heart of this debate is the "precautionary principle," which holds that precautions should be taken against health, safety, and environmental risks even when science has not established direct cause-and-effect relationships - as with, for example, the European ban on hormone-treated beef. Otsuki, Wilson, and Sewadeh quantify the impact on food exports from African countries of new EU standards for aflatoxins, structurally related toxic compounds that contaminate certain foods and lead to the production of acute liver carcinogens in the human body. The authors estimate the impact of changes in differing levels of such protection based on the EU standards (and suggested by international standards) for 15 European countries and 9 African countries between 1989 and 1998. The results suggest that implementation of the EU's new aflatoxin standards will significantly hurt African exports to Europe of nuts, cereals, and dried fruits, which are highly sensitive to the aflatoxin standards. The EU standards would reduce health risks by only about 1.4 deaths per billion a year but would cut African exports by 64 percent, or $670 million, compared with their level under international standards. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the trade impact of regulation and standards from a development perspective. Tsunehiro Otsuki may be contacted at totsuki@worldbank.org.
Jan Blommaert & Jef Verschueren. Debating diversity: Analysing the discourse of tolerance. London: Routledge, 1998. Pp. xiv, 233 pp. Pb $22.99.

Debating diversity, a pragmatic analysis of official liberal discourse concerning migration in Flemish Belgium, is a thorough, topical, and relevant treatment of the widespread yet near-invisible forms of racism that pervade public discourse on cultural difference. Electing not to focus on the far more widely recognized phenomenon of right-wing racism, the authors instead offer a careful critique that makes clear that the left is by no means immune to racism in its policies and practices. Following in the wake of research by a number of other politically oriented discourse analysts, this volume addresses how racism manifests itself in discourse. It therefore serves as an important reminder that ideologies are constructed, and hence contingent and changeable. Because of the broad scope of its inquiry and the relatively accessible methods it employs, it will be of interest to scholars in many fields, including anthropology, communication, political science, race and ethnic studies, and sociology, as well as linguistics. Despite its sometimes overwhelming wealth of detail, it may also appeal to a nonacademic readership, as did the Dutch version of the book when it was first published in Belgium.
Mock Trials and the Debate between Litigation Driven Versus Management Driven Models of Business Law Instruction

This article offers a compromise position in the longstanding and often heated debate between proponents of the Management Driven Model for teaching undergraduate Legal Environment of Business courses and those scholars supporting the Litigation Driven Model. The goal in both camps is to stimulate a desire to learn. This is especially challenging for business law professors, however, as undergraduate business students usually enroll because it is required, not because they have a deep and profound interest in learning the law. This study was designed to gain a greater understanding of the learning outcomes associated with the mock trial as an active teaching method used by those who advocate the Litigation Driven Model. Participating in a product liability mock trial presents students with the complex interplay of administrative regulations and common law with all the harsh constraints of time pressures, less than perfect trials, and financial objectives. The results may intrigue and satisfy those who believe that the use of legal constraints in business decision making is developed only through the Management Driven Model.
Benchmarking to Identify Practice Variation in Test Ordering: A Potential Tool for Utilization Management.

Background Appropriate test utilization is usually evaluated by adherence to published guidelines. In many cases, medical guidelines are not available. Benchmarking has been proposed as a method to identify practice variations that may represent inappropriate testing. This study investigated the use of benchmarking to identify sites with inappropriate utilization of testing for a particular analyte. Methods We used a Web-based survey to compare 2 measures of vitamin D utilization: overall testing intensity (ratio of total vitamin D orders to blood-count orders) and relative testing intensity (ratio of 1,25(OH)2D to 25(OH)D test orders). Results A total of 81 facilities contributed data. The average overall testing intensity index was 0.165, or approximately 1 vitamin D test for every 6 blood-count tests. The average relative testing intensity index was 0.055, or one 1,25(OH)2D test for every 18 of the 25(OH)D tests. Both indexes varied considerably. Conclusions Benchmarking can be used as a screening tool to identify outliers that may be associated with inappropriate test utilization. * TTG : tissue transglutaminase Ig : immunoglobulin CBCs : complete blood counts WBC : white blood cell count RTI : relative testing intensity OTI : overall testing intensity USPSTF : United States Preventive Services Task Force T3 : triiodothyronine T4 : thyroxine IQR : interquartile range
Between security analysis and power system restoration

What happens between the time a system operator runs security analysis and the system needs to be restored. Obviously this is the time of chaos when security measures have not been sufficient, or some overwhelming event occurs and the power system blacks out. This is the period of time, which most operations systems today are not prepared for. The power system is coming down around the operator and there is little he or she can do about it, in fact the operator is usually at a complete loss to know what is happening because events take place so fast. Power systems operations computers have been designed to act as little more than fast digital recorders of alarms off the SCADA system so that events can be analyzed after the fact - but little has been done to provide operators with fast graphical summaries that quickly digest the situation and allow decisions to be made during the collapse. Many years ago the idea of an intelligent alarm processor (IAP) was developed and marketed but little has been done since and the maintenance of the IAP's knowledge base was always considered one of its drawbacks. New ideas on the use of smart alarm processors coupled with fast graphical presentations must be developed so operators can retain control when the system is experiencing problems.
Pyrene-neomycin conjugate: dual recognition of a DNA triple helix.

We report the synthesis of pyrene-neomycin conjugate and its ability to stabilize DNA/RNA triple helices.
Mary Hawkesworth. Political Worlds of Women: Activism, Advocacy, and Governance in the Twenty-First Century

Making the case against pernicious assumptions that we live in a “post-feminist” and “post-racial” world, Mary Hawkesworth details the continued ideological and structural barriers to and continuin...
Analysis of principal nested spheres

A general framework for a novel non-geodesic decomposition of high-dimensional spheres or high-dimensional shape spaces for planar landmarks is discussed. The decomposition, principal nested spheres, leads to a sequence of submanifolds with decreasing intrinsic dimensions, which can be interpreted as an analogue of principal component analysis. In a number of real datasets, an apparent one-dimensional mode of variation curving through more than one geodesic component is captured in the one-dimensional component of principal nested spheres. While analysis of principal nested spheres provides an intuitive and flexible decomposition of the high-dimensional sphere, an interesting special case of the analysis results in finding principal geodesics, similar to those from previous approaches to manifold principal component analysis. An adaptation of our method to Kendall’s shape space is discussed, and a computational algorithm for fitting principal nested spheres is proposed. The result provides a coordinate system to visualize the data structure and an intuitive summary of principal modes of variation, as exemplified by several datasets.
Ship-in-a-bottle entrapment of molecules in porous nanocapsules

Size-selective pores in the shells of hollow polymer nanocapsules enable combined assembly and entrapment of molecules. Small building blocks enter the capsule through the pores. The assembled molecules, which are larger than the pores, remain entrapped in the nanocapsules. Porous nanometre-thin walls permit unhindered functionalization of entrapped molecules.
Diversity of patterns of hypertrophy in patients with systemic hypertension and marked left ventricular wall thickening

In selected patients with systemic hypertension it may be difficult to ascertain whether left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is a secondary end-organ consequence of long-term elevations in blood pressure or, alternatively, a manifestation of a coexistent primary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. To address this issue and better characterize LV hypertrophy in systemic hypertension, 2-dimensional echocardiography was used to define the patterns of LV hypertrophy in 102 patients with sustained systemic hypertension and marked degrees of wall thickening. Patients ranged in age from 31 to 88 years (mean 61) and were predominantly female (58%); all were black. By selection, each patient had a maximal LV wall thickness of greater than 15 mm (range 16 to 29). Distribution of hypertrophy was judged to be symmetric (i.e., concentric) in most patients (67 of 102, 66%). However, a substantial proportion (35 patients, 34%) demonstrated nonuniform, asymmetric patterns of hypertrophy in which at least 1 segment of the LV wall was at least 1.5 times the thickness of any other. In these 35 patients, the distribution of hypertrophy was similar to that characteristic of the morphologic spectrum of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with thickening of portions of both the ventricular septum and free wall in 16 patients, anterior and posterior ventricular septum alone in 11 patients and segmental involvement of only the anterior ventricular septum in 8. Patients with asymmetric patterns of wall thickening did not differ from the patients with symmetric hypertrophy with regard to age, sex or clinical findings. Asymmetric LV hypertrophy appears to represent an important feature of the morphologic spectrum of severe hypertensive heart disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Inverse Relationship Between Restaurant Party Size and Tip Percentage: Diffusion of Responsibility or Equity?

A recent study predicted and found that tip percentage declined as the size of the dining party increased. The prediction was based on the notion of diffusion of responsibility. An alternative explanation is offered that is rooted in the concept of equity.
The Chilling Effect: How Do Researchers React to Controversy?

Background Can political controversy have a “chilling effect” on the production of new science? This is a timely concern, given how often American politicians are accused of undermining science for political purposes. Yet little is known about how scientists react to these kinds of controversies. Methods and Findings Drawing on interview (n = 30) and survey data (n = 82), this study examines the reactions of scientists whose National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded grants were implicated in a highly publicized political controversy. Critics charged that these grants were “a waste of taxpayer money.” The NIH defended each grant and no funding was rescinded. Nevertheless, this study finds that many of the scientists whose grants were criticized now engage in self-censorship. About half of the sample said that they now remove potentially controversial words from their grant and a quarter reported eliminating entire topics from their research agendas. Four researchers reportedly chose to move into more secure positions entirely, either outside academia or in jobs that guaranteed salaries. About 10% of the group reported that this controversy strengthened their commitment to complete their research and disseminate it widely. Conclusions These findings provide evidence that political controversies can shape what scientists choose to study. Debates about the politics of science usually focus on the direct suppression, distortion, and manipulation of scientific results. This study suggests that scholars must also examine how scientists may self-censor in response to political events.
Substructure of a cytoskeletal complex associated with the hamster sperm acrosome.

Abstract Whole mount and thin section preparations of intact and selectivity disrupted hamster spermatozoa revealed an organized array of cytoplasmic filaments associated with specific regions of the acrosome. The filaments were localized along the ventral surface of the spermatozoon and extended from its tip, distally to the anterior margin of the equatorial segment. Individual filaments were 11–13 nm in diameter and they were aligned parallel to one another to form a two-dimensional sheet oriented in the long axis of the spermatozoon. The filament complex adhered preferentially to the cytoplasmic surface of the outer acrosomal membrane rather than the plasma membrane. Examination of disrupted spermatozoa revealed that the distribution of this cytoskeletal assembly correlated with the distribution of a specific acrosomal matrix component. The possible role of this complex in the acrosome reaction or in the organization of acrosomal matrix domains is discussed.
Who Cares about Diversity? A Preliminary Investigation of Diversity Exposure in Teacher Preparation Programs.

The existing literature has extensively documented the urgency for educators to raise their cultural awareness and become more culturally responsive; yet the importance placed on cultural competence in teacher education programs has been surprisingly weak. The present study, therefore, provides a preliminary investigation of diversity exposure, through course curriculum, for preservice teachers. Using state-level data, a content analysis of course descriptions was conducted to assess what types of undergraduate courses were being offered on diversity and/or multiculturalism for education majors. The results indicate that while teacher education programs are, indeed, offering some form of multicultural education/diversity curriculum, the content focus varies significantly between institutions.
Effects of suspended solids associated with dredging operations on estuarine organisms

During dredging and disposal operations, there is an increase in the suspended solids in the area of activity. These resuspended sediments can adverse impact biota. The suspended solids concentrations during various dredging and disposal operations in San Francisco Bay were monitored. The results of this monitoring were integrated with the results of a suspended solids test performed at the Bodega Marine Laboratory to develop a matrix of potential adverse effects on indigenous organisms under various suspended solids loadings. The matrix indicates that under winter condition of low temperature and high dissolved oxygen adults of most species should not be adversely influenced during periods of either dredging or disposal. However, during summer months, if temperature increases to above 18\deg C and dissolved oxygen drops below two parts per million mortality of sensitive species in the lower water column may result during disposal operations. The field investigations indicated that dredging could create a fluff zone at the sediment-water interface which because of its persistence might have adverse influence on benthic organisms.
The influence of isoprene peroxy radical isomerization mechanisms on ozone simulation with the presence of NOx

Isoprene peroxy radical isomerizations (1,5- and 1,6-H shifts) have recently been proposed as important pathways regenerating and recycling HOx (OH + HO2) in the atmosphere under low-NOx conditions (Peeters et al. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 28: 5935–5939 2009; da Silva et al. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44:250–256 2010). Evaluation and comparison of the isoprene peroxy radical isomerization mechanisms from recent studies have been performed against isoprene-NOx experiments conducted in the UNC dual outdoor smog chambers. Five different kinetic mechanisms were tested in this study, including the original Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM) v3.1; two modified MCM mechanisms both implementing isoprene peroxy radical isomerization reactions but with different rate coefficients; the Carbon Bond 6 (CB6) mechanism; and the ISO-UNC mechanism. Sensitivity analyses of the unsaturated hydroxyperoxy aldehydes (HPALDs) reaction mechanisms under fast isomerization have also been performed. The results indicate that the fast isomerization mechanism and the mechanisms with high OH yields from HPALDs photolysis both significantly enhance HOx estimates with increasing isoprene/NOx ratios. However, O3 predictions, as well the isoprene decay rates are substantially overestimated. Our results suggest that given the current state of our knowledge, it is difficult to improve both HOx levels and maintain reasonable O3 simulations using the Peeters et al. (Peeters et al. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 28: 5935–5939 2009) mechanism.
The Internet and Tobacco Cessation: The Roles of Internet Self-Efficacy and Search Task on the Information-Seeking Process

This study explores the effects of Internet self-efficacy and search task specificity on the self-efficacy outcome and task perseverance of finding online health-related sites that contain attributes of website accountability, as established by the American Medical Association (AMA). In a mixed 2 (self-efficacy) x 2 (search task specificity) repeated-measures experimental design, participants conducted two search tasks (general and specific) that varied in the amount of task difficulty. When search task specificity was taken into account, there was an Internet self-efficacy and task specificity interaction according to which high Internet self-efficacy participants locate sites higher in website accountability in the general search task (the more difficult search task) than their low self-efficacy counterparts. There was no significant difference in website accountability for the specific search task (the less difficult task). High Internet self-efficacy participants also demonstrated more task perseverance than their low Internet self-efficacy counterparts.
Improved short-term stability of optical frequency standards: approaching 1 Hz in 1 s with the Ca standard at 657 nm.

For a neutral 40Ca-based optical frequency standard we report a fractional frequency instability of 4×10-15 in 1 s, which represents a fivefold improvement over existing atomic frequency standards. Using the technique of optical Borde–Ramsey spectroscopy with a sample of 107 trapped atoms, we have resolved linewidths as narrow as 200 Hz (FWHM). With colder atoms this system could potentially achieve an instability as low as 2×10-16 in 1 s. Such low instabilities are important for frequency standards and precision tests of fundamental physics.
Scopolamine inhibition of lordosis in naturally cycling female rats

Abstract Cholinergic antagonists, such as scopolamine, atropine, and hemicholinium-3, have been found previously to inhibit lordosis in ovariectomized rats primed with estrogen and progesterone. The present study further examined this effect using intact cycling female rats. Cycling was determined by daily monitoring of sexual behavior and vaginal cytology. In the first experiment, intraventricular administration of the muscarinic receptor blocker, scopolamine, was found to significantly inhibit lordosis behavior during natural estrus (10 or 20 μg bilaterally). In the second experiment, systemic administration of scopolamine was also found to significantly inhibit lordosis behavior during natural estrus (4 mg/kg, IP). Administration of the cholinergic antagonist did not significantly interrupt cyclicity patterns. These results indicate that central cholinergic muscarinic systems contribute to the regulation of lordosis during natural behavioral estrus in intact female rats.
Organizing multiple related tasks into jobs: Diversification vs. competition

Abstract Agency models of multiple tasks typically assume independent outcomes. We show that correlation between outcomes can generate both economy and diseconomy of scale through diversification and competition effects. Additionally, the optimal compensation is non-monotone if the correlation is large.
DRINKING AND DRIVING: PERCEPTIONS AND EVALUATIONS AS A FUNCTION OF LEVEL OF INTOXICATION AND WEATHER

Over the past decade, drinking and driving has been a major social problem causing deaths and injuries. The present study examined factors that may encourage this potentially self-destructive behavior. Three hundred and seventy-eight subjects were presented with scenarios describing a night of drinking with friends. Scenarios differed with respect to three levels of intoxication (not at all, slight, and very) and two levels of weather (clear and rain). Subjects were asked to estimate the proportion of their peers who would drive home or choose an alternative form of transportation. Subjects were also asked to evaluate the target who drove home or took an alternative in terms of likability, cautiousness, skillfulness and independence. Driving home was found to be the most common mode of transportation, regardless of state of drunkenness or weather conditions. Alternatives to driving home were seen as being utilized only under extreme conditions (e.g., very intoxicated and rainy weather). Moreover, persons taking one of the more cautious alternatives were perceived as overly cautious and also low in skillfulness. The practical implications for the findings are discussed with respect to enhancing education efforts.
A survey of aspartate-phenylalanine and glutamate-phenylalanine interactions in the protein data bank: searching for anion-π pairs.

Protein structures are stabilized using noncovalent interactions. In addition to the traditional noncovalent interactions, newer types of interactions are thought to be present in proteins. One such interaction, an anion-π pair, in which the positively charged edge of an aromatic ring interacts with an anion, forming a favorable anion-quadrupole interaction, has been previously proposed [Jackson, M. R., et al. (2007) J. Phys. Chem. B111, 8242-8249]. To study the role of anion-π interactions in stabilizing protein structure, we analyzed pairwise interactions between phenylalanine (Phe) and the anionic amino acids, aspartate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu). Particular emphasis was focused on identification of Phe-Asp or -Glu pairs separated by less than 7 A in the high-resolution, nonredundant Protein Data Bank. Simplifying Phe to benzene and Asp or Glu to formate molecules facilitated in silico analysis of the pairs. Kitaura-Morokuma energy calculations were performed on roughly 19000 benzene-formate pairs and the resulting energies analyzed as a function of distance and angle. Edgewise interactions typically produced strongly stabilizing interaction energies (-2 to -7.3 kcal/mol), while interactions involving the ring face resulted in weakly stabilizing to repulsive interaction energies. The strongest, most stabilizing interactions were identified as preferentially occurring in buried residues. Anion-π pairs are found throughout protein structures, in helices as well as β strands. Numerous pairs also had nearby cation-π interactions as well as potential π-π stacking. While more than 1000 structures did not contain an anion-π pair, the 3134 remaining structures contained approximately 2.6 anion-π pairs per protein, suggesting it is a reasonably common motif that could contribute to the overall structural stability of a protein.
‘Transformation’ of the curriculum: Problems of conception and deception

Abstract Integration projects often grow out of a particular institutional situation. This paper outlines some of the advantages as well as the pitfalls of our project. Although advocates of ‘integrationism’ and ‘autonomous Women's Studies’ have different definitions of transformation, these are not mutually exclusive.
Semiclassical theory of microwave optical activity near resonance in asymmetric rotors

Abstract The semiclassical theory of optical activity in the microwave region of the spectrum due to rotation of an asymmetric top molecule near a resonance absorption is presented. An expression is given for the rotational strength of an arbitrary J → J or J → J +1 transition and equations are given for the optical activity parameter, β, near resonance.
Noradrenaline is essential for mouse fetal development

CATECHOLAMINES such as noradrenaline and adrenaline have been implicated in numerous physiological processes1–4 but, although catecholamine synthesis begins at mid-gestation5, previous studies have provided little evidence for any role in early development6,7. Furthermore, there are several case reports of humans with noradrenaline deficiency8. To investigate this, we used gene targeting9 to produce mice lacking dopamine β-hydroxylase and therefore unable to synthesize noradrenaline or adrenaline. We report here that in heterozygous mothers, most homozygous embryos died in utero, and only about 5% reached adulthood. Survival probably depends on catecholamine transfer across the placenta because, in homozygous mothers, all embryos die in utero. Mortality was due to lack of noradrenaline in utero because it could be prevented by treatment with dihydroxyphenylserine, a precursor that can be converted to noradrenaline in the absence of dopamine β-hydroxylase. Mutant embryos had a histological phenotype similar to that of embryos deficient in tyrosine hydroxylase10, suggesting that death might be due to cardiovascular failure.
Carbohydrate craving, obesity and brain serotonin.

One mechanism through which the brain obtains information about the composition of the diet involves food-induced changes in the plasma amino acid pattern (principally the "plasma tryptophan ratio"), which then cause increases or decreases in brain tryptophan levels, and in the synthesis of a neurotransmitter, serotonin, which is formed from the tryptophan. A carbohydrate-rich, protein-poor meal stimulates insulin secretion; this diminishes plasma levels of the amino acids which compete with tryptophan for transport into the brain (e.g., leucine, isoleucine and valine), thus increasing tryptophan's flux across the blood-brain barrier and its brain levels. In contrast, a high-protein meal contributes so much more of these latter amino acids to the blood stream than of the relatively-scarce tryptophan that it diminishes tryptophan's entry into the brain. This article reviews evidence that the brain actually utilizes the food-induced changes in brain serotonin in order to make choices about what to eat at the next meal. It also discusses the likelihood that a disturbance in this mechanism is involved in producing the "carbohydrate-craving" that is frequently associated with obesity. (This behavior which has been studied by allowing hospitalized subjects to choose freely among isocaloric meals and snacks of varying protein/carbohydrate ratios, typically manifests itself as a propensity to consume 30 per cent or more of the total daily calorie intake in the form of sweet or starchy snacks, usually at a characteristic time of day.) D-Fenfluramine, a drug that selectively enhances serotonin-mediated neurotransmission, also selectively suppresses "carbohydrate-craving" in these subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Serum CEA levels in a human colonic adenocarcinoma (LOVO) xenograft system

Abstract The relationship between tumor size and circulating CEA titers was examined for a human colonic adenocarcinoma xenografted in Balb C athymic mice. Xenograft material was derived from line LoVo, which produces moderate amounts of CEA, both in vitro and in vivo. No correlation was found between tumor size and serum CEA levels.
The TATA homology and the mRNA 5' untranslated sequence are not required for expression of essential adenovirus E1A functions.

Abstract Adenovirus E1A encodes a protein that facilitates the transcription of other early viral transcriptional units and is required for virus-induced transformation. To study the function of non-protein-coding DNA sequence at the 5′ end of this transcriptional unit, we constructed mutant viruses with deletions in this region. Deletion of sequence just upstream from the TATA homology does not affect the level or sequence of E1A mRNAs. Deletion of the TATA homology decreases the level of E1A mRNAs by a factor of 5–10 and shifts the mRNA 5′ ends from the major 5′ end found in wild-type transcripts to a set of minor ends found in wild-type E1A mRNAs. This suggests that the TATA homology is required for an efficient transcription initiation mechanism, and that in its absence a less efficient, less precise mechanism is unmasked. Analysis of mRNAs from other early regions establishes that E2 and E3 regions are most dependent on E1A functions for expression of maximal mRNA levels, E4 is less dependent and E1B is the least dependent. Deletion of the TATA homology, a sequence highly conserved among human adenoviruses, and the entire 5′ untranslated sequence of the E1A mRNAs decreases neither the rate of virus replication in a host in which E1A expression is required, nor the efficiency of transformation of rat embryo cells.
The genus curve of the Abell clusters

We study the topology of large-scale structure through a genus curve measurement of the recent Abell catalog redshift survey of Postman, Huchra, and Geller (1992). The structure is found to be spongelike near median density and to exhibit isolated superclusters and voids at high and low densities, respectively. The genus curve shows a slight shift toward 'meatball' topology, but remains consistent with the hypothesis of Gaussian random phase initial conditions. The amplitude of the genus curve corresponds to a power-law spectrum with index n = 0.21(sub -0.47 sup +0.43) on scales of 48/h Mpc or to a cold dark matter power spectrum with omega h = 0.36(sub -0.17 sup +0.46).
Iron metabolism in the CNS: implications for neurodegenerative diseases

Abnormal accumulation of brain iron has been detected in various neurodegenerative diseases, but the contribution of iron overload to pathology remains unclear. In a group of distinctive brain iron overload diseases known as 'neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation' (NBIA) diseases, nine disease genes have been identified. Brain iron accumulation is observed in the globus pallidus and other brain regions in NBIA diseases, which are often associated with severe dystonia and gait abnormalities. Only two of these diseases, aceruloplasminaemia and neuroferritinopathy, are directly caused by abnormalities in iron metabolism, mainly in astrocytes and neurons, respectively. Understanding the early molecular pathophysiology of these diseases should aid insights into the role of iron and the design of specific therapeutic approaches.
An introduction to the Information Display Measurement Standard 1, the first display measurement standard from the International Committee for Display Metrology

On June 1, 2012, the Information Display Measurement Standard version 1 was released. This is the first standard from the worldwide standard group, the International Committee for Display Metrology, a standards committee within SID, and it culminates several years worth of development from many contributors at various levels. It has 26 top-level chapters and a total over 450 sections of all parts, including over 200 measurement sections and 8 appendices that cover 133 topics of display metrology, tutorials, technical discussions, and references. Herein is an overview of the Information Display Measurement Standard version 1, including the structure of the document, tips, tricks, and hidden features, how it is maintained, support material, a breakdown of its contents, and finally, a sampling of four of the over 200 measurements. The standard is available as a free download and can be found on the International Committee for Display Metrology home page — http://www.icdm-sid.org.
THE PERSONAL ORIENTATION INVENTORY: , A STUDY OF INTERNAL CONSISTENCY

To assess the internal consistency of the Personal Orientation Inventory, 218 public school teachers (K—12) from a northeastern state were administered the inventory. Using the K-R 20 and the split-half methods, values and ranges were comparable to those previously reported. Prior estimates of the stability and internal consistency of the inventory are presented for comparison. The Inner Direction scale, in particular, is stable and internally consistent in all studies.
A New Extreme-Value Probabilistic Framework for Predicting Fatigue Crack Initiation Life of Notched Components

Traditional deterministic methods for predicting the fatigue life of notched components require a number of approximations based on heuristics and phenomenological data rather than solid theoretical underpinning and still yield unsatisfactory and inconsistent results when applied to complex components under service loads. Microstructural inhomogeneities in the materials are still an important issue, but are not explicitly accounted for in the traditional deterministic methods. Recent developments in computational crystal plasticity and microstructure-scale modeling have provided deeper understanding of the complex correlations between properties and structures and further indicate the limitations of conventional fatigue life prediction approaches. These modeling approaches have the potential to substantially reduce the need for costly large scale experimental programs to determine scatter in fatigue, for example. At present, however, there is a lack of simulation-based strategy for considering interactive effects of stress/strain field gradients at the notch-root and microstructure-scale behavior in predicting notch-root fatigue crack initiation. In this paper, the distribution of a shear-based fatigue indicator parameter computed within a well-defined fatigue damage process zone at the notch are used along with a novel probabilistic mesomechanics approach to obtain the probability distribution of fatigue crack initiation of notched components, thus extending fatigue life prediction to explicitly incorporate microstructure sensitivity via probabilistic arguments. The new probabilistic framework presented in this paper takes into account the complete plastic shear strain field around the notch root and also links the variation in the materials microstructure and associated slip activations to observable scatter in fatigue strength of the notched component. The use of such probabilistic approach can be beneficial as it avoids conservatism that may result from the use of deterministic approach for fatigue life prediction.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Holmium: YAG laser prostatectomy canine feasibility study.

Background and Objective Laser coagulation prostatectomy performed with the Neodymium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser has emerged as a viable alternative for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Laser vaporization prostatectomy, if feasible, has the potential to reduce postoperative catheterization time and achievement time of maximum voiding outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of the Holmium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser wavelength to vaporize prostatic tissue and create an immediate prostatectomy defect. Study Design/Materials and Methods The Holmium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser was applied in vivo in a canine prostate model. Laser energy was delivered endoscopically via quartz laser fibers circumferentially to each prostatic fossa. High energies, up to 2.8 joules per pulse and 60 watts total power, were utilized. All prostates were surgically removed immediately following laser applications to determine acute laser effects. Results Immediate tissue ablation or vaporization with this laser wavelength was found to be both feasible and relatively efficient. The mean transverse dimension of the prostatic defects produced was 19 mm, with a maximum transverse dimension of 27 mm. In one prostate a cavity of 27 (transverse) by 29 (anterior-posterior) by 43 (length) mm was created, with an estimated tissue removal of ∼20 cc. Hemostasis with the Holmium laser was adequate in this canine prostate model. In addition to the acute tissue cavity created, a 1–2 mm rim of surrounding tissue coagulation was observed in each specimen. Conclusion The Holmium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser wavelength is capable of acute prostatic tissue vaporization and deserves ongoing study with potential application in the surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in men. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.