cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting the Use of Spiritually-Derived Interventions in Social Work Practice: A Survey of Practitioners

Although research has grown considerably on spirituality and social work practice in recent years, there has been little investigation of what practitioners actually do with their clients and what influences their practice behaviors. Current findings from a random sample of 204 licensed clinical social workers indicate considerable focus on religion and spirituality in both assessment and intervention, with over two-thirds of the sample reporting that they had utilized 14 different spiritually-derived techniques with clients. In addition, analyses reveal four factors most predictive of the use of such techniques including: practitioner attitudes, the percentage of clients presenting religious/spiritual issues, the percentage of clients for whom religion plays a detrimental role, and the level of practitioner participation in religious or spiritual services.
Activated Sludge ATP: Effects of Environmental Stress

A series of experiments were performed with laboratory scale activated sludge units to determine the effects of various environmental conditions on the ATP content of activated sludge mixed liquor. ATP was determined by the firefly luciferin-luciferase reaction. The effect of abrupt temperature changes up to about 37°C was small. Anoxia reduced the ATP content by about 40%, but an immediate return to the original level was noted when sludge was reaerated. Complex patterns of ATP response were found for substrate (milk solids) additions and for additions of various inorganic toxicants. ATP responses to toxic heavy metals are rapid and sensitive, and ATP appears to be a good measure of sludge viability and activity.
Gesturing Across the Life Span

Speakers of all ages gesture when they talk. In this chapter, we review evidence that gesturing plays two major roles across the life span. First, gestures are an integral part of communication. They often convey information not found in speech and they are actively processed by listeners of all ages as part of the speaker's overall message. Second, gestures are an integral part of cognition. At the least, gesture reveals a speaker's ongoing thought processes and thus reflects the speaker's current knowledge. But there is mounting evidence that gesture does more than reflect thought—it can play a role in changing thought and, as a result, assist in learning, initially learning language, later learning other skills. We end by considering the implications of the two roles that gesture plays for instruction, intervention, and communication disorders across the life span. Keywords: gesture; communication; cognitive development; learning; problem-solving; language disorders; aging; sign language
mm Wave UE Antenna Configuration Study

Abstract- Millimeter wave (mm wave) communication has emerged as a promising component of 5G cellular systems. The large losses in the Friis equation (due to the implied small apertures of mm wave antennas) suggest that high gain antennas are required. The high gain also implies steerability is required. Arrays of patch antennas are one possible low cost solution, but each array has a limited angular field of view. Multiple arrays per node can be used to improve the field of view. Choosing the correct antenna configuration requires a complex cost-benefit analysis and performance-complexity tradeoff. In this paper, we investigate these tradeoffs through system simulations. Our study uses ray tracing in 3D deployment scenarios and realistic patch antenna array models. MATLAB-based system simulation results are provided, and conclusions are drawn to provide insight into the performance vs. antenna complexity of a mm wave based system. Some of the key conclusions are: diminishing returns on performance as the number of arrays are increased, and the fact that a smaller number of larger arrays can outperform a larger number of smaller arrays. Iso-element curves are also presented as another way to perform a cost-benefit analysis.
Exploring Hypermedia Processor Design Space

Distributed hypermedia systems that support collaboration are important emerging tools for creation, discovery, management and delivery of information. These systems are becoming increasingly desired and practical as other areas of information technologies advance. A framework is developed for efficiently exploring the hypermedia design space while intelligently capitalizing on tradeoffs between performance and area. We focus on a category of processors that are programmable yet optimized to a hypermedia application. The key components of the framework presented in this paper are a retargetable instruction-level parallelism compiler, instruction level simulators, a set of complete media applications written in a high level language, and a media processor synthesis algorithm. The framework addresses the need for efficient use of silicon by exploiting the instruction-level parallelism found in media applications by compilers that target multiple-instruction-issue processors. Using the developed framework we conduct an extensive exploration of the design space for a hypermedia application. We find that there is enough instruction-level parallelism in the typical media and communication applications to achieve highly concurrent execution when throughput requirements are high. On the other hand, when throughput requirements are low, there is little value in multiple-instruction-issue processors. Increased area does not improve performance enough to justify the use of multiple-instruction-issue processors when throughput requirements are low. The framework introduced in this paper is valuable in making early architecture design decisions such as cache and issue width trade-off when area is constrained, and the number of branch units and instruction issue width.
Determination of Urinary Creatine

A method of separation of creatine using ion-exchange chromatography is described. This method is suitable for serial determinations of urinary creatine despite a small contribution by creatinine and guanidino compounds to the color value of the α-naphthol and diacetyl reaction. The creatine coefficients of four patients, determined in duplicates, before and after the induction of creatinuria by X-irradiation are presented to illustrate the applicability of the method described.
Rapid Bioinformatic Identification of Thermostabilizing Mutations

Ex vivo stability is a valuable protein characteristic but is laborious to improve experimentally. In addition to biopharmaceutical and industrial applications, stable protein is important for biochemical and structural studies. Taking advantage of the large number of available genomic sequences and growth temperature data, we present two bioinformatic methods to identify a limited set of amino acids or positions that likely underlie thermostability. Because these methods allow thousands of homologs to be examined in silico, they have the advantage of providing both speed and statistical power. Using these methods, we introduced, via mutation, amino acids from thermoadapted homologs into an exemplar mesophilic membrane protein, and demonstrated significantly increased thermostability while preserving protein activity.
Are There Physiological Correlations Between Alcohol and Tobacco Use in Adults

Often times, an alcohol user is also a tobacco user and likewise. These substances have significant effects on life. Understanding the history of these substances helps illustrate the relationship, or lack thereof, of these two drugs.
Relationship of donor variables and graft dimension on biomechanical performance of femoral ring allograft

Structural femoral ring allograft is commonly used in interbody spinal arthrodesis. Fractures of implanted femoral ring allograft have been reported. Data to guide donor screening and tissue processing by allograft tissue banks for factors that affect graft strength are incomplete. Fresh frozen human femora from 34 cadaveric donors were sectioned into ten 20-mm thick specimens. Bone mineral density (BMD), donor age, and graft dimensions were recorded for each specimen. Three hundred twenty-seven specimens were tested in quasi-static axial compression. Linear regression models compared load to failure with BMD, sex-specific donor age, minimum/maximum cortical wall thickness, and minimum/maximum outer ring diameter. Correlations between minimum and maximum cortical wall thickness and load to failure were significant (r = 0.73, p < 0.001 and r = 0.74, p < 0.001, respectively). BMD showed a weaker negative correlation with load to failure (r = −0.11, p = 0.05). Correlations between load to failure and minimum and maximum outer ring diameter and age (r = 0.06, p = 0.31) were not significant. We found that the minimum and maximum cortical wall thicknesses of femoral ring allograft are strongly correlated with the axial compressive load to failure of the graft. Other tested parameters did not prove to be effective predictors of resistance to axial loading. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:1840–1845, 2011
Powder puff spiroplasma: A new epiphytic mycoplasma

A spiroplasma (strain PPS1) isolated from healthy flowers ofCalliandra haematocephala in Florida has been found to be a member of a serogroup of the Spiroplasmataceae. It is distinct fromSpiroplasma citri and from other described spiroplasmas as determined by growth inhibition, fluorescent antibody, and ELISA serological tests. PPS1 was also distinguished fromS. citri and several other spiroplasmas by the guanine + cytosine content of its DNA. PPS1 requires sterol for growth, is inhibited by digitonin, grows at 20–30°C, and does not hydrolyze arginine or urea. The ready isolation of this and similar organisms from surfaces of healthy plants emphasizes that caution should be exercised in attempts to isolate cell wall-less prokaryotes from the interior of diseased plants. Although some strains of spiroplasmas are known as insect pathogens in nature, the ecological role(s) of the flower-inhabiting spiroplasmas has yet to be fully determined.
Excludability, creativity and the case against the patent system

The patent system has many flaws. In its absence, there would probably be increased innovation if only because money spent on patents and lawsuits would be available for R&D. In any case, an inventor is to some extent protected by law provided he explains that an idea is his personal property. A patent adds nothing to the value of an impractical invention and little to one that might seem promising.
The identification of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons from gas-liquid chromatography retention data

Abstract The identification of sesquiterpenes by gas-liquid chromatography is evaluated. Retention indices (obtained using sesquiterpene standards rather than n-alkanes) were found to be the most reproducible form of GLC data. Retention data for fifty-five sesquiterpenes and a number of saturated hydrocarbons obtained by hydrogenation of sesquiterpenes are reported.
HS014, a selective melanocortin-4 (MC4) receptor antagonist, modulates the behavioral effects of morphine in mice.

Melanocortin and opioid systems regulate feeding as well as other behaviors; however, the relationship between the two systems is not yet defined. Since agonist-induced stimulation of melanocortin receptors blocks the behavioral effects of mu opioid receptor agonists, and melanocortin-4 (MC4) receptors and mu opioid receptors share a similar anatomical distribution in the central nervous system, MC4 receptor blockade may increase opioid responsiveness. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that blockade of MC4 receptors increases the behavioral effects of morphine. The effects of HS014 (0.0032, 0.032, and 1 nmol, i.c.v.), a selective MC4 antagonist, on morphine-induced (3.2, 10, and 32 mg/kg, i.p.) locomotor activity (measured in the open field for 15 min) and antinociception (measured in the hot plate at 55°C) were assessed in C57Bl/6 mice. In addition, the effects of morphine were evaluated in Ay mice, a genetic model for MC4 receptor blockade. The dose–effect curve of morphine for locomotor activity was shifted downwards in C57Bl/6 mice pretreated with HS014 and in Ay mice. The dose–effect curve of morphine for antinociception was shifted two- and threefold to the left in C57Bl/6 mice pretreated with HS014 and in Ay mice, respectively. These results indicate that blockade of MC4 receptors increases the antinociceptive effects of morphine without changing the potency of morphine for locomotor activity, suggesting that MC4 receptor antagonists may be candidate drugs that can be clinically used for the treatment of pain.
The optimal linear income tax with tax credits contingent on fertility

Abstract The literature on the optimal linear income tax is extended by incorporating tax credits contingent on the number of dependents the taxpayer is responsible for. The choice over how many dependents to be responsible for is made endogenous by allowing taxpayers a choice over their own fertility. Formulae are derived governing the government's optimal choice of the labor income tax rate and the tax credit contingent on fertility. It is also shown that if the government chooses its policy based on the belief that fertility behavior is exogenous when it is actually endogenous, then a suboptimal policy will be chosen. If certain conditions are fulfilled the government will choose a labor income tax rate lower than that which is actually optimal.
Uniaxial stress behavior of porphyritic tonalite at strain rates to 103/second

Abstract Rock cores of a porphyritic tonalite composition have been loaded in uniaxial stress at strain rates from 10−4 to 103/sec at temperatures of 25°C, −78°C and −191°C. The data presented include axial stress as a function of axial and transverse strain and volume change as a function of axial stress. For the conditions studied, the tonalite was found to exhibit increased stiffness and maximum stress with increasing strain rate and decreasing temperature. Anisotropy was studied by loading samples taken perpendicular and parallel to the bulk core axis. Specimens taken perpendicular to the bulk core axis were found to have increased initial stiffness and decreased maximum stress over specimens taken parallel to the core axis. A petrofabric analysis was made to aid in the interpretation of the experimentally observed behavior. From these data it has been determined that the unconfined behavior of the tonalite is controlled by the deformation of the fine-grained groundmass.
ST segment deviation counterpoise--a different perspective.

Fig. 1. A schematic of hypothetical extensive acute anterior wall subendocardial ischemia. Injury currents across the boundary subtended by solid angle A produce ST depression and across boundary subtended by solid angle B, ST elevation in surface lead at point P, proportional to the solid angle and inversely proportional to the squared distance from the boundary zone. For a substantial cancellation, ischemic segment would have to extend across much of the posterior wall—an unusual occurrence. The editorial by John Madias in this issue of the Journal of Electrocardiography presents a rather provocative thesis, implying that it is impossible on theoretical grounds to rely upon ST deviations in acute myocardial ischemia to provide insight on the presence or attributes of acute my oc ard ial is che m ia a nd in fa rcti on [1]. T he ed itori al offers an explanation why this is so—the ischemic ST-segment counterpoise. In my dictionary the definition of counterpoise is bany equal and opposing power or force.Q This matches the meaning of the term as used in the editorial: ST deviation vectors from the opposite walls of the left ventricle cancel, and occasionally enhance, each other’s effect. This short commentary presents a differing viewpoint, in a way as a counterpoise to counterpoise. To start with, I submit that it is unnecessary to introduce the term counterpoise. A simple bcancellation Q is an adequate, older, and more familiar term used in electrocardiography. The editorial is on the right track on many points presented, for instance, concerning ischemia induced by exercise stress testing. Ischemia in this situation, presumed to be subendocardial bdemand Q ischemia, may well be more universal, thus creating a reasonable argument for a substantial cancellation. Extrapolating this concept to acute myocardial injury/infarction is more problematic. The author is correct in stating that using the ECG to assess accurately the presence, age, severity, extent, and evolution of acute myocardial ischemia and infarction may be an impossibility. Accurate prediction is rarely possible in electrocardiography. I would claim, however, that assessing the presence of acute ischemia with a reasonable confidence is a sensible goal. Determination of the presence of acute ischemia is actually clinically more important than all these other aspects of ischemia assessment. Serious chronic coronary artery disease is often associated with the occlusion of multiple coronary arteries and severe left ventricular dysfunction, indicating large infarc-
Asymmetric Positive-Negative Index Nonlinear Waveguide Couplers

Nonlinear optical couplers have attracted significant attention largely due to the many advantages they offer for optical communications and signal processing. Combined with the unique properties of an emerging new class of materials, metamaterials, nonlinear directional couplers open fundamentally new opportunities for the development of ultracompact signal processing functionalities for on-chip applications. In this paper, we explore theoretically nonlinear transmission properties of asymmetric nonlinear couplers with one channel made of positive index material and the other channel made of negative index material while only one of the channels is nonlinear. We demonstrate that such asymmetric couplers can be bi- and multistable, and we optimize the design with respect to the bistability threshold.
Power and robustness of a score test for linkage analysis of quantitative traits using identity by descent data on sib pairs

Identification of genes involved in complex traits by traditional (lod score) linkage analysis is difficult due to many complicating factors. An unfortunate drawback of non-parametric procedures in general, though, is their low power to detect genetic effects. Recently, Dudoit and Speed [2000] proposed using a (likelihood-based) score test for detecting linkage with IBD data on sib pairs. This method uses the likelihood for θ, the recombination fraction between a trait locus and a marker locus, conditional on the phenotypes of the two sibs to test the null hypothesis of no linkage (θ = ½). Although a genetic model must be specified, the approach offers several advantages. This paper presents results of simulation studies characterizing the power and robustness properties of this score test for linkage, and compares the power of the test to the Haseman-Elston and modified Haseman-Elston tests. The score test is seen to have impressively high power across a broad range of true and assumed models, particularly under multiple ascertainment. Assuming an additive model with a moderate allele frequency, in the range of p = 0.2 to 0.5, along with heritability H = 0.3 and a moderate residual correlation ρ = 0.2 resulted in a very good overall performance across a wide range of trait-generating models. Generally, our results indicate that this score test for linkage offers a high degree of protection against wrong assumptions due to its strong robustness when used with the recommended additive model. Genet. Epidemiol. 20:415–431, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Health status of young offenders and their families.

Purpose: To describe the health status of youth committed and detained by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice. The problem of complex health needs of young offenders is gaining importance as the number of youth under the care of state juvenile justice systems steadily increases. Methods: The health status of a random sample (N = 350) of male and female committed or detained young offenders was assessed utilizing a record review and a self-report health survey. Results: Ninety-seven percent of the sample reported levels of physical discomfort and 92% reported emotional discomfort. Nearly half (45%) of the youth had some medical condition, 53% had been abused, 20% injured, 16% sustained a gunshot or stab wound. Of youth reporting physical injury, 12% did not receive treatment. Family members, including siblings experienced similar health problems. Conclusions: Patterns of physical and behavioral health problems were noted within these families, as were patterns of criminal behavior. Trans-generational patterns of at-risk behaviors were evident. Most youth (86%) perceived themselves to be healthy. However, when specific health indicators were examined, discrepancies between health status and health perceptions were noted.
Gastric intramucosal pH changes after volume replacement with hydroxyethyl starch or crystalloid in patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Abstract Purpose : Gastric intramucosal pH (pHi), a surrogate marker of tissue oxygenation, falls following abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) repair. We tested the hypothesis that volume replacement with a hydroxyethyl starch solution would result in better preserved splanchnic oxygenation than would volume replacement with crystalloid solutions. Materials and Methods : This was a prospective, randomized, nonblinded study set in a university-affiliated community hospital. Thirty patients undergoing elective AAA repair were studied. Patients were randomly selected to receive intraoperative and postoperative fluid replacement with either hetastarch or crystalloid. According to the study protocol, patients could not receive in excess of 3000 mL of hetastarch. Tissue oxygenation was assessed indirectly by measuring pHi using a nasogastric tonometer. Hemodynamic, oxygenation, and pHi data were collected preoperatively, preclamp, before unclamping, at the end of the procedure and postoperatively for 24 hours. Coagulation parameters were determined preoperatively and postoperatively for 24 hours. Results : Fifteen patients were randomized to each group. There were 18 male and 12 female patients, whose mean age was 66 ± 9 years. The intraoperative fluid balance was significantly greater in the crystalloid compared with the hetastarch group (4194 ± 1500 mL v 2949 ± 1123 mL; P = .05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 23 to 2519 mL). There were no significant differences in the amount of intraoperative blood loss or postoperative transfusion requirements between the two groups. The difference between the preoperative pHi and nadir was 0.07 ± 0.03 in the hetastarch group compared with 0.13 ± 0.04 in the crystalloid group (P = .001, CI 0.03 to 0.09). By multivariate analysis the only variable that influenced the fall in pHi was the type of resuscitation fluid IF ratio of 7.63; P = .01). There were no significant differences in hemodynamic- and oxygenation-derived variables or coagulation parameters between the two groups of patients. The length of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit, and hospital stay was comparable between the two groups of patients. Conclusion : In patients undergoing major surgery, volume resuscitation with hydroxyethyl starch solutions may improve microvascular blood flow and tissue oxygenation.
Providence, Freedom, and Human Destiny

According to some theists, God will never completely destroy moral evil or banish it from his creation entirely; instead, he will eventually confine moral evil to a specific region of his creation, a region known as hell, and those condemned to hell, having no hope of escape from it, will live out eternity in a state of estrangement from God as well as from each other. Let us call that the traditional doctrine of hell. Elsewhere I have argued that any form of theism which includes such a doctrine, even one that tries to preserve consistency by denying the universal love of God, is in fact logically inconsistent. But moderately conservative theists, as I have called them, have an argument for the traditional doctrine that some have found convincing, one that emphasizes libertarian free will. The argument is this. Because God is perfectly loving, he wills the good for every created person and wills the redemption of all who have fallen into evil; but because he has also given his loved ones the gift of freedom and some of them in fact exercise their freedom to reject him forever, it is simply not within his power, even as an omnipotent being, to redeem all of those who fall into evil. According to moderately conservative theists, therefore, the following hypothesis, which I shall call the Rejection Hypothesis (RH), is at least possibly true:(RH) Some persons will, despite God's best efforts to save them, freely and irrevocably reject God and thus separate themselves from God forever.
Hierarchical Infinite Divisibility for Multiscale Shrinkage

A new shrinkage-based construction is developed for a compressible vector , for cases in which the components of are naturally associated with a tree structure. Important ex- amples are when corresponds to the coefficients of a wavelet or block-DCT representation of data. The metho dw e consider in de- tail, and for which numerical results are presented, is based on the gamma distribution. The gamma distribution is a heavy-tailed dis- tribution that is infinitely divisible, and these characteristics are leveraged within the model. We further demonstrate that the gen- eral framework is appropriate for many other types of infinitely divisible heavy-tailed distributions. Bayesian inference is carried out by approximating the posterior with samples from an MCMC algorithm, as well as by constructing a variational approximation to the posterior. We also consider expectation-maximization (EM) for a MAP (point) solution. State-of-the-art results are manifested for compressive sensing and denoising applications, the latter with spiky (non-Gaussian) noise.
Thermally activated oxidation of NHs on Pt(111): intermediate species and reaction mechanisms

Abstract Results of a study of the thermally activated reactions of ammonia with atomic and molecular oxygen on Pt (111) are presented. Ultrahigh vacuum, surface sensitive techniques such as temperature programmed desorption and reaction spectroscopies (TPD, TPRS) , electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) , Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) , and low energy electron diffraction (LEED) were used in this study. H 2 O, NO, and N 2 are produced in various amounts depending on reactant concentrations. Stable intermediate species OH, NH, and NH 2 are identified by EELS. Assignment of reaction mechanisms based on liberation of hydrogen via stepwise N-H bond cleavage by atomic oxygen and OH is made through an EELS analysis of reaction intermediates and a TPRS analysis of NH 3 coverage dependences of product distributions. A forthcoming report will describe the photo-induced reaction of NH 3 and O 2 coadsorbed on Pt (111)
Interpocket pairing and gap symmetry in Fe-based superconductors with only electron pockets.

We analyze the pairing symmetry in Fe-based superconductors $A{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ ($A=\mathrm{K}$, Rb, Cs) which contain only electron pockets. We argue that the pairing condensate in such systems contains not only intrapocket component but also interpocket component, made of fermions belonging to different electron pockets. We analyze the interplay between intrapocket and interpocket pairing, depending on the ellipticity of electron pockets and the strength of their hybridization. We show that with increasing hybridization, the system undergoes a transition from a $d$-wave state to an ${s}^{+\ensuremath{-}}$ state, in which the gap changes sign between hybridized pockets. This ${s}^{+\ensuremath{-}}$ state has the full gap and at the same time supports spin resonance, in agreement with the data. Near the boundary between $d$ and ${s}^{+\ensuremath{-}}$ states, we found a long-sought $s+id$ state which breaks time-reversal symmetry.
Mental Health Risks and Problems Encountered by Illegal Immigrants

This article documents the emotional difficulties associated with the illegal Irish immigrant experience. Demographic data were collected and in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 Irish immigrants (13 had experiences as illegal immigrants and 4 were expert observers but did not have personal or first-hand experience on the topic). Content analysis of interview data documented positive and negative aspects of the illegal immigrant experience. Positive aspects included opportunity for adventure and the monetary benefit of illegal work. Negative aspects included difficulty finding satisfactory work, exploitation by employers, uncertainty about the future, vulnerability and fear over being apprehended and deported, and restrictions in numerous spheres of activity, including limited freedom to return home to visit family and friends. The findings sensitize mental health professionals to the difficulties experienced by illegal immigrants and provide direction for clinical interventions with this high-risk group.
On the longest path algorithm for reconstructing trees from distance matrices

Culberson and Rudnicki [J.C. Culberson, P. Rudnicki, A fast algorithm for constructing trees from distance matrices, Inform. Process. Lett. 30 (4) (1989) 215-220] gave an algorithm that reconstructs a degree d restricted tree from its distance matrix. According to their analysis, it runs in time O(dnlog"dn) for topological trees. However, this turns out to be false; we show that the algorithm takes @Q(n^3^/^2d) time in the topological case, giving tight examples.
Serum leptin concentration, body composition, and gonadal hormones during puberty

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence has suggested that leptin concentration is associated with gonadal hormone levels, and that changes in leptin concentration may trigger the onset of reproductive function in children. However, the concurrent changes in body composition during puberty make the independent associations between leptin and gonadal hormone concentrations in children difficult to resolve. METHODS: To investigate the nature of associations between leptin levels and pubertal maturation, serum concentrations of leptin, estradiol, and testosterone and body composition measures were examined in a sample of 152 healthy pre-pubertal, pubertal, and post-pubertal children. RESULTS: Leptin concentration was nearly three-fold higher in post-pubertal girls than in pre-pubertal girls, but was relatively similar in pre- and post-pubertal boys. Significant sex differences in leptin concentration existed in pre-pubertal, pubertal and post-pubertal children, and these remained significant after controlling for adiposity. After adjusting for total body fat, fat-free mass and age, testosterone concentration was negatively associated with leptin levels in pubertal boys, while estradiol concentration was positively associated with leptin level in pubertal girls. CONCLUSIONS: Girls have higher serum leptin concentration before, during, and after puberty than boys, even after accounting for the development of greater female adiposity. Although other factors may be involved, sexual dimorphism in leptin concentrations during puberty appears to be partly due to a stimulatory effect of estradiol on leptin concentration in females and a suppressive effect of testosterone on leptin concentration in males.
Repair of DNA Damage Induced by Solar UV

Solar UV radiation induces significant levels of DNA damage in living things. This damage, if left unrepaired, is lethal in humans. Recent work has demonstrated that plants possess several repair pathways for UV-induced DNA damage, including pathways for the photoreactivation of both 6-4 products and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), the two lesions most frequently induced by UV. Plants also possess the more general nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway as well as bypass polymerases that enable the plant to replicate its DNA in the absence of DNA repair.
A 1.5 MHz, Digital, Plasma-Data Acquisition and Processing System Using Multi-Time-Delay Sampling

A "multi-time-delay sampling" technique is described in which the effective sampling rate is increased while the sampling rate of the digitizer is held fixed. The technique has been utilized to extend the analysis bandwidth of an analog-digital, plasma data acquisition and processing system to 1.5 MHz. Such an enhancement in band-width capability is extremely valuable in analyzing phenomena associated with turbulent plasmas. Results are presented using known waveforms and actual plasma data in order to demonstrate the extended bandwidth capability provided by this technique.
OCTET DOMINANCE OF BARYON MATRIX ELEMENTS AND THE VANISHING OF THE NEUTRON CHARGE RADIUS.

The baryon form factor ${g}_{V}$ of the vector current is investigated. We demonstrate that the $d$-type contribution to ${g}_{V}$ is proportional to the matrix element of a decuplet operator between baryon states. Hence, if a dynamical mechanism exists which suppresses such matrix elements, the neutron charge form factor will be small even for nonzero ${q}^{2}$. This provides an explanation for the observed vanishing of the neutron charge radius.
The electronic states of oxygen in gallium phosphide an example of weak bonding

Abstract A number of important electronic properties of oxygen in GaP, which cannot be accounted for by existing theories, can be explained by a simple model based on the a1 and t2 spin orbitals formed from the four neighboring gallium valence bonds. I analyze this model and show that it provides a more realistic description of the physics of such a weakly coupled system than do conventional defect theories. I show further that in this model, for which two bonding electrons have been promoted to antibonding orbitals, the spin multiplet states are stabilized by the Coulomb and exchange energies of the Ga orbitals.
Sexual Difficulties of Patients With Gynecological Cancer.

Patients with gynecological cancer often endure painful and distressing medical procedures during the treatment of their illness. Psychologists can play an important role in helping these women deal with the complex psychosexual challenges posed by cancer and its treatment. This empirically informed article provides clinicians with critical knowledge on the sexual health of survivors of gynecological cancer. As illustrated by the findings of an exploratory study involving 21 patients, it is important to assess the psychosexual and related medical challenges experienced by these women. Implications for practice and suggestions toward the improvement of the quality of the health care provided to this patient population are also discussed.
On the evaluation of synthetic hyperspectral imagery

In developing algorithms that exploit model-generated data, it is important to understand the realism of the data generated by that model. One way to address this issue is to exercise a well understood, yet diverse process, that will help draw out the strengths and weaknesses of the data generation system. We accomplish this by using a typical chain of processing steps on a synthetic hyperspectral image created by the Digital Imaging Remote Sensing Image Generation (DIRSIG) tool [1]. The clustering, classification, and feature selection, which are part of this processing, are used to assess the realism of the data based on the performance compared to the similar analysis on real hyperspectral data.
IL-33 promotes DC development in BM culture by triggering GM-CSF production.

Short-term DC cultures generated with GM-CSF and other cytokines have markedly improved our ability to study the immunobiology of DC. Here, we tested 65 cytokines individually for their potential to promote the generation of CD11c+ cells in a murine BM culture system. In addition to several cytokines known to promote DC survival and/or growth, IL-33 was found to augment DC development time- and dose-dependently. Although the resulting CD11c+ cells generated in the presence of IL-33 exhibited a typical dendritic morphology, they expressed MHC class II molecules only at modest levels, showed negligible responses to TLR ligands, produced no detectable IL-12 p70, displayed PD-L1 and PD-L2 on the surface, and failed to activate immunologically naive T cells efficiently. IL-33-induced expansion of CD11c+ cells was completely blocked by anti-GM-CSF mAb, and GM-CSF mRNA and protein expression in BM culture was markedly elevated by added IL-33, indicating that IL-33 promotes in vitro DC generation indirectly by a GM-CSF-dependent manner. With regard to the cellular source, IL-33-dependent GM-CSF production was observed exclusively within the CD45+/FcepsilonRI+ BM population. Not only do our results reinforce the notion that GM-CSF serves as a primary DC growth factor, but they also reveal a previously unrecognized mechanism supporting DC development.
Factors Contributing to Variability of Caloric Test Scores

Data were analyzed from 30 healthy male subjects, examined on three successive days with caloric, rotatory, optokinetic, gait and posture tests. Data were also analyzed from 11 additional test sessions performed on 10 of these subjects. A short-acting caloric test was used and nystagmus intensity was measured by means of an interactive computerized technique. Large inter-individual differences were noted for all test results and these differences remained consistent as tests were repeated. Factors which may contribute to inter- and intra-subject variability of caloric test scores are identified and discussed.
Rotationally Supported Virgo Cluster Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies: Stripped Dwarf Irregular Galaxies?

New observations of 16 dwarf elliptical galaxies (dEs) in the Virgo Cluster indicate that at least seven dEs have significant velocity gradients along their optical major axis, with typical rotation amplitudes of 20–30 km s-1. Of the remaining nine galaxies in this sample, six have velocity gradients of less than 20 km s-1 kpc-1, while the other three observations had too low a signal-to-noise ratio to determine an accurate velocity gradient. Typical velocity dispersions for these galaxies are ~44 ± 5 km s-1, indicating that rotation can be a significant component of the stellar dynamics of Virgo dEs. When corrected for the limited spatial extent of the spectral data, the rotation amplitudes of the rotating dEs are comparable to those of similar-brightness dwarf irregular galaxies (dIs). Evidence of a relationship between the rotation amplitude and galaxy luminosity is found and, in fact, agrees well with the Tully-Fisher relation. The similarity in the scaling relations of dIs and dEs implies that it is unlikely that dEs evolve from significantly more luminous galaxies. These observations reaffirm the possibility that some cluster dEs may be formed when the neutral gaseous medium is stripped from dIs in the cluster environment. We hypothesize that several different mechanisms are involved in the creation of the overall population of dEs and that stripping of infalling dIs may be the dominant process in the creation of dEs in clusters like Virgo.
Biometric analysis of phenotypic variation in RecentGlobigerina bulloides d'Orbigny in the southern Indian Ocean

Abstract Morphological variation in terms of test size, shape and coiling direction in Globigerina bulloides d'Orbigny, has been measured in 22 Recent surface sediment samples in southern subtropical to northern Antarctic waters (30°S to 53°S) of the southern Indian Ocean. This has revealed several distinct gradational changes in the morphology of the species with changing surface-water conditions. Highest frequencies, and thus optimum environmental conditions in this species coincide with the sub-Antarctic water mass (∼ 13°C to 6°C). Kummerform frequencies are significantly lower in this optimum region, supporting the hypothesis that kummerform individuals result from environmental stress. The percentage of sinistrally coiled individuals and the test size in both kummerforms and normalforms show distinct, although gradual, increases with decreasing surface-water temperatures. Paleotemperature equations have been established relating surface-water temperature to changes in coiling direction and to test size with precision varying between 3°C and 8°C. This method offers much potential for late Quaternary paleotemperature analyses. Positive correlation between general size and the frequencies of G. bulloides suggests that optimum growth occurs in areas of optimum environmental conditions rather than in more marginal environments where delayed reproduction (and hence greater size) might have occurred. Kummerform individuals are, in general, larger than normalforms throughout the region. This suggests that kummerforms may inhabit greater average water depths than normalforms. A steady increase in compression of the test and in the kummerform final chamber occurs towards cooler surface waters. This trend may reflect morphological adaptation to improve resistance to sinking in lower density waters. Other latitudinal trends occur with respect to test shape and size and in apertural size.
Structure of the L β phases in a hydrated phosphatidylcholine multimembrane

We report x-ray measurements on well aligned, freely suspended films of stacked bilayer membranes of the phospholipid dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine in a continuously variable humidity- and temperature-controlled environment. Remarkably, the most commonly observed L/sub ..beta..//sub '/ phase is in fact three distinct 2D phases where the phase transitions are driven by hydration forces and the phases are distinguished by the relation between the molecular tilt direction and the 2D bond direction.
Early Adolescents' Perceptions of the Role of Dietary Fat in Heart Disease, Cancer and Obesity

Abstract Adolescents' attitudes about preventive health behavior, and specifically about the relationships between diet and chronic disease, can be expected to differ from those of adults in important ways. This project investigated fifth and eighth grade students' knowledge and attitudes about relationships between dietary fat and heart disease, cancer, and obesity; their perceived vulnerability to these conditions; their willingness to limit high-fat foods and increase "healthy foods;" and some factors which influence the actual practice of making choices to limit dietary fat. Wisconsin 4H members participated in five focus groups to aid in developing questions for later interviews and a written survey. Eight focus groups and eight individual interviews were subsequently conducted with fifth and eighth grade students in WI public schools. Written survey questions were pilot tested with students and reviewed by a panel of experts. A probability proportionate to size sampling method was used to select 30 school districts and nine counties from which 1104 fifth and eighth grade students (84% response rate) and 257 fifth and eighth grade 4H members (64% response rate) completed the written survey. Qualitative and quantitative data showed that eighth grade students had greater nutrition knowledge scores than fifth grade students, but neither group could explain complex relationships among concepts such as "heart disease" and "clogged arteries." Subjects were more certain about connections between diet and heart disease and obesity than between diet and cancer. Many subjects said they knew they should be concerned about heart disease or cancer, but were not because they were too young. Chi-square tests showed significant differences in behaviors to limit fat when controlling for gender but not for grade or race (p
Chemical and spectroscopic conformation of an exogenous ligand bridge in half met hemocyanin.

Abstract Half met-N 3 − hemocyanin is shown to undergo a unique change at the Cu(II)⋯Cu(I) active site with temperature, exhibiting class II mixed valent properties at low temperature (The appearance of an intense near IR intervalence-transfer transition and a delocalized EPR spectrum). This requires a Cu(II)NNNCu(I) bridging geometry. The effects of CO coordination to half met-N 3 − , combined with the presence of a low energy N 3 − → Cu(II) charge transfer transition, demonstrate that azide is also bridging at room temperature. Finally, half met-N 3 − is found to be capable of coordination of a second N 3 − at the copper(II) site.
Lowering the UV Absorbance Detection Limit in Capillary Zone Electrophoresis Using a Single Linear Photodiode Array Detector

A new approach for lowering the UV absorbance detection limit in capillary electrophoresis is presented. This approach involves the use of a photodiode array in which each of the diodes in the array is treated as an independent detector. Over the course of a run, therefore, an electropherogram is generated for each diode in the array. Averaging the electropherograms generated from 1500 diodes in a diode array resulted in a signal-to-noise ratio 85 times that of an electropherogram generated from any one diode in the array. These signal-to-noise improvements are discussed, and the detection limits are compared to the detection limits obtained from a commercial single-point detector. The array detector improves the detection limit by a factor of 3.8 (±0.4).
Correction: Survival function of protein kinase Cι as a novel nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-activated Bad kinase.

Nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is formed by nitrosation of nicotine and has been identified as the most potent carcinogen in cigarette smoke. NNK cannot only induce DNA damage but also promotes the survival of human lung cancer cells. Protein kinase C (PKC)ι is an atypical PKC isoform and plays an important role in cell survival, but the downstream survival substrate(s) is not yet identified. Bad, a proapoptotic BH3-only member of Bcl2 family, is co-expressed with PKCι in both small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer cells. We discovered that NNK potently induces multisite Bad phosphorylation at Ser-112, Ser-136, and Ser-155 via activation of PKCι in association with increased survival of human lung cancer cells. Purified, active PKCι can directly phosphorylate both endogenous and recombinant Bad at these three sites and disrupt Bad/Bcl-XL binding in vitro. Overexpression of PKCι results in an enhancement of Bad phosphorylation. NNK also stimulates activation of c-Src, which is a known PKCι upstream kinase. Treatment of cells with the PKC inhibitor (staurosporine) or a Src-specific inhibitor (PP2) can block NNK-induced Bad phosphorylation and promote apoptotic cell death. The β-adrenergic receptor inhibitor propranolol blocks both NNK-induced activation of PKCι and Bad phosphorylation, indicating that NNK-induced Bad phosphorylation occurs at least in part through the upstream β-adrenergic receptor. Mechanistically, NNK-induced Bad phosphorylation prevents its interaction with Bcl-XL. Because the specific depletion of PKCι by RNA interference inhibits both NNK-induced Bad phosphorylation and survival, this confirms that PKCι is a necessary component in NNK-mediated survival signaling. Collectively, these findings reveal a novel role for PKCι as an NNK-activated physiological Bad kinase that can directly phosphorylate and inactivate this proapoptotic BH3-only protein, which leads to enhanced survival and chemoresistance of human lung cancer cells.