cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of dietary sulfur amino acid intake with mortality from diabetes and other causes

Sulfur amino acid (SAA) consumption in Western countries is far greater than recommended levels. In preclinical studies, reduced SAA intake enhanced longevity and reduced risk for numerous chronic diseases. The current objective was to examine for associations between the intake of total SAA, including methionine (Met) and cysteine (Cys), and all-cause and disease-specific mortality US adults. This prospective analysis included 15,083 US adult participants (mean age = 46.7 years) from the Third National Examination and Nutritional Health Survey (NHANES III, 1988–1994) with available mortality status (National Death Registry, 1988–2011). Dietary SAA intake was obtained from 24-h recall data. Associations between quintile (Q) of SAA intake (expressed as absolute intake or protein density) and mortality were assessed using Cox proportional hazard models and expressed as hazard ratio (HR). During follow-up (mean = 16.9 years), 4636 deaths occurred. After multivariable adjustment (including demographics and traditional risk factors, such as fat and other micronutrients intake), diabetes-caused mortality rates were nearly threefold higher in the highest compared to lowest SAA intake quintiles [HRQ5–Q1 total SAA, 2.68 (1.46–4.90); HRQ5–Q1 methionine, 2.45 (1.37–4.38); HRQ5–Q1 cysteine, 2.91 (1.57–5.37)] (P < 0.01)]. Higher total SAA protein density was also associated with diabetes-caused mortality [HRQ5–Q1 1.75 (1.31–2.35)]. Associations between SAA intake and all-cause mortality, and mortality caused by other major diseases were not detected. Results suggest that high-SAA diets are associated with increased risk for diabetes mortality and that lowering intake towards to Recommended Dietary Allowance levels could lead to reductions in lifetime risk.
Hemodynamic response and pulse wave analysis after upper- and lower-body resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction.

Resistance exercise (RE) has been shown to elevate hemodynamics and pulse wave reflection. However, the effects of acute RE with blood flow restriction (BFR) on hemodynamics and pulse wave reflection are unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences between upper- and lower-body RE with and without BFR on hemodynamics and pulse wave reflection. Twenty-three young resistance-trained individuals volunteered for the study. Hemodynamics and pulse wave reflection were assessed at rest, 10, 25, 40, and 55 min after either upper- or lower-body with or without BFR. The upper-body RE (URE) consisted of the latissimus dorsi pulldown and chest press; the lower-body RE (LRE) consisted of knee extension and knee flexion. The BFR condition consisted of four sets of 30, 15, 15, and 15 repetitions at 30% 1-repetition maximum (1RM) while the without BFR condition consisted of four sets of 8 repetitions at 70% 1RM. Heart rate, rate pressure product, and subendocardial viability ratio significantly (p < 0.05) increased after all exercises. Brachial and aortic systolic blood pressure (BP) significantly (p < 0.05) elevated after LRE while brachial and aortic diastolic BP significantly (p < 0.05) reduced after URE. Augmentation pressure, augmentation index (AIx), AIx normalized at 75 bpm, and wasted left ventricular pressure energy significantly (p < 0.05) increased after URE while transit time of reflected wave significantly (p < 0.05) decreased after LRE. URE places greater stress on pulse wave reflection while LRE results in greater responses in BP. Regardless of URE or LRE, the cardiovascular responses between BFR and without BFR are similar.HIGHLIGHTS High-load resistance exercise and low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction may produce similar cardiovascular responses.Upper-body resistance exercise generates greater changes on pulse wave reflections while lower-body resistance exercise induces greater elevations in systolic blood pressure.
Cytogenetic risk stratification of 417 patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia from a single institution

Approximately 30% of patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) have karyotypic abnormalities and this low frequency has made using cytogenetic data for the prognostication of CMML patients challenging. Recently, a three-tiered cytogenetic risk stratification system for CMML patients has been proposed by a Spanish study group. Here we assessed the prognostic impact of cytogenetic abnormalities on overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) in 417 CMML patients from our institution. Overall, the Spanish cytogenetic risk effectively stratified patients into different risk groups, with a median OS of 33 months in the low-, 24 months in intermediate- and 14 months in the high-risk groups. Within the proposed high risk group, however, marked differences in OS were observed. Patients with isolated trisomy 8 showed a median OS of 22 months, similar to the intermediate-risk group (P = 0.132), but significantly better than other patients in the high-risk group (P = 0.018). Furthermore, patients with more than three chromosomal abnormalities showed a significantly shorter OS compared with patients with three abnormalities (8 vs. 15 months, P = 0.004), suggesting possible a separate risk category. If we simply moved trisomy 8 to the intermediate risk category, the modified cytogenetic grouping would provide a better separation of OS and LFS; and its prognostic impact was independent of other risk parameters. Our study results strongly advocate for the incorporation of cytogenetic information in the risk model for CMML. Am. J. Hematol. 89:813–818, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fastest-Path Computation

Definition In the United states, only 9.3% of the households do not have cars. Driving is part of people’s daily life. GIS systems like MapQuest and MapPoint are heavily relied on to provide driving directions. However, surprisingly enough, existing systems either ignore the driving speed on road networks, or assume the speed remains constant on the road segments. In both cases the users’ preferred leaving time does not affect the query result. For instance, MapQuest does not ask the users to input the day and time of driving. However, during rush hours, inbound highways to big cities have much lower speed than usual. So a fastest path computed during non-rush hours, which may consists of some inbound highway segments, may not remain the fastest path during rush hours. Consider a road network modelled as a graph, where each node is a road intersection and each edge is a road segment. Let each edge store a speed pattern, e.g. a piecewise-constant function. For instance, in a working day, during rush hour (say from 7am to 9am) the speed is 0.3 miles per minute (mpm), and at other times of the day the speed is 1mpm. The Time Interval All Fastest Paths (allFP) Query is defined as follows. Given a source node s, an end node e, and a leaving time interval at s, the allFP query asks to enumerate all fastest paths, each corresponding to a disjoint sub-interval of leaving time. The union of all sub-intervals should cover the entire query time interval. An allFP query example is: I may leave for work any time between 7am and 9am; please suggest all fastest paths, e.g. take route A if the leaving time is between 7 and 7:45, and take route B otherwise. It is also interesting to solve the allFP problem with an arrival time interval. For instance: I need to drive from my home to New York International Airport. Please suggest all fastest paths if the anticipated arrival time is between 5pm and 6pm. There are two characteristics that distinguish the allFP problem from other shortest/fastest path problems. I The query is associated with a leaving/arrival time INTERVAL, not a time instant. In fact if the leaving time were fixed as a time instant, many existing algorithms could be applied, such as the Dijkstra’s shortest path computation and the A* algorithm. I Time is continuous. If time were distinct, e.g. one can only leave precisely at the top of the hours, one could run existing time-instant algorithms multiple times.
Mini Sensing Chip for Point-of-Care Acute Myocardial Infarction Diagnosis Utilizing Micro-Electro-Mechanical System and Nano-Technology

A rapid and accurate diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is crucial for saving lives. For this purpose, we have been developing a rapid, automatic, point-ofcare, biosensing system for simultaneous four cardiac marker quantification. This system performs a fluorophore mediated immuno-sensing on optical fibers. To improve the sensitivity of the sensor, novel nanoparticle reagents enhancing fluorescence were implemented. Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technology was applied in the sensing chip development and automatic sensing operation was implemented to ensure a reliable and user-friendly assay. The resulting system is a point-of-care, automatic four cardiac marker sensing system with a 2 x 2.5cm sensing chip. An assay requires a 200 μ$L plasma sample and 15-minute assay time.
A Geography of Children's Vulnerability: Gender, Household Resources, and Water‐Related Disease Hazard in Northern Pakistan*

Abstract Water-related diseases continue to pose major threats to children's survival and well-being in many places in the developing world. This article develops a theoretical perspective on the ways in which children's vulnerability to water-related disease hazard is produced within the everyday circumstances of livelihood and child care. Central to this analysis is the role that household resources play in mediating or shaping particular microenvironments of health risk. Further, the effects of local geographies of gender on how household resources are accessed and on how child care is structured are examined. Children's vulnerability is evaluated in a community in the District of Gilgit in northern Pakistan, a region presently undergoing tremendous social and economic transformation. The case study highlights household-level response and adaptation to child health risks associated with diarrheal disease transmission and infection in this mountain environment. The case study draws from ethnographic fie...
Photoperoxidation in isolated chloroplasts. I. Kinetics and stoichiometry of fatty acid peroxidation.

Abstract A photo-induced cyclic peroxidation in isolated chloroplasts is described. In an osmotic buffered medium, chloroplasts upon illumination produce malondialdehyde (MDA)—a decomposition product of tri-unsaturated fatty acid hydroperoxides—bleach endogenous chlorophyll, and consume oxygen. These processes show ( a ) no reaction in the absence of illumination; ( b ) an initial lag phase upon illumination of 10–20 minutes duration; ( c ) a linear phase in which the rate is proportional to the square root of the light intensity; ( d ) cessation of reaction occurring within 3 minutes after illumination ceases; and ( e ) a termination phase after several hours of illumination. The kinetics of the above processes fit a cyclic peroxidation equation with velocity coefficients near those for chemical peroxidation. The stoichiometry of MDA/O 2 = 0.02, and O 2 Chl bleached = 6.9 correlates well with MDA production efficiency in other biological systems and with the molar ratio of unsaturated fatty acids to chlorophyll. The energies of activation for the lag and linear phases are 17 and 0 kcal/mole, respectively, the same as that for autoxidation. During the linear phase of oxygen uptake the dependence upon temperature and O 2 concentration indicates that during the reaction, oxygen tension at the site of peroxidation is 100-fold lower than in the aqueous phase. It is concluded that isolated chloroplasts upon illumination can undergo a cyclic peroxidation initiated by the light absorbed by chlorophyll. Photoperoxidation results in a destruction of the chlorophyll and tri-unsaturated fatty acids of the chloroplast membranes.
Crack Shapes and Stress Intensity Factors for Edge-Cracked Specimens

A simple stress intensity factor expression is given for a deep edge crack in a plate in tension. The shapes of cracks opened by tension or bending are approximated by conic sections, and the conic section coefficients are related to plate geometry by very simple empirical equations. The magnitude of the crack displacement is a function of applied load, plate geometry, and the elastic constants of the plate material. The shape of a loaded crack in a semiinfinite plate is, approximately, a portion of an ellipse whose semimajor axis is about three times the crack length. As the crack length (relative to the plate width) increases, the crack shape becomes parabolic, then hyperbolic, the acuity of the hyperbola increasing with the relative crack length.
Functional interaction of phytochrome B and cryptochrome 2

Light is a crucial environmental signal that controls many photomorphogenic and circadian responses in plants. Perception and transduction of light is achieved by at least two principal groups of photoreceptors, phytochromes and cryptochromes. Phytochromes are red/far-red light-absorbing receptors encoded by a gene family of five members (phyA to phyE) in Arabidopsis. Cryptochrome 1 (cry1), cryptochrome 2 (cry2) and phototropin are the blue/ultraviolet-A light receptors that have been characterized in Arabidopsis. Previous studies showed that modulation of many physiological responses in plants is achieved by genetic interactions between different photoreceptors; however, little is known about the nature of these interactions and their roles in the signal transduction pathway. Here we show the genetic interaction that occurs between the Arabidopsis photoreceptors phyB and cry2 in the control of flowering time, hypocotyl elongation and circadian period by the clock. PhyB interacts directly with cry2 as observed in co-immunoprecipitation experiments with transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing cry2. Using fluorescent resonance energy transfer microscopy, we show that phyB and cry2 interact in nuclear speckles that are formed in a light-dependent fashion.
Learning Hands-on Information Assurance and Security on Mobile Devices

The popularity and the large market share of mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets have had a significant impact on our daily lives. The full-fledged computing platforms render a ubiquitous means to deliver information and knowledge. This project aims to utilize such platforms to enhance computer science education, especially in curricula such as programming, mobile application development and information assurance and security. Meanwhile, there is an urgent need to produce more qualified computer professionals in mobile application development and information assurance and security to meet the workforce shortage. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of our hands-on pedagogical model for learning information assurance and security based on mobile devices. Not only is this model feasible, but also it is affordable. The lab ware consists of hands-on real-world relevant self-contained learning modules, and is designed to be ready for wide scale implementation.
Measurement of Hepatobiliary Transport

A major hepatic function involves the removal of xenobiotics from portal blood and their subsequent storage, metabolism, and excretion into bile, or delivery of various products back into the bloodstream. Transport across the liver cell basolateral (or sinusoidal) plasma membrane is a key step in the overall metabolism of many compounds, whereas transport across the apical (or canalicular) plasma membrane into bile is often the principal pathway for their elimination. Although significant progress has been made in the molecular identification of the transport proteins that mediate these processes, much remains to be learned about regulation and physiological integration. The critical limiting factor in studying biliary excretion is that the bile canaliculus is very small (~1 µm in diameter) and is generally inaccessible to sampling by conventional approaches. The bile canalicular membrane is a specialized part of the hepatocellular plasma membrane, such that bile is separated from blood plasma only by the tight junctions that encircle each hepatocyte. Because hepatocyte polarity is rapidly lost during cell isolation, most cell culture models provide only limited information on mechanisms of biliary excretion. Thus, biliary secretion has been studied using four major experimental models: canalicular plasma membrane vesicles, cultured hepatocyte couplets, perfused liver, and in vivo (bile duct-cannulated animals). This unit describes basic methods for collecting bile from anesthetized mice and rats, for carrying out isolated perfused rat liver studies, and for the simultaneous isolation of plasma membrane vesicles derived from the basolateral and canalicular domains of rat liver.
Xylazine emesis, yohimbine and motion sickness susceptibility in the cat.

The possible role of the alpha-2 adrenoceptors in xylazine-induced vomiting and in motion sickness was investigated. Cats were divided into two groups according to motion sickness susceptibility and were observed after s.c. injections of xylazine. The incidence of vomiting increased with the dose, and at each dose, the high susceptibility group had a greater emetic incidence than the low susceptibility group. In another experiment with cats divided into two groups according to motion sickness susceptibility, s.c. administration of yohimbine effectively antagonized the xylazine-induced emesis in both susceptibility groups. The cats in the latter experiment were then challenged with a motion sickness stimulus, after s.c. pretreatment with yohimbine. Yohimbine failed to prevent motion sickness but did occasion an unexplained variability in the incidence of vomiting. These findings suggest that the emetic effect of xylazine results from stimulation of alpha-2 adrenoceptors but that these receptors are not fundamental to feline motion sickness. The fact that susceptibilities to xylazine-induced emesis and to motion sickness are correlated suggests a point of interaction other than the area postrema, which is known to be essential for xylazine-induced vomiting but not for motion sickness in the cat.
Effect of Isosorbide and Hydralazine in Painful Primary Esophageal Motility Disorders

Five patients with painful primary esophageal motility disorders underwent pharmacologic testing with isosorbide and hydralazine. While neither agent affected baseline amplitude or duration of distal esophageal contractions, pretreatment with hydralazine significantly blunted the response to bethanechol (mean esophageal contraction duration, 31.4 +/- 4.8 s after bethanechol alone vs. 12.7 +/- 1.8 s after bethanechol and hydralazine p less than 0.005). Premedication with isosorbide was significantly less effective. In addition, while all 5 patients experienced chest pain in response to bethanechol alone, only 1 of 5 experienced chest pain in response to bethanechol after previous hydralazine administration; 3 patients had chest pain after previous administration of isosorbide. Patients who were placed on long-term oral hydralazine therapy experienced improvement in chest pain and dysphagia with concomitant decrease in amplitude and duration of esophageal contractions on repeat motility study (176.5 +/- 23.8 mmHg to 97.3 +/- 27.0 mmHg, p less than 0.05, 7.5 +/- 0.8 s to 5.2 +/- 0.5 s, p less than 0.005). Hydralazine appears to be of value in the treatment of diffuse esophageal spasm and other painful primary esophageal motility disorders.
A Taxonomic Review of the Genus Gnathium Kirby (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

ABSTRACT The North American genus Gnathium of the meloid subfamily Nemognathinae is reviewed. Adults appear to be confined to inflorescences of Asteraceae. The genus includes 11 species primarily distributed in western and southern United States and northern Mexico. Included is a discussion of the taxonomic status of the genus, a review of known biology, a key to species, and descriptions. Species treatments include host data, and details on seasonal and geographic distribution, and intraspecific variation. Two new species are described and three nominal species are placed in synonymy.
The Potential and Uniqueness of Virtual Environments for Education

Virtual environments (VEs) are growing in popularity among educators and have unique potential for online learning. This paper describes the unique characteristics of VEs that make them an effective venue for online learning due to increased environmental presence. Unique characteristics of VEs include nature of visual stimuli, control of the environment, amount and variety of sensory information utilized by the learner, and level of immersion by the learner. Examples of learning opportunities in VEs are explored. Current disadvantages are also discussed.
Insulin injection in the fetal rat: Accelerated intrauterine growth and altered fetal and neonatal glucose homeostasis

Fetal hyperinsulinemia is a well-known correlate of accelerated fetal growth; the consequences of fetal hyperinsulinemia upon fetal and neonatal glucoregulation are less well understood. We injected rat fetuses of a litter on day 18 of gestation with either 5 units of long acting insulin (I) or 154 mmol/L NaCl. Twelve hours after injection, the wet and dry mass of total body and liver of I fetuses significantly exceeded that of controls. At birth (day 21.5), newborn I pups weighed 5.86 ± .08 g, and controls, 5.48 ± .05 g, (P < .001). On day 18, within one hour of injection, fetal plasma insulin concentrations were significantly elevated and remained so for 24 hours. Mothers of I fetuses had significant elevations of plasma insulin at 1, 3, and 6 hours, and they developed transient hypoglycemia. Plasma glucose concentrations in I fetuses were significantly diminished at 1, 3, and 6 hours and then achieved control levels by 12 hours. Fetal hypoglycemia resulted from an apparent direct effect of insulin upon fetal tissue and from the maternal hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemic I fetuses demonstrated a sluggish α-cell response; they failed to increase plasma glucagon one hour after insulin injection. Values were significantly increased three hours after injection. At birth, I pups became hypoglycemic relative to controls. This was, in part, due to their significantly elevated plasma insulin concentrations at 120 and 240 minutes (120 minutes, 43.8 ± 8 v 17.5 ± 6 μU/mL, P < .001). Plasma glucagon was significantly increased in I pups at 240 minutes. During the neonatal period, pups who had undergone intrauterine insulin injection did not mobilize glycogen or induce hepatic cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase to the same extent as controls. Insulin injection to the fetus accelerates growth and causes fetal hypoglycemia by decreasing maternal glucose and increasing fetal tissue uptake of glucose. The intriguing observation of sustained neonatal hyperinsulinemia remains unexplained.
Fungicidin, an antibiotic produced by a soil actinomycete.

SummaryTwo antibiotics of different chemical and biologic properties have been recovered from a soil actinomycete, Streptomyces sp.). The one is extracellular and resembles actidione. The other, designated as fungicidin, is intracellular. It is both fungistatic and fungicidal and apparently lacks antibacterial action. Its activity is not diminished by the presence of horse blood or serum. Fungicidin is distinguished from other antibiotics within our knowledge by its antimicrobial spectrum and its solubility characteristics. The approximate LD 50 for crude fungicidin administered intraperitoneally to mice is between 20 and 26 mg/kg. Injected subcutaneously, its toxicity is considerably lower. Therapeutically, fungicidin appears to be of value in histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis induced in mice.
Effect of cofiring coal on formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans during waste combustion

The effect of cofiring coal with municipal waste on formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) was examined by cofiring minor amounts (<7% by wt) of high (3.4% by wt) or low (0.7% by wt) sulfur (S) coal in a municipal waste combustor. PCDD/F concentrations were reduced up to 80% during the 13-run, 6-day effort. Both current and past operating conditions (fuel type and rate, gas concentrations) had an effect on current levels of PCDD/F formation. The influence of past conditions is consistent with a PCDD/F formation mechanism involving combustor wall deposits as sites for formation and indicates that PCDD/F measurements on field units may be affected in part by past operating conditions, at least up to 6 h. These wall deposits act as sources and receptors of PCDD/F precursors, reactants, and/or catalysts. It is proposed that an effect of higher sulfur dioxide concentration from cofiring coal is to displace the sulfate/chloride equilibrium in the deposit...
Varying oncomodulin mRNA abundance in developing placenta and solid tumors

An antisense RNA probe complementary to rat oncomodulin mRNA has been prepared by run-off transcription. Blots of RNA isolated from tumors arising from both a chemically-induced hepatoma or virally transformed sarcomas, when probed with this antisense RNA, identified a common single hybridizable RNA of approx. 750 nucleotides, corresponding in size to that found in blots of RNA from rat placenta. Quantitative densitometry of dot blot autoradiographs allowed for relative measurements of oncomodulin mRNA in the various tumors. The increased sensitivity of detection afforded by the antisense probe permitted the measurement of oncomodulin mRNA in the developing placenta, which was not possible using DNA probes. In both tumors and placenta, a plot of mRNA versus protein revealed a direct relationship suggesting transcriptional control of oncomodulin abundance.
Specific Association Of CD63 with the VLA-3 and VLA-6 Integrins

Abstract We screened monoclonal antibodies to cell-surface proteins and selected an antibody, called 6H1, that recognizes a putative integrin-associated protein. The 6H1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) indirectly coprecipitated α3β1 and/or α6β1, but not α2β1, or α5β1 from Brij 96 detergent lysates of multiple cell lines. Large scale purification using the 6H1 mAb yielded a single protein of 45-60 kDa with an amino-terminal sequence that exactly matched CD63. Confirming that the 6H1 mAb recognized the CD63 protein, 6H1 and a known anti-CD63 mAb yielded identical coprecipitation results and identical colocalization into lysosomal granules containing cathepsin D. Furthermore, we used an established anti-CD63 mAb to detect this protein in an α3β1 immunoprecipitate, and also we observed VLA-3 and CD63 colocalization in cellular “footprints.” Notably, the cytoplasmic domain of α3 was neither required nor sufficient for CD63 association, suggesting that it occurred elsewhere within the α3β1 complex. Knowledge of these specific CD63-α3β1 and CD63-α6β1 biochemical associations should lead to critical insights into the specialized functions of α3β1, α6β1, and CD63.
Crystal structure of prothrombin reveals conformational flexibility and mechanism of activation.

The zymogen prothrombin is composed of fragment 1 containing a Gla domain and kringle-1, fragment 2 containing kringle-2, and a protease domain containing A and B chains. The prothrombinase complex assembled on the surface of platelets converts prothrombin to thrombin by cleaving at Arg-271 and Arg-320. The three-dimensional architecture of prothrombin and the molecular basis of its activation remain elusive. Here we report the first x-ray crystal structure of prothrombin as a Gla-domainless construct carrying an Ala replacement of the catalytic Ser-525. Prothrombin features a conformation 80 Å long, with fragment 1 positioned at a 36° angle relative to the main axis of fragment 2 coaxial to the protease domain. High flexibility of the linker connecting the two kringles suggests multiple arrangements for kringle-1 relative to the rest of the prothrombin molecule. Luminescence resonance energy transfer measurements detect two distinct conformations of prothrombin in solution, in a 3:2 ratio, with the distance between the two kringles either fully extended (54 ± 2 Å) or partially collapsed (≤34 Å) as seen in the crystal structure. A molecular mechanism of prothrombin activation emerges from the structure. Of the two sites of cleavage, Arg-271 is located in a disordered region connecting kringle-2 to the A chain, but Arg-320 is well defined within the activation domain and is not accessible to proteolysis in solution. Burial of Arg-320 prevents prothrombin autoactivation and directs prothrombinase to cleave at Arg-271 first. Reversal of the local electrostatic potential then redirects prothrombinase toward Arg-320, leading to thrombin generation via the prethrombin-2 intermediate.
Correlates of Physical Activity in Low Income College Students

The importance of physical activity as a health promoting behavior has been well documented. We examined the relationship of social support, self-efficacy, and commitment to a plan of physical activity on physical activity behaviors in a sample of low income college students. Those with higher levels of social support, self-efficacy, and commitment to a plan of physical activity reported more physical activity behaviors. Commitment to a plan of physical activity mediated the relationships of social support and physical activity behavior, and of self-efficacy and physical activity behavior. The results support the importance of exploring the psychosocial correlates of physical activity in explaining the decision process that underlies physical activity behavior.
Self-believers are self-motivated; self-doubters are not

Abstract The results of seven studies are presented in which college students are classified based on the degree to which they believe in their own capability to perform a specific task and are then given the opportunity to perform that task on a voluntary basis under varying external conditions. Comparisons between self-believers, the self-unsure, and self-doubters showed that self-believers perform the most, outperform even their own self-expectations, and are unaffected by most external conditions while self-doubters perform the least (almost nothing), underperform even their own self-expectations, but perform more in structured, well-defined situations with the opportunity for goal-setting and planning beforehand and feedback afterward. Those with beliefs in the middle (the self-unsure) perform in the middle, close to their own expectations, and are aided by relative scoring and the use of group outcomes. Self-beliefs appear to function as an individual difference that mediates between performance conditions and resulting performance.
Effects of antimitotic agents on Ehrlich ascites cells

Abstract The biochemical effects on Ehrlich ascites cells of acriflavine, podophyllotoxin, 6-hydroxylaminopurine, and 8-ethoxycaffeine, compounds known to inhibit cell multiplication, were studied. Acriflavine was shown to inhibit DNA synthesis, and extracts of cells preincubated with acriflavine were less able to synthesize inosinate. Podophyllotoxin was a potent inliibitor of purine synthesis in vitro but relatively ineffective in vivo. It did block purine interconversion, and the general inhibitory effects of the agent were attributed to this action. The adenine analog, 6-hydroxylaminopurine, blocked the conversion of inosinate to adenylate and guanylate. This specific inhibition led to a generalized decrease in formation of nucleic acids. Purine synthesis de novo was blocked by 8-ethoxycaffeine in extracts of ascites cells, the effect was much greater when the cells had been preincubated with the inhibitor. The action of this compound was attributed to this specific block. The compounds each appeared to have distinct modes of action. It is suggested that some of these may mimic natural mechanisms of control of cell division.
Analysis and Measurement of Forces in an Electrowetting-Driven Oscillator

Electrowetting is a promising method for manipulating small volumes of liquid on a solid surface. This complex phenomenon couples electrical and fluid properties and offers many potential surprises. The complex electrical and capillary interactions in electrowetting are illustrated by an analysis of an electrowetting configuration that produces an oscillating droplet motion from a steady DC voltage input. The paper presents an analysis of the electrowetting forces to explain the oscillation and presents a new method for measuring electrowetting forces using a Hysitron Triboindenter. Initial results are compared with predictions from numerical models and simplified analytical solutions.
Mechanical Behavior of Monocrystalline NiAl Using A Miniaturized Disk-Bend Test

Miniaturized disk-bend tests were conducted on stoichiometric monocrystalline NiAl alloys of two different nominal purities. Disks 3 mm in diameter and ~250 mm thick were prepared with faces oriented parallel to either (100) or (110) and tested in biaxial bending. The specimens exhibited some ductility, even in the “hard” (100) orientation, prior to catastrophic failure. The yield strength of the specimens was higher in the (100) orientation than in the (110) orientation, as expected, but the specimens in (110) orientation were considerably more ductile. The higher purity alloy was considerably more ductile in both orientations. The estimated CRSS of the samples (110) in orientation is ~80 to 85 MPa. which is somewhat lower than reported values for deformation on the {010} slip system. For the most part, the fracture surfaces are similar in both alloys, with cleavage being the dominant mode of fracture. There is no visual evidence on the fracture surfaces that can account for the differences in ductility of the two alloys tested.
A formal representation for messages containing compositional expressions

Abstract Clinically useful controlled vocabularies should represent healthcare concepts completely and with high reliability. Anticipating and pre-coordinating all possible expressions (e.g. ‘fracture of the left femur' and ‘fracture of the right femur') is not feasible. Variation in practice styles, requirements for the granularity of content, the exponential growth of terminology size, and increased cost of maintaining pre-coordinated terminologies lead us to conclude that no enumerated terminology can ever be truly comprehensive. Compositional terminologies are one potential solution to the problem of content completeness, but carry a risk of generating expressions whose equivalency cannot be easily determined. In order for post-coordinated expressions to be comparable, a sufficiently detailed formal mechanism for information representation is necessary. Comparable data for post-coordinated expressions requires normalization of both the contents and the semantics of the contents of the terminology with the information captured in post-coordinated expressions. In addition, comparable data requires a storage and messaging paradigm robust enough to faithfully represent the information contained within arbitrarily complex compositional expressions. We present a formalism for storing, and sending messages containing compositional expressions using a large-scale reference terminology. It is our intent that this formalism be used to algorithmically determine whether or not messages contain comparable data. In addition, we advocate transmitting the upward transitive closure of subsumption of all concepts, to improve comparability of data and to decrease reliance on locally stored versions of the underlying reference terminology.
Vertical economies of scope in dairy farming.

With the exception of Azzam and Skinner (2007), the economic literature on farm structurehas largely neglected issues of vertical organization of the farm. In this article we estimate amulti-stage, multi-output cost function in order to measure vertical economies of scope in organicand conventional dairy farms. In particular, we model the integration of production of grains andforages on dairy farms. We ﬁnd negligible vertical economies of scope for conventional dairyfarms but signiﬁcant vertical economies of scope in organic dairy production. The large verticaleconomies of scope for organic dairy farms are consistent with higher costs of obtaining organicfeed through market transactions associated with an underdeveloped market for organic feeds.KEYWORDS: vertical economies of scope, vertical integration, dairy
Coping with Life-Threatening Illness: A Task Model

For many years Rubier-Ross' stage theory of dying has been the predominant model, at least popularly, in the field of thanatology. Yet this model has sustained considerable criticisms. This article reviews criticisms of the stage model. It suggests that a new model would need to widen consideration of the range of coping mechanisms that individuals employ as they struggle with life-threatening illnesses; emphasize that no style of coping is inherently preferable; reaffirm the individuality of responses; and recognize the complexity of the process of life-threatening illness. The article proposes that a more effective model for understanding coping with life-threatening illness would emphasize the varied tasks that individuals face at each phase of illness.
Isoconversion effective activation energy profiles by variable temperature diffuse reflection infrared spectroscopy.

Thermal process characterization based on calculating effective activation energies from variable temperature diffuse reflection infrared spectroscopy (VT-DRIFTS) measurements is demonstrated. Experimental factors that affect the accuracies of activation energy values are outlined. Infrared radiation scattering efficiency, thermal conductivity, and inertness towards chemical reactions are factors that should be considered when selecting an appropriate diluent for preparing samples. The Kubelka–Munk representation is superior to apparent absorbance when baseline variations in spectra measured at different temperatures can be minimized. Variable-temperature infrared spectral features, such as integrated absorption band area, can be used to compute isoconversion effective activation energies, provided that measured quantities are proportional to species concentrations.
Keeping Families Together: The Importance of Maintaining Mother–Child Contact for Incarcerated Women

Increases in the population of incarcerated women in the United States have resulted in the separation of growing numbers of mothers and children. The negative effects of dividing families have been noted for both the mothers and the children. The current research examines efforts at keeping imprisoned mothers and children connected through a visitation program. Through one-on-one interviews, the women prisoners share their perspectives about how their children are coping with the separation, their concerns for their children, their views of their roles as mothers, and their needs for after release. The women interviewed include participants in a specialized mother– child visitation program and a comparison group of mothers not in the program. The author suggests that keeping mothers and children connected may produce positive behavioral and emotional outcomes for both the mothers and their children that may reduce correctional costs and increase community safety.
Levels of analysis, regnant causes of behavior and well-being :The role of psychological needs

Within both basic philosophy of science and theoretical biology the idea that scientific disciplines can be organized in some type of hierarchy reflecting micro-to-macro levels of analysis has been...
Photosynthesis in Fluctuating Light

Experiments were conducted to test the assumption, always made in models of the productivities of higher plant communities, that photosynthetic rates measured in steady light can be used to predict the rates in fluctuating light. The photosynthetic rates of whole cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus) were measured in light which alternated between high and low levels, at irradiances and frequencies comparable with the fluctuations found in nature (16—220 w/m2 of photosynthetically active radiation, 1012—103 sec at each level). The mean photosynthetic rate in alternating light was always within a few percent of the mean of the two photosynthetic rates in steady light at the two irradiances which were alternated. In a practical test, daily totals of carbon dioxide assimilated in natural fluctuating light caused by clouds were within a few percent of those calculated from the irradiances and the steady—state photosynthetic rate. In both experiments, the plants acted as near—perfect integrators of photosynthate, not of light. The conclusion is that steady—state photosynthetic rates may safely be used to compute the rates in fluctuating light, over the range of light conditions likely to be found in nature, provided that photosynthetic rates, and not irradiances, are integrated.
ABA triblock copolymers containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane pendant groups: synthesis and unique properties

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of POSS containing ABA triblock copolymers is reported. The use of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) enabled the preparation of well-defined model copolymers possessing a rubbery poly(n-butyl acrylate)(pBA) middle segment and glassy poly(3-(3,5,7,9,11,13,15-heptaisobutyl-pentacyclo[9.5.1.13,9.15,15.17,13]-octasiloxane-1-yl)propyl methacrylate(p(MA-POSS)) outer segments. By tuning the relative composition and degree of polymerization (DP) of the two segments, phase separated microstructures were formed in thin films of the copolymer. Specifically, dynamic mechanical analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations reveal that for a small molar ratio of p(MA-POSS)/pBA (DP=6/481/6) no evidence of microphase separation is evident while a large ratio (10/201/10) reveals strong microphase separation. Surprisingly, the microphase-separated material exhibits a tensile modulus larger than expected (ca. 2×108 Pa) for a continuous rubber phase for temperatures between a pBA-related Tg and a softening point for the p(MA-POSS)-rich phase. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images with selective staining for POSS revealed the formation of a morphology consisting of pBA cylinders in a continuous p(MA-POSS) phase. Thermal studies have revealed the existence of two clear glass transitions in the microphase-separated system with strong physical aging evident for annealing temperatures near the Tg of the higher Tg phase (p(MA-POSS). The observed aging is reflected in wide-angle X-ray scattering as the strengthening of a low-angle POSS-dominated scattering peak, suggesting some level of ordering during physical aging. The Tg of the POSS-rich phase observed in the microphase separated triblock copolymer was nearly 25 °C higher than that of a POSS-homopolymer of the same molecular weight, suggesting a strong confinement-based enhancement of Tg in this system.
When Counter Narratives Meet Master Narratives in the Journal Editorial-Review Process

The author shares her experiences with the editorial-review process while publishing a qualitative research study on the teaching experiences of African American faculty members at two predominantly White research universities. She likens the experiences of African American faculty members to counter narratives, troubles master narratives in the editorial-review process, draws implications, and makes recommendations for researchers invested in nonmainstream educational research in higher education. This is a call to journal editors and reviewers to examine their roles as disciplinary gatekeepers and to break the cycle of master narratives in educational research and the editorial-review process.
MINI‐REVIEW Assessment of Body Image Disturbance in Obesity

Disturbance in body image has long been noted as one of the most distressing psychological factors for obese individuals. Yet, only in recent years have researchers and clinicians begun to appreciate the need to integrate systematic evaluation of this component into intervention programs. Accordingly, this mini-review offers an overview of selected strategies for the assessment of body image disturbance in obesity.
An Overview of Global Family Policy: Introduction to the Special Issue

The authors briefly discuss the dynamic area of family globally and overview the issue’s articles dealing with the interface of family with public policy and marketing processes.
Stochastic process modeling and Monte Carlo simulation: assisting higher-level decision making for aided target recognition networks

Higher-level decisions for AiTR (aided target recognition) networks have been made so far in our community in an ad-hoc fashion. Higher level decisions in this context do not involve target recognition performance per se, but other inherent output measures of performance, e.g., expected response time, long-term electronic memory required to achieve a tolerable level of image losses. Those measures usually require the knowledge associated with the steady-state, stochastic behavior of the entire network, which in practice is mathematically intractable. Decisions requiring those and similar output measures will become very important as AiTR networks are permanently deployed to the field. To address this concern, I propose to model AiTR systems as an open stochastic-process network and to conduct Monte Carlo simulations based on this model to estimate steady state performances. To illustrate this method, I modeled as proposed a familiar operational scenario and an existing baseline AiTR system. Details of the stochastic model and its corresponding Monte-Carlo simulation results are discussed in the paper.
Isomerization kinetics of benzylic and methylphenyl type radicals in single-ring aromatics

Abstract Mutual isomerization through H-atom shifts in benzylic and methylphenyl type radicals are examined for toluene, and o-, m-, and p-xylene isomers. In the high temperature pyrolysis and oxidation of toluene, three possible methylphenyl radical isomers can be formed (2-, 3-, and 4-methylphenyl). The 2-methylphenyl radical may undergo a facile isomerization to benzyl through a four-membered ring critical structure – a pathway not accessible to 3- and 4-methylphenyl. Electronic structure calculations show that 2-methylphenyl isomerization to benzyl is preferred energetically by at least 20 kcal/mol over other possibilities. Monte Carlo RRKM/master equation simulations illustrate that, at temperatures ⩾1200 K, and for almost all pressures, the 2-methylphenyl radical has a lifetime of only several microseconds, whereas 3- and 4-methylphenyl radicals have a substantially longer lifetime, allowing them to react with other species, including molecular oxygen, during toluene oxidation. This is also found to be the case for all dimethylphenyl radicals in the three xylene isomers. As a result, the structure of the xylene isomers and specifically the number of H atoms immediately adjacent to the methyl groups can have a direct impact on their high-temperature oxidation and appear to explain the observed differences in xylene oxidation behind reflected shock waves and in laminar premixed flames.