cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interpersonal skills, role cognitions, and OCB: Exploring mediating mechanisms and contextual constraints on role enactment

Abstract While substantial research demonstrates that personal attributes and the manner with which people construe their work roles both play important antecedent roles in predicting organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), there has been very little examination of the process by which these distinct factors jointly affect the performance of OCB. We apply the principles of role theory and identity theory to articulate how an understudied personal attribute (interpersonal skill) influences OCB as well as the boundary conditions for this relationship. We posit role cognitions as a key mechanism through which interpersonal skills ultimately facilitate OCB. We also examine how work contexts characterized by demands from social contingencies placed on an individual's work role by other people shape this role enactment process, specifically situational differences in accountability, routinization, interdependence, and external interactions. Results support the proposed mediating effects of role cognitions and show the indirect effects of interpersonal skills through role cognitions are amplified when contexts are high in accountability and interdependence and are attenuated in contexts high in routinization.
Towards Faster Execution of Ensemble ML Bootstrap Based Techniques

Algorithms for ensemble methods (EM) based on bootstrap aggregation often perform copious amount of redundant computations (RC) thus limiting their practicality. Given this constraint, we propose a framework that views these algorithms as a collection of computational units (cu), a tightly coupled set of both mathematical operations and data. This view facilitates a reduction in RC (RRC), thereby allowing for faster execution plans. Inspired by the floor tiling approach in VLSI, we look to engineer solutions for RRC while possibly reconfiguring the underlying computing system’s compiler technology stack. We start by showing that under the assumption that the computational system has unbounded but finite memory (i.e., the memory is large enough to hold all intermediate values) and that each has a uniform cost, our approach reduces to a well-studied directed bandwidth problem for the directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). Next, we consider a more realistic scenario where the computing system has limited memory and concurrent execution while still assuming a uniform cost. Using a new notion of (r, s) set cover of a DAG (nodes representing computational units and edges representing their interdependencies) we formulate the problem of reducing redundant computational steps in EM as a variation of a directed bandwidth problem. We show that the graph’s minimum bandwidth is closely related to memory requirements for studying RRC. Finally, our preliminary experimental results are supportive of the proposed approach for RRC and promising that it can be applied to a broader set of algorithms in decision sciences.
No Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Anaerobic Test Performance in Resistance-trained Individuals

Introduction: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) sends a weak electrical current through the cerebral cortex. tDCS has been shown to be effective in longer activities (>75s) but minimal research has been performed with short, anaerobic tests. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of tDCS on Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) performance. Methods: Fifteen young, resistance-trained adults (23.7±2.7 years; BMI 24.9±2.6 kg×m-2; 12 males) volunteered for this study. Electrodes were placed at T3 and FP2 for anodal stimulation of the insular cortex (IC), and 2mA of current was supplied for 20 minutes; after a short rest period, subjects performed a WAnT. Dependent variables included peak/mean/relative power, peak heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Experimental and sham conditions were utilized. Paired-samples t-tests were used to determine the effect of tDCS on the dependent variables. Results: Peak power in the experimental condition (1,019.0±237.5W) was not different than that of the sham (1,008.3±240.4W; p=.638). There were no differences in any other WAnT variables, and no differences in peak HR or RPE (all p>.05). Conclusions: The results from this study suggest that tDCS in resistance-trained individuals is not effective in improving performance on an anaerobic test. In addition, it is still considered experimental and its ethical use is questionable.
DNA Methylation, Differentiation and Cancer

The methylation of cytosine residues in DNA is potentially dangerous for living cells for two reasons. Firstly, the application of a methyl group to the 5 position of a cytosine residue increases the rate of spontaneous deamination of the pyrimidine and the product of this deamination cannot be recognized easily by repair enzymes. Thus, 5-methylcytosine is inherently mutagenic and evidence has accumulated to suggest that this mutagenic activity is responsible for a high proportion of spontaneous mutations within the human genome. Secondly, methylation of cytosine residues in DNA is a powerful mechanism for the silencing of vertebrate genes. The inappropriate methylation of contromng regions of genes can result in heritable epigenetic changes in phenotype which are potentially capable of giving rise to cellular immortality and transformation. This review will focus on these two biological properties of DNA methylation as they relate to human cancer.
Generating 3-D Cardiac Material Markers Using Tagged MRI

Tagged magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown great promise in noninvasive analysis of heart motion. To replace implanted markers as a gold standard, however, tagged MRI must be able to track a sparse set of material points, so-called material markers, with high accuracy. This paper presents a new method for generating accurate motion estimates over a sparse set of material points using standard, parallel-tagged MR images. The tracked points are located at intersections of three tag surfaces, each of which is estimated using thin-plate splines. The intersections are determined by an iterative alternating projections algorithm for which a proof of convergence is provided. The resulting data sets are compatible with applications developed to exploit implanted marker data. One example from a normal human volunteer is shown in detail, and numerical results that include additional studies are discussed.
Teaching Contract Law: Introducing Students to a Critical Perspective Through Discussion of Indentured Servitude and Sharecropper Contracts

An introductory law school course in contract law, prior to commencing the detailed study of specific doctrines, should at the outset provide some general orientation to the students by presenting them with a broad overview of the conventional characterization of contract law as a benign social institution that facilitates private ordering and promisee reliance. However, this initial orientation to the underlying rationale of the subject should also expose the students to a contrasting and more critical perspective that calls attention to contract law’s occasional use as a means of social domination and oppression. A brief discussion of the history of indentured servitude and sharecropper contracts in the USA provides an excellent vehicle for imparting this critical perspective, and this can be done in a succinct matter that does not crowd out too much doctrinal coverage. This short article presents a sample text suitable for a 20-to-30 minute coverage of these subjects in an introductory contract law course.
Tail probabilities of low-priority waiting times and queue lengths in {MAP}/{GI}/1 queues

We consider the problem of estimating tail probabilities of waiting times in statistical multiplexing systems with two classes of sources – one with high priority and the other with low priority. The priority discipline is assumed to be nonpreemptive. Exact expressions for the transforms of these quantities are derived assuming that packet or cell streams are generated by Markovian Arrival Processes (MAPs). Then a numerical investigation of the large-buffer asymptotic behavior of the the waiting-time distribution for low-priority sources shows that these asymptotics are often non-exponential.
Animal antimicrobial peptides: ancient players in innate immunity.

Outstanding research often begins by asking a simple question. Hans Boman asked two such questions. How do animals survive infections if the division time for bacteria is as low as 20 min and the adaptive immune system that produces Abs and T cells requires a week or longer to expand and come into
The Natural Forces of Metaphor

Conserving Words How American Nature Writers Shaped the Environmental Movement. by Daniel J. Philippon. University of Georgia Press, Athens, 2004. 391 pp. $39.95. ISBN 0-8203-2576-7. Philippon explores the influence of five writers whose work helped shape important conservation organizations: Teddy Roosevelt (Boone & Crockett Club), Mabel Osgood Wright (National Audubon Society), John Muir (Sierra Club), Aldo Leopold (Wilderness Society), and Ed Abbey (Earth First!).
AMELOGENESIS IMPERFECTA. A REPORT OF TWO CASES.

Abstract 1. 1. The dental symptoms presented by the two cases reported here are compatible with the classic descriptions of enamel hypoplasia, enamel hypocalcification, and associated osteogenesis imperfecta. 2. 2. Because of the hereditary nature of the condition, the clinical and roentgenographic signs may serve as a guide in treatment planning for the patient and members of the family as related to the quality of the calcific structures (specifically, enamel and bone).
Influence of culture on attitude towards instant messaging: balance between awareness and privacy

This research-in-progress paper investigates how attitudes towards privacy and awareness mediate the relationship between culture and attitude towards Instant Messaging (IM). A conceptual model is proposed to explain the relationships between culture and attitude towards privacy and between culture and attitude towards awareness. Attitudes towards privacy and awareness are then hypothesized to affect attitude towards IM. Related research about IM, user attitudes, and cultural dimensions are reviewed and a proposed survey study is described.
Performance in practical problem solving

The quantity of resources that an agent expends in solving problems in a given domain is determined by the representations and search control strategies that it employs. The value of individual representations or strategies to the agent is determined by their contribution to the resource expenditure. We argue here that in order to choose the component representations and strategies appropriate for a particular problem domain it is necessary to measure their contribution to the resource expenditure on the actual problems the agent faces. This is as true for a system designer making such choices as it is for an autonomous mechanical agent. We present one way to measure this contribution and give an example in which the measure is used to improve problem solving performance.
Somatomedin-C levels in growth-impaired children and adolescents with chronic inflammatory bowel disease

The relationship between caloric insufficiency and impaired growth in children with chronic inflammatory bowel disease has been increasingly recognized in recent years. The mechanism by which nutritional insufficiency leads to decreased growth in these children is unclear. Our study suggests that chronic undernutrition lowers circulating somatomedin-C, which is known to exert anabolic effects on peripheral tissues. Therapeutic intervention that increases caloric intake results in improved somatomedin-C levels and growth velocity. Monitoring somatomedin-C levels in growth-impaired children with inflammatory bowel disease provides an important marker of nutritional sufficiency and reversibility of growth retardation.
Effect of extended strain fields on point defect phonon scattering in thermoelectric materials

The design of thermoelectric materials often involves the integration of point defects (alloying) as a route to reduce the lattice thermal conductivity. Classically, the point defect scattering strength follows from simple considerations such as mass contrast and the presence of induced strain fields (e.g. radius contrast, coordination changes). While the mass contrast can be easily calculated, the associated strain fields induced by defect chemistry are not readily predicted and are poorly understood. In this work, we use classical and first principles calculations to provide insight into the strain field component of phonon scattering from isoelectronic point defects. Our results also integrate experimental measurements on bulk samples of SnSe and associated alloys with S, Te, Ge, Sr and Ba. These efforts highlight that the strength and extent of the resulting strain field depends strongly on defect chemistry. Strain fields can have a profound impact on the local structure. For example, in alloys containing Ba, the strain fields have significant spatial extent (1 nm in diameter) and produce large shifts in the atomic equilibrium positions (up to 0.5 A). Such chemical complexity suggests that computational assessment of point defects for thermal conductivity depression should be hindered. However, in this work, we present and verify several computational descriptors that correlate well with the experimentally measured strain fields. Furthermore, these descriptors are conceptually transparent and computationally inexpensive, allowing computation to provide a pivotal role in the screening of effective alloys. The further development of point defect engineering could complement or replace nanostructuring when optimizing the thermal conductivity, offering the benefits of thermodynamic stability, and providing more clearly defined defect chemistry.
Percutaneous transjugular coil embolisation (PTCE) method for closure of intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (IHPSS)

Surgical closure of an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (IHPSS) was described in the previous issue of Companion Animal. Interventional radiology, the use of fluoroscopically-guided catheter-based techniques, has also been recently employed to successfully treat IHPSS in dogs. This case description introduces the method and results of interventional radiology closure of an intrahepatic shunt using the PTCE method.
Manejo anestésico de grande massa mediastinal para a colocação de stent traqueal

Resumo O manejo anestesico de pacientes com grandes massas situadas no mediastino pode ser complicado por causa dos efeitos da pressao da massa sobre as vias aereas ou grandes vasos. Relatamos o manejo anestesico bem‐sucedido de uma paciente de 64 anos com uma grande massa mediastinal que invadiu os grandes vasos e comprimiu a traqueia. Um stent traqueal foi colocado para aliviar a compressao da traqueia, sob anestesia geral. A ventilacao espontânea foi mantida durante o periodo perioperatorio com o uso de uma mascara laringea classica. Discutimos a utilidade da mascara laringea para o manejo da colocacao de stent traqueal em pacientes com massas situadas no mediastino.
Characterization and preliminary crystallographic data on the VL-related fragment of the human κI Bence Jones protein Wat

A “naturally occurring” human κI VL dimer, designated Wat, has been isolated and crystallized. Protein Wat consists of two non-covalently bound monomers, each having a molecular weight of ~ 11,500. The monomer subunit is composed of an entire variable region light chain (VL) domain closely homologous to that of the κI Bence Jones protein Roy (Hilschmann & Craig, 1965) as evidenced from amino acid composition, tryptic peptide map, and sequence analysis. Immunochemical studies substantiated that protein Wat is of the κ chain subgroup κI and lacks the isotypic and allotypic antigenic determinants associated with the κ constant region light chain domain. Two types of crystals of VL dimer Wat were obtained from ammonium sulfate or polyethylene glycol solutions. The type I crystals have unit cell dimensions of a = b = 82.6 A, c = 60.3 A, and the space group is hexagonal P62 or P64. The asymmetric unit consists of one VL dimer; the fractional volume of unit cell occupied by solvent is 0.51. The unit cell dimensions of the type II crystals are a = b = 1,08.3 A, c = 108.8 A; the space group is hexagonal P6122 or P6522. Three variable domains constitute the asymmetric unit of the type II crystals; the fractional value of the solvent (0.52) is compatible with the value obtained for the type I crystals.
Absence of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone in Pituitaries of Young Pigeons

SummaryThe testes of immature ring doves are measurably stimulated by implants of 1 immature (29-44 days) rat pituitary daily for 10 days; one adult common pigeon pituitary daily for 10 days gives much greater stimulation; stimulation can be obtained from fewer than 5 adult pigeon pituitaries 30 pituitaries of immature but nearly full grown pigeons (1.8 to 2.3 months from beginning development) implanted in groups of 3 daily for 10 days give no detectable stimulation. These results confirm an earlier indication from growth rate of testes in these birds : Pigeons less than 2.3 months old (1.8 months after hatching) and ring doves of less than 3.0 months (2.5 months after hatching) are to be considered as animals in which the production of F.S.H. has not yet been initiated. When anterior pituitary hormones, or extracts of this tissue, are injected into these birds it must be granted that their action is obtained on an intact organism free from follicle-stimulating hormone, and that the injected material ser...
Modifications and extensions of the conjugate gradient-restoration algorithm for mathematical programming problems

In this paper, the problem of minimizing a functionf(x) subject to a constraint ϕ(x)=0 is considered, wheref is a scalar,x ann-vector, and ϕ aq-vector, withq <n. Several conjugate gradient-restoration algorithms are analyzed: these algorithms are composed of the alternate succession of conjugate gradient phases and restoration phases. In the conjugate gradient phase, one tries to improve the value of the function while avoiding excessive constraint violation. In the restoration phase, one tries to reduce the constraint error, while avoiding excessive change in the value of the function. Concerning the conjugate gradient phase, two classes of algorithms are considered: for algorithms of Class I, the multiplier λ is determined so that the error in the optimum condition is minimized for givenx; for algorithms of Class II, the multiplier λ is determined so that the constraint is satisfied to first order. Concerning the restoration phase, two topics are investigated: (a) restoration type, that is, complete restoration vs incomplete restoration and (b) restoration frequency, that is, frequent restoration vs infrequent restoration. Depending on the combination of type and frequency of restoration, four algorithms are generated within Class I and within Class II, respectively: Algorithm (α) is characterized by complete and frequent restoration; Algorithm (β) is characterized by incomplete and frequent restoration; Algorithm (γ) is characterized by complete and infrequent restoration; and Algorithm (δ) is characterized by incomplete and infrequent restoration. If the functionf(x) is quadratic and the constraint ϕ(x) is linear, all of the previous algorithms are identical, that is, they produce the same sequence of points and converge to the solution in the same number of iterations. This number of iterations is at mostN* =n −q if the starting pointx s is such that ϕ(x s)=0, and at mostN*=1+n −q if the starting pointx s is such that ϕ(x s) ≠ 0. In order to illustrate the theory, five numerical examples are developed. The first example refers to a quadratic function and a linear constraint. The remaining examples refer to a nonquadratic function and a nonlinear constraint. For the linear-quadratic example, all the algorithms behave identically, as predicted by the theory. For the nonlinear-nonquadratic examples, Algorithm (II-δ), which is characterized by incomplete and infrequent restoration, exhibits superior convergence characteristics. It is of interest to compare Algorithm (II-δ) with Algorithm (I-α), which is the sequential conjugate gradient-restoration algorithm of Ref. 1 and is characterized by complete and frequent restoration. For the nonlinear-nonquadratic examples, Algorithm (II-δ) converges to the solution in a number of iterations which is about one-half to two-thirds that of Algorithm (I-α).
Associating structured records to text documents

Postulate two independently created data sources. The first contains text documents, each discussing one or a small number of objects. The second is a collection of structured records, each containing information about the characteristics of some objects. We present techniques for associating structured records to corresponding text documents and empirical results supporting the proposed techniques.
Use of Plasma in the Management of Central Nervous System Bleeding: Evidence-Based Consensus Recommendations

Central nervous system (CNS) hemorrhage is a potentially life-threatening condition, especially in patients with acquired coagulopathy. In this setting, treatment of CNS bleeding includes hemostatic therapy to replenish coagulation factors. There is currently a debate over the hemostatic efficacy of plasma in many clinical settings, alongside increasing concern about transfusion-associated adverse events. Despite these concerns, plasma is widely used. Moreover, plasma transfusion practice is variable and there is currently no uniform approach to treatment of traumatic, surgical or spontaneous CNS hemorrhage. This study addresses the need for guidance on the indications and potential risks of plasma transfusion in these settings. An Expert Consensus Panel was convened to develop recommendations guiding the use of plasma to treat bleeding and/or coagulopathy associated with CNS hemorrhage. The panel did not advise on the best treatment available but rather proposed recommendations to be used in the formulation of local procedures to support emergency physicians in their decision-making process. Evidence was systematically gathered from the literature and rated using methods established by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. The evidence was used to develop graded consensus recommendations, which are presented along with the evidence-based rationale for each in this report. Sixty-five articles were identified covering both vitamin K antagonist-anticoagulation reversal and treatment of bleeding/coagulopathy in non-anticoagulated patients. Recommendations were then developed in four clinical scenarios within each area, and agreed on unanimously by all members of the panel. The Panel considered plasma to be reasonable therapy for CNS hemorrhage requiring urgent correction of coagulopathy, although physicians should be prepared for potential cardiopulmonary complications, and evidence suggests that alternative therapies have superior risk–benefit profiles. Plasma could not be recommended in the absence of hemorrhage or coagulopathy. Consideration of the absolute risks and benefits of plasma therapy before transfusion is imperative.
Transplanting matured head type lettuce for seed production

We obtained success in seed production by transplanting matured head lettuce plants into clay pots after (1) removing the head with a knife, leaving a few leaves on the stalk to allow for the development of the shoots, and (2) after removing all leaves covering the seedstalk so that it was free to bolt. The use of gibberellin A3 (GA3) to promote early seed production proved detrimental on poorly established transplants.
Does the hospital board need a doctor? The influence of physician board participation on hospital financial performance

In this study, the authors attempted to determine if physician board participation enhances or impairs the operational performance of a hospital. Two theories--managerialism and agency theory--are compared to determine if participation on the hospital board by inside (i.e., medical staff) and outside physicians provides informational advantages (managerialism) or poses the threat for opportunism (agency theory). Using hospital operating margin to measure hospital performance for a 4-year period (1985-1988), the findings indicate that boards with inside physician (medical staff) participation had significantly better performance than those without such physician participation. Supportive of the managerialist perspective, the findings strongly suggest that medical staff board participation can enhance operational performance. Implications of physician-hospital relations for future hospital strategies as well as health care reform issues are discussed.
The Adequacy of Life Insurance Purchases

Abstract This paper examines whether middle age American households purchase adequate amounts of life insurance. The analysis is based on SRI International's 1980, 1982, and 1984 surveys of the financial positions of American households. Our findings indicate that a significant minority of American wives are highly underinsured with respect to the possible deaths of their husbands. We find that 25 to 30% of wives are inadequately insured, by which we mean that they would suffer a loss in their rate of sustainable consumption of at least 30% in the event of being widowed. These findings on inadequate life insurance are even more striking if one focuses on those households in which over half of the couple's present expected value of resources is dependent on the husband's survival. The results of this paper together with those of the related literature strongly suggest that raising the share of social security benefits that are paid to surviving spouses as well as increasing employer-provided group life insurance could have a very considerable impact on the alleviation of poverty among widows, especially elderly widows.
Poster 24: Worry and Experience of Genetic Discrimination in Persons at Risk for Huntington Disease

Background Genetic discrimination (defined as the denial of rights, privileges, or opportunities, or other adverse treatment based solely on genetic information) is of concern to individuals at risk for developing Huntington disease (HD). Some prior surveys of genetic discrimination have included an examination of the prevalence of worry about genetic discrimination as contrasted to the prevalence of discriminatory experiences. The International RESPOND-HD (I-RESPOND-HD) survey compares and contrasts these two distinct psychological and experiential traits. Methods A total of 433 persons completed the I-RESPOND-HD survey examining the perceptions and experience of genetic discrimination. Participants had previously undergone predictive testing for the genetic mutation that causes HD (PREDICT-HD; n = 310), or had a 50% risk for developing HD due to family history but had chosen not to be tested (PHAROS; n = 123). Respondents lived in the United States (n = 293), Australia (n = 93), or Canada (n = 46). Using qualitative and quantitative assessments, the survey instrument provides a comprehensive set of questions designed to elicit descriptions of the perception of genetic discrimination and how such discrimination might negatively influence respondents (worry). Results Participants self-report a much higher rate of worry about genetic discrimination than actual discriminatory events. Overall, 51.2% of respondents report worrying about the possibility of discrimination within relationships, but only 32.9% actually experienced such discrimination within their personal relationships. Participants similarly reported a higher rate of worry than actual discrimination in the context of insurance (70.0% worried, 25.9% experienced), employment (44.0% worried, 6.5% experienced), and in other transactions (33.3% worried, 4.6% experienced). Conclusion Individuals at risk for HD worry about potential discrimination at a rate higher than that at which they experience such incidents. This exaggerated worry may motivate them to place subtle and/or overt limits on themselves, such as keeping their family history a secret, abstaining from genetic testing, or passing by opportunities to change employers.
Influence of fluorine in mottled teeth on dental caries.

SummarySome of the factors operative in suppressing rat caries have been tested in this experiment. By using animals in which the salivary glands have been removed it has been possible to test the relative effects of fluorine prenatally incorporated in the teeth. When the caries score of operated rats with mottled or fluorinized teeth are compared with that of nonfluorinized animals without glands there is a measurable reduction in caries. When the percentage of reduction is compared with the caries score of normal animals, however, there is evidence that the saliva offers greater protection than the fluorine in tooth substance.
Learning through Tutoring: Low-Achieving Children as Tutors.

Low-achieving fifth-grade children either taught a third-grader or studied alone for a series of daily sessions: At the end of the two-week period, the low-achievers’ performance was significantly better in the tutoring condition than in the studying alone condition–a reversal in direction of the initial difference between conditions. There was no differential effect on tutees of being taught versus studying alone. Results suggest that serving as a tutor may be a particularly useful method for enhancing the academic performance of low-achieving children.
Polynomial Szemerédi theorems for countable modules over integral domains and finite fields

Given a pair of vector spacesV andW over a countable fieldF and a probability spaceX, one defines apolynomial measure preserving action ofV onX to be a compositionT o ϕ, where ϕ:V→W is a polynomial mapping andT is a measure preserving action ofW onX. We show that the known structure theory of measure preserving group actions extends to polynomial actions and establish a Furstenberg-style multiple recurrence theorem for such actions. Among the combinatorial corollaries of this result are a polynomial Szemeredi theorem for sets of positive density in finite rank modules over integral domains, as well as the following fact:Let\(\mathcal{P}\) be a finite family of polynomials with integer coefficients and zero constant term. For any α>0, there exists N ∈ ℕ such that whenever F is a field with |F|≥N and E ⊆F with |E|/|F|≥α, there exist u∈F, u≠0, and w∈E such that w+ϕ(u)∈E for all ϕ∈\(\mathcal{P}\).
Redox and oxidant-mediated regulation of apoptosis signaling pathways: immuno-pharmaco-redox conception of oxidative siege versus cell death commitment

The mechanisms controlling apoptosis remain largely obscure. Because apoptosis is an integral part of the developmental program and is frequently the end-result of a temporal course of cellular events, it is referred to as programmed cell death. While there is considerable variation in the signals and requisite cellular metabolic events necessary to induce apoptosis in diverse cell types, the morphological features associated with apoptosis are highly conserved. Free radicals, particularly reactive oxygen species (ROS), have been proposed as common mediators for apoptosis. Many agents that induce apoptosis are either oxidants or stimulators of cellular oxidative metabolism. Conversely, many inhibitors of apoptosis have antioxidant activities or enhance cellular antioxidant defenses. Mammalian cells, therefore, exist in a state of oxidative siege in which survival requires an optimum balance of oxidants and antioxidants. The respiratory tract is subjected to a variety of environmental stresses, including oxidizing agents, particulates and airborne microorganisms that, together, may injure structural and functional lung components and thereby jeopardize the primary lung function of gas exchange. To cope with this challenge, the lung has developed elaborate defense mechanisms that include inflammatory-immune pathways as well as efficient antioxidant defense systems. In the absence of adequate antioxidant defenses, the damage produced is detected by the cell leading to the activation of genes responsible for the regulation of apoptosis, conceivably through stress-responsive transcription factors. Oxidative stress, in addition, may cause a shift in cellular redox state, which thereby modifies the nature of the stimulatory signal and which results in cell death as opposed to proliferation. ROS/redox modifications, therefore, may disrupt signal transduction pathways, can be perceived as abnormal and, under some conditions, may trigger apoptosis.
Correlating Lightning to Severe Local Storms in the Northeastern United States

Abstract Two tornado events and an intense downburst episode were investigated in an attempt to relate cloud-to-ground lightning rates with the occurrence of severe local storms. The State University of New York at Albany lightning detection system was used to yield characteristic lightning rate tendencies and particular lightning signatures that were associated with severe storms in the northeastern United States. Tornadoes and large hail occurred about 10–15 min after a pronounced peak in the 5-min cloud-to-ground lightning rate. In the downburst event, very destructive winds occurred just after the 5-min rate peaked. Because these severe local storm activities followed well-defined peaks in the 5-min cloud-to-ground lightning rate, it may be possible that the 5-min rates could be used operationally to forecast severe weather.
The Role of Pressure in the Study of the Fermi Surface

Pressure studies of the Fermi surface are providing critical tests for the physical significance of model descriptions for the electron structure of metals. Work since the most recent reviews is cited. The solid and fluid He pressure techniques used in ongoing studies on Gd, U and Th are described briefly and results on these materials are discussed.
The Effect of Embodied Temperature on Perceptions of Global Warming

Recent research has established that individuals’ perception of global warming is malleable such that individuals report that it is a more serious problem when they experience higher outdoor or indoor temperatures (Li et al. Psychological Science, 22(4), 454–459, 2011; Risen and Critcher Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100(5), 777–793, 2011). We extend these findings on the experience of actual temperature by testing whether the embodied experience of temperature, manipulated by participants chewing cinnamon or mint gum, can activate the concept of temperature and influence perception of global warming. As predicted, compared to those who did not chew gum, those experiencing embodied temperature through chewing gum reported greater concern for global warming, but not other social problems, and were more likely to volunteer for a global warming group on campus. This suggests that the physical experience of tasting cinnamon or mint gum activated the larger conceptual system of temperature changes that subsequently influenced beliefs about global warming.
Design and optimization of a selective subcutaneously implantable glucose electrode based on wired glucose oxidase

An implantable 0.29 mm o.d. flexible wire electrode was designed for subcutaneous monitoring of glucose. The electrode was formed by sequentially depositing in a 0.09 mm deep shielded recess at the tip of a polyimideinsulated 0.25 mm gold wire a «wired» glucose oxidase (GQX sensing layer, a mass transport limiting layer, and a nonfouling biocompatible layer. The glucose sensing layer was formed by cross-linking {poly[(1-vinylimidazolyl)osmium (4,4'-dimethylbipyridine) 2 Cl]} +/2+ (PVI 13 -dme-Os) and GOX with poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEG). The glucose mass transport restricting layer consisted of a poly(ester sulfonic acid) film (Eastman AQ 29D) and a copolymer of polyaziridine and poly(vinyl pyridine) partially quaternated with methylene carboxylate. The outer biocompatible layer was formed by photocross-linking tetraacrylated poly(ethylene oxide). The three layers contained no leachable components and had a total mass less than 2.2 μg (∼50 ng of Os). When poised at +200 mV vs SCE and operated at 37 o C, the 5×10 -4 cm 2 electode had in vivo a sensitivipy of 1-2.5 nA mM -1 . The current increased with the glucose concentration up to 60 μM, and the 10-90% response time was ∼1 min when the glucose concentration was abruptly raised from 5 to 10 mM. The sensitivity decreased by less than 4% over a test period of 1 week, during which the electrode was operated continuously in a 10 mM glucose physiological buffer solution at 37 o C. The variation in the current when interferants were added at their physiological concentrations (0.1 mM ascorbate, 0. 17 mM acetaminophen, 0.48 mM urate) was <1 SD of the assays (±2%), and the glucose electrooxidation current was nearly independent of often partial pressure, even at low glucose concentrations. When an electrode was implanted subcutaneously in a rat, it retained its in vitro calibration and tracked the blood glucose concentration before, during, and after intraperitoneal glucose infusion
Not Guilty: Are the Acquitted Innocent? By Daniel Givelber and Amy Farrell. New York: New York University Press, 2012. 209 pp. $35.00 hardcover.

Not Guilty: Are the Acquitted Innocent? By Daniel Givelber and Amy Farrell. New York: New York University Press, 2012. 209 pp. $35.00 hardcover.Daniel Givelber and Amy Farrell examine whether those who are found "not guilty" by a judge or jury are actually innocent. The problem, as they explain, is that acquitted defendants are not viewed as innocent, but as guilty-either of the crime charged or of some other crime-and they are seen simply as having benefitted from the prosecution's failure to make its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Even after an acquittal, the charge can come back to haunt a defendant, such as through an enhanced sentence for a future crime. The authors seek to challenge this conventional view of an acquittal. They want to explore when those who are acquitted are actually innocent. To do so, they turn to an early empirical study and to a recent database.Harry Kalven and Hans Zeisel conducted the early empirical study, which they published as The American Jury in 1960. They received questionnaires from over 550 judges nationwide in 3,576 criminal cases and asked them to indicate whether they agreed with the jury's verdict (p. 23). One of Kalven and Zeisel's key findings was that judges and juries agreed in about 78 percent of the cases. When there was judge-jury disagreement, judges thought it was because the evidence was close, which "liberated" jurors to introduce their values ("sentiment") into their decision-making. According to this liberation theory, when jurors relied on values, they tended to be more lenient than judges and to acquit in these cases.To test whether today's juries are liberated in close cases and rely on sentiment, Givelber and Farrell turned to jurors, in addition to judges, to explain judge-jury disagreement. They used questionnaires collected in 2000 and 2001 from a National Center for State Courts (NCSC) study of hung juries in four large metropolitan areas (Bronx, Washington, D.C., Maricopa County, and Los Angeles). Givelber and Farrell found that when jurors were asked to explain their verdicts in close cases, they said that they relied on the evidence. Although the Kalven and Zeisel study relied on judges to explain juries' verdicts, the Givelber and Farrell study, drawing on the NCSC questionnaires, relied on jurors and judges and they gave different explanations.Givelber and Farrell's book makes several contributions to our understanding of juries, judges, and their views of acquittals. …
Interrater reliability and coding guide for nonpsychotic formal thought disorder.

Summary Reliable and valid assessment of abnormal speech patterns may enable earlier recognition of nonpsychotic disorders through characteristic speech patterns. This study sought to establish interrater reliability using a standardized guide for scoring. A scoring guide defining 27 elements (e.g., inappropriate self-reference, simple loss of goal, circumstantiality) of disordered thought was developed. The seminal work of Andreasen's and Holzman's groups provided 12 elements, and 15 new elements were suggested by clinical literature. Audiotaped interviews with 12 psychiatric inpatients, adults of both sexes and various ages hospitalized for acute management of nonpsychotic psychiatric disorders, provided speech samples for observation of disordered thought by two independent raters. Using the guide's definitions and accompanying examples of elements of disordered thought, reliability in scoring was high (kappa of .85 for agreement on the presence of any abnormal speech element and kappa values from .66 ...
A pharmacological investigation of the biphasic nature of the contractile response of rabbit and rat vas deferens to field stimulation.

Abstract It has been demonstrated previously with the vas deferens of the guinea-pig that the first and second phases of the contractile response to motor nerve stimulation are preferentially antagonized by the P2-purinoceptor antagonist arylazido aminopropionyl ATP (ANAPP3), and the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin, respectively. We have now investigated the effect of the two antagonists on the biphasic contraction in the vas deferens of two other species; rabbit and rat. ANAPP3, in a concentration which antagonized responses to exogenously applied ATP but not those to exogenous norepinephrine, preferentially reduced the initial phasic response of the rabbit vas deferens to motor nerve stimulation without significantly reducing the secondary, tonic phase of the response. Prazosin had the opposite effect; antagonizing the response to norepinephrine but not to ATP and reducing the tonic response to motor nerve stimulation without significantly reducing the initial phasic response. Results obtained with the rat vas deferens were similar. The present results combined with previous findings suggest that ATP and norepinephrine act as cotransmitters in the vas deferens of several species.
Studies of rat pineal gland guanylate cyclase

Abstract Rat pineal gland was shown to contain high specific activity guanylate cyclase and guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate phosphodiesterase enzyme activities. Pineal guanylate cyclase had an apparent Michaelis constant of approximately 150 μM guanosine triphosphate, preferred Mn2+ as cofactor. and was stimulated by physiological concentrations of calcium ion at submaximal manganese concentrations. Several putative neurotransmitter substances and drugs were investigated for their effects on pineal guanylate cyclase in vitro. The prostaglandins. E1, E2, F1α and F2α were without effect on homogenate guanylate cyclase as were the parasympathomimetic agents, acetylcholine. bethanechol and carbachol. Norepinephrine and dopamine, tryptamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine, and histamine inhibited pineal guanylate cyclase activity. Inhibition was more pronounced at suboptimal manganese. Guanylate cyclase activity was present in denervated pineal glands indicating a postjunctional localization for the enzyme. Guanylate cyclase activity was increased in homogenates of pineal glands following bilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy.
Effects of the Feedline and the Hydrostatic Pocket Depth on the Flow Pattern and Pressure Distribution

The paper treats on a comparative basis the development of the flow and pressure maps in deep, and respectively, shallow hydrostatic bearing pockets. The numerical simulation uses a dimensionless formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations written for a body fitted coordinates system, and applied through a collocated grid. The present work is a continuation of the simulations performed by Braun et al. (1993, 1994a, 1994b) to cases where the length and diameter of the restrictor feedline is of consequence to the flow in both the shallow and the deep pocket. The model includes the coupling between the pocket flow and a finite length feedline flow, on one hand, and the pocket and the adjacent lands on the other hand. Geometrically, all pockets have the same projected footprint, lands length, and capillary feedline. This numerical study uses the Reynolds numbe Re based on the runner velocity (laminar range only), and the inlet jet strength F as the dynamic similarity parameters, while the dimensionless clearance C is used as a geometric parameter. The flow structures, and the physical reasons underlying the causes of the pressure variation inside the deep and shallow pockets [either longitudinally (radially) or transversally (circumferentially)], are discussed quantitatively and comparatively. It is further shown that the transversal pressure distributions under the runner are highly dependent on whethr the flow is dominated by the rotation of the runner (hydrodynamic effects), or by the strength of the hydrostatic jet (F). Finally the longitudinal pressure curves in the depth of the pocket, and restrictor are presented and the nature of their variation discussed. The back step and Rayleigh step effects are also discussed on a comparative basis for the two types of pockets, and in conjunction with the Couette, and the jet dominated flow. the modification of the central vortical zones of the deep pockets into oblong vortical zones for the shallow pockets is presented, and its consequences are discussed
Separation of a heat-stable protein activator for the castor bean lipase

Abstract A suspension of the particulate castor bean lipase (glycerol-ester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3; Ricinus communis ) was incubated at pH 5.2 for 25 min, then raised to pH 6.0 and centrifuged. A clear supernatant which contains a material that greatly enhances activity of the extracted lipase, or apoenzyme, was obtained. The material is stable to boiling, does not pass through a dialysis membrane, and can be separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography into a water-eluted component and a salt-eluted component. The latter is the apparent activator. It moves as a single peak in the ultracentrifuge, appears as a rather broad band by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and has an s -value of 1.4. Maximum lipolysis in the ungerminated castor bean requires the presence of three factors; the apoenzyme, this protein activator, and the lipid cofactor reported earlier 1,2 .
New energy-efficient materials for the building envelope

Abstract An hour-by-hour thermal loads program, developed from NBSLD, has been embedded into a nonlinear optimization program. The resulting methodology is used to determine the optimal envelope properties-thickness, conductivity and heat capacity—of one or several layers in a composite wall. Optimal is defined here as the wall construction which produces minimum total heating plus cooling loads. All three properties may be subject to linear inequality constraints. Both a representative perimeter office in a building, and a small structure have been simulated under different climatic conditions. Values for conductivity and heat capacity have been derived which depict new materials; composite walls with these materials yield considerably lower heating plus cooling loads than with the initial typical wall design. The methodology has been verified by comparing initial and final loads with those computed using DOE-2.1B. It appears that the reported methodology may uncover a wide range of energy efficient materials applicable to any type of building in any climatic region.