cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of multi-degree of freedom, parallel flexure system concepts via freedom and constraint topology (FACT). Part II: Practice

In Part II of this paper we demonstrate how to use freedom and constraint topology (FACT) to synthesize concepts for the multi-degree of freedom, parallel precision flexure systems that fall within the scope of Part I. Several examples are provided to demonstrate how the Principle of Complementary Topologies and geometric entities from Part I are (i) relevant to flexure system characteristics, (ii) used to visualize the possible layout of flexure constraints to achieve a desired motion and (iii) used to select redundant constraints. A synthesis process is presented, and then used to visualize and construct a flexure system concept with the requisite kinematic characteristics and redundant constraints that provide increased stiffness, load capacity, and symmetry. The output of the process is a flexure concept that would then be modeled and refined by existing modeling and analysis methods.
Stability of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children for a sample of Mexican-American children

Abstract Test-retest stability of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) was investigated over a 5 1 2 -month interval for 42 Mexican-American preschool/kindergarten children. The results indicated that the stability coefficients for K-ABC Global scales and subtests were generally of adequate magnitudes (e.g., .70s and .80s), providing some evidence that the K-ABC is a relatively stable instrument for the sample. The results are discussed in the context of a test-retest study reported in the K-ABC Manual . Global scale stability coefficients were found to range from .76 to .90, and for the subtests the coefficients ranged from .26 to .89. The patterns of gain scores were very similar to the patterns reported in the stability investigation in the K-ABC Manual .
Prevalence, Correlates, and Treatment of Lifetime Suicidal Behavior Among Adolescents: Results From the National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement

Context Although suicide is the third leading cause of death among US adolescents, little is known about the prevalence, correlates, or treatment of its immediate precursors, adolescent suicidal behaviors (ie, suicide ideation, plans, and attempts). Objectives To estimate the lifetime prevalence of suicidal behaviors among US adolescents and the associations of retrospectively reported, temporally primary DSM-IV disorders with the subsequent onset of suicidal behaviors. Design Dual-frame national sample of adolescents from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement. Setting Face-to-face household interviews with adolescents and questionnaires for parents. Participants A total of 6483 adolescents 13 to 18 years of age and their parents. Main Outcome Measures Lifetime suicide ideation, plans, and attempts. Results The estimated lifetime prevalences of suicide ideation, plans, and attempts among the respondents are 12.1%, 4.0%, and 4.1%, respectively. The vast majority of adolescents with these behaviors meet lifetime criteria for at least one DSM-IV mental disorder assessed in the survey. Most temporally primary (based on retrospective age-of-onset reports) fear/anger, distress, disruptive behavior, and substance disorders significantly predict elevated odds of subsequent suicidal behaviors in bivariate models. The most consistently significant associations of these disorders are with suicide ideation, although a number of disorders are also predictors of plans and both planned and unplanned attempts among ideators. Most suicidal adolescents (>80%) receive some form of mental health treatment. In most cases (>55%), treatment starts prior to onset of suicidal behaviors but fails to prevent these behaviors from occurring. Conclusions Suicidal behaviors are common among US adolescents, with rates that approach those of adults. The vast majority of youth with suicidal behaviors have preexisting mental disorders. The disorders most powerfully predicting ideation, though, are different from those most powerfully predicting conditional transitions from ideation to plans and attempts. These differences suggest that distinct prediction and prevention strategies are needed for ideation, plans among ideators, planned attempts, and unplanned attempts.
Transient hydrogeologic models for submarine flow in volcanic seamounts: 2. Comparison of the Hawaiian, Canary, and Marquesas Islands

[1] Large bathymetric gradients associated with volcanic seamounts can drive convective flow, while thick sedimentary aprons that typically surround volcanic edifices host compaction-driven flow. In these submarine environments the interactions of compaction-driven and buoyancy-driven fluid flow lead to complex hydrogeologic regimes. We apply transient numerical models of coupled fluid flow and heat transport to the Hawaiian, Canary, and Marquesas Islands to examine the role of volcanic architecture on the evolution of fluid flow and pore pressure during volcanic building, lithospheric flexure, sedimentation, and compaction. The islands differ in edifice size, sedimentary apron structure, amount of lithospheric flexure, and sedimentation and volcanic growth rates. By comparing these variations, we examine how geometry and geologic history affect fluid flow and pore pressure patterns. Buoyancy-driven flow is most influenced by edifice height and amount of lithospheric flexure. Compaction-driven flow is altered primarily by thickness of prevolcanic sediment, the sedimentation rate, and the size of the volcanic edifice. In Hawaii, the area with the highest edifice and most flexure, flow velocities and excess pore pressures are greatest, with Darcy velocities of >30 mm/yr and excess pressures of >7 MPa during the beginning of volcanic building. High sedimentation rates in the Marquesas sedimentary apron increase fluid velocities in the later portion of volcanic building, with Darcy velocities >12 mm/yr. In the Canary Islands, compaction-driven flow occurs for an extended time period because of long, slower volcanic building, resulting in Darcy velocities >10 mm/yr that endure over 5 Myr.
Characterization of a novel plant poly(A) polymerase

We have purified and characterized poly(A) polymerases (PAPs) from Pisum sativum, Brassica juncea, and Zea mays. Through chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose and heparin-Sepharose, these PAPs copurified as a single enzyme along with RNPs that could provide RNA substrates for the enzyme. More extensive purification by chromatography on MonoQ resulted in the resolution of the PAPs into as many as three fractions. One of these (PAP-I) contained a 43-kDa polypeptide immunologically related to the yeast PAP, and two others (PAP-II and PAP-III) contained RNAs that could serve as substrates for polyadenylation. These fractions by themselves possessed little PAP activity, but mixtures containing combinations of these displayed substantial activity. Similar PAP factors (PAP-I and PAP-III) were identified after fractionation of extracts prepared from Brassica juncea and Zea mays. The factors from one plant were completely interchangeable with those from different plants. We conclude that the poly(A) polymerases present in vegetative plant tissues consist of more than one component. In this respect, they are substantially different from other reported plant, mammalian, and yeast PAPs.
Characteristic variation in evoked potential amplitude with changes in pacing stimulus strength.

Abstract The evoked potential, the intracardiac signal generated by a pacing stimulus, shows promise as a sensor for rate-responsive pacing and automatic threshold determinations. Thus, it is important to understand factors that may alter the morphology of evoked potentials and affect accurate signal analysis. Using a computer-based pacing system emulator, stimuli at 2.5, 5.0 and 6.9 V were delivered to 12 patients through permanent bipolar pacing leads. At 2.5 V, the evoked potential amplitude measured −12.63 ± 7.79 mV. When the pacing amplitude was increased to 5.0 and 6.9 V, the signal diminished in size or reversed in polarity, or both, averaging −0.83 ± 7.82 mV and 0.64 ± 7.0 mV, respectively (p
Penicillium viridicatum mycotoxicosis in the rat. I: Ocular lesions

Abstract Ocular lesions developed in most rats fed killed rice cultures or fungal mats of Penicillium viridicatum. Lesions began after 7–14 days of feeding of the fungal diet as a slight opacity of the cornea. The opacity increased in severity over the next few days and was followed by the development of hypopyon and corneal vascularization in the more severely affected eyes. The initial histological lesions were oedema of the corneal stroma and hydropic degeneration of the corneal epithelium. These lesions were followed by interstitial keratitis, iridocyclitis, hypopyon and corneal vascularization. Involvement of the posterior segment of the eye was rare. The ocular lesions were apparently due to some mycotoxin(s) entering the aqueous humour and did not seem to be related to the presence and extent of hepatic damage nor to lesions in the accessory lachrymal glands.
Drone production and drone comb utilization in colonies of the African honey bee, Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier, in Africa

Drone production and drone comb utilization were investigated in naturally occurring colonies of the African honey bee, Apis mellifera scutellata, in the Okavango River Delta, Botswana. Drone production occurred primarily in larger, thriving and swarming colonies that contained large proportions of worker brood, and by inference were experiencing a period of growth. Drone production was rare( observed in smaller, newly established colonies, or larger colonies with reduced worker brood rearing. Maximum drone production occurred in September-October, and coincided with the swarming season and the period of peak resource abundance. Drone production occurred sporadically throughout the remainder of the year
Contributions to the theory of active transport

A system consisting of two solutions separated by a membrane may be in one of four possible states: (1) transient, (2) steady, (3) equilibrium, or (4) pseudo-equilibrium. The latter state denotes that in the solutions the net flow of all components is zero but at least one of the components is not in thermodynamic equilibrium. Transient and steady-state systems may or may not have active transport. Thus only systems in either equilibrium or pseudo-equilibrium are considered in this paper, since the former indicates that there is no active transport, whereas in the latter case there always is active transport. This simplifies the problem of finding whether a system does or does not have an active transport mechanism, since it is frequently fairly easy to determine experimentally whether a system is in equilibrium or pseudo-equilibrium.
International factor movements, repatriation and welfare

Abstract This paper analyzes two different ways of allowing foreign capital inflow: introducing it into the domestic economy and introducing it into a duty-free zone. It shows how the ranking of the two policies depends on the production patterns in the duty-free zone and the rules of factor income repatriation. The result can be used to explain the discrepancy between the rankings of these policies in two recent papers. The analysis also shows how the way of repatriating factor income could affect the equilibrium of factor movement, the welfare of the factor owners and the welfare of the countries concerned.
Periodate-triggered cross-linking of DOPA-containing peptide-protein complexes

Chemical cross-linking is a powerful methodology for analyzing proteins-small molecule and protein-protein interactions. We describe the development of a new chemical cross-linking reaction for the study of protein complexes. Specifically, we show that molecules containing an ortho dihydroxyarene unit can be oxidized selectively with sodium periodate in the presence of native proteins, producing an ortho quinone intermediate that can cross-link with suitable nearby protein residues. We demonstrate the efficacy and specificity of this chemistry for a peptide-protein complex and also deduce the binding site of an artificial activation domain on a proteasome subcomplex.
Some metabolic effects of halothane on mammalian tissue culture cells in vitro.

The kinetics of radiolabeled Ieucine, thymidine, uridine, and acetate uptake in the presence of 25 to 100 mg/100 ml halothane were studied with spinner cultures of HTC cells (Morris rat hepatoma 7288C) maintained in continuous logarithmic growth. At a time when exposure to halothane produces only slight reductions in DNA and protein synthesis and has no effect on RNA synthesis, a marked increase in lipid synthesis was detected. No preferential accumulation of activity was found in any of the neutral and phospholipid fractions examined, and the increases in the acid-soluble and acid-insoluble fractions were proportionate to the increase in total uptake of labeled acetate. Hence, it appears that the primary effect of halothane is the acceleration of transfer of acetate into hepatoma cells. Trifluoroacetate and trifluoroethanol, two proposed metabolites of halothane, had no effect on incorporation of the above-mentioned macromolecular precursors.
COMPARISON OF RISK FACTORS FOR COLON AND RECTAL CANCER

Predictors of colorectal cancer have been extensively studied with some evidence suggesting that risk factors vary by subsite. Using data from 2 prospective cohort studies, we examined established risk factors to determine whether they were differentially associated with colon and rectal cancer. Our study population included 87,733 women from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and 46,632 men from the Health Professionals Follow Up Study (HPFS). Exposure information was collected via biennial questionnaires (dietary variables were collected every 4 years). During the follow-up period (NHS: 1980 to May 31, 2000; HPFS: 1986 to January 31, 2000), we identified 1,139 cases of colon cancer and 339 cases of rectal cancer. We used pooled logistic regression to estimate multivariate relative risks for the 2 outcomes separately and then used polytomous logistic regression to compare these estimates. In the combined cohort, age, gender, family history of colon or rectal cancer, height, body mass index, physical activity, folate, intake of beef, pork or lamb as a main dish, intake of processed meat and alcohol were significantly associated with colon cancer risk. However, only age and sex were associated with rectal cancer. In a stepwise polytomous logistic regression procedure, family history and physical activity were associated with statistically significant different relative risks of colon and rectal cancer. Our findings support previous suggestions that family history and physical activity are not strong contributors to the etiology of rectal cancer. Future investigations of colon or rectal cancer should take into consideration risk factor differences by subsite.
A diagnostic set-up for time-resolved imaging of laser-induced ablation

A pump-and-probe diagnostic arrangement was devised to obtain time-resolved imaging of plasma formation and shock wave evolution during photoablation of solid targets induced with a Xe-Cl excimer laser. The relatively simple optical scheme of illumination and image collection provided highly spatially and temporally resolved images composed of shadowgraphs and fringe structures. The interpretation of such illumination patterns is discussed, indicating that their analysis can furnish quantitative information on the local density distribution of the interaction volume and on associated photoacoustic phenomena. The presented set-up can find useful utilization to investigate and control laser-induced ablation processes in various application fields, such as material processing and laser surgery.
Functional and transmural modulation of M cell behavior in canine ventricular wall.

Previous studies have demonstrated a discrete population of midmyocardial (M) cells in the ventricular myocardium having excessive action potential duration (APD) prolongation during long activatio...
An analysis of senior nursing students' immediate responses to distressed patients

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the effectiveness of senior nursing students' immediate responses to patients is influenced by type of distress presented by patients or by type of student degree programme. Forty-four ADN and 31 BSN seniors from four schools agreed to participate. Subjects viewed two videotaped simulations of 'patients' complaining of pain and two of 'patients' manifesting emotional distress. Content validity of simulations was established through nurse experts. After each tape, subjects answered four research questions based on Orlando's nursing process concept. The fourth question asked what subjects would say initially to 'the patient'. The data revealed eight response categories which were scored according to their congruence with Orlando's concepts. Independent categorization of responses yielded a 0.92 inter-related reliability; t-tests indicated that type of distress was related to response effectiveness (P less than 0.01) but type of degree was not (P greater than 0.01). The presumed emphasis on communication and psychosocial foundations in BSN curricula may not translate into more effective exploratory skills in these students. These skills are a key component of the complex assessment skills which enable nurses to 'diagnose human responses' to health problems. Orlando's model is recommended for teaching BSN students to conceptualize the interactional process and its goals.
A potent nonpeptide antagonist of the substance P (NK1) receptor

CP-96,345 [(2S, 3S)-cis-2-(diphenylmethyl)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)- methyl]-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-3-amine] is a potent nonpeptide antagonist of the substance P (NK1) receptor. CP-96,345 inhibited 3H-labeled substance P binding and was a classical competitive antagonist in the NK1 monoreceptor dog carotid artery preparation. CP-96,345 inhibited substance P-induced salivation in the rat, a classical in vivo bioassay, but did not inhibit NK2, NK3, or numerous other receptors; it is thus a selective NK1 antagonist. This compound may prove to be a powerful tool for investigation of the physiological properties of substance P and exploration of its role in diseases.
Nursing home queues and home health users.

Home health market growth suggests the need for models explaining home health utilization. We have previously explained state-level Medicare home health visits with reference to nursing home markets. Here we introduce a model whereby state level Medicare home health use is a function of nursing home queues and other demand and supply factors. Medicare home health users per state population is negatively related to nursing home bed stock, positively to Medicaid eligibility levels and to Medicaid nursing home recipients per population, as well as to various other demand and supply measures. This explanation of home health users explains previously-reported findings for home health visits. The findings support the argument that home health use is explained by factors affecting lengths of nursing home queues.
Internet promotional material and conservation volunteer tourist motivations: A case study of selecting organizations and projects☆

Abstract Although much research has discussed why tourists volunteer abroad, little work has explored the role of promotional material (e.g., internet websites) in volunteer decisions. We examined if promotional material played a motivating role in volunteer tourists' decision to select specific organizations or conservation projects, and if so, what in the material influenced their choices. We also identified types of promotional material used and how volunteers accessed this information. To collect data, we engaged in participant observation and conducted interviews at a conservation volunteer project in Ecuador with 36 volunteer tourists, 2 managers, and 3 volunteer coordinators. Findings revealed that volunteers almost exclusively used the internet to search for volunteer tourism opportunities. Volunteer decisions to select the organization or project were influenced by both website appearance (e.g., organized, professional) and specific content (e.g., photographs, volunteer comments, project descriptions, buzzwords). We discuss implications for managers and organizations, tourism theory, and future research.
The Effect of Solute Content on the Slip Behavior in 7XXX Series Aluminum Alloys

The microstructures of three high strength, high purity Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys, in the T6 temper, were characterized extensively using quantitative optical metallography and quantitative transmission electron microscopy. Only the solute content (Mg + Zn) of these alloys was varied for this study. These alloys were shown to be identical in grain size and shape, dispersoid (E-phase) and grain boundary precipitate (ν) populations, and precipitate free zone widths. The matrix microstructures consisted of ordered GP zones and ν′ and differed only in the volume fraction of these strengthening precipitates. The higher solute alloys had the higher yield strengths and volume fractions of matrix precipitates. Subsequent slip behavior analysis of prestrained tensile specimens demonstrated that slip band spacings and slip step heights increased with increasing solute content for the same macroscopic strain (ep = 0.02). A work softening model by Hornbogen and Gahr was shown to predict this tendency toward increased strain localization with higher solute levels.
Antibiotic Management of Staphylococcus aureus Infections in US Children's Hospitals, 1999–2008

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe trends in antibiotic management for Staphylococcus aureus infections among hospitalized children from 1999 to 2008. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted by using the Pediatric Health Information Systems database to describe antibiotic treatment of inpatients with S aureus infection at 25 children9s hospitals in the United States. Patients who were admitted from 1999 to 2008 with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for S aureus infection were included. Trends in the use of vancomycin, clindamycin, linezolid, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cefazolin, and oxacillin/nafcillin were examined for percentage use and days of therapy per 1000 patient-days. RESULTS: A total of 64813 patients had a discharge diagnosis for S aureus infection. The incidence of methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) infections during this period increased 10-fold, from 2 to 21 cases per 1000 admissions, whereas the methicillin-susceptible S aureus infection rate remained stable. Among patients with S aureus infections, antibiotics that treat MRSA increased from 52% to 79% of cases, whereas those that treat only methicillin-susceptible S aureus declined from 66% to CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic prescribing patterns for the treatment of S aureus infections have changed significantly during the past decade, reflecting the emergence of community-associated MRSA. Clindamycin is now the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for S aureus infections among hospitalized children. The substantial use of clindamycin emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring of local S aureus susceptibility patterns.
A Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) Control Element Drives TGFβ-induced Stimulation of Smooth Muscle α-Actin Gene Expression in Concert with Two CArG Elements

The goal of the present study was to determine the molecular mechanism whereby transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) increases smooth muscle (SM) alpha-actin expression. Confluent, growth-arrested rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) were transiently transfected with various SM alpha-actin promoter/chloramphenicol acetyltransferase deletion mutants and stimulated with TGFbeta (2.5 ng/ml). Results demonstrated that the first 125 base pairs of the SM alpha-actin promoter were sufficient to confer TGFbeta responsiveness. Three cis elements were shown to be required for TGFbeta inducibility: two highly conserved CArG boxes, designated A (-62) and B (-112) and a novel TGFbeta control element (TCE) (-42). Mutation of any one of these elements completely abolished TGFbeta-induced reporter activity. Results of electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that nuclear extracts from TGFbeta-treated SMC enhanced binding activity of serum response factor to the CArG elements and binding of an as yet unidentified factor to the TCE. Northern analysis showed that TGFbeta also stimulated transcription of two other SM (SM myosin heavy chain) differentiation marker genes, SM myosin heavy chain and h1 calponin, whose promoters also contained a TCE-like element. In summary, we identified a TGFbeta response element in the SM alpha-actin promoter that may contribute to coordinate regulation of expression of multiple cell-type specific proteins during SMC differentiation.
Problematic Internal Voices in Clients with Borderline Features: An Elaboration of The Assimilation Model

The assimilation model is an empirically researched account of psychotherapy process, focusing on stages of clients’ change. According to the model, traces of a person's experiences are manifested as agentic internal voices, and personality is understood as a community of such voices. This study focuses on how unassimilated voices appear clinically, and it applies the assimilation model to clients with borderline or dissociative disorders. We introduce the notion of subcommunities of voices, i.e., constellations of voices that appear unassimilated to each other. They are manifested as drastic shifts in self-states and availability of personal resources. We propose five distinctions and illustrate them with clinical examples: Voices or subcommunities (1) may be dominant or nondominant and (2) included in a community to different degrees. They (3) may express broader or more limited segments of experience, which (4) may be processed more or less thoroughly. Finally, (5) they may be avoided or engaged by the...
Partitioning of human and sheep forms of the pathogenic prion protein during the purification of therapeutic proteins from human plasma.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic proteins derived from human plasma and other biologic sources have demonstrated an excellent safety record relative to the potential threat of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) transmission. Previously, hamster-adapted scrapie was used as a model agent to assess TSE clearance in purification steps leading to the isolation of biopharmaceutical proteins. The current study investigated the validity of hamster scrapie as a model for human TSE clearance studies. The partitioning of the pathogenic forms of the prion protein associated with human variant CJD (PrP v C J D ), human sporadic CJD (PrP s C J D ) and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker (PrP G S S ) syndrome was compared to the partitioning of hamster scrapie (PrP S c ) in three plasma protein purification steps. Sheep scrapie (PrP S c ) was similarly evaluated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The starting materials for three plasma protein purification steps, cryoseparation, 3 percent PEG separation, and 11.5 percent PEG separation, were spiked with brain homogenates containing human PrP v C J D , human PrP s C J D , human PrP G S S , sheep PrP S c , and hamster 263K PrP S c . The partitioning of the pathogenic form of the PrP was analyzed. RESULTS: Clearance of the pathogenic form of the PrP was measured relative to the effluent fraction. Regardless of the source of the pathogenic prion, clearance was similar to hamster PrP S c . A nominal amount of clearance (approx., 1 log), an intermediate amount of clearance (approx., 2 log), and a substantial amount of clearance (≥3 log) were observed for the cryoseparation, 3 percent PEG separation, and 11.5 percent PEG separation steps, respectively. In the latter step, no PrP was detected in the effluents. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that human prions, including vCJD prions, can be removed during the purification of human therapeutic proteins and indicate that partitioning of human prions is similar to that observed in the hamster scrapie model.
Kinetics of the tin‐catalyzed reactions of phenyl isocyanate with ureas

The initial rates have been determined for the second-order equilibrium reaction of phenyl isocyanate with a series of phenyl-substituted 1,1-pentamethylene-3-phenyl ureas in the presence of butyltin trichloride catalyst in chlorobenzene at 60°C. These results were compared with the rates of reaction of phenyl isocyanate with 1,1-di-n-butyl-3-phenylurea, 1,3-diphenyl-1-methylurea, N-phenylbenzamide, methyl-N-phenyl carbamate, and 1-butanol. The activation energy for the butyltin trichloride-catalyzed reaction of phenyl isocyanate and 1,1-pentamethylene-3-phenylurea was 12 kcal./mole. At 60°C. this reaction was approximately 11 times as fast as the reverse reaction. The rate of the reaction of phenyl isocyanate and 1,1-pentamethylene-3-phenylurea was directly proportional to the concentration of butyltin trichloride. The activity of this catalyst was 28 times as great as that of triethyltin chloride. Dibutyltin dilaurate, dibutyltin diacetate, dibutylin dichloride, tributyltin chloride, tetramethyltin, trimethyltin bromide, triethyltin fluoride, and 1,2,4-trimethylpiperazine were not catalysts for these reactions. The ureas formed solid complexes with stannic chloride and with butyltin trichloride in which the tin compounds were coordinated through the carbonyl oxygen. A tentative reaction mechanism has been proposed, which involves nucleophilic attack of the urea on the isocyanate through an intermediate ternary complex. The stannic chloride-catalyzed reaction of ureas with isocyanates at room temperature has been shown to have wide application.
Determination of hydrodynamic radius of AOT reverse micelles prepared in near-critical propane

Abstract The fluorescence polarization technique has been applied to determine the hydrodynamic radii of water/AOT/near-critical propane micelles ranging in water to AOT molar ratio (W0) from 1 to 11 at a pressure of 15 MPa and a temperature of 310 K. The effect of pressure on hydrodynamic radius has also been investigated in the pressure range of 12–38 MPa for micelles of W0=6 and W0=9 at 310 K. 3,4,9,10-perylene sodium tetracarboxylate, solubilized within the aqueous core of the reverse micelles, was used as a fluorescent probe. The results show that the hydrodynamic radius increased significantly with increasing W0 value, but remained almost unchanged with increasing pressure.
Assessing need for marijuana dependence treatment through an anonymous telephone interview.

In response to public service announcements directed at adult chronic marijuana users who were concerned about their smoking, 225 individuals were interviewed anonymously by telephone. This study was conducted to determine if a population of chronic dysfunctional marijuana users existed who were both interested in being treated and not concurrently abusing alcohol and/or other psychoactive drugs. Most of the callers (73.8%) were experiencing adverse consequences associated only with marijuana use rather than in combination with other substances. Most (92%) expressed interest in being treated, while very few (18%) had ever been seen in a drug or alcohol treatment program.An anonymous telephone survey of adult marijuana users was conducted in December of 1984 in the Seattle area. Public service announcements in the local media were directed at adult respondents who were concerned about their use of this drug. No incentive was offered in the publicity about the study.The researchers sought to determine wheth...
Ductile opening-mode fracture by pore growth and coalescence during combustion alteration of siliceous mudstone

Opening-mode fractures with blunt tips and large maximum apertures are characteristic of clinker that formed by combustion alteration of siliceous mudstone. These fractures are inferred to result from pore growth and coalescence, with initially circular pores inherited from the diatomaceous protolith. Circular pores grow preferentially in an en-echelon arrangement and coalesce to elongate pores and blunt-tipped fractures by thinning and rupture of bridges between pores. Coalescence of overlapping en-echelon pores causes fracture propagation in a zig-zag path that is considered indicative of significant inelastic deformation outside the immediate vicinity of the fracture tips. This process of fracture formation by void growth and coalescence is inferred to result from solution mass transfer and possible bulk melt movement during partial melting of clinker. Chemical mass transfer provides a mechanism for extensive inelastic deformation in the surrounding host rock concurrent with fracturing that is considered characteristic of ductile fracture. The preferred elongation of coalescing pores and local rupture of pore bridges is explained by a tensile sintering stress due to the thermodynamic tendency of the system for energy minimization of solid and liquid surfaces. It is suggested that ductile fracture processes that are accompanied by extensive inelastic deformation lead to opening-mode fractures with large apertures in a variety of crustal settings including metamorphic and magmatic systems as well as in reactive diagenetic environments, thus affecting fracture-controlled transfer of heat and mass and the rheology of the Earth's crust.
Multidimensional time dependent method of characteristics

Abstract A numerical technique based on the theory of characteristics in multidimensional gasdynamics is developed. The characteristic equations are recast into a form in which linear combinations of the gasdynamic variables are integrated along initially characteristic rays, and the solution is subsequently obtained by the inversion of a system of linear algebraic equations. This formulation facilitates the imposition of boundary conditions, which are usually algebraic, and can therefore be directly incorporated into the linear system. The choice of boundary treatments, which is guided by the theory of characteristics, is described in detail. The method was successfully applied to sample problems in 2- and 3-D nozzle flow. While familiar, these examples involve a variety of boundary conditions.
Emulation of optical effects of atmospheric turbulence using two liquid-crystal spatial light modulators

Phase-only liquid-crystal spatial light modulators (SLMs) provide an excellent means of producing electrically controllable, dynamic, and repeatable aberrations. Emulating the aberrating effects of atmospheric turbulence is the application studied here. This paper implements a new method for designing a SLM-based turbulent path in the laboratory. The turbulent path was constructed with well-calibrated SLMs and was subsequently used to implement an appropriately scaled ground-to-air laser engagement. After propagation through the turbulent path, the irradiance and phase properties of the aberrated light were measured with an image sensor and a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, respectively. The resulting wave structure functions and log-amplitude probability densities showed excellent agreement with theoretical expectations and the results of wave-optics simulations.
Molecular cloning of two novel protein kinase genes from Arabidopsis thaliana

We have isolated two novel protein kinase genes, MHK and NAK, from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana by using low stringency hybridization with the catalytic domain of a putative plant receptor protein kinase. Sequence analysis of the cDNAs reveals that MHK is a member of the cdc2+ family of protein kinases and is particularly similar to the mak gene of rats; mak encodes a protein kinase that may play a role in spermatogenesis. NAK encodes a candidate protein kinase that is similar to the oncogenes met and abl. The homology that these two Arabidopsis genes share with other protein kinases suggests that they may play a role in the regulation of plant growth and development.
Heterodyne Applications Of Tunable Semiconductor Diode Lasers

Infrared tunable diode lasers were developed in the 1960s and have been a valuable radiation source for high resolution laboratory and in situ spectroscopy. Use of Pb-salt Tunable Diode Lasers (TDL) in heterodyne applications impose stringent requirements on the TDL not normally required for laboratory spectroscopy. A review will be made of progress associated with TDLs in such heterodyne applications. Areas addressed will include such items as lifetime, operating temperature, and factors affecting excess noise. The review will emphasize the experience at Langley Research Center, but will include material from other users. The Langley information will include a description and current status of the Laser Heterodyne Spectrometer experiment and atmospheric solar absorption data obtained from a groundbased heterodyne system.
Elderly Relocation to a Congregate Setting: Factors Influencing Adjustment

As the trend in relocation to congregate housing continues, protecting the well-being of relocating elderly becomes a major concern. The relationships of perceived choice, predictability, perceived social support, cognitive appraisal, and coping strategies on relocation adjustment were examined through semistructured interviews with elders relocating to a congregate setting in New York state. Perceived choice in relocation, predictability, perceived social support from family and neighbors, and cognitive appraisal of the move as threat or challenge were found to correlate significantly with adjustment. The majority of subjects viewed the move to a congregate setting positively, predominantly as a challenge, and as different but not extremely difficult. This study provides increased research-based understanding of the factors influencing postrelocation adjustment and fuller understanding of the personal meaning of the relocation experience that may be used to aid the successful transition of an older person to a group residential setting.
A least squares iterative method for singular equations

Least squares iterative method for solving simultaneous linear equations having singular coefficient matrix
INVERTEBRATE RESPONSE TO MOIST‐SOIL MANAGEMENT OF PLAYA WETLANDS

Moist-soil management is a wetland management technique commonly used to increase seed production for migratory birds. However, the responses of invertebrates to moist-soil management have seldom been investigated even though their availability may be as important as seeds to foraging waterbirds. We studied the effects of moist-soil management and initial fall flooding date (September vs. November) on invertebrate density, biomass, and diversity in 12 playa wetlands on the Southern High Plains, USA, during the winters of 1994–1995 and 1995–1996. Invertebrates were sampled using a combination of benthic core, epiphytic, and water-column samplers. Total invertebrate density and biomass were higher in playas that were moist-soil managed and that had longer hydroperiods (four rather than two months) than in playas that were not managed or that had shorter hydroperiods. Most invertebrate taxa (75%) were more abundant in moist-soil managed wetlands than in unmanaged wetlands. Invertebrate familial richness and ...
Generation of Novel Copper Sites by Mutation of the Axial Ligand of Amicyanin. Atomic Resolution Structures and Spectroscopic Properties

Amicyanin from Paracoccus denitrificans is a type 1 copper protein with three strong equatorial copper ligands provided by nitrogens of His53 and His95 and the sulfur of Cys92, with an additional weak axial ligand provided by the sulfur of Met98. Met98 was replaced with either Gln or Ala. As isolated, the M98A and M98Q mutant proteins contain zinc in the active site. The zinc is then removed and replaced with copper so that the copper-containing proteins may be studied. Each of the mutant amicyanins exhibits a marked decrease in thermal stability relative to that of native amicyanin, consistent with the weaker affinity for copper. Crystal structures were obtained for the oxidized and reduced forms of M98A and M98Q amicyanins at atomic resolution (<or=1.0 A). The crystal structure of oxidized M98A amicyanin exhibits a type 1 ligation geometry but with the axial ligand provided by a water, which fills the void left by the mutation of Met to Ala. The protein undergoes a reversible switch in ligation geometry when going from the aqueous to the frozen state. The visible absorption spectrum in solution is characteristic of type 1 copper, consistent with the crystal structure. On freezing, the blue color is lost, and EPR spectroscopy reveals that the copper is primarily type 2. The crystal structure of reduced M98A amicyanin exhibits an unprecedented ligation geometry in which the His95-Cu coordination is broken, and copper is left with only two ligands from His53 and Cys92 in an almost linear coordination. The replacement of Met98 with Gln yielded a type 1 copper site with increased rhombicity evident from its EPR and visible absorption spectra, and an increase in distance from Cu to the trigonal equatorial plane seen in the crystal structure. Gln98 coordinates more strongly with copper than Met, and the oxidized and reduced forms each exhibit two alternate conformers. EPR and metal analysis of oxidized M98Q amicyanin indicate that a small population of the protein contains weakly bound type 2 copper, which may be removed by washing with EDTA. These results demonstrate that the identity as well as position and rigidity of the axial ligand of the type 1 copper site has a profound influence in the uptake specificity of metal ions, protein stability, and determination of the active site geometry and its spectroscopic properties.
PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF THE MADAGASCAR PYGMY KINGFISHER (ISPIDINA MADAGASCARIENSIS)

Abstract The avifauna of Madagascar presents a complicated taxonomic and biogeographic problem. Although Madagascar was once connected to Africa, the birds of the island are not all of African origin. The Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher (Ispidina madagascariensis) is sometimes placed in the African genus Ispidina and sometimes in the Southeast Asian genus Ceyx. We sequenced 755 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA from a fragment of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit II (ND2) and from the complete NADH dehydrogenase subunit III (ND3). We used these data to construct phylogenetic hypotheses for the Alcedinidae. Using these phylogenies, we evaluate previous hypotheses of relationships of I. madagascariensis. Although we cannot reject the hypothesis that I. madagascariensis is indeed a member of Ispidina, tree-building analyses support a relationship not with Ispidina or Ceyx, but instead with members of the African genus Corythornis. These data suggest that certain behaviors and plumage types have evolved several times ...
The Career Beliefs of Inner-City Adolescents

This research explored the career beliefs of inner-city adolescents (N = 97). Results identified six types of beliefs: success is related to effort, job satisfaction, work interest and liking, flexibility/adaptability, achievement and persistence, and toleration of uncertainty. A majority of these young people believed that their success was not related to their efforts and had beliefs inconsistent with flexibility/adaptability. Findings are interpreted in light of Happenstance Learning Theory (Krumboltz 2009).
On the Impossibility of any Future Metaphysics

Consider ‘Hume’s dictum’: that from a necessary proposition nothing contingent follows — and vice versa. The effect of this on speculative metaphysics is devastating, although few practicing metaphysicians realize how utterly their position has been devastated. I will spell this out by drawing the profound logical moral of Hume’s dictum.
Excitation, contraction, and excitation-contraction coupling of frog muscles in hypotonic solutions.

Abstract Twitch, tetanus, K contracture, and caffeine contracture tensions, and extracellularly recorded action potentials were measured in frog toe muscles bathed in hypotonic Ringer solutions. Tetanic tension is potentiated in these solutions down to 0.4 normal tonicity (0.4T), but falls off sharply to about 15% of the 1T value at 0.25T. The extracellularly recorded action potential also falls off at low tonicities but still is at 99% of the 1T value at 0.25T where the tetanus is only 15% of the 1T value. By contrast, the caffeine contracture tension is maintained at all tonicities indicating that hypotonic solutions have little direct effect on contractile proteins. It is shown that the decline of tension in very hypotonic solutions is due both to a loss in excitability and a true uncoupling of excitation and contraction. Raising [Ca] 0 to 3 times normal (5.4mM) allows recording of action potentials with no contraction. The loss of excitability and the decline of tension are not purely due to the decreased [Na] 0 because when NaCl is replaced with an osmotic equivalent of sucrose, tension and compound action potentials did not decline to zero. The loss of excitability may be due to the membrane depolarization observed in microelectrode studies.
Position paper on: standard operating system interfaces

The computer industry in general, and the software portion of that industry specifically, has expended intense effort during the 1970's developing systems which are portable across hardware environments. The initial efforts were in the area of language standardization. It was found that the same language implemented across multiple hardware environments was not consistent. This diversity was in part created by software designers taking maximum advantage of a specific hardware environment. However, to a great extent the differences within a particular language implementation were generated by the fact that software designers were designing not for a specific piece of hardware but for a virtual machine environment which was defined by the operating system and the hardware in concert with each other.
Effect of Lagging Pitching Moment on Re-Entry Vehicle Dynamic Stability

Recent work has shown that the effect of ablation on re-entry vehicle (R/V) dynamic stability may be significant. Waterfall has explained flight test anomalies by postulating a dynamic model in terms of an ablative pitching moment derivative Cmfla and associated time lag r and by assuming that the resulting behavior was representable in the classical two-frequency form. The problem has been treated from a similar point of view by Ericsson. The present work is concerned with establishing the conditions under which the two-frequency assumption is valid and examing the effects of large phase lags. Exact solutions of the difference-differential equation which results from the inclusion of the term with retarded argument have been generated for the special case of constant dynamic pressure for a range of pertinent aerodynamic parameters. A significant result is that even for large time lags (T ~ 1 sec) the solution retains its classical two-component form. The solutions are compared to the approximate technique of Waterfall and a convenient means of generating the solutions is presented.
Reflections on gaining competitive advantage through customer value

Woodruff’s detailed discussion of the meaning and measurement of customer value and how companies can use customer value information in designing their strategies makes a major contribution to marketing theory and practice. It provides an insightful synthesis of the literature on customer value and points out why and how current theory on the subject should be strengthened. It also offers suggestions for companies to foster customer value learning and incorporate it as a cornerstone of their competitive strategies. The primary objectives of my commentary have been (1) to critically examine Woodruff’s contributions and highlight unresolved issues requiring further investigation and (2) extend Woodruff’s contributions by proposing and discussing a detailed framework for monitoring and leveraging customer value. In addressing these objectives, I have attempted to raise questions and offer suggestions—some of which are necessarily tentative—in the hope that they will stimulate additional interest, debate, and research on the topic.