cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Middle Stone Age of the northern Kenyan Rift: age and context of new archaeological sites from the Kapedo Tuffs

Rift Valley sites in southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya preserve the oldest fossil remains attributed to Homo sapiens and the earliest archaeological sites attributed to the Middle Stone Age (MSA). New localities from the Kapedo Tuffs augment the sparse sample of MSA sites from the northern Kenya Rift. Tephrostratigraphic correlation with dated pyroclastic deposits from the adjacent volcano Silali suggests an age range of 135–123 ka for archaeological sites of the Kapedo Tuffs. Comparisons of the Kapedo Tuffs archaeological assemblages with those from the adjacent Turkana and Baringo basins show broad lithic technological similarity but reveal that stone raw material availability is a key factor in explaining typologically defined archaeological variability within this region. Spatially and temporally resolved comparisons such as this provide the best means to link the biological and behavioral variation manifest in the record of early Homo sapiens.
Reimbursing dentists for smoking cessation treatment: views from dental insurers.

Introduction Screening and delivery of evidence-based interventions by dentists is an effective way to reduce tobacco use. However, dental visits remain an underutilized opportunity for the treatment of tobacco dependence. This is, in part, because the current reimbursement structure does not support expansion of dental providers' role in this arena. The purpose of this study was to interview dental insurers to assess attitudes toward tobacco use treatment in dental practice, pros and cons of offering dental provider reimbursement, and barriers to instituting a tobacco use treatment-related payment policy for dental providers. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 dental insurance company executives. Participants were identified using a targeted sampling method and represented viewpoints from a significant share of companies within the dental insurance industry. Results All insurers believed that screening and intervention for tobacco use was an appropriate part of routine care during a dental visit. Several indicated a need for more evidence of clinical and cost-effectiveness before reimbursement for these services could be actualized. Lack of purchaser demand, questionable returns on investment, and segregation of the medical and dental insurance markets were cited as additional barriers to coverage. Conclusions Dissemination of findings on efficacy and additional research on financial returns could help to promote uptake of coverage by insurers. Wider issues of integration between dental and medical care and payment systems must be addressed in order to expand opportunities for preventive services in dental care settings.
The Motion Grammar calculus for Context-Free Hybrid systems

This paper provides a method for deriving prov-ably correct controllers for Hybrid Dynamical Systems with Context-Free discrete dynamics, nonlinear continuous dynamics, and nonlinear state partitioning. The proposed method models the system using a Context-Free Motion Grammar and specifies correct performance using a Regular language representation such as Linear Temporal Logic. The initial model is progressively rewritten via a calculus of symbolic transformation rules until it satisfies the desired specification.
Evaluation of Pharmacological Induction of Fatty Acid β-Oxidation in X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy

Abstract X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is an inherited neurometabolic disorder associated with elevated levels of saturated unbranched very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA; C > 22:0) in plasma and tissues, and reduced VLCFA β-oxidation in fibroblasts, white blood cells, and amniocytes from X-ALD patients. The X-ALD gene (ABCD1) at Xq28 encodes the adrenoleukodystrophy protein (ALDP) that is related to the peroxisomal ATP-binding cassette (ABCD) transmembrane half-transporter proteins. The function of ALDP is unknown and its role in VLCFA accumulation unresolved. Previously, our laboratory has shown that sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (4PBA) treatment of X-ALD fibroblasts results in increased peroxisomal VLCFA β-oxidation activity and increased expression of the X-ALD-related protein, ALDRP, encoded by the ABCD2 gene. In this study, the effect of various pharmacological agents on VLCFA β-oxidation in ALD mouse fibroblasts is tested. 4PBA, styrylacetate and benzyloxyacetate (structurally related to 4PBA), and trichostatin A (functionally related to 4PBA) increase both VLCFA (peroxisomal) and long-chain fatty acid [LCFA (peroxisomal and mitochondrial)] β-oxidation. Isobutyrate, zaprinast, hydroxyurea, and 5-azacytidine had no effect on VLCFA or LCFA β-oxidation. Lovastatin had no effect on fatty acid β-oxidation under normal tissue culture conditions but did result in an increase in both VLCFA and LCFA β-oxidation when ALD mouse fibroblasts were cultured in the absence of cholesterol. The effect of trichostatin A on peroxisomal VLCFA β-oxidation is shown to be independent of an increase in ALDRP expression, suggesting that correction of the biochemical abnormality in X-ALD is not dependent on pharmacological induction of a redundant gene (ABCD2). These studies contribute to a better understanding of the role of ALDP in VLCFA accumulation and may lead to the development of more effective pharmacological therapies.
Systemic and intra-articular anti-inflammatory therapy of temporomandibular joint arthritis in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a leading cause of acquired disability and malformation in childhood. Although virtually any joint can be affected, one of the most commonly involved yet least frequently recognized joints is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).1 Persistent arthritis can result in pain, growth problems, cosmetic defects, and poor function, underscoring the necessity of obtaining early control of TMJ arthritis. While the therapy of JIA as a whole has benefitted enormously from the introduction of novel therapeutic agents,2 it remains uncertain to what extent these therapies benefit the TMJ specifically. Thus, many practitioners use intra-articular therapy for refractory TMJ arthritis, although concerns about their long-term safety have been raised.3 Herein, we will review the data on systemic and local anti-inflammatory therapy of TMJ arthritis.
The effect of dislocations on bulk diffusion in feldspars during metamorphism

There is no significant difference in the diffusion profiles across albite-adularia bicrystals that were simultaneously deformed at a strain rate of 10-6S-1 and those from hydrostatic experiments at the same conditions (1500 MPa and 1000°C for 156 h). This indicates that the bulk alkali diffusion rate, which is the sum of lattice diffusion (D, 1) and dislocation pipe diffusion (Dp), is not significantly enhanced by dislocations at these conditions, and that the maximum value for the ratio of Dp/D1 is about 105. This is equal to the value previously reported for‘oxygen’diffusion in albite. If this ratio is independent of temperature, the contribution of either static (pre-deformed) or moving (syn-deformed) dislocations to the bulk diffusion rate of alkalis is probably minor at all metamorphic conditions. For Al and Si diffusion the ratio of Dp/D1 may be larger if D1 is lower. Thus a significant contribution from dislocations to bulk diffusion cannot be ruled out, especially during simultaneous deformation.
Transvaginal cholecystectomy versus single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective cohort study.

Objective This report describes the first prospective cohort study comparing transvaginal cholecystectomies (TVC) with single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomies (SILC) and four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomies (4PLC).
Assessment of Ischemia-Induced Microvascular Remodeling Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Vascular Anatomic Mapping

Our aim was to apply novel contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) techniques to characterize remodeling in different vascular compartments during ischemia-mediated angiogenesis. Hind limb ischemia was produced by ligation of an external iliac artery in 60 rats, half of which were treated with intramuscular fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 (5 μg). The proximal adductor muscles of the ischemic and control hind limb were studied immediately after ligation and at days 4, 7, or 14. Low-power maximum intensity projection imaging was performed to assess large intramuscular vessels to the fourth branch order. CEU data were analyzed to measure capillary perfusion and functional noncapillary microvascular blood volume. Resting capillary perfusion was reduced by 30% after arterial ligation and recovered earlier in FGF-2–treated versus nontreated rats (day 4 vs. 14). Changes in perfusion were temporally related to expansion of noncapillary microvascular blood volume on CEU, which was associated with an arteriogenic response on histology. Expansion of and organization (fractal distribution) of large collateral vessels occurred gradually over 2 weeks and was slightly more rapid with FGF-2 treatment. We conclude that CEU can separately assess collateral development, more distal arteriogenesis, and secondary changes in capillary perfusion that occur differentially with ischemia and growth factor therapy.
Literal and figurative interpretations are computed in equal time

The time courses for constructing literal and figurative interpretations of simple propositions were measured with the response signal, speed-accuracy tradeoff procedure. No differences were found in comprehension speed for literal and figurative strings in a task that required judging whether a string of words was meaningful. Likewise, no differences were found in processing speed for nonsense and figurative strings in a task that required judging whether a string of words was literally true. Figurative strings were less likely to be judged meaningful than were literal strings and less likely to be rejected as literally true than were nonsense strings. The absence of time-course differences is inconsistent with approaches to figurative processing that contend that a figurative interpretation is computed after an anomalous literal interpretation. The time-course profiles suggest that literal and figurative interpretations are computed in equal time but that the meaning of the latter is less constrained than that of the former.
Probing supersymmetry with parity-violating electron scattering

We compute the one-loop supersymmetric (SUSY) contributions to the weak charges of the electron (QWe), proton (QWp), and cesium nucleus (QWCs) in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). Such contributions can generate several percent corrections to the corresponding standard model values. The magnitudes of the SUSY loop corrections to QWe and QWp are correlated over nearly all of the MSSM parameter space and result in an increase in the magnitudes of these weak charges. In contrast, the effects on QWCs are considerably smaller and are equally likely to increase or decrease its magnitude. Allowing for R-parity violation can lead to opposite sign relative shifts in QWe and QWp, normalized to the corresponding standard model values. A comparison of QWp and QWe measurements could help distinguish between different SUSY scenarios.
The combined effect of tumor-produced parathyroid hormone-related protein and transforming growth factor-alpha enhance hypercalcemia in vivo and bone resorption in vitro

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy is a multifactorial syndrome caused by the action of tumor-produced factors on target organs of bone, kidney, and intestine to disrupt normal calcium homeostasis. Although parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) plays an integral role in the syndrome, tumors also produce other hypercalcemic factors, such as transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), which may modulate the effects of PTHrP. In order to determine if the effects of PTHrP on calcium homeostasis can be modulated by TGF-alpha, we have used a human squamous cell carcinoma cell line (RWGT2) which produces PTHrP alone and Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells expressing only transfected human TGF-alpha complementary DNA (CHO/TGF-alpha). We studied the effects of these tumors on calcium homeostasis in nude mice bearing both tumors or each tumor alone. Whole blood ionized calcium concentrations (mean +/- SEM in mmol/L) were significantly higher in mice bearing both RWGT2 and CHO/TGF-alpha tumors (3.11 +/- 0.06, P < 0.05) when compared with mice bearing either RWGT2 alone (2.02 +/- 0.06), CHO/TGF-alpha alone (1.42 +/- 0.01), or RWGT2 and nontransfected CHO tumors (1.86 +/- 0.01). This enhanced effect was also observed using continuous PTHrP-(1-34) infusion (2 micrograms/day) in mice bearing CHO/TGF-alpha tumors. In addition, tumor cell conditioned media was tested for bone resorbing activity in organ cultures of fetal rat long bones previously incorporated with 45calcium (45Ca++). Conditioned medium at 0.1% (vol/vol) from either RWGT2 or CHO/TGF-alpha had no bone resorbing activity over control (%45Ca++ release, mean +/- SEM; control 23 +/- 1, RWGT2 19 +/- 1, CHO/TGF-alpha 23 +/- 1). However, the combination of 0.1% conditioned medium from RWGT2 and CHO/TGF-alpha significantly increased bone resorption (53 +/- 2, P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that the hypercalcemic effects of tumor-produced PTHrP are enhanced by TGF-alpha and that this effect may be due to increased bone resorption.
Heme oxygenase-1–derived carbon monoxide is an autocrine inhibitor of vascular smooth muscle cell growth

Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) generate carbon monoxide (CO) via the catabolism of heme by the enzyme heme oxygenase (HO). In the present study, we found that serum stimulated a time- and concentration-dependent increase in the levels of HO-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in vascular SMCs. The induction of HO-1 expression by serum was inhibited by actinomycin D or cycloheximide. In addition, serum stimulated HO activity, as reflected by an increase in the concentration of bilirubin in the culture media. Treatment of vascular SMCs with serum stimulated DNA synthesis and this was potentiated by the HO inhibitors, zinc and tin protoporphyrin-IX as well as by the CO scavenger, hemoglobin. The iron chelator desferrioxamine had no effect on DNA synthesis. However, exposure of vascular SMCs to exogenous CO inhibited serum-stimulated SMC proliferation and the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein. In addition, CO arrested SMCs at the G1/S transition phase of the cell cycle and selectively blocked the serum-stimulated expression of cyclin A mRNA and protein without affecting the expression of cyclin D1 and E. CO also inhibited the serum-stimulated activation of cyclin A–associated kinase activity and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 activity. These results demonstrate that serum stimulates HO-1 gene expression and CO synthesis. Furthermore, they show that CO acts in a negative feedback fashion to inhibit vascular SMC growth by regulating specific components of the cell cycle machinery. The capacity of vascular mitogens to induce CO synthesis may provide a novel mechanism by which these agents modulate cell growth.
Effects of dietary vitamin E and selenium on the mixed-function oxygenase system of male and female chicks.

Abstract 1. 1. Selenium- and vitamin E-depleted chicks were fed diets containing 0 or 0.2 ppm supplemental Se and/or 0 or 100 IU/kg vitamin E for 12 days; phenobarbital or water was administered orally for the final 6 days. 2. 2. Hepatic microsomal MFO activities, cytochrome P 450 levels and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities were not significantly affected by sex or diet in uninduced chicks. 3. 3. Maximal induction of MFO activity was impaired by combined Se/vitamin E deficiency in male, but not female, chicks. 4. 4. Induction of cytochrome P 450 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase was not significantly affected by diet in male or female chicks. 5. 5. Total glutathione peroxidase activity was increased by phenobarbital treatment; Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity was not affected.
Quantification of left ventricular internal flow from cardiac magnetic resonance images in patients with dyssynchronous heart failure.

Purpose To develop a method for quantifying left ventricular (LV) internal flow as a measure of dyssynchrony using standard cine cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images. Materials and Methods CMR images were obtained from 10 healthy controls and 10 patients with dyssynchronous heart failure (class III/IV, LV ejection fraction 150 msec). The LV volume was reconstructed and divided into 16 regions. Internal flow was defined as the sum of the regional volume changes minus the global volume change during each time step in the cardiac cycle. Internal flow fraction (IFF) was defined as the total internal flow as a percentage of stroke volume during systole (IFFsystole), diastole (IFFdiastole), or the whole cycle (IFFwhole). Results IFFwhole was significantly increased in the patients (9.9 ± 5.0% vs. 1.5 ± 0.5% in the controls, P < 0.001). An IFFwhole threshold of 4% discriminated between patients and controls with 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity. IFFdiastole (2.3 ± 0.8%) was greater than IFFsystole (0.8 ± 0.5%) in the normal controls (P < 0.001) while the patients had similar IFFdiastole (7.8 ± 4.2%) and IFFsystole (12.0 ± 7.8%). Conclusion Left ventricular internal flow fraction can be quantified from standard CMR images. In this preliminary study, Left ventricular internal flow fraction discriminated patients with dyssynchronous heart failure from normal controls with 95% accuracy. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:375–381. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On Rayleigh scattering by a grating

The acoustic diffraction of a plane wave by a periodic row of identical cylinders of arbitrary cross section and characteristic dimension a is calculated for ka ⪡ kd < π, where k is the wave number and d is the wavelength of the array. The reflection and transmission coefficients depend only on d, k, the angle of incidence, and the area and virtual mass of the cross section. The general results are applied to a grating of inclined flat plates.
Structural correlations and motifs in liquid water at selected temperatures: ab initio and empirical model predictions.

To gain further insight into liquid water's structure and explore the role of different physical forces underlying the interaction between water molecules, the radial and angular structure of water is probed as a function of temperature for a carefully selected set of theoretical models. Simulations are performed with empirical rigid, empirical polarizable, empirical flexible with classical and quantum nuclei, and ab initio models with classical nuclei at 300 and 353 K and quantum nuclei at 300 K. The predicted radial distribution functions, spatial maps, and angular distributions of the neighboring water molecules are consistent with a model of liquid water in which water molecules are tetrahedrally coordinated. In addition, three-dimensional joint distribution functions are introduced and analyzed. By comparison of the functions obtained for hexagonal ice to those of liquid water, several thermally disordered, icelike cluster structures are identified in the fluid.
Regulation of RuDP carboxylase/oxygenase activity and its relationship to plant photorespiration

RIBULOSE 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (fraction 1 protein), the most abundant protein in nature, is a key photosynthetic enzyme catalysing the addition of CO2 to ribulose 1,5-diphosphate (RuDP) to form two molecules of phosphoglyceric acid (PGA). The enzyme also has a competitive oxygenase function catalysing the splitting of RuDP by O2 to form one molecule of PGA and one molecule of phosphoglycolate1–3. The latter function of this enzyme has been suggested to be the primary source of phosphogly-colate, the principal substrate for photorespiration5.
Collision-induced absorption in atomic electronic transitions

The collision-induced absorption and emission coefficients for electric-dipole forbidden atomic transitions are calculated for weak radiation fields. The approximations used are valid for $\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}$ near $\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}$, the atomic energy differences. The example case of $S\ensuremath{-}D$ transitions induced by a spherically symmetric perturber (e.g., a noble-gas atom) is treated in detail and compared to measurements. The case of "radiative collisions," in which both colliding atoms change their state, is included in the theory and is also compared to experiment.
Vitality of human lip fibroblasts in milk, Hanks balanced salt solution and Viaspan storage media.

The purpose of the study was to compare the effect of storage in milk, Hanks balanced salt solution (HBSS) and Viaspan on the vitality of human lip fibroblasts. Confluent monolayers of the fibroblasts were grown in petri dishes. The growth medium was poured off and replaced in 27 dishes each with Viaspan, fresh whole milk and Hanks balanced salt solution respectively. Three of the original plates were analyzed at time zero to obtain the average number of cells each plate contained at confluence. At times ranging from 2 to 168 hours the average number of vital cells remaining was measured using the trypan blue exclusion test. The groups stored in milk maintained a high percentage of vital cells for 6 hours (68.2%). At 12 hours milk's effectiveness had dropped to 43.4% vital cells and it was not effective at all at 48 hours (0.024% vital cells). H.B.S.S. was extremely effective for 24 hours with 71.3% vital cells remaining. At 48 hours, the percentage of vital cells dropped to 38.0% and by 120 hours no cells survived. Viaspan was the most effective storage medium at all observation periods and at 168 hours still had 37.6% vital cells present.
Double enhancement of the multiphoton ionization of nitric oxide

Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) of nitric oxide has been investigated at high resolution. A number of doubly-enhanced transitions have been assigned and their transition frequencies measured. The enhancing states are the A 2Σ state and high-lying Rydberg states between 65000 and 67000 cm−1 in energ. Two-photon transition strengths for the A 2 Σ-X2 π states were calculated and compared with the high-resolution REMPI spectra.
A Knowledge-Based Prototyping Environment for Construction of Scientific Modeling Software

Over the past 30 years, scientific software models have played an increasingly prominent role in the conduct of science. Unfortunately, scientific models can be difficult and time-consuming to implement, and there is little software engineering support specifically available for constructing scientific models. Because these models are not easily specified to scientifically-naive programmers, and because the scientist requires intimate knowledge of the code to conduct experiments, many scientists implement their own models. This coding activity takes valuable time away from their primary scientific mission. We have developed a knowledge-based software development tool that assists scientists in prototyping scientific models. With a specialized graphical user interface, the scientist constructs a high-level visual specification that captures the essential computational dependencies in the desired model. The system uses its scientific domain knowledge to ensure that the model being built is consistent and coherent. The final product is an executable prototype of a scientific model. Our tool accelerates the model-building process and eliminates the scientist's need to program in a formal language. Furthermore, the models developed with this tool are easier to understand and reuse than typical low-level scientific modeling code. At present, models developed with our system are restricted to those involving non-coupled algebraic and first order ordinary differential equations. Research is ongoing to lessen this restriction and support models with simultaneous equations.
A higher order theory for extensional motion of laminated composites

A refined laminated plate theory is developed which is applicable to fiber reinforced composite materials under impact loading. In addition to the usual bending and extensional motion, the theory also includes the first symmetric thickness shear and thickness stretch motions as well as the first antisymmetric thickness shear mode. The governing equations reveal that unsymmetrically laminated plates display a coupling phenomenon between all of the deformation modes present in the theory. The frequency spectra for laminates representative of current fibrous composites are derived from the plate theory for one-dimensional wave propagation and compared to exact solutions obtained from dynamic elasticity theory. The higher order theory yields improved results for extensional motion compared to those of existing laminated plate theories.
Actinomycin D inhibition of vitamin D action.

Injection of actinomycin D into rats completely prevents both the rise in serum calcium normally induced by vitamin D and the increased transport of calcium by everted intestinal sacs. Injection of excess parathyroid hormone did not alter this result; this eliminates the possibility that the inhibition of vitamin action was due to blocked hormone synthesis. As a result of these findings, a hypothesis concerning the mechanism of action of vitamin D is presented.
ESTIMATING INCOME EFFECTS OF A SPORT TOURISM EVENT

Abstract The use of input–output models to determine the economic impact of sport tourism events is limited in that resulting estimates cannot be distributed based on host county income segments or by occupational category. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate methods for estimating the income effects of sport tourism events. Four models were constructed using data from a large, southeastern United States road race. The distribution of the results varied significantly based on model type. The aggregated occupation-based model using full-time equivalent wage data offered the most promise for future tourism application. Using occupation-based data allows researchers to illustrate how job categories within industry sectors are affected by tourism events.
HUSBANDS‘ PROBLEMS WITH BREAST‐FEEDING

This paper discusses the importance of educating prospective parents about the stress that may be experienced by the father of a nursing infant. Hus­ bands' negative reactions to breast-feeding are considered, and means of alleviating husbands' stress are suggested.
Large deflection of shallow rectangular shell panels

Nonsymmetric deflections of shallow shell panels are studied in the nonlinear range. Snapthrough buckling loads for spherical panels on a square base are computed for a wide range of shell geometries by a direct solution of appropriate nonlinear finite difference equations. This work extends previously known results for spherical shells on a circular base. Details are given as to the application of the procedures developed to different load arid support conditions for given shallow shell geometries. Nomenclature reference x dimension for rectangular base matrices used in iteration reference y dimension for rectangular base Eh*/m^ = flexural stiffness for shell Young's modulus V2w thickness of shell moment stress resultant central height of shallow shell grid increments in x and y directions nondimensional curvature expressions curvatures of the shell (A2A) (-3tf* - Ky),Ky = (A2 A) (-ZKy - K x) A
Role Performance and Person Perception: Toward an Interactions Approach

This paper examines and critiques the manner in which one strand of attribution theory has addressed the relationship between role performances and person perception. An interactionist approach is formulated as an alternative, and an experiment is designed to test its viability. The experiment supports our hypothesis that the informational value of “in-role” performances is similar to the informational value of “out-of-role” performances, and that neither type of performance is consistently more informative than the other. Further, it is suggested that the informational value of role performances is not adequately explained by the in-role/out-of-role dichotomy. The interactionist conception of role, combined with a notion of informal role types, provides a more accurate understanding of role performance and person perception. Attribution theory is concerned with how common-sense actors explain social action and its consequences. A fundamental distinction is made between those lay explanations which emphasize “external,” “environmental,” “situational,” or “contextual” causes, and those that stress “internal,” or “personal” factors. Drawing inspiration from the seminal work of Heider (1944, 1958), and adopting the well-known Lintonian conception of role, one strand of attribution theory has established the theoretical and empirical parameters for the study of the relationship between role performance and person perception. This position holds that the relative causal hegemony of personal factors versus role expectations determines the degree to which acts are “informative” about the personal characteristics of actors. Acts determined primarily by role expectations are not informative about persons. Acts caused primarily by personal factors are very informative. We propose that recent experimental studies of attitude attribution, considered in conjunction with important innovations in role theory, provide a better basis for understanding the dynamics underlying this relationship. We question attribution theory’s basic explanatory
Influence of apoE domain structure and polymorphism on the kinetics of phospholipid vesicle solubilization.

We examined the effects of apolipoprotein E (apoE) domain structure and polymorphism on the kinetics of solubilization (clearance) of dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine multilamellar vesicles. This second order reaction consisted of two simultaneous kinetic phases; it also exhibited saturable kinetics when the apolipoprotein concentration was increased at a constant lipid concentration. Rigid connections between α-helices in the 4-helix bundle formed by the 22 kDa N-terminal domain of apoE reduced the reaction rate. In contrast, the more flexible interhelical connections in apoA-I and the 10 kDa C-terminal domain of apoE promoted rapid solubilization of dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) multilamellar vesicles (mLV). Full-length apoE-3 reacted at about half the rate of the C-terminal domain alone. This decrease occurred because the hinge region probably decreased the interhelical flexibility of the 10 kDa domain and because both domains are conformationally restricted when covalently linked. Furthermore, the mLV surface affinities and reaction rates of the N-terminal domain fragments of the three common apoE isoforms tended to vary inversely with the stabilities of these fragments. These results confirm the importance of apoE's structure on the kinetics of lipid interaction. They suggest that flexibility in an apolipoprotein molecule increases the time-averaged exposure of hydrophobic surface area, thereby increasing the rate of phospholipid solubilization.
The Effects Of The Great Recession On Corporate Working Capital Management Practices

Working capital theory prescribes using the optimal amount of net working capital to maximize shareholder wealth. Evidence from multiple countries indicates a negative relationship between the cash conversion cycle or net working capital and firm profitability. However, severe economic conditions may force firms to change their inventory, accounts receivable, and/or accounts payable policies, causing the firms to use more/less net working capital. Taking a sample of non-financial S&P 500 firms, many of which are multinationals, this study finds significant changes in the cash conversion cycle in 2010 for some industries. Also, it appears firms in general held more net working capital in order to face new economic challenges.
Does Visualization Affect Perceptions of Ethically Complex Policy Decisions: An Experimental Study

Visualization as a communication medium is an important factor when considering how individuals are influenced in a decision about a complex policy issue. Age, race and gender may have interacting relationships with decision making about science and perceptions of communication made through immersive visual environments. This study is an exploration of what happens when laypeople are allowed to make a decision about an ethically challenging, human experiment and how age, race, gender, and communication mediums may influence this decision making process. Preliminary results indicate visualization environments are better than print media in communicating risks; older or more educated participants are less likely to approve scientific studies involving human subjects; race nor ethnicity are significant indicators of decision outcome. Direction of future research around each of these areas is discussed
Indications and practical applications for high-profile saline breast implants.

Abstract Background High-profile round saline breast implants that permit a better match of implant diameter to the base diameter of the breast are now available. Objective The advantages and disadvantages of high-profile breast implants are defined from the point of view of the author's initial experience. Methods The maximal optimal breast implant was determined on the basis of preoperative measurements, with emphasis on breast base diameter. Patients selected implant size using trial implants in a bra of the desired cup size. The implant profile with the best match to breast base diameter at the selected size range was used. Results Sixty-seven patients, of a total of 164 patients who received saline breast implants during a 14-month period, received high-profile breast implants. Conclusions High-profile saline implants provide a useful option for the patient who desires an implant size that exceeds the natural breast base diameter in standard profiles. Rippling may be diminished in these cases. A more conical shape may be achieved in cases of periareolar mastopexy with augmentation. Disadvantages of the high-profile design include less mobility of the implant and a less obtuse transition from the chest to the upper breast compared with results achieved with standard round implants.
Life history as an integrative theoretical framework advancing the understanding of the attachment system

Evolutionary Life History Theory (LHT) is a powerful framework that can be used for understanding behavioral strategies as contingent adaptations to environmental conditions. Del Giudice uses LHT as a foundation for describing the attachment process as an evolved psychological system which evaluates life conditions and chooses reproductive strategies appropriate in the developmental environment, integrating findings across several literatures.
A Cyanobacterial Gene, sqdX, Required for Biosynthesis of the Sulfolipid Sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol

The sulfolipid sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol is present in the photosynthetic membranes of plants and many photosynthetic bacteria. A novel gene, sqdX, essential for sulfolipid biosynthesis in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC7942 is proposed to encode the cyanobacterial sulfolipid synthase catalyzing the last reaction of the pathway.
A Procedure Using Immobilized Antibody for the Isolation of the β-Subunit of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin from the Culture Fluid of a β-Subunit-Secreting Nontrophoblastic Cell Line

Antibody produced against the beta-subunit of hCG was linked to Sepharose 4B and used to isolate ectopic hCG beta secreted by DoT cervical cancer cells in culture. beta-Subunit was eluted with 3 M guanidine-hydrochloride, pH 3.0 (three treatments, 15 min each, at 20 C). The eluted hCG beta was desalted with Sephadex G-25 and concentrated by lyophilization. A single batch of antibody-bound Sepharose was used repeatedly to adsorb hCG beta from liter quantities of spent culture fluid containing 10% fetal bovine serum. The material recovered from 15.75 liters of fluid was pooled and treated a second time with immobilized antibody. Using only immobilized antibody, purification of more than 200,000-fold was achieved, with an overall recovery of about 28%.
The Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Schizophrenia: The State of the Art and the Evidence.

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are associated with high degrees of impairment and often respond inadequately to pharmacotherapy alone. In recent years, numerous clinical trials have been published showing the benefits of adjunctive cognitive behavior therapy for treating psychosis. However, research in this area has been hampered by the inherent problems conducting psychotherapy research in severely mentally ill populations. This paper provides a brief overview of the cognitive-behavioral treatment of psychosis and discusses the state of the evidence in this area, including its many unresolved issues.
Pediatric Metarrhizium anisopliae keratitis

Metarrhizium anisopliae (M. anisopliae) is an entomopathogenic fungus used as an agricultural pesticide in many countries, including the United States. M. anisopliae grows optimally at 25°C and is therefore considered safe to humans. We report a case of a 12-year-old girl who is a soft contact lens wearer with M. anisopliae corneal ulcer who was treated effectively with topical natamycin after identification of the organism by corneal culture. Topical amphotericin B was not effective.
Degradation in the dentin-composite interface subjected to multi-species biofilm challenges.

Oral biofilms can degrade the components in dental resin-based composite restorations, thus compromising marginal integrity and leading to secondary caries. This study investigates the mechanical integrity of the dentin–composite interface challenged with multi-species oral biofilms. While most studies used single-species biofilms, the present study used a more realistic, diverse biofilm model produced directly from plaques collected from donors with a history of early childhood caries. Dentin–composite disks were made using bovine incisor roots filled with Z100TM or FiltekTM LS (3M ESPE). The disks were incubated for 72 h in paired CDC biofilm reactors, using a previously published protocol. One reactor was pulsed with sucrose, and the other was not. A sterile saliva-only control group was run with sucrose pulsing. The disks were fractured under diametral compression to evaluate their interfacial bond strength. The surface deformation of the disks was mapped using digital image correlation to ascertain the fracture origin. Fracture surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to assess demineralization and interfacial degradation. Dentin demineralization was greater under sucrose-pulsed biofilms, as the pH dropped <5.5 during pulsing, with LS and Z100 specimens suffering similar degrees of surface mineral loss. Biofilm growth with sucrose pulsing also caused preferential degradation of the composite–dentin interface, depending on the composite/adhesive system used. Specifically, Z100 specimens showed greater bond strength reduction and more frequent cohesive failure in the adhesive layer. This was attributed to the inferior dentin coverage by Z100 adhesive, which possibly led to a higher level of chemical and enzymatic degradation. The results suggested that factors other than dentin demineralization were also responsible for interfacial degradation. A clinically relevant in vitro biofilm model was therefore developed, which would effectively allow assessment of the degradation of the dentin–composite interface subjected to multi-species biofilm challenge.
Familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus associated with a signal peptide mutation.

We studied the pathophysiology, natural history, and genetic basis of familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (FNDI) in a caucasian kindred. Twelve members had polyuria and a deficiency of plasma vasopressin (AVP), which progressed in severity over time. Another had normal urine volumes and plasma AVP when first tested at age 3 yr, but developed severe FNDI a year later. For unknown reasons, one man had a normal urine volume despite severe AVP deficiency and a history of polyuria in the past. When the AVP-neurophysin-II gene was amplified and sequenced, exon 2/3 was normal, but 7 of 12 clones of exon 1 contained a base substitution (G-->A) predicting a substitution of threonine for alanine at the -1 position of the signal peptide. Restriction analysis found the mutation in all 14 affected members, but in none of the 41 controls or 19 adult members with normal urine volumes and plasma or urinary AVP (lod score = 5.7). The mutation was also found in 2 infants in whom AVP was normal when tested at 6 and...
Weak Identification in Maximum Likelihood: A Question of Information

In this paper we connect the discrepancy between two estimates of Fisher information, one based on the quadratic variation of the score and the other based on the negative Hessian of the log-likelihood, to weak identification. Classical asymptotic approximations assume that these two estimates are asymptotically equivalent, but we show that this equivalence fails in many weakly identified models, which can distort the behavior of the MLE. Using a stylized DSGE model we show that the discrepancy between information estimates is large when identification is weak.
Frequency-dependent seismic reflection from a permeable boundary in a fractured reservoir

Summary The coefficients of normal reflection and transmission of a planar p-wave from a permeable boundary in a fractured reservoir are studied in low-frequency range. The coefficients are expressed as power series with respect to a small dimensionless parameter, which is the product of the reservoir fluid mobility and density, and the frequency of the signal. The coefficients of such series are functions of mechanical properties of the reservoir rock and fluid. The zero-order terms of the reflection and transmission coefficients have a form similar to the one derived from the classical theory, without accounting for fluid flow. There is a strong similarity to Gassman's effective medium model. The next power expansion term both for reflection and transmission coefficients is proportional to the square root of the small parameter described above. Unlike frequencydependent terms, the zero-order coefficient does not depend on the permeability contrast. The functional structure of the reflection and transmission coefficients provides opportunities for seismic inversion and suggests new seismic attributes.
Social movements and corporate political activity: Corporate/regulatory responses to social activism

Social movement organizations (SMOs) – also known as non-government organizations (NGOs) and activist groups – employ diverse repertoires in order to effect social change. Socially-oriented investo...
Reproductive Success of Eastern Bluebirds (Siala sialis) on Suburban Golf Courses

ABSTRACT. Understanding the role of green space in urban—suburban landscapes is becoming critical for bird conservation because of rampant habitat loss and conversion. Although not natural habitat, golf courses could play a role in bird conservation if they support breeding populations of some native species, yet scientists remain skeptical. In 2003–2009, we measured reproduction of Eastern Bluebirds (Siala sialis) in Virginia on golf courses and surrounding reference habitats, of the type that would have been present had golf courses not been developed on these sites (e.g., recreational parks, cemeteries, agriculture land, and college campus). We monitored >650 nest boxes and 2,255 nest attempts (n = 1,363 golf course, n = 892 reference site). We used an information-theoretic modeling approach to evaluate whether conditions on golf courses affected timing of breeding, investment, or nest productivity compared with nearby reference sites. We found that Eastern Bluebirds breeding on golf courses reproduced...
The Mallophagan Family Trimenoponidae.

Three species of two-clawed Mallophaga have heretofore been recorded from South American mammals. Concerning one of these species, Menopon extraneum Piaget, nothing is known aside from the information included in the original description and, judging from this and the accompanying figure, it appears not to differ from the usual type of bird-infesting members of this group. The other two species have each been made the type of a genus and these two genera have been considered by Harrison as representing a well-marked family, the Trimenoponidae .
Recent, Large-Scale Changes in the Extratropical Southern Hemisphere Atmospheric Circulation

Abstract The zonal anomalies in the 500-hPa geopotential height field of the Southern Hemisphere are examined using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalyses, 1958–96. The zonal anomalies were constructed by removing the zonal mean from each grid point, and principal components analysis was performed on the resulting spatial anomalies. The principal components of the leading EOF of the seasons March–April–May (MAM) to September–October–November (SON) indicate that a change has occurred in the extratropical, large-scale, atmospheric circulation of the Southern Hemisphere. It is estimated to have begun after 1975 and is limited to the southern late fall, winter, and early spring. The elements of this change are a deeper Pacific trough and higher Indian Ocean ridge at subtropical latitudes. At higher latitudes the ridge over the Pacific strengthened and shifted east while troughing occurred in the southwest Atlantic–Weddell Sea region. Consistent wi...
An ant colony optimization technique for abstraction-guided state justification

In this paper, a novel heuristic for abstraction-guided state justification is proposed based on ant colony optimization (ACO). A probabilistic state transition model is developed to help formulate the state justification problem as a searching scheme of artificial ants. The amount of pheromone left by the ants is directly proportional to the quality of the search so that it can serve as an effective guidance for the search. In addition, the intelligence based on the collective behavior is capable of avoiding critical dead-end states as well as fast convergence to the target state. Experimental results demonstrated that our approach is superior in reaching hard-to-reach states in sequential circuit compared to other methods.