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Climate change and associated coastal hazards can disrupt the United States shipbuilding and repair industry's operations. These disruptions present risks to military and commercial ship orders, ship maintenance and repairs, and the nation's overall shipbuilding strength. Through an online survey of representatives from 45 shipbuilding parent companies, individual shipyards, and ship repair and maintenance facilities, this research gauges how the industry considers coastal hazard resilience and addresses the possible impacts on shipbuilding and repair contracts and deliverables. Survey results suggest that the industry is ill-prepared for future coastal hazard events and that critical measures are needed to ensure a resilient shipbuilding and repair environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low dose computed tomography (LDCT) is the standard of care for lung cancer screening in the United States (US). LDCT has a sensitivity of 93.8% but its specificity of 73.4% leads to potentially harmful follow-up procedures in patients without lung cancer. Thus, there is a need for additional assays with high accuracy that can be used as an adjunct to LDCT to diagnose lung cancer. Sputum is a biological fluid that can be obtained non-invasively and can be dissociated to release its cellular contents, providing a snapshot of the lung environment. We obtained sputum from current and former smokers with a 30+ pack-year smoking history and who were either confirmed to have lung cancer or at high risk of developing the disease. Dissociated sputum cells were counted, viability determined, and labeled with a panel of markers to separate leukocytes from non-leukocytes. After excluding debris and dead cells, including squamous epithelial cells, we identified reproducible population signatures and confirmed the samples' lung origin. In addition to leukocyte and epithelial-specific fluorescent antibodies, we used the highly fluorescent meso-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP), known to preferentially stain cancer (associated) cells. We looked for differences in cell characteristics, population size and fluorescence intensity that could be useful in distinguishing cancer samples from high-risk samples. We present our data demonstrating the feasibility of a flow cytometry platform to analyze sputum in a high-throughput and standardized matter for the diagnosis of lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a simple method that allows snow depth measurements to be converted to snow water equivalent (SWE) estimates. These estimates are useful to individuals interested in water resources, ecological function, and avalanche forecasting. They can also be assimilated into models to help improve predictions of total water volumes over large regions. The conversion of depth to SWE is particularly valuable since snow depth measurements are far more numerous than costlier and more complex SWE measurements. Our model regresses SWE against snow depth (h), day of water year (DOY) and climatological (30-year normal) values for winter (December, January, February) precipitation (PPTWT), and the difference (TD) between mean temperature of the warmest month and mean temperature of the coldest month, producing a power-law relationship. Relying on climatological normals rather than weather data for a given year allows our model to be applied at measurement sites lacking a weather station. Separate equations are obtained for the accumulation and the ablation phases of the snowpack. The model is validated against a large database of snow pillow measurements and yields a bias in SWE of less than 2 mm and a root-mean-squared error (RMSE) in SWE of less than 60 mm. The model is additionally validated against two completely independent sets of data: one from western North America and one from the northeastern United States. Finally, the results are compared with three other models for bulk density that have varying degrees of complexity and that were built in multiple geographic regions. The results show that the model described in this paper has the best performance for the validation data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the nation's most respected advertising agencies have become reluctant to accept political campaigns as clients. And political candidates increasingly are choosing independent political consultants to direct their media campaigns. This paper analyzes the history of these trends and reports the results of a nationwide survey of 99 advertising agencies. Among firms that had not handled political accounts in five years or that planned to reduce political campaign involvement, the major reasons cited for avoiding political accounts centered on concerns that they may interfere with business client relations while creating an intolerable workload without commensurate profitability. The potential implications of replacing advertising agencies with political consultants are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the radioactive waste disposal situation in the U.S. as of December 2011. A brief history of the Nuclear Waste Repository Act (NWRA) is presented wherein the U.S. Department of Energy is to make a recommendation for possible sites for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW) repository. A permanent repository site at Yucca Mountain as approved by the U.S. Congress is discussed, but key legal issues have prevented the licensing and construction.

The 31st Annual Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS) met in Sarasota, Florida April 22–26, 2009, attracting approximately 600 registrants and nearly 400 abstracts. In addition to poster and platform presentations, the program offered symposia, special lectures, and various National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored workshops, including one on computational approaches to olfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a survey review of series of graded readers in English that are published in Great Britain, Europe and the U.S. Graded readers are books written for learners of English, which are categorized into two types: the rewrite and the simple original. This review, which covers 42 series containing 2,051 titles, was made possible due to the library and database of graded readers maintained by the Edinburgh Project on Extensive Reading (EPER). The effect of the changing cultural and educational climate on graded readers is also discussed.

The article discusses the role of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in delivering nuclear science and technology solutions to serve the present and future energy needs of United States. INL is the lead energy research complex of the U.S. Energy Department (DOE). This science-based, applied engineering national laboratory, was established in 1949 to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In 2002, INL was designated to become the internationally recognized center for nuclear energy, research, development and demonstration. In 2005, DOE chose Battelle Energy Alliance, the world's largest nonprofit research and development firm to manage INL and help fulfill its national missions and goals.

As many as one in every 100 to 200 persons in the United States has celiac disease, a condition resulting from an inappropriate immune response to the dietary protein gluten. The manifestations of celiac disease range from no symptoms to overt malabsorption with involvement of multiple organ systems and an increased risk of some malignancies. When celiac disease is suspected, initial testing for serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibodies is useful because it offers adequate sensitivity and specificity at a reasonable cost. A positive IgA tTG result should prompt small bowel biopsy with at least four tissue samples to con- firm the diagnosis. However, 3 percent of patients with celiac disease have IgA deficiency. Therefore, if the serum IgA tTG result is negative but clinical suspicion for the disease is high, a serum total IgA level may be considered. Screening of asymptomatic patients is not recommended. The basis of treatment for celiac disease is adherence to a gluten-free diet, which may eliminate symptoms within a few months. Patients should also be evaluated for osteoporosis, thyroid dysfunction, and deficiencies in folic acid, vitamin B12 fat-soluble vitamins, and iron, and treated appropriately. Serum IgA tTG levels typically decrease as patients maintain a gluten-free diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the increased voter turnout during the 2004 U.S. elections and the resulting ramifications on the Republican and Democratic candidates. According to the author, part of the increase in voter turnout was due to the campaigns' mobilization efforts to influence a biased partisan effect.

Gary P. Freeman and David K. Hill argue that the U.S. system of multiple visa categories and the often distorting business interests behind these, point to a far from rational economic construction of policy. They indicate the difficulties of reform, even in the absence of strongly organized public opposition, and the degree to which path-dependence seems to determine overall outcomes in the policy process. Curiously, the authors suggest that highly skilled migration policy in the U.S. is a wholly self-contained national affair. National politics, rather than global economic pressures, drive the twists and turns of U.S. immigration policies, with key roles being played by high tech employers, professional associations, pro and anti-immigrant organizations, and even associations of immigration lawyers. There appears to be little space in their accounts for the kind of global legal/institutional influences signaled by WTO reforms or by the importance of global multinationals. Freeman and Hill offer useful analytical frameworks to differentiate between distinct forms of migration by technical workers, and the often contradictory state policies and the politics linked to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study takes a two-stage approach to examining the impact of the electoral college on turnout in the 2000 presidential election. First, we examine whether battleground states received more media spending and visits by the candidates and their party committees compared to nonbattleground states. Second, we examine whether media spending and candidate visits were related to state-level turnout. The results of the project show that the battleground states did receive significantly more media expenditures and candidate visits from the two major party campaigns than nonbattleground states. Furthermore, when controlling for state-level contextual and political factors, the more media expenditures and candidate visits a state received the higher the state turnout. Finally, the analysis reveals that state battleground status indirectly impacted state-level turnout through its effect on media spending and candidate visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context The effect of early antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the early progression of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is not well defined. Objective To examine early disease progression and survival in a population-based cohort with perinatal HIV infection in relation to year of birth and use of ART. Design, Setting, and Patients Retrospective study of temporal trends in early progression of perinatal HIV infection among 205 HIV-infected children in Northern California born between January 1, 1988, and December 31, 2001, and followed up through age 3 years. Main Outcome Measures Prevalence of and age at progression to a first US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention category C diagnosis relative to year of birth, type of ART, and age at initiation of therapy. Results Of 205 children, 134 (65%) received ART and/or Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia prophylaxis. By age 3 years, 81 (40%) progressed to a category C diagnosis, 41 (51%) of whom died. Untreated children were significantly more likely to progress to a category C diagnosis (62% [44/71] untreated vs 28% [37/134] treated children, P<.001); none of 23 infants who received triple ART progressed to category C. However, even without triple ART, very early mono/dual ART (by age 2 months vs 3-4 months) was associated with delayed and decreased progression to category C (P = .02). Of 33 children born between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2001, only 7 (21%) progressed to category C (P = .02 compared with 1988-1995), 6 of 7 of whom received no therapy. More recent year of birth and more advanced therapy were associated with improved survival. Conclusions This population-based cohort demonstrated decreased early HIV progression and improved survival at age 3 years, associated with more advanced therapy. Although limited by small sample size, the findings suggest that very early treatment, even without triple ART, was associated with improved outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on creating, improving and using cloned open reading frames (ORF) and exemplifies successful partnerships between academia and industry in the United States. DNA sequencing; Microcosm of genome-wide resource building; Use of restriction endonucleases for cloning ORF.

This article discusses issues related to the resolution of disputes in the U.S. natural gas industry. In the post-Order 636 world, shippers and customers with complaints about a natural gas pipeline's capacity reservation procedures, marketing affiliate transactions, or other aspects of open-access transportation service typically look to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for relief. A manifestation of federal primacy, in this instance of federal agencies over state or federal courts, is the filed-rate doctrine. Courts have invoked the doctrine of primary jurisdiction to support a referral to an agency of a question if that agency's expertise and findings may be useful to the ultimate resolution of the private action.

The article presents information on effects of television news programs on the political behavior of people in the U.S. There seems to be agreement only that recall is enhanced whenever television viewers are more attentive to newscasts, but there is almost no consensus on how broadcasters can use various audio and video techniques to promote attentiveness. Study participants were interviewed between late 1977 and early 1978 and were asked to complete an extended recall diary of all television viewing, on a program-by-program basis, for the fortnight prior to the interview. Another potentially important factors in news exposure are related to viewers' more general orientations toward television. Aggregate personal agendas were determined by calculating the percentage of the sample that reported the highest level of interest in each social and political issue. The article states that after news viewers achieve a minimum threshold of quantitative exposure, their personal characteristics and viewing habits, particularly their news knowledge and attentiveness to news program are more important in establishing agendas than mere time spent in front of the television set.

Multiple regression and probit are used to test explanations of the post-1964 decline in turnout for presidential elections in nonsouthern states. Twelve socioeconomic and attitudinal variables are used to predict validated voting reports collected in conjunction with the 1964 and 1976 national election studies conducted by the SRC/CPS. Both the regression and probit analyses indicate that political attitudes, like partisanship and concern over the election outcome, have contributed to the decline in turnout; however, education and interest variables have offset the decline attributed to changes in political attitudes. The analysis leaves the puzzle of declining turnout largely unsolved. Alternative explanations of the decline in turnout are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates preadults' perceptions of Watergate using questionnaires from a stratified random of grades 2-12 in Florida. Watergate's stronger relationship to differences in attitudes toward United States President Richard Nixon than to other political orientations; Most important mediators of the respondents' concern about Watergate; Influence of salient events on political attitudes.

Deals with a study which investigated the dynamics of political learning in the political socialization process of the United States in the 1970s. Evaluation of the president by adults; Theoretical development of political socialization research; Principles which can help predict the types of preadults who would be most likely to develop structured attitudes toward politics.

Effects of two procedures for increasing students’ ability to draw inferences when reading were studied. Eighty fifth-grade disabled readers were presented with one of the following: a) opportunities to use previous experiences in predicting story outcomes (strategy method); b) practice in answering inference questions (question method); or c) traditional reading instruction (control method). Strategy and question groups’ scores on end-of-story tests were significant^ higher for inference questions than those of the controls. These results support the use of both the strategy and question procedures for teaching inference skills to disabled readers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For nearly a decade informed observers of American public opinion have vigorously debated the "crisis of confidence" question: Does the ongoing tide of political distrust portend cataclysmic change in the body politic or is the public harmlessly letting off some steam? This paper approaches the debate from a new perspective by reflecting on the manner in which researchers have sought to measure public confidence in leaders and political institutions. It is argued herein that researchers' dependence on global measures of political trust has lead to overestimation of the extent to which public confidence has eroded. Evidence is presented which suggests that survey respondents engage in a process of attitude generalization which causes them to express distrust of leaders generally when only certain specific leaders are actually seen as culpable. The methodological and theoretical significance of this sort of generalization is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the errors found in the measures of mental retardation among school children in the U.S. A lot of measurements are considered to ascertain retardation among school children. The most common method is the analysis of the child's age in relation to school grade. It was found that assessment methods have flaws in its respective processes of determining which group of pupils requires special or individual attention.

The article presents statements issued by scientists attesting their loyalty and faith in nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in the U.S. Statements presented in this article are those originating from the two organizations he has been most closely associated with, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Institute for Advanced Study. A letter signed by 214 scientists at Argonne National Laboratory is also presented. Their statements disagree the official decision of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission to deny the security clearance of Oppenheimer due to disloyalty and security risk issues.