cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reader in Comedy: An Anthology of Theory and Criticism ed. by Magda Romanska and Alan Ackerman (review)

Reader in Comedy is an anthology of western texts that theorize the efficacy of comedy. Editors Magda Romanska and Alan Ackerman have historicized a substantial collection of works, ranging from an...
Validity of Use of Spontaneous Potential Curve Shape in Interpretation of Sandstone Depositional Environments: ABSTRACT

The shape of spontaneous potential curves is frequently used in the interpretation of sandstone depositional environments. The "cylinder-," "funnel-," and "bell-shaped" SP profiles are among the most frequently employed. However, the validity of this commonplace practice has never been thoroughly established. Theoretical and experimental work and actual field examples suggest that the trend of the SP deflection does not display a direct relationship with the trend of variables known to be controlled by the sandstone paleoenvironment. The trend of quartz grain size shows a low linear correlation with the trend of SP deflection. The trend of clay content shows a higher correlation, but changes in clay type and cation exchange capacity can have more impact on the SP than the simple volume of clay. Field examples from the Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary of the Gulf Coast show that hydrocarbons, local variations in the mud filtrate salinity, and regional differences in formation water salinity can greatly alter the shape of the SP curve. This can result in erroneous interpretations of sandstone origin. Curve shapes derived from the microresistivity measurements of the dipmeter tool are an alternative to those of SP curves. The greater sensitivity of the dipmeter tool, its immunity to the problems of hydrocarbons and Rmf/Rw contrasts, and the relationship of microresistivity to primary rock properties are factors favoring the use of microresistivity curve shapes for the interpretation of sandstone depositional environments from subsurface data. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1220------------
Carrageenan in formula and infant baboon development.

Male and female infant baboons were reared from birth to 112 days of age on infant formulas containing concentrations of carrageenan varying from none to 5 times the concentration in commercially available formulas for human infants. Carrageenan content of the formula did not affect weight, characteristics of urine and feces, findings on physical examination, hematological variables, blood chemical analyses, organ system weights, or the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of the gastrointestinal tract.
Dynamically sequencing an animated pedagogical agent

One of the most promising opportunities introduced by rapid advances in knowledge-based learning environments and multimedia technologies is the possibility of creating animated pedagogical agents. These agents should exhibit three properties: timely domain coverage (they should clearly communicate fundamental concepts and relationships within the allotted time); contextuality (they should provide explanations in appropriate problem-solving contexts); and continuity (their activities and utterances should be pedagogically, visually, and aurally coherent). We have developed the coherence-structured behavior space approach to creating animated pedagogical agents. This is a two-step approach. First, we design a behavior space of animation and audio segments that are structured by prerequisite relationships and a continuity metric. Second, we navigate coherent paths through the space to dynamically sequence behaviors. This creates seamless global behaviors that communicate fundamental knowledge and provide contextualized problem-solving advice. The coherence-structured behavior space approach has been implemented in Herman the Bug, an animated pedagogical agent for Design-A-Plant, a knowledge-based learning environment for botanical anatomy and physiology. Formative evaluations of the agent with middle school students are encouraging.
Immunohistochemical Demonstration of Acid Phosphatase Isoenzyme 5 (Tartrate-Resistant) in Paraffin Sections of Hairy Cell Leukemia and Other Hematologic Disorders

The demonstration of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity has long been a cornerstone in the diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia (HCL). Recently a monoclonal antibody to this enzyme has been developed that can be used in an immunoperoxidase method on paraffin-embedded tissues. By using a peroxidase-labeled streptavidin biotin method, paraffin sections of B5 and formalin-fixed tissue from 86 cases of HCL (41 bone marrow, 36 spleen, 9 liver) were stained with the antibody to TRAP and compared against staining for CD20 (L26) and DBA.44 (DAKO, Carpinteria, Calif). In addition, 193 specimens (127 bone marrow, 42 lymph node, 19 spleen, 5 other) from a variety of neoplastic and nonneoplastic hematologic conditions were stained using the monoclonal antibody to TRAP. For comparison, these cases were also stained with DBA.44. In the cases of HCL, 80 of 86 specimens were immunoreactive for TRAP. While the antibody to TRAP generally stained less than 50% of the hairy cells, CD20 and DBA.44 stained 90% and 50% to 60% of hairy cells, respectively. Two of three cases of marginal zone lymphoma showed weak immunoreactivity to the TRAP antibody. Two specimens from a patient with Gaucher's disease and 8 of 13 cases of mastocytosis also showed positivity to the TRAP antibody in the macrophages and mast cells, respectively. In contrast, staining for DBA.44 was positive in 3 of 9 cases of B-cell large cell lymphoma, 1 of 4 cases of mantle cell lymphoma, and in the paraimmunoblasts of 1 of 7 cases of small lymphocytic lymphoma. Only HCL was TRAP and DBA.44 positive. This antibody to TRAP is a useful addition to the diagnosis of HCL but should be used in conjunction with CD20 and DBA.44. The use of this antibody to determine minimal residual disease after chemotherapy was not addressed.
Innate immune responses to LCMV infections: natural killer cells and cytokines.

There is a growing appreciation of the importance of innate immune responses to infections. These responses are produced by non-immune cells and cells of the innate immune system, including monocyte/macrophage populations, granulo-cytes, dendritic cells (DCs), and natural killer (NK) cells. Cytokines can be a part of the innate responses of non-immune cells to infections. The cell constituents of the innate immune system can respond with activation of other anti-microbial effector functions as well as cytokine production. Innate responses act both to mediate defense during periods of development of, and to direct the quality and nature of, downstream adaptive immune responses. The type 1 interferons, interferons alpha and beta (IFN-α/β), induced at early times during viral infections, are examples of innate cytokine responses to infections. Another is interleukin 12 (IL-12) induction during challenges with a variety of agents. Host pattern recognition molecules identifying the distinguishing chemical characteristics of infectious organisms induce initial innate responses (Biron 1999). The best studied of these are cell surface receptors binding and stimulating responses to bacterial products, and associated with the induction of an innate pro-inflammatory cytokine cascade including IL-12 and accompanied by IL-12-induced NK cell type 2 interferon, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), production.
Cyclostratigraphy and Astrochronology in 2018

Abstract After more than a century of doubt and equivocation, cyclostratigraphy – the stratigraphic record of astronomically forced paleoclimatic change – has come to be widely accepted in the geosciences. Cyclostratigraphy depicts a paleoclimate system that is intimately connected with and pervasively tuned to the variations of co-occurring astronomical and geophysical parameters that have affected the Earth through geologic time. Cyclostratigraphy provides a proprietary record of planetary orbital motions, and is the sole repository of evidence for interplanetary orbital resonance and chaotic interaction throughout Solar System history. Cyclostratigraphy has also recorded the evolution of Earth's rotation rate and mass distribution, and by consequence, the orbital dynamics of the Moon. For the most recent ten million years, cyclostratigraphy has been precisely correlated to quantitative astronomical models, and for hundreds of millions of years prior to that, has been matched to models with a progressively decreasing but still significant measure of confidence. This has led to the rise of astrochronology, which assigns cyclostratigraphy to a specific time scale based on its correlation to astronomical solutions. Modern astronomical solutions are highly consistent, indicating that the theory of Solar System dynamics has been described as completely as possible for 0 to at least 50 million years ago (Ma). This indicates that cyclostratigraphy can be correlated to the full Earth orbital eccentricity and/or inclination solution over 0–50 Ma, to contribute a high-precision astrochronology for the geologic time scale. For times prior to 50 Ma, astronomical models deviate substantially from one another as predicted by the Lyapunov time of the Solar System, and depict chaotic behavior, for example, between Earth and Mars. On the other hand, specific planetary orbits, notably those of Jupiter and Saturn, theoretically remain stable over much longer periods of time; these have led to the recognition of “metronomes” in Earth's orbital motions, specifically, g 2 − g 5 and s 3 − s 6 , which when identified in cyclostratigraphy can provide practical extensions to the Astronomical Time Scale for hundreds of millions of years into the past.
Abstract A211: Requirement of Treg-intrinsic CTLA4-PKCeta signaling pathway for suppressing tumor immunity

The ability of Tregs to control the development of immune responses is essential for maintaining immune system homeostasis. However, Tregs also inhibit the development of efficient antitumor immune responses. Here we explored the characteristics and mechanistic basis of the Treg-intrinsic CTLA4-PKCη signaling pathway that we recently found to be required for contact-dependent Treg-mediated suppression. We show that PKCη is required for the Treg-mediated suppression of tumor immunity in vivo. The presence of PKCη-deficient (Prkch-/-) Tregs in the tumor microenvironment was associated with a significantly increased expression of the costimulatory molecule CD86 on intratumoral CD103+ DCs, enhanced priming of antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells, and greater levels of effector cytokines produced by these cells. Tumor development was reduced similarly in Treg-specific (Prkch-flox x Foxp3-Cre) and globally deficient recipients (Prkch-/-) as compared to wt mice, indicating that PKCη expression by effector cells is dispensable for the development of efficient anti-tumor responses. Similar to mouse Tregs, the GIT-PAK-PIX complex also operated downstream of CTLA4 and PKCη in human Tregs, and GIT2 knockdown in Tregs promoted antitumor immunity. We are now exploring the therapeutic impact of PKCη deletion in tumor-bearing mice using tamoxifen treatment of Prkch-flox x Foxp3-ERT2Cre and Prkch-flox x UBC-ERT2Cre mice as a surrogate for treatment with a highly selective and efficient PKCη inhibitor. Collectively, our data suggest that targeting the CTLA4-PKCη-GIT-PAK-PIX signaling pathway in Tregs could represent a novel immunotherapeutic strategy to alleviate the negative impact of Tregs on antitumor immune responses. Citation Format: Christophe Pedros, Hsin-Yu Liu, Ann J. Canonigo-Balancio, Kok-Fai Kong, Amnon Altman. Requirement of Treg-intrinsic CTLA4-PKCeta signaling pathway for suppressing tumor immunity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; Sept 30-Oct 3, 2018; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A211.
Long-term outcomes of strabismus surgery in Mobius sequence

Purpose: Mobius sequence is a rare disorder that results from underdevelopment of the sixth and seventh cranial nerves, with subsequent facial weakness and impairment of ocular abduction. Approximately half of the affected patients have esotropia with limitation of extraocular movements. This study retrospectively reviews the long-term outcome of strabismus surgery for such patients. Methods: The long-term follow-up results in five children with Mobius sequence, who were observed after strabismus surgery for congenital esotropia, were analyzed. Results: All patients had a limitation of abduction in both eyes. Preoperative esotropia ranged from 20 to 30 prism diopters (PD) (mean 27 PD). Patient age at surgery ranged from 4.5 to 14 months. Bilateral medial rectus muscle recession was performed in all cases, ranging from 4.0 to 6.5 mm. Inferior transposition of the medial rectus muscles was performed in two patients for treatment of V-pattern, and two patients also had surgery for vertical strabismus. Follow-up ranged from 4 to 19.5 years (mean 11.7 years). The final horizontal alignment was <8 PD in all patients, and all demonstrated some binocularity. Conclusion: Bilateral medial rectus muscle recession is an effective treatment for esotropia associated with Mobius sequence, with good long-term stability.
Projection from the Amygdala to the Thalamic Reticular Nucleus Amplifies Cortical Sound Responses

Many forms of behavior require selective amplification of neuronal representations of relevant environmental signals. Emotional learning enhances sensory responses in the sensory cortex, yet the underlying circuits remain poorly understood. We identify a pathway between the basolateral amygdala (BLA), an emotional learning center in the mouse brain, and the inhibitory reticular nucleus of the thalamus (TRN). Optogenetic activation of BLA suppressed spontaneous, but not tone-evoked, activity in the auditory cortex (AC), amplifying tone-evoked responses. Viral tracing identified BLA projections terminating at TRN. Optogenetic activation of amygdala-TRN projections further amplified tone-evoked responses in the auditory thalamus and cortex. The results are explained by a computational model of the thalamocortical circuitry, in which activation of TRN by BLA primes thalamocortical neurons to relay relevant sensory input. This circuit mechanism shines a neural spotlight on behaviorally relevant signals and provides a potential target for the treatment of neuropsychological disorders.
Practical use of telemedicine in the chronically ventilated infant.

Abstract Telemedicine, or the use of electronic communication technology to improve patient health, is becoming more widely adopted as a means of bringing together patients, providers and family members to facilitate evaluation, monitoring, diagnosis and treatment. A particularly vulnerable group consists of children with dependence on technology, such as chronic mechanical ventilation. This chapter will provide an overview of how telehealth technology is currently being used, for supporting this patient population through 1) inpatient support 2) integration with the medical home 3) bridging care transitions 4) remote patient management and 5) multispecialty consultations. We will also discuss the impact on quality and cost, the current research environment and practical points for implementation into clinical practice.
Certificates of Appealability in Habeas Cases in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit: A Study

This study examines the Certificate of Appealability (“COA”) granting process in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Using the docket database of Westlaw, the online legal resource, it identifies cases in which the Eleventh Circuit granted or denied COAs between January 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019. It compares the grant rate of the Eleventh Circuit to that of another circuit, the First Circuit, and finds that the Eleventh Circuit’s noncapital COA grant rate (8.44 percent) is far below that of the First Circuit (14.29 percent). The study also explores COA data within the Eleventh Circuit, comparing the rate at which noncapital COAs are granted (8.44 percent) to the rate at which capital ones are (58.3 percent). It also examines the rate at which individual judges in the Eleventh Circuit grant COAs, finding that some judges grant as many as 25.81 percent of the COAs they hear, whereas others grant as few as 2.33 percent.
Alterations in odor hedonics in the Tg6799 Alzheimer's disease mouse model and the influence of sex

Olfactory impairments, including deficits in odor detection, discrimination, recognition, and changes in odor hedonics are reported in the early stages of Alzheimer9s disease (AD). Rodent models of AD display deficits in odor learning, detection, and discrimination - recapitulating the clinical condition. However, the impact of familial AD genetic mutations on odor hedonics is unknown. We tested 2-, 4-, and 6-months old 5XFAD (Tg6799) mice in the five-port odor multiple-choice task designed to assay a variety of odor-guided behaviors, including odor preferences/hedonics. We found that 5XFAD mice investigated odors longer than controls, an effect that was driven by 6-months old mice. Interestingly, this effect was carried by females in the 5XFAD group, who investigated odors longer than age-matched males. Upon examining behavior directed towards individual odors to test for aberrant odor preferences, we uncovered that 5XFAD females at several ages displayed heightened preferences towards some of the odors, indicating aberrant hedonics. We observed no impairments in the ability to engage in the task in 5XFAD mice. Taken together, 5XFAD mice, particularly 5XFAD females, display prolonged odor investigation behavior and enhanced preferences to certain odors. The data provide insight into hedonic alterations which may occur in AD mouse models, and how these are influenced by biological sex.
Characterization of R134a two-phase flow regimes in horizontal and vertical smooth tubes with capacitive sensors.

Abstract This paper presents the identification of slug/stratified-wavy, stratified-wavy and annular regimes for horizontal flow (in the range of mass fluxes 40 – 150 kg m−2 s−1), and slug, churn, and annular flow regimes for vertical upward flow (in the range 65 – 115 kg m−2 s−1) for R134a flow through 7 mm ID tube. Flow regimes are characterized based on time plot of normalized capacitive signals, kernel density estimation (KDE), power spectral density (PSD), and visualization results from a high-speed camera. Sensors with different axial lengths (D, 2D/3, and D/2) are also tested to study the adequacy of shorter sensors for the characterization of flow regimes. Results show that all three sensors have a similar capability of characterizing flow regimes, justifying the use of the shorter sensors in many applications with limited space.
Frontier Expansion and Economic Development

Although finding new frontiers or reserves of natural resources to exploit has been the basis of much of global economic development for the past 500 years, frontier-based development does not appear to be producing sustained high rates of growth in today`s poorer economies. Through a two-sector model of frontier expansion and economic growth in a resource-dependent small open economy, this article demonstrates that such expansion will lead inevitably to a boom and bust pattern of long-run development, even if the economy`s terms of trade or commodity prices remain unchanged. Initially, it is always optimal for the economy to choose the maximum rate of frontier expansion and thus ensure an immediate economic boom. However, an eventual economic decline is unavoidable. This result provides an alternative explanation of recent empirical evidence that resource-abundant developing countries display lower than expected long-run rates of growth. (JEL O13, O41, Q32, Q33)
Hyper IgE Syndrome

Elevated IgE levels are frequently encountered in the setting of atopic diseases. However, elevated IgE levels in association with recurrent infections warrant further consideration. The hyper IgE syndromes (HIES) are a group of monogenic primary immunodeficiencies characterized by a common phenotypic triad of eczematous dermatitis, recurrent infections, and elevated IgE levels. Job syndrome, first described in 1966 by Davis et al., represents the prototype of these disorders and is caused by a dominant negative mutation in the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) gene. However, since the discovery of STAT3 deficiency, several other genes have been implicated in causing HIES, including mutations in DOCK8, ZNF431, IL6R, IL6ST, PGM3, SPINK5, and CARD11 genes. Distinguishing these monogenic disorders remains challenging and requires careful attention to the clinical and immunological phenotypes and selection of the appropriate molecular diagnostic tests. Additionally, treatments and outcomes for these disorders are variable and largely dependent on the underlying molecular defect. In this chapter, we will discuss the most two common causes of HIES, namely, STAT3 deficiency and DOCK8 deficiency.
Tracking inner retinal changes associated with glaucoma progression with AO-OCT

Glaucoma causes progressive loss and degeneration of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons and their somas. Until recently, cellular-level RGC imaging in live human subjects was not possible. Our initial cross-sectional study revealed differences in morphological parameters in ganglion cell layer (GCL) soma with glaucoma. The manner in which cellular-level morphology is altered during glaucoma progression has yet to be discovered. In this study, we used AO-OCT to track RGC morphology in one glaucoma patient with a hemifield defect. We found dynamic tissue remodeling in the GCL, resulting in a decrease in soma density and an increase in soma size.
Snap-3D: A Constrained Placement-Driven Physical Design Methodology for Face-to-Face-Bonded 3D ICs

3D integration technology is one of the leading options that can advance Moore's Law beyond conventional scaling. Due to the absence of commercial 3D placers and routers, existing 3D physical design flows rely heavily on 2D commercial tools to handle 3D IC physical synthesis. Specifically, these flows build 2D designs first and then convert them into 3D designs. However, several works demonstrate that design qualities degrade during this 2D-3D transformation. In this paper, we overcome this issue with our Snap-3D, a constraint-driven placement approach to build commercial-quality 3D ICs. Our key idea is based on the observation that if the standard cell height is contracted by one half and partitioned into multiple tiers, any commercial 2D placer can place them onto the row structure and naturally achieve high-quality 3D placement. This methodology is shown to optimize power, performance, and area (PPA) metrics across different tiers simultaneously and minimize the aforementioned design quality loss. Experimental results on 7 industrial designs demonstrate that Snap-3D achieves up to 5.4% wirelength, 10.1% power, and 92.3% total negative slack improvements compared with state-of-the-art 3D design flows.
Predicting Correctness of Problem Solving from Low-Level Log Data in Intelligent Tutoring Systems

This paper proposes a learning based metho d that can automatically determine how likely a student is to give a correct answer to a problem in an intelligent tutoring system. Only log files that record students' actions with the system are used to train the model, therefore the modeling process doesn't require expert knowledge for identifying domain specific skills that are needed to solve the problem or students' possible solution methods etc. The model utilizes a set of performance features, problem features, time and mouse movement features and is compared to i) a model that utilizes performance and problem features, ii) a model that uses performance, problem and time features. In order to address data sparseness problem, a robust Ridge Regression algorithm is designed to estimate model parameters. An extensive set of experiment results demonstrate the power of using multiple types of evidence as well as the robust Ridge Regression algorithm.
Raman measurements of the ferroelectric Ba0.4Sr0.6Nb2O6

Abstract Using Raman spectroscopy, we have measured the A1(TO) and E(TO) phonons in the tungsten bronze structured ferroelectric Ba0.4Sr0.6Nb2O6 (BSN). We observe phonon anomalies associated with Tc and also with a temperature≈ 425°C. The latter is in the region where index of refraction measurements indicate the onset of a local polarization. By quenching the crystal from high temperatures, Tc can be shifted. We find that the phonon anomalies shift corresponding to the new Tc values.
Carbon partitioning to cellulose synthesis

This article discusses the importance and implications of regulating carbon partitioning to cellulose synthesis, the characteristics of cells that serve as major sinks for cellulose deposition, and enzymes that participate in the conversion of supplied carbon to cellulose. Cotton fibers, which deposit almost pure cellulose into their secondary cell walls, are referred to as a primary model system. For sucrose synthase, we discuss its proposed role in channeling UDP-Glc to cellulose synthase during secondary wall deposition, its gene family, its manipulation in transgenic plants, and mechanisms that may regulate its association with sites of polysaccharide synthesis. For cellulose synthase, we discuss the organization of the gene family and how protein diversity could relate to control of carbon partitioning to cellulose synthesis. Other enzymes emphasized include UDP-Glc pyrophosphorylase and sucrose phosphate synthase. New data are included on phosphorylation of cotton fiber sucrose synthase, possible regulation by Ca2+ of sucrose synthase localization, electron microscopic immunolocalization of sucrose synthase in cotton fibers, and phylogenetic relationships between cellulose synthase proteins, including three new ones identified in differentiating tracheary elements of Zinnia elegans. We develop a model for metabolism related to cellulose synthesis that implicates the changing intracellular localization of sucrose synthase as a molecular switch between survival metabolism and growth and/or differentiation processes involving cellulose synthesis. Abbreviations: CesA, cellulose synthase; Csl, cellulose-like synthase (genes); DCB, dichlobenil; DPA, days after anthesis; SPS, sucrose phosphate synthase; SuSy, sucrose synthase; P-SuSy, particulate SuSy; S-SuSy, soluble SuSy
5α-dihydroprogesterone formation in human placenta from and 5-pregnan-3β-yl-20-one sulfate

5Alpha-dihydroprogesterone (5alpha-DHP) is the immediate precursor of 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one, a potent anxiolytic/anesthetic agent in all vertebrate animals tested, including humans. The levels of 5alpha-DHP in the plasma of pregnant women are very high; and during the third trimester of pregnancy, the blood production rate of this steroid may exceed 100 mg/24 h. 5Alpha-DHP in maternal plasma, however, cannot be accounted for totally by the metabolism of maternal plasma progesterone. This study was conducted to evaluate the possibility that 5alpha-DHP is synthesized in placenta from 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha/beta-ol-20-ones delivered to the trophoblast via the fetal umbilical blood. In incubations of placental minces with radiolabelled 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha/beta-ol-20-ones, there is extensive epimerization and the intermediate, 5alpha-DHP, is the major product. In other incubations, 5alpha-pregnan-3beta-ol-20-one-sulfate was hydrolysed and the liberated 5alpha-pregnan-3beta-ol-20-one was converted to 5alpha-DHP by homogenates of placental tissue, but 5alpha-pregnan-3beta-ol-20-one-sulfate was not. The oxidation of 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha/beta-ol-20-ones was concentrated in microsome-enriched preparations of placental tissue and the apparent Kms for 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one and 5alpha-pregnan-3beta-ol-20-one were 3.6 microM and 78 nM, respectively. The Vmaxs for 5alpha-DHP formation from 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one and 5alpha-pregnan-3beta-ol-20-one were, respectively, 336 pmol/min/mg protein and 9.7 nmol/min/mg protein. These oxidation reactions were supported by both NAD+ and NADP+. We suggest that progesterone, which enters the umbilical circulation from its site of synthesis in the syncytiotrophoblast, is metabolized in the fetus to 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha/beta-ol-ones and to 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha/beta-yl-20-one sulfates. These metabolites of progesterone, 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha/beta-ol-20-one and 5alpha-pregnan-3beta-yl-20-one sulfate, formed in the fetus, serve as plasma-borne substrates for trophoblast formation of 5alpha-DHP. Because of the hemochorioendothelial nature of human placentation, 5alpha-DHP secreted from the trophoblast will preferentially enter the maternal compartment, thus constituting a maternal plasma progesterone-independent source of 5alpha-DHP.
Monte Carlo Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) Revisited: Detecting Oscillator Clusters in Multivariate Datasets

Singular spectrum analysis (SSA) along with its multivariate extension (M-SSA) provides an efficient way to identify weak oscillatory behavior in high-dimensional data. To prevent the misinterpretation of stochastic fluctuations in short time series as oscillations, Monte Carlo (MC)–type hypothesis tests provide objective criteria for the statistical significance of the oscillatory behavior. Procrustes target rotation is introduced here as a key method for refining previously available MC tests. The proposed modification helps reduce the risk of type-I errors, and it is shown to improve the test’s discriminating power. The reliability of the proposed methodology is examined in an idealized setting for a cluster of harmonic oscillators immersed in red noise. Furthermore, the common method of data compression into a few leading principal components, prior to M-SSA, is reexamined, and its possibly negative effects are discussed. Finally, the generalized Procrustes test is applied to the analysis of interannual variability in the North Atlantic’s sea surface temperature and sea level pressure fields. The results of this analysis provide further evidence for shared mechanisms of variability between the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Oscillation in the interannual frequency band.
Disney meets Darwin-the evolution of funny animated figures

In this paper I discuss an approach to the generation of entertaining animated motion, using a genetic algorithm. Genetic algorithms have been used successfully to optimize the physical behaviors of articulated stick figures and other animated creatures for goal-directed behavior. But an emphasis has not been put on the "optimization of expressivity", whereby an animator inserts him/herself into the optimizing loop to aesthetically influence the evolution of motion behavior in such figures. A technique for bringing both automatic and interactive evolution together into one tool is discussed as a means to bring evolutionary tools closer to the concerns of the character animator, who may be just as interested in developing amusing behaviors in a world of "Cartoon Laws", as in simulating realistic animals in a world of Newtonian physics. >
Identification of Whole Mitochondrial Genomes from Venezuela and Implications on Regional Phylogenies in South America

Recent studies have expanded and refined the founding haplogroups of the Americas using whole mitochondrial (mtDNA) genome analysis. In addition to pan-American lineages, specific variants have been identified in a number of studies that show higher frequencies in restricted geographical areas. To further characterize Native American maternal lineages and specifically examine local patterns within South America, we analyzed 12 maternally unrelated Yekuana whole mtDNA genomes from one village (Sharamana) that include the four major Native American haplogroups A2, B2, C1, and D1. Based on our results, we propose a reconfiguration of one subhaplogroup A2 (A2aa) that is specific to South America and identify other singleton branches across the four haplogroups. Furthermore, we show nucleotide diversity values that increase from north to south for haplogroups C1 and D1. The results from our work add to the growing mitogenomic data that highlight local phylogenies and support the rapid genetic differentiation of South American populations, which has been correlated with the linguistic diversity in the region by previous studies.
Minimal volume entropy for graphs

Among the normalized metrics on a graph, we show the existence and the uniqueness of an entropy-minimizing metric, and give explicit formulas for the minimal volume entropy and the metric realizing it. Parmi les distances normalisees sur un graphe, nous montrons l'existence et l'unicite d'une distance qui minimise l'entropie, et nous donnons des formules explicites pour l'entropie volumique minimale et la distance qui la realise.
Lithographic performance of recent DUV photoresists

Commercially available photoresists from the major photoresist vendors are investigated using a PAS 5500/300 wafer stepper, a 31.1 mm diameter field size high throughput wafer stepper with variable NA capability up to 0.63. The critical dimension (CD) investigated is 0.25 micrometers and lower for dense and isolated lines and 0.25 micrometers for dense contact holes. The photoresist process performance is quantified by measuring exposure-defocus windows for a specific resolution using a CD SEM. Photoresists that are comparable with or better than APEX-E with RTC top coat, which is the current base line process for lines and spaces imaging performance, are Clariant AZ-DX1300 and Shin Etsu SEPR-4103PB50. Most recent photoresists have much improved delay performance when compared to APEX without top coat. Improvement, when an organic BARC is applied, depends on the actual photoresist characteristics. The optimal photoresist found for 0.25 micrometers contact holes is TOK DP015 C. This process operates at optimal conditions.
An Analysis of the Grounded Theory Method and the Concept of Culture

Researchers increasingly include multicultural respondents in qualitative research studies. The grounded theory method, a currently popular qualitative methodology, seeks to interpret data for theory development. However, analysis of respondents from a culture(s) significantly different from the researcher's culture requires special attention to methodological issues. Requirements for conducting a grounded theory analysis with respondents from varying cultural orientations include personal or professional experience in the respondent's culture, professional literature of the respondent's culture around the phenomenon of interest, data analysis conducted in the language of the respondents, and a constant comparison of emerging concepts from the cultural perspective of the respondents. Only by attending to the cultures of the respondents and of the researchers can the social sciences create sufficiently rich inductively derived grounded theory.
Creative and Stylistic Devices Employed by Children During a Storybook Narrative Task: A Cross-Cultural Study

Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of culture on the creative and stylistic features children employ when producing narratives based on wordless picture books. Method Participants included 60 first- and second-grade African American, Latino American, and Caucasian children. A subset of narratives based on wordless picture books collected as part of a larger study was coded and analyzed for the following creative and stylistic conventions: organizational style (topic centered, linear, cyclical), dialogue (direct, indirect), reference to character relationships (nature, naming, conduct), embellishment (fantasy, suspense, conflict), and paralinguistic devices (expressive sounds, exclamatory utterances). Results Many similarities and differences between ethnic groups were found. No significant differences were found between ethnic groups in organizational style or use of paralinguistic devices. African American children included more fantasy in their stories, Latino children named th...
The accumulation of alkaline phosphatase in developing chick muscle

Abstract 1. 1. Alkaline phosphatase activity of chick leg muscle homogenates have been determined from the 10th through the 35th day of embryonic and post-embryonic development. 2. 2. The instantaneous growth constant of alkaline phosphatase ( k = 0.508) from the 12th to the 16th day of development is markedly lower than that of muscle collagen and actomyosin. The differences in accumulation pattern of these proteins is discussed. 3. 3. Although the growth constants of alkaline phosphatase and deoxyribonucleic acid ( k = 0.415) differ, a change of slope of the growth curve occurs simultaneously at 16 days in both. This similarity is discussed.
Social network analysis with respondent-driven sampling data: A study of racial integration on campus

This paper presents respondent-driven sampling (RDS) as a viable method of sampling and analyzing social networks with survey data. RDS is a network based sampling and analysis method that provides a middle ground compliment to ego-centric and saturated methods of social network analysis. The method provides survey data, similar to ego-centric approaches, on individuals who are connected by behaviorally documented ties, allowing for macro-level analysis of network structure, similar to that supported by saturated approaches. Using racial interaction of university undergraduates as an empirical example, the paper examines whether and to what extent racial diversity at the institutional level is reflected as racial integration at the interpersonal level by testing hypotheses regarding the quantity and quality of cross-race friendships. The primary goal of this article, however, is to introduce RDS to the network community and to stimulate further research toward the goal of expanding the analytical capacity of RDS. Advantages, limitations, and areas for future research to network analysis using RDS are discussed.
Consequences of attempts to mask urine drug screens.

Drug testing is common in the home, workplace, and schools and in the justice system. The consequences of a positive test result can range from parental discipline to incarceration. Given the severity of these consequences and the addictive properties of drugs of abuse, it is not surprising that many people who use drugs try to evade detection. There are several common ways to defeat urine drug tests. One of the oldest ways is to attempt to make the urine dilute through either increased fluid intake or taking diuretics. Although there are no reports of serious toxicity from diuretic use, there are reports of acute water intoxication from trying to beat a drug test, which has effects ranging from asymptomatic hyponatremia to fatal cerebral edema. 1,2
A reply to marcel

According to the AIR theory, which I endorse, a neural state is a conscious experi-ence when and only when it is a representation in an intermediate-level, perceptualprocessing system that has been affected in an appropriate way by mechanism ofattention. This is not intended as a revolutionary idea. Appeals to attention and tointermediate level representations both have a prominent place in recent work onconsciousness, though they are not always brought together into a single account.As stated, however, the AIR theory is underspeciﬁed. Most obviously, it stands inneed of a theory of attention, a theory of what ways of attentionally affecting interme-diate representations count as appropriate. It is best construed as a placeholder thatpoints to where I anticipate we will uncover a fully elaborated theory of how physicalsystems give rise to consciousness. Marcel (this issue) sees little promise in thisstarting place and asks a number of challenging questions. These questions offer awelcome opportunity to clarify and strengthen my case.1. The Scope of AIRFirst, Marcel asks what the AIR theory is a theory of. He asks whether it is atheory about functional mechanisms, neurophysiology, content, epistemology, orphenomenology. It is easy to see how this uncertainty might arise, for the AIR theoryspeaks to each of these. It is a theory of the conditions under which physical statesbecome phenomenal states (i.e., states that feel like something). According to thattheory, physical states become phenomenal in virtue of playing a certain functionalrole. That role can be described at a level where neuronal structures and processescoincide with functional kinds that have been identiﬁed using vocabulary at homein computational psychology. Intermediate levels can be identiﬁed with anatomicalregions and attention is increasingly elucidated in terms of processes that can beobserved in populations of neurons. The notion of an intermediate level is intimatelytied to content: intermediate levels are those whose contents are at an intermediatelevel of abstraction between the most abstract and least abstract deliverances of thesenses. Because these states have content, we can always talk of the information or,more loosely, the knowledge they encode. It is, therefore, difﬁcult to decide between
ION-THRUSTER PLUME MODELING FOR BACKFLOW CONTAMINATION

An axisymmetric model of the plume and backflow contamination from an ion-thruster plume is presented. Components included are primary beam ions, neutral propellant efflux, thermal propellant ions created mainly by charge-exchange collisions between primary beam ions and neutral propellant, nonpropellant efflux sputtered from thruster components, and neutralizing electrons. The plasma hybrid particle-in-cell technique is applied to both propellant charge-exchange ions and nonpropellant efflux ions produced within the beam and to their transport out of the beam to the regions surrounding a model spacecraft. Simulation results for plume properties such as ion density, beam potential, and ion flow angle are compared with experimental data. It is shown that the charge-exchange ions formed in the beam are accelerated outward by strong radial beam electric fields and form two distinct energy populations—one with a significant backstreaming velocity component.
Improving the accuracy of NMR structures of DNA by means of a database potential of mean force describing base-base positional interactions.

NMR structure determination of nucleic acids presents an intrinsically difficult problem since the density of short interproton distance contacts is relatively low and limited to adjacent base pairs. Although residual dipolar couplings provide orientational information that is clearly helpful, they do not provide translational information of either a short-range (with the exception of proton−proton dipolar couplings) or long-range nature. As a consequence, the description of the nonbonded contacts has a major impact on the structures of nucleic acids generated from NMR data. In this paper, we describe the derivation of a potential of mean force derived from all high-resolution (2 A or better) DNA crystal structures available in the Nucleic Acid Database (NDB) as of May 2000 that provides a statistical description, in simple geometric terms, of the relative positions of pairs of neighboring bases (both intra- and interstrand) in Cartesian space. The purpose of this pseudopotential, which we term a DELPHIC ...
Scopolamine patch reduces postoperative emesis in paediatric patients following strabismus surgery

Scopolamine patch was evaluated for the prevention of post-operative emesis in 50 children undergoing strabismus surgery. All subjects were premeditated, with none receiving narcotic premedicants. Anaesthesia included controlled ventilation with the use of muscle relaxants, atropine, and halothane. Before operation, the subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a treatment group received a scopolamine patch at a dose of either 0.75 mg or 0.375 mg, and a control group received no patch. Both the incidence and frequency of vomiting in the scopolamine-treated group were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than in the control group.
Validation of RNA interference in western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) adults

BACKGROUND: RNA interference (RNAi) is commonly used in insect functional genomics studies and usually involves direct injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Only a few studies have involved exposure to dsRNAs through feeding. For western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) larvae, ingestion of dsRNA designed from the housekeeping gene, vacuolar ATPase (vATPase) triggers RNAi causing growth inhibition and mortality; however, the effect of dsRNA feeding on adults has not been examined. In this research, WCR adults were fed with vATPase-dsRNA-treated artificial diet containing a cucurbitacin bait, which is a proven feeding stimulant for chrysomelid beetles of the subtribe Diabroticina to which rootworms belong. RESULTS: Real-time PCR confirmed suppression of vATPase expression and western blot analysis indicated reduced signal of a protein that cross-reacted with a vATPase polyclonal antiserum in WCR adults exposed to artificial diet treated with dsRNA and cucurbitacin bait. Continuous feeding on cucurbitacin and dsRNA-treated artificial diet resulted in more than 95% adult mortality within 2 weeks while mortality in control treatments never exceeded 20%. CONCLUSIONS: This research clearly demonstrates the effect of RNAi on WCR adults that have been exposed to dsRNA by feeding and establishes a tool to screen dsRNAs of potential target genes in adults. This technique may serve as an alternative to target screening of larvae which are difficult to maintain on artificial diets. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Myelodysplastic syndrome presenting as acquired ichthyosis

Ichthyosis is a cutaneous keratinization disorder that can either be congenital or acquired. Acquired ichthyosis has been reported in association with a variety of neoplastic, autoimmune, and infectious diseases. We report the case of a 68-year-old woman who presented with generalized ichthyosis as the first manifestation of myelodysplastic syndrome. This is the first fully described case of such an association in the English literature.
A phosphatidylinositol kinase in rat kidney cortex.

Abstract A phosphatidylinositol kinase present in rat kidney cortex homogenates has been found to catalyze the reaction: ATP + phosphatidylinositol → diphosphoinositide + ADP. Conditions have been established whereby it can be demonstrated that phosphatidylinositol increases the incorporation of [γ −32 P]ATP into diphosphoinositide. The simultaneous production of TPI was also observed. A simple, rapid and quantitative method for the assay of this enzyme has been developed. Using Folch's DPI fraction as a carrier during the extraction of the lipids from the reaction mixture, 32 P-labeled DPI and TPI were identified when the lipid extract was chromatographed on silicic acid-impregnated glass fiber paper. The enzyme required Mg ++ for maximum activity and was inhibited by Ca ++ . A nonionic detergent, Cutscum, markedly stimulated the reaction. Excess phosphatidylinositol caused an inhibition of the enzyme activity. Dithiothreitol (1 m m ) and 2-mercaptoethanol (1 m m ) were found to inhibit the formation of both DPI and TPI; p -chloromercuribenzoate (0.1 m m ) was also strongly inhibitory.
Fragile X gene expansions are not associated with dementia

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) premutation size expansions in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other cognitive disorders compared with control subjects. FMR1 genetic screening was completed in patients being seen in a neurobehavioral or AD clinics. Appropriate controls were also collected. A second cohort was a community based, autopsy confirmed, sample of individuals with normal cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment, or AD. There was not an increased frequency of FMR1 expansions in individuals with cognitive disorders, including AD, compared with control subjects.