cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Global strings and superfluid vortices.

We explain the relationship between global strings of the Abelian Higgs model and vortices in a superfluid. We show that the nonrelativistic Magnus force law for vortices can be derived from global-string dynamics, but only when an external background field has a special Lorentz-noninvariant configuration ${\mathrm{H}}^{\mathrm{ijk}}$\ensuremath{\propto}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}^{\mathrm{ijk}}$. We present a self-consistent classical theory for relativistic Higgs vortices in a superfluid, and show that superfluid vortices can be described as a system of spinning global strings.
The Nature and Social Uses of the Internet: A Qualitative Investigation.

Despite the rapid growth of the Internet population, very little is known about consumers' perceptions and uses of this new medium. As a result, much uncertainty remains regarding the nature of marketing activities most appropriate on the Internet. The present paper proposes to clarify these issues on the basis of in-depth interviews of Internet users. Findings highlight four main descriptions of the Internet which are associated with different social uses. Implications of these findings for both marketing practitioners and consumer researchers are outlined.
Cellulose Degradation by Ruminal Microorganisms

The rumen is a highly developed digestive organ in which feed material, particularly plant fiber, is efficiently digested by a complex microbial fermentation. Cellulose, the major component of plan...
Comparison of snowpack and winter wet-deposition chemistry in the Rocky Mountains, USA: implications for winter dry deposition

Depth-integrated snowpack chemistrywas measured just prior to maximum snowpack depth during the winters of 1992–1999 at 12 sites co-located with National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trend Network (NADP/ NTN) sites in the central and southern RockyMountains, USA. Winter volume-weighted mean wet-deposition concentrations were calculated for the NADP/NTN sites, and the data were compared to snowpack concentrations using the paired t-test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. No statisticallysignificant differences were indicated in concentrations of SO4� or NO3 (p > 0:1). Small, but statisticallysignificant differences ( pp0:03) were indicated for all other solutes analyzed. Differences were largest for Ca 2+ concentrations, which on average were 2.3meq l � 1 (43%) higher in the snowpack than in winter NADP/NTN samples. Eolian carbonate dust appeared to influence snowpack chemistrythrough both wet and drydeposition, and the effect increased from north to south. Drydeposition of eolian carbonates was estimated to have neutralized an average of 6.9meq l � 1 and a maximum of 12meq l � 1 of snowpack acidityat the southernmost sites. The good agreement between snowpack and winter NADP/NTN SO 4� and NO3 concentrations indicates that for those solutes the two data sets can be combined to increase data densityin highelevation areas, where few NADP/NTN sites exist. This combination of data sets will allow for better estimates of atmospheric deposition of SO4� and NO3 across the RockyMountain region. Published byElsevier Science Ltd.
Precise irrigation scheduling for turfgrass using a subsurface electromagnetic soil moisture sensor

Abstract Instrumented weather stations are often used for evapotranspiration (ET) determination in order to estimate crop water use for irrigation scheduling. A direct estimate of crop water use by subsurface measurements of soil water content has been limited by the high cost of reliable soil moisture sensors. Recent advances in electromagnetic (EM) sensor technology have made automated irrigation scheduling a reality using state-of-the-art soil moisture sensing. Our objectives were: (i) to compare irrigation scheduling in turfgrass based on weather station ET estimates with those from a novel time domain transmission (TDT) soil moisture sensor and (ii) to apply a computer-based numerical model to simulate volumetric soil water content (θ) dynamics at the burial depth of the sensor and any drainage occurring below the turfgrass rooting depth. The TDT sensor was designed to directly connect to a custom irrigation controller or to interface a small display/control box with a conventional irrigation timer where irrigation scheduling is based on a threshold water content (θThresh). The sensor circuitry controlled the irrigation schedule by allowing the preprogrammed schedule to operate whenever the sensor-estimated water content (θSensor) dropped below θThresh. The TDT sensor was installed under Kentucky bluegrass with a nearby weather station providing estimates of ET for comparison over a period of approximately 7 weeks. The HYDRUS-2D numerical simulation model was used for predicting water content (θSim) in the soil profile. The model input requirements include the flow domain geometry and boundary conditions, along with estimates of evaporation, transpiration, precipitation, irrigation and root water uptake data. Relative to ET-based irrigation recommendations, the TDT system applied approximately 16% less water when irrigating with a sprinkler having a relative application depth of 0.80 at the position of the sensor (i.e. fraction of the design application rate applied at the sensor). Relative to a fixed irrigation rate of 50 mm week−1, the TDT system applied approximately 53% less water. Modeling results of the TDT sensor control indicated that no detectable water drained below the estimated 30 cm rooting depth of turfgrass when uncontrolled application events (e.g. rainfall) were ignored. Performance of the TDT system is dependent on the sensor burial depth and θThresh. The θThresh value is soil-type dependent and should be established via consideration of θ at field capacity and permanent wilting point. The potential water savings with the TDT system is not only important to water conservation, but can save irrigators an estimated US$ 5.00–100.00 per month based on average water prices in the US and a 1000 m2 irrigated turfgrass plot.
The Omentum is a Site of Protective IgM Production During Intracellular Bacterial Infection

Infection of mice with the bacterium Ehrlichia muris elicits a protective T cell-independent (TI) IgM response mediated primarily by a population of CD11c-expressing plasmablasts in the spleen. Although splenic marginal zone (MZ) B cells are considered to be important for TI responses to blood-borne pathogens, MZ B cells were not responsible for generating plasmablasts in response to Ehrlichia muris. Moreover, antigen-specific serum IgM was decreased only modestly in splenectomized mice and in mice that lacked spleen, lymph nodes, and Peyer's patches (SLP mice). Both splenectomized and SLP mice were protected against lethal ehrlichial challenge infection. Moreover, we found a high frequency of Ehrlichia-specific plasmablasts in the omentum of both conventional and SLP mice. Omental plasmablasts elicited during Ehrlichia infection lacked expression of CD138 but expressed CD11c in a manner similar to that of their splenic counterparts. Selective ablation of CD11c-expressing B cells nearly eliminated the omental Ehrlichia-specific plasmablasts and reduced antigen-specific serum IgM, identifying the omental B cells as a source of IgM production in the SLP mice. Generation of the omental plasmablasts was route dependent, as they were detected following peritoneal infection but not following intravenous infection. Our data identify the omentum as an important auxiliary site of IgM production during intracellular bacterial infection.
Into the deep: a phylogenetic approach to the bivalve subclass Protobranchia.

A molecular phylogeny of Protobranchia, the subclass of bivalve mollusks sister to the remaining Bivalvia, has long proven elusive, because many constituent lineages are deep-sea endemics, which creates methodological challenges for collecting and preserving genetic material. We obtained 74 representatives of all 12 extant protobranch families and investigated the internal phylogeny of this group using sequence data from five molecular loci (16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, and histone H3). Model-based and dynamic homology parsimony approaches to phylogenetic reconstruction unanimously supported four major clades of Protobranchia, irrespective of treatment of hypervariable regions in the nuclear ribosomal genes 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA. These four clades correspond to the superfamilies Nuculoidea (excluding Sareptidae), Nuculanoidea (including Sareptidae), Solemyoidea, and Manzanelloidea. Salient aspects of the phylogeny include (1) support for the placement of the family Sareptidae with Nuculanoidea; (2) the non-monophyly of the order Solemyida (Solemyidae + Nucinellidae); (3) and the non-monophyly of most nuculoid and nuculanoid genera and families. In light of this first family-level phylogeny of Protobranchia, we present a revised classification of the group. Estimation of divergence times in concert with analyses of diversification rates demonstrate the signature of the end-Permian mass extinction in the phylogeny of extant protobranchs.
Effect of Chip and Pad Geometry on Solder Joint Formation in SMT

An analytical model of solder joint formation during a surface mount reflow process is developed for two-dimensional fillets whose flow may be restricted due to “finite” metallizations on a leadless component and the printed circuit board. Although these height and length constraints on the fillet geometry may result in obtuse contact angles, the solution is obtained in the form of an explicit integral, similar to that previously derived by the authors for the case of acute contact angles. This solution may also be recast into the form of elliptic integrals of the first and second kinds, thereby permitting one to evaluate the fillet geometry using mathematical tables or special function software, if desired, rather than resorting to a computer-based numerical quadrature. In addition an approximate zero-gravity solution is given by means of simple closed-form expressions relating the height, length, contact angles, and cross-sectional area of the fillet. Numerical results generated by implementing the “exact” integral solution for the joint profile are given in the form of dimensionless plots, relating fillet geometry to the solder properties (surface tension and density), amount of solder, chip height, and pad length. Also presented in dimensionless form are the approximate results from the zero-gravity model, which are independent of solder properties, yet are of sufficient accuracy for “small” joints. Because of their dimensionless nature, the results of the present paper may be of maximum utility to process engineers aiming to achieve desired joint geometries (e.g., to maximize fatigue life or to eliminate bridging problems), or to board designers responsible for selecting efficient footprint patterns to maximize board density. Models of solder joint formation, such as the one presented here, may be of most value when used in conjunction with stress analysis packages (e.g., finite element programs) and appropriate fatigue models. In this way an integrated approach to the design of solder joints and circuit boards may be taken, resulting in improved product reliability and performance.
Mobilization and activation of a signaling competent alpha6beta4integrin underlies its contribution to carcinoma progression.

This review examines the hypothesis that the function of the α 6β 4 integrin is altered substantially as normal epithelia undergo malignant transformation and progress to invasive carcinoma and that the functions of this integrin contribute to the behavior of aggressive carcinoma cells. Specifically, α 6β 4 functions primarily as an adhesion receptor in normal epithelia, often as a component of hemidesmosomes and associated with intermediate filaments. Factors in the host-tumor microenvironment have the potential to mobilize α 6β 4 from hemidesmosomes and promote its association with F-actin in lamellae and filopodia, a process that is mediated by PKC-dependent phosphorylation of the β 4 cytoplasmic domain. Importantly, this altered localization of α 6β 4 appears to be coupled to an activation of its signaling potential, which may occur through its association with growth factor receptors or lipid rafts, possibilities that are not mutually exclusive. The primal signaling event triggered by α 6β 4 appears to be activation of PI3-K and this activation has profound consequences on the migration, invasion and survival of carcinoma cells. Arguably, the ability of α 6β 4 to stimulate the PI3-K-dependent translation of VEGF and possibly other growth factors may be the most significant contribution of this integrin to carcinoma because of the potential autocrine and paracrine effects of these factors.
VIPhyb, an Antagonist of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Receptor, Enhances Cellular Antiviral Immunity in Murine Cytomegalovirus Infected Mice

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide hormone that suppresses Th1-mediated cellular immunity. We previously reported that VIP-knockout (VIP-KO) mice have enhanced cellular immune responses and increased survival following murine cytomegalovirus (mCMV) infection in C57BL/6 mice. In this study, we tested whether treatment with a VIP receptor antagonistic peptide protects C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice from mCMV-infection. One week of daily subcutaneous injections of VIPhyb was non-toxic and did not alter frequencies of immune cell subsets in non-infected mice. VIPhyb administration to mCMV-infected C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice markedly enhanced survival, viral clearance, and reduced liver and lung pathology compared with saline-treated controls. The numbers of effector/memory CD8+ T-cells and mature NK cells were increased in VIPhyb-treated mice compared with PBS-treated groups. Pharmacological blockade of VIP-receptor binding or genetic blockade of VIP-signaling prevented the up-regulation of PD-L1 and PD-1 expression on DC and activated CD8+ T-cells, respectively, in mCMV-infected mice, and enhanced CD80, CD86, and MHC-II expression on conventional and plasmacytoid DC. VIPhyb-treatment increased type-I IFN synthesis, numbers of IFN-γ- and TNF-α-expressing NK cells and T-cells, and the numbers of mCMV-M45 epitope-peptide-MHC-I tetramer CD8+ T-cells following mCMV infection. VIP-treatment lowered the percentage of Treg cells in spleens compared with PBS-treated WT mice following mCMV infection, while significantly decreasing levels of serum VEGF induced by mCMV-infection. The mice in all treated groups exhibited similar levels of anti-mCMV antibody titers. Short-term administration of a VIP-receptor antagonist represents a novel approach to enhance innate and adaptive cellular immunity in a murine model of CMV infection.
27-Hydroxycholesterol: production rates in normal human subjects

We attempted to quantitate production of bile acid via the 27-hydroxylation pathway in six human subjects. After bolus intravenous injection of known amounts of [24-14C]cholic acid and [24-14C]chenodeoxycholic acid, each subject underwent a constant intravenous infusion of a mixture of [22, 23-3H]-27-hydroxycholesterol and [2H]-27-hydroxycholesterol for 6;-10 h. Production rate of 27-hydroxycholesterol was calculated from the infusion rate of [2H]-27-hydroxycholesterol and the serum ratio of deuterated/protium 27-hydroxycholesterol, which reached a plateau level by 4 h of infusion. Conversion of 27-hydroxycholesterol to cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids was determined from the 3H/14C ratio of these two bile acids in bile samples obtained the day after infusion. In five of the six subjects, independent measurement of bile acid synthesis by fecal acidic sterol output was available from previous studies. Endogenous production of 27-hydroxycholesterol averaged 17.6 mg/day and ranged from 5.0 to 28.2 mg/day, which amounted to 8.7% (range 3.0;-17.9%) of total bile acid synthesis. On average 66% of infused 27-hydroxycholesterol was converted to bile acid, of which 72.6% was chenodeoxycholic acid. These data suggest that relatively little bile acid synthesis takes place via the 27-hydroxylation pathway in healthy humans. Nevertheless, even this amount, occurring predominantly in vascular endothelium and macrophages, could represent an important means for removal of cholesterol deposited in endothelium.
Accuracy and Coherence: Prospects for an Alethic Epistemology of Partial Belief

Traditional epistemology is both dogmatic and alethic. It is dogmatic in the sense that it takes the fundamental doxastic attitude to be full belief, the state in which a person categorically accepts some proposition as true. It is alethic in the sense that it evaluates such categorical beliefs on the basis of what William James calls the ‘two great commandments’ of epistemology: Believe the truth! Avoid error! Other central concepts of dogmatic epistemology – knowledge, justification, reliability, sensitivity, and so on – are understood in terms of their relationships to this ultimate standard of truth or accuracy. Some epistemologists, inspired by Bayesian approaches in decision theory and statistics, have sought to replace the dogmatic model with a probabilistic one in which partial beliefs, or credences, play the leading role. A person’s credence in a proposition X is her level of confidence in its truth. This corresponds, roughly, to the degree to which she is disposed to presuppose X in her theoretical and practical reasoning. Credences are inherently gradational: the strength of a partial belief in X can range from certainty of truth, through maximal uncertainty (in which X and its negation ∼X are believed equally strongly), to complete certainty of falsehood. These variations in confidence are warranted by differing states of evidence, and they rationalize different choices among options whose outcomes depend on X . It is a central normative doctrine of probabilistic epistemology that rational credences should obey the laws of probability. In the idealized case where a believer has a numerically precise credence b(X) for every proposition X in some Boolean algebra of propositions,1 these laws are as follows:
Reliability Analysis of RC Beams Exposed to Fire

AbstractA procedure for conducting reliability analysis of RC beams subjected to a fire load is presented. This involves identifying relevant load combinations, specifying critical load and resistance random variables, and establishing a high-temperature performance model for beam capacity. Based on the procedure, an initial reliability analysis is conducted using currently available data. Significant load random variables are taken to be dead load, sustained live load, and fire temperature. Resistance is in terms of moment capacity, with random variables taken as steel yield strength, concrete compressive strength, placement of reinforcement, beam width, and thermal diffusivity. A semiempirical model is used to estimate beam moment capacity as a function of fire exposure time, which is calibrated to experimental data available in the literature. The effect of various beam parameters was considered, including cover, beam width, aggregate type, compressive strength, dead to live load ratio, reinforcement r...
Fuzzy handwriting description language:: FOHDEL

Abstract In this paper we present a new fuzzy language – FOHDEL – for the syntactic description of handwritten symbols. The presented language incorporates the fuzzy logic techniques to describe the syntactic relations of the semantic features extracted from a symbol pattern. A FOHDEL rule-base represents the compact feature information extracted from a small number of character prototypes and covers various handwriting styles. After presenting the theoretical basis of the fuzzy formalism, the structure of the proposed language is illustrated with some examples. An automatic FOHDEL rule generation strategy is briefly discussed.
Relationship between Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Exposure to Low-Level Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Children with Asthma on Inhaled Corticosteroids

Objectives. The relationship between exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and asthma severity or control is inconsistent. Active smoking lowers FeNO, but the relationship between passive smoking and FeNO is less clear. Children may be exposed to low-level environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or thirdhand smoke, even if parents avoid smoking in the presence of their children. Our hypothesis was that FeNO is lower in children with asthma exposed to low-level ETS when compared with those who are not exposed. Methods. Children with stable asthma, 8–18 years of age, on low- or medium-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) were enrolled. Spirometry, Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), FeNO, exhaled breath condensate pH (EBC pH), and EBC ammonia were compared between children with and without ETS exposure as determined by urinary cotinine. Results. Thirty-three subjects were enrolled, of which 10 (30%) had urinary cotinine levels ≥1 ng/ml. There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, sex, BMI percentile,...
Herpes Simplex Pneumonia in an Immunocompetent Patient With Progression to Organizing Pneumonia

Background. Organizing pneumonia is an uncommon diffuse interstitial lung disease that affects the terminal and respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli. Most cases are idiopathic, but some are associated with infections. We present an uncommon case of organizing pneumonia associated with herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). Case. A 39-year-old man with hypertension presented with dyspnea, fever, and productive cough for 2 weeks. He was treated for 5 days for acute bronchitis as an outpatient with no improvement. His examination revealed mild respiratory distress, O2 saturation 92% on room air, and right sided crackles. Labs included a white blood cell count of 19 300/µL. His chest x-ray showed bilateral infiltrates greater on the right. Bronchoalveolar lavage was positive for HSV-1; transbronchial biopsies showed focal pneumonitis with plentiful intra-alveolar macrophages. His respiratory status progressively deteriorated, and he was intubated for mechanical ventilation. He received 10 days of intravenous (IV) antibiotics and 14 days of IV acyclovir. He was readmitted 10 days later with worsening symptoms and was intubated for respiratory failure. His CT chest showed diffuse, patchy consolidation of both lungs, right more than left. Open lung biopsy showed extensive organizing pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage, intra-alveolar macrophages, and pleural fibrosis; he was treated with IV corticosteroids. He was extubated after 10 days; within 2 weeks his chest x-ray was markedly improved. Discussion. Organizing pneumonia is usually idiopathic; infection is one of the secondary causes. To our knowledge this is only the second reported case associated with HSV. This association may have important pathogenic and therapeutic implications.
Fragmentation Pathways in a Series of CH3COX Molecules in the Strong Field Regime

In intense laser fields, fragment ions can be produced from CH3COX (X = CH3, CF3, and C6H5) either by absorption and dissociation followed by ionization (ADI) or absorption and ionization followed by dissociation (AID). Electronic structure calculations were carried out using Hartree−Fock, density functional, and correlated levels of theory to understand the possible fragmentation pathways. The calculated ionization potentials are in very good agreement with the available experimental data. For acetone, the acetyl ion is predicted to be the most preferred dissociation product and can be produced by either mechanism. The very low C−CF3 bond energy in the parent ion of trifluoroacetone provides a clear reason for the absence of CF3COCH3+ and CF3CO+ ion peaks from the mass spectrum of CF3COCH3 after intense laser excitation and indicates that fragmentation occurs by AID. For acetophenone, both CH3CO+ and C6H5CO+ are stable fragments, with the latter being produced by an AID mechanism.
The Biological Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation: A Critical Review and Recommendations

SummaryExposure of the general public and in particular certain occupational groups to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) is ubiquitous and of growing concern. No clear and widely accepted understanding of the biological effects and health implications of such RFR exposure has emerged. This paper reviews the data available, including reports of RFR effects on single cells or cell components, on genetic composition or development, on developed organs, tissues, or cell systems, and on integrative and regulatory biological systems. Reports of RFR effects on the immunological system, with consideration of the influence of neuroendocrine responses, are critically reviewed in greater detail to illustrate important points regarding data acquisition and assessment, and understanding and application of the RFR bioeffects literature in general. Factors affecting RFR bioeffects research are reviewed, and recommendations for future studies are provided.
Mechanisms of doxorubicin resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma, one of the most common solid tumors worldwide, is poorly responsive to available chemotherapeutic approaches. While systemic chemotherapy is of limited benefit, intra-arterial delivery of doxorubicin to the tumor frequently produces tumor shrinkage. Its utility is limited, in part, by the frequent emergence of doxorubicin resistance. The mechanisms of this resistance include increased expression of multidrug resistance efflux pumps, alterations of the drug target, topoisomerase, and modulation of programmed cell death pathways. Many of these effects result from changes in miRNA expression and are particularly prominent in tumor cells with a stem cell phenotype. This review will summarize the current knowledge on the mechanisms of doxorubicin resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma and the potential for approaches toward therapeutic chemosensitization.
Reproductive Biology of Telenomus californicus Ashmead, an Egg Parasite of the Douglas-fir Tussock Moth: Laboratory Studies

We describe effects of mating, female age, photoperiod, host storage temperature, and host availability on reproduction of Telenomus californicus Ashmead (Hym.: Scelionidae). Reproduction is arrhenotokous. Proportion of female progeny increases as the mating/maturation period without hosts is lengthened to 20 days. When successive batches of hosts are given to females, the total number of progeny and the proportion of females are greatest in the first batch. Females denied hosts for 4 weeks delayed oviposition until several weeks after hosts were provided; photoperiod did not influence their becoming reproductive. Development at 21°C takes 1–3 months; larval or pupal diapause were not observed. Reproduction is good in newly laid host eggs and in eggs stored at 5°C, but is poor in eggs killed by freezing.
Effect of cortisone on survival of morphine treated guinea pigs under decompression hypoxia.

SummaryMortality of 37% was induced in guinea pigs under decompression to a simulated altitude of 25.000 feet for 6 hours. Morphine sulfate increased mortality to 50%. and 75% if administered at dose of 2.5 mg or 5 mg 100 g body weight respectively. Prior treatment with cortisone for 3 days reduced mortality to 22% and 29% respectively. Multiple injections with ACTH reduced mortality to 19%.
Crystal structure of BaGe [Ge3 O9] and its relation to benitoite

BaGe[Ge3O9] is trigonal, space group P3, with lattice constants a = 11.61, c = 4.74 A, and Z = 3. The structure was established by three-dimensional Patterson and electron density syntheses. Three-dimensional least-squares refinement resulted in a final R value of 6.8 percent (observed data only). The previously proposed structural relationship of this compound with benitoite, BaTiSi3O9, has been confirmed. The structure can be considered as composed of Ge3O9 rings, in which the Ge is tetrahedrally coordinated, linked through octahedrally coordinated Ge atoms to form a three-dimensional Ge-O network. All Ge polyhedra are linked by corner sharing. The Ba ions occupy positions in channels of the network.
Eliminating Coagulum Formation With Charge Delivery During Radiofrequency Ablation: Negative May Be a Positive!∗

Since its introduction into clinical practice in the 1980s, radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation has seen a meteoric rise in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias owing to its safety and efficacy profile and ability to precisely target arrhythmogenic tissue. Driven by seminal observations by Haines
A Server-Based Post Production System

The use of disks in video is spreading rapidly beyond individual machines and into servers. Several distinct application areas can be identified, each with their particular demands for bandwidth and access, which constitute major differences in performance - that of post-production being the most demanding. The design fundamentals for this server and configuration of the whole post-production system are reviewed, along with its potential benefits in a practical system.
Collaborative study of a mineral oil method for the extraction of light filth from ground paprika

An official first action method for the extraction of light filth from spices, 44.A03--44.A05, was modified for the analyses of ground paprika. The sample is extracted with isopropanol and light filth is isolated from 40% isopropanol with mineral oil. Eight collaborators analyzed 4 paprika samples, 2 by the official method and 2 by the proposed method. Average recoveries of added elytral squares were 97 and 66%, respectively, for the proposed and official methods. Recoveries of added rodent hairs were 94 and 61%, respectively. The method has been adopted as official first action for the extraction of light filth from ground paprika.
Atriopeptin-induced increases in endothelial cell permeability are associated with elevated cGMP levels

To investigate the mechanism of nonrenal capillary hyperfiltration, we studied the effect of atriopeptin (AP) III and AP I on permeability and intracellular cyclic nucleotide levels in cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cell monolayers. Permeability to albumin was assessed by the albumin transfer rate across endothelial cell monolayers, following a 4-h incubation with atriopeptins. AP III (0.01, 0.1, and 1 microM) caused a concentration-dependent increase in the albumin transfer rate. AP III induced a threefold increase in intracellular guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) levels during the incubation period. A phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), enhanced the AP III-induced increase in permeability and cGMP accumulation by 16-fold at maximum. 8-Bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, a hydrolysis-resistant cGMP analogue, caused a slight but significant increase in permeability. In contrast, AP I, a weak agonist of the cGMP-coupled ANP receptor, did not elic...
The Oligocene bottleneck

The Oligocene epoch begins at 33.9 mya. Plate tectonic reconstructions demonstrate that, for the first time, the geography of the earth largely resembled that seen today. In particular, the Atlantic and Mediterranean basins had finally achieved a modern aspect (Figures 11.1 and 11.2). Discussions of anthropoid primate origins and dispersal (Chapter 12) center on these two ocean basins and sweepstakes or rafting events that cross these basins. During two episodes that straddled the Eocene/Oligocene transition, the world abruptly shifted from a warm to a cold phase. These two episodes lasted a total of 300,000 years. The cold phase that began after this shift has persisted ever since. Antarctica, which had previously been ice-free, except for some areas in the high interior mountains, acquired a permanent continental ice sheet. The Oligocene itself was an epoch of global aridity. So harsh were conditions that global sea level was drastically lowered, and signs of blowing aeolian dust are found in ocean sediment cores worldwide. Mammals have never recovered from the harshness of the Oligocene. For the first time since the beginning of the Cenozoic, the extinction rate of mammalian families exceeded their origination rate. At the beginning of the Oligocene, 95 families of mammals exist. These fall to 77 families by the end of the epoch. Mammal diversity was thus reduced by 19 percent in only 11 million years—a severe reduction from which the class has never recovered. In Europe, the mammal turnover during the Eocene/Oligocene transition was so marked that it was noted over a century ago by the paleontologist Hans Stehlin (1909), who labeled it " La Grande Coupure " (“The Big Cut”). There are also significant mammal extinctions during the Eocene/Oligocene boundary in Asia. Here the extinction event is labeled “The Mongolian Remodeling” (Meng & McKenna, 1998; Hartenberger, 1998).
2.206 – Phages as Tools for Functional Nanomaterials Development

Protein-based ‘bottom-up’ synthesis of nanoscale functional materials and devices is one of the most promising areas in the newly emerging field of nanotechnology. However, identifying active basic building blocks from biological examples is still a challenge because of their complex and encrypted sequence structure. Genetic engineering of phage viruses provides opportunities for building novel bio-nanomaterials by integrating biology, chemistry, physics, materials science, and electric engineering. By mimicking the evolutionary process in nature, phages can be used as an information-mining tool for identifying functional peptide (or protein) sequences that can specifically recognize desired materials at the molecular level. These recognition elements can be used to guide the design of unprecedented materials such as semiconductor and metallic materials. Moreover, phages are unique in their intrinsic ability to self-replicate within a cellular host and self-assemble into highly ordered two- and three-dimensional nanostructures. By combining these self-replicating and self-assembling functions, virus-based materials can be used to construct nanomaterials and devices with novel structure and function that could be useful in applications including energy, biosensors, electronics, and tissue-regenerating materials. In this chapter, we introduce the unique features of phages and recent accomplishments in the development of virus-based materials for use as tools to fabricate functional nanomaterials, and review the potential future applications of this emerging technology.
Automated Alignment of Mass Spectrometry Data Using Functional Geometry

A principled approach for automated alignment of LC-MS chromatograms is critical for reconciling observations across settings and devices, and for annotating large databases of chromatograms. While current algorithms rely on certain pre-processing steps, such as peak detection and matching, tasks that are often subjective and require human intervention, we present a simple and yet fully automated, computational technique for alignment of peaks/nulls in chromatograms. The basic idea is to view chromatograms as real-valued functions on a fixed interval, and derive a geometric, template-based alignment approach. The template is constructed as the sample mean of the given functions under an extended Fisher-Rao metric, and the individual functions are aligned to this mean using time-warping under the same metric. While the original form of the metric is complicated, a square-root slope function representation simplifies it to the \(\mathbb{L}^{2}\) metric, and makes the overall algorithm very efficient. We demonstrate these ideas using a number of alignment experiments, both pairwise and groupwise, and highlight the effectiveness of this automated procedure in spectral alignment.
Harold Cohen and AARON

Harold Cohen (1928–2016) was a computer art pioneer and the developer of AARON, one of the most creative AI programs in daily use. This memoriam, written by his son (and AI scientist) Paul, describes Harold Cohen's work and contributions to the AI and art communities.
The effects of Tai Chi on physical and psychosocial function among persons with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review.

Abstract Objectives Conduct a systematic review to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi on physical and psychosocial function among individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. Methods An electronic literature search of 12 databases using controlled vocabulary function and keywords from inception through August 2016. All Tai Chi intervention studies assessing physical and psychosocial function among persons with Multiple Sclerosis were included. Study quality was scored using an established tool examining 16 study elements (range = 0–32). Results A total of 91 articles were retrieved, with 3 additional articles identified through reviewing bibliographies of relevant articles. A total of 8 studies (randomized controlled trials, n = 3; quasi-experimental, n = 5) enrolled 193 participants with Multiple Sclerosis. Studies were conducted in the USA (n = 3), Europe (n = 3), Iran, (n = 1), and India (n = 1). A total of 3 studies reported using the Yang style of Tai Chi (not specified, n = 5 studies). The Tai Chi intervention averaged 27 sessions over 11 weeks. Study quality scores for the randomized controlled trials had a mean score of 23 (range 19–26), while quality scores for quasi-experimental studies had a mean score of 20 (range 13–26). Overall, participants enrolled in Tai Chi had better balance, gait and flexibility, less fatigue and depression, and better quality of life after the intervention; though mixed results were reported. Conclusion The results indicate that Tai Chi is likely safe and may provide physical and psychosocial benefits in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. Further research is needed using more rigorous study designs to assess the benefits of Tai Chi for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis.
Measuring Patriarchy: The Determinants of Patriarchy in the Middle East and North Africa

This chapter quantifies the ten main characteristics of patriarchy and measures them for fifty-nine developing countries over the past 30 years. It uses the Principal Component Analysis method to compress these indicators into three main measures of patriarchy (gender gap in education and demography, gender gap in survival rates and gender gap in public spheres). The study finds that compared with countries outside the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), on average, MENA countries have higher levels of patriarchy with regard to women’s access to public spheres. This appears to be related to Islamic ideology, regional culture and oil income. Although the rates of change of different aspects of patriarchy are not uniform, patriarchy is declining globally, yet very slowly.
The impact of physician burnout on clinical and academic productivity of gynecologic oncologists: A decision analysis

Abstract Objective Physician burnout is associated with mental illness, alcohol abuse, and job dissatisfaction. Our objective was to estimate the impact of burnout on productivity of gynecologic oncologists during the first half of their career. Methods A decision model evaluated the impact of burnout on total relative value (RVU) production during the first 15years of practice for gynecologic oncologists entering the workforce from 2011 to 2015. The SGO practice survey provided physician demographics and mean annual RVUs. Published data were used to estimate probability of burnout for male and female gynecologic oncologists, and the impact of depression, alcohol abuse, and early retirement. Academic productivity was defined as annual PubMed publications since finishing fellowship. Results Without burnout, RVU production for the cohort of 250 gynecologic oncologists was 26.2 million (M) RVUs over 15years. With burnout, RVU production decreased by 1.6 M (5.9% decrease). Disproportionate rates of burnout among females resulted in 1.1 M lost RVUs for females vs. 488 K for males. Academic production without burnout was estimated at 9277 publications for the cohort. Burnout resulted in 1383 estimated fewer publications over 15years (14.9%). Conclusions The impact of burnout on clinical and academic productivity is substantial across all specialties. As health care systems struggle with human resource shortages, this study highlights the need for effective burnout prevention and wellness programs for gynecologic oncologists. Unless significant resources are designated to wellness programs, burnout will increasingly affect the care of our patients and the advancement of our field.
Multi-objective strategies for timing signal systems under oversaturated conditions

Although several signal timing optimization exist, no software addresses optimal timing in oversaturated conditions. There is a general agreement among the signal system community that different objectives (e.g., throughput and queue management) become more important at oversaturated conditions than traditional performance measures (e.g., delay). However, there is no agreement or general analytical procedure to quantify the relationship between these objectives. This paper proposes the use of multi-objective optimization for timing signal systems in oversaturated conditions. The proposed approach allows the analyst to explore the relationship between different objectives (e.g., delay, stops, throughput, queue length, cycle failures, etc.) for different degrees of saturations. In this paper, we show an example using delay, stops, and throughput and explore their relationship for oversaturated conditions.
Future directions for applications of political economy in environmental and resource sociology: selected research priorities going forward

Environmental and resource sociology has long featured political economy perspectives among its diverse theoretical retinue. Whether based on treadmills, modernization or other frameworks, politica...
Novel Biomarkers of Physical Activity Maintenance in Midlife Women: Preliminary Investigation.

The precision health initiative is leading the discovery of novel biomarkers as important indicators of biological processes or responses to behavior, such as physical activity. Neural biomarkers identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hold promise to inform future research, and ultimately, for transfer to the clinical setting to optimize health outcomes. This study investigated resting-state and functional brain biomarkers between midlife women who were maintaining physical activity in accordance with the current national guidelines and previously acquired age-matched sedentary controls. Approval was obtained from the Human Subjects Committee. Participants included nondiabetic, healthy weight to overweight (body mass index 19-29.9 kg/m2) women (n = 12) aged 40-64 years. Control group data were used from participants enrolled in our previous functional MRI study and baseline resting-state MRI data from a subset of sedentary (<500 kcal of physical activity per week) midlife women who were enrolled in a 9-month exercise intervention conducted in our imaging center. Differential activation of the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and greater connectivity with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) was identified between physically active women and sedentary controls. After correcting for multiple comparisons, these differences in biomarkers of physical activity maintenance did not reach statistical significance. Preliminary evidence in this small sample suggests that neural biomarkers of physical activity maintenance involve activations in the brain region associated with areas involved in implementing goal-directed behavior. Specifically, activation of the IFG and connectivity with the dlPFC is identified as a neural biomarker to explain and predict long-term physical activity maintenance for healthy aging. Future studies should evaluate these biomarker links with relevant clinical correlations.
Coordinating concepts and discourse in model-oriented research reports

Model-oriented research reports has been proposed as a highly structured approach that weaves together models for research methods and analyses, conceptual process models for the phenomena under investigation, and discourse structures for presenting the models.
The Nuclear Lamina

During interphase, eukaryotic cells are physically separated into a nuclear and a cytoplasmic compartment by a complex organelle, the nuclear envelope. The innermost layer of the nuclear envelope is a polymeric protein network (Fawcett, 1966; Fawcett, 1981) termed the nuclear lamina (NL) (Fig. 1), which is tightly associated with the nuclear pore complexes. Apposed to the cytoplasmic surface of the NL is the membrane component of the nuclear envelope, which consists of two lipid bilayers, containing intrinsic membrane proteins. It is likely that the NL is a ubiquitous feature found in all eukaryotic cells, although it is not always equally prominent by electron microscopy.
Pesticide Exposure and Diabetes

The link between pesticide use and type 2 diabetes mellitus has been difficult to establish. Animal studies, cross-sectional studies in humans, and a very limited number of longitudinal studies in humans have been used. Pesticides or pesticide metabolites that have been shown to be associated with diabetes include beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, a metabolite of lindane; oxychlordane and trans-nonachlor, both metabolites of chlordane; hexachlorobenzene; and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and its metabolite dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethylene (DDE). In addition, occupational use of pesticides has been shown to be associated with diabetes. States that precede diabetes, namely, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance have been shown to be related to some pesticide metabolites, but not all tested. Gestational diabetes is considered an early stage in the progression to diabetes and risk factors are similar for both. Gestational diabetes has been shown to be associated with the reporting of ever-use of the herbicides 2,4,5-T, 2,4,5-TP/silvex, atrazine, and butylate; the organophosphate insecticides diazinon and phorate; and the carbamate carbofuran among agriculturally exposed women. The precise mechanisms through which pesticides induce diabetes remain unclear, but several likely mechanisms have been proposed for organophosphates. Organophosphates can affect glucose metabolism by blocking cholinesterase activity, oxidative stress, nitrosative stress, physiological stress, adrenal stimulation, and inhibition of paraoxanse.
Prognostic implications of evaluation for lymph node involvement by T- cell antigen receptor gene rearrangement in mycosis fungoides

We investigated the correlation between the detection of clonal rearrangement of the T-cell antigen receptor gene (TCRR) in lymph node tissue with histopathologic lymph node classification in 33 patients with mycosis fungoides with and without the Sezary Syndrome. We analyzed DNA extracted from lymph nodes that were histologically uninvolved (LN1–2), dermatopathic nodes with clusters of atypical cells (LN3), and nodes effaced with lymphoma (LN4) and found TCRR in none of five LN1–2 nodes, 8 of 17 LN3 nodes, and 10 of 11 LN4 nodes. Further, the detection of TCRR correlated with presence of palpable adenopathy (P2 less than .0001) and was associated with a worse survival (P2 = .0024). Within the subgroup of patients with LN3 nodes, there was a trend (P2 = .14) toward inferior survival if nodes were involved by TCRR, irrespective of extent of skin disease. We conclude that detection of TCRR in nodes from mycosis fungoides patients is an objective and reliable means of assessing tumor infiltration of lymph node and is associated with an inferior survival.
Fission-Track Thermochronology in Structural Geology and Tectonic Studies

Apatite fission-track (AFT) and zircon fission-track (ZFT) data along with other low-temperature thermochronologic data are widely used in the fields of structural geology and tectonics to determine the timing/duration of events, the amount of exhumation in mountain belts, rates of slip on faults, and the geometries of fault networks. In this chapter, I review applications of AFT and ZFT data in extensional tectonic settings. Examples of data sets and interpretations are summarized from the Cenozoic-Recent North American Basin and Range Province. These data constrain displacements of normal faults, rates of slip on faults, paleogeothermal gradients, and the original dip of low-angle normal faults.