cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Game-based modeling of independent searchers who share a common goal

Abstract We develop a mathematical model of the performance of a group of independent Bayesian searchers who are all seeking a common goal. In this context, the searchers do not directly interact with one another, but they may observe the behavior of nearby searchers and adjust their behavior accordingly. By modeling this system as an evolutionary game, an evolutionarily stable strategy is found for the percentage of time that a given searcher should bias its performance towards that of others vice when it should follow its own instincts. The dependence of the value of this equilibrium on the group size is determined. Numerical simulation experiments demonstrate the validity of the analytical results. The article concludes with a numerical assessment of the robustness of the stable strategy to a small number of deviating searchers, that is, searchers who adopt an alternative group following strategy.
McGirt v. Oklahoma and the Past, Present, and Future of Reservation Boundaries

“Unlawful acts, performed long enough and with sufficient vigor, are never enough to amend the law.” So reads McGirt v. Oklahoma, the most important reservation boundary case in the history of the Supreme Court. But the reality is that until McGirt, courts often rewarded unlawful acts with reservation diminishment. This Article first places McGirt in the context of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s century long fight to restore sovereign rights illegally denied after allotment, and the even longer fight by the Muscogee Nation and others to survive a trail of broken treaty promises. It then corrects the false assumptions about the past and present of reservation boundaries that led the Court to turn lawbreaking into law. As to the past, I show that the allotment-era Congress knew that reservations did not depend on land tenure, and that its statutes distinguished between allotment acts that diminished reservations and those that did not. States, however, regularly broke the law, asserting jurisdiction in violation of federal Indian law rules. Before McGirt, however, the Court falsely assumed that “[t]he notion that reservation status of Indian lands might not be coextensive with tribal ownership was unfamiliar at the turn of the century,” and so justified relying on state violations of tribal sovereignty as “evidence” of congressional intent. As to the present, I show that reservation status is not disruptive for non-Indian communities, and often benefits tribal and non-tribal citizens alike. In high-profile cases in Tacoma, Washington and Pender, Oklahoma, life in those communities began to improve at the same time reservation boundaries were affirmed. Throughout the country tribal governments contribute to the economies and social welfare of their surrounding communities. The Muscogee Nation, whose sophisticated law enforcement, health care, governance, and economic development arms already partner with non-tribal governments throughout its territory, exemplifies the benefits that strengthening tribal self-governance can provide.
PICH function is required for organization of SUMOylated proteins on mitotic chromosomes

Proper chromosome segregation is essential for faithful cell division and if not maintained results in defective cell function caused by abnormal distribution of genetic information. Polo-like kinase 1 interacting checkpoint helicase (PICH) is a DNA translocase essential in chromosome bridge resolution during mitosis. Its function in resolving chromosome bridges requires both DNA translocase activity and ability to bind chromosomal proteins modified by Small Ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO). However, it is unclear how these activities are cooperating to resolve chromosome bridges. Here, we show that PICH specifically promotes the organization of SUMOylated proteins like SUMOylated TopoisomeraseIIα (TopoIIα) on mitotic chromosomes. Conditional depletion of PICH using the Auxin Inducible Degron (AID) system resulted in the retention of SUMOylated chromosomal proteins, including TopoIIα, indicating that PICH functions to control proper association of these proteins with chromosomes. Replacement of PICH with its mutants showed that PICH is required for the proper organization of SUMOylated proteins on chromosomes. In vitro assays showed that PICH specifically attenuates SUMOylated TopoIIα activity using its SUMO-binding ability. Taken together, we propose a novel function of PICH in remodeling SUMOylated proteins to ensure faithful chromosome segregation.
The Social Cost of Inertia: How Cost-Benefit Incoherence Threatens to Derail U.S. Climate Action

As EPA rolls out controversial regulations on power plant emissions of greenhouse gases, a vocal group of legislators, industry groups, and legal and economic scholars are crying foul, arguing that EPA didn’t “follow the rules” when it conducted its cost-benefit analyses of these regulations. This article traces the origin of these cost-benefit rules, finding that the methodological handbook alleged to be the “worldwide gold standard” was actually developed through a very flawed process, one that intentionally excluded majority viewpoints in several relevant academic disciplines. Unsurprisingly, it also contains serious methodological mistakes. If these mistakes were to be more aggressively applied to regulations implementing domestic climate change regulations (that is, if EPA and other executive agencies do “follow the rules,” as demanded by the critics of these regulations in Congress, academia and regulated industry), this would threaten to derail serious U.S. action on climate change.This article also describes how the executive order that spawned these rules is impossible to comply with literally, because it creates a series of “max/min” problems with no common solution. This creates a conundrum that, over and over again, is resolved under these cost-benefit rules in favor of maximizing quantifiable, monetized “net benefits,” at the expense of promoting a set of competing yet also important deontological factors that the text of the parent executive order ostensibly puts on equal footing.
Artificial Neural Networks to Solve Forward Kinematics of a Wearable Parallel Robot with Semi-rigid Links

Wearable robots are designed to provide physical assistance and rehabilitation training. Light-weight designs are desirable for human usage and parallel robots are quite suitable due to low moving inertia. One of the challenges of using wearable parallel robots is to compute the end-effector position/orientation from joint angle measurements, as the forward kinematics problem is computationally difficult. It becomes even more challenging if the kinematic model changes from the nominal model due to deflection of the mechanical members, manufacturing tolerances, or misalignments of the joints between the machine and the user.Artificial neural networks have been used to provide solution of the forward kinematics problem for parallel robots. However, their efficacy has not yet been studied in wearable applications where the linkages of the robots are not fully rigid. In this paper, we conducted a case study to investigate the performance of using neural network models to compute forward kinematics of a wearable robot. Our results show that the performance of neural networks is superior to numerical approaches and produces reasonable solutions even at the boundary of the robot workspace.
Environmental Influences on Production in 100 Dairy Herds

Abstract The study of environmental variation in production among dairy herds was begun at the University of Wisconsin in 1950 in cooperation with the Animal Husbandry Research Division, United States Department of Agriculture. Results from this research formed the basis for the present study. The current research was conducted to determine if environmental effects of production among herds could be minimized, thereby making genetic appraisals more accurate. Single visits were made to 100 Holstein herds on official Dairy Herd Improvement. Ten variables were measured during the evening milking. Objective measures were made of vacuum level, pulsation rate, number of machines operated per man, per cent days in milk, herd size, and kg total digestible nutrients fed per 455kg body weight. Subjective scores were given to cow cleanliness, calf feeding, herdsmanship, and hay score. The variables with statistically significant Standard partial regression coefficients were per cent days in milk, hay score, calf feeding, and herdsmanship (.33, .28, .18, and .16, respectively). Standard partial regressions for cow cleanliness, number of machines operated per man, herd size, kg total digestible nutrients fed/455kg body weight, vacuum, and pulsation were .14, −.09, .07, .07, .03, and .01, respectively. The 10 variables accounted for 45% of the variation in milk production among herds.
The optimal inflation tax when money reduces transactions costs

Abstract It has been argued that, if money acts as an intermediate good, the optimal inflation tax is zero. This paper reexamines such a claim in the context of a model in which money reduces transactions costs. It is shown that modeling money as an intermediate good does not necessarily imply that the optimal inflation tax is zero. The optimality of a zero inflation tax depends on the properties of the transactions costs technology. In particular, if the transactions costs technology does not exhibit constant returns to scale, it is optimal to resort to the inflation tax.
The role of respiratory viruses in asthma.

Respiratory infections are common causes of increased asthma for patients of all ages. Current evidence indicates that viral, and not bacterial, infections are the most important respiratory illnesses which increase the severity of asthma. Of the respiratory viral infections associated with increased asthma, rhinoviruses, i.e. the cause of common colds, have proven to be the virus most often found in association with increased asthma severity. Although the association between rhinovirus infections and asthma is most dramatically illustrated in children, asthma patients of all ages can be affected and the attacks of asthma can be severe. Studies to establish the mechanisms by which rhinoviruses enhance asthma severity have begun to focus on how this virus promotes allergic inflammation. We have found that experimental rhinovirus infections enhance airway responsiveness and, perhaps most importantly, the likelihood that a late allergic reaction will occur to an antigen challenge. Furthermore, using bronchoscopy and segmental antigen challenge, we have found that rhinovirus infections promote mast cell release of histamine and the recruitment of eosinophils to the airways. These data support the concept that rhinovirus infections act to promote allergic inflammation and by this mechanism increase both the likelihood of asthma occurring and the severity of wheezing.
Classroom Amplification Technology: Theory and Practice.

Many children are struggling to listen and learn in noisy and reverberant classrooms. Some of these children have hearing loss; others have essentially normal hearing but are at risk for accurate s...
Young Adults at Risk for Excess Alcohol Consumption Are Often Not Asked or Counseled About Drinking Alcohol

Background Excessive alcohol consumption is most widespread among young adults. Practice guidelines recommend screening and physician advice, which could help address this common cause of injury and premature death.
On the value of information in the presence of moral hazard

This paper shows that the marginal value of a “small amount of non-output information” is generally non-positive in the context of the standard principal-agent model involving moral hazard, which suggests a non-concavity in the value of information. However, when both the principal and the agent are risk neutral, even a small amount of non-output information may exhibit a positive incremental value in presence of a liability constraint.
Progress in corticotropin-releasing factor-1 antagonist development.

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) receptor antagonists have been sought since the stress-secreted peptide was isolated in 1981. Although evidence is mixed concerning the efficacy of CRF1 antagonists as antidepressants, CRF1 antagonists might be novel pharmacotherapies for anxiety and addiction. Progress in understanding the two-domain model of ligand–receptor interactions for CRF family receptors might yield chemically novel CRF1 receptor antagonists, including peptide CRF1 antagonists, antagonists with signal transduction selectivity and nonpeptide CRF1 antagonists that act via the extracellular (rather than transmembrane) domains. Novel ligands that conform to the prevalent pharmacophore and exhibit drug-like pharmacokinetic properties have been identified. The therapeutic utility of CRF1 antagonists should soon be clearer: several small molecules are currently in Phase II/III clinical trials for depression, anxiety and irritable bowel syndrome.
It’s a noisy business! Genetic regulation at the nanomolar scale

Many molecules that control genetic regulatory circuits act at extremely low intracellular concentrations. Resultant fluctuations (noise) in reaction rates cause large random variation in rates of development, morphology and the instantaneous concentration of each molecular species in each cell. To achieve regulatory reliability in spite of this noise, cells use redundancy in genes as well as redundancy and extensive feedback in regulatory pathways. However, some regulatory mechanisms exploit this noise to randomize outcomes where variability is advantageous.
Characteristics of the protein groups associated with the hypotensive activity of trypsin.

SummaryFree amino and phenolic groups do not appear to be essential to the proteolytic or the hypotensive activity of trypsin. Characteristics of the protein groups associated with the hypotensive activity of trypsin are given. These correspond with the properties of free tryptophane although participation of other groups is not excluded. Changes in the proteolytic and hypotensive activities of trypsin are not always parallel.
Neurotransmission and electrophysiological mechanisms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus

Abstract Neurons in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) collectively show a circadian rhythm of firing rate, and the electrophysiological properties of SCN neurons support this periodicity. The SCN receives many afferents containing a wide variety of neuroactive substances. Nevertheless, physiological evidence indicates that GABA and glutamate are the primary neurotransmitters involved in fast synaptic transmission in the SCN. Other neurotransmitters such as serotonin are clearly important in the SCN, but their function is poorly understood, and most of these probably play a modulatory role. Nonsynaptic mechanisms in the SCN may also be important in communication among neurons and glia. Detailed examination of SCN function with traditional intracellular electrophysiological approaches, and recently, with patch-clamp recording, has begun to reveal the electrophysiological properties and functional circuitry of SCN neurons — an essential first step in understanding how this biological clock works.
Letter from technical program chair Dr. Daniel Deavours

This year, the IEEE RFID 2010 conference received 130 paper submissions. 33 papers were accepted outright, and an additional six were accepted after shepherding, for a total of 39 accepted papers. This results in a 30% acceptance rate, which indicates that IEEE RFID is a competitive conference, and continues to draw high-quality papers.
Radiation Effects On The Low Temperature Coefficient Of Thermal Expansion Of Low-CTE Materials

Materials for large space optics require low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) in order for the components fabricated from them to maintain their strict figure specifications under thermal gradients and cycling. The environment in space contains high energy photons and charged particles such as electrons and protons, which can cause electronic defects, leading to such physical effects as compaction and discoloration. The change in CTE upon exposure to ionizing radiation has been studied here, and it has been found that the low-CTE characteristics of some materials are severely effected by electron irradiation.
State autonomy & civil society: The lobbyist connection

Abstract The much‐noted decline of “state autonomy” theories owes partly to external challenges to state power, such as globalization, supranational regimes, and the like. But advanced democratic states have also long been seen as threatened from within, especially by powerful private interest groups. The extent of private‐interest influence on policy making depends in important part on corporate lobbyists, a group whose activities are chronicled in this essay. Lobbyists exercise considerably more autonomy from the private clients who hire them than has previously been acknowledged. This portrait ultimately suggests that the national state and civil society may be mutually supportive rather than strictly separate spheres.
Support communities for women in computing

This article highlights the many activities provided by the support communities available for women in computing. Thousands of women actively participate in these programs and they receive many benefits including networking and professional support. In addition, the organizations and associations help promote the accomplishments of women computer scientists and disseminate valuable information. This article surveys some of these organizations and concludes with a list of suggestions for how faculty members can incorporate the benefits of these organizations in their own institutions.
Expert systems and telecommunications

Abstract First there were databases and database management systems. Then information bases developed, whereby management information systems and decision support systems sprouted. Now, there are knowledge bases on which expert systems are being built. The age of “knowledge” is upon us, and computer programs are being developed to perserve this knowledge. These computer programs are “expert systems” which mimic the behavior of human experts in some specified domain of knowledge. This article addresses these expert systems and gives some applications in the telecommunications area.
Solvent‐Mediated Plasmon Tuning in a Gold‐Nanoparticle–Poly(Ionic Liquid) Composite

The design, synthesis, and characterization of a hierarchically ordered composite whose structure and optical properties can be reversibly switched by adjustment of solvent conditions are described. Solvent-induced swelling and de-swelling is shown to provide control over the internal packing arrangement and hence, optical properties of in situ synthesized metal nanoparticles. Specifically, a gold-nanoparticle-containing ionic-liquid-derived polymer is synthesized in a single step by UV irradiation of a metal-ion-precursor-doped, self-assembled ionic liquid gel, 1-decyl-3-vinylimidazolium chloride. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies indicate that in the de-swollen state, the freestanding polymer adopts a perforated lamellar structure. Optical spectroscopy of the dried composite reveals plasmon resonances positioned in the near-IR. Strong particle-particle interactions arise from matrix-promoted formation of aggregated 1D clusters or chains of gold nanoparticles. Upon swelling in alcohol, the composite undergoes a structural conversion to a disordered structure, which is accompanied by a color change from purple to pale pink and a shift in the surface plasmon resonance to 527 nm, consistent with isolated, non-interacting particles. These results demonstrate the far-field tuning of the plasmonic spectrum of gold nanoparticles by solvent-mediated changes in its encapsulating matrix, offering a straightforward, low-cost strategy for the fabrication of nanophotonic materials.
Müller cell survival and proliferation in response to medium conditioned by the retinal pigment epithelium

Abstract Muller cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy and subretinal scar formation; however, the source(s) and signal(s) responsible for their activation are unknown. This study was undertaken to determine if the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) could be involved in this signaling process by studying its effects on Muller cell survival and division in vitro. A pure population of Muller cells isolated from 1–2 day Long-Evans rats was seeded at low density and treated with medium conditioned by neonatal rat RPE (RPE-CM) or a nonconditioned, defined medium. By day 3, Muller cells cultured in RPE-CM increased in number 2-fold. These cells survived up to 21 days, which was the longest time tested. In contrast, cell number decreased in control wells 75% by day 3, and 100 by day 4. The RPE-mediated survival and proliferation of the Muller cells occurred in a dose-dependent manner. The mitogenic response was specific for the RPE when compared with fibroblasts and non-retinal epithelial cells. Heat and trypsin treatment of the RPE-CM completely abolished its survival and mitogenic activity. These findings demonstrate the establishment of an in vitro model which can be used to investigate RPE-Muller cell interactions. This study also provides evidence for RPE involvement in Muller cell survival and proliferation.
Relativistic theory of hydrodynamic fluctuations with applications to heavy-ion collisions

We develop the relativistic theory of hydrodynamic fluctuations for application to high-energy heavy-ion collisions. In particular, we investigate their effect on the expanding boost-invariant (Bjorken) solution of the hydrodynamic equations. We discover that correlations over a long rapidity range are induced by the propagation of the sound modes. Due to the expansion, the dispersion law for these modes is nonlinear and attenuated even in the limit of zero viscosity. As a result, there is a nondissipative wake behind the sound front which is generated by any instantaneous pointlike fluctuation. We evaluate the two-particle correlators using the initial conditions and hydrodynamic parameters relevant for heavy-ion collisions at RHIC and LHC. In principle these correlators can be used to obtain information about the viscosities because the magnitudes of the fluctuations are directly proportional to them.
Pollen Feeding and Reproductive Biology of Heliconius Butterflies

Abstract Butterflies of the neotropical Genus Heliconius feed on pollen. This is the first known instance in butterflies of a habit that is well known for other insects. The butterflies remove amino acids and proteins from pollen; this feeding innovation plays a role in the reproductive and population biology of these insects. It is suggested that other animals may use pollen in a similar fashion.
Isolation, Characterization, and Stability of Discretely-Sized Nanolipoprotein Particles Assembled with Apolipophorin-III

Background Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) are discoidal, nanometer-sized particles comprised of self-assembled phospholipid membranes and apolipoproteins. NLPs assembled with human apolipoproteins have been used for myriad biotechnology applications, including membrane protein solubilization, drug delivery, and diagnostic imaging. To expand the repertoire of lipoproteins for these applications, insect apolipophorin-III (apoLp-III) was evaluated for the ability to form discretely-sized, homogeneous, and stable NLPs.
A specific stain for α-glucosidases in isoelectric focusing gels

α-Glucosidases separated on isoelectric focusing gels can be localized by a two-step staining procedure. First, bromonaphthyl-α- d -glucoside is cleaved by the α-glucosidases in the gel; then, the released bromonaphthol is precipitated with Fast Blue B salt. The procedure is specific for α-glucosidases, gives sharp enzyme bands, and does not inactivate the α-glucosidases. Using this procedure, it has been demonstrated that the maltase and α-methylglucosidase induced by maltose are separate enzymes.
CMOS Integrated Silicon Nanophotonics: An Enabling Technology for Exascale Computing

We will present a CMOS integrated silicon nanophotonic technology, which can enable future Exa-scale supercomputers by connecting racks, modules, and chips together with ultra-low power massively parallel optical interconnects.
Adaptive optics for the Magdalena Ridge Observatory

Long-baseline optical interferometers have become useful tools for obtaining detailed stellar information and high-resolution images in the astronomy community. Several interferometric systems have been implemented successfully without adaptive optics; however, adaptive optical systems may be needed for a new generation of long-baseline interferometers with large telescopes such as those being developed for the Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO). This paper introduces the design trade-offs used to investigate the need for adaptive optics for a long-baseline optical interferometer operating in the turbulent atmosphere. Modeling techniques are combined with analytical equations to study the performance of a long-baseline optical interferometer with and without adaptive optics.
Mixture models for learning low-dimensional roles in high-dimensional data

Archived data often describe entities that participate in multiple roles. Each of these roles may influence various aspects of the data. For example, a register transaction collected at a retail store may have been initiated by a person who is a woman, a mother, an avid reader, and an action movie fan. Each of these roles can influence various aspects of the customer's purchase: the fact that the customer is a mother may greatly influence the purchase of a toddler-sized pair of pants, but have no influence on the purchase of an action-adventure novel. The fact that the customer is an action move fan and an avid reader may influence the purchase of the novel, but will have no effect on the purchase of a shirt. In this paper, we present a generic, Bayesian framework for capturing exactly this situation. In our framework, it is assumed that multiple roles exist, and each data point corresponds to an entity (such as a retail customer, or an email, or a news article) that selects various roles which compete to influence the various attributes associated with the data point. We develop robust, MCMC algorithms for learning the models under the framework.
Rat Nucleus Accumbens Core Astrocytes Modulate Reward and the Motivation to Self-Administer Ethanol after Abstinence

Our understanding of the active role that astrocytes play in modulating neuronal function and behavior is rapidly expanding, but little is known about the role that astrocytes may play in drug-seeking behavior for commonly abused substances. Given that the nucleus accumbens is critically involved in substance abuse and motivation, we sought to determine whether nucleus accumbens astrocytes influence the motivation to self-administer ethanol following abstinence. We found that the packing density of astrocytes that were expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein increased in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore) during abstinence from EtOH self-administration. No change was observed in the nucleus accumbens shell. This increased NAcore astrocyte density positively correlated with the motivation for ethanol. Astrocytes can communicate with one another and influence neuronal activity through gap-junction hemichannels. Because of this, the effect of blocking gap-junction hemichannels on the motivation for ethanol was examined. The motivation to self-administer ethanol after 3 weeks abstinence was increased following microinjection of gap-junction hemichannel blockers into the NAcore at doses that block both neuronal and astrocytic channels. In contrast, no effect was observed following microinjection of doses that are not thought to block astrocytic channels or following microinjection of either dose into the nucleus accumbens shell. Additionally, the motivation for sucrose after 3 weeks abstinence was unaffected by NAcore gap-junction hemichannel blockers. Next, Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) were selectively expressed in NAcore astrocytes to test the effect of astrocyte stimulation. DREADD activation increased cytosolic calcium in primary astrocytes, facilitated responding for rewarding brain stimulation, and reduced the motivation for ethanol after 3 weeks abstinence. This is the first work to modulate drug-seeking behavior with astrocyte-specific DREADDs. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that NAcore astrocytes can shape the motivation to self-administer ethanol; suggesting that the development of ligands which selectively stimulate astrocytes may be a successful strategy to abate ethanol-seeking behavior.
Racial stereotypes and interracial attraction: phenotypic prototypicality and perceived attractiveness of Asians.

What does it take to find a member of a different race attractive? In this research, we suggest that for Whites, attraction to Asians may be based, in part, on stereotypes and variations in Asians’ racial appearance. Study 1 reveals that Asians are stereotyped as being more feminine and less masculine than other racial groups—characteristics considered appealing for women but not for men to possess. Study 2 examines how variation in racial appearance, phenotypic prototypicality (PP), shapes the degree to which Asians are gender stereotyped and how PP relates to perceptions of attractiveness. Higher PP Asian men are perceived as being less masculine and less physically attractive than lower PP Asian men. These findings inform theory on how within-group variation in racial appearance affects stereotyping and other social outcomes.
P.L. 99-252--implications for dentists and their clinical practice.

This paper is one of a series attempting to determine the impact of Public Law 99-252, the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986, on decreasing smokeless tobacco use. Potential indicators are discussed that could be used by the dental profession to determine the efficacy of the profession's involvement in existing and future prevention and cessation efforts relative to this law. In this review, six major areas are considered for measuring declines in smokeless tobacco use relative to the role of the dental health practitioner. These areas encompass the following: (1) the dental profession's knowledge of smokeless tobacco health hazards, (2) dental practitioners' involvement in measuring changes in use patterns, (3) the influence dentists have with their patients and community in decreasing smokeless tobacco use, (4) the general attitude and intention to quit on the part of dental patients, (5) active governmental involvement efforts, and (6) health effects of smokeless tobacco that might be used for identifying decreasing smokeless tobacco use. Within each of these six broad categories, more specific indicators for measuring the impact of P.L. 99-252 relative to the dental profession were considered.
New endogenous anti-inflammatory and proresolving lipid mediators: implications for rheumatic diseases

Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are lipid mediators that carry out pivotal roles in host defense and acute inflammation. Failure to completely resolve an acute inflammatory response can lead to chronic inflammation, scarring, and eventual loss of tissue function. Until recently, it was thought that tissue resolution of acute inflammation was a passive event. However, it is now known than lipoxins, which--like prostaglandins and leukotrienes--are also derived from arachidonic acid, are active anti-inflammatory and proresolution mediators, acting in part by reducing neutrophil entry to the inflammation site and stimulating the uptake of apoptotic polymorphonuclear leukocytes by macrophages. Novel families of locally acting and locally generated mediators derived from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have also been identified as biosynthetically active components in the resolution phase of inflammation. The new families of chemical mediators are termed 'resolvins' and 'protectins' because individual members of each family are stereospecific in controlling the duration and magnitude of inflammation in animal models. Possible deficiencies in the biosynthesis of lipoxins, resolvins, and protectins, and/or their signal transduction, might underlie some aspects of pathogenesis in chronic inflammatory diseases.
Microsurgical free flap transfer to amputation sites: Indications and results

A series of microsurgical free flap reconstructions to amputation stumps of the upper as well as the lower extremities was reviewed in 7 male and 2 female patients. Indications included preservation of length after trauma in 6 patients and cure of local infection in 2 patients. In 1 patient an extensive defect after resection of a recurrent shoulder sarcoma required use of a complete arm fillet free flap for tumor reconstruction. Microvascular free flaps used included four scapular flaps, two fillet flaps from the amputated extremity, one anterolateral thigh flap, and one lateral arm flap. Seven of 9 patients were fitted with a prosthesis and underwent occupational therapy resulting in ambulatory and improved functional status. Microvascular reconstruction is indicated in emergency settings as well as for elective reconstruction of amputation sites. Using uninjured "spare parts" of the amputated extremity should be considered. Elective reconstruction is performed preferably with free flaps based on the subscapular vascular system.
Checking API protocol compliance in java

Reusable APIs often define usage protocols. The author previously developed a sound and modular type system that checks compliance to typestate-based protocols while affording a great deal of aliasing flexibility. This paper focuses on making these ideas available in tools for mainstream object-oriented languages and evaluating their practical effectiveness.
Calcium cycling in the aged heart

Abstract One of the most important hallmarks of the aged heart is altered calcium homeostasis, possibly due to age-associated alterations in several major calcium cycling processes involved in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling. During ageing, the magnitude of the L-type Ca 2+ channel current (I Ca,L ) becomes significantly increased in parallel with the enlargement of cardiac myocytes, resulting in an unaltered I Ca,L density. Since the inactivation of I Ca,L is slowed, and the action potential duration is prolonged, the net Ca 2+ influx during each action potential is increased in cells of senescent myocardium relative to cells of adult control. While neither mRNA nor protein levels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca 2+ release channel (ryanodine receptor) significantly change with advancing adult age, the mRNA abundance and the density of SR Cat+ pump decrease with ageing and are associated with a diminished SR Ca 2+ sequestration rate in the aged heart. In addition, cardiac chronotropic and inotropic responses to β-adrenergic receptor stimulation are also reduced with advancing age. The multiple changes in Ca cycling that occur during ageing result in an augmented Cat+ influx, slowed SR Ca 2+ sequestration and prolonged durations of the Ca i transient and contraction. These alterations which prolong electromechanical systole may be construed as an adaptation in that they prolong the force-bearing capacity of the senescent cells following excitation. This is helpful with respect to maintaining the cardiac function in the aged heart. However, they also increase the risk of Ca 2+ overload and Cat 2+ -dependent arrhythmias during stress in the senescent heart. Although reduced (3-adrenergic responses with ageing contribute to diminished contraction reserve, these may be viewed in part, as adaptive, in that they protect against Ca 2+ overload during stress.
Brassicaceae germplasm diversity for agronomic and seed quality traits under drought stress

Abstract Brassica juncea, Brassica carinata and Camelina sativa have previously shown potential as oilseed crops in semi-arid climates. However, there is limited information on variation of agriculturally important traits under water stress. This study screened 94 accessions of B. juncea, 30 accessions of B. carinata and 81 accessions of C. sativa under dryland and fully irrigated conditions in eastern Colorado to evaluate responses to drought stress within and among species. B. carinata had the greatest phenotypic variability. It had the largest average thousand-seed-weight (TSW), though with a 10-day longer life cycle than the other species, it also suffered the most from summer heat stress during seed filling. Earlier-flowering accessions among the three species were more adapted to dryland conditions. B. carinata and B. juncea were both twice as tall as C. sativa and produced significantly higher biomass though they yielded less under dryland conditions, 711 kg ha−1, 933 kg ha−1, and 1383 kg ha−1, respectively. C. sativa showed better adaptation to semi-arid environments, likely due to its shorter stature, higher harvest index, and resistance to flea beetles. We measured seed-oil fatty acid profiles in response to water stress, finding a significant decrease in linolenic acid content under dryland conditions. C. sativa had the highest levels of linolenic acid, averaging 30% of seed-oil fatty acid. B. carinata had the highest levels of erucic acid with 42% on average. B. juncea accessions showed a large range of oil profiles, related to their geographical origin. Oil profile characteristics such as high linolenic acid were correlated with fitness traits such as height and biomass. Oil profile traits could play an important future role in plant breeding, especially under dryland conditions. This work highlights traits where breeding efforts can utilize existing germplasm diversity such as flowering time, yield components, oil quality, and flea beetle susceptibility to improve cultivar adaptability to semi-arid environments.
Teaching About Science, Technology and Society at the Secondary School Level in the United States. An Educational Dilemma for the 1980s.

(1982). Teaching about Science, Technology and Society at the secondary school level in the United States. An educational dilemma for the 1980s. Studies in Science Education: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 1-32.
Genetic monitoring of aluminum workers exposed to coal tar pitch volatiles.

A group of 50 workers exposed to coal tar pitch volatiles (CTPV) in an aluminum reduction plant and a group of 50 non-exposed workers were selected to evaluate the genotoxic effects of CPTV exposure. A battery of tests was performed on 3 different body fluids; urine, blood and semen. Urine samples were evaluated for mutagenic constituents using the Ames/Salmonella assay. Cultured lymphocytes from blood samples were used to perform cytogenetic analysis. Semen samples were used to measure sperm count, percent abnormal sperm morphology and frequency of sperm carrying double fluorescent bodies (2-F). 14 of 28 (50%) exposed workers and 7 of 36 (19.4%) non-exposed workers had mutagenic urine. This difference was significant (p < 0.01). Among the non-smokers a significantly higher percentage of workers who were exposed had positive urine (36%) compared to the non-exposed workers (5%) (p < 0.05). Among the exposed group, more mechanics had mutagenic urine than did other types of workers. Overall chromosome aberration rates were similar in both exposed and non-exposed workers. Among exposed workers a significant inverse correlation (p < 0.05) between age and chromatid aberration rate was observed. Results of semen analysis failed to detect differences between exposed and non-exposed workers. Results of these tests lend support to a battery approach to genetic monitoring and suggest a link between exposure to CTPV and genotoxic effects. Detection of exposure to mutagens at an early time offers an opportunity for disease prevention by the reduction of exposure.
A study of the vector-parasite relationships in Schistosoma mansoni.

In this study Australorbis glabratus from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Surinam and Brazil, Biomphalaria pfeifferi from Liberia, and B. boissyi from Egypt were exposed to strains of Schistosoma mansoni from Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Surinam and Egypt, and to seven cross-strains of S. mansoni . In many instances, incompatibilities between vectors and parasites of different endemic areas were noted. It is suggested that these incompatibilities might be accounted for in two ways: (1) interspecific and intraspecific differences between vectors in respect to the physiological factors that are responsible for the development of the parasite in the snail, and (2) physiological differences between strains of the parasite. Evidence would seem to show that there are interspecific physiological differences between Australorbis glabratus and Biomphalaria boissyi ; and that there are intraspecific differences between Australorbis glabratus from Brazil and A. glabratus from other countries here dealt with. In addition, it would appear that the parasite of Egypt differs physiologically from the parasites of Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Surinam; and that the parasite of Brazil differs physiologically from the parasites of the latter countries. We wish to express our gratitude to the following persons for their co-operation in collecting and shipping snails for this study: Drs M. Abdel Azim, C. H. Barlow, J. O. Coutinho, A. Gabaldon, the late W. A. Hoffman, G. W. Luttermoser, J. Oliver-Gonzalez, H. A. Poindexter, Bichat de Almeida Rodriques and A. E. Wolff. We are also indebted to the late Dr W. A. Hoffman, Dr M. Mayer and Dr J. Alves Meira for sending us animals infected with Schistosoma mansoni .
Effects of Isoflurane on the Baroreceptor Reflex

The baroreceptor reflex has been found to be attenuated during anesthesia, but the effects of the relatively new anesthetic, isoflurane, on baroreflex function have not been examined thoroughly. This study was performed to determine the effects of isoflurane on each component of the baroreceptor reflex arc, including the receptors, afferent and efferent nerve pathways, central integratory centers, peripheral ganglia, and the heart. Baroreflex effects on heart rate initiated by systemic pressure changes were examined in conscious and anesthetized dogs (1.3% and 2.6% isoflurane). The effects on individual components of the reflex arc were determined by examining carotid sinus baroreceptor afferent activity, sympathetic efferent nerve activity, and heart rate response to direct sympathetic and parasympathetic efferent nerve stimulation in anesthetized dogs. Preganglionic and postganglionic nerve activities were recorded simultaneously during baroreflex activation to determine ganglionic effects of isoflurane. Baroreflex-induced changes in heart rate were not depressed significantly until 2.6% isoflurane if blood pressure changes due to anesthetic administration were prevented. Significant decreases in baseline sympathetic efferent nerve activity were found at 1.3% and 2.6% isoflurane, with depression of postganglionic activity significantly greater than preganglionic activity at 2.6% isoflurane, indicating a ganglionic effect of isoflurane. Cardiac chronotropic responses to direct stimulation of sympathetic and vagal fibers were attenuated significantly by isoflurane, with sympathetic stimulation showing the greater sensitivity to the anesthetic. Carotid baroreceptor afferent activity was increased by isoflurane, and this sensitization of the baroreceptors appeared to contribute to the decreased levels of sympathetic tone. Therefore, although isoflurane was found to alter the baroreceptor reflex through its effects at multiple sites of the baroreflex arc, significant depression of the cardiac chronotropic component of the reflex was seen only at 2.6% isoflurane.
Membrane-Associated Quinoprotein Formaldehyde Dehydrogenase from Methylococcus capsulatus Bath

A membrane-associated, dye-linked formaldehyde dehydrogenase (DL-FalDH) was isolated from the obligate methylotroph Methylococcus capsulatus Bath. The enzyme was the major formaldehyde-oxidizing enzyme in cells cultured in high (above 1 μmol of Cu per mg of cell protein) copper medium and expressing the membrane-associated methane monooxygenase. Soluble NAD(P)+-linked formaldehyde oxidation was the major activity in cells cultured in low-copper medium and expressing the soluble methane monooxygenase (Tate and Dalton, Microbiology 145:159–167, 1999; Vorholt et al., J. Bacteriol. 180:5351–5356, 1998). The membrane-associated enzyme is a homotetramer with a subunit molecular mass of 49,500 Da. UV-visible absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, and electrospray mass spectrometry suggest the redox cofactor of the DL-FalDH is pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), with a PQQ-to-subunit stochiometry of approximately 1:1. The enzyme was specific for formaldehyde, oxidizing formaldehyde to formate, and utilized the cytochrome b559/569 complex as the physiological electron acceptor.
Cations differentially affect subpopulations of l-glutamate receptors in rat synaptic plasma membranes

Abstract Several cations were examined for their ability to specifically affect one of the 3 l -glutamate ( l -Glu) binding sites in rat forebrain synaptic plasma membranes (i.e. Na+-dependent, Cl−-dependent and Cl−-independent). Na+-dependent binding was potently inhibited by K+ and NH4+ ions. Other monovalent cations testedd (Cs+, Li+, triethylammonium) had no effect on this binding site. Polyvalent cations (Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+ and Cr3+) also had little effect on the Na+-dependent l -Glu binding site. Cl−-dependent l -Glu binding was potently inhibited by Na+ ions but was not affected by other monovalent ions. All of the divalent cations were potent inhibitors of both Cl−-dependent and -independent binding. The results show that these binding sites of l -Glu can be distinguished by their response to cations and suggest possible novel modes of regulation in vivo.
Osteoid osteoma of a metacarpal bone: A case report and review of the literature

Osteoid osteoma is a benign tumor of the growing skeleton. It presents with pain, which is usually worse at night. The radiographic features consist of a central oval or round nidus surrounded first by a radiolucent area followed by another area of sclerotic bone. In the hand, osteoid osteoma is more commonly located in the phalanges and carpal bones. The metacarpals are the least common sites for osteoid osteoma. We present a case of an osteoid osteoma of the left third metacarpal bone in a 36-year-old woman. The clinical and radiographic findings along with the surgical management of the lesion are presented. The pain disappeared immediately after the operation. At the 2-year follow-up, the patient was pain-free and there was no evidence of recurrence. Physicians should be aware of the unusual presence and the atypical clinical presentation of this benign lesion in the metacarpal bones of the hand.
A storage and access manager for ill-structured data

Database management systems are powerful tools for processing large volumes of structured, or normalized, data. Much of the data to be stored in computer systems, however, differs from normalized data in both its logical uses and the storage structure required for its effective management. For instance, Van Rijsbergen (1979) distinguishes database retrieval from information retrieval (IR)—the retrieval of references to text—by comparing the following logical characteristics of IR systems to database management systems: IR Systems employ partial (vs. exact) matching; they are built on an underlying probabilistic (vs. deterministic) model; they classify information on a polythetic (vs. monothetic) basis, and queries are incompletely (vs. completely) specified. Similarly, other forms of relatively ill-structured data such as semantic networks [15]—which require property inheritance, and production rules—which must be joined in logical chains also differ in their logical use from normalized record structures.