cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A bilobal model of Ca2+-dependent inactivation to probe the physiology of L-type Ca2+ channels.

L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) are critical elements of normal cardiac function, playing a major role in orchestrating cardiac electrical activity and initiating downstream signaling processes. LTCCs thus use feedback mechanisms to precisely control calcium (Ca2+) entry into cells. Of these, Ca2+-dependent inactivation (CDI) is significant because it shapes cardiac action potential duration and is essential for normal cardiac rhythm. This important form of regulation is mediated by a resident Ca2+ sensor, calmodulin (CaM), which is comprised of two lobes that are each capable of responding to spatially distinct Ca2+ sources. Disruption of CaM-mediated CDI leads to severe forms of long-QT syndrome (LQTS) and life-threatening arrhythmias. Thus, a model capable of capturing the nuances of CaM-mediated CDI would facilitate increased understanding of cardiac (patho)physiology. However, one critical barrier to achieving a detailed kinetic model of CDI has been the lack of quantitative data characterizing CDI as a function of Ca2+. This data deficit stems from the experimental challenge of uncoupling the effect of channel gating on Ca2+ entry. To overcome this obstacle, we use photo-uncaging of Ca2+ to deliver a measurable Ca2+ input to CaM/LTCCs, while simultaneously recording CDI. Moreover, we use engineered CaMs with Ca2+ binding restricted to a single lobe, to isolate the kinetic response of each lobe. These high-resolution measurements enable us to build mathematical models for each lobe of CaM, which we use as building blocks for a full-scale bilobal model of CDI. Finally, we use this model to probe the pathogenesis of LQTS associated with mutations in CaM (calmodulinopathies). Each of these models accurately recapitulates the kinetics and steady-state properties of CDI in both physiological and pathological states, thus offering powerful new insights into the mechanistic alterations underlying cardiac arrhythmias.
The role of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in hydrometallurgical processes

The present article illustrates the increased interest which is manifested in the microorganisms, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, involved in the biohydrometallurgical extraction processes. The wide varieties of problems currently studied are very important in order to gain a better understanding about the factors which are governing the growth of microorganisms, and as a consequence, the metal dissolution phenomena. In several mining sites, the microbiological leaching techniques are currently practiced at industrial-scale, especially for recovery of copper and uranium from low-grade materials. However, an accurate assessment of further potential possibilities for the application of microorganisms in leaching metal sulfides requires a more fundamental knowledge about the interactions of the physical and chemical factors with the growth of T. ferrooxidans in pure and mixed cultures including heterotrophic and thermophilic cohabitants. Altogether, the future industrial exploitation of these microbiological leaching techniques are very attractive in many countries of the world.
Reconstructing fringes for cavity-vibration experiments in FTIR spectrometers

Rabi splittings are now being routinely measured for condensed phase vibrations interacting with the modes of a parallel plate etalon of wavelength-scale spacing by means of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometers. Considering that the width of an etalon fringe is a critical parameter in experiments of cavity-vibration interactions, it is noteworthy that the fringes are strongly affected by non-ideal conditions such as the angular spread of the FTIR beam and/or etalon misalignment. This work characterizes how parallel plate etalons are affected by angular spread in our FTIR and presents a method to reconstruct fringes that are strongly affected by vibrations by using those unaffected by strong vibrations.
A comparison of the diagnosis of gastroparesis in 4 h pediatric gastric emptying studies versus 2 h studies

In adults, there is a consensus for standards to diagnose gastroparesis utilizing a gastric emptying study as the key diagnostic modality but there is no consensus for a standard in pediatrics. Additionally, some cost savings might be achieved if symptoms could be utilized to predict patients with gastroparesis. The aims of the current study were to confirm the sensitivity of a 4 h study in the pediatric population and to assess whether the severity of symptoms were predictive of delayed gastric emptying. This was a single site, two part study. In the first part, results were reviewed for all patients who had completed a 4-h, solid gastric emptying study over the course of a 3 year period. In the second portion of the study, participants scheduled for a gastric emptying study, completed a modified GCSI questionnaire. Out of a total of 109 participants, at 2 h, 14 participants (12.8%) had abnormal studies as compared to 26 (23.85%) participants who had abnormal studies at 4 h (p = .0027). Of the 95 participants with normal studies at 2 h, 15% (14/95) were abnormal at 4 h. There were no differences in symptom severity scores between those with slow and those with normal emptying at either 2 h or 4 h. Our study adds independent confirmation that extending studies from 2 to 4 h increases the diagnostic yield and should be the standard in children and adolescents as it is in adults.
Evaluation of the Incidence of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation After Aortic Valve Replacement.

Importance Data on the burden of new-onset atrial fibrillation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) is limited mostly to small series or post hoc analyses of clinical trials. Objectives To evaluate the incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation and assess the incidence of in-hospital mortality associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation after TAVI and AVR. Design, setting, and participants In this population-based observational study using the National Inpatient Sample and a validation cohort from the New York state inpatient database, the National Inpatient Sample was queried from January 1, 2012, to September 30, 2015, and the New York state inpatient database was queried from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2014. Hospitalizations of adults undergoing TAVI or isolated AVR were examined. The incidence of in-hospital mortality across groups with new-onset atrial fibrillation was assessed in the National Inpatient Sample cohort using multivariable logistic regression modeling. Statistical analysis was conducted from August 20, 2018, to March 19, 2019. Main outcomes and measures The primary outcome was the occurrence of new-onset atrial fibrillation, which was identified by excluding hospitalizations in which atrial fibrillation was present on admission. The secondary outcome was in-hospital mortality in TAVI and AVR hospitalizations with and without new-onset atrial fibrillation. Results A total of 48 715 TAVI hospitalizations (47.4% women and 52.6% men; mean [SD] age, 81.3 [8.1] years; 82.3% white) and 122 765 AVR hospitalizations (39.0% women and 61.0% men; mean [SD] age, 67.8 [12.0] years; 78.0% white) were identified. New-onset atrial fibrillation occurred in 50.4% of TAVI hospitalizations and 50.1% of AVR hospitalizations. In the multivariable-adjusted model, TAVI and AVR hospitalizations with new-onset atrial fibrillation had higher odds of in-hospital mortality compared with hospitalizations without new-onset atrial fibrillation (TAVI: odds ratio, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.21-2.04; and AVR: odds ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.08-1.70). The results were then confirmed with the New York state inpatient database, which contains a present on arrival indicator. The incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation was 14.1% (244 of 1736 hospitalizations) after TAVI and 30.6% (1573 of 5141 hospitalizations) after AVR in the New York state inpatient database. Conclusions and relevance In this large nationwide study, a substantial burden of new-onset atrial fibrillation was observed after TAVI and AVR. The incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation was higher after AVR than after TAVI in a patient-level state inpatient database.
Rates of and Risk Factors for CMV Reactivation Following LVAD Implantation

Introduction While cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation occurs frequently in immunocompetent patients who are critically ill and has been associated with worse outcomes, very few cases of CMV reactivation have been reported following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for CMV reactivation following LVAD implantation as well as treatment strategies for these CMV infections. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients of patients who had undergone LVAD implantation between July 2004 and January 2019 was performed. Cases with CMV reactivation post-LVAD were randomly matched by sex, LVAD type, and implant year in a 1:2 fashion with controls utilizing SAS macros. Days-to-reactivation post-implantation were calculated in cases and corresponding times post-implantation were determined in control patients for variable comparisons. Fisher's exact and paired sample t-tests were performed to evaluate for differences between categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Results Of the 349 patients reviewed, 213 (61%) patients were positive for CMV IgG prior to LVAD implantation. Of these 213 patients, 8 (3.8%) patients had CMV reactivation following LVAD implantation. Six (75%) of the 8 patients had CMV viremia, while the other 2 had colitis and pneumonia without evidence of viremia. Full between group comparisons are listed in Figure 1. In comparison to matched controls, patients who had CMV reactivation had a higher creatinine (p=0.039), higher RDW (p=0.05), were more likely to have received steroids within the previous week (p=0.028), and were more likely to have a concurrent bacterial infection (p=0.001). Seven (87.5%) of the 8 patients underwent treatment for their CMV reactivation, with all of them receiving intravenous ganciclovir as initial therapy. The one patient who did not receive treatment had low level viremia and was asymptomatic. Full description of the management of the CMV reactivation cohort is listed in Figure 2. Conclusions CMV reactivation following LVAD implantation is more frequent than previously expected. Awareness of this clinical entity for early testing, diagnosis, and treatment in at risk patients (i.e. renal failure, steroid use, elevated RDW) is important to ensuring good clinical outcomes.
Hacking the Collection: Changing the Collection in Response to a Migration

In 2016, the Munday Library at St. Edward’s University migrated to a new discovery layer. The Library had been an EBSCO Discovery Services (EDS) customer for six years, and the migration to Ex Libr...
Translating the Implementation Gap: Three Versions of Early Childhood Curriculum Leadership

Few matters are of more significance to the shaping of young children’s experiences in early childhood classrooms than the content of curriculum and how it is mediated. However, few studies examine teachers of young children as mediators of curriculum. Instead, policies intending to improve the outcomes of early education have generally addressed teachers prescriptively, providing standards and protocol. In response, this study utilized interviews with four K-3 public school teachers to narrate stories of early childhood curriculum leadership. The findings indicate that early childhood curriculum leadership varies based upon people and context. The presented cases describe four distinct versions of curriculum leadership: obedient realism, adaptive conversation, nomadic noncompliance, and ethical fidelity.
When Mobilization is Not Enough: Political Mediation, Framing, and the Use of Direct Democracy Devices by the Labor Movement in Response to Anti-Union Legislation

The political context of the United States has become increasingly anti-union, and legislation that threatens the ability of unions to collect dues and collectively bargain has been introduced and ...
Cultural and reproductive success and the causes of war: A Yanomamö perspective

Abstract Inter-group competition including warfare is posited to be a key force in human evolution ( Alexander, 1990 ; Choi & Bowles, 2007 ; Wrangham, 1999). Chagnon's research on the Yanomamo is seminal to understanding warfare in the types of societies characteristic of human evolutionary history. Chagnon's empirical analyses of the hypothesis that competition for status or cultural success is linked to reproduction ( Irons, 1979 ) and warfare attracted considerable controversy. Potential causal factors include “blood revenge”, mate competition, resource shortages or inequality, and peace-making institutions ( Boehm, 1984 ; Keeley's (1997) ; Meggitt, 1977; Wiessner and Pupu, 2012 ; Wrangham et al., 2006 ). Here we highlight Chagnon's contributions to the study of human warfare.
Rendezvous procedure to establish ureteral continuity from a delayed ureteral leak following pelvic surgery. A case report.

Abstract Background Iatrogenic damage to the ureter as a result of an abdominal or pelvic surgical procedure is unusual. However, it does occur and the surgeon must be prepared to deal knowledgeably with the injury. Leaks that are recognized within the operating theater are managed, for the most part, at the same surgical procedure oftentimes with urologic consultation. A delayed leak presents unique problems in that direct access to the site of the leak is not possible except by a reoperative procedure. Delayed leaks present a clinical situation involving the urologist, interventional radiologist, as well as the surgeon. Methods A patient who developed delayed urine leakage following a partial sacrectomy to remove recurrent mucinous appendiceal malignancy was studied. The leakage was controlled using a nephroureteral stent. Placement of the nephroureteral stent was made possible by the rendezvous procedure. Results The sequence of procedures to reestablish ureteral continuity following a delayed leak are important in the successful placement of a nephroureteral stent. After establishing the site of the injury a percutaneous nephrostomy must be placed. Then, through the nephrostomy, a guidewire is placed in the ureter to be recovered and advanced into the bladder using a ureteroscope and grasping forceps. A nephroureteral stent is placed over the guidewire to bridge the gap and stent the ureteral defect. Conclusions The rendezvous procedure can be successful a large percentage of the time with a delayed ureteral leakage. Successful recovery of a guidewire in the ureter by ureteroscopy requires a combined interventional radiology and urologic procedure.
Nanostructured Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 films prepared via MOCVD for Li-ion battery anodes

Abstract Vapor deposition techniques are particularly attractive for lithium-ion battery materials, for both powder coatings as well as thin-film electrodes. To increase capacity, alloying anodes represent a new class of materials for energy-dense films. Herein, we use metal organic chemical vapor deposition to prepare bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) and antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) thin-film electrodes, materials which have not been studied extensively for lithium-ion batteries, and assess their lithium storage performance. A deposition process was developed to yield continuous thin films with thicknesses ranging from 0.5 to 1.4 μm on electrically conductive substrates. By varying the growth time of the deposition process, capacities up to ∼0.3 mA h cm−2 were obtained with a growth time of 60 min. The Sb2Te3 thin-film electrode outperforms Bi2Te3 for similar deposition conditions, which is primarily attributed to the high performance of native Sb that exhibits high capacity and stable cycling. Although the final phase of these thin-film electrodes separates into a biphasic domain, it is evident that the starting compound Sb2Te3 is stable up to 50 cycles. Yet, since cracks are still observed from post-cycling scanning electron microscopy, it is evident that a proper balance between film thickness and cycling must be remediated.
Pedagogical guidance to educators in teaching sneaker design: the effectiveness of sketchbook practice

This pedagogical project aimed to implement a new sneaker design course and better develop sneaker design content to integrate 3D printing application technology into an apparel design programmes c...
Post-cochlear implant surgery Alopecia Areata in ophiasis pattern

Background: Alopecia Areata is a form of relapsing nonscarring hair loss, which is a poorly understood autoimmune phenomenon characterized by T-cell inflammation as a result of environmental and ge...
Why and how science students in the United States think their peers cheat more frequently online: perspectives during the COVID-19 pandemic

Academic integrity establishes a code of ethics that transfers over into the job force and is a critical characteristic in scientists in the twenty-first century. A student’s perception of cheating is influenced by both internal and external factors that develop and change through time. For students, the COVID-19 pandemic shrank their academic and social environments onto a computer screen. We surveyed science students in the United States at the end of their first COVID-interrupted semester to understand how and why they believed their peers were cheating more online during a pandemic. Almost 81% of students indicated that they believed cheating occurred more frequently online than in-person. When explaining why they believed this, students touched on proctoring, cheating influences, and extenuating circumstances due to COVID-19. When describing how they believed cheating occurred more frequently online, students touched on methods for cheating and surreptitious behavior. The student reasonings were associated with four theories (game theory, Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, neutralization theory, and planned behavior theory) that have been used to examine academic dishonesty. Our results can aid institutions in efforts to quell student concerns about their peers cheating during emergencies. Interestingly, most student beliefs were mapped to planned behavior theory while only a few students were mapped to neutralization theory, suggesting it was a novel modality of assessment rather than a pandemic that shaped student perceptions.
Statistical analyses for language assessment

1 Basic concepts and terms 2 Describing test scores 3 Investigating relationships among different sets of test scores 4 Analyzing test tasks 5 Investigating reliability for norm-referenced tests 6 Investigating reliability for criterion-referenced tests 7 Stating hypotheses and making statistical inferences 8 Tests of statistical significance 9 Investigating validity 10 Reporting and interpreting test scores
Environmental Security: Conceptual Contestation and Empirical Relevance in the Mediterranean

Environmental security remains an evolving concept without a consensual definition. Little agreement exists regarding which issues constitute “threats” under the environmental security umbrella and which do not. For some, the term is limited to the role environmental degradation may play in precipitating violent conflict. For others, environmental security encompasses the toxic legacy of the Cold War left on battlefields and military bases. Still others understand environmental security as a fundamental shift from state security to individual security, where the health of a population is the object of security. It is not my intention to evaluate the merits of the alternative configurations of environmental security. Rather, this chapter seeks to illustrate the tremendous diversity of debates associated with the concept of environmental security, offer a typology for these diverse debates, and use the typology to demonstrate the conceptual and empirical relevance in the Mediterranean region of the many linkages between environmental and security concerns.
Imroved Upper Bounds on the Simultaneous Messages Complexity of the Generalized Addressing Function

We study communication complexity in the model of Simultaneous Messages (SM). The SM model is a restricted version of the well-known multiparty communication complexity model [CFL,KN]. Motivated by connections to circuit complexity, lower and upper bounds on the SM complexity of several explicit functions have been intensively investigated in [PR,PRS,BKL,Am1,BGKL].
Prebiotic methylation and the evolution of methyl transfer reactions in living cells.

An hypothesis is presented for theprebiotic origin of methyl groups and the evolution ofmethyl transfer reactions in living cells. This hypothesis,described in terms of prebiotic and early biotic chemicalevolution, is based on experimental observations in our laband in those of others, and on the mechanisms of enzymaticmethyl transfer reactions that occur in living cells. Ofparticular interest is our demonstration of the reductivemethylation of ethanolamine and glycine in aqueous solutionby excess formaldehyde. These reactions, involving prebioticcompounds and conditions, are mechanistically analogous tothe de novo origin of methyl groups in modern cellsby reduction of methylene tetrahydrofolate. Furthermore,modern cellular methyl transfers from S-adenosylmethionineto amine nitrogen may involve formaldehyde as anintermediate and subsequent reductive methylation, analogousto the prebiotic chemistry observed herein.
The Intersection of Gender and Minority Status in National Legislatures: The Minority Women Legislative Index

To date, we are unaware to what extent gains in women's legislative representation have reached minority women. To facilitate cross-national research on minority women in politics, I present and explore new cross-national data on the election of women and men from 431 ethnic, racial, and religious groups to national legislatures in 81 countries between 2005 and 2007. I create a new measure scoring countries by minority women's representation relative to their share of the population—the Minority Women Legislative Index (MWLI). Descriptive analyses show minority women to be substantially underrepresented in national legislatures overall but their level of exclusion varies geographically.
The Generation of Superoxide Radical during the Autoxidation of Hemoglobin

The autoxidation of oxyhemoglobin to methemoglobin, at pH 6.8, causes the co-oxidation of epinephrine to adrenochrome. Part of this co-oxidation was due to a hemoglobincatalyzed peroxidation of epinephrine and could be inhibited by catalase. The remainder of the co-oxidation of epinephrine was inhibited by superoxide dismutase. This indicates that the autoxidation of oxyhemoglobin results in the generation of superoxide radicals.
Terahertz surface wave modulation in a dielectric slab metasurface

We experimentally and numerically investigate a switchable dielectric-slab-waveguide metasurface device. We use an active metasurface to manipulate the interaction with a propagating THz surface wave, giving us dynamic control of the wave at 0.3 THz.
A cost-effective bus-based multiprocessor system

The authors present a new bus structure called the generalized bus interconnection. In this bus structure all the processors and memory modules are partitioned into a number of processor and memory groups. A processor group is connected to each memory group by a set of multiple buses. For a fixed number of buses, this new bus structure can support more processors than the conventional bus structures. The generalized bus interconnection proposed achieves results comparable to those for the partial multiple bus systems but is even more cost-effective. Simulation results show that the generalized bus system is the most cost-effective among all the bus-based systems. >
The Use of Entheseal Changes in the Femur and Os Coxa for Age Assessment

This study examined the relationship between age and entheseal modifications in the femur and os coxa for estimating age at death. Five areas on the os coxa and four on the femur were scored in 200 white individuals over 40 years of age. Statistical analyses assessed the relationship between age and entheseal modification using both raw scores and scores adjusted for body size, for each sex, and for sexes combined. Results indicate that significant relationships exist between age and entheseal modification at three sites on the femur and four on the os coxae, but the relationships are not strong enough to generate age predictions. Conversely, the most severe entheseal modifications show promise as an indicator of age in older adults. Although further research is needed using larger samples for robust statistical analyses, current data indicate these modifications can suggest an age >60, or in some cases 70, years.
Chapter 3 AlGaAs Red Light-Emitting Diodes

Publisher Summary Aluminium gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) red (Light-Emitting Diodes) LEDs were the first LEDs to exceed the luminous efficiency level of filtered incandescent light bulbs. This enabled LEDs to begin replacing light bulbs in many red exterior lighting applications such as in center high mount stop lights (CHMSLs) on motor. A description of the different types of AlGaAs red LED structures and some of the basic parameters that are important in device design are presented in this chapter. The chapter considers a description of the crystal-growth techniques that have been used to produce AlGaAs red LEDs. A description of the AlGaAs wafer fabrication process is covered and a performance comparison between AlGaAs red LEDs and other types of red LEDs in the chapter. The chapter presents a description of the temperaturedependent properties of AlGaAs red LEDs as well as a discussion of the recombination kinetics in these devices. Finally, the chapter discusses a description of the reliability characteristics of AlGaAs red LEDs and a brief discussion of on-going work to further improve these characteristics.
Tissue Engineered Products: Preclinical Development of Neo‐Organs

Tissue engineering draws on specialized expertise from two traditional disciplines: engineering and the life sciences. The combination of these disciplines forms a foundation upon which the commercial development of neo-organs is possible. This article discusses development challenges and available solution strategies for bringing these transformational technologies to patients in need. Keywords: tissue engineering; neo-organ products; clinical testing; rules and legislation
When is International Law Useful

This essay, forthcoming in the NYU Journal of International Law and Politics, is adapted from the inaugural Robert A. Kindler Professorship of Law lecture at NYU School of Law. It develops an economic perspective on the utility of international law, identifying the reasons why international law is sometimes successful at orchestrating international cooperation and sometimes unsuccessful. It considers two general accounts of the gains from international cooperation, including the control of trans-national externalities and domestic commitment issues. It argues that international law is more likely to be successful when the gains from cooperation are symmetrical and reciprocal, which facilitates the creation of self-enforcing agreements. Examples of successful and unsuccessful cooperation are developed from various fields of international law, including international trade, the laws of war, immigration, human rights, and international investment law.
Insulin Lispro (Humalog)

Initially discovered in 1921, insulin was first made commercially available in 1923. Up until the early 1980s, all insulin preparations used medically were obtained by direct extraction from the pancreatic tissue of animals. In 1982, Humulin ® (recombinant human insulin) became the first recombinant therapeutic product to gain marketing approval. By the mid-1980s, efforts to develop insulin analogues displaying improved therapeutic properties were well underway. Insulin LISPRO (Humalog(R)) is such an analogue which has gained regulatory approval for general medical use. It is identical to human insulin except that the Pro-Lys amino acid sequence at positions B28 and B29 of the native molecule are reversed.
A model for designing digital PID controllers

A model for designing digital PID (proportional plus integral plus derivative) controllers, in the time domain and the frequency domain, according to given specifications is proposed. The model makes it possible to establish a parallel between the analog PID controller and the digital PID controller so that the design can be performed using the already known behavior of each part of the controller (PD and PI). Other models have been examined to find the best representation of the digital PID controller from an analog PID controller previously designed. Design and simulation have been done for a second- and third-order system plant. The proposed model allows the easy identification of the PD and PI terms with respect to the analog PID controller, does not introduce any undesired overshoot to the system, and allows the cancellation of the phase distortion introduced by the zero-order hold (ZOH) of the digital representation of the plant. >
Position-Space Description of the Cosmic Microwave Background and Its Temperature Correlation Function

We suggest that the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature correlation function C(theta) as a function of angle provides a direct connection between experimental data and the fundamental cosmological quantities. The evolution of inhomogeneities in the prerecombination universe is studied using Green's functions in position space. We find that a primordial adiabatic point perturbation propagates as a sharp-edged spherical acoustic wave. Density singularities at its wave fronts create a feature in the CMB correlation function distinguished by a dip at theta approximately 1.2 degrees. Characteristics of the feature are sensitive to the values of cosmological parameters, in particular to the total and the baryon densities.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis treated with controlled localized heating.

REPORT OF A CASE A 37-year-old man of Sudanese origin visited his homeland for 2 weeks. Shortly after his return, he noted numerous nonhealing "sores" on his extremities and neck that enlarged over the succeeding 4 weeks. A 2-week course of systemic antibiotics administered by his physician failed to improve the condition. The patient was seen in consultation and was noted to have 10 exudative red nodules and plaques. Unroofed, shaggy ulcerations were noted (Fig 1). Findings from the skin biopsy specimen showed a granulomatous infiltrate with epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells. No organisms were detected. A portion of the biopsy specimen was cultured on NNN (Novy, MacNeal, andNicole) medium at 25°C.1After 5 days, promastigotes with the morphologic appearance ofLeishmania tropicawere noted. THERAPEUTIC CHALLENGE Although the individual lesions were substantive and had the potential for chronic manifestations and postinflammatory scarring,
An aerobiological framework for assessing cross-pollination in maize

Abstract Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the world’s most important crops. Until recent times, improvement in maize resulted from the manipulation and exchange of genetic information within the genus Zea. With the advent of genetic engineering, genetic information from other species is routinely incorporated into the maize genome. Since maize is a wind-pollinated outcrossing species, questions arise concerning the flow of genetic information between genetically modified (GM) and non-GM maize. Because of the rapidly accelerating introduction of GM corn into agricultural production, improved aerobiological models to predict how far and to what extent maize pollen can be transported in the atmosphere are needed today. Models should provide quantitative understanding of both short- and long-range pollen dispersal, thereby offering a means to evaluate deposition of viable maize pollen in seed production fields as well as on neighboring farms. Central to pollen dispersal is the rich interplay between physics and biology and between space and time. We present an aerobiological framework for assessing corn pollen movement in the atmosphere that could also be applied to other crops and to uncultivated species. An important aim of this paper is to spark interest in the scientific community to generate a more complete framework of corn pollen dispersal. As such this manuscript presents a multidisciplinary albeit incomplete perspective to an emerging applied problem.
THE VIBRATIONAL SPECTRUM OF FLUOROBENZENE

Abstract The high resolution infrared spectra of three fluorobenzene isotopes were obtained and interpreted. Vibrational assignments of most bands were made and values for most of the fundamental vibrations were obtained. Accurate values for the infrared inactive a 2 vibrations were also obtained. Several major modifications of literature values for the fundamentals were made and a Fermi resonance interaction identified.
Modeling the atmospheric deposition and stormwater washoff of nitrogen compounds

Abstract We investigated the suitability of integrating deterministic models to estimate the relative contributions of atmospheric dry and wet deposition onto an urban surface and the subsequent amounts removed by stormwater runoff. The CIT airshed model and the United States Environmental Protection Agency Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) were linked in order to simulate the fate and transport of nitrogen species through the atmosphere and storm drainage system in Los Angeles, California, USA. Coupling CIT and SWMM involved defining and resolving five critical issues: (1) reconciling the different modeling domain sizes, (2) accounting for dry deposition due to plant uptake, (3) estimating the fraction of deposited contaminant available for washoff, (4) defining wet deposition inputs to SWMM, and (5) parameterizing the SWMM washoff algorithm. The CIT–SWMM interface was demonstrated by simulating dry deposition, wet deposition, and stormwater runoff events to represent the time period from November 18, 1987 to December 4, 1987 for a heavily urbanized Los Angeles watershed discharging to Santa Monica Bay. From November 18th to December 3rd the simulated average dry deposition flux of nitrogen was 0.195 kg N/ha-day to the watershed and 0.016 kg N/ha-day to Santa Monica Bay. The simulated rainfall concentrations during the December 4th rainfall event ranged from 3.76 to 8.23 mg/l for nitrate and from 0.067 to 0.220 mg/l for ammonium. The simulated stormwater runoff event mean concentrations from the watershed were 4.86 mg/l and 0.12 mg/l for nitrate and ammonium, respectively. Considering the meteorology during the simulation period, the CIT and SWMM predictions compare well with observations in the Los Angeles area and in other urban areas in the United States.
Regional registration of [6-14C]glucose metabolism during brain activation of α-syntrophin knockout mice

α-Syntrophin is a component of the dystrophin scaffold-protein complex that serves as an adaptor for recruitment of key proteins to the cytoplasmic side of plasma membranes. α-Syntrophin knockout (KO) causes loss of the polarized localization of aquaporin4 (AQP4) at astrocytic endfeet and interferes with water and K(+) homeostasis. During brain activation, release of ions and metabolites from endfeet is anticipated to increase perivascular fluid osmolarity, AQP4-mediated osmotic water flow from endfeet, and metabolite washout from brain. This study tests the hypothesis that reduced levels of endfoot AQP4 increase retention of [(14)C]metabolites during sensory stimulation. Conscious KO and wild-type mice were pulse-labeled with [6-(14)C] glucose during unilateral acoustic stimulation or bilateral acoustic plus whisker stimulation, and label retention was assayed by computer-assisted brain imaging or analysis of [(14)C]metabolites in extracts, respectively. High-resolution autoradiographic assays detected a 17% side-to-side difference (p < 0.05) in inferior colliculus of KO mice, not wild-type mice. However, there were no labeling differences between KO and wild-type mice for five major HPLC fractions from four dissected regions, presumably because of insufficient anatomical resolution. The results suggest a role for AQP4-mediated water flow in support of washout of metabolites, and underscore the need for greater understanding of astrocytic water and metabolite fluxes.
Sound propagation in magnets and its application to a planar ferromagnetic chain

The velocity shift and the attenuation of ultrasonic waves in magnetic insulators are studied theoretically. By the treatment of the volume and single-ion magnetostrictive interactions on an equal footing, interesting interference effects between these two spin-phonon coupling mechanisms are possible. The results are applied to a planar ferromagnetic chain at low temperatures. The attenuation coefficient is found to depend linearly on the temperature and quadratically on the frequency. The velocity shift is also linear in the temperature but does not depend on the frequency.
Frobenius manifold structures on the spaces of abelian integrals

Frobenius manifold structures on the spaces of abelian integrals were constructed by I. Krichever. We use D-modules, deformation theory, and homological algebra to give a coordinate-free description of these structures. It turns out that the tangent sheaf multiplication has a cohomological origin, while the Levi-Civita connection is related to one-dimensional isomonodromic deformations.
Emerging screen technologies impact on application engine IC power

Emerging screen technologies, such as Electrophoretic Displays (EPD) used in E-book Readers, are changing product power requirements due to their advantageous properties such as bi-stability (effective "zero power" static display) and reflective mode of operation (no backlight). We will first review the emerging screen technologies under the angle of system and IC design impact. We will explain power management consequences for IC design, with a focus on Application Engine SOCs for the wireless/portable markets.
Resistance of a one-atom contact in the scanning tunneling microscope

The resistance as a function of tip-sample separation in the scanning tunneling microscope is calculated for distances in the transition region between tunneling and point contact. A resistance plateau appears near point contact with value $\frac{A\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\hbar}}{{e}^{2}}$, where $A$ is of order unity, its exact value depending on the identity of the tip atom. Good agreement is found with the recent experimental data of Gimzewski and M\"oller.
The Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System in Lipid Deposition. I. Increased Lipid Deposits in the Iris of the Sympathectomized Eye in Rabbits Fed an Atherogenic Diet

Rabbits on a high-cholesterol diet deposit more lipid in the iris of the sympathectomized eye. Histologically, the lipid deposits are composed of sudanophilic staining droplets localized both in smooth muscle cell cytoplasm of the iris dilator muscle and in larger oval cells. Possible metabolic and vascular mechanisms are noted which may underlie these findings. Potential clinical implications of these findings are cited.
The Effect of the Tool Cutting Edge Geometry on the Quality of Machined Surface in Micro Turning Operation

An experimental approach is used to evaluate the condition of the machined surface in a micro machining operation. In particular, the effect of tool cutting edge geometry on the quality of the machined surface is evaluated in a face turning using micro depths of cuts. Cutting tools having sharp edges without a nose radius, sharp edges and having a nose radius, and tools having edge chamfers and a nose radius are used in this investigation. Surface micro-hardness and surface finish was measured and machined surface was examined using an optical microscope. In addition, tool forces were measured during the machining operation for all the cutting conditions used in this experiment. Surface micro-hardness increased with an increase in depth of cut. Surface micro-hardness was highest for tools having chamfer and nose radius and was lowest for tools without chamfer and having nose radius. The results were interpreted in terms of the thrust force that varied with the condition of tool cutting region.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
A method for the analysis of the geometrical relationship between white matter pathology and the vascular architecture of the brain

A novel method for the visual and quantitative analysis of the geometrical relationship between the vascular architecture of the brain and white matter pathology is presented. The cerebro vascular system is implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases of the cerebral white matter, for example, stroke, microcerebrovascular disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS). In our work, white matter lesions and vessels are depicted using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and extracted using image analysis techniques. We focus on measuring distance relationships between white matter lesions and vessels, and distribution of lesions with respect to vessel caliber. Vascular distance maps are generated by computing for each voxel the Euclidean distance to the closest vessel. Analogously, radius maps assign the radius of the closest vessel to each voxel in the image volume. The distance and radius maps are used to analyze the distribution of lesions with respect to the vessels' locations and their calibers. The method was applied to three MS patients to demonstrate its functionality and feasibility. Preliminary findings indicate that larger MS lesions tend to be farther from detected vessels and that the caliber of the vessels nearest to larger lesions tends to be smaller, suggesting a possible role of relative hypoperfusion or hypoxia in lesion formation.
Two hybrid elements for analysis of thick, thin and sandwich plates

Two general quadrilateral elements for plate bending are developed. Each has 12 degrees of freedom and accounts for transverse shear deformation effects. Each is built from four triangular elements whose properties are derived by the assumed-stress hybrid approach. Matrices needed to generate the stiffness properties of the triangular elements are explicitly stated so as to facilitate their use. Numerical test cases, in which shear deformation effects range from negligible to very important, are used to illustrate the behaviour of the elements. It is concluded that the simpler of the two quadrilaterals is one of the best plate elements currently available.
Commentary on Oommens “Rural Community Power Structure in India”

I address my comments only to that portion of Oommen's (1970) article that deals with heterogeneity as a factor in affecting the size of the "power pool" in a community. Oommen states that "... homogeneity of the community may lead to power concentration. This, in turn, means homogeneous communities are likely to have a monolithic power structure and heterogeneous communities will have a multidimensional power structure constituted by men of varying backgrounds" (p. 231). He goes on to cite various students of community power structure and their conclusions that community homogeneity is positively correlated with monolithic power structure(s) (Dahl, Rogers, Sayre and Kaufman, and Simpson and Simpson). While I did not cite the same sources in my (1968) article, I did cite others which contended that community homogeneity and monolithic power structures at the community level were positively correlated. A rank-order correlational analysis of the relationship between homogeneity of seven socioeconomic variables and influence concentration in twelve rural communities resulted in no statistically significant relationship between the two major variables (Speight, 1968:395). In fact, with the exception of communication source-utilization homogeneity, the tendency encountered was that the more heterogeneous the community, the more concentrated (or monolithic) the leadership in the community. Characteristics which were negatively related to influence concentration were homogeneity of level of living, social participation, income, education, anomia scores, and occupation. Perhaps Oommen's (1970:232) conviction that democracy can work in rural India (". . . each of the groups which constitute the community needs to be represented in the decisional process under a democratic set-up") encouraged him to find heterogeneity where it may not have existed. Oommen could have more systematically examined the relationship between community homogeneity and concentration of power if he had utilized some hard measure of homogeneity, increased his sample size, and analyzed the relationships statistically, rather than generalizing from a sample of four villages and two variables (number of castes and occupational diversity). Using Oommen's own data, we found that Spearman rhos for the relationships between percentage of persons in power pool and occupational diversity and caste-ethnic diversity tended to be insignificant and even negative in the case of occupational diversity. Homogeneity may or may not be related to the structure of community power except in individual cases. The relationship between the two phenomena may be confounded by other variables. Both Oommen's and my own research are evidence of misleading cues from past research.
Characterizing schema mappings via data examples

Schema mappings are high-level specifications that describe the relationship between two database schemas; they are considered to be the essential building blocks in data exchange and data integration, and have been the object of extensive research investigations. Since in real-life applications schema mappings can be quite complex, it is important to develop methods and tools for understanding, explaining, and refining schema mappings. A promising approach to this effect is to use "good" data examples that illustrate the schema mapping at hand.We develop a foundation for the systematic investigation of data examples and obtain a number of results on both the capabilities and the limitations of data examples in explaining and understanding schema mappings. We focus on schema mappings specified by source-to-target tuple generating dependencies (s-t tgds) and investigate the following problem: which classes of s-t tgds can be "uniquely characterized" by a finite set of data examples? Our investigation begins by considering finite sets of positive and negative examples, which are arguably the most natural choice of data examples. However, we show that they are not powerful enough to yield interesting unique characterizations. We then consider finite sets of universal examples, where a universal example is a pair consisting of a source instance and a universal solution for that source instance. We unveil a tight connection between unique characterizations via universal examples and the existence of Armstrong bases (a relaxation of the classical notion of Armstrong databases). On the positive side, we show that every schema mapping specified by LAV s-t tgds is uniquely characterized by a finite set of universal examples with respect to the class of LAV s-t tgds. Moreover, this positive result extends to the much broader classes of n-modular schema mappings, n a positive integer. Finally, we show that, on the negative side, there are schema mappings specified by GAV s-t tgds that are not uniquely characterized by any finite set of universal examples and negative examples with respect to the class of GAV s-t tgds (hence also with respect to the class of all s-t tgds).