cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mediation and Multicultural Reality

Mediation and multiculturalism arise from separate histories and serve different ends. Mediation is a collaborative alternative to the legal system for resolving all kinds of conflicts. Multiculturalism is the philosophy and practice of honouring cultural difference through developing systems that institutionalize pluralism (Roberts and Clifton, 1990). While each of these ideas have animated programs and literatures, little attention was given to the connections between them until the early nineties. Since that time, conflict resolution systems and processes have been scrutinized for embedded cultural values and implications for who is included and excluded. Training programs in mediation have progressed from making no mention of culture to adding modules on culture. But modules on culture are only the beginning. Truly competent practice and process design requires a complex understanding of culture and the development of intercultural capacities by third parties.
A Multiscale Approach to the Influence of Geometry and Deformation on the Electronic Properties of Carbon Nanotubes

In this paper, a general multiscale computational framework that concurrently couples the quantum-mechanical model with the finite element and/or meshfree method is developed for carbon nanotubes. The rehybridization and curvature effects, which are important for carbon nanotubes with both rotational and helical symmetries, is incorporated in the developed virtual atom cluster model as an extension to Bloch’s theorem. This approach is then used to study the electronic properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) influenced by geometry and deformation. Based on extensive studies, we conclude that the electron-mechanical coupling relations obtained in this work are more robust than the previous analytical studies in that it takes into account the important effects of curvature and relaxation. The simulation results highlight the importance of the concurrent coupling among the electronic properties, CNT geometry and mechanical deformation.
Crystallization of Integral Membrane Proteins

Over the last 20 years, the use of X-ray crystallography has become a viable technique for the structure determination of integral membrane proteins. However, standard crystallizaton protocols must be modified to account for difficulties involved in handling membrane proteins, which arise primarily from having detergent present. This unit provides protocols that can be used to crystallize a purified membrane protein, including detergent exchange, sample concentration, initial screening using a crystallization robot, and finally, optimization of crystallization conditions to obtain diffraction-quality crystals. These protocols were established for outer membrane proteins, but can be used for inner membrane proteins as well. Advice on alternative protocols, detergent selection, and optimization of crystallization conditions is provided.
Protein-DNA interactions in the epsilon-globin gene silencer.

Abstract The developmental control of expression of the human epsilon-globin gene appears to be mediated, at least in part, by a transcriptional silencer in the DNA 5' to the cap site of this gene. We have used site-directed mutagenesis and DNA-protein binding assays to define the active motifs of this epsilon-globin silencer. DNase I foot-printing of the silencer region with K562 cell nuclear extracts defined a sequence, which we designate as the epsilon-globin silencer motif or epsilon GSM (epsilon -278 to -258 base pairs (bp)) containing a region (epsilon -270 to -258) with 90% homology to the yeast mating type silencer, ABF-1 (autonomous replicating sequence binding factor one) and which also overlaps at (epsilon -269 to -262) with the human YY1 consensus sequence, an element which mediates transcription repression and activation of viral, mouse, and human genes. The DNase I footprint extended 5' in the silencer region to include an inverted repeat of a six-nucleotide motif (epsilon -267 to -278 bp) which shares 5 of 6 bases with the GATA-1 consensus sequence. In gel mobility shift assays, two specific proteins (A and B) in nuclear extracts from erythroleukemia K562 cells bound to the DNase I-footprinted region. Protein B, associated with epsilon-globin silencer activity in vitro, required an intact epsilon GSM sequence for binding. Mutation of 5 bases within the epsilon GSM in an epsilon-globin promoter-containing fragment extending upstream to 1400 bp in transient transfection assays increased activity by 3.0-fold compared with the native sequence, suggesting that the silencer activity was mediated by the epsilon GSM sequence. We found that protein A could be displaced by a competitor containing the GATA-1 consensus sequence, suggesting that protein A is a GATA-like protein. The region from -267 to -271 within the epsilon GSM and GATA-1 homology region was important for binding of both proteins A and B. These data suggest that protein binding to the epsilon GSM and GATA motifs mediate the negative effect of the silencer on transcription, possibly via direct competition for binding to this DNA region. Recombinant yeast ABF-1 and human YY1 bound to the epsilon GSM. Mutating three bases (epsilon -259, -262, -264) in the epsilon GSM decreased the binding affinity of protein B and recombinant human YY1 but increased the binding affinity of recombinant yeast ABF-1. Furthermore, competitor containing the YY1 consensus sequence competed for protein B binding, whereas competitor containing a perfect yeast ABF-1 consensus sequence did not.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Comparison of the Multiple Forms of Bovine Pancreatic Deoxyribonuclease

Abstract The earlier resolution of preparations of bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease into two active fractions by chromatography on sulfoethyl-Sephadex has been improved through the use of columns of phosphocellulose. Gradient elution with sodium acetate at pH 4.7 shows the presence of at least four forms of the enzyme. The principal component (DNase A) is accompanied by Fractions B and C, and, in very minor amount, D; all four fractions possess comparable specific activities. Pancreatic juice contains DNases which are chromatographically indistinguishable from the A, B, and C components extracted from the tissue. The three main fractions (A, B, and C present in the extracted enzyme in the molar proportions 4:1:1) were analyzed for amino acids, terminal residues, and carbohydrates. All three proteins have NH2-terminal leucine, COOH-terminal threonine, and carbohydrate attached at a single position. DNases A and B have the same amino acid composition, but the B fraction differs from A (which possesses 2 N-acetylglucosamine and 6 mannose residues) in that it contains predominantly a DNase with 1 residue each of sialic acid and galactose in addition to 3 N-acetylglucosamine and 5 mannose residues. DNase C is similar to A in possessing a neutral carbohydrate moiety (2 N-acetylglucosamine and 5 mannose) but the protein contains 1 less histidine residue and 1 more proline residue than DNase A or B. Pancreatic tissue thus synthesizes DNases which vary in the carbohydrate side chain and in amino acid sequence.
Mall Walking Program Environments, Features, and Participants: A Scoping Review

INTRODUCTION: Walking is a preferred and recommended physical activity for middle-aged and older adults, but many barriers exist, including concerns about safety (ie, personal security), falling, and inclement weather. Mall walking programs may overcome these barriers. The purpose of this study was to summarize the evidence on the health-related value of mall walking and mall walking programs. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of the literature to determine the features, environments, and benefits of mall walking programs using the RE-AIM framework (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance). The inclusion criteria were articles that involved adults aged 45 years or older who walked in indoor or outdoor shopping malls. Exclusion criteria were articles that used malls as laboratory settings or focused on the mechanics of walking. We included published research studies, dissertations, theses, conference abstracts, syntheses, nonresearch articles, theoretical papers, editorials, reports, policy briefs, standards and guidelines, and nonresearch conference abstracts and proposals. Websites and articles written in a language other than English were excluded. RESULTS: We located 254 articles on mall walking; 32 articles met our inclusion criteria. We found that malls provided safe, accessible, and affordable exercise environments for middle-aged and older adults. Programmatic features such as program leaders, blood pressure checks, and warm-up exercises facilitated participation. Individual benefits of mall walking programs included improvements in physical, social, and emotional well-being. Limited transportation to the mall was a barrier to participation. CONCLUSION: We found the potential for mall walking programs to be implemented in various communities as a health promotion measure. However, the research on mall walking programs is limited and has weak study designs. More rigorous research is needed to define best practices for mall walking programs' reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Language: en
Vegetation establishment, succession and microsite frost disturbance on glacier forelands within patterned ground chronosequences

Aim The impact of microscale frost disturbance on vegetation colonization and successionary trends was examined within patterned ground features of Little Ice Age chronosequences. The goal was to investigate and compare vegetation response to micro-site frost disturbance with that of previous studies done at a coarser landscape scale. Location The study sites occur on Little Ice Age glacier forelands within Jotunheimen, Norway (61°–62° N). The forelands of the glaciers Slettmarkbreen, Styggedalsbreen and Vestre Memurubreen have been well studied providing chronological controls for landscape studies. Sorted patterned ground features are found within the chronosequences, typically declining with frost intensity and disturbance with increasing terrain age. Methods Micro-plots (8.3 × 8.3 cm) were placed at the inner borders and centres of patterned ground features. Species were identified and per cent species cover and per cent cover of life-form category were noted. Nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U-tests were used to test for differences between percent cover of life-form categories within patterned ground features as well as to identify thresholds of successional change across the chronosequences. Results Significant relationships between life-from groups and patterned ground positions of varying ages were deduced using nonparametric statistics. Findings were then used to discuss trends of succession within patterned ground features and across the chronosequences. Vegetation establishment occurs at the border positions of young (< 30 years) patterned ground features. With time and distance from the ice margin, vegetation encroaches inwards toward the disturbed centres. Succession within patterned ground exhibits several stages: (1) bryophytes/crusts and lichens, (2) grasses/sedges and (3) woody shrubs. The occurrence of forbs was sporadic and generally non-significant. Main conclusions Frost disturbance in patterned ground appears to delay successional trends of vegetation communities when compared with previous studies on ‘stable’ terrain, producing micro-site lag effects. These small patches of disturbed ground are therefore important regarding vegetation assemblages across the landscape and are unlikely to be detected at the landscape scale.
Hope as a Key Element in Cancer Survivorship

This article explores the concept of hope as a key element in providing planned, deliberate health care to patients with cancer and their families. The fact that more people of all ages are surviving the crises and impact of cancer is a strong basis for optimism and realistic hope. A fundamental concept is that hope should be recognized as crucial to survivorship; thus, procedures for instilling a sense of hope should be included in the interdisciplinary plan of care. To this end, the nursing process is used as a logical, databased, problem-solving approach to the provision of high-quality health care for the patient-family system. By progressing in an orderly manner through the phases of the nursing process, the patient's and family's needs are addressed in an organized, systematic manner. The author also discusses a number of actions that health professionals can implement for enabling patients and families to hope.
Muon anomalous magnetic dipole moment in the minimal supersymmetric standard model.

The muon anomalous magnetic dipole moment (MDM) is calculated in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). In this paper, we discuss how the muon MDM depends on the parameters in the MSSM in detail. We show that the contribution of the superparticle loop becomes significant especially when $tan\ensuremath{\beta}$ is large. Numerically, it becomes of order ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$-${10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ in a wide parameter space, which is within the reach of the new Brookhaven E821 experiment.
Coordination of a dual inhibitory system regulating feeding behaviour in the blowfly

The interactions of excitatory and inhibitory neural input controlling feeding behaviours of fliesPhormia regina Meigen, at three different levels of deprivation were assessed by studying the proboscis extension reflex, volume of sucrose imbibed and the responsiveness of the contact chemosensory neurons. The responsiveness of the sensory cells tested did not change with respect to length of deprivation. The two known inhibitory systems consist of stretch receptors associated with a) the foregut, and b) the abdomen. These two systems were demonstrated to act at different times. The effect of the foregut stretch receptors was shown to be delayed, cumulative and slowly decaying. The abdominal stretch receptors were demonstrated to act immediately and to be important in ending a drink.
Consumer Masculinity Behavior Among College Students and Its Relationship to Self Esteem and Media Significance

The purpose of the study was to investigate male college students in the southeastern United States to identify factors associated with consumer masculinity behavior. The variables of self-esteem and media significance were tested as possible predictors of consumer masculinity behavior. A total of 219 surveys were used as the sample for this study. Pearson correlation analysis tested relationships among the variables, and linear regression was used to further test the nature of the relationships identified. Results indicated that media significance and appearance-related self-esteem were significant predictors of consumer masculinity behavior. Limitations and implications are discussed.
Who speaks for the vulnerable

Feeling vulnerable is a common human experience; everyone has probably felt powerless or unable to exert personal control in various situations. Lacking information, feeling stigmatized, being unable to control what is happening, or lacking access to services may lead people to have a heightened sense of vulnerability. They may wonder what rights they have, whether they have been stripped of their rights, or whether anyone cares about their situation. Although a more consumer-oriented approach is being used in many healthcare facilities, patients do not know how to get the help they need or to whom to turn for help. Therefore, the purposes of this article are to explore the concept of vulnerability, discuss advocacy as an ethical response for nurses, and offer recommendations for creating an ethical environment that supports efforts of nurses to act as advocates and uphold the rights of patients and families.
Neural pathways to lower urinary tract identified by retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase

A new technique for tracing nerve fibers supplying specific organs by retrograde axonal transport of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used to determine the innervation of various segments of the lower urinary tract. HRP was injected at the level of the bladder neck, postprostatic urethral segment, pelvic nerve, pudendal nerve, and pelvic floor musculature to determine precise nerve supply to each site, as well as possible overlap. The technique determines the exact spinal level of innervation, as well as the number of nuclei directly related to the motor neuron axons supplying innervation to each particular site. Representation of these nuclei at various levels of the spinal cord was shown in various serial sections obtained after the injection of HRP. This technique is accurate and precise; it is valuable in establishing exact neural anatomic connections between the central nervous system and target organs.
Myocardial ischemic effects of isometric, dynamic and combined exercise in coronary artery disease.

The electrocardiographic effects of isometric (handgrip) and combined isometric-dynamic (treadmill-plus-briefcase) exercise were evaluated and compared to a submaximal treadmill stress test in 140 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Only 3 of 90 patients developed ischemic ST changes during handgrip, as opposed to 25 positive treadmill tests (p
THE ROLE OF INTERNAL PHOSPHORUS LOADING ON THE TROPHIC STATUS OF NEW JERSEY'S TWO LARGEST LAKES

ABSTRACT Under conditions of anoxia, lake sediments will liberate sorbed phosphorus compounds into the overlying water. The magnitude of the sediment-liberated phosphorus load will be a function of the concentration of phosphorus in the sediments, the area of lake bottom overlayed by anoxic water, and the temporal duration of anoxic conditions. In some cases the resulting phosphorus load may be a substantial component of the lake's annual phosphorus budget. This may have serious implications in the restoration and management of such lakes. The importance of internally-generated phosphorus loads in the nutrient budget of New Jersey's two largest lakes, Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake, was assessed. The formation and depth of the thermocline were established from temperature profiles. The volume of the hypolimnion and the area of lake bottom overlayed by the hypolimnion were calculated. Following stratification, water column profiles of total phosphorus and dissolved oxygen concentrations were monitored. ...
The water content of lake sediments and its relationship to other physical parameters: an alpine case study

The water content of lake-sediment cores provides informative data for environmental reconstruction. In addition to its usefulness for between-core correlation, significant, nonlinear relationships between water content, organic matter and dry density measurements suggest that high resolution records of organic matter and bulk density in alpine lake sediments can be estimated indirectly. Using water content as a surrogate for bulk density and organic matter, data can be collected at much higher temporal scales than possible with current density samplers. These results lend further credence to empirical relationships between bulk density, water content and organic matter presented elsewhere.
The effect of outcome desirability on information required for decisions

On each of 50 trials 20 men and 18 women sampled a pack of marked and blank cards until they decided whether marked or blank cards were predominant in the whole pack. The desirability of a predominance of marked or blank cards, the proportions of marked and blank cards in the packs, and an incentive for correctness of decision were varied in a 5 × 5 × 2 factorial design. In general, the number of cards sampled was inversely related to the desirability of the pack except for packs with proportions close to .5. This relation appears to be a complex function of the difficulty of the decision and the sex of the subject, but not the level of the incentive for correctness.
Human iPSC-Derived Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells Can Myelinate and Rescue a Mouse Model of Congenital Hypomyelination

Summary Neonatal engraftment by oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) permits the myelination of the congenitally dysmyelinated brain. To establish a potential autologous source of these cells, we developed a strategy by which to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into OPCs. From three hiPSC lines, as well as from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), we generated highly enriched OLIG2 + /PDGFRα + /NKX2.2 + /SOX10 + human OPCs, which could be further purified using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. hiPSC OPCs efficiently differentiated into both myelinogenic oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, in vitro and in vivo. Neonatally engrafted hiPSC OPCs robustly myelinated the brains of myelin-deficient shiverer mice and substantially increased their survival. The speed and efficiency of myelination by hiPSC OPCs was higher than that previously observed using fetal-tissue-derived OPCs, and no tumors from these grafts were noted as long as 9 months after transplant. These results suggest the potential utility of hiPSC-derived OPCs in treating disorders of myelin loss.
Preclinical therapeutic potential of a nitrosylating agent in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

This study examines the role of s-nitrosylation in the growth of ovarian cancer using cell culture based and in vivo approaches. Using the nitrosylating agent, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), a physiological nitric oxide molecule, we show that GSNO treatment inhibited proliferation of chemoresponsive and chemoresistant ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780, C200, SKVO3, ID8, OVCAR3, OVCAR4, OVCAR5, OVCAR7, OVCAR8, OVCAR10, PE01 and PE04) in a dose dependent manner. GSNO treatment abrogated growth factor (HB-EGF) induced signal transduction including phosphorylation of Akt, p42/44 and STAT3, which are known to play critical roles in ovarian cancer growth and progression. To examine the therapeutic potential of GSNO in vivo, nude mice bearing intra-peritoneal xenografts of human A2780 ovarian carcinoma cell line (2×106) were orally administered GSNO at the dose of 1 mg/kg body weight. Daily oral administration of GSNO significantly attenuated tumor mass (p<0.001) in the peritoneal cavity compared to vehicle (phosphate buffered saline) treated group at 4 weeks. GSNO also potentiated cisplatin mediated tumor toxicity in an A2780 ovarian carcinoma nude mouse model. GSNO’s nitrosylating ability was reflected in the induced nitrosylation of various known proteins including NFκB p65, Akt and EGFR. As a novel finding, we observed that GSNO also induced nitrosylation with inverse relationship at tyrosine 705 phosphorylation of STAT3, an established player in chemoresistance and cell proliferation in ovarian cancer and in cancer in general. Overall, our study underlines the significance of S-nitrosylation of key cancer promoting proteins in modulating ovarian cancer and proposes the therapeutic potential of nitrosylating agents (like GSNO) for the treatment of ovarian cancer alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs.
Growth stage impacts tolerance of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to broadcast flaming.

Abstract Organic wheat producers are interested in testing propane flaming as part of an integrated weed management program for organic wheat production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to collect baseline information on winter wheat tolerance to broadcast flaming as influenced by its growth stage at the time of flaming and dose of propane. Field experiments were conducted at the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory of the University of Nebraska, Concord, Nebraska in 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 utilizing six doses of propane applied at four growth stages including: four leaves-4L, three tillers-3 T, shoot elongation-SE and boot stage-BS. The propane doses were 0, 12, 31, 50, 68 and 87 kg ha−1 and were applied using a custom built flamer driven at a constant speed of around 6 km h−1. Crop response to propane doses was described by log-logistic models based on visual estimates of crop injury, various yield components (spikes m−2, kernels spike−1 and 1000-kernel weight) and grain yield. Overall response to flaming was influenced by the growth stage of wheat and propane dose. In general, wheat at 3 T was the most tolerant and at BS was the most susceptible stage to broadcast flaming. Flaming negatively affected all yield components of wheat. Reduction of grain yield increased with increase in propane dose at each growth stage. The maximum yield losses of about 21%, 32%, 63% and 74% were obtained with the highest propane dose of 87 kg ha−1 applied at 3 T, SE, 4L and BS growth stages, respectively. Due to unacceptable yield loss, the use of broadcast flaming in winter wheat at the tested growth stages is not recommended.
Perception of multiple transparent planes in stereo vision.

INFORMATION about the distances of objects that we see can be obtained from the disparity in position of their images in our two eyes. This process entails solving the problem of stereo-matching, which involves the determination of which points in the two images correspond to the same object. This is particularly problematic when features in the visual field are repeated, allowing more than one possible solution to the stereo-matching problem. Here I describe a situation in which a repetition of a random dot pattern leads to the perception of multiple transparent planes under some conditions, and of a single opaque plane under other conditions. This result shows that stereo-matching is not necessarily unique—a given point of the image in one eye may be matched simultaneously to more than one point in the other eye, each match defining a different depth plane. Current stereo-matching algorithms in computer vision do not account for these observations.
Barbed vs Standard Suture: Randomized Single-Blinded Comparison of Adhesion Formation and Ease of Use in an Animal Model

Abstract Study Objective To compare adhesion formation and ease of use of barbed vs traditional suture during myometrial closure in a sheep model. Design Randomized trial using each subject as its own control (Canadian Task Force classification I). Setting Certified animal research facility. Subjects Twenty-three nonpregnant ewes. Interventions The Harmonic scalpel was used to create a myometrial incision in each uterine horn, and the incisions were randomly allocated to be closed using either polyglactin 210 (Vicryl) or barbed suture. Each animal served as its own control, with 1 horn sutured using barbed suture and the other horn sutured using Vicryl suture. Ease of use was evaluated by comparing closure times. Adhesion formation was compared at necropsy 3 months later using a standardized adhesion-formation scoring system. The evaluator of the adhesion score was blinded to the exposure at surgery. Measurements and Main Results Mean total procedure time was 13.3 minutes. Myometrial closure was significantly faster using barbed vs traditional suture (126.5 seconds vs 272.6 seconds; p Conclusion Barbed suture significantly facilitates myometrial closure and is associated with adhesion formation and adhesion severity that is not different from that using Vicryl in an animal model.
Deep-sea polychaetous annelida from Central America to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Sandwich Islands

Based on the 1958 Vema cruise and the 1965 Anton Bruun cruise 11 off the west coast of Central America and south through the islands east of the tip of South America, 143 trawl samples were examined for abyssal polychaetous annelida. The cruise tracks designated 7 major areas: Central America (1), Ecuador-Peru (II), Central and Southern Chile (III), Chile and the Magellan Strait (IV), Tierra del Fuego (V), the Island Complex (Falkland, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands) (VI), the Drake Strait and Antarctic Peninsula (VII). The collections yielded 7,015 individuals and 322 species from 52 families. The relatively small number of species was attributed mainly to sampling effort, collecting gear and processing techniques. Each major area was characterized in terms of the number of individuals, the number of species, mean number of individuals, mean number of species and mean H′, SR, J′ and DI. Species diversity was significantly higher in Central America (I) than in the other areas. The relationships between biotic and abiotic measures (depth and areas of upwelling) were examined. There were no significant associations for the entire data base with depth. Moreover, there was no association between abundance of polychaetes and areas of upwelling which was hypothesized. In fact, relative abundance was highest in the deepest portions of Central America (I) (Guatemala Basin) and Ecuador—Peru (II) (Milne—Edwards Deep) compared to shallower areas closer to areas of upwelling. Quantitative collecting gear and refined processing techniques will be required to more accurately address these relationships. Dominant families were identified in terms of number of species and number of individuals. These families conformed well with world wide generalizations of dominant families. Dominant species were identified based on the Biological Index Value. The top twenty or dominant species for each major area were identified. A number of these dominant species occurred widely throughout the major areas. The dominant species for the entire data set were determined. In general these species were very eurybathic which was consistent with other worldwide depth distributions of abyssal polychaetes. Based on biotic measures (mean number of species, mean H', SR, J′ and DI) and the Simpson and Dice similarity co-efficients, several zoogeographic patterns emerged. The polychaete fauna from Central America (I) to southern Chile (II) formed a relatively homogeneous group. Polychaetes from Central America (I) had affinities with faunas studied off western Mexiko. The Chile and Magellan Strait (IV) area seemed to be a transition area which yielded to another relatively homogeneous fauna comprising areas V—VII. The latter fauna belonged to an Antarctic polychaete fauna which was documented earlier in other studies with a larger data base and more sophisticated analysis. It is hoped that the present study will help to provide a start to fill the zoogeographic gap of this enormous and bathymetrically diverse area.
Timed breeding of rabbits with fresh and frozen-thawed semen and evidence of acrosome alteration following freezing and thawing

The objectives of this research were to compare extenders for freezing rabbit spermatozoa, to study the effect of freezing on the acrosome and to test the possibility that an effect on the acrosome could alter the optimal time for insemination relative to expected ovulation time. In Experiment 1, the percentage of motile spermatozoa frozen in 0.5 ml straws was higher (P 0.05) in the pregnancy rate between does inseminated with fresh or frozen semen. The percentage of does pregnant (12 does per group) with fresh semen inseminated at 0 and 10 h after Buserelin was 75 and 75, and correspondingly for frozen-thawed semen was 100 and 42. Litter size and the number of young born was greater (P < 0.05) for both semen treatment groups at 0 h (the normal time for insemination) than at 10 h, which was the expected time of ovulation. Thus, if freezing did reduce the time required for capacitation, it was not detectable by these experiments.
The Potential Benefit of Granulocyte Transfusion Therapy

The future of granulocyte transfusions depends in large part upon our ability to overcome technical problems, particularly related to dose. Certainly the attempts at technical improvements have made an impact on granulocyte availability and donor pools large enough to support twice daily transfusions should also improve the efficacy of a series of transfusions. The majority of bacterial infections in neutropenic patients do not necessitate granulocyte transfusions due to the rapid empiric use of modern broad-spectrum antibiotics. However, a proportion still do, and selection of appropriate candidates for granulocyte transfusions may improve the outcome. The use in fungal infections remains experimental, but as has been said by others in addition to myself, should be studied. Issues of histocompatibility remain complex. Patients rendered severely immunocompromised may have less of an alloimmunization response to transfusion products, but alloimmunization continues to be a complication of granulocyte transfusions. Patients undergoing bone marrow transplant have the advantage of access to an HLA-matched marrow and granulocyte donor. The techniques of granulocyte transfusion therapy must continue to be improved and utilized in part because our microbial foes continue to change and to resist our antibiotic improvements. As George Bernard Shaw said: "There is at bottom only one genuinely scientific treatment for all diseases and that is to stimulate the phagocytes. Drugs are a delusion".
Pseudoreal-time activity detection for railroad grade-crossing safety

It is important to understand the factors underlying grade-crossing crashes and to examine potential solutions. We have installed a camera in front of a locomotive to examine grade-crossing accidents (or near accidents). We present a computer vision system that automatically extracts possible near-accident scenes by detecting the activity of vehicles crossing in front of the train after signals are ignited. We present a fast algorithm to detect moving objects recorded by a moving camera with minimal computation. The moving object is detected by: 1) estimating the ego motion of the camera and 2) detecting and tracking feature points whose motion is inconsistent with the camera motion. We introduce a pseudoreal-time ego-motion (camera-motion) estimation method with a robust optimization algorithm. We present experiments on ego-motion estimation and moving-object detection. Our algorithm works in pseudoreal-time and we expect that our algorithm can be applied to real-time applications such as collision warning in the near future, with the development of hardware technology.
Charmed particles from two-gluon annihilation in proton-proton collisions☆

We estimate the cross section for charmed particle production in proton-proton scattering. An analysis of all possible sources of charmed particles reveals that the dominant mechanism at high energy involves the annihilation of constituent gluon partons. This process is as effective as the annihilation of constituent quark and antiquark partons in proton-antiproton scattering. Our unorthodox conclusion is that proton-proton collisions are practically as effective as proton-antiproton collisions for the production of charmed particles, or for the production of states involving heavier quarks. Gluon-gluon collisions may also produce light quark pairs. The possible relation between this process and the observed rising pp total cross section is discussed.
Cooling Capability of Cutting Fluids in Grinding

Grinding is a machining process used in the production of components with high precision tolerances and smooth finishes. It is an extremely complex process in which the main difference between grinding and other process is the relatively large contact area between the abrasive grits and the workpiece surface. The large contact area will cause difficulties supplying cutting fluids to the grinding arc, which leads to high energy input per volume of material removed. Since most of this energy dissipates as heat, a high temperature will occur. This will not only produce thermal damage and reduce the precision and quality of the workpiece surface, but also cause wear of the grinding wheel [. Therefore, the use of a process fluid in grinding is imperative in most cases.
Effect of Silica Nanoparticles on the Local Segmental Dynamics in Poly(vinyl acetate)

The effect of nanosized silica particles on the properties of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) was investigated for a range of silica concentrations encompassing the percolation threshold. The quantity of polymer adsorbed to the particles (“bound rubber”) increased systematically with silica content and was roughly equal to the quantity shielded from shear stresses (“occluded rubber”). This bound and occluded polymer attained a level of ∼12% at a silica volume content of 28%; nevertheless, the glass transition properties of the PVAc, including the glass transition temperature, local segmental relaxation function and relaxation times, and the changes in thermal expansion coefficient and heat capacity at Tg, were unaffected by the interfacial material. That is, there is no indication that the local segmental dynamics of the chains adjacent to silica particles differ from the motions of the bulk chains. Interestingly, the volume sensitivity of the segmental dynamics, as determined from the scaling exponent γ in th...
Critical loads for nitrogen deposition : Case studies at two northern hardwood forests

A critical load of a pollutant is the level of input below which no harmful ecological effects occur to a complex ecosystem. Critical loads are being used in policy decisions regarding air pollution emissions. In this paper, we applied four mass and charge balance methods of calculating critical loads to two northern hardwood forests in the northeastern United States. Critical loads for nitrogen deposition with respect to acidity ranged from 0–630 eq/ha-yr. Critical loads for nitrogen deposition with respect to effects of elevated nitrogen (eutrophication and nutrient imbalances) ranged from 0–1450 eq/ha-yr. At both the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF) and Huntington Wildlife Forest (HWF), the critical load for nitrogen with respect to acidity was exceeded. At the HBEF, due to reduced forest growth, the critical load for nitrogen with respect to nutrient imbalances and eutrophication was exceeded in recent years. At Huntington Wildlife Forest, the critical load with respect to nitrogen effects was also exceeded. This analysis demonstrated that the calculated critical load of nitrogen varies in response to changes in environmental conditions such as variations in atmospheric deposition of sulfate or changes in forest biomass accumulation.
Net primary production and gross domestic product in China derived from satellite imagery

Since the 1980s Chinese economic reform has greatly accelerated its economic growth while in contrast China's environment is increasingly degraded. The Chinese government has recognized that environmental protection and sustainable economic development can promote mutual and sustainable co-development of the economy and the environment as a basic national principle. This paper examines the interactions between economic development and environmental change in China that were compared and analyzed for the years 1996 and 2000. Net primary production (NPP) was selected as a proxy evaluator of ecosystems and gross domestic product (GDP) was chosen as a proxy evaluator of economic development. An NPP change map was produced with Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) summed annual NPP imagery products. The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's Operational Linescan System (DMSP/OLS) nighttime imagery was used to produce a Chinese GDP change map. An integrated map was produced to exhibit the combined changes of NPP and GDP. This map showed that in the regions with increased GDP, NPP decreased but the regions with no GDP change were smaller in area for NPP increase while larger in area for NPP decrease. The changing pattern of NPP varied with the developing level of GDP at province level. A province's development of GDP is controlled by its accessibility to natural resources. Interactions between NPP and GDP are greatly affected by factors of spatial location aside from human factors and natural systems' characteristics.
Sediment waves (giant ripples) transverse to the west coast of Mexico

Abstract A 45-km belt of large symmetrical sediment waves extends along the west coast of Mexico west of Manzanillo between depths of 320 and 770 m. They are thought to be the result of a strong subsurface current that changes seasonally from southeast to northwest.
Should Evaluation Become Implementation

Can the same person be responsible for evaluation and implementation? What are the limits of self-evaluation?
Critical indices for the charged Bose gas

Abstract A self-consistent version of the static random phase approximation leads to a quasi-particle energy satisfying ϵ(k)=Akv for small k, where v ≈ 1.8. The critical indices are those of an ideal Bose gas with this spectrum.
Compiled multithreaded data paths on FPGAs for dynamic workloads

Hardware supported multithreading can mask memory latency by switching the execution to ready threads, which is particularly effective on irregular applications. FPGAs provide an opportunity to have multithreaded data paths customized to each individual application. In this paper we describe the compiler generation of these hardware structures from a C subset targeting a Convey HC-2ex machine. We describe how this compilation approach differs from other C to HDL compilers. We use the compiler to generate a multithreaded sparse matrix vector multiplication kernel and compare its performance to existing FPGA, and highly optimized software implementations.
“Just listen”: “Listening” and landscape among the blackfeet

This ethnographic narrative explores “listening” as a cultural form of communication. The investigation examines both linguistic references to this form and its actual nonverbal enactment among Blackfeet people. Brought into view is a rich and deep way of dwelling‐in‐place: This complex way of being derives from and helps constitute cultural and physical spaces; provides a traditional, nonverbal way of being in those places; invites various cultural agents as spirited co‐participants in this communication; valorizes and intensely activates the non‐oral acts of watching, listening, and sensing nonverbally; and, offers a deeply historical way of consulting cultural traditions and places as an aid to the various contingencies of one's life. Blackfeet “listening” is thus a highly reflective and revelatory mode of communication that can open one to the mysteries of unity between the physical and spiritual, to the relationships between natural and human forms, and to the intimate links between places and person...
Acute fetal ductal occlusion in lambs

To assess fetal right ventricular and hemodynamic responses to acute occlusion of the ductus arteriosus, the pulmonary pressure, right and left ventricular output, and right ventricular dimensions of five fetal lambs were measured with simultaneous echocardiographic monitoring. Ductal occlusion resulted in a rise in pulmonary arterial pressure, a decrease in right ventricular output of 68%, an increase in left ventricular output of 18%, and a fall in combined cardiac output of 34%. The right ventricular systolic dimension increased, and the shortening fraction decreased from 0.41 to 0.14. Tricuspid regurgitation started within two heartbeats after ductal occlusion and resolved as soon as the occlusion was released. Acute fetal ductal occlusion imposes a marked increase in the right ventricular afterload, resulting in reversible triscuspid regurgitation.
Conditioned immunomodulation: investigations of the role of endogenous activity at μ, κ, and δ opioid receptor subtypes

Abstract The present investigations were designed to determine the role of activity at μ, κ, and δ opioid receptor subtypes in conditioned immunomodulation by evaluating the effects of selective opioid receptor antagonists on conditioned stimulus-induced alterations in immune status. Lewis rats were exposed to an aversive conditioned stimulus that was developed through pairings with electric footshock. This aversive conditioned stimulus induces a reduction in splenic natural killer cell activity, splenocyte proliferation in response to mitogens, and diminished levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production by splenocytes. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of the opioid antagonist naltrexone or the μ1-selective antagonist naloxonazine blocked conditioned alterations of immune status, indicating that activity at μ-opioid receptors is involved in conditioned immunomodulation. Further support for the involvement of μ-opioid receptors within the central nervous system is provided by data showing that peripheral administration of naloxonazine, at doses shown to be effective when administered ICV, had no effect on conditioned alterations of immune status. Ventricular administration of the κ receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) did not antagonize the immunomodulatory effects of the conditioned stimulus. Administration of the δ receptor antagonist naltrindole also did not antagonize the conditioned alterations of immune status. Collectively, the results of this study indicate that the alterations of immune status produced by an aversive conditioned stimulus require activity at μ-opioid receptors, possibly μ1, within the central nervous system.
Engraftment of Myasthenia Gravis Thymocytes into Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) Mice

To study the human immune system, thymocytes from myasthenia gravis (MG) patients were transferred into the peritoneal cavity of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice, which caused the mice to produce human IgG and IgM. The injected thymocytes were then recovered from the peritoneal cavities of MG-SCID mice. The recovered thymocytes were CD3+ or CD20+ human cells expressing the MHC class II molecule. AChR-specific T cell lines were also recovered from peritoneal cells of the mice. These cells were made up of helper T (CD3+ CD4+ CD8- CD20- HLA-DR+), suppressor T (CD3+ CD4- CD8+ CD20- HLA-DR+), and probably NK cells (CD3- CD4- CD8- CD20- HLA-DR+). Therefore, the functional human T and B cells survived in the SCID mice for a long period. SCID mice may provide a unique tool in the study of human cell immunity by creating more congenial physiological conditions than conventional culture systems, and by providing an animal model of the human immune system.
A finite polynomial solution of the two-dimensional interface dynamics

Abstract The nonlocal nonlinear partial differential equation which describes the dynamics of the interface of the two-dimensional Stefan problem, is solved explicitly with an ansatz of finite polynomials and reduced to a finite set of algebraic polynomial equations. The constants of motion and recurrent formulas for the polynomial coefficients are presented. The functional equation for the interfacial form is derived.
Cdc42p regulation of the yeast formin Bni1p mediated by the effector Gic2p.

Actin filaments are dynamically reorganized to accommodate ever-changing cellular needs for intracellular transport, morphogenesis, and migration. Formins, a major family of actin nucleators, are believed to function as direct effectors of Rho GTPases, such as the polarity regulator Cdc42p. However, the presence of extensive redundancy has made it difficult to assess the in vivo significance of the low-affinity Rho GTPase–formin interaction and specifically whether Cdc42p polarizes the actin cytoskeleton via direct formin binding. Here we exploit a synthetically rewired budding yeast strain to eliminate the redundancy, making regulation of the formin Bni1p by Cdc42p essential for viability. Surprisingly, we find that direct Cdc42p–Bni1p interaction is dispensable for Bni1p regulation. Alternative paths linking Cdc42p and Bni1p via “polarisome” components Spa2p and Bud6p are also collectively dispensable. We identify a novel regulatory input to Bni1p acting through the Cdc42p effector, Gic2p. This pathway is sufficient to localize Bni1p to the sites of Cdc42p action and promotes a polarized actin organization in both rewired and wild-type contexts. We suggest that an indirect mechanism linking Rho GTPases and formins via Rho effectors may provide finer spatiotemporal control for the formin-nucleated actin cytoskeleton.