cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Taking Music Philosophically

PHILOSPHICAL INTEREST IN MUSIC goes back to the very begin nings of Western thought. In the late sixth century B.c., the Greek phi losopher and sect founder Pythagoras discovered the mathematical basis of musical intervals, thereby assigning the study and practice of music to the activity of the intellect, well beyond the confines of the senses. In their cosmological speculations Pythagoras and his school extended the concept of music to include the music produced by the movements of the celestial spheres ? a music inaudible to the human ear but detectable in philosophi cal meditation. It could be argued that Western music never completely ridded itself of the Pythagorean spiritualization of this particular art form. Even in its institutional and sociological history, music was set apart from the other arts through its historical proximity to philosophy. The medie val educational system considered music one of the seven "free" or "liberal arts" (artes liberales), grouped together, in the quadrivium, with arithmetic, geometry and astronomy, and strictly separated from such "mechanical arts" as painting and sculpture. Throughout the centuries the recognition of music's affinity to philoso phy has taken various forms. Quite a number of philosophers, among them Augustine and Descartes, wrote musical treatises, others engaged in contemporary musical controversies or actually composed music. A few philosophers, most notoriously Rousseau, Nietzsche, and Adorno, did all three of those things. In the nineteenth century, Arthur Schopenhauer's metaphysics of music, with its appreciation of music's unique power to express the essence of the world, proved highly influential among com posers (Wagner) and the wider public alike. In the twentieth century, efforts at taking music seriously from a philosophical perspective have been divided between a Continental camp, whose championship of the Schoen berg school tends to be partisan, polemic, and even pontificating, and the more sober and pedestrian work done by Anglo-American scholars trying to apply the tools of philosophical analysis to the recalcitrant topics of the production and reception of musical works of art. Over the past decade the American philosopher Peter Kivy (Rutgers University) has published a series of five books in the philosophy of music.
Whisker Reinforced Ceramic Composites

The reinforcement of ceramics, such as alumina and mullite, with short, discontinuous SiC whiskers (~0.5 μm diam. × ~30 μ length) has been shown to significantly improve their fracture toughness and strength.1–4 Equally important is the fact that the excellent fracture toughness and strength are maintained up to temperatures of at least 1000°C. As a result, these ceramic composites are extremely attractive for possible high-temperature structural applications.
Congenital pulmonary valvular insufficiency complicating tetralogy of Fallot. Intracardiac sound and pressure correlates.

Abstract A case of tetralogy of Fallot with organic pulmonic insufficiency is presented with confirmation by cardiac catheterization with angiocardiography and simultaneous intracardiac phonocardiography and pressure measurements. Simultaneous intracardiac sound and pressure correlates proved valuable in elucidating the mechanism for the production of the unusual murmur of organic pulmonic insufficiency. The murmur occurs simultaneously with the low diastolic pressure gradient between the pulmonary artery and the right ventricle during low velocity regurgitation, and is delayed in onset following aortic closure. The silent interval in this study represents the period during isometric relaxation of the hemodynamically functioning “single” ventricle and during early diastole when the respective systolic and diastolic gradients are insufficient to generate audible sound. This case occupies a unique position in the spectrum of pulmonic insufficiency, with hypertensive pulmonic insufficiency and the Graham Steell murmur at one end, and nonhypertensive, isolated congenital pulmonic valvular insufficiency at the other end.
Liability of foreignness to competitive advantage

Abstract An expanded and holistic conceptualization of the liability of foreignness (LOF) is presented that goes beyond the traditional foreign subsidiary–local firm dyad in the host country. Taking the strategy process perspective, we contend that this liability is the aggregated effect of the firm's interaction with all elements of the international business environment (IBE), not merely in the initial entry mode decisions but throughout its foreign operations. Viewing the antecedents and consequences of this liability holistically, we argue that accurate reading of the complex and volatile IBE, formulation of a compatible strategy and its effective implementation together contribute to good performance. As the resource-based perspective suggests the degree to which firms develop such tacit skills, differentially affects their performance. Firms that excel in these environment-reading skills and are agile enough to quickly adapt to its changes can transform this liability into a competitive advantage.
The Discovery of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride (Prozac)

In the early 1970s, evidence of the role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) in depression began to emerge and the hypothesis that enhancing 5-HT neurotransmission would be a viable mechanism to mediate antidepressant response was put forward. On the basis of this hypothesis, efforts to develop agents that inhibit the uptake of 5-HT from the synaptic cleft were initiated. These studies led to the discovery and development of the selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac; Eli Lilly), which was approved for the treatment of depression by the US FDA in 1987. Here, we summarize this research and discuss the many challenges that we encountered during the development of fluoxetine hydrochloride, which has now been widely acknowledged as a breakthrough drug for depression.
Hacia un complemento de la tetralogía del exilio español: su visión fascista

This article offers a vision in perspective of the Spanish exile as "inventio", as it is seen in a production of essays, historiography and fiction which was written during the years of the Franco regime. Until now, this event has been studied almost exclusively as a republican episode and from a claiming-republican perspective. The present study will attempt to complete this gaze as it explores another, not so well-known vision of the exodus resulting from the Spanish Civil War. In order to attain this goal, this article will present an introductory study of the fascist vision of both, its own exile as well as that of the republicans. It will also consider the ideological uses that the pro-Franco regime made of both perspectives throughout the aforementioned time period with the ultimate objective of presenting a more complete vision of the phenomenon as a whole.
Nanodamascene metal-insulator-metal single electron transistor prepared by atomic layer deposition of tunnel barrier and subsequent reduction of metal surface oxide

We present an experimental demonstration of a metallic single electron transistor fabricated using plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) of tunnel barrier dielectric followed by reduction of the metal surface that was oxidized during ALD. We found that ALD deposition of a thin SiO 2 layer results in the formation of NiO on the surface of Ni that significantly increases the effective tunnel barrier thickness in Ni-SiO 2 -Ni tunnel junctions. We demonstrate that NiO can be fully reduced to Ni by annealing in a 95% Ar — 5% H 2 ambient at 400 °C.
Blind multiuser channel estimation in time-varying direct sequence code division multiple access systems

A multistep linear prediction (MSLP) approach is presented for blind channel estimation for short-code DS-CDMA (direct sequence code division multiple access) signals in time-varying multipath channels. The time-varying channel is assumed to be described by a complex exponential basis expansion model (CE-BEM). We first extend a recently proposed MSLP approach to blind channel estimation for time-varying SIMO (single-input multiple-output) systems, to time-varying MIMO systems in order to define a "signal" subspace. Then, the knowledge of the spreading code of a desired user is exploited in conjunction with the signal subspace to estimate the time-varying channel of the desired user. Sufficient conditions for channel identifiability are investigated. An illustrative simulation example is provided.
Epitaxial growth of semiconducting LaVO3 thin films

Epitaxial thin films of LaVO3 were grown on (001) LaAlO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition from a LaVO4 target in a vacuum ambient at substrate temperatures ≥500 °C. X-ray diffraction studies showed that epitaxial LaVO3 films consist of mixed domains of [110] and [001] orientations. Thermoprobe and four-probe conductivity measurements demonstrated the p-type semiconducting behavior of the epitaxial LaVO3 films. The temperature dependence of the conductivity is consistent with a thermally activated hopping mechanism with an activation barrier of 0.16 eV.
Achieving competitive advantage through the use of geographic information systems

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are systems that can provide a competitive advantage for firms if used properly in today's market and properly regulated by governmental agencies in cases of security and privacy and planning activities. In this paper, an introduction to the advantages and disadvantages that affect companies who are using a GIS are discussed as well as the organisational benefits/costs that a company may incur by using a GIS, the business strategies/decisions that are enhanced by the use of a GIS, and current companies and governmental agencies (such as the US Justice Department) who have successfully implemented and are currently using GIS. Governmental agencies can increase operational efficiency by enhanced digital data processing, image cleanup, image-enabling (which provides a very powerful tool to visualise imagery and data), and entimeter-level GPS (which allows users to switch from GIS to survey functionality).
Quick construction of data-driven models of the short-term behavior of wireless links

High-quality wireless link models can enable better simulations and reduce the development time for new algorithms and protocols. However, the models underlying current simulators are either based on too simple assumptions, so they are unrealistic, or are based on sophisticated machine learning techniques that require extensive training data from the target link, so they are more realistic but impractical. We consider the practical scenario where data collection time is limited (e.g. a few minutes) and cannot afford to deploy a testbed infrastructure with cabling, power and storage. We propose techniques that can construct an accurate machine learning model of the short-term behavior of a target wireless link given only limited training data for the latter, by adapting a reference model that was trained with abundant data. The parameters of the target model are a constrained transformation of the parameters of the reference model, thus the actual number of free parameters is much smaller, and can be reliably estimated with much less data. While estimating the target model from scratch requires 1 to 5 hours of target link data, we show our adaptation technique only requires under 3 minutes of data, for all packet reception rate regimes. We also show that we can construct adapted models for target links in different environments, packet sizes, interference conditions and radio technology (802.15.4 or 802.11b).
The Ambiguity of the Viscometric Method for the Deter-Mination of Dextranase Activity

Abstract In earlier studies it was found that the tissue pellets of Avena seedlings decrease the viscosity of dextran solutions. By the use of direct methods for investigating the breakage of these molecules, it is shown that the lowering of viscosity of dextran solutions under the influence of tissue pellets of Avena coleoptiles is not due to an intramolecular process of molecular breakage (dextranase-like activity) but rather to an intermolecular process of still unknown nature. This conclusion is supported by the finding that solutions of entirely different macromolecules than dextrans are also affected by the tissue pellets. The observed changes in viscosity can therefore not be due to dextranase activity and the viscometric method for the determination of this activity is clearly ambiguous.
The preparation of epitaxial platinum films by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract A systematic study of the effects of ambient deposition pressure Pd and substrate temperature Ts on the morphology and crystal structure of platinum films deposited onto 〈100〉 MgO by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is presented. Depositions were performed over a Ts range of 20–650 °C and a Pd range of 10-5-1 Torr of O2. Different crystallographic orientations and a dramatic change in morphology were observed as a function of Pd and Ts. For depositions performed at room temperature and for pressures greater than 10-5 Torr, the films were comprised of mostly platinum oxide. At Ts of 350–500 °C and at all pressures studied, the platinum films were very smooth and oriented. At Ts>500 °C, deposited films were characterized by islands whose average diameter varied from several nanometers to over a micrometer depending on the average film thickness; islands were prevalent Pd⩾ 0.05 Torr. Over the broad range of conditions examined, the film crystal structure varied from (100) epitaxy with a rocking curve width of less than 0.2°, to films of mixed (100) and (111) preferred orientations. At a given Ts, the deposition rate per laser shot was found to depend on Pd. In general, the deposition rate was found to increase monotonically from about 0.1 A per shot at 10-5 Torr to a maximum of about 0.16 A per shot near 0.05 Torr, then decrease to a minimum of about 0.08 A per shot near 0.3 Torr and then increase again at pressures greater than 0.3 Torr. These effects can be explained in terms of a combination of gas dynamic processes and gas-surface interactions which occur between the platinum atoms and the oxygen molecules during deposition.
RFID and Labor Management Systems Selection in the Logistics Industry

Faced with increasing competitive pressures, a logistics company in the United States sought to reduce its cost structure by implementing two information systems. The Labor Management System LMS was specifically designed to improve warehouse worker efficiency and the Radio Frequency Identification RFID system tracked the movement of products, pallets, and shipment. This case presents an overview of the logistics industry, background on the business need to consider new systems, and the requirements of the company in its system selection. Details of the technologies considered are included. The reader is then faced with the challenge of analyzing the options, and making a recommendation for systems selection. After analyzing this case study, the reader should be able to: â¢ Define logistics functions, supply chain management, and third party logistics 3PL services â¢ Describe LMS and RFID systems â¢ Identify the expected costs and benefits of the proposed technologies â¢ Develop a multi-factor evaluation for vendor selection â¢ Make a recommendation based on the evaluation, financial data, and other considerations.
Phenotypic flexibility and thermoregulatory behavior in the eastern red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens).

Eastern red-spotted newts are ectotherms, aquatic as adults, and active year-round, breeding even during winter under ice. Earlier research, with field-captured newts, showed a correlation between seasonal changes in the activity of some muscle metabolic enzymes and in the behavior of the newts in a thermal gradient. This study was undertaken to further characterize acclimatory responses in the newts in a more controlled laboratory environment. Newts were obtained during fall, and maintained at 15°C with 12:12 LD for 4 weeks for SMR (at 8 and 26°C) and temperature preference experiments. Subsequently, half the newts were exposed to summer conditions (26°C, 14:10 LD) and half to winter conditions (8°C, 10:14 LD). After 12 weeks, SMR and temperature preference experiments were repeated, and enzyme assays for cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), citrate synthase (CS), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were performed on muscle tissue homogenates, also at 8 and 26°C. Newts changed all three parameters in the laboratory. SMRs were highest in winter-acclimated newts and lowest in summer-acclimated newts, whereas temperature preference was lowest in winter-acclimated newts and highest in summer-acclimated newts. Finally, CCO activity was completely compensated in winter-acclimated newts, CS activity was partially compensated, and LDH activity was not seasonally sensitive. These results indicate a connection or relationship between changes in seasonal environmental conditions, and some aspects of the muscle biochemistry, SMR, and thermoregulatory behavior of these ectotherms. J. Exp. Zool. 313A:231–239, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Tamm states at a distorted surface

Abstract The Kronig—Penney model has been used to study the effect of surface distortions on Tamm surface states. The dependence of surface states on δ-barrier strength, interatomic spacing near the surface, and other crystal-potential properties is considered.
The motion of a solid sphere suspended by a Newtonian or viscoelastic jet

This paper describes experimental observations of a solid sphere suspended by a vertical or inclined jet. A laminar Newtonian jet is able to suspend a sphere only through viscous entrainment at low Reynolds numbers (Re ~ 10). A turbulent Newtonian jet (Re ~ 104) attracts a sphere that is sufficiently large but rejects smaller ones. The Coanda effect is responsible for steady suspension of solid spheres even in highly slanted jets. Anomalous rotation, opposite to the direction of the local shear, occurs under certain conditions, and its physical mechanism cannot be explained based on available information. A viscoelastic laminar jet is narrower than a comparable Newtonian one and it can suspend spheres at Reynolds numbers in the hundreds, precisely the Re range in which a Newtonian jet fails to suspend a sphere. It is suggested that the contrast between laminar Newtonian and viscoelastic jets may be related to a reversal in the pressure distribution on the surface of the sphere caused by non-Newtonian normal stresses. Flow visualization provides insights into the flow field in the jet and around the solid sphere.
School-Based Services for Children With Cochlear Implants.

School-based speech, language, and hearing professionals are instrumental in the provision of rehabilitative, consultative, and support services for children with cochlear implants. This article re...
The aesthetic politics of rage

(1991). The aesthetic politics of rage. Lit: Literature Interpretation Theory: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 19-31.
Transbrachial Access for Radiologic Manipulation of Problematic Central Venous Catheters in a Pediatric Population

A transfemoral venous approach is the current standard for accessing malpositioned and fractured central venous catheters (CVCs). The purpose of this study was (1) to describe a transbrachial approach for correction and (2) to assess the success and failure of this method in a pediatric population. A 12-year retrospective review of all patients referred for correction of malpositioned, retained, and fractured CVCs was conducted. Based on the performing interventionalist’s preference, transbrachial or transfemoral venous sheaths where placed under ultrasonographic guidance. Diagnostic angiographic catheters and snares were used to manipulate the catheters. Patients who underwent the transfemoral approach received postprocedural monitoring for 4 hours, whereas patients who underwent the transbrachial approach were allowed unrestricted activity immediately after hemostasis was obtained. Technical success of malpositioned lines was defined (1) by final position in the superior vena cava or at the cavoatrial junction on postprocedural imaging or (2) by successful removal of retained catheter fragments, if present. Transbrachial approach was used for access in 11 patients. Problematic lines included malpositioned (n = 10) and retained (n = 1) lines. The ipsilateral arm was used for transbrachial entry in 7 patients. Initial use of angiographic catheters was attempted in 7 cases, of which 4 were successful. All 3 unsuccessful cases had tips positioned in the contralateral brachiocephalic vein, and these were successfully repositioned using snares. A combination of snares and angiographic catheters was used in 2 cases. Snares were used for all other cases. Technical success by way of the transbrachial approach was observed in all cases. Periprocedural follow-up demonstrated no immediate complications. We conclude that the transbrachial approach is a suitable alternative to the transfemoral approach for catheter tip position correction. Tip malposition in the contralateral brachiocephalic vein suggests higher rate of conversion to use of snare devices.
Testing the Saturday Night Live Hypothesis: Fairness and Bias in Newspaper Coverage of Hillary Clinton's Presidential Campaign

Studies of press coverage afforded women running for public office indicate that historically, women tend to garner less coverage overall and that the coverage they do receive tends to focus disproportionately on their appearance, personality, and family status at the expense of their qualifications and issue positions. This study examines newspaper coverage of U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. Notably, Clinton did not allege that she was receiving too little coverage or coverage that focused disproportionately on her clothing or appearance. Rather, she charged that she was being treated negatively relative to her chief rival, U.S. Senator Barack Obama. More than 6,000 articles from 25 leading newspapers from across the country were content-coded from Labor Day through Super Tuesday in order to assess Clinton's coverage on two dimensions: traditional and tonal. On a range of traditional indicators of bias, such as coverage amount and mentions of candidate appearance, Clinton's coverage clearly broke established patterns typically afforded women presidential candidates. However, the tone of Clinton's coverage was decidedly negative relative to her male competitors. Normative implications of this mixed bag of fairness and bias are discussed.
An overview of factors affecting the leachability of nuclear waste forms

Abstract An overview of various factors that affect the leachabiiity of nuclear waste forms is presented. The factors affect primarily the leaching system (temperature, for example), the leachant (pH, for example), or the solid being leached (surface condition, for example). A qualitative understanding exists of the major factors affecting leaching, but further studies are needed to establish leaching mechanisms and develop predictive models.
Pharmacokinetic interaction between diltiazem and nortriptyline

Objective: Case report of a pharmacokinetic interaction between diltiazem and nortriptyline.
Effects of S1 Cleavage on the Structure, Surface Export, and Signaling Activity of Human Notch1 and Notch2

Background Notch receptors are normally cleaved during maturation by a furin-like protease at an extracellular site termed S1, creating a heterodimer of non-covalently associated subunits. The S1 site lies within a key negative regulatory region (NRR) of the receptor, which contains three highly conserved Lin12/Notch repeats and a heterodimerization domain (HD) that interact to prevent premature signaling in the absence of ligands. Because the role of S1 cleavage in Notch signaling remains unresolved, we investigated the effect of S1 cleavage on the structure, surface trafficking and ligand-mediated activation of human Notch1 and Notch2, as well as on ligand-independent activation of Notch1 by mutations found in human leukemia.
Bubble-induced cave collapse.

Conventional wisdom among cave divers is that submerged caves in aquifers, such as in Florida or the Yucatan, are unstable due to their ever-growing size from limestone dissolution in water. Cave divers occasionally noted partial cave collapses occurring while they were in the cave, attributing this to their unintentional (and frowned upon) physical contact with the cave walls or the aforementioned “natural” instability of the cave. Here, we suggest that these cave collapses do not necessarily result from cave instability or contacts with walls, but rather from divers bubbles rising to the ceiling and reducing the buoyancy acting on isolated ceiling rocks. Using familiar theories for the strength of flat and arched (un-cracked) beams, we first show that the flat ceiling of a submerged limestone cave can have a horizontal expanse of 63 meters. This is much broader than that of most submerged Florida caves (~ 10 m). Similarly, we show that an arched cave roof can have a still larger expanse of 240 meters, again implying that Florida caves are structurally stable. Using familiar bubble dynamics, fluid dynamics of bubble-induced flows, and accustomed diving practices, we show that a group of 1-3 divers submerged below a loosely connected ceiling rock will quickly trigger it to fall causing a “collapse”. We then present a set of qualitative laboratory experiments illustrating such a collapse in a circular laboratory cave (i.e., a cave with a circular cross section), with concave and convex ceilings. In these experiments, a metal ball represented the rock (attached to the cave ceiling with a magnet), and the bubbles were produced using a syringe located at the cave floor.
Comparing the USDA/AMS Subsampling Mill to a Vertical Cutter Mixer Type Mill Used to Comminute Shelled Peanut Samples for Aflatoxin Analysis1

Abstract The US peanut industry can use up to three 21.8 kg samples per lot to determine if shelled peanut lots are acceptable or unacceptable due to aflatoxin content. If a lot is accepted by the ...
Digital Youth, Libraries, and New Media Literacy

Young people's engagement with digital media presents new opportunities, needs, and challenges for libraries and for the education of librarians. This article discusses insights from a recent study on digital youth and considers implications for libraries. Two important roles for libraries are stressed: providing young people with dynamic contexts for learning with digital media and providing young people with opportunities to learn and practice new media literacy skills. An innovative library program (YouMedia) is described as a research-informed model for what is possible. Implications for Library and Information Science education are also considered.
Multipolar Nuclear Stability: Incentives to Strike and Incentives to Preempt

This paper considers three armed sides and one unarmed side. All four sides have value targets and all four sides may have defenses. The paper proposes a concise, parsimonious theory of multipolar nuclear stability, with two measures -- incentive to strike and incentive to preempt.
Gray Matter Differences between Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Patients and High-Risk Siblings: A Preliminary Voxel-Based Morphometry Study

Neuroimaging studies have identified alterations in frontostriatal circuitry in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) allows for the assessment of differences in gray matter density across the whole brain. VBM has not previously been used to examine regional gray matter density in pediatric OCD patients and the siblings of pediatric OCD patients. Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were conducted in 10 psychotropic naive pediatric patients with OCD, 10 unaffected siblings of pediatric patients with OCD, and 10 healthy controls. VBM analysis was conducted using SPM2. Statistical comparisons were performed with the general linear model, implementing small volume random field corrections for a priori regions of interest (anterior cingulate cortex or ACC, striatum and thalamus). VBM analysis revealed significantly lower gray matter density in OCD patients compared to healthy in the left ACC and bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus (SFG). Furthermore, a small volume correction was used to identify a significantly greater gray matter density in the right putamen in OCD patients as compared to unaffected siblings of OCD patients. These findings in patients, siblings, and healthy controls, although preliminary, suggest the presence of gray matter structural differences between affected subjects and healthy controls as well as between affected subjects and individuals at risk for OCD.
Heat Sensitivity of Developing Embryos of Tribolium confusum

THE effect of temperature on the incubation period of poikilothermic animals is usually considered in terms of constant or uniformly fluctuating temperature. Under constant conditions the rate of development is slightly less at the maximum temperature which permits hatching than at slightly lower temperatures. In an attempt to elucidate the factors involved in this lengthening of the embryonic period, developing eggs of Tribolium confusum Duval were exposed to high temperatures for brief periods during their development. Although the data obtained show considerable variation, periods of increased susceptibility were evident.
Using the Biochemical Pathway Model to Teach the Concepts of Gene Interaction & Epistasis

Typical dihybrid Mendelian phenotypic ratios are 9:3:3:1 for AaBb X Aabb crosses. If the genes involved interact in their effects on the phenotype, altered phenotypic ratios such as 9:3:4, 9:7, 12:3:1 and others may result as a consequence of gene interactions called epistasis. The colors of onions found in grocery stores are a relevant example. When red onions (AABB) are crossed with white onions (aabb), the dihybrid offspring are red (AaBb), and the offspring of a mating between dihybrids (AaBb x AaBb) are 9 red: 3 yellow: 4 white onions. Students learning genetics often have difficulty grasping the concept of gene interaction well enough for them to be comfortable predicting the outcomes of crosses or interpreting the genetic bases of such outcomes. A method I use successfully to teach gene interaction is to give examples where the genes involved affect various steps in biochemical pathways. A biochemical (metabolic) pathway is a sequential series of chemical reactions by which substrates are altered step-by-step to produce the desired end product. Once students grasp the notion that genes can interact because they control different steps within biochemical pathways, the reason why phenotypic ratios appear to be non-Mendelian becomes more obvious and comprehensible.
A statistical mechanics of interacting biological species

The system of differential equations proposed by V. Volterra, desoribing the variation in time of the populationsN r of interacting species in a biological association, admits a Liouville's theorem (when logN r are used as variables) and a universal integral of “motion”. Gibbs' microcanonical and canonical ensembles can then provide a thermodynamic description of the association in the large. The “temperature” measures in one number common to all species the mean-square deviations of theN r from their average values. There are several equipartition theorems, susceptible of direct experimental test, a theorem on the flow of “heat” (the conserved quantity in an isolated association) between two weakly coupled associations at different temperatures, a Dulong-Petit law for the heat capacity, and an analog of the second law of thermodynamics expressing the tendency of an association to decline into an equilibrium state of maximal entropy. The analog of the Maxwell-Boltzmann law is a distribution of intrinsic abundance for each species which has been successfully used by ecologists for interpreting experimental data. A true thermodynamics develops upon introducing the idea of work done on an association through a variation of the variables (such as physical temperature) defining the physical and chemical environment. An ergodic theorem is suggested by the agreement of ensemble and time averages in the one case where the latter may be found explicitly.
From cell membrane to nucleotides: The phosphate regulon in Escherichia coli

Most of the essential cellular components, like nucleic acids, lipids and sugars, are phosphorylated. The phosphate equilibrium in Escherichia coli is regulated by the phosphate (Pi) input from the surrounding medium. Some 90 proteins are synthesized at an increased rate during Pi starvation and the global control of the cellular metabolism requires cross-talk with other regulatory mechanisms. Since the Pi concentration is normally low in E. coli's natural habitat, these cells have devised a mechanism for synthesis of about 15 proteins to accomplish two specific functions: transport of Pi and its intracellular regulation. The synthesis of these proteins is controlled by two genes (the phoB-phoR operon), involving both negative and positive functions. PhoR protein is a histidine protein kinase, induced in Pi starvation and is a transmembrane protein. It phosphorylates the regulator protein PhoB which is also Pi starvation-induced. The PhoB phosphorylated form binds specifically to a DNA sequence of 18 nucleotides (the pho Box), which is part of the promoters of the Pho genes. The genes controlled by phoB constitute the Pho regulon. The repression of phoA (the gene encoding alkaline phosphatase) by high Pi concentrations in the medium requires the presence of an intact Pst operon (pstS, pstC, pstA, pstB and phoU) and phoR. The products of pstA and pstC are membrane bound, whereas the product of pstS is periplasmic and PstB and PhoU proteins are cytoplasmic. The function of the PhoU protein may be regulated by cofactor nucleotides and may be involved in signaling the activation of the regulon via PhoR.
Robert K. Merton: Memorial

L'A., ami et collaborateur de Robert K. Merton, nous presente une perspective personnelle sur le reseau social de Merton, tout en insistant sur son gout pour l'aventure intellectuelle, pour la recherche et la communication scientifique
Rapid treatment of nocturnal anxiety in children

Abstract Night fears and sleeplessness in three children of varying ages arose from an initial anxious reaction to a realistic stimulus combined with its subsequent reinforcement because of its avoidance properties and of parental attention. Treatment using incompatible response training based on the principle of reciprocal inhibition and self-paced exposure along with operant reinforcement of appropriate sleep behavior was associated with the elimination of problem behavior within three or four sessions for all three children. Extended follow-up revealed maintenance of therapeutic gains accompanied by improvement in other areas of psychological functioning.
A diagnostic index of active demyelination: Myelin basic protein in cerebrospinal fluid

We have developed a radioimmunoassay to measure a specific neurological component, the basic protein of myelin, and have used this test for assessing this component in spinal fluid. The levels of basic protein in spinal fluid correlate closely with the clinical activity of multiple sclerosis; therefore the test can be used for objective evaluation of disease activity in patients with that disorder. Moreover, it is a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and evaluation of potential therapy. In addition, the test is helpful in diagnosing other diseases in which acute breakdown of myelin occurs, especially leukoencephalopathy resulting from irradiation and chemotherapy for treatment of leukemia in children.
Prostate Secretions From Men With Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Inhibit Proinflammatory Mediators

Purpose: In the past numerous chemokines have been noted in the expressed prostatic secretions of patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. We examined the functional effects of chemokines in expressed prostatic secretions of patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome.Materials and Methods: We studied the functional effects of expressed prostatic secretions on human monocytes by examining monocyte chemotaxis in response to monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, a major chemoattractant previously identified in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome cases. We determined effects on cellular signaling by quantifying intracellular calcium increase in monocytes and nuclear factor-κB activation in normal prostate epithelial cells.Results: Results show that the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in expressed prostatic secretions is nonfunctional with an inability to mediate human monocyte chemotaxis, or mediate signaling in monocytes or prostate epithelial cells. This lack of function...
Paired-Ion High Pressure Liquid Chromatography of Methotrexate and Metabolites in Biological Fluids

Abstract A paired-ion high pressure liquid chromatography procedure (HPLC) is described for the separation of methotrexate and its major metabolites (7-hydroxymethotrexate, 4-amino-4-deoxy-NlO-methylpteroic acid, methotrexate diglutamate, methotrexate triglutamate), and therapy-related compounds (Diamox and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate). The mobile phase consisted of a 70% solution of 5 mM hexanesulfonic acid, pH 3.75, and 30% methanol eluted on a reverse phase column or columns and monitored at 305 nm or 280 nm UV absorption. The lower limit of sensitivity for methotrexate and 7-hydroxymethotrexate in plasma was 2 ng/ml.
Traditional Gender Role and Rape Myth Acceptance: From the Countryside to the Big City

Previous research on rape myths has identified a positive correlation between the acceptance of traditional gender roles and rape myths. Based on earlier research citing the prevalence of these gender roles among rural cultures, it was hypothesized that individuals from rural-farm areas would be more accepting of traditional gender roles and rape myths than their more urban counterparts. Contrary to previous literature on the rural culture milieu, the degree of rurality of one's hometown was not found to be statistically significant in relation to the acceptance of traditional gender roles and rape myths. However, consistent with past research, traditional gender role acceptance was found to be the strongest predictor of rape myth acceptance in this sample of university students.
Microwave conductivity and dielectric constant of tetramethyltetrathiafulvalene salts [(TMTTF ) 2 X, X= SCN, ReO 4 , SbF 6 ]

Microwave conductivity and dielectric constant at 6.5 GHz are reported for three tetramethyltetrathiafulvalene salts: (TMTTF${)}_{2}$X, X=SCN, ${\mathrm{ReO}}_{4}$, and ${\mathrm{SbF}}_{6}$. A divergence of the dielectric constant \ensuremath{\epsilon} is observed at the structureless transition temperature for ${\mathrm{SbF}}_{6}$ (160 K) and ${\mathrm{ReO}}_{4}$ (220 K), contrasting with a stepwise change at the anion ordering transition of the latter salt (160 K). The dielectric constant of (TMTTF${)}_{2}$SCN shows a broad maximum above the anion ordering transition and a sharp decrease at ${T}_{c}$. Moreover the microwave conductivity exceeds dc conductivity above the structureless transition in (TMTTF${)}_{2}$${\mathrm{SbF}}_{6}$. Also, conductivity becomes frequency dependent below the anion ordering of (TMTTF${)}_{2}$SCN. These data support the pseudogap picture describing the structureless transition, a complete gap for anion ordering transition and the absence of charge-density waves in these materials.
Targeting TRPV1 and TRPV2 for potential therapeutic interventions in cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, encompassing a variety of cardiac and vascular conditions. Transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels, specifically TRPV type 1 (TRPV1) and TRPV type 2 (TRPV2), are relatively recently described channels found throughout the body including within and around the cardiovascular system. They are activated by a variety of stimuli including high temperatures, stretch, and pharmacologic and endogenous ligands. The TRPV1 channel has been found to be an important player in the pathway of the detection of chest pain after myocardial injury. Activation of peripheral TRPV1 via painful stimuli or capsaicin has been shown to have cardioprotective effects, whereas genetic abrogation of TRPV1 results in increased myocardial damage after ischemia and reperfusion injury in comparison to wild-type mice. Furthermore, blood pressure changes have been noted upon TRPV1 stimulation. Similarly, the TRPV2 channel has also been associated with changes in blood pressure and cardiac function depending on how and where the channel is activated. Interestingly, overexpression of TRPV2 channels in the heart induces dystrophic cardiomyopathy; however, stimulation under physiologic conditions leads to improved cardiac function. Probenecid, a TRPV2 agonist, has been studied as a model therapy for its inotropic effects and potential use in the treatment of cardiomyopathy. In this review, we present an up to date account of the growing evidence that supports the study of TRPV1 and TRPV2 channels as targets for therapeutic agents of cardiovascular diseases.
Parents of children with eating disorders: developing theory-based health communication messages to promote caregiver well-being

Parents of children with eating disorders experience extreme emotional burden because of the intensity and duration of the recovery process. While parental involvement in a child's eating disorder treatment improves outcomes, parents often neglect their own well-being, which can impede their child's recovery. This study extends the research on caregivers and on health theory in practice by conducting formative research to develop a theory-based communication intervention encouraging parents to engage in adaptive coping and self-care behaviors. The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping and the Transtheoretical Model guided qualitative assessments of the determinants of parents' coping behaviors. Three focus groups with 19 parents of children with eating disorders and 19 semi-structured interviews with experts specializing in eating disorders were conducted. Findings indicate that parents and experts see parents' need for permission to take time for themselves as the main barrier to self-care. The main motivator for parents to engage in coping behaviors is awareness of a connection between self-care and their child's health outcomes. Participant evaluation of six potential messages for main themes and effectiveness revealed that theory-based elements, such as certain processes of change within the Transtheoretical Model, were important to changing health behavior.
The Morphology and Life Cycle of Solenophrya micraster Penard 1914

Solenophrya micraster, originally collected from a strip mine pond in east-central Illinois, was established in clone cultures. From these homogeneous populations, detailed studies on the morphology and life cycle of the species were made. On the basis of the morphology established by these studies and a review of the species assigned to the genus by previous workers, emended diagnoses of genus Solenophrya Claparede and Lachmann 1859 and Solenophrya micraster Penard 1914 are proposed.
Using Feedback and Reinforcement to Improve the Performance and Safety of a Roofing Crew

Abstract Two studies were conducted to examine effects of feedback and reinforcement on labor cost and safety behavior among roofers. Participating roofers, or subjects, belonged to one roofing crew. They were employed by a roofing company in a mid-sized southern city. Each day subjects received graphic and verbal feedback on their previous day's performance with respect to a specified goal. Tangible reinforcers were delivered on the days following goal attainment. During the first study, the crew received a monetary reinforcer based on labor savings (i.e., the difference between actual and estimated labor costs) at the end of each week. During the first study, introduction of daily feedback and weekly monetary reinforcers were associated with a 64% labor cost reduction compared to pre-intervention conditions under which workers were paid an hourly wage only. The second study describes a simple, yet reliable, safety checklist used to measure safety behavior among the same roofing crew members described in...
Optimal parameters for near infrared fluorescence imaging of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease mouse models

Amyloid-β plaques are an Alzheimer's disease biomarker which present unique challenges for near-infrared fluorescence tomography because of size (<50 µm diameter) and distribution. We used high-resolution simulations of fluorescence in a digital Alzheimer's disease mouse model to investigate the optimal fluorophore and imaging parameters for near-infrared fluorescence tomography of amyloid plaques. Fluorescence was simulated for amyloid-targeted probes with emission at 630 and 800 nm, plaque-to-background ratios from 1–1000, amyloid burden from 0–10%, and for transmission and reflection measurement geometries. Fluorophores with high plaque-to-background contrast ratios and 800 nm emission performed significantly better than current amyloid imaging probes. We tested idealized fluorophores in transmission and full-angle tomographic measurement schemes (900 source–detector pairs), with and without anatomical priors. Transmission reconstructions demonstrated strong linear correlation with increasing amyloid burden, but underestimated fluorescence yield and suffered from localization artifacts. Full-angle measurements did not improve upon the transmission reconstruction qualitatively or in semi-quantitative measures of accuracy; anatomical and initial-value priors did improve reconstruction localization and accuracy for both transmission and full-angle schemes. Region-based reconstructions, in which the unknowns were reduced to a few distinct anatomical regions, produced highly accurate yield estimates for cortex, hippocampus and brain regions, even with a reduced number of measurements (144 source–detector pairs).
Material selection for elastic energy absorption in origami-inspired compliant corrugations

Elastic absorption of kinetic energy and distribution of impact forces are required in many applications. Recent attention to the potential for using origami in engineering may provide new methods for energy absorption and force distribution. A three-stage strategy is presented for selecting materials for such origami-inspired designs that can deform to achieve a desired motion without yielding, absorb elastic strain energy, and be lightweight or cost effective. Two material indices are derived to meet these requirements based on compliant mechanism theory. Finite element analysis is used to investigate the effects of the material stiffness in the Miura-ori tessellation on its energy absorption and force distribution characteristics compared with a triangular wave corrugation. An example is presented of how the method can be used to select a material for a general energy absorption application of the Miura-ori. Whereas the focus of this study is the Miura-ori tessellation, the methods developed can be applied to other tessellated patterns used in energy absorbing or force distribution applications.