cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modular motif, structural folds and affinity profiles of the PEVK segment of human fetal skeletal muscle titin.

The extension of the PEVK segment of the giant elastic protein titin is a key event in the elastic response of striated muscle to passive stretch. PEVK behaves mechanically as an entropic spring and is thought to be a random coil. cDNA sequencing of human fetal skeletal PEVK reveals a modular motif with tandem repeats of modules averaging 28 residues and with superrepeats of seven modules. Conformational studies of bacterially expressed 53-kDa fragment (TP1) by circular dichroism suggest that this soluble protein contains substantial polyproline II (PPII) type left-handed helices. Urea and thermal titrations cause gradual and reversible decrease in PPII content. The absence of sharp melting in urea and thermal titrations suggests that there is no long range cooperativity among the PPII helices. Studies with solid phase and surface plasmon resonance assays indicate that TP1 interacts with actin and some but not all cloned nebulin fragments with high affinity. Interestingly, Ca2+/calmodulin and Ca2+/S100 abolish nebulin/PEVK interaction. We suggest that in aqueous solution, PEVK is an open and flexible chain of relatively stable structural folds of the polyproline II type. PEVK region of titin may be involved in interfilament association with thin filaments in a calcium/calmodulin-sensitive manner. This adhesion may modulate titin extensibility and elasticity.
Cerebral gas embolism in a case of Influenza A-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome treated with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation

A 22-year-old obese asthmatic woman with Influenza A (H1N1)-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome died from cerebral artery gas emboli with massive cerebral infarction while being treated with High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation in the absence of a right to left intracardiac shunt. We review and briefly discuss other causes of systemic gas emboli (SGE). We review proposed mechanisms of SGE, their relation to our case, and how improved understanding of the risk factors may help prevent SGE in positive pressure ventilated patients.
EXPLAINING PROTESTANT FERTILITY: BELIEF, COMMITMENT, AND HOMOGAMY

Alternative explanations for higher conservative than liberal fertility among white Protestants in the US emphasize concurrent compositional differences in either social characteristics or doctrine. Previous tests support the doctrine hypothesis but use denominational proxies for beliefs. Using a personal measure of liberalism-conservatism the author tests these hypotheses with data from the 1963 Glock-Stark Northern California Church membership study. He finds little support for either the characteristics or the doctrine explanations even when the analysis is restricted to subsets of couples highly committed to their faith and denominationally homogamous. Further investigation suggests that the regional nature of the Northern California data and not the measurement of liberalism-conservatism accounts for the difference in results between this and prior research. (authors)
Statics and dynamics of wetting-dewetting transitions for particles with attractive interactions on periodic substrates

There are many examples of particle assemblies where the particles have competing repulsive and attractive interactions. In solid state systems, it has recently been proposed that exotic vortex states in type-I and type-II superconducting hybrids and type-1.5 superconductors fall into this category. In soft matter systems, competing interactions can arise for charged colloids with short range attraction or with multiple length scale interactions. Systems with competing interactions have been shown to exhibit a wide variety of patterns including stripes, labyrinths, bubbles, and crystalline phases. Although there has been considerable work analyzing these phases for different relative interaction strengths, there is little work on understanding what happens when such systems are driven over a periodic substrate. Such substrates for collective assemblies of particles could be created lithographically or using optical trap arrays and would introduce a new length scale into the system. Here we examine how a system with competing interactions behaves when interacting with a square periodic substrate. We find a novel wetting-dewetting phenomena similar to that of liquids on surfaces. In the presence of a strong substrate, the pattern formation normally found for particles with competing interactions is lost and the particles completely cover the substrate homogeneously. Under an applied drive, such a wetted system undergoes a transition to a partially dewetted state with anisotropic transport and structural features.
A new approach to optimal design of multi-stage metal forming processes with micro genetic algorithms

Abstract This paper describes a new method for design optimization of process variables in multi-stage metal forming processes. The selected forming processes are multi-pass cold wire drawing, multi-pass cold drawing of a tubular profile and cold forging of an automotive outer race preform. An adaptive micro genetic algorithm (μGA) scheme has been implemented for minimizing a wide variety of objective-cost functions relevant to the respective processes. The chosen design variables are die geometry, area reduction ratios and the total number of forming stages. Significant improvements in the simulated product quality and reduction in the number of passes has been observed as a result of the micro genetic algorithms-based optimization process.
Carbon Addition Reduced Lag Time for 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol Degradation

The effect of grass root exudates and glucose on the lag time associated with 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) degradation by an unacclimated microbial inoculant and an acclimated microbial inoculant was investigated. The experimental medium was a nutrient solution containing TCP spiked with radiolabeled TCP and amended with either glucose or root exudates collected from fescue grass. Treatments containing TCP as the sole organic carbon source served as biotic controls. The acclimated microbial inoculant was not provided with TCP for 4 weeks prior to the experiment. The presence of an alternate organic carbon source reduced lag time for both the acclimated microbial inoculant and the unacclimated microbial inoculant. For the latter, three ratios of alternate organic carbon content to inoculant biomass were tested. The lag time for acclimation depended on this ratio. A lag time in excess of 11 days was observed for the biotic controls. The shortest lag time with the addition of an alternate organic carbon source was between 2 and 4 days for glucose and between 5 and 9 days for root exudates. It is proposed that the presence of a readily available, alternate organic carbon source affected lag time through promotion of microbial population growth and provision of a preferred source of carbon and energy.
Electrically and Optically Controlled Light Modulation and Color Switching Using Helix Distortion of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals

Abstract The electro-optic effect associated with the helix distortion of chiral smectic C (SmC*) liquid crystals and its application to light modulation are investigated. Optically and electrically addressed spatial light modulators based on this effect are demonstrated. They exhibit an analog response, response times as short as 100 μs, good contrast ratio and resolution, and color switching capability. The analog response is shown to be a result of the gradual distortion of the helix at low voltages. Optically this corresponds to a linear rotation of the average optic axis and change of the average effective birefringence. From measurements of the wavelength of the maximum transmission the birefringence has been found to change as a function of dc voltage and frequency of ac voltage and magnitude. The agreement between theory and experiment suggests that color changes are due solely to birefringence changes associated with changes in the geometry of the helix. We derive expressions for the angle of rot...
X-Ray Anode Surface Temperatures: The Effect Of Volume Heating

ABSTRACT An analytical solution for the focal spot temperature is developed for the case of an exponential decay of the electron flux in the anode. The influence of volume heating on the surface temperature is dominated by the parameter (w/S)2 where w is the focal spot width and S is a mean depth of penetration. For typical operating conditions, the influence of volume heating becomes impor­ tant when the focal spot width is less than 500 microns.1. THEORYIn the operation of rotating x-ray tube anodes, it is generally the tem­ perature at the focal spot that limits the range of operable conditions. Knowledge of how this temperature depends on the system parameters is necessary if one is to develop optimal use strategies for rotating anodes.The classic analysis of this heat transfer problem was first presented by M'uller (1927) who studied the rectilinear system shown in Fig. 1. The width of the focal spot is indicated by w , and the length I is often given bySL = w/sin 13° (1)Because SL is large compared to w , it is permissible to determine the tem­ perature rise in terms of the two-dimensional heat transfer process illustrated in Fig. 2. The boundary value problem associated with Fig. 2 can be expressed as= k
Small airways in COPD.

Dr. Peter J. Barnes discusses the accelerated loss in FEV1 and its relation to the pathogenesis of the disease.
What’s Wrong With Max? Parenthood and the Portrayal of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Disability scholars have long called for better representations of disability in popular culture, particularly in cinema and television. These pleas have resulted in a robust body of research acros...
EFFICIENT UNWINDING OF TRIPLEX DNA BY A DNA HELICASE

Sequence specific triple helix formation shows promise as a strategy for gene-specific inhibition of gene expression by blocking promoters or enhancers. Therefore, it is important to understand how this unusual structure affects DNA metabolic processes other than transcription. It has been shown that triplexes block in vitro DNA synthesis catalyzed by purified DNA polymerases. We report here that a purified DNA helicase unwinds a triple helical substrate with an efficiency similar to that observed with a comparable duplex species. These model studies suggest that triple helices will not seriously inhibit DNA replication or recombination in vivo, since DNA polymerases are preceded by helicases in the fully assembled replication holoenzyme.
Immunization Coverage Among Hispanic Ancestry, 2003 National Immunization Survey

Background The Hispanic population is increasing and heterogeneous (Hispanic refers to persons of Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino descent). The objective was to examine immunization rates among Hispanic ancestry for the 4:3:1:3:3 series (≥4 doses diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and pertussis vaccine; ≥3 doses poliovirus vaccine; ≥1 doses measles-containing vaccine; ≥3 doses Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine; and ≥3 doses hepatitis B vaccine). Methods The National Immunization Survey measures immunization coverage among 19- to 35-month-old U.S. children. Coverage was compared from combined 2001–2003 data among Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites using t -tests, and among Hispanic ancestry using a chi-square test. Hispanics were categorized as Mexican, Mexican American, Central American, South American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Spanish Caribbean (primarily Dominican Republic), other, and multiple ancestry. Results Children of Hispanic ancestry increased from 21% in 1999 to 25% in 2003. These Hispanic children were less well immunized than non-Hispanic whites (77.0%, ±2.1% [95% confidence interval] compared to 82.5%, ±1.1% (95% CI) > in 2003). Immunization coverage did not vary significantly among Hispanics of varying ancestries (p=0.26); however, there was substantial geographic variability. In some areas, immunization coverage among Hispanics was significantly higher than non-Hispanic whites. Conclusions Hispanic children were less well immunized than non-Hispanic whites; however, coverage varied notably by geographic area. Although a chi-square test found no significant differences in coverage among Hispanic ancestries, the range of coverage, 79.2%, ±5.1% for Cuban Americans to 72.1%, ±2.4% for Mexican descent, may suggest a need for improved and more localized monitoring among Hispanic communities.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator shock reduction using new antitachycardia pacing therapies

The main purpose of ICDs is to abort sudden death by delivering therapy at the moment of tachycardia. Shocks accomplish this goal but are painful. Alternatively antitachycardia pacing is painless and if deemed safe may be reasonable substitute. Multiple trials show a high efficacy rate by ATP (78-94%) for treating VTs below 200 bpm. ATP has had less efficacy for faster VTs (41-79%) and have higher probability of accelerating tachycardia (5-55%). The PainFREE trials address these issues. The first pilot study PainFREE Rx applied standardized VT detection and ATP regimen to 220 patients with 1100 spontaneous episodes of VT. ATP success for slow VT success was 92% and fast VT > 188 bpm raw success rate was 89%. None of these tials randomize shock versus ATP so comparative safety data was missing. Thus, the PainFREE Rx II trial was designed to make direct safety comparison between shock and ATP therapies for fast VT > 188 bpm. It included 634 patients with either ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy followed for 1 year yielding 1760 episodes of slow VT, fast VT plus VF. The results of the PainFREE Rx II trial showed that a single regimen of ATP, burst pace 8 pulses at 88% VT cycle length could safely terminate 77% of fast VT and 90% of slow VT. Consequently, shocks were reduced by 70% compared to the shock group. Furthermore, ATP was proven safe because there was no increase in sudden death, syncope or even arrhythmia acceleration compared to shock. The quality of life of the ATP group was found to be superior to the shock group validating ATP's intent. Secondary yet important findings also included the fact that by programming the ICD to wait for 18 beats in PainFREE Rx II before treating an episode reduced markedly the number of episodes treated when compared to 12 beat detection as done in PainFREE Rx I. Since syncope occurred in only 1% of episodes, the authors suggested that a longer wait for ICD detection needs to be evaluated.
Effects of Acute Radiation on the Adult Mammalian Central Nervous System.

SummaryIrradiation of rats and mice resulted in acute necrosis of scattered oligodendroglia cells, subependymal cells when present in younger adult animals, retinal rod cells, and occasional neurons in the pyramidal lobe and olfactory brain. Subependymal cells were radiosensitive (200 r) but the other cells were not destroyed below 1200 r.
SOR1, a Gene Required for Photosensitizer and Singlet Oxygen Resistance in Cercospora Fungi, Is Highly Conserved in Divergent Organisms

Filamentous Cercospora fungi are resistant to photosensitizing compounds that generate singlet oxygen. C. nicotianae photosensitizer-sensitive mutants were restored to full resistance by transformation with SOR1 (Singlet Oxygen Resistance 1), a gene recovered from a wild-type genomic library. SOR1 null mutants generated via targeted gene replacement confirmed the requirement for SOR1 in photosensitizer resistance. SOR1 RNA is present throughout the growth cycle. Although resistance to singlet oxygen is rare in biological systems, SOR1, a gene with demonstrated activity against singlet-oxygen-generating photosensitizers, is highly conserved in organisms from widely diverse taxa. The characterization of SOR1 provides an additional phenotype to this large group of evolutionarily conserved genes.
The benefits and pitfalls of health services research funded by proprietary firms

This editorial, written in response to an article appearing in another professional journal, discusses the benefits and pitfalls of health services research funded by proprietary firms.
Studies on the Modification of Thermoplastic Polyolefins (TPOs). II. Effect of Processing Conditions on the Morphology and Adhesion of Two Components (2K) Polyurethane Coatings to the Modified TPOs

The morphology of thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs) has a profound effect on their paintability. Paint molecules can penetrate an amorphous surface easier than a crystalline one. The effects of the compression molding processing conditions, such as molding temperature and cooling rate, on the crystallinity of TPOs were investigated. The effect of crystallinity on the adhesion properties of TPOs was evaluated using a two-component solvent-based polyurethane coating. The adhesion of the coating was better for the panels with less crystallinity. The compression molding temperature was found not to have a significant effect on the crystallinity of TPOs. The cooling rate was found to have a profound effect on the crystallinity and as a result on the paintability of modified TPOs.
Rectal Absorption of Nitrofurantoin

The adsorption in humans of nitrofurantoin from seven suppository bases was studied using urinary excretion measurements. Rectal absorption was poorer than GI absorption. The administration of 400 mg of nitrofurantoin in a polyethylene glycol-polysorbate 80 suppository base and in a polyethylene glycol-silica suppository based provided an adequate urinary concentration of nitrofurantoin. Persons who cannot tolerate orally administered nitrofurantoin due to gastric upset could receive nitrofurantoin therapy rectally.
Limitations of child injury data from the CPSC's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System: the case of baby walker related data.

OBJECTIVES: The US Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) is a primary source for children's consumer product injury surveillance data in the US. Differing interpretations of the emergency department based NEISS baby walker data by various parties prompted this detailed examination, reclassification, and analysis of the NEISS data to explain these discrepancies. METHODS: Case selection was performed by searching the NEISS 1982-91 database for the baby walker product code and various text strings for children less than 24 months old. False negative and false positive cases were identified and reclassified. Adjusted population rates were computed and the types and locations of hospitals contributing to the sample were examined. RESULTS: One per cent false positive and 4% false negative misclassification rates were observed. In 1991, two children's hospitals reported 14% of the baby walker related injuries, though these hospitals made up just 2% of the sample frame. Through random allocation, one state currently contains four acute care hospitals and the only two children's hospitals reporting to the NEISS system. These six hospitals contributed 18% of the walker cases whereas the state represents only 3% of the US infant population. CONCLUSIONS: Misclassification in NEISS baby walker reports is minimal, with false negatives outweighing false positives. For trend analysis of product related injuries at the frequency of occurrence observed for baby walkers, NEISS suffers from low sensitivity due to sampling error. For children's injuries, NEISS' estimates have been affected by children's hospitals coming in and out of the sample and currently reflects a random geographic imbalance because one state contributes both of the reporting children's hospitals. To overcome these problems improved multiple product coding, a unique baby walker code, and stratification of children's hospitals in an enlarged NEISS sample is recommended.
Seasonal respiration of foliage, fine roots, and woody tissues in relation to growth, tissue N, and photosynthesis

Autotrophic respiration may regulate how ecosystem productivity responds to changes in temperature, atmospheric [CO2] and N deposition. Estimates of autotrophic respiration are difficult for forest ecosystems, because of the large amount of biomass, different metabolic rates among tissues, and seasonal variation in respiration rates. We examined spatial and seasonal patterns in autotrophic respiration in a Pinus strobus ecosystem, and hypothesized that seasonal patterns in respiration rates at a common temperature would vary with [N] for fully expanded foliage and fine roots, with photosynthesis for foliage, and with growth for woody tissues (stems, branches, and coarse roots). We also hypothesized that differences in [N] would largely explain differences in maintenance or dormant-season respiration among tissues. For April-November, mean respiration at 15 °C varied from 1.5 to 2.8 umol kg"1 s"1 for fully expanded foliage, 1.7-3.0 for growing foliage, 0.8-1.6 for fine roots, 0.6-1.1 (sapwood) for stems, 0.5-1.8 (sapwood) for branches, and 0.2-1.5 (sapwood) for coarse roots. Growing season variation in respiration for foliage produced the prior year was strongly related to [N] (r2 = 0.94), but fine root respiration was not related to [N].
A Hilbert transform product theorem

The usual product theorem for Hilbert transforms states that under certain conditions x(t)y(t), the Hilbert transform of a product of two signals x(t) and y(t), is equal to x(t)y^(t), a result having repeated use in simplifying calculations involving modulated waveforms. Several sufficient conditions for the theorem to hold are well-known and appear in the literature. Here, using a time-domain approach, we derive a necessary and sufficient condition for the validity of the theorem and show as an example two signals which have the desired property but which do not satisfy any of the earlier sufficient conditions.
Early prediction and aspirin for prevention of pre-eclampsia (EPAPP) study: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective To estimate the effect of early administration of aspirin on the prevention of pre-eclampsia in high-risk women. Methods This was planned as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of aspirin for women with risk factors for pre-eclampsia. Participants were randomized to start either aspirin (81 mg/day) or placebo at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome was pre-eclampsia and secondary outcomes included gestational hypertension and small-for-gestational age at birth. Results The trial suffered from slow recruitment, leading to a protocol change to broaden the inclusion criteria (from a minimum score of multiple risk factors to at least one risk factor for pre-eclampsia). The trial was then terminated prematurely due to continuing slow recruitment and a lack of equipoise given a change in national guidelines to administer aspirin to high-risk women. From the 53 women who were randomized, 30 were included in the final analysis. There was no evidence that the primary outcome of pre-eclampsia was prevented by low-dose aspirin (relative risk (RR) 0.88, 95% CI 0.21–3.66). Gestational hypertension was seen in two women, both in the aspirin group. There was no evidence that the occurrence of small-for-gestational age was reduced by aspirin (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.06–12.72). Conclusions Although this study was underpowered to show effectiveness of aspirin compared to placebo due to the premature termination and difficulties encountered, it highlights practical issues to inform future studies. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Performance Analysis of Error Control Codes for Wireless Sensor Networks

In wireless sensor networks, the data transmitted from the sensor nodes are vulnerable to corruption by errors induced by noisy channels and other factors. Hence it is necessary to provide a proper error control scheme to reduce the bit error rate (BER). Due to the stringent energy constraint in sensor networks, it is vital to use energy efficient error control scheme. In this paper, we focus our study on the performance analysis of various error control codes in terms of their BER performance and power consumption on different platforms. In detail, error control codes with different constraints are implemented and simulated using VHDL. Implementation on FPGA and ASIC design is carried out and the energy consumption is measured. The error control performance of these codes is evaluated in terms of bit error rate (BER) by transmitting randomly generated data through a Gaussian channel. Based on the study and comparison of the three different error control codes, we identify that binary-BCH codes with ASIC implementation are best suitable for wireless sensor networks
Design for and the control of the channel and 1/f noise in GaAs MESFET's

A model is given for the channel noise coefficient of FETs operating in the saturation region. Some approximations are made for hot electron effects which can be incorporated into the derivation and accounted for by a simple numerical technique. These are then compared to experimental results. We have also developed a formula for the 1/f noise corner frequency for GaAs MESFETs. The formula is based on a new theory where the 1/f noise is a bulk phenomena with localized high frequency variations and long range low frequency fluctuations of carrier concentrations in the substrate with the lowest frequency constrained only by the thickness of the material. Comprehensive and new models with matching experimental data for both channel noise and 1/f noise of the GaAs MESFETs are presented. These can provide both design and testing guidelines for devices in GaAs integrated circuits which are required to meet noise and reliability specifications.
Biopolymerization-driven self-assembly of nanofiber air-bridges

Several proteins, including actin and fibrin, polymerize in vivo to form nanometre diameter fibers. These processes can be duplicated in vitro using only the essential enzyme and protein precursors. These same protein solutions are directed to self-assemble into oriented arrays of air-bridges using only the crude operation of hand brushing them over textured micron-scale surfaces. The creation of these suspended structures could be used as nanomechanical elements in various sensors and actuators, and their fabrication by this rapid directed self-assembly method would be useful, especially during the early phases of prototype device development. The fabrication method extends earlier studies (Harfenist et al., Nano Lett., 2004, 4, 1931) in which an organic polymer dissolved in a volatile solvent forms nanofiber air-bridges through a combination of capillary force driven thinning of liquid bridges and evaporation driven solidification of the polymer solution. However, in the current study polymerization is initiated when a monomeric solution of soluble protein is brushed over the micro-textured surface. When fibrinogen solutions are brushed over a thrombin primed surface, or monomeric actin over a KCl primed array, fiber air-bridges are formed, sometimes reaching diameters as small as 16 nm. The uniformity in diameter of one hand-brushed array of 358 parallel fibrin air-bridges was 36.4 nm (6.8 nm standard deviation), with no more than 3 broken fibers. The fibrin bridges are shown to be both highly elastomeric and adhesive through demonstration of the construction and stretching of a three point bridge using a micromanipulator. Also the brush-on method produced ordered arrays of suspended fibrin membranes, which sometimes were anchored perpendicular to the vertical sidewalls of the textured surface and other times were anchored parallel to the sidewalls. The demonstration of air-bridge formation by biopolymerization suggested that air-bridges might also be formed during initiated polymerization of organic monomers. Even though the monomer of norbornylene has a much smaller molecular weight than fibrinogen, hand brushing of norbornylene in toluene with Grubbs' catalyst resulted in the self-assembly of fiber air-bridges as small as 4 nm diameter over nearly 6 microns length.
Classic and Occult Submucous Cleft Palates: A Histopathologic Analysis

Abstract Objective: Although classic and occult submucous clefts have been well described with respect to clinical features and endoscopic findings, there is a paucity of information regarding the histologic characteristics of the midline palatal area and its role in the clefting process. This preliminary study describes the histopathologic features of classic and occult submucosal clefts. Design: Twenty-eight patients with classic submucous cleft (12 patients) and occult submucous cleft (16 patients) were available for study. Histopathologic evaluation of two biopsies from each patient (muscular uvulae biopsy; levator muscle bundle biopsy) was performed. Results: Submucosal fibrosis with relatively dense collagen deposition was noted in both the musculus uvulae and levator muscle bundle biopsy sites. Individual myocytes and myocyte fascicles were entrapped and encased by fibrotic tissue, resulting in disruption of the fascicular organization. Most fascicles were disrupted by intervening dense collagen ba...
Impaired Circadian Photosensitivity in Mice Lacking Glutamate Transmission from Retinal Melanopsin Cells

Intrinsically photoreceptive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) contain the photopigment melanopsin and convey retinal light inputs to the circadian system via the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT) projection to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The principal neurotransmitter of this projection is glutamate, and ipRGCs use the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2) to package glutamate into synaptic vesicles. However, these neurons contain other potential neurotransmitters, such as pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP). To test the role of glutamate in mediating ipRGC light inputs into the SCN, we crossed mice in which Cre-recombinase expression is driven by the melanopsin promotor (Opn4(Cre/+)) with mice in which the second exon of VGLUT2 is flanked by loxP sites (VGLUT2(fl/fl)), producing ipRGCs that are unable to package glutamate into synaptic vesicles. Such mice had free-running circadian rhythms that did not entrain to a 12:12 light-dark (12:12 LD) cycle, nor did they show a phase delay after a 45-min light pulse administered at circadian time (CT) 14. A small subset of the mice did appear to entrain to the 12:12 LD cycle with a positive phase angle to lights-off; a similar entrainment pattern could be achieved in free-running mice if they were exposed to a 12:12 LD cycle with light of a greater intensity. Glutamate transmission from the ipRGCs is necessary for normal light entrainment of the SCN at moderate (0.35 W/m(2)) light levels, but residual transmission (possibly by PACAP in ipRGCs or by other RGCs) can weakly entrain animals, particularly at very high (6.53 W/m(2)) light levels, although it may be less effective at suppressing locomotor activity (light masking).
Topicalization and Memory for Main Ideas in Prose

Two experiments compared the effects of text structure and processing task requirements on memory for the main idea of a passage. College students identified as good or poor readers read a series of short passages in which an initial topic sentence was either present (topicalized) or absent (non-topicalized). In Experiment 1, all subjects were required to generate a title for each passage during reading and then were given a forced-choice recognition test for the main idea of each passage. The results showed that subjects performed better on topicalized passages than non-topicalized passages in both the title generation task and recognition memory. In the second experiment, subjects performed one of three meaningful processing tasks: rating comprehensibility of the passage, choosing the most appropriate main idea, or generating the main idea in their own words. There were no differences due to passage type for either processing task performance or recall of the main ideas, nor were good and poor readers differentially affected by passage type. Generating a main idea sentence following reading resulted in significantly better memory for both good and poor readers than did rating comprehensibility. These results support the position that generative activities facilitate learning of main ideas, even for passages with poor text structure. This finding is important in view of recent studies indicating that the majority of paragraphs written for both children and adults lack an explicit main idea sentence.
A low-mass high-speed µGC separation column with built-in fluidic chip-to-chip interconnects

This paper reports a low-mass high-speed separation column with built in fluidic chip-to-chip interconnects for a micro gas chromatograph. The 25cm-long suspended column has been successfully coated, and separations have been obtained. The column can be heated to 100°C with 200mW in air and only 80mW in vacuum. The corresponding thermal time constants are 1.2sec and 2.5sec, respectively. Built-in heated interconnects eliminate cold-spots from long and difficult to heat capillary tubes, and plug directly into the preconcentrator and chemi-resistive detector chips, miniaturizing the fluidic analysis path to a size compatible with eventual use in devices such as cellular phones.
Southern Ocean source of 14 C-depleted carbon in the North Pacific Ocean during the last deglaciation

Radiocarbon-depleted carbon dioxide was released to the atmosphere at the end of the last glacial period, but its source remains controversial. Neodymium isotope records of deglacial intermediate water circulation in the eastern North Pacific Ocean from fish teeth support a Southern Ocean source.
A 90.7 MHz-2.5 million transistors CMOS CPLD with JTAG boundary scan and in-system programmability

This paper discusses a complex programmable logic device which provides up to 12,000 usable gates. The EPM9560 is the first member of the third-generation MAX 9000 family. It blends a multi-dimensional interconnect scheme, logic array block approach consisting of 560 product term based macrocells and circuit techniques to achieve an overall 90.7 MHz system operating frequency. The device is designed to operate in a 3.3 V or 5 V systems. It has built-in JTAG boundary scan for improving testability and in-system programmability for ease of manufacturing.
Time-of-day differences and short-term stability of the neural response to monetary reward: A pilot study

Abstract Human and animal studies indicate that reward function is modulated by the circadian clock that governs our daily sleep/wake rhythm. For example, a robust circadian rhythm exists in positive affect, which is lower in the morning hours and peaks in the afternoon. A handful of functional neuroimaging studies suggest that systematic diurnal variation exists in brain activity related to other functions, but no published human studies have examined daily variation in the neural processing of reward. In the present study, we attempt to advance this literature by using functional neuroimaging methods to examine time-of-day changes in the responsivity of the reward circuit. Using a within-person design and a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) monetary reward task, we compared morning and afternoon reward-related brain activation in a sample of healthy young adults within 24 h. Region of interest analyses focused on the striatum, and we hypothesized greater reward activation in the afternoon, concordant with the circadian peak in positive affect. Results were consistent with our hypothesis. In addition, we counterbalanced the order of morning and afternoon scans in order to explore the short-term stability of the neural response. Whole-brain analyses showed a markedly higher reactivity to reward throughout the brain in the first scan relative to the second scan, consistent with habituation to the monetary reward stimuli. However, these effects did not appear to explain the time-of-day findings. In summary, we report the first preliminary evidence of circadian variation in the neural processing of reward. These findings have both methodological and theoretical implications.
Rethinking Formalisms in Formal Education.

I explore a belief about learning and teaching that is commonly held in education and society at large that nonetheless is deeply flawed. The belief asserts that mastery of formalisms—specialized representations such as symbolic equations and diagrams with no inherent meaning except that which is established by convention—is prerequisite to applied knowledge. A formalisms first (FF) view of learning, rooted in Western dualist philosophy, incorrectly advocates the introduction of formalisms too early in the development of learners’ conceptual understanding and can encourage a formalisms-only mind-set toward learning and instruction. I identify the prevalence of FF in curriculum and instruction and outline some of the serious problems engendered by FF approaches. I then turn to promising alternatives that support progressive formalization, problem-based learning, and inquiry learning, which capitalize on the strengths of formalisms but avoid some of the most costly problems found in FF approaches.
FINE STRUCTURE OF THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIUM RHODOMICROBIUM VANNIELII

The fine structure of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodomicrobium vannielii was studied by the ultra thin sectioning technique. Cells were fixed in buffered osmium tetroxide and embedded in Epoxy resin. The feature most common to nearly all cells was an array of intracellular membranes situated in a concentric manner at the periphery of the cell. The membranes were mostly paired and quite often five pairs were seen aligned together. Calculations from densitometric tracings showed the average width of a "unit" membrane to be 65 A. Sections of material from disrupted cells after passage through a sucrose gradient revealed vesicular forms composed of membranes similar in width to those in the intact cell. Absorption spectra of both intact cells and isolated membranes were very similar in the bacteriochlorophyll regions. Septa and membranes were demonstrated in the filaments that join mature cells. No evidence for chromatophores was obtained although the methods used were adequate for their demonstration in Rhodospirillum rubrum.
An analysis of television coverage of the Vietnam war

Between 1965 and 1975 no other single event so dominated television news programs as did the war in Vietnam. Yet analysis of the content of actual news broadcasts does not support the contention that nightly news programs were filled with pictures of battle, or the dead, dying and wounded.
Learning effective ranking functions for newsgroup search

Web communities are web virtual broadcasting spaces where people can freely discuss anything. While such communities function as discussion boards, they have even greater value as large repositories of archived information. In order to unlock the value of this resource, we need an effective means for searching archived discussion threads. Unfortunately the techniques that have proven successful for searching document collections and the Web are not ideally suited to the task of searching archived community discussions. In this paper, we explore the problem of creating an effective ranking function to predict the most relevant messages to queries in community search. We extract a set of predictive features from the thread trees of newsgroup messages as well as features of message authors and lexical distribution within a message thread. Our final results indicate that when using linear regression with this feature set, our search system achieved a 28.5% performance improvement compared to our baseline system.
THE FORMATION OF FEMINIST CONSCIOUSNESS AMONG LEFT- AND RIGHT-WING ACTIVISTS OF THE 1960S

This article examines the formation of consciousness among women at the beginning stages of the women's movement. The author analyzes the complexity of pathways to feminism across the political spectrum, comparing women who were active on the Left in Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) with women active in the leading conservative organization of the 1960s, Young Americans for Freedom (YAF). She finds an unexpected division among women in both groups between those who identify discrimination by their male peers and those who do not. The author argues there are three stages in the formation of feminist consciousness: identification of inequality or mistreatment, discovering a language or framing by which to interpret these experiences, and the social construction of a collective identity. Factors for each of these three stages that help or hinder the formation of feminist consciousness are discussed.
The use of azathioprine in refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children.

Summary Five children with refractory ITP were treated with azathioprine for 8-27 months. An excellent response was obtained in 3 of the 5 patients, a good response in a fourth. In two presplenectomy cases the result was obtained using azathioprine alone and two post-splenectomy cases required low dose steroids in addition to azathioprine. One pre-splenectomy patient failed to respond to the drug alone or in combination with steroids but responded well to splenectomy. A review of the cases in the literature and the experience presented here suggests that azathioprine has a definite role in the therapy of refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in childhood.
Subsurface Environment—Private Property or Public Domain?

The increasing utility of subsurface space is resulting in greater interest in the nature of the controls that govern use of this portion of the environment, including water supply, mineral extraction, underground storage, waste disposal, utility location, and commercial and industrial activities. Many of the uses of the subsurface environment are controlled by the institution of property rights. The landowner has exclusive rights to certain minerals located beneath his surface estate and somewhat more limited rights with respect to other natural resources, e.g., ground water. In addition, property rights definitions often imply exclusive rights to an indefinite depth, thereby technically excluding all uses by others even where use by the surface owner is not feasible. However, there is limited precedent for restriction of exclusive property rights to a depth subject to actual use as has been done in the case of overlying airspace.
From Lawyer to Judge: Advancement, Sex, and Name-Calling

This paper provides the first empirical test of the Portia Hypothesis: females with masculine monikers are more successful in legal careers. Utilizing South Carolina microdata, we look for correlation between an individual's advancement to a judgeship and his/her name's masculinity, which we construct from the joint empirical distribution of names and gender in the state's entire population of registered voters. We find robust evidence that nominally masculine females are favored over other females. Hence, our results support the Portia Hypothesis.
Rainfall and Atmospheric Circulation during Drought Periods and Wetter Years in West Africa

Abstract The semiarid regions of Africa experienced a number of extreme rainfall fluctuations in the present century, most notable of which are the “wet” 1950's and the drought 1968–75. Thirty-seven century-long regional rainfall departure series evidence the continental scale and marked coherence of these anomalies and illustrate important climatic teleconnections. A comparison of sub-Saharan droughts and wetter years suggests that a northward displacement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) may account for wetter years, but that a weakened “intensity” of the rainy season, independent of ITCZ position, is the most likely cause of drought in the sub-Saharan region. This and the tendency for synchronous fluctuations north and south of the Sahara (i.e., tropical and extratropical regimes) suggest that changes in intensity of the Hadley circulation may be an important factor in West Africa rainfall fluctuations.
From the gardens of the Qur'an to the “gardens” of Lahore

Mughal gardens are often interpreted as symbols of an Islamic paradise, but the precise relations between historical gardens and religious meaning remain vague. To clarify these relations, this pap...
Mechanical Behavior of Rubber at High Strain Rates

Abstract Methods to obtain the mechanical response of rubber at high rates of strain are reviewed. These techniques include the extrapolation of low strain, low strain rate data, the limitations of which are discussed, extrapolations to elevated hydrostatic pressure, and direct determinations using split Hopkinson bar and drop weight testers, as well as miscellaneous methods. Some applications involving rubber at strain rates sufficient to induce a transition to the glassy state are described.
Noël-Antoine Pluche as a Jansenist natural theologian

Constance Blackwell introduced me to early modern histories of philosophy when I first met her sometime around the 1993 publication of Giovanni Santinello's Models of the History of Philosophy vol....
An Imaging Perspective of Low-Rank Seismic Data Interpolation and Denoising

Algorithms for low-rank seismic data denoising or interpolation have generally focused on improving the aggregate signal to noise ratio (SNR) in the filtered or reconstructed data. Motivated by the observation that improved SNR level does not always imply proportionally enhanced imaging quality, especially if the SNR improvement is attained mainly by wave components with limited contribution to imaging, we propose a modified least squares reverse time migration algorithm which integrates low-rank data approximation into the imaging process. More specifically, based on a matrix formulation of the adjoint-state framework, the new imaging algorithm absorbs low-rank approximation into the migration and imaging processes where the contribution from different sources and receivers are weighted properly according to the low rank structure, instead of being summed up uniformly. Effectively this translates the benefit of data denoising and interpolation directly into improved gradient directions and therefore enhanced imaging quality, and provides a mechanism allowing tradeoff between noise reduction/data completion and data distortion directly based on imaging quality. The performance of the new imaging algorithm is demonstrated via synthetic examples.
Helical and Lemniscate Tubular Reactors

Introducing curvature in a tubular reactor generates a secondary fluid motion that decreases the variance of the residence-time-distribution of the fluid elements. The conversion is thereby increased with respect to that of a straight tube, and in the extreme approaches the maximum corresponding to perfect radial mixing, which is the same as that for the hypothetical case of plug flow. Helically coiled tubes are widely used as reactors in industry, but experimental data and theoretical solutions are limited in number and scope. The fluid motion and conversion as determined by finite-element solutions using COMSOL is delineated more clearly than in prior studies for helical tubes and is also applied for a lemniscate tube (a figure-eight shape). Coiled tubes, lemniscate tubes, and other such configurations are designed to decrease the variance of the residence-time distribution of the fluid elements at the expense of a minimal increase in the pressure drop. The decrease in the variance of the residence-time...
Sorption of Chromium with Struvite During Phosphorus Recovery

Struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O; MAP) precipitation is a viable means of phosphorus (P) recovery from animal and human wastes. The behavior of metal contaminants such as chromium (Cr) during struvite precipitation, however, requires consideration. Here the influence of both Cr concentration and oxidation state on sorption is assessed. The Cr content of struvite precipitated in the presence of 1–100 μM Cr as Cr(III) (22.3–3030.1 mg/kg) was higher than that of solids from Cr(VI) (4.5–5.1 mg/kg) solutions. For 1–20 μM Cr(III) solids, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed etch pit formation on struvite crystal surfaces, indicative of a surface interaction. The formation of an adsorbate was confirmed by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XAFS). At initial concentrations ≥20 μM Cr(III), XAFS confirmed the formation of a Cr(OH)3·nH2O(am) precipitate. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy revealed that both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) sorption resulted in distortion of the PO43– tetrahedra in the minera...