cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Guess who might be coming to dinner?: Personal involvement and racial stereotyping

Abstract This research investigated the motivational influences of personal involvement and target race on the social judgments about and behavior toward another person. Specifically, male undergraduates were led to anticipate either a series of dates (high involvement) or a brief interaction (low involvement) with a white or a black female. As predicted, high as compared to low involvement subjects demonstrated more concern with their personal appearance, thought relatively more about the immediate interpersonal situation, and felt more apprehensive and less positive about their partners, their upcoming interactions, and the study as a whole, with these tendencies more pronounced among subjects expecting a black partner. In contrast to these judgment and evaluation measures, however, the overt behavior of high involvement subjects toward a different black female was especially warm and friendly. Additional analyses suggested that low levels of involvement may reduce people's tendencies to stereotype at a global level. The natura and effects of different motivational factors and their implications for processes of stereotype change are discussed.
Maximally linear bandpass frequency discriminator

A maximally linear bandpass approximation is introduced for use in frequency discriminator applications. It is strictly linear near some center frequency and has a simple cascade active RC realization.
Response analysis in biochemical chain reactions with negative feedforward and feedbackward loops

Finite difference equations can be used to study the responses of biochemical chain reactions at any step of the chain to an external stimulus. In this study, we developed mathematical models for two hypothetical chain reactions involving loops to study the responses in the chain as the length of the chain gets longer, so called transient and steady state responses. The first model is for a chain with a negative feedforward loop, and the second one is for a chain that has a negative feedback loop. Although both of the models have the same steady state equations and values, we showed that the chain with negative feedforward and negative feedback loops can produce significantly different behaviors. The former can bring the chain into oscillations with various periods and eventually chaos when the feedback is strong enough as the length of the reaction chain increases, whereas the latter is not capable of producing oscillations and more complicated dynamics.
The Design of Gas Drainage Holes? Opening Parameters Intelligent Measurement and Control System for Coal Mine

Abstract Drilling Project is a huge project in coal main. Now mine is still measured in the method of artificial construction and acceptance. It is difficult to ensure that construction can meet the design parameters. The hole depth of gas drainage hole is generally no more than 100m, so it can be considered that the aperture is approximately parallel with the opening position. During the construction, we only require the opening position to meet the design requirements. In view of this situation, this article introduces the principle and design of a kind of drilling parameters intelligent measurement and control system for coal mine. This system uses the sins based on gyro and accelerometer of the rig to measure the azimuth and inclination, which also uses the hole depth measurement system to measure the depth of the drilling rig, and with the help of ZigBee technology and the existing Ethernet underground real-time transmits to the surface. This helps the management of surface supervise the real-time monitor and then manage the drilling status. This design can improve the accuracy of the construction of coal mine drilling and construction management while reducing administrative costs.
Intraindustry marketing strategy effects on the analysis of firm performance

Abstract Data aggregation across industries has been shown to be inappropriate in describing correlates of business firm performance. This study examines firms performing a similar function within one industry and suggests a further qualification to this analysis; it may be necessary to account for dominant and varying marketing strategies when estimating performance equations in some industries.
Molecular genetics of human aldehyde dehydrogenase

Four non-allelic genes, which encode four different aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) isozymes, have been cloned and characterized at the present time. The coding nucleotide sequences, and organization of introns and exons of these genes have been elucidated. The ALDH1 gene encodes the major cytosolic A
Bacterial landlines: contact-dependent signaling in bacterial populations

Bacterial populations utilize a variety of signaling strategies to exchange information, including the secretion of quorum-sensing molecules and contact-dependent signaling cascades. Although quorum sensing has received the bulk of attention for many years, contact-dependent signaling is forging a niche in the research world with the identification of novel systems and the emergence of more mechanistic data. Contact-dependent signaling is probably a common strategy by which bacteria in close contact, such as within biofilms, can modulate the growth and behavior of both siblings and competitors. Ongoing work with diverse bacterial systems, including Myxococcus xanthus, pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, Bacillus subtilis, and dissimilatory metal-reducing soil bacteria, is providing increasingly detailed insight into the dynamic mechanisms and potential of contact-dependent signaling processes.
"To me, it's my life": medical communication, trust, and activism in cyberspace.

Abstract This paper studies the conversations and activities of an online support group for breast cancer sufferers and survivors and their supporters. Using communications medium theory and social capital theory, it examines the mundane and profound exchanges, the poignant self-disclosures, the creative expressions of solidarity, and the minor but not-insignificant political actions of people—initially strangers—who come together as a ‘virtuous circle,’ not only to assist with medical issues but also to meet emotional and even material needs. Sponsored by the Canadian nonprofit organization Breast Cancer Action Nova Scotia (BCANS), this virtual community has logged over a half million messages since 1996. Not every BCANS participant is an activist—many are just trying to grapple with their disease—but some find ways to shatter the professional “information monopoly,” and to press for healthcare improvements. The study illustrates the scope, passion, and complexity of peer-to-peer medical communication in a virtual environment that promotes “thick trust”. BCANS participants discuss with candor, warmth and even humor such painful topics as death and dying and the crises in intimate relationships brought about by a terminal illness. The sharing of confidences and fears enables participants to pool their ‘collective intelligence’ about many things, from how to cope with swelling, to how to think about end-of-life issues, to how to improve social policy.
An exotic quark-gluon hybrid at 1420 MeV?

Abstract Puzzling experimental observations in photon-photon scattering and hadronic ψ decay may be explained by the existence of an exotic J PC = 1 −+ meson. This hypothesis is easily confirmed or refuted by experimental studies of the decay angular distributions for γγ ∗ → K K π and ψ→ω K K π . If confirmed the new meson would be most readily interpreted as a mixed state of quarks and gluons.
The basic skills list: An influence on curriculum?

"The basic skills list," "a list of minimum educational objectives," "the performance-based objectives list"-whatever term your state uses, the meaning remains the same. And, as competency-based education continues its sweep across the country, more and more states will compile such lists. Whether professional educators support this movement is no longer relevant; as realists, we must face facts. Competency-based education is here to stay. And, while debate continues on issues such as the definition of basic skills, potential effectiveness of the competency education movement, and use of competency tests for graduation, state after state adopts lists of minimum educational objectives for reading and math.' It seems obvious, whatever the opinions of educators, that legislators are defining the elementary level basics as reading and math. How will the competency movement and the use of basic skills lists affect the elementary school curriculum?
On Single-Mode Polarization Preserving Multi-Layered Optical Fiber

Using the concept of artificial dielectrics, a multi-layered single-mode fiber is designed which possesses an enhanced polarization preserving characteristic. An analysis of the multi-layered slab waveguide problem is first carried out. Numerical results show that this concept is feasible. Then, a finite-element analysis is used to demonstrate the enchanced polarization preserving property of a layered optical fiber.
The fatty acids of Trichophyton rubrum.

The fatty acids ofTrichophyton rubrum found during the logarithmic growth phase and during the early and late stationary phases of growth were separated and identified by gas chromatography. At all three stages of growth, the most abundant fatty acids were palmitic, stearic, octadecenoic and octadecadienoic which, together, accounted for 85–93% of the total fatty acid content. With age, there appears to be a tendency toward chain elongation and desaturation. Analysis of the fatty acid content of a pigmented culture indicated the presence of 8 unsaturated fatty acids which accounted for 65% of the total fatty acids isolated, octadecadienoic acid alone contributing almost 50% to this figure.
New derivatives for electron capture--gas chromatography of steroids: a simplified procedure for measuring plasma testosterone.

Two new derivatives are described that confer electron-capturing properties to hydroxyl-containing steroids. The 9-H-hexadecafluoronanoate (HFN) and 11-H-eicosafluoroundecanoate (EFU) derivative of testosterone have 2.30 and 2.55 times the area response of equimolar amounts of testosterone heptafluorobutyrate, as well as longer retention times on both polar and nonpolar phases. Thin-layer and GLC properties of the 17-mono-derivatives and the 3,17-di-derivatives of estradiol are presented. Using the HFN derivative, a simplified method is presented for the measurement of testosterone in human plasma.
Terahertz spectra through ultrafast electro-optic modulation

Ultrafast electro-optic modulation on a narrow band optical pulse is utilized to spectrally resolve coherent THz radiation. This technique utilizes standard optical components, providing a method of direct spectral reconstruction of both broadband and narrow band radiation.
Non-Injurious Stress Protein Induction Protects ATP Depleted Renal Epithelia|[dagger]| 1846

The stress response is initiated in energy deprived renal epithelia coordinate with disruption of cell architecture including loss of Na/K-ATPase attachment to the cytoskeleton; HSP-72 elaboration coincides with cellular restitution. Assessing putative cytoprotective effects of the heat shock proteins (HSPs) in injured kidney has been confounded by the cellular stress used to pre-induce the HSPs. We examined whether HSPs could be pharmacologically induced in renal epithelia and whether prior HSP induction would protect against cellular injury from ATP depletion.
Appendix A Coefficients for liquid thermal conductivity equation

Publisher Summary This chapter is an appendix of coefficients for liquid thermal conductivity equation discussed in the book, “Handbook of Thermal Conductivity.”
The effect of uniform virtual appearance on conformity intention: Social identity model of deindividuation effects and optimal distinctiveness theory

This study integrates social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE) and optimal distinctiveness theory (ODT) in investigating the effect of uniform virtual appearance on individuals' willingness to conform to a majority opinion in computer-mediated groups. SIDE posits that sharing the same visual cue can promote group identification process and eventually induce stronger conformity. Meanwhile, ODT indicates that too much visual similarity rather concerns individuals about their deprived uniqueness, so they would be reluctant to conform to a majority opinion as a way to restore their uniqueness. This study concurs with previous research based on SIDE by showing that group identification induced by uniform appearance increases conformity intention. It also showed that perceived deindividuation, another variable that is induced by a high level of visual similarity relative to others, decreases conformity intention. As a result, the current study shows that the effect of virtual uniform appearance on conformity intention is inconsistently mediated by group identification and perceived deindividuation.
Dopamine and full‐field illumination activate D1 and D2‐D5‐type receptors in adult rat retinal ganglion cells

Dopamine can regulate signal generation and transmission by activating multiple receptors and signaling cascades, especially in striatum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex. Dopamine modulates an even larger variety of cellular properties in retina, yet has been reported to do so by only D1 receptor-driven cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) increases or D2 receptor-driven cAMP decreases. Here, we test the possibility that dopamine operates differently on retinal ganglion cells, because the ganglion cell layer binds D1 and D2 receptor ligands, and displays changes in signaling components other than cAMP under illumination that should release dopamine. In adult rat retinal ganglion cells, based on patch-clamp recordings, Ca2+ imaging, and immunohistochemistry, we find that 1) spike firing is inhibited by dopamine and SKF 83959 (an agonist that does not activate homomeric D1 receptors or alter cAMP levels in other systems); 2) D1 and D2 receptor antagonists (SCH 23390, eticlopride, raclopride) counteract these effects; 3) these antagonists also block light-induced rises in cAMP, light-induced activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, and dopamine-induced Ca2+ influx; and 4) the Ca2+ rise is markedly reduced by removing extracellular Ca2+ and by an IP3 receptor antagonist (2-APB). These results provide the first evidence that dopamine activates a receptor in adult mammalian retinal neurons that is distinct from classical D1 and D2 receptors, and that dopamine can activate mechanisms in addition to cAMP and cAMP-dependent protein kinase to modulate retinal ganglion cell excitability.
Heat transfer to a single smooth vertical tube immersed in an air fluidized bed

Abstract Heat transfer coefficient for a vertical smooth coaxial heat transfer tube is measured in a cylindrical air fluidized bed as a function of fluidizing velocity, temperature and particle size. The qualitative variations of heat transfer coefficient with these parameters are consistent with the general picture of heat transfer mechanism and with the general picture of heat transfer mechanism and with the limited data available in the literature. The solids movement and mixing in the bed is investigated by measuring heat transfer coefficient at different radial locations in the bed as a function of temperature and gas velocity. A quantitative interpretation of these and of similar other data being generated in our laboratory will be published in the near future.
The Atlantic Slave Trade: A Census

Curtin combines modern research and statistical methods with his broad knowledge of the field to present the first book-length quantitative analysis of the Atlantic slave trade. Its basic evidence suggests revision of currently held opinions concerning the place of the slave trade in the economies of the Old World nations and their American colonies. Curtin s work will not only be the starting point for all future research on the slave trade and comparative slavery, but will become an indispensable reference for anyone interested in Afro-American studies. "Journal of American History" Curtin has produced a stimulating monograph, the product of immaculate scholarship, against which all past and future studies will have to be judged. "Journal of American Studies" Professor Curtin s new book is up to his customary standard of performance: within the limits he set for himself, The Atlantic Slave Trade could hardly be a better or more important book. "American Historical Review" "
Inexpensive Raft Arrays for Cell Patterning and Cloning

An easy to use, inexpensive, efficient system has been developed for the combined purpose of patterned cell culture and cell separations. The system consists of a specialized flexible array of micron-scale array elements created by a unique soft lithography process compatible with a host of biocompatible polymers, including polystyrene. Low autofluorescence, standardized tissue culture surfaces can be created and tailored to the cell type of interest. The concave array elements, termed rafts, are fabricated within poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microwells and are individually releasable using a needle inserted through the PDMS substrate with a micromanipulator. The array enables efficient cell analysis and isolation even with small populations containing as few as 1,000 cells. Cells plated on the arrays are localized to individual rafts throughout the culture period by virtue of the PDMS microwells. While the cells are prevented from migrating and intermixing, they share a common fluidic microenvironment in contrast to standard multiwell plates. Standard microscopic imaging is used to identify and track cells or colonies over time to allow selection based on temporal or other characteristics. Those of interest are released by inserting the needle through the compliant PDMS substrate to dislodge the raft on which the cell(s) of interest lies. The hardened polymer material forming the raft protects the cells growing on its upper surface from harm by the needle. Selective release of the individual elements along with the resident cells has been enhanced with the use of polymers doped with ferromagnetic nanoparticles to achieve high collection efficiencies of viable cells under the influence of a magnetic field. In the current state of development, collection efficiency and single-cell cloning rates as high as 95% have been achieved. Among other attributes, the array enables rapid cloning to produce cell lines with desired characteristics.
Modeling the effects of surface states on DLTS spectra of GaAs MESFETs

A resistance deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) model which explains the effects of surface states on DLTS spectra of GaAs MESFETs is presented. The model includes both deep traps in the active channel under the gated region and the surface states on the ungated surface between the contacts of gate and source as well as gate and drain. Surface states are shown to result in minority holelike DLTS signals. The model reveals that the surface-state energy levels can be reliably determined from these holelike DLTS signals, although the concentrations cannot be accurately profiled due to the strong dependence of the peak magnitude of the holelike signals on the ungated surface conditions, in particular, the surface leakage current. The peak magnitude of the holelike signals are shown to depend strongly on the filling pulsewidth t/sub p/ used in a DLTS measurement. It is also shown that the peak magnitude decreases rapidly as the ratio of the gate length to the gate-source spacing is increased. It is expected that the model can be a useful tool for investigating the passivation effects of the ungated surface on a short-gate GaAs MESFET. >
Exploiting cloud heterogeneity for optimized cost/performance MapReduce processing

Cloud computing enables a user to quickly provision any size Hadoop cluster, execute a given MapReduce workload, and then pay for the time the resources were used. Typically, there is a choice of different types of VM instances in the Cloud (e.g., small, medium, or large EC2 instances). The capacity differences of the offered VMs are reflected in VM's pricing. Therefore, for the same price a user can get a variety of Hadoop clusters based on different VM instance types. We observe that performance of MapReduce applications may vary significantly on different platforms. This makes a selection of the best cost/performance platform for a given workload a non-trivial problem, especially when different jobs exhibit different platform preferences. In this work, we aim to solve the following problem: given a completion time target for a set of MapReduce jobs, determine a homogeneous or heterogeneous Hadoop cluster configuration (i.e., the number, types of VMs, and the job schedule) for processing these jobs within a given dead-line while minimizing the rented infrastructure cost. We offer a simulation-based framework for solving this problem. Our evaluation study and experiments with Amazon EC2 platform reveal that for different workload mixes, an optimized platform choice may result in 41-67% cost savings for achieving the same performance objectives when using different (but seemingly equivalent) choices. Moreover, depending on a workload the heterogeneous cluster solution may outperform the homogeneous one by 26-42%. The results of our simulation study are validated through experiments with Hadoop clusters deployed on Amazon EC2 instances.
The Effect of Dietary Cement on Egg Production and Egg Shell Quality in Laying Hens

Abstract A commercial strain of White Leghorn laying hens was used to determine the effects of feeding portland cement as a supplement to laying hen diets containing 3.5% calcium and 4.0% calcium in the form of calcium carbonate. Additions of 0.50%, 1.00%, and 2.00% of portland cement were added to each basal diet. It was found that increasing the level of portland cement in the diet decreased egg production and depressed feed efficiency. In general, percent shell, shell thickness, and specific gravity all increased with increasing levels of cement.
A safety assessment of diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin (DCLHb) in the treatment of hemorrhagic, hypovolemic shock.

Objective: To determine the safety and possible efficacy of diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin (DCLHb) in the treatment of patients in Class II-IV hemorrhagic, hypovolemic shock.Design: Multicenter, randomized, normal saline-controlled, dose-escalation study.Setting: Eleven hospitals in the U.S. and Belgium.Subjects: One hundred and thirty-nine (139) hospitalized patients with Class II-IV hemorrhagic, hypovolemic shock within the previous 4 hours who still were requiring therapy for shock.Interventions: Beginning with the lowest dose, patients were randomized to receive 50,100, or 200 mL of either 10% DCLHb or normal saline infused intravenously over 15 minutes. Following infusion of either treatment, further fluid resuscitation could be given, as necessary, to maintain perfusion. Vital signs, laboratory assessments, blood and fluid administration, complications, and adverse events were recorded at various times from the end of infusion through 72 hours after infusion.Results: A total of 29 (13 DCLHb- and 16 saline-treated) patients died during the study period. Adverse events were experienced by 61% of patients in the DCLHb group and 53% of patients in the saline group; serious adverse events occurred in 28% of DCLHb-treated patients and 30% of saline-treated patients. The incidence of prospectively defined, clinical complications, including renal insufficiency and renal failure, was similar between the treatment groups except for the occurrence of dysrhythmias/conduction disorders, which occurred significantly more frequently in the saline-treated patients than the DCLHb-treated patients (p = 0.041). At the highest dose level (200 mL), statistically significant between-group differences were observed with greater increases in serum amylase, LDH, the isoenzymes LD1,2,4 and 5, and CK-MB in the DCLHb group compared to the control group; none were of clinical significance. The volume of blood administered did not differ between the groups. Overall 24- and 72-hour survival rates were similar between treatment groups, although the hospital discharge rate was slightly higher in the DCLHb-treated patients (80%) compared with the saline-treated patients (74%).Conclusion: Administration of 50 to 200 mL of DCLHb to patients in hemorrhagic, hypovolemic shock was not associated with evidence of end organ toxuity or significant adverse events. Further studies involving larger doses and, perhaps, earlier administration of DCLHb are warranted. © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1999.
Surgical imaging catheter for confocal microendoscopy with advanced contrast delivery and focus systems

We present a laparoscope for fluorescence confocal microendoscopy specifically designed for microscopic imaging during diagnostic laparoscopic surgery. The catheter consists of a disposable rigid distal tip which houses a flexible microendoscope and dye channel. The laparoscopic tip is a small disposable polycarbonate sheath containing two inner lumens with a glass window on the distal end. The sheath outer diameter suitable for use in a 5mm trocar. The smaller inner lumen provides a channel for delivering fluorescent contrast agents to the tissue through a 200um hole in the glass window. On the proximal end, the smaller lumen is coupled to a computer controlled fluid delivery system that controls the amount of contrast agent dispensed onto the tissue down to a fraction of a micro liter. The main lumen houses the microendoscope. The microendoscope incorporates a computer-controlled focus mechanism that can quickly and accurately focus while correcting for hysteresis. This fluorescence confocal micro-laparoscope will be tested in a small-scale clinical trial on women undergoing oophorectomy in the near future.
Remarks on Interpolation and Recognition Using Neural Nets

We consider different types of single-hidden-layer feedforward nets: with or without direct input to output connections, and using either threshold or sigmoidal activation functions. The main results show that direct connections in threshold nets double the recognition but not the interpolation power, while using sigmoids rather than thresholds allows (at least) doubling both. Various results are also given on VC dimension and other measures of recognition capabilities.
Synthetic insertion of gold nanoparticles into mesoporous silica

Industrial catalysts often consist of transition metals supported on microporous or mesoporous high surface area oxides and are prepared by techniques such as impregnation and ion adsorption. In standard fabrication processes the metal particle size is not well-controlled. In this paper we report a new synthetic route for the production of catalyst materials with more precise control of the metal particle size. Gold nanoparticles encapsulated in mesoporous silica (MCM-41 and MCM-48) served as a model system, although the techniques described are applicable to a wide variety of metals and oxide supports. The samples were characterized by a combination of low-angle powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N2 porosimetry, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy. The results show that the MCM-41 and MCM-48 structures retain their long-range order when metal particles are added; in addition, the size of the channels increases monotonically with metal loading. X-ray...
A Two-Level System of Knowledge Representation Based on Epistemic Probability

Abstract : A knowledge state is represented by two sets of statements, rather than one. One set of statements represents evidence; it corresponds to recorded data, together with general knowledge that is not open to question in the context at hand. We refer to this as the evidential corpus of knowledge. The other set of statements represents a body of practical certainties, based on the statements constituting the evidential corpus. It consists of statements whose probabilities, relative to the evidential corpus, exceed some explicit level determined by the context. Probabilities are assigned to statements, relative to a body of evidence called evidential corpus. We require statistical knowledge (not just statistical evidence) as a basis for every probability statement. Two facts render this constraint acceptable: It doesn't take much statistical data to yield an approximate statistical hypothesis. And if we adopt the principle that statements known to have the same truth value are to be assigned the same probability, we may link many statements to the same statistical foundation.
Validation for Digital Forensics

This paper discusses the issues revolving around the need for validation and error in digital environments for the admission of evidence. Second, we discuss the how digital evidence intrinsically differs and conflicts with privacy protection that is intrinsic to traditional computer security. Finally, we begin to lay the theoretical foundations for the provision of validation and the computation of error in digital environments. This becomes particularly critical in software environments in which error has not traditionally been considered.
2-Deoxy-ATP Enhances Contractility of Rat Cardiac Muscle

Abstract —To investigate the kinetic parameters of the crossbridge cycle that regulate force and shortening in cardiac muscle, we compared the mechanical properties of cardiac trabeculae with either ATP or 2-deoxy-ATP (dATP) as the substrate for contraction. Comparisons were made in trabeculae from untreated rats (predominantly V1 myosin) and those treated with propylthiouracil (PTU; V3 myosin). Steady-state hydrolytic activity of cardiac heavy meromyosin (HMM) showed that PTU treatment resulted in >40% reduction of ATPase activity. dATPase activity was >50% elevated above ATPase activity in HMM from both untreated and PTU-treated rats. V max of actin-activated hydrolytic activity was also >50% greater with dATP, whereas the K m for dATP was similar to that for ATP. This indicates that dATP increased the rate of crossbridge cycling in cardiac muscle. Increases in hydrolytic activity were paralleled by increases of 30% to 80% in isometric force (Fmax), rate of tension redevelopment ( k tr), and unloaded shortening velocity ( V u) in trabeculae from both untreated and PTU-treated rats (at maximal Ca2+ activation), and F-actin sliding speed in an in vitro motility assay ( V f). These results contrast with the effect of dATP in rabbit psoas and soleus fibers, where Fmax is unchanged even though k tr, V u, and V f are increased. The substantial enhancement of mechanical performance with dATP in cardiac muscle suggests that it may be a better substrate for contractility than ATP and warrants exploration of ribonucleotide reductase as a target for therapy in heart failure.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α–Induced AT1 Receptor Upregulation Enhances Angiotensin II–Mediated Cardiac Fibroblast Responses That Favor Fibrosis

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) is an important determinant of cardiac function. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and angiotensin (Ang) II levels increase after MI and both factors affect fibroblast functions. The type 1 (AT1) receptor that mediates most Ang II effects is upregulated after MI in cardiac fibroblasts, and there is evidence that this is caused by TNF-alpha. We sought to determine if TNF-alpha-induced AT1 receptor upregulation alters fibroblast responsiveness to Ang II and if this effect differs from direct TNF-alpha effects on fibroblast functions. In cultured neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts, TNF-alpha reduced cellular [3H]-proline incorporation, increased matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity and protein, and increased TIMP-1 protein levels. In cardiac fibroblasts with TNF-alpha-induced AT1 receptor upregulation, Ang II-stimulated [3H]proline incorporation and TIMP-1 protein production was approximately 2-fold greater than in nonpretreated fibroblasts. Angiotensin II reduced MMP-2 activity and protein level only in TNF-alpha-pretreated fibroblasts. Angiotensin II effects were inhibited by selective AT1 (but not AT2) receptor blockers. Thus, TNF-alpha-induced AT1 receptor upregulation enhances Ang II-mediated functions that favor fibrosis. These effects are mostly directionally opposite of direct TNF-alpha effects on cardiac fibroblasts. Recognition of multifaceted TNF-alpha effects provides new insights into post-MI ECM remodeling.
Acculturation and parental attachment in Asian-American adolescents’ alcohol use

Purpose: To test whether the degree of acculturation predicts subsequent alcohol use among Asian-American adolescents, and to test the moderating effect of parental attachment. Methods: This was a prospective study using a subsample of the National Longitudinal Adolescent Health data set. A nationally representative sample of 714 AsianAmerican boys (n 332) and girls (n 382) in grades 7–12 was analyzed. In-home self-report data were collected on two types of acculturation status, alcohol use, demographics, and parental attachment. After controlling for acculturation status and background variables at Wave I, logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios to assess the association between acculturation and alcohol use at Wave II for adolescents. Results: Asian-American adolescents with the highest level of acculturation (English use at home, born in the United States) were identified as the highest risk group. For adolescents with low parental attachment, the odds of alcohol use were 11 times greater in the highly acculturated group than in the least acculturated group. However, the odds of alcohol use for adolescents with moderate or high levels of parental attachment did not vary across acculturation groups. Conclusions: Overall, a greater level of acculturation was associated with greater alcohol use. However, when parental attachment was taken into account, highly acculturated adolescents with moderate or high parental attachment had no greater risk than adolescents with same levels of parental attachment who were less acculturated. Thus, it appears that acculturation per se was not a risk factor unless it was accompanied by a low level of parental attachment. © Society for Adolescent Medicine, 2003
Henry of Huntingdon: Clerical Celibacy and the Writing of History

By the time that Henry, archdeacon of Huntingdon, completed the first edition of his Historia Anglorum, about 1129, four reform councils had made it quite clear, even to the stubbornly resistant English clergy, that subdeacons, deacons and priests should not have wives, concubines or sons with clerical ambitions. Henry, who had uncanonically succeeded his father, Nicholas, in his archdeaconry, was by 1129 about forty-five years old and had at least one son, probably in minor orders. His major literary works, Historia Anglorum and the epistle De Contemptu Mundi, contain explicit information about his father and the succession of the archdeaconry of Huntingdon, but Henry's careful silence has kept several further generations of this clerical family virtually hidden from readers. Needless to say, he was not pleased with the notions of clerical celibacy that some, in increasing numbers during his lifetime, chose to call reform. Modified by a wary reluctance to state his objections openly, Henry's angry inability to accept that central issue of Gregorian reform shaped his account of the introduction of Gregorian reform to England with insinuation, slander and prevaricating silence. The particular interest of Henry of Huntingdon's treatment of reform councils and reformers lies in its tense delineation of the discomfort felt by many of the higher clergy and their families caught when the reform ideal of celibacy was no longer a startling novelty, but was still not universally accepted, not yet venerable as custom, certainly not easy.
Using carrying capacity as a baseline for building sustainability assessment

Abstract Building sustainability assessments are driving greater market demand for sustainable buildings in the developed world. However, do such assessments actually demonstrate building sustainability? Some critics of building sustainability assessment argue that the methods should evolve toward an “absolute” assessment of building sustainability. That is, rather than assessing a building relative to a average like-type building as is typically done, the assessment should be made to whatever is deemed sustainable using a credible science. One possible form of absolute assessment is using the indicator of sustainability known as carrying capacity. After discussing the opportunities with a carrying-capacity-based assessment of buildings, this paper proposes a computational model that provides such an assessment. There are four main components to the presented computational model. The first is the amount of carbon (C) stored on the building site in its native state. This native-site carbon storage is defined as the baseline carbon storage and represents the carrying capacity of the building project. The second is land use change, which accounts for the removal or addition of vegetation and other carbon storing elements to the project site. The third and fourth carbon emissions sources in the model are building construction and operation. A building is considered sustainable in the model if by the end of its expected lifetime the total amount of carbon emissions are completely offset. Building designers and their clients can use this model to more comprehensively account for carbon emissions and identify options for reducing and offsetting them. To drive greater adoption, the model has been developed into an online resource, Green Footstep ( www.greenfootstep.org ). To demonstrate the usefulness of the model, this paper presents a case study of an institutional building in Lake Placid, Florida, USA. The case study shows that the design team used the model to better understand what it means to have a “low-carbon” goal. The model showed them that over one hundred years, the building project must reduce and offset carbon emissions at a rate of 16 tonnes C per year.
British Imperialism in a Mercantilist Age, 1492–1849: Conceptual Issues and Empirical Problems

Writing on the eve of one of the major transformations in the British Empire, Adam Smith more or less repeated the remark made by the Abbe Raynal several years earlier that «the discovery of America, and that of passage to the East Indies by the Cape of Good Hope, are the two greatest and most important events recorded in the history of mankind»l. Both of these great events of the 1490's, Columbus's discovery of the Americas and the sailing to India, a few years later, by Vasco de Gama, had no immediate impact on the British economy, but the opening up of this wider world for colonization and trading would soon have profound impacts on Britain and the other nations of Western Europe. In the same decade Britain, however, did make its first claim to New World territory, when John Cabot landed on Newfoundland in 1497, but it was to be about a century before title was clear and setdement begun. Not the first to establish an empire, the British rose to world-wide dominance over the course of the next three centuries.
THE FILTRABILITY OF YELLOW FEVER VIRUS AS EXISTING IN THE MOSQUITO.

The virus of yellow fever as it exists in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, both in their so-called infective stage and in the intermediate condition termed the "incubation period", is capable of passing through Berkefeld N filters when suspended in normal monkey serum, although earlier investigators have shown that the virus from infective mosquitoes will not do so when suspended in physiological salt solution. The virus of yellow fever as it exists in mosquitoes behaves with regard to filtration through Berkefeld N filters as does the virus in the blood of infective monkeys.
A MATLAB-based graphical technique for amortization study of adjustable speed drives

Economic justification of electric drives is the primary reason for many applications. However, the cumbersome trial-and-error calculations necessary to present this aspect often leads to omission of the topic in electric drives courses. This paper presents a MATLAB-based program that generates plots of input power and shaft torque for variable-frequency operation of three-phase induction motors. Based on these graphs, an example is presented illustrating how a cost amortization study for an adjustable speed drive application can be presented with minimal effort and lecture time.
Recurrent herpes simplex uveitis in humans.

Abstract Herpetic uveitis in man is generally, although not always, a complication of chronic stromal disease of the cornea. It is characterized by pain, photophobia, and redness, and may be abrupt in onset, particularly in recurrent cases. It is often accompanied by a severe secondary glaucoma. Various theories of the pathogenesis are discussed. The weight of experimental evidence favors the proliferation of living virus in the uveal tissues as the cause of the inflammation, although the virus has been isolated only rarely from aspirated aqueous humor. Autoimmune factors must be considered. Cycloplegia is the most important element of treatment, most cases being self-limited and non-destructive. Secondary glaucoma sometimes poses a serious problem that must be treated by radical measures. Antiviral medications such as adenine arabinoside may play an important role in the treatment of resistant cases. Corticosteroid therapy is to be avoided, if possible.
Effects of Ethanol on Superovulation in the Immature Rat Following Pregnant Mare's Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG) or PMSG and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Treatment

We sought to determine whether superovulation could occur in immature rats on a 5% ethanol diet and treated with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) alone or with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Holtzman female rats were divided into five groups at 20 days of age. Six rats (Group I) were killed at that age. Ten rats (Group II) were placed on an ad libitum laboratory chow diet and killed on Day 33. Twenty-four rats (Group III) were placed on an ad libitum laboratory chow diet. Twenty-four rats (Group IV) were placed on 5% ethanol liquid diet, while 24 rats in Group V were pair-fed with the animals in Group IV. At 30 days of age, 12 rats from each Group, III, IV, and V, received 25 IU of PMSG s.c. and were killed 74-76 h later. The remaining 12 rats from each Group, III, IV and V, received 25 IU of PMSG and 54-56 h later received 10 IU of hCG and were killed 20 h later. Ovulation occurred in all the rats of Groups III and V that received PMSG alone or with hCG. In the ethanol-treated rats that received PMSG alone, 75% ovulated, while 92% ovulated that received PMSG and hCG. The number of ova shed in the ethanol-PMSG-treated rats was significantly less than in the ethanol-PMSG-hCG-treated animals and in the controls. The uterine weights and morphology of the animals in Group IV were similar to those in Groups III and V. The study indicates that ethanol does not have a direct gonadotoxic effect on the ovary but indicates that ethanol has an effect on the hypothalamus and/or the pituitary, thereby disrupting the synthesis and/or release of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) or luteinizing hormone (LH).
Methylene blue treatment for cytokine release syndrome-associated vasoplegia following a renal transplant with rATG infusion: A case report and literature review

Rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG) is an infusion of polyclonal rabbit-derived antibodies against human thymocyte markers, which can be used to prevent and treat acute rejection following organ transplantation. However, the product monograph issued by the manufacturer (Sanofi Canada) reports that serious immune-mediated reactions have been observed following the use of rATG, consisting of anaphylaxis or severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which is a form of vasoplegic syndrome (VS), in which distributive shock occurs refractory to norepinephrine (NE) and vasopressin (VP). Severe infusion-associated reactions are consistent with CRS and can cause serious cardiac or respiratory problems, or in certain cases, mortality. CRS is a form of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). In SIRS, the substantial activation of endothelial inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and smooth muscle guanylate cyclase (GC) is observed, which can produce severe hypotension that is unresponsive to conventional vasopressors. Methylene blue (MB) is a direct inhibitor of iNOS and GC and has been used as an effective treatment for VS following cardiothoracic surgery. In the present study, the successful use of MB as a rescue therapy for CRS in a patient receiving rATG following a renal transplant was reported. Following an uneventful cadaveric kidney transplant involving the intravenous (IV) administration of rATG for the induction of immunological tolerance, the patient became markedly hypotensive and tachycardic. The patient required high doses of VP and NE infusions. Following the protocol described for treating refractory VS in post-cardiac surgery patients, the decision was made to initiate the patient on an IV MB infusion. This treatment protocol was shown to improve the hemodynamic status of the patient, which enabled the withdrawal of vasopressors and suggests an important role for methylene blue in the management of refractory VS.
Direct and indirect root defences of milkweed (Asclepias syriaca): trophic cascades, trade‐offs and novel methods for studying subterranean herbivory

Summary 1. Entomopathogenic nematodes can function as indirect defence for plants that are attacked by root herbivores. By releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), plants signal the presence of host insects and thereby attract nematodes. 2. Nonetheless, how roots deploy indirect defences, how indirect defences relate to direct defences, and the ecological consequences of root defence allocation for herbivores and plant biomass are essentially unknown. 3. We investigate a natural below-ground tritrophic system, involving common milkweed, a specialist root-boring beetle and entomopathogenic nematodes, and asked whether there is a negative genetic correlation between direct defences (root cardenolides) and indirect defences (emission of volatiles in the roots and nematode attraction), and between constitutive and inducible defences. 4. Volatiles of roots were analysed using two distinct sampling methods. First, we collected emissions from living Asclepias syriaca roots by dynamic headspace sampling. This method showed that attacked A. syriaca plants emit five times higher levels of volatiles than control plants. Secondly, we used a solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) method to sample the full pool of volatiles in roots for genetic correlations of volatile biosynthesis. 5. Field experiments showed that entomopathogenic nematodes prevent the loss of biomass to root herbivory. Additionally, suppression of root herbivores was mediated directly by cardenolides and indirectly by the attraction of nematodes. Genetic families of plants with high cardenolides benefited less from nematodes compared to low-cardenolide families, suggesting that direct and indirect defences may be redundant. Although constitutive and induced root defences traded off within each strategy (for both direct and indirect defence, cardenolides and VOCs, respectively), we found no trade-off between the two strategies. 6. Synthesis. Constitutive expression and inducibility of defences may trade off because of resource limitation or because they are redundant. Direct and indirect defences do not trade off, likely because they may not share a limiting resource and because independently they may promote defence across the patchiness of herbivore attack and nematode presence in the field. Indeed, some redundancy in strategies may be necessary to increase effective defence, but for each strategy, an economy of deployment reduces overall costs.