cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal progression of kainic acid induced neuronal and myelin degeneration in the rat forebrain.

Abstract The excitatory amino acid glutamate has been implicated in the neurodegeneration associated with several different central nervous system diseases. Treatment with kainic acid (KA), a glutamate analog known to activate the AMPA/KA subtype of glutamate receptor, has been widely used as a model of epilepsy. Long term temporal studies of its neuropathological effects, however, are lacking. In this study, two techniques were used to directly visualize and characterize the neuropathology that occurred over a 2-month period following KA-induced status epilepticus in adult female Sprague–Dawley rats. Post-injection survival was 2, 4, 8 h, 2 days, 2 weeks, or 2 months. Labeling with Fluoro-Jade B (FJB), a fluorescent green dye that labels the cell body, dendrites, axons and axon terminals of degenerating neurons, was observed within the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, basal ganglia, and amygdala by 4 h post-treatment. The highest level of labeling was seen in the piriform cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus. Myelin changes in the rat forebrain following KA treatment were also examined using the myelin-specific Black-Gold (BG) stain. Varicose myelinated fibers were observed in the same regions as FJB positive neurons, although these changes were evident by the 2-h survival time-point. Both stains showed a temporal progression of brain damage throughout the affected areas. By 2 months post-treatment, few degenerating neurons could be detected and abnormal myelin was absent in most regions. As myelin changes can be seen prior to neuronal degeneration, and oligodendrocytes express functional AMPA/kainate-type glutamate receptors, the neurodegeneration and myelin pathologies may occur as independent events. Thus, researchers should consider the temporal and multiple effects of kainic acid to optimize conditions for their endpoint of interest when designing experiments.
Polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) binding to the Ah receptor(s) and associated enzyme induction. Theoretical model based on molecular parameters

A model based on dispersion interactions previously developed to interpret cytosol receptor (Ah receptor)-PCB binding data is applied to PCDFs and extended to interpret associated monooxygenase induction potencies (AHH and EROD activities). The essential parameters in the model are the PCDF polarizability and the PCDF to receptor separation distance. An empirical relationship based on solvent accessible polar surface area is used to estimate the solvation contribution to the binding free energy. Considerations of PCDF solubility and desolvation energy in the assay are suggested as possible refinements of the model which may improve predictive ability. PCDF binding and enzyme induction potencies are seen to increase with increasing polarizability which is controlled to a large extent by the number of chlorine substituents.
Stimulant-dependent modulation of cytokines and chemokines by airway epithelial cells: cross talk between pulmonary epithelial and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Staphylococcal exotoxins (SE) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulate cells of the immune system to produce proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines which mediate septic shock and acute lung inflammation. A coculture of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and pulmonary A549 epithelial cells was used to investigate inflammatory responses triggered by staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), toxic shock syndrome toxin 1, and LPS. The levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, gamma interferon-inducible protein 10, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein 1α, and RANTES were enhanced by 3.8-, 4.2-, 3.1-, 8.9-, 2-, and 2.9-fold, respectively, in cocultures of SEB-stimulated cells compared to in SEB-stimulated PBMC. In LPS-stimulated cocultures, only MCP-1 and RANTES levels were increased. These data suggest that the modulation of specific cytokines and chemokines is dependent on the stimulus and that there is bidirectional interaction between PBMC and lung epithelial cells to influence the immune response to these different stimuli.
Dosimetric characteristics of Novalis Tx system with high definition multileaf collimator

A new Novalis Tx system equipped with a high definition multileaf collimator (HDMLC) recently became available to perform both image-guidedradiosurgery and conventional radiotherapy. It is capable of delivering a highly conformal radiationdose with three energy modes: 6 MV photon energy, 15 MV photon energy, and 6 MV photon energy in a stereotactic radiosurgery mode with 1000 MU ∕ min dose rate. Dosimetric characteristics of the new Novalis Tx treatment unit with the HDMLC are systematically measured for commissioning. A high resolution diode detector and miniion-chamber detector are used to measure dosimetric data for a range of field sizes from 4 × 4 mm to 400 × 400 mm . The commissioned Novalis Tx system has passed the RPC stereotactic radiosurgery head phantom irradiation test. The Novalis Tx system not only expands its capabilities with three energy modes, but also achieves better beam conformity and sharer beam penumbra with HDMLC. Since there is little beam data information available for the new Novalis Tx system, we present in this work the dosimetric data of the new modality for reference and comparison.
Identification of an IQGAP1/AKAP79 complex in β‐cells

IQGAP1, is a recently discovered scaffold protein proposed to regulate membrane cytoskeleton events through protein–protein interactions with F-actin, E-cadherin, β-catenin, and CLIP170. The binding of IQGAP1 to its partners is regulated by calcium/calmodulin (Ca++/CaM) and the small molecular weight guanine nucleotide triphosphatases (GTPases), Cdc42, and Rac1. Here we identify a novel IQGAP1 scaffolding function by isolating the cyclic AMP dependent kinase (PKA) with IQGAP1. IQGAP1 was co-purified with PKA using 5′-cyclic AMP (cAMP) affinity chromatography and PKA activity was co-immunoprecipitated with IQGAP1 using an anti-IQGAP1 antibody. The association of IQGAP1 with PKA was shown to occur through a direct interaction between A kinase anchoring protein 79 (AKAP79) and the carboxyl-terminal domain of IQGAP1. This suggests that cAMP/PKA may be coupled with Ca++/CaM and GTPases through an IQGAP1/AKAP79 complex. J. Cell. Biochem. 90: 97–108, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Failure to Detect Signs of Psychological Distress in the Preschool Children of Alcoholic Parents.

Due to the finding of higher rates of psychopathology in the school-age childern of alcoholic parents, an increased risk of behavioral disturbances were hypothesized in preschool offspring. Forty-four childern, under the age of six, who were the biological offspring of at least one alcoholic parent, were studied as part of a larger family genetics project of alcoholism. Mothers were interviewed using the Behavioral Screening Questionnaire (BSQ) to assess their preschooler' behavioral and somatic symptomatology as well as adaptive functioning. Despite the high-risk status of these children, parental ratings were not indicative of early signs of overall distree. Higher levels of dependency, attention-seeking behavior and irritability were reported only in the preschool offspring of alcholic parents comorbid for antisocial personality disorder. The potential role of biased parental reports vs. developmental invulnerability is discussed.
Long-Term Effects of Feeding Flaxseed-Based Diets. 1. Egg Production Parameters, Components, and Eggshell Quality in Two Strains of Laying Hens

We used a split-plot design of five diets: control (corn-soy) with 3.8% Ca, 10% flaxseed with 3.8% Ca, 10% flaxseed with 4.5% Ca, 10% flaxseed with 3.8% Ca and 22,000 IU vitamin D3/kg, and 10% flaxseed with 4.5% Ca and 22,000 IU vitamin D3/kg, and two strains of birds, DeKalb Delta (DD) and Hy-Line W-36 (HL), to evaluate long-term effects of flaxseed supplementation on egg production parameters. Each of the five treatments was randomly assigned and replicated six times with five hens per replicate pen from 21 to 57 wk of age. Phase I was from 21 to 39 wk, Phase II was from 40 to 48 wk, and Phase III was from 49 to 57 wk. Feed consumption was significantly (P < 0.04) greater for the hens fed 10% flaxseed diets (100.9 g) when compared to the corn-soy controls (99.3 g). Overall average egg production (P < 0.05) was 87.8, 87.1, 86.0, 87.1, 84.8, for diets 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Average hen weights during the study were significantly lower for the flaxseed-fed hens (1.559 kg) compared to the controls (1.616 kg). Egg weight was significantly affected by diet during Phase III with heavier eggs from flaxseed fed hens (62.6 g) compared to controls (61.44 g), but overall egg weight was not significantly affected. Average egg mass was not significantly affected by dietary treatments, but DD hens had a decrease in egg mass with Ca supplementation (Diet 2 vs. Diet 3), whereas HL egg mass increased with Ca supplementation. Percentage albumen had a significant strain effect and strain by diet interactions. Overall, significantly less albumen (P < 0.001) was produced by HL (59.4%) compared to DD (61.3%). Supplemental Ca increased albumen percentage in DD (interaction effect P < 0.03) and decreased albumen percentage in the HL strain. Flaxseed supplementation significantly increased albumen percentage (P < 0.02) when compared to the corn-soy control, 60.5 and 59.9%, respectively. An interaction effect (P < 0.01) was noted for percentage wet yolk, in which increasing Ca decreased wet yolk percentage in DD but increased yolk percentage in HL. Wet yolk percentage was also significantly (P < 0.001) less in DD (25.0%) when compared to HL (26.9%). Addition of flaxseed decreased yolk percent when compared to controls (P < 0.03) during Phase II. Ca supplementation significantly (P < 0.03) increased yolk solids in both strains. Grams of yolk solids per egg were affected by flaxseed supplementation (P < 0.06). Flaxseed eggs contained 7.18 g per egg yolk solids compared to 7.3 g in corn-soy control group. Wet shell percentage was significantly lower in the flaxseed diets (12.4%) when compared to the controls (12.6%). Addition of flaxseed to the diet of laying hens did not have any adverse effects on egg production parameters, but flaxseed supplementation can significantly alter weight of yolk solids and yolk and albumen percentages.
Non-exhaustive, Overlapping Clustering via Low-Rank Semidefinite Programming

Clustering is one of the most fundamental tasks in data mining. To analyze complex real-world data emerging in many data-centric applications, the problem of non-exhaustive, overlapping clustering has been studied where the goal is to find overlapping clusters and also detect outliers simultaneously. We propose a novel convex semidefinite program (SDP) as a relaxation of the non-exhaustive, overlapping clustering problem. Although the SDP formulation enjoys attractive theoretical properties with respect to global optimization, it is computationally intractable for large problem sizes. As an alternative, we optimize a low-rank factorization of the solution. The resulting problem is non-convex, but has a smaller number of solution variables. We construct an optimization solver using an augmented Lagrangian methodology that enables us to deal with problems with tens of thousands of data points. The new solver provides more accurate and reliable answers than other approaches. By exploiting the connection between graph clustering objective functions and a kernel k-means objective, our new low-rank solver can also compute overlapping communities of social networks with state-of-the-art accuracy.
Mental Health Benefits of Strength Training in Adults

This review summarizes evidence from randomized controlled trials to examine whether strength training influences anxiety, chronic pain, cognition, depression, fatigue symptoms, self-esteem, and sl...
Glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism.

Abstract Glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism (GRA) is a heritable form of primary hyperaldosteronism. As a result of a chimeric gene duplication, aldosterone synthase is expressed in the cortisol-producing zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex and is regulated by adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). Clinically, GRA is characterized by early onset of hypertension, which may be severe and refractory to standard therapies. In the absence of treatment with diuretics, hypokalemia is uncommon. GRA is associated with a high prevalence of intracranial aneurysms and hemorrhagic stroke. Diagnostic testing for the presence of the chimeric gene is available. The mainstay of treatment is glucocorticoid suppression of ACTH, and alternatives include mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism.
Surgical Membranes as Directional Delivery Devices to Generate Tissue: Testing in an Ovine Critical Sized Defect Model

Purpose Pluripotent cells residing in the periosteum, a bi-layered membrane enveloping all bones, exhibit a remarkable regenerative capacity to fill in critical sized defects of the ovine femur within two weeks of treatment. Harnessing the regenerative power of the periosteum appears to be limited only by the amount of healthy periosteum available. Here we use a substitute periosteum, a delivery device cum implant, to test the hypothesis that directional delivery of endogenous periosteal factors enhances bone defect healing. Methods Newly adapted surgical protocols were used to create critical sized, middiaphyseal femur defects in four groups of five skeletally mature Swiss alpine sheep. Each group was treated using a periosteum substitute for the controlled addition of periosteal factors including the presence of collagen in the periosteum (Group 1), periosteum derived cells (Group 2), and autogenic periosteal strips (Group 3). Control group animals were treated with an isotropic elastomer membrane alone. We hypothesized that periosteal substitute membranes incorporating the most periosteal factors would show superior defect infilling compared to substitute membranes integrating fewer factors (i.e. Group 3>Group 2>Group 1>Control). Results Based on micro-computed tomography data, bone defects enveloped by substitute periosteum enabling directional delivery of periosteal factors exhibit superior bony bridging compared to those sheathed with isotropic membrane controls (Group 3>Group 2>Group 1, Control). Quantitative histological analysis shows significantly increased de novo tissue generation with delivery of periosteal factors, compared to the substitute periosteum containing a collagen membrane alone (Group 1) as well as compared to the isotropic control membrane. Greatest tissue generation and maximal defect bridging was observed when autologous periosteal transplant strips were included in the periosteum substitute. Conclusion Periosteum-derived cells as well as other factors intrinsic to periosteum play a key role for infilling of critical sized defects.
The effects of test-enhanced learning on student learning in an electric circuits course

This paper discusses the effects of using frequent online quizzes as a replacement for homework in an Electric Circuits Course. The results of two experiments show that performance on these quizzes is correlated with performance on course exams, conceptual understanding of the material, and problem solving ability. These results do not appear to be correlated with prior knowledge, grit, or self-efficacy.
Adsorption of methane on bundles of closed-ended single-wall carbon nanotubes

The results of an adsorption isotherm investigation of methane on closed-ended single-wall nanotube bundles are presented. The isosteric heat of adsorption was determined as a function of the amount of methane adsorbed on the SWNT substrate for coverages in the first layer. The isosteric heat of adsorption is found to decrease with increasing coverage. This behavior provides an explanation for differences in previously reported values for this quantity. Substantial agreement was found between this study and previous reports on the temperature dependence of the pressures at which the two first-layer substeps occur for methane adsorbed on SWNT bundles. There was, however, one exception: we found no evidence suggesting the existence of a phase transition around 90 K in the high pressure substep. We put forth a possible explanation for this difference.
Receptor-mediated endocytosis of insulin by cultured endothelial cells.

Abstract Label-fracture immunochemistry and pre-embedding indirect immunocytochemistry were applied to investigate insulin uptake by endothelial cells. Freeze fracture replicas showed that a small percentage of native insulin receptors are associated with noncoated pits (4%) and coated pits (2%). After warming, receptor bound insulin became increasingly associated with such endocytotic vesicles. After 2 min the percentage of detectable insulin associated with non-coated and coated pits increased to 16% and 8%, respectively. Preembedding immunocytochemical localization of insulin gave results consistent with those obtained from the label-fracture studies. Both non-coated and coated vesicles appeared labelled after 5 min of warming. Non-coated vesicles contained 25% of the cell associated insulin while 9% was associated with coated pits and vesicles. After 10 min of warming, 9% of label was located in non-coated vesicles and 7% in coated vesicles. A large proportion (29%) of the label was found in tubular-vesicular endosomes at this time. After 15 min of warming. 30% of the remaining cell-associated gold label was found in multivesicular bodies. These experiments demonstrate that insulin uptake by endothelium is mediated by both coated and non-coated vesicles and that, once internalized, insulin is routed through endosomal pathways that primarily result in transcytosis.
Adaptive optics spectroscopy: preliminary theoretical results

Diffraction-limited spectroscopy with adaptive optics (AO) has several advantages over traditional seeing-limited spectroscopy. First, high resolution can be achieved without a large loss of light at the entrance slit of the spectrograph. Second, the small AO image width allows the cross-dispersed orders to be spaced closer together on the detector, allowing a large wavelength coverage. Third, AO spectrograph optics are slow and small, costing much less than for a traditional spectrograph. Fourth, small AO images provide high spatial resolution. Fifth, scattered light is less problematic. And last, the small entrance slit of the spectrograph can get rid of much of the sky background to obtain spectra of faint objects. We have done theoretical calculations and simulations for infrared spectroscopy at the MMT 6.5 m with laser guide star AO, which provides almost full sky coverage. The results show we can expect 40-60% of the photons from a unresolved source within 0.2 arcsec diameter circle for J, H, K, L and M bands under typical atmospheric seeing condition at 2.2 micron (ro = 1.0 m, to = 21 ms, ?o = 15 arcsec and d0 = 25 m). Therefore, the spectrograph entrance slit size should match the 0.2 arcsec image to obtain high throughput. Higher resolution can be achieved by narrowing down the slit size to match the diffraction-limited image core size of about 0. 1 arcsec in the infrared. However, the throughput will be correspondingly reduced by a factor of two. Due to the limited atmospheric isoplanatic angle in the J, H and K bands, the encircled photon percentage within 0.2 arcsec diameter drops from 40-60% when the object is at the laser pointing direction to 20-40% when the object is about 30 arcsec away from the laser direction. Therefore, the useful field of view for AO multiple object spectroscopy is about 60 arcsec. Further studies of JR background (sky and thermal) and JR detector performance show that spectral resolution of R = 2,000 can take full advantage of AO images without much penalty due to the dark current of the JR detector and JR OH sky emission lines. We have also studied natural guide star AO spectroscopy. Though sky coverage for this kind of spectroscopy at the MMT 6.5 m is very limited, a bright star provides much better performance than the laser guide star AO spectroscopy. About 40-70% photons are concentrated within 0.1 arcsec diameter for guide stars brighter than 13 magnitude. Therefore, higher resolution and high throughput can be obtained simultaneously, given a bright enough natural guide object. The field-of-view for multiobject spectroscopy using a natural guide star is similar to that for laser guiding.
Plate Tectonics and Origin of Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico: ABSTRACT

Previously published reconstructions of the late Paleozoic "fit" of crustal plates and continents fail to explain many geologic features present in the southwestern U.S., Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. In particular, they fail to consider major geologic and tectonic continuities of Paleozoic age observable in the Southern Appalachians, the Ouachita and Marathon fold belts, the fold belts of southern Mexico and Central America, and the eastern Andean mountain belt of northern South America, as well as the significance of many major transcurrent fault systems or megashears that cross these regions. With the well-documented joining of Africa-North America as a control for the positioning of South America relative to North America, this report suggests a somewhat different "fit" than any heretofore proposed. Instead of truncating North America in northern Mexico and filling in the Gulf of Mexico with fragments as is most commonly done, this reconstruction wraps Mexico and Central America around the western margin of South America, thus placing in juxtaposition the major tectonic belts of both continents. There is evidence that indicates that the Late Ordovician Taconic orogeny was an arc-continent collision rather than a continent-continent collision as has been End_Page 1904------------------------------ suggested previously. Similar evidence indicates that the late Paleozoic Ouachita and Marathon orogenies were arc-continent collisions. Correlative periods of deformation for both of these orogenies have been documented from many places in northern and northwestern South America. The early Paleozoic history of the Cordilleran mobile belt appears to have been independent from that of the eastern mobile belt. In the late Paleozoic, however, these mobile belts seem to have become coupled tectonically to produce regional stresses that were released along several major megashears. In southern and southwestern North America these include the Wichita and Texas megashears; a third megashear is probably present in northern Mexico. Late Paleozoic movement on these fault zones produced numerous basins and uplifts throughout these regions. Modifications of the model proposed by Malfait and Dinkleman for the origin of the Caribbean region include the opening of a sphenochasm in the Gulf of Honduras, and regional tensional and compressional stresses resulting from the clockwise rotation of North America. The Gulf of Mexico and the present dislocated positions of the Ouachita and Marathon fold belts are the result of an opening sphenochasm under the present Mississippi embayment and the westward displacement of the Ouachita and Marathon fold belts by left lateral movement on the Wichita and Texas megashears. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1905------------
Nonverbal expressiveness and physical attractiveness as mediators of interpersonal perceptions

This research examines the impact of spontaneous nonverbal expressiveness and physical attractiveness on the formation of initial interpersonal impressions. It was hypothesized that in the absence of a relationship history with a person, those people who provide more spontaneous, uncensored, nonverbal information would be viewed as more interpersonally attractive. In addition, as a secondary focus of the study, data were analyzed to examine the relationship between physical attractiveness and nonverbal communication abilities. Results suggest that both physical attractiveness and nonverbal expressiveness independent of one another and in conjunction with one another positively impact on interpersonal perceptions. In addition, physical attractiveness was found to positively covary with nonverbal encoding accuracy but negatively covary with nonverbal decoding abilities.
Mud-filled Ophiomorpha from Upper Cretaceous continental redbeds of southern Mongolia; an ichnologic clue to the origin of detrital, grain-coating clays

At Flaming Cliffs-a famous vertebrate locality in southern Mongolia - sand grains in red sandstones of fluvial and eolian origin within the Upper Cretaceous Djadokhta Formation are coated with detrital clay. The nearest correlative marine deposits are thousands of kilometers distant. Structureless sandstones with stringers and lenses of reworked caliche pebbles lie laterally adjacent to sets of eolian cross-strata up to 20 m thick. These pebbly sandstones, interpreted as the deposits of intermittent streams that occupied interdune positions, contain abundant Ophiomorpha. Burrows are 1 to 3 cm in diameter, with a knobby exterior. The traces occur not only as simple tubes, but also as Teichichnus-like spreiten, produced by the systematic upward and lateral migration of a spiral burrow. Spreiten can reach vertical extents greater than 3 m and widths of 30 cm. Although they commonly appear in stratal sequences that contain no mudstone beds, many of the burrows are filled by mud. The best modern analog is provided by freshwater crustaceans that excavate deep burrows to the water table in order to escape desiccation during drought. Mud was emplaced during fluvial flood events when the open, near-vertical shafts acted as storm sewers through the vadose zone. Spreiten probably were generated by systematic offsets from the original burrow axis during repeated re-excavations. One mechanism for emplacing detrital clays in sandstones calls upon infiltration of muddy water through the vadose zone during flood events. The burrow fills within the fluvial facies of the Djadokhta Formation provide corroborative, independent evidence for the passage of muddy water through the strata. Like the Callianassa burrows that fill with coarse, shelly debris during the passage of Caribbean hurricanes ("tubular tempestites"), burrows in continental settings also can provide unique testimony to important depositional events and early diagenetic processes.
Spectral sensitivity of the parietal eye of the green iguana.

Abstract The slow photic response of the parietal eye of the Green Iguana consisted of a positive and negative component which were wave-length dependent. The spectral sensitivity curve of the positive component peaked at 460 nm while that of the negative component at 520 nm. The two components responded differently to double flashes; the amplitude of the negative component elicited by a second 560 nm stimulus decreased as the inter-flash interval was decreased while that of the positive component elicited by a 440 nm stimulus increased as the inter-flash interval decreased. The positive component appeared to be a pre-excitatory inhibitory system.
The incentive effects of monitoring under alternative compensation schemes

Abstract This paper examines the marginal incentive effect of monitoring under share and wage payment schemes, using various assumptions concerning the risk preferences of workers and the informational content of monitoring signals. The direction of this effect is shown to depend critically on the set of assumptions employed; furthermore, the conditions necessary to generate a positive response of labor effort to monitoring may be restrictive and intuitively unappealing. A positive incentive effect is most easily guaranteed (under both compensation schemes) if monitoring produces an accurate signal of effort with a probability which depends on the level of monitoring intensity. Implications for the argument that the problem of monitoring dictates efficient organizational form are briefly explored.
Genetic structure of the Utah Mormons: A comparison of kinship estimates from DNA blood groups, genealogies, and ancestral arrays

Kinship estimates based on shared proportions of European ancestry are constructed for 284 Utah males born in eight geographic subdivisions. These "ancestral kinship" estimates are compared with kinship coefficients based on DNA polymorphisms, blood groups, genealogies, isonymy, and migration matrices. At the subdivision level, a high correlation is observed between ancestral kinship and kinship based on isonymy. Comparing individuals, a significant correlation is obtained between ancestral kinship and genealogy derived kinship. Kinship estimates based on DNA and blood groups do not correlate significantly with ancestral kinship. This is most likely due to the effects of several generations of random mating in this population. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Terror: um discurso após o 11 de setembro

This article encloses a reflection in the search for responses in face of the anxiety and the necessity of critically explaining, with help of the knowledge of the humanities, the American war on terrorism. In spite of the impossibility of a one response to war, we cannot remain silent. Thus, two questions need to be formulated: "What are some already existing responses? And, how respond in face of the impossibility of response?". The response of the author is oriented by an understanding of "culture as its own explanations", from which she undertakes a training into imagining the perspective of the "other" in order to enable the understanding of both the suicide bomber and the war against terrorism. The considerations of the author criticize stereotyped explanations formulated by the right and the left in the USA. Questions concerning gender, reason, religion and culture permeate her analysis, which aims at opening a space for the humanities, the universities and the intellectual to fulfill the task of understanding the "other" and, therefore, of becoming able to delineate an account of the war.
Keeping Birth Normal: Research Findings on Midwifery Care During Childbirth

Objective: This study describes processes and outcomes of midwifery care through narratives told by exemplary midwives. Design: Narrative analysis. Setting: Midwifery practices in hospital, birth center, and home settings. Participants: Purposive sample of 14 midwives drawn from a large national Delphi panel on exemplary midwifery practice. Data analysis: Systematic analysis of interview data was conducted until interpretive consensus was achieved across all text and codes. Results were compared with two prior qualitative studies conducted by the first author on midwifery practice for congruence and emergence of new findings. Results: The support of normalcy was identified as a significant process of midwifery care during labor and birth. Conclusions: The midwives believed that birth is normal, and many of their actions were specifically aimed toward the support of it as a physiologic, rather than pathologic, process. Through their words, we see subtle care processes focused on meeting a woman's individual needs and tapping into her personal strength. Implications for practice and further research to link their approach to caring for women with perinatal outcomes are reviewed.
A registration-based segmentation method with application to adiposity analysis of mice microCT images

Obesity is a global health problem, particularly in the U.S. where one third of adults are obese. A reliable and accurate method of quantifying obesity is necessary. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) are two measures of obesity that reflect different associated health risks, but accurate measurements in humans or rodent models are difficult. In this paper we present an automatic, registration-based segmentation method for mouse adiposity studies using microCT images. We co-register the subject CT image and a mouse CT atlas. Our method is based on surface matching of the microCT image and an atlas. Surface-based elastic volume warping is used to match the internal anatomy. We acquired a whole body scan of a C57BL6/J mouse injected with contrast agent using microCT and created a whole body mouse atlas by manually delineate the boundaries of the mouse and major organs. For method verification we scanned a C57BL6/J mouse from the base of the skull to the distal tibia. We registered the obtained mouse CT image to our atlas. Preliminary results show that we can warp the atlas image to match the posture and shape of the subject CT image, which has significant differences from the atlas. We plan to use this software tool in longitudinal obesity studies using mouse models.
Transforming objectivity to promote equity in transplant candidate selection

It is necessary to recognize the variety of levels at which values and norms may inappropriately affect the equity of the transplantation process, including candidate selection. Using a revised, richer concept of objectivity, adopted from Longino's work in the philosophy of science and empirical studies of candidate selection, this paper examines what sort of objectivity can be obtained in the transplant candidate selection process, and the closely related question of how selection can occur in an equitable manner. This concept of objectivity requires that transformative criticism occur so that (1) the conceptual and normative commitments underlying selection may be articulated and perhaps challenged, and (2) the relationship between those commitments and criteria for candidate selection may be examined and justified, or revised. Through such transformative criticism, a greater degree of objectivity may be attained, which in turn will increase the likelihood of equity.
Geographical Information Science Research – United Kingdom (GISRUK) 2007

This part presents 6 papers presented at the Geographical Information Science Research - United Kingdom (GISRUK) Conference in 2007.
Vocalization of Naive Captive Dolphins in Small Groups

Pure-tone whistles (2403) by four individual dolphins (Delphinus delphis bairdi) were analyzed for duration and the elapse of time before either response by another animal or a repeat whistle by the same animal. Only five major types of whistle emissions were recorded, all stereotyped and each characteristic of the animal emitting it. Only one of the four animals emitted two different whistles, one of which was rare and both of which were stereotyped. A pure-tone chirp and pulsed sounds are discussed. We found no evidence of a dolphin "language," but we present evidence of social response to acoustic signals.
Reflexividad y política en Bolívar soy yo de Jorge Alí Triana

Abstract The present study reveals how the film Bolivar soy yo provides a fictional space in which the implied author's frustrated desire for justice in Colombia is unburdened. Both the social and aesthetic utopian impulses converge in a singular utopian project that largely rejects the desolation and chaos in contemporary Colombian society. Ultimately, this study unveils an implied author that opposes ruling class interests, even though the film generally fails to fully depict the real socioeconomic causes behind today's conflicts. Likewise, Jorge Ali Triana's film repeatedly foregrounds the idea of “madness,” an ideologeme that effectively de-materializes contemporary struggles while avoiding a comprehensive explanation of the injustice and war that afflict the majority of Colombians. Thus, Triana resorts to a parodic representation of Simon Bolivar to express his concern for Colombia's societal problems and ongoing internal war. The present study critically addresses the representation of this historic...
Analogy as a strategy for supporting complex problem solving under uncertainty

Complex problem solving in naturalistic environments is fraught with uncertainty, which has significant impacts on problem-solving behavior. Thus, theories of human problem solving should include accounts of the cognitive strategies people bring to bear to deal with uncertainty during problem solving. In this article, we present evidence that analogy is one such strategy. Using statistical analyses of the temporal dynamics between analogy and expressed uncertainty in the naturalistic problem-solving conversations among scientists on the Mars Rover Mission, we show that spikes in expressed uncertainty reliably predict analogy use (Study 1) and that expressed uncertainty reduces to baseline levels following analogy use (Study 2). In addition, in Study 3, we show with qualitative analyses that this relationship between uncertainty and analogy is not due to miscommunication-related uncertainty but, rather, is primarily concentrated on substantive problem-solving issues. Finally, we discuss a hypothesis about how analogy might serve as an uncertainty reduction strategy in naturalistic complex problem solving.
Discrimination of Time-Altered Sentential Approximations and Monosyllables by Children with Reading Problems

This study compared the performance of normal-reading and reading-impaired children using time-compressed three- and five-word sentential approximations to full grammatically, and the Word Intellig...
Predicting outcomes in HIV-infected veterans : II. Survival after AIDS

This article (Part II) and the preceding article (Part I) report the development of two clinical staging systems for HIV-infected individuals. The objective of the research reported here (Part II) was to construct a clinical staging system to predict survival in patients with AIDS. We analyzed data from VA Cooperative Study Number 298, a multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial that compared immediate versus deferred zidovudine therapy in HIV-infected individuals. Baseline variables obtained at the onset of AIDS in 204 individuals were tested in univariate Cox regression for their relationship to survival, and those that appeared predictive were examined in multivariable analysis. Based on these analyses, we constructed a new AIDS Clinical Staging System. The system is based on age, CD4+ cell count, type of first AIDS-defining condition, and functional status. The stages of the system were significant predictors of survival (p = 0.0001, log-rank test). In conclusion, valid, simple clinical staging systems for patients with AIDS can be developed based on a few variables that are readily available in clinical settings.
Adding Cytokines to Monoclonal Antibody Therapy: Does the Concurrent Administration of Interleukin-12 Add to the Efficacy of Rituximab in B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a cytokine that facilitates cytolytic T-cell responses, enhances the lytic activity of NK cells and induces the secretion of interferon-gamma by both T and NK cells. Binding of rituximab, a chimeric murine/human monoclonal antibody, to CD20 on B-lymphocytes induces apoptosis and the Fc domain of the antibody recruits immune effector functions to mediate cell lysis. Therefore, combining IL-12 with rituximab in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) may augment the immune mediated cell lysis induced by rituximab. To determine whether a synergistic effect exists when IL-12 is given in combination with rituximab, clinical trials are being done to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the combination. The two agents, when given in combination, significantly upregulate the patient's immune mechanisms. The combination upregulates gamma interferon and IP-10 expression and increases NK cell lytic activity. The combination appears to have significant clinical activity with a high clinical response rate in early phase clinical trials. However, a randomized controlled trial will be required to determine whether the addition of IL-12 adds to the efficacy of rituximab in B-cell NHL.
Optimization of Passive Air Breathing Fuel Cell Cathodes

Air-breathing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (ABFCs) use free convection airflow to supply oxygen to their cathodes. These cells are typically characterized by low output power densities compared to forced-convection fuel cells. Because ABFC designs rely on natural convection air delivery, cathode performance is often the bottleneck. This paper specifically examines the tradeoff between mass transport losses and ohmic electrical resistance losses for optimal ABFC cathode design. Optimization is non-trivial because the simultaneous requirements for excellent cell compression, current collection and gas access are often in contradiction. Simple scaling analysis and experimental observations suggest that the tradeoff between lateral mass transport resistance losses and cathode/gas diffusion layer (GDL) contact resistance losses determines optimal ABFC cathode design. In order to quantitatively study these effects, we have tested a series of different cathode geometries in a standardized ABFC. Using high frequency resistance measurements and fast-scan polarization measurements, we have been able to interrogate both the ohmic and mass transport losses associated with each cathode configuration. We have also used pressure sensitive foils to examine the pressure distribution for representative configurations, providing a quantitative link between pressure distribution and cell resistance. Finally, we have studied the effect of deploying a current collecting contact layer between the cathode and the GDL. Results indicate that the deployment of a sufficiently stiff yet highly porous contact layer significantly reduces contact resistance losses while imposing minimal additional mass transport losses. A stiff yet porous contact layer reduces the contact resistance losses by increasing total contact surface area and providing a more even distribution of pressure across the face of the cell. By minimizing contact resistance losses, this strategy enables the deployment of ABFC cathode structures with greater than 90% open area, thereby leading to enhanced ABFC performance, particularly at high current densities.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Parainfluenza virus infection in adult bone marrow transplant recipients

The clinical course of parainfluenza virus infection occurring in 8 of 265 (3 %) adult bone marrow transplant recipients during 1991 was reviewed. Parainfluenza virus type 3 was isolated from all eight patients. The clinical course ranged from self-limited upper respiratory tract infections (2 patients) to severe lower respiratory tract disease (6 patients) associated with a 50 % mortality. This study highlights the important role of community respiratory viruses such as parainfluenza virus in the etiology of pneumonia in immunocompromised adults.
Variability, compensation and homeostasis in neuron and network function

Neurons in most animals live a very long time relative to the half-lives of all of the proteins that govern excitability and synaptic transmission. Consequently, homeostatic mechanisms are necessary to ensure stable neuronal and network function over an animal's lifetime. To understand how these homeostatic mechanisms might function, it is crucial to understand how tightly regulated synaptic and intrinsic properties must be for adequate network performance, and the extent to which compensatory mechanisms allow for multiple solutions to the production of similar behaviour. Here, we use examples from theoretical and experimental studies of invertebrates and vertebrates to explore several issues relevant to understanding the precision of tuning of synaptic and intrinsic currents for the operation of functional neuronal circuits.
Redshifts derived from gamma-ray burst spectra are inconclusive

If the reported large widths of the 'annihilation' features in gamma-ray burst spectra are real, the inferred value of the redshift can be as high as z = 0.8, depending on the emission mechanism. A model is presented in which a broad annihilation line peaking at 400 keV corresponds to a Doppler blueshift of the emitting region of z = -0.3. The prevalent view that the observed line centers of burst annihilation features imply emission from the surface of a nonrotating neutron star is not supported by the available data. However, emission from rapidly rotating neutron stars is a viable possibility.
The use of traditional entertainment forms to stimulate social change

With the trend toward the electrification of rhetoric and the personalization of the media, a new genre of problems becomes crucial to the speech‐communication specialist as well as to the administrator of developmental programs abroad. The planner soon discovers that the allurement of the media must make way for the increased employment of the traditional oral entertainment channels already at hand.
Ureidoallylation of double bonds

Abstract Intram olecular ureidoselenenylation of double bonds followed by allylative de-selenenylation accomplishes a net ureidoallylation.
Synthesis and Use of 3′-(Azidoiodosalicyl) Derivatives of 2′,5′-Dideoxyadenosine as Photoaffinity Ligands for Adenylyl Cyclase

Abstract 3′-[(4-Azidosalicyl)glycyl]-2′,5′-dideoxyadenosine (1), 3′- [(4-azidosalicyl)-γ-aminobutyryl]-2′,5′-dideoxyadenosine (2), and the 125 I-labeled mono- and diiodinated analogs of 1 were synthesized and tested as photoaffinity probes for adenylyl cyclases. Kinetics for inhibition of purified type I enzyme by 1 was noncompetitive with respect to Mn • 5′-ATP in the absence of light, implying a P-site mechanism of inhibition. In a UV-dependent manner both 1 and 2 and the iodinated derivative of 1 irreversibly inactivated membrane-bound and purified forms of recombinant type I bovine adenylyl cyclase expressed in ovarian cells of either the fall armyworm (Sf9) or Trichoplasia ni (High Five). Irreversible inactivation was independent of 5′-ATP and was prevented by 2′,5′-dideoxyadenosine. Adenylyl cyclase, whether purified from bovine brain or in membranes from High Five cells expressing type I enzyme, when subjected to UV irradiation in the presence of 125 I-labeled 1 resulted in radioactive incorporation into protein migrating at ∼116 kDa. The cross-linking of 1 and its iodinated derivative with adenylyl cyclase suggests potential for such compounds to be useful in structural studies of adenylyl cyclases or of other proteins for which adenine nucleosides are substrates or allosteric regulators.
NASA: achieving lower regrets and faster rates via adaptive stepsizes

The classic Stochastic Approximation (SA) method achieves optimal rates under the black-box model. This optimality does not rule out better algorithms when more information about functions and data is available.We present a family of Noise Adaptive Stochastic Approximation (NASA) algorithms for online convex optimization and stochastic convex optimization. NASA is an adaptive variant of Mirror Descent Stochastic Approximation. It is novel in its practical variation-dependent stepsizes and better theoretical guarantees. We show that comparing with state-of-the-art adaptive and non-adaptive SA methods, lower regrets and faster rates can be achieved under low-variation assumptions.
LiNbO3 integrated optic guided wave lasers and optical amplifiers

Recent progress in rare earth doped LiNbO 3 integrated optic lasers and optical amplifiers is first reviewed. We report the results of an alternative pumping scheme and co-dopants for Er:LiNbO 3 guided wave optical amplifiers.
Structure of the Venus mesosphere and lower thermosphere from measurements during entry of the Pioneer Venus probes

Data on the thermal structure of the nightside middle atmosphere of Venus, from 84 to 137 km altitude, have been obtained from analysis of deceleration measurements from the third Pioneer Venus small probe, the night probe, which entered the atmosphere near the midnight meridian at 27 deg S latitude. Comparison of the midnight sounding with the morning sounding at 31 deg S latitude indicates that the temperature structure is essentially diurnally invariant up to 100 km, above which the nightside structure diverges sharply from the dayside toward lower temperatures. Very large diurnal pressure differences develop above 100 km with dayside pressure ten times that on the nightside at 126 km altitude. This has major implications for upper atmospheric dynamics. The data are compared with the measurements of Keating et al. (1980) above 140 km, with theoretical thermal structure models of Dickinson, and with data obtained by Russian Venera spacecraft below 100 km. Midnight temperatures are approximately 130 K, somewhat warmer than those reported by Keating et al.