cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SUPERMÁN ES MÁS SÚPER CUANDO SE QUITA LA MALLA

En las etapas tempranas del colonialismo lle-gaban a oidos de los espanoles noticias de grupos humanos cuyos perfiles resultaron borrosos. ?Como designarlos? ?Pueblos? ?Naciones? ?Reinos? ?Senorios? ?Behetrias? La misma terminologia estaba en flujo y cada categoria llevaba consigo implicancias politico-legales problematicas. Sin embargo, la organizacion categorica de la humanidad recien conocida en America constituyo una labor ineluctable, consecuencial, llevada a cabo rapida y desordenadamente entre voces discordantes. El record que heredamos los historiadores resulta dos veces borroso: por deficiencias en las bases empiricas, o sea, el escaso conocimiento etnografico de parte de quienes escribian la version autorizada, y tambien por la inestabilidad de las categorias conceptuales en el mismo momento de aplicarlos.Jose Luis Martinez en trabajos previos tales como
Spontaneous and forced shear localization in high-strain-rate deformation of tantalum

High-strain-rate shear localization was induced in tantalum by (a) lowering the deformation temperature or (b) subjecting it to high strains by dynamic deformation (up to ot 0.8) or (c) pre-shocking (at oeff 0.22) and then deforming it. Although at ambient temperature the deformation of tantalum is macroscopically uniform to high strains (ot$ 0.8), at 77 K shear localization under the same loading condition was developed at a critical strain of 0.2 to 0.3. This higher propensity to shear localization at low temperatures is a direct consequence of the combination of lower heat capacity and higher rate of thermal softening. At the three temperatures investigated (77, 190 and 298 K), localization occurs at strains significantly higher than the instability strains (the maxima of the adiabatic stress‐strain curves for these three temperatures). The thicknesses of the forced localization regions and shear bands were found to be a function of temperature, and decreased with decreasing temperature (at the same strain) in accord with the equation proposed by Y. Bai et al. (Y. Bai, C. Cheng, S. Yu, Acta Mechanica Sinica 2 (1986) 1). Shock deformation of tantalum enhances its predisposition to subsequent shear localization, and this was demonstrated by subjecting shocked and unshocked specimens to high strain, high strain rate deformation through the collapse of a thick-walled cylinder assembly. © 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
Ad-hoc multicast routing on resource-limited sensor nodes

Many emerging sensor network applications involve mobile nodes with communication patterns requiring any-to-any routing topologies. We should be able to build upon the MANET work to implement these systems. However, translating these protocols into real implementations on resource-constrained sensor nodes raises a number of challenges. In this paper, we present the lessons learned from implementing one such protocol, Adaptive Demand-driven Multicast Routing (ADMR), on CC2420-based motes using the TinyOS operating system. ADMR was chosen because it supports multicast communication, a critical requirement for many pervasive and mobile applications. To our knowledge, ours is the first non-simulated implementation of ADMR. Through extensive measurement on Motelab, we present the performance of the implementation, TinyADMR, under a wide range of conditions. We highlight the real-world impact of path selection metrics, radio link asymmetry, protocol overhead, and limited routing table size.
Morphomechanics: transforming tubes into organs

After decades focusing on the molecular and genetic aspects of organogenesis, researchers are showing renewed interest in the physical mechanisms that create organs. This review deals with the mechanical processes involved in constructing the heart and brain, concentrating primarily on cardiac looping, shaping of the primitive brain tube, and folding of the cerebral cortex. Recent studies suggest that differential growth drives large-scale shape changes in all three problems, causing the heart and brain tubes to bend and the cerebral cortex to buckle. Relatively local changes in form involve other mechanisms such as differential contraction. Understanding the mechanics of organogenesis is central to determining the link between genetics and the biophysical creation of form and structure.
Quantitative Determination of Salicylaldehyde in the Scent Fluid of Calosoma macrum, C. alternans sayi, C. affine, and C. parvicollis (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Continuing work on the compounds found in the defensive scent glands of Calosoma ground beetles (McCullough and Weinheimer 1966), I have collected and investigated 4 more species: C. macrum (LeConte), C. alternans sayi (Dejean), C. affine (Chaudoir), and C. parvicollis (Fall). The last named was taken in Lone Pine, Calif., and the others in Austin, Texas.
Predicting cutability of pork carcasses and hams using the Hennessy and Chong Fat Depth Indicator.

Hot and cold Fat Depth Indicator (FDI) readings were taken on seventy-four pork sides to examine the relative precision of different measurement locations. Fat measurements taken over the M. longissimus opposite the fourteenth thoracic vertebra (CD = 47·5; RSD = 1·63) and the last lumbar vertebra (CD = 61·1; RSD = 1·40) were the measurement locations most closely associated with percentages of four trimmed lean cuts. Using certain combinations of carcass weight and/or hot and cold FDI readings in multiple regression equations, 71·0% (RSD = 1·35) and 63·3% (RSD = 1·55), respectively, of the variability in percentage yields of four lean cuts could be explained; this was as much as 40 percentage points more than that explained by average backfat thickness (first rib, last rib, last lumbar vertebra) taken on the split surface in the dorsal midline. When added to an unpublished equation, the addition of up to four hot or cold FDI readings made dramatic increases in the explained variation in carcass yields of four lean cuts. In each of two studies involving green, skinned hams, FDI readings explained a low percentage of the variability in percentage of boneless, defatted, deseamed lean. However, it was determined that these low relationships were primarily due to the site selections at which the hams were probed-not because of an inadequacy of the FDI to measure fatness. A third study, involving different FDI probe sites, taken on intact sides along the ham to loin-belly juncture, determined that the best of these FDI readings could account for a maximum of 66·1% of the variability (RSD = 2·75) in yield of bone-in, skinned, defatted hams; a four-variable prediction equation developed using two FDI readings, untrimmed ham weight and muscling score explained 83·9% of the variation (RSD = 2·04).
C-Reactive Protein Levels Are Not Associated with Increased Risk for Colorectal Cancer in Women

Contrary to a recent large study, elevated plasma C-reactive protein levels were not associated with an increased risk for developing colorectal cancer in apparently healthy women. The results sugg...
Graphite C-axis thermal conductivity

Abstract This paper models the c -axis thermal conductivity of thin graphite layers taking into account phonon confinement. A Debye model is used to calculate graphite c -axis thermal conductivity, which is found to be 4 orders of magnitude smaller than in the graphite basal plane. This reduced thermal conductivity is promising for devices with improved thermoelectric figure of merit, Z T , and thermal conduction along graphite c -axis. Results of graphite thermal conductivity in the basal plane are also presented and discussed. These calculations have been done for ideal graphite structures that are a few monolayers thick, free of defects, and free of boundary scattering processes. To achieve the low calculated values of thermal conductivity, it will be necessary to fabricate high-quality graphite structures; this will pose significant fabrication challenges.
Direct tissue proteomics in human diseases: potential applications to melanoma research.

Although the rates of cancer are stabilizing, the number of new invasive melanoma continues to rise. Melanoma represents only 4% of all skin cancers, but nearly 80% of skin cancer deaths. In loss of potential productive life-years, it is second only to adult leukemia. Once melanoma spreads to regional and distant sites, the chance of cure decreases significantly. Unfortunately, current diagnostic and prognostic methods are often inadequate. More precise staging and disease characterization will lead to new and more rational approaches to treatment. Proteomics is a fast-growing discipline in biomedicine that can be defined as the global characterization and differential expression of the entire protein complement of a cell, tissue or organism. Despite major advances in molecular approaches to the diagnosis and prognostication of human diseases such as melanoma, there remain significant obstacles in applying the proteomic technologies to clinical samples to extract important biological information. The appl...
The Status of Criminal Libel in Grenada After Worme v. Commissioner of Police

In January 2004, the Privy Council, the final court of appeal for all British Caribbean states, held that a criminal libel statute providing for the two-year imprisonment of publishers libeling government officials was constitutional and consistent with a democratic society. Over the years, the constitutionality of criminal libel laws in the United States has been attacked with only marginally greater success than the Grenadian law. This article provides a background to the development of criminal libel laws in the two regions; traces the 2004 decision, the threats and actions brought against the media by the Grenadian government in its aftermath; and discusses the likely effect that it could have on the law of libel in the British Caribbean.
Stem cells and modeling of autism spectrum disorders

Human neurons, generated from reprogrammed somatic cells isolated from live patients, bring a new perspective on the understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The new technology can nicely complement other models for basic research and the development of therapeutic compounds aiming to revert or ameliorate the condition. Here, we discuss recent advances on the use of stem cells and other models to study ASDs, as well as their limitations, implications and future perspectives.
Against the Limits of our History

While women have made great strides professionally we also continue to contend with the invisible boundaries that exist in time and space to restrict our movements. And since as subjects women are located within particular discursive and material practices of power, resistance and subjectivity, color can exacerbate the sense of confinement. In the absence of well-charted paths to professional mobility, I suggest that geographers of color turn to experiences beyond our disciplinary boundaries. This paper looks at how women negotiated dangerous spaces during the Malayan Emergency (1948–1960) using precisely those rules and cultural codes that marked women's spaces and activities as inferior or unworthy of the attentions of power. I offer this example to open up a discussion on how quotidian activities can be used to transcend limitations placed on our professional mobility. I do so by drawing contextual parallels, albeit with strict limitations, to exploring tactics for creating supportive spaces and commun...
Transition metal ion complexes of 2-methylsulfinylpyridine n-oxide

Abstract Transition metal ion complexes in which 2-methylsulfinylpyridine N-oxide acts as a bidentate ligand have been prepared and characterized by molar conductivity measurements as well as IR and electronic spectra. Crystal field parameters are calculated for the Cr(III), Co(II) and Ni(II) solids based on octahedral symmetry from solid state spectra. Optical electronegativity calculations indicate that the charge transfer bands are metal-ligand in nature.
Some aspects of a soluble three-body problem

Abstract The wave function describing the scattering of two non-interacting, spinless particles by a center of force is studied using various methods of solution. It is demonstrated in some detail that use of the free, outgoing wave Green function leads to both ingoing and outgoing waves asymptotically for both the Lippmann-Schwinger solution, and for the Faddeev and multiple scattering solutions. Contributions from disconnected diagrams give rise to this result. It is also shown that each of the above methods of solution yields the trivial Schrodinger equation product solution.
Splenic nonenhancement at computed tomography: A sign of the hypoperfusion complex

When splenic nonenhancement is seen at computed tomography, one should look for signs of vascular pedicle injury; if injury to the vascular pedicle is not present, nonenhancement of the spleen could be secondary to severe vasoconstriction and may be considered an additional sign of the hypoperfusion complex. The presence of splenic nonenhancement may also help differentiate the hypoperfusion complex from other types of bowel injury.
Affiliation motivation: people who need people... but in different ways

The Interpersonal Orientation Scale was developed to focus on four dimensions assumed to underlie affiliation motivation: social comparison, emotional support, positive stimulation, and attention. Factor analyses basically supported the proposed multidimensional construct. Evidence for the validity of the four dimensions was provided by their correlations with measures of constructs conceptually related to affiliation motivation and their lack of correlation with measures conceptually unrelated to affiliation motivation. Moreover, in a laboratory study, each motivational subscale tended to correlate most highly with role-played responses in a situation affording the relevant incentive type. Future research on social motivation and interaction will profit from identifying the particular incentives that are salient in a giving setting.
Teaching Multiple Modes of Representation in Middle-School Science Classrooms: Impact on Student Learning and Multimodal Use.

This quasi-experimental study investigated how explicit instruction about multiple modes of representation (MMR) impacted grades 7 (n = 61) and 8 (n = 141) students’ learning and multimodal use on end-of-unit assessments. Half of each teacher's (n = 3) students received an intervention consisting of explicit instruction on MMR in science discourse, in addition to regular science instruction enhanced by a focus on MMR; comparison groups of students received regular science instruction. Three ordinary least squares regression models used student demographic variables and whether or not students received the intervention to predict students’ (a) gain scores on end-of-unit tests, (b) voluntary use of embedded MMR on unit tests, and (c) retention of science knowledge as measured by a state end-of-level criterion-referenced assessment. Analyses showed that explicit instruction on MMR did not make a significant impact on student gain scores, the amount of embeddedness on unit tests, or end-of-level scores. However, Models 2 and 3 showed Hispanics and females used MMR more on end-of-unit tests than Whites or males, respectively, whether or not they received the intervention. Hispanics and females scored lower than Whites or males, respectively, on end-of-level, multiple-choice assessments. Implications for classroom teachers and educational researchers in relation to these underserved populations are discussed.
Changes in plasma lipids and lipoproteins after a modified fat diet.

Abstract 20 male and female patients with type II hyperlipoproteinaemia and 10 normal male and female subjects were fed for 11-15 days a eucaloric diet containing less than 300 mg cholesterol with a polyunsaturated to saturated fatty-acid ratio of about 2·0. Male subjects and patients and female patients showed statistically significant decreases in plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels; the change in LDL-cholesterol was not significant in female subjects. The changes in lipid and lipoprotein levels in patients were greater than those in subjects, (except for the changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in women, which were similar), which suggested that the magnitude of change depended on initial levels. This difference was not present when the data were evaluated as percent change. Mean levels of HDL-cholesterol decreased in both patients and subjects. However, the proportion of total cholesterol contributed by HDL and LDL, and hence the HDL/LDL ratio, was unchanged from pre-diet levels.
Critical informatics: New methods and practices

While social informatics (SI) is uniquely positioned to examine the technical and organizational properties of information and communication technology (ICT) and associated user practices, it often ignores the cultural mediation of design, use, and meaning of ICTs. Critical informatics, more so than normative and analytic orientations to ICT, offers possibilities to foreground culture as a sensitizing context for studying information and technology in society. This paper articulates a new critical informatics approach: critical technocultural discourse analysis (CTDA) as an analysis employing critical cultural frameworks (e.g. critical race or feminist theory) to jointly interrogate culture and technology. CTDA (Brock 2009) is a bifurcated approach for studying Internet phenomena integrating interface analysis with user discourse analysis. This paper outlines CTDA, providing examples of how its methodological flexibility applies to examining varied ICT artifacts, such as twitter and search engine phenomena, while maintaining a critical perspective on design and use. CTDA is an important tool for critical informaticists that contributes to building understanding of technology as culture, grounded in user perspectives and real-world practices.
Influence of concurrent renal dysfunction on outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes and implications of the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to examine the in-hospital outcome and influence of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antagonists on patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) across a range of renal function. BACKGROUND Recent studies demonstrate increasing cardiovascular risk with progressive renal dysfunction. Previous studies investigating GP IIb/IIIa antagonist use have excluded patients with renal dysfunction. METHODS Patients presenting with ACS between January 1999 and May 2000 were identified, and data on demographics, in-hospital management, and clinical events were collected using standardized definitions. Patients were stratified according to renal function assessed by calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) at presentation. Primary outcome measures included in-hospital mortality and major bleeding events. RESULTS Renal insufficiency was present in 312 of 889 patients. There were 40 in-hospital deaths. In non-dialysis-dependent patients, as CrCl worsened, there was a decline in utilization of routine diagnostics and therapeutics, an increase in in-hospital mortality (p = 0.002), and an increase in major bleeding (p = 0.03). Although the use of GP IIb/IIIa antagonists was associated with an increase in major bleeding (p < 0.001), there was a protective effect on in-hospital mortality (p = 0.04) after controlling for CrCl. CONCLUSIONS Renal dysfunction is present in a substantial proportion of patients with ACS and is associated with increased in-hospital death. Although GP IIb/IIIa antagonist use in patients with ACS and renal insufficiency resulted in increased bleeding events, its administration was associated with a decreased risk of in-hospital mortality. These preliminary findings need to be confirmed in future randomized clinical trials.
Natal philopatry in passerine birds: genetic or ecological influences?

The degree of natal philopatry (the likelihood that individuals breed at or near their place of origin) can influence the extent of inbreeding in animal populations. Passerine birds have been cited as typically showing high natal philopatry, and natal philopatry has been proposed as an adaptation to promote optimal inbreeding. A review of published and unpublished studies of passerines showed that natal philopatry was typically low, so maintaining a high level of inbreeding appears relatively unimportant for such birds. Rather, natal philopatry appeared to be more strongly influenced by ecological factors. Migratory passerine exhibited low natal philopatry compared to resident passerines, as predicted if dispersal costs for young birds are an important determinant of natal philopatry. The erroneous view that natal philopatry for passerines is generally high has resulted from a reporting bias toward resident species that have sufficient natal philopatry to study. Natal philopatry was found to be evolutionarily labile; populations of the same species and pairs of closely related species that differed in their degree of isolation differed considerably in their degree of philopatry. Future studies of natal philopatry should consider both the ecological factors that could affect dispersal costs and the reporting biases that influence which data on philopatry tend to be reported.
A BDD-based algorithm for reliability analysis of phased-mission systems

This paper presents a new algorithm (PMS-BDD) based on the binary decision diagram (BDD) for reliability analysis of phased-mission systems (PMS). PMS-BDD uses phase algebra to deal with the dependence across the phases, and a new BDD operation to incorporate the phase algebra. Due to the nature of the BDD, cancellation of common components among the phases can be combined with the BDD generation, without additional operations; and the sum of disjoint products (SDP) can be implicitly represented by the final BDD. Several examples and experiments show that PMS-BDD is more efficient than the algorithm based on SDP, in both computation time and storage space; this efficiency allows the study of some practical, large phased-mission systems.
Exercise regulation of intestinal tight junction proteins

Gastrointestinal distress, such as diarrhoea, cramping, vomiting, nausea and gastric pain are common among athletes during training and competition. The mechanisms that cause these symptoms are not fully understood. The stress of heat and oxidative damage during exercise causes disruption to intestinal epithelial cell tight junction proteins resulting in increased permeability to luminal endotoxins. The endotoxin moves into the blood stream leading to a systemic immune response. Tight junction integrity is altered by the phosphoylation state of the proteins occludin and claudins, and may be regulated by the type of exercise performed. Prolonged exercise and high-intensity exercise lead to an increase in key phosphorylation enzymes that ultimately cause tight junction dysfunction, but the mechanisms are different. The purpose of this review is to (1) explain the function and physiology of tight junction regulation, (2) discuss the effects of prolonged and high-intensity exercise on tight junction permeability leading to gastrointestinal distress and (3) review agents that may increase or decrease tight junction integrity during exercise.
EFFECT OF FED POLICY ACTIONS ON THE DEFAULT LIKELIHOOD OF COMMERCIAL BANKS

Using a measure of default likelihood based on an option pricing method, we provide evidence that Fed policy actions affect the financial distress of commercial banks. When the Fed increases (decreases) interest rates, the measure of default likelihood increases (decreases). We show that when the Fed uses a tight money policy, the increase in default likelihood is more pronounced for banks that have less capital, have greater financial leverage, are smaller, have fewer growth opportunities, and have lower asset quality. Additionally, the effects on bank default likelihood are more pronounced when the Fed's policy signals less concern about economic growth, as indicated by its bias toward further tightening, and when there is a market expectation of higher short-term market rates in the future.
Impact of Body Mass Index on Incident Hypertension and Diabetes in Chinese Asians, American Whites, and American Blacks: The People’s Republic of China Study and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Researchers have hypothesized that the impact of body mass index on chronic disease may be greater in Asians than in Whites; however, most studies are cross-sectional and have no White comparison group. The authors compared the associations with body mass index in Chinese Asians (n ¼ 5,980), American Whites (n ¼ 10,776), and American Blacks (n ¼ 3,582) using prospective data from the People’s Republic of China Study (1983–1994) and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (1987–1998). Slopes of risk differences over body mass index levels were compared among the three ethnic groups in adjusted analyses. The authors found larger associations with body mass index in Chinese Asians compared with American Whites and Blacks for hypertension (p < 0.05). The increase in the incidence of hypertension associated with a one-unit increase in body mass index over approximately 8 years of follow-up was 2.5, 1.7, and 1.8 percentage points for Chinese Asians, American Whites, and American Blacks, respectively. For diabetes, the estimates were 1.7, 1.1, and 1.6 percentage points for the same groups— higher in Chinese Asians than in American Whites (p < 0.05) but similar between Chinese Asians and American Blacks. Given the ethnic differences in associations, the results support advocacy of public health and medical actions toward obesity prevention and treatment in China. Asian continental ancestry group; body mass index; diabetes mellitus; ethnic groups; hypertension
From Dogs of War to Soldiers of Peace: Evaluating Private Military and Security Companies as a Civilian Protection Force

This article’s contention is that private military and security personnel are better able to protect civilians supposedly under the purview of UN protection than the UN forces currently tasked with this responsibility. It also claims that recruiting private contractors for this purpose would not introduce downsides like prohibitive financial costs or significant risks of misconduct that would offset contractors’ utility. To make this dual case, the article first identifies those aspects of the UN’s efforts to protect civilians that most inhibit its success, and then uses the framework this analysis produces to demonstrate the intuitive appeal of hiring private contractors to do this work. The third and penultimate section provides analysis that buttresses this intuition and further cements the plausibility of hiring private contractors to conduct UN civilian protection missions. The article concludes with a summary and suggestions for further research and data collection.
Time-based signal characteristics as predictors of fish size and species for a side-looking hydroacoustic application in a river

Side-looking, fixed-location sonar is used to estimate the abundance of migrating chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Kenai River, Alaska. For this application, echoenvelope length has previously been shown to predict fish size better than target strength. Using tethered-fish experiments we generalize these findings to other hydroacoustic descriptors based on time measurements, including range-measurement variability and fish lateral movement. These variables are all descriptors of the echo signal through time. Measurements of these attributes were correlated with daily indices of the species composition of unrestrained fish passing the sonar site. We hypothesize that time-based characteristics are superior predictors of fish size because they capitalize on, or are robust to, the factors which compromise amplitude-based measurements with side-looking sonar. 2003 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
Performance Analysis and Design Optimization of a Mini-Channel Evacuated-Tube Solar Collector

The utilization of renewable energy sources is receiving considerable attention as a non-resource-depleting approach that reduces the emissions of pollutants and green-house gases to the atmosphere. Solar thermal systems have the capability to provide heat in a sustainable way for a variety of applications due to the relatively large range of temperatures that different collector configurations can attain. Most evacuated-tube solar collectors currently found on the market consist of a u-shaped round tube, concentric round tubes in counter flow regime, or a heat-pipe. The external surface in these designs is welded to a thin absorber fin that is covered with a selective coating. This paper analyzes the performance of an evacuated-tube solar collector that contains a U-shaped mini-channel tube. Comparisons of performance with respect to standard u-shaped round-tube solar collector are made. The design of a mini-channel based solar collector without absorber fin is also analyzed and its performance optimized with respect to its geometrical parameters.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
A non‐stationary covariance‐based Kriging method for metamodelling in engineering design

Metamodels are widely used to facilitate the analysis and optimization of engineering systems that involve computationally expensive simulations. Kriging is a metamodeling technique that is well known for its ability to build surrogate models of responses with nonlinear behavior. However, the assumption of a stationary covariance structure underlying Kriging does not hold in situations where the level of smoothness of a response varies significantly. Although nonstationary Gaussian process models have been studied for years in statistics and geostatistics communities, this has largely been for physical experimental data in relatively low dimensions. In this paper, the nonstationary covariance structure is incorporated into Kriging modeling for computer simulations. To represent the nonstationary covariance structure, we adopt a nonlinear mapping approach based on a parameterized density functions. To avoid over-parameterizing for the high dimension problems typical of engineering design, we propose a modified version of the nonlinear map approach, with a sparser, yet flexible, parameterization. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through both mathematical and engineering examples. The robustness of the method is verified by testing multiple functions under various sampling settings. We also demonstrate that our method is effective in quantifying prediction uncertainty associated with the use of metamodels. Nomenclature
Are Cash Balance Pension Plans A Viable Retirement Program For Corporate America

Cash Balance Pension Plans are a defined benefit plan where employees have a hypothetical account that increases annually, as a result of compensation credit as well as interest credit. In essence, cash balance pension plans combine elements of both a traditional defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan (Lucas, 2007). This paper examines the recent trends and legal ruling regarding cash balance pension plans. The paper also provides an examination of the role of the Pension Protection Act (PPA) of 2006 and its impact on cash balance pension plans. An evaluation will also be presented to determine if cash balance pension plans are a viable retirement program option in corporate America.
Cultural Landscape in Geography

A cultural landscape is the successive alteration over time of the material habitat of a sedentary human society responding with growing strength and variety to the dynamic challenges of nature, the society's own needs and desires, and the historical circumstances of different regions in different times. The origins of the concept lie in landscape as a territorial descriptor, and later as a pictorial view and representation of a scene. The scientific concept of the cultural landscape developed from debates in academic geography at the beginning of the twentieth century to provide a framework for understanding the alterations which humankind has made to the physical environment of the earth's surface. It seeks to relate the visual and material manifestations of this human contribution to the total composition of the earth's landscapes to the cultural, economic, technological, political, and psychological forces working on communities and whole societies. The concept has continued to evolve over time and has spread across linguistic boundaries in geography, and more recently has entered the lexicon of related social sciences, particularly history, archaeology, anthropology, environmental psychology, as well as some cognate fields beyond such as landscape aesthetics and landscape ecology.
Peptidoglycan synthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is organized into networks with varying drug susceptibility

Peptidoglycan (PG), a complex polymer composed of saccharide chains cross-linked by short peptides, is a critical component of the bacterial cell wall. PG synthesis has been extensively studied in model organisms but remains poorly understood in mycobacteria, a genus that includes the important human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The principle PG synthetic enzymes have similar and, at times, overlapping functions. To determine how these are functionally organized, we carried out whole-genome transposon mutagenesis screens in Mtb strains deleted for ponA1, ponA2, and ldtB, major PG synthetic enzymes. We identified distinct factors required to sustain bacterial growth in the absence of each of these enzymes. We find that even the homologs PonA1 and PonA2 have unique sets of genetic interactions, suggesting there are distinct PG synthesis pathways in Mtb. Either PonA1 or PonA2 is required for growth of Mtb, but both genetically interact with LdtB, which has its own distinct genetic network. We further provide evidence that each interaction network is differentially susceptible to antibiotics. Thus, Mtb uses alternative pathways to produce PG, each with its own biochemical characteristics and vulnerabilities.
Lymphocytes and Antibody in Retrovirus-Induced Feline Pure Red Cell Aplasia

The possible role of antibody and T-lymphocytes was investigated in the pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) associated with feline leukemia virus, subgroup C (FeLV-C), infection. In previous studies, erythroid colony-forming cells were undetectable in marrow culture of cats with PRCA. Yet erythroid burst-forming cells (BFU-E) remained, suggesting that BFU-E were able to differentiate in vitro but not in vivo. It was inferred that immunologic suppression may contribute to the pathogenesis of feline PRCA, and the interactions of antibody and T-lymphocytes with erythroid and granulocyte-macrophage progenitors were studied. Incubation of normal or PRCA marrow cells with PRCA serum or IgG concentrated from this serum and then complement (C') failed to decrease hematopoietic colony growth when compared to the results obtained with cultures of marrow cells incubated with C' alone. In crossover coculture studies, T-cells from Safari cats with PRCA had no inhibitory effect on colony growth from normal or autologous PRCA marrow cells. For the determination of whether feline PRCAs were associated with a clonal T-cell process, lymphocytes were obtained periodically from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (Glc-6-PD) heterozygous cats following FeLV-C infection and were expanded with a crude preparation of interleukin-2. The ratios of Glc-6-PD enzyme types in these samples did not change as cats developed anemia, suggesting that the inhibition of erythropoiesis was not associated with the clonal expansion of T-cells. These studies, therefore, do not support the premise that feline PRCA results from the interaction of antibody or T-cells with erythroid progenitors.
The performance of the sPHENIX prototype calorimeter readout electronics

The PHENIX collaboration has proposed a major upgrade, sPHENIX, to probe the nature of the Quark-Gluon Plasma, QGP, by studying jets produced in p+p, p+A, and A+A collisions at RHIC. The sPHENIX detector consists of a super-conducting solenoid, electromagnetic and hadronic calorimetry, and central tracking optimized for jet studies. The compact nature of the detector (r ∼ 2.5m) means that the optical readout of the calorimetry will be in the vicinity of the of the magnetic field of the solenoid, which will require an optical readout immune to effects of magnetic fields. For sPHENIX, we have designed an optical readout system based on MultiPixel Photon Counters (MPPCs) for both the electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters. As part of the design stage for sPHENIX, prototype electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters with an MPPC based front end were built for evaluation as part of the Fermi National Laboratory Test Beam Experiment T-1044. In this paper we will present the design of the readout system based on MPPCs and the performance of the electronics in the test beam.
Efficient Computation of Object Boundary Intersection and Error Tolerance in VRCC-3D+

Ƞ Computational geometry is a field that is relevant to computer graphics rendering, computational physical simulation, and countless other problem domains involving the use of image data. Efficiently determining the intersection of the boundaries, interiors, and exteriors of two 3D objects can mean the difference between a realistic and relevant simulation, and a slow program that produces results to that do not keep pace with user interaction with the object. However, the speed of these calculations is not the only area of concern. Taking into consideration the finite unit of resolution in a computer display (the pixel), the minimum change in distance the human eye can perceive, and error in the floating-point representation of numbers, it may be the case that the perceived correctness of these computations does not necessarily correspond to the accuracy with which the calculations are carried out. In this paper, we examine two of the most well-known methods of determining such intersections, as well as various programming language libraries available to perform these calculations. These existing approaches are considered with respect to limitations in human perception, display resolution, and floating point error. We also propose a new method which lends itself to exploiting the inherently parallel nature of these calculations. 뀀ഀȠ
Design of MRI Scan Protocols for Use in 3-D, CT-Based Treatment Planning☆

MRI has the potential of providing the radiation therapy treatment planner with new insights into the definition of target and normal tissue volumes to augment CT in 3-D treatment planning. The current speed of MR scan sequences is not sufficient to enable the acquisition of both T1 and T2 weighted images in all three orthogonal planes in a reasonable period of time. Therefore, compromises must be made in the design of protocols specifically for use in radiotherapy planning which: (1) provide enough information to readily enable image registration; (2) preserve the three-dimensionality provided by image acquisition directly in coronal and sagittal planes; (3) yield tissue contrast as well as tumor specificity (where available); but (4) can be completed in a short enough span of time (or with enough checks) that the patient position is not compromised. Protocols designed for use in planning treatment of the brain, head and neck, lung, prostate, cervix, and sarcomas are presented.
Enzymatic O-methylation of norepinephrine: Studies on the site of methylation by high pressure liquid chromatography

Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT, EC 2.1.1.6) catalyzes transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to a phenolic group of catechol substrates to yield mono-methylated catechols and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The site of O-methylation of catechol deriavatives has been the subject of considerable investigation in the past (Creveling et al., 1972; Creveling et al., 1981; Firnau et al., 1980). In mostinstances the meta- and para-methylated products of 4-substituted catechols, formed by COMT, have been analyzed by thin layer chromatography. For several catecholamines including norepinephrine the methylated products can only be separated and quantitated after appropriate derivatives have been prepared. In this paper we describe a high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system for the separation of methylated products of norepinephrine. The HPLC system was used to study the effect of pH on relative meta-and para-methylation of norepinephrine.
wingless signal and Zeste-white 3 kinase trigger opposing changes in the intracellular distribution of Armadillo

wingless/wnt-1 signaling directs cell fate during development. Genetic analysis in Drosophila identified genes that may encode components of the wingless signal transduction system. Drosophila Armadillo, homolog of vertebrate beta-catenin, is required for wingless signaling. Unlike armadillo RNA, Armadillo protein accumulates non-uniformly in different cells of each embryonic segment. We found that cells alter their intracellular distribution of Armadillo in response to Wingless signal, accumulating increased levels of cytoplasmic Armadillo relative to those of membrane-associated protein. Levels of cytoplasmic Armadillo are also regulated by Zeste-White 3 kinase. Analysis of double mutants demonstrates that Armadillo's role in wingless signaling is direct, and that Armadillo functions downstream of both wingless and zeste-white 3. We present a model for the role of Armadillo stripes in transduction of wingless signal.
PAT: interactive conversion of sequential to parallel Fortran

Software development for the next generation of high-performance computers is faced with a challenge-how to exploit applications parallelism without rewriting and redesigning current sequential programs and algorithms from scratch. A prototype tool for interactive parallelization of Fortran, called PAT, is described. The current versions of Pat support Fortran 77, together with Cray micro- and macrotasking, IBM Parallel Fortran, and Sequent Parallel Fortran constructs for parallelism. Pat is implemented using the C language and has been ported to a range of Unix systems, using X-windows for their graphics interface. The internal representation and I/O of multitasking primitives have been carefully designed and implemented to be easily ported to different multitasking dialects. >
Regulation of Hepatocellular Fatty Acid Uptake in Mouse Models of Fatty Liver Disease with and without Functional Leptin Signaling: Roles of NfKB and SREBP-1C and the Effects of Spexin

The processes causing increased hepatic triglycerides (TGs) in mouse models of hepatic steatosis (HS) due to high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity (DIO), EtOH consumption, or obesity mutations (ob/ob, db/db) are uncertain. This report summarizes two studies. Study 1 focused on regulation by five transcription factors (TFs) (NfKb, Srebp-lc, AMPK, PPARα, PPARγ) of seven, much-studied hepatic long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) transporters (FABPpm, CD36, FATPl, FATP2, FATP4, FATP5, & Caveolin-1 [CAV-1]), and expression of genes for enzymes of LCFA synthesis (SCD-1, FASN) in mice with HS from various causes. Study 2 examined the effects of spexin, a novel adipokine, on obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and HS in these mice. Study 1 showed that: (1) processes underlying HS differed in mice with normal leptin signaling (DIO, EtoH-fed) versus those without it (ob/ob, db/db). Increased hepatocellular LCFA uptake was the principal cause of HS in the former, but increased hepatocellular LCFA synthesis predominated in the latter. (2) Expression of individual transporters was variable in the HS models studied, but strong correlations between TF expression and mean expression of four transporter genes across multiple HS models suggested regulatory interaction, and support the postulate that complexes of several different transporters mediate hepatic LCFA uptake. Study 2 indicated (1) that obese DIO mice often also have T2DM and/or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); (2) confirmed that spexin treatment caused weight loss in DIO mice; (3) in DIO mice with T2DM, spexin also improved glucose tolerance, decreasing insulin resistance and HbAlc. Incubation with spexin directly inhibited LCFA uptake by hepatocytes isolated from DIO mice with HS/NAFLD by ≤70%. Spexin treatment in vivo for 4 weeks reduced hepatic lipids by 60%, and reduced serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases. These studies in mice with DIO, T2DM, and HS/NAFLD suggest spexin may be an effective treatment for all three conditions.
Evidence of Soldering Technology on Pre-Columbian Gold Pendants from Western and North-Western Colombia

Microscopic examination and analysis (metallography, X-radiography, SEM–EDS, pXRF and μ-XRF) of a group of stylistically linked gold alloy pendants from western and north-western Colombia confirms the use of a highly unusual manufacturing technique for the region. While the Darien pendants were made using lost-wax casting by a diverse group of cultures from southern Colombia through Costa Rica, only one subset of pendants produced in the Gran-Zenu region (the Caribbean lowlands of northern Colombia) and the Choco region (the Pacific area of western Colombia) in the Early Period (ad 0–900) was found to be manufactured by hammering of gold sheet and fine wires followed by hard soldering of components to produce true filigree. Similarities in features between the stylistically related cast and hammered pendants suggest that the hammered pendants may have served as a prototype for the cast versions. Other possible instances of hard soldering in the region are also presented.
Impacts of fire on snowshoe hares in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA.

Forest fires fundamentally shape the habitats available for wildlife. Current predictions for fire under a warming climate suggest larger and more severe fires may occur, thus challenging scientists and managers to understand and predict impacts of fire on focal species, especially species of management concern. Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben) are a common and important prey animal in boreal forests and are the primary prey for the US federally threatened Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis Kerr), so understanding hare dynamics in post-fire landscapes is critical for managing lynx. We collected habitat and fecal pellet data from 114 sites across three natural burn treatments (mature forest, 1988 Red Bench burn, and 1994 Adair and Howling burns) to evaluate impacts of fire and fire-habitat interactions on snowshoe hare in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. We found that hare numbers were low throughout the park, with hares absent at 17 % of surveyed sites and occurring at densities above 0.5 hares ha−1 (a commonly suggested threshold for supporting Canada lynx) at only 7 % of sites. Hare densities were variable but 10 to 20 times higher in regenerating lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon) stands of 1988 Red Bench burn compared to lodgepole stands in other burn treatments. In stands dominated by other tree species, we found little difference in hare densities across burn treatments. Regardless of burn history or dominant canopy type, percent canopy cover was positively associated with hare relative abundance. Hare densities also increased with percent understory cover up to 80 % cover, beyond which they began to decline. The regular occurrence of wildfires in Glacier National Park, with 2003 being a particularly large fire year (the largest since 1910), suggest that hare and lynx distribution and abundance within the park may shift substantially in the coming decades as these animals respond to changing spatiotemporal patterns of regenerating forest.