cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemical Abundances and Galaxy Evolution

The chemical abundance characteristics of two comparatively structurally simple classes of galaxies, the ellipticals and irregulars, are briefly reviewed. Neither of these types of galaxies have properties which are fully consistent with the quantitative predictions of basic chemical evolution models. Possible sources for discrepancies are discussed in terms of fundamental evolutionary processes and limitations inherent in current observational data.
3D Culture of rat embryonic stem cells and rat induced pluripotent stem cells in a novel PGmatrix hydrogel (LB20)

Expanding embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in a synthetic 3D microenvironment in vitro while maintaining the undifferentiated state has been challenging. It would be advantageous to identify a substrate which could be modified such as by changing ligands that interact with cell surface receptors or by changing the substrate’s stiffness. We developed a synthetic PGmatrix hydrogel to include these design specifications and determined whether it could support the expansion of undifferentiated ESCs in a 3D microenvironment. Rat ESCs (rESCs) and rat induced pluripotent stem cells (riPSCs) were used for evaluation. The cells were grown both in 2D and 3D in PGmatrix hydrogel containing 2 inhibitors. Dynamic rheological tests of PGmatrix hydrogel in 2i medium showed a rapid increase of storage moduli (G’ = 600 Pa for 3mM in 1 hr) indicating gelation after mixing. The mechanical strength of hydrogel was full recovered after shear-thinning into liquid phase. Also, the hydrogel reached a self-supporting strength within 1...
Evaluation Under Lambda Abstraction

In light of the usual definition of values [18] as terms in weak head normal form (WHNF), a λ-abstraction is regarded as a value, and therefore no expressions under λ-abstraction can get evaluated and the sharing of computation under λ has to be achieved through program transformations such as λ-lifting and supercombinators. In this paper we generalise the notion of head normal form (HNF) and introduce the definition of generalised head normal form (GHNF). We then define values as terms in GHNF with flexible heads, and study a call-by-value λ-calculus λ hd v corresponding to this new notion of values. After establishing a version of the normalisation theorem in λ hd v , we construct an evaluation function evalhd for λ hd v which evaluates under λ-abstraction. We prove that a program can be evaluated in λ hd v to a term in GHNF if and only if it can be evaluated in the usual λ-calculus to a term in HNF. We also present an operational semantics for λ hd v via a SECD machine. We argue that lazy functional programming languages can be implemented through λ hd v and an implementation of λ hd v can significantly enhance the degree of sharing in evaluation. This establishes a solid foundation for implementing run-time code generation through λ hd v
Bacterial symbionts induce host organ morphogenesis during early postembryonic development of the squid Euprymna scolopes

The mutualistic association between the squid Euprymna scolopes and the bacterium Vibrio fischeri is an emerging experimental system for the study of the influence of bacteria on animal development. Taking advantage of the ability to raise both this host and its microbial partner independently under laboratory conditions, we describe the effects of bacterial interactions on morphogenesis of the juvenile host symbiotic organ. Our results show that bacteria are essential for normal postembryonic development of the symbiotic organ, which involves changes in both the surface epithelium and the epithelial tissue within the organ where the bacterial culture will take up residence. Cell death induced by exposure to symbiotic V. fischeri results in the regression of a complex ciliated surface epithelium, a tissue that apparently functions to facilitate inoculation of the juvenile organ with the appropriate specific bacterial species. Regression of this tissue begins within hours of exposure to symbiosis-competent bacteria and progresses over the next 5 days, at which time full regression is complete, resulting in a symbiotic organ whose epithelial surface resembles that of the fully mature organ. Moreover, symbiosis-competent bacteria induce modification of the epithelial cells of the crypts that will house these symbionts; these cells undergo significant changes in shape and size in response to interactions with symbiotic V. fischeri. In contrast, we find that when these tissues are not exposed to the proper bacterial symbionts they remain in a state of arrested morphogenesis, a condition that can be rescued by interactions with symbionts. The results of these studies are the first experimental data demonstrating that a specific bacterial symbiont can play an inductive role in animal development.
Diel Periodicity of Mating in Laboratory-Adapted Screwworm Flies Relative to Photoperiod

During the last 2 decades, biologists have become progressively more interested in studying the daily rhythms of diverse organisms. Yet there are only 2 documented examples of the cyclic behavior of screwworm flies, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel). Screwworm adults were found to exhibit a diurnal periodicity in their emergence from the pupae (Laake, Cushing & Parish, 1936, U. S. Dep. Agr. Tech. Bull. 500, 24 p.). Also, the susceptibility of screwworm males to chemosterilants was found to change depending on the time of day the treatment was applied (Cryetal, 1969, J. Econ. Ent. 62 : 275–76). Mating behavior is another biological phenomenon that can be influenced by the physical rhythms of the environment. Because nothing was known about the pattern of mating behavior of screwworm flies, experiments were planned to investigate this aspect of the biology of these insects.
Realistic Communication Through Assertiveness Training Techniques

The recent popularity of books and seminars on assertiveness training reflects a need for more open communication. Proponents of this field have developed self-help activities which are designed to practice and improve communication. It is felt that these techniques can be adapted to the foreign language classroom since students also have trouble expressing themselves. This article proposes sixteen learning activities based on assertiveness training which can be used on all language levels to develop all four skills.
A Hybrid Approach to Sentiment Sentence Classification in Suicide Notes

This paper describes the sentiment classification system developed by the Mayo Clinic team for the 2011 I2B2/VA/Cincinnati Natural Language Processing (NLP) Challenge. The sentiment classification task is to assign any pertinent emotion to each sentence in suicide notes. We have implemented three systems that have been trained on suicide notes provided by the I2B2 challenge organizer—a machine learning system, a rule-based system, and a system consisting of a combination of both. Our machine learning system was trained on re-annotated data in which apparently inconsistent emotion assignment was adjusted. Then, the machine learning methods by RIPPER and multinomial Naive Bayes classifiers, manual pattern matching rules, and the combination of the two systems were tested to determine the emotions within sentences. The combination of the machine learning and rule-based system performed best and produced a micro-average F-score of 0.5640.
Distributed Energy-Efficient Scheduling Approach for K-Coverage in Wireless Sensor Networks

In sensor networks, it is desired to conserve energy so that the network lifetime can be maximized. An efficient approach to prolong the network lifetime is to identify a schedule for all the sensors, indicating which subset of the sensors can be active during the current time slot. Furthermore, to ensure the quality of surveillance, some applications require k-coverage of the monitored area. In this paper, we first define the Sensor Energy-efficient Scheduling for k-coverage (SESK) problem. We further resolve it by proposing a scheduling approach named Distributed Energy-efficient Scheduling for k-coverage DESK such that the energy consumption among all the sensors is balanced while still assuring the k-coverage requirement. This approach is completely distributed as well as localized, which is more practical than centralized ones in wireless sensor networks.
Epitaxial growth of β-SiC single crystals by successive two-step CVD

Abstract Single-crystalline β-SiC films are grown on Si (111) substrates by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using SiH 2 Cl 2 and C 3 H 8 gases. In order to achieve the heteroepitaxial growth with large lattice mismatch, a very thin layer of polycrystalline SiC is at first deposited on the substrate surface at relatively low temperature. Then, SiC single crystal films are successively grown on the thin SiC layers for 2 to 6 h at higher temperature. SiC films with the thicknesses of 0.6–4.5 μm are obtained uniformly on the Si substrate (15 × 15 mm 2 ). X-ray diffraction and reflection electron diffraction measurements reveal an excellent crystal quality and the same crystallographic orientation as the substrate.
Visual Analysis of User Accommodation

This study presents a novel, quantitative tool for design decision-making for products designed for human variability. Accommodation, which describes the ability of a user to interact with a device or environment in a preferred way, is a key product performance metric. Methods that offer a better understanding of accommodation of broad user populations would allow for the design of products that are more cost-effective, safer, and/or lead to greater levels of customer satisfaction. Target user populations are often characterized by measures of anthropometry, or body dimensions. A methodology is proposed that uses a visual analysis method for understanding and exploring accommodation across the variability in anthropometry of a target user population. This is achieved by assessing binary accommodation of individuals using a “virtual fit” method and examining trends in binary accommodation across the range of anthropometric variability, referred to as the “anthropometry space”. Various factors influencing accommodation, such as user preference independent of anthropometry and the quality of a design, are also discussed and are an important contribution of the work. Two demonstration studies are presented that illustrate the methodology and provide opportunity for discussion of its impact. The first study investigates the simple univariate problem of dimensionally optimizing the seat height and range of adjustability of an exercise cycle. The second study investigates the more complex problem of optimally configuring the driver package of a commercial truck.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Air pollution and allergic disease

Over the past several decades, there has been increased awareness of the health effects of air pollution and much debate regarding the role of global warming. The prevalence of asthma and allergic disease has risen in industrialized countries, and most epidemiologic studies focus on possible causalities between air pollution and these conditions. This review examines salient articles and summarizes findings important to the interaction between allergies and air pollution, specifically volatile organic compounds, global warming, particulate pollutants, atopic risk, indoor air pollution, and prenatal exposure. Further work is necessary to determine whether patients predisposed to developing allergic disease may be more susceptible to the health effects of air pollutants due to the direct interaction between IgE-mediated disease and air pollutants. Until we have more definitive answers, patient education about the importance of good indoor air quality in the home and workplace is essential. Health care providers and the general community should also support public policy designed to improve outdoor air quality by developing programs that provide incentives for industry to comply with controlling pollution emissions.
A nonlinear inversion method for 3D electromagnetic imaging using adjoint fields

Electromagnetic imaging is modelled as an inverse problem for the 3D system of Maxwell's equations of which the isotropic conductivity distribution in the domain of interest has to be reconstructed. The main application we have in mind is the monitoring of conducting contaminant plumes out of surface and borehole electromagnetic imaging data. The essential feature of the method developed here is the use of adjoint fields for the reconstruction task, combined with a splitting of the data into smaller groups which define subproblems of the inversion problem. The method works iteratively, and can be considered as a nonlinear generalization of the algebraic reconstruction technique in x-ray tomography. Starting out from some initial guess for the conductivity distribution, an update for this guess is computed by solving one forward and one adjoint problem of the 3D Maxwell system at a time. Numerical experiments are performed for a layered background medium in which one or two localized (3D) inclusions are immersed. These have to be monitored out of surface to borehole and cross-borehole electromagnetic data. We show that the algorithm is able to recover a single inclusion in the earth which has high contrast to the background, and to distinguish between two separated inclusions in the earth given certain borehole geometries.
The Role of Proximal and Distal Sequence Variations in the Presentation of an Immunodominant CTL Epitope Encoded by the Ecotropic AK7 MuLV

An emv-14-derived, replication-competent ecotropic murine leukemia virus [MuLV], designated AK7, was previously cloned from the AKXL-5 recombinant inbred mouse strain and partially characterized. While genetically encoding for an envelope-derived immunodominant CTL epitope [KSPWFTTL] located in the transmembrane region of p15TM, this virus, unlike the emv-11-derived virus AKR623, fails to be efficiently recognized by AKR/Gross MuLV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes [CTL]. AK7 thus provides the opportunity to study the role of retroviral sequence variations that are located outside of the immunodominant epitope as a mechanism of escape from CTL-mediated immune surveillance. In an attempt to identify which region[s] of the AK7 genome could account for its ability to evade efficient recognition by AKR/Gross MuLV-specific CTL, we have constructed recombinant murine retroviruses. The direct influence of a sequence variation twelve amino acids N-terminal to KSPWFTTL was explored with the use of chimeric viruses and determined not to significantly impair the presentation of KSPWFTTL to AKR/Gross MuLV-specific CTL. The long terminal repeat [LTR] derived from the AK7 virus, which possesses only one copy of the 99-base pair transcriptional enhancer in the U3 region, in contrast to AKR623 that possesses two copies of the tandem direct repeat enhancers, was also analyzed for its influence on the presentation of KSPWFTTL. Interestingly, our data indicate that the enhancer region derived from AK7 negatively influences the presentation of KSPWFTTL in the context of a recombinant AKR623 virus.
Parallel and distributed execution of constraint programs

The goal of this research project is to study techniques and methodologies for execution of Constraint logic programs on parallel and distributed architectures. These models will be applied to implicit and explicit parallelization of complex and irregular symbolic applications, such as those arising in Natural Language Processing, Knowledge-based Systems, and Digital Libraries, and to provide novel frameworks for advanced World-Wide Web programming and coordination of software components.
pH dependence of light-induced proton release by bacteriorhodopsin

Abstract We have measured the current generated by light-activated proton release from bacteriorhodopsin into solution as a function of both pH and ionic strength. We find that proton release into solution decreases with increasing pH with an intrinsic p K a of 8.2 ± 0.2. This pH dependence indicates that the deprotonation of a certain group inhibits or abolishes proton release. Under physiological conditions, this group either releases a proton directly into solution or interacts with the site of proton release. The most immediate candidates for this protonatable species are tyrosine-57, tyrosine-185, arginine-82, and water; acting individually or cooperatively. The salt dependence of the apparent p K a of this group also allows us to calculate the surface charge density of about −5 charges per bacteriorhodopsin, compatible with previous estimates.
The ordering transition in Ni3Al alloys

Abstract The ordering of nickel rich non-stoichiometrico Ni3Al alloys has been examined by transmission electron microscopy. Utilizing superlattice dark-field microscopy and diffraction, it has been possible to observe an earlier stage of ordering than heretofore reported, as a result of very rapid helium quenching. Alloys of over about 17 at.% Al undergo ordering almost completely throughout the lattice if allowed to reside perhaps a few hundred ths of a sec in the region of most rapid reaction, which is roughly 1000°–1100°C. Subsequent phase separation and coarsening occur much more slowly. Alloys of less than about 16 at.% Al exhibit SRO domains on quenching which are unstable and disappear in the presence of quenched in vacancies at 270°C. These two compositions thus appear to be separated by a spinodal curve. The results substantiate the concept that SRO microdomain size increases with ordering energy, V(S). It would appear that ordering by a second order transition ( ∂ 2 G ∂T 2 discontinuous through T c ) is possible in A3B-f.c.c. alloys, and that such a transition can be distinguished by its mechanism. The mechanism of such an ordering transition must involve diffusion, not down a chemical gradient, but rather that resulting from individual biased vacancy jumps. The vacancy-atom interchanges of greatest probability will be those which result in the formation of the greatest number of “right” bonds.
Phonological encoding and ideographic reading by the disconnected right hemisphere: two case studies.

Abstract The mute disconnected right hemispheres (RHs) of two commissurotomy patients are able to understand spoken words and read printed words by matching them with pictures of the objects named. In this paper we report the results of five experiments. The RH of one patient could “evoke the sound image” of a word to the extent of matching two pictures with homonymous names (experiment 1) or with rhyming names (experiment 2) without being able to name either one. This transformation of picture to covert sound does not depend on orthographic similarity of word ends as a clue to homonymy or rhyme, nor does it improve with short-term learning. Yet neither RH can translate print into sound by matching a spelled word with a picture that has a rhyming name (experiment 3) or by matching two orthographically dissimilar rhymes, be they meaningful (experiment 4) or nonsense words (experiment 5). We suggest that these RHs read “ideographically,” recognizing words directly as visual gestalts without intermediate phonetic recoding or grapheme-to-phoneme translation.
Enzyme activities of fish skeletal muscle and brain as influenced by depth of occurrence and habits of feeding and locomotion

Activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), pyruvate kinase (PK), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and citrate synthase (CS) were measured in the white skeletal muscle of marine fishes having different depths of occurrence and different feeding and locomotory strategies. There were significant depth-related differences in the two glycolytic enzymes, LDH and PK. LDH activity was most variable, and differed by 3 orders of magnitude between the most active shallow-living species and certain deep-sea fishes likely to have only minimal capacities for active locomotion. Superimposed on the depth-related patterns was a high degree of interspecific variation (up to 20-fold) in enzymic activity among species from any given range of depth of occurrence. Variation of both LDH and PK activities, noted for shallow- and deep-living fishes, seems to be largely accounted for by differences in feeding habits and locomotory performance. Active pelagic swimmers have much higher activities of LDH and PK than, for example, deep-living sit-and-wait predators. Benthopelagic fishes like rattails and the sablefish have the highest activities found among deep-living fishes, suggesting that these species engage in relatively active food-searching behavior compared to most other deep-sea fishes. The activity of CS, an enzyme of the citric acid cycle and an indicator of aerobic metabolism, varied little among species. Thus, the large interspecific variation in glycolytic potential (LDH and PK) among species is not associated with a similar variation in aerobic metabolism of white muscle. The much higher and more variable activity of MDH relative to CS suggests that, in addition to its function in the citric acid cycle, MDH may play an important role in redox balance in fish white muscle. In a comparison of white muscle composition between the shallow- and deep-living species, water content did not differ significantly, but protein content was significantly higher in shallow- than in deep-living fishes (211 and 130 mg g-1 wet wt of muscle, respectively). The differences in muscle protein content are small relative to the differences between shallow- and deep-living species in LDH, PK and MDH activities. Thus, depthrelated differences in muscle enzymic activity are caused by factors other than enzyme dilution. Enzyme activities (LDH, PK and CS) in brain tissue were relatively constant among species regardless of depth of occurrence or feeding and locomotory habits. Habitat and lifestyle do not seem to influence the demands for overall metabolic function in brain. The utility of muscle enzymic activity data for making predictions about the ecological characteristics of difficult-to-observe, deep-living, fishes is discussed.
DIMENSIONALITY OF AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF THE RELATIONSHIP INVENTORY: AN URBAN REPLICATION WITH MARRIED COUPLES

An abbreviated version of the Relationship Inventory (Barrett-Lennard, 1962) was administered to a random sample of 98 urban married couples to replicate an earlier study involving a sample of 83 r...
A Model for Wolf-Pack Territory Formation and Maintenance

A model is developed to investigate the formation and maintenance of wolf territories based on the spatial patterns observed in northeastern Minnesota. Initially we simplify the model to consider the movements of a single pack. In this case we obtain steady state density distributions corresponding to territories and determine how the size of a territory depends on the number of wolves in a pack. We suggest how, with sufficient access to the relevant field data, this simplified model could be used to estimate some of the model parameters. The complete multi-pack model shows how interactions between adjacent packs determine the shape of the territory. We investigate the solutions to the mathematical model systems and discuss ecological implications.
Identification of a novel zebrafish SULT1 cytosolic sulfotransferase: Cloning, expression, characterization, and developmental expression study ☆

Abstract By searching the zebrafish expressed sequence tag database, we had identified two partial cDNA clones encoding the 5′- and 3′-regions of a putative cytosolic sulfotransferase (SULT). Using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, a full-length cDNA encoding this zebrafish SULT was amplified, cloned, and sequenced. Analysis of the sequence data revealed that this novel zebrafish SULT displays 49, 46, and 45% amino acid sequence identity to human SULT1A1, mouse SULT1D1, and rat SULT1C1. This zebrafish SULT therefore appears to belong to the SULT1 cytosolic SULT gene family. Recombinant zebrafish SULT (designated SULT1 isoform 4), expressed using the pGEX-2TK prokaryotic expression vector and purified from transformed Escherichia coli cells, migrated as a 35 kDa protein upon sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Among the endogenous compounds tested as substrates, the purified SULT1 isoform 4 displayed significant sulfating activities toward thyroid hormones, estrone, and dehydroepiandrosterone. The enzyme also showed activities toward a number of xenobiotics including some flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and other phenolic compounds, with a pH optimum at 7.0. A thermostability experiment revealed the enzyme to be relatively stable over a temperature range between 28 and 37 °C. Among 10 divalent metal cations tested, Fe2+, Hg2+, Co2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and Cd2+ exhibited dramatic inhibitory effects on the activity of the enzyme. Developmental expression study using RT-PCR revealed that the zebrafish SULT1 isoform 4 showed a low level of expression in the segmentation period during the embryonic development, which gradually increased to a high level of expression throughout the larval stage onto maturity.
Military network security using self organized multi-agent entangled hierarchies

Effective and efficient Cyber-security management is of central importance in military environments. Many contemporary military communication control structures are based on static, hierarchical designs, which generally lack scalability and flexibility due centralization. Thus, we propose a self organized entangled hierarchial architecture of multiple agents that decentralizes network security control and communication. In particular, we focus on the military CyberCraft container structure. The self organized multi-agent swarms are evolved based on partially observable Markov decision process formal models. Desired swarm behaviors are formalized to interact with these models. The "optimal" policy (agent rules and parameters) for a given behavior is evolved using a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm. Swarm effectiveness is compared in numerous military network security scenarios using statistical testing techniques and visualization.
Recognition, diagnosis and management of obesity after myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the documentation of obesity as a medical problem, and subsequent management recommendations, in patients after myocardial infarction (MI). DESIGN: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of a randomly selected sample of 627 patients discharged after an Ml, from five US teaching hospitals between 1/1/01 and 12/31/02. Information was extracted from clinical notes using standardized definitions. RESULTS: Mean body mass index (BMI) was 31 ± 13 kg/m 2 , which was documented in only 14% of patients and had to be calculated post hoc in the rest. Waist circumference and waist/hip ratio were not documented at all; 83% of patients were overweight, 55% obese, and 8% morbidly obese. In only 20% of patients with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 was the diagnosis of obesity documented either as a current medical problem, as part of past medical history or as a final diagnosis. A dietary counseling was carried out in 61% of patients with BMI≥25 kg/m 2 and in 61% of patients with BMI < 25 kg/m 2 , P = 0.96. Weight loss was described as part of the goals/plan at discharge in 7% of overweight and 9% of obese patients. There was no change in either the level of recognition of obesity (22 vs 19%, P=0.3) or in the proportion of obese patients for whom weight loss was described as part of the goals/plan at discharge (8 vs 10%, P = 0.7) before (n = 301) compared to after (n = 326) the Call to Action in Obesity by the Surgeon General in December 2001. CONCLUSION: Obesity is underecognized, underdiagnosed and undertreated in persons with acute MI.
Sterilization of reusable implant components: A pilot study

Abstract Statement of problem. The placement and restoration of dental implants require the use of numerous reusable instruments and components. The adequate sterilization of reusable instruments and components is essential to prevent cross contamination between patients. Sterilization usually is accomplished with single-use sterilization envelopes. A reusable sterilization vehicle would reduce costs as well as the waste generated in patient care. Purpose. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of a 10-cc Pyrex test tube as a sterilization vehicle for reusable dental implant instruments and components. Material and methods. In this study, a reusable dental implant component was placed in a Pyrex test tube, along with a biologic test strip. A control biologic test strip was kept for each test tube. The test tube was closed with a cotton roll folded in half and placed in the opening. Twenty test tubes were prepared. five sets of 4 test tubes were placed in an autoclave in different locations with varying orientations. The autoclave completed a standard sterilization cycle. Results. The biological monitoring service indicated that the biologic test strips in 100% of the test tubes were sterile, whereas the control strips were 100% nonsterile. Conclusion. A Pyrex test tube sealed with a cotton roll can serve as a sterilization vehicle for reusable dental implant instruments and components. (J Prosthet Dent 2000;84:608-11.)
A New Method for Intraoperative Detection of Intracardiac Air Prior to Discontinuance of Bypass

Abstract Air embolism following cardiotomy remains a significant source of patient morbidity and mortality. Monitoring of intracardiac air using Doppler frequency-shift techniques requires arterial blood flow resulting in some embolism before the air can be detected. This study describes a new method for detecting air within the heart and aorta prior to its escape into the general circulation. The procedure uses a sonar type ultrasonic pulse-echo system to determine the exact location of entrapped air. Bubbles as small as 0.04 cc. were easily detected in the left ventricle and aortic root of both arrested and fibrillating hearts. The technique utilizes a small hand-held sensing probe which is passed over the surface of the myocardium and aortic root. A video display of bubble location is obtained using a portable Sperry reflectoscope. Results with controlled amounts of air and foam showed distinct patterns which were easily differentiated. Detailed laboratory findings and clinical application are discussed.
Archaeological Survey and the Study of Mesopotamian Urban Systems

AbstractThe current understanding of Mesopotamian urban systems has been substantially enhanced by a series of wide-ranging archaeological surveys during the past three decades. The study of Mesopotamian society, as with most historical civilizations, offers special challenges to the survey archaeologist. A long tradition of philological inquiry has contributed to the current state of knowledge and must not be overlooked in future work.For Mesopotamia, probably the greatest achievements in survey archaeology are the works of Robert McC. Adams. They serve here as the reference point for a discussion of the current state of surveying in Mesopotamia. The first part of this article addresses several general issues confronting the survey archaeologist. Questions of the scale of the research project, the intensity of covering the landscape, and the adequate identification of the materials that are discovered all must be carefully evaluated in planning a survey. In the second half of the article three general re...
Identification of Germplasm of Possible Value for Confronting an Unfavorable Inverse Genetic Correlation in Tobacco

To be commercially viable in the USA, a flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cultivar must be high-yielding and also meet minimum requirements for percent total alkaloids (PTA). The negative correlation between yield and PTA complicates development of higher-yielding cultivars with acceptable leaf chemistry, however. Identification and use of germplasm possessing alternative alleles positively affecting PTA could be an important component of strategies to develop commercially acceptable, higher-yielding cultivars. Choice of donor germplasm should be done carefully, however, because yield modulates the phenotypic expression of PTA. Consequently, comparison of materials for genetic potential to accumulate alkaloids might best be done at common levels of yield. This investigation used manual control of leaf number to manipulate yield of fifteen diverse tobacco genotypes grown in a split-plot design in two North Carolina environments. Within genotypes, the relationships between PTA and yield were found to be negative. Through statistical analyses, germplasm accessions TI 464 and TI 959 were found to exhibit the highest levels of PTA at given levels of yield in both environments. Data on N-partitioning indicated that these genotypes may have increased genetic potential for utilizing accumulated N for alkaloid synthesis. Transfer of alleles from these genotypes to elite germplasm pools may facilitate development of higher-yielding cultivars with acceptable PTA levels.
Temperature insensitivity of short-term adaptation in single-units of the chick cochlear nerve.

Short-term adaptation in acoustically stimulated chick cochlear nerve fibers has recently been shown to have similar kinetics as the readily-releasable vesicle pool in patch-clamped chick hair cells, suggesting that short-term adaptation depends on the dynamics of hair cell exocytosis. Our understanding of the relationship between these two phenomena has been hampered by differences in the temperatures at which the two types of data have been collected. In this report, the effect of temperature on short-term adaptation was studied in single-units of the chick cochlear nerve. Compared to units recorded at 38–41°C, spontaneous and evoked firing rates were markedly decreased when the temperature was lowered to 28–32°C, but the rate of short-term adaptation during 100 ms tone bursts was relatively unchanged, with a temperature Q10, of ∼1.2. The continued similarity of the adaptation time-constant of cooled units to vesicle depletion kinetics in chick hair cells measured at room temperature suggests that comparison of in vitro hair cell exocytosis and in vivo cochlear nerve firing properties may not be confounded by temperature differences between the two approaches. Synapse 58:243–248, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Enteric nervous system: reflexes, pattern generators and motility.

Purpose of reviewAdvances in understanding of the enteric nervous system (ENS) support the brain-in-the-gut concept. Progress relative to sensory neurons, reflex circuits and central pattern generators is summarized.Recent findingsA ‘hardwired’ polysynaptic circuit in the ENS evokes descending inhib
Postthymectomy wasting associated with autoimmune phenomena. I. Antiglobulin-positive anemia in A and C57BL-6 Ks mice.

1. Mice of A and C57BL/6 Ks strains, thymectomized at birth acquire wasting disease in 84.1% (A) and 77.1% (C57BL/6 Ks) of the cases. There is no sex predelection. 2. Anemia in these animals is characterized by shortened red cell survival and increased fragility to hypotonic salt solutions. Among thymectomized A mice reticulocytosis is absent and extramedullary hematopoiesis is found in the spleen in the presence of bone marrow hypoplasia for the erythroid and lymphocyte series. 3. Positive antiglobulin tests of the red cells were observed in all the thymectomized C57BL/6 Ks (7/7) and 71.2% of the A strains (62/87). Normal mice do not show positive Coombs' tests. 4. The globulin coat on the A strain consists of IgM, whereas β1C and IgG are not detectable. By contrast, red cell coats of NZB mice developing spontaneous autoimmune hemolytic anemia show IgM and β1C, but these erythrocytes do not react with anti-gamma chain antibodies. Another difference in the globulin coats of the two types of erythrocytes is that the IgM on NZB red cells has available light chain determinants but these are apparently hidden or absent in the case of sensitized erythrocytes. The difference in antibody coating, association with a component of complement in one but not the other, suggests a different mechanism for the immune surface phenomenon in each instance. 5. Anemia in NZB mice is associated with reticulocytosis while that in thymectomized A mice is not. 6. Thymectomy appears to initiate a chain of events leading to a series of autoimmune phenomena which may be due to alteration in host response consequent to loss of thymic tissue and thymic dependent functions or alternatively to infection to which increased susceptibility exists as a result of thymic extirpation.
Partial Purification and Characterization of a Monoterpene Cyclase, Limonene Synthase, from the LiverwortRicciocarpos natans☆

Abstract 4S-(−)-limonene is the major monoterpene accumulated by the liverwortRicciocarpos natans,and a cell-free extract from this nonvascular plant culturedin vitrocatalyzes the cyclization of geranyl diphosphate to limonene. The time course of limonene synthase activity parallels cultured growth but shows a maximum in specific activity in the lag phase following transfer to fresh medium. The operationally soluble enzyme was partially purified by combination of anion-exchange and hydroxylapatite chromatography. The limonene synthase fromR. natanspossesses a molecular weight of about 51,000, exhibits a pH optimum at 6.5, a pIat 5.3, and a requirement for either Mg2+or Mn2+as cofactor, and appears to employ 3S-linalyl diphosphate as a bound intermediate in the cyclization of the geranyl substrate (Km∼1.25 μ M ). In stereochemistry of the coupled isomerization–cyclization reaction and in general properties, the limonene synthase from this bryophyte resembles the corresponding monoterpene cyclases from gymnosperm and angiosperm species.
Borderless Education and Domestic Programs

This paper constructs a theoretical model to evaluate the effects of borderless education on education resource allocation by a public university in a developing country. It is sometimes argued that, with sole emphasis and competence in global knowledge, borderless education will lead to the demise of local knowledge in the developing country. We provide several scenarios to demonstrate this concern is genuine. For example, if graduates from a satellite university established by a transnational organization have opportunities to work abroad and earn higher incomes, then an increase in the wage in the foreign country will lead to a reduction in local knowledge production.
Identification and mass analysis of human fibrinogen molecules and their domains by scanning transmission electron microscopy.

Abstract The domainal substructure and molecular conformation of human fibrinogen have been investigated by evaluating scanning transmission electron microscopic images of freeze-dried or negatively contrasted native fibrinogen (fractions I-4 and I-9), glutaraldehyde-treated fibrinogen, or plasmic core fragments D1 and E2. Although some unstained freeze-dried native or glutaraldehyde-treated fibrinogen molecules were relatively compact and even occasionally spheroidal, typical images were elongated symmetrical tridomainal structures 460 A ± 20 A in length; frequently they were bent into a variety of elongated though non-linear arrangements. Their identification as monomolecular forms of fibrinogen by scanning transmission electron microscopic mass measurements resolved uncertainties relating to the identity of such objects as single molecules. The central domains of fraction I-4 molecules had a greater mass than those of fraction I-9 (1.01 × 105Mrversus 7.5 × 10 Mr, respectively). This difference accounted for the observed mass difference between fraction I-4 and fraction I-9 molecules (i.e. 3.27 × 105Mrversus 2.97 × 105Mr, respectively) and suggested that the COOH-terminal region of the Aα chain (major portions of which are always absent from fraction I-9 molecules) is situated within the mass integration radius for the central domain. When the COOH-terminal region of the Aα chain was present it appeared in negative stain as a thread-like structure originating between the middle and outer domains and extending toward the central domain, sometimes appearing to wind around the long axis. The outer domains of negatively stained molecules resembled negatively stained images of fragment D1 and could frequently be resolved into at least two discrete subdomains, forming an oblong structure usually canted at an angle of ∼120 ° to 150 ° relative to the long axis. Our findings are consistent with prevailing tridomainal structural models of fibrinogen and suggest that these molecules are flexible and may exist in unfolded configurations, or as relatively compact, partially or completely folded forms.
Hotel Ratings: IV. Recruitment and Incentives

Two previous studies (Trice & Layman, 1983, 1984) yielded low return rates for surveys of hotel guests. Under non-recruitment conditions, most surveys contained negative ratings. The present study assessed return rates and negative ratings under recruitment and incentive conditions. Open comments were also examined. During a 5-wk. period, 200 randomly selected guests at two franchise properties adjacent to interstate highways were recruited to participate in a "self-study" of the hotels. Half were offered a $1 tariff reduction if the survey form was returned upon checking out. The survey was a 14-item checklist and a scale of 5-point high-positive Likert items rating room condition, food quality, and service by dining room, front office, and housekeeping staff. Open comments were also solicited. Of the 1,128 guests not recruited during the study period, 13 returned surveys. Of these, 12 included at least one negative rating on the 5-item scale. Two contained written comments. In the recruitment-only group (N = 200), 28 ( 14%) returned ratings, of which 7 (25%) contained at least one negative rating and 6 (21%) contained comments. In the incentive group (N = ZOO), 67 (33.5%) forms were returned, with 8 (12%) containing negative ratings and 30 (45%) containing comments. These results suggest that a small financial incentive is a useful adjunct to recruitment to enhance return and comment rates. Such a procedure also tends to counter the tendency for most returns to be motivated by reporting negative evaluations. Used occasionally and randomly, such a procedure is inexpensive (e.g., chis study cost $67), given the quantity and quality of information obtained.
Distribution effects on 1H double-quantum MAS NMR spectra

Abstract The effect of a distribution in the 1 H– 1 H dipolar coupling on 1 H double-quantum (DQ) magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spinning sideband patterns is considered. In disordered or amorphous materials a distribution in the magnitude of the 1 H– 1 H dipolar coupling is a realistic possibility. Simulations of the 1 H DQ MAS NMR spinning sideband spectra were performed with the two-spin approximation. These simulations reveal that a dipolar coupling distribution can greatly affect the DQ spectral shape and behavior of the DQ build-up. The spectral line shapes are quantified by measurement of the relative intensities of the DQ sidebands. These variations in the 1 H DQ NMR spectra are evaluated as a function of the width of the dipolar coupling distribution. As an example, the experimental DQ spinning sideband spectrum for a hydrated polyoxoniobate containing 15 H 2 O molecules per hexaniobate cluster, are better simulated with a distribution of dipolar couplings opposed to a single coupling constant.
Does the AGN Unified Model Evolve with Redshift? Using the X-Ray Background to Predict the Mid-Infrared Emission of AGNs

Deep X-ray surveys by Chandra and XMM-Newton have resolved about 80% of the 2-10 keV cosmic extragalactic X-ray background (CXRB) into point sources, the majority of which are obscured AGNs. The obscuration might be connected to processes within the host galaxy, possibly the star formation rate. Here we use the results of CXRB synthesis calculations as input to detailed CLOUDY simulations in order to predict the evolution of AGN properties at several mid-IR wavelengths. Computations were performed for three different evolutions of the AGN type 2/type 1 ratio between z = 0 and 1, where the ratio increased as (1 + z)0.9, as (1 + z)0.3, and with one model having no redshift evolution. Models were calculated with the inner radius of the absorbing gas and dust at 1 or at 10 pc. Comparing the results of the calculations to combined X-ray and Spitzer data of AGNs show that the predicted spectral energy distributions are a good description of average AGNs found in the deep surveys. The existing data indicate that the mid-IR emission from an average AGN is best described by models in which the attenuating material is ~10 pc from the central engine. We present the expected Spitzer cumulative number count distributions and the evolution of the total AGN (type 1+type 2) luminosity function (LF) between z = 0 and 1 at rest frame 8 and 30 μm for the three evolutionary scenarios. The mid-IR AGN LF will be an excellent tool to measure the evolution of the covering factor of the gas and dust from z ~ 0 to 1.
The Economic Importance and Technological Complexity of Hand-Spinning and Hand-Weaving

In the article "Factors in the Division of Labor by Sex," Murdock says that when simple artifacts are replaced by more complex ones men take over the work. The only example given is the shift from hoe to plow agriculture. With hand-spinning and -weaving, one can document the opposite trend. Both crafts have been done primarily by women from their inception in Neolithic times to the present. Over the centuries, women learned to work with new innovations. In Europe, guilds and men took over weaving. Men rioted against improved looms that made weaving easier and faster. Before mechanization of spinning and weaving in the 19th century, these were the most labor-intensive and time-consuming of all activities. Cloth has been an important trade item in a number of societies from ancient times to the present. Therefore, women spinners and weavers made significant contributions to the labor force and economies of many societies, which have often been unrecognized.
Communication scheduling to minimize thermal effects of implanted biosensor networks in homogeneous tissue

A network of biosensors can be implanted in a human body for health monitoring, diagnostics, or as a prosthetic device. Biosensors can be organized into clusters where most of the communication takes place within the clusters, and long range transmissions to the base station are performed by the cluster leader to reduce the energy cost. In some applications, the tissues are sensitive to temperature increase and may be damaged by the heat resulting from normal operations and the recharging of sensor nodes. Our work is the first to consider rotating the cluster leadership to minimize the heating effects on human tissues. We explore the factors that lead to temperature increase, and the process for calculating the specific absorption rate (SAR) and temperature increase of implanted biosensors by using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. We improve performance by rotating the cluster leader based on the leadership history and the sensor locations. We propose a simplified scheme, temperature increase potential, to efficiently predict the temperature increase in tissues surrounding implanted sensors. Finally, a genetic algorithm is proposed to exploit the search for an optimal temperature increase sequence.
A millimeter-wave multifunction sensor for wireless monitoring of displacement and velocity

A novel multi-function millimeter-wave integrated-circuit sensor operating at 35.6 GHz has been developed and demonstrated for monitoring of displacement and low velocity. Measured displacement results show an unprecedented resolution of only 10 /spl mu/m, approximately equivalent to /spl lambda//sub 0//840 in terms of free-space wavelength /spl lambda//sub 0/, with a maximum error of only 27 /spl mu/m. The sensor can measure speed as low as 27.7 mm/s, corresponding to 6.6 Hz in Doppler frequency, with an estimated velocity resolution of 2.7 mm/s.