cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Personal and Political?: Exploring the Feminization of the American Homeless Population

Using a feminist lens, this exploratory study discusses self-reported differences between male and female homelessness. A sample of homeless individuals (N = 105) in a mid-size southern city was collected to investigate the factors associated with the growing female homeless population. The data reveal that while some root causes of homelessness such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, cut backs in the welfare system, mental illness, drug dependency, and lack of state support, are seen throughout the homeless population, domestic violence and sexual abuse disproportionately impacts women. The results of this study indicate that while women may be less likely to become homeless than their male counterparts, homeless women are significantly more likely to report family and economic-related causes as their reasons for becoming homeless. According to the most recent statistics by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, of the 3.5 million people who are homeless, 17% are women and 39% are chil...
Network Performance Under Bimodal Traffic Loads

In actual multicomputer networks, communications consist of hybrid traffic in which messages exhibit a variety of sizes. However, to date, most studies on network performance are based on traffic loads of uniformly-sized messages. We investigate the performance of wormhole-routed networks under bimodal traffic distributions, a mix of short and long messages. Our studies show that the presence of long messages degrades network performance for short messages dramatically, qualitatively changing network behavior. We present an analytical model for wormhole-routed networks which not only models network performance under uniformly sized message loads more accurately than existing models, but also can be extended to support bimodal traffic distributions. The model is validated against detailed simulation of routing networks, over a variety of message size distributions and message lengths. In virtually all cases, the model accurately predicts both network throughput and average message latency to within 8%. Because the impact of long messages can be severe, we consider three techniques-packetization, virtual lanes, and adaptive routing-to alleviate their impact. Packetization reduces the blocking time of long messages, improving network performance in most cases. Virtual lanes and adaptive routing together provide sufficient routing freedom to eliminate much of the blocking, producing performance comparable or even superior to that produced by packetization. Together, all three techniques are complementary, providing robust performance over a variety of traffic mixes and message sizes.
Gender differences in affective reactions to first coitus.

Men's and women's affective reactions to their first sexual intercourse experience were examined. Eighty-seven college men and 122 college women completed questionnaires about first coital experience. Women were significantly more likely to report that their first sexual experience left them feeling less pleasure, satisfaction, and excitement than men, and more sadness, guilt, nervousness, tension, embarrassment, and fear. Factor analyses were used to group emotions into coherent factors for each sex. Four factors emerged for men: pleasure, romance, anxiety, and guilt. Three factors emerged for women: pleasure/romance, anxiety, and guilt.
On the closed form mechanistic modeling of milling: Specific cutting energy, torque, and power

Specific energy in metal cutting, defined as the energy expended in removing a unit volume of workpiece material, is formulated and determined using a previously developed closed form mechanistic force model for milling operations. Cutting power is computed from the cutting torque, cutting force, kinematics of the cutter, and the volumetric material removal rate. Closed form expressions for specific cutting energy were formulated and found to be functions of the process parameters: pressure and friction for both rake and flank surfaces and chip flow angle at the rake face of the tool. Friction is found to play a very important role in cutting torque and power. Experiments were carried out to determine the effects of feedrate, cutting speed, workpiece material, and flank wear land width on specific cutting energy. It was found that the specific cutting energy increases with a decrease in the chip thickness and with an increase in flank wear land.
Surface morphology and cell size measurement of isolated rat cardiac myocytes.

Abstract We studied the morphologic features of cardiac myocytes isolated from 240 g rats by perfusion with enzyme containing media. Hearts obtained from ether-anesthetized animals were perfused on a modified Langendorff apparatus with Ca2+-free Hanks' solution, 3% fetal calf serum, 95% O2, 5% CO2, pH 7.4 for 12 min, the same media with 0.1% collagenase for 12 min, and finally with enzyme-free media containing EGTA for 12 min. Hearts perfusion fixed at various stages of the cell preparation procedure with 2% glutaraldehyde for light and electron microscopic study of in situ cells revealed that most cellular damage was due to action of the enzyme. Up to 80% of isolated myocytes excluded trypan blue immediately after isolation, but numerous cells in the non-purified preparations exhibited various degrees of membrane blebs, cytoplasmic vacuolization, supercontraction (rounded cells) and trypan blue uptake. Poor preparations were obtained if perfusion pressure exceeded 100 mmHg, Ca2+ was included, or if pH, perfusion flow rates and times were not carefully controlled. By scanning electron microscopy, elongated cells excluding trypan blue had a uniformly corrugated surface with depressions at the sarcomere ends corresponding to Z-line attachment to the sarcolemma. Irregularly located holes in the Z-line depression corresponded in size and location to T-tubule openings. Cells had irregular elongated shapes due to many transverse intercalated disc areas not only at cell ends but also along lateral portions of the cell. Hematoxylin and Eosin stained smears of isolated myocytes revealed 85% to contain two nuclei. Mean cell length was 94 ± 18 ( s.d. ) μm and cell width was 18 ± 4 μm measured in 150 cells from each of six rats. Calculated cell volume for double nucleated cells was nearly two times that for single nucleated cells indicating a constant nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio in the two cell populations. Isolated cardiac myocytes are a useful model to study structural aspects of heart muscle.
The burial of a slender elastic vertical cylinder

Abstract Formulas are presented for the forces and stresses induced by the burial in a vertical hole of a long slender elastic cylinder, such as a pipe or a cable. These formulas are developed for both the elastic cylinder and the stemming or burial material during the process of backfilling the hole in which the cylinder is suspended. They also account for the load and stress reduction achieved by controlled displacement of the ground surface end of the elastic cylinder downhole.
Use of trans sodium crocetinate for sensitizing glioblastoma multiforme to radiation: laboratory investigation.

Object Adjuvant treatment with radiation (radiation therapy or radiosurgery) is a mainstay of treatment for patients harboring glioblastomas multiforme (GBM). Hypoxic regions within the tumor make cells less sensitive to radiation therapy. Trans sodium crocetinate (TSC) has been shown to increase oxygen diffusion in the brain and elevate the partial brain oxygen level. The goal of this study was to evaluate the radiosensitizing effects of TSC on GBM tumors. Methods A rat C6 glioma model was used, in which C6 glioma cells were stereotactically injected into the rat brain to create a tumor. Following creation of a right frontal tumor, animals were randomized into 1 of 4 groups: 1) TSC alone (animal treated with moderate-dose TSC only); 2) radiation (animals receiving 8 Gy of cranial radiation); 3) radiation and low-dose TSC (animals receiving 8 Gy of radiation and 50 μg/kg of TSC); or 4) radiation and moderate-dose TSC (animals receiving 8 Gy of radiation and 100 μg/kg of TSC). Animals were observed clinica...
Assessing the cross platform performance of marine mammal indicators between two collocated acoustic recorders

Equipment and deployment strategies for remote passive acoustic sensing of marine environments must balance memory capacity, power requirements, sampling rate, duty-cycle, deployment duration, instrument size, and environmental concerns. The impact of different parameters on the data and applicability of the data to the specific questions being asked should be considered before deployment. Here we explore the effect of recording and detection parameters on marine mammal acoustic data across two platforms. Daily classifications of marine mammal vocalizations from two passive acoustic monitors with different subsampling parameters, an AURAL and a Passive Aquatic Listener (PAL), collocated in the Bering Sea were compared. The AURAL subsampled on a pre-set schedule, whereas the PAL sampled via an adaptive protocol. Detected signals of interest were manually classified in each dataset independently. The daily classification rates of vocalizations were similar. Detections from the higher duty-cycle but lower sample rate AURAL were limited to species and vocalizations with energy below 4 kHz precluding detection of echolocation signals. Temporal coverage from the PAL audio files was limited by the adaptive sub-sampling protocol. A method for classifying ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata) and bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) vocalizations from the sparse spectral time histories of the PAL was developed. Although application of the acoustic entropy as a rapid assessment of biodiversity was not reflective of the number of species detected, acoustic entropy was robust to changes in sample rate and window length.
Sensitivity of Erysiphe necator to Demethylation Inhibitor Fungicides in Virginia

Abstract Grape powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator) isolates were collected from 2005 to 2007 from vineyards mostly in Virginia but also some in Maryland, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Using a leaf disc assay, the isolates were tested against five demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides. Most isolates exhibited reduced sensitivity to the five DMIs when compared with a sensitive group (n = 12) and compared with unexposed populations reported from other areas. The median resistance factor (RF) was highest for tebuconazole (RF = 399) and myclobutanil (RF = 378), followed by triflumizole (RF = 70), triadimefon (RF = 62), and fenarimol (RF = 44). The sensitive group used as the basis for comparison appears to have been more sensitive than unexposed isolates in New York and California. Our finding that the greatest resistance shift occurred with tebuconazole and myclobutanil contrasts with earlier reports from New York and California, where the greatest resistance shift was observed with triadimefon or triadi...
Ultrastructural morphology and relaxin immunolocalization in giant trophoblast cells of the golden hamster placenta

Relaxin immunoreactivity was previously demonstrated in three cell types within the hamster placenta; fetal primary and secondary giant trophoblast cells (GTCs) and maternal endometrial granulocytes. The objectives of the present research were to examine the ultrastructure of the GTCs and identify the intracellular relaxin storage site. Primary GTCs, first present on day 8 of gestation, were characterized by numerous polyribosomes and large heterogeneous cytoplasmic inclusions suggesting phagocytic activity. Primary and secondary GTCs from days 10, 14, and 15 of gestation contained numerous polyribosomes, mitochondria with tubular cristae, and extensive Golgi complex, and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, all characteristics of a cell actively involved in protein synthesis. Membrane-bound secretory granules were not present. Relaxin was immunolocalized within the Golgi complex of primary and secondary GTCs using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. Following differential centrifugation of hamster placental homogenates and radioimmunoassay (RIA) of subcellular fractions, the majority of relaxin immunoactivity was detected in the postmicrosomal fraction; however, the majority of relaxin immunoactivity from similarly treated pig corpora lutea was present in the mitochondrial/granule fraction. These data indicate that hamster placental relaxin is not stored in membrane-bound secretory granules but is contained within the extensive Golgi complex of the GTC.
Representing inverses in pure network flow optimization

Abstract A basis for a pure network flow problem always exhibits special structure, whose exploitation has led to the development of extremely efficient network optimization software. The backbone of these programs is a data structure which represents the basis as a tree and is used to perform the linear algebraic steps required for optimization. We demonstrate that the basis inverse also possesses a special structure which we call the inverse-tree. We develop a data structure to represent the inverse tree, and we show that it obeys a symmetric relationship with the basis-tree data structure. (The predecessor function of the inverse-tree is the preorder link function of the basis-tree and vice versa). We develop efficient computational procedures for exploiting these results and show that using the inverse-tree requires computation of the same order as the basis-tree.
Predicting electrospray response from chromatographic retention time.

The relationship between electrospray ionization response and HPLC retention time was explored. For the series of small peptides studied, higher ESI response was observed for analytes with longer reversed-phase HPLC retention times. This correlation existed for both experimentally measured retention times and those calculated from amino acid retention coefficients. This study is useful to ESI users since it provides a way to predict and understand anomalies in ESI response with a readily accessible experimental parameter (chromatographic retention time). In addition, the ability to correlate ESI response with chromatographic partitioning lends validity to the equilibrium partitioning model, which explains differences in ESI response on the basis of partitioning between the surface and interior phases of the ESI droplet.
The absorption spectra of Bk3+ and Bk4+ in solution☆

Abstract Sixteen absorption bands of Bk3+ in the region from 3200 to 15,000 A are reported. The spectrum was studied in a variety of aqueous acid solutions, at Bk concentrations of 3·6 × 10−3 M or less. The weaker bands were enhanced by the use of time-averaging techniques, followed by computer processing of the data. Berkelium was oxidized to the quadrivalent state with sodium bismuthate and a partial observation of its absorption spectrum was made. The radiolytic reduction of Bk4+ proceeds at a linear rate. The quadrivalent state has a half-life of 2·8 hr in 5 M HClO4 solution.
WAVE RUNUP ON DIKES AND BEACHES

In the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in the process of updating its coastal flood risk maps in order to determine which locations are threatened by storm surge and wave action. These maps require the prediction of extreme wave runup. A method for predicting the runup height along the entire coast must be robust, reliable, and applicable to many different coastal features. Kobayashi et al. (2008) developed a time-average probabilistic model that predicts wave runup statistics instead of the time series of shoreline elevation. This numerical cross-shore model, CSHORE, is extended to the wet-dry zone above the still water level to predict irregular wave runup on impermeable dikes and gentle impermeable slopes. To show the CSHORE’s capability in predicting runup on beaches with different geometries, the computed results from the model are compared to measured data from a variety of experiments. CSHORE is tested against 40 wave runup tests on an impermeable dike on a barred beach, 97 wave runup tests on an impermeable dike with a gently sloping beach, and 120 tests for wave runup on gentle uniform slopes. The measured 2% and 1% exceedence runup heights are predicted within errors of about 20%. The spectral significant wave height, Hmo, and a representative period are used for input to CSHORE. The measured and computed cross-shore variations of Hmo are also computed and compared to measured data to show the capabilities and limitations of CSHORE in regards to predicting to wave transformation. Both the spectral period, Tm-1,0, and the peak period Tp at x = 0 are adapted as representative periods used in CSHORE to assess the period effect in CSHORE. The tested CSHORE is ready for practical applications such as FEMA’s coastal flood mapping, and is a good practical choice because it can be used to predict beach and dune profile changes.
Modulation of a Human Immunosuppressive Lymphokine by Monosaccharides

Abstract Soluble suppressor factor (SSF) is a recently purified human lymphokine produced by peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in serum-free medium as a likely consequence of an autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction. Immunoregulatory actions of SSF include suppression of: polyclonal B cell activation, proliferative responses of normal PBL, and natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. We examined the ability of the monosaccharides fucose (Fuc), galactose (Gal), glucose (Glc), and mannose (Man) to reverse SSF-mediated suppression of NK activity. Fuc and Gal can partially or completely reverse SSF-mediated suppression at four effector:target cell ratios. Man and Glc were unable to significantly reverse SSF-mediated suppression. Fuc or Gal was added to PBL at various times after addition of SSF. SSF-mediated suppression of NK cytotoxicity becomes irreversible with respect to these monosaccharides during the first 24 hr of PBL exposure to SSF. To explore the mechanism behind this block of SSF-mediated suppression, Fuc or Gal (50 m M ) was cultured with PBL for 24 hr before addition of SSF, or with SSF for 24 hr before addition to PBL. Our experiments indicate that SSF is directly interacting with these monosaccharides, and may function by recognizing specific sugar moieties on the surface of effector cells.
Ising-like description of structurally relaxed ordered and disordered alloys.

We demonstrate the ability of generalized Ising-like cluster expansions to describe the energetics and thermodynamics associated with large atomic displacements in alloys. Although the expansion is constructed only from the energies of a few (small-unit-cell) ordered structures, it provides accurate predictions of the atomically relaxed energies of random, ordered, or partially ordered alloys, as compared with direct, large scale energy-minimizing simulations. Relaxed energies are obtained without having to compute relaxed geometries. Combination of the expansion with Monte Carlo simulations is shown to provide an efficient means for calculating thermodynamic properties.
Chromosome-sized DNA molecules from Drosophila

Measurements of viscoelastic retardation times of detergent-Pronase lysates of Drosophila cells demonstrated the presence of large numbers of DNA molecules of a size commensurate with that of the chromosomes. The values estimated from the retardation times for the molecular weights of the largest molecules ranged from about 20×109 to 80×109 daltons depending on the species of Drosophila. The molecular weights of the DNA molecules were independent of the metaphase shapes (i.e., metacentric or submetacentric), but were proportional to the DNA contents of the chromosomes in the case of translocations or deletions. It was concluded, therefore, that the DNA molecules must run the length of the chromosome and cannot be discontinuous at the centromere. When compared with the values of the DNA contents of Drosophila chromosomes determined by other methods, the results were consistent with the model of one, or possibly two, DNA molecules per chromosome; the simplest conclusion, that there is only one DNA molecule per chromosome (for simple chromosomes), rests on a long extrapolation of an empirical relation between retardation time and molecular weight, but is also favored by indirect evidence. Further possibilities which could not be excluded were that the large DNA molecules contained Pronase-resistant, non-DNA links, or that a fraction of smaller DNA molecules might also have been present in the chromosomes. Chromosome-sized DNA molecules were obtained almost quantitatively from unsynchronized cultured cells, suggesting that the size of the chromosomal DNA is conserved throughout much of the cell cycle. The molecules were stable for periods of up to several days at 50° C in solutions containing detergent, Pronase, and EDTA.
Virus antihemagglutinin activities of avian egg components.

Abstract 1. 1. The virus antihemagglutinin (AH) component of chicken egg-white is present in similar amounts in normal eggs. 2. 2. The AH activity is highest in the chalazae and yolk membrane of the egg. 3. 3. As is the case with other egg-white constituents, species differences in the AH activity exist. Turkey and chicken whites both contained approximately 50% more AH activity than egg-whites of two species of duck. 4. 4. The inactivation of AH activity by incubation with live viruses was confirmed. 5. 5. The use of a reference standard in the inhibitor assay is recommended.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha enhances Haemophilus somnus lipooligosaccharide-induced apoptosis of bovine endothelial cells

Haemophilus somnus lipooligosaccharide (LOS)-induced apoptosis of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells has been shown previously to be dependent on capsase-8 activation. Activation of caspase-8 can occur via a death receptor-dependent mechanism (e.g., TNF-α binding to TNF-α receptor 1 (TNF-R1)). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that TNF-α can enhance LOS-induced apoptosis of bovine endothelial cells. Addition of exogenous recombinant human TNF-α alone failed to cause apoptosis, or enhance LOS-induced apoptosis, of bovine endothelial cells. However, blocking de novo protein synthesis by addition of cycloheximide significantly enhanced apoptosis of bovine endothelial cells by TNF-α, LOS or TNF-α and LOS in combination. Conversely, addition of soluble recombinant human (sTNF-R1) diminished LOS-induced apoptosis. Overall, these data suggest that LOS-mediated apoptosis may be due, in part, to activation of a TNR-R1-dependent death pathway.
Aorto-caval and ilio-iliac arteriovenous fistulae.

Abstract Background: To determine optimal management of major abdominal arteriovenous fistulae and define factors affecting outcome. Methods: We reviewed clinical data of 18 patients, 16 males and 2 females, who underwent repair of major abdominal arteriovenous fistulae between 1970 and 1997. Results: Sixteen patients had primary fistula, caused by rupture of an atherosclerotic aortic or aortoiliac aneurysm into the inferior vena cava (IVC), iliac, or left renal vein. Two had secondary, iatrogenic arteriovenous fistulae. Seventeen patients (94%) were symptomatic, 11 (62%) had acute presentation. Fistula was diagnosed preoperatively in 8 (44%). Fistula closure (direct suture 16, patch 1, iliac vein ligation 1) was followed by aortoiliac reconstruction in all patients. Caval clip was placed in 3 patients. Early mortality was 6%; 7 patients had major complications. During follow-up (mean 6.1 years) 2 patients died of causes related to fistula closure. Conclusions: Rupture of aortoiliac aneurysms into the iliac veins or IVC carries a better prognosis than intraperitoneal, retroperitoneal, or enteric rupture. Although preoperative diagnosis is ideal, a high index of suspicion, careful repair avoiding pulmonary embolization, and blood salvage were all helpful in keeping morbidity and mortality low. Our data suggest that IVC interruption is seldom warranted.
Island-trapped waves, with application to observations off Bermuda

Abstract A theory is presented for linear island-trapped waves around a circular island with stratification and bottom relief. The free waves propagate clockwise in the northern hemisphere and are quantized azimuthally and in the radial–vertical plane. A formalism is derived for low frequency (subinertial frequency) motions forced either by winds or by ambient oceanic motions. The present model results appear to reproduce four observed (from moored array data) resonances to within less than 9% in frequency. Observations and results of the wind-forced theory suggest that subinertial sea level fluctuations off Bermuda are driven by ambient oceanic fluctuations. As long as the oceanic motions have scales large relative to the island, they ought to appear in island coastal sea level records without distortion.
Direct Measurement of Vena Contracta Area by Real-Time 3-Dimensional Echocardiography for Assessing Severity of Mitral Regurgitation

We tested the hypothesis that the vena contracta (VC) cross-sectional area in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) can be reproducibly measured by real-time 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography and correlates well with the volumetric effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA). Earlier MR repair requires accurate noninvasive measures, but practically, the VC area is difficult to image in 2-dimensional views, which are often oblique to it. 3D echocardiography can provide an otherwise unobtainable true cross-sectional view. In 45 patients with mild or greater MR, 44% eccentric, 2-dimensional and 3D VC areas were measured and correlated with the EROA derived from the regurgitant stroke volume. Real-time 3D echocardiography of the VC area correlated and agreed well with the EROA for both central and eccentric jets (r(2) = 0.86, SEE 0.02 cm(2), difference 0.04 +/- 0.06 cm(2), p = NS). For eccentric jets, 2-dimensional echocardiography overestimated the VC width compared with 3D echocardiography (p = 0.024) and correlated more poorly with the EROA (r(2) = 0.61 vs 0.85, p <0.001), causing clinical misclassification in 45% of patients with eccentric MR. The interobserver variability for the 3D VC area was 0.03 cm(2) (7.5% of the mean, r = 0.95); the intraobserver variability was 0.01 cm(2) (2.5% of the mean, r = 0.97). In conclusion, real-time 3D echocardiography accurately and reproducibly quantified the vena contracta cross-sectional area in patients with both central and eccentric MR. Rapid acquisition and intuitive analysis promote practical clinical application of this central, directly visualized, measure and its correlation with outcome.
Nouns and Verbs in A Self-Styled Gesture System: What′s in A Name?

A distinction between nouns and verbs is not only universal to all natural languages but it also appears to be central to the structure and function of language. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a deaf child who was not exposed to a usable model of a conventional language would nevertheless incorporate into his self-styled communication system this apparently essential distinction. We found that the child initially maintained a distinction between nouns and verbs by using one set of gestures as nouns and a separate set as verbs. At age 3:3, the child began to use some of his gestures in both grammatical roles; however, he distinguished the two uses by altering the form of the gesture (akin to morphological marking) and its position in a gesture sentence (akin to syntactic marking). Such systematic marking was not found in the spontaneous gestures produced by the child's hearing mother who used gesture as an adjunct to speech rather than as a primary communication system. A distinction between nouns and verbs thus appears to be sufficiently fundamental to human language that it can be reinvented by a child who does not have access to a culturally shared linguistic system.
Public relations man: The new communicator

This essay examines the lack of congruity between training in public relations and the practice itself; describes the practitioner of today in relation to a changing world; and presents a “communic...
Multi-class blue noise sampling

Sampling is a core process for a variety of graphics applications. Among existing sampling methods, blue noise sampling remains popular thanks to its spatial uniformity and absence of aliasing artifacts. However, research so far has been mainly focused on blue noise sampling with a single class of samples. This could be insufficient for common natural as well as man-made phenomena requiring multiple classes of samples, such as object placement, imaging sensors, and stippling patterns.We extend blue noise sampling to multiple classes where each individual class as well as their unions exhibit blue noise characteristics. We propose two flavors of algorithms to generate such multi-class blue noise samples, one extended from traditional Poisson hard disk sampling for explicit control of sample spacing, and another based on our soft disk sampling for explicit control of sample count. Our algorithms support uniform and adaptive sampling, and are applicable to both discrete and continuous sample space in arbitrary dimensions. We study characteristics of samples generated by our methods, and demonstrate applications in object placement, sensor layout, and color stippling.
Local and exotic components of primitive- meteorites, and their origin

Most of the material of chondrites was heavily reprocessed in the early Solar System, and hence retains only a dim memory of its interstellar origin even in the least altered meteorites. Opaque matrix, the most primitive material, seems to have taken up Fe2+ and changed its mineralogy and texture. Chondrules and Ca, Al-rich inclusions have been further altered by melting, oxidation or reduction, loss of volatiles, etc. None the less, small amounts of exotic components have survived, as indicated by isotopic anomalies. A dust component enriched in 160 is the most abundant and widespread. It survives in Ca, Al-rich inclusions as anomalous spinel grains, but is recognizable even in highly evolved meteorites and planets from variations in bulk oxygen isotopic composition. A few inclusions show small nucleosynthetic anomalies for many elements (Si, Ca, Ti, Cr, Sr, Ba, Nd, Sm), always coupled with mass fractionation of several of these elements, as well as O and Mg. Seven extinct radionuclides (26AI, 41Ca, 53Mn, 107Pd, 129I, 46Sm, and 244Pu) have been recognized from their decay products, and provide clues to the chronology and nucleosynthetic sources of the early Solar System. Highly volatile elements, such as C, N and the noble gases, show especially large and numerous isotopic anomalies. The noble-gas components include Ne-E (monoisotopic 22Ne from the p+ decay of 2.6 a 22Na), Xe-HL (enriched 2-fold in the light and heavy isotopes), and Xe-S (enriched in the even-numbered, middle isotopes 128, 130 and 132). They are located in carriers that themselves are anomalous, e.g. carbon enriched up to 2.4-fold in l3Cor depleted by more than 30 % in 15N, or spinel enriched in 160 and 13C. Other anomalies include nitrogen enriched 2-fold in -SN and hydrogen enriched 5-fold in D; probably relict interstellar molecules. A variety of astronomical sources seem to be required: novae, red giants, supernovae and molecular clouds.
Presently old: Time according to three early modern codices

This essay examines three relatively unknown sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Spanish codices. I analyze how the bibliographers and historians associated with them discussed the concept of time, documented it and tried to control it by appealing to the concept of truth through the use of autograph documents and the creation of time divisions within the codex. As a faulty corollary, the end of the essay discusses the various times that these early modern codices convey in the present. Each codex conveys a positive perception of anachronism, or the acceptance of the ‘layered’ multiple temporality of an old document among other old documents. Further, the codices acknowledge that the meaning of a past object depends on what users do with it in the present, and that individual letters and autograph documents enable the present user to achieve a sense of connection with the context of a given historical figure, rather than representing a past moment of existence.
Genes of the Pseudoviridae (Ty1/copia Retrotransposons)

A comprehensive survey of the Pseudoviridae (Ty1/copia) retroelement family was conducted using the GenBank sequence database and completed genome sequences of several model organisms. Plant genomes were the most abundant sources of Pseudoviridae, with the Arabidopsis thaliana genome having 276 distinct elements. A reverse transcriptase amino acid sequence phylogeny indicated that the Pseudoviridae comprises highly divergent members. Coding sequences for a representative subset of elements were analyzed to identify conserved domains and differences that may underlie functional divergence. With the exception of some fungal elements (e.g., Ty1), most Pseudoviridae encode Gag and Pol on a single open reading frame. In addition to the nearly ubiquitous RNA-binding motif of nucleocapsid, three new conserved domains were identified in Gag. pol-encoded aspartic protease was similar to the retroviral enzyme and could be mapped onto the HIV-1 structure. Pol was highly conserved throughout the family. The greatest divergence among Pol sequences was seen in the C-terminus of integrase (IN). We defined a large motif (GKGY) after the IN catalytic domain that is unique to the Pseudoviridae. Additionally, the extreme C-terminus of IN is rich in simple sequence motifs. A distinct lineage of Pseudoviridae in plants have envlike genes. This lineage has undergone a large expansion of Gag characterized by an alpha-helix-rich domain containing coiled-coil motifs. In several elements, this domain is flanked on both sides by RNA-binding domains. We propose that this monophyletic lineage defines a new Pseudoviridae genus, herein referred to as the AGROVIRUS:
Performance of a fisheries catch-at-age model (Stock Synthesis) in data-limited situations

Limited data are a common challenge posed to fisheries stock assessment. A simulation framework was applied to examine the impact of limited data and data type on the performance of a widely used catch-at-age stock-assessment method (Stock Synthesis). The estimation method provided negatively biased estimates of current spawning-stock biomass (SSB) relative to the unfished level (final depletion) when only recent survey indices were available. Estimation of quantities of management interest (unfished SSB, virgin recruitment, target fishing mortality and final depletion) improved substantially even when only minimal-length-composition data from the survey were available. However, the estimates of some quantities (final depletion and unfished SSB) remained biased (either positively or negatively) even in the scenarios with the most data (length compositions, age compositions and survey indices). The probability of overestimating yield at the target SSB relative to the true such yield was ~50%, a risk-neutral result, for all the scenarios that included length-composition data. Our results highlight the importance of length-composition data for the performance of an age-structured assessment model, and are encouraging for the assessment of data-limited stocks.
WHEN DITCHERS AND JACK TARS COLLIDE: BENEFIT THEATRICALS AT THE CALCUTTA LYRIC THEATRE IN THE WAKE OF THE INDIAN MUTINY

The collision I explore in this essay is not a physical one, though it does emerge from a performance event that brought Ditchers (European residents in Calcutta) and Jack Tars (sailors in the Royal Navy) to the Calcutta Lyric Theatre on February 25, 1858. The collision actually manifests in print, as conflicting reviews of this event. Announced in the silk playbill pictured in Figure 19, the sailor amateurs of HMS Chesapeake offered a benefit theatrical to raise money for the Indian Relief Fund, a charity offering support to “widows, orphans, or other representatives of those who perished in the mutiny” (“Indian Relief”) (Figure 19).
Control of human T cell proliferation by platelet-activating factor.

Abstract Platelet-activating factor,1- O -alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAF), is a membrane phospholipid with immunomodulatory functions. We studied the influence of PAF on mitogen-stimulated proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), purified T cells and T cell subsets. High concentrations of PAF suppressed the proliferation of all cell populations studied (44% mean inhibition with 5 μM PAF and 78% inhibition with 10 μM PAF). In contrast, the deacetylated metabolite of PAF, lyso-PAF, had no effect on proliferation at micromolar concentrations. Lower, and presumably physiologically relevant, concentrations of PAF (10 −14 to 10 −8 M) stimulated a small increase in the proliferation of unfractionated T cells. When T cells were fractionated into CD4+ and CD8+ subsets, a difference in sensitivity to PAF was observed. PAF stimulated a modest, yet statistically significant, increase in the proliferation of CD4+ T cells at concentrations ranging from 10 −14 to 10 −10 M, while either having no effect or inhibiting the proliferation of CD8+ cells across the entire concentration range. Addition of indomethacin to the cultures further enhanced CD4+ proliferation, possible due to the blockade of PAF-induced PGE 2 production by monocytes. The PAF receptor antagonist BN 52021 did not block the PAF effects in this system, and the PAF receptor antagonist SRI 63–675 caused a dose dependent inhibition of T cell subset proliferation. These findings suggest that while high concentrations of PAF suppress T cell proliferation, low concentrations selectively stimulate proliferation of the CD4+ subset, an effect which is partially counteracted by PAF-induced monocyte PGE 2 production.
Enveloping music in gender, nation, and Islam: Women's music festivals in post-revolutionary Iran1

In this article, I discuss gendered symbols of nation and Islam vis-a-vis state-sponsored, women-only music festivals, with a particular focus on the Fourth Jasmine Festival.2 This event and the ha...
ROLE OF REDOX POTENTIAL OF HEMOGLOBIN-BASED OXYGEN CARRIERS ON METHEMOGLOBIN REDUCTION BY PLASMA COMPONENTS

A functional requirement for all hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) is the maintenance of the heme-iron in the reduced state. This is necessary for the reversible binding/release of molecular oxygen and minimization of methemoglobin (Fe+3) formation. Acellular hemoglobins are especially susceptible to oxidation and denaturation. In the absence of the intrinsic reducing systems of the red blood cell, the reduced heme-Fe+2 can be oxidized to form increasing levels of methemoglobin that can give rise to free radicals and oxidative cellular damage. If acellular HBOCs are to be utilized as red cell substitutes for oxygen delivery, these carriers must be stabilized in the plasma, the carrier medium. Normal plasma contains reducing components, such as ascorbic acid and glutathione, that can afford protection to these acellular HBOCs through electron-transfer mediated processes. For these components to provide effective reduction to an HBOC, a favorable reduction potential difference must exist between the reducing agent and the HBOC. Using a modified thin-layer spectroelectrochemical method, a determination of the formal reduction potential (vs. Ag/AgCl) of several oxygen carriers, including monomeric myoglobin, tetrameric HbA and HbS, chemically cross-linked HbXL99alpha, polymerized oxyglobin (FDA approved for canine anemia), and the natural cross-linked polymeric Lumbricus hemoglobin, have been determined. In contrast to the negative formal reduction potentials (-155 to -50 mV) obtained for Mb, HbA, HbS, HbXL99alpha, and oxyglobin, Lumbricus hemoglobin exhibited a positive formal reduction potential (approximately 100 mV). These results may help explain the greater effectiveness of the tested reducing agents to reduce met Lumbricus hemoglobin, compared to the other HBOCs, back to the required reduced form necessary for physiological binding/release of oxygen. Each reducing agent was capable of reducing met Lumbricus hemoglobin to the fully reduced state, although the kinetics of these reactions were different. HbA, HbXL99alpha, and oxyglobin were only partially reduced (10 to 37%) by glutathione, beta-NADH, and ascorbic acid under similar conditions.
The mouse genome encodes a single homolog of the antimicrobial peptide human β-defensin 1

The cysteine-rich β-defensin peptides are broad-spectrum bactericidal agents expressed in epithelial and myeloid tissues. The human β-defensin-1 (hBD-1) gene maps adjacent to the human α-defensin cluster and is expressed in the respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Here, we characterize a mouse β-defensin gene (mBD-1) which is: (1) closely related to hBD-1 both in sequence and gene organization; (2) expressed at high levels in the mouse kidney and at lower levels in brain, heart, lung, uterus, spleen, skeletal muscle, stomach, and small intestine; and (3) maps to mouse chromosome 8 at or near the location of the mouse α-defensin genes. These data indicate that mBD-1 is a close homolog of hBD-1, and suggest that analysis of its role in mouse host defense may provide significant insights into human epithelial innate immunity.
R-matrix theory with Dirichlet boundary conditions for integrable electron waveguides

R-matrix theory is used to compute transmission properties of a T-shaped electron waveguide and an electron waveguide-based rotation gate by using Dirichlet boundary conditions for reaction region basis states, even at interfaces with external leads. Such boundary conditions have been known to cause R-matrix convergence problems. We show that an R-matrix obtained using Dirichlet boundary conditions can be convergent for some cases. We also show that R-matrix theory can efficiently reproduce results that were obtained using far more computationally demanding methods such as mode matching techniques, tight-binding Green's function methods or the finite element methods.
Pendant Polymer:Amino-β-Cyclodextrin:siRNA Guest:Host Nanoparticles as Efficient Vectors for Gene Silencing

A novel siRNA delivery vector has been developed, based on the self-assembly of monosubstituted cationic β-CD derivatives with a poly(vinyl alcohol)MW27kD (PVA) main-chain polymer bearing poly(ethylene glycol)MW2000 (PEG) and acid-labile cholesterol-modified (Chol) grafts through an acid-sensitive benzylidene acetal linkage. These components were investigated for their ability to form nanoparticles with siRNA using two different assembly schemes, involving either precomplexation of the pendant Chol-PVA-PEG polymer with the cationic β-CD derivatives before siRNA condensation or siRNA condensation with the cationic β-CD derivatives prior to addition of Chol-PVA-PEG to engage host:guest complexation. The pendant polymer:amino-β-CD:siRNA complexes were shown to form nanoparticles in the size range of 120-170 nm, with a slightly negative zeta potential. Cell viability studies in CHO-GFP cells shows that these materials have 10(3)-fold lower cytotoxicities than 25 kD bPEI, while maintaining gene-silencing efficiencies that are comparable to those of benchmark transfection reagents such as bPEI and Lipofectamine 2000. These results suggest that the degradable Chol-PVA-PEG polymer is able to self-assemble in the presence of siRNA and cationic-β-CD to form nanoparticles that are an effective and low-toxicity vehicle for delivering siRNA cargo to target cells.
New Challenges for Intervertebral Disc Treatment Using Regenerative Medicine

The development of tissue engineering therapies for the intervertebral disc is challenging due to ambiguities of disease and pain mechanisms in patients, and lack of consensus on preclinical models for safety and efficacy testing. Although the issues associated with model selection for studying orthopedic diseases or treatments have been discussed often, the multifaceted challenges associated with developing intervertebral disc tissue engineering therapies require special discussion. This review covers topics relevant to the clinical translation of tissue-engineered technologies: (1) the unmet clinical need, (2) appropriate models for safety and efficacy testing, (3) the need for standardized model systems, and (4) the translational pathways leading to a clinical trial. For preclinical evaluation of new therapies, we recommend establishing biologic plausibility of efficacy and safety using models of increasing complexity, starting with cell culture, small animals (rats and rabbits), and then large animals (goat and minipig) that more closely mimic nutritional, biomechanical, and surgical realities of human application. The use of standardized and reproducible experimental procedures and outcome measures is critical for judging relative efficacy. Finally, success will hinge on carefully designed clinical trials with well-defined patient selection criteria, gold-standard controls, and objective outcome metrics to assess performance in the early postoperative period.
DENNETT ON THE BASIC ARGUMENT

: I argue that Dennett does not adequately support his rejection of the “Basic Argument” for the incompatibility of causal determinism and the sort of free will that involves genuine access to alternative possibilities (sometimes referred to as the “Consequence Argument”). In addition, I seek to highlight the plausibility and importance of the incompatibilist's interpretation of this sort of free will.
Generation of new cerebral ganglion neurons in the snail Melampus: An ultrastructural study

Reports in the literature have established that reconnection of central neural tracts occurs following commissurotomy and cerebral ganglion excision in the primitive pulmonate snail Melampus bidentatus and have suggested the possibility that long-term regeneration might result in the appearance of new neurons in the ganglion bud. We have used electron microscopy to examine the ganglion buds that form by reconnection of cerebral nerves, commissure, and connectives following cerebral ganglion excision in adult Melampus. The buds were examined from 2.5 to 12 months postoperatively. By 2.5 months, ganglion buds consist of a mixture of axon tracts that travel through the bud region and some dendritic processes; a few synaptic contacts can be identified at this stage, scattered throughout the bud. By 5–6 months, some of the most advanced ganglia have undifferentiated cells that are distinct from glia. By 7 months, differentiated neurons with clear, small dense-core or neurosecretory vesicles are present, although these cells are not all concentrated in a rind on the ganglion surface. Another cell type, the pigment-sheath cell, is present by this stage. By 11–12 months, the most advanced regenerating ganglia have neurons which form a cell rind on the ganglion surface. The gross appearance of a regenerated ganglion at this stage is similar to that of the intact contralateral cerebral ganglion, although the regenerated ganglion is smaller. One 12-month ganglion was found to possess fairly normal intraganglionic morphology, with lobes and cell types that were recognizable. Hence, nerve cell regeneration can occur in the absence of body part regeneration in adult members of one species of pulmonate snail.