cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Playing partners: Expectation, entanglement, and language games in US foreign policy

In this article, I argue that seemingly ‘un-noteworthy’ interactions between states can demonstrate the significance of language for social relationships and foreign policy partnerships. Using language game analysis, I apply Peter Howard’s four-stage model to the case of the US–Turkish Economic Partnership Commission’s proposal for qualified industrial zones shortly after 9/11 and examine how the expectations for enhancing partnership are shaped and at times dashed through the language used among a network of actors. A language game analysis provides an explanation for how actors’ expectations rise and fall and provides an understanding of the maintenance, enhancement, and dismantling of state relationships in a social and practice-centered context. I utilize author interview data as well as texts from newspapers, speeches, and organizations to show how partnership between allies is vulnerable to social expectations signaled in and through the common language they both hold.
Differentiation of ovarian theca-interstitial cells in vitro: regulation of 17 alpha-hydroxylase messenger ribonucleic acid expression by luteinizing hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) has been shown to synergistically augment LH-stimulated androgen biosynthesis in ovarian theca-interstitial cells (TIC). Additional evidence suggests that IGF-I may play a role in stimulating TIC differentiation during early follicle development. The purpose of the present studies was to examine the role of IGF-I in TIC differentiation by determining the effects of IGF-I on P450(17 alpha) mRNA expression in TIC differentiating in vitro. TIC isolated from the ovaries of hypophysectomized immature rats by Percoll gradient centrifugation were cultured with and without LH and IGF-I for up to 6 days. At various times, cytoplasmic RNA was extracted from the TIC, and P450(17 alpha) mRNA was measured by a specific assay, using reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction. LH stimulated a dose-related increase in P450(17 alpha) mRNA, with an ED50 comparable to that for androsterone biosynthesis (33.0 +/- 3.8 ng/ml), but significantly less than the ED50 for cAMP accumulation (385 +/- 0.1 ng/ml). IGF-I alone did not stimulate P450(17 alpha) mRNA, but in the presence of LH (100 ng/ml) stimulated a dose-related (ED50, 4.1 +/- 1.6 ng/ml) increase (3-fold) in P450(17 alpha) mRNA. IGF-I did not alter the ED50 for LH stimulation of P450(17 alpha) mRNA (36.85 +/- 1.1 ng/ml). Detailed time-course studies revealed that IGF-I did not alter the 20-h lag phase before LH caused an increase in TIC androsterone biosynthesis; however, IGF-I stimulated a more rapid increase in androsterone than LH alone. In the presence of LH alone, P450(17 alpha) mRNA levels remained low for approximately 18 h, then increased rapidly to maximum levels by 30 h where they were maintained through 48 h. Concomitant treatment with LH plus IGF-I did not alter the 18-h lag phase, but P450(17 alpha) mRNA levels increased to approximately 2-fold higher levels than with LH alone. The results of our studies demonstrate that IGF-I increases the expression of P450(17 alpha) mRNA in TIC and support the hypothesis that IGF-I may play a role in stimulating thecal differentiation in developing follicles.
Compactly Determined Locally Convex Topologies

If E is a Hausdorff locally convex space, there is a finest locally convex topology having the same compact subsets as the original one. The new space is denoted by f E (notice that E and fE have the same underlying vector space). We study here some permanence properties of the functor E-+EE and determine that it preserves direct sums and products. We also study projective and inductive limits (called here "limits" and "colimits") and in § 2, we exhibit examples and counter examples which complement the positive results in § 1. Finally we mention spaces of continuous functions. This is actually the most important case in the study of topological algebras, as undertaken in [4], and should be considered as the origin of the present article. In fact, the main purpose here is to provide a locally convex, category-theory-free analogue of the "K-ification" considered in [4]. Of course the K-ification functor is preferable in I-4] precisely for its categorical properties. However, the K-ification of a locally convex space need not even be a linear topological space, as Example 1.2 in [4] shows. In this sense, the functors Ke (of [4]) and f (introduced below) are in the same mutual relation as the "bounded w*-topology" and the "convex bounded w*-topology" studied in [16]. In fact, spaces with these topologies are particular cases of spaces KeE and f E for suitable E. A notion similar to compactly determined topologies (i.e., the topology of a rE) is that of a sequentially determined topology, and some results below correspond to those obtained by Dudley in [5] for this case.
Meaningful metrics for observatory publication statistics

Observatories have wrestled for decades with the questions how to measure their importance to the astronomical community, what their scientific impact is, and how their performance in that respect compares to that of other observatories. There is a general sense that the answer is to be found in the publication record - specifically, in the refereed journal articles. However, simple parameters (such as the number of papers) are not helpful, because in isolation (applied to a single observatory) they are meaningless, while in comparison between observatories they are subject to external influences that all but invalidate the comparisons. We were fortunate in having the Chandra X-ray Observatory's bibliographic database with its rich variety of metadata available as a resource for experimenting with more sophisticated metrics. Out of this project we propose a modest set that contains meaningful information when viewed in the isolation of a single observatory as well as in comparison with other observatories. Even so, we urge users not to draw conclusions on the basis of the face value of the comparisons, but only after a serious analysis of potential causes for any differences or similarities. We have designed our metrics to provide useful information in three main areas of interest: speed of publication; fraction of observing time published; and archival usage. The basic measured parameters are the percentage of available observing time published as a function of the data's age, at a few specific age values; the median time it takes to publish observations; and similar parameters for multiple publications of the same observations. Citation of results is a fourth category, but it does not lend itself well to comparisons and defies the search for definite statements.
Mitigation of avian reproductive tract function by Salmonella enteritidis producing high-molecular-mass lipopolysaccharide.

Summary Hens were infected with a wild-type Salmonella enteritidis and its wzz mutant, which lacked the ability to make high-molecular-mass lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in six experiments paired by dosage and route of exposure. Involution of the reproductive tract occurred in 86% of hens that were injected subcutaneously with 108 cfu of the wild-type strain, but none did so when injected with the wzz mutant. In spite of the lack of a specific effect on the reproductive tract, infection of hens with the mutant produced more contaminated eggs and heterophilic granulomas in developing ova (yolks) than wild type; thus, overall, the mutant appeared to be more virulent except after intravenous injection. The mutant also decreased shell quality more often than wild type, regardless of dosage or route of infection. These results suggest that egg-contaminating Salmonella enteritidis that produces high-molecular-mass LPS mitigates signs of illness in poultry by altering the response of the avian reproductive tract to infection, but without altering the incidence of egg contamination following bacteraemia. Further research is warranted to determine whether analyses of shell quality might aid in identification of flocks at risk of producing contaminated eggs.
Grasshopper sexual pheromone: a component of the defensive secretion in Taeniopoda eques

. Both male and female Taeniopoda eques (Burmeister) emit a defensive secretion from their thoracic spiracles. The secretion from mature females was found to act as a sex pheromone, eliciting mating behaviour in males. Females became chemically attractive to males about 16–18 days after eclosion. The antennae are shown to be the site of pheromone reception in males. Feeding upon natural host plants was not a prerequisite for pheromone production.
Stimulating effects of cytochrome c and quinones on 131I utilization by cell-free sheep thyroid gland preparations

Abstract 1. 1. The activating actions of FMN, cytochrome c , and certain quinones on the utilization of iodide by cell-free sheep thyroid tissue preparations were studied. 2. 2. 5 · 10 −4 M cytochrome c activated iodide utilization by whole homogenates of thyroid tissue, but not by the isolated particulate fraction. Evidence is presented to show that this activating action of the cytochrome requires a heat-labile component of the soluble fraction. 3. 3. In contrast, FMN stimulated the sheep thyroid particulate fraction but not the whole homegenate. It is concluded that there is a heat-labile substance in the soluble fraction that blocks the action of FMN. 4. 4. Seven napthoquinones and p -benzoquinone were tested. The benzoquinone and 4 of the napthoquinones (including menadione) were effective in stimulating 131 I utilization in both whole homogenates and particulate fractions of sheep thyroid glands. Vitamin K 1 was not effective, while phythiocol and lapachol were strongly inhibitory. 5. 5. FMN, cytochrome c , and the quinones were also tested in a number of control systems containing tyrosine, purified protein, or a number of non-thyroid tissues. 6. 6. It is suggested that iodoprotein formation reported in various 131 I by quinones insects, molluscs, and annelids is the result of the oxidation of the 131 I by quinones present in these organisms as part of a “quinone tanning” mechanism.
A Generalized Equivalent Source Model of AC Electric Machines for Numerical Electromagnetic Field Signature Studies

A generalized equivalent source model of AC machine for electromagnetic signature studies is proposed to provide the exact field solution without the need for using large numerical or analytical computation efforts. The model was created using a wire-modeling of the machine windings designed based on the electric displacement field and current density of the actual machine. In addition, an optimization process is implemented to have a comprehensive equivalent model that is appropriate for various geometrical sizes and terminal voltages. A finite element model was employed for developing the equivalent source model. For verification, the radiated field results, from both the detailed AC machine numerical models and the equivalent source models for various operational cases, are studied and compared. The results of the equivalent source model match the results from the detailed machine models. Using the equivalent source model, we can evaluate radiation and stray field effects for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and standard evaluation studies with a small computational effort.
Rapid Updating of Stochastic Models Using an Ensemble Filter Approach

Applying an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) is an effective method for reservoir history matching. The underlying principle is that an initial ensemble of stochastic models can be progressively updated to reflect measured values as they become available. The EnKF performance is only optimal, however, if the prior-state vector is linearly related to the predicted data and if the joint distribution of the prior-state vector is multivariate Gaussian. Therefore, it is challenging to implement the filtering scheme for non-Gaussian random fields, such as channelized reservoirs, in which the continuity of permeability extremes is well-preserved. In this paper, we develop a methodology by combining model classification with multidimensional scaling (MDS) and the EnKF to create rapidly updating models of a channelized reservoir. A dissimilarity matrix is computed by use of the dynamic responses of ensemble members. This dissimilarity matrix is transformed into a lower-dimensional space by use of MDS. Responses mapped in the lower-dimension space are clustered, and on the basis of the distances between the models in a cluster and the actual observed response, the closest models to the observed response are retrieved. Model updates within the closest cluster are performed with EnKF equations. The results of an update are used to resample new models for the next step. Two-dimensional, waterflooding examples of channelized reservoirs are provided to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method. The obtained results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is viable both for sequentially updating reservoir models and for preserving channel features after the dataassimilation process.
Impact of copula choice on the modeling of crop yield basis risk

A number of problems in agricultural economics involve modeling joint distributions for which the assumption of multivariate normality may not be warranted. Yet, very little work has been conducted evaluating competing methods for modeling joint dependence. We develop a simulation framework to evaluate the bias and efficiency impacts of copula choice in the context of evaluating county-to-farm basis risk. The results suggest significant differences in performance across various copulas and approaches. The findings have important implications for risk analysis, insurance, and policy modeling problems in agriculture regarding the selection of method to model dependence among random variables.
SPATIAL REORGANIZATION: A MODEL AND CONCEPT

ABSTRACT Travel-time connectivity is a key factor in defining a process of the spatial reorganization of man's functional establishment. A case study relating highway development with the growth in wholesale activity for selected cities in the upper midwest of the United States indicates that, aside from being a good surrogate of transport efficiency, travel-time connectivity is also a good measure of the relative advantage of a given place in attracting to itself the centralization and specialization of human activity.
Acrylamide-gel electrophoresis of hemoglobins.

Details of a technic for analysis of hemoglobin mixtures using acrylamide-gel electrophoresis are presented. The method offers increased speed and reproducibility. Measurements on the unstained gel are made at 525 and at 420 m µ in a procedure affording increased precision of measurements for minor components. The gel is then stained with amidoblack to detect and measure nonhemoglobin components. The major component of normal human adult hemoglobin is separated into two components in this medium. The two components (A1, A3) appear in varying relative amounts depending on the source of the specimen. The normal minor component A2 also appears. After staining the pattern with a protein dye such as amidoblack 10B, additional components appear in the electrophoresis patterns of hemolysates from carefully washed red cells. These components have a constant migration ratio referred to hemoglobin A1 and appear to be nonheme-containing intraerythrocytic proteins.
Antecedents to Relational and Nonrelational Source Use: An Exploratory Investigation

Drawing a distinction between relational and nonrelational sources, we explore the antecedents to selecting an information source. The antecedents to use have been categorized into job, individual, and source characteristics. Two theoretical models are developed and tested using working professionals. The differences between the models are highlighted and discussed. The results indicate that there are differences in the drivers of source selection which could have direct implications for the design of knowledge management systems
ANALYTICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SPECTRAL ACTINIC FLUX and SPECTRAL IRRADIANCE IN THE MIDDLE ULTRAVIOLET

— We present an analytic characterization of upward and downward diffuse spectral irradiance for the wavelength range 280–380 nm, solar zenith angle range from 0 to 86, altitude range from 0 to 5 km and for non-zero surface albedo. This work is a modification and extension of the previous work of Green, Cross and Smith based upon the radiative transfer calculations of Braslau, Dave and Halpern. Guided by these irradiance systematics we develop an analytic characterization of diffuse spectral scalar irradiance or actinic flux also broken down into upward and downward components for the above wavelengths, solar zenith angles and altitudes, for non-zero surface albedo utilizing the actinic flux calculations of Peterson.
Luteal Cells from Functional and Regressing Bovine Corpora Lutea Differentially Alter the Function of Gamma Delta T Cells

ABSTRACT The luteal microenvironment is thought to direct the function of resident immune cells to facilitate either luteal function or regression. To determine if luteal cells from functional (Days 10–12) and regressing (8 h after administration of prostaglandin F2alpha) corpora lutea (CL) induce different responses in γδ T cells, luteal cells were cocultured with autologous γδ T cells isolated from peripheral blood. Proliferation, functional phenotypes, and cytokine synthesis were analyzed by flow cytometry. To determine if the luteal cells from functional CL induce hyporesponsiveness in γδ T cells, γδ+ cells were cocultured with midcycle luteal cells and further stimulated with concanavalin A. Coculture of γδ+ cells with midcycle luteal cells did not inhibit concanavalin A-induced proliferation. In a proliferation assay, luteal cells from midcycle CL predominantly induced proliferation of γδ+ WC1− cells (P < 0.05), while luteal cells from regressing CL predominantly induced proliferation of γδ+WC1+ cel...
Modulation of Inflammatory Peritoneal Cell Function and Metabolism by Methotrexate

AbstractMethotrexate (MTX) is widely used in cancer chemotherapy, altnough the effects of MTX on cellular antitumor defense mechanisms are poorly understood. To evaluate the effect of MTX on the cellular inflammatory response, male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with four daily i.p. injections of MTX or a control vehicle. Kats treated with daily doses of 1.2 mg/kg MTX demonstrated a significant reduction in number of peritoneal exudate cells, specifically macrophages, collected 96 hours following the inflammatory stimulus. To determine if metabolic perturbations also occur upon exposure to LTX, glucose oxidation and protein synthesis by inflammatory cells were monitored in vitro. At a MTX concentration of 10−3M, peritoneal exudate cell 14C-1-glucose and 14C-6-glucose oxidation was significantly depressed.14C-1-leucine incorporation into TCA precipitable protein was inhibited at 4 × 10−3M MTX. Peritoneal exudate cell viability was not altered at these concentrations of MTX. These results demonstrate that...
Predicting Conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer’s Disease Using Neuropsychological Tests and Multivariate Methods

Behavioral markers measured through neuropsychological testing in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were analyzed and combined in multivariate ways to predict conversion to Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a longitudinal study of 43 MCI patients. The test measures taken at a baseline evaluation were first reduced to underlying components (principal component analysis, PCA), and then the component scores were used in discriminant analysis to classify MCI individuals as likely to convert or not. When empirically weighted and combined, episodic memory, speeded executive functioning, recognition memory (false and true positives), visuospatial memory processing speed, and visuospatial episodic memory were together strong predictors of conversion to AD. These multivariate combinations of the test measures achieved through the PCA were good, statistically significant predictors of MCI conversion to AD (84% accuracy, 86% sensitivity, and 83% specificity). Importantly, the posterior probabilities of group membership that...
Characterization of cis-regulatory regions responsible for developmental regulation of the gibberellin biosynthetic gene GA1 in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The ArabidopsisGA1 gene encodes copalyl diphosphate synthase, which catalyzes the first committed step in the gibberellin biosynthetic pathway. Previous studies indicated that the expression pattern of the GA1 gene is tissue-specific and cell-type-specific during development. Here we showed that expression of GA1 cDNA driven by the 2.4 kb 5′-upstream sequence plus the GA1 genomic coding region into the third exon was able to rescue the ga1-3 mutant phenotype. To understand the mechanism controlling GA1 gene expression, cis-regulatory regions in the GA1 promoter were identified by promoter deletion analysis with the GA1-β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene fusion system. The second intron and the region from −1391 to −997, with respect to the translation initiation site, positively regulate overall GA1-GUS expression level in all tissues examined. Several additional regulatory regions are involved in GA1-GUS expression in all the stages except in seeds: two positive regulatory regions in the first intron and the sequence between −425 and −207, and a negative regulatory region between −1848 and −1391. We also found that the region between −997 and −796 is essential for a high level of GA1 expression in developing seeds.
Retrospective analysis of dual-phase MDCT and follow-up EUS/EUS-FNA in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

The optimal approach for detecting small pancreatic tumors is uncertain. We compared multidetector CT (MDCT) with follow-up endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) without or with fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for diagnosing pancreatic cancer. Patients with suspicion of pancreatic cancer who underwent dual-phase MDCT and follow-up EUS were retrospectively reviewed. This consisted of scoring MDCT scans independently by three radiologists on a 1–5 scale of certainty, determining whether a stent was present, scoring EUS reports regarding presence of a mass and analyzing EUS-FNA results. A total of 117 patients underwent MDCT and EUS. ROC values for MDCT were 0.85, 0.87, and 0.91. There was no significant difference in the accuracy of EUS and MDCT. Follow-up EUS (99%) was significantly more sensitive than MDCT (89% and 93%), as interpreted by two radiologists. Follow-up EUS was statistically significantly more sensitive than MDCT (96% vs. 70%) for one radiologist for tumors < 2 cm. Specificity of EUS was 50%, and sensitivity of EUS-FNA was 82%. Negative predictive value of EUS-FNA was significantly less in patients with (21%) than without (70%) biliary stents. Follow-up EUS improves lesion detection over MDCT alone. Close follow-up/repeat biopsy should be considered if FNA is negative, but EUS is positive.
Size and interaction effects in the magnetization reversal in SmCo/sub 5/ nanoparticles

The switching field distribution found from DC demagnetization experiments on ball milled SmCo/sub 5/ nanoparticles is analysed in terms of several mechanisms for magnetization reversal. By combining the log-normal size distribution with the size-dependent coercivity predicted for different models, switching field distributions are calculated and compared to the experimental results. None of the size-dependent models alone agrees with the Gaussian shape or the linewidth of the experimental data. However, statistically distributed interactions between particles could explain the deviations.
Static Calibration and Dynamic Characterization of PMUs at NIST

This paper describes the development of two test systems at NIST aimed at improving the calibration and characterization of coordinated universal time (UTC) synchronized electric power instrumentation. Reference to UTC is used to meet the need for precise time synchronization of instrumentation designed to monitor the state of the grid over its wide geographic area. The first test system is used to perform calibrations of phasor measurement units (PMUs) for parameters that have performance requirements specified in IEEE standard for synchrophasors for power systems, IEEE standard C37.118-2005. Tests performed on this system use static electric power signals. The second test system is being developed to perform dynamic tests of PMUs. This paper also describes the development of a PMU testing guideline by an industry wide task force as part of the Eastern Interconnect Phasor Project (EIPP).
Vertical coordination, producer response, and the locus of control over agricultural production decisions

Structural change in U.S. agriculture in part has been characterized by shifts in control over agricultural production decisions from the farm-level to off-farm firms. In the past decade, this process has accelerated as increasing concentration in production and processing has led to increased vertical integration and contract production. To retain control, some farmers have formed bargaining units, have created production and marketing networks, and have petitioned subnational state governments for regulation of production contracts. Concurrently, there has been an impressive increase in alternative marketing outlets linked with smaller-scale production based on farm-level control over production decisions. Structural change and producer collective response has a long history in U.S. agriculture. Using Mooney's and Hunt's (1996) recent contribution on recurrent ideologies of agrarian social movements, this paper outlines recent structural changes and collective responses to those changes with reference to the shifting locus of control over agricultural production decisions.
Growing up in a dangerous developmental milieu: The effects of parenting processes on adjustment in inner‐city African American adolescents

The current longitudinal study examined the protective effects of Parenting Processes on measures of adolescent adjustment (health-compromising and violent behaviors) in a sample of high-risk, inner-city, poor African American youth (N = 2,867). Parenting processes played an important role in this dangerous developmental milieu. For male adolescents, they accounted for 26 to 37% in health-compronfising behaviors and 16 to 24% of the total variance in violent behaviors over time. Multigroup SEM analyses by sex and age groups (early, middle, and late adolescents) indicated no differences of these effects across groups. Findings provided evidence that parenting processes are salient for a high-risk., inner-city minority population in understanding and predicting health-compromising and violent behaviors. Language: en
Late Proterozoic and Devonian plutonic terrane within the Avalon zone of Rhode Island

The U-Th-Pb radiometric age of zircons demonstrates that much of Rhode Island consists of a late Proterozoic plutonic complex that subsequently was intruded by a large Devonian alkalic to subalkalic igneous complex. Two groups of late Proterozoic rocks can be recognized: (1) the Esmond Granite and related plutonic rocks in northern Rhode Island, ranging in composition from gabbro to granite and yielding an upper concordia intercept of 621 ± 8 m.y., and (2) quartz-rich, recrystallized gneissic rocks (Ten Rod Granite Gneiss and Hope Valley Alaskite Gneiss) in southern Rhode Island, giving an upper concordia intercept age of 601 ± 5 m.y. The lower intercept of the zircon discordia for the gneissic rocks indicates the isotopic systems were disturbed during the late Paleozoic Alleghanian Orogeny, whereas zircons from the Esmond Granite and related plutonic rocks have been subjected mainly to loss of lead attributable to recent dilatancy. Rocks determined to be of Devonian age include the Scituate Granite and plutonic rocks of the East Greenwich Plutonic Suite. The Quincy Granite of Quinn (1971) in northeastern Rhode Island may be of a similar Devonian age, or it may be slightly younger. Zircon data from these rocks fall upon a chord that gives an upper concordia intercept of 370 ± 7 m.y. and a lower intercept close to the origin. Collectively, these rocks form a composite pluton with an area >700 km 2 . The Devonian rocks exhibit petrologic characteristics distinct from slightly older Acadian orogenic rocks that occur in lithostratigraphic zones to the west and are more comparable to anorogenic Ordovician to Devonian alkalic granitoids that trend north-northeast across Massachusetts and the Gulf of Maine. The new age determinations confirm that much of Rhode Island contains plutonic rocks intruded during the Avalonian Orogeny but that a hertofore unrecognized major Devonian plutonic episode also occurred. The distinctly different ages probably had gone unrecognized because of generally similar lithologic and textural features exhibited by the late Proterozoic and Devonian rocks. We present new petrologic and geochemical criteria that should assist in distinguishing the rocks of different ages as additional mapping and geologic study proceeds.
“Is Jaffna Tamil the Best?” Producing “Legitimate” Language in a Multilingual Sri Lankan School

Drawing on research in the Tamil-medium stream of a multilingual Buddhist National school in Kandy, Sri Lanka, this article explores how teachers engage with, negotiate, and contest sociolinguistic hierarchies. Since the colonial period, Jaffna Tamils have maintained a hierarchy over other Tamil-speaking groups (Up-country Tamils and Muslims) in education, with Jaffna Tamil legitimized in the national curriculum. However, as a result of demographic and institutional shifts related to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1983, these hierarchies are shifting. In the first part of the article, I explore teachers' explicit discussions and debates about language that occurred in my presence. In the second part, I show are these ideologies are enacted in difference contexts of practice, including subject-area classrooms, language classrooms, and oratorical performances. I argue that incongruities within and between teachers' metadiscourses and practices reveal subtle dynamics in the configuration of social hierarchies. [multilingual education, social inequality, language ideologies, metadiscourse, Tamil]
Stochastic state-space temperature regulation of biochar production. Part II: Application to manure processing via pyrolysis†

BACKGROUND: State-of-the-art control systems that can guarantee the pyrolytic exposure temperature are needed in the production of designer biochars. These designer biochars will have tailored characteristics that can offer improvement of specific soil properties such as water-holding capacity and cation exchange capacity. RESULTS: A novel stochastic state-space temperature regulator was developed for the batch production of biochar that accurately matched the pyrolytic exposure temperature to a defined temperature input schedule. This system was evaluated by processing triplicate swine manure biochars at two temperatures, 350 and 700 °C. The results revealed a low coefficient of variation (CV) in their composition and near-similar 13C nuclear magnetic resonance structure as well as thermal degradation patterns. When pyrolysing at 350 °C, the stochastic state-space regulator generated a biochar with lower CV in ultimate (i.e. CHNS) compositional analysis than the original feedstock. CONCLUSION: This state-space controller had the ability to pyrolyse a feedstock and generate a consistent biochar with similar structural properties and consistent compositional characteristics. Published 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ECOLOGIES OF EMPIRE: On the New Uses of the Honeybee

This essay examines the rise of the honeybee as a tool and metaphor in the U.S. “war on terror.” At present, the largest source of funding for apiary research comes from the U.S. military as part of efforts to remake entomology in an age of empire. This funding seeks to make new generations of bees sensitive to specific chemical traces—everything from plastic explosives, to the tritium used in nuclear weapons development, to land mines. Moreover, in an explicit attempt to redesign modern battlefield techniques, the Pentagon has returned to the form and metaphor of the “swarm” to combat what it takes to be the unpredictability of the enemy in the war on terror. At the same time, honeybee colonies are collapsing. Rethinking material assemblages of bees and humans in the war on terror, this essay moves beyond the constrained logic and limited politics of many epidemiological investigations of colony collapse. Honeybees are situated within a more expansive understanding of the role of and consequences for the animal in modern empire building.
The Selection of Market Interventions

Even when policy goals are largely agreed upon in an economic context, it is not uncommon for disagreement to persist over which intervention should be used to achieve the objective. This paper provides an evaluation framework for a general theory of efficient market intervention to help decide between interventions. The methodology, based primarily on agent optimization, applies in general equilibrium with minimal assumptions about technology or preferences. It can be easily modified for application to a variety of potential market interventions. A class of theorems exemplifying a general intervention principle and offering insight into a number of representative policy prescriptions is proved. The intervention principle, associated with the work of Bhagwati, Corden, Kemp, Negishi and Srinivasan, is strongly validated and extended.
Beneficial effects seen with most desensitising toothpastes

Data sources PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials (CENTRAL) in Cochrane Library and Embase. A manual search of the relevant articles was also applied to identify additional studies. Only articles published in English were selected. Contact with the author of a study was attempted if there was insufficient information in publication. Study selection Two authors independently assessed the eligibility of all studies retrieved from the databases. Only randomised controlled trials reporting the effect of toothpaste on dentine hypersensitivity were included. Data extraction and synthesis Two authors independently abstracted data and bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool for risk of bias. Standardised mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and random effects meta-analysis conducted. Results Thirty-one RCTs involving a total of 2436 patients were included. A majority of studies (23) were considered to be of moderate quality, three of high quality and five of low quality. Meta-analysis showed that five of the toothpastes had a desensitising effect with only strontium-containing toothpastes having no significant effect. Conclusions The review found sufficient evidence to support the use of potassium-, stannous fluoride-, calcium sodium phosphosilicate- and arginine-containing desensitising toothpaste for dentine hypersensitivity. It found no significant desensitising effect difference between strontium-containing toothpaste and a placebo.
The chorionic bump: Etiologic insights from two pathologic pregnancies

The clinical significance and etiology of the chorionic bump remain unclear. We describe two pregnancies characterized by chorionic bumps, which subsequently were diagnosed with a complete mole and trisomy 18, respectively. We hypothesize that placental pathology, including edema and hydropic villi, may contribute to or cause the sonographic finding of some chorionic bumps. An association between chorionic bumps and aneuploidy awaits future study. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:452-454, 2016.
Sonography of the Page Kidney

We used sonography to investigate 3 patients with hypertension owing to a Page kidney phenomenon. In 2 cases a perinephric cystic collection was compressing the kidney, while in 1 case there was a large perinephric organized hematoma. When a Page kidney is suspected in a hypertensive patient sonography is a reasonable next step in the evaluation, after the excretory urogram, and may obviate the need for angiography.
Over-expression of c-src or v-src in bone marrow stromal cells stimulates hematopoiesis in long-term bone marrow culture.

The S17 murine stromal cell line was infected with retroviral vectors encoding the v-src and c-src oncogenes and cells expressing high levels of either pp60v-src or pp60c-src were isolated. Long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMCs) established with these different stromal cell lines showed that progenitor cells proliferated to a greater extent in cultures with stromal cells that over-expressed either c-src or v-src. An increase in the number of granulocytes, monocytes, and colony- forming units granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) in the nonadherent cell population of LTBMCs prepared with S17/v-src or S17/c-src stromal cells was observed. Conditioned media from the S17/v-src and S17/src stromal cell lines stimulated the formation of CFU-GM in the absence of additional hematopoietic cell growth factors. Conditioned media from S17/v-src and S17/c-src stimulated proliferation of the granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-responsive cell line FDCP-1 and this stimulation was inhibited by neutralizing antisera to murine GM-CSF. An increase in the concentration of GM-CSF was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. No secretion of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha was detected by any of the stromal cell lines. There was no increase in the secretion of either CSF-1 or IL-6 by either S17/v-src or S17/c-src. The addition of 1 micrograms/mL monoclonal anti-GM-CSF antibody to LTBMCs caused a decrease in the number of nonadherent cells in cultures established with each of the different stromal cell lines. Northern blot analysis showed no difference in the level of GM-CSF RNA among the different stromal cell lines. These studies suggest that the increased proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells in LTBMCs with S17/v-src or S17/c-src cells may result from a posttranscriptional event that elevates production of GM-CSF by the S17/c-src and S17/v-src stromal cells.
Imagery, Incubation, and Right Hemispheric Learning Style as Related to Divergent Thinking

Psychotherapists such as May (1975), and Rogers (1961) have recognized a relationship between the therapeutic process and the creative process. The goals of therapy are often to facilitate within the client the ability to think to things in new ways, to come up with new ideas that can lead to changes in thoughts, feelings, and behavior. This ability has been called divergent thinking (Guilford, 1967). Examining the creative process may reveal ways to increase divergent thinking in clients. Various writers, such as Haefele (1962), have identified four stages of the creative process, namely, preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification. In preparation the person thinks about a problem, looks at it from many angles, and attemts logical solutions. In incubation, the person puts the problem aside, no longer consciously working on it, allowing some sort of unconscious processing to take place. This leads to the illumination in which a new idea in the mind of the person leads to a satisfying solution to the problem. Verification means making sure that the new idea does indeed lead to a solution that is satisfying.
ESG Investing: A Simple Approach

Socially conscious individual investors face a host of challenges, not least of which are a stock buy list screened by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, and investment strategies that are easily implementable. In this study, we addressed these issues by utilizing a publicly available ESG stock list (100 Best Corporate Citizens) with investment strategies involving low-volatility investing, mean-variance optimization, and equally weighted approach, and introducing an innovative method in estimating the return premium due to survivorship bias. Over the period under review, the various strategies and shortlisted ESG stock mutual funds outperformed the S&P 500 index.
Long-Term Adherence to Low-Sodium Diet in Patients With Heart Failure.

Although following a low-sodium diet (LSD) for heart failure (HF) has been recommended for decades, little is known about factors related to long-term patient adherence. The purposes of this study were to (a) compare sodium intake and factors affecting adherence in a long-term adherent group and in a non-adherent group and (b) examine predictors of membership in the long-term adherent group. Patients with HF (N = 74) collected 24-hr urine samples and completed the Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Long-term adherence was determined using the Stage of Dietary Behavior Change Scale. The long-term adherent group had lower sodium intake (3,086 mg vs. 4,135 mg, p = .01) and perceived more benefits from LSD than the non-adherent group. Only positive attitudes toward LSD predicted membership in the long-term adherence group (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18, p = .005). Interventions focused on enhancing positive perceptions of the benefits of an LSD may improve long-term diet...
High-grade Gliomas Exhibit Higher Peritumoral Fractional Anisotropy and Lower Mean Diffusivity than Intracranial Metastases

Differentiating high grade gliomas and intracranial metastases through noninvasive imaging has been challenging. Here we retrospectively compared both intratumoral and peritumoral fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) measurements between high grade gliomas and metastases. Two methods were utilized to select peritumoral region of interest (ROI). The first method utilized the manual placement of four ROIs adjacent to the lesion. The second method utilized a semi-automated and proprietary MATLAB script to generate a ROI encompassing the entire tumor. The average peritumoral FA, MD, and FLAIR values were determined within the ROIs for both methods. Forty patients with high grade gliomas and 44 with metastases were enrolled in this study. Thirty-five patients with high grade glioma and 30 patients with metastases had FLAIR images. There was no significant difference in age, gender, or race between the two patient groups. The high grade gliomas had a significantly higher tumor-to-brain area ratio compared to the metastases. There were no differences in average intratumoral FA, MD and FLAIR values between the two groups. Both the manual sample method and the semi-automated peritumoral ring method resulted in significantly higher peritumoral FA and significantly lower peritumoral MD in high grade gliomas compared to metastases (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in FLAIR values between the two groups peritumorally. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis revealed FA to be a more sensitive and specific metric to differentiate high grade gliomas and metastases than MD. The differences in the peritumoral FA and MD values between high grade gliomas and metastases seemed due to the infiltration of glioma to the surrounding brain parenchyma.
Physical Activity to Reduce Fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective Effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fatigue are limited. We tested the effect of a pedometer-based intervention on increasing physical activity and decreasing fatigue among individuals with RA. Methods Participants completed baseline questionnaires; had 1 week of activity monitoring; were randomized to control (education [EDUC]), pedometer and step-monitoring diary (PED), or pedometer and diary plus step targets (PED+) groups, and were followed for 21 weeks. At week 10, questionnaires were administered by phone to all participants. During the final week, all participants again had 1 week of activity monitoring. Primary outcomes were changes in average weekly steps and fatigue (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 7-item questionnaire) from baseline to week 21. Secondary outcomes were self-reported disease activity, physical function, pain interference, and depressive symptoms. Changes in steps were tested using a linear mixed model. Changes in fatigue were tested with repeated-measures models, including baseline, week-10, and week-21 scores. Results A total of 96 individuals participated. Eight did not complete the 21-week assessments. Both intervention groups significantly increased steps (+1,441 [P = 0.004] for PED and +1,656 [P = 0.001] for PED+), and the EDUC group decreased steps (-747 [P = 0.14]) (group-by-time interaction P = 0.0025). Between-group changes in fatigue were not significantly different (interaction P = 0.21). Mean changes in fatigue scores from baseline to week 21 were -1.6 (with-group P = 0.26), -3.2 (P = 0.02), and -4.8 (P = 0.0002) for EDUC, PED, and PED+ groups, respectively. Function and self-reported disease activity also improved in the PED and PED+ groups. Conclusion Provision of pedometers, with and without providing step targets, was successful in increasing activity levels and decreasing fatigue in this sample of individuals with RA.
Assessment of large copy number variants in patients with apparently isolated congenital left-sided cardiac lesions reveals clinically relevant genomic events

Congenital left-sided cardiac lesions (LSLs) are a significant contributor to the mortality and morbidity of congenital heart disease (CHD). Structural copy number variants (CNVs) have been implicated in LSL without extra-cardiac features; however, non-penetrance and variable expressivity have created uncertainty over the use of CNV analyses in such patients. High-density SNP microarray genotyping data were used to infer large, likely-pathogenic, autosomal CNVs in a cohort of 1,139 probands with LSL and their families. CNVs were molecularly confirmed and the medical records of individual carriers reviewed. The gene content of novel CNVs was then compared with public CNV data from CHD patients. Large CNVs (>1 MB) were observed in 33 probands (∼3%). Six of these were de novo and 14 were not observed in the only available parent sample. Associated cardiac phenotypes spanned a broad spectrum without clear predilection. Candidate CNVs were largely non-recurrent, associated with heterozygous loss of copy number, and overlapped known CHD genomic regions. Novel CNV regions were enriched for cardiac development genes, including seven that have not been previously associated with human CHD. CNV analysis can be a clinically useful and molecularly informative tool in LSLs without obvious extra-cardiac defects, and may identify a clinically relevant genomic disorder in a small but important proportion of these individuals.
[Kak-Tos]: A Tool for Optimizing Conceptual Mass Design and Orientation for Rainwater Harvesting Facades

Water is a valuable, reusable resource that we tend to take for granted. While rooftop rainwater collection systems are beneficial, the facades of high-rise buildings in particular have the potential to increase collection amounts due to the greater amount of surface area. Increasing the amount of rainwater collected and reused is beneficial environmentally, economically, as well as socially. With limited precedence for collection of wind-driven rain on the vertical facade of a building, Kaktos is intended as an aid for designers during the schematic massing studies of a project with the hopes of challenging the way we integrate rainwater collection into the architecture of our buildings. Using imported weather data, Kaktos enables the designer to calculate collection potentials for wind-driven rain, optimize the orientation of the form on the site, and analyze the flow of water over the form’s surface.