cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Labor and the rise of complex hunter-gatherers

Abstract In recent years, an explosion of interest in the causes of cultural complexity, particularly the rise of complex hunter-gatherers, has generated an exciting intellectual exchange. Existing models of the emergence of middle-range societies depend on notions of population growth, risk management and stress, political manipulation, and conflict. In order to understand the appearance of complex foraging—collecting societies, there is a need to synthesize rather than polarize aspects of these perspectives, particularly the political and adaptationist approaches to modeling cultural evolution. I suggest that the emergence of chiefly politics and ascribed power is ultimately contingent on the development of elite control over labor. Specific opportunities for rising leadership to manipulate household labor may emerge from a range of conditions of sociopolitical or environmental stress.
Quantitative determination of trace amounts of carbonyl compounds. II. Colorimetric analysis for acetaldehyde

A colorimetric method for the quantitative determination of acetaldehyde is described which is sensitive to 0.5 microgram. The test uses 2-(4′-phenylazo)phenylhydrazinesulfonic acid for the development of a lavender color which is proportional in intensity to the amount of acetaldehyde present.
THE MARLOW, OKLAHOMA, AEROLITE (CN = 0981,346)*

A 344-gm., nearly complete aerolite, found about 1936 February, in the vicinity of Marlow, Stephens County, Oklahoma (CN of the place of find = 0981,346), is described. The specimen is classified provisionally as an enstatite-olivine chondrite (symbol = Cop1).
Comparative study of power forecasting methods for PV stations

In this paper, two power forecasting methods for PV systems, physical method and statistical method, are studied. A physical model based on the construction of PV systems and a NN statistical model based on historical data are set up. The impacts on forecasting accuracy of input data, such as solar irradiance, air temperature, cloud, humidity and sun position, for these two models are presented. Best input data models are founded for these two methods. Finally, the comparison of performance of the two forecasting models is investigated by a case study of a 1MW PV station. The nRMSE over one month of these two models are very close, i.e. around 10%–13%. The impacts of seasons on forecasting performance are presented. Moreover, by comparison, we found that the main origin of forecasting errors comes from the accuracy of weather prediction information, NWP. Thus, future improvement of power forecasting methods mainly relies on improvement of weather forecast in short-term forecasting application. Furthermore, real-time measured irradiance data can be considered to modify the model input to further improve super-short-term forecasting performance.
X Inactivation Analysis and DNA Methylation Studies of the Ubiquitin Activating Enzyme E1 and PCTAIRE-1 Genes in Human and Mouse

Previously reported data on the X inactivation status of the ubiquitin activating enzyme E1 (UBE1) gene have been contradictory, and the issue has remained unsettled. Here we present three lines of evidence that UBE1 is expressed from the inactive X chromosome and therefore escapes X inactivation. First, by RNA in situ hybridization, UBE1 RNA is detected from both the active and inactive X chromosomes in human female fibroblasts. Second, UBE1 is expressed in a large panel of somatic cell hybrids retaining inactive human X chromosomes, including two independent hybrids that did not require UBE1 expression for survival. And third, sites at the 5' end of UBE1 are unmethylated on both active and inactive X chromosomes, consistent with the gene escaping inactivation. In order to address whether other genes that escape inactivation map to the same region of the X chromosome, we have also examined the expression of genes mapping adjacent to UBE1. The gene for PCTAIRE-1 (PCTK1) maps within 5 kb of UBE1 and similarly escapes X inactivation by the somatic cell hybrid assay, whereas six other genes that are within 1 Mb of UBE1 in Xp11.23 are silenced on the inactive X chromosome. Comparative mapping studies of the homologous loci in mouse establish that Ube1-x and Pctk1 are also within close physical proximity on the murine X chromosome, and expression studies of the Pctk1 gene determine that, similar to Ube1-x, it is subject to X inactivation in mouse. Methylation of CpG residues at restriction sites at the 5' end of both genes on the murine inactive X chromosome is consistent with both genes being subject to X inactivation in mouse, in contrast to their expression status in humans.
Superconductivity in the Tl-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system

Superconductivity at 20 K has been unambiguously observed in the Tl-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system. Superconductivity at 70 K was also observed in the same system. These observations may provide a new insight into the mechanism of oxide superconductivity.
Facework competence in intercultural conflict: an updated face-negotiation theory

Abstract Face influences conflict behavior, because, in any conflict situation, conflict parties have to consider protecting self-interest conflict goals and\or honoring or attacking another person’s conflict goals. Conflict is an ideal forum for face-threatening and face-saving behaviors. The objective of this article is three-fold: first, to provide an update on face-negotiation theory ( Ting-Toomey 1988 ); second, to introduce a facework competence model for intercultural conflict training; and third, to discuss several major training and research issues in using the face-negotiation theory and its companion model, the facework competence model.
Linear condensation polymers of aromatic 1,3‐diamines with 3‐pyridinealdehyde

In the presence of one equivalent of acid, m-phenylenediamine and 2-methyl m-phenylenediamine react with pyridine-3 aldehyde with C alkylation to produce linear polymers, poly(4,6-R-methylene m-phenylenediamine) and poly(4,6-R-methylene 2-methyl m-phenylenediamine). These were characterized by UV, IR, and NMR spectroscopy. Comparison with model compounds confirmed the above structures. A secondary reaction noted at 25°C and higher for the polymer was the oxidative coupling of two neighboring aromatic diamines to produce substituted 2,7-diamino acridine groups along the chain.
Challenges in evaluating influenza vaccine effectiveness and the mortality benefits controversy.

Randomized, controlled trials are the gold standard study design. However, ethical constraints and practical considerations may necessitate other types of studies for evaluating influenza vaccine effectiveness in the elderly—a high priority group for annual vaccination in many countries. Observational studies therefore comprise the bulk of the vaccine effectiveness evidence in older persons, but these types of studies can be susceptible to selection bias and residual confounding. All observational studies should utilize strategies to minimize the impact of bias and confounding. Recent studies questioning the plausibility of reported mortality benefits among vaccinated elderly persons may themselves be based on assumptions that are susceptible to important limitations and multiple biases. Future studies that incorporate prospectively collected information on functional status, life expectancy, and other types of data may provide additional insights into these concerns. At present, even after taking into account the potential for residual bias and confounding, most studies confirm the benefits of vaccination among the elderly for reducing hospitalization and death.
The self-assembly of benzyl alcohol derived deep-cavity cavitands: a new, highly efficient moiety for irreversible assemblies?

In the absence of an apparent (single) molecular template, the irreversible self-assembly of benzyl alcohol substituted, deep-cavity cavitands is shown to be a highly efficient process.
Searching U.S. patents: Core collection and suggestions for service

Few areas of reference services seem to be as shrouded in fearful mystery as those of patent searching. For many librarians, the very word “patent” conjures up images of strange individuals with equally strange ideas. Some think of endless tedium in selecting from among incomprehensible classifications leading to huge lists of meaningless numbers. Still others are repelled by the notion that many inventors and patent searchers are seeking assistance with what may be expensive legal matters.
Shortages amid plenty under Soviet-type planning: A theory of unreliable supplies

Abstract It is well known that one of the most distinctive and dysfunctional features of the Soviet-type economic system is the chronic unreliability of input supplies. It has also been noted that, somewhat paradoxically, this kind of frequent firm-level shortage of inputs can coexist with a surplus in the aggregate production of the inputs. In this paper we propose a simple model that suggests why Soviet-type economies find it so difficult to control the variability of input supplies. We also show that, given this loss of control over variability, for a range of cases, the outcome of the social planner's optimization problem for such economies will be input supplies that have both a higher mean and a higher variance than the first best level.
On the energy approach and thermodynamic foundations of the variational formulation of boundary-value problems of thermomechanics with regard for near-surface phenomena

Within the framework of the energy, thermodynamic, and variational approaches, we propose a mathematical model for the description of thermomechanical processes in elastic deformable systems with regard for dissipative effects in the formation of near-surface phenomena. On the basis of a combination of the energy and thermodynamic approaches, we have obtained relations for the local thermodynamic state and the description of dissipative processes. Using the variational approach, we have constructed a functional such that, from the conditions of its minimization, one can obtain the above-mentioned relations for local thermodynamic state and the description of dissipative processes as well as natural boundary conditions. The sufficient conditions of convexity of this functional have been formulated.
Total parenteral nutrition-associated hyperglycemia correlates with prolonged mechanical ventilation and hospital stay in septic infants.

Abstract Purpose We studied the effects of total parenteral nutrition (TPN)–associated hyperglycemia on the clinical outcome in premature septic infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Methods The charts of all premature infants weighing less than 1500 g upon admission to the neonatal intensive care unit between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2002, with sepsis, ventilator dependence, and feeding intolerance were studied. Maximum serum glucose concentrations were compared with duration of TPN, mechanical ventilation, hospital length of stay, and survival using Pearson regression analysis and Student's t test. Results Thirty-seven patients met the search criteria. The average caloric intake for all infants at the time of blood culture–proven sepsis was 83 ± 19 kcal/kg per day. The maximum serum glucose concentration (milligrams per deciliter) after having positive blood cultures (sepsis) was positively correlated with the duration of TPN ( r = 0.45, P = .005), length of dependence on mechanical ventilation ( r = 0.45, P = .006), and hospital length of stay ( r = 0.36, P = .03). The average maximum serum glucose level was significantly higher in the nonsurviving infants (241 ± 46 vs 141 ± 48, P Conclusion Hyperglycemia correlated with prolonged ventilator dependency and increased hospital length of stay in premature septic infants. Avoidance of excessive nutrient delivery and tight glycemic control during periods of acute metabolic stress may improve outcome in this patient population.
Differential morphology and homogeneity of tissue-engineered cartilage in hydrodynamic cultivation with transient exposure to insulin-like growth factor-1 and transforming growth factor-β1.

Successful tissue-engineering strategies for cartilage repair must maximize the efficacy of chondrocytes within their limited life span. To that end, the combination of exogenous growth factors with mechanical stimuli holds promise for development of clinically relevant cartilage tissue substitutes. The current study aimed to determine whether incorporation of transient exposure to growth factors into a hydrodynamic bioreactor system can improve the functional maturation of tissue-engineered cartilage. Chondrocyte-seeded polyglycolic acid scaffolds were cultivated within a wavy-walled bioreactor that imparts fluid flow-induced shear stress for 4 weeks. Constructs were nourished with 100 ng/mL insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) or 10 ng/mL transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) either for the first 15 days of the culture (transient) or throughout the entire cultivation (continuous). Transiently treated constructs were found to exhibit better functional properties than continuously nourished constructs. T...
Improved Statistically Optimal Nearfield Acoustical Holography in subsonically moving fluid medium

Abstract Statistically Optimal Nearfield Acoustical Holography (SONAH) can be used to reconstruct three-dimensional sound fields by projecting two-dimensional data measured on a “small” aperture that partially covers a composite sound source in a “static” fluid medium. Here, an improved SONAH procedure is proposed that includes the mean flow effects of a moving fluid medium while the sound source and receivers are stationary. The backward projection performance of the proposed procedure is further improved by using a wavenumber filter to suppress subsonic noise components. Through numerical simulations at Mach 0.6, it is shown that the improved procedure can accurately reconstruct sound source locations and radiation patterns: e.g., the spatially averaged reconstruction errors of the conventional and improved SONAH procedures are 15.40 dB and 0.19 dB, respectively, for a monopole simulation and 21.60 dB and 0.19 dB for an infinite-size panel. The wavenumber filter further reduces spatial noise, e.g., decreasing the reconstruction error from 1.73 dB to 0.19 dB for the panel simulation. An existing data measured in a wind tunnel operating at Mach 0.12 is reused for the validation. The locations and radiation patterns of the two loudspeakers are successfully identified from the sound fields reconstructed by using the proposed SONAH procedure.
Operative Risk of Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in Cirrhotic Patients

Limited data exist on the safety of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in cirrhotic patients. We retrospectively reviewed outcomes of these procedures in cirrhotic patients and matched controls. Significant adverse outcomes occurred in 20.7% (6 of 29) of cirrhotic patients compared with 3.23% (3 of 93) of controls. No significant differences were seen between the groups for elective TKA or THA. However, 80% (4 of 5) of the cirrhotic patients undergoing emergent THA secondary to fracture had major complications, with a 60% (3 of 5) mortality rate. There was a trend toward worse overall outcome in cirrhotic patients with more advanced liver disease. In conclusion, primary THA or TKA can be safely performed electively in Child's A and B cirrhotic patients. However, emergent THA to repair fractures in cirrhotic patients is associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality.
The development of the relation between letter-naming speed and reading ability

A discrete-trial reaction time methodology was employed in order to measure the speed with which two groups of first-grade children (one tested twice during the school year) named letters. The relation of letter-naming speed to reading ability, although statistically significant, was much smaller than that observed in previous research in which a continuous-list procedure was employed. It was suggested that this procedure inflates the correlation because it involves many other psychological processes in addition to name retrieval speed. A third-grade group also displayed a weak correlation, but the relationship was reasonably strong in a fifth-grade group. The presence of a strong relationship in groups as advanced in reading as fifth-graders is probably more indicative of differential experience with text than it is of a causal role for name retrieval speed in determining reading ability.
Thalamocortical coupling and component properties of visually evoked afterdischarge.

Abstract Dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) multiple-unit activity (MUA) and single visual evoked responses (VER) followed by afterdischarge (AD) were examined in lightly restrained albino rats. It was found that VER AD spike components are initially quite prominent, exceeding at times the amplitude of the broad surface negative wave components. As VER AD progresses toward termination spike amplitude systematically declines. Wave amplitude, however, remains relatively stable until spike components disappear. Averaged dLGN MUA and VER AD responses to photic stimuli suggest the existence of a precise time-locked relationship between peak dLGN MUA and VER AD spike components. It is proposed that thalamic and cortical mechanisms sustaining VER AD bursting might be operative during sensory information processing, serving to sustain neural activity functionally related to stimulus input.
A simple and efficient method for DNA extraction from grapevine cultivars and Vitis species

A quick, simple, and reliable method for the extraction of DNA from grapevine species, hybrids, andAmpelopsis brevipedunculata (Vitaceae) has been developed. This method, based on that of Doyle and Doyle (1990), is a CTBA-based extraction procedure modified by the use of NaCl to remove polysaccharides and PVP to eliminate polyphenols during DNA purification. The method has also been used successfully for extraction of total DNA from other fruit species such as apple (Malus domestica), apricot (Prunus armeniaca), cherry (Prunus avium), peach (Prunus persica), plum (Prunus domestica), and raspberry (Rubus idaeus). DNA yield from this procedure is high (up to 1 mg/g of leaf tissue). DNA is completely digestible with restriction endonucleases and amplifiable in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), indicating freedom from common contaminating compounds.
Supply and Demand Coordination in Energy Adaptive Computing

The increasing power consumption of computing infrastructure and power density in computing devices is becoming a major concern from a variety of perspectives ranging from Moore's Law scaling to sustainability. Addressing these concerns results in designs that are much leaner in terms of their energy, power and thermal capabilities, and thus require much smarter control to stay within the provided budgets. This leads to the notion of energy adaptive computing where the power management needs to go well beyond energy efficiency and handle situations of insufficient energy via a variety of adaptation techniques. In this paper we address the problem of simultaneous power demand and supply regulation for multilevel systems such as data centers. We expose challenges in such controls and examine the performance of a simple control scheme designed to provide a stable control via demand migrations.
Effect of signal truncation on centroid location error estimation

There are many researchers who propose calculating a signal centroid using the pixels nearest to the signal peak. Thus, for a two-dimensional rectangular grid they use only nine pixels centered around the signal peak,1–3 and for a one-dimensional signal they use only three pixels.4 This truncation simplifies and speeds up the centroid calculation without affecting the centroid accuracy if the signal is limited to this small local region. In addition, when the signal is corrupted by noise, there is an optimum window size that balances the effects of systematic error and the error due to the random noise.
Beyond Harm, Intention, and Dyads: Relationship Regulation, Virtuous Violence, and Metarelational Morality

In the target article, Gray, Young, and Waytz (GYW) offer a unifying definition of the “moral” domain. The strong version of their argument is that moral judgments consist of cognizing an agent int...
Rheology of Block Polyelectrolyte Solutions and Gels: A Review

We review recent experimental results on the rheology of block polyelectrolyte solutions, focusing mainly on diblock and triblock architectures and the effects of block polyelectrolyte concentration, block composition, solution pH, and ionic strength. Micellar solutions of diblock polyelectrolytes are typically viscoelastic liquids at a low concentration; however, gel formation can occur at higher concentrations when micelle corona chains begin to interpenetrate or interact. The rheology can be tuned by varying pH or ionic strength or through the addition of hydrophobic groups along the corona chain. Triblock architectures form elastic gels, analogous to neutral telechelic associative polymers. However, the charged nature of the backbone promotes the formation of a highly networked structure, enabling gel formation at lower concentrations than those observed with neutral telechelics. Finally, we briefly describe recent work on creating block copolypeptide gels with unique rheological and self-assembly characteristics and new architectures for creating thermoreversible block polyelectrolyte gels.
Thermodynamics of protein denatured states

Recent work on the thermodynamics of protein denatured states is providing insight into the stability of residual structure and the conformational constraints that affect the disordered states of proteins. Current data from native state hydrogen exchange and the pH dependence of protein stability indicate that residual structure can modulate the stability of the denatured state by up to 4 kcal mol–1. NMR structural data have emphasized the role of hydrophobic clusters in stabilizing denatured state residual structures, however recent results indicate that electrostatic interactions, both favorable and unfavorable, are also important modulators of the stability of the denatured state. Thermodynamics methods that take advantage of histidine–heme ligation chemistry have also been developed to probe the conformational constraints that act on denatured states. These methods have provided insights into the role of excluded volume, chain stiffness, and loop persistence in modulating the conformational preferences of highly disordered proteins. New insights into protein folding and novel methods to manipulate protein stability are emerging from this work.
Position-specific central projections of mechanosensory neurons on the haltere of the blow fly, Calliphora vicina

The halteres of Dipteran insects play an important role in flight control. They are complex mechanosensory devices equipped with approximately 400 campaniform sensilla, cuticular strain gauges, which are organized into five fields at the base of each haltere. Despite the important role of these mechanosensory structures in flight, the central organization of the sensory afferents originating from the different field campaniforms has not been determined. We show here that in the blow fly, Calliphora vicina, sensory afferents from the campaniform fields project to the thorax in a region‐specific manner. Afferents from different fields have different projection profiles and in addition, the projection pattern of afferents from different regions of the same field may show further variation. However, central target regions of these afferents are not exclusive to particular sensory fields because cells from different fields can possess similar projection profiles. Convergence of afferent projections is not limited to axons from the haltere fields, but is also observed between afferents originating from the haltere fields and those from serially homologous fields on the radial vein of the wing. Although we have not determined the specific cellular targets of the haltere sensory cells, the afferents of a dorsal field could make potential contact with at least one identified wing steering motoneuron that is known to be important in turning maneuvers. Our results, thus, provide the anatomical basis for studying how mechanosensory information encoded by the complex fields on the base of the haltere is mapped onto different functional regions within the CNS.
A permutation-based method to identify loss-of-heterozygosity using paired genotype microarray data

Background SNP genotyping microarrays may be used to detect regions of loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH). Genotype array data are collected for tumor tissue and germline tissue samples from each subject. For each subject, an initial call of LOH or non-LOH is generated for each marker via straightforward comparison of the genotype call across each tissue sample pair [1]. The genotype calls are generated with some error. Therefore, statistical models are used to analyze the pattern of LOH calls to infer regions of LOH for each subject [1].
A case‐control study of forklift and other powered industrial vehicle incidents

Background This study examined risk factors associated with forklift and other powered industrial vehicle (PIV) collision injuries with an emphasis on the design of factory traffic systems, the loading and safety features of PIVs, and the characteristics of the drivers. Methods A case-control study examined risk factors for circumstances of injury-producing PIV incidents at eight automotive manufacturing plants between July 1992 and March 1995. A computerized safety and health surveillance system identified 171 incidents where a PIV (forklift 70%, personnel carriers 15%, other 15%) was involved in a collision incident. Site visits were conducted to collect data regarding the factory environment at the collision site, the PIVs involved in the incidents, and driver characteristics. These data were compared with information collected from a random sample of comparison worksites, PIVs, and PIV drivers who had not been involved in a PIV-related incident in the prior 3 years. Results In half of the cases (86 of 171), an employee (pedestrian) was struck by a PIV or an object being carried by the PIV. The presence of an obstruction that restricted the aisle width increased the odds of a collision incident 1.89 times (95% CI=1.22, 2.86). The presence of overhead mirrors at intersections and blind corners with limited visibility reduced the odds of a PIV collision incident by a third (OR=0.33, 95% CI=0.16, 0.68). When carrying a load, the odds of a PIV being involved in a collision was 1.58 (95% CI=1.03, 2.41) times greater than an unloaded one. Conclusions Changes in the factory environment, vehicle safety features, and driver and pedestrian training are suggested to reduce the risk of PIV incidents. Am. J. Ind. Med. 36:522–531, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Polarity and the regulation of the ilv gene cluster in Escherichia coli strain K-12.

A series of Mu-1 induced isoleucine and valine auxotrophs derived from the wild type K-12 strain of Escherichia coli and from a valine resistant (ilvO−) mutant were examined. It was concluded that the genes ilvE, ilvD and ilvA constitute a single operon and are transcribed from E to A. Furthermore, the ilvG gene, expressed only in ilvO−strains, does not lie between ilvE and ilvD as previously assumed. A mutation in rho was examined for its effect on the ilvEDA operon. One effect of the rho−mutation was a mimicking of an isoleucine limitation signal. A model for the regulation of the ilvEDA operon is discussed. The model involves multiple attentuation sites and a possible role for the ilvO locus which lies at the distal end of the ilvEDA operon (but is not part of it). Supportive evidence for the proposed direction of transcription was obtained by examination of a series of λilv transducing phages.
MONET: modeling and querying moving objects in spatial networks

Data about moving objects is being collected in many different application domains with the help of sensor networks, and GPS-enabled devices. In most cases, the moving objects are not free to move, they are usually restricted by some spatial constraints such as Spatial Networks. Spatial networks are ubiquitous and have been widely used in transportation, traffic planning, navigation as well as in Geographical Information System (GIS) applications. In most scenarios, moving objects such as vehicles move along predefined spatial networks like transportation networks. Unfortunately, the concepts for modeling and querying objects in unconstrained spaces like an outdoor space cannot be transferred to constrained spaces like a road network due to the different features of the environments in which the spatial objects move. Further, modern positioning devices as well as mobile and sensor technology have led to large volumes of moving objects in spatial networks. Therefore, we need a database-friendly data model to explicitly model spatial networks and, more importantly, describe relative movements in these networks. In this paper, we propose a new two-layered data model called MONET (Moving Objects in NETworks) model. The lower layer is a data model for spatial networks. This data model is the prerequisite for the upper model that represents moving objects in these networks. This layered model fits well to formulate relationships between moving objects and a network in queries. A query language, called MONET QL (MONET Query Language), allows a clear description of and access to moving objects in spatial networks and to provides high-level operations on them.
Reduced Sensitivity of the Renal Circulation to Angiotensin II in Pregnant Rats

Abstract The renal circulation undergoes significant changes during pregnancy and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Although numerous studies indicate that the pressor response to angiotensin II (Ang II) is reduced during pregnancy, it is unclear as to whether this altered sensitivity to Ang II occurs in the renal circulation. The first aim of this study was to determine whether the renal vascular responsiveness to exogenous Ang II is altered in the midterm pregnant rat. All rats were pretreated with an intravenous infusion of the converting-enzyme inhibitor captopril (20 μg · kg −1 · min −1 ) to block endogenous Ang II formation. Following a control period, Ang II was infused at a dose of 10 ng · kg −1 · min −1 for 50 minutes into the renal arteries via a suprarenal aortic catheter. In anesthetized virgin rats, Ang II markedly decreased renal plasma flow (RPF) by 39% (5.0±0.4 to 3.1±0.4 mL/min), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by 39% (1.9±0.1 to 1.16±0.2 mL/min), and urine flow by 47% (22.1±5.6 to 12.3±4.8 μL/min). In contrast, Ang II had no significant effect on RPF, GFR, and urine flow in the anesthetized pregnant rats. Since nitric oxide (NO) has been previously reported to modulate the renal vascular actions of Ang II in normal animals and NO synthesis is thought to be elevated in pregnancy, this study examined the role of NO in the attenuated renal response to Ang II. In pregnant rats pretreated with L-NAME, the arterial pressure was higher and RPF was lower than in the control pregnant rats. However, the renal response to Ang II in the L-NAME–pretreated pregnant rats was similar to control pregnant rats. These data indicate that the renal circulation has a reduced sensitivity to Ang II during pregnancy. We also found that NO synthesis inhibition does not alter the attenuated renal response to Ang II in the anesthetized pregnant rats.
Power and Feminism: A Nursing Science Perspective

Nurse executives are in an influential position to engineer health care reform and service delivery if their resources are fully maximized. Derived from Rogers' science and Barrett's power theory, this exploratory study demonstrated a weak relationship between power and feminism in female nurse executives, yet showed a modest correlation between feminism and the power subscale, freedom to act intentionally. Suggestions are provided for further development of the theoretical foundations of a nursing science perspective for nursing administration.
Education's Missing Link: How Private School Teachers Approach Evolution

Over 5 million students and 28,000 schools are consistently marginalized or left out of statistics that describe evolution and science education. Although they are relatively few in number compared with their public school counterparts, the millions of students and hundreds of thousands of teachers in private schools need to be counted in research about teaching and learning in the biology classroom. Assumptions have been made about how teachers in these often religious schools teach evolution, but do we have verifiable data? Could teachers in these schools be similar to those in public schools in their teaching of evolution, or is there a silent undercurrent that has not been detected? It is the purpose of this study to reveal more about this underrepresented segment of the population of science teachers.
Ventricular fibrillation, a late complication of direct-current countershock

Abstract A case of ventricular fibrillation that occurred 8 hours after direct-current countershock for chronic atrial fibrillation is reported. A plea is made for constant electrocardiographic monitoring in the post-conversion period.
A model of material removal and post process surface topography for copper CMP

Abstract Increasing systemic error during copper CMP (Chemical Mechanical Planarization) is due to the uneven surface topography generated during the process. A mechanistic model based on a fundamental understanding of the process constituents was proposed to predict material removal rates and the post CMP topography. Two synergistic mechanisms were proposed: 1) chemically dominant behavior is explained by the repetitive removal and formation of a protective layer on copper surface and chemical dissolution during the process, 2) mechanically dominant removal mechanism is due to the material behavior of copper at the nano-scale and subsequent oxidation and removal of the plastically deformed copper. As a step forward to optimize the process and the manufacturing system, this model was extended to explain pattern dependent variability during copper CMP.
Structure–property relations of polyimide films

A series of well-characterized polyamic acids from pyromellitic dianhydride and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether of systematically varied molecular weight and known molecular weight distribution were chemically converted to polyimide films under regulated conditions. The films were essentially noncrystalline, of moderate orientation, and soluble in concentrated sulfuric acid. The mechanical properties of the films varied sigmoidally with the solution properties of the precursor. Molecular weights were derived for the onset of mechanical strength and limiting property values are given. The relations between film properties and molecular structural parameters suggest that cyclization probably occurs here with little contribution from crosslinking, degradation, or other side reactions which would appreciably alter molecular weight and molecular weight distribution.
Advanced Surface Laminar Circuit using new composite materials

This paper introduces a newly developed Advanced Surface Laminar Circuit (Adv-SLC) packaging technology, which utilizes new composite materials. Adv-SLC is a buildup substrate technology designed to satisfy the requirements of the most advanced semiconductor chips. We have developed a new dielectric material that is a build-up layer composed of two different materials. We also used a new material for the core substrate composed of Liquid Crystalline Polymer (LCP) reinforced with glass cloth. The new build-up layer has the following reliable properties: it can maintain both conductivity and dielectricity under the conditions of both a line/space width of 10/10μm and a via diameter of 30μm. The new core substrate also has excellent reliable properties as follows: it can maintain both conductivity and dielectricity under the condition of both a through hole diameter of 60μm and a through hole pitch of 120μm. We were able to confirm that the formation of the new substrate with the aforementioned new design rules contributes to reduce the silicon chip size. Consequently, due to all of the aforementioned properties, Adv-SLC contributes to reduce thermal stress when we mount a flip chip.
Natriuretic Effect of Angiotensin in Dogs Revealed after Administration of Reserpine and Guanethidine

In untreated dogs anesthetized with morphine-chloralose, a small dose of angiotensin (0.0375 µg/kg per min) produced a large reduction in renal blood flow, a smaller reduction in glomerular filtration rate and an antinatriuresis. A graded change in the excretion of sodium in response to angiotensin occurred after the successive administration of reserpine and guanethidine. In reserpinetreated dogs, angiotensin did not produce an antinatriuresis, whereas in the same dogs after giving guanethidine, a natriuresis occurred in response to angiotensin (from a control of 60 to 189 µEq Na/min). The effects of angiotensin on blood pressure and glomerular filtration rate were similar in all dogs. The renal vasoconstrictor effect of angiotensin was decreased in 3 of 8 dogs after guanethidine. At the high dose of angiotensin (0.375 µg/kg per min), the natriuresis was larger (from a control of 75 to 353 µEq Na/min) and was unrelated to changes in glomerular filtration rate or renal blood flow. In reserpine- and guanethidine-treated dogs, angiotensin increased sodium excretion sufficiently during renal arterial constriction to produce a large reduction in renal blood flow and the filtered load of sodium. These results suggest that angiotensin has a renal tubular action that is uncovered by sympathetic blockade produced by reserpine and guanethidine.
Local robust performance analysis for nonlinear dynamical systems

We propose a computational method for local robust performance analysis of nonlinear systems with polynomial dynamics. Specifically, we characterize upper bounds for local L 2 → L 2 input-output gains using polynomial Lyapunov/ storage functions satisfying certain dissipation inequalities and compute safe approximations for these upper bounds via sum-of-squares programming problems. We consider both bounded parametric uncertainties and bounded uncertainties due to unmodeled dynamics.
A standard method for creating self-defining data structures for information archive and transfer

The standard formatted data unit (SFDU) concept provides the protocols needed to allow access to and understanding of information on a global basis. The SFDU methodology promotes documentational rigor through the administrative services provided by the CCSDS member agency control authorities (CA). The CAs become focal points for acquiring metadata. The data-registration procedures establish a global data-identification mechanism, which combined with standard labeling and conventions for aggregating modular data objects, allows the comprehensive self-identification process needed to support data interchange and data archiving. The basic structure of a type-length-value object (TLVO) is outlined. It consists of a fixed-length label followed by a variable-length value field. The purposes of the label are to delimit the value field and to provide the means by which the format and semantics of the value field might be understood. Language requirements for understanding the retrieved data are presented. >
Rethinking the Regulation of Cellular Metabolism

Most biologists working today have not considered the problem of how signal transduction events, which commit cells to energetically demanding processes such as growth and division, are connected to cellular metabolism. The primary reason for this is that we have believed for the last 30 or more years that the metabolism of cells is a homeostatic, self-regulating process that does not depend on any extracellular input. The traditional view is that a mammalian cell decides to take up nutrients whenever its bioenergetic and synthetic reserves are depleted. However, a considerable body of evidence now exists that challenges the notion that the nutrient uptake and metabolism of metazoan cells are cell-autonomous.
A numerical optimization-based methodology for application robustification: Transforming applications for error tolerance

There have been several attempts at correcting process variation induced errors by identifying and masking these errors at the circuit and architecture level [10, 27]. These approaches take up valuable die area and power on the chip. As an alternative, we explore the feasibility of an approach that allows these errors to occur freely, and handle them in software, at the algorithmic level. In this paper, we present a general approach to converting applications into an error tolerant form by recasting these applications as numerical optimization problems, which can then be solved reliably via stochastic optimization. We evaluate the potential robustness and energy benefits of the proposed approach using an FPGA-based framework that emulates timing errors in the floating point unit (FPU) of a Leon3 processor [11]. We show that stochastic versions of applications have the potential to produce good quality outputs in the face of timing errors under certain assumptions. We also show that good quality results are possible for both intrinsically robust algorithms as well as fragile applications under these assumptions.
Workshop discusses database for Marcellus water issues

ShaleNetwork 2012 Workshop; State College, Pennsylvania, 23–24 April 2012 The largest source of natural gas in the United States, the Marcellus shale, underlies a 95,000-square-mile area from Virginia to New York and from Ohio to Pennsylvania. Since 2005, about 5000 wells have been drilled in Pennsylvania alone, and about 2500 of these are now producing gas. While many welcome the shale gas jobs, others worry about environmental impacts. A workshop was convened at Pennsylvania State University to coordinate the collection of data for water quality and quantity in regions of hydrofracturing. The purpose of the event was to encourage participants to use and contribute data to a growing database of water quality and quantity for regions of shale gas development (www.shalenetwork.org).
Conceptual design of a compact positron tomograph for prostate imaging

We present a conceptual design of a compact positron tomograph for prostate imaging using a pair of external curved detector banks, one placed above and one below the patient. The lower detector bank is fixed below the patient bed, and the top bank adjusts vertically for maximum sensitivity and patient access. Each bank is composed of 40 conventional block detectors, forming two arcs (44 cm minor, 60 cm major axis) that are tilted to minimize attenuation and positioned as close as possible to the patient to improve sensitivity. The individual detectors are angled to point toward the prostate to minimize resolution degradation in that region. Interplane septa extend 5 cm beyond the scintillator crystals to reduce random and scatter backgrounds. A patient is not fully encircled by detector rings in order to minimize cost, causing incomplete sampling due to the side gaps. Monte Carlo simulation (including randoms and scatter) demonstrates the feasibility of detecting and differentiating partial and whole prostate tumors with a tumor-to-background ratio of 2:1, utilizing the number of events that should be achievable with a 6-min scan after a 10 mCi injection (e.g., carbon-11 choline or fluorine-18 fluorocholine).
The influence of phosphorus enrichment on lotic bryophytes

SUMMARY 1 Phosphorus enrichments of 5 weeks' duration were performed in two woodland streams in eastern Tennessee, U.S.A. to determine their effect on the dominant stream bryophyte, Porella pinnata. 2 In a second-order reach of Walker Branch, which had an N:P ratio (by atoms) of 3.5:1 in the stream water, the P:C ratio of Porella was not significantly affected by enrichment, but the P:N ratio did increase significantly. In Sludge Creek, which had an N:P ratio of 21.6:1 in the stream water, both P:C and P:N ratios of Porella increased significantly following phosphorus addition. Increased phosphorus ratios may have resulted from either assimilation or adsorption. 3 Absolute phosphorus concentrations in Porella tissue were significantly greater prior to enrichment in the control reach of Walker Branch, confounding the effect of phosphorus enrichment. In Sludge Creek, absolute phosphorus content in Porella tissue increased significantly in the treated reach and showed no significant difference in the control reach. 4 Although mean primary production increased by approximately 15% following enrichment, the increase was not significantly different from that prior to enrichment. 5 Epiphyte structure and abundance were not significantly influenced by enrichment in either stream. It is suggested that grazing pressure by snails may have masked any potential epiphyte response to enrichment.
An Internet Service Supporting Quality Assessment of Inpatient Glycemic Control

Background: Several studies have linked the maintenance of normoglycemia in acutely ill inpatients with improved clinical outcomes. We previously proposed a few standard definitions for monitoring inpatient glycemic control, or “glucometrics.” In clinical practice, limited data management resources for developing and refining measurement protocols can slow quality improvement efforts. With regard to glucometrics, there are few baseline data regarding the quality of hospital glycemic management. Furthermore, there are no reliable methods for hospitals to gauge the progress of their quality improvement efforts. Methods: We built a novel Web application that calculates glucometrics on anonymized blood glucose data files uploaded by registered users. This Web site also collects many key characteristics of the users and institutions utilizing the service. This application will allow us to pool data from several institutions to calculate aggregate glucometrics, providing baseline data for quality improvement efforts and ongoing metrics for institutions to gauge their progress. Results: The application, accessible at http://metrics.med.yale.edu, has already drawn visitors from several countries. A number of users have registered formally, and some have begun to upload institutional glucose data. The application delivers detailed glucometrics reports to registered users, complete with visual displays. Quality improvement staff from large health systems have been the predominant users. Conclusions: We have created an open access Web application to facilitate quality monitoring and improvement efforts—as well as clinical research—regarding inpatient glycemic management. If employed widely, this application could help establish national performance standards for glycemic control.
Total synthesis of epothilone A

Abstract A convergent total synthesis of epothilone A ( 1 ) is described. The key steps are diastereoselective aldol condensation of aldehyde 3 to form the C 6 C 7 bond; macrolactonization and Wadsworth–Emmons reaction of methyl ketone with phosphonate reagent 5 .
Ultrasound Scanning of Excised Brains to Localize Pathology

An “in vitro” study of human brains has been carried out to determine the accuracy of localizing and measuring pathological, as well as normal, structure. This type of careful correlation will aid in the interpretation of ultrasound images in living patients.