cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intraspecific variability of leaf cuticle alkanes in Sedum lanceolatum along an elevational gradient

Characterization of variability patterns in leaf n-alkanes isolated from Sedum lanceolatum field populations indicates little correlation with elevation gradients. Inherent variability is better explained by genetic constitution than phenotypic plasticity, thus suggesting that leaf wax samples isolated from field-collected specimens are suitable for use in elucidation of systematic relationships.
Salt effects on thermodynamic and rheological properties of hydrate forming emulsions

Abstract Results from an experimental study of the effect of aqueous phase salinity on a density-matched 40% ( v / v ) aqueous fraction hydrate-forming emulsion are reported. Using micro-differential scanning calorimetry and rheometry, a correlation of the rheological properties to thermodynamic driving forces is obtained. The cyclopentane hydrate-brine system liquidus line is determined from the calorimetric study. Equilibrium temperature and thermodynamically allowed conversion of water to hydrate are computed from the hydrate-brine phase diagram. Good agreement was found between the experiments and calculations by an established thermodynamic simulation tool. Rheological properties, including the viscosity evolution time, final viscosity and its shear rate dependence, and yield stress of the hydrate-forming emulsion are determined; the material viscosity increases markedly as hydrate forms and the mixture develops a yield stress. The viscosity evolution time is smaller at lower temperature, i.e., at higher subcooling relative to the hydrate equilibrium dissociation temperature. The final hydrate slurry exhibits shear thinning effects describable by the Ostwald-de Waele model, and displays very little hysteresis in the shear rate dependence. Maximum viscosity is attained when the thermodynamic water to hydrate conversion is 61–85% while the yield stress was found to be a maximum at about 80% conversion; this non-monotonic rheological property dependence on the thermodynamically allowed water to hydrate conversion demonstrates that both liquid (brine) and solid hydrate content are important to the mechanical properties of the network structure developed when hydrate is present.
Stunned myocardium in the toxic shock syndrome.

Excerpt Although it is not commonly recognized, myocardial dysfunction in the toxic shock syndrome may be severe, even life-threatening (1, 2). The cause of this acute cardiomyopathy remains unclea...
Tradition and transformation in eighteenth-century Europe: Jewish integration in comparative perspective

This issue of Jewish History explores Jewish experiences of integration in eighteenth-century Europe, with a specific focus on Italy, France, Germany, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Through different approaches, which include social and legal history, along with cultural and intellectual analysis, our contributors investigate the various ways that Jewish societies negotiated the interplay between gradual modernization and the maintenance of traditional networks and communal institutions. The investigations include issues of acculturation and legal integration, Jewish economic utility (and its recognition on the part of both Jews and non-Jews), social proximity, religious and lay leadership, class, and gender. The goal is to frame the eighteenth century as a defining age for European Jewry, one that was, to paraphrase Nicholas Terpstra, "simultaneously transformative and reactionary, egalitarian and elitist, [a period] of resistance and of acculturation."1 When analyzing Jewish cultural innovations and the intensity of Jewish contacts with the outside world, contemporary scholars disagree on whether to locate the beginning of modernity in the seventeenth or the eighteenth century.2 Recent historiographical works suggest that Jewish modernization was a process rooted in seventeenth-century cultural and social developments, best understood on the basis of prevailing trends during the Ancien Regime? According to this view, modern Jewry was shaped by a "constellation of processes," to quote Moshe Rosman's apt definition, in which political, socio-cultural, and economic integration were only partial aspects. Additional factors included demographic growth and migrations, nationalism, legal emancipation, secularization, and the erosion of traditional forms of communal and religious authority, all of which led to structural reorganization in modern Jewish communities.4 It is undeniable that many of these developments began no later than the seventeenth century.5
Magnetic island formation in three-dimensional plasma equilibria

The formation of magnetic islands as a result of plasma pressure in three‐dimensional equilibria is investigated by a boundary‐layer analysis. Away from a rational surface (‘‘exterior region’’), the plasma current is calculated exactly from the equilibrium equations. The singularity in the current thus calculated is resolved by analysis of the equilibrium equations in the vicinity of the rational surface (‘‘inner region’’). The Δ’ parameter of tearing mode theory is used to match the inner and outer regions. The island width is found to depend on the resistive interchange criterion, as seen in the work of Glasser, Greene, and Johnson [Phys. Fluids 18, 875 (1975)]. Estimates of island sizes for different stellarator experiments are given.
Realism bei Frege: Reply to Burge

Frege is celebrated as an arch-Platonist and arch-realist. He is renowned for claiming that truths of arithmetic are eternally true and independent of us, our judgments and our thoughts; that there is a ‘third realm’ containing nonphysical objects that are not ideas. Until recently, there were few attempts to explicate these renowned claims, for most philosophers thought the clarity of Frege's prose rendered explication unnecessary. But the last ten years have seen the publication of several revisionist interpretations of Frege's writings — interpretations on which these claims receive a very different reading. In ‘Frege on Knowing the Third Realm’, Tyler Burge attempts to undermine this trend. Burge argues that Frege is the very Platonist most have thought him — that revisionist interpretations of Frege's Platonism, mine among them, run afoul of the words on Frege's pages. This paper is a response to Burge's criticisms. I argue that my interpretation is more faithful than Burge's to Frege's texts.
Predictive assessment of student performance for early strategic guidance

In this study, we use well-accepted conceptual assessment instruments, initial state data such as the SAT, and our own recently developed instruments designed to measure aptitude in mathematics to develop a machine learning-based predictive model for student performance. Previous analysis found the expected strong correlation between performance in the mathematics and physics courses. The mathematics assessment instruments were designed to provide a means for suggesting corrective measures for students to take to improve performance in mathematics, and it was demonstrated that these measures also have an impact on performance in physics. With the predictive nature of the collected data and the impact of the various corrective measures on final grade established, we use these data to form a predictive model for student performance. By adaptively imputing missing data from previous years, and forming a random forest model, we are able to predict those students who are most at-risk of failing the introductory mathematics and physics courses with acceptable accuracy. This analysis contributes to an integrated evaluation of the current programs, which has led to an assessment-based initiative to offer strategic guidance to incoming students, better placing them for academic and career success in their selected STEM disciplines.
An Analysis to Determine the Optimum Bussing Arrangements and Transmission Capabilities at Grand Coulee

AS a result of the war, the installation of generators at the Grand Coulee generating station, which is located on the Columbia River in the northeastern portion of the State of Washington, has been accelerated to such an extent that the station now generates more hydroelectric energy than any other single station in the world. The station was built and is operated by the United States Bureau of Reclamation. Power from it, as well as power from the Bonneville Dam, is delivered through the transmission system of the Bonneville Power Administration to three major load centers, the Puget Sound area of western Washington, the Spokane area of eastern Washington, and the Portland area of western Oregon. Power is supplied to large electrochemical industries in each load area, as well as through high-capacity ties to the public utilities of the respective areas. The high-capacity ties create a large closely integrated system operating in synchronism in the States of Washington, Oregon, and in Northern Idaho. The combined peak load of these systems exceeds 2,400,000 kw. In the eastern section of this area there are other ties to Montana, Utah, and southern Idaho utilities. Peak load of all interconnected power systems in these five states is approximately 3,000,000 kw. However, this paper is concerned mainly with the areas in Washington, Oregon, and northern Idaho.
Outcome of Esophageal Carcinoma in the Veteran Affairs Population: A Comparative Analysis From the Veteran Affairs Central Cancer Registry

Objective:Reports indicate that esophageal carcinoma is changing with a shift from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to adenocarcinoma (AC) along with worse survival in black patients. However, data on esophageal carcinoma in the Veteran Affairs (VA) population is lacking. We set to describe site-specif
High oxlnation state transition metal carboxylates as acylating agents

Abstract The formation of amide bonds from the reaction of metal carboxylates with amines was observed for the first time; complexes of titanium(IV), zirconium(IV) and tantalum(V) were investigated.
Gauge invariant regularization of Yang-Mills wave functionals

Abstract We present a gauge invariant nonperturbative regularization of gauge theories in the temporal gauge. We use the Schrodinger representation for field theory. An example is given to illustrate regularization using wave functionals.
Drift Velocity and Energy of Electrons in Liquid Argon

Measurements are reported of the energy required for injection of an electron into liquid argon and of the drift velocity of electrons in liquid argon at moderate field strength. It is found that the barrier to electron injection is ---0.33 eV, in moderately good agreement with a theoretical estimate of ---0.45 eV. The observed field dependence of the drift velocity is in good agreement with the recent calculations of Lekner.
Transcription from each of the Drosophila act5C leader exons is driven by a separate functional promoter.

Abstract The Drosophila act5C gene has two leader exons at which transcription initiation occurs. In this way two classes of transcripts that are different with respect to the 5′-untranslated sequences are synthesized. Both are present in Drosophila Kc cell mRNA. To define the sequences necessary for transcription from each start point and to determine if each is driven by a separate promoter, 5′-flanking regions from the act5C gene were inserted upstream from the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene and tested for promoter activity by transient assays in Drosophila Kc cells. We show that both leader exons are preceded by separate, functional, promoters. The exon 1 proximal promoter contains at least two regions important for optimal expression. One is at more than 1.9 kb upstream from the exon 1 cap site while the other lies between 1.2 and 0.09 kb of the cap site. The promoter elements necessary for transcription from exon 2 are within 450 bp upstream from its cap site. The data suggest that, in some constructions, transcription initiation at exon 1 inhibits transcription initiation at exon 2. There is a sequence of dyad symmetry which is present upstream from both exon 1 and exon 2 of the form CC(A-rich)6GG. The same sequences are found upstream from many mammalian and chicken actin genes and of the human and mouse c-fos genes, where they are believed to be transcription regulatory sequences.
Intra-stream traffic differentiation and resource allocation for video teleconferencing in LTE systems

This paper considers a downlink LTE system where a basestation (eNodeB) is serving video traffic (generated possibly due to video teleconferencing applications) to many users in a cell. The video traffic is separated into multiple sub-streams (logical channels) based on the coding structure or priority of video packets. The objective is to maximize video quality by servicing appropriate video sub-streams and users while taking into account the resource constrained wireless channel. It is shown that one can obtain significant gains in video quality by determining the quality of service (QoS) parameters on a per sub-stream basis, rather than in `user-based' approach where all the sub-streams are lumped into one single stream. Motivated by video teleconferencing applications, we provide simulation results for the case where video traffic is separated into logical channels based on a Hierarchical-P encoding structure. Furthermore, we demonstrate the gains in video quality that can be obtained by allocating resources across logical channels. With the exploding growth in mobile video traffic expected to happen in 4G systems, this study suggests potential benefits of a logical channel based approach as compared to conventional user-based schemes.
Heterologous Expression and Purification of Recombinant Rolipram-Sensitive Cyclic AMP-Specific Phosphodiesterases

With the cloning of cDNAs coding for the different phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) isoenzymes present in mammals, homogeneous preparations of these forms have become readily available. This strategy has greatly facilitated the understanding of the properties of the myriad of isoforms derived from the four PDE4 genes found in mammals, and has opened a new avenue to develop inhibitors with a different degree of selectivity for each isoform. Here we describe the strategies and methods used to express PDE4 in bacterial, yeast, insect, and mammalian cell heterologous systems, and review the advantages and disadvantages of each of these expression strategies. In addition, procedures to purify the recombinant proteins are described. The recently developed purification of a PDE4 by immunoaffinity chromatography provides a rapid and efficient method to prepare large quantities of PDE4. This method should be very useful for structural and kinetic studies on the PDE4D isoforms.
Growth and Survival of Fingerling Lake Trout Reared at Four Densities

Abstract Fingerling lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) were reared at density indexes (fish density, in pounds per cubic foot, divided by fish length in inches) of 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, and 2.0. Final lengths, weights, condition factors, and mortality rates did not differ among the treatments. We conclude that fingerling lake trout may be successfully reared at a density index of at least 2.0 if water requirements for respiration and waste dilution are met. Our results indicate that fish length may be less important in determining allowable fish densities than was previously suspected.
Rejoinder to Discussions on Addressing an Idiosyncrasy in Estimating Survival Curves Using Double Sampling in the Presence of Self‐Selected Right Censoring

We thank the editorial board for the opportunity to have discussion on the issue of study design, which is often more important than analysis for obtaining reliable information, especially in problems with missing data. Double sampling designs to address dropout require allocating resources for recovering data for a subgroup of dropouts, but there are often positive trade-offs when doing so. Although such ideas have long been used for surveys with onetime enrollment, we have little evidence that they are being used systematically in studies in public health, where enrollment is often longitudinal. The conclusion is that, in these longitudinal settings, either double sampling is not often used or, as we suspect based on communications, it is employed implicitly, and the data are being analyzed with unknown methods. Our goals therefore were to
A Numerical Test of Air Void Spacing Equations

Abstract Air void spacing equations have been proposed in the literature by a number of authors: Powers; Philleo; Attiogbe; and Pleau and Pigeon. Each proposed spacing equation attempts to characterize the true “spacing” of entrained air voids in concrete. While efforts have been made to correlate these spacing equation calculations to freeze-thaw performance, no test has been performed to assess the geometrical accuracy of these spacing equations. Herein is a computerized accuracy test of these proposed spacing equations. A computer model of air void systems is used, and various “spacings” are measured in the model system. The results of these measurements are then compared to the appropriate spacing equation prediction, along with equations developed by Lu and Torquato.
Must All be Saved? A Kierkegaardian Response to Theological Universalism

In this paper, I consider how a Kierkegaardian could respond critically to the question of strong theological universalism, i.e., the belief that all individuals must eventually be reconciled to God and experience everlasting happiness. A Kierkegaardian would likely reject what Thomas Talbott has called “conservative theism,” but has the resources to mount a sustained attack on the view that all individuals must experience everlasting happiness. Some have seen that Kierkegaard has some potential in this regard, but a full Kierkegaardian response to strong theological universalism has yet to be given. In this paper, I give such an account.
Civilian Defense Forces, State Capacity, and Government Victory in Counterinsurgency Wars

Given the onset of a violent rebellion by an armed non-state group, how do states re-establish intra-state peace and hence fulfill their basic function as providers of internal security? In this article I argue that one way governments perform this core function is by recruiting non-combatants into local self-defense units called civilian defense forces (CDFs). By providing for local security, leveraging their superior local knowledge, and provoking insurgent reprisals against civilians, CDF units facilitate the influx of tactical intelligence as well as isolate insurgents from non-combatant populations physically as well as politically. Consistent with the argument, statistical analyses of two different cross-national data sets of insurgencies from 1944 to 2006 reveal that a state is 53 percent more likely to vanquish a guerrilla threat if the incumbent deploys CDFs. The analyses also cast doubt on a recent claim in the literature that incumbent force mechanization adversely affects the states’ ability t...
The development of immunoglobulinlevels in man

Summary The development of IgG, IgA, and IgM levels from birth, through the newborn period, infancy, childhood, and into adulthood has been studied with the use of 1,241 sera from 939 subjects. Rapid synthesis of IgM starts in the first week of postnatal life. This system expands to the adult levels by the age of about 1 year for boys and 2 years for girls. Boys and girls have similar IgM values until age 7, after which girls have higher values. IgA synthesis begins by 2 to 3 weeks of age, increases slowly, and attains adult levels by about 12 years. Rapid IgG synthesis probably begins by the first 4 to 6 weeks of life and adult levels are reached at about age 8 years.
252Cf-plasma desorption mass spectrometry multistop time digitizer

A multistop time digitizer is described which was designed specifically for 252Cf-plasma desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The digitizer is a high resolution time intervalometer capable of measuring the times of a number of stop events following a common start. A resolution of 78.125 ps is achieved. The time range can be varied from 5 ms to 320 ms in 16 steps. Stop event processing time takes less than one microsecond, enabling high resolution measurements of closely spaced bursts of events. The digitizer consists of the following three modules. A clock module provides the accurate time reference including a precision time calibrator. An analog module contains a special tandem stretcher by which the high resolution and low differential nonlinearity are achieved. A digital module comprises the counting, logic and interface circuits. Up to four complete digitizers can be housed in and powered by a standard CAMAC crate.
The IBM 1975 optical page reader: part III: recognition logic development

The design approaches which were used to specify feature measurement logic, recognition reference standards, and decision functions for a multifont character recognition system are discussed. The importance of an intuitive approach to design, as opposed to a fully automated approach, is emphasized. The nature of the problem required an intimate Interaction between the designers, who investigated complex pattern recognition problems and proposed design alternatives, and the computer, which relieved the designer of routine testing and evaluation of the tentative design.
Confusion or fairness in the field? Rejections in the ultimatum game under the strategy method

Field experiments conducted in two multi-ethnic republics of Russia show that responders employ varied strategies in an “ultimatum game”. While many responders choose strategies that are monotonically rational and characteristic of most ultimatum game results (rejecting low offers and accepting high ones), almost as many others display a tendency towards “hyper-fairness” (rejecting offers that are too low and too high). Proposers, in turn, seem to take this into account with an unusually high proportion of 50/50 splits. Drawing on data from the experiments and a related survey, this paper focuses on the variation in responders’ strategies, and the factors that account for the differences.
Retrosynthetic Rummy: A Synthetic Organic Chemistry Card Game

A deck of cards and a card game have been developed in an effort to make practicing organic chemistry and synthesis more fun for students. The game is played as a variation of rummy, in which players collect sets of similar cards and runs of cards in a synthetic sequence. This card game reviews knowledge of functional groups and reaction types and requires an ability to place many organic transformations in an appropriate order to synthesize target molecules. The game was used as a method to review second-year organic reactions for third- and fourth-year students at the beginning of a course in advanced organic chemistry. Students enjoyed the game and even gathered to play it outside of class. Additionally, the deck of cards was constructed so it can function to give a variety of classic card games a chemistry theme.
Microstrip dual-band bandpass and bandstop filters

In this letter, simple and effective design of dual-band bandpass and bandstop filters using microstrip open-loop resonators is proposed.The dual-band bandpass and bandstop filters developed in this letter exhibit dual operating frequencies that are not integral multiples of each other and are realized using a simple method rather than using the extensive method of extracting coupling coefficient matrix for designing dual-band filters. Parametric analysis is performed on the proposed microstrip structures to determine the optimum dimensions of the dual-band filters. Both simulation and measured results are presented in this letter, and good agreement is obtained between the results. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:168–171, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26469
A systematic shift of the DS axis

Systematic clockwise rotation of asymmetry axis of main phase decrease during geomagnetic storm lifetime
Analysis of medaka cytochrome P450 3A homotropic and heterotropic cooperativity

We have previously demonstrated that medaka CYP3A is associated with metabolism of several endobiotics including steroids and bile acids. In this study, we demonstrate that medaka CYP3A catalysis exhibits unusual kinetic behaviors consistent with allosteric interaction which cannot be described by hyperbolic kinetic models. Using 7-benzyloxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)-coumarin (BFC) and nonylphenol as CYP3A substrates, we describe both homotropic and heterotropic cooperative interactions. Given the role of CYP3A in maintaining the homeostatic balance for numerous endobiotics, enzymatic activation/inhibition by endocrine disruptors (EDCs) represents a putative (non-genomic) mechanism for endocrine disruption.
NOy formed by precipitating electron events in 1991 and 1992: Descent into the stratosphere as observed by ISAMS

NOAA 12 precipitating electron data has been examined together with ISAMS observations of nighttime NO2 during electron events in November 1991 and May 1992. Energy deposition calculations suggest the significant formation of NOy during these events near 0.1 mbar and for 60°–80°latitude. ISAMS confirms increases of NO2 from zonally averaged values of ≈1–5 ppbv prior to the events to values in excess of 30–40 ppbv with local maxima in excess of 140 ppbv. The increases occur within 2–3 days and are generally consistent with the calculated NOy formation rates due precipitating electrons. ISAMS data indicate the subsequent transport of the NO2 into the stratosphere affecting NO2 mixing ratios below 1 mbar and down to latitudes of ≈30°to 40°in both hemispheres.
Alternative and complementary medical approaches in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

M ore and more individuals are looking outside the borders of conventional medicine for at least part of their health care needs. In the United States, more visits are being made to nonconvenional healers than to physicians, at an annual cost of over 30 billions ollars; most of this cost is out-of-pocket. As a health care discipline, alternative medicine is defined as those edical approaches which in the past were not traditionally addressed in llopathic medical schools. Complementary medicine is a term first used n Great Britain to describe the use of alternative medicine as an adjunct o, and not primarily a replacement for, conventional medical care. In the 1st century, there is an ongoing effort to integrate complementary and lternative medicine (CAM) into conventional medicine practice (Interative Medicine). In 1998, the National Institutes of Health, recognizing he need to vigorously evaluate CAM therapies, created the National enter for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which supports ngoing research. In recent years, multiple hospitals have formed Centers f Integrative Medicine, and many allopathic medical schools are now ffering course work in complementary-alternative medicine. Many of the CAM modalities, as defined today, have been used for housands of years as the mainstay of the healing arts in various cultures nd societies. Chinese medicine has used bioenergy (“qi” manipulation Qi gong], insertion of needles [acupuncture], and ingestion [herbs and oods]) as part of a systematic approach to health care. Practitioners of ndian medicine (Ayurveda and Yoga) have used the combination of
Revision of the stiletto fly genera Acupalpa Kröber and Pipinnipons Winterton (Diptera, Therevidae, Agapophytinae) using cybertaxonomic methods, with a key to Australasian genera

Australian stiletto flies of the sister-genera Acupalpa Krober, 1912 and Pipinnipons Winterton, 2001 (Diptera: Therevidae: Agapophytinae) are revised. Twelve new species of Acupalpa are described, while Acupalpa imitans (White, 1915), comb. n. is transferred from Pipinnipons and Acupalpa albimanis (Krober, 1914), comb. n. is transferred from Ectinorhynchus Macquart as a senior synonym of Acupalpa pollinosa Mann. The total number of species of Acupalpa is therefore increased to 19: Acupalpa albimanis (Krober), comb. n., Acupalpa albitarsa Mann, Acupalpa boharti sp. n., Acupalpa divisa (Walker), Acupalpa dolichorhyncha sp. n., Acupalpa glossa sp. n., Acupalpa imitans (White), comb. n., Acupalpa irwini Winterton, Acupalpa melanophaeos sp. n., Acupalpa miaboolya sp. n., Acupalpa minuta sp. n., Acupalpa minutoides sp. n., Acupalpa notomelas sp. n., Acupalpa novayamarna sp. n., Acupalpa rostrata Krober, Acupalpa semirufa Mann, Acupalpa westralica sp. n., Acupalpa yalgoo sp. n. and Acupalpa yanchep sp. n. Three new species of Pipinnipons are described, increasing the total number of species to five: Pipinnipons chauncyvallis sp. n., Pipinnipons fascipennis (Krober), Pipinnipons kampmeierae sp. n., Pipinnipons kroeberi Winterton, and P. sphecoda sp. n. Pipinnipons and Acupalpa are rediagnosed in light of the new species presented herein and revised keys to species are included. A dichotomous key to genera of Australasian Therevidae is included. As an empirical example of cybertaxonomy, taxonomic descriptions were composed using a character matrix developed in Lucid Builder (in Structured Descriptive Data (SDD) format) to generate natural language descriptions supplemented by online specimen and image databases. Web resources are provided throughout the document including: a) links to high resolution colour images of all species on Morphbank, b) registration of authors, publications, taxon names and other nomenclatural acts in Zoobank, with assignment of Life Science Identifiers (LSIDs) for each, c) links to Genbank accession records for DNA sequences, and d) assignment of LSIDs to specimen records with links to respective records in an online Therevidae specimen database.
Dynamics of accommodative fatigue in rhesus monkeys and humans.

Abstract Changes in accommodative dynamics with repeated accommodation were studied in three anesthetized rhesus monkeys and two conscious humans. Maximum accommodation was centrally stimulated via the Edinger–Westphal nucleus in monkeys with a 4 s on, 4 s off paradigm (4 × 4) for 17 min, 4 × 1.5 for 27 min and 2 × 1 for 16 min. Humans accommodated repeatedly to visual targets (5 × 5; 5D and 2 × 2; 6D) for 30 min. In all cases, accommodation was sustained throughout. The anesthetized monkeys showed inter-individual variability in the extent of changes in accommodative dynamics over time while no systematic changes were detected in the human accommodative responses. Little accommodative fatigue was found compared to previous studies which have reported a complete loss of accommodation after 5 min of repeated stimulation in monkeys.
Professional Preparedness for Provision of Auditory Oral Programs to Children With Hearing Loss: Results of a Survey

Abstract Advances in technology have facilitated development of auditory-oral skills in greater numbers of children who are deaf. In addition, mainstream educational placements are increasing for this population. Since success in the mainstream is largely dependent upon development of oral communication skills, it is imperative that professionals working with these children have competence in auditory-oral methodology. The present study investigated professionals' perceptions of preparedness to develop and implement auditory-oral programs. Professionals using an auditory-oral approach were asked about their perceived levels of knowledge and skills, pre-service training, and on-the-job factors that contributed to their competence to provide auditory-oral programs to children who are deaf. Classification tables, chi-square, and qualitative analyses were used to determine professionals' perceptions of preparedness and to identify significant differences among professional groups (i.e., speech-language pathol...
Bipolar Localization of the Replication Origin Regions of Chromosomes in Vegetative and Sporulating Cells of B. subtilis

To investigate chromosome segregation in B. subtilis, we introduced tandem copies of the lactose operon operator into the chromosome near the replication origin or terminus. We then visualized the position of the operator cassettes with green fluorescent protein fused to the Lac1 repressor. In sporulating bacteria, which undergo asymmetric cell division, origins localized near each pole of the cell whereas termini were restricted to the middle. In growing cells, which undergo binary fission, origins were observed at various positions but preferentially toward the poles early in the cell cycle. In contrast, termini showed little preference for the poles. These results indicate the existence of a mitotic-like apparatus that is responsible for moving the origin regions of newly formed chromosomes toward opposite ends of the cell.
Predictors of immediate response in the treatment of mania: the importance of comorbidity.

Abstract Four hundred thirty-eight bipolar manies were admitted to an acute care psychiatric inpatient ward over a 12-year period. Eighty percent had good and 20% poor immediate outcome. Good outcome patients were characterized by short episode duration, older age of onset, a longer hospitalization, fewer suicide thoughts, and less psychiatric and medical comorbidity than the poor outcome group. Patients were divided into four treatment groups based on primary mode of therapy during index hospitalization: electro-convulsive therapy (ECT), adequate lithium, inadequate lithium, and neither treatment. Patients experiencing good outcome were more likely to be in the adequate lithium group and less likely to receive neither treatment. Regression analysis identified the absence of comorbidity, duration of lithium treatment more than 2 weeks, and duration of episode of less than 1 month as predictors of good outcome at hospital discharge.
D - Clutter: Building object model library from unsupervised segmentation of cluttered scenes

Autonomous systems which learn and utilize a limited visual vocabulary have wide spread applications. Enabling such systems to segment a set of cluttered scenes into objects is a challenging vision problem owing to the non-homogeneous texture of objects and the random configurations of multiple objects in each scene. We present a solution to the following question: given a collection of images where each object appears in one or more images and multiple objects occur in each image, how best can we extract the boundaries of the different objects? The algorithm is presented with a set of stereo images, with one stereo pair per scene. The novelty of our work is the use of both color/texture and structure to refine previously determined object boundaries to achieve segmentation consistent with each of the input scenes presented. The algorithm populates an object library, which consists of a 3D model per object. Since an object is characterized both by texture and structure, for most purposes this representation is both complete and concise.
Aurea Mediocritas: The Importance of a Balanced Genome

Aneuploidy, defined as an abnormal number of chromosomes, is a hallmark of cancer. Paradoxically, aneuploidy generally has a negative impact on cell growth and fitness in nontransformed cells. In this work, we review recent progress in identifying howaneuploidy leadsto genomic and chromosomal instability, how cells can adapt to the deleterious effects of aneuploidy, and how aneuploidy contributes to tumorigenesis in different genetic contexts. Finally, we also discuss how aneuploidy might be a target for anticancer therapies.
Development of Multi-Membrane Near-Infrared Diode Mass Spectrometer for Field Analysis of Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometry (MIMS) is a technique that incorporates a semi-permeable membrane selective for differing organic molecules and chemistries. This eliminates the need for time-consuming sample preparation and facilitates near instantaneous analysis. This study will examine how the front end of MIMS incorporates three dual inlet ports, allowing for differing MIMS materials and selectivity for specific environments. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes have proven to be selective of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) as well as aromatic hydrocarbons that are common in petroleum products while remaining selective against the aliphatic chains. PDMS has proven to be a successful choice of membrane with high permeability in atmospheric environments. In addition, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as acenaphthene, acenapthylene, naphthalene, and fluorene have recently been detected to the 5 ppb level in a nitrogen atmosphere with our current configuration. This preliminary work provides proof of concept using near-infrared laser diodes that act upon the membrane to increase its permeability and provide higher sensitivity of aromatic samples.
The New Generation of Antiepileptic Drugs: Unresolved Questions:

IN THIS ISSUE of The Annals, Luer and Rhoney 1 present a review on the latest antiepileptic drug (AED) to be marketed in the US for the adjunctive treatment of partial seizures, tiagabine (Gabitril). This is the fifth new AED to be released in the past 5 years. Prior to 1993, the last AED to be approved for seizures/epilepsy was valproic acid in 1978. Clinicians and patients now have at their disposal an impressive, and perhaps confusing, array of new drug technologies for the treatment of various seizure disorders. Why has this flurry of activity occurred? Are these new AEDs true advancements or just minor modifications? How can clinicians assess the role that each of the new AEDs may have in the clinical care of the patient with epilepsy? Fundamentally, the question that we must address is, Do we really need and should we afford all these new AEDs? History
Variation in Mammalian Physiological Responses to a Condensed Tannin and Its Ecological Implications

Mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ), domestic sheep ( Ovis aries ), and American black bears ( Ursus americanus ) were fed quebracho ( Schinopsis sp.) tannin to determine the contribution of salivary proteins to nitrogen- and fiber-digestive efficiencies and tannin metabolism. These values were compared to previously published values for laboratory rats ( Rattus rattus ) and prairie voles ( Microtus ochrogaster ). Mule deer, black bears, and laboratory rats consuming this condensed tannin produced tannin-binding salivary proteins that reduced fecal-nitrogen losses per unit of ingested tannin and reduced tannin metabolism relative to domestic sheep and prairie voles. Digestibility of the plant fiber was reduced significantly by tannins in domestic sheep, but not in mule deer. Although virtually all ingested tannin (98.3 ± 5.0%) was recovered in feces of mule deer and black bears, ca. 25% was not recovered in feces of domestic sheep and presumably was metabolized. The defensive role of tannins as digestion inhibitors or toxins is dependent upon the molecular characteristics of the tannin interacting with the physiological capability of the animal. Results from one plant-mammal interaction cannot be used to interpret others without an understanding of the characteristics of the tannins and the physiology, ecology, and evolution of the animal.
Sry Associates with the Heterochromatin Protein 1 Complex by Interacting with a KRAB Domain Protein

In mammals, the SRY/Sry gene on the Y chromosome is necessary and sufficient for a bipotential gonad to develop into a testis, regardless of its chromosomal sex. The SRY/Sry gene encodes a protein that belongs to a high-mobility-group (HMG) box protein family and that has been postulated to modulate the expression of genes necessary for male gonadal differentiation. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified a novel protein containing only a Kruppel-associated box (KRAB) domain, which is hereafter named KRAB-O (KRAB Only), as an SRY-interacting protein. The KRAB-O protein is encoded by an alternatively spliced transcript from the Zfp208 locus that also produces another transcript coding for a KRAB-zinc finger protein, ZFP208. The interaction of the mouse SRY with KRAB-O was further confirmed by glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay and coimmunoprecipitation in transfected COS7 cells. The KRAB-O interaction domain in both the human and mouse SRY was mapped to the bridge region outside the HMG box. Indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy show that the mouse SRY colocalizes with KRAB-O in nuclear dots in transiently transfected COS7 cells and primary fetal mouse gonadal cells. Using similar approaches, we demonstrate that KRAB-O interacts directly with KAP1 (KRAB-associated protein 1), the obligatory corepressor for KRAB domain proteins. Furthermore, we show that the mouse SRY is associated indirectly with KAP1 and heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) through its interaction with KRAB-O, suggesting that the mouse SRY could use the KRAB-KAP1-HP1 organized transcriptional regulatory complex to regulate its yet-to-be-identified downstream target genes.
A Laboratory Investigation of Threshold Stress in Wheel/Rail Interaction for Heavy Axle Loads

This study is a continuation of earlier investigations to determine acceptable upper bound of contact stresses (threshold stress) for new wheel and rail under heavy axle load conditions. Using sharply increased wear rate (as initial maximum contact stress increases) under free rolling conditions as an indicator of threshold stress, laboratory investigations of wheel-rail rolling contact wear, simulating the 125-ton car wheel load, were conducted. Tangent track conditions with clean and dry surfaces were tested on two facilities; one of one-quarter scale and the other of one-fifteenth scale wheel-rail simulation. The earlier experiments conducted in the IIT Railroad Engineering Laboratory to investigate threshold stress used a varying load with the same wheel-rail profiles, the present study used constant load with varying wheel-rail profiles to determine whether the above increase in wear rate phenomenon will still be observed. While the results of the small (1/15th) scale facility were not considered quantitatively conclusive because of small size, qualitatively they indicated the presence of threshold stress phenomenon. The results of the one-quarter scale test facility very clearly confirmed that there is indeed a threshold stress above which the rolling contact wear rates increased sharply. The value of this stress, found to be approximately the same as reported in the earlier study, was nearly 200 ksi (for standard carbon steel rail). From the earlier and the present investigations of threshold stress, it is clearly concluded that the increased wear rates are primarily due to the increased initial contact stresses and 200 ksi is the value of threshold stress for standard carbon steel rail. Initial wheel-rail contact stresses for new wheel-rail should not be allowed to exceed this value to reduce damage to rail for heavy axle loads. It is recommended that new wheel-rail profiles should be developed to achieve stresses at or below this threshold stress level. Benefits of improved rail life with this approach are also discussed.
Sustaining work force inclusion and well-being of mothers on public assistance: Individual deficit and social ecology perspectives☆

Abstract This study compared theoretical perspectives on the psychological and paid labor activity implications of mandating mothers initially on US welfare to participate in labor force activities. Data were collected that reflected these areas: government public policy interventions, family social ecology measures, mother’s psychological and human capital, and community capital. A quasi-experimental design was used, and multiple source data was collected over time. In the initial part of the study, 144 welfare mothers and one of their children between 9 and 13 years were interviewed. Results indicated that having high levels of individual human and psychological capital and lower levels of family social ecological barriers predicted higher levels of maternal paid labor market activity and psychological well-being. Using archival records, additional analyses involved a 32-month review of state records for nearly 1200 mothers initially on welfare. Results revealed that the lower one’s initial capital—either educational (lacking GED or high school diploma) or community-based (residents spending a high percentage of gross income on rent), the greater one’s economic dependence on public welfare, regardless of whether one was assigned to a welfare to work program or to a control group. Thus, mandating labor market activity as a government public policy was not effective as an isolated strategy to uphold employability over time. These results suggest that employers and government leaders need to provide individual human capital and community capital investments to sustain work force inclusion of low-income mothers.
Computation of safety control for uncertain piecewise continuous systems on a partial order

In this paper, the safety control problem for a class of hybrid systems with disturbance inputs and imperfect continuous state information is considered. Under the assumption that the system has order preserving dynamics, we provide an algorithmic procedure for computing the control map, which has linear complexity in the number of continuous variables. The structure of the control map with imperfect state information is the same as the one with perfect state information, implying separation between state estimation and control. We illustrate the proposed algorithm on a class of applications characterized by order preserving dynamics.
The Second Wave: Southern Industrialization, 1940–1970

In the prevailing narrative of twentieth-century American labor, the South has played an established role. The part reads something like this: Despite the sporadic efforts of Southern workers to unionize, the South remained a region of unorganized, low-wage, politically powerless workers, a region whose working people were divided by race, overwhelmed by managerial paternalism, and repressed by state and local government. Even during the heyday of Big Labor (circa 1935–1955), when industrial workers in the North and West built powerful unions, organized labor misfired in Dixie. The trend was not hard to explain. The South's repressive systems of politics and race relations, its chronically low-wage economy, and (some, excluding myself, would argue) its unusually individualistic workers—all of these created an inhospitable climate for labor unions in the New South.
Induction–maintenance therapy for HIV-1 infection

Recent clinical trials have renewed interest in treating HIV-1 infection through the use of induction–maintenance regimens, a strategy commonly used for the treatment of TB and certain hematopoeitic malignancies. In these conditions, the common element underlying success has been the ability of induction regimens to reduce therapy-resistant pathogens to levels that can be controlled using a maintenance regimen. The success of recent clinical trials of induction–maintenance therapy for HIV-1 suggests that this concept could have a variety of applications, such as reducing toxicities, reducing treatment costs and improving the treatment of salvage patients. However, current induction–maintenance protocols have not fully capitalized on available quantitative data concerning pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, viral replication dynamics, viral latency and the evolution of drug resistance. In this review, we reason that it should be possible to improve success rates of induction–maintenance and other innova...
Performance of Regular Low Density Parity Check Codes over Hybrid Optical/RF Channels

A hybrid channel, consisting of a free space optical (FSO) link and a parallel radio frequency (RF) link, is considered. Information bits are first encoded by a low density parity check (LDPC) code and the coded bits are transmitted through both the FSO and the RF links. A density evolution (DE) technique to analyze the convergence of the message passing algorithm at the detector is described for the hybrid channel, and a Gaussian approximation (GA) technique is presented. Numerical results showing the benefits of the hybrid channel are discussed.