cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Demonstration of a simple method for reducing losses of tryptic peptides during automated sequencing

Abstract Braunitzer, Schrank and Ruhfus (Hoppe-Seyler's Z. Physiol. Chem., 351 , 1589 (1970)) reported improvement in yields of amino acid phenylthio-hydantoins from the automated sequencing of a lysine-containing peptide initially treated with 4-sulfophenylisothiocyanate (SPITC). Using this approach we obtained essentially complete sequences for six peptides, containing between 5 and 26 amino acid residues, which C-terminate in lysine or aminoethylcysteine. We obtained only limited sequence information on the same peptides when they had not been pretreated with SPITC. Equally satisfactory results were obtained with the acid form or the sodium salt of SPITC which were prepared by the method reported here. A volatile buffer system was used successfully in place of Quadrol.
Trends of behavioral risk factors in motor vehicle crashes in Utah, 1992-1997.

OBJECTIVE: Measure changes in the prevalence of behavioral factors including police-reported fatigue and alcohol intoxication, as well as self-reported seatbelt use, and assess their effect on hospitalization or death after a motor vehicle crash. METHODS: Probabilistic linkage was used to match drivers in motor vehicle crashes with hospital discharge records for the years 1992-1997. Frequencies of specific behavioral factors were evaluated using the Cochran-Armitage test for trend. Odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated using generalized estimating equations (GEEs) with crash and driver characteristics as independent variables and hospitalization or death as the dependent variable. RESULTS: The analysis database consisted of 450,286 crash driver records, which linked to 4219 (0.9%) hospitalizations or deaths. There was an increasing trend for self-reported seatbelt use among crash-involved drivers from 80.5% in 1992 to 89.3% in 1997 (P
Achromatic miniature lens system for coherent Raman scattering microscopy

We discuss the design and performance of a miniature objective lens optimized for coherent Raman scattering microscopy. The packaged lens assembly has a numerical aperture of 0.51 in water and an outer diameter of 8 mm. The lens system exhibits minimum chromatic aberrations, and produces coherent Raman scattering images with sub-micrometer lateral resolution (0.648 μm) using near-infrared excitation pulses. We demonstrate that despite the small dimensions of the miniature objective, the performance of this lens system is comparable to standard microscope objective lenses, offering opportunities for miniaturizing coherent Raman scattering imaging probes without sacrificing the image quality.
Computing high frequency solutions of symmetric hyperbolic systems with polarized waves

We develop computational methods for high frequency solutions of general symmetric hyperbolic systems with eigenvalue degeneracies (multiple eigenvalues with constant multiplicities) in the dispersion matrices that correspond to polarized waves. Physical examples of such systems include the three dimensional elastic waves and Maxwell equations. The computational methods are based on solving a coupled system of inhomogeneous Liouville equations which is the high frequency limit of the underlying hyperbolic systems by using the Wigner transform [12]. We first extend the level set methods developed in [5] for the homogeneous Liouville equation to the coupled inhomogeneous system, and find an efficient simplification in one space dimension for the Eulerian formulation which reduces the computational cost of two-dimesnional phase space Liouville equations into that of two one-dimensional equations. For the Lagrangian formulation, we introduce a geometric method which allows a significant simplification in the numerical evaluation of the energy density and flux. Numerical examples are presented in both one and two space dimensions to demonstrate the validity of the methods in the high frequency regime.
Dynamic embrittlement of Cu–Sn bicrystals grown from the melt

Abstract Bicrystals of Cu–8%Sn grown from the melt to make a Σ =5 (0 3 1)[0 0 1] symmetrical tilt boundary were found to be very difficult to crack by dynamic embrittlement, even along the fast-diffusion direction, in contrast with earlier results on bicrystals made by diffusion bonding that contained particles in the boundary. This has implications for the role of particles and the tendency for cracking in low- Σ boundaries.
The value of psychophysiological data for cognitive behavioral treatment of panic disorder

Recurring episodes of intense physical sensations are characteristic features of panic disorder. During cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) of the disorder, the therapist frequently challenges the patient's misinterpretations of certain physiological symptoms. When discussing these issues, the therapist typically has to rely on the patient's subjective report, which is often subject to distortion. Although recent technological advances make it possible to monitor patients' ambulatory psychophysiological responses, such data have rarely been used in treatment. This article will provide some arguments for using psychophysiological data in CBT for panic disorder.
Selectivity of cation chelation to tetracyclines: Evidence for special conformation of calcium chelate

Abstract Tetracycline antibiotics in apolar solvents chelate to Ca in a different conformation from that of the Mg chelate. Evidence for this different conformation is adduced from the fluorescence, absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the antibiotic bound to Ca and Mg. The conformation of the antibiotic chelated to Ca is a high affinity form. Only those divalent cations of a size similar to or greater than that of Ca are able to induce this conformation. It is tentatively proposed that liganding occurs between both the A ring and the BCD ring conjugated system.
Tables for unbiased confidence intervals for ratios of variances when sampling from two independent normal distributions

Tables are given for the upper tail values for unbiased confidence intervals for ratios of variances when sampling from two independent normal distributions for sample sizes (N 1-l) = 1(1)20(5)30(30)60(60)120 and (N 2−l) = 1(1)30(5)40(20)60(60)120, and alpha levels of 0.10,0.05,0.01 (where the alpha level is the sum of the upper and lower tail areas). These confidence intervals are logarithmically shortest confidence intervals, in the sense of Scheffe. The tables can also be used for a two-sided test of the equality of variances, which is unbiased and which also possesses the stronger property of monotonicity. The computation of the tables is discussed, and an example comparing the standard equal tail area procedure with the unbiased procedure is given.
Intrinsic spin Hall effect in noncubic crystals

We study the dependence of the intrinsic spin Hall effect on the crystal symmetry and geometry of experiment. The spin current is obtained and the Hall voltage caused by the polarization of the electron spins is computed. The unique dependence of the effect on the crystal symmetry permits the choice of geometry, in which the spin Hall effect can be unambiguously distinguished from the effects due to the orbital motion of charge carriers and due to the magnetic field generated by the transport current.
Lung cancer in women: analysis of the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.

Objectives In order to further characterize the effect of gender on the clinicopathologic features and survival of patients with lung cancer, and to determine gender-associated differences in temporal trends, we analyzed data that had been entered into a population-based cancer database Patients and methods Data on demographics, stage at diagnosis, histology, initial therapy, and survival were obtained on all patients with primary bronchogenic carcinoma registered in the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 1975 to 1999 Results Of the 228,572 eligible patients, 35.8% were female. The median age at diagnosis was 66 years for both men and women. However, women accounted for 40.9% of patients who were Conclusion The incidence rate of lung cancer in women in the United States has reached a plateau. However, women are relatively overrepresented among younger patients, raising the question of gender-specific differences in the susceptibility to lung carcinogens. At each stage of the disease, the relative survival of women is better than that of men, with the largest difference noted in patients with local disease
Configurational effect on the reflection coefficient for rigid solutes in capillary pores

Abstract Osmosis-driven flow through a leaky porous membrane is analyzed by combining the relevant equations describing spatial and orientational distributions of rigid non-spherical solute particles with the equations of fluid flow in a single capillary which is very narrow compared to its length. The capillary cross-section is either circular or rectangular and connects two bulk solution reservoirs having equal pressures but unequal concentrations of solute (osmotic pressure). The objective of this analysis is to study the effect of particle and pore shape on the reflection coefficient ( σ 0 ). The most significant result is that for solute particles of any eccentricity from one (sphere) to infinity (needle) in either the circular or rectangular pores, σ 0 ≈ (1− K ) 2 , where K is the pore-bulk equilibrium partition coefficient. A corollary of this result is that, comparing solute particles of equal volume , the more elongated a solute is the higher is its reflection coefficient; furthermore, for a given solute, the reflection coefficient is higher for pores that are more eccentric compared to a circle of equal area.
Quantifying the trustworthiness of social media content

The growing popularity of social media in recent years has resulted in the creation of an enormous amount of user-generated content. A significant portion of this information is useful and has proven to be a great source of knowledge. However, since much of this information has been contributed by strangers with little or no apparent reputation to speak of, there is no easy way to detect whether the content is trustworthy. Search engines are the gateways to knowledge but search relevance cannot guarantee that the content in the search results is trustworthy. A casual observer might not be able to differentiate between trustworthy and untrustworthy content. This work is focused on the problem of quantifying the value of such shared content with respect to its trustworthiness. In particular, the focus is on shared health content as the negative impact of acting on untrustworthy content is high in this domain. Health content from two social media applications, Wikipedia and Daily Strength, is used for this study. Sociological notions of trust are used to motivate the search for a solution. A two-step unsupervised, feature-driven approach is proposed for this purpose: a feature identification step in which relevant information categories are specified and suitable features are identified, and a quantification step for which various unsupervised scoring models are proposed. Results indicate that this approach is effective and can be adapted to disparate social media applications with ease.
A study of Ar ion laser-assisted metalorganic molecular beam epitaxy of GaAs by reflection high-energy electron diffraction

Abstract The growth behavior of Ar-ion-laser-assisted metalorganic molecular beam epitaxy (MOMBE) of (001) GaAs, in the temperature range 330–450°C with triethylgallium (TEGa) and As 4 , was studied by monitoring the specular-beam intensity oscillations of reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED), with the laser turned on and off. The decomposition rate of TEGa is enhanced under Ar + laser irradiation. The Ar + laser also enhances the surface migration of adsorbates and arsenic desorption. In the arsenic-controlled growth regime, the growth rate increases monotonically at low laser power and tends to saturate at high laser power due to a balance between enhanced decomposition of TEGa and desorption of arsenic.
Fine root diameters can change in response to changes in nutrient concentrations

Plant roots function in the critical role of water and nutrient uptake. Although extensive data exist on functioning of seedling roots, little is known of the actual functionality of the fine roots of mature plants. Although this class of root represents 90% or more of the total root length of a given mature plant, their small size has inhibited detailed studies. Commonly, the critical metrics for studies of root function are root length and total weight, expressed as Specific Root Length. The metric that classifies “fine roots,” root diameter, is rarely a focus except as average diameter, even though this is the primary characteristic from which accurate estimates of surface area and volume can be calculated. Using data from several preliminary experiments, this study shows consistent changes in measured fine root diameter with changes in concentration of some nutrients. Twelve different species demonstrated concentration dependent diameter increases, or decreases, in response to increasing concentrations of nitrate, phosphorus, aluminum or tannic acid. On the other hand, Cacao (Theobroma cacao L) fine roots changed diameter in response to changes in nitrate concentration, but not ammonium. Clearly pattern of diameter change in response to nutrient concentration is dependent on nutrient, species and their interaction. It is suggested that the routine assessment of fine root diameter will be essential to understanding nutrient uptake dynamics.
Timing and record of foreland sedimentation during the initiation of the Sevier orogenic belt in central Utah

The stratigraphic record in the San Rafael Swell region of central Utah suggests that thrust loading and attendant foreland sedimentation began in adjacent parts of the Sevier orogenic belt during Albian time. Regional stratigraphy, isopachs, gravel composition and grain-size trends suggest that the Morrison Formation of Late Jurassic age and Buckhorn Conglomerate Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation of Early Cretaceous age were not derived from the adjacent thrust belt as they neither thicken nor coarsen significantly towards the west. In contrast, the upper member of the Cedar Mountain Formation of Albian age and Dakota Sandstone of early Cenomanian age rapidly coarsen and thicken westward towards the thrust belt, suggesting that these units were deposited during a time of rapid flexural subsidence early in the history of thrust loading by the Sevier belt. Hence, in the case of the foreland basin in central Utah, basin subsidence rates and asymmetry provides the strongest evidence of the initiation of thrust-belt loading by the adjacent Sevier orogenic belt.
Peripheral nervous system manifestations in a Sandhoff disease mouse model: nerve conduction, myelin structure, lipid analysis

Sandhoff disease is an inherited lysosomal storage disease caused by a mutation in the gene for the β-subunit (Hexb gene) of β-hexosaminidase A (αβ) and B (ββ). The β-subunit together with the GM2 activator protein catabolize ganglioside GM2. This enzyme deficiency results in GM2 accumulation primarily in the central nervous system. To investigate how abnormal GM2 catabolism affects the peripheral nervous system in a mouse model of Sandhoff disease (Hexb-/-), we examined the electrophysiology of dissected sciatic nerves, structure of central and peripheral myelin, and lipid composition of the peripheral nervous system. We detected no significant difference in signal impulse conduction velocity or any consistent change in the frequency-dependent conduction slowing and failure between freshly dissected sciatic nerves from the Hexb+/- and Hexb-/- mice. The low-angle x-ray diffraction patterns from freshly dissected sciatic and optic nerves of Hexb+/- and Hexb-/- mice showed normal myelin periods; however, Hexb-/- mice displayed a ~10% decrease in the relative amount of compact optic nerve myelin, which is consistent with the previously established reduction in myelin-enriched lipids (cerebrosides and sulfatides) in brains of Hexb-/- mice. Finally, analysis of lipid composition revealed that GM2 content was present in the sciatic nerve of the Hexb-/- mice (undetectable in Hexb+/-). Our findings demonstrate the absence of significant functional, structural, or compositional abnormalities in the peripheral nervous system of the murine model for Sandhoff disease, but do show the potential value of integrating multiple techniques to evaluate myelin structure and function in nervous system disorders.
Price deflation and consumption: central bank policy and Japan’s economic and financial stagnation

Abstract In this paper we review the major causes of Japan’s economic and financial stagnation during the past decade, considering in particular how past policies of the Bank of Japan have generated the current deflationary environment. This paper does not attribute Japan’s economic and financial distress entirely to Bank of Japan policy nor does it fail to recognize the shift in policy starting March 2001 when the Bank shifted toward a policy of “quantitative easing” that generated a significant increase in the growth of high powered money by late 2002. The paper argues the Bank’s deflationary policies starting in the mid-1990s up to late 2002 exacerbated the distress and it remains to be seen whether the new policy will reverse deflationary expectations. We consider the economic effects of the deflation, and in particular we argue for a link between expected deflation when nominal interest rates approach their lower bound and a decline in consumption. We find some initial evidence for this hypothesis using both a simple two-period model with a simulation and estimates of consumption functions for both the United States and Japan. Reinflation is thus a necessary, though not a sufficient condition for Japanese economic recovery.
COMPOSITIONAL QUENCHING: A PROCESS FOR FORMING POLYMER-IN-POLYMER MICRODISPERSIONS AND COCONTINUOUS NETWORKS

Compositional quenching is a new process for blending incompatible polymers. Two or more polymers are dissolved in a common solvent which is subsequently removed by flash devolatilization. The theory of the process is described in terms of Flory-Huggins thermodynamics, the Landau-Ginzburg functional, and a modified Cahn-Hilliard diffusion equation. The efficacy of the process is demonstrated by the successful impact modification of several matrix polymers.
Outcomes of patients with chest tube insertion for hepatic hydrothorax

Purpose Case reports and small case series have reported a high rate of complications associated with chest tube placement for hepatic hydrothorax. We describe the in-hospital and 3-month outcomes of patients who have had this procedure.
Potential of Suction Traps As a Monitoring Tool for Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Soybean Fields

The current study evaluated the potential of using counts of winged adults captured in suction traps to forecast the local abundance of soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., fields. The abundance of aphids was evaluated weekly by sampling plants in four to 11 soybean fields and recording the number of aphids in suction traps between 2006 and 2008 in four counties in Indiana and Illinois. Fields in each county were located within 10 km of their respective suction trap, which allowed us to evaluate the relation between aphid abundance on soybean plants and in suction traps at the county level. Migrant soybean aphids caught in suction traps exhibited distinct seasonal trends each year: in 2006, trapped migrants consisted predominantly of individuals dispersing from soybean to buckthorn (Rhamnus sp.); in 2007, in contrast, the majority of trapped migrants were apparently individuals dispersing among soybean fields. The cumulative number of aphids captured in suction traps was positively related to aphid densities on soybean plants. However, the utility of suction traps as a monitoring tool may be limited by the variation in temporal patterns observed in suction traps and on soybean plants each year, and the spatial variation in aphid abundance among soybean fields within a county.
The pragmatics of model-driven development

The potential benefits of using models are significantly greater in software than in other engineering disciplines because of the potential for a seamless link between models and the systems they represent. Unfortunately, models have rarely produced anticipated benefits. The key lies in resolving pragmatic issues related to the artifacts and culture of the previous generation of software technologies.
Double Edge: CDK2AP1 in Cell-cycle Regulation and Epigenetic Regulation

Cancer research has been devoted toward an understanding of the molecular regulation and functional significance of cell-cycle regulators in the pathogenesis and development of cancers. Cyclin-dependent Kinase 2-associated Protein 1 (CDK2AP1) is one such cell-cycle regulator, originally identified as a growth suppressor and a prognostic marker for human oral/head and neck cancers. Functional importance and the molecular mechanism of CDK2AP1-mediated cell-cycle regulation have been documented over the years. Recent progress has shown that CDK2AP1 is a competency factor in embryonic stem cell differentiation. Deletion of CDK2AP1 leads to early embryonic lethality, potentially through altered differentiation capability of embryonic stem cells. More intriguingly, CDK2AP1 exerts its effect on stem cell maintenance/differentiation through epigenetic regulation. Cancer cells and stem cells share common cellular characteristics, most prominently in maintaining high proliferative potential through an unconventional cell-cycle regulatory mechanism. Cross-talk between cellular processes and molecular signaling pathways is frequent in any biological system. Currently, it remains largely elusive how cell-cycle regulation is mechanistically linked to epigenetic control. Understanding the molecular mechanism underlying CDK2AP1-mediated cell-cycle regulation and epigenetic control will set an example for establishing a novel and effective molecular link between these two important regulatory mechanisms.
Muscle-specific Pikfyve gene disruption causes glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, adiposity, and hyperinsulinemia but not muscle fiber-type switching.

The evolutionarily conserved kinase PIKfyve that synthesizes PtdIns5P and PtdIns(3,5)P2 has been implicated in insulin-regulated GLUT4 translocation/glucose entry in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. To decipher ...
Why is the Number of DNA Bases 4

In this paper we construct a mathematical model for DNA replication based on Shannon's mathematical theory for communication. We treat DNA repli- cation as a communication channel. We show that the mean replication rate is maximal with four nucleotide bases under the primary assumption that the pairing time of the G-C bases is between 1.65 and 3 times the pairing time of the A-T bases.
Preparation and characterization of concentric-tubular composite microstructures using the template synthesis method

The template method has been used to prepare concentric-tubular composite microstructures. These composite structures consist of an outer tubule composed of one material encapsulating concentric inner tubules composed of other materials. Tubular composites of this type consisting of metals, semiconductors, polymers, and Li-ion intercalation materials have been prepared. The chemical strategies used to prepared these composite structures include electroless plating of Au, electropolymerization of electronically conductive and insulating polymers, electrodeposition of metals and semiconductors, and sol-gel synthesis.
An Instantiation-Based Theorem Prover for First-Order Programming

First-order programming (FOP) is a new representation language that combines the strengths of mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) and rst-order logic (FOL). In this paper we describe a novel feasibility proving system for FOP formulas that combines MILP solving with instance-based methods from theorem proving. This prover allows us to perform lifted inference by repeatedly rening a propositional MILP. We prove that this procedure is sound and refutationally complete: if a formula is infeasible our solver will demonstrate this fact in nite time. We conclude by demonstrating an implementation of our decision procedure on a simple rst-order planning problem.
Measurement of submicron laser beam radii

Three methods for direct measurement of the intensity distribution in laser beams focused by microscope optics to waists of submicron width are described and compared. They use scans of the beam waist with (1) a knife-edge, (2) a submicroscopic point fluorescent source, and (3) convolution scans generated by the photobleached pattern of the focused beam. An indirect photographic technique is also evaluated. The laser beam is found to propagate ideally down to a minimum size usually limited by the aberrations of the optics.
Report Card On E-Mail: An Investigation Of Replies To Consumers

Organizational communications have been studied from several vantage points, and typically as a one-way communication tool. Today, with the burgeoning growth and adoption of new technologies two-way communications have become ever more common. While this paper focuses its research attention to specific forms of e-mail communications between organizations and those it seeks as consumers, a conceptual framework is also presented that sets a foundation for examining and evaluating the myriad of communications alternatives that are available to organizations and the publics they serve. In this exploratory study 165 companies were e-mailed each of two messages and their responses to these e-mails were analyzed. Firms used in the study were selected from seven different industries. The findings reveal that many firms have serious problems responding to fairly simple and common communications. Barely 45% of the firms studied responded to both types of inquiries, and many simply failed to respond. Further, there was considerable variability in the timeliness, clarity and specificity of response. While one may assume that e-mail communication, as a technology is well understood given its proliferation, there are several factors that are discussed that may impede responsiveness – in timeliness, clarity or specificity. As a written form of communication, e-mail presents a challenge common to other forms of written communiques; they provide a record that can be reviewed subsequent to the exchange between parties involved in communication. As such, organizations may be reluctant to answer all e-mails for a myriad of reasons: some may believe that e-mails place unnecessary or imposing demands on its workforce; some may fear that those responsible for handling the correspondence may be challenged to convey accurate, personalized information in an articulate manner; others simply do not want to have the burden of having to keep a record of such correspondence; yet others may simply view e-mail as a trivial or unimportant, irrespective of whether the communication was marked “urgent” or “confidential” by the sender; and others may fear that their e-mail correspondence is apt to become public, even if marked confidential – as email lacks the advantage of privacy that accompanied other more conventional written messages. Finally, hypotheses for future research based on the Customer Response System model are presented.
Durability of Low Melt Alloys as Thermal Interface Materials

This study investigates the reliability of low melt alloys (LMAs) containing gallium (Ga), indium (In), bismuth (Bi), and tin (Sn) for the application as Thermal interface materials (TIMs). The analysis described herein involved the in situ thermal performance of the LMAs as well as performance evaluation after accelerated life cycle testing, which included high temperature aging at 130 °C and thermal cycling from −40 °C to 80 °C. Three alloys (75.5Ga & 24.5In, 100Ga, and 51In, 32.5Bi & 16.5Sn) were chosen for testing the thermal performance. Testing methodologies used follow ASTM D5470 protocols and the performance of LMAs is compared with some high-performing commercially available TIMs. Results show that LMAs can offer extremely low (<0.01 cm2 °C/W) thermal resistance compared to any commercial TIMs. The LMA–substrate interactions were explored using different surface treatments (copper and tungsten). Measurements show that depending on the substrate–alloy combinations, the proposed alloys survive 1500 hrs of aging at 130 °C and 1000 cycles from −40 °C to 80 °C without significant performance degradation. The obtained results indicate the LMAs are very efficient as TIMs.
Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is an endogenous inflammatory factor (94.6)

Obesity is a major risk factor for conditions ranging from metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus to atherosclerosis. Low grade inflammation leading to insulin resistance is a central feature of the pathophysiology of most obesity-related disorders; however the factors linking these disorders are not well defined. Here a potential mediator of inflammation is identified and characterized in animal models. We identified pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a noninhibitory serine protease inhibitor, as a mediator released from cultured adipocytes. Adipocyte PEDF levels were elevated after treatment with TNF. Addition of adipocyte-conditioned media to macrophages resulted in increased proinflammatory cytokine production, and this activity was recapitulated by addition of recombinant PEDF to macrophages in culture. PEDF administration to mice mediated increased serum levels of TNF and IL6, and administration of neutralizing PEDF antibodies attenuated this cytokine release. Animals injected with recombinant PEDF developed insulin resistance. Considering these observations, in light of the recently reported elevated levels of circulating PEDF in patients with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, indicates that adipocyte secreted PEDF may contribute to the development of chronic inflammation and insulin resistance observed in obesity.
A Micro-Computer Based Algorithm to Predict Body Fat Density

A micro-computer software program written in MS-BASIC for the MS-DOS, PC-DOS based microcomputers for computing body fat density from skinfold calipers data for males and females independent of age is presented. The analysis requires two (2) or three (3) skinfold caliper measurements taken from the appropriate six (6) skinfold sites are required. The developed program analyzes che data based upon previously developed regression equation and produces a summary of the analysis.
(Re)Animated Pasts: Diasporic Visions of Longing and Belonging

I am dislocated. I am fragmented. I am mixed-raced.Utilizing Moraga’s (1984) theory of the flesh, I reflect on my childhood as a mixed-race child trying to find her “place” both in the family and in society. Neither looking like my mother nor of my father, my body becomes/is constantly surveyed for “proof” that I “belong.” But what does belonging look it? What does it feel like? What does longing to belong mean? In this article, I explore the notions of “ghosts” and “haunting” as metaphors of diaspora and trauma within a fragmented childhood.
Population Dynamics of Heliothis zea (Boddie) and H. virescens (F.) in North Carolina: A Simulation Model

A model is described for stimulation of the population dynamics of Heliothis spp. The salient features of the model include: (1) developmental means and variances about these means nonlinearly dependent on temperature; (2) separation of the general adult pool through adult attraction to spatially and temporally variant host-plant characteristics; and (3) cannabalism as a function of larval density, age-class structure within larvae, available feeding sites, and larval spatial distribution. Results of an initial simulation effort are also presented.
The Species of Ravenelia Occurring on Lonchocarpus

This paper presents expanded and modified descriptions of Ravenelia atrocrustacea P. Henn., R. sydowiana Rick, R. lonchocarpiicola Speg., R. lonchocarpi Lagh. & Diet, and R. bakeriana Diet. A new v...
Tracing our roots: a professional identity emerges: 1928 to 1945.

Objective To describe the early years of the American Society of Medical Technology and discuss major issues that led to contention between the American Society of Medical Technology and the Board of Registry. Design A survey of literature on the history of clinical laboratory science was conducted. References consulted include various books and professional journals. Conclusion Clinical laboratory science began to develop a professional identity of its own, distinct from that of pathology, with the establishment of the American Society of Medical Technology and the publication of the American Journal of Medical Technology. These achievements illustrate clinical laboratory scientists' commitment to developing formal mechanisms to serve their specific interests and needs, independent of pathologists and the Board of Registry. Pathologists were successful, however, in maintaining control over other aspects of clinical laboratory scientists' professional identity, such as certification, accreditation, scope of practice, and code of ethics.
A substituted spiropyran for highly sensitive and selective colorimetric detection of cyanide ions

Abstract A nitrophenyl azo substituted spiropyran was synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. The substituted spiropyran derivative was evaluated for affinity towards different anions in MeCN:water (10 mM HEPES buffer) at different pH. The spiropyran derivative selectively detected cyanide ions by displaying blue or purple color visible to the naked eye and through spectral changes. The 1 H NMR spectra was used to confirm the binding of cyanide ion to the receptor. The nitrophenyl azo group amplified the observed change in color triggered by cyanide binding to the spiropyran derivative enabling high sensitivity.Theoretical methods were used to investigate the experimental observation at the molecular level.
Patterns of Antipsychotic Prescribing by Physicians to Young Children

Objective:Antipsychotic use among young children has grown rapidly despite a lack of approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for broad use in this age group. Characteristics of phys...
CSDP in Context

Chapter 1 identifies the antecedents and early developments of CSDP as the civilian-military operational arm of EU foreign policy. It applies three broad theoretical perspectives on international politics — neorealist, institutionalist, and constructivist — to explain how and why CSDP operations commence and change. No single theoretical perspective explains EU foreign policy — much less CSDP — just as no single theory explains European integration. However, some theoretical perspectives offer better concepts for understanding CSDP than others. Such concepts are essential to explaining when, why, and how CSDP works; and when, why, and how CSDP does not work. It falls to the theorist to filter the complexity of CSDP into concepts for explanation. By understanding what the CSDP is and does, one has a new and clearer lens through which to examine the European Union’s role in post-Cold War international relations.
Wealth, Health, and Democracy in East Asia and Latin America: Thailand: Democratization Speeds Infant Mortality Decline

Thailand from 1960 to 2005 achieved fast economic growth and a rapid decline of income poverty. It also did well at raising educational attainment, improving family planning, expanding access to safe water and adequate sanitation, and delivering basic health services and nutritional assistance to the poor. Not surprisingly, then, Thailand from 1960 to 2005 had one of the steepest infant mortality declines in the world, ranking by one measure eighth of 140 countries for which data are available. At older ages, however, the spread of HIV infection and AIDS deaths from the mid-1980s onward caused the risk of dying between ages 15 and 60 to rise sharply (few AIDS deaths occur among infants, so the epidemic had only a small direct effect on infant mortality). Mainly as a result of these AIDS deaths, Thailand's level of life expectancy in 2005, as well as its percent rise of life expectancy from 1960 to 2005, ranked below the median of the world's countries. A broad consensus exists, however, that Thailand's policies to fight HIV/AIDS were among the most successful in the world. By 2000 the rate of adult mortality had begun to fall again. Because Thailand from 1960 to 2005 achieved one of the world's fastest rates of economic growth and income poverty decline, it is tempting to attribute its success at reducing infant mortality mainly to economic factors. Thailand, however, did even better at reducing infant mortality, and at achieving a low level of infant mortality, than its strong performance on GDP per capita predicted (Figures 1.1 and 1.2).
Comparison of Electrofishing and Gill Nets for Sampling Cichlid Species

AbstractIntroduced cichlid species are increasingly more common in tropical freshwater systems and expanding in range, often with negative consequences to receiving systems. To better understand, monitor, and manage these populations, investigators need improved cichlid sampling protocols. In this study, electrofishing and gill nets were compared for their effectiveness at collecting cichlid species during diel sampling in a Puerto Rico reservoir containing five cichlid species. Both gears were fished simultaneously during day and night periods in January and July. Species composition, species length frequencies, and overall cichlid catch per person-hour were compared. This study suggests that electrofishing, particularly at night, may be a more appropriate gear for sampling cichlid species in the littoral zone of reservoirs, as gill nets were more time intensive, had more variable catch rates, and exhibited considerable selectivity. Gill nets were highly selective for Red Devil Cichlid Amphilophus labiat...
A 104GHz–117GHz power amplifier with 10.4% PAE in thin digital 65nm Low Power CMOS technology

This paper presents a wide band 110GHz power amplifier in thin digital 65nm Low Power (LP) CMOS technology. The amplifier consists of 4 stages of single-ended common source (CS) amplifiers with Shielded Microstrip Line (S-MSL) based inter-stage and input-output matching networks. To address the decoupling issue of single-ended stages, a compact decoupling structure based on distributed inter-digitized MOM capacitor is implemented. The full wave electromagnetic simulations of the decoupling structure show an input impedance of 0.47-j0.12 Ω at 110 GHz. The measured maximum small signal gain of the power amplifier is 17.8 dB at 109 GHz with a 3 dB bandwidth of 13 GHz (104–117 GHz). The OP1dB is 8.25 dBm, while the saturated output power is 9.6 dBm at 112.5 GHz with 10.4% power added efficiency (PAE). The amplifier occupies an area of 340×400µm2 including RF pads.
Trichotillomania as a Manifestation of Dementia.

Pathological hair-pulling or trichotillomania, which is commonly associated with anxiety and depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and neurodevelopmental disorders, has been rarely associated with dementing illnesses. Investigators have not clarified the neural correlates and treatment of trichotillomania in dementia. We report a patient who developed an early-onset cognitive decline with genetic, cerebrospinal fluid biomarker and structural and functional neuroimaging studies consistent with Alzheimer’s disease. Eight years into her disease, she developed severe, repetitive hair-pulling behavior leading to marked hair loss, along with other repetitive and “frontal” behaviors. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were ineffective in controlling her hair-pulling behavior, which subsequently responded to quetiapine 150 mg/day. This patient and a review of the literature suggest that trichotillomania may be a compulsive-related symptom in dementias of different etiologies as they involve frontal areas and release primitive grooming behavior from frontostriatal dysfunction. Dopamine blockade, rather than SSRIs, may be effective in managing trichotillomania in dementia.
Chaucer’s Pardoner and the Jews

The role of the Jews in Chaucer’s Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale extends well beyond the few direct mentions of them. A focus on representations of Jews, both explicit and implicit, in The Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale reveals new connections between the Pardoner’s sinfulness, his sexuality, and his relics. The essay begins with analysis of the tale’s allusion to the figure of the Wandering Jew through the figure of the Old Man. I argue for the Wandering Jew as a type of relic and for the encounter between the rioters and the Old Man as an exploration of what Caroline Bynum calls the “dynamic of seen and unseen” that animates medieval Christian materiality. The essay extends this examination of the relationship between anti-Judaism and Christian materiality to the Pardoner’s own “relics,” the prevalent oaths in The Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale, Chaucer’s depiction of the Pardoner’s body, and, finally, to the bitter concluding exchange between the Host and the Pardoner. Through this analysis, I show how anti-...
Optimum operation of a customer-driven microgrid: A comprehensive approach

This paper presents a formulation of a comprehensive optimization problem for the operation of the customer-driven microgrid — an evolution of today's distribution feeders into feeders with significant distributed generation, demand response capability and communication infrastructure. Multiple test-cases are presented to assess the proposed formulation. Approaches to implementation are discussed.
Beyond Keynesianism. The Socio-Economics of Production and Full Employment

(1992). Beyond Keynesianism. The Socio-Economics of Production and Full Employment. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 1285-1287.
Globalization and Contemporary Fertility Convergence

The rise of the global network of nation-states has precipitated social transformations throughout the world. This article examines the role of political and economic globalization in driving fertility convergence across countries between 1965 and 2009. While past research has typically conceptualized fertility change as a country-level process, this study instead employs a theoretical and methodological framework that examines differences in fertility between pairs of countries over time. Convergence in fertility between pairs of countries is hypothesized to result from increased cross-country connectedness and cross-national transmission of fertility-related schemas. I investigate the impact of various cross-country ties, including ties through bilateral trade, intergovernmental organizations, and regional trade blocs, on fertility convergence. I find that globalization acts as a form of social interaction to produce fertility convergence. There is significant heterogeneity in the effects of different cross-country ties. In particular, trade with rich model countries, joint participation in the UN and UNESCO, and joining a free trade agreement all contribute to fertility convergence between countries. Whereas the prevailing focus in fertility research has been on factors producing fertility declines, this analysis highlights specific mechanisms—trade and connectedness through organizations—leading to greater similarity in fertility across countries. Globalization is a process that propels the spread of culturally laden goods and schemas impinging on fertility, which in turn produces fertility convergence.
iGLASS: An Open Source SDSS for Public School Location-Allocation

School location problems are notoriously wicked to tackle due to the multiplicity of actors involved, the emotional value of a child’s education, and the sheer number of conflicting objectives and constraints. School capacity constraints are particularly challenging because they may well invalidate the desirable property that students be assigned to their closest school. In this chapter, we present a new multi-objective problem formulated as a capacitated p-median model that explicitly addresses this point, as well as assignment of students to schools deemed excessively distant. We also propose a two-phase heuristic algorithm where Tabu Search solves the location portion of the problem, while Greedy/Genetic Algorithms solve the student allocation problem, following by a local post-optimization phase. This process is supplemented by a step of spatially local re-optimization. The model is implemented as a tightly-coupled spatial decision support system called the interactive Graphical Location-Allocation School System (iGLASS), which is built on an open-source GIS software platform. We test the location planning system on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) system in Charlotte, North Carolina. Overall, our two + one-phase heuristic exhibits a performance close to that of a commercial solver (CPLEX), but requires a much lower computational effort. It is scalable, interactive and offers the opportunity to evaluation a large variety of solutions. The proposed model is beneficial to policy-makers seeking to improve the provision and efficiency of public services. The portability of the interface and the interactive features of the SDSS make it applicable to other location-allocation problems.
Comparative Analysis in Group Processes: Expanding the Reach of Sociological Social Psychology

Over the past 40 years, the social psychological field of group processes has achieved rapid theoretical development. However, this subfield’s amazing growth has been recognized mainly by its own practitioners. The focus of this special issue is to spark new conversations. First, it aims to ignite an interest amongst regular readers of the journal to consider how theoretical research programs in group processes may be relevant to their own work. Second, it also aims to encourage group processes researchers to think more carefully about how different kinds of comparative analysis can be incorporated in their own research. Considering new forms of comparative analysis (cross-cultural, cross-national, cross-level of analysis, etc.) may help group processes scholars become more aware of the theoretical and cultural assumptions that undergird the scope conditions and the manner in which their traditional experimental protocols have been designed. While the four articles in this issue do not encompass the full ...
A cavernous sinus lesion clinically responsive to steroids.

Abstract Tolosa Hunt syndrome (THS) is characterized by painful ophthalmoplegia secondary to idiopathic granulomatous inflammation of the cavernous sinus. The characteristic finding on MRI is an enhancing T1 isointense and T2 hypo- or hyperintense cavernous sinus mass lesion, which may result in focal narrowing of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery. Although the incidence is quite rare, it is a common diagnostic consideration in cases that present with multiple cranial neuropathies. However, the differential diagnosis for a unilateral cavernous sinus lesion in adults is broad and includes neoplastic, inflammatory (such as sarcoidosis and immunoglobulin G4-related disease [IgG4-RD]), infectious etiologies (such as syphilis and leprosy), as well as vascular lesions. We describe a patient presenting with neurologic symptoms referable to a persistent unilateral cavernous sinus MRI abnormality, initially thought to be consistent with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, that was clinically but not radiographically responsive to steroids. Following reevaluation due to the presence of new symptoms, pathology revealed that the abnormality was most consistent with chordoma, a rare skull based tumor. In patients with a presumed diagnosis of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, close clinical and radiographic follow-up is imperative, with early consideration for biopsy in patients that fail to respond to treatment both clinically and radiographically.