cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Karl Polanyi and Markets in the Ancient Near East: Reply

Karl Polanyi was an innovative scholar who deserves credit for taking up major questions of economic life instead of trivia. Unfortunately, his factual statements about the ancient Near East, in the Livelihood of Man and elsewhere, are grossly inaccurate. Mayhew, Neale, and Tandy object to my interpretation of Polanyi's paradigm and seek to defend several of his readings of the evidence.' Mayhew, Neale, and Tandy admit that the Near Eastern documents reveal changes in prices "under siege and famine conditions" (Sections I, II of their comment). They do not note that these records also demonstrate regular and pronounced price changes (including that of grain) in response to seasonal and other normal changes in supply and demand. An interesting illustration of such normal changes is provided by a letter of the early second millennium in which a merchant in Anatolia informed a business associate that the price of copper (in terms of silver) had been driven up by the arrival from Ebla (in Syria) of numerous copper-seeking merchants. He adds: "within the next few days they will have exhausted its (the palace's) copper. I shall then buy silver (that is, sell copper) and send it to you." "When one does not know the considerations that led to the price ratios in the treaties it is, of course, always possible to attribute them to unspecified 'forces of supply and demand,' " they write in Section II. In fact, of course, none of the treaties known to me specify "price ratios." This constitutes a grave blow to Polanyi's speculations about non-market-based "transactional modes." "At several points in his article Silver cites evidence that the ancients looked out after their own interests (who would have thought otherwise?)"-again in Section II. The evidence that I cite shows ancients who were directly and explicitly concerned with prices and costs, with buying and selling, and with material achievement. A closer reading of Homer, for instance, shows us characters who were not only "greedy and self-serving" but market-oriented. Even in an ideologically oriented literary text such as the Iliad, we find Euneos (the son of Jason of the fleece) taking a cargo of wine to Troy in order to sell it to the "flowing-haired Achaians" (7:467-75). The evidence that I surveyed demonstrates that large quantities of tin, copper, cloth, dates, wine, and oil were regularly transported (locally and over long distances) and then sold.2 I do not understand why Mayhew, Neale, and Tandy convict me of
The Alignment of Local Borders

Even as diverse bordering processes have proliferated well beyond the edges of contemporary states, local understandings of international borders have aligned with national expectations. Historically borderland residents were often granted leeway in their cross-border activities and this provided an initial acceptance of the concept of national borders that continued even as boundaries became more rigid. Among the indigenous Tohono O'odham varying interpretations on the effective extent of the US–Mexico border co-existed for well over a century. Where the geopolitical border and the understanding of local communities differed, the latter was generally of greater importance in defining effective limits. National and international dynamics gradually reversed this, however, merging diverse border interpretations. External forces built upon local distinctions to achieve acceptance of the concept of a border among a group that initially had no vested interest in such a division and then narrowed that flexible ...
Estrogen production via the aromatase enzyme in breast carcinoma: Which cell type is responsible?

Studies of breast tumor homogenates from women with breast cancer have demonstrated the synthesis of estrogens in situ through the enzyme aromatase. The present series of investigations sought to determine which cell type within the tumor is responsible for local estrogen biosynthesis, and whether or not the amount produced is biologically important. Accordingly, we utilized an indirect immunohistochemical scoring method (H-score) to determine the relative amount of enzyme present in tumor epithelial and stromal cells. This revealed a value of 13 for tumor stromal cells and 4.8 for the epithelial component. Contributing to this difference is the fact that a greater percentage of cells in the tumor were stromal (45%) than epithelial (37%). To obtain direct evidence that tumor stromal cells could synthesize estrogens, we isolated and grew these cells in tissue culture. Stromal cells originating from within the tumor could be stimulated by known enhancers of transcription to produce nearly as much aromatase as is found in placental microsomes. Stromal cells isolated from benign tissue distal to the tumor exhibited properties similar to those of the tumor stroma. Epithelial cells, in contrast, did not respond to these enhancers and had low levels of aromatase basally. To obtain proof of the principle that local estrogen synthesis can be biologically meaningful, we measured tumor tissue estradiol levels and growth rates in aromatase-transfected MCF-7 cells implanted into nude mice. Local synthesis resulted in tumor levels ranging from 300 to 800 pg/g and growth rates substantially higher than in non-aromatase-containing tumors. These data suggest that tumor stromal cells contribute the major portion of estrogen synthesized in tumors, and that this local synthesis can increase tumor estradiol levels and growth rates.
Restricted tissue expression pattern of a novel human rasGAP-related gene and its murine ortholog

The mammalian rasGAPs constitute a group of widely expressed proteins involved in the negative regulation of ras-mediated signaling. In this study we have isolated a novel human gene, RASAL (Ras GTPase-activating-like) and its murine ortholog, MRASAL which are most similar to the GAP1 family of rasGAP proteins, based upon the presence and organization of specific conserved domains. Full-length human and murine mRNA sequences are predicted to encode 804 and 799 amino acid polypeptides, respectively. Sequence analysis of these two proteins revealed the presence of two N-terminal calcium-dependent phospholipid binding C2 domains, a conserved GAP related domain (GRD) and a C-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. Northern blot and mRNA in situ hybridization analyses indicate that RASAL, in contrast to other mammalian rasGAP proteins, has a limited expression pattern; RASAL is highly expressed in the follicular cells of the thyroid and the adrenal medulla and expressed at lower levels in brain, spinal cord and trachea. Human RASAL has been localized by radiation hybrid mapping to chromosome 12q23-24.
To stop tip-toeing around race: what Arizona's battle against ethnic studies can teach academics

A look at what recent debates over Mexican-American and ethnic studies in Arizona reveals about racial dynamics in the American academy and beyond. Author argues that academics have much to learn from activists challenging the current ban on ethnic studies.
The problem of correlating Schottky-diode barrier height with an ideality factor using I-V measurements

Critical analysis is made of a recently proposed method of determining the relationship between the ideality factor and the barrier height of Schottky barrier diodes (SBD's) from I-V measurements. It is demonstrated that, while this method may produce consistent results in situations where a stable reproducible manufacturing process exists, the flat-band barrier height so determined cannot be taken to be the true flat-band barrier height.
A pilot open-label phase II trial of rituximab for non-criteria manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objective The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of rituximab in antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)–positive patients with non-criteria manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The secondary objectives were to evaluate the effect of rituximab on the aPL profile and to evaluate the efficacy of rituximab treatment for non-criteria manifestations of APS. Methods In this 12-month, phase II pilot study, adult aPL-positive patients with thrombocytopenia, cardiac valve disease, skin ulcer, aPL nephropathy, and/or cognitive dysfunction received 2 doses of rituximab (1,000 mg) on days 1 and 15. Antiphospholipid antibody profiles and clinical outcome measures, which were categorized as complete response, partial response, no response, or recurrence, were analyzed at preset time points. Results Two of 19 patients experienced infusion reactions, resulting in early termination. Twelve serious adverse events and 49 nonserious adverse events were recorded. All patients who had positive results of lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, and anti–β2-glycoprotein I antibody tests at baseline had positive results at 24 weeks and 52 weeks. The numbers of patients with a complete response, a partial response, no response, and recurrence for the clinical outcome measures at 24 weeks were as follows: for thrombocytopenia, 1, 1, 2, and 0, respectively; for cardiac valve disease, 0, 0, 3, and not analyzed, respectively; for skin ulcer, 3, 1, 0, and 1, respectively; for aPL nephropathy, 0, 1, 0, and 0, respectively; and for cognitive dysfunction, 3, 1, 1, and not analyzed, respectively. Conclusion The results of this uncontrolled and nonrandomized pilot study suggest that the safety of rituximab in aPL-positive patients is consistent with the safety profile of rituximab. Despite causing no substantial change in aPL profiles, rituximab may be effective in controlling some but not all non-criteria manifestations of APS.
Millimetre wave fibre-optic PSK subcarrier transmission at 35 GHz over 6.3 km using a grating external cavity semiconductor laser

10/sup -9 /bit error rates have been achieved over a distance of 6.3 km in a millimetre wave fibre-optic phase shift keying subcarrier transmission system operating at 35 GHz for a 40 Mbit/s narrowband digital signal. Using a grating in the external cavity for wavelength control, the transmission distance was extended from 200 m to 6.3 km. >
Two-dimensional correlation of solid state and liquid state NMR using a laser temperature jump

Abstract Solid state NMR spectra and the corresponding liquid state spectra have been interrelated through two-dimensional experiments with a fast temperature jump during the mixing time. This jump must, as a minimum requirement, be shorter than the relevant spin lattice relaxation times, and was implemented using a CO 2 laser heater. As the first demonstration of this experiment we report a 2D 1 H solid-liquid spectrum of camphor. Suggested applications of future 2D temperature jump experiments include studies of reversible chemical reactions, reorientational dynamics, phase behavior, and magnetic and electrical properties.
Characteristics of cervical interneurones which mediate cortical motor outflow to distal forelimb muscles of cats.

Abstract The question of whether cerebral cortex controls motoneurones through modulation of spinal reciprocal mechanisms was examined in cats anaesthetized with Nembutal using the technique of intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) to produce facilitation of identified motoneurone pools. Recordings were made from 78 cervical spinal neurones which responded to cortical stimulation of identified foci, and their response characteristics to both cortical and peripheral stimulation were investigated. (1) On the basis of (a) the response of the spinal neurones to stimulation of restricted cortical loci, (b) their threshold for activation from the cortex, (c) the temporal characteristics of their discharge in response to cortical stimulation, (d) the characteristics of their response to peripheral stimulation, and (e) their location in the spinal cord, the majority of these neurones have been classified as interneurones transmitting corticospinal excitatory outflow to identified motoneurones. (2) Such interneurones were found throughout the spinal gray matter but were most frequently encountered between 2.0 and 3.5 mm below the dorsum of the cord, corresponding to laminae V and VI of Rexed. Intracellular recordings suggested that the predominant effect of cortical stimulation was the production of EPSP not observably complicated by conjoint or subsequent IPSP. (3) The great majority of these neurones did not receive monosynaptic excitatory action from large diameter (Group I) peripheral fibres. Rather, they received convergent inputs from several cutaneous and small diameter muscle nerve branches without apparent functional relationship to the motoneurones associated with the cortical focus stimulated. (4) Threshold and conduction velocity measurements suggested that high threshold fibres in cutaneous and muscle nerves (presumably Groups II and III) were primarily responsible for providing input to these neurones. The functional significance of diffuse peripheral convergence onto a highly specific corticofugal system is discussed. (5) On the basis of these results and those reported elsewhere 2,4 , it is proposed that corticofugal motor outflow associated with the distal musculature of the cat's forelimb may be transmitted to motoneurone pools without regard to reciprocal mechanisms of the spinal cord.
Sensory cell proliferation within the olfactory epithelium of developing adult Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera).

Background Insects detect a multitude of odors using a broad array of phenotypically distinct olfactory organs referred to as olfactory sensilla. Each sensillum contains one to several sensory neurons and at least three support cells; these cells arise from mitotic activities from one or a small group of defined precursor cells. Sensilla phenotypes are defined by distinct morphologies, and specificities to specific odors; these are the consequence of developmental programs expressed by associated neurons and support cells, and by selection and expression of subpopulations of olfactory genes encoding such proteins as odor receptors, odorant binding proteins, and odor degrading enzymes. Methodology/Principal Findings We are investigating development of the olfactory epithelium of adult M. sexta, identifying events which might establish sensilla phenotypes. In the present study, antennal tissue was examined during the first three days of an 18 day development, a period when sensory mitotic activity was previously reported to occur. Each antenna develops as a cylinder with an outward facing sensory epithelium divided into approximately 80 repeat units or annuli. Mitotic proliferation of sensory cells initiated about 20–24 hrs after pupation (a.p.), in pre-existing zones of high density cells lining the proximal and distal borders of each annulus. These high density zones were observed as early as two hr. a.p., and expanded with mitotic activity to fill the mid-annular regions by about 72 hrs a.p. Mitotic activity initiated at a low rate, increasing dramatically after 40–48 hrs a.p.; this activity was enhanced by ecdysteroids, but did not occur in animals entering pupal diapause (which is also ecdysteroid sensitive). Conclusions/Significance Sensory proliferation initiates in narrow zones along the proximal and distal borders of each annulus; these zones rapidly expand to fill the mid-annular regions. These zones exist prior to any mitotic activity as regions of high density cells which form either at or prior to pupation. Mitotic sensitivity to ecdysteroids may be a regulatory mechanism coordinating olfactory development with the developmental choice of diapause entry.
Fire safety/prevention skills training to reduce involvement with fire in young psychiatric inpatients: Preliminary findings*

This study evaluated the effects of a brief cognitive-behavioral skills training curriulum designed to reduce firesetting among young, psychiatrically hospitalized children. Children were randomly assigned to a group Fire Safety/Prevention Skills Training group (FSST; n=12) or an individual Fire Assessment/Awreness (FAA; n=12) condition. FSST emphasized instruction and practice in fire safety concepts and preventive activities using didactic presentation, modeling, role-playing, self-instructions, and reinforcement, whereas FAA children met individually with a staff nurse to assess/discuss firesetting behavior. Based on multivariate and univariate analyses, FSST was associated at posttraining with a significant reduction in contact with fire-related toys and matches in an analogue task and an increase in fire safety knowledge. Parent-reports at 6-month follow-up indicated less overall involvement with fire for FSST than FAA children. Contact with matches in an analogue task and low fire safety knowledge at posttraining were associated with follow-up matchaplay. Implications for assessment of and intervention with young firesetters are discussed.
Osteotomy for Salvage of the Arthritic Ankle

Ankle arthritis is a commonly seen problem. Numerous treatment options exist. The role of osteotomies of the tibia, fibula, midfoot, and hindfoot and their applications in the treatment of ankle arthritis are discussed.
An investigation of the structure of a laminar non-premixed flame in an unsteady vortical flow

Although organized vortical motions have been observed in a variety of turbulent flames, there have been only a few experimental studies which have directly examined the structure of a flame imbedded in an unsteady vortical flow. In the present work, this problem is investigated using a laminar co-flowing jet flame in which a periodic vortical motion is induced by acoustic excitation of the fuel stream. A variety of optical planar imaging techniques are employed to define the instantaneous flame structure. Particle tracking is used to obtain the instantaneous two-dimensional velocity field. These measurements are combined to follow the evolution of the flame in the unsteady velocity field over one cycle of the excitation. The flame is observed to break up into a series of axisymmetric flamelets which convect and distort under the influence of buoyancy and the vortical flow. When the velocity field is viewed in a frame of reference moving with the flamelets the flow pattern is seen to consist of a pair of saddle points on either side of the flow centerline near the flame tip and a single saddle point on the centerline near the base of the flame. This latter saddle point is also evident in images of light scattered from TiO 2 particles added to the fuel stream. Entrained fluid is fed into a large axisymmetric vortex surrounding the base of the flame. Because of heat release, the flame acts as an effective volume source in the flow. A high strain rate exists on the centerline at the base of the flame, and planar laser-induced fluorescence measurements of the concentration of OH show local extinction of the flame.
Temperature dependence of the interfacial behavior of uracil derivatives

Abstract The effect of temperature on the interfacial behavior of uracil, thymine and 1,5-dimethyluracil has been used to characterize the thermodynamics of adsorption of these compounds at a mercury electrode-aqueous electrolyte interface. Between 4.5°C and 40°C all three compounds exhibit two adsorption regions. The first, a dilute layer where the molecules adsorb in a flat orientation on the electrode surface. The second, a compact layer where the molecules adsorb in a perpendicular orientation. The thermodynamic constants characterizing formation of these surface layers have been deduced.
Annual biogenic particle fluxes to the interior of the North Atlantic Ocean; studied at 34°N 21°W and 48°N 21°W

Abstract In order to clarify the annual quality, quantity and export processes of biogenic particles from the euphotic zone to the deep ocean interior, an array of automated time-series sediment traps were deployed for 1 year from 4 April 1989 to 17 April 1990 at 34°N 21°W and 48°N 21°W as part of the Joint Global Ocean Flux Program (JGOFS) North Atlantic Bloom Experiment (NABE). Three sediment traps with 13 time-series sediment collectors were placed at both stations approximately 1 and 2 km below the surface and 0.7 km above the bottom. They collected settling particles during 26 14-day intervals for 376 days with an 20-day hiatus in September-October 1989 for changeover of the trap moorings. The collection periods of the six traps were synchronized, forming a spatio-temporal matrix of 156 samples. The annual mass flux at about 2 km deep during this experiment was 22 and 27 g m−2 y−1 at the 34 and 48°N stations, consisting of biogenic particles with traceable quantities of lithogenic particle flux. The spring particle bloom, characterized by the sedimentation of particles relatively enriched by Norg, began in January at the 34°N station and in March at the 48°N station. The bloom continued for 4.5 and 3 months and provided 62 and 50% of the annual biogenic particle mass flux at 2 km at the 34 and 48°N stations. The surface bloom penetrated to the ocean interior within a few weeks, with apparently accelerated settling speed at deeper layers. The order of susceptibility of biogenic elements to mineralization while settling in the 0.7–1 km a.b. water column was, from least to most resistant: P, Norg, Corg, Si and Ca. The C/N/P ratio at 0.7 km a.b. was 154:18:1 at the 34°N station and 148:18:1 at the 48°N station.
Population-S benzimidazole- and tetrahydropyrimidine-resistant small strongyles in a pony herd in Kentucky (1977–1999): effects of anthelmintic treatment on the parasites as determined in critical tests

Population-S small strongyles have been studied since 1974 in central Kentucky in a closed Shetland pony breeding herd. The ponies were treated approximately every 8 weeks with cambendazole (1974-1978), oxibendazole (OBZ) (1978-1992), or pyrantel pamoate (PRT) (1992-1999). Small strongyles in the ponies have shown resistance to these compounds in field and critical tests. One purpose of this presentation was to compare different parameters for determination of effects on the small strongyle species in ponies after treatment, mainly with OBZ or PRT, from data in critical tests (n=112). Also, the objective was to report on relative changes in the composition of species of small strongyles during the period 1977 through 1999. The following entities were compared to evaluate the effect of OBZ- or PRT-treatment on the small strongyles: (1) numbers of specimens with eggs in utero--there were less gravid worms passed in the feces than recovered at necropsy for OBZ but the numbers of gravid worms were similar in both categories for PRT, (2) pre- and posttreatment counts of eggs per gram of feces (EPGs) and larvae per gram of feces (LPGs)--the reductions were greater for the counts of EPGs than LPGs for OBZ but not for PRT, and (3) pre- and posttreatment counts of EPGs versus % of worms removed--reductions of the former were greater than the latter for both compounds. As shown from data in this study, reduction of EPG counts post treatment indicated much greater drug activity than was actually demonstrated by removal of worms. One evident factor was the value of doing critical tests to verify posttreatment counts of EPGs as indicators of anthelmintic activity. Twenty-eight species of small strongyles were found. For the 20 most prevalent species in the study, two decreased, five remained unchanged, three increased and then became stationary, five increased but then decreased, and five increased progressively. Numbers of small strongyles were highest in 1987 and 1999.
Socialism in High School Social Studies Textbooks.

This article concerns textbook analysis regarding the presentation of socialism in four leading high school social studies books, one in each of the following subjects: United States history, world history, United States government, and economics. Findings indicate that students relying on these texts to gain understanding of socialism and contemporary expressions of socialist ideas in modern societies will be invariably shortchanged. In most of the books, students are not encouraged to analyze or evaluate socialism. The potential of the books to help students achieve goals identified by the National Council for the Social Studies, certain content standards established by the National Council on Economics Education, and other standards established by state boards such as the California State Board of Education, is quite limited.
Simulation of heat conduction in nanocomposite using energy-conserving dissipative particle dynamics

We report on the simulation of heat conduction in nanocomposite by using a novel mesoscopic particle method, the energy-conserving dissipative particle dynamics (eDPD) method. The original eDPD method is extended to account for the interfacial thermal resistance occurs at the angstrom-wide interface between materials, and we also investigated the choice of time step in eDPD simulations. For nanocomposite with randomly dispersed nanoparticles, the eDPD simulations predict that the thermal conductivity of matrix material can be enhanced by embedding high thermal conductivity nanoparticles, but the effectiveness of such a strategy diminishes as the interfacial thermal resistance between the nanoparticle and matrix material increases. These results are in quantitative agreement with the classical Maxwell–Garnett model. Further simulations indicate that the enhancement of thermal conductivity can be affected by the alignment of nanoparticles with respect to the temperature gradient, which cannot be predicted b...
Recent Advances in the Management of Thoracic Surgical Infections

Current management of infections in thoracic surgery is reviewed. The selection of patients for the use of antibiotics prophylactically, the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary infection in immunosuppressed patients, indications for operation in patients with fungal infections, bronchiectasis, lung abscess, and empyema, and the management of mediastinitis after sternotomy and of postpneumonectomy space infections is described.
An angle-resolved photoemission study of CO chemisorbed on the Pt(111) surface

Abstract Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy employing polarized HeII (40.8 eV) radiation has been used to determine the orientation and the relative binding energies of the 5σ and 1π peaks of CO chemisorbed on Pt(111). The measured angular distribution of photoemission from the CO 4σ orbital indicates that the molecule is oriented perpendicular to the surface. The angular dependence of a peak at 8.6 eV below the Fermi edge shows this peak to the 1π while the 5σ peak is at 9.6 eV. This order is opposite the gas-phase order and the order recently reported for CO chemisorbed on Pt(s)-[6(111)×(100)].
Time resolved simulation of lightning by LIP

Results of time-resolved spectra of lightning simulation in air by laser-induced plasma (LIP) are reported. The measured electron temperatures varied from 17,000 +/-1000 K at 600 ns to 12,000 +/-1000 K at 4 microsec after the ignition of the plasma. Electron densities in the plasma varied from (7.0 +/-1.4) x 10 exp 17/cu cm to (9.0 +/-1.8) x 10 exp 16/cu cm for the above times. A comparison of state variables for LIP and natural lightning is presented. Immediately following the ignition, both natural lightning and LIP are found to reach temperatures in excess of 16,000 K and relax to ambient pressure with different rates. They are expected to approach the 2000-4000-K temperature range, which is important to chemical synthesis, in an asymptotically similar fashion.
Effect of Compositional Variations in the Lead Lanthanum Zirconate Stannate Titanate System on Electrical Properties

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of compositional modifications on the electrical properties of lead lanthanum zirconate stannate titanate (PLZST) ceramics, as well as to examine their electrically induced phasechange behavior. Variations in the Ti:Sn ratio were evaluated. Increased Ti4+ content produced the following: decreased switching field, related to an increased antiferro-electric-ferroelectric (AFE-FE) transition temperature; constant hysteresis (ΔE) correlated with a constant temperature of the maximum dielectric constant (Tmax); a sharper dielectric-constant maximum peak; and increased room-temperature dielectric constant (K). Variations in the Zr:Sn ratio also were evaluated. Increased Zr4+ content produced the following: increased hysteresis with increased Tmax, decreased maximum dielectric constant, and decreased switching field with increased AFE-FE transition temperature (TAFE_FE). From these results, with respect to compositional modifications, the AFE-FE switching field (EAFE_FE) and ΔE were observed to be dependent strongly on TAFE_FE and Tmax, respectively. Negligible change existed in the strain achievable at the switching field, which remained constant for all compositions at ∼0.16%. The significance of this research was the ability demonstrated to tailor the properties of phase-change materials through compositional modifications.
Site-specific labeling of surface proteins on living cells using genetically encoded peptides that bind fluorescent nanoparticle probes.

We report a highly specific, robust, and generic method for noncovalent labeling of cellular proteins with highly fluorescent core−shell silica nanoparticles termed C dots. Our approach uses short ...
Basic and clinical cardiac electrophysiology of encainide

Encainide is a potent sodium channel antagonist. It dissociates slowly from blocked, repolarized channels (time constant of recovery greater than 20 seconds). It markedly slows myocardial and His Purkinje conduction in vitro, in animal models and in humans. In vitro the parent compound and its major metabolites, O-demethyl and 3-methoxy-O-demethyl encainide, have variable effects on action potential duration and refractoriness. In man the parent compound has relatively little effect on refractoriness and QT interval, but its metabolites may increase refractoriness moderately. Encainide has no significant effect on the normal sinoatrial node, and only its metabolites significantly depress atrioventricular nodal conduction and refractoriness. In models of ischemia, all of encainide's actions are more pronounced in ischemic than in normal tissue. Encainide is similar in its basic and clinical electrophysiologic profile to flecainide and lorcainide although its constellation of electrophysiologic properties is unique. It differs from quinidine, procainamide and disopyramide by slowing conduction more and affecting refractoriness less, and by absence of anticholinergic side effects.
Chromosome Segregation: A Kinetochore Missing Link Is Found

Summary During mitosis the kinetochore assembles on centromeric chromatin. The component that connects the chromatin-associated inner domain to the microtubule-binding outer domain has eluded researchers. Two new studies identify a conserved molecular linkage between the inner and outer kinetochore.
MO‐D‐141‐09: An Investigation of the Feasibility of Volumetric Imaging of Fluorescent Bio‐Markers Using Optical‐ECT

Purpose: Toptical‐ECT is a technique with potential for high resolution 3D imaging of the distribution of fluoresent biomarkers (including reporter proteins like GFP) in un‐sectioned tissue samples. Accurate optical‐ECT data is only feasible if the biomarkers survive an optical clearing procedure. This work presents investigates this question, and the feasibility of extracting volume metrics from optical‐ECT data. Methods: 4T1 tumors were grown in window chambers on nude mice, following an approved protocol. Tumor cells constitutively expressed RFP, and endogenously expressed GFP labeling HIF‐1 transcription. Microvasculature was labeled by colloidal carbon. When the tumors were ∼5–7mm, they were imaged in‐vivo (in the chamber) using conventional epi‐fluorescent microspcopy. Tumors were then immediately removed, optically‐cleared, and imaged ex‐vivo by optical‐CT/ECT. Comparison of the in‐vivo and ex‐vivo images enabled investigation of the stability of the biomarkers through optical clearing. Volume measurements of regions expressing different markers (GFP and RFP) were generated though automatic thresholding. Results: Biomarker expressing regions (GFP and RFP) were generally consistent between comparable optical‐ECT projections and in‐vivo microscopy. In some tumors, GFP and RFP expression was observed to be partially obscured in in‐vivo images, due to absorption in overlying tissue. In optical‐ECT views, these regions became visible, due to optical clearing. In one tumor, 31% of the gross tumor was deemed viable, as determined from RFP expression. 13% of the tumor was hypoxic as inferred from HIF‐1 expression. Almost all the GFP hypoxic volume was within the viable RFP tumor volume. Conclusion: Our preliminary data supports several key concepts: fluorescent biomarkers can survive the optical clearing process representative of in‐vivo condition; the cleared tumor revealed new regions of signal that were partially obscured in in‐vivo images; and 3D quantitative metrics can be determined from optical‐CT/ECT that correspond to their 2D counterparts in standard microscopy (e.g. sub‐volume of HIF‐1 expression).
Party images and partisan resurgence

Abstract In this article, we argue that the partisan resurgence that took hold in the 1990s has continued through the 2004 election. The public's awareness of party differences is rooted in growing partisan polarization at the elite level. Using open-ended party likes and dislikes data, we identify a segment of the electorate with a broad understanding of what the parties represent. These party image-holders know more about politics, are more likely to vote and to participate in campaigns, and are more likely to try to influence their peers. We argue that party image-holders function as opinion leaders and form a link between elite-level polarization and public perceptions of party differences.
Genetic and Molecular Basis for Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disorder that predisposes patients to develop direct connections between arteries and veins, or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Although the genes responsible for the majority of HHT cases have been known for nearly 20 years, molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis are poorly understood, and the genetic and/or environmental factors that confer variability to age of onset and expressivity of HHT remain unknown. Herein, we review the genetics and genotype/phenotype correlations associated with HHT and summarize data from animal and cell culture models that lend insight into disease mechanism. At present, therapies available to HHT patients for treatment of visceral AVMs are primarily surgical, although antiangiogenic agents show some efficacy in treatment of telangiectasias, epistaxis, and liver AVMs. In light of new mechanistic data on disease pathogenesis, we consider possible approaches for development of more targeted therapeutics for HHT patients.
A sensitive assay of cytotoxicity applicable to mixed cell populations

The fluorescent vital dye, Hoechst 33342, was used to stain cultured cells prior to assay of antibody dependent complement mediated cytotoxicity. The fluorescence of nonviable dye stained cells is quenched by cellular uptake of trypan blue, but trypan blue excluding cells remain intensely fluorescent. Detection by fluorescence microscopy of one viable prestained cell per 10(5) unstained cells was accurate and reliable. The technique was found to have sensitivity equal to a clonogenic assay for measuring cytotoxicity. The dye stained cell assay may be used to measure depletion of a selected cell type, when those cells are stained prior to mixing with another cell population. This technique may prove useful to study model systems for depletion of tumor cells or T-cells from bone marrow.
Subcellular distribution of lead in cultured rat hepatocytes

Abstract A clear understanding of the sequence and molecular mechanism of the events involved in lead toxicity is hampered by a lack of information about lead compartmentation within the cell. As part of a continuing effort to identify the mechanism by which lead affects cellular functions, we examined the subcellular distribution of 210 Pb in cultured hepatocytes. The cells were isolated, labeled, homogenized in sucrose- N -[(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine]- N′ -2-ethanesulfonic acid buffer, and fractionated into mitochondrial, microsomal, and cytosolic components by differential centrifugation. Complete fractionation of the cells revealed that 71% of the cellular 210 Pb was associated with the mitochondria, 5% with the microsomes, and 24% with the cytosol. A modified, rapid fractionation procedure indicated that 45% of the cellular lead was associated with both the mitochondria and the cytosol and 10% with the microsomes. When the cells were separated into total particulates and cytosol with a single centrifugation, 22% of the 210 Pb was associated with the soluble fraction. The process of homogenization and fractionation of the isolated hepatocytes altered the intracellular distribution of 210 Pb. This experimental approach to studying the localization of lead may be compromised by the redistribution of 210 Pb during the extensive centrifugations and resuspensions required for subcellular fractionation and suggests that the subcellular distribution patterns of 210 Pb obtained by the fractionation of cells reflects the distribution of lead in the homogenate rather than the distribution of 210 Pb in the intact cell.
A simple and effective figure caption detection system for old-style documents

Identifying figure captions has wide applications in producing high quality e-books such as kindle books or ipad books. In this paper, we present a rule-based system to detect horizontal figure captions in old-style documents. Our algorithm consists of three steps: (i) segment images into regions of different types such as text and figures, (ii) search the best caption region candidate based on heuristic rules such as region alignments and distances, and (iii) expand caption regions identified in step (ii) with its neighboring text-regions in order to correct oversegmentation errors. We test our algorithm using 81 images collected from old-style books, with each image containing at least one figure area. We show that the approach is able to correctly detect figure captions from images with different layouts, and we also measure its performances in terms of both precision rate and recall rate.
Macro‐Micro Relationships in Durkheim's Analysis of Egoistic Suicide*

Contemporary theory is increasingly concerned with macro-micro integration. An attempt is made to integrate these levels of analysis in Durkheim's theory of egoistic suicide. Does Durkheim's theory, which is a social system analysis designed to explain differences in suicide rates between groups, have micro implications for specifying which particular individuals within the group will take their lives? In attempting to answer this question by exploring the causal linkages between integration and suicide, Durkheim's theory of egoistic suicide was revealed not to be a singular theory but rather contained several different explanations. The numerous interpretations have resulted from his incompletely specified, inconsistent, unsystematized, and inadequately tested theory. These ambiguities also account for the historically inconsistent research findings that have limited sociologists' ability to advance beyond Durkheim's century-old formulations. Further areas for new research and illustrative hypothesis are suggested.
Tuning of Catalytic CO Oxidation by Changing Composition of Rh−Pt Bimetallic Nanoparticles

Recent breakthroughs in synthesis in nanoscience have achieved control of size and composition of nanoparticles that are relevant for catalyst design. Here, we show that the catalytic activity of CO oxidation by Rh/Pt bimetallic nanoparticles can be changed by varying the composition at a constant size (9+/-1 nm). Two-dimensional Rh/Pt bimetallic nanoparticle arrays were formed on a silicon surface via the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. Composition analysis with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy agrees with the reaction stoichiometry of Rh/(Pt+Rh). CO oxidation rates that exhibit a 20-fold increase from pure Pt to pure Rh show a nonlinear increase with surface composition of the bimetallic nanoparticles that is consistent with the surface segregation of Pt. The results demonstrate the possibility of controlling catalytic activity in metal nanoparticle-oxide systems via tuning the composition of nanoparticles with potential applications for nanoscale design of industrial catalysts.
Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB) Inhibitory Protein IκBβ Determines Apoptotic Cell Death following Exposure to Oxidative Stress

The transcription factor NF-κB regulates the cellular response to inflammatory and oxidant stress. Although many studies have evaluated NF-κB activity following exposure to oxidative stress, the role of the IκB family of inhibitory proteins in modulating this activity remains unclear. Specifically, the function of IκBβ in mediating the cellular response to oxidative stress has not been evaluated. We hypothesized that blocking oxidative stress-induced NF-κB signaling through IκBβ would prevent apoptotic cell death. Using IκBβ knock-in mice (AKBI), in which the IκBα gene is replaced with the IκBβ cDNA, we show that IκBβ overexpression prevented oxidative stress-induced apoptotic cell death. This was associated with retention of NF-κB subunits in the nucleus and maintenance of NF-κB activity. Furthermore, the up-regulation of pro-apoptotic genes in WT murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) exposed to serum starvation was abrogated in AKBI MEFs. Inhibition of apoptosis was observed in WT MEFs overexpressing IκBβ with simultaneous IκBα knockdown, whereas IκBβ overexpression alone did not produce this effect. These findings represent a necessary but not sufficient role of IκBβ in preventing oxidant stress-induced cell death.
A Model for the Etching of Nanoporous Silica in C 4 F 8 Plasmas Based on Pore Geometry and Porosity Effects

Plasma etching of nanoporous materials (NPMs) is a complicated phenomenon and depends upon the NPMs parameters, such as the overall porosity, the pore size and structure, and the concentration of organic groups on the surface of the film and inside its pores. Polymerization during fluorocarbon plasma exposure is ubiquitous and suppresses the net etching rate. The model developed here accounts for the polymerization that occurs. In this study, a new plasma etching model is developed that applies in the high-polymerization-rate regime. This new model includes pore structure factors (pore shape and size) as well as mass and volume effects in the form of the film's overall porosity. According to the model, at low porosities the etching rate varies directly with the total porosity. However, as the porosity of the film increases, surface effects become important and the etching rate is affected by both total porosity and pore geometry. Finally, we correlate the corrected etching rate, including the porosity and the average pore size effect, with the etching of solid SiO 2 over a wide range of bias voltage. In the fluorocarbon suppression regime, the corrected etching rate expression agrees with the experimental results and collapses all etch rate data onto a single curve.
Dynamic heteroassociative neural memories

Abstract A high-performance, high-capacity dynamic neural memory is proposed which is capable of simultaneous hetero- and autoassociative recall. The proposed memory utilizes two simple layers of neurons which implement a forward mapping and its inverse backward mapping, respectively, such that the range of one mapping is the domain of the other. This dynamic heteroassociative memory (DAM) employs the newly-developed Ho-Kashyap associative memory recording algorithm which optimally distributes the association process of each neural layer over individual neuron weighted-sum and activation function faculties. Various performance characteristics for the proposed DAM are tested and compared to those of correlation- and generalized inverse-recorded DAMs. Simulation results are presented which confirm the superiority of the proposed Ho-Kashyap-recorded DAM over correlation-recorded heteroassociative memories. The Ho-Kashyap recording algorithm's performance is also known to exceed that of the optimal linear associative memory (OLAM) recording technique in the case of binary pattern associative storage and retrieval. The proposed DAM's high performance extends to a wide range of input/output association pattern dimensions and memory storage levels.
Maintaining (US) collective memory: from Hiroshima to a critical study of security history

Almost 70 years after the dropping of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs, debates continue in the United States over the morality and strategic necessity of their use. Surveys indicate that slight to significant majorities of Americans continue to approve, in retrospect, the use of the bombs. Far from a definitive explanation for such a consistent understanding of the atomic bombs, this article instead seeks to more precisely delineate what could be considered three ‘provocations’ (via the works of Arendt, Ricoeur, Halbwachs, among others) for such consistent memory. These provocations, considered complementary to one another in a ‘constellation’, provide a way forward for other scholars investigating similar topics and cases of consistent collective memory. In the conclusion, the article suggests how the case of US collective memory surrounding Hiroshima illustrates the need for a potential subfield of critical security studies, what might be titled a ‘critical study on (the making of) security hist...
Theoretical determination of the absorption coefficient and the total band absorptance including a specific application to carbon monoxide

Abstract Analytical expressions are obtained for the absorption coefficient and total band absorptance for a vibrational-rotational band. Specific application is then made to carbon monoxide and good agreement with experimental results is obtained.
Developing a Storm Severity Index

A primary goal in winter highway maintenance is to develop various maintenance processes so that quality control can be measured. If actions can be measured, they can be improved. A difficulty with this approach is that winter maintenance addresses the impacts of winter weather on the transportation system and that weather is inherently uncontrollable. Consequently, for a quality process to be applied to winter maintenance, the severity of individual storms must be assessed. This paper presents one way in which the severity of a storm can be measured, specifically by an index. The first step in developing an index for individual storms is to develop a method of describing storms. The method here describes storms by using six factors, including prestorm and poststorm conditions and temperatures, wind speed, and precipitation type. The matrix created is a refinement of that presented in FHWA's manual of practice for effective anti-icing. With the use of a simplified variation of this matrix-based descriptio...
From brief encounters to lifelong unions

Could the transient aggregation of unicellular organisms have paved the way for the evolution of the multicellular animals?
Outcome analysis of the modified Mathieu hypospadias repair: comparison of stented and unstented repairs.

AbstractPurpose: We compared surgical outcomes of stented and unstented Mathieu repairs in boys with primary distal hypospadias, and evaluated the efficacy and safety of caudal analgesia relative to other forms of analgesia (penile block and epidural analgesia).Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 336 consecutive boys who underwent the modified Mathieu repair for primary distal hypospadias. A urethral stent was placed in 114 patients and nonstented repair was performed in 222. Adjunct caudal analgesia was given in 136 cases, a penile block in 158 and continuous epidural analgesia in 42.Results: None of the unstented cases had urinary retention. Analysis of surgical outcomes revealed no difference in fistula formation between patients with and without stents (2.63 versus 2.70 percent, respectively, p greater than 0.999). Overall complication rates in the stented and unstented groups were not significantly different (2.63 versus 3.60 percent, respectively, p = 0.756). The fistul...