cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lupus, Silica, and Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acid Interventions:

Two environmental factors, crystalline silica (cSiO2), a toxic airborne particle encountered occupationally, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a dietary omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA), have the potential to influence the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus). Using the NZBWF1 mouse, which spontaneously develops lupus, we found that intranasal exposure to cSiO2 significantly decreases latency and promotes rapid progression of the disease. Specifically, cSiO2 induces the development of ectopic lymphoid structures (ELS) containing germinal centers in the lungs that yield vigorous and diverse autoantibody responses locally and systemically. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that cSiO2 promotes a robust type I interferon gene signature that likely precipitates ELS neogenesis. Intriguingly, dietary supplementation with human-relevant doses of DHA impedes cSiO2-induced gene expression, ELS neogenesis, autoantibody elevation, and glomerulonephritis in this lupus-prone mouse model. Together, our findings point to the feasibility of enhancing tissue omega-3 HUFAs as a personalized nutritional intervention to impede onset and progression of environment-triggered autoimmune disease.
Pax2 and Pax8 Proteins Regulate Urea Transporters and Aquaporins to Control Urine Concentration in the Adult Kidney

Background As the glomerular filtrate passes through the nephron and into the renal medulla, electrolytes, water, and urea are reabsorbed through the concerted actions of solute carrier channels and aquaporins at various positions along the nephron and in the outer and inner medulla. Proliferating stem cells expressing the nuclear transcription factor Pax2 give rise to renal epithelial cells. Pax2 expression ends once the epithelial cells differentiate into mature proximal and distal tubules, whereas expression of the related Pax8 protein continues. The collecting tubules and renal medulla are derived from Pax2-positive ureteric bud epithelia that continue to express Pax2 and Pax8 in adult kidneys. Despite the crucial role of Pax2 in renal development, functions for Pax2 or Pax8 in adult renal epithelia have not been established. Methods To examine the roles of Pax2 and Pax8 in the adult mouse kidney, we deleted either Pax2, Pax8, or both genes in adult mice and examined the resulting phenotypes and changes in gene expression patterns. We also explored the mechanism of Pax8-mediated activation of potential target genes in inner medullary collecting duct cells. Results Mice with induced deletions of both Pax2 and Pax8 exhibit severe polyuria that can be attributed to significant changes in the expression of solute carriers, such as the urea transporters encoded by Slc14a2, as well as aquaporins within the inner and outer medulla. Furthermore, Pax8 expression is induced by high-salt levels in collecting duct cells and activates the Slc14a2 gene by recruiting a histone methyltransferase complex to the promoter. Conclusions These data reveal novel functions for Pax proteins in adult renal epithelia that are essential for retaining water and concentrating urine.
Color Vision: Glasses Half Full

A new study finds that individuals with color deficiencies report long-term changes in their color vision after only a few days of wearing glasses that boost color contrasts, potentially because they learn to see or interpret color in new ways.
Environmental RNAi pathways in the two-spotted spider mite.

RNA interference (RNAi) regulates gene expression in most multicellular organisms through binding of small RNA effectors to target transcripts. Exploiting this process is a popular strategy for genetic manipulation and has applications that includes arthropod pest control. RNAi technologies are dependent on delivery method with the most convenient likely being feeding, which is effective in some animals while others are insensitive. The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is prime candidate for developing RNAi approaches due to frequent occurrence of conventional pesticide resistance. Using a sequencing-based approach, the fate of ingested RNAs was explored to identify features and conditions that affect small RNA biogenesis from external sources to better inform RNAi design. Biochemical and sequencing approaches in conjunction with extensive computational assessment were used to evaluate metabolism of ingested RNAs in T. urticae. This chelicerae arthropod shows only modest response to oral RNAi and has biogenesis pathways distinct from model organisms. Processing of synthetic and plant host RNAs ingested during feeding were evaluated to identify active substrates for spider mite RNAi pathways. Through cataloging characteristics of biochemically purified RNA from these sources, trans-acting small RNAs could be distinguished from degradation fragments and their origins documented. Using a strategy that delineates small RNA processing, we found many transcripts have the potential to enter spider mite RNAi pathways, however, trans-acting RNAs appear very unstable and rare. This suggests potential RNAi pathway substrates from ingested materials are mostly degraded and infrequently converted into regulators of gene expression. Spider mites infest a variety of plants, and it would be maladaptive to generate diverse gene regulators from dietary RNAs. This study provides a framework for assessing RNAi technology in organisms where genetic and biochemical tools are absent and benefit rationale design of RNAi triggers for T.urticae.
El momento en que una hoja se seca: Naturaleza y crisis ambiental en 'Tempo em suspensão', de Lia do Rio | O momento em que uma folha seca-se: Natureza e crise ambiental em 'Tempo em suspensão', de Lia do Rio

Resumen En el invierno de 2019, el Museo de la Republica de Brasilia presento Tempo em suspensao , una retrospectiva del trabajo de la artista paulista Lia do Rio. Este ensayo examina las obras de la exhibicion desarrolladas con hojas secas como material principal. Para ello, analiza las conexiones entre la obra de Lia do Rio y los herbarios utilizados como insumos de informacion en la botanica desde la emergencia de la historia natural. Ademas, se consideran las dimensiones afectivas y temporales de estas posibles conexiones para estudiar el tipo de relacion inmersiva con la naturaleza que Tempo em suspensao pone en escena. Palabras clave : Naturaleza. Herbarios. Afectos. Temporalidad. Resumo No inverno de 2019, o Museu da Republica de Brasilia apresentou Tempo em suspensao , retrospectiva da obra da artista paulista Lia do Rio. Este ensaio examina as obras da mostra desenvolvidas com folhas secas como material principal. Para isso, o ensaio analisa as conexoes entre a obra de Lia do Rio e os herbarios usados como insumos de informacao na botânica desde o surgimento da historia natural. Alem disso, as dimensoes afetivas e temporais dessas conexoes possiveis sao consideradas para estudar o tipo de relacao imersiva com a natureza que o Tempo em suspensao coloca em cena. Palavras-chave: Natureza. Herbarios. Afeto. Temporalidade.
Remembering What Produced the Data: Individual and Social Reconstruction in the Context of a Quantified Self Elementary Data and Statistics Unit

Given growing interest in K-12 data and data science education, new approaches are needed to help students develop robust understandings of and familiarity with data. The model of the quantified se...
Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunting

Classically, IIH patients with visual loss or severe symptoms have undergone cerebrospinal fluid shunt surgeries to reduce intracranial pressure. Shunts are helpful in reducing intracranial pressure and alleviating symptoms but are prone to failure. In this chapter, we take an in-depth look at the different types of shunts and shunt technologies that are used. We review the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of shunts and explore why shunts tend to malfunction and how doctors evaluate and treat patients with symptoms that return after shunt placement.
Advanced hybrid artificial pancreas system improves on unannounced meal response - In silico comparison to currently available system.

Abstract Background and objective: Glycemic control, especially meal-related disturbance rejection, has proven to be a major challenge for people with type 1 diabetes. In this manuscript, we introduce a novel, personalized, advanced hybrid insulin infusion system (a.k.a. artificial pancreas) based on the Model Predictive Control (MPC) methodology to adjust insulin infusion while automatically rejecting uninformed meals. Methods: The proposed advanced hybrid closed-loop system relies on the integration of three key elements: (i) an adaptive personalized MPC control law that modulates the control strength depending on recent past control actions, glucose measurements, and its derivative, (ii) an automatic Bolus Priming System (BPS) that commands additional insulin injections safely upon the detection of enabling metabolic conditions (e.g., an unacknowledged meal), and (iii) a new hyperglycemia mitigation system to avoid prevailing hyperglycemia. The benefits of the proposed system are demonstrated through simulations and tests using the most up-to-date Type 1 UVA/Padova simulator as preclinical stage prior to in vivo clinical tests. We used a legacy algorithm (USS Virginia), currently used in clinical care, as a benchmark controller. Results: Overall, the proposed control strategy enhanced by an automatic BPS improves glycemic control when compared with an available system. When a large meal is not announced (80g CHO), the proposed controller outperformed the legacy controller in time-in-target-range TIR (postprandial and overnight) and time-in-tight-range TTR (overall, postprandial, and overnight). Conclusion: The integration of a novel BPS into an advanced control system allowed to automatically reject unannounced meals. Exhaustive simulation studies indicated the safety and feasibility of the proposed controller to be deployed in human clinical trials.
Surviving is Succeeding: How Tech Workers Handle Job Insecurity During COVID-19

This study explores how tech professionals respond to job insecurity during COVID-19. Data for this study came from 51 in-depth interviews with tech professionals employed in tech hubs on the west ...
The Burden of Geopolitical Stigma: Iranian Immigrants and Their Adult Children in the USA

The overall aim of this paper is to add several dimensions missing from current debates and scholarship on Iranian immigrants, migration, and belonging: The power of global political dynamics in stigmatizing migrants’ identities, the impact of geopolitics on migrants’ quality of life, and the disruptions to belonging and membership as a result of anti-Iranian prejudice. Through the use of in-depth interviews, I examine the experiences of 32 immigrant and second-generation Iranians residing in northern and southern California. The findings of this research demonstrate that the geopolitical relationship between the Iranian government and the USA powerfully impacts the lives of Iranians in the USA. Specifically, global politics facilitate a context that helps stigmatize Iranians’ identities and makes them more prone to experiencing social marginality, anti-Iranian prejudice, racial/ethnic profiling, and discrimination. Ultimately, these experiences put an effective cap on Iranians’ abilities to access opportunity structures and limit their access to belonging and social membership in the USA. An examination of the lived experiences of Iranian immigrants and their adult children offers important empirical and theoretical insight for the impact of contentious global political context on immigrant belonging and membership.
Wrangling Women: Humor and Gender in the American West

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Kristin M. McAndrews Year: 2006 Pages: 200 Publisher: University of Nevada Press ISBN: 978-0-87417-683-4 (hard cover). Prices: $34.95 USD(hard cover).
Transfer of Drugs and Other Chemicals into Human Milk

To the Editor.— I read with interest the Committee on Drugs second report about transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human milk.1 Although the objective to categorize those drugs with reported harmful, or not, effects on children has been achieved with admirable brevity, the report fails to cite two useful areas of information. The WHO Task Force on Drugs in Human Milk reviewed the world literature and compiled a recently published book entitled Drugs and Human Lactation.2
Cognitive characteristics in "difficult-to-discharge" inpatients with serious mental illness: attribution biases are associated with suspiciousness only for those with lower levels of insight

Despite advances in psychiatric rehabilitation (PR), a substantial number of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are institutionalized for extended periods. The cognitive characteristics of these individuals play a role in their institutionalized status. Consideration of individual cognitive characteristics, including “attribution biases” and insight into one's illness, has benefited PR in improving case conceptualization and treatment planning. Insight, or understanding one's illness, involves attributions about the causes of one's own behavior and experience, including psychiatric symptoms. Further, attribution biases may have a negative impact on such understanding, and consequently on engagement in rehabilitation. This exploratory study analyzed quantitative individual differences in attribution bias, understanding of illness, and psychiatric symptoms, to determine how these functional domains interact in people with SMI who are “difficult to discharge.” The results reveal an interaction bet...
Family functioning in two treatments for adolescent anorexia nervosa.

Objective Family functioning impairment is widely reported in the eating disorders literature, yet few studies have examined the role of family functioning in treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN). This study examined family functioning in two treatments for adolescent AN from multiple family members’ perspectives.
Accountability in Special Education

The literature on accountability is reviewed and suggestions are offered for the application of accountability and performance contracting in special education. Personal accountability for teachers and administrators is suggested. Legal action may be one form of accountability for special education.
Pneumocystis PCINT1, a molecule with integrin‐like features that mediates organism adhesion to fibronectin

Pneumocystis species cause severe pneumonia during chronic immunosuppression, especially in patients with AIDS or malignancy. Adhesion of Pneumocystis to extracellular matrix proteins, particularly fibronectin, associated with alveolar epithelial cell surfaces, triggers organism proliferative pathways. Herein, we report the characterization of a novel Pneumocystis molecule with considerable structural features of an integrin-like extracellular matrix adhesion receptor. A PCINT1115 bp probe was initially identified from partial sequence present within the Pneumocystis genome project database. A full-length 3018 bp cDNA was subsequently obtained with extensive homology to the C-terminal region of Candida albicans INT1 (31% blastx), a gene originally described as encoding an integrin-like molecule implicated in adhesion, growth, and virulence. Sequence analysis of PCINT1 indicated that the Pneumocystis molecule contained both a putative internal RGD motif and four Metal Ion-Dependent Attachment Sites (MIDAS) motifs required for coordination of divalent cations, as well as a specific tyrosine residue found in the cytoplasmic tails of some integrin receptors and C. albicans INT1. Northern, Western and immunofluorescence studies demonstrated that the trophic forms of Pneumocystis, known to be the life cycle forms that tightly adhere to lung epithelium, expressed the molecule to a substantially greater degree than cystic forms. Heterologous expression of PCINT1 in yeast followed by application to human fibronectin-coated surfaces demonstrated these yeast display PCINT1 on their surfaces and subsequently gain the ability to bind fibronectin in a cation dependent fashion. Taken together, these results indicate that Pneumocystis expresses a novel integrin-like PCINT1 molecule sufficient to mediate interactions with extracellular matrix fibronectin, an integral component of host-cell organism interactions during this infection.
Photoacoustic Tomography for Biomedical Applications

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) has quickly become one of the fastest growing biomedical imaging modalities, since its first demonstration of functional imaging in small animal about a decade ago. Combining optical excitation with acoustic detection, PAT can provide detailed color pictures of tissues deep into the body without the radiation hazard of X-rays, the lack of soft-tissue contrast in ultrasonography, or the superficial penetration limitation of optical microscopy. This article will present cutting-edge PAT technologies, focusing on their preclinical and clinical applications in biomedicine.
Cross-Linkable Carbosilane Polymers with Imbedded Disilacyclobutane Rings Derived by Acyclic Diene Metathesis Polymerization

Cyclolinear carbosilane polymers with disilacyclobutane (DSCB) rings in the main-chain structure were prepared by means of acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization of the corresponding 1,3-dibutenyl-1,3-disilacyclobutanes. The copolymerization of a monomer of this type with a noncyclic organosilane diene allowed for the incorporation of a varying number of DSCB rings into the polymer backbone. Subsequent hydrogenation of the double bonds with p-toluenesulfonhydrazide resulted in a saturated hydrocarbon structure in the main chain without affecting the DSCB ring. All of the resultant polymers are well-defined materials with DSCB rings incorporated into the backbone structure, as evidenced by NMR spectroscopy and GPC analyses. The thermal behavior of these polymers was characterized by DSC and TGA. DSC indicated low Tgs, and TGA evidenced high thermal stability in an inert atmosphere. In addition, large exothermic peaks were observed in the DSC, which indicated, along with the IR and solid-state 29Si...
Is Prophylactic Psychiatry around the Corner? Combating Adolescent Oxidative Stress for Adult Psychosis and Schizophrenia

Early detection and intervention are key principles in clinical medicine and psychiatry. In this issue of Neuron, Cabungcal et al. (2014) demonstrate that prophylactic treatment with antioxidants in adolescence prevents adult deficits in a rat model relevant to schizophrenia.
Level of sustained entorhinal activity at study correlates with subsequent cued-recall performance: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study with high acquisition rate.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with high acquisition rate was performed during the intentional memorizing of words to specify which medial temporal lobe structure is important in determining what words are subsequently remembered in a cued-recall test and to characterize the time course of activation in that structure. Functional images of six healthy young subjects were analyzed by two subject- and voxel-wise statistics: First, to identify brain areas transiently engaged in encoding of words, brain activity during memorizing visually presented words and watching a fixation cross was compared by a Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic (KS-test). Second, to identify brain areas whose activity correlates with memory encoding success, a Kendall's correlation was calculated between signal intensity at study and performance in a subsequent cued-recall test. Averaged signal intensities were plotted as a function of time to depict the time course of brain activity detected by both statistical tests. The level of slowly modulated, sustained activity in Brodmann area 28 (entorhinal cortex) did not respond transiently as study words appeared, but did correlate positively with subsequent test performance. More left than right activity in Brodmann area 45 (dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex) and bilateral activity in Brodmann area 44 (premotor cortex) exhibited transient hemodynamic responses that did not show any relation to subsequent memory performance. Thus, the study identified a novel pattern of slowly modulated brain activity in human entorhinal cortex that may represent a declarative memory encoding state whose level predicts whether experiences will be remembered or forgotten. Hippocampus 1999;9:35–44. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Effects of a Stretcher-Carry Harness on Soldier Performance: Carrying from a Remote Area

This study investigated whether the use of a shoulder harness and team size would affect stretcher-carry performance and post-carry rifle marksmanship and fine-motor coordination following a carry from a remote site. Soldiers (12 male and 11 female) carried stretchers in two-and four-person teams, with and without a shoulder harness. Soldiers carried a stretcher at 4.8 km/hr for as long as possible, up to 30 min. Soldiers fired at targets and completed a fine-motor coordination task before and after each carry. Analysis of Variance and post-hoc Newman-Keuls Comparison of Means revealed significant rifle shooting impairments after stretcher-carrying (p < 0.001). Men carried the stretcher longer than women (p < 0.0001). Harness use and carrying in four-person teams prolonged carry time for both men and women, without decreasing shooting accuracy. Completion of a fine-motor coordination task was faster after using a harness vs a hand carry (p = 0.03) and working in four vs two-person teams (p < 0.02). Heart ...
The Use of Qualitative Research Methods in Student Affairs: A Practical Guide:

This article is based on two original qualitative research case studies that examined the contentious issue of domestic minority student retention (one from a public and one from a private institutional perspective). It has been written exclusively for mid-level student affairs administrators who have an interest in receiving practical, yet ethical means of gathering and monitoring information. The article will describe what qualitative research is in theory and how mid-level administrators can best use it to aid them in enriching their understanding of the deep complexities of the student clientele. The article will be in the form of a conceptual module and guide to better aid the reader in initiating such a process appropriate to their own departmental needs.
La Ruse du Diable: Jacques Cazotte, Le Diable Amoureux

DA, nouvelle fantastique, est aussi une nouvelle sur le fantastique. C. met en question le statut de la fiction et sonde les rapports entre illusion et realite.
Exploring Stakeholder Value Models via Interactive Visualization

Abstract In the design of complex systems, models can be used to predict a future system's performance as well as approximate stakeholder preferences on performance. This paper examines the problem of model truthfulness and the challenge of trusting models, with a focus on value models and how they are used to predict stakeholder preferences. A framework is proposed for the analysis of these issues (truthfulness and trust), which is used to discuss the relationship between models and decision outcomes. Interactive visualization is proposed as an efficient and effective method for increasing model truthfulness and model trust, and hence making better decisions. An interactive visualization tool is also presented, and an application of the tool to a complex decision case is discussed.
Neonatal encephalitis and white matter injury: More than just inflammation?

In this issue of the Annals, Verboon-Maciolek and coworkers show that human parechovirus (HPeV), specifically HPeV3, is an important cause of neonatal viral encephalitis.1 The six serotypes of HPeVs that are included in the genus Parechovirus are small single-stranded (ss) RNA viruses belonging to the family Picornaviridae.2, 3 These viruses bear many similarities with another and better-known Picornaviridae genus, Enterovirus (EV). Indeed, the genus Parechovirus began with the reclassification of echovirus 21 and 22 as HPeV1 and HPeV2 because of molecular and genetic differences from the remainder of EV. These differences are important because they explain, in part, why the usual polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for EV does not detect HPeV. Thus encephalitic infection by HPeV3 has been overlooked in the past, one important point of the current article. (Neonatal encephalitis by other HPeV subtypes is extremely rare and not discussed further.) The encephalitis caused by HPeV3 infection as well as by EV is associated with neonatal seizures and with apparent cerebral white matter injury.1, 4 The current report has important implications concerning the etiology of neonatal viral encephalitis, the differential diagnosis of neonatal seizures, and the pathology and pathophysiology of the white matter injury.
Rapid Reversal of San Luis Pumping - Generating Units

The changeover of a reversible pump?generating unit from full-load pumping to full-load generating has been accomplished in the unusually short time of 27 seconds. Comparison of this mode of operation, called rapid reversal, to more usual operations is made and control details are outlined. Application of this mode of operation can improve the contribution of a pumping?generating plant during power system emergencies.
Monolithic folded resonator for evanescent wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy

An optical resonator is characterized that employs both ultrahigh-reflective coated surfaces and total internal reflection to enable cavity ringdown spectroscopy of surfaces, films, and liquids. The monolithic folded design possesses a polarization-independent finesse that allows polarization-dependent phenomena, such as molecular orientation, to be probed. Although a restricted bandwidth (∼15% of the design wavelength) results from use of reflective coatings, the resonator provides high sensitivity and facile operation. A minimum detectable absorption of 2.2 × 10-6 was obtained for single laser shots by use of multimode excitation at 530 nm with an excimer-pumped, pulsed dye laser.
On the Semiannual Variation of Geomagnetic Activity and its Relation to the Solar Corpuscular Radiation

The semiannual variation of geomagnetic activity has been in the past tentatively explained by two different theories, the so-called equinoctial hypothesis and the axial hypothesis. The latter relates the effect to the inclination of the sun's axis with respect to the sun-earth line, i.e., to the annual variation of the heliographic latitude of the earth. From a reexamination of the data for geomagnetic activity calculated by Bartels (1932, 1940) there is a strong modulation of the amplitude of the semiannual variation during the eleven year period of the solar cycle, which is apparently related to the heliographic latitudes of the sunspot-zones and provides indirect sup port for the axial hypothesis. The amplitude of the modulation is 13% during the increasing phase of solar activity, when the mean sunspot latitude is 20 deg ; it reaches 27% during the late decreasing phase when the mean sunspot latitude is 10 deg . Three axial-symmetric models are derived, which give the statistical distribution of the solar particle flux for three different 3-yr periods during the solar cycle according to mean sunspot-latitudes of 20 deg ,15 deg and 10 deg . The distribution in heliographic latitude is given by two Gaussian functions centered atmore » the heliographic latitudes of the active zones, as defined by the mean latitudes of the sunspots. These models explain the observed semiannual geomagnetic variations, except for a phase-lag of 20 to 30 days. We suggest that a semiannual density variation of charged solar particles which are trapped in the earth's magnetosphere can provide the required phaselag mechanism. This implies a lifetime for these particles of the order of one month. The models can also provide a quantitative explanation of the observed delay of geomagnetic activity behind solar activity during the 11-yr cycle. Furthermore, they are in reasonable agreement with preliminary results on the statistical latitude distribution of comets with ionized tails. A space probe in a heliocentric orbit is proposed in order to obtain further evidence on the latitude distribution of solar particle streams. (auth)« less
Monitoring of estrous cycle of ewes by ram-seeking behavior.

Abstract For 6 years adult, non-synchronized Hampshire ewes (n=2, 5, 8, 8, 9 and 12) and rams (n=6, 10, 12, 11, 11 and 9) were maintained separately and released to contiguous pastures having in common a woven-wire fence about 80 m long and 1.1 m high. Natural estrous cycles were monitored daily by observations of ram-seeking behavior as defined as a ewe being persistent in staying at the common fence with attention focused on the ram to the virtual exclusion of grazing. Day 0 of the estrous cycle is the first day that ram-seeking is observed. One hundred and thirty four fence stays and 115 estrous cycles have been observed. For cycles falling within the normal range, the mean cycle duration (±SE) was 16.53±0.03 days. During the first four study years, a copulation test with an intact ram, carried out on a spot-check basis, indicated that all tested ewes showing ram-seeking, except one, were in estrus. Ram-seeking never occurred outside of the estrous period of the cycle. During the fifth year, daily copulation tests with an intact ram and daily observations for ram-seeking has indicated that estrus generally lasts about two days while ram-seeking lasts for one of these days, so that the two behaviors while overlapping are not coextensive. During the sixth year, daily copulation tests with a vasectomized ram showed again a partial coincidence of the two behaviors, but also that occasionally they appeared to have the same duration. It is concluded that the utilization of ram-seeking provides an alternative, practical means to monitor the estrous cycle.
Kinesthetic media: touch, toys & interactive materials

The Tangible Media Group at the MIT Media Lab has done a series of investigations into new multi-modal interactive toys and interfaces that utilize gesture and the sense of touch to improve interpersonal communication, education, and access to digital information. Our vision is to improve people's access to computers by creating computational media that take advantage of existing skills people have developed through working with physical objects [Ishii and Ullmer 1997]. Kinesthetic media are computational toys and materials that use movement to support communication and learning through physical interaction. This article will survey the design and motivations for kinesthetic media through two example projects, Topobo and Super Cilia Skin: an Interactive Membrane.
A coupled solar wind-magnetosphere–ionosphere model for determining the ionospheric penetration electric field

Abstract The transpolar potential Φpc may be estimated from the solar wind as measured by the advanced composition explorer (ACE) satellite at the first Lagrangian point L1. In our model, the transpolar potential drives the region-1 (J1) currents through the ionosphere consistent with a solar-dependent ionospheric conductance. It is shown that the ionospheric potential may be derived from an equivalent Poisson equation, the solution of which gives the global distribution of the ionospheric electric field, including the penetration electric field near the equator. This eastward penetration electric field just past sunset, which is created by J1, is offset by a region-2 (J2) generated westward (shielding) electric field with an unknown rise time. We find that there is a correlation between storm-time potential enhancements and the presence of equatorial bubbles as measured on DMSP satellites. The magnetic storms of 6–7 April 2000 and 20–21 November 2003 are analyzed. In both cases, the observed presence of equatorial plasma bubbles showed better agreement with model predictions using a longer J2 rise time, consistent with Huang et al. [Huang, C.-S., Foster, J., Kelley, M.C., 2005. Long-duration penetration of the interplanetary electric field to the low-latitude ionosphere during the main phase of magnetic storms. Journal of Geophysical Research 110(A11309), doi:10.1029/2005JA011202 ].
Performance Analysis of Hydrostatic Slideways Systems with Different Types of Restrictors

In fluid hydrostatic closed-type slideways systems, restrictor will take an important role of improving the performance of machine tools. Generally there are four types of restrictors to be utilized, capillary type, orifice type, slot type, and dynamic feedback type. The general oil film stiffness model of different types of restrictors was constructed and the characteristics of different types of restrictors are analyzed and compared. The analysis results demonstrated that the stiffness of restrictors depend on the geometry and structure parameters, and according to the analysis results the all types of restrictors can be designed optimally.
Design of Peptide Analogues with Improved Activity Using a Novel de Novo Protein Design Approach

Recent advances in the treatment of the peptide design problem have led to the ability to select novel sequences given the structure of a peptide backbone. Despite these breakthroughs, issues relat...
A new ovitrap made of slow release natural materials containing pyriproxyfen for Aedes aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae) control.

ABSTRACT This initial study is aimed to measure the performance of incorporating pyriproxyfen in natural materials with low environmental impact to obtain slow release formulations that can be used as larvicidal or autocidal ovitraps avoiding hatched Aedes aegypt. (L.) eggs to emerge as adults. Hollow candles made of beeswax or paraffin:stearin 1:1 mixture containing pyriproxyfen 0.01 and 0.05% were prepared and used as holding water containers for larval bioassay. Pyriproxyfen was released quickly into the larvae-breeding water. Ae. aegypt. larvae were introduced immediately after the addition of tap water to the hollow candles (. = 1 min) or after 1, 4, and 8 h. More than 40% of the larvae did not emerge as adults for . = 1 min, reaching 80–100% when the larvae were added after 1 or 4 h, respectively. The hollow candles were kept at room temperature, and water was replaced every 15d. Bioassays performed every 30 d showed that the residual activity obtained for both matrices and both concentrations of py...
Calcium Waves Rule and Divide Radial Glia

Radial glial proliferation is a critical step in the construction of cerebral cortex. In this issue of Neuron, Weissman and colleagues use time-lapse calcium imaging techniques to demonstrate that spontaneous calcium waves sweeping through cohorts of radial glia in the ventricular zone can modulate their proliferation during cerebral cortical development.
Preventing nosocomial influenza by improving the vaccine acceptance rate of clinicians.

Objectives: To assess the effects of interventions to prevent transmission of influenza and to increase employee compliance with influenza vaccination. Design: The change in the proportion of hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed nosocomial influenza was observed over time and assessed using chi-square for trend analysis. The association between nosocomial influenza in patients and healthcare worker (HCW) compliance with vaccine was assessed by logistic regression. Setting: A 600-bed, tertiary-care academic hospital. Methods: After an outbreak of influenza A at this hospital in 1988, a mobile cart program was instituted with increased efforts to motivate employees to be vaccinated and furloughed when ill as well as new measures to prevent nosocomial spread. Results: HCW vaccination rates increased from 4% in 1987–1988 to 67% in 1999–2000 (P < .0001). Proportions of nosocomially acquired influenza cases among employees or patients both declined significantly (P < .0001). Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant inverse association between HCW compliance with vaccination and the rate of nosocomial influenza among patients (P < .001). Conclusion: A mobile cart vaccination program and an increased emphasis on HCWs to receive the vaccine were associated with a significant increase in vaccine acceptance and a significant decrease in the rate of nosocomial influenza among patients.
Absorption suppression in photonic crystals

We study electromagnetic properties of periodic composite structures, such as photonic crystals, involving lossy components. We show that in many cases a properly designed periodic structure can dramatically suppress the losses associated with the absorptive component, while preserving or even enhancing its useful functionality. As an example, we consider magnetic photonic crystals, in which the lossy magnetic component provides nonreciprocal Faraday rotation. We show that the electromagnetic losses in the composite structure can be reduced by up to two orders of magnitude, compared to those of the uniform magnetic sample made of the same lossy magnetic material. Importantly, the dramatic absorption reduction is not a resonance effect and occurs over a broad frequency range covering a significant portion of the respective photonic frequency band.
Effect of chloramphenicol and starvation for an essential amino acid on polypeptide and polyribonucleotide synthesis in Escherichia coli infected with bacteriophage T4.

Abstract Escherichia coli 3110 ( leu − , trpE − , suA + ) and E. coli 2054 ( leu − , trpE , suA ) were infected with bacteriophage T4. The effect of chloramphenicol and leucine-depletion on prereplicative transcription was studied. Both conditions resulted in a manyfold reduction in the rate of phage-specific protein synthesis. Chloramphenicol, added 5 min before infection, limited transcription of the viral genome to promoter proximal genes whereas promoter proximal and distal genes were transcribed during leucine-starvation. The size distribution of nascent T4 phage-specific polypeptides was determined by passing extracts of infected cells through columns of G200 Sephadex. Extract proteins were reduced and alkylated prior to chromatography. Polypeptides made in normally infected cells had an average molecular weight of 23,000–26,000. Polypeptides made in leucine-depleted cells had an average molecular weight of 8,000–12,000 compared to an average molecular weight of 1000 for polypeptides made in chloramphenicol-treated hosts. It is proposed that many phage-specific prereplicative transcripts are prematurely terminated in the absence of some minimal amount of concurrent ribosomal movement. These minimal conditions are met during leucine-starvation but not during treatment with chloramphenicol.
Female frog reproductive behavior elicited in the absence of the ovaries.

Abstract A release croak is emitted by unreceptive female frogs when they are clasped around the trunk; receptive females are silent. In one experiment, ovariectomized females given estradiol and/or progesterone continued to croak at a rate equivalent to that of unreceptive females. In another experiment, the frequency of emission of the croak was reduced significantly by artificial distension of ovariectomized females with fluid. These experiments fail to show a role for ovarian steroids in the reproductive behavior of the female frog, and demonstrate that breeding behavior can be induced in female frogs in the absence of ovarian hormones. These results are consistent with the interpretation that the release croak is inhibited by a mechanism that involves water uptake.
Dehydroepiandrosterone in morbidly obese adolescents: effects on weight, body composition, lipids, and insulin resistance.

The hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to have beneficial effects on obesity, diabetes mellitus, and serum lipids in animal studies, but results in human studies are less clear. We conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to determine the effects of DHEA treatment on obesity and related physiologic conditions in adolescents and young adults. In this 10-week study, 13 morbidly obese subjects received a placebo for 2 weeks. After this run-in period, patients were randomized, with seven subjects (mean age, 15.5 years; body mass index [BMI, derived by dividing body weight in kilograms by height in meters squared], 48.2 +/- 9.7 [mean +/- SD]) receiving DHEA 40 mg sublingually twice daily for 8 weeks and six subjects (mean age, 18.0 years; BMI, 52.9 +/- 14) receiving placebo. Variables measured included body weight, body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), serum lipid levels, insulin sensitivity, and serum steroid levels. Treatment with DHEA resulted in a statistically significant increase in plasma DHEA and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations (P < .01). Testosterone (T) levels were significantly increased in females who received DHEA. DHEA administration had no effect on body weight, sense of well-being, or any other measured variables. These findings suggest that DHEA 40 mg administered sublingually twice daily for 8 weeks has no positive effect on body weight, body composition, serum lipids, or insulin sensitivity in extremely obese adolescents and young adults.
Theoretical investigation of phenomena in the closed Raman-driven four-level symmetrical model

We construct a solution to the linear complex absorption coefficient for the closed Raman-driven four-level symmetrical model. We derive, from this solution, asymptotic expressions for the spectra around and away from the two-photon resonance in the absence as well as in the presence of the Doppler broadening. They are used for the derivations of analytical conditions and the discussion of the physical origins of various phenomena that do not appear in the traditional two-level system.
Effect of phosphorus fertilizer on A values for soils cropped with winter wheat

The effect of successive annual fertilizer P applications (30 kg P ha−1yr−1) on A values (plant availability) for four soils cropped with winter wheat, was investigated over a four-year period under field conditions in the Southern Plains, USA, using P-32 as a tracer. With successive annual fertilizer P applications, winter wheat dry matter yield and A value increased. This increase was linear for wheat yield on each soil (r2=0.77 to 0.97). For A value, the increase was a positive linear function of residual Bray-I P (r2=0.99 to 1.00) and a negative linear function of P-sorption index of the soil (r2=0.94 to 0.98). This was attributed to the fact that continued fertilizer P applications, by decreasing P-sorption index, increased amounts of available P. Consequently, utilization of fertilizer P decreased with successive applications and A value, thus, represents total soil P availability, including native and residual (carry over) fertilizer P. These results confirm earlier suggestions that the A value may be used as a quantitative measurement of environmental and soil factors influencing P availability.
Characterization of ragweed pollen extracts prepared by sonication and other methods.

Abstract Extracts of ragweed pollen were prepared by stirring for 48 hours, homogenization, or sonication, and by various combinations of these methods. The extracts were compared with respect to protein yield and to degree and stability of skin-sensitizing activity in ragweed-sensitive patients. Compared with the usual method of extraction by stirring, both homogenization and sonication proved to be highly efficient, rapid methods with respect to all criteria evaluated. A decrease in allergenic activity was observed in all extracts during storage over a 20 day period. Following fractionation of extracts on Sephadex G-25 and G-100 columns, most of the skin-sensitizing activity was found in protein fractions with a molecular weight between 5,000 and 70,000, although some activity resided also in a fraction of low molecular weight.
Comparative evaluation of two indexing methods using judges

A methodolgy is presented for evaluating indexing resulting from two different indexing procedures. The evaluation is accomplished by asking a panel of judges to rate the indexing for a given document on a five point scale. The ratings are made on the basis of (1) the appropriateness of the terms to the documents and (2) the usefulness of the terms as access points for the documents. Results of an experiment using this evaluation method are also presented.
Dominance hierarchy in a herd of female eland antelope (Taurotragus oryx) in captivity

The dominance hierarchy of a group of adult female elands (n=10) kept in captivity was followed for 34 months. Outcomes of dominance relationships at the beginning and end of the study were compared. A clear dominance hierarchy existed in the herd. The dominance pattern was complex, but triads were predominantly (95%) transitive or linear. Reversal of dominance occurred in 12 dyads (27%), of which eight (67%) involved a single female. Two females shared the most dominant rank at the beginning of the study. One of these two females and another female later assumed the highest dominance rank on different occasions. A single female remained most subordinate throughout the study period. The correlation between body weight and dominance rank was not significant (r=0.46; P=0.21). Similarly, dominance rank was not associated with the taming potential of the females. However, the median dominance value increased in females with good taming potential, while it decreased in those with poor taming potential. In conclusion, captive eland antelope have a dynamic and complex dominance hierarchy that is predominantly linear. Zoo Biol 23:323–333, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Physical vapor deposition of one-dimensional nanoparticle arrays on graphite: seeding the electrodeposition of gold nanowires.

One-dimensional (1D) ensembles of 2−15 nm diameter gold nanoparticles were prepared using physical vapor deposition (PVD) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) basal plane surfaces. These 1D Au nanoparticle ensembles (NPEs) were prepared by depositing gold (0.2−0.6 nm/s) at an equivalent thickness of 3−4 nm onto HOPG surfaces at 670−690 K. Under these conditions, vapor-deposited gold nucleated selectively at the linear step edge defects present on these HOPG surfaces with virtually no nucleation of gold particles on terraces. The number density of 2−15 nm diameter gold particles at step edges was 30−40 μm-1. These 1D NPEs were up to a millimeter in length and organized into parallel arrays on the HOPG surface, following the organization of step edges. Surprisingly, the deposition of more gold by PVD did not lead to the formation of continuous gold nanowires at step edges under the range of sample temperature or deposition flux we have investigated. Instead, these 1D Au NPEs were used as nucleation ...
Oil as a Lubricant in the Ancient Middle East

There is a significant interest toward the history of tribology in both engineering and historical communities. However, there is a gap between engineers and historians in their approach to the topic, and existing literature sometimes overlooks various cultural influences, in particular, oriental ones, which affected the tribological science and technology. We consider the early history of lubrication and show that while the evidences of usage of lubricants (water, gypsum, and animal fats) in Ancient Egypt in 2nd-3rd millennia BC are hypothetic, rather than established facts, the Hebrew Bible contains earliest records of using oil as a lubricant. In particular, the account of rubbing the shield of King Saul (11th century BC) is discussed as well as other similar cases. These findings allow us to better understand the universal nature of history of science and technology as a multicultural phenomenon.