cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MAPPING THE “SOCIAL FIELD OF WHITENESS”: WHITE RACISM AS HABITUS IN THE CITY WHERE HISTORY LIVES

In contemporary studies of blackness, scholars are responding to the need for more nuanced representations of everyday life to illustrate the commonalities and divergence of negotiating whiteness. In this essay, I situate the Gullah/Geechee within ongoing struggles for accurate representation and access to power across the contested landscapes of the “New South.” More specifically, I interrogate three economic strategies of urban development—urban renewal, historic preservation, and heritage tourism—as contemporary manifestations of white racism. I begin by defining the Gullah/Geechee as a cultural group within their own situated predicament. Next, I operationalize “the social field of whiteness” and “white racism as habitus” as tools for the subsequent discussion. Finally, I zoom in for a closer look at Charleston, South Carolina, as a local site of this increasingly global process. Throughout this essay, I demonstrate how these particular strategies of urban development serve as “security checkpoints” in the maintenance of race-based inequality across the broader “social field of whiteness.”
Phasically unpatterned nervous control of dipteran flight

Abstract The motor command to the myogenic flight muscles of flies can be phasically unpatterned. That is, during steady flight the activity of the individual neurons does not maintain a special phase relationship to the wing movements. Maintained phase relations are also not seen in comparisons between simultaneous trains of spikes in different muscles. From these observations it is argued that information for gradation of flight parameters is probably conducted to the flight muscles by a frequency-modulated pulse code in which specific timing of any one impulse is unimportant. Our records show an increase in frequency of nervous stimulation to the power muscles when wingbeat frequency increases. It is suggested that in other oscillatory systems control of frequency, amplitude, and phase relationships may be due to tonic modulation of the pattern rather than specific phasic effects.
Antiplatelet agents and survival: a cohort analysis from the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction (SOLVD) trial.

Abstract Objectives. This study sought to evaluate the relation between antiplatelet agent (APA) use and survival and morbidity from cardiac disease in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. Background. APAs play an important role in the prevention and treatment of coronary disease. Their effects in patients with LV systolic dysfunction are unknown. Methods. We reviewed data on APA use in 6,797 patients enrolled in the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction (SOLVD) trial and analyzed the relation between their use and all-cause mortality as well as the combined end point of death or hospital admission for heart failure (HF). We used Cox regression to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics and to test for the interaction between APA use and selected patient variables in relation to outcome. Results. APA use (46.3% of patients) was associated with significantly reduced mortality from all causes (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73 to 0.92, p = 0.0005) and reduced risk of death or hospital admission for HF (adjusted HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.89, p Conclusions. In patients with LV systolic dysfunction, use of APAs is associated with improved survival and reduced morbidity. This association is retained after adjustment for baseline characteristics. APA use is associated with retained but reduced benefit from enalapril.
Shape and Composition Map of a Prepyramid Quantum Dot

We present a theory for the shape, size, and nonuniform composition profile of a small prepyramid island in an alloy epitaxial film when surface diffusion is much faster than deposition and bulk diffusion. The predicted composition profile has segregation of the larger misfit component to the island peak, with segregation enhanced by misfit strain and solute strain but retarded by alloy solution thermodynamics. Vertical composition gradients through the center of the island due to this mechanism are on the order of $2%/\mathrm{nm}$ for ${\mathrm{Ge}}_{X}{\mathrm{Si}}_{1\ensuremath{-}X}/\mathrm{Si}$ and $10--15%/\mathrm{nm}$ for ${\mathrm{In}}_{X}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}X}\mathrm{As}/\mathrm{GaAs}$.
Polyoma virus infection in neonatally thymectomized hamsters.

Inoculation of polyoma virus into weanling hamsters, thymectomized as neonates, has resulted in the production of tumors. In contrast, the sham operated litter mates developed no demonstrable neoplasms over a 12–18 month period of observation. Thus, it has been confirmed in these studies that neonatal thymectomy may render some resistant animals susceptible to the effects of an oncogenic virus.
Variability of Mobile Source Air Toxic Emissions Factors with MOBILE6.2

This paper documents the ranges of mobile source air toxic (MSAT) emissions factors produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's MOBILE6.2 model because of changes in a variety of input parameters. These include calendar year, ambient temperature, fuel (gasoline) Reid vapor pressure (RVP), and vehicle speed. The variability of MSAT emissions factors is more than an order of magnitude. They are the most sensitive to changes in calendar year. For hydrocarbon-based MSATs (i.e., acetaldehyde, acrolein, benzene, butadiene, and formaldehyde), significant decreases in emissions factors can be realized by mitigating congested vehicle speeds. The variability is less for changes in temperature and changes in fuel RVP with moderate temperature. The emissions factors for diesel particulate matter change only as a function of calendar year and are not sensitive to changes in vehicle speed, temperature, or fuel RVP.
Analysis of ecological time series with ARMA(p,q) models

Autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models are useful statistical tools to examine the dynamical characteristics of ecological time-series data. Here, we illustrate the utility and challenges of applying ARMA(p,q) models, where p is the dimension of the autoregressive component of the model, and q is the dimension of the moving average component. We focus on parameter estimation and model selection, comparing both maximum likelihood (ML) and restricted maximum likelihood (REML) parameter estimation. While REML estimation performs better (has less bias) than ML estimation for ARMA(p,q) models with p = 1 (as has been found previously), for models with p > 1 the performance of the estimators is complicated by multimodal likelihood functions. The resulting difficulties in estimation lead to our recommendation that likelihood functions be routinely investigated when applying ARMA(p,q) models. To aid this investigation, we provide MATLAB and R code for the ML and REML likelihood functions. We further explore t...
Structural Characterization of the Condensation Polymer of Dipyridine Manganese II Dichloride with 1,3-Di-4-piperidy I propane

Abstract The synthesis of polymers derived from the condensation of dipyridine manganese II dichloride with 1,3-di-4-piperidylpro-pane is described. Structural analysis of the polyamines is detailed utilizing results based on infrared, thermal, elemental and solution analyses.
TU-G-220-02: Quantitative Ultrasound Imaging: A Historical Persective

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) analysis attempts to gain further understanding of tissuepathology through analysis of the underlying echo signals. QUS is effectively as old as medicalultrasound imaging. A notable example is the initial application of ultrasound to breast tissue. The developers concurrently attempted to differentiate between benign and malignant tissues through an analysis of the echo signals they saw. There have been a many “successes” and a few “failures” during QUS development, but there has been a great deal of progress in QUS methods. Although Lord Rayleigh described the basics of acoustics in the late 1800's, tissue classification with QUS requires a more detailed analysis of wave propagation in tissue. Modern methods more accurately model the interaction of an acoustic wave propagating in inhomogeneous media (like tissue) and more use more sophisticated models of tissue. We (the UW‐Madison Ultrasound Group) and our collaborators (at the University of Illinois, University of Iowa, Intrermountain Healthcare, Duke, Boston University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), as well as many others around the world, are actively developing QUS methods. The goals of this presentation are to provide a description of some of the key underlying physical principles involved in QUS, some of the key successes and notable failures. From this, it is clear that a rigorous understanding of both the underlying physical principles and basic biology are necessary for maximizing the potential of QUS techniques. Further, the motivation for system‐independent QUS parameter descriptions of tissue will be presented. The prospects for the future development and application of QUS methods are very encouraging. Current clinical ultrasound systems provide higher center frequency, broader bandwidth, and lower noise echo signals, and these lead to improved QUS accuracy and precision. Some of those developments will also be highlighted. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the basic concept of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) analysis 2. Understand the range of QUS parameters that describe tissue properties 3. Understand the desire for system‐independent QUS 4. Begin to appreciate the prospects for clinical application of QUS
Modeling surfactant removal in foam fractionation: I — Theoretical development

Abstract Surfactant removal by foam fractionation was theoretically analyzed by treating surfactant mass transfer from a bulk solution onto a moving bubble as a convective diffusion process. A mathematical model expressing the removal rate as a function of pertinent parameters was developed. The parameters included superficial air velocity, bubble size, bubble rising velocity, surfactant diffusion coefficient, and concentration. The model indicated that surfactant removal can be described as a first-order process whose rate increases with the diffusion coefficient, the superficial air velocity and the surfactant concentration in the bulk solution, but decreases with bubble size and bubble rising velocity. Based on the assumption of a completely mixed reactor within a section of a foam fractionator, a simplified model for foam fractionation under batch operation conditions was also presented. This simplified model provides a theoretical basis according to which the diffusion coefficient of surfactants can be determined and the model itself can be verified with experimental data.
Prediction of fathead minnow acute toxicity of organic compounds from molecular structure.

Interest in the prediction of toxicity without the use of experimental data is growing, and quantitative structure−activity relationship (QSAR) methods are valuable for such predictions. A QSAR study of acute aqueous toxicity of 375 diverse organic compounds has been developed using only calculated structural features as independent variables. Toxicity is expressed as −log(LD50) with the units −log(millimoles per liter) and ranges from −3 to 6. Multiple linear regression and computational neural networks (CNNs) are utilized for model building. The best model is a nonlinear CNN model based on eight calculated molecular structure descriptors. The root-mean-square log(LD50) errors for the training, cross-validation, and prediction sets of this CNN model are 0.71, 0.77, and 0.74 −log(mmol/L), respectively. These results are compared to a previous study with the same data set which included many more descriptors and used experimental data in the descriptor pool.
Synthesis and Molecular Structure of 12-Iodo-1-(4-pentylquinuclidin-1-yl)-1-carba-closo-dodecaborane

Trialkylation of 1-amino-1-carba-closo-dodecaborane with 1-bromo-3,3-bis(2-bromoethyl)octane affords 1-(4-pentylquinuclidin-1-yl)-1-carba-closo-dodecaborane in 29% yield which can then be iodinated to form title compound 1 in 40% yield. The molecular and crystal structure of 1 has been determined by X-ray crystallography [C13H33B11IN, monoclinic P21/c: a = 10.3405(2) A, b = 16.4404(1) A, c = 12.7223(2) A, β = 100.156(1)°, Z = 4]. The structural features of 1 are compared with those in analogous compounds. The B−I bond length (2.196(6) A) is an intermediate value between those found in neutral iodocarboranes and charged B12H11I(−2). NMR data is correlated with the structure of 1 and the additivity of NR3 and halogen substituent effects is tested.
In vivo analysis of cortical amino acid neurotransmitters collected in the rat by a new double lumen push-pull catheter system

Abstract The release of both endogenous and newly synthesized amino acid neurotransmitters was examined simultaneously in different areas of the cerebral cortex in the freely moving rat. An array of push-pull guide tubes was implanted permanently to rest above the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital areas of the cortex of each rat. Then a new double-lumen catheter system, specially adapted for localized push-pull perfusion of the conscious animal, was used to perfuse an artificial cerebrospinal fluid at each cortical site. For the new synthesis experiments, 0.5 μCi of [ 14 C]glucose in a volume of 2.0 μl was first microinjected into the perfusion site as a precursor to label amino acids. After the site was perfused at a rate of 12.0 μ1/min, each of the samples was assayed by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. In a second analysis, the content of six endogenous amino acids present in unlabeled samples of push-pull perfusate was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis with electrochemical detection. The results showed a notable homogeneity among each of the four cortical areas in the content of four of the six amino acids examined. Endogenous glutamine exhibited the highest proportional content in the cortical perfusates whereas glutamic acid was proportionally higher in terms of new synthesis. An anatomical analysis revealed that the level of endogenous glutamic acid in the frontal area was significantly lower than that found in the occipital or temporal regions of the rat's cortex. An opposite result was obtained when the proportional synthesis of glutamic acid from [ 14 C] glucose was compared in different cortical regions in that a statistically higher release occurred in the frontal than in the occipital cortex.
The effect of prison-based college education programs on recidivism: Propensity Score Matching approach

Abstract Purpose Most prior research reports that prison-based college education reduces recidivism, but fails to address the potential problem of self-selection bias. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the true treatment effect of prison-based college education on recidivism. Methods Using data acquired from New York State, we use the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method to control for self-selection bias. The recidivism rate is compared between the treatment and matched comparison group. Also, fixed-effects logistic regression and Cox regression models are utilized to measure the effect of prison-based college programs on recidivism. Results We find that the recidivism rates within three years after release for college program completers and a PSM derived comparison group were 9.4% and 17.1% respectively. However, the recidivism rate for a comparison group not derived by the PSM method was more than double the rate of the PSM derived comparison group. Fixed-effects logistic regression and Cox regression models also confirm that prison-based college programs have a positive effect on reducing recidivism. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that inflated estimates of the treatment effect may result when research does not take self-selection bias into account and apply appropriate methods to compensate for that bias.
Glucocorticoid binding to solubilized components of human placental trophoblast membranes

Abstract We have recently described glucocorticoid uptake by human placental membrane vesicles which is specific, saturable and has a low K (7 nM). This paper describes solubilization of these vesicles with Triton x-100 and successful demonstration of glucocorticoid binding to the putative transport site. This was accomplished by analysis of corticosterone binding to the 140,000 × g supernatant of solubilized vesicles using G-75 Sephadex chromatography. The amount of bound corticosterone present in the void volume was proportional to the concentration of solubilized vesicles. The specificity of binding was tested by coincubation of tritiated corticosterone with 100-fold excesses of various steroids. The relative ability of various steroids to inhibit binding was corticosterone=pregesterone- >aldosterone. Triamcinolone acetonide, and estradiol were ineffective competitors. We conclude from these studies that human placental membranes contain glucocorticoid-specific binding sites which can be solubilized with Triton x-100. It is possible that these sites are involved in membrane mediated transport of glucocorticoids by this tissue.
Evaluation of External-Cavity Diode Lasers for Raman Spectroscopy

We have evaluated the suitability of two commercial external-cavity, tunable diode lasers (tuning range approximately 770-800 nm) for use as Raman excitation sources. The tests consisted of relatively long-term (up to 14 h) measurements of wavelength and power stability as well as measurements of reproducibility of emission wavelength during repeated on/off cycling. We find that, for both tested lasers, the external cavity configuration either eliminates or dampens
Spontaneous perforation of the small intestine due to scleroderma.

We have described a 42-year-old black woman with scleroderma who developed spontaneous perforation of the terminal ileum due to complete collagenous involvement of the bowel wall. Spontaneous intestinal perforation represents a rare complication of scleroderma which can be initially mistaken for pseudoobstruction.
Evaluating adaptive resource management for distributed real-time embedded systems

A challenging problem faced by researchers and developers of distributed real-time and embedded (DRE) systems is devising and implementing effective adaptive resource management strategies that can meet end-to-end quality of service (QoS) requirements in varying operational conditions. This paper presents two contributions to research in adaptive resource management for DRE systems. First, we describe the structure and functionality of the Hybrid Adaptive Resource management Middleware (HyARM), which provides adaptive resource management using hybrid control techniques for adapting to workload fluctuations and resource availability. Second, we evaluate the adaptive behavior of HyARM via experiments on a DRE multimedia system that distributes video in real-time. Our results indicate that HyARM yields predictable, stable, and high system performance, even in the face of fluctuating workload and resource availability.
Time-resolved optoacoustic measurements of vibrational relaxation rates

A new form of time-resolved optoacoustics is described. In this method a fast piezoelectric transducer placed within a large chamber is used to detect individual condensation and rarefaction components of the acoustic waves generated by the relaxing gas. This technique has been used to measure the relaxation rates of OCS, SF6, ethyl acetate, and azulene in an argon bath.
Surviving the many-person dilemna (abstract only)

If one is to believe our more ingenuous economists and moral gurus, then the game of Prisoner's Dilemma closely, albeit simplistically, models decisions with which we are constantly confronted in our everyday lives. Many times we must choose between strategy C (for Cooperate) and D (for Defect). When two protagonists both choose C, both receive joy; when both elect D they both suffer; but when there is one cooperator and one defector, the cooperator suffers greatly (for being the “sucker”) and the defector receives much joy (displaying a triumphant grimace).For example, consider two politicians each of whom possesses scandalous information concerning the other. If they both keep quiet and cooperatively breathe not a word, they can be reasonably assured of continued high office, worth, say, 3 points each. Mutual defection, both revealing their informations to the press, would result in both retiring from public life and joining the boards of multinational companies, worth, let us say, I point to each. To defect while your opponent cooperates, you should promise confidentiality and then call the National Enquirer. Not only do you survive politically, you can probably expect rapid promotion (5 points). Your erstwhile colleague is in such disgrace that not even a business opening is likely (0 points). We can conveniently diagram these values in the payoff matrix below: YOUR OPPONENT Cooperate Defect Cooperate (3,3) (0,5) YOU Defect (5,0) (1,1)According to Game Theory, strategy D dominates and you should defect. Life, however, goes on and your disgruntled victim is unlikely ever to believe you again. If this game is to be replayed many times over, it is not so clear that Defection is the correct strategy.Robert Axelrod [1984] proposed a tournament. Strategies may be encapsulated in programs designed to choose C or D according to various factors including the history of the tournament. Programs would survive or become extinct depending on how many points they amassed. Perhaps it is reassuring to know that pure selfishness (always Defect) did not triumph.The more successful players were those playing a “Tit-for-Tat” strategy; Cooperate on the first encounter with a new opponent; thereafter copy the opponent's action. A most readable account of this work is by Hofstadter [1983], [1985].Prisoner's Dilemma as described above is a 2-person game. We describe preliminary work on an extension of the above ideas involving a many-person generalization of the game. Results of a tournament among programs written by members of the author's introductory FORTRAN class will be discussed. Many students addressed the problem of finding an appropriate way to generalize the successful “Tit-for-Tat” strategies to the many-player game. Organizing the tournament involved writing an interesting FORTRAN-program-writing program.Those intending to attend this presentation should be prepared to take a quiz.
Predicting Geotechnical Parameters of Sands from CPT Measurements Using Neural Networks

This study develops a system of neural networks for predicting sand parameters such as relative density, coefficient of lateral earth pressure at rest and overconsolidation ratio, based on cone penetration test (CPT) measurements. The proposed system uses backpropagation neural networks for function approximation and probabilistic neural networks for classification. By strategically combining both types of networks, the proposed system is able to predict the sand and other soil parameters accurately without iterative procedures. Being able to estimate the coefficient of lateral earth pressure at rest and overconsolidation ratio is significant because no other CPT-based methods exist that can produce accurate and consistent estimates of these parameters.
Chloroquine reduces neuronal and glial iron uptake.

: The effect of chloroquine, a lysosomotropic agent, on iron uptake into neuronal and glial cell cultures is reported. Chloroquine significantly inhibited iron uptake in both neuronal and glial cells. These findings suggest that iron transport into both neuronal and glial cells is mediated by the transferrin-iron complex.
Con: Glucose priming solutions should not be used for cardiopulmonary bypass

Summary In conclusion, the advantages of glucose-containing CPB priming solutions are quite modest. In contrast, the weight of current evidence strongly supports the notion that hyperglycemia is far more likely to be detrimental than beneficial to a brain challenged by ischemia, especially when there is reperfusion (hypotension or circulatory arrest) or when the brain is normothermic. Because neurologic complications pose such a serious threat to cardiac surgery patients, avoidance of hyperglycemia during surgery and CPB seems prudent at this time. Hence, CPB priming solutions should not contain glucose.
Imaging of the pediatric hand: Soft tissue abnormalities

This review attempts to demonstrate the spectrum of soft tissue masses encountered in the child's hand. The diagnosis may be suggested by the combination of physical exam and radiographs. Frequently the etiology of a soft tissue mass cannot be established by conventional radiographs and further imaging is necessary. MRI by virtue of its ability to provide detailed soft tissue characterization is the preferred method of imaging the problematic soft tissue mass.
A review of satellite altimeter measurement of sea surface wind speed: With a proposed new algorithm

The scheduled February 1985 launch of a radar altimeter aboard the U.S. Navy satellite Geosat has motivated an in-depth investigation of wind speed retrieval from satellite altimeters. The accuracy of sea surface wind speed estimated by the Seasat altimeter is examined by comparison with wind speed estimated by the Seasat scatterometer. The intercomparison is based on globally distributed spatial and temporal averages of the estimated wind speed. It is shown that there are systematic differences between altimeter and scatterometer wind speed estimates. These differences are traced to errors in the Seasat altimeter geophysical data record wind speed algorithm. A new algorithm is proposed which yields consistent estimates from the two satellite sensors. Using this new algorithm, the rms difference between spatial and temporal averages of the two wind speed estimates is less than 1 m/s, and their correlation is greater than 0.9.
Secure Collaboration in a Mediator-Free Distributed Environment

The Internet and related technologies have made multidomain collaborations a reality. Collaboration enables domains to effectively share resources; however it introduces several security and privacy challenges. Managing security in the absence of a central mediator is even more challenging. In this paper, we propose a distributed secure interoperability framework for mediator-free collaboration environments. We introduce the idea of secure access paths which enables domains to make localized access control decisions without having global view of the collaboration. We also present a path authentication technique for proving path authenticity. Furthermore, we present an on-demand path discovery algorithms that enable domains to securely discover paths in the collaboration environment. We implemented a simulation of our proposed framework and ran experiments to investigate the effect of several design parameters on our proposed access path discovery algorithm.
Quality improvement in small office settings: an examination of successful practices

Physicians in small to moderate primary care practices in the United States (U.S.) (<25 physicians) face unique challenges in implementing quality improvement (QI) initiatives, including limited resources, small staffs, and inadequate information technology systems 23,36. This qualitative study sought to identify and understand the characteristics and organizational cultures of physicians working in smaller practices who are actively engaged in measurement and quality improvement initiatives. We undertook a qualitative study, based on semi-structured, open-ended interviews conducted with practices (N = 39) that used performance data to drive quality improvement activities. Physicians indicated that benefits to performing measurement and QI included greater practice efficiency, patient and staff retention, and higher staff and clinician satisfaction with practice. Internal facilitators included the designation of a practice champion, cooperation of other physicians and staff, and the involvement of practice leaders. Time constraints, cost of activities, problems with information management and or technology, lack of motivated staff, and a lack of financial incentives were commonly reported as barriers. These findings shed light on how physicians engage in quality improvement activities, and may help raise awareness of and aid in the implementation of future initiatives in small practices more generally.
Dielectric properties of aerogels

We have measured the real (dielectric constant) and imaginary (loss factor) components of the complex relative permittivity at 298 K using microwave frequencies (2, 10, and 18–40 GHz) for bulk SiO2-aerogels and for two types of organic aerogels, resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) and melamine-formaldehyde (MF). Measured dielectric constants are found to vary linearly between values of 1.0 and 2.0 for aerogel densities from 10 to 500 kg/m3. For the same range of densities, the measured loss tangents vary linearly between values of 2 × 10−4 and 7 × 10−2. The observed linearity of the dielectric properties with density in aerogels at microwave frequencies shows that their dielectric behavior is more gas-like than solid-like. The dielectric properties of aerogels are shown to be significantly affected by the adsorbed water internal to the bulk material. For example, water accounts for 70% of the dielectric constant and 70% of the loss at microwave frequencies for silica aerogels. Because of their very high porosity, even with the water content, the aerogels are among the few materials exhibiting such low dielectric properties. Our measurements show that aerogels with greater than 99% porosity have dielectric constants less than 1.03; these are the lowest values ever reported for a bulk solid material.
The Life and Death of Desegregation Policy in Wake County Public School System and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools:

The state of North Carolina is one of few states in the South in which two large districts committed to desegregating schools in the early 1970s. However, the state’s two largest districts, Charlot...
Andean, Tibetan, and Ethiopian patterns of adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia.

Synopsis Research on humans at high-altitudes contributes to understanding the processes of human adaptation to the environment and evolution. The unique stress at high altitude is hypobaric hypoxia caused by the fall in barometric pressure with increasing altitude and the consequently fewer oxygen molecules in a breath of air, as compared with sea level. The natural experiment of human colonization of high-altitude plateaus on three continents has resulted in two—perhaps three—quantitatively different arterial-oxygen-content phenotypes among indigenous Andean, Tibetan and Ethiopian high-altitude populations. This paper illustrates these contrasting phenotypes by presenting evidence for higher hemoglobin concentration and percent of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin among Andean highlanders as compared with Tibetans at the same altitude and evidence that Ethiopian highlanders do not differ from sea-level in these two traits. Evolutionary processes may have acted differently on the colonizing populations to cause the different patterns of adaptation. Hemoglobin concentration has significant heritability in Andean and Tibetan samples. Oxygen saturation has no heritability in the Andean sample, but does among Tibetans where an autosomal dominant major gene for higher oxygen saturation has been detected. Women estimated with high probability to have high oxygen saturation genotypes have more surviving children than women estimated with high probability to have the low oxygen saturation genotype. These findings suggest the hypothesis that ongoing natural selection is increasing the frequency of the high saturation allele at this major gene locus.
Flexible waveguide coupling probe for wafer-level optical characterization of planar lightwave circuits

A probe that enables optical coupling to planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) is described. A flexible waveguide is used to form a variable length directional coupler that extracts light from a waveguide in the wafer to the probe. Varying the length enables optimal coupling to be achieved for a wide range of probe-to-waveguide gap, materials, widths and cladding thicknesses present on a chip. In this paper we consider the use of SU-8 polymer as waveguide test probe and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as cladding for the probe. The results indicate that this approach is ideal for characterizing PLC's as the 3dB bandwidth of the probe covers the whole 1300 - 1700 nm fiber-optic telecommunication range. Coupling length control in the range of 50 - 200 mm leads to maximum coupling in excess of 80% for the range of conditions investigated.
Genetic mapping of the sex-linked barring gene in the chicken.

The sex-linked barring gene of the chicken (Gallus gallus), first identified in 1908, produces an al- ternating pattern of white and black bars in the adult plumage. More recent studies have shown that melano- cytes in the developing feather follicle of the Barred Plymouth Rock experience premature cell death, whereas initially it was thought that melanocytes re- mained viable in the region of the feather devoid of pigmentation but were simply inhibited from synthesiz- ing melanin. In an attempt to reconcile these 2 different hypotheses at the molecular level, we have taken a gene mapping approach to isolate the sex-linked barring gene variant. We developed a mapping population consisting of 71 F 2 chickens from crossing a single Barred Plym- outh Rock female with a White Crested Black Polish male. Existing and novel microsatellite markers located on the chicken chromosome Z were used to genotype all individuals in our mapping population. Single marker association analysis revealed a 2.8-Mb region of the dis- tal q arm of chicken chromosome Z to be significantly associated with the barring phenotype (P < 0.001). Further analysis suggests that the causal mutation is located within a 355-kb region showing complete as- sociation with the barring phenotype and containing 5 known genes (micro-RNA 31 (miRNA-31), methylth- ioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2B (CDKN2B), tripartite motif 36 (TRIM36), and protein geranylgeranyltransferase type I, β subunit (PGGT1B)), none of which have a defined role in normal melanocyte function. Although several of these genes or their homologs are known to be involved in processes that could potentially explain the barring phenotype, our results indicate that further work di- rected at fine-mapping this region is necessary to iden- tify this novel mechanism of melanocyte regulation.
Subthalamic stimulation improves levodopa responsive symptoms in a case of progressive supranuclear palsy

A case is described of a patient with levodopa responsive parkinsonism, dyskinesia, and off periods who underwent bilateral deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nuclei (DBS-STN) with good result. As the disease progressed, the patient fit diagnostic criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy parkinsonism (PSP-P). Benefit of DBS for the parkinsonian phenomena is still apparent 4 years later. That DBS-STN provided targeted symptom relief in this unusual patient suggests that the parkinsonism of PSP-P and that of Parkinson's disease (PD) may share a common pathophysiologic mechanism. The presence of dystonic features in this illness raises the possibility that the globus pallidus might also have been an effective target.
Oligomeric Assembly of Native-like Precursors Precedes Amyloid Formation by β-2 Microglobulin†

The deposition of beta-2-microglobulin (beta2m) as amyloid fibers results in debilitating complications for renal failure patients who are treated by hemodialysis. In vitro, wild-type beta2m can be converted to amyloid under physiological conditions by exposure to biomedically relevant concentrations of Cu(2+). In this work, we have made comparative measurements of the structural and oligomeric changes in beta2m at time points preceding fibrillogenesis. Our results show Cu(2+) mediates the formation of a monomeric, activated state followed by the formation of a discrete dimeric intermediate. The dimeric intermediates then assemble into tetra- and hexameric forms which display little additional oligomerization on the time scales of their own formation ( 1 week). Although Cu(2+) is necessary for the generation and stabilization of these intermediates, it is not required for the stability of mature amyloid fibers. This suggests that Cu(2+) acts as an initiating factor of amyloidosis by inducing oligomer formation. (1)H NMR and near-UV circular dichroism are used to establish that oligomeric intermediates are native-like in structure. The native-like structure and discrete oligomeric size of beta2m amyloid intermediates suggest that this protein forms fibrils by structural domain swapping.
Early and middle holocene soils at the lubbock lake archeological site, Texas

Summary Two buried soils have been identified in early and middle Holocene sediments at the Lubbock Lake site, a well-stratified archeological locality in Yellowhouse Draw, Lubbock County, Texas. The Firstview Soil formed in organic-rich lacustrine and sandy eolian sediments deposited from 11,000 to 8,500 yr B.P. The soil developed from 8,500 to about 6,300 yr B.P. and exhibits O-A-C and A-C profiles. The lacustrine facies (found along the valley axis) has a relatively high organic matter content, contains abundant silicified root remains, and commonly exhibits a gley horizon immediately below the A horizon, indicating that the soil formed in a marsh with the water table at or just below the surface. The soil becomes coarser-grained, better-drained, and weakly calcareous toward the valley margin, reflecting the facies change in parent material. The overlying Yellowhouse Soil formed in highly calcareous lacustrine sediments (along the valley axis) and sandy eolian material (along the valley margin), with deposition and pedogenesis occurring between 6,300 and 5,000 yr B.P. The soil exhibits A-C and sometimes A-B-C profiles. The relatively high organic matter content of the A horizon and minimal leaching of carbonate in the C horizon of the valley-axis facies suggest that the water table was high during pedogenesis. The valley-margin facies of the soil exhibits some evidence of clay illuviation. The contrasting field and chemical characteristics of the valley-axis facies of the two soils and the sedimentological data indicate a sudden change in the water geochemistry and local environmental change. Soils with morphologies, parent material, and age similar to that of the Firstview Soil are not common in valley fills on the Southern High Plains, whereas soils similar to the Yellowhouse Soil are widespread. These data indicate a regional climatic change toward conditions of increased eolian activity, reduced effective moisture, and possibly warmer temperatures.
Results of the third reproductive assessment survey of North American Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana) female elephants.

A written survey assessed reproductive status of female Asian and African elephants in AZA/SSP facilities in 2008, and data were compared to surveys conducted in 2002 and 2005. Results showed that ovarian acyclicity rates across the surveys remained unchanged for Asian (13.3, 10.9 and 11.1%) and African (22.1, 31.2 and 30.5%) elephants, respectively (P>0.05), but were higher overall for African compared to Asian elephants (P 0.05). In summary, incidence of ovarian cycle problems continues to predominantly affect African elephants. Although percentages of acyclicity did not increase between 2005 and 2008, 42.2% Asian and 30.2% African females were no longer being hormonally monitored; thus, reproductive cycle abnormalities could be worse than current data suggest. Zoo Biol 30:699–711, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Use of Field-Based Stable Isotope Probing To Identify Adapted Populations and Track Carbon Flow through a Phenol-Degrading Soil Microbial Community

The goal of this field study was to provide insight into three distinct populations of microorganisms involved in in situ metabolism of phenol. Our approach measured 13CO2 respired from [13C]phenol and stable isotope probing (SIP) of soil DNA at an agricultural field site. Traditionally, SIP-based investigations have been subject to the uncertainties posed by carbon cross-feeding. By altering our field-based, substrate-dosing methodologies, experiments were designed to look beyond primary degraders to detect trophically related populations in the food chain. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), it was shown that 13C-labeled biomass, derived from primary phenol degraders in soil, was a suitable growth substrate for other members of the soil microbial community. Next, three dosing regimes were designed to examine active members of the microbial community involved in phenol metabolism in situ: (i) 1 dose of [13C]phenol, (ii) 11 daily doses of unlabeled phenol followed by 1 dose of [13C]phenol, and (iii) 12 daily doses of [13C]phenol. GC/MS analysis demonstrated that prior exposure to phenol boosted 13CO2 evolution by a factor of 10. Furthermore, imaging of 13C-treated soil using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) verified that individual bacteria incorporated 13C into their biomass. PCR amplification and 16S rRNA gene sequencing of 13C-labeled soil DNA from the 3 dosing regimes revealed three distinct clone libraries: (i) unenriched, primary phenol degraders were most diverse, consisting of α-, β-, and γ-proteobacteria and high-G+C-content gram-positive bacteria, (ii) enriched primary phenol degraders were dominated by members of the genera Kocuria and Staphylococcus, and (iii) trophically related (carbon cross-feeders) were dominated by members of the genus Pseudomonas. These data show that SIP has the potential to document population shifts caused by substrate preexposure and to follow the flow of carbon through terrestrial microbial food chains.
Complex dynamics in repeated impact oscillators

This work deals with a model for repeated impacts of a mass attached to a spring with a massive, sinusoidally vibrating table. This model has been studied in an attempt to understand the cantilever-sample dynamics in atomic force microscopy. In this work, we have shown that for some values of the frequency of the vibrating table, there are countably many orbits of arbitrarily long periods and the system is sensitive to the initial conditions with which the experiments are conducted.
Flow cytometric analysis of cytologic specimens in hematologic disease.

Cytologic evaluation of body fluids and fine needle aspirations (FNA) is frequently required in patients with hematologic diseases. In this study we have correlated immunophenotyping and DNA analysis by flow cytometry with cytologic findings and tissue biopsies from 20 patients with body fluid specimens and 5 with FNA. Nineteen of 25 cases, including all FNA cases, had an immunophenotype consistent with malignancy: 12 monoclonal c the latter 5 cases, including 2 FNA cases, had small monoclonal B-cell populations detected by flow cytometry. Six cases had a benign immunophenotype; cytologic examination was benign in 4 of these and suspicious for lymphoma in 2. Our results show the feasibility of using flow cytometry to evaluate body fluids or FNA and demonstrate that small malignant populations that may be missed by routine cytology can be detected by flow cytometry.
Review: Jean McNiff & Jack Whitehead (2006). All You Need to Know About Action Research

Dieses Buch leistet eine umfassende Ubersicht uber action research: Es werden nutzliche Informationen gegeben zur Durchfuhrung eines action research Projektes, zum Schreiben eines Forschungsberichts und zur Verbreitung der Forschungsergebnisse. Im Besonderen wird gezeigt, wie eine geeignete Forschungsfrage identifiziert und ein Forschungsplan konzipiert werden kann, wie angemessene Verfahren ausgewahlt und wie die Ergebnisse anhand der Daten veranschaulicht werden konnen. Auf diese Weise tragt das Buch zur Rechtfertigung von action research bei und unterstreicht die potenzielle wissenschaftliche Nutzlichkeit dieses Forschungsansatzes. Vieles, was Autoren in der Einfuhrung des Buches versprechen, wird im Buch selbst auch tatsachlich geleistet: Die Stringenz des Buches findet ihren Niederschlag in der logischen Organisation der Schlusselkonzepte. Die einzelnen Kapitel und (Unter-) Abschnitte geben Antworten auf die Fragen, die jeweils zu Beginn aufgerissen werden. Die Verwendung von Beispielen und Fallstudien ist insbesondere hilfreich, um mit den vielen Aspekten vertraut zu machen, die mit "doing action research" notwendig verbunden sind. Dabei richtet sich das Buch eher an Wissenschaftler(innen) mit Praxisbezug als an Praktiker(innen) mit wissenschaftlichem Interesse. Einschrankend ist schlieslich anzumerken, dass es All You Need to Know About Action Research nur begrenzt gelingt, diese Forschungsstrategie in breitere theoretische und interdisziplinare Diskurse einzubetten. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs070382
Modeling multilayer power distribution network by systematically incorporating via and cavity models

A closed-form expression for via barrel-plate capacitances is derived. This results in a more accurate equivalent circuit model for decoupling capacitors including both parasitic inductances and via capacitances. Multilayer power distribution network (PDN) are then analyzed by incorporating the circuit models of both vias and parallel plane pair. Circuit simulator is used to evaluate the coupling properties among various locations in the multilayer PDN structures.
Research methodology in humanistic psychology

Abstract This paper describes the activities of those within APA that have been advocating a change in APA's methodological commitment. American psychology chose to model itself after the physical sciences. As part of this decision the discipline adopted as its own the research methodology that had been developed for the study of natural phenomena. The humanistic psychology movement proposes that psychology should abjure the natural science methodology and replace it with the humanistic methodology.
Polymer tactile sensing array with a unit cell of multiple capacitors for three-axis contact force image construction

In this work, we have implemented a three-axis capacitive tactile sensor using PDMS as a base material. The sensor measures the deformation of PDMS membrane by contact force applied to each cell. In each tactile cell there are four capacitors to decompose the contact force into normal and shear components. In order to measure the shear force, a large bump and a pillar structure have been implemented at the center of the tactile cell structure. The sensor has been realized in an 8 x 8 array of tactile cells and each tactile cell shows respective responses in all three directions. The full scale range of detectable force has been measured less than 10 mN.
Discovery and Characterization of Aryl Isonitriles as A New Class of Compounds versus Methicillin- and Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract Methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and VRSA) have emerged as a global health concern. A new class of compounds featuring an aryl isonitrile moiety has been discovered that exhibits potent inhibitory activity against several clinically-relevant MRSA and VRSA isolates. Structure–activity relationship studies have been conducted to identify the aryl isonitrile group as the key functional group responsible for the observed antibacterial activity. The most potent antibacterial aryl isonitrile analogs (MIC 2 μM) did not show any toxicity against mammalian cells up to a concentration of 64 μM.