cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BATIK SOKARAJA DALAM WACANA TAREKAT ISLAM

penelitian ini mengungkapkan tentang wacana tarekat Islam dapat melekat dalam motif dan ideologi batik tradisional Sokaraja dan batik tradisional Sokaraja dalam mempertahankan identitas di tengah wacana kebutuhan trend dan mode pasar. Penelitian ini merupakan jenis penelitian semi-etnografi, yang di dalamnya mempelajari peristiwa tradisi dan konteksnya, yang menyajikan pandangan hidup subjek penelitian, serta kaitan antara tradisi dengan pemahaman (mind). Hasil penelitian ini, pertama, acana dalam ajaran tarekat tarekat Naqsyabandiyah-Khalidiyah dan Syadziliyah melekat dalam motif dan ideologi batik tradisional Sokaraja. Dominasi tarekat Naqsyabandiyah-Khalidiyah dalam pengaruh pada batik Sokaraja terlihat pada tahun 1950-an ketika Muhammad Rrifaâ€™i Affandi menjdi Ketua Komunitas Batik Banyumasan. Adapun pengusaha yang kebanyakan adalah pengikut yang ikut membatik dalam rangka untuk menghidupi ekonomi keluarga. Wacana ajaran tarekat melekat dalam pola, motif, corak, isen, dan ideologi. Tarekat Naqsyabandiyah-Khalidiyah dapat terlihat dalam nuansa simbolitas unsur-unsur Islam yang cukup kental, sedangkan pengaruh tarekat Syadziliyah lebih mengarah pada unsur alam, terutama tumbuhan. Kedua, etos kerja perajin batik tradisional Sokaraja dalam mempertahankan identitas di tengah wacana kebutuhan trend dan mode pasar ditumbuhkan dengan membuat varian antara batik tulis dengan batik cap. Batik tulis yang harganya mahal ditopang dengan batik cap yang bisa dijangkau oleh kalangan menengah ke bawah. Adapun batik tulis biasanya dibeli dari kalangan menengah ke atas sebagai gaya hidup yang menghargai kualitas, dan nilai-nilai budaya. Walaupun para perajin di era sekarang ini membuat batik dalam pesanan pasar, namun doa dan keyakinan bahwa rezeki datang dari Allah tetap melekat sehingga amalan ibadah tetap dilakukan sesuai dengan ajaran Islam. Dalam keyakinan doa itulah, para perajin meyakini bahwa batik pada keberlimpahruahan ini, rezeki tidak akan tertukar sehingga mereka memiliki semangat untuk berkreasi dengan memunculkan motif baru berdasarkan kekayaan budaya di daerah sekitar.
A Note on the Jewish Tanak and the Christian Old Testament

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph. "In my introductory courses it is not uncommon for students to assume that Jews and Christians share the Old Testament. These students are surprised when I state that Jews have their own canon that is often called the Tanak and that Christians are the ones with the canon called the Old Testament.1 While the canons may contain the same books, the practices and meanings of these communities in relation to the books result in two distinct canons." This faculty essay is available in Verbum: http://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/verbum/vol13/iss2/16
Social Emotional Learning for a College Classroom.

AbstractStudents learn in conjunction with others, and effective teaching and learning incorporates academic, social, and emotional components. Strategies, such as self-compassion training and grat...
What is Phase in Cellular Clocks

Four inter-related measures of phase are described to study the phase synchronization of cellular oscillators, and computation of these measures is described and illustrated on single cell fluorescence data from the model filamentous fungus, Neurospora crassa. One of these four measures is the phase shift ϕ in a sinusoid of the form x(t) = A(cos(ωt + ϕ), where t is time. The other measures arise by creating a replica of the periodic process x(t) called the Hilbert transform x(t), which is 90 degrees out of phase with the original process x(t). The second phase measure is the phase angle FH (t) between the replica x(t) and x(t), taking values between -π and π. At extreme values the Hilbert Phase is discontinuous, and a continuous form FC (t) of the Hilbert Phase is used, measuring time on the nonnegative real axis (t). The continuous Hilbert Phase FC (t) is used to define the phase MC (t 1 ,t 0 ) for an experiment beginning at time t 0 and ending at time t 1. In that phase differences at time t 0 are often of ancillary interest, the Hilbert Phase FC (t 0 ) is subtracted from FC (t 1 ). This difference is divided by 2π to obtain the phase MC (t 1 ,t 0 ) in cycles. Both the Hilbert Phase FC (t) and the phase MC (t 1 ,t 0 ) are functions of time and useful in studying when oscillators phase-synchronize in time in signal processing and circadian rhythms in particular. The phase of cellular clocks is fundamentally different from circadian clocks at the macroscopic scale because there is an hourly cycle superimposed on the circadian cycle.
EHRs could clarify drug safety in pregnant people.

Testing drug safety in people who are pregnant remains a wicked problem, but in the transition toward big data and machine learning, target trials could afford a viable alternative to randomized, controlled trials.
Shock-induced ignition and pyrolysis of high-pressure methane and natural gas mixtures

Abstract A high-pressure shock tube was used to study ignition delay times (IDT) of CH4/O2/Ar and natural gas/O2/Ar mixtures behind reflected shock waves. Reaction progress was monitored using sidewall pressure and direct laser absorption diagnostics of CH4 near 3.175 µm and ethylene near 10.532 µm. Stoichiometric, fuel-rich and fuel-lean mixtures of CH4/O2, highly dilute in argon, were studied over a temperature range from 1450 to 1850 K and pressures between 10 and 55 atm. Of note are the experiments conducted with fuel-rich mixtures, as there is a lack of literature data in this regime. In the current study, the methane absorption diagnostic provided a unique tool enabling both speciation of methane and a clear definition of ignition delay time. In addition to methane oxidation, we have measured ignition delay times of commercial natural gas blends over a temperature range of 1408–1541 K, at pressures near 12 atm, and at an equivalence ratio of 1. To understand the effects of minor constituents (such as ethane and propane) in commercial natural gas blends, ethylene concentration during pyrolysis experiments was monitored using a two-wavelength scheme (10.532 µm and 10.674 µm) using a CO2 gas laser. The deficiency of existing kinetic models towards predicting the high-temperature kinetics of natural gas blends was highlighted through our measurements. Therefore, this study also provides data critical for refining these models. Extensive sensitivity analysis emphasizes the importance of the reaction CH3+C2H6→CH4+C2H5 during natural gas pyrolysis, and the accuracy of the chemical kinetic models is significantly improved by using a revised reaction rate constant (Shao et al. 2019) for this reaction. These measurements extend the test conditions of earlier studies of methane and commercial natural gas.
Abdominal pain in quiescent inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammation is an important driver of abdominal pain in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, some patients in remission still experience pain. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with abdominal pain in quiescent IBD (QP-IBD) and to characterize differences from patients with active disease experiencing pain (AP-IBD). We performed a retrospective analysis utilizing data from our institution’s IBD Natural History Registry (January 1, 2015–August 31, 2018). Endoscopic evaluation, concurrent laboratory studies, and validated surveys were completed by participants. Demographic and clinical data were also abstracted. We recruited 122 patients with quiescent disease (65f:57 m; 93CD:26UC:3Indeterminate) for participation in this study, 74 (60.7%) had QP-IBD. QP-IBD patients were more likely to have anxiety/depression (71.6% vs. 25.0%, p < 0.001) or to use antidepressants (47.3% vs. 22.9%, p < 0.010), opiates (18.9% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.010), other pain medications (50.0% vs. 18.8%, p < 0.010), or corticosteroids (18.9% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.010). On logistic regression analysis, corticosteroid use, anxious/depressed state, and female gender were each independently associated with QP-IBD (p < 0.050 or less). Compared with AP-IBD patients (n = 110, 59f:51 m; 69CD:38UC:3Indeterminate), QP-IBD patients were more likely to use antidepressants (45.6% vs. 26.4%, p < 0.010). Platelet, white blood cell, C-reactive protein, and sedimentation rate levels were all less likely to be elevated in QP-IBD (all p < 0.050), though 44% exhibited pathological elevation in at least one. QP-IBD was independently associated with corticosteroid use, anxiety/depression, and female gender. Compared with AP-IBD, QP-IBD patients were more likely to use antidepressants and less likely to exhibit elevated inflammatory markers. However, many QP-IBD patients still demonstrated pathological elevation of these tests, demonstrating the need to develop new noninvasive screening methods for this condition.
Nicotine Exposure Along with Oral Contraceptive Treatment in Female Rats Exacerbates Post-cerebral Ischemic Hypoperfusion Potentially via Altered Histamine Metabolism

Smoking-derived nicotine (N) and oral contraceptives (OCs) synergistically exacerbate ischemic brain damage in the female, and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Our published study showed that N toxicity is exacerbated by OC via altered mitochondrial electron transport chain function. Because mitochondria play an important role in cellular metabolism, we investigated the global metabolomic profile of brains of adolescent and adult female Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to N with or without OC (N+/−OC). Rats were randomly exposed to saline or N+/−OC for 16–21 days followed by random allocation into two cohorts. The first cohort was used to characterize the cortical metabolome. Pathway enrichment analysis showed a significant increase in several histamine metabolites including 1-methylhistamine, 1-methyl-4-imidazoleacetate, and 1-ribosyl-imidazleacetate, along with carnosine and homocarnosine in adolescent and adult animals treated with N and N+OC in relation to respective saline controls, which may be reflective of altered histamine metabolism with nicotine treatment. We also observed reduced levels of the neurotransmitters N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (NAAG), gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA), and N-methyl-GABA in N+OC treatment in adolescent animals. The second cohort underwent bilateral carotid artery occlusion and hypotension followed by cerebral blood flow (CBF) assessment a day later. Autoradiographic images of the brain 24 h after ischemic episodes showed severe reduction in cortical and hippocampal local CBF in N+/−OC-exposed rats compared with saline treated. Because GABA and histamine are critical for CBF maintenance, altered metabolism of these neurotransmitters may be responsible for observed severe post-ischemic hypoperfusion, which in turn exacerbates ischemic brain damage.
Monotown:: urban dreams brutal imperatives

A monotown (monogorod in Russian) is, as its name suggests, a single-industry town. More specifically, it is a self-contained urban node built ex novo for a solitary industrial enterprise on a remo...
Parent Values and Expectations in Pediatric Upper Extremity Fracture Care

Purpose Most pediatric forearm fractures can be treated non-operatively, however, there is variability with regards to the amount of displacement/angulation that can be accepted. This offers an opportunity for shared decision-making with patients/parents to determine ideal management. The purpose of this study was to assess parents’ expectations and values in pediatric forearm fracture care as part of a shared-decision making paradigm when determining optimal treatment. Methods Patients age 6-14 years who presented to a pediatric orthopaedic outpatient clinic between June 2018-February 2019 after a radius and/or ulna fracture were identified. …
An overview of current and emerging antifungal pharmacotherapy for invasive fungal infections

Introduction: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality despite significant advancements in currently available therapy. With a flush pipeline of investigational antifungals, the clinician must identify appropriate roles of currently available therapies, potential advantages of emerging antifungals, and shortcomings in the evolving clinical evidence.Areas covered: Standard and developing treatment approaches for IFIs with currently available antifungals are summarized with a focus on invasive candidiasis and invasive aspergillosis. Emerging investigational antifungals are discussed in depth, including mechanisms of action, fungal activity, clinical evidence, and ongoing research. An opinion on the impact and potential role of therapy for emerging antifungals of interest is also provided.Expert opinion: Despite advances and clinical studies optimizing antifungal use, current therapies fall short in preventing IFI morbidity and mortality. Further optimization of currently available antifungals may improve outcomes; however, novel agents are required for historically difficult-to-treat infections, transitions to oral treatment, minimizing adverse drug effects, decreasing drug interactions, and ultimately improving patient quality of life. Emerging antifungals may positively revolutionize the treatment of IFIs.
Autologous Fat Grafting for Oncologic Patients: A Literature Review

Autologous fat grafting (AFG) serves as an effective method to address volume defects, contour irregularities, and asymmetry in both aesthetic and reconstructive procedures. In recent years, there has been growing concern about the potential of cancer recurrence and interference with cancer surveillance in oncologic patients receiving AFG. The adipose tissue contains adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), a specific type of mesenchymal stem cells, that facilitate secretion of numerous growth factors which in turn stimulate tissue regeneration and angiogenesis. As such, it has been theorized that ASCs may also have the potential to stimulate cancer cell proliferation and growth when used in oncologic patients. Multiple research studies have demonstrated the ability of ACSs to facilitate tumor proliferation in animal models. However, clinical research in oncologic patients has yielded contradictory findings. Although the literature pertaining to oncologic safety in head and neck, as well as sarcoma, cancer patients remains limited, studies demonstrate no increased risk of tumor recurrence in these patient populations receiving AFG. Similarly, both the efficacy and safety of AFG have been well established in breast cancer patients through numerous clinical studies. More recently, preclinical research in animal models has shown that AFG has the potential to facilitate tissue regeneration and improve joint contracture following irradiation. Ultimately, further research is needed to elucidate the safety of AFG in a variety of oncologic patients, as well as explore its use in tissue regeneration, particularly in the setting of radiotherapy. Level of Evidence: 4.
On “Recycling” Instability of the Scrape-off Layer Plasma

A new type of scrape-off layer plasma instability associated with radial inhomogeneity of plasma density, contact of plasma with conducting material surfaces, and neutral recycling is presented. In order to elucidate the physics of this instability, the simplest possible setup is analyzed.
Modeling Current Distribution Within Conductors and Between Parallel Conductors in High Frequency Transformers

In both planar and wire-wound transformers, large copper cross-sections and parallel windings are often used to increase conduction area and decrease copper loss. However, current is not guaranteed to spread out maximally over the cross-section of a single conductor or to split evenly between parallel conductors. Finite element analysis (FEA) and SPICE-based systems have been used to analyze current distribution within magnetic components, but these methods are computationally intensive and complex. In this paper, we show that Maxwell’s equations, in the high frequency limit, yield a set of linear algebraic equations that are rapidly solvable through a single matrix inversion to yield both the current distribution and the leakage inductance. Due to its simplicity, this method is easily applied to cases with a one-dimensional or two-dimensional distribution of current, as long as the net applied ampere-turns is zero (i.e., magnetizing current is negligible in the case of a two-winding transformer). We show that predicted results match both FEA simulations and experimental measurements very accurately for a variety of cases. This method can be used to rapidly analyze high frequency current distribution in transformers and can easily be integrated into numerical optimization algorithms.
Consequences of Product Trial: Does the Disconfirmation Model Fit?

This paper proposes a model for the consequences of product trial. In particular, the disconfirmation modelof satisfaction is applied in a product trial setting and incorporated with the traditional disconfirmation model ofbrand expectations and attitude formation. The primary objective is to develop a product trial model that can be investigated to begin to ascertain under which conditions product trial can work best.
Successful surgical treatment of craniopharyngioma in very young children.

Object Given the potential morbidity of cranial irradiation in young children, the risk-benefit analysis of limited surgery plus irradiation versus radical resection may favor the latter strategy. The purpose of this study was to assess the oncological, endocrinological, and functional outcomes of patients 5 years of age and younger who underwent radical resection of craniopharyngiomas. Methods Between 1991 and 2008, 19 children age ≤ 5 years were diagnosed with a craniopharyngioma and underwent radical resection by the senior author (J.H.W.). Data were retrospectively collected on these 19 patients (11 males, 8 females; mean age 3.2 years) to assess the efficacy and impact of surgical treatment. Results Eighteen (95%) of 19 patients underwent gross-total resection (GTR) confirmed by intraoperative inspection and postoperative imaging. There was no operative death and 18 of (95%) 19 patients were alive at a mean follow-up of 9.4 years (median 8.3 years). Six patients (31%) had a total of 7 tumor recurrenc...
Electrophoretic studies on the assembly of the nitrogenase molybdenum-iron protein from the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifD and nifK gene products.

Abstract The electrophoretic properties of the molybdenum-iron (MoFe) protein component of nitrogenase and an iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMoco)-reactivatable apoMoFe protein from Klebsiella pneumoniae were examined under anaerobic ([O2] < 5 ppm), nondenaturing conditions. In wild type K. pneumoniae extracts, two immunoreactive species migrating more slowly than purified MoFe protein were detected using anti-MoFe protein antibodies. The uppermost species comigrates with the apoMoFe protein produced by a K. pneumoniae mutant unable to synthesize FeMoco (UN106) and by Escherichia coli harboring the plasmids pVL222+pVL15 (nifHDKTYUSWZM+A). In vitro FeMoco titration of the UN106 and pVL222+pVL15 extracts increases the electrophoretic mobility of the apoMoFe protein to that of purified MoFe protein in a two-step process giving rise to a species of intermediate mobility between the apo- and holoMoFe proteins. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that a 20-kDa peptide is associated with the apoMoFe protein and with the intermediate species, but not with the holoMoFe protein. N-terminal sequencing identified this associated peptide as the nifY gene product, which we propose is acting as a temporary enforcer of the apoMoFe protein structure required for cofactor binding that is released upon FeMoco activation. This FeMoco-induced mobility shift was used to characterize the mutant apoMoFe proteins produced in E. coli as a result of deleting the various nitrogen fixation (nif) genes from the plasmid pVL222. E. coli extracts bearing plasmids deleted in nifH, nifS, nifTYUM, or nifWZM exhibit less than 10% of the apoMoFe protein activity of derepressed UN106 and contain an immunoreactive species whose electrophoretic mobility is increased upon addition of FeMoco from that of apoMoFe protein to that of holoMoFe protein in a single step. Anaerobic nondenaturing gel electrophoresis of 55Fe-labeled E. coli extracts followed by autoradiography showed that these inactive apoMoFe species do not contain iron, indicating that the P-clusters are absent. We therefore propose that NifH, S, U, W, Z, and M are all involved, to varying degrees, in P-cluster assembly. In addition, the presence of the P-clusters does appear to be necessary for the two-step FeMoco activation of the apoMoFe protein to occur.
Internet Dependency Relations and Online Consumer Behavior

ABSTRACTThis study introduces Internet Dependency Relations (IDR) as a predictor of online consumer activities. IDR is based on the theoretical perspective of Media System Dependency theory, which postulates dependency relations between individuals and media based on the perceived helpfulness of media in meeting understanding (social/self), orientation (action/interaction) and play (social/solitary) goals. Using a cross-sectional email survey of 166 respondents randomly drawn from the faculty, staff, and student population at a large mid-western university in the United States, the predictive influence of IDR on online shopping, chatting, and news reading was empirically tested. On average, consumers in the survey had bought eight products online in the last six months, spent twenty-one minutes daily reading news online, and chatted ten minutes daily on the Internet. They also displayed moderate, though positive dependency relations with the Internet. IDR significantly explained online shopping activities...
Adolescents' Neural Processing of Risky Decisions: Effects of Sex and Behavioral Disinhibition

BACKGROUND: Accidental injury and homicide, relatively common among adolescents, often follow risky behaviors; those are done more by boys and by adolescents with greater behavioral disinhibition (BD). HYPOTHESIS: Neural processing during adolescents' risky decision-making will differ in youths with greater BD severity, and in males vs. females, both before cautious behaviors and before risky behaviors. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: 81 adolescents (Patients with substance and conduct problems, and comparison youths (Comparisons)), assessed in a 2 x 2 design (Patients:Comparisons x Male:Female) repeatedly decided between doing a cautious behavior that earned 1 cent, or a risky one that either won 5 or lost 10 cents. Odds of winning after risky responses gradually decreased. Functional magnetic resonance imaging captured brain activity during 4-sec deliberation periods preceding responses. Most neural activation appeared in known decision-making structures. Patients, who had more severe BD scores and clinical problems than Comparisons, also had extensive neural hypoactivity. Comparisons' greater activation before cautious responses included frontal pole, medial prefrontal cortex, striatum, and other regions; and before risky responses, insula, temporal, and parietal regions. Males made more risky and fewer cautious responses than females, but before cautious responses males activated numerous regions more than females. Before risky behaviors female-greater activation was more posterior, and male-greater more anterior. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Neural processing differences during risky-cautious decision-making may underlie group differences in adolescents' substance-related and antisocial risk-taking. Patients reported harmful real-life decisions and showed extensive neural hypoactivity during risky-or-cautious decision-making. Males made more risky responses than females; apparently biased toward risky decisions, males (compared with females) utilized many more neural resources to make and maintain cautious decisions, indicating an important risk-related brain sexual dimorphism. The results suggest new possibilities for prevention and management of excessive, dangerous adolescent risk-taking. Language: en
The use of trapezoidal function in a linguistic fuzzy relational neural network for speech recognition

Describes the use of trapezoidal functions as part of the implementation of a fuzzy relational neural network model. In the model, the input features are represented by their respective fuzzy membership values to linguistic properties. The membership values are calculated with trapezoidal functions. The weights of the connections between input and output nodes are described in terms of their fuzzy relations. The output values during training are obtained with the max-min composition, and are given in terms of fuzzy class membership values. The learning algorithm, used is a modified version of the gradient descent backpropagation algorithm. The classification of unknown patterns is made with the relational square product. The system is tested on a speech recognition problem. >
Complex Systems and the Evolution of Artificial Intelligence

Can machines think? This famous question from Turing has new topicality in the framework of complex systems. The chapter starts with a short history of computer science since Leibniz and his program for mechanizing thinking (mathesis universalis) (Sect. 5.1). The modern theory of computability enables us to distinguish complexity classes of problems, meaning the order of corresponding functions describing the computational time of their algorithms or computational programs. Modern computer science is interested not only in the complexity of universal problem solving but also in the complexity of knowledge-based programs. Famous examples are expert systems simulating the problem solving behavior of human experts in their specialized fields. Further on, we ask if a higher efficiency of problem solving may be expected from quantum computers and quantum complexity theory (Sect. 5.2).
Effect of thickness on the thermal properties of thick specimens of low-density thermal insulation

A three-layer model comprising two surface layers and a core is developed to explain the effect of specimen thickness on the thermal properties of thick insulation. The model explains the effect of boundary emittance and specimen density on the measurements. A relationship between the apparent thermal resistivity and the increase in resistance per unit thickness is derived. Equations are given for the densities at which the maximum thermal resistance of the core of the specimen and whole specimen occurs and for the variation of thermal conductivities of the core and the specimen with the ratio of density to density at which the minimum conductivity occurs. The densities at which the extremes occur are almost independent of specimen thickness. A V-shape and not the customary nonsymmetrical U-shape is suggested for the variation of thermal conductivity. Equations for use in curve fitting that introduce curvature at the apex and shift the position of the minimum are suggested.
Beet yellow stunt virus in the phloem of Sonchus oleraceus L.

Distribution and conformation of the beet yellow stunt virus (BYSV) was investigated in the phloem tissue of Sonchus oleraceus L. (Asteraceae). Virus was found in companion cells, phloem parenchyma cells, and some sieve elements. None was encountered outside the phloem. Some parenchymatic cells contained only vesicles with fibrillar networks, others, vesicles and a small number of virus particles. In most of the infected cells virus particles, scattered or in aggregates, were not accompanied by vesicles. The vesicles had a single delimiting membrane in an apparently early stage of infection of a cell. Later, individual vesicles or groups of them became enclosed in a second membrane, which probably originated from the endoplasmic reticulum. Individual parenchyma cells with virus were partly or completely degenerated. In such cells, ribosomes were the last cell component to disintegrate. Finally, virus also appeared to degenerate. Some nuclei contained virus without displaying degenerative changes in the plane of the sections. Others showed rupture of the nuclear envelope. In such nuclei, virus particles were continuous between cytoplasm and nucleus through the gap in the envelope. The effect of BYSV on Sonchus is compared with that of the same virus on the sugarbeet and with the effect of the similar beet yellows virus (BYV) on its hosts.
Is RNA interference involved in intrinsic antiviral immunity in mammals

RNA interference constitutes a key component of the innate immune response to viral infection in both plants and invertebrate animals and has been postulated to have a similar protective function in mammals. This perspective reviews the available data addressing whether RNA interference forms part of the mammalian innate immune response and concludes that the popular hypothesis in favor of that possibility remains far from proven and may not be valid.
Influence of fipronil compounds and rice-cultivation land-use intensity on macroinvertebrate communities in streams of southwestern Louisiana, USA

Abstract Laboratory tests of fipronil and its degradation products have revealed acute lethal toxicity at very low concentrations (LC50) of
A new procedure for rapidly scoring acrosome reactions of human sperm

Because the acrosome of human sperm is too small to be directly visualized by phase-contrast microscopy, acrosome reactions (that is loss of the acrosome) are generally not evaluated in studies of human sperm capacitation and fertilization. Nevertheless, it would be useful in such studies to have a technique for easily identifying and quantitating acrosome-reacted sperm. In this paper, we describe a method for labeling the human sperm acrosome with fluorescein-conjugated Ricinus communis agglutinin-60 (FITC-RCA); we show that in sperm without acrosomal caps, FITC-RCA labeling occurs either not at all or only in the equatorial segment of the acrosome. To determine if the absence of FITC-RCA labeling in the acrosomal cap region gives a reliable estimate of acrosome reactions, washed sperm or sperm incubated in a capacitating medium (BWW) were divided into two groups, which were then fixed for FITC-RCA labeling or transmission electron microscopy. Counts of acrosome reactions made by each method were similar, and we observed an increase in the percentage of reactions following incubation in BWW. We conclude that the FITC-TCA labeling technique is a reliable method for accurately scoring the percentage of acrosome-reacted human sperm.
MONOPARTICULATE LAYERS OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE NANOCRYSTALLITES WITH CONTROLLABLE INTERPARTICLE DISTANCES

The arrested hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide by millimolar concentrations of water in a mixture of chloroform and 1-propanol in the presence of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and tetramethylammonium hydroxide resulted in the formation of stable dispersions (sols) of nanocrystalline (18-22 A diameter) TiO[sub 2]. Spreading the sols on water surfaces in a Langmuir film balance produced monoparticulate TiO[sub 2] films. Heat treatment of a given sol prior to dispersion on the aqueous subphase resulted in nanocrystalline monoparticulate TiO[sub 2] films with reduced interparticulate distances. 14 refs., 7 figs.
Meeting health and psychological needs of women in drug treatment court.

Abstract We explored healthcare-related experiences of women drug court participants through combining context from the socio-ecological model with motivation needs for health behavior as indicated by self-determination theory. Five focus groups with 8 women drug court participants, 8 court staff, and 9 community service providers were examined using qualitative framework analysis. Themes emerged across the socio-ecological model and were cross-mapped with self-determination theory-defined motivation needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Socio-ecological levels contained experiences either supporting or eroding women's motivation needs: 1) intrapersonal challenges participants termed an “evil cycle” of relapse, recidivism, trauma, and life challenges; 2) interpersonal context of parenting and stigma involving features of this “evil cycle”; 3) institutions with logistical barriers to legal and medical assistance; 4) community resources inadequate to support living and employment needs. Self-determination theory helps explain motivation required to address the women's healthcare needs and multiple demands at all levels of the socio-ecological model.
Laboratory development of the hybridPhoxinus eos x Phoxinus neogaeus (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

We chronicle the development of eggs stripped from a wild caught hybridPhoxinus eos x Phoxinus neogaeus, that were then mixed with sperm formPhoxinus eos. Approximately half the eggs died in development. It is hypothesized the dead embryos are the male sex, the postulated heterogametic sex. Egg hatching time approximated that ofneogaeus instead ofeos. Possibly this is a maternal effect, reflecting the maternal ancestor of the hybrid. Several laboratory hybrids were karyotyped and all had triploid cells. The laboratory hybrids were also heterozygous at both diagnostic allozyme loci examined.
Hygienic resugaring of compositional desugaring

Syntactic sugar is widely used in language implementation. Its benefits are, however, offset by the comprehension problems it presents to programmers once their program has been transformed. In particular, after a transformed program has begun to evaluate (or otherwise be altered by a black-box process), it can become unrecognizable. We present a new approach to _resugaring_ programs, which is the act of reflecting evaluation steps in the core language in terms of the syntactic sugar that the programmer used. Relative to prior work, our approach has two important advances: it handles hygiene, and it allows almost arbitrary rewriting rules (as opposed to restricted patterns). We do this in the context of a DAG representation of programs, rather than more traditional trees.
Comparative Evaluation of Reported Speeds from Corresponding Fixed-Point and Probe-Based Detection Systems

Point-based traffic sensors, such as microwave radar and acoustic sensors, provide the valuable capability of sampling the entire traffic stream. However, full network coverage with point sensors requires a significant initial capital investment and ongoing maintenance expenditures. Probe-based sensors can cover an extensive roadway network at a much lower cost because roadway-based field equipment is not required. Decisions regarding the relative level of point sensor- versus probe-based deployment for traffic monitoring involve evaluating the trade-off between the value of comprehensive detection versus total system costs. An essential step in evaluating this trade-off involves directly comparing collocated point sensor and probe vehicle systems to understand how the derived traffic stream measures from the two approaches differ. This study compared 5-min speeds from microwave radar and acoustic sensors with link speeds from Global Positioning System (GPS) probes for both directions at five freeway loca...
Signal and image processing using three-dimensional binary ranking transforms

Because binary mathematical morphology permits fast local neighborhood operations by flash conversion, it is used extensively in high-speed pattern-recognition computer systems. Further, since anyN-dimensional integer function may be represented by an (N + 1)-dimensional binary (bilevel) function, ordinary two-dimensional graylevel images become three-dimensional binary images. Thus these images may be processed by high-speed flash-conversion computers assuming that a sufficiently compact three-dimensional kernel can be devised. The tetradekahedron of the face-centered-cubic tessellation forms a perfect kernel in three-dimensions. Its neighborhood is compact. It has total symmetry with all 12 neighbors equidistant from the central element. Using this kernel a variety of useful three-dimensional morphological operations may be performed for target track detection, shaded graphics, data clustering, automated focusing, and spatial filtering.
Competence and metamorphosis in the long-term planktotrophic larvae of the nudibranch mollusc Hermissenda crassicornis (Eschscholtz, 1831)

Abstract Hermissenda crassicornis is a eurytrophic carnivorous opisthobranch mollusc that possesses long-term planktotrophic larvae. No morphological criteria for determining larval competence in this slug are reliable; thus competence has been established by inducing metamorphosis with the hydroid Tubularia crocea . The competence period lasts approximately three weeks at 12–17°C, the best time for inducing metamorphosis being from days 31–50 within a given egg mass, and more precisely from day 41 to 50, as concluded from several egg masses. Within-clutch and between-clutch variability exists in both Tubularia -induced and spontaneous metamorphosis. Variability within egg masses in Hermissenda is probably due to the gradual acquisition of metamorphic competence. Spontaneous metamorphosis increases significantly as larvae age within a given egg mass. Metamorphosis is non-specific, since the larvae are able to metamorphose with several natural inducers, such as other hydroids ( Pennaria sp.) and anemones ( Metridium senile and Haliplanella luciae ). Combinations of Tubularia with glutamate at 10 −4 M or with Mg 2+ at 20 mM significantly increased the metamorphic yields, while NH 4 + was ineffective. K + at 30 mM and Cs + at 1 mM also increased the metamorphic yields, although Cs + at 30 mM was toxic. Several combinations of the natural inducers and some cations also produced high metamorphic yields, up to 25%. The effect of epinephrine at 10 −5 M in increasing the metamorphic yields, when used in combination with Tubularia , was equal to that obtained when using aged epinephrine, indicating that the oxidized products of epinephrine are probably responsible for this activity. Increasing the temperature from 12°C up to 17°C also had a significant effect in increasing the metamorphic yields with several inducers. The extracts of Tubularia with several organic solvents did not have an inducing effect. The natural inducer from Tubularia seems to be a water-soluble compound. Aqueous extracts of Tubularia at high concentrations (about eight-times the normal amounts) produced yields up to 50±8.3% metamorphosis, i.e., five-times the maximum yields ever reported for Hermissenda .
Quasielastic light scattering measurements of self-diffusion and mutual diffusion in gelatin solutions and gels

There has been considerable interest in comparing the mutual diffusion coefficients, measured by quasielastic llghtscattering, for a concentrated or semidilute uncross-linked polymer solution and for a cross-linked gel having identical or nearly identical chemical structure and the same polymer concentration. In several cases, the mutual diffusion coefficients have been found to be the same (JARRY and PATTERSON 1982) or closely similar (MUNCH, et al. 1977a, 1977b). In the study reported here, quasielastic light scattering measurements have been made on semidilute solutions of gelatin and the corresponding gels that are formed from these solutions at lower temperatures. Although gelatin is in a sense a poor choice of polymer because of its complex structure, uncertain gelation mechanism, and broad molecular weight distribution, it behaves above the gel temperature as a random coil polymer (VEIS 1964) and the viscoelasticity of its gels corresponds to that of a network of flexible strands (LAURENT, et al. 1980). In the present study, it has the unique advantage that viscoelastic measurements (LAURENT, et al. 1980) of the same gels have previously provided values of the translatory monomeric friction coefficient ~oas well as accurate values of the macroscopic shear modulus G, so the relation between scattering and mechanical measurements can be examined. From the scattering measurements on solutions above the gel temperature, the mutual diffusion coefficient D c is determined as well as a much smaller diffusion coefficient D 2 which can be identified as the self-diffusion coefficient of the polymer. For the gels, only D c is obtained, and its dependence on temperature and solvent viscosity (varied over a wide range by incorporation of glycerol up to 91% by weight) is examined. Over the range studied, both the friction coefficient ~o and the shear modulus G were previously observed to depend on both these variables (LAURENT, et al. 1980).
Nosocomial enterococcal infections: association with use of third-generation cephalosporin antibiotics.

Enterococcal infections consistently account for approximately 10% of all nosocomial infections reported to the Centers for Disease Control. There is concern that an increase in nosocomial enterococcal infection is due to the increased severity of inpatient illnesses and to the widespread use of broad-spectrum betalactam antibiotics. Nosocomial enterococcal infections were analyzed at our medium-sized community hospital over a time period spanning 9 years. A significant increase in the infection rate was detected during the latter half of 1986. This increase was due primarily to a disproportionate rise in the incidence of the urinary tract as a site of infection. There were no associated clusters of infection, no predilection for certain patient care areas, and no precedng change in the hospital infection control policies and procedures. Total hospital use of cephalosporins remained stable during the period of increased enterococcal infections, but use of third-generation cephalosporins almost doubled in 1986 compared with the 4 preceding years. Selective pressure of third-generation cephalosporin use appeared to be a factor in the increased incidence of nosocomial enterococcal urinary tract infection.
BUILDING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN NEGOTIATIONS

With the increased emphasis on emotions in negotiation, an exercise is presented which can be used with a simulated negotiation to develop emotional skills. Linking research on the role of emotions in negotiation to emotional intelligence, we propose a set of activities to develop greater awareness, understanding, and ability to manage emotions while negotiating. The teaching note explains how to use two worksheets, one before and one during the simulation. Headings on the worksheets correspond to levels of emotional intelligence. Suggestions for debriefing along with supporting literature are provided.
Recent research on speech-analyzing aids for the deaf

The problem of acoustic transmission of speech sounds to the deaf is reviewed. Then some methods of speech analysis are described which have been developed as prototypes of new speech aids. Three types of new aids are covered: 1) aids intended for improving speech reception by recoding or transposing speech sounds into residual hearing ranges, 2) tactual aids to speech communication, and 3) visual aids to supplement speech reception, or for monitoring of speech in speech training.
Remotely queried embedded sensors in composite structures

Embedded sensor technology in polymer-based structural composites has received much attention in recent years. Embedded sensors are critical to structural health monitoring in high performance applications, e.g. 'smart' skins and structures. To date, optical fiber sensors have been the principal sensing technique for these applications. However, some notable shortcomings of these sensors include difficulties with ingress and egress from part, and interdependence of strain and temperature measurements. This paper discusses an alternate approach for structural health monitoring: remote query of silicon microsensors embedded in composite structures. The technologies involved will first be reviewed, followed by a listing of the potential benefits of applying this technology. Next, a newly initiated program to demonstrate the feasibility of remote query techniques for structural monitoring of composites will be described.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Temperature dependence of the photoionization yield of chlorophyll-a in rapidly frozen vesicles

Abstract The photoionization yield of chlorophyll-a (Chla) in rapidly frozen dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles containing lipophilic and lipophobic electron scavengers has been studied as a function of the temperature by electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements. Samples irradiated at 77 K prepared with lipophilic tetrachloroparabenzoquinone (TCBQ) show an ESR signal intensity which varies as 1/ T when measured at various temperatures. Samples prepared with TCBQ or lipophobic potassium ferricyanide (FC) were irradiated at various temperatures. The photoionization yield increases with increasing irradiation temperature. It increases monotonically with temperature with TCBQ while it increases suddenly near 190 K with FC. The results are interpreted as indicating that softening of the matrix enables the reactants to reach an optimal configuration for electron transfer. The different locations of TCBQ inside the vesicle and FC at the vesicle interface can account for their different effects.
Comments on Developments in the Teaching of Human Sexuality

Introducing the articles on human sexuality and presenting some remarks by the guest editor of this section on starting a course.
Total, Ultrafiltrable, Dialysable and Ionised Calcium Measurements in Randomly Selected Samples Compared with Clinical Diagnoses

SUMMARY Total, ultrafiltrable (Worthington 'Ultrafree'), dialysable and ionised (Orion 88-20) calcium levels were measured in 110 serum samples selected randomly from patients for whom total calcium was ordered as a routine test. The available medical records were used to categorise most of the 86 patients as a guide to determining if the calcium results were appropriate to the diagnosis. Total calcium measurement was precise and reliable but was affected by the albumin level. Dialysable calcium measurement was good for diagnostic purposes and was not affected by albumin. Of 25 patients with apparently normal calcium metabolism, six had elevated ultrafiltrable calcium results. Ionised calcium measurement required the most time and sample and offered few, if any, clear advantages in diagnosis over the other free calcium tests. Further improvements in ionised calcium measurements appear to be needed.
Teaching Evolution & The Nature of Science

This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by National Association of Biology Teachers and can be found at: http://www.nabt.org
Medication effects on midtrimester maternal serum screening.

Objective To determine whether medication classes are associated with alterations in concentrations of Quad screen analytes or the screen-positive rate. Study Design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women with singleton gestations who received prenatal care and had a Quad screen performed in the University of Alabama at Birmingham system. Information on prescription medications was abstracted. Mean multiples of the medians for each analyte (alpha-fetoprotein, estriol, human chorionic gonadotropin, and inhibin A) and overall screening results were compared between those taking the class of medication and controls not taking any medications. Results There were 6206 women evaluated; 1337 took at least 1 prescription medicine and 4869 were controls. Mean analyte multiples of the medians were significantly different in women taking some medications compared with controls. Women taking certain medications had an increased screen-positive rate. Conclusion Medications taken around the time of maternal serum screening are associated with alterations in individual analyte multiples of the medians, as well as the screen-positive rates.