cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Generalized Cuspidal Cohomology Problem

Let ⊂ SO(3,1) be a lattice. The well known bending deformations, introduced by Thurston and Apanasov, can be used to construct non-trivial curves of representations of into SO(4,1) when \H 3 contains an embedded totally geodesic surface. A tangent vector to such a curve is given by a non-zero group cohomology class in H 1 ( , R 4 ). Our main result generalizes this con- struction of cohomology to the context of "branched" totally geodesic surfaces. We also consider a natural generalization of the famous cuspidal cohomology problem for the Bianchi groups (to coef- ficients in non-trivial representations), and perform calculations in a finite range. These calculations lead directly to an interesting example of a link complement in S 3 which is not infinitesimally rigid in SO(4,1). The first order deformations of this link complement are supported on a piecewise totally geodesic 2-complex.
Importance of accurate charges in molecular docking: Quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) approach

The extent to which accuracy of electric charges plays a role in protein-ligand docking is investigated through development of a docking algorithm, which incorporates quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations. In this algorithm, fixed charges of ligands obtained from force field parameterization are replaced by QM/MM calculations in the protein environment, treating only the ligands as the quantum region. The algorithm is tested on a set of 40 cocrystallized structures taken from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and provides strong evidence that use of nonfixed charges is important. An algorithm, dubbed "Survival of the Fittest" (SOF) algorithm, is implemented to incorporate QM/MM charge calculations without any prior knowledge of native structures of the complexes. Using an iterative protocol, this algorithm is able in many cases to converge to a nativelike structure in systems where redocking of the ligand using a standard fixed charge force field exhibits nontrivial errors. The results demonstrate that polarization effects can play a significant role in determining the structures of protein-ligand complexes, and provide a promising start towards the development of more accurate docking methods for lead optimization applications.
A Phenomenological Description of Primary Creep in Class M Materials

Observations of creep microstructures in the primary creep region in class M materials show a remarkable similarity with those formed in the exponential creep regime. As a result, it is proposed that the constitutive creep law for normal primary creep is similar to that for the exponential creep regime. A phenomenological description is discussed to rationalize these microstructural observations in terms of a normalized strain rate vs. stress plot. The implications of this plot in describing different testing procedures, steady-state flow, and on the observed deviations from the universal creep law are discussed. The plot is also extended to explain the observed similarities in the transient creep behavior in pre-strained materials and in stress change experiments.
Application of a nonuniform spectral resampling transform in Fourier-transform spectrometry.

We describe a nonuniform spectral resampling transform (NUSRT) that resamples a frequency-scaled spectrum that has been measured by a Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS). Frequency scaling of a spectrum can arise from measurements made with off-axis detectors and Doppler shifts induced by motion of a spaceborne FTS relative to an input radiation source. In addition, a spectrum may need to be rescaled in frequency to match spectral lines for applications such as the retrieval of atmospheric state parameters. The NUSRT is cast as a linear algebraic expression that relates a nonuniformly sampled interferogram to an input spectrum. A polynomial approximation is applied to this expression that reduces the inverse of the NUSRT to a series of Fourier transforms that can be implemented as fast Fourier transforms (FFTs). We show that this NUSRT algorithm requires on the order of 6N log N flops, which reduces the computational cost of rescaling by more than 1 order of magnitude compared with conventional FFT-based Shannon interpolation techniques while comparable accuracy is maintained.
The square‐planar to flattened‐tetrahedral CuX42− (X = Cl, Br) structural phase transition in 1,2,6‐trimethylpyridinium salts

The abrupt green-to-yellow thermochromism observed for certain A2CuCl4 compounds has long been attributed to the presence of strong N—H hydrogen bonding in the low-temperature phase that favors square-planar CuCl42− (green in color) through reduction of ligand–ligand repulsion. Weakening of the hydrogen bonding at higher temperature results in the transformation to (far more common) flattened-tetrahedral geometry – the expected geometry for CuBr42− complexes due to their greater ligand–ligand repulsion. The square-planar to flattened-tetrahedral transitions in (1,2,6-trimethylpyridinium)2CuX4 provide the first examples of this phase transformation in the absence of N—H hydrogen bonding and for a CuBr42− complex. These results suggest that the square-planar to flattened-tetrahedral transformation in CuX42− systems may be more common than previously thought.
An AES (SAM), ESCA and ISS study of the oxidation of Pt3/Sn. 1: low pressure exposure to o2

ESCA, ISS, AES and scanning Auger microscopy have been used to examine a sputter-cleaned Pt3Sn alloy surface before and after exposure to oxygen at 10−6 Torr. It is found that the amount of oxygen adsorbed on a sputtered surface is a strong function of sample temperature with a maximum at about 200°C. The clean surface consists of regions of varying Pt-to-Sn concentration ratios. Regions near grain boundaries are tin rich, and the tin concentration decreases in moving away from a grain boundary until a platinum-rich region is reached. ESCA shows that an exposure to oxygen causes oxidation of the tin but no change in the Pt core-level features. ISS shows that segregation of tin to the surface occurs and that the surface Pt concentration decreases due to coverage by the tin.
Differential Sensitivity to Central Leptin and Insulin in Male and Female Rats

The distribution of fat in the body differs between the male and female sexes and is associated with the relative secretion of the two "adiposity" hormones leptin and insulin. We now report that the brains of male and female rats are differentially sensitive to the catabolic actions of small doses of these two hormones. Leptin (1 or 3.5 microg/2 microl) or saline (2 microl) was administered into the third cerebral ventricle of age- and weight-matched male and female rats. Leptin significantly reduced food intake in female and male rats over 4 h; however, leptin reduced 24-h intake in female but not in male rats. When the same rats were administered insulin (1 or 4 mU/2 microl) or saline (2 microl), male but not female rats had a robust reduction in food intake over 24 h. Previous research demonstrates the melanocortins are a central mediator of the effects of both leptin and insulin. However, we found no sex differences in sensitivity to the melanocortin agonist MTII (0.01, 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 nmol/2 microl). These results suggest that the sex differences in sensitivity to leptin and insulin at the doses that we injected occur upstream of the melanocortin receptors. Because insulin and leptin reflect different fat beds and are differentially distributed in the male and female sexes, the implication is that the male and female sexes regulate adiposity-relevant parameters differently.
Highly cooperative and hysteretic response of the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor to changes in proton concentrations

Ryanodine receptors are key molecules in excitation-contraction coupling of skeletal muscle. They form the pore of the calcium release channel, which is regulated by Ca and ATP. Multiple proton titration sites are involved in controlling the different open states of the channel, as indicated by the following: i) the channel had a biphasic response to changes in proton concentrations around neutral pH; ii) the activities of the channel were inhibited by acidic pHs in a highly cooperative manner; and iii) the channel exhibited pronounced hysteresis to changes in pH. Four distinct conductance states can be identified in the single ryanodine-activated calcium release channel. The distribution of the multiple conductance states depends on the level of [Ca], ATP, and pH in the recording solution. The data are consistent with the multimeric structure of the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor.
Selective commitment and selective margin: Techniques to minimize cost in an IaaS cloud

Cloud computing holds the exciting potential of elastically scaling computation to match time-varying demand, thus eliminating the need to provision for peak demand. However, the uncertainty of variable loads necessitate the use of margins - servers that must be held active to absorb unpredictable potential load bursts - which can be a significant fraction of overall cost. Further, naively switching to an on-demand cloud model can actually degrade true costs (server costs that would be incurred even if margin costs disappeared) because of the fundamental economic rule wherein on-demand services/goods cost more compared to reserved services/goods where the user bears some commitment. On-demand customers pay a premium in exchange for not undertaking the fixed-cost risk that committed customers undertake. This paper addresses the twin challenges of minimizing margin costs and true costs in an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) cloud. Our paper makes the following two contributions. First, rather than use a fixed margin, we observe that the margin may be selectively used depending on load levels. Based on the above observation, we develop ShrinkWrap-opt which is a dynamic programming algorithm that achieves optimal margin cost while satisfying the desired (statistical) response time guarantees. Second, we propose commitment straddling - the selective use of some reserved machines in conjunction with on-demand machines - to achieve optimal true-cost. Simulations with real Web server load traces using the Amazon EC2 cost model reveal that our techniques save between 13% and 29% (21% on average) in cost while satisfying response-time targets.
Fabrication processes for GaAs-based high-power diode lasers

GaAs-based, edge-emitting diode lasers have become important light sources for numerous applications, e.g., in ophthalmology and dentistry, pumping of solid-state lasers, and printing on thermal media. The general performance requirements for these devices are high brightness, high reliability, stable optical-characteristics, and low system-cost to performance ratio. Device processing procedures such as dry etching, anodic oxidation, anti-reflection coatings, ion-implantation, and epitaxial growth on non-planar substrates impact the operation of the laser, both positively as well as negatively. The effect of these fabrication procedures on device reliability is discussed where applicable.
Directed self-assembly of mesoscopic dies using magnetic force and shape recognition

This paper reports on a directed self-assembly approach suitable for assembly of mesoscopic dies, such as LEDs, in a parallel fashion. This approach utilizes magnetic force, shape recognition, and capillary force of the solder to assemble the dies on the receiving substrate in a correct orientation. Assembly takes place in liquid medium. Effects of the die geometry, assembly setup and magnet configuration on the assembly results are presented along with the simulation of the solder-assisted self-alignment.
Child Outcomes and Family Characteristics 1 Year After Severe Inflicted or Noninflicted Traumatic Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE: To assess outcomes 1 year after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) among young children and to compare outcomes between children with inflicted versus noninflicted injuries. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: All North Carolina-resident children who were hospitalized between January 2000 and December 2001 in any of the state's 9 PICUs and who survived a severe TBI that occurred on or before their second birthday were eligible to participate. Child health status, child use of ancillary medical resources, and family characteristics were determined through maternal caregiver interviews approximately 1 year after injury. Comparisons were made between family characteristics and child outcomes according to injury type. RESULTS: Seventy-two interviews of maternal caregivers were completed among 112 survivors (64.3%). Children with inflicted injuries (n = 41) had worse outcomes than did children with noninflicted injuries (n = 31), as measured with the Pediatric Outcome Performance Category and Stein-Jessup Functional Status II (Revised) tools. However, approximately 50% of children with inflicted injuries had only mild deficits or better. Children with inflicted injuries had a higher use of ancillary medical resources. Families caring for the children did not differ substantively, with a large proportion of single, working, minority mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Children with inflicted TBIs had worse outcomes than did children with other TBIs 1 year after injury. However, outcomes for these children were better than those reported previously. Many families caring for children after severe TBI are socially disadvantaged. Interventions to improve child outcomes may include enhanced family support. Language: en
A Raman spectroscopic study of polyimide precursors adsorbed on silicon (100) and silicon oxide

Abstract We have investigated the adsorption of two polyimide monomers on Si(100) and ultrathin silicon oxide films using unenhanced surface Raman spectroscopy. Oxydianiline (ODA) was found to bond weakly to the clean surface through the π-system of the phenyl rings and to physisorb on the oxide surfaces. In contrast, pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) dissociatively chemisorbed through the formation of bidentate bridging and chelating carboxylate species on Si(100). Oxide growth preferentially blocked the formation of the chelating species whereas the bridging carboxylate species persisted even on thicker oxide layers.
Breaking the climate debate logjam.

The article discusses suggestions on what steps to take to speed action toward creating a low-carbon economy including mandating action under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Air Act, imposing a carbon tax to replace cap-and-trade, and presenting a feasible plan to the public regarding target amounts for greenhouse gas reductions.
Noninfectious immune-mediated uveitis and ocular inflammation.

Noninfectious uveitis encompasses a diverse group of ocular inflammatory disorders that share an underlying immune etiology and may be associated with systemic disease or confined primarily to the eye. Uveitis is commonly classified by anatomical location of inflammation into anterior, intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis. The treatment of noninfectious uveitis consists of corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, and surgically placed steroid implants. We review the epidemiology, immunopathology, and clinical features of several noninfectious immune-mediated uveitides, including HLA-B27 acute anterior uveitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, intermediate uveitis, sarcoidosis, Behcet’s disease, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, sympathetic ophthalmia, and white dot syndromes. We also discuss the stepwise approach to medical treatment of immune-mediated uveitis as well as the characteristics, safety, and efficacy of immunosuppressive agents used to treat ocular inflammatory disease.
Hacker Literacies: Synthesizing Critical and Participatory Media Literacy Frameworks

Technology use is increasingly characterized by both critical mindsets and participatory practices. Yet, our current media literacy frameworks, critical media literacy and participatory media literacy, fail to account for and understand the nature of these practices because they are happening in situ. Arguing that these frameworks might be synthesized to understand emergent online practices, this article introduces the notion of hacker literacies: empowered participatory practices, grounded in critical mindsets, that aim to resist, reconfigure, and/or reformulate the sociotechnical digital spaces and tools that mediate social, cultural, and political participation in the 21st century. The article grounds this concept in a number of recent cases, including the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street movements, the creation of the hashtag on Twitter, and public reactions to Facebook's privacy policy changes. These examples illustrate the ways users of new media do not take for granted the design of these new mod...
Fixation induces differential tip morphology and immunolocalization of the cytoskeleton in pollen tubes

The effects of chemical fixation on tip morphology and immunolocalization of the cytoskeleton in Tradescantia virginiana pollen tubes were evaluated using lour different fixation protocols differing in fixative type/concentration, fixation time, buffer system and additives. Apical regions were much more sensitive to fixation manipulations than more basipetal areas. The presence of the calcium chelator EGTA at 5 mM led to tip rupture and/or swelling in over 80% of germinated grains. However, low or no EGTA levels during fixation resulted in poor immunolocalizations, although lips had more normal morphology. Double fixation in which pollen tubes were first treated for a short period with higher fixative and lower EGTA (0.5 mM) concentrations, followed by lower fixative and higher EGTA (5.0 mM) concentrations, resulted in both improved preservation of pollen lube tip morphology and microfilament/microtubule localizations.
How molecular motors are arranged on a cargo is important for vesicular transport.

The spatial organization of the cell depends upon intracellular trafficking of cargos hauled along microtubules and actin filaments by the molecular motor proteins kinesin, dynein, and myosin. Although much is known about how single motors function, there is significant evidence that cargos in vivo are carried by multiple motors. While some aspects of multiple motor function have received attention, how the cargo itself —and motor organization on the cargo—affects transport has not been considered. To address this, we have developed a three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation of motors transporting a spherical cargo, subject to thermal fluctuations that produce both rotational and translational diffusion. We found that these fluctuations could exert a load on the motor(s), significantly decreasing the mean travel distance and velocity of large cargos, especially at large viscosities. In addition, the presence of the cargo could dramatically help the motor to bind productively to the microtubule: the relatively slow translational and rotational diffusion of moderately sized cargos gave the motors ample opportunity to bind to a microtubule before the motor/cargo ensemble diffuses out of range of that microtubule. For rapidly diffusing cargos, the probability of their binding to a microtubule was high if there were nearby microtubules that they could easily reach by translational diffusion. Our simulations found that one reason why motors may be approximately 100 nm long is to improve their ‘on’ rates when attached to comparably sized cargos. Finally, our results suggested that to efficiently regulate the number of active motors, motors should be clustered together rather than spread randomly over the surface of the cargo. While our simulation uses the specific parameters for kinesin, these effects result from generic properties of the motors, cargos, and filaments, so they should apply to other motors as well.
Emigration and Economic Theory: Missing the Boat in Mexico and Ecuador

The impact of orthodox, free market reforms on emigration was contested by two schools of thought. Following the standard comparative advantage argument, the dominant school maintained that trade, capital, and labour market liberalization would serve as substitutes for emigration, especially as capital flows complemented abundant and ‘flexible’ labour endowments. Another school argued that liberalization would generate short-run frictions, causing a temporary emigration increase or ‘hump’ until it assumed greater efficiency and growth diminished migrant flows. Using Mexico and Ecuador as case studies, it is argued that both schools were incorrect. Instead, the productive modes and stabilization policies that accompanied market reforms assured labour market failures and persistent emigration from both countries.
Combined thrombolytic therapy for prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis

Prosthetic valve thrombosis is associated with high mortality. The treatment of choice remains operation. This is a case report of the successful combination therapy of tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase for an isolated thrombosed prosthetic mitral valve in a postpartum patient in whom operation was thought to carry an unacceptable risk. Combined thrombolytic therapy or therapy with a single agent with a long half-life and a prolonged infusion time is suggested as an emergent treatment option for prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis.
Prevalence of nonclassical steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency based on a morning salivary 17-hydroxyprogesterone screening test: a small sample study.

Early morning salivary 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) determination differentiates patients with nonclassical 21-hydroxylase deficiency (NC21OHD) from those who are not affected. Using this test, we have conducted a trial screening study for NC21OHD and have compared the study results with previously reported figures for the frequency of this disorder. Testing was performed on 258 subjects recruited from among the medical students and employees of the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. In 2 of the 249 admissible subjects, the 0700–0900 h salivary 17-OHP level was within the range for NC21OHD patients (0.72–6.7 nmol/L; n = 8). These 2 individuals were subsequently confirmed to be affected by ACTH testing. Of the subjects with morning salivary 17-OHP levels below the cut-off point of 0.72 nmol/L, 29 were recalled for ACTH testing and were confirmed to be unaffected. Prevalence of NC21OHD in the test population was determined according to ethnic group. Our study gives a prevalence by screening of 1....
Ad Hoc Network Duplexing, Multiplexing, and Multiple Access: Canonical Results for Two Limiting Topologies

Wireless ad-hoc networks have seen much attention in recent years, for the numerous benefits they offer. There are still a number of open research questions regarding these networks, and this paper addresses the question of which duplexing, multiplexing, and multiple access (D/M/MA) techniques are preferable in ad hoc networks. These techniques have substantial impact on network performance, yet this particular topic has seen surprisingly little attention. In this paper, we investigate D/M/MA techniques in ad-hoc networks and specifically address how to allocate time/frequency resources to improve network performance. We provide a comparison of time, frequency, and time-frequency schemes in terms of a number of features, including throughput, relative range and capacity. To keep the analyses tractable, we conduct our study using two limiting or "extreme" topologies: full mesh and pure relay networks. Our results show that for a peak power constraint, in terms of data rate, range, or capacity, continuous single-carrier waveforms are superior to bursted multi-carrier waveforms, and these schemes are attained with appropriate application of "hybrid" time-frequency division. Latency and throughput simulation results are provided for mesh networks, and analytical signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio and simulation results for relay networks are also provided, to support our theoretically-based claims.
Moyamoya disease. An important differential diagnosis to cerebral vasculitis.

Methods A three-year-old girl, with a former history of Kawasaki disease, presented with a stroke. Both parents were of Korean heritage. Stenosis of the middle cerebral artery on both sides was seen on MR angiogram. No abnormal blood tests were found. Treatment of suspected cerebral vasculitis was initiated with steroids orally (2mg/kg/d). She developed recurrent transient ischemic attacks in both hemispheres and new strokes despite series of pulse therapy of steroids and Cyclophosphamide and finally Mycophenolic acid in combination with prednisolone daily. Stenosis of the anterior cerebral arteries developed and progressed and the middle cerebral arteries worsened despite treatment. Only minor changes were seen in the internal carotid arteries. Abnormal vascular collateral networks were only limited present. Moyamoya was suspected and confirmed by conventional angiography and the child underwent surgical treatment. Superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery bypass ((STA-MCA-Bypass) and encephalomyosynangiosis was performed bilaterally. She recovered without any mental decline and is able to walk despite her hemi paresis. Conclusion Moyamoya is a rare disease affecting the cerebral arteries, and an important differential diagnosis to cerebral vasculitis. Especially in the early course of moyamoya the radiological findings might be difficult to interpret.
Back to the Future? Behavioral IR as a Case of Arrested Development

Alex Mintz calls in his essay in this Forum for recognizing “Behavioral IR” as a subfield in the study of IR. He rests his case on the existence of “numerous anomalies from the traditional analytic, rational, expected utility model of choice” in research in political science and IR. A combination of favorable methodological developments and historical conditions has combined to create a bright future for Behavioral IR as a subfield. If this future promise is fulfilled, then Behavioral IR as a subfield may come to focus on the dyad as a micro-structural unit of analysis with models of bounded strategic rationality informed by content analyses of the beliefs and other psychological characteristics of the leaders of these dyads (Herrmann and Fischerkeller 1995; Lake and Powell 1999; Wendt 1999; Walker 2004). Some will point out no doubt that Behavioral IR has existed since the 1960s with its members publishing in outlets such as the Journal of Conflict Resolution, International Interactions, Journal of Peace Research, Conflict Management and Peace Science , and International Studies Quarterly . What is new is the opportunity to increase the explained variance in Behavioral IR studies by including the explicit measurement and analysis of psychological characteristics of political leaders in the contextual models tested in this literature. It is now cost effective to combine within a single research design the independent variables from contextual models and the psychological characteristics of leaders to achieve more robust results (Schafer 2000; Walker 2000; Post 2005; Walker and Schafer 2006). The gap between rational choice models and empirical studies of decision making may also shrink as a result of the use of the new methodological tools that are available for gathering information about individual decision makers. The “world in their minds” has now …
New simplified microassay for the quantitation of theophylline and its major metabolites in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic technique is presented for simultaneous determination of theophylline, 3-methylxanthine, 1-methyluric acid, 1,3-dimethyluric acid and caffeine in serum using beta-hydroxyethyltheophylline (BHET) as an internal standard. An aliquot of a serum sample (100 microliters) was added to 40 microliters of an internal standard solution (BHET; 100 micrograms/ml) and vortexed. A 20% trichloroacetic acid solution (60 microliters) was then added; the mixture was vortexed, centrifuged and 100 microliters were injected onto a C8 column maintained at 45 degrees C. Inter- and intra-day variability of the assay for all compounds was less than 4.3%. Sensitivity ranged from 10 ng/ml for 1-methyluric acid to 25 ng/ml for theophylline. Drugs commonly coadministered with theophylline did not interfere with the assay.
Resolving metabolic abnormalities in a case of pure alexia.

We report resolving metabolic abnormalities corresponding to clinical improvement in a patient with pure alexia secondary to acute cerebral infarction. Local cerebral glucose metabolism (lCMRgl) was measured with positron emission tomography (PET) using 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) close to ictus and 4 1 / 2 months later. Serial CTs and a subsequent MRI demonstrated small, unchanging left-hemispheric lesions involving the area of the lateral geniculate body and the splenium of the corpus callosum. PET demonstrated the evolution of the metabolic abnormality resulting from intrahemispheric (lateral geniculate) and interhemispheric (splenium) disconnection in the absence of occipital lobe infarction. This case illustrates that cerebral disconnection can result in the syndrome of pure alexia. The factors accounting for focal hypometabolism in the absence of cerebral infarction are discussed.
Modeling the effects of forest harvesting on landscape structure and the spatial distribution of cowbird brood parasitism

Timber harvesting affects both composition and structure of the landscape and has important consequences for organisms using forest habitats. A timber harvest allocation model was constructed that allows the input of specific rules to allocate forest stands for clearcutting to generate landscape patterns reflecting the “look and feel” of managed landscapes. Various harvest strategies were simulated on four 237 km2 study areas in Indiana, USA. For each study area, the model was applied to simulate 80 years of management activity. The resulting landscape spatial patterns were quantified using a suite of landscape pattern metrics and plotted as a function of mean harvest size and total area of forest harvested per decade to produce response surfaces. When the mean clearcut size was 1 ha, the area of forest interior remaining on the landscape was dramatically reduced and the amount of forest edge on the landscape increased dramatically. The potential consequences of the patterns produced by the model were assessed for a generalized neotropical migrant forest bird using a GIS model that generates maps showing the spatial distribution of the relative vulnerability of forest birds to brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds. The model incorporates the location and relative quality of cowbird feeding sites, and the relation between parasitism rates and distance of forest from edge. The response surface relating mean harvest size and total area harvested to the mean value of vulnerability to cowbird brood parasitism had a shape similar to the response surfaces showing forest edge. The results of our study suggest that it is more difficult to maintain large contiguous blocks of undisturbed forest interior when harvests are small and dispersed, especially when producing high timber volumes is a management goal. The application of the cowbird model to landscapes managed under different strategies could help managers in deciding where harvest activity will produce the least negative impact on breeding forest birds.
Association of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 promoter polymorphism with alcohol consumption and reactions in an American Jewish population.

Background: Reduction in activity of the mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) enzyme due to genetic deficiency causes reactions related to alcohol consumption and lowers the risk of alcoholism. ALDH2*2 is the only functionally significant polymorphism of the ALDH2 gene. An additional polymorphic locus in the promoter (G to A substitution approximately 360 bp from the translation start site) may influence ALDH2 activity through effects on transcriptional activity. The A allele is predicted to be less active transcriptionally than the G allele. Therefore, we hypothesized that individuals with 1 or 2 A alleles would have exaggerated reactions to alcohol. Methods: Fifty-three Jewish college students from a Midwestern University and 76 Jewish individuals living in a large Midwestern city (all of Ashkenazi descent) were tested for associations between ALDH2*G and ALDH2*A alleles and self-reported alcohol consumption and responses to alcohol. Genotype determination was performed using PCR and slot-blot hybridization. As alcohol drinking behavior differed substantially between the college students and the general population, as well as between males and females, the analyses were performed separately in each group. Results: The frequency of the ALDH2*A allele was 0.87 in the 129 Jewish individuals tested. Among the general Jewish population, those who were homozygous for ALDH2*A drank fewer drinks per occasion than individuals who were not homozygous for the ALDH2*A allele, but did not drink significantly less frequently. When the other covariates (ADH1B genotype, gender, and population) were controlled for, there was a marginal association between ALDH2A genotype and quantity of alcohol consumed and the number of drinks consumed before feeling drowsy. Conclusion: This study suggests that the ALDH2*A allele status may correlate with variations in alcohol consumption patterns among Jews, independent of the effect of ADH1B genotype.
Cockroach proteases increase IL-8 expression in human bronchial epithelial cells via activation of protease-activated receptor (PAR)–2 and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase

Abstract Background We have shown that serine proteases in German cockroach extract increase TNF-α–induced expression of IL-8 in human bronchial epithelial cells. The mechanism by which cockroach proteases regulate cytokine expression is unknown; however, protease-activated receptors (PARs) might play a role. Objective We sought to determine the role of PARs and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in cockroach-induced regulation of IL-8 expression. Methods 16HBE14o- human bronchial epithelial cells were treated with the specific PAR-1 and PAR-2 agonists, TFRIFD and SLIGKV, respectively. IL-8 transcription was assessed by transiently transfecting cells with a luciferase-tagged IL-8 promoter construct, and in some cases, dominant-negative expression vectors. To block PAR cleavage, antibodies against the cleavage region of PAR-1 and PAR-2 were used. ERK phosphorylation was determined by Western blot. Results Although both PAR-1 and PAR-2 were endogenously expressed in 16HBE14o- cells, selective activation of PAR-2 but not PAR-1 mimicked the effect of cockroach extract on IL-8 expression. Using a blocking antibody against cleavage of PAR-2 but not PAR-1 attenuated cockroach-extract-induced responses, suggesting that cockroach proteases cleave PAR-2. Treatment of cells with cockroach extract and SLIGKV each increased phosphorylation of ERK. Chemical or genetic inhibition of Ras and mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK (MEK), upstream activators of ERK, each attenuated cockroach- and PAR-2–induced IL-8 transcription. Conclusion Cockroach proteases and PAR-2 activation synergistically increase TNF-α–induced IL-8 transcription via activation of ERK. These data suggest an important role for PAR-2 and ERK activation in the regulation of cytokine expression in airway epithelium in response to cockroach proteases.
Translation Studies and Agamben's Theory of the Potential

In his article, "Translation Studies and Agamben's Theory of the Potential," Paolo Bartoloni discusses the interstitial space of translation by drawing on literary and philosophical preoccupations, especially Giorgio Agamben's notion of "potentiality." The first part of the article is devolved to defining and discussing "potentiality" and the significance that it has for a general re-thinking of translation theory. Bartoloni moves on to ask what would happen if the focus of translation shifts from the final product, or from the relation between the original and the translation, to the process of translating, that is the middle ground, the in-betweenness where two distinct languages and cultures meet without superimposing one's own values onto the other. This section is occupied by a dialogue with a series of postcolonial texts, especially Pratt's Imperial Eyes and Bhabha's The Location of Culture. Bartoloni's main interest and purpose in this article is to point to a new hermeneutic and epistemological zone from which a new reflection on translation as well as literature and subjectivity can commence. Paolo Bartoloni, "Translation Studies and Agamben’s Theory of the Potential" page 2 of 10 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 5.1 (2003):
Titanium and copper K x rays produced by collisions with fission fragments from 252 Cf

We have observed the energy shifts and intensity ratios of the $K$ x rays of titanium and copper excited by bombarding foils of these materials with fission fragments from the spontaneous fission of $^{252}\mathrm{Cf}$. A lithium-drifted-silicon detector was employed to make the measurements. For both metals studied, larger shifts in the x-ray energies were observed than were recorded for nickel by Watson and Li in their investigation using only the light fission fragments as projectiles. In addition, the $\frac{K\ensuremath{\beta}}{K\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ intensity ratio for titanium, after correcting for $K$-edge absorption in the foil, was found to be very small. We interpret this last result as being due to very high stripping of the $M$ shell of the recoiling titanium atom in collisions with other titanium atoms.
Determining Correlation and Coherence Lengths in Turbulent Boundary Layer Flight Data

Wall pressure data acquired during flight tests at several flight conditions are analysed and the correlation and coherence lengths of the data reported. It is found that the correlation and coherence lengths are influenced by the origin of the structure producing the pressure and the frequency bandwidth over which the analyses are performed. It is shown how the frequency bandwidth biases the correlation length and how the convection of the pressure field might reduce the coherence measured between sensors. A convected form of the cross correlation and cross spectrum is introduced to compensate for the effects of convection. Coherence lengths measured in the streamwise direction appear much longer than expected. Coherent structures detected using the convected cross correlation do not exhibit an exponential coherent power decay.
Impacts of land disturbance on aquatic ecosystem health: quantifying the cascade of events.

The impacts of land disturbance on streams have been studied extensively, but a quantitative mechanism of stream degradation is still lacking. Small changes in land use result in changes in physical and chemical characteristics in the stream, which significantly alter biotic integrity. The objective of this study was to quantify the mechanisms of aquatic ecosystem degradation in streams impacted by watershed urbanization. By quantifying the development level and the changes in the physical parameters of receiving streams, the effects of land use change can be illustrated in a conceptual model and evaluated using a traditional ecological risk assessment framework. Three 1st-order streams draining catchments undergoing varying stages of land development were examined in the upper Piedmont physiographic province of South Carolina, USA. A disturbance index was developed to quantify the changes in land use on a monthly basis. This normalized disturbance index (NDI) was quantitatively linked to an increase in the percentage of impervious cover, stormwater runoff, storm-event total suspended solid (TSS) concentrations, and the North Carolina biotic index (NCBI). The NDI was inversely related to a decline in habitat, median bed-sediment particle size, and benthic index of biotic integrity (BIBI). Unlike the percentage of impervious cover, the NDI facilitated the development of strategies for multiple scales of regulation. Predictive multivariate regressions were developed for storm-event TSS concentrations, the BIBI, and the NCBI. These regressions can be used to develop improved regulations for the effects of development and can lead to better implementation of best management practices, improved monitoring of land use change, and more sustainable development.
Nucleus accumbens lesions decrease sensitivity to rapid changes in the delay to reinforcement.

Abstract Both humans and non-humans discount the value of rewards that are delayed or uncertain, and individuals that discount delayed rewards at a relatively high rate are considered impulsive. To investigate the neural mechanisms that mediate delay discounting, the present study examined the effects of excitotoxic lesions of the nucleus accumbens (NAC) on discounting of reward value by delay and probability. Rats were trained on delay ( n = 24) or probability discounting ( n = 24) tasks. Following training, excitotoxic lesions of the NAC were made by intracranial injections of 0.5 μl 0.15 M quinolinic acid ( n = 12) or vehicle ( n = 12) aimed at the NAC (AP +1.6, ML ±1.5, DV −7.1). NAC lesions did not alter performance in animals tested with a constant delay (4 s) or probability (0.4) of reinforcement. However, when tested with between session changes in the delay (0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 s) of reinforcement, the lesioned rats had flatter discount curves than the sham group, indicating that they were less sensitive to frequent changes in the delay to reward. In contrast, the NAC lesions did not affect discounting of probabilistic rewards. NAC lesions impaired the ability to adapt to frequent between session changes in the delay to reward but did not increase or decrease discounting when the delay was held constant across sessions. NAC lesions may disrupt the ability of the animals to predict the timing of delayed rewards when the delay to reward is changed frequently.
Sensitivity of male reproductive endpoints in nonhuman primate toxicity studies: a statistical power analysis.

To determine the sensitivity of male reproductive toxicity endpoints in NHPs we performed a power analysis of routine and triggered endpoints using control data from sexually mature Asian and Mauritian NHPs. The power to detect a 50% change from control was 13–30% for male reproductive organ weights, ∼30% for testicular volume, 6–66% for seminal analyses and 10–78% for male hormones. Overall, male reproductive endpoints have poor power (less than 80%) to detect a 50% change from control with a group size of 3 monkeys. Confidently identifying adverse male reproductive effects with these endpoints would likely require specialized study designs with larger group sizes. Triggering of non-routine endpoints in cases where there is special concern for male reproductive toxicity is unlikely to increase sensitivity to detect adverse effects.
A Practical Guideline for Management of Hypertension in Patients With Diabetes

Hypertension is common in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and is also an early sign of diabetic nephropathy in those with insulin-dependent diabetes. Hypertension contributes to the progression of both macrovascular disease and nephropathy in patients with diabetes. Certain antihypertensive agents can adversely affect carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium channel blockers may slow the progression of renal complications in patients with diabetes. The pharmacologic approaches to treatment of hypertension in patients with diabetes potentially differ from those in nondiabetic persons. On the basis of a review of the recent literature related to antihypertensive therapy for patients with diabetes, we describe an empiric approach to treatment of hypertension in such patients. The proposed approach must be modified as new data from randomized clinical trials become available.
Fluid Stress Analysis During Airway Closure

A thin annular film lining the inside of a rigid tube is modeled as a liquid-lined airway in this study. Due to the capillary instability, the liquid film can form a plug and obstruct the airway once the ratio of the film thickness to tube radius, e, is greater than a critical value ∼0.12. The dynamics of the closure process is simulated for a Newtonian viscous film with constant surface tension and a passive core gas phase. The numerical simulation employs the finite volume approach with a sharp interface method for the free surface. The computational results show that the wall shear stress and normal stress during closure can be strong enough to injure airway epithelial cells.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Fetal behavior and the dopamine system: activity effects of D1 and D2 receptor manipulations.

Abstract Binding studies have indicated that D 1 and D 2 dopamine receptor subtypes are present in rats before birth, but it is not known whether these receptors are functional during the prenatal period. In the present study, day-21 rat fetuses were prepared for direct observation after pharmacological manipulation of D 1 and/or D 2 receptors. The D 1 agonist SK&F38393 induced a marked increase in fetal activity (i.e.,forelimb, rearlimb, and head movements) while the D 2 agonist quinpirole produced a slight suppression in activity. Coadministration of both agonists resulted in low levels of fetal activity, suggesting an interaction between D 1 and D 2 receptors. Administration of the D 2 antagonist sulpiride resulted in little change in fetal behavior but was effective in blocking the behavioral activation induced by the D 1 agonist. The D 1 antagonist SCH23390, administered alone or in combination with the D 2 antagonist, produced a modest increase in fetal activity that included mouthing and facial wiping behavior. These data provide evidence that the dopamine system is functional and capable of mediating behavioral effects in the near-term rat fetus. Further, manipulation of dopamine receptors results in a different pattern of behavioral effects than has been reported in older animals. The observation that fetal behavior is influenced by these pharmacological challenges suggests that drugs of abuse known to affect the dopamine system, such as cocaine, may cause profound changes in fetal behavior in utero that could consequently lead to alterations in behavioral and CNS development.
SN2 reactions in the gas phase. Nucleophilicity effects

The heats and entropies of gas phase association of chloride, bromide and iodide with the respective methyl halides are reported. Comparison of these results with results published for SN2 reactions in solution suggests that the solvent is the dominant factor in determining relative halide nucleophilicities for the reactions in solution.
Traditional and contemporary views of psychological testing.

(1963). Traditional and Contemporary Views of Psychological Testing. Journal of Projective Techniques and Personality Assessment: Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 359-365.
Secretory component is covalently bound to a single sub-unit in human secretory IgA

Abstract The binding of secretory component (SC) ∗ to the α chain in human secretory IgA has been studied in order to decide whether SC is covalently attached to one or both IgA sub-units. Secretory IgA was digested with streptococcal ( Streptococcus sanguis ) IgA protease, and the purified SC-(Fc) 2 · J fragment from the IgA 1 sub-class was treated with cyanogen bromide. The resulting products were separated on Sephadex G-150 in 1 M acetic acid, and two main peaks were obtained. The first had a mol. wt of 115,000, and by reduction was shown to contain SC (80,000 mol. wt) and a fragment of the a chain (26,000 mol. wt). The second Sephadex peak contained the Fc portion of the other IgA monomer (51,000 mol. wt), and no SC; its mol. wt was halved on reduction. Furthermore, the NH 2 -terminal amino acid sequences of the a chain fragments from both peaks confirmed their identities as Fc fragments of IgA, beginning at residue position 228, the same position where serum IgA is split by IgA protease. The results indicate that SC is disulfide-bonded to only one of the two monomer IgA sub-units of secretory IgA. The sequence studies additionally revealed at position 230, in comparison to previously studied IgA myeloma proteins, an Ala/Ser substitution, whose possible significance is discussed.