cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New RMS design based on SEMI E170 secured foundation of recipe management system — Masahide Hirouchi

A study of new RMS (Recipe Management System) design which is based on SEMI E170 SFORMS (Secured Foundation Of Recipe Management System) has been being done among Japanese device manufacturer, suppliers and system integrators. [1] This paper introduces the concept of SEMI E170 and reports current status of the study.
The Social Cost of Urban Transportation

Not far from Union Station, and the multimillion dollar Visitor Center erected in celebration of the Bicentennial, sits an old but stately building—an anachronism now largely unused and visibly isolated from more modern structures that testify to the rapid redevelopment of Northeast Washington, D.C. At its peak in early 1976, Saint Joseph’s nursing home sheltered 168 elderly poor, most of whom were over 85 years of age; another 350 men and women were on the waiting list maintained by the Little Sisters of the Poor. Unfortunately, two years earlier, the District of Columbia government had begun construction on a six-lane highway overpass only a few feet from the main entrance of the home. In part, the rationale for building the overpass was to improve the access to the Visitor Center and to ease the traffic congestion that would surely accompany the invasion of tourists for the Bicentennial festivities.
The Role and Diagnosis of Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis

Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) have increased penetration of allergens, immune dysregulation (including shared cytokine pathways), and frequent use of emollients and topical medications, all of which may predispose toward developing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Recent systematic reviews have suggested that ACD is a significant clinical problem in both children and adults with AD. While this remains controversial, ACD remains an important comorbidity and potential exacerbant of AD in clinical practice. Common relevant allergens, include lanolin, neomycin, formaldehyde, sesquiterpene lactone mix, compositae mix, and fragrances that are commonly found in AD patients’ personal care products. We herein review the clinical scenarios where patch testing is indicated in AD. In addition, we review the contraindications, preferred patch-testing series, pitfalls, and challenges determining the relevance of positive patch-test reactions in AD patients.
A WIRELESS EMBEDDED DEVICE FOR PERSONALIZED ULTRAVIOLET MONITORING

The skin care product market is growing due to the threat of ultraviolet (UV) radiation caused by the destruction of the ozone layer, increasing demand for tanning, and the tendency to wear less clothing. Accordingly, there is a potential demand for a personalized UV monitoring device, which can play a fundamental role in skin cancer prevention by providing measurements of UV radiation intensities and corresponding recommendations. This paper highlights the development and initial validation of a wireless and portable embedded device for personalized UV monitoring which is based on a novel software architecture, a high-end UV sensor, and conventional PDA (or a cell phone). In terms of short-term applications, by calculating the UV index, it informs the users about their maximum recommended sun exposure time by taking their skin type and sun protection factor (SPF) of the applied sunscreen into consideration. As for long-term applications, given that the damage caused by UV light is accumulated over days, it displays the amount of UV received over a certain course of time, from a single day to a month.
Quantum Models for Phase Transitions

The BCS model for superconductivity was proposed in [Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer, 1957]. Two authoritative reviews on superconductivity were published just one year before the model appeared: [Serin, 1956] surveys the experimental evidence; and [Bardeen, 1956] presents the latest understanding of the phenomena. Both of these aspects as well as the immediate impact of the BCS model are discussed in the Nobel lectures [Bardeen, 1972, Cooper, 1972, Schrieffer, 1972] and the textbook [Schrieffer, 1964].
Frequency-Dependent Selection as Expressed in the Rare Male Mating Advantages

The term rare male mating advantage of frequency-dependent selection implies that the fitness of a given genotype depends on its frequency and has long fascinated population geneticists. Frequency dependence may be positive (in favor of the common type) or negative (in favor of the rare type). One-sided frequency dependence is a situation in which the advantage, or disadvantage, holds only for one type when rare. When the rare type has a higher fitness than the common type, selection is balancing, because as soon as the rarer type becomes more common its advantage disappears.
Occult Economies, Revisited

This chapter revisits Jean and John Comaroff’s earlier discussion of the almost magical transformative potential attributed to the twin processes of democratization and market liberalization in the 1990s. They argued that, especially in places undergoing rapid transition from authoritarian rule, there had been a marked preoccupation with “occult economies”—arcane modes of producing value, putatively at work behind more conventional modes of generating wealth. How well have these arguments fared almost 20 years on? Were these occult preoccupations merely transient phenomena, or have they proved to be more enduring features the late modern world?
PTPRC Expression in Blood is Downregulated in Parkinson's and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Disorders.

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) shares pathological and clinical features with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients making the diagnosis challenging. Distinguishing PD from PSP is crucial given differences in disease course, treatment and clinical management. Objective Although some progress has been made in the discovery of biomarkers for PD and PSP, there is an urgent need to identify additional biomarkers capable of distinguishing between these diseases. Methods In this study, we tested the phosphatases DUSP8 and PTPRC for their diagnostic potential using quantitative PCR assays, in blood of 138 samples from participants nested in the Parkinson's Disease Biomarkers Program. Results Relative abundance of PTPRC mRNA was downregulated in PSP patients compared to PD and healthy controls, whereas there was no significant difference in the expression of DUSP8. Interestingly, PTPRC mRNA correlated with the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) total score and MDS-UPDRS- part III, thus indicating it might be useful as part of a biosignature to stratify patients according to disease severity and progression. Conclusions Collectively, these results suggest that PTPRC expression may be useful for distinguishing PD from PSP patients as part of a biosignature. Evaluation of PTPRC along with additional biomarkers in a larger and well-characterized longitudinal study is warranted.
Fat and Lean Mass Predict Bone Mass During Energy Restriction in Sedentary and Exercising Rodents.

Energy restriction (ER) causes bone loss, but the impact of exercise during ER is less understood. In this study, we examined the impact of metabolic hormones and body composition on both total body bone mineral content (BMC) and local (proximal tibia) volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) during short- (4 weeks) and long-term (12 weeks) ER with and without exercise in adult female rats. Our first goal was to balance energy between sedentary and exercising groups to determine the impact of exercise during ER. Second, we aimed to determine the strongest predictors of bone outcomes during ER with energy-matched exercising groups. Methods: Female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three sedentary groups (ad libitum, –20% ER, and –40% ER) and three exercising groups (ad libitum, –10% ER, and –30% ER). Approximately a 10% increase in energy expenditure was achieved via moderate treadmill running (∼60–100 min 4 days/week) in EX groups. n per group = 25–35. Data were analyzed as a 2 × 3 ANOVA with multiple linear regression to predict bone mass outcomes. Results: At 4 weeks, fat and lean mass and serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) predicted total body BMC (R2 = 0.538). Fat mass decreased with ER at all levels, while lean mass was not altered. Serum IGF-I declined in the most severe ER groups (–40 and –30%). At 12 weeks, only fat and lean mass predicted total body BMC (R2 = 0.718). Fat mass declined with ER level regardless of exercise status and lean mass increased due to exercise (+5.6–6.7% vs. energy-matched sedentary groups). At the same time point, BMC declined with ER, but increased with exercise (+7.0–12.5% vs. energy-matched sedentary groups). None of our models predicted vBMD at the proximal tibia at either time point. Conclusion: Both fat and lean mass statistically predicted total body BMC during both short- and long-term ER. Fat and lean mass decreased with ER, while lean mass increased with EX at each energy level. Measures that predicted total body skeletal changes did not predict site-specific changes. These data highlight the importance of maintaining lean mass through exercise during periods of ER.
Leaching of rare Earth elements from an Illinois basin coal source

Abstract The existence of rare earth elements (REEs) in coal sources at elevated concentrations has been the focus of several studies over the past decade. However, limited research has been conducted on methods to recover and refine the REEs. This paper reports the results of a detailed study into the potential of selectively recovering REEs in an Illinois basin coal source by leaching. Leaching characteristics are obtained for several segments obtained from a core sample as well as three different reject materials collected at a coal processing plant. Using a 1.2 mol/L sulfuric acid solution at 75 °C, over 60% REE recovery is achieved from the direct floor and an inner parting material as well as the coal-rich core segments that are pretreated by low-temperature plasma oxidation to obtain access to the micro-dispersed mineral matter. In the leachable parting material, fluorapatite is detected by XRD analysis, which is one of the more soluble phosphate minerals with a documented association with REEs. For the three plant reject samples, the leaching recovery values obtained for the heavy REEs are higher than those obtained for the light REEs under the standard leaching conditions and when 0.1 mol/L (NH4)2SO4 was used to extract REEs by an ion exchange mechanism. Thermal activation by roasting or chemical activation by pretreatment using 8 mol/L NaOH solution increases the total REE recovery with significantly higher gains obtained for the light REEs. Leaching kinetics are relatively fast within the first 2 h and then slow to provide relatively low overall recovery values under the standard test conditions for the coarse and fine reject samples. However, significantly higher recovery values are realized when treating mixed-phase (middling) particles existing within the coarse reject material.
The Two Alchemists in Harry Potter: Voldemort, Harry, and Their Quests for Immortality

J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series contains numerous references to alchemy. On a symbolic level, both Harry Potter and his archenemy Voldemort can be read as rival alchemists, one pursuing alchemy...
Oxidative Coupling of 3-Oxindoles with Indoles and Arenes.

A highly efficient method for the oxidative coupling of 2-substituted 3-oxindoles with aromatic compounds to form 2,2-disubstituted indolin-3-ones with broad scope is described. This work utilized oxygen as the terminal oxidant and a base-metal catalyst under mild conditions instead of toxic/precious-metal reagents and higher-molecular-weight oxidants. Quaternary structures were produced in modest-to-excellent yields (up to 96 %) without prefunctionalization.
Molecular-Orientation-Dependent Interfacial Charge Transfer in Phthalocyanine/MoS2 Mixed-Dimensional Heterojunctions

Mixed-dimensional heterojunctions (MDHJs) combine the characteristics of component materials such as the discrete orbital energies of zero-dimensional (0D) molecules and the extended band structure...
Assessing Differences between Nested and Cross-Classified Hierarchical Models:

In multilevel data, cross-classified data structures are common. For example, this occurs when individuals move to different regions in longitudinal data or students go to different secondary schoo...
Opening the Blackbox of Treatment Interference: Tracing Treatment Diffusion through Network Analysis:

Causal inference under treatment interference is a challenging but important problem. Past studies usually make strong assumptions on the structure of treatment interference in order to estimate ca...
In-situ metal binder-phase formation to make WC-FeNi Cermets with spark plasma sintering from WC, Fe, Ni, and carbon powders

Abstract High-density WC-FeNi ceramic-metal (cermet) composites were fabricated using liquid-phase spark plasma sintering/field-assisted sintering technology (SPS/FAST) with in-situ formation of metal binder phase. The precursor materials were micron-sized powders of WC, Fe, Ni, and C. A low melting point from a eutectic reaction of the powders enabled the in-situ formation of FeNi alloy and facilitates liquid-phase sintering of the WC. The carbon powder was added to stabilize the formation of the binder phase. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was performed to measure grain size and orientation. The composite exhibited a 99% theoretical density and a microstructure consisting of rounded and contiguous WC grains. The average grain size is 10.5 μm. The composite has a maximum hardness of 16.1 GPa. This research provides a fast and cost-effective approach to fabricate hard metals.
Making Houses Talk: How the Material Get Organized to Perform

Using MacKenzie’s (2006) interpretation of performativity, we explore how multiple objects are organized to perform as coherent systems. Though many studies examine how singular objects can be made...
Randomness versus selection in genome evolution

We propose a Markov chain approach for the evolution of a genealogical line of genomes. Our idealized genome has $N$ sites and each site can be in state $0$ or $1$. At each time step we pick a site at random. If the site is in state $0$ we flip it to state 1 with probability $p$ or we keep it in state $0$ with probability $1-p$. If the site is in state $1$ we flip it to state 0 with probability $1-p$ or we keep it in state $1$ with probability $p$. Even when state 1 has a selective advantage (i.e. $p>1/2$) the Markov chain is quite unlikely to approach the most fit allele (i.e. all 1's). In fact, randomness (i.e. which site is picked for a possible mutation) and selection (i.e. the value of $p$) balance each other out so that the number of $1$'s in the genome converges to a Gaussian distribution centered around $Np$.
Do inclined sleeping surfaces impact infants' muscle activity and movement? A safe sleep product design perspective

Abstract The design of inclined sleep products may be associated with an increased risk of suffocation when an infant finds themselves prone in the product. It is important to understand how different inclined sleep surface angles impact infants’ muscle activity when considering a safe sleep environment. The purpose of this study was to assess muscle activity of healthy infants when they lie supine and prone on different inclined crib mattress surfaces (0° vs. 10° vs. 20°). Fifteen healthy infants were recruited for this study. Surface EMG was recorded from cervical paraspinal, abdominal, lumbar erector spinae, and triceps muscles for 60 seconds during supine and prone positioning. Repeated measures ANOVAs and Bonferroni post-hoc adjustments were performed to test the effect of incline angles. Paired t-tests were performed to test the effect of position (supine vs. prone). During prone lying, abdominal muscle activity increased by 33% and 71% for 10° and 20° compared to 0°, while erector spinae and triceps muscle activity decreased for 20° compared to 0°. Lumbar erector spinae and cervical paraspinal muscle activity increased by 185% and 283% for prone compared to supine lying. During prone positioning, the 20° inclined surface resulted in significantly higher muscle activity of the trunk core muscles (abdominals), which may exacerbate fatigue and contribute to suffocation if an infant cannot self-correct to the supine position. Compared to supine positioning, prone lying requires higher musculoskeletal effort to maintain a safe posture to prevent suffocation, and babies likely fatigue faster when lying prone.
Protective Effects of ALDH1A Enzyme Inhibition on Helicobacter-Induced Colitis in Smad3-/- Mice are Associated with Altered α4ß7 Integrin Expression on Activated T Cells.

Many inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients require surgical intervention due to limited pharmacological treatment options. Antibodies targeting α4s7, a gut-homing integrin, are one of the most promising IBD treatments. As retinoic acid (RA) regulates expression of gut-homing proteins including α4s7 integrin, we tested if ALDH1A enzymes in the RA synthesis pathway could be targeted for IBD treatment using a potent inhibitor, WIN 18,446. Age- and sex-matched Smad3−/− mice were fed a diet with and without WIN 18,446 for 3 weeks before triggering inflammation with Helicobacter bilis infection. Colitis was evaluated by histopathology one week following the IBD trigger, and T cell subsets were evaluated before and after the IBD trigger. WIN 18,446 treatment significantly reduced IBD severity in Smad3−/− mice and reduced expression of α4s7 integrin on multiple activated CD4+ T cell subsets. This change was associated with increased ratios of induced regulatory T cells to Th17 cells during the inflammatory response in the draining lymph nodes. These studies indicate that RA reduction via ALDH1A enzyme inhibition is a potential new target for IBD treatment. Further studies are needed to examine its effects on other types of immune cells, to evaluate the efficacy window for this target, and to determine its efficacy in other animal models of IBD.
From Hip to Heart: Cobalt-induced Cardiomyopathy Requiring Cardiac Transplantation

Cobalt toxicity is a rare cause of infiltrative cardiomyopathy. We describe a case of cobalt-induced cardiomyopathy that progressed to end stage heart failure requiring orthotopic heart transplantation. A 67 year old woman with history of bilateral cobalt-chromium hip replacements presented with dyspnea of 3 weeks duration. She was tachycardic and hypotensive, with elevated NT- proBNP. Electrocardiogram demonstrated sinus tachycardia, low voltage and right bundle branch block. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed left ventricular ejection fraction of 20-25% with global hypokinesis and a moderate circumferential pericardial effusion. Left and right heart catheterization showed normal coronaries, elevated filling pressures and low cardiac index. Dobutamine infusion was initiated for management of cardiogenic shock. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) illustrated diffuse late gadolinium enhancement concerning for infiltrative cardiomyopathy. Extensive non-ischemic and rheumatologic workup was negative. Cobalt and chromium levels were significantly elevated at 121 mcg/L (Nl
Phantom Preparation Using a Dilution Technique

Physical phantoms with compartments containing different concentrations of radioactivity are widely used in PET methodology research, system performance assessment, and routine quality assurance. Accreditation bodies such as the American College of Radiology require the use of a phantom involving an
A Monte Carlo Investigation of Dose Point Kernel Scaling for α-Emitting Radionuclides.

Background: Density-based dose point kernel (DPK) scaling accuracy was investigated in various homogeneous tissue media. Methods: Using GEometry ANd Tracking 4 Monte Carlo code, DPKs were generated...
The perceptual influence of 2D synthesized images on 3D search

For some imaging modalities (e.g., Digital Breast Tomosynthesis, DBT), radiologists are provided, in addition to the 3D image stack, a 2D image known as C-view, a synthesized image from the corresponding 3D slices. An understanding of the functional perceptual interaction between the 2D image and the 3D search remains unexplored. We have yet to elucidate the basic perceptual mechanisms of visual search and attention that drive possible added benefits of incorporating the C-View image in the diagnostic process. We explore how the presence of a 2D synthesized view influences the detectability of signals and eye movements during 3D search in 1/f2.8 filtered noise backgrounds. Six trained observers searched for a microcalcification-like signal and a mass-like signal in 3D volumes (100 slices) with or without an additional 2D synthesized image (2D-S). The 2D-S was obtained by applying a high pass filter and a pixelwise maximum operation across the slices. We found that the detection and localization of small microcalcification-like signals in the 3D images improves when presented together with the 2D-S (p < 0.01). For larger mass-like signals, there was an improvement but not to the same extent as the microcalcification. Additionally, search times are significantly shorter for both signals when the 3D volume is accompanied by the 2D-S versus when used alone (p < 0.05). Eye movement analysis showed significantly fewer search errors in the 2D-S + 3D condition relative to the 3D condition for the microcalcification (p < .001) but not for the mass. The results suggest that a 2D-S allows an observer to efficiently identify suspicious locations, guide the search in 3D, and mitigate detrimental effects of peripheral vision on the detectability of small signals.
Regulation of Akt Signaling in Skeletal Muscle Is Altered by Prematurity in a Neonatal Piglet Model

Objectives Preterm birth is a risk factor for growth faltering. We recently showed in a neonatal piglet model of prematurity that premature birth decreases weight gain and skeletal muscle protein synthesis. This is associated with reduced insulin-induced activation of signaling components downstream of Akt but with no change in the activation of the IR/IRS-1/PI3K axis upstream of Akt. The aim of this study was to identify key regulatory molecules involved in Akt activation that are responsible for the differential response of skeletal muscle to insulin in preterm compared to term pigs.
Snapshot Three-Dimensional Absorption Imaging of Microscopic Specimens

Snapshot projection optical tomography (SPOT) uses a microlens array (MLA) to simultaneously capture the projection images of a three-dimensional (3D) specimen corresponding to different viewing directions. Compared to other light-field imaging techniques using an MLA, SPOT is dual telecentric and can block high-angle stray rays without sacrificing the light collection efficiency. Using SPOT, we recently demonstrated snapshot 3D fluorescence imaging. Here we demonstrate snapshot 3D absorption imaging of microscopic specimens. For the illumination, we focus the incoherent light from a light-emitting diode onto a pinhole, which is placed at a conjugate plane to the sample plane. SPOT allows us to capture the ray bundles passing through the specimen along different directions. The images recorded by an array of lenslets can be related to the projections of 3D absorption coefficient along the viewing directions of lenslets. Using a tomographic reconstruction algorithm, we obtain the 3D map of absorption coefficient. We apply the developed system to different types of samples, which demonstrates the optical sectioning capability. The transverse and axial resolutions measured with gold nanoparticles are 1.3 and 2.3 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$, respectively.
Towards a Practical Approach for Assessing Pressure Relief Activities for Manual Wheelchair Users in Their Daily Lives

Wheelchair users are at great risk of pressure ulcers, which are costly to treat and can seriously affect an individual’s quality of life. To reduce the risk of pressure ulcers, Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) recommend that manual wheelchair users perform repositioning activities, i.e., vertical pushups, lateral and forward leans, every 15 to 30 min. Despite the effectiveness of such pressure relief activities, the incidences of pressure ulcers among manual wheelchair users do not decline. Researchers hypothesize that poor compliance with CPGs could be the reason. However, no widely adopted applications are available to quantitatively evaluate whether a manual wheelchair user follows CPGs in their daily life. To fill in the gap, we have developed an iOS app that can communicate with an Apple Watch to collect the activity data of a manual wheelchair user. Based on the characteristics of sensor data specific to the iOS platform, we have developed a threshold-based algorithm to facilitate training data preparation and a neural-network-based approach to classify sensor data. Experimental results showed that our approach achieved a high classification accuracy. The outcome of this preliminary study lays a foundation for a nonintrusive and easy-to-use tool to assess a manual wheelchair user’s daily pressure relief activity.
Non-Phonon Mechanisms of Superconductivity

The problem of non-phonon mechanisms of superconductivity is intimately connected with that of critical temperature. When we are dealing with, say, the Josephson effect or electrodynamics, the essential facts are the existence of pairing and the presence of an energy gap. All the relevant formulas involve just the gap; the nature of the pairing mechanism is immaterial. However, the situation is different when we are discussing T c . It is expressed directly in terms of the parameters of the pairing interaction. For example, this can be seen directly from the BCS expression (Eq. 2.6): it gives T c in terms of the lattice vibrational frequency and the electron—phonon interaction constant.
Central Asian Ethnicity Compared: Evaluating the Contemporary Social Salience of Uzbek Identity in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

In this article, I utilise a contextual understanding of ethnicity and unique data to demonstrate that the ethnic Uzbek identity category is both widely available and frequently a useful means of making sense of the world in both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. While Uzbek ethnicity is generally salient in both states, the context in which it becomes so varies across space. In particular, there are significant urban–rural distinctions that affect when Uzbek ethnicity is utilised to interpret the world. In addition, compared to others, rural Tajikistani Uzbeks perceive that the boundary between Uzbeks and the titular groups is particularly permeable.
Objective analysis of early auditory responses elicited by gaps in noise

Behavioral detection of gaps in noise (GIN) is commonly used to evaluate auditory temporal resolution. Late latency responses (LLRs) to such stimuli are studied as electrophysiological measures of temporal resolution. The current study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of auditory brainstem and middle latency responses (ABRs/MLRs) elicited by GIN. Additionally, Quasi Auditory Steady State Responses (QASSRs) were quantified to obtain an Objective Gap Detection Threshold (OGDT). Six young, normal hearing subjects were monaurally stimulated using silent gaps (durations 0ms–12ms) embedded in a white-noise signal. QASSRs were deconvolved using the CLAD (Continuous Loop Averaging Deconvolution) algorithm to obtain an estimate of the transient responses to individual gaps. Derived ABRs/MLRs were consistently characterized by three positive waves and three negative waves that diminished with decreasing gap duration. Early auditory evoked responses (ABR/MLR) to GINs were reliably recorded and computed OGDTs yielded results that are consistent with behavioral tests. This methodology may be applied to objectively diagnose patients with auditory disorders related with temporal resolution deficiencies.
The Neurochemical Control of Mating Behavior

This chapter provides a survey of psychopharmacological studies of male and female sexual behavior, primarily conducted on rodent species. Because the expression of these behaviors normally requires the presence of gonadal hormones, this chapter attempts to integrate behavioral studies with studies on the effects of these hormones on neurotransmitter metabolism. The bulk of the literature in these fields focuses on norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and acetylcholine (ACh), all of which are involved in neuroendocrine regulation and in a variety of behaviors other than mating. For this reason, we also have attempted to place the neuropharmacology of reproductive behavior within a broader context. The other chapters in Part IV of this volume present closely related material.
Ethnoarchaeology and the Organization of Lithic Technology

Although the modern production and use of stone tools is rare, ethnoarchaeological research on this subject has provided important perspectives on methodological approaches to archaeological lithic analysis. Recent ethnoarchaeological research on lithics frequently takes the form of “cautionary tales,” warning against the primacy of functional variables most commonly invoked by lithic analysts. I argue that lithic ethnoarchaeology would benefit from a comparative organizational framework for explaining variation in patterns of stone tool use that takes into account the predictability and redundancy of the location and timing of technological activities. Understanding the underlying causes of modern patterns of stone tool use, in turn, offers a framework for exploring sources of lithic technological variation in the archaeological record. I also argue that technological analytical perspectives, such as the chaine operatoire and sequence of reduction approaches, can benefit from the insights gained through lithic ethnoarchaeological research, helping us define important analytical concepts and identify appropriate units of analysis.
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FACE OF DECLINING ENROLLMENTS

Today's topic is the most important one facing our profession today. Declining enrollments and the prospect of declining budgets have the attention of the deans and other university administrators. Our response to the challenge and the opportunity it presents will determine our survival as a profession and association and, if we survive, the nature of our profession for the next generation. What is this challenge and opportunity? It is the "crisis" in undergraduate education. We have been inundated with recent studies on what is wrong with undergraduate education (e.g., Boyer, Bloom). Yet many agricultural economists are unaware of the challenge. Enrollments are declining. Deans, provosts, and other administrators are asking why we need undergraduate programs in agriculture. Many agricultural economists, even in the university, spend only a small portion of their time in undergraduate education. Indeed, one of the difficulties is that many teaching faculty think only of "my course" rather than about an undergraduate education. An education is more than a smorgasbord of courses, more than a set of required courses called a curriculum. A curriculum is a set of planned learning experiences for students designed by the faculty to enhance the student's learning processes (Kropp, Manderscheid). An undergraduate education is, of course, even broader because it encompasses advising, counseling, extracurricular experiences, among other matters.
Effect of fixed daylengths on the photoperiodic regulation of gametogenesis in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Summary The gametogenic response of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus was compared under treatments of different photoperiod regimes of fixed and seasonal changing daylength. Quantification of gametogenic activity in en- zymatically dissagregated ovaries and in histological sections of testes have shown that the sea urchin is sensitive to both fixed and variable daylengths. After one year at fixed short day (8L:16D) or fixed neutral day (12L:12D) the gonads were ripe and in active gametogenesis, the same as were gonads of animals reared at changing photoperiod and sampled during the short-day phase of the cycle. Under fixed long day (16L:8D) the gonads lacked significant amount of gametes and had the cell constitution found in gonads of animals reared at changing photoperiod and sampled during the long-day phase of the cycle. Measurement of a critical daylength related to the autumnal equinox seems to be part of the mechanism in the photoperiodic regulation of vitellogenic oocyte growth and spe...
Amyloid-β Annular Protofibrils Evade Fibrillar Fate in Alzheimer Disease Brain

Annular protofibrils (APFs) represent a new and distinct class of amyloid structures formed by disease-associated proteins. In vitro, these pore-like structures have been implicated in membrane permeabilization and ion homeostasis via pore formation. Still, evidence for their formation and relevance in vivo is lacking. Herein, we report that APFs are in a distinct pathway from fibril formation in vitro and in vivo. In human Alzheimer disease brain samples, amyloid-β APFs were associated with diffuse plaques, but not compact plaques; moreover, we show the formation of intracellular APFs. Our results together with previous studies suggest that the prevention of amyloid-β annular protofibril formation could be a relevant target for the prevention of amyloid-β toxicity in Alzheimer disease.
Inadmissibility of the Usual Scale Estimate for a Shifted Exponential Distribution

Abstract Let X (1), X (2), …, X (n) be the order statistics of a sample of size n from the density f(x; μ, σ) = σ, −1e−(x-μ)1σ > μ. The statistic which is the best invariant estimate of the scale parameter σ, is shown to be inadmissible under squared error loss. It is shown to be strictly dominated by an estimate that is not translation invariant. Similarity between this estimation problem and the normal scale estimation problem treated by Stein [6] is discussed.
An ellipse-based discrete element model for granular materials

The discrete element method (DEM) models granular materials numerically as a collection of particles rather than as a continuum. Difficulties can arise when using the more common circular and polygonal shapes for modelling real granular materials. In particular, use of discs and spheres leads to typically low aggregate internal friction angles compared with real materials. This paper presents the detailed formulations for using the ellipse shape in discrete element modelling. Robust algorithms for computing ellipse-ellipse and ellipse-wall intersections are presented. Also shown are equations to assist in parameter selection and evaluation of macroscopic stresses and strains from the contact data. An initial validation test suite on rods of varying particle aspect ratio are presented. These results indicate that the ellipse-based DEM results in mechanical behaviour that is similar, both qualitatively and quantitavely, to the behaviour of real soils.
Emerging pathogen: a case and review of Raoultella planticola

Raoultella planticola has been considered a relatively harmless Gram-negative bacteria, rarely associated with clinical infection. However, in recent years, the frequency at which severe infection by R. planticola and drug-resistant strains are reported in literature has increased. Here, we present one case of acute cholecystitis caused by R. planticola, and review all previously reported cases of the infection in an attempt to identify new trends in biological and clinical features of R. planticola infections.
Role of photospheric footpoint shear in the impulsive dynamics of the solar corona

A frequently observed feature of a solar flare is its impulsive growth from a relatively quiescent background. This imposes a significant constraint on magnetic reconnection models which propose to account for flares: not only should the time scale be fast, but it must also exhibit an impulsive character. It is shown that the spatial width of the shearing motion of the photospheric footpoints has a significant qualitative effect on the time-evolution of the current sheet and the reconnection electric field in a two-dimensional coronal loop with a neutral line. The reconnection dynamics for localized footpoint shear profiles does not show an impulsive phase and occurs on a Sweet-Parker time scale (∼ η−1/2), whereas the reconnection dynamics with broad shear profiles occurs on a faster time scale with a weaker dependence on the resistivity (∼η−1/5), and furthermore, exhibits an impulsive phase due to flux pile-up near the reconnection layer.
Gene by environment interactions in the development of asthma.

Present knowledge suggests that asthma is a heterogeneous condition. Different genetic backgrounds may or may not express themselves as asthma-like symptoms, depending on both the nature and the timing of exposures in the individual. Although particular attention has been paid to environmental factors that may increase the risk of asthma, it is equally important to understand ‘protective’ exposures that may have decreased during the last decades and may thus explain the reported increases in asthma prevalence. Among these ‘protective’ factors are certain infections and the role they may have in the inception of allergics and asthma, particularly when they occur at critical times in the development of the immune system.
Gestational diabetes: Predictors of subsequent disordered glucose metabolism

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that the development of abnormal glucose metabolism after gestational diabetes can be predicted readily by means of available clinical variables. Study Design: Three hundred fifty nonpregnant former gestational diabetic women delivered during the previous 10 years underwent glucose tolerance tests. Variables including body mass index before the index pregnancy, pregnancy glucose tolerance test values, gestational diabetes treatment, complications, gestational age at diagnosis of gestational diabetes, and time elapsed since pregnancy were analyzed with logistic regression. Results: Variables that distinguished subjects who later developed diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance included prepregnancy body mass index (28.5 ± 7 versus 25 ± 5 kg/m 2 , p -(-10.37 + 0.04 {fasting plasma glucose} + 0.08 {body mass index} + 0.03 {months since delivery}) ) Conclusion: The risk for subsequent glucose abnormality among individuals with prevous gestational diabetes is quantifiable based on prepregant body mass index and fasting plasma glucose during pregnancy.
Synthesis of phosphorus-containing macromolecules during synchronous growth of Cholerella pyrenoidosa

Abstract 1. 1. Methods for the extraction and quantitation of ribonucleic acid phosphate and deoxyribonucleic acid phosphate in Chorella pyrenoidosa (Strain 7-11-05) were developed. 2. 2. The levels of ribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid, and poly-P1 were measured during two consecutive synchronous growth cycles in continuous light after the cells had been synchronized by intermittent illumination. An inverse relationship was observed between the levels (per cent of total cellular phosphate) of total nucleic acid phosphate and poly-Pi. However, when the concentrations of these phosphate polymers were expressed on a per-cell basis, the nucleic acids increased nearly exponentially while poly-Pi increased only linearly. Thus, it appeared that poly-Pi was not serving as a phosphorylating agent during normal growth. The apparent paradox between the two methods of expressing the intracellular distribution of phosphorus as well as the probable role of poly-Pi in cellular metabolism is discussed. 3. 3. The apparent differential rates of synthesis of ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid, throughout most of cellular development, is discussed in relationship to the probable site of control of deoxyribunucleic acid synthesis in cellular metabolism. In addition, the apparent constant rate of synthesis of poly-Pi is discussed in relationship to the synthesis and activity of polyphosphate kinase (EC 2.7.4.1) during synchronous growth.
Extrarenal and direct renal actions of atractyloside contribute to its acute nephrotoxicity in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs.

Abstract Acute extrarenal and renal changes were noted following the intravenous administration of atractyloside (ATR) (12.97 and 32.40 μmol/kg) to spontaneously-respiring pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. Severe hypoglycemia, respiratory depression and hypoxemia developed within 2 h. These extrarenal changes were accompanied by adverse changes in renal function, ultrastructural damage to S 1 , S 2 and S 3 cells of the proximal tubule and to thick ascending limb cells and an impaired ability of the kidneys to respond to a known diuretic — ethacrynic acid (EA). Mechanical ventilation of ATR-treated pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs circumvented the development of hypoxemia and all but eliminated the toxicity to S 3 and thick ascending limb cells, thereby establishing that ATR's extrarenal actions contributed to its nephrotoxicity. On the other hand, direct renal actions of ATR were evident following its administration into the renal artery; certain important extrarenal effects were minimized, while adverse changes in renal function and ultrastructure of S 1 and S 2 cells were noted primarily in the ipsilateral kidney. The high degree of variability associated with ATR's systemic toxicity was confirmed and a similar degree of variability in its renal toxicity was established. Our results emphasize the importance of evaluating the extrarenal effects produced by any toxicant when determining its nephrotoxic potential.
Energy for Change: Introduction to the Special Issue on Energy & Climate

Without economy and environment, there is no material well-being, no civil society, no personal or national security. The overriding problem associated with these realities, of course, is that the world has long been getting most of the energy its economies need from fossil fuels whose emissions are imperiling the climate that its environment needs. Compounding that predicament are emissions from land-use change—above all, deforestation in the developing countries of the tropics. Like society’s choices about energy supply and use, this process has been driven by powerful economic and political forces insufficiently moderated by understanding or consideration of the environmental component of societal well-being. This is no longer a hypothetical or distant issue. It is real and it is upon us. The climate is changing markedly nearly everywhere. The air and the oceans are warming, mountain glaciers are disappearing, permafrost is thawing, sea ice is shrinking, the great land ice sheets on Greenland and Antarctica are slipping, and sea level is rising. And the consequences for human well-being are already being felt: more heat waves, floods, droughts, and wildfires; tropical diseases reaching into the temperate zones; vast areas of forest being destroyed by pest outbreaks linked to warming; hurricanes and typhoons of greater power; and coastal property increasingly at risk from the surging seas. All this is happening faster than was expected. Sea level is rising at twice the average rate for the 20 century. The volume of sea ice in the Arctic (its area times its average thickness), which reaches a seasonal minimum every September, appears to have been smaller in September 2008 than in any year of the last 30—
A Manganese-Rich Environment Supports Superoxide Dismutase Activity in a Lyme Disease Pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi

The Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi represents a novel organism in which to study metalloprotein biology in that this spirochete has uniquely evolved with no requirement for iron. Not only is iron low, but we show here that B. burgdorferi has the capacity to accumulate remarkably high levels of manganese. This high manganese is necessary to activate the SodA superoxide dismutase (SOD) essential for virulence. Using a metalloproteomic approach, we demonstrate that a bulk of B. burgdorferi SodA directly associates with manganese, and a smaller pool of inactive enzyme accumulates as apoprotein. Other metalloproteins may have similarly adapted to using manganese as co-factor, including the BB0366 aminopeptidase. Whereas B. burgdorferi SodA has evolved in a manganese-rich, iron-poor environment, the opposite is true for Mn-SODs of organisms such as Escherichia coli and bakers' yeast. These Mn-SODs still capture manganese in an iron-rich cell, and we tested whether the same is true for Borrelia SodA. When expressed in the iron-rich mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, B. burgdorferi SodA was inactive. Activity was only possible when cells accumulated extremely high levels of manganese that exceeded cellular iron. Moreover, there was no evidence for iron inactivation of the SOD. B. burgdorferi SodA shows strong overall homology with other members of the Mn-SOD family, but computer-assisted modeling revealed some unusual features of the hydrogen bonding network near the enzyme's active site. The unique properties of B. burgdorferi SodA may represent adaptation to expression in the manganese-rich and iron-poor environment of the spirochete.
War Crimes and Just War

New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007, 359 pages. US$29.99 ISBN 9780521691536 Larry May's book War Crimes and Just War is one of the few books in military ethics that offers a thorough analysi...
Caring for special populations: total pain theory in advanced heart failure: applications to research and practice.

TOPIC. Total pain theory. PURPOSE. Describe total pain theory and apply it to research and practice in advanced heart failure (HF). SOURCE OF INFORMATION. Total pain theory provides a holistic perspective for improving care, especially at the end of life. In advanced HF, multiple domains of well-being known to influence pain perception are adversely affected by declining health and increasing frailty. A conceptual framework is suggested which addresses domains of well-being identified by total pain theory. CONCLUSION. By applying total pain theory, providers may be more effective in mitigating the suffering of individuals with progressive, life-limiting diseases.
Differential effects of putative inhibitors on cytosolic and membrane associated platelet lipoxygenase.

Abstract The effects of Indomethacin, Esculetin, ETYA (4, 7, 10, 13 -eicosatetraynoic acid, U53119), 3-amino-1-trifluoromethyl-7-phanyl-pyrasoline (BW 7755C), Quercetin, Phenidone, and Nordihydroguarstic acid (XDGA) on the synthesis of 12-L hydroxycicosate-traenoic acid (12-HETE) by human platelet 12-lipoxygenases were investigated. Except Indomethacin and Esculetin, all other drugs demonstrated significant inhibitory effect on 12-lipoxygonase activity. The rank order of potency for the inhibition of lipo enase in intact human platelets was ETYA > Quercetin > NDGA > Esculetin > Indomethacin. BW755C and Indomethacin were effective against platelet cyclooxygenase also. ETYA (U53119) was the most potent and selective inhibitor of platelet lipoxygenases. Results of our studies suggest that known lipoxygenase inhibitors display differential effects on platelet cyclooxygenase as well as membrane and cytosol associated lipoxygenases.
Effects of momentum buffer region on coaxial flow of dissimilar fluids.

Momentum buffer region effects on mixing rate in laminar and turbulent coaxial flows of heavy slow- moving gas and light fast-moving gas
Endoscopic Ultrasonography: Current Indications and Applications

Endoscopic ultrasonography is an exciting new field, with a rapidly expanding literature describing a wide variety of applications. Despite remarkable advances in the field, a number of crucial issues remain to be resolved. These include the limited availability of educational programs for training, enormous initial start up costs for centers related to the cost of equipment and the lack of interchangeability with processors, paucity of outcomes research studies, and technical limitations of the currently available devices. The aim of this article is to review the basic principles, instrumentation, applications, and potential problems related to endoscopic ultrasound and to attempt to define the realistic role for this tool in contemporary medical practice.