cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Towards determination of the source and magnitude of atmospheric pCO2 change across the early Paleogene hyperthermals

Abstract The early Paleogene greenhouse climate is punctuated by a series of extreme global warming events known as hyperthermals that are associated with massive additions of carbon to the ocean-atmosphere system. However, no existing proxies have suitable resolution to capture the change in atmospheric carbon dioxide (pCO2) across these events. Here, we reconstruct a nearly continuous record of pCO2 during the early Paleogene based on changes in terrestrial carbon isotope discrimination calculated from published high-resolution marine and terrestrial carbon isotope records. We calculate relatively stable baseline pCO2 = 569 + 250/−146 ppmv with significant increases in pCO2 at each of four hyperthermals. These background levels are significantly higher than most existing proxy estimates, but still lower than levels commonly assumed within carbon cycle models. Based on the pCO2 levels we calculate across each hyperthermal, we show that these events are associated with carbon additions most likely dominated by terrestrial organic matter oxidation or mantle-derived CO2. By matching the new high-resolution pCO2 data with global temperature data we calculate Earth-system sensitivity of ~0.8 to 1.6 KW−1 m2 across these hyperthermals. The slightly elevated ESS during the PETM and H2 suggests positive feedbacks through other greenhouse gases, changes in vegetation and/or oxidation of organic matter/methane may have amplified the temperature response to CO2 addition.
Aqueous Polysulfide–Air Battery with a Mediator-Ion Solid Electrolyte and a Copper Sulfide Catalyst for Polysulfide Redox

Aqueous sodium polysulfide–air batteries are a promising system for enabling low-cost, high energy density, environmentally benign batteries for grid-scale deployment. However, the sluggish redox kinetics of aqueous polysulfide requires the use of a catalyst. Cobalt sulfide is a traditional catalyst with good activity and stability, but it uses expensive and toxic cobalt. This study demonstrates for the first time the long-term cycling performance of a sodium polysulfide–air battery with a low-cost copper sulfide catalyst for polysulfide redox. Alkaline sodium polysulfide anolyte is paired with an acidic sodium phosphate buffered air catholyte by means of a Na+-ion solid-state electrolyte, which eliminates chemical crossover between the two electrodes while serving as a mediator-ion solid electrolyte. Long-term cycling is achieved by means of a decoupled charge and discharge air electrode. Furthermore, the effect of CuS redox activity in the polysulfide–air voltage window is tested by pre-discharging CuS ...
Rotational Inverted Pendulum Controller Design using Indirect Adaptive Fuzzy Model Predictive Control

This paper introduces an indirect adaptive fuzzy model predictive control strategy for a nonlinear rotational inverted pendulum with model uncertainties. In the first stage, a nonlinear prediction model is provided based on the fuzzy sets, and the model parameters are tuned through the adaption rules. In the second stage, the model predictive controller is designed based on the predicted inputs and outputs of the system. The control objective is to track the desired outputs with minimum error and to maintain closed-loop stability based on the Lyapunov theorem. Combining the adaptive Mamdani fuzzy model with the model predictive control method is proposed for the first time for the nonlinear inverted pendulum. Moreover, the proposed approach considers the disturbances predictions as part of the system inputs which have not been considered in the previous related works. Thus, more accurate predictions resistant to the parameters variations enhance the system performance using the proposed approach. A classical model predictive controller is also applied to the plant, and the results of the proposed strategy are compared with the results from the classical approach. Results proved that the proposed algorithm improves the control performance significantly with guaranteed stability and excellent tracking.
Increasing Use of Thyroidectomy as Definitive Treatment for Hyperthyroidism

Abstract Background Thyroidectomy is a definitive treatment for hyperthyroidism. The purpose of this study is to examine how often patients with hyperthyroidism are referred for thyroidectomy and what are the common reasons for referral. Materials and methods We identified 864 patients with hyperthyroidism diagnosis. A total of 237 patients underwent thyroidectomy from January 2011 to December 2016. Patients were divided into six groups according to the year of thyroidectomy, group 1 to group 6, from 2011 to 2016, respectively. Primary and secondary outcomes: reasons why patient was referred for thyroidectomy, time from diagnosis, and/or start of antithyroid drugs (ATDs) to thyroidectomy as well as the trend and total number of thyroidectomies each surgeon did during the study period. Results The mean age was 44 ± 15 y, 73% were women, and 54% were African American. A significant increase in the rate of thyroidectomy over the study period was observed where 31 patients underwent thyroidectomy in 2011 compared with 61 patients in 2016. The most common reasons patients were referred for thyroidectomy were resistance or intolerance to ATDs followed by patient's preference, and presentation with obstructive symptoms with no statistically significant difference between groups. The median time from diagnosis to surgery was 8 mo (0 to 204 mo) and 7 mo from initiation of ATDs to thyroidectomy with no significant difference between groups. Conclusions An increase of thyroidectomy rate was observed at our institution over the last 6 y. Patients were mostly referred due to resistance or intolerance to antithyroid medications, patients’ preference of surgery, and presentation with obstructive symptoms.
EP516 Single port access (SPA) robot assisted sentinel lymph node (SNL) mapping utilizing indocyanine green (ICG) for patients with stage I endometrial cancer: farghaly's technique

Introduction/Background Bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy in early stage endometrial cancer my result in significant lymphedema. Efforts have been made to reduce the extent of nodal dissection to minimize lymphedema by the application of sentinel lymph node (SNL) mapping with success. Methodology A 25 mg single vial of ICG was used at each surgery. ICG was diluted with 20 ml of normal saline. A 4 ml. of the prepared solution was injected into the uterine cervical stroma at 4 and 8 o9clock positions to lessen the staining of the anterior vesical-uterine space. ICG was placed submucosally and in the deep layer of the uterine cervical stroma. Following that A Vcare uterine manipulator is placed vaginally. A veress needle is placed in the umbilicus for peritoneal insufflation. A 2 cm incision over the lower rim of the umbilicus was performed. The patient was placed in Trendelenburg position, and the DaVinci XI robotic surgical system is side-docked parallel to the right side of the patient. The retroperitoneum space is explored. The green stained channels were looked for in the parametrium crossing over the superior vesical artery and presacral spaces and followed to any green stained SLN. The green stained SLN’s are resected and excised. If non green stanning is identified, a complete bilateral lymphadenectomy is performed. In addition, total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy are performed in both cases. Abdominal incisions are closed with O vicryl suture. Results SLN was identified in 76% of patients. The operating time was maintained at 150 minutes, and console time 100 minutes. Estimated blood loss was 100 ml. Patients discharged home the following day. Conclusion Farghaly9s technique of robot assisted sentinel lymph node mapping utilizing Indocyanine green identifies more pelvic nodal metastasis than standard lymphadenectomy. It is feasible and has the advantage of decreasing morbidity, reducing risk of dissemination and short hospital stay. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.
Lifetime of the 1 s 2 ( P 1 1 ) and 1 s 4 ( P 1 3 ) levels of neon by the cascade Hanle effect

The theory of the cascade level-crossing effect as formulated by Happer is evaluated for zero-nuclear-spin atomic systems and extended to include the case of a polarized initial state. We have used this theory to interpret our cascade-Hanle-effect results (zero-field level crossings) to obtain the lifetime of the two resonance levels, $1{s}_{2}(^{1}P_{1})$ and $1{s}_{4}(^{3}P_{1})$, of the $2{p}^{5}3s$ configuration of neon. The resonance lines 744 \AA{} ($1{s}_{4}\ensuremath{-}^{1}S_{0}$) and 736 \AA{} ($1{s}_{2}\ensuremath{-}^{1}S_{0}$) are produced in the cascade to the ground $^{1}S_{0}$ state when a beam of metastable $1{s}_{3}(^{3}P_{0})$ and $1{s}_{5}(^{3}P_{2})$ neon atoms is excited by selected lines of the $2{p}^{5}3s\ensuremath{-}2{p}^{5}3p$ transition array. Our results are $\ensuremath{\tau}(1{s}_{2})=1.65\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.16$ nsec and $\ensuremath{\tau}(1{s}_{4})=20.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.5$ nsec.
Additive Manufacturing with Strontium Hexaferrite-Photoresist Composite

Millimeter wave components, such as circulators and isolators, frequently use magnetic fields to break symmetry of the signal propagation and provide unidirectional signal transmission. While effective, these components have not seen the level of miniaturization of other millimeter wave components, primarily due to the discrete nature of the magnets used in the components. Using circulators in the 40-50 GHz range as a motivating application, requirements arise for the deposited films, namely immunity to eddy currents, sufficient magnetization to act as self-biasing magnets, and out-of-plane orientation of the self-biasing field. Based on these required properties, hexaferrite materials are selected for their strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) and low conductance. The difficulty of integrating these components monolithically with monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC) originates from the incompatibility of crystal structure with standard semiconductor materials and process conditions. Additive manufacturing using a composite of strontium hexaferrite (SrFe12O19) particles and photoresist has been chosen as a method to overcome the difficulties of integrating hexaferrite material to semiconductor substrates. Due to their large internal anisotropy field, the particles of strontium hexaferrite tend to rotate to the field direction instead of changing magnetization direction under application of an external magnetic field (less than the anisotropy field). We have developed a method for 3D printing composites of high strontium hexaferrite concentration (up to 20% by volume) in a liquid photoresist, SU8. Rotation of hexaferrite particles in polymer matrix and thus magnetic anisotropy has been demonstrated in the composite, which is subsequently cured to hold the physical position and orientation of the particles. The anisotropy of the self-biasing field provided by the films has been experimentally characterized, and a ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) frequency ~43 GHz has been observed. We have also characterized the viscosity of the particle-laden polymer at different particle concentrations. 3D printing of this composite with poling will make it possible to directly print magnetic components that require out-of-plane anisotropic magnetization.
A Digital RF Transmitter With Background Nonlinearity Correction

This article describes a new digital transmitter architecture that automatically corrects static and dynamic nonlinearities with no need for digital predistortion or adaptation. We draw upon the Newton–Raphson method of solving equations and show that it leads to $\Delta \Sigma $ modulation as a special case and to a compact, efficient transmitter in the general case. A complete transmitter realized in 28-nm CMOS technology achieves an overall efficiency of 50% while delivering +24 dBm with an adjacent channel power ratio of −35.4 dB and a receive-band noise of −150 dBc/Hz.
Traumatic Brain Injury: A Regional Study of Rural Special and General Education Preparation Experiences:

A sample of special and general education professionals who worked in rural school districts in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi were surveyed to determine service patterns...
The Ironic Defense of Socrates: Title and Preliminary Considerations

The Importance and Puzzling Character of the Apology of Socrates Thirty-five Platonic dialogues have come down to us as genuine. Socrates is present in at least thirty-three and the chief speaker in at least twenty-seven. Yet he is mentioned in a title only this once. Plato's Socrates first comes to sight, then, as a man with a defense, a man in trouble. Perhaps this is Plato's way of saying that, if we want to understand Socrates, we should begin by thinking about his conflict with Athens. If so, this conflict must be more than a stroke of bad luck that befell him (cf. Seventh Letter 325b5–c5); maybe it also provides the vantage point from which we can best understand the core of his life. At the very least, the title beckons the reader to begin his study of Socrates here. Another sign of the dialogue's importance is that it contains, not only Socrates' most extensive account of his life, but the only account in which he promises to tell the “whole truth” about his way of life (20c4–d6). For readers who come to Plato seeking clarity about the best way of life, or the virtuous life, what better place to begin could there be? What is more, in the chronological sequence of eight dialogues running from the Theaetetus to the Phaedo , the Apology takes the place of the promised but apparently unwritten dialogue on the philosopher ( Sophist 216c–217c; Statesman 257a–258b, 311c). Perhaps the Apology is the missing Philosopher .
An asymptotically compatible probabilistic collocation method for randomly heterogeneous nonlocal problems

In this paper we present an asymptotically compatible meshfree method for solving nonlocal equations with random coefficients, describing diffusion in heterogeneous media. In particular, the random diffusivity coefficient is described by a finite-dimensional random variable or a truncated combination of random variables with the Karhunen-Loeve decomposition, then a probabilistic collocation method (PCM) with sparse grids is employed to sample the stochastic process. On each sample, the deterministic nonlocal diffusion problem is discretized with an optimization-based meshfree quadrature rule. We present rigorous analysis for the proposed scheme and demonstrate convergence for a number of benchmark problems, showing that it sustains the asymptotic compatibility spatially and achieves an algebraic or sub-exponential convergence rate in the random coefficients space as the number of collocation points grows. Finally, to validate the applicability of this approach we consider a randomly heterogeneous nonlocal problem with a given spatial correlation structure, demonstrating that the proposed PCM approach achieves substantial speed-up compared to conventional Monte Carlo simulations.
The influence of training content on the quality of user-developed applications

The development and use of computer-based applications by end users has grown tremendously over the past few years, and is projected to continue increasing in years to come. Previous research has indicated the need to provide training to users that develop their own applications, but has not addressed the impact of specific training content on the correctness of user-developed applications. Integration of previous research on training, application comprehension, and software testing provides a Training-Impact Model that can be used to compare the influence of different training contents. The Training-Impact Model developed in this dissertation links training content to specific types of knowledge, knowledge to application verification and validation, and application correctness (resulting from verification and validation) to decision correctness for structured decision-making applications. Three types of training content are evaluated in this research: spreadsheet training, software testing training, and a combination of spreadsheet and software testing training. The research was conducted as a laboratory experiment using 140 subjects and videotape-based training. Each subject was presented with a spreadsheet that contained intentional defects and directed to verify the spreadsheet template so that a decision could be made based on the template's results. The study found that a significant increase in the number of errors detected occurred for both the combined training group and the testing training group. Furthermore, the results indicate that for the combined training group, the level of software testing knowledge increased as a result of training but that the level of spreadsheet knowledge did not increase significantly. The study also found that many subjects corrected several of the template defects, but very few of the subjects corrected all of the defects. The subsequent decisions made, based on results taken from the spreadsheet template, were often incorrect due to the presence of undetected errors. This suggests the need for future research in end-user error detection behavioral patterns and end-user training.
Fimbria-fornix lesions in young rats impair acquisition in a 14-unit T-maze similar to prior observed performance deficits in aged rats

Bilateral electrolytic lesions were made in the fimbria-fornix of 3-month-old male Fischer-344 rats. One week after surgery, acquisition in a shock-motivated 14-unit T-maze was assessed in these experimental animals and compared with that of sham-operated and unoperated controls. All animals were pretrained to criterion in one-way active avoidance in a straight runway before receiving two 10-trial daily sessions in the complex maze task in which the response requirement was to negotiate each of five maze segments within 10 sec to avoid footshock. All groups showed high levels of performance in pretraining. In the complex maze, rats sustaining damage to the fimbria-fornix exhibited learning impairments compared with controls in all analyzed performance measures including errors, run time, number of shocks, duration of shock, and alternation errors. The latter measure, which reflected the rat’s tendency to maintain a strategy of alternating responses at the choice-points, showed no evidence of change with training among lesioned animals, whereas control animals demonstrated a dropout of this response strategy. The impairment in maze performance associated with the fimbria-fornix lesions appeared to parallel those previously observed in scopolamine-treated young rats and in aged rats.
Effect of the Magnitude of Lipid Lowering on Risk of Elevated Liver Enzymes, Rhabdomyolysis, and Cancer: Insights From Large Randomized Statin Trials

Effect of the Magnitude of Lipid Lowering on Risk of Elevated Liver Enzymes, Rhabdomyolysis, and Cancer: Insights From Large Randomized Statin TrialsAlawi A. Alsheikh-Ali, Prasad V. Maddukuri, Hui ...
How Scary Is "Stop the Beach Renourishment"?

This article reviews Stop the Beach Renourishment, Inc. v. Florida Dep’t of Envt’l Protection where four Justices announced a judicial decision could, under the right circumstances, by itself constitute a taking of a litigant’s property, and applies that rule to existing California Supreme Court cases on 1) the implied warranty of habitability, 2) running covenants, 3) common enemy surface water, 4) public beach access, and 5) deeds of trust and the one-action rule.
Acute stroke: therapeutic transcranial Doppler sonography.

Ultrasound (US) has emerged as a new tool to treat ischemic stroke. The potential advantage of US is decreased risk of systemic bleeding complications due to its site-specific effect. Moreover, exte
Direct Integration Methods in Structural Dynamics

Several alternative methods for directly integrating the governing equations of structural dynamics are reviewed. First, characteristics of the matrix equations, such as the spread in structural eigenvalues, or stiffness, the bandwidth and sparseness, and the frequency spectrum of the forcing function, are examined. Then, criteria that can be used to select a direct integration algorithm, such as artificial damping and periodicity error, are analyzed. Emphasis is given to results obtained for the Houbolt, Newmark, and Wilson operators, and their comparison to a class of stiffly stable operators. Correspondence of the Newmark method to the trapezoidal rule for γ = 1/2, β = 1/4 is shown. Recent application of these operators to nonlinear problems is covered.
A Testbed for Mobile Multimedia Applications

This article describes the architecture, design and implementation of a mobile network emulator able to enhance development of mobile multimedia applications. In particular, it generates test situations which otherwise could be encountered only by moving around the equipment to be tested.
Pyrolysis Products from Cellulose Treated with Flame Retardants: Part I: Halogen-Containing Flame Retardants2

Cellulose treated with phosphorus-halogen flame retardants was thermally decomposed and the products separated and identified with a GC-MS combination. Addition of more phosphorus compounds to the ...
Collisional quenching and radiation trapping kinetics for Rb(5p) in the presence of ethane

Optically pumped alkali vapor lasers have been constructed using excitation of the D 2 line ( 2 P 3/2 - 2 S 1/2 ) followed by lasing on the D 1 line ( 2 P 1/2 - 2 S 1/2 ). Collisional relaxation is used to transfer population from 2 P 3/2 to the 2 P 1/2 level. The collision partner used for this step must have a large cross section for inducing transfer between the 2 P J levels, combined with a very small cross section for electronic quenching of the form M( 2 P J )+Q→M( 2 S 1/2 )+Q (where M is an alkali metal and Q is the energy transfer agent). Ethane has proved to be an effective energy transfer agent for optically pumped Rb and Cs lasers. However, modeling of data for the Rb/C 2 H 6 laser with the literature value for the quenching rate constant was unsuccessful. We have reexamined the quenching of Rb( 2 P J ) by C 2 H 6 using time-resolved fluorescence techniques. Radiation trapping was significant under the conditions of our measurements, and an analysis of the interplay between the kinetics of trapping and quenching was carried out. It was found that quenching of Rb( 2 P j ) by C 2 H 6 was very inefficient. The upper bound established for the quenching cross section was two orders of magnitude lower than that indicated by the previous determination.
Registration quality evaluator: application to automated patient setup verification in radiotherapy

An image registration quality evaluator (RQE) is proposed to automatically quantify the accuracy of registrations. The RQE, based on an adaptive pattern classifier, is generated from a pair of reference and target images. It is unique to each patient, anatomical site and imaging modality. RQE is applied to patient positioning in cranial radiotherapy using portal/portal and portal/DRR registrations. We adopted 1mm translation and 1° rotation as the maximal acceptable registration errors, reflecting typical clinical setup tolerances. RQE is used to determine the acceptability of a registration. The performance of RQE was evaluated using phantom images containing radio-opaque fiducial markers. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, we estimated the sensitivity and the specificity of the RQE are 0.95 (with 0.89-0.98 confidence interval (CI) at 95% significance level) and 0.95 (with 0.88-0.98 CI at 95% significance level) respectively for intramodal RQE. For intermodal RQE, the sensitivity and the specificity are 0.92 (with 0.81-0.98 CI at 95% significance level) and 0.98 (with 0.89-0.99 CI at 95% significance level) respectively. Clinical use of RQE could significantly reduce the involvement of the oncologist for routine pre-treatment patient positioning verification, while increasing setup accuracy.
Some effects of air ions on the activity of rats

A duct system was arranged through which flowed air of controlled ion concentration. In series was a chamber with a flexible dielectric floor which made possible electrical detection of activity.Exposure to various ion concentrations of either polarity produced pronounced effects.In addition to gross motor activity six other behavioural parameters were recorded. The lowest ion concentration were most effective. In addition to presenting a controlled ambient ion concertration the ion current drawn by the animal was measured. This varied markedly from rat to rat.
Nitric oxide decreases the biological activity of norepinephrine resulting in altered vascular tone in the rat mesenteric arterial bed.

Nitric oxide (NO) reacts with catecholamines resulting in their deactivation. In this study, we demonstrated that coincubation of NO donors with sympathetic neurotransmitters decreased the amount o...
Oligosaccharides in foliage of Agropyron, Bromus, Dactylis, Festuca, Lolium and Phleum*

SUMMARY Temperatures are frequently too cool on rangelands of the western United States for plant growth to occur during much of the time when soil moisture is most readily available. Altering plant metabolism to facilitate growth under cool temperatures holds considerable potential for improving forage production on these ranges. Sucrosyloligosaccharides in representative grasses were characterized. Sucrosyloligosaccharides facilitate the partitioning of carbohydrates outside the chloroplasts during growth at cool temperatures. Eight grasses (Bromus inermis Leys., B. tectorum L., Dactylis glomerata L., Lolium perenne L., Festuca arnndinacea Schreb., Phleum pratense L., and two accessions of ‘Hycrest’ a cross between Agropyron desertorum (Fischer ex. Link) Schultes and A. cristatum L. Gaertner were grown in controlled environments at 10/5 ± 1 °C day/night temperatures. Oligosaccharides extracted from lyophilized leaves were separated using anion exchange chromatography. The relative amounts and kinds of trisaccharides varied among species. All grass contained both raffinose and 1-ketose. Neoketose was the dominant trisaccharide in Lolium and Festuca but was absent from both Agropyron hybrids. 6-Kestose was present in all species except L. perenne. Extracts of L. perenne and F. arundinacea contained a trisaccharide containing glucose, fructose and galactose (1:1:1), tentatively given the trivial name ‘loliose’. The oligosaccharide pattern in L. perenne, both Bromus species, D. glomerata and P. pratense suggest the presence of simple polymeric fructan series. However, the series are different from the inulin series in Jerusalem artichoke tubers. In contrast, chromatograms of leaf extracts of F. arundinacea and both Agropyron accessions have complicated profiles which may reflect the presence of both linear and branched polymers in those species. The oligosaccharide profiles determined by anion exchange chromatography may have useful chemotaxonomic applications.
Nitrogen and chloride concentration in deep soil cores related to fertilization

Abstract Shallow-rooted, high-value vegetable crops are normally heavily fertilized with nitrogen. Improving farmers' management practices requires a simple method to monitor nitrogen loading below the root zone, and irrigation efficiency. In fields with low nitrogen and water use efficiencies, alternative Best Management Practices (BMPs) should be initiated and evaluated to reduce nitrogen loading to the ground water while maintaining yields. The objective of the study was to estimate the extent of nitrate-nitrogen leaching below the root zone of shallow-rooted onions, and deep-rooted Chile and alfalfa, using chloride in the irrigation water as a tracer. Soil samples were taken from seven fields in 15cm increments to 180cm at the end of the 1994 growing season. The samples were analyzed for nitrate-nitrogen and chloride. Irrigation efficiency ranged from 70 to 76% for the Chile fields, 77–80% for onions and was 97% for alfalfa. Nitrogen loading below the root zone of Chile fields varied from 290 kg ha−1 per year for sandy loam soils to 64 kgha−1 for clay soils. Nitrogen loading below the root zone of onions varied from 199 kgha−1 per year for a loamy sand field to 161 kgha−1 per year for a clay field. The nitrogen loading below the root zone of a sandy loam alfalfa soil was only 42 kgha−1 per year because of the low leaching fraction. Results indicated that irrigation efficiencies are reasonable but nitrogen applications amounts need to be decreased by using altemative BMPs.
Gender paradoxes of the Arab Spring

The idea for this collected volume came out of an urgent need to focus on how women are impacting and being impacted by the on-going transformations in the Arab Spring geography. The events in Tuni...
Exposure to monomethylarsonous acid (MMAIII) leads to altered selenoprotein synthesis in a primary human lung cell model

Monomethylarsonous acid (MMA(III)), a trivalent metabolite of arsenic, is highly cytotoxic and recent cell culture studies suggest that it might act as a carcinogen. The general consensus of studies indicates that the cytotoxicity of MMA(III) is a result of increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A longstanding relationship between arsenic and selenium metabolism has led to the use of selenium as a supplement in arsenic exposed populations, however the impact of organic arsenicals (methylated metabolites) on selenium metabolism is still poorly understood. In this study we determined the impact of exposure to MMA(III) on the regulation of expression of TrxR1 and its activity using a primary lung fibroblast line, WI-38. The promoter region of the gene encoding the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) contains an antioxidant responsive element (ARE) that has been shown to be activated in the presence of electrophilic compounds. Results from radiolabeled selenoproteins indicate that exposure to low concentrations of MMA(III) resulted in increased synthesis of TrxR1 in WI-38 cells, and lower incorporation of selenium into other selenoproteins. MMA(III) treatment led to increased mRNA encoding TrxR1 in WI-38 cells, while lower levels of mRNA coding for cellular glutathione peroxidase (cGpx) were detected in exposed cells. Luciferase activity of TrxR1 promoter fusions increased with addition of MMA(III), as did expression of a rat quinone reductase (QR) promoter fusion construct. However, MMA(III) induction of the TRX1 promoter fusion was abrogated when the ARE was mutated, suggesting that this regulation is mediated via the ARE. These results indicate that MMA(III) alters the expression of selenoproteins based on a selective induction of TrxR1, and this response to exposure to organic arsenicals that requires the ARE element.
Mixed responses to resource densities and their implications for character displacement

How should a consumer of two resource types adapt to changes in their abundances? This paper shows that many different biological circumstances produce mixed responses; i.e. increasing availability of one resource increases the consumer's efforts to obtain it, while increasing availability of the other resource decreases the consumer's efforts at exploitation. This implies that competition from a second consumer species may cause convergent or divergent character displacement of the first species. The signs and magnitudes of the second derivative of the fitness function are important in determining which outcome occurs. The degree of resource limitation of the consumer species also influences the nature of adaptive shifts in resource use.
Time-dependent changes in the sensitivity of dopamine neurons to low doses of apomorphine following amphetamine infusion.

Abstract Changes in dopamine autoregulatory mechanisms following a chronic infusion of amphetamine were studied. Rats were infused with D -amphetamine (4.8 mg/day) for 7 days by osmotic minipumps, and were studied at various times after withdrawal. In contrast to no changes in the spontaneous firing rate of single dopamine cells, the potency of apomorphine in the substantia nigra was markedly decreased soon after withdrawal, followed by an increase 7 days later. The ventral tegmental area showed no changes in either spontaneous firing rate or sensitivity to apomorphine following a 7-day withdrawal. Moderate decreases in striatal and tubercle dopamine concentrations were not accompanied by any significant decrease in basal dopamine synthesis. Under intact impulse-flow, the sensitivity of terminal dopamine synthesis to low doses of apomorphine was decreased immediately following withdrawal; by Day 7 supersensitivity was observed. Direct assessment of terminal autoreceptors following a 7-day withdrawal revealed normo- and supersensitivity of these receptors in the striatum and olfactory tubercle, respectively. Possible mediating mechanisms as well as implications of these findings for the development of characteristics behavioral syndromes during and after amphetamine infusion are discussed.
Metabolomic analysis of urine from rats chronically dosed with acrylamide using NMR and LC/MS

Acrylamide (AA) is known to cause neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, reproductive, and carcinogenic effects in rodents and neurotoxicity in humans. A metabolomics study of urine samples from rats dosed with acrylamide for 14 days was undertaken to understand the mechanisms of and develop biomarkers for acrylamide-induced toxicity. NMR-based and LC/MS-based metabolomics methods were used to analyze metabolites in urine samples. Three mercapturic acid conjugates of acrylamide were detected using exact mass and principal component analysis (PCA) of urine samples. NMR analysis showed an increase in creatine and a decrease in taurine throughout the dosing period. Results showed that citric acid cycle metabolites were down-regulated later in the dosing period. Further, many amino acids were also up-regulated during the study and may be related to the weight loss observed in this study. Taken together, the data suggest that both LC/MS-based and NMR-based metabolomics analysis can detect changes in endogenous metabolites related to glutathione, TCA cycle, and amino acid metabolism induced by AA administration over a 2 week dosing period.
Some remarks on radio-frequency holography

The extension of holographic techniques to radio frequencies offers new possibilities. The recording can be done by scanning an area with a probe. The reference wave can be replaced by a signal whose phase is varied with the probe position according to some program. Thus, "slow" reference waves (k > k 0 ) can be simulated. Complex modulation schemes can also be used. A product detector can multiply the probe and the reference signal together and the recorded product can be used in the same manner as an intensity hologram. With two such "correlators," the probe signal can be obtained in phase and magnitude. Optical reconstruction can be done from this information.
The Kidney Disease Initiative and the Division of Diabetes Translation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. In 2000, more than 26 million adults were estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD), placing them at risk of progressing to kidney failure. The number of new cases of kidney failure treated by using dialysis or transplantation in the United States has more than doubled since 1990, and it is expected to continue to increase with the aging of the population and the increasing prevalence of such risk factors as diabetes. In recognition of this problem, Congress passed legislation to build capacity and infrastructure at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a public health approach to CKD. This Kidney Disease Initiative at the CDC includes surveillance, epidemiology, state-based demonstration projects, and economic studies. The objectives, in collaboration with partners, are to assess and monitor the burden of CKD in the United States, determine its risk factors and rates of preventive practices, develop methods to identify and monitor populations at risk of developing CKD, document the costs of kidney disease, and develop models to help predict the progression of this disease and test the cost-effectiveness of various public health strategies for preventing CKD.
Effect of inelastic processes on localization in one dimension

The transition of noninteracting electrons through an array of random potentials is studied. The electron wave packet contains an incoherent component, which builds up as a result of inelastic processes. The latter are represented by a random time-dependent potential which oscillates incoherently. An inelastic length is determined, beyond which a transition to Ohm's law is found. On small length scales inelastic correction to the exponential resistance is calculated. The generalization of Ohm's law and the Landauer formula to the multichannel case are discussed.
The conversion of methionine-S35 to cystathionine-S35 and taurine-S35 in the rat.

Abstract 1. 1. Evidence has been presented which shows that methionine S is converted to cystathionine S in the intact rat. 2. 2. Methionine S is also converted to glutathione S and taurine S at a rapid rate.
A New Model of Cooperative Myosin-Thin Filament Binding

Cooperative myosin binding to the thin filament is critical to regulation of cardiac and skeletal muscle contraction. This report delineates and fits to experimental data a new model of this process, in which specific tropomyosin-actin interactions are important, the tropomyosin-tropomyosin polymer is continuous rather than disjointed, and tropomyosin affects myosin-actin binding by shifting among three positions as in recent structural studies. A myosin- and tropomyosin-induced conformational change in actin is proposed, rationalizing the ∼10,000-fold strengthening effect of myosin on tropomyosin-actin binding. Also, myosin S1 binding to regulated filaments containing mutant tropomyosins with internal deletions exhibited exaggerated cooperativity, implying an allosteric effect of tropomyosin on actin and allowing the effect's measurement. Comparisons among the mutants suggest the change in actin is promoted much more strongly by the middle of tropomyosin than by its ends. Regardless of calcium binding to troponin, this change in actin facilitates the shift in tropomyosin position to the actin inner domain, which is required for tight myosin-actin association. It also increases myosin-actin affinity 7-fold compared with the absence of troponin-tropomyosin. Finally, initiation of a shift in tropomyosin position is 100-fold more difficult than is its extension from one actin to the next, producing the myosin binding cooperativity that underlies cooperative activation of muscle contraction.
The Burden of Teaching Teachers: Memoirs of Race Discourse in Teacher Education

This paper presents the views and educational experiences of two African American female scholars, from a critical race and black feminist theorist perspective, teaching in the area of social justice to predominantly white female pre-service teachers. These testimonies reveal the struggles encountered by these scholars when engaging students in a historical and contemporary examination of race, privilege, and systemic inequalities. The objectives of this paper are to expand on the literary dialogue of such resistance and attempt to bring awareness into the arenas that need the most exposure, i.e. departmental, faculty, and tenure review meetings. It is commonly written and verbalized that institutions are interested in attracting and retaining faculty of color. We argue that the ways we are supported must shift. This problem of student resistance, who they resist and why, should become open for discussion on college campuses across the nation.
Reconciling technological viability with social feasibility: the case of natural pozzolans for sustainable development

Appropriate technologies can meet the basic needs of the poor by providing cost-effective, environmentally friendly solutions to socio-economic dilemmas. Natural pozzolans have the potential to make development more sustainable by lowering building costs and reducing pollution. However the social context of sustainable development constrains technological solutions. These solutions may seem viable from a technological point of view but may not be feasible in a given social context. In this study we explore the social context of implementing natural pozzolans as a sustainable technology and present our findings from interviews with stakeholders in the Republic of the Philippines.
A palmar plaque and flexor tenosynovitis in a patient with sarcoidosis

Summary Involvement of the soft tissues of the hand by sarcoidosis is rare. We report a patient with sarcoidosis who presented with a large subcutaneous plaque of the palm and flexor tenosynovitis of the middle finger
Regional differences in estradiol effects on numbers of HSD2-containing neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract of rats

Estrogens affect body fluid balance, including sodium ingestion. Recent findings of a population of neurons in the hindbrain nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) of rats that are activated during sodium need suggest a possible central substrate for this effect of estrogens. We used immunohistochemistry to label neurons in the NTS that express 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (HSD2), an enzyme that promotes aldosterone binding, in male rats, and in ovariectomized (OVX) rats given estradiol benzoate (EB) or oil vehicle (OIL). During baseline conditions, the number of HSD2 immunoreactive neurons in the NTS immediately rostral to the area postrema was greater in EB-treated OVX rats compared to those in OIL-treated OVX and male rats. A small number of HSD2 immunoreactive neurons was also labeled for dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH), an enzyme involved in norepinephrine biosynthesis. Double-labeled neurons in the NTS were located primarily in the more lateral portion of the HSD2 population, at the level of the area postrema in all three groups, with no sex or estrogen-mediated differences in the number of double-labeled neurons. These results suggest that two subpopulations of HSD2 neurons are present in the NTS. One subpopulation, which does not colocalize with DBH and is increased during conditions of elevated estradiol, may contribute to the effects of estrogens on sodium ingestion. The role of the other, smaller subpopulation, which colocalizes with DBH and is not affected by estradiol, remains to be determined, but one possibility is that these latter neurons are part of a larger network of catecholaminergic input to neuroendocrine neurons in the hypothalamus.
Wafer scalable growth and delamination of graphene for silicon heterogeneous VLSI technology

We have demonstrated the state-of-the-art on scalable graphene synthesis, device yield and electrical statistics with the highest performance wafer-scale devices showing electronic properties similar to exfoliated flakes. The mechanical delamination of graphene resulted in high material quality due to residue free pristine graphene surface, and holds promise for wafer-scale BEOL bonding integration of graphene with Si CMOS substrates.
4-bit Manchester carry look-ahead adder design using MT-CMOS domino logic

In this paper, a design of high performance and low power 4-bit Manchester carry look-ahead adder is presented with the help of modified multi-threshold domino logic technique. The introduced MT-MOS transistors decrease the power dissipation of adder circuit by reducing sub threshold leakage current. The FTL dynamic logic is another technique used to increase operating speed of logic circuit, which evaluates the computational blocks partially before the input signals are formalized and then the final evaluation is performed as soon as the input signals arrive. The pre-evaluation logic reduces propagation delay into half. The combination of FTL dynamic logic and MT-CMOS domino logic techniques are yields high fan-out, high switching frequencies since both lower delay and dynamic low power consumption in the arithmetic circuits. A Manchester structure of carry generation employed in carry look-ahead adder minimizes the area of arithmetic circuit by decreasing number of transistors. The simulation results have verified that the proposed techniques are reduced the total power dissipation up to 40%, 55% of propagation delay than the standard dynamic domino CMOS technology.
Global Perspectives on Communication Ethics

Fortner, R. S., & Fackler, P. M. (Eds.). (2011). The handbook of global communication and media ethics, Vols. I & II. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. 1002 pp., $400 (Hbk). $349.99 (e-book). More than ...
Enhanced Mo Adhesion on Glass with Cr Interlayers for Copper Indium Diselenide Thin Film Devices

A key element of current Copper Indium Diselenide (CIS) and Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIGS) thin film solar cells is the use of a Mo back contact on soda lime glass (SGL). Because of surface preparation problems, high process temperatures, and mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients, adhesion of the Mo to the soda lime glass can be variable. Also beneficial is the Na facile diffusion of the glass into the absorber layer. We report on the use of thin Cr interlayers to improve the adhesion at the Mo/glass interface. The films were subsequently annealed in vacuum under normal process conditions. Adhesion was excellent and quite uniform for Mo layers with a Cr interlayer of 50 to 800 A compared to control samples without Cr. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) data suggests CrO bonding at the glass interface and Cr metallic bonding at the Cr Mo interface. Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) data for Mo/Cr films shows diffusion of Na throughout the Mo layer identical to that for Mo alone samples. Resistivities of the films have been measured to be 11 μhms-cm, twice that for bulk material of 5.7 μohms-cm. CIGS films were then grown for comparison to films grown on Mo only substrates.
Fracture-resistant ultralloys for space-power applications: Normal-spectral-emissivity and electron-emission studies of tungsten, rhenium, hafnium-carbide alloys at elevated temperatures

Abstract A series in this journal on high-temperature properties of “fracture-resistant ultralloys for space-power systems” preceded the present paper: the antecedent publications covered tungsten(W), rhenium(Re) alloys with and without thoria(ThO2) (W, 23Re; W, 27Re; W, 30Re and W, 30Re, 1ThO2). This paper reports radiative and thermionic effects of hafnium carbide(HfC) and Re variation in W alloys: normal spectral emissivity( ϵ λ ) is used in pyrometry to determine the true temperature of a surface. Effective work function ( φ e ) is an important consideration in the selection of the electrode materials for high-temperature thermionic energy converters in space-power applications. The e 0.535μ , ϵ 0.65μ and φ e trends of W, Re, 0.35HfC with 5–20% Re were measured in the range of 1700–2500K. The results indicate that ϵ λ decreases with increasing temperatures and Re contents. The presence of HfC produced higher ϵ λ values than those of sintered materials with comparable W,Re alloy contents. The results also indicate that φ e increases with rhenium contents. This can be explained as growth of the potential barrier at the metal, vacuum boundary associated with a volume effect—the decrease in the lattice constant of W.