cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Focusing and scanning through scattering media in microseconds

Recent advances in computational wavefront shaping have made optical focusing through scattering media a reality. However, most current techniques are too slow to focus, much less image through dynamically changing living biological tissue, such as blood-perfused neural networks, which can decorrelate in milliseconds. We introduce a phase control technique using programmable acoustic optic deflectors (AODs) that is orders of magnitude faster than existing wavefront shaping methods. It is based on sending an array of RF-encoded beams through the medium and measuring the phases of all scattered beams simultaneously with a fast single-pixel detector in just 10 μs. Using the AODs, we then phase conjugate the beams to form a spatio-temporal focus. We also demonstrate two-dimensional scanning of the focus on a sub-millisecond time scale.
Diagenetic history of the upper Tanglewood Member (upper Ordovician) of the Lexington Limestone, central Kentucky, U.S.A. with special emphasis on petrographic differences between deformed and undeformed beds

Petrographic study was carried out for the upper Tanglewood Member (upper Ordovician) of the Lexington Limestone in order to understand its diagenetic history and predict whether the cementation is pre-deformational or post-deformational by comparing the deformed and undeformed beds of the same horizon. This study shows that the diagenetic processes, which have modified the sequence of the upper Tanglewood Member of the Lexington Limestone, consist of micritization, cementation, compaction, dolomitization and internal filling. Moreover, it indicates that the main episode of cementation took place after the sediment deformation.
Integrating Service-Learning and Consulting in Distance Education

As distance learning continues to grow, universities are seeking ways to integrate traditional student community service into online courses. Supported by seven years of successful implementation, this book presents an award-winning service-learning model through which online students serve as consultants to organizations nationwide.
New Outreach Initiatives at a Community College

This article explores the development and initiation of new outreach programs by the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) Library department after the hiring of a new librarian. The litera...
What is the Impact of Racial Disparities on Diagnosis and Receipt of Appropriate Mental Health Care Among Urology Patients

Patients with chronic disease and mental illness are at higher risk of depression and suicide. Many who have been diagnosed with genitourinary cancers are at higher risk of suicide, even among those who have sought out mental health services. Under-represented populations (African-American, Hispanic, elderly, disabled) suffer disproportionately from a lack of mental health services. However, not much is reported on the interplay of mental health and genitourinary cancer in these populations. This review aims to identify the relevant literature and describe a path forward to address and alleviate this disparity. PATIENT SUMMARY: Patients with chronic disease and mental illness are at higher risk of depression and suicide. Little is known about the complex interplay between race and mental health in patients with urologic cancers and more research is needed.
Tumors of the Pelvis: Pathologic Aspect

Benign and malignant tumors of the pelvis are rare. Compared to tumors in the extremity, the ability to achieve a negative margin is difficult and often marginal; as such, local tumor recurrence remains a problem. In order to determine an adequate treatment plan, the pathological diagnosis is critical. The purpose of this chapter is to outline the common benign and malignant pathologies commonly encountered in the pelvis to assist in the diagnosis of these tumors.
Impact of the Injectable Opioid Drug Shortage on Analgesia and Sedation Management in the Medical Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study:

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the injectable opioid drug shortage on analgesia and sedation management in the medical intensive care unit (MICU). Methods: A sing...
Sacralizing Sexualized Bodies

This essay invites readers to consider that full inclusion in religious spaces – including in religious education – may demand the sacralization of sexualized bodies. Noting that minoritization and...
On the Cluster Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect and Hubble Constant

This study shows one important effect of preexistent cosmic microwave background temperature fluctuations on the determination of the Hubble constant through Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect of clusters of galaxies, especially when coupled with the gravitational lensing effect by the same clusters. The effect results in a broad distribution of the apparent Hubble constant. The combination of this effect with other systematic effects such as the Loeb-Refregier Effect seems to provide an explanation for the observationally derived values of the Hubble constant currently available based on the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect, if the true value of the Hubble constant is 60-80 km/s/Mpc. It thus becomes possible that the values of the Hubble constant measured by other techniques which generally give a value around 60-80 km/s/Mpc be reconciled with the SZ effect determined values of the Hubble constant, where are systematically lower than others and have a broad distribution.
A Three Phase CLLC Converter with Improved Planar Integrated Transformer for Fast Charger Applications

Increased attention is being paid to the solid-state-transformer (SST) based charging station which favors a high efficiency high density DC/DC stage. A two stage DC/DC converter with planer magnetics which consists of a three phase CLLC converter and four phase interleaving buck converters is proposed to achieve a wide output voltage range from 200 V to 800 V. In this paper, the detailed analysis of integrated transformer of three phase CLLC converter is discussed. A novel core structure is proposed to replace the 6-leg planar transformer core which can reduce core loss by 28%. A 12.5 kW prototype with over 98.59 % peak efficiency and 180 W/in3 power density is built to verify the feasibility of the proposed core structure.
Machine learning predicts fretting and fatigue key mechanical properties

Abstract The present work uses machine learning to predict fretting crack lengths and corresponding stress intensity factors (SIF) under partial slip conditions resulting in crack arrest. Plain fretting tests were first performed on cylinder/flat configurations in partial slip, in which the test sample was flat. Adjusting contact pressure and cylinder radius, both short and long crack arrest responses were achieved for the studied C-Mn steel. Finite element (FE) analysis was then used to compute the fretting SIF threshold ΔKth for each arrested cylinder/plane fretting crack condition. Under elastic fretting conditions, a coupled approach combining complete FE simulations modeling the crack and Rice's fracture integrals was used. When plasticity needed to be considered, an indirect method was applied, using FE simulations without the crack and classical weight functions once elastic shakedown was reached (decoupled approach). The fretting SIF threshold ΔKth could then be extrapolated to estimate the fatigue long crack SIF threshold ΔK0 when the fretting crack was long enough. The novelty of this research work resides in the use of Machine Learning to predict the key mechanical parameters introduced above. A backpropagation algorithm with Bayesian regularization was used to identify a shallow neural network model based on just fourteen experiments. A neural network-based model was then employed to describe fretting crack lengths and corresponding SIF of the studied alloy as a function of the fretting contact radius, the maximum surface pressure, and shear traction. Perfect correlations were obtained to predict both crack depth and associated SIF threshold. An investigation was performed to determine the reliability with which samples sizes matching the count of the available experimental points can be used to predict fretting crack lengths and corresponding SIF. A Monte-Carlo bootstrapping method was used to estimate the output confidence interval corresponding to specific target inputs. This analysis provided optimistic results as relatively small datasets may be sufficient for accurate predictions. The neural network described short to long crack behaviors under elastic or elastoplastic conditions, making it a valuable tool for predicting fatigue long crack ΔK0 based on fretting experiments.
Esophageal acid perfusion test and a gastroesophageal reflux test in patients with esophagitis.

Summary Two new procedures helpful in diagnosing esophagitis have been studied. The first is infusion of hydrochloric acid into the esophagus to attempt to reproduce the spontaneous symptoms. The second is detection of gastroesophageal acid regurgitation by simultaneous measurement of intraluminal pressure and pH. One hundred and twenty-four subjects studied by these two procedures revealed the following: 81 had clinical, endoscopic, or radiographic evidence of esophagitis. Of these, 64 responded positively to acid perfusion and manifested acid reflux; 2 showed symptoms on acid drip but no regurgitation; 15 failed to respond to acid perfusion but showed reflux. Forty-three patients were asymptomatic. Of these, 3 demonstrated esophageal acid regurgitation; the remainder responded negatively to both tests. Of 93.6 per cent of patients showing a zone of increased pressure in the area of the hiatus varying from 1 to 5 cm. in length, 3.2 per cent revealed, in addition, sustained elevation of intraesophageal above mean fundic pressure throughout the entire length of the esophagus, presumably due to esophageal spasm. These latter patients had symptoms referable to the esophagus, reacted to esophageal acid perfusion, and showed acid reflux. In all patients not manifesting diffuse increase of intraesophageal pressure, neither the height nor the length of the zone of increased pressure at the hiatus, nor the magnitude of the decrease between fundic and intrathoracic end-expiratory pressure was correlated with presence or absence of acid reflux. These findings show that gastroesophageal reflux occurs in most patients with esophagitis, and they support the hypothesis that this reflux plays a dominant role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Furthermore, both tests proved useful in differentiating esophagitis from other intrathoracic and intraabdominal diseases, especially angina pectoris and peptic ulcer. However, the mechanisms whereby gastric contents are normally prevented from entering the esophagus and the nature of the defect which permits such regurgitation remain obscure.
A dual function radar-communications system using sidelobe control and waveform diversity

In this paper, we develop a new technique for dual-function radar-communications in a transmit multi-sensor array where information embedding is achieved using sidelobe control in tandem with waveform diversity. A set of Q orthogonal waveforms is exploited to embed a sequence of Q bits during each radar pulse. All waveforms are transmitted simultaneously where one bit is embedded in each waveform. We design two transmit weight vectors to achieve two distinct transmit power distribution patterns which share the same main radar beam but have different sidelobe levels towards the communication direction. The receiver interprets the bit associated with a certain waveform as binary information based on whether that waveform is radiated over the transmit beam associated with the first or the second weight vector. The proposed technique enables information delivering to a single or multiple communication directions located outside the mainlobe of the radar. The communication message has low probability of intercept from directions other than the preassigned communication directions. Additionally, the waveform diversity enables the radar to operate in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) mode. The performance of the proposed technique is investigated in terms of the bit error rate (BER).
Syntheses with Electrogenerated Halogens Part II . Oxidation of Malonate Esters

The indirect electrochemical oxidation of malonate esters (I) to ethane‐1,1,2,2‐tetracarboxylate esters (II) has been investigated in greater detail than previously reported. With acetonitrile or an alcohol as the solvent, ethenetetracarboxylate (III), propane‐1,1,2,2,3,3‐hexacarboxylate (IV), and ethane‐1,1,2‐tricarboxylate (V) esters were also formed. If the conversion of (I) was limited to 70%, by‐product formation was low and 98% yields of (II) were obtained. In acetonitrile, current efficiency was comparable with the chemical yield, but with alcoholic solvents it was lower (70–80%) due to competing indirect oxidation of the alcohol to the corresponding alkyl formate (VI). The similar coupling of monosubstituted malonate esters (VII ; giving VIII) shows a marked steric effect similar to that observed in some cyanoethylation reactions, suggesting that the coupling occurs via a nucleophilic displacement reaction. The steric effect rationalizes the absence of tetrameric and higher products. The similar cyclization of some bismalonate esters (IX ; giving X) is also reported.
Authenticated secure communications in mobile ad hoc networks

Providing adequate levels of security in wireless ad hoc networks is a challenging issue due to increases in both resource constraints and threat levels in this type of network. Any solution therefore requires robust security schemes without compromising performance. In this paper, we present a security scheme that uses pairwise symmetric keys, computed non-interactively by the nodes, which reduces communication overhead. We use identity-based keys that do not require certificates and simplify key management. Our system requires a minimum number of keys to be generated by the third party as compared to conventional pair-wise schemes. In addition, we propose an authenticated broadcast scheme based on symmetric keys and a corresponding signature scheme to minimize bandwidth overhead. We allow nodes to generate their broadcast keys for different groups and propose a collision-free method for computing such keys.
Newtonian Cosmology with Varying G

If all isolated galaxies or clusters of galaxies are treated as equivalent points, the cosmological principle states that all observers at such points observe the same cosmic density p(t) and the same Hubble function H(t), on the assumption of homogeneity and isotropy. If S(t), is the vector separation of two equivalent points, there results Ṡ=H(t)S for the non-random motion. Let |S(t)|=S(t)=R(t)S0. Here t is the age of the universe and and the subscript 0 denotes a value at a recent epoch time τ. R(t) is then the scale factor; the universe is called closed or open accordingly as R does or does not reach a maximum value. Poisson’s equation and the fluid equation of continuity then lead to the fundamental equation R2R=-(4π/3) G(t)ρ0. Also H(t)=R/R, where R0=1.
Opal burial in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean over the last 30 ka: Implications for glacial-interglacial changes in the ocean silicon cycle

[1] The Silicic Acid Leakage Hypothesis (SALH) suggests that, during glacial periods, excess silicic acid was transported from the Southern Ocean to lower latitudes, which favored diatom production over coccolithophorid production and caused a drawdown of atmospheric CO2. Downcore records of 230Th-normalized opal fluxes and 231Pa/230Th ratios from seven equatorial Atlantic cores were used to reconstruct diatom productivity over the past 30 ka (where a is years) and to test the SALH. Downcore records of 231Pa/230Th ratios and opal fluxes are highly correlated, suggesting that they constitute a production-based record of opal flux. Opal flux records support the SALH in that glacial opal burial exceeded Holocene burial by 1.8 Gt opal/ka in the area 0°–40°W and 5°N–5°S. Earlier results from the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean showed the opposite trend, with greater Holocene than glacial opal burial, but approximately the same magnitude of difference between glacial and interglacial opal burial. We suggest four (nonexclusive) scenarios to explain the data from both basins: (1) Increased upwelling in the equatorial Atlantic and El Nino–like conditions suppressing upwelling in the eastern equatorial Pacific altered the overall nutrient supply to both basins; (2) Si leaked from the Southern Ocean because of Fe fertilization, but was prevented from upwelling in the equatorial Pacific because of El Nino–like conditions during the LGM; (3) Si leaked from the Southern Ocean because diatom productivity was limited by increased sea ice extent and was again prevented from upwelling in the equatorial Pacific; or (4) changes in ocean circulation related to the decreased input of Agulhas water to the glacial South Atlantic provided excess dissolved Si to the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. A deglacial opal pulse is seen in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. All four scenarios and the presence of the common deglacial opal pulse suggest a common driver in the Southern Ocean.
The historic amateur-professional dilemma in American college sport.

(1985). The historic Amateur‐professional dilemma in American college sport. The International Journal of the History of Sport: Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 221-231.
The Burnsville fault: Evidence for the timing and kinematics of southern Appalachian Acadian dextral transform tectonics

There has been a conspicuous absence of documented Acadian structures in the Blue Ridge province of the southern Appalachians even though a growing body of evidence suggests that the middle Paleozoic Acadian orogeny affected the rocks of this region. New mapping along with structural, petrologic, and geochronologic data from western North Carolina show that the contact between the metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks of the Ashe Metamorphic Suite and the Grenville basement rocks of the western Blue Ridge corresponds to a Devonian high-grade, dextral strike-slip fault zone, the Burnsville fault. Timing of motion on the Burnsville fault is constrained by field relationships, metamorphic fabrics and assemblages, and radiometric ages. A U-Pb zircon crystallization age for a pegmatite sheared by the Burnsville fault shows that the last movement on the fault must he younger than 377 Ma. Previously published 4 0 Ar/ 3 9 Ar cooling ages show that the Burnsville fault must be older than ca. 360 Ma. We have mapped the Burnsville fault for 100 km in northwest-ern North Carolina. The Gossan Lead fault of northwesternmost North Carolina and southwestern Virginia is the likely continuation of the Burnsville fault to the north-east. Southwest of Asheville, North Carolina. the Burnsville fault may connect to the Devonian Dahlonega shear zone, or may be cut by post-Devonian thrust faults associated with the Alleghanian orogeny, Diachroneity of Acadian elastic wedge, the presence of Silurian-Devonian pull-apart basins, the presence of Devonian high-grade, dextral shearing in the Inner Piedmont, and recent plate reconstructions for the middle Paleozoic, support the interpretation that the late phase of the Acadian orogeny in the southern Appalachians was primarily a dextral transpressional event. The Burnsville fault and the Inner Piedmont formed the boundaries of a dextral transform margin that may have extended the length of the Appalachian orogen. This interpretation requires that models for the Paleozoic tectonics of the Appalachians incorporate major pre-Alleghanian dextral displacement.
Does Def6 Deficiency Cause Autoimmunity

Def6, also termed SLAT (Tanaka et al., 2003) or IBP (Gupta et al., 2003), is a Cdc42-Rac1-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) expressed predominantly in T cells. Def6−/− mice on a C57BL/6 background are resistant to T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cell-mediated inflammation (Becart et al., 2007). This resistance reflects the essential role of Def6 in promoting T cell receptor (TCR)-induced Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum stores and, hence, subsequent steps in the Ca2+ signaling pathway, including activation of the transcription factor NFAT (Becart et al., 2007).
Structural Studies of a Bacterial tRNAHIS Guanylyltransferase (Thg1)-Like Protein, with Nucleotide in the Activation and Nucleotidyl Transfer Sites

All nucleotide polymerases and transferases catalyze nucleotide addition in a 5′ to 3′ direction. In contrast, tRNAHis guanylyltransferase (Thg1) enzymes catalyze the unusual reverse addition (3′ to 5′) of nucleotides to polynucleotide substrates. In eukaryotes, Thg1 enzymes use the 3′–5′ addition activity to add G−1 to the 5′-end of tRNAHis, a modification required for efficient aminoacylation of the tRNA by the histidyl-tRNA synthetase. Thg1-like proteins (TLPs) are found in Archaea, Bacteria, and mitochondria and are biochemically distinct from their eukaryotic Thg1 counterparts TLPs catalyze 5′-end repair of truncated tRNAs and act on a broad range of tRNA substrates instead of exhibiting strict specificity for tRNAHis. Taken together, these data suggest that TLPs function in distinct biological pathways from the tRNAHis maturation pathway, perhaps in tRNA quality control. Here we present the first crystal structure of a TLP, from the gram-positive soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (BtTLP). The enzyme is a tetramer like human THG1, with which it shares substantial structural similarity. Catalysis of the 3′–5′ reaction with 5′-monophosphorylated tRNA necessitates first an activation step, generating a 5′-adenylylated intermediate prior to a second nucleotidyl transfer step, in which a nucleotide is transferred to the tRNA 5′-end. Consistent with earlier characterization of human THG1, we observed distinct binding sites for the nucleotides involved in these two steps of activation and nucleotidyl transfer. A BtTLP complex with GTP reveals new interactions with the GTP nucleotide in the activation site that were not evident from the previously solved structure. Moreover, the BtTLP-ATP structure allows direct observation of ATP in the activation site for the first time. The BtTLP structural data, combined with kinetic analysis of selected variants, provide new insight into the role of key residues in the activation step.
Mitochondrial Dynamics in Disease

Mitochondria are subcellular organelles that coordinate numerous metabolic reactions, including those of the respiratory complexes that produce the ATP that powers cellular reactions. They have often been depicted as static, with a kidney-bean shape, but there is a growing appreciation of their dynamic nature. Moreover, they are strikingly varied in structure, ranging from small, spherical particles to long, interconnected filaments. Mitochondria are also highly motile and constantly move in a directed manner along cytoskeletal tracks within cells.
The medium, not the message. How tattoos correlate with early mortality.

OBJECTIVES: At autopsy, tattoos are recorded as part of the external examination. An investigation was undertaken to determine whether negative messages that are tattooed on a decedent may indicate a predisposition to certain fatal outcomes. METHODS: Tattooed and nontattooed persons were classified by demography and forensics. Tattoos with negative or ominous messages were reviewed. Statistical comparisons were made. RESULTS: The mean age of death for tattooed persons was 39 years, compared with 53 years for nontattooed persons (P =.0001). There was a significant contribution of negative messages in tattoos associated with nonnatural death (P =.0088) but not with natural death. However, the presence of any tattoo was more significant than the content of the tattoo. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with tattoos appear to die earlier than those without. There may be an epiphenomenon between having tattoos and risk-taking behavior such as drug or alcohol use. A negative tattoo may suggest a predisposition to violent death but is eclipsed by the presence of any tattoo. Language: en
A Novel Carbon Nanofibers Grown on Glass Microballoons Immunosensor: A Tool for Early Diagnosis of Malaria

This paper presents a novel method for direct detection of Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein-2 (PfHRP-2) antigen using carbon nanofiber (CNF) forests grown on glass microballoons (NMBs). Secondary antibodies specific to PfHRP-2 densely attached to the CNFs exhibit extraordinary ability for the detection of minute concentrations of Plasmodium species. A sandwich immunoassay protocol was employed, where a glass substrate was used to immobilize primary antibodies at designated capture zones. High signal amplification was obtained in both colorimetric and electrical measurements due to the CNFs through specific binding. As a result, it was possible to detect PfHRP-2 levels as low as 0.025 ng/mL concentration in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) using a visual signal within only 1 min of test duration. Lower limits of 0.01 ng/mL was obtained by measuring the electrical resistivity of the capture zone. This method is also highly selective and specific in identifying PfHRP-2 and other Plasmodium species from the same solution. In addition, the stability of the labeling mechanism eliminates the false signals generated by the use of dyes in current malaria rapid diagnostic test kits (MRDTs). Thus, the rapid, sensitive and high signal amplification capabilities of NMBs is a promising tool for early diagnosis of malaria and other infectious diseases.
Alfalfa Treated with a Chemical Drying Agent: Effect on Digestibility In Situ

Abstract The effects of a chemical drying agent on in situ rate and extent of disappearance of DM, NDF, and ADF of alfalfa were investigated. Two field replicates of first- and second-cutting alfalfa (early bloom) were treated at harvest with a potassium carbonate-sodium carbonate based chemical drying agent (7.9 kg/ha). Samples were separated into leaf, stem, and whole plant fractions and artificially dried. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial and analyzed as a completely randomized block design. Treatment had a greater effect on initial nutrient composition, compared with untreated, for all fractions in second cutting alfalfa. In situ DM disappearance was not affected by treatment in the first cutting for any fraction. In first-cutting leaves, NDF and ADF in situ disappearance was increased by treatment. Rate of DM and ADF disappearance for treated second cutting leaves and stems decreased compared with untreated samples. Lag time associated with NDF disappearance increased in second-cutting leaves and stems treated with drying agent. Potentially digestible ADF and lag time increased in second-cutting stem, and lag time for the whole plant decreased. Drying agent application had different effects on nutrient composition and digestibility of first and second cuttings and on leaf and stem fractions of alfalfa.
Prevention of Weight Gain in Adult Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Treated With Pioglitazone

Pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione (TZD) commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, is associated with weight gain. Our study was designed to examine the effectiveness of three lifestyle-treatment programs of varying intensity on prevention of pioglitazone-induced weight gain and to measure the composition of the change in body weight. Thirty-nine adult overweight and obese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus were all treated with pioglitazone and prospectively randomized to one of three lifestyle-treatment programs with increasing level of intensity for 24 weeks. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), computed tomography, and multifrequency bioimpedance analysis both before and after therapy. Subjects demonstrated a “dose-response” effectiveness to three levels of lifestyle intervention to mitigate pioglitazone-induced weight gain. Mean (s.d.) weight change (kg) for the usual, standard, and intensive lifestyle groups were 4.9 ± 4.9 (P = 0.005), 1.8 ± 3.4 (P = 0.02), and −0.2 ± 4.4 (NS) respectively. Total body fat increased 2.6 ± 3.4 kg (P = 0.04) for the usual group and decreased for the intensive group −0.4 ± 3.5 (NS). Change in abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) did not differ between groups, although ratio of visceral/subcutaneous fat decreased for the standard and intensive groups (NS). Both usual (P < 0.05) and standard care (NS) groups gained total body water. This is the first prospective, randomized study that demonstrates the beneficial effect of participation in a comprehensive lifestyle-weight-management program on lessening of weight gain associated with pioglitazone.
A new dosing paradigm: High-dose, short-course fluoroquinolone therapy for community-acquired pneumonia

The goals of optimal antimicrobial therapy are to treat infection effectively, to improve the clinical condition of the patient, and to prevent the emergence of resistant bacterial strains. For ideal drug usage the World Health Organization recommends administering the correct drug by the best route, in the right amount, at optimum intervals for the appropriate period, and after an accurate diagnosis. This article discusses the use of high-dose, short-course fluoroquinolone therapy as an effective option for patients with community-acquired pneumonia.
VOICING RACE AND ANTIRACISM Toward a Broader Understanding of Black Consciousness among Afro-Brazilians

Brazil has recently engaged in a wide-ranging policy shift to confront racial inequality. In this context, an unprecedented number of Afro-Brazilians have embraced antiracist activism. Based on ethnographic investigations of three black organizations in the city of Salvador (Bahia, Brazil), this article explores Afro-Brazilians’ understandings of black consciousness and its place in contemporary black mobilization in Brazil. As they tell stories of their involvement in black activism, Afro-Brazilians use language to creatively juxtapose national narratives animated by Brazil’s ideology of racial mixture with race-conscious discourse set forth by recent antiracist legislation and policies. In the process, they engage in a dialogic revision and re-editing of the dominant discursive notions of blackness in Brazil. Black consciousness emerges in Afro-Brazilians’ narratives as an ideological critique in and through language that crosses racial identifications and articulates competing ideological positions abo...
Trait and state perseverative cognition and the cortisol awakening response.

Summary Perseverative cognition (i.e., rumination, worry) may amplify or maintain cortisol stress responses. The present study examined the effects of trait and state perseverative cognition (PC) on the cortisol awakening response (CAR). We hypothesized that trait PC and state (prior day's) PC would be associated with greater CARs. Undergraduates scoring high ( N = 77) and low ( N = 42) on trait PC were included. Participants reported worries about upcoming events and ruminations on past events that occurred throughout the day as a measure of state PC. The next morning, saliva samples were collected 0, 30, 45, and 60 min after awakening to assess the CAR. Area under the curve (AUC) and 30-min increase (30-min Inc) were calculated to capture the salivary cortisol total output and increase relative to baseline in the hour after awakening. There was no effect of trait PC on the CAR. In contrast, reports of worrying and/or ruminating the night before predicted greater increases in cortisol concentration and total cortisol output compared to those who neither ruminated nor worried the night before. These effects were not accounted for by depressed mood, anxiety, sleep, or recent stressors. Findings suggest differential effects of trait and state PC on the CAR and highlight the importance of using proximal measures in examining individual differences in the CAR.
LOTS analysis of optical diffraction in Antares

Diffraction and aberration effects are calculated for the power-amplifier and target-system portions of the 100-kJ Antares laser fusion facility, using LOTS, a fast-Fourier-transform propagation code incorporating a model for saturating gain in CO2. Energy losses due to diffraction are found to be small compared to other losses. Diffraction "hot spots" usually typical of propagation at low Fresnel numbers are effectively suppressed in the Antares power amplifier by gain saturation. Taking account of diffraction and aberrations over the whole optical train, the code predicts a target focal spot that has 82% of its energy in a 150-μm-diameter circle, a result essentially identical to what would be expected of the final focus mirror alone.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Creation of 0.10-cm-1 resolution quantitative infrared spectral libraries for gas samples

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are independently creating quantitative, approximately 0.10 cm-1 resolution, infrared spectral libraries of vapor phase compounds. The NIST library will consist of approximately 100 vapor phase spectra of volatile hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and suspected greenhouse gases. The PNNL library will consist of approximately 400 vapor phase spectra associated with DOE's remediation mission. A critical part of creating and validating any quantitative work involves independent verification based on inter-laboratory comparisons. The two laboratories use significantly different sample preparation and handling techniques. NIST uses gravimetric dilution and a continuous flowing sample while PNNL uses partial pressure dilution and a static sample. Agreement is generally found to be within the statistical uncertainties of the Beer's law fit and less than 3 percent of the total integrate d band areas for the 4 chemicals used in this comparison. There does appear to be a small systematic difference between the PNNL and NIST data, however. Possible sources of the systematic difference will be discussed as well as technical details concerning the sample preparation and the procedures for overcoming instrumental artifacts.
Enzymatic Cytosine Deamination: Friend AND Foe

AID and Apobec proteins have several, normally beneficial cellular functions. It has now been discovered that they act as DNA mutators in E. coli by deaminating cytosine in DNA. Thus, they may produce genome instability in mammals if not controlled.
Large image correction and warping in a cluster environment

This paper is concerned with efficient execution of a pipeline of data processing operations on very large images obtained from confocal microscopy instruments. We describe parallel, out-of-core algorithms for each operation in this pipeline. One of the challenging steps in the pipeline is the warping operation using inverse mapping based methods. We propose and investigate a set of algorithms to handle the warping computations on storage clusters. Our experimental results show that the proposed approaches are scalable both in terms of number of processors and the size of images.
Stage IV Carcinoma of the Bartholin Gland Managed with Primary Chemoradiation

Abstract Background. Optimal management of carcinoma of the Bartholin gland is not yet defined. Patients with locally advanced disease have historically been managed by radical and, occasionally, exenterative surgery. Although the management of advanced vulvar cancer has shifted toward conservative management with primary chemoradiation, there is limited information on the similar approach to the management of advanced Bartholin's gland carcinoma. Case. We present a woman with stage IVA basaloid squamous carcinoma of the Bartholin gland. She was managed with primary chemoradiation in an attempt to spare her the morbidity associated with exenterative surgery. We discuss a rationale for the use of chemoradiation in advanced Bartholin's gland carcinoma. Conclusion. Conservative management of advanced carcinoma of the Bartholin gland with primary chemoradiation may be appropriate while sparing patients the sequelae of exenterative surgery.
Discrepancy between Soft-Pion Predictions and Experiment in NN → NN π

Sources of a discrepancy between experiment and model-independent soft-pion predictions for the production of low-energy pions in the reaction $\mathrm{pp}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{np}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ at 740 MeV are examined and discussed. These predictions deal only with the leading behavior of the production amplitude. However, higher-order terms, present because $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\ne}0$, seem to dominate because of resonance effects. An extended version of the Mandelstam resonance model appears sufficient to explain the experimental data, even for the lowest-energy pions. Ambiguities in pion production at threshold are also discussed.
What young children think you see when their eyes are closed.

Abstract The common assumption that young children egocentrically believe you cannot see them when their own eyes are closed was investigated in two studies. It was found that 2.5-4-year-olds, but not 5-year-olds and adults, would indeed often give negative reply to the experimenter's question “Do I see you?” when their eyes were closed and covered with their hands. However, they would also correctly reply that the experimenter did see their arm and an object placed in front of them and did not see their eyes and back, indicating that they were making veridical, nonegocentric inferences about the experimenter's visual experience. In addition, their eyes being visible to the experimenter did not prove to be either a necessary or a sufficient condition for their judgment that the experimenter could see “them” (“you”). It was concluded that, in this context, adults take “you” to mean their whole body while young children take it to mean primarily their face region. Speculations were made as to how young children could have acquired this meaning, and about possible similarities and differences between the self conceptions of young children and adults.
Interfacial sliding in carbon nanotube/diamond matrix composites

Carbon matrix carbon nanotube (CNT) composites have a broad range of applications because of the exceptional mechanical properties of both matrix and fibers. Since interfacial sliding plays a key role in determining the strength and toughness of ceramic composites, here interface behavior during nanotube pull-out is studied using molecular dynamics models. The degree of interfacial coupling/adhesion between a diamond matrix and a carbon nanotube is captured through interstitial carbon atoms located in the interface, which can form bonds with both the matrix and CNT atoms. Bonding is accurately captured using the modified REBO potential of Pastewka et al. that introduces an environmental screening coefficient to better capture covalent bond breaking and reforming. Pull-out tests reveal that, after an initial transient, the pull-out force becomes constant, mimicking frictional sliding. The pull-out force is directly proportional to the number of interstitial atoms per unit area in the interface, showing that "friction" is generated by the energy dissipated during breaking and reforming of bonds involving the interstitial atoms. The effective friction stresses are quite high (several GPa) for interstitial areal densities of 0.72-2.18 nm(-2) and the energy dissipated during pull-out can thus be substantial. No differences were found in the pull-out of single wall nanotubes and double wall nanotubes having interwall sp(3) bonding. These results demonstrate that "friction-like" behavior can emerge from non-smooth interfaces and that chemical control of interfacial bonding in CNT can yield substantial sliding resistance and high potential toughening in nanoceramic composites. (C) 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Vortex rings in radially confined domains

The dynamics of vortex rings generated within confined domains are relevant to important hydrodynamic processes such as flow past heart valves or severe arterial constrictions. However, despite their importance, these flows have not received much attention to date. This study examines the development and evolution of radially confined vortex rings. Time-resolved digital particle image velocimetry was used to investigate two levels of radial confinement and a range of vortex ring strengths. We found that for severely confined vortex rings, the formation time and peak circulation values were unaffected for L/D 0 < 4 cases and slightly affected for larger L/D 0 cases. After pinch-off, circulation decay was observed with an approximately constant normalized circulation decay rate. We found that with increasing circulation strength, the nondimensional time delay between the pinch-off and the onset of circulation decay reduced due to an increased vortex ring diameter within the confinement domain and a reduction in the necessary time for the surface induced and core vorticity regions to interact. This study uncovers the dynamics of radially confined vortex rings and show that the nondimensional rate of circulation decay is dependent on the vortex ring confinement ratio (ratio of the vortex ring orifice diameter to the diameter of the outer cylinder), and the time delay between the vortex pinch-off and the onset of circulation is dependent on the vortex ring circulation strength.
Synthesis and structural studies of NCN diimine palladium pincer complexes bearing m-terphenyl scaffolds.

The reaction of 2,6-[2-{RNC(H)}C6H4]2C6H3I [R = Ph (4), Cy (5), 2,6-Me2C6H3 (6), 2,4,6-Me3C6H2 (7), (S)-α-methylbenzyl (8)] with Pd2(dba)3 afforded the NCN diimine pincer palladium complexes [2,6-[...
The influence of moderate reduction in dietary sodium on human salivary sodium concentration

Twenty-four healthy subjects were placed for 12–13 weeks on diets that reduced average sodium intake from 145 to 74 m-equiv. Na+/day as determined by multiple 24-h urine collections before and during the diet. Whole-mouth resting and stimulated saliva was collected and analysed for flow rate and sodium concentration several times before and during the low-sodium period. Sodium restriction did not influence salivary flow rates but salivary sodium levels fell 25 per cent for resting and 17 per cent for stimulated saliva. Thus moderate reductions in sodium intake are accompanied by significantly lower salivary sodium levels.
Regulation of Transforming Growth Factor-β Activation by Discrete Sequences of Thrombospondin 1

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a potent growth regulatory protein secreted by virtually all cells in a latent form. A major mechanism of regulating TGF-beta activity occurs through factors that control the processing of the latent to the biologically active form of the molecule. We have shown previously that thrombospondin 1 (TSP1), a platelet alpha-granule and extracellular matrix protein, activates latent TGF-beta via a protease- and cell-independent mechanism and have localized the TGF-beta binding/activation region to the type 1 repeats of platelet TSP1. We now report that recombinant human TSP1, but not recombinant mouse TSP2, activates latent TGF-beta. Activation was further localized to the unique sequence RFK found between the first and the second type 1 repeats of TSP1 (amino acids 412-415) by the use of synthetic peptides. A peptide with the corresponding sequence in TSP2, RIR, was inactive. In addition, a hexapeptide GGWSHW, based on a sequence present in the type 1 repeats of both TSP1 and TSP2, inhibited the activation of latent TGF-beta by TSP1. This peptide bound to 125I-active TGF-beta and inhibited interactions of TSP1 with latent TGF-beta. TSP2 also inhibited activation of latent TGF-beta by TSP1, presumably by competitively binding to TGF-beta through the WSHW sequence. These studies show that activation of latent TGF-beta is mediated by two sequences present in the type 1 repeats of TSP1, a sequence (GGWSHW) that binds active TGF-beta and potentially orients the TSP molecule and a second sequence (RFK) that activates latent TGF-beta. Peptides based on these sites have potential therapeutic applications for modulation of TGF-beta activation.
SERUM SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN (SHBG) CONCENTRATIONS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE ESTROGEN MILIEU IN FEMALE CENTRAL PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY (CPP)

Although exogenous esfrogens stimulate SHBG synthesis in vivo and in vitro, the effect of endogenous estradiol (E2) secretion on SHBG in female puberty is unknown, due to the confounding age-related decline of serum SHBG levels. The increased E2 secretion associated wtth CPP, and its suppression by GnRH agonists (GnRHa) provide a unique in vivo model to single out the effect of estrogens on SHBG. We thus measured serum SHBG (Farmos IRMA), LH (IRMA) and E2 (RIA) levels in 12 girls with CPP, Breast stage II-IV, before and during treatment (Tx) with depot leuprolide acetate (7.5 mg every 4 wks for 0.5-2.2 years); and in 12 age-matched, prepubertal girls. Values are Mean±SD. Thus, despite pubertal E2 concentrations, serum SHBG levels were not increased in CPP and were paradoxically lower than in controls. Moreover, SHBG levels were not modified by GnRHa-induced suppression of E2 secretion. These data suggest that estrogens, at the concentrations observed in early-mid puberty, do not participate in the regulation of serum SHBG levels.
Does pimozide block the reinforcing effect of brain stimulation

The neuroleptic pimozide produces an extinction-like decline in the runway and Skinner box performance of rats rewarded with electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) in the lateral and posterior hypothalamus. The required dose is an order of magnitude less than the dose that incapacitates. The extinction-like decline is seen even when the drug treated rats run and receive brain stimulation in a running wheel prior to runway testing. The decline is also task-specific: after extinguishing in the Skinner box, rats readily perform in the runway, but soon show extinction in this task, too. The characteristics of pimozide's effects on rewarded behavior imply that the drug, whatever other effects it may have, does block the reinforcing effect of the brain stimulation reward.
Surface area determination of a polystyrene-divinylbenzene chromatographic packing material via ionic amphiphile adsorption from aqueous mobile phases and application of Gouy-Chapman theory.

Abstract A method for the determination of the chromatographically accessible area of a reversed-phase column similar to the method of Hagglund and Stahlberg [J. Chromatogr. A 761 (1997) 13] is applied to a column containing a polystyrene–divinylbenzene resin. Its theoretical basis is Gouy–Chapman theory in combination with an electrostatically modified linear adsorption isotherm. The surface area value determined for the resin, 96 m 2 /g, is much less than the reported surface area value, 400 m 2 /g, determined by N 2 sorptometry and application of Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory. The method also provides a value for the number of moles of native anionic sites present on the column.