cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immigrant sexual citizenship: intersectional templates among Mexican gay immigrants to the USA

Existing literature on sexual citizenship has emphasized the sexuality-related claims of de jure citizens of nation-states, generally ignoring immigrants. Conversely, the literature on immigration rarely attends to the salience of sexual issues in understanding the social incorporation of migrants. This article seeks to fill the gap by theorizing and analyzing immigrant sexual citizenship. While some scholars of sexual citizenship have focused on the rights and recognition granted formally by the nation-state and others have stressed more diffuse, cultural perceptions of community and local belonging, we argue that the lived experiences of immigrant sexual citizenship call for multiscalar scrutiny of templates and practices of citizenship that bridge national policies with local connections. Analysis of ethnographic data from a study of 76 Mexican gay and bisexual male immigrants to San Diego, California, reveals the specific citizenship templates that these men encounter as they negotiate their intersect...
Examination of the oxygen red line signature of a polar cap ionization patch as seen from the Dynamics Explorer 2 satellite

Ground-based observations of polar cap ionization patches have been made for many years. Optical measurements indicate that enhancements occurring in the 630.0-nm emission line are correlated with these ionization patches. The present study examines data from the Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) on the Dynamics Explorer 2 spacecraft to determine if patches can be observed optically from space. Since the FPI scanned the forward horizon, it was able to observe the vertical profile of airglow emissions associated with patches, thus giving information about the vertical structure. FPI measurements have been correlated with data from several in situ instruments on the spacecraft. These in situ measurements include electron density, atomic oxygen density, electron temperature, neutral temperature, and electron energy flux. Three polar cap patches have been detected both by the FPI and the in situ instruments. The red line emission patches are enhancements in the 630.0-nm red line in a specific altitude region which create an irregular altitude profile. The red line emission region associated with polar cap ionization patches varies from patch to patch and occurs in the altitude range from below 300 km to 400 km.
Speech Perception Performance in Experienced Cochlear-Implant Patients Receiving the SPEAK Processing Strategy in the Nucleus Spectra-22 Cochlear Implant

Sixteen experienced cochlear implant patients with a wide range of speechperception abilities received the SPEAK processing strategy in the Nucleus Spectra-22 cochlear implant. Speech perception wa...
Do antagonists of pancreatic cholecystokinin receptors interact with central nervous system cholecystokinin receptors

The abilities of the pancreatic cholecytokinin (CCK) receptor antagonists dibutyryl cyclic GMP, proglumide, benzotript, CBZ-tryptophan, CBZ-cysteine and CCK-27-32-amide to inhibit CCK binding to its receptor in the pancreas and brain of mice and guinea pigs was examined. In both species, the same relative potencies of the antagonists in brain and pancreas was seen except that dibutyryl cyclic GMP was considerably more potent on pancreas than on cerebral cortex CCK receptors. CCK-27-32-amide was the most potent inhibitor for both brain and pancreas but was more potent in the guinea pig than in the mouse. Proglumide, a relatively weak antagonist, was a more potent inhibitor of the guinea pig than of the mouse pancreas receptor. Thus, these data suggest that there are both tissue-specific and species-specific differences in CCK antagonist interactions with the CCK receptor.
Identification and characterization of inward K+ -channels in plasma membranes ofArabidopsis root cortex cells

Patch clamping whole-cell recording techniques were applied to study the inward K+ -channels inArabidopsis root cortex cells. The inward K+ -channels in the plasma membranes of the root cortex cell protoplasts were activated by hyperpolarized membrane potentials. The channels were highly selective for K+ ions over Na+ ions. The channel activity was significantly inhibited by the external TEA+ or Ba2+. The changes in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations did not affect the whole-cell inward K+ -currents. The possible association between the channel selectivity to K+ and Na+ ions and plant salt-tolerance was also discussed.
Three-dimensional imaging of carbon nanotubes deformed by metal islands

We report the first direct three-dimensional observations of the buried interface between nanotubes and metal contacts and show that nanotubes can be deformed by the contacts, especially when the metals island rather than wet to nanotubes. Because deforming a nanotube can alter its electronic properties, the islanding metal contacts can introduce additional resistance terms beyond the already present Schottky barrier. The popular contact metal, palladium, lies on the margin between wetting and islanding, suggesting a strategy to improve the contact resistance by alloying.
Evaluating the effects of endocrine disruptors on endocrine function during development.

The major concerns with endocrine disruptors in the environment are based mostly on effects that have been observed on the developing embryo and fetus. The focus of the present manuscript is on dis...
Prolactin receptor gene expression in rat splenocytes and thymocytes from birth to adulthood

In vivo and in vitro studies have indicated that the anterior pituitary hormone prolactin (PRL) is an immunoregulator and functions in the development of the neonatal immune system. In this study, prolactin receptor (PRL-R) expression from birth to adulthood as well as the effect of milk ingestion on the PRL-R expression were examined in splenocytes and thymocytes of neonatal rats. Three approaches were taken to measure PRL-R expression: (i) polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); (ii) antibody to PRL-R and Western blotting; (iii) antibody to PRL-R and flow cytometry. RT-PCR analysis revealed the short and long form of PRL-R mRNA in both spleen and thymus at every age tested. However, the long form of PRL-R mRNA was always more abundant than that of the short form. In addition, antipeptide antibody against the long form of PRL-R recognized 84 and 42 kD proteins in the spleen, but only the 84 kD protein in the thymus. A monoclonal antibody U6 recognized 38 and 40 kD proteins in both the spleen and thymus. Although the mRNA level of PRL-R was relatively low at birth and increased with age in both the spleen and thymus, the levels of protein bands detected with both antibodies correlated with development in the spleen; whereas the levels remained steady in the thymus. Therefore, we concluded that the expression of PRL-R at the protein level is developmentally regulated in the spleen but not in the thymus. Finally, milk ingestion in the first seven hours decreased the percentage of cells expressing cell surface PRL-R, suggesting that milk-borne PRL may have a direct effect on lymphocytes.
Adaptive Base-isolation of Civil Structures Using Variable Amplification

Semi-active dampers are used in base-isolation to reduce the seismic response of civil engineering structures. In the present study, a new semi-active damping system using variable amplification will be investigated for adaptive base-isolation. It uses a novel variable amplification device (VAD) connected in series with a passive damper. The VAD is capable of producing multiple amplification factors, each corresponding to a different amplification state. Forces from the damper are amplified to the structure according to the current amplification state, which is selected via a semi-active control algorithm specifically tailored to the system’s unique damping characteristics. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the VAD-damper system for adaptive base-isolation, numerical simulations are conducted for three and seven-story base-isolated buildings subject to both far and near-field ground motions. The results indicate that the system can achieve significant reductions in response compared to the base-isolated buildings with no damper. The proposed system is also found to perform well compared to a typical semi-active damper.
Tracheostomy Timing Affects Stroke Recovery

Background The timing of tracheostomy in stroke patients unable to protect their airway has become a topic of debate. Proponents for early tracheostomy (ET) cite benefits including less ventilation–associated pneumonia, less sedative drug use, shorter length of stay, and reduced mortality in comparison with late tracheostomy (LT). Methods We examined the timing of tracheostomy on stroke patient outcomes across the United States using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2008-2010). Independent samples t tests and chi-squared tests were used to make comparisons between early (≤10 days) and late (11-25 days) tracheostomy. Multivariable models, adjusted for confounding factors, investigated outcome measures. Results In total, 13,165 stroke cases were included in the study (5591 in the ET group and 7574 in the LT group). Patients receiving an ET had a significant reduction in the odds of ventilator-associated pneumonia in comparison with the LT group (OR: .688, P = .026). The length of stay for patients receiving an ET was significantly lower in comparison with the LT group (P Conclusions Early tracheostomy for stroke patients may reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, thereby shortening the hospital stay and lowering total hospital costs. These relationships warrant further investigation in a large prospective multicenter trial.
The interface between stroke and infectious disease: Infectious diseases leading to stroke and infections complicating stroke

It is well established that several infectious diseases can directly lead to ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke during their course. It appears possible that common viral and bacterial infections can increase the susceptibility to stroke by promoting atherosclerosis, inflammation, and local thrombosis. Stroke commonly leads to disruption of protective mechanisms against infection and induces a cascade of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive reactions, which greatly increases the risk of infection. The social and economic costs of post-stroke infections and their impact on stroke morbidity and outcome are dramatic. Understanding the pathophysiologic links between stroke and infection is therefore of paramount importance, and effective preventive strategies to reduce the risk of infection are needed. This article summarizes current clinical and experimental data regarding the interactions between stroke and infection and outlines possible targets for therapeutic intervention.
Classification of Disturbances and Cyber-Attacks in Power Systems Using Heterogeneous Time-Synchronized Data

Visualization and situational awareness are of vital importance for power systems, as the earlier a power-system event such as a transmission line fault or cyber-attack is identified, the quicker operators can react to avoid unnecessary loss. Accurate time-synchronized data, such as system measurements and device status, provide benefits for system state monitoring. However, the time-domain analysis of such heterogeneous data to extract patterns is difficult due to the existence of transient phenomena in the analyzed measurement waveforms. This paper proposes a sequential pattern mining approach to accurately extract patterns of power-system disturbances and cyber-attacks from heterogeneous time-synchronized data, including synchrophasor measurements, relay logs, and network event monitor logs. The term common path is introduced. A common path is a sequence of critical system states in temporal order that represent individual types of disturbances and cyber-attacks. Common paths are unique signatures for each observed event type. They can be compared to observed system states for classification. In this paper, the process of automatically discovering common paths from labeled data logs is introduced. An included case study uses the common path-mining algorithm to learn common paths from a fusion of heterogeneous synchrophasor data and system logs for three types of disturbances (in terms of faults) and three types of cyber-attacks, which are similar to or mimic faults. The case study demonstrates the algorithm’s effectiveness at identifying unique paths for each type of event and the accompanying classifier’s ability to accurately discern each type of event.
Molteno implantation for glaucoma in young patients.

Abstract Seventy patients younger than 21 years of age underwent Molteno implantation for nonneovascular glaucoma. Fifty-three (76%) patients had failed angle and/or conventional filtering surgery. Final intraocular pressure less than 22 mmHg (but over 5 mmHg) was achieved in 40 (62%) of the 65 patients with at least 6-month follow-up (range, 6 to 59 months; mean ± standard deviation, 22.7 ± 14.1 months); however, only 22 (34%) were controlled after the initial Molteno implantation procedure, and 54 (83%) patients underwent further glaucoma and/or nonglaucoma surgical procedures. The visual acuities remained within one line of their preoperative levels or improved in 25 (68%) of the 37 patients on whom Snellen acuities were available. The most frequent complications -included: tube-cornea touch (20%, transient in 3%), corneal edema (17%), retinal detachment (16%), tube block (10%), cataract (9%), chronic hypotony or phthisis (9%), pupillary or cyclitic membrane (9%), hyphema (7%), flat anterior chamber (6%), and large postoperative choroidal effusion (6%). Despite the high rates of subsequent surgical interventions and complications, Molteno implantation has been a useful approach for achieving intraocular pressure reduction in young patients with glaucoma.
Some five or seven-membered sulfur-containing heterocycles

Abstract Five membered heterocycles are formed when F-ethyliminosulfur difluoride is reacted with catechol or 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene. With o,o′-biphenol, a seven membered ring is obtained.
Robust image transmission based on wavelet tree coding, error resilient entropy coding, and error concealment

A scheme with three key components including wavelet tree coding, error resilient entropy coding (EREC), and error con- cealment is proposed for robust image coding and transmission over noisy channels. First, we individually encode the spatial- orientation trees in the wavelet domain using the algorithm of set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT). Error propagation is thus limited because multiple independent bit streams are generated. Meanwhile, a high source coding efficiency is also preserved be- cause the self-similarity property in each wavelet tree remains in- tact. Next, we use EREC to reorganize these variable-length bit streams into fixed-length data slots before multiplexing and trans- mission. Therefore, the synchronization of the start of each bit stream can be automatically obtained at the receiver. Finally, to al- leviate the possible catastrophic image degradation that may result from errors in the beginning of the bit streams, we propose an error concealment technique to constrain the EREC decoding as well as to postprocess the decoded wavelet coefficients. As a result of the error concealment, the EREC decoding complexity is reduced and the reconstructed image quality is significantly improved. Experi- mental results demonstrate an excellent error resilient performance of the proposed scheme. © 2004 SPIE and IS&T.
Engineering better sleep

Sleep medicine is a growing field with multidisciplinary origins in physiological monitoring techniques, on which it still largely depends. Collaborations between engineers and sleep specialists offer substantial opportunities to improve on current approaches to diagnosis and assessment of patients with sleep problems. Such collaborations could also prove key to improved fundamental understanding of the pathophysiology that underlies sleep disorders and their adverse impact on the brain, cardiovascular system, and optimal health.
Effects of Pulsed Excitation on Level Crossing and Optical Double Resonance Line Shapes

The general problem of level crossing and optical double resonance line shapes is studied under different conditions of pulsed excitation. The theoretical effects of variable pulse shape and duration, of long and short observation periods, and the effects of positive and negative delay between the end of the pulse and the beginning of observation of the emitted fluorescence are investigated by means of a simple classical formulation. Agreement is obtained with line-shape expressions previously derived for more restricted assumptions. It is also shown that under appropriate conditions, pulse-excitation line shapes yield independent information on the mean life τ and g factor of the decaying state that has not been fully exploited in pulsed experiments carried out to date.
Earthquake nucleation on faults with nonconstant normal stress

[1] Previous studies have found that earthquake nucleation on faults with rate-and-state dependent constitutive properties is a time dependent process involving evolution of slip rate v and frictional state variable θ. The evolution of θ is governed by an extended aging law, which accounts for the effects of normal stress variations. Assuming normal stress along the fault varies due to remote stressing, we derive a generalized simple patch (GSP) solution that explicitly describes quasi-static evolution of v and θ in the aseismic period, which is shown to agree well with simulation results from a 2D plane strain model. The GSP solution suggests that both initial and loading conditions affect time to instability ti. For initial conditions satisfying Ω = vθ/Dc > 1, ti is strongly dependent on initial slip rate but is insensitive to remote stressing rate. For Ω ≤ 1, ti is affected by initial slip rate, initial state variable and remote loading rate (both shear and normal). Using the GSP solution, we calculate aftershock rates following a Coulomb stress step, which generally agree with Omori's decay law. Our results show that nucleation process is strongly affected by normal stress variations purely originated from remote stressing, which implies that nucleation process on nonplanar faults may be quite different from those observed from planar fault models with pure shear loading conditions, since normal stress variations can arise due to both fault slip and remote stressing for nonplanar faults.
Metamagnetism in DyBaCo2O5+x, x≈0.5

Abstract The temperature dependence of the paramagnetic susceptibility χ m ( T ) taken in 2500 Oe, the resistivity ρ ( T ), and the thermoelectric power α ( T ) of DyBaCo 2 O 5+ x , which has Ba and Dy ordered into alternate (001) planes of an oxygen-deficient perovskite, have revealed a phase segregation in the compositional range 0.3⩽ x 2 O 5.51 has, in addition, oxygen vacancies ordered into alternate rows of the DyO 0.51 (001) planes; a cold-pressed polycrystalline sample exhibits a first-order insulator–metal transition at T IM =320 K, a Curie temperature T C =300 K, and a broadened metamagnetic transition temperature T M ≈265 K in 2500 Oe. A ferromagnetic M – H hysteresis curve fails to saturate at 5 T, and a minority ferromagnetic phase below T M has a volume fraction that decreases with decreasing temperature, vanishing below 50 K. Oxygen vacancies in the DyBaCo 2 O 5.5 phase suppress the metallic state; interstitial oxygen does not. A thermoelectric power α ( T )>0 of DyBaCo 2 O 5.51 changing continuously across T IM is interpreted to manifest a metallic minority phase crossing a percolation threshold; α ( T ) also provides evidence for a progressive excitation of higher-spin Co(III) with increasing temperature from below 50 K to above T IM . A previous model of the R BaCo 2 O 5.5 phase is extended to account for the Ising spin configuration below T C , the magnetic order in the presence of higher-spin octahedral-site Co(III), and the α ( T ) data.
AGGLUTININS IN HUMAN SERA FOR SCARLET FEVER STREPTOCOCCI.

AN ASSOCIATION of hemolytic ,Al. streptococci and scarlet fever has long been noted. Recently, Dick and Dick,' Tunnicliff,2' 3' 4Bliss,3' 8 Gordon,7 Dochez,8 and others seem finally to have established a hemolytic streptococcus as the etiological factor of the disease. Agglutination reactions have been widely studied with varying degrees of success since Marmorek first produced an anti-streptococcal serum. A review of the numerous investigations since that time seems unnecessary after the very adequate ones in papers like those of Tunnicliff 2 and Dochez.10 It was the object of the experiments described in the following pages to investigate the presence of agglutinins for scarlet fever streptococci in the sera from an average group of healthy individuals. The following points were taken into consideration, tentatively accepting the etiological role of the hemolytic streptococci in scarlet fever as a working hypothesis:
CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY OF RABBIT AORTA.

Abstract Rabbit aorta hydrolyzes acetylcholine (ACh) and butyrylcholine (BuCh) at a much higher rate than it does acetyl-D-β methylcholine (D-MeCh), indicating that the great majority of the cholinesterase (Ch-esterase) is of the nonspecific type. The intact aorta hydrolyzes ACh and BuCh at a rate of about 60% of that of the homogenized aorta, whereas the rate of hydrolysis of D-MeCh by intact and homogenized tissue is similar. The necessity for carefully controlled experiments when attempting to correlate Ch-esterase levels with function is emphasized and it is concluded that for attempting such a study the rabbit aorta is particularly unsuitable.
Stimulation of serotonin N-acetyltransferase in pineal organ culture by drugs.

— Drugs such as cocaine, procaine, pheniprazine (Catron) and veratridine, which have actions on sympathetic nerves and nerve terminals, were examined for their ability to increase serotonin N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5; NAT) in pineal organ culture. The absence of potassium (0 KCl) was also examined. NAT is known to respond to β-adrenergic stimulation. It was found that these drugs and 0 KCl increased the enzyme activity 100 to 2000-fold in innervated pineals but had virtually no effect in denervated pineals. The effects on innervated pineals were blocked by the β-blocker propranolol but not by the α-blocker, phentolamine. These drugs and 0 KCl inhibited to varying degrees [3H] 1-norepinephrine uptake in pineals. It is concluded that these agents activated the β-adrenergic receptor on pineal cells by causing an accumulation of extraneuronal norepinephrine. The accumulation of norepinephrine is due, at least in part, to the blockade of norepinephrine reuptake by nerve terminals. The ability of veratridine to stimulate NAT and to inhibit norepinephrine uptake was reversed by tetrodotoxin, a blocker of sodium permeability in excitable tissue, thus veratridine acts by increasing sodium permeability in nerve terminals. This adds support to the theory that catecholamine uptake is a process that requires a sodium gradient across the nerve terminal membrane.
Naloxone effects on schedule-controlled behavior in morphine-pelleted rats.

The effects of morphine pellet implantation and naloxone administration were examined in rats lever pressing under inter-response time schedules of food presentation. Subcutaneous implantation of a morphine pellet initially decreased lever-pressing rates. Tolerance to this effect developed within 3–4 days. Naloxone (0.25–1.0 mg/kg) decreased response rates in morphine-pelleted rats in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. All doses of naloxone severely decreased rates of lever pressing on days four to nine post-pellet. This rate-decreasing effect persisted 7–17 days for 0.25 mg/kg naloxone, 9–22 days for 0.50 mg/kg, and 13–28 days for 1.0 mg/kg. Decreases in response rate were due to an increased frequency of long pauses and not to marked shifts in the temporal patterning of those lever presses that did occur. Changes in response rate after naloxone were accompanied by body weight loss. Area values summarizing the naloxone-induced changes in response rate or body weight over time after pellet implantation increased as a function of naloxone dose. Naloxone (0.25–1.0 mg/kg) did not alter performance by placebo-pelleted rats.
Life History and Distribution of the Low-Tide Billbug,Calendra Setiger (Chittenden)

This corn billbug breeds, so far as known. chiefly below high-tide mark in salt reed grass (Spartina cynosuroides) in maritime marshes along the Atlantic Coast.
Fast multiresolution terrain rendering with symmetric cluster sets

The technique we present here improves upon a popular terrain level-of-detail algorithm which renders using a quadtree of fixed-resolution mesh blocks [Strugar 2009], Our approach retains the flexibility of this method while improving its geometric batch efficiency, enabling performance more competitive to specialized techniques such as [Cignoni et al. 2003] and [Losasso and Hoppe 2004].
Cooxygenation by prostaglandin cyclooxygenase from rabbit inner medulla.

Cooxygenation by prostaglandin cyclooxygenase from rabbit inner medulla. The renal inner medulla may be exposed to high concentrations of organic compounds which are excreted into the urine. This report examines the capacity of the inner medulla to metabolize organic compounds both in vitro and in vivo. The compounds used were 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF), luminol, and benzidine. The inner medulla was shown to possess the capacity to oxidize each of these compounds. Microsomal oxygenation did not require NADPH. Cytochrome P-450 inhibitors carbon monoxide and metyrapone did not reduce DPBF metabolism. Lipoxygenase activity was not detected in inner medullary microsomes. Oxygenation of DPBF was demonstrated in inner medullary slices and was inhibited by indomethacin. The product of DPBF metabolism in renal slices and microsomes was identified as O -dibenzoylbenzene. In vivo experiments demonstrated benzidine metabolism, which was blocked by meclofenamic acid. On the basis of substrate specificity and inhibitor studies, it was concluded that oxygenation of DPBF, luminol, and benzidine was mediated by prostaglandin cyclooxygenase. These results are compatible with cooxygenation being a mechanism of inner medullary drug metabolism. Cooxygenation par la prostaglandine cyclooxygenase de la medullaire interne du lapin. La medullaire interne du rein peut etre exposee a des concentrations elevees de composes organiques qui sont excretes dans l'urine. Ce travail etudie la capacite de la medullaire interne de metaboliser les composes organiques a la fois in vitro et in vivo. Les composes utilises sont le 1,3-dipheny-lisobenzofurane (DPBF), le luminol, et la benzidine. Il a ete montre que la medullaire interne a la capacite d'oxyder chacun de ces trois composes. L'oxygenation microsomale n'exige pas le NADPH. Les inhibiteurs du cytochrome P-450, oxyde de carbone et metyrapone, ne reduisent pas le metabolisme de DPBF. Aucune activite de lipoxygenase n'est detectee dans les microsomes de la medullaire interne. L'oxygenation de DPBF est demontree dans les tranches medullaires internes, elle est inhibee par l'indomethacine. Le produit du metabolisme de DPBF dans les tranches et les microsomes a ete identifie: il s'agit du O -dibenzoylbenzene. Les experiences in vivo demontrent le metabolisme de la benzidine, lequel est bloque par l'acide meclofenamique. Sur la base de la specificite du substrat et des etudes d'inhibition il a ete conclu que l'oxygenation de DPBF, du luminol, et de la benzidine a pour mediateur la prostaglandine cyclooxygenation pour le metabolisme des drogues dans la medullaire interne.
Light produced interference in a delayed matching task with capuchin monkeys

Abstract Lighting conditions during the delay period in a delayed matching-to-sample paradigm were found to affect performance greatly after delay. Capuchin monkeys performed significantly better after a dark delay than after a lighted one. This relationship was found to hold for both spatial and nonspatial problems. Apparently the results were not mediated by activity differences during delay. The data were interpreted as support for an interference interpretation of memory loss. An attempt was made to integrate the current findings and interpretations with some earlier reports.
Visualizing call graphs

Developers navigate and reason about call graphs throughout investigation and debugging activities. This is often difficult: developers can spend tens of minutes answering a single question, get lost and disoriented, and erroneously make assumptions, causing bugs. To address these problems, we designed a new form of interactive call graph visualization - REACHER. Instead of leaving developers to manually traverse the call graph, REACHER lets developers search along control flow. The interactive call graph visualization encodes a number of properties that help developers answer questions about causality, ordering, type membership, repetition, choice, and other relationships. And developers remain oriented while navigating. To evaluate REACHER'S benefits, we conducted a lab study in which 12 participants answered control flow questions. Compared to an existing IDE, participants with REACHER were over 5 times more successful in significantly less time. All enthusiastically preferred REACHER, with many positive comments.
Labyrinthine and vestibulospinal effects on spinal motoneurons in the pigeon

Experiments were performed on pigeons to investigate the effects of labyrinthine stimulation on motoneurons innervating neck and limb muscles. Intracellular recordings from the ventral horn of the spinal cord in the neck revealed that stimulation of the ipsilateral labyrinth with only a single shock evokes prominent EPSPs and/or IPSPs in the majority of neck motoneurons at thresholds less than 3–4 times the threshold for the labyrinth-evoked N1 potential recorded in the ipsilateral vestibular nuclei. In many neck motoneurons, the latencies of the PSPs were short enough so that no more than two synapses could be involved in their transmission. Recordings were also obtained from identified motoneurons which innervate muscles of the wing or the leg. Stimulation of the labyrinth, even with multiple stimuli, failed to elicit any observable PSPs in limb motoneurons. These data were consistent with other observations that in awake pigeons stimulation of the labyrinth with weak shocks evoked a pronounced turning of the head to the contralateral side, while even strong or multiple stimuli failed to produce any observable movement of wings or legs. Thus in the pigeon the association of the labyrinth with limb muscles is insignificant when compared to the association of the labyrinth with neck muscles. In addition, supraspinal descending fibers in the pigeon may make monosynaptic excitatory and inhibitory contact with spinal motoneurons.
Leadership in an Asian American Community in the South The Development of an Informal Support Network to Increase Access to Services

Despite the development of culturally sensitive practices and ethnic-specific services for non-dominant groups, Asian Americans continue to underutilize social services. The underutilization is a reminder that multiple barriers still exist in preventing the historically invisible members of the Asian American population from improving their well-being. If Asian Americans are not using formalized services, they are likely turning to their own informal supports, of which little is known, for meeting their needs. Using a grounded theory approach, this article explores the leaders and their roles in the development of an informal support network in an Asian American community in the southern region of the United States. The theory developed in this study indicates cultural influences affecting leaders and their ethnic identity, which then informs identification of needs and the helping process in the development of the informal support network. The article concludes with implications.
Numerical Model of a Reciprocating Hydraulic Rod Seal

A numerical model of an elastomeric reciprocating hydraulic rod seal has been constructed. The model consists of coupled fluid mechanics, deformation mechanics and contact mechanics analyses, with an iterative computational procedure. The fluid mechanics analysis consists of the solution of the Reynolds equation, using flow factors to account for surface roughness. Deformation of the seal is computed through the use of influence coefficients, obtained from an off-line finite element analysis. The contact mechanics analysis uses the Greenwood and Williamson model. The seal model is used to predict leakage rate, friction force, fluid and contact pressure distributions, and film thickness distribution. Results for a typical seal show that the seal operates with mixed lubrication, and the seal roughness plays an important role in determining whether or not the seal leaks.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Genetic selection of peptide aptamers that recognize and inhibit cyclin-dependent kinase 2

A NETWORK of interacting proteins controls the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) (refs 1, 2) and governs the entry of higher eukaryotic cells into S phase. Analysis of this and other genetic regulatory networks would be facilitated by intracellular reagents that recognize specific targets and inhibit specific network connections. We report here the expression of a combinatorial library of constrained 20-residue peptides displayed by the active-site loop of Escherichia coli thioredoxin, and the use of a two-hybrid system to select those that bind human Cdk2. These peptide aptamers were designed to mimic the recognition function of the complementarity-determining regions of immuno-globulins. The aptamers recognized different epitopes on the Cdk2 surface with equilibrium dissociation constant in the nanomolar range; those tested inhibited Cdk2 activity. Our results show that peptide aptamers bear some analogies with monoclonal antibodies, with the advantages that they are isolated together with their coding genes, that their small size should allow their structures to be solved, and that they are designated to function inside cells.
Epeirogeny or eustasy? Paleozoic–Mesozoic vertical motion of the North American continental interior from thermochronometry and implications for mantle dynamics

Abstract Geodynamic models predict that deep mantle buoyancy forces exert important control on the vertical motion history of continents, but it is difficult to isolate the effects of dynamic topography in the geologic record. Here we apply low temperature thermochronometry to exposed Precambrian basement samples across an ~ 1300 km long tract of the western Canadian shield to resolve the thermal imprint, thickness, spatial extent, and evolution of missing portions of the Phanerozoic sedimentary record. New and published apatite (U–Th)/He and fission-track data from three study areas indicate a pronounced heating and cooling event in Paleozoic–early Mesozoic time. This pattern, coupled with geologic observations, indicates that an extensive region of the continent was inundated and buried by sedimentary rocks in Paleozoic time, followed by significant Paleozoic–early Mesozoic unroofing that removed these strata from the rock record. This burial and unroofing history is opposite that expected from eustatic sea level chronologies. A process that can induce long-wavelength (> 1000 km) elevation change in a continental interior region without significant crustal deformation therefore appears required to explain our results. These characteristics of the vertical motions largely eliminate plate margin tectonism as a probable mechanism, and point toward dynamic topography as a likely cause. To evaluate the hypothesis of a dynamic control on the rise and fall of this cratonic region, we compare the 400 to 150 Ma burial and unroofing histories with the evolution of dynamic topography in the western Canadian shield predicted by a three-dimensional model of thermochemical convection. The histories of burial and unroofing mimic the predicted history of elevation change to first order, indicating that dynamic topography is a viable cause for the vertical motions. A phase of significant burial before ~ 350 Ma may be due to cold mantle downwellings that produced subsidence during Pangea assembly, followed by unroofing between ~ 350 Ma and 250 Ma induced by development of warm mantle upwellings after Pangea amalgamation. While a fuller range of mantle dynamic models must be explored to more completely understand the causes of cryptic elevation change in the North American continental interior, our study highlights the utility of cratonic thermochronometry data for testing and calibrating dynamic models, and for evaluating mantle and surface process interactions deep in Earth history.
Changes in the motor pattern of learned and unlearned responses following cerebellar lesions: a kinematic analysis of the nictitating membrane reflex.

Abstract Kinematic and dynamic analyses were employed to study the effects of cerebellar lesions on conditioned and unconditioned nictitating membrane responses in the rabbit. It was found that conditioned responses acquired to an auditory stimulus accelerated in two bursts as indicated by two distinct peaks of acceleration. The second peak of acceleration was very weak during the early portions of conditioning but became a prominent feature of the conditioned response over 16 sessions of conditioning. The second peak of acceleration in the conditioned response was more sensitive to cerebellar damage than was the first peak. When lesions of the cerebellum permanently reduced the amplitude of conditioned responses, but did not affect their frequency, the second peak of acceleration was nearly abolished while the first peak was unaffected. When cerebellar lesions profoundly impaired both the amplitude and frequency of conditioned responses, large and permanent impairments occurred in both peaks of acceleration. Lesions of the anterior interpositus nucleus most severely impaired both peaks of acceleration in the conditioned response and significantly reduced the acceleration of unconditioned responses across a wide range of intensities of corneal air puff. The deficit in the acceleration of unconditioned responses became manifest only after membrane extension exceeded 0.12 mm. The impairment in the amplitude of the unconditioned response after cerebellar lesions more closely approximated the impairment in the amplitude of the conditioned response when the force-generating properties of the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli were equated. It was hypothesized, therefore, that one reason why conditioned responses are so easily disrupted by cerebellar lesions is because they are of low force and not simply because they are learned. It was proposed that the two peaks of acceleration that characterize the conditioned response represent the function of two distinct anatomical systems. The first, a short-latency system, initiates the response and is most likely mediated by circuits that traverse the pontomedullary reticular formation. The second, a longer-latency system, amplifies response amplitude and its neural basis remains to be elucidated. The two components of the conditioned response may reflect two sequential bursts of activity in the accessory abducens nucleus, the principal site of the motoneurons for the retractor bulbi muscle, or may reflect the synergistic activity of the accessory abducens nucleus and the motor nuclei of the other extraocular muscles. It was concluded that the vulnerability of the second component of the conditioned response to cerebellar damage reflects an important role for the cerebellum in modulating the degree to which long-latency neural systems contribute to the ongoing performance of learned and unlearned behaviors.
Male Reproductive Behavior of the Social Wasp Polistes fascatus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

and Summary Populations of male Polistes fuscatus simultaneously exhibit two different mate-locating tactics. Some males defend territories in female nesting and hibernation sites. These males frequently do not occupy the same territory each day, and they drag their gasters over perches, which may function to apply a secretion to the perch. Another segment of the population patrols large overlapping areas in female foraging sites. In contrast to territorial males, patrolling males do not rub their gasters on perches, and males seen on more than one day are tenacious to one area. Males in both sites are aggressive to other males and attempt to copulate with females. A laboratory study indicates that large males have an advantage in male-male competition. The mean size of patrollers is smaller than that of territorial males, indicating that patrollers are competitively inferior males. Yet there is considerable size overlap of males between the two sites, suggesting that there is also overlap in the range of probability of mating success between the two sites.
An advanced integrated biomass gasification and molten fuel cell power system

Abstract Biomass has recently received considerable attention as a potential substitute for fossil fuels in electric power production. Renewable biomass crops, industrial wood residues, and municipal wastes as fuels for production of electricity allow substantial reduction of environmental impact. High reactivity of biomass makes it relatively easy to convert solid feedstocks into gaseous fuel for subsequent use in a power cycle. So far most of the studies were focused on investigating performance and economics of biomass gasifiction–gas turbine systems. A general conclusion resulting from these studies is that the combination of biomass gasifiers, hot gas cleanup systems, and advanced gas turbines is promising for cost competitive electric power generation 1 , 2 . In this paper another concept of biomass fueled power systems is considered, namely biomass gasification with a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC). Comparison between two concepts is made in terms of efficiency, feasibility, and process requirements. As an example of such a system, a highly efficient novel power cycle consisting of the Battelle gasification process, a molten carbonate fuel cell, and a steam turbine is introduced. The calculated efficiency is around 53%, which exceeds efficiencies of traditional designs 1 , 3 considerably. Finally, an economic analysis and electricity cost projection are performed for a power plant consuming 2000 tons of biomass per day. Results are compared with those for more traditional integrated biomass gasification/gas turbine systems and for coal fueled cycles.
A perturbative quantum chromodynamical calculation on productions of four jets in γe,ep and γp collisions

Various cross sections of jet and hadron productions through the hard parton-parton scattering in ψe,ep and ψp collisions are calculated by perturbative quantumchromodynamics. Attention is paid on the differences of results through the hard partonparton scattering due to the differences of the quark and gluon distribution functions between ψ andp ore.
Erythrocyte survival studies in a rat myelogenous leukemia.

To determine the extent intrinsic erythrocyte defects and/or extrinsic factors were involved in anemia of rats bearing Shay chloroleukemia (SCL), survival of /sup 3/H-DFP labeled erythrocytes was studied in leukemic and nonleukemic hosts. Red blood cells labeled before induction of leukemia, were rapidly lost from the peripheral circulation of SCL rats in terminal stages of disease. However, labeled erythrocytes from terminal SCL animals displayed normal lifespans when transfused into nonleukemic controls. Thus the anemia of this leukemia probably resulted from extrinsic factors associated with the leukemic process. Hemorrhage appeared to be primarily responsible for the anemia of this disease.
23.1: Invited Paper: Jet Printed TFTs and Circuits for Flexible Electronics

Printed and flexible devices are potential technologies for future display applications. Progress in printed materials, devices and circuits enables organic TFTs and solution oxides with mobility greater than 1 cm2/Vs, the organic TFTs having n-channel and p-channel operation. Simple logic circuits and flexible TFT backplane prototypes will be discussed.
Staining Paraffin Sections with Protargol: 1. Experiments with Bodian's Method. 2. Use of Jvpropyl and N-Butyl Alcohol in Hofker's Fixative:

Paraffin sections of nervous tissue, which had been fixed in Hofker's fluid, stained readily with protargol solution without the addition of metallic copper or other activator. Amidolsulfite mixtures reduced the protargol more rapidly and completely than hydroquinone-sulfite. Intensification of the stain could be secured by reducing with 0.5% amidol (or pyrogallol) solution after gold toning. The completeness of staining of unmyelinated fibers of the dorsal roots of cat spinal nerves was checked by estimating the number of fibers in a root and the cells of its associated ganglion. A fiber cell ratio of 1:1 was found hi 4 specimens, indicating within limits of error that all fibers were stained. An improvement of die original Hofker's mixture as a fixative was obtained by using a mixture of formic acid, 5 cc.; trichloracetic acid, 10 g.; n-propyl alcohol, 20 cc.; and n-butyl alcohol, 60 cc. (instead of the acetic, trichloracetic, ethyl alcohol mixture used hi the original formula). The following arbitrary ...
Optimization of living polymerization through distributed control of a nitroxide radical

Abstract An optimal control methodology is applied to the goal of lowering the reaction time while maintaining low polydispersity in living free-radical polymerization. An illustration using a nitroxide radical profile for living free-radical polymerization of styrene in a plug flow reactor is provided. The reactor designs show that a distributed nitroxide radical flux along the length of the reactor can reduce the reaction time significantly for a given conversion. The reduction in residence time comes at the expense of a modest increase in polydispersity. A reference simulation with no optimization shows a conversion of 85% after 70 h and a final polydispersity of 1.31. Optimization of a 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy flux results in a conversion of 90% after only 46 h while the polydispersity rises slightly to 1.42. The majority of the conversion takes place in the first 35 h. The theoretical designs, although not proven to be globally optimal, are of high quality.
Let's Use Einstein's Safety Razor, Not Occam's Swiss Army Knife or Occam's Chainsaw

In 1945, Pablo Picasso distilled the essence of a bull. In 1946, Picasso's 6-year-old niece asked him to draw a buffalo. Picasso told the child that he’d already done it, and he referred her to his...