cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal Stability of Human Albumin Measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

. The thermal stability of 5% previously unheated, undefatted human albumin monomer in 145 mM Na+, pH7.0 was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as a function of added caprylate and/or N-acetyl-DL-tryptophanate. Caprylate was substantially more effective than N-acetyl-DL-tryptophanate in protecting the protein against thermal denaturation at a given level or at a saturating level of stabilizer. The tracing of the differential heat capacity versus temperature (thermogram) for this undefatted monomer that contained 1.5 mol endogenous, long-chain fatty acid (LCFA)/mol monomer exhibits two denaturation peaks (endotherms) in the absence of stabilizer. The endotherm with the lower denaturation temperature (Td) comprises 70% of the total heat of denaturation and also corresponds to irreversible denaturation and precipitation of 70% of the albumin. This endotherm is associated with more thermally labile protein species containing low levels of LCFA. The endotherm with the higher Td is associated with more stable protein species containing high levels of LCFA. Thus, the two endotherms are not related to the proposed domain structure of the protein but result from an uneven LCFA distribution that is due to preexisting heterogeneity in the albumin and/or heterogeneity that arises during the DSC experiment. Binding data do not support a preexisting uneven distribution of sufficient magnitude to explain the experimental results. A complementary explanation is that an uneven fatty acid distribution arises during the DSC experiment by migration of LCFA from the more labile species to the more stable as the former unfold; such migration would cause further stabilization of the latter.
Zero Frequency Response from AC Transducers

Piezoelectric and certain other transducers are not suitable as displacement monitors for very-low-frequency phenomena because the sustained signal resulting from a steady input dies away. The gradual disappearance of the generated voltage essentially partially differentiates a signal. Good low-frequency response down to zero frequency is reconstituted by mixing with a signal some of its own integral. The detailed conditions and circuits are given. A relevant theorem on the possible perfection of diodes in integrators is demonstrated. Drift limits response to a few minutes, and static pressure or displacement measurements are presently limited to this period. Experiments on simultaneously cancelling several cascaded time constants, e.g., pneumatic and electric, are cited.
Effect of orally administered dextromethorphan on theophylline- and pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in rats

Dextromethorphan, widely used as an antitussive, has recently been shown to protect animals against maximal electroshock and excitatory amino acid (N-methyl-D-aspartate)-induced convulsions. Its protective efficacy against theophylline-induced seizures was determined in this investigation in view of the limited effectiveness of presently available anticonvulsants against this manifestation of serious theophylline intoxication. Rats were pretreated with an oral dose of dextromethorphan (50 mg/kg) or saline solution. Fifteen minutes later, the rats were infused intravenously with theophylline [approximately 11 mg/(kg.min)] until the onset of maximal seizures. Pretreatment with dextromethorphan was associated with a significant decrease in the concentrations of theophylline in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum at the pharmacologic endpoint. To further explore this unanticipated effect, a similar experiment was performed with the convulsant pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), which was infused at a rate of approximately 3.4 mg/(kg.min) until the onset of maximal seizures. Dextromethorphan-pretreated animals required a significantly larger dose of PTZ than did controls to produce the first myoclonic jerk, but a significantly smaller dose of the convulsant to produce maximal seizures. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of PTZ at onset of maximal seizures were significantly lower in dextromethorphan-treated than in control animals. The proconvulsant activity of dextromethorphan with respect to theophylline-induced maximal seizures is similar to that of phenytoin, and is consistent with other pharmacologic evidence of such similarity.
Agricultural transitions in the context of growing environmental pressure over water

Conventional agriculture, while nested in nature, has expanded production at the expense of water in the Midwest and through the diversion of water resources in the western United States. With the growth of population pressure and concern about water quality and quantity, demands are growing to alter the relationship of agriculture to water in both these locations. To illuminate the process of change in this relationship, the author builds on Buttel’s (Research in Rural Sociology and Development 6: 1–21, 1995) assertion that agriculture is transitioning to a post “green revolution” period where farmers are paid for conservation, and employs actor network theory (Latour and Woolgar Laboratory life: The construction of scientific facts. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1986) and the advocacy coalition framework (Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith, Policy change and learning: An advocacy coalition approach, 1–56. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1993) to frame discussions of water and agriculture in the upper Mississippi River watershed, particularly Iowa. The author concludes that contested views of agriculture and countryside, as well as differing views of how agriculture must change to adapt to growing water concerns, will shape coalitions that will ultimately play a significant role in shaping the future of agriculture.
Serial Analysis of Zein by Isoelectric Focusing and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Gel Electrophoresis

Zein, the major storage protein of maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm, was extracted from a number of inbreds with alcohol plus a reducing agent. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) separated total zeins into 41 components, while sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) separated total zeins into about 15 components. Each procedure gave characteristic patterns of zein bands for a number of maize inbreds. IEF and SDS-PAGE were used serially so that each band separated by IEF could be assayed as an individual SDS-PAGE sample. Some IEF bands revealed only a single band after SDS-PAGE, while others revealed two or more bands. A nomenclature system is presented which integrates the two separation systems with information about chromosome locations of zein genes, maize mutations which affect zein synthesis, and inbred sources for different zeins. SDS-PAGE of zein gives apparent molecular masses which vary widely according to the standards used and the properties of the gels, therefore an artificial nomenclature for identifying zein bands after SDS-PAGE is presented. The new nomenclature provides a flexible system which is useful and can be conveniently used in different laboratories.
Two independent type III secretion mechanisms for YopE in Yersinia enterocolitica

Summary Pathogenic Yersinia species escape the infected host’s defense mechanisms by targeting cytotoxic Yop proteins into the cytoplasm of macrophages via a type III secretion pathway. Two separate secretion signals contained in YopE were identified, each of which were sufficient but not necessary for the secretion of reporter molecules. One signal is located within the coding sequence of the first 15 amino acids and is sufficient for the secretion of fusion proteins but not required for YopE secretion. The second signal is located downstream at residues 15‐100 of YopE and is only recognized by the type III machinery when it is bound to SycE. We propose the existence of two independent mechanisms that allow for the secretion of Yop proteins.
The future of group psychotherapy: expanding the conversation.

Increasingly, the group psychotherapist is called upon to demonstrate that the approach he or she utilizes is empirically supported. This expectation creates a dilemma for group psychotherapists who must ascertain the best means to establish validation. One means is to select an approach that has already been validated. Within the field, manualized group formats exist that are based on a number of well-designed studies. These studies are done according to classical experimental procedures. For example, subject selection is accomplished with well-defined exclusion and inclusion criteria. Subjects are randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The interventions utilized in each group are carefully described. But what if these studies have been conducted in settings that have great contextual differences with the setting of the group practitioner? Repeatedly, it has been shown that context is important in determining the operation of the psychotherapy group (Astrachan, Harrow, & Flynn, 1968). Furthermore, past research has demonstrated the presence of many interaction effects among subject variables that are related to outcome (Piper, 1994). If a local population differs from the populations on which the studies are based, the outcome could be different. A second means to validate the approach is for the group therapist to launch a set of investigations that could support his or her methods. Yet often there are considerable impediments to conducting research utiliz
John Dewey And The World View, edited by Douglas E. Lawson and Arthur E. Lean. Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale. 1964. 136 pp. $6.00

(1965). John Dewey And The World View, edited by Douglas E. Lawson and Arthur E. Lean. Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale. 1964. 136 pp. $6.00. The Educational Forum: Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 371-371.
Consistency of physician judgments of capacity to consent in mild Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the agreement of physician judgments of capacity to consent to treatment for normal and demented older adults. DESIGN: Subjects were individually administered a standardized consent capacity interview. Physicians viewed videotapes of these interviews and made judgments of capacity to consent to treatment. SETTING: University medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects assessed for competency (N = 45) were 16 normal older controls and 29 patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). Five medical center physicians with experience assessing the competency of dementia patients were recruited from the specialties of geriatric psychiatry, geriatric medicine, and neurology. MEASUREMENTS: Subjects were videotaped responding to a standardized consent capacity interview (SCCI) designed to evaluate capacity to consent to treatment. Study physicians blinded to subject diagnosis individually viewed each SCCI videotape and made a judgment of competent or incompetent to consent. Agreement of physician judgments was evaluated using percentage agreement, kappa, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Competency judgments of physicians showed high agreement for controls but low agreement for AD patients. Physicians as a group achieved 98% judgment agreement for the controls but only 56% judgment agreement for the mild AD patients. The physician group kappa for controls was 1.00 (P < .0001) and differed significantly (P < .0001) from the physician group kappa of .14 (P = .44) for AD patients, indicative of a real difference in the ability of the study physicians to judge consistently competency across the two groups. Similarly, logistic regression analysis showed significant variability in physician judgments for the AD group (χ2 = 63.8, P < .0001) but not for the control group (χ2 = 4.1, P = 1.00). Within the AD group, pairwise analyses revealed significant judgment disagreement (P < .01) for seven of the 10 physician pairs. CONCLUSIONS: Experienced physicians demonstrated significant agreement judging the competency of older controls, but significant disagreement judging the competency of mild AD patients. Physician judgment currently does not represent a gold standard for determining consent capacity of dementia patients. Standardized assessment instruments and clinical training may improve the agreement and accuracy of physician competency judgments.
Exploring Variation in Care: Alternative Conceptual Models

In this issue, McWilliams and colleagues report on geographic variation in cancer-related imaging between the VA health care system and Medicare. The editorialists discuss this research and argue t...
HIV-1 plasma RNA level and CD4 cell count in a large urban HIV-1-infected patient population from 1997 to 2000.

We evaluated the change in plasma HIV-1 RNA level and CD4 cell counts in an HIV-1-infected population between 1997 and 2000. Both the mean and the median values of plasma HIV-1 RNA level decreased with time with the exception of 1998. The mean and medians for CD4 cell count appear to be fairly stable. While the percentage of patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA level 100,000 copies/mL remained fairly constant. The availability of HAART had impacted the level of plasma HIV-1 RNA, although many patients still have plasma HIV-1 RNA level >100,000 copies/mL. Most patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA level >400 copies/mL in 1997 still have plasma HIV-1 RNA level >400 copies/mL in 2000. These laboratory findings, however, do not necessarily mean that there had been a lack of clinical benefit.
“PCR karyotype” of monochromosomal somatic cell hybrids

Following fusion of human diploid fibroblast-derived microcells with mouse A9 cells, we isolated seven monochromosomal hybrids containing a single human chromosome 2, 3, 5, 12, 15, 20, or 22. Cytogenetic analysis as well as PCR karyotyping (chromosome-specific banding pattern generated by Alu-PCR) was performed on all the hybrids. We here present, for the first time, the specific PCR karyotypes of human chromosomes 2 and 20.
Successful treatment of painful traumatic mononeuropathy with carbamazepine: insights into a possible molecular pain mechanism

The delayed onset of painful paresthesias following trauma to a peripheral nerve is a well recognized but poorly understood phenomenon. This report describes an illustrative case of painful paresthesias in the territory of the ilioinguinal nerve, 3 to 6 weeks after an otherwise routine herniorraphy, which subsequently responded dramatically to carbamazepine. The case is considered in light of recent studies which have determined molecular changes which occur in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons following axotomy and neuroma formation. Voltage-dependent sodium (Na+) channels in DRG neurons undergo a change following axotomy, in which there is significant up- and down-regulation of different subpopulations of Na channels over a time frame measured in days to weeks. Such changes may render the DRG neurons hyperexcitable, thus contributing to a neuropathic pain syndrome, yet susceptible to treatment with a sodium channel blocker such as carbamazepine.
A pendulous oscillating gyroscopic accelerometer fabricated using deep-reactive ion etching

A silicon pendulous oscillating gyroscopic accelerometer (POGA) was fabricated using deep-reactive ion etching (DRIE) and silicon wafer bonding technologies. A POGA is the micromachining-compatible analog of the pendulous integrating gyroscopic accelerometer (PIGA), which is the basis of the most sensitive accelerometers demonstrated to date. Gyroscopic accelerometers rely on the principle of rebalancing an acceleration-sensing pendulous mass by means of an induced gyroscopic torque. The accelerometer is composed of three individual layers that are assembled into the final instrument. The top layer uses wafer bonding of an oxidized wafer to a handling wafer to create a silicon-on-oxide wafer pair, in which the oxide layer provides electrical isolation between the mechanical members and the handling layer. The middle layer is a two-gimbal torsionally-supported silicon structure and is in turn supported by an underlying drive/sense layer. The micromachined POGA operated according to gyroscopic accelerometer principles, having better than milligram resolution and dynamic ranges in excess of 1 g (open loop) and approximately 12 mg (closed loop).
Depressive Symptoms and Health Risk Among Rural Adolescents

Objective. To determine the stability of depression and its relationship with health risk factors among rural adolescents. Methods. A clinic-based longitudinal study was conducted to test for depression and risk factors in 64 participants who attended a rural, primary care, adolescent medicine clinic. The primary measure of risk and depression was the Perkins Adolescent Risk Screen (PARS). Adolescent patients who were aged 12 to 18 years and had PARS assessments during a previous visit to the adolescent clinic were invited to complete a follow-up PARS assessment. Results. The mean age of adolescents at baseline was 12.79 years; 14.59 years at follow-up. With age and gender being controlled, adolescent depression and various adolescent risk indices were significantly related at baseline. Longitudinally, baseline depression score on PARS were related to follow-up: depression, school problems, substance abuse, tobacco use, sexual activity, and violent behavior scores and a history of physical/sexual abuse. On multivariate analysis controlling for other significantly associated variables, the relationship persisted for baseline depression and follow-up: tobacco, substance abuse, depression, and history of physical/sexual abuse. Conclusion. This study confirms a strong longitudinal relationship between baseline depressive symptoms and several important risk behaviors/factors measured at follow-up in a clinic population of rural adolescents. Also, longitudinal stability of depression over time is supported.
Enterovirus 71 Infections and Neurologic Disease—United States, 1977–1991

Since first described in 1974, enterovirus 71 infections have been associated with severe neurologic disease, and widespread infection was suspected in 1987. To investigate enterovirus 71 activity further, data were reviewed for isolations reported nationally during 1977-1991, virology laboratories were contacted regarding isolations during 1985-1989, and medical records were reviewed for respective patients, 1985-1989. From 1977 to 1991, 193 culture-confirmed enterovirus 71 infections were identified: > or = 1 isolate each year. In 1987, 45 persons in 17 states were infected compared with a maximum of 22 persons in 1-8 states in the other years. Of these 45, 27 (60%) had the following: paralysis (6), Guillain-Barre syndrome (1), meningitis (18), or encephalitis (2). Enterovirus 71 has been endemic in the United States since at least 1977, was identified more frequently in 1987 than in other years, and continues to be an occasional cause of severe neurologic disease.
Impacts of Convective Lifetime on Moist Geostrophic Adjustment

Abstract This paper presents a theoretical study of the effects of moist convection on geostrophic adjustment in an infinite channel. The governing equations correspond to a linearized shallow water system of equations for the atmosphere first vertical baroclinic mode, which is coupled to a vertically averaged moisture equation. The coupling is through a parameterization that represents precipitation. The transient behavior and final state of the flow initially at rest with active precipitation limited to half of the channel is investigated, both numerically and analytically. It is shown that an initial imbalance resulting from precipitation induces a circulation that dries out the nonprecipitating region and further enhances precipitation. This interaction between precipitation and dynamics leads to a sharper temperature gradient and stronger jet in the final state, when compared to the dry adjustment. Unlike in the dry case, the moist geostrophic adjustment cannot be entirely determined from the initial...
Kallikrein Gene Delivery Attenuates Hypertension and Cardiac Hypertrophy and Enhances Renal Function in Goldblatt Hypertensive Rats

To demonstrate potential therapeutic effects of kallikrein gene delivery, we delivered adenovirus (Ad.CMV-cHK) carrying the human tissue kallikrein gene into two-kidney, one-clip Goldblatt hypertensive rats. A single intravenous injection of the recombinant adenovirus caused a delay of blood pressure increase that began 1 day after injection and continued for 24 days. A maximal blood pressure reduction was observed in rats receiving kallikrein gene delivery compared with control rats receiving Ad.CMV-LacZ (160+/-5 versus 186+/-7 mm Hg, n=6, P<.01). The expression of human tissue kallikrein mRNA was identified in the kidney, heart, aorta, and liver of rats receiving kallikrein gene delivery. Immunoreactive human kallikrein levels were measured in rat serum and urine in a time-dependent manner. Adenovirus-mediated kallikrein gene delivery caused a significant reduction in the left ventricular mass and cardiomyocyte size, as well as an increase in renal blood flow, urine flow, glomerular filtration rates, electrolyte output, and urine excretion. Enhanced renal responses were accompanied by significant increases in urinary kinin, nitrite/nitrate, and cyclic GMP levels. These findings show that the expression of human tissue kallikrein via gene delivery has protective effects against renovascular hypertension and cardiovascular and renal dysfunction.
Reducing cigarette smoking in a retarded adult: An application of self‐management procedures

An attempt was made to reduce the overall number of cigarettes smoked per day with a mildly retarded adult. Self-monitoring was compared to self-monitoring plus self-graphing and goal setting procedures in reducing the number of cigarettes smoked. Self-monitoring plus self-graphing and goal setting was superior to self-monitoring alone when the goal was set at 15 cigarettes per day, but the actual number of cigarettes smoked increased when the goal was set at 12. The number of cigarettes smoked during all treatment conditions was lower than either baseline conditions. The therapist also reduced the patient's caffeine intake and switched the client's brand of cigarettes to a low “tar”/nicotine brand. The reduction in caffeine and “tar”/nicotine was related to a small and transient increase in somatic complaints and verbal abuse, as well as the complete elimination of nocturnal enuresis. Brand switching to low “tar”/nicotine cigarettes did not result in an increase in the number of cigarettes smoked per day.
Do Absentee Voters Differ from Polling Place Voters? New Evidence from California

In the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election 2,775,785 absentee ballots were cast, representing about 30 percent of all voters statewide. Given the number of absentee ballots and the increasing propensity for voters in California and elsewhere to choose this voting method, we some basic questions: Who are absentee voters, and are they different from polling place voters? To answer these ques- tions, we fielded a statewide survey of absentee voters in the days before the October 7 recall election, asking respondents why they voted absentee, their partisan and ideological preferences, demographic char- acteristics, and other relevant questions. We find that absentee voters do not differ significantly from the overall state electorate in terms of their vote preferences, despite being older and better educated. For example, 56 percent of absentee voters in our survey voted "yes" on the recall, compared with 55 percent for the entire state, according to official returns. Further, absentee voters favored Arnold Schwarzenegger over Cruz Bustamante by a considerable margin, similar to the overall election
Limited response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with concomitant right ventricular dysfunction.

Limited Response to CRT in Patients with RVD. Introduction: Patients with left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) and LV dyssynchrony may respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is a predictor of decreased survival in patients with LVD, and its influence on clinical response to CRT is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of RVD on the clinical response to CRT. Methods and Results: A retrospective cohort of consecutive patients who underwent implantation of a CRT implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) were included and deemed to have RVD based on a RV ejection fraction <0.40. A lack of response to CRT was defined as: death, heart transplantation, implantation of an LV assist device, absent improvement in NYHA functional class at 6 months or hospice care. Among 130 patients included (mean age 58 ± 11 years, 68.5% male, 87.7% Caucasian, 51.5% nonischemic cardiomyopathy), 77 (59.2%) had no response to CRT as defined above. Of the nonresponders, 43 (56%) had RVD and 34 (44%) did not have RVD (P = 0.02). After adjustment for age, race, gender, cardiomyopathy type, atrial fibrillation, serum sodium, and severe mitral regurgitation, RVD (adjusted OR = 0.34, 95%CI 0.14–0.82), female gender (adjusted OR = 0.36, 95%CI 0.14–0.95), and serum creatinine (adjusted OR = 0.25, 95%CI 0.09–0.71) were independently associated with decreased odds of response to CRT. There was a significant difference in survival of patients with and without RVD after CRT (log rank P = 0.01). Conclusion: RVD represents a strong predictor of lack of clinical response to CRT in patients with CHF due to LVD and should be considered when prescribing CRT. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 21, pp. 431–435, April 2010)
Sliding into Home Plate: How to Use Slideware to Improve Your Presentation (While Dodging the Bullets)

Recently, Microsoft's PowerPoint has come under a series of brutal attacks. Critics have accused the software of promoting simplistic thinking, dumbing down presentations, and constricting interactions between presenter and audience (Schwartz 2003; Parker 2001; Thompson 2003). One detractor went so far as to label PowerPoint “technological cocaine” and another demanded a ban on the software, urging that “Friends Don't Let Friends Use PowerPoint” (Keller 2003; Stewart 2001). The most coherent exposition of PowerPoint's weaknesses has come from Edward Tufte, Yale Professor and visual presentation guru. Tufte (2003) argues that PowerPoint is format—rather than content—or audience-oriented, and thus “turn[s] everything into a sales pitch.” His list of grievances against the software is long. PowerPoint replaces serious analysis with chartjunk, logotypes, and corny clip art. It breaks information into small arbitrary fragments and stacks it chronologically in a manner that inhibits analysis through comparison. It “messes up data with systematic intensity” through bad resolution, thin graphics, and low-information charts. PowerPoint's “inherent defects,” so says Tufte, are “making us stupid, degrading the quality and credibility of our communication, turning us into bores, wasting our colleagues' time.”Ron E. Hassner is assistant professor of political science at the University of California, Berkeley. He remains indebted to Scott D. Sagan for introducing him to both PowerPoint and baseball.
A Systematic Procedure for Achieving Higher-Order Spatial Accuracy in Ghost Fluid and Other Embedded Boundary Methods for Fluid-Structure Interaction Problems ∗

A systematic procedure is presented for enhancing the spatial accuracy of ghost fluid and other types of embedded boundary methods for CFD in general, and fluid-structure interaction problems in particular. Such methods are gaining popularity because they simplify a number of computational issues. These range from gridding the fluid domain, to designing and implementing Eulerian-based algorithms for challenging fluid-structure applications characterized by large structural motions and deformations or topological changes. However, because they typically operate on non body-fitted grids, ghost fluid and other embedded boundary methods also complicate other issues such as the treatment of wall boundary conditions in general, and fluid-structure transmission conditions in particular. These methods also tend to be at best first-order space-accurate at the embedded interfaces. In some cases, they are also provably inconsistent at these locations. A theory is presented in this paper for addressing this issue. It is developed for a model problem where the fluid is represented by the advection equation and the dynamic motion of the structure is prescribed. For the sake of clarity, but without any loss of generality, this theory is presented in one and two dimensions. However, its extension to three dimensions is straigthforward. This theory leads to a departure from the current practice of populating ghost fluid values independently from the chosen spatial discretization scheme. It shows that by taking into account the pattern and properties of a preferred higher-order discretization scheme, ghost values can be attributed as to preserve the formal order of spatial accuracy of this scheme. The procedure is illustrated in this paper by its application to various finite difference methods. Its impact is also demonstrated by two-dimensional numerical experiments that confirm its theoretically proven ability to preserve higher-order spatial accuracy, including in the vicinity of embedded interfaces.
Decentralized pole placement: An example

Recently a method for decentralized pole placement based on the internal system structure and root locus was introduced. This procedure is reviewed here and applied to a two area power system with decentralized output feedback. A complete characterization of the attainable composite system poles in given. It is shown how a reduced order model arises naturally in the analysis.
Nesting and Developmental Biology of the Cleptoparasitic Bee Stelis ater (Anthidiini) and Its Host, Osmia chalybea (Osmiini) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

ABSTRACT Herein we provide the first account of the nesting biology of Osmia (Helicosmia) chalybea Smith and of its cleptoparasite Stelis (Stelis) ater Mitchell, a newly confirmed host association. The nesting behavior of O. chalybea is similar to what is known about other members of the subgenus Helicosmia, but novel information concerning egg eclosion and cocoon structure and function are reported. Eggs of S. ater were discovered both on the front surface of the host provisions as well as deeply buried in the pollen-nectar mixture. From numerous observations, larval S. ater attacks host immatures or conspecifics whenever encountered. Because young larvae are unable to crawl (perhaps a family characteristic), the hospicidal individual may be in its third to fifth stadium or even in its second stadium, although none of the latter was certainly identified. Although usually a single cleptoparasitic egg or larva was found in a cell, two or three were occasionally observed there. The cocoon of S. ater was als...
Interactions between chronic ethanol consumption and thiamine deficiency on neural plasticity, spatial memory, and cognitive flexibility.

Background Many alcoholics display moderate to severe cognitive dysfunction accompanied by brain pathology. A factor confounded with prolonged heavy alcohol consumption is poor nutrition, and many alcoholics are thiamine deficient. Thus, thiamine deficiency (TD) has emerged as a key factor underlying alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD). TD in humans can lead to Wernicke Encephalitis that can progress into Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome and these disorders have a high prevalence among alcoholics. Animal models are critical for determining the exact contributions of ethanol (EtOH)- and TD-induced neurotoxicity, as well as the interactions of those factors to brain and cognitive dysfunction. Methods Adult rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 treatment conditions: chronic EtOH treatment (CET) where rats consumed a 20% v/v solution of EtOH over 6 months; severe pyrithiamine-induced TD (PTD-moderate acute stage); moderate PTD (PTD-early acute stage); moderate PTD followed by CET (PTD-CET); moderate PTD during CET (CET-PTD); and pair-fed (PF) control. After recovery from treatment, all rats were tested on spontaneous alternation and attentional set-shifting. After behavioral testing, brains were harvested for determination of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and thalamic pathology. Results Moderate TD combined with CET, regardless of treatment order, produced significant impairments in spatial memory, cognitive flexibility, and reductions in brain plasticity as measured by BDNF levels in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. These alterations are greater than those seen in moderate TD alone, and the synergistic effects of moderate TD with CET lead to a unique cognitive profile. However, CET did not exacerbate thalamic pathology seen after moderate TD. Conclusions These data support the emerging theory that subclinical TD during chronic heavy alcohol consumption is critical for the development of significant cognitive impairment associated with ARBD.
A moving-wall boundary layer with reverse flow

The problem of uniform flow past a flat plate whose surface has a constant velocity λU opposite in direction to that of the mainstream is considered for large values of the Reynolds number R. In a previous communication (Klemp & Acrivos 1972) it was shown that, if the region of reverse flow which is established next to the plate as a consequence of its motion is O(R−1/2) in thickness, the appropriate laminar boundary-layer equations have a solution provided λ ≤ 0·3541. Here the analysis is extended to the range λ > 0·3541, which cannot be treated using a conventional boundary-layer approach. Specifically, it is found that for λ > 0·3541 the flow consists of three overlapping domains: (a) the external uniform flow; (b) a conventional boundary layer with reverse flow for xs 1.Also, detailed streamline patterns were obtained numerically for various λ's in the range of 0 ≤ λ ≤ 2 using a novel computational scheme which was found to be more efficient than that previously reported. Interestingly enough, the drag first decreased with λ, reached a minimum at λ = 0.3541, and then increased monotonically until, at λ = 2, it was found to have attained essentially the value predicted from the asymptotic λ → ∞ similarity solution available in the literature. Thus it is felt that the present numerical results plus the two similarity solutions for λ = 0 and for λ → ∞ fully describe the high-R steady flow for all non-negative values of λ.
Parallelization of a vorticity formulation for the analysis of incompressible viscous fluid flows

A parallel computer implementation of a vorticity formulation for the analysis of incompressible viscous fluid flow problems is presented. The vorticity formulation involves a three-step process, two kinematic steps followed by a kinetic step. The first kinematic step determines vortex sheet strengths along the boundary of the domain from a Galerkin implementation of the generalized Helmholtz decomposition. The vortex sheet strengths are related to the vorticity flux boundary conditions. The second kinematic step determines the interior velocity field from the regular form of the generalized Helmholtz decomposition. The third kinetic step solves the vorticity equation using a Galerkin finite element method with boundary conditions determined in the first step and velocities determined in the second step. The accuracy of the numerical algorithm is demonstrated through the driven-cavity problem and the 2-D cylinder in a free-stream problem, which represent both internal and external flows. Each of the three steps requires a unique parallelization effort, which are evaluated in terms of parallel efficiency. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NDE of Thick Composites in the Aerospace Industry — An Overview

Designers are turning to thick fiber reinforced composites, with increasing success, in order to meet the unique structural requirements which arise within the aerospace industry. These composites offer many superior properties, especially in the design of solid rocket motor cases, where there is a tremendous potential for advantage in strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios over conventional materials [1,2]. The increased use of thick fiber reinforced composites presents quite a challenge to the NonDestructive Evaluation (NDE) community. To inspect these materials, conventional NDE techniques must be modified and/or new techniques must be developed to permit interrogation of the full material thickness and adjacent bondlines. Thick fiber reinforced composites exhibit a degree of anisotropy that is orders of magnitude above that of previously employed structural materials (i.e., metals). This anisotropy stems not only from the basic construction of the composite (oriented fibers imbedded within a matrix), but also from what are currently considered “acceptable flaws” within the material (varying degrees of delamination, matrix cracking, porosity, etc.). Successful NDE requires that one be able to distinguish the signals from these “acceptable flaws” from those deemed unacceptable. For the detection of some types of flaws, conventional techniques can be applied to composites with only slight modification, whereas for others, new techniques must be developed. For instance, recently, a large (expensive) solid rocket motor segment sustained an accidental impact. Standard ultrasonic inspection techniques successfully revealed delaminations between a number of layers in the composite case beneath the point of contact. Structural analysis, however, indicated that additional information regarding the degree of fiber breakage was needed. Unfortunately, since no NDE technique was available to assess the degree of fiber breakage, the contractor had to assume the worst and, consequently, scrap the motor.
The iPod Tax: Why the Digital Copyright System of American Law Professors' Dreams Failed in Japan

It's an iPod world, and we just live in it. Or so goes the not-necessarily-unjustified hype. But with the benefits of technological change can come the cost of legal conflict. In particular, a sizeable literature has sprung up focused on the risks that Internet filesharing and digital copying pose for the copyright holders of the recording and film industries. A number of prominent American law professors have endorsed the notion of a tax on digital recording and music filesharing - call it an "iPod tax" - with the proceeds to be paid into a fund. A clearinghouse representing rights holders would monitor which and how often works were downloaded, and perhaps, used. The clearinghouse would then use a formula to translate this data into a gauge of the relative popularity of musical works. Finally, the clearinghouse would divvy up the iPod tax revenues to the individual rightsholders. The clearinghouse approach addresses important concerns. On the one hand, it directly addresses the so-called "piracy" concerns of the recording and film industries. On the other hand, it creates clear legitimacy for users' noncommercial recording. In doing so, the clearinghouse proposals allow users to freely choose among competing content. In fact, Japan has actually run a very similar system since the early days of digital recording in 1993. The Japanese system imposes a tax on recording media such as blank CDs and DVDs that consumers can use to engage in private home recording. That revenue is then split among copyright holders in the recording and film industries based on measures of the popularity of their works. Just as the American proposals come as a response to widespread Internet filesharing and unauthorized use, the Japanese system was born in the wake of a burgeoning CD rental industry that threatened recording industry coffers. But after a dozen years of experience, faced with the iPod and similar computer memory-based devices, the Japanese decided not to extend their system beyond blank CDs and DVDs to hard-disk based devices, cellphones and more. On the advice of a committee dominated by academics, especially law professors, the Japanese government stopped their digital recording media tax from morphing into an iPod tax. This Article looks at the nature of the proposed American clearinghouse model, and compares it with that of the existing system in Japan. It focuses on how Japanese experts decided that regulatory failures merited killing an extension of their existing system to include a proposed iPod tax. In particular, the Article draws on the Japanese debate to propose a "friendly amendment" to structure an American clearinghouse as a user-owned cooperative to reduce the chances of repeating Japan's mistakes.
The Rates of Osteolysis and Loosening Associated with a Modular Posterior Stabilized Knee Replacement: Results at Five to Fourteen Years

Background: Osteolysis and increased polyethylene wear have been reported in association with several designs of modular total knee prostheses. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a modular posterior stabilized prosthesis to determine its clinical performance as well as the rates of component loosening and osteolysis. Methods: We performed a prospective, consecutive study of 193 knees in 131 patients who were managed with the modular Insall-Burstein II posterior stabilized total knee prosthesis by one surgeon. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was sixty-eight years, and the mean duration of follow-up was seven years (range, five to fourteen years). Clinical evaluation was performed with use of standard knee-scoring systems. Radiographs were evaluated for the presence of radiolucent lines, osteolysis, and loosening. Results: The overall result (as determined with the Hospital for Special Surgery scoring system) was rated as excellent for 112 knees, good for sixty, fair for fifteen, and poor for six. The mean postoperative flexion was 112°. No clinical or radiographic loosening of the tibial component was noted. Eight knees had osteolytic lesions of the tibia. Thin, incomplete, nonprogressive radiolucent lines were noted around thirty tibial components (16%). There were three reoperations. Conclusions: Despite previous reports of osteolysis, polyethylene wear, and loosening in association with some modular total knee implant designs, there was no loosening in this series of posterior stabilized total knee replacements and only eight knees had tibial osteolysis after a mean duration of follow-up of seven years. We believe that total knee arthroplasties that are performed with use of cemented modular posterior stabilized components can have a high rate of intermediate-term success. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series [no, or historical, control group]). See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Effects of an Expressive Art Intervention with Urban Youth in Low-Income Neighborhoods

Various forms of expressive arts are known to have associations with positive academic, social, and behavioral outcomes in addition to offering important therapeutic benefits for children and adolescents. However, very limited knowledge has been developed regarding specific expressive arts interventions for promoting positive youth development and preventing problematic behaviors in youth from urban, low socioeconomic neighborhoods. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to expand the nascent research area in arts interventions by evaluating an expressive art intervention offered to youth through a positive youth development program located in several public housing neighborhoods. Quasi-experimental design was applied to test the impact of a poetry-focused art intervention on self-reported perceptions of academics, social competence, and multicultural attitudes of a culturally diverse sample of 40 urban sixth to eighth grade youth. Participants were recruited through a positive youth development program located in the public housing neighborhoods where they reside. Pre and post data were collected. Prior to the arts intervention, there were no statistically significant differences between the youth on self-report measures of academic capacity and social competence. The first group of youth who participated in the intervention reported enhanced capacity on all three measures when compared to peers who had not yet participated in the program. However, the second group of youth to receive the program showed no statistically significant gains when compared to their peers who received the intervention first. The study provides compelling support to further explore the efficacy of expressive arts on influencing attributes of positive youth development among urban adolescents. In addition, the study offers valuable insights into the process and complexities involved in developing agency partnerships and conducting research on after-school programs.
Design of Structures for Proportional Damping Approximation Using the Energy Gain

NLIKE inertial and stiffness characteristics, which can be easily measured in static conditions, damping, a dynamic characteristic, is more difficult to quantify. Hence, in many cases the artificial Rayleigh damping model, which assumes that the damping matrix is a linear combination of the mass and stiffness matrices, is used. Rayleigh damping (or a generalization of it) is preferred because it leads to the ideal situation of a proportionally damped linear model of the structure’s dynamics, but it is neither a physics based nor a data based model. When the source of damping can be identified and accurately modeled using physics principles the Rayleigh damping assumption (or any artificial damping model for that matter) is not recommended. One example is that of tensegrity structures: the major damping sources can be easily identified, the joints and the tendons, and for these elements reliable physics based damping models can be built. However, in most cases the resulting linearized dynamics models are not proportionally damped. In general, the likelihood of obtaining non-proportionally damped models will increase due to our enhanced ability to accurately model damping using physics principles. Even if a system is not proportionally damped, one would still like to be able to approximate it with a proportionally damped system. For structures, usually described using models with many degrees of freedom, such models are very advantageous because they allow the replacement of non-proportionally damped models with decoupled models, which can be easily used for control design, fast computations, etc. This paper, which is strongly related to Ref. 6, pursues the idea of designing the structure such that it yields a linearized dynamics model that is “close” to a proportionally damped one. In Ref. 6 the design of structures for proportional damping approximation was investigated by exploiting only one, indirect factor that influences the accuracy of the approximation, namely the separation between natural frequencies. It was ascertained that separation
A Morphological Difference between the Nymphs of Antonina Graminis (Mask.) and Antonina Parrotti (Ckl.) and Antonina Nortoni Parr. (Coccidae; Homoptera)

The Rhodes grass scale, Antonina graminis (Mask.) is a pest of major importance on many grasses in Texas. It is known to attack seventy-four species of grasses, and is a limiting factor in the production of pasture forage. Some of the more favored hosts are grasses used in the improved pasture program and as turf on lawns and municipal areas.
Beyond the Enlightenment Mentality: A Confucian Perspective on Ethics, Migration, and Global Stewardship

The American Heritage Dictionary(1992:611) defines the "Enlightenment" as "[a] philosophical movement of the eighteenth century that emphasized the use of reason to scrutinize previously accepted doctrines and traditions and that brought about many humanitarian reforms." This definition seems, in light of recent discussions on multiculturalism, not only inadequate but simple-minded. Even Immanuel Kant's impassioned characterization of the Enlightenment spirit as "dare to know!" is perceived to signal conflicts of interpretation rather than a straightforward assertion of human rationality. As Martin Jay (1984:30) comments, the Enlightenment is