cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On quotients of Coxeter groups under the weak order

We consider quotients of finitely generated Coxeter groups under the weak order. Bjorner and Wachs proved that every such quotient is a meet semi-lattice, and in the finite case is a lattice [Bjorner and Wachs, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 308 (1988) 1-37]. Our result is that the quotient of an affine Weyl group by the corresponding finite Weyl group is a lattice, and that up to isomorphism, these are the only quotients of infinite Coxeter groups that are lattices. In this paper, we restrict our attention to the non-affine case; the affine case appears in [Waugh, Order 16 (1999) 77-87]. We reduce to the hyperbolic case by an argument using induced subgraphs of Coxeter graphs. Within each quotient, we produce a set of elements with no common upper bound, generated by a Maple program. The number of cases is reduced because the sets satisfy the following conjecture: if a set of elements does not have an upper bound in a particular Coxeter group, then it does not have an upper bound in any Coxeter group whose graph can be obtained from the graph of the original group by increasing edge weights.
A Fast Hybrid ε-Approximation Algorithm for Computing Constrained Shortest Paths

Considerable efforts have been dedicated to develop both heuristic and approximation algorithms for the NP-complete delay-constrained least-cost (DCLC) routing problem, but to the best of our knowledge, no prior work has been done to mingle the two tracks of research. In this letter we introduce a novel idea to show how a heuristic method can be used to boost the average performance of an approximation algorithm. Simulations on networks of up to 8192 nodes demonstrate that our new hybrid e-approximation algorithm is faster than the best known approximation algorithm by one or two orders of magnitude (depending on the network size and e).
Reconceptualizing Foreign Aid

What is foreign aid? This deceptively simple question has not been adequately addressed because aid scholars have tended to emphasize practitioners' concerns and thus have favoured the conceptualization of foreign aid in terms of security or development policy objectives. This article attempts to reconceptualize foreign aid in a larger systemic context of international relations, focusing first on the nature and conditions of the key social relation involved in foreign aid practice and then on specifying its functions and effects. It argues that what most clearly defines foreign aid is the symbolic power politics between donor and recipient. Aid practice transforms material dominance and subordination into gestures of generosity and gratitude. This symbolic transformation, in turn, euphemizes the material hierarchy underlying the donor-recipient relation. In this process, recipients become complicit in the existing order that enables donors to give in the first place.
Penetrating cardiac wounds: prospective study of factors influencing initial resuscitation

A prospective study of 66 consecutive patients with cardiac wounds seen over a 27-month period is reported. No patient was excluded. Patients were stratified by injury mechanism and by physiologic scoring at admission using the cardiovascular-respiratory elements of the Trauma Score (CVRS). Admission cardiac rhythm was obtained in patients with a CVRS of 0 and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 3. Information concerning the anatomic extent of the cardiac wound, the presence or absence of tamponade, and the degree of injury to other structures was also collected prospectively. Seventy percent of the cardiac wounds were caused by gunshots. The probability of successful resuscitation was significantly related to mechanism of injury and physiologic condition on arrival. Among patients arriving with a CVRS of 0 and a GCS score of 3, survival correlated with cardiac rhythm. Pericardial tamponade did not prove to be an independent predictor of early survival. The presence of tamponade was statistically linked to the mechanism of injury. Transport by non-official conveyance was associated with a higher CVRS on arrival. Intoxication with alcohol or cocaine had no evident effect on resuscitation probability.
Human immunodeficiency virus-like particles with consensus envelopes elicited broader cell-mediated peripheral and mucosal immune responses than polyvalent and monovalent Env vaccines.

Abstract Envelope (Env) sequences from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) strains can vary by 15–20% within a single clade and as much as 35% between clades. Previous AIDS vaccines based upon a single isolate often could not elicit protective immune responses against heterologous viral challenges. In order to address the vast sequence diversity in Env sequences, consensus sequences were constructed for clade B and clade C envelopes and delivered to the mouse lung mucosa on the surface of virus-like particles (VLP). Consensus sequences decrease the genetic difference between the vaccine strain and any given viral isolate. The elicited immune responses were compared to a mixture of VLPs with Envs from primary viral isolates. This polyvalent vaccine approach contains multiple, diverse Envs to increase the breadth of epitopes recognized by the immune response and thereby increase the potential number of primary isolates recognized. Both consensus and polyvalent clade B Env VLP vaccines elicited cell-mediated immune responses that recognized a broader number of clade B Env peptides than a control monovalent Env VLP vaccine in both the systemic and the mucosal immune compartments. All three clade C Env vaccine strategies elicited similar responses to clade C peptides. However, both the consensus B and C Env VLP vaccines were more effective at eliciting cross-reactive cellular immune responses to epitopes in other clades. This is the first study to directly compare the breadth of cell-mediated immune responses elicited by consensus and polyvalent Env vaccines.
Structural stability of LiMn2O4 electrodes for lithium batteries

The structural stability of LiMn2O4, which is of interest as an insertion electrode for rechargeable lithium batteries, is discussed with respect to processing techniques, composition, Li-Mn-O phase diagram, and electrochemical behavior. Particular attention is paid to processing conditions that result in the formation of lithium-manganese-oxide spinel products in which Mn2+ ions partially occupy the tetrahedral sites of the spinel structure. The electrochemical behavior of electron-beam and r.f. magnetron sputtered thin-film electrodes suggests the existence of partially inverse Li1 − xMn2O4 spinel structures during an initial charge to 5.3 V.
Industrial uses of Germanium rectifiers

The versatility of germanium as a rectifying material is demonstrated by its use in such widely varying applications as tiny electronic transistors and 40,000-ampere power supplies. Its industrial uses, particularly in the chemical and metal-working industries, are outlined.
Appearance changes associated with participation in a behavioral weight control program.

Abstract Relationships among objectively-measured weight changes, perceived changes in weight, and perceived changes in attractiveness of participants in a behavioral weight control program were examined. Participants in the program were weighed and photographed before and after treatment and at a six-month follow-up session. These photographs were then rated on the dimensions of perceived weight and perceived attractiveness by the same participants, who were kept blind to the times at which the photographs were taken. Correlational analyses indicated that there was little correspondence between objectively- measured weight change and perceived weight changes or between objectively-measured weight change and perceived change in attractiveness. Perceptions of weight change and perceptions of attractiveness change were, however, strongly related.
Abstract 2771: Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in 83 patients with pancreatic cancer treated in phase I clinical trials at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Introduction. The outcomes of patients with pancreatic cancer treated on early-phase clinical trials have not been systematically analyzed. The purpose of this study was to report the presenting characteristics and outcomes of patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer treated on phase I clinical trials at a single institution. Patients and Methods. We reviewed the records of consecutive patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who were treated in the Phase I Clinical Trials Program at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from November 2004 to March 2009. Data recorded and analyzed included survival, response, and disease characteristics. Results. Eighty-three patients were identified. The median age was 62 years (range, 39-81). There were 40 men and 43 women. The most common metastatic sites were liver (54% of patients), lung (51%), lymph nodes (37%), and peritoneum and omentum (24%). The median number of prior therapies was 2 (range, 0-7). Thirty-two (39%) patients had a history of pancreatectomy. Sixty-seven (81%) patients had ≥1 comorbidity. Of 78 patients evaluable for response, 2 (3%) had a partial response (PR), and 10 (13%) had stable disease (SD) for ≥4 months. With a median follow-up for survivors of 3.7 months, the median survival from presentation in the Phase I Clinic was 5.0 months (95% CI, 3.3-6.2). The median overall survival from diagnosis was 22.1 months (95% CI, 17.9-26.5). The median time to treatment failure (TTF) was 1.5 months (95% CI, 1.3-1.8). In multivariate analysis, independent factors associated with lower rates of PR or SD were liver metastases (p = 0.001) and PS greater than 0 (p = 0.01) (Table 3). Independent factors associated with shorter survival were liver metastases (p = 0.007), calcium ≤ 8.4 mg/nL (p = 0.015), and elevated serum levels of CEA (>6 ng/mL; p = 0.005). Independent factors associated with shorter TTF were history of smoking (p = 0.009), liver metastases (p = 0.001), serum bilirubin levels >1 mg/dL (p = 0.007), and >1 prior therapy (p = 0.002). Conclusions. The median survival in the current study (5 months) compares favorably to the median survival reported with best supportive care (3 months). Our results suggest that phase I clinical trials offer a reasonable therapeutic approach for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2771.
Effect of lactic acid on the kinetics of growth and antibody production in a murine hybridoma: secretion patterns during the cell cycle.

Abstract The effects of elevated lactic acid concentration on the cell cycle kinetics of hybridoma cell growth and antibody production in batch culture were studied using conventional methods based on population-average data analysis and using flow cytometry based on single-cell data analysis. When 33 mM lactic acid was initially present, the true specific growth rate was reduced by 37% and the cell specific antibody production rate increased by a factor of 2.6 relative to a control culture with no additional lactic acid. DNA content distributions measured during balanced exponential growth were not affected by lactic acid concentration indicating lactic acid has a uniform effect on cell growth throughout the cell cycle. There was little or no effect on single-cell distributions of intracellular antibody content measured for the total population and for each cell cycle phase. The net rate of total antibody synthesis was found to be independent of specific growth rate. This implies that the balance of the total amount of antibody synthesized is shifted from cellular accumulation towards secretion when specific growth rate decreases. Our data predict that a maximum specific secretion rate of 2.7 pg per cell per h could be achieved if the specific growth rate was reduced to zero. The rates of secretion in the G 1 and S phases increased with decreasing specific growth rate, while the rate of secretion in the G 2 + M phase remained relatively constant. Under the assumptions that (a) at the fastest growth rate, secretion in the G 1 phase is negligible and (b) the rate of synthesis increases exponentially as cells proceed from the S phase to the G 2 + M phase, our data predict that for the slowest growth rate, the rate of secretion in G 2 + M is approx. 3-times that in the G 1 phase and 5-times that in the S phase.
Looking Forward, Conceptualizing Feminist Security Studies

In previous work, I characterized Feminist Security Studies as pluralistic, but transformative: Research in Feminist Security Studies reformulates mainstream approaches to traditional security issues, foregrounds the roles of women and gender in conflict and conflict resolution, and reveals the blindness of security studies to issues that taking gender seriously shows as relevant to thinking about security. Together, these works, as a research program, show that gender analysis is necessary, conceptually, for understanding international security, important for analyzing causes and predicting outcomes, and essential to thinking about solutions and promoting positive change in the security realm. (Sjoberg 2009a, 184; see also Sjoberg 2006, 2009b; Sjoberg and Martin 2010.)
Sire Evaluation Methods

Abstract Lactation records of Pennsylvania Jerseys were used to compare five methods of sire evaluation. Each sire with a minimum of five daughters in at least 2 consecutive yr was in the analysis. Comparison of methods was based on the correlation of evaluations in consecutive years. The five methods compared were daughter-dam comparison, predicted difference from herdmates, predicted difference from herdmates adjusted for dams, predicted difference from contemporaries, and predicted difference from contemporaries adjusted for dams. All five methods were compared on data restricted to first-lactation daughters. The first three methods also were compared in records from all ages. By average weighted correlations between sire evaluations in consecutive years, the daughter-dam method was least satisfactory. Predicted difference from herdmates showed essentially no improvement from adjustment for dams. Predicted differences of deviations from contemporaries generally gave lower correlations than predicted differences of deviations from herdmates, presumably because of fewer stablemates in the deviations.
29Si nuclear magnetic resonance of dimethyl and phenylmethyl containing polysilanes

The 29Si-NMR spectra are reported for poly(methylphenylsilylene), 1, poly(1,1,2-trimethyl-2-phenyldisilene) 2, two samples of poly(dimethylsilylene-co-phenylmethylsilylene), 3a and 3b, and poly(phenylmethylsilylene-co-n-hexylmethylsilylene), 4. The spectra of 3a, 3b, and 4 indicate that these polymers contain blocklike regions with considerable segregation of RMeSi and PhMeSi groups. The spectrum of 2 shows no evidence for stereospecific polymerization. The preparation of 2 from 1,1,2-trimethyl-2-phenyldichlorosilane is also described.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Adsorption of Methylene Blue at Clay Mineral Surfaces

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed of the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) on model beidellite, montmorillonite, and muscovite mica surfaces, using a previously determined empirical force field developed for dioctahedral clays. The simulations show that the adsorption of MB on mineral surfaces can result in a variety of configurations, including single and double layers of MB parallel to the basal surface, and irregular clusters. The d (001) values of ~12.3 and ~15.7 A are assigned to dry phases with parallel single and double layers of MB, respectively, in agreement with X-ray studies. At intermediate MB loadings, stacks inclined to basal surfaces are formed. The stacks of MB ions inclined by 65–70° relative to the (001) plane of muscovite are not found on dry surfaces, in contrast to previous studies. Configurations similar to those proposed by others form spontaneously in the presence of H 2 O, but the ions in the model systems are not quite as ordered and not ordered in exactly the same way as the ones previously described, and they display a mobility that is not compatible with strict atomic order. The formation of a triple layer of H 2 O interspersed with ions may occur in the interlayer. Overall, the results of the simulations confirm that the MB-ion method must be used with great caution in surface-area determinations, because of the multiplicity of possible configurations. At the same time, the ability for adsorption to occur as either single or multiple MB layers is useful to determine cation-exchange capacity over a wide range of surface-charge densities.
Protection of erythrocyte membrane amino groups from reaction with methyl acetimidate by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate Schiff base formation.

Pre-equilibration of erythrocytes with the membrane-impermeable aldehyde, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, for 30 min at 22 degrees C, prior to the addition of methyl acetimidate to the incubation mixture has been shown to prevent agglutination of acetamidinated cells which were resuspended in immune serum (Chao, T.L. and Berenfeld, M.R. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 5324-5326). This observation led to the possibility that the immune reaction, observed in some sickle cell anemia patients to reinfused cells which had been reacted with methyl acetimidate, could be prevented. The present communication further evaluates that reaction sequence and shows that while the pre-equilibration of cells with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate does protect membrane amines from reaction with methyl acetimidate, the protection is not extensive enough to prevent an immune response in a sickle cell anemia patient who had already been sensitized against acetamidinated cells. It is apparent that the design of antisickling agents which covalently modify hemoglobin must take into account protection of functional groups in the erythrocyte membrane, modification of which could produce an immunogenic response.
A Review of: Megan J. Elias. Stir it Up: Home Economics in American Culture. Philadelphia: U of Pennsylvania P, 2008

If Megan Elias's diagnosis of twenty-first century U.S. culture is accurate, that is if “Americans, it seems, want lots of advice, but they do not want to evaluate any of it” (185), then her study ...
Prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in morbid obesity

Abstract The prevalence of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) reportedly ranges from 4 to 17% in women and 2 to 4% in men. 1 It declines with increasing age in women, but remains unchanged in men. 1 The prevalence of MVP may also be influenced by the clinical and echocardiographic criteria used for diagnosis. 1 MVP usually occurs as a primary disorder and is commonly, but not invariably, associated with myxomatous proliferation of the mitral valve and chordae tendineae. 2 Numerous diseases have been reported to predispose to MVP, but cumulalively account for 2 Low body weight is frequently observed in patients with primary MVP and in some secondary disorders associated with MVP (e.g., anorexia nervosa.). 3 Its prevalence in obese persons is uncertain. This study assesses the prevalence of MVP in patients with extreme (morbid) obesity.
THE CARBOXYL-TERMINAL REGION OF FACTOR IX IS ESSENTIAL FOR ITS SECRETION

The carboxyl-terminal region of factor IX (residues 403−415) contains several natural mutations which result in mild to severe forms of hemophilia B. A battery of factor IX minigene expression vectors carrying various mutations in the C-terminal region were constructed and studied by transient expression assay using HepG2 cells. Mutations included in this study are Y404P, I408N, T412N, T412S, T415G, T415S, T415L, and T415R as well as five selected naturally occurring mutations in the region, R403Q, R403W, Y404H, W407R, and T412K. In comparison to the normal factor IX, these mutations neither significantly affected the factor IX mRNA level nor affected the stability of the secreted factor IX in the culture medium but did decrease to various extents the intracellular and secreted factor IX protein levels as quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. T415L, T415S, and T415R showed only minor reductions in the intracellular and minor to moderate reductions in the secreted factor IX levels. T415G showed ...
Passive source localization employing intersecting spherical surfaces from time-of-arrival differences

Problems associated with the use of intersecting hyperboloids for passive source localization from time-of-arrival difference signals are discussed. A closed-form solution for source location is presented given time-of-arrival difference measurements when the distance from the source to any arbitrary reference is unknown.
Pharmacological Implications of A2Ar-D2R Heteromerization and the Significance for Parkinson's Disease

Background: Recently, heteromeric GPCR complexes have become attractive targets for drug development since they exhibit distinct signaling and cell-specific localization from their homomeric counterparts. Yet, the effect of heteromerization on the pharmacology of many GPCR homomers remains unknown. We have undertaken the task to examine the effect of heteromerization on Gs signaling through the adenosine 2A receptor (A2AR) and Gi signaling through the dopamine receptor type 2 (D2R) because the A2AR-D2R heteromer is an emerging therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease. Previous work suggests A2AR-D2R heteromerization induces reciprocal antagonism of homomeric signaling.Methods: We examined the effect of heteromerization on A2AR and D2R homomeric signaling using electrophysiology and the Xenopus oocyte heterologous expression system. GIRK channels were used as reporters for Gi signaling because activation leads to direct Gbeta-gamma-mediated stimulation of the GIRK current. We also coupled GIRK channels to Gs signaling by over expressing Gαs. Our electrophysiological assay is innovative because it allows us to optimize the conditions of heteromerization. We anticipate that specific ligand combinations targeting the A2AR-D2R heteromer will be more efficacious than individual drug administration targeting A2AR or D2R homomers.Results: Preliminary data have demonstrated that heteromer formation decreases dopamine-elicited Gi signaling through the D2R and CGS-21680-elicited Gs signaling through the A2AR. Furthermore, this reciprocal antagonism seemed to occur through a wide GPCR (cRNA) injection ratio. Currently, we are examining crosstalk by assessing whether A2AR agonists or inverse agonists will decrease or increase D2R-mediated Gi signaling through the A2AR-D2R heteromer. Modulation of Gs signaling through the A2AR by D2R ligands is also being examined.Conclusions: Our electrophysiological assay demonstrates A2AR-D2R heteromerization induces reciprocal antagonism reducing both A2AR and D2R signaling from that of homomeric levels.
Modeling the hydrologic and economic efficacy of stormwater utility credit programs for US single family residences

As regulatory pressure to reduce the environmental impact of urban stormwater intensifies, US municipalities increasingly seek a dedicated source of funding for stormwater programs, such as a stormwater utility. In rare instances, single family residences are eligible for utility discounts for installing green infrastructure. This study examined the hydrologic and economic efficacy of four such programs at the parcel scale: Cleveland (OH), Portland (OR), Fort Myers (FL), and Lynchburg (VA). Simulations were performed to model the reduction in stormwater runoff by implementing bioretention on a typical residential property according to extant administrative rules. The EPA National Stormwater Calculator was used to perform pre- vs post-retrofit comparisons and to demonstrate its ease of use for possible use by other cities in utility planning. Although surface slope, soil type and infiltration rate, impervious area, and bioretention parameters were different across cities, our results suggest that modeled runoff volume was most sensitive to percent of total impervious area that drained to the bioretention cell, with soil type the next most important factor. Findings also indicate a persistent gap between the percentage of annual runoff reduced and the percentage of fee reduced.
Modification of the β2-Adrenergic Receptor to Engineer a Receptor-Effector Complex for Gene Therapy

Abstract Depressed G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling has been implicated as a component of the pathophysiology of a number of complex diseases including heart failure and asthma, and augmentation or restoration of signaling by various means has been shown to improve organ function. Because some properties of native GPCRs are disadvantageous for ectopic therapeutic expression, we utilized the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) as a scaffold to construct a highly modified therapeutic receptor-effector complex (TREC) suitable for gene therapy. Altogether, 19 modifications were made to the receptor. The ligand-binding site was re-engineered in TM-3 so that a β-hydroxylmethyl side chain acts as a proton donor for the binding of a novel ligand. In addition, sites critical for agonist-promoted down-regulation in the amino terminus and for phosphorylation by GPCR kinases, and protein kinases A and C, in the third intracellular loop and the carboxyl terminus of the receptor were altered. These modifications of the receptor resulted in depressed agonist-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity (26.8 ± 2.1 versus 41.4 ± 8 pmol/min/mg for wild-type β2AR). This was fully restored by fusing the carboxyl terminus of the modified receptor to Gαs (43.3 ± 2.7 pmol/min/mg). The fully modified fused receptor was not activated by β-agonists but rather by a nonbiogenic amine agonist that itself failed to activate the wild-type β2AR. This two-way selectivity thus provides targeted activation based on physiologic status. Furthermore, the TREC did not display tachyphylaxis to prolonged agonist exposure (desensitization was 1 ± 5%versus 55 ± 4% for wild-type β2AR). Thus, despite extensive alterations in regions of conformational lability, the β2AR can be tailored to have optimal signaling characteristics for gene therapy. As a general paradigm, TRECs for enhancement of other G-protein signaling appear to be feasible for modification of other pathologic states.
Simulation and stability of two-dimensional internal gravity waves in a stratified shear flow

Abstract Two-dimensional interaction of internal waves with critical layers is studied by a combination of numerical simulation and linear stability analysis. Results show that density overturns occur early without a Rayleigh-Taylor instability developing. Instead, Kelvin-Helmholtz billows develop later. Because the instability occurs when profiles vary slowly in a convected frame, linear stability analysis can be applied locally. The analysis shows that two classes of unstable modes should be present; they are both of mixed type. The shear is reduced to explore the properties of oblique modes. It is found that a Rayleigh-Taylor instability in the spanwise direction should be the most unstable mode. The shear-dominated mixed instability arises in the numerical simulation because the spanwise Rayleigh-Taylor instability is not allowed in a two-dimensional simulation. The two-dimensional case does not permit ‘wave breaking’ in the usual sense; instead, an instability develops.
Consumer Markets in a Colombian Town

The majority of the world's consumers live in rural areas in less developed nations, yet few studies have dealt with consumer markets in such regions. A case study of a town in Colombia provides some insights into the functioning of markets for nondurables, durables, medical care, and transportation. The market structures are diverse and reflect the characteristics of the population, the isolation of the town, the level of information and public policy. While not without problems, the markets function fairly well under present circumstances. That stores are numerous and small creates some inefficiencies but serves to minimize fraud due to a personal relationship between buyer and seller. Government intervention has proven helpful in the provision of medical service. Consumer education could help solve some problems. Prospects for a consumer movement are weak at present.
The effect of unilateral decortication on the patterns of pulsatile follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) release and on mean plasma prolactin (Prl) levels in the ovariectomized rat.

Abstract Previous experiments have shown that unilateral decortication is followed by an elevation in FSH and LH secretion, but there has been no study of the rhythms of release of gonadotropins in these animals. Consequently, this study was undertaken to determine if there are alterations in the pulsations of gonadotropins following hemi-decortication and also to measure plasma Prl in these animals to determine if it might also be under the influence of extrahypothalamic pathways. Our results show an increased mean plasma LH in unilateral decorticate animals that occurred because of an increase in pulse frequency without a significant increase in pulse amplitude. Mean plasma FSH was also elevated signficantly in unilaterally decorticate animals, but there was no significant change in pulse frequency or amplitude. The length of the interpulse interval for LH release secretion decreased in unilateral decorticate animals, wheras the length of the cycle of FSH secretion increased in this circumstance. The mean levels of Prl were reduced in unilateral decorticate animals. These changes indicate that unilateral removal of cortico-rhinencephalic structures has an excitatory influence on gonadotropin secretion mediated by an increased frequency of LH and decreased frequency of FSH pulsations in the castrate, while at the same time there is a lowering of plasma Prl, probably due to removal of excitatory cortico-rhinencephalic pathways.
Quality system an integral part of total quality management

A quality system is required to provide quality products or services to meet customer requirements and to generate profits to satisfy stockholders. A quality system consists of the organizational structure, responsibilities, processes and resources needed to achieve quality objectives for products, services, and customer satisfaction. The system is capable of sustaining the environment and means by which superior products and services are profitably designed, developed, and delivered to customers on time and defect free. A quality system also catalyzes an organization to become a learning organization. At the initial stage, the quality system drives systematic problem solving, experimentation with new approaches, and learning from experience and history. Furthermore, the quality system drives an organization to benchmark world-class operations as well as capture and apply the learned knowledge. This paper provides a thorough view of the quality system architecture, its required elements, and implementation approach.
AACR2 and Metadata: Library Opportunities in the Global Semantic Web

SUMMARY Explores the opportunities for libraries to contribute to the proposed global “Semantic Web.” Library name and subject authority files, including work that IFLA has done related to a new view of “Universal Bibliographic Control” in the Internet environment and the work underway in the U.S. and Europe, are making a reality of the virtual international authority file on the Web. The bibliographic and authority records created according to AACR2 reflect standards for metadata that libraries have provided for years. New opportunities for using these records in the digital world are described (interoperability), including mapping with Dublin Core metadata. AACR2 recently updated Chapter 9 on Electronic Resources. That process and highlights of the changes are described, including Library of Congress' rule interpretations.
A Web Site That Provides Resources for Assessing Students' Statistical Literacy, Reasoning and Thinking

Summary The Assessment Resource Tools for Improving Statistical Thinking (ARTIST) Web site was developed to provide high-quality assessment resources for faculty who teach statistics at the tertiary level but resources are also useful to statistics teachers at the secondary level. This article describes some of the numerous ARTIST resources and suggests ways teachers may use these assessment resources.
Family interference and employee dissatisfaction: Do agreeable employees better cope with stress?

Extending work–family conflict research, we draw on role theory and conservation of resources theory to propose a moderated-mediation model of the relationship between family interference with work, job stress, agreeableness and employee attitudes. We examined the moderating effect of employee agreeableness on the relationship between family interference with work and job and life satisfaction mediated by job stress. Hypotheses were tested in a sample of 756 employees from 15 industries. Results showed a negative association between family interference with work and job satisfaction and life satisfaction through perceived job stress. Further, this mediated relationship was moderated by employee agreeableness, such that job stress and decrease in job and life satisfaction were perceived only by employees low in agreeableness.
Sandfly Maxadilan Exacerbates Infection with Leishmania major and Vaccinating Against It Protects Against L. major Infection

Bloodfeeding arthropods transmit many of the world’s most serious infectious diseases. Leishmania are transmitted to their mammalian hosts when an infected sandfly probes in the skin for a bloodmeal and injects the parasite mixed with its saliva. Arthropod saliva contains molecules that affect blood flow and modulate the immune response of the host. Indeed, sandfly saliva markedly enhances the infectivity of L. major for its host. If the salivary molecule(s) responsible for this phenomenon was identified, it might be possible to vaccinate the host against this molecule and thereby protect the host against infection with Leishmania . Such an approach represents a novel means of controlling arthropod-borne disease transmission. Here, we report that a single molecule, maxadilan, in sandfly saliva can exacerbate infection with L. major to the same degree as whole saliva, and that vaccinating against maxadilan protects mice against infection with L. major .
Florida Current frontal eddies and the settlement of coral reef fishes

We deployed three replicate larval light traps off the upper Florida Keys from June-September 2001 to measure the delivery of settlement-stage fish larvae to the coral reefs. Nightly measures of larval abundance were compared to water temperatures measured across the outer reef, nearby wind records, and the alongshore and cross-shelf components of the currents measured at the seaward edge of the reef. These time series, together with satellitederived sea surface temperature and color fields indicate that a very large multi-taxa larval pulse on 20 July was directly associated with the passage of a Florida Current (FC) sub-mesoscale frontal eddy embedded within the elongated remnant of a mesoscale eddy. A second large pulse of larvae occurred when a similar mesoscale eddy passed the upper Keys in mid-June. Periods of increased tidal bore activity occurred with the passage of these eddies. Semidiurnal internal tides caused near-bottom onshore intrusions of cooler slope waters during periods of onshore meanders of the FC front when the downstream baroclinic flow and stratification increased at the reef margin. The high abundance and similarity in larval ages within taxa on 20 July indicate a Keys shelf origin, although the temporal and spatial scales of entrainment cannot be resolved. The passage of a third mesoscale eddy in September did not result in a larval pulse, possibly because of a mismatch between biological and physical criteria, several of which must be met for larval transport by mesoscale eddies to be successful.
Genetic and Developmental Control of Nuclear Accumulation of COP1, a Repressor of Photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis

Using a beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter-COP1 fusion transgene, it was shown previously that Arabidopsis COP1 acts within the nucleus as a repressor of seedling photomorphogenic development and that high inactivation of COP1 was accompanied by a reduction of COP1 nuclear abundance (A.G. von Arnim, X.-W. Deng [1994] Cell 79: 1035-1045). Here we report that the GUS-COP1 fusion transgene can completely rescue the defect of cop1 mutations and thus is fully functional during seedling development. The kinetics of GUS-COP1 relocalization in a cop1 null mutant background during dark/light transitions imply that the regulation of the functional nuclear COP1 level plays a role in stably maintaining a committed seedling's developmental fate rather than in causing such a commitment. Analysis of GUS-COP1 cellular localization in mutant hypocotyls of all pleiotropic COP/DET/FUS loci revealed that nuclear localization of GUS-COP1 was diminished under both dark and light conditions in all mutants tested, whereas nuclear localization was not affected in the less pleiotropic cop4 mutant. Using both the brassinosteroid-deficient mutant det2 and brassinosteroid treatment of wild-type seedlings, we have demonstrated that brassinosteroid does not control the hypocotyl cell elongation through regulation nuclear localization of COP1. The growth regulator cytokinin, which also dramatically reduced hypocotyl cell elongation in the absence of light, did not prevent GUS-COP1 nuclear localization in dark-grown seedlings. Our results suggest that all of the previously characterized pleiotropic COP/DET/FUS loci are required for the proper nuclear localization of the COP1 protein in the dark, whereas the less pleiotropic COP/DET loci or plant regulators tested are likely to act either downstream of COP1 or by independent pathways.
“Separation/Abandonment/Isolation Trauma:” An Application of Psychoanalytic Developmental Theory to Understanding its Impact on Both Chimpanzee and Human Children

The first of a 2-part series, I utilize my experience working in a sanctuary for abused chimpanzees as a microcosm for examining the specific and unique impact of maternal loss and social isolation during childhood. After reviewing the extant psychoanalytic literature, I discuss the nature of the damage to the developing structure of the child's self caused by such emotional abuse, which manifests itself in both specific behavioral symptoms and chronic difficulties with affect regulation and interpersonal relationships. I then describe my work with abused chimpanzees, explore how their early childhood experiences of separation from mother and social isolation affected their development, and discuss the relevance of these findings to emotionally abused and neglected children.
RGS9 Modulates Dopamine Signaling in the Basal Ganglia

Abstract Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) modulate heterotrimeric G proteins in part by serving as GTPase-activating proteins for Gα subunits. We examined a role for RGS9-2, an RGS subtype highly enriched in striatum, in modulating dopamine D2 receptor function. Viral-mediated overexpression of RGS9-2 in rat nucleus accumbens (ventral striatum) reduced locomotor responses to cocaine (an indirect dopamine agonist) and to D2 but not to D1 receptor agonists. Conversely, RGS9 knockout mice showed heightened locomotor and rewarding responses to cocaine and related psychostimulants. In vitro expression of RGS9-2 in Xenopus oocytes accelerated the off-kinetics of D2 receptor-induced GIRK currents, consistent with the in vivo data. Finally, chronic cocaine exposure increased RGS9-2 levels in nucleus accumbens. Together, these data demonstrate a functional interaction between RGS9-2 and D2 receptor signaling and the behavioral actions of psychostimulants and suggest that psychostimulant induction of RGS9-2 represents a compensatory adaptation that diminishes drug responsiveness.
Atmospheric pressure helium rf plasma source for atomic and molecular mass spectrometry

A capacitively coupled low power atmospheric pressure rf He plasma established within a thermostated cylindrical steel block serves as a source for the generation of molecular and atomic ions for mass spectral analysis. Volatile analytes separated by gas chromatography are admitted to the source through a coaxial rf-powered center electrode. Variation of the forward power, in the range 5–100 W, and the position of the plasma relative to the differentially pumped extraction orifice of the mass spectrometer, permits control over the relative intensities of parent and daughter ion products of the decomposition of organometallic compounds introduced into the source. Spectral features range from simple response from atomic ions to the detection of the parent molecular compounds and combinations of the two between the extremes of operating conditions. Ferrocene, triethyllead chloride and ethylmercury chloride were used to illustrate the application of the technique.
Modeling and Uncertainty Quantification of Vapor Sorption and Diffusion in Heterogeneous Polymers

A high-fidelity model of kinetic and equilibrium sorption and diffusion is developed and exercised. The gas-diffusion model is coupled with a triple-sorption mechanism: Henry’s law absorption, Langmuir adsorption, and pooling or clustering of molecules at higher partial pressures. Sorption experiments are conducted and span a range of relative humidities (0–95 %) and temperatures (30–60 °C). Kinetic and equilibrium sorption properties and effective diffusivity are determined by minimizing the absolute difference between measured and modeled uptakes. Uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis methods are described and exercised herein to demonstrate the capability of this modeling approach. Water uptake in silica-filled and unfilled poly(dimethylsiloxane) networks is investigated; however, the model is versatile enough to be used with a wide range of materials and vapors.
Juan Crow In The Nuevo South

In this paper, we apply Omi and Winant's theory of racial formation to understand how a new racial category of “Latino” is being created within Atlanta, a city firmly entrenched in a Black/White binary of race. Comparing Dominicans and Guatemalans in the Atlanta metro area, we show how two processes are “racializing” Latinos: 1) the homogenization of Latinos into a single “race” through state laws and policies and 2) the diversified understandings of and responses to race and racial categorization among Latinos based on their national origin and ethnicity and the specific Atlanta context. We argue that in moving beyond the Black/White binary, state laws that racialize Latinos create a two-dimensional category, with a homogenized “Latino” category as one axis and an illegal/legal distinction as the second axis. The meanings attached to “race” and the consequences that Latinos experience from racialization depend upon their perceived or actual legal status.
DTTC: delay-tolerant trajectory compression for object tracking sensor networks

Taking advantage of the delay tolerance for objects tracking sensor networks, we propose delay-tolerant trajectory compression (DTTC) technique, an efficient and accurate algorithm for in-network data compression. In DTTC, each cluster head compresses the movement trajectory of a moving object by a compression function and reports only the compression parameters, which drastically reduces the total amount of data communications required for tracking operations. DTTC supports a broad class of movement trajectories using two techniques, DC-compression and SW-compression, which are designed to minimize the total number of segments to be compressed. Furthermore, we pro pose an efficient trajectory segmentation scheme, which helps both compression techniques to compress movement trajectory more accurately at less computation cost. An extensive simulation has been conducted to compare DTTC with competing prediction-based tracking technique, DPR. Simulation results show that DTTC exhibits superior performance in terms of accuracy, communication cost and computation cost and soundly outperforms DPR with all types of movement trajectories.
Polymerase Amplification, Cloning, and Gene Expression of Benzo-homologous “yDNA” Base Pairs

A widened DNA base pair architecture is studied in an effort to explore the possibility of whether new genetic system designs might possess some of the functions of natural DNA. In the “yDNA” system, pairs are homologated by addition of a benzene ring, yielding (in the present study), benzopyrimidines that are correctly paired with purines. Here we report initial tests of ability of the benzopyrimidines yT and yC to store and transfer biochemical and biological information in vitro and in bacterial cells. In vitro primer extension studies with two polymerases showed that the enzymes could insert the correct nucleotides opposite these yDNA bases, but with low selectivity. PCR amplifications with a thermostable polymerase resulted in correct pairings in 15–20% of the cases, and more successfully when yT or yC were situated within the primers. Segments of DNA containing one or two yDNA bases were then ligated into a plasmid and tested for their ability to successfully lead the expression of an active protein in vivo. Although active at only a fraction of the activity of fully natural DNA, the unnatural bases encoded the correct codon bases in the majority of cases when singly substituted, yielding functioning green fluorescent protein. Although the activities with native polymerases are modest with these large base pairs, this is the first example of encoding protein in vivo by an unnatural DNA base pair architecture.
Structure and mechanical behavior of a toucan beak

Abstract The toucan beak, which comprises one third of the length of the bird and yet only about 1/20th of its mass, has outstanding stiffness. The structure of a Toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) beak was found to be a sandwich composite with an exterior of keratin and a fibrous network of closed cells made of calcium-rich proteins. The keratin layer is comprised of superposed hexagonal scales (50 μm diameter and 1 μm thickness) glued together. Its tensile strength is about 50 MPa and Young’s modulus is 1.4 GPa. Micro and nanoindentation hardness measurements corroborate these values. The keratin shell exhibits a strain-rate sensitivity with a transition from slippage of the scales due to release of the organic glue, at a low strain rate (5 × 10−5/s) to fracture of the scales at a higher strain rate (1.5 × 10−3/s). The closed-cell foam is comprised of fibers having a Young’s modulus twice as high as the keratin shells due to their higher calcium content. The compressive response of the foam was modeled by the Gibson–Ashby constitutive equations for open and closed-cell foam. There is a synergistic effect between foam and shell evidenced by experiments and analysis establishing the separate responses of shell, foam, and foam + shell. The stability analysis developed by Karam and Gibson, assuming an idealized circular cross section, was applied to the beak. It shows that the foam stabilizes the deformation of the beak by providing an elastic foundation which increases its Brazier and buckling load under flexure loading.