cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Agricultural self-sufficiency: The recent history of an idea

It has been argued that traditional Third World reliance on commodity export production and trade as a means to accumulate savings for development is increasingly perceived as flawed. Post-World War II investment in light manufacturing by Western firms in the Periphery has also been characterized as an inadequate means of capital accumulation. Nationalist and socialist academics and political leaders in the Third World are voicing interest in food agriculture as a mechanism for economic growth; internal demand for food and other basic goods is considered a potentially more lucrative source of savings than international demand for raw materials and foreign investment have proven to be. Political trends in the Core area, exemplified in Left ideologies, and in church and voluntary organizations' strategies for giving, seem to reinforce Third World fostering of food self-sufficiency as a strategy for development. It is important to recall that intellectual trends, even if broadly based, do not necessarily represent or cause social change. The idea of Third World agricultural self-sufficiency is more pervasive than is its implementation. Nevertheless, current speculation about food self-reliance and its dynamic effect on economic growth in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, is new in development theory, and therefore worthy of note. Further study may reveal the depth of present interest in agricultural self-sufficiency and its likely impact on development planning.
Animal Dissection and Evidence-Based Life-Science and Health-Professions Education

Cambridge mathematician and philosopher W. K. Clifford (1879/1999) con-cluded his famous essay, "The Ethics of Belief" with the bold claim that "it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone to believe anything upon insufficient evidence" (p.77). Clifford's enthusiasm for evidentialism-the principle that one should proportion one's belief to the strength of the evidence-may have been overzealous, but a plausible interpretation of his view is this: Because beliefs of-ten have serious moral consequences, one should base one's beliefs on the evi-dence, and it is intellectually and morally irresponsible not to do so. This per-spective motivates recent so-called "evidence-based" methods in the fields of medicine and education. Balcombe's (2000, 2001) case for replacing learning methods that require pain, suffering, and death for animals with methods that do not (computer-assisted learning, three-dimensional models, videotapes, and other alternatives) can be seen as motivated by this evidentialist perspective. Balcombe provided a wealth of empirical evidence from educational studies to show that in most contexts animal dissection is not necessary-and even counterproductive-to achieve valid educa-tional goals, especially higher order goals (concept learning and problem solving). He demonstrated that no sound defense of dissection has been given. Can we learn as effectively without hurting or killing another being? If so, why do we not try? Many of the studies Balcombe cites have supported sufficiently the adequacy and, often, superiority of learning methods that do not harm animals or students. The first of the aforementioned questions is being answered; we can learn effectively with these non-detrimental methods. Those who seek to educate (and accept the prin-ciple of "do no harm") must seize the second question because they see, in the big pic-ture, the benefit for themselves, their students, their society, and other sentient beings. (p. 132)
Silicon Micromachined W-Band Folded and Straight Waveguides Using DRIE Technique

A silicon micromachined W-band folded waveguide and straight waveguide using deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) technology with stacked silicon substrates are presented for the first time. The dimensions of the folded waveguide are optimized using Ansoft's HFSS. The tolerances from the fabrication are analyzed using a straight waveguide. The measured insertion loss for the straight waveguide is between 0.23 ~ 0.42dB/cm over 85GHz ~ 105GHz. The insertion loss for the folded waveguide is between 0.41 ~ 0.69dB/cm over 90GHz ~ 110GHz. The result shows the waveguides have competitive performance compared to a commercial standard waveguide
Effects of a low calorie, low protein diet on nutritional parameters, and routine laboratory values in nonobese young and elderly subjects.

The effect of a low calorie (1100 kcal), low protein (35 g) intake for 9 days on nutritional and laboratory parameters was studied in six young and six elderly healthy subjects. All subjects lost weight on the test diet (an average of 2.0 kg in the young and 2.1 kg in the elderly). Basal serum albumin, serum transferrin, creatinine height index, and creatinine clearance in the elderly subjects were lower than in the young (p less than 0.05). Serum albumin remained unchanged at the end of diet in both groups. There was, however, a significant decrease in the transferrin level in the younger subjects (p less than 0.01). The decrease in creatinine height index was not significant in either group. Baseline nitrogen balance of the elderly was -1.1 g/day compared to +0.5 g/day (p less than 0.01) in the young subjects. The test diet caused a negative nitrogen balance of about -5 g/day in both groups (p less than 0.005). Blood urea nitrogen was significantly lower at the end of the test diet and was related to th...
Properties and behavior of purified human plasma cholinesterase. II. Inactivation by mercuric chloride.

Abstract Evidence has been presented to show that the inactivation of human plasma cholinesterase by mercuric chloride is the result of two independent mechanisms: 1. 1. At high concentration, mercuric chloride appears to combine rapidly and reversibly at the enzyme active center, causing inhibition that is competitive with respect to substrate. As judged by its insensitivity to two selective sulfhydryl inhibitors, the enzyme active center apparently does not contain readily reactive sulfhydryl, and mercury must be assumed to react with some other group. 2. 2. Mercuric chloride evidently also combines elsewhere on the enzyme surface (possibly through —SH) thereby initiating a slow and irreversible denaturation. This process is most obvious at low mercury concentration.
Multistate Models, Flowgraph Models, and Semi-Markov Processes

Semi-Markov models play an important role in the analysis of time to event data. However, in practice, data analysis for semi-Markov processes can be quite difficult and many simplifying assumptions are made. Markovian multistate models are popular for event history analysis and repeated events analysis for survival data. Semi-Markov processes provide a rich class of models applicable to this area. Flowgraph models provide a link between traditional multistate models and semi-Markov processes. Flowgraphs model semi-Markov processes and provide a data analytic method for estimating densities, survivor and reliability functions, and hazard functions for waiting times of interest in the presence of censored and incomplete data. While multistate models have been used primarily in medical research, flowgraph models are useful for time to event data arising from a variety of problems in many areas including engineering, medicine, operations research, and demography.
Bis(phenylsulfonyl)sulfur Diimide

[667-20-9] C12H10N2O4S3 (MW 342.40) 1S/C12H10N2O4S3/c15-20(16,11-7-3-1-4-8-11)13-19-14-21(17,18)12-9-5-2-6-10-12/h1-10H InChIKey = WDFKHANKUMDDBM-UHFFFAOYSA-N (electrophilic source of nitrogen; electron-deficient dienophile) Physical Data: yellow crystalline solid, mp 109–110 °C. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.95 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.67 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.53 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 137.9, 135.0, 129.6, 128.3. IR (thin film): 3348, 3255, 1557, 1332, 1159 cm−1. Form Supplied in: commercially available as a yellow solid. Solubility: soluble in CH2Cl2, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, ethyl acetate, THF, and Et2O. Preparative Methods: the title reagent can be prepared by the reaction of benzenesulfonamide and thionyl chloride followed by treatment with pyridine, according to the following procedure. A solution of benzenesulfonamide (50 g, 0.318 mol) and thionyl chloride (80 mL, 1.1 mol) in benzene (30 mL) is refluxed at 80 °C for 3 days (over the course of the reaction, the mixture becomes a clear solution). When the starting material is consumed by 1H NMR analysis of an aliquot, the mixture is concentrated under vacuum to remove benzene and excess SOCl2. Trace amounts of SOCl2 are removed by redissolving the residue in toluene (50 mL), concentrating under reduced pressure, and storing under vacuum at 50 °C for 6 h. The residue is then treated with benzene (70 mL) and slightly heated to ensure all materials dissolve in the solvent. Once the solution is cooled to 23 °C, pyridine (0.5 mL) is added, and the mixture is stirred. After 12 h, stirring is ceased, and a yellow precipitate slowly crystallizes from the solution. The precipitate is separated by vacuum filtration and stored under vacuum at 50 °C for 8 h. The resulting yellow solid is collected to give the title compound in 98% yield.1, 2 Purification: recrystallization from benzene. Handling, Storage, and Precaution: since the title compound is sensitive to water, it should be stored in a dessicator inside a sealed flask that has been purged with N2. Toxicity has not been determined.
Virtual cellular networks for non-uniformly distributed base stations

Cellular communications have experienced an explosive growth recently. In order to accommodate more subscribers, cells need to be split into smaller ones to make more efficient use of the limited frequency spectrum allocation. As a result the cell size in one area may be different from the cell size in another area. For example, in a well-populated city, the cell size may be smaller than the cell size in a rural area. Although a lot of research on cellular networks has been reported in the literature, they all assume a cellular network with a uniform cell size. To study a cellular network with non-uniform cell sizes, one approach is to design a virtual cellular network with a uniform cell size such that each virtual cell contains at most one base station. This paper has proposed a novel concept referred to as projection locus that can be used to construct a virtual cellular network for non-uniformly distributed base stations. The constructed virtual cellular network can be in the form of mesh or honeycomb. Both forms of virtual cellular networks are optimal in the sense that their corresponding uniform cell sizes reach the largest possible.
Soil resource heterogeneity in the Mojave Desert

Heterogeneity of soil resources was investigated in the Mojave Desert to better understand spatial variability of soil attributes in a Larrea tridentata– Ambrosia dumosa community. Six soil samples were collected at each of eight microsites, with this sampling scheme replicated for three sites that were 0?7 km apart on a 10-km long bajada. The eight microsites were: five different shrub types (individual shrubs of L. tridentata, individual shrubs of Lycium pallidum, individual shrubs of A. dumosa, mixtures of shrub species with small mammal burrows, and mixtures of shrubs without small mammal burrows), a grass microsite (around individual plants of the tussock grass Pleuraphis rigida), and two microsites without perennial vegetation (one within small washes and the other within the interspace between perennial plants). Fifteen soil parameters were assessed, and all were found to differ among microsites. Nutrients were assessed as the pools extractable by vegetation. Mineral nutrients except for Ca, organic matter, and litter were higher in soils collected from shrub microsites compared to the others. Shrub microsites with small mammal burrows had significantly more N and P than those without burrows. Non-vegetated microsites in washes and plant interspaces contained very low N and P levels. Mg, Na, pH and cation exchange capacity were highest in soils under Lycium shrubs, while Ca levels were highest in wash soils. Arbuscular mycorrhizal spore densities were generally low (0– 0?2 spores g � 1 soil) except for Lycium soils, which contained 1?8 spores g � 1 soil. Wash and interspace soils lacked spores but had mycorrhizal inoculum potential values similar to the other microsites, indicating that mycorrhizal propagules were present. Thus, the presence of perennial shrubs strongly influenced microsite soil characteristics and resulted in higher nutrient levels. Small mammal burrows further enhanced the mineral nutrient content of soils. In addition, all soil characteristics except for spore density differed among the three sites across the bajada, and interactions between microsite and site were common. Clearly, soil resources for plants are spatially heterogeneous in this desert ecosystem and differ greatly between adjacent micro- and macrosites in this L. tridentata–A. dumosa community. # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.
Natural Isolates of Salmonella enterica Serovar Dublin Carry a Single nadA Missense Mutation

Nicotinic acid is required by most isolates of Salmonella enterica (serovar Dublin), a pathogen of cattle. A single nadA missense mutation causes the nutritional requirement of all serovar Dublin isolates tested. Models for persistence of this allele are tested and discussed.
Liquid‐metal extraction for processing of spent fuel

Plutonium and the fission products can be removed from irradiated uranium by liquidmetal extraction by use of another metal immiscible with uranium. Metals studied have been silver, cerium, and lanthanum. Plutonium removal by silver is high, by the rare-earth metals moderate. In all cases volatile elements, including cesium, strontium, and barium, are removed. Rare earths are efficiently removed. Ruthenium and molybdenum are largely unaffected. Experiments with synthetic fuels corresponding to long burn-up periods show improved removal of most elements. Repeated batch extractions indicate that a continuous process separating the fuel into uranium, plutonium, and fission-product fractions could be developed.
Geoid anomalies over deep sea trenches

Summary. Utilizing radar altimeter data from the GEOS-3 satellite, it has been possible to identify a characteristic geoid anomaly which occurs over major deep-sea trenches in the world’s oceans. The geoid increases in height as it approaches the trench axis from the seaward side. This increase starts in the range of 1000-3000 km seaward of the trenches for which we have examined the profiles. We observed a maximum average slope at 37 m/ 1000 km (7.6 arcsec) for the geoid anomaly. In shape the geoid anomaly in this region is in some cases concave downward (Aleutian Trench) concave upward (Java Trench); or nearly linear (Tonga Trench). Directly over the trench axis there is a narrow minimum in the geoid. This low is from 100 to 200km in width and from 3 to 15 m in depth. From the base at the trench axis low there is a steep increase of up to 30m to a region landward of the trench axis. In this region, which includes island arcs, the geoid anomaly is variable although it generally remains high. In some cases there is a distinct geoid high above the island arc. This is most obvious with the area associated with the Bonin and the Aleutian Trench. Behind the Aleutian Arc there is a gradual lowering of geoid height. However, landward of the Java Trench the geoid continues to rise. In other regions the geoid remains fairly level at a high value landward of the trench. By using a combination of radar altimeter and marine gravimeter measurements, it has been possible to construct a density model of the crust and upper mantle in the Tonga-Kermadec trench region. This model is used to calculate geoid and gravity on a spherical earth in agreement with the observed data. It is more constrained than a model based on either geoid or gravity data alone. Landward of the trench, in this model, the ocean depths are shallower than in the deep ocean basin. Thus for these depths average crustal densities (including the water column as a part of the crust) are higher than those for the Southwest Pacific Basin. On the other hand, lower relative densities occur deeper within the mantle under the area landward of the trench. These lesser densities partially compensate the higher values at shallow depth. Thus a dipolar layered mass distribution landward of the
Gender differences in topical coherence: Creating involvement in best friends' talk

Analyzing videotapes recorded by Bruce Dorval in which 2nd‐, 6th‐, and 10th‐grade same‐sex best friends talked to each other for 20 minutes in an experimental setting, the study examines gender differences in topical coherence through the lens of John Gumperz's framework for cross‐cultural communication. The girls exhibit minimal or no difficulty finding something to talk about, and they talk about a small number of topics, all related to troubles. There is more concern among the girls with avoidance of anger and disagreement. The boys exhibit more discomfort with the situation. The two younger pairs of boys produce small amounts of talk about a great number of topics. The 10th‐grade boys talk about highly personal topics, but each develops his own topic and minimizes the other's. These differences in ways of creating involvement can account for frustrations in cross‐gender conversations without blaming either gender for communication failure.
Practice patterns for antibiotic de-escalation in culture-negative healthcare-associated pneumonia

Background Published guidelines for the treatment of healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) recommend initial broad-spectrum antibiotics with appropriate de-escalation based on culture results. Guideline recommendations are based on data from intubated patients, in whom cultures are easily obtained. The approach to antibiotic de-escalation for culture-negative patients has not been addressed. Consequently, there are no published reports that describe the current standard of practice.
Plasmon resonances in terahertz photoconductivity

A dielectric response mechanism that is nonlinear in an incident THz field is proposed to explain the identity of dc photoconductivity and plasmon resonances in semiconductor nanostructures. The dc photoconductivity resonances match the plasmon resonances in semiconductors based on a nonlinear dynamic screening mechanism; albeit that the dc photoconductance is linear in the source-drain voltage.
The augmented knowledge workshop

This paper discusses the theme of augmenting a knowledge workshop. The first part of the paper describes the concept and framework of the knowledge workshop. The second part describes aspects of a prototype knowledge workshop being developed within this framework.
A Fast Technology Infusion Model for Aerospace Organizations

A multi-year, Fast Technology Infusion initiative is presented which seeks to develop a model for aerospace organizations to improve the cost-effectiveness by which they mature new, in-house developed software and hardware technologies for space mission use. The first year task under the umbrella of this initiative will provide the framework to demonstrate and document the fast infusion process. The viability of this approach will be demonstrated on two technologies developed in prior years with internal Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) funding. One hardware technology and one software technology were selected for maturation within one calendar year or less. The overall objective is to achieve cost and time savings in the qualification of technologies for space use. At the end of the recommended three-year effort, we will have demonstrated for six or more in-house developed technologies a clear path to insertion using a documented process that permits adaptation to a broad range of hardware and software projects.
Photolithographic Patterning of Bacteriorhodopsin Films

A novel bacteriorhodopsin (bR) patterning technique utilizing photolithographic processes is presented. This process allows the oriented deposition and patterning of dried bR thin films onto flat substrates. Standard lithographic techniques are used to pattern the substrate and electrodeposition is used to deposit and orient the purple membrane film, which contains bR. An acetone sonication bath is used to remove the resist and pattern the membrane. The physical and photoelectric properties of dried PM films are shown to be undamaged by the patterning process, and patterns with 60 mum feature sizes are shown. PM liquid suspension density prior to electrodeposition as well as acetone sonication time are reported on.
The City in Modern Chinese Literature & Film: Configurations of Space, Time, and Gender

Illustrations Note on Romanization Preface: an invitation to explore the city Part I. Perspectives on the City in Modern China: 1. Introduction: the city in modern Chinese cultural history 2. Urban configurations: small town, ancient capital, modern metropolis Part II. Configurations of Space: 3. Mapping the ancient capital of Beijing 4. The symbolic triumph of Chinese tradition in Beijing Part III. Configurations of Time: 5. Reading the illegible metropolis of Shanghai 6. The circulation of temporality and eroticism in Shanghai Part IV. Configurations of Gender: 7. Imagining the modern woman in Shanghai 8. The female visions of the modern city Afterword: a perspective on modern Chinese literary history Notes Bibliography Character list Index.
Surface Fronts, Troughs, and Baroclinic Zones in the Great Lakes Region

AbstractThe temporal frequency and spatial distributions of fronts and troughs in the Great Lakes region from a 6-yr period (January 2000–December 2005) are presented. Frontal frequencies indicated that cold fronts were the most common, followed by stationary, warm, and occluded fronts, in that order. The variation in the annual frequency of all front types was small throughout the period. Troughs were present more frequently than any front type and exhibited greater variability of annual frequency. An investigation of the relation of fronts and troughs to surface baroclinic zones found that approximately 54% of analyzed fronts were associated with a moderate potential temperature gradient of at least 3.5°C (100 km)−1. Nearly 10% of all fronts were associated with a strong baroclinic zone having a potential temperature gradient of at least 7.0°C (100 km)−1. Moderate or strong baroclinic zones were associated with about 34% of the analyzed troughs in the Great Lakes region and this relationship was further...
Dual-Polarized Microwave Near-Field Reflectometer for Non-Invasive Inspection of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Strengthened Structures

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are increasingly being used in strengthening structures of civil infrastructures, aerospace and automotive industries. Subsequent to the application of CFRP, detection and evaluation of the structural integrity of the member becomes a critical issue. Microwave non-invasive inspection techniques have been successfully used for inspecting these structures. A novel inspection system with a dual-polarized microwave near-field waveguide probe for detecting defects such as disbond between CFRP laminates and strengthened structures is presented. It is shown that this system provides automatic removal of the influence of undesired standoff distance (or surface roughness) variations. It may simultaneously generate three images of defects: two at orthogonal polarizations and one after the influence of the undesired variations is removed. The novel measurement system provides for detection and evaluation of different types of defects in CFRP reinforced composite structures, reducing the time required for data acquisition. This paper also presents the design of the dual-polarized reflectometer at X-band (8.2 ? 12.4 GHz) and details of the measurement system as well as the results of application of this system for inspecting CFRP reinforced composites cement-based structures including some from an actual bridge. The results clearly illustrate the utility of this system for non-invasive inspection of CFRP strengthened structures.
Performing BGP experiments on a semi-realistic Internet testbed environment

We have built a router testbed that is connected to the Deter/Emist experimental infrastructure. Our goal is to create a semi-realistic testbed to conduct BGP experiments, measure and visualize their impact on network performance and stability. Such testbed is also useful for evaluating different security countermeasures. Our testbed architecture includes four components: routing topology, background traffic, data analysis and visualization. This paper describes how we launch two specific BGP attacks, (a) multiple origin AS and (b) route flap damping attacks, and the lessons learned.
Reasoning about Sensing Actions in Domains with Multi-Valued Fluents

In this paper, we discuss the weakness of current action languages for sensing actions with respect to modeling domains with multi-valued fluents. To address this problem, we propose a language with sensing actions and multi-valued fluents, called AM K , provide a transition function based semantics for the language, and demonstrate its use through several examples from the literature. We then define the entailment relationship between action theories and queries in AM K , denoted by ⊧AM K , and discuss some properties about AM K .
Caveolin-1 in oncogenic transformation, cancer, and metastasis.

Caveolae are 50- to 100-nm omega-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane that function as regulators of signal transduction. Caveolins are a class of oligomeric structural proteins that are bot...
Spectroscopic ellipsometry studies of CH3NH3PbX3 thin films and their growth evolution

CH3NH3PbX3 (X=I, Cl) perovskite films of interest for photovoltaics (PV) devices have been deposited by (i) evaporation followed by vapor annealing and (ii) co-evaporation. Near infrared to ultraviolet spectroscopic ellipsometry has been used to determine the spectroscopic optical response for vapor-annealed material ex situ and co-evaporated material in situ during growth. Real time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) applied during co-evaporation has tracked the formation and time evolution of perovskite and phase segregated layers at the substrate and surface interfaces. Good agreement between density functional theory (DFT) calculations of optical response and experimental measurements has also been demonstrated.
Grand Circle Travel: Where Risk Comes with the Territory

A worldwide travel company is intrinsically exposed to risks of natural and man-made disasters. How do you organize a business for success when it must on a nearly daily basis cope with hazards ranging from minor mishaps to large-scale catastrophes? Alan and Harriet Lewis have built a successful travel company based on their idea of "extreme competitive advantage" -- and one of their core skills has to be quick and effective response when the travelers on one of their trips are exposed to flood, famine, pestilence, disease, earthquakes, tsunamis, terrorism, and other hazards yet to be discovered. What is the best way to organize so as to be able to respond quickly, reliably, flexibly, and adaptively when troubles arise?Learning Objective: Illustrate management in organizations where exposure to disasters (natural and man-made) is intrinsic to the business' strategy.
The National Animal Health Monitoring System: A Source of On-Farm Information

The National Animal Health Monitoring System is a program of the USDA:APHIS:Veterinary Services designed to collect, analyze, interpret, and disseminate data on the management and health of US livestock, poultry, and aquaculture populations. The system is comprised of a national program staff, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, and a field component that includes state and federal animal health officials distributed throughout the United States. The system uses a variety of approaches (large national studies, on-going monitoring, and target short-term studies) to address high priority objectives for US animal agriculture defined through a far-reaching information-needs assessment process.
In Vitro Toxin Production by the Fungus Beauveria bassiana and Bioassay in Greater Wax Moth Larvae

Toxin produced in vitro by isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin was bioassayed by injection into larvae of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.). Isolates from infected insect hosts produced higher toxin titre than did isolates repeatedly subcultured on media. Toxin titre varied with aging of culture.
Implications of unsteady analytical flowfields on rocket combustion stability

In the combustion stability assessment of internal burning solid rocket motors, a new destabilizing term must be incorporated. This term arises from the nonzero radial velocity oscillations at the propellant surface. The origin of this velocity component stems from a careful resolution of intrinsic fluid dynamics, including acoustico-vortical interactions that must satisfy mass and momentum conservation principles while accommodating the no-slip condition at the propellant surface. The source of this destabilizing term appears explicitly in two separate, independently derived, analytical formulations of the internal flowfield. Predictions generated by these analytical models are shown to coincide with reliable computational data produced recently by a numerical code that solves the nonlinearized Navier-Stokes equations. Unequivocal verifications of the analytical formulations via theoretical considerations, numerical comparisons, and global error assessments are also undertaken before examining the character and impact of the time-dependent radial velocity on rocket stability. Irrevocably, radial velocity fluctuations induce an effect whose significance is reminiscent of pressure coupling at the propellant surface. It is suggested that this effect be accounted for in current and future investigations.
Placental Transfer of Herpes Simplex Virus in Pregnant Rabbits.

SummaryTwo different concentrations of herpes simplex virus were given intravenously to pregnant rabbits. Low concentrations of virus failed to cross the placenta and disappeared from the blood rap...
Bulk spectroscopic measurement of the topological charge of Weyl nodes with resonant x-rays

We formulate a bulk spectroscopic method for direct measurement of the topological invariant of nondegenerate band crossings in Weyl semimetals. We demonstrate how polarization-resolved resonant x-ray scattering captures the winding of the Berry flux around Weyl nodes. The spectra obtained by the proposed strategy feature an integer number of zero crossings that is directly related to the topological charge of the measured nodes. We benchmark the proposed protocol on TaAs, using realistic low-energy models derived from density-functional theory to accurately represent the states close to the Fermi level, including sizable deviations from the idealized linear dispersion. We conclude that the proposed measurement, which is within the reach of current experimental setups, yields direct signatures of nontrivial band topology in the spectroscopy of three-dimensional bulk matter.
Effect of killing cockroaches in military dining hall in Beijing

Objective To search the effective methods for killing cockroaches in military camp.Methods Dining hall A was treated with residual spray,dining hall B was treated with aerosol missile,dining hall C was treated with both residual spray and aerosol missile.Results Within 1 week,2 weeks,4 weeks after treating,the average killing rate of cockroaches of dining hall A were 98.29%.Of dining hall B,the average killing rate were 96.53%.Of dining hall C,the average killing rate were 99.30%.Conclusion Treating with both residual spray and aerosol missile,cockroach control is more effective and also cheaper than treating with only one method of them,and is suitable for military camp.
Expression, purification and kinetic characterization of wild-type human ornithine transcarbamylase and a recurrent mutant that produces 'late onset' hyperammonaemia.

Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency, an X-linked disorder, is the most common cause of inherited urea cycle disorders. Approx. 90 mutations that produce reduced levels of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTCase) activity have been identified in patients [Tuchman (1993) Hum. Mutat. 2, 174-178; Tuchman and Plante (1995) Hum. Mutat. 5, 293-295]. A model of the three-dimensional structure of OTCase, developed on the basis of its homology to the catalytic subunit of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamylase (ATCase) [Tuchman, Morizono, Reish, Yuan and Allewell (1995) J. Med. Genet. 32, 680-688], and in good agreement with the crystal structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa OTCase [Villeret, Tricot, Stalon and Dideberg (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92, 10762-10766], indicates that many mutations that produce severe clinical symptoms are at the active site or buried in the interior of the protein. However, one of the few recurrent mutations, R277W, an alteration that produces a milder phenotype of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, is located in the model in a loop remote from the active site that is analogous to a similar loop (the 240's loop, a flexible loop of the catalytic chain of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamylase, comprised of residues 230-250) of ATCase. Human wild-type OTCase and the R277W mutant have been cloned and overexpressed in E. coli and a rapid and efficient purification method utilizing the bisubstrate analogue, Ndelta-(phosphonacetyl)-L-ornithine, has been developed and used to purify both proteins. Gel chromatography indicates both are trimeric. The pH dependence of the kinetic parameters of the wild-type enzyme is similar to that of E. coli OTCase [Kuo, Herzberg and Lipscomb (1985) Biochemistry 24, 4754-4761], suggesting that its catalytic mechanism is similar, although its maximal activity is approx. 10-fold less. Compared with the wild-type, the R277W mutant has nearly 70-fold lower affinity for L-ornithine, shows no substrate inhibition, and its thermal stability is reduced by 5 degrees C. Its reduced affinity for L-ornithine, which in turn results in lower activity at physiological concentrations of ornithine, as well as its reduced stability, may contribute to the clinical effects that it produces.
The role of vascular capacitance in the genesis of essential hypertension.

1. Analysis of relationships between blood volume, vascular capacitance, cardiopulmonary and peripheral blood volumes, labelled albumin disappearance rate, plasma renin activity, blood pressure and age was performed in essential hypertensive males. 2. The results indicate that capacitance bed constriction probably occurs with age in essential hypertension leading to an increase in the product blood volume × vascular capacitance tone even in the presence of low blood volume. 3. A metabolic defect in the venous vascular bed along with an abnormality of regulation of renal sodium excretion is postulated.
Abstract P265: Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in Patients Discharged After Stroke in Washington State

OBJECTIVE: Explore the use of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in patients discharged after hospitalization for stroke in Washington State (WA). METHODS: Patients were identified from administrative data for WA hospitals and included those discharged between 1995 and 2008 with stroke ICD-9 codes. PEG was defined by the presence of ICD-9 procedure codes. Using multivariate logistic regression, we sought independent associations with PEG for age, gender, stroke type, intubation, discharge year, co-morbid conditions, urban vs. rural home, and hospital type (stroke center or not). RESULTS: A total of 118,785 stroke patients were discharged alive, 88% ischemic, 8% intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and 4% subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Mean age was 73 years (SD 14), 54% were women, 44% were admitted to a stroke center, and 4.1% had PEG. Other complications of stroke included hemiplegia (28%), pneumonia (8%), and intubation (2%). Patient residence was urban for 83% and rural for 17%. Significant (p < 0.0001) independent associations with PEG included older age (OR ranging from 1.1, 95% CI .96-1.2, to 1.4, 95% CI 1.3-1.6, depending on age group), intubation (2.6, 2.3-2.9), hemiplegia (2.3, 2.1-2.4), stroke type (vs. ischemic stroke: ICH 2.0, 1.8-2.2; SAH 1.6, 1.3-1.8), atrial fibrillation (1.4, 1.3-1.5), congestive heart failure (1.2, 1.1-1.3), acute myocardial infarction (1.2, 1.0-1.4), pneumonia (6.0, 5.6-6.4), stroke center (1.1, 1.1-1.2), and rural home address (.76, .70-.83). PEG was not associated with discharge time period, but this effect was modified by eventual stroke center status (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this large population-based study, we found a lower frequency of PEG in stroke survivors than previously reported, possibly reflecting misclassification in our study, selection bias in prior studies, or both. PEG was significantly associated with stroke type and medical complications, particularly pneumonia and endotracheal intubation, likely reflecting stroke severity. The rising probability of PEG at stroke centers may suggest that severely affected patients are increasingly being transferred to stroke centers. Additional studies are need to understand better the criteria for and the utility of PEG in stroke survivors.
Exploring Putin's Post-Crimean Supermajority

Vladimir Putin's skyrocketing approval ratings originate from current political developments involving the annexation of Crimea, the para-military conflict in South-Eastern Ukraine, and the rapid elevation of political tensions between Russia and the West. The hearts and minds of Russians are also affected by a mighty state propaganda machine, which has crystallized monolithic pro-Putin support among the Russians and allowed his approval to reach as high as 90%. This research poses several crucial questions with respect to Putin's popular support. What is the magnitude of inflation in Putin's approval ratings associated with social desirability bias, both in general, and in particular, across different socio-demographic groups? What is the depth of Putin's support, i.e. is electoral support in any way affected by Western sanctions, and Russian media propaganda? Are there any temporal changes in the magnitude of social desirability bias and perception of sanctions among Russians since the start of Ukrainian crisis? This complex research, involving five data surveys collected by two Russia's national polling firms between January 2014 and March 2015, shows the presence of inflationary effects of the social desirability bias and state propaganda on Putin's approval ratings, contrasted against moderately small effects of sanctions on Putin's approval ratings and the Kremlin's policies in Ukraine.
A Novel Mechanism of ADAMTS13 Deficiency in Mice.

Background . ADAMTS13, a circulating metalloprotease that cleaves conformationally altered von Willebrand factor (VWF), is critical for preventing microvascular thrombosis. Deficiency of the protease, due to genetic mutations or autoimmune inhibitors, causes thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. In the course of investigating the regulation of ADAMTS13, we noted that mice differed widely in their plasma ADAMTS13 activity levels. In order to understand the factors affecting plasma ADAMTS13 levels, we examined the molecular basis of ADAMTS13 variation in different strains of mice. Methods . Plasma ADAMTS13 activity level was determined by previously described SDS PAGE and immunoblotting. ADAMTS13 transcripts were analyzed by RT PCR, RACE, nucleotide sequencing, and real-time RT PCR. Plasmids containing the cDNA of mouse ADAMTS13 were constructed for transfection of mammalian cell lines. Results . The mouse strains FVB/NJ and 129X1/SvJ differed from C57BL/6J and DBA/2J by more than 10 folds in their plasma ADAMTS13 activity levels (3.09 +/− 0.45 vs 0.24 +/− 0.11 U/mL for FVB/NJ and C57BL/6J respectively, P ADAMTS13 gene of C57BL/6J mice contained in its intron #23 an IAP-type retrotransposone sequence whose LTR sequence with a stop codon was included in the mouse transcripts. The IAP retrotransposone sequence, which contained one base substitution at the 5′-end 4-base repeat (tgtt>g) and was flanked at both ends by a 6-base repeat (cactag), was also present in the DBA/2J but not the 129X1/SvJ strains of mice. Real-time RT PCR showed that the FVB/NJ and C57BL/6J mice had similar levels of ADAMTS13 transcripts in the liver. Nevertheless in the C57BL/6J mice the IAP-truncated forms accounted for >90% of the ADAMTS13 transcripts. Expression of mouse ADAMTS13 cDNA in mammalian cell lines revealed that the both the full-length and the IAP-truncated forms of the ADAMTS13 protease were similar in VWF-cleaving activity. Conclusion . This study shows the presence of intragenic retrotransposone in the ADAMTS13 gene of some mouse strains. The presence of an IAP-retrotransposone within the ADAMTS13 gene of C57BL/6J mice affects the splicing of the ADAMTS13 transcripts, creating truncated forms of the protease that lack the last two TSP-1 and the CUB domains but remain proteolytically active in cleaving VWF. The lower plasma ADAMTS13 activity level of C57BL/6J may result from abnormal intravascular clearance of the protease or other post-secretory events.
Globalized Perspectives on Infectious Disease Management and Trade in Africa: A Conceptual Framework for Assessing Risk in Developing Country Settings

In the era of globalization, internationalized representations of infectious disease threats have profound implications for understandings of infectious disease problems and their management in developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. By examining the policy implications of the key narratives around public health, animal health and trade, it becomes possible to clarify the relationship between global understandings of infectious disease risk and their impact on the development of local responses to disease problems. We highlight the tensions that resource-constrained countries face in the nexus of animal health-public health and trade, including the perception that resource-constrained countries are both source and victims of potential infectious disease threats. Given this scenario, it is important to think about how developing countries, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa, can approach infectious disease risk management as it relates to pandemic scale threats such as avian and pandemic influenza. We outline some of the key considerations in defining and assessing disease risk using avian and pandemic influenza in Zambia as an example. We conclude that the key to the feasibility of the analysis of the risk of multi-sectoral affecting emerging infectious diseases such as zoonotic avian influenza is flexibility in how risk is framed across the public health, animal health and trade systems.
Insights into the role of opioid receptors in the GI tract: Experimental evidence and therapeutic relevance

Opioid drugs are prescribed extensively for pain treatment but when used chronically they induce constipation that can progress to opioid-induced bowel dysfunction. Opioid drugs interact with three classes of opioid receptors: mu opioid receptors (MORs), delta opioid receptors (DOR), and kappa opioid receptors (KORs), but opioid drugs mostly target the MORs. Upon stimulation, opioid receptors couple to inhibitory Gi/Go proteins that activate or inhibit downstream effector proteins. MOR and DOR couple to inhibition of adenylate cyclase and voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and to activation of K+ channels resulting in reduced neuronal activity and neurotransmitter release. KORs couple to inhibition of Ca2+ channels and neurotransmitter release. In the gastrointestinal tract, opioid receptors are localized to enteric neurons, interstitial cells of Cajal, and immune cells. In humans, MOR, DOR, and KOR link to inhibition of acetylcholine release from enteric interneurons and motor neurons and purine/nitric oxide release from inhibitory motor neurons causing inhibition of propulsive motility patterns. MOR and DOR activation also results in inhibition of submucosal secretomotor neurons reducing active Cl- secretion and passive water movement into the colonic lumen. Together, these effects on motility and secretion account for the constipation caused by opioid receptor agonists. Tolerance develops to the analgesic effects of opioid receptor agonists but not to the constipating actions. This may be due to differences in trafficking and downstream signaling in enteric nerves in the colon compared to the small intestine and in neuronal pain pathways. Further studies of differential opioid receptor desensitization and tolerance in subsets of enteric neurons may identify new drug or other treatment strategies of opioid-induced bowel dysfunction.
Opportunities to Foster Efficient Communication in Labor and Delivery Using Simulation

Introduction Communication errors are an important contributing factor in adverse outcomes in labor and delivery (L&D) units. The objective of this study was to identify common lapses in verbal communication using simulated obstetrical scenarios and propose alternative formats for communication. Methods Health care professionals in L&D participated in three simulated clinical scenarios. Scenarios were recorded and reviewed to identify questions repeated within and across scenarios. Questions that were repeated more than once due to ineffective communication were identified. The frequency with which the questions were asked across simulations was identified. Results Questions were commonly repeated both within and across 27 simulated scenarios. The median number of questions asked was 27 per simulated scenario. Commonly repeated questions focused on three general topics: (1) historical data/information (i.e., estimated gestational age), (2) maternal clinical status (i.e., estimated blood loss), and (3) personnel (i.e., “Has anesthesiologist been called?”). Conclusion Inefficient verbal communication exists in the process of transferring information during obstetric emergencies. These findings can inform improved training and development of information displays to improve teamwork and communication. A visual display that can report static historical information and specific dynamic clinical data may facilitate optimal human performance.
Can contesting orientations predict grittier, more self-controlled athletes?

AbstractGrit and self-control are highly desired qualities of character in the sport arena. This two-study investigation used a new theoretical approach, contesting theory, to examine whether contesting orientations could predict these characteristics among intercollegiate athletes. Contesting theory identifies two distinct modes of cognitively processing the meaning and purpose of contesting, one rooted in a contest-is-partnership metaphor and the other a contest-is-war metaphor. Study 1 (N = 799) found that contesting orientations added incremental utility beyond demographic and control variables to the prediction of the two dimensions of grit (perseverance and consistency). Specifically, the partnership orientation positively predicted higher grit scores. Study 2 (N = 1179) replicated the findings of Study 1 with only minor variations and also demonstrated that contesting orientations add to the prediction of self-control. Results are discussed in terms of the practical implications for sport practitio...