cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring Forensic Implications of the Fusion Drive

This paper explores the forensic implications of Apple's Fusion Drive. The Fusion Drive is an example of auto-tiered storage. It uses a combination of a flash drive and a magnetic drive. Data is moved between the drives automatically to maximize system performance. This is different from traditional caches because data is moved and not simply copied. The research included understanding the drive structure, populating the drive, and then accessing data in a controlled setting to observe data migration strategies. It was observed that all the data is first written to the flash drive with 4 GB of free space always maintained. If data on the magnetic drive is frequently accessed, it is promoted to the flash drive while demoting other information. Data is moved at a block-level and not a file-level. The Fusion Drive didn't alter the timestamps of files with data migration.
Optical constants of liquid silicon after picosecond laser illumination

The optical constants of molten silicon are not as well known as those of solid silicon. We are aware of one cw ellipsometric measurement of the dielectric function ∈ for molten Si around the visible1 and 1-ns time-resolved ellipsometric measurement of ∈ at 633 nm during pulsed excimer laser irradiation.2 With shorter pulses, there should be no problem associated with surface contamination, and it may even be possible to measure ∈ during superheating.
Photometric Project for Zero-age Contact and Near Contact Binary Systems

There have been major advances in the development of computing modeling codes for analyzing photometric light curves in the last couple decades. As a result, a large number of photometric solutions are available in astronomical journals. Many contact systems have been discovered. However, most observers have preference to selection relatively short period systems. Most of the contact systems found are located in the vicinity of the main sequence. It suggests that they are most likely the result of mass exchange taking place during the core hydrogen-burning phase of the massive component. Very few contact systems are found very far from the main sequence. It is believed that these systems may be the result of mass exchange taking place during the shell hydrogen-burning phase of stellar evolution. Contact systems that are located far away from the main sequence are having relatively long periods. Due to the selection effect long period systems are extremely seldom observed. Therefore, observational data on more advanced evolutionary contact systems are lacking. We would like to suggest that concentrated effort should be made to study these very long period systems.
Recent History of the Chemical Industry 1973 to the Millenium: The New Facts of World Chemicals Since 1973

The first oil shock that occurred at the end of 1973 with the Yom Kippur war served to pinpoint the crisis which world chemicals were already undergoing.
Ultra-wideband circularly-polarized simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) antenna system

This paper presents a novel circularly-polarized simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) monostatic antenna system based on the four-arm spiral-helix antenna. The four-arm spiral is configured such that two arms are used for transmitting and the other two arms for receiving. Microstrip feeds with impedance transformers are used to feed the two two-arm spirals and thus eliminate the need for 180° hybrids. Helix termination is used to improve the low-end performance. The symmetric features of the spiral antenna along with the arms orientation and the applied excitation enable a high isolation between the transmitting (TX) and receiving (RX) ports. Isolation>36dB is measured over >8∶1 bandwidth. Symmetric and consistent TX/RX radiation patterns are obtained over the operating bandwidth.
Reversible nerve conduction block using kilohertz frequency alternating current.

Objectives The features and clinical applications of balanced-charge kilohertz frequency alternating currents (KHFAC) are reviewed. Preclinical studies of KHFAC block have demonstrated that it can produce an extremely rapid and reversible block of nerve conduction. Recent systematic analysis and experimentation utilizing KHFAC block have resulted in a significant increase in interest in KHFAC block, both scientifically and clinically. Materials and Methods We review the history and characteristics of KHFAC block, the methods used to investigate this type of block, the experimental evaluation of block, and the electrical parameters and electrode designs needed to achieve successful block. We then analyze the existing clinical applications of high-frequency currents, comparing the early results with the known features of KHFAC block. Results Although many features of KHFAC block have been characterized, there is still much that is unknown regarding the response of neural structures to rapidly fluctuating electrical fields. The clinical reports to date do not provide sufficient information to properly evaluate the mechanisms that result in successful or unsuccessful treatment. Conclusions KHFAC nerve block has significant potential as a means of controlling nerve activity for the purpose of treating disease. However, early clinical studies in the use of high-frequency currents for the treatment of pain have not been designed to elucidate mechanisms or allow direct comparisons to preclinical data. We strongly encourage the careful reporting of the parameters utilized in these clinical studies, as well as the development of outcome measures that could illuminate the mechanisms of this modality.
The Stamp Act Crisis in the British West Indies

Traditionally, colonial scholars have focussed their attention on the North American continent, where dramatic conflicts with Britain culminated in Revolution. No major article or book has yet dealt with British West Indians as active participants in the pre-Revolutionary struggle. This study attempts to correct that situation. Focussing on the Stamp Act crisis, it seeks to clarify the role of island colonists during the pre-war period and argues for a comprehensive appraisal of that role.
Chronic wasting disease of deer and elk in transgenic mice: oral transmission and pathobiology.

To study the pathogenesis of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk, transgenic (tg) mice were generated that expressed the prion protein (PrP) of deer containing a glycine at amino acid (aa) 96 and a serine at aa 225 under transcriptional control of the murine PrP promoter. This construct was introduced into murine PrP-deficient mice. As anticipated, neither non-tg mice nor PrP ko mice were susceptible when inoculated intracerebrally (i.c.) or orally with CWD brain material (scrapie pool from six mule deer) and followed for 600+ days (dpi). Deer PrP tg mice were not susceptible to i.c. inoculation with murine scrapie. In contrast, a fatal neurologic disease occurred accompanied by conversion of deer PrPsen to PrPres by western blot and immunohistochemistry after either i.c. inoculation with CWD brain into two lines of tg mice studied (312 ± 32 dpi [mean ± 2 standard errors] for the heterozygous tg line 33, 275 ± 46 dpi for the heterozygous tg line 39 and 210 dpi for the homozygous tg line 33) or after oral inoculation (381 ± 55 dpi for the homozygous tg line 33 and 370 ± 26 dpi for the homozygous tg line 39). Kinetically, following oral inoculation of CWD brain, PrPres was observed by day 200 when mice were clinically healthy in the posterior surface of the dorsum of the tongue primarily in serous and mucous glands, in the intestines, in large cells at the splenic marginal zone that anatomically resembled follicular dendritic cells and macrophages, and in the olfactory bulb and brain stem but did not occur in the cerebellum, cerebral cortex or hippocampus or in hearts, lungs and livers of infected mice. After 350 days when mice become clinically ill the cerebellum, cerebral cortex and hippocampus became positive for PrPres and displayed massive spongiosis, neuronal drop out, gliosis and florid plaques.
Student Portfolios: An Alternative Way of Encouraging and Evaluating Student Learning.

Student portfolios are an alternative authentic assessment method that invites active student learning and provides an opportunity for instructors to tailor assessment strategies based on student-learning outcomes.
Protective effect of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 on inflammatory cytokine response to brominated diphenyl ether-47 in the HTR-8/SVneo human first trimester extravillous trophoblast cell line.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used flame retardants, and BDE-47 is a prevalent PBDE congener detected in human tissues. Exposure to PBDEs has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes in humans. Although the underlying mechanisms of adverse birth outcomes are poorly understood, critical roles for oxidative stress and inflammation are implicated. The present study investigated antioxidant responses in a human extravillous trophoblast cell line, HTR-8/SVneo, and examined the role of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), an antioxidative transcription factor, in BDE-47-induced inflammatory responses in the cells. Treatment of HTR-8/SVneo cells with 5, 10, 15, and 20 μM BDE-47 for 24 h increased intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels compared to solvent control. Treatment of HTR-8/SVneo cells with 20 μM BDE-47 for 24 h induced the antioxidant response element (ARE) activity, indicating Nrf2 transactivation by BDE-47 treatment, and resulted in differential expression of redox-sensitive genes compared to solvent control. Pretreatment with tert-butyl hydroquinone (tBHQ) or sulforaphane, known Nrf2 inducers, reduced BDE-47-stimulated IL-6 release with increased ARE reporter activity, reduced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) reporter activity, increased GSH production, and stimulated expression of antioxidant genes compared to non-Nrf2 inducer pretreated groups, suggesting that Nrf2 may play a protective role against BDE-47-mediated inflammatory responses in HTR-8/SVneo cells. These results suggest that Nrf2 activation significantly attenuated BDE-47-induced IL-6 release by augmentation of cellular antioxidative system via upregulation of Nrf2 signaling pathways, and that Nrf2 induction may be a potential therapeutic target to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with toxicant-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.
Positional Imprinting of Optical Traps Corrects for Mechanical Drift in High-Resolution Instruments

The performance of high-resolution optical traps typically depends on the passive mechanical stability of several critical optical components. Passive stability demands stringent requirements for the laboratory environment to limit instrumental drift arising from vibrations, acoustics, and temperature variations. To follow the real-time position of biological motors taking base pair steps along DNA, angstrom resolution is needed. Limiting the positional drift of an optical trap to one angstrom requires that a collimated beam be held angularly stable to 40 nanoradians. To minimize instrumental drift, our lab uses a dual-beam setup wherein two traps are used to perform measurements in solution, isolated from the microscope stage. Consequently, angular drift from optical elements interacting with both beams is correlated and therefore cancelled. Even in this dual-beam configuration, however, four optical elements can introduce relative angular drift between the beams, resulting in uncorrelated motions that are indistinguishable from single molecule activity. We have identified this necessary portion of all dual-beam instruments as the primary source of relative positional drift between the traps. Unfortunately, even stringent environmental controls are expected to be insufficient to prevent nanoradian-level motions of these optical components. We therefore seek instead to measure and correct for drift that inevitably occurs. Here, we present a new advance in trap design that enables us to correct for the relative positional instability of dual optical traps in real-time using a novel positional imprinting technique. We show that our new optical trap design is capable of virtually eliminating mechanical drift, consistently yielding noise characteristics under high-noise conditions that are comparable to the quietest conditions we can achieve in our laboratory. This technology will potentially reduce the engineering controls necessary for high-resolution optical trapping, making the technique available to research labs lacking specialized facilities.
Rearrangements of Haloalkynol Derivatives of Glucofuranose

Bromoalkynol derivatives of diacetone glucose undergo rearrangements to dihaloenol ethers contained in furo[3,4-b]furan cores when treated with halonium-producing reagents.
Enzastaurin induces H2AX phosphorylation to regulate apoptosis via MAPK signalling in malignant glioma cells

Enzastaurin is an acyclic bisindolylmaleimide derived from staurosporine that acts as an ATP competitor, and interferes with the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. Our previous studies have shown that clinically achievable concentrations of this agent induce apoptosis in many glioma cell lines. Our goal in this study was to expand on the previous results and to determine the signalling mechanisms responsible for enzastaurin-induced inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis. To address these issues, cell cycle progression following enzastaurin treatment was analysed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) in parallel with analyses of growth and apoptosis signalling pathways. Enzastaurin treatment activated H2AX and Chk2 phosphorylation, and enhanced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family kinases. Inhibition of MAP kinases by chemical inhibitors reduced H2AX and Chk2 phosphorylation and decreased apoptosis induced by enzastaurin. These data call attention to a novel signalling pathway (MAPK/H2AX) to regulate apoptosis in malignant glioma cells.
Unconfined quarks and gluons

We explore the possibility that fractionally charged colored quarks and electrically neutral colored gluons may exist as real particles. Our framework is a renormalizable, spontaneously broken version of color dynamics [quantum chromodynamics (QCD)], in which the gluons are given a common mass $\ensuremath{\mu}$ in the Lagrangian. Color SU(3) remains an exact global symmetry, and for small $\ensuremath{\mu}$ our understanding of color-singlet hadrons in QCD is unaltered. For small $\ensuremath{\mu}$ the masses of physical quarks and gluons are large: $O({(2\ensuremath{\pi}{\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\mu})}^{\ensuremath{-}1})$ with ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ the slope of Regge trajectories. There is at least one stable hadron for every representation of color SU(3). In the unbroken QCD limit ($\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$) the conventional picture of color confinement is recovered. To implement quasiconfinement in detail we use the MIT bag model. For $\ensuremath{\mu}=0$ this model describes confinement. For $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\ne}0$ it describes quasiconfinement with no further modification. Production cross sections for quarks and gluons turn out to be very small. Quark-nucleon and gluon-nucleon cross sections, on the other hand, are very large. Quarks and gluons have a large nuclear appetite: Sequential absorption of nucleons by a free quark is exothermic up to large values of total baryon number. If quarks are very heavy, primordial quarks left over from the big bang will be found in superheavy quark-nucleon complexes with large nonintegral charge and baryon number. Primordial gluons will have the appearance of integrally charged superheavy nucleon complexes.
Cardioprotective actions of a monoclonal antibody against CD-18 in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies have demonstrated that polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are locally activated in reperfused myocardium and contribute to the myocardial cell injury associated with reperfusion. It has been suggested that the adhesion of activated PMNs in reperfused myocardium is mediated by the PMN adhesion molecule CD-18. In the present study, we performed experiments to determine if the specific anti-CD-18 monoclonal antibody (MAb) R15.7 can prevent PMN adhesion and PMN-mediated reperfusion injury in the heart.METHODS AND RESULTSStudies were performed with isolated, Langendorff-perfused rat hearts (nine per group) in which the hearts were subjected to 20 minutes of global ischemia followed by 45 minutes of reperfusion. Human PMNs (50 million) and rat plasma (HNRP) were infused directly into the coronary circulation of nonischemic and postischemic hearts. When HNRP was administered to nonischemic hearts, no significant alterations in coronary flow, left ventricular developed pressure, or lef...
A new method for the estimation of the primary energy of cosmic ray jets

Abstract Methods of determining the primary energy of cosmic ray jets are reviewed and the corrections which have been developed to improve the basic assumptions are discussed to clarify the limit of this applicability. To avoid the disadvantages inherent in the usual methods, a new method has been developed for determining the primary energy of cosmic ray jets based mainly on the constancy of transverse momentum of the charged secondary shower particles and which is free of the usual assumptions employed. Nuclear interactions induced by 28.5 BeV protons and 17 BeV π−-mesons in emulsion have been analyzed to test the validity of this method and the results are compared with those obtained by using Castagnoli's method and the Ech-method; the agreement is much better with the new method. The half widths of the γc (Lorentz factor of the center of mass system) distributions are greatly reduced and appear to be consistent with the assumption that they are mainly due to the Fermi momentum of the target nucleon in the target nuclei.
Barriers to and facilitators of postpartum follow-up care in women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus: a qualitative study.

Abstract Objectives: Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) but often do not return for follow-up care. We explored barriers to and facilitators of postpartum follow-up care in women with recent GDM. Methods: We conducted 22 semistructured interviews, 13 in person and 9 by telephone, that were audiotaped and transcribed. Two investigators independently coded transcripts. We identified categories of themes and subthemes. Atlas.ti qualitative software (Berlin, Germany) was used to assist data analysis and management. Results: Mean age was 31.5 years (standard deviation) [SD] 4.5), 63% were nonwhite, mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.9 kg/m2 (SD 6.2), and 82% attended a postpartum visit. We identified four general themes that illustrated barriers and six that illustrated facilitators to postpartum follow-up care. Feelings of emotional stress due to adjusting to a new baby and the fear of receiving a diabetes diagnosis at the vis...
In vitro alteration of blood group phenotypes of human epithelial cells exposed to heterologous blood group substances.

SummaryEvidence is presented that epithelial cells of human amnion and kidney are capable of binding heterologous blood group substances in human sera and in animal tissue extracts, thereby displaying altered blood group phenotypes following short exposures to such sera and extracts. The antigen-binding property of such cells disappears following treatment with trypsin, but reappears gradually upon appropriate recultivation of the cells. The property is apparently lacking in fibroblasts, erythrocytes and HeLa cells.
Residential Mobility in a Constrained Housing Market: Implications for Ethnic Populations in Germany:

The rates of residential mobility in Germany are significantly lower than in the United States, and even lower than in some other European countries. The lower mobility rates can be viewed as outcomes of a ‘tight’ housing market. It can be hypothesized that, because ethnic minorities (‘foreigners’ in German terminology) have lower incomes and face discrimination, they are likely to be more constrained than the native-born German population, and so have even lower mobility rates. The authors use data from the German Socio-Economic Panel and a series of logistic regression models to examine the interaction of nationality and residential mobility. They show that in fact the foreign-born population is slightly more mobile than the native German population, and that the constrained housing market does not appear to affect the foreign-born population differentially. At the same time, the greater mobility of the foreign-born population can be explained by their attempts to overcome higher rates of crowding.
Locus of Control and Task Persistence in Preschool Children

Summary Preschool children were administered the Stephens-Delys Reinforcement Contingency Interview and were also observed interacting with peers, teachers, and materials in the classroom. It was predicted that internal children would show greater task persistence by spending more time in physical-motor, cognitive, and social activities, while external children would spend more time in non-task-involved behaviors, such as watching others and moving around. Results did not confirm this hypothesis. This nonconfirmation of earlier research is discussed in terms of a distinction between experimental and natural settings.
“Wine-bottle” optical potentials and the inelastic scattering of protons near 200 MeV☆

Abstract The effects on inelastic proton scattering of using optical potentials with non-standard “wine-bottle” shapes are studied. Several wine-bottle potentials are found which give elastic scattering equivalent to that obtained from a conventional Woods-Saxon potential, and the inelastic scattering is calculated. There are large reductions (as much as a factor of two) in the predicted cross sections for exciting 40 Ca, smaller reductions for 208 Pb. When the deformed optical potential model is used, roughly one-half of the effect is due to the changes in the transition potential and one-half to the use of different distorted waves.
The photochemical synthesis of (Et4N)[Mn2(CO)6μ-Cl)3]

Abstract The title compound can be prepared photochemically from three different starting materials. Infrared and electronic spectral data are reported. Preliminary information of the bromo analogue is also presented.
Composing in Real Time: Jazz Performances as “Works” in the FRBR Model

In Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) and Functional Requirements for Authority Data (FRAD), realization of a musical work through performance is unambiguously included as a type of expression when it involves music in the Western canon. There is room for interpretation, however, as to whether an improvisation in jazz or rock constitutes an expression, or a new work with each performance. Multiple expressions, particularly transcriptions, and related works suggest the potential usefulness of treating a jazz performance as a work. This article examines the question of boundaries between one work and another, and illustrates ways that the FRBR model might be applied to cataloging improvisations.
Usage of public restroom lounges as support systems by elderly females

The common stereotype of elderly men whiling their time away on park benches illustrates the important concept of “public social spaces,” that is, places which act as support systems serving to anchor a person's identity and providing physical and/or emotional support. This paper examines the usage of public places by a different segment of the population—elderly females in an urban setting. Eight ladies' restroom lounges in four large department stores and the elderly women spending time there were observed in a northern midwestern city. The findings suggest that for these elderly ladies, the restroom lounges were serving as public social spaces. The physical character of those lounges, their social context, and patterns of use by various females were examined.
Methanol poisoning in the folate-deficient rat

THE recent attention given to methanol as a fuel has reawakened interest in its biological liability. Its toxicity is well known1. Methanol poisoning is characterised in man by a latent period of 12–24 h followed by metabolic acidosis, ocular toxicity and death. This syndrome has been reported by Gilger and Potts2 to occur in the rhesus monkey, but Cooper and Felig3 were unable to repeat this work. Recent studies have tended to confirm the results of Gilger and Potts. McMartin et al.4 and Clay et al.5 have shown the importance of formate generation and accumulation in the development of metabolic acidosis in the monkey, and our laboratory has been able to show ocular toxicity in the rhesus monkey6. On the other hand, formate does not accumulate in the rat4 and methanol poisoning as described for man does not occur in the rat or other small laboratory animals1,2.
Interface Evolution in Three Dimensions¶with Curvature-Dependent Energy¶and Surface Diffusion:¶Interface-Controlled Evolution, Phase Transitions, Epitaxial Growth of Elastic Films

When the interfacial energy is a nonconvex function of orientation, the anisotropic-curvature-flow equation becomes backward parabolic. To overcome the instability thus generated, a regularization of the equation that governs the evolution of the interface is needed. In this paper we develop a regularized theory of curvature flow in three dimensions that incorporates surface diffusion and bulk-surface interactions. The theory is based on a superficial mass balance; configurational forces and couples consistent with superficial force and moment balances; a mechanical version of the second law that includes, via the configurational moments, work that accompanies changes in the curvature of the interface; a constitutive theory whose main ingredient is a positive-definite, isotropic, quadratic dependence of the interfacial energy on the curvature tensor. Two special cases are investigated: (i) the interface is a boundary between bulk phases or grains, and (ii) the interface separates an elastic thin film bonded to a rigid substrate from a vapor phase whose sole action is the deposition of atoms on the surface.
A light- and electron-microscopic investigation of gametogenesis in Typosyllis pulchra (Berkeley and Berkeley) (polychaeta: Syllidae)

Oogenesis in Typosyllis pulchra begins with a short proliferative gonial phase. Gonial clusters, consisting of six to eight syncytial sibling cells, are surrounded by gonial peritoneum and are eventually liberated into the coelom. At about the same time as the onset of the coelomic phase, one gonial cell in each cluster differentiates, begins to accumulate yolk and increases in size, eventually to become a mature oocyte. Yolk is composed of lipid droplets and membranebound protein granules. The protein component appears to be at least partially synthesized by the oocyte although there are some signs of endocytosis. Nurse cells and peritoneal cells are apparently able to manufacture some protein that may also be utilized by the oocyte. The nurse cells maintain cytoplasmic continuity with the oocyte, and mitochondria and ribosomes are often seen within the intercellular bridges between oocyte and nurse cell. Immediately prior to spawning, oocytes undergo prematuration and cytoplasmic reorganization. Ultrastructural changes which occur during oocyte growth and maturation are described.
Quantitative Assessment of Asthma Severity in Pediatric Emergency Department (ED) Patients using Noninvasive Respiratory Function Tests

Quantitative Assessment of Asthma Severity in Pediatric Emergency Department (ED) Patients using Noninvasive Respiratory Function Tests
Recent advances in inspecting integrated circuits for pattern defects

Automatic inspection has become an essential part of manufacturing technology for integrated circuit chips. Three trends today in the geometries of integrated circuits and the chips they comprise have serious implications for inspection. The individual devices are getting smaller, with smallest features on some advanced products already crossing the optical resolution threshold; the chip areas are getting larger; and the chips consist of more layers and undergo more processing steps. Not only are the smallest defects harder to see due to the resolution limit, they are much rarer because the tolerable defect density decreases as chip area increases. This paper addresses automated integrated circuit inspection, surveying recent advances, and future challenges. An overview of all inspection operations performed on integrated circuit chips during the manufacturing process is followed by a detailed discussion of pattern defect inspection (PDI) and its unique requirements, such as detection probability, false alarm rate, throughput, and minimum defect size. The core material of the paper consists of a discussion of approaches and systems for PDI, emphasizing recent developments but reviewing older work to set the proper context. Both work reported in the literature and commercial systems are covered.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dance-making for adults with Parkinson disease: one teacher’s process of constructing a modern dance class

Within the last decade, research has supported the use of dance for people with Parkinson disease to improve health and wellbeing. While the majority of study findings have been positive for a variety of psychophysical outcomes (gait, mobility, and balance confidence, for example,), little has been reported in regard to the process of selecting class content. This paper describes one teacher’s process of action research in developing a program in modern dance for a small group of adults with Parkinson disease and their spouses. The program was generated as collaborative pilot research to identify variables within modern dance that could be more rigorously examined and applied in future studies. Here the dance teacher describes her rationale and outlines the components of the class structure as a means of stimulating dialogue on a designing community-based dance curriculum for this population. Generating such dialogue will contribute to the developing body of literature in dance curriculum research.
Aesthetics in Postcolonial Reading: Cinematic Challenges from Karmen Geï

This article presents the complex pedagogical challenges and triumphs of an experience of teaching “postcolonial film.” It contains a template for teaching undergraduate students both film studies skills and critical skills to tackle postcolonial artistic creation in its widest respective theoretical and historical context. It also suggests ways for nonfilm studies specialists to integrate close study of a film within a course otherwise using text-based materials. An explication de texte is the most basic exercise that yields complex analyses of any sutured “text” and provides opportunities for sustained dialogue between the student and material. The highly sophisticated, creative, meticulous, and generative readings that students have produced in my experience of beginning every class curriculum with this most basic method of the French tradition has convinced me of its value for insightful reading and clear writing at all levels. I offer this example of explication , taken from my method of presenting and discussing a film, for instructors to modify for their purposes and, more specifically, to adapt film meaningfully into their courses. 1
IL‐4 and transforming growth factor‐β suppress human immunoglobulin secretion in vitro by surface IgD− B cells

The effect of IL-4 and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on immunoglobulin secretion in vitro by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or purified B cells activated with murine EL4 thymoma cells and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was investigated. As previously reported, IL-4 induced IgE and IgG4 secretion by B cells in PBMC preparations and B cells activated with EL4 cells and PMA. However, when B cells, either in PBMC preparations or purified and activated with EL4 cells and PMA, spontaneously secreted large quantities of immunoglobulin, IL-4 suppressed the immunoglobulin secretion of all isotypes. IL-4 also suppressed the IgE secretion by B cells from an atopic dermatitis patient. This suppressive effect was not reversed by adding IL-2 or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) to the cultures. We also showed that TGF-beta suppressed the immunoglobulin secretion by purified B cells activated by EL4 cells and PMA. To investigate whether IL-4 or TGF-beta suppressed immunoglobulin secretion by in vivo 'switched' and isotype-committed B cells, sIgD- B cells were isolated, activated with EL4 cells and PMA and cultured with IL-4 or TGF-beta. Such activated B cells secreted large quantities of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgA1, IgA2 and IgM, and IL-4 and TGF-beta suppressed all these isotypes by greater than 80%. The data demonstrated that IL-4 and TGF-beta suppress immunoglobulin secretion in vitro by in vivo isotype-committed sIgD- B cells, suggesting that these lymphokines may play a down-regulatory role on differentiated isotype-committed B cells in an isotype-unrestricted manner. The data also showed that IL-4 and TGF-beta acted directly on isolated B cells.
Efficient picosecond pulse shaping by programmable Bragg gratings

We propose an efficient approach for arbitrary optical pulse shaping in the subhundred to a few hundreds picosecond regime. The designed device uses one-dimensional wave-guided Bragg gratings filled with an electrically controlled dielectric. One hundred electrodes are attached along the waveguide so that the refractive index pattern is programmable by applying voltages. The frequency response of this device with certain refractive index patterns is analyzed. Numerical simulations show that output pulses with desired shapes and high efficiency (>40% of theoretical maximum) can be obtained by using a genetic algorithm searching method augmented by an adiabatic following optimization scheme
Phylogenetic relationships among sloths (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Tardigrada): the craniodental evidence

This study is undertaken in order to evaluate specific hypotheses of relationship among extant and extinct sloths (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Tardigrada). Questions of particular interest include the relationship among the three traditional family groupings of extinct ground sloths and the monophyletic or diphyletic origin of the two genera of extant tree sloths. A computer-based cladistic investigation of the phylogenetic relationships among 33 sloth genera is performed based upon 286 osteological characteristics of the skull, lower jaw, dentition and hyoid arch. Characters are polarized via comparisons with the following successive outgroups, all members of the supraordinal grouping Edentata: the Vermilingua, or anteaters; the Cingulata, or armadillos and glyptodonts; the Palaeanodonta; and the Pholidota, or pangolins. The results of the analysis strongly corroborate the diphyly of living tree sloths, with the three-toed sloth Bradypus positioned as the sister-taxon to all other sloths, and the two-toed sloth Choloepus allied with extinct members of the family Megalonychidae. These results imply that the split between the two extant sloth genera is ancient, dating back perhaps as much as 40 Myr, and that the similarities between the two taxa, including their suspensory locomotor habits, present one of the most dramatic examples of convergent evolution known among mammals. The monophyly of the three traditional ground sloth families Megatheriidae, Megalonychidae and Mylodontidae is confirmed in the present study, and the late Miocene–Pleistocene nothrotheres are shown to form a clade. It is suggested that this latter clade merits recognition as a distinct family-level grouping, the family Nothrotheriidae. The monophyly of the Megatherioidea, a clade including members of the families Megatheriidae, Megalonychidae and Nothrotheriidae, is also supported. Within Megatherioidea, the families Nothrotheriidae and Megatheriidae form a monophyletic group called the Megatheria. The relationships within the families Megatheriidae and Mylodontidae are fully and consistently resolved, although the hypothesized scheme of relationships among the late Miocene to Pleistocene members of the mylodontid subfamily Mylodontinae differ strongly from any proposed by previous authors. Within the family Megalonychidae, Choloepus is allied to a monophyletic grouping of West Indian sloths, although the relationships within this clade are not fully resolved. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 140, 255–305.
Exploring the uses of fingerprint patterns and ridge-counts in biographical associations

Fingerprint characteristics describe people and groups. A person can be described approximately by fingerprint patterns and ridge-counts, and described uniquely by fingerprint minutiae. A group can be described by overall pattern frequencies and average ridge-counts (per-person or per-finger). When a group comprises related persons, the genetic basis of fingerprints produces common qualitative and quantitative fingerprint characteristics within the group. Those common characteristics allow for differentiation between endogamous (related by marriage) groups; forensic anthropology is replete with examples detailing the dermatoglyphic differences between endogamous groups based on race, religion, geography, or caste. This paper examines the degree of differentiation between discrete endogamous groups and explores the ability to associate an individual to a group by comparing individual-to-group fingerprint characteristics. Data from dermatoglyphic anthropologic studies cited herein are used to illustrate the ability to differentiate groups based on fingerprint pattern and/or ridge-counts. In some instances, the degree of differentiation between groups suggests that it is possible to identify associations of individuals to a group. A case study is presented that illustrates the association of a person to one of two endogamous groups by comparing individual per-finger patterns and ridge-counts to composited group pattern and ridge-count information. In this case, approximately 80 percent association accuracy was achieved using a decision tree classifier. The success achieved in this limited case suggests further study in associating persons to groups using fingerprint characteristics.
Functional analysis of zebrafish microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1 (Magp1) in vivo reveals roles for microfibrils in vascular development and function.

Mutations in fibrillin-1 (FBN1) result in Marfan syndrome, demonstrating a critical requirement for microfibrils in vessel structure and function. However, the identity and function of many microfibril-associated molecules essential for vascular development and function have yet to be characterized. In our morpholino-based screen for members of the secretome required for vascular development, we identified a key player in microfibril formation in zebrafish embryogenesis. Microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1 (MAGP1) is a conserved protein found in mammalian and zebrafish microfibrils. Expression of magp1 mRNA is detected in microfibril-producing cells. Analysis of a functional Magp1-mRFP fusion protein reveals localization along the midline and in the vasculature during embryogenesis. Underexpression and overexpression analyses demonstrate that specific Magp1 protein levels are critical for vascular development. Integrin function is compromised in magp1 morphant embryos, suggesting that reduced integrin–matrix interaction is the main mechanism for the vascular defects in magp1 morphants. We further show that Magp1 and fibrillin-1 interact in vivo. This study implicates MAGP1 as a key player in microfibril formation and integrity during development. The essential role for MAGP1 in vascular morphogenesis and function also supports a wide range of clinical applications, including therapeutic targets in vascular disease and cardiovascular tissue engineering.
Nonuniform loss of membrane glycoconjugates during in vivo aging of human erythrocytes: Studies of normal and diabetic red cell saccharides☆

Changes occurring in membrane saccharides during the in vivo aging of normal human erythrocytes have been evaluated after the fractionation of the red cells into five age groups by density gradient centrifugation. The glycoconjugate fractions studied included sialoglycoproteins, macroglycolipids, low-molecular-weight glycolipids, and Band 3 glycoproteins. All of the carbohydrate constituents of the membrane were found to decrease relative to the total ghost protein as a function of cell age, with the most substantial losses occurring in the macroglycolipids (50%) and Band 3 glycoprotein (30%); the smallest changes were observed in the sialoglycoproteins (13%). No preferential loss of sialic acid or other peripheral sugars was found, making unlikely the importance of glycosidase action in the removal of sugars from the membrane. It is suggested that the changes observed in the composition of the ghosts during aging are best explained by a loss of membrane segments enriched in glycoproteins and glycolipids and deficient in internally located molecules such as spectrin. Analyses were also performed on the glycoconjugate fractions from diabetic erythrocytes separated according to cell age. These erythrocytes, which had glycosylated hemoglobin values twice those of normals, had somewhat smaller amounts of membrane-bound carbohydrate. The difference between diabetic and normal erythrocytes was greatest when young cells were examined (diabetic to normal = 0.93), suggesting that the known increased turnover of red cells in diabetes leads to an early loss of membrane constituents.
Comparison of the effects of chlordiazepoxide and CL 218,872 on serum corticosterone concentrations in rats.

Fifteen minute exposure to a novel environment plus 120 dB sound stimulation produced a three-fold increase in serum corticosterone concentrations in rats. A low dose of intraperitoneally (IP) administered chlordiazepoxide (CDP) (5 mg/kg) attenuated this response, whereas a higher dose (20 mg/kg) elevated corticosterone concentrations in rats not subjected to sound stress. Parallel results were obtained after intracerebroventricular (ICV) drug administration, with a low dose of CDP (5 μg) reducing the sound stress response and higher doses (25 and 50 μg) increasing corticosterone concentrations in unstressed animals. Thus, despite the presence of benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptors at every level of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis, it appears that BDZs alter the activity of this system via an interaction with BDZ receptors in brain. CL 218,872 (2.5–20 mg/kg), a novel non-BDZ anxiolytic compound, did not attenuate the corticosterone elevation produced by sound stimulation, and also failed to alter baseline corticosterone concentrations in unstressed animals. The fact that CL 218,872 is a selective agonist for brain Type I BDZ receptors suggests that BDZs are not influencing corticosterone secretion through an interaction with this BDZ receptor subtype. Furthermore, these results indicate that stress (as measured by pituitary-adrenocortical activation) can be dissociated from anxiety (as measured by conflict paradigms), thus challenging the validity of the corticosteroid stress test as a screening procedure for anxiolytic activity.
Nonequilibrium steady states of stochastic lattice gas models of fast ionic conductors

We investigate theoretically and via computer simulation the stationary nonequilibrium states of a stochastic lattice gas under the influence of a uniform external fieldE. The effect of the field is to bias jumps in the field direction and thus produce a current carrying steady state. Simulations on a periodic 30 × 30 square lattice with attractive nearest-neighbor interactions suggest a nonequilibrium phase transition from a disordered phase to an ordered one, similar to the para-to-ferromagnetic transition in equilibriumE=0. At low temperatures and largeE the system segregates into two phases with an interface oriented parallel to the field. The critical temperature is larger than the equilibrium Onsager value atE=0 and increases with the field. For repulsive interactions the usual equilibrium phase transition (ordering on sublattices) is suppressed. We report on conductivity, bulk diffusivity, structure function, etc. in the steady state over a wide range of temperature and electric field. We also present rigorous proofs of the Kubo formula for bulk diffusivity and electrical conductivity and show the positivity of the entropy production for a general class of stochastic lattice gases in a uniform electric field.
Silicon carbide composite for light water reactor fuel assembly applications

Abstract The feasibility of using SiC f –SiC m composites in light water reactor (LWR) fuel designs was evaluated. The evaluation was motivated by the desire to improve fuel performance under normal and accident conditions. The Fukushima accident once again highlighted the need for improved fuel materials that can maintain fuel integrity to higher temperatures for longer periods of time. The review identified many benefits as well as issues in using the material. Issues perceived as presenting the biggest challenges to the concept were identified to be flux gradient induced differential volumetric swelling, fragmentation and thermal shock resistance. The oxidation of silicon and its release into the coolant as silica has been identified as an issue because existing plant systems have limited ability for its removal. Detailed evaluation using available literature data and testing as part of this evaluation effort have eliminated most of the major concerns. The evaluation identified Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) channel, BWR fuel water tube, and Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) guide tube as feasible applications for SiC composite. A program has been initiated to resolve some of the remaining issues and to generate physical property data to support the design of commercial fuel components.
Parent–adolescent communication and diabetes: an integrative review

Title. Parent–adolescent communication and diabetes: an integrative review. Aim. This paper presents a synthesis of findings from empirical studies about communication and interaction between parents and their adolescents with diabetes. Background. Communication between parent and adolescent is essential in transitioning the adolescent to increased responsibility for diabetes self-management. Nurses are in a pivotal position to enhance the type of parent–adolescent communication that facilitates this transition. Data sources. A search of published studies from 1985 to 2006 featuring communication or interaction between parents and adolescents with type 1 diabetes was implemented through a computerized search. Review methods. Papers were organized by type of evidence and were analysed sequentially. Sources were described based on data elements which were extracted. Findings in the areas of productive and problematic parent–adolescent communications were included. Data elements were compared and critiqued, noting consistencies, and findings were summarized and evaluated. Results. Studies across several countries indicate that maternal support, conflict, control, involvement and emotional expression are important communication concepts that are linked to diabetes outcomes in adolescents. The influences of different family structures and cultural and socioeconomic circumstances, as well as developmental status and gender of adolescents on these types of communication, have not been systematically studied. Conclusion. Nurses caring for adolescents with type 1 diabetes need to consider family relationships and communication patterns in achieving health outcomes. Studies of communication, including perspectives of mothers and fathers, and the influence of family structure, economics and culture are needed to build a framework of parent–adolescent interaction and health outcomes for adolescents with type 1 diabetes.