cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Involvement of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide in opossum internal anal sphincter relaxation

Despite its widespread distribution and significance in the gut, the role of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) in internal anal sphincter (IAS) relaxation has not been examined. This study examined the role of PACAP in nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) nerve-mediated relaxation of IAS smooth muscle. Circular smooth muscle strips from the opossum IAS were prepared for measurement of isometric tension. The influence of PACAP and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) antagonists and tachyphylaxis on the neurally mediated IAS relaxation was examined either separately or in combination. The release of these neuropeptides in response to NANC nerve stimulation before and after the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitorN ω-nitro-l-arginine and NO was also investigated. Both PACAP and VIP antagonists caused significant attenuation of IAS relaxation by NANC nerve stimulation. The combination of the antagonists, however, did not have an additive effect on IAS relaxation. VIP tachyphylaxis caused s...
The Role of Phylogenetic History in the Evolution of Contemporary Avian Mating and Parental Care Systems

Although adaptation via natural selection is accepted by evolutionary biologists as the primary basis for the great diversity of functional traits exhibited by organisms, its potency does have limitations. Wilson (1975:32) refers to the limits to evolutionary change or the relative difficulty of altering rates of evolutionary change as phylogenetic inertia and points out that this inertia imposes constraints on the evolution of new adaptations. Some biologists have viewed “phylogenetic constraint” as a weak explanation either for why particular traits are present or for the absence of characters that would appear to make the organism in question better adapted (e.g., Alcock, 1979:174). However, over the past few years it has become increasingly apparent that a consideration of the evolutionary history of many traits, including social and reproductive behavior, is essential to the development of a comprehensive understanding of the relationships between organisms and their environments.
Biotechnology Processes: Membrane Materials, Modules and Process Design

Pressure-driven membrane processes are being increasingly integrated into existing reaction, isolation, and recovery schemes for the production of valuable biological molecules. In some cases they are replacing traditional unit processes. Membrane systems are being used for both upstream and downstream processing taking advantage of their permselectivity, high surface area per unit volume, and their potential for controlling the level of contact and/or mixing between two separate phases. Advances in both membrane materials and module design and operation have led to better performance, i.e., control of concentration polarization and membrane fouling. After reviewing how membranes can be integrated into bioprocesses and presenting some recent advances in membrane materials, module design and fluid mechanics, we review established and emerging membrane separation processes. Several examples are used to emphasize the synergism between biological processes and synthetic membranes.
A Photoelectric-Photographic Analysis of Flight Behavior in the Corn Earworm, Heliothis zea, and other Moths

A photoelectric-photographic study was made of flight activity of the corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), and other Noctuidae and also of some species of Sphingidae and one of Arctiidae. Photographs were obtained of wing configuration and positioning of appendages in free flight. Relationships between wing pitch, wing loading, and frequency of beat were determined. It was demonstrated that both wing pitch and wing load parameters vary considerably during harsh flight maneuvers, and that the study of the aerodynamic parameters of tethered flight do not necessarily represent free flight. Antennae are stable in flight but vibrate at the same frequency as the wings. With regard to attraction between sexes by electromagnetic radiation, stability of antennae, and proboscis response of earworm moths to a photoelectric window provided provocative evidence that further carefully instrumented experiments, especially in the infrared spectrum, are warranted.
Feeding Behavior of Biotypes E and H Greenbug (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Previously Infested Near-Isolines of Barley

The feeding behavior of virulent and avirulent greenbug biotypes after preconditioning of the plant with virulent and avirulent greenbug biotypes was examined. A pair of near-isolines of barley, Hordeum vulgare L., differing by the antibiosis greenbug-resistance gene Rsg1a were used. Rsg1a confers resistance to all greenbug biotypes except biotypes H and J. When data from a 420-min feeding monitor period were divided into 2 periods (0–210 min and 210–420 min), differences in feeding behavior were noted during the later period. Biotype E probed 3.5-fold more frequently and fed in the phloem for 5- to 8-fold less total time when feeding on Rsg1a+ plants than on Rsg1a− plants or when biotype H fed on either the resistant or susceptible isoline. The feeding behavior of biotype E was not altered by preconditioning Rsg1a+ plants with biotype H. However, when biotype H was monitored on Rsg1a+ plants that were preconditioned for 24 h with biotype E, biotype H probed 2-fold more often and spent 4-fold less time feeding in the phloem when compared with biotype H feeding on Rsg1a+ plants that were not preconditioned. This reduction did not occur for biotype H when monitored on Rsg1a− plants that had been preconditioned with biotype E or on Rsg1a+ that had been preconditioned with biotype H. These results suggest that the Rsg1a gene confers an inducible form of resistance that can be triggered by plant recognition of an avirulent greenbug biotype.
Market Measures from Salesmen: A Multidimensional Scaling Approach

MEASUREMENT AND MARKETING This article describes the use of two scaling methods for polling a particular group of market experts-a firm's salesmen. Both methods seek to identify and measure a set of customer characteristics which permit meaningful market measurements to be made. One method is relatively unstructured with respect to the number and identity of the characteristics by which salesmen appraise their customers. It employs nonmetric multidimensional scaling by pairwise similarity judgments and yields a "similarities space" in which individual customers appear as the scaled stimuli. The other method assumes a set of relevant customer characteristics, and salesmen scale their customers by mak
Failure of culicine eggs to darken in the field.

Egg rafts of Culiseta incidens and Culex pipiens were collected from the field. On nights characterized by warm, dry winds, eggs at the periphery of the rafts failed to darken or develop, indicating that these eggs died shortly after oviposition.
Use of Patient Education and Monitoring Software in Community Pharmacies

Objective: To determine the level of use of health education and monitoring software programs in independent community pharmacies in rural locales. Design: The use of seven software programs that deliver patient education and provide blood pressure monitoring was assessed at five sites of the Nebraska Drug Information Network (NDIN) for one month. Direct Access, a Windows-based software program, documented which programs were accessed and for what time period. Results: During a one-month period, 326 accesses were logged representing 44 hours of computer time. Extrapolated to all 30 sites of NDIN, this represents 264 hours and 1,956 accesses monthly. On average, each pharmacy logged 8.8 hours within 65 accesses each month. Each access averaged 8 minutes. DynaPulse (167 accesses; 16.4 hours) was the most frequently used product, followed by Home Medical Advisor Pro 154 accesses; 8.9 hours) and Mayo Clinic The Family Pharmacist (35 accesses; 8.3 hours). The least amount of time was spent with BodyWorks (0.6 hours) but Well ness Checkpoint had fewest accesses (7 accesses). Conclusion: Applied medical informatics is assuming a larger role in daily clinical practice as pharmacy practitioners strive to better inform their patients. This is congruent with the finding that a better informed public can be a healthier public. This study demonstrates that computer systems are readily used by patients and pharmacists in rural communities. lucinda G. Miller, PharmD, BCPS, is professor and vice-chairman, Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Tex.
Effects of Soil Preparation Period on Soil Physical Properties and Young Apple Tree Growth

In order to increase the livability and survival rate of young apple trees in the loess hilly and gully areas of Northern Shaanxi Province,soil physical properties and young apple tree growth were monitored by the three treatments of soil preparation by digging hole before rainy season,after rainy season,and in spring.Results showed that soil bulk density was decreased and soil total porosity and soil non-capillary porosity were increased after soil preparation by digging hole.For the treatment of soil preparation by digging hole before rainy season,soil moisture was increased in spring and tree growth prophase period;soil temperature difference between daily max-temperature and daily min-temperature was decreased;tree livability was increased;and tree growth was promoted.However,for the treatments of soil preparation by digging hole after rainy season and in spring,soil moisture was decreased;soil temperature difference was increased;tree livability was reduced;tree growth was weakened;ground subsidence depth was deepened in plant year;branch water content was reduced in the winter and spring;branch shriveling index was increased;and tree survival rate was decreased.Soil preparation by digging hole before rainy season is suggested when apple trees were planted in the loess hilly and gully area of Northern Shaanxi Province.
Rifamycin Biosynthetic Congeners: Isolation and Total Synthesis of Rifsaliniketal and Total Synthesis of Salinisporamycin and Saliniketals A and B

We describe the isolation, structure elucidation, and total synthesis of the novel marine natural product rifsaliniketal and the total synthesis of the structurally related variants salinisporamycin and saliniketals A and B. Rifsaliniketal was previously proposed, but not observed, as a diverted metabolite from a biosynthetic precursor to rifamycin S. Decarboxylation of rifamycin provides salinisporamycin, which upon truncation with loss of the naphthoquinone ring leads to saliniketals. Our synthetic strategy hinged upon a Pt(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of an alkynediol to set the dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system and a fragmentation of an intermediate dihydropyranone to forge a stereochemically defined (E,Z)-dienamide unit. Multiple routes were explored to assemble fragments with high stereocontrol, an exercise that provided additional insights into acyclic stereocontrol during stereochemically complex fragment-assembly processes. The resulting 11–14 step synthesis of saliniketals then enabled u...
Risk Factors for Survival and Thrombosis in Patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH): A Single Institution Study of 68 Patients.

Background: Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a clonal stem cell disorder characterized by intravascular hemolysis, thrombosis, bone marrow failure and reduced survival. In this current single institution study of patients with PNH, we investigate the risk factors predictive of survival and thrombosis. Methods: Data were abstracted from medical records of a consecutive cohort of patients with PNH seen at the Mayo Clinic. Diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of intravascular Hemolysis and either a positive Ham’s test, and/or by the presence of a GPI-deficient hematopoietic clone. Follow-up data were obtained by contacting the patients and by reviewing the social security death index. Results: i. Patients and treatment: The study cohort included 68 patients with PNH (median age 32 years, range 10–77; 33 females) with a median follow up of 84.5 months (range, 1–538 months). Presenting features included infection (n=9), thrombosis (n=9), neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ii. Thrombotic events and risk factors: Overall, 20 patients (29.4 %) experienced one or more episodes of major thrombosis. Among several clinical and laboratory parameters evaluated at presentation, only the detection of urine hemoglobin and infection were found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of thrombosis (p=0.05) iii. Risk factors for survival To date, 18 patients (27%) have died and median survival for the study cohort is projected at 21.1 years. Multivariate analysis identified thrombosis (p=0.003) and an ANC of > 1000 (p= 0.05) at presentation as independent risk factors for inferior survival. In addition, the occurrence of major hemorrhage was significantly associated with poor survival (p= 0.04). Conclusion The current study provides natural history information in a relatively large cohort of patients with PNH and identifies certain disease features that could be further explored for their potential as risk factors for both thrombosis and survival.
Determination of Z coordinate from track width in MiniTPC

Abstract A gas-filled Time Projection Chamber and a radioactive neutron source were used to study recoil tracks produced by scattering of the multi-MeV neutrons on gas nuclei. Since the event readout is triggered by the first electron arrival, the initial time and position in the electron drift direction are unknown, leading to a translational uncertainty in this direction. By using the track width due to electron diffusion, the coordinate along the drift direction was determined. With a suitable width calibration at a known drift distance, it is found that width measurements of the track can provide useful information for establishing a well-defined gas fiducial volume for the interactions. The coordinate determination is also sufficiently precise that it can be used as a third parameter in kinematic reconstruction of the neutron collision, providing improved knowledge of the neutron collision process. Despite a wide range of track ionization levels resulting from the broad spectrum of neutron energies and varying angles of scatter, the coordinate determination is not sensitive to the track ionization.
Formyl C-H activation in N,N-Dimethylformamide by a dirhenium carbonyl complex

Abstract The reaction of Re2(CO)8[μ-η2-C(H)=C(H)Bun](μ-H), 1 with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 70 C for 6 h has yielded three new compounds: Re2(CO)8(μ-η2-O=CNMe2)(μ-H), 2, (16% yield), Re2(CO)7(NHMe2)(μ-η2-O=CNMe2)(μ-H), 3, (30% yield), Re2(CO)9(NHMe2), 4 (14% yield). Compounds 2 and 3 contain a C,O-η2-bridging formamido (O=CNMe2) ligand and a bridging hydrido ligand that were formed by the elimination of hexene from 1 and the oxidative addition of the formyl C-H bond of the DMF to the dirhenium group of 1. Compound 3 also contains an NHMe2 ligand that was apparently formed by the decarbonylation of DMF and the transfer of the formyl hydrogen atom to the NMe2 group. Compound 4 contains a similarly formed NHMe2 ligand. Compound 2 was also obtained by the reaction of 3 with CO and compound 3 was obtained by the reaction of 2 with DMF. Compound 4 was obtained independently in a high yield by the reaction of Re2(CO)9(NCMe) with NHMe2. Compounds 2, 3 and 4 were characterized structurally by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.
Abstract 062: Mitoubiquinone Decreases Reactive Oxygen Species Production and Improves Cardiac Efficiency in Chronic Volume Overload

Background: The hemodynamic stress of left ventricular (LV) volume overload (VO) produces LV dysfunction accompanied by mitochondrial and cytoskeletal disruption in cardiomyocytes. Because mitochondria are both a source and target of reactive oxygen species (ROS), we hypothesize myocyte damage and LV dysfunction are mediated by mitochondrially produced ROS and can be attenuated by the mitochondrially targeted antioxidant, mitoubiquinone (MitoQ). Methods: Aortocaval fistula (ACF) was induced for 8 weeks in adult rats ± MitoQ. Echocardiography and high-fidelity LV pressure catheter recordings were used to study the LV end-systolic pressure-volume relationship and cardiac efficiency. Isolated cardiomyocytes were loaded with Carboxy-H2DFFDA (CM-DCF) and tetramethylrhodamine (TMRM) to measure mitochondrial ROS production and membrane potential. Results: Isolated cardiomyocyte studies demonstrated increased ROS production and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in VO animals, both of which were attenuated with MitoQ. Treatment with MitoQ demonstrated a strong trend toward improvement in LV contractility, as cardiac efficiency improved significantly in MitoQ-treated VO animals. Untreated VO animals exhibited mitochondrial swelling and myofibrillar disruption that was prevented by MitoQ. Conclusion: These studies suggest an early interplay between mitochondrial-derived ROS production and cardiac ultrastructure and function.
Effects of yeast fermentation product inclusion during the brooder phase and grower/finisher phase feed form effects on large tom performance using feed produced at a commercial mill

SUMMARY The brooder phase (d one to 42) is crucial to overall turkey performance, and many integrators believe that the utilization of yeast products (YP) is cost effective. Pellet quality is crucial to grower/finisher phase production (d 42 to 118) due to feed form advantages during this period of high-volume consumption. Also, feed and feed manufacture represent the largest investment required to produce poultry. The objective of this study was to establish the effects of YP (YP1 or YP2) inclusion on d one to 42 poult performance. On d 42, a 2 YP carryover x 2 feed form [intact high-quality pellets (HQP) or ground pellets (GP)] factorial arrangement was used to measure main effects and interactions on d one to 118 tom performance. All diets had similar nutrient composition (other than YP), and feed was manufactured at a commercial feed mill. Feed form consisted of either intact HQP (average of 21.4% fines) or ground HQP (GP; average particle size of 1,108 microns). Male Hybrid Converters were reared at a facility that mimicked commercial grow-out. On d 42, YP1 improved ending weight (EW) and FCR. No YP carryover effect was demonstrated for any of the d 42 to 118 performance variables. Feeding HQP produced toms that were 0.29 kg/bird heavier with 9 points lower FCR, as compared to toms fed GP. Regression analyses predicted that if toms fed GP finished at the same d 118 EW as those fed HQP, then FCR advantages of HQP would be 12 points. These FCR benefits may justify the increased feed costs associated with manufacturing HQP.
Antigens and the Major Histocompatibility Complex

Neoplastic cells express cell-surface antigenic molecules, referred to as tumor-associated transplantation antigens (TATA), that can be recognized by the host’s immune system (Gross, 1943; Foley, 1953; Prehn and Main, 1957). A consequence of such recognition is the production of either a humoral and/or a cell-mediated immune response which may or may not lead to protective immunity against the tumor (reviewed by Hellstrom and Hellstrom, 1969). While some immune responses do not involve cell-mediated immunity mediated by thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes, most types of responses are at least indirectly dependent on the ability to activate antigen-specific T lymphocytes.
An Operator Splitting Method for Nonlinear Reactive Transport Equations and Its Implementation Based on DLL and COM

In this paper, we propose an operator splitting method for convection-dominated transport equations with nonlinear reactions, which model groundwater contaminant biodegradation and many other interesting applications. The proposed method can be efficiently implemented by applying software integration techniques such as dynamical link library (DLL) or component object model (COM). Numerical results are also included to demonstrate the performance of the method.
The Prediction of Particle Size and Molecular Weight Distributions in Emulsion Polymerization

The ability to predict latex particle size distributions is of significant practical importance as many physical and end use properties of the latex are directly related to this characteristic. It goes without saying that the prediction of the accompanying molecular weight distribution is of equal importance. From a theoretical standpoint, the quantitative analysis of these two distributions is desirable in that it more fully realizes the implications of Harkins mechanistic concepts and allows a more critical evaluation of the deficiencies of the theory.
Design and Analysis of Blue InGaN/GaN Plasmonic LED for High-Speed, High-Efficiency Optical Communications

We design, fabricate and analyze a nanostructured plasmonic light emitting diode (LED) that simultaneously increases modulation speed and radiative efficiency, compared to conventional LEDs and unp...
Conclusion: Socialism in Our Time? The Prospects for Socialism in the Twenty-First Century

The history of social movements and revolutions surveyed in this Handbook provides ample evidence that an oppressed and exploited people who become conscious of their oppression and unite to overcome their predicament will persist in their struggle and prevail to set themselves free, as in the chant “iel pueblo unido jamas sera vencido!”—“the people united will never be defeated!”. This has become the slogan of millions of oppressed people throughout the world who have voiced these words in many languages, and the feeling has been the same—that for true human freedom to occur, people must come together and fight for their liberation. This process has evolved over the course of history through the formation and development of social movements and revolutions on a world scale.
Rare subtypes of pancreatic cancer: Clinical outcomes and implications for clinical trial enrollment.

445Background: Pancreatic cancer subtypes such as adenosquamous (AS) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are rare and poorly understood. Treatment recommendations are extrapolated from pancreatic ade...
The Catalytic Effect of Hydrogen Bonding Upon Epoxide Ring-Opening

A particular type of catalysis that has been attracting increasing attention in recent years is that due to a properly situated hydroxyl group which facilitates the opening of an epoxide ring by means of intra-molecular hydrogen bonding. This has been proposed, for several molecules of biochemical interest, as a means of explaining their high degrees of reactivity.
Tropochemical cell-twinning in the new quaternary bismuth selenides KxSn(6-2x)Bi(2+x)Se9 and KSn5Bi5Se13.

The quaternary KxSn6-2xBi2+xSe9 and KSn5Bi5Se13 were discovered from reactions involving K2Se, Bi2Se3, Sn, and Se. The single crystal structures reveal that KxSn6-2xBi2+xSe9 is isostructural to the...
Waismann, Wittgenstein, Hart, and Beyond: The Developing Idea of ‘Open Texture’ of Language and Law

Brian Bix traces the path open texture took from its origins in Waismann’s time with Wittgenstein and in the Vienna Circle to its transformation with H. L. A. Hart for the purpose of interpreting and applying statutes. The bearing open texture and legal interpretation have on each other in extremely unexpected cases, and with differences between word meaning and speaker meaning, cement Waismann’s place in analytical legal philosophy.
Student Loan Payments: Evidence from 4 Million Families

Student loan debt has more than doubled over the last ten years, totaling $1.5 trillion and affecting 45 million borrowers by the end of 2018. In this report, the JPMorgan Chase Institute uses administrative banking data to assess student loan payments in conjunction with other household financial metrics, including income, spending, and non-student loan debt payments. We analyze checking account activity from over four million families that made student loan payments between 2012 and 2018 to understand how student loan payments fit into families’ broader financial lives. We find that the median family in our sample spends 5.5 percent of monthly take-home income on student loan payments, with one in four spending more than 11 percent; these numbers are even higher for young and low-income families. Just 54 percent of families in our sample make payments in more than 90 percent of months, a lower consistency than observers may expect, and lower than the same measure for mortgage and auto loan payments. In addition to publishing new summary statistics around student loan payments, we also generate two event studies, centered on the first and last observed student loan payments, respectively. We find that families tend to start making student loan payments following increases in labor income and liquid assets. Similarly, both of these metrics decrease on average following the final observed student loan payment, though this masks considerable variation across families. Altogether, our results offer new insights into student loan payment patterns in conjunction with other observed financial behaviors, and contribute to the ongoing debate regarding student loan repayment structure.
Online Recommendation System for Autonomous and Human-driven Ride-hailing Taxi Services

With the rapid development of autonomous vehicle technology, modern taxi services will potentially witness an important revolution, where some regular cabs will be substituted by self-driving taxis. In this study, we propose a hybrid taxi recommendation system where both autonomous and human-driven ride-hailing vehicles are guided in order to meet the needs of taxi customers as well as the expectation of human drivers. Customers desire to wait the minimum time before finding a taxi, while drivers aim to maximize their profits by speeding up their customer hunting. Autonomous taxis are used to back-up human-driven taxis in areas where customers' demand levels are low. Three major components compose our system: a taxi demand predictor, taxi-to-region assigner, and taxi routing optimizer. Our simulation model is applied on the borough of Manhattan, New York City (NYC), and is validated with realistic data. The selected results show that significant performance gains in terms of number of pickups, customer waiting time, and vacant traveled distance of human-drivers can be achieved compared to those of the traditional human-based taxi system.
Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease to Repurpose Drugs for COVID-19

ABSTRACT Guided by a computational docking analysis, about 30 FDA/EMA-approved small molecule medicines were characterized on their inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (MPro). Of these tested small molecule medicines, six displayed an IC50 value in inhibiting MPro below 100 μM. Three medicines pimozide, ebastine, and bepridil are basic small molecules that are expected to exert a similar effect as hydroxychloroquine in raising endosomal pH for slowing down the SARS-CoV-2 entry into human cell hosts. Bepridil has been previously explored in a high dose as 100 mg/kg for treating diseases. Its high dose use will likely achieve dual functions in treating COVID-19 by both raising the endosomal pH to slow viral entry and inhibiting MPro in infected cells. Therefore, the current study urges serious considerations of using bepridil in COVID-19 clinical tests.
E. cloacae intersected agglutination with S. flexneri type 6 is found in white bread

Objective To analyze the biological relationship between E. cloacae and S. flexneri type 6, avoid misdiagnose S. flexneri. Methods After isolating and culturing, the bacterium was identified by morphology, serology and general biochemical test. Results Intersected agglutination occur in the bacterium with S. flexneri type 6, E. cloacae was identified by morphology and general biochemical test.Conclusion E. cloacae with same antigen of S. flexneri type 6. Key words: E. cloacae; S. flexneri type 6; Intersected agglutination
A K-space-based Approach to Coherence Estimation

Improving contrast in ultrasound images has been widely studied. Many of the contrast improvement methods such as apodization, minimum variance beamforming, and coherence-based methods rely on processing of the raw channel data. In contrast, we propose a coherence estimation technique called Coherence of Estimated Channel Data (CECD) using beamformed data. This method is based in k-space, where the RF channel data is estimated from the beamformed RF data to measure the coherence. Simulation and in-vivo results showed that CECD can provide near or better image quality in terms of the clutter level, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and speckle signal-to-noise (SNR).
Greenhorns, Yankees, and Cosmopolitans: Venture Capital, IPOs, Foreign Firms, and U.S. Markets

Black and Gilson have argued that “venture capital can flourish especially – and perhaps only – if the venture capitalist can exit from a successful portfolio company through an initial public offering (IPO), which requires an active stock market.” But nothing in the Black and Gilson analysis requires that the exit option be a domestic capital market. In this article, I use the phenomenon of Israeli hi-tech companies going public on the Nasdaq as a case study to explore the connection between a venture capital industry and domestic capital markets in a world of global capital and product markets.
Discussion of “Phantom Penis: Extrapolating Neuroscience and Employing Imagination for Trans Male Embodiment”

Straayer synthesizes literary and scientific discourse on the trans phantom penis, presenting a compelling argument for greater roles of diversity and imagination in its conceptualization. In this ...
Selected Bibliography of Morton Deutsch’s Writings

A comprehensive bibliography of Morton Deutsch’s writings is available for download at: http://afes-press-books.de/html/SpringerBriefs_PSP_MortonDeutsch.htm.
Robustness of Semiparametric Efficiency in Nearly-Correct Models for Two-Phase Samples

We examine the performance of efficient and AIPW estimators under two-phase sampling when the complete-data model is nearly correctly specified, in the sense that the misspecification is not reliably detectable from the data by any possible diagnostic or test. Asymptotic results for these nearly true models are obtained by representing them as sequences of misspecified models that are mutually contiguous with a correctly specified model. We find that for the least-favourable direction of model misspecification the bias in the efficient estimator induced can be comparable to the extra variability in the AIPW estimator, so that the mean squared error of the efficient estimator is no longer lower. This can happen when the most-powerful test for the model misspecification still has modest power. We verify that the theoretical results agree with simulation in three examples: a simple informative-sampling model for a Normal mean, logistic regression in the classical case-control design, and linear regression in a two-phase design.
An Ecological Systems Perspective on the Clinical High Risk State Preceding Schizophrenia Onset

Developments in psychosis-risk assessment over recent decades have made it possible to identify a “clinical high risk” population that has a substantially elevated likelihood of developing a psychotic disorder relative to the general population. The expanding body of research on the clinical high risk population has identified risk and protective factors from a variety of environmental sources ranging from the immediate, such as social function and daily hassles, to the more distal, such as mental health policy and societal stigma. An ecological model of the psychosis-risk state would facilitate an understanding of the complex and interactive processes that contribute to the attenuated psychotic symptoms and decline in function that characterize someone as being at clinical high risk. The present article reviews clinical high risk research on social factors operating at various levels within the ecological systems framework, as defined by Bronfenbrenner (1977). An ecological model allows integration acros...
Mutation of the third intracellular loop of the cAMP receptor, cAR1, of Dictyostelium yields mutants impaired in multiple signaling pathways.

Seven-membrane span receptors transduce a wide range of signals across the plasma membrane. One member of this family, the cAMP receptor, cAR1, of Dictyostelium, mediates some responses (e.g. adenylyl cyclase activation, multicellular aggregation) which require G-proteins and others (e.g. Ca2+ influx, loss of ligand binding, cAR1 phosphorylation) which appear to be G-protein-independent. In this study, we randomly mutagenized the NH2-terminal eight amino acids of the third intracellular loop of cAR1 and examined the ability of these mutants to exhibit the three G-protein-independent responses listed above. Most mutants (classes I, II) exhibited wild-type or midly defective responses. Several mutants (class III), however, were severely impaired in all three processes but not in cAMP binding. Furthermore, these mutants failed to couple productively with G-proteins and could not replace cAR1 in a car1- cell. For these reasons, we propose that class III mutations interfere with the formation of an "active" conformation of the receptor.
Feasibility and flexibility analysis of black-box processes Part 1: Surrogate-based feasibility analysis

Abstract The flexibility index can be used to evaluate process robustness and can be incorporated into algorithms for optimal process design under uncertainty. Traditional approaches to evaluating the flexibility index have focused on explicit enumeration or active set strategies. These necessitate closed form expressions for process constraints and can be computationally expensive to implement for problems with a large numbers of constraints. In addition, these methods generally perform best for problems involving convex or 1-d quasi convex feasible regions with respect to the uncertain variables. In this article, a method for flexibility analysis of systems with black-box constraints will be introduced. This is the second in a series of two articles related to surrogate-based feasibility and flexibility analysis. The first article described a strategy for building surrogate models to represent the feasible region for processes with black-box constraints. In this work, surrogate feasibility functions are used to evaluate the flexibility index for processes that lack closed-form expressions for process constraints. The proposed approach can be applied to processes with stochastic uncertainties described by arbitrary distribution functions. Due to the low computational cost of evaluating surrogate feasibility functions, this method can also be useful for flexibility analysis of processes described by computationally expensive models. The proposed approach will be demonstrated for a series of test problems involving nonlinear, nonconvex and disjoint feasible regions. It will also be applied to evaluate the flexibility of a pharmaceutical roller compaction process with uncertainties described by both uniform and normal distributions.
Cristo-Helios americano: la inculturación del culto al sol en el arte y arquitectura de los virreinatos de la Nueva España y del Perú

Taking into account the solar cult practiced by the principal civilization in America, Jaime Lara suggests that the labor of the Spanish missionaries on this continent consisted in the revival of certain sensual aspects of medieval Christianity in order to make it compatible with the indigenous peoples’ religious beliefs. Rather than a natural syncretism, Lara proposes that a modification of Christianity and its liturgy took place to make them consistent with the main solar cults established by American civilizations.
Effects of surface texturing on microalgal cell attachment to solid carriers

Abstract: The objective of this study was to understand the role of surface texturing in microalgal cell attachment to solid surfaces. Two microalgal species, Scenedesmus dimorphus and Nannochloropsis oculata, were studied on solid carriers made of nylon and polycarbonate. Ridge, pillar and groove at micro-scale were engineered on the solid carriers. Cell response to the textured surfaces was separately described by the Cassie and Wenzel models and the contact point theory. Comparison between measured and model-predicted contact angles indicated that the wetting behavior of the textured solid carriers fell into the Wenzel state, which implied that algal cells could fully penetrate into the designed textures, but the adhesion behavior would be dependent on the size and shape of the cell. Experimental results showed that the attachment was preferred when the feature size was close to the diameter of the cell attempting to settle. Larger or smaller feature dimensions had the potential to reduce cellular attachment. The observation was found to qualitatively comply with the contact point theory. Keywords: algae attachment, algal biofuel, Cassie model, contact point theory, surface texture, Wenzel model DOI: 10.3965/j.ijabe.20130604.006 Citation: Cui Y, Yuan W Q, Cao J. Effects of surface texturing on microalgal cell attachment to solid carriers. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2013; 6(4): 44－54.
Goodman and Kruskal's Tau b: Multiple and Partial Analogs:

Using the logic developed by Goodman and Kruskal, multiple and partial analogs for their measure Tau are suggested. These measures may be of particular utility to survey researchers in situations where the Goodman and Kruskal lambda measures are either inappropriate or inapplicable. This measure has been shown to have a clear proportional reduction in error interpretation. These analogs should be useful and necessary for detailed causal and/or multiple analysis with nominal-level data.
Solute Coupled Diffusion in Osmotically Driven Membrane Processes

Forward osmosis (FO) is an emerging water treatment technology with potential applications in desalination and wastewater reclamation. In FO, water is extracted from a feed solution using the high osmotic pressure of a hypertonic solution that flows on the opposite side of a semipermeable membrane; however, solutes diffuse simultaneously through the membrane in both directions and may jeopardize the process. In this study, we have comprehensively explored the effects of different operating conditions on the forward diffusion of solutes commonly found in brackish water and seawater, and reverse diffusion of common draw solution solutes. Results show that reverse transport of solutes through commercially available FO membranes range between 80 mg to nearly 3,000 mg per liter of water produced. Divalent feed solutes have low permeation rates (less than 1 mmol/m2-hr) while monovalent ions and uncharged solutes exhibit higher permeation. Findings have significant implications on the performance and sustainabil...
Velocity Distributions of Food Particle Suspensions in Holding Tube Flow: Experimental and Modeling Studies on Average Particle Velocities

Average particle velocities of model food particles were investigated by videotaping particles suspended in sodium carboxymethylcellulose solutions during passage through a transparent holding tube similar in dimension to that of commercial aseptic processing systems. Results indicated the mean normalized velocity of particles was significantly affected by particle Froude number and a dimensionless viscosity. Within the range of this study, particle concentration effects were significant only with respect to standard deviations of distributions. Generalized Reynolds number poorly correlated with mean normalized particle velocity. A mathematical model for particle action was in qualitative agreement with experimental results.
Characterization of the infection of caprine synovial membrane cells by the retrovirus caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus.

Abstract Infection of caprine synovial membrane cells with the retrovirus, caprine arthritis-sencephalitis virus (CAEV), leads to the formation of multinucleate cells as a result of the fusion of productively infected cells. Infection with CAEV in the presence of cytosine arabinoside demonstrated a requirement for an early DNA-dependent step in the replication cycle. Replication of CAEV was characterized by a latent period of 15–20 hr, after which extracellular virus increased rapidly with little accumulation of cell-associated virus. Immunofluorescent and in situ hybridization techniques indicated that not all of the cells were productively infected. Some cells may be latently infected, providing a source of persistent virus and continual antigen stimulation, which may have important pathogenetic implications in the manifestation of progressive arthritic disease.
A Continuum for Using Placebo Interventions in Regional Anesthesia and Analgesia Studies

The anesthesiologist Henry K. Beecher is commonly associated with his crusade for informed consent for research. Less recognized is his contribution to the development of principles of randomized controlled trials through his emphasis on surgery as placebo to minimize bias. This article reviews Beecher's contribution and how it should be applied to modern studies of perioperative analgesia.
Directed paths on percolation clusters

We consider a variant of the problem of directed polymers on a disordered lattice, in which the disorder is “geometrical” in nature. In particular, we allow a finite probability for each bond to be absent from the lattice. We show, through the use of numerical and scaling arguments on both Euclidean and hierarchical lattices, that the model has two distinct scaling behaviors, depending upon whether the concentration of bonds on the lattice is at or above the directed percolation threshold. We are particularly interested in the exponentsω andζ, defined by δf∼tω and δx∼tζ, describing the free-energy and transverse fluctuations, respectively. Above the percolation threshold, the scaling behavior is governed by the standard “random energy” exponents (ω=1/3 and ζ=2/3 in 1+1 dimensions). At the percolation threshold, we predict (and verify numerically in 1+1 dimensions) the exponentsω=1/2 and ζ=v⊥/v∥, where v⊥ and v∥ are the directed percolation exponents. In addition, we predict the absence of a “free phase” in any dimension at the percolation threshold.
Optical Fiber Data Link For Missile Guidance

A unique application of optical fiber for use as a missile guidance link is described. This application utilizes a single fiber payed out from the missile during flight to provide a full duplex bi-directional data link between the missile and the ground control station. The unique properties of the link as applied to missile weaponry and the implications of these features on link design are discussed. The Army Missile Laboratory is presently conducting a supporting research program whose objective is the flight demonstration of sucn a data link. The hardware constructed during this program and its performance is presented.
A Brain Area for Visual Numerals

Is there a distinct area within the human visual system that has a preferential response to numerals, as there is for faces, words, or scenes? We addressed this question using intracranial electrophysiological recordings and observed a significantly higher response in the high-frequency broadband range (high γ, 65–150 Hz) to visually presented numerals, compared with morphologically similar (i.e., letters and false fonts) or semantically and phonologically similar stimuli (i.e., number words and non-number words). Anatomically, this preferential response was consistently localized in the inferior temporal gyrus and anterior to the temporo-occipital incisure. This region lies within or close to the fMRI signal-dropout zone produced by the nearby auditory canal and venous sinus artifacts, an observation that may account for negative findings in previous fMRI studies of preferential response to numerals. Because visual numerals are culturally dependent symbols that are only learned through education, our novel finding of anatomically localized preferential response to such symbols provides a new example of acquired category-specific responses in the human visual system.
Acute Effect of Overtransfusion on Plasma Renin Activity in the Rat

Plasma renin activity was measured in rats before and at intervals after intravenous injection of 6 cc of rat blood. In contrast to previous reports, the renin level was found to decrease very rapidly. Plasma renin activity diminishes to about 25% of its initial value in 1/2 hr and reaches a minimum of 17% in about 1 hr following overtransfusion. (Endocrinology 85: 341, 1969)
Diagnosis and management of endometriosis: The role of the advanced practice nurse in primary care

Purpose: To discuss the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of endometriosis for the advanced practice nurse (APN) in primary care. Data sources: Selected research, clinical studies, clinical practice guidelines, and review articles. Conclusions: Commonly encountered by the APN in primary care, endometriosis is a chronic, progressive inflammatory disease characterized by endometrial lesions, cysts, fibrosis, or adhesions in the pelvic cavity, causing chronic pelvic pain and infertility in women of reproductive age. Because of its frequently normal physical examination findings, variable clinical presentations, and nonspecific, overlapping symptoms with other conditions, endometriosis can be difficult to diagnose. As there currently are no accurate noninvasive diagnostic tests specific for endometriosis, it is imperative for the APN to become knowledgeable about the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and current treatment options of this disease. Implications for practice: The APN in primary care plays an essential role in health promotion through disease management and infertility prevention by providing support and much needed information to the patient with endometriosis. APNs can also facilitate quality of care and manage treatments effectively to improve quality of life, reduce pain, and prevent further progression of disease. Practice recommendations include timely diagnosis, pain management, infertility counseling, patient education, and support for quality of life issues.
Engineering photosynthetic organisms for the production of biohydrogen

Oxygenic photosynthetic organisms such as green algae are capable of absorbing sunlight and converting the chemical energy into hydrogen gas. This process takes advantage of the photosynthetic apparatus of these organisms which links water oxidation to H2 production. Biological H2 has therefore the potential to be an alternative fuel of the future and shows great promise for generating large scale sustainable energy. Microalgae are able to produce H2 under light anoxic or dark anoxic condition by activating 3 different pathways that utilize the hydrogenases as catalysts. In this review, we highlight the principal barriers that prevent hydrogen production in green algae and how those limitations are being addressed, through metabolic and genetic engineering. We also discuss the major challenges and bottlenecks facing the development of future commercial algal photobiological systems for H2 production. Finally we provide suggestions for future strategies and potential new techniques to be developed towards an integrated system with optimized hydrogen production.
Alterations of Single Molecule Fluorescence Lifetimes in Near-Field Optical Microscopy

Fluorescence lifetimes of single Rhodamine 6G molecules on silica surfaces were measured with pulsed laser excitation, time-correlated single photon counting, and near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM). The fluorescence lifetime varies with the position of a molecule relative to a near-field probe. Qualitative features of lifetime decreases are consistent with molecular excited state quenching effects near metal surfaces. The technique of NSOM provides a means of altering the environment of a single fluorescent molecule and its decay kinetics in a repeatable fashion.