cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A low-cost method for rapid transfer function measurements with direct application to biological impedance analysis

The measurement of the linear transfer function of a biological system has found wide use in the characterization of the system's input/output properties, and in the separation and measurement of the properties of the different subelements that make up the system. Unfortunately sophisticated and expensive instrumentation has traditionally been required to make these measurements. In this paper, we present detailed design specifications of a low-cost instrument that is capable of yielding transfer function measurements with a high degree of accuracy and speed. The instrument is comprised of a pseudo-random binary sequence signal generator with precise date acquisition synchronization circuits, interfaced to a general-purpose mini-or microcomputer system common to many laboratory environments. The instrument is capable of measuring the transfer function of an arbitrary biological system up to a bandwidth of 8.3 KHz, with a frequency resolution of 425 points. In cases where the biological measurements are not contaminated with experimental noise, the transfer function can be determined in as little as 47 ms of data collection. In the case where experimental noise is present in the biological measurements, a simple averaging method is described which results in an effective increase in the signal-to-noise ratio, thereby yielding accurate transfer function estimates. The instrument is especially well suited to the measurement of transfer functions of biological systems, where experimental noise is a problem and where only limited time is available to acquire stable measurements.
A view of behavior modification projects in California

Abstract Reinforcement therapy programs in operation at seven mental health facilities in California are briefly described in terms of their accomplishments, problems, and challenges. These programs are complex social systems containing groups of patients with a wide range of behavior problems. Therefore the clinical research team is beset by operational difficulties that the laboratory operant conditioner does not face with his individual Ss and controlled stimulus situations. Escape from contingencies, inadequate nursing staff motivation and training, low operant rates of group, social interaction, and incongruence between therapeutic and community settings are some of the problem areas that clinical programs applying reinforcement principles are confronting.
The STATus of PD‐L1 (B7‐H1) on tolerogenic APCs

Expression by DCs of co-inhibitory molecules such as programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1/B7-H1/CD274), a member of the B7 superfamily, is crucial for the downregulation of T-cell responses and the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Exposure of immature DCs to danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPS) or pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) generally results in their maturation and acquisition of immunostimulatory function. However, exposure of DCs to TLR ligands early during their differentiation can inhibit further differentiation and confer tolerogenic properties on these APCs. A report in this issue of The European Journal of Immunology reveals that early inhibition of human DC differentiation from blood monocytes by TLR agonists is associated with a tolerogenic phenotype and Treg generation. The tolerogenic function of these APCs is dependent on MAPK-induced IL-6 and IL-10 production, which drives STAT-3-mediated PD-L1 expression. These observations link IL-10 and IL-6 to PD-L1 expression, providing a new dimension to the anti-inflammatory properties of these cytokines. These findings also have implications for understanding the inherent function of DCs in non-lymphoid tissues such as the liver and lung, where they are exposed to PAMPs that are found constitutively in the local microenvironment.
Localization control for chlorite breccia deformation beneath Catalina detachment fault, Rincon Mountains, Tucson, Arizona

Abstract The structural location of an approximately 3-km stretch of the Catalina detachment fault zone appears to have been controlled by an ultramylonite shear zone within mylonites of the Catalina–Rincon metamorphic core complex. The Catalina detachment fault zone consists of the detachment fault surface, a 3–5 m interval of cataclasite and ultracataclasite, up to ∼50 m of chlorite breccia, and a discrete subdetachment fault. Beneath the subdetachment fault is a km-scale thickness of mylonites. Progressive ductile-to-brittle shear-zone evolution of the fault-rock stratigraphy started with mylonitization, was followed by overprinting of mylonites by chlorite brecciation, and culminated in the formation of the Catalina detachment fault and associated ultracataclasites. The detachment fault is cospatial with and subparallel to the zone of chlorite breccia. The subdetachment fault is subparallel to the interval of chlorite brecciation and to the detachment fault. The ‘plane’ of projection of the approximately 30-m thick ultramylonite shear zone within the mountain of mylonite, when followed downdip, coincides with the base of the ‘chlorite breccia’ brittle shear zone. Ultramylonite is preserved in places in the immediate lower plate of the subdetachment fault. The position and orientation of the subdetachment fault appears to have been controlled by an ultramylonite shear zone within the lower-plate mylonites. The rheological properties and orientation of this ultramylonite shear zone favored its reactivation as the brittle sole fault of the zone of chloritic brecciation.
L1TD1 is a marker for undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells.

BackgroundHuman embryonic stem cells (hESC) are stem cells capable of differentiating into cells representative of the three primary embryonic germ layers. There has been considerable interest in understanding the mechanisms regulating stem cell pluripotency, which will ultimately lead to development of more efficient methods to derive and culture hESC. In particular, Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog are transcription factors known to be important in maintenance of hESC. However, many of the downstream targets of these transcription factors are not well characterized. Furthermore, it remains unknown whether additional novel stem cell factors are involved in the establishment and maintenance of the stem cell state.Methodology/Principal FindingsHere we show that a novel gene, L1TD1 (also known as FLJ10884 or ECAT11), is abundantly expressed in undifferentiated hESC. Differentiation of hESC via embryoid body (EB) formation or BMP4 treatment results in the rapid down-regulation of L1TD1 expression. Furthermore, populations of undifferentiated and differentiated hESC were sorted using the stem cell markers SSEA4 and TRA160. Our results show that L1TD1 is enriched in the SSEA4-positive or TRA160-positive population of hESC. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation we found enriched association of Nanog to the predicted promoter region of L1TD1. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of Nanog in hESC also resulted in downregulation of L1TD1 expression. Finally, using luciferase reporter assay we demonstrated that Nanog can activate the L1TD1 upstream promoter region. Altogether, these results provide evidence that L1TD1 is a downstream target of Nanog.Conclusion/SignificanceTaken together, our results suggest that L1TD1 is a downstream target of Nanog and represents a useful marker for identifying undifferentiated hESC.
Monoclonal antibodies developed against Botryllus blood cell antigens bind to cells of distinct lineages during embryonic development

Monoclonal antibodies that bind to adult Botryllus blood cell surface antigens were used to detect and localize identical or cross-reacting antigenic determinants on Botryllus embryonic cells. These anti-Botryllus monoclonal reagents could be divided into three categories: 1) those that bound to most embryonic cell types, including all very early embryonic cells; 2) those that bound only to embryonic blood cells and a few other embryonic cell types; and 3) those that did not bind detectably to any embryonic cells.
Optical Calculations with Automatic Computing Machinery

The National Bureau of Standards has been making optical calculations for well over a year, using both their new high-speed SEAC and the commercially available IBM Card Programmed Electronic Calculator.Formulas especially suitable for machine computation are presented here. These enable a general ray to be traced through a rotationally symmetrical system of spherical or nonspherical surfaces. Formulas are also given for computing first- and third-order coefficients for any centered optical system.The formulas are derived from well-known forms, but they are transformed so that none of the quantities used in the machine ever becomes indeterminate or infinite. The formulas for first- and third-order coefficients are simpler than those frequently given and are very convenient for hand calculation.
Reinterpreting Bateman gradients: multiple mating and selection in both sexes of a songbird species

Bateman’s principle, which states that male reproductive success should increase with multiple mating, whereas female reproductive success should not, has long been used to explain sex differences in behavior. The statistical relationship between mating success and reproductive success, or Bateman gradient, has been proposed as a way to quantify sex differences in sexual selection. We used a long-term data set on the distribution of paternity in the socially monogamous dark-eyed junco to examine the effect of multiple mating on lifetime reproductive success and to determine the relative contributions of within-pair and extra-pair mating. Both sexes exhibited a strong positive Bateman gradient, even when the number of breeding years was accounted for. Although theory suggests that this pattern indicates a strong potential for sexual selection in both sexes, we argue that the interpretation of strong Bateman gradients, particularly in females, has many potential complications. We discuss several alternative explanations for our results, none of which requires sexual selection acting on female traits, including targeting of inherently fecund females by males seeking extra-pair mates and increased power to detect extra-pair offspring as family size increases. Because neither of these explanations requires that increased mating success causes increased reproductive success, we conclude that using Bateman gradients to measure the potential for sexual selection may be misleading for some mating systems and life histories, such as the iteroparous social monogamy found in juncos.
Long-term nutritional consequences of bowel segment use for lower urinary tract reconstruction in pediatric patients.

Abstract Objectives To identify whether nutritional abnormalities, specifically vitamin B 2 deficiency, folate deficiency, and low carotene levels, are long-term sequelae of the use of ileum and/or colon for lower urinary tract reconstruction in pediatric patients. Methods Serum levels of vitamin B 12 , methyl malonic acid (MMA), carotene, and folate were measured 3 to 13 years (mean 6) after surgery in patients less than 18 years old at the time of operation. Results Thirteen (44.8%) of 29 patients had abnormal nutritional serum levels, with 5 (38.5%) of 13 having more than one abnormal value. Vitamin B 12 was low in 4 (14%) of 29 patients; MMA was abnormally high in 7 (26%) of 27; and both folate and carotene levels were low in 4 (14.8%) of 27. No patient with reconstruction with colon alone (n = 3) had abnormal values, and no patient had any clinical signs or symptoms of vitamin B 12 deficiency or fat malabsorption. Conclusions Nutritional abnormalities can occur in patients after lower urinary tract reconstruction with ileum. No patient in this study had symptomatic abnormalities; however, long-term clinical effects may be significant. The implications of low folate levels in women of childbearing age must also be taken into consideration because of the potential association with congenital anomalies.
Tnf-stimulated Arginine Transport by Human Vascular Endothelium Requires Activation of Protein Kinase C

Objective The authors determined the endothelial arginine transport mechanism and the potential role of a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-mediated signal transduction pathway involving protein kinase C (PKC) in regulating this transport in cultured endothelial cells. Summary Background Data The vascular endothelium metabolizes arginine to generate nitric oxide (NO), and an increase in NO production can be stimulated by several cytokines. The mechanism(s) responsible for the accelerated arginine transport are poorly understood. Methods Arginine transport was assayed in confluent human umbilical vein endothelial cells in the presence of TNF ± the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine chloride. Results Carrier-mediated arginine transport was accomplished by two Na + -independent transporters, System y + (80% of total transport) and System b 0,+ (20% of transport). Tumor necrosis factor (0.1-2 ng/mL) increased System y + -mediated arginine transport in a time- and dose-dependent manner by augmenting System y + transport maximal capacity (control V max = 1325 ± 60 pmol/mg protein/minute vs. TNF V max = 3015 ± 110 pmol/mg protein/minute, p < 0.01) without affecting transporter affinity (control Km = 30 ± 1.4 μM vs. 34 ± 1.3 μM arginine, p = NS). Stimulation was maximal at the 8-hour time point and was inhibited by both actinomycin D and cycloheximide. In addition, inhibition of PKC with chelerythrine abrogated the TNF-augmented arginine transport. Similarly, incubation of cells with the direct PKC activator TPA (phorbol ester 12-myristate 13-acetate) stimulated System y + -mediated arginine transport nearly fivefold, secondary to an increase in transporter V max (TPA V max = 5349 ± 310 pmol/mg protein/minute, p < 0.001 vs. control), with no change in Km. This TPA-induced stimulation of arginine transport also was blocked by chelerythrine Cl, actinomycin D, and cycloheximide. Incubation of TNF-stimulated cells with two NO synthase inhibitors did not reduce transport activity, suggesting that the arginine transporter and the NO synthase enzyme may, in part, be independently regulated. Tumor necrosis factor and TPA only slightly increased System b 0,+ -mediated arginine transport. Treatment of cells with dcAMP (dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate, a protein kinase A activator) did not alter arginine transport activity, indicating that PKA activation was not required for the response to occur. Conclusions These data indicate that TNF stimulates arginine transport in human umbilical vein endothelial cells via a process that requires activation of the intracellular messenger PKC, which in turn signals de novo protein synthesis, possibly of the y + arginine transporter protein itself.
Probing the photoinduced Rydberg ionization process

Abstract The photophysical processes behind the new technique of photoinduced Rydberg ionization (P1RI) spectroscopy have been investigated for benzene. The major limitation to the signal-to-noise attainable using this method has been found to be caused by spontaneous autoionization of the prepared Rydbergs. In addition, some evidence has been found to suggest that the autoionizing transitions, which form the basis of the PIRI technique, only take place when the Rydberg electron is of lower n (and therefore I ) than the typical n = 100–200 employed in pulsed field ionization experiments. A new method of recording photoinduced ion core transitions, employing multiphoton photodissociation of the Rydberg core, is also reported. The lighter masses of the fragment ions enable them to be separated from the background of parent ions created by spontaneous autoionization. This method allows the core excitation transition to originate from a vibrationally excited state which previously had produced a prohibitively large background as a result of vibrational autoionization.
To Wake the Nations: Race in the Making of American Literature

This powerful book argues that White culture in America does not exist apart from Black culture. The revolution of the rights of man that established America collided long ago with the system of slavery, and we have been trying to re-establish a steady course for ourselves ever since. "To Wake the Nations" is urgent and rousing: we have integrated our buses, schools, and factories, but not the canon of American literature. That is the task Eric Sundquist has assumed in a book that ranges from politics to literature, from Uncle Remus to African-American spirituals. But the hallmark of this volume is a re-evaluation of the glory years of American literature - from 1830 to 1930 - that shows how White literature and Black literature form a single interwoven tradition. By examining African-America's contested relation to the intellectual and literary forms of white culture, Sundquist reconstructs the main lines of American literary tradition from the decades before the Civil War through the early 20th century. An opening discussion of Nat Turner's "Confessions", recorded by a white man, Thomas Gray, establishes a paradigm for the complexity of meanings that Sundquist uncovers in American literary texts. Focusing on Frederick Douglass's autobiographical books, Herman Melville's "Benito Cereno", Martin Delany's novel "Blake; or the Huts of America", Mark Twain's "Pudd'nhead Wilson", Charles Chesnutt's fiction, and W.E.B. Du Bois's "Souls of Black Folk" and "Darkwater", Sundquist considers each text against a rich background of history, law, literature, politics, religion, folklore, music and dance. These readings aim to lead to insights into components of the culture at large: slavery as it intersected with post-colonial revolutionary ideology; literary representations of the legal and political foundations of segregation; and the transformation of elements of African and ante-bellum folk consciousness into the public forms of American literature.
Sexual risk behavior among early initiators of sexual intercourse.

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine sexual risk behavior among adolescents in the United States classified as early initiators of sexual intercourse. Secondary analyses were carried out with data from the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n=14,041). Only adolescents 16–18 years old who reported being sexually experienced were selected for analyses (n=5315, 48% female). Of sexually experienced adolescents, 11% were classified as early initiators of sexual intercourse. Based on prior research it was expected that early initiators of sexual intercourse would demonstrate increased sexual risk behavior when compared to adolescents who initiated sexual intercourse at later ages and that there would be ethnic and gender differences in risk behavior. Early initiators were significantly more likely to report multiple sex partners in their lifetime and were more likely to drink or use drugs before the last time they had sex. Overall, the findings did not demonstrate differences in sexual risk based on gend...
High-field-strength element partitioning between pyroxene and basaltic to dacitic magmas

Abstract The effects of composition and temperature on pyroxene-melt partitioning of the high-field-strength elements (HFSE) — Ti, Zr, Nb and Ta — were evaluated from doped experiments on natural mafic to intermediate composition lavas at pressures from 0.1 MPa to 0.9 GPa (0.001 to 9 kbar). The HFSE partition coefficients (D) maintain similar relative relationships: DTi >DZr >DTa >DNb, but vary absolutely as a function of composition and temperature, often exhibiting a range of over a factor of 5 at a single temperature. For example, DZr ranges from 0.1 in a tholeiitic melt to 0.6 for a dacitic melt at 1100°C, 0.1 MPa. DZr, DTa and DNb for high- and low-Ca pyroxene can be described as linear functions of DTi. For high-Ca pyroxenes, the functions are DZr = 0.64DTi − 0.13, DTa = 0.14DTi − 0.02 and DNb = 0.04DTi − 0.01. The low-Ca pyroxene expressions are DZr = 0.60DTi − 0.06, DTa = 0.27DTi − 0.005 and DNb = 0.08DTi − 0.005. This linear relationship suggests similar substitution mechanisms for Ti and the other HFSE in both pyroxene and silicate melts. An expression was derived to calculate the Ti content of pyroxene based on the melt composition, Ca content of the pyroxene, temperature and pressure. This expression uses an approximation of the equilibrium constant for an exchange reaction of a Ti/Al-bearing component with a Ca-bearing component in the pyroxene. Over the experimental temperature range (1170-1070°C), the clinopyroxene Ti contents can be reproduced with a precision of ±20% (1σ).
Correlation between Banff classification, acute renal rejection scores and reversal of rejection

Correlation between Banff classification, acute renal rejection scores and reversal of rejection. The Banff classification of acute rejection is based on histologic grades and scores for borderline changes, glomerular, vascular, interstitial and tubular lesions. We reviewed 56 episodes of acute rejection occurring in 44 kidney allograft recipients (30 cadaveric and 14 living donor transplants), comparing Banff classification to degree of reversibility of rejection. Rejection reversal was defined as complete if serum creatinine returned ≤ 25% of baseline, partial if creatinine was > 25% to P P P P
Hodgkin's disease in children

Relatively few studies of Hodgkin's disease (H.D.) in children have used the histologic criteria of the Rye classification. In our study, 55 cases of H.D. in children of 15 years and younger were histologically classified according to the Rye scheme. The cases were divided into 3 groups: 1. all patients, 2. those in their first decade of life, and 3. those aged 11 through 15. The majority of children were boys (62%). Nodular sclerosis was the most frequent histologic type seen in all children (49%) and in the third group (57%), whereas no preponderant histologic type was seen in the younger age group. Most cases of lymphocytic predominance were clinical Stage I, and the bulk of the long-term survivors had this histologic type. Although seen in all clinical stages at the time of diagnostic biopsy, most cases of nodular sclerosis were Stage II. Prognosis of patients with nodular sclerosis was considerably worse than that of children with lymphocytic predominance. The results of our study are compared to those of other investigators.
Dynamic Network Morphology and Tension Buildup in a 3D Model of Cytokinetic Ring Assembly

During fission yeast cytokinesis, actin filaments nucleated by cortical formin Cdc12 are captured by myosin motors bound to a band of cortical nodes and bundled by cross-linking proteins. The myosin motors exert forces on the actin filaments, resulting in a net pulling of the nodes into a contractile ring, while cross-linking interactions help align actin filaments and nodes into a single bundle. We used these mechanisms in a three-dimensional computational model of contractile ring assembly, with semiflexible actin filaments growing from formins at cortical nodes, capturing of filaments by neighboring nodes, and cross-linking among filaments through attractive interactions. The model was used to predict profiles of actin filament density at the cell cortex, morphologies of condensing node-filament networks, and regimes of cortical tension by varying the node pulling force and strength of cross-linking among actin filaments. Results show that cross-linking interactions can lead to confinement of actin filaments at the simulated cortical boundary. We show that the ring-formation region in parameter space lies close to regions leading to clumps, meshworks or double rings, and stars/cables. Since boundaries between regions are not sharp, transient structures that resemble clumps, stars, and meshworks can appear in the process of ring assembly. These results are consistent with prior experiments with mutations in actin-filament turnover regulators, myosin motor activity, and changes in the concentration of cross-linkers that alter the morphology of the condensing network. Transient star shapes appear in some simulations, and these morphologies offer an explanation for star structures observed in prior experimental images. Finally, we quantify tension along actin filaments and forces on nodes during ring assembly and show that the mechanisms describing ring assembly can also drive ring constriction once the ring is formed.
THE ROLE OF ALDOSTERONE IN RENAL ELECTROLYTE TRANSPORT DURING DEVELOPMENT

Indirect evidence has led us to postulate a cause and effect relationship between the high levels of plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and the positive electrolyte balance prevailing during infancy. The purpose of this study was to assess directly the relationship between PAC and renal transport of Na+ and K+. PAC measurements and renal clearance of Na+ and K+ were performed in 1 and 6-week-old puppies that received a 5% saline solution, 15 ml/kg b.w. for 3 consecutive days i.p. (E), and in age matched sham operated controls (C). The same variables were then measured during i.v. infusion of increasing amounts of aldosterone (5,10, and 20 μg/kg b.w. for 2 hrs each). In sodium loaded animals, the changes in urinary Na+/K+ ratio were inversely proportional to those in PAC and significantly larger (p < .01) in newborn (from 1.22 ± .32 to 2.38±.60) than in mature dogs (.71 ± .52 to .98 ± .17). The relationship between PAC and Na+/K+ during aldosterone infusion differed between C and E being described respectively by the equations y=1.35-.002x (r=.89) and y=2.25-.005x (r=.94) in the 1-week-old (p<.05), and y=.71-.0002x (r=.99) and y=1.36+.006x (r=.67) in the 6-week-old (p < .05). A direct relationship was observed in each group between PAC and K+ excretion (ΔUKV). However, the slope of the regression line describing the relationship between PAC and ΔUKV was significantly steeper (p <.01) in adults (y=1.32+.02x, r=.73) than in newborn puppies (y=1.04+.003x, r=.64). Thus, the effect of aldosterone on renal Na+ reabsorption is maximal, while the effect on K+ secretion is minimal, during the neonatal period. The resulting retention of both Na+ and K+ is concordant with the needs of the growing organism.
Properties of martian slope streak populations

Abstract Slope streaks are down-slope mass movements on the surface of Mars that are among the few known examples of contemporary geologic activity on Mars. Here we study slope streak activity over three decades, based on overlapping images in the Lycus Sulci region taken by the Context Camera (CTX) 2007–2010 and the Viking Orbiter Camera in 1977. The number of disappeared slope streaks is nearly equal the number of newly formed slope streaks, suggesting the streak population is balanced. The turnover time of the population is estimated to be four decades. Slope streaks fade gradually over time, with islands of persistence. We also determine the number of observable slope streaks as a function of image resolution based on images by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera, and find that the number of discernible slope streaks can increase rapidly with spatial resolution.
The interrelationship of superoxide dismutase and peroxidatic enzymes in the red cell

Activities of superoxide dismutase (superoxide:superoxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.15.1.1) and catalase (hydrogen-peroxide:hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.6) were determined during the course of incubation of red cell suspensions with 1,4-naphthoquinone-2-sulfonic acid. In the absence of glucose, incubation with napthoquinone sulfonate resulted in an inhibition of catalase and superoxide dismutase. The catalase inhibitor, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole enhanced inactivation of catalase in the presence of naphthoquinone sulfonate and this in turn led to augmented inhibition of superoxide dismutase. The presence of glucose in the incubation medium prevented napthoquinone sulfonate-induced enzyme inhibition in the absence of aminotriazole, but had little effect in the presence of aminotriazole. The relevance of these findings to the cellular interrelationship of peroxidatic enzymes and superoxide dismutase is discussed.
Get linked or get lost: marketing strategy for the Internet

Develops detailed marketing strategy recommendations for online commerce based on the general popularity of the Internet, the unique nature of doing business there, and how its attributes may be utilized for a successful marketing presence.
"But where's the spec?": learning through collaborative development & discovery

In academia, there has always been a divide between what is taught and what is done in industry. The question that must be asked is how the higher learning institutes can rise to meet this challenge and better prepare its students for the demands that lie ahead. This paper investigates issues regarding evolving project requirements and communication and collaboration among diverse team members, exploring how storyboarding tools and collaborative Wikis can help to mitigate these issues.
Impact of Designated Secure Rest Facilities on Single-Lane Truck-Dispatching Productivity

This paper develops an approach for analyzing how restricting rest (sleep) locations for long-haul truckers may affect operational productivity, given hours-of-service regulations. Productivity is measured by the minimum number of unique drivers required to execute a set of load requests feasibly over a known planning horizon. When drivers may stop for rest at any location, they should be able to maximize utilization under regulated driving hours. When drivers may stop for rest only at certain discrete locations, drivers may suffer decreased utilization. The framework and results developed in this paper should be especially useful in the analysis of truck transportation of security-sensitive commodities, such as food products and hazardous materials, for which there exists strong external pressure to ensure that drivers rest only in secure locations to reduce risks of tampering. The analysis considers the simplest case, in which all loads to be transported move along a single lane. The paper presents an optimal tree search algorithm for determining the minimum number of drivers required to cover a set of loads given a set of allowed rest locations. Because the optimal approach is often computationally burdensome, the paper also presents and analyzes a set of simple heuristics for determining feasible load-to-driver assignments that can augment the search for the true minimum. Analysis of a sample data set demonstrates the approach and indicates that for lanes of realistic length, the productivity impact of restricting rest to a small number of discrete locations is likely to be small.
Identity Presence and Knowledge Building: Joint Emergence in Online Learning Environments?

This study examined the presence of identity in diverse online courses and explored how presence of identity correlated with content and students’ participation in online discussion and hence knowledge building in online educational spaces. Epistemic and participation data regarding online interaction and knowledge building were collected from a diverse group of students enrolled in seven multi-disciplinary online courses. Both qualitative and quantitative findings of the study suggested that online discussions with identity presence were associated with more follow-up participation and reinforced a more dialogic online interaction. Identity presence was also correlated with online interactions of knowledge sharing and egocentric elaboration.
Women Running for Judge: The Impact of Sex on Candidate Success in State Intermediate Appellate Court Elections*

Objective. This article will examine whether candidate sex impacts electoral outcomes in judicial elections. Methods. We examine the success of male and female candidates in contested, nonretention elections for state intermediate appellate courts (IACs) from 2000–2006 using OLS and logistic regression analysis. Results. We find that there is no systematic bias against women candidates in IAC races over this period. In fact, there is some evidence that women may actually perform slightly better than men. Conclusions. Contrary to the claims of some scholars, these results suggest judicial elections do not hinder diversity on the state appellate bench. Although women continue to be numerically underrepresented in elected office in all areas of government at all levels of government, the conventional wisdom in the field of women and politics is that this disparity is not caused by direct discrimination against female politicians by the voters. Most research on the role of sex in campaigns shows that, despite this chronic underrepresentation, when women run for public office they win at the same rate as men, all else equal (Burrell, 1994; Darcy, Welch, and Clark, 1994; Seltzer, Newman, and Leighton, 1997). However, virtually none of this research focuses on the role of sex in judicial elections. The study of the relationship between candidate sex and success in judicial elections is important for two reasons. First, the presence of women on a court may lead to substantive differences in the outcomes of cases (Peresie, 2005; Songer and Crews-Meyer, 2000). Second, judicial candidates may be evaluated differently than candidates for other offices, especially given the low-information environments in which most judicial elections occur. Voters are more likely to rely on heuristics and schema in low-information elections, some of which may benefit and others of which may hurt female judicial candidates. For instance, judges regularly deal with criminal justice issues that in the eyes of many voters are better handled by male politicians (Huddy and Terkilsen, n Direct correspondence, including requests for data and coding information, to Brian Frederick hBrian.Frederick@bridgew.edui. We thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. Of course, we are responsible for any errors.
On the importance of evidence: a response to Halpern

Halperri argues for alternative non-Bayesian approaches to uncertainty based on problems he perceives in the Bayesian approach. In particular, he argues for a distinction between degrees of belief and statistical statements (based on the concept of random sampling). In this response I show that there is no difference between these two concepts in the Bayesian framework, and that the replacement of variables by constants in probabilistic predicate calculus expressions is valid, despite Halpern's objections. The main reason for his rejection of the simpler approach is that he does not condition his belief statements on the evidence used to form these beliefs, and so gets into trouble when new evidence is received. This failure to properly take evidence into account invalidates most of his other criticisms. While I approve of his call for more formal rigor in representing Bayesian practice, his claim to have provided a semantics is misleading – what he has provided is not operational.
FT-IR Studies of Aqueous Surfactants: the Temperature Induced Micelle Formation

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is presented as a technique with great potential for the study of aqueous surfactants, especially when investigating structural changes brought about by a change in temperature or concentration. Micelle formation in aqueous surfactants can be induced by either an increase in concentration through the critical micelle concentration range, or by an increase in temperature through the critical micellization temperature. Due to the concentration range involved, (i. e. 0.1 to 0.3 M surfactant), infrared spectroscopy is particularly suitable for the study of the temperature-induced micellization, and we discuss herein details of the structural changes observed at the critical micellization temperature of a number of anionic surfactants. The thermotropic phase behavior of these aqueous surfactants was monitored via structural changes specific to the hydrophobic acyl chains and those of the hydrophilic carboxylate and sulfate head group moieties. The temperature-induced changes in infrared spectral parameters such as frequency and bandwidth characterize the critical micellization temperature of these surfactants as a phase transition from a conformationally ordered, solid-like phase to an isotropic micellar phase. The concept of a critical micellization temperature is discussed in relation to that of the Krafft point and the critical micelle concentration.
Bioequivalency and dose proportionality of three tableted promethazine products

Data from a five-way crossover study in human subjects using four talented promethazine products and a promethazine solution are presented. All products were administered as a single oral dose. The five objectives of the study were to investigate bioequivalency, to estimate dose proportionality at two dose levels, to establish validity of a reference production solution for future bioequivalency studies, to estimate intersubject variation, and to compare bioavailability/tablet dissolution data. Blood samples were collected at given intervals over a 24-hour period and analysed for promethazine using an HPLC technique. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using standard procedures and a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVAR) was used to assess whether the differences were statistically significant. The AUC0----infinity data from the ANOVAR analysis showed that the 50 mg innovator and generic products and the 50 mg solution were not significantly different. However, the innovator product had a significantly lower Cmax and longer tmax than the solution. The generic product did not differ significantly from the solution. Promethazine was found to exhibit linear dose proportionality in the range and product studied. Intersubject variation was high for all parameters (23 to 63 per cent) and the in vivo and in vitro data showed a positive relationship.
Graphic understanding: instruments and interpretation in Robert Hooke's Micrographia.

This essay answers a single question: what was Robert Hooke, the Royal Society's curator of experiments, doing in his well-known 1665 work, Micrographia? Hooke was articulating a “universal cure of the mind” capable of bringing about a “reformation in Philosophy,” a change in philosophy's interpretive practices and organization. The work explicated the interpretive and political foundations for a community of optical instrument users coextensive with the struggling Royal Society. Standard observational practices would overcome the problem of using nonstandard instruments, while inherent in representation – the interpretive practice championed in the text – were important theological and political meanings. Hooke's kind of experimental philosophy undermined the claims made by “atheists” and “enthusiasts” – the enemies of the restored church and state – while also producing useful knowledge. Equally important, Hooke modeled the community described in Micrographia upon the classical res publica, but his community made important concessions to Restoration political realities, especially the growing role of commercial or transactional relationships.
Providing all global energy with wind, water, and solar power, Part II: Reliability, system and transmission costs, and policies

This is Part II of two papers evaluating the feasibility of providing all energy for all purposes (electric power, transportation, and heating/cooling), everywhere in the world, from wind, water, and the sun (WWS). In Part I, we described the prominent renewable energy plans that have been proposed and discussed the characteristics of WWS energy systems, the global demand for and availability of WWS energy, quantities and areas required for WWS infrastructure, and supplies of critical materials. Here, we discuss methods of addressing the variability of WWS energy to ensure that power supply reliably matches demand (including interconnecting geographically dispersed resources, using hydroelectricity, using demand-response management, storing electric power on site, over-sizing peak generation capacity and producing hydrogen with the excess, storing electric power in vehicle batteries, and forecasting weather to project energy supplies), the economics of WWS generation and transmission, the economics of WWS use in transportation, and policy measures needed to enhance the viability of a WWS system. We find that the cost of energy in a 100% WWS will be similar to the cost today. We conclude that barriers to a 100% conversion to WWS power worldwide are primarily social and political, not technological or even economic.
Breastfeeding and Coffee Consumption in Children Younger than 2 Years in Boston, Massachusetts, USA:

Background:Although introduction of inappropriate foods and liquids in early childhood and their association with breastfeeding is commonly reported in US children, coffee use in very young US children and its association with breastfeeding is not.Objectives:This study aimed to determine the proportion of 1- and 2-year-olds in an urban population consuming coffee, their rate of consumption, and predictors of consumption, including breastfeeding status.Methods:We used data from a prospective cohort study on infant weight gain and diet, and body mass index at age 2. We used bivariate analyses to examine variables associated with coffee consumption at 1 and 2 years and multivariate logistic regression to control for variables of interest.Results:This study included 315 mother-infant dyads. At 1 year, the rate of coffee consumption reported was 2.5%; at 2 years, it was 15.2% and average daily consumption was 1.09 oz (range, 0.01- 4.00 oz). The only characteristic associated with coffee consumption at 1 year w...
An In Vivo Rat Model to Investigate Female Vaginal Arousal Response

ABSTRACTPurpose: We established a rat model to investigate the female vaginal arousal response and the role of the nitric oxide (NO) pathway on vaginal blood flow in vivo.Materials and Methods: Vaginal blood flow changes induced by pelvic nerve stimulation (PNS) in female Sprague-Dawley rats were determined by laser Doppler flowmetry. Frequency response data were determined in each animal. In addition, changes in vaginal blood flow were measured after intravenous administration of the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) or the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor sildenafil in response to PNS at submaximal frequency. Changes in blood flow were evaluated by comparing the area under the curve of each response.Results: Reproducible frequency dependent increases in vaginal blood flow were observed in response to PNS. Administration of L-NAME (a NO synthase inhibitor) resulted in significant attenuation (25.6% to 18.2% vs control at 30 minutes, p <0.00001) of the PNS induced increase ...
Effect of three-winding transformer models on the analysis and protection of mine power systems

Computer-aided load flow and fault analyses of mine power systems are routinely conducted to ascertain system performance and also to provide information to assist in the protection and coordination of these systems. Three-winding transformers are frequently encountered in mining applications, typically at continuous miner and longwall sections where there exists a need for dual utilization voltages. These transformers are often modeled as a three-bus system neglecting the secondary to tertiary winding impedance and the effect of base changes. This paper analyzes the impact of more accurate transformer models on voltages and fault currents which are realized from load flow and fault studies of mine power systems.
The Olin curriculum: thinking toward the future

In 1997, the F. W. Olin Foundation of New York established the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Needham, MA, with the mission of creating an engineering school for the 21st century. Over the last five years, the college has transformed from an idea to a functioning entity that admitted its first freshman class in fall 2002. This paper describes the broad outlines of the Olin curriculum with some emphasis on the electrical and computer engineering degree. The curriculum incorporates the best practices from many other institutions as well as new ideas and approaches in an attempt to address the future of engineering education.
Microfinance Participation and Domestic Violence in Bangladesh Results From a Nationally Representative Survey

This article examines domestic violence among women who participate in microfinance in Bangladesh. Secondary analysis of survey data from nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey was used to investigate the association between microfinance participation and domestic violence of 4,163 ever-married women between the ages of 18 and 49 years. Outcome measure is experience of domestic violence as measured by a modified Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) and predictor variables include microfinance, binary indicator of relatively better economic status, autonomy, decision-making power, and demographic variables. The likelihood of experiencing domestic violence was not found to vary with microfinance participation. However, the interaction effect of microfinance and better economic status was found to be significantly associated with domestic violence (9% increased probability). Experience of domestic violence was negatively associated with older age, higher education of the husband, and autonomy. In Bangladesh, microfinance participation may be associated with a higher probability of experiencing domestic violence for women with relatively better economic status, but not for the poorest of the poor.
The Effects of Exposure to Community Violence upon Latina Mothers and Preschool Children.

Community violence is a stressor experienced by children and their parents. This exploratory study examines the psychological and behavioral effects of exposure to community violence on a sample of 31 Latina mothers and their children enrolled in a Head Start program. Based on maternal reports, the mother-child dyads have substantial exposure to community violence. Also, mothers exposed to community violence manifest significant levels of distress symptomatology (post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], depression, and anxiety). Multiple regression analyses reveal that maternal distress symptomatology acts as a mediator of child behavioral problems. These findings highlight that maternal distress symptomatology is more important than community violence exposure in contributing to heightened child behavior problems. Schools and mental health practitioners should assess for parents’ exposure to community violence.
Morphology of the axillary nerve in an anteroinferior shoulder arthroscopy portal

An anteroinferior portal can be safely used in arthroscopic shoulder surgery but requires an in-depth knowledge of axillary nerve anatomy. The purpose of this report is to present the qualitative and spatial anatomy of the axillary nerve and to describe patterns of arborization that may affect safe anteroinferior arthroscopic portal placement. Measurements were taken in 42 embalmed cadaveric shoulders (20 male, 22 female). The distance from the acromioclavicular (AC) joint to the axillary nerve averaged 7.90 cm (range, 7.2 to 9.1 cm) in males and 6.37 cm (range, 5.2 to 8.1 cm) in females. We describe the axillary nerve index (distance of nerve from the AC joint/length of deltoid from AC joint) which can be used to predict the location of the axillary nerve along the anterior clavicular line (ACL). The axillary nerve index averaged 0.48 (range, 0.42 to 0.57) in males and 0.41 (range, 0.31 to 0.57) in females. Four types of morphology were noted in the axillary nerve: (1) main trunk with superior and inferior branches, (2) main trunk with superior branches, (3) main trunk with inferior branches, and (4) main trunk only. Our work supports the traditional operable safe zone for the axillary nerve.