cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Utilizing fossilized charcoal to augment the Everglades National Park Fire History Geodatabase.

Abstract Everglades National Park (ENP) has been documenting fire events since 1948, and these data have been incorporated into an ESRI geodatabase. According to this geodatabase, 757,078 ha of wetlands burned from 1948 to 2011. The main type of vegetation that has burned is comprised of palustrine and estuarine wetlands. However, there are areas in ENP that are comprised of these wetlands that have no documented fire events. We examined fossil charcoal in soil cores and found evidence that fires did indeed occur in some of these areas. Sites of known fires were used to validate the fossil charcoal method. The abundance of fossil charcoal in soil cores from six locations in ENP was measured. Two of the cores were taken from areas with well-documented fire events and four cores where taken from areas with no documented fire events. Three of the cores were dated using 210Pb geochronology. The initial goal was to determine if fires had gone undetected or undocumented in the geodatabase with the ultimate goal being to demonstrate the usefulness of this approach to augment the geodatabase and therefore enhance our understanding of fire ecology in ENP.
Correction to: RILEM and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) over the past 50 years

The article [RILEM and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) over the past 50 years], written by [E. J. Garboczi], was originally published electronically on the publisher’s Internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on 20 September without open access.
Lukács’ antinomic ‘standpoint of the proletariat’: From philosophical to socio-historical determination:

In History and Class Consciousness’ central essay ‘Reification and the Consciousness of the Proletariat’, Lukacs resolved the antinomies of bourgeois philosophy in the revolutionary ‘standpoint of ...
PHYTOESTROGEN BLOOD LEVELS, MAJOR ADVERSE CARDIAC EVENTS AND ANGINA HOSPITALIZATION: A REPORT FROM THE WOMEN's ISCHEMIA SYNDROME EVALUATION

We previously identified cardiovascular effects of serum phytoestrogens (phytoE) daidzein and genistein, however longer-term relations as well as other dietary phytoE like dihydrodaidzein, equol, estradiol, p-ethylphenol, glycitin and O-desmethylangolensin are not well studied. We analyzed relations
The Prosperity Gospel of Coronavirus Response

The sweep of the coronavirus pandemic across the world and the United States offers an almost unparalleled opportunity to study how social systems cope with the threat and opportunities for collective action. In this paper, we draw on survey data collected as the United States flailed in response and before a general consensus among executive officeholders developed in the following weeks. In particular, we assess how holding prosperity gospel views strongly shaped perceptions of the virus and reactions to state responses to the virus. Research on the prosperity gospel is slowly expanding and this paper helps to highlight some missing dimensions. At a time when concerted action for the social good could be uniting the country, prosperity gospel beliefs systematically undermine that possibility by augmenting threat, raising outgroup barriers, and decreasing social trust.
Rethinking solar PV contracts in a world of increasing curtailment risk

Abstract Curtailment of solar photovoltaics (PV) could increase significantly as PV composes greater shares of grid capacity. Curtailment risk—the possibility that future curtailment levels exceed projections—poses a challenge to PV project economics. PV industry stakeholders have begun to develop new contract structures that may address curtailment risk more optimally than conventional structures. Using a simplified theoretical framework and modeled results, we analyze PV project economics in the context of increasing curtailment risk under alternative contract structures with fixed and time-of-delivery payments. We show that both alternative structures tend to shift curtailment risk from generators to electricity buyers. Electricity buyers—particularly utilities—may be willing to bear that additional risk in order to reap higher and more diverse project values facilitated by fixed-payment and time-of-delivery contracts. Our results suggest that these alternative structures provide new ways to redistribute curtailment risk in the context of increasing PV curtailment.
Combination Image Flow Cytometry Reveals Novel Methods for Isolating Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells

Megakaryocytes (MKs) are rare cells that develop in the bone marrow and give rise to platelets. A major challenge in studying megakaryocyte development, and the diseases that arise from these cells, is the identification and classification of MK progenitor cells that are produced during hematopoiesis. Here, we utilize combination image flow cytometry and principal component analysis (PCA) to definitively identify MK progenitor cell populations originating from a heterogeneous sample of bone marrow cells using minimal antibody panels.
Coaxial Probe-based Measurements of Biological Tissues: Inaccuracies in Sensing Volume when Calculated from Sensing Radius and Sensing Depth

The open-ended coaxial probe is used to measure the dielectric properties of biological tissues at microwave frequencies. Accurate knowledge of the sensing volume of the probe is required to characterize the dielectric properties of heterogeneous tissues. The sensing volume of the coaxial probe is defined by the sensing depth and radius using desired thresholds. However, since sensing depth and sensing radius are calculated independently, the resulting threshold for sensing volume is different than of the sensing depth and sensing radius. In this contribution, the inaccuracies in the resulting threshold for sensing volume are studied. Also, the dependency of these inaccuracies on contrast and frequency are further investigated.
Small Bowel Resection

This section covers the major indications for resection of the small bowel, including small bowel adenocarcinoma, carcinoid tumor, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, Meckel’s diverticulum, and arteriovenous malformation. The technique of a small bowel resection is discussed, as are the most common postoperative complications of this operation, including anastomotic leak, enterocutaneous fistula, and short gut syndrome. A classic case of a small bowel adenocarcinoma is described, and questions are provided for review.
Basic Techniques of Making Measurements on the Continuum and Determination of the Relative Intensities of Stellar Spectral Lines

The accurate measurement of intensities in stellar spectra, both relative and absolute, must be made in all observable spectral regions in order to obtain the basic data for the computation of model stellar atmospheres. The effects of interstellar and atmospheric extinction, absorption, and scattering in the instrument must be especially considered in the work of absolute spectrophotometry. Differential atmospheric extinction and instrumental absorption may be neglected if the various points on a line are measured relative to the continuum. The determination of the continuum, however, involves many problems. Sensitive photographic and photoelectric techniques record a stellar spectrum in order to allow the determination of the distribution of energy with wavelength. The low intensity level of most stellar sources has encouraged the development of photoelectric spectrophotometry, which in certain applications obtains better results than photographic methods. However, the present slow rate of scan, wavelength by wavelength, even with several photocells simultaneously in use, indicates that photographic procedures will undoubtedly be the most used for several years to come. The methods of calibration of the spectrograms, the use of the “densitometer” (generally called “microphotometer” by astronomers) and the correction of its reproduction of intensity data are the basic techniques applied to gain the fundamental data for different examples of stars and stellar systems. The determination of line profiles, both theoretically and by measurement, their importance to the theory of model atmospheres, the importance of high-dispersion studies of selected line profiles, and related procedures are further problems. The intensity distribution of the continuous spectrum for stars of different spectral types, the classification of stars by spectra, the theoretical interpretation of the measurements, the problems resulting from uncertainties in the determination of the continuum and stellar equivalent widths to approximately 10%—a permissible accuracy—completes the acquisition of data for the description of the atmosphere’s physical structure.
Measurement of Thermal Stresses at -320°F by Strain Gages

In connection with the theoretical evaluation of an aluminum tank for liquid nitrogen storage, it was necessary to experimentally confirm the expected low thermal stress level. For an adequate investigation of these stresses 50 gaging locations were required. To our knowledge strain gages had never been used on such a scale at this low temperature level, and of even greater concern was the complete lack of experience with strain gages to measure thermal stresses at low temperatures.
Generating admissible heuristics by abstraction for search in stochastic domains

Search in abstract spaces has been shown to produce useful admissible heuristic estimates in deterministic domains. We show in this paper how to generalize these results to search in stochastic domains. Solving stochastic optimization problems is significantly harder than solving their deterministic counterparts. Designing admissible heuristics for stochastic domains is also much harder. Therefore, deriving such heuristics automatically using abstraction is particularly beneficial. We analyze this approach both theoretically and empirically and show that it produces significant computational savings when used in conjunction with the heuristic search algorithm LAO*.
Institutional Shareholders' Split Personality on Corporate Governance: Active in Proxies, Passive in Ipos

For well over a decade, institutional shareholders have fought proxy battles with corporate management over matters of corporate governance. They have opposed takeover defenses and advocated such structures as independent boards and board committees, confidential voting, and the separation of the CEO and chairman positions. At the same time, however, hundreds of companies whose shares those same institutions own, through venture capital and other private equity funds, have gone public with charters containing the same takeover defenses that institutions oppose when the institutions are in the proxy battle mode - and without the governance provisions that they advocate. This article reports data on the apparently inconsistent behavior of institutional investors and asks the question: Why do institutional investors actively advocate their view of good governance in the proxy context but passively accept what they consider bad governance among the companies in which they invest through private equity funds? The article concludes with some potential (but ultimately unsatisfying) explanations.
Subpopulations of human T lymphocytes. V. T lymphocytes with receptors for immunoglobulin M or G in patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders.

Abstract Eighty-two patients with a variety of primary immunodeficiency disorders were examined for the proportion of circulating T cells with IgM (Tμ) or IgG (Tγ) receptors. Patients with thymoma and hypogammaglobulinemia and ataxia-telangiectasia possessed higher proportions of Tγ cells than did normal controls. Patients with severe combined immunodeficiency and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis had normal or low proportions of Tγ cells. Patients with Bruton type agammaglobulinemia, common variable immunodeficiency, or selective IgA deficiency demonstrated heterogeneity with regard to alteration in the proportions of both Tμ and Tγ cells. The relationship between the proportions of Tμ and Tγ cells and in vitro suppressor cell activity is discussed.
111Gb/s No-guard-interval OFDM using low sampling rate analogue-to-digital converter

We evaluate the OSNR tolerance of 111Gb/s No-guard interval OFDM signal using low sampling rate analogue-to-digital converter. The back-to-back experiment shows that the OSNR penalty is less than 0.1dB when using 1.4 times oversampling rate.
Models of Categorization

This chapter talks about systematization of a particular approach to modeling the mind: declarative computational cognitive modeling. The goal of computational cognitive modeling and the goal of declarative computational cognitive modeling and systematization in logic-based computational cognitive modeling (LCCM) are to understand the kind of cognition distinctive of human persons by modeling this cognition in information processing systems. LCCM is made based on a generalized form of the concept of logical system as defined rather narrowly in mathematical logic. This chapter shows how the problems can be solved in LCCM in a manner that matches the human normatively incorrect and normatively correct responses returned after the relevant stimuli are presented. This chapter explains LCCM as a formal rationalization of declarative computational cognitive modeling. It also presents the attempt to build computational simulations of all, or large portions of, human cognition, on the basis of logic alone.
Early therapy-related myeloid sarcoma and deletion of 9q22.32 to q31.1

Survival following childhood neuroblastoma is improving with low rates of secondary myeloid neoplasms. We describe a 13-month-old male with intermediate risk neuroblastoma who developed an isolated scalp therapy-related myeloid sarcoma (t-MS). Developmental delays and two distinct malignancies prompted constitutional evaluation. Chromosomal microarray identified a 7.3 Mb deletion of 9q22.32 to 9q31.1. He remains in remission 11 months following hematopoietic cell transplant. Unusual presentations of rare diseases necessitate a multidisciplinary approach and adaptation of standardized protocols to accommodate increased risks imposed by genetic variants.
Improved Lower Bounds for the Randomized Boppana-Halldórsson Algorithm for MAXCLIQUE

It is shown that the randomized version of the Maxclique approximation algorithm by Boppana and Halldorsson analyzed in [5] does not come to within a factor of \({n \mathord{\left/{\vphantom {n {e^{3\sqrt {ln n} \ln \ln n} }}} \right.\kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {e^{3\sqrt {ln n} \ln \ln n} }}\) of the maximum clique. The lower bound derived in [5] was \(\sqrt n\). Furthermore, we show that the randomized greedy algorithm for Maxclique does not come to within a factor of n/log5+∈n of the maximum clique. The lower bounds derived in this paper come close to the known upper bounds.
Mechanisms of otoconia and otolith development

Otoconia are bio-crystals which couple mechanic forces to the sensory hair cells in the utricle and saccule, a process essential for us to sense linear acceleration and gravity for the purpose of maintaining bodily balance. In fish, structurally similar bio-crystals called otoliths mediate both balance and hearing. Otoconia abnormalities are common and can cause vertigo and imbalance in humans. However, the molecular etiology of these illnesses is unknown, as investigators have only begun to identify genes important for otoconia formation in recent years. To date, in-depth studies of selected mouse otoconial proteins have been performed, and about 75 zebrafish genes have been identified to be important for otolith development. This review will summarize recent findings as well as compare otoconia and otolith development. It will provide an updated brief review of otoconial proteins along with an overview of the cells and cellular processes involved. While continued efforts are needed to thoroughly understand the molecular mechanisms underlying otoconia and otolith development, it is clear that the process involves a series of temporally and spatially specific events that are tightly coordinated by numerous proteins. Such knowledge will serve as the foundation to uncover the molecular causes of human otoconia-related disorders.
Modulation of calcium efflux from cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

The free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) is governed by the balance between the activation of Ca2+ channels and buffering and efflux processes. We tested the hypothesis that Ca2+ efflux pathways are susceptible to modulation. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used in combination with Indo-1-based microfluorometry to record Ca2+ current and [Ca2+]i simultaneously from single rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons grown in culture. Depolarizing test pulses (-80 to 0 mV, 100–300 msec) elicited [Ca2+]i transients that recovered to basal levels by a process best-fit with a single exponential (tau = 5.1 +/- 0.4 sec; n = 14) and were independent of Ca2+ load (40–500 pC) over this range of test pulses. [Ca2+]i transients recorded in whole-cell configuration were similar to those elicited by a brief train of action potentials in unclamped neurons. Inhibition of Ca2+ sequestration into intracellular stores with thapsigargin had no effect on the kinetics of recovery. Inhibition of plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase (PMCA) function by including a peptide inhibitor (C28R2) in the patch pipette significantly slowed recovery to basal [Ca2+]i (tau = 9.9 +/- 0.8 sec; n = 4). Preincubation with calmidazolium, a calmodulin antagonist, produced modest slowing of Ca2+ efflux. Phorbol dibutyrate, an activator of protein kinase C (PKC), accelerated Ca2+ efflux only when the PMCA had been inhibited by C28R2. We conclude that in DRG neurons PMCAs are responsible for lowering [Ca2+]i after small Ca2+ loads and that PMCA-mediated Ca2+ efflux is modulated by calmodulin- and PKC- signaling pathways.
Cell-to-cell transmission of viruses

The life cycle of most viruses involves the release of particles into the extracellular space. Consequently, the study of virus egress as well as virus entry has focused almost exclusively on the biology of cell-free virus. However, cell-free virus spread is often very inefficient. Specific barriers, either located in the donor cell or in the target cell, prevent efficient spread by the cell-free mode. In contrast, viral spread by direct cell-cell contact is largely unaffected by most of these barriers resulting in preferential spread by cell-to-cell transmission. Virus cell-to-cell transmission allows an efficient coordination of several steps of the viral life cycle. It often involves complex inter-cellular adhesion, cellular polarity and intra-cellular trafficking. Because virus cell-to-cell transmission can involve transmission through zones of tight cell-cell contact that are resistant to neutralizing antibodies and reach a high local particle concentration, cell-to-cell transmission can contribute to the pathogenesis of viral infections.
On the Planarization of Wireless Sensor Networks

Network planarization has been an important technique in numerous sensornet protocols—such as Greedy Perimeter Stateless Routing (GPSR), topology discovery, data-centric storage, etc.—however the planarization process itself has been difficult. Known efficient planarization algorithms exist only for restrictive wireless network models: unit-disk graphs with accurately known location information. In this paper, we study efficient planarization of wireless sensor networks, and present a novel planarization method for a more general network model, where sensors can have non-uniform transmission ranges and no location information is needed. Our planarization algorithms also include a (2+e)-approximation algorithm and an FPT algorithm for the bipartite planarization problem.
Model of the acoustic microscope response to scattering by a near-surface void

The response of the scanning acoustic microscope to scattering by a near-surface void is formulated rigorously. The transmission and reception responses of the acoustic microscope transducer-lens assembly are represented as Fourier spatial frequency spectra. Likewise, the interaction of the focused wavefield with the specimen fluid-solid interface is formulated via Fourier integrals. The scattering of the focused beam by a void positioned within the solid near the fluid-solid interface is formulated as a boundary integral equation employing the Green function for contacting fluid-solid half-spaces. The problem is evaluated numerically to demonstrate the scattering response dependence on void depth, transducer defocus, and void diameter.
The medium range structure of sodium silicate glasses: a molecular dynamics simulation

Abstract The structure of x Na 2 O (100 − x )SiO 2 ( x = 0–50) glasses have been studied by molecular dynamics simulation. Local structures around sodium and silicon agree well with neutron diffraction and EXAFS data. The medium range structures were characterized and compared with different structure models. The Q n distributions show a trend closer to, but more ordered than, random distribution and the compositional dependence agrees well with recent NMR results. A maximum in Q 3 species at the sodium disilicate composition is reproduced. The connectivities of Q n species are higher than those would be seen from a random distribution suggesting the existence of silica rich regions in these glasses. Ring size distributions show consistent decreases in the main peak at six-membered ring and increases in the number of larger member rings. The second moments due to sodium–sodium dipole coupling were calculated and compared with those derived from different theoretical models, crystalline and experimental data. The distribution of sodium ions was found to be slightly more clustered than a random distribution would predict. These results support the modified random network model.
Effect of Nerve Growth Factor on Catecholamine Metabolism in a Human Neuroblastoma Clone (SY5Y)

The neuroblastoma line SK-N-SH-SY5Y (SY5Y) is a thrice subcloned nearly diploid clonal line of human origin. When grown in 15% fetal calf serum in Ham''s F-12 medium as herein described, SY5Y has neuroblast-like properties in its undifferentiated state. Treatment with nerve growth factor results in morphological and physiological differentiation not unlike that elicited by nerve growth factor in sympathetic ganglia primary cultures. Careful examination of catecholamine synthesizing enzyme specific activities and catecholamine concentrations in nerve growth factor-treated SY5Y cells showed a small elevation of tyrosine hydroxylase, no change in dopamine-β-hydroxylase or in dopamine or norepinephrine intracellular concentrations. This is consistent with the interpretation that nerve growth factor acts as a permissive or trophic factor, and not necessarily as an instructive or specifying factor in this system.
Social Networking Technologies as an Emerging Tool for HIV Prevention: A Cluster Randomized Trial

Background: Social networking technologies are an emerging tool for HIV prevention. Objective: To determine whether social networking communities can increase HIV testing among African American and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM). Design: Randomized, controlled trial with concealed allocation. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01701206) Setting: Online. Patients: 112 MSM based in Los Angeles, more than 85% of whom were African American or Latino. Intervention: Sixteen peer leaders were randomly assigned to deliver information about HIV or general health to participants via Facebook groups over 12 weeks. After participants accepted a request to join the group, participation was voluntary. Group participation and engagement were monitored. Participants could request a free, home-based HIV testing kit and completed questionnaires at baseline and 12-week follow-up. Measurements: Participant acceptance of and engagement in the intervention and social network participation, rates of home-based HIV testing, and sexual risk behaviors. Results: Almost 95% of intervention participants and 73% of control participants voluntarily communicated using the social platform. Twenty-five of 57 intervention participants (44%) requested home-based HIV testing kits compared with 11 of 55 control participants (20%) (difference, 24 percentage points [95% CI, 8 to 41 percentage points]). Nine of the 25 intervention participants (36%) who requested the test took it and mailed it back compared with 2 of the 11 control participants (18%) who requested the test. Retention at study follow-up was more than 93%. Limitation: Only 2 Facebook communities were included for each group. Conclusion: Social networking communities are acceptable and effective tools to increase home-based HIV testing among at-risk populations. Primary Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health. © 2013 American College of Physicians.
The direct (p, α) pickup reaction on the even Zr isotopes

Abstract The (p, α) reaction has been studied on the four even isotopes of zirconium at a proton energy of 22.8 MeV. At this energy, the reaction mechanism was demonstrated to be a direct pickup, leading primarily to hole states in the residual yttrium. A cluster-transfer DWBA calculation was found to account for the observed shapes of the angular distribution, and in particular, reproduced the striking j -dependence between 1 2 − and 3 2 − states. On the basis of the similarity to observed angular distribution to states of known spin, a number of new angular momentum assignments are made. Candidates for states of high spin, up to 15 2 − , are also found. Attempts have been made to fit the observations into a weak coupling scheme based on the known single-nucleon holes coupled to states of the zirconium isotopes.
Employment and Public Policy Issues Surrounding Medical Marijuana in the Workplace

The status of marijuana as an illegal drug has greatly evolved in recent years. Many countries have decriminalized possession of marijuana for personal use. Others have not decriminalized it but simply ''tolerate'' it for private personal use. Four countries have passed laws legalizing medical marijuana and one other tolerates the use of marijuana for medical purposes without having legislated a specific right for such possession and use. To date, 17 of the United States and the District of Columbia have also passed laws regarding medical marijuana. However, state medical marijuana laws are at odds with the federal Controlled Substances Act, which prohibits pos- session of marijuana. This fact, in tandem with employer requirements under the Drug-Free Workplace Act, has created a dilemma for employers who have employees with medical conditions for which medical marijuana has been recommended. Given that 18 additional states currently have medical marijuana legislation pending, medical mar- ijuana in the workplace is an issue which is not going to go away. As a result, it is time to examine the interface between federal and state laws as well as the public policy issues surrounding the lack of rights which medical mari- juana patients have in their workplaces.
Boundary eigensolutions in elasticity II. Application to computational mechanics

The theory of fundamental boundary eigensolutions for elastostatic problems, developed in Part I, is applied to formulate methods for computational mechanics. This theory shows that every elastic solution can be written as a linear combination of some fundamental boundary orthogonal deformations, thus providing a generalized Fourier expansion. One finds that traditional boundary element and finite element methods are largely consistent with this theory, but do not harness its full power. This theory shows that these computational methods are indirectly a generalized discrete Fourier analysis. Furthermore, by utilizing suitable boundary weight functions, boundary element and finite element formulations may be written exclusively in terms of bounded quantities, even for non-smooth problems involving notches, cracks, mixed boundary conditions and bi-material interfaces. The close relationship between the resulting boundary element and finite element methods also becomes evident. Both use displacement and surface traction as primary variables. A new degree-of-freedom concept is introduced, along with a stiffness tensor that enables one to visualize a finite element method via a boundary discretization process, just as in a boundary element approach. Global convergence characteristics of the traction-oriented finite element method are also developed. Comparisons with closed-form fundamental boundary eigensolutions for a circular elastic disc are presented in order to provide a means for assessing the numerical methods. Several other numerical examples are solved efficiently by using the concept of boundary eigensolutions in an indirect fashion. The results indicate that the algorithms follow the underlying theory and that solutions to non-smooth problems can be obtained in a systematic manner. Beyond this, the concept of boundary eigensolutions provides an alternative view of computational continuum mechanics that may lead to the development of other non-traditional approaches.
Measuring bubble nucleation temperature on the surface of a rapidly heated thermal ink-jet heater immersed in a pool of water

We describe a method for measuring the average surface temperature of a small square thin metallic film deposited on a silicon substrate and immersed in subcooled water during a voltage pulse of short duration. The thin film studied is a material used in the current generation of commercial ‘desk–jet’printers and comprises a mixture of tantalum and aluminium 65 µm wide and 0.2 µm thick. The experiment uses a bridge circuit with a dynamic amplifier design to measure the evolution of electrical resistance, coupled with a separate calibration of the thin film resistor element with temperature to determine average surface temperature. Voltage pulses of 5 µs typical duration are applied to the thin films. An ‘inflection’ point in the resulting evolution of heater surface temperature identifies bubble nucleation. The calibration of the heater resistance with temperature showed a hysteresis effect that required a burn–in process to stabilize the electrical resistance. With the calibration curve obtained, resistance was converted to temperature and the results analysed. For low power input the average surface temperature exhibited an oscillatory behaviour which indicated a cyclic growth/collapse process often found in nucleate boiling. At higher powers, the oscillatory behaviour disappeared and gave way to an exponential variation of temperature with time similar to a lumped capacitance behaviour of a thermal system. An inflection point in the evolution of surface temperature was found that signified bubble nucleation. The largest heating rate and highest nucleation temperature measured was 0.25 x 109 °C s–1 and 556 K, respectively. This temperature is in good agreement with homogeneous nucleation theory as applied to a surface. The contact angles needed for measured nucleation temperatures to agree with predictions are within the range that is typical for water on metallic surfaces.
Catechol-o-methyl transferase (COMT) val158met polymorphism and adolescent cortical development in patients with childhood-onset schizophrenia, their non-psychotic siblings, and healthy controls.

Abstract Non-psychotic individuals at increased risk for schizophrenia show alterations in fronto-striatal dopamine signaling and cortical gray matter maturation reminiscent of those seen in schizophrenia. It remains unclear however if variations in dopamine signaling influence rates of structural cortical maturation in typically developing individuals, and whether such influences are disrupted in patients with schizophrenia and their non-psychotic siblings. We sought to address these issues by relating a functional Val → Met polymorphism within the gene encoding catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT)—a key enzymatic regulator of cortical dopamine levels—to longitudinal structural neuroimaging measures of cortical gray matter thickness. We included a total of 792 magnetic resonance imaging brain scans, acquired between ages 9 and 22 years from patients with childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS), their non-psychotic full siblings, and matched healthy controls. Whereas greater Val allele dose (which confers enhanced dopamine catabolism and is proposed to aggravate cortical deficits in schizophrenia) accelerated adolescent cortical thinning in both schizophrenia probands and their siblings, it attenuated cortical thinning in healthy controls. This similarity between COS patients and their siblings was accompanied by differences between the two groups in the timing and spatial distribution of disrupted COMT influences on cortical maturation. Consequently, whereas greater Val “dose” conferred persistent dorsolateral prefrontal cortical deficits amongst affected probands by adulthood, cortical thickness differences associated with varying Val dose in non-psychotic siblings resolved over the age-range studied. These findings suggest that cortical abnormalities in pedigrees affected by schizophrenia may be contributed to by a disruption of dopaminergic infleunces on cortical maturation.
Breast cancer risk and lifestyle differences among premenopausal and postmenopausal African-American women and white women

BACKGROUND Very little is known about the role of lifestyle in breast cancer risk, and even less is known about whether differences in lifestyle contribute to the disparities in this risk between African-American women and white women. In this study, the authors examined differences in diet and physical activity between African-American women and white women and discuss the research that is needed regarding the role of lifestyle in breast cancer risk. METHODS The authors used bivariate and multiple regression analyses to estimate the difference between African-American women and white women in body mass index (BMI), physical activity, the Healthy Eating Index, intake of selected nutrients, and serum levels of some micronutrients. Data were taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, 1988–1994. RESULTS African-American women had a higher BMI, and older African-American women were less active physically compared with white women. African-American women of all ages had a poorer quality diet, and they consumed more protein and cholesterol but less dietary fiber, folate, and vitamin A. African-American women had lower predicted serum levels of folate and vitamin A but higher predicted serum levels of lutein. CONCLUSIONS The current findings generally are consistent with the hypothesis that nutrition differences may contribute to the higher rate of breast cancer experienced by younger African-American women, although extensive research is needed. More longitudinal data and research on nutrition, genetics, and breast cancer among African-American women are needed. Studies should examine how to help African-American women make behavioral changes to reduce their risk of breast cancer. Cancer 2003;97(1 Suppl):280–8. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11020
Frontiers in computational materials science

Abstract This article contains the author's personal assessment of the state of the art of computational materials science and the major current frontiers in computational research. The author advocates a systematic link from microscopic theories through the mesoscopic regime to the macroscopic continuum. Such an approach can form the basis for “theoretical materials synthesis and processing” and a first-principles theory of mechanical properties, including plasticity.
More than a mermaid: Esther Williams, performance, and the body.

In Million Dollar Mermaid (1952), one of Esther Williams' most famous films, she plays real-life, turn-of-the-century Australian swimming champion and US variety star Annette Kellerman. In the clos...
The fourth generation and N = 1 supergravity

Abstract The effects of including a fourth generation of matter fields in the RG equations of broken N = 1 supergravity are considered. With small values ( h X ≅0.2) of the fourth generation Yukawa couplings at GUT energies M X , SU(2)×U(1) breaking can take place comfortably at the weak scale, with m t ≅40 GeV , m e R ⩾ 30 GeV . Larger values ( h > X ⩾ 0.5) force the breaking to occur via dimensional transmutation. When h X ⩾1, the dimensional transmutation cannot take place as low as the weak scale, yielding upper bounds on fourth generation masses: m t′ ⩽140 GeV, m b ′ ⩽135 GeV, and m τ ′ ⩽70 GeV. There are many solutions with m b ′ m b ′ , m τ ′ m τ ′ , and the “radiative” Higgs can have a mass as high as 35 GeV.
Sadistic fantasies modified by aversive conditioning and substitution: a case study

Abstract A case study involving unpleasant electric shocks as the consequence of sadistic fantasies seems to have successfully helped to suppress or extinguish them while incompatible “normal” sex fantasies were strengthened. The results are seen as analogous to other studies using extinction with aversive stimuli.
Sexual satiety in rats: Effects of prolonged post-ejaculatory intervals

Two experiments were conducted in order to determine the effect of enforcing 1 h rest periods between the fourth and fifth ejaculatory series on the number of ejaculations to satiety in male rats-with and without changes of female. Where differences were observed they were in the direction of decreased ejaculation frequencies following prolonged intervals. Such effects may be due to the female. The data were interpreted as suggesting that sexual satiety is not solely an effect of general fatigue.
The cyclopropane fatty acid of trypanosomatids.

Abstract cis -9,10-Methyleneoctadecanoic acid, one of a group of cyclopropane fatty acids commonly found in bacteria but not in eukaryotic cells, has been identified in the phosphatidylethanolamines of 27 isolates representing 5 genera of trypanosomatid flagellates ( Crithidia, Leptomonas, Herpetomonas, Phytomonas, Leishmania ). Its presence did not appear to be associated with endosymbiotic or other microbial associates. It was absent from 12 isolates of the genera Blastocrithidia, Endotrypanum and Trypanosoma .
Modeling and Analysis of Connected Traffic Intersections Based on Modified Binary Petri Nets

We propose an approach for the modeling and analysis of two connected traffic intersections based on Petri nets (PNs). We first use a PN to model an isolated four-way signalized intersection; then we extend it to model two successive signalized intersections. We find that this model has unbounded places, which in turn results in some confliction problems. Hence, we introduce the concept of modified binary petri nets (MBPNs) to overcome the limitation and resolve the confliction problem when we design our model and its controller. This MBPN model is a powerful tool and can be useful for the modeling and analysis of many other traffic applications.
BACKLASH, FIGHT BACK, AND BACK-PEDALING: RESPONSES TO STATE FEMINISM IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN

From the mid-1990s, the Japanese government has promoted the creation of a “gender-equal society,” but since about 2000 this example of “state feminism” has faced a severe backlash. This article addresses the following questions about the phenomenon of Japanese state feminism, its history and its consequence: (1) How did the government policy for a “gender equal society” come into existence, and what explains its remarkably progressive nature? (2) What was the impact of the involvement of feminist scholars on policy-making? (3) What was the initial response to the policy? (4) What was the background of the backlash, who were the people and organizations involved, and what were the main arguments? (5) What has been the response to the backlash? (6) What are the connections and differences between the present controversy and the collaboration between feminism and the state in previous moments in Japanese history?
Mapping 87Sr/86Sr variations in bedrock and water for large scale provenance studies

Abstract Although variation in 87Sr/86Sr has been widely pursued as a tracer of provenance in environmental studies, forensics, archeology and food traceability, accurate methods for mapping variations in environmental 87Sr/86Sr at regional scale are not available. In this paper, we build upon earlier efforts to model 87Sr/86Sr in bedrock by developing GIS-based models for Sr isotopes in rock and water that include the combined effects of lithology and time. Using published data, we fit lithology-specific model parameters for generalized equations describing the concentration of radiogenic Sr in silicate and carbonate rocks. The new model explained more than 50% of the observed variance in measured Sr isotope values from independent global databases of igneous, metaigneous, and carbonate rocks, but performed more poorly (explaining 33% of the variance) for sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks. In comparison, a previously applied model formulation that did not include lithology-specific parameters explained only 20% and 8% of the observed variance for igneous and sedimentary rocks, respectively, and exhibited an inverse relationship with measured carbonate rock values. Building upon the bedrock model, we also developed and applied equations to predict the contribution of different rock types to 87Sr/86Sr variations in water as a function of their weathering rates and strontium content. The resulting water model was compared to data from 68 catchments and shown to give more accurate predictions of stream water 87Sr/86Sr (R2 = 0.70) than models that did not include lithological weathering parameters. We applied these models to produce maps (“isoscapes”) predicting 87Sr/86Sr in bedrock and water across the contiguous USA, and compared the mapped Sr isotope distributions to data on Sr isotope ratios of US marijuana crops. Although the maps produced here are demonstrably imperfect and leave significant scope for further refinement, they provide an enhanced framework for lithology-based Sr isotope modeling and offer a baseline for provenance studies by constraining the 87Sr/86Sr in strontium sources at regional scales.
Effects of oxidative stress and inhibitors of the pentose phosphate pathway on sexually dimorphic production of IFN‐τ by bovine blastocysts

Bovine interferon-tau (IFN-tau), the anti-luteolytic factor secreted by conceptuses of pecoran ruminants, is a product of autosomal genes, yet in vitro produced (IVP) female expanded blastocysts (EB) secrete about twice as much IFN-tau as males. Two possible explanations have been tested here. One is that embryos of one sex are differentially susceptible to oxidative stress. The second is that female EB produce more IFN-tau because pentose-phosphate pathway (PPP) activity is elevated as a result of delayed X-chromosome inactivation. IVP bovine zygotes were cultured to the 8-cell stage and placed under conditions designed either to promote oxidative stress (+/-H2O2; 20 vs. 5% O2), or to inhibit glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity (addition of dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA or 6-aminonicotinamide, 6-AN to the medium). At day 8, blastocysts were cultured individually for a further 48 hr to assess IFN-tau production, and embryo sex determined retrospectively. Blastocyst numbers were reduced (P < 0.05) and their continued development impaired (P < 0.05) in presence of H2O2 (200 microM) and 20% O2, but neither IFN-tau production nor sexually dimorphic expression of IFN-tau were affected. IFN-tau production was reduced, particularly in females (P < 0.05), and sexual dimorphic differences in production were lost in the presence of both DHEA (100 microM) and 6-AN (1 microM). In the case of 6-AN, these effects were achieved without a significant decline in blastocyst developmental progression, quality, or cell number. The data suggest that the higher production of IFN-tau by female EB is an indirect outcome of the increased activity of the oxidative arm of the PPP pathway.
Plots of turnover times versus added substrate concentrations provide only upper bounds to in situ substrate concentrations

In recent years it has become a common practice in the study of microbial activity in aquatic systems to estimate in situ substrate concentrations by plotting substrate turnover times (the substrate concentration divided by microbial uptake rate) against the concentrations of added radioactively labeled substrate. The rationale has been that the uptake rate will remain essentially constant if added concentrations of high specific activity substrates are small compared to in situ concentrations. Unfortunately, a correct mathematical analysis shows that the in situ concentrations estimated by this method are only upper bounds to the true in situ substrate concentrations, regardless of the size of the substrate spikes. The estimated in situ concentration will equal the true in situ concentration only if uptake rate is completely independent of substrate concentration, an unlikely situation in natural systems.
Optimization of cultural conditions for the production of an extracellular protease by Pseudomonas species

The aim of the study was to identify new sources of protease and a protease producing bacteria was isolated from slaughter house soil and identified as Pseudomonas species . The protease production efficiency of the organism was measured with different environmental and nutritional parameters. Optimization of the fermentation medium for maximum protease production was carried out. The culture condition like temperature, pH, incubation time, carbon and nitrogen sources were optimized. The optimum condition found for protease production was 30°C at pH 7 in the medium for 48 hour. Carbon source casein and nitrogen source beef extract stimulated the production of protease. Protease production was higher with immobilized cells. Pseudomonas species can be used profitably for the large scale production of protease to meet the present day demand of the industrial sector. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v2i1.12870 International Current Pharmaceutical Journal 2012, 2(1): 1-6
Diagnostic Tests for Pre-bond TSV Defects

Pre-bond testing and defect identification of through silicon via (TSV) is extremely important for yield assurance of 3D stacked devices. Based on a recently published pre-bond TSV probing technique, this paper proposes an ILP (integer linear programming) model to generate near-optimal set of sessions for pre-bond TSV test. The sessions generated by our model identify defective TSVs in a TSV network with the same capability as that of other available heuristic methods, but with consistently reduced test time. The ILP model is shown to reduce the pre-bond TSV test time by 38.2% for pinpointing up to two faulty TSVs in an 11-TSV network. Reducing prebond TSV test time helps reduce the manufacturing cost of 3D stacked devices. This ILP model has low complexity and an example demonstration using a commercial solver takes less than 40 seconds.
Monte Carlo simulation of light fluence calculation during pleural PDT

A thorough understanding of light distribution in the desired tissue is necessary for accurate light dosimetry in PDT. Solving the problem of light dose depends, in part, on the geometry of the tissue to be treated. When considering PDT in the thoracic cavity for treatment of malignant, localized tumors such as those observed in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), changes in light dose caused by the cavity geometry should be accounted for in order to improve treatment efficacy. Cavity-like geometries demonstrate what is known as the “integrating sphere effect” where multiple light scattering off the cavity walls induces an overall increase in light dose in the cavity. We present a Monte Carlo simulation of light fluence based on a spherical and an elliptical cavity geometry with various dimensions. The tissue optical properties as well as the non-scattering medium (air and water) varies. We have also introduced small absorption inside the cavity to simulate the effect of blood absorption. We expand the MC simulation to track photons both within the cavity and in the surrounding cavity walls. Simulations are run for a variety of cavity optical properties determined using spectroscopic methods. We concluded from the MC simulation that the light fluence inside the cavity is inversely proportional to the surface area.