cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
People, Power, and Land: New Enclosures on a Global Scale

A global land rush is aggressively underway. It is reinventing frontier narratives wherever farmland, rangeland, and forestland appear “underutilized,” particularly in the Global South. Though the means and motives of these acquisitions are diverse, the lens of “new enclosures” lends itself to focusing on their similarities. New enclosures surpass the enclosures of bygone centuries in scale and speed and in the plethora of resources they reach. Sociological interventions, both theoretical and applied, are needed to contextualize and concretize this burgeoning alienation of land rights and power contingencies across communities and continents.
TNF, LTA and TGFB1 genotype distributions among acute graft-vs-host disease subsets after HLA-matched unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a pilot study.

Cytokine single nucleotide polymorphisms and consequent production levels have been associated with acute graft-vs-host disease (aGVHD) development. The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether polymorphisms in tumor necrosis factor (TNF), lymphotoxin alpha (LTA) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) showed any association with aGVHD severity. Novel alleles and polymorphisms were identified for each cytokine locus. Genotype distributions were examined in 38 recipient–donor pairs (all chronic myelogenous leukemia in the first chronic phase) with either low-grade (grades 0–I) or high-grade (grades III–IV) aGVHD. Although no significant differences were found, some trends were noted in genotype distributions among aGVHD-grade groups. Power calculations determined that substantially more pairs would be required to show significant associations in distributions among aGVHD-grade groups.
Analysis of cw-mode optically controlled microwave switch

Optical-microwave interaction has been emphasized in optically reconfigurable antenna arrays (ORA) due to the unique advantage that transparency between the optical control signals and microwave signals makes the antenna less susceptible to jamming. One of the important parts in ORA is an optically controlled microwave switch (OMS) as synaptic elements. A gap-structure OMS has been developed as a low-cost and simple device which operates in all frequencies. However, the OMS is essentially operated in a CW-mode, and adverse effects are observed in the CW-mode operation. Although a CW-mode OMS has been investigated previously, a detailed analysis has not been reported. In this paper, we present an analysis, and the numerical simulations are compared with the previous measurements.
The Determinants of Median Voter Tax Liability: an Empirical Test of the Fiscal Illusion Hypothesis

A median voter model was constructed, permitting an empirical examination of the determinants of state and local individual tax liability. Holding constant the effect of other factors, a 1% increase in median voter income is found to increase median voter tax liability by 1.4%. A rise in per capita mineral shipments and thus, an increase in the available mineral extraction tax base lead to reduction in voter tax liability. Also, support is found for the version of the fiscal illusion hypothesis that the level of taxation increases as tax structures become more complex by drawing upon a larger number of revenue sources.
Structural and electronic properties of Ge-Te clusters

The atomic and electronic structures of IV-VI semiconductor clusters Ge n Te m (n+m≤10) are investigated using a real-space higher-order finite-difference ab initio pseudopotential method. Langevin molecular dynamics coupled to a simulated annealing procedure allows us to find the geometries of ground-state and low-energy structures for n=m and n=m′1. The binding energies, energy gaps, dipole moments, static polarizabilities, and vibrational frequencies are calculated. The results are compared with available experimental data and existing calculations on group IV, III-V, and II-VI semiconductor clusters. The polarizabilities of the clusters considered are found to be very close to the bulk value with a nonmonotonic variation as a function of the cluster size. Most of the lowest-energy structures have lower symmetries and larger energy gaps compared to other isomers, indicating a higher stability of distorted Ge n Te m clusters, reminiscent of the Peierls distortions observed in the solid and liquid phases of GeTe.
American High School Students' Perceptions of Determinants of Life Satisfaction

Life satisfaction can be assessed either globally or with regard to satisfaction with specific domains of life. The latter multidimensional approach presumes science has delineated with confidence the specific domains most relevant to evaluating whether the criteria for a good life have been met. This paper shares results of a qualitative study of the perceived determinants of life satisfaction among 30 high school students who were diverse in terms of mental health; 6–10 participants were classified as complete mental health, vulnerable, symptomatic but content, or troubled at two time points separated by a year. Thematic analyses of transcribed individual interviews suggested eight themes that capture the domains of life adolescents perceive influence their happiness. These themes are compared and contrasted to domains included in existing multi-dimensional measures of youth life satisfaction. The factors likely to be particularly salient to students with different levels of mental health are noted.
Diffusion in transition metals and alloys

The activation energies for diffusion in transition metals is correlated against the localizedd electron population. Thed electron population is determined by the Engel-Brewer theory. A quasichemical model of a binary solid solution is used to determine the distribution of atoms and vacancies. The use of this model enables one to determine the average number of bonds affected by the formation of a vacancy and the jumping of an atom into the vacancy. The activation energy is considered to consist of energies of vacancy formation and atom migration. The correlative curve and an empirical ratio is used to separate the activation energies into the above two parts. Finally the results of the quasichemical model and the correlation are combined. The calculated activation energies of impurity atoms in pure metals and of self diffusion in binary alloys (Co-Ni, Fe-Ti, Fe-Cr and Fe-V) are compared with experimental results.
Culturally-Modified Recruitment Strategies for Latino Families in Clinical Child Research: A Critical First Step

The goals of the current study were to develop and employ culturally-modified recruitment strategies utilizing flexibility and creativity to combat practical and cultural barriers to Latino participation in clinical child research, as well as to quantitatively examine individual and cultural factors related to the different recruitment strategies. In total, 45 Latino parents were successfully recruited and primarily included married mothers of Mexican origin with varied socioeconomic backgrounds. To address the first study goal, an initial culturally-modified recruitment strategy (i.e., postcard strategy, n = 23) was developed to combat both practical and cultural barriers; an augmented strategy (i.e., face-to-face strategy, n = 22) was later employed to further combat potential barriers. Unfortunately, neither strategy resulted in the desired sample size of 150 parents. To examine the second study goal, an exploratory, quantitative examination of individual and cultural factors related to the different strategies was conducted. In general, results suggested that there were differences in the demographics of the parents who responded to the different recruitment strategies, such that those recruited through the face-to-face strategy were more educated, more acculturated, and spoke more English than those recruited through the postcard strategy. Much needed future directions are discussed.
Frances Wright on women's rights: Eloquence versus ethos

Frances Wright, a Scotswoman and first woman public speaker in America, failed to persuade 1828–1830 audiences of the importance of women's rights because of her low extrinsic ethos. She met all the criteria for “eloquence” defined by Longinus, and contemporary audiences granted her high intrinsic ethos; however, her radical behavior and ideas such as the invasion of the male lecture platform, association with free love practices, and attacks on organized religion violated societal norms and thereby mitigated her effectiveness.
The response of thermospheric atomic nitrogen to magnetic storms

Neutral composition data obtained by the open-source neutral-mass spectrometer on the polar orbiting Atmosphere Explorer D satellite during the periods October 31 to November 15, 1975, and January 5 to 15, 1976, are used to characterize the response of thermospheric atomic nitrogen densities to geomagnetic activity. These periods provided nearly simultaneous polar and low-latitude data coverage. At low and middle latitudes near dawn and at all latitudes on the dayside, N densities at 400 km appear to vary like those of a species of atomic mass 14: N is observed to increase with increasing geomagnetic activity in a manner similar to that of O. At auroral latitudes near dawn, however, there is a more complex dependence on the amplitude of the disturbance. For substorm-scale activity, N tends to increase during periods of auroral heating but exhibits a sharp temporary decrease afterward. During large storms there is a significant but short-lived increase of N at auroral latitudes. The present results support current models showing that N is produced and transported out of the auroral zone during geomagnetic disturbances.
Use of mutant fibroblasts in the analysis of the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in human cells

Analysis of mutant human fibroblasts deficient in a cell surface receptor for low density lipoproteins (LDL) has led to the delineation of an important, hitherto unrecognized, regulatory process for cholesterol metabolism. On normal cells, binding of LDL to this receptor regulates cholesterol metabolism by two mechanisms: (a) suppression of cholesterol synthesis and (b) facilitation of the rate of proteolytic degradation of the lipoprotein. In cells from homozygotes with the autosomal dominant disorder Familial Hypercholesterolemia, a nearly total reduction in LDL receptors results in two secondary abnormalities: (a) overproduction of cholesterol due to an inability of LDL to suppress the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, the rate-controlling enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, and (b) impairment in the rate of proteolytic degradation of LDL. Cells from heterozygotes possess about 50 per cent of the normal number of LDL recpetors; this leads to a concentration-dependent defect in regulation, so that attainment of rates of cholesterol synthesis and LDL degradation equal to that in normal cells requires a two to three-fold higher concentration of extracellular LDL in the heterozygote. The identification of this genetic regulatory defect in fibroblasts of heterozygotes with Familial Hypercholesterolemia makes available an in vitro system for studying the molecular mechanism by which a dominant mutation affects gene expression in mammalian cells.
Effect of humidity and elevated temperatures on physical properties of UV-cured polymers†

Many UV-cured acrylates, epoxides, and thiol-enes suffer a dramatic, reversible loss of tensile strength during exposure to moisture and/or elevated temperatures. Certain formulations are especially sensitive and lose up to 95% of their dry tensile strength in a humid environment. Glass transition temperatures of these materials are also much lower in high humidity than they are in low humidity. It is proposed that these losses of physical properties in high humidity are due to reduced intersegmental attractions of polymer chains caused by preferential hydrogen bonding to water.
Strain gradient effect in nanoscale thin films

Abstract Compared to uniform deformation, gradient-dominant deformation experiments at the micro-scale have consistently shown remarkable strengthening effect. It is proposed in the literature that pronounced strain gradient, on the order of the inverse of a characteristic length scale, adds to the materials strength. The literature contains several formulations that account for the strain gradient in the constitutive equation. However, the role of microstructures in these formulations remains to be investigated. Due to the difficulties in micro/nano scale experimentation, attempts to investigate this mechanism so far have been confined to specimens with dimensions more than 10 microns, or to nano-indentation experiments. In this study, we use MEMS-based testing techniques to explore the effect of strain gradient in 100, 150, 200 and 485 nm thick freestanding Aluminum specimens with average grain size of 50, 65, 80 and 212 nm respectively. Strain gradient plasticity analysis show that the characteristic length scale for Aluminum is about 4.5 μm, which is similar to the values for copper and nickel reported in the literature. Experimental results suggest that the strain gradient effect is fundamentally related to dislocation-based mechanisms, and is absent at extremely small length scales (
An inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy study of the complexation reaction of CoBr2 and CoCl2 with silane modified alumina

Abstract We report the first electronic tunneling study of the complexation of a metal ion by a surface immobilized functionality. The synthetic and structural aspects of the complexation reaction between surface immobilized N-2-aminoethyl-3-aminopropyltrimethoxy silane, (en)silane, and CoX 2 ( X = Br , Cl ) are investigated by inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy. The vibrational spectra of surface supported (en)silane and of ethylenediamine are also reported. We have observed d-d electronic transitions due to the CoX 4 2− species as well as silane-CoX n surface complexes. Electronic transitions attributable to tetrahedral, tetragonal, and, to a lesser extent trigonal cobalt complexes are observed. The tunneling intensities of many of these electronic transitions are larger than the intensities of the observed vibrational modes. The relative concentrations of the CoX 4 2− and the silane-cobalt species depend strongly on the percent surface coverage of the immobilized silane. The halogens in the original CoX 2 complex participate in determining the final distribution of surface complex coordination types.
Toward sociomedical health indicators

The various forms of mortality data and biomedical measures of morbidity have become inadequate measures of the level of health in economically developed countries. Measures of functional physical capacity have some advantages but do not reflect physical impairment. Current attempts to develop sociomedical health indicators include: measures of social disability; typologies of presenting symptoms, which have been used to estimate probable needs for care; measures which focus on behavioral expressions of sickness; research based on operational definitions of ‘positive mental health’, ‘happiness’ and perceived quality of life; assessments of met and unmet needs for health care, which are measures of social capacity to care for the sick.
Stability of titanian clinohumite: Experiments and thermodynamic analysis

Reversed hydrothermal experiments on a natural titanoclinohumite [Ti-Cl; approximate formula Mg7.5FeTi0.5O16(OH)] show that it breaks down at 475°±11° C (3.5 kbar), 620°±11° C (14 kbar) and 675°±8° C (21 kbar) to the assemblage olivine +ilmenite+vapor. An internal-consistency analysis of the data yields Δ r G /0 (298 K, 1 bar)=36,760±3,326 cal (mole Ti-Cl)−1. Δ r S /0 (298 K, 1 bar)=34.14±5.91 cal deg−1(mole Ti-Cl)−1. Linear correlation coefficient r G−S ≈1.0. A solution model that accounts for TiO2-M(OH)2 and F-OH substitution shows that the results for our nearly F-free Ti-Cl are in reasonable agreement with the unreversed breakdown experiments of Mer-rill et al. (1972) on a F-bearing Ti-Cl. Because fluorine is necessary to stabilize Ti-Cl under mantle conditions, we suggest that Ti-Cl is much more likely to be a “storage device” for fluorine than for water in the mantle.
Altered white matter microstructure underlies listening difficulties in children suspected of auditory processing disorders: a DTI study

Introduction The purpose of the present study was to identify biomarkers of listening difficulties by investigating white matter microstructure in children suspected of auditory processing disorder (APD) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Behavioral studies have suggested that impaired cognitive and/or attention abilities rather than a pure sensory processing deficit underlie listening difficulties and auditory processing disorder (APD) in children. However, the neural signature of listening difficulties has not been investigated. Methods Twelve children with listening difficulties and atypical left ear advantage (LEA) in dichotic listening and twelve age- and gender-matched typically developing children with typical right ear advantage (REA) were tested. Using voxel-based analysis, fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean, axial and radial diffusivity (MD, AD, RD) maps were computed and contrasted between the groups. Results Listening difficulties were associated with altered white matter microstructure, reflected by decreased FA in frontal multifocal white matter regions centered in prefrontal cortex bilaterally and left anterior cingulate. Increased RD and decreased AD accounted for the decreased FA, suggesting delayed myelination in frontal white matter tracts and disrupted fiber organization in the LEA group. Furthermore, listening difficulties were associated with increased MD (with increase in both RD and AD) in the posterior limb of the internal capsule (sublenticular part) at the auditory radiations where auditory input is transmitted between the thalamus and the auditory cortex. Conclusions Our results provide direct evidence that listening difficulties in children are associated with altered white matter microstructure and that both sensory and supramodal deficits underlie the differences between the groups.
Low temperature electronic transport in non-crystalline semiconductors

Abstract The general features of the steady state photoconductivity of several non-crystalline semiconductors at low temperatures are discussed in terms of energy loss hopping among loxalized tail states. New measurements of the effective mobility of photocarriers in hydrogenated amorphous silicon by means of the traveling wave method are presented and compared with time-of-flight mobilities.
Inhibition of histone acetyltransferase by glycosaminoglycans

Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) are a class of enzymes that participate in modulating chromatin structure and gene expression. Altered HAT activity has been implicated in a number of diseases, yet little is known about the regulation of HATs. In this study, we report that glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are potent inhibitors of p300 and pCAF HAT activities in vitro, with heparin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) being the most potent inhibitors. The mechanism of inhibition by heparin was investigated. The ability of heparin to inhibit HAT activity was in part dependent upon its size and structure, as small heparin-derived oligosaccharides (>8 sugars) and N-desulfated or O-desulfated heparin showed reduced inhibitory activity. Heparin was shown to bind to pCAF; and enzyme assays indicated that heparin shows the characteristics of a competitive-like inhibitor causing an ∼50-fold increase in the apparent Km of pCAF for histone H4. HSPGs isolated from corneal and pulmonary fibroblasts inhibited HAT activity with similar effectiveness as heparin. As evidence that endogenous GAGs might be involved in modulating histone acetylation, the direct addition of heparin to pulmonary fibroblasts resulted in an ∼50% reduction of histone H3 acetylation after 6 h of treatment. In addition, Chinese hamster ovary cells deficient in GAG synthesis showed increased levels of acetylated histone H3 compared to wild-type parent cells. GAGs represent a new class of HAT inhibitors that might participate in modulating cell function by regulating histone acetylation. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 108–120, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Behavioral effects of orally administered glycine in socially housed monkeys chronically treated with phencyclidine.

Schizophrenia is a major mental disorder. Dissociative anesthetics such as phencyclidine (PCP) produce a syndrome in humans that is clinically indistinguishable from schizophrenia by blocking neurotransmission at N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-type glutamate receptors. NMDA receptors in brain are modulated by the amino acid glycine (GLY), which reverses neurochemical and behavioral effects of PCP in rodents. The present study investigates GLY effects on PCP-induced behavior in primates. In primates, PCP induces characteristic behavioral symptoms that can be used to model positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. This study investigated the effects of GLY treatment in ten socially housed monkeys receiving chronically infused PCP. Ten monkeys received escalating then stable doses of continuously infused PCP through a series of subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipumps. During a segment of the highest PCP dose period, monkeys were concurrently treated with glycine (2 g kg−1 day−1 bid p.o.). Behavioral observations were recorded during baseline and treatment periods. Chronic PCP treatment was associated with a progressive decrease in stereotyped pacing and a progressive increase in scanning behavior. Eight of ten animals had one or more episodes of extreme motoric and physiological responses precipitated by stressful events. GLY treatment significantly reversed the effects of PCP on stereotyped pacing but had no effect on scanning. The results support GLY treatment as beneficial for negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Although further validation is needed, the results also indicate that chronic PCP in primates may be an appropriate model system for development of drugs targeting positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Periodic spin textures in a degenerate F = 1 87Rb spinor Bose gas

We report on the spin textures produced by cooling unmagnetized $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ $F=1$ spinor gases into the regime of quantum degeneracy. At low temperatures, magnetized textures form that break translational symmetry and display short-range periodic magnetic order characterized by one- or two-dimensional spatial modulations with wavelengths much smaller than the extent of the quasi-two-dimensional degenerate gas. Spin textures produced upon cooling spin mixtures with a nonzero initial magnetic quadrupole moment also show ferromagnetic order that, at low temperature, coexists with the spatially modulated structure.
1992 Brings return to moderate global temperatures

Natural events, such as the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines and the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) episode in the tropical Pacific Ocean, had major impacts on the global climate in 1992. These phenomena were associated with a return to more moderate global temperatures during 1992 after several years of record or near-record high temperatures. During the first part of the year, the 1991–1992 ENSO episode contributed to above normal temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere, while cooling during the latter part of the year was associated with the aerosol cloud produced by the June 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. By the spring of 1992, the stratospheric aerosol cloud had extended from the tropics well into both hemispheres. In this report, global surface temperature anomalies are defined as departures from the 1961–1990 base period means. As the aerosol cloud spread throughout the Northern Hemisphere during a time of increasing solar radiation, the surface temperature anomalies responded by becoming less positive over much of the hemisphere. This relative cooling helped to make 1992 the coolest year since 1986. Temperatures also were dramatically cooler throughout the troposphere.
Phase field modeling of shallow cells during directional solidification of a binary alloy

Abstract We report some computational results obtained by using the phase field model for binary alloy solidification. We study directional solidification and concentrate on the transition between a planar interface and steady shallow cells near the onset of morphological instability at low growth speeds. The model is formulated on the principle of local positive entropy production. This gives rise to a set of partial differential equations for the temperature, composition and the phase fields. We make a frozen temperature approximation and compute steady-state nearly periodic cellular crystal–melt interfaces in two dimensions. The cell shapes can be characterized by a small number of Fourier coefficients and become nearly sinusoidal as stability is approached. Wavelength selection by tip splitting or coarsening is also observed.
Promoting Physical Activity and Exercise in Older Adults

Although the benefits of increased physical activity and exercise are universally recognized, many older persons remain sedentary, and relatively few achieve recommended levels of activity. Effective interventions to reverse the lack of physical activity in older adults are clearly needed. By understanding correlates of inactivity and appreciating those factors that contribute to a sedentary lifestyle, appropriate strategies can be employed to help order patients reap the benefits of increased physical activity and exercise. In this article, we offer to the reader a brief overview of the field as well as our own thoughts on how clinicians might help individual patients at a more practical level.
Metal cluster ion cyclotron resonance. Combining supersonic metal cluster beam technology with FT-ICR

Abstract An apparatus is described for the injection and trapping of supersonic bare metal cluster ions in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance spectrometer (FT-ICR). Metal clusters were generated in a supersonic beam by laser vaporization of a metal target rod inside a pulsed nozzle. The cold clusters were ionized by an argon-fluoride excimer laser, mass-selected, and then directed down the bore of a superconducting magnet to be trapped in the rectangular cell of the FT-ICR. Efficient injection was accomplished with a series of Einzel lenses which directed the clusters along the magnetic field lines leading into the magnet. Once in the magnet center, the ions were trapped and analyzed by standard FT-ICR methods. Bare niobium clusters ranging in size from two to six have been successfully injected, trapped and detected at high mass resolution. Measurements indicated near perfect injection efficiency and a net trapping efficiency of ∼ 60%.
Integrated Optics-The Second Decade

In the long term, integrated optics could play a ubiquitous role in optical and electronic systems. To realize that role, an intensive period of basic research is needed that will expand the range of physical structures available for device design. With success in that effort, integrated optics could impact future computer system designs, display technologies, and high speed electronic systems.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Nursing research--moving forward through networking, collaboration, and mentorship.

Abstract Numerous pediatric oncology nurses have provided the specialty with research that has established a foundation for the nursing care of children and adolescents with cancer. The research committee within APON is committed to facilitating further research development among pediatric oncology nurses. Research growth within APON will continue with the development of precongress research workshops for nurses interested in developing research projects, an advanced nursing research session to be held at the next national conference, and the organization of networking among pediatric oncology nurse researchers. Additionally, the research column will provide nurses with a review of the research process over the next several issues. Knowledge building is an evolving, dynamic process that is rapidly changing due to the newness of the specialty. As the pediatric oncology specialty continues to grow, networking, collaboration, and mentorship must become the keys to facilitating future research growth within APON.
Earthquakes, injection wells, and the Perry Nuclear Power Plant, Cleveland, Ohio

On January 31, 1986, an earthquake of Richter magnitude 4.9 occurred in northeastern Ohio some 17.0 km south of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP) and 12.0 km south of the Calhio injection wells. Accelerometers on site at the PNPP recorded accelerations as high as 0.19 to 0.23 g. Many instruments tripped due to high-amplitude vibrations. Microearthquake networks have recorded 16 microearthquakes within 5.0 km of the injection wells with focal depths ranging from 1.0 to 3.0 km. A hydrological model of an anisotropic reservoir 7.2 km wide and 18.4 km long indicates a pressure buildup of 5.3 MPa at the epicenter and 11.8 MPa at the injection well. The assumption of an anisotropic reservoir is consistent with available geophysical and geologic data. A pressure increase of 11.8 MPa, based on stress ratio estimates in crustal rocks in the region, is more than sufficient to induce failure to a depth of 5.0 km. Furthermore, brittle faults and extensive fracture permeability within the basement rocks would allow for the migration of pressure transients to hypocentral distances. The indicated pressure buildup of 5.3 MPa at the epicenter may have been sufficient to trigger the January 31, 1986, earthquake.
Induction of erythrocyte protein 4.2 gene expression during differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells

Protein 4.2 (P4.2) is an important component in the erythrocyte membrane skeletal network that regulates the stability and flexibility of erythrocytes. Recently, we provided the evidence for specific P4.2 expression in erythroid cells during development (L. Zhu et al., 1998, Blood 91, 695-705). Using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced differentiation of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells as a model, transcription of the P4.2 gene was found to be induced during erythroid differentiation. To examine the mechanism for this induction, we isolated the mouse P4.2 genomic DNA containing the 5' flanking sequence and defined the location of the P4.2 promoter. Transcription of the mouse P4.2 gene initiates at multiple sites, with the major initiation site mapped at 174 nucleotides upstream of the ATG start codon. The mouse P4.2 promoter is TATA-less and contains multiple potential binding sites for erythroid transcription factors GATA-1, NF-E2, EKLF, and tal-1/SCL. Transient transfection experiments demonstrated that a 1.7-kb mouse P4.2 promoter fused with the luciferase coding regions was induced in DMSO-treated MEL cells. Deletion analysis showed that a 259-bp P4.2 promoter DNA (nucleotide position -88 to +171 relative to the major transcription initiation site designated +1), containing a GATA-binding site at position -29 to -24, could still respond to the induction in differentiated MEL cells. Importantly, mutations in the -29/-24 GATA motif rendered the promoter unresponsive to DMSO induction. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that GATA-1 could bind to the -29/-24 GATA motif and this was confirmed by the observation that the nuclear protein bound to the motif was supershifted by an anti-GATA-1 monoclonal antibody. Taken together, these results suggest that the erythroid transcription factor GATA-1 plays an important role in the induction of P4.2 gene expression during erythroid cell differentiation.
Synthesis, structures and reactivity of novel germanium(II) aryloxide and arylsulfide complexes

The protonolysis reactions between Ge[N(SiMe3)2]2 and substituted phenols give rise to new germanium(II) aryloxide complexes [Ge(OAr)2]n (n = 2, ArO = OC6H2Me3-2,4,6 1 or OC6H3iPr2-2,6 2; n = 1, ArO = OC6H3Ph2-2,6 3 or OC6HPh4-2,3,5,6 4). The solid state structures of 1–4 have been determined by X-ray diffraction and compared to their spectroscopic properties. Compounds 1 and 2 contain bridging aryloxide ligands and the environment about the germanium atoms is pyramidal. Compound 1 reacts with benzil to yield a five-coordinate germanium complex [Ge(OC6H2Me3-2,4,6)(O2C2Ph2)(O2C2HPh2)] 5, while compound 4 reacts with the same reagent to give [Ge(OC6HPh4-2,3,5,6)2(O2C2Ph2)] 6. The X-ray crystal structures of 5 and 6 have also been determined. Compound 4 also undergoes an oxidative addition reaction with CH3I to yield the germane [Ge(OC6HPh4-2,3,5,6)2(Me)(I)] (7). A novel arylsulfidegermane, [HGe(SC6H2iPr3-2,4,6)3] 8, was isolated in the reaction between Ge[N(SiMe3)2]2 and HSC6H2iPr3-2,4,6 and was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and an X-ray crystal structure.
Sodium orthosilicate: An effective additive for alkaline steamflood

Steamflood performance often suffers from channelling and gravity segregation, resulting in poor sweep efficiency. Alkaline additives may be used with steam for certain types of crude oils to improve steamflood performance. In this paper, an experimental study is presented to evaluate the effectiveness of sodium hydroxide, sodium metasilicate and sodium orthosilicate for improving steamflood performance in the Wilmington Tar Zone crude oil. The experimental apparatus was designed to completely eliminate heat loss from the core so that the effects of the alkaline additives on saturated steam, rather than on the condensed water, could be studied. The results show that sodium orthosilicate outperforms sodium hydroxide and sodium metasilicate in enhancing oil recovery by a steamflood.
Haptic joystick with hybrid actuator using air muscles and spherical MR-brake

Abstract In this research, a new 2-DOF hybrid actuator concept is explored as a powerful and compact alternative to conventional haptic actuators. The actuator combines a spherical MR-brake and three air muscles and is integrated into a joystick that can apply forces in two degrees-of-freedom. The air muscles are used to create high active forces in a compact volume and the brake compensates for the “spongy” feeling associated with air muscles. To decrease the overall size of the system an inertial measurement unit has been implemented as a position measurement solution. As high as 16 N of total force output could be achieved at the tip of the joystick. Also, up to 16 times improvement in the stable virtual wall stiffness was obtained when the MR-brake was used to compensate for force errors. Experiments with an impedance-based haptic controller with force-feedback gave satisfactory wall following performance. This device can be employed in applications including computer games, military or medical training applications, rehabilitation and in teleoperation of equipment where high force feedback in 2-DOF in a compact work volume may be desirable while interacting with rigid or elastic virtual objects.
Enthalpy of dilution of tetra- n -butylammonium bromide in mixtures of water and N-methylacetamide

The enthalpy of dilution of tetra-n-butylammonium bromide in mixtures of water and N-methylacetamide has been measured from approximately 0.1 to 1.0m at 35°C. The mole fraction of water in the solvent varied from 0.250 to 0.969. The results are strikingly nonlinear in the mole fraction of water. As the mole fraction of water varies from 0 to 0.7, there is only a small change in the enthalpy of dilution. At higher mole fractions of water, the excess enthalpy rises sharply to the unusually high values found in water. This indicates that the unusually high values of excess enthalpy associated with hydrophobic bonding in water are destroyed by relatively small amounts of N-methylacetamide.
Identification and quantification of neuropeptides in brain tissue by capillary liquid chromatography coupled off-line to MALDI-TOF and MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS

Capillary liquid chromatography (CLC) coupled off-line with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and TOF/TOF-MS were explored for identification and quantification of neuropeptides in microwave-fixed rat brain tissue. Sample was separated by gradient elution on 50-μm-inner diameter reversed-phase columns at 180 nL/min. Effluent was mixed with matrix solution and transferred to a MALDI target plate by pulsed electric field deposition, yielding sample spots with 200−300-μm diameter. Mass detection limits as low as 2 amol, corresponding to 1 pM concentration, were achieved for neuropeptides. CLC−MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of microwave-fixed rat striatum tissue yielded detection of over 400 distinctive peaks. CLC−MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS allowed identification of 10 peptides including 3 novel peptides. Quantification was evaluated using substance P as analyte and 15N3-labeled substance P as an internal standard. Quantification of substance P revealed ∼6.8-fold higher ...
The spatial resolution of visual attention

Two tasks were used to evaluate the grain of visual attention, the minimum spacing at which attention can select individual items. First, observers performed a tracking task at many viewing distances. When the display subtended less than 1° in size, tracking was no longer possible even though observers could resolve the items and their motions: The items were visible but could not be individuated one from the other. The limiting size for selection was roughly the same whether tracking one or three targets, suggesting that the resolution limit acts independently of the capacity limit of attention. Second, the closest spacing that still allowed individuation of single items in dense, static displays was examined. This critical spacing was about 50% coarser in the radial direction compared to the tangential direction and was coarser in the upper as opposed to the lower visual field. The results suggest that no more than about 60 items can be arrayed in the central 30° of the visual field while still allowing attentional access to each individually. Our data show that selection has a coarse grain, much coarser than visual resolution. These measures of the resolution of attention are based solely on the selection of location and are not confounded with preattentive feature interactions that may contribute to measures from flanker and crowding tasks. The results suggest that the parietal area is the most likely locus of this selection mechanism and that it acts by pointing to the spatial coordinates (or cortical coordinates) of items of interest rather than by holding a representation of the items themselves.
Time window of infarct reduction by intravenous basic fibroblast growth factor in focal cerebral ischemia

Abstract Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a heparin-binding polypeptide with potent trophic and protective effects on brain neurons, glia and endothelia. In previous studies, we showed that intravenously administered bFGF reduced the volume of cerebral infarcts following permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats. In the current study, we examined the time dependence of bFGF infusion on infarct reduction, and the effect of co-infusion of bFGF with heparin. We found a significant reduction in infarct volume when the bFGF infusion (50 μg/kg per h for 3 h) was begun up to 3 h, but not 4 h after the onset of ischemia. The infarct reducing effects of bFGF were not altered by co-infusion of heparin. These results are potentially important in light of the ongoing clinical trials of intravenous bFGF in acute stroke.
Comparison of adipocyte viability and fat graft survival in an animal model using a new tissue liquefaction liposuction device vs standard Coleman method for harvesting.

Background: The use of autologous fat for augmentation has become common practice among plastic surgeons for both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Previously reported data suggest that the method of fat extraction can have profound effects on adipocyte viability and subsequent fat graft survival. Objective: The authors describe a pilot study comparing a new tissue liquefaction liposuction device (TLL; HydraSolve Lipoplasty System; Andrew Technologies, Irvine, California) with a standard syringe aspiration method with respect to adipocyte viability, fat graft survivability, and fat graft quality. Methods: Lipoaspirate from 5 patients was harvested using either TLL or the standard method. Samples were centrifuged and assayed for cell viability. All lipoaspirate samples were grafted into nude rats and harvested 42 and 84 days later. Graft survival and quality were assessed. Results: There was no difference in adipocyte viability between the lipoaspirate conditions. At 42 days, there was no significant difference in fat graft weight and the TLL grafts were more fibrotic than the standard control grafts, but this was improved with the increased centrifuge rate. At 84 days, fat grafts were equivalent with respect to graft weight and histology. Conclusions: Lipoaspirate harvested with the TLL device and centrifuged at 3000 rpm resulted in fat grafts that were equivalent in weight and histology to those from lipoaspirate harvested with the standard syringe aspiration technique.
Power System Fault Modeling/Simulation Protective Relay Testing and Simulation

This paper discusses power system fault simulation/modeling aspects on protection and control performance, requirements and technical problems often occurred during relay testing and commissioning, analyzing testing conditions, protection schemes and solutions for power systems, discussing major factors to be address during fault simulations in order to have successful outcomes for relay testing and acceptance test for protection and control systems.
PbO networks composed of single crystalline nanosheets synthesized by a facile chemical precipitation method

Abstract For the field of energy storage, nanostructured lead oxide (PbO) shows immense potential for increased specific energy and deep discharge for lead acid battery technologies. In this work, PbO networks composed of single crystalline nanosheets were synthesized utilizing a simple, low cost and rapid chemical precipitation method. The PbO networks were prepared in a single reaction vessel from starting reagents of lead acetate dehydrate, ammonium hydroxide and deionized water. Lead acetate dehydrate was chosen as a reagent, as opposed to lead nitrate, to eliminate the possibility of nitrate contamination of the final product. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis were used to characterize the synthesized PbO networks. The reproducible method described herein synthesized pure β-PbO (massicot) powders, with no byproducts. A possible formation mechanism for these PbO networks is proposed. The growth is found to proceed predominately in the 〈1 1 1〉 and 〈2 0 0〉 directions while being limited in the 〈0 1 1〉 direction.
Protein Translocation by Bacterial Toxin Channels: A Comparison of Diphtheria Toxin and Colicin Ia

Regions of both colicin Ia and diphtheria toxin N-terminal to the channel-forming domains can be translocated across planar phospholipid bilayer membranes. In this article we show that the translocation pathway of diphtheria toxin allows much larger molecules to be translocated than does the translocation pathway of colicin Ia. In particular, the folded A chain of diphtheria toxin is readily translocated by that toxin but is not translocated by colicin Ia. This difference cannot be attributed to specific recognition of the A chain by diphtheria toxin's translocation pathway because the translocation pathway also accommodates folded myoglobin.
A review of quantitative modeling of B cell responses to antigenic challenge

A key role of B cells in the mammalian immune response is the generation of antibodies that serve to protect the organism against antigenic challenges. The same process may also be detrimental in the context of autoimmunity. Several modeling approaches have been applied to this aspect of the immune response, from predicting potential epitopes to describing B cells progress through developmental models and simulating antibody production. Here we review some of the modeling techniques, and summarize models that describe different activation mechanisms for B cells, including T cell dependent and independent models. We focus on viral infection as a prototype system, and briefly describe case studies in other disease areas such as bacterial infection and oncology. We single out aspects of the B cell response for which there are current knowledge gaps. We outline areas in need of further research in modeling applications to ultimately produce a “B cell module” for a complete immune response model.
Immunoaffinity Purification and Functional Characterization of Human Transcription Factor IIH and RNA Polymerase II from Clonal Cell Lines That Conditionally Express Epitope-tagged Subunits of the Multiprotein Complexes

Purification of multiprotein complexes such as transcription factor (TF) IIH and RNA polymerase II (pol II) has been a tedious task by conventional chromatography. To facilitate the purification, we have developed an effective scheme that allows human TFIIH and pol II to be isolated from HeLa-derived cell lines that conditionally express the FLAG-tagged p62 subunit of human TFIIH and the RPB9 subunit of human pol II, respectively. An approximate 2000-fold enrichment of FLAG-tagged TFIIH and a 1000-fold enhancement of total pol II are achieved by a one-step immunoaffinity purification. The purified complexes are functional in mediating basal and activated transcription, regardless of whether TATA-binding protein or TFIID is used as the TATA-binding factor. Interestingly, repression of basal transcription by the positive cofactor PC4 is alleviated by increasing amounts of TFIID, TFIIH, and pol II holoenzyme, suggesting that phosphorylation of PC4 by these proteins may cause a conformational change in the structure of PC4 that allows for preinitiation complex formation and initiation of transcription. Furthermore, pol II complexes with different phosphorylation states on the carboxyl-terminal domain of the largest subunit are selectively purified from the inducible pol II cell line, making it possible to dissect the role of carboxyl-terminal domain phosphorylation in the transcription process in a highly defined in vitro transcription system.
Come down from the clouds: Grounding Bayesian insights in developmental and behavioral processes

According to Jones & Love (J&L), Bayesian theories are too often isolated from other theories and behavioral processes. Here, we highlight examples of two types of isolation from the field of word learning. Specifically, Bayesian theories ignore emergence, critical to development theory, and have not probed the behavioral details of several key phenomena, such as the “suspicious coincidence” effect.
SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL EFFECTS IN RESIDENTIAL SALES PRICES

Abstract To assess the extent of the impact upon housing prices of the introduction of a modern suburban rapid transit service, a two-way unbalanced analysis of variance model is estimated with residential sales price data. Inflationary and time stable neighborhood effects are accounted for in this manner. The first term of the singular decomposition of the interaction matrix summarizes the interaction, and may indicate the nature of the impact. Since the residuals from the additive model are too dispersed and negatively skewed to be normally distributed, the application of outlier-editing and robust estimation procedures is discussed.