cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studio dell'evoluzione della pavimentazione nello spazio pubblico urbano di Lisbona nel secolo XIX con riferimenti a Milano e Barcellona

Sumario in memoriam....O estudo sobre o pavimento urbano e uma accao que, em primeira analise, se desenvolveatraves de um olhar obliquo, focado nas diferencas entre as texturas, na obsessao pelospormenores, na procura dos melhores pontos de vista para fotografias dificeis, com a cabeca virada para o que esta debaixo dos nossos pes; a descoberta da partilha desta accao da lugar a uma sensacao de estranha familiaridade.As escassas publicacoes sobre pavimentos e, no geral, sobre a superficie da cidade ‐ este omnipresente objecto multiestrato onde as camadas matericas se sobrepoem camadas de significados, de identidades, de memorias dos sitios (como eles ja nao vao voltar a ser) ‐ contrapoe‐se a compilacao de textos organizados pelo Prof. Ignasi de Lecea para o curso em Pontevedra, e que utilizei como principio para a elaboracao do trabalho de investigacao para obtencao do diploma de DEA em 2004.Numa reuniao no Departamento de Urbanismo da Câmara de Barcelona a frente da torre Agbar, que na altura estava a ser construida e que, por contraponto, faz lembrar a diferente natureza do chao da cidade, superficie discreta, sobria, desapercebida pela sua horizontalidade, em contraposicao com a verticalidade da pele dos edificios, exposta, capturavel num so olhar, tremendamente manifesta, o Prof. Ignasi de Lecea explicava atraves de esbocos leves, o funcionamento do pavimento como superficie estruturante para os usos que sobre ele se desenvolvem, a espessura das camadas, os materiais para a construcao da imagem de Barcelona.Durante a elaboracao da investigacao resultou evidente como um estudo sistematico sobre o chao seja de vital importância para voltar a dar um sentido tactil e materico e ate fisico ao, as vezes evanescente, espaco publico; aprofundar a ideia de chao como superficie fundadora e de suporte do espaco publico, analisando de que modo a qualidade do chao determina o caracter da cidade; um trabalho que ainda se encontra por terminar e que ja se ressente da ausencia do guia com um olhar transversal sobre estas questoes.
Therapeutic plasma exchange in neuromyelitis optica: a case series.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a relapsing inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that predominantly affects the spinal cord and optic nerves. The clinical hallmark of the disease is a step-wise deterioration of visual and spinal cord function. This study reviews patients with steroid resistant relapsing NMO presenting for therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) at our institution from December 2005 to December 2012. A total of five patients were treated with single volume TPE. Both subjective and objective clinical response to TPE was estimated by three different sources (the patient, a Transfusion Medicine physician, and the treating Neurologist) with the patient and Transfusion Medicine physician's final assessment of response made at the time of the last TPE in the series and the treating neurologist's assessment of response made at the time of the next neurological exam after the last TPE. A total of 17 TPE series were performed with the average course of therapy being three series (ranged 1–5) with five TPE (ranged 3–7) per series. All patients demonstrated improvement with each series of TPE and all procedures were well tolerated with only transient and well-described reactions all of which were successfully resolved with minor or no sequelae. J. Clin. Apheresis 29:171–177, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Frequency, distribution, and management of injuries due to an ice storm in a large metropolitan area.

ABSTRACT:Patterns of injuries seen in the emergency department (ED) following an ice storm were evaluated and compared to those seen during a control snow period. We conducted a retrospective chart review for an 11-day ice period and an 11-day control snow period using charts from eight metropolitan
Direct observation of rupture propagation during the 1979 Imperial Valley earthquake using a short baseline accelerometer array

Abstract The 1979 Imperial Valley, California, earthquake ( M s = 6.9) was recorded on the El Centro differential array, a 213-m-long linear array of 5 three-component digital accelerometers 5.6 km from the nearest tectonic surface rupture. Although absolute time was not recorded on the array elements, a relative time base was established using the main shock hypocentral P wave and the P and S waves from a later aftershock. A cross-correlation technique was used to measure the difference in arrival times of individual seismic waves in a moving 0.6 to 1.2 sec window at each array element, which would then be converted into the wave9s slowness (1/velocity) along the array. When applied to the main shock vertical and horizontal accelerograms, results from both components of motion indicated that the early arriving energy came from a source to the south of the array, and the source of the energy moved rapidly to the north of the array during the strong shaking. The ground motions at the array elements were well correlated for about the first 11 sec of motion. These observations suggest that we have observed the initiation of rupture south of the array and its subsequent propagation along the fault to a position north of the array in about 10 sec, and that the energy was radiated from a fairly compact region around the rupture front. If the observed vertical and horizontal ground motions are assumed to be caused by P and S waves, respectively, then the observed slownesses show irregularities which can be interpreted as implying that the observed high-frequency ground motions originated at irregularly distributed regions on the fault surface, or that the rupture velocity was variable, or both. One possible interpretation of the data suggests that the rupture proceeded at near P -wave velocity over a 7-km-long section of fault. Average rupture velocities of about 2.7 to 3.2 km/sec at 8 km depth are consistent with the data, and 2.8 km/sec is weakly preferred under the assumption that rupture propagates at a fixed fraction of the shear velocity. The large vertical pulse, which had a peak acceleration of 1.7 g at E06, was emitted from the portion of the fault extending 25 to 30 km northwest of the hypocenter near Meloland overpass, and not from the point on the fault closest to the differential array. Nothing can be said about fault behavior southeast of the hypocenter.
A glimpse of the future: where will new combinations of diagnostics and therapies take us?

Abstract The field of radiation oncology has evolved, especially in the past 20 years. Advances in technology, particularly in computing power, software, and imaging, have fueled contributions to cancer care. It is currently fashionable to say that many of these advances have only served to increase costs of care without clear evidence of benefit, and certainly, efforts to evaluate the value of radiation oncology treatments are needed. However, it is undeniable that the future of radiation oncology depends on discovering such advances and to demonstrate that these increase the therapeutic index of treatment. Across the global radiation oncology community, investigations are proceeding in which innovative means are being used to achieve this goal. We review some of these novel methods to improve the therapeutic index of radiation therapy.
971. Novel Ribozyme-Based Strategy for Cancer Chemoprevention

Top of pageAbstract Recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of carcinogen-induced mutagenesis indicate that most mutations are dependent on the activity of newly-described translesion DNA polymerases, which have reduced base-pairing requirements and are able to replicate past DNA damage with potentially mutagenic consequences. In human cells in culture, reducing the level of one such polymerase, REV1, with a gene-specific ribozyme greatly reduces carcinogen-induced mutagenesis. To examine the hypothesis that reducing the mutagenic load will reduce the incidence of cancer, we are developing strategies to reduce REV1 in vivo in mouse models of carcinogenesis. We constructed vectors that express a ribozyme targeting mouse REV1 in a region homologous to the human mRNA used in our published studies. In order to improve the efficiency of gene-specific knockdown, DNA coding for the ribozyme was cloned into expression cassettes designed to target the transcripts either to the nuclear or to the cytoplasmic compartment. Using quantitative real-time PCR for REV1 mRNA with GAPDH as an internal control, we consistently found that the greatest suppression occurred when both compartments were targeted. When both compartments were targeted, REV1 expression was consistently suppressed by 80-90%. UV-induced mutant frequency at the HPRT locus in these cells was also reduced up to 80%, but UV-induced cytotoxicity was not affected. We plan to deliver these plasmids to the skin of excision repair deficient hairless xpa knockout mice, which develop squamous cell skin cancer with 100% penetrance after low doses of UV. Delivery of these expression cassettes to carcinogen-exposed tissue presents a novel chemopreventive strategy to reduce the frequency of mutations and the incidence of cancer.
Ultrastructure of the secretory cells of the submucosal glands in the human maxillary sinus

Tissue samples obtained from the lateral wall of the maxillary sinuses of five patients were examined by light microscopical, histochemical, and ultrastructural techniques. Submucosal glands were tubulo-alveolar mixed glands. The acini consisted of either all serous or all mucous cells, or a mixture of both. Serous granules were stained by toluidine blue, or by hematoxylin and eosin (H and E), but showed little or no reaction with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) or Alcian blue. Mucous granules were pale in toluidine blue or H and E preparations, and consisted primarly of acid mucosubstances, as demonstrated by their staining reaction with PAS and Alcian blue. At the electron microscope level, the serous granules were either homogeneously dense, or showed a substructure consisting of at least two layers of distincly different electron-opacity. Typical mucous droplets consisted of a fibrillar network dispersed in a translucent matrix. A second secretory product was present in the mucous cells in the form of elongated, membrane-bounded structures containing numerous parallel filaments, which measured about 55 A in diameter. The mucous droplets and the filamentous bodies appear to arise from the opposite faces of the Golgi complex in the mucous cells. The filamentous bodies showed a pronounced tendency to fuse with the mucous droplets. All acini were surrounded by a well-defined myoepithelial layer and contained intercellular nerve terminals.
How Long Is the Coast of Britain? Statistical Self-Similarity and Fractional Dimension

Geographical curves are so involved in their detail that their lengths are often infinite or, rather, undefinable. However, many are statistically "selfsimilar," meaning that each portion can be considered a reduced-scale image of the whole. In that case, the degree of complication can be described by a quantity D that has many properties of a "dimension," though it is fractional; that is, it exceeds the value unity associated with the ordinary, rectifiable, curves.
Differences of Opinion, Short-Sales Constraints, and Market Crashes

We develop a theory of market crashes based on differences of opinion among investors. Because of short-sales constraints, bearish investors do not initially participate in the market and their information is not revealed in prices. However, if other previously bullish investors bail out of the market, the originally bearish group may become the marginal “support buyers,” and more will be learned about their signals. Thus accumulated hidden information comes out during market declines. The model explains a variety of stylized facts about crashes and also makes a distinctive new prediction—that returns will be more negatively skewed conditional on high trading volume. In this article we address the question of why stock markets may be vulnerable to crashes. To get started we need to articulate precisely what we mean by the word “crash.” Our definition of a crash encompasses three distinct elements: 1) A crash is an unusually large movement in stock prices that occurs without a correspondingly large public news event; 2) moreover, this large price change is negative; and 3) a crash is a “contagious” marketwide phenomenon—that is, it involves not just an abrupt decline in the price of a single stock, but rather a highly correlated drop in the prices of an entire class of stocks. Each of these three elements of our definition can be grounded in a set of robust empirical facts. First, with respect to large price movements in the absence of public news, Cutler, Poterba, and Summers (1989) document that many of the biggest postwar movements in the S&P 500 index—most notably the stock-market break of October 1987—have not been accompanied by any particularly dramatic news events. Similarly Roll (1984, 1988) and French and Roll (1986) demonstrate in various ways that it is hard to explain asset price movements with tangible public information.
Star Confusion Effect on SIM PlanetQuest Astrometric Performance

SIM PlanetQuest will measure star positions to an accuracy of a few microarcseconds using precise white light fringe measurements. One challenge for the SIM observation scenario is "star confusion," where multiple stars are present in the instrument field of view. This is especially relevant for observing dim science targets because the density of number of stars increases rapidly with star magnitude. We study the effect of star confusion on the SIM astrometric performance due to systematic fringe errors caused by the extra photons from the confusion star(s). Since star confusion from multiple stars may be analyzed as a linear superposition of the effect from single star confusion, we quantify the astrometric errors due to single star confusion surveying over many spectral types, including A0V, F0V, K5III, and M0V, and for various visual magnitude differences. To the leading order, the star confusion effect is characterized by the magnitude difference, spectral difference, and the angular separation between the target and confusion stars. Strategies for dealing with star confusion are presented. For example, since the presence of additional sources in the field of view leads to inconsistent delay estimates from different channels, with sufficient signal to noise ratio, the star confusion can be detected using chi-square statistics of fringe measurements from multiple spectral channels. An interesting result is that the star confusion can be detected even though the interferometer cannot resolve the separation between the target and confusion stars when their spectra are sufficiently different. Other strategies for mitigating the star confusion effect are also discussed.
Developmental change in calcium-activated chloride current during the differentiation of Xenopus spinal neurons in culture

The duration and ionic dependence of action potentials change during the differentiation of embryonic amphibian spinal neurons both in vivo and in culture. The development of sodium, calcium, and potassium currents has been characterized in these cells and the shortening of the action potential has been shown to depend to a great extent on developmental changes of potassium currents. Previous evidence suggests that a chloride current may also be present in these embryonic neurons. Chloride currents were investigated with intracellular current-clamp and single-electrode and whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques. Most neurons exhibited a calcium-activated chloride current (ICl(Ca)) that contributed to the postdepolarization following the action potential recorded in the absence of sodium and potassium currents. This current appeared to decrease in density and its deactivation rate increased during the first day in culture. Its incidence also declined during this period. A much larger Ca2+-dependent Cl− current was also observed in a subset of neurons after 24 hr, but was absent at earlier stages of development. The results suggest the presence of two Cl− currents with different developmental fates. The early current probably contributes to the repolarization of long calcium-dependent action potentials at initial stages of neuronal development, when potassium currents are small, and may serve to reduce the extent of repetitive firing.
Radiofrequency ablation: importance of background tissue electrical conductivity--an agar phantom and computer modeling study.

PURPOSE: To determine whether radiofrequency (RF)-induced heating can be correlated with background electrical conductivity in a controlled experimental phantom environment mimicking different background tissue electrical conductivities and to determine the potential electrical and physical basis for such a correlation by using computer modeling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effect of background tissue electrical conductivity on RF-induced heating was studied in a controlled system of 80 two-compartment agar phantoms (with inner wells of 0.3%, 1.0%, or 36.0% NaCl) with background conductivity that varied from 0.6% to 5.0% NaCl. Mathematical modeling of the relationship between electrical conductivity and temperatures 2 cm from the electrode (T2cm) was performed. Next, computer simulation of RF heating by using two-dimensional finite-element analysis (ETherm) was performed with parameters selected to approximate the agar phantoms. Resultant heating, in terms of both the T2cm and the distance of defined therm...
Neuromagnetic localization of epileptiform spike activity in the human brain

Local paroxysmal discharges of epileptic tissue within the human brain, which may be electrically recorded as voltage spikes in the electroencephalogram, also generate extracranial magnetic fields. These fields were assessed by means of recently developed neuromagnetometric techniques. Surface measurements of magnetic spike field strength in the region of the focus appear sufficient to establish the location, depth, orientation, and polarity of currents underlying the paroxysmal discharge.
Utilization of Irradiated Sperm from Successive Matings by the Female Cowpea Weevil

The present concept of using gamma radiation for controlling insects in bulk cereals and legume seeds is based on producing mortality or complete sterility of all insects present. With this technique, all stages of the insects are irradiated together with the product at a dosage level sufficiently high to produce the desired effect. Cornwell et al. (1966) suggested that by sterilizing a resident population, some measure of protection against reinfestation by the same species of insect could be obtained. Success of this technique depends on competitiveness of sterilized males or on this plus competitiveness of sperm from irradiated males. A previous study indicated that irradiated male cowpea weevils, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.), competed favorably with normal males when both were placed with virgin females (Tilton and Browr 1971). Indications were that irradiated sperm also were competitive with normal sperm. However, we did not know whether females preferentially utilize sperm from one of a series of successive matings or whether irradiated sperm are fully competitive with non-irradiated sperm.
Computed radiography in an emergency department setting

Evaluation of radiologist and non-radiologist physician acceptance of computed radiography (CR) as an alternative to film-based radiography in an emergency department (ED) is performed. All emergency department radiographs are performed using photostimulable phosphor plates and rad by a computed radiography laser reader placed in the former emergency department darkroom. Soft copy images are simultaneously transmitted to high- and medium-resolution dual-monitor display stations located in radiology and ED reading rooms respectively. The on-call radiologist is automatically paged by the Radiology Information System (RIS) upon exam completion, to read the new ED imaging study. Patient demographic information including relevant clinical history is conveyed to the radiologist via the RIS. A 'wet read' preliminary radiology report is immediately transmitted back to the ED. Radiology and ED physicians are surveyed to ascertain preferences for CR or traditional screen-film, based on system implementation, image viewing and clinical impact issues. Preliminary results indicate a preference for filmless CR among the ED physicians if digital reliability and speed issues are met. This preference appears to be independent of physician level of experience. Inexperienced radiologists-in-training appear to have less comfort with softcopy reading for primary diagnosis. However, additional training in softcopy reading techniques can improve confidences. Image quality issues are most important tot he radiologist, while speed and reliability are the major issues for ED physicians. Reasons for CR preference include immediate access to images on display stations, near-zero exam retake rates, and improved response time and communication between radiology and the emergency department clinician.
Isolation and partial characterization of a 51Cr complex from Brewers' yeast.

Abstract A butanol: H2O extract of Brewers' yeast grown in a medium which contained 51Cr was analyzed by gel-filtration chromatography. A single radioactive peak was eluted at an elution volume which suggested a molecular weight of approximately 400–600 daltons. Subsequent examination of pooled radioactive fractions obtained from gel-filtration chromatography demonstrated that the 51Cr complex was eluted in a single peak from both cation- and anion-exchange resins. The elution characteristics of the 51Cr complex indicated that the compound is a single anionic species. The 51Cr complex was purified by a combination of gel-filtration chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography and subsequently analyzed by thin-layer chromatography. The results indicated that the 51Cr complex from Brewers' yeast is a peptide that contains at least six amino acids. When a partially purified preparation of the 51Cr complex from yeast was administered orally to rats, the absorption and retention of 51Cr was significantly greater than that in rats given 51Cr in the form of CrCl3·6H2O. These experiments demonstrate that chromium is associated with a single metal-binding peptide in Brewers' yeast and indicate that the chromium in this complex is absorbed and retained more efficiently than chromium salts.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Described in the psychiatric literature since the nineteenth century, obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD) could be clearly identified by written accounts centuries earlier. According to present-day psychiatric classification schemes, obsessions are recurrent ideas, thoughts, images or impulses which provoke intense subjective discomfort. Afflicted individuals resist them at first, usually by engaging in some repetitive thoughts or actions designed to reduce the level of discomfort provoked by the obsessions. Rituals take the form of washing or cleaning to remove contamination, checking to verify that no damage has occurred, putting things in precise order, repeating actions to prevent some disaster from occurring, hoarding or saving things to retain important information, as well as various types of mental rituals such as praying, repeating thoughts, and counting. Both obsessions and compulsions are usually recognized by the individual as excessive or unreasonable.
Simultaneous passive coherent beam combining and mode locking of fiber laser arrays

We present a dynamic model of simultaneous passive coherent beam combining and passive mode locking for coupled fiber lasers. The presence of a saturable absorber in the composite cavity results in the generation of packets of mode locked pulse trains. Within each packet the repetition rate of the pulses is determined by the length difference between the fibers.
Phase correction in double-pass quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generation with a wedged crystal.

Compensation for dispersive elements is necessary for efficient multiple-pass and intracavity nonlinear frequency-conversion devices. We describe the use of a wedged quasi-phase-matched crystal to compensate for the phase shifts introduced by mirrors in such devices, taking advantage of the periodic variation in the relative phases of the interacting waves in a quasi-phase-matching grating. A representative double-pass second-harmonic generation experiment with a 5-cm-long periodically poled lithium niobate crystal showed the expected conversion efficiency enhancement.
Acidities of radical cations derived from arylacetonitriles

The equilibrium acidities of phenylacetonitrile, and 20 of its m− and p-substituted derivatives have been measured in Me2SO solution. Their pKa′s plot linearly with those of the corresponding anilines. Combination of the pKa′s of these acids with their oxidation potentials, Eox(HA), and those of their conjugate bases, Eox(A−), provide an estimate of the acidities of the corresponding radical cations. The pKHA+ values for ArCH2CN+., where Ar is Ph, 1- and 2-naphthyl, and 9-anthryl, are −32, −18·5, −17·5, and −11, respectively, compared to 21·9, 20·85, 20·65, and 19·8 for the corresponding ArCH2CN acids. Acidities of PhCH(Me)CN+., Ph2CHCN+., 9-CN-FlH+., and 9-CN-XnH+. are −33, −35, −25, and −27, respectively, compared to 23·0, 17·5, 8·3, and 13·6 for the corresponding acids from which they were derived. The homolytic bond dissociation energies (BDEs) for the benzylic CH bonds in these arylacetonitriles, estimated by combining pKHA with Eox(A−), fall in the range of 69 kcal/mol for 9-CN-XnH to 82 kcal/mol for PhCH2CN. For GC6H4CH2CN+. radical cations the acidities are decreased, relative to G=H, when G is an electron donor substituent and increased when G is an acceptor. The BDEs of the benzylic CH bonds in GC6H4CH2CN are weakened by up to 4 kcal/mol by para donors and strengthened by up to 1·2 kcal/mol by m- or p-acceptors. The significance of these changes in BDEs with regard to the use of σ. scales and the ΔAOP method for estimating substituent effects on radical stabilities is discussed.
Metaphor, Metonymy, Vestments and Foxe

AbstractAt its most fundamental level, the vestiarian controversy of the midsixteenth century, like that about the eucharist itself, concerned not simply cloth but the perception of symbolism and the control of meaning. Metaphorical and metonymic perceptions of this controversy and its long-lingering expansions reflect the fluid play of dominant and emergent ideologies in the period. In Actes and Monuments, John Foxe's treatment of the principal actors in the vestiarian controversy, Bishops John Hooper and Nicholas Ridley, affords a case in point. Foxe's metaphorizing appropriates, personalizes and indeed retranslates the public symbol of vestments to an essentially moral end. For Hooper and Ridley, the two martyrs, the vestiarian contest had essentially been between lawful authority and individual conscience, and the question had finally come down to the right publicly to interpret, or to represent, God's Word, including its symbolic forms. Ironically, Foxe, whose account of the controversy has minimized...
Including the effects of prior and recent contact effort in a customer scoring model for database marketing

Database marketers often use a scoring model to predict the likely value of contacting customers based on their purchase histories and demographics. However, when purchase history has been a partial result of the firm’s own contacting efforts, these contacts should also be accounted for in the scoring model. The current work extends the existing literature to account for the firm’s contacts by focusing on each customer’s most recent purchase. Contacts prior to that purchase are designated “prior contacts” and those after that purchase “recent contacts.” A new latent variables formulation of the customer’s propensity to respond is used to predict the likelihood and time of response as well as the relationship to the independent variables. The methodology also addresses the statistical problems of “selection bias” and “endogeneity,” which have been largely ignored in most customer scoring models. An application to the database of a charitable organization confirms that, in this case: (1) the effect of the firm’s customer contact efforts is associated with a stronger propensity to respond than is the case for the included demographics; (2) the firm’s “recent contact” efforts are associated with larger returns in customers’ propensity to respond than the “prior contact” efforts; and (3) the “recent contact” efforts are associated with an at-first increasing but then diminishing propensity to respond up to a point beyond which actual decreasing returns are observed with further contacts. Clearly, too much contacting can alienate would-be donors. The proposed model is general enough to calibrate such impacts in other database marketing applications where the relative effects might be different.
Calculation of the magnetization distribution for fluid flow in curved vessels

The signal intensity in magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images reflects both morphological and flow-related features of vascular anatomy. A thorough understanding of MRA, therefore, demands a careful analysis of flow-related effects. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods are very powerful in determining flow patterns in 3D tortuous vessels for both steady and unsteady flow. Previous simulations of MRA images calculated the magnetization of flowing blood by tracking particles as they moved along flow streamlines that had been determined by a CFD calculation. This manuscript describes MRA simulations that use CFD calculations to determine magnetization variation at a fixed point and, therefore, do not require streamline tracking to calculate the distribution of magnetization in flowing fluids. This method inherently accounts for uniform particle density, avoids problems associated with tracking particles close to the wall, and is well-suited to modeling pulsatile flow.
LMP-420, a small molecular inhibitor of TNF-α, prolongs islet allograft survival by induction of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1: synergistic effect with cyclosporin-A.

Inflammatory insults following islet transplantation (ITx) hinders engraftment and long-term function of the transplanted (Tx) islets. Using a murine model of ITx, we determined the role of LMP-420, a novel TNF-α inhibitor, both individually and in combination with the immunosuppressant cyclosporine A (CSA) in islet engraftment and survival. Diabetic C57BL/6 mice were Tx with 500 BALB/c islets under the kidney capsule. Four cohorts were used: LMP-420 only, CSA only, combination of LMP-420 and CSA (LMP+CSA), and control (n = 12 per cohort). Serial monitoring of blood glucose levels revealed that LMP+CSA (35 ± 5 days) prolonged stable blood insulin levels compared to control (6 ± 4 days). Immunohistology demonstrated that coadministration (LMP+CSA) results in a significant decrease in CD8+ T-cell infiltration (LMP+CSA: 31 ± 18 vs. control: 224 ± 51 cells, p < 0.001). Serum cytokine analysis revealed that LMP-420 administration resulted in an increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (2.5-fold), and a decrease in TNF-α (threefold) with no change in IL-2. However, coadministration resulted in a marked decrease in both IL-2 and TNF-α (threefold) along with increase in IL-10 (threefold). Coadministration also demonstrated increase of antiapoptotic SOCS-1 and Mn-SOD expression and significant reduction of donor-specific antibodies (p < 0.005). In conclusion, LMP-420 administration with CSA results in the upregulation of anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic mechanisms which facilitate islet allograft engraftment and survival.
Integrated production-inventory models for imperfect production processes under inspection schedules

This paper deals with inventory models that unify the inventory problems of raw materials and finished products for a single product imperfect manufacturing system. The product is manufactured in batches, and raw materials are jointly replenished from outside suppliers. The system is assumed to deteriorate during the preduction process. As a result, some proportion of defective items is produced. The defective items are reworked at some cost either before or after a sale. Periodic inspections at equally spaced times and restorations of the production process are used to operate the system. The objective is to minimize the expected total cost for the system. A solution procedure is developed to find a near optimal solution for the basic model. The analysis is extended to various cases where the defect rate is a function of the setup cost, the proportion of defective items is not constant, or the inventory system has a limited capacity for raw materials.
Microbial laminite versus rooted and burrowed caps on peritidal cycles: Salinity control on parasequence development, Early Cretaceous isolated carbonate platform, Croatia

Some parasequences in the interior of the Early Cretaceous isolated carbonate platform, Croatia, which formed under a greenhouse climate, lack the typical regressive tidal flat laminites. Instead, these bioturbated emergent parasequences have burrowed and rooted upper parts, capped with thin greenish paleo­ sols, and are reminiscent of Triassic “Lofer cycles.” We propose that the bioturbated cycle tops reflect coastal salinities that are normal marine, brackish, or metahaline, whereas the transgressive (rare) and abundant regressive tidal flat laminites formed under hypersaline coastal waters. Thus, these features may be used to track gross salinity changes of coastal waters on the platform through time. In addi­ tion, we suggest ways to evaluate whether the salinity changes relate to hypersaline embay­ ments on the platform or changes in the cli­ mate at the parasequence scale. We propose that the bioturbated emer­ gent parasequences could have formed under semiarid conditions, seaward of subtle , shallow embayments on the platform. Con­ temporaneously, in the bayheads, micro­ bial laminites developed—these would require time­equivalent updip and downdip laminate­capped and bioturbated emer­ gence–capped parasequences. However, the para sequences could also have been con­ trolled by climate changes. The laminite­ capped parasequences could have resulted from salinity increase with shallowing of the platform interior under semiarid condi­ tions (stable climate). In contrast, the bio­ turbated emergence–capped parasequences could have formed during times of more humid climate punctuating the overall semi­ arid climate. The humid phase would have favored brackish to normal marine salinities in the coastal zone, along with macrophytes, and intense animal and plant bioturbation, which would suppress development of lami­ nite caps. Thus, these parasequences provide a means of tracking gross salinity of coastal waters, and if climate induced, then they have implications for fluctuating climates in greenhouse worlds.
Interaction of ethanol with retinol and retinoic acid in RAR β and GAP-43 expression

Abstract Fetal ethanol exposure has many detrimental effects on neural development, which possibly occurs through ethanol-induced disruption of the function of vitamin A. In LAN-5 neuroblastoma cells, retinol (10−6 M) and retinoic acid (RA; 10−5–10−6 M) increased RAR β mRNA expression. Ethanol downregulated RAR β levels, even in the presence of retinol. RAR β mRNA expression was decreased by ethanol in the presence of 10−6 M RA, but not 10−5 M RA. With cycloheximide (CX), RA still stimulated RAR β mRNA, but the effect of ethanol was abolished. The mRNA expression of GAP-43, an important factor in neural development, increased with 10−6 M retinol and 10−5–10−9 M RA. Ethanol decreased GAP-43 mRNA expression in the presence or absence of retinol. Ethanol was without effect on GAP-43 mRNA at 10−5 M RA, but did lower the levels at 10−6 and 10−7 M RA. CX prevented the effects of both RA and ethanol on GAP-43 mRNA. These studies provide support for the hypothesis that retinoid function is altered by ethanol.
North Atlantic Crustal Genesis in the Vicinity of the Azores

Summary In terms of current knowledge of crustal genesis in the Atlantic Ocean, several unique or highly anomalous features exist in the vicinity of the Azores. These include the seismically active East Azores Fracture Zone extending from Gibraltar to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; the seismically inactive West Azores Fracture Zone which is offset northwards from the trend of the East Azores Fracture Zone; the transverse island chain of the Azores islands which trends southeast-northwest across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; the marked change in direction of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from northeast-southwest to north-south; and the broadening of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to the east. Bathymetric and magnetic data from surveys of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the Azores area by R.V. Trident, the U.S.Naval Oceanographic Office, and other sources have been compiled. These, together with the previously published data are compatible with a basic model consisting of a Mid-Atlantic Ridge migrating eastwards at the local crustal spreading rate, which is greater to the north than to the south of an east-west transverse fracture system. Superimposed on this is the development of a northwest-southeast trending secondary spreading centre or triple junction, within a ‘leaky transform’ system (Menard & Atwater 1968) which would have developed as the result of a change in the local crustal spreading direction south of the east-west transverse fracture system from mainly east-west to mainly northwest-southeast. Simple geometrical considerations, when combined with the length of a newly proposed ‘Terceira Rift’ and independent estimates of local crustal spreading rates suggest that the change in crustal spreading direction and triple junction development began at least 45 My ago.
Christianity in Ethiopia

There are various accounts of the origin of Christianity in Ethiopia, but most of them have no satisfactory historical basis. One tradition, found in the Royal Chronicles and other native works, claims that the Apostle Thomas was responsible for the introduction of Christianity into Ethiopia. Origen refers to the Apostle Matthew as a missionary to the Ethiopians, an association which Rufinus also gives. Gelasios of Cyzicus links the name of Bartholomew with Ethiopia. There is also the well-known account by Luke of the baptism by Philip of the Ethiopians,” around which a legend has developed. Candace, however, was a name used chiefly in Nubia and ancient Ethiopia, and not to be found among the queens of Ethiopia proper. There is actually no trustworthy record of Christianity in this country in the first century. These traditions have probably resulted, for the most part, from a confusion of terms. Early historians were not at all clear about the geographical limitations of Ethiopia and, in using the name, might have meant Nubia, or Egypt, or even India. In fact, Ethiopia was sometimes referred to as “India ulterior.” Even as late as the fifteenth century this confusion remained.
An Intemporal Model of Asset Prices in a Markov Economy with a Limiting Stationary Distribution

A testable single-beta model of asset prices is presented. If state variables have a long-run stationary joint density function, then the rate return on a very long-term default-free discount bond will be perfectly correlated with the representative investor's marginal utility of consumption. Thus, the covariance of an asset's return with the return on such a bond will be an appropriate measure of the asset's riskiness. The model can be, therefore, applied.or tested even though the market portfolio or aggregate consumption may not be observable. It also is shown that the expected rate of return on a very long-term bond is equal to its variance. This proposition can be tested to determine whether state variables follow stationary processes. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
Justification for the survival of vowel coalescence as a phonological process in Yor[ugrave]bá

(1994). Justification for the survival of vowel coalescence as a phonological process in Yor[ugrave]ba. African Languages and Cultures: Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 133-142.
Anti-aromatase activity of the constituents from damiana (Turnera diffusa)

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Damiana (Turnera diffusa Willd. Ex Schult) has traditionally been used as an herbal aphrodisiac. Aim of the study The study was aimed to investigate the anti-aromatse activity and the estrogenic activity of the constituents isolated from Turnera diffusa. Materials and methods The methanolic extract and 24 compounds isolated from the leaves of Turnera diffusa were evaluated for aromatase activity by using a tritiated-water release assay and for estrogenic activity by using yeast estrogen screen (YES) assay. Results The methanolic extract demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibitory activity of the aromatase enzyme with the IC50 value of 63.1 μg/ml. Among the 24 tested compounds, pinocembrin and acacetin showed the most potent inhibition with IC50 values of 10.8 and 18.7 μM, respectively. Estrogenic activity was also observed in the extract and three compounds including apigenin 7-glucoside, Z-echinacin and pinocembrin with EC50 values of 10, 20 and 67 μM, respectively. Conclusions The extract of Turnera diffusa and two isolated compounds pinocembrin and acacetin could significantly suppress aromatase activity. Moreover, apigenin 7-glucoside, Z-echinacin and pinocembrin showed estrogenic activity.
Social Intelligence and Decoding of Nonverbal Cues.

Abstract This study sought to address the question, “How does decoding of nonverbal cues relate to social intelligence?” We approached the question by first defining social intelligence as consisting, in part, of the ability to accurately decode social information. Subjects were given two tasks: First, they were asked to judge whether a couple pictured in a photograph was real (genuinely in a relationship) or fake (two strangers). Second, they were asked to judge which of two people in a photograph was the other's supervisor. For each task, subjects were asked to rate how confident they were of their decision. They were also asked to indicate what features of each picture they had used, and how they had used them. We analyzed the data at two levels, performance-componential, and metacomponential. The first set of analyses indicated that the subjects' confidence ratings were significantly related to their performance in extracting, weighting, and combining the features of the photographs. The second, metacomponential set of analyses indicated that different strategies were required for different photographs, and that subjects who more often utilized the proper strategies were also more accurate, and more socially intelligent. We conclude that decoding skills are an important part of social intelligence, and that a better understanding of the nature of social intelligence requires analyses on at least two levels of intelligent functioning.
A sulfur isotopic study of the San Cristobal tungsten-base metal mine, Peru

The San Cristobal tungsten-base metal deposit differs from other quartz-wolframite vein deposits in that it has a major period of base metal mineralization consisting of pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and galena. Homogenization temperatures of primary and pseudosecondary inclusions were measured in augelite (260–400°C), quartz (230–350°C) and sphalerite (180–220°C). The δ34S values of H2S in solution in equilibrium with the vein minerals range from 1.6 to 9.0 permil increasing through the paragenesis. The relatively heavy \(\delta ^{34} {\text{S}}_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{S}}} \) values suggest a nonmagmatic source for the sulfur. Evaporitic sulfates are a likely source of heavy sulfur and sedimentary anhydrite is known to occur near the San Cristobal region. In contrast to San Cristobal are three similar quartz-wolframite vein deposits, Pasto Bueno, Panasqueira, and Tungsten Queen. They each have an average δ34S value for sulfides of about 0 permil, suggesting a sulfur of magmatic origin. At San Cristobal an influx of sedimentary sulfur could not only account for the distinctive isotopic signature of the sulfides but also for the presence of the base metal mineralization.
Spatial assessment of fin whale hotspots and their association with krill within an important Antarctic feeding and fishing ground

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus quoyi) habitat use and its relationship to environmental conditions are generally unknown in the Southern Ocean, presenting challenges for predicting their seasonal occurrence and potential effects of fishing pressure and climate change on this endangered species. Using biological data collected during 14 shipboard surveys off the northern Antarctic Peninsula and oceanographic data from satellite remote sensing, we mapped the distribution of fin whale hotspots, Antarctic krill abundance (biomass from acoustics, concentrations from nets) and ocean conditions during mid- and late-summer to investigate the environmental determinants of whale hotspots. Generalized additive models (GAM) were used to test the hypothesis that intra-seasonal changes in fin whale hotspot distribution relate to sea surface temperature (SST), krill abundance and eddy kinetic energy (EKE). More whale hotspots (sightings and individuals) are observed during late- than mid-summer surveys. During mid-summer, hotspots occurred near Elephant Island while in late-summer they were distributed throughout the slope region in proximity to the mean location of the southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front. The spatial mean of EKE did not differ between mid- and late-summer surveys, but the spatial mean of SST was significantly warmer during late-summer. The GAM for mid-summer indicates that fin whale hotspots were positively related to SST, EKE and acoustically determined krill biomass. The GAM for late-summer indicates the hotspots were negatively related to net-based krill abundance and positively related to acoustic krill biomass and EKE. This study is important because environmental determinants of fin whale hotspots may be used as reference points for implementing future conservation plans for their recovering populations.
Classtalk: A classroom communication system for active learning

TRADITIONAL METHODS for teaching science courses at the post-secondary level employ a lecture format of instruction in which the majority of students are passively listening to the instructor and jotting down notes. Current views of learning and instruction challenge the wisdom of this traditional pedagogic practice by stressing the need for the learner to play an active role in constructing knowledge. The emerging technology of classroom communication systems offers a promising tool for helping instructors create a more interactive, student-centered classroom, especially when teaching large courses. In this paper we describe our experiences teaching physics with a classroom communication system calledClasstalk. Classtalk facilitated the presentation of questions for small group work as well as the collection of student answers and the display of histograms showing how the class answered, all of which fed into a class-wide discussion of students’ reasoning. We foundClasstalk to be a useful tool not only for engaging students in active learning during the lecture hour but also for enhancing the overall communication within the classroom. Equally important, students were very positive aboutClasstalk-facilitated instruction and believed that they learned more during class than they would have during a traditional lecture.