cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mauritania, August 2005: Justice and democracy, or just another coup?

A military coup abruptly ended Ould Taya's authoritarian regime in Mauritania, one of the longest-running regimes in West Africa. The bloodless coup broke a dangerous political impasse and stopped what seemed to be a slide towards breakdown and violence. Using the democratization literature, this article explains its root causes and evaluates the prospects for the establishment of a genuine democracy after two decades of a repressive military and then quasi-military regime. It argues that several variables combined to seal the regime's fate. These are essentially the deeply flawed, tribally based, make-believe democracy, Ould Taya's own troubled personality, and finally, the security apparatus's withdrawal of its backing. The article also argues that the new military junta's first decisions appear encouraging enough but that its determination to keep a tight control over the transition process and avoid the fundamental aspects of Mauritania's malaise may jeopardize genuine long-term democratization. ON 3 AUGUST 2005, MAURITANIANSAWOKETOACOMMUNIQUiANNOUNCINGTHE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION of yet another coup d'etat in arguably the most unstable region in Africa. As the international community tepidly decried the coup and called for a return of constitutional order, Mauritanians, overwhelmingly, welcomed it with relief and high expectations. The coup has created a situation where potential to embark on a democratic experiment at last coexists with the risks of missing yet another opportunity to do so. Despite the high hopes raised, will this coup produce another disappointing aborted democratization in a region where, in the words of a keen observer of the process since its early days, 'democracy has taken a beating?'1 It is important to understand how, in 2005, a military coup could elicit so much hope and be all but validated by the African Union (AU) and the wider international community despite their zero tolerance of unconstitutional changes of power. When it comes to military coups, Africa so far offers essentially two diametrically opposed models. One is the Robert Guei model in C6te d'Ivoire Boubacar N'Diaye (e-mail: bndiaye@wooster.edu) teaches at the College of Wooster, OH, USA. 1. Julius O. Ihonvbere, 'A balance sheet of Africa's transition to democratic governance', in John Mbaku and Julius O. Ihonvbere (eds), The Transition to Democratic Governance in Africa (Praeger, Westport, CT, 2003), p. 51.
Beyond exchangeable aluminum: Another ride on the merry‐go‐pound

Abstract At the time, rediscovery of exchangeable aluminum in the mid 1950's seemed to be a simplifying and unifying concept. That has not turned out to be the case. Rather, as more studies have been made we have come to know less what to expect in any given soil. Examples are polymer formation, interlaying of clay minerals with hydroxylated aluminum species and the reactions of aluminum with organic substances in soil. Viewed with the hindsight of 30 years, the exchangeable aluminum concept is still of great practical importance, but includes only one of the many fates of aluminum in soils. This paper discusses the findings made on aluminum since the 1950's and makes an attempt to rank their importance according to the opinion of the author.
Piezoelectric bimorph optical-fiber sensor.

We propose and demonstrate a novel high-voltage optical-fiber sensor. This sensor consists of an emitting fiber, a receiving fiber, and a piezoelectric bimorph transducer. The emitting fiber is fixed in a base, whereas the receiving fiber is mounted on the free end of the piezoelectric bimorph transducer. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric bimorph transducer, its free end is displaced over a distance δ. The displacement induces a loss in the optical coupling between the emitting and the receiving fiber. The voltage can be measured by monitoring the coupling loss.
Attraction of the black turpentine beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and other forest Coleoptera to turpentine-baited traps.

Traps baited with gum turpentine of southern pines and deployed in north Florida from 1980–1983 captured numerous adults of the black turpentine beetle (BTB), Dendroctonus terebrans (Olivier); pales weevil, Hylobius pales (Herbst); pitch-eating weevil, Pachylobius picivorus (Germar); Carolina pine sawyer, Monochamus carolinensis (Olivier); southern pine sawyer, M. titillator (F.); and southern pine engraver beetles, Ips spp. Ethanol had a synergistic effect when mixed with turpentine as a bait for the BTB, pales weevil, pitch-eating weevil, and sawyers. Maximum numbers of insects were captured by traps with black columns equipped with wick-type bait dispensers that released relatively large volumes of a mixture of turpentine and ethanol. Peak captures of the BTB occurred shortly after sunset on overcast days when windspeeds were less than 0.8 km/h. BTB, weevils, and sawyers were captured by traps during all but the coldest months of the year. Numbers of insects captured fluctuated throughout the year but there were from two to three distinct peak flight periods.
High-resolution three-dimensional mapping of mRNA export through the nuclear pore

The flow of genetic information is regulated by selective nucleocytoplasmic transport of messenger RNA:protein complexes (mRNPs) through the nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) of eukaryotic cells. However, the three-dimensional (3D) pathway taken by mRNPs as they transit through the NPC, and the kinetics and selectivity of transport, remain obscure. Here we employ single-molecule fluorescence microscopy with an unprecedented spatiotemporal accuracy of 8 nm and 2 ms to provide new insights into the mechanism of nuclear mRNP export in live human cells. We find that mRNPs exiting the nucleus are decelerated and selected at the centre of the NPC, and adopt a fast-slow-fast diffusion pattern during their brief, ~12 ms, interaction with the NPC. A 3D reconstruction of the export route indicates that mRNPs primarily interact with the periphery on the nucleoplasmic side and in the centre of the NPC, without entering the central axial conduit utilized for passive diffusion of small molecules, and eventually dissociate on the cytoplasmic side.
Laser backscatterting polarization patterns from turbid media: theory and experiment

We present both experimental measurements and Monte Carlo based simulations of the diffusely backscattered intensity patterns which arise from illuminating a turbid medium with a polarized laser beam. A new numerical method that allows us to calculate all 16 elements of the two-dimensional Mueller matrix is used. It is shown that only seven of these matrix elements are independent. To validate our method we have compared simulations to measurements from a turbid medium which consisted of 2.02µm - diameter polysterene spheres in deionized water. Two-dimensional images corresponding to each element of the diffusely backscattering Mueller matrix were obtained. The experimental and numerical results are in good agreement.
The problem of rigor in qualitative research.

There are few explicit discussions in nursing literature of how qualitative research can be made as rigorous as it is relevant to the perspective and goals of nursing. Four factors complicate the debate about the scientific merits of qualitative research: the varieties of qualitative methods, the la
Time-course of mitochondrial gene expressions in mice brains: implications for mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, and cytochrome c in aging

The study of aging is critical for a better understanding of many age-related diseases. The free radical theory of aging, one of the prominent aging hypotheses, holds that during aging, increasing reactive oxygen species in mitochondria causes mutations in the mitochondrial DNA and damages mitochondrial components, resulting in senescence. Understanding a mitochondrial gene expression profile and its relationship to mitochondrial function becomes an important step in understanding aging. The objective of the present study was to determine mRNA expression of mitochondrial-encoded genes in brain slices from C57BL6 mice at four ages (2, 12, 18, and 24 months) and to determine how these altered mitochondrial genes influence age-related changes, including oxidative damage and cytochrome c in apoptosis. Using northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization, and immunofluorescence analyses, we analyzed changes in the expression of mitochondrial RNA encoding the mitochondrial genes, oxidative damage marker, 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OHG), and cytochrome c in brain slices from the cortex of C57BL6 mice at each of the four ages. Our northern blot analysis revealed an increased expression of mitochondrial-encoded genes in complexes I, III, IV, and V of the respiratory chain in 12- and 18-month-old C57BL6 mice compared to 2-month-old mice, suggesting a compensatory mechanism that allows the production of proteins involved in the electron transport chain. In contrast to the up-regulation of mitochondrial genes in 12- and 18-month-old C57BL6 mice, mRNA expression in 24-month-old C57BL6 mice was decreased, suggesting that compensation maintained by the up-regulated genes cannot be sustained and that the down-regulation of expression results in the later stage of aging. Our in situ hybridization analyses of mitochondrial genes from the hippocampus and the cortex revealed that mitochondrial genes were over-expressed, suggesting that these brain areas are critical for mitochondrial functions. Our immunofluorescence analysis of 8-OHG and cytochrome c revealed increased 8-OHG and cytochrome c in 12-month-old C57BL6 mice, suggesting that age-related mitochondrial oxidative damage and apoptosis are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Our double-labeling analysis of in situ hybridization of ATPase 6 and our immunofluorescence analysis of 8-OHG suggest that specific neuronal populations undergo oxidative damage. Further, double-labeling analysis of in situ hybridization of ATPase 6 and immunofluorescence analysis of cytochrome c suggest cytochrome c release is related to mitochondrial dysfunction in the aging C57BL6 mouse brain. This study also suggests that these mitochondrial gene expression changes may relate to the role of mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, and cytochrome c in aging and in age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Media preference and believability among rural respondents for news and advertising information

Abstract This study measured the believability of mass media and identified the mass medium of preference for news and advertising information among 492 rural or nonmetropolitan respondents in Texas. A large majority of respondents said they received most of their daily news and information from television, followed by newspapers, radio, and magazines, however, the highest percentage of respondents said they received most of their daily advertising information from newspapers followed by television and radio. There were differences in media preferences for advertising and news information based on respondents’ demographic variables. Television was the most believable mass medium for news, while newspapers were perceived as the most believable medium for advertising information. Media believability differed among respondents in relation to age and education.
Rapid inactivation of rat liver phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase by microsomes and reversal by reductants.

Abstract The hepatic gluconeogenic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP:oxaloacetate carboxy-lase (transphosphorylating), EC 4.1.1.32) is activated 3–4-fold by micromolar quantities of Fe2+ and ferroactivator, a cytosol protein that is necessary for this activation. After the carboxykinase in liver cytosol, or the purified carboxykinase, was activated by adding Fe2+, rat liver microsomes were added to duplicate their ratio to the carboxykinase in liver. Microsomes caused a biphasic inactivation of the carboxykinase in cytosol. All of the activity corresponding to Fe2+ activation was lost within 10 min ( t 1 2 equaled 3–4 min) and the remaining (basal) activity was lost over hours ( t 1 2 equaled 3–4 h). Adding the reducing agent dithiothreitol (1 mM) after 10 or 60 min of exposure of cytosol to microsomes caused a complete and three-fourths complete restoration of Fe2+ activation. In preventing the microsome-induced loss of Fe2+ activation, ascorbate and cysteine were also effective. When the purified carboxykinase was activated by Fe2+ and the synthetic ferroactivator 3-aminopicolinate, microsomes interfered with the enzyme activity in a manner identical to their effect on the enzyme in cytosol, suggesting that they did not act on ferroactivator protein. When Fe2+ was added to the crude or the purified carboxykinase 5–60 min after microsomes, the carboxykinase was not activated. If the microsomes were acting by oxidizing or sequestering Fe2+, the carboxykinase would have been at least transiently activated because it takes only seconds for Fe2+ to fully activate the enzyme and minutes for microsomes to cause a complete loss of Fe2+ activation. By the process of elimination, microsomes probably act on the carboxykinase itself. Microsomes did not inactivate five other glycolytic/gluconeogenic enzymes in liver cytosol, including some that have sulfhydryls which are very sensitive to oxidation. The microsomal factor was inactivated by the proteases, chymotrypsin, trypsin and pronase. The activity of the microsomal factor was highest in liver and kidney; almost as high in heart as in liver; and low or negligible in pancreas, spleen, lung and skeletal muscle. The microsomal activity was decreased in livers of alloxan diabetic rats, and the decrease was proportional to their blood glucose concentrations — such that severely diabetic rats had almost none of the activity. Liver microsomes from rats treated with the antioxidant, vitamin E, were completely without effect on Fe2+ activation. The results indicate that it is possible to alter rapidly the Fe2+ activation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase by mechahisms that probably involve oxidation/reduction. The decreases in the microsomal factor induced by alloxan diabetes; its high content in the gluconeogenic organs, liver and kidney; and its apparent specificity for the carboxykinase are preliminary evidence of the microsomal factor having a physiological role in the regulation of the carboxykinase.
Nitric Oxide in Health and Disease of the Nervous System

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important messenger molecule in a variety of physiological systems. NO, a gas, is produced from L-arginine by different isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and serves many normal physiologic purposes, such as promoting vasodilation of blood vessels and mediating communication between nervous system cells. In addition to its physiologic actions, free radical activity of NO can cause cellular damage through a phenomenon known as nitrosative stress. Here, we review the role of NO in health and disease, focusing on its role in function and dysfunction of the nervous system. Substantial evidence indicates that NO plays a key role in most common neurodegenerative diseases, and, although the mechanism of NO-mediated neurodegeneration remains uncertain, studies suggest several possibilities. NO has been shown to modify protein function by nitrosylation and nitrotyrosination, contribute to glutamate excitotoxicity, inhibit mitochondrial respiratory complexes, participate in organelle fragmentation, and mobilize zinc from internal stores. In this review, we discuss and analyze the evidence for each of these mechanisms in different neurodegenerative diseases and propose future directions for research of the role of NO in neurodegeneration. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 11, 541–553.
Comparative actions of glutamate and related substances on the lateral line of xenopus laevis.

1. The effects of compounds structurally related to l-glutamate were compared on spontaneous activity of afferent nerve fibres in Xenopus laevis lateral-line. 2. The potencies (EPMR) of several compounds relative to L-glutamate (EPMR = 1) were: l-aspartate (EPMR = 1), d-aspartate (EPMR = 1), d-glutamate (EPMR = 1.98), quisqualate (EPMR = 0.0015), kainate (EPMR = 0.0045), dihydrokainate (EPMR = 0), ibotenate (EPMR = 1.5), l-homocysteate (EPMR = 0.17), 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine (6-OH-DOPA, EPMR = 0.23), and d-homocysteate (EPMR = 0.73), N-methyl-d,l-aspartate (EPMR = 5), and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA, EPMR = 1). 3. Several compounds, including γ-aminobutyrate (GABA), suppressed spontaneous activity without eliciting excitatory responses. 4. The results reveal receptors that are present at this vertebrate peripheral synapse.
Study of energy transfer in a solution of coumarin 460 and rhodamine 6G by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy

Abstract A multi-photon fast analog technique has been used to study nonradiative energy transfer from coumarin 460 to rhodamine 6G molecules. At low acceptor concentrations (
Abstract 2244: Pomegranate juice components as novel treatment for prostate cancer metastasis.

Introduction: Prostate cancer is the second cause of cancer deaths in men in the United States. To date there is no real cure for the disease beyond surgery and/or radiation. Early stages can be controlled with hormone ablation therapy that suppresses the rate of prostate cancer growth. However, over time, the cancer overcomes its hormone dependence, becomes highly aggressive and metastasizes to the lymph nodes and bone marrow. Pomegranate juice (PJ) is a natural product that inhibits prostate cancer progression. A clinical trial in which patients with recurrent prostate cancer were given 8 oz of PJ by mouth daily resulted in none of the patients progressing to a metastatic stage during the period of the trial. We have previously shown that the PJ components luteolin (L), ellagic acid (E) and punicic acid (P) together inhibit growth of hormone-dependent and -independent prostate cancer cells, their migration and their chemotaxis towards SDF1α, a factor that is important in prostate cancer metastasis to the bone. However, the in vivo effectiveness of these components needs to be determined. Methods: To study the effect of L+E+P in vivo, we used the SCID (Severely Combined Immuno-Deficiency) mouse model in which luciferase expressing prostate cancer cells were injected ectopically. Tumor progression was monitored with Bioluminescence Imaging (BLI) weekly. To study the effect of L+E+P on angiogenesis, we performed a variety of cell and molecular assays using human endothelial cells (HMEC) in culture. Results: We found that L+E+P significantly inhibited PC3-luc2 primary tumor growth and angiogenesis and that none of the tumors treated with L+E+P metastasized. We also found that L+E+P significantly inhibited the SDF1α/CXCR4 axis this mouse model which is consistent with our in vitro findings. In addition, the tube formation assay with HMEC showed that L+E+P not only prevented tube formation but also disrupted pre-formed tubes. The activation of AKT and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) by IL-8, a potent pro-angiogenesis chemokines, was inhibited by L+E+P. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the L+E+P components of PJ can potentially be developed as a novel treatment to inhibit prostate cancer metastasis. These components may be more effective in inhibiting of prostate cancer metastasis than simply drinking the juice. Chemical modification of these may further enhance their bioavailability and efficacy of treatment. Moreover, because the mechanisms of metastasis are similar for most cancers, these PJ components L+E+P may also be effective in treatment of metastasis of other cancers. Citation Format: Lei Wang, Wen Fang Li, David Mulholland, Manuela Martins-Green. Pomegranate juice components as novel treatment for prostate cancer metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2244. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2244
Simulating geologic co-sequestration of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide in a basalt formation

Abstract Co-sequestered CO 2 with H 2 S impurities could affect geologic storage, causing changes in pH and oxidation state that affect mineral dissolution and precipitation reactions and the mobility of metals present in the reservoir rocks. We have developed a variable component, non-isothermal simulator, STOMP-COMP (water, multiple components, salt and energy), which simulates multiphase flow gas mixtures in deep saline reservoirs, and the resulting reactions with reservoir minerals. We use this simulator to model the co-injection of CO 2 and H 2 S into brecciated basalt flow top. A 1000 metric ton injection of these supercritical fluids, with 99% CO 2 and 1% H 2 S, is sequestered rapidly by solubility and mineral trapping. CO 2 is trapped mainly as calcite within a few decades and H 2 S is trapped as pyrite within several years.
How Holistic Scoring Kept Writing Alive in Chemistry

After Southeast Missouri State University decided to replace its general education program with the University Studies program in 1987, I was given a charge to develop a new chemistry course for the program. The course had to meet most (if not all) of nine instructional objectives common to all University Studies courses, to function as a service course for premis ing students, and to convey enough con tent to serve as a prerequisite for Or ganic and Biological Chemistry. Fi nally, the course (including a labora tory) had to fit into a three-credit-hour format. With these requirements in mind, I began to define the new course. In order to meet Objective 3: "Demonstrate ef fective communication skills," I would assign up to six formal laboratory re ports. Implicit in the cumulative vertical nature of scientific knowledge is the need to communicate observations, hy potheses, and theories. With Isaac New ton's famous statement as an introduc tion?"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants" (Newton 1676)?I designed a class dis cussion to reveal how a standard format (abstract, introduction, procedure, re sults and discussion, conclusion) pro motes efficient transfer of scientific knowledge through journal articles.
Defining prior therapy in myelodysplastic syndromes and criteria for relapsed and refractory disease: implications for clinical trial design and enrollment

The recent approval of 3 drugs for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) has resulted in a revolution in therapeutic options that was absent a decade ago. At the same time, the changing MDS environment is raising new challenges in clinical trial design and defining new indications for MDS drugs. Many current trials still rely on IPSS-based enrollment criteria, despite the well-recognized limitations of the IPSS. Clinical trialists designing studies struggle with several important trial design challenges, including which patients constitute the "previously treated" and "relapsed/refractory" MDS populations, and how specifically to define disease "progression." This article considers some of these issues as they relate to study design, including how to identify certain MDS populations and define disease progression.
SOME EFFECTS OF SUPERPARASITISM BY LIXOPHAGA DIATRAEAE OF SUGARCANE BORER LARVAE IN THE LABORATORY

A fly parasite, Lixophaga diatraeae (Townshend), of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), is currently being produced at our laboratory to determine if it can be released periodically in sugarcane fields and control sugarcane borers. This parasite is reared on sugarcane borers in the laboratory. Frequently more than one parasite develops on a single host insect and host insects vary in size. When several parasites entered the same host some did not develop because of competition between them. This problem was more acute in young host sugarcane borers than in older sugarcane borers. The early 5th stage sugarcane borer larva was the most suitable stage for parasite development. RESUME QUELQUES EFFETS DU SUPERPARASITISME DES LARVES DU BORER DE LA CANNE a SUCRE PAR LA TACHINAIRE LIXOPHAGA DIATRAEAE, EN CONDITION DE LABORATOIRE Quand des larves de Diatraea saccharalis (Borer de la canne a sucre) sont parasitees par la Tachinaire Lixophaga diatraeae, la mortalite s'accroit avec l'augmentation du nombre de parasites heberges par les larves-hotes et cela, du debut du du debut du 1er stade jusqu'au 4eme stade larvaire; cependant la mortalite est plus faible chez les larves les plus âgees au moment de l'attaque du parasite. La duree du developpement larvaire des asticots de la Tachinaire est plus courte chez les larves hotes les plus âgees et diminue egalement en fonction du nombre de parasites par hote; toutefois la duree du developpement nymphal n'est pas affectee par le superparasitisme. Par contre le poids des pupes du parasite decroit avec la densite du parasitisme. La taille des Tachinaires n'influence pas le choix des partenaires lors de l'accouplement, mais le nombre d'Œufs pondus s'accroit avec le poids des femelles. Le superparasitisme n'affecte pas la longevite du diptere parasite, mais les femelles vivent plus longtemps que les mâles, qu'elles soient issues d'un hote faiblement ou fortement parasite. Les asticots de Lixophaga muent deux fois a l'interieur de l'hote; elles emergent au cours du 3eme stade larvaire pour la pupaison. Une competition se manifeste entre les asticots, le taux de survie dependant du nombre de parasites par larve-hote, de la localisation des asticots sur le tronc tracheen longitudinal de l'hote, et de la promiscuite entre ces larves endoparasites.
Vibration and buckling of rectangular plates under in-plane hydrostatic loading

Numerical solutions are presented for the fundamental natural frequency and mode shape of a rectangular plate loaded by in-plane hydrostatic forces for a wide variety of aspect ratios, boundary conditions, and load magnitudes. All six possible combinations of simply supported and clamped edges are considered. The limiting conditions of unloaded vibration and buckling are discussed in detail, with emphasis on the preferred mode shape. Design curves and approximate formulae are presented which provide a simple means of determining the fundamental frequency parameter.
Distinct N-terminal regions of the exomer secretory vesicle cargo Chs3 regulate its trafficking itinerary

Cells transport integral membrane proteins between organelles by sorting them into vesicles. Cargo adaptors act to recognize sorting signals in transmembrane cargos and to interact with coat complexes that aid in vesicle biogenesis. No coat proteins have yet been identified that generate secretory vesicles from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to the plasma membrane, but the exomer complex has been identified as a cargo adaptor complex that mediates transport of several proteins in this pathway. Chs3, the most well-studied exomer cargo, cycles between the TGN and the plasma membrane in synchrony with the cell cycle, providing an opportunity to study regulation of proteins that cycle in response to signaling. Here we show that different segments of the Chs3 N-terminus mediate distinct trafficking steps. Residues 10-27, known to mediate retention, also appear to play a role in internalization. Residues 28-52 are involved in transport to the plasma membrane and recycling out of endosomes to prevent degradation in the vacuole. We also present the crystal structure of residues 10-27 bound to the exomer complex, suggesting different cargo adaptors could compete for binding to this segment, providing a potential mechanism for regulation.
Flexible Technologies for Self-Powered Wearable Health and Environmental Sensing

This article provides the latest advances from the NSF Advanced Self-powered Systems of Integrated sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) center. The work in the center addresses the key challenges in wearable health and environmental systems by exploring technologies that enable ultra-long battery lifetime, user comfort and wearability, robust medically validated sensor data with value added from multimodal sensing, and access to open architecture data streams. The vison of the ASSIST center is to use nanotechnology to build miniature, self-powered, wearable, and wireless sensing devices that can enable monitoring of personal health and personal environmental exposure and enable correlation of multimodal sensors. These devices can empower patients and doctors to transition from managing illness to managing wellness and create a paradigm shift in improving healthcare outcomes. This article presents the latest advances in high-efficiency nanostructured energy harvesters and storage capacitors, new sensing modalities that consume less power, low power computation, and communication strategies, and novel flexible materials that provide form, function, and comfort. These technologies span a spatial scale ranging from underlying materials at the nanoscale to body worn structures, and the challenge is to integrate them into a unified device designed to revolutionize wearable health applications.
EPIPHYTES ON CLADOPHORA GLOMERATA IN THE GREAT LAKES AND ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE RED ALGA CHROODACTYLON RAMOSUM (= ASTEROCYTIS SMARGDINA)1

The range of Cladophora glomerata2 along the east and north shorelines of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway extends form just east of Montreal to Thunder Bay on Lake Superior. However, it does not occur at sites sampled in Georgian Bay, the North Channel or eastern Lake Superior. The dominant epiphytes on Cladophora throughout this range are the blue-green algae, particularly Lyngbya diguetii, L. epiphytica and Chamaesiphon incrustans, which account for 53 to 90% of the cell density. The diatoms Cocconeis pediculus and Rhoicosphenia curvata contribute to much of the remaining density. The red alga Chroodactylon ramosum is a minor component of Cladophora epiphyton but is widespread in Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron. Filament morphology, cell diameters and lengths of Chroodactylon are quite similar to those of marine forms. In addition, this alga has been reported to be quite tolerant of a wide range of salinities. Chroodactylon has been found in 33 freshwater sites throughout North America and 30 of these are from the Great Lakes or its drainage basin. Therefore, it appears possible that Chroodactylon, like Bangia atropurpurea, has originated in the Great Lakes by a migration from the Atlantic Ocean.
Tablet computers and the traditional lecture

A nationwide call has requested educators to emphasize methods that will encourage student participation and engagement during class. Concurrently, technology and ubiquitous computing have been making advancements onto campuses of higher education. This paper will discuss the research that is merging these two events and creating a platform using Tablet PCs that can be used in the traditional classroom setting. The platform enables the use of "digital ink" within slideshow-based note taking, collaborative activities, and formative and summative assessment activities. In addition, course specific software will be made available on the Tablet PCs and used to enhance the learning in individual courses instead of relegating these activities to out-of-classroom experiences. The paper discusses the differences and similarities between Tablet PCs and laptop computers, in general, and also presents information about low cost options to allow the use of "digital ink" in traditional computer labs. The paper also presents results the author has collected while making use of Tablet PCs to: (1) present course material during the lecture period; (2) administer summative assessment during the lecture period; (3) grade assessments with "digital ink"; and (4) provide timely feedback of student projects. Lastly, the paper presents some of the author's long term research plans of making use of Tablet PCs, "digital ink," and other currently available technology in the traditional lecture to (1) provide more communication between instructors and students; (2) elicit more frequent and higher quality feedback on student progress; (3) introduce more frequent and varied classroom teaching styles and activities and (4) expose students, in a variety of disciplines, to the technology that is currently available
School vs. Afterschool: A Study of Equity in Supporting Children's Development

Abstract Children's perceptions of the developmental opportunities afforded by school and afterschool were studied. The data support prior research showing that inequitable patterns exist, across gender, ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic status, in children's perceptions of the opportunities provided by school. Afterschool programs, conversely, are faring better in providing equitable opportunities to develop. Children reported greater opportunities to develop in afterschool than in school, and these patterns were consistent across gender, ethnicity, and age. The study has implications for creating learning environments where development is not only possible but likely for all children. Features of positive developmental settings are discussed.
Multicenter Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Histoplasmosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Persons

We conducted a multicenter case-control study to identify risk factors for histoplasmosis among persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and to evaluate predictors of a poor outcome (defined as death or admission to the intensive care unit). Patients with histoplasmosis were each matched by age, sex, and CD4 lymphocyte count to 3 controls. From 1996 through 1999, 92 case patients and 252 controls were enrolled. Of the case patients, 81 (89%) were men, 50 (55%) were black, 78 (85%) had a CD4 lymphocyte count of <100 cells/microL, 80 (87%) were hospitalized, and 11 (12%) died. Multivariable analysis found that receipt of antiretroviral therapy and of triazole drugs were independently associated with a decreased risk of histoplasmosis. Chronic medical conditions and a history of infections with herpes simplex virus were associated with poor outcome. Triazoles should be considered for chemoprophylaxis for persons with AIDS, especially those who take part in high-risk activities that involve frequent exposure to soil, who have CD4 lymphocyte counts of <100 cells/microL, and who live in areas where histoplasmosis is endemic.
Indeterminism or Instability, does It Matter?

In my recent book, Probabilistic Metaphysics (1984), I have argued at some length against determinism as a viable philosophical or scientific thesis. I want first to review those arguments and then go on to look at an alternative way of viewing phenomena. Instead of the dichotomy deterministic or indeterministic, perhaps the right one is stable or unstable.
UnTEThering (Smooth Muscle) Cell Plasticity

Cellular plasticity has become the subject of intense research, with perhaps the greatest example provided by the recent Nobel Prize winners Drs Yamananka and Gurdon and the demonstration that terminally differentiated fibroblasts can be coaxed into assuming an embryonic stem cell-like fate. Emerging evidence suggests that plasticity inherent in cells may be hijacked in the progression of disease and cancer. However, the mechanisms by which cells acquire and regulate this plasticity remain incompletely understood. It is appreciated that broad programs must be unleashed during these switches, and, therefore, control at the epigenetic level in regulating these processes has garnered significant interest. In this issue of Circulation , Liu et al1 provide evidence implicating the epigenetic factor termed ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET2) in control of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) plasticity and development of vascular disease. Article see p 2047 Under homeostatic conditions, the principal function of the VSMC is regulation of vascular tone through the expression of unique contractile proteins, agonist receptors, and ion channels.2 The differentiated contractile phenotype is characterized by the expression of cytoskeletal marker proteins, including smooth muscle actin (ACTA2 [for actin, α2, smooth muscle, aorta]) and smooth muscle-myosin heavy chain (MYH11 [for myosin, heavy chain 11, smooth muscle]). However, unlike other terminally differentiated muscle cell types (skeletal or cardiac), VSMCs exhibit a high degree of phenotype plasticity. In response to injury or damage, VSMCs assume a dedifferentiated synthetic phenotype characterized by a high proliferative index, loss of contractile properties and proteins, and production of extracellular matrix products. This phenotype plasticity, first described by Chamley-Campbell et al3 >3 decades ago, is observed both in vitro …
Characterization of the mechanical properties of demineralized bone

Demineralized bone has had limited use as a medical implant, although, recently Jackson et al. (Am J Sports Med 1996;24(4):405-414) examined using demineralized bone as an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) replacement and found that within 1 year the demineralized bone had remodeled from a haversian system (bone-like) into a ligament-like structure. Little research has been done to characterize the mechanical properties of demineralized bone and examine its potential as a ligament replacement. This research examined the mechanical properties of demineralized bone as a function of acid saturation time and methods of processing and sterilization using specimens from various anatomic locations. Bone specimens were manufactured from the tibia, metatarsus, femur, radius, and humerus of bovine bone. Tensile strength, strain, and modulus of elasticity were examined for various acid saturation times and sterilization treatments. Additionally, viscoelastic properties, creep and stress relaxation, and fatigue properties were examined. The findings indicate that completely demineralized bone has mechanical properties similar to the ACL and, therefore, has increased likelihood for success in ACL reconstruction surgery.
Conditioned increases in anxiogenic-like behavior following exposure to contextual stimuli associated with cocaine are mediated by corticotropin-releasing factor.

Although cocaine is a powerful reinforcer, it has been reported to produce anxiety in humans and anxiogenic-like behavior in animals. The goal of this study was three-fold: (1) to determine the doses of cocaine that induce anxiogenic-like behavior in the elevated plus-maze in rats, (2) to determine if cocaine-associated contextual cues are capable of eliciting anxiogenic-like behavior in the absence of the drug, and (3) to identify possible mechanisms through which cocaine-associated cues affect behavior in the elevated plus-maze. Measurement of the amount of time that the animals spend exploring the open arms of the maze provides a sensitive index of anxiogenic-like behavior in rats. In experiment 1, rats were injected with 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, or 30 mg/kg cocaine HCl or saline for 6 days. On day 6, the rats were tested in the elevated plus-maze 25 min after injection with cocaine or saline. The animals chronically treated with the three doses of cocaine exhibited a dose-dependent increase in anxiogenic-like behavior in the elevated plus-maze, compared to the saline-treated group. In experiment 2, cocaine-induced (30 mg/kg) conditioning was achieved using a simple contextual design. On the final day of the experiment (day 6), after 5 days of conditioning, the rats were exposed for 25 min to the cocaine-associated contextual cues, then placed in the elevated plus-maze. Animals that had been exposed to cocaine-associated contextual cues prior to being placed in the elevated plus-maze exhibited a significant increase in anxiogenic-like behavior compared to the control groups. However, pretreatment of the rats with the CRF antagonist, ∝-helical CRF9–41 (1 μg, ICV), on the test day, prior to exposure to cocaine-associated contextual cues, attenuated the subsequent anxiogenic-like behavioral response in the elevated plus-maze (experiment 3). The results suggest that contextual cues associated with repeated treatment with 30 mg/kg cocaine are capable of eliciting anxiogenic-like behavior in the absence of the drug and that CRF mediates the expression of anxiogenic-like behaviors in the elevated plus-maze following exposure to cocaine-associated cues. The conditioned anxiogenic action elicited by cocaine-associated cues may have relevance for understanding the complex addictive nature of this drug and some of the clinical phenomena related to its use.
Statistical tests for discriminating inaccurate input functions in dynamic mouse microPET studies

Image-derived input functions (EDIF) are desirable for quantifying biological functions in mouse microPET studies. Due to difficulties in taking many blood samples from each mouse, conventional IDIF validation method of comparing blood samples with IDIF in a single animal is not applicable. A new approach that requires statistical testing on data of multiple animals has been conceived and investigated for IDIF validation. In this study, we evaluate and compare the power of 5 common statistical tests-Chi-square, sign test, signed-ranks, runs test, serial correlation-with the new approach for their ability to detect errors in IDIF. Computer simulation was used to simulate mouse FDG kinetics (60 min) and error-containing IDIF of various conditions. Deviations of IDIF from blood samples were examined with the 5 statistical tests. Results show that sign test, runs test and serial correlation do not have comparable power as the other two tests. The signed-ranks test generally had high statistical power, but was unable to detect errors that are random among animals or studies. Chi-square test could detect error in IDIF that was variable from study to study, but required accurate knowledge of noise variance. Combining signed-ranks test with Chi-square test is overall most sensitive for validation of IDIF.
A simple relationship between Buchholz's new system of ordinal notations and Takeuti's system of ordinal diagrams

Buchholz [4] simplified the system of ordinal notations of the Schutte school (cf. [12]), by using the notion of collapsing functions (cf. [5]). In this paper we give a simple relationship between Buchholz's new system of ordinal notations and Takeuti's system of ordinal diagrams. From this simple relationship it turns out that the structures of these two systems are very close. We give two systems OT(I) (§1) and OT(I, A) (§2) of ordinal notations which are considered generalizations of Buchholz's original system, where I and A are well-ordered sets. The original system OT of Buchholz [4] is OT(ω + 1, {0}) in our sense. Here the set OT(I) of ordinal notations is defined as a subset of the set Od(I) of ordinal diagrams in [6], and the set OT(I, A) of ordinal notations as a subset of the set O(I, A) of ordinal diagrams in [14].
Grounding spatial language for video search

The ability to find a video clip that matches a natural language description of an event would enable intuitive search of large databases of surveillance video. We present a mechanism for connecting a spatial language query to a video clip corresponding to the query. The system can retrieve video clips matching millions of potential queries that describe complex events in video such as "people walking from the hallway door, around the island, to the kitchen sink." By breaking down the query into a sequence of independent structured clauses and modeling the meaning of each component of the structure separately, we are able to improve on previous approaches to video retrieval by finding clips that match much longer and more complex queries using a rich set of spatial relations such as "down" and "past." We present a rigorous analysis of the system's performance, based on a large corpus of task-constrained language collected from fourteen subjects. Using this corpus, we show that the system effectively retrieves clips that match natural language descriptions: 58.3% were ranked in the top two of ten in a retrieval task. Furthermore, we show that spatial relations play an important role in the system's performance.
THE 17-GENE ETHANOLAMINE (EUT) OPERON OF SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM ENCODES FIVE HOMOLOGUES OF CARBOXYSOME SHELL PROTEINS

The eut operon of Salmonella typhimurium encodes proteins involved in the cobalamin-dependent degradation of ethanolamine. Previous genetic analysis revealed six eut genes that are needed for aerobic use of ethanolamine; one (eutR), encodes a positive regulator which mediates induction of the operon by vitamin B12 plus ethanolamine. The DNA sequence of the eut operon included 17 genes, suggesting a more complex pathway than that revealed genetically. We have correlated an open reading frame in the sequence with each of the previously identified genes. Nonpolar insertion and deletion mutations made with the Tn10-derived transposable element T-POP showed that at least 10 of the 11 previously undetected eut genes have no Eut phenotype under the conditions tested. Of the dispensable eut genes, five encode apparent homologues of proteins that serve (in other organisms) as shell proteins of the carboxysome. This bacterial organelle, found in photosynthetic and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, may contribute to CO2 fixation by concentrating CO2 and excluding oxygen. The presence of these homologues in the eut operon of Salmonella suggests that CO2 fixation may be a feature of ethanolamine catabolism in Salmonella.
Differential Age Response of Turkeys to Protein and Sorghum Tannin Levels

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to determine the effect of protein and dietary sorghum tannin levels on weight gain (WG), feed conversion (FC), and pancreas weight (PW) of female turkeys from Day 1 to 12 wk of age. Two protein levels (100 and 85% of NRC, 1984) and five tannin levels (0, .49, .98, 1.47, and 1.96%, expressed as percentage catechin equivalents) in a factorial arrangement of treatments were used in all experiments. Turkeys were fed the dietary treatments from Day 1 to 4 wk, 4 to 8 wk, and 8 to 12 wk in Experiments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. No significant (P > .05) interaction between protein and tannin level was observed for WG, FC, or PW in all experiments. Neither protein nor tannin level had an effect on PW expressed as a percentage of body weight. In all experiments, feeding the suboptimal protein level significantly (P
Characterization of logical masking and error propagation in combinational circuits and effects on system vulnerability

Among the masking phenomena that render immunity to combinational logic circuits from soft errors, logical masking is the hardest to model and characterize. This is mainly attributed to the fact that the algorithmic complexity of analyzing a combinational circuit for such masking is quite high, even for modestly sized circuits. In this paper, we present a hierarchical statistical approach to characterize the vulnerability of combinational circuits given logical masking and error propagation. By conducting detailed analyses and fault simulations for circuits at lower levels, initial assumptions of 100% vulnerability with single random output errors are refined. Fault simulations performed on the ISCAS85 benchmark circuits and Kogge-Stone adders of various widths demonstrate the varied nature of vulnerability for different circuits. The analysis performed at the circuit level for a 32-bit Kogge-Stone adder is applied to a microarchitecture simulation to examine impact on system-level vulnerability.