cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From the Peaceable to the Barbaric: Thorstein Veblen and the Charro Cowboy

This book applies Thorstein Veblen’s cultural theory to a qualitative study of the charro cowboy culture and community in Mexico. Drawing on Veblen’s arguments regarding cultural lag, the peaceable and the barbaric, predatory culture, vested interest, and pecuniary interest, it examines the comportment, clothing, mannerisms, and adherence to the norms that are unique to this subculture, while considering the cultural changes within race, class, and gender dynamics of this community in relation to mainstream Mexico. With close attention to the impact of business principles and standardization on the charro, leading to changes in practices and social interactions, the author considers generational differences and the tensions that exist between newer and older charros as a result of the developing emphasis on business. A close study of the nature of cultural adaptability and the persistence of inequality regardless of mainstream illusions of equality, this volume sheds new light on our understanding of what culture is rather than what culture does, while reintroducing the neglected ethnographic streak in Veblen’s work as an important methodological and theoretical tool in the interpretation of culture.
Ka Biε Ba Yor

The Upper West region (UWR) of Ghana has served as a reservoir of labor for the southern part of the country for most of the twentieth century and today one can find at least three generations of migrants in any given community whose experiences both mirror and differ substantially from migrants in other parts of Africa. Attempts to explain this phenomenon have centered on theories of overpopulation, taxation, lack of resources, and “bright lights,” which compelled northerners – Dagaaba to migrate to the south in search of wage labor. These explanations of migration are inadequate because they are constrained by a static, normative vision of the lone twentieth century migrant worker traveling south in search of wage labor bereft of pre-colonial precedents. This article contributes to the on-going discussion on labor migration in Africa by foregrounding the internal ways in which communities themselves shaped migration through extended social debates over production and reproduction.
Helmet Sign on EKG: A Rare Indicator of Poor Prognosis in Critically Ill Patients.

Background: The ‘Spiked Helmet’ is an electrocardiogram (EKG) finding occasionally seen in critically ill patients characterized by ST segment elevation usually represented as a ‘spike and dome’ pattern with elevation in the EKG baseline prior to the R wave and adjoining ST segment elevation resembling the German military helmet of the Prussian Empire. In the few cases reported in literature, this finding has been associated with very poor clinical outcomes, including in-hospital death. Although ST elevation is not uncommon in critically ill patients, these findings of a ‘Spiked Helmet’ sign are often transient and typically not associated with acute coronary syndrome. Case presentation: A 56-year-old male was found unresponsive by his relatives at home. It was an unknown the time that he had been unconscious. When the emergency medical services arrived, patient was found to be in pulseless electrical activity (PEA). Patient achieved return to spontaneous circulation (ROSC) 15 minutes after initiation of advanced cardiac life support protocol. An electrocardiogram done immediately post ROSC showed ST elevations in inferior and lateral leads. Patient was brought to the hospital as a ST elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) arrest. The EKG revealed the Helmet sign in leads aVL and II, also ST segment elevation was noted in V1, V2, V3 and ST segment depression was noted in V5 and V6. Troponin was negative at the time of initial evaluation but trended up gradually during the hospitalization. A computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiogram was negative for pulmonary embolism. A head CT showed diffuse anoxic brain injury. Patient was started on the hypothermia protocol. Upon family request patient was terminally extubated two days into hospital stay and expired shortly after. Conclusion: Although we are yet to fully understand the significance of the ‘Spiked Helmet’ Sign, this case report and literature review offers a comprehensive overview of the reported cases and draws important links and clues from them.
Synthetic mimics of cyclic antimicrobial peptides via templated ring-opening metathesis (TROM)

We utilized a templated ring-opening metathesis (TROM) strategy to synthesize a series of precision macrocyclic olefins, each containing two, three or four repeating units of a cyclooctene with pendant carboxylic acid side chains. The structures were confirmed by a combination of NMR spectroscopy, MALDI, and MALDI ms/ms fragmentation studies. In accordance with previous work, we found that cyclooctene monomers covalently tethered to precision oligo(thiophene)s yield exclusively macrocyclic products when subjected to the Grubbs 3rd generation catalyst in highly dilute solution (10−4 M in DCM, 0 °C). Upon hydrolytic liberation of the daughter oligo(olefin) product, further derivatization with cationic groups confers antibacterial and hemolytic activities. We compare the biological activity of these precision macrocycles to that of a polydisperse sample prepared by direct ROM in the absence of a template. Surprisingly, the relatively ill-defined, disperse mixture of oligomeric species exerted biological activity comparable to that of the precision oligomeric macrocycles, suggesting a remarkable degree of tolerance for heterogeneity. These findings provide nuance to the structure–activity relationships understood thus far for AMPs and their mimics, especially in the context of relatively underexplored macrocyclic compounds.
On Semantic Interoperability of Model-based Definition of Product Design

Abstract Fundamentally, the engineering designs are collections of information, which contain the structural, qualitative and the behavioral (kinematic and static) specifications of some physical products that satisfy some customer requirements. Vast suits of information exchange standards, most notably ISO10303 (STEP), are currently being used for capturing product design in manufacturing industries. In recent years, a modern practice of capturing the product design information using model-based definition (MBD) (STEP AP242, ASME Y14.5) is becoming increasingly popular due to its ability to capture geometrical dimension and tolerances (GD&T) against managed models of 3D design features instead of traditional 2D drafting, facilitating communication of the design intents, and product model information (PMI). However, MBD suffers from difficulties in standardization of managed models due to diversity of views, stemming from cultural and traditional differences among the product designers and organizations. In the wake of semantic web technologies, researchers proposed number of semantic models for capturing product design concepts based on ontological taxonomy and rules, aiming to integrate heterogeneous sources of data based on contextual meaning of the information. In this article, we present an upper level ontology for capturing MBD based product designs, including axiomatic definitions of concepts related to product design (e.g. part, topology, feature, dimension, and tolerance). The primary goal of such semantic model is to increase the interoperability of MBD based product design and integrate domain-specific design features from manufacturability perspective (CNC, sheet metal, molding, 3D printing). In order to achieve such cross-domain interoperability, we based our design on Basic Formal Ontology (BFO). The applicability of the proposed ontology is elucidated by presenting usage pattern based on example design.
FlowTrace : A Framework for Active Bandwidth Measurements Using In-band Packet Trains

Active measurement tools are important to understand and diagnose performance bottlenecks on the Internet. However, their overhead is a concern because a high number of additional measurement packets can congest the network they try to measure. To address this issue, prior work has proposed in-band approaches that piggyback application traffic for active measurements. However, prior approaches are hard to deploy because they require either specialized hardware or modifications in the Linux kernel. In this paper, we propose FlowTrace–a readily deployable user-space active measurement framework that leverages application TCP flows to carry out in-band network measurements. Our implementation of pathneck using FlowTrace creates recursive packet trains to locate bandwidth bottlenecks. The experimental evaluation on a testbed shows that FlowTrace is able to locate bandwidth bottlenecks as accurately as pathneck with significantly less overhead.
Increasing Telepresence Robot Operator Awareness of Speaking Volume Appropriateness: Initial Model Development

Telepresence robots could help homebound students to be physically embodied and socially connected in the classroom. However, most telepresence robots do not provide their operators with information about whether their speaking volume is appropriate in the remote context. We are investigating how operators could benefit from live feedback about speaking volume appropriateness as part of our ongoing research on using remote presence robots to improve education and social connectedness for students experiencing extended absences from school. This preliminary report describes (1) the development of a model of speaking volume appropriateness to provide this feedback, (2) implementation of a feedback element in the operator's user interface, and (3) plans for long-term deployment to assess impacts on the social and educational experience of homebound high school students.
In vivo microscopy reveals macrophage polarization locally promotes coherent microtubule dynamics in migrating cancer cells

Microtubules (MTs) mediate mitosis, directional signaling, and are therapeutic targets in cancer. Yet in vivo analysis of cancer cell MT behavior within the tumor microenvironment remains challenging. Here we developed an imaging pipeline using plus-end tip tracking and intravital microscopy to quantify MT dynamics in live xenograft tumor models. Among analyzed features, cancer cells in vivo displayed higher coherent orientation of MT dynamics along their cell major axes compared with 2D in vitro cultures, and distinct from 3D collagen gel cultures. This in vivo MT phenotype was reproduced in vitro when cells were co-cultured with IL4-polarized MΦ. MΦ depletion, MT disruption, targeted kinase inhibition, and altered MΦ polarization via IL10R blockade all reduced MT coherence and/or tumor cell elongation. We show that MT coherence is a defining feature for in vivo tumor cell dynamics and migration, modulated by local signaling from pro-tumor macrophages.
Influence of agglomerate morphology on micro cold spray of Ag nanopowders

Abstract The micro-cold spray process produces thick patterned films by impacting powders consisting of nano-to-sub-micron particles at velocities from 300 to over 1400 m/s. This process has been used extensively to produce ceramic films but has been employed only on a very limited basis to produce metallic films. The fine powders used in micro-cold spray are invariably agglomerated to some degree, but the influence of agglomerate morphology has not previously been studied for metallic particles. Here we study the effect of pre-treatments of the powder in the temperature range from room temperature to 200 °C on the powder morphology and resulting film properties of Ag. Experiments show that as the pre-treatment temperature is increased, the agglomerated powders do not densify significantly, but changes in the agglomerate morphology increase the fractal dimension. There is also evidence that increased pre-treatment temperatures increase the size of the necks between primary particles. Although the calculated impact velocities are reduced slightly for pre-treated powders compared to films produced from untreated powders, experimental results show that using pre-treated powders produces films with higher relative densities (up to 80%) and increased as-deposited conductivities (up to 3.5 S/μm). It is postulated that the pre-treated agglomerates utilize a larger fraction of the impact energy for deformation of the primary particles rather than fragmentation of the agglomerates due to increased bonding between primary particles.
Low-shear modeled microgravity impacts the acid stress response and post-thermal stress behavior of acid-resistant, adaptable, and sensitive Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains

Abstract Acid resistance is critical for the survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in acidic environments. The representative space environment microgravity is known to have a great impact on bacteria, but the acid stress response of E. coli O157:H7 under microgravity conditions remains unclear. Here, we show that the acid resistance of sbacteria is altered by the upregulation of related resistance systems. All tested E. coli O157:H7 strains (ATCC 35150, 43889, 43890, and 43895) survived better in acidified Luria-Bertani medium (pH 3.5) under low-shear modeled microgravity (LSMMG) than under normal gravity (NG, counterpart condition). For example, after 72 h of cultivation under acidic conditions, bacterial populations in the LSMMG cultures reached 5.2–6.7 log CFU/ml, while those in the NG cultures reached 2.4–5.6 log CFU/ml. Our transcriptomic analysis studies on E. coli O157:H7 under LSMMG conditions also provided supportive data of the increase in the acid stress response, with a 2.18 to 3.44 log2 fold change in the acid resistance system 1 (rpoS) and 2 (gad) and chaperone related genes (hdeA and hdeB). Comparing D-values before and after acid shock at pH 3.5, the increase in thermal cross-protection power was more remarkable in the LSMMG cultures than in the NG cultures. In the case of E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 35150, the D-values in the LSMMG and NG cultures at 55 °C after acid shock increased by 17.1 and 10.8 min, respectively, compared to the control. Our findings illustrated that simulated microgravity impacts the acid resistance of E. coli O157:H7 as well as the acquisition of thermal cross-protection power, suggesting that alterations in bacterial responses to the space environment could be a health threat.
Analysis of Adjacent Track Erasure in the HAMR Media

Writing closely spaced tracks in the cross-track direction helps increase the storage density but leads to erasure of the adjacent tracks. This phenomenon is called adjacent track erasure (ATE). This article aims to establish the presence and numerical extent of ATE in different heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media. We find that thermal exchange coupled composite (ECC) media can be more susceptible to ATE compared with single layer FePt media of equivalent thickness. We implement optimization techniques to reduce the ATE in different media and increase the recording signal to noise ratio (SNR) in this process. While the ATE in single layer FePt media seems to be relatively impervious to changes in the applied field angle, small field angles appear to reduce the ATE for the high $T_{c}$ thermal ECC media. However, small angle also reduces the SNR, leading to the conclusion that 30° actually yields the best SNR even in the presence of overwrite. Introducing a finite intergranular exchange coupling improves the writing performance of the single layer FePt and reduces the ATE. We rigorously calculate the thermal decay constant and use it to evaluate the performance of pulsed laser recording. Finally, we establish a hypothesis that helps explain the presence of ATE in different HAMR media. We believe the ATE is proportional to the thermal stability factor at a temperature just below the write temperature. The proposed hypothesis correctly predicts the ATE in the single layer FePt media assuming coherent rotation. Our results can help increase the HAMR storage density and make HAMR media resistant to the ATE.
Global commons law: norms to safeguard the planet and humanity’s heritage:

The Global Commons – the high seas and the seabed, Antarctica, the atmosphere (including the ozone layer and the climate system), and outer space – have a distinctive status in international relati...
QUBO formulations of the longest path problem

Abstract The longest path problem on graphs is an NP-hard optimization problem, and as such, it is not known to have an efficient classical solution in the general case. This study develops two quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) formulations of this well-known problem. The first formulation is based on an approach outlined by (Bauckhage et al., 2018) for the shortest path problem and follows simply from the principle of assigning positions on the path to vertices; using k | V | binary variables, this formulation will find the longest path that visits exactly k of a graph's | V | vertices, if such a path exists. As a point of theoretical interest, we present a second formulation based on degree constraints that is more complicated, but reduces the dependence of the number of variables on k to logarithmic; specifically, it requires | V | + 2 | E | ⌊ log 2 ⁡ k ⌋ + 3 | E | binary variables to encode the longest path problem. We adapt these basic formulations for several variants of the standard longest path problem. Scaling factors for penalty terms and preprocessing time required to construct the Q matrix representing the problem are made explicit in the paper.
Applying criteria for hepatocellular neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential reclassifies more than half of hepatocellular adenomas.

Abstract Objectives Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is a benign well-differentiated hepatocellular neoplasm that can be difficult to distinguish from well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The term “well-differentiated hepatocellular neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential” (HUMP) has been proposed for neoplasms resembling HCAs, but arising in atypical clinical situations (in females over 50 years old or under 15, in males, with anabolic steroid use, or in some congenital conditions), and/or with atypical pathological features (focal cytological/architectural atypia, β-catenin activation, or focal reticulin loss) insufficient for an unequivocal diagnosis of HCC. Methods This study evaluated HUMP criteria on 42 previously diagnosed HCAs from 33 patients. Results Twenty-six (62%) masses from 21 patients were classified as HUMPs. Eleven (42%) had focal cytological atypia, and two (8%) had focal architectural atypia. Four (15%) showed focal reticulin loss. Five (19%) showed evidence of β-catenin activation. Four (12%) HUMP patients were male. Conclusions In this series, HUMP did not correlate with an increased rate of synchronous or metachronous HCC compared to HCA. Clinical colleagues may not accept such a high rate of tumors placed in a category of “uncertain malignant potential”. Additional study is warranted to refine criteria for designating well-differentiated hepatocellular neoplasms as of uncertain malignant potential.
Prediction modeling for yield and water-use efficiency in spinach using remote sensing via an unmanned aerial system

Abstract Predictive modeling (PM) is a useful tool in selecting from a large number of target variables. Given the large quantities of data types generated from unmanned aerial system (UAS) platforms, uncovering the most appropriate candidate UAS data–based phenotype (UASDP) with a strong relationship to target crop traits may be a challenge with the traditional regression models. We hypothesized that by employing machine learning modeling techniques, the contributions of multiple vegetative indices as predictors of biomass and water-use could be defined and ranked. The objective of this study was to apply predictive machine techniques in determining the phase of spinach growth and UASDP variables that best predict yield and water-use efficiency. UASDPs were derived using red-green-blue and multi-spectral sensors mounted on a UAS platform flown weekly on 10 spinach genotypes under well-watered and partial water deficit conditions. Candidate UASDPs including mean and maximum plant height, canopy cover and volume, excess greenness index (ExG), chlorophyll red-edge (ChlRE), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference red-edge (NDRE) were generated. UASDPs were used to predict above-ground biomass-based fresh yield, biological dry yield, and field water-use efficiency (WUEf). This study highlights the use of bootstrap forest partitioning, and partition rank fraction as methods for selecting among many UASDPs as predictors of WUEf and yield. We also used a weighted geometric mean to integrate various model performance metrics to further refine the UASDPs rankings. UASDPs from mid to late growth stages were better predictors of yield and WUEf than UASDPs from earlier periods. Canopy volume, NDRE and ExG were the best predictors overall and were useful for distinguishing varieties, particularly in water-stress conditions. We expect that the approaches detailed here will improve reliability of discriminating the importance of UAS-acquired data types thereby improving UAS data-processing efficiency.
Crisis and Credit Allocation: The Effect of Ideology on Monetary Policy during the Great Depression and the Great Recession

Both during the Great Depression and the Great Recession, monetary policy deviated from its normal course whereby the central bank would aim to provide credit to solvent institutions while allowing insolvent institutions to fail. In both cases, monetary policy was shaped by ideology that eschewed inflationary policy as remedy for economic contraction. During the Great Depression, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, led by Adolph Miller engaged in a policy of "direct pressure" that denied credit to banks that had supported speculative investment. This was part of a more general program of monetary tightening implemented by the Board in the early years of the Great Depression. During the Great Recession, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke engaged in a program of credit allocation, using deposit accounts at the Federal Reserve to sterilize the inflationary effects of expansion, a policy practically inscrutable to the public. Both policies were the result of beliefs that a general provision of liquidity is not an appropriate or efficacious means to correct an economic downturn. Both Miller and Bernanke left their mark on Federal Reserve policy by increasing the level of support provided by the Federal Reserve to the U.S. Treasury.
The intensity-time relation of a stimulus in simple visual reaction time

Visual reaction time data were taken to flashes varying in duration and luminance to investigate the I•t=C relationship over a wide stimulus range. Three Ss were used and the data indicated that RT decreases with increases in duration up to a critical duration after which luminance alone determines the response, and that critical duration depends upon flash luminance.
Problems in the Treatment of the Chronic Depressive

Antidepressants are effective in the treatment of acute depressive episodes. Their efficacy for more chronic forms of depression however, has not been clearly established. Therefore, the evaluation of the efficacy of established and novel antidepressants for the treatment of chronic depression is of clinical interest.
Christianity, Christianities, Christian

AbstractThe relation between the concept of religion and its Christian determinations has surely become increasingly visible. In the study of religion, Christianity (vera religio, western Christendom) has served as a paradigmatic occasion, a prime focus, of constant research and investigation. Its history and transformations have rightly been studied in a plethora of ways and approaches. Throughout, the question of Christianity – if there is one – lingers as a question of religion. Everything is therefore as though the interrogation of the concept of religion does not unsettle our understanding of Christianity as a religion. A strange essentialism. For what if Christianity were not a religion? Not exclusively so? What if, for two thousand years, it had been more than a religion? Or something else altogether? What if it became a religion (in the restricted, modern sense) only latterly? Having learned what we can from and about the concept of religion – its novelty, its questionable disappearance, its conta...
Expression of a kinase anchor protein 75 depletes type II cAMP-dependent protein kinases from the cytoplasm and sequesters the kinases in a particulate pool.

Abstract A kinase anchor proteins (AKAPs) have a C-terminal binding site for the regulatory subunit (RII beta) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase II beta (PKAII beta) and an N-terminal domain that mediates the targeting and attachment of the anchor protein to intracellular structures. In vitro biochemical studies and recent in situ immunocytochemical analysis (Glantz, S. B., Amat, J. A., and Rubin, C. S. (1992) Mol. Biol. Cell 3, 1215-1228) suggest that AKAPs anchor PKAII beta at specific sites in the dendritic cytoskeleton of neurons. This arrangement would place PKAII beta in proximity with its substrates and create "target sites" for cAMP actions. The foregoing model predicts that (a) RII subunits are freely accessible to AKAPs, (b) PKAII holoenzymes, as well as RII subunits, are anchored, and (c) changes in the level of AKAP can alter the intracellular distribution of type II PKAs. We have addressed these previously untested propositions by overexpressing bovine AKAP75 in a human cell line (HEK293). Non-transfected cells express a low level of endogenous AKAP79, and approximately 90% of RII alpha and RII beta subunits are isolated in the cell cytosol. In contrast, stably transfected cells, which express a 10-fold excess of AKAP75, sequester > 90% of their RII subunits in a particulate pool. Catalytic subunits are also transferred to this pool. AKAP75 accumulates in a cell compartment with biochemical properties characteristic of cytoskeleton. Thus, AKAPs have access to and avidly bind cytoplasmic type II PKAs. Moreover, an increase in AKAP content can alter the particulate/cytoplasmic distribution of PKAII beta and PKAII alpha.
Gender and Risk in Public Performance

The scarcity of women as contestants on the nationally televised quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire provided the impetus to study gender and risk. In three simulated studies we investigated perception of risk and decision making about whether to engage in a televised public performance. Gender differences consistent with the risk assessment literature were found. Women considered going on the show to be more personally risky, were more concerned about doing poorly in public, and were less likely to risk entering their names. Results were discussed in terms of motivation to avoid negative social consequences. Implications of the findings for women's participation in public life are discussed.
Analysis of performance bottlenecks in multithreaded multiprocessor systems

The performance of modern multiprocessor systems is often limited by the delays of interconnections or long latencies of memory subsystems. Instruction-level multithreading is a technique to tolerate such long latencies by switching from one instruction thread to another and continuing instruction execution concurrently with the long latency operations. Using timed Petri net models, the paper analyzes performance limitations introduced by different components of distributed memory multithreaded multiprocessor systems. Simulation results are used to compare performance improvements obtained by replicating critical components of the system to those obtained using components with better performance characteristics.
A Framework for the Analysis of Computational Imaging Systems with Practical Applications

Over the last decade, a number of Computational Imag- ing (CI) systems have been proposed for tasks such as motion deblurring, defocus deblurring and multispectral imaging. These techniques increase the amount of light reaching the sensor via multiplexing and then undo the deleterious effects of multiplexing by appropriate reconstruction algorithms. Given the widespread appeal and the considerable enthusiasm generated by these techniques, a detailed performance analysis of the benefits conferred by this approach is important. Unfortunately, a detailed analysis of CI has proven to be a challenging problem because performance depends equally on three components: (1) the optical multiplexing, (2) the noise characteristics of the sensor, and (3) the reconstruction algorithm which typically uses signal priors. A few recent papers (10), (9), (42) have performed analysis taking multiplexing and noise characteristics into account. However, analysis of CI systems under state-of-the-art reconstruc- tion algorithms, most of which exploit signal prior models, has proven to be unwieldy. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis framework incorporating all three components. In order to perform this analysis, we model the signal priors using a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM). A GMM prior confers two unique characteristics. Firstly, GMM satisfies the universal approximation property which says that any prior density function can be approx- imated to any fidelity using a GMM with appropriate number of mixtures. Secondly, a GMM prior lends itself to analytical tractability allowing us to derive simple expressions for the 'minimum mean square error' (MMSE) which we use as a metric to characterize the performance of CI systems. We use our framework to analyze sev- eral previously proposed CI techniques (focal sweep, flutter shutter, parabolic exposure, etc.), giving conclusive answer to the question: 'How much performance gain is due to use of a signal prior and how much is due to multiplexing? Our analysis also clearly shows that multiplexing provides significant performance gains above and beyond the gains obtained due to use of signal priors. Index Terms—Computational imaging, Extended depth-of-field (EDOF), Motion deblurring, GMM
Diet-responsive MicroRNAs Are Likely Exogenous.

In a recent report Title et al. (1) fostered miRNA-375 and miR-200c knock-out pups to wild-type dams and arrived at the conclusion that milk microRNAs are bioavailable in trace amounts at best and that postprandial concentrations of microRNAs are too low to elicit biological effects. Their take home message is flawed. First, the majority of microRNAs in bovine milk are encapsulated in exosomes, thereby conferring protection against degradation and a mechanism for intestinal transport (2). Second, numerous dietary microRNAs have been cataloged among human samples (3). Third, the mere absence of a postprandial increase does not equate with zero absorption. Abundant microRNA targets in the intestinal mucosa or liver could be promoting rapid microRNA degradation, the classical concept of first-pass elimination. Artificial microRNA targets (“sponges”) have been used successfully to decrease the abundance of microRNAs in experimental settings. Fourth, the authors spaced sample collections days apart, which risks missing increases in microRNAs following milk consumption.
Derivation of the Mass Transport Equations

There are times when the description of an occurrence in abstract terms is required. Usually the abstraction is written in mathematical symbolism, giving what is sometimes called the “governing equation.” Depending upon one’s level of education and sophistication, the governing equation may be an algebraic equation or perhaps a vector or tensor equation in the three-dimensional space of our environment. If the dimensionality is more than three, we may write an n-dimensional matrix equation expressing n equations in compact form.
Herpes Simplex Vaccines: Prospects of Live-Attenuated HSV Vaccines to Combat Genital and Ocular Infections

Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) and its closely related type-2 (HSV-2) viruses cause important clinical manifestations in humans including acute ocular disease and genital infections. These viruses establish latency in the trigeminal ganglionic and dorsal root neurons, respectively. Both viruses are widespread among humans and can frequently reactivate from latency causing disease. Currently, there are no vaccines available against herpes simplex viral infections. However, a number of promising vaccine approaches are being explored in pre-clinical investigations with few progressing to early phase clinical trials. Consensus research findings suggest that robust humoral and cellular immune responses may partially control the frequency of reactivation episodes and reduce clinical symptoms. Live-attenuated viral vaccines have long been considered as a viable option for generating robust and protective immune responses against viral pathogens. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) belongs to the same alphaherpesvirus subfamily with herpes simplex viruses. A live-attenuated VZV vaccine has been extensively used in a prophylactic and therapeutic approach to combat primary and recurrent VZV infection indicating that a similar vaccine approach may be feasible for HSVs. In this review, we summarize pre-clinical approaches to HSV vaccine development and current efforts to test certain vaccine approaches in human clinical trials. Also, we discuss the potential advantages of using a safe, live-attenuated HSV-1 vaccine strain to protect against both HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections.
Time-Asymmetry and Non-Gaussian Pinning Field Statistics in Barkhausen Noise Experiments

We review the two main theoretical frameworks for understanding Barkhausen noise and other avalanche-like phenomena. We show that while the theories predict a response which is symmetric in time, various measurements show a persistent time-asymmetry. In the ABBM model, assuming Gaussian pinning field statistics guarantees time-symmetric Barkhausen noise. On the other hand, our recent experiments show non-Gaussianity in the effective pinning field of an amorphous soft metallic ferromagnet. We suggest a possible connection between the non-Gaussianity of the pinning field and the observed time asymmetries.
Detection of changes in mitochondrial function during apoptosis by simultaneous staining with multiple fluorescent dyes and correlated multiparameter flow cytometry.

Background: The possible relationships between changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and other mitochondrial functions during apoptosis remain controversial. Methods: To detect concomitant changes in mitochondrial function during apoptosis, we performed correlated multiparameter flow cytometry after simultaneous cell staining with several dyes. Results: After camptothecin treatment, nonapoptotic cells exhibited a concomitant rise in mitochondrial membrane potential [8-(4′-chloromethyl) phenyl-2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 15-octahydro-1H, 4H, 10H, 13H-diquinolizino-8H-xanthylium chloride, or CMXRos; CMXRos fluorescence divided by MitoTracker Green fluorescence], NADH level (ultraviolet-excited blue autofluorescence), and oxidative turnover (H2-CMXRos oxidation). Frankly apoptotic cells showed a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, NADH level, and oxidative turnover. Oxidative turnover was not sensitive to antimycin A treatment, which suggests that H2-CMXRos oxidation in these cells may be due to lipid peroxidation. In addition, frankly apoptotic cells showed lower cardiolipin levels (by nonyl-acridine orange staining). The efficiency of energy transfer between nonyl-acridine orange and CMXRos was slightly lower in camptothecin-treated nonapoptotic cells and reduced to zero in frankly apoptotic cells. Conclusions: We conclude that, in an initial phase of camptothecin-induced apoptosis, mitochondrial activity is increased and a subtle loss of structural integrity of the mitochondrial membranes takes place. In frankly apoptotic cells, all measured parameters of mitochondrial collapse and lipid peroxidation occurs. Cytometry 35:311–317, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Singlet oxygen and biological systems.

Abstract Singlet oxygen is receiving increasing attention as a reactive species in many chemical and biological systems. It can be generated easily by microwave discharge, chemically or by photosensitized irradiation and also is found to be a common reactive atmospheric pollutant generated by solar radiation. Singlet oxygen reacts with a host of materials which are unaffected by “normal” oxygen. From a biological standpoint, there is strong evidence that living systems have mechanisms for the protection of molecules such as lipids and nucleic acids which would otherwise be damaged by exogenous singlet oxygen. Interestingly, other constituents such as chlorophyll and riboflavin found in living systems, are in turn excellent singlet oxygen sensitizers. Furthermore, there are indications that living systems may produce singlet oxygen internally, for example in the enzyme peroxidase-catalase system. The presence of singlet oxygen in biological systems has led to new theories on carcinogenesis. In view of these biological implications, a selective survey has been made of the current literature on singlet oxygen concentrating on the involvement of this species in the aforementioned processes. Examples from the chemical literature are presented which illustrate the scope of singlet oxygen reactions and/or serve as models for biochemical processes.
Agricultural PM10 emissions from cotton field disking in Las Cruces, NM

Abstract Various studies have shown a relationship between elevated levels of inhalable particulate matter (PM) and agricultural practices, especially in the vicinity of agricultural fields. Airborne particle concentrations and meteorological variables were measured during nine agricultural field events on a cotton field in Las Cruces, NM in March 2008. A variety of real-time and integrated PM10 and total suspended particles (TSP) samplers were used during sampling. The field events were designed to measure particle concentrations at different heights, near (4 m) and far (20–100 m) from a disking tractor. Particle concentrations decreased with increasing distance from the ground for near-source disking events, whereas particle concentrations were almost independent of height for background events. Near-source disking event particle concentrations were 4–7 times higher than those for far-source disking and background events. Near-source disking events had PM10 emission factors ranging from 78 to 239 mg m−2, while those for far-source disking events ranged from 8 to 89 mg m−2. PM10 plume heights for near-source disking events were between 4 and 5.7 m, whereas those for far-source disking events were between 12 and 15 m. Meteorological variables were found to influence emission factors, with wind speed showing a nonlinear relationship with emission factors. No clear relationship was found between soil moisture content and emission factors probably because the range of soil moisture was small. Impactor data indicated 10–40% of the total mass of agricultural PM collected was less than 1 μm in diameter for the clay loam soil type. Vertical PM10 concentration profiles showed maxima at sampling heights between 1 and 2 m above the ground.
Capillary Blocking in Forced Convective Condensation in Horizontal Miniature Channels

Forced convective condensation in miniature channels is investigated numerically. Capillary blocking that occurs due to condensation in a horizontal miniature tube and between parallel plates is simulated by using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method. The effects of vapor inlet velocity, saturation temperature, surface tension, and diameter on effective condensation length, film thickness, and heat transfer coefficient are investigated. The film thickness and the condensation length decrease as the hydraulic diameter or the distance between parallel plates decreases. When the total mass flow rate drops, the condensation length decreases significantly.
Gastric motility in great horned owls (Bubo virginianus).

Abstract 1. 1. The mean amplitude of gastric pressure changes (4·3 mm Hg) was considerably greater than anticipated from previous reports. 2. 2. Three phases in the digestion of a meal were apparent from records of gastric pressure changes. The phases were termed the mechanical digestion phase, chemical digestion phase and pellet formation and egestion phase. Contraction frequency was greatest during the first phase while contraction amplitude was greatest during the third phase. The lengths of the phases varied with the quantity eaten by an owl. 3. 3. The gastroduodenal contraction sequence began in the glandular stomach, then the muscular stomach and lastly the duodenum. In the muscular stomach, contractions began adjacent to the gastric isthmus and proceeded around the circumference of the muscular stomach to the pylorus.
Furnace and cw Ar laser induced solid-phase epitaxial regrowth of SOS films implanted with Si, Si + B, P and P + B ions

Abstract CVD SOS epitaxial films, 0.15–0.65 μm thick, have been implanted with Si or P ions, with or without an additional 10 20 B/cm 3 implant, and recrystallized in the solid phase by means of furnace annealing (FA) or cw Ar laser irradiation (LI). The films have been analyzed by MeV He + channelling, SIMS, and surface resistance measurements. Room-temperature implanted films had a 30–40 nm thick surface crystal on top of a buried amorphous layer. FA below 700°C produced good-quality single crystals having significantly reduced defect densities compared with the as-deposited state. Results are given on the influence of the angle of incidence of the ion beam, the implantation and the annealing temperatures, and the initial crystal quality of the Si surface upon the final quality of the regrown layers. After LI, ⩽ 0.2 μ m thick films became single-crystalline, but were more defective than CVD SOS. Films ⩾ 0.4 μ m thick developed a buried polycrystalline layer beneath a surface single-crystal layer of comparable thickness. The additional B implant had no apparent effect on the crystal quality of the thinner layers, while slowing down the epitaxial regrowth of the thicker layers. Implanted and either furnace or laser recrystallized layers contained Al, a small fraction of which was electrically active. The peak Al atomic concentration was ≈10 18 Al/cm 3 at the sapphire interface.
Consultation in Societal Context: Statement of Purpose

This article introduces the new “Consultation in Societal Context” feature of the Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation. First, a description of how this new feature varies from the previous “Diversity in Consultation” column that it is replacing is offered. Second, the rationale behind and the goals for this new feature are provided. Finally, the types of manuscripts desired for this new journal feature are described.
Psychology and epigenetics.

The Human Genome Project mapped the complete DNA sequence that exists in each human cell, but questions remain about how genes are expressed. Epigenetics is defined as mechanisms of gene expression...
Posttraumatic Growth, Meaning in Life, and Life Satisfaction in Response to Trauma

A model of the processes leading to posttraumatic growth and to life satisfaction following exposure to trauma was tested. Two types of repeated thought, deliberate and intrusive, posttraumatic symptoms, posttraumatic growth, and meaning in life, were assessed as predictors of general life satisfaction. Challenges to core beliefs were shown to be related to both intrusive and deliberate rumination. The two forms of rumination were in turn differentially related to posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic distress. Distress and posttraumatic growth were independently and oppositely related to meaning in life and to life satisfaction. Overall, the best fitting model was supportive of proposed posttraumatic growth models. Additional exploratory analyses examined participant groupings, based of self-reported category of resolution of the traumatic experience, and differences supportive of proposed underlying processes were found.
Comparison of methods for extraction of flavanones and xanthones from the root bark of the osage orange tree using liquid chromatography

Abstract This study compares conventional solid–liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and pressurized fluid extraction (PFE) for their efficiency in extracting xanthones and flavanones from the root bark of the osage orange tree (Maclura pomifera). Seven compounds were extracted from the plant material by solvent extraction at room temperature for 48 h. The same compounds were removed from the root bark by 45- and 35-min extractions using SFE and PFE, respectively, and under optimized conditions, in same or higher yields than those obtained by the conventional 48-h solvent extraction. Although all seven compounds were present in the SFE extracts when only CO2 was used as the fluid, the addition of 20 vol.% methanol (MeOH) to the CO2 proved essential for achieving high yields. Use of SFE with CO2–MeOH also led to the recovery of an additional flavanone from a wet sample of root bark. This flavanone is absent from the conventional solvent extracts and appears in small amounts in the PFE extracts. An optimized LC separation for the analysis of the different extracts is presented, and it is demonstrated that the separation of xanthones and flavanones is considerably improved by the use of deactivated C18 columns in conjunction with a mobile phase containing acetonitrile and a weak organic acid.
Water-soluble organometallic catalysts from carbohydrates. 2. A strategy for the preparation of catalysts with pendant quaternary ammonium groups using D-salicin.

A series of water-soluble chelating bis-phosphinite ligands have been prepared from d-salicin (2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl β-d-glucopyranoside). The 4- and 6-hydroxyl groups of salicin were protected as a cyclic ketal. Mitsunobu reaction with phthalimide at the benzylic position was used to install the aminomethyl side-chain in the C1-aromatic substituent. Formation of the bis-2,3-O-diarylphosphinite was accomplished by reaction of the resulting diol with chlorodiarylphosphine. Quaternization with Meerwein's salt (Me3O+ BF4-) followed by reaction with Rh+(COD)2 BF4- gave precatalysts with limited aqueous solubility. Deprotection of the ketal group with acidic resin in methanol gave water-soluble cationic Rh complexes that are competent to carry out highly efficient hydrogenation of acetamidoacrylic acid derivatives in organic, aqueous, or biphasic media. However, enantioselectivities of these reactions in neat aqueous or biphasic media are generally lower than those observed in organic medium.
Work in progress — Mathematics preparation for a modern engineering program

This work in progress report discusses aspects of the modernization of lower and upper division mathematics courses within an electrical and computer engineering curriculum under development. The justifications for reform are presented and a few initiatives for reform are proposed. Mathematics education in engineering curricula has undergone very little progress within the past century, while the field of engineering and the educational demands of the engineering workforce have changed quite significantly. A new approach to mathematics preparation is needed in improving the mathematics courses already present in the curriculum and in the introduction of new courses in terms of usefulness and relevance to engineering education.