cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Genomic Sequence Variability on Quantitative PCR Assays for Diagnosis of Polyomavirus BK Infection

Knowledge of polyomavirus BK (BKV) genomic diversity has greatly expanded. The implications of BKV DNA sequence variation for the performance of molecular diagnostic assays is not well studied. We analyzed 184 publically available VP-1 sequences encompassing the BKV genomic region targeted by an in-house quantitative hydrolysis probe-based PCR assay. A perfect match with the PCR primers and probe was seen in 81 sequences. One Dun and 13 variant prototype oligonucleotides were synthesized as artificial targets to determine how they affected the performance of PCR. The sensitivity of detection of BKV in the PCR assay was a function of the viral genotype. Prototype 1 (BKV Dun) could be reliably detected at concentrations as low as 10 copies/μl. However, consistent detection of all BKV variants was possible only at concentrations of 10,000 copies/μl or higher. For BKV prototypes with 2 or more mismatches (representing genotype IV, genotype II, and genotype 1c strains), the calculated viral loads were 0.57 to 3.26% of the expected values. In conclusion, variant BKV strains lower the sensitivity of detection and may have a substantial effect on quantitation of the viral load. Physicians need to be cognizant of these effects when interpreting the results of quantitative PCR testing in transplant recipients, particularly if there is a discrepancy between the clinical impression and the measured viral load.
Cat phrenic nucleus architecture as revealed by horseradish peroxidase mapping

Cat phrenic motoneurons, labeled by intradiaphragmatic injection of horseradish peroxidase, formed a tight cluster in the most ventral portion of the ventral horn in lamina IX of the lower cervical cord. Cell counts were symmetrically distributed for 17 to 21 mm along the longitudinal axis of the cord with a unimodal peak at the junction of segments C5 and C6. The phrenic nucleus was bilaterally organized on either side of the cord with anatomical symmetry and in no case was there evidence for the crossing of phrenic axons in the cord.
Evidence of relentless reconnections at boundaries of supergranular network lanes in quiet sun and coronal hole

Doppler-shift properties of the solar transition region (TR) and low corona are investigated in relation to the underlying chromospheric supergranular network, with particular regard to the role of the magnetic field. EUV line properties were obtained from a large raster scan of the solar chromosphere, transition region, and corona acquired by the SUMER spectrometer on board SOHO. The observed region includes an equatorial coronal hole, as well as surrounding quiet-Sun areas. The chromospheric supergranular network pattern is enhanced using a filter defined previously by Aiouaz and coworkers applied to a Lyman continuum image. The filtered continuum image and Dopplergrams are used to produce dispersion plots. We find correlations between the chromospheric network, and the N IV (765.15 A), O IV (790.19 A), S V (786.50 A), O V (760.45 A) Doppler shifts in quiet Sun and coronal hole. It is established that the maximum inflow (redshift) at transition region temperatures appears statistically toward the center of the network lanes in the quiet-Sun areas and toward the boundary of the network lanes in the coronal hole. Furthermore, while the strong redshifts in the TR lines complement spatially blueshifts from the low corona (Ne VIII 770.41 A) in a puzzle-like pattern, bidirectional flows (i.e., cospatial strong red- and blueshifts in the TR/Corona) appear predominantly in the coronal hole. The bidirectional flows congregate almost systematically at boundaries of magnetic field concentrations seen in SOHO MDI magnetograms. These results support a coherent interpretation of almost 30 years of unexplained statistical Doppler-shift variations in the transition region and corona for quiet Sun and coronal hole. The proposed scenario involves reconnections between the strong network magnetic field and continuously advected weak field from the supergranular cell interior.
The Spiritual Implications of Interpersonal Abuse: Speaking of the Soul

A holistic view of the person includes body, mind and spirit, or soul. The purpose of this paper is to explore the concepts of “soul” and “radical evil” within a conversation about destructive interpersonal abuse. Most religions and spiritual disciplines understand the human person, especially the human soul, as sacred. When the perpetrator, propelled by his own internal alienation, desecrates the soul of his victim through relational sexual abuse, the victim often experiences herself as a no-person. Her ongoing sense of identity is fragmented, her capacity for spiritual experience, for imagination, creativity, relatedness are deeply wounded. With the help of information from the field of neuroscience, as well as other theological perspectives, some pathways for healing of the soul are discussed.
A new embedding of quantum electrodynamics in a non-abelian gauge structure

Abstract Motivated by a study of the Dirac equation in quaternionic quantum mechanics, I propose a novel embedding of quantum electrodynamics in an SU(2) non-abelian gauge structure. The construction eliminates the Dirac sea, and implies charge quantization with integer charges. Because of Witten's global SU(2) anomaly, the SU(2)-extended electrodynamics can only appear as a subsector of a larger gauge structure.
Measuring Health Status: Self-, Interviewer, and Physician Reports of Overall Health

Objective: This study examines and compares respondent, interviewer, and physician ratings of overall health. Method: Data are from the 2006 Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study, a nati...
Effects of free Ca2+ on the [Ca2+ + Mg2+]-dependent adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) of Alzheimer and normal fibroblasts.

Abstract Differences between Alzheimer and control fibroblasts [Ca2+ + Mg2+]-dependent ATPase activity at free Ca2+ concentration considerably higher than physiologic concentrations were observed. At 50 μM free Ca2+, Alzheimer and control fibroblast homogenates exhibited maximum velocity values ranging from 8 to 25 nmoles phosphate released/min/mg protein. Higher free Ca2+ (350 μM) inhibited control fibroblast ATPase activity approximately 77%; whereas, Alzheimer fibroblasts retained greater than 75% starting activity. Although the pathophysiological significance of these findings is at present unclear, these data suggest the Ca2+ pump of Alzheimer fibroblasts behaves differently in the presence of high free Ca2+. Such behavior may be of potential diagnostic value.
A wave model of temporal sequence learning

Models of circuit action in the mammalian hippocampus have led us to a study of habituation circuits. In order to help model the process of habituation we consider here a memory network designed to learn sequences of inputs separated by various time intervals and to repeat these sequences when cued by their initial fragments. The structure of our model is based on the anatomy of the dentate gyrus region of the mammalian hippocampus, though our basic circuit theme is not unique to the hippocampus. Our model consists of a number of arrays of cells called lamellae. Each array consists of four lines of neuromimes coupled uniformly to neighbors within the array and with some randomness to neuromimes in other lamellae. All neuromimes operate according to first-order differential equations. Two of the neuromime lines in each lamella are coupled such that sufficient excitation by a system input generates a wave of activity that moves slowly along the lines away from the point of excitation. Such waves effect dynamic storage of the representation of each input, enabling association with the next input's representation via connections between lamellae. When an input is again presented to the memory, waves are excited which move through the system as before to generate the next input's representation after the proper time interval. The system thus implements a process of associative chaining. The memory circuit can be developed to allow further decisionary circuitry to react to any changes in the timing of regularly repeated inputs.
Late Holocene chronology, origin, and evolution of the St. Bernard Shoals, Northern Gulf of Mexico, USA

Several shore-parallel marine sand bodies lie on the Louisiana continental shelf. They are Trinity Shoal, Ship Shoal, Outer Shoal, and the St. Bernard Shoals. These shoals mark the submerged positions of ancient shorelines associated with abandoned deltas. Three of these shoals are single elongate deposits. The fourth shoal, the St. Bernard Shoals, consists of a group of discrete sand bodies ranging in size from 44 to 0.05 km2, 25 km southeast of the Chandeleur Islands in 15–18 m of water. The St. Bernard Shoals are stratigraphically above the St. Bernard delta complex, which was active 2,500–1,800 years b.p. Understanding the evolution of the St. Bernard Shoals is necessary to reconstruct the Holocene chronology of the St. Bernard delta complex and the eastern Louisiana continental shelf. For this study, 47 vibracores and 400 km of shallow seismic reflection data collected in 1987 across the Louisiana shelf were analyzed. In June 2008, 384 km of higher-resolution seismic reflection data were acquired across the study area and appended to the preexisting datasets. Vibracores were integrated with seismic profiles to identify facies and their regional distribution. Our results demonstrate that the deltaic package stratigraphically below the St. Bernard Shoals is chronologically younger than the northern distributaries, but derived from the same trunk distributary channel (Bayou la Loutre). The river eventually bypassed the northern distributaries, and began to deposit sediment further onto the continental shelf. After abandonment, the overextended delta lobe was rapidly transgressed, creating a transgressive shoreline that eventually coalesced with earlier shorelines in the region to form the Chandeleur Islands. The St. Bernard Shoals formed by the reworking of the relict distributary deposits exposed on the inner to mid shelf during and subsequent to shoreface ravinement.
Teleseismic P‐wave image of crust and upper mantle structure beneath the Valles Caldera, New Mexico: Initial Results from the 1993 JTEX Passive Array

Teleseismic P-wave relative arrival-time data, collected from a temporary array during the 1993 Jemez Tomography Experiment (JTEX), have been inverted to image velocity anomalies beneath the Valles caldera in northern New Mexico. Instruments were deployed in two 30-km-long profiles, one of 8 and one of 9 stations. These profiles crossed the caldera trending at azimuths of N46°W and N60°E, respectively. Two-dimensional teleseismic relative arrival time inversion of the 1993 data set, supplemented with data from an overlapping 1987 profile, confirms the existence of a mid-crustal low velocity region (-30%) beneath the Valles caldera in the depth range of 8 to 13 km (below sea level), with about a 6 km horizontal extent. This feature is interpreted to be the seismic expression of the remnant magma chamber. A shallow low velocity anomaly beneath San Antonio Mountain coincides with the region of highest thermal gradient values in the caldera. A lower crust/upper mantle low velocity anomaly is imaged but is not as well constrained due to the limited length of the profile. We tentatively correlate this anomaly with the thermal effects of basaltic magmas ponded at the crust-mantle boundary.
Kerr-induced phase noise in quantum parity gates

Quantum parity gates that use weak nonlinearity between single photons and intense coherent pulses are analyzed using a continuous-time model for cross-phase modulation. An inevitable phase noise is shown to degrade gate fidelity.
Development and validation of a measure of Critical Stance for instructional coaching

Abstract This study presents supporting correlational evidence of inter-rater reliability and validity for a new scale called Critical Stance, which translates critical pedagogy into measurable teacher actions for instructional coaching. Then using a quasi-experimental design ( N = 36), this study examines the effects of an instructional coaching model called the Six Standards , defined by Critical Stance and five other sociocultural principles of learning. Coached teachers demonstrated statistically significant growth in use of the Six Standards in comparison to a control group. Critical Stance , however, was the most difficult standard for teachers to implement. Implications for increasing teacher use of critical pedagogy are addressed.
Techniques for improving resolver-to-digital conversion accuracy

Several methods for reducing the position error caused by the existence of imperfect resolver signal characteristics are introduced. The most straightforward method is simply to calibrate each resolver and resolver-to-digital (R/D) converter and then correct the R/D converter output in real time. Although this method corrects all errors, including those with an origin in the R/D converter, it is also the most time-consuming and labor-intensive. By appropriate signal processing, it is shown that quadrature error can be eliminated by simple algebraic manipulation of the resolver signals. Similarly, it is shown that all even harmonics in the resolver signals can be canceled if the resolver is constructed with complementary phases. It is shown that amplitude imbalance can be used to reduce the position error due to inductive harmonics. >
Passage of Spawning Alabama Shad at Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam, Apalachicola River, Florida

Abstract In 2005, a pilot study was initiated to evaluate the potential use of the navigation lock at Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam (JWLD), Florida, as a means for fish passage. The focal species was the Alabama shad Alosa alabamae. The Apalachicola River population is one of the last-remaining, extant self-sustaining populations, estimated adult spawning returns ranging from lows of 5,211 to 14,674 individuals in 2007 to highs of 51,417 to 127,251 individuals in 2010. We estimated the passage of migrating Alabama shad during spawning migrations during March–May 2005, 2007, 2010, and 2011. During 2005, 23 of 36 Alabama shad that were implanted with transmitters successfully passed from the lock into the reservoir 1–7 d after release, for a passage rate of 64% (95% CI = 48–80%). Advancing on the promising results from 2005, voluntary passage was evaluated during spring 2007, 2010, and 2011. During these years, 63–100% of implanted shad were relocated at the lock at least once, and voluntary passage ranged from...
Field evaluation of a mechanical topdresser for solid wastes

An applicator for topdressing (or sidedressing) row crops with solid waste materials was evaluated. The apparatus can meter and deliver animal manures and other raw solid waste materials between rows of a growing crop without the material contacting the crop. Results from a 3-year field study clearly indicate that new poultry litter management strategies, using this litter topdressing equipment and improved soil and plant nitrogen tests, should improve the agronomic and environmental efficiency of maize (corn) Zea mays L. production in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA. Economically optimum yields were obtained with starter fertilisers and moderate topdress N rates, and poultry litter as a topdress material was found to be as effective as topdressing with a commercial fertiliser. Comparison of total application costs revealed that topdressing with poultry litter is about US $10 ha−1 more expensive than conventional methods, which can be attributed to the lower concentrations of N in poultry litter, requiring significantly more applications and greater operator time per hectare.
Cardiovascular, metabolic and neurologic effects of acute carbon monoxide poisoning in the rat.

Abstract Acute severe carbon monoxide poisoning was investigated in a modified Levine preparation. The rats inhaled 2700 p.p.m. CO for 90 min (COHb = 80%). Body temperature, heart rate and carotid systemic and ‘stump’ blood pressure declined sharply during CO exposure. By 2 and 4 h post-CO, body temperature and blood pressure had not renormalized, while heart rate was elevated. Blood glucose was unchanged at termination of CO exposure, but increased from 115 mg/dl to 191 mg/dl by 2 h post-CO. Hematocrit increased significantly during CO exposure, but no change in plasma volume was observed. Many rats showed one-sided muscle weakness and unidirectional rotation. By 4 h post-CO, behaviorally-assessed neurologic deficit was strongly correlated with an increase in left cerebral hemisphere water content, demonstrating a direct relationship between brain edema and dysfunction resulting from CO poisoning.
Final size distribution for epidemics

Abstract For many diseases, the infectiousness of an individual depends upon the time elapsed since his own infection. This feature greatly complicates the analysis of the spread of infection within a population. Here it is shown that this dependence upon elapsed time can be ignored, if attention is restricted to the distribution of the final sizes of epidemics. For every epidemic, there is a corresponding Markov chain which has the same final size distribution. Such Markov chains are constructed (a) for models where there are several types of infectives, but only one type of susceptible individual, and (b) if there are several types of susceptibles, but only one infective type. Some qualitative differences between these models are illustrated.
Wave lab testing of a two-body autonomous wave energy converter

Wave Energy Converter (WEC) design strives to produce as much power as possible across differing wave conditions. It is especially true for an autonomous WEC (AWEC) used, for example, to power an ocean buoy sensing system, because they are smaller and they need to maximize the amount of power produced under low-energy wave energy conditions. An AWEC is a wave energy device that is not tied to a land-based electric utility. This paper describes the testing results and conclusions from actual wave lab testing of a WEC intended for autonomous applications. The results are compared to previous WEC hydrodynamic finite element analysis (FEA) that used integrated optimal control with both monochromatic and spectral waves. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the power absorption capability of the AWEC when the wave source is a monochromatic wave versus richer frequency spectral waves.
MR imaging of subscapularis tendon injury in the setting of anterior shoulder dislocation.

To evaluate the degree and location patterns of subscapularis tendon injury in patients with prior anterior shoulder dislocation (ASD). Forty-five consecutive MR shoulder examinations in patients with a history of ASD and 20 consecutive MR examinations in patients without prior dislocation were reviewed. Two readers assessed for the presence and location of tendinosis and tearing in the subscapularis tendon, which was divided into three segments: superior, middle, and inferior. The readers also documented the presence of anterior labral tears, osseous Bankart defects and Hill–Sachs lesions. Fisher’s exact tests were performed to analyze the different types of pathology and their locations. Subscapularis tendinosis, and partial thickness and full thickness tears were more common in patients with a history of ASD. Tendinosis was found in 60-64.4% of the dislocation patients compared with 40% of the non-dislocation group. When stratified by location, the middle and inferior thirds were the most commonly affected with statistical significance (p < 0.05) found in tearing of the inferior third. Anterior labral tears, osseous Bankart defects, and Hill–Sachs lesions were more common in the dislocation group with statistically significant associations with tendinosis in the middle and inferior thirds and tearing of the middle third (p < 0.05). Our study suggests an association between middle and inferior subscapularis tendon pathology and prior anterior shoulder dislocation. Based on our results, careful MR assessment of the subscapularis tendon by the radiologist is indicated in the setting of ASD as injury of this structure can be symptomatic and may be amenable to treatment.
Supercapacitors based on nanostructured carbon

Abstract This paper reviews carbon-based nanostructured materials as electrodes in electrochemical capacitors and distinguishes the carbon-based electrode materials according to their primary applications. They are broadly discussed and categorized into three groups based on their specified energy storage device applications: (1) industrial and stationary applications, (2) automotive and transportation applications, and (3) portable and personal electronics applications. Different carbon-based nanostructured electrodes were discussed from different perspectives, such as energy density, power density, reliability, safety, and cost. The basic principles, characteristics, various performance, and features of the supercapacitors to meet the requirements of different applications were analyzed. The future trend of electrochemical capacitors was discussed.
Moisture Sensitivity of Modified Asphalt Binders: Factors Influencing Bond Strength

Bond strength is a critical parameter in evaluating a binder's ability to resist moisture-induced damage. The influence of polymer modification, moisture conditioning, and long-term aging on the bond strength of asphalt binders was measured by means of the modified pull-off test method previously developed to evaluate moisture sensitivity of asphalt binders using the pneumatic adhesion tensile testing instrument (PATTI). The pull-off test is able to distinguish between binders with the same performance grade but different chemical properties due to modification. However, the exact effect of modification on bond strength cannot be determined without consideration of the binder's physical properties. Moisture conditioning was the most influential factor on bond strength. Long-term laboratory aging increased cohesive strength of asphalt binders. However, aging combined with moisture conditioning decreased adhesive strength of binders. Comparisons of binder resistance to permanent deformation with pull-off te...
URBANIZATION IS AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR OF BLOOD PRESSURE IN A SOUTH ASIAN POPULATION

Rapid urbanization is driving the economies of most South Asian countries. Here we use distance to urban center (UC) as a measure of the impact of urbanization on blood pressure (BP) in a population based study in South India. The cross-sectional analysis was of 8080 people (mean age 41 years; 56%
Static verification of ptolemyrely programs using openJML

In the PtolemyRely language event types define events that, when announced, trigger the execution of handlers, passing along the triggering piece of code for its eventual execution.Verification of PtolemyRely programs poses some particular challenges: (1) handlers must be verified against their corresponding event declaration, (2) event announcement and next-handler invocation must be reasoned about according to PtolemyRely's semantics, (3) the body of refining statements must be checked against their specifications, etc. The original Ptolemy compiler includes run-time assertion checking for dynamic verification, but there has been no static verification tool.In this paper we address the challenge of static verification of PtolemyRely programs by encoding them into JML (the Java Modelling Language) and using a JML static verification tool (OpenJML) to discharge the verification obligations. We argue informally that our encoding is sound in the sense that a PtolemyRely program is valid if and only if its encoding is a valid JML program.
Gender and Socioeconomic Status Differences in Middle-School Computer Interest and Use

Studies of educational computing have reported both gender and socioeconomic status (SES) differences in access to microcomputers and for their use in schools. Gender differences are usually related to student-oriented, motivational concerns, while SES differences in educational uses of the computer generally reflect institutional issues, such as the number and types of computers available and school-related uses of the machines. This survey measured computer interest and use for high- and low-SES middle-school students and examined motivational processes predicted to affect these outcomes. The results showed that there were both gender and SES differences for the outcome variables and for the processes predicted to affect them. Gender differences, however, were mediated by SES level of the students. The findings suggest that it may be important to consider gender and SES together when attempting to understand their effects on computer interest and use.
Brentuximab vedotin in systemic T-cell lymphoma.

Introduction: Brentuximab vedotin is an antibody–drug conjugate which consists of the anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody cAC10 conjugated with the cytotoxic agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). Brentuximab vedotin has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). The efficacy of brentuximab vedotin in other CD30+ lymphomas is currently being investigated. Areas covered: In this paper, we review the currently available treatment options for systemic peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) and the role of brentuximab vedotin in relapsed or refractory ALCL. In addition, ongoing clinical trial of brentuximab vedotin in relapsed PTCL and combination therapy with other chemotherapies for initial treatment of CD30 lymphoma will also be reviewed. Expert opinion: Brentuximab vedotin has established its role in the treatment of relapsed or refractory HL and ALCL. In the next few years, the efficacy of this a...
Trends in the Management of Cutaneous Fungal Infections

The modern antimycotic era began with the introduction of griseofulvin in the 1950's, which had a tremendous impact on the management of dermatophytoses. Subsequent advances in therapy have lowered our threshold to treat recalcitrant cutaneous mycoses, such as onychomycosls. Newer generation antifungals including the triazoles, itraconazole and fluconazole, as well as the allylamine, terbinafine, may significantly reduce the prevalence of onychomycosis, as fungal nails are no longer incurable. The AIDS epidemic has been associated with an increase in the number of cutaneous and systemic mycotic infections. In spite of recent advances, organisms recalcitrant or resistant to therapy are common. Newer antifungal agents, improved diagnostic techniques, and standardization of fungal susceptibility testing are required to adequately treat patients with systemic and cutaneous mycoses.
Localization of NADPH oxidase in sympathetic and sensory ganglion neurons and perivascular nerve fibers

Superoxide anion (O(2)(-*)) production was previously reported to be increased in celiac ganglia (CG) during DOCA-salt hypertension, possibly via activation of the reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase. This suggested a role for neuronal NADPH oxidase in autonomic neurovascular control. However, the expression and localization of NADPH oxidase in the peripheral neurons are not fully known. The purpose of this study was to examine the subcellular localization of NADPH oxidase in sympathetic and sensory ganglion neurons and perivascular nerve fibers. In rat CG, p22(phox) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were colocalized in all neurons. P22(phox) was also localized to dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons that contain calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP). In mesenteric arteries, p22(phox) and p47(phox) were colocalized with NPY or CGRP in perivascular nerve terminals. A similar pattern of nerve terminal staining of p22(phox) and p47(phox) was also found in cultured CG neurons and nerve growth factor (NGF)-differentiated PC12 cells. These data demonstrate a previously uncharacterized localization of NADPH oxidase in perivascular nerve fibers. The presence of a O(2)(-*)-generating enzyme in close vicinity to the sites of neurotransmitter handling in the nerve fibers suggests the possibility of novel redox-mediated mechanisms in peripheral neurovascular control.
Transferable Step Potentials for the Straight-Chain Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes, Ethers, and Alcohols

Discontinuous molecular dynamics simulation and thermodynamic perturbation theory have been used to study thermodynamic and transport properties for hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds. The fundamental basis of the method relies on a stepwise characterization of the disperse interactions and Wertheim potentials for the hydrogen bonding. The study on the transferable step potential energies, which are used to correlate the physical properties, the vapor pressure and liquid density, from available experimental data in the literature for straight-chain alkanes is extended to straight-chain alkenes, alkynes, ethers, and alcohols. The transferable multistep potentials for the new training set of pseudo-atoms governed by two transferable square-well depths and diameters are introduced, being transferable for the selected model compounds in each family. Those transferable parameters are applied to a set of validation compounds, and the results are analyzed. Overall, the vapor pressures and liquid densities are...
Early somatosensory potentials evoked by median nerve stimulation: intraoperative monitoring.

we identified the sites of origin of the somatosensory evoked potentials to median nerve stimulation by recording directly from the cervical cord in the course of intraoperative monitoring. The N9 potential occurred before any potentials recorded from the cord or dorsal roots. Potentials with latencies corresponding to N11 were recorded at the median nerve root entry zone of the lower cervical cord. High-amplitude potentials were recorded at the level of the foramen magnum, with latencies approximating or following P13, suggesting that this potential is generated at the cervicomedullary junction.
Using Acoustics to Study and Stimulate the Coalescence of Oil Drops Surrounded by Water

Abstract The coalescence of oil drops in water is studied using acoustic levitation and stimulated with acoustic cavitation. Unlike most earlier studies, which investigate the coalescence of a single drop with an initially plannar interface, the use of acoustic radiation forces allows two drops to be brought into contact and allowed to coalesce. This acoustic technique has the advantage over other drop-drop coalescence systems in that the drops remain in contact until they coalesce without the use of solid supports to control them. Additionally, acoustic cavitation is observed to deposit sufficient energy in the oil-water interface to trigger the coalescence of a pair of 2-mm-diameter drops. This stimulation mechanism could have application to emulsion breaking. Some of the factors that affect spontaneous and stimulated coalescence are investigated.
Tree rings and 'El Ano del Hambre' in Mexico.

Abstract Mexico has a wealth of historical information regarding extreme climate, famine and disease in the colonial period and even in prehispanic times. The recent development of long tree-ring chronologies throughout Mexico now allows comparison between records of past climate and socioeconomic conditions. North American tree-ring data indicate that, for the 3 consecutive years from 1785 to 1787, a major drought occurred across Mexico and the central United States with the most intense conditions extending north from Zacatecas into Texas. This period included the infamous ‘El Ano del Hambre,’ one of greatest famines in Mexican history. The tree-ring data are also correlated with maize yield in central Mexico and with the value of Church tithes normally paid with agricultural goods. Drought and crop failure caused the dramatic inflation of crop value and Church tithes in 1786–1787 when tree-ring data indicate that the 1780s drought was most extreme.
044 Up-Regulated p38, PCNA, and Decreased Smooth Muscle Actin in Cyclophilin C-Associated Protein Null Mice During Skin Wound Healing

Introduction: Cyclophilin C-associated protein (CyC-AP) expression is up-regulated during wound healing. CyC-AP deletion causes greater expression of TNFα, MMP-3, MMP-13, and MMP-14 during cutaneous repair. Furthermore, CyC-AP is a mediator for fibronectin-fragment induced MMP-13 expression. In order to understand the effects of the deletion of CyC-AP at the cellular level, we investigated the intracellular signal transduction pathways of CyC-AP null and wild-type mice during skin wound healing. Methods: Two-month-old CyC-AP null or wild-type mice were anesthetized and two 0.6 cm diameter excisional skin wounds were made on the dorsum of each mouse. Wounds were collected up to 10 days after injury. Total protein was purified from each wound and the protein expression of TNFα converting enzyme (TACE), integrin beta 1, ERK 1, ERK 2, p38, PCNA, and smooth muscle actin (sm-actin) was analyzed by immunoblot. Results: TNFα expression was higher in CyC-AP null mice in unwounded skin. However, the elevated TNFα in CyC-AP null wounds was lower compared to the wild-type mice. To further understand the relationship of CyC-AP and TNFα, TACE expression was examined. TACE expression was less in the skin of CyC-AP null mice compared to wild-type mice. Expression of p38 and PCNA increased while sm-actin decreased in both unwounded and wounded CyC-AP null skin compared to wild type. PCNA expression in CyC-AP null fibroblasts was also higher compared to wild type, supporting our in vivo observations. In addition, the expression of integrin beta 1 was lower during wound healing. Conclusion: The increased PCNA and decreased sm-actin expression suggests that CyC-AP null fibroblasts have higher proliferation and lower differentiation rates compared to wild types. These effects might be regulated through the p38 signaling pathway, which was increased in CyC-AP null mice. The decreased TACE expression in CyC-AP null skin suggests CyC-AP may also regulate TACE via the altered expression of integrin beta 1. Our data suggest CyC-AP is involved in TNFα activation.
Our Hero: Superman on Earth TomDe Haven. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2010.

Our Hero: Superman on Earth Tom De Haven. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2010. Tom De Haven is no stranger to Superman. After authoring the novel It's Superman! (2005), De Haven notes that while an avid fan, he became a mediaappointed expert on all things related to the Man of Steel when Bryan Singer's film Superman Returns (2006) was preparing for its theatrical release and various media outlets sought his insight into the enduring popularity of the Superman and importance in American culture more than seventy years after his inception. It is with this premise that De Haven starts Our Hero: Superman on Earth. This book-length essay on Superman is an entry in Yale University Press' Icons of America book series that ranges in topics from Joe DiMaggio to the hamburger. Throughout the book's various chapters, De Haven recounts the history of Superman in two forms: the evolution of Superman as a cultural icon (as well as a commodity worth billions of dollars) and the stories of the various men behind the Superman juggernaut. When Superman debuted on the cover of the first issue of Action Comics in 1938, smashing a car he had hoisted over his head against a boulder, no one could have imagined the heights of popularity the character would reach. De Haven chronicles the ascension of Superman from a character that initially could not find a home in newspaper comic strips to his birth as the first comic book superhero (subsequently making way for the countless number of super heroes known today) to his complete infiltration of popular culture, thanks to a cavalcade of merchandizing and numerous transitions from comic books to other forms of media including radio, animation, television, feature films, and even a musical (It's a Bird. ..It's a Plane. ..It's Superman). In addition to covering Superman's meteoric rise in popularity and various media incarnations, De Haven also recounts the various changes to the Superman mythos since his introduction. While initially conceived as a Depression-era crusader against social injustice with only a handful of superpowers (initially he could not fly, but only leap great distances) and a sparse backstory, over the years, Superman has seen fluctuations in the amount and intensity of his powers, his stories aimed more at children, and a fleshed out history and supporting cast (De Haven devotes most of his attention to the roles of Superman's arch nemesis, Lex Luthor and his longtime love interest, Lois Lane). Not only does De Haven provide a thorough account of the Superman property but also a history of the men behind Superman. …
Beryllium as an acceptor in silicon.

Electronic properties of beryllium doped silicon studied with IR absorption spectroscopy and electrical measurements, describing Be thermal diffusion
Learning optimality-theoretic grammars☆

We present evidence that Optimality Theory's account of Universal Grammar has manifold implications for learning. The general principles of Optimality Theory (OT; Prince and Smolensky, 1993) are reviewed and illustrated with Grimshaw and Samek-Lodovici's (1995) OT theory of clausal subjects. The optimization structure OT provides grammar is used to derive a principled decomposition of the learning problem into the problem of assigning hidden structure to primary learning data and the problem of learning the grammar governing that hidden structure. Methods are proposed for analyzing both sub-problems, and their combination is illustrated for the problem of learning a stress system from data lacking metrical constituent boundaries. We present general theorems showing that the proposed solution to the grammar learning sub-problem exploits the special structure imposed by OT on the space of human grammars to correctly and efficiently home in on a target grammar.
Breeding biologies, seed production and species-rich bee guilds of Cleome lutea and Cleome serrulata (Cleomaceae)

The summer-blooming annual forbs Cleome lutea and Cleome serrulata (Cleomaceae) are native across the US Intermountain West and Rocky Mountains, respectively. Their farmed seed is sought to help rehabilitate western rangelands in those regions. This study of the reproductive biologies and pollinator faunas of C. lutea and C. serrulata is the first for this cosmopolitan family, the sister family to the Brassicaceae. Unlike the S-allele self-incompatibility systems of some Brassicaceae, both species of Cleome were found to be self-fertile and capable of some autogamy. Compared with selfing, outcrossing did not enhance seed set, seed viability or seedling vigor for either species (in fact, selfed progeny were more robust). Large, openly visited plants yielded >20 000 seeds each. Like several species of the sister family Capparaceae, flowers of both species first shed their pollen, secreted nectar and became receptive nocturnally. Although no nocturnal visitors were found, both Cleome species attracted a diverse array of diurnal native bees, wasps and butterflies. Among the many floral generalist bees that work Cleome flowers for pollen and nectar are two managed agricultural pollinators, Apis mellifera and Megachile rotundata. These observations bode well for pollinating C. lutea and C. serrulata in small commercial seed fields. It appears that diverse wild bees would benefit from the addition of native Cleome to restoration seed mixes, with the objective of sustaining native pollinator faunas during the first few years of postfire plant community rehabilitation.
Supplier Audits as Part of a Supplier Partnership

Where material and component suppliers are regarded as partners in the activity of satisfying customers, the adversarial approach to supplier auditing is not appropriate. Describes a method of supplier auditing, based on the ISO 9000 standard but aiming to resolve problems jointly. In this method, all aspects of the supplier’s business process, from receiving and reviewing and order, through manufacture to delivery, are reviewed by the auditor to ensure that they meet minimum acceptable standards and to identify opportunities to improve. The auditor acts as a fresh pair of eyes in reviewing the management system. This method aims to identify opportunities for improvement in the customer‐supplier relationship which will improve quality, delivery and service and has been used successfully by the author’s company for several years.
Channel open time of acetylcholine receptors on Xenopus muscle cells in dissociated cell culture.

The kinetics of acetylcholine (ACh) receptor channels on cultured myotomal muscle cells from Xenopus embryos were studied by analyzing focally recorded membrane currents. The mean open time for receptor channels on embryonic muscle cells grown in dissociated cell cultures showed a time-dependent decrease similar to that seen in vivo. The changes in power density spectra are consistent with the hypothesis that the decrease results from the appearance of a class of ACh receptor with a short mean channel open time (0.7 msec) and a decrease in the proportion of receptors with a long mean channel open time (3 msec). The addition of dissociated neural tube cells to muscle cell cultures resulted in an unexpected increase in mean channel open time for ACh receptors in both synaptic and nonsynaptic regions. These studies demonstrate that ACh receptor function may be altered in cultured muscle cells.
Service-Bonded Inquiry Revisited: A Research Model for the Community-Engaged Professor

The intent of this article is to inform readers about ways in which scholarly inquiry can be expanded. An overview and a refinement of a research approach called service-bonded inquiry are provided. Service-bonded inquiry is a response to the call for changing the way research is interpreted, conducted, and evaluated. At the heart of this approach is the integration of service and scholarship. Service-bonded inquiry attempts to equip community-engaged professors with a framework for answering the many questions generated from working in school and service programs and engaging in the lives of kids. First, a description of service-bonded inquiry is given along with the required steps for doing this type of research. Next, an example of a study that applies the concepts of service-bonded inquiry is provided. Finally, ways that by-products of service-bonded inquiry can be evaluated are suggested.
On-demand transmission of 3D models over lossy networks

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) meshes are used intensively in distributed graphics applications where model data are transmitted on demand to users’ terminals and rendered for interactive manipulation. For real-time rendering and high-resolution visualization, the transmission system should adapt to both data properties and transport link characteristics while providing scalability to accommodate terminals with disparate rendering capabilities. This paper presents a transmission system using hybrid unequal-error-protection and selective-retransmission for 3D meshes which are encoded with multi-resolutions. Based on the distortion-rate performance of the 3D data, the end-to-end channel statistics and the network parameters, transmission policies that maximize the service quality for a client-specific constraint is determined with linear computation complexity. A TCP-friendly protocol is utilized to further provide performance stability over time as well as bandwidth fairness for parallel flows in the network. Simulation results show the efficacy of the proposed transmission system in reducing transmission latency and providing smooth performance for interactive applications. For example, for a fixed rendering quality, the proposed system achieves 20–30% reduction in transmission latency compared to the system based on 3TP, which is a recently presented 3D application protocol using hybrid TCP and UDP.
HIV Infection after Needlesticks

To the Editors: There has been widespread acceptance of offering zidovudine prophylaxis to medical staff who have had needlestick exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (1). We feel tha...
Living in Religious Time and Space: Iraqi Refugees in Dearborn, Michigan

Mental health assessments of refugees during and after conflict have relied heavily on Western psychiatric constructs and standardized scales, despite the overwhelmingly non-Western backgrounds of most survivors of contemporary wars. A strict dependence on the paradigms and language of Western psychiatry risks inappropriately prioritizing syndromes, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, which, however important, are eclipsed by the concerns of local populations for whom indigenous idioms of distress may be more salient. Working in Dearborn, Michigan, home to the largest population of Iraqi refugees in the United States, 60 Iraqi refugee life stories were collected and analysed. These narratives provided rich data regarding the centrality of faith to the constructs of Iraqi identity, home, and future in the wake of political violence and exile. For these refugees, the description of the dislocation that results from uprooting is replaced by an alternative home that transcends time and space.
Electron arc irradiation of the postmastectomy chest wall: clinical results

Abstract Background and purpose : Since 1980 electron arc irradiation of the postmastectomy chest wall has been the preferred technique for patients with advanced breast cancer at our institution. Here we report the results of this technique in 140 consecutive patients treated from 1980 to 1993. Materials and Methods : Thoracic computerized tomography was used to determine internal mammary lymph node depth and chest wall thickness, and for computerized dosimetry calculations. Total doses of 45–50 Gy in 5 to 5 12 weeks were delivered to the chest wall and internal mammary lymph nodes via electron arc and, in most cases, supraclavicular and axillary nodes were treated with a matching photon field. Patients were assessed for acute and late radiation changes, local and distant control of disease, and survival. Patients had a minimum follow-up of 1 year after completion of radiation treatment, and a mean follow up interval of 49 months and a median of 33 months. All patients had advanced disease: T stages 1, 2, 3, and 4 represented 21%, 39%, 21% and 19% of the study population, with a mean number of positive axillary lymph nodes of 6.5 (range, 0–29). Analysis was performed according to adjuvant status (no residual disease, n = 90), residual disease (positive margin, n = 15, and primary radiation, n = 2), or recurrent disease ( n = 33). Results : Acute radiation reactions were generally mild and self limiting. A total of 26% of patients developed moist desquamation, and 32% had brisk erythema. Actuarial 5 year local-regional control, freedom from distant failure, and cause-specific survival was 91%, 64%, and 75% in the adjuvant group; 84%, 50%, and 53% in the residual disease group; and 63%, 34%, and 32% in the recurrent disease group, respectively. In univariate Cox regressions, the number of positive lymph nodes was predictive for local failure in the adjuvant group ( P = 0.037). Chronic complications were minimal with 11% of patients having arm edema, 17% hyperpigmentation, and 13% telangectasia formation. Conclusion : These data demonstrate that local-regional control with electron arc therapy of the postmastectomy chest wall is comparable to photon techniques. Acute radiation reactions are well tolerated and mostly of minor extent. A previous report demonstrated a significant reduction in the dose-volume relationship of the lung using the electron arc compared with two photon techniques. Consequently, with careful attention to treatment planning and dosimetry, electron arc therapy of the postmastectomy chest wall is safe and effective. The radiation dose to heart and lung is minimized without compromise on local control.