cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A limited and diverse set of suppressor mutations restore function to inx-8 mutant hemichannels in the caenorhabditis elegans somatic gonad

In Caenorhabditis elegans, gap junctions couple cells of the somatic gonad with the germline to support germ cell proliferation and gametogenesis. A strong loss-of-function mutation (T239I) affects the second extracellular loop (EL2) of the somatic INX-8 hemichannel subunit. These mutant hemichannels form non-functional gap junctions with germline-expressed innexins. We conducted a genetic screen for suppressor mutations that restore germ cell proliferation in the T239I mutant background and isolated seven intragenic mutations, located in diverse domains of INX-8 but not the EL domains. These second-site mutations compensate for the original channel defect to varying degrees, from nearly complete wild-type rescue, to partial rescue of germline proliferation. One suppressor mutation (E350K) supports the innexin cryo-EM structural model that the channel pore opening is surrounded by a cytoplasmic dome. Two suppressor mutations (S9L and I36N) may form leaky channels that support germline proliferation but cause the demise of somatic sheath cells. Phenotypic analyses of three of the suppressors reveal an equivalency in the rescue of germline proliferation and comparable delays in gametogenesis but a graded rescue of fertility. The mutations described here may be useful for elucidating the biochemical pathways that produce the active biomolecules transiting through soma–germline gap junctions.
An Evaluation of "Balance": a Home-Based, Parent-Implemented Program Addressing Emerging Problem Behavior.

Programs that prevent the development of severe problem behavior in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are critically needed. We describe a program designed to do this, and we report on a preliminary evaluation of its effects with four 3- and 4-year-old children with ASD. Parents served as the primary implementers, with twice-weekly coaching from a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Direct measures and Aberrant Behavior Checklist scores reflected decreases in emerging problem behavior. Direct measures also reflected increases in child communication, social, and cooperation skills, and parents rated the process as highly acceptable. A randomized controlled trial will be required to evaluate the extent to which the program prevents the development of problem behavior in young children with ASD.
Darkness Visible: The Contingency of Critique

Rooney’s analysis begins with the observation that surprise is one consistently cited value of the turn to postcritique in contemporary literary studies. On the postcritical account, critique is a grimly predictable indictment of literature and culture more broadly. Critique is not only suspicious, but we know its dogmatic postures too well: it is incapable of and even hostile toward surprise. Rooney’s argument takes the (almost) diametrically opposed view. She claims that surprise, in the form of “contingency,” is fundamental to critique or “symptomatic reading.” The indispensable place of contingency in symptomatic reading emerges from its stress on the impossibility of self-authorship and its oxymoronically “originary” practice of the otherness of reading, the contingent encounter with the text and its “impure” mediations: linguistic, ideological, aesthetic, political.
Beliefs and Probabilities: The Errors That Remain Are Mine Alone

Imagine that a preface in a book by Lotfi Zadeh asserts that all the propositions in the rest of his book are true, but acknowledges that experience would suggest some errors remain among those propositions. He thereby seems paradoxically to believe inconsistent statements. But in fact there is no paradox. The first statement is a belief reflecting epistemic uncertainty, while the second is a probabilistic statement about randomness. If one were to convert the probability into a belief, one would see that the author rationally holds perfectly consistent beliefs.
The cost-effectiveness of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy in the United States: an analysis of cost and birth outcomes from 158,665 in vitro fertilization cycles.

Background A controversial and unresolved question in reproductive medicine is the utility of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy as an adjunct to in vitro fertilization. Infertility is prevalent, but its treatment is notoriously expensive and typically not covered by insurance. Therefore, cost-effectiveness is critical to consider in this context. Objective This study aimed to analyze the cost-effectiveness of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy for the treatment of infertility in the United States. Study Design As reported to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcomes Reporting System, a national data registry, in vitro fertilization cycles occurring between 2014 and 2016 in the United States were analyzed. A probabilistic decision tree was developed using empirical outputs to simulate the events and outcomes associated with in vitro fertilization with and without preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy. The treatment strategies were (1) in vitro fertilization with intended preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy and (2) in vitro fertilization with transfers of untested embryos. Patients progressed through the treatment model until they achieved a live birth or 12 months after ovarian stimulation. Clinical costs related to both treatment strategies were extracted from the literature and considered from both the patient and payer perspectives. Outcome metrics included incremental cost (measured in 2018 US dollars), live birth outcomes, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, and incremental cost per live birth between treatment strategies. Results The study population included 114,157 first fresh in vitro fertilization stimulations and 44,508 linked frozen embryo transfer cycles. Of the fresh stimulations, 16.2% intended preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy and 83.8% did not. In patients younger than 35 years old, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy was associated with worse clinical outcomes and higher costs. At age 35 years and older, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy led to more cumulative births but was associated with higher costs from both perspectives. From a patient perspective, the incremental cost per live birth favored the no preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy strategy from the Conclusion The cost-effectiveness of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy is dependent on patient age and perspective. From an economic perspective, routine preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy should not be universally adopted; however, it may be cost-effective in certain scenarios.
Longitudinal follow-up of dual-lead thalamic deep brain stimulation for patients with treatment refractory multiple sclerosis tremor (P4.8-044)

Objective: To report longitudinal outcomes of tremor improvement in patients with medically refractory MS tremor. Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) tremor is typically pharmacoresistant and disabling. Studies of treatment outcomes with stereotactic lesioning or single-lead deep brain stimulation (DBS) have been variable. Dual-lead thalamic DBS targeting the ventralis intermedius (VIM) and ventralis oralis (VO) has been shown to be a safe and effective therapy. Currently there is limited data on long-term outcomes of dual-lead thalamic DBS for tremor management. We report long-term outcomes in a cohort of patients with medically refractory MS tremor treated with dual-lead thalamic DBS. Design/Methods: Retrospective review of 19 patients with medically refractory tremor who underwent dual-lead thalamic DBS from 2007–2015. In this study 15 patients were included who were evaluated using the Tolosa-Fahn-Marin Tremor Rating Scale (TRS) before surgery and on-stimulation at 1, 3, and 5 years postoperatively. Results: Median total TRS scores improved from baseline during a five-year follow-up (p=0.026). Median TRS motor scores were reduced from baseline during this period (p=0.044). No statistically significant differences were found in TRS activities of daily living (ADL) scores postoperatively compared to pre-surgical baseline (p=0.212). Conclusions: Dual-lead thalamic DBS is potentially an effective treatment for the long-term improvement of severe, medication refractory tremor in MS. Although there is an improvement in motor scores, the disability questionnaire components remained unchanged from baseline, this may be related to disability due to underlying ataxia. Disclosure: Dr. Patel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Barmore has nothing to disclose. Dr. El Kouzi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zeilman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Almeida has nothing to disclose. Dr. Foote has nothing to disclose. Dr. Okun has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Parkinson’s Foundation, Medscape, Mededicus, AAN, PeerView, Prime, Henry Stewart, and MDS. Dr. Okun has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for New England Journal of Medicine Journal Watch and JAMA Neurology.
A Brief History of Biomimetic Robotics

In this paper the history of biomimetic robotics is reviewed. Here the word biomimetic means that insights are drawn from nature in the design of robotic systems. Equally, understanding of mechanics and information processing applicable to biological systems is drawn from the experience of designing and operating such artificial systems.
BROODSTOCK MANAGEMENT OF CRASSOSTREA GIGAS. I: GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION IN SURVIVAL IN THE LARVAL REARING SYSTEM

Abstract Larval survival of Crassostrea gigas in a hatchery rearing system was evaluated by diallel analysis. Variance in survival was observed to be comprised of genetic and non-genetic components, inferring that the rearing environment and the management of broodstocks both influence rearing success. The genotypic variance was observed to be non-additive; the specific mating combinations influenced larval survival substantially. This influence results from stringent genetic regulation of the rate of gametogenesis. For a given rearing environment, maximum larval survival occurs in matings between individuals expressing the optimum stage of gonadal development.
Role of oxygen vacancies in V/sub FB//V/sub t/ stability of pFET metals on HfO/sub 2/

We demonstrate experimentally that the flatband/threshold voltages (V/sub FB//V/sub t/) of pFET metal gates are strongly dependent on the post-deposition annealing conditions of the gate stacks. By varying the temperature and the O/sub 2/ partial pressure during post-deposition N/sub 2//O/sub 2/ and/or forming gas annealing (FGA) with Re, Ru and Pt, the gate stack V/sub FB/ can change by as much as 750 mV. However, using Re as an example, it is shown that conditions can be optimized and V/sub FB//V/sub t/-tuning for pFETs can be achieved for aggressively scaled stacks. It is proposed that charge transfer from oxygen vacancies to the gate electrode, possible only for high workfunction metal gates, leads to the formation of a dipole layer near the gate which can shift V/sub FB//V/sub t/. The results indicate that V/sub FB//V/sub t/ control remains a formidable processing challenge with high workfunction metals on HfO/sub 2/.
The Constitutional Status of Commercial Speech

Author(s): Post, Robert | Abstract: Commercial speech doctrine is presently controversial and confused. The article seeks to clarify why the Court has protected commercial speech, and then to use these insights to elucidate the disputes that presently engulf the doctrine. The article argues that "commercial speech" is protected because of its "informational function." This contrasts sharply with "public discourse," which is protected to ensure forms of participation necessary to sustain democratic legitimacy. The boundaries that separate commercial speech from public discourse reflect sociological judgments about whether particular forms of communication are valued merely for their information, or instead as forms of communicative action that embody democratic participation. The article explores how the Court makes these judgments. It uses this difference in the constitutional value of commercial speech and public discourse to explain why the state can compel disclosures, impose overbroad regulations, and establish prior restraints within the domain of commercial speech, but not within the domain of public discourse. The article then analyzes in detail the Central Hudson test, which sets forth the rules by which the Court currently decides whether regulation of commercial speech is constitutionally justified. The test is abstract and unhelpful, because it does not reflect any particular constitutional theory of the value of commercial speech. The article assesses the ways in which the Central Hudson test can be rendered consistent with the constitutional justifications for protecting commercial speech, paying particular attention to current controversies regarding whether the state can suppress truthful commercial speech in order to modify behavior.
Open Communication: Having your Voice Heard

Communication is the use of language to exchange information to one another. African slaves used to embark on communication by means of using common symbols and speech, telling stories, singing spirituals, writing poems. As time revolved, blacks valued education. Education and the ability to read write and effectively would give them the skill or trade they needed to overcome obstacles, to be competitive with society and to become successful. The nature of communication would evolve productively towards social and economic freedom. Keywords: Communication, language, ideology, dialog
Assessment and enhancement of meta-schedulers for multi-site job sharing

Meta-schedulers such as the LSF MultiCluster scheduler and the Moab meta-scheduler (Silver) are being deployed on clusters interconnected over the grid. A primary goal of such meta-schedulers is to share jobs amongst the individual local sites, balancing the load and improving utilization and turnaround time. This work focuses on current methodologies used in implemented meta-schedulers, such as LSF MultiCluster and Silver. The benefits and disadvantages of both centralized and delegated modes are evaluated. Focusing on the negative impact of meta-schedulers to jobs originating from lightly loaded sites, enhancements are proposed and evaluated via trace-driven simulation. It is shown that it is feasible to reduce the detrimental impact on lightly loaded sites while maintaining excellent overall performance.
Regulation of Ion Channels by Phosphorylation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the regulation of ion channels by phosphorylation. The chapter focuses on the slow L-type Ca2+channel of cardiac muscle for illustrating the important principles that are involved. It is mentioned that considerable attention has been given during the past 25 years to phosphorylation of ion channels as a means whereby the activity of the channels can be regulated or modulated. The chapter discusses several concepts, including cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP/cAMP) stimulation of L-type Ca2+ channels, inhibition by muscarinic agonists and protein kinase C and calmodulin protein kinase. The enzyme that synthesizes nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine exists in two basic isoforms—inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS or type II) and constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS). It is known that cyclic AMP (cAMP) modulates the functioning of the L-type Ca2+ channels. Cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation also modulates the activity of other channel types. The physiological role played by cyclic GMP (cGMP) on cardiac function is still controversial. cGMP regulates the functioning of the myocardial Ca2+ slow channels in a manner that is antagonistic to that of cAMP. NO is known to be an important regulator of diverse cellular functions in various tissues. There are several isoforms of phosphodiesterase and some isoforms preferentially degrade cAMP whereas others hydrolyze both cAMP and cGMP relatively equally. Transplanted hearts are exposed to a variety of cytokines during rejection and have an increased NO production and depressed contractility. It has been proposed that muscarinic agonists may also act to inhibit the Ca2+ channel by stimulation of one or more phosphatases, resulting in dephosphorylation of the channel. It is mentioned that protein kinase C (PK-C) is apparently involved in regulation of the myocardial slow Ca2+ channels.
Device perspective on 2D materials (invited)

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), typically MoS 2 , show good potentials in device applications due to a satisfied band gap, thermal stability, carrier mobility, and compatibility to silicon based CMOS process [1-4]. In order to realize high-performance MoS 2 MOSFETs, how to achieve a low-resistivity metal-semiconductor junction becomes very important. The 2D material cannot be effectively implanted due to the ultrathin nature, the contact resistance (R c ) is mostly determined by the Schottky barrier height (SBH) at the MoS 2 /metal interface. Contact metal and doping engineering is needed to realize low resistivity contacts so that high-performance 2D FETs can be demonstrated. The third issue is related with transistor dimension, which determines the packing density for a single chip. For potential applications, the performance limitation of MoS 2 transistors associated with channel length/width scaling must be investigated [5,6]. Due to the surphur vacancy or charge neutral level of metal/MoS 2 interface located near the conduction band edge, MoS 2 FETs perform as n-channel Schottky barrier transistors. Phosphorene, complementing to MoS 2 , is a p-type channel material. [7,8] It provides a good addition to the existing 2D family and provides great opportunities for 2D hetero-structures and hetero-integrations.
Isn’t Every Crime a Hate Crime?: The Case for Hate Crime Laws

The process to create hate crime laws in the United States has wrestled with the core issues of freedom of speech and greater harm. This article looks at the evolution of bias crime laws, culminating with President Obama’s signing of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009. The constitutionality of the laws is ‘discussed and suggestions for sociological research are made. Four elements of hate crime laws are discussed; criminality, intent, perception, and protected statuses. The logic of hate crime laws is based on the argument that hate crimes are a form of terrorism, designed to intimidate large groups of people. Readers should be familiar with the basic case for the existence of such laws.
Benefits of RNAV terminal procedures: air/ground communication reduction and airport capacity improvements [ATC]

The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD) has been working the past couple of years with the FAA, airlines, and other stakeholders to design and implement area navigation (RNAV) terminal procedures. Given that users have invested in equipping their fleet and that equipage levels continue to rise, the demand for terminal RNAV procedures is high. Recognizing that implementing procedures often took years, the FAA tasked CAASD to help bring about a speedier implementation - to develop generic implementation guidelines, track lessons learned, identify tool requirements, and facilitate working groups. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) was the first facility chosen for developing the implementation guidelines for collaborative procedure development involving all stakeholders. Shortly after this initial project at PHL, working groups at additional airports started designing and implementing arrival and departure procedures. Now that a number of procedures have been implemented, post-implementation analysis of the benefits from these procedures can start. This paper reports on a first step at understanding the benefits of RNAV terminal procedures.
Faster Orientation Latencies Toward Native Language in Two-Month-Old Infants

There is increasing evidence that infants can discriminate native and non-native speech from an early age. Prosody may be essential to this ability. In this paper, we assess the amount of linguistic information needed by 2-month-old infants to recognize whether or not a sentence belongs to their native language. We conducted a cross-linguistic study of French and American 2-month-old infants, measuring the latency of the first ocular saccade toward a loudspeaker playing short French and English utterances. The results indicated a significant interaction between the infants' nationality and the language of the stimuli. Infants oriented faster to their native language, even when the utterances were short (1.2 s mean). However, eliminating the prosodic organization (scrambled words condition) of the sentences, neutralized the effect. The results confirm that prosody plays a predominant role when young infants process continuous speech, and that short utterances are sufficient to recognize a language as long as prosodic information is present and coherent across the utterance
African Politics in Comparative Perspective: Quo Vadis Africa?

Where Africa may be heading – the question asked in the title of this chapter – is an issue that has become increasingly urgent and important to Africans and outsiders alike. The vast majority of Africans are no better off than their parents were. Despite struggling hard to make a living, they are caught in webs of relations of dependence that are becoming more and more costly to sustain. Those who really wish to break out of these affective relations are frustrated because there is no formal and predictable system in place to do so. Foreign investors and aid agencies share much of that frustration. They want to contribute, but their funds become constant prey to well-placed individuals – investment partners or public officials – for whom they constitute an attractive opportunity to make a quick gain. Even donors who have maintained a constant optimism about Africa and the difference that their own contributions can make have become increasingly skeptical about the future. For instance, after decades of espousing an almost unbounded optimism regarding the prospects of policy reform, the World Bank (2000) is now questioning whether Africa will really be able to “claim the twenty-first century.” Although they may come at the answer from different directions, when asked today about the root of the problem that the region faces, Africans and foreigners increasingly tend to share the view that it is politics. The political sphere long held the promise of a better future for locals as well as foreigners.
Puzzled: Ant Alice's adventures

These three puzzles involve my favorite ant, Ant Alice. Like all ants on this page, Alice moves at exactly one centimeter per second in whichever direction she happens to be facing; if she meets another ant head on, both immediately reverse direction and walk away from each other, each still at speed 1 cm/sec. Figuring out how Alice and her friends behave is surprisingly easy if viewed the right way; here's a tip: Certain physical principles may play a role in your reasoning.
Thermal stability of proteins

Abstract The maximum melting points of 14 proteins in respect to pH are reported, the correlation coefficient between the hydrophobic index and the melting point was +0.622, and that between the average residue volumes and the melting points was +0.960. The correlation coefficient between the average residue volume and the hydrophobic index was +0.697. The least square relation between the melting points of the proteins and hydrophobic index and the average residue volumes considered as independent variables yielded a positive coefficient for the average residue volume and a negative coefficient for the hydrophobic index.
Vertical subcondylar osteotomy: a reappraisal.

Abstract After 10 years' experience with approximately 500 cases, we have concluded that the vertical subcondylar osteotomy, using the approach described in this article, is the safest and most useful procedure in the treatment of mandibular prognathism and certain other jaw deformities. We have found the surgical approach described to be most satisfactory, especially from the standpoints of operative ease and versatility.
Progressive morphology development to produce multilayer films and interpenetrating blends by chaotic mixing

Chaotic mixing of immiscible binary components was recently used in a continuous flow process to obtain extruded films with very many internal layers. Where interfacial tension is small, individual layer thicknesses can be only tens of nanometers and many thousands of continuous or broken layers can be formed. Such materials are both novel and potentially important. In this study, multilayer film formation and breakup were investigated systematically by using a batch chaotic mixer to better understand the more industrially relevant continuous flow counterpart. Polystyrene (PS) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were used as a model binary system with appreciable interfacial tension such that comparatively thicker layers and larger breakup bodies were formed and more readily examined. The multilayer film morphology developed progressively as chaotic mixing continued and was thereby amenable to control and optimization with regard to layer thickness and number. Blends with single or dual phase continuity and structured droplet distributions were found to be important derivative morphologies upon layer breakup. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 1569–1579, 2001
A New Leadership Paradigm for the 21st Century

Leadership in the 21st century will require new insights and a new paradigm. With nearly 100 years of combined experience in community college teaching and administration, the authors of this chapter blend theory and experience into a design for engaging the “new normal.”
Self-interaction correction for energy band calculations: Application to LiCl

Abstract We present a method for incorporating the self-interaction correction (SIC) to the local density approximation in energy-band calculations of crystals. A periodic SIC potential is derived using the Wannier representation. The method is applied to a LiCl crystal yielding remarkable improvement in band gap and core levels. Comparison of the computed density of states is made with photoemission work.
Expression of yeast high mobility group protein HMO1 is regulated by TOR signaling

Expression of ribosomal proteins is controlled by the Target of Rapamycin (TOR) kinase. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Forkhead-like transcription factor Fhl1 is important for this regulation, and its localization to ribosomal protein gene promoters requires the high mobility group protein HMO1. We show here that HMO1 expression is similarly controlled by TOR signaling. Reporter constructs in which lacZ is under control of the HMO1 promoter show that HMO1 promoter activity is repressed on inactivation of TOR and that HMO1 is required for this repression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation shows that Fhl1 localizes to the HMO1 promoter in an HMO1-dependent fashion and that it centers on a predicted Fhl1 site, and removal of the Fhl1 site in the HMO1 promoter attenuates the response to rapamycin. Taken together, our data show that the HMO1 promoter is regulated by TOR signaling, and that TOR can signal through an HMO1- and Fhl1-dependent mechanism, as proposed for TOR-mediated regulation of ribosomal protein expression. The shared mechanism of regulation further reinforces the central role of HMO1 in TOR-mediated regulation of ribosomal protein gene expression.
Mechanisms for initial grain refinement in OFHC copper during equal channel angular pressing

Abstract The stages of microstructural evolution during the first pass of equal channel angular pressing in polycrystalline oxygen-free, high conductivity (OFHC) copper are identified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Microstructural features are generated in the following order: randomly distributed dislocations, dislocation cell structures, elongated laminar substructures (ELSs), and if a transition in activated slip systems takes place, secondary ELSs and/or microbands. TEM analysis suggests that primary and secondary ELSs form along certain {1 1 1} slip planes via a self-organized gliding of dislocations. Prior to reaching the main shear plane (MSP), many ELS boundaries are nearly perpendicular to the MSP. After crossing it, they are most often nearly parallel to it (±15°). The initial grain orientation determines if such a transition in slip pattern occurs. Mechanisms for initial grain refinement are proposed and the final dimension of refined grains is found to be directly associated with some initial substructure characteristics prior to reaching the MSP.
Three-dimensional hyperspectral texture recognition using multiband correlation models

We develop new algorithms based on multiband correlation models for the recognition of hyperspectral textures in three dimensions. The dependence of the observed texture of a material sample on viewing and illumination angles can have varying degrees of complexity. The bidirectional texture function (BTF) describes the appearance of a textured surface as a function of the illumination and viewing directions. The lack of appropriate hyperspectral image sets has limited attempts to characterize the BTF for 3D hyperspectral textures. In this paper, we use the DIRSIG model to generate a set of hyperspectral images over ranges of illumination and viewing angles in the 0.4 to 2.5 spectral region. We evaluate the performance of our methods for recognizing three-dimensional hyperspectral textures under unknown illumination angle.
High K nanocomposite dielectric for printed organic electronics applications

Solution processed, high K nanocomposite dielectric material was demonstrated as a low cost insulating material for printed organic electronics applications. A nanocomposite dielectric consisting of an epoxy solution with propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA) as the solvent and barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles was developed and utilized as a printed dielectric. The high relative permittivity (K=35), bimodal nanocomposite system utilized has two different filler particle sizes 200 and 1000nm diameter particles. Due to the nanosize of the BTO particles, they disperse well in the organic matrix, which makes it possible to use low cost solution-processable methods, such as pad printing. In this paper we present our work to develop an characterize a low cost pad printed bimodal nanocomposite dielectric with a high capacitance density of about 62pF/mm^2 with low dielectric loss (approximately 3%) and quite low current leakage.
Penetration depth in layered superconductors: Application to the cuprates and conventional multilayers.

The temperature dependence of the penetration depth of superconductor--normal-metal multilayered metals has been calculated from Eliashberg theory. The results reported here focus on ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$, but the conclusions apply to any system of proximity-coupled bilayers. Our calculations show that depleting the chains of oxygen, and, consequently the appearance of gaplessness, leads to a transition from an exponential dependence to a power law, initially linear, then quadratic. Different analytical dependences have been measured by various groups, and conflicting conclusions have been made about the pairing state in the cuprate superconductors. We emphasize that our calculations exhibit all of the qualitative features of available experimental data within a single formalism.
‘Lonely lives are not necessarily joyless’: Augusta Jane Evans's Macaria and the creation of a place for single womanhood in the Postwar South

This essay re‐examines Augusta Jane Evans's Civil War novel Macaria; or Altars of Sacrifice. Citing its adherence to the traditional form of the domestic novel, the historical context in which it was written, the realities of Evans's own life, and the body of her earlier and later works, it argues against literary critics’ assessments that Evans's wartime tome was a proto‐feminist or feminist novel, a precursor to the works of Kate Chopin. Rather, Evans was a traditional author who adhered to the gender prescriptions of her day, and Macaria was a recognition of the social ramifications of the war in the South. It was a call to the people of the South to expand their definition of true Southern womanhood to include the many women who would be widowed or left without the opportunity to marry by the Civil War's devastation of the region's male population.
The Spatial Structure of Variability in a Semi-arid, Fluvial Ecosystem

The arrangement and composition of flowpath types within a given network are thought to govern its functioning. This concept assumes that different flowpath types are functionally distinct. We investigated this assumption in a fluvial ecosystem by comparing the riparian zone, parafluvial zone (in-channel gravel bars), and surface stream. We hypothesized that differences in advection, uptake, and sorption would render material cycles more (a) open and (b) mutable in the surface stream, whereas the converse would occur in the riparian zone, and an intermediate state would be seen in the intervening parafluvial zone. To test our first hypothesis, we predicted that spatial heterogeneity in solute concentrations would be least in the surface stream, greater in the parafluvial zone, and greatest in the riparian zone. Using a null model, we ascertained that this pattern was shown by all solute species we examined (nitrate, ammonium, total dissolved inorganic nitrogen [DIN], dissolved organic N, total dissolved N, soluble reactive phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon, and chloride). To test our second hypothesis, we predicted that temporal change in spatial heterogeneity would be greatest in the surface stream, less in the parafluvial zone, and least in the riparian zone. Nitrate, DIN, and chloride showed this pattern. In particular, surface stream inorganic N was less spatially variable following months of high rainfall. According to an extant hypothesis, these results suggest that inorganic N processing may be a stable function in this ecosystem. Other solute species did not support our second prediction, perhaps because their retention and release dynamics are influenced principally by geochemistry. Generally, our findings indicate that a geomorphic template can generate spatial patterns in ecosystem function, warranting an expansion of the spiraling framework to a variety of flowpath types.
Color difference formulas: An unsatisfactory state of affairs

Color difference formulas are of considerable importance in production control of colored materials, as they offer a kind of quantitative numerical method to predict perceived differences. Current formulas are based on various sets of empirical difference perception data established with different kinds of materials, under different evaluation conditions, and with different observer panels. The best current formulas predict the average of these perceptual data only with an accuracy of about 65%, a PF/3 value of about 35 (zero being optimal). This article argues that this is an unsatisfactory state of affairs and proposes the development of new uniformly established perceptual data and a new formula/system that predicts the visual results, statistically verified to represent the world-average observer, with an accuracy of 95%, a PF/3 value (or appropriate improved measure) of 5 or lower. Such a multiyear effort requires a solid experimental plan and a consortium supported by Government and industry to achieve its goal. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 33, 324–329, 2008.
Specimen flatness of thin crystalline arrays: influence of the substrate.

Abstract The extreme degree of specimen flatness (i.e. planarity) required for high-resolution electron diffraction and electron microscopy at high tilt angles cannot be realized with thin, sheet-like crystals of biological macromolecules, just on the basis of the intrinsic stiffness of the specimen itself. In an effort to improve the rate of success at which suitably flat specimens are prepared, this paper analyzes several different factors that can either limit or enhance the specimen flatness. If specimens are adsorbed (by attractive forces) to a support film, such as evaporated carbon, which itself is not flat to atomic dimensions, quantitative calculations show that it is quite likely that the specimen will be too wrinkled to be used for high-resolution studies. Adsorption to an air-water interface is more likely to result in the necessary degree of flatness. Repulsive interactions, which might be used to “sandwich” a specimen between two interfaces, are estimated to be too “soft”, i.e. too long-range in character, to be effective. Finally, if only one edge of a specimen sticks firmly to a substrate, then surface tension forces can pull the specimen taut over the surface of the substrate, so that the the specimen itself can be more flat then the surface of the substrate upon which it is deposited. A second, important consideration in many studies is the fact that cooling the specimen to low temperature can result in specimen wrinkling, because of the fact that the biological crystal has a much larger coefficient of thermal expansion than that of the evaporated carbon film. In this case one expects that cooling-induced wrinkling might be reduced by using a metal support grid which has a smaller thermal coefficient than that of the carbon film. The validity of this qualitative idea is supported by experiments which show that cooling-induced wrinkling of glucose-embedded purple membrane can be prevented if molybdenum grids are used rather than copper.
Lifeguards: A Forgotten Aspect of Drowning Prevention

An alarming number of drownings occur in lifeguarded swimming areas, where one might presume swimmers are protected from injury. One reason drownings occur in lifeguarded swimming areas is because lifeguard surveillance is a highly difficult task. Observational research suggests lifeguards are usually alert, but researchers also report egregious examples of inattention. We offer three strategies that have initial empirical support to reduce risk of drowning at lifeguarded swimming areas: (a) regular training to help lifeguards recognize they are vulnerable to drowning events and to raise their confidence; (b) regular practice via simulated emergency responses, and (c) addressing staff schedules so lifeguards can devote full attention to protecting swimmer safety while on duty. ‎
Predicting and confirming the lifetime of o-rings

Abstract We derive an empirical method for estimating the equilibrium sealing force appropriate to o-rings under their application (e.g., squeezed) conditions. Another empirical approach allows us to estimate the equilibrium compression set for o-rings once they have been released from their compressed state. Comparing the two equilibrium values for three different butyl o-ring materials aged under both laboratory accelerated aging conditions and under long-term field aging conditions indicates an approximately linear relationship between equilibrium set and equilibrium sealing force. When the results are combined with modulus measurements, the approximate linearity is shown to be consistent with a 60-year-old theory derived by Tobolsky and co-workers. These results allow us to use ∼20-year field aging results to quantitatively confirm accelerated aging predictions derived in an earlier publication. In addition, we describe experiments that allow us to quantitatively estimate that the sealing force per unit sealing length must drop below ∼1 N/cm before seal leakage is indicated. Combining this result with the accelerated aging predictions allows us to make lifetime predictions versus aging temperature for the butyl o-rings.
Progeny Tested Sires Compared with Pedigree Selected Young Sires

Abstract First lactation records of 109,589 cows in 1,978 Holstein herds cooperating with three artificial insemination studs in young sire sampling were studied to compare performance of progeny of approximately the upper 15, 2, and 25% of sires, dams, and maternal grandsires for milk yield with selection differentials of +350, +2735, and +268kg milk when the young sires entered sampling programs. The 315 young bulls were sired by 88 sires. Mean weighted Predicted Differences for sires proven through artificial insemination were 130kg milk and 4.0kg fat, whereas weighted averages for naturally proven sires were 13kg milk and .4kg fat. For young sires, pedigree index of sire, dam, and maternal grandsire averaged 347kg milk and 11.8kg fat, and for an index including sire and maternal grandsire averaged 242kg milk and 7.6kg fat. Annual trends for ancestors were +31.8kg milk and +.9kg fat for sires. Within herd-year-season, production of daughters of progeny tested sires exceeded that of daughters of young sires by 84kg milk and 2.4kg fat. Progeny of young sires produced 103kg more milk than daughters of naturally tested bulls.
Hemocytes of Biomphalaria glabrata: Factors affecting variability

Abstract Variability in the hemocyte number of two geographic strains of Biomphalaria glabrata was studied. In each strain a logarithmic increase in hemocyte number associated with increasing shell size was observed. A two fold increase in circulating hemocytes occurred 2 hr following the exposure of a susceptible strain of B. glabrata to miracidia of Schistosoma mansoni. The hemocyte number was dependent on the temperatures at which the snails were maintained.
Psychiatric Indications for Carbamazepine

Carbamazepine, a drug initially used for the treatment of seizure disorders, is currently being investigated for its usefulness with psychiatric patients. Affectively disturbed patients in particul...
Stimulatory effect of gonadotropins on the synthesis of adenosine 3': 5'-cyclic monophosphate and progesterone by suspensions of rat ovarian interstitial cells.

Abstract A cell suspension was prepared from immature rat ovaries by treatment with trypsin and collagenase. The isolated cells were capable of converting [8- 14 C]adenine to cyclic [ 14 C]AMP and the rate of this conversion was stimulated in vitro by luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropine, but not by prolactin, norepinephrine, dopamine or albumin. The accumulation of progesterone was also measured in these cells by radioimmunoassay. In vitro addition of luteinizing hormone stimulated the accumulation of radioimmunoassayable progesterone. The conversion of [8- 14 C]adenine to cyclic [ 14 C]AMP showed a rapid increase during the first 30 min of the incubation period when luteinizing hormone was added to the incubation medium. Progesterone accumulation in response to the same dose of luteinizing hormone showed a lag period for the first 30 min of incubation after which there was an increase up to 2 h. The luteinizing hormone-induced progesterone accumulation was sensitive to puromycin, but there was no effect on the luteinizing hormone-induced increase in cyclic [ 14 C]AMP formation from [8- 14 C]-adenine. Actinomycin D also inhibited the luteinizing hormone-induced progesterone accumulation, with no effect on cyclic AMP formation. The results suggest that the luteinizing hormone-induced progesterone accumulation in rat ovarian interstitial cell suspension is preceded by an increased accumulation of cyclic AMP and that the accumulation of steroid under the influence of luteinizing hormone involve processes sensitive to puromycin and antinomycin D.
Interlocking nailing of distal femoral fractures. 28 patients followed for 1-2 years.

We treated 28 fractures of the distal femur with a Grosse-Kempf interlocking nail, and the patients were followed for at least 1 year. Five fractures did not unite, and the rest healed after 5 (3–7) months. Nail breakage was the most serious complication; and the more distal the fracture was, the more easily the nail broke. With the addition of a cast brace and protected weight bearing, a locked nail is a good type of fixation for distal femoral fractures down to 4 cm above the condyles.
Cyclical temperature effects on diapause termination of eggs of Aulocara elliotti

Abstract Eggs of a grasshopper were exposed to alternating temperatures of 9°C and 25°C in 26, 18, and 10 hr cycles and the results on diapause termination were observed. In the 26 hr cycle, cold exposures of 24, 20, 16, 12, and 8 hr were cumulatively nearly as effective as continuous cold exposure of the same duration in terminating diapause. In the 18 hr cycle exposure for 16, 12, and 8 hr gave the same results. Exposure for 8 hr in the 10 hr cycle was much less effective. Eggs exposed to cold before stage 13 everted diapause but were unable to hatch. The data indicate that the factor terminating diapause is high temperature stable and the process by which it is formed is non-competitively inhibited at the higher temperature.
The effect of fundal pressure maneuver on intrauterine pressure during the second stage of labor

Abstract Objective: Fundal pressure (FP) and Valsalva (V) are used alone and together to enhance uterine forces during the second stage of labor despite reported complications. We hypothesize that FP aids or complicates delivery by increasing intrauterine pressure (IP). Methods: We investigated the relationship between FP and IP during the second stage in 41 women with epidural analgesia. Intrauterine pressure was measured electronically. Fundal pressure was applied under standardized conditions across a pressure cuff connected to a manometer after the vertex reached +2. Interventions included V or FP during contraction (CTXV, CTXFP); FP during V during contraction (CTXVFP); and FP and V alone between contractions. Integral, amplitude, duration, and basal tone were calculated. Multiple regression was used to identify interactions between maternal, fetal, and labor characteristics, and the effect of FP on IP. Results: IP transiently increased by 92% after V and FP together. Fifty-six percent of the maximal force resulted from contraction, 27% from V, and 17% from FP. Applied over V, FP significantly enhanced IP (P Download : Download full-size image Conclusion: FP increases IP but to a lesser extent than V. Large increases in IP after standardized application of FP could help to predict relative cephalopelvic disproportion and thus prevent further delay of a needed operative delivery.
The reliability of production strategy scores for the Ruff Figural Fluency Test

Abstract This study examined the interrater and test–retest reliability of qualitative scoring indices for the Ruff Figural Fluency Test (RFFT) in a sample (N=90) of healthy college undergraduates. In addition to rotational and enumerative strategies proposed by Ruff (1988) , other supplemental indices were developed and examined. Seven raters scored protocols independently using guidelines proposed by Ruff (1988) and additional scoring examples developed by the primary investigator. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were excellent, ranging from rICC=.91 for number of strategic clusters, to rICC=.79 for mean cluster size. Coefficients of stability (n=48; mean interval=7 weeks) for strategy scores were also acceptable (e.g., rICC=.80 for enumerative, rICC=.71 for rotational). This study is the first to examine the psychometric properties of these supplemental scores for the RFFT. Reliability coefficients obtained for traditional RFFT indices (e.g., unique designs, perseverations) were consistent with previous investigations (e.g., Basso, Bornstein, & Lang, 1999 ; Ruff, 1988 ). Modest practice effects were observed on unique designs produced, but not for strategy scores. The implications of using RFFT strategy scores for assessing executive functions are discussed and considerations for future research are presented.