cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combination of MCNP and SimSET for Monte Carlo simulation of SPECT with medium and high energy photons

Monte Carlo (MC) simulation has become an important tool for characterizing and evaluating imaging systems and reconstruction algorithms. In this work, we combined two MC codes-Monte Carlo N-particle transport code system (MCNP) and simulation system for emission tomography (SimSET)-using the advantages of each to produce a simulation tool that is efficient enough to generate single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) data. The new SimSET-MCNP method allows the use of voxelized three-dimensional (3-D) phantoms and models photon propagation inside collimator-detector systems. This combination provides a tool for evaluating compensation methods applied to imaging of agents where medium- and high-energy photons are important. To validate the new tool, we compared simulated projections of a sphere containing I-123 water solution embedded in a cylindrical water-filled phantom with experimentally measured projections and simulations using SimSET and MCNP alone. Using these data, we compared profiles through the projection data, energy spectra, and relative number of photons in four projection views. The agreement with experiment was good, with disagreements of the order of a few percent. In addition, for the MC simulations, we classified detected photons based on whether they scattered in the phantom, whether they passed through the collimator holes, penetrated the septa, or scattered in the collimator, and whether they resulted from 159-keV or high-energy photons. For all these classes of photons, there was excellent agreement between SimSET-MCNP and MCNP. Finally, we evaluated the new combination in terms of simulation time and found it significantly more efficient than MCNP alone. We conclude that the new simulation tool works and allows the generation of SPECT data using voxelized phantoms for cases when medium- and high-energy photons are important.
DAGIS: a geospatial semantic web services discovery and selection framework

The traditional Web services architecture uses a keyword based search to match a query to one or more service providers. However, a world-toword matching to discover a service provider is too simplistic for geospatial data and fails to capture matches that advertise their functionality using domain-dependent terminology. In this paper, we present DAGIS (Discovering Annotated Geospatial Information Services) - a semantic Web services based framework for geospatial domain that has graphical interface to query and discover services. It handles the semantic heterogeneities involved in the discovery phase and we propose algorithms for selecting the best service through QoS (Quality of Service) based semantic matching. The framework is capable of performing dynamic compositions on the fly through a back chaining algorithm. The framework is evaluated by solving queries posed by users in various geospatial decision making scenarios.
Attitude and angular rates of planetary probes during atmospheric descent: Implications for imaging

Abstract Attitude dynamics data from planetary missions are reviewed to obtain a zeroth-order expectation on the tilts and angular rates to be expected on atmospheric probes during descent: these rates are a strong driver on descent imager design. While recent Mars missions have been equipped with capable inertial measurements, attitude measurements for missions to other planetary bodies are rather limited but some angular motion estimates can be derived from accelerometer, Doppler or other data. It is found that robust camera designs should tolerate motions of the order of 20–40°/s, encountered by Mars Pathfinder, Pioneer Venus, Venera and the high speed part of the Huygens descent on Titan. Under good conditions, parachute-stabilized probes can experience rates of 1–5°/s, seen by the Mars Exploration Rovers and Viking, Galileo at Jupiter, and the slow speed parts of the Huygens descent. In the lowest 20 km of the descent on Titan, the Huygens probe was within 2° of vertical over 95% of the time. Some factors influencing these motions are discussed.
Fluid induced mechanical environment of cells during high-frequency oscillations in-vitro

Bone cells can perceive high-frequency oscillations as an anabolic signal. The oscillatory motions will generate forces not only through accelerations but also through fluid-cell interactions within the bone structure. Here, we describe a combined computational and experimental method to quantify the mechanical environment that cells are exposed to during high-frequency mechanical oscillations in-vitro. Finite element (FE) modeling determined the velocity profile of a viscous fluid in a rigid container oscillating horizontally at 60Hz with 1g peak accelerations. Predicted peak fluid shear stresses approached 0.1Pa. When compared to FE, speckle interferometry revealed a similar fluid behavior over one cycle. The identification of fluid shear as a force concomitant to accelerations during high frequency oscillations in-vitro emphasizes that there are multiple potential mechanisms by which cells may sense these low-magnitude mechanical signals.
The CLARAty architecture for robotic autonomy

This paper presents an overview of a newly developed Coupled Layer Architecture for Robotic Autonomy (CLARAty), which is designed for improving the modularity of system software while more tightly coupling the interaction of autonomy and controls. First, we frame the problem by briefly reviewing previous work in the field and describing the impediments and constraints that been encountered. Then we describe why a fresh approach to the topic is warranted, and introduce our new two-tiered design as an evolutionary modification of the conventional three-level robotics architecture. The new design features a tight coupling of the planner and executive in one Decision Layer, which interacts with a separate Functional Layer at all levels of system granularity. The Functional Layer is an object-oriented software hierarchy that provides basic capabilities of system operation, resource prediction, state estimation, and status reporting. The Decision Layer utilizes these capabilities of the Functional Layer to achieve goals by expanding, ordering, initiating and terminating activities. Both declarative and procedural planning methods are used in this process. Current efforts are targeted at implementing an initial version of this architecture on our research Mars rover platforms, Rocky 7 and 8. In addition, we are working with the NASA robotics and autonomy communities to expand the scope and participation in this architecture, moving toward a flight implementation in the 2007 time-frame.
Live Cell Optical Sensing for High Throughput Applications

Live cell optical sensing employs label-free optical biosensors to non-invasively measure stimulus-induced dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) in live cells within the sensing volume of the biosensor. The resultant DMR signal is an integrated cellular response, and reflects cell signaling mediated through the cellular target(s) with which the stimulus intervenes. This article describes the uses of live cell optical sensing for probing cell biology and ligand pharmacology, with an emphasis of resonant waveguide grating biosensor cellular assays for high throughput applications.
Effects of Synaptic Plasticity on Phase and Period Locking in a Network of Two Oscillatory Neurons

We study the effects of synaptic plasticity on the determination of firing period and relative phases in a network of two oscillatory neurons coupled with reciprocal inhibition. We combine the phase response curves of the neurons with the short-term synaptic plasticity properties of the synapses to define Poincare maps for the activity of an oscillatory network. Fixed points of these maps correspond to the phase-locked modes of the network. These maps allow us to analyze the dependence of the resulting network activity on the properties of network components. Using a combination of analysis and simulations, we show how various parameters of the model affect the existence and stability of phase-locked solutions. We find conditions on the synaptic plasticity profiles and the phase response curves of the neurons for the network to be able to maintain a constant firing period, while varying the phase of locking between the neurons or vice versa. A generalization to cobwebbing for two-dimensional maps is also discussed.
Chromosomes initiate spindle assembly upon experimental dissolution of the nuclear envelope in grasshopper spermatocytes

Chromosomes are known to enhance spindle microtubule assembly in grasshopper spermatocytes, which suggested to us that chromosomes might play an essential role in the initiation of spindle formation. Chromosomes might, for example, activate other spindle components such as centrosomes and tubulin subunits upon the breakdown of the nuclear envelope. We tested this possibility in living grasshopper spermatocytes. We ruptured the nuclear envelope during prophase, which prematurely exposed the centrosomes to chromosomes and nuclear sap. Spindle assembly was promptly initiated. In contrast, assembly of the spindle was completely inhibited if the nucleus was mechanically removed from a late prophase cell. Other experiments showed that the trigger for spindle assembly is associated with the chromosomes; other constituents of the nucleus cannot initiate spindle assembly in the absence of the chromosomes. The initiation of spindle assembly required centrosomes as well as chromosomes. Extracting centrosomes from late prophase cells completely inhibited spindle assembly after dissolution of the nuclear envelope. We conclude that the normal formation of a bipolar spindle in grasshopper spermatocytes is regulated by chromosomes. A possible explanation is an activator, perhaps a chromosomal protein (Yeo, J.-P., F. Alderuccio, and B.-H. Toh. 1994a. Nature (Lond.). 367: 288-291), that promotes and stabilizes the assembly of astral microtubules and thus promotes assembly of the spindle.
Gender- and grade-level differences in science interest and participation

A cluster of three public schools was studied in an effort to assess students' attitudes toward and participation in science, and how they might vary by gender and grade. Two to three classes at each grade level from K–12 were surveyed to assess and compare attitudes toward science, extent of prior science-related experiences, and perceptions of science and scientists; each class also was observed to determine the relative numbers of teacher–student dyadic interactions related to each gender, as well as the proportions of girls and boys actively versus passively participating in laboratory activities. Overall, girls and boys expressed similar opinions on all survey scales, but girls were less likely to view science as a male-stereotyped field; younger students expressed more positive attitudes toward science than did older students. Girls also participated actively in science class: they initiated as many teacher interactions as did boys, but did not receive as much teacher attention; from elementary school to the early secondary years they also were as likely as boys to manipulate science equipment as to record data. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Aspects of the Hartley transform

Known in the signal processing literature mainly as a computational technique, the Hartley transform has proven to possess attributes in the physical world of experiment, especially in optics and microwaves. The Fourier transform, which has constituted the standard approach to spectral analysis, is understood both in the domain of numerical analysis and in the world of natural phenomena, gaining its central significance from the ubiquity of sinusoidal natural behavior; it also gains appeal from the convenience offered by complex variable analysis, which is a basic part of technical education. Computers, however, prefer real numbers, an attribute that first opened a niche for the Hartley transform. As applications have multiplied, and others open up, it will be helpful to understand the Hartley idea from more than one point of view. Several topics, including multidimensional transforms, the complex generalization, and microwave phase measurement by amplitude measurement only, are discussed with the intention of throwing light on the numerical and physical relationships between the Hartley and Fourier transforms. >
Simulation of large scale networks using SSF

Some applications of simulation require that the model state be advanced in simulation time faster than the wall-clock time advances as the simulation executes. This "faster than real-time" requirement is crucial, for instance, when a simulation is used as part of a real-time control system, working through the consequences of contemplated control actions, in order to identify feasible (or even optimal) decisions. This paper considers the issue of faster than real-time simulation of very large communication networks, and how this is accomplished using our implementation (in C++) of the scalable simulation framework (SSF). Our tool (called iSSF) uses hierarchical levels of abstraction, and parallelism, to achieve speedups of nearly four orders of magnitude, enabling real-time execution rates on large network models. We quantify the effects that choice of hierarchical abstraction has on the simulation time advance rate, and show analytically and empirically how changing the abstraction mix affects performance.
Mechanical Behavior of Polymers PBXW-128 and PBXN-110 Under Uniaxial and Multiaxial Compression at Different Strain Rates and Temperatures

The influence of strain rate, temperature, and confining pressure on the mechanical behavior of PBXN-110 binder “inert” (hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)) and PBXW-128 simulant “inert,” which is mixed with small particles of sugar, approximately 50 % by weight, is presented in this paper. The polymer PBXN-110 is used as the matrix for the particle-reinforced polymer composite (PBXW-128); the latter is the mock or inert equivalent of actual explosive material. Stress-strain response of both polymeric materials under uniaxial compression is found to be dependent on the strain rate. On one hand, it is observed that PBXW-128 exhibits temperature-dependent behavior, while the mechanical response of PBXN-110 is not significantly affected at temperatures above the glass transition temperature. Compression experiments in the presence of confining pressure reveal that the stress-strain response of each material is rate insensitive.
Liberal Constitutionalism and the Sovereign Pardon

Theorists as diametrically opposed as Carl Schmitt and Immanuel Kant conceive of the pardon as an exception to the normal operation of law and associate that exception with the figure of the sovereign. This should not be surprising to those familiar with early modern political theory, which generally construed the pardon as one of the sovereign’s most significant powers. Those setting up the foundations for liberal constitutionalism, like Kant, failed to generate a new account of pardoning that would render it an important component of either the rule of law or democracy rather than a relic of monarchical sovereignty. Hence the pardon seems to fit more naturally into the anti-liberal Schmittian account of politics than into the contemporary U.S. constitutional order. As this essay contends, such a result was not inevitable; an alternative, non-sovereign conception of pardoning that appeared in early modern drama presented another possible basis for the act, one that was never implemented within politics. Kant associates pardoning with a particular kind of staging of the splendor of the king’s majesty, one trumped only by the horror of the spectacle of revolutionary and counter-revolutionary violence. This theatrical version of the pardon scene as affirming the height of the sovereign above the people — a version that manifests itself in the spectacular finales of early modern plays such as Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure — is countered by another kind of drama, in which forgiveness comes from a stranger or a friend, and is passed among citizens to reconstitute the state. The article concludes by analyzing an example of one such play, The Laws of Candy, and the path offered by its non-sovereign staging of pardoning.
The occupational physician and chemical disasters: old problem, new threats.

Chemical disasters continue to occur, in spite of significant progress in process engineering, industrial hygiene practices, and improved enforcement of health and safety legislation. In addition to the ever-present risk of unintentional incidents, recent geopolitical events have raised the specter of chemical terrorism. Terrorists or even disgruntled employees may exploit lapses in chemical plant security and ready access to large quantities commodity chemicals, capable of causing great harm to the population if suddenly and unexpectedly released. Occupational physicians, who are uniquely equipped to understand the health hazards associated with industrial chemicals should be involved in prevention of planning for, and response to chemical disasters. Measures for improving preparedness include training and collaboration, not only with plant health and safety personnel but also with public safety and health care providers, through drills and assessment of needs and capacities. Occupational physicians should be aware that communications and other systems often fail in disasters, requiring multiple alternatives. Likewise, occupational health specialists should be prepared to deal with mass casualties, including psychological casualties which may be difficult to distinguish from those of organic etiology. Chemical disaster preparedness is an urgent and demanding responsibility for occupational physicians everywhere. Language: en
Analysis and identification of pathogenic and molecular biologic of human Streptococcus suis infection in Dongyang

Objective: The isolated strains of human Streptococcus suis infection from patient in Dongyang were identified by pathogenic and molecular biologic methods to study the biological characteristics.Methods:Specimens of blood and CSF from patient were collected for microbiologic culture.Then the isolated strains were detected by smear and morphology,biochemical test with Rapid ID Strep32,drug sensitivity test and PCR to identify the specific genes of species-virulent genes and DNA fragment of 89K candidate pathogenicity.Results:Strains were isolated from the patient′s CSF specimen,and they were diagnosed as Streptococcus suis serotype 2(SS2) by biochemical test with Rapid ID Strep32(id=99.9%,T=0.89,excellent results of the identification).Species-specific tuf and16S rDNA,89K sequence,and virulent genes,including cp2J,sly,gapdh,and ef,were detected.Conclusion:The patient was caused by SS2 and the virulence of the isolated strain was very strong.
The Inversion of Leaf Biochemical Components and Grain Quality Indicators of Winter Wheat with Spectral Reflectance

The field spectra reflectance data selected at key growth stages of winter wheat were analyzed. It indicated that the wavelength bands related to leaf nitrogen content selected by regression equation located at 820-1100nm and 1150-1300nm. The proper spectrum reflectance form should be established for donating the spectrum reflectance and leaf nitrogen content at different growth stages. The proper forms were as following: the regression equation of derivative form at reviving stage, and the reciprocal form at booting stage and the basic form at ripening stage. The results showed that there were robust correlations between leaf nitrogen content and other leaf biochemical constituents, dried biomass indicators and grain quality indicators. The regression equations between leaf nitrogen content and other leaf biochemical constituents, dried biomass indicators and grain quality indicators were established. The predictions of soluble sugar content, leaf water content, stem water content, leaf starch content, leaf dried weight, plant dried weight, and LAI etc. by leaf nitrogen content were feasible. It has very significant level among grain protein, dry gluten content and leaf nitrogen content at anthesis stage, and no significant correlation of leaf nitrogen content and other grain quality indicators. So it is feasible for forecasting the grain protein and dry gluten content by leaf nitrogen content data acquired by remote sensing.
Identity, place, and subversion in contemporary Mizrahi cinema in Israel

The rise of Mizrahi political consciousness spawned a corresponding interest in changing the representation of Mizrahim on the Israeli screen. As social and cultural minorities, Mizrahim were at fi...
Alternatives to hysterectomy for the treatment of excessive uterine bleeding

Abnormal uterine bleeding is a common gynaecological problem that traditionally has been treated with hysterectomy. However, there are many other conservative treatment modalities that should be considered before hysterectomy. Medical therapies are effective in most cases. Endometrial ablation may be an effective surgical alternative to hysterectomy. This article reviews and updates the diagnostic concepts and management options for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding. The authors present a review of the pertinent literature and describe their experience with the latest balloon device for endometrial ablation therapy.
Severe asthma: epidemiology, burden of illness, and heterogeneity.

Background Patients with severe persistent asthma comprise only 5-10 % of the total asthma population, but account for a large proportion of asthma morbidity and health care expenditures. Among patients with severe asthma, higher costs can be expected in association with not well or poorly controlled asthma. Objective To summarize the evidence concerning the epidemiology, burden, and heterogeneity of severe asthma. Methods A literature search was performed to identify citations using the terms "severe asthma" and "epidemiology", "asthma control", "asthma" and "heterogeneity". Results Successful management of patients with severe asthma continues to be a major unmet need. One of the barriers to successful management is the heterogeneity of asthma. Asthma is not one disease; it is a disorder that can be subdivided into a number of different phenotypes and endotypes. A revised paradigm for asthma management, that entails categorization of asthma patients via use of "biomarkers", and prescribing targeted therapy, will supplant what has been a "one size fits all" approach to asthma management. Conclusion The novel approach to asthma management, in which therapy will be more mechanism-specific based on phenotype/endotype, offers the potential for improved asthma care outcomes - particularly for patients with severe persistent asthma who are not well or poorly controlled.
Escape from Violence: What Reduces the Enduring Consequences of Adolescent Gang Affiliation?

Abstract Purpose Adolescent gang affiliation has long-term, cascading effects across the life course, ruining life chances in multiple domains and leading to sustained involvement in crime and violence. Yet, limited empirical attention has been devoted to exploring what factors may buffer the risk of adolescent gang affiliation on violent behavior in adulthood. The current study examines whether perceived social support during emerging adulthood moderates the relationship between adolescent gang affiliation trajectories and violence in adulthood. Methods Using data from the Rochester Youth Development Study, we estimated developmental trajectories of adolescent gang affiliation. These trajectory groups were then linked to later violence through Poisson regression models, establishing the relationship between adolescent gang affiliation, protective factors during emerging adulthood, and violence in established adulthood. Results Having a committed partner relatively early in life protects individuals in the early-adolescence gang affiliation trajectory from sustained violence, and perception of consistent support from a parent figure protects individuals in the late-adolescence gang affiliation trajectory from violence in adulthood. Conclusions Perception of social support from a partner or parent figure can be critical in reducing the enduring consequences of gang affiliation. It is also important to recognize developmental heterogeneity among gang youths when intervening and providing support.
President Clinton's First Term: Matching Campaign Promises with Presidential Performance

In every Presidential campaign, candidates make policy promises on a wide variety of issues. Often a newly elected president finds it difficult to fulfill these promises even if he has good intentions to do so. This leads many voters to the assumption that presidents do not fulfill their campaign promises. Since voting theories, however, suggest that voters do listen to campaign promises, candidates must carefully consider their promises as well as the barriers they will face when translating their promises into policy once in office. This article examines the content of Clinton's 1992 campaign promises as well as his policy initiatives during his first term in office indicating that there is a notable degree of correspondence between them. This analysis of Clinton is then placed in perspective with the analyses of previous presidents' promises and policies. It is evident that not only the number of promises, but also their content and specificity can both assist and constrain the president when he attemp...
Glycerol Dehydration to Acrolein Catalyzed by ZSM-5 Zeolite in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Medium

Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) has been used for the first time as a reaction medium for the dehydration of glycerol to acrolein catalyzed by a solid acid. Unprecedented catalyst stability over 528 hours of time-on-stream was achieved and the rate of coke deposition on the zeolite catalyst was the lowest among extensive previous studies, showing potential for industrial application. Coking pathways in SC-CO2 were also elucidated for future development. The results have potential implications for other dehydration reactions catalyzed by solid acids.
A Study of Electrical Resistance in Carbon Nanotube–Insulator–Metal Diode Arrays for Optical Rectenna

Vertical tunnel diode arrays made from multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have shown recent promise for developing a practical optical rectenna, which is a device to convert electromagnetic waves at optical frequencies to direct current. Realizing an optical rectenna requires an antenna to be coupled to a diode that operates on the order of PHz (switching speed on the order of fs). Previously, we have demonstrated an optical rectenna device by engineering MWCNT–insulator–metal (MWCNT–I–M) tunnel diodes at the tips of vertically aligned MWCNT arrays, which act collectively as the antenna. However, the high electrical resistance of the MWCNT–I–M diode must be reduced to enable improved impedance matching between diode and antenna, which limited the rectified power in our prior work. Here, we address this issue of impedance mismatch through a series of experiments designed to elucidate contributions to the total electrical resistance of the device. Different combinations of metals, and metal and insulator thicknesses were tested for reduced contact resistance, while maintaining a working diode. Another development toward reducing resistance was to open MWCNT tips using oxygen plasma, which exposed multiple walls for bonding rather than just outer wall of closed tip CNTs. These developments were combined to reduce zero-bias resistance of MWCNT–I–M diode arrays to as low as 100 Ω ·cm2, which is 75 times lower than in our previous report.
Redirecting the focus of cancer immunotherapy to premalignant conditions

Much progress has been made in introducing immunological treatment approaches for cancer, with lessons learned from both the successes and failures of immunotherapy. Among the challenges of immunotherapeutic approaches for cancer are the multitudes of mechanisms by which cancers are known to subvert the immune defenses. This has led to the incorporation into the immunotherapeutic arsenal strategies by which to overcome the cancer's immunological blockades. What has been only superficially explored is the immunological milieu of premalignant lesions and the possibility of immunological approaches for the treatment of premalignant lesions so as to prevent secondary premalignant lesions and their progression to cancer. This review discusses the immunological environment associated with premalignant lesions, and the possible missed opportunity of utilizing immunological treatment strategies in the less hostile environment of premalignant lesions as compared to the immune subversive cancer environment.
Seasonal Distribution and Overwintering of Orius insidiosus (Say) in Arkansas

The overwintering and seasonal habitats of Orius insidiosus (Say), timing of diapause in field populations, and seasonal population dynamics in selected crop and non-crop habitats were evaluated during 1992 and 1993 at two locations, one on southwestern and the other in central Arkansas. Each location consisted of three square miles (≈ 7.77 km2) of various habitats. Diapause status was determined by dissection. In early spring, females were found primarily on hairy vetch, crimson clover, and hairy buttercup. During that time, these weeds were flowering and were infested with high populations of thrips. During late spring and summer, populations of O. insidiosus increased in association with increasing thrips populations and flowering of corn, grain sorghum, cotton, and soybean. In the fall, population densities declined sharply and became widely dispersed. In the winter, females collected from both locations were in reproductive diapause from early November until mid-March. No males were recovered during ...
Partnerships, Adaptive Management, and Restoration for Historical Continuity

The future of old growth urban forests is not solely in the hands of the individuals or government agencies that at some time in the past had sufficient funds to plant and maintain the forests. Partnerships of landowners; local government; nearby schools, colleges, and universities; and community neighbors must collaborate to muster the resources needed to assure the historical continuity of old growth urban forests. Because threats such as invasive species, deer browsing, and human trampling are poorly understood, partnerships utilize adaptive management in order to respond to the challenges facing old growth urban forests. Foremost among partnership activities is communication to help forest visitors understand the need for maintenance and restoration activities. Plans for historical continuity restoration projects are based on records of forest changes revealed by the historical ecology research on the individual forest. The spatial limitations of street and landscaped forests leads to the planting of microforests with canopy, subcanopy, and ground-level species placed within the confines of the available growth environment. In addition to plantings, restoration of remnant forests requires restricted access to the forest in order to eliminate disturbances which kill the spontaneous regeneration of arboreal species essential to the reestablishment of forest dynamics and historical continuity.
Hillichnus lobosensis, an unusually complex trace fossil of burrowing bivalves from the Paleogene of southern California, U.S.A.

Abstract Several specimens of the complex trace fossil Hillichnus lobosensis have been recovered from the Middle Eocene Scripps Formation in San Diego County, California. These specimens represent the second undoubted occurrence of the ichnospecies. This report extends the geographic range of the ichnospecies from central to southern California, the stratigraphic range from Late Paleocene to Middle Eocene, and the paleoenvironmental range from deep-water turbidite to shallow-marine nearshore settings. The San Diego specimens are the only known specimens of Hillichnus to be housed safely within a curated natural history collection (San Diego Natural History Museum), whereas the originally designated type specimens of H. lobosensis are subject to weathering and erosional processes at the type locality in Monterey County, California. The San Diego specimens also are important, because the trace fossils are the first of their ichnospecies that have been found in association with body fossils of the presumed bivalve (tellinacean) trace makers.
Defining Mother’s Place in Barcelona: Women in Biutiful (2010)

This chapter focuses on the representation of motherhood in Barcelona in Biutiful (2010). The places that women occupy reinforce Doreen Massey’s idea of gendered space. The women in the film are seen inside, reinforcing the idea that women inhabit the domestic sphere while men are free to roam. Through his use of lighting, costumes, and setting, the director Inarritu portrays mothers as women who provide care, but who do so outside of the traditional family structure while still inhabiting the traditional domestic space of women. Through the urban, gendered spaces the characters inhabit, this film problematizes the position of mother in the cultural context of twenty-first-century Spain.
How Well Do We Know ENSO’s Climate Impacts over North America, and How Do We Evaluate Models Accordingly?

abstractThe role of sampling variability in ENSO composites of winter surface air temperature and precipitation over North America during the period 1920–2013 is assessed for observations and ensem...
Site-specific three-color labeling of α-synuclein via conjugation to uniquely reactive cysteines during assembly by native chemical ligation

Summary Single-molecule fluorescence is widely used to study conformational complexity in proteins, and has proven especially valuable with intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Protein studies using dual-color single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) are now quite common, but many could benefit from simultaneous measurement of multiple distances through multi-color labeling. Such studies, however, have suffered from limitations in site-specific incorporation of more than two dyes per polypeptide. Here we present a fully site-specific three-color labeling scheme for α-synuclein, an IDP with important putative functions and links to Parkinson disease. The convergent synthesis combines native chemical ligation with regiospecific cysteine protection of expressed protein fragments to permit highly controlled labeling via standard cysteine-maleimide chemistry, enabling more global smFRET studies. Furthermore, this modular approach is generally compatible with recombinant proteins and expandable to accommodate even more complex experiments, such as by labeling with additional colors.
Shaping the Shift: Shamanic Leadership, Memes, and Transformation

The leader as shaman has three central roles: healer, connector, and sensemaker in the service of a better world. This paper argues that today’s leaders acting as shamans could become ‘shapeshifters,’ or more accurately ‘shape the shift,’ that is engage with organizational and systemic change needed to content with major problems like sustainability issues, climate change, and inequality, which business businesses are increasingly being asked to deal with as part of their societal roles. In the role of sensemaker, business leaders can shape shifts towards great sustainability and responsibility by developing new memes that speak to others and resonate across different people and groups. Memes’ roles in change, as core cultural artifacts, on which values, business strategies, and belief systems (among other things) are built, are generally overlooked but are an important element of shamanic leadership.
Systematic Revision of the North American Syntropine Vaejovid Scorpion Genera Balsateres, Kuarapu, and Thorellius, With Descriptions of three New Species

ABSTRACT Four genera formed a monophyletic group, referred to as the Kochius clade, in the phylogeny of the North American vaejovid scorpion subfamily Syntropinae Kraepelin, 1905: Balsateres Gonzalez-Santillan and Prendini, 2013; Kochius Soleglad and Fet, 2008; Kuarapu Francke and Ponce-Saavedra, 2010; and Thorellius Soleglad and Fet, 2008. In the present contribution, all except Kochius, treated elsewhere, are revised. The monotypic Balsateres and Kuarapu are redescribed. Thorellius cristimanus (Pocock, 1898) and Thorellius intrepidus (Thorell, 1876) are redescribed and their type localities discussed and clarified. Three new species of Thorellius are described: Thorellius tekuani; Thorellius wixarika; and Thorellius yuyuawi. Vaejovis intrepidus atrox Hoffmann, 1931, is newly synonymized with T. cristimanus based on examination of the type material. A key to identification of the species of Thorellius is presented, and new locality records and updated distribution maps provided for all species covered.
Psychotic disorder caused by a general medical condition, with delusions. Secondary "organic" delusional syndromes.

Secondary delusional disorder is a condition with multiple medical and neurologic causes. Despite this, an attempt can be made to find an integrative pathophysiology for the final common pathway to delusional thought. This requires a focus on cortico-striato-thalamocortical loops that connect limbically related cortical regions with the restitutive mesolimbic-mesostriatal dopamine system.
A Sampler of Human Behavioral Genetics

A chapter devoted to a consideration of genetic and evolutionary aspects of some behavioral characters in man in a book such as this may come as a surprise to many evolutionary biologists. There is, however, a ferment in the behavioral sciences. Any temptation to invoke Samuel Johnson’s simile of a woman’s preaching and a dog’s walking on its hind legs, followed by his comment—“It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.”—might be suppressed by awareness of the array of energies devoted to the demonstration and elucidation of heritable variations in animal and human behaviors. Organisms subjected to behavior genetic analyses range from Schizophora (Hirsch and Erlenmeyer-Kimling, 1962; Dobzhansky and Spassky, 1967) to schizophrenics (Gottesman and Shields, 1966a,b,c; Huxley et al., 1964). Evolutionary thinking is slowly but surely returning to a deservedly seminal position in the formulations of some behavioral scientists (e.g., Erlenmeyer-Kimling and Paradowski, 1966; Freedman, 1967; Ginsburg and McLaughlin, 1966; Gottesman, 1965, 1967) after the near extinction that followed its emotional abandonment in the wake of injuries from social Darwinism and insults from the Third Reich (cf. Dunn, 1962; Haller, 1963). Simpson has said that the modern theory of evolution “... reinstates behavior not merely as something to which evolution has happened but as something that is itself one of the essential determinants of evolution” (Simpson, 1958, p. 9). Psychology as a whole, however, is not alone in its reluctance to embrace evolution. “There are vast areas of modern biology, for instance biochemistry and the study of behavior, in which the application of evolutionary principles is still in the most elementary stage.” (Mayr, 1963, p. 9)
A Design Scenario

In this chapter a hypothetical scenario, taken from the domain of landscape design, traces the steps that might be taken by a machine problem solver as it goes about solving a design problem6. Interspersed with this is an account of how a computer program could be implemented to take similar design steps.
Semicontinuous flow centrifugation for the pheresis of immunocompetent cells and stem cells

Mononuclear cells from human peripheral blood were purified by semicontinuous flow centrifugation (SCFC) using the Haemonetics model 30 blood cell separator; 64% +/- 7% of the mononuclear cells in 600 ml of peripheral blood were collected in a 30-ml volume. Analysis of sequential 5-ml aliquots of the mononuclear cell concentrate revealed that both immunocompetent cells and granulocytic progenitor cells (CFU- C) were proportional to the cell count throughout the buffy coat. In vitro pheresis of large volumes of human bone marrow resulted in recovery of 63% of the cells, 12% of the hemoglobin, and 84% of the CFU- C in 20% of the original volume. Further centrifugation eliminated 80% of the platelets without loss of cells or CFU-C. SCFC of peripheral blood or bone marrow selectively concentrated mononuclear cells and reduced the contamination by granulocytes and erythrocytes. Large numbers of mononuclear cells can thus be collected for studies in vitro or for cryopreservation and the autologous reconstitution of immunosuppressed or myelosuppressed patients undergoing intensive antitumor therapy.
Progressively disrupted somatodendritic morphology in dopamine neurons in a mouse Parkinson's model.

Background Parkinson's disease is characterized by the progressive loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to severe motor deficits. Although the disease likely begins to develop years before observable motor symptoms, the specific morphological and functional alterations involved are poorly understood. Objectives MitoPark mice lack the gene coding for mitochondrial transcription factor A specifically in dopamine neurons, which over time produces a progressive decline of neuronal function and related behavior that phenotypically mirrors human parkinsonism. Our previous work identified a progressive decrease in cell capacitance in dopamine neurons from MitoPark mice, possibly suggesting reduced membrane surface area. We therefore sought to identify and quantify somatodendritic parameters in this model across age. Methods We used whole-cell patch clamp and fluorescent labeling to quantify somatodendritic morphology of single, neurobiotin-filled dopamine neurons in acutely isolated brain slices from MitoPark mice. Results We found that MitoPark mice exhibit an adult-onset, age-dependent reduction of neuritic branching and soma size in dopamine neurons. This decline proceeds similarly in MitoPark mice of both sexes, but does not begin until after the age that early decrements in ion channel physiology and behavior have previously been observed. Conclusions A progressive and severe decline in somatodendritic morphology occurs prior to cell death, but is not responsible for the subtle decrements observable in the earliest stages of neurodegeneration. This work could help identify the ideal time window for specific treatments to halt disease progression and avert debilitating motor deficits in Parkinson's patients. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Comparison of aquatic invertebrate communities in near-shore areas with high or low boating activity.

Lakeshore areas provide important habitat for aquatic invertebrates in shallow lakes. However, these zones are prone to anthropogenic disturbances that include shoreline development, urbanization, nutrient inputs, agricultural and(or) recreational use. Among recreational uses, public access sites are often developed to accommodate boaters and facilitate lake access via boat ramps. Although the ‘foot print’ associated with boat ramp structures can be relatively small compared to total shoreline coverage, little is known about the relative effects of boating activity on littoral zones and macroinvertebrate communities. In this study, we assess the relative impact of boating-related activities on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities at high-use (primary) and low-use (secondary) boat ramps on five glacial lakes of eastern South Dakota. Macroinvertebrate assemblages were dominated by few taxa that included Chironomidae, Corixidae, Caenidae, and Amphipoda. Moreover, boat ramp use did not influence abundance or diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Habitat, specifically substrate composition, was also similar between primary and secondary boat ramps despite more intense use associated with primary boat ramps. Our results support related findings that aquatic invertebrate assemblages in the Prairie Pothole Region are structured by regional environmental variability (climate, habitat, and water quality) resulting in communities with characteristically low diversity and tolerant taxa. This may explain why small-scale disturbance associated with boating activity has no discernable effect on macroinvertebrate assemblages in glacial lakes of the Prairie Pothole Region.
Hipposideros pinna motion patterns as an inspiration for dynamic biomimetic sensing

Many bat species, e.g., among the horseshoe bats (Rhinolophidae) and Old-World roundleaf-nosed bats (Hipposideridae), have highly mobile pinnae. Experiments with biomimetic reproductions of the pinnae shapes/motion patterns in these species have demonstrated a dynamic enhancement of the performance in acoustic direction-finding paradigms. It could hence be hypothesized that reproducing the full range of pinna mobility patterns in bats will allow realizing the full range of the animals' biosonar capabilities. Pinna motions in rhinolophid and hipposiderid bats have been shown to fall into two distinct categories, being either rigid rotations (i.e., changes in orientation but not in the shape itself) or deformations that change both pinna orientation and shape. To characterize the variability in the rigid rotations, landmarks on the pinnae of hipposiderid bats have been tracked using stereovision. From this kinematics data, an axis-angle representation of the pinna rotations was estimated. The results showed that the axes of pinna rotations can scatter widely in orientation, covering a range of directions that extends 180 degrees in azimuth and 180 degrees in elevation, about 40 times larger than the estimated error of the employed method. Hence, biomimetic reproductions of bat ear mobility should explore how to make use of such a variability.
Effects of norepinephrine and β2 receptor antagonist ICI 118,551 on whisker hair follicle mechanoreceptors dissatisfy Merkel discs being adrenergic synapses.

Merkel discs, located in skin touch domes and whisker hair follicles, are tactile end organs essential for environmental exploration, social interaction, and tactile discrimination. Recent studies from our group and two others have shown that mechanical stimulation excites Merkel cells via Piezo2 channel activation to subsequently activate sensory neural pathways. We have further shown that mechanical stimulation leads to the release of 5-HT from Merkel cells to synaptically transmit tactile signals to whisker afferent nerves. However, a more recent study using skin touch domes has raised the possibility that Merkel discs are adrenergic synapses. It was proposed that norepinephrine is released from Merkel cells upon mechanical stimulation to subsequently activate β2 adrenergic receptors on Merkel disc nerve endings leading to nerve impulses. In the present study, we examined effects of norepinephrine and β2 adrenergic receptor antagonist ICI 118,551 on Merkel disc mechanoreceptors in mouse whisker hair follicles. We show that norepinephrine did not directly induce impulses from Merkel disc mechanoreceptors. Furthermore, we found that ICI 118,551 at 50 μM inhibited voltage-gated Na+ channels and suppressed impulses of Merkel disc mechanoreceptors, but ICI 118,551 at 1 μM had no effects on the impulse. These findings challenge the hypothesis of Merkel discs being adrenergic synapses.
Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor Modulator, FTY720, Improves Diastolic Dysfunction and Partially Reverses Atrial Remodeling in a Tm-E180G Mouse Model Linked to Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiovascular disorder, primarily involving mutations in sarcomeric proteins. HCM patients present with hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunctio...