cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The African antecedents of Uncle Ben in U.S. rice history

Abstract This article examines the cultural antecedents of rice cultivation in South Carolina, arguing that its establishment in the colony represents the transfer of an African knowledge system via slavery to the Americas. Slaves from West Africa's rice region provided the critical knowledge that transformed lowland environments for the cereal's cultivation, which would lead Carolina rice to global economic prominence. The ecological, ethnic and gendered basis of this knowledge system are examined historically in West Africa's rice region, where a separate species of rice was domesticated more than two thousand years ago. An overview of African land use, methods of cultivation, and processing reveal the lineaments of African rice culture in South Carolina. The familiar motif of Uncle Ben on packages of converted rice represents an enduring social memory of that legacy.
An experimental reinvestigation of the thermodynamics of the field induced SDW in (TMTSF)2ClO4

The unique nature of the spin density wave transitions induced by a moderate magnetic field in the Bechgaard salts (TMTSF) 2 X (where X=PF 6 ClO 4 , etc.) result from competition between the length scales set by the magnetic field and the SDW wavevector and possibly the lattice periodicity. This complex competition has led to experimental and theoretical suggestions of a phase diagram with some novel features including reentrance, arborescence and multicritical points. We have performed high resolution heat capacity and magnetocaloric measurements to reinvestigate these questions. We find no evidence for arborescence, but clear evidence of low field reentrance and a tetracritical point (as in previous work by Pesty et al.) indicating coexistence of order parameters for several FISDW phases
Dislocation and Relocation of the Urban Elderly: Social Networks as Mediators of Relocation Stress

The elderly represent an ever-increasing percentage of the population in urban core areas. Such commercial zones are prime targets for urban renewal and redevelopment. This paper deals with one segment of the elderly poor—the occupants of single rooms in cheap hotels and rooming houses—who live in such an urban core zone (located in a West Coast city) being markedly changed through redevelopment. An ongoing study of the consequences of forced relocation utilized a quasi-experimental design comparing premove and postmove measures of mental and physical health status, social networks and supports, and psychosocial adjustment for two groups of older persons. The experimental group (N = 62) was forced to relocate to other accommodations (in most cases other urban hotels), while the comparison group (N = 75) was not subject to relocation. A central hypothesis was that the older residents of single-room occupancy hotels would be particularly vulnerable to the impact of urban change and forced relocation. This h...
Exploring RNA folding one molecule at a time.

RNA molecules fold into stable native structures to perform their biological function. RNA folding can be influenced by ions, co-factors, and proteins through numerous mechanisms. Understanding these mechanisms at the molecular level is important for elucidating the structure–function relationship in biologically important RNAs. Recent developments in single molecule spectroscopy have provided new approaches to investigate RNA folding and have allowed identification of kinetic intermediates that would otherwise remain hidden in ensemble-averaged experiments. Here we summarize some of these developments, which provide new insight into the effect of Mg2+ ions in RNA folding landscapes, the role of cooperativity in RNA tertiary folding, the stepwise folding of RNA during transcription, and the hierarchical assembly of RNA–protein complexes.
160 &#215; 244 Element PtSi Schottky-barrier IR-CCD image sensor

A 160 × 244 element IR-CCD image sensor was developed with PtSi Schottky-barrier detectors (SBD's) for thermal imaging in the 3.0-5.0-µm IR band. This imager has 80 × 40 µm2pixels, a fill factor of 39 percent, and a chip size of 584 × 464 mil2. It produces excellent quality thermal imaging with noise-equivalent temperature (NEΔT) of less than 0.1 K for operation at 30 frames/s with standard-TV-interlace f/2.3 optics, and one-point offset-type uniformity corrector. This paper describes the design, construction, and performance of 160 × 244 element IR-CCD imager and the characteristics of the PtSi Schottky-barrier detector elements.
Characteristics of Midlife Women Recruited Through Internet Communities/Groups

The purpose of this study was to explore demographic characteristics of a specific online population, midlife women recruited through Internet communities (ICs) or groups, and to provide future direction for Internet research among midlife women. Using a feminist perspective, the study focused on ethnic variations in the characteristics of the midlife women. A total of 192 midlife women were recruited through ICs. The Internet survey included questions on sociodemographic characteristics and health/illness status. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicated that midlife women recruited through ICs tended to be Caucasian, young, married, and affluent. The findings also indicated significant ethnic differences in sociodemographic characteristics. The findings suggest that researchers need to consider that midlife women recruited from ICs tend to be a specific group of midlife women.
Development of a method for personal, spatiotemporal exposure assessment.

This work describes the development and evaluation of a high resolution, space and time-referenced sampling method for personal exposure assessment to airborne particulate matter (PM). This method integrates continuous measures of personal PM levels with the corresponding location–activity (i.e. work/school, home, transit) of the subject. Monitoring equipment include a small, portable global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a miniature aerosol nephelometer, and an ambient temperature monitor to estimate the location, time, and magnitude of personal exposure to particulate matter air pollution. Precision and accuracy of each component, as well as the integrated method performance were tested in a combination of laboratory and field tests. Spatial data was apportioned into pre-determined location–activity categories (i.e. work/school, home, transit) with a simple, temporospatially-based algorithm. The apportioning algorithm was extremely effective with an overall accuracy of 99.6%. This method allows examination of an individual's estimated exposure through space and time, which may provide new insights into exposure–activity relationships not possible with traditional exposure assessment techniques (i.e., time-integrated, filter-based measurements). Furthermore, the method is applicable to any contaminant or stressor that can be measured on an individual with a direct-reading sensor.
Do retail alliances enhance customer experience? Examining the relationship between alliance value and customer satisfaction with the alliance

AbstractThis article evaluates the role of customers in the alliance equation. Using a combination of survey and experimental data, we investigate the role of value offered by retail alliances on customer satisfaction with the alliance. We find that customer value plays a mediating role in the relationship between customer experience with the alliance and customer satisfaction with the alliance. Results also show that the nature of this relationship differs based on the type of value offered by the alliance. Cognitive processing plays a more significant role when the alliance is of a functional nature, while affect plays a more significant role when the retail alliance is of a hedonic nature.
Attenuation of postischaemic dysfunction by ischaemic preconditioning is not mediated by adenosine in the isolated rat heart

Objective: The aim was to test the hypothesis that adenosine mediates the cardioprotective effects of ischaemic preconditioning in the isolated rat heart. Methods: Transient exposure of the hearts to adenosine and the A1 selective agonist, PIA, were tested for the ability to mimic the cardioprotective effects of ischaemic pre-conditioning in hearts that underwent 40 min normothermic ischaemia followed by 30 min reperfusion. Treated hearts were perfused with 10 or 50 μM adenosine or 10−7 M R-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) for 5 min followed by a 5 min washout period. Preconditioned hearts underwent 5 min of ischaemia and 5 min of reflow prior to the 40 min ischaemic period. The ability of the adenosine receptor antagonist, BW A1433U, to inhibit the cardioprotective effects of ischaemic preconditioning was also tested. The effects of these treatments on metabolite levels and postischaemic haemodynamic function were assessed. Results: Adenosine (50 μM), but not PIA, resulted in enhanced accumulation of lactate after 40 min ischaemia: 122(SEM 8) v 96(5) nmol·mg−1 protein in control hearts (p < 0.002). Adenosine and PIA treatments did not significantly affect myocardial acidosis during ischaemia. Postischaemic contractile function (as assessed by percent recovery of the heart rate× developed pressure) was lower in 50 μM, but not 10 μM, adenosine treated hearts \[8.8(2.2)] and PIA treated hearts [11.9(2.5)] than in control hearts [20.4(3.6)\] (p < 0.01). Ischaemic preconditioning (1) lowered glycogen levels prior to the 40 min ischaemic period [57(6) v 110(18) nmol glucosyl units·mg−1 protein; p < 0.01]; (2) lowered lactate levels at the end of the 40 min ischaemic period [61(4) v 104(5) nmol·mg−1 protein]; (3) preserved myocardial pH during ischaemia [6.69(0.07) v 6.40(0.07); p < 0.0l]; and (4) enhanced recovery of postischaemic contractile function [42.3(4.4)% v 19.7(6.0)%; p < 0.02]. BW A1433U did not prevent these effects of ischaemic preconditioning. Conclusions: The cardioprotective effects of ischaemic preconditioning are not mediated by adenosine released during the preconditioning period in the isolated rat heart. Also, transient treatment of the heart with A1 adenosine receptor agonists can exacerbate postischaemic contractile dysfunction. Cardiovascular Research 1993; 27 :1522-1530
An estrogen inducible 104 kDa chaperone glycoprotein binds ferric iron containing proteins: a possible role in intracellular iron trafficking

We have previously described an estrogen inducible, intracellular, homodimeric membrane glycoprotein (subunit Mr 104 kDa) which is structurally related to 'chaperone' proteins (Poola, I. and Kiang J.G., J. Biol. Chem. 269 (1994) 21762-21769). In this report we describe a novel finding that the 104 kDa chaperone protein exhibits affinity for iron containing proteins such as transferrins from several species, human lactoferrin and microbial ferric binding protein (FBP). A single ferric ion in the above proteins appears to be sufficient for binding. It also binds to immobilized ferritin. However, it does not exhibit any affinity for apotransferrins, apolactoferrin, apoferritin and apoFBP. This is the first report of a chaperone protein that exhibits affinity for iron containing proteins.
Joint Analysis of Queuing Delays Associated With Secondary Incidents

Incidents cause substantial travel delays on urban freeways. Travel delays due to incidents are typically estimated for each incident independently. However, when multiple incidents occur on the same stretch of a roadway, treating them independently and ignoring their interactions leads to inaccurate results, which ultimately may lead to inefficient incident management strategies. This study examines delays due to primary–secondary incident pairs that occur on the same stretch of a freeway within a short time gap. Depending on their correlation in time and space, they can have varying degrees of impacts on the traffic flow. This article assesses the total delays induced by primary–secondary incident pairs by jointly modeling their occurrences. First, incident data combined with roadway inventory data from Hampton Roads, Virginia, are analyzed to understand the attributes of primary–secondary incident pairs, e.g., durations, lane blockages, and time gaps (between start times of the primary and its secondar...
The Household Life Cycle Model as a Segmentation Tool in Urban China

Abstract The household life cycle model has proven in the U.S. to be a useful managerial tool for explaining variations in consumption patterns and in segmenting consumers. The objective of this study is to explore the application of the household life cycle concept to the urban Chinese consumer market. Using a representative sample of 330 households from an urban area of China, popular household models that were developed in the U.S. are tested for use in China. The U.S. models are found inadequate to classify Chinese households. A redefined household life cycle model is proposed that is more appropriate for grouping the Chinese households and is found to empirically differentiate patterns of consumption among the household categories. Future applications for the household life cycle concept in China are discussed.
Growth Inhibition of Tobacco Tissue Cultures with 6-Azauracil, 6-Azauridine and Maleic Hydrazide

Tissue cultures of Nicotiana tabacum, Nicotiana suaveolens and Nicotiana suaveolens × Nicotiana langsdorffii were cultured in the presence of the growth inhibitors maleic hydrazide and 6-azauracil as well as 6-azauridine. Inhibition of growth was complete at 10−4 molar concentrations in all 3 genotypes of cells. The inhibition due to 6-azauracil could be completely relieved with uridine and partially relieved with uracil. The effect with maleic hydrazide was irreversible, a fact which indicates a different mechanism or level of inhibition. This study supports the concept that derivatives of 6-azauracil inhibit the synthesis of uridine derivatives required for ribose nucleic acid synthesis and growth.
THE PERSONAL BELIEFS SCALE AS A MEASURE OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN COMMITMENT TO THE MIND-BODY BELIEFS PROPOSED BY F. F. CENTORE

F. F. Centore's (1979) taxonomy of mind-body beliefs centers on the definition of what it means to be a person. The Personal Beliefs Scale was developed to measure the relative influence of six mind-body positions in the thinking of the ordinary person. Responses from a sample of 251 undergraduates gave estimated split-half reliabilities of .83 or greater for each of the six subscales. Factor analysis provided substantive support for the Centore taxonomy. Implications of the mind-body issue are considered.
What the Liar Taught Achilles

Zeno's paradoxes of motion and the semantic paradoxes of the Liar have long been thought to have metaphorical affinities. There are, in fact, isomorphisms between variations of Zeno's paradoxes and variations of the Liar paradox in infinite-valued logic. Representing these paradoxes in dynamical systems theory reveals fractal images and provides other geometric ways of visualizing and conceptualizing the paradoxes.
Bone marrow transdifferentiation in brain after transplantation: a retrospective study

Summary Background End-organ repair by adult haemopoietic stem cells is under great scrutiny with investigators challenging the notion of these cells' plasticity. Some investigations of animals and short-term human bone marrow transplants suggest that bone marrow can repair brain. We looked for evidence of clinically relevant marrow-derived restorative neurogenesis: long-term, multilineage, neural engraftment that is not the result of cell-fusion events. Methods We examined autopsy brain specimens from three sex-mismatched female bone-marrow-transplantation patients, a female control, and a male control. We did immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in-situ hybridisation, and tissue analysis to look for multilineage, donor-derived neurogenesis. Findings Hippocampal cells containing a Y chromosome were present up to 6 years post-transplant in all three patients. Transgender neurons accounted for 1% of all neurons; there was no evidence of fusion events since only one X chromosome was present. Moreover, transgender astrocytes and microglia made up 1–2% of all glial cells. Interpretation Postnatal human neuropoiesis happens, and human haemopoietic cells can transdifferentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and microglia in a long-term setting without fusing. Transplantable human haemopoietic cells could serve as a therapeutic source for long-term regenerative neuropoiesis.
Radiologic features of esophagitis.

The radiographic features of 31 cases of esophagitis confirmed by endoscopy and biopsy were studied by double-contrast techniques. The morphologic findings are analyzed and the changes noted in the infectious and peptic types of esophagitis are contrasted.
Language and the clonal myeloid diseases.

Medicine has been fraught with linguistic ambiguities. Some terms are anachronisms, some lack precision, and some are inconsistent with current knowledge of the pathobiology of human disease. This terminology is disruptive to communication and understanding. Although the handful of experts in a
Can broadband over powerline carrier (PLC) compete? A techno-economic analysis

Abstract Powerline carrier (PLC) communications have been heralded by the FCC as the “3rd wire” to every home, and have matured to the point of field trials and limited deployment. This paper examines the technology from a techno-economic perspective, factoring in regulatory issues and network design (focusing on the United States). Results indicate that PLC does not appear to represent a major disruptive technology, especially from a price-performance perspective. In addition, a baseline stochastic model created for the analysis shows that not only do competition and penetration matter, but locational distribution (i.e., how many consumers can share upstream equipment) is critical in determining PLC's competitiveness.
The Federal Communications Commission's Competition Policy and Marketing's Information Technology Revolution

The introduction, development, and widespread adoption of advanced communications technologies have helped fuel the information technology revolution on which this special issue focuses. The development of the Internet, the growth of broadband capabilities, and advances in wireless communications have all contributed to the revolution. Many factors influence the development and growth of communications technologies, including regulatory policy in the communications industry. Regulatory policy can affect the number and identity of firms that operate in the industry, the nature of their competitive interaction, their incentives to invest in new infrastructure and market new services, and the prices they charge for these services. Consequently, regulatory policy can affect the ultimate popularity and ubiquity of new communications services and thus the depth and breadth of the information technology revolution. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plays a leading role in formulating regulatory policy in the U.S. communications industry. The FCC was established in 1934 for “the purpose of regulating interstate and foreign commerce in communication by wire and radio so as to make available, so far as possible, to all the people of the United States, ... a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges” (47 U.S.C. § 1). More recently, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 charged the FCC (and the state regulatory commissions) with the task of promoting competition and deregulation in all telecommunications markets. The act also established the goal of encouraging “the deployment on a reasonable and timely basis of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans” (§ 706 [a]), where advanced telecommunications capability is defined as “high-speed, switched, broadband telecommu
Molecular dynamics simulations of biomolecules

Molecular dynamics simulations are important tools for understanding the physical basis of the structure and function of biological macromolecules. The early view of proteins as relatively rigid structures has been replaced by a dynamic model in which the internal motions and resulting conformational changes play an essential role in their function. This review presents a brief description of the origin and early uses of biomolecular simulations. It then outlines some recent studies that illustrate the utility of such simulations and closes with a discussion of their ever-increasing potential for contributing to biology.
Benchmarking with quality-adjusted DEA (Q-DEA) to seek lower-cost high-quality service: Evidence from a U.S.bank application

Benchmarking is a widely cited method to identify and adopt best-practices as a means to improve performance. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) has been demonstrated to be a powerful benchmarking methodology for situations where multiple inputs and outputs need to be assessed to identify best-practices and improve productivity in organizations. Most DEA benchmarking studies have excluded quality, even in service-sector applications such as health care where quality is a key element of performance. This limits the practical value of DEA in organizations where maintaining and improving service quality is critical to achieving performance objectives. In this paper, alternative methods incorporating quality in DEA benchmarking are demonstrated and evaluated. It is shown that simply treating the quality measures as DEA outputs does not help in discriminating the performance. Thus, the current study presents a new, more sensitive, quality-adjusted DEA (Q-DEA), which effectively deals with quality measures in benchmarking. We report the results of applying Q-DEA to a U.S. bank's 200-branch network that required a method for benchmarking to help manage operating costs and service quality. Q-DEA findings helped the bank achieve cost savings and improved operations while preserving service quality, a dimension critical to its mission. New insights about ways to improve branch operations based on the best-practice (high-quality low-cost) benchmarks identified with Q-DEA are also described in the paper. This demonstrates the practical need and potential benefits of Q-DEA and its efficacy in one application, and also suggests the need for further research on measuring and incorporating quality into DEA benchmarking.
Design of optimal linear space compactors for built-in self test

Space compaction is employed in built-in self-testing schemes to compress the test responses from a k-output circuit to q signature streams, where q<<k. The effectiveness of a compaction method is measured by its compaction ratio k/q and the amount of hardware required to implement the compaction circuit. However, a high compaction ratio can require a very large compactor as well as introduce aliasing, which occurs when a faulty test response maps to the fault-free signature. We investigate the problem of designing linear zero-aliasing space compactors that provide a high compaction ratio and introduce bounded hardware overhead. We develop a graph model for the space compaction process and relate space compactor design to the graph coloring problem. We apply our design method to the ISCAS 85 benchmark circuits and present experimental data on the compaction ratio achieved for these circuits.
Function-Based Controller for Linear Motor Control Systems

This paper presents a new methodology for designing and implementing position control for permanent-magnet linear synchronous motor (PMLSM) systems. We utilize both a new function-based sliding-mode control (SMC) method and direct thrust control (DTC). It has been established that chattering is a problem in conventional SMC and stems from discontinuous control. However, the new function-based controller allows designers to employ fuzzy membership functions directly. The advantage of the proposed method is that the chattering phenomenon can be reduced and/or completely eliminated. The design of the control method for the proposed system can be performed without the need for great expertise as it does not require the use of very complicated techniques. It should be noted that we have managed to control the inherent flux linkage problems associated with PMLSMs. To our knowledge, this is the first work that combines the new SMC with DTC techniques in order to create a position control for a real-world PMLSM. Simulation and experimental results verify that the proposed method can achieve favorable control performance with regard to parameter variations and external disturbances.
Quantum Computing and Entanglement for Mathematicians

These notes are an expanded form of lectures to presented at the C.I.M.E. summer school in representation theory in Venice, June 2004. The sections of this article roughly follow the five lectures given. The first three lectures (sections) are meant to give an introduction to an audience of mathematicians (or mathematics graduate students) to quantum computing. No attempt is given to describe an implementation of a quantum computer (it is still not absolutely clear that any exist). There are also some simplifying assumptions that have been made in these lectures. The short introduction to quantum mechanics in the first section involves an interpretation of measurement that is still being debated which involves the “collapse of the wave function”after a measurement. This interpretation is not absolutely necessary but it simplifies the discussion of quantum error correction. The next two sections give an introduction to quantum algorithms and error correction through examples including fairly complete explanations of Grover’s (unordered search) and Shor’s (period search and factorization) algorithms and the quantum perfect (five qubit) code. The last two sections present applications of representation and Lie theory to the subject. We have emphasized the applications to entanglement since this is the most mathematical part of recent research in the field and this is also the main area to which the author has made contributions. The material in subsections 5.1 and 5.3 appears in this article for the first time.
Vasa vasorum in plaque angiogenesis, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and atheroscleropathy: a malignant transformation

Vascularization is an exciting and complex mechanism involving angiogenesis and arteriogenesis. The metabolic syndrome (MS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are associated with multiple metabolic toxicities, which result in reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to an elevated tension of oxidative-redox stress and an accelerated atherosclerosis termed atheroscleropathy. This atheroscleropathy is associated with accelerated angiogenesis within the vulnerable, thin-cap fibro-atheroma, prone to rupture resulting in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The resulting intimopathy with its neovascularization due to angiogenesis of the adventitial vasa vasorum (Vv) is prone to intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH). These IPH are associated with destabilization of the vulnerable plaques resulting in plaque erosion and plaque rupture resulting in ACS. In atheroscleropathy the adventitial Vv invades the plaque in a malignant-like fashion and concurrently is associated with chronic inflammation, as macrophages are being deposited within the shoulder regions of these vulnerable plaques. These angiogenic Vv provide a custom delivery vascular network for multiple detrimental substrates, which further accelerates the growth of these vulnerable plaques and atheroscleropathy. There exists a vascularization paradox in MS and T2DM, in that, angiogenesis within the plaque is induced and arteriogenesis is impaired. This review will attempt to provide a database of knowledge regarding the vascularization process (angiogenesis and arteriogenesis) and its mechanisms to better understand the increased cardiovascular risk and the increased morbidity and mortality associated with MS and T2DM.
Inverse probability weighting with error-prone covariates

Inverse probability-weighted estimators are widely used in applications where data are missing due to nonresponse or censoring and in the estimation of causal effects from observational studies. Current estimators rely on ignorability assumptions for response indicators or treatment assignment and outcomes being conditional on observed covariates which are assumed to be measured without error. However, measurement error is common for the variables collected in many applications. For example, in studies of educational interventions, student achievement as measured by standardized tests is almost always used as the key covariate for removing hidden biases, but standardized test scores may have substantial measurement errors. We provide several expressions for a weighting function that can yield a consistent estimator for population means using incomplete data and covariates measured with error. We propose a method to estimate the weighting function from data. The results of a simulation study show that the estimator is consistent and has no bias and small variance.
High dose-rate hydrogen passivation of polycrystalline silicon CMOS TFTs by plasma ion implantation

Plasma ion implantation (PII) hydrogenation is an efficient method for defect passivation in polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) thin film transistors (TFTs). We have developed a process that can achieve saturation of device parameter improvement in 30 min, whereas conventional plasma hydrogenation takes approximately 4 h. Our model predicts that much shorter process times are possible. We have analyzed the gate oxide charging which occurs during the PII process and controlled it to the extent that processed devices are damage-free. The long-term reliability of PII hydrogenated devices is superior to that of conventional parallel-plate plasma hydrogenated devices.
Further studies of the effects of an anovulatory drug on lipid metabolism in the rat

The effect of various levels of the oral contraceptive drug, Enovid E, on serum and liver lipid levels of adult female rats has been investigated. Doses ranging from 0.052 to 1.04 mg/day have been employed in rats fed control or cholesterol-containing diets. It has been confirmed that after administration of even low, physiological doses of the drug, esterified cholesterol in serum and adrenals decreases rapidly while at the same time it accumulates in the liver; cholesteryl oleate is increased while the relative amount of cholesteryl arachidonate is reduced. Serum phospholipids also are decreased; the alpha/beta lipoprotein ratio is significantly reduced due to the decrease of alpha-lipoproteins. Most of these changes also occur in cholesterol-fed rats. The observed effects are not related to a decreased food intake.
The “Social Pact” as Anti-Inflationary Policy: The Argentine Experience Since 1973

Inflation has long been a fact of economic and political life in Argentina. The Peronist government which assumed office in mid-1973 attempted to control inflation through the so-called Social Pact, a wage-price agreement of two years’ duration involving the leading labor union organization, a leading businessmen's organization, and the Argentine state. An awareness of the principal issues of the economic situation is essential to an understanding of the crisis of contemporary Argentina, and a description of the evolution of the Social Pact reveals some of the essential contours of the economic debate. But the importance of the Social Pact extends beyond mere economic considerations. The study of the latest Argentine experience with anti-inflationary policy suggests some generalizations about the nature of populist political movements, the symbolic functions of economic policy initiatives, and the functions of such policies in co-opting private economic actors and legitimating governmental interference with free market forces. It also reveals some important characteristics of Argentine politics, especially concerning relations between the state and private economic groups. With economic and political implications of comparative significance, the Argentine Social Pact is an important case study in political economy.
Forging Forward with 10 Burning Questions on FGF23 in Kidney Disease

The discovery of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) as the causal factor in the pathogenesis of rare forms of hypophosphatemic rickets is rapidly reshaping our understanding of disordered mineral metabolism in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Excessive production of FGF23 by osteocytes is an appropriate compensation to help maintain normal phosphorus metabolism in these patients. Beginning in early CKD, progressive increases in levels of FGF23 enhance phosphaturia on a per-nephron basis and inhibit calcitriol production, thereby contributing centrally to the predominant phosphorus phenotype of predialysis kidney disease: normal serum phosphate, increased fractional excretion of phosphate, and calcitriol deficiency. A proliferation of studies linking phosphorus and now FGF23 excess to adverse renal and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CKD is setting the stage for novel clinical trials that could ultimately bring FGF23 testing into the clinic. Ten burning questions must be addressed to galvanize FGF23 research further in CKD.
VOIDING DYSFUNCTION AFTER BILATERAL EXTRAVESICAL DETRUSORRHAPHY

AbstractPurpose: Extravesical detrusorrhaphy has been successful for correcting unilateral vesicoureteral reflux, although its use in bilateral ureteral reimplantation has been questioned because of a reportedly high incidence of significant postoperative voiding dysfunction. We reviewed the incidence of voiding dysfunction after bilateral extravesical detrusorrhaphy during the last 5 years.Materials and Methods: From 1990 to 1995, 123 patients with a mean age of 5.8 years (231 refluxing renal units) underwent bilateral extravesical detrusorrhaphy. Patients requiring anticholinergic therapy or intermittent catheterization at surgery were excluded from study, although in 6 who were included voiding dysfunction had previously resolved.Results: Grades I and II vesicoureteral reflux persisted in 1 and 3 renal units, respectively, representing a 98.3% success rate. There was no postoperative upper urinary tract obstruction. Postoperatively voiding dysfunction developed in 8 patients (6.5%), including 2 with a ...
Koster's Curse (Clidemia hirta), a Weed Pest in Hawaiian Forests

The tropical American shrub Clidemia hirta (Koster's Curse) has become a pest in pastures, cropland, and forests, where it has become naturalized in many parts of the humid tropics. It has spread through the island of Oahu, Hawaii, since 1941, despite attempts at biological control by the introduction of the parasitic thrips, Liothrips urichi, which had proven effective in supressing growth of this noxious weed in Fiji.The pest has colonized habitats similar to those occupied over its natural range—such as forest clearings, trail-sides, and burn-sites. In addition, in Hawaii it has intruded into the understorey of forests which were formerly free from exotic weeds. Fears are held that the resulting ecological disruptions may place further stress on the frail island ecosystems and cause plant and animal extinctions while producing other management and aesthetic problems.Immediate action is necessary to eradicate small colonies of Koster's Curse that have become established on near-by islands, and recommendations are made regarding efforts needed to devise means to control heavy infestations in the highly inaccessible mountains of Oahu.
Evaluating habitat as a surrogate for population viability using a spatially explicit population model.

Because data for conservation planning are always limited, surrogates are often substituted for intractable measurements such as species richness or population viability. We examined the ability of habitat quality to act as a surrogate for population performance for both Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) and Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis). We compared simple measures of habitat quality to estimates of population growth rates obtained from a spatially explicit model of population dynamics. We found that habitat quality was a relatively poor predictor of simulated population growth rates for several reasons. First, a relatively small proportion of the potential habitat for each species served as population sources in our simulations —15% for Red-shouldered Hawks and 2% for Goshawks. Second, when habitat quality correctly predicted demographic sources on the landscape, it consistently underestimated the contribution of these areas to the population. In areas where habitat quality correctly anticipated the presence of demographic sinks, we found no useful quantitative relationship between the two measures. Our simulation model captured the influence of habitat quality on the hawk populations, but it also incorporated interactions between dispersing individuals and landscape patterns. Thus, the discrepancies we observed likely reflected the influence of forest fragmentation and the spatial arrangement of forest patches on the populations. We conclude that simple measures of habitat quality will often be poor surrogates for population persistence, but that spatially explicit population models can help inform the development of better indices.
Climate change links fate of glaciers and an endemic alpine invertebrate

Climate warming in the mid- to high-latitudes and high-elevation mountainous regions is occurring more rapidly than anywhere else on Earth, causing extensive loss of glaciers and snowpack. However, little is known about the effects of climate change on alpine stream biota, especially invertebrates. Here, we show a strong linkage between regional climate change and the fundamental niche of a rare aquatic invertebrate—the meltwater stonefly Lednia tumana—endemic to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Canada and USA. L. tumana has been petitioned for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act due to climate-change-induced glacier loss, yet little is known on specifically how climate impacts may threaten this rare species and many other enigmatic alpine aquatic species worldwide. During 14 years of research, we documented that L. tumana inhabits a narrow distribution, restricted to short sections (~500 m) of cold, alpine streams directly below glaciers, permanent snowfields, and springs. Our simulation models suggest that climate change threatens the potential future distribution of these sensitive habitats and the persistence of L. tumana through the loss of glaciers and snowfields. Mountaintop aquatic invertebrates are ideal early warning indicators of climate warming in mountain ecosystems. Research on alpine invertebrates is urgently needed to avoid extinctions and ecosystem change.
On Some Serious Next Millennium Rap Ishhh: Pharoahe Monch, Hip Hop Poetics, and the Internal Rhymes of Internal Affairs

By examining the Hip Hop poetics on Pharoahe Monch's album, Internal Affairs (1999), this article demonstrates the linguistic inventiveness and innovativeness of contemporary African American lyricists. As poets, Hip Hop MCs (rhymers) have both built on and expanded far beyond the American poetic tradition, using a form that is highly intertextual and that demonstrates multilayered poetic complexity. While Hip Hop MCs draw upon alliteration and assonance and other traditional rhyme forms, they also employ new rhyme strategies that require new categories of knowledge, such as compound internal rhymes, primary and secondary internal rhymes, chain rhymes, back-to-back chain rhymes, and bridge rhymes. Hip Hop MCs also employ various literary techniques, such as wordplay, simile, metaphor, narrativity, flashback, role-play, suspense, irony, and imagery in their lyrical compositions. Often constructing these rhymes in a multirhyme matrix, Hip Hop MCs offer a vast corpus of literary and linguistic texts to be an...
Triphenylphosphine–Iodoform–Imidazole

(Ph3P) [603-35-0] C18H15P (MW 262.30) InChI = 1S/C18H15P/c1-4-10-16(11-5-1)19(17-12-6-2-7-13-17)18-14-8-3-9-15-18/h1-15H InChIKey = RIOQSEWOXXDEQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N (CHI3) [75-47-8] CHI3 (MW 393.72) InChI = 1S/CHI3/c2-1(3)4/h1H InChIKey = OKJPEAGHQZHRQV-UHFFFAOYSA-N (imidazole) [288-32-4] C3H4N2 (MW 68.09) InChI = 1S/C3H4N2/c1-2-5-3-4-1/h1-3H,(H,4,5) InChIKey = RAXXELZNTBOGNW-UHFFFAOYSA-N (deoxygenation of vicinal diols and epoxides to form alkenes;1 particularly useful in the synthesis of unsaturated sugars) Physical Data: see Triphenylphosphine, Iodoform, and Imidazole. Preparative Method: Bessodes et al.1 reported that treatment of cis- or trans-1,2-diols with 4 equiv of triphenylphosphine, 2 equiv of iodoform and 2 equiv of imidazole in refluxing toluene (typically for 1 h) effects elimination of the vicinal diols to form the corresponding alkene.
Effects of ethyl chlorophenoxyisobutyrate on thyroxine distribution, transport and metabolism in man☆

We studied the effects of ethyl chlorophenoxyisobutyrate (CPIB) upon the distribution, metabolism, transport, and plasma binding of 131I-thyroxine in eight euthyroid individuals. CPIB had no consistent effect upon the binding capacities of thyroxine-binding globulin or thyroxine-binding prealbumin. The hepatic distribution space and content of thyroxine-iodine were lower after CPIB (1.93 L. and 91.3 μg. versus 2.59 L. and 117.4 μg.). The hepatic thyroxine clearance and plasma to liver thyroxine flux were unchanged, however. CPIB did not alter the plasma pyroxine iodine, the daily thyroxine degradation rate, or the total thyroxine distribution space. These findings fail to support the hypothesis that CPIB produces its hypolipidemic effect by displacing thyroxine from its binding proteins and shunting it into the liver.
Role and limitations of routine and ambulatory scalp electroencephalography in diagnosing and managing seizures.

The scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) is the cornerstone in the diagnosis and treatment of seizure disorders. The EEG, with its excellent temporal resolution, provides a direct measurement of cortical electrophysiology, revealing, for example, the presence of interictal epileptiform discharges that identify regions of an epileptogenic brain. We define the EEG characteristics of focal and generalized epileptiform discharges and provide evidence for their varying diagnostic importance in different patient populations. Identification of nonepileptiform EEG transients, such as wicket waves, small sharp spikes, rhythmic temporal theta activity, and 14- and 6-Hz positive bursts, that can be confused for epileptiform transients is emphasized. A final point is that the clinician must interpret EEG findings within the overall clinical context.
Toward a Continuous Monitoring of the Horizontal Displacement Gradient Tensor Field in Southern California Using cGPS Observations from Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO)

Detection and characterization of strain transients provides opportunities for better understanding of crust and mantle rheology (Freed and Burgman, 2004; Freed et al. , 2007; Pollitz et al. , 2012), fault zone behavior (McGuire and Segall, 2003; Miyazaki et al. , 2011), and the mechanics of parts of the earthquake cycle (Dragert and Wang, 2011; Bartlow et al. , 2011). The relatively dense coverage of continuous GPS (cGPS) within western North America, through EarthScope Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO), enables the possibility of detecting crustal strain transient phenomena on a variety of spatial and temporal scales (Ohtani et al. , 2010; Ji and Herring, 2011). In this paper we present a geodetic network‐processing tool for detection of anomalous strain transients in Southern California, or within any region with reasonably dense cGPS coverage. The modeling procedure determines time‐dependent displacement gradient fields from cGPS time series (Hernandez et al. , 2005; Hernandez, 2007) and determines the significance of any departures of this field relative to a geodetic reference model. The derived field satisfies strain‐rate compatibility relations everywhere within the plate boundary zone on a sphere. Given sufficient spatial coverage of cGPS, the method can detect anomalous strain, either from shear or volume sources, and either on or off the known faults. In Determination of a Geodetic Reference Model, we present a brief description of the derivation of the geodetic reference model. We show from a benchmarking exercise that GPS observations in southern California (Shen et al. , 2011) are sufficiently dense to provide a reliable estimate of a reference model. We also show that a joint fitting of reference model strains, together with the sparser distribution of GPS from PBO stations, yields minimal strain‐rate artifacts. In Method for Obtaining Time‐Dependent Displacement Estimates from cGPS Observations, we introduce the method for interpolating the …
Chemical Tumor Ablation with Use of a Novel Multiple-tine Infusion System in a Canine Sarcoma Model

the needle axis with the multiple-tine device (P < .01; R 2 0.59; y 0.5x 2.9). Optimal coagulation was achieved with the infusion of 4-mL aliquots at 0.5 cm and 1.0 cm from the needle, followed by three 4-mL or 8-mL aliquots (40° rotation between infusions) at 1.5 cm and 2.0 cm from the needle (32 mL 0 and 53 mL 3 total, respectively). This yielded confluent short-axis coagulation diameters of 4.9 cm 1.0 and 5.4 cm 1.0, respectively, which were significantly greater than the measurement of 3.1 cm 0.4 achieved with standard needle infusion (P < .01). Smaller and noncontiguous foci of coagulation foci (1.7 cm 0.5) were seen with the use of ethanol for standard needle and multiple-tine infusions. CONCLUSIONS: Chemical ablation with 15% acetic acid with use of a multiple-tine infusion device resulted in larger diameters of contiguous tumor coagulation and enabled greater volumes of infusion than standard needle infusion or ethanol ablation. This suggests that chemical ablation with acetic acid infused with use of a multiple-tine device may overcome some of the difficulties seen with the use of conventional needle chemical ablation injection alone, such as irregular ablation and fluid reflux up the needle tract.
SRM power converter for operation with high demagnetization voltage

Torque output of switched reluctance machines (SRMs) can be increased by operating with high demagnetization voltage, especially for high speeds. This is first illustrated using computed results obtained from dynamic simulation. A power converter with the capability of providing increased demagnetization voltage is then presented. The converter operation is analyzed, ratings of various components are derived, and a controller for regulating the additional demagnetization voltage is designed. Experimental results illustrate expected operation of the converter, and improved performance of the overall SRM drive in terms of increased torque and power output.
The Distribution of Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) Leaf Nests within Forest Fragments in Central Indiana

We examined the abundance and placement of leaf nests by fox squirrels in six urban woodlots in central Indiana ranging in size from 1.06 to 8.28 ha. Four of the woodlots were disturbed, or subject to extensive human impact, whereas the remaining two were nature preserves. We counted all leaf nests present in each woodlot and recorded nest tree characteristics. We then conducted a quantitative vegetation analysis of trees present and estimated percentages of herbaceous and shrub cover along a minimum of two 100 m transects at each site. Fox squirrels showed a preference to build nests in certain species of trees. However, preference for nest tree species was not consistent across sites. Fox squirrels preferred to build nests in large trees with vines in the canopy at all sites. Characteristics of nests and nest trees did not differ among sites, but nest density was greater in the disturbed sites compared to the nature preserve sites. The nature preserve sites differed from the disturbed sites only with regard to the amount of shrub and herbaceous cover; shrub cover was greater and herbaceous cover was less at the disturbed sites. Results of this study suggest that fox squirrels are flexible with regard to nest tree species used and that the choice of a nest tree is dependent, in part, on tree size and the presence of vines. Further, a higher density of leaf nests in disturbed woodlots suggests that habitat disturbance and fragmentation due to urbanization may not have detrimental effects on the abundance and persistence of fox squirrels.