cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theoretical study of the NO b 4Σ− and O+2 b 4Σ−g radiative lifetimes

Abstract We have computed the radiative lifetime of the NO b 4Σ− state, which is determined by the 4Σ−−a 4Π Ogawa band system. Analogous calculations were carried out for the O+2 b 4Σ−g−a 4Πu first negative band system. Calibration calculations of both the one- and n-particle spaces are used to demonstrate that the theoretical lifetimes are accurate to 10%. The O+24Σ−g radiative lifetimes are in excellent agreement with previous theoretical calculations and with the experimental values of Erman and Larsson. The theoretical NO b 4Σ− radiative lifetimes are consistent with our previous theoretical results, but significantly longer than the experimental values, suggesting that some decay mechanism other than the Ogawa system is contributing to the lifetime.
Raman active phonons in the high-Tc superconductors: A global point of view

The two most widely studied families of high-temperature superconductors are TlBa{sub 2}Ca{sub n{minus}1}Cu{sub n}O{sub 3+2n} called 1-Tl(n) and Tl{sub 2}Ba{sub 2}Ca{sub n{minus}1}Cu{sub n}O{sub 4} + 2{sub n} called 2-Tl(n). The authors consider the structures of each family and show how some of the Raman active phonons are independent of n and some should have certain regularities depending on n. Further, the authors show which Raman active phonons should be essentially the same in both families of compounds.
Tweet, tweet, tweet: A content analysis of nonprofit organizations’ Twitter updates

Abstract Many of the relationship cultivation strategies and the dialogic principles assume symmetrical communication is taking place. However, significant amounts of information are shared in a one-way manner. Although they have fallen out of favor with many academics, the four models of public relations can provide significant insights into how organizations communicate. Using the models as the guiding framework, this brief study examines how nonprofit organizations from the Philanthropy 200 communicate on Twitter. The findings reveal that the organizations are more likely to use one-way models despite the potential for dialogue and community building on the social networking site.
Chloride secretion by canine tracheal epithelium: I. Role of intracellular cAMP levels

We measured the short-circuit current (I sc) across canine tracheal epithelium and the intracellular cAMP levels of the surface epithelial cells in the same tissues to assess the role of cAMP as a mediator of electrogenic Cl secretion. Secretogogues fall into three classes: (i) epinephrine, prostaglandin (PG) E1, and theophylline increase bothI sc and cellular cAMP levels; (ii) PGF2α and calcium ionophore A23187, increaseI sc without affecting cell cAMP levels at the doses employed; and (iii) acetylcholine, histamine, and phenylephrine do not alter eitherI sc or cAMP levels. These findings indicate that: (i) increases in cAMP or Ca activity stimulate electrogenic Cl secretion by the columnar cells of the surface epithelium; (ii) cAMP mediates the effects of PGE1 and β-adrenergic agonists; (iii) a strict correlation between cAMP levels and Cl secretion rate is not apparent from spontaneous variations in these parameters or from dose-response relations ofI sc and cAMP to epinephrine concentration; and (iv) acetylcholine, histamine, and phenylephrine, agents that stimulate electrically-neutral NaCl secretion by submucosal glands, do not evoke cAMP-mediated, responses by the surface epithelium. Addition of 10−6 m indomethacin (or other prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors) to the mucosal solution decreasesI sc and cellular cAMP levels and reduces the release of PGE2 into the bathing media by 80%. Indomethacin does not interfere with the subsequent secretory response to PGE1. This suggests that endogenous prostaglandin production underlies the spontaneous secretion of Cl across canine tracheal epithelium under basal conditions.
Mean vertical velocity and turbulence intensity inside and outside thermals

Abstract Aircraft data from the Air Mass Transformation Experiment (AMTEX) are used to estimate mean vertical velocities and turbulence intensities of a field of convective elements (thermals) and its environment. Thermals are defined here by segments of the time series (which has first been high-pass filtered with a 5 km wavelength cutoff filter) where humidity exceeds half a standard deviation above the mean. Mixed layer normalization is used to generalize the results for application to simplified models of pollution dispersion from elevated sources.
Skeins, Scales, Discounts, Steam, and other Objects of Crowd Justice in Early French Textile Mills

At 7:00 a.m. on 16 July 1833, M. Minder, owner of a cotton mill at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, a small textile center in Alsace, announced to his spinners that he would henceforth be charging them 1 franc 20 centimes per week for devidage, that is for the reeling and unreeling of roving or finished thread-a task accomplished by women in a separate workroom.1 In response, his spinners walked out of the mill. A local arbitration board (the Conseil des Prudhommes) would later rule that M. Minder had broken the work contract (the contrat du travail) since he had not given proper advanced notice to his laborers of the new charge for devidage. In other words, the board ruled that the laborers had in fact become legally free to leave work by virtue of Minder's improper announcement. Even though all ninety-five of them walked out en masse, they did not thereby constitute an illegal coalition since their unwritten contract with M. Minder as defined by law had been broken first by Minder's failure to give notice. The laborers' subsequent actions, however, did constitute a coalition; and ten of them were later prosecuted under the anti-coalition statutes. They marched directly to several neighboring mills and tried to induce their fellow spinners to join them in the streets. Everyone in town knew that M. Minder had not acted alone, that most local mill owners planned to institute a charge for devidage. But since the other owners had as yet made no announcement, proper or improper, their laborers were not legally free to leave work
DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES IN EXPRESSION OF RENAL CORTICAL COLLECTING DUCT (CCD) K CHANNEL mRNA. • 2132

DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES IN EXPRESSION OF RENAL CORTICAL COLLECTING DUCT (CCD) K CHANNEL mRNA. • 2132
Implications of microcavity plasma devices for new plasma‐display‐panel cell structures with improved luminosity

— The unique properties of microcavity plasma devices, and their potential to provide the basis for alternative PDP cell structures of improved luminosity, are described. Arrays as large as 500 × 500 (250,000) inverted pyramid microcavity devices, each with an emitting aperture of 50 × 50 μm2 and designed for AC or bipolar excitation, have been fabricated in Si and operated in the rare gases and Ar/N2 mixtures at pressures up to and beyond 1 atm. For a device pitch of 100 μm, the array filling factor is 25% and the device packing density is 104 cm−2. Measurements of the unoptimized radiant output of 500 × 500 arrays of Si microplasma devices, operating in Ne/(5–50)% Xe mixtures and photoexciting (in transmission mode) a 20-μm-thick film of green phosphor, yield values of the luminous efficacy up to 7.2 ± 0.6 lm/W for a Ne/50% Xe mixture (total pressure of 800 Torr) excited by a 20-kHz sinusoidal voltage waveform. Sustaining voltages ranging from ∼250 to 340 V (RMS) yield luminance values up to ∼2000 cd/m2 for Ne/50% Xe mixtures but the incorporation of field emitters or MgO into the microcavity is expected to significantly reduce the required operating voltage. Also, the fabrication of microplasma devices in ceramic multilayer structures or glass for scaling the display area is discussed briefly. Recent laser spectroscopic measurements of Xe(a 3Σu+) absorption in the visible and near-infrared suggest steps to be taken in PDP cell design, particularly as the Xe content in Ne/Xe mixtures is increased.
Constant-Resistance Networks of the Linear Varying-Parameter Type

The term "constant-resistance network" is generally used to describe a fixed network whose input impedance is a constant independent of frequency. The present paper generalizes the concept of constant-resistance networks by extending this concept to linear varying-parameter systems. It is shown that any self-dual variable network is a constant-resistance network and this result is used to obtain such constant-resistance structures as the lattice and the bridged-tee. Explicit expressions for the transfer functions of these structures are derived and an illustrative example involving a constant-resistance variant of Cowan's modulator is considered. In addition to self-dual structures, a non-self-dual type of constant-resistance network is described and the possibility of using this structure as a constant-resistance capacitive modulator is indicated.
Integrative reconciliation in meaningful verbal learning

Abstract A test of Ausubel's theoretical concept of integrative reconciliation was made using orienting directions embedded in two written essays which attempted to prompt or guide Ss to make relevant comparisons and contrasts between the two essays. Immediate and 7-day retention was tested. Scores for questions keyed to each essay were analyzed both separately and as combined totals. Number correct and number of intrusion errors were analyzed. Results indicated no significant differences due to treatments on number correct but that number of intrusion errors seemed to decline with the provision of orienting directions that specifically pointed out comparisons and contrasts to Ss. Results are discussed in terms of evidence derived from studies on mathemagenic behaviors and orienting directions, and the theoretical possibility of teaching cognitive strategies of encoding and retrieval.
Adsorption of ionic species to the surface of polystyrene latexes

Abstract The presence of anion and cation adsorption to the surfaces of emulsifier free emulsion polymerized latex particles is studied. Electrophoretic mobilities and suspension conductivity increments for particles suspended in HCl, KCl, and HClO4 were determined over a wide range of electrolyte concentration using conventional techniques. In addition a nonelectrokinetic experimental technique was developed to measure the total concentration of ions adsorbed to the latex surface. Here a determination is made of the total concentration of ions required to bring an exhaustively cleaned latex into equilibrium with a dialysate of fixed concentration. This quantity of ions is called the added electrolyte and becomes a linear function of the volume fraction in the limit of low volume fraction. The slope of this curve, the added electrolyte increment, provides a quantitative measure of ion adsorption. Poor comparisons were found between measured added electrolyte increments and those predicted by the Gouy-Chapman model for the diffuse double layer on the basis of surface potentials determined from electrokinetic measurements assuming no ion adsorption. However, when ion adsorption is allowed and site binding parameters are determined by fitting electrokinetic data with the dynamic Stern layer model, good agreement is found between measured and predicted added electrolyte increments.
Torsion-Free Modules over Reduced Witt Rings

Abstract We compute the genus class group of a torsion-free module over a reduced Witt ring of finite stability index. This is applied to modules locally isomorphic to odd degree extensions of formally real fields.
Flow regimes for fluid injection into a confined porous medium

We report theoretical and numerical studies of the flow behaviour when a fluid is injected into a confined porous medium saturated with another fluid of different density and viscosity. For a two-dimensional configuration with point source injection, a nonlinear convection–diffusion equation is derived to describe the time evolution of the fluid–fluid interface. In the early time period, the fluid motion is mainly driven by the buoyancy force and the governing equation is reduced to a nonlinear diffusion equation with a well-known self-similar solution. In the late time period, the fluid flow is mainly driven by the injection, and the governing equation is approximated by a nonlinear hyperbolic equation that determines the global spreading rate; a shock solution is obtained when the injected fluid is more viscous than the displaced fluid, whereas a rarefaction wave solution is found when the injected fluid is less viscous. In the late time period, we also obtain analytical solutions including the diffusive term associated with the buoyancy effects (for an injected fluid with a viscosity higher than or equal to that of the displaced fluid), which provide the structure of the moving front. Numerical simulations of the convection–diffusion equation are performed; the various analytical solutions are verified as appropriate asymptotic limits, and the transition processes between the individual limits are demonstrated. The flow behaviour is summarized in a diagram with five distinct dynamical regimes: a nonlinear diffusion regime, a transition regime, a travelling wave regime, an equal-viscosity regime, and a rarefaction regime.
Appendix A—Report on Activities of Subcommittee Relating to Governmental Activities of the Special Committee on Flood-Waves, May 1938

In Dr. Straub's letter dated Septemoer 2, 1937, a subcommittee composed of Messrs. Bernard, Goodridge, Houk, Hoyt (Chairman), and Kramer, was asked to prepare a report covering the extent of the work of the various governmental agencies dealing with flood-wave phenomena. Under date of October 11, 1937, Dr. Straub advised the Chairman of the Subcommittee that the report should cover all agencies interested in flood-wave phenomena. Under date of December 4, 1937, the following organizations were requested to furnish a statement outlining projects which may have been completed or are now under way, with relation to the general subject of flood-wave phenomena: National Hydraulic Laboratory Bureau of Agricultural Engineering Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Tennessee Valley Authority Geological Survey Los Angeles Flood‐Control District Weather Bureau Massachusetts Institute of Technology Forest Service Cornell University Indian Service University of Iowa Soil Conservation Service University of California Federal Power Commission California Institute of Technology. Replies have been received and briefed as follows: CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U.S. ARMY (prepared by Captain Hans Kramer, and authorized by the Chief of Engineers)—The War Department, under the direction of the Secretary of War and supervision of the Chief of Engineers, is charged by law (Flood-Control Acts of 1936, as amended) with the jurisdiction and prosecution of Federal investigations and improvements of rivers and other waterways for flood-control and allied purposes. In the planning and design of authorized flood-control projects, complete hydraulic studies embracing all phases of flood-wave phenomena pertaining to a particular project are conducted under the immediate direction of the District Engineer of the Engineer Department under whose jurisdiction the project is located. Extensive hydraulic research and model-experimentation work are conducted at the United States Waterways Experiment Station, Yicksburg, Mississippi, which is operated under the direction of the President of tne Mississippi River Commission, except for special local problems which are investigated in colleagiate laboratories or field-laboratories in convenient locations.
Extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) attenuates brain responses to alcohol cues in alcohol-dependent volunteers: A bold FMRI study

article i nfo Oral naltrexone reduces heavy drinking, but is less consistent as an abstinence promoter, whereas once-monthly extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) also maintains abstinence. The present study sought to determine if alco- hol cue reactivity is attenuatedby XR-NTX. Twenty-eight detoxifiedalcohol-dependentadultmaleandfemalevol- unteers received a single i.m. injection of either XR-NTX or placebo under double-blind conditions. An fMRI/cue reactivity procedure was conducted immediately before and two weeks after injection. At baseline, alcohol- related visual and olfactory cueselicitedsignificant increases in orbital and cingulate gyri, inferior frontal and mid- dle frontal gyri. Subsequently, brain activation was significantly altered in XR-NTX-treated individuals. These af- fected brain regions are associated with the integration of emotion, cognition, reward, punishment, and learning/memory, suggesting that XR-NTX attenuates the salience of alcohol-related cues. Such an effect on brain function may interrupt the processes associated with "slips" and relapse, which may account for XR-NTX's ability to maintain abstinence. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.
A high payload video steganography algorithm in DWT domain based on BCH codes (15, 11)

Video steganography has become a popular topic due to the significant growth of video data over the Internet. The performance of any steganography algorithm depends on two factors: embedding efficiency and embedding payload. In this paper, a high embedding payload of video steganography algorithm has been proposed based on the BCH coding. To improve the security of the algorithm, a secret message is first encoded by BCH(n, k, t) coding. Then, it is embedded into the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) coefficients of video frames. As the DWT middle and high frequency regions are considered to be less sensitive data, the secret message is embedded only into the middle and high frequency DWT coefficients. The proposed algorithm is tested under two types of videos that contain slow and fast motion objects. The results of the proposed algorithm are compared to both the Least Significant Bit (LSB) and [1] algorithms. The results demonstrate better performance for the proposed algorithm than for the others. The hiding ratio of the proposed algorithm is approximately 28%, which is evaluated as a high embedding payload with a minimal tradeoff of visual quality. The robustness of the proposed algorithm was tested under various attacks. The results were consistent.
Ultra-low power consumption military communication systems

The authors present general techniques to reduce the power consumption while increasing the clock rate and maximizing the silicon area of CMOS circuits. Modern digital signal processing implementations suffer from high power dissipation while requiring large silicon area. A technique based on the use of additional transistors with a modified threshold is described. This technique lowers the power-delay product of transmission-gate intensive CMOS circuits compared to standard CMOS technology. Resulting circuits exhibit a reduced power dissipation while enabling increased clock rate and reduced implementation area by a factor of 2. Use of additional circuit optimization techniques improves the efficiency of CMOS circuits by a factor of 3 to 4. >
Mammary epithelial cells undergo secretory differentiation in cycling virgins but require pregnancy for the establishment of terminal differentiation

Postnatal development of the mammary gland begins during puberty with ductal proliferation and is completed at delivery with the appearance of secretory alveolar structures. Using endogenous milk protein genes and a WAP-lacZ reporter transgene, we show that the differentiation of alveolar cells is initiated in virgin mice in estrus in a limited number of cells. With the onset of pregnancy, the number of expressing cells and the cellular expression levels increase until full activity is reached at lactation. Milk protein genes are activated in a defined temporal sequence. WDNM1 and beta-casein are expressed early in pregnancy and increase during alveolar proliferation. WAP (whey acidic protein) and alpha-lactalbumin are expressed later near the end of gestation, which is characterized by terminal differentiation of the mammary secretory phenotype. By in situ hybridization, we have established evidence for asynchrony in milk protein gene expression among alveolar cells showing large variations in the intensity of hybridization among adjacent cells. The asynchrony of maturation of epithelial cells within a given alveolus suggests that the genetic program leading to terminal differentiation is subject to local modulation. It is likely that these signals are manifest through various pathways including growth factors, the extracellular matrix or gene products specific to terminal differentiation such as WAP. We extended our analyses to WAP/WAP transgenic mice in which WAP is synthesized precociously and functional differentiation of alveolar cells is impaired. We found an altered expression pattern of milk protein genes, with a strong reduction of alpha-lactalbumin RNA. We conclude that the early production of WAP in WAP/WAP mammary glands disrupts the timing of gene activation leading to a premature termination of the differentiative program.
Modified Horton's Equation to Model Advance Trajectory in Furrow Irrigation Systems

A modified form of Horton’s infiltration equation was used to model advance trajectory of the wetting front as well as for predicting cumulative infiltration in a furrow-irrigated system using expe...
Geology of McAllen-Pharr Field Area, Hidalgo County, Texas: ABSTRACT

The McAllen-Pharr field produces gas and gas condensate from the lower, middle, and upper Frio Sandstone between the depths of 5,800 and 13,765 ft. The Frio is a regressive offlap sequence. Consequently, the environment of deposition of the productive sandstone bodies ranges from very shallow marine in the lower Frio through brackish and transitional to continental in the upper Frio. Hydrocarbon entrapment is in a simple faulted anticline in the upper Frio, a large stratigraphic trap in the Hansen sand, and many small complex fault blocks in the lower Frio. Structurally, the McAlllen-Pharr field changes from a simple downthrown fault closure with basinward regional dip to a complexly faulted structure with steep, away-from-the-basin dips. The great amount of deposition associated with the Rio Grande embayment, and the major contemporaneous McAllen fault system, have created two significant features in the McAllen-Pharr field that are characteristic of this area. They are the stratigraphic nature of the Hansen sand "fairway" and the development of "reverse dip" into the McAllen fault. A knowledge of these phenomena will aid in a clearer understanding of the overall geology and can be the key to future deep exploration in the area. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1829------------
Design and experimental demonstration of active RF metamaterials

In this paper,an alternative method is proposed expand the usability of metamaterials by employing active elements to cancel losses and/or reduce dispersion. Since they can be designed in a more controllable fashion than their electrical counterparts, this work will focus on developing magnetic active particles capable of generating negative permeability metamaterials. However, the principles discussed in this paper can also be applied to obtain active electric materials.
Effects of Thyroxine Upon Biosynthesis of Flavin Mononucleotide and Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide

In hyperthyroid rats, hepatic levels of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) were not increased above normal despite increased activity of the enzymes FAD pyrophosphorylase and flavokinase responsible for their synthesis. The activity of FMN phosphatase, which degrades FMN, was also slightly increased. Mechanisms which may account for the apparent upper limit in FMN and FAD levels in hyperthyroidism have been discussed. In hypothyroid rats, hepatic concentrations of FMN and FAD were reduced below normal. In these animals there were no changes in the activity of either FAD pyrophosphorylase or FMN phosphatase. These data provide additional evidence that the decreased hepatic concentrations of FMN and FAD in hypothyroidism may be related to the previously reported decrease in activity of flavokinase, which converts riboflavin to FMN. (Endocrinology 84: 584, 1969)
BMPs negatively regulate structure and function of the limb apical ectodermal ridge

The apical ectodermal ridge (AER), a transient specialized epithelium at the distal limb tip, is essential for vertebrate embryonic limb outgrowth along the proximodistal axis. Among all the molecules expressed in the AER, only the Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) have been shown to substitute for its function in limb outgrowth. After specification of the skeletal progenitors is complete, the AER regresses, having fulfilled its function. However, the cellular processes underlying AER regression remain largely unclear, and the molecular ones, totally unknown. Members of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) family are expressed in the AER throughout its life and in the mesenchyme. Our studies using misexpression of Noggin, a BMP inhibitor, reveal an unsuspected role for BMPs in the negative regulation of Fgf expression and AER function. We find that BMPs limit limb outgrowth by promoting AER regression, as BMP inhibition results in persistence of the AER, prolonged Fgf expression and excess soft-tissue growth. In addition, the Noggin misexpression studies uncover an earlier role for BMPs in repression of AER function. Noggin overexpression results in extension of the AER anteriorly and loss of AER asymmetry. We show that overall the AER becomes taller, and its anterior half becomes more similar to a normal posterior AER. In addition, Fgf4 transcripts, which are usually restricted to the posterior half of the AER, are now also expressed anteriorly. Moreover, ectopicFgf4 expression is induced independently of Sonic Hedgehog, contrary to current models of Fgf4 regulation in the limb. Our studies also provide insight into the activity of the hypothesized apical ectodermal maintenance factor (AEMF), which is thought to maintain the tall shape of the posterior part of the AER. Our work shows that the AER is negatively regulated by BMP.
Prospective Evaluation of Acupuncture as Treatment for Glaucoma.

Purpose To evaluate acupuncture as treatment for glaucoma. Design Prospective double-masked randomized crossover study. Methods setting: Clinical practice. population: One eye per patient with primary open-angle glaucoma and stable intraocular pressure (IOP). intervention: Patients were randomized to receive 1 acupuncture series (12 sessions with either eye-related [eye-points] or non-eye-related [non-eye-points] acupoints) and then crossed over to receive the other series. outcome measures: IOP, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), visual field (VF), optic disc and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements, compliance, and adverse reactions. Probability to detect 3 mm Hg IOP difference between series was 90%. Results Twenty-two patients volunteered and 11 (50.0%) completed the study; 8 (36.4%) did not complete treatment owing to changes of health, moving away, lack of transportation, or family crisis; and 3(13.6%) were withdrawn owing to needle sensitivity or IOP elevation (8 mm Hg) in the contralateral eye. After an acupuncture session, mean IOP increased slightly with both eye-points (from 12.9 ± 1.8 mm Hg to 13.6 ± 2.0 mm Hg, P = .019) and non-eye-points (from 13.0 ± 1.5 mm Hg to 13.5 ± 1.7 mm Hg, P = .073) series. HR, diurnal IOP, and BCVA showed no statistically significant changes after 12 sessions of either series. Systolic and diastolic BP were reduced after 12 sessions of non-eye-points series ( P = .040, P = .002, respectively). Optic disc, RNFL, and VF showed no statistically significant changes. Conclusions Acupuncture has no overall effect on diurnal IOP or BCVA but may temporally increase the IOP immediately after a treatment session. BP is lowered by acupuncture with non-eye-points, but not with eye-points. Compliance and adverse event rates were low.
An 8-mW, ESD-protected, CMOS LNA for Ultra-Wideband Applications

A common-gate, 7.9mW, ESD-protected, CMOS Ultra-Wideband LNA is presented. A wideband transconductance enhancement scheme facilitates the inclusion of ESD protection at the circuit input and reduces noise figure. Measurement results indicate that the LNA achieves a high S21 (15dB) over the entire band, and a 4.25kV HBM ESD protection level is projected from the measured failure current. Simulation results show low NF (3-4dB) across the band and an input-referred 1dB CP of -11.2dBm at 5GHz.
Sperm of the Shrimp Sicyonia ingentis Undergo a Bi-Phasic Capacitation Accompanied by Morphological Changes

Sperm removed from seminal receptacles of female Sicyonia ingentis can be induced to undergo a bi-phasic acrosome reaction (AR), acrosomal exocytosis followed by filament formation, using egg water (EW). Sperm removed from males will not undergo any phase of the AR when incubated with EW, indicating that these sperm undergo a capacitation process after insemination. Freshly molted females (functional virgins) were placed in aquaria with males and monitored for copulation. Mated females were isolated and allowed to carry sperm for specific periods of time. At these time points, sperm were removed and assayed for the ability to undergo the AR using EW. The results indicate that sperm are competent to undergo acrosomal exocytosis after approximately 25 hr, while competency to form acrosomai filaments is not achieved until around 145 hr post-insemination. Morphological examination of sperm removed from males and sperm removed from females revealed dramatic differences. Microscopic evidence indicates that some of the morphological changes seen during capacitation are necessary for the successful completion of the AR.
In pursuit of procedural justice: Lessons from an analysis of 56 forest carbon project designs

Abstract In an effort to reduce the potential for negative social impacts in forest carbon projects, private third-party actors such as the Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Alliance (Alliance) have established certification schemes (e.g. standards) to ensure that biodiversity and community livelihood goals are met through just means while also reaching carbon mitigation goals. Using a mixed methods approach including rigorous content analysis coupled with descriptive statistics on 56 Alliance project design documents, this paper seeks to understand: 1) the extent to which projects seeking Alliance certification responded to the standards criteria requiring local community participation in the project development process; and, 2) how the Alliance certification standards can serve as an instrument for procedural justice and thus contribute to narrowing the social justice gap in global forest governance. We find that while the standards could potentially help address this governance gap by serving as standards of justice, evidence suggests that projects are not fulfilling requirements to facilitate procedural justice. We suggest that the lack of information and attention to stakeholder processes represents a substantial hurdle for facilitating procedural justice for impacted communities, suggesting that forest carbon (including REDD+) projects may result in the same threats to communities and livelihoods as past forest governance interventions. Furthermore, our findings signal the possibility of future credibility problems for the Alliance.
In Vivo VL-Targeted Microbial Superantigen Induced Global Shifts in the B Cell Repertoire

To subvert host defenses, some microbial pathogens produce proteins that interact with conserved motifs in V regions of B cell Ag receptor shared by large sets of lymphocytes, which define the properties of a superantigen. Because the clonal composition of the lymphocyte pool is a major determinant of immune responsiveness, this study was undertaken to examine the in vivo effect on the host immune system of exposure to a B cell superantigen, protein L (PpL), a product of the common commensal bacterial species, Finegoldia magna , which is one of the most common pathogenic species among Gram-positive anaerobic cocci. Libraries of Vκ L chain transcripts were generated from the spleens of control and PpL-exposed mice, and the expressed Vκ rearrangements were characterized by high-throughput sequencing. A total of 120,855 sequencing reads could be assigned to a germline Vκ gene, with all 20 known Vκ subgroups represented. In control mice, we found a recurrent and consistent hierarchy of Vκ gene usage, as well as patterns of preferential Vκ–Jκ pairing. PpL exposure induced significant targeted global shifts in repertoire with reduction of Vκ that contain the superantigen binding motif in all exposed mice. We found significant targeted reductions in the expression of clonotypes encoded by 14 specific Vκ genes with the predicted PpL binding motif. These rigorous surveys document the capacity of a microbial protein to modulate the composition of the expressed lymphocyte repertoire, which also has broad potential implications for host–microbiome and host–pathogen relationships.
A crystallographic and molecular modeling study of butyrophenones.

The X‐ray crystal structures of four butyrophenone analogues have been completed and are reported herein. These include spiperone hydrochloride (I), N‐methylspiperone hydrochloride (II), pimozide (III), and fluspirilene (IV). These structures were compared to other structurally similar molecules with similar pharmacological activity. In addition, a molecular modeling study was done in order to determine the low energy conformations of these molecules. It was found that calculations of parameters that describe the molecular conformations showed that all four molecules were structurally similar. Crystallographic data: (I) C23H26FN3O2·HCl, monoclinic space group P21/c, a = 17.820(2) A, b = 5.719(1) A, c = 22.013(3) A, β = 102.330(9)°, Z = 4, final R = 0.045 for 1390 observed reflections (I> 3σ(⁁). (II) C24H28FN3O2·HCl·4H2O, monoclinic space group C2/c,a = 34.629(3) A, b = 9.842(1) A, c = 17.935(1) A, β = 119.980‐(5)°, Z = 8, final R = 0.066 for 3617 observed reflections. (III) C28H29‐F2N3O, monoclinic space group P21/n, a = 9.246(1) A, b = 16.769(2)A, c = 16.422(1) A, β = 105.729(7)°, Z = 4, final R = 0.078 for1820 observed reflections. (IV) C29H31F2N3O, monoclinic space group C2/c, a = 34.246(3) A, b = 11.845(1) A, c = 12.542(1) A, β = 95.523(6)°, Z = 8, final R = 0.047 for 2720 observed reflections.
Photoelectrochemical oxidation of a turn-on fluorescent probe mediated by a surface MnII catalyst covalently attached to TiO2 nanoparticles

A manganese complex covalently attached to a TiO2 electrode via a light-absorbing organic linker (L) was used in the photooxidation of 2′,7′-dihydrodichlorofluorescein (H2DCF). Significant and sustained photocurrent was observed upon visible-light illumination of the fully assembled anode in the presence of the substrate. The two-electron, two-proton oxidation of H2DCF yields the fluorescent compound, 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein (DCF). Our studies suggest that the MnII–L–TiO2 architecture is an effective photoanode for multielectron chemistry, as production of DCF under visible-light illumination exceeds yields observed for bare TiO2 as well as ZnII–L–TiO2 anodes. The turn-on fluorescent behavior of H2DCF upon oxidation makes it an excellent substrate for the study of new photoanodes. The high fluorescence quantum yield of DCF allows for nanomolar sensitivity and real-time monitoring of substrate oxidation.
An approach to some dilemmas and complications of office oral surgery.

This article reviews an eclectic collection of problems. There is no particular reason why any one of them was chosen other than that they are more likely to occur in the course of practice than some other complications such as an oro-antral fistula or trauma to the lingual nerve or tissue emphysema. These latter and some other predicaments were discussed in the course of the talks given by the author at the 28th Australian Dental Congress in March 1995. The problems discussed in this paper are: 1 1. Dentoalveolar abscess anaesthesia. 2 2. Inability to obtain effective anaesthesia. The complications: 2 1. Post-extraction haemorrhage. 2 2. Syncope. 3 3. Postoperative infection.
Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein Polymorphism (TaqIB) Associates With Risk in Postinfarction Patients With High C-Reactive Protein and High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels

Objective— To investigate the roles of inflammation and a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) polymorphism potentially related to recent findings demonstrating coronary risk with increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level. Methods and Results— A novel graphical exploratory data analysis tool allowed the examination of coronary risk in postinfarction patients relating to HDL-C and C-reactive protein levels. Results demonstrated a high-risk subgroup, defined by high HDL-C and C-reactive protein levels, exhibiting larger HDL particles and lower lipoprotein-associated phospholipaseA 2 levels than lower-risk patients. Subgroup CETP-associated risk was probed using a functional CETP polymorphism (TaqIB, rs708272 ). In the high-risk subgroup, multivariable modeling revealed greater risk for B2 allele carriers (less CETP activity) versus B1 homozygotes (hazard ratio, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.04 to 5.60; P =0.04). Within the high-risk subgroup, B2 allele carriers had higher serum amyloid A levels than B1 homozygotes. Evidence also demonstrates that CETP genotypic differences in HDL subfraction distributions regarding non–HDL-C and lipoprotein-associated phospholipaseA 2 may potentially relate to impaired HDL remodeling. Conclusion— Postinfarction patients with high HDL-C and C-reactive protein levels demonstrate increased risk for recurrent events. Future studies should aim at characterizing altered HDL particles from such patients and at elucidating the mechanistic details related to inflammation and HDL particle remodeling. Such patients should be considered in drug trials involving an increase in HDL-C level.
Becoming increasingly reactive

We describe a robot control architecture which combines a stimulus-response subsystem for rapid reaction, with a search-based planner for handling unanticipated situations. The robot agent continually chooses which action it is to perform, using the stimulus-response subsystem when possible, and falling back on the planning subsystem when necessary. Whenever it is forced to plan, it applies an explanation-based learning mechanism to formulate a new stimulus-response rule to cover this new situation and others similar to it. With experience, the agent becomes increasingly reactive as its learning component acquires new stimulus-response rules that eliminate the need for planning in similar subsequent situations. This Theo-Agent architecture is described, and results are presented demonstrating its ability to reduce routine reaction time for a simple mobile robot from minutes to under a second.
Circuit reliability simulator for interconnect, via, and contact electromigration

A model for predicting Al interconnect and intermetallic contact/via electromigration time-to-failure under arbitrary current waveform is incorporated in a circuit electromigration reliability simulator. The simulator can (1) generate layout advisory for width and length of each interconnect, and the number of contacts and vias at each node in a circuit, and (2) estimate the overall circuit electromigration failure rate and/or cumulative percent failure as functions of time, temperature, voltage, frequency, and previous stress (e.g., burn-in). >
Connection between stability tests of Middleton/Goodwin and Lev-Ari/Bistritz/Kailath

Here it is shown that two seemingly unrelated stability tests, the Lev-Ari/Bistritz/Kailath test for systems in the discrete-time shift-operator formulation and the test proposed by Middleton and Goodwin for systems in the discrete-time delta-operator formulation, are closely related. It is shown that they both belong to a family of stability tests spanning from the discrete-time to the continuous-time, including the well-known Routh test.
Distributed Detection of A Deterministic Signal in Correlated Gaussian Noise Over MAC

Distributed detection of a deterministic signal in correlated Gaussian noise in a one-dimensional sensor network is studied in this paper. In contrast to the traditional approach where a bank of dedicated parallel access channels (PAC) is used for transmitting the sensor observations to the fusion center, we explore the possibility of employing a shared multiple access channel (MAC), which significantly reduces the bandwidth requirement or detection delay. We assume that local observations are mapped according to a certain function subject to a power constraint and transmitted simultaneously to the fusion center. Using a large deviation approach, we demonstrate that with a specially-chosen mapping rule, MAC fusion achieves the same asymptotic performance as centralized detection under the average power constraint (APC), while there is always a loss in error exponents associated with PAC fusion. Under the total power constraint (TPC), MAC fusion still results in exponential decay in error exponents with the number of sensors, while PAC fusion does not. Finally, we derive an upper bound on the performance loss due to the lack of perfect synchronization over MAC, and show that the performance degradation is negligible when the phase mismatch among sensors is sufficiently small.
La saga de los orígenes: una reinterpretación americanista de dos cuadros de Cristóbal de Villalpando

El debate del origen de los indigenas del continente americano llego a convertirse en un topico practicamente desde la colonizacion hasta bien entrado el siglo XVIII. La existencia de un cuarto continente en los confines del planeta, una tierra que los antiguos creian inhospita e inhabitable por estar situada en la famosa “zona torrida”, produjo un revuelo no solo respecto a las creencias antiguas sino a la Escritura Sagrada. En este trabajo se plantea el auge de este debate en los siglos XVII y XVIII y su repercusion en el continente americano, sobre todo entre la intelectualidad americana que no solo iba armada de la la pluma sino tambien del pincel. Se ofrece una lectura de un grupo de obras de la expulsion de Adan y Eva del paraiso y el episodio del arca de Noe, entre ellas dos del afamado pintor novohispano Cristobal de Villalpando. La interpretacion de estas obras difiere de lecturas previas que han querido ver en estas una elaboracion canonica occidental de temas biblicos, en tanto que vinculan su iconografia con una tendencia historicista mas amplia que intentaba dirimir el origen de los indigenas y lo que ello significaba desde un punto de vista ontologico con respecto al locus del continente americano.
(F-18) fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography as a predictor of pathologic grade and other prognostic variables in bone and soft tissue sarcoma.

Positron emission tomography (PET) can be used to measure tumor metabolism in sarcomas by measuring the standard uptake value (SUV) of (F-18) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). FDG-PET SUV has been shown to correlate with histological grade. We compared FDG-PET SUV in 89 bone and soft tissue sarcomas with histopathological features, including tumor grade, as well as with markers of cell proliferation and cell cycle regulatory gene expression that may be prognostically or therapeutically important. All patients had undergone PET before biopsy. Features evaluated included grade (National Cancer Institute for soft tissue or Mayo Clinic for bone), cellularity, and the number of mitoses per 10 400× fields. Deparaffinized, formalin-fixed sections were immunostained with antibodies to Ki-67 (MIB-1), p53 (DO7), p21 WAF1 (EA10), and mdm-2 (1B10). For Ki-67, results were estimated as a percentage of positive cells. For p53 and mdm-2, only cases with >20% positive cells were considered to be overexpressing these proteins. For p21 WAF1 , only cases with <10% positive cells were considered to have lost normal p21 WAF1 expression. Tumor S-phase percentage and ploidy were determined by flow cytometry. FDG-PET SUV was associated with histopathological grade, cellularity, mitotic activity, MIB labeling index, and p53 overexpression. No association was seen with p21 WAF1 , mdm-2, S-phase fraction, or ploidy. Tumor metabolism data acquired by FDG-PET may help ensure accurate grading and prognostication in sarcoma by guiding biopsy toward the most biologically significant regions of large masses. Further follow-up will be necessary to determine whether FDG-PET provides independent prognostic information.
Whooping cough: II. Experimental study

Summary 1. A pertussis-like syndrome was noted in one Macacus rhesus and two Erythrocebus monkeys following intratracheal inoculations of virulent H. pertussis organisms. The criteria for infection presented were: (1) incubation period of seven to ten days; (2) recovery of organism early in the illness; (3) leucocytosis with a predominance of lymphocytes; (4) cough which became spasmodic, lasting twenty-eight to forty days with subsequent recovery. 2. Inoculation in Macacus rhesus monkeys with filtered and unfiltered nasal washings from cases of whooping cough gave negative results. Combinations of filtered washings and organisms also proved negative. 3. Measles virus did not favor implantation of H. pertussis in Macacus rhesus monkeys.
Effect of Urban and Industrial Development on Agricultural Finance

AT LEAST two basic approaches could be taken on a paper under this title. The discussion might be confined to basic agricultural finance problems in the periphery of urban and industrial areas where the urban population is expanding into rural areas. This outward movement causes farm real estate values to rise due to competition for home and industrial sites. It creates problems of taxation. Should tax assessments be based on value of the property for agricultural purposes or for urban and industrial purposes. As these urban and industrial areas expand, farm people living in peripheral areas have increasing opportunities for nonfarm income. The situation also creates need for financial and credit services for parttime farmers and others in such areas. The financial aspects of the rural development program, which is receiving increasing emphasis throughout the country, could also be considered. On the other hand, a broader approach might be taken by considering the financial problems of American agriculture in the face of urban and industrial development. We have a tendency to look constantly at credit needs, the role of credit institutions, and other credit factors with reference to agriculture, both as a whole and by individual segments such as long-term, intermediate, and short-term credit. Each year the annual meeting is replete with detailed observations with reference to credit to improve agriculture. However, agricultural finance involves much more than agricultural credit. In addition, if we consider the effect of urban and industrial development on agricultural finance, this involves projecting trends and examining structural changes taking place in agriculture and the possible effect of these changes on financing in agriculture as we move forward. Two recent research contributions by the National Bureau of Economic Research, entitled "Patterns of Farm Financial Structure" and "Capital in Agriculture: Its Formation and Financing Since 1870," give evidence of the great need to focus our attention on the over-all question of agricultural finance as contrasted with agricultural credit alone. The latter publication includes interesting and important findings with reference to the source of gross funds for replacement and additions to physical capital and working cash in agriculture.' "Internal" financing, largely from gross