cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fundamental Fairness & the Path from Santobello to Padilla: A Response to Professor Bibas

Almost no one in the legal academy has written more (or better) about guilty pleas and plea bargains than Stephanos Bibas. In a forthcoming article, entitled "Regulating the Plea-Bargaining Market: From Caveat Emptor to Consumer Protection," Bibas turns his attention to the Court’s recent decision in Padilla v. Kentucky. In Padilla, the Court held that a constitutionally effective defense attorney must advise her non-citizen client of the immigration risks and consequences of pleading guilty. In his article, Bibas casts the Padilla decision as a radical departure from the Court’s conventional laissez-faire approach to plea-bargaining and guilty pleas. In this response, I explain why he is mistaken to view the decision as a change of constitutional course. Padilla is not, as Bibas claims, “the Court’s first case to treat plea bargaining as a subject worthy of constitutional regulation in its own right and on its own terms.” In fact, the Court has regulated plea-bargaining on its own terms for decades. Indeed, Padilla’s roots can be traced to the Court’s earliest plea-bargaining decisions - cases in which the Court applied a constitutional interpretive method distinct from the method it has applied typically to constitutional questions of trial procedure. Specifically, in almost all of the seminal pre-Padilla cases, the court invoked fairness principles - most notably, the notion of unfair surprise - to decide whether the procedures that produced the guilty pleas were constitutional. Padilla is of the same pedigree. The thrust of the Court’s holding in Padilla is that it is fundamentally unfair to leave a defendant in the dark about the deportation consequences of his guilty plea. Bibas fails to perceive that the fairness principles that animate the Court’s decision in Padilla are the same principles that have animated its guilty-plea and plea-bargaining jurisprudence all along. Thus, Bibas takes Padilla to represent a course correction when, in fact, it represents only an unfamiliar result reached through conventional means. This is not to say that the Padilla decision is insignificant - just that it represents a substantial step down a well-worn path.
A simple broadband dipole equivalent circuit model

This paper presents a novel dipole equivalent circuit model exhibiting good impedance fidelity over a bandwidth exceeding five octaves. A pair of transmission line segments duplicates the frequency-impedance periodicity of a dipole making broadband impedance fidelity possible with a minimum number of model components. Optimum model component values are found with the use of a genetic algorithm.
Feasibility of power electronic converters for low-voltage (42 V) SRM drives in mildly hybrid electric traction systems

The more electric car (MEC) concept emphasizes utilizing electrical power to drive more automotive conventional systems and to facilitate new introduced luxury loads. Improving fuel economy, emissions, reliability, and comfort are the main motivations towards the MEC concept, which necessitates going to a higher system voltage such as the proposed 42 V. This paper presents that the 42 V system is also feasible for driving current intensive switched reluctance motor (SRM) drives as the traction loads in mildly hybrid electric cars.
Regulation of t cell responses during central nervous system viral infection

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the contribution of T cells to the pathogenesis of neurologic disease and discusses specific examples of how individual T cell effector functions can be regulated during central nervous system's (CNS) viral infections. T cells can serve a variety of functions as part of the host immune response during CNS viral infection. They can participate directly in viral clearance from the brain, or they can promote the survival of the host without exerting any direct effect on virus replication. Only a small number of T cells infiltrate the brain under normal circumstances. This paucity of immune surveillance of baseline is one of several reasons why the CNS has often been characterized as an “immunologically privileged” site. T cell-mediated lysis of infected cells has been demonstrated to be an important mechanism of viral clearance from tissues other than the CNS. In several well-characterized animal models of CNS viral infection, part of the elicited T cell response actually contributes to the pathology and adverse outcome of disease. Neurotropic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection of adult mice is the premier example of this phenomenon.
Pluriclosed flow, Born-Infeld geometry, and rigidity results for generalized Kähler manifolds

ABSTRACTWe prove long time existence and convergence results for the pluriclosed flow, which imply geometric and topological classification theorems for generalized Kahler structures. Our approach centers on the reduction of pluriclosed flow to a degenerate parabolic equation for a (1, 0)-form, introduced in [30]. We observe a number of differential inequalities satisfied by this system which lead to a priori L∞ estimates for the metric along the flow. Moreover we observe an unexpected connection to “Born-Infeld geometry” which leads to a sharp differential inequality which can be used to derive an Evans-Krylov type estimate for the degenerate parabolic system of equations. To show convergence of the flow we generalize Yau's oscillation estimate to the setting of generalized Kahler geometry.
High capacity polarization sensitive chipless RFID tag

A radio frequency identification (RFID) chipless tag that achieves a high code capacity through multiple closed loop printed resonators is presented. By making the resonators polarization dependent, the same frequency band within UWB from 3.1 to 7.6 GHz is re-used, hence doubling the code capacity of the tag. The chipless tag is excited using linearly polarized vertical and horizontal plane waves and the radar cross section versus frequency is analyzed. Using frequency shift encoding enables each of the six resonators to represent more than one bit. Thus, in a small tag dimension of 6 × 3 cm2, encoding of 28.4 bits is demonstrated.
Changes in family variables among normal and overweight preschoolers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the weight and height of normal and overweight children in variables relating to the individual, home/family and community across a six month time period. Research Questions/Hypotheses: What are the ecological factors that influence the body mass index (BMI) of preschool children? Significance: The rate of overweight preschool children aged 2 to 5 years has more than doubled in the past 30 years. Low socioeconomic and ethnic minority groups have higher rates. Research shows a strong correlation between a child's size (height, weight, and BMI) and the ecological factors present in the family's environment. Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis from a cross sectional study of 200 Mexican American children ages 2–3 years old receiving WIC services. The sample consisted of 100 children with a BMI > 95% for age and 100 children with a BMI of <85% for age. Variables and measurements included: host/child (BMI percentile, diet, TV watchin...
DATA MINING FOR PREDICTORS OF SOFTWARE QUALITY

"Knowledge discovery in data bases" (KDD) for software engineering is a process for finding useful information in the large volumes of data that are a byproduct of software development, such as dat...
Microbial community activities during establishment, performance, and decline of bench-scale passive treatment systems for mine drainage

Abstract Permeable reactive barrier (PRB) technology, in which sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) facilitate precipitation of metal sulfides, is a promising approach for remediation of sulfate- and metal-laden mine drainage. While PRBs are easily established, they often decline for reasons not well understood. SRB depend on or compete with multiple dynamic microbial populations within a PRB; as a result, performance depends on the changing PRB chemical composition and on succession and competition within the microbial community. To investigate these interactions, we constructed and monitored eight bench-scale PRBs to define periods of establishment, performance, and decline. We then conducted short-term batch studies, using substrate-supplemented column materials, on Days 0 (pre-establishment), 27 (establishment), 41 (performance), and 99 (decline) to reveal potential activities of cellulolytic bacteria, fermenters + anaerobic respirers, SRB, and methanogens. PRBs showed active sulfate reduction, with sulfate removal rates (SRR) of ∼1–3 mol/m 3 /d, as well as effective removal of Zn 2+ . Potential activities of fermentative + anaerobic respiratory bacteria were initially high but diminished greatly during establishment and dropped further during performance and decline. In contrast, potential SRB activity rose during establishment, peaked during performance, and diminished as performance declined. Potential methanogen activity was low; in addition, SRB-methanogen substrate competition was shown not to limit SRB activity. Cellulolytic bacteria showed no substrate limitation at any time. However, fermenters experienced substrate limitation by Day 0, SRB by Day 27, and methanogens by Day 41, showing the dependence of each group on upstream populations to provide substrates. All potential activities, except methanogenesis, were ultimately limited by cellulose hydrolysis; in addition, all potential activities except methanogenesis declined substantially by Day 99, showing that long-term substrate deprivation strongly diminished the intrinsic capacity of the PRB community to perform.
Analysis of polysaccharide taste in hamsters: Behavioral and neural studies

Abstract A series of studies was carried out in hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus ) to determine whether polysaccharides have behavioral and neurophysiological characteristics that distinguish them from simple sugars. Behavioral studies utilized solutions of glucose, maltose, sucrose, Polycose, and glycogen in two-bottle preference tests and in tests of generalization of conditioned taste aversions. Multiunit and single-unit responses of the chorda tympani nerve were studied with the same stimuli. Neural responses to Polycose and glycogen were found to be generated primarily by ionic contaminants. Dialysis or deionization dramatically reduced electrophysiological responses, a result consistent with occurrence of Polycose and glycogen sensitivity in electrolyte-sensitive nerve fibers. Effects of treatment with the Na + -channel blocker amiloride and cross-adaptation were also consistent with neural responses generated by ionic contaminants. Hamsters showed strong preferences for the sugars and Polycose, a mixture of glucose polymers with α-1,4 linkages, and even stronger preferences for a glycogen preparation. Conditioned flavor aversions were established to glycogen, sucrose, and maltose, but no aversion was learned to 3.2% Polycose. The learned aversion to maltose partly generalized to glycogen and sucrose, but sucrose and glycogen did not cross-generalize. Deionization did not affect the preferences for Polycose and glycogen but removal of contaminants of mol.wt ≤ 7000 Da greatly reduced preference for glycogen. In conclusion, glycogen itself, after removal of low molecular weight contaminants, is a poor taste stimulus in hamsters, both behaviorally and neurophysiologically. However, Polycose is highly preferred by hamsters but gives little chorda tympani response after removal of ionic contaminants. In alert animals, the action of salivary amylase on polysaccharides may produce simpler, detectable taste stimuli.
Complementary and alternative medicines in the treatment of dementia: an evidence-based review.

Alternative medicines may have potential beneficial results in treating certain forms of dementia and related symptoms, as well as slowing disease progression. Alternative medicines may ameliorate disturbances in cognition, mood, sleep and activities of daily living. Primary mechanisms of action include modifications in neurotransmitter synthesis, inhibition of neurotransmitter reuptake and enzyme-induced neurotransmitter breakdown, antioxidant and anti-platelet activity, enhanced blood flow and glucose metabolism. Adverse events can include cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, mood, autonomic and dermatologic effects. However, adverse events, when reported represent, a small percentage of treated groups and direct links between adverse events and alternative therapies are tenuous. Many studies of alternative medicines in dementia are inconclusive and characterised by methodological deficiencies such as small sample sizes and inadequate controls. If alternative medicines can be shown to be efficacious using more rigourous experimental designs, both consumers and clinicians could avail themselves of a wider range of pharmacological substances that may offer the advantage of being better tolerated and exhibiting safer therapeutic margins than some allopathic medicines. While a number of complementary interventions have shown both strengths and weaknesses, huperzine A, levacecarnine and EGB 761, based on the overall quality of the studies, identified mechanisms of activity and safety profiles merit further examination in controlled clinical outcome studies.
Concrete Poetry: A Linguistic Technique for the Foreign Language Classroom

ABSTRACT Concrete Poetry is a visual poetry form which may be used in the foreign language classroom. It is an ancient form popular still in modern times and in all languages. This article explains what concrete poetry is, and discusses how to teach the creation of a concrete poem to foreign language classes. It begins with an introduction of how concrete poems were presented in various language classes, continues briefly with the history and background of concrete poetry, and concludes with techniques for implementation.
On problems of isoconversion data processing for reactions in Al-rich Al–MoO3 thermites

Abstract Isoconversion processing of thermoanalytical data, while becoming more and more widely used, remains problematic when used indiscriminately. The exothermic reaction in a 4Al·MoO 3 nanocomposite thermite, prepared by arrested reactive milling, was investigated at heating rates ranging from 1 to 40 K/min. The data processing according to a number of traditional isoconversion methods (Kissinger, Friedman, Ozawa–Flynn–Wall), reveals distinct and experimentally reproducible nonlinear regions in the plots of their respective logarithmic function vs. inverse temperature, possibly indicating changes in reaction mechanism over this range of heating rates. More contemporary implementations of isoconversion algorithms give results that are substantially similar. In order to predict kinetic behavior under any heating conditions, especially outside the range of heating rates covered by experiments, a detailed mechanistic model of all involved processes is needed.
Pointwise variance analysis: a technique for guiding data acquisition

Abstract In any experiment in which the variation of a dependent variable with an independent one is examined so that one or more parameters can be evaluated, the different points exert different degrees of influence on the values of the parameters. Pointwise variance analysis deals with the contributions of individual data points to the variance of each parameter and with the dependences of these contributions on the value of the independent variable. It shows where the data should be concentrated to maximize the certainties with which the parameters of greatest interest can be obtained, or to minimize the amount of data that must be analyzed to provide given levels of certainty. Four examples—two from polarography, one from kinetic analysis, and one from potentiometric acid-base titrimetry—are given.
Studies of nitrogen and fat metabolism on infantsand children with pancreatic fibrosis

Summary Infants and children with pancreatic fibrosis have shown a type of metabolism which closely approximates that described in dogs with blocked pancreatic ducts. It is characterized by feces with a high residue and large nitrogen content; the fat is moderately increased. When fed a diet containing nitrogen but no native protein, the dry weight, nitrogen content, and fat of the feces were little affected. Addition of pancreatin to a diet containing both protein and fat was followed by some reduction in the amount and nitrogen content of the feces but caused no change in fat excretion. The amount of fecal excretion and the nitrogen in the feces were reduced to within normal limits when a fat-free ration consisting of casein hydrolysate and glucose was administered. *
Hormone-Induced Stabilization of Soluble RNA in Pea-Stem Tissue

When indoleacetic acid labeled with carbon-14 in the carboxyl group is fed to excised green pea-stem segments, growth is initiated, and there is a parallel progressive labeling of the RNA extracted by cold phenol. The bulk of the label is found in the 4S fraction. This fraction is more resistant to degradation by ribonuclease than a similar fractian obtained from tissue not treated with indoleacetic acid.
The future of e-learning communities

The learning potential of Internet technology can come from the most familiar sources---peers and elders.
On the interaction of nearly equal solitons in the KdV equation

An asymptotic formula is derived that describes the interaction of two solitons travelling with nearly equal speeds as the sum of two solitons with time-dependent parameters. If the difference in s...
Harmonic Balance Approach for an Airfoil with a Freeplay Control Surface

The nonlinear aeroelastic response of a two-dimensional airfoil, including a control surface with freeplay placed in an incompressible flow, is studied. The model equations are formulated as a set of first-order ordinary differential equations. First, the dynamic response is investigated by a time integration method, and the time integration results are used for the verification of the harmonic balance results. The interesting hysteresis phenomenon and the effect of initial conditions of the subcritical bifurcation are presented. A higher-order harmonic balance method is then derived to investigate the high harmonics of the airfoil motions. The harmonic balance prediction is verified by comparison to the results from a numerical time marching integration and also by comparison to results from a previous experiment. Nomenclature a = nondimensional distance of the elastic axis from the midchord, with respect to the semichord B = damping submatrix b = semichord Ch = stiffness (per unit span) of wing in deflection C(k) = generalized Theodorsen function Cα, Cβ = torsional stiffness (per unit span) of wing around a and of aileron around c c = nondimensional distance of the control surface (aileron) hinge line from the midchord, with respect to the semichord
Rapid assessment of renal reserve in young adults by cystatin C.

AbstractBackground. The kidney can increase glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in response to a protein load (renal reserve). In a pilot study of healthy young adults we examined renal reserve using changes in serum cystatin C (cysC). Methods. Glomerular filtration rate was obtained using iohexol single slope plasma disappearance. To stimulate GFR, subjects ingested a beefburger containing 60 grams of protein. CysC was measured by immunonephelometry before and 125–141 minutes after protein loading. Results. All subjects were found to have a normal iohexol plasma disappearance GFR with a mean of 104.6 ± 9.9 mL/min per 1.73 m2. CysC decreased in each subject after the meat meal. Baseline cysC-based estimated GFR was 98.1 ± 9.1 mL/min per 1.73 m2 with a mean increase of 12.0 ± 5.2 (p = 0.0003). Conclusions. Our study showed a consistent decrease in serum cysC and increase in cysC-based estimated GFR following a protein load in young adults. Further studies are needed using renal clearance methods to confirm th...
How do biomolecular systems speed up and regulate rates

The viability of a biological system depends upon careful regulation of the rates of various processes. These rates have limits imposed by intrinsic chemical or physical steps (e.g., diffusion). These limits can be expanded by interactions and dynamics of the biomolecules. For example, (a) a chemical reaction is catalyzed when its transition state is preferentially bound to an enzyme; (b) the folding of a protein molecule is speeded up by specific interactions within the transition-state ensemble and may be assisted by molecular chaperones; (c) the rate of specific binding of a protein molecule to a cellular target can be enhanced by mechanisms such as long-range electrostatic interactions, nonspecific binding and folding upon binding; (d) directional movement of motor proteins is generated by capturing favorable Brownian motion through intermolecular binding energy; and (e) conduction and selectivity of ions through membrane channels are controlled by interactions and the dynamics of channel proteins. Simple physical models are presented here to illustrate these processes and provide a unifying framework for understanding speed attainment and regulation in biomolecular systems.
Juvenile Coho Salmon Leaping Ability and Behavior in an Experimental Culvert Test Bed

Abstract As part of a research program aimed at identifying the culvert configurations and associated hydraulic conditions that foster the successful upstream movement of juvenile salmon, we investigated the ability of hatchery-raised juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch to leap into an experimental culvert under varying hydraulic conditions. Five outfall drops ranging from 0 to 32 cm were tested to represent differing degrees of culvert outfall drop. Trials were run at a culvert discharge of 0.028 m3/s and a tailwater pool depth of 30 cm. The median success rate was highest (85%) for the 0-cm drop, followed by 34% at 12 cm, 20% at 20 cm, 2% at 26 cm, and 0% at 32 cm. When overcoming the 0-cm (streaming flow) and 12-cm drops, fish predominantly used swimming behavior. For the outfall drops of 20 and 26 cm, leaping behavior predominated. In a typical leaping event, fish initiated the leap near the floor of the tailwater tank and used burst swimming to propel their bodies from near the standing wave (p...
THE USE OF BASIC POLYMER SORBENTS FOR THE RECOVERY OF ACETIC ACID FROM DILUTE AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Measurements were made of preferential uptakes of acetic acid from aqueous solution onto basic polymer sorbents. Individual uptakes of water and acetic acid were measured as well. The sorption equilibria were interpreted through a chemical complexation model yielding sorption affinities and capacities for acetic acid. Basicity scales, such as pKa and Gutmann Donor Number (DN) based upon the monomeric functional group chemistry, were shown to explain the trends in sorption affinities. The use of different solvents to leach sorbed acetic acid from basic polymer sorbents was investigated as a means of regenerating the sorbents. It was found that regeneration can be improved by using solvents of high donicity. Aqueous ammonia proved to be effective for regenerating moderately strong base sorbents. 83 refs., 51 figs., 11 tabs.
III-N multiple quantum wells based 285- to 340-nm deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes over sapphire

High power deep ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diodes (LEDs) are good candidates for solid-state lighting, bio-chemical detection and short-range communications. In this paper we describe the progress from our and other research groups towards fabricating 340-280 nm LEDs. In past we have reported on deep UV LEDs on sapphire substrates with active region comprised of pulsed atomic layer epitaxy (PALE) deposited quaternary AlInGaN and ternary AlGaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs). These studies indicated a key role played by current crowding (thermal effects), active region design (polarization effects) and the base material quality (active region defects originating from buffer AlGaN layers) in controlling the emitted powers. Now using a unique AlGaN/AlN superlattice to control strain we have deposited Si-doped high Al-content n + -AlGaN layers over sapphire with thickness in excess of 2 μm. These layers and a new active layer design have yielded high power deep UV LEDs with emission wavelength from 280-340 nm. For 325 nm emission devices powers as high as 10 mW for 1 A pulsed pump current and 1 mW for 100 mA dc pump current were measured. For 280 nm emissions a power of 0.47 mW for 260 mA dc and 3 mW for 1 A of pulsed pump current was measured. For III-N deep UV LEDs, these values to date represent devices with the highest powers for the shortest wavelengths. In this paper we present the details of material and device fabrication and characterization. Initial data on device life-tests are also presented.
Essential self-adjointness of powers of generators of hyperbolic equations

Abstract Using the theory of hyperbolic equations, simple conditions are given which ensure the essential self-adjointness of all powers of certain formally symmetric differential operators. Typical applications include Dirac and Laplace-Beltrami operators on complete Riemannian manifolds, as well as semibounded operators of Schrodinger type.
Influence of dietary energy and protein on yield and composition of milk from cows fed methionine hydroxy analog.

In three trials in consecutive years, 45, 59, and 63 lactating Holstein cows were fed grain mixtures containing either 0 or .25% methionine hydroxy analog with or without protein supplement. In Trial 1, diets were approximately 40% concentrate, and dietary protein averaged 13.2 and 15.8% (dry). Ration dry matter consisted of either 40 or 60% concentrate, and dietary protein averaged 13.5 or 17.3% in Trial 2 whereas concentrate was maintained at 60% of dry matter in Trial 3 with dietary protein at either 13.0, 15.0, or 17.5%. In Trial 1, milk yield or composition did not differ with methionine analog or protein supplementation. Protein supplementation increased milk yield on the 60% concentrate diets in Trial 2, and methionine analog increased milk fat percentage on the 60% concentrate diets. Cows fed 17.5% crude protein in Trial 3 produced more milk than those fed the two lower protein diets. Methionine analog increased milk fat percentage, and this increase was consistent at each percentage of dietary protein. Data from 179 lactations were combined and analyzed for response milk yield and composition to methionine analog included at either 0 or .25 to .30% of grain mixtures in 60% concentrate diets. Cows fed methionine analog produced milk higher in fat content and yielded more total fat and fat-corrected milk than controls.
Grain boundary segregation and transformations in Bi-doped polycrystalline copper

Abstract Bismuth segregation in polycrystalline copper doped with about 50 at ppm bismuth was studied. A saturation value of 1–1.4 monolayer Bi enrichment could be established on the grain boundaries in the 400–700°C temperature range at a rate which increased with temperature. Further aging caused the formation and growth of grain boundary facets. The aged specimens exhibited intergranular, apparently brittle fracture. However, the fracture was always preceded by substantial plastic deformation. While the saturation value of Bi enrichment was rapidly reached at 700°C, 720°C proved to be a deembrittlement temperature. A two-dimensional phase transition may explain the sharp transition between large-scale segregation and de-segregation between 700 and 720°C.
DC motor speed control using neural networks

This paper presents a scheme that uses a feedforward neural network for the learning and generalization of the dynamic characteristics for the starting of a dc motor. The goal is to build an intelligent motor starter which has a versatility equivalent to that possessed by a human operator. To attain a fast and safe starting from stall for a dc motor a maximum armature current should be maintained during the starting period. This can be achieved by properly adjusting the armature voltage. The network is trained to learn the inverse dynamics of the motor starting characteristics and outputs a proper armature voltage. Simulation was performed to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the model. This study also addresses the network performance as a function of the number of hidden units and the number of training samples. 1.
Numerical Analysis of Reflective Cracking in an Asphalt Concrete Overlay over a Flexible Pavement

Previous studies have typically illustrated the three cracking mechanisms: (1) thermally induced fatigue due to a horizontal movement, (2) traffic induced fatigue due to vertical differential movement, and (3) surface initiated cracking due to the curling/warping of underlying slabs. Although these mechanisms are commonly observable for asphalt concrete overlay over both flexible and rigid pavements, the behavior and response of asphalt concrete (AC) overlay over a flexible pavement may be somewhat different from those over a rigid pavement due to their different characteristics of material and structure. Approximately 94% of 2.27 million miles of paved roads in the United States are overlaid with asphalt concrete. The mechanism of reflective cracking in AC overlays over flexible pavements has not been separately differentiated. Moreover, the bonding condition between AC overlays and flexible pavements is commonly assumed as bonded condition, although the interface condition can vary. This paper investigates the reflective cracking mechanism in an AC overlay over flexible pavements under different loading conditions by using a finite element (FE) analysis with bonded and unbonded conditions. The FE simulations also include partial top-down cracking conditions in the underlying flexible pavement. Deformed crack shapes and the highest stress concentration under traffic loading were investigated so that the initiation and propagation of reflective cracking are clearly understood.
The effect of parental age, birth order and other variables on early childhood mortality: a Caribbean example.

The 4275 births to women of native ancestry that took place on the island of St Barthelemy, French West Indies between 1878 and 1970 were analyzed according to the sex of the child, the year of birth, maternal age, maternal parity, paternal age and the number of children the father already had to determine the effects of these variables on rates of perinatal death, death before age 1 and death before age 5. The year of birth, the number of children the father already had, and maternal parity influenced death before age 1 and death before age 5. The sex of the child also influenced the probability of dying in the first year of life but not the first 5 yr of life when the other variables were controlled. Perinatal deaths were influenced only by the sex of the child, but even this effect disappeared when the other variables were controlled.
Succinate oxidase system in the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica, during aestivation (summer diapause)

Abstract 1. 1. By the use of manometric techniques the reduction in respiration during adult aestivation was reflected in a loss of activity of the succinate oxidase system. 2. 2. Substrate concentration, cytochrome- c concentration and pH optima were determined for this system in vitro and the effect of aluminum and calcium ions was assayed. 3. 3. Deep-freezing and lyophilization of tissue were evaluated as storage methods for preservation of succinate oxidase system activity. Deep-freezing at −90°C was effective while lyophilization was not. 4. 4. The activity of the succinate oxidase system roughly paralleled the oxygen uptake of intact adult insects with only 20 per cent of the in vivo activity present in homogenates. At the onset of aestivation, the succinate oxidase system activity declined to 50 per cent of pre-aestivation levels and remained low until termination of aestivation. 5. 5. Cyanide inhibited activity in homogenates of non-aestivating weevils but had little if any effect upon homogenates of aestivating insects.
Traffic camera markup language (TCML)

In this paper, we present a novel video markup language for articulating semantic traffic data from surveillance cameras and other sensors. The markup language includes three layers: sensor descriptions, traffic measurement, and application interface descriptions. The multi-resolution based video codec algorithm enables a quality-of-service-aware video streaming according the data traffic. A set of object detection APIs are developed using Convex Hull and Adaptive Proportion models and 3D modeling. It is found that our approach outperforms 3D modeling and Scale-Independent Feature Transformation (SIFT) algorithms in terms of robustness. Furthermore, our empirical data shows that it is feasible to use TCML to facilitate the real-time communication between an infrastructure and a vehicle for safer and more efficient traffic control.
Infidelity, Trust, and Condom Use Among Latino Youth in Dating Relationships

BACKGROUND:: Latino youth in the United States are at greater risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in comparison with non-Hispanic white youth. METHODS:: Sexually active heterosexual Latino youth aged 16 to 22 years (N = 647) were recruited for interviews through a large health maintenance organization or community clinics. RESULTS:: Adjusting for gender age ethnic heritage and recruitment method womans consistent use of hormonal contraceptives ambivalence about avoiding pregnancy longer length of sexual relationship and greater overall trust in main partner were independently associated with inconsistent condom use and engagement in a greater number of sexual intercourse acts that were unprotected by condom use. Perception that ones main partner had potentially been unfaithful but not ones own sexual concurrency was associated with consistent condom use and fewer acts of unprotected sexual intercourse. Sexually concurrent youth who engaged in inconsistent condomuse with other partners were more likely to engage in inconsistent condom use and a greater number of unprotected sexual intercourse acts with main partners. CONCLUSIONS:: Increasing attachment between youth may be a risk factor for the transmission of STIs via normative declines in condom use. Perception that ones partner has potentially been unfaithful may result in greater condom use. However many Latino adolescents and young adults who engage in sexual concurrency may not take adequate steps to protect their partners from contracting STIs. Some youth may be more focused on the emotional and social repercussions of potentially revealing infidelity by advocating condom use than the physical repercussions of unsafe sex.
Soluble model in the band theory of ferromagnetism

Abstract A soluble band model of ferromagnetism is constructed by selecting appropriate interaction terms out of the full many-electron Hamiltonian in Bloch representation, leading to a model Hamiltonian with interactions of the form -Jkk′SkSk. The thermodynamics of the model are evaluated exactly by Wentzel's thermodynamically-equivalent Hamiltonian method. It is found that the free energy is equivalent to that of the Hartree-Fock model (interaction -Jkk′SzkSzk′). Possible generalizations of the model so as to allow improvement over Hartree-Fock theory, but without destroying the exact solubility, are discussed briefly.
Fluid shear stress stimulates phosphorylation-dependent nuclear export of HDAC5 and mediates expression of KLF2 and eNOS

Fluid shear stress generated by steady laminar blood flow protects vessels from atherosclerosis. Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) are fluid shear stress–responsive genes and key mediators in flow anti-inflammatory and antiatherosclerotic actions. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying flow induction of KLF2 and eNOS remain largely unknown. Here, we show a novel role of histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) in flow-mediated KLF2 and eNOS expression. We found for the first time that fluid shear stress stimulated HDAC5 phosphorylation and nuclear export in endothelial cells through a calcium/calmodulin-dependent pathway. Consequently, flow induced the dissociation of HDAC5 and myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) and enhanced MEF2 transcriptional activity, which leads to expression of KLF2 and eNOS. Adenoviral overexpression of a HDAC5 phosphorylation–defective mutant (Ser259/Ser498 were replaced by Ala259/Ala498, HDAC5-S/A), which shows resistance to flow-induced nuclear export, suppressed flow-mediated MEF2 transcriptional activity and expression of KLF2 and eNOS. Importantly, HDAC5-S/A attenuated the flow-inhibitory effect on monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. Taken together, our results reveal that phosphorylation-dependent derepression of HDAC5 mediates flow-induced KLF2 and eNOS expression as well as flow anti-inflammation, and suggest that HDAC5 could be a potential therapeutic target for the prevention of atherosclerosis.
No Nukes! A Comparison of Participants in Two National Antinuclear Demonstrations

Results of a survey of participants in the April, 1979 antinuclear demonstration in San Francisco are compared to those obtained from a similar study of participants in the May, 1979 antinuclear demonstration in Washington, D.C. Both sets of demonstrators are found to be young, well-educated and politically liberal, and to reject several dominant American values. The similarity in findings betwcen the two studies provides increased confidence in our understanding of the social composition of the antinuclear movement.
Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile-Induced Intestinal Disease

The epidemiology of Clostridium difficile-induced intestinal disease is an intriguing subject about which there are few answers but many remaining questions. Although it is accepted that altered intestinal microecology (usually the result of antimicrobial therapy) is a major predisposition to disease, the details of microbial interactions are not yet known and clearly involve more than simple overgrowth of a resistant member of the resident flora. A variety of reservoirs of C. difficile are recognized. These include endogenous carriage, environmental contamination, and zoonoses, but the relative epidemiologic importance of these varied sources is yet to be determined. Because minor variations in methods for cultivation of C. difficile can markedly affect the ability to detect the organism, even the prevalence of endogenous carriage by various populations is not fully defined. There is good evidence for nosocomial acquisition of disease, but the frequency of this event and the usefulness of preventive measures need to be determined. The development of a typing system would provide a valuable tool for investigating many of the remaining questions. Finally, in addition to the recognized risk factors, which include the apparently predisposing alteration in intestinal microecology and exposure to C. difficile, there appear to be other, as yet undefined, variables that help to determine whether disease will occur. Perhaps the elucidation of the details of the pertinent microbial interactions as well as an understanding of the relevant host-pathogen relationships will provide important insights into the epidemiology of C. difficile-induced disease.
Heat shock response and insulin-associated neurodegeneration

Dysfunctional insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) signaling contributes to the pathological progression of diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's (PD) and Huntington's diseases (HD). Despite their prevalence, there are limited therapeutic options available for the treatment of these neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, establishing a link between insulin/IGF-I and the pathoetiology of these diseases may provide alternative approaches toward their management. Many of the heat shock proteins (Hsps) are well-known molecular chaperones that solubilize and clear damaged proteins and protein aggregates. Recent studies suggest that modulating Hsps may represent a promising therapeutic avenue for improving insulin and IGF-I signaling. Pharmacological induction of the heat shock response (HSR) may intersect with insulin/IGF-I signaling to improve aspects of neurodegenerative phenotypes. Herein, we review the intersection between Hsps and the insulin/IGF systems under normal and pathological conditions. The discussion will emphasize the potential of non-toxic HSR inducers as viable therapeutic agents.
Investigation of personal investment in behavioral role-playing tasks used to assess assertiveness.

The role of subjects' personal investment or incentive in responding to behavioral role-playing tasks used to assess assertiveness was investigated. Using scores on the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule, subjects were assigned to one of three groups of high, low, or medium assertiveness. All subjects differentially responded to situations designed to elicit high or low personal investment. All subjects tended to exhibit qualitatively better assertive responses with high investment than with low investment. Correlations indicated that subjects' Rathus scores of high and low assertiveness correlated with ratings of their role-playing at the low but not the high level of personal investment.
Use of Multi-Modal Media and Tools in an Online Information Literacy Course: College Students' Attitudes and Perceptions.

This project studies the use of multi-modal media objects in an online information literacy class. One hundred sixty-two undergraduate students answered seven surveys. Significant relationships are found among computer skills, teaching materials, communication tools and learning experience. Multi-modal media objects and communication tools are needed to strengthen course interactions and student engagement.
Zinc-induced PTEN Protein Degradation through the Proteasome Pathway in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

The tumor suppressor PTEN is a putative negative regulator of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway. Exposure to Zn2+ ions induces Akt activation, suggesting that PTEN may be modulated in this process. Therefore, the effects of Zn2+ on PTEN were studied in human airway epithelial cells and rat lungs. Treatment with Zn2+ resulted in a significant reduction in levels of PTEN protein in a dose- and time-dependent fashion in a human airway epithelial cell line. This effect of Zn2+was also observed in normal human airway epithelial cells in primary culture and in rat airway epithelium in vivo. Concomitantly, levels of PTEN mRNA were also significantly reduced by Zn2+ exposure. PTEN phosphatase activity evaluated by measuring Akt phosphorylation decreased after Zn2+ treatment. Pretreatment of the cells with a proteasome inhibitor significantly blocked zinc-induced reduction of PTEN protein as well as the increase in Akt phosphorylation, implicating the involvement of proteasome-mediated PTEN degradation. Further study revealed that Zn2+-induced ubiquitination of PTEN protein may mediate this process. A phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor blocked PTEN degradation induced by Zn2+, suggesting that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase may participate in the regulation of PTEN. However, both the proteasome inhibitor and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor failed to prevent significant down-regulation of PTEN mRNA expression in response to Zn2+. In summary, exposure to Zn2+ ions causes PTEN degradation and loss of function, which is mediated by an ubiquitin-associated proteolytic process in the airway epithelium.
Detection of EP2, EP4, and FP receptors in human ciliary epithelial and ciliary muscle cells

Abstract We have examined the expression of three prostaglandin (PG) receptors, EP2, EP4, and FP, in a nonpigmented ciliary epithelial cell line (ODMC1-2) and in human ciliary muscle (HCM) cells. Total RNA preparations from either ODMCl-2 or HCM cells were subjected to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with sense and antisense primers for each of the three PG receptors. The RT-PCR generated DNA products of predicted sizes corresponding to the EP2, EP4, and FP receptors in both ODMCl-2 and HCM cells. PCR products corresponding to each receptor were hybridized with specific 32P-labeled probes and, for further confirmation, digested with appropriate restriction enzymes. Pharmacological studies with the EP2 receptor-selective agonist butaprost resulted in a significant increase in the cyclic AMP level in ODMCl-2 cells. The stimulation of cyclic AMP in ODMCl-2 cells by PGE2 and 11-deoxy PGE1, the respective EP 1 /EP 2 /EP 3 EP4 and EP 2 /EP 3 EP 4 receptor agonists, was concentration-dependently inhibited by the EP4 receptor-selective antagonist AH23848. These results conclusively demonstrate the presence of both mRNA and protein for EP2, EP4, and FP receptors in ODMC1-2 and HCM cells.
Brunner's glands of the duckbilled platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus).

Brunner's glands in the platypus form a lobulated, glandular collar confined to the submucosa of the most distal portion of the stomach. The glands end immediately proximal to the gastrointestinal junction and excretory ducts empty in the region where the stratified squamous epithelium lining the stomach changes abruptly to the intestinal lining epithelium of the duodenum. An individual gland of Brunner is composed of several elongate lobules drained by intralobular ducts which often join to form a single excretory duct. Light and electron microscopic studies have shown the secretory tubules to be comprised of large, pyramidal cells limited basally by a delicate basal lamina. The ergastoplasm, cisternae of which are dilated and contain amorphous material, is associated with numerous ribosomes. In basal and perinuclear regions intercisternal granules and smooth surfaced vesicles are found. Numerous small vesicles found in supranuclear areas apparently form from the smooth membrane portions of ergastoplasm located adjacent to Golgi complexes. Membrane-bound amorphous granules of varying electron density occupy the apical cytoplasm and show a tendency to coalesce before emptying their contents into the adjacent lumen. The intralobular duct system is lined initially by a columnar epithelium which changes to a simple squamous form before the ducts combine to form a short excretory duct lined by stratified squamous epithelium. The epithelium lining the duct system contains relatively few organelles but appears to be engaged in a limited amount of synthesis and release of secretory material. Histochemical studies indicate that both the secretory tubules and the duct system elaborate a neutral mucopolysaccharide.
Effect of Fluid Resuscitation on Acute Skeletal Muscle Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury after Hemorrhagic Shock in Rats

Background Severe extremity wounds with vascular injury are common in military trauma, and tourniquets are commonly used for hemorrhage control. The complications of tourniquet use in the setting of trauma are not well studied. This study investigated the combined effect of hemorrhagic shock and fluid resuscitation with Hextend (HX; BioTime, Inc) or lactated Ringer's (LR) on skeletal muscle subjected to tourniquet-induced ischemia-reperfusion injury. Study design Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 33% arterial hemorrhage followed by 3 hours of tourniquet application. Before reperfusion, 10 animals each were resuscitated with lactated Ringer's (3 times shed volume) or HX (shed volume). Ten control animals received no resuscitation. Rats were euthanized 2 hours after tourniquet release and the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius muscles were examined for edema (muscle wet weight) and viability (nitroblue tetrazolium reduction). Contralateral muscles served as controls for each animal, with results expressed as the ratio of the tourniquet limb to contralateral limb values. Results The tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius muscles in all groups experienced edema, with all weight ratios greater than one. Resuscitation with HX resulted in significantly (p Conclusions Resuscitation with HX or lactated Ringer's does not adversely affect muscle viability in ischemia-reperfusion injury. HX may be a better clinical choice when skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury is a risk, despite greater edema.