cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Merleau‐Ponty and Bourdieu on Embodied Significance

In this paper I identify embodied significance as an important theme in the thought of Merleau-Ponty and Bourdieu, and attempt to show that they entertain complementary conceptions of the living body as a form of significance. First, I review versions of embodied significance in the work of the two thinkers: concepts such as habitus, phenomenal body, and intentional arc are considered as renditions of of the effectual reality of embodied significance. Next, I discuss how the introduction of embodied significance affects our conception of social reality: being a hybrid concept, it projects a fusion between reason proper and its absence, onto a number of received conceptual distinctions such as reason/action, plan/execution, expression/silence. I conclude the first part of the paper (sections I-III), placing embodied significance in a relation of meaningful exchange-in a tacit dialogue-with an intentionally charged surrounding world. After establishing the common ground between the two thinkers' perspectives, I attempt to synthesize their points of divergence towards mutual complementation (section IV): Merleau-Ponty recovers the philosophical dimensions of issues only hinted at, yet widely employed, in Bourdieu's work; in particular, he acknowledges cmbodied significance as a pivotal theoretical issue, and sees it as coextensive with a non-representational layer of intentionality. On the other hand, Bourdieu provides Merleau-Ponty's perspective with socio-political concreteness and relevance; he elaborates on the political functions and effects of embodied significance, employing in the context of social analysis concepts which may be traced in Merleau-Ponty's work in an embryonic and largely a-political form.
Human Salivary Peroxidase and Bovine Lactoperoxidase are Cross-reactive

Peroxidases are abundant in nature, and the primary function of mammalian peroxidases is to catalyze the peroxidation of halides and pseudohalides. Previous studies have shown that antibodies raised against bovine lactoperoxidase moderately cross-react with human salivary peroxidase, a feature that has been used in the present study to examine epitopes common to the antigen and human salivary peroxidase. Polyclonal antibodies against a highly purified preparation of bovine lactoperoxidase were raised in rabbits, and their properties were examined. In double-immunodiffusion experiments, the two enzymes showed partial identity, and in competitive radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, lactoperoxidase replaced the labeled and coated antigen, while salivary peroxidase did not. However, salivary peroxidase from human and rat saliva samples and the purified enzyme in its non-reduced, reduced, and de-glycosylated forms were recognized by these antibodies, as analyzed by Western blot analysis and immunodetection. The major activity of these antibodies was directed against the protein core of the antigen. Immunodetection of the peptide fragments of bovine lactoperoxidase and human salivary peroxidase revealed structural differences in the two enzymes. These antibodies also precipitated an in vitro translation product from rat-parotid-gland cell lysate that, on SDS-PAGE, compared favorably with the expected molecular weight of a de-glycosylated peroxidase. The antibodies partly inhibited the enzyme activity of salivary peroxidase and the peroxidase in rat parotid gland lysate, but the enzyme activity of lactoperoxidase was not affected by addition of anti-lactoperoxidase IgG between 25 and 400 micrograms/mL. The enzyme activity remained unchanged in all samples when pre-immune IgG was used.
Speed of Speech and Persuasion: Evidence for Multiple Effects

This study examined the possibility that increased speech rate can affect persuasion either by acting as an agreement cue or through its impact on message processing. Participants heard messages that were either moderate or high in personal relevance, consisted of weak or strong arguments, and were presented at either moderate (180 words per minute) or fast (220 wpm) rates of speech. Consistent with hypotheses derived from the elaboration likelihood model, fast speech served to inhibit participants' tendency to differentially agree with strong versus weak message arguments under both moderate and high relevance. However; fast speech was associated with increased persuasion only for moderate involvement subjects, and this influence was mediated by perceptions of source credibility. Polarity of message-based elaborations predicted attitudes of both moderately and highly involved subjects. Thus, central and peripheral route processes appeared to be co-occurring for moderately involved participants.
Potassium and calcium changes in injured spinal cords

In previous studies, we found large rises in extracellular potassium activity ([K+]e) and falls in extracellular Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]e) in injured spinal cords. [K+]e recovered rapidly at the impact site within 2 h but ischemia onset at 2–3 h paradoxically did not cause futher [K+]e rises. [Ca2+]e, in contrast, remained depressed for long periods of time, suggesting either an effective block of Ca diffusion to the injury site or a deep Ca2+ sink at the impact site. To resolve questions raised by the [K+]e and [Ca2+]e recovery patterns, we used atomic absorption spectroscopy to measure spatial distributions of tissue concentrations of K ([K]t) and Ca ([Ca]t) in cat spinal cords injured by a standardized contusion, compared with uninjured controls. At the impact site, [K]t fell to 51% and 35% of control at 1 and 3 h. The K content of cord surrounding the impact site did not change significantly at 1 h, but K gains in surrounding cord at 3 h approximated K losses from the impact site. The K results indicate that contusion disrupts 80% of cells at the impact site with K loss to adjacent cord, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid. Such losses may explain why subsequent ischemia at the impact site did not cause [K+e rises. [Ca]t at the impact site increased to 37% and 59% above control at 1 and 3 h. The Ca gain at the impact site exceeded the amount of free extracellular Ca2+ available before injury within 2 cm of the impact site. At 1 h, the Ca lost in cord surrounding the impact site approximated the Ca gain at the impact site. These findings indicate that Ca accumulated at the impact site comes largely from surrounding cord. We propose that Ca sequestration by inorganic phosphates causes a deep Ca sink at the impact site.
Diffusion-weighted MRI for evaluation of acute stroke

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a new magnetic resonance imaging technique that detects the tiny random movements of water molecules(diffusion) in tissues. This technique allows a map of the average apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to be calculated. Shortly after the onset of an ischemic stroke, the ADC of brain tissue is significantly reduced because of cytotoxic edema. Over several days, the rapid initial drop in ADC is followed by a return to "pseudonormal" values at approximately 1 week. Subsequently, elevated ADC values are seen at chronic time points. DWI is remarkably sensitive in detecting and localizing acute ischemic brain lesions and allows differentiation of acute regions of ischemia from chronic infarcts. Recent studies have shown a high correlation between the volume of early DWI lesions and clinical neurologic outcome. In addition, the volume of the early DWI lesion correlates well with final infarct volume as measured by T2-weighted imaging. Therefore, this technique may facilitate optimal selection of patients for new medical therapies for stroke and may provide a highly sensitive technique for evaluating the efficacy of new treatments.
Significance of Percutaneous Needle Biopsy in Patients With Multiple Pulmonary Nodules and a Single Known Primary Malignancy

Objective To determine the necessity of percutaneous lung biopsy in patients with a single known primary malignancy and multiple pulmonary nodules. Design Retrospective study. Setting Tertiary care university hospital. Results We reviewed all percutaneous lung biopsy specimens over a 6-year period. One hundred forty-six patients with a single known primary malignancy and multiple pulmonary nodules had biopsies performed up to 19 years following diagnosis of the primary neoplasm. One hundred thirty-seven biopsy specimens (93.8%) were positive for metastases. Eight patients (5.5%) had a nondiagnostic biopsy specimen; however, subsequent imaging studies and the clinical course strongly suggested diffuse metastatic disease. One patient ( Conclusion Patients with a single known primary malignancy and multiple pulmonary nodules who present for percutaneous needle biopsy will have pulmonary metastases in the vast majority of cases. Biopsy in these patients rarely changes the clinical course as other diagnoses are rarely established.
Olfactory study: Human pheromones

PIP: Recent work suggests that short-chain aliphatic acids in vaginal secretions may play a role of pheromones in primates, including humans. An experiment was conducted with 3 women to determmine the odor composition of vaginal secretions before and after coitus. Prior to coitus they refrained from sexual activities for 48 hours, did not use a vaginal douche for 7 days, did not bathe or shower for 24 hours, and did not use vaginal hygiene preparations for 72 hours. Samples of vaginal secretions were taken at 9:00 A.M., 1:00 P.M., and 5:00 P.M. on the day before coitus. After coitus at 7:00 A.M., samples were again taken from each subject at the same hours as before. A condom was used in 1 coitus to prevent male secretions and seminal fluids from entering vaginal secretions. The GC/sensory assay (odorogram) was used and odor description notes made. The survey indicated that 13 odorous compounds occurred regularly. It was noted that components with acidic odor tended to appear at lower retention rates in postcoital samples. The chemistry of these compounds was not investigated. It is concluded that differences exist in the odors of pre- and postcoital vaginal secretions. The biological relevance of these differences was unresolved. The question of the pheromonic significance of vaginal odors in humans remains undetermined.
Cohort study of thyroid cancer in a San Francisco Bay area population

Using data from a large health plan, we performed a cohort study of thyroid cancer among 204,964 persons (aged 10--89 at baseline in 1964--1973, 54% female) followed for a median of 20 years. There were 196 incident thyroid cancers (73 in men, 123 in women). Risk was independently and positively related to female gender [relative risk (RR) = 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.12--2.19], Asian race (RR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.76--4.65), completed college or post-graduate education (RR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.20--2.59), history of goiter (RR = 3.36, 95% CI = 1.82--6.20), radiation of the neck region (RR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.28--4.23) and family history of thyroid disease (RR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.17--4.05). An inverse association was found for black race (RR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.33--0.91). Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, personal history of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, overweight or obesity, weight gain since age 20, height, occupational exposures, reproductive factors, oral contraceptives and hormone use did not show statistically significant relations to thyroid cancer. These results provide further evidence for a role of female gender, radiation, goiter, Asian race, high educational attainment and family history of thyroid disease in the etiology of thyroid cancer.
The end of Alzheimer's disease—From biochemical pharmacology to ecopsychosociology: A personal perspective

The future of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) field involves a more complete understanding not only the state of current scientific approaches, but also the linguistic and cultural context of preclinical and clinical research and policy activities. The challenges surrounding dementia are large and growing but are only part of broader social and health concerns. In this latter context, the current state of research in the AD area is reviewed together with necessary priorities in moving forward. Creating a more optimistic future will depend less on genetic and reductionist approaches and more on environmental and intergenerative approaches that will aid in recalibrating the study of AD from an almost exclusive focus on biochemical, molecular and genetic aspects to better encompass "real world" ecological and psychosocial models of health.
NEURODEVELOPMENTAL AND RESPIRATORY MORBIDITY IN NEONATES AFTER HIGH FREQUENCY JET VENTILATION. 1535

NEURODEVELOPMENTAL AND RESPIRATORY MORBIDITY IN NEONATES AFTER HIGH FREQUENCY JET VENTILATION. 1535
Experimental and Numerical Study of Impingement on an Airfoil Leading Edge With and Without Showerhead and Gill Film Holes

This experimental investigation deals with impingement on the leading-edge of an airfoil with and without showerhead film holes and its effects on heat transfer coefficients on the airfoil nose area as well as the pressure and suction side areas. A comparison between the experimental and numerical results are also made. The tests were run for a range of flow conditions pertinent to common practice and at an elevated range of jet Reynolds numbers (8000–48000). The major conclusions of this study were: a) the presence of showerhead film holes along the leading edge enhances the internal impingement heat transfer coefficients significantly, and b) while the numerical predictions of impingement heat transfer coefficients for the no-showerhead case were in good agreement with the measured values, the case with showerhead flow was underpredicted by as much as 30% indicating a need for a more elaborate turbulence modeling.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Avian-Inspired Grasping for Quadrotor Micro UAVs

Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) have been used in a wide range of applications [1, 2, 3]. However, there are few papers addressing high-speed grasping and transportation of pay-loads using MAVs. Drawing inspiration from aerial hunting by birds of prey, we design and equip a quadrotor MAV with an actuated appendage enabling grasping and object retrieval at high speeds. We develop a nonlinear dynamic model of the system, demonstrate that the system is differentially flat, plan dynamic trajectories using the flatness property, and present experimental results with pick-up velocities at 2 m/s (6 body lengths / second) and 3 m/s (9 body lengths / second). Finally, the experimental results are compared with observations derived from video footage of a bald eagle swooping down and snatching a fish out of water.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Deer and Invasive Plant Species Suppress Forest Herbaceous Communities and Canopy Tree Regeneration

The loss of native biodiversity is a major ecological issue in human-dominated landscapes. In particular, the tree regeneration failure of deciduous forests remnants in suburban landscapes is of great concern to land managers and forestry associations. We tested the responses over two growing seasons of herbaceous plants and tree seedling survival and growth to the removal of invasive plant competition and deer herbivory. We first tested the response of understory vegetation to the removal of Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass), a non-native invasive grass, and the removal of deer herbivory, via exclosures, in two forest fragments in central New Jersey. We then explored the restoration potential of planted seedlings of canopy tree dominants, Acer rubrum, Fraxinus americana, and Quercus rubra. The herbaceous community responded with an increase in species richness to the removal of M. vimineum. There was no response of the herbaceous community to the removal of deer herbivory, indicating that the herbaceous community will not recover rapidly from removal of these stressors alone. Survival and height growth of naturally regenerating tree seedlings increased with the removal of M. vimineum and the removal of deer herbivory, but these effects were not interactive. The survival and growth of planted seedlings of two tree species, F. americana and Q. rubra, were depressed by the presence of M. vimineum. Our results suggest that intensive management of M. vimineum and deer populations as well as active re-vegetation of herbaceous communities and tree seedlings are necessary to restore plant biodiversity in suburban deciduous forests.
Wittgenstein as a Rebel: Dissidence and Contestation in Discursive Practices

Abstract Through a new interpretation of Wittgenstein’s rule‐following discussions, this article defends a negotiating model of normativity according to which normative authority is always subject to contestation. To refute both individualism and collectivism, I supplement Wittgenstein’s Private Language Argument with a Social Language Argument, showing that normativity cannot be monopolized either individually or socially (i.e. it cannot be privatized or collectivized). The negotiating view of normativity here developed lays the foundations of a politics of radical contestation which converges with Chantal Mouffe’s framework of ‘radical democracy’, while departing from her agonism in preserving the structuring and constraining role that tacit agreement in action plays in rule‐following practices. My account of the ‘burdens of eccentricity’ elucidates how the normative force of dissidence can be properly recognized and used effectively for social transformations. I argue that there is a ‘presumption of no...
Copying structured objects in a distributed system

Abstract A distributed system is modelled as a set of disjoint naming environments called contexts among which messages flow as the means of communication. A structured object is considered to be a list of the names of its components. Primitive objects contain no other objects as components. This paper presents an algorithm for copying objects across context boundaries. Each object resides within a context and has a locally unique name assigned to it. The components of a structured object may reside in other contexts. Three copy operations are proposed: (1) copy copies the complete structure without copying any component more than once; (2) copy-local copies all of the structure within the context of the object and directly accessible through the object without copying any component more than once, and sending to the receiver the globally unique names of those components not copied; (3) copy-top copies only the top level of the structure, sending to the receiver the globally unique names of all the components of the top level.
Development of a knowledge-based system for the design of composite automotive components

Composite materials are comprised of two or more constituents possessing significantly different physical properties. Due to their high strength and light weight, there is an emerging trend to utilize composites in the automotive industry. There is an inherent link between component design and the manufacturing processes necessary for fabrication. To many designers, this situation may be intimidating, since there is frequently little available understanding of composites and their processes. A direct results is high rates of product scrap and rework. Thus, there is a need to implement a systematic approach to composite material design. One such approach is quality function deployment (QFD). By translating customer requirements into design parameters, through the use of heuristics, QFD supports the improvement of product quality during the planning stages prior to actual production. The purpose of this research is to automate the use of knowledge pertaining to the design and application of composite materials within the automobile industry. This is being accomplished through the development of a prototype expert system incorporating a QFD approach. It will provide industry designers with access to knowledge of composite materials that might not be otherwise available.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Configuring NIF for direct drive experiments

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a proposed 1.8 MJ laser facility for carrying out experiments in inertial confinement fusion, currently designed for indirect drive experiments. The direct drive approach is being pursued at the 30 kJ Omega facility at the University of Rochester. In this paper we discuss the modifications to the NIF laser that would be required for both indirect and direct drive experiments. A primary concern is the additional cost of adding direct drive capability to the facility.
“Comparable worth” and rent seeking

Sex-based wage discrimination has attracted wide attention among economists and jurists alike. Decisions in cases brought under the US Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 establish that it is illegal to pay women less than men when both perform identical work. However, women continue to earn significantly less than men on average. In part, the earnings differential reflects the fact women tend to be crowded into relatively low-paying occupations. To address the alleged discrimination that occurs when men and women perform different jobs, it has been suggested that workers be paid according to the “comparable worth” of their jobs. Under this proposal women would be entitled to payments equivalent to men when their jobs require equal degrees of skill, training, experience, responsibility, and effort. A number of federal and state court cases in the US have sought, and continue to seek, interpretations of existing statutes to require equal pay for jobs of comparable worth. Extensive political activity is now underway at the state level seeking to enact new comparable worth legislation. Efforts to implement the comparable worth principle are undoubtedly motivated, in part, by considerations of equity and fairness. However, activities that promote the comparable worth doctrine impose both costs and benefits on diverse economic groups and individuals. This paper has two purposes. First, we use economic analysis to investigate the net welfare effects of seeking to implement the comparable worth principle. Second, we examine the economic implications of the analysis to determine how activities that promote the comparable worth doctrine will affect the current legal status of comparable worth at the federal, state and local levels. We show that implementing comparable worth policies would create artificial economic rents in the labor market. Efforts to promote the comparable worth
Evaluation of mouse, rate-controlled isometric joystick, step keys, and text keys, for text selection on a CRT

Four devices are evaluated with respect to how rapidly they can be used to select text on a CRT display. The mouse is found to be fastest on all counts and also to have the lowest error rates. It is shown that variations in positioning time with the mouse and joystick are accounted for by Fitts' Law. In the case of the mouse, the measured Fitts's Law slope constant is close to that found in other eye-hand tasks leading to the conclusion that positioning time with this device is almost the minimal achievable. Positioning time for key devices is shown to be proportional to the number of keystrokes which must be typed.
Taurine: possible role in osmotic regulation of mammalian heart

It is well established that taurine plays an important role in the maintenance of intracellular osmolal concentration in marine invertebrates, teleosts, and amphibians. In fresh water, concentrations of taurine in body tissues decrease; in salt water, they increase. In this study with mice we found that during adaptation of these mammals to chronic hypernatremia, the taurine content of the heart increased; concentrations of other amino acids were unchanged or were decreased. Welty and his associated have shown that acute hyponatremia lowered the taurine concentration of rat heart. In concert, these data suggest that taurine also may serve as an osmotic agent in mammalian heart.
Growth Poles and Growth Centers in Regional Planning—A Review:

This paper analyses the concepts of 'growth pole' and 'growth center'. Immense confusion surrounds these notions at present and they are used in many different ways in the literature. The present aim is to unravel some of the confusion, and to evaluate the usefulness of the concepts both in explanatory and narrative contexts. The role of the concepts is reviewed in relation to both geographic and economic space, and to such notions as polarization, and linkage effects.
An automatic microcomputer system for analysis of monophasic action potentials.

A computer system for rapid measurement and analysis of monophasic action potentials (MAPs) recorded in vivo was developed. MAPs recorded from the epicardium of mongrel dogs using a contact electrode were digitized by analog-to-digital conversion at a sampling rate of 1 kHz per channel for computer data acquisition. Activation time was detected using a sliding 10-point window at the location where the average positive dV/dT exceeds an adjustable threshold value in order to eliminate spurious detection due to baseline variability or motion artifact. Action potential duration fAPDJ was determined at 50% and 90% (APD50, APD90) repolarization levels at the first sample point below these defection levels. In addition, a tangent algorithm (APD,tan) that detects peak negative dV/dT during repolarization was developed. APDtan was determined from the location of onset of activation to the intersection of the tangent and baseline. APDtan allowed estimation of APD in the presence of subsequent premature beats when APD80 was not measurable. To validate activation time measurements, 4,600 action potentials were analyzed during fixed rate pacing. Over a range of paced coupling intervals from 200 to 1000 msec, an R2 value of 0.99968 and a slope of 0.9959 were obtained by linear regression between paced and calculated intervals. To validate APD measurements, 5035 action potentials were analyzed in five animals during fixed rate pacing (longer than 3 minutes) when action potential duration should be constant. Average coefficients of variation of 1.25%, 1.65%, and 1.14% were obtained for APD50, APD90, and APDtan, respectively. This algorithm provides a rapid and accurate method to analyze MAP activation and duration for basic physiological studies such as the determination of initiation of arrhythmias.
Wolf-Pack Buffer Zones as Prey Reservoirs

In a declining herd, surviving deer inhabited overlapping edges of wolf-pack territories. There, wolves hunted little until desperate, in order to avoid fatal encounters with neighbors. Such encounters reduce wolf numbers and predation pressure and apparently allow surviving deer along territory edges to repopulate the area through dispersal of their prime, less vulnerable offspring into territory cores.
Iterative (TURBO) IQ Imbalance Estimation and Correction in BICM-ID for Flat Fading Channels

TURBO principle has been exploited gainfully to implement many receiver functions. RF front-end impairments are a serious issue in high spectral efficient applications. IQ imbalance is one of these impairments and in this work, we study the issue of IQ imbalance correction using baseband signal processing techniques. In particular, we propose an estimation technique based on EM algorithm. Such a technique is developed rather intuitively for the case of a Bit Interleaved Coded modulation - Iterative Detection (BICM-ID) receiver for burst mode communications. The resulting TURBO IQ Decorrelator is embedded in the BICM-ID loop, is blind in the sense that it does not require any training symbols or tones. Performance is simulated for 64QAM under flat fading channel conditions.
Gastric Residual Volumes in Critical Illness: What Do They Really Mean?

The practice of measuring gastric residual volumes (GRVs) has become a routine part of enteral feeding protocols in the critical care setting. However, little scientific evidence indicates that their use improves patient outcomes. The use of GRVs is more of a tradition, which unfortunately guides the delivery of enteral nutrition (EN). The practice of GRVs is predicated on several flawed assumptions. Using GRVs in hospitalized patients assumes that the practice is well standardized, that GRVs reliably and accurately measure gastric contents, and that they sufficiently distinguish normal from abnormal emptying. The practice also assumes that GRVs are easy to interpret, that a tight correlation exists between GRVs and aspiration, and that continuing EN after a high value for GRV is obtained leads to pneumonia and adverse patient outcomes. And finally, clinicians assume that GRVs are an inexpensive "poor man's test" for determining tolerance of EN. This article reviews studies showing the fallacies of these assumptions. Although clinicians are unlikely to stop using GRVs, interpretation of these must be modified so as not to interrupt the delivery of EN. Using a protocol that directs appropriate responses to elevated GRVs should promote the delivery of EN and improve patient outcome.
Cutting stock problems and solution procedures

This paper discusses some of the basic formulation issues and solution procedures for solving one- and two- dimensional cutting stock problems. Linear programming, sequential heuristic and hybrid solution procedures are described. For two-dimensional cutting stock problems with rectangular shapes, we also propose an approach for solving large problems with limits on the number of times an ordered size may appear in a pattern.
Ebola, epidemics, and ethics - what we have learned

The current Ebola epidemic has presented challenges both medical and ethical. Although we have known epidemics of untreatable diseases in the past, this particular one may be unique in the intensity and rapidity of its spread, as well as ethical challenges that it has created, exacerbated by its geographic location. We will look at the infectious agent and the epidemic it is causing, in order to understand the ethical problems that have arisen.
Evolutionary history of Wolbachia infections in the fire ant Solenopsis invicta

Wolbachia are endosymbiotic bacteria that commonly infect numerous arthropods. Despite their broad taxonomic distribution, the transmission patterns of these bacteria within and among host species are not well understood. We sequenced a portion of the wsp gene from the Wolbachia genome infecting 138 individuals from eleven geographically distributed native populations of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. We then compared these wsp sequence data to patterns of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation of both infected and uninfected host individuals to infer the transmission patterns of Wolbachia in S. invicta. Three different Wolbachia (wsp) variants occur within S. invicta, all of which are identical to previously described strains in fire ants. A comparison of the distribution of Wolbachia variants within S. invicta to a phylogeny of mtDNA haplotypes suggests S. invicta has acquired Wolbachia infections on at least three independent occasions. One common Wolbachia variant in S. invicta (wSinvictaB) is associated with two divergent mtDNA haplotype clades. Further, within each of these clades, Wolbachia-infected and uninfected individuals possess virtually identical subsets of mtDNA haplotypes, including both putative derived and ancestral mtDNA haplotypes. The same pattern also holds for wSinvictaA, where at least one and as many as three invasions into S. invicta have occurred. These data suggest that the initial invasions of Wolbachia into host ant populations may be relatively ancient and have been followed by multiple secondary losses of Wolbachia in different infected lineages over time. Finally, our data also provide additional insights into the factors responsible for previously reported variation in Wolbachia prevalence among S. invicta populations. The history of Wolbachia infections in S. invicta is rather complex and involves multiple invasions or horizontal transmission events of Wolbachia into this species. Although these Wolbachia infections apparently have been present for relatively long time periods, these data clearly indicate that Wolbachia infections frequently have been secondarily lost within different lineages. Importantly, the uncoupled transmission of the Wolbachia and mtDNA genomes suggests that the presumed effects of Wolbachia on mtDNA evolution within S. invicta are less severe than originally predicted. Thus, the common concern that use of mtDNA markers for studying the evolutionary history of insects is confounded by maternally inherited endosymbionts such as Wolbachia may be somewhat unwarranted in the case of S. invicta.
NMR imaging of changes in vascular morphology due to tumor angiogenesis

Tumor-sprouted vessels are greater in both number and diameter in comparison to their healthy counterparts. A novel technique based on magnetic susceptibility contrast mechanisms that are sensitive to varying sizes of blood vessels is presented to measure differences between the relaxation rates (1/T2 and 1/T2*) in a rat glioma model and normal cerebral cortex. deltaR2 and deltaR2*, the differences between relaxation rates precontrast and postcontrast agent injection, were measured for an intravascular equilibrium contrast agent (MION) at various echo times. Since deltaR2*/deltaR2 increases as vessel size increases, this ratio can be used as a measure of the average vessel size within an ROI or a voxel. The stability and longevity of the contrast agent within the vasculature were verified (n = 2 trials), and the ratio of deltaR2*/deltaR2 between the tumor and normal cortex was measured to be 1.9+/-0.2 (n = 4, echo time = 20 ms, and susceptibility difference (deltachi) approximately 10(-6)). This ratio compared favorably to a predicted ratio determined using histologically determined vessel sizes and theoretical Monte Carlo modeling results (1.9+/-0.1). Maps of the ratio of deltaR2*/deltaR2 were also made on a pixel-by-pixel basis. These techniques support the hypothesis that susceptibility contrast MRI can provide useful quantitative metrics of in vivo tumor vascular morphology.
The Central American Epidemic of CKD

Summary Recent reports have described an apparent epidemic of CKD along the Pacific coast of Central America, such that CKD is a leading cause of death among working-age men in lower-altitude agricultural communities in this region. Given the limited availability of kidney replacement therapies in this region, CKD often is a terminal diagnosis, lending greater urgency to the identification of a modifiable cause. This article discusses the epidemiology of CKD in this region, reviews the clinical features of this CKD outbreak, discusses potential causes and the evidence supporting these hypotheses, and highlights the wider implications of this epidemic of CKD.
Measuring the state of ECN readiness in servers, clients,and routers

Better exposing congestion can improve traffic management in the wide-area, at peering points, among residential broadband connections, and in the data center. TCP's network utilization and efficiency depends on congestion information, while recent research proposes economic and policy models based on congestion. Such motivations have driven widespread support of Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN)in modern operating systems. We reappraise the Internet's ECN readiness, updating and extending previous measurements. Across large and diverse server populations, we find a three-fold increase in ECN support over prior studies. Using new methods, we characterize ECN within mobile infrastructure and at the client-side, populations previously unmeasured. Via large-scale path measurements, we find the ECN feedback loop failing in the core of the network 40% of the time, typically at AS boundaries. Finally, we discover new examples of infrastructure violating ECN Internet standards, and discuss remaining impediments to running ECN while suggesting mechanisms to aid adoption.
Transcatheter Intrapleural Urokinase for Loculated Pleural Effusion

Two patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery in the mid-1980s and who had repeat coronary artery bypass graft procedures in 1992 developed loculated, bloody pleural effusions. Percutaneous catheter drainage and installation of intrapleural urokinase led to resolution of these loculated effusions without morbidity. This procedure should reduce the length of hospitalization and treatment for patients with loculated pleural effusions.
P2P in B2BI

The integration of applications (application-to-application integration, A2AI) within an enterprise has the advantage that the applications to be integrated are within once enterprise, hence, within once domain of control. Consequently hub-and-spoke architectures are deployed that provide a common infrastructure for integration, namely, the exchange of data between applications. The applications do not communicate directly, but through the hub-and-spoke architecture as an intermediary or "switchboard". In contrast, business-to-business integration (B2BI) relies on the direct exchange of messages between enterprises called peer-to-peer (P2P). The P2P approach has several challenges that come from the fact that there is no intermediary hub "between" the enterprises that acts as a switchboard providing central integration functionality. Therefore, the enterprises involved in B2BI have to provide the integration functionality themselves that the hub-and-spoke architecture performs centrally in A2AI. This paper outlines the requirements for P2P interaction between enterprises and the obstacles lying ahead. Solutions are discussed that implement B2BI functionality based on the P2P approach.
Reducing human–elephant conflict: do chillies help deter elephants from entering crop fields?

Crop raiding by elephants is the most prevalent form of human–elephant conflict and can result in devastating economic losses for farmers, loss of human lives and the killing or capture of elephants. Chilli (capsaicin)-based elephant deterrents have been promoted as tools for reducing such conflict but have been little tested. From October 2005 to April 2006 we tested crop-guarding systems around Way Kambas National Park in Indonesia. We evaluated the effectiveness of community-based guarding using traditional tools (e.g. noise-makers) at one site and community-based guarding plus chilli-grease-covered fences and tripwire-triggered sirens at another site. We monitored human–elephant conflict rates around the Park to assess the effectiveness of our mitigation trials. Over the trial period there were 34 attempts by elephants to enter crop fields at the chilli and sirens site and 57 attempts to enter fields at the conventional site but 91.2% of attempts were repelled successfully at both sites. Over the same period there were 401 crop-raiding incidents elsewhere around the Park. In 2007 farmers at both our former sites voluntarily adopted the methods that had been used at the conventional site, but not at the chilli and sirens site, and were able to repel 156 of 178 (87.6%) attempted elephant raids. We conclude that community-based guarding using conventional tools is the key to keeping elephants out of crops and that chilli-grease fences (and sirens) do not add any significant deterrent effect but do add expense and create additional work. However, other chilli-based deterrents may be effective and chillies have value as elephant-resistant cash crops.
Cross-Regulation among the Polycomb Group Genes in Drosophila melanogaster

Genes of the Polycomb group in Drosophila melanogaster function as long-term transcriptional repressors. A few members of the group encode proteins found in two evolutionarily conserved chromatin complexes, Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) and the ESC-E(Z) complex. The majority of the group, lacking clear biochemical functions, might be indirect regulators. The transcript levels of seven Polycomb group genes were assayed in embryos mutant for various other genes in the family. Three Polycomb group genes were identified as upstream positive regulators of the core components of PRC1. There is also negative feedback regulation of some PRC1 core components by other PRC1 genes. Finally, there is positive regulation of PRC1 components by the ESC-E(Z) complex. These multiple pathways of cross-regulation help to explain the large size of the Polycomb group family of genes, but they complicate the genetic analysis of any single member.
Electronic Cigarettes: The Ethical Implications of Marketing a Safer Cigarette

Free market and utilitarian ethics provide divergent frameworks to analyze the existing conditions and marketing campaigns of the electronic cigarette’s positioning in the US market space. Free market ethics encourages the aggressive use of any advertising promotions based on the ideology that the primary goal of a business is to do everything in its power to legally increase revenue for the organization’s shareholders. Marketing the e-cigarette as a “safer” solution to tobacco meets the ethical obligations of the organization and the consumer. Free market ethics places the responsibility on consumers to determine how the individual will define “safer” in their own contexts. In contrast, the utilitarian approach focuses on either the humanitarian or the economic welfare of the greater populace when determining its ethical positioning. On the surface, statements from the e-cigarette industry that promote a “safer” experience fail to meet the ethical requirements for a humanitarian-focused society. However, if the motivator changes from a humanitarian to an economic emphasis, utilitarian ethics allows an alternative approach that could defend the current marketing campaigns of electronic cigarettes.
Experimental Use of Remote Sensing by Private Range Managers and Its Influence on Management Decisions

Although remote sensing has many potential applications for range management, its use by range managers thus far has been limited. To investigate the factors that encourage use of remote sensing and to examine its influence on decision making by individuals who manage privately owned rangeland, we evaluated the decision-making processes of 3 ranch owners and 1 professional ranch manager who were introduced to remote sensing while collaborating with us in a rangeland stewardship program in California. Two of the participants had extensive ranching experience (11 to > 20 years) and managed large cattle ranches (1 000 to > 2 000 ha), and 2 had less experience and managed smaller sheep ranches (< 200 ha). During the 5-year program, the participants implemented a series of new management practices, including prescribed burning, rotational grazing, and seeding of native grasses, with the aim of reducing noxious weeds and increasing productivity. We used remote sensing to quantify the effect of these practices and provided ranch-wide remote sensing analyses to each manager on a password-protected Web site. Using case study methodologies, we found that managers of larger, commercially active ranches found the experimental use of remote sensing to be a highly positive experience that convinced them that this technology could help address difficult management situations and increase ranch profitability. This suggests that the broad use of remote sensing by managers of privately held, commercial rangelands may be limited in part by the simple lack of opportunity to test these technologies. Programs that assist ranchers in obtaining appropriate remote sensing products thus may be a cost-effective way to enhance conservation on private rangelands. Our findings suggest that voluntary self-analysis by ranchers of the landscape dynamics of their own properties is likely to lead to more engaged conservation efforts than will top-down prescriptions.
The Harvest of Pacific Walruses by the Pelagic Whaling Industry, 1848 to 1914

The most important agent in the historical reduction of the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) population in the 19th century was the pelagic whaling industry. From 1848, when the whaling grounds o...
Beyond GIS: Geospatial Technologies and the Future of History

GIS is a powerful technology with useful but limited application to history as practiced by most historians, appealing primarily to scholars who employ quantitative data and methods. But the spatial turn, especially as it is influenced by Web 2.0 technologies and practices, has resulted in a new hybridization of geo-spatial technologies that promise to reshape the discipline of history in ways reflective of postmodern concerns and epistemologies. In this new form, geo-spatial technologies are better equipped to construct the spatial narratives and deep maps that permit, indeed encourage, the sort of reflexive, recursive, and collaborative environments that will mark history in the future.
Natural Morality, Moral Natures and Human Flourishing

I investigate natural moral values as they are empirically discoverable in human developmental psychology, and then draw moral conclusions from those values about how we ought to live, as individuals and societies. An eudemonic ethics, focused on bringing about flourishing, necessarily involves discussion of facts and values, means and ends. The well-being and moral capacities of children and adults in the USA is being undermined by violations of evolved principles for early care. The dominant social structure of human genus history, small-band gatherer-hunter society, offers a useful framework for eudemonic ethics and a possible corrective for the misdirection of modern social life.
INTERDIFFUSION IN AMORPHOUS COMPOSITIONALLY MODULATED Ni-Zr THIN FILMS.

We report measurements of interdiffusion in compositionally modulated amorphous Ni-Zr films. We show the dependence of the diffusion coefficient on the modulation wavelength and correlate it with the thermodynamic properties of the Ni-Zr system. A bulk interdiffusion coefficient is extrapolated from the data. Our values for the interdiffusivity in Ni55Zr45 are about three orders of magnitude lower than those obtained by other authors for similar alloys. Possible explanations are suggested.
CFD modeling and control of a steam methane reforming reactor

Abstract This work initially focuses on developing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of an industrial-scale steam methane reforming reactor (reforming tube) used to produce hydrogen. Subsequently, we design and evaluate three different feedback control schemes to drive the area-weighted average hydrogen mole fraction measured at the reforming tube outlet ( x ¯ H 2 outlet ) to a desired set-point value ( x ¯ H 2 set ) under the influence of a tube-side feed disturbance. Specifically, a CFD model of an industrial-scale reforming tube is developed in ANSYS Fluent with realistic geometry characteristics to simulate the transport and chemical reaction phenomena with approximate representation of the catalyst packing. Then, to realize the real-time regulation of the hydrogen production, the manipulated input and controlled output are chosen to be the outer reforming tube wall temperature profile and x ¯ H 2 outlet respectively. On the problem of feedback control, a proportional (P) control scheme, a proportional-integral (PI) control scheme and a control scheme combining dynamic optimization and integral feedback control to generate the outer reforming tube wall temperature profile based on x ¯ H 2 set are designed and integrated into real-time CFD simulation of the reforming tube to track x ¯ H 2 set . The CFD simulation results demonstrated that feedback control schemes can drive the value of x ¯ H 2 outlet toward x ¯ H 2 set in the presence of a tube-side feed disturbance and can significantly improve the process dynamics compared to the dynamics under open-loop control.