cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Circulatory L-asparaginase activity in primates

Abstract The absence of circulatory asparagine and high levels of aspartic acid in the plasma of squirrel monkeys and the finding that other subhuman primates (rhesus monkey, stump-tailed macaque, talapoin, chimpanzee) exhibited levels of plasma asparagine similar to those found in man led us to measure circulatory L-asparaginase activity in these species. Of the primates, including man, only squirrel monkeys possessed circulatory L-asparaginase activity. The level of activity in these monkeys was similar to those found in the guinea pig, a member of the family Cavioidea, previously the only known mammalian group to exhibit circulatory L-asparaginase activity.
Variations in Oklahoma's Climate as Depicted by the Köppen and Early Thornthwaite Classifications

(1964). Variations in Oklahoma's Climate as Depicted by the Koppen and Early Thornthwaite Classifications. Journal of Geography: Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 60-66.
Familial/Sporadic Glucocorticoid Resistance Syndrome and Hypertension

Glucocorticoids regulate diverse functions important for the maintenance of central nervous system, cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune homeostasis. The actions of these hormones are mediated by the specific intracellular glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). Pathologic conditions associated with changes of tissue sensitivity to these hormones have been described. The syndrome of familial/sporadic glucocorticoid resistance is characterized by hypercortisolism without Cushing syndrome stigmata. Many of the patients present with hypertension, with or without hypokalemic alkalosis, as a result of elevated concentrations of cortisol and other salt-retaining steroids. The molecular defects of 4 kindreds and one sporadic case have been elucidated as inactivating mutations in the ligand-binding domain of the GR. In two patients in whom the GR was mutated at amino acid isoleucine 559 to aspartic acid (GRalphaI559N) and isoleucine 747 to methionine (GRalphaI747M), respectively, glucocorticoid resistance developed at the heterozygous state, with transdominant negative activity of each of the mutant receptors upon the wild-type protein. Retention of the wild-type receptor in the cytoplasm by the mutant receptor was found in the former, while inappropriate accumulation of p160-type coactivators on the promoter region of glucocorticoid-responsive genes, because of a defective interaction between the AF2 region of the mutant receptor and the LXXLL motif of the coactivators, was determined in the latter. These results suggest that the pathologic mechanisms of glucocorticoid resistance is quite broad, and this is reflected in the wide variability of the clinical picture in patients with the syndrome.
Anergy in Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Comparison Between Positive And Negative Reactors And An Evaluation Of 5 TU And 250 TU Skin Test Doses

Based on induration of less than 10 mm at 48 and 72 hours, 49 of 200 (25 percent) patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis failed to respond to intermediate (5TU) strength PPD. Distribution of reactors vs nonreactors was similar with regard to sex but not race, with more white subjects proving to be nonreactive. Additional comparisons between the two groups revealed significantly higher values in the responder population for age, in vitro lymphocyte response to PPD, total serum protein and serum IgG. Responsiveness of lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin was also increased in this group, but only at lower mitogen concentrations. Alternatively, the nonresponder group demonstrated higher values for alpha-1 globulins. A group of nontuberculous patients similarly subjected to skin testing showed negative reactivity to 5 TU PPD at the much higher incidence of 152/173 (88 percent). The 49 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 152 nontuberculous patients who did not respond to 5 TU PPD were further tested with 250 TU PPD. In the group with tuberculosis, 30/49 (61.2 percent) demonstrated positive reactions, whereas only 55/152 (36.2 percent) nontuberculous patients showed induration equal to 10 mm or higher. Skin testing with the recall antigens TOE and SK-SD indicated that only 3/200 (1.5 percent) tuberculous patients could be classified as being anergic; 9/200 (4.5 percent) were specifically anergic to PPD and 7/200 (3.5 percent) demonstrated questionable anergy to PPD as judged by a 250 TU PPD response that was greater than 5 but less than 10 mm.
Production of Highly Charged Pharmaceutical Aerosols Using a New Aerosol Induction Charger.

Purpose Properly charged particles can be used for effective lung targeting of pharmaceutical aerosols. The objective of this study was to characterize the performance of a new induction charger that operates with a mesh nebulizer for the production of highly charged submicrometer aerosols to bypass the mouth-throat and deliver clinically relevant doses of medications to the lungs.
Chemiluminescence of Firefly Luciferin without Enzyme

We have been able to produce chemiluminescence in firefly luciferin without utilizing the enzyme luciferase. Following the analogous mechanism of the chemiluminescence of luminol in the organic solvent dimethyl sulfoxide, we have prepared synthetically the methyl ester of luciferin, the phosphate ester of luciferin and luciferyl adenylate by condensation in dimethyl sulfoxide with Khorana's reagent, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and diazomethane, phosphoric acid, and adenylic acid respectively. These compounds in dimethyl sulfoxide in the presence of base emit a bright chemiluminescence. Like in vitro enzymatic bioluminescence, the luciferyl adenylate. chemiluminescence emission spectrum is dependent upon pH.
Review: Low-dose hydrochlorothiazide is not as effective as other antihypertensive drugs for reducing ambulatory BP in hypertension?

Source Citation Messerli FH, Makani H, Benjo A, et al. Antihypertensive efficacy of hydrochlorothiazide as evaluated by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. J...
Metabolic flux analysis of Escherichia coli knockouts: lessons from the Keio collection and future outlook

Cellular metabolic and regulatory systems are of fundamental interest to biologists and engineers. Incomplete understanding of these complex systems remains an obstacle to progress in biotechnology and metabolic engineering. An established method for obtaining new information on network structure, regulation and dynamics is to study the cellular system following a perturbation such as a genetic knockout. The Keio collection of all viable Escherichia coli single-gene knockouts is facilitating a systematic investigation of the regulation and metabolism of E. coli. Of all omics measurements available, the metabolic flux profile (the fluxome) provides the most direct and relevant representation of the cellular phenotype. Recent advances in 13C-metabolic flux analysis are now permitting highly precise and accurate flux measurements for investigating cellular systems and guiding metabolic engineering efforts.
Gating of the squid sodium channel at positive potentials. I. Macroscopic ionic and gating currents

Macroscopic ionic sodium currents and gating currents were studied in voltage-clamped, dialyzed giant axons of the squid Loligo pealei under conditions of regular and inverse sodium gradients. Sodium currents showed regular kinetics but inactivation was incomplete, showing a maintained current for depolarizations lasting 18 ms. The ratio of the maintained current to the peak current increased with depolarization and it did not depend on the direction of the current flow or the sodium gradient. The time constant of inactivation was not affected by the sodium gradient. Double-pulse experiments allowed the separation of a normal inactivating component and a noninactivating component of the sodium currents. In gating current experiments, the results from double-pulse protocols showed that the charge was decreased by the prepulse and that the slow component of the 'on' gating current was preferentially depressed. As expected, charge immobilization was established faster at higher depolarizations than at low depolarizations, however, the amount of immobilized charge was unaffected by the pulse amplitude. This indicates that the incomplete sodium inactivation observed at high depolarizations is not the result of decreased charge immobilization; the maintained current must be due to a conductance that appears after normal charge immobilization and fast inactivation.
The effect of age and body weight on the electrocardiogram of healthy men.

It is believed that proper evaluation of the electrocardiogram of a patient should mean comparison with the electrocardiographic features in healthy individuals who are in other respects comparable. Among the "other respects," age and body weight are important constitutional variables. The present information about the effect of these factors on the electrocardiogram is not adequate and, therefore, the differentiation between normal and abnormal is less precise than need be. In this paper, information is provided on the effect of age and body weight on the electrocardiogram, on the basis of a statistical analysis of various electrocardiographic items in numerically adequate samples of normal male population. It is shown that the effect of both age and weight is statistically highly significant, so that their consideration in electrocardiographic normal standards is suggested.
The mutual potential and gravitational torques of two bodies to fourth order

The mutual gravitational potential of two bodies of arbitrary shape is expressed to fourth order in an extension of MacCullagh's Formula for a single body. The expressions for the gravitational torques acting on each body are derived in a form convenient for use in the differential equations describing the rotational dynamics.
Implementation Of True 3D Cursors In Computer Graphics

The advances in stereoscopic image display techniques have shown an increased need for real-time interaction with the three-dimensional image. We have developed a prototype real-time stereoscopic cursor to investigate this interaction. The results have pointed out areas where hardware speeds are a limiting factor, as well as areas where various methodologies cause perceptual difficulties. This paper addresses the psychological and perceptual anomalies involved in stereo image techniques, cursor generation and motion, and the use of the device as a 3D drawing and depth measuring tool.
Effects of nicotine on quinpirole- and dizocilpine (MK-801)-induced sensorimotor gating impairments in rats

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response (ASR) is used as an index of sensorimotor gating to assess preattentive processes. Impairments in PPI have been observed in many neuropsychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia. Administration of the glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist dizocilpine (MK-801) or dopamine receptor (D2/D3) agonist quinpirole (QNP) results in impairment (reduction) of PPI in rats. Nicotine, on the other hand, may have beneficial effects on attentional/cognitive functions. The purpose of the current set of experiments was to investigate the effects of acute and chronic nicotine on MK-801- and QNP-induced PPI impairments. Adult female Sprague–Dawley rats were treated acutely or chronically by various doses of nicotine alone or followed by an acute dose of MK-801 (0.15 mg/kg) or QNP (0.5 mg/kg). All drugs were administered intraperitoneally. Controls received saline in lieu of any drug, and ASR and PPI in each animal was evaluated 10 min after the last injection. Both MK-801 and QNP consistently impaired PPI. Administration of nicotine acutely (0.05–0.4 mg/kg) or chronically (0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg daily for 1 week) did not have any effect of its own on ASR or PPI or on MK-801-induced PPI impairment. Acute administration of 0.2 mg/kg nicotine did not have any effect on QNP-induced reduction in PPI, whereas the higher dose of 0.4 mg/kg significantly attenuated this impairment. Chronic daily administration of either 0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg nicotine for 1 week nearly normalized the QNP-induced impairments in PPI. The effect of nicotine on sensorimotor gating is dependent on the procedure as well as the dose of nicotine and appears to be efficacious against dopaminergic rather than glutamatergic disruption of PPI in rats.
A local structural alignment algorithm with Variable Length Alignment Fragment Pairs

With the increasing number of protein structures in Protein Data Bank(PDB) efficient and accurate algorithms similar to local alignment of sequences (BLAST) are necessary to classify newly discovered structures into appropriate super families and also to identify structural motifs. Several structural alignment algorithms have been proposed in the literature (DALI, CE, PSIST, TM-Align, etc.). Most of these algorithms perform a global structural alignment between pairs of structures and provide normalized scores which can help in classification of the structures. However they donpsilat address the problem of identification of structural motifs. In this paper we present efficient algorithms for local structural alignment based on a new idea of using Variable Length Alignment Fragment Pairs (VLAFPs) in contrast to Constant Length Alignment Fragment Pairs (CLAFPs) used by all the existing algorithms such as CE, TM-Align, DALI and PSIST. Our VLAFP algorithm is independent of the scoring schemes used to score the CLAFPs and can work with any scoring scheme like the TM-Score. We also introduce two new scoring schemes based on center of gravity of the atoms. Experiment results indicate that using VLAFPs can improve both the quality of local structural alignment and also accuracy of the classification. Using our VLAFP algorithm together with our new scoring schemes we could acheive an average super family accuracy of 84% and a class accuracy of 87% on structures with very less sequence homology.
Projecting age-structured populations in a random environment

Abstract An environmental process was characterized by a stationary first order autoregressive process with Gaussian noise. This process was then linked to survivorship and reproductive success by logistic tranformations to construct a stochastic population process, related to generalized age-dependent branching processes, for projecting age-structured populations in a random environment. Unexpectedly large fluctuations of conditional mean total population size, given different realizations of the environmental process. were observed, particularly when the environmental process had a strictly positive autocorrelation function. These large fluctuations led to summarizing the results of 100 replications of projecting conditional mean total population size, given the environmental process, for 100 epochs in terms of extreme value statistics rather than the more conventional means and variances. Qualitative comparisons with fluctuations in abundance of some species of birds suggested that some choices of parameter values for the environmental process led to plausible models for the evaluation of selected bird populations
The yeast primary septum: a journey into three-dimensional biochemistry

The formation of the yeast primary septum, a disk composed of chitin, is studied as a model for morphogenesis. Septum initiation appears to take place by localized activation of a zymogen of chitin synthetase that is attached to the plasma membrane.
Design of switching power supplies for improved reliability and maintainability

A new power supply has been developed employing both functional and component redundancy for improved reliability. Modular construction and noncatastrophic failure modes provide the capability for this supply to remain on-line until repairs can be made during regular scheduled maintenance periods.
A global methane emissions program for landfills, coal mines, and natural gas systems

Abstract The Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory (AEERL) of EPA's Office of Research and Development has chosen anthropogenic methane emissions as a principal focus in its global climate research program. Three of the major sources are municipal solid waste landfills, coal mines, and natural gas systems. This paper presents the scope and methodology of the AEERL methane emission studies and discloses data accumulated thus far in the program. A major emphasis in the landfill program is measurement of emissions from operating landfills and calculation of country-specific emissions. Landfill methane emissions are not estimated, but factors affecting emissions are discussed and estimates developed by others are provided. For coal mines, existing data collected by other researchers on underground mines are combined with EPA data on emissions from surface mines to provide an estimate of global emissions of 43 Tg/yr. Methane from natural gas production, transmission, and distribution systems is estimated to be 4.4 Tg/yr for the United States.
Characterization of a potentially axially symmetric europium(III) complex of a tetraacetate,tetraaza, macrocyclic ligand by luminescence excitation, emission and lifetime spectroscopy

Abstract The Eu(III) complex of the octadentate macrocyclic ligand, 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N''' -tetraacetate, DOTA, has been examined by luminescence excitation, emission, and lifetime spectroscopy using pulsed dye laser techniques. The results confirm the expected axially symmetric nature of the major component in solution and reveal that 1.2 ± 0.4 water molecules arc coordinatcd to the Eu(III) ion in the complex.
Ionization studies using positron and electron beams

Abstract Experimental methods and data for positron and electron impact ionization are discussed. Examples of total, doubly, and triply differential studies are provided to illustrate what types of data have been obtained and how comparisons of the positron and electron results can be used to enhance our understanding of inelastic atomic processes.
Applying a Cognitive-Processing Model to Presidential Debate Effects: Postdebate News Analysis and Primed Reflection

This article integrates priming and framing into a cognitive-processing model that illustrates how the effects of watching a presidential debate might be influenced by a priming message as it interacts with an individual’s schema. We examine how the frame of postdebate news analysis primes audience reflection on a previously viewed segment from the 2004 presidential debates (a process we identify as ‘‘primed reflection’’). Results show that the influence of postdebate news analysis is a function of the interaction between the news-analysis frame (policy vs. performance) and the individual-level factors, namely, political knowledge and propensity to reflect on media content.
Catalytic cracking of a coal tar in a fluid bed reactor

Abstract A coal-derived tar from the Coal Technology Corporation's mild gasification process was catalytically cracked in a fluid bed reactor. Several commercial catalysts were tested and their effectiveness in decomposing tar and releasing sulfur was compared. The effects of process variables such as temperature and residence time were also tested. It was found that the Linde LZ-Y82 zeolite was the most effective catalyst tested in converting tar to coke and gases. LZ-Y82 was also the most effective catalyst in converting the sulfur compounds in the tar into hydrogen sulfide which can be removed by a sorbent. Other catalysts such as LZ-Y82/NiW, LZ-Y82/ZnTi, and Englehard's Sp2323 showed strong catalytic activity. LZ-Y3Z7, which is the LZ-Y82 catalyst impregnated with zinc, displayed less activity. LZ-Y82 cracked most effectively in the temperature range 500–530°C.
Parametric Study of Deployment of Tethered Satellite Systems

Deployment of a tethered satellite system is the process of separating the two end bodies by spooling out the tether connecting them. In this paper, we describe a 3-Dmodel of a tethered satellite system undergoing deployment. From the equations of motion obtained using the 3-D model, we identify five system parameters that affect the length to which a tethered satellite systemwill deploy. The equations ofmotion describing the tether deployment are solved for a given range of each of the parameters to determine the effect of each of the parameters on the level of deployment reached. The equations are then nondimensionalized; nondimensionalization reduces the number of system parameters fromfive to two and increases the generality of the equations ofmotion. The nondimensional equations of motion are solved numerically, and the results are presented in charts andplots that can be used bymission designers to predict the final deployed length under given operating conditions. Two case studies are presented to demonstrate the utility of these tools.
Emerging approaches to broaden resistance of soybean to soybean cyst nematode as supported by gene expression studies.

The major pest of soybean ( Glycine max ) is the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines . One population of SCN can evoke a resistant response while a second population can evoke a susceptible response from the same soybean cultivar. Recently, interactions between SCN and soybean roots
Elastic shape recognition using Bayesian inference

Energy minimization approaches in the form of deformable model fittings have recently attracted considerable attention. Such models are particularly effective when the sought after shapes undergo elastic deformations that cannot readily be accounted for by RST effects. Deformable models are by their nature iterative processes. Such approaches are computationally costly and require a detailed model building step, frequently in the form of cubic Bsplines. It is reported that almost all misclassifications in the energy minimization approaches can be attributed to two problems: local minima and modeling difficulties[3]. In this paper we have taken handwritten character recognition problem and proposed a solution that bypasses the two bottlenecks above. The algorithm requires no parametric shape models and is non-iterative. Character classes are modeled from a library of handwritten digits and described by discrete spatial processes. Contour classification is then performed by a MAP rule implemented on an unknown observed digit. We have shown classification rates that match or exceed those obtained by complex deformable templates. Keywords: deformable models, character recognition
Steady-state shear characteristics of Aspergillus niger broths

It can be difficult to obtain reliable rheological data for filamentous fermentation broths using conventional instruments. One common approach is to measure the torque drawn by an impeller rotating in the suspension (1–7). Many previous workers have assumed that the applicable shear rate in such a device is related to the impeller speed by a fluid-independent constant determined by calibration with Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids (1–9). The rheology ofAspergillus niger broths have been characterized using the impeller viscometer approach. The changes in the broth rheology were measured, and used to interpret the growth of biomass and the evolution of the microorganism morphology.
State Arbitrariness of the Noninteracting Fermion Model in Quantal Density Functional Theory

In quantal density functional theory (Q-DFT), any nondegenerate or degenerate ground or excited state of a system of electrons may be mapped to one of noninteracting fermions such that the equivalent density, energy, and ionization potential are obtained. As these model fermions are noninteracting, their effective potential energy, a local (multiplicative) operator, is the same for a particular state of the model system. The state of the noninteracting fermions, however, is arbitrary in that they could be in a ground or excited state. Hence, within Q-DFT, there exist, in principle, an infinite number of local effective potential energy functions that can generate the same density as that of the interacting electrons. In this article, we demonstrate this state arbitrariness by mapping a (nondegenerate) ground state of the Hookean atom to two different noninteracting fermion systems: one in a singlet ground state (1s2) and the other in a singlet first excited state (1s2s). In each case, the density and energy determined are equivalent to that of the Hookean atom in the ground state, with the highest occupied eigenvalues of the model system being the negative of the ionization potential. The contrast with the mapping within traditional Kohn–Sham and generalized adiabatic connection Kohn–Sham density functional theories is also made. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
The Software-Implemented Fault Tolerance (SIFT) Approach To Fault Tolerant Computing

SIFT is an experimental computer designed for highly reliable flight-control service in advanced air transports. Its development was intended to integrate and demonstrate the latest techniques in fault-tolerant computing. During its development, several new problems of some generality were uncovered and solved. The technology developed for the validation of its design is seen as being perhaps as important as the design itself. The SIFT design is described, as is the way in which the design and its validation were shaped by the requirements of its intended application. Attention is also given to reliability and fault tolerance. The most significant feature of the hardware design is the absence of elements that can generate multiple faults, such as shared clocks or data buses. It is noted that the software is realized in only 800 lines of code, of which 80% are in a high-level language.
Short-term effects of fire and fire surrogate treatments on foraging tree selection by cavity-nesting birds in dry forests of central Washington

Abstract Dry forests of Washington are becoming increasingly susceptible to broadscale stand replacement fire and insect and disease epidemics. In response, land managers implement fuel reduction strategies. These situations could potentially affect numerous wildlife species, including cavity-nesting birds. Much information exists on nesting requirements of cavity-nesters, while little information is available on their foraging requirements, or how changes to their habitat affect foraging. We examined short-term responses of cavity-nesting birds in dry conifer forests of Washington, to fuel reduction treatments in 2004 and 2005, as part of the National Fire–Fire Surrogate Project (FFS). Our objective was to determine if altering the forest stand through mechanical thinning or prescribed burning or a combination of the two would alter foraging tree selection. We used linear logistic regression and Akaike's Information Criteria (AIC) to model foraging tree selection and to analyze the effects of treatments on foraging tree selection. Model averaged parameter estimates suggested that cavity-nesting birds selected for large diameter trees and FFS treatments had a positive impact on foraging for nuthatches and woodpeckers. Birds were more likely to be observed foraging in treated stands and the positive relationship was strongest in stands that received a combination of thinning and burning treatments. Enhanced foraging conditions in the thin–burn treatment may have resulted from a more complete removal of small trees, while the prescribed burn was so low-intensity, it did not remove many small trees. Bird groups selected for trees at least 1.6 times as large in diameter in treated stands as compared to control stands. Our results indicate activities such as thinning and burning may best enhance foraging habitat for bark gleaning species as a whole. Our data suggests that some important treatment design considerations include the removal of small trees and the retention of large trees and snags (>40 cm dbh) that provide important foraging substrate and nesting habitat.
Thermal characteristics of diving garments when Using argon as a suit inflation gas

The thermal insulation characteristics of two drysuit ensembles, consisting of the same tri-laminate outergarment with differing thermal undergarments, were measured on a 21-zone thermal manikin at the Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCRTF) during immersion testing when using air and argon alternatively as the suit inflation gas. Total thermal insulation values were determined for both garments utilizing ASTM test standard F 1291 - standard test method for measuring the thermal insulation of clothing using a heated manikin. Improvements in localized thermal insulation values were seen throughout both drysuit ensembles when using argon as an inflation gas when compared with those while using air. Improvements with argon inflation in an experimental aerogel garment ranged from a low of 11% in the legs, 27% in the arms, and 22% in the torso. Overall, the total suit insulation increased with the aerogel garment by approximately 16%. Improvements with argon inflation in a commercial drysuit ranged from a low of 5% in the torso, 12% in the arms, to a high of 32% in the legs. Overall, the total suit insulation increased with the commercial garment by approximately 20%. This investigation demonstrated that significant improvements in drysuit thermal protection can be achieved when using argon instead of air as a drysuit inflation gas. It should be noted however that these improvements were achieved by carefully and repeatedly purging (a minimum of 6 purge cycles) with pure argon prior to water entry. It is hypothesized that reduced thermal improvements have been seen in practice due to inadequate suit purging prior to dives.
Femtosecond interband hole scattering in Ge studied by pump-probe reflectivity

Abstract We have measured the transient reflectivity changes of bulk Ge after excitation with 140 fs laser pulses at 1.5 eV. The electron and hole dynamics are calculated using an ensemble Monte Carlo method. We find that the observed reflectivity changes are due to three main mechanisms: diffusion, band gap renormalization, and carrier dynamics, particularly scattering of light holes to the heavy hole band via the optical deformation potential interaction. Because of the unique band structure of Ge and the use of a reflectivity technique, we can isolate the role of the light holes with femtosecond time resolution. The Monte Carlo simulation (which uses an optical deformation potential for holes of d 0 =46 eV) overestimates the scattering rate of light holes to the heavy hole band. The agreement can be improved when a lower value for the deformation potential (determined from theory or other experiments) is used.
TWO SIDES OF ‘SILENCING’

John McDowell argues that for virtuous agents the requirements of virtue do not outweigh competing considerations, but 'silence' them. He explains this claim in two different ways: a virtuous agent (a) will not be temptedto act in a way which is incompatible with virtue ('motivational silencing'), or (b) will not believe that he has any reason to act in a way which is incompatible with virtue ('rational silencing'). I identify a small class of cases in which alone McDowell's claims about rational silencing are tiue. He draws his claims from Aristotle's assertion that a life of virtue is 'self-sufficient'. I offer an alternative reading of Aristotle's assertion, which does not imply the truth of McDowell's. But McDowell's claims about motivational silencing are true.
Does disparate occurrence of autoregulatory programmed frameshifting in decoding the release factor 2 gene reflect an ancient origin with loss in independent lineages

In Escherichia coli an autoregulatory mechanism of programmed ribosomal frameshifting governs the level of polypeptide chain release factor 2. From an analysis of 20 sequences of genes encoding release factor 2, we infer that this frameshift mechanism was present in a common ancestor of a large group of bacteria and has subsequently been lost in three independent lineages.
Transparent and Luminescent ZnS Ceramics Consolidated by Vacuum Hot Pressing Method

In this study, ZnS powders with homogeneous morphology were synthesized using a colloidal processing method. Vacuum hot pressing was subsequently applied to consolidate the ZnS powders into infrared transparent ceramics (77.3% transmittance at wavelengths of 6.74 and 9.29 μm). The phase composition of the sintered ZnS suggests the presence of wurtzite as a minor phase in addition to the primary sphalerite phase, and microstructural analysis indicates that the ceramics are highly densified. It has been found that the VHP-sintered ZnS ceramics exhibit blue (450 nm) and green (530 nm) luminescence, which is due to the formation of zinc vacancies and sulfur interstitials, respectively, during the sintering process.
Domestic Violence Victims' Behavior in Favor of Prosecution -- Effects of Gender Relations

This article examines how economic, emotional and social-power related factors affect victims' behavior in favor of prosecution during police investigations. Data drawn from police records and police narrative reports indicated that mutual charge, dual arrest, the severity of assaults and the severity of injuries suffered by victims negatively affected the victims' behavior in favor of prosecution. These findings suggest that the norm of unequal relationships between men and women combined with an indiscriminate use of mutual charge and dual arrest without considering the defensive or offensive nature of violent acts can reduce trust in the criminal justice system among women victims of domestic violence and decrease the victims' interest in pursuing prosecution.
Perinatally Acquired Viral Infections

In the process of birth the infant is exposed to the microbial environment of the outside world for the first time. Because the infant frequently comes into contact not only with maternal vaginal secretions but with blood and feces as well, it is not surprising that perinatal infection is common. This review will not consider bacterial perinatal infections—extremely common though they are—nor early intrauterine viral transplacental infections, about which much has been written (Overall and Glasgow, 1970; Fuccillo and Sever, 1973; Plotkin, 1975). Rather, the discussion will be confined to infections that are acquired about the time of parturition. These infections include the herpesviruses, the hepatitis viruses, and some of the enteroviruses.
Structurally integrated antennas for remote sensing

This paper presents the performance of conformal, load-bearing antenna arrays embedded into the wing structure of a conceptual remote sensing joined-wing aircraft. The antenna was analyzed for a wing that was deflected due to typical aerodynamic loads. Some of the basic array theory is discussed, and the technical approach for this research is outlined. Results of this research effort indicate that wing deflections due to typical aerodynamic loads have a significant effect on the pointing accuracy of the main beam of the antenna array, and must be considered in beam steering.
The role of chorionic gonadotropin and Notch1 in implantation

Purpose Failed implantation is a major limiting factor in infertility and early pregnancy loss. In primates, human chorionic gonadotropin mediated inhibition of stromal cell apoptosis and their subsequent differentiation into decidual cells is critical for successful embryo implantation. A major regulator of cell survival and differentiation is the Notch receptor, which transduces extracellular signals responsible for cell fate determination during development. Proteolytic cleavage of full-length Notch1 releases an active intracellular peptide, which later translocates to the nucleus and activates gene transcription. Induction of Notch1 during the window of uterine receptivity in stromal fibroblasts in response to chorionic gonadotropin upregulates anti- apoptotic genes and induces α-smooth muscle actin, enabling stromal cells to proliferate and differentiate into a decidualized phenotype. As such, prior to implantation the embryonic signal, chorionic gonadotropin, rescues stromal fibroblasts from normal regression at the end of each ovarian cycle.
Particle-in-cell simulation of ion flow through a hole in contact with plasma

Images from a particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation of ion flow through a hole in contact with plasma are presented. When the hole size is comparable to or larger than the plasma sheath thickness, the emanating ion beam is strongly divergent. In the opposite extreme of small hole size, a collimated ion beam may be extracted.
ECG-gated chest CT angiography with 64-MDCT and tri-phasic IV contrast administration regimen in patients with acute non-specific chest pain

The purpose of this study was to evaluate chest CTA protocol using retrospective ECG-gating and triphasic IV contrast regimen for comprehensive evaluation of patients with acute non-specific chest pain. ECG-triggered dose modulation was used with a 64-MDCT scanner in 56 non-critically ill patients with acute nonspecific chest pain using triphasic IV regimen: 50 ml contrast followed by 50 ml 60% contrast/saline and 30 ml normal saline. Lungs, aorta, pulmonary and coronary arteries were graded on a 5-point scale (5, best). Aorta and pulmonary artery attenuation was measured and three coronary artery groups were evaluated. Comparison with invasive coronary angiography was obtained in nine patients on a per segment (16 total) basis. Dosimetry values were obtained. Studies were satisfactory in all patients (score >3). Aorta and pulmonary artery attenuation was >200 HU in 90.5%. Lung or pleura, non-cardiac vascular and coronary arteries disease were detected in 20, 11 and 16 patients, respectively. Median coronary angiography (grade 5) was significantly higher than acceptable for diagnosis grade 4 (p < 0.001). Per segment, weighted kappa statistic was 0.79 indicating substantial agreement with catheter angiography (p<0.001). Average DLP was 1,490 ± 412 mGy-cm. Gated 64-MDCT angiography with triphasic IV contrast is a robust multipurpose technique for patients with acute non-specific chest pain.
A new valley-detection method for the quasi-resonance switching

To reduce switching losses in flyback topologies with a single switch, many kinds of quasi-resonant techniques are used. One of them is a valley-switching method which finds valleys of the drain-to-source voltage of the switch and makes the next switching begin at one of the valleys. It results in high efficiency and low EMI but an additional pin is required to detect where valleys are in view point of a control IC. This paper suggests a new valley-detection method without increasing the number of pin. Operational principles and experimental results will be shown to verify the validity of the proposed method.
The Story of Work: A Narrative Analysis of Workplace Emotion

This paper argues that work-related emotion is best accessed using indirect means, including figures of speech and narrative. An analysis of 452 narratives drawn from previously published works is presented to the end of addressing two research questions: Where is the emotion in work? and What is the emotion in work? In response to the first question, a series of prototypical work situations are isolated, all of which are heavily charged with emotion. In response to the second question, clusters of emotion associated with each prototypical situation are identified. An image of the vital dynamics of organizational life is presented based on these results, and it is argued that narrative analysis is a useful and accessible means of examining the experience of emotion in organizations.
Zinc in Specialized Secretory Tissues: Roles in the Pancreas, Prostate, and Mammary Gland

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient required for over 300 different cellular processes, including DNA and protein synthesis, enzyme activity, and intracellular signaling. Cellular Zn homeostasis necessitates the compartmentalization of Zn into intracellular organelles, which is tightly regulated through the integration of Zn transporting mechanisms. The pancreas, prostate, and mammary gland are secretory tissues that have unusual Zn requirements and thus must tightly regulate Zn metabolism through integrating Zn import, sequestration, and export mechanisms. Recent findings indicate that these tissues utilize Zn for basic cellular processes but also require Zn for unique cellular needs. In addition, abundant Zn is transported into the secretory pathway and a large amount is subsequently secreted in a tightly regulated manner for unique biological processes. Expression of numerous members of the SLC30A (ZnT) and SLC39A (Zip) gene families has been documented in these tissues, yet there is limited understanding of their precise functional role in Zn metabolism or their regulation. Impairments in Zn secretion from the pancreas, prostate, and mammary gland are associated with disorders such as diabetes, infertility, and cancer, respectively. In this review, we will provide a brief summary of the specific role of Zn in each tissue and describe our current knowledge regarding how Zn metabolism is regulated. Finally, in each instance, we will reflect upon how this information shapes our current understanding of the role of Zn in these secretory tissues with respect to human health and disease.
Attributions of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Related to Performing Diabetes Care around Friends and Peers: The Moderating Role of Friend Support

Objective To examine the relationships among negative attributions of friend and peer reactions to diabetes management in social situations, anticipated adherence difficulties, friend support, diabetes stress, and metabolic control. Methods A sample of 102 adolescents with Type 1 diabetes completed instruments measuring attribution of friend and peer reactions, anticipated adherence, friend support, and diabetes stress. Metabolic control was measured by the percentage of hemoglobin A1c. Results Structural equation modeling demonstrated an excellent fit of two models depicting the mediating role of anticipated adherence difficulties and diabetes stress on the relationship between negative attributions of friend (first model) and peer (second model) reactions and metabolic control. Friend support was found to moderate the path between diabetes stress and metabolic control in an unexpected manner. That is, as friend support increased, so did the relationship between stress and metabolic control. Conclusions Adolescents who make negative attributions about reactions of friends and/or non friend peers are likely to find adherence difficult in social situations and have increased stress, with the latter associated with metabolic control. Results are discussed in terms of a social information processing model of adjustment.
Hsp70 inhibits aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss and cochlear hair cell death

Sensory hair cells of the inner ear are sensitive to death from aging, noise trauma, and ototoxic drugs. Ototoxic drugs include the aminoglycoside antibiotics and the antineoplastic agent cisplatin. Exposure to aminoglycosides results in hair cell death that is mediated by specific apoptotic proteins, including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and caspases. Induction of heat shock proteins (Hsps) can inhibit JNK- and caspase-dependent apoptosis in a variety of systems. We have previously shown that heat shock results in robust upregulation of Hsps in the hair cells of the adult mouse utricle in vitro. In addition, heat shock results in significant inhibition of both cisplatin- and aminoglycoside-induced hair cell death. In this system, Hsp70 is the most strongly induced Hsp, which is upregulated over 250-fold at the level of mRNA 2 h after heat shock. Hsp70 overexpression inhibits aminoglycoside-induced hair cell death in vitro. In this study, we utilized Hsp70-overexpressing mice to determine whether Hsp70 is protective in vivo. Both Hsp70-overexpressing mice and their wild-type littermates were treated with systemic kanamycin (700 mg/kg body weight) twice daily for 14 days. While kanamycin treatment resulted in significant hearing loss and hair cell death in wild-type mice, Hsp70-overexpressing mice were significantly protected against aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss and hair cell death. These data indicate that Hsp70 is protective against aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity in vivo.
The diversity and abundance of North American bird assemblages fail to track changing productivity

Plant biomass or productivity and the species richness of birds are associated across a range of spatial scales. Species-energy theory is generally assumed to explain these correlations. If true, bird richness should also track productivity temporally, and there should be spatial and temporal relationships between productivity and both bird abundance and bird richness. Using the summer normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for 1982-2006 and the North American Breeding Bird Survey, we evaluated the response of avian richness and abundance to interannual changes in plant biomass or productivity. We found positive spatial relationships between richness and NDVI for all 25 years. Temporally, however, richness and NDVI were positively associated at 1579 survey sites and negatively associated at 1627 sites (mean r2 = 0.09). Further, total abundance and NDVI were unrelated spatially (r2 values spanning < 0.01 and 0.03) and weakly related temporally (mean r2 = 0.10). We found no evidence that productivity drives bird richness beyond the spatial correlations, and neither prediction arising from species-energy theory was confirmed. Spatial relationships between productivity and bird richness may thus be largely spurious, arising via covariance between plant biomass or productivity and vegetation structural complexity, and the latter may be driving bird communities. This is consistent with the MacArthurs' classic hypothesis that the vertical profile of foliage drives bird species diversity.
Simultaneous in-cylinder and exhaust cycle resolved non-dispersive infrared and flame ionization detector experimental sampling results during cranking and startup in a port fuel injection co-operation fuel research engine

AbstractOptimization of in-cylinder air—fuel mixture preparation in port fuel injected engines during all phases of operation is critical for maximizing engine performance while minimizing harmful emissions. In this study, a co-operative fuels research (CFR) gasoline engine is used to evaluate torque and measure in-cylinder and exhaust CO, CO2, and unburned hydrocarbons under various fuelling and spark conditions during cranking and startup phases. Fast flame ionization detectors and non-dispersive infrared fast CO and CO2 detectors are used as the principal diagnostics. Measured component trends are shown with detailed explanations. CFR engine exhaust unburned hydrocarbon levels are shown to be 3 to 7 times higher for startup than for steady state operation depending on spark timing and fuelling. Torque is found to be relatively insensitive to fuelling within 5 per cent of stoichiometric. Additionally, in-cylinder and exhaust CO levels are strong functions of startup enrichment. Exhaust CO, much easier t...
Depoliticising Politics: Readings of Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's Dictée

A pressing issue of our time is thus how to overcome the social movements' self‐imposed depoliticisation. (Hui 2006, 44) All along, you see her without actually seeing, actually having seen her. (C...