cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Humanitarian Aid and Assistance to Constrain Piracy in Somalia: Ignored Facts and the Political Delivery of Charity

The purpose of this article is to identify and analyze the facts that are ignored by the international community in resolving piracy off the coast of Somalia. The article addresses the important facts behind piracy in Somalia, laws related to piracy, and international responses to eliminate or reduce piracy in the region. The findings of this paper are that international laws of piracy are limited in that they only establish piracy as a crime, and later development broadens the scope by mixing piracy with terrorism. International responses to piracy in Somalia are also limited in terms of their focus in protecting trade and commerce and national security interests of a few powerful countries rather than giving equal priority to international aid and assistance to the victims of natural and human induced disasters. This article suggests that the international community should establish a legal right to humanitarian aid and assistance to the victims of such disasters; also, the international community should provide humanitarian assistance as a legal duty. With these suggestions, the article makes a case for the international rule of law, humanitarian assistance as an enforceable legal right, and room for international peace and security.
Improved quantitative analysis of primary bone marrow megakaryocytes utilizing imaging flow cytometry.

Life-threatening thrombocytopenia can develop following bone marrow injury due to decreased platelet production from megakaryocytes (MKs). However, the study of primary MKs has been complicated by their low frequency in the bone marrow and by technical challenges presented by their unique maturation properties. More accurate and efficient methods for the analysis of in vivo MKs are needed to enhance our understanding of megakaryopoiesis and ultimately develop new therapeutic strategies for thrombocytopenia. Imaging flow cytometry (IFC) combines the morphometric capabilities of microscopy with the high-throughput analyses of flow cytometry (FC). Here, we investigate the application of IFC on the ImageStreamX platform to the analysis of primary MKs isolated from murine bone marrow. Our data highlight and address technical challenges for conventional FC posed by the wide range of cellular size within the MK lineage as well as the shared surface phenotype with abundant platelet progeny. We further demonstrate that IFC can be used to reproducibly and efficiently quantify the frequency of primary murine MKs in the marrow, both at steady-state and in the setting of radiation-induced bone marrow injury, as well as assess their ploidy distribution. The ability to accurately analyze the full spectrum of maturing MKs in the bone marrow now allows for many possible applications of IFC to enhance our understanding of megakaryopoiesis and platelet production. © 2014 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Earthquake triggering by seismic waves following the Landers and Hector Mine earthquakes

The proximity and similarity of the 1992, magnitude 7.3 Landers and 1999, magnitude 7.1 Hector Mine earthquakes in California permit testing of earthquake triggering hypotheses not previously possible. The Hector Mine earthquake confirmed inferences that transient, oscillatory ‘dynamic’ deformations radiated as seismic waves can trigger seismicity rate increases, as proposed for the Landers earthquake1,2,3,4,5,6. Here we quantify the spatial and temporal patterns of the seismicity rate changes7. The seismicity rate increase was to the north for the Landers earthquake and primarily to the south for the Hector Mine earthquake. We suggest that rupture directivity results in elevated dynamic deformations north and south of the Landers and Hector Mine faults, respectively, as evident in the asymmetry of the recorded seismic velocity fields. Both dynamic and static stress changes seem important for triggering in the near field with dynamic stress changes dominating at greater distances. Peak seismic velocities recorded for each earthquake suggest the existence of, and place bounds on, dynamic triggering thresholds. These thresholds vary from a few tenths to a few MPa in most places, depend on local conditions, and exceed inferred static thresholds by more than an order of magnitude. At some sites, the onset of triggering was delayed until after the dynamic deformations subsided. Physical mechanisms consistent with all these observations may be similar to those that give rise to liquefaction or cyclic fatigue.
Ethical issues in gastroenterology research

Ethical issues have become increasingly important in gastroenterology research. This is for several reasons, including (i) an understanding of how conflicts of interest might affect research, (ii) the influence of the drug and device industries on research, (iii) ghostwriting (taking credit for something you did not write), (iv) the occurrence of ethically inappropriate research and scientific misconduct, and (v) respect for the rights of research subjects. These include the rights (i) to give informed consent to participate after understanding the purposes, risks, and benefits of the research; (ii) to ask questions; and (iii) to withdraw from participation at any time. Notions of doing good (beneficence), avoiding harm (non-maleficence), confidentiality, and, most important, the primacy of the welfare of the patient or research subject can be traced to antiquity. In the modern era, the Nuremburg Code (1947), the Declaration of Helsinki (1964), the Belmont report (1979), and other events and reports have led to the refinement of ethical practices in both clinical and research domains, have reinforced those long observed principles, and have given rise to the newer principles of autonomy and justice. The ethical conduct of research not only promotes good research but also is in the best interests of research subjects, investigators, sponsors, patients, and the public.
A comparison of some stochastic models of interpurchase intervals and of aggregate purchase incidence

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACTThe objective of this paper is to shed some light on whether the choice of a stochastic model for modeling purchase incidence is crucial. Specifically, we theoretically and empirically evaluate several stochastic models of interpurchase intervals at the individual level and purchase incidence at the aggregate level. We compare the exponential, Erlang-2, gamma, lognormal, Weibull, and inverse Gaussian distributions as models of individual level interpurchase intervals. For models of aggregate level purchase incidence, we evaluate the Negative Binomial Distribution (NBD), the Compound Inverse Gaussian (CIG), and the Generalized Poisson Distribution (GPD). Our results indicate that even though the two parameter gamma distribution is by and large the best at the individual level, the exponential distribution is a close competitor. At the aggregate level, the complex CIG does not perform as well as the NBD and the GPD.
Recovering soil productivity attributes from experimental data: a statistical method and an application to soil productivity dynamics.

Abstract We present a means to recover information about soil quality trends from data sets, such as those from long-term crop experiments, in which time series of direct measures of soil properties may be unavailable. The first objective of the paper is to develop a method to recover information about the evolution of soil quality attributes from a limited range of data. The second objective is empirical: focusing on the productivity component of soil quality, to apply a dynamic statistical estimation method to infer a measure of soil productivity and its evolution from a time series of data on yields, nutrient inputs and management techniques. The results of the empirical analysis confirm well-known input–productivity relationships, but also reveal new information about their dynamics. For example, more intensive cropping reduces soil productivity, but the dynamic effects of crop choice on productivity in a given period decline over time. N fertilizer can substitute for soil productivity in the short term, but in the long term, soil productivity decline due to intensive cultivation cannot be alleviated by higher N application rates. Simulations of soil productivity evolution across differing land management regimes reveal that continuous cropping of corn rapidly reduces soil productivity even at high N application rates, while rotational choices, especially the use of legumes, can lead to quite rapid soil productivity regeneration. Both our conceptualization of the soil productivity measure and our approach to its measurement have the advantage of making use of only limited longitudinal data. Our empirical findings convey some important implications for future research related to the sustainability of agricultural production worldwide.
Searching for synergism in dryland cropping systems in the central Great Plains

Previously published research reported a “synergistic effect” of corn (Zea mays L.) on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) water use efficiency (WUE) when corn (C) was the preceding crop for dryland cropping systems in the central Great Plains, i.e., less water was required to grow a unit of wheat (W) or proso millet (M) when corn was the preceding crop. A similar synergistic effect of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) for seed (P) or forage (FrP) on winter wheat water use and yield has also been reported. The purpose of this study was to examine a long-term cropping systems yield and water use data set in order to determine if WUE is altered by rotational sequence (i.e., previous crop). Yield and water use data (computed by water balance using neutron probe and time-domain reflectometry measurements) were acquired from a crop rotation study conducted at Akron, CO from 1996 to 2011 using the following rotation sequences: W–fallow (F), W–C–F, W–M–F, W–C–M, W–M, W–W–C–M,W–C–M–F, W–C–M–P, W–C–M–FrP and W–M–Sunflower (S, Helianthus annuus L.)–F. Water use efficiency was computed as grain yield divided by water use. Changes in WUE due to crop rotation were also evaluated based on slopes of water use/yield production functions. The analysis of these data did not support a conclusion that corn has a synergistic effect of improving WUE of wheat or millet production nor the conclusion that pea has a synergistic effect on wheat.
Classical stabilization of homogeneous extra dimensions

If spacetime possesses extra dimensions of size and curvature radii much larger than the Planck or string scales, the dynamics of these extra dimensions should be governed by classical general relativity. We argue that in general relativity it is nontrivial to obtain solutions where the extra dimensions are static and are dynamically stable to small perturbations. We also illustrate that intuition on equilibrium and stability built up from nongravitational physics can be highly misleading. For all static, homogeneous solutions satisfying the null energy condition, we show that the Ricci curvature of space must be non-negative in all directions. Much of our analysis focuses on a class of spacetime models where space consists of a product of homogeneous and isotropic geometries. A dimensional reduction of these models is performed, and their stability to perturbations that preserve the spatial symmetries is analyzed. We conclude that the only physically realistic examples of classically stabilized large extra dimensions are those in which the extra-dimensional manifold is positively curved.
Studies on the arrangement of glucocorticoid receptors in the plasma membrane of S-49 lymphoma cells

Abstract The presence of glucocorticoid receptors is required for glucocorticoid-mediated lymphocytolysis to take place. However, the explicit mechanism of involvement of this receptor continues to be debated. We have recently presented evidence that this response is mediated by a specialised form of the glucocorticoid receptor that resides in the plasma membrane (mGR). Using sequential cell separation techniques (“immunopanning,” fluorescent cell sorting, and soft agar cloning), a resultant population of membrane receptor-enriched cells have remained stable and provided material for further analysis. The mGR patching and capping phenomenon originally observed with fluoresceinated monoclonal antibody techniques was verified here with electron micrographic analysis using colloidal gold-conjugated antibody. Using 3H-labeled monoclonal antibody, a radioimmunoassay for membrane receptors was developed. Trypsin treatment removed the membrane receptor antigenic site from the surface of cells. Peptide mapping of receptor purified from plasma membranes reveals several trypsin and α-chymotrypsin cleavage sites. Larger fragments resulted from cleavage of the membrane receptor of cells enriched for mGR versus those found in cells depleted of the membrane form, although most of the resulting fragments are shared by the two forms. Confirmation of previous studies correlating membrane receptor with the mechanism of glucocorticoid sensitivity is now extended to include elimination of the lymphocytolysis effect in membrane receptor-stripped (trypsinized) S-49 cells. (Steroids 56:411–419, 1991)
Numerical investigation of the origin of vortex asymmetry

The flow about a slender body of revolution placed at incidence to an oncoming stream is numerically investigated for angles of attack ranging from 20 to 80 degrees and a Reynolds number of 200,000, based on freestream conditions and maximum body diameter. Navier-Stokes computations are applied to investigate the phenomena governing the onset of vortex asymmetry. Time-accurate solutions are given for an ogive-cylinder body with and without a space-fixed time-invariant disturbance added near the tip. At a 40-degree angle of attack the flow is found to be steady but becomes highly asymmetric when the disturbance is added. The level of asymmetry is dependent upon the size and location of the disturbance. It is suggested that the origin of the asymmetry is a convective-type instability of the originally symmetric flow. For higher angles of attack (60 and 80 degrees) the flow around the cylindrical part becomes unsteady, and vortex shedding is observed. It is suggested that the origin of flow unsteadiness and vortex shedding in the wake is an absolute-type instability of the originally steady flow.
Independent responses of nucleoside triphosphatase and protein kinase activities in nuclear envelope following thioacetamide treatment.

Abstract Two methods were used to prepare rat-liver nuclear envelope from control and thioacetamide-treated animals. The method employing DNase-digestion and Tris-EDTA dissociation of ribosomes resulted in much lower specific NTPase and protein kinase activities. Monneron's preparative technique yielded NE preparations with high specific activities. Following thioacetamide treatment, the NE NTPase increased to nearly 300% of the control activity, with no change in the protein kinase activity. It appears that the NE protein kinase activity is not related to NE NTPase and is not involved in RNA transport.
Electromagnetic design of a novel microwave internal combustion engine ignition source, the quarter wave coaxial cavity igniter

AbstractNew ignition sources are needed to operate the next generation of lean high-efficiency internal combustion engines. A significant environmental and economic benefit could be obtained from these lean engines. Towards this goal, the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator (QWCCR), igniter was examined. A brief overview of the QWCCR's history is presented, followed by an electromagnetic analysis of the resonator. Microwave and radio-frequency gas breakdown at atmospheric and higher conditions are reviewed briefly. The presented analysis focuses on geometric and material parameter relations compared with performance characteristics, such as resonator quality factor and developed tip electric field which initiates a single-electrode high-pressure microwave gas breakdown. Conductor surface losses, dielectric losses, and radiation losses of the device are considered in the analysis, for which parameters of a prototype QWCCR were chosen for construction and evaluation of a resonator. Improved designs allowe...
A controlled light and temperature apparatus for recording insect emergence.

With few exceptions biological rhythms imply repetitive phenomena. One exception is the rhythm ascribedto the times of emergence of holometabolous insects from the pupa. This unique event can be accorded rhythmcity only at the population level.
Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent phosphoregulation of mitochondrial complex I is inhibited by nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Abstract Nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are known to directly inhibit mitochondrial complex I activity as well as various mitochondrial kinases. Recent observations that complex I activity and superoxide production are modulated through cAMP-dependent phosphorylation suggests a mechanism through which NRTIs may affect mitochondrial respiration via kinase-dependent protein phosphorylation. In the current study, we examine the potential for NRTIs to inhibit the cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of complex I and the associated NADH:CoQ oxidoreductase activities and rates of superoxide production using HepG2 cells. Phosphoprotein staining of immunocaptured complex I revealed that 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT; 10 and 50 μM), AZT monophosphate (150 μM), and 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (ddC; 1 μM) prevented the phosphorylation of the NDUFB11 subunit of complex I. This was associated with a decrease in complex I activity with AZT and AZT monophosphate only. In the presence of succinate, superoxide production was increased with 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine (ddI; 10 μM) and ddC (1 μM). In the presence of succinate + cAMP, AZT showed an inverse dose-dependent effect on superoxide production. None of the NRTIs examined inhibit PKA activity suggesting that the observed effects are due to a direct interaction with complex I. These data demonstrate a direct effect of NRTIs on cAMP-dependent regulation of mitochondrial bioenergetics independent of DNA polymerase-γ activity; in the case of AZT, these observations may provide a mechanism for the observed long-term toxicity with this drug.
Effect of Corn Silk Age on Flavone Content and Development of Corn Earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae

The effects of silk age from ‘Stowell’s Evergreen’ and ‘Zapalote Chico’ on maysin (a luteolin-C-glycoside flavone) and isomaysin content, and on weight and developmental time of larvae and weight of pupae of com earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), were studied. Differences in H. zea biological parameter responses to silk diets of 3 ages (nonpollinated, 2- and 5-d-old pollinated) were found between cultivars. Ten-d-old pollinated silks had no adverse effects on developmental parameters of corn earworm larvae. Flavone content decreased us the age of Zapalote Chico silk increased, but its concentration in 10-d-old pollinated silks of Zapalote Chico and Stowell’s Evergreen was similar. A significant negative correlation was found between weight of corn earworm larvae and the amount of (milligram) maysin, isomaysin, or maysin plus isomaysin per gram of oven-dried silk of all silk ages.
Artistic Originals as a Capital Asset

N KEEPING with international guidelines on na­ tional economic accounting, the Bureau of Eco­ nomic Analysis (BEA) has announced that it is planning to adopt a new treatment of long-lived art­ work in the national income and product accounts (NIPAs). The new treatment will be part of the 2013 comprehensive revision. Under the new treatment, long-lived artwork produced by artists, studios, and publishers will be capitalized; that is, production of long-lived artwork will be treated as an investment, thus adding to the capital stock. Currently, the NIPAs treat all production of artwork as a current expense. As a first step toward treating artistic originals as in­ vestment and determining how such investment might affect gross domestic product (GDP) over time, BEA has initiated a research effort to estimate the value of theatrical movies, original songs and recordings, origi­ nal books, long-lived television programming, and miscellaneous artwork. The value of investment in such artistic originals totaled $51.6 billion in 2007 (the featured year for this research). Copies of these artistic originals will be sold on DVD, replayed on the radio, reprinted in paperback, and broadcast on television for decades to come. The estimates of investment in artis­ tic originals presented in this paper are preliminary and may differ from the values that will ultimately be recorded in the NIPAs. The research discussed in this article is part of a long-term bureauwide effort aimed at capitalizing a complete set of intangible assets. In the 1990s, BEA re­ classified computer software from a current expense to a capital investment and revised the NIPAs accordingly (Parker and Grimm 2000). Other researchers at the BEA have developed satellite accounts measuring in­ vestment and capital stock of research and develop­ ment (RD estimates of current-dollar investment for theatrical movies, music, books, television programs, and miscellaneous artwork from 1929 to 2009; estimates of price indexes and real production for each category from 1929 to 2009; and estimates of depreciation schedules for each art category and the capital stock of each art category.1
Reducing non-response bias with survey reweighting: applications for online learning researchers

In many online courses, information about learners is collected via surveys for accounting, instructional design, and research purposes. Aggregate information from such surveys is frequently reported in news articles and research papers, among other publications. While some authors acknowledge the potential bias due to non-response in course surveys, there are no investigations on the severity of the bias and methods for bias reduction in the online education context. A regression-based response-propensity model is described and applied to reweight a course survey, and discrepancies between adjusted and unadjusted outcome distributions are provided.
Protein synthesis in a cell-free preparation from Tetrahymena pyriformis GL.

Abstract 1. 1. A cell-free preparation, with properties of the microsomal protein synthesizing system, was prepared from the soluble fraction of Tetrahymena pyriformis GL. 2. 2. Maximum amino acid incorporation required ATP, GTP, an energy-generating system, 10–12 mM Mg 2+ and approximately 50 mM K + or NH 4 + . 3. 3. Chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin, puromycin and cycloheximide exhibited similar inhibitory activities in this cell-free system as they do in mammalian systems. This indicates that the protein synthesizing system of T. pyriformis GL may be similar to that of mammalian cells.
The regulation of allergy and asthma.

Summary: Allergic diseases and asthma are caused by exaggerated T-helper 2 (Th2)-biased immune responses in genetically susceptible individuals. Tolerance to allergens is a mechanism that normally prevents such responses, but the specific immunological events that mediate tolerance in this setting are poorly understood. A number of recent studies indicate that regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in controlling such Th2-biased responses. Tregs involved in regulating allergy and asthma consist of a family of related types of T cells, including natural CD25+ Tregs as well as inducible forms of antigen-specific adaptive Tregs. Impaired expansion of natural and/or adaptive Tregs is hypothesized to lead to the development of allergy and asthma, and treatment to induce allergen-specific Tregs could provide curative therapies for these problems.
The kinetics of I131 metabolism in the dog and human.

Abstract A kinetic study of iodine metabolism was performed with 40 dogs and 12 humans using intravenously administered radioactive carrier-free iodine-131 (I 131 ). Because of the close correlation between the experimental data and those expected from theoretical considerations, it is believed that equilibrium between plasma and red cell I 131 is reached in a few minutes, whereas 4 hr. is required for the attainment of equilibrium between plasma and the other body fluids. During this period, the thyroid, kidney and stomach also clear I 131 from the plasma. The outward diffusion into body fluids accounts for the rapid drop in plasma, thyroid, urine and gastric disappearance of I 131 since they are all functions of the plasma concentration. After equilibrium has obtained between plasma and the other body fluids, I 131 disappearance into the thyroid, urine, and gastric juice proceeds at an exponential rate. Disappearance into any one of these compartments can then be expressed as the product of the individual clearance constant for that tissue ( K T , K U , or K S ) and the proportion of the dose present in the plasma. The I 131 content of gastric juice was found to account for as much as 30% of the administered dose in the anesthetized dog, and yet had no significance in the human where it was apparently absorbed rapidly from the duodenum. Gastric I 131 secretion studies in the dog revealed a good qualitative correlation between the amount of I 131 secreted and the acidity of the gastric juice under chemical stimulation and inhibition.
Use of Student Paraprofessionals in Divisions of College Student Affairs

A stratified random sample of college student affairs divisions was surveyed to assess the depth and breadth of student paraprofessional use. More than 72% of the responding institutions reported having one or more student paraprofessional programs.
A Redescription of Aphelenchoides Bicaudatus (Imamura, 1931) Filipjev & Schuurmans Stekhoven, 1941 (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae), With a Description of the Previously Undescribed Male

Aphelenchoides bicaudatus (Imamura, 1931) Filipjev & Schuurmans Stekhoven, 1941, a mycophagous species, is redescribed. The male is described. Sexual dimorphism is present in the tail shape; the female tail terminus is bifurcated, whereas the male tail terminates in a single mucro. In both A. bicaudatus and A. hainanensis (Rahm, 1938) T. Goodey, 1951 females have a bifurcated tail terminus. However, A. hainanensis is 2-2.5 times longer, fairly slender, relatively shorter in esophageal and tail lengths, and males as well as females have a bifurcated tail tip.
Use of a Selective Ion Electrode for Determination of Nitrate in Soils

Abstract A procedure for determination of nitrate in soils involving use of the Orion nitrate-selective electrode is described. It is rapid, simple, and precise, and it gives quantitative recovery of nitrate added to soils. The results by this procedure agree closely with those obtained by extraction-distillation methods of determining, nitrate in soil.
The metaphysical transition in farming: From the newtonian-mechanical to the eltonian ecological

Modern agriculture is subject to a metaphysical as well as an ethical critique. As a casual review of the beliefs associated with food production in the past suggests, modern agriculture is embedded in and informed by the prevailing modern world view, Newtonian Mechanics, which is bankrupt as a scientific paradigm and unsustainable as an agricultural motif. A new holistic, organic world view is emerging from ecology and the new physics marked by four general conceptual features: Each level of organization from atoms to ecosystems (1) exhibits emergent properties, (2) exerts downward causation from whole to part, (3) is a systemically integrated whole, (4) the parts of which are internally related. Organic agriculture has been favourably compared with industrial agriculture by the United States National Academy of Science's Board on Agriculture. Aldo Leopold was among the first to criticize industrial agriculture and to envision a new motif for agriculture informed by ecology. A future post-modern ecological agriculture will help to solve the ethical problems engendered by modern mechanical agriculture.
Hereditary 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-resistant rickets resulting from a mutation in the vitamin D receptor deoxyribonucleic acid-binding domain.

Hereditary 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-resistant rickets (HVDRR) is a genetic disease that results from mutations in the gene encoding the vitamin D receptor (VDR). In this study of two siblings showing classical features of HVDRR, cultured dermal fibroblasts were used to characterize their VDR and assess responsiveness to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 treatment. The VDR displayed normal affinity and binding capacity for [3H]1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3; however, the cells failed to exhibit induction of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 24-hydroxylase activity when treated with hormone. A decreased affinity of liganded VDR for DNA cellulose suggested that the defect was localized to the DNA-binding domain. Exons 2 and 3 of the VDR gene, which encode the two zinc fingers in the DNA-binding domain, were amplified and sequenced by polymerase chain reaction. Both siblings exhibited a G to A missense mutation (CGG to CAG) in exon 3, which results in the replacement of Arg77 by Gln at the base of the second zinc finger. This mutati...
Systemic effect in mice of venom apparatus extract and toxin from the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa)

Abstract Brown recluse spider ( Loxosceles reclusa ) venom toxin causes death but no necrosis in mice. Six hours after challenge with toxin isolated from venom apparatus extract, mice show elevations of a number of serum enzyme activities indicating damage to the liver and possibly to other tissues including those of the kidney, heart and central nervous system. No obvious changes were apparent in plasma Na + , K + and Ca 2+ concentrations after venom challenge. The hematocrit of venom-challenged animals was not significantly different from controls. Plasma glucose decreased slightly. Urine K + and Ca 2+ concentration increased while Na + decreased. No evidence for in vivo hemolysis was observed, although the venom did cause in vitro hemolysis of mouse erythrocytes.
Recertification for Internists — One “Grandfather's” Experience

Dr. Troyen Brennan writes that the practice of internal medicine can be isolating. Lacking the clear-cut outcomes of one-time interventions like surgery, internists work from day to day essentially without signposts indicating success or failure.
Carcinoma and SV40-Transfected Normal Ovarian Surface Epithelial Cell Comparison by Nonphotochemical Hole Burning

Results are presented of nonphotochemical-hole-burning experiments on the mitochondrial specific dye rhodamine 800 incubated with two human ovarian surface epithelial cell lines: OSE(tsT)-14 normal cells and OV167 carcinoma cells. This dye is selective for the plasma and inner membranes of the mitochondria, as shown by confocal microscopy images. Dispersive hole-growth kinetics of zero-phonon holes are analyzed with theoretical fits, indicating that subcellular structural heterogeneity of the carcinoma cell line is lower relative to the analogous normal cell line. Broadening of holes in the presence of an applied electric field (Stark effect) was used to determine the permanent dipole moment change for the S0→S1 transition in the two cell lines. For the carcinoma cell line, the permanent dipole moment change value is a factor of 1.5 higher than for the normal cell line. It is speculated that this difference may be related to differences in mitochondrial membrane potentials in the two cell lines.
What the Democrats Should Do: Interview with Robert Reich

Name the villains, former labor secretary Robert Reich tells the Democrats in this interview. Talk about the failure of the economy in moral terms. And find a compelling narrative. He offers four of them.
Epidemiological profile of atrial fibrillation: a contemporary perspective.

From the Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN. Address reprint requests to Teresa S.M. Tsang, MD, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905. E-mail: tsang.teresa@mayo.edu 0033-0620/$ see front matter n 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2005.06.001 A trial fibrillation (AF) is primarily, but not exclusively, a disease of older people. With progressively greater number of people living to an older age, the magnitude of this public health problem is continuously increasing. The lifetime risk for AF is 1:4 for men and women older than 40 years. The prevalence of this condition in the United States has been reported to be 2.3 million and is projected to increase to 5.6 million by 2050. Based on National Hospital Discharge Survey, AF-related hospitalization increased by almost 3-fold between 1985 and 1999. This trend continued after the 1990s, with a relative increase in admissions for AF by 34% in 1996 to 2001. The trends of increased prevalence and resource use show no signs of abating. Considering that AF can be paroxysmal and not detected for some time, and that AF may be asymptomatic and remain undiagnosed altogether, the published estimations likely represent only a part of the total burden. AF in older individuals is frequently accompanied by other age-related conditions. The clinical sequelae are multiple, including congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke, and premature death. It has also been linked to cognitive dysfunction, although this remains unproven. AF in older persons generally does not occur in isolation but within the context of other agerelated cardiovascular conditions (hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and heart failure), pulmonary diseases, and chronic or even preterminal illnesses. AF in this clinical setting appears to have developed secondary to left atrial and/or pulmonary venous structural and electrical remodeling in response to systemic inflammation, cardiovascular, and hemodynamic stresses. Much less commonly, AF occurs in the absence of overt cardiac structural abnormalities, conventionally referred to as blone AF, Q -21 which more frequently occurs in younger persons
Min-net winner-take-all CMOS implementation

A charge-based winner-take-all (WTA) circuit is proposed. This WTA circuit is a min-net capable of selecting the minimum value among its input nodes and gives only one low voltage for the corresponding output node. The charge-based circuit uses a power supply of 3 V, with low power dissipation due to the lack of static DC current involved. The WTA circuit is used in associative neural networks. >
Entero-colocutaneous fistula: a late consequence of polypropylene mesh abdominal wall repair: case report and review of the literature.

Background. The underlying risk associated with visceral mesh erosion is the close opposition of adjacent intestines to the prosthetic graft. This highly morbid condition has been described with most types and techniques of abdominal wall mesh repair.
Secrets and the Sociological Imagination: Using Postsecret.com to Illustrate Sociological Concepts

Introductory sociology classes afford instructors an opportunity to expose students, often from a variety of backgrounds and majors, to the sociological imagination. In this article, I describe how the use of secrets from a popular website, PostSecret.com, can help teach students about the sociological imagination and incorporate biographical examples in explanations of broader social trends and sociological concepts. I present results from a survey of students in an introductory sociology class in order to gauge their response to the use of anonymous secrets. Results reveal that over 75 percent of students indicated that PostSecret helped them understand the sociological imagination and learn sociological concepts, 93 percent of students reported that it helped them understand course content through the use of examples, and 69 percent indicated that it helped them remember important concepts. Students also indicated that the discussion of secrets helped them recognize their own assumptions about the social world and provided them with a perspectives different from their own.
Retinal fibers alter tectal positional markers during the expansion of the half retinal projection in goldfish

Although widely accepted, the theory, that neurones carry immutable cytochemical markers which specify their synaptic connections, is not consistent with plastic reorganizations. Half retinal fish were therefore tested for changed markers following expansion. Optic nerve crush at the time of the half retinal ablation resulted in regeneration of a normal, restricted projection; but nerve crush following expansion (many months later) resulted in reestablishment of the expanded projection, assessed both by electrophysiological mapping and by radioautography. Since this implied changed markers, the half retina and tectum were tested independently using the ipsilateral tectum and eye as controls. In normal fish, removal of one tectum and deflection of the corresponding optic tract toward the remaining tectum resulted in regeneration of a positionally normal but ipsilateral map. In experimental fish, after the half retina had expanded its projection to the contralateral tectum, its optic tract was deflected to the control tectum. After 40 days it had regenerated a normal, restricted map indicating that the retinal markers had not changed. Such restricted projections did not expand in the presence of the normal projection even after a year or more. Similarly, the optic tract from the normal eye was deflected to cause innervation of the tectum containing the expanded half retinal projection. After 40 days, the projection regenerated from the normal eye was similar to the expanded half retinal projection. Areas of the normal retina corresponding to the missing areas of the half retina were not represented. Tectal markers had been altered by the half retinal fibers. In a final group, tecta were denervated and tested at various intervals by innervation from ipsilateral half retinal eyes. After five months of denervation, the regenerating fibers were no longer restricted to the rostral tectum but formed an expanded projection initially. Apparently tectal markers are induced by the retinal fibers, changed during expansion, and disappear during long-term denervation.
The formation of fractal objects

During recent years there has been an increasing interest in fractal or dendritic structures in nature [1]. A familiar example here at Les Houches, where we are surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountains in the world, is the snowflake. While browsing through the school library, I found out that Kepler was probably the first well-known scientist to be interested in this subject. He wrote an essay [2[ in which he attempted to explain the sixfold symmetry of snowflakes. Although this symmetry has been well understood for some time, it is remarkable that the origin of the dendritic appearance of snowflakes has been elucidated only rather recently [3, 4]. In this talk I would like to discuss a simple stochastic model for the formation of fractal aggregates which was introduced by Witten and Sander [5]. It has the great advantage that it can be readily implemented on your personal computer to produce remarkable fractal structures like the example shown in fig. 1. This aggregate is formed in the following manner: Locate a seed particle fixed at the center of your screen, and introduce a second particle moving along a random walk starting at the edge of the screen. If this particle comes within a distance a from the seed particle it gets trapped. When this happens introduce another random walker which can now get stuck in the neighborhood of either of the two fixed particles. Repeat this process n times, and you get a structure like the one shown in fig. 1. It is easy to understand the qualitative behavior of this model. The tree-like structure is due to the fact that a random walker coming from outside has a high probability of getting trapped in the outer branches of the growing aggregate. Careful measurements show that this aggregate has remarkable scaling and universality properties. For example, the densitydensity correlation function C(r) has a simple power law behavior [5, 6] as a function of the distance, C(r) ~ r -A, where the power A depends on the dimensionality d. This result is reminiscent of the behavior of critical phenomena in statistical mechanics, and suggests the possible application of renormalization group techniques [7] to evaluate the exponent A or fractal dimension D = d A. I would like to report here on a more modest and old-fashioned approach, which was carried out in collaboration with S. Alexander, R. Ball, T.A. Witten, L.M. Sander and R. Richter. Consider the continuum version of the discrete stochastic model of Witten and Sander [5]. This formulation leads to a pair of nonlinear partial differential equations for the density p of the growing aggregate, and the density u of the diffusing particle. A remarkable fact is that for the case of spherical symmetry these equations can be solved analytically in an asymptotic regime [8, 9], which elucidates the universality and scaling properties of the model. The generalized continuum equations for diffusion and attachment take the form [8--11]
Correlation between the fluorescent response of microfluidity probes and the water content and viscosity of ionic liquid and water mixtures

Accurate data on transport properties such as viscosity are essential in plant and process design involving ionic liquids. In this study, we determined the absolute viscosity of the ionic liquid + water system at water mole fractions from 0 to 0.25 for three 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide. In each case, the excimer to monomer ratio for 1,m-bis(1-pyrenyl)alkanes (m = 3 or 10) was found to increase linearly with the mole fraction of water. Of the probes studied only PRODAN and rhodamine 6G, both of which have the ability to participate in hydrogen bonding, exhibited Perrin hydrodynamic behavior in the lower viscosity bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imides. As a result, these probes allow for the extrapolation of the absolute viscosity of the ionic liquid mixture from the experimental fluorescence steady-state polarization values.
The social position of electronic text centers

Electronic text centers exist in tension with structures and functions of research libraries that have been optimized to handle print materials. This article details the establishment and subsequent development of an e‐text center in the Cornell University Library and the issues that have been raised: the effects of spanning traditionally separate areas of the library, such as collection development, reference and instruction, information technology and support, and stack maintenance; the need for a wide range of language, technical and people skills in e‐text center staff; and the importance of collaboration with other parts of the library, other staff in the university, and other universities. As centers create more e‐texts locally, libraries will face increasing pressure to make the organizational changes necessary to effectively manage electronic collections.
Solubilities of styrene-based polymers and copolymers in common solvents

Abstract A thermo-optical analysis technique is used to obtain cloud-point curves of binary monodisperse polymer/solvent systems containing polystyrene (PS), poly(α-methylstyrene) (PMS) and poly(styrene-co-α-methylstyrene) (PSMS) random copolymer having 20 mol% styrene. Solvents include cyclohexane, cyclopentane, trans-decalin, n-butyl acetate, n-pentyl acetate and n-hexyl acetate. The systems studied in this work exhibit both a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) in the temperature range −60 to 300°C with complete miscibility between LCST and UCST; exceptions are trans-decalin solutions and systems PS/n-alkyl acetate which show only UCST and LCST behaviour, respectively. For systems PMS/n-alkyl acetate, PMS/n-butyl acetate has the lowest UCST while the LCST monotonically increases as the molecular weight of n-alkyl acetate rises. The critical temperatures of PSMS solutions deviate from the temperature obtained by linearly interpolating between the critical temperature of PS solutions and that of PMS solutions.
Trace element sensitivity for Heavy Ion Backscattering Spectrometry

Abstract Heavy Ion Backscattering Spectrometry (HIBS) is an ion beam analysis tool for measuring very low levels of surface contamination. HIBS uses low-energy (100–200 keV), heavy ions (C + . N + ) for analysis combined with a thin carbon foil to range out the increased backscattering yield from the substrate. A new HIBS system has been built at Sandia National Laboratories under a cooperative research agreement with Sematech, which was made available as a user facility for Si wafer contamination analysis beginning in July 1995. A number of factors have influenced the detection limits which are being achieved, including detector efficiency; choice of beam species and energy, sputtering by the incident beam, and spectral background due to multiple scattering and random coincidences. Because of the increased sensitivity of this new system, we have identified sources of background which had not been a problem in a research prototype. These include problems with beam scattering in the chamber, molecular contamination in O and N beams, and forward scattering of H by the incident beam. In its first tests the system has demonstrated detection limits of ∼ 6 × 10 9 atoms/cm 2 for Fe to ∼ 3×10 8 atoms/cm 2 for Au on Si.
Managing an Alliance: The Politics of U.S.-Japanese Relations

The alliance between Japan and the United States has entered a new era. Successful in promoting mutually beneficial relations during the cold war era, it must now be adapted to a world of detente and new dealings with China. Effective in helping the vulnerable postwar Japanese economy recover domestically and expand its trade internationally, it is now confronted with the different issues accompanying Japan's rise to third rank among the world's economic powers.The alliance remains important because effective cooperation between Japan and the United States is indispensable to regional stability in East Asia and to a workable world economic order. This study of the politics and processes that influence U.S.-Japanese relations draws heavily on three episodes: revision of the bilateral security treaty in 1960; agreement on reversion of Okinawa to Japan in 1969; and the dispute in 1969-71 over Japanese textile exports to the United States. All three illustrate differences and similarities in the national political and bureaucratic institutions through which policy decisions and actions are taken, how officials in each government perceive actions taken by the other, and recurrent patterns of misperception. The authors' analysis of U.S. and Japanese negotiating tactics constitutes a guide to effective political management and consensus-building within each country. The study also accounts for the ways in which issues arise, the channels through which they are negotiated, and the effect of actions in one system on decisionmaking in the other. The authors conclude with suggestions about how to reduce tension and promote constructive bilateral relations suggestions that they believe to be relevant to the conduct of U.S. relations with other major allies.
Effects of hot-wire length on the measurement of turbulent spectra in anisotropic flows

Fluid velocity measurements obtained using hot-wire anemometry are subject to spatial filtering due to the finite length of the heated sensing element. This effect can lead to a negative bias error in the magnitude of the velocity fluctuations in turbulent flows when the smallest length scales of the flow are comparable to the wire length. Here an analytical model is used to provide a quantitative description of these errors in anisotropic flows. The model is then applied to a high Reynolds number pipe flow in which two hot-wire probes of different lengths were used to measure velocity spectra at three locations in the boundary layer. These data were used to estimate the anisotropy of the turbulence as a function of frequency (or streamwise wavenumber) and wall-normal distance.