cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 5 Ethics and environmental economics

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses several efforts by economists and others to develop criteria of “sustainability” with respect to both particular resources and the whole economic system. These are meant to provide ethical guidance concerning appropriate behavior where resource depletion or environmental degradation threatens to reduce the welfare of future generations. It considers a critique of all the major humanistic ethical ideas in Western philosophy after Aristotle. The assessment sets the stage for a statement concerning the alternative humanistic ethical systems to analyze further on in terms of their implications for environmental economics. Having accomplished this epitomization, several examples are applied of the alternative humanistic ethics that have formalized to some particularly vexing problems in environmental economics. The chapter sets out on the tasks with humility. The issues in the chapter are potentially so important for the future of environmental economics that one feels that attempt must be made.
Sex differences and thyroid hormone sensitivity of hippocampal pyramidal cells

In an effort to determine if sex differences exist in the morphologic characteristics of pyramidal cells and granule cells of the hippocampal formation and whether sex plays a role in determining thyroid hormone sensitivity of these neuronal populations, we used single-section Golgi impregnation to examine the effects of neonatal thyroid hormone administration on hippocampal cells from the brains of adult rats of both sexes. Quantitative analyses of control brains revealed sex differences in the number of primary dendrites and the number of spines on the apical dendritic shaft of CA3 pyramidal cells. These differences showed opposite trends; females possessed more primary dendrites, whereas males showed more apical excrescences. Neonatal treatment with thyroid hormone resulted in long-lasting and dramatic changes of the entire CA3 pyramidal cell. CA3 pyramidal cells from thyroid hormone- treated animals showed significantly larger cell body areas, greater numbers of dendritic branchpoints, and longer dendrites. In addition, CA3 pyramidal cells from thyroid hormone-treated animals showed changes in the morphological characteristics which were shown to be sexually dimorphic; treatment resulted in significantly greater numbers of both primary dendrites and apical excrescences. These treatment differences occurred in both sexes and were of equal magnitude, regardless of sex. On the other hand, no sex differences in the morphologic parameters examined were detected for pyramidal cells in the CA1 region. Moreover, neonatal thyroid hormone treatment did not affect the cell body area, dendritic branch points, or the length of dendrites of these cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Autonomy, Beneficence, and the Permanently Demented

Ronald Dworkin contends that advance directives, written when fully competent, concerning how one should be treated if one becomes permanently demented ought to be honored -- even if once demented, one protests against them. His arguments rest on views concerning autonomy and duties of beneficence. I argue Dworkin's conception of autonomy is overly narrow. Another conception of autonomy as self-control is developed that provides reason to give some weight to what one's demented self chooses. Further, I argue his claims about duties of beneficence are at odds with his claims about how to treat beliefs about the sanctity of life.
Scrotal Cystocele Managed With Trans-scrotal Neocystostomy Tube.

Inguinal herniation of the bladder is relatively common, reported in as many as 4% of inguinal hernias. In the majority of those cases, it is a sliding hernia that is noted at time of herniorrhaphy. Complete herniation of the bladder or “scrotal cystocele” is very rare and normally managed with herniorrhaphy. This case report presents a case of massive inguinal scrotal herniation of the urinary bladder successfully managed with trans-scrotal drainage via neocystostomy tube.
Nonlinear Cauchy-Riemann operators in ℝⁿ

This paper has arisen from an effort to provide a comprehensive and unifying development of the L p -theory of quasiconformal mappings in R n . The governing equations for these mappings form nonlinear differential systems of the first order, analogous in many respects to the Cauchy-Riemann equations in the complex plane. This approach demands that one must work out certain variational integrals involving the Jacobian determinant. Guided by such integrals, we introduce two nonlinear differential operators, denoted by D- and D + , which act on weakly differentiable deformations f: Ω → R n of a domain Ω C R n . Solutions to the so-called Cauchy-Riemann equations D- f = 0 and D + f = 0 are simply conformal deformations preserving and reversing orientation, respectively. These operators, though genuinely nonlinear, possess the important feature of being rank-one convex. Among the many desirable properties, we give the fundamental L p -estimate ∥D + f∥ p ≤ A p (n)∥D - f∥ p. In quest of the best constant A p (n), we are faced with fascinating problems regarding quasiconvexity of some related variational functionals. Applications to quasiconformal mappings are indicated.
Tissue response to posterior denture base-type politics

Several factors have been presented that must be evaluated when selecting an appropriate posterior pontic design. Because of the controversy that exists with regard to using posterior denture base pontics, a long-span fixed partial denture was followed for 14 months. Results indicate that tissue health can be maintained, while tissue proliferation is inevitable. There is no one posterior pontic design that can be used to satisfy all requirements. Optimal pontic design can be accomplished only if each situation is evaluated on an individual basis and an appropriate design selected. Further controlled longitudinal clinical research of pontic design is mandatory for expansion of the ability to predict optimal prognosis.
Mode of presentation and the acquisition of paired associates that differ in pronunciability and association value

Summary Three lists of paired associate CVC trigrams with different levels of pronunciability and association value were presented by an aural, visual, or combined mode. The ten S s in each group gave as many correct responses as they could in 12 presentations. Increased pronunciability and association value resulted in increased number correct. Visual and combined presentations were more efficient than aural. Combined presentation was consistently, but not significantly, better than visual. The interaction between presentation mode, pronunciability, and association value was significant. Visual presentation was much more efficient than aural for highly pronounceable material with intermediate association value.
The hippocampus and cerebellum in adaptively timed learning, recognition, and movement

The concepts of declarative memory and procedural memory have been used to distinguish two basic types of learning. A neural network model suggests how such memory processes work together as recognition learning, reinforcement learning, and sensorimotor learning take place during adaptive behaviors. To coordinate these processes, the hippocampal formation and cerebellum each contains circuits that learn to adaptively time their outputs. Within the model, hippocampal timing helps to maintain attention on motivationally salient goal objects during variable task-related delays, and cerebellar timing controls the release of conditioned responses. This property is part of the model's description of how cognitive-emotional interactions focus attention on motivationally valued cues, and how this process breaks down due to hippocampal ablation. The model suggests that the hippocampal mechanisms that help to rapidly draw attention to salient cues could prematurely release motor commands were not the release of these commands adaptively timed by the cerebellum. The model hippocampal system modulates cortical recognition learning without actually encoding the representational information that the cortex encodes. These properties avoid the difficulties faced by several models that propose a direct hippocampal role in recognition learning. Learning within the model hippocampal system controls adaptive timing and spatial orientation. Model properties hereby clarify how hippocampal ablations cause amnesic symptoms and difficulties with tasks which combine task delays, novelty detection, and attention toward goal objects amid distractions. When these model recognition, reinforcement, sensorimotor, and timing processes work together, they suggest how the brain can accomplish conditioning of multiple sensory events to delayed rewards, as during serial compound conditioning.
Male mating preference for unfamiliar females in the lizard, Anolis sagrei

Abstract Male mate choice was studied in the lizard Anolis sagrei to determine whether the degree of familiarity males have with females affects their choice of mating partners. Males that were housed individually with a single female for 16 days and then on day 17 housed with an additional female they had never observed mated significantly more frequently during a 12-h test period with the female they had not previously observed. This mating preference for unfamiliar females could not be explained by differences in body size or reproductive condition of familiar and unfamiliar females as these did not differ significantly. Moreover, this male mating preference could not be explained by initial differences in sexual receptivity of the familiar and unfamiliar females because both categories of females showed no significant difference in mating frequency on the day prior to mating preference tests. These results suggest that male A. sagrei are able to discriminate between a familiar and an unfamiliar female and that they mate preferentially with the unfamiliar female under laboratory conditions.
Spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain of spinal origin: a valuable long-term solution.

Study Design. A literature review was conducted. Objective. To review the indications and efficacy of spinal cord stimulation, particularly in reference to chronic pain of spinal origin. of Background Data. The first spinal cord stimulation was implanted by Shealy in 1967 via a subarachnoid route. Early systems were plagued with a high rate of complications and technical problems. With the evolving technology, especially the advent of multichannel programmable systems and more precise epidural placement, the ability of spinal cord stimulation to treat various pain syndromes improved. This article reviews the literature on spinal cord stimulation from 1967 to the present. Methods. The literature is reviewed, with a particular focus on recent studies investigating the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation for low back pain. Results. Most studies are limited by the same flaws, namely, retrospective study design. At this writing, the few published randomized prospective studies have suggested that spinal cord stimulation may be superior to repeat surgery.Complication rates have declined to approximately 8%, and reoperation is necessary in approximately 4% of patients. When current percutaneous techniques are used, a lead migration rate lower than 3% may be achieved. For certain topographies, laminotomy leads may be superior, particularly with regard to low back pain. Conclusions. The ultimate efficacy of spinal cord stimulation remains to be determined, primarily because of limitations associated with the published literature. However, on the basis of the current evidence, it may represent a valuable treatment option, particularly for patients with chronic pain of predominately neuropathic origin and topographical distribution involving the extremities. The potential treatment of other pain topographies and etiologies by spinal cord stimulation continues to be studied.
Spin-State Crossover of Iron in Lower-Mantle Minerals: Results of DFT+U Investigations

The lower mantle is the largest layer of the Earth. Pressures and temperatures there vary from 23 GPa to 135 GPa and ~1,900 K to 4,000 K. Aluminous perovskite, Al-Mg1− x Fe x SiO3, and ferropericlase, Mg1− x Fe x O, are the most important phases of the Earth’s lower mantle, comprising ~62 vol% and ~35 vol% of this region, respectively. The remaining consists of CaSiO3-perovskite, according to the pyrolitic compositional model (Ringwood 1982). Silicate perovskite transforms into another polymorph, post-perovskite, at conditions expected to occur near the D″ discontinuity in the deep slower mantle, i.e., 2,500 K and 125 GPa (Murakami et al. 2004; Oganov and Ono 2004; Tsuchiya et al. 2004; Wentzcovitch et al. 2006). The spin-state crossover (also referred to as “spin pairing transition” or “spin(-state) transition”) of iron in ferropericlase under pressure was observed in 2003 by X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) (Badro et al. 2003). In the following year a similar phenomenon was also identified in iron-bearing perovskite (Mg1− x Fe x SiO3) by the same technique (Badro et al. 2004). This phenomenon had been predicted for decades (Fyfe 1960; Gaffney and Anderson 1973; Ohnishi 1978; Sherman 1988, 1991; Sherman and Jansen 1995; Cohen et al. 1997) but the pressure conditions were challenging for this type of experiment and it took several decades to observe it. The implications of this phenomenon for the properties of this region, or of the entire planet, are yet to be understood. Today, theoretical studies are making decisive contributions to this problem. This article reviews the main theoretical results on the spin-state crossover in the lower mantle phases. Spin changes in strongly correlated oxides and silicates under pressure is the type of problem that …
Sediment distribution and structural framework of the Barents Sea

Marine geophysical surveys in the Barents Sea have provided new data on the main structural elements and the distribution of sediments. The area is divided into four main regions on the basis of the sediment distribution and the seismic velocities: (1) The area between Svalbard, Bear Island, and Hopen — the Svalbard Platform — is underlain by high-velocity sediments (sea-floor velocities of 3.8 to 4.4 km/s) probably of early Mesozoic and late Paleozoic age. (2) There are two regional sedimentary basins — the east-west North Cape Basin between Bear Island and Norway and the southwest-trending Novaya Zemlya Basin between Hopen and Novaya Zemlya. The basins appear to merge into an extension of the Pechora Basin in the southeastern Barents Sea. The sea-floor velocity is generally in the range of 2.5 to 3.1 km/s, and the sediments are probably of Mesozoic and late Paleozoic age. The main structural fabric is southwest-northeast. (3) On the western continental margin there is a low-velocity wedge (1.8 to 2.4 km/s) of Cenozoic material deposited on top of the layers found in the basins. (4) A region of outcropping basement is found adjacent to the southern coastline. The area developed as an epicontinental shallow sea that was connected with the sedimentary basins now found on the margins of Norway and Greenland. The major part of the Barents Sea was above sea level during most of the Tertiary Period. The data indicate that the basins are of interest for commercial exploration.
An observational study of scent-marking in coyotes, Canis latrans

Abstract Urination and defaecation patterns of free-ranging coyotes (Canis latrans) were studied in the Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, Wyoming, for two years. The vast majority of urinations by adult males and females were involved in ‘marking’, and differentiating between ‘marking’ and ‘elimination’ may not be necessary. Our results may be summarized as follows: (1) raised-leg urinations (RLU) performed by males were most frequently used in marking. (2) Females marked throughout the year using the squat (SQU) posture. (3) Snow tracking and reading snow sign resulted in a gross underestimate of the relative frequency of SQU's and a large overestimate in the relative frequency of defaecations (DEF) when compared to results obtained by direct observation. (4) There was sexual dimorphism for the contexts in which marking occurred. Overall, marking by males was associated with courtship and mating, with travelling, and with aggression. Marking by females was associated with the acquisition and possession of food and with the denning season. (5) Marking rates per coyote increased in groups larger than two animals. (6) RLU marking rates were greatest in areas of high intrusion when compared to denning areas and areas in which non-group members infrequently tresscent odours are important in orienting individuals in space but do not represent in and of themselves barriers to movement.
Multinuclear NMR study of aluminosilicate sol-gel synthesis using the prehydrolysis method

Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), water and aluminum sec-butoxide (Al(OBus)3) are combined in several stages of prehydrolysis technique, and reaction intermediates at each stage were examined by means of both liquid and solid nuclear magnetic resonance of 13C, 29Si, 17O, and 27Al nuclei. The spectra indicate that when Al(OBus)3 is added to a prehydrolyzed TEOS solution an aluminosilicate precursor is formed in which the aluminum is tetrahedrally coordinated by four silicate ligands. When further water is added, gelation is accompanied by the expansion of aluminum coordination; the spectra indicate that this occurs by the nucleophilic attack of silanol groups. At water contents for which gels of low transparency result, this coordination expansion is accompanied by the formation of new siloxane linkages, but at water contents so high that opaque gels result, the coordination expansion proceeds much more quickly and no new siloxane linkages are observed.
Failure of calcitonin to inhibit collagen-induced arthritis in rats

Previous reports have demonstrated suppressive effects of salmon calcitonin (SCT) on inflammation and immune reactions. A rat model of arthritis induced by immunization with type II collagen was studied in an attempt to demonstrate antirheumatic and immunosuppressive actions of SCT. No inhibition of arthritis or of specific immune responses to collagen was found.
Real-Time Hand Pose Estimation from RGB-D Sensor

Hand pose estimation in cluttered environment is always challenging. In this paper, we address the problem of hand pose estimation from RGB-D sensor. To achieve robust real-time usability, we first design a data acquisition strategy, using a color glove to label different hand parts, and collect a new training data set. Then a novel hand pose estimation framework is presented, so that feature fusion drives hand localization and hand parts classification. Moreover, instead of using articulated model, a simplified and efficient 3D contour model is designed to assist real-time implementation, which does not require a large amount of training data. Experiments show that our approach can handle real-time hand interaction in a desktop environments with cluttered background.
The finding that training with abstract exemplars may improve generative naming abilities in persons with anomic aphasia is rendered inconclusive because of methodological limitations

Abstracted from: Kiran, S., Sandberg, C., & Abbott, K. (2009). Treatment for lexical retrieval using abstract and concrete words in persons with aphasia: Effect of complexity. Aphasiology, 23, 835–853. Source of funding: No source of funding reported.
Does Transparency Pay

This paper studies whether transparency (measured by accuracy and frequency of macroeconomic information released to the public) leads to lower borrowing costs in sovereign bond markets. We analyze the data generated during 1999–2002 when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) instituted new ways for countries to increase their transparency—by publishing the IMF's assessment of their policies and committing to release more accurate data more frequently. The IMF's preexisting internal timetable for country reports introduced exogenous variation when countries were faced with the option to become more transparent. We exploit this time variation and construct instruments to estimate the impact of transparency on bond yields in a way that is free from endogeneity bias. We find that countries experience a statistically significant decline in borrowing costs (11 percent reduction in credit spreads on average) when they choose to become more transparent. The magnitude of the decline is inversely related to the initial level of transparency and the size of the debt market.
Metabolism of 4-chlorophenyl methyl sulfide and its sulfone analog in cattle and sheep.

Lactating cattle were treated with [14C] 4-chlorophenyl methyl sulfide (CPMS) or it's [14C] sulfone analog (CPMSO2) as a single oral dose equivalent to 10.0 mg/kg b.w. Both compounds were absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, CPMS was rapidly oxidized to CPMSO2 in the CPMS-treated cow, but CPMSO2 was quite resistant to further metabolism and it was excreted slowly by the kidneys. Thus, CPMSO2 tended to circulate within the body and, after four days, was distributed more-or-less equally throughout the tissues of the body. Oral treatment of sheep with [14C] CPMSO2 confirmed that the compound is slowly eliminated from the body of ruminants, although a sheep treated with a very low dose of the compound (0.022 mg/kg) eliminated radiocarbon (primarily through the urine) at a considerably faster rate than was observed at a much higher dosage (22 mg/kg). In the treated cattle, 1 to 3% of the administered doses was secreted into milk within a 4-day post-treatment period, and essentially all of this was in the form of CPMSO2. Radiocarbon extracted from feces of the treated cattle was likewise totally in the form of CPMSO2. Three major products were excreted into urine of the treated cattle, CPMSO2 and two major metabolites, one of which was partially characterized as an hydroxylated CPMSO2 derivative on the basis of GLC/mass spectral data. Our studies in ruminants with these environmental contaminants have implications for evaluating the toxicological significance of some structurally similar pesticides that may be metabolized to CPMSO2 in mammals.
Sample size requirements to detect the effect of a group of genetic variants in case-control studies

Background Because common diseases are caused by complex interactions among many genetic variants along with environmental risk factors, very large sample sizes are usually needed to detect such effects in case-control studies. Nevertheless, many genetic variants act in well defined biologic systems or metabolic pathways. Therefore, a reasonable first step may be to detect the effect of a group of genetic variants before assessing specific variants.
Chronic Translucent Papules of the Palms and Soles

Awoman inher50swithamedical historyof asthmaandseasonal allergiespresentedwith numerousasymptomatic flesh-colored to translucentpapulesonherpalmsandpalmar and lateral aspects of her fingers (Figure, A and B). Many of the papules were depressed centrally. Therewasnoextensiononto thedorsal aspectof thehands. Therewere similar translucent papules over themargins of her feet, particularly her great toes, and hyperkeratotic yellow plaques with scattered pits over her bilateral soles, concentrated in areas of pressure. The lesions onher hands first developed inher40s andwere exacerbatedby alcoholbased hand sanitizer at work. They became more prominent with exposure to water but remained asymptomatic. Occasional application of urea cream to her feet did not lead to significant improvement. Shealsohad fine-texturedhair, present sincechildhoodwith thinning noted in thepast 7 years. She hadnohistory of eczema. At the time, shedenied a family historyof similar skin findingsbut recently reported similar handand foot findings inher mother. Two punch biopsies were performed from the left thenar eminence (Figure, C). A
A scale assessing team-based job performance in a customer-oriented environment

Abstract As organizations adopt the principles of total quality and become customer-oriented, the roles and requirements of employees change and new measures are needed to assess job performance within a variety of organizational settings and across job descriptions. This research reports the development of a new, self-report, job performance scale that measures aspects of these new job requirements in an environment of total quality that fosters customer-oriented behavior and team contributions. Using phased data collection with employees at all hierarchical levels of an organization, rigorous assessments of reliability, validity, and dimensionality of this scale are reported. Implications for research, management, and practice are discussed as well as limitations of the new measure and areas of future research.
Manganese superoxide dismutase regulation and cancer.

Abstract Mitochondria are the power plants of the eukaryotic cell and the integrators of many metabolic activities and signaling pathways important for the life and death of a cell. Normal aerobic cells use oxidative phosphorylation to generate ATP, which supplies energy for metabolism. To drive ATP production, electrons are passed along the electron transport chain, with some leaking as superoxide during the process. It is estimated that, during normal respiration, intramitochondrial superoxide concentrations can reach 10−12 M. This extremely high level of endogenous superoxide production dictates that mitochondria are equipped with antioxidant systems that prevent consequential oxidative injury to mitochondria and maintain normal mitochondrial functions. The major antioxidant enzyme that scavenges superoxide anion radical in mitochondria is manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Extensive studies on MnSOD have demonstrated that MnSOD plays a critical role in the development and progression of cancer. Many human cancer cells harbor low levels of MnSOD proteins and enzymatic activity, whereas some cancer cells possess high levels of MnSOD expression and activity. This apparent variation in MnSOD level among cancer cells suggests that differential regulation of MnSOD exists in cancer cells and that this regulation may be linked to the type and stage of cancer development. This review summarizes current knowledge of the relationship between MnSOD levels and cancer with a focus on the mechanisms regulating MnSOD expression.
Three-dimensional modeling of wafer inspection schemes for sub-70-nm lithography

The production of 70nm devices is projected for the year 2008. With this projection, optical lithography will become more challenging since as the device size goes down, the potential for introducing killer defects also increases dramatically. Wafer inspection will play a key role in controlling the defect mechanisms and keeping an acceptable yield for next generation VLSI manufacturing. Metrology tools for the new generation lithography will have the following features. First, the projection and collection lenses will have higher numerical apertures (NA) to obtain high-resolution images. Typically, the NA will be as high as 0.9. Second, the wavelength used for wafer inspection will be much smaller so that common wafer materials will become highly absorptive. Last, with the increased number of process steps, wafer inspection will need to provide information for more critical processes. Based on these features, accurate modeling of the next generation wafer inspection schemes is needed to aid in the characterization and optimization of the inspection tools. The simulation tool must be able to simulate inspection systems with high NA lens, DUV wavelengths, and highly absorptive wafer materials accurately and quickly. At Carnegie Mellon University, a simulator called METRO-3D was developed into a defect inspection simulator for DUV lithography processes. This simulator is able to successfully model various types of defect mechanisms. However, it has experienced occasional numerical instabilities, with discontinuous dielectric structures composed of highly absorptive materials. In order to provide a tool to simulate the wafer inspection scheme of SUB-70NM NODE LITHOGRAPHY, we have incorporated a new algorithm to model the wafer inspection system more accurately and robustly. Numerical experiments shows that the algorithm is capable of simulating topographies with discontinuous dielectric functions, yielding stable results even when the material is highly absorptive. To verify the accuracy of the simulator, several simulations were compared with both analytical models and results form other existing simulators. The results show good matches between METRO-3D and these well-established results. Finally, we performed simulations on industrial data and the results exemplified the ability of METRO-3D to model complex 3-D structures. In this paper we will present is efficient and stable EM solver and the results of the simulator applied to various sub-70nm node wafer inspection schemes.
Cyclooctatetraene ditungsten alkoxides: W2(μ-η5,η5-COT)(OR)4, where R = CH2tBu, iPr, and tBu

Four equivalents of neopentanol, isopropanol, or t-butanol react with the cyclooctatetraene-bridged dimethylamide, W2(μ-η5,η5-COT)(NMe2)4, to give the corresponding tetraalkoxides, W2(μ-η5,η5-COT)(OR)4, in greater than 70% yields. The alkoxide W2(COT)(OCH2tBu)4 can be made alternatively by reacting W2(COT)(OtBu)4 with 4 equivalents of neopentanol. X-ray diffraction data for the t-butoxide compound indicate a μ-η5,η5-COT ligand spans a W–W bond of distance 2.3887(1) A. The t-butoxide is very similar in most structural parameters to the known W2(COT)(NMe2)4 precursor as well as the bis-allyl compound W2(allyl)2(NMe2)4. The COT ring is fluxional about the metal–metal fragment, undergoing rapid 1,2-shifts on the NMR timescale as determined by 1H EXSY NMR. The purple alkoxides exhibit maximum absorptions around 580 nm (e ∼ 1700 M−1 cm−1) in the visible region of the electronic absorption spectrum. This transition agrees well with DFT calculations on the model compound W2(μ-η5,η5-COT)(OH)4 that reveal the calculated HOMO–LUMO gap to be a 1.94 eV transition involving principally the metal d orbitals. The calculations also reveal the structure with an antifacial (η5,η5)-COT to be 13.7 kcal mol−1 more stable than the corresponding synfacial (η4,η4)-COT structure. In related studies, COT did not form adducts with W2(OCH2tBu)6(py)2, W2(OtBu)6, or W2(OCH2tBu)8 even upon heating to 80 °C for several hours.
Way of Death: Merchant Capitalism and the Angolan Slave Trade, 1730‐1830

Way of Death: Merchant Capitalism and the. ngolan Slave Trade, 1730-1830. Joseph C. Miller. Madison, Wl: University of Wisconsin Press, 1988. 796 pp., illustrations $35.00 (cloth). ISBN 0-299-11560-7
Life span of naive and memory t cells

The life span of mature T cells is reviewed. Peripheral T lymphocytes are a heterogeneous population and comprise a mixture of naive, effector and memory cells. The recirculating pool of mature T cells is formed during young life through gradual release of naive T cells from the thymus. In adults, the pool of mature T cells is relatively self-sufficient, and input of new T cells from the thymus declines to low levels. Studies on T cell turnover indicate that most peripheral T cells can remain in a resting state for long periods (months in rodents and years in humans). Examination of the phenotype of dividing versus nondividing cells suggests that typical naive T cells are long-lived resting cells whereas the majority of effector and memory T cells have a much more rapid turnover. However, some memory T cells appear to divide very infrequently and eventually return to a resting state. The factors controlling the generation and maintenance of memory T cells are discussed.
Insulin sensitivity, body fat distribution, and family diabetes history: the IRAS Family Study.

Objectives: Markers of insulin resistance are often apparent in nondiabetic relatives of subjects with type 2 diabetes. Whether diabetes family history (FH) also predicts visceral fat accumulation and, if so, whether the increased insulin resistance in relatives of diabetic subjects occurs independently of visceral fat accumulation are not known. Research Methods and Procedures: To examine this issue, we studied the relationship of diabetes FH with insulin sensitivity and fat measures, measured by minimal model analysis and computed tomography, respectively, in families participating in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis (IRAS) Family Study. FH scores were based on the diabetes status of the participants’ parents and older siblings. Results: FH scores were significantly correlated with reduced insulin sensitivity (p < 0.05) and increased subcutaneous (p < 0.05) and visceral (p < 0.05, San Antonio only) fat in families from San Antonio and Los Angeles but not in the leaner Hispanic families from San Luis Valley. There was no evidence for a stronger association of FH score with visceral fat accumulation than with subcutaneous fat or insulin resistance. Discussion: The absence of an association between FH score and insulin resistance/fat accumulation in San Luis Valley is consistent with the idea that the expression of transmitted diabetes genes may be suppressed in leaner, more physically active populations.
Effective service for remote computing users

In recent years, a growing number of computing users have experienced the effects of the replacement of their local computing facilities with remote computing facilities. Unfortunately, remote computing may imply remoteness not only in the sense of distance but also in the senses of accessibility, control, compatibility, and responsiveness. The providers of computing service at the central site may be oblivious to these issues, but if remote users view any of these aspects of the service as unsatisfactory, effective service is thereby undermined.This paper addresses problems which arise as the result of the installation of remote computing service for users who had heretofore had access to local service. It is written from the point of view of management at the central site providing remote computing service in the hope that recognition of the problems of providing such service will be a step in the direction of solving them.
The analysis of lidar signatures of cirrus clouds.

The terminology of light scattering pertinent to a simple form of the lidar equation and the approximate analytical solution of the lidar equation are reviewed without specific restriction on the nature of the cloud scatterers. A boundary value of the volume backscattering coefficient and the relationship between extinction and backscattering are required for the solution. Given the boundary value of the backscattering coefficient and the total transmittance through a cloud, it is possible to derive (by successive approximation) an extinction/backscatter ratio empirically. Application of the method to the ruby lidar return from a cirrus cloud led to a ratio of 28 sr, and to reasonable profiles of the backscatter coefficient and the transmittance through the cloud.
Chemiluminescent determination of hydrogen peroxide with 9-acridinecarbonylimidazole and use in measurement of glucose oxidase and alkaline phosphatase activity.

Several activated derivatives of 9-acridinecarboxylic acid were prepared in order to investigate their utility for detection of hydrogen peroxide. One of these derivatives, 9-acridinecarbonylimidazole (I), is especially stable and is a useful reagent for measuring, by chemiluminescence, the activity of a number of enzymes that directly produce peroxide, including glucose oxidase. Other enzymes can also be assayed if an appropriate intermediate substrate exists that ultimately produces hydrogen peroxide after being acted upon by the enzyme. 5-Bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate (BCIP) and 3-indolyl phosphate (3-IP) are such substrates for alkaline phosphatase. The detection limits for both of these enzymes are in the 1-10 amol range. Other enzymes that can potentially be assayed using I include oxidases, hydrolases and dehydrogenases. Negative assays for compounds that consume or bind peroxide such as reducing agents, antioxidants, catalases and peroxidases are also feasible.
Electronic structure and core exciton of hexagonal boron nitride

A new tight-binding band calculation is presented for the layer compound boron nitride which correctly describes the widths of both $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ and $\ensuremath{\pi}$ bands. The binding energy and wave function of the B $1s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2p$ core exciton are studied. The core exciton is found to be small and bound by the medium-range part of the core-hole potential. Its binding energy far exceeds the interlayer band dispersion at the conduction-band minimum. Its incomplete $\ensuremath{\pi}$-like polarization is found to be due to a small admixture of B $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ states from adjacent layers into the ${A}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ final state.
Smart sunglasses with tunable shade

This paper discusses the design, fabrication and characterization of lens for smart sunglasses based on electrochromic devices. The prepared electrochromic device was fabricated with ITO coated PET plastic. The working EC material film was poly [3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno [3,4-b][l,4]dioxepine] (PProDOT-Me 2 ), while the counter layer of the device was vanadium oxide titanium oxide (V 2 O 5 /TiO 2 ) composite film, which serves as an ion storage layer. A solution type electrolyte as the ionic transport layer was sandwiched between the working and counter layers. The lens exhibited tuneable shade in visible light wave length, with a maximum contrast ratio at 580nm.
Dynamic buckling of periodically stiffened shells: application to supercavitating vehicles

Abstract Supercavitating vehicles undergo high longitudinal forces as result of their high underwater velocity. The drag force compresses axially the body and may cause its buckling. In addition, the unsteady characteristics of the system composed of cavity and vehicle generate time-varying longitudinal loads that are sources of parametric resonances. Supercavitating vehicles are here modeled as thin axisymmetric shells acted upon by time-varying axial compressive forces. A finite element model is developed to predict the shells behavior and to perform the buckling analysis. The longitudinal forces are considered to vary periodically in time. Accordingly, the stability analysis is performed using Bolotin’s method and Floquet theory. Stability maps for varying velocity of the vehicle, frequency and amplitude of the force oscillations are obtained. Periodically placed circumferential stiffeners are proposed as means to enhance the stability of the considered class of shells. The presented results indicate how the stiffening rings significantly extend the range of stable operating conditions by reducing the regions of dynamic instability, and suggest that optimal stiffened designs may be identified to achieve stability at given operating speeds and under periodic longitudinal forces.
Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Right Hemisphere Lesions

A wide variety of neuropsychiatric syndromes are associated with right brain dysfunction, including mania, depression, psychosis, hallucinations, personality changes, anxiety, dissociative states, and altered sexual behavior. This review summarizes the anatomic relationships reported between specific neuropsychiatric syndromes and localized right brain lesions. Information is derived from individual case studies and case series. Most neuropsychiatric syndromes are found to be associated with damage to the limbic system. Disruption of body schema and interpersonal functions mediated primarily by the right hemisphere contributes to the neuropsychiatric disability associated with right hemisphere injury. Nonlesion biologic and sociocultural influences including a family history of psychiatric disorder, personal psychiatric history, and the presence of cerebral atrophy increase the vulnerability to neuropsychiatric morbidity following right brain damage. Investigation of the secondary neuropsychiatric disorders occurring with right brain dysfunction contributes to understanding the pathophysiology of idiopathic psychiatric syndromes.
Use of medications for erectile dysfunction in the United States, 1996 through 2001.

ABSTRACT Purpose We describe the use during 1996 through 2001 of the primary medications approved in the United States for treatment of erectile dysfunction, namely alprostadil injection and urethral suppository, and sildenafil. Materials and Methods Two pharmaceutical research data bases, the National Prescription Audit Plus, and National Disease and Therapeutic Index, were accessed and analyzed. Ancillary data were obtained from 2 health plans. Results Increases in the number of dispensed prescriptions for alprostadil injection and urethral suppository marketed in 1995 and 1996, respectively, were reversed in 1998 by the marketing of sildenafil. From 1998 through 2001 the estimated number of prescriptions for sildenafil increased 1.87-fold or 87% from 7.5 million to 14 million, while those for alprostadil injection decreased 33% from 239,000 to 159,000 and those for alprostadil suppository decreased 67% from 400,000 to 132,000. Sildenafil was prescribed proportionately more frequently for younger men than alprostadil injection or suppository (p Conclusions Due to the marketing of sildenafil in 1998 through 2001 the use of 2 approved medications for erectile dysfunction, namely alprostadil injection and alprostadil urethral suppository, decreased, while the use of sildenafil increased. Sildenafil was prescribed proportionately more frequently for younger men than alprostadil injection or suppository. Alprostadil was prescribed proportionately more frequently by urologists than sildenafil, which was most commonly prescribed by family and general practitioners, and internists. The data indicate the wide adoption and use of sildenafil for erectile dysfunction.
American Archives: Gender, Race, and Class in Visual Culture

Visual texts uniquely demonstrate the contested terms of American identity. In "American Archives" Shawn Michelle Smith offers a bold and disturbing account of how photography and the sciences of biological racialism joined forces in the nineteenth century to offer an idea of what Americans look like--or "should" look like. Her varied sources, which include the middle-class portrait, baby picture, criminal mugshot, and eugenicist record, as well as literary, scientific, and popular texts, enable her to demonstrate how new visual paradigms posed bodily appearance as an index to interior "essence." Ultimately we see how competing preoccupations over gender, class, race, and American identity were played out in the making of a wide range of popular and institutional photographs.Smith demonstrates that as the body was variously mapped and defined as the key to essentialized identities, the image of the white middle-class woman was often held up as the most complete American ideal. She begins by studying gendered images of middle-class domesticity to expose a transformation of feminine architectures of interiority into the "essences" of "blood," "character," and "race." She reads visual documents, as well as literary texts by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Pauline Hopkins, and Theodore Dreiser, as both indices of and forms of resistance to dominant images of gender, class, race, and national identity. Through this analysis Smith shows how the white male gaze that sought to define and constrain white women and people of color was contested and transformed over the course of the nineteenth century.Smith identifies nineteenth-century visual paradigms that continue to shape debates about the terms of American belonging today. "American Archives" contributes significantly to the growing field of American visual cultural studies, and it is unprecedented in explaining how practices of racialized looking and the parameters of "American looks" were established in the first place.
Inhibition of IkappaB kinase alpha (IKKα) or IKKbeta (IKKβ) plus forkhead box O (Foxo) abolishes skeletal muscle atrophy

Two transcription factor families that are activated during multiple conditions of skeletal muscle wasting are nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and forkhead box O (Foxo). There is clear evidence that both NF-κB and Foxo activation are sufficient to cause muscle fiber atrophy and they are individually required for at least half of the fiber atrophy during muscle disuse, but there is no work determining the combined effect of inhibiting these factors during a physiological condition of muscle atrophy. Here, we determined whether inhibition of Foxo activation plus inhibition of NF-κB activation, the latter by blocking the upstream inhibitor of kappaB kinases (IKKα and IKKβ), would prevent muscle atrophy induced by 7 days of cast immobilization. Results were based on measurements of mean fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) from 72 muscles transfected with 5 different mutant expression plasmids or plasmid combinations. Immobilization caused a 47% decrease in fiber CSA in muscles injected with control plasmids. Fibers from immobilized muscles transfected with dominant negative (d.n.) IKKα-EGFP, d.n. IKKβ-EGFP or d.n. Foxo-DsRed showed a 22%, 57%, and 76% inhibition of atrophy, respectively. Co-expression of d.n. IKKα-EGFP and d.n. Foxo-DsRed significantly inhibited 89% of the immobilization-induced fiber atrophy. Similarly, co-expression of d.n. IKKβ-EGFP and d.n. Foxo-DsRed inhibited the immobilization-induced fiber atrophy by 95%. These findings demonstrate that the combined effects of inhibiting immobilization-induced NF-κB and Foxo transcriptional activity has an additive effect on preventing immobilization-induced atrophy, indicating that NF-κB and Foxo have a cumulative effect on atrophy signaling and/or atrophy gene expression.
Hematopoietic chimerism induces renal and skin allograft tolerance in DLA-identical dogs.

Objective Hematopoietic chimerism, a state where donor and recipient bone marrow cells coexist, is associated with donor-specific tolerance. Nonmyeloablative bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has been shown to induce stable mixed hematopoietic chimerism in dog leukocyte antigen (DLA)-matched dogs. The potential for inducing renal and skin allograft tolerance with nonmyeloablative BMT was investigated in DLA-identical and DLA-haploidentical dogs in this study. Materials and Methods Renal allografts were performed in 8 DLA-identical and 4 DLA-haploidentical dogs with nonmyeloablative conditioning (200 cGy TBI) and transient immunosuppression with cyclosporine (CSP) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) with (n = 8) and without (n = 4) simultaneous BMT. Skin allografts were performed in 2 DLA-identical and 4 DLA-haploidentical dogs after stopping CSP and MMF. Two DLA-identical control dogs received renal allografts without TBI, BMT, or immunosuppression with CSP and MMF. Molecular chimerism was determined with a PCR-based DNA microsatellite assay. Serum creatinine (Cr) concentration, urine specific gravity, and sequential renal biopsies were monitored to assess renal allograft function. Results Donor-type blood cells were first detected 4 weeks posttransplantation in both the myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Donor chimerism was present for at least 76 weeks in the DLA-identical dogs. Mixed chimerism was not observed in the DLA-haploidentical dogs or DLA-identical dogs that did not undergo BMT. The renal allografts were acutely rejected within 14 days in the 2 DLA-identical control dogs. There was long-term (>5 yrs) renal allograft survival as evidenced by a normal (