cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Service delivery in francophone West Africa: the challenge of balancing deconcentration and decentralisation

The article reviews the experiences with decentralisation of one West African country, Guinea, with the intent of drawing lessons and exploring approaches to assist countries in the sub-region in rendering decentralisation—an effective means for service delivery improvements. Section II describes the West Africa context in terms of the dynamics of deconcentration–decentralisation and lays out a conceptual framework to guide the analytical assessment of countries in the sub-region, attempting to decentralise. This framework is used in the Guinea case, described in Section III. Section IV concludes by synthesising the profile of Guinea, and positions its dominant style in relation to the proposed ideal types of decentralisation approaches. This part of the article discusses the implications of its findings for decentralisation policy and implementation, and offers some remarks on the road ahead for decentralisation in West Africa. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Role of Serum Protective Factor and Neutralizing Antibody in Pathogenesis of Experimental Infection with Langat Virus in Mice

The outcome of viral infection in a host is the result of humoral and cellular immune responses and stimulation of nonimmune mechanisms such as production of interferon. The relative roles of these host attributes in resistance to viral infection remain controversial partly because of the nature of available evidence [1-3]. Recent work in our laboratory with experimental arboviral infections and the use of the potent immunosuppressant drug cyclophosphamide led to the recognition of a new humoral factor called serum protective factor (SPF) [4-7]. SPF played a major role in recovery from primary infection with Langat virus and cross-protection with arboviral infections of mice. SPF has some properties that are similar to those of neutralizing antibody (NA) and interferon, but can be distinguished from both [4, 5, 7]. SPF can be distinguished from interferon by (a) lability at pH 3.0 after 3 hr at 4 C, (b) lability on dialysis against distilled water, (c) specific activity in providing protection against very closely related viruses, (d) persistence for at least 3 weeks following viral inf ection,1 and (e) failure of in vivo production when mice are inoculated with inactivated viruses. SPF can also be distinguished from NA by (a) failure of in vivo production when mice are inoculated with inactivated viruses, (b) in vivo production of SPF under conditions where
Pregnancy-Secreted Acid Phosphatase, Uteroferrin, Enhances Fetal Erythropoiesis

Uteroferrin (UF) is a progesterone-induced acid phosphatase produced by uterine glandular epithelia in mammals during pregnancy and targeted to sites of hematopoiesis throughout pregnancy. The expression pattern of UF is coordinated with early fetal hematopoietic development in the yolk sac and then liver, spleen, and bone to prevent anemia in fetuses. Our previous studies suggested that UF exerts stimulatory impacts on hematopoietic progenitor cells. However, the precise role and thereby the mechanism of action of UF on hematopoiesis have not been investigated previously. Here, we report that UF is a potent regulator that can greatly enhance fetal erythropoiesis. Using primary fetal liver hematopoietic cells, we observed a synergistic stimulatory effect of UF with erythropoietin and other growth factors on both burst-forming unit-erythroid and colony-forming unit-erythroid formation. Further, we demonstrated that UF enhanced erythropoiesis at terminal stages using an in vitro culture system. Surveying genes that are crucial for erythrocyte formation at various stages revealed that UF, along with erythropoietin, up-regulated transcription factors required for terminal erythrocyte differentiation and genes required for synthesis of hemoglobin. Collectively, our results demonstrate that UF is a cytokine secreted by uterine glands in response to progesterone that promotes fetal erythropoiesis at various stages of pregnancy, including burst-forming unit-erythroid and colony-forming unit-erythroid progenitor cells and terminal stages of differentiation of hematopoietic cells in the erythroid lineage.
Trends in the indications and survival in pediatric heart transplants: a 24-year single-center experience in 307 patients.

Background Heart transplantation is the only viable treatment for children with end-stage heart failure due to congenital heart disease (CHD) or cardiomyopathy. This study reviewed the trends in the indications for transplant and survival after transplant during the past 24 years. Methods A retrospective review was performed of the 307 heart transplants performed at our center since 1986. To analyze the trends in the indications for transplant as well as operative death and late-survival, the data were divided into three periods in 8-year increments: 1986 to 1993 (50 patients), 1994 to 2001 (116 patients), and 2002 to 2009 (141 patients). Results The indications for transplantation were 39% cardiomyopathy, 57% CHD, and 4% retransplant. Of the 173 with CHD, 139 (80%) had single-ventricle (SV) anomalies. In the CHD group, transplantation for failed SV palliation, including Fontan procedure, became the predominant indication in the last 8-year interval of our program. Survival after transplant was the best in patients with cardiomyopathy and the worst in patients with failed palliations for SV anomalies, including failed Fontan procedures. Conclusions Transplantation for heart failure related to failed SV palliation has become the most common indication for patients with CHD. The high-risk nature of these transplants will have significant implications for heart transplant programs as more infants with SV anomalies survive palliative procedures performed during infancy.
Evidence for celestial and magnetic compass orientation in lake migrating sockeye salmon fry

1. Radially symmetrical, four-armed tanks were designed for testing the directional preferences of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) fry as they commenced up-lake migrations following emergence from gravel nests and river migration to the lake. 2. When tested during the day or night, as appropriate for their migration, fry from two different stocks moved in compass directions corresponding to the directions which they would have to maintain in their up-lake migration. 3. The directional preferences of one population tested during the non-migratory time of day apparently corresponded to the fry's onshore movement. 4. Orientation was maintained under both overcast and clear skies, and under plastic covers as well. A 90° counter-clockwise shift in the horizontal component of the earth's magnetic field was associated with approximately 90° changes in the mean direction of movement of fry at night, even when they were given a view of the sky. During the day, only fish tested in covered tanks displayed redirected movements in the altered field; those tested with a view of the sky showed geographically appropriate movement patterns despite the shifted field.
Republican Women: Feminism and Conservatism from Suffrage through the Rise of the New Right – By Catherine E. Rymph

This author's well‐researched book does an excellent job of chronicling the struggles of Republican women to define their place within the GOP. Utilizing the papers of prominent Republican women as...
Comprehending, Composing, and Celebrating Graphic Poetry

The use of graphic poetry in classrooms is encouraged as a way to engage students and motivate them to read and write poetry. This article discusses how graphic poetry can help students with their comprehension of poetry while tapping into popular culture. It is organized around three main sections—reading graphic poetry, writing graphic poetry, and celebrating/sharing graphic poetry. Teachers are provided with information about why visual literacy is important in today's world as well as information about ways to build students' visual literacy skills, comprehension, and fluency by incorporating graphic poetry into their classrooms. Ideas for developing students' reading skills and strategies are included as well as ideas for writing graphic poetry. The article concludes with ways that teachers and students can celebrate and share graphic poetry including graphic poetry contests, poetry clubs, and poetry Readers' Theatre presentations.
Immunobiotherapy directed against mutated and aberrantly expressed gene products in pancreas cancer.

Genetic alterations are responsible for the development of cancer in ductal cells of the pancreas. These genetic changes result in abnormal molecular expression of proteins that are involved in cell proliferation, cell cycle control and adhesion. Some of the genetic mutationsresult in aberrant proteins that can be recognized asnovel or foreign by cells of innate and adaptive immune systems. These are appropriate targets for therapeutic intervention which may involve immunobiologic approaches. These approaches may be less effective because of immune escape mechanisms developed by tumor cells within the microenvironment of the tumor mass. Immunobiotherapy intervention of pancreas cancer must circumvent these obstacles and integrate effective immunotherapy with molecularly targeted approaches to pancreas cancer intervention. J. Cell. Biochem. 94: 1069-1077, 2005. 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Composite decoupling in CPMAS of moderate-susceptibility materials

The limiting resolution of CPMAS has been discussed extensively (I, 2), with the conclusion that one of the factors affecting the resolution of 13C CPMAS spectra is the effect of the bulk magnetic susceptibility of the sample in distorting the magnetic field. We have investigated an indirect effect of this, that of the field distortion in spreading the proton resonance and thereby reducing the efficiency of decoupling. This effect will not be significant for diamagnetic materials, which have small negative values of the susceptibility x ( m 1 X lo-* m 3 / kg); however, paramagnetic constituents of heterogeneous samples, particularly those found in soils, will have positive values of x of the order of lo-100 X 10e8 m3/kg (3). These have been observed to broaden the resonance of free water in soil preparations to 5-10 kHz (4) and to severely distort magnetic resonance images in soils (5). Recently it has been shown that magnetic sieving will improve the quality of CPMAS spectra of soils (6). While this technique removes highly paramagnetic particles, it also is likely to change the organic composition of the soil. To investigate the effect moderate values of x will have on CPMAS spectra, we placed a standard material (hexamethylbenzene, or HMB) in two different hosts: 99.9% alumina (Johnson-Matthey, Hartfordshire, England) and vermiculite (Ernst Home Centers, Seattle, Washington). Vermiculite was chosen because it has a x typical of soil minerals ( = 15 X 1 O-* m 3 / kg (3)) and is readily available. The samples were prepared by adding 5 wt% HMB to each host material and mixing thoroughly. For HMB/alumina, this was done in a ceramic mortar, while for HMB/vermiculite the vermiculite was ground in a Wiley mill and passed through a 60 mesh screen prior to mixing, because the layered structure of vermiculite prevents grinding in a mortar. To each of these samples we applied several methods of decoupling at moderate RF field strength ( yl ): CW, COMARO-2 ( 7, 8) ALPHA-3 (9), and TREV (IO). For comparison purposes, we also applied the liquid heteronuclear decoupling sequence WALTZ16 ( II ) and solid-state homonuclear decoupling sequences MREV-8 (semi-windowless) and BLEW-48 ( 12) to the sample in vermiculite. All experiments were performed on a CXP-200 NMR spectrometer using an external pulse programmer (13) interfaced to the Aspect 2000 and a Bruker MAS probe with a 7 mm Doty Scientific (Columbia, South Carolina) spinner assembly; the spinning rate was about 2600 Hz in all cases. For both 13C and ‘H, the RF field strength was set to 4 1.7 kHz (6 ps 90” pulse). The pulse lengths and phases of the proton pulses were carefully adjusted using a small bulb of hexamethyldisiloxane, and the proton offset was set to
The influence of symptoms, age, comorbidity and cancer site on physical functioning and mental health of geriatric women patients.

ABSTRACT This article focuses on how cancer site, age and comorbid conditions of elderly women cancer patients influence their reporting of symptoms; how these variables in turn impact their physical functioning and mental health; and whether there are differences according to the site of the cancer. For the study, a sample of 299 women, age 65 and above, was selected from an on-going longitudinal study of cancer patients recruited from six cancer treatment centers in Michigan and who were recently diagnosed with breast, colon or lung cancer. Age, comorbidity and cancer site were predictors of symptom severity. Age, comorbidity, symptom severity and cancer site were significant predictors of physical functioning, while mental health scores were only predicted by symptom severity. Lung cancer patients reported greater losses in physical functioning than either breast or colon cancer patients, however there were no significant differences in average mental health scores among the three cancer sites. A syste...
Activity of Phenethanolamine N -Methyl Transferase in the Adrenal Glands of Foetal and Neonatal Rats

THE proportions of adrenaline and noradrenaline in the adrenal glands differ from one species to another and within a species during development. Comline and Silver1 have compiled a list of reports showing the percentage of noradrenaline in the adrenal gland catecholamines of foetal, newly born and adult animals of seven species. In general, a higher proportion of noradrenaline is associated with the foetal state and a higher proportion of adrenaline with the adult animal, which suggests that the ability of the adrenal glands to form adrenaline develops late in the foetal life or in the early life of the animal.
Field evaluation of two systemic neonicotinoid insecticides against pink hibiscus mealybug ( Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green)) on mulberry trees

Infestations of the pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), in ornamental trees were already in an advanced state at the time of its discovery in the Imperial Valley of California (USA) in August 1999. Initial studies conducted in 2001–2003 provided encouraging results regarding the capacity of both insecticides to severely reduce, and in some cases completely eliminate infestations from individual trees. In 2004–2005, a total of 50 infested mulberry trees (Morus alba L.) were divided into two groups of 20 trees each treated with either imidacloprid or thiamethoxam, and a third group of ten trees retained as untreated controls. Branch samples collected from all 50 trees from early August through mid-October recorded a substantial reduction in M. hirsutus infestations in all trees treated with either insecticide, whereas infestations continued to rise in the untreated trees to a peak level in late September. By the end of the 2005 season, 10 of 20 imidacloprid-treated and 9 of 20 thiamethoxam-treated trees were completely free of M. hirsutus.
The response of the normal heart to exercises of graded intensity

One-hundred and twenty-four experiments were carried out in order to determine the exact relationship between the intensity of exercise and the increase in heart rate. The results of the experiments show conclusively that the increase in heart rate is directly proportional to the intensity of the exercise and that the form of the curve representing this relationship is rectilinear.
Baseline characteristics and concerns of female cancer patients/survivors seeking treatment at a Female Sexual Medicine Program

The purpose of this study is to characterize patients seeking treatment at a Female Sexual Medicine and Women’s Health Program and examine their sexual/vaginal health issues. Data from clinical assessment forms were extracted from 509 women referred to the Female Sexual Medicine and Women’s Health Program during/after cancer treatment. The form consists of a Vaginal Assessment Scale (VAS), vaginal health items, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) (Sexual Activity Questionnaire [SAQ], Sexual Self-Schema Scale [SSS], Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI]), and exploratory items. Of 509 patients, 493 (97 %) completed PROs; 253 (50 %) received a pelvic examination. The majority had a history of breast (n = 260, 51 %), gynecologic (n = 184, 36 %), or colorectal/anal (n = 35, 7 %) cancer. Mean age was 51.2 years; 313 (62 %) were married/partnered. Approximately two thirds had elevated vaginal pH scores (5–6.5 [35 %] or 6.5+ [33 %]) and minimal (62 %) or no (5 %) vaginal moisture. Eighty-seven patients (44 %) experienced pain during their exam (23 % mild, 11 % moderate, 1.5 % severe, and 8.5 % not indicated). Fifty-three percent engaged in sexual activity with a partner; only 43 % felt confident about future sexual activity. Ninety-three percent were somewhat to very concerned/worried about sexual function/vaginal health. Approximately half had moderate/severe dryness (n = 133, 51 %) and dyspareunia (n = 120, 46 %). The mean SSS score was 60.7, indicating a slightly positive sexual self-view. However, 93.5 % (n = 429) had an FSFI score <26.55, suggesting sexual dysfunction. At initial consult, women reported vaginal dryness, pain, and sexual dysfunction. For many women, pelvic exams showed elevated vaginal pH, lack of moisture, and discomfort with the exam itself. Future analyses will examine changes over time.
Flame retarded poly(lactic acid) using POSS-modified cellulose. 1. Thermal and combustion properties of intumescing composites

Abstract POSS-modified nanofibrillated cellulose (PNFC) was used as a carbon source in intumescing flame retardants (IFRs) for melt-blended poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites. The POSS moeities were found to inhibit reactions between ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and cellulose during extrusion. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated this was due to cross-linking between the silanol groups on PNFC and phosphate groups on APP. Composite properties were assessed using viscometry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry (PCFC), cone calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Viscosity average molar masses of PLA decreased during extrusion, which was accelerated in the presence of APP based flame retardants. The use of PNFC resulted in the highest PLA molar mass of all flame retarded composites. Extruding the neat PLA lowered onset and peak decompositions, but the addition of APP based flame retardants modestly increased these temperatures. PCFC was found to be inconclusive in assessing beneficial flammability characteristics of the composites. The addition of 15% by mass IFR reduced the peak heat release rate by 45% and the total heat released by 20%, regardless of the carbon source. PNFC led to reduced smoke production compared to unmodified nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) or pentaerythritol (PER). Use of APP–PER reduced composite stiffness and the glass transition temperature. The use of APP–NFC and APP–PNFC slightly increased composite stiffness, and did not significantly affect the glass transition temperature.
A tri-axis electromagnetic field meter (overhead power line field measurement)

The authors describe a portable instrument which measures AC electromagnetic fields using thee detection coils and analog computation circuits. The instrument has an accuracy of 0.5% for frequencies up to 3 kHz. Three measurement methods have been incorporated in the meter: wideband RMS (root mean square), wideband average, and 60-Hz average. The meter achieved faster and more accurate results than conventional single-coil instruments, since its design eliminates the time-consuming detector orientation requirements of those instruments. The results of a measurement program at an elementary school located at the edge of a high-voltage transmission line right of way are discussed. >
Gonadotropin Induction of c-Fos and c-Myc Expression and Deoxyribonucleic Acid Synthesis in Rat Granulosa Cells

Although gonadotropins stimulate ovarian granulosa cells to proliferate and differentiate into steroidogenic cells, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which gonadotropins induce these fundamentally different responses. In this study the acute effects of PMSG on protooncogene expression, DNA synthesis, and steroid secretion were examined. The levels of c-fos, c-myc, and beta-actin mRNA were measured in total RNA samples from granulosa cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. PMSG increased the mRNA levels of c-fos, c-myc, and beta-actin within 15 min. Fos and myc proteins were localized within granulosa cells by immunocytochemistry. Less than 10% of granulosa cells stained for c-fos or c-myc proteins in the control samples. In contrast, approximately 40% of the cells stained for these protooncogene proteins 30 min after PMSG injection (P less than 0.05). These values declined to about 10% of the cells 60 min after PMSG injection. DNA synthesis, as estimated by [3H]thymidine incorporation, increased 30 and 60 min after PMSG (P less than 0.05). 17 beta-Estradiol and progesterone synthesis did not change within 60 min of PMSG injection. These data demonstrate that 1) c-fos and c-myc are expressed in ovarian granulosa cells; 2) the expression of the genes encoding c-fos, c-myc, and beta-actin is rapidly increased by gonadotropin; and 3) the increase in the corresponding products of the c-fos and the c-myc genes precedes an increase in DNA synthesis and steroid production. These data suggest that the expression of c-fos and c-myc may be a part of the molecular mechanism through which gonadotropins regulate granulosa cell function.
Abstract 4884: Determination of sphingosine-1-phosphate levels in tissue interstitial fluid and lymphatic fluid utilizing novel collection techniques

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a pleiotropic bioactive lipid mediator that regulates many processes of cancer progression including angiogenesis. Among the two sphingosine kinases (SphK1 and SphK2), S1P generated by SphK1 inside cells is secreted and exerts its functions by binding to specific G protein-coupled receptors outside the cells. It is known that S1P levels in circulation of SphK1-/- mice are low and SphK2 -/- mice are high compared from controls. Utilizing SphK2 -/- mice, we have recently reported that S1P links inflammation and cancer in colitis-associated colon cancer. Further, we have shown that secreted S1P plays critical roles in tumor microenvironment by stimulating both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Although it is well established that S1P plays important roles in lymphatic fluid and interstitial fluid (IF), no methodology has been available to date to measure S1P levels in those fluid. Here we introduce for the first time the newly developed methods and measurements of levels of sphingolipids including S1P in IF and lymphatic fluid in both SphK1 -/- and SphK2 -/- mice. We found that S1P levels in the lymphatic fluid and IF are generally low in SphK1-/- mice and high in SphK2-/- mice. Interestingly, however, S1P levels in IF of the colon in SphK2-/- mice are significantly lower compared with wild type mice, where levels in downstream mesenteric lymph nodes and lymphatic fluid are higher, which is in agreement with the previous notion that lymphatic endothelial cells contribute to the S1P levels in the lymphatic fluid. Measurement of sphingolipids in IF and lymphatic fluid will provide new insights into mechanism of their actions in lymphatic progression of cancer. M.N. is a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellow. S.S. is supported by NIH R37GM043880, and K.T. by NIH R01CA160688 and Susan G. Komen IIR 1222224. Citation Format: Masayuki Nagahashi, Akimitsu Yamada, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Jeremy C. Allegood, Tomoyoshi Aoyagi, Wei-Ching Huang, Krista P. Terracina, Sheldon Milstien, Sarah Spiegel, Kazuaki Takabe. Determination of sphingosine-1-phosphate levels in tissue interstitial fluid and lymphatic fluid utilizing novel collection techniques. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4884. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4884
Characterization and modelling of oil reservoirs and groundwater aquifers: application of Wavelet Transformations

We describe wavelet transformations (WTs) and their basic properties, and discuss their application to analysis of complex and noisy data. These transformations are a powerful tool for data and image analysis by (1) providing a flexible spatial- and/or time-scale window which narrows when one focusses on small-scale features and widens when one wishes to analyze large scale features, and (2) providing the capability for analyzing special characteristics of a set of data or images around specific points. We discuss application of WTs to developing a unified and highly efficient method for characterization and simulation of porous media problems, from pore to field scale. The method uses WTs for data mining and characterization, scale-up of the geological (fine-scale) model of porous media, and interpretation of their transient flow properties. The data that can be treated by WTs include the direct data, such as various well logs and the permeability distributions, and the indirect data, such as seismic signals, and other characteristics of porous media. Wavelet transformations denoise the data, uncover their special features, and discover the structure of their distribution. They also provide an efficient method for processing seismic data, which are typically in huge volumes. Wavelet transformations can also analyze time-dependent flow data, such as long-term production data for oil reservoirs, as well as time-dependent seismic data (i.e., repeated measurements over regular time intervals). Therefore, one has, for the first time, a unified approach to characterization and modelling of large-scale porous media and extraction of information from their flow properties, from pore to field scale. The computational cost of the method can be orders of magnitude less than those of the most efficient methods currently available.
Potential for regional use of East Africa’s natural gas

Abstract Recently, significant reserves of natural gas have been identified in Mozambique and Tanzania. These resources may support a pathway to both economic growth and a low-carbon future. This natural gas could be used locally for a host of different applications such as cooking, power generation, transportation and fertilizer production. The aim of this paper is to investigate how the potential future demand for natural gas across sectors and countries might impact the economic viability of an investment in a new regional transmission and distribution gas network in Eastern and Southern Africa. We analyze the economic viability by using future demand and pricing data inferred for biomass, charcoal, LPG and liquid fuels currently being used in the continent. The investment and transmission costs are assessed for various scenarios of transmission pipeline networks. Then, a detailed analysis for a gas transmission network across eight Eastern African countries is presented. Results suggest that the development of a regional gas pipeline network within the continent is an attractive investment (based on internal regional demand as well as co-benefits to economy, environment and health) that can complement LNG export, which is the dominant market option being considered to enable the large upstream investments.
Communications, navigation and surveillance for improved oceanic air traffic operations

Air traffic management around the world is implemented using ground-based communications, navigation and surveillance systems. For obvious reasons, such systems are not available in oceanic airspace, nor are they available in remote land regions. In general, aircraft operating in these regions maintain safe separations by relying on procedural separation methods. Such methods require separations of 50 nautical miles (nm) or more to be maintained. As air traffic across the oceans increases, the procedural separations are leading to increased inefficiencies in oceanic and remote operations. These inefficiencies result from schedule delays, inability to fly preferred routes (for best wind advantages), and the inability to use the most efficient altitudes, leading to higher fuel burn rates. New methods of operating in oceanic and remote airspace are needed, and indeed they are being developed and implemented, but they depend on an improved communications, navigation and surveillance (CNS) systems, which of necessity must be primarily supplied by satellite-based systems. This paper summarizes current and future air traffic management operations, the CNS requirements for future operations and satellite-based systems which have the potential for fulfilling these requirements, and what is needed to bring such system to implementation
Neural Basis of Category-Specific Semantic Deficits for Living Things: Evidence From Semantic Dementia, HSVE and a Neural Network Model

Studies of patients with semantic impairments following brain damage offer key insights into the cognitive and neural organization of semantic memory. Especially important in this regard are studies of category-specific semantic impairment. We report a direct comparison of semantic deficits in two groups suffering from different diseases: semantic dementia (SD) and herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE). Although pathology in both disorders is centred on the anterior temporal lobes bilaterally, category-specific semantic impairment is rarely observed in SD yet commonly found in HSVE. Using a combination of neuropsychology and computational neuroscience, we tested the possibility that category-specific deficits for living things depend not solely upon the location of damage within the cortical semantic network but also critically upon the type of impairment. When the semantic representations within the model are degraded or 'dimmed' then a generalized, global semantic impairment results (as found in SD) but when the representations are distorted then a category-specific pattern emerges (as per HSVE). Three novel predictions from this model were tested and confirmed, thereby adding weight to the hypothesis that both type and distribution of pathology can be critical in producing neuropsychological phenomena.
Power Management for Cognitive Radio Platforms

This paper discusses how the cognitive radio concept can be extended to allow the system not only to manage shared resources such as spectrum, but to use this knowledge to optimize the overall system power consumption. We introduce a case study of video over wireless via a 3G WCDMA modem connected to an H.264 decoder. We show that by utilizing knowledge about the communication channel, a savings of more than 20% of the overall system power is possible while maintaining a required quality of service.
Judicial Audiences and Reputation: Perspectives from Comparative Law

Part I lays out why incentives and audiences matter. We explain the idea of judicial audiences and how they shape the judiciary in different legal families. We provide a common framework for understanding what have been traditionally perceived as very different institutions, namely the so-called “career” judiciary and the “recognition” judiciary. This framework provides new insights into the profound changes judiciaries have been going through in many different jurisdictions across the world. Part II considers the particular dynamics of internal and external audiences for judicial performance, using case studies from various judicial systems. In particular, we look at traditional civil law jurisdictions such as France, Italy and Japan where judicial activism has progressively made its way. We also compare the United States and Britain, examining recent British constitutional reforms in detail and speculating about the future consequences of the new institutional design. We argue that our framework provides a useful way of understanding the main forces shaping the recent changes in all these different jurisdictions, thus providing a common ground for analysis.
Quantitative Investigation of Calcium Signals for Locomotor Pattern Generation in the Lamprey Spinal Cord

Locomotor pattern generation requires the network coordination of spinal ventral horn neurons acting in concert with the oscillatory properties of individual neurons. In the spinal cord, N-methyl-d...
The mechanism of hydrolytic polymerization of zirconyl solutions

Solutions of zirconyl salts can be treated in a variety of ways to precipitate hydrous amorphous ZrO2. The phases formed upon heating these precipitates are described and rationalized based upon a theory of hydrolytic polymerization which had been proposed at an earlier stage.
Laser-assisted flat-detector CT-guided intracranial access

Flat-detector CT can be integrated with C-arm fluoroscopy for CT-guided neurosurgical and endovascular procedures. We studied the accuracy of this technique with laser assistance in targeting intracranial lesions in a cranial model. An acrylic scale-model skull containing foam parenchyma was embedded with 2.16-mm-diameter targets. A flat-detector CT was acquired and registered to the skull’s position. Ten targets were accessed with biopsy needles under fluoroscopic guidance, flat-detector CT overlay, and laser assistance. Accuracy was measured from the needle tip to the target center using flat-detector CT. Ten targets were accessed successfully using XperGuide software. Needles were placed within 1.30 $$\pm $$ 0.63 mm of target isocenter. Accuracy did not vary by entry site, operator, location, or lesion depth. Laser-assisted flat-detector CT-guided targeting of all intracranial targets was successful with excellent accuracy. This technique can be applied to other minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures.
Doubling the service life of concrete structures. I: Reducing ion mobility using nanoscale viscosity modifiers

A new approach for increasing the service life of concrete structures is presented. While conventional approaches have focused on producing a more impermeable matrix by reductions in water-to-cementitious materials ratio and the addition of fine particles such as silica fume, in the new approach, focus is shifted to the remaining pore solution through which diffusive transport will always be occurring. By adding appropriate nano-sized viscosity modifiers to the pore solution, conductive and diffusive transport can be reduced by basically the same factor as the viscosity increase relative to the viscosity of water (pore solution). Since in many degradation scenarios, service life is directly proportional to the diffusion coefficient of an ingressing ionic species such as chloride or sulfate ions, it is envisioned that a doubling of the service life of structural concrete can be achieved by increasing the pore solution viscosity by a factor of two. In part I of this series, viscosities of bulk solutions and electrical conductivities of solutions containing various concentrations of potassium chloride are examined to verify the viability of this revolutionary approach.
Analysis of double buffering on two different multicore architectures: Quad-core Opteron and the Cell-BE

In order to take full advantage of multi-core processors careful attention must be given to the way in which each core interacts with main memory. In data-rich parallel applications multiple transfers between the main memory and local memory (cache or other) of each core will be required. It will be increasingly important to overlap these data transfers with useful computation in order to achieve highperformance. One approach to exploit this compute-transfer overlap is to use double-buffering techniques that require minimal resources in the local memory available to the cores. In this paper, we present optimized buffering techniques and evaluate them for two state-of-the-art multi-core architectures: quad-core Opteron and the Cell-BE. Experimental results show that using double buffering can substantially deliver higher performance for codes with data-parallel loop structures. Performance improvements of 1.4times and 2.2times can be achieved for the quad-core Opteron and Cell- BE respectively. Moreover, this study also provides insight into the application characteristics required for achieving improved performance when using double-buffering, and also the tuning that is required in order to achieve optimal performance.
Bond angle distributions of carbon dioxide in the gas, supercritical, and solid phases.

Recent work has focused attention on possible shifts in the bond angle distribution of CO2 as a consequence of intermolecular interactions in the supercritical phase. To investigate the temperature and phase dependence of the intramolecular structure of CO2, we performed Feynman path integral Monte Carlo calculations based on a spectroscopically derived analytical potential, first principles molecular dynamics simulations using Kohn-Sham density functional theory, and Monte Carlo simulations employing empirical interaction potentials. On the basis of various distributions used to characterize the intramolecular structure, we conclude that the aggregation state has a negligible influence on the intramolecular structure, in particular we find that in the classical limit the distributions are remarkably similar for the ideal gas, supercritical, and solid phases when considered at the same temperature. In contrast, an increase in the temperature from 325 to 673 K or inclusion of nuclear quantum effects leads to a significant broadening of the distributions. With respect to the first C-O bond vector, the second bond vector most prefers a collinear arrangement. However, due to the Jacobian factor the maximum in the bond angle distribution at 325 K is shifted to an angle of about 175.7° in the classical limit or to 173.0° if nuclear quantum effects are included. Nevertheless, an analysis of the temperature dependence of the constant-volume heat capacity demonstrates that carbon dioxide should be viewed as a linear molecule.
THE INTERPRETATION OF TENSE IN DISCOURSE

This paper gives an account of the role tense plays in the listener's reconstruction of the events and situations a speaker has chosen to describe. Several new ideas are presented: (a) that tense is better viewed by analogy with definite NPs than with pronouns; (b) that a narrative has a temporal focus that grounds the context-dependency of tense; and (c) that focus management heuristics can be used to track the movement of temporal focus.
Epigenetic mechanisms as an archive of ancestral dietary history of populations: The premise, proposal and pilot

Abstract Epigenetic mechanisms have been widely studied for the past several decades, yet despite a surfeit of literature examining animal models and extensive human research associating these mechanisms with pathology, little is known regarding the normal variation among populations or the phenotypic relevance of that variation. Moreover, no one is certain of the evolutionary significance these mechanisms and their underlying machinery. Their structure and function are highly dependent upon dietary intake of indispensable nutrients, yet nutrient profiles vary across populations and generations in an ongoing manner and energy intake can fluctuate dramatically. Here, we examine how the DNA methylation might archive ancestral dietary patterns and discuss the initial findings in a pilot study on population variation in DNA methylation patterns in four maternal/offspring duos from three continents (n = 88). This pilot examined DNA methylation patterns across the core promoter of the metabolic gene leptin ( LEP ), a leading regulator of energy homeostasis and adipogenesis. Remarkably similar overall mean patterns were present across 7 CpG sites which include the C/EBPα transcription binding site, and two sites proximal to the TATA. Findings suggest a stable and conserved DNA methylation pattern in this region of the ( LEP ) promoter across populations consuming diets from varying food chains.
HOME RANGE CHARACTERISTICS OF FISHERS IN CALIFORNIA

The fisher (Martes pennanti) is a forest mustelid that historically occurred in California from the mixed conifer forests of the north coast, east to the southern Cascades, and south throughout the Sierra Nevada. Today fishers in California occur only in 2 disjunct populations in the northwestern mountains and the southern Sierra Nevada. We studied the ecology of fishers in both populations (the north coast [Coastal] and southern Sierra Nevada [Sierra]) to characterize the size and composition of their home ranges, and to compare features between locations. Twenty-one (9 Coastal, 12 Sierra) of 46 radiocollared fishers were relocated frequently enough (>20 times) to estimate home ranges. The home ranges of males (X = 3,934.5 ha) were significantly greater than those of females (980.5 ha), and the home ranges of females were significantly greater in the Coastal than in the Sierra area. The smaller home ranges in the Sierra were probably due to productive habitats rich in black oak (Quercus kelloggii). Midseral Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and white fir (Abies concolor) types composed the greatest proportion (42.8%) of home ranges in the Coastal study area. The greatest proportion of home ranges in the Sierra study area were in the intermediate tree size class (60.7%), had dense canopy closure (66.3%), and were in the Sierran Mixed Conifer type (40.1%). These measures provide guidelines for managers who wish to influence landscape features to resemble occupied fisher habitat. The recovery of fishers in the Pacific States, however, will also require the consideration of microhabitat elements and characteristics of landscapes that might affect metapopulation dynamics.
Vanadia-Titania Catalysts for Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitric-Oxide by Ammonia

The reaction mechanism and catalytic cycle for the selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxide by ammonia over vanadia/titania catalysts has been elucidated by in situ on-line FTIR studies under steady-state conditions. Under all reaction conditions, a large concentration of ammonia is adsorbed on both Lewis and Bronsted acid sites, whereas no significant amounts of adsorbed NO are adsorbed. The catalytic activity is found to be related to the ammonia adsorbed on the Bronsted acid sites associated with V5+OH. Surface VO groups are involved in activation of the adsorbed ammonia and are also found to play an important role in the catalytic cycle. The activation involves a transfer or a partial transfer of a hydrogen and reduced V-OH groups are produced. The V5+O surface species are regenerated by oxidation. The results, therefore, show that the catalytic cycle consists of both acid-base and redox reactions. The ammonia adsorption is observed to be a fast equilibrated step under all the conditions studied but the other catalytically significant steps may shift depending on the reaction conditions. At high O2 partial pressures, the rate is mainly determined by the concentration of Bronsted acid sites and the NO partial pressure, whereas at low O2 partial pressures, surface reoxidation is slow and the rate becomes dependent on the concentration of V5+O groups.
Group cognitive therapy for addictions by Wenzel, A., Liese, B. S., Beck, A. T., & Friedman-Wheeler, D. G.

Part manual and part textbook, Group Cognitive Therapy for Addictions, by Amy Wenzel, Bruce S. Liese, Aaron T. Beck, and Dara G. Friedman-Wheeler, takes readers on a comprehensive trip through ever...
Applications of nuclear magnetic resonance in parasitology.

The basis of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) phenomenon is described in a classical frame- work with emphasis on magnetic nuclei of 1/2 spin, including IH, 13C, and 31p. Biological applications of NMR spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are outlined briefly. NMR spectroscopic studies on parasitic protozoa, cestodes, nematodes, trematodes, and hymenopterous insect parasites are reviewed. NMR and MRI investigations on the pathophysiology of the host are also discussed, and the potential future of NMR applications in parasitology outlined. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectros- copy has long been an important method in an- alytical and organic chemistry (Martin et al., 1980). Recent development of high field instru- ments has made the analysis of complex biolog- ical samples practical. NMR offers new and ex- citing ways for examining biological phenomena in vivo (Williams and Gadian, 1986; Shulman, 1988), and 'H, 13C, and 31p NMR spectroscopy have been employed in metabolic studies on in- tact cells, tissues, and organs, as well as on whole
Evaluation of health education on endemic fluorosis of focus groups in Tianjin

Objective To investigate the awareness of focus groups of endemic fluorosis and the effectiveness of health education in Tianjin. Methods A total of 2 countries were selected in Tianjin,and 3 townships were chosen in each project country.Health educational activities were carried out in the classes of grade 4- 6 in the central primary school of each selected township.In the meantime,3 villages were chosen in each selected township where the health educational activities in the community were carried out. Surveys on knowledge of endemic fluorosis were conducted before and after the health educational activities. Results The major route of the primary school students obtaining the endemic fluorosis knowledge was through school,accounting for 62.22%,while the way of housewives to gain knowledge was through TV,accounting for 58. 89%. The awareness rate of primary school students and housewives increased from57. 78%,70. 00% to 93. 33% and 91. 48%. There were no significant differences in the awareness rate among housewives with different educational background. Conclusions Health education improved the awareness rate of primary school students and housewives. We should strengthen the publicity and develop health education.
Systematic parameter inference in stochastic mesoscopic modeling

We propose a method to efficiently determine the optimal coarse-grained force field in mesoscopic stochastic simulations of Newtonian fluid and polymer melt systems modeled by dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) and energy conserving dissipative particle dynamics (eDPD). The response surfaces of various target properties (viscosity, diffusivity, pressure, etc.) with respect to model parameters are constructed based on the generalized polynomial chaos (gPC) expansion using simulation results on sampling points (e.g., individual parameter sets). To alleviate the computational cost to evaluate the target properties, we employ the compressive sensing method to compute the coefficients of the dominant gPC terms given the prior knowledge that the coefficients are "sparse". The proposed method shows comparable accuracy with the standard probabilistic collocation method (PCM) while it imposes a much weaker restriction on the number of the simulation samples especially for systems with high dimensional parametric space. Fully access to the response surfaces within the confidence range enables us to infer the optimal force parameters given the desirable values of target properties at the macroscopic scale. Moreover, it enables us to investigate the intrinsic relationship between the model parameters, identify possible degeneracies in the parameter space, and optimize the model by eliminating model redundancies. The proposed method provides an efficient alternative approach for constructing mesoscopic models by inferring model parameters to recover target properties of the physics systems (e.g., from experimental measurements), where those force field parameters and formulation cannot be derived from the microscopic level in a straight forward way.