cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BoostMeUp: Improving Cognitive Performance in the Moment by Unobtrusively Regulating Emotions with a Smartwatch

A person's emotional state can strongly influence their ability to achieve optimal task performance. Aiming to help individuals manage their feelings, different emotion regulation technologies have been proposed. However, despite the well-known influence that emotions have on task performance, no study to date has shown if an emotion regulation technology can also enhance user's cognitive performance in the moment. In this paper, we present BoostMeUp, a smartwatch intervention designed to improve user's cognitive performance by regulating their emotions unobtrusively. Based on studies that show that people tend to associate external signals that resemble heart rates as their own, the intervention provides personalized haptic feedback simulating a different heart rate. Users can focus on their tasks and the intervention acts upon them in parallel, without requiring any additional action. The intervention was evaluated in an experiment with 72 participants, in which they had to do math tests under high pressure. Participants who were exposed to slow haptic feedback during the tests decreased their anxiety, increased their heart rate variability and performed better in the math tests, while fast haptic feedback led to the opposite effects. These results indicate that the BoostMeUp intervention can lead to positive cognitive, physiological and behavioral changes.
Anesthesia for Plastic Surgery in Children

Cleft lip and palate is the most common craniofacial disorder in children, and its repair can be associated with a variety of airway issues. Surgical closure of the palate reduces the size of the upper airway. Opioid analgesia is usually required after surgery, and respiratory problems are common. Airway problems during and after cleft palate repair become even more important when there is an underlying syndrome affecting the airway, such as Robin sequence. Children who have had a cleft palate may have many surgeries over their childhood, each of which has unique issues for the pediatric anesthetist. Other children may have craniosynostosis, which may require cranial vault reconstruction with the potential for blood loss equivalent to one or two blood volumes.
Social workers on the interprofessional integrated team: Elements of team integration and barriers to practice

Abstract Roles for social workers on integrated health teams are growing, yet more information is needed to understand the workings of interprofessional teams and their practice settings. Even less is known about the barriers to practice social workers encounter or the system-level factors that promote or inhibit social workers’ success as members of interprofessional, integrated teams. This article presents findings from a study of 395 social workers who are members of interprofessional teams in integrated health care settings across the country. Discussion includes the characteristics, clinic types, and populations served are explored. Additionally, the discussion includes the common elements of team integration and clinic- or system-level barriers that affect social work practice in integrated, interprofessional settings. We offer recommendations for educational, practice, and policy efforts to better support integrated care, interprofessional teams, and integration across health systems.
Donor Characteristics and Short-Term Kidney Allograft Outcomes: Opportunities to Expand Utilization.

As the field of kidney transplantation searches for new ways to expand utilization of deceased donor kidneys while maintaining adequate outcomes, learning from past experience and deciding on the most promising avenues to expand practice continue. In the article by Helantera et al. ([1][1]), data
Increased SPARC expression is associated with neoadjuvant therapy in resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Secreted Protein Acid and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) is an extracellular glycoprotein secreted by fibroblasts and osteoblasts in normal tissues. SPARC overexpression occurs in multiple tumors including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and may predict favorable response to nab-paclitaxel. The prognostic significance of SPARC expression in PDAC is unclear - some reports indicate SPARC overexpression associates with poor outcomes and others find no correlation. Considering neoadjuvant therapy enhances the stromal fibrosis of PDAC and taking into account that SPARC is a component of PDAC stromal fibrosis, we hypothesized that SPARC expression would be greater in neoadjuvant-treated versus treatment-naive PDAC. Quantitative immunohistochemistry was used to measure SPARC expression in resected PDAC in 74 cases of neoadjuvant treated PDAC and 95 cases of treatment-naive PDAC. SPARC expression was increased 54% in neoadjuvant treated PDAC compared to treatment-naive PDAC. These data indicate that increased SPARC expression correlates with neoadjuvant therapy in PDAC.
Non-Wilms Pediatric Renal Tumors

The vast majority of childhood renal tumors are Wilms tumors (nephroblastoma). All other pediatric kidney tumors comprise less than 15 % of childhood renal tumors and are therefore considered rare malignancies of childhood. The most frequently observed non-Wilms renal tumors include clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (MRTK), and congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN). These tumor types are markedly heterogeneous in their clinical characteristics. CMN occurs mainly in early infancy, MRTK occurs in infants and young toddlers, CCSK occurs in toddlers and young school-age children, and RCC is most common in adolescents. The outcome of CMN is excellent, with overall survival rates over 95 % without adjuvant chemotherapy. By contrast, patients with MRTK have overall survival rates of only 20–25 %, even with intensive multimodality treatment regimens. The outcomes of CCSK and RCC are intermediate between CMN and MRTK. The non-Wilms renal tumors also have markedly different biological characteristics, each bearing distinct genetic mutations and translocations. This chapter provides an overview of the major non-Wilms renal tumors of childhood, including the ultra-rare entities of renal medullary carcinoma, metanephric tumors, and renal sarcomas.
The power of appraisals in predicting PTSD symptom improvement following cognitive rehabilitation: A randomized clinical trial.

Abstract Background Patients with PTSD often voice concern over their perceived change in cognitive functioning. However, these negative appraisals do not always align with objective neuropsychological performance, yet are strongly predictive of PTSD symptom severity and self-reported functional impairment. Methods The present study involves a secondary analysis examining the role of appraisals of a subsample of 81 adults with full or subthreshold PTSD on treatment outcomes in a randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a cognitive rehabilitation treatment, Strategic Memory and Reasoning Training (n = 38), compared to a psychoeducation control arm, the Brain Health Workshop (n = 43). Neither condition addressed PTSD symptoms, focusing instead on cognitive skills training and psychoeducation about the brain. Results Intent-to-treat models showed statistically significant improvements for both groups on composite scores of executive functioning and memory. Additionally, both groups experienced clinically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms (assessed via the Clinician-Administered PTSD Interview) and the SMART group showed fewer negative appraisals about cognitive functioning following training. Change in appraisals of cognitive functioning was associated with change in PTSD as well as change in quality of life, with no differential associations based on group status. In contrast, neurocognitive test score changes were not associated with change in symptoms or functional outcomes. Limitations We did not collect data on other appraisals (e.g., self-efficacy), which could have further elucidated pathways of change. Conclusions Our findings suggest that interventions that do not directly target PTSD symptoms can lead to PTSD symptom change via change in appraisals of functioning.
New York Creates Commission on Prosecutor Conduct

New York recently became the first and, so far, only state in the country to create a commission to review claims of misconduct by prosecutors in the 62 district attorneys’ offices throughout the state. Officially termed the Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct, it has been and continues to be controversial. Many have called for establishment of such a commission, as did the New York Times in an August 15, 2018, editorial titled “Prosecutors Need a Watchdog.” But it is has drawn strong opposition from the District Attorneys Association of New York, which has filed a pending lawsuit challenging its constitutionality. In this column, we describe the Commission’s composition, jurisdiction, and powers and provide an overview of the arguments surrounding it.
Ventilatory failure in a cat following radical chest wall resection for feline injection site sarcoma.

Case summaryA 12-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat presented for chest wall resection and radiation therapy following incomplete surgical excision of a feline injection site sarcoma. A ...
A survey of modeling for prognosis and health management of industrial equipment

Abstract Prognosis and health management plays an important role in the control of costs associated with operating large industrial equipment, such as wind turbines and aircraft. It is only fair that engineers and scientists have vastly researched modeling approaches to support decision making. Motivated by the growing availability of data and computational power as well as the advances in algorithms and methods, modeling frameworks often merge elements of physics, machine learning, and statistical learning. In this paper, we present a review on modeling in support of prognosis and health management of industrial equipment. This survey complements the existing prognosis and health management literature by discussing how modeling strategies are influenced by industry-specific aspects such as maintenance approaches (e.g., reactive, proactive, and predictive), implementation factors (e.g., industry, business model, purpose, development, and deployment), as well as supporting technologies (sensing, repair, and modeling itself). We use the onshore wind energy and civil aviation industries to illustrate how these aforementioned aspects can influence modeling and implementation of prognosis and health management. The literature review is broad and covers contributions over the past 40 years. We close the paper with few topics that can motive research going forward.
Urban Search and Rescue Situational Awareness using DIORAMA Disaster Management System

Abstract In this paper we introduce the DIORAMA based system that provides situational awareness for urban search and rescue operations in both indoor and outdoor settings, significantly improving the operations’ efficiency. Using a Smartphone, DIORAMA enables the responders to triage patients with active RFID tags, and to mark the locations of trapped patients and points of interest (e.g. fire, chemical spill, collapse buildings). In addition, the tagged patients’ location will be automatically tracked and updated on the interface. The incident commander can also interact with the responders on-site using the DIORAMA interface either on a Smartphone or a tablet. The DIORAMA system uses active RFID technology as well as visual analytics tools.
Authorship Attribution for Electronic Documents

Forensic analysis of questioned electronic documents is difficult because the nature of the documents eliminates many kinds of informative differences. Recent work in authorship attribution demonstrates the practicality of analyzing documents based on authorial style, but the state of the art is confusing. Analyses are difficult to apply, little is known about error types and rates, and no best practices are available. This paper discusses efforts to address these issues, partly through the development of a systematic testbed for multilingual, multigenre authorship attribution accuracy, and partly through the development and concurrent analysis of a uniform and portable software tool that applies multiple methods to analyze electronic documents for authorship based on authorial style.
Don't care minimization of multi-level sequential logic networks

The authors address the problem of computing sequential don't cares that arise in the context of multi-level sequential networks and their use in sequential logic synthesis. The key to their approach is the use of binary decision diagram (BDD)-based implicit state space enumeration techniques and multi-level combinational simplification procedures. Using the algorithms described, exact sequential don't care sets for circuits with over 10/sup 68/ states have been successfully computed. >
Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Estimating Micronutrient Intakes in an Urban US Sample of Multi-Ethnic Pregnant Women.

Objective(s) To validate the Block98 food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for estimating antioxidant, methyl-nutrient and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intakes in a pregnant sample of ethnic/racial minority women in the United States (US).
Both Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Promote the Retention of Polyneuronal Innervation of Developing Skeletal Muscle Fibers

At birth, nearly all rat muscle fibers receive synaptic inputs from more than one motoneuron at a single end-plate site. By the end of the third postnatal week all but one of these inputs has been eliminated. During this loss of polyneuronal innervation, developing neuromuscular synapses compete with one another. Although the nature of this competition is not known, it is commonly assumed that it is mediated through differential activity of the competing inputs. One means by which such differential activity might be translated into a biological signal would be if the synapses compete in an activity-dependent manner for a scarce supply of neurotrophic molecules. A prediction of this hypothesis is that excess quantities of such trophic molecules will reduce competition and thereby slow down or abolish the normal loss of polyneuronal innervation. In newborn rats, the effects of injection of either basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on the outcome of neuromuscular synapse elimination were investigated. Daily injections of either bFGF or CNTF were made for 1 week into the lateral gastrocnemius muscle beginning at the postnatal age of 2 days. The amount of polyneuronal innervation of fibers in trophic molecule-injected muscles and saline-injected contralateral muscles was assayed using intracellular recording methods. For both bFGF- and CNTF-injected muscles, an increase in the percentage of polyneuronally innervated fibers relative to saline-injected muscles was noted. For bFGF-injected muscles, the amount of polyneuronal innervation remained at nearly 60% as late as the postnatal age of 14 days (P14). This is the amount of polyneuronal innervation found at age 6 days in normal animals. Nearly 40% of the fibers of CNTF-injected muscles remained polyneuronally innervated at age P14, the amount expected at age 9 days. These results indicate that both bFGF and CNTF exert powerful and long-lasting effects on developing neuromuscular synapses.
The proteases and the protease inhibitor in the midgut of Leucophaea maderae

Abstract The caseinolytic enzymes of the midgut lumina and epithelia of Leucophaea were purified through precipitation by 60% saturated (NH4)2SO4, followed by gel permeation on Sephadex G-200 and subsequent DEAE anionexchange chromatography. At least four peaks with enzyme activity were eluted from anionexchange chromatography columns. Gregarines of the midgut lumen apparently do not contribute to the caseinolytic activity within the midgut. Elution profiles of lumen and epithelial enzymes were nearly identical. The same enzymes were identified in the lumina of epithelial microsomal vesicles. This allows the conclusion that these enzymes are produced by the midgut epithelia. Practically all protease activity of the midgut was found in the posterior half, both in the lumen and epithelium. Feeding stimulated protease production primarily in the posterior midgut. The pH optimum of the proteases lay between 9.0 and 9.5 which was closely matched by the observed pH of the posterior midgut where most of the activity is seen. The anterior midgut pH was determined to be around 8.0. The anterior midgut of Leucophaea contained a heatstable protease inhibitor with characteristics of a competitive inhibitor. This inhibitor was precipitable by 60% saturated (NH4)2SO4 and eluted from a Sephadex G-200 column more or less together with the proteases. From a DEAE anionexchange column it was eluted by 0.8 M NaCl, i.e. after the main portion of the proteases. The biological significance of the protease inhibitor in the anterior portion of the midgut is obscure.
Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy does not block intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide-induced fever.

Several recent findings, including the inability of subdiaphragmatic vagotomy to block lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) protein in brain, have made it necessary to reexamine the role of the subdiaphragmatic vagal afferents in immune-to-brain communication. In this study, we examined the effects of intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of LPS on core body temperature in control and subdiaphragmatically vagotomized rats. Vagotomized and sham-operated male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected i.p. with vehicle (pyrogen-free saline) on the control day and LPS (1, 10 or 50 microg/kg) on the experimental day, and core body temperature was monitored by telemetry for 6 h after the injection. At this time, rats were sacrificed, and serum, liver, and pituitary samples were collected. The i.p. injection of LPS increased core body temperature in both sham-operated and vagotomized rats compared to the saline injection. In addition, LPS significantly increased IL-1beta levels in serum, liver, and pituitary compared to saline-injected controls. There were no significant differences in the magnitude of the fever or in the levels of IL-1beta in serum, liver, or pituitary between sham-operated and vagotomized rats. Thus, the current data indicate that, at the doses tested, subdiaphragmatic vagal afferents are not crucial for i.p. LPS-induced fever. Because several effects of vagotomy have been shown to be dependent on dose, we are currently investigating whether vagal afferents are involved in lower-dose i.p. LPS-induced fever.
Dynamic Transverse Particle Velocity Measurements Using Interferometric Techniques

An optical technique is described which uses velocity interferometry to determine the particle velocity changes associated with plane shear wave propagation. In this technique, two velocity interferometers are used to monitor different diffracted laser beams from a surface which undergoes both longitudinal and shear motion. Fringes produced in the interferometer are proportional to a linear combination of both the longitudinal and shear components of the free surface velocity. By obtaining two independent recordings of the motion, the two velocity components can be determined. Selected examples of shear wave interferometry applications are reported.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The impacts of welfare reform on federal assistance to persistently poor children

During the late twentieth century, the US social safety net was transformed to incentivize work by providing generous wage subsidies for low-income workers and reducing federal assistance to able-bodied unemployed adults. Following the transformation and during the economic boom of the 1990s, welfare rolls and annual poverty rates plummeted, especially for children. Despite the economic boom, there were still many persistently poor children living with parents who did not work, and little is known about how the reforms impacted these children's finances. In this paper we compare rates of persistent child poverty before and after the welfare reforms and examine how federal assistance received by persistently poor children changed as a result of the reforms. We find that federal assistance to persistently poor children declined following the reforms, but with divergent results depending on parental employment. While persistently poor children with employed parents benefited from increased income via the Ear...
On the Number of Daubechies Scaling Functions and a Conjecture of Chyzak et al.

Using a result on Riesz factorizations, we show that there are at most 2N – 1 and at least 2[N/2] distinct Daubechies scalingfunctions with support in [1–N, N].
Effect of nitroethane and nitroethanol on the production of indole and 3-methylindole (skatole) from bacteria in swine feces by gas chromatography

Indole and 3-methylindole (skatole) are odor pollutants in livestock waste, and skatole is a major component of boar taint. Skatole causes pulmonary edema and emphysema in ruminants and causes damage to lung Clara cells in animals and humans. A gas chromatographic method that originally used a nitrogen-phosphorus detector to increase sensitivity was modified resulting in an improved flame ionization detection response for indole and skatole of 236% and 207%, respectively. The improved method eliminates the large amount of indole decomposition in the injector. A 10 micro g mL(-1) spike of indole and skatole in water and swine fecal slurries resulted in recovery of 78.5% and 96% in water and 76.1% and 85.8% in fecal slurries, respectively. The effect of the addition of nitroethane and nitroethanol at 21.8 mM in swine fecal slurries was studied on the microbial production of indole and skatole. Nitroethane and nitroethanol decreased the production of skatole in swine fecal slurries at 24 h. The nitroethane effect on l-tryptophan-supplemented fecal slurries after 6 and 24 h incubation resulted in a decrease of 69.0% (P = 0.02) and 23.5% skatole production, respectively, and a decrease of 14.9% indole at 6 h, but an increase in indole production of 81.1% at 24 h.
Three-Dimensional Stability Analysis of Free Surface Flows

Coating flows, with a few exceptions, need to be steady and two-dimensional flows. Moreover, the flow states need to be stable at the operating conditions chosen. The goal of stability analysis of coating flows is to determine the region in the parameter space at which the flow is stable and therefore the coated layer uniform. To determine the stability of liquid flows, a generalized eigenvalue problem has to be solved. This paper describes a formulation for a linear, three-dimensional stability analysis of free surface flows that reduces the size of the eigenproblem, decreasing the computational cost, with no further simplification, when compared with the methods reported in the literature. This formulation is used to study the instability that arises in film-splitting flows between counter-rotating rolls in a deformable gap. This flow instability leads to nonuniform coating characterized by a wavy thickness profile in the transverse direction. This patterning is usually referred to as “ribs.” This type of instability has received a lot of attention in the literature. However, all previous work has addressed the flow between two rigid rolls. Often, in practice, one of the rolls of a pair is covered by a layer of elastomer. The deformation of the roll cover alters the conformation of the gap, the pressure gradient at the film-split meniscus, and, consequently, the critical parameters at the onset of ribbing change. The results indicate how a deformable cover can be used to delay the onset of ribbing in forward-roll coating.
Lifting Performed on Laterally Slanted Ground Surfaces

Many outdoor work environments (e.g. agriculture and construction) require manual material handling activities on variable grade ground surfaces. Quantifying biomechanical responses for lifting under these conditions may provide insight into the etiology of lifting-related injuries. The aim of the current study was to quantify the effect of laterally slanted ground surfaces on biomechanical responses. Ten subjects performed lifting exertions (using a 40% of max load) while standing on a platform that was laterally tilted at 0, 10, 20 and 30 degrees from horizontal. During the lifting tasks the whole body kinematics were collected, which were later used in a dynamic biomechanical model to calculate the time-dependent moment about L5/S1 and the time-dependent lateral forces acting on the body segments. The results showed a consistent reduction in the peak dynamic L5/S1 moment (decreased by 9%) and an increase in the lateral forces (increased by 111%) with increasing slant angle.
Technical Note: Constraining stable carbon isotope values of microphytobenthos (C 3 photosynthesis) in the Arctic for application to food web studies

Abstract. Microphytobenthos (MPB) tends to be omitted as a possible carbon source to higher trophic level consumers in high latitude marine food web models that use stable isotopes. Here, we used previously published relationships relating the concentration of aqueous carbon dioxide ([CO2]aq), the stable carbon isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) (δ13CDIC), and algal growth rates (μ) to estimate the stable carbon isotope composition of MPB-derived total organic carbon (TOC) (δ13Cp) and fatty acid (FA) biomarkers (δ13CFA). We measured [CO2]aq and δ13CDIC values from bottom water at sampling locations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (n = 18), which ranged from 17 to 72 mmol kg–1 and −0.1 to 1.4 ‰ (0.8 ± 0.4‰, mean ±1 s.d.), respectively. We combined these field measurements with a set of stable carbon isotopic fractionation factors reflecting differences in algal taxonomy and physiology to determine δ13Cp and δ13CFA values. Theδ13Cp and δ13CFA values for a mixed eukaryotic algal community were estimated to be −23.6 ± 0.4‰ and −30.6 ± 0.4‰, respectively. These values were similar to our estimates for Phaeodactylum tricornutum (δ13Cp = −23.9 ± 0.4‰, δ13CFA = −30.9 ± 0.4‰), a pennate diatom likely to be a dominant MPB taxon. Taxon-specific differences were observed between a centric diatom (Porosira glacialis, δ13Cp = −20.0 ± 1.6‰), a marine haptophyte (Emiliana huxleyi, δ13Cp = −22.7 ± 0.5‰), and a cyanobacterium (Synechococcus sp., δ13Cp = −16.2 ± 0.4‰) at μ = 0.1 d−1. δ13Cp and δ13CFA values increased by s 2.5‰ for the mixed algal consortium and for P. tricornutum when growth rates were increased from 0.1 to 1.4 d−1. We compared our estimates of δ13Cp and δ13CFA values for MPB with previous measurements of δ13CTOC and δ13CFA values for other carbon sources in the Arctic, including ice-derived, terrestrial, and pelagic organic matter. We found that MPB values were significantly distinct from terrestrial and ice-derived carbon sources. However, MPB values overlapped with pelagic sources, which may result in MPB being overlooked as a significant source of carbon in the marine food web.
Strain Capacity Prediction of Strain-Based Pipelines

Strain-based design (SBD) is used to complement conventional allowable stress design for pipelines operated in environments with potentially large ground movements such as those found in permafrost and seismically active regions. Reliable and accurate prediction of tensile strain capacity (TSC) plays a critical role in strain-based design. As reported previously over the past 6+ years, a comprehensive experimental and numerical program was undertaken to characterize the TSC of welded pipelines, develop a finite element analysis (FEA) approach and equations capable of predicting TSC, and establish a strain-based engineering critical assessment (SBECA) methodology. The previous FEA model and TSC equations were validated against about 50 full-scale pipe strain capacity tests and are accurate within the validated variable ranges. In the current paper, enhancements of the previous model and equations are described. The enhancements include incorporation of advanced damage mechanics modeling into TSC prediction, development of a new TSC equation, expansion of variable ranges and functionality upgrades. The new model and equation are applicable over larger ranges of material properties and flaw sizes. The new FEA model is also used to establish surface flaw interaction rules for SBD. The new FEA model is validated against more than 40 full-scale non-pressurized and pressurized tests and underpins the development of the new TSC equation. The equation is validated against a total of 93 full-scale tests (FST). In addition to the enhancements, sample applications of the TSC model and equation are presented in the paper, for example, an investigation of the effects on strain capacity of Luders strain and ductile tearing. Challenges in predicting TSC are also addressed.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Seasonal changes of the adrenocortical response to stress in birds of the Sonoran Desert.

Many avian species of the North American Sonoran desert, e.g., the black-throated sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata, cactus wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, and curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre, can potentially breed from March/April to August. It is possible that, at least in summer, intense heat and aridity may have inhibitory effects on breeding by precipitating a stress response. Stress typically results in a rise in secretion of adrenocorticosteroid hormones that then inhibit reproduction by suppressing release of gonadal hormones. However, we found that plasma levels of corticosterone were not higher during summer, compared with winter, even in 1989 when summer temperatures were higher than normal. In June 1990, temperatures were also above normal and soared to the highest level recorded in Arizona (50 degrees C). Plasma levels of corticosterone during June were high in black-throated sparrows, but less so in two other species (Abert's towhee, Pipilo aberti, and Inca dove, Scardafella inca) found in more shady riparian and suburban habitat with constant access to water. The adrenocortical response to stress (as measured by the rate of corticosterone increase following capture) was reduced in the hottest summer months in black-throated sparrows, cactus wrens, and curve-billed thrashers, but less so in Abert's towhee an Inca dove. These data suggest that at least some birds breeding in the open desert with restricted access to water are able to suppress the classical adrenocortical response to stress. The response is then reactivated in winter after breeding has ceased. It is possible that this stress modulation may allow breeding to continue despite severe heat. Analysis of plasma from these species indicated that the apparent modulation of the adrenocortical response to stress was not an artifact of reduced affinity or capacity of corticosterone binding proteins.
La racaille: figuring gender, generation, and stigmatized space in a French cité

Dominant French discourses stigmatize la racaille (‘male street toughs’) in a national moral panic about cites (‘subsidized housing projects’). This paper examines how these discourses influence everyday talk and experiences of public space in Chemin de l’Ile, a cite west of Paris. In both national and local discourses, la racaille symbolizes stigmatized public spaces, particularly la rue (‘the street’). However, inhabitants in Chemin de l’Ile mobilize the symbol of la racaille to evoke a set of moralizing discourses that are inflected with cultural, gendered, and generational prescriptions. Specifically, la racaille is constructed as morally threatening to culturally respectful spaces, such as Muslim weddings, and the respect of certain persons including adolescent girls. Adolescent girls’ own perspectives are analyzed to show that through narratives about la racaille they elaborate and resist normative prescriptions for gendered uses of public space in their cite.
Beyond the Epidemiological Paradox: The Health of Mexican-American Children at Age Five*

In spite of their healthy birth outcomes in comparison to other racial and ethnic groups, there are serious concerns that Mexican American children are at risk for health problems and developmental deficiencies during their early years (Flores et al., 2002; Guendelman, 1998). Known as the epidemiological paradox (Markides and Coreil 1986), the phenomenon of relatively healthy birth outcomes among Mexican Americans despite high poverty rates, low levels of education, and limited access to health care has been extensively studied, but research on this population has for the most part not extended to childhood health. This gap was succinctly summarized by Guendelman (1998: 282) who, in a review of Hispanic health, stated that “a question remains whether the protective factors available during pregnancy continue to sustain the health of Hispanic children after they are born.” It is important to monitor the health of Mexican American children through early childhood because this critical period – between ages 3 and 5 – marks the transition to school (Brooks-Gunn, Fuligni, and Berlin, 2003). A child's physical and mental health sets the stage for school readiness and subsequent educational attainment. Of particular concern are chronic health conditions (also known as chronic developmental problems), which include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, heart disease, poor vision or hearing, and asthma. Kindergarten students with serious health problems tend to lag behind in social and emotional development or cognitive achievement (Wertheimer et al., 2003). Children with developmental problems are also more likely to miss school and be less involved in school and community activities, such as sports or clubs (Blanchard, Gurka, and Blackman, 2006). Through its influence on initial school readiness and involvement, early childhood health sets the stage for future educational attainment, and, consequently, racial and ethnic disparities in early childhood health may influence future racial and ethnic socioeconomic stratification. In this study we examine chronic health conditions in a cohort of Mexican American children of preschool age, in comparison to other racial and ethnic groups. The purpose of the study is to further our understanding of how the demographic, social, and behavioral characteristics of Mexican American mothers, which are linked to their infants' relatively healthy birth outcomes, influence the subsequent health outcomes of their children. Specifically, we investigate whether the health advantage in terms of a low rate of low birth weight in this population is also evident for chronic health conditions observed beyond infancy. Does the epidemiological paradox apply to other health indicators manifested in early childhood? And do prenatal factors play the same protective role for chronic health conditions as they do for birth weight in this population?
Purification and characterization of a collagenous protein secreted by a murine teratocarcinoma-derived cell line.

Abstract A collagenous protein could be precipitated by (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 from the culture medium of a murine teratocarcinoma-derived cell line (Ko, C.Y., Johnson, L.D. and Priest, R.E. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 581, 252–259). Further purification of this protein was achieved by combining DEAE-cellulose chromatography with either CM-cellulose or molecular sieve chromatography. The collagenous polypeptides had subunit molecular weights of 160 000, if determined by molecular sieve chromatography, or 190 000, if determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and they are not linked by disulphide bridges. Amino acid composition of this collagen is similar to that of a murine type IV collagen isolated from EHS sarcoma (Timpl et al. (1978) Eur. J. Biochem. 84, 43–52). The most prominent peptides resulting from cleavage of the protein by CNBr had estimated molecular weights of 25 000, 23 000, 11 700 and 9400. Pepsin treatment of this collagen under non-denaturing conditions produced three major fragments having molecular weights of 70 000, 45 000 and 43 000. We conclude that the collagen secreted by the murine teratocarcinoma-derived cell culture is a type IV basement membrane collagen. Therefore, this culture system should provide a continuous source of type IV collagen, which may be used to study the interaction of this collagen with other basement membrane components.
Recent advances in single-chamber fuel-cells: Experiment and modeling

Single-chamber fuel cells (SCFC) are ones in which the fuel and oxidizer are premixed, and selective electrode catalysts are used to generate the oxygen partial pressure gradient that in a conventional dual-chamber design is produced by physical separation of the fuel and oxidizer streams. SCFCs have been shown capable of generating power densities above 700 mW/cm^2 with appropriate catalysts, making them potentially useful in many applications where the simplicity of a single gas chamber and absence of seals offsets the expected lower efficiency of SCFCs compared to dual-chamber SOFCs. SCFC performance is found to depend sensitively on cell microstructure, geometry, and flow conditions, making experimental optimization tedious. In this paper, we describe recent work focused on developing a quantitative understanding the physical processes responsible for SCFC performance, and the development of an experimentally-validated, physically-based numerical model to allow more rational design and optimization of SCFCs. The use of the model to explore the effects of fuel/oxidizer ratio, anode thickness, and flow configuration is discussed.
Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG Prime-Recombinant Adenovirus Boost Vaccination in Rhesus Monkeys Elicits Robust Polyfunctional Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific T-Cell Responses

While mycobacteria have been proposed as vaccine vectors because of their persistence and safety, little has been done systematically to optimize their immunogenicity in nonhuman primates. We successfully generated recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG (rBCG) expressing simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Gag and Pol as multigenic, nonintegrating vectors, but rBCG-expressing SIV Env was unstable. A dose and route determination study in rhesus monkeys revealed that intramuscular administration of rBCG was associated with local reactogenicity, whereas intravenous and intradermal administration of 106 to 108 CFU of rBCG was well tolerated. After single or repeat rBCG inoculations, monkeys developed high-frequency gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot responses against BCG purified protein derivative. However, the same animals developed only modest SIV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses. Nevertheless, high-frequency SIV-specific cellular responses were observed in the rBCG-primed monkeys after boosting with recombinant adenovirus 5 (rAd5) expressing the SIV antigens. These cellular responses were of greater magnitude and more persistent than those generated after vaccination with rAd5 alone. The vaccine-elicited cellular responses were predominantly polyfunctional CD8+ T cells. These findings support the further exploration of mycobacteria as priming vaccine vectors.
Synthesis, Structure and Reactivity of Two–Coordinate Mercury Alkyl Compounds with Sulfur Ligands: Relevance to Mercury Detoxification

The susceptibility of two-coordinate mercury alkyl compounds of the type X−Hg−R (where X is a monodentate sulfur donor) towards protolytic cleavage has been investigated as part of ongoing efforts to obtain information relevant to understanding the mechanism of action of the organomercurial lyase, MerB. Specifically, the reactivity of the two-coordinate mercury alkyl compounds PhSHgR, [mimBut]HgR and {[HmimBut]HgR}+ (HmimBut = 2-mercapto-1-t-butylimidazole; R = Me, Et) towards PhSH was investigated, thereby demonstrating that the ability to cleave the Hg−C bond is very dependent on the nature of the system. For example, whereas the reaction of PhSHgMe with PhSH requires heating at 145 °C for several weeks to liberate CH4, the analogous reaction of PhSHgEt with PhSH leads to evolution of C2H6 over the course of 2 days at 100 °C. Furthermore, protolytic cleavage of the Hg−C bond by PhSH is promoted by HmimBut. For example, whereas the reaction of {[HmimBut]HgEt}+ with PhSH eliminates C2H6 at elevated temper...
Conditions for infinite reversible susceptibility as magnetic systems reach irreversible switching

The reversible susceptibility approaching a magnetization phase transition corresponding to irreversible switching is examined both analytically and numerically. It is shown that the reversible susceptibility becomes infinite at switching if the reversible rotation just prior to irreversible motion has a component in the switching direction. For the numerical examples of non-uniform processes, as well as analytic analysis of two interacting grains, infinite susceptibility is seen only if the prior reversible rotation is virtually entirely along the subsequent reversal direction.
Models of hierarchy formation in animal societies

Groups in many species of mammals and birds form hierarchies: these hierarchies are frequently linear or near linear in moderate size groups. Two models have been proposed, both implicitly and explicitly, in the literature to explain the process of hierarchy formation. One explanation contends that animals win their places in a hierarchy through a round robin competition, and the other states that there is a high statistical correlation between position and rank on some trait or composite of traits thought to predict dominance. It is demonstrated here that both models require stringent mathematical conditions to predict linear and near linear hierarchies and that available data indicate that these conditions are not met. Most of the data cited are from studies of dominance in chickens, but the same mathematical conditions are necessary to generate linear and near linear hierarchies by the round robin and correlational models in any species. Thus, the findings presented here have application to any species of animals forming linear and near linear hierarchies.
Adrenergic-glucocorticoid interactions in the regulation of airway blood flow.

(2003). Adrenergic-Glucocorticoid Interactions in the Regulation of Airway Blood Flow. Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry: Vol. 111, No. 4, pp. 319-321.
Control of astrocyte volume by intracellular and extracellular Ca2

Astrocytes from primary culture were exposed to conditions that affect intracellular and extracellular Ca2+ concentrations. Astrocyte cell volume was increased approximately 16% after a 30 min exposure to isoosmotic phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing the Ca2+ buffer EDTA. Cell volume returned to control values within 30 min of resuspension in normal PBS. Cellular calcium content was not affected by these treatments; however, the recovery of normal cell volume following EDTA exposure was inhibited by 0.1-1.0 mM quinine HCl in a dose-dependent fashion suggesting that a potassium channel controlled by the intracellular Ca2+ concentration is important in this volume response. Intracellular accumulation of an exogenous Ca2+ buffer, BAPTA, also produced cell swelling that persisted following resuspension in normal PBS. Lowering the extracellular Ca2+ concentration with EDTA enhanced the swelling of BAPTA-loaded cells. These data suggest that conditions leading to a decrease in free intracellular Ca2+ concentration may influence astrocyte volume by a mechanism similar to that described in other cell types.
The Seasonal Cycle and Its Modulation in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean

Abstract Data for the period from 1985 to 1993 from TAO moorings along 110°W (5°S–5°N) and 140°W (2°S–9°N) describe the vertical, meridional, and temporal structure of the seasonal cycle of several variables. The results have a number of interesting features. The amplitude of the seasonal cycle is relatively constant in the surface layers but varies considerably at the depth of the equatorial thermocline where it was small before 1989, large thereafter. Also, vertical seasonal movements of the thermocline have little effect on sea surface temperatures. These seasonal variations are consistent with a westward propagating coupled ocean–atmosphere mode in the surface layers. Conversely, the low-frequency modulation of the seasonal cycle in the thermocline is associated with changes in the seasonal cycle of the zonal wind in the central and western tropical Pacific and might be attributable to equatorial Kelvin waves forced resonantly by the surface winds.
Intracellular analysis of synaptic potentials in rat neostriatum following stimulation of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and substantia nigra

Intracellular recordings were obtained from neostriatal neurons of unparalyzed male hooded rats anesthetized with urethane. Electrical stimulation of the cerebral cortex (Cx), centromedian-parafascicular area of the thalamus (CMP), and the substantia nigra (SN) elicited monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in neostriatal neurons. Response latencies were, on the average, 3.7 msec, 3.3 msec, and 3.8 msec, for Cx, CMP and SN stimulation, respectively. Over 85% of recorded neurons showed convergence of inputs from all three stimulation sites. The SN induced EPSP sometimes had two components, with the second component beginning 10-15 msec after the first. EPSPs from all three stimulation sites were often followed by inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) lasting from 50-250 msec. Double shock experiments indicated that SN induced EPSPs could be reduced in amplitude by 20-80% when preceded by conditioning stimulation to Cx, CMP or SN. In contrast, the EPSP elicited by Cx stimulation were unaffected by conditioning stimulation. Some recorded neurons were morphologically identified by means of intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase. All were "medium spiny" neurons. The results of the present study agree well with those of previous studies of cat caudate neurons, and extend them to rat neostriatal neurons.
Evaluation of Bare Die Chip Reliability Due to Underfill Materials During Mechanical Actuation and Thermal Cycling

Use of underfill materials to encapsulate ball grid arrays (BGAs) or chip scale packages (CSPs) have become very important in increasing the reliability of area array packages [1]. Underfill enhances the reliability of flip-chip devices by distributing the thermo-mechanical stresses [2, 3]. These stresses are generated due to mechanical actuation and coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch (CTE) [3]. They are required due to high power density of the current chip design to achieve fine bond line at the thermal interface material in order to dissipate heat. In this paper, details of reliability assessment using the finite element method and actual test data will be presented and discussed.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Fine structure of ribosomal RNA. II. Distribution of methylated sequences within Xenopus laevis rRNA

Abstract The distribution of methyl groups in rRNA from Xenopus laevis was analyzed by hybridization of rRNA to subfragments of either of two cloned rDNA fragments, X1r11 and X1r12, which together constitute a complete rDNA repeat unit. Using a mixture of 3H-methyl plus 32P-labelled rRNA as probe, the molar yield of methyl groups per rRNA region in hybrid could be calculated. For this calculation the length of the rRNA coding region in each DNA subfragment is needed, which was determined for X1r11 subfragments by the nuclease S1 mapping method of Berk and Sharp. The results show that both in 18S and 28S rRNA the methyl groups are nonrandomly distributed. For 18S rRNA, clustering was found within a 3' terminal fragment of 310 nucleotides. For 28S rRNA, clustering of methyl groups was found within a region of 750 nucleotides in length, which ends 500 nucleotides from the 3' end. In contrast, the 28S rRNA 5' terminal region of 900 nucleotides is clearly undermethylated. The general position of methyl groups in 28S rRNA correlates with the location of evolutionarily conserved sequences in this molecule, as recently determined in our laboratory.