cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tracking channel bed resiliency in forested mountain catchments using high temporal resolution channel bed movement

Abstract This study uses continuous-recording load cell pressure sensors in four, high-elevation (1500–1800 m), Sierra Nevada headwater streams to collect high-temporal-resolution, bedload-movement data for investigating the channel bed movement patterns within these streams for water years 2012–2014. Data show an annual pattern where channel bed material in the thalweg starts to build up in early fall, peaks around peak snow melt, and scours back to baseline levels during hydrograph drawdown and base flow. This pattern is punctuated by disturbance and recovery of channel bed material associated with short-term storm events. A conceptual model, linking sediment sources at the channel margins to patterns of channel bed fill and scour in the thalweg, is proposed building on the results of Martin et al. (2014). The material in the thalweg represents a balance between sediment supply from the channel margins and sporadic, conveyor-belt-like downstream transport in the thalweg. The conceptual model highlights not only the importance of production and transport rates but also that seasonal connectedness between the margins and thalweg is a key sediment control, determining the accumulation rate of sediment stores at the margins and the redistribution of sediment from margins to thalweg that feeds the conveyor belt. Disturbance and recovery cycles are observed at multiple temporal scales; but long term, the channel beds are stable, suggesting that the beds act as short-term storage for sediment but are in equilibrium interannually. The feasibility of use for these sensors in forested mountain stream environments is tested. Despite a high failure rate (50%), load cell pressure sensors show potential for high-temporal-resolution bedload measurements, allowing for the collection of channel bed movement data to move beyond time-integrated change measurements — where many of the subtleties of bedload movement patterns may be missed — to continuous and/or real-time measurements. This type of high-temporal-resolution data provides insight into short-term cycles of bedload movement in high gradient, forested mountain streams.
Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance Factors Localize to Spatially and Temporally Ordered Liquid Droplet Assemblages

Epigenetic information can be inherited for multiple generations (termed transgenerational epigenetic inheritance or TEI). Non-coding RNAs have emerged as important mediators of TEI, although the mechanism(s) by which non-coding RNAs mediate TEI remains poorly understood. dsRNA-mediated gene silencing (RNAi) in C. elegans is a robust example of RNA-directed TEI. To further our understanding of RNA-directed TEI, we conducted a genetic screen in C. elegans to identify genes required for RNAi inheritance. Our screen identified the conserved RNA helicase/Zn finger protein ZNFX-1 and the Argonaute protein WAGO-4. We find that WAGO-4 and ZNFX-1 act cooperatively in inheriting generations to mark mRNAs of genes undergoing heritable silencing to maintain small interfering (si)RNA expression across generations. Additionally, we find that ZNFX-1/WAGO-4 localize to a liquid droplet organelle termed the P granule in early germline blastomeres. Later in development, ZNFX-1/WAGO-4 demix from P granule components to form an independent liquid droplet organelle that we term the Z granule. In the adult germline, Z granules assemble into ordered tri-droplet assemblages with P granules and another germline droplet-like foci termed the Mutator foci . This work identifies conserved RNA-binding proteins that contribute to RNA-directed TEI in C. elegans, defines a liquid droplet organelle termed the Z granule, and shows that liquid droplet organelles can undergo developmentally regulated cycles of mixing/demixing and assemble into spatially ordered multi-droplet structures. We speculate that temporal and spatial ordering of liquid droplets helps cells organize and coordinate the complex RNA processing pathways underlying gene regulatory systems, such as RNA-directed TEI.
Comparison between fully and partially focused transmit strategies in transthoracic cardiac strain estimation

Myocardial elastography identifies ischemia and infarction by estimating strain. Focused beams with ECG-gating offers high spatial resolution and frame rate, but precludes imaging of arrhythmic patients. Wide beam and coherent compounding can estimate strain within a single heart cycle by trading off spatial resolution or frame rate. Compounding and wide beam sequences were optimized in silico and in vivo, and then compared with a focused, ECG-gated sequence in vivo.
60 GHz concurrent dual-polarization RX front-end in SiGe with Antenna-IC Co-Integration

Achieving a wideband, efficient, scalable and low-cost interface between IC and antennas is critical for mm-wave transceivers in silicon. This paper presents an antenna-IC co-integration approach to achieve dual-polarization transmission and reception using on-chip dual-pol feeds that aperture-couple through a slot in the on-chip ground to a patch antenna on the back side of the IC. The proposed wafer-scale compatible approach is demonstrated with a 60 GHz prototype that includes a dual-pol 60 GHz receiver frontend (RXFE) implemented in the TowerJazz SBC18H3 SiGe technology. The RXFE includes a cross-pol cancellation path (with variable gain and phase shift) to cancel cross-polarization leakage signal to enable concurrent dual-pol operation. The antenna co-integration approach achieves ∼50% and 2.7 dBi simulated efficiency and gain, with measured dual-pol reception and ∼30 dB cross-pol leakage cancellation. Extensive ground-plane reuse leads to the 60 GHz dual-pol RXFE and antenna feed and slot structures occupying 1.8 mm × 1.8 mm of die area.
Distinguishing Nigerian Food Items and Calorie Content with Hyperspectral Imaging

Identifying food types consumed and their calorie composition is one of the central tasks of dietary assessment. Traditional automated image processing methods learn to map images to an existing food database with known caloric composition. However, even when the correct food type is identified, caloric makeup can vary depending on its ingredients, and using true-color images proves insufficient to distinguish within food type variability. In this paper, we show that hyperspectral imaging provides useful information and promise in distinguishing caloric composition within the same food type. We collect data using a hyperspectral camera from Nigerian foods cooked with varying degrees of fat content, and capture images under different intensities of light. We apply Principle Component Analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensionality, and train a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier using a Radial Basis Function kernel and show that applying this technique on hyperspectral images can more readily distinguish calorie composition. Furthermore, compared with methods that only use true-color based features, our method shows that a classifier trained using features from hyperspectral images is significantly more predictive of within-food caloric content, and by fusing results from two classifiers trained separately using hyperspectral and RGB imagery we obtain the greatest predictive power.
Association of neurologist care with headache expenditures: A population-based, longitudinal analysis.

ObjectiveTo assess the association of neurologist ambulatory care with healthcare utilization and expenditure in headache.MethodsThis was a longitudinal cohort study from two-year duration panel data, pooled from 2002–2013, of adult respondents identified with diagnostic codes for headache in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Those with a neurologist ambulatory care visit in year one of panel participation were compared with those who did not for the change in annual aggregate direct headache-related health care costs from year one to year two of panel participation, inflated to 2015 US dollars. Results were adjusted via multiple linear regression for demographic and clinical variables, utilizing survey variables for accurate estimates and standard errors.ResultsEight hundred and eighty-seven respondents were included, with 23.3% (207/887) seeing a neurologist in year one. The neurologist group had higher year-one mean headache-related expenditures ($3032 vs. $1636), but nearly equal mean year-two exp...
Prediction of Oligopeptide Conformations via Deterministic Global Optimization

A deterministic global optimization method is described for identifying the global minimum potential energy conformation of oligopeptides. The ECEPP/3 detailed potential energy model is utilized for describing the energetics of the atomic interactions posed in the space of the peptide dihedral angles. Based on previous work on the microcluster and molecular structure determination [21, 22, 23, 24], a procedure for deriving convex lower bounding functions for the total potential energy function is developed. A procedure that allows the exclusion of domains of the (o, ψ) space based on the analysis of experimentally determined native protein structures is presented. The reduced disjoint sub-domains are appropriately combined thus defining the starting regions for the search. The proposed approach provides valuable information on (i) the global minimum potential energy conformation, (ii) upper and lower bounds of the global minimum energy structure and (iii) low energy conformers close to the global minimum one. The proposed approach is illustrated with Ac-Ala4-Pro-NHMe, Met-enkephalin, Leu-enkephalin, and Decaglycine.
Hepatocyte growth factor, keratinocyte growth factor, and other growth factor-receptor systems in the lens.

Purpose. To examine the expression and function of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and other growth factor-cytokine-receptor systems in lens epithelial cells. Methods. Reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis were used to examine the expression of messenger RNAs in primary cultured rabbit and human lens cells and in ex vivo rabbit lens tissue. Protein expression and the effect of HGF and KGF on crystallin expression in lens epithelial cells were evaluated by immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis. The effect of exogenous HGF, KGF, and EGF and of the coculture of lens epithelial cells with corneal endothelial cells on the proliferation of rabbit lens cells in a Transwell system was determined by cell counting. Results. Messenger RNAs and proteins of HGF and KGF were expressed in primary rabbit lens epithelial cells and in ex vivo rabbit lens epithelial tissue. Human lens cells also expressed the mRNAs. Other growth factors and receptor messenger RNAs were also expressed. Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors, and coculture with corneal endothelial cells stimulated proliferation of rabbit lens epithelial cells. In first-passage rabbit lens cells, HGF, KGF, and EGF increased the expression of alpha and beta crystallins. Conclusions. Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factor-receptor systems are expressed in lens cells. HGF and KGF are not expressed in epithelial cells in such tissues as skin, cornea, and lacrimal gland in which fibroblastic and epithelial cells interact in the formation of an organ. Expression of these growth factors in the lens may have evolved because the lens cells are relatively isolated within the anterior chamber of the eye. Our results suggest, however, that growth factors released by the corneal endothelium also could modulate lens functions (aquecrine interactions).
Issue Advocacy: A Semester-Long Experiential Learning Project

This article outlines a semester-long advocacy project that walks students through the steps to develop a successful advocacy campaign, culminating in a trip to the state capitol to “lobby” legisla...
Health Development Corp.

SUBJECT AREAS: Cash flow, Financial analysis, Present value, Valuation CASE SETTINGS: Boston, MA; Fitness industry; $22 million revenues; 2000 Health Development Corp. (HDC) owns and operates health clubs in the Greater Boston area. HDC engaged a local investment banker to explore a sale of the company. The most likely buyer views HDC's prior purchase of real estate as a negative. HDC's management is convinced the purchase enhanced value, and a discounted cash flow analysis confirms that it was a substantially positive net present value decision. Nevertheless, the real estate reduces the valuation according to the approach used by the potential buyer. The challenge is to structure a transaction that allows HDC to realize its full value.
Quality of service class mapping and scheduling scheme for converged LTE-WiFi in the next generation networks

In this paper, a novel quality of service (QoS) class mapping and scheduling scheme for the LTE-WiFi converged network is proposed to ensure that end-to-end QoS support is provisioned seamlessly. A mapping among QoS classes of LTE and WiFi is performed first, then scheduling scheme is outlined. For scheduling scheme, traffic is separated into real-time (RT) and non-real-time (NRT) components, then a two-stage complex queuing strategy is performed. In the first stage, deficit weighted round robin queuing (DWRRQ) and class-based weighted fair queuing (CBWFQ) are used for RT and NRT applications respectively to segregate and forward traffic according to resource requirements. Whereas in the second stage, rate-control priority queuing (RCPQ) is used for all types of traffic to give each class appropriate priority level. Performance evaluation of the converged network was done based on different metrics such as jitter, end-to-end delay, throughput, and packet loss ratio. Simulation results show significant improvements for RT with slight degradation on NRT applications after using the new scheduling scheme.
Falseadores (DCH) (Forgers (DCH))

Spanish Abstract: Definido como ocultamiento o mutacion intencional de la verdad en perjuicio de tercero, el delito de falsedad fue objeto de interes y severos castigos en ambos lados del Atlantico Iberico. La gravedad del delito radicaba no en la mentira o disimulacion dolosa, sino en el asalto intencional a la fe publica a traves del fraude. Debido a que la falsedad era considerada una injuria y agravio al comun, la denuncia y castigo de la falsedad se convirtio muy pronto en un asunto de “publica utilidad”. Este articulo discute el amplio espectro y alcance legal de las distintas formas de falseamiento como delito publico en Hispanoamerica colonial, tomando como punto de partida la literatura normativa y prescriptiva de la epoca. Cierra este articulo un breve balance historiografico, en donde se indican algunas lineas de investigacion mas importantes de los ultimos anos sobre el tema. English Abstract: Commonly defined as the concealment or intentional mutation of the truth to the detriment of a third party, the crime of falsehood was the subject of interest and severe punishments on both sides of the Iberian Atlantic. The seriousness of the crime lied not so much in the act of lying or malicious concealment, but in the intentional assault on the public faith through fraud. Because falsehood was considered a public crime, its denunciation and punishment soon became a matter of "public utility." This article discusses the broad spectrum and legal scope of the different forms of falsification as a public crime in colonial Latin America, taking as a starting point the normative and prescriptive literature of the time. The essay closes with a brief historiographic balance, outlining some of the most important lines of research in recent years on the subject.
Edith Stein on the State

An Inquiry concerning the State (Eine Untersuchung uber den Staat) is the last of four “phenomenological” writings that Edith Stein (1891-1942) composed before becoming a Catholic in 1922. The work contains Stein’s political philosophy and theory of the state and appeared in the phenomenological journal Jahr­buch fur Philosophie und pha­no­­menologische Forschung in 1925. Her analyses are not only important theoretically; they also cast light on the political movements of her time (Adolf Hitler´s Mein Kampf was published in the same year) and indeed are quite relevant to the social turmoil and ideological controversies we are experiencing today. The following is a sketch of Stein’s life and intellectual activity and a review of main topics she treats in work: state and community, sovereignty, people and nation, law, morality and religion.
Robotic Ureteral Reimplantation

Minimally invasive techniques have gained popularity in pediatric surgery. Among these, is the robotic approach for ureteral reimplantation in children with vesico-ureteral reflux. We describe main indications of this surgery, our surgical technique as well as trouble shooting of anatomical variants and the post-operative management. We also provide a description of other techniques described in the literature and a brief review of outcomes of published series.
The moral economy of face: marketized gift and depoliticized solidarity in South Korea’s fair trade

Metaphors of ‘face’ are often found in South Korea’s fair trade activism, as fair trade is frequently described as ‘face-to-face commerce’ and its goal is presented as pursuing ‘global trade with a...
Impact of interfacial properties on the viscoelastic relaxation of hard–soft block copolymers using finite element analysis

In this paper, we use finite element analysis (FEA) to study the linear viscoelastic response of polyurea, a type of hard–soft block copolymer. A Niblack’s algorithm-based technique employed on atomic force microscopy images provides geometry inputs for the FEA model, while the viscoelastic master curves of the soft matrix are obtained via a combination of dynamic mechanical analysis data and molecular dynamic (MD) estimations. In this microstructural image-based FEA framework, we introduce an interphase area of altered properties between the hard and soft domains. Both spatial and property distributions of this interphase area affect the viscoelastic response of the copolymer system. To quantitatively investigate the impact of structural and property features of the interphase on the energy storage and dissipation of a system during linear perturbation, we develop a statistical descriptor representation of the interphase region related to physical parameters. Utilizing decision-tree and random forest concepts from machine learning, we apply a ranking algorithm to identify the most significant features for four different mechanical response descriptors. Results show that the total interphase volume fraction and shifting factor distributions in the interphase area dominate the magnitude of the tan δ peak, whereas the magnitudes of the shifting factors primarily affect the tan δ peak location in frequency space. This method allows us to readily identify the dominant features impacting individual properties and paves the way for material design of hard–soft block copolymer systems.
Assessment of global total column water vapor sounding using a spaceborne differential absorption radar

Abstract. The feasibility of using a differential absorption radar (DAR) to retrieve total column water vapor from space is investigated. DAR combines at least two radar tones near an absorption line, in this case a water vapor line, to measure humidity information from the differential absorption on and off the line. From a spaceborne platform, DAR can be used to retrieve total column water vapor by measuring the differential reflection from the Earth's Surface. We assess the expected precision, yield, and potential biases of retrieved total column water vapor values by applying an end-to-end radar instrument simulator to near-global weather analysis fields collocated with CloudSat measurements. The approach allows us to characterize the DAR performance across a globally representative dataset of atmospheric conditions including clouds and precipitation as well as different surface types. We assume a hypothetical spaceborne G-band radar with pulse compression orbiting the earth at 405 km with a 1 m antenna, equivalent to a footprint diameter of 850 m, and 500 m horizontal integration. The simulations include the scattering effects of rain, snow, as well as liquid and ice clouds, spectroscopic uncertainties, and uncertainties due to the initial assumed water vapor profile. Results indicate that, using two radar tones at 167 and 174.8 GHz with a transmit power of 20 W ensures that both pulses will reach the surface at least 70 % of the time in the tropics and more than 90 % of the time outside the tropics, and that total column water vapor can be retrieved with a precision better than 1.3 mm.
Building Bridges and Crossing Boundaries: Philosophy, Theology, and the Interruptions of Transcendence

Discussions about theological realism within analytic philosophy of religion, and the larger conversation between analytic and continental styles in philosophy of religion have generated relatively little interest among Catholic philosophers and theologians; conversely, the work of major figures in recent Catholic theology seems to evoke little interest from analytic philosophers of religion. Using the 1998 papal encyclical on faith and reason, Fides et ratio, as a major point of reference, this essay offers a preliminary account of the bases for such seeming mutual indifference and offers some suggestions for future dialogue.
EER\(\rightarrow \)MLN: EER Approach for Modeling, Mapping, and Analyzing Complex Data Using Multilayer Networks (MLNs)

Extended Entity Relationship (or EER) modeling is an important step after application requirements for data analysis are gathered, and is critical for translating user requirements to a given executable data model (e.g., relational, or for this paper Multilayer Networks or MLNs.) EER modeling provides a more precise understanding of the application and data requirements and an unambiguous representation from which the data model (on which analysis is performed) can be generated algorithmically. EER has played a central role in the modeling of user-level requirements to relational, object oriented etc. UML, whose roots are in EER modeling, is extensively used in the industry.
A sex paradox in clinical outcomes following complex percutaneous coronary intervention.

Abstract Background Although the number of complex percutaneous coronary intervention (CPCI) procedures is increasing, data regarding sex-related outcomes following CPCI are scarce. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data of patients enrolled in a single-center registry between 2009 and 2017. Patients were divided into two groups (CPCI and non-CPCI) stratified by sex. CPCI was defined as any PCI procedure with ≥1 of the following characteristics: ≥3 target vessels/lesions, ≥3 stents implanted, bifurcation with ≥2 stents, stent length > 60 mm, or chronic total occlusion. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target vessel revascularization, at oneon-year follow-up. Results Among 20,419 patients, 5004 (24.5%) underwent CPCI of whom 25.6% (n = 1281) women and 74.4% (n = 3723) men. Women presented with more comorbidities yet less complex coronary anatomy than men (syntax score: 19.5 ± 10.3 vs. 20.6 ± 10.7, p = 0.009). Moreover, women were more likely to fulfill a single rather than multiple CPCI criteria. At one year, a higher rate of MACE occurred in women (14.0% vs. 11.6%, p = 0.02). After multivariable adjustment for confounders, the risk of MACE at one year was similar among both sexes (HR:1.04, 95% CI [0.85–1.26], p = 0.71), without significant interaction between the complexity of the procedure and sex (p-interaction = 0.96). Nonetheless, the risk of MI was significantly higher in women than men undergoing CPCI (HR:1.63, 95% CI [1.12–2.38], p = 0.01). Conclusions Despite presenting with less challenging lesions than men, women had a higher rate of MI at one year following CPCI, even after adjusting for potential confounders.
Use of Injection Molding Simulation to Assess Critical Dimensions and Assign Tolerances

When a product is certified for production and while its quality is being monitored, it is not economically feasible to watch every dimension of the part. Through the definition of critical dimensions, the amount of measurements necessary for quality control can be limited. However, in order to properly assign tolerances to the critical dimensions, the engineer needs to understand the capability of the process. Unfortunately, the subject of tolerances can be a great source of arguments between design and manufacturing engineers. Concurrent engineering has taken a holistic approach to the problem by forcing manufacturing engineers to get involved earlier in the development process. We propose a methodology that employs injection molding process simulation to track the development of critical dimensions from the design stage to production. This methodology provides a more quantitative approach to the tolerancing of injection molded parts. Furthermore, the application of this methodology will promote better communication between manufacturing and design engineers by giving them a common language, consisting of a software model and data. By gaining an understanding of process variation, the design and manufacturing team will be able to do four things: assess the process capability, determine if the part will function properly through tolerance analysis, assign critical dimensions, and set up a measurement scheme for quality control.
Insertion sequences associated with antibiotic resistance genes in Enterococcus isolates from an inpatient with prolonged bacteremia

Insertion sequences (ISs) and other transposable elements are associated with the mobilization of antibiotic resistance determinants and the modulation of pathogenic characteristics. In this work, we aimed to investigate the association between ISs and antibiotic resistance genes, and their role in dissemination and modification of antibiotic resistance phenotype. To that end, we leveraged fully resolved Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis genomes of isolates collected over four days from an inpatient with prolonged bacteremia. Isolates from both species harbored similar IS family content but showed significant species-dependent differences in copy number and arrangements of ISs throughout their replicons. Here, we describe two inter-specific IS-mediated recombination events, and IS-medicated excision events in plasmids of E. faecium isolates. We also characterize a novel arrangement of the IS in a Tn1546-like transposon in E. faecalis isolates likely implicated in a vancomycin genotype-phenotype discrepancy. Furthermore, an extended analysis revealed a novel association between daptomycin resistance mutations in liaSR genes and a putative composite transposon in E. faecium offering a new paradigm for the study of daptomycin-resistance and novel insights into the route of daptomycin resistance dissemination. In conclusion, our study highlights the role ISs and other transposable elements play in rapid adaptation and response to clinically relevant stresses such as aggressive antibiotic treatment in enterococci.
Oil Level Window Improvement of Capacitor Voltage Transformer

Capacitor voltage transformer is an important power equipment in substation, which is with great significance to the safe operation of substation. This paper summarizes and analyzes the common problems in the process of technical supervision of capacitor voltage transformer, and the oil level window of electromagnetic unit is improved to avoid the disadvantage of oil level inspection inconvenient of capacitor voltage transformer. Inclined angle between oil level window and electromagnetic unit is 60°. The oil level window is large, and the material with aging resistance and high transparency is selected. The problems existing in the oil level inspection of CVT electromagnetic unit are effectively solved and the safe and stable operation ability of equipment is enhanced by improving oil level window.
Topographic study of Alzheimer's neurofibrillary changes: A personal perspective

Argentophilic neurofibrillary tangles were described in the cerebral cortex of Alzheimer's disease and later in the pigmented neurons in the brain stem of postencephalitic parkinsonism. In 1961, wide distribution of Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles in the central nervous system was observed in endemic fatal neurodegenerative diseases affecting the native Chamorro population on Guam: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and parkinsonism-dementia complex on Guam. Abundant neurofibrillary tangles were found but no senile plaques. A topographic analysis of tangles in cases in Guam and at Montefiore were published in 1962. Thereafter, Alzheimer's neurofibrillary changes were documented in various areas of the nervous system of many other diseases. This communication is a brief review of the topographic investigation of Alzheimer's neurofibrillary changes. Occurrence of tangles in various conditions seems to indicate that various pathological agents can induce tangles. On the other hand, Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles, in general, show a rather striking predilection to affect particular neurons in the involved regions.
Technologies for extracting full value from the electronic patient record

Unstructured medical texts, such as the reports and narrative portions of electronic patient record, pose numerous problems in data communication, data base navigation, information retrieval, and records management. The computational complexity introduced by these problems stand in the way of physicians who wish to use these electronic modalities to effectively deliver care to their patients and access the knowledge sources that will keep their professional skills current. Three potentially complementary technologies have begun to demonstrate their promise for dealing with these problems. Markup Languages, Concept Spaces, and JAVA. Each requires investing a certain amount of preprocessing or pre-programming up front. We discuss these three technologies separately but with the partially tested understanding that each can support and leverage the other.
Directed evolution of a stable scaffold for T-cell receptor engineering

Here we have constructed a single-chain T-cell receptor (scTCR) scaffold with high stability and soluble expression efficiency by directed evolution and yeast surface display. We evolved scTCRs in parallel for either enhanced resistance to thermal denaturation at 46 degrees C, or improved intracellular processing at 37 degrees C, with essentially equivalent results. This indicates that the efficiency of the consecutive kinetic processes of membrane translocation, protein folding, quality control, and vesicular transport can be well predicted by the single thermodynamic parameter of thermal stability. Selected mutations were recombined to create an scTCR scaffold that was stable for over an hour at 65 degrees C, had solubility of over 4 mg ml(-1), and shake-flask expression levels of 7.5 mg l(-1), while retaining specific ligand binding to peptide-major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs) and bacterial superantigen. These properties are comparable to those for stable single-chain antibodies, but are markedly improved over existing scTCR constructs. Availability of this scaffold allows engineering of high-affinity soluble scTCRs as antigen-specific antagonists of cell-mediated immunity. Moreover, yeast displaying the scTCR formed specific conjugates with antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which could allow development of novel cell-to-cell selection strategies for evolving scTCRs with improved binding to various pMHC ligands in situ.
Ischemic preconditioning Nature's own cardioprotective intervention.

Abstract A brief exposure to ischemia paradoxically makes the heart better able to withstand a subsequent ischemic insult. This phenomenon has been termed ischemic preconditioning. Recent studies indicate that occupancy of A 1 -type adenosine receptors is the trigger for the preconditioning response, but the ultimate mechanism remains elusive. This review will examine what is known about ischemic preconditioning, including the scope and magnitude of the protection that is realized, its possible mechanism, and its clinical relevance.
Nutritional Supplements to Enhance Recovery

The ability to recover from intense exercise often separates good athletes from great ones. In the past, “recovery” often simply included rest, therapeutic modalities (e.g., cryotherapy, thermotherapy, massage, hydration therapy, stretching protocols, myofascial release), and meeting basic nutritional needs for fluid and energy replenishment. Today, athletes have a number of additional options to help them recover from high-intensity training, one of which includes the judicious use of dietary supplements. This chapter briefly reviews nutritional strategies that have a strong theoretical background for enhancing rehydration/electrolyte balance, replenishing energy reserves, minimizing oxidative damage, and stimulating muscle repair after training regiments are complete.
Clinical Applications of fMRI

The clinical scenario in which fMRI is requested by a referring physician is usually after detection of a lesion in the brain of a patient for whom surgical intervention is being contemplated. This unit discusses the suitable parameters of a functional MRI system and also presents the Basic Protocol for imaging language function.
Gut biogeography of the bacterial microbiota

Animals assemble and maintain a diverse but host-specific gut microbial community. In addition to characteristic microbial compositions along the longitudinal axis of the intestines, discrete bacterial communities form in microhabitats, such as the gut lumen, colonic mucus layers and colonic crypts. In this Review, we examine how the spatial distribution of symbiotic bacteria among physical niches in the gut affects the development and maintenance of a resilient microbial ecosystem. We consider novel hypotheses for how nutrient selection, immune activation and other mechanisms control the biogeography of bacteria in the gut, and we discuss the relevance of this spatial heterogeneity to health and disease.
Age-related changes in serum growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and somatostatin in system lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an age- and gender-associated autoimmune disorder. Previous studies suggested that defects in the hypothalamic/pituitary axis contributed to systemic lupus erythematosus disease progression which could also involve growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and somatostatin function. This study was designed to compare basal serum growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and somatostatin levels in female systemic lupus erythematosus patients to a group of normal female subjects. Basal serum growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and somatostatin levels were measured by standard radioimmunoassay. Serum growth hormone levels failed to correlate with age (r2 = 3.03) in the entire group of normal subjects (i.e. 20 – 80 years). In contrast, serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels were inversely correlated with age (adjusted r2 = 0.092). Of note, serum growth hormone was positively correlated with age (adjusted r2 = 0.269) in the 20 – 46 year range which overlapped with the age range of patients in the systemic lupus erythematosus group. In that regard, serum growth hormone levels were not significantly higher compared to either the entire group of normal subjects (20 – 80 yrs) or to normal subjects age-matched to the systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels were significantly elevated (p 55 yrs) systemic lupus erythematosus patients. These results indicated that systemic lupus erythematosus was not characterized by a modulation of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 paracrine axis when serum samples from systemic lupus erythematosus patients were compared to age- matched normal female subjects. These results in systemic lupus erythematosus differ from those previously reported in other musculoskeletal disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and hypermobility syndrome where significantly higher serum growth hormone levels were found. Somatostatin levels in elderly systemic lupus erythematosus patients may provide a clinical marker of disease activity in these patients.
Intervention and Persistence in Small Populations of Bighorn Sheep

Of the many ways conservation biologists assist land managers and decision makers, one is the identification of demographic markers, wliich enables intervention prior to the point of population loss. For example, when blackfooted ferret (Mustela nigripes) and California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) populations dropped below 20, all remaining individuals were captured and brought into captivity for propagation. Nevertheless, the use of single demographic parameters to predict extinction may be risky because real populations often are complex. Because knowledge of noncaptive populations will almost always be imperfect, it makes sense to identify features that reflect reality and permit generalization. The application of island biogeographic theory to conservation offers a good example: as suitable habitat is diminished, populations become reduced and often suffer local extinctions (Pimm et al. 1988; Wauters et al. 1994). In my paper on the persistence of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) populations (Berger 1990), I reported a relationship between population size and extinction. Wehausen (1999), using a subset of my data and enhancing it with additional h-istorical records from California, claims to have found multiple flaws in my paper. He argues that my model "may serve conservation poorly through misdirected efforts if it is used as the basis for setting policies or taking conservation actions" and that it is "an artifact of the limited data set available" to me. Wehausen's reanalysis is important. It reinforces some components of nmy results and it brings others into question. He and I are in substantial agreement that small populations experienced extinctions more rapidly than larger populations. Our results differ with respect to trajectories: his are less steep than those I reported. Although Wehausen's data set offers greater breadth, several of his stated arguments are fragile because he (1) uses data that underestimate the
Metallographic Examination of Ceramic‐Metal Seals

The making of taper sections of ceramic-to-metal seals is described. Their usefulness is illustrated by applications to (1) research into adherence mechanisms and (2) production trouble shooting. The laboriousness and pitfalls in taper-section preparation and interpretation are stressed. In spite of them the technique has been the most productive approach to understanding and controlling the seal art.
Histochemistry of hidradenoma and eccrine spiradenoma.

INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS Sweat gland tumors are usually described by terms implying their origin or pattern of differentiation. Unna (1) described syringadeno-mata (sweat duct) and spiradenomata (sweat coil) forms. Hidradenoma can refer to syringoma as in the term “hidradenoma eruptif (2),” to sweat gland adenoma (3), and to all sweat gland tumors including both duct and coil types (4) and including a series of isolated, solid, or cystic dermal tumors with glandular differentiation (5). Lund (5) included eecrine spiradenoma of Kersting and Helwig (6) in his concept of hidradenoma. We agree with Kersting and Helwig that there is a distinctive large-cell sweat gland tumor which we call a solid and cystic hidradenoma. It is equivalent to the clear-cell myoepithelioma but may not have clear cells.
Directional saturated hydraulic conductivity and macropore morphology of a soil-saprolite sequence☆

Abstract The soils in the Piedmont and Mountain regions of the southeastern United States are characterized by the presence of saprolite at or near the soil surface. This study was conducted to describe the macropore network of a representative soil-saprolite sequence and to relate the directional saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil profile to water flow through macropores. Large observation pits were constructed at three geomorphic positions (ridge top, shoulder and ridge nose). Soil-saprolite macropores and their morphology were described in the field. Triplicate intact soil cores were collected in five orientations: one vertical, two horizontals (perpendicular to one another) and two diagonals (perpendicular to one another) from the Bt, B/C and C (massive saprolite) horizons at each of the geomorphic positions. The saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ka) of each intact core sample was determined in the laboratory. In situ Ka of each horizon was also determined near the three observation pits. Mean Ka values for the five orientations, three horizons and three geomorphic positions ranged from 8.20×10−8 m s−1 to 2.75×10−6 m s−1. Mean in situ Ka values ranged from 7.50×10−8 m s−1 to 2.66×10−6 m s−1. The results indicated that no significant differences existed among the Ka values in different orientations for each horizon-landscape combination, with no exceptionally high conductivity value. The in situ Ka results generally agree with the results for the core samples.
Long-Term Implications of Welfare Reform for the Development of Adolescents and Young Adults.

We draw upon the 3-wave longitudinal dataset called Welfare Children and Families: A Three-City Study to examine the long-term implications for adolescents and young adults (N = 783) of mothers' welfare receipt and labor force participation from 1999 to 2005. In general, changes in mothers' work and welfare patterns were not associated with deterioration or improvement in youth development (ages 16 to 20 years at Wave 3). The few significant associations suggested that youth whose mothers increased employment (net of welfare participation) were less likely to show increases in serious behavior problems and delinquency compared to youth whose mothers were unemployed or employed part-time during the study period. Welfare roll exits (controlling for employment experiences) were unrelated to adolescent and young adult outcomes. Mothers' employment transitions were linked to improvements in household income and mothers' self esteem in addition to reductions in financial strain and their own illegal activities. However, these associations did not explain the relation between maternal employment and youths' improved behavior. These results do not support the predictions of either the supporters or the opponents of welfare reform, an outcome we discuss.
SENSITIVITY TO X RAYS AND ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT OF INTRACELLULAR PHAGE $alpha$

Abstract the sensitivity of α-infected cells to X-rays and UV radiation has been studied. Immediately after infection the sensitivity to X-rays is the same as that of the free phage and the appearance of an oxygen effect shows that the DNA is injected and that therefore it is the DNA which is responsible for the abnormal X-ray sensitivity. The slope of the UV survival curves of early complexes is also equal to that of the free phage. During the eclipse period the UV sensitivity of the infected cells does not change while the X-ray sensitivity decreases progressively so that at 20 minutes after infection the complexes are about 40 times more resistant than free phage. Toward the end of the eclipse period the oxygen effect disappears. Possible interpretations of the results are discussed.
Growth Hormone and Testosterone: Anabolic Effects on Muscle

Background: The loss of skeletal muscle mass that occurs with aging, chronic disease or acute injury is clinically important in the health of humans. The mechanisms relating to the synthesis and breakdown of skeletal muscle are now being intensely investigated. Current studies and possible mechanisms for skeletal muscle protein synthesis and degradation will be reviewed with a specific focus on growth hormone and testosterone. Conclusions:Investigation of the mechanisms of action of growth hormone and testosterone in skeletal muscle will likely lead to new therapies to prevent skeletal muscle loss and new awareness of the importance of skeletal muscle in health and disease.
Effects of Graphic Organizer Instruction on Fifth-Grade Students

Abstract This study was undertaken to examine two fundamental questions related to the use of graphic organizer instruction with fifth-grade, normal-achieving students: (a) Does graphic organizer instruction facilitate comprehension, recall, and transfer of information contained in an expository textbook? and (b) To what degree is explicit instruction necessary for independent generation and use of graphic organizers by students? In four experimental conditions, participants read social studies information with or without the graphic organizer. The conditions were further separated by the presence or absence of explicit instruction. Participants in the control condition received traditional basal instruction, as prescribed by the teacher's manual of the district-adopted textbook. Participants in all groups performed comparably on acquisition and retention measures. However, when required to read and recall novel social studies content, participants receiving the graphic organizer and explicit instruction ...
γ-Aminobutyric acid mimetic drugs differentially inhibit the dopaminergic response to cocaine

Abstract Dopaminergic activity in the mesocorticolimbic system is associated with reinforcing properties of psychostimulant drugs. We previously demonstrated that increased γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic activity produced by γ-vinyl GABA [ d , l -4-amino-hex-5-enoic acid (Vigabatrin®)], an irreversible inhibitor of GABA-transaminase, attenuated cocaine, nicotine, heroin, alcohol, and methamphetamine-induced increases in extracellular nucleus accumbens dopamine as well as behaviors associated with these biochemical changes. In the present study, using in vivo microdialysis techniques, we compared three different strategies to increase GABAergic activity in order to modulate cocaine-induced increase in extracellular dopamine. Our data demonstrate that the anticonvulsant 1-(2-(((diphenylmethylene)amino)oxy)ethyl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid hydrochloride (NNC-711), a GABA uptake inhibitor, dose and time dependently diminished increases in extracellular dopamine following acute cocaine challenge. Furthermore, we demonstrated that cyclized analogue of vigabatrin, a competitive reversible GABA-transaminase inhibitor, is a more potent inhibitor of cocaine-induced dopamine increase than vigabatrin. Our data suggest that in addition to irreversible inhibition of GABA transaminase, inhibition of GABA uptake represent another potentially effective, indirect strategy for the treatment of cocaine abuse.
Rational speculative bubbles in the gold futures market: An application of dynamic factor analysis

The existence of speculative bubbles in financial markets has been a longstanding issue under debate. Many financial economists believe that, given the assumption of rational expectations and rational behavior of economic agents, an asset should be priced according to its “market fundamentals.” Others argue that self-fulfilling rumors of market participants can influence asset prices as well. These self-fulfilling rumors are initiated by events extraneous to markets and are often called bubbles. The rationality of both expectations and behavior often does not imply that the price of an asset be equal to its fundamental value. In other words, there can be rational deviations of the price from this value—rational bubbles. A rational bubble can arise when the actual market price depends positively on its own expected rate of change, as normally occurs in asset markets. Since agents forming rational expectations do not make systematic prediction errors, the positive relationship between price and its expected rate of change implies a similar relationship between price and its actual rate of change. Under such conditions, the arbitrary, self-fulfilling expectation of price changes may drive actual price changes independently of market fundamentals; we refer to such a situation as a rational price bubble.1 © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 21:79–108, 2001