cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Achieving faster access to satellite link bandwidth

TCP with Van Jacobson congestion control (VJCC) is known to have poor performance over large bandwidth-delay product paths. Long delay paths, in particular, can display very poor behavior with VJCC slowly probing to acquire available capacity. TCP performance enhancing proxies (PEPs) constitute one mechanism for ameliorating poor VJCC end-to-end performance by splitting TCP connections around a long-delay link or network, and using alternate congestion control dynamics across the troublesome portion. Previous congestion control techniques for use over satellite links have typically constituted either tweaks to the Van Jacobson algorithms, Vegas-style congestion control or disabling congestion control altogether in favor of a manual send-rate. This paper analyzes results from measurements of a new congestion control mechanism, the explicit Control protocol or XCP, between PEPs with a simulated geosynchronous satellite link in the path. We show that connections using an XCP PEP acquire their share of expensive satellite bandwidth up to 70 times faster than end-to-end TCP with VJCC.
Laughter: A Stereotyped Human Vocalization

Laughter is a common, species-typical human vocal act and auditory signal that is important in social discourse. In this first quantitative description of laughter, we identified stereotyped features of laugh-note structure, note duration (x = 75 ms), internote interval (x = 210–218 ms), and a decrescendo that contribute to laughter's characteristic sound. Laugh-notes and internote intervals have sufficient temporal symmetry and regularity to pass the reversal test; recordings of laughter sound laugh-like when played in reverse. The stereotypic, species-typical character of laughter facilitates the analysis of the neurobehavioral mechanisms of laugh detection and generation and the more general problems associated with the production, perception, and evolution of human auditory signals of which speech is a special case.
Reproducibility of rest and exercise stress contrast-enhanced calf perfusion magnetic resonance imaging in peripheral arterial disease

Background The purpose was to determine the reproducibility and utility of rest, exercise, and perfusion reserve (PR) measures by contrast-enhanced (CE) calf perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the calf in normal subjects (NL) and patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
The influence of the 9.6 micron ozone band on the atmospheric infra-red cooling rate

The upward and downward radiation flux and the heating and cooling rate in the atmosphere have been determined for the 9.6 μ band of ozone from the absorption measurements of Summerfield. Three different ozone distribution curves as well as three different temperature-height curves have been used for these calculations. The radiations that interact with the 9.6 μ ozone band always act to cool the atmosphere from the earth's surface to a height of several kilometres and to heat the region from there to approximately 20 km. The heating or cooling rate is never larger than a few tenths of a degree Celsius per day in this region. On the other hand, from 35 to 60 km the usual order of magnitude of the cooling is 2 to 3°C/day, but the cooling rate can be considerably larger if the upper layers have a higher temperature than normal. An increase in the ozone amount at the lower altitudes may cause the surface temperature of the earth to rise several degrees Celsius in order to restore infra-red equilibrium, if no other factors change that produce an effect upon the heat balance. The pressure broadening and overlapping of the spectral lines have been taken into account in these calculations together with all other physical phenomena that are known to be of importance to the problem. An estimate is given for the accuracy of the results.
Capacitance methods in head-disk interface studies

Three new applications for precise capacitance measurements between sliders and disks are discussed. The slider-disk capacitance is shown to be a nondestructive measurement of stiction forces. The capacitance-stripe technique is discussed as a way to measure fly-height, pitch, and crown of sliders. A new implementation of the capacitance microscope is introduced which uses a special slider to profile a hard disk spinning at up to 20 m/s with 20- mu m lateral resolution and 1-nm vertical resolution. Emphasis is placed on the capacitance microscope, whose chief advantage over conventional profilometry is that it allows continuous observation of a disk under a flying interface in situ. Results from a reliability test are presented to illustrate application of the capacitance microscope. Correlation between magnetic signal loss and physical damage that occurs during this reliability test provides further insight into disk failure. >
Synthesis of several O -glycopeptide analogs of enkephalin

Work within the Polt laboratory has focussed on the exploration and exploitation of carbohydrate moieties in the design and synthesis of opiate glycopeptides. These glycopeptides have been synthesized based on the pharmacophore D-Cys -enkephalin (DCDCE) [1]. A -D-glucose-containing analog of DCDCE, LSZ-1025, displayed potent analgesia when administered peripherally [2,3]. In an effort to understand the role of the amino acid glycoside in both penetration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and opiate receptor binding and stimulation, a series of glycopeptides were synthesized. This work reflects the optimized synthesis of several enkephalin glycopeptides, represented by several structural modifications. Incorporation of D-amino acid glucosides to test the environment of the amino acid-glycoside linkage, variance of the glycan moiety on serine to verify the impact of different sugars, and implementation of several different pharmacophores, such as in SAM-1095 where a linear pharmacophore [4] was used, highlight our design rationale. The impact of these changes was assessed after detailed pharmacological testing.
Designing patterns for profile HMM search

Motivation: Profile HMMs are a powerful tool for modeling conserved motifs in proteins. These models are widely used by search tools to classify new protein sequences into families based on domain architecture. However, the proliferation of known motifs and new proteomic sequence data poses a computational challenge for search, requiring days of CPU time to annotate an organism's proteome. Results: We use PROSITE-like patterns as a filter to speed up the comparison between protein sequence and profile HMM. A set of patterns is designed starting from the HMM, and only sequences matching one of these patterns are compared to the HMM by full dynamic programming. We give an algorithm to design patterns with maximal sensitivity subject to a bound on the false positive rate. Experiments show that our patterns typically retain at least 90% of the sensitivity of the source HMM while accelerating search by an order of magnitude. Availability: Contact the first author at the address below. Contact: yanni@cse.wustl.edu
Boundary integral equations for 2D elasticity and its application in discrete dislocation dynamics simulation in finite body: 1. General theory

Abstract A unified approach, originating from Cauchy integral theorem, is presented to derive boundary integral equations for two dimensional elasticity problems. Several sets of boundary integral equations are derived and their relations are revealed. Explicit expressions for materials with different symmetry planes are listed. Special attention is given to the formulation that is based on the tractions and the tangential derivatives of displacements along solid boundary, since its integral kernels have the weakest singularities. The formulation is further extended to include singular points, such as dislocations and line forces, in a finite body, so that the singular stress field can be directly obtained from solving the integral equations on the external boundary, without involving the linear superposition technique that was often used in the literature. Its application in simulating discrete dislocation motion in a finite solid body is discussed.
Automated classification of non-functional requirements

This paper describes a technique for automating the detection and classification of non-functional requirements related to properties such as security, performance, and usability. Early detection of non-functional requirements enables them to be incorporated into the initial architectural design instead of being refactored in at a later date. The approach is used to detect and classify stakeholders’ quality concerns across requirements specifications containing scattered and non-categorized requirements, and also across freeform documents such as meeting minutes, interview notes, and memos. This paper first describes the classification algorithm and then evaluates its effectiveness through reporting a series of experiments based on 30 requirements specifications developed as term projects by MS students at DePaul University. A new and iterative approach is then introduced for training or retraining a classifier to detect and classify non-functional requirements (NFR) in datasets dissimilar to the initial training sets. This approach is evaluated against a large free-form requirements document obtained from Siemens Logistics and Automotive Organization. Although to the NFR classifier is unable to detect all of the NFRs, it is useful for supporting an analyst in the error-prone task of manually discovering NFRs, and furthermore can be used to quickly analyse large and complex documents in order to search for NFRs.
Effect of Cloprostenol Administration on Interval to Subsequent Ovulation and Anovulatory Follicle Formation in Quarter Horse Mares

Abstract Prostaglandin F2α (PGF) treatment is routinely used in the reproductive management of mares to induce luteolysis and allow a subsequent return to estrus. The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the effect of follicle size at the time of administration of cloprostenol on interval to subsequent ovulation. A secondary objective was to determine the incidence of hemorrhagic anovulatory follicle (HAF) formation after PGF administration. Reproductive records of 275 mares monitored over a total of 520 estrous cycles were evaluated. All mares received a single intramuscular dose of 250 μg of the synthetic PGF analog cloprostenol sodium between days 5 and 12 after ovulation. The average interval from PGF to ovulation was 8.4 ± 2.5 days. The interval from PGF administration to subsequent ovulation was inversely proportional to the diameter of the largest follicle at the time of treatment. Administration of cloprostenol to mares with a large (≥35 mm in diameter) diestrous follicle resulted in one of three outcomes—ovulation within 48 hours (13.4%) with variable uterine edema, ovulation after 48 hours usually accompanied by the presence of uterine edema (73.1%), or regression without ovulation followed by emergence and eventual ovulation of a new dominant follicle (13.4%). There was no effect of mare age or season on interval from PGF to ovulation. The overall incidence of HAF development after PGF administration in this study was low (2.5%).
Interstrain Variation in Amylase Gene Copy Number and mRNA Abundance in Three Mouse Tissues

Amylase expression in strain YBR differs in several respects from the standard mouse phenotype. The synthesis of salivary amylase is elevated twofold in YBR mice and the synthesis of pancreatic amylase is reduced to one-half the normal rate. We have compared the concentrations of amylase mRNA in the parotid, liver and pancreas of YBR mice with those in strains A/J and C3H. We observed differences in amylase mRNA abundance which can account for the levels of amylase protein synthesis in the parotid and pancreas of these strains. Unexpectedly, the concentration of amylase mRNA in the liver of YBR mice was also higher than in the other strains. Since liver amylase is transcribed from the same gene as parotid amylase, duplication of the Amy-1 locus could account for the elevated mRNA concentration in both tissues. Quantitative analysis of genomic DNA by Southern blotting provided direct evidence for duplication of Amy-1 in strain YBR.
Just Words: Law, Language, and Power

Just Words: Law, Language, and Power. John M. Conley and William M. O'Barr. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1998. 168 pp.
Backward adaptive prediction as spectral analysis within a closed loop

Backward adaptive prediction in differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) systems is represented as a problem of spectral analysis within a closed loop. Using this spectral analysis approach, the backward adaptive all-pole predictor in classic DPCM is shown to perform well, given good initial conditions and a slowly varying DPCM system input. However, when it loses track, the all-pole predictor is shown to have a tendency to track itself rather than changes in the input signal transfer function. The use of a pole-zero predictor improves the situation since the backward adaptation of the zeros is clearly dependent upon the input signal transfer function and thus should respond to changes or nonstationarities in the DPCM system input. The backward adaptation of the poles in the pole-zero predictor is able to track changes in the system input through variations in the predictor zeros. The results provide additional motivation for including zeros in backward adaptive predictors for DPCM.
Beyond the initial indicators: lessons from the OECD Health Care Quality Indicators Project and the US National Healthcare Quality Report

Interest in comparative quality measurement and evaluation has grown considerably over the past two decades because of factors such as the recognition of widespread variation in clinical practice, the increased availability of evidence about medical effectiveness, and increasing concern about the cost and quality of health care. This article describes and contrasts two current efforts to develop health performance reporting systems: one, an international initiative—the Health Care Quality Indicator (HCQI) Project, sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); and the other, a national project—the National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR), sponsored by the US Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research. There are a number of lessons learned from a comparison of the two efforts that are relevant for the future of each project and for other indicator-based reporting efforts in quality of health care. These lessons are discussed in the article and include: 1. Conceptual frameworks should be established to guide the selection of indicators. 2. Choices should be made early on in the process to focus on a wide range of clinical conditions or to report on a few priority areas. 3. Methods should be developed to add and subtract indicators while maintaining a stable set of indicators to track over time. 4. Resources should be allocated to communication strategies and how best to present data results to diverse audiences. 5. Mechanisms should be put in place to maintain project momentum.
The Knowledge Economy

We define the knowledge economy as production and services based on knowledge-intensive activities that contribute to an accelerated pace of technical and scientific advance, as well as rapid obsolescence. The key component of a knowledge economy is a greater reliance on intellectual capabilities than on physical inputs or natural resources. We provide evidence drawn from patent data to document an upsurge in knowledge production and show that this expansion is driven by the emergence of new industries. We then review the contentious literature that assesses whether recent technological advances have raised productivity. We examine the debate over whether new forms of work that embody technological change have generated more worker autonomy or greater managerial control. Finally, we assess the distributional consequences of a knowledge-based economy with respect to growing inequality in wages and high-quality jobs.
The Strike in a Laissez‐Faire Society

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES, organized labor in the United States has more and more come to reject the voluntaristic approach epitomized (although not consistently) by Samuel Gompers, chiefly because of the conviction that the cards are stacked against the union in an economic melieu not ordered by the State. Despite the demand for free collective bargaining, little faith in its efficacy has been displayed. Instead, labor has increasingly mobilized politically to bring about positive legislation regarded as favorable to its interests. Apologists for this phenomenon cite numerous historical examples to justify their argument that labor was hopelessly outmatched so long as it confined itself to purely economic techniques to gain its ends. The failure of most important American strikes in the years prior to the passage of the Wagner Act would seem, superficially, to validate this contention. Yet what is often overlooked is the fact that these strikes did not occur in a
QseBC, a two-component bacterial adrenergic receptor and global regulator of virulence in Enterobacteriaceae and Pasteurellaceae.

The QseBC two-component system (TCS) is associated with quorum sensing and functions as a global regulator of virulence. Based on sequence similarity within the sensor domain and conservation of an acidic motif essential for signal recognition, QseBC is primarily distributed in the Enterobacteriaceae and Pasteurellaceae. In Escherichia coli, QseC responds to autoinducer-3 and/or epinephrine/norepinephrine. Binding of epinephrine/norepinephrine is inhibited by adrenergic antagonists; hence QseC functions as a bacterial adrenergic receptor. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans QseC is activated by a combination of epinephrine/norepinephrine and iron, whereas only iron activates the Haemophilus influenzae sensor. QseC phosphorylates QseB but there is growing evidence that QseB is activated by non-cognate sensors and regulated by dephosphorylation via QseC. Interestingly, the QseBC signaling cascades and regulons differ significantly. In enterohemorrhagic E. coli, QseC induces expression of a second adrenergic TCS and phosphorylates two non-cognate response regulators, each of which induces specific sets of virulence genes. This signaling pathway integrates with other regulatory mechanisms mediated by transcriptional regulators QseA and QseD and a fucose-sensing TCS and likely controls the level and timing of virulence gene expression. In contrast, A. actinomycetemcomitans QseC signals through QseB to regulate genes involved in anaerobic metabolism and energy production, which may prime cellular metabolism for growth in an anaerobic host niche. QseC represents a novel target for therapeutic intervention and small molecule inhibitors already show promise as broad-spectrum antimicrobials. Further characterization of QseBC signaling may identify additional differences in QseBC function and inform further development of new therapeutics to control microbial infections.
Peer punishment across payoff equivalent public good and common pool resource experiments

This paper investigates the effectiveness of peer punishment in non-linear social dilemmas and replicates Cason and Gangadharan (Exp Econ 18:66–88, 2015). The contribution of this replication is that cooperation is quantified across payoff equivalent, strategically symmetric public good and common pool resource experiments. Results suggest that the cooperation-inducing effect of peer punishment is statistically equivalent across conditions. Despite this increase in cooperation, earnings are significantly lower than in the absence of punishment. Institutional features which improve the effectiveness of peer punishment in linear public good experiments may, similarly, make self-governance possible in more complex social dilemmas.
Rayleigh-Bénard Turbulent Convection

Rayleigh-Benard convection is the flow of a fluid enclosed in a cell with bottom and top boundaries kept at fixed temperatures, the bottom being warmer than the top. Since the fluid in the vicinity of the bottom plate is warmer and therefore less dense than fluid in the upper part of the cell, an unstable layering ensues. Laboratory studies of convection have been chiefly confined to situations in which the “Boussinesq approximation” is justified. This is an approximation to the full equations of motion, which retains the temperature dependence of the density only in the buoyancy term and considers all other material properties to be uniform throughout the cell.
Analogical Reasoning and Problem Solving in Science Textbooks

People’s frequent use of analogies to explain everyday phenomena underscores their potential value as instructional tools. Such expressions as “Let me give you an analogy ...,” “It’s just like ...,” “It’s the same as ...,” “It’s no different than ...,” “Think of it this way ...,” are commonplace in casual conversation.
Sovereign debt default: Are countries trapped by their own default history?

Why are sovereign debt defaults so persistent in some EMEs, even at relatively low levels of external debt? The empirical literature has argued that the country?s record of defaults is the main determinant of the future default risk. However, there are two factors generating the effect from history on the probability of default: state dependence and unobserved heterogeneity. Is a country more likely to default because it has experienced a default in the past (state dependence) or does the country have some previous speci?c characteristics that make it more prone to default (unobserved heterogeneity)? Results indicate that state dependence effects are large. Nevertheless, this paper presents evidence indicating that the omission of unobserved heterogeneity -which accounts for both unobserved and observed time invariant characteristics- has drastic consequences when assessing countries?risk of default. When unobserved het- erogeneity is accounted for there are countries with high risk of default even if negligible levels of debt are assigned to them. Conversely, other countries show a low probability of default even with assigned levels of indebtedness higher than those observed in the sample. Finally, this paper presents evidence suggesting that unobserved heterogeneity could be associated to a set of different historical, political, and cultural factors that have deeply and persistently shaped institutions.
Altered expression of the alpha7beta1 integrin in human and murine muscular dystrophies

The alpha7beta1 integrin is the primary laminin receptor on skeletal myoblasts and adult myofibers. It has distinct functions during muscle development and contributes to muscle structural integrity. We have studied this integrin in cases where expression of dystrophin or laminin are compromised. Immunofluorescence demonstrates an increase in alpha7beta1 in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and in mdx mice that lack dystrophin. Analysis of RNA from mdx mice and from patients with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies indicates that the increase in the alpha7beta1 integrin is regulated at the level of alpha7 gene transcription. In contrast, the levels of alpha7beta1 integrin are severely diminished in patients with laminin alpha2 chain congenital dystrophy muscular dystrophy and in dy/dy mice that also do not make the alpha2 laminin chain. Analysis of RNA from the hindlimbs of dy/dy mice demonstrated that in the absence of laminin alpha7 gene transcription is inhibited and limited to specific alternatively spliced isoforms. We suggest that the increased expression of alpha7beta1 integrin in the absence of dystrophin compensates for the reduced dystrophin-mediated linkage of fibers with the basal lamina and modulates the development of pathology associated with these diseases. The decrease in alpha7beta1 integrin and its transcripts in the absence of laminin likely contributes to the severe myopathy that results from laminin alpha2 chain deficiency and suggests that laminin-2 regulates expression of the alpha7 integrin gene. The role of the alpha7beta1 integrin in muscle integrity also suggests that compromised expression of this receptor may underlie as yet undefined myopathies.
A View from the Women's Side

Jon Wiener's article deals, from the perspective of radical historians, with the response of the profession of history to challenges to its basic conceptual framework and its mode of operation. I would like to discuss the subject from the point of view of women's history scholarship and of those struggling for equal status for women in the profession. The problem women historians faced in regard to the profession in 1969, when we first began to organize, was quite different structurally than that facing radical historians. While radical historians may have represented a numerically smaller group in the profession than women, they were mostly male and therefore had equal access with their more conservative colleagues to graduate training and professional networks. Women, like members of minority groups, were severely restricted in access to training, in financial support, in professional networking, and in their participation in the professional organizations. The most prestigious institutions had unofficial quotas on admitting women, which had been broken only during World War II, when the absence of male students threatened graduate departments' survival. Whether formally or informally institutionalized, discrimination against women historians was obvious in the end result -the marginal position they held in professional employment. (See table 1.) While in 1969 women represented 10.4 percent of the Ph.D. degrees awarded, they were so marginally represented in professional activities and conventions as to be virtually excluded. While radical history itself had a recognized history and an international dimension, women's history as a field and a content was unrecognized and even the handful of its practitioners were unaware of its history and of its existence in other parts of the world. On the other hand, radical history was a chosen viewpoint, based on philosophical, social, and political commitments, whose practitioners saw themselves as a minority of outsiders challenging the majority insiders. It was different for women historians in the early years: we were always aware of the strength of our numbers. We represented half of the population, nearly half, and later more than half, of the student population. Thus, our sense of entitlement to equality and to insider status was strong and translated readily into a different politics than that of radical historians. Yet in the advocacy of women's history we faced more severe obstacles
Post-1980 Regional Migration Patterns of the U.S. Elderly Population

We investigated how three aspects of the U.S. elderly population's residential relocation behaviors have changed over the past three decades (1955-60, 1965-70, 1975-80, 1980-85): their rates of overall mobility, interstate, interregional, and intracounty moves; their interregional origin-destination migration streams; and their regional net migration patterns. Data were obtained from published reports of the 1960, 1970, and 1980 U.S. Decennial Censuses and the 1985 U.S. Current Population Survey. Overall mobility rates consistently declined in all regions and periods, while interstate and interregional migration rates increased through 1980. In the period 1980-85 there were decreased numbers and rates of elderly out-migrants from the Midwest and Northeast, resulting in unprecedented declines in the net migration gains of older persons in the South. The likely persistence of these trends in the future and their explanation are discussed.
Comparison of resistance performance for several 1000 t high performance ships

The modifying Noblesse's new slender ship theory was applied to calculate the wave resistance of conventional ship,deep-V ship,wave-piercing catamaran and trimaran so as to analyze their resistance characteristics,and the elementary wave steepness was considered.Test results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.The wave resistance and total resistance of above 1000 t ships were calculated,and resistance performance and scope of application of sailing speed for the ships are given.
Abstract A62: Chemoresistance through the intratumoral metabolism of dichloroacetate

Dichloroacetate (DCA), a small molecule commonly used to treat metabolic disorders, is under investigation as an anti-cancer therapy due to its ability to reverse the Warburg effect and induce apoptosis. While DCA9s mechanism of action is well-studied, other factors that influence its success as a cancer treatment have not been thoroughly studied. Here we present data showing that expression of glutathione transferase zeta 1 (GSTZ1), the enzyme responsible for the metabolism of DCA, is often misregulated in cancer, resulting in expression in tissues where there generally is none and a lack of expression in sites that have a high level of basal expression. Expression of GSTZ1 in a tumor would be expected to reduce intratumoral DCA concentrations. As we see a disconnect between GSTZ1 mRNA and protein expression in these tumors, control of expression is likely through miRNA. We also report that chloride concentrations, which strongly impact the stability of GSTZ1 in the presence of DCA, may be abnormal in tumors, further influencing DCA metabolism, concentration, and treatment success. Both two- and three-dimensional cell culture of cells expressing or not expressing GSTZ1 provide a proof of principle that GSTZ1 expression confers a level of resistance to DCA. These results have important clinical implications as GSTZ1 expression and chloride concentration could be used as markers to predict outcomes of DCA anticancer therapy. Citation Format: Stephan C. Jahn, Mohamed H. Solaymen, Ryan J. Lorenzo, Taimour Langaee, Peter W. Stacpoole, Margaret O. James. Chemoresistance through the intratumoral metabolism of dichloroacetate. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Metabolism and Cancer; Jun 7-10, 2015; Bellevue, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2016;14(1_Suppl):Abstract nr A62.
Birth Tourism and Neonatal Intensive Care: A Children's Hospital Experience.

Objective The aim of this article is to examine characteristics of birth tourism (BT) neonates admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods This was a retrospective review over 3 years; BT cases were identified, and relevant perinatal, medical, social, and financial data were collected and compared with 100 randomly selected non-birth tourism neonates. Results A total of 46 BT neonates were identified. They were more likely to be born to older women (34 vs. 29 years; p < 0.001), via cesarean delivery (72 vs. 48%; p = 0.007), and at a referral facility (80 vs. 32%; p < 0.001). BT group had longer hospital stay (15 vs. 7 days; p = 0.02), more surgical intervention (50 vs. 21%; p < 0.001), and higher hospital charges (median $287,501 vs. $103,105; p = 0.003). One-third of BT neonates were enrolled in public health insurance program and four BT neonates (10%) were placed for adoption. Conclusion Families of BT neonates admitted to the NICU face significant challenges. Larger studies are needed to better define impacts on families, health care system, and society.
Basis for late rise in fura 2 R signal reporting [Ca2+]i during relaxation in intact rat ventricular trabeculae

Intact rat ventricular trabeculae were injected with the salt form of fura 2, and the fura 2 ratio signal (R) was used to report intracellular Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ). The fixed end relaxation phase of a twitch is associated with a slowing of the decay of the R signal, or even a reversal, to form a distinct bump, indicating a transient rise in [Ca 2+ ] i . The bump is most prominent at 30°C, and motion artifact is not its cause. Increasing doses of 2,3-butanedione monoxime caused progressive attenuation of the twitch and bump. Increasing the bathing Ca 2+ concentration potentiated the twitch and enhanced the bump. Imposed muscle shortening during relaxation caused a much quicker force decline, and this led to the appearance of a much more prominent associated bump. The amplitude of the bump depends on the amplitude of twitch force and the rate of relaxation. These findings can be explained, as in skeletal muscle, by making cross-bridge attachment and Ca 2+ binding to troponin C strongly cooperative; therefore, the bump during fast relaxation is produced by a reversal of this cooperativity, leading to rapid dissociation of Ca 2+ from troponin C into the myoplasm.
Dr. Rosenbaum Responds.

Thank you, editors at the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, for the opportunity to address some of the numerous misrepresentations and misguided criticisms levied by Kevin Sabet and his protege, Theod...
Dendritic Central-Place Systems and the Regional Organization of Navajo Trading Posts

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses dendritic central-place systems and the regional organization of Navajo trading posts. Since 1940, there have been three changes in the pre-1940 economic picture of Navajo regional economy. One of these changes has occurred in the wholesaling sphere, that is, bulking of wool and livestock has become a relatively minor economic function and is no longer mediated exclusively by border town firms. The second major change has come about in the sphere of Navajo income, that is, wool and livestock have become a minor source of income, out-weighed by wages, and public assistance. Because most families have regular cash incomes rather than the seasonal income of the old stock-based economy, they are not nearly so dependent on the traders for credit. Because trading posts are small-scale enterprises, their prices are higher than prices in the large border-town retailing establishments. This price difference, together with the comparative freedom from credit dependence, induces hinterland people to shop in the border towns. The third major change is that a true hierarchy of retailing functions is developing in the region. Increased consumer ranges and the greater volume of cash sales, as opposed to credit sales, have caused this development.
Secure and privacy-preserving querying of content in MANETs

Ensuring security and privacy of content in a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) is a challenging problem, especially when that content is distributed over the network using some form of peer-to-peer dissemination scheme. Since cooperation among nodes is vital in MANETs, the capture or compromise of a single node not only exposes locally cached content, but also allows an adversary to interrogate the network with the authority of an insider, acquiring important information such as content access patterns, popularity and location. Previous work in MANETs has predominantly focused on providing solutions for security and anonymity of routing protocols, confidentiality, and key management. In this paper, we present protocols that provide the ability to securely and privately locate content for two common peer-to-peer dissemination operations: publish/subscribe (content PUSH), and direct query (content PULL).
This is My Body: Communion and Cannibalism in Colonial New England and New France

Abstract Analyzing the material culture of English, French, and Native communion ceremonies, and debates over communion and cannibalism, this article argues that peoples in the borderlands between colonial New England and New France refused to recognize their cultural similarities, a cross-cultural failure of communication with violent consequences.
pH-Triggered, Macromolecule-Sized Poration of Lipid Bilayers by Synthetically Evolved Peptides.

pH-triggered membrane-permeabilizing peptides could be exploited in a variety of applications, such as to enable cargo release from endosomes for cellular delivery, or as cancer therapeutics that selectively permeabilize the plasma membranes of malignant cells. Such peptides would be especially useful if they could enable the movement of macromolecules across membranes, a rare property in membrane-permeabilizing peptides. Here we approach this goal by using an orthogonal high-throughput screen of an iterative peptide library to identify peptide sequences that have the following two properties: (i) little synthetic lipid membrane permeabilization at physiological pH 7 at high peptide concentration and (ii) efficient formation of macromolecule-sized defects in synthetic lipid membranes at acidic pH 5 and low peptide concentration. The peptides we selected are remarkably potent macromolecular sized pore-formers at pH 5, while having little or no activity at pH 7, as intended. The action of these peptides lik...
Latina Urban Education: At the Crossroads of Intersectional Violence

This chapter investigates how urban education reproduces oppressive colonial legacies and how the Latina body experiences the schooling process. We especially retrace the ideological, methodological, and dialectic footing of the (mis)education of Latinas – a purposeful project rooted in racist heteronormative patriarchy ideology. Using an intersectional framework to provide a multidimensional analysis, we recognize Latinas as active agents of their educational experiences. We read the Latina body through a mind-body-spirit lens to unpack the embodiment of urban Latina schooling. We investigate how educational “crisis” scholarship primes Latinas as objects, barriers, and adversaries to Latinx educational achievement and how her sexed-gendered-sexualized identity is misrepresented by these scholarly discourses. We also deconstruct the ideological footings of urban education systems and practices to expose an investment in the subjugation of Latinas through an onslaught of binarist dichotomies, particularly gender and sexuality. We end this chapter with a proposal of intersectionality as a social justice project rooted in resistance, transformative pedagogies, the disruption of binaries, and towards a revolution in thought, practice, and theory.
Neurological and Neurosurgical Emergencies in Patients with Hematological Disorders

Hematologic diseases are blood disorders which can affect different organs, including the central and peripheral nervous systems. Some of them are associated with increased risk of permanent disability and death. This review highlights a selected group of primary and acquired hematologic disorders that can present as neurologic or neurosurgical emergencies. There is an increasing recognition of the broad neurologic presentations of hematologic disorders. Diagnostic criteria continue to be revised as we learn more about these diseases. Treatment options are varied depending on the hematologic syndrome. Clinical judgment is important on a case by case basis given the complexity of these patients. Early recognition of neurologic manifestations of hematologic disorders is important as emergent treatment may be warranted. Clinical signs, appropriate laboratory testing and progression of disease must be taken into consideration to make a timely and definitive diagnosis which will aid in guiding treatment.
MANAGEMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: DATA FROM THE HAALSI (HEALTH AND AGING IN AFRICA: LONGITUDINAL STUDIES OF INDEPTH COMMUNITIES) STUDY

Background: Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and primary prevention strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa have been previously reported, but data on secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is needed to inform care strategies. This study assessed CVD management in South Africa's
Exploiting the natural product potential of fungi with integrated -omics and synthetic biology approaches

Abstract Fungi are rich, underexploited reservoirs for natural products that may serve as medicines, commodity chemicals, insecticides, pesticides and other valuable chemicals. Moreover, the biochemistry of natural product formation may be repurposed with emerging synthetic biology tools to make valuable non-natural compounds such as biofuels. However, the pathways that lead to these products are poorly understood and frequently inactive under lab conditions making discovery challenging. Recent advances in -omics approaches and synthetic biology tools provide powerful new methods to elucidate and tap this wealth of novel chemistry. In this review, we describe cutting-edge approaches to activate and characterize natural product formation, and discuss the potential of established and emerging fungal systems for natural product discovery.
Racial diversity and academic test scores in public elementary schools

ABSTRACTThis article examines the effect of racial diversity on academic achievement using panel data on San Francisco’s public elementary schools from 2003 to 2007. Theories argue that the relationship between racial diversity and academic achievement may be positive or negative. Few studies have examined the effect of racial diversity in US elementary schools. Fixed effects models are used to examine the relationship between racial diversity and academic performance in elementary schools. Controls for student differences and teaching staff differences are added as part of the education production function literature. Results show that racial diversity has little effect on academic achievement scores.
El Inmigrante como Sujeto Polidimensional en Viaje a la Tierra del Abuelo de Ben Castro

La conmocion nacional que vivio El Salvador durante los anos de la Guerra Civil y la deprimente situacion economica afectaron todas sus estructuras sociales. Una de las mas afectadas fue la familia que sufrio rupturas debido al desplazamiento forzado y a la emigracion masiva hacia los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo los que viajaron no lograron escapar de las secuelas de la guerra y sus consiguientes traumas.
Pharmacological management of cystic fibrosis related diabetes.

Introduction: There are limited data from randomized clinical trials to guide optimal options for pharmacological treatment of cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD). Current guidelines recommend ...
The Development of a Social Networking-Based Relatedness Intervention Among Young, First-Time Blood Donors: Pilot Study.

Background: Increasing repeat blood donation behavior is a critical public health goal. According to self-determination theory, the process of developing internal motivation to give blood and an associated self-identity as a blood donor may be promoted by feelings of “relatedness” or a connection to other donors, which may be enhanced through social relations and interactions. Objective: The purpose of this report it to describe the development and pilot testing of a social networking-based (Facebook) intervention condition designed to increase feelings of relatedness via virtual social interaction and support. Methods: To develop the intervention condition content, images, text, polls, and video content were assembled. Ohio University college students (N=127) rated the content (82 images/text) presented by computer in random order using a scale of one to five on various dimensions of relatedness. Mean ratings were calculated and analyses of variance were conducted to assess associations among the dimensions. Based on these results, the relatedness intervention was adapted and evaluated for feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy among 24 first-time donors, aged 18 to 24 years, in a 30-day pilot trial. Paired t-tests were conducted to examine change over time in relatedness and connectedness. Results: The intervention condition that was developed was acceptable and feasible. Results of the uncontrolled, preintervention, and postintervention evaluation revealed that feelings of individual-level relatedness increased significantly after the intervention. Conclusions: By promoting first-time blood donor relatedness, our goal is to enhance internal motivation for donating and the integration of the blood donor identity, thus increasing the likelihood of future repeat donation. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02717338; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02717338 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6ymHRBCwu)
Timing of ECMO Initiation Impacts Survival in Influenza-Associated ARDS.

In the past decade, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has emerged as an innovative therapy for influenza-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Despite its promising results, the ideal timing of ECMO initiation for these patients remains unclear. Retrospective analysis of a single institution experience with venovenous ECMO for influenza-induced ARDS was performed. Twenty-one patients were identified and categorized into early (0–2 days), standard (3–6 days), or late (more than 7 days) cannulation cohorts. Patients cannulated within 48 hours of admission had 80% survival rate at 90 days. Comparatively, the standard and late cannulation cohorts had an observed 90-day survival rate of 60 and 16.7%, respectively.
Glycans in stem cell regulation: from Drosophila tissue stem cells to mammalian pluripotent stem cells

Cell surface glycans, which are tissue-specific and developmentally regulated, work as essential modulators in ligand-receptor interactions, binding to various signal ligands including Wnt, Hedgehog, fibroblast growth factors, epidermal growth factors, and bone morphogenetic proteins, as well as in cell-cell interactions and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. These signals are essential for the stemness and differentiation of various kinds of stem cells. In addition, the intracellular O-linked N-acetylglucosamine, a form of glycosylation found only on nuclear or cytoplasmic proteins, regulates core transcription factors of stemness and phosphorylation of downstream signal components. Therefore, various kinds of glycans regulate the stem cell status; the structures of many of which are evolutionarily conserved from Drosophila to mammals. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of glycans in stemness and differentiation is increasingly important for innovative clinical applications, as well as for basic research. This Review focuses on the roles of glycans in Drosophila tissue stem cells and mammalian pluripotent stem cells.
Important Circuit and Component Concepts

The object of this chapter is to present background information on rather elementary circuits, components, and concepts which are particularly important in power electronics. Although many subjects could be included, the four topics presented are believed to be especially significant in the development of a complete understanding of modem power electronic circuits.