cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond the Study of “Law and Society”? Henry's Private Justice and O'Hagan's The End of Law?

There can be little doubt that "law and society" studies are at a crossroads. When an editor of the Law and Society Review gives it as his opinion that "social studies of law have reached a crucial point in their development. The original paradigm is exhausted,"' and the president of the Law and Society Association writes a justification of the most fundamental assumptions of his field,2 we may be sure that we are witnessing what appears to be a struggle over paradigms in the sociology of law. But even on the assumption that this sort of language is appropriate for explaining changes in this outlying region of the social sciences,3 it is still not at
Effects of Divalent Metal Ions on Individual Steps of the Tetrahymena Ribozyme Reaction

The Tetrahymena thermophila L-21 ScaI ribozyme utilizes Mg 2+ to catalyze a site-specific endonuclease reaction analogous to the first step of self-splicing. To better understand the contribution of Mg 2+ to ribozyme activity, the Mg 2+ concentration dependence of individual rate constants was examined at concentrations greater than those required for ribozyme folding (>2 mM; at 50 ϒC and pH 6.7). Analysis of metal ion inhibition of the chemical step of the reaction indicated that two Ca 2+ ions compete with two Mg 2+ ions involved in active site chemistry. These Mg 2+ ions are bound tightly to the E‚S complex (Kd Ba 2+ . Sr 2+ ) suggested that enhancing the rate constant of S association is not simply a function of ionic strength, but is due to a distinct metal ion binding site. Even though Ca 2+ does not support reaction, the RNA substrate S was able to bind in the presence of Ca 2+ . Upon addition of Mg 2+ , S was cleaved without first dissociating. A model is proposed in which the inactive Ca 2+ form of E‚S is structurally equivalent to the open complex along the reaction pathway, which has the RNA substrate bound but not docked into the active site. Weaker binding of S in Ca 2+ was shown to result from an increase in the rate constant of S dissociation, leading to the proposal that a tight Mg 2+ binding site or sites in the E‚S complex contribute to the strong binding of S. In summary, the data provide evidence for four functions for bound Mg 2+ ions in the catalytic cycle: one increases the rate of RNA substrate binding, one or more decrease the rate of dissociation of S, and two are involved in the chemical step.
Evolutionary archaeology is unlikely to go extinct: response to Gabora

As was pointed out in the article that apparently served as the catalyst for Gabora's comments (O'Brien 2005), an already sizable and growing literature suggests that a significant number of archaeologists working in North America, South America and Great Britain are interested in incorporating elements of Darwinism into their analytical work. This interest is not a new phenomenon but one that has been around in various guises for over a century (Lyman and O'Brien 1997; O'Brien and Lyman 2000b). To continue its growth, Darwinian archaeology needs to move beyond a narrow reading of Darwinism and become a more inclusive approach. There are encouraging signs in this direction, as behavioral archaeologists, human-behavioral ecologists and processual archaeologists are adding their perspectives to the mix, especially with respect to such things as cultural transmission, artifact function and style. Five recent or forthcoming collections of essays (Barton and Clark 1997; Lipo et al. 2006; Maschner 1996; O'Brien 2007; O'Brien and Lyman 2003a) bring this ecumenism into sharp focus and point out the synergy that can result from collaborative efforts that crosscut traditional labels and compartments. Gabora's comments notwithstanding, no one has ever suggested that Darwinism can solve all of archaeology's problems. Rather, what we and others have pointed out is that it might solve some of archaeology's historical read evolutionary problems. For these solutions to be meaningful, they have to be grounded in appropriate theory and method and not in someone's uninformed, idiosyncratic view of the natural world. Gabora can join the debates over Darwinian archaeology, but she, like everyone else, needs to understand exactly what is being debated and the context in which it is being debated. Archaeologists can no longer rely on popularized accounts of nature as the source of our understanding of biological evolution. Things are much more complicated than that. If we strip away everything else and attempt to get at the heart of Gabora's criticism (this issue), we find it to be, not surprisingly, Darwinian archaeology's views on the human phenotype. She does not see how artifacts can be phenotypic a viewpoint that we find indefensible from a biological stance but one that nonetheless has deep roots in the social sciences. Brew (1946) pretty well summed up the majority opinion among culture historians of the mid-twentieth century when he pointed out that inanimate objects do not breed and that therefore the term 'evolution' should be restricted to the
Memory and History: Liturgical Time and Historical Time

This article investigates the differential structure and representation of time in memory and history. It examines two moments in Jewish historical thought—in the Middle Ages, and in works written within and after the Holocaust—and demonstrates the fundamentally liturgical nature of Jewish historical memory in selected texts from these two periods. Following the groundbreaking work of Yerushalmi, it seeks to demonstrate that for Jews, historical experience is incorporated into the cyclical reenactment of paradigmatic events in Jewish sacred ritual. Recent or contemporary experiences acquire meaning only insofar as they can be subsumed within Biblical categories of events and their interpretation bequeathed to the community through the medium of Scripture, that is to say, only insofar as they can be transfigured, ritually and liturgically, into repetitions and reenactments of ancient happening. In such liturgical commemoration, the past exists only by means of recitation; the fundamental goal of such recitation is to make it live again in the present, to fuse past and present, chanter and hearer, into a single collective entity. History, in the sense that we understand it to consist of unique events unfolding within irreversible linear time, is absorbed into cyclical, liturgical memory. This article argues that the question of Jewish history—both medieval and post-Holocaust—poses in a compelling fashion the question of the relationship between memory and history more generally, and serves to contest the current tendency in academic historiography to collapse history into memory. It claims that to the extent that memory “resurrects,”“re-cycles,” and makes the past “reappear” and live again in the present, it cannot perform historically, since it refuses to keep the past in the past, to draw the line, as it were, that is constitutive of the modern enterprise of historiography.
Structuring deals and governance after the IPO: Entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in high tech start-ups

Abstract In an effort to better understand the effects of venture capital investment on selected firm governance and financing structures, we examined the post-IPO experiences of 190 biotechnology and healthcare firms (see appendix). Our study revealed that in virtually all cases, the involvement of venture capitalists reduced the role of the founder-entrepreneur in strategic decision making. This was illustrated by the larger proportion of outside directors when venture capitalists invested and the smaller proportion of entrepreneurs who remained officers or in board positions after the IPO. We also found that venture capitalists rarely invested alone, and preferred to structure deals in which venture capital partners share both risks and rewards.
Power relations and affective style as determinants of confidence in impression formation in a game situation

Abstract Consideration of the need to include such situational factors as interaction goals in a theory of person perception led to the derivation of three hypotheses concerning confidence in impression formation: (1) Individuals in a situation in which another person has power over them are more confident of their impressions of him than are those in a situation in which the other person has no power over them. (2) Individuals in a situation in which they assume that the other person believes that he has power over them are more confident of their impressions than are those who assume that the other person believes that he has no power over them. (3) Individuals who score high on the Ehrlich-Lipsey Affective Style scale are more confident of their impressions of the other person than are those who score low on the scale. These hypotheses were tested and strongly confirmed in a two-person, non-zero-sum game situation. The results were considered to support the need to introduce motivational variables into theories of person perception. Several theoretical formulations were presented and possibilities for further research were discussed.
Tainted resurrection: metal pollution is linked with reduced hatching and high juvenile mortality in Daphnia egg banks

Many taxa, from plants to zooplankton, produce long-lasting dormant propagules capable of temporal dispersal. In some cases, propagules can persist for decades or even centuries before emerging from seed and egg banks. Despite impressive longevity, relatively little is known about how the chemical environment experienced before or during dormancy affects the fate and performance of individuals. This study examines the hatching rate and developmental success of Daphnia hatched from diapausing eggs isolated from sediments from four lakes that experienced varying levels of metal contamination. Two hundred seventy-three animals were hatched from lake sediments deposited over the past century. Hatching rate was negatively influenced by metal contamination and sediment age. There was a robust positive relationship between sediment metal concentrations and juvenile mortality in Daphnia hatching from those sediments. The negative effect of metals on Daphnia hatching and juvenile survival may stem from metal bioaccumulation, genetic effects, or reduced maternal investment in diapausing embryos. Regardless of the specific mechanism driving this trend, exposure to metals may impose strong selection on Daphnia diapausing egg banks.
Role of DNA–DNA interactions on the structure and thermodynamics of bacteriophages Lambda and P4

Electrostatic interactions play an important role in both packaging of DNA inside bacteriophages and its release into bacterial cells. While at physiological conditions DNA strands repel each other, the presence of polyvalent cations such as spermine and spermidine in solutions leads to the formation of DNA condensates. In this study, we discuss packaging of DNA into bacteriophages P4 and Lambda under repulsive and attractive conditions using a coarse-grained model of DNA and capsids. Packaging under repulsive conditions leads to the appearance of the coaxial spooling conformations; DNA occupies all available space inside the capsid. Under the attractive potential both packed systems reveal toroidal conformations, leaving the central part of the capsids empty. We also present a detailed thermodynamic analysis of packaging and show that the forces required to pack the genomes in the presence of polyamines are significantly lower than those observed under repulsive conditions. The analysis reveals that in both the repulsive and attractive regimes the entropic penalty of DNA confinement has a significant non-negligible contribution into the total energy of packaging. Additionally we report the results of simulations of DNA condensation inside partially packed Lambda. We found that at low densities DNA behaves as free unconfined polymer and condenses into the toroidal structures; at higher densities rearrangement of the genome into toroids becomes hindered, and condensation results in the formation of non-equilibrium structures. In all cases packaging in a specific conformation occurs as a result of interplay between bending stresses experienced by the confined polymer and interactions between the strands.
Coulomb-exchange contribution to proton-nucleus scattering.

A scheme for including the Coulomb-exchange contribution in momentum-space calculations of proton-nucleus scattering is presented. The main feature of this approach is a careful treatment of the singular two-body Coulomb potential when the Fermi motion of the bound protons is treated explicitly as required by full-folding calculations of microscopic optical potentials. Analytic expressions are presented and applications are discussed.
R68-8 Language Directed Computer Design

It has been observed, perhaps facetiously, that "the world's best programmer is also the world's top computer engineer." For indeed, when designing computing systems one attempts to provide a mechanism which permits the convenient solution of many disparate problems. The design of such a system will necessarily encompass both programming and engineering considerations.
Reduced‐intensity conditioning haematopoietic cell transplantation for haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: an important step forward

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening immunodeficiency characterized by severe systemic hyper-inflammatory responses to infectious or other triggers of the immune system. In many patients, the underlying cause of HLH is a genetic defect leading to defective CD8+ T-cell and natural killer cell granule-mediated cytotoxicity. The treatment of HLH consists principally of immune suppression followed by allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) to cure the underlying defect and prevent relapse of HLH. Initial treatment regimens consist of steroids coupled with either etoposide or antithymocyte globulin, +/- cyclosporine. Complete responses are observed in only 50-75% of patients and even after a complete response, relapse and death still occur. The only definitive, long-term cure for patients with genetic forms of HLH is allogeneic HCT. Unfortunately, allogeneic HCT for patients with HLH is often complicated by critical illness, extensive organ involvement, active infections, or refractory HLH. For these reasons, patients are unusually prone to developing transplant-related toxicities and complications. In recent years, great strides have been made with regard to the care and transplantation of patients with HLH. Here we review the current state of the treatment of patients with HLH with allogeneic HCT, highlighting the important steps forward that have been made with reduced-intensity conditioning.
Immature nematocyst incorporation by the aeolid nudibranch Spurilla neapolitana

Ultrastructural observations and histochemical analyses show the presence of immature nematocysts within the cnidosacs of the aeolid nudibranch Spurilla neapolitana. Quantitative and ultrastructural analyses indicate that the immature nematocysts mature within the cnidosacs. The incorporation of unfired immature nematocysts may be the basic mechanism that permits nematocyst uptake, storage and utilization by nudibranchs.
The Principal Eigenvalue¶of a Conformally Invariant Differential Operator,¶with an Application to Semilinear Elliptic PDE

In this paper we give conditions under which the Paneitz operator, a conformally invariant fourth order differential operator, is positive. We also prove a sharp estimate for a related conformal invariant. These results are combined to study the existence of a semilinear PDE with critical Sobolev growth.
Evaluation of longitudinal ventricular function with tissue Doppler echocardiography in children treated with anthracyclines

In the current treatment era, it is estimated that more than two thirds of children with cancer will achieve long-term survival with an estimated number of adult survivors of childhood malignancies exceeding 250,000 in the United States alone. Treatment strategies include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery with up to 65% of children receiving anthracyclines as part of their treatment regimen. Anthracycline cardiotoxicity is a well-known complication resulting from the treatment of childhood malignancies, and is reported to occur in up to 16% of pediatric patients. Serial surveillance for cardiotoxicity has most commonly focused on the echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function using either shortening fraction (FS%) or ejection fraction (EF%). However, changes in echocardiographic ejection phase indices can be late clinical findings in anthracycline cardiotoxicity, and often lag in the early identification of subclinical regional myocardial dysfunction. Therefore, newer noninvasive methodologies to evaluate children receiving anthracyclines enabling identification of early markers of either global or regional myocardial dysfunction are needed. The myocardial performance index (MPI) is a noninvasive Doppler measure of global (systolic and diastolic) ventricular function that has previously been shown to be a more sensitive technique for detecting subclinical global LV dysfunction. In addition, Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) is a sensitive method to quantitate regional systolic and
Numerical simulation for a wind dust event in the US/Mexico border region

Soil-derived dust represents one of the major components of the natural atmospheric aerosols. Arid and semiarid areas with unpaved and non-vegetated land cover are particularly vulnerable to windblown dust, which results in high particulate matter pollution. To understand, predict, and mitigate the impact of dust aerosol on air quality and climate, it is necessary to parameterize the emission rate of dust particles from the wind erosion processes accurately. However, windblown dust emission is poorly represented in existing air quality models. In this paper, a windblown dust emission model has been developed based on a parameterization of threshold wind friction velocity depending on the roughness of surface, vegetation type, soil type, soil moisture content, and on the size distribution of aerosols. The proposed dust model incorporates into a region air quality modeling system to simulate a North American dust storm episode occurring near the border of southwestern USA and northwestern region of Mexico on 23 February 2007. It is shown that the implementation of a windblown dust model in an air quality model can significantly improve the model capability for capturing the dust episode. The simulation of the model is in good agreement with the evolution of dust distribution. The modeled dust spatial patterns matched dust cloud patterns appearing on satellite images. Implementation of the windblown dust model successfully captured the time of peak particulate matter (PM) concentrations for both PM10 and PM2.5, as well as the peak value of the PM2.5 concentration. The modeled results clearly demonstrate an improved ability to predict PM events by applying the windblown dust emission scheme.
Signatures and pattern anchoring for score following

Abstract The process of score following requires that the automated follower be capable of making robust decisions during a performance, especially in light of the number of errors that need to be accounted for between the live performer and the follower. Based on the concept of variable-length signatures for monophonic symbolic input, we define a causal method for tracking score location. The signature lengths are calculated prior to performance based on their novelty in a predetermined locality within the score. The score following model is event based, but it also uses an inertial mechanism to pace itself in the presence of contradictory information. Results are derived from the output of the score follower using a graphical display that depicts the associations between performed notes and the score. This display aids in visual evaluation of the performance of the score following process and, specifically, its capability of recovery following any of the performance aberrations.
Nonlinear analysis of turbulence across the L to H transition

Nonlinear time series analysis and wavelet bicoherence are used to characterize the changes to microturbulence in the radial electric field shear layer across the L to H transition in DIII-D. Time series of fluctuating floating potential and ion saturation current from the reciprocating probe array have been analysed for skewness and kurtosis as indications of intermittency in the turbulence. Provided the time series are carefully selected for stationarity, the skewness S and kurtosis K are consistent with Gaussian probability distributions in both L- and H-modes. Wavelet bicoherence analysis reveals the presence of intermittency in the coupling due to sum frequencies above 400 kHz in both the L- and H-modes. The intermittency is most pronounced in the H-mode, with the intervals of strong coupling correlated with changes in local edge plasma conditions. These results appear consistent with predictions from self-organized criticality models.
Reflections of a Spiritual Journey:Finding a New Commons for New Students

I was asked last fall as a vice president at Berea College to be one of a panel of faculty and administrators to make a few comments to the new student class about my spiritual journey– in two to three minutes! The purpose of the program was to help students see the religious traditions of some Berea staff, in the context of an institution that has an inclusive Christian heritage, a College motto "God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth," and that invites and welcomes peoples of all faiths to live and study. Admittedly, however, even though we have people of all major faiths on our campus from near and afar (over 65 Nations), the Berea student body is mostly Protestant and of a strong Biblical tradition. I was the person on the panel that represented the "high church," being Catholic, which, in the South, one might say is a "minority."
Technical Section: Persistence-based handle and tunnel loops computation revisited for speed up

Loops in surfaces associated with topological features such as handles and tunnels are important entities in many applications including surface parameterization, feature identification, and topological simplification. Recently, a persistent homology based algorithm has been proposed to compute them. The algorithm has several advantages including its simplicity, combinatorial nature and independence from computing other extra structures. In this paper, we propose changes to this loop computation algorithm based on some novel observations. These changes reduce the computation time of the algorithm dramatically. In particular, our experimental results show that the suggested changes achieve considerable speed up for large data sets without sacrificing loop qualities.
Recursive realizations of n‐th order fir filters with linear phase designed by (n‐1) point frequency sampling technique

In determining approximately impulse responses of linear-phase Nth-order FIR filters by the N-point frequency sampling method, the approximated impulse response is expressed as a sum of cosine or sine function series with phase shift corresponding to half series time width having sampled values as coefficients. On the other hand, the (N-1) point frequency sampling method enables one to obtain the approximated impulse response in a form of a sum of cosine or sine function series without phase shift having sampled values as coefficients. In the recursive realization of triangular function series, the triangular function series without phase shift can be realized using a smaller number of multipliers than the triangular function series with phase shift. The (N-1) point frequency sampling provides more effective recursive realization than the N-point frequency sampling. If the normal form is used, the number of multipliers can be reduced by 33% and the processing speed and round-off noise can be improved considerably.
Site-specific Photo-cross-linking between λ Integrase and Its DNA Recombination Target *

Abstract The site-specific recombinase (Int) of bacteriophage λ is a heterobivalent DNA-binding protein and is composed of three domains as follows: an amino-terminal domain that binds with high affinity to “arm-type” sequences within the recombination target DNA (att sites), a carboxyl-terminal domain that contains all of the catalytic functions, and a central domain that contributes significantly to DNA binding at the “core-type” sequences where DNA cleavage and ligation are executed. We constructed a family of core-type DNA oligonucleotides, each of which contained the photoreactive analog 4-thiodeoxythymidine (4-thioT) at a different position. When tested for their respective abilities to promote covalent cross-links with Int after irradiation with UV light at 366 nm, one oligonucleotide stood out dramatically. The 4-thioT substitution on the DNA strand opposite the site of Int cleavage led to photo-induced cross-linking efficiencies of ∼20%. The efficiency and specificity of Int binding and cleavage at this 4-thioT-substituted core site was shown to be largely uncompromised, and its ability to participate in a full site-specific recombination reaction was reduced only slightly. Identification of the photo-cross-linked residue as Lys-141 in the central domain provides, along with other results, several insights about the nature of core-type DNA recognition by the bivalent recombinases of the λ Int family.
Gravimetric Analysis of Bismuth in Bismuth Subsalicylate Tablets: A Versatile Quantitative Experiment for Undergraduate Laboratories

In this laboratory experiment, lower- and upper-division students dissolved bismuth subsalicylate tablets in acid and precipitated the resultant Bi3+ in solution with sodium phosphate for a gravime...
Rapid (<3 min) microwave synthesis of block copolymer templated ordered mesoporous metal oxide and carbonate films using nitrate–citric acid systems

Rapid chemical transformation from micelle templated precursors (metal nitrate and citric acid) to ordered mesoporous metal carbonates and oxides is demonstrated using microwave heating for cobalt, copper, manganese and zinc. Without aging requirements, <3 min of microwave processing yields highly ordered mesoporous films.
General considerations on optical second-harmonic generation from surfaces and interfaces.

Second-harmonic generation from an interface, in relation to the second-order nonlinearities of the interface layer and the adjacent bulk, is considered. It is shown that both structural asymmetry and field discontinuity contribute to the interface nonlinearity, which, as far as second-harmonic generation is concerned, can be characterized by a local surface nonlinear susceptibility tensor. The bulk nonlinearity may also contribute to the second-harmonic signal, but is an order of magnitude weaker than the surface nonlinearity in centrosymmetric media with a large optical dielectric constant. The possibility of detecting submonolayers of adsorbates on various substrates is discussed qualitatively.
Therapeutic implications of iodine-125 cytotoxicity

Abstract The biological consequences of differential subcellular radionuclide accumulation within nuclear structures have important implications for the design and development of new therapeutic agents for cancer management. A growing body of experimental data demonstrates that localization of 125 I within the genome results in marked cytotoxicity. Investigations of iodine-125 labeled iododeoxyuridine, DNA intercalators and tamoxifen are reviewed as representative of this new group of potential radiotherapeutic agents.
Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of some active cobalt(II) substituted metalloenzymes and other cobalt(II) complexes.

Abstract The EPR spectra of high-spin Co(II) complex ions whose coordination geometries are known to be distorted from regular symmetry are compared with those of enzymically active Co(II) substituted Zn metalloenzymes. The EPR spectra of Co carboxypeptidase A, thermolysin and procarboxypeptidase A can be described by three approximate g-values not differing greatly from those of distorted 4-coordinate complexes here examined. The pair of Co(II) ions in alkaline phosphatase of E. coli containing 2 g-at of Co(II) is coordinated in an octahedral geometry which is slightly distorted, based on comparisons with models. Definitive assignments await further studies by these and other spectroscopic techniques.
Activities and Time-Kill Studies of Selected Penicillins, β-Lactamase Inhibitor Combinations, and Glycopeptides against Enterococcus faecalis

The activities of piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, ticarcillin, ticarcillin-clavulanate, ampicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam, vancomycin, and teicoplanin were tested against 212 Enterococcus faecalis strains (9 β-lactamase producers) by standard agar dilution MIC testing (10 4 CFU/spot). The MICs at which 50 and 90% of the isolates were inhibited (MIC 50 s and MIC 90 s, respectively) were as follows (μg/ml): piperacillin, 4 and 8; piperacillin-tazobactam, 4 and 8; ticarcillin, 64 and 128; ticarcillin-clavulanate, 64 and 128; ampicillin, 2 and 2; ampicillin-sulbactam, 1 and 2; vancomycin, 1 and 4; and teicoplanin, 0.5 and 1. Agar dilution MIC testing of the nine β-lactamase-positive strains with an inoculum of 10 6 CFU/spot revealed higher β-lactam MICs (piperacillin, 64 to >256 μg/ml; ticarcillin, 128 to >256 μg/ml; and ampicillin, 16 to 128 μg/ml); however, MICs with the addition of inhibitors were similar to those obtained with the lower inoculum. Time-kill studies of 15 strains showed that piperacillin-tazobactam was bactericidal (99.9% killing) for 14 strains after 24 h at four times the MIC, with 90% killing of all 15 strains at two times the MIC. After 12 and 6 h, 90% killing of 14 and 13 strains, respectively, was found at two times the MIC. Ampicillin gave 99.9% killing of 14 β-lactamase-negative strains after 24 h at eight times the MIC, with 90% killing of all 15 strains at two times the MIC. After 12 and 6 h, 90% killing of 14 and 13 strains, respectively, was found at two times the MIC. Killing by ticarcillin-clavulanate was slower than that observed for piperacillin-tazobactam, relative to the MIC. For the one β-lactamase-producing strain tested by time-kill analysis with a higher inoculum, addition of the three inhibitors (including sulbactam) to each of the β-lactams resulted in bactericidal activity at 24 h at two times the MIC. For an enzyme-negative strain, addition of inhibitors did not influence kinetics. Kinetics of vancomycin and teicoplanin were significantly slower than those of the β-lactams, with bactericidal activity against 6 strains after 24 h at eight times the MIC, with 90% killing of 12 and 14 strains, respectively, at four times the MIC. Slower-kill kinetics by both glycopeptides were observed at earlier periods.
A 14-Bit 5MS/s Continuous-Time Delta-Sigma A/D Modulator

A continuous-time delta-sigma A/D modulator providing 85dB DR with 5MS/s output rate in a 2.5V 0.25mum CMOS process is presented. The modulator has a single-stage, dual-loop architecture allowing nearly one clock period excess loop delay. A multi-bit quantizer is used to increase resolution and non-return-to-zero DACs are adopted to reduce clock jitter sensitivity. Capacitor tuning is utilized to overcome process variation. Calibration is implemented to suppress DAC mismatch. Clocked at 60MHz, the chip consumes 50 mW
Neuromuscular Disorders in Pregnancy

Preexisting and coincident neuromuscular disorders in pregnancy are challenging for clinicians because of the heterogeneity of disease and the limited data in the literature. Many questions arise regarding the effect of disease on the pregnancy, delivery, and newborn in addition to the effect of pregnancy on the course of disease. Each disorder has particular considerations and possible complications. An interdisciplinary team of physicians is essential. This article discusses the most recent literature on neuromuscular disorders in pregnancy including acquired root, plexus, and peripheral nerve lesions; acquired and inherited neuropathies and myopathies; disorders of the neuromuscular junction; and motor neuron diseases.
Cell culture monitoring by impedance mapping using a multielectrode scanning impedance spectroscopy system (CellMap)

We report on the impedance mapping of in vitro cellular morphology by electrical impedance spectroscopy, using microelectrodes. A micro multielectrode system was designed, fabricated, assembled, tested and demonstrated for the monitoring of anchorage-dependent cell behavior and morphology. This system allowed continuous, label-free, quantitative monitoring and visualization of cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation and detachment due to cell cycle processes as well as cell–drug interaction, with spatio-temporal resolution. OvCa429 ovarian cancer cells were monitored in vitro over a period of 70 hours by inoculating the cell suspension directly on the multielectrode device. The phase angle of impedance was observed to develop a distinctive shape as a result of cell attachment and proliferation. The shape of the phase angle curve reverted back to the pre-attachment shape upon detachment of cells from the substrate, caused by the addition of trypsin to the cell culture medium. The impedance data of the cell culture were then successfully modeled as a multi-parametric equivalent circuit. The model incorporated both interfacial and cell-layer impedance parameters. Upon addition of trypsin, the cell-layer parameters showed a marked decline and were eventually eliminated from the multi-parametric model, confirming the correlation of the model to the electrode–cell–electrolyte system. These experiments demonstrate the applicability of the impedance mapping technique in visualizing and quantifying physiological changes in the cell layer due to cellular processes as well as the effect of external chemical stimulus on cells (cell–drug interaction).
Pathogenesis of XJ and Romero strains of Junin virus in two strains of guinea pigs.

Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF), a systemic infectious disease caused by infection with Junin virus, affects several organs, and patients can show hematologic, cardiovascular, renal, or neurologic symptoms. We compared the virulence of two Junin virus strains in inbred and outbred guinea pigs with the aim of characterizing this animal model better for future vaccine/antiviral efficacy studies. Our data indicate that this passage of the XJ strain is attenuated in guinea pigs. In contrast, the Romero strain is highly virulent in Strain 13 as well as in Hartley guinea pigs, resulting in systemic infection, thrombocytopenia, elevated apartate aminotransferase levels, and ultimately, uniformly lethal disease. We detected viral antigen in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Thus, both guinea pig strains are useful animal models for lethal Junin virus (Romero strain) infection and potentially can be used for preclinical trials in vaccine or antiviral drug development.
Performance of ATM available bit rate for bursty TCP sources and interfering traffic

The available bit rate (ABR) service dynamically utilizes free bandwidth in ATM networks for data traffic. ABR enables data sources to efficiently utilize network resources without adversely affecting the performance of guaranteed traffic such as for video. However, the majority of research to date on the performance of ABR schemes has ignored the effects of guaranteed traffic. The vast majority of research has also only utilized persistent sources although real data traffic, such as Internet traffic, is bursty. This paper presents a simulation study of bursty Internet TCP traffic over ATM with bursty interfering traffic streams. Two major ABR schemes, rate based ABR with explicit rate (ER) control and the credit based quantum flow control (QFC), are compared. The results indicate that performance with QFC is significantly better than with ER control.
Effects of dietary clays on performance and intestinal mucus barrier of broiler chicks challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and on goblet cell function in vitro

In vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to test for beneficial effects of dietary clays on broiler chicks challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and to explore potential mechanisms. First, two hundred forty 1-d-old male broilers (initial BW: 41.6 ± 0.4 g) were allotted in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design. There were 2 infection treatments (with or without Salmonella) and 4 diets: basal (BAS), 0.3% smectite A (SMA), 0.3% smectite B, and 0.3% zeolite. The Salmonella reduced (P < 0.05) the growth rate of chicks fed the BAS, and feeding clay largely restored it (challenge × diet interaction, P < 0.05). Goblet cell number and size were increased (P < 0.05) by Salmonella in chicks fed the BAS and were reduced (P < 0.05) in Salmonella-challenged chicks by feeding SMA. Villus height was reduced by the Salmonella challenge in the chicks fed dietary clays (P < 0.01) but not in chicks fed the BAS (interaction P < 0.05). A human adenocarcinoma cell line (LS174T) was cultured in vitro in 3 separate experiments in the absence or presence of 3 concentrations (0.05, 0.10, and 0.50%) of SMA. Expression of mucin 2 (MUC2), resistin-like molecule β (RELMs), and trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) were determined by real-time reverse-transcription PCR. The expression of RELMβ was increased and expression of MUC2 was reduced (P < 0.05) by 0.10% SMA. Also, LS174T cells were cultured without or with SMA (0.05 and 0.10%) and the medium and cell lysate were analyzed for RELMβ using an immunoblot assay. Protein expression of RELMs in the cell lysate was reduced (P < 0.05) by SMA addition but increased in the medium, indicating that SMA increased secretion of RELMs, thus depleting the cell and concentrating this protein in the medium. In conclusion, the dietary clays restored the growth depression caused by Salmonella, and changes in goblet cell function may contribute to the benefits of one of the clays, specifically SMA.
Numerical Formats within Risk Disclosures and the Moderating Effect of Investors’ Disclosure Management Concerns

We provide experimental evidence that investors’ risk judgments are affected by the numerical format of sensitivity-analysis disclosures, with investors assessing higher risk in response to dollar-formatted disclosures than percentage-formatted disclosures. We also provide evidence that this effect is moderated by whether format is mandated or at the discretion of management. Specifically, investors respond to management discretion over numerical format by increasing risk assessments in response to percentage formats and decreasing risk assessments in response to dollar formats. In a second study we again support the moderating role of format discretion and provide evidence that the effect of discretion is not due to the extent of investors’ knowledge of alternative formats. Our results provide insight about the effects of current disclosure formats and suggest implications for managers who choose formats, investors who interpret formatted information, and regulators who consider whether to further prescribe the formats that are used in financial disclosures.
Factors Contributing to the Off-Target Transport of Pyrethroid Insecticides From Urban Surfaces

Pyrethroid insecticides used in urban and suburban contexts have been found in urban creek sediments and associated with toxicity in aquatic bioassays. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the main factors contributing to the off-target transport of pyrethroid insecticides from surfaces typical of residential landscapes. Controlled rainfall simulations over concrete, bare soil, and turf plots treated individually with pyrethroid insecticides in a suspension concentrate, an emulsifiable concentrate, or a granule formulation were conducted at different rainfall intensities and different product set-time intervals. Pyrethroid mass washoff varied by several orders of magnitude between experimental treatments. Suspension concentrate product application to concrete yielded significantly greater washoff than any other treatment; granule product application to turf yielded the least washoff. Fractional losses at 10 L of runoff ranged from 25.9 to 0.011% of pyrethroid mass applied, and 10 L nominal mass losses ranged from 3970 to 0.18 μg. Mass washoff depended principally on formulation and surface type combination and, to a lesser degree, on set-time interval and rainfall intensity. Treatment effects were analyzed by ANOVA on main factors of formulation, surface type, and set time. Factor effects were not purely additive; a significant interaction between formulation and surface type was noted.
Early Cementation During Marine-Meteoric Fluid Mixing: Mississippian Lake Valley Formation, New Mexico

ABSTRACT Pre-Pennsylvanian low-magnesium calcite cements from the Mississippian Lake Valley Formation of south central New Mexico comprise three major cathodoluminescent zones. Previous work by Meyers and Lohmann (1985) suggested that interzonal isotopic and minor-element variation resulted from spatial and temporal exchange between meteoric water and marine carbonate within a single meteoric system, that the carbonate for cementation was derived from dissolution of metastable carbonate grains, and that any contribution from marine water was insignificant. Isotopic analysis of the first two cathodoluminescent zones, using detailed micron-scale sampling methods, revealed a record of simultaneous variation in 18O and 13C values at the intrazonal scale that is incompatible with compositional change anticipated from the evolution of meteoric fluids in response to progressive water-rock interaction. Rather, isotopic data, in conjunction with stratigraphic and petrographic constraints, suggest that regionally extensive mixing between marine and meteoric water along the basal margin of the phreatic lens is the process responsible for the cementation of much of this platform succession. Although trends of progressive 18O and 13C depletion in cement composition are compatible with precipitation from a fluid that evolved from a marine- to a meteoric-dominated composition, low Mg and Sr concentrations are problematic in the context of experimentally derived partition coefficients for calcite. Because of compelling evidence indicating a mixing-zone origin for these cements, however, we attribute low Mg and Sr contents to temperature and/or PCO2 effects, or to differences in conditions under which calcite is precipitated.
Interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and IL-8 Predict Mucosal Toxicity of Vaginal Microbicidal Contraceptives

Inflammation of the female reproductive tract increases susceptibility to HIV-1 and other viral infections and, thus, it becomes a serious liability for vaginal products. Excessive release of proinflammatory cytokines may alter the mucosal balance between tissue destruction and repair and be linked to enhanced penetration and replication of viral pathogens upon chemical insult. The present study evaluates four surface-active microbicide candidates, nonoxynol-9 (N-9), benzalkonium chloride (BZK), sodium dodecyl sulfate, and sodium monolaurate for their activity against human sperm and HIV, and their capacity to induce an inflammatory response on human vaginal epithelial cells and by the rabbit vaginal mucosa. Spermicidal and virucidal evaluations ranked N-9 as the most potent compound but were unable to predict the impact of the compounds on vaginal cell viability. Interleukin (IL)-1 release in vitro reflected their cytotoxicity profiles more accurately. Furthermore, IL-1 concentrations in vaginal washings correlated with cumulative mucosal irritation scores after single and multiple applications (P < 0.01), showing BZK as the most damaging agent for the vaginal mucosa. BZK induced rapid cell death, IL-1 release, and IL-6 secretion. The other compounds required either more prolonged or repeated contact with the vaginal epithelium to induce a significant inflammatory reaction. Increased IL-8 levels after multiple applications in vivo identified compounds with the highest cumulative mucosal toxicity (P < 0.01). In conclusion, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in the vaginal secretions are sensitive indicators of compound-induced mucosal toxicity. The described evaluation system is a valuable tool in identifying novel vaginal contraceptive microbicides, selecting out candidates that may enhance, rather than decrease, HIV transmission.
Dot plots for time series analysis

Since their introduction in the seventies by Gibbs and McIntyre, dot plots have proved to be a powerful and intuitive technique for visual sequence analysis and mining. Their main domain of application is the field of bioinformatics where they are frequently used by researchers in order to elucidate genomic sequence similarities and alignment. However, this useful technique has remained comparatively constrained to domains where the data has an inherent discrete structure (i.e., text). In this paper we demonstrate how dot plots can be used for the analysis and mining of real-valued time series. We design a tool that creates highly descriptive dot plots which allow one to easily detect similarities, anomalies, reverse similarities, and periodicities well as changes in the frequencies of repetitions. As the underlying algorithm scales we with the input size, we also show the feasibility of the plots for on-line data monitoring
QSAR of distribution coefficients for Pu(NO3)62-complexes using molecular mechanics

Anion exchange in nitric acid is a frequently used process for the recovery of plutonium from a wide range of impure materials. Plutonium sorption data from nitric acid media has been reported for these materials, and these results indicate that the controlled geometry of the anion-exchange sites has a positive impact upon the sorption of the actinide dianion. Modeling the interactions of actinide hexanitrato complexes with the dicationic resin sites is a complex, multi-stage process. We report herein the modeling of the electrostatic interactions of the plutonium hexanitrato dianion with ‘free’ analogues of the resin dicationic sites for three series of resins.
Mapping the probability of war and analyzing the possibility of peace: The role of territorial disputes

It is argued that scholars should supplement the search for correlates of war with a search for factors that increase the probability of war. Territorial disputes are seen as one such factor. The analysis maps their probability of going to war and then examines the possibility of peace in light of the results. It is found that states that participate in territorial disputes have a higher probability of going to war than expected by chance. It is also found that dyads that have more than 25% of their disputes over territory have a high probability of having at least one war with each other, but those dyads that have fewer territorial disputes have a comparatively low probability of having a war with one another. Objections to the territorial explanation of war that it is not relevant to the current era or that contiguity is a more important factor are tested. Evidence shows that wars do not seem to occur because states are contiguous; rather states that have disputes over territory (whether or not they are...
Micro-Wear Scan Test on the Carbon Overcoats as Thin as 6 NM or Less

Nitrogen-doped carbon (CNX) overcoats, ranging from 1 to 6nm in thickness, were deposited on magnetic recording disks by a DC-sputtering process. A critical load, based on the first occurrence of coating damage, was used as a semi-quantitative measure of the mechanical strength of these overcoats. It was found that the critical load decreased in a nearly linear manner with the CNX thickness from 6nm down to ∼2nm regime. However, the 1nm thick CNX coating deviated from this trend with a significant decrease in critical load. High-resolution SEM was employed to find the critical loads as well as to reveal the details of the coating wear morphology and the CNX failure mechanism.