cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatial grouping in behaviourally solitary striped hyaenas, Hyaena hyaena

We investigated spatial organization and patterns of interaction in a population of the little-known striped hyaena, Hyaena hyaena. We use the resulting data to test hypotheses of group formation that predict that female striped hyaenas will be solitary in response to overdispersion of food resources and males will be solitary in response to overdispersion of females. Based primarily on anecdotal or historical information, striped hyaenas have been described as solitary. We show that, as predicted, striped hyaenas of both sexes are behaviourally solitary. However, they form stable, polyandrous spatial groups composed of multiple males and a single female. We suggest that male coalition formation may be the result of male strategies to optimize trade-offs between the number of female ranges defended and the effectiveness of that defence when females are solitary and maintain large territories. Nevertheless, the joint male defence of a territory (of any size) containing only a single female would not be predicted by any major hypothesis for the evolution of group living, in this or any other species.
Broom Closet or Fish Bowl? An Ethnographic Exploration of a University Queer Center and Oneself.

The authors detail an educational ethnography of a university queer cultural center’s role on campus and in the surrounding community. The data include participant observation, in-depth interviews,...
Effect of surface treated fillers on the flow behavior and morphology of an immiscible blend. System: Polycarbonate/polypropylene

Surface treated fillers are added to an immiscible blend to study their effect on the melt behavior. The system studied is polycarbonate (PC)polypropylene (PP)/glass beads. Glass beads with no treatment, treated with an aminosilane and treated with a fluorosilane coupling agent are used. Differences in morphology are correlated with results from dynamic mechanical analysis. An increase in the viscosity of the blends filled with the amino-silane agent, their response to different frequencies, and their activation energies for flow are related to a tendency toward compatibilization. Construction of master curves of viscosity data shows some potential as a compatibility criterion for these systems.
Guinea pig respiratory response to isocyanates.

Exposure to some isocyanates (e.g., toluene diisocyanate) has been associated with development of respiratory sensitization. In this study, guinea pig respiratory response to protein conjugates of isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM) and isocyanatoethyl propionate (IEP) was evaluated. Guinea pigs were exposed to daily induction exposures with an aerosol of bovine serum albumin (BSA) or BSA conjugated with IEM or IEP. After approximately 2 weeks significant increases in respiratory rate occurred in the guinea pigs exposed to the isocyanate conjugates. The number of animals responding was related to the degree of conjugation of isocyanate to protein. No response to unconjugated BSA was observed. The isocyanates conjugated to another carrier, guinea pig serum albumin (GSA), elicited responses. In guinea pigs responding to BSA-IEM, 0.01 ppm IEM monomer did not elicit responses; 0.1 to 0.4 ppm IEM vapor elicited responses similar to conjugates but which were delayed; 0.5 and 0.6 ppm induced irritation responses. An IEM polymer aerosol that contained <0.0004% monomer did not elicit a response. These data suggest a response threshold. Guinea pigs developing responses to either of the isocyanate conjugates displayed cross-reactions to challenge with the other. A conjugate of BSA with hexyl isocyanate (HI) did not induce cross-responses in guinea pigs reactive to BSA-IEM. Application of BSA-IEP or IEP monomer to the scratched skin of guinea pigs that responded by inhalation to BSA-IEP resulted in immediate wheal and flare responses not seen in unexposed animals. All of these findings suggest induction of Type I hypersensitivity (asthmatic) directed toward the isocyanate portion of the conjugate and not the protein.
Renormalization-group theory of the random-field Ising model in three dimensions

A highly detailed renormalization-group study is applied to the equilibrium statistical mechanics of the random-field Ising model in three dimensions, with analysis of the renormalization-group flows of over 8 500 000 quantities that determine the quenched probability distribution. We determine the strong-coupling fixed distribution that controls the finite-temperature phase boundary. This boundary is second order but has a magnetization behavior that is phenomenally close to a discontinuity, with the exponent \ensuremath{\beta}=0.0200\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0005. Magnetization curves are obtained, demonstrating that, for example, the calculated M changes from 0 to 0.407, almost half saturation, as (${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$-T)/${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ is varied from 0 to 0.2947\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}16}$. However, a rigorous argument is given showing that the magnetization M cannot be truly discontinuous at phase transitions controlled by a strong-coupling random-field fixed distribution, in renormalization-group studies that employ the Migdal-Kadanoff local recursion relations.
452 SOMATOMEDIN-C STIMULATES GLYCOGEN SYNTHESIS IN FETAL RAT HEPATOCYTES

The role of somatomedin-C/IGF-I (Sm-C) in the regulation of fetal metabolism is poorly understood. Since Sm-C has insulin-like effects on tissues of postnatal animals, we have compared the effects of highly purified Sm-C and insulin on glycogen metabolism in cultured hepatocytes from 20 day old fetal rats. Sm-C (50–750 ng/ml, 6.5–100 nM) stimulated dosedependent increases in 14C-glucose incorporation into glycogen (14.4–72.9%, p<0.001) and total cell glycogen content (10.6–34.3%, p<0.01). Maximal stimulation of glycogen synthesis by Sm-C occurred at 2–4 hrs of incubation. Insulin (10 nM–10 uM) also stimulated 14C-glucose incorporation but its potency was only one tenth that of Sm-C. The time course of stimulation of glucose incorporation by insulin was identical to that of Sm-C, the dose-response curves of the two hormones were parallel, and the maximal effects of insulin were not enhanced by simultaneous exposure of cells to Sm-C. These findings suggest that Sm-C and insulin stimulate glycogenesis in fetal liver through similar or identical mechanisms. Since the potency of Sm-C was greater than 10 times that of insulin, the glycogenic action of insulin in fetal liver may be mediated through binding to a hepatic receptor which also binds Sm-C. In addition to its mitogenic effects on fetal tissues, Sm-C may have direct anabolic effects on fetal carbohydrate metabolism. Supported by NIH HD07447 and HD06301.
Fatigue and body mass index in the Fragile X premutation carrier

Background: Recent evidence has shown that mitochondrial dysfunction may be significant in carriers of the Fragile X premutation. Purpose: The present study examined fatigue severity and body mass index (BMI) (two possible outcomes related to mitochondrial dysfunction) in premutation carriers with and without the Fragile X-associated Tremor Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) as compared to controls. Methods: Surveys to gather data on height and weight and fatigue impact (Fatigue Severity Scale) were sent out to previous research trial participants with Fragile X premutation-related disorders. Results: On the Fatigue Severity Scale, carriers with and without FXTAS had mean scores of 4.5 (SD 1.9) and 3.8 (SD 1.6), respectively, that differed significantly (p < 0.001) from the control mean score of 2.9 (SD 1.4). The mean BMI of carriers with FXTAS was 29.6 kg/m2 (SD 5.3) which differed significantly (p = 0.003) from the mean BMI of carriers without FXTAS of 26.9 kg/m2 (SD 5.1) and controls 26.7 kg/m2 (SD 4.4). However,...
Evidence for a cyclic variation of permafrost temperatures in northern alaska

Observations of permafrost temperatures in shallow drill holes in northern Alaska near the Beaufort Sea coast show that these temperatures have cycled during the decade from 1983 to 1993. The two sites nearest the coast indicate a period of about 10 years and an amplitude at the permafrost surface of about 2°C. The two sites farthest from the coast have similar periods but reduced amplitudes of about 0.6°C. Changes in air temperatures, snowfall, length of sea ice season, solar effects, and other factors could, in principle, produce the observed temperature changes. Barrow air temperatures have a periodicity of 10.1 years but currently lead the sunspot cycle. Snowfall also shows evidence for a periodicity near 10 years. Near Prudhoe Bay, the length of the sea ice season increased about one week from 1979 to 1986 which could have caused a decrease in coastal air temperatures. The sunspot cycle (10–11 year period) leads temperatures at the 30 m depth by two to three years which is about the expected lead. During the descending part of the last solar cycle, satellite measurements of the solar total irradiance showed a decrease of about 3W m−2, which is about four times the calculated mean energy flux at the permafrost table (0.6 to 0.7 W m−2) required to produce the observed temperature changes. Les temperatures du pergelisol observees dans des sondages peu profonds de l'Alaska pres de la cǒte de la mer de Beaufort montrent que ces temperatures ont subi des variations cycliques de 1983 a 1993. Les deux sites les plus proches de la cote indiquent une periodicite d'environ 10 ans et une amplitude a la surface du pergelisol d'environ 2°C. Les deux sites les plus eloignes de la cǒte montrent une periodicite semblable, avec cependant une amplitude reduite a environ 0.6°C. Des changements non seulement dans les temperatures de l'air, mais aussi dans les chutes de neige, la duree de la saison pendant laquelle la mer est couverte de glace, des effets solaires et d'autres facteurs pourraient, en principe, produire les modifications de temperatures observees. Les temperatures de l'air a Barrow ont une periodicite de 10.1 ans ce qui correspond au cycle des taches solaires. Les precipitations neigeuses montrent aussi une periodicite voisine de 10 ans. Pres de Prudhoe Bay, la duree de la saison de couverture de la mer par la glace s'est accrue d'environ une semaine de 1979 a 1986 et cela peut avoir entraǐne une diminution des temperatures de l'air dans les regions cǒtieres. Le cycle des taches solaires (periode de 10 a 11 ans) contrǒle les temperatures a 30 m de profondeur avec un retard attendu de 2 a 3 annees. Au cours de la partie descendante du dernier cycle solaire, des measures satellitaires de la radiation totale du soleil on montre une diminution d'environ 3 W m−2, ce qui correspond a environ 4 fois le flux moyen calcule d'energie au sommet due pergelisol (0.6 a 0.7 W m−2) requis pour produire les changements de temperature observes.
Videofluorographic Assessment of Deglutitive Behaviors in a Rat Model of Aging and Parkinson Disease

Dysphagia is commonly associated with aging and Parkinson disease and can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. In some cases, dysphagia may be life-threatening. Animal models may be used to study underlying mechanisms of dysphagia, but paradigms that allow adequate imaging of the swallow in combination with measurement of physiological variables have not been forthcoming. To begin development of methods that allow this, we used videofluorography to record the deglutition behaviors of 22 Fisher 344/Brown Norway rats in young adult (9 months old), old (32 months old), and parkinsonian (unilateral lesion to the medial forebrain bundle) groups. We hypothesized that the old and parkinsonian rats would manifest deficits in deglutition behaviors analogous to those found in human clinical populations. Our results supported our hypothesis in that the old group demonstrated reductions in bolus transport speeds and mastication rate while the parkinsonian rats showed impairments in oral processing. Interpretation of these results should consider the particular animal model, lesion type, and videofluorographic protocol used in this work. Future studies will link swallow imaging data of this kind with physiological and anatomical data in a manner not possible with human participants.
Evaluation of Early Transcutaneous Bilirubinometry to Predict Subsequent Hyperbilirubinemia in Neonates Admitted to a Well-Baby Nursery.

Objective The aim of this study is to determine whether a transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) value obtained within 6 hours of birth (early transcutaneous bilirubin [ETcB]) either alone, or used to calculate an early rate of rise (E-ROR) in TcB, will identify those neonates who are at a higher risk for subsequent jaundice. Study Design ETcB values were obtained from a convenience sample of neonates admitted to the newborn nursery. E-ROR was calculated as the average hourly increase between ETcB and subsequent TcB obtained at 18 to 36 hours of age. TcB percentile values at various ages were obtained from a previously published and cross-validated nomogram. The predictive values relating ETcB, E-ROR, and TcB at 18 to 36 hours of age to TcB at 42 to 66 hours of age were determined, and receiver-operator characteristic curves were compared. Results A total of 516 late preterm and term neonates were studied. ETcB was higher ( p = 0.003) in those neonates who subsequently received phototherapy ( n = 15), and negative predictive value was always ≥ 0.96; positive predictive value (PPV) ranged from 0.04 to 0.06. Compared with ETcB, TcB at 18 to 36 hours was more likely to predict significant jaundice at 42 to 66 hours of age. Conclusion Given the observed low PPV, ETcB is not useful in identifying infants who develop subsequent hyperbilirubinemia. However, it may be helpful in identifying those neonates at a low risk of subsequent hyperbilirubinemia.
Parenting behavior and the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide: A mediated moderation analysis with adolescents

Abstract Background Multiple features of parenting have been associated with development of suicide-related behaviors in adolescents. However, findings are inconsistent on which aspects of parenting are protective or harmful and why. This investigation sought to reconcile these discrepancies through the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS), which argues that suicide ideation and the capability to attempt suicide are etiologically distinct. Methods Responses of 200 Midwestern public school students to the Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behavior survey were analyzed using mediated moderation analysis. Results Participant sex significantly moderated the relationships between parenting variables and suicide attempts and these relationships were accounted for by IPTS variables. Specifically, the effect of parental support on suicide attempts was twice as strong for girls. Self-esteem mediated this interaction ( b =−.011, SE boot =.008, p κ 2 =.07). Conversely, the effect of parental boundaries on suicide attempts was significant for boys, but not for girls, and was mediated by exposure to violence ( b =.029, SE boot =.021, p κ 2 =.07). Limitations This study involved retrospective report with proxy-measures of IPTS constructs. Future research should consider multiple informants and additional measures. Conclusion Findings highlight potential mechanisms by which parenting behaviors could influence sex differences in adolescent suicide-relate behaviors, and that some parenting behavior is associated with reduced adolescent suicide attempts. Findings also suggest the IPTS is able to account for previously identified inconsistencies in the effects of parenting behaviors on adolescent suicide-related behaviors. Implications for theory and intervention are discussed.
Self-consistent geomagnetic storm simulation: The role of the induced electric fields

Abstract We employ a recently developed 2-way (self-consistent) coupling between a kinetic ring current model and a 3-D plasma force-balance model to simulate the inner magnetosphere during a geomagnetic storm. We find notable differences in the self-consistent results compared to those from the kinetic model with a dipole magnetic field (with the same particle boundary conditions and electric fields). In addition to large depressions in the night-side magnetic field compared to dipolar, we also find lower density and perpendicular plasma pressure in the self-consistent case, as well as localized regions of pressure peaks and enhanced plasma beta on the night side. There is also a dichotomy between the energization of high- and low-pitch angle particles, respectively, with the latter energized significantly more than in a dipole field. Finally, we describe a method for computing the electric fields induced by the time change of the self-consistent magnetic fields; for a moderate storm, we find that while the induced electric fields are in general relatively weak compared to the convective ones, at some local times and near the peak of storm activity they can be important.
Why Ethical Philosophy Needs to Be Comparative

Principles can seem as entrenched in moral experience as Kant thinks space, time, and the categories are in human experience of the world. However not all cultures have such a view. Classical Indian and Chinese philosophies treat modification of the self as central to ethics. Decisions in particular cases and underlying principles are much less discussed. Ethics needs comparative philosophy in order not to be narrow in its concerns. A broader view can give weight to how people sometimes can change who they are, in order to lead better lives.
Electrocardiographic changes during pneumoencephalography

Abstract Electrocardiographic changes indicative of increased vagal activity occur during encephalography.
An Autonomous Sensor System Architecture for Active Flow and Noise Control Feedback

Multi-channel sensor fusion represents a powerful technique to simply and efficiently extract information from complex phenomena. While the technique has traditionally been used for military target tracking and situational awareness, a study has been successfully completed that demonstrates that sensor fusion can be applied equally well to aerodynamic applications. A prototype autonomous hardware processor was successfully designed and used to detect in real-time the two-dimensional flow reattachment location generated by a simple separated-flow wind tunnel model. The success of this demonstration illustrates the feasibility of using autonomous sensor processing architectures to enhance flow control feedback signal generation.
Further studies on the origin of pregnanetriol in adrenal carcinoma.

The biotransformation of 17-hydroxyprogesterone-4-C14 and 3β, 17-dihydroxy-Δ5-pregnene-20-one-7α-H3 administered simultaneously was studied in a patient with adrenal carcinoma. The specific activities of the metabolites studied varied widely from each other. 3β,17-Dihydroxy-Δ5-pregnene-20-one appeared to be the major precursor of urinary pregnane-3α,17,20α-triol in this patient; the evidence indicated that compound(s) other than 3β, 17-dihydroxy-Δ5-pregnene-20-one contributed to Δ5-pregnene-3β, 17,20α triol. 3β,17-Dihydroxy-Δ5-pregnene-20-one-7α-H3 was also studied in a “normal” subject.
Surface topography due to convection in a variable viscosity fluid: Application to short wavelength gravity anomalies in the central Pacific Ocean

Finite difference calculations of thermal convection in a fluid layer with a viscosity exponentially decreasing with temperature are performed in the context of examining the topography and gravity anomalies due to mantle convection. The surface topography and gravity anomalies are shown to be positive over regions of ascending flow and negative over regions of descending flow; at large Rayleigh numbers the amplitude of surface topography is inferred to depend on Rayleigh number to the power of 7/9. Compositional stratifications of the mantle is proposed as a mechanism for confining small-scale convection to a thin layer. A comparative analysis of the results with other available models is included.
Programming special functions in the SKED system

Machine language subroutines can be integrated with the SEED system. These subroutines can shorten lengthy programs that could otherwise be handled by SKED, and can provide complex decision functions, data recording schemes, and software for new peripheral devices. Rules and examples for each function will he presented.
Hippocampal electrical activity I. Morphological aspects

Abstract 1. 1. The histology of the hippocampus in the rat and rabbit was studied by electron microscopy with the object of relating the geometrical configuration of hippocampal cells to hippocampal electrical activity. 2. 2. Measurements of the hippocampus of the rabbit were made by light microscopy. 3. 3. A striking feature of the hippocampus is the relationship between glial processes and synaptic endings. 4. 4. Particular attention was paid to extraneuronal spaces where extracellular currents may flow.
Extracellular Secretion of the Borrelia burgdorferi Oms28 Porin and Bgp, a Glycosaminoglycan Binding Protein

Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease pathogen, cycles between its Ixodes tick vector and vertebrate hosts, adapting to vastly different biochemical environments. Spirochete gene expression as a function of temperature, pH, growth phase, and host milieu is well studied, and recent work suggests that regulatory networks are involved. Here, we examine the release of Borrelia burgdorferi strain B31 proteins into conditioned medium. Spirochetes intrinsically radiolabeled at concentrations ranging from 107 to 109 cells per ml secreted Oms28, a previously characterized outer membrane porin, into RPMI medium. As determined by immunoblotting, this secretion was not associated with outer membrane blebs or cytoplasmic contamination. A similar profile of secreted proteins was obtained for spirochetes radiolabeled in mixtures of RPMI medium and serum-free Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK II) medium. Proteomic liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of tryptic fragments derived from strain B31 culture supernatants confirmed the identity of the 28-kDa species as Oms28 and revealed a 26-kDa protein as 5′-methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidase (Pfs-2), previously described as Bgp, a glycosaminoglycan-binding protein. The release of Oms28 into the culture medium is more selective when the spirochetes are in logarithmic phase of growth compared to organisms obtained from stationary phase. As determined by immunoblotting, stationary-phase spirochetes released OspA, OspB, and flagellin. Oms28 secreted by strains B31, HB19, and N40 was also recovered by radioimmunoprecipitation. This is the first report of B. burgdorferi protein secretion into the extracellular environment. The possible roles of Oms28 and Bgp in the host-pathogen interaction are considered.
Immunological characteristics of a peroxidase protein in human neonatal cord serum.

Abstract Adult serum haptoglobin-hemoglobin complexes exhibit acid-stable peroxidase activity. The haptoglobin level in human neonatal cord sera, however, is reported to be very low. We have isolated a protein from the cord sera of neonates, which has acid-stable peroxidase activity analagous to adult serum hapto-globins-haemoglobin complexes, but does not show any immunological identity to adult serum haptoglobins. It differs from the latter in its molecular size and electrophoretic mobility in agarose and polyacrylamide gels. It is unique to cord sera and it bears immunological identity to human IgG.
Use mathematical modeling to give your TPM implementation effort an extra boost

Total productive maintenance, or TPM, represents a major shift in the way an organization approaches the maintenance function and implementation typically requires a significant change in organizational culture. Most references on TPM suggest a variety of ways to promote this cultural change, including top management support, training and changes in reward systems. Despite these efforts, many organizations still find it difficult to create the necessary change in culture. This paper proposes an additional means to help bring about the cultural change necessary to make TPM work: mathematical modeling. Using examples of four mathematical models in the maintenance field, the paper describes how such models might be used to promote this cultural change by making the potential benefits of TPM more tangible and objective to employees and by improving employees’ understanding of how their involvement in TPM can affect the organization and its customers.
Passive, active, and semi-active series tuned mass dampers

This paper is a comprehensive study of series tuned mass damper (TMDs) for vibration mitigation in passive, active, and semi-active manners. Recently, the authors proposed a novel configuration of TMD with multiple auxiliary absorbers connected to the primary structure in series, and proved that passive series TMDs are more effective and robust than other types of TMDs. Here we further extend the study to active and semi-active controls using LQG and clipped algorithms. The advantages of series TMDs are further highlighted in comparison with the classic TMD. Numerical simulations based on the parameters of Taipei 101 tower are carried out. It is founded that in the passive implementation we can reduce the total mass requirement by 40%, and decrease the damping coefficient to 1/30. We also found that in the active and semi-active manners, the requirement of actuation force is reduced to only 1/4 while achieving the same or better performance.
WWW: past, present, and future

The World Wide Web is simply defined as the universe of global network-accessible information. It is an abstract space within which people can interact, and it is chiefly populated by interlinked pages of text, images, and animations, with occasional sounds, videos, and three-dimensional worlds. The Web marks the end of an era of frustrating and debilitating incompatibility between computer systems. It has created an explosion of accessibility, with many potential social and economical impacts. The Web was designed to be a space within which people could work on a project. This was a powerful concept, in that: people who build a hypertext document of their shared understanding can refer to it at all times; people who join a project team can have access to a history of the team's activities, decisions, and so on; the work of people who leave a team can be captured for future reference; and a team's operations, if placed on the Web, can be machine-analyzed in a way that could not be done otherwise. The Web was originally supposed to be a personal information system and a tool for groups of all sizes, from a team of two to the entire world. People have rapidly developed new features for the Web, because of its tremendous commercial potential. This has made the maintenance of globalWeb interoperability a continuous task. This has also created a number of areas into which research must continue.
Induced senescence: a cunning Fox's new trick.

In this issue of Blood , Ye and colleagues demonstrate that human Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells suppress target T cells by inducing senescence, and this endows them with suppressive functions.[1][1] Treg cells are pivotal in maintaining self-tolerance and immune homeostasis, but can also inhibit
Ethics and Mental Health Service Delivery Under Managed Care

The delivery of mental health services under managed care takes on different dimensions affecting the ethical considerations of providers and patients. In this article, we explore five key issues that are especially relevant to the psychiatric population: conflict of interest, confidentiality, patients' rights, underserved patients and allocation, and levels of ethical analysis. Implications for nursing are also discussed.
Dislocation climb in gadolinium due to thermal diffusion

Abstract Electron microscope observations have been made of unusual dislocation distributions in thin films of gadolinium prepared from vacuum deposited films by electron beam heating, in situ, in the electron microscope. Experimental evidence and arguments are given for the belief that the dislocations are edge dislocations with the Burgers vector normal to the foil and that they have originated through climb processes. It is pointed out that this type of heating gives rise to very large temperature gradients which in turn are the driving force for thermal diffusion. Resasonable guesses for unknown physical parameters for gadolinium make this type of vacancy flow very plausible as the origin of these dislocations.
High-Speed Chromosome Sorting

Dual-beam high-speed sorting has been developed to facilitate purification of chromosomes based on DNA staining with the fluorescent dyes Hoechst 33258 and chromomycin A3. Approximately 200 chromosomes per second of two types can be sorted from a suspension of chromosomes isolated from human lymphoblasts while fluorescent objects (chromosomes, debris fragments, chromosome clumps, and nuclei) are processed at the rate of about 20,000 per second. This sorting rate is approximately ten times that possible with conventional sorters. Chromosomes of a single type can be sorted with a purity of about 90 percent. DNA from the sorted chromosomes is suitable for construction of recombinant DNA libraries and for gene mapping.
Thermal Stabilization of Enzymes Immobilized within Carbon Paste Electrodes.

In this note we report on the remarkable thermal stabilization of enzymes immobilized in carbon paste electrodes. Amperometric biosensors are shown for the first time to withstand a prolonged high-temperature (>50 °C) stress. Nearly full activity of glucose oxidase is retained over periods of up to 4 months of thermal stress at 60-80 °C. Dramatic improvements in the thermostability are observed for polyphenol oxidase, lactate oxidase, alcohol oxidase, horseradish peroxidase, and amino acid oxidase. Such resistance to heat-induced denaturation is attributed to the conformational rigidity of these biocatalysts within the highly hydrophobic (mineral oil or silicone grease) pasting liquid. While no chemical stabilizer is needed for attaining such protective action, it appears that low humidity (i.e., low water content) is essential for minimizing the protein mobility. Besides their implications for electrochemical biosensors, such observations should lead to a new generation of thermoresistant enzyme reactors based on nonpolar semisolid supports.
Sink repositioning for enhanced performance in wireless sensor networks

Most of the energy aware routing approaches for unattended wireless sensor networks pursue multi-hop paths in order to minimize the total transmission power. Since almost in all sensor networks data are routed towards a single sink (gateway), hops close to that sink become heavily involved in packet forwarding and thus their batteries get depleted rather quickly. In addition, the interest in optimizing the transmission energy tends to increase the levels of packet relaying and thus makes queuing delay an issue, especially for real-time traffic. In this paper we investigate the potential of gateway repositioning for enhanced network performance in terms of energy, delay and throughput. We address issues related to when should the gateway be relocated, where it would be moved to and how to handle its motion without negative effect on data traffic. We present two approaches that factor in the traffic pattern for determining a new location of the gateway for optimized communication energy and timeliness, respectively. The gateway movement is carefully managed in order to avoid packet losses. The proposed approaches are validated in a simulated environment.
Contribution of Synthetic and Naturally Occurring Organobromine Compounds to Bromine Mass in Marine Organisms

An extraction, separation, and purification method was developed for the identification and quantification of total bromine (TBr), extractable organobromine (EOBr), and five classes of identified EOBrs. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was utilized to quantify EOBr and TBr. The method was then applied to liver samples of tuna, albatross, and polar bear collected from remote marine locations. Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), bromophenols (BRPs), hydroxylated (OH-) and methoxylated (MeO-) PBDEs were analyzed as identified EOBr. The majority of the bromine in these marine organisms was nonextractable or inorganic, with EOBr accounting for 10−28% of the TBr. Of the identified EOBr, in tuna and albatross, naturally occurring compounds, including MeO-PBDEs, OH-PBDEs, and BPRs, were prevalent. However, the identifiable EOBr in polar bears consisted primarily of synthetic compounds, including PBDEs and PBBs. Overall, 0.08−0.11% and 0.008−0.012% of EOBr and TB...
One-stage hypospadias repair with stent or suprapubic diversion: Which is better?

Abstract Purpose: The authors report on 105 consecutive patients who underwent one-stage hypospadias repair based on use of suprapubic diversion or transurethral drainage with stenting. Methods: The surgical procedures included 52 metal-based flap urethroplasty (Mathieu) for coronal, subcoronal, and distal shaft hypospadias; 32 transverse island pedicle graft (Duckett) for mid and proximal shaft hypospadias; 21 transverse island pedicle (Duckett) plus rolied midline tube (Thierchs) for penoscrotal and scrotal hypospadias. To accomplish urinary drainage, suprapubic diversion (cystofix) was used in 28 of 52 Mathieu operations, in 17 of 32 Duckett operations, and in 11 of 21 transverse island pedicle graft plus rolled midline tube operations. In the rest of the cases, transurethral drainage with stenting was used. Results: All children had excellent cosmetic and functional outcomes. But the rates of complications such as fistula and meatal stenosis were significantly different between the groups in which suprapubic tube or urethral stent was used. In 56 of the 105 patients in whom suprapubic diversion was used, four (7.14%) had fistulas and three (5.35%) had meatal stenosis, in contrast to a fistula rate of 14.28% and meatal stenosis rate of 12.24% in patients that urethral stent is used for urinary drainage. Conclusion: The authors believe that the use of suprapubic diversion is advantageous for the outcome of one-stage hypospadias repair in relation to fistula occurrence and meatal stenosis.
Accelerometer based wireless wheel rotating sensor for navigation usage

Accelerometer is an important component in INS. Low cost MEMS accelerometers often provide poor accuracy and make system divergent rapidly. This paper provides another way to use accelerometer. Mounting accelerometer on wheel, one can get accuracy angular velocity and degree of wheel, then vehicle's speed and passing distance can be calculated accurately. A self-made concept system was verified that the error of the system is about 15m over 967m integrated path.
IUD use in adolescent mothers: retention, failure and reasons for discontinuation.

Abstract Background Many professional organizations recommend intrauterine device (IUD) use in adolescents, but data on performance of currently available devices in US teens are scant. We describe IUD continuation, side effect and pregnancy rates in parous adolescents. Study Design Between 2002 and 2008, a cohort of 136 young mothers from an adolescent pregnancy/postpartum program received either a CuT380A or LNG-IUS for contraception. A minimum of 2 years postplacement, IUD status was ascertained by records review and phone interviews. Discontinuation, side effect and pregnancy rates by IUD type were calculated and compared. Results Mean and median survival times were 25.1 and 14.1 months, respectively, and did not differ by IUD type. Twelve-month continuation was 55%. Of the 87 removals, the most common reasons were expulsion (14.2%), pain (12.2%), bleeding (7.4%), pregnancy desire (6.8%) and pregnancy (4.7%), and rates did not differ significantly by IUD type. First-year pregnancy rates with IUD in situ was 6.2% for the CuT380A and 3.7% for the LNG-IUS (p=.5). Rates of removal for bleeding and pain were similar for both devices. Conclusion Over half of parous adolescents who choose IUDs keep them for at least 1 year. Expulsion rates and pregnancy rates are higher than reported in the general population.
Defending a Paradigm by Patrolling a Boundary: Two Global Newspapers’ Approach to WikiLeaks

Drawing on the concepts of paradigm repair and professional boundary work, this study examined the way the New York Times and the Guardian portrayed the whistle-blowing group WikiLeaks as being bey...
Size-Dependent Surface-Induced Heterogeneous Nucleation Driven Phase-Change in Ge2Sb2Te5 Nanowires

By combining electron microscopy and size-dependent electrical measurements, we demonstrate surface-induced heterogeneous nucleation-dominant mechanism for recrystallization of amorphous phase-change Ge2Sb2Te5 nanowires. Heterogeneous nucleation theory quantitatively predicts the nucleation rates that vary by 5 orders of magnitude from 190 to 20 nm lengthscales. Our work demonstrates that increasing the surface-to-volume ratio of nanowires has two effects: lowering of the activation energy barrier due to phonon instability and providing nucleation sites for recrystallization. The systematic study of the effect of surface in phase-change behavior is critical for understanding nanoscale phase-transitions and design of nonvolatile memory devices.
Voltage sensitive calcium channels in the presynaptic terminals of a decrementally conducting photoreceptor

1. Intracellular recordings were made from the presynaptic regions of the photoreceptors of the median ocellus of the giant barnacle, Balanus nubilus.2. Millivolt changes in membrane potential near the dark resting level in the terminals elicit post-synaptic activity and consequently must be sufficient to modulate transmitter release from these endings.3. In normal saline the terminal voltage usually changes in a graded manner to increasing intensities of illumination of the cell. When the terminal region is superfused with saline containing TEA, 3-AP or high concentrations of K, an all-or-none action potential can be elicited consistently by light or injected current.4. The peak value of this action potential depends on the Ca concentration in the saline. The action potential can be generated if Sr or Ba ions replace Ca, but is reduced or blocked if Mg, Co, or Mn ions are added to the saline. It is virtually unaffected by TTX or replacement of Na with TMA ions in the saline. These results suggest that Ca carries most or all of the inward current during the action potential.5. The action potential is followed by a large undershoot which can last several seconds. The amplitude and duration of the action potential and the duration of the undershoot all grow in increasing concentrations of TEA up to 400 mM, the highest concentration tested. The threshold for the action potential decreases as the concentration of TEA is increased to 10 mM; increasing the concentration further has no effect on the threshold. These observations suggest that TEA blocks a voltage-sensitive potassium conductance at low concentrations but has less effect on the current responsible for the undershoot.6. Electrophysiological and pharmacological evidence suggests that the Ca channels are concentrated in the presynaptic terminals of this photoreceptor.
satmc: Spectral energy distribution Analysis Through Markov Chains

We present the general purpose spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting tool SED Analysis Through Markov Chains (SATMC). Utilizing Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) algorithms, SATMC fits an observed SED to SED templates or models of the user’s choice to infer intrinsic parameters, generate confidence levels and produce the posterior parameter distribution. Here, we describe the key features of SATMC from the underlying MCMC engine to specific features for handling SED fitting. We detail several test cases of SATMC, comparing results obtained from traditional least-squares methods, which highlight its accuracy, robustness and wide range of possible applications. We also present a sample of submillimetre galaxies (SMGs) that have been fitted using the SED synthesis routine GRASIL as input. In general, these SMGs are shown to occupy a large volume of parameter space, particularly in regards to their star formation
Net Mass Flow Components in a Three-Dimensional Unsteady Rotor Inflow Model

Potential flow equations are converted to ordinary differential equations by the Galerkin approach in which velocity and pressure potential functions are expanded in terms of closed-form solutions to Laplace’s Equation. The reduced number of generalized coordinates in a Galerkin approach gives advantages in real-time simulations, preliminary design, and dynamic eigenvalue analysis for aeroelasticity. Net mass injection from rotor sources is expected to occur in some situations, but cannot be treated by previous models. It is included in the present formulation. In this paper, frequency response due to pressure distributions corresponding to net mass flow in both axial and skew-angle flight are given. These results are compared with exact solutions obtained by the approach of a convolution integral. A brief analysis is also included with respect to numerical simulations of the Associated Legendre Functions, in which it demonstrates that net mass flow components are extremely sensitive to the recursive process of seeking Associated Legendre Functions.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Trends over time in tree and seedling phylogenetic diversity indicate regional differences in forest biodiversity change

Changing climate conditions may impact the short-term ability of forest tree species to regenerate in many locations. In the longer term, tree species may be unable to persist in some locations while they become established in new places. Over both time frames, forest tree biodiversity may change in unexpected ways. Using repeated inventory measurements five years apart from more than 7000 forested plots in the eastern United States, we tested three hypotheses: phylogenetic diversity is substantially different from species richness as a measure of biodiversity; forest communities have undergone recent changes in phylogenetic diversity that differ by size class, region, and seed dispersal strategy; and these patterns are consistent with expected early effects of climate change. Specifically, the magnitude of diversity change across broad regions should be greater among seedlings than in trees, should be associated with latitude and elevation, and should be greater among species with high dispersal capacity. Our analyses demonstrated that phylogenetic diversity and species richness are decoupled at small and medium scales and are imperfectly associated at large scales. This suggests that it is appropriate to apply indicators of biodiversity change based on phylogenetic diversity, which account for evolutionary relationships among species and may better represent community functional diversity. Our results also detected broadscale patterns of forest biodiversity change that are consistent with expected early effects of climate change. First, the statistically significant increase over time in seedling diversity in the South suggests that conditions there have become more favorable for the reproduction and dispersal of a wider variety of species, whereas the significant decrease in northern seedling diversity indicates that northern conditions have become less favorable. Second, we found weak correlations between seedling diversity change and latitude in both zones, with stronger relationships apparent in some ecoregions. Finally, we detected broadscale seedling diversity increases among species with longer-distance dispersal capacity, even in the northern zone, where overall seedling diversity declined. The statistical power and geographic extent of such analyses will increase as data become available over larger areas and as plot measurements are repeated at regular intervals over a longer period of time.
Are "Beats" of Electron Waves at Optical Frequencies a Potential for Free-Electron Lasers?

If two coherent electron beams originating from the same source interfere after one of the beams has been accelerated or decelerated by a few electron volts, a wave-mechanical beat phenomenon should occur. Continuously tunable optical radiation should be emitted. Feedback of this radiation within an optical cavity may turn the system into a free-electron laser.
Sentencing Guidelines and focal concerns: The effect of sentencing policy as a practical constraint on sentencing decisions

Contemporary research on criminal sentencing has analyzed sentencing under numerous sentencing policies, yet the effect of sentencing policy on outcomes and disparity is not known. A variety of sentencing guidelines systems, one of the more common sentencing policies, exists throughout the country. In addition, recent Supreme Court decisions regarding sentencing guidelines are likely to produce alterations to several state sentencing policies over the next few years. Using data from the state of Florida, the current study examines the effects of policy transformation on sentencing disparity within the focal concerns of sentencing perspective. The authors view sentencing guidelines as a practical constraint on sentencing decisions that influence other key variables. The results indicate that sentencing policy transformation has an important effect on both sentencing decisions and on the factors that shape those decisions. The findings suggest that future sentencing research and theoretical development would benefit from incorporating measures of policy differences in its analyses.
A consuming passion: An interview with George Ritzer

George Ritzer is Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park. Ritzer was co‐founding editor of the Journal of Consumer Culture with Don Slater. In addition to his considerable work in the area of the sociology of consumption, Ritzer is especially known for Metatheorizing in sociology (1991), The McDonaldization of society (1993), The globalization of nothing (2004), and a truly scandalous number of additional publications in social theory and sociology generally. These interviews were conducted on the 2nd and 30th of May 2006.
Substance P downregulates expression of the high affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) by human mast cells

The effect of the neuropeptide substance P (SP) on human mast cell (MC) phenotype is poorly understood. In this study, SP effects on human MC expression of the high affinity IgE receptor (FceRI) were characterized. SP downregulated expression of FceRI mRNA and protein by approximately 50% and in a concentration dependent manner, the effect was partially mediated by engagement of the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) and resulted in reduced mast cell activation. Sensitization of MC with IgE prior to SP exposure protected MC from SP-mediated FceRI downregulation. SP release may inhibit MC responses to allergens and these results may have implications in neuroinflammatiion and stress.