cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Women international migration from the Maghreb: Dimensions and impacts

Abstract For a long time, women have remained invisible in studies on migration in the Maghreb countries. Their socio-economic contributions and unique experiences have not been taken into account by researchers. In the 1960s and 1970s migration studies often assumed that most migrants were males, and that women were always present in migratory flows as spouses, daughters and dependents of male migrants. Consequently, migration was portrayed as purely a male phenomenon, despite the fact that mobility of women affects the roles of both female and male migrants when considering the families left behind in the migration process. Despite the fact that migration responds to and impacts capital, labour, culture, identities, the family and citizenship in sending and receiving countries, statistics on female migration—both internal and international—are notoriously poor. This lack of information and data on women migration is not only the case in Maghreb countries. As a matter of fact, it is only recently that the international community has begun to grasp the significance of what migrant women have to offer, even though women constitute almost half of all international migrants worldwide, despite contributions to poverty reduction and struggling economies. This paper is dealing with women international migration, its trends, dimensions, characteristics and effects in Maghreb countries (Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco), which constitute probably one of the most remarkable geographical regions of the world with respect to labour migration movements.
On the mechanism of inhibition by iodine of the thyroid adenylate cyclase response to thyrotropic hormone.

Rats maintained on a low-iodine diet were hypophysectomized, and their diet was then enriched with iodide. Cyclic AMP(cAMP) concentrations achieved in their thyroids following in vitro TSH stimulation were significantly lower than those in the thyroids of control animals that did not receive dietary iodide enrichment. The addition of 0.1% methimazole (MMI) or 1% KClO4, to the diet abolished this inhibitor effect of iodide. The administration of triiodothyronine in the diet did not reproduce the inhibitor effect of iodide. The effect of iodide in vitro on the thyroid cAMP response to TSH was then investigated using paired thyroid lobes obtained from intact rats fed a lowiodine diet. During a 15-min incubation period, concentrations of iodide up to 10−3M, together with TSH (125 mU/ml), did not affect the thyroid cAMP response to TSH. In contrast, the preincubation of the lobes in 5 × 10−5M Nal for 2 h preceding a final 15-min incubation in medium containing TSH alone resulted in final cAMP concentrations si...
Single-material MEMS using polycrystalline diamond

The multi-material MEMS fabrication process often requires a larger number of masks making it more expensive as compared to single-material MEMS (SMM) technology. By varying the doping level in poly-C, semi-conducting, metallic and insulating (undoped) properties are achieved that are needed for poly-C SMM. However, the development of diamond-based SMM technology faces a number of challenges including (a) producing highly-insulating and highly-conducting poly-C films, (b) creating ohmic contacts and (c) patterning by dry etching of poly-C films grown on Si or SiO 2 . These challenges are addressed in this paper.
Left Out: Trust and Social Capital Among Migrant Seasonal Farmworkers

Objectives. We analyze the levels of trust and social capital among an understudied group: migrant seasonal farmworkers (MSFW). MSFWs of today are likely to become the “Hispanics” of tomorrow, which means that understanding what affects the development of social capital of this group is critical to understanding how these individuals are incorporated—or not—into the U.S. polity. Methods. We utilize logistic regression analysis and ordered logit analysis to analyze a data set of 555 MSFWs and comments from four focus groups in Idaho. Results. We find that MSFWs have lower levels of generalized trust than do Hispanics nationally. We also find that MSFWs have low levels of trust toward whites and Mexican Americans. Conclusions. We argue that an ethnic community's subgroups must be incorporated into our analysis of social capital, especially when these individuals are likely to become U.S. permanent residents or citizens.
Report on discussion of paper by P. J. H. Sharpe.

Several questions of clarification about the operation of the model were addressed by Sharpe. The operational environment for water, light, and nutrients in the modeling approach uses a zero to one scaling for each variable, where the minimum and maximum values are selected to represent the relevant range of conditions for the environment under consideration. For example, in applications of the model to semiarid woodlands in Australia, soil-water potential values below the wilting point are assigned a water factor value of zero. Water potentials above field capacity have a value of one. In a simple ‘top-down’ formulation of the model, two plant properties are needed-the maximum leaf area index for the species and the initial relative growth rate. Application of this model to Australian woodlands allowed the prediction that competition between two trees growing very close together in an open environment decreased with time as the proportion of overlap of the root system decreased with root proliferation in separate soil areas. Thus, productivity of a woodland site is expected to depend not so much on tree spacing as on the number of trees per unit area. A second insight gained from the modeling was an explanation for the large observed scatter in the relation between leaf area and stem diameter of trees growing in competitive situations. Observers had been attempting to fit a curvilinear function to the data but the modeling analysis suggested that the data should be a family of sigmoid functions which, at the competitive extreme, become linear. Re-examination of the data in these terms confirmed the modeling insight. Sharpe advocated the use of modeling for providing guidance for experimental research. Testing of the model is always needed and applications to current field experiments in Canberra (Landsberg) and Sweden (Christersson) may be suitable. The model can be tested in various ways. Predictions of annual productivity for trees of various age classes can be compared with tree-ring analysis data, predicted effects of the spatial relationships among trees in the field can be tested, and results of simulation by the model of pine tree responses to bark beetle attack could be evaluated by the measurement of tree oleoresin content over 100 years, a significant long-term research commitment. Sharpe indicated that he plans to add more mechanisms to the modeling approach. Jarvis thought that this may be very difficult and questioned whether the effort would be worthwhile and what would be the intended use of the more detailed models. Sharpe replied that he anticipates the development of a family of models for addressing the responses of plant communities to a range of factors such as air pollution, atmospheric CO2 enrichment, and topographic (N-S slopes) effects. To extend the use of models for managers and decision makers, computer
Interdependent Transportation and Production Activity at the United States Postal Service

Transportation decisions and production decisions can usually be made separately. Under certain conditions, however, there are important interactions between transportation and production. An example of a combined production and routeing environment exists in the United States Postal Service (USPS). The daily movement and sorting of first class letter mail requires balancing transportation and mail sorting production costs, while considering the time dependent accumulation of mail during the day. The focus of this paper is on the practical application of a combined production/routeing model to a specific USPS division and the use of insights from this model to re-design the operation. A mixed integer linear program using candidate route integer variables is solved to near optimality. Specific routes and production schedules detailed by the model indicate that the division could save up to 5% of their combined production and routeing costs, amounting to $298000 per year. More importantly, the model provides insight on potential heuristics to choose routes under these circumstances.
Palaeoclimate: windows on the greenhouse.

Data laboriously extracted from an Antarctic ice core provide an unprecedented view of temperature, and levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane, over the past 800,000 years of Earth's history.
Good Hijabi, Bad Hijabi: The Politics of Women's Clothing in Iran

Abstract This paper seeks to examine the revolution in women’s clothing in Iran under different systems of governance, starting from the time immediately before the Pahlavi dynasty to modern day Iran. This is to show how the ever-changing systems of governance of the country coerced Iranian women into dressing in accordance with the political agenda at the time. This paper showcases women taking a stand against the system of governance before, during, and after the Iranian Revolution (18th to 21st century) by developing a subculture that does not confine them to certain kind of clothing. Instead, they mixed their personality with what they chose to wear, often identifying themselves as ‘bad hijabis’ for defying the status quo to make their own political statement.
A task for evaluation of articulation change. 1. Development of methodology.

Seven subjects with consistent misarticulations of the same three phonemes were provided speech instruction for the phoneme [s]. A 60-item sound production task was administered to each subject prior to the first teaching session and at every second session throughout the course of instruction. Subjects made articulation improvement on the sound taught, [s], and its cognant, [z], but not on the phonetically dissimilar sound, [r].
The role of gap junctional communication in contractile oscillations in arteries from normotensive and hypertensive rats

Objectives : To test the hypotheses that vascular supersensitivity correlates with the appearance of contractile oscillations ; vascular oscillations are mediated by gap junctions ; and gap junctional communication is altered in the vasculature in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SHRSP) compared with Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Design and methods : Helical strips of mesenteric and tail arteries from SHRSP and WKY rats were mounted in tissue baths for measurement of isometric force. Cultures of mesenteric arterial cells were used for measurement of Lucifer yellow dye transfer and abundance of connexin43 mRNA, a monomer of gap junctions. Results : Mesenteric arteries from SHRSP that displayed spontaneous oscillations were more sensitive to the contractile agonist 5-hydroxytryptamine than those from SHRSP and WKY rats that displayed no oscillations. In addition, SHRSP tail arteries displayed norepinephrine-induced oscillations. The putative gap junction up-regulator tetraethylammonium (10 -3 -10 -1 mol/l) induced oscillations (1-5 cycle/min) in arteries from both rat strains. These oscillations were not altered by endothelium removal or phentolamine and were blocked by heptanol (10 -3 mol/l). Although tetraethylammonium and heptanol caused similar effects in both arteries, heptanol-sensitive agonist-induced oscillations persisted only in the tail artery of SHRSP. Tetraethylammonium increased dye transfer between between contiguous cells approximately 35% above basal levels both for SHRSP and WKY cells. In both cell lines, heptanol reduced basal- and tetraethylammonium-stimulated dye transfer. Total RNA from WKY rat and SHRSP cultured cells hybridized strongly and to a similar magnitude with a complementary DNA probe for messenger RNA for connexin43. Conclusions : Gap junctional communication is important in vascular reactivity and might play a part in the development of oscillations. Altered gap junctional communication could not be demonstrated in cell cultures nor in some contractile experiments. It is possible that the culture conditions failed to mimic conditions in vivo that differentially regulate gap junctions in the hypertensive state, but it is also possible that gap junctional activity is not abnormal in hypertension.
Litter quality, stream characteristics and litter diversity influence decomposition rates and macroinvertebrates

SUMMARY 1. We examined the relative importance of litter quality and stream characteristics in determining decomposition rate and the macroinvertebrate assemblage living on autumnshed leaves. 2. We compared the decomposition rates of five native riparian tree species (Populus fremontii, Alnus oblongifolia, Platanus wrightii, Fraxinus velutina and Quercus gambelii) across three south-western streams in the Verde River catchment (Arizona, U.S.A.). We also compared the decomposition of three- and five-species mixtures to that of single species to test whether plant species diversity affects rate. 3. Decomposition rate was affected by both litter quality and stream. However, litter quality accounted for most of the variation in decomposition rates. The relative importance of litter quality decreased through time, explaining 97% of the variation in the first week but only 45% by week 8. We also found that leaf mixtures decomposed more quickly than expected, when all the species included were highly labile or when the stream environment led to relatively fast decomposition. 4. In contrast to decomposition rate, differences in the invertebrate assemblage were more pronounced across streams than across leaf litter species within a stream. We also found significant differences between the invertebrate assemblage colonising leaf mixtures compared with that colonising pure species litter, indicating non-additive properties of litter diversity on stream invertebrates. 5. This study shows that leaf litter diversity has the capacity to affect in-stream decomposition rates and stream invertebrates, but that these effects depend on both litter quality and stream characteristics.
Successful writing: Five roadblocks to overcome

This article provides essential strategies to be more successful in one of the major roles in academia: writing. Most academics struggle with roadblocks in their writing process. We are forever battling to complete research articles, manuscripts, grant proposals or other documents. The strategies and perspective shared here help overcome several roadblocks like Literary Laryngitis and First Paragraph Paralysis. These proven strategies offer relief, encouragement, and guidance.
Continuous culture of the hyperthermophilic archaeum Pyrococcus furiosus

A system for continuous culture of the hyperthermophilic archaeum Pyrococcus furiosus in the absence of elemental sulphur has been developed. An all-glass “gas-lift” bioreactor was used to provide high mass transfer at low shear forces, whilst eliminating the potential for corrosion. Steady-state cell densities of P. furiosus were found to increase with higher inert gas flow rates, reaching a maximum in this system with 0.5 vol. vol−1 min−1 of nitrogen (N2). N2 permitted higher cell densities than the other inert gases tested (argon, helium and sulphur hexafluoride) under equivalent conditions. At 0.5 vol. vol−1 min−1 of N2 a cell density in excess of 3 × 109 ml−1 could be maintained indefinitely at a dilution rate of 0.2 h−1. Higher dilution rates gave progressively lower steady-state cell densities. Teh biomass production was maximal, however, at a dilution rate of 0.4 h−1. At this dilution rate the bioreactor was able to generate more than 1.5 g wet weight of cells h−1 l−1 culture volume.
Haiti’s Pedodontics Foundation Struggles to Survive

“While I thank you again and again for your help, I beg you not to forget us. The job is enormous and we simply do not have either the dentists or the resources to deal adequately with our dental problems.”
A shell-based inverse approach of stress analysis in intracranial aneurysms.

Predicting pressure induced wall stress in intracranial aneurysms continues to be of interest for aneurysm safety assessment. In quasi-static analysis, there are two distinct approaches that one may take, the forward approach and the inverse approach. The inverse approach starts from a deformed configuration and thus is naturally suited to image-based, patient-specific analysis. Early studies by the authors’ team suggested that the inverse approach, in the context of estimating the wall stress in cerebral aneurysms, depends weakly on the material description. In this article, we present a population study to further demonstrate the inverse method, in particular, the remarkable feature of insensitivity to material properties. Twenty-six aneurysm models derived from patient-specific images were employed in the study. Wall stresses were predicted in both the inverse and forward approaches using three material models. Results showed that, while forward computation yielded up to ~100% stress difference between some materials, the inverse solutions stayed close across materials. The inverse method, in addition to being methodologically accurate in dealing with pre-deformations, has the added convenience of insensitivity to uncertainties in wall tissue properties. New insight into the stress-geometry relation was also discussed.
Reliability and fault tolerance analysis of FPGA platforms

This paper presents reliability and fault tolerance analyses of FPGA platforms. FPGA stands for Field Programmable Gate Arrays. It is a digital technology designed to be configured by a customer or a designer after manufacturing-hence “field-programmable”. The FPGA configuration is generally specified using a Hardware Description Language (HDL), similar to that used for an Application-Specific integrated Circuit (ASIC). The FPGA platforms that are investigated are Digilent Nexys digital design platforms, built around Xilinx FPGA technology. They are ideal platforms for any engineer to gain experience with Xilinx's latest technologies, and are perfectly suited to the classroom. These platforms are intensively used in learning environments, such as colleges and universities world-wide, so they need to be reliable and robust, surviving intensive use over the years. Advanced reliability estimations for these FPGA platforms are presented, using various modules and prediction methods of CARE-CAD tool, a powerful software tool for reliability analysis (Mean Time Between Failures Module, Fault Tree Analysis Module, Reliability Block Diagram Module). After various reliability estimations are performed considering every functional block of the FPGA platforms, fault tolerance analyses are performed. Fault tolerant techniques, based on hardware redundancy, are suggested for the less reliable blocks of the platforms. New reliability analyses are performed to see if the addition of redundant blocks and components is justified, improving the reliability of the platforms for short and long mission times. Estimating the reliability of various blocks of the FPGA platforms help the designer to make the necessary changes, designing more robust products.
Freeze-Thaw Cycles, Potholes, and the Winter of 1977-78.

Abstract The winter of 1977–78 may truly be called the “winter of the pothole” because so many of them pockmarked the roads in the northeast quadrant of the United States. A major reason given for this deterioration of the roads was the large number of freeze-thaw cycles. An examination of the frequency of freeze-thaw cycles during the past 18 winters revealed that the winter of 1977–78 actually had the smallest number of cycles. The formation of potholes, the relationship between the frequency of cycles at several elevations and depths, and the statistical characteristics of a time series of winter freeze-thaw cycles are discussed.
Site-selective photoluminescence excitation and photoluminescence spectroscopy of Er-implanted wurtzite GaN

Site-selective photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy have been carried out at 6K on the ∼1540 nm 4 I 15/2 → 4 I 15/2 emissions of Er 3+ in Er-implanted GaN. The PLE spectra exhibit several broad, below-gap, defect- or impurity-related absorption bands which excite three distinct site-selective Er + PL spectra. The near-band edge spectral position and lineshape of the PLE spectrum of one of the site-selective PL bands suggest that this Er site forms a trap level within the band gap and an exciton bound at this trap is involved in the excitation mechanism. In addition, high resolution PLE spectra obtained with a tunable laser in the 810 nm spectral range reveal a set of sharp PLE peaks due to the 4 I 15/2 → 4 I 9/2 internal Er + ƒ-band absorption superimposed on the broad defect PLE band. The site-selective PL spectrum excited by the sharp line ∼810 nm Er + intra-ƒ shell PLE bands is characteristic of a fourth distinct Er + site. The simple structure of the site-selective PL and PLE spectra associated with direct intra-ƒ shell absorption suggests that the optically active Er site responsible for these spectra is of high symmetry in wurtzite GaN and that it could be attributed to a single Er atom on a Ga site.
Prediction of the Permeation Performance of a Candidate Space Docking Seal

The preservation of air in manned spacecraft is the utmost priority in space seal research and development. Novel elastomeric space seals were developed by NASA for future spacecraft. Because a comprehensive prediction methodology was lacking in previous seal research, the design process for these elastomeric space seals had relied heavily on prior knowledge and experimental studies. Recent developments in a compressible permeation method for space seals afforded the ability to predict leak rates for realistic silicone elastomeric space seals. The objective of the research presented herein was to provide a measure of computational validation, comparing experimental referents with corresponding computational predictions. Experimental measurements of a subscale space seal constructed with elastomer compound S0383-70 were performed at two operating temperatures (+73 and +122 °F) and two levels of closure (40 and 100%). The computational technique included a finite difference technique using a curvilinear, bo...
Fast communication: User cooperation in an asynchronous cellular uplink

We present in this paper, multiuser decode-and-forward (DF) sharing scheme and a practical low-complexity adaptive pseudo-linear receiver design for cooperative diversity in an asynchronous cellular uplink. The DF schemes provide near maximum-likelihood (ML) performance, including full diversity and significant throughput improvements over no-sharing and existing schemes, under linear receiver design. The proposed linear receiver jointly separates users while suppressing the multiple-access interference (i.e., employs multiuser detection) and performs space-time decoding for diversity exploitation. We provide bit-error-probability and throughput simulations for the practical, noisy inter-user channels. The simulation results demonstrate that the three-user sharing scheme fully exploits available diversity with inter-user demodulation errors as high as 0.1% using linear joint space-time decoding and multiuser detection.
Effect of the antihypertensive drug hydralazine on mineral metabolism in the rat.

Abstract The effects of hydralazine (HZ) on mineral metabolism was investigated in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed HZ (0.1–4%, w/w) in three separate experiments: (1) a 2-week dose-response study; (2) a 2-month long-term feeding study; and (3) a pregnancy study. At the end of each experiment, tissues were removed and concentrations of Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe were measured. Results from the three experiments were similar. HZ had no effect on tissue Mn and Zn concentrations, while tissue Fe concentrations were lower and kidney Cu concentrations were higher in HZ-treated groups compared to controls. The effect of HZ on mineral metabolism may be, in part, responsible for some of its negative side effects.
Interferon-sensitivity of the enhanced incorporation of thymidine into cellular DNA induced by polyoma virus.

Abstract The effect of purified interferon on the induction of cellular DNA synthesis by polyoma virus in 3T3 cells has been studied. At the same time, the effect of interferon on the synthesis of viral DNA in the same cells was also determined. In some experiments, the wild-type polyoma virus was used and in others the Ts-a mutant; in the latter case, possible complications due to multiple cycles of growth were eliminated. The results show that interferon inhibits the induction of cellular DNA synthesis to approximately the same extent as the replication of the viral DNA.
Altitude-adjusted corrected geomagnetic coordinates: Definition and functional approximations

Analysis of the functional approximations used to transform between geo- graphic and Altitude-Adjusted Corrected Geomagnetic (AACGM) coordinates reveals that errors of >50 km can occur in the auroral and polar regions. These errors are the result of efforts to better approximate AACGM coordinates near the magnetic equator and the South Atlantic Anomaly. In these regions AACGM coordinates are not defined and alternate coordinates have been used. This augmentation and emphasis on the so- lution in regions near the equator result in spherical harmonic approximating functions that are less accurate than need be in the auroral and polar regions. In response, a new set of spherical harmonic coefficients have been derived that better represent AACGM coordinates in these regions. These new AACGM coefficients are limited to below 2000 km in altitude in order to ensure accuracy. For altitudes above 2000 km, a magnetic field- line tracing solution is recommended. A software package developed to take advantage of the new AACGM coefficients provides the capability of tracing magnetic field lines at any altitude, for improved accuracy. In addition, linear interpolation between 5-year epochs is used to produce coordinates that vary smoothly over the entire period from 1965-present. The intent of this work is to provide a more accurate procedure for de- termining AACGM coordinates in the auroral and polar regions for the study of mag- netospheric and ionospheric processes.
A physics-based simple series resistance extraction methodology

Series resistance has become a serious obstacle encountered in the development of advanced CMOS devices. At the same time, series resistance quantification in these same advanced CMOS devices is a difficult challenge. In this study, we demonstrate a very simple series resistance extraction procedure which is derived from the ratio of two linear I D -V G measurements on a single device. The physics of this method is intuitively simple and the assumptions readily justifiable. The validity of this technique has been verified by a self-consistent methodology as well as the reproduction of a known external series resistance.
EFFECT OF TRAP SITE, TIME OF DAY, AND METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS ON ABUNDANCE OF HOST-SEEKING MAMMALOPHILIC BLACK FLIES (DIPTERA: SIMULIIDAE)

Sweep-net and sticky-trap data were used to examine the influence of time of day (morning, afternoon, evening), trapping location (pasture, bog, fen, regrowth, and mature forest), and meteorological factors (wind, temperature, saturation deficit, and light) on adult female fly catch for three species (species complex) of black flies — Simulium truncatum/venustum complex, Prosimulium mixtum, and Stegopterna mutata (triploid). Wind speed, light, temperature, saturation deficit, and time of day were all shown to have a significant effect on mean catch, although effects varied among species. After accounting for weather and time, trap location was shown to have a significant effect on mean catch. The effect of site on the mean fly catch of S. truncatum/venustum complex varied with season (June to July), which may have resulted from a seasonal shift in sibling-species composition. Mean catches of P. mixtum and St. mutata were lowest in traps located in open habitats.
The Cognitive Consequences of Programming Instruction in Classrooms

The avowed purpose of most programming courses is to teach problem solving as well as to teach programming. How this purpose can be achieved is the topic of the first part of this paper. Drawing on recent research examining the cognitive demands of programming and the behavior of programmers, a chain of cognitive accomplishments culminating in increased problem solving skill is described. Whether and how this purpose is being achieved is the topic of the second part of this paper. Results of an integrated set of studies of middle school programming classes show how students start on this chain and how far they progress in introductory courses. These studies illustrate how "exemplary" instruction moves students much further along the chain than does "typical" instruction. Examination of the background characteristics of students in these courses reveals that general ability and out-of-school computer access are more associated with progress along the chain in typical classes than in exemplary classes.
OVERCONFIDENCE, SOCIAL GROUPS, AND GENDER: EVIDENCE FROM THE LAB AND FIELD

Previous research indicates that economic agents incorrectly believe that they will perform better than others in a variety of environments. This paper investigates whether a similar phenomenon exists for social groups. Students participating in a lab experiment and Scrabble players participating in a tournament revealed their beliefs about their own performances and their friends' performances. On average, the lab and field subjects both show similar levels of confidence in themselves and in their social groups. Behind these similar average levels of confidence lie some striking gender differences. In both the lab and the field, female subjects tend to show greater confidence in their groups than in themselves, while male subjects show greater confidence in themselves than in their groups.
Task routing for prediction tasks

We describe methods for routing a prediction task on a network where each participant can contribute information and route the task onwards. Routing scoring rules bring truthful contribution of information about the task and optimal routing of the task into a Perfect Bayesian Equilibrium under common knowledge about the competencies of agents. Relaxing the common knowledge assumption, we address the challenge of routing in situations where each agent's knowledge about other agents is limited to a local neighborhood. A family of local routing rules isolate in equilibrium routing decisions that depend only on this local knowledge, and are the only routing scoring rules with this property. Simulation results show that local routing rules can promote effective task routing.
Synergistic Inflammation Is Induced by Blood Degradation Products with Microbial Toll-Like Receptor Agonists and Is Blocked by Hemopexin

Detection of microbial components by immune cells via Toll-like receptors (TLRs) with subsequent induction of inflammation is essential for host defense. However, an overactive immune response can cause tissue damage and sepsis. The endogenous molecule hemoglobin and its derivative heme are often released into tissue compartments where there is infection in the presence of degrading blood. We found that hemoglobin synergizes with multiple TLR agonists to induce high levels of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 from macrophages and that this synergy is independent of TLR4 and MyD88. In contrast, heme synergized with some but not all TLR agonists studied. Furthermore, the synergy of both hemoglobin and heme with lipopolysaccharide was suppressed by hemopexin, a plasma heme-binding protein. These studies suggest that hemoglobin and heme may substantially contribute to microbe-induced inflammation when bacterial or viral infection coexists with blood degradation and that hemopexin may play a role in controlling inflammation in such settings.
Levofloxacin: update and perspectives on one of the original ‘respiratory quinolones’

The fluoroquinolone class of antimicrobials has enjoyed enormous clinical and marketing success over the past 20 years. These drugs have proven to be extremely useful in a broad range of clinical indications including both common community-acquired as well as nosocomial bacterial infections. Levofloxacin (Levaquin, Tavanic), like ciprofloxacin (Cipro), has established an enviable record of safe and efficacious use, and in many ways has become the agent against which all of the newer fluoroquinolones are judged. New clinical indications in complicated skin and skin structure infections, nosocomial pneumonia and chronic bacterial prostatitis continue to expand the important role of this already versatile drug. In addition, the use of 'short-course, high-dose' therapies are being studied in indications, such as community-acquired pneumonia, in an effort to optimize the efficacy and convenience of the drug while minimizing the future development of resistance. As the use of levofloxacin continues to expand, future challenges will include the threat of increasing antimicrobial resistance and the availability of newer alternative agents, both newer fluoroquinolones as well as agents of other antibiotic classes.
Location and initiation of degenerative rotator cuff tears: An analysis of three hundred and sixty shoulders

Background: It has been theorized that degenerative rotator cuff tears most commonly involve the supraspinatus tendon, initiating at the anterior portion of the supraspinatus insertion and propagating posteriorly. The purposes of this study were to determine the most common location of degenerative rotator cuff tears and to examine tear location patterns associated with various tear sizes. Methods: Ultrasonograms of 360 shoulders with either a full-thickness rotator cuff tear (272) or a partial-thickness rotator cuff tear (eighty-eight) were obtained to measure the width and length of the tear and the distance from the biceps tendon to the anterior margin of the tear. Tears were grouped on the basis of their size (anteroposterior width) and extent (partial or full-thickness). Each tear was represented numerically as a column of consecutive numbers representing the tear width and distance posterior to the biceps tendon. All tears were pooled to graphically represent the width and location of the tears within groups. Frequency histograms of the pooled data were generated, and the mode was determined for each histogram representing various tear groups. Results: The mean age (and standard deviation) of the 233 subjects (360 shoulders) was 64.7 ± 10.2 years. The mean width and length of the tears were 16.3 ± 12.1 mm and 17.0 ± 13.0 mm, respectively. The mean distance from the biceps tendon to the anterior tear margin was 7.8 ± 5.7 mm (range, 0 to 26 mm). Histograms of the various tear groups invariably showed the location of 15 to 16 mm posterior to the biceps tendon to be the most commonly torn location within the posterior cuff tendons. The histograms of small tears (a width of <10 mm) and partial-thickness tears showed similar distributions of tear locations, indicating that the region approximately 15 mm posterior to the biceps tendon may be where rotator cuff tears most commonly initiate. Conclusions: Degenerative rotator cuff tears most commonly involve a posterior location, near the junction of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus. The patterns of tear location across multiple tear sizes suggest that degenerative cuff tears may initiate in a region 13 to 17 mm posterior to the biceps tendon. Clinical Relevance: The findings of this study speak to the specific location of the most common type of rotator cuff lesions, degenerative rotator cuff tears.
Migrations, Ethnogenesis, and Settlement Dynamics: Israelites in Iron Age Canaan and Shuwa-Arabs in the Chad Basin

This article discusses issues connected with the emergence and maintenance of cultural identities in multiethnic contexts. Migrations have been shunned during the past few decades as an explanatory tool in the emergence of new cultural entities. It is argued in this article that “migrations” are effective forces of cultural change but they have to be well documented and carefully investigated. The formation of ethnic identity is a complex but dynamic process that does not take place in a vacuum. It sometimes involves “foundational” events, such as key migration, encapsulated in the “social memory”: the trek across the Sinai desert for the Israelites or the move westward along the Wadi-el-Malik for the Shuwa-Arabs to the Lake Chad Basin in West Africa. However, it is more often structured according opposite cultural “archetypes.” The case studies marshaled in this discussion, one archaeological, from the Late Bronze‐Iron Age I emergence of Isrealites in highland Canaan (ca. 1300‐1100 B.C.), and the other ethnoarchaeological, concerning the Shuwa-Arab settlements of northern Cameroon, both offer distinct histories with striking parallelisms. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA)
Mothers' Perceptions of Relative Advantages and Disadvantages of Children at Different Ages and of Various Characteristics

Mothers of 138 boys and 138 girls—almost all middle class Caucasian Californians—rated the relative advantages and disadvantages of children at different ages. These broad trends held true, in general, for both sexes and different birth orders, as well as for an additional rating of “children in general”: (1) Pregnancy: more disadvantages than any other age except adolescence; (2) Ages 2 to 4 or 5: more disadvantages than ages 6 to 11; (3) Ages 6 to 11: a relatively advantageous plateau; (4) Ages 12 to 19: more disadvantages than any earlier age since birth. In general, ratings were toward the “advantages” side, but some analyses suggest that this may have resulted in part from distortion in ratings Boys were rated as having more disadvantages than girls. The predictions that ratings would show more disadvantages (1) with each parity and (2) when made by mothers with larger families received support in comparisons between some subgroups.
A Comparison of Bottlenose Dolphin Whistles in the Atlantic Ocean: Factors Promoting Whistle Variation

Whistles are narrowband, frequency-modulated sounds produced by many cetaceans. Whistles are extensively studied in delphinids, where several factors have been proposed to explain between- and within-species variation. We examined factors associated with geographic variation in whistles of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) by assessing the role of ambient noise, noise from boats, and sympatry with other dolphin species, and reviewing and comparing whistle structure across populations in the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean. Whistles of adjacent populations differed, particularly in frequency parameters. A combination of factors may contribute to microgeographic whistle variation, including differences in ambient noise levels (dolphins produced relatively higher frequency whistles in the noisiest habitat), and differences in number of boats present (when multiple boats were present, dolphins whistled with greater frequency modulation and whistles were higher in maximum frequency and longer than when a single boat was present). Whistles produced by adjacent populations were relatively similar in structure. However, for clearly separated populations, the distance between them did not relate directly to whistle structure. We propose that plasticity in bottlenose dolphin whistles facilitates adaptation to local and changing conditions of their habitat, thus promoting variation between populations at different geographic scales.
Presence of Vascular Anomalies with Congenital Hemihypertrophy and Wilms Tumor: An Evidence‐Based Evaluation

Congenital hemihypertrophy is an uncommon condition of unknown etiology characterized by unilateral overgrowth of part or all of one side of the body. Hemihypertrophy is known to be associated with certain childhood tumors, most notably Wilms tumor (or nephroblastoma), and for this reason infants with hemihypertrophy are often followed with serial abdominal ultrasounds. Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is the triad of port-wine stain, venous varicosities, and soft tissue and/or bony hypertrophy. Children with KTS typically have localized rather than generalized hemihypertrophy, but occasionally the hypertrophy is more extensive than the vascular anomaly itself. Information is lacking about whether hemihypertrophy in this setting can also be a risk factor for Wilms tumor. We systematically reviewed the medical literature to determine whether well-documented cases of Wilms tumor in the setting of both hemihypertrophy and vascular anomalies have been described, and if found, whether the association was sufficiently frequent that routine screening for Wilms tumor in this setting should be recommended. A review of case reports and case series in the pediatric population was undertaken using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. We found 4 of 58 subjects with hemihypertrophy and Wilms tumor had a reported vascular anomaly, but in only one case was a clear-cut diagnosis of KTS confirmed. The relationship of the other three vascular anomalies reported was of uncertain significance. In conclusion, our review suggests that the risk of Wilms tumor in the setting of localized soft-tissue hypertrophy in conjunction with a vascular malformation is quite low. More extensive hemihypertrophy extending to body sites remote from the vascular malformation itself could have a higher risk of Wilms tumor, although the magnitude of this risk is uncertain. Our findings suggest that routine serial abdominal ultrasounds in patients with vascular malformations in association with localized soft-tissue hypertrophy are unwarranted.
(9-Anthryl­methyl)­tri­methyl­ammonium chloride monohydrate

The title compound, C18H20N+·Cl−·H2O, contains a tetra­alkyl­ammonium chloride functionality bound to an anthryl moiety. There are two formula units in the asymmetric unit of the crystal structure, with a dihedral angle of 22.55 (1)° between the anthryl planes.
A Carta Guarani Kaiowá e o direito a uma literatura com terra e das gentes

This article proposes to consider the Guarani Kaiowa’s Letter as part of contemporary Literature produced in Brazil. This inclusion presents itself as a theoretical challenge because it obligates us to explicit what we understand by “literature”, its connections to Human Rights, and which place this letter occupies within the history of Brazilian literature. The final aim is to think not only about “our” literature, historically linked to the colonial and then to the national system, but about a post-colonial literature produced and signed by the pluralities of people living in Brazil.
Wesley as a Churchman

The relation of John Wesley and early Methodism to the Church of England is one of the disputed questions of Church History. It has practical interest as well on account of the repeated attempts to induce the Methodists to return to the Church of England on the ground of the alleged unflinching loyalty of Wesley to the Church, and especially on account of his alleged High-Church notions. From documents lately printed some think that the common notion that Wesley maintained strictly evangelical notions after 1738 must be revised. It is therefore of interest to inquire what was Wesley's real attitude toward the Church of his fathers.
Far Eastern Studies: Problems and Possibilities.

The China Critic vouches for the Chinese origin of this timely story. On a hot summer day a monk, moving unsteadily along a country road, was arrested by a constable for drunkenness. On the way to jail both monk and constable became weary, and sat down beside the road to rest. Both went to sleep. The monk awoke first. Being a man of humor, he unsheathed his razor, shaved a tonsure on the constable's head, and made off. When the constable awoke to find his prisoner fled, he sleepily rubbed his cheek and then his head, eventually feeling the tonsure. "Aha," he cried, "I have found the monk; but where have I gone?" China today is playing the role of constable. Communism was arrested a quarter-century ago but placed its mark upon the captor, the people of China, who are not yet fully awake to where they are. "Where has China gone?" "Where has the tradition of Chinese-American friendship gone?" These questions and others related to them prompt students of the Far East to ask themselves not only how effectively the study and exposition of the field are being carried on, but what practical application is being made of the findings of research. They are deeply concerned to establish closer liaison with their fellow citizens and to have fuller public knowledge, and more confident utilization, of their work. For leadership of popular thought and for aid in the formulation of public policy, the most thorough study of foreign peoples, of their interrelationships and of our relations with them, is imperative. Equally important is the introduction of our citizenry in the high schools, colleges and adult education classes to the great civilizations of the world. Unless this introduction is made, there will be no leverage for greater learning to use against charlatanism and trickery, which flourish with feeding upon ignorance. A little knowledge may be dangerous if one is content with it. The only remedy for contentment is the availability of greater knowledge. In a recent pamphlet, Mr. Mortimer Graves, who has done much to advance the development of Far Eastern studies, argued urgently for support of the study of foreign lands by the federal government. He stated that "By far the largest proportion of Americans who graduate from institutions of higher learning do so without ever meeting a civilization differently patterned from their own." While pointing to the implications of this vacuum for our national security, Mr. Graves placed major emphasis upon our unpreparedness to maintain peace. "It is difficult to imagine," he wrote, "any single element which could do so much to prevent a new crisis as an adequate cadre of Americans with
Summer fish communities in northern Gulf of Mexico estuaries: Indices of ecological condition

Abstract We used fish community data from trawl samples collected from >100 estuaries, bayous, and coastal lagoons of the Louisianan Biogeographic Province (Gulf of Mexico) to develop indicators of large-scale ecological condition. One data set, from which we derived reference values for fish community indicators, was based on bottom trawl samples collected from 367 randomly located sites during the summers of 1992–1994. A second trawl data set with similar geographic scope from 2000 to 2004 was used to test the robustness of the indicators derived from the reference data set to new data. We constructed a fish community index (FCI) from three basic indicators: number of species per trawl, total abundance per trawl, and an index of trophic balance among three common feeding guilds. The FCI was not correlated with salinity over a range from freshwater to marine and hypersaline conditions (0–52 psu). Direct correlations between the index and environmental variables generally were weak, although some were significant ( p