cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the unsteady rotating fluid flow in a uniformly rotating or fixed vertical cylinder

In this paper we consider the properties of transient process that always precedes (or completes) the onset (cessation) of the steady fluid flow in a uniformly rotating vertical cylinder. First, we give an elementary (without using the Navier-Stokes equations) and detailed derivation of the equation describing the space and time distribution of angular speeds in the rotating viscous fluid. This expression is used further for the numerical constructing of the dynamic surface profiles. We find that in the case of abrupt stop of cylinder rotation these profiles has an inflection point, while for abrupt start of cylinder rotation such peculiarity is absent. We provide a simple physical explication of this fact. The issues outlined in this article will be useful for undergraduate students, who study the basics of fluid mechanics.
On use of image quality metrics for perceptual blur modeling: image/video compression case

Linear system theory is employed to make target acquisition performance predictions for electro-optical/infrared imaging systems where the modulation transfer function (MTF) may be imposed from a nonlinear degradation process. Previous research relying on image quality metrics (IQM) methods, which heuristically estimate perceived MTF has supported that an average perceived MTF can be used to model some types of degradation such as image compression. Here, we discuss the validity of the IQM approach by mathematically analyzing the associated heuristics from the perspective of reliability, robustness, and tractability. Experiments with standard images compressed by x.264 encoding suggest that the compression degradation can be estimated by a perceived MTF within boundaries defined by well-behaved curves with marginal error. Our results confirm that the IQM linearizer methodology provides a credible tool for sensor performance modeling.
9 – Facet Basics

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the facet language for defining the fundamental Rosetta modeling construct used to define system and component models. A facet is a parameterized, declarative structure that defines the properties of a system. Each facet definition consists of four major elements—namely, a domain, parameters, local declarations, and terms. A facet's domain identifies the vocabulary and model of computation used as a basis for the facet model. Facet parameters define a model's visible interface and provide a mechanism for customization and instantiation. Facet declarations provide local items defining state and local functions. Moreover, facet terms declaratively define system properties by defining properties of parameters and local variables. By defining facets, specifiers define system properties from a particular perspective. By combining facets, specifiers define multiple perspectives for a given system. Facets differ from constructs in traditional modeling and programming languages in that they use declarative constructs, and the underlying model of computation varies from model to model.
The energy footprint of automotive electronic sensors

Abstract Information and communication technologies (ICT) have emerged as one of the leading technologies to reduce global emissions, particularly in the mobility sector. Automotive electronics, such as sensors/actuators and microcontrollers (commonly known as electronic control units (ECU) which control one or more of the electrical systems or subsystems in a vehicle), play a key role in ICT. Sensors/actuators are key in electronic ICT devices, starting with the data collection and data communication with the internet. The latest two big trends of electrification and automation in vehicles, are projected to increase the use of worldwide automotive sensors from 7.5 billion units in 2017 to 11.0 billion units by the year 2024. A representative state-of-the art automotive sensor system, (i.e., an ultrasonic backup system), including the ECUs controlling the vehicle electrical systems/subsystems, has been considered to estimate the energy footprint in terms of manufacturing and operational energy of global automotive sensors use. A widely used life cycle energy assessment method (i.e., cumulative energy demand) was used as both direct and indirect (including the extraction, manufacturing, and disposal of the raw and auxiliary materials) energy use can be considered for the energy footprint estimation. The embodied manufacturing energy impacts of the system was estimated to be 559 MJ/system, compared to the 417 MJ/system for lifetime system power and additional gasoline use. The share of purchased energy to the embodied energy where the upstream energy isn't included in the former case, is less than 10% and ~ 85% for the component manufacturing and vehicle operation energy uses, respectively. As the purpose of this ultrasonic backup system is to prevent rear crashes, an estimated 1.0 MJ/system is avoided from reduced lifetime vehicular repairs (from an estimated 11% chance of requiring a rear bumper replacement). While all of this is small compared to the overall automotive manufacturing and use energy, the 11 billion automotive sensors expected to be produced in 2024 could require 1540 PJ for manufacturing and those sensors would require an additional 780–1150 PJ for lifetime energy use.
Evaluation of Methods of Enrichment and Compositing of Environmental Samples for Detection of Listeria monocytogenes.

ABSTRACT Various methods exist for the enrichment and detection of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes from environmental samples. Procedures for the compositing of environmental samples are not as well defined. In this study, different enrichment procedures involving buffered Listeria enrichment broth (BLEB), University of Vermont medium (UVM), and Fraser broth (FB) were evaluated to determine the limits of detection (LODs) for L. monocytogenes from culture and from swabs of stainless steel and to assess the efficacy of composite sampling by wet (pooling of primary enrichments) and dry (pooling of swabs) procedures. For detection of cells in pure culture, the computed values for the LOD at 95% probability (LOD95) using a single-step BLEB or two-step UVM-FB enrichment were 0.33 and 0.49 CFU/225 mL enrichment, respectively. No significant differences in detection were observed for procedures using either two-step BLEB-FB or UVM-FB enrichments for swabs of stainless steel when L. monocytogenes was inoculated at 2 to 6 log CFU; the LOD95 values were 3.82 and 3.62 log CFU per 4-in2 area, respectively. Wet compositing of L. monocytogenes from culture with and without romaine lettuce wash resident microbiota was conducted using BLEB-FB and UVM-FB enrichment methods; both allowed detection of the pathogen at ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, and 1:7 (1 positive sample to x negative samples) with no loss in sensitivity. From swabs of stainless steel, L. monocytogenes was detected similarly for both wet and dry composites of up to eight samples (1:7) with romaine lettuce wash. However, the BLEB-FB method allowed significantly faster detection (after 24 h of FB incubation) in composites of 1:4 and 1:7 samples compared with the UVM-FB method under the conditions tested. The results of this study provide data to evaluate the efficacies of the different enrichment procedures and aid in assessing the use of wet and dry compositing of environmental samples for use as part of a Listeria control plan in food production and processing facilities. HIGHLIGHTS
Benign, Borderline, and Malignant Pediatric Adnexal Masses: A 10-Year Review

Abstract Study Objective To investigate the incidence, clinical features, tumor markers, radiologic findings, types of surgeries, and histologies for adnexal masses in female pediatric and adolescent patients. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Children's Health in Dallas and Plano, Texas from 2009 to 2018. Participants Female patients younger than 19 years old who underwent surgical management of an adnexal mass. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures Imaging characteristics, tumor markers, surgical procedures, and histopathology. Results In total, 752 patients (mean age, 13.7 years) underwent 756 surgical procedures for 781 adnexal masses. Of these, 732/781 (93.7%) were benign, 7/781 (0.9%) were borderline, and 42/781 (5.4%) were malignant. Of all 781 masses, 520/781 (66.6%) were ovarian and 261/781 (33.4%) were paratubal or tubal. Benign masses were associated with Hispanic race, pain, simple or cystic characteristics on imaging, and negative tumor markers. Borderline and malignant masses were associated with white race, pain, mass or distension, larger size, and heterogeneous appearance on imaging. Borderline masses were associated with negative tumor markers. Malignant masses were associated with elevated alpha fetoprotein, beta human chorionic gonadotropin, cancer antigen 125, and lactate dehydrogenase. Conclusion Most adnexal masses in the pediatric and adolescent population are benign. Benign masses were significantly smaller, more likely to have negative tumor markers, and appear simple or cystic. There is little standardization with respect to preoperative tumor markers for adnexal masses. High-yield tumor markers for malignancy include alpha fetoprotein, beta human chorionic gonadotropin, cancer antigen 125, and lactate dehydrogenase. Low-yield tumor markers include inhibin A and B. Gynecologists performed more fertility-preserving surgeries including mini-laparotomies and fewer laparotomies for benign masses than pediatric surgeons.
Multiplexed ultrasound imaging using clustered gas vesicles and spectral imaging

Current advances in ultrasound imaging techniques including super-resolution ultrasound imaging allows us to visualize microvasculature in biological specimens using microbubbles. However, microbubbles diffuse in blood stream limiting imaging acquisition and frame subtraction scheme of super-resolution ultrasound imaging cannot improve spatial resolution without moving microbubbles. Fluorescent proteins revolutionized to understand molecular and cellular functions in biological systems. Here, we devised a panel of gas vesicles to realize multiplexed ultrasound imaging to uniquely visualize locations of different species of gas vesicles. Mid-band fit spectral imaging technique demonstrated that stationary gas vesicles were efficiently localized in gel phantom and murine liver specimens by visualizing three-dimensional vessel structures. Clustered and unclustered gas vesicles were phagocytosed by murine macrophages to serve as carriers and beacons for the proposed multiplexed and single cell level imaging technique. The spatial distribution of macrophages containing clustered and unclustered gas vesicles were reconstructed by mid-band fit spectral imaging with pseudo-coloring scheme.
Same Coverage, Less Bloat: Accelerating Binary-only Fuzzing with Coverage-preserving Coverage-guided Tracing

Coverage-guided fuzzing's aggressive, high-volume testing has helped reveal tens of thousands of software security flaws. While executing billions of test cases mandates fast code coverage tracing, the nature of binary-only targets leads to reduced tracing performance. A recent advancement in binary fuzzing performance is Coverage-guided Tracing (CGT), which brings orders-of-magnitude gains in throughput by restricting the expense of coverage tracing to only when new coverage is guaranteed. Unfortunately, CGT suits only a basic block coverage granularity---yet most fuzzers require finer-grain coverage metrics: edge coverage and hit counts. It is this limitation which prohibits nearly all of today's state-of-the-art fuzzers from attaining the performance benefits of CGT. This paper tackles the challenges of adapting CGT to fuzzing's most ubiquitous coverage metrics. We introduce and implement a suite of enhancements that expand CGT's introspection to fuzzing's most common code coverage metrics, while maintaining its orders-of-magnitude speedup over conventional always-on coverage tracing. We evaluate their trade-offs with respect to fuzzing performance and effectiveness across 12 diverse real-world binaries (8 open- and 4 closed-source). On average, our coverage-preserving CGT attains near-identical speed to the present block-coverage-only CGT, UnTracer; and outperforms leading binary- and source-level coverage tracers QEMU, Dyninst, RetroWrite, and AFL-Clang by 2--24x, finding more bugs in less time.
Minority Status, Oppositional Culture, & Schooling

@contents: Selected Contents: Table of Contents Foreword Roslyn A. Mickelson Preface John U. Ogbu A Note from Marcellina Ada Ogbu Acknowledgments Marcellina Ada Ogbu PART ONE: HISTORY AND FRAMEWORK Chapter 1: The History and Status of a Theoretical Debate John U. Ogbu Chapter 2: Collective Identity and the Burden of "Acting White" in Black History, Community, and Education John U. Ogbu Chapter 3: Ways of Knowing: The Ethnographic Approach to the Study of Collective Identity and Schooling John U. Ogbu Chapter 4: Multiple Sources of Peer Pressures Among African American Students John U. Ogbu Chapter 5: Language and Collective Identity Among Adults and Students in a Black Community John U. Ogbu Chapter 6: "Signithia, You Can Do Better Than That": John Ogbu (and Me) and the Nine Lives Peoples Signithia Fordham PART TWO: COLLECTIVE IDENTITY, BLACK AMERICANS, AND SCHOOLING Chapter 7: High School Students of Color Talk About Accusations of "Acting White" David A. Bergin and Helen C. Cooks Chapter 8: Black Students' Identity and Acting White and Black Linwood Cousins Chapter 9: Reexamining Resistance as Oppositional Behavior: The Nation of Islam and the Creation of a Black Achievement Ideology A.A. Akom Chapter 10: What Does "Acting White" Actually Mean? Racial Identity, Adolescent Development, and Academic Achievement Among African American Youths Margaret Beale Spencer and Vinay Harpalani Chapter 11: "Excellence" and Student Class, Race, and Gender Cultures Lois Weis
The Value of Judicial Independence: Evidence from 18th Century England

This paper assesses the impact of changes in judicial independence on equity markets. North and Weingast (1989) argue that judicial independence and other institutional changes inaugurated by the Glorious Revolution of 1688-89 improved public and private finance in England by putting restraints on the government. We calculate abnormal equity returns at critical points in the passage of statutes giving judges greater security of tenure and higher salaries. Early eighteenth-century legislation granting tenure during good behavior is associated with large and statistically significant positive abnormal returns. Other statutes had positive but generally insignificant effects.
The Iconography of Dionysiac Choroi: Dithyramb, Tragedy, and the Basel Krater

This painting of ca. 480 B.C., showing regimented dancers as in dithyramb but masked and in a setting as in tragedy, joins with other evidence to point to the mimetic character of dithyramb.
Earnings Management to Avoid Negative Earnings Surprises in Periods Following Insider Sales

This paper investigates whether insiders manage earnings in the quarters following their stock sales in order to mitigate earnings shocks. An insider trade followed closely by potentially value-relevant earnings disclosures gives the appearance that the trade was based on foreknowledge of the soon-to-be disclosed information. Because securities laws prohibit such trade insiders have incentives to avoid the appearance that their stock transactions are based on private information. I examine a sample of 18,349 firm quarters that correspond to insider sale or post-sale periods over the period January 1989 through July 2001. I compare properties of earnings for these sample observations to non-sale controls matched on industry, time, size and performance. I find increased levels of abnormal accruals in the periods subsequent to insider sales, and that these positive accruals are associated with analyst forecast errors whose values are indistinguishable from those of matched control firms but whose magnitudes are significantly smaller. This pattern suggests insiders manage earnings in order to distance their sales from negative earnings news consistent with avoidance of the appearance of illegal insider trade.
The reactions p + d⇄3He + γ at intermediate energy

Abstract Angular distributions are calculated by dispersion methods. The reaction amplitude contains besides proton and deuteron pole diagrams (direct terms), triangular diagrams associated with the quasi-deuteron mechanism. The 3 He vertices are from quasi-free scattering experiments at high energy.
r-mode oscillations in the sun

The relationship between solar r-modes (long-period oscillations dominated by the Coriolis force) and solar activity cycles is investigated statistically. FFT power spectra of the daily Zurich sunspot numbers (R) and of the Greenwich Photoheliographic projected whole sunspot area (A) are obtained for the high-activity years of solar cycles 14 through 21. Both R and A are found to exhibit periods of 22 + or - 1 d, 34 + or - 1.5 d, and 43 + or - 2 d, corresponding to r-modes with (l,m) angular harmonics (2,2), (3,1), and (2,1), respectively.
Air and Water Pollution

Paso Robles has visions that it would be the southern Napa, a wine-lovers haven. Napa for the Bay area and Paso for SoCal (with a 230 mile drive). This shifted Paso from an ag town to a venue where French Restaurants are normal. The San Luis Obispo County land devoted to vineyards rose from 12,000 acres in 1998 to 37,000 in 2012, tripling in 14 years. The rise vineyards was accompanied with a significant fall in local groundwater levels. From 1981 to 2001, the level near Paso dropped 20 ft, or about 1 ft a year. With considerable irrigation of grapes in place, the water level fell 72 ft between 2001 and 2012, or about 7 ft a year, seven times higher than the previous two decades. Frank Mecham, County Supervisor for Paso Robles, said: “We had all the water needed. Everyone felt that. Everyone had this false expectation that water was like print money – it would continue to be there no matter what. And that was just not the case.” Mecham was told there would not be a water problem for 250 years. This situation is complicated in California (and Texas), where the county has no legal authority to force the vineyards to use less water.
First Observation of the DsJ(2632) Meson

The SELEX Collaboration has announced the first observation of a massive, narrow resonance in the charm-strange system. Seen both in DSη and D0K+ final states, the meson is unusual both in that it is very narrow despite being far above the strong decay threshold and also in that the . Production is also unusual, with a large asymmetry favoring over production from the Σ- beam.
An improved algorithm for learning representations in Boolean neural networks

Boolean neural networks have attracted the attention of several research workers recently. In this paper a combination of K map and modified implied minterm structure has been suggested to determine the weights of the Boolean neural networks. The suggested algorithm has been illustrated with the help of examples. >
Transient FTIR Studies of the Reaction Pathway forn-Butane Selective Oxidiation over Vanadyl Pyrophosphate

New information has been provided about the reaction pathway forn-butane partial oxidation to maleic anhydride over vanadyl pyrophosphate (VPO) catalysts using FTIR spectroscopy under transient conditions. Adsorption studies ofn-butane, 1,3-butadiene, and related oxygenates were performed to gain information about reaction intermediates.n-Butane was found to adsorb on the VPO catalyst to form olefinic species at low temperatures. Unsaturated, noncyclic carbonyl species were determined to be precursors to maleic anhydride.
Asymmetric regional cerebral blood flow in sedated baboons measured by positron emission tomography (PET).

The analysis of structural brain asymmetry has been a focal point in anthropological theories of human brain evolution and the development of lateralized behaviors. While physiological brain asymmetries have been documented for humans and animals presenting with pathological conditions or under certain activation tasks, published studies on baseline asymmetries in healthy individuals have produced conflicting results. We tested for the presence of cerebral blood flow asymmetries in 7 healthy, sedated baboons using positron emission tomography, a method of in vivo autoradiography. Five of the 7 baboons exhibited hemispheric asymmetries in which left-sided flow was significantly greater than right-sided flow. Furthermore, the degree of asymmetry in 8 of 24 brain regions was found to be significantly correlated with age; older individuals exhibited a higher degree of asymmetry than younger individuals. Cerebral blood flow itself was uncorrelated with age, and differences between males and females were not significant.
Effect of model microgravity on human hepatic pharmacokinetics and urea secretion

3-Dimensional hepatocyte aggregates experience simulated microgravity in a Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS). Pharmacokinetic rate and urea secretion are up-regulated in model microgravity. This work has application to space life sciences and clinical dosing requirements for long term manned space exploration.
COGNITIONS IN CONSONANCE

A reconceptualization of some of the ideas associated with the aesthetic experience is proposed. The problems that arise in defining the terms ‘beautiful’ and ‘perfect’ may be overcome by substitut...
Adenocarcinoma of the Cervix: Should We Treat It Differently?

Worldwide, cervical cancer is a leading cause of mortality among women, causing 265,653 deaths annually. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounts for 75% of cervical cancer cases in the USA, while adenocarcinoma (AC) accounts for 25%. The incidence of SCC is decreasing in the USA, yet AC is increasing. Many differences exist between cervical SCC and AC including anatomic origin, risk factors, prognosis, dissemination, sites of recurrence, and rates of metastasis. Despite differences, current treatment algorithms do not distinguish between cervical SCC and AC. To date, prospective research directed toward AC is limited. We review published differences in response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy with radiation, the role of adjuvant radical hysterectomy, and optimal chemotherapy for cervical AC. Cervical AC is sufficiently distinct from SCC to warrant specific treatment recommendations; however, lack of data evaluating AC limit recommendations. Additional prospective AC cervix specific research is needed.
Cellular Trajectories of Peptide-Modified Gold Particle Complexes: Comparison of Nuclear Localization Signals and Peptide Transduction Domains

Gold nanoparticles modified with nuclear localization peptides were synthesized and evaluated for their subcellular distribution in HeLa human cervical epithelium cells, 3T3/NIH murine fibroblastoma cells, and HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells. Video-enhanced color differential interference contrast microscopy and transmission electron microscopy indicated that transport of nanoparticles into the cytoplasm and nucleus depends on peptide sequence and cell line. Recently, the ability of certain peptides, called protein transduction domains (PTDs), to transclocate cell and nuclear membranes in a receptor- and temperature-independent manner has been questioned (see for example, Lundberg, M.; Wikstrom, S.; Johansson, M. (2003) Mol. Ther. 8, 143−150). We have evaluated the cellular trajectory of gold nanoparticles carrying the PTD from HIV Tat protein. Our observations were that (1) the conjugates did not enter the nucleus of 3T3/NIH or HepG2 cells, and (2) cellular uptake of Tat PTD peptide−gold nanoparticle c...
Effects of dietary vanadium on growth and lipid storage in a larval anuran: results from studies employing ad libitum and rationed feeding.

Abstract Vanadium (V) exerts a variety of effects related to metabolic function in vertebrates, including modifying glycolytic pathways and lipid metabolism. However, little is known about toxicity of V to wildlife in natural systems. We conducted parallel, independent studies to evaluate the effect of dietary exposure to vanadium on survival, metabolism, growth, and lipid storage of larval leopard frogs (Rana sphenocephala). In one study (“Ad lib”) larvae were fed unlimited food and in the other (“Ration”) larvae were fed a restricted diet. Experimental diets contained 10 ppm dw Vtotal (Control, “C”), 109 ppm (Low, “L”), and 363 ppm (High, “H”). In neither study did V affect metabolic rate or survival to forelimb emergence. However, in the Ration study, 31% of individuals in H that had initiated metamorphosis died prior to completion of metamorphosis, compared with 22% in M and 9% in C, however the difference was not significant at α = 0.05. Mortality during metamorphosis in the Ad lib study was more variable, yet followed a similar trend (26, 14, and 12% mortality in H, L, and C). In both studies, individuals that died during the metamorphic period were smaller at the time of forelimb emergence than those that survived. In the Ration study, individuals in H also had significantly lower growth rates, delayed metamorphosis, and reduced lipid content at metamorphosis compared to C and L. Growth was not affected by V in the Ad lib study. Our results suggest that habitat contamination by V may present risks to amphibians during the metamorphic period attributable to energetic responses influencing size at the initiation of metamorphosis and body lipid stores. Furthermore, while we cannot make formal comparisons between the studies, our results imply that protocols that employ ad libitum feeding regimes could fail to capture the effects of contaminants as they may be expressed in natural situations in which resources are typically more limited.
An Unusual Etiology of Post-traumatic Meningitis

Clostridium perfringens and related species are well-known culprits of post-traumatic soft tissue and bone infection. However, central nervous system involvement with these organisms spontaneously or subsequent to trauma is unusual. The authors reported a case of post-traumatic meningitis in which both C perfringens and Enterococcus faecium were isolated.
Tetrakis(η1-1-phenyl-3-n-hexyltriazenido)platin(IV), der erste homoleptische Arylalkyltriazenidoplatin(IV)komplex

The first homoleptic tetrakis(arylalkyltriazenido) derivative of platinum, [C6H5NNN(CH2)5CH3]4Pt (3), has been prepared by reacting platinumtetrachloride with 1-phenyl-3-n-hexyltriazene and n-butyllithium in THF. The readily soluble, yellow complex, stable towards air and water, has been characterized by single cristal x-ray cristallography and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy. Compound 3 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 (a = 1090.3(3) pm, b = 1081.1(2) pm, c = 1174.4(2) pm, α = 93.86(1)°, β = 108.07(2)°, γ = 99.00(2)°, V= 1.289 (1) nm3, Z = 1 and R/Rw = 0.038/0.035). The thermo- and photochemical decomposition of the complex was investigated by DSC- and UV-measurements.
Exposure to bisphenol A correlates with early-onset prostate cancer and promotes centrosome amplification and anchorage-independent growth in vitro.

Human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is ubiquitous. Animal studies found that BPA contributes to development of prostate cancer, but human data are scarce. Our study examined the association between urinary BPA levels and Prostate cancer and assessed the effects of BPA on induction of centrosome abnormalities as an underlying mechanism promoting prostate carcinogenesis. The study, involving 60 urology patients, found higher levels of urinary BPA (creatinine-adjusted) in Prostate cancer patients (5.74 µg/g [95% CI; 2.63, 12.51]) than in non-Prostate cancer patients (1.43 µg/g [95% CI; 0.70, 2.88]) (p = 0.012). The difference was even more significant in patients <65 years old. A trend toward a negative association between urinary BPA and serum PSA was observed in Prostate cancer patients but not in non-Prostate cancer patients. In vitro studies examined centrosomal abnormalities, microtubule nucleation, and anchorage-independent growth in four Prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, C4-2, 22Rv1, PC-3) and two immortalized normal prostate epithelial cell lines (NPrEC and RWPE-1). Exposure to low doses (0.01–100 nM) of BPA increased the percentage of cells with centrosome amplification two- to eight-fold. Dose responses either peaked or reached the plateaus with 0.1 nM BPA exposure. This low dose also promoted microtubule nucleation and regrowth at centrosomes in RWPE-1 and enhanced anchorage-independent growth in C4-2. These findings suggest that urinary BPA level is an independent prognostic marker in Prostate cancer and that BPA exposure may lower serum PSA levels in Prostate cancer patients. Moreover, disruption of the centrosome duplication cycle by low-dose BPA may contribute to neoplastic transformation of the prostate.
Social isolation and chronic handling alter endocannabinoid signaling and behavioral reactivity to context in adult rats

Social deprivation in early life disrupts emotionality and attentional processes in humans. Rearing rats in isolation reproduces some of these abnormalities, which are attenuated by daily handling. However, the neurochemical mechanisms underlying these responses remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that post-weaning social isolation alters the endocannabinoid system, a neuromodulatory system that controls emotional responding. We characterized behavioral consequences of social isolation and evaluated whether handling would reverse social isolation-induced alterations in behavioral reactivity to context and the endocannabinoid system. At weaning, pups were single or group housed and concomitantly handled or not handled daily until adulthood. Rats were tested in emotionality- and attentional-sensitive behavioral assays (open field, elevated plus maze, startle and prepulse inhibition). Cannabinoid receptor densities and endocannabinoid levels were quantified in a separate group of rats. Social isolation negatively altered behavioral responding. Socially-isolated rats that were handled showed less deficits in the open field, elevated plus maze, and prepulse inhibition tests. Social isolation produced site-specific alterations (supraoptic nucleus, ventrolateral thalamus, rostral striatum) in cannabinoid receptor densities compared to group rearing. Handling altered the endocannabinoid system in neural circuitry controlling emotional expression. Handling altered endocannabinoid content (prefrontal and piriform cortices, nucleus accumbens) and cannabinoid receptor densities (lateral globus pallidus, cingulate and piriform cortices, hippocampus) in a region-specific manner. Some effects of social isolation on the endocannabinoid system were moderated by handling. Isolates were unresponsive to handling-induced increases in cannabinoid receptor densities (caudal striatum, anterior thalamus), but were sensitive to handling-induced changes in endocannabinoid content (piriform, prefrontal cortices), compared to group-reared rats. Our findings suggest alterations in the endocannabinoid system may contribute to the abnormal isolate phenotype. Handling modifies the endocannabinoid system and behavioral reactivity to context, but surmounts only some effects of social isolation. These data implicate a pivotal role for the endocannabinoid system in stress adaptation and emotionality-related disturbances.
Sodium arsenite-induced dysregulation of proteins involved in proliferative signaling.

It is well accepted that arsenic is a human carcinogen, yet its mechanism of action is not defined. Arsenic cannot be classified as an initiating agent or as a promoter, although altered proliferative responsiveness has been proposed as a mechanism by which arsenic exerts its carcinogenic effects. Based on the hypothesis that arsenic exposure results in modulation of both positive and negative regulators of cell proliferation, this study examined physiological and biochemical changes in the proliferative response of murine fibroblasts grown long-term in the maximum tolerated concentration of sodium arsenite. In response to EGF stimulation, DNA synthesis and the proportion of cells entering S phase of the cell cycle both were increased in cells grown long-term in arsenic compared to control cells. Analysis of positive proliferative regulators revealed an increase in the expression of c-myc and E2F-1, thereby supporting the hypothesis that arsenic increases activity of positive growth modulators. In contrast, the activity and expression of ERK-2 were unchanged, as was the expression of EGF-receptor and mSOS. When negative regulators of proliferation were examined, expression levels of MAP kinase phosphatase-1 and p27Kip1 were found to be lower in arsenic-treated cells compared to control cells; this result supports a model in which arsenic disinhibits normal regulation of cell proliferation. Taken together, these data indicate that long-term exposure to sodium arsenite creates conditions within the cell consistent with sensitization to mitogenic stimulation. It is further postulated that the observed changes in mitogenic signaling proteins contribute to the carcinogenic property of arsenic.
Synthesis of Pt nanocatalyst with micelle-encapsulated multi-walled carbon nanotubes as support for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Abstract Micelle-encapsulated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were used as catalyst support to deposit platinum nanoparticles. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images reveal the crystalline nature of Pt nanoparticles with a diameter of ∼4 nm on the surface of MWCNTs. A single proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with total catalyst loading of 0.2 mg Pt cm −2 (anode 0.1 and cathode 0.1 mg Pt cm −2 , respectively) has been evaluated at 80 °C with H 2 and O 2 gases using Nafion-212 electrolyte. Pt/MWCNTs synthesized by using modified SDS-MWCNTs with high temperature treatment (250 °C) showed a peak power density of 950 mW cm −2 . Accelerated durability evaluation was carried out by conducting 1500 potential cycles between 0.1 and 1.2 V with 50 mV s −1 scan rate, H 2 /N 2 at 80 °C. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with Pt/MWCNTs showed superior performance stability with a power density degradation of only ∼30% compared to commercial Pt/C (70%) after potential cycles.
Kinetic-sound propagation in dilute gas mixtures

Kinetic sound is predicted in dilute disparate-mass binary gas mixtures, propagating exclusively in the light compound and much faster than ordinary sound. It should be detectable by light-scattering experiments, as an extended shoulder in the scattering cross section for large frequencies. As an example, H/sub 2/-Ar mixtures are discussed.
Plasma 3S γ1-Globulin: Identity with Erythrocyte Carbonic Anhydrase B

The 3S (gamma1), 2S (gamma2), and 0.5S (gamma2) fractions of human plasma are heterogeneous in protein composition. Although each fraction contained a relatively small amount of protein antigenically related to the immunoglobulin light chains, most of the proteins were unrelated to immunogloublin G or its light chains. Of the 3S (gamma1)-globulins the greater part was immunochemically identical to carbonic anhydrase B and had carbonic anhydrase activity. These findings explain earlier reports of an immunochemical similarity between 3S (gamma1)-globulins and immunoglobulin light chains in spite of marked differences in amino acid and peptide composition between the two. Apparently not all plasma gamma-globulins are necessarily immunoglobulins.
Alcohol and Masculinity

Abstract Alcohol use—and abuse—has always been more prevalent among males than among females. The sex role prescription for men to affirm their masculinity by drinking is a major determinant of this sex difference. This paper reviews the intricate interrelationship between masculinity and both social and alcoholic drinking. A large body of evidence indicates that social drinking is a primary cultural symbol of manliness; portrayals in the media strengthen this association. Less evidence exists to connect masculinity issues with alcoholic dependence, but there has been much speculation: Three psychodynamic theories of alcoholism—the repressed homosexuality, dependency, and power theories—hypothesized that men who drink addictively have the most fragile masculine identities. The 1980s have witnessed a widespread recognition of the dangers of equating drinking and manliness, and societal changes suggest that drinking may be gradually losing its masculine aura.
Perceptions of Sex Discrimination among Female University Faculty and Staff.

Sixty faculty and staff women at a mid–sized university were surveyed to determine the extent to which they perceived sex discrimination. Faculty women perceived sex discrimination more than did staff women and were less likely to believe that academia was a meritocracy. Differences in perception of sex discrimination were also found based upon the gender composition of the departments. Women in departments that were male–dominated were less likely to perceive sex discrimination and more accepting of the meritocracy notion than were women in departments that were not male–dominated.
Molecular characterizations of Nop16 in murine mammary tumors with varying levels of c-Myc

NOP16, also known as HSPC111, has been identified as a MYC and estrogen regulated gene in in vitro studies, hence coexpression levels were strongly correlated. Importantly, high expression of NOP16 was associated with poor clinical outcome in breast cancer patients. However, coexpression of NOP16, MYC and estrogen receptor (ESR1) varied widely in tumors and cell lines suggesting that transcriptional regulation differed according to pathological environments. The goal of this study was to determine the expression patterns of Nop16, Myc and Esr1 in murine mammary tumors with disparate histopathological and molecular features. We hypothesized that tumor environments with relatively high Myc levels would have different coexpression patterns than tumor environments with relatively low Myc levels. We measured levels of Myc and Nop16 mRNA and protein in tumors from WAP-c-myc mice that were of high grade and metastasized frequently. In contrast, Myc and Nop16 mRNA and proteins levels were significantly lower in the less aggressive tumors that developed in NRL-TGFα mice. Tumors from both mouse lines express ESR1 protein and we found that Esr1 mRNA levels correlated positively with Myc levels in both models. However, Myc and Nop16 transcript levels correlated positively only in tumors from NRL-TGFα mice. We identified prominent NOP16 protein in nuclei and less prominent staining in the cytoplasm of luminal cells of ducts and lobules from normal mammary glands as well as in hyperplasias and tumors obtained from NRL-TGFα mice. This staining pattern was reversed in tumors from WAP-c-Myc mice as nuclear staining was faint or absent and cytoplasmic staining more pronounced. In summary, the regulation of expression and localization of NOP16 varies in tumor environments with high versus low MYC levels and demonstrate the importance of stratifying clinical breast cancers based on MYC levels.
Fault Tolerant Clustering in Scientific Workflows

Task clustering has been proven to be an effective method to reduce execution overhead and increase the computational granularity of workflow tasks executing on distributed resources. However, a job composed of multiple tasks may have a greater risk of suffering from failures than a job composed of a single task. Our theoretic analysis and simulation results demonstrate that failures can have a significant impact on the runtime performance of workflows that use existing clustering policies that ignore failures. We therefore propose two general failure modeling frameworks (task failure model and job failure model) to address these performance issues. We show the necessity to consider the fault tolerance in the task failure model. Based on the task failure model, we propose three methods to improve the workflow performance in dynamic environments. A simulation-based evaluation is performed and it shows that our approach can improve the workflow makespan significantly for two important applications.
Quasi-phase-matched frequency doubling in bulk periodic polymeric structures.

A new technique for the fabrication of freestanding poled polymer films that uses a metallic film as the lifting-off layer is reported. This technique is used to make low-transmission-loss bulk periodic synthetic-crystals structures that satisfy a quasi-phase-matching condition for second-harmonic generation. Efficiency of the order of 10−2% is obtained for a thickness of 150 μm. The theoretical basis for determining the optimum phase-matching angle to maximize the second-harmonic conversion efficiency is discussed.
Investigating attitudes of Catholic priests toward the media and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Response to the Sexual Abuse Scandals of 2002

Since 2002, researchers have investigated the incidence of clergy sexual abuse and the perceptions and attitudes of non-ordained Catholics toward the responses of the U.S. Catholic bishops. The perceptions of functioning Catholic priests were investigated in 2002. There has been little follow-up research about priests who have never been accused of sexual misconduct. Using non-probability sampling techniques, this study employed a structured format to confidentially interview 22 Catholic priests in 2006 and 2007. The interviews yielded themes around the reporting of the events of 2002 by the media, and the response of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to the crisis and the media. Findings suggest that most priest-respondents believed that the media had accurately reported that the bishops had engaged in a cover-up. Most respondents believed that the media had portrayed all priests as pedophiles. Most priest-respondents believed the response of the USCCB was inadequate, poorly concei...
The Impact of Media Frames and Treatment Responsibility within the Situational Crisis Communication Theory Framework

This experimental investigation examines the role and impact of media frames and enhanced treatment responsibility within the situational crisis communication theory framework. An experiment was conducted among 121 undergraduate students at a Midwestern university. The results indicated that enhanced treatment responsibility resulted in an elevated reputational threat to organizations. Furthermore, it was found that crisis reports that emphasized treatment responsibility resulted in elevated negative affect toward the organizations. Implications, discussion and future directions are provided.
Enhancement Of Features In Galaxy Images

Several image-enhancement techniques useful for morphological analysis of galactic or cometary images are described and compared. Such techniques can be used to search for, and investigate the properties of dust lanes, stellar disks or rings, jets, shells, tidal distortions, etc. Applications of the techniques are illustrated on CCD images of the peculiar galaxy Arp 230; this object has a rich morphology, indicative of a merger of two disk galaxies.
An Anthropology Made Safe for Culture: Patterns of Practice and the Politics of Difference in Ruth Benedict

In this article I focus on the problem of reconciling analytic and descriptive attention to cultural distinctiveness with the problems posed for it by contemporary globalization and our desire not to efface the agency of those we study. Boasians generally saw no contradiction between cultural contact and cultural integration. Ruth Benedict especially understood our tendency to link agency and individuality as ethnocentric-people made their cultural worlds even as they were profoundly shaped by them. Current discomfort with the culture concept has its roots in a Hegelian mistrust of particularism that pervades even self-consciously antifoundational thought. Drawing on Johann Gottfried Herder, Benedict offers an alternative way of thinking about agency and society, and, thus, a distinctively anthropological contribution to critical thought. Because we cannot understand people's political practice without understanding where they are coming from, cultural description must remain on the agenda of any politically engaged anthropology.
Synergy between intracoronary stenting and abciximab in improving angiographic and clinical outcomes of primary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract This study examined 650 consecutive patients who presented with an acute myocardial infarction and were treated with primary angioplasty within 12 hours of symptom onset between August 1995 and December 1998. Patients were placed into 4 treatment groups depending on the adjunctive therapy they received: group 1, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (“balloon PTCA alone”; n = 220); group 2, PTCA plus intracoronary stent placement (“stent”; n = 128); group 3, PTCA plus abciximab therapy (“abciximab”; n = 104); and group 4, PTCA plus intracoronary stent placement plus abciximab therapy (“stent/abciximab”; n = 198). The patients’ clinical characteristics, severity of disease, and total ischemia time on presentation were similar. At baseline, abciximab and stent/abciximab groups had a higher incidence of thrombus on coronary angiography. Postprocedural quantitative coronary analysis showed a significantly larger minimum luminal diameter in the stent and stent/abciximab groups than PTCA alone. Overall, stents were most efficacious in reducing target vessel revascularization rate, whereas abciximab was associated with a higher postprocedural Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction-3 trial flow and less “no reflow.” The best angiographic result was achieved in the stent/abciximab group. Similarly, the primary combined end point of death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization at 30 days was the lowest (6.1%) in the stent/abciximab group. The combination of abciximab and stenting in primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction is thus synergistic and is associated with improved angiographic and clinical results at 30-day follow-up.
The L49F Mutation in Erythroid Alpha Spectrin Induces Local Disorder in the Tetramer Association Region: Fluorescence And Molecular Dynamics Studies of Free and Bound Alpha Spectrin

The bundling of the N-terminal, partial domain helix (Helix C’) of human erythroid α-spectrin (αI) with the C-terminal, partial domain helices (Helices A’ and B’) of erythroid β-spectrin (βI) to give a pseudo spectrin structural domain (triple helical bundle A’B’C’) has long been recognized as a crucial step in forming functional spectrin tetramers in erythrocytes. We have used fluorescence studies to obtain apparent polarity and Stern-Volmer quenching constants of Helix C’ of αI bound to Helices A’ and B’ of βI. These properties were used to guide us in homology modeling with a previous NMR structure as the template. The homology models then became input structures for molecular dynamics simulations for both wild type (WT) and an αI clinical mutant Spectrin Lyon (L49F). The simulation output structures show a stable helical bundle for WT, but not for L49F. In WT A’B’C’, four critical interactions were identified: two hydrophobic clusters and two salt bridges. However, in L49F, the C-terminal region of Helix C’ was unable to assume a helical conformation and one critical hydrophobic cluster was disrupted. Other molecular interactions critical to the WT helical bundle were also weakened in L49F. We suggest that these conformational changes lead to a lower tetramer levels observed in Spectrin Lyon patients.