cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NEWS, HISTORY, AND “FICTION ON CURRENT EVENTS”: NOVELS ON SUPPRESSING THE CHUANG REBELLION

In the third month of the lunar year 1644, the Ming Dynasty encountered exactly the same crisis that it once created for its predecessor. Rebel troops led by Li Zicheng 李自成 (1605?– 45), a native of Shaanxi province, captured Beijing, precipitating the suicide of Emperor Chongzhen (r. 1628–44) and the fall of the imperial house. However, the rebellious force did not hold the capital for long. Only six weeks later, the former Ming general Wu Sangui 吳三桂 (1612–78) let Manchu troops enter the Shanhai Pass and Beijing fell to a conquering army for a second time that year. While northern China was experiencing tremendous turbulence, Yao Tinglin 姚廷遴 (b. 1628), a native of Shanghai, entered a line in his diary that piqued interest for later scholars. In his entry for 1644, Yao writes ‘‘less than two months after the capital fell to the rebellious troops, there appeared Jiaochuang xiaoshuo 剿闖小說 [Story on Suppressing the Chuang Rebellion] for sale [my emphasis], recounting the collapse of the capital in great detail.’’ Yao’s observation is worth noting for several reasons. First, in contrast to the tradition of Chinese historical novels, which tended to deal with people or events in the distant past, this novel documents a national event that has just taken place, whose implications for society and history were still unfolding at the timewhen the workwas published. Thus, one unique characteristic of this novel is its contemporaneity, that is, its immediate focus on contemporary rather than historical figures. Second, the novel was written and published less than two months after the uprising, demonstrating how rapidly novelistic writing could react to contemporary socio-political change. Consequently, this type of novel in lateMing served to disseminate public information during a time without mass media. Third, Yao clearly points out that this work was for sale, indicating that there existed a market for consuming this type of work for its unique characteristic, its timely depiction of contemporary major events. The characteristics demonstrated by this particular version of Jiaochuang xiaoshuo evoke a group of works that later came to be collectively known as shishi xiaoshuo 時事小說 (fiction on current events), a unique genre popular in the closing decades of the Ming and early Qing periods that has not yet received the critical scholarly attention it deserves. For example, barely one year after the death of Wei Zhongxian 魏忠賢 (1568–1627), arguably the most powerful eunuch in Chinese history, there appeared three novels focusing on his downfall. Also, after the extremely controversial execution of Mao Wenlong 毛文龍 (1576–1629), the important Ming general whose death allegedly caused the siege of Beijing in 1629 by the Manchus, a number of novels were swiftly published to ‘‘rectify’’ his Ming Studies, 66, 56–75, September 2012
Thermomechanical processing of HAYNES alloy No. 188 sheet to improve creep strength

Improvements in the low strain creep strength of HAYNES alloy No. 188 thin gauge sheet by means of thermomechanical processing were developed. Processing methods designed to develop a sheet with strong crystallographic texture after recrystallization and to optimize grain size were principally studied. The effects of thickness-to-grain diameter ratio and prestrain on low strain creep strength were also briefly examined. Results indicate that the most significant improvements were obtained in the sheets having a strong crystallographic texture. The low strain creep strength of the textured sheets was observed to be superior to that of standard production sheets in the 922 K to 1255 K temperature range. Tensile, stress rupture, fabricability, and surface stability properties of the experimental sheets were also measured and compared to property values reported for the baseline production sheets.
Electrical Conductivity of Electrospun Polyaniline and Polyaniline-Blend Fibers and Mats

Submicrometer fibers of polyaniline (PAni) doped with (+)-camphor-10-sulfonic acid (HCSA) and blended with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or poly(ethylene oxide) were electrospun over a range of compositions. Continuous, pure PAni fibers doped with HCSA were also produced by coaxial electrospinning and subsequent removal of the PMMA shell polymer. The electrical conductivities of both the fibers and the mats were characterized. The electrical conductivities of the fibers were found to increase exponentially with the weight percent of doped PAni in the fibers, with values as high as 50 ± 30 S/cm for as-electrospun fibers of 100% doped PAni and as high as 130 ± 40 S/cm upon further solid state drawing. These high electrical conductivities are attributed to the enhanced molecular orientation arising from extensional deformation in the electrospinning process and afterward during solid state drawing. A model is proposed that permits the calculation of mat conductivity as a function of fiber conductivity, ma...
On the vertical gradient and associated heterogeneity in mantle electrical conductivity

Abstract Equivalent scalar magnetotelluric response functions obtained from the robust analysis of geomagnetic field daily mean values at 16 magnetic observatories have been systematically inverted. Data from these sites were found to contain sufficient one-dimensional (1-D) data consistent with required source field assumptions for meaningful interpretation, and were also found to have acceptably well-bounded response function confidence limits. Previous work is reviewed which indicates that significant lateral heterogeneity in mantle conductivity structure is required by the data, and that most of these data are adequately modeled by a series of simple two-layered Earth models with a conductivity jump at depths of 500–1000 km. Regional variations in upper mantle conductivity have previously been suggested by systematic inversion using the H + algorithm. These features are examined in the restricted model space of conductance delta functions. The statistical significance of these variations is also investigated. New evidence is found here for the coast effect at very long periods, as well as related evidence for the presence of electrically conductive zones in the upper mantle beneath the Pacific Ocean. Semi-norm minimization inversion techniques are applied to directly place strong constraints on the sharpness of the vertical conductivity gradient in the mid-mantle. The mid-mantle conductivity jump is required to be abrupt, with values beneath this mid-mantle transition zone of O (1 S m −1 ) at all sites.
The Leibniz project

A language for quantum physics is derived from set theory by replacing the classical predicate algebra (Boolean) by a certain quantum predicate algebra (rational projective), time space and the Hamilton-Schroedinger dynamics by a Feynman-like graph dynamics, and the Dirac spin operators by topological switching operators on the graph. The development is described from the basic level of elementary monadic processes to the level of the free Dirac equation.
Human ocular carotenoid-binding proteins

Two dietary carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, are specifically delivered to the human macula at the highest concentration anywhere in the body. Whenever a tissue exhibits highly selective uptake of a compound, it is likely that one or more specific binding proteins are involved in the process. Over the past decade, our laboratory has identified and characterized several carotenoid-binding proteins from human retina including a pi isoform of glutathione S-transferase (GSTP1) as a zeaxanthin-binding protein, a member of the steroidogenic acute regulatory domain (StARD) family as a lutein-binding protein, and tubulin as a less specific, but higher capacity site for carotenoid deposition. In this article, we review the purification and characterization of these carotenoid-binding proteins, and we relate these ocular carotenoid-binding proteins to the transport and uptake role of serum lipoproteins and scavenger receptor proteins in a proposed pathway for macular pigment carotenoid delivery to the human retina.
Environmental Evaluations and Modifications to Support Aging at Home With a Developmental Disability

ABSTRACT Increasing numbers of people with developmental disabilities are living into old age and are now residing in community-based housing, largely due to the deinstitutionalization movement. The overlay of age-related impairments onto pre-existing, lifelong disabilities puts this population at a magnified risk for premature behavioral limitations and loss of independence. This article describes a demonstration project designed to enable people with developmental disabilities to age in place. Interviews and observational assessments with 45 older adults with developmental disabilities were conducted in their community-based homes to identify potential barriers to aging in place. An Individualized Environmental Intervention Plan was developed for each study participant, recommending ways to solve problems and eliminate potential barriers. Individualized Environmental Intervention Plans were implemented to the extent possible through home modifications and assistive technology. Pre- and post-modification...
Examination of multiple cognitive response dimensions among differentially assertive individuals

Seventy-five subjects were divided into high, moderate, and low assertion groups based upon the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS) and the abbreviated behavioral role-play assertion test. Factor analyses and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were later conducted on seven role-play ratings alone and in combination with the RAS. Using an assertion discrimination task, subjects were also tested for discriminability of aggressive, assertive, and nonassertive responses using Likert ratings in the following areas: response classification, likelihood, comfort, and valence. Results indicated that reply types were clearly distinguished, with all subjects in agreement on classification of responses. Moreover, high and moderate assertive individuals demonstrated greater likelihood and comfort in using aggressive and assertive replies than did low assertive subjects. Factor analytic and correlational data indicated that the RAS and role play failed to converge highly as measures of assertion.
Pre-kindergarten child care and behavioral outcomes among children of immigrants ☆

Abstract The school transition model suggests that children's transitions into formal schooling can have lasting and profound implications for their educational careers, though this model is rarely used to understand the outcomes of children of immigrants. Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort (ECLS-K), a nationally representative sample of kindergarteners in 1998–1999, we examine the pre-kindergarten child care arrangements of children of immigrants and how these care arrangements are associated with children's behavior. We find that minority and immigrant children are less likely than their native-born white counterparts to be enrolled in center-based care and other care, compared to parental care, prior to kindergarten. We also find that ethnic origin is an important predictor of child care usage. Finally, though center-based care, on average, is not independently associated with children's behavior in kindergarten, the association between center-based care and behaviors varies by race and immigrant status. Broadly, these findings underscore the importance of understanding how native- and foreign-born children experience the transition to schooling, a critical period in the life course.
Restoration of red cell catalase activity by glucose metabolism after exposure to a vitamin K analog.

Abstract The relationship between catalase and reducing equivalents in the red cell was studied by first exposing cells to an oxidative insult and then adding glucose as an energy source to facilitate recovery from the oxidative insult. Oxidative damage was produced by incubation of red cells with either 2 × 10 −6 M or 4 × 10 −5 M 1, 4-naphthoquinone-2-sulfonic acid, a vitamin K analog which generates Superoxide in the presence of oxyhemoglobin. After a 90 min incubation, cellular catalatic activity decreased to about 30 per cent of the original activity, NADH content was decreased to about 40 per cent, and NADPH content decreased to 10 per cent. At 90 min, d -glucose was added to a concentration of 5 mM. After a further 90 min incubation, red cells originally treated with the low concentration of quinone recovered catalatic activity to 70 per cent of the original activity, NADH to 60 per cent of the starting content, and NADPH content rose above 100 per cent. Red cells incubated with the higher quinone concentration did not recover catalatic activity or reduced nucleotide content. The data imply that catalase accumulates as the peroxidatic intermediate, Compound II, in the absence of a sufficient concentration of reducing equivalents. If oxidative damage is mild enough so that the glycolytic pathway and hexose monophosphate shunt can still restore an adequate level of reducing equivalents after the addition of glucose, then catalatic activity will be restored as the concentrations of ferricatalase and Compound I increase. The results indicate that catalase may function both peroxidatically and catalatically in the red cell.
Free-radical inhibition of ATPase in hamster cheek pouch homogenates☆

Abstract The effects of free-radicals generated by either the oxidation of hypoxanthine by xanthine oxidase (HX/XO) or the lipoxidation of arachidonic acid (AA) on the ATPase of the hamster cheek pouch has been studied. Cheek pouches were removed from female golden syrian hamsters and homogenized. ATPase activity was measured by the production of Pi at 37°. HX/HO and AA were added at a final concentration of 9.6 × 10−5 M HX with 5 × 10−2 units HX and 5 × 10−5 M AA with and without 1 × 10−4 M ouabain. HX/XO produced a 24.7% inhibition alone and 35.0% when combined with ouabain. Ouabain alone produced a 7.1% inhibition. AA produced a 23.6% inhibition alone and 24.3% inhibition when combined with ouabain. Ouabain alone produced a 5.4% inhibition in this series. When AA was added in doses ranging from 1 × 10−5 to 2 × 10−3 M, a plot of percent inhibition versus log dose followed a typical sigmoid type curve. The IC50 was 1.5 × 10−4 M. These results suggest that free-radicals are capable of inhibiting the ATPases found in the hamster cheek pouch tissues. The possible modes of action of the free-radicals in producing this inhibition are discussed.
Dietary carbohydrates and cardiovascular disease risk factors in the Framingham Offspring cohort.

Objective: Evidence from observational studies has suggested that carbohydrate quality rather than absolute intake is associated with greater risk of chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between carbohydrate intake and dietary glycemic index and several cardiovascular disease risk factors.Methods: We examined cross-sectional associations between total carbohydrate and dietary glycemic index (GI) intakes and several cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVD) in a sample of 2,941 Framingham Offspring Participants. CVD risk factors included waist, blood pressure, lipids, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI0,120). Dietary intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and categorized by quintiles of dietary intake.Results: After adjustment for potential confounding factors, dietary GI was positively associated with fasting triglycerides (mean: 115mg/dL in the lowest and 127 mg/dL in the highest quintile of intake; P for trend ...
A modified video codec for MBMS applications

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) is currently being standardized by the 3GPP. The MBMS services will enable new class of applications with efficient use of spectrum. MBMS also poses a new set of requirements on video coding and delivery. In this paper we present a short overview of MBMS and a video codec designed for MBMS. The proposed video codec addresses the two key issues in video delivery over MBMS: 1) error resilience and 2) resource adaptive playback. We show that the proposed codec is simple to implement on low-resource terminals such as mobile phones and outperforms MPEG-4 SP coding under lossy conditions.
Role of initial NSAID choice and patient risk factors in the prevention of NSAID gastropathy: a decision analysis.

Objective To investigate the role of initial nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) choice in the prevention of NSAID gastropathy, based on relative clinical and economic effects. Methods To mimic clinical practice, a symptom-driven decision analytic model was constructed to compare 2 treatment strategies for long-term users of NSAIDs over a 1-year period: Strategy 1—generic NSAID used initially, and safer, more expensive NSAID reserved for treatment failures due to symptomatic gastropathy; and Strategy 2—safer, more expensive NSAID used in all instances. The only distinction between the strategies was the choice of initial NSAID. NSAIDs differed in gastrointestinal safety profiles and acquisition costs. The use and impact of antisecretory medications were included in the model. Because published data on patients' ulcer risk and relative NSAID safety show considerable variability, sensitivity analyses were used to evaluate the key clinical outcomes and costs. Result For patients without risk factors for NSAID ulcers (average risk), the model estimated that the strategy restricting use of the safer NSAID resulted in more symptomatic ulcers (Strategy 1, 2.58; Strategy 2, 0.73) and ulcer-related complications (Strategy 1, 1.18; Strategy 2, 0.23) per 100 patient years. The restricted strategy led to a significantly lower cost per patient treated (Strategy 1, $239; Strategy 2, $831 per year). In the principal analysis, the incremental costs to prevent symptomatic and complicated ulcers were $31,900 and $56,700, respectively. The estimated incremental cost per ulcer avoided was sensitive to the relative protection provided by the safer NSAID and fell dramatically as the patients' ulcer risk was increased above average risk. Conclusion Unrestricted use of NSAIDs that reduce the risk of symptomatic ulcers has the potential to produce important clinical benefits at incremental cost. The impressive impact of ulcer risk on the incremental cost per ulcer prevented warrants increased attention to risk factor identification when NSAIDs are prescribed.
Timed-urine collections for renal clearance studies

The purpose of this study was to describe the reproducibility of timed-urine collections for renal clearance studies and the effect variations in urine collection has on measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Data from 222 cimetidine clearance studies (GFR-Cim) were obtained from 32 pediatric renal patients over a period of 8 years. There were three to 18 studies per child aged 4.8 years to 21 years at the time of a study. The urinary creatinine excretion rate is measured during supervised urine collection periods. The creatinine excretion rates in each child were compared to obtain data on the reproducibility of the urine collections. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the creatinine excretion rate is approximately 10% in both children and adults. The variation in GFR to be expected during repeated renal clearance studies in subjects with stable GFR, using voided urine collections, was similar in children and adults, with a CV of 12% to 14%.
Development of an infrared optical scattering instrument from 1 μm to 5 μm

The wavelength coverage of the IR optical scattering instrument developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology has been extended to cover the continuous range from 1 μm to 5 μm. Besides the previously available diode lasers at wavelengths of 785 nm, 1.32 μm, and 1.55 μm as well as a line tunable CO2 lasers from 9.2 μm to 11.2 μm, a PPLN OPO tunable laser is used to generate the desired IR source radiation from 1 μm to 5 μm. We present a brief description of the existing BRDF instrument, as well as the steps required to couple the tunable IR source into the BRDF system, such as improvement of beam profile, polarization control, and sample alignment. The associated results of BRDF measurements for typical specular and diffuse samples are also shown. For specular samples, the BRDF collection aperture size is varied to both 1) resolve the specular component and 2) obtain sufficient signal for the low level diffuse component. The input beam is characterized directly by a pyroelectric sensor array camera in comparison to the BRDF results. The dynamic range of detection, sample alignment, and the averaging of multiple spots for the specular sample measurement are discussed. For diffuse samples, the approach employed for speckle suppression is a combination of translation and rotation averaging. The directional-hemispherical reflectance (DHR) is calculated by integration of the BRDF data, which is found to have good agreement with the DHR results from FTIR integrating sphere measurements.
Bounds on multivariate polynomials and exponential error estimates for multiquadratic interpolation

A class of multivariate scattered data interpolation methods which includes the so-called multiquadrics is considered. Pointwise error bounds are given in terms of several parameters including a parameter d which, roughly speaking, measures the spacing of the points at which interpolation occurs. In the multiquadric case these estimates are O(λ1d) as d → 0, where λ is a constant which satisfies 0 < λ < 1. An essential ingredient in this development which may be of independent interest is a bound on the size of a polynomial over a cube in Rn in terms of its values on a discrete subset which is scattered in a sufficiently uniform manner.
Prolonged duration of response to infliximab in early but not late pediatric Crohn's disease.

Prolonged duration of response to infliximab in early but not late pediatric Crohn's disease
Dominance and deference: Men inhibit creative displays during mate competition when their competitor is strong

article i nfo Dominance is a form of social status based on an individual's ability to inflict costs (e.g. physical aggression) onto others. Subordinate individuals defer to dominant individuals in order to avoid physical aggression. We hypothesized that relatively subordinate men defer to dominant men by inhibiting creative displays during mate competition. Male participants were led to believe they were competing for a date with an attractive female. Participants believed they were competing against either a strong or weak male. During an interview with the attractive female, participants were prompted to display their creativity to the female by telling funny jokes and interesting stories. We found that participants competing against a strong male were less likely to tell jokes and less likely to tell stories. Additionally, participants competing against a strong male told jokes that were less funny and less elaborate.
Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase: characterization of extraction and assay conditions from human and calf tissue.

Abstract Methods of extraction and assay of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) from human lymphoblasts and calf thymus were compared. A high salt concentration was mandatory for complete enzyme extraction, while dialysis of the crude extract resulted in a major loss of enzyme activity. In addition, TdT was partially purified from lymphoblasts of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The Km for the monomer, deoxy-guanosine 5′-triphosphate (dGTP), is high (~0.1 m m ) in the presence of either Mg2+ or Mn2+, whereas the Km for the initiator, poly(deoxyadenylic acid [poly(d(pA) 50 )] , with an average chain length of 50 residues, is 2.5 μm in the presence of Mg2+ and 0.3 μm in the presence of Mn2+. The maximum velocity is higher for the calf thymus TdT in the presence of Mg2+ than in Mn2+. Human TdT catalyzes the polymerization of dGTP at a higher rate in the presence of Mn2+ than with Mg2+. These data illustrate that partially purified human TdT differs in catalytic properties from the purified calf thymus enzyme. Therefore, optimal conditions for assay of TdT in extracts from calf and human tissues differ.
Surgical Treatment of Patients with Stages IB and IIA Carcinoma of the Cervix and Palpably Positive Pelvic Lymph Nodes

Review of the records of all patients undergoing radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer at our institution between 1956 and 1985 revealed 121 patients with stage IB or IIA lesions and metastasis to pelvic lymph nodes. A uniform part of our surgical practice is to record the findings from visual and palpatory examinations of the intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal structures at the beginning of the operative report. This information was available for 117 of 121 patients. Of these 117 patients, 51 (44%) had pelvic lymph nodes palpably involved with metastatic malignant disease at the time of exploration. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of 5-year disease-free survival for this group was 40% (median follow-up of disease-free patients was 20.5 years). Adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy was received by 29 of the 51 patients. The remaining 22 patients received no adjuvant treatment. Information on the sites of recurrence was available for 30 of 32 patients who had recurrence. The site of first recurrence included an extrapelvic component in 22 of the 30 (73%). Disease-free survival rates for these patients reflect the advanced nature of their tumors. In light of our experience and our current understanding of the relationship between radiotherapy dose, tumor volume, and efficacy, we regard the assertion that primary radiotherapy is preferable to surgery in this population to be counterintuitive, and we await with interest data demonstrating that disease-free survival with approaches that involve leaving macroscopic tumor on the pelvic sidewall is superior to that noted above.
T(11q23): brand necessary

A large intergroup investigation of MLL translocation partners in pediatric AML discovers low-risk star, t(1;11), confirms high-risk chromosomes 6 and 10 partners, and declares generic t11q23 insufficient for risk stratification.[1][1] Risk-stratification of disease is a cornerstone of leukemia
An Experimental Investigation into the Nature of Faceted Limestone “Spheroids” in the Early Palaeolithic

Abstract At some Early Palaeolithic sites (e.g. Ain Hanech, Algeria and el ’Ubeidiya, Israel), archaeologists have uncovered interesting and enigmatic artefact forms that have received special attention. These are the faceted limestone “spheroids” (sometimes called “ boules a facettes ” or “ boules polyedriques ”). These artefacts, usually between 5 and 10 cm in maximum dimension and weighing between 250 and 1000 g, are characterized by their roughly globular shape and the numerous flake scars on their exterior surface. Previous interpretations of these forms have suggested that they are intentionally shaped tools representative of an evolved “Pebble Tool” stage. Recent experimental replicative and functional studies of artefacts from the Oldowan site of Ain Hanech in north-east Algeria have demonstrated that these limestone forms may simply be very exhausted cores from flake production. These experiments also highlight that there is a continuum from simple limestone core forms (choppers, polyhedrons) to these heavily reduced cores (spheroids) in the process of core reduction, with the heavily reduced faceted spheroids fairly rare in the overall archaeological assemblage at Ain Hanech.
Identification of genes responsible for osteoblast differentiation from human mesodermal progenitor cells

Single human bone marrow-derived mesodermal progenitor cells (MPCs) differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, myocytes, and endothelial cells. To identify genes involved in the commitment of MPCs to osteoblasts we examined the expressed gene profile of undifferentiated MPCs and MPCs induced to the osteoblast lineage for 1–7 days by cDNA microarray analysis. As expected, growth factor, hormone, and signaling pathway genes known to be involved in osteogenesis were activated during differentiation. In addition, 41 transcription factors (TFs) were differentially expressed over time, including TFs with known roles in osteoblast differentiation and TFs not known to be involved in osteoblast differentiation. As the latter group of TFs coclustered with osteogenesis-specific TFs, they may play a role in osteoblast differentiation. When we compared the gene expression profile of MPCs induced to differentiate to chondroblasts and osteoblasts, significant differences in the nature and/or timing of gene activation were seen. These studies indicate that in vitro differentiation cultures in which MPCs are induced to one of multiple cell fates should be very useful for defining signals important for lineage-specific differentiation.
Selective Capture of Cesium and Thallium from Natural Waters and Simulated Wastes with Copper Ferrocyanide Functionalized Mesoporous Silica

Copper(II) ferrocyanide on mesoporous silica (FC-Cu-EDA-SAMMS) has been evaluated against iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) (insoluble Prussian Blue) for removing cesium (Cs(+)) and thallium (Tl(+)) from natural waters and simulated acidic and alkaline wastes. From pH 0.1-7.3, FC-Cu-EDA-SAMMS had greater affinities for Cs and Tl and was less affected by the solution pH, competing cations, and matrices. SAMMS also outperformed Prussian Blue in terms of adsorption capacities (e.g., 21.7 versus 2.6 mg Cs/g in acidic waste stimulant (pH 1.1), 28.3 versus 5.8 mg Tl/g in seawater), and rate (e.g., over 95 wt% of Cs was removed from seawater after 2 min with SAMMS, while only 75 wt% was removed with Prussian Blue). SAMMS also had higher stability (e.g., 2.5-13-fold less Fe dissolved from 2 to 24 h of contact time). In addition to environmental applications, SAMMS has great potential to be used as orally administered drug for limiting the absorption of radioactive Cs and toxic Tl in gastrointestinal tract.
The ontogeny of kin discrimination cues in the honey bee, Apis mellifera.

Cues used in the discrimination of relatives from nonrelatives by the honey bee reflect both genetic and environmental differences between groups. Discrimination is behaviorally expressed by acceptance into or agonistic rejection from the social group. We examine the development of these cues in field colonies and in controlled laboratory settings. Newly emerged worker honey bees are accepted by honey bee social groups at a high frequency. When bees are kept in a controlled laboratory environment for 5 days, acceptability into laboratory groups is determined largely by relatedness. Cues indicating relatedness develop in the laboratory within 12 h after the adult bee emerges. Bees older than 12 h are not accepted by field colonies regardless of relatedness. Bees maintained in a hive until 5 days after emergence are not accepted by related or unrelated laboratory groups (this is termed the “hive effect”). Bees maintained in hives for times as short as 5 h acquired the hive effect. In a cross-fostering experiment, the hive effect completely masked genetic differences.
Subcellular distribution, molecular dynamics and catabolism of plasmalogens in myocardium

Recent studies have implicated accelerated sarcolemmal phospholipid catabolism as a mediator of the lethal sequelae of atherosclerotic heart disease. We have demonstrated that plasmalogens are the predominant phospholipid constituents of canine myocardium and that plasmalogens are hydrolyzed by a novel calcium independent plasmalogen selective phospholipase A2. Since the activities of phospholipases are modulated by the molecular dynamics and interfacial characteristics of their phospholipid substrates, we compared the molecular dynamics of plasmenylcholine and phosphatidylcholine vesicles by electron spin resonance spectroscopy and deuterium magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Plasmenylcholine vesicles have separate and distinct molecular dynamics in comparisons to their phosphatidylcholine counterparts as ascertained by substantial decreases in the angular fluctuations and motional velocities of probes attached to their sn-2 aliphatic constituents. Furthermore, since free radical oxidation of myocardial lipid constituents occurs during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, we demonstrated that 1O2 mediated oxidation of plasmenylcholine resulted in the generation of several products which have chromatographic characteristics and molecular masses corresponding to 2-acyl lysophosphatide derivatives. Taken together, these studies underscore the biologic significance of the predominance of sarcolemmal plasmalogens present in mammalian myocardium and suggest that their catabolism by plasmalogen selective phospholipases and/or oxidative processes may contribute to the lethal sequelae of myocardial ischemia.
The acceptor quinone complex of Rhodopseudomonas viridis reaction centers.

Abstract The acceptor complex of isolated reaction centers from Rhodopseudomonas viridis contains both menaquinone and ubiquinone. In a series of flashes the ubiquinone was observed to undergo binary oscillations in the formation and disappearance of a semiquinone, indicative of secondary acceptor (QB) activity. The oscillating signal, Q−B, was typical of a ubisemiquinone anion with a peak at 450 nm (Δϵ = 6 mM−1·cm−1) and a shoulder at 430 nm. Weak electrochromic bandshifts in the infrared were also evident. The spectrum of the reduced primary acceptor (Q−A) exhibited a major peak at 412 nm (Δϵ = 10 mM−1·cm−1) consistent with the assignment of menaquinone as QA. The Q−A spectrum also had minor peaks at 385 and 455 nm in the blue region. The same spectrum was recorded after quantitative removal of the secondary acceptor, when only menaquinone was present in the reaction centers. Spectral features in the near-infrared due to Q−A were attributed to electrochromic effects on bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) b and bacteriopheophytin (BPh) b pigments resulting in a distinctive split peak at 810 and 830 nm (Δϵ = 8 mM−1·cm−1). The menaquinone was identified as 2-methyl-3-nonylisoprenyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (menaquinone-9). The native QA activity was uniquely provided by this menaquinone and ubiquinone was not involved. QB activity, on the other hand, displayed at least a 40-fold preference for ubiquinone (Q-10) as compared to menaquinone. Thus, both quinone-binding sites display remarkable specificity for their respective quinones. In the absence of donors to P+, charge recombination of the P+Q−A and P+Q−B pairs had half-times of 1.1 ± 0.2 and 110 ± 20 ms, respectively, at pH 9.0, indicating an electron-transfer equilibrium constant (Kapp2) of at least 100 for Q−AQB ag QAQ−B. Also observed was a slow recombination of the cytochrome c-558+ Q−A pair, with t 1 2 = 2 ± 0.5 s at pH 6.
The relative effectiveness of sterilized and non sterilized foreign exchange market interventions

This paper examines the impact of non sterilized and sterilized foreign exchange market operations on both the exchange rate and domestic interest rate within the context of a rational expectations portfolio balance model. The results show that non sterilized intervention will be more effective than sterilized intervention in affecting both the exchange rate and domestic interest rate. Both types of operations affect a market risk premium that is shown to be a function of relative asset supplies in the hands of the private sector. When domestic and foreign bonds are perfect substitutes, the risk premium vanishes and so to does the effectiveness of sterilized foreign exchange market interventions.
Curie--Weiss behavior and fluctuation phenomena in the resistive transitions of dirty superconductors

By making very small mean-free-path films we have been able to measure the intrinsic nature of resistive transtions as a function of mean free path. Analysis based on the concepts of Anderson and Josephson leads to an estimate of the smearing of the transition near zero resistance.
Mycobacterium bovis cervical lymphadenitis: A representative case and review

Mycobacterium bovis is a tuberculosis causing bacterium that commonly presents with cervical lymphadenopathy. It is important to differentiate M. bovis from other Mycobacterial pathogens to ensure selection of correct anti-microbial therapy. This may decrease the number of treatment failures, the prevalence of anti-mycobacterial drug resistance patterns, and the need for surgical intervention. M. bovis has universal resistance to pyrazinamide and thus may not respond to typical first line mycobacterial drugs and may require surgical intervention. This case report and review of M. bovis cervical lymphadenitits demonstrates the need for accurate diagnosis as well as combined management with infectious disease and public health specialists.
Automatic Identification and Presentation of Twitter Content for Planned Events

We demonstrate a system for automatically augmenting information on planned events with Twitter messages, aimed at enhancing the event information-seeking experience with rich and timely user-contributed content. Our system uses a set of automatic query building strategies that, for any given event and its associated context features (e.g., title, description, location), identify and return related Twitter messages. We present two alternative interfaces to our system, namely, a browser plug-in and a customizable Web interface. The browser plug-in uses a precongured set of strategies to display related Twitter messages alongside the event information on a user-contributed event Website. The customizable interface provides the exibility of tuning the query building strategies, and also allows for several alternative ranking modes for the identied event messages.
Analysis of laser fluorosensor systems for remote algae detection and quantification

The development and performance of single- and multiple-wavelength laser fluorosensor systems for use in the remote detection and quantification of algae are discussed. The appropriate equation for the fluorescence power received by a laser fluorosensor system is derived in detail. Experimental development of a single wavelength system and a four wavelength system, which selectively excites the algae contained in the four primary algal color groups, is reviewed, and test results are presented. A comprehensive error analysis is reported which evaluates the uncertainty in the remote determination of the chlorophyll a concentration contained in algae by single- and multiple-wavelength laser fluorosensor systems. Results of the error analysis indicate that the remote quantification of chlorophyll a by a laser fluorosensor system requires optimum excitation wavelength(s), remote measurement of marine attenuation coefficients, and supplemental instrumentation to reduce uncertainties in the algal fluorescence cross sections.
Toward rational design of electrical stimulation strategies for epilepsy control

Electrical stimulation is emerging as a viable alternative for patients with epilepsy whose seizures are not alleviated by drugs or surgery. Its attractions are temporal and spatial specificity of action, flexibility of waveform parameters and timing, and the perception that its effects are reversible unlike resective surgery. However, despite significant advances in our understanding of mechanisms of neural electrical stimulation, clinical electrotherapy for seizures relies heavily on empirical tuning of parameters and protocols. We highlight concurrent treatment goals with potentially conflicting design constraints that must be resolved when formulating rational strategies for epilepsy electrotherapy, namely, seizure reduction versus cognitive impairment, stimulation efficacy versus tissue safety, and mechanistic insight versus clinical pragmatism. First, treatment markers, objectives, and metrics relevant to electrical stimulation for epilepsy are discussed from a clinical perspective. Then the experimental perspective is presented, with the biophysical mechanisms and modalities of open-loop electrical stimulation, and the potential benefits of closed-loop control for epilepsy.
Aircraft Observations and Numerical Simulations of the Developing Stage of a Southerly Surge near Southern California

AbstractSummertime low-level winds in the marine boundary layer off the California coast are predominantly from the north. This pattern is interrupted periodically by southerly winds and low stratus that can propagate for hundreds of kilometers northward along the coast. These events have been termed coastally trapped disturbances, coastally trapped wind reversals, and southerly surges; their forcing has been the subject of extensive study and debate. Southerly surges remain difficult to forecast, yet have a significant impact on coastal activities.The beginning stage of a southerly surge on 16 June 2012 was explored during the Precision Atmospheric Marine Boundary Layer Experiment. Measurements of the horizontal wind and pressure field in the marine layer offshore from Cape Arguello hours prior to the onset of the surge were made using the University of Wyoming King Air research aircraft. Airborne measurements show that a horizontal pressure field is established with higher pressure to the south just pri...
Managing hip and knee osteoarthritis with exercise: what is the best prescription?

Hip and knee osteoarthritis are common, chronic, and disabling. Therapeutic exercise is a component of all major rheumatologic society guidelines, yet the frequency, dose, duration, and therapeutic threshold for exercise are not clearly delineated. This review summarizes current studies of exercise for hip and knee osteoarthritis, discusses issues that influence the design, interpretation, and aggregation of results and how these factors impact the translation of data into clinical practice. A review of databases to identify current randomized controlled trials (2000 to present) of exercise to manage the symptoms of hip and knee osteoarthritis is discussed here. One study enrolling only hip patients was identified. Six studies of outcomes for individuals with hip or knee osteoarthritis and 11 studies of persons with knee osteoarthritis were found. Limited studies focus specifically on exercise for persons with hip osteoarthritis. Exercise is provided as a complex intervention combining multiple modes and provided in various settings under a range of conditions. Regardless of the variability in results and inherent biases in trials, exercise appears to reduce pain and improve function for persons with knee osteoarthritis and provide pain relief for persons with hip osteoarthritis. Given the complexity of exercise interventions and the specific issues related to study design, novel approaches to the evaluation of exercise are warranted.
Design, fabrication and testing of a miniature peristaltic membrane pump

A miniaturized peristaltic membrane pump has been designed, fabricated, and tested. Sequentially bulging three membranes into a flow channel is used to provide peristaltic pumping action. The deflection response of various membrane materials to applied pressure was measured to provide specifications for the flow channel which was designed and fabricated to closely match the shape of the bulging membranes. The pump has been designed to be driven with thermopneumatic actuators. An external pneumatic system is used to actuate the membranes to allow measurement and control of the actuation pressures required to demonstrate pumping action. >
Entrepreneurial marketing strategy: lessons from the Red Queen

The Red Queen effect is examined as a common scenario affecting contemporary marketers. Entrepreneurial marketing (EM) is posited as an organisational response to threatening, turbulent conditions. Work on EM is extended in this article to include entrepreneurial marketing strategy. Characteristics of such strategies are explored. It is argued that these strategies are inherently emergent, flexible and adaptable. The central role of innovation, particularly business model innovation, is highlighted. Six principles to guide the formulation of entrepreneurial marketing strategies are introduced.
Contracted plasma and blood volume in chronic heart failure.

Abstract OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine if long-term pharmacotherapy mediated changes in intravascular plasma and blood volumes in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). BACKGROUND Intravascular fluid volume expansion is an acute compensatory adaptation to ventricular dysfunction in patients with CHF. To our knowledge there are no reports on plasma and blood volume measures in clinically stable patients with CHF receiving standard pharmacotherapy. Such information may provide a better understanding of the clinical hallmarks of heart failure. METHODS Plasma volume (PV) and blood volume (BV) were measured in 12 patients (62.8 ± 8.2 years old, 175.2 ± 6.8 cm, 96.2 ± 18.2 kg, peak oxygen consumption (·Vo2max) 15.2 ± 3.3 ml/kg per min) with CHF secondary to coronary artery disease (left ventricular ejection fraction 31.2 ± 9.7, New York Heart Association functional class 2.5 ± 0.5) and seven healthy subjects (71.7 ± 5.3 years old, 177.1 ± 10.8 cm, 84.4 ± 11.7 kg, ·Vo2max 26.0 ± 6.5 ml/kg per min) 3 to 4 h after eating and after supine rest using the Evan’s blue dye dilution technique. Venous blood samples were collected before blue dye infusion and analyzed for hematocrit (corrected 4% for trapped plasma and venous to whole body hematocrit ratio) and hemoglobin. RESULTS Hematocrit was 36.6 ± 3.5% and 37.4 ± 1.1%, and hemoglobin was 15.4 ± 1.9 and 16.2 ± 1.4 g/dl for patients with CHF and control subjects, respectively. Absolute PV was 3489.3 ± 655.0 and 3728.7 ± 813.2 ml, and absolute BV was 5,496.8 ± 1,025.4 and 5,942.4 ± 1,182.2 ml in patients with CHF and control subjects, respectively. Relative PV was 34.1 ± 12.9 versus 44.5 ± 9.0 ml/kg (p ≤ 0.05), and relative BV was 58.5 ± 12.3 versus 70.8 ± 12.6 ml/kg (p ≤ 0.05) in patients with CHF and control subjects, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate significantly lower intravascular volumes in patients with CHF than in control subjects, indicating a deconditioned state or excessive diuresis, or both. The contracted PV and BV may contribute to exercise intolerance, shortness of breath and chronic fatigue, secondary to reduced cardiac output or regional blood flow, or both.
Parallel Implementation and Performance of FastDNAml &#8212; A Program for Maximum Likelihood Phylogenetic Inference

This paper describes the parallel implementation of fastDNAml, a program for the maximum likelihood inference of phylogenetic trees from DNA sequence data. Mathematical means of inferring phylogenetic trees have been made possible by the wealth of DNA data now available. Maximum likelihood analysis of phylogenetic trees is extremely computationally intensive. Availability of computer resources is a key factor limiting use of such analyses. fastDNAml is implemented in serial, PVM, and MPI versions, and may be modified to use other message passing libraries in the future. We have developed a viewer for comparing phylogenies. We tested the scaling behavior of fastDNAml on an IBM RS/6000 SP up to 64 processors. The parallel version of fastDNAml is one of very few computational phylogenetics codes that scale well. fastDNAml is available for download as source code or compiled for Linux or AIX.