cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tuning drought resistance by using a root-specific expression transcription factor PdNF-YB21 in Arabidopsis thaliana

Root growth is essential for plant survival under drought stress. Root growth includes diameter growth and longitudinal growth, which play different roles in the regulation of drought tolerance. However, the specific role of root growth in woody and herbaceous plants under drought stress remains largely uncharacterized. In a previous study, we confirmed that a root-specific transcription factor, NUCLEAR FACTOR Y subunit B21 (NF-YB21), positively regulated drought resistance by promoting root diameter growth and longitudinal growth in poplar. In the present study, we further analyzed induction of NF-YB21 in Arabidopsis in response to drought and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. In PdNF-YB21 promoter-driven GUS transgenic Arabidopsis plants, PdNF-YB21 was predominantly expressed in the root and was induced by osmotic stress. Overexpression of PdNF-YB21 in Arabidopsis enhanced drought resistance by promoting growth in root length but not in root diameter. Physiological analysis suggested that PdNF-YB21 promoted increase in root length, root hydraulic conductivity, root water-use efficiency (WUE), chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and biomass accumulation under drought stress. The present findings suggest that PdNF-YB21 plays an important role in regulation of root length and drought resistance in a herbaceous plant species. The results provide an explanation for the different mechanisms in herbaceous and woody plants involved in regulation of drought resistance by promoting growth in root length or diameter, and will be useful for breeding cultivars with enhanced drought tolerance. This study reported the important role of root-specific transcription factor PdNF-YB21 in regulating root length and improving drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Toward a Critical Criminology of HIV Criminalization

Persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (hereinafter, “PLHIV”) face barriers at each stage of the criminal justice process, including prosecution for non-disclosure of HIV status. Justice institutions reinforce the stigma of HIV, which has perverse consequences for HIV prevention and treatment services. This article takes a critical criminological approach to “HIV criminalization,” using the frames of queer criminology and epidemiological criminology to analyze both the punishment of “deviant” sex and the public health consequences of HIV stigma. Finally, this article offers a comprehensive consideration of the criminal justice barriers that PLHIV face in light of current criminological research, providing both mainstream and critical criminologists new insights into the social construction of deviance, legitimacy of institutions, definition of victims, and purposes of punishment.
Robust Combined Design and Control Optimization of Hybrid-Electric Vehicles Using MDSDO

Identifying a true, system-level optimal solution for hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) powertrains requires methods such as combined design and control optimization (co-design) to account for the coupling between powertrain design and optimal energy management strategies. Despite the widespread application of co-design techniques to HEV powertrains in recent years, limited research has been done to account for the inherent uncertainties present in these systems. This is problematic as such uncertainties may not only impact HEV powertrain component sizing and control strategies, but also overall vehicle performance and cost—both of which are critically-important in the fiercely-competitive automotive industry. One way to address this issue is to apply a stochastic dynamic system optimization technique known as robust multidisciplinary dynamic system design optimization (R-MDSDO) to the HEV powertrain co-design problem. This method ensures that the HEV powertrain co-design solution, including its system performance and cost, explicitly accounts for random variations within the system and its problem formulation using concepts from robust design optimization. Therefore, in this study, we formulate and solve a robust co-design problem for a power-split HEV powertrain using R-MDSDO to identify the optimal component designs, state trajectories, and control trajectories such that the vehicle powertrain cost is minimized. The robust solution is then compared to the solution from the associated deterministic problem, with the results indicating that accounting for system uncertainty has a significant impact on HEV powertrain co-design.
FQHC Designation and Safety Net Patient Revenue Associated with Primary Care Practice Capabilities for Access and Quality.

Concerns exist about the ability of safety net health care organizations to participate in US health care reform. Primary care practices are key to several efforts, but little is known about how capabilities of primary care practices serving a high share of disadvantaged patients compare to other practices. To assess capabilities around access to and quality of care among primary care practices serving a high share of Medicaid and uninsured patients compared to practices serving a low share of these patients. We analyzed data from the National Survey of Healthcare Organizations and Systems (response rate 46.8%), conducted 2017–2018. A total of 2190 medical practices with at least three adult primary care physicians. Our key exposures are payer mix and federally qualified health center (FQHC) designation. We classified practices as safety net if they reported a combined total of at least 25% of annual revenue from uninsured or Medicaid patients; we then further classified safety net practices into those that identified as an FQHC and those that did not. FQHCs were more likely than other safety net practices and non-safety net practices to offer early or late appointments (79%, 55%, 62%; p=0.001) and weekend appointments (56%, 39%, 42%; p=0.03). FQHCs more often provided medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders (43%, 27%, 25%; p=0.004) and behavioral health services (82%, 50%, 36%; p<0.001). FQHCs were more likely to screen patients for social and financial needs. However, FQHCs and other safety net providers had more limited electronic health record (EHR) capabilities (61%, 71%, 80%; p<0.001). FQHCs were more likely than other types of primary care practices (both safety net practices and other practices) to possess capabilities related to access and quality. However, safety net practices were less likely than non-safety net practices to possess health information technology capabilities.
Do squeaky wheels get the grease? Understanding when and how municipalities respond to online requests:

Citizens often attempt to interact with government through online modes of communication such as email and social media. Using an audit study, we examine when and how American municipalities with p...
Investigating the associations between childhood trauma and cardiovascular health in midlife

Growing evidence suggests that childhood trauma is associated with poorer cardiovascular health in adulthood, but few studies have examined potential mediators of these associations. We examined the links between different forms of childhood trauma (i.e., abuse, neglect, cumulative trauma) and cardiovascular health and explored potential mediators. Cross-sectional data from 1,251 participants in the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States' II Biomarker Project were analyzed. Path analyses were conducted to examine the associations between childhood trauma and cardiovascular health (i.e., American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 [LS7] score). Depressive symptoms and sleep quality were explored as potential mediators, and exploratory analyses examined whether these associations were moderated by sex. Women reported more severe childhood emotional and sexual abuse and emotional neglect, p < .001 to p = .018, and higher LS7 scores, p = .027, than men. Path analyses demonstrated the total effects of increasing severity of all forms of childhood trauma with LS7 scores were significant, and cumulative childhood trauma was inversely associated with LS7 score Bs = -0.306- -0.076, p < .001-p = .048. The range of total effects of different forms of childhood trauma on LS7 scores mediated by depressive symptoms and sleep quality was 26.8%-57.5%. Sex moderated the associations between all forms of childhood trauma and cardiovascular health. Longitudinal studies are needed that examine mediators of the associations between childhood trauma and cardiovascular health. Findings suggest sex-specific, trauma-informed approaches for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults exposed to childhood trauma may be needed.
Therapeutic targets in airway inflammation

Pathophysiology of airway inflammation in asthma, Paula J. Busse and William W. Busse primary human lung cells in the evaluation of airway determination, Tannishia Goggans and Serpil C. Erzurum airway pH homeostasis in asthma and other inflammatory lung diseases, John Hunt and Benjamin Gaston monitoring of exhaled breath to assess airway inflammation in asthma, Peter J. Barnes the modulatory effects of carbon monoxide on the inflammatory response, Francis Whalen, Augustine M.K. Choi, and Jigme M. Sethi reactive nitrogen species and tyrosine nitration in airway inflammation, Albert van der Vliet, Jason P. Eiserich, Brian Morrissey, and Carroll E. Cross S-nitrosothiols in lung inflammation, Harvey E. Marshall, Loretta G. Que, Jonathan S. Stamler and Benjamin Gaston contribution of different nitric oxide synthase isoforms to allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation - lessons from murine models, George T. DeSanctis and El-Bdaoui Haddad molecular mechanisms of increased nitric oxide airway inflammation, Weiling Xu and Serpil C. Erzurum regulation of nitric oxide synthesis by inducible nitric oxide synthase, Pawel Kolodziejski and N. Tony Eissa novel strategies for selective inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase, John F. Parkinson leukocyte recruitment in allergic pulmonary inflammation, Bruce S. Bochner neutrophil emigration in the lungs, Claire M. Doerschuk dendritic cells , A. Karolina Palucka and Jacques Banchereau the roles of mast cells in airway hyper-reactivity, inflammation and remodelling and immunoregulation in asthma, John L. Faul and Stephen J. Galli mast cells exocytosis in airway inflammation, Roberto Adachi, Rupesh Nigam, and Burton Dickey. (Part contents).
A SINAGUA ACROPOLIS

New Caves is a late Northern Sinagua site on the slope and top of a large cinder cone at O’Neill Crater near Flagstaff, Arizona. Mapping the whole site and excavating selected rooms allows us to interpret the architecture in terms of adaptations to the time and circumstances of late Sinagua life and to the peculiar conditions on O’Neill Crater. New Caves shows features suggesting use as a defensive citadel, terraces and other features allowing use of steep unstable slopes, and unusual pithouses and other architectural forms specialized to provide protection from wind and weather in an exposed location.
Tissue Cultured Cells: Potential Blood Compatible Linings for Cardiovascular Prostheses

Polymers currently used for cardiovascular replacement, both clinically and experimentally, fall into two categories; rough surfaced and smooth surfaced materials. The reaction of the blood upon contact with each type material is different. The rough surfaced materials, e.g., Dacron polyester (polyethylene terephthalate), are porous, and upon blood contact encourage the formation of adherent thrombus on their surfaces. The smooth surfaced materials, e.g., polyether urethanes, are generally impervious to blood and resist the formation of thrombus; although none of the smooth surfaced materials approach the thromboresistance of the natural endothelial lining of the vessel wall (1,2).
Monte Carlo Simulation of Modulated Phases

Modulated phases exist over a wide range of material classes. In general, the term ’modulated phases’ refers to the existence of an ordered array of multiple constituent elements of the material. These elements are typically either atoms of different Z or blocks of different phases. A good example of the former are intermetallics, such as the LI2 structure Ni3Al which consists of four interpenetrating simple cubic lattices (one occupied by Al and the other three by Ni) If we ignore chemical type, this structure is simply face centered cubic. Materials such as SiC are also ordered, but unlike Ni3Al it exhibits a wide range of phases, some with unit cells as large as 1200 nm on an edge1 The existence of multiple ordered structures of the same material is known as polytypism and has been observed for such disparate materials as metal iodides, micas, chalcogenides, opal, and graphite1. Different polytypes are often related to each other by the presence of periodic arrays of planar defects such as stacking faults or antiphase boundaries. Recent work2 has suggested that spin models, such as the Axial Next Nearest Neighbor Ising (ANNNI) model provide a reasonable description of polytypism. In two dimensions, this model exhibits3 both ferromagnetic and ordered (alternating two spin wide stripes — ↑↑↓↓↑↓↓↑↓↓↑↓↓) phases at low temperatures. In addition to a low temperature ferromagnetic phase, the three dimensional ANNNI model has a large number of different ordered phases at different temperatures and magnitudes of the frustration parameter.
Distributed Learning over Massive XML Documents in ELM Feature Space

Since centralized learning solutions are unable to meet the requirements of mining applications with massive training samples, a solution to distributed learning over massive XML documents is proposed in this paper, which provides distributed conversion of XML documents into representation model in parallel based on MapReduce, and a distributed learning component based on Extreme Learning Machine for mining tasks of classification or clustering. Within this framework, training samples are converted from raw XML datasets with better efficiency and information representation ability and taken to distributed learning algorithms in ELM feature space. Extensive experiments are conducted on massive XML documents datasets to verify the effectiveness and efficiency for both distributed classification and clustering applications.
To E or not to E

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insights and commentary into issues encountered in maintaining library technologies and electronic resources on a limited budget and with limited personnel. Design/methodology/approach – Uses real-world experiences and data to report on collection development decisions as they relate to e-books, specifically demand-driven acquisition (DDA) models, in an era of shrinking budgets and changing user expectations. Findings – Efficient and ubiquitous access to information has altered user expectations and needs. Many libraries have greatly expanded their holdings of e-books in an effort to address these changes. Some have investigated DDA models to place more control in the hands of the library users, despite an aversion on the part of some librarians. Originality/value – This paper examines the changing nature of study habits among college students and intimates that some of the decreases in average time spent studying outside of the classroom can be attributed...
Oversaturated signal systems with queue length constraints—I: Single intersection

Abstract Optimal control of oversaturated signals is one of the major concerns of traffic engineering practice today. Although some control strategies have been proposed in the past, due to their limitations they have not been used in practice. One of their major deficiencies is that the effects of queue length constraints on the signal operation have been inadequately investigated. Thus, the optimal control strategy with state variable constraints is studied in this paper. The optimal policy minimizing intersection delay subject to queue length constraints is to switch the signals as soon as the queues are at their limits so that the input and output flows are balanced. Cycle length can remain constant if only one queue length constraint is imposed but it must be free to vary if constraints are imposed on more than one queue. The conditions under which the problem is impossible are stated. A numerical solution method is proposed for determining the optimal control for the case in which the intersection demand is predictable for the entire control period.
On maximin value and policy functions in an exhaustible resource model

This paper studies maximin paths in the context of a standard exhaustible resource model. Under the assumption that the resource is important in production, it establishes the efficiency and uniqueness of non-trivial maximin paths. It uses these results to study the nature of the maximin value and policy functions. The value function is shown to be differentiable with respect to the initial resource stock, and the derivative of the value function is related to the shadow prices associated with the maximin path starting from that resource stock. We show how maximin policy functions can be derived, using the maximin value function, and the fact that the maximin path always follows Hartwick's investment rule.
Nutritional deficiencies in a patient with glycogen storage disease type Ib.

The current mainstay of treatment in glycogen storage disease type I (GSD I) is dietary management that includes providing a frequent source of glucose to prevent hypoglycaemia. To ensure compliance, routine follow-up by a health care team, including a dietitian, experienced in the treatment of GSD is necessary. We describe an adolescent patient with GSD Ib in good metabolic control who was admitted with a 3-month history of weakness, depression, vomiting, decreased appetite and a 11.4-kg weight loss. He had a recent onset of unsteady gait, inability to write, and sore mouth. After an extensive work-up, the patient was found to have vitamin B12, folate, iron and other nutritional deficiencies, which explained his symptoms. The patient improved within 72h of initiation of total parenteral nutrition and therapeutic doses of deficient micronutrients, with a complete recovery in 2 months. Dietary restrictions, dependence on non-food products (e.g. cornstarch in GSD I), and social and developmental issues place individuals with metabolic disorders at a high risk for developing an array of nutritional deficiencies. This case highlights the importance of both close follow-up of the metabolic control and close monitoring of growth and nutritional intake in individuals with inborn errors of metabolism. This case also illustrates the importance of daily supplementation with appropriate multivitamins, calcium and other minerals needed to meet the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) in these patients.
Estimating substitution elasticities with the Fourier cost function. Some Monte Carlo results

Abstract The Fourier flexible form possesses desirable asymptotic properties that are not shared by other flexible forms such as the translog, generalized Leontief, and generalized Box-Cox. One of them is that an elasticity of substitution can be estimated with negligible bias in sufficiently large samples regardless of what the true form actually is, save that it be smooth enough. This article reports the results of an experiment designed to determine whether or not this property obtains in samples of the sizes customarily encountered in practice. A three-input, homothetic version of the generalized Box-Cox cost function was used to generate technologies that were oriented in a two-dimensional design space according to a central composite rotatable design; the two factors of the design were the Box-Cox parameter and a measure of the dispersion of the substitution matrix. The Fourier cost function was used to estimate the substitution elasticities at each design point, and the bias at each point was estimated using the Monte Carlo method. A response surface over the entire design space was fitted to these estimates. An examination of the surface reveals that the bias is small over the entire design space. Roughly speaking, the estimates of elasticities of substitution are unbiased to three significant digits using the Fourier flexible form no matter what the true technology. Our conclusion is that the small bias property of the Fourier form does obtain in samples of reasonable size; this claim must be tampered by the usual caveats associated with inductive inference.
Violence in psychiatric wards: Role of the lax milieu

Abstract In recent years there has been a marked increase in interest and publications dealing with violence in psychiatric facilities. There is general agreement that the increase in violent behavior is real despite underreporting prior to the late 1970s. The author proposes that the changes in structure and functioning of psychiatric facilities following the Community Mental Health Act of 1963 may be one of the factors responsible for the increase of violent behavior. To test this proposal, Index Medicus was searched for articles on violence in psychiatric facilities from 1935 through 1988. The first articles appeared in 1968. A review of leading textbooks of psychiatry during the same period revealed similar findings. The role of the lax milieu is discussed. It is proposed that the “medical model” as described in this paper be reinstituted in short-stay psychiatric facilities.
A Theoretical Review of Particle Adhesion

This paper constitutes a theoretical review of the forces of adhesion of small particles to surfaces. The primary force of adhesion of small, less than 50 micron diameter, particles on a dry surface are van der Waals forces. These van der Waals forces can be increased due to particle and/or surface deformations which increase the particle contact area. Particles less than 1 micron diameter can be held to surfaces by forces exceeding 100 dynes, which corresponds to forces per unit area of 109 dyn/cm2 or more. Total forces of adhesion for 1 micron diameter particles can exceed the gravitational force acting on that particle by factors greater than 106. Electrostatic forces, although they only become important and predominate for particles larger than 50 microns diameter, may play a significant role in bringing particles to surfaces for adhesion. The presence of a liquid between the particle and surface, due to either immersion and subsequent removal from a liquid or due to high humidity conditions, can add a very large capillary force to the total force of adhesion. This capillary force is known to remain, in some cases, even after baking at above the liquid boiling point for many hours. Although some possibilities exist for particle removal, removal of small particles has been in practice extremely difficult due to these large forces. Each of these forces will be discussed theoretically with some attempts at quantification versus particle diameter. Some data will also be presented on attempted particle removal as a function of removal method. Clearly, emphasis should be placed on prevention of particle deposition on surfaces rather than relying on achieving subsequent removal.
Control and Planning of 3-D Dynamic Walking With Asymptotically Stable Gait Primitives

In this paper, we present a hierarchical framework that enables motion planning for asymptotically stable 3-D bipedal walking in the same way that planning is already possible for zero moment point walking. This framework is based on the construction of asymptotically stable gait primitives for a class of hybrid dynamical systems with impacts. Each primitive corresponds to an asymptotically stable hybrid limit cycle that admits rules a priori for sequential composition with other primitives, reducing a high-dimensional feedback motion planning problem into a low-dimensional discrete tree search. As a constructive example, we develop this planning framework for the 3-D compass-gait biped, where each primitive corresponds to walking along an arc of constant curvature for a fixed number of steps. We apply a discrete search algorithm to plan a sequence of these primitives, taking the 3-D biped stably from start to goal in workspaces with obstacles. We finally show how this framework generalizes to more complex models by planning walking paths for an underactuated five-link biped.
New uses for older antibiotics: The ‘rediscovery’ of four beneficial and cost-effective antimicrobials

PREVIEWFor years, the antibiotic marketplace has been in a state of eruption, sending forth an impressive array of -cillins, -mycins, and other familiar options. But in this era of managed care, many physicians are reexamining some of the old standbys, especially since these agents share an important trait: cost-effectiveness. In this article, Dr Cunha reviews established and growing uses for doxycycline, minocycline hydrochloride, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and metronidazole.
The effect of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (L.H.R.H.) on serum L.H. and ovarian growth in turkeys.

Abstract Serum L.H. of non-laying turkey hens (NL.) was significantly higher than serum LH of layers (L.). All NL. hens showed a marked increase in serum L.H. within 5 min. of an i.v. injection of 20 or 40 μg. of L.H.R.H. The L.H. levels of NL. hens were significantly lower at 15 min. after L.H.R.H. injection than at 5 min. The laying turkeys were erratic in their response, with clear cut, small rises in L.H. occurring only in some individuals with hard shelled eggs in utero. Hens with membranous eggs or with empty uteri failed to respond to the L.H.R.H. While F.S.H./L.H. injections caused significant ovarian and oviducal growth, L.H.R.H. given by daily i.m. injection for 7 days or twice daily i.v. injection for 6 days failed to do so. Subcutaneous implants of 1 mg. of L.H.R.H. in polyacrylamide gel led to prolonged elevation in serum L.H.R.H. and increased serum L.H. for about 12 hr. but caused no change in ovarian or oviducal weights.
Tungsten(II) monocarbonyl bis(acetylacetonate): A fourteen-electron docking site for η2 four-electron donor ligands

Tungsten(II) tricarbonyl bis(acetylacetonate) readily loses two equivalents of carbon monoxide upon exposure to nitrile reagents. Nitriles bind to tungsten as four-electron donors via their π-bonds, as previously reported with alkyne ligands. Imines, aldehydes, and ketones also bind to the tricarbonyl reagent as four-electron donors with two electrons originating from the π-bond and the final two electrons stemming from heteroatom lone pair donation. Experimental data suggest a high degree of double-bond character between tungsten and the heteroatom of the imine, aldehyde, or ketone. These findings are supported by DFT calculations on model complexes.
Erythrocyte osmotic fragility in the presence of lead or mercury.

SummaryThe osmotic fragility of human erythrocytes was analyzed with a recording Fragilograph after incubation with known amounts of lead or mercury. Incubation with lead produced two populations of red cells, one osmotically fragile and the other osmotically resistant. Mercury (10-4 to 10-6M Hg), unlike lead, caused an overall increase in osmotic fragility. With lead an osmotically resistant population of erythrocytes developed after 1 hr incubation with 0.7 to 1.0 × 10-4M Pb (1500 to 2000 μg Pb/100 ml), after 2 hr with 0.3 × 10-4 M Pb (800 μg Pb/100 ml), but did not appear until 24 hr incubation with 10-5M Pb (200 μg Pb/100 ml). The gradual development of an osmotically resistant population of erythrocytes with lead, but not with mercury, indicates different modes of interaction of these two ions with the red cell membrane and contents.
Proliferation “hot spots” in adult avian ventricular zone reveal radial cell division

Abstract Neurogenesis in the adult avian brain is restricted to the telencephalon. New neurons originate in the ventricular zone (VZ) from cells that have not been identified. We mapped the position of [ 3 H]thymidine-labeled cells in the walls of the ventricles of the adult canary brain. Labeled VZ cells were restricted to the telencephalon (lateral ventricles) and concentrated in "hot spots". The coincidence of these hot spots with regions rich in radial cells suggested that radial cells may be the cells undergoing mitosis. We used smears prepared from fragments of the VZ containing the hot spots to show directly that radial cells accumulate [ 3 H]thymidine. In addition, grain counts at different survival times demonstrated that these cells divide. Hot spots of VZ cell division also coincided with sites of neuronal origin. We suggest that radial cell division may give rise to new neurons.
Convergence domains for the campbell-baker-hausdorff formula

Three neighbourhoods of zero within which the Campbell-Baker-Hausdorff series for log(ex ey ) converges are compared. Two are large enough to include the unit sphere under a norm compatible with Lie multiplication.
Efficient and rapid purification of recombinant human α-galactosidase A by affinity column chromatography

The lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-Gal A) metabolizes neutral glycosphingolipids that possess alpha-galactoside residues at the non-reducing terminus, and inherited defects in the activity of alpha-Gal A lead to Fabry disease. We describe here an efficient and rapid purification procedure for recombinant alpha-Gal A by sequential Concanavalin A (Con A)-Sepharose and immobilized thio-alpha-galactoside (thio-Gal) agarose column chromatography. Optimal elution conditions for both columns were obtained using overexpressed human alpha-Gal A. We recommend the use of a mixture of 0.9 M methyl alpha-mannoside and 0.9 M methyl alpha-glucoside in 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 6.0) with 0.1 M NaCl for the maximum recovery of glycoproteins with multiple high-mannose type sugar chains from Con A column chromatography, and that the Con A column should not be reused for the purification of glycoproteins that are used for structural studies. Binding of the enzyme to the thio-Gal column requires acidic condition at pH 4.8. A galactose-containing buffer (25 mM citrate-phosphate buffer, pH 5.5, with 0.1 M galactose, and 0.1 M NaCl) was used to elute alpha-Gal A. This procedure is especially useful for the purification of mutant forms of alpha-Gal A, which are not stable under conventional purification techniques. A protocol that purifies an intracellular mutant alpha-Gal A (M279I) expressed in COS-7 cells within 6h at 62% overall yield is presented.
State in Society: Studying How States and Societies Transform and Constitute One Another

The essays in this book trace the development of Joel Migdal's 'state-in-society' approach. That approach illuminates how power is exercised around the world, and how and when patterns of power change. Despite the triumph of concept of state in social science literature, actual states have had great difficulty in turning public policies into planned social change. The state-in-society approach points observers to the ongoing struggles over which rules dictating how people will lead their daily lives. These struggles, which ally parts of the state and groups in society against other such coalitions, determine how societies and states create and maintain distinct ways of structuring day-to-day life - the nature of the rules that govern people's behavior, whom they benefit and whom they disadvantage, which sorts of elements unite people and which divide them, what shared meaning people hold about their relations with others and their place in the world.
2007 Special Issue: Learning grammatical structure with Echo State Networks

Echo State Networks (ESNs) have been shown to be effective for a number of tasks, including motor control, dynamic time series prediction, and memorizing musical sequences. However, their performance on natural language tasks has been largely unexplored until now. Simple Recurrent Networks (SRNs) have a long history in language modeling and show a striking similarity in architecture to ESNs. A comparison of SRNs and ESNs on a natural language task is therefore a natural choice for experimentation. Elman applies SRNs to a standard task in statistical NLP: predicting the next word in a corpus, given the previous words. Using a simple context-free grammar and an SRN with backpropagation through time (BPTT), Elman showed that the network was able to learn internal representations that were sensitive to linguistic processes that were useful for the prediction task. Here, using ESNs, we show that training such internal representations is unnecessary to achieve levels of performance comparable to SRNs. We also compare the processing capabilities of ESNs to bigrams and trigrams. Due to some unexpected regularities of Elman's grammar, these statistical techniques are capable of maintaining dependencies over greater distances than might be initially expected. However, we show that the memory of ESNs in this word-prediction task, although noisy, extends significantly beyond that of bigrams and trigrams, enabling ESNs to make good predictions of verb agreement at distances over which these methods operate at chance. Overall, our results indicate a surprising ability of ESNs to learn a grammar, suggesting that they form useful internal representations without learning them.
Formation of 3′-32P-acyl CoA from γ-32P-ATP in guinea pig liver mitochondrial extracts

Summary A soluble extract that catalyzes the exchange of acyl groups from acyl coenzyme A to coenzyme A has been obtained from guinea pig liver mitochondria. None of several known acyl group acceptors stimulates the transfer as well as does coenzyme A itself. The preparation also contains dephosphocoenzyme A phosphokinase activity and thus provides a convenient system for the preparation of 3′- 32 P-acyl coenzyme A from γ- 32 P-ATP.
Human pharmacokinetics of xanthohumol, an antihyperglycemic flavonoid from hops.

Scope Xanthohumol (XN) is a bioactive prenylflavonoid from hops. A single-dose pharmacokinetic (PK) study was conducted in men (n = 24) and women (n = 24) to determine dose–concentration relationships. Methods and results Subjects received a single oral dose of 20, 60, or 180 mg XN. Blood was collected at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h. Plasma levels of XN and its metabolites, isoxanthohumol (IX), 8-prenylnaringenin (8PN), and 6-prenylnaringenin (6PN) were measured by LC-MS/MS. Xanthohumol (XN) and IX conjugates were dominant circulating flavonoids among all subjects. Levels of 8PN and 6PN were undetectable in most subjects. The XN PK profile showed peak concentrations around 1 h and between 4–5 h after ingestion. The maximum XN concentrations (Cmax) were 33 ± 7 mg/L, 48 ± 11 mg/L, and 120 ± 24 mg/L for the 20, 60, and 180 mg dose, respectively. Using noncompartmental modeling, the area under the curves (AUC0∞) for XN were 92 ± 68 h × μg/L, 323 ± 160 h × μg/L, and 863 ± 388 h × μg/L for the 20, 60, and 180 mg dose, respectively. The mean half-life of XN was 20 h for the 60 and 18 h for the 180 mg dose. Conclusion XN has a distinct biphasic absorption pattern with XN and IX conjugates being the major circulating metabolites.
Phase measurements using the Mirau correlation microscope

A new algorithm for extracting amplitude and phase information from the data collected by the Mirau correlation microscope is presented. The accuracy of the phase measurements is first determined by measuring phase steps and vertical resolutions in the nanometer range. Experimental results with metal gratings show good agreement with Fourier theory. An inverse filter is then used to improve the resolution of the system. The filtered image has sharper edges and better phase contrast.
A graphics processor for comparative studies using microscopic traffic simulation models

Computer traffic simulation models are valuable tools for the design and deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Simulations of traffic flow can be used for the analysis and assessment of potential ITS technologies. Using simulations, alternative systems can be tested under identical conditions so the effects of oversaturated conditions, spillback, queuing, and overlapping bottlenecks can be measured. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) microscopic traffic simulation models, NETSIM, FRESIM, and CORSIM, are regarded as highly comprehensive but somewhat difficult to use. A graphics processor, TRAFVU, has recently been developed for analyzing the output of these microscopic models. TRAFVU was designed to support direct comparison of alternatives to facilitate design and evaluation. Applications of the CORSIM traffic simulation model and the TRAFVU graphics processor to interchange design and developing incident management strategies are presented.
A non-parametric sequential rank-sum probability ratio test method for binary hypothesis testing

Sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) is a common technique for binary hypothesis testing. To use SPRT, one needs to assume a distribution function, such as Gaussian, for samples. However, in some applications the sample distribution is unknown, non-Gaussian, and/or cannot be specified by a simple function. This paper presents a non-parametric sequential rank-sum probability ratio test (SRPRT) method to conduct binary hypothesis test under such circumstances. The new method only assumes that the sample distribution is symmetric, which is easy to satisfy. Statistical tests are conducted to compare the performance of this non-parametric method to those of SPRT and its variant. Results show that it is more appropriate to use SRPRT than SPRT in binary hypothesis testing if the sample distribution is non-Gaussian.
Correlation between cumulative labeling indices measured in the terminal bronchioles and in the centriacinar region in the lungs of rats exposed to oxidant air pollutants

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed on 7 consecutive days for 8 h a night to 0.6 ppm ozone, 10.8 ppm NO2 or a mixture of the two gases. Cumulative labeling indices were measured in the epithelium of the terminal bronchioles and the adjacent centriacinar region. An excellent correlation in labeling indices between the two sites was found. It is concluded that the labeling index in the terminal bronchioles represents a sensitive measurement for ozone-induced lung injury.
Isolation and characterization of a new subspecies ofMycobacterium chelonei infectious for salmonid fish

Rapidly growing, nonchromogenic mycobacteria were isolated from salmonid fish at five locations in the states of Oregon and Montana, USA. The isolates were characterized by biochemical, physiological, genetic and mycolic acid properties, then subjected to taxonomic analysis. Detection of mycobacterial mycolic acids and a percent guanine plus cytosine value of 63 ± 1.7 mol% confirmed that the isolates belong to the genusMycobacterium. The internal similarity of the isolates was 94.2 ± 3.4 %. None of the isolates grew at 37 °C. A comparison of their properties with those of other rapidly growing, nonchromogenic and photochromogenic mycobacteria was made. The salmonid isolates showed a relationship toM. chelonei subspecieschelonei andM. chelonei subspeciesabscessus, but had biochemical properties which were intermediate to these two subspecies. Acid methanolysates of the salmonid isolates, analyzed by two dimensional thin-layer chromatography, produced lipid patterns identical to those of both subspecies ofM. chelonei. Sufficient differences in biochemical properties and the inability to grow at 37 °C suggest these isolates be regarded as a new subspecies ofM. chelonei. We propose the nameM. chelonei subspeciespiscarium subsp. nov. (L. adj.piscarius of fish). The isolates were not infectious for mice. Experimental infections were produced in juvenile salmonid fish. The occurrence of mycobacterial infections in selected salmonid populations from Oregon hatcheries and the Pacific Ocean ranged from 0 to 26 %.
A Three-Equation Variant of the SST k-ω Model Sensitized to Rotation and Curvature Effects

A new variant of the SST k-ω model sensitized to system rotation and streamline curvature is presented. The new model is based on a direct simplification of the Reynolds stress model under weak equilibrium assumptions [York et al., 2009, "A Simple and Robust Linear Eddy-Viscosity Formulation for Curved and Rotating Flows," International Journal for Numerical Methods in Heat and Fluid Flow, 19(6), pp. 745-776]. An additional transport equation for a transverse turbulent velocity scale is added to enhance stability and incorporate history effects. The added scalar transport equation introduces the physical effects of curvature and rotation on turbulence structure via a modified rotation rate vector. The modified rotation rate is based on the material rotation rate of the mean strain-rate based coordinate system proposed by Wallin and Johansson (2002, "Modeling Streamline Curvature Effects in Explicit Algebraic Reynolds Stress Turbulence Models," International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 23, pp. 721-730). The eddy viscosity is redefined based on the new turbulent velocity scale, similar to previously documented k-e-v 2 model formulations (Durbin, 1991, "Near-Wall Turbulence Closure Modeling without Damping Functions," Theoretical and Computational Fluid Dynamics, 3, pp. 1-13). The new model is calibrated based on rotating homogeneous turbulent shear flow and is assessed on a number of generic test cases involving rotation and/or curvature effects. Results are compared to both the standard SST k-ω model and a recently proposed curvature-corrected version (Smirnov and Menter, 2009, "Sensitization of the SST Turbulence Model to Rotation and Curvature by Applying the Spalart-Shur Correction Term," ASME Journal of Turbomachinery, 131, pp. 1-8). For the test cases presented here, the new model provides reasonable engineering accuracy without compromising stability and efficiency, and with only a small increase in computational cost.
Note on Musical Drums

Vibration of Symmetrically Loaded Circular Membranes.---In India there are musical drums which are loaded over a central zone in such a way as to give harmonic partials. The theory is presented for two cases, namely when the load varies inversely as the first power and as the second power of the distance from the center. It is found that in the second case the partials form a harmonic series, whereas in the first case they do not.
Consolidation Process in Near Net Shape Manufacturing of Armstrong CP-Ti/Ti-6Al-4V Powders

This paper summarizes our recent efforts to develop the manufacturing technologies of consolidated net-shape components by using new low-cost commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) and Ti-6Al-4V alloy powders made by the Armstrong process. Fabrication processes of net shape/ near net shape components, such as uniaxial die-pressing, cold isostatic pressing (CIP), sintering, roll compaction and stamping, have been evaluated. The press-and-sinter processing of the powders were systematically investigated in terms of theoretical density and microstructure as a function of time, pressure, and temperature. Up to 96.4% theoretical density has been achieved with the press-and-sinter technology. Tensile properties of the consolidated samples exhibit good ductility as well as equivalent yield/ultimate tensile strengths to those of fully consolidate materials, even with the presence of a certain amount of porosity. A consolidation model is also under development to interpret the powder deformation during processing. Net shape components made of the Armstrong powder can successfully be fabricated with clearer surface details by using press-and-sinter processing.
The relationship between nasal cross-sectional area and nasal air volume in normal and nasally impaired adults☆

Abstract The controversy concerning the effects of nasal airway impairment on facial growth has stimulated renewed interest in upper airway respiratory function. The subjective manner in which airway impairment and mouth breathing have been assessed is, in our opinion, responsible for the differences observed among investigators and for their conclusions. We have been involved in a series of studies dealing with airway impairment and have reported modifications of two techniques for objectively assessing respiration. The purpose of the present study was to examine a large population of adults, with and without nasal airway impairment, and assess the relationship between nasal cross-sectional area and nasal air volume to determine at what point airway size controls the passage of air during breathing. Statistical analysis of the data demonstrates that airway size alters air volume when nasal cross-sectional area is less than 0.4 cm2. The relationship between area and volume is very linear below 0.4 cm2, with air volume decreasing with decreased size. Although the data do indicate some influence over volume at sizes greater than 0.4 cm2, the effect is very slight. These findings support the prediction that upper airway impairment is present at nasal airways
Epidermolysis bullosa: hereditary skin fragility diseases as paradigms in cell biology.

Recent research into the molecular basis of epidermolysis bullosa has provided a unique insight into a variety of mechanisms in normal cell biology, such as cell-matrix interactions, and has uncovered an excellent model for studies on keratin intermediate filaments. The simplex forms of epidermolysis bullosa are caused by mutations in the genes for the basal epidermal keratins, K5 and K14. Most mutations affect highly conserved parts of the molecules, illustrating their importance in normal keratin filament assembly and integrity. Mutations in corresponding regions of the differentiation-associated keratins, K1 and K10 can also occur in epidermolytic ichthyosis. Both recessive and dominant forms of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa result from mutations in an anchoring fibril collagen gene, COL7A1. Junctional epidermolysis bullosa is caused by mutations in the genes encoding different chains of the novel laminin isoform, nicein/ kalinin, also known as laminin 5, which is associated with the anchoring filament-hemidesmosome complex of the basement membrane zone. These recent findings strengthen the evidence for the role of nicein/kalinin and type VII collagen in adherence and stabilization of the dermo-epidermal junction.
Microdialysis-perfusion sampling for the investigation of phenol metabolism

In vivo methods provide several advantages for the study of metabolism relative to the commonly used in vitro techniques. The integrity of the organism and actual physiological conditions are maintained to reflect more accurately the processes occurring on exposure to a xenobiotic compound. Experimental precision is improved because each animal serves as its own control and can be used to generate a complete pharmacokinetic experiment. This may result in the added benefit that fewer experimental animals will be needed for a metabolic investigation using in vivo techniques. The technique of microdialysis perfusion was characterized for the in vivo study of the hepatic metabolism of phenol and conjugation by glutathione. In this study, in vivo experiments were conducted by implanting a microdialysis probe into the intact, in-place liver of a killed rat. These results were compared to in vitro experiments using liver homogenate and liver-microsomal protein. Substantial differences were observed between the in situ experiments and those performed in vitro.
Cardiovascular ageing in health sets the stage for cardiovascular disease.

Abstract The incidence and prevalence of coronary disease, hypertension, heart failure and stroke increase exponentially with advancing age. While epidemiologic studies have discovered that aspects of lifestyle and genetics are risk factors for these diseases, age, per se, confers the major risk. Thus, it is reasonable to hypothesise that specific pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie these diseases become superimposed on cardiac and vascular substrates that have been modified by an ‘ageing process’, and that the latter modulates disease occurrence and severity. In order to unravel this age-disease interaction, the nature of the ageing process in the heart and vasculature requires elucidation. Some aspects of the current understanding of ageing of the heart and blood vessels in the absence of apparent disease are the focus of this review.