cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response of Late Ordovician paleoceanography to changes in sea level, continental drift, and atmospheric pCO2: potential causes for long-term cooling and glaciation

Abstract We performed sensitivity experiments using an ocean general circulation model at two stages of the Late Ordovician (Caradoc, ∼454 Ma; Ashgill, ∼446 Ma) under a range of atmospheric pCO2 values (8–18× PAL; pre-industrial atmospheric level) at high and low sea level. The model results indicate that the long-term cooling trend during the Late Ordovician can be explained by progressive cooling of the global ocean in response to falling levels of atmospheric pCO2, sea level change, and paleogeographic change. These results also explain the occurrence of low latitude cool-water carbonates in North America. In all simulations, a drop in sea level led to a reduction in poleward ocean heat transport. This indicates a possible positive feedback that could have enhanced global cooling in response to sea level drop during the Late Ordovician. Alterations in poleward ocean heat transport linked to changes of atmospheric pCO2 also indicate that there is a threshold of 10× PAL, above which ocean current change cannot be responsible for glaciation in the Late Ordovician. Continental drift could explain the observed global cooling trend in the Late Ordovician through a combined poleward ocean heat transport feedback and increased ice-albedo effect if atmospheric pCO2 was low during the entire Late Ordovician. The model results further indicate that the response of meridional overturning to changes in paleogeography, atmospheric pCO2, and sea level is stronger than the response of surface circulation to these perturbations. Because the overturning circulation is so strong, meridional overturning was the dominant mechanism for described changes in heat transport in the Late Ordovician.
Residual stress optimization in metal-matrix composites using discretely graded interfaces

Abstract Thermally induced residual stresses in metal-matrix composites can be large enought to yield, and in some cases fail, the matrix material immediately surrounding the fiber. The focus of this research is to evaluate the effect of interfacial layers between the fiber and matrix on these residual stresses and, more specifically, to determine the optimum design of such discrete interfacial layers in order to reduce the damaging levels of residual stress. One outgrowth of this investigation is the development of a software package that can determine the optimum design of a fiber/interfacial layer/matrix model for a variety of user-specified conditions (parameters). The optimization algorithm adopted in this procedure utilizes the method of feasible directions and accepts any combination of design variables, constraints and objective functions. The analysis model consists of a generalized plane-strain concentric cylinder assemblage that can handle both elastic and elasto-plastic analysis. An arbitrary number of cylinders can be included in the model, each with independent material properties. The inelastic analysis is performed using the method of successive elastic solutions. As an example, the circumferential stress distribution corresponding to a −1425°F drop in temperature for a SiC Ti-24A1-11Nb system is evaluated. Through optimization, it is possible to identify the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the interfacial layer which will minimize the matrix circumferential stress, while keeping the circumferential stress in the interfacial layer less than, say, 650.0 ksi. Utilizing this optimization algorithm, an interfacial layer having a CTE of 2.8 times that of the matrix is found to reduce the critical matrix stress from 46.7 to 23.2 ksi, while satisfying the prescribed interfacial layer stress constraint.
A resurrected mammalian hAT transposable element and a closely related insect element are highly active in human cell culture

Chromosome structure and function are influenced by transposable elements, which are mobile DNA segments that can move from place to place. hAT elements are a superfamily of DNA cut and paste elements that move by excision and integration. We have characterized two hAT elements, TcBuster and Space Invaders (SPIN), that are members of a recently described subfamily of hAT elements called Buster elements. We show that TcBuster, from the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, is highly active in human cells. SPIN elements are currently inactive elements that were recently highly active in multiple vertebrate genomes, and the high level of sequence similarity across widely diverged species and patchy phylogenetic distribution suggest that they may have moved between genomes by horizontal transfer. We have generated an intact version of this element, SPINON, which is highly active in human cells. In vitro analysis of TcBuster and SPINON shows that no proteins other than transposase are essential for recombination, a property that may contribute to the ability of SPIN to successfully invade multiple organisms. We also analyze the target site preferences of de novo insertions in the human genome of TcBuster and SPINON and compare them with the preferences of Sleeping Beauty and piggyBac, showing that each superfamily has a distinctive pattern of insertion. The high-frequency transposition of both TcBuster and SPINON suggests that these transposon systems offer powerful tools for genome engineering. Finally, we describe a Saccharomyces cerevisiae assay for TcBuster that will provide a means for isolation of hyperactive and other interesting classes of transposase mutants.
Impact debris particles in Jupiter's stratosphere

The aftermath of the impacts of periodic comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter was studied with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on the Hubble Space Telescope. The impact debris particles may owe their dark brown color to organic material rich in sulfur and nitrogen. The total volume of aerosol 1 day after the last impact is equal to the volume of a sphere of radius 0.5 kilometer. In the optically thick core regions, the particle mean radius is between 0.15 and 0.3 micrometer, and the aerosol is spread over many scale heights, from approximately 1 millibar to 200 millibars of pressure or more. Particle coagulation can account for the evolution of particle radius and total optical depth during the month following the impacts.
Caring for the Disabled: Applying Different Theoretical Perspectives to Understand Racial and Ethnic Variations Among Families

Families often provide care for disabled relatives, yet this can affect caregivers negatively. To understand how disability affects the entire family, this article reviews four theories that can be used to understand caregiving and applies each theory to understand racial and ethnic variations among families. We examine the stress process model, social ecological perspective, life course perspective, and gender role socialization hypothesis, which are useful to understand caregiver burden.
Effects of Scale on Habitat Selection and Foraging Behavior of Fishers in Winter

Several researchers reported that fishers ( Martes pennanti ) select lowland-conifer habitats, where snowshoe hares ( Lepus americanus ) are abundant, for foraging and resting and therefore, avoid open, upland-hardwood habitats. In the Ottawa National Forest, Upper Peninsula, Michigan, in the 1970s, porcupines ( Erethizon dorsatum ) occurred in open, upland-hardwood habitat that provided fishers with more than on-half of their energy requirements. If fishers select habitat on the basis of location of important prey, they should hunt disproportionately in hardwood habitat. Fishers, however, appeared to recall locations of porcupine dens in winter and traveled directly to dens, thereby minimizing distance traveled in habitat of porcupines. I hypothesized that fishers would avoid upland-hardwood habitat, despite availability of porcupines, because foraging for porcupines is efficient. Tracks of fishers were followed and mapped. Distribution of habitats available near tracks and available in the study area were quantified using random transects on maps of habitat types. Fishers selected habitats on at least two different scales. On the coarser scale, fishers foraged in areas with greater availability of pine habitat and lowland conifers and less upland hardwoods than was available over the entire study area. On a finer scale, within the vicinity where fishers foraged, they selected lowland-conifer forest and avoided open areas, northern-hardwood, aspen-birch and hemlock forests. Fishers selected dense, lowland forests and avoided northern hardwoods for rest sites; selection of habitats for rest sites was stronger than for travel, making this a possible third scale of selection.
Vaporization of atoms and molecules during heating of cadmium, lead and zinc salts in a carbon tube atomizer

Abstract Vaporization characteristics of atoms and molecules produced during heating of aqueous solutions of Cd, Pb and Zn salts in the carbon tube atomizer are described. Sulfates, nitrates and fluorides are decomposed completely to free atoms without losses. When concentrated halide solutions are employed, gaseous metal chlorides, bromides and iodides are removed partly from the atomizer in the initial atomization phase, and the atomic absorption response is decreased. This loss can be suppressed effectively by adding nitric or sulfuric acid to the halide solutions.
Proving cause and effect in traumatic stress: The draft lottery as a natural experiment

A dozen years after the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war, considerable evidence suggests that some Vietnam veterans have suffered long-term mental health problems as a result of their experiences while in the military. Published reports began with the first descriptions of post-traumatic stress disorder, which is now a recognized psychiatric diagnosis. Recently, we have added to this literature by using a new technique based on the military draft lottery of 1970–1972. This article discusses the rationale behind the approach that we used, summarizes our results, which have been published in detail elsewhere, discusses how our results complement those of previous studies, and suggests ways in which similar techniques might be used to further investigate delayed effects of the Vietnam-era military draft.
Teaching without Testing: A Preliminary Report of an Innovative Technique for Social Work Education.

The systematic use of study questions to guide social work student learning is described as an alternative to relying upon traditional midterm or final examinations, or term papers. The study question method avoids many of the pedagogical disadvantages of these traditional means of evaluating student learning, and a formal survey of adult learners exposed to the study question format overwhelmingly endorsed the approach, relative to written tests or term papers. Despite this favorable appraisal, the study question technique has been found to generate greater and more consistent levels of study behavior, writing, and class participation.
Effect of electron irradiation on the low temperature deformation of niobium

Preliminary results of low-temperature electron irradiation experiments with niobium are presented to examine the difference between the low-temperature deformation mechanisms of ion and niobium. (FS)
Endometrial glandular proliferation and estrogen receptor content during the normal menstrual cycle

Hysterectomy specimens from 35 normally cycling premenopausal women were examined to determine the relationship of endometrial glandular proliferation to estrogen receptor content. The cases were divided into follicular phase (n = 20), early luteal phase, days 1-5 post ovulation (n = 5) and mid to late luteal phase (n = 10). Proliferation rates, as determined by MIB-1 expression, were maximal in the endometrial functionalis during the follicular phase (701 cells/1000), decreased by half during the early luteal phase (327 cells/1000), and virtually ceased during the mid to late luteal phase (8 cells/1000) (p < 0.001). Estrogen receptor status, determined immunohistochemically and graded on a scale of 0 to 4+, averaged 3.4+, 2.2+ and 0.5+ during the follicular, early luteal, and mid to late luteal phases, respectively, in the endometrial functionalis (p < 0.001). Proliferation rates in the endometrial basalis paralleled those in the functionalis, but at a lower rate, whereas estrogen receptor expression underwent considerably less cyclical variation. We conclude that estrogen receptor status shows a highly significant correlation with glandular proliferation rates and are predictive of endometrial proliferative changes during the normal menstrual cycle.
Action potentials must admit calcium to evoke transmitter release

There are two hypotheses to explain how neurons release transmitter. The calcium hypothesis proposes that membrane depolarization is necessary only for opening calcium channels and increasing internal calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) near membrane transmitter-release sites. These calcium ions trigger a transient release of neurotransmitter. The calcium-voltage hypothesis postulates that voltage induces a conformational change in a membrane protein rendering it sensitive to calcium such that, in the presence of high [Ca2+]i, depolarization directly triggers transmitter release. Here we report that when calcium influx is blocked by cobalt or manganese ions in a calcium-free Ringer, as measured with Fura-2, and [Ca2+]i is elevated by liberation from a caged calcium compound, transmitter release at the crayfish neuromuscular junction is unaffected by presynaptic action potentials. These results support the calcium hypothesis.
Review: Nicotine gum and varenicline, but not behavioral interventions, reduce relapse in persons who have stopped smoking

Source Citation Hajek P, Stead LF, West R, Jarvis M, Lancaster T. Relapse prevention interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(1):CD003999. 19160228
Temperature Performance of Monolithic Passively Mode-Locked Quantum Dot Lasers: Experiments and Analytical Modeling

In this paper, a detailed study is presented on a series of quantum dot (QD) passively mode-locked lasers (MLLs) with variable absorber to gain-section length ratios. The effect of temperature on the stability of pulses emitted from the QD ground state is primarily examined and compared to an analytical model that predicts regions of mode-locking stability for a given device layout. The model correctly predicts the temperatures of maximum operability in each device for a variety of absorber voltages. Prediction of the regimes of excited-state operation from the QDs is also included and experimentally verified. For the first time, the unsaturated absorption is identified as a key parameter that strongly influences the range of biasing conditions that produce stable mode-locked pulses. This dataset offers valuable insight into design of future MLL devices for maximum optical pulse quality over a large range of temperature and biasing conditions.
The relationship between urinary calcium, sodium, and potassium excretion and the role of potassium in treating idiopathic hypercalciuria.

Objectives. 1) To evaluate the relationships between urinary sodium (UNa), potassium (UK), and calcium (UCa) excretion in the pediatric population; and 2) to determine the effect of increasing potassium intake in patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria and investigate whether this intervention can be offered as another mode of therapy in this patient population. Design. Prospectively, we determined UNa, UK, UCa, and creatinine (Cr) concentrations in randomly collected urine samples from children on initial evaluation for urinary frequency, dysuria, hematuria, enuresis, or kidney stones to identify children with hypercalciuria. Setting. The outpatient renal clinic of an academic hospital. Participants. Twenty-three black children (13 girls and 10 boys) and 77 white children (44 girls and 33 boys) 3.92 to 16.67 years of age. Interventions. Eleven children with hypercalciuria were given potassium supplementation or placed on a high-potassium diet for at least 2 weeks. Outcome Measures. UNa to UK, UNa to Cr, UK to Cr, and UCa to Cr ratios were calculated from measured levels of urinary minerals. These were repeated in 11 hypercalciuric patients after 2 weeks of increased potassium intake. Results. A total of 100 urine samples were analyzed. The UCa/Cr ratio in blacks 0.04 ± 0.06 (mean ± standard deviation) was significantly lower than in whites 0.16 ± 0.12. There were 21 hypercalciuric white children versus only 1 black child. Linear regression analysis revealed a positive direct correlation between UNa/Cr and UCa/Cr in all 100 subjects and in whites alone but not in blacks. An inverse relationship existed between UK/Cr and UCa/Cr in all subjects and in whites and showed a strong trend in blacks. A marked direct relationship was found between UNa/K and UCa/Cr in all subjects (r2 = .43) as well as in whites (r2 = .59) and blacks (r2 = .49). One black child and 10 white hypercalciuric children were treated with “extra” K for at least 2 weeks. The UNa/K decreased from 4.73 ± 2.28 to 1.98 ± 1.09, and the UCa/Cr decreased from 0.31 ± 0.10 to 0.14 ± 0.07, with resolution or improvement of the patients9 symptoms. Conclusions. In our patient population with urinary symptoms, the UCa/Cr ratio in black children is lower and hypercalciuria less common than in white children. In both white and black populations, the UNa/K ratio had the strongest association with the UCa/Cr ratio, indicating an opposing role of UNa and UK on the UCa/Cr ratio. Increased potassium intake was found to be beneficial for hypercalciuric children by decreasing the UNa/K ratio and, consequently, the UCa/Cr ratio.
Proteus Mirabilis Septicemia and Meningitis in a Neonate

A 6-day-old premature baby boy presented in a pediatric clinic for severe jaundice, poor feeding and lethargy. He was born to a 24-year-old mother who was primigravida. Pregnancy was complicated by gestational diabetes, appropriately treated chlamydial infection, oligohydramnios and inadequate prenatal care. On physical examination, he was hypotonic and irritable with significant jaundice seen from his head to his lower extremities. Transcutaneous bilirubin obtained in clinic showed a level of 14 mg/dL. A serum bilirubin level was immediately ordered and it confirmed an elevated unconjugated bilirubin level of 18.9 mg/dL. He was admitted to the inpatient unit and a full septic work-up was initiated. Appropriate antibiotics were administered to cover for the most common pathogen involved in neonatal sepsis. A few hours into the admission, his condition deteriorated requiring intubation for multiple consecutive apneic episodes and seizure-like activity. Initial laboratory evaluation included an abnormal white blood cell count of 2,600/ µ L with left shift, elevated lactic acid of 9 mmol/L and a low bicarbonate level of 16 mmol/L further confirming acidosis. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid revealed a white blood cell count of > 300/ µ L, low glucose with a level of 7 mg/dL and elevated protein level of 645 mg/dL. Due to his rapid clinical deterioration a few hours into the admission, a computed tomography scan of the brain was obtained. Computed tomography scan of brain showed significant damage to brain parenchyma consistent with anoxic brain injury. He expired on his second day of admission. Proteus mirabilis was the causative agent. J Med Cases. 2014;5(4):245-247 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc1290w
Methanogenesis and methanotrophy within a Sphagnum peatland

Abstract Methane production and consumption activities were examined in a Massachusetts peatland. Peat from depths of 5–35 cm incubated under anaerobic conditions, produced an average of 2 nmol CH4 g−1 h−1 with highest rates for peat fractions between 25–30 cm depth. Extracted microbial nucleic acids showed the strongest relative hybridization with a 16S rRNA oligonucleotide probe specific for Archaea with samples from the 25–30 cm depth. In aerobic laboratory incubations, the peat consumed methane with a maximum velocity of 67 nmol CH4 g−1 h−1 and a Ks of 1.6 μM. Methane consumption activity was concentrated 4–9 cm below the peat surface, which corresponds to the aerobic, partially decomposed region in this peatland. Phospholipid fatty acid analysis of peat fractions demonstrated an abundance of methanotrophic bacteria within the region of methane consumption activity. Increases in temperature up to 30°C produced an increase in methane consumption rates for shallow samples, but not for samples taken from depths greater than 9 cm. Nitrogen fixation experiments were carried out using 15N2 uptake in order to avoid problems associated with inhibition of methanotrophy. These experiments demonstrated that methane in peat samples did not stimulate nitrogen fixation activity, nor could activity be correlated with the presence of methanotrophic bacteria in peat fractions.
The public memory of women’s suffrage in Iowa

Abstract This paper examines the concept of public memory by comparing two created memories marking the achievement of women’s suffrage in Iowa: (1) the installation of a memorial honoring suffragists in 1936; and (2) the 50th anniversary of the League of Women Voters (and the Nineteenth Amendment) in 1969–1970. Both memories depended heavily on the agendas of the organizations doing the remembering. The paper shows how socially mainstream organizations attempted to shape public suffrage memories in ways that posed little threat to contemporary social structures. Their memories of suffrage bolstered their particular visions of women’s societal role. The paper also charts how suffrage memories became less concerned with individuals and local events as years passed.
Misidentification of Pseudomonas strain NCPPB 1498 (ATCC 19875) and proposal for a rejection of the name Pseudomonas syringae pv. panici (Elliott 1923) Young et al. 1978

Pseudomonas syringae pv. panici should be considered invalid because the pathovar epithet panici refers to a xanthomonad. Pseudomonas strain NCPPB 1498 (ATCC 19875) should be listed as an unknown strain belonging to the Ps. syringae group of organisms.
Stochastic calculus as a tool in survival analysis: a review

This paper gives a brief survey of the uses of stochastic calculus in survival analysis. The role played by martingale central limit theory in deriving asymptotic distributions of estimators and test statistics is described. The Nelson-Aalen estimator, the Kaplan-Meier estimator, Cox's proportional-hazards model, Aalen's additive-risk model, and a goodness-of-fit test for Cox's model are discussed. Sketches of the proofs of the main results are included.
The Danish health system through an American lens

The organization and financing of the Danish health care system was evaluated within the framework of a SWOT analysis (analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) by a panel of five members with a background in health economics. The evaluation was based on reading an extensive amount of selected documents and literature on the Danish health care system and a 1-week visit to health care authorities, providers and key persons. The present paper includes the main findings by one of the panel members. Primary care is much more accessible in Denmark than the USA. A mixed capitation-fee-for-service method of paying generalist physicians in Denmark ensures that everyone has a primary care physician and generalist physicians are responsive to providing services quickly, typically same-day appointments. An organized off-hours service ensures accessible care 24 h a day, 7 days a week. Denmark has the highest public satisfaction with health care, reflecting the value placed on accessibility of primary care. Inpatient hospital care consumes a disproportionate share of Danish health expenditures. Global hospital budgets provide little incentive for hospital or surgical productivity. Long waits for hospitalization, especially surgical procedures and cancellation of scheduled surgery, are a source of patient dissatisfaction. Women's health, patient health risk counseling and coordination of preventive and primary care are major weaknesses of the Danish health system. Patients have a choice of primary care physician within a given geographic area and may go to a hospital of their choice. However, patient surveys and feedback are underdeveloped and very little effort has been made to make services responsive to patients' preferences. While innovations in electronic prescribing are noteworthy, further development of health information technology is needed.
Methods of hospital and prehospital gastrointestinal decontamination in children

The use of gastrointestinal decontamination (GID) has long been held as a primary tenet in the initial management of a poisoned pediatric patient. Although this approach seems logical, there is a lack of clinical evidence to indicate that GID use changes ultimate clinical outcome. Recent recommendations and guidelines have advised against routine use of any method of GID. With this in mind, the contraindications and safety precautions with each of these techniques deserve emphasized consideration. Recent research has endeavored to find more specific indications for GID in which clear clinical outcomes may be measured. With the removal of ipecac, the hunt for a safe and effective form of GID that can be used at home has also received research interest.
Minimizing the runtime partial reconfiguration overheads in reconfigurable systems

Configuration overhead is a major performance bottleneck of the partial reconfiguration process. In this paper, we propose a combination of two techniques to minimize the partial reconfiguration performance overhead. First, we design and implement fully streaming DMA engines to achieve a near perfect configuration throughput. Second, we exploit the configuration data redundancy through Run-Length Encoding to compress the configuration bitstreams, and we implement an intelligent ICAP (Internal Configuration Access Port) controller to perform decompression at runtime. The results show that our design achieve an effective configuration data transfer throughput that well surpasses the upper bound of data transfer throughput, 400 Mbytes/s. Specifically, our fully stream DMA engines reduce the configuration time from the range of seconds to the range of milliseconds, a more than 1000-fold improvement. In addition, our simple compression scheme achieves significant reduction of bitstream size and results in a decompression circuit with negligible hardware overhead.
Comparison of blind and non-blind assessments of occlusal sealant retention.

A comparison, was made of scoring the retention status of BIS-GMA occlusal sealants 5 years after they had been placed, according to a non-blind and blind method of identification of teeth that had been sealed. Subjects were 175 children ages 15–18. One examiner made all the assessments. Retention of sealant was classified as all present, partly missing or all missing. There was 90.5 % complete agreement between non-blind and blind examinations in scoring the retention status of 893 occlusal sites. Essentially no difference in agreement was found between sites on maxillary and mandibular teeth nor according to sites in specific teeth. There was only a slight tendency to classify more sites as having sealant present at the non-blind examinations than at the blind examinations, 56.7% and 55.1%, respectively. These findings would seem to indicate that whether examinations are done blindly or non-blindly is of minor importance in making an accurate assessment of sealant retention.
Biotechnology in the Islamic world.

Biotechnology is becoming a considerable force in economic development and social progress in Islamic countries.
Assessment of global and regional tectonic models for faulting in the ancient terrains of Mars

The structural mapping of tectonic landforms on Mars has provided a great deal of information regarding the planet's tectonic history. The present paper has the objective to test models of regional and global fracturing by evaluating the spatial distribution and orientation of the ancient heavily cratered terrain (HCT) structural landforms. Attention is given to background information concerning earlier studies, landform selection and analysis, rose diagrams, tests for Tharsis generation, and a calculation of thermal stress in the early Martian lithosphere. The contribution of classical Tharsis-centered tectonism to the production of HCT structural landforms was found to be very small. Few structural landforms investigated are either perpendicular to calculated principal stress trajectories or radial to Tharsis.
Germination of Three Native Lupinus Species in Response to Temperature

Abstract Understanding germination requirements of native species is an important component of restoration in south Puget Lowland prairies (Washington, USA). We conducted an experiment to determine the effects of pre-germination treatment and germination temperature conditions on the proportional germination of three species of Lupinas. For one species, Lupinus lepidus, germination was highest following heat shock treatments to the dormant seed, suggesting adaptation to the high temperatures associated with wildfire. For a more widespread species, Lupinus polyphyllus, high heat treatments had no effect, and germination was mildly higher in a temperature sequence simulating winter chilling followed by cool, diurnally alternating temperatures. For a final intermediate species, Lupinus albicaulis, responses to germination temperatures were dependent on high-heat treatments. These data suggest interspecific variation in germination cues where these Lupinus species are influenced differentially by environmenta...
Collisional Energy Transfer in Unimolecular Reactions: Direct Classical Trajectories for CH4 ⇄ CH3 + H in Helium

Direct classical trajectories are used to compute energy transfer parameters appropriate for use in master equation calculations for the CH4 ⇄ CH3 + H reaction in He at 300−2000 K. The quantum chemistry method used in the direct trajectory calculations is MP2/aug′-cc-pVDZ, which is validated against higher level ab initio calculations. The average energy transferred in deactivating collisions is shown to increase with the initial rotational excitation J′ of CH4 and with the temperature of the bath gas Tbath. When thermally averaged over J′, the resulting average downward energy transfer α is found to increase nearly linearly with Tbath (α = 110Tbath0.81 cm−1). The results of master equation calculations carried out using the single-exponential-down model and the computed values of α are compared with experimental results and recent recommendations. At elevated temperatures (>600 K), good agreement between the predicted and experimental rate coefficients is obtained. At room temperature, the computed rate ...
Lactation stage-dependent changes of lymphocyte subpopulations in mammary secretions: inversion of CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratios at parturition.

PROBLEM: Determination of lactation stage-dependent changes in levels of lymphocyte subpopulations in milk. METHOD: Flow cytometric assay was used to identify and assay lymphocyte subpopulations in bovine milk at different stages of lactation. RESULTS: Lymphocyte subpopulations in mammary secretions of dairy cows change during the lactation cycle. In involuting glands (dry gland), ∼80-90% of lymphocytes were CD2 + T cells. The proportion of CD2 + T cells, however, decreased to ∼50% at the colostral stage and fluctuated between 50 to 60% in normal (mature) milk. Throughout the lactation stages, less than 5% were B cells as identified by the monoclonal antibodies against CD21 and MHC class II antigens. Subset analysis showed, however, that the proportion of CD5 + T cells decreased from 90% in involuting gland secretions to 75% in colostrum (peripartum stage), and to ∼40-50% in the normal (mature) milk. CD4 + T cells constituted between 45 to 55% of lymphocytes in the dry gland secretion but decreased drastically at parturition and maintained at the level below 20% throughout normal lactation. In contrast, the proportion of CD8 + T cells in the dry gland secretion was low, between 30 to 40%, but increased steadily, in an inversely-related manner with that of CD4 + T cells, to ∼40-50% at parturition and maintained at ∼30-40% during the normal lactation stage thereafter. Two-color immunofluorescence study revealed further that practically all of the CD8 + cells in dry gland secretions were CD2 + , and approximately 40% of them were CD5 - . Throughout the lactation cycle, WC 1 + γδ T cells comprised only 2 to 5% of lymphocytes in mammary secretions. CONCLUSIONS: T lymphocyte subpopulations change dynamically during stages of the lactation cycle. The selective migration of T lymphocyte subpopulations to and from the mammary gland, and their functional roles in the immune competence and regulation of the dam and sucklings remain to be elucidated.
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb: Terrorism and Counterterrorism in the Sahel

This article describes the genesis and development of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM. It discusses AQIM's strategic objectives, leadership, tactical operations, and financing as well as the destabilizing effects of Libya's new civil war in the region. After discussing these issues, various counterterrorism programs in Mali will be examined because they may provide a possible basis for implementing transnational counterterrorism approaches within the region.
Radioisotopic methods in diagnosis and assessment of liver metastases

Abstract Abnormal findings from liver scans: 1. (1) Hepatomegaly. True hepatomegaly may be associated with hepatocellular disease such as hepatitis (infectious, serum, toxic), cirrhosis (alcoholic, toxic, cardiac), congestive heart failure, abnormalities of the hepatic vein (Budd-Chiari syndrome, paroxysmal noctural hemoglobinuria), hematologic disease (hemolytic anemia, polycythernia ), lymphoma, storage disease, reticuloendothelial disease, other metabolic diseases, and neoplasms, most of which are malignant. A Riedel's lobe and ptosis of the liver secondary to emphysema may mimic hepatomegaly. Hydrops of the gallbladder and other extrahepatic masses must be distinguished from hepatomegaly. 2. (2) Diffuse abnormality of radiocolloid distribution (nonhomogeneous uptake) can be caused by any of the factors that cause true hepatomegaly. The finding of nonhomogeneous uptake, like hepatomegaly, is difficult to quantitate and difficult to compare from scan to scan on the same patient. 3. (3) Focal filling defects have the following differential diagnosis: neoplasms (primary or metastatic); abscess; cyst; granuloma; hematoma; cirrhosis; normal or altered intrahepatic structure (bile ducts, veins, etc.); extrahepatic mass.
Soft Clock Skew Scheduling for Variation-Tolerant Signal Processing Circuits: A Case Study of Viterbi Decoders

This paper concerns the variation tolerance in signal processing integrated circuits. Motivated by the fact that variation-induced timing faults at different locations in signal processing circuits have different effects on the signal processing performance, we developed an importance-aware clock skew scheduling technique, called soft clock skew scheduling, that can realize system-level tolerance to variation-induced timing faults. With state-parallel Viterbi decoders as test vehicles, we demonstrated its effectiveness on increasing the achievable clock frequency in presence of significant variation-induced timing faults, while maintaining good decoding performance
Pose from pushing

In the absence of vision, grasping an object often relies on tactile feedback from the fingertips. Before force closure is formed, where on the object a fingertip touches can usually be felt from the motion of contact on the fingertip during a small amount of pushing. In this paper the authors investigate the first stage of such "blind" grasping. More specifically the authors study the problem of determining the pose of a known planar object by pushing. Assuming sliding friction in the plane, a dynamic analysis of pushing results in a numerical algorithm that compares the object pose from three instantaneous contact positions on a fingertip. Simulations and experiments (with an Adept robot) have been conducted to demonstrate the sensing feasibility. Inspired by the way a human hand grasps, this work can be viewed as a primitive step in exploring interactive sensing in grasping tasks.
Chemical-genetic induction of Malonyl-CoA decarboxylase in skeletal muscle

Defects in skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation have been implicated in the etiology of insulin resistance. Malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (MCD) has been a target of investigation because it reduces the concentration of malonyl-CoA, a metabolite that inhibits fatty acid oxidation. The in vivo role of muscle MCD expression in the development of insulin resistance remains unclear. To determine the role of MCD in skeletal muscle of diet induced obese and insulin resistant mouse models we generated mice expressing a muscle specific transgene for MCD (Tg-fMCDSkel) stabilized posttranslationally by the small molecule, Shield-1. Tg-fMCDSkel and control mice were placed on either a high fat or low fat diet for 3.5 months. Obese and glucose intolerant as well as lean control Tg-fMCDSkel and nontransgenic control mice were treated with Shield-1 and changes in their body weight and insulin sensitivity were determined upon induction of MCD. Inducing MCD activity >5-fold in skeletal muscle over two weeks did not alter body weight or glucose intolerance of obese mice. MCD induction further potentiated the defects in insulin signaling of obese mice. In addition, key enzymes in fatty acid oxidation were suppressed following MCD induction. Acute induction of MCD in the skeletal muscle of obese and glucose intolerant mice did not improve body weight and decreased insulin sensitivity compared to obese nontransgenic controls. Induction of MCD in skeletal muscle resulted in a suppression of mitochondrial oxidative genes suggesting a redundant and metabolite driven regulation of gene expression.
Comparison of Hydrodynamic Load Predictions Between Reduced Order Engineering Models and Computational Fluid Dynamics for the OC4-DeepCwind Semi-Submersible

Hydrodynamic loads on the platforms of floating offshore wind turbines are often predicted with computer-aided engineering tools that employ Morison’s equation and/or potential-flow theory. This work compares results from one such tool, FAST, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s wind turbine computer-aided engineering tool, and the high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package, OpenFOAM, for the OC4-DeepCwind semi-submersible analyzed in the International Energy Agency Wind Task 30 project. Load predictions from HydroDyn, the offshore hydrodynamics module of FAST, are compared with results from OpenFOAM. HydroDyn uses a combination of Morison’s equation and potential-flow theory to predict the hydrodynamic forces on the structure, at a small computational cost compared to CFD. The implications of the assumptions in HydroDyn are evaluated based on this code-to-code comparison.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Operator approach to recursive Jacobian inversion and pseudoinversion

Operator forms of the inverse and Moore-Penrose pseudoinverse of the Jacobian for a nonsingular n-link serial spatial manipulator are developed. It is shown that the Jacobian pseudoinverse operation that maps an end-effector velocity to a corresponding joint-space velocity can be performed using an O(n) recursive algorithm involving one 6*6 matrix inversion. It is also shown that an alternative recursive algorithm that produces a kinematic singularity measure as a byproduct can be used to perform the Jacobian inverse operation without the need for a matrix inversion. >
Characterization of microsatellite loci in polyploid Lavatera assurgentiflora ssp. assurgentiflora and ssp. glabra (Malvaceae)

Lavatera assurgentiflora (Malvaceae) is one of four species of the genus Lavatera native to California and Baja California. Two geographically defined subspecies are recognized: L. a. assurgentiflora on the northern islands and L. a. glabra on the southern islands. We isolated nine polymorphic microsatellite loci that amplify in both subspecies of L. assurgentiflora. Substantial levels of polymorphism were observed at many of the loci. Four loci exhibited more than 10 alleles, polymorphism information content ranged from 0.4 to 0.8, and up to six alleles were found in some individuals, supporting reports that these taxa are hexaploid. All loci also amplified in Lavatera lindsayi from Guadalupe Island, and we anticipate that they will cross-amplify in other California Lavatera species as well.
Negative affect moderates the relation between dieting and binge eating

Objective Although laboratory experiments suggest that negative affect inductions potentiate the relation between dieting and disinhibited eating, little research has tested whether this finding generalizes to binge eating in the natural environment. Thus, we assessed whether negative affect moderated the relation between dieting and binge eating in a passive-observational study. Method This aim was addressed with longitudinal data from a community sample of adolescents (N = 631). Results For females, dieting and negative affect predicted binge eating in cross-sectional and prospective analyses, but negative affect potentiated the relation between dieting and binge eating only in the cross-sectional analyses. Similar, but attenuated results were found for males. Discussion Findings converge with those from laboratory studies in suggesting that negative affect moderates the relation between dieting and binge eating, but also imply that dieting and negative affect constitute independent risk factors for binge eating. The lack of prospective effects may suggest that the interactive relations have a short time lag or are difficult to detect prospectively. © 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 27: 218–229, 2000.
Fishing Decisions Under Uncertainty

The drilling manager often is forced by an extended fishing operation to choose between the known costs incurred with abandonment of retrieval attempts and the unknown costs of continuing fishing operations. The successful manager makes the decision that costs the company the least money. Continuing fishing operations beyond some economic limit is failure, even if the fish is retrieved and that portion of the hole saved, because more money has been spent in the fishing attempt than would have been spent by not fishing. The strategy is to minimize losses. This analysis closely follows the theory of utility developed by J. von Neuman and O. Morgenstern. 1 ref.
Architecture of Small Arteries during Vasoconstriction

The cytoarchitectural changes which take place in the walls of small arteries (about 1 mm. O.D.) during vasoconstriction and vasodilation have been studied. Vessels were fixed while in their functional state by immersion in liquid isopentane at -170 C. and prepared for microscopic examination by freeze substitution. The walls of control vessels were thin in relation to the diameter of lumina (WT:L 1:30), indicating that they are more distended than they appear in routinely fixed sections. Vessels dilated with ACH had even thinner walls (WT:L 1:40). Vasoconstriction, induced by local application of epinephrine, increased the wall thickness and reduced the size of the lumen (WT:L 1:2) but in no case was the lumen obliterated in arteries of this size. Although an increase in the WT:L ratio is commonly employed as evidence of vascular hypertrophy, normal vessels which are fixed and sectioned while in a functional state of vasoconstriction may exhibit similar gross characteristics. Constricted vessels are characterized by progressive deformation of the internal elastic lamina, crowding of endothelial cells, and distortion of smooth muscle cells and their nuclei, particularly in the region immediately adjacent to the lumen. During intense vasoconstriction, the wall tension appears to be supported only by the outer layers of the vessel.
From DOPA to Parkinson's disease: the early history of dopamine research.

Abstract Dopamine is among the most well‐researched neurotransmitters at the present time. For the first half‐century of neurotransmitter research, however, interest in dopamine was minimal, and only a few scattered groups of researchers studied it. It was their research that stimulated current interest, and provided the background for our present understanding of this important substance. By the late 1950s, it was clear to these individuals that dopamine served an important physiological role in mammalian brains, and that its role was most likely that of a central nervous system agonist. Soon after this, dopamine, or more specifically the depletion of dopamine, was clearly implicated in Parkinson's disease. This paper looks at the early history of the physiological roles of this intriguing compound.
Experiential Learning in Marketing Communications Courses: The Demarketing of College Binge-Drinking.

The experiential learning approach has been gathering substantial momentum and support in educational circles. In the team-based experiential learning project presented here, which effectively integrated theory and application, students were charged with creating an integrated marketing communications plan to demarket binge drinking on the college campus. By focusing on a topic of considerable social importance and interest to students, this quasi-live case study served as a valuable learning tool which combined both experience and reflection, and provided students with practical business experience in taking on the roles of members of anew business team working together to analyze facts, generate strategies and create an integrated, persuasive presentation.
Inferring trackline detection probabilities, g(0), for cetaceans from apparent densities in different survey conditions

Visual line-transect surveys are commonly used to estimate cetacean abundance. A key parameter in such studies is g(0), the probability of detecting an animal that is directly on the transect line. This is typically considered to be constant for a species across survey conditions. A method is developed to estimate the relative values of g(0) in different survey conditions (Beaufort state) by comparing Beaufort-specific density estimates. The approach is based on fitting generalized additive models, with the presence of a sighting on a survey segment as the dependent variable, Beaufort state as the key explanatory variable, and year, latitude, and longitude as nuisance variables to control for real differences in density over time and space. Values of relative g(0) are estimated for 20 cetacean taxa using 175,000 km of line-transect survey data from the eastern and central Pacific Ocean from 1986 to 2010. Results show that g(0) decreases as Beaufort state increases, even for visually conspicuous species. This effect is greatest for the least conspicuous species (rough-toothed dolphins, beaked whales, minke whales, and dwarf and pygmy sperm whales). Ignoring these large effects results in a nontrivial bias in cetacean abundance estimates.