cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perceiving and Representing Horizontals: From Laboratories to Natural Environments and Back Again

As part of their book on children's developing conceptions of space, Piaget and Inhelder (1948/1956) described age-related performance on their water level task (WLT). The WLT was intended to assess respondents' ability to perceive and represent a horizontal (water) line within a surrounding non-orthogonal frame (a tilted container's straight sides). They reported age-linked increments in performance, implying that cognitively intact individuals would uniformly master the task by middle childhood. Described here are studies demonstrating that even many adults, especially women, find the task challenging. Also discussed is research demonstrating links between performance on paper-and-pencil lab measures like the WLT and performance on ecological tasks such as skill in using cartographic maps in large outdoor environments or in learning a new geological concept. The description offers a case history to illustrate the interplay between laboratory and ecological research.
Thomas Jefferson and the American Indian Nations: Native American Sovereignty and the Marshall Court

The Cherokee Removal Cases—Cherokee Nation v. Georgia1 and Worcester v. Georgia2—stand as the dramatic last act of the Marshall Court era. Thomas Jefferson was long dead by the time of the removal of the American Indians from the land north and south of the Ohio River. Yet in many ways the Cherokee Removal Cases that bedeviled Marshall in his final years on the Court were Jefferson's revenge, the first bitter fruits of policies adopted during his presidency that created the political and legal environment for the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the Cherokee Nation litigation itself. This Jeffersonian legacy is ironic, given that Jefferson as a scholar, diplomat, and Secretary of State was an ardent supporter of Indian sovereignty and eventual citizenship. Yet these views were subordinated during his presidency to concerns of what we would term “national security,” to preserve the Union, and to advance the interests and needs of his political party.
The superconducting energy gap of bulk UBe13

Abstract The superconducting energy gap, π, of bulk UBe 13 was measured as a function of temperature. Junctions were made by breaking a narrow region of a specimen in a vacuum and then repositioning the broken ends to form a mechanically adjustable break junction point contact. We concluded that the 2 Δ (0)/ k B T c = 4.2 by fitting the data to the BCS form assuming a T c of 0.80 K.
The dynamic response of multiple pairs of subharmonic torsional vibration absorbers

Abstract Recent studies have demonstrated an arrangement of centrifugal pendulum vibration absorbers that is very effective at reducing torsional vibrations in rotating machinery. The basic system is composed of a pair of identical absorbers that are tuned to a one-half subharmonic order relative to the applied fluctuating torque. These absorbers, when moving in an out-of-phase manner along a particular path relative to the rotor, are capable of significantly reducing torsional vibrations of a desired order. In this paper, we consider the response of systems composed of multiple pairs of these absorbers, with the goal of determining the dynamic stability of the desired response and the effects of small imperfections in the absorbers' paths. The desired response of this system is one in which the N absorbers ( N even) act as a single pair, with two groups of N /2 each moving with equal amplitudes but exactly out of phase with respect to one another. It is shown that this response can be made to be dynamically stable and robust to certain model uncertainties by a slight, identical overtuning of each absorber. The analytical results, obtained by the method of averaging and symmetric bifurcation theory, are confirmed by simulations for the cases with two and three pairs of absorbers.
The Transcendental Nature of Mind and World

Critics of John McDowell's Mind and World have by and large failed to take sufficient notice of the transcendental context within which McDowell situates his work—a failure that has adversely affected their criticisms. In this paper, I make clear this transcendental context and show how it figures in the transcendental argument I see McDowell offering in Mind and World. Interpreting McDowell's argument in this way, I further argue, helps to answer some of the most pressing objections to what he is doing in Mind and World, particularly certain objections made by Robert Brandom and Hilary Putnam.
How ESL Teachers’ Sociocultural Identities Mediate Their Teacher Role Identities in a Diverse Urban School Setting

English-as-a-second language (ESL) teachers’ sociocultural identities and teacher role identities are posited to be deeply rooted in their personal histories. Yet, this being the case, how ESL teachers interpret, negotiate and construct their identities in the pedagogical process remains underexplored. This study is an exploration of the influences of teachers’ social, linguistic, cultural, and educational backgrounds on the conception of their roles as ESL educators. Fifty-seven teachers from inner-city high schools in Los Angeles responded to a questionnaire and interviews and provided self-written perspectives on how their personal histories mediated their pedagogical practices. Results indicated that the ESL teachers’ sociocultural identities significantly shape their pedagogical practices. The implications of the findings are discussed.
The Contribution of Entropy, Enthalpy, and Hydrophobic Desolvation to Cooperativity in Repeat-Protein Folding

Cooperativity is a defining feature of protein folding, but its thermodynamic and structural origins are not completely understood. By constructing consensus ankyrin repeat protein arrays that have nearly identical sequences, we quantify cooperativity by resolving stability into intrinsic and interfacial components. Heteronuclear NMR and CD spectroscopy show that these constructs adopt ankyrin repeat structures. Applying a one-dimensional Ising model to a series of constructs chosen to maximize information content in unfolding transitions, we quantify stabilities of the terminal capping repeats, and resolve the effects of denaturant into intrinsic and interfacial components. Reversible thermal denaturation resolves interfacial and intrinsic free energies into enthalpic, entropic, and heat capacity terms. Intrinsic folding is entropically disfavored, whereas interfacial interaction is entropically favored and attends a decrease in heat capacity. These results suggest that helix formation and backbone ordering occurs upon intrinsic folding, whereas hydrophobic desolvation occurs upon interfacial interaction, contributing to cooperativity.
Personal computers in large corporations: A perspective for the chief executive officer

Abstract The use of personal computers in business have focused on five issues: data management, product proliferation, acquisition practices, level of user maturity, and the shift in skill sets. In large corporations, the chief executive officer (CEO) should focus on the first and last issues — data management and shift in skill sets. This paper discusses each of these five areas, with special emphasis on recommendations and reasons for concentrating on data management and personnel.
Intravenous Use of Cephradine and Cefazolin Against Serious Infections

The relative efficacy and safety of cephradine and cefazolin were compared in 180 patients with a variety of serious infections caused by susceptible organisms. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups of 90 patients each. Most patients received 2 to 4 g per day, administered by intravenous injection in four equally divided doses, for a minimum of 4 days. Based on the clinical and microbiological results, the two cephalosporins were found to be comparable in therapeutic effectiveness. Toxicity was not a problem with either drug.
Localization of VIP-immunoreactive nerves in airways and pulmonary vessels of dogs, cats, and human subjects

VIP-containing neurons were localized in lungs from dogs, cats, and human subjects by means of the indirect immunofluorescence technique. Nerve fibers and terminals were observed in the smooth muscle layer and glands of airways, and within the walls of pulmonary and bronchial vessels, especially at the medial-adventitial junction. VIP-positive nerve cell bodies were identified in ganglia located in the walls of bronchi. These findings provide an anatomic basis for the possible modulation of airway and pulmonary vascular function by this neuropeptide.
A Duty to Deceive: Placebos in Clinical Practice

Among medical researchers and clinicians the dominant view is that it is unethical to deceive patients by prescribing a placebo. This opinion is formalized in a recent policy issued by the American Medical Association (AMA [Chicago, IL]). Although placebos can be shown to be always safe, often effective, and sometimes necessary, doctors are now effectively prohibited from using them in clinical practice. I argue that the deceptive administration of placebos is not subject to the same moral objections that face other forms of deception in clinical practice and medical research. Although deception is normally objectionable on the grounds that it limits autonomy and breaches trust, these grounds do not apply to placebos when they are prescribed within appropriate ethical limits. Patients have reason to prefer that doctors can prescribe placebos in ethically responsible ways. Hence, the AMA has an obligation to endorse and to promote the responsible use of deceptive placebos in clinical practice.
Retrosplenial cortex in the rhesus monkey: A cytoarchitectonic and golgi study

The laminar and cellular structure of retrosplenial cortex in the rhesus monkey was studied with Nissl stained and rapid Golgi impregnated tissue and the results were used to evaluate morphological features of a cortical transition zone. The granular layer of retrosplenial granular cortex is composed primarily of small, densely packed, star pyramidal cells. These cells branch within the granular layer itself, while the apical dendrite enters layer I where it branches infrequently or not at all. This cell type is similar to the star pyramid first described by Lorente de No except in its areal and laminar distribution. Cytoarchitectonic observations of retrosplenial agranular cortex show that, although this area is relatively “agranular” in comparison to other cortical areas, it does possess an incipient layer II and layer IV. These layers are composed mainly of small and medium sized pyramidal cells, but many non-pyramidal cell types were found in these and other layers in this area in rapid Golgi preparations. Stellate cells with beaded or smooth, lightly spinous dendrites were found throughout layers I–IV, while fusiform cells with smooth or very lightly spinous dendrites appear in layers III–VI. Areas surrounding retrosplenial cortex in the posterior cingulate region were also evaluated in Nissl and Golgi preparations including the indusium griseum, subiculum (dorsal to the corpus callosum) and area 23. The laminar and cellular constituents of retrosplenial cortex were then evaluated in the context of cortical architectonic transition. The transition from one cellular layer in the indusium griseum to five cellular layers in area 23 is made by the addition of layers II, III, IV and VI in retrosplenial cortex to the one ganglionic layer of the indusium griseum and subiculum. Besides the addition and subdivision of layers in retrosplenial cortex, two aspects of cell morphology were found to change in this region. First, the structure of pyramidal cells progressively changes from those in the indusium griseum which have predominently round or oval somata and a preponderance of apical and few basal dendrites to those in layer V of retrosplenial cortex and area 23 which have pyramidal shaped somata and a great number of basal dendrites which branch frequently and spread horizontally for hundreds of microns. Second, there is a change in the number and distribution of non-pyramidal cell types. Evidence was not found that the indusium griseum, dorsal subiculum or layer V of retrosplenial granular cortex contain a significant number of stellate or fusiform cells. At the retrosplenial granular/agranular border, though, these cells gradually begin to constitute a greater proportion of the cell population and in area 23 form a major component of layer IV. Since these laminar and cellular changes are similar, in part, to those observed by previous investigators as characteristic of ascending phylogenetic and ontogenetic development, cortical architectonic transition represents another dimension along which the cortex progressively elaborates.
Technique for direct eV-scale measurements of the Mu and tau neutrino masses using supernova neutrinos

Early black hole formation in a core-collapse supernova will abruptly truncate the neutrino fluxes. The sharp cutoff can be used to make model-independent time-of-flight neutrino mass tests. Assuming a neutrino luminosity of 1052 erg/s per flavor at cutoff and a distance of 10 kpc, Super-Kamiokande can detect an electron neutrino mass as small as 1.8 eV, and the proposed OMNIS detector can detect mu and tau neutrino masses as small as 6 eV. We present the first technique with direct sensitivity to eV-scale mu and tau neutrino masses.
The Modern Family and Rehabilitation of the Handicapped: A Macrosociological View

Modernization of society has fundamentally altered the family institution and at the same time has produced a medical institution capable of decreasing the prevalence of infectious diseases, while increasing the prevalence of chronic handicaps. Structural and functional changes in the family resulting from modernization include: smaller size and increased mobility; more women employed outside the home; age segregation and increased longevity of members; higher rates of dissolution; and loss of functions to other institutions in a more specialized society. Changes making the modern family ill-equipped to care for the chronically disabled are discussed, together with implications for rehabilitation.
A low-cost and modular, 20-DOF anthropomorphic robotic hand: design, actuation and modeling

In order to effectively develop the control methods of an anthropomorphic robotic hand, it is important for researchers to have fast and easy access to modify any design parameters. To this end, we detail the process of designing a 20 degrees of freedom, cable-driven, anthropomorphic robotic hand. The prototyping process makes the most of 3D printing technology, and takes important factors such as maintainability and modification into consideration. Skin pads and finger segments of the robotic hand can all be quickly assembled with other components through reliable, structural coupling. And each modular finger can be individually modified with little effort. We also adopt a custom-designed physics engine to model the robotic hand in order to efficiently compute the kinematic configuration. Good performance of tactile sensing, force behaviors, and actuation speed are observed in experiments. Overall, we show our anthropomorphic robotic hand to be cost-effective and flexible to design and control requirements.
Networks, communities and kronecker products

Emergence of the web and online computing applications gave rise to rich large scale social activity data. One of the principal challenges then is to build models and understanding of the structure of such large social and information networks. Here I present our work on clustering and community structure in large networks, where clusters are thought of as sets of nodes that are better connected internally than to the rest of the network. We find that large networks have very different clustering structure from well studied small social networks and graphs that are well-embeddable in a low-dimensional structure. In networks of millions of nodes tight clusters exist at only very small size scales up to around 100 nodes, while at large size scales networks becomes expander like. A network model based on Kronecker products efficiently models such core-periphery network structures. The results suggest broader implications for data analysis and machine learning in sparse and noisy high-dimensional social and information networks, where intuitive notions about cluster quality fail.
Prognosis and management of lesions of the trunk in children with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome.

The Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome is a congenital vascular anomaly consisting of the triad of softtissue and bony hypertrophy of the extremities, hemangiomas and/or lymphangiomas, and varicosities. From 1956 to 1983, 42 patients with the Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome were seen at the Mayo Clinic. Of the 42 patients, 16 had involvement of the trunk (thorax, abdomen and/or pelvis). Twelve of the 16 had evidence of the malformation at birth and 4 had evidence shortly thereafter. Lesions involving the trunk included hemangiomas (75%) and lymphangiomas (50%). Complications included rectal bleeding, hematuria, colonic obstruction, hemothorax, paraparesis secondary to clotting disorder, and compression of the external urethral meatus. One child died of enlargement of diffuse lymphangiomas and hemangiomas of the abdomen and chest. Eight of the 16 patients underwent 13 operative procedures. These included excision of the superficial lymphangiomas, resection of the rectosigmoid colon, and resection of an extremely large retroperitoneal mass of hemangiomatous-lymphangiomatous tissue. While progression requiring major surgery was seen in several patients, most patients had supportive therapy, with minimal surgery being necessary.
Quantitative analysis of brain NADH in the presence of hemoglobin using microfiber spectrofluorometry: a pre-calibration approach.

Abstract Dysfunction of mitochondria links a variety of central nervous system disorders and other neurodegenerative diseases. The primary respiratory chain substrate reduced-form nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is an important regulator of respiratory chain function in mitochondria and, because of its fluorescent properties, has been used to assess mitochondrial pathophysiology in cells and tissues. However, assessment of changes in tissue NADH has been limited to qualitative analysis primarily because hemoglobin (Hb) interferes with NADH fluorescence measurements by absorbing both excitation and emission light. This report presents a computer-assisted approach to estimate tissue NADH and Hb concentrations quantitatively at the same time. The method is based on a two-dimensionally interpolated database model that is calibrated by fluorescence emission spectra with known-value standard chemical solutions. Quantitative concentrations for NADH and Hb can be determined by the corresponding known-value spectral data that have the minimum error to the sample spectrum obtained from an experiment. Repeatability and reliability tests are also presented in this report. Results demonstrate that this method can feasibly quantify the NADH content regardless of the Hb background in living hippocampal cells during hypoxia, suggesting that it has the potential to be applied to in vivo experiments in the future.
The effect of hydrocortisone on superoxide production by leukocytes

Abstract Corticosteroids have been shown to significantly depress intracellular bactericidal pathways. Formation of superoxide anion (O 2 − ) is thought to be an important intermediary in this process. We have demonstrated that actively phagocytizing PMNs generate significantly diminished levels of O 2 − in the presence of hydrocortisone sodium succinate.
Visual Display of Incoherent Wave Fields by Planar Arrays

The passive planar arrays used to receive sonic waves through the earth or water or those employed in radio astronomy use mechanical or electronic scanning in order to observe a large solid angle, such as 2π sr. The purpose of the present paper is to develop a method for real-time visual display of such wave fields. It is analogous to the use of a wide-angle lens for viewing large solid angles in the visible spectrum. The method is analogous to a recently developed technique of incoherent holography, with the important difference that the sampling performed by an array makes unnecessary any film-processing stage.
Nucleoprotein phosphorylated on both serine and threonine is preferentially assembled into the nucleocapsids of measles virus

Abstract The nucleoprotein (N) in the nucleocapsids of measles virus (MV) has different conformation and antigenicity than the free N-protein in MV-infected cells. These two forms of N-protein have identical methionine-containing tryptic peptides. The free N-protein contains 4 phosphorylated tryptic peptides. However, the nucleocapsid-associated N-protein has an additional phosphorylated peptide not found in the free N-protein. The free N-protein is phosphorylated only on serine residues, whereas the nucleocapsid-associated N-protein is phosphyralated on both serine and threonine residues. The MV N-protein expressed from a cloned gene in primate cells is also phosphorylated on both serine and threonine residues. These results suggest that cellular kinases phosphorylate the MV N-protein, and N-protein with phosphorylated serine and threonine is preferentially assembled into the viral nucleocapsids.
The effects of the lower extremity joint motions on the total body motion in sit-to-stand movement.

Abstract Objective. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of lower extremity joint angular motions on the whole body linear motions in a sit-to-stand movement using a biomechanical model that describes the whole body linear velocity vector as functions of lower extremity joint angular velocities. Design. Two-dimensional video analysis of whole body and joint kinematics. Background. A biomechanical model that describes the whole body linear motions as functions of lower extremity joint angular motions is needed to provide clinically relevant information in clinical services and scientific research. Methods. The linear velocity vector of the whole body motion during the sit-to-stand movement was partitioned into horizontal and vertical components and expressed as functions of lower extremity joint angular velocities for 10 healthy subjects. The coefficient of joint contribution to the whole body linear velocity vector was determined for each joint in each direction. Results. The ankle and hip angular motions are critical to the development of the forward horizontal velocity of the whole body during the sit-to-stand movement. The knee and hip angular motions are critical to the development of the upward vertical velocity of the whole body during the sit-to-stand movement. Conclusions. The hip, knee, and ankle joint angular motions have various roles in whole body motions in different directions of the sit-to-stand movement. Relevance The model and the results of this study can be applied to study the control strategies, falls, and assessments of functional impairments in the sit-to-stand movement.
Nitric oxide and nitrite-based therapeutic opportunities in intimal hyperplasia

Abstract Vascular intimal hyperplasia (IH) limits the long term efficacy of current surgical and percutaneous therapies for atherosclerotic disease. There are extensive changes in gene expression and cell signaling in response to vascular therapies, including changes in nitric oxide (NO) signaling. NO is well recognized for its vasoregulatory properties and has been investigated as a therapeutic treatment for its vasoprotective abilities. The circulating molecules nitrite ( NO 2 - ) and nitrate ( NO 3 - ), once thought to be stable products of NO metabolism, are now recognized as important circulating reservoirs of NO and represent a complementary source of NO in contrast to the classic l -arginine–NO–synthase pathway. Here we review the background of IH, its relationship with the NO and nitrite/nitrate pathways, and current and future therapeutic opportunities for these molecules.
A structural and thermal packaging approach for power processing units for 30-cm ion thrusters

Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) is currently being studied for possible use in a number of near earth and planetary missions. The thruster subsystem for these missions would consist of 30 centimeter ion thrusters with Power Processor Units (PPU) clustered in assemblies of from two to ten units. A preliminary design study of the electronic packaging of the PPU has been completed at Lewis Research Center of NASA. This study evaluates designs meeting the competing requirements of low system weight and overall mission flexibility. These requirements are evaluated regarding structural and thermal design, electrical efficiency, and integration of the electrical circuits into a functional PPU layout.
A Mnemonic for Ozonolysis

Many students find product prediction in ozonolysis reactions of alkenes and alkynes difficult, and they often have greater difficulty discerning the starting compounds when presented with ozonolysis products. The mnemonic device suggested here can help students figure out what the ozonolysis product (or products) will be. Once mastered, this mnemonic can help students identify unsaturated compounds that could have given rise to the ozonolysis products.
Terrestrial Carbon Dynamics: Case Studies in the Former Soviet Union, the Conterminous United States, Mexico and Brazil

This research assessed land-use impacts on C flux at a national level in four countries: former Soviet Union, United States, Mexico and Brazil, including biotic processes in terrestrial ecosystems (closed forests, woodlands, and croplands), harvest of trees for wood and paper products, and direct C emission from fires. The terrestrial ecosystems of the four countries contain approximately 40% of the world's terrestrial biosphere C pool, with the FSU alone having 27% of the global total. Average phytomass C densities decreased from south to north while average soil C densities in all three vegetation types generally increased from south to north. The C flux from land cover conversion was divided into a biotic component and a land-use component. We estimate that the total net biotic flux (Tg/yr) was positive (=uptake) in the FSU (631) and the U.S. (332), but negative in Mexico (-37) and Brazil (-16). In contrast, total flux from land use was negative (=emissions) in all four countries (TgC/yr): FSU -342; U.S. -243; Mexico -35; and Brazil -235. The total net effect of the biotic and land-use factors was a C sink in the FSU and the U.S. and a C source in both Brazil and Mexico.
Synthesis and characterization of two novel star blocks: tCum[poly(isobutylene‐b‐norbornadiene)]3 and tCum[poly(norbornadiene‐b‐isobutylene)]3

Two structurally closely related three-arm star blocks were synthesized and characterized: tCum(PIB-b-PNBD)3 and tCum(PNBD-b-PIB)3 [where tCum (tricumyl) stands for the phenyl-1,3,5-tris(-2-propyl) fragment and PIB and PNBD are polyisobutylene and polynorbornadiene, respectively]. The syntheses were accomplished in two stages: (1) the preparation of the first (or inner) block fitted with appropriate chlorine termini capable of initiating the polymerization of the second (or outer) block with TiCl4 and (2) the mediation of the polymerization of the second block. Therefore, the synthesis of tCum(PIB-b-PNBD)3 was effected with tCum(PIB-Clt)3 [where Clt is tert-chlorine and number-average molecular weight (Mn) = 102,000 g/mol] by the use of TiCl4 and 30/70 CH3Cl/CHCl3 solvent mixtures at −35 °C. PNBD homopolymer contamination formed by chain transfer was removed by selective precipitation. According to gel permeation chromatography, the Mn's of the star blocks were 107,300–109,200 g/mol. NMR spectroscopy (750 MHz) was used to determine structures and molecular weights. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated two glass-transition temperatures (Tg's), one each for the PIB (−65 °C) and PNBD (232 °C) phases. Thermogravimetric analysis thermograms showed 5% weight losses at 293 °C in air and at 352 °C in N2. The synthesis of tCum(PNBD-b-PIB)3 was achieved by the initiation of isobutylene polymerization with tCum(PNBD-Clsec)3 (where Clsec is sec-chlorine and Mn = 2900 g/mol) by the use of TiCl4 in CH3Cl at −60 °C. DSC for this star block (Mn = 14,200 g/mol) also showed two Tg's, that is, at −67 and 228 °C for the PIB and PNBD segments, respectively. It is of interest that the Clsec terminus of PNBD, , readily initiated isobutylene polymerization. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 740–751, 2003
Stimulation of active potassium transport in LK sheep red cells by blood group-L-antiserum.

Anti-L serum prepared by immunization of a high-potassium-type (HK) (blood type MM) sheep with blood from a low-potassium-type (LK) (blood type ML) sheep contained an antibody which stimulated four- to sixfold K+-pump influx in LK (LL) sheep red cells. In long-termin vitro incubation experiments, LK sheep red cells sensitized with anti-L showed a net increase in K+ after two days of incubation at 37°C, whereas HK-nonimmune (NI)-serum-treated control cells lost K+. The antibody could be absorbed by LK (LL) sheep red cells but not by HK sheep red cells. Kinetic experiments showed that the concentration of external K+ ([K+]0) required to produce halfmaximum stimulation of the pump ([Na+]0=0, replaced by Mg++) was the same (0.25 mM) in L-antiserum-treated or untreated LK cells. LK cells with different [K+]i (Na+ replacement) were prepared by the p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS) method. At [K+]0=5 mM, pump influx decreased as [K+]i increased from 1 to 70 mM in L-antiserum-treated LK cells, whereas LK cells treated with HK-NI-serum ceased to pump at [K+]i=35 mM. Exposure to anti-L serum produced an almost twofold increase in the number of pump sites of LK cells as measured by the binding of tritiated ouabain by LK sheep red cells. These findings indicate that the formation of a complex between the L-antigen and its antibody stimulates active transport in LK sheep red cells both by changing the kinetics of the pump and by increasing the number of pump sites.
Bursera pereirae, a new species and generic record for the Cerrado complex of Brazil. Studies in neotropical Burseraceae XVIII

Bursera pereirae is described and illustrated, and an updated key to Bursera in South America is provided. This new species, which should be considered threatened, is the first record of Bursera for the Cerrado region and the only species of tribe Bursereae endemic to Brazil.
AN ESTIMATION OF CARRYING CAPACITY FOR SEA OTTERS ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST

Carrying capacity (K) for the California sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) was estimated as a product of the density of sea otters at equilibrium within a portion of their existing range and the total area of available habitat. Equilibrium densities were determined using the number of sea otters observed during spring surveys in 1994, 1995, and 1996 in each of three habitat types where sea otters currently exist. Potential sea otter habitat was defined as from the California coastline to the 40-m isobath and classified as rocky, sandy, or mixed habitat according to the amount of kelp and rocky substrate in the area. The amount of habitat available to sea otters in California was estimated using a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program. The estimated mean number of sea otters that could be supported by the marine environment to a depth of 40 m in California was 15,941 (95% CI 13,538-18,577). The GIS-based approach incorporated detailed bathymetric contours, produced repeatable and accurate estimates, and served as an innovative method of measuring sea otter habitat. We believe the approach described in this paper represents the best available information on how a sea otter population at equilibrium would be distributed along the California coast.
The Effects of Withdrawal of Timolol in Chronically Treated Glaucoma Patients

The dynamics of aqueous humor were studied before and after discontinuing timolol maleate in chronic users. Nineteen patients (mean length of treatment, 44 months) were studied by measuring their baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) and aqueous humor flow during treatment and 2 days to 6 weeks after discontinuing the drug. Flow did not increase significantly until 4 days after discontinuing timolol, and IOP did not increase significantly until 14 days later. Flow did not revert to its normal rate for 2 to 6 weeks. Intraocular pressure was 15% lower and the flow 24% lower during maintenance treatment than 1 month after discontinuing timolol. This comparison demonstrates the efficacy of chronic treatment. Recovery of aqueous flow is slow after stopping timolol. This finding suggests that lower or less frequent doses than are customarily used might be equally efficacious. If timolol is discontinued before filtration surgery, its effects will remain for 2 to 4 weeks.
The Fifth Funeral in Beowulf: "fyr on flode" as a Viking Burial and Other Untenable Claims

Scholars and translators of Beowulf have offered a number of mutually exclusive interpretations of the literal and symbolic meaning of the description that Hroðgar gives of the mysterious phenomenon of the “fyr on flode” at Grendel’s mere. Reading this confusion as symptomatic of the mere’s larger function in the poem as the quintessential site of the proliferation of signification, we can discern in particular the mere’s central role in negotiating Christian and pagan constructions of the passage from life to death. The resonance of the imagery used to describe the mere with that used to describe the poem’s many funerals allows us to establish a parallel that suggests the equally uncertain and fluid nature of the poem’s depiction of these conflicting spiritual temporalities. Comparing the mere imagery with its sources or analogues, including those in the Eddic tradition, will sharpen our sense of this conflict, but finally the mere must remain ungraspable as anything but ungraspable.
The Quantitative Determination of Coronary Flow with a Positron Emitter (Rubidium-84)

An objective method for the quantitative measurement of the coronary blood flow in ml./min. using a coincidence counting system with rubidium-84, a positron emitter, is described. Accidental coincidence counts arising from independent annihilation of positrons were greatly reduced by simple shielding. The coronary blood flow was calculated by the extrapolation of the clearance values to zero time. At this time the myocardial extraction ratio of rubidium-84 is unity and clearance is equal to flow. The accuracy of this method was demonstrated on the isolated perfused dog heart. It was found that the rate of change of the extraction ratio of rubidium-84 in the isolated perfused dog heart and in man was not altered with changes in flow. The finding that nitroglycerin increases the coronary blood flow in patients without coronary artery disease while decreasing it in patients with coronary artery disease was confirmed.
Revisiting fundraising encroachment of public relations in light of the theory of donor relations

No research has examined whether 0025 and 0035 reconceptualization of fundraising as a public relations specialization, partly advanced as protection against fundraising encroachment of public relations, has been accepted or implemented. This study found that the rate of fundraising encroachment has not changed substantially in 20 years, that practitioners accept Kelly's concept but prefer separate-but-equal departments for the two functions, and that Kelly's theory of donor relations should be revisited to incorporate contingency theory.
Dendritic glutamate release produces autocrine activation of mGluR1 in cerebellar Purkinje cells

In recent years, it has become clear that, in addition to conventional anterograde transmission, signaling in neural circuits can occur in a retrograde manner. This suggests the additional possibility that postsynaptic release of neurotransmitter might be able to act in an autocrine fashion. Here, we show that brief depolarization of a cerebellar Purkinje cell triggers a slow inward current. This depolarization-induced slow current (DISC) is attenuated by antagonists of mGluR1 or TRP channels. DISC is eliminated by a mixture of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channel blockers and is mimicked by a brief climbing fiber burst. DISC is attenuated by an inhibitor of vesicular glutamate transporters or of vesicular fusion. These data suggest that Ca2+-dependent postsynaptic fusion of glutamate-loaded vesicles evokes a slow inward current produced by activation of postsynaptic mGluR1, thereby constituting a useful form of feedback regulation.
On the design of observers for generalized state space systems using singular value decomposition

In this paper a method is developed for the design of Luenberger-type observers for linear time-invariant control systems whose state equation is of the form Ex= Ax+ Bu where E is a singular square matrix. The method is based on the singular-value decomposition of the matrix E, and on the reduction of the equation Ex= Ax +Bu to a system consisting of a differential equation of the form w1, = F1w1 + F2 + w2 +G1u and an algebraic equation of the form H1w1 +H2w2 + G1u = 0. If w2 can be eliminated from the differential equation by the aid of the algebraic equation and the original output equation of the system, the method yields a reduced-order observer for the generalized state space system.
Nitrite reduction and formation of corrosion coatings in zerovalent iron systems.

Abstract Batch tests were conducted to investigate nitrite reduction in a zerovalent iron (Fe0) system under various conditions. Nitrite at 1.4 mM initial concentration was slowly reduced to nitrogen gas in the first stage (days 1–6), which was mediated by an amorphous, Fe(II)-rich iron oxide coating. The second stage (days 7–14) featured a rapid reduction of nitrite to both ammonia and nitrogen gas and the formation of a more crystalline, magnetite form iron oxide coating. Water reduction by Fe0 occurred concurrently with nitrite reduction from the beginning and contributed significantly to the overall iron corrosion. Nitrite at 14 mM was found to passivate the surface of Fe0 grains with respect to nitrite reduction. Adding aqueous Fe2+ significantly accelerated reduction of nitrite by Fe0 to nitrogen gas with lepidocrocite as the main iron corrosion product. Substantially, though still substoichiometrically, 0.55 mol of Fe2+ were concomitantly consumed per 1.0 mol nitrite reduction, indicating that Fe0 was the main electron source. In the presence of Fe2+, nitrite reduction out-competed water reduction in terms of contributing to the overall iron corrosion. Results of this study help understand complicated interactions between water reduction and nitrite reduction, the roles of surface-bound Fe2+, and the evolution of the iron corrosion coating.
Education for Social Control of Drug Use.

The effectiveness of social controls in regulating use of legally proscribed drugs is curtailed by the fact that social institutions cannot legitimately enter into the dynamics of controlling use—t...
Performance Expectations of Closed-Brayton-Cycle Heat Exchangers in 100-kWe Nuclear Space Power Systems

Performance expectations of closed-Brayton-cycle heat exchangers to be used in 100-kWe nuclear space power systems were forecast. Proposed cycle state points for a system supporting a mission to three of Jupiter s moons required effectiveness values for the heat-source exchanger, recuperator and rejection exchanger (gas cooler) of 0.98,0.95 and 0.97, respectively. Performance parameters such as number of thermal units (Nm), equivalent thermal conductance (UA), and entropy generation numbers (Ns) varied from 11 to 19,23 to 39 kWK, and 0.019 to 0.023 for some standard heat exchanger configurations. Pressure-loss contributions to entropy generation were significant; the largest frictional contribution was 114% of the heat-transfer irreversibility. Using conventional recuperator designs, the 0.95 effectiveness proved difficult to achieve without exceeding other performance targets; a metallic, plate-fin counterflow solution called for 15% more mass and 33% higher pressure-loss than the target values. Two types of gas-coolers showed promise. Single-pass counterflow and multipass cross-counterflow arrangements both met the 0.97 effectiveness requirement. Potential reliability-related advantages of the cross-countefflow design were noted. Cycle modifications, enhanced heat transfer techniques and incorporation of advanced materials were suggested options to reduce system development risk. Carbon-carbon sheeting or foam proved an attractive option to improve overall performance.
Using priorities to simplify behavior coordination

Previous research has used behavior hierarchies to address the problem of coordinating large numbers of behaviors. However, behavior hierarchies scale poorly since they require the state information of low-level behaviors. Abstracting this state information into priorities has recently been introduced to resolve this problem. In this work, we evaluate both the quality of priority-based behavior hierarchies and their ease of development. This is done by using grammatical evolution to learn how to coordinate low-level behaviors to accomplish a task. We show that not only do priority-based behavior hierarchies perform just as well as standard hierarchies but that they promote faster learning of solutions that are better suited as components in larger hierarchies.
The Lung Health Study: Airway Responsiveness to Inhaled Methacholine in Smokers with Mild to Moderate Airflow Limitation

As part of a multicenter clinical trial (Lung Health Study), methacholine inhalation challenge testing was performed in 5,877 current cigarette smokers, ages 35 to 59 yr (mean 48.5 +/- 6.8 yr), with borderline to moderate airflow limitation (FEV1/FVC ratio 63.0 +/- 5.5). The test was successfully completed in 96.4% of subjects, of whom 63% were male and 95.9% were white. Symptomatic reactions to methacholine were rarely severe enough to require evaluation by a trial physician. Nonspecific airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was defined as a greater than or equal to 20% decline in FEV1 from the post-diluent control value after inhalation of less than or equal to 25 mg/ml methacholine. AHR was noted in a significantly higher percentage of women (85.1%) than men (58.9%). Moreover, nearly twice as many women as men (46.6 and 23.9%, respectively) responded to less than or equal to 5 mg/ml of methacholine. In both men and women, baseline degree of airways obstruction and clinical center were strongly associated with AHR (p less than 0.001), whereas age was not. Additional associations with AHR were analyzed in men and women separately using logistic regression after adjustment for baseline lung function, age, and center-to-center differences. In men, AHR was significantly related to symptoms of wheeze, chronic cough and/or sputum, and a history of asthma or hay fever (p less than 0.004), but not to current or lifetime tobacco use. By contrast, among women, AHR was not significantly associated with chronic cough and/or phlegm (p greater than 0.05) or a past history of asthma or hay fever (p greater than 0.1) and was only weakly related to wheeze and current asthma (p = 0.04), as well as to cigarette pack-years (p = 0.044). These results indicate that most continuing smokers with functional evidence of early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have nonspecific AHR that is strongly related to gender and baseline lung function and, to a lesser extent, to respiratory symptoms. The reason for the striking effect of gender on AHR in early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is unclear but cannot be attributed to male-female differences in age, cigarette use, presence of asthma, or baseline degree of airflow obstruction.
Distribution and Abundance of Insecticide Resistant Greenbugs (Homoptera: Aphididae) and Validation of a Bioassay to Assess Resistance

Laboratory bioassays were conducted to determine the toxicity of four insecticides (ethyl parathion, chlorpyrifos, malathion, and carbofuran) to insecticide-susceptible and resistant populations of greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani). These bioassays were used to develop and validate a discriminating concentration for assessing insecticide resistance in greenbug populations in the field. Samples from wheat and sorghum in two states, Oklahoma and Kansas, indicated that insecticide resistance persists in greenbug populations over a large area at a low level.
Spaceflight-relevant types of ionizing radiation and cortical bone: Potential LET effect?

Extended exposure to microgravity conditions results in significant bone loss. Coupled with radiation exposure, this phenomenon may place astronauts at a greater risk for mission-critical fractures. In a previous study, we identified a profound and prolonged loss of trabecular bone (29−39%) in mice following exposure to an acute, 2 Gy dose of radiation simulating both solar and cosmic sources. However, because skeletal strength depends on trabecular and cortical bone, accurate assessment of strength requires analysis of both bone compartments. The objective of the present study was to examine various properties of cortical bone in mice following exposure to multiple types of spaceflight-relevant radiation. Nine-week old, female C57BL/6 mice were sacrificed 110 days after exposure to a single, whole body, 2 Gy dose of gamma, proton, carbon, or iron radiation. Femora were evaluated with biomechanical testing, microcomputed tomography, quantitative histomorphometry, percent mineral content, and micro-hardness analysis. Compared to non-irradiated controls, there were significant differences compared to carbon or iron radiation for only fracture force, medullary area and mineral content. A greater differential effect based on linear energy transfer (LET) level may be present: high-LET (carbon or iron) particle irradiation was associated with a decline in structural properties (maximum force, fracture force, medullary area, and cortical porosity) and mineral composition compared to low-LET radiation (gamma and proton). Bone loss following irradiation appears to be largely specific to trabecular bone and may indicate unique biological microenvironments and microdosimetry conditions. However, the limited time points examined and non-haversian skeletal structure of the mice employed highlight the need for further investigation.
Reduced intensity allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation can induce durable remission in heavily pretreated relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) can be aggressive and intractable in some cases. Patients who relapse after autologous HCT (auto-HCT) have limited treatment options. City of Hope reports our experience in the use of reduced intensity allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) in 24 heavily pretreated patients with relapsed HL, between January 2003 and December 2008. The median number of prior therapies was 5; 20/24 patients had prior auto-HCT. The conditioning regimen for all patients was fludarabine and melphalan. With a median follow-up for living patients of 39.0 months, at 2 years the overall survival (OS) was 60% (95% CI 42, 72) and the progression-free survival was 27% (95% CI 22, 32). Non-relapse mortality was 13.1% (95% CI 5.1, 31.4) at 2 years. The incidence of grade II–IV aGVHD was 45.8% and 8.3% for grade III–IV. Allo-HCT in heavily pretreated relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma is feasible, tolerable, and can induce durable clinical remissions.