cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advertising and the conquest of culture

Thomas Frank's important The conquest of cool: Business culture, counterculture, and the rise of hip consumerism usefully described the advertising industry's “conquest of cool” in the 1960s and beyond, the co-optation of the hip and the cool for the purposes of advertising marketing. This article argues that, since Frank's book appeared, the “convergence of commerce and content” – as the advertising industry calls it – has meant that the production of content is even more entwined with advertising than ever before. The first part of this article describes this shift with particular attention paid to the production of advertising music, which increasingly employs well-known rock, hip-hop, and other popular musicians. The analytical portion of this article draws on the studies of Richard A. Peterson and others on the rise of the socially elite “omnivore” consumer of cultural products to argue that advertising has played a crucial role in this shift, emphasizing the cool and the trendy. Last, the article up...
Literature review of toxicological properties of petroleum and coal-derived oil products

Abstract The recent development of synthetic liquid fuel products from coal has raised the question of their relative health hazard compared with natural petroleum products. A review of the literature of natural petroleum products and coal-derived synthetic liquid fuels shows some level of mutagenic activity for each. In general, the coal-derived petroleum substitutes tend to be more mutagenic and carcinogenic than the natural petroleum products. Increased hydrotreatment of the coal-derived oil reduces the mutagenicity to levels comparable to the natural petroleum products. The COED syncrude product consistently shows a lower level of mutagenicity and carcinogenicity than all of the other coal-derived products that appear in the literature.
Loss of Transgene following ex vivo Gene Transfer is Associated with a Dominant Th2 Response: Implications for Cutaneous Gene Therapy

Host responses to therapeutic gene products are potentially serious complications in cutaneous gene therapy. Controlling immune responses to the therapeutic antigen may therefore be critical for an effective therapy. Both ex vivo and in vivo gene transfer to epidermal stem cells has been shown to induce transgene-specific immune responses; however, whether the mechanism of immune activation is the same is not clear. In this study, we have characterized transgene-specific immune responses in an ex vivo model of epidermal gene transfer using green fluorescent protein as a model antigen and retrovirus-mediated gene delivery. Contrary to T helper (Th)1-type responses induced following in vivo gene transfer to epidermis, rejection of ex vivo-transduced keratinocytes was associated with Th2/eosinophilc responses. These responses were characterized by interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 production by T cells, a predominance of anti-green fluorescent protein IgG1 in serum, the presence of numerous eosinophils within rejected skin, and a lack of class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte response. Pretreatment of mice receiving ex vivo transduced keratinocytes with neutralizing anti-IL-5 antibody prevented eosinophil infiltration and prolonged survival of transduced epidermis. These data indicate a role for the Th2/eosinophilic pathway in rejection of ex vivo-transduced keratinocytes, suggesting different requirements for achieving tolerance for ex vivo and in vivo approaches to gene therapy.
Navigation: the mammalian model (discussion)

Summary form only given. The influence of inertial and other categories of motion-induced spatial information is being widely acknowledged in the interpretation of single cell recordings and in the conception of neural navigation models. This is mainly due to the repeated observation that place cells retain their firing fields and head direction cells their preferred compass direction independently of changes in familiar visual references, and even in complete darkness. Pushing the importance of path integration to its extreme consequences, the hippocampus has been conceived as a path integration system, in which external landmarks are secondarily bound to a hard-wired network that allows self-localisation to occur through motion cues. (2 pages)
Pulmonary absorption of polyethylene glycolated recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (PEG rhG-CSF)

Abstract The pulmonary delivery of recombinant human granulocyte — colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF, 18.8kDa) and two polyethelene glycol (PEG) conjugates of rhG-CSF, (P1, 81.5 kDa and P2, 146.8 kDa) was investigated in the rat. Doses of 50 and 500 μg/kg were administered by intratracheal instillation (IT) or 25 and 250 μg/kg by intravenous injection (IV). Additional IV doses of 50, 100 and 1000 μg/kg rhG-CSF were given to assess the effect of dose on clearance. Blood samples were removed at regular time points from an indwelling jugular catheter and analyzed directly for total white blood cell counts (WBC). Plasma was assayed for protein by an enzyme immuno assay. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacological response were determined for both routes of administration. Low doses of the protein effected a short-lived response that peaked at around 12 h while the higher doses induced a more profound response that peaked at approximately 24 h post dose. The PEGylated proteins generated a more intense and extended WBC response relative to rhG-CSF alone with the order being P2 > P1 > rh-G-CSF. Pulmonary administration of the proteins also induced a similar order of response implying that the PEGylated proteins were being absorbed intact. The IV concentration vs. time profiles declined biexponentially for both the PEGs and the rhG-CSF. Plasma clearance (Cl p ) was dose dependent and ranged from 0.55ml/min/kg (1000 μg/kg) to 0.81ml/min/kg (25 μg/kg) for rhG-CSF. The clearance rates of P1 and P2 (0.28 and 0.19 ml/min/kg [25μg/kg]) correlated inversely with the respective degree of PEGylation. Estimates of dose and weight normalized bioavailability ranged from 2.6 to 27.4% for the instilled solutions. There was a trend toward increased availability as the size of the protein decreased. However, the absorption of rhG-CSF at the two doses was markedly different (3.0 ± 0.5 [50μg/kg] vs. 27.4 ± 8.7% [500 μg/kg], P n = 6) suggesting that absorption is influenced by other clearance mechanism(s). Western analysis for rhG-CSF in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed additional small molecular weight bands suggesting that rhG-CSF may be partially degraded in the lung.
Evaluation of a Method for Estimating Irrigated Crop-Evapotranspiration Coefficients from Remotely Sensed Data in Idaho

Hydrologic modeling and agricultural water consumption analyses typically require some estimation of expected evapotranspiration (ET) from any given land cover or crop type. The main parameter used...
Novel heavy duty engine concept for operation dual fuel H2–NH3

A prior paper has presented a novel design of a heavy duty truck engine fuelled with H2. In this design, the customary in-cylinder Diesel injector and glow plug are replaced with a main chamber fuel injector and a jet ignition pre-chamber. The jet ignition pre-chamber is a small volume that is connected to the in-cylinder through calibrated orifices accommodating another fuel injector and a glow or a spark plug that controls the start of combustion. This design permits to operate the engine in four different modes: traditional compression ignition (CI), diffusion, Diesel-like (M1); mixed gasoline/Diesel-like (M2); traditional spark ignition (SI), premixed, gasoline-like (M3); premixed, homogeneous charge compression ignition HCCI-like (M4). In the mode diffusion with jet ignition (M1), an injection occurs in the jet ignition pre-chamber before the main chamber fuel is injected and the engine operates therefore mostly Diesel-like. In the mode mixed diffusion/premixed Diesel/gasoline-like (M2) an injection occurs in the jet ignition pre-chamber after only part of the main chamber fuel is injected and mixed with air. In the mode premixed with jet ignition (M3), an injection occurs in the jet ignition pre-chamber after the main chamber fuel is injected and mixed with air and the engine operates gasoline-like. Finally, in the mode premixed without jet ignition (M4), no injection occurs in the jet ignition pre-chamber and the engine operates HCCI-like. Modelling results have already been presented and discussed with H2 as the main chamber and pre-chamber fuel. This paper considers the option to accommodate a second main chamber injector that will inject the NH3 that will then burn in air thanks to the hot combusting gases from the combustion of H2 and air using the modes M1 and M2 described above. The mode M3 also of interest is not considered here. First results of simulations show the opportunity to achieve better than Diesel fuel energy conversion efficiency thanks to the reduced heat losses of the “cold burning” NH3 and suggest to perform the experiments needed to further support the findings.
Tetracycline effects on statolith and nematocyst differentiation inAurelia

The effect of tetracycline HCl on synthesis of calcium sulphate statoliths inAurelia is reported. Tetracycline inhibits synthesis of statoliths and nematocysts when administered at an early stage of strobilation. The tetracycline, however, is not incorporated into the developing statoliths or nematocysts. As the tetracycline does not combine with the calcium of the calcium sulfate dihydrate statoliths ofAurelia, an explanation for its inhibitory effects on statoliths and nematocyst differentiation apparently does not rest with an incorporation-related factor.
VIGOR extended to annotate genomes for additional 12 different viruses

A gene prediction program, VIGOR (Viral Genome ORF Reader), was developed at J. Craig Venter Institute in 2010 and has been successfully performing gene calling in coronavirus, influenza, rhinovirus and rotavirus for projects at the Genome Sequencing Center for Infectious Diseases. VIGOR uses sequence similarity search against custom protein databases to identify protein coding regions, start and stop codons and other gene features. Ribonucleicacid editing and other features are accurately identified based on sequence similarity and signature residues. VIGOR produces four output files: a gene prediction file, a complementary DNA file, an alignment file, and a gene feature table file. The gene feature table can be used to create GenBank submission. VIGOR takes a single input: viral genomic sequences in FASTA format. VIGOR has been extended to predict genes for 12 viruses: measles virus, mumps virus, rubella virus, respiratory syncytial virus, alphavirus and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, norovirus, metapneumovirus, yellow fever virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, parainfluenza virus and Sendai virus. VIGOR accurately detects the complex gene features like ribonucleicacid editing, stop codon leakage and ribosomal shunting. Precisely identifying the mat_peptide cleavage for some viruses is a built-in feature of VIGOR. The gene predictions for these viruses have been evaluated by testing from 27 to 240 genomes from GenBank.
Non-stationary random vibration of a linear structure

Abstract The non-stationary random vibration of a lightly damped linear structure subjected to white noise is considered. It is shown that the probability density function of the amplitude of the structural response can be approximated by a Rayleigh distribution. Analytical formulae for the time dependent statistics of the amplitude are presented. The analytical results are compared with data obtained by a numerical simulation
Effects of luteinizing hormone and prostaglandin F(2α) on gap junctional intercellular communication of ovine luteal cells throughout the estrous cycle.

Cellular interactions mediated by contact-dependent pathways may be important to maintain luteal function. The objective of the present experiment was to evaluate the role of LH and prostaglandin F2α (PGF) in regulation of contact-dependent, gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) of ovine luteal cells from several stages of luteal development. Corpora lutea (CL) obtained from superovulated ewes on days 5 (n=7), 10 (n=8), and 15 (n=9) after estrus were dispersed with collagenase and cell types were separated by elutriation. Cells were plated as a mixed population (nonelutriated), or as small or large luteal cell fractions, and incubated in serum-free media containing no hormone, LH (100 ng/mL), PGF (100 ng/mL), LH+PGF, or dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP; 2 mM) for 18–24 h. Media were collected for evaluation of progesterone (P4) concentrations and replaced with media containing fluorescent dye. Then the rate of GJIC was evaluated by using the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching technique and laser cytometry. The rate of GJIC was determined for selected cells: small luteal cells in contact only with small luteal (S-S) cells; large luteal cells in contact only with small luteal (L-S) cells; and large luteal cells in contact only with large luteal (L-L) cells. LH increased (p<0.01) GJIC for S-S on d 5 and 10 and for L-S cells across the estrous cycle, but did not affect GJIC for L-L cells. PGF increased (p<0.05) GJIC for L-L cells on d 10 and 15, and decreased (p<0.05) GJIC for S-S cells from d 5 and 10 of the estrous cycle. LH+PGF increased (p<0.05) GJIC for S-S cells on d 5 and 10, and for L-S and L-L cells on d 10 and 15 of the estrous cycle. In addition, PGF diminished (p<0.05) LH-stimulatory effects on GJIC for S-S cells from d 5 and 10, and for L-S cells from d 5 of the estrous cycle. Dibutyryl cAMP stimulated (p<0.05) GJIC between all evaluated cell types across the estrous cycle. LH and dbcAMP stimulated (p<0.05) P4 secretion by mixed and small luteal cell fractions, PGF alone did not affect basal P4 secretion, but LH+PGF stimulated (p<0.05) P4 production by small luteal cells across the estrous cycle. PGF diminished (p<0.05) LH-stimulatory effects on P4 production in mixed populations of luteal cells across the estrous cycle.
An Alternative Method for Analyzing the Double Threshold Detector

An alternative method for analyzing the performance of a double threshold or M-out-of-N detector is discussed. Detection performance for the suggested method is based on the probability that a return crosses the threshold for the Mth time (a detection is declared) on the kth return or look. It is shown that this formulation has many advantages, as compared with the conventional method of analysis which employs the binomial probability distribution, since the upper limit N is not contained in the resulting probability expressions. It is shown that the probability of detection obtained by the alternate method is the same as that obtained if the detection method were analyzed as a Markov chain with M+1 states. Use of the method results in simple expressions for the mean and variance of the number of looks before detection, provides an alternative way of estimating the probability of a threshold crossing, and leads to computationally simple bounds for the probability of false alarm.
Detection of Quality Changes in Freeze‐Dried Beef by Measurement of the Sorption Isobar Hysteresis

SUMMARY— Experiments with cooked, freeze-dried beef support previous evidence that changes in its physical and chemical properties are reflected in its water sorption characteristics. As a new approach, sorption isobars and their hysteresis were studied. In the reported temperature and pressure range, a decrease in the sorption capacity and in the area of the hysteresis loop was observed after 1 yr of storage.
History Never Repeats Itself.

At a time when we look anywhere but the United States for examples of participatory democracy, when we extol participatory budgeting in Porto Alegre, panchayat self-government in Kerala, or the cooperative system of Mondragon, it is salutary to learn of the democratic experiments of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)—even if they occurred some time ago now. In his presidential address Jess Gilbert examines two democratic experiments of the USDA during the New Deal: first, county planning that coordinated federal programs through citizen committees, and second, land redistribution to landless southern farmers, including a small number of black sharecroppers and tenant farmers, creating selfgoverning resettlement communities. Their importance is two-fold: first, these were projects promoted by the state; and second, sociologists were involved in their success. And so, concludes Gilbert, if in the past so why not in the future? Well, first it is worth noting that both programs were quite shortlived, abolished by new administrations hostile to any sort of democratic planning. The county planning seems to have disappeared without trace, whereas the land redistribution left its mark on history, generating an independent black farming class that spawned civilrights leaders in the 1960s. It is important to ask why the two programs left such different legacies, and what are the conditions for the longevity of democratic experiments. Perhaps, in the final analysis, the citizen committees never made decisions about anything important whereas land redistribution created viable new communities. To work effectively, participatory democracy requires some form of real and visible redistribution. That’s a lesson I think we have learned from the study of such experiments in different parts of the world. Gilbert writes that sociologists were at the center of the delineation of communities within counties, a form of collaborative social science, yet in the program of land redistribution that outlasted its inception, we hear little of sociological intervention on the ground, more inspiration from within the state. It is worth exploring further what role sociologists play in these experiments—do they do so as technicians and designers or as publicists and visionaries? Perhaps their specific expertise comes
Calculation of compressible boundary layers by a hybrid finite element method

Preliminary results are presented of a finite element/finite difference method (semidiscrete Galerkin or SDG method) used to calculate compressible turbulent boundary-layer flow about airfoils, in which the group finite element scheme is applied to the Dorodnitsyn formulation of the boundary-layer equations. The finite element discretization across the layer yields a system of first-order ordinary differential equations in the streamwise direction. Linear elements are chosen for computational efficiency, while also providing adequate accuracy. The streamwise derivatives are solved by an implicit and noniterative finite difference marching scheme. Results are presented for low-speed laminar flow past a cirunlar cylinder and past an NACA 0012 airfoil at zero angle of attack at a Mach number of 0.5
Preoperative anxiety and gastric fluid secretion in healthy children scheduled for outpatient surgery

Summary A prospective study of otherwise healthy unpremedicated children scheduled for outpatient surgery was undertaken to determine the relationship between preoperative anxiety and gastric fluid volume and acidity in children. The anxiety level of the child, using a six point anxiety scale, was determined in the preoperative holding area 15–30 min before surgery. After induction of anaesthesia and tracheal intubation, a multi-port large bore catheter was inserted orally to aspirate gastric contents. Gastric fluid volume was measured and its pH was determined by an Accumet® 915 pH meter. One hundred and fifty patients, between 2 and 10 years of age (mean 5.3 ± 3.0 yrs), weighing 11.2–69.0 kg (mean 22.3 ± 15.4) were studied. Gastric contents could only be aspirated in 101 out of 150 patients. Gastric fluid volume averaged 0.41 ± 0.31 ml·kg−1 in these 101 patients. The average pH was 1.54 ± 0.40. Thirty two patients (21%) had gastric fluid volume > 0.4 ml·kg−1 and pH <2.5. Neither the gastric volume nor the pH correlated with the preoperative anxiety scores. We conclude that in otherwise healthy children undergoing outpatient surgery, preinduction anxiety does not affect gastric volume and/or acidity.
Vector Analysis of Heavy-Mineral Data

In sedimentary petrology data are often in the form of measurements of several variables on numerous samples. If the set of data is large and the underlying causal structure obscure, factor and vector analysis can be an important aid in revealing simple patterns in complex information. Mathematically, these approaches treat each variable or each sample as a vector and resolve it into a small number of component vectors. Vectors may represent variables (R-mode) or samples (Q-mode). Factor analysis resolves vectors of raw data into theoretical vectors; vector analysis resolves them into selected data vectors that represent actually observed, compositionally extreme end-member samples (Q-mode) or into variables characterized by the maximum observed linear independence (R-mode). The method has been programmed for various large, high-speed computers. Usefulness of the approach is demonstrated by application to two case histories: heavy mineral provenance studies of Recent sediments in the Gulf of California, and on the Orinoco-Guayana Shelf. Q-mode analysis of these case histories represents quite different but reasonably common situations. In the Gulf of California, most mineral assemblages are derived from nearby, petrographically simple sources and are dominated by only a few minerals. Mixing during transportation is minor, and the system can easily be defined in terms of a few mineralogically distinct end members. Vector analysis of this system yields results similar to those obtained by conventional inspection of the raw data, although more significant detail is revealed and end members are objectively and re-producibly defined. The Orinoco-Guayana Shelf, on the other hand, possesses remote and petrographically complex sources, and mixing of assemblages during long-distance transportation is common. All mineral assemblages are complex and variable and only quantitatively different. Obvious end members are lacking. Vector analysis yields a mineral distribution pattern greatly different from that obtained by inspection of the raw data. The vector pattern appears to be the more meaningful one when interpreted in terms of zones of littoral transportation moving landward during the post-Pleistocene rise of sea level.
Decoupling features for diagnosis of reversing and check valve faults in heat pumps

Recently, a decoupling-based (DB) fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) method was developed for diagnosing multiple-simultaneous faults in air conditioners (AC) and was shown to have very good performance. The method relies on identifying diagnostic features that are decoupled (i.e., insensitive) to other faults and operating conditions. The current paper extends the DB FDD methodology to heat pumps. Heat pumps have all the same faults as occur for air conditioners with additional faults associated with components that accommodate heating mode, including reversing valve leakage and check valve leakage. Decoupling features were developed for these additional faults and laboratory evaluations were performed to evaluate diagnostic performance. It was found that check valve leakage could be detected and diagnosed before the heating capacity degradation reached 5% for a system with a fixed orifice expansion (FXO) device and 3% for the same system retrofit with a thermal expansion valve (TXV). Furthermore, the feature for check valve leakage is very insensitive to other faults and operating conditions. The decoupling feature for reversing valve leakage could successfully detect and diagnose faults for a TXV system before the heating capacity degraded 6% and was also insensitive to other faults and operating conditions. However, this feature did not work well for a system with an FXO in heating mode because the refrigerant exiting the evaporator and entering the reversing valve was typically a two-phase mixture. Fortunately, it was possible to diagnose this particular fault at many operating conditions in cooling mode for the system with an FXO.
A loss of moral experience: understanding HIV-related stigma in the New York City House and Ball Community.

Objectives. I incorporated qualitative methods to explore how HIV-related stigma functions in New York City’s House and Ball Community (HBC).Methods. From January through March 2009, I conducted 20 in-depth 1-on-1 interviews with a diverse sample of New York City HBC members. Interviews addressed perceptions of HIV-related stigma, the treatment of HIV-positive members in the community, and the potential impact of HIV-related stigma on risk behaviors.Results. HIV-related stigma contributes to a loss of moral experience for HBC members. Moral experience (i.e., threats to what really matters in a community) disrupts established social connections and hinders the attainment of “ball status” (i.e., amassing social recognition) in the local world of these individuals.Conclusions. My recommendations address HIV-related stigma in the New York City HBC from the vantage of moral experience and highlight the need for longitudinal studies of individual house members and for the implementation of stigma-focused interv...
The Historical Logic of National Health Insurance: Structure and Sequence in the Development of British, Canadian, and U.S. Medical Policy

Government-sponsored health insurance is a central pillar of the modern welfare state. In advanced industrial democracies, public spending on medical care accounts for an average of 6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), making it the largest category of social spending after public pensions.Computed from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, The Reform of Health Care Systems: A Review of Seventeen OECD Countries (Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 1994), 38. The comparison with pensions is made by Karl Hinrichs, “The Impact of German Health Insurance Reforms on Redistribution and the Culture of Solidarity,” Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law 20 (1996): 653–87. Despite the popularity and resilience of established health programs, however, the introduction of government-sponsored health coverage has been highly controversial everywhere. Few social programs involve the state so directly in the workings of the economy and the practice of a powerful profession. Few entangle the interests of so many diverse and resourceful groups. And few cast in such stark relief the ideological principles at stake. Although the participants in conflicts over health policy have differed from nation to nation, no country has acquired national health insurance without a fierce and bitter political fight.
DNA Methylation Dynamics of Germinal Center B Cells Are Mediated by AID

Changes in DNA methylation are required for the formation of germinal centers (GCs), but the mechanisms of such changes are poorly understood. Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) has been recently implicated in DNA demethylation through its deaminase activity coupled with DNA repair. We investigated the epigenetic function of AID in vivo in germinal center B cells (GCBs) isolated from wild-type (WT) and AID-deficient (Aicda(-/-)) mice. We determined that the transit of B cells through the GC is associated with marked locus-specific loss of methylation and increased methylation diversity, both of which are lost in Aicda(-/-) animals. Differentially methylated cytosines (DMCs) between GCBs and naive B cells (NBs) are enriched in genes that are targeted for somatic hypermutation (SHM) by AID, and these genes form networks required for B cell development and proliferation. Finally, we observed significant conservation of AID-dependent epigenetic reprogramming between mouse and human B cells.
Effect of Sound Stimulation at Several Levels on Concentrations of Primary Amines, Including Neurotransmitter Candidates, in Perilymph of the Guinea Pig Inner Ear

Perilymph, which bathes the sensory cells of the cochlea, was collected from guinea pigs exposed to noise and analyzed via two cation-exchange HPLC procedures with fluorescence detection, resolving 51 and 81 primary-amine compounds, respectively, at a sensitivity limit of 0.1 pmol relative to leucine. During a first period, each animal was either exposed to noise at 80, 90, or 115 decibels sound-pressure level or maintained in silence (controls), and during a second period, the same animal was maintained in silence. Perilymph was collected during both periods, and perilymphatic components were compared, within animals and across animals, for several levels of sound stimulation. A gamma-aminobutyric acid-like component was elevated in the first period in proportion to stimulus intensity by the various methods of comparison, suggesting an auditory-neurotransmitter role for this component. Aspartic acid was elevated in the second period, 2-3.5 h after onset of sound stimulation, compatible with the release of aspartic acid from central auditory synapses. In addition, a methionine-enkephalin-like component, distinct from leucine-enkephalin, was detected in perilymph from control animals and was elevated in response to noise at 115 decibels. Regression coefficients, determined for the relation between sound intensity and first-period concentrations or the difference between first and second-period concentrations, indicated zero linear regression at p = 0.05 for glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glycine, taurine, and 39 other perilymphatic components, consistent with the hypothesis that these compounds are unlikely to be peripheral auditory neurotransmitters.
An approach to multiply segmented constraint satisfaction problems

This paper describes an extension to the constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) approach called MUSE CSP (MUltiply SEgmented Constraint Satisfaction Problem). This extension is especially useful for those problems which segment into multiple sets of partially shared variables. Such problems arise naturally in signal processing applications including computer vision, speech processing, and handwriting recognition. For these applications, it is often difficult to segment the data in only one way given the low-level information utilized by the segmentation algorithms. MUSE CSP can be used to efficiently represent several similar instances of the constraint satisfaction problem simultaneously. If multiple instances of a CSP have some common variables which have the same domains and compatible constraints, then they can be combined into a single instance of a MUSE CSP, reducing the work required to enforce node and arc consistency.
Smooth Transitions for a Turning Dubins Vehicle

ight is not possible. Solutions are constructed as a sequence of alternate turning arcs that follow a reference circle and include piecewise linear transitions between turning radii. A comprehensive Turning Dubins Vehicle (TDV) solver is presented to handle the spectrum of relative distances and headings between aircraft initial state and a landing runway approach end. This solver generates the minimum number of turning sequences for the TDV, thus providing a minimum length landing ight plan. Example solutions are used to illustrate the TDV solver.
Glucose recovery in a microfluidic microdialysis biochip

Microdialysis is a technique for separating biomolecules by controlling the mass transfer rate of biomolecules diffusing across a semipermeable membrane. It has been used in the medical community to continuously monitor various metabolites (glucose, lactate, sodium, etc.) in patients. Glucose microdialysis is of particular interest in diabetes treatment. Commercially available microdialysis probes have been used to create microdialysis sampling systems with a glucose biosensor. However, most probes are operated in a diffusion limited regime and struggle to obtain high recoveries of analytes. In this paper, an on-chip microdialysis system is presented. Dialysis of sulforhodamine fluorescent dye (MW 607) and glucose (MW 180) are demonstrated. The average permeability of the membrane to the fluorescent dye is 0.3471 μm/s (standard deviation (S.D.) 0.0235 μm/s) and is 2.5280 μm/s (S.D. 0.3723 μm/s) for glucose. The results of fluorescence and glucose dialysis show consistency and follow analytically predicted results. The system is sensitive to rapid changes in glucose reservoir concentration. Within 10 min of a reservoir concentration change, the outlet concentration of the dialysate has reached steady state with an 80% glucose recovery at a flowrate of 1.5 μl/min.
Gastroenterology for the piscine patient.

Because fish are the largest group of vertebrates with estimates of species at 25,000 [1], piscine patients pose a great veterinary challenge for private practice, on fish farms, and in a public aquarium setting. A public aquarium may have institutional collections exhibiting greater than 500 unique species ranging from apex predator sharks and piranha, to endangered pupfish and cichlids, to venomous lionfish and stonefish, and to unique seadragon and flashlight fish species. At the New England Aquarium (NEAq), the fish collection is divided into exhibit galleries that represent different biomes, which includes a giant ocean tank, representing warm water Atlantic fish, and cold marine, temperate, tropical, and freshwater galleries with multitaxa exhibits. The NEAq Animal Health Department treats nearly 150 cases of fish per year and oversees general quarantine for nearly another 500 to 1000 individual aquatic animals. The majority of collection fishes are clinically evaluated by the Animal Health staff similar to higher vertebrates at NEAq for both medical treatment and preventive health care. When necessary, extensive diagnostic examinations are performed on individual fish. An exception to this approach exists for large groups of schooling species, as only basic skin and gill biopsies are performed on 10% to 15% of the animals before and after quarantine to check for external evidence of disease, unless an outbreak or increased mortalities are seen in these systems. All collection and quarantine animal mortalities are necropsied for gross pathology and histology. A challenge that veterinarians face in aquarium medicine is with exhibits featuring multitaxa enclosures. Although these exhibits help create more realistic environments, they also can limit medical options, because some efficacious treatments for controlling certain fish disease outbreaks may prove fatal to the invertebrates or plants found in these displays. In an attempt to make some sense out of fish guts, this article will break down fish gastroenterology in the following manner. First, the piscine gastrointestinal tract will be discussed anatomically: beginning with the mouth and food apprehension, through the stomach, intestines, pyloric
Expression patterns of AP1, FUL, FT and LEAFY orthologs in Vitaceae support the homology of tendrils and inflorescences throughout the grape family

The leaf-opposed tendril, a characteristic organ in Vitaceae (grape family), is likely a morphological key innovation for the family. It has been considered as the homologous organ of the inflorescence. Expression of floral related genes has been studied extensively in the model species, grapevine (Vitis vinifera), to uncover molecular mechanisms that determine the development of a common uncommitted primordium (or an anlage) into an inflorescence or a tendril. However, to investigate the homology of tendrils and inflorescences in Vitaceae, evidence only from the highly derived grapevine is insufficient. Therefore, gene sequences of four key floral meristem genes, i.e., FUL, AP1, FT and LEAFY orthologs were obtained from transcriptome data of 14 Vitaceae species, the grapevine genome and the outgroup Leea guineensis. Additionally, expression patterns of these four genes were studied in leaves, tendrils, and inflorescences of five phylogenetically distinct Vitaceae species. Expression of the AP1 ortholog was only detected in the tendril and the inflorescence but not in the leaf for all species, indicating that the tendril is more like the inflorescence than the leaf and that the tendrils from these six species including grapevine are likely homologous. Meanwhile, expression of the LEAFY ortholog was found in the inflorescence but not in the tendril and leaf, suggesting that the LEAFY ortholog expression might play a role in determining whether an anlage develops into a tendril or an inflorescence. Based on combined evidence from the expression patterns of these four genes, the possible mechanisms on the evolution of tendrils are discussed.
Just-in-time staging of large input data for supercomputing jobs

High performance computing is facing a data deluge from state-of-the-art colliders and observatories. Large data-sets from these facilities, and other end-user sites, are often inputs to intensive analyses on modern supercomputers. Timely staging in of input data at the supercomputer's local storage can not only optimize space usage, but also protect against delays due to storage system failures. To this end, we propose a just-in-time staging framework that uses a combination of batch-queue predictions, user-specified intermediate nodes, and decentralized data delivery to coincide input data staging with job startup. Our preliminary prototype has been integrated with widely used tools such as the PBS job submission system, BitTorrent data delivery, and Network Weather Service network monitoring facility.
Patient Active Time During Therapy Sessions in Postacute Rehabilitation: Development and Validation of a New Measure.

Background and purpose: The accurate measurement of therapy intensity in postacute rehabilitation is important for research to improve outcomes in this setting. We developed and validated a measure...
Incremental clinical value of ultrasound in men with mammographically confirmed gynecomastia.

Abstract Purpose To determine whether ultrasound is of any value in male patients presenting with focal symptoms who have classic features of gynecomastia but no concerning findings on mammography. Materials and Methods Over a 3-year period, all male patients who underwent mammographic evaluation were identified in this retrospective study. Patients with a mammographic diagnosis of gynecomastia and subsequent breast ultrasound at a large tertiary academic medical center comprised the study cohort. Men whose ultrasound diagnosis differed from the initial mammographic evaluation were analyzed for both additional benign findings as well as findings that warranted biopsy. Results A total of 353 mammograms were obtained from 327 unique patients (ages 18–95, mean 51 years). Of all mammographic examinations, gynecomastia was the sole finding in 73% (259). In those 259 studies, 85% were further evaluated with ultrasound, in which 6 (2.7%) showed additional benign findings, and 4 (1.8%) showed suspicious findings for which biopsy was recommended. No malignancies were detected in those patients. Furthermore, no malignancies were detected in patients whose mammogram revealed only normal fatty parenchyma or only gynecomastia. In all cases of cancer, mammography revealed visible masses. Conclusion Judicious use of breast ultrasound in men improves outcome. Our data suggest that targeted ultrasound is of limited value in symptomatic male patients where mammography is negative or reveals only gynecomastia and leads to unnecessary benign biopsies in these patients. When mammography reveals concerning findings, ultrasound adds positively to clinical management.
Sociomicrobiology: the connections between quorum sensing and biofilms

In the past decade, significant debate has surrounded the relative contributions of genetic determinants versus environmental conditions to certain types of human behavior. While this debate goes on, it is with a certain degree of irony that microbiologists studying aspects of bacterial community behavior face the same questions. Information regarding two social phenomena exhibited by bacteria, quorum sensing and biofilm development, is reviewed here. These two topics have been inextricably linked, possibly because biofilms and quorum sensing represent two areas in which microbiologists focus on social aspects of bacteria. We will examine what is known about this linkage and discuss areas that might be developed. In addition, we believe that these two aspects of bacterial behavior represent a small part of the social repertoire of bacteria. Bacteria exhibit many social activities and they represent a model for dissecting social behavior at the genetic level. Therefore, we introduce the term 'sociomicrobiology'.
14-3-3ε and NAV2 interact to regulate neurite outgrowth and axon elongation

Neuron navigator 2 (NAV2) is required for all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) to induce neurite outgrowth in human neuroblastoma cells. Further, ectopic overexpression of full-length human NAV2 rescues an axonal elongation defect in the Caenorhabditis elegans unc-53 (NAV2 ortholog) mutant. Using a region of NAV2 that independently associates with the cytoskeleton as bait in a yeast-two-hybrid screen, 14-3-3e was identified as a novel NAV2 interacting partner. Amino acids 761-960 of NAV2 are sufficient to confer a positive interaction with 14-3-3e as evidenced by a two-hybrid screen and co-immunoprecipitation assay. Knockdown of 14-3-3e leads to a decrease in atRA-mediated neurite outgrowth, similar to the elongation defects observed when NAV2 is depleted or mutated. Likewise, posterior lateral microtubule (PLM) defects in C. elegans fed unc-53 RNAi are similar to those fed ftt-2 (14-3-3 homolog) RNAi. The discovery of an interaction between NAV2 and 14-3-3e could provide insight into the mechanism by which NAV2 participates in promoting cell migration and neuronal elongation.
Diffusion and mobility of electrically conducting defects in olivine

Electrical conductivity of lherzolite (65% olivine), measured as a function of time after changes in the oxygen fugacity (fo2) of the surrounding CO2/CO atmosphere, is used to infer the diffusivity of the point defects responsible for conduction in olivine. A total of 63 equilibration runs at temperatures of 900, 1000, 1100, and 1200 ∘C were fit using nonlinear parameter estimation to recover time constants (directly related to diffusivity) and conductivity steps. An observed fo2 dependence in the time constants associated with re-equilibration implies two defect species of fixed diffusivity but with fo2-dependent concentrations. Although the rate-limiting step may not necessarily be associated with a conducting defect, when time constants are converted to diffusivities, the magnitudes and activation energies agree extremely well with the model for magnesium vacancies (the slower species) and small polarons (holes localized on Fe3+) derived by Constable and Roberts (1997). This earlier study used an independent method of simultaneous modeling of thermopower and electrical conductivity as a function of fo2 and temperature, on data from a different type of sample (a dunite). We observe that at high fo2 where polarons dominate over magnesium vacancies in the defect population, re-equilibration is dominated by magnesium vacancy diffusion, and vice versa (at low fo2 magnesium vacancies dominate and re-equilibration proceeds at the faster rate associated with polaron mobility). We interpret this to suggest association between the cation vacancies and polarons, as has been suggested by Tsai and Dieckmann (1997), making the concentration of the minority defect the rate-limiting step in the oxidation/reduction reactions.
Major Advances in Milk Marketing: Government and Industry Consolidation

Federal dairy programs have been instituted to assist dairy farmers in marketing their milk. Milk marketing licenses were issued for city markets in 1933 during the depression. Federal Milk Orders replaced licenses in 1937 with enactment of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act. Low prices returned in the late 1940s and Congress passed the Agricultural Act of 1949 creating the support program for milk. Congressional involvement in milk marketing was minimal until passage of the 1977 Farm Bill. A support price adjustment to seek favorable political responses from farmers resulted in higher prices and ultimately higher production. Large expenditures and burdensome supplies caused Congress to make major changes to both programs. Other milk marketing programs have evolved from Congressional actions, including export and promotion programs. The exiting and consolidation of the dairy processors and producers has lead to a reduction in the number of marketing orders.
Magnesium sulfate protects oligodendrocyte lineage cells in a rat cell-culture model of hypoxic–ischemic injury

Hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in newborns results in serious damage. Magnesium sulfate has been clinically used as a cyto-protective agent against HI brain injury in newborns in some countries, including Japan. However, it is not clear how magnesium exerts this effect and how it acts on the individual types of cells within the newborn brain. In this study, we exposed cultured rat oligodendrocyte precursor cells to magnesium sulfate during the period when they differentiate into oligodendrocytes, and showed that magnesium-exposed oligodendrocytes exhibited more resistance to HI injury. Our data may support the use of magnesium sulfate in the clinical setting.
Medical students’ attitudes towards caring for patients with AIDS in a high incidence area

Second-year medical students (N = 174) at a medical school located in an area of high incidence for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were surveyed for their attitudes and perceived risk of different degrees of contact with AIDS patients. Fifty percent of the class were surveyed prior to a 60-minute lecture on the epidemiology of AIDS; the other half were surveyed immediately thereafter. Data were analyzed by multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance and logistic regression. The lecture had no measurable impact on students’ attitudes and perception of risk. More than 60% of students believed that drawing blood from an AIDS patient carried a moderate to high risk. More than 22% thought that performing a physical examination was associated with a moderate to high risk. Perceptions of risk associated with various types of patient contact generally correlated with views supporting the prerogative of declining care to AIDS patients. A large number of students expressed the view that physicians in private practice should have the prerogative of declining to care for new patients with AIDS (48.3%) and for longstanding patients who develop AIDS (41.4%) provided that care is insured elsewhere. Perception of risk correlated with choice of location of future residency training programs. These data suggest that medical students in the early years of training may have misperceptions of the risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection not corrected by merely receiving scientific facts. These misperceptions may influence both career choices and site of graduate training if not modified by subsequent corrective experiences in the third and fourth years of medical school.
Characterization of AgBiX™ Solder Paste on Thick Film for 200°C Applications

AgBiX™ (Indium Corporation) solder paste has a solidus temperature of ∼262°C after reflow, which is suitable for passive component, semiconductor and power die attach for 200°C applications. In this work, the paste has been used to assemble SiC die with Ti/Ni/Ag thin film metallization to Ag and PdAg thick film substrates. High temperature storage testing (200°C) was preformed to characterize the reliability of the assemblies. Surface mount chip resistors attached to thick film substrates were also subject to high temperature storage. Comparisons of the performance of die attach and resistor attach on Ag substrates and PdAg substrates are made. EDX and failure analysis was used to understand the role of Pd on the failure mode and lower aged shear strengths with the thick film PdAg conductors.