cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phagostimulant Effects of Simple Nutrients on Larval Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

We examined the influence of various crude and simple nutrient solutes on the rate of ingestion by larvae of the mosquito Culex pipiens L. of particulate solids filtered from ambient water. Various crude organic solutes and mosquito synthetic dietary medium, a mixture of about 40 pure nutrients, were strongly phagostimulatory. Of well-defined chemicals tested, only nucleic acids and yeast adenylic acid were strong phagostimulants. Among sugars tested, mannose, maltose, and sucrose were stimulants, but glucose, sorbose, fructose, galactose, and ribose had little or no effect or were slightly inhibitory. Several protein hydrolysates were phagostimulant. A mixture of the 20 amino acids used in synthetic diet was moderately stimulant, but when tested individually only arginine, aspartic acid, tryptophan, and tyrosine had significant stimulatory effects. Except for moderate stimulation by phosphate ion, most salts tested, variously comprising sodium, potassium, chloride, nitrate, and sulfate ions, were without effect at molarities of 0.05, except that calcium seemed phagoinhibitory. The effects of phosphates may have been partly a function of pH, since phosphate buffers were inhibitory below pH 6 and were stimulatory only at pH greater than 8. Omission of various classes of nutrient from otherwise complete diet had no effect except that omission of nucleotides in one experiment reduced ingestion rate appreciably. This suggests that strong stimulation by complex organic solute mixtures can be an additive effect of several individually moderate and weak phagostimulants. The ecological significance of dissolved nutrients acting as phagostimulants for an omnivorous filter feeder is discussed.
Prompt γ-rays emitted in the thermal-neutron induced fission of 233U and 239Pu

Abstract The average number and average energy of γ-rays emitted within ≈ 5 nsec after fission have been determined as functions of fragment mass and as functions of total kinetic energy. They were obtained from a four-parameter experiment that recorded, event-by-event, correlated of γ-rays and of fission-fragment pairs and the time, relative to fission, at which a γ-ray was detected. For 233 U(n th , f) the average total number and energy emitted per fission were found to be 6.31 ± 0.3 and 6.69 ± 0.3 MeV, respectively, giving an average photon energy of 1.06 ± 0.07 MeV. The results for 239 Pu(n th , f) given in the same order, are 6.88 ± 0.35,6.73 ± 0.35 MeV, and 0.98 ± 0.07 MeV.
The Case for Rebreathing Circuits for Very Small Animals

The objections to using adult circle systems on very small patients include increased resistance to breathing, mechanical dead space, and slow equilibration times. These objections warrant consideration before assuming that nonrebreathing systems have an inherent advantage for patients between 3 and 10 kg. The cost of anesthesia and the time taken to establish a desired anesthetic level are as important in determining which system to use for small animal patients. Based on the current evidence, it is acceptable to use adult circle rebreathing systems on healthy patients as small as 3 kg.
Improved bounds for algorithm-based fault tolerance

Lower and upper bounds are established for the combinatorial problem of constructing minimal test sets for error detection in multiprocessor systems. The construction for detecting two errors produces minimal test sets, while that for three errors produces test sets whose size exceeds the lower bound by at most one. Also presented is a divide-and-conquer construction scheme for four or more errors. >
Confucianism and the Economic Order of Taiwan

Among developing countries, the Republic of China in Taiwan (hereinafter Taiwan) has been experiencing economic growth accompanied by improving income distribution. Between 1964 and 1980, the average annual growth rate of the real gross national product was 9.92 per cent (Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD), 1982, p. 23). In the same period, the income ratio between the top 20 per cent and the bottom 20 per cent of families dropped from 5.33 to 4.17 and the Gini coefficient decreased from 0.36 to 0.30 (CEPD, 1982, p. 54; Directorate‐General of Budget Accounting and Statistics, 1980, (DGBAS), p. 44). To put it somewhat dif‐ferently, in 1964 the lowest fifth of households received 7.71 per cent of total personal income, and the highest fifth 41.07 per cent. But in 1980, the income share of the lowest fifth increased to 8.82 per cent while that of the highest fifth decreased to 36.80 per cent. The condition of greater equality in income distribution appears more obvious in the capital city of Taipei. In 1981, for instance, its Gini coefficient was estimated to be only 0.28 (Taipei Bureau of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, 1981, (TBBAS), P. 24).
Human N-Terminal proBNP Is a Monomer

The cardiac hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is synthesized in myocytes as a prepro 134-amino acid residue molecule. The 108-residue proBNP mature form of the hormone is proteolytically cleaved to a biologically active form of 32 amino acids (residues 77–108) and an N-terminal fragment (residues 1–76; NT-proBNP) with an as yet undefined biological function (1). Clinically, both BNP and NT-proBNP have shown great promise as secreted, bloodborne diagnostic markers of left ventricle dysfunction. Measurement of each is based on immunoassays; it therefore is likely that changes in the molecular form, e.g., posttranslational modifications, further proteolytic processing, and an oligomeric state for either analyte, could affect their measurements (2)(3)(4)(5). These types of confounding molecular issues are likely for many analytes, with the myocyte damage marker cardiac troponin I one of the better studied. In this case, the commercial assays use antibodies directed to different epitopes, making “universal” calibration and determination of absolute analyte concentration difficult (6). A previous report has indicated that NT-proBNP exists as a coiled-coil trimer, based on size-exclusion HPLC (SE-HPLC) of human, plasma-extracted material and a computer algorithm that predicts coiled-coils (7). I reinvestigated this claim on synthetic NT-proBNP, using the physicochemical techniques of analytical sedimentation, equilibrium ultracentrifugation, and circular dichroism (CD), and demonstrate that NT-proBNP is a monomer and not a trimer. NT-proBNP was produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis (AnaSpec, Inc.) and obtained as a gift from Dade-Behring (Newark, DE). I used N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry as quality assurance procedures. Edman sequencing (8) was performed by Midwest Analytical, Inc. on 2 Coomassie-stained Immobilon-PSQ (Sigma) NT-proBNP–containing membrane sections. The first 52 residues were positively identified, with no preview, before the signal was not discernable from background (data not shown). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (8) gave an experimental mass of …
The changing landscape of crack cocaine use and HIV infection

See related research article by DeBeck and colleagues, page [585][1] Use of crack cocaine was first recognized as a major public health problem in the United States two decades ago. It was quickly identified as a risk factor for HIV infection in association with high-risk sexual practices. [1][2]
Quantifying fire model evaluation using functional analysis

Comparisons of predictive fire models with each other or with experimental data have been largely qualitative. By treating these time series curves as infinite-dimensional vectors, a branch of mathematics called functional analysis defines geometrically meaningful operations on the curves. This allows lengths, angles, and distance between two arbitrary curves to be defined and quantified. An introduction to the theory and tools provided by functional analysis is presented. Examples of the application of these tools to fire model evaluation are presented.
Design and Applications of the Brookhaven 100 TW CO2 Laser

A peak power upgrade of the Brookhaven CO2 laser from 1 TW to the 100 TW level has commenced. Upgrade architecture and newly enabled experiments in the strong-field regime accessed by this laser are presented.
Studies in French Applied Linguistics edited by AYOUN, DALILA

The article reviews the book "Studies in French Applied Linguistics" edited by Dalila Ayoun.
Fragrance material review on dihydro-α-ionone

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of dihydro-α-ionone when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.
A nested Tobit analysis for a sequentially censored regression model

Abstract This paper proposes a nested Tobit analysis for a sequentially censored regression model. This model is useful for the design and analysis of multiple-step contingent valuation surveys. A consistent maximum likelihood estimation is proposed, and the proper log-likelihood function is derived.
Anal sphincter reconstruction in the elderly: does advancing age affect outcome?

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine whether advancing age affects outcome after anal sphincter reconstruction. METHOD: Anal sphincter reconstruction, performed on patients 55 years of age and older, was reviewed to determine if functional outcome was adversely affected by advancing age. A subgroup of patients was studied with anal manometry before and after repair and with pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) before surgery. Results were compared with a younger group of patients. RESULTS: Between July 1986 and July 1991, 14 patients, ages ranging from 55 to 81, underwent anal sphincter reconstruction using an overlapping muscle repair. Ten patients were incontinent of solid stool and four of liquid stool. Improvement was seen in 13 of 14 patients: 7 (50 percent) complete control, 3 (21 percent) incontinent to flatus, and 4 (29 percent) incontinent to liquid stools (including the patient who failed to improve). Ten patients were studied with a continuous pull-out manometric technique and PNTML: one was not improved. There was minimum change in mean maximum resting pressure (35.0–37.9 mmHg). Mean maximum squeezing pressure increased from 66 to 75 mmHg overall. Patients with complete control had a mean maximum squeezing pressure of 81 mmHg compared with 60 mmHg in patients with residual incontinence. Mean anterior anal sphincter length increased from 2.92 cm to 331 cm. PNTML was normal (2.0±0.2) on one or both sides in all nine patients who improved (average, 2.1). The patient who failed to improve had abnormal nerve function bilaterally (2.4, 2.7). CONCLUSION: Anal sphincter reconstruction can be performed in elderly patients with improvements in the majority of patients. Total control can be achieved by restoring maximum squeezing pressure in a patient with normal pudendal nerve function.
Photodynamic therapy stimulates anti-tumor immunity in a murine model

Cancer is a leading cause of death among modern peoples largely due to metastatic disease. The ideal cancer treatment should target both the primary tumor and the metastases with the minimal toxicity. This is best accomplished by educating the body's immune system to recognize the tumor as foreign so that after the primary tumor is destroyed, distant metastases will also be eradicated. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the IV administration of photosensitizers followed by illumination of the primary tumor with red light producing reactive oxygen species that cause vascular shutdown and tumor cell apoptosis. Anti-tumor immunity is stimulated after PDT due to the acute inflammatory response, priming of the immune system to recognize tumor-associated antigens (TAA), and induction of heat-shock proteins. The induction of specific CD8+ T lymphocyte cells that recognize major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) restricted epitopes of TAAs is a highly desirable goal in cancer therapy. We here report on PDT of mice bearing tumors that either do or do not express an established TAA. We utilized a BALB/c colon adenocarcinoma cell line termed CT26.CL25 retrovirally transduced to stably express b-galactosidase ( b-gal, a bacterial protein), and its non-b-gal expressing wild-type counterpart termed CT26 WT, as well as the control cell line consisting of CT26 transduced with the empty retroviral vector termed CT26-neo. All cells expressed class I MHC restriction element H-2Ld syngenic to BALB/c mice. Vascular PDT with a regimen of 1mg/kg BPD injected IV, and 120 J/cm2 of 690-nm laser light after 15 minutes successfully cured 100% of CT26.CL25 tumors but 0% of CT26-neo tumors and 0% of CT26 WT tumors. After 90 days tumor free interval the CT26.CL25 cured mice were rechallenged with CT26.CL25 tumor cells and 96% rejected the rechallenge while the CT26.CL25 cured mice did not reject a CT26 WT tumor cell challenge. Experiments with mice bearing two CT26.CL25 tumors (one in each leg) and only one tumor treated with PDT, showed that the immune response was strong enough to destroy an already established tumor in 70 of the mice and this effect was not seen with mice bearing two CT26 WT tumors. We expect these studies will lead to an understanding of the relevant determinants of immune response after PDT that could be rapidly applied to patient-selection and improvement in outcome for PDT for cancer.
5-Azacytidine and BDNF Enhance the Maturation of Neurons Derived from EGF-Generated Neural Stem Cells

Abstract EGF-generated neural stem cells can form astrocytes, neurons, and oligodendrocytes upon differentiation; however, the proportion of cells that actually form neurons is very small. In the present study, we have studied the effect that 5-azacytidine (5AzaC), a demethylation agent, and brain-derived growth factor (BDNF) have on the differentiation and maturation of neurons originating from EGF-generated neural stem cells. Stem cells were maintained under a variety of culture conditions using combinations of 5AzaC and BDNF either alone or together. More neurons, as determined by the number of β-tubulin III-immunoreactive somata, were present in cultures maintained in BDNF medium (a nearly fourfold increase compared to control cultures). 5AzaC did not significantly affect neuronal number, regardless of the presence of BDNF. In addition to neuronal number, the effect of 5AzaC and BDNF on the distribution of the microtubule proteins MAP2 and Tau was analyzed. In most cultures, MAP2 and Tau were colocalized throughout the neuron. In contrast, neurons cotreated with 5AzaC and BDNF contained neurons that began to exhibit cytoskeletal segregation of MAP2 into the somatodendritic compartments. Tau remained dispersed within the somata and the axon. This effect was not produced when 5AzaC or BDNF was used individually. These results demonstrate that 5AzaC and BDNF cooperate to produce more mature neurons from EGF-generated neural stem cells then either molecule can alone.
Public choice in the tertiary art market

InMaking the Mummies Dance, Thomas Hoving, former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, articulates a blistering defense of his, admittedly minority, view; namely, that trading directly with dealers when selling deaccessioned works of art or adding to museum collections is preferable to buying and selling in the open auction market (Hoving, 1992). Hoving has been severely criticized for his trades during his tenure at the Metropolitan, as well as for his assessment of the market for fine arts, which runs counter to the prevailing views held by many American public officials, professional art critics and museum boards. We shall present a theoretical model in support of Hoving's argument that trades made at auctions may not serve the public interest. We shall also statistically investigate the stochastic processes which characterize the tertiary art market.
Scattering of high energy deuterons by complex nuclei

Abstract Making use of the high energy approximation developed for quantum mechanical scattering problems largely by Glauber, the theory of the scattering of high energy deuterons by complex nuclei has been considered. The optical potential describing this process was constructed in terms of the nucleon-nucleon scattering amplitude. This potential contains central, spin-orbit, and tensor terms. A calculation was made of the angular distribution, the vector and tensor polarizations for the scattering of 420 Mev deuterons by carbon and compared with the experimental data of J. Button and R. Mermod.
Normal-superfluid interaction dynamics in a spinor bose gas

Coherent behavior of spinor Bose-Einstein condensates is studied in the presence of a significant uncondensed (normal) component. Normal-superfluid exchange scattering leads to near-perfect local alignment between the spin fields of the two components. We observe that, through this spin locking, spin-domain formation in the condensate is vastly accelerated as the spin populations in the condensate are entrained by large-amplitude spin waves in the normal component.
Migrating luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons and processes are associated with a substrate that expresses S100

Abstract Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) containing neurons arise in the region of the medial olfactory placode and migrate into the developing olfactory bulbs and basal forebrain along branches of the terminal and vomeronasal nerves. The neurons ultimately come to reside in olfactory and septo-preoptic areas and project extensively to several brain regions, including the preoptic area and median eminence. The present study examined the expression of a glial-associated guidance molecule, S100, as a possible substrate for this migration. Monodelphis domestica (the Brazilian grey, short-tailed opossum) was studied since this species gives birth to very immature young, allowing access to early periods of mammalian forebrain development. Immunoreactivity for both S100 and LHRH-containing neurons and fibers was observed to be closely associated along the entire LHRH migratory route from the vomeronasal organ to the septo-preoptic area as early as the day of birth (PO). By P10, S100-immunoreactivity was also seen in areas containing LHRH-immunoreactive fibers such as the preoptic area and median eminence. We suggest that S100, a protein with neurotrophic properties in vitro, acts as a guidance molecule for migrating LHRH-immunoreactive neurons and elongating processes.
Transgender Identity Development as Represented by a Group of Female-to-Male Transgendered Adults

This article represents work done in the discipline of nursing to raise awareness about the lives and experiences of transgendered persons, who receive little coverage in our nursing textbooks, professional journals, or student clinical experiences. The findings presented here are from a larger qualitative examination of the lives and experiences of a group of 11 transgendered adults that examined four broad areas: transgender identity recognition, acknowledgement, and development; bodily experiences; relationships with others; and health care experiences. The focus of this article is the relevant findings related to four participants in the study who identified as female-to-male (FTM), meaning they were born female-bodied, but identify as male. The highlight here is on the recognition, acknowledgement, and development of transgender identity. Our intention is to expose uninformed people to first-hand accounts by FTM transgendered persons about their life trajectories, particularly during childhood, adolescence, and the early adult years.
Actin-binding proteins of invasive malaria parasites and the regulation of actin polymerization by a complex of 32/34-kDa proteins associated with heat shock protein 70kDa

Movement of the malaria parasite into a host erythrocyte during invasion is thought to involve polymerization of parasite actin. We have used F-actin affinity chromatography to isolate actin-binding proteins from Plasmodium knowlesi merozoites, in an attempt to identify proteins responsible for regulating parasite actin polymerization during invasion. Five major proteins, of molecular masses 75, 70, 48, 40 and 34 kDa, were reproducibly eluted from the F-actin columns. The 70 kDa actin-binding protein was identified by tryptic peptide microsequencing as heat shock protein-70 kDa (HSC70); this identification was confirmed by Western blotting with anti-HSC70 antibody, and binding of the protein to ATP-agarose. A doublet of 32/34-kDa proteins coeluted with parasite HSC70 from the F-actin and ATP-agarose columns; a complex of these three proteins was also observed by gel filtration chromatography Highly enriched fractions containing the Plasmodium HSC70/32/34 complex inhibited the polymerization of rabbit skeletal muscle actin, in vitro. This capping activity was calcium-independent, and abrogated by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The average length of the actin filaments polymerized in presence of the HSC70/32/34-kDa complex was significantly shorter than in the absence of the complex, consistent with a capping activity. The capping or uncapping of actin filament ends by the HSC70/32/34-kDa complex during invasion could provide a mechanism for localized actin filament growth and movement of the parasite into the host cell.
A regularity theorem for deformations of a compact complex surface

Let ƒ:M →D ⊑C n be a holomorphic family of compact, complex surfaces, which is locally trivial onD∖Z, for an analytic subsetZ. Conditions are found under which ƒ extends trivially toD, if the fibers of ƒ¦D∖Z are either Hirzebruch surfaces (projective bundles overP 1), Hopf surfaces (elliptic bundles overP 1), hyperelliptic bundles, or any compact complex surface having one of these as minimal model under blowing-down. The results of this paper are motivated by the existence of non-Hausdorff moduli spaces in the deformation of complex structure for certain complex manifolds.
Engineer or technologists: A matter of degree? Part I: The first in a series, this article lays the groundwork for a comparison between the EE and the EET

The education you are getting is quite different from the training electrical and electronics engineers received 30 years ago. One reason is that technological advances have expanded the field to include many specialties. Engineers' training is much more specialized and theoretical than it was a generation ago. As the technology has grown in sophistication and business has become more complex, engineering teams have adapted by including not only more specialized EEs but also electrical/electronic technologists (EETs). With EETs to focus on practical problems, engineers can concentrate on analysis and design.
Student-Athlete Wellbeing and Persistence: An In-depth Look at Student-Athlete Perceptions

This study investigated student-athlete perceptions of wellbeing and intent to academically persist. The study employed quantitative and qualitative data queries. This paper reports findings from the qualitative data, revealing that the student-athletes: (a) recognized, albeit at times somewhat reluctantly, their role, responsibilities and agency regarding their academic progress, and instructional communications and relationships; (b) acknowledged reliance, appropriately so, on the Athletic Department in terms of assistance in understanding and compliance with NCAA rules, (c) were aware of and made at least limited use of institution-based academic content support services; and (d) saw and valued themselves as students and student-athletes.
CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY AGAINST BESNOITIA AND TOXOPLASMA IN SPECIFICALLY AND CROSS-IMMUNIZED HAMSTERS AND IN CULTURES

The capacity of hamster peritoneal cell populations to control viability and growth of Besnoitia and Toxoplasma organisms was assessed in vivo and in vitro. Immunized hamsters reduced the homologous organisms 100- to 10,000-fold over a 5-day period, but the heterologous infection increased 100- to 1,000-fold in numbers, similar as in the nonimmune controls. Passively administered antibody was ineffective although lytic cofactors were supplied by hamsters. In cultures, peritoneal cells from Besnoitia-immune hamsters delayed the growth of homologous parasites to an average of 38.5 h per division; however, in Toxoplasma-immune and nonimmune cells, Besnoitia divided every 12.8 h. Specificity of immunity was pronounced against both infections. With cross-infections, Toxoplasma-immune cultures did not effectively delay Besnoitia growth; however, Besnoitia-immune cultures reduced Toxoplasma growth by one-half. Co-cultivation experiments demonstrated that specifically committed lymphocytes could instruct macrophages to reduce the homologous organism 10-fold, whereas heterologous organisms were reduced only 2-fold. Lymphocyte supernatants initiated hypersensitivity as indicated by macrophage activation and giant cell formation in culture. However, these supernatants did not transfer infection immunity. Lymphokines could account for the hypersensitivity phenomena, but cell-mediated infection immunity in this model required close lymphocyte-macrophage proximity. These studies indicate that a number of distinct processes including delayed hypersensitivity, macrophage activation, and specific cellular immunity are acting simultaneously during latent Besnoitia infection of hamsters. All three processes are mediated by lymphoid cells and appear to be specifically induced. Although activated macrophages develop some heightened nonspecific capabilities, these were several orders of magnitude below the specific effects.
Studies on the pathogenesis of acute inflammation. II. The action of cortisone on the inflammatory response to thermal injury.

The anti-inflammatory action of cortisone upon the acute cellular response to thermal injury has been systematically studied in the rabbit ear chamber. The hormone has been shown to suppress the reaction of acute inflammation in its earliest recognizable phase; i.e., that involving vasodilatation and the adherence of leucocytes to the vascular endothelium. Evidence has been presented that the anti-inflammatory effect of the hormone cannot be explained on the basis of its vasoconstrictive properties alone. The experimental observations support the hypothesis that cortisone exerts a direct protective action upon endothelial cells and leucocytes, and that in so doing, it renders them refractory to the tissue products which initiate inflammation.
Resilience of Nurses in the Face of Disaster.

Objective On April 27, 2011, the state of Alabama encountered a horrific day of tornados that left a trail of damage throughout the state. The city of Tuscaloosa was devastated by an EF-4 that resulted in many victims and casualties. Druid City Hospital in Tuscaloosa had a massive inflow of victims with both mild and major injuries. When disasters such as this occur, nurses must respond with efficiency and effectiveness to help as many victims as possible. However, little is known about the psychological effects of disasters on nurses and how these impact nurses both personally and professionally. Because resilience can directly impact how a nurse responds to a situation, this article aimed to examine the resilience levels of nurses working during the disaster. Methods This study was part of a larger study examining the needs of nurses both before and after disasters. Ten nurses were interviewed and completed a 10-item survey on resilience, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The full range of scores on this scale is from 0 to 40, with higher scores reflecting greater resilience. Results In this survey of 10 nurses, the scores ranged from 33 to 40, with a mean score of 36.7. Conclusions The nurses who were interviewed and completed the survey possessed a high level of resilience. More research should be done on the causes of increased resilience in nurses after disasters. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:601–604)
Power factor improvement of synchronous reluctance motors (SynRM) using permanent magnets for drive size reduction

The performance of a synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM) depends on the direct-axis inductance (L d ) and the quadrature-axis inductance (L q ) of the machine. Increasing the saliency ratio L d /L q and making the difference between these inductances (L d −L q ) large are well known methods for achieving high torque density and power factor. Placing the right amount of permanent magnets inside the rotor in the proper position will significantly improve the performance of this permanent magnet-assisted SynRM (PMa-SynRM). The PMa-SynRM offers higher power factor, which will reduce the size of the inverter. This study investigates the effect of Ferrite and NdFeBr permanent magnets on a 1.5kW SynRM, which has the capability of holding block shape magnets inside one of the rotor air barriers. Analytical analysis and finite element analysis (FEA) are used to compare the use of Ferrite against NdFeBr. Finally, the effects that using high or low cost magnets have on machine power factor and output performance have been studied.
Professionalizing Midwifery: Exploring Medically Imagined Labor Rooms in Rural Rajasthan

In India, globalized flows of biomedical discourse like evidence-based delivery practices (EBDs) and new technologies are reshaping the field of reproductive health care. As iterations of evidence-based medicine shift, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) increasingly act as distributive agents for biomedical projects that equate modernized health care spaces and provider-care techniques with a marked improvement in the safety of birth outcomes. In this article, I examine how particular local iterations of EBDs are distributed to skilled birth attendants (SBAs) who have become sites for globalized projects aimed at reshaping their professional designation. I draw on data collected through in-depth ethnographic interviews with SBAs practicing in health centers around southern Rajasthan to explore the dynamics and tensions surrounding the professionalization of midwives and the increasing promotion of EBDs in institutional labor rooms.
Experiences in the application of customer-based metrics in improving software service quality

A discussion is presented of experiences with the use of customer-based measures of software service quality and the resulting quality measurement and improvement system required to support these measures. The customer-based metrics become the heart of a system which employs various quality improvement techniques-quality function deployment, root cause analysis, and defect prevention. The software service examined is the delivery and application of software loads to digital central telephone office customers. The general methodology discussed is applicable to other service areas. >
Transient and steady-state auditory gamma-band responses in first-degree relatives of people with autism spectrum disorder

Background Stimulus-related γ-band oscillations, which may be related to perceptual binding, are reduced in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The purpose of this study was to examine auditory transient and steady-state γ-band findings in first-degree relatives of people with ASD to assess the potential familiality of these findings in ASD.
Utilization of isoleucine isomers and analogs by chicks

Abstract Two chick growth assays were conducted using chemically defined diets to determine utilization of the isoleucine (ILE) isomers (D-ILE, D-allo-ILE and L-allo-ILE) and keto analogs of ILE (L- and DL-α-keto-β-methylvaleric acid, DL-KMV) relative to L-ILE. In experiment 1, the efficacy of D-allo-ILE was 59.7% while D-ILE and L-allo-ILE had no bioactivity. Plasma allo-ILE was highest in chicks fed L-allo-ILE, lower in those fed D-ILE and lower still in those fed D-allo-ILE. Allo-ILE was not detected in plasma of chicks fed L-ILE or L-KMV. Allo-ILE was present in liver and muscle of chicks fed D-ILE and L-allo-ILE and in muscle of chicks fed D-allo-ILE. L-KMV had 87% of the growth-promoting activity of L-ILE. No significant amount of allo-ILE was detected in plasma or tissues of chicks fed L-KMV. These results indicate that the capacity of ILE and KMV to exhibit ILE activity is dependent upon configuration around the β-carbon and is not due to the lack of transaminative capacity. The effect of excess branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) or branched-chain keto acids (BCKA) on DL-KMV utilization was evaluated in experiment 2. Growth efficacy (relative to L-ILE) of DL-KMV was decreased from 48.6% to 40.7% when excess BCAA were in the diet but efficacy was not affected by excess BCKA.
New Compounds: Nucleosides Derived from D-Glycero-D-Gulo-heptose

The preparation of new nucleosides derived from D- glycero -D- gulo -heptose are described. These nucleosides are distinguished from the naturally occurring nucleosides by their seven carbon chain and pyranose ring. The configurations and anomeric purity of these compounds are unknown.
The Spectacle of Plains: Public Evidence, Personal Invention, and the Painting of Roger Brown

In late March, 1977, in the midst of mocking jabs at the televised Nixon interviews, the U.S. Postal service, and genetic engineering, Chicago Tribune cartoonist Wayne Stayskal fired off one quick frame on the plight of newly elected President Jimmy Carter's hometown of Plains, Georgia. The cartoon presented a group of typically chunky, grinning Stayskal characters awkwardly bumping along with a pack of hounds before a solitary wooden shanty labeled “PLAINS.” As they jog along, the guide looks back from his straining hounds to drawl, “Hot dang… th'ar on Billy's trail ag'in folks!” Stayskal's cartoon clearly stemmed from a front page article in the Tribune of the previous day. Entitled “Tourists, Fear Rout Billy Out of Plains,” the story explained how fear for his family's safety in the suddenly popular small town had finally forced Billy Carter to move to an even more remote location several miles away. Yet while this was quite obviously the impetus behind this cartoon, the short notice of Billy's intended retreat from Plains was actually just one of many media references to the changing character of the town in the wake of his older brother's victories at the polls. Beginning in the spring of the previous year as Jimmy Carter suddenly emerged to gain the Democratic presidential nomination, Plains had risen just as rapidly to become the most famous small town in America. And at the peak of its early notoriety in 1977, Roger Brown characterized what this really meant for the town in a complex painting entitled Two Couples Viewing the Spectacle of Erosion at Providence Canyon Near Plains, Georgia (figure 1).
Effect of O Acetylation of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup A Capsular Polysaccharide on Development of Functional Immune Responses

The importance of O-acetyl groups to the immunogenicity of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A polysaccharide (PS) was examined in studies using human sera and mouse immunization. In 17 of 18 postimmunization human sera, inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay indicated that the majority of antibodies binding to serogroup A PS were specific for epitopes involving O-acetyl groups. Studies with mice also showed an essential role for O-acetyl groups, where serum bactericidal titers following immunization with de-O-acetylated (de-O-Ac) conjugate vaccine were at least 32-fold lower than those following immunization with O-Ac PS-conjugate vaccine and 4-fold lower than those following immunization with native capsular PS. Inhibition studies using native and de-O-Ac PS confirmed the specificity of murine antibodies to native PS. The dramatic reduction in immunogenicity associated with removal of O-acetyl groups indicates that O acetylation is essential to the immunogenic epitopes of serogroup A PS. Since levels of bactericidal antibodies are correlated with protection against disease, O-acetyl groups appear to be important in protection.
Genome-wide identification and predictive modeling of tissue-specific alternative polyadenylation

Motivation: Pre-mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation are essential steps for 3 0 -end maturation and subsequent stability and degradation of mRNAs. This process is highly controlled by cis-regulatory elements surrounding the cleavage/polyadenylation sites (polyA sites), which are frequently constrained by sequence content and position. More than 50% of human transcripts have multiple functional polyA sites, and the specific use of alternative polyA sites (APA) results in isoforms with variable 3 0 -untranslated regions, thus potentially affecting gene regulation. Elucidating the regulatory mechanisms underlying differential polyA preferences in multiple cell types has been hindered both by the lack of suitable data on the precise location of cleavage sites, as well as of appropriate tests for determining APAs with significant differences across multiple libraries. Results: We applied a tailored paired-end RNA-seq protocol to specifically probe the position of polyA sites in three human adult tissue types. We specified a linear-effects regression model to identify tissue-specific biases indicating regulated APA; the significance of differences between tissue types was assessed by an appropriately designed permutation test. This combination allowed to identify highly specific subsets of APA events in the individual tissue types. Predictive models successfully classified constitutive polyA sites from a biologically relevant background (auROC ¼ 99.6%), as well as tissue-specific regulated sets from each other. We found that the main cis-regulatory elements described for polyadenylation are a strong, and highly informative, hallmark for constitutive sites only. Tissue-specific regulated sites were found to contain other regulatory motifs, with the canonical polyadenylation signal being nearly absent at brain-specific polyA sites. Together, our results contribute to the understanding of the diversity of post-transcriptional gene regulation. Availability: Raw data are deposited on SRA, accession numbers: brain SRX208132, kidney SRX208087 and liver SRX208134. Processed datasets as well as model code are published on our website:
Sedimentation in a blast-zone lake at Mount St. Helens, Washington—Implications for varve formation

Sediment collected in traps in a newly formed lake in the blast-impact area at Mount St. Helens recorded a sediment yield that is about two orders of magnitude greater than for comparable basins with vegetation and similar precipitation. Most sediment was mobilized by storms and runoff at the onset of the wet season. The sedimentation response to strongly seasonal precipitation, in the absence of vegetation, produced turbidites and graded annual couplets. The style of sedimentation suggests an alternate mechanism for the formation of long sequences of graded clastic varves.
Numerical calculation of electromagnetic properties including chirality parameters for uniaxial bianisotropic media

Through the use of conductive straight wires or coils the electromagnetic properties of a composite material can be modified. The asymmetric geometry of the coils creates an overall chiral response. The polarization vectors rotate as an electromagnetic wave travels through such a medium. To calculate the chirality of a medium prior to its manufacturing, we developed a method to extract all four electromagnetic material parameter tensors for a general uniaxial bianisotropic composite based on the numerical simulation of the electromagnetic fields. Our method uses appropriate line and surface field averages in a single unit cell of the periodic structure of the composite material. These overall field quantities have physical meaning only when the microscopic variation of the electromagnetic fields in the scale of the unit cell is not important, that is when the wavelength of interest is significantly larger than the maximum linear dimension of the unit cell. The overall constitutive relations of the periodic structure can then be obtained from the relations among the average quantities.
The elevation of cerebral histamine-N-and catechol-O-methyl transferase activities by L-methionine-dl-sulfoximine.

— The administration of the convulsant, l-methionine-dl-sulfoximine (MSO), increased histamine N-methyl transferase (E.C. 2.1.1.8) (HMT) activity in rat and mouse brain and, to a lesser extent, catechol-O-methyl transferase (E.C. 2.1.1.6) (COMT) activity in rat brain. The duration of this effect was shortened by co-administration of l-methionine. The increased HMT activity was seen in 5 or 7 rat brain regions tested. l-Methionine administration had no effect on the activity of either enzyme. Partially purified HMT preparations from rat or guinea-pig brain exhibited no alterations in activity after the in vitro addition of MSO or l-methionine over a wide range of histamine and S-adenosyl-l-methionine concentrations. Rat brain COMT was equally unaffected by MSO and l-methionine. The in vitro inhibition of HMT and COMT by S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine was the same whether tested on preparations derived from MSO-treated or control animals. The data are discussed with respect to the possible involvement of aberrant methylation processes in the MSO-induced seizure.
Association of socio-demographic factors and parental education with depressive symptoms among older African Americans and Caribbean Blacks

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine ethnic variation in the relationship between individual socio-demographic factors, parental educational level, and late-life depressive symptoms in older African Americans and Caribbean Blacks. Method: This cross-sectional study used data from the National Survey of American Life. A subsample of older African Americans (N = 837) and Caribbean Blacks (N = 271) was analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results: Findings suggest differences in predictors of depressive symptoms for the two ethnic groups. Among older African Americans, lower educational attainment and lower income were predictive risk factors for higher depressive symptoms. Findings among older Caribbean Blacks suggest that nativity and income were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. This study did not find support for any association between parental education and late-life depressive symptoms. Conclusion: This study adds new information by considering ethnic variation ...
Sliding of Frictionally Held Incoherent Interfaces Under Dynamic Shear Loading

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the nature of dynamic rupture caused by shear loading, through impact, of interfaces which are held together by friction under external pressure. The dynamic stress field developed during rupture propagation was recorded in real time by a high-speed camera in conjunction with a classical dynamic photoelasticity set-up. Visual evidences of different dynamic propagating rupture modes were recorded. Unlike classical shear cracks in coherent interfaces of finite strength, rupture in frictional interfaces seems to grow without noticeable acceleration phases and at various discreet speeds. At low impact velocities a crack-like rupture mode occurs which becomes super-shear with the increase of the impact speed and a shear Mach cone emanates from the rupture point. For higher impact speeds super-shear and super-sonic Mach lines are observed formatting an unstable slip pulse which subsequently vanishes whereas evidences for extended stick and slip regions are recorded. Increasing the external applied pressure the observed features are intensified.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Application of Electromagnetic Acoustic Emission on an Aluminum Plate with Crack

Modulated electromagnetic field can excite ultrasonic field in metal structures, and at the crack peak, high frequency acoustic waves are generated and can be named as acoustic emission. The features of the wave can be influenced by the crack sizes, excitation signals, excitation voltage, etc. An experimental system was set up to study the correlation between signals and influencing factors. After building a model, the electric current field, electromagnetic forces field and deformation distribution field were obtained on ANSYS platform. Experiments were carried out to verify the validity and the repeatability. The high frequency component decoded from the AE waveforms represented the existence of the crack. doi: 10.12783/SHM2015/7
What Exactly is 'Extraterritorial Application' of a Statute?

Much comment has been devoted to the recent US Supreme Court decisions in Morrison v. National Australia Bank and Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum concering the "presumption against extraterritorial application" of United States statutes. Very little has been devoted to the problem of defining "extraterritorial application of a statute" for the purpose of deciding when the presumption applies, and needs to be overcome. After addressing the problem of extraterritoriality of crimes and civil cause of action in common law and US history, this piece proposes the following template for defining when a crime or cause of action is "extraterritorial" for purposes of bringing the presumption into play, and when the presumption should be overcome:If a federal statute declares certain acts to be bad or prohibited, and certain results of acts to be wrongful, the application of the statute remains in the core of US lawmaking authority if either an act-element or a result-element of a crime or cause of action occurs in the US. The presumption against extraterritoriality, then, would come into play when no element occurs in the US. Once the presumption is invoked, it can be overcome only if there is clear evidence of congressional intent that the statute should be applied in the given circumstances.On this template, Morrison was correctly decided, though the presumption should not have been invoked. Kiobel, by contrast, was an appropriate case for using the presumption.This model of what is "extraterritorial application" of a statute for purposes of the presumption would make it easier for persons acting outside the United States to understand when their actions will be governed by US law.
Recreational displacement and overall satisfaction: a study of central Iowa's licensed boaters.

Data were collected from a stratified random sample of boat owners in eight contiguous counties in central Iowa to examine the extent to which recreational displacement from Red Rock Reservoir in c...
Pollen competition in style: Effects of pollen size on siring success in the hermaphroditic common morning glory, Ipomoea purpurea

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Pollen size varies greatly among flowering plant species and has been shown to influence the delivery of sperm cells to the eggs. Relatively little is known, however, about the functional significance of within-species genetic variation in pollen size. This study tests whether pollen size influences the relative siring success of a pollen donor during in vivo pollen competition experiments. METHODS We used two groups of Ipomoea purpurea plants genetically divergent in their pollen sizes and applied equal number of pollen grains from one large-pollen and one small-pollen donor onto the same stigma. Using microsatellite genetic markers, we identified the pollen parent of each of the resulting progeny to determine the relative siring success of the competing donors. Competitions between donors of equal-sized pollen served as a control. KEY RESULTS Differences in pollen size significantly affected the relative siring success of a pollen donor; larger-grained individuals outcompeted smaller-grained competitors but not equal-sized competitors. Relative siring success, however, sometimes varied across different pollen recipients. CONCLUSIONS Pollen size can influence the relative siring success of different individuals competing on the same stigma during postpollination processes. However, other factors, such as pollen-pistil interaction and environmental conditions, are likely to influence these competitions as well.