cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vibrational effects with excitation transfer in metastable rare-gas-halide collisions

Abstract Collisions of Ar(3P2.0) and Kr(3P2.0) with Cl2 and Br2 were studied over the collision energy range 0.01–0.5 eV, using a crossed-beam time-of-flight technique. The dependence of the total chemiluminescence cross sections (from excimer formation plus excitation transfer) on collision energy follows the behavior expected from the orbiting-controlled curve-crossing model. The energy dependence for excitation transfer does not follow this model, and is quite different for Cl2 versus Br2. These results are explained by a phase-matching curve-crossing model, in terms of the A−/X2− trajectory motion and the phase of the X2− vibrational motion.
Splenic and inguinal lymph node T cells of aged mice respond differently to polyclonal and antigen-specific stimuli.

Abstract Numerous changes have been reported to occur in T cell responsiveness of mice with increasing age. However, most of these studies have examined polyclonal stimulation of spleen cells from a limited number of mouse strains. This study investigated the influence of genetic background, source of lymphocytes, and type of stimulus on age-associated changes in T cells response. Con A-induced proliferation and IL-2 and IFN-γ production by splenic lymphocytes (SL) was significantly greater in CBA/Ca mice compared to C57BL/6 mice, regardless of age. SL of both strains exhibited the predicted age-dependent decline in proliferative response and an increase in IFN-γ production in response to Con A. In contrast, however, only SL from C57BL/6 mice demonstrated the predicted age-dependent decline in Con A-induced IL-2 production; Con A-induced SL of young and aged CBA/Ca mice produced comparable amounts of IL-2. Differences in age-associated responses to Con A were also observed between SL and inguinal lymph node (ILN) cells of CBA/Ca mice. In contrast to SL, ILN cells demonstrated an increased proliferative response to Con A. However, lymphokine production by Con A-stimulated ILN cells from aged CBA/Ca mice was similar to that of Con A-stimulated SL from aged CBA/Ca mice. To determine if aged ILN T cells respond similarly to polyclonal and antigen-specific stimuli, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) responses of T cells isolated from ILN of aged and young CBA/Ca mice were examined. KLH-specific T cells from aged mice cultured with KLH-pulsed macrophages (Mφ) from aged mice were significantly reduced in their ability to proliferate compared to KLH-specific T cells of young mice cultured with young KLH-pulsed Mφ. In contrast to the expected results, the defect was not at the level of the T cells; proliferation of young T cells cultured with aged KLH-pulsed Mφ was equivalent to the proliferation of aged T cells cultured with aged Mφ. These results suggest that aging has differential effects on polyclonal and antigen-specific T cell proliferation and on polyclonal stimulation of T cells isolated from different lymphoid organs and from different Strains of mice.
PROSPECTIVE MSAFP SCREENING FOR DOWN SYNDROME: THE BAYLOR EXPERIENCE

After the initial reports of the association of fetal trisomy 21 with low maternal serum alpha fetoprotein (MSAFP) levels in retrospective studies in 1984, we began using low MSAFP levels as a means of screening for an increased risk of Down syndrome using reagents from Clinical Assays. In 1985, a total of 4929 women were screened, of whom 312 (6.3%) had an initial low MSAFP levels. Of these women, 217 (70%) had levels below the level of reliability of the assay and all but 33 had normal levels on repeat 1-2 weeks later. None of these women had a fetus or infant with trisomy 21 by amniocentesis or at birth. Ninety-five women (1.9%) had levels below half the median. Of these women, 12 had persistently low levels on repeat. A total of 21 amniocenteses were done in this group. Three fetuses with trisomy 21 and one fetus with trisomy 18 were detected, a rate of 7.1% fetal trisomy among those women who had amniocentesis for low MSAFP levels. No cases of trisomy 21 were missed. Thus far in 1986, over 10,000 women have been screened. The rate of fetal trisomy in amniotic fluid is about 3%. One infant with trisomy 21 is known to have been missed.
Treatment of memory loss with herbal remedies.

Increased rates of dementia throughout the world are creating an emergent need for successful preventive and treatment strategies. Despite a lack of any significant scientific basis, herbal remedies and other types of “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM) are being aggressively marketed for both prophylactic and therapeutic effects in regard to memory disorders. In the past few years, a small number of controlled studies have explored the effectiveness of some of the more popular herbal and CAM remedies, including gingko biloba, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, and omega-3 fatty acids. To date, the bulk of evidence suggests that such approaches are not successful in preventing or delaying cognitive decline or dementia, and there is little reason to prescribe these remedies for the treatment of established cognitive impairment. Some very preliminary evidence suggests that Gingko biloba may be useful in treating behavioral problems in demented people. It is likely that the absence of regulatory controls on the sale of herbal and CAM preparations will foster continued use of these agents and perhaps even accelerated use as the dementia epidemic increases, assuming no imminent breakthroughs in pharmacotherapy.
The Carboxyl Terminal Domain of Phosducin Functions as a Transcriptional Activator

Abstract In previous work, we identified a set of phosducin (Phd) isoforms with unknown function including the phosducin (Phd)-like orphan protein 1 (PhLOP1), an amino terminal truncated isoform of the retinal Phd lacking the Gβγ binding domain. To investigate the potential biological function of PhLOP1, PhLOP1 was fused at its amino terminus with the DNA binding domain (BD) of the yeast transcriptional factor, GAL4, and used as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen. Two potential functional protein partners were identified during the screen: SUG1, a subunit of the 26S proteasome and a putative transcriptional mediator, and CRX, a retina- and pineal-specific transcription factor. Upon localizing the interacting domain of PhLOP1 with one of the new partners, SUG1, we found that a domain of 40 amino acids at the carboxyl terminus of Phd and PhLOP1 had intrinsic transcriptional activation activity in yeast. The transactivation activity was further confirmed in mammalian cells. This region contains an acidic domain that has been shown to be involved in the function of several transcriptional activators. In addition, we showed that Phd is cytoplasmic while PhLOP1 is localized predominantly to the nucleus when fused to an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and transiently expressed in transfected cells, suggesting that PhLOP1 may play a distinct functional role in transcriptional regulation independent of the known Phd interaction/regulation of Gβγ transduction.
Increased CO2 levels

Developing countries will play an increasing role in determining the future of atmospheric carbon dioxide, but the Soviet Union, the United States, and the People's Republic of China are mainly responsible for C02 increases. That's the latest word on atmospheric carbon dioxide as presented at one of three Union sessions at the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, earlier this month. The session summarized a 1-year Department of Energy study, conducted by the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, that investigated a variety of possible global effects. Although some of the conclusions are similar to those reached several years ago, namely, that by the year 2050, C02 levels will approach 600 parts per million, or double that of the late 1980s, this Union session was the most comprehensive and detailed presentation of the problem, according to William W. Kellogg of the Aspen Institute and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The session included discussions of the possible consequences of such an increase, of the research needs of the problem, and of the uncertainties that cloud scientific measurement.
Surgical Management of Chylothorax

BACKGROUND: Chylothorax remains an uncommon but challenging clinical problem. Thoracic duct ligation is the treatment of choice for postsurgical patients. However, the optimal treatment for traumatic patients is unclear. We wanted to examine the outcomes of patients with high output or recurrent chylothorax who were treated by surgical means. METHODS: From December 1992 to April 2008, 29 patients underwent surgical procedures for high output (> 1 L/day) (16) or recurrent chylothorax (13). We analyzed these patients to determine the surgical approach, perioperative complications, and outcomes of the treatment approach. RESULTS: Of the 29 patients, 12 patients developed chylothorax following esophagectomy, in 5 patients it resulted from lymphoproliferative disorders, in 2 patients following ascending aneurysm repair, in 2 after trauma, in 3 following lung resection, and in 1 patient respectively from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), thymectomy for thymoma, vasculitis, and metastatic lung cancer, while 1 patient had no clear etiology. The median age of patients was 61 (range 20-79) years. 22 patients initially underwent thoracic duct ligation, 6 had talc pleurodesis, and one underwent bilateral pleuroperitoneal shunt placement. Approaches for thoracic duct ligation included: right thoracotomy (16), left thoracotomy (3), VATS (2), and right thoracotomy together with laparotomy (1). There were no intraoperative complications or deaths within 30 days or during postoperative hospitalization. The success rate after initial thoracic duct ligation was 95 % (21/22). One patient needed re-exploration after ligation with resolution of chylothorax after the second operation. The success rate after pleurodesis was 83 % (5/6). One patient after pleurodesis needed subsequent thoracic duct ligation for resolution of bilateral chylothoraces. All patients in this series had resolution of chylothorax. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic duct ligation is the treatment of choice for high output or recurrent chylothorax with a 96 % success rate. Surgical pleurodesis is effective in some cases and may be an option for marginal patients.
Detection of one-, two-, and three-dimensional Markov constraints in visual displays

Abstract One-, two- and three-dimensional Markov constraints were introduced into visual displays by a common method. To obtain three-dimensional displays, two-dimensional spatially-encoded displays were presented successively in time. Following random initialization, all additional display elements were generated by rule. With non-probabilistic rules, sequences with horizontal (X) constraint, or with vertical (Y) constraint, alone were easily detected. Sequences with temporal (T) constraint alone, and with two-dimensional constraints in XY, XT, and YT, also were detected. Three-dimensional XYT constraints, however, could only be detected at chance level. Discrimination thresholds with probabilistic rules also show the relative superiority of one- over two-dimensional constraints. One- and two-dimensional constraints in T are sensitive to the rate of presentation of successive displays, whether memory is carried by the display or by the eye.
Social Workers' Attitudes Toward Parents of Children in Child Protective Services: Evaluation of a Family-Focused Casework Training Program

ABSTRACT Recent concerns regarding permanence for foster children have inspired child welfare agencies to re-focus more of their efforts on biological parents as permanent resources for children in care. The social work field has responded to this situation with family-focused training for frontline staff; one such curriculum is the Family Development Credential (FDC). Tools exist for evaluating FDC trainees' retention of material and ability to integrate FDC concepts into practice. However, the transformative nature of the program (i.e., the way in which FDC training is associated with participants' family-focused attitudes towards clients) has not previously been measured. FDC-trained and non-FDC-trained child protection workers (N = 251) in one state completed a vignette study that tapped their attitudes toward the parents of children involved in child protective services. No difference in family-focused attitudes emerged between the two groups. Implications for practice and suggestions for further res...
Fracturing Pressures And Near-Well Fracture Geometry Of Arbitrarily Oriented And Horizontal Wells

The hydraulic fracturing of arbitrarily oriented and horizontal wells is made challenging by the far more complicated near-well fracture geometry compared to that of conventional vertical wells. This geometry is important both for hydraulic fracture propagation and the subsequent post-treatment well performance. Fracture tortuosity of arbitrarily oriented and horizontal wells is likely to cause large initiation pressures and reduction in the fracture widths. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the effects of important variables, including the principal stresses, wellbore orientation, and perforation configuration on fracture geometry. Initiation pressures, the contact between arbitrarily oriented wells and the fracture plane, and the near-well fracture geometry are determined and discussed. This study also shows that because of the near-well stress concentration the fracture width at the wellbore is always smaller than the maximum fracture width. This can have important consequences during hydraulic fracturing.
Promotional Products: Adding Tangibility to Your Nonprofit Promotions

SUMMARY Promotional products have become a very important part of the promotional communication tools used by non-profits, with 2000 sales to the industry of almost $500 million. The strengths and weaknesses of the medium are discussed and winning examples of various non-profit promotions in the areas of fundraising, donor recognition, organizational awareness, member recruitment, event promotion and behavior modification programs.
Interspecific Territoriality by a Rufous‐Tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl): Effects of Intruder Size and Resource Value1

I studied two aspects of interspecific territoriality in a Costa Rican nectarivorous bird, the rufous-tailed hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl). First, I examined variation in the response of the territory holder to four species of intruding hummingbirds by quantifying the proportion of intruders chased from the territory. This measure of territory defense varied significantly among species of intruders and was negatively related to the intruding species’body mass, possibly due to potential costs associated with becoming involved in escalated contests with larger individuals. Second, I tested for an effect of resource manipulation on territory defense. I increased the resource value of the territory by injecting extant natural flowers with artificial sucrose solution. While the frequency of territorial intrusions did not change, the proportion of intruders chased by the territory holder increased. Apparently, nectar supplementation changed the territory holder's perception of resource value but had little impact on the intruders’perception. RESUMEN Estudie dos aspectos de territorialidad interespecie en un colibri nectarivoro de Costa Rica-el Amazilia Rabirrufa (Amazilia tzacatl). Lo primero, estudie la variacion en la reaccion del poseedor del territorio a cuatro especies de colibris intrusos por cuantificando la proporcion de intrusos que estaban echado fuera del territorio. Esta medida de defensa del territorio vario significativamente entre especies de intrusos, y estaba relacionada negativamente en el peso del intruso, posiblemente debiendo al costo potencial asociado con la posibilidad de competiciones agravando con individuos mas grande. Segundo, busque un efecto en los niveles de defensa con la manipulacion de recursos en un territorio. Aumente los recursos en el territorio por inyecciones de una sucrosa artificial en las flores naturales. La frecuencia de los intrusiones territoriales no cambio, pero la proporcion de intrusos echaron fuera del territorio aumento. Aparentemente, el nectar suplementario cambio la percepcion del valor del territorio para el poseedor del territorio, pero no para los intrusos.
Facilitation of responses to AMPA but not kainate by cyclothiazide in primate somatosensory thalamus

Abstract This study examines the possibility of multiple ionotropic non- N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the chief sensory nuclei of the primate thalamus. Cyclothiazide, an antagonist of rapid desensitization of non-NMDA receptors, is shown to produce a facilitation of responses to the synthetic agonist (±)- α -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) but not kainate or NMDA in cells of the ventral posterior lateral and medial thalamic nuclei in the anesthetized monkey. These differential effects suggest the presence of multiple ionotropic non-NMDA excitatory amino acid receptors in the primate ventral posterior (VP) thalamus. Cyclothiazide-sensitive excitatory amino acid receptors have important roles in mechanisms of plasticity and excitotoxicity in other neural systems and so may mediate similar mechanisms in the somatosensory thalamus.
Bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical retropubic prostatectomy for stage C adenocarcinoma of prostate

Treatment of clinical stage A adenocarcinoma of the prostate is controversial. Previous treatment recommendations have ranged from none [1], that is, merely observation, to radical retropubic prostatectomy [2]. The proponents of conservative treatment have pointed out the nonaggressive behavior of this disease, although it has been found that stage A disease (high-grade or large-volume or both) may be associated with unfavorable disease outcome. With the advent of nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy and a better understanding of the local anatomy, the incidence of impotence and incontinence has been significantly decreased, and recent recommendations are that a definitive curative surgical procedure would be indicated in view of the low complication rate and the high likelihood of cure [2].
Latent effect of DMBA on adrenal glands of Sprague-Dawley rats: an ultrastructural study.

Abstract The latent effect of DMBA on the adrenal glands of Sprague-Dawley rats was studied by light and electron microscopy. DMBA or its metabolites seem to have a direct effect on the cells of the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis of the adrenal glands, causing severe mitochondrial structural alterations including variation in size. Calcification was observed in the majority of the cases and was believed to be a consequence of adrenal hemorrhage and cellular injury and not the result of a direct effect of DMBA on the adrenal cortical cells.
Interactive wireless virtual colonoscopy

We present an interactive virtual colon navigation system on a PDA that is a client-server system over a wireless network. For improving the quality of the rendering results on the PDA, the overall rendering speed, and the user interactivity, we propose three novel methods and adapt a GPU-based direct volume rendering technique. Using these proposed methods, our system can support approximately a two times faster navigation speed and 17 percent better PSNR than previous remote visualization methods with a 512×512×361 volumetric colon CT data using a PDA device over 802.11b wireless network.
The effect of endotoxin and human dental plaque on the respiratory rate of bone cells.

The effect of endotoxin and heat treat dental plaque on the respiratory activity of intact, viable bone cells was studied. cells were isolated from the zone of provisional calcification of chick epiphyseal plates. The mean rate of oxygen consumption was 20.7 × 10−9 per atom/min/cell. This was reduced by 36% in the presence of 0.1% endotoxin and by 16.1% when exposed to 0.1% heat treated dental plaque. The results suggest that endotoxin mediates bone resorption through stimulation of anaerobic metabolism.
Isolation and characterization of lipid globules from the zoospores of Blastocladiella emersonii.

Lipid globules were isolated and characterized both chemically and morphologically. They were composed mainly of triglyceride and free sterol, which accounted for over 90% of the total globule content. Smaller amounts of diglyceride, carotenoid, free fatty acid, phospholipid and protein were found. No sterol esters or monoglycerides were detected. Morphologically, the isolated lipid globules resembled the lipid globules in situ. They were spherical, 0.4–1.5 μm in diameter and lacked a trilaminar membrane.
New Vision for Management Education: Leadership Challenges

The article presents a review of the book “New Vision for Management Education: Leadership Challenges,” by Peter Lorange.
Selective release of the disaccharide 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(β-d-galactopyranosyl)-d-galactose from epiglycanin by endo-N-acetyl-α-d-galactosaminidase

Abstract Epiglycanin, the major glycoprotein of TA3-Ha mammary carcinoma ascites cells, was radiolabeled with tritium in the terminal d -galactose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- d -galactose residues. Alkaline-borohydride treatment, reported to release five O-glycosyl-linked chain types from epiglycanin, resulted in the cleavage of 98–99% of the radioactivity from the protein. Of this, 63% of the radioactivity from epiglycanin and 70% from asialoepiglycanin co-migrated with an authentic sample of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(β- d -galactopyranosyl)- d -galactitol on a column of Bio-Gel P-6. Incubation of [3H]galactose-epiglycanin with endo-N-acetyl -α- d -galactosaminidase (Diplococcus pneumoniae), and fractionation of the mixture on a column of Bio-Gel P-4, gave only one oligosaccharide peak containing 62 and 70%, respectively, of the radioactivity of epiglycanin and asialoepiglycanin. This oligosaccharide comigrated with authentic 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(β- d -galactopyranosyl)- d -galactose (1) on columns of Bio-Gel P-2 and P-4 and on paper chromatograms. Results of experiments in which unlabeled epiglycanin was treated with enzyme and the products analyzed, by three different methods, suggested that 78–85% of 1 had been cleaved. Another enzyme, N-acetyl-α- d -galactosaminyl-oligosaccharidase from Clostridium perfringens, exhibited similar specificity and cleaved 65% of the radioactivity from ([3H]galactose)asialoepiglycanin, which was eluted from a Bio-Gel P-2 column as the disaccharide 1.
Effect of a Multidisciplinary Fall Risk Assessment on Falls Among Neurology Inpatients

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the addition of a physician assessment of patient fall risk at admission would reduce inpatient falls on a tertiary hospital neurology inpatient unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS A physician fall risk assessment was added to the existing risk assessment process (clinical nurse evaluation and Hendrich II Fall Risk Model score with specific fall prevention measures for patients at risk). An order to select either "Patient is" or "Patient is not at high risk of falls by physician assessment" was added to the physician electronic admission order set. Nurses and physicians were instructed to reach consensus when assessments differed. Full implementation occurred in second-quarter 2008. Preimplementation (January 1, 2006, to March 31, 2008) and postimplementation (April 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009) rates of falls were compared on the neurology inpatient unit and on 6 other medical units that did not receive intervention. RESULTS The rate of falls during the 7 quarters after full implementation was significantly lower than that during the 9 preceding quarters (4.12 vs 5.69 falls per 1000 patient-days; P =.04), whereas the rate of falls on other medical units did not significantly change (2.99 vs 3.33 falls per 1000 patient-days; P =.24, Poisson test). The consensus risk assessment at admission correctly identified patients at risk for falls (14/325 at-risk patients fell vs 0/147 low-risk patients; P =.01, χ2 test), but the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model score, nurse, and physician assessments individually did not. CONCLUSION A multidisciplinary approach to fall risk assessment is feasible, correctly identifies patients at risk, and was associated with a reduction in inpatient falls.
68.2: The Zoom‐Able Spot Lighting Fixture using WRGB LED

The zoom-able spot lighting fixture using WRGB LED is proposed. The fixture is divided into 2 parts, WRGB LED light source and the projection zoom lenses. The WRGB LED position arrangement is optimized to product more uniform colorful output and decrease the loading of the diffuser film. with the projection zoom lenses, the fixture have the divergent angle from 10 to 30 degree and 3000 lumens output which is useful in plaza or spot lighting.
MetaMapR: pathway independent metabolomic network analysis incorporating unknowns

Summary: Metabolic network mapping is a widely used approach for integration of metabolomic experimental results with biological domain knowledge. However, current approaches can be limited by biochemical domain or pathway knowledge which results in sparse disconnected graphs for real world metabolomic experiments. MetaMapR integrates enzymatic transformations with metabolite structural similarity, mass spectral similarity and empirical associations to generate richly connected metabolic networks. This open source, web-based or desktop software, written in the R programming language, leverages KEGG and PubChem databases to derive associations between metabolites even in cases where biochemical domain or molecular annotations are unknown. Network calculation is enhanced through an interface to the Chemical Translation System, which allows metabolite identifier translation between >200 common biochemical databases. Analysis results are presented as interactive visualizations or can be exported as high-quality graphics and numerical tables which can be imported into common network analysis and visualization tools. Availability and Implementation: Freely available at http://dgrapov.github.io/MetaMapR/. Requires R and a modern web browser. Installation instructions, tutorials and application examples are available at http://dgrapov.github.io/MetaMapR/. Contact: ude.sivadcu@nheifo
Industrial regenerative motor-drive systems

Regenerative motor-drive systems are nowadays widely applied in numerous industrial applications. This paper is centered on comparing the application of the two well-known and widely used types of regenerative front end converters. Namely, Fundamental Front End (FFE) rectifier, and Active Front End (AFE). The paper also introduces a new control topology for the temporary operation of the FFE converter. This topology enables to temporary boost the DC bus voltage and consequently provides an enhanced ride through operation for the FFE. As well be shown, this control topology can be considered as a “quasi-AFE” as it utilizes four switching states of conventional AFE without employing current controllers and with reduced switching losses. Theory, analysis, simulation, and experimental results are presented to prove and support the technical discussion subject of this paper.
Echo delay versus spectral cues for temporal hyperacuity in the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus

Big brown bats can discriminate between echoes that alternate in delay (jitter) by as little as 10–15 ns and echoes that are stationary in delay. This delay hyperacuity seems so extreme that it has been rejected in favor of an explanation in terms of artifacts in echoes, most likely spectral in nature, that presumably are correlated with delay. Using different combinations of digital, analog, and cable delays, we dissociated the overall delay of jittering echoes from the size of the analog component of delay, which alone is presumed to determine the strength of the apparatus artifact. The bats' performance remains invariant with respect to the overall delay of the jittering echoes, not with respect to the amount of analog delay. This result is not consistent with the possible use of delay-related artifacts produced by the analog delay devices. Moreover, both electronic and acoustic measurements disclose no spectral cues or impedance-mismatch reflections in delayed signals, just time-delays. The absence of artifacts from the apparatus and the failure of overlap and interference from reverberation to account for the 10-ns result means that closing the gap between the level of temporal accuracy plausibly explained from physiology and the level observed in behavior may require a better understanding of the physiology.
Monitoring and characterizing corrosion in aluminum using Lamb waves and attached sensors

Corrosion is detrimental to the structural integrity of many critical components, and ultrasonic methods are routinely used in the field to make thickness measurements at points of interest. However, is often difficult to assess the true extent of corrosion damage because of the likelihood of missing small corroded areas and the difficulty in mapping the extent of large corroded areas without an extensive number of time consuming measurements. Guided ultrasonic waves have the potential to both detect corrosion as early as possible and reduce the subsequent inspection time. This paper presents results from a study using Lamb waves to quantify the area extent of corrosion in an aluminum plate specimen. A sparse array of ultrasonic transducers was attached to an aluminum plate, and broadband excitation methods were used to generate both symmetric and anti-symmetric Lamb wave modes. As has been demonstrated in previous studies, the through transmission response recorded from each transmit-receive pair may be analyzed to determine if a defects exists and approximately determine its location. This paper presents a method to determine the exact location and quantify the extent of the corroded area using an acoustic wavefield imaging method. Lamb waves are generated using one of the permanently attached transducers as a source, and the acoustic wavefield is captured on the surface of the plate using an air-coupled transducer as a receiver. Full wavefield data are recorded as the receiver is scanned over the specimen surface, and wavefield images are processed to remove the strong incident wave and enhance the weaker scattered waves. The amplitude at the crest of the leading Lamb mode (S0) is analyzed to produce spatial images of defective areas. Measured length and area results from these images compare very favorably with actual defect sizes. Results are also presented for scattering from a through hole with a simulated crack.
Performance Analysis of Brayton and Rankine Cycle Microsystems for Portable Power Generation

The presented work analyses the design space and performance potential of microfabricated Brayton cycle and Rankine cycle devices, accounting for lower component efficiencies, temperatures limited by the material properties and system implementation - constraints imposed by silicon microfabrication and miniaturization. By exploring the design space of such microsystems, their potential thermal efficiency and power density are defined. Results for both types of devices are shown graphically and design challenges and guidelines are determined and found to be different from their large-scale counterparts. Similar analysis was performed for Brayton and Rankine cycle devices, with more complete assessment of the latter by including, windage, generator, conductive and heat sink losses. In contrast to the Brayton cycle, the compression work of the Rankine cycle is minimal and the pump efficiency is not critical. The investigation suggests a higher potential for Rankine cycle devices than for Brayton cycle devices.
North America's Native Peoples: A Social Justice and Trauma Counseling Approach.

This article understands North America's indigenous peoples in the context of social justice. The authors discuss the role of legislation in shaping cultural contexts of indigenous people and influencing mental health issues in Native American communities. Trauma counseling with Native Americans is explored. Este articulo entiende a los habitantes indigenas de norteamerica en el contexto de la justicia social. Los autores discuten el papel que juega la legislacion en la formacion de los contextos culturales de los pueblos indigenas y la influencia que ejerce en los problemas de salud mental en las comunidades de Americanos Nativos. Se explora la terapia de trauma con Americanos Nativos.
Inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5‐tetrakisphosphate binding sites in smooth muscle

Abstract 1. We have previously demonstrated that activation of M3 muscarinic receptors increases inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) accumulation in colonic smooth muscle. 2. In the present study, we demonstrate the existence of InsP3 and InsP4 binding sites in colonic circular smooth muscle by use of radioligand binding methods. Both [3H]-InsP3 and [3H]-InsP4 bound rapidly and reversibly to a single class of saturable sites in detergent-solubilized colonic membranes with affinities of 5.04 +/- 1.03 nM and 3.41 +/- 0.78 nM, respectively. The density of [3H]-InsP3 binding sites was 335.3 +/- 19.3 fmol mg-1 protein which was approximately 2.5 fold greater than that of [3H]-InsP4 sites (127.3 +/- 9.1 fmol mg-1 protein). 3. The two high affinity inositol phosphate binding sites exhibited markedly different pH optima for binding of each radioligand. At pH 9.0, specific [3H]-InsP3 binding was maximal, whereas [3H]-InsP4 binding was only 10% that of [3H]-InsP3. Conversely, at pH 5.0, [3H]-InsP4 binding was maximal, while [3H]-InsP3 binding was reduced to 15% of its binding at pH 9.0. 4. InsP3 was about 20 fold less potent (KI = 50.7 +/- 8.3 nM) than InsP4 in competing for [3H]-InsP4 binding sites and could compete for only 60% of [3H]-InsP4 specific binding. InsP4 was also capable of high affinity competition with [3H]-InsP3 binding (KI = 103.5 +/- 1.5 nM), and could compete for 100% of [3H]-InsP3 specific binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Nonlinear Effluent Charges

This work derives an effluent taxation structure for meeting a specified level of regional environmental quality. It is demonstrated that the nonlinearity of the proposed charge scheme flaunts equilibrium results identical to linear user-charge programs but elicits superior dynamic characteristics. Moreover, through the use of an iterative stimulus-response algorithm we are able to minimize the technical information transfer among sectors by mapping response surfaces for polluter behavior. These continuously updated response patterns are then used to guide the system to a social optimum. Recognizing that the optimal allocation of environmental resources is likely to be a vacillating target, and that the existence of adjustment lags must be reckoned with in any operational context, we argue that meaningful policing of environmental quality will require the nonlinear taxation approach.
A New Functional Metathesis of Conjugated Cyclohexenones

Abstract The importance of conjugated cyclohexenone synthons in synthetic organic chemistry is widely recognized.1 These moieties are present in a wide variety of natural products and other interesting substrates, and can be synthesized by several efficient and general procedures, developed and tested over the past four decades. The synthetic versatility of these synthons is unmatched. New carbon-carbon bonds may be selectively introduced at the carbonyl function, the α-position, the β-position and the α'-position. The remaining functional groups may then undergo a variety of transformations, including-in many cases-aromatization to substituted phenols, carbonium ion rearrangements and photochemical rearrangements.
Electrical Characterization of Crystallized—Silicon Thin Films

A review is presented on the application of electrical measurements to evaluate the existence and effects of residual electronic defects in crystallized-silicon thin films. Experimental techniques include current - voltage characterization, electron-beam-induced conductivity, transient - capacitance measurements on thin-film capacitors, transient - conductance spectroscopy on thin-film transistors, and photoconductivity.
Epidural lipomatosis causing new debilitating back pain in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus on highly active antiretroviral therapy

Spinal epidural lipomatosis is a rare condition of adipose tissue hypertrophy in the epidural space. Through nerve root and spinal canal compression, it may lead to both sensory and motor compromise. Chronic steroid use, obesity and other metabolic derangements are known causes of spinal epidural lipomatosis. Recently, several cases have been attributed to antiretrovirals taken to treat human immunodeficiency virus, given their side effects of lipodystrophy and altered fat metabolism. We report a patient on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) who developed debilitating back, hip and thigh pain during the third trimester of pregnancy that prevented ambulation. Epidural lipomatosis was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. Given her evolving symptoms, neuraxial anesthesia was considered to be contraindicated. We present her management and labor course.
THE USE OF HIGH-ASPECT RATIO MICROSTRIJCTURES IN HEAT TRANSFER APPLICATIONS

The three-step LIGA process is used to fabricate high-aspect ratio microstructures (HARMs). HARMcovered surfaces have the potential to be used in a variety of applications. One application envisioned for HARM-covered surfaces is the manufacture of a shroud for a turbine blade, supported by a sparse field of HARMs. Forcing coolant between the shroud and the blade can control the temperature of the shroud. The LIGA process used to fabricate this shroud is described and a model is provided which predicts the performance of the shroud. Experimental heat transfer results are presented to quantify the magnitude by which HARMs enhance the rate of heat transfer from a surface, specifically a cylinder in crossflow.
The Local Parish as a Female Institution: The Experience of All Saints Episcopal Church in Frontier Minnesota

In recent years historians have begun exploring the feminization of religion in nineteenth-century America. While much of the published debate has centered on the particular definition presented by Ann Douglas in her study, The Feminization of American Culture, other scholars have adopted the term but applied it in different ways.' Douglas based her argument on a small sample of liberal Protestant female writers and clergymen in New England whom she saw as giving cultural expression to a new popular theology. She did not explore its impact upon any particular congregation, and much of the controversy surrounding her thesis has focused on the narrow base upon which she made expansive claims.2 The concept of a feminized church, however, has attracted a number of scholars. Some, like Gerald Moran, have found evidence of the process much earlier in New England, while Mary Ryan and others have explored church membership during the Second Great Awakening of the early nineteenth century.3 The research continues the Northeastern focus, however, in terms of both geography and denomination. Thus historians still have no sense as to the universality of these trends. In addition, the focus has remained on church membership and cultural perceptions of women's religious role. We have precious little information on how women translated ideas about their role into the life of an ongoing religious institution.
Looking Beyond the Voting Constituency: A Study of Campaign Donation Solicitations in the 2008 Presidential Primary and General Election

In order to overcome collective action problems inherent in campaign fundraising, political campaigns solicit donors through material, solidary, and ideological appeals. Over the course of the campaign, the percentage of donors motivated by these different types of incentives are roughly equal; however, no previous study has differentiated between those who donate during primary elections and those donating during general elections. This study of campaign fundraising solicitations sent out via e-mail during the 2008 presidential campaign by the two major-party candidates finds evidence that the campaigns recognize a difference between the primary election financial constituencies and the general election financial constituencies and that campaigns target the types of appeals that they send to potential donors accordingly.
Comment on the second reply by Higdon to the comment by Romero and Kannada on “Genetic analysis of 16th-century whale bones prompts a revision of the impact of Basque whaling on right and bowhead whales in the western North Atlantic”Appears in Can. J. Zool. 86(1): 76–79.

The second reply by J.W. Higdon (2008. Can. J. Zool. 86: 76–79) criticizes a previously published comment by us of T. Rastogi et al.’s (2004. Can. J. Zool. 82: 1647–1654) paper saying that we presented factual errors, misused key sources, and made a number of omissions. The main objective of our original comment was to show that there had been many other peoples and nations besides the Basques who were engaged in whaling in the North Atlantic for many centuries and, therefore, the Basques could not have been solely responsible for anthropogenic impacts on the populations of large whales in that part of the world. To that end we only sampled some sources to make our point. In this rebuttal, we show that Higdon mischaracterizes our comment as a historical review and that neither he nor B.A. McLeod et al. (2006. Can. J. Zool. 84: 1066–1069) provide any evidence that challenges our fundamental conclusions.
The Ethics of Continued Life-Sustaining Treatment for those Diagnosed as Brain-dead

Given the long-standing controversy about whether the brain-dead should be considered alive in an irreversible coma or dead despite displaying apparent signs of life, the ethical and policy issues posed when family members insist on continued treatment are not as simple as commentators have claimed. In this article, we consider the kind of policy that should be adopted to manage a family's insistence that their brain-dead loved one continues to receive supportive care. We argue that while it would be ethically inappropriate to continue to devote scarce acute care resources to such patients in a hospital setting, it may not be ethically inappropriate for patients to receive these resources in certain other settings. Thus, if a family insists on continuing to care for their brain-dead loved at their home, we should not, from a policy perspective, interfere with the family's wishes. We also argue that healthcare professionals should make some effort to facilitate the transfer of brain-dead patients to these other settings when families insist on continued treatment despite being informed about the lack of any potential for recovery of consciousness. Our arguments are strengthened by the fact that patients in a persistent vegetative state, who, when correctly diagnosed, also have no potential for recovery of consciousness, are routinely transferred from hospitals to nursing homes or long-term care facilities where they continue to be ventilated, tube fed and to receive other supportive care. We also briefly explore the question of who should be responsible for the costs of such treatment at the long-term care facility.
Regulation of putative muscle-derived neurotrophic factors by muscle activity and innervation: in vivo and in vitro studies

The normal embryonic development of spinal cord motoneurons (MNs) involves the proliferation of precursor cells followed by the degeneration of approximately 50% of postmitotic MNs during the period when nerve-muscle connections are being established. The death of MNs in vivo can be ameliorated by activity blockade and by treatment with muscle extracts. Muscle activity and innervation have been suggested to regulate the availability of putative muscle-derived neurotrophic agent(s), and MNs are thought to compete for limited amounts of these trophic agents during normal development. Thus, activity and innervation are thought to regulate MN survival by modulating trophic factor availability. We have tested this notion by examining MN survival in vivo and ChAT development in spinal cord neurons in vitro following treatments with partially purified muscle extracts from normally active, paralyzed (genetically or pharmacologically), aneural, denervated, slow tonic, and fast-twitch muscles from embryonic and postnatal animals. Extracts from active and chronically inactive embryonic avian and mouse muscles were found to be equally effective in promoting the in vivo survival of MNs in the chick embryo. Similarly, extracts from fast-twitch and slow tonic postnatal avian muscles did not differ in their ability to promote both MN survival in vivo and ChAT activity in vitro. Although aneural and control embryonic muscle extract had similar effects on ChAT development in vitro, aneural muscle extract contained somewhat less MN survival-promoting activity when tested in vivo. By contrast, denervated postnatal muscle extract was more effective in promoting both MN survival in vivo and ChAT activity in vitro than age-matched control muscle extract.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Macrosystems ecology: novel methods and new understanding of multi-scale patterns and processes

As the global biomes are increasingly threatened by human activities, understanding of macroscale patterns and processes is pressingly needed for effective management and policy making. Macrosystems ecology, which studies multiscale eco- logical patterns and processes, has gained growing interest in the research community. However, as a relatively new field in ecology, research in macrosys- tems ecology is facing various challenges. In this special issue, we highlight the following two latest exciting developments in this thriving field: (1) novel tools and methods and (2) new understandings on macroscale patterns and processes. While we believe that the contributions featured in this issue provide promising advancements in macrosystems ecology, we also see multiple challenges for future research including (1) multidisciplinary approaches for long- term and multiscale studies and (2) scaling local patterns and processes to broader scales.
A population of gap junction-coupled neurons drives recurrent network activity in a developing visual circuit

In many regions of the vertebrate brain, microcircuits generate local recurrent activity that aids in the processing and encoding of incoming afferent inputs. Local recurrent activity can amplify, filter, and temporally and spatially parse out incoming input. Determining how these microcircuits function is of great interest because it provides glimpses into fundamental processes underlying brain computation. Within the Xenopus tadpole optic tectum, deep layer neurons display robust recurrent activity. Although the development and plasticity of this local recurrent activity has been well described, the underlying microcircuitry is not well understood. Here, using a whole brain preparation that allows for whole cell recording from neurons of the superficial tectal layers, we identified a physiologically distinct population of excitatory neurons that are gap junctionally coupled and through this coupling gate local recurrent network activity. Our findings provide a novel role for neuronal coupling among excitatory interneurons in the temporal processing of visual stimuli.