cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of sialon additions on the oxidation resistance of cobalt based alloys at 1000 °C

The oxidation kinetics of cobalt based alloys with 10 and 15 vol.-% additions of SiAlON were studied at 1000°C in 1 atm of oxygen for 50 h. The Co-Cr-SiAlON alloys studied for oxidation resistance were sintered at 1100°C where the SiAlON particles remained stable. Additional sintering studies carried out at higher temperatures revealed extensive solid state reaction of SiAlON dispersions. Stable SiAlON dispersions in Co-12% Cr-10 vol.% SiAlON and Co-10% Cr-15 vol.-% SiAlON alloys formed alternate external oxide areas of SiO2 and Cr2O3 with internal Cr2O3 forming around SiAlON particles within the matrix. SiO2 exhibited a pronounced tendency to grow upward rather than laterally within the external oxide scale. The remaining Co-Cr-SiAlON alloys studied formed outer CoO layers with an inner layer of Cr2O3 and precipitated SiO2 internally. SiAlON additions proved to be more beneficial in reducing the oxidation kinetics than an equivalent amount of elemental silicon in a Co-Cr alloy.
Stretching the Boundaries: A Range Extension for Buellia wheeleri R.C. Harris

Abstract. Buellia wheeleri is newly reported from a number of locations throughout the southeastern Coastal Plain of North America (e.g., Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Delmarva Peninsula of Maryland). This distinctive species was previously known in North America only from a handful of collections in Florida and North Carolina.
Enhanced transforming activity of ultraviolet-irradiated pSV2-gpt is due to damage outside the gpt transcription unit.

Abstract We have shown that when pSV2-gpt is introduced into human cells by calcium phosphate coprecipitation, the yield of Gpt+ transformants is increased by irradiating the plasmid with 254 nm uv. To elucidate the mechanism underlying this response, we constructed pSV2-gpt molecules in which the uv damage was confined to a particular region: a 3.0-kb region containing the pBR322 sequences and simian virus 40 (SV40) sequences not required for expression of the gpt gene, or a 2.3-kb fragment containing the Escherichia coli gpt gene together with the SV40 early promoter and sequences needed for splicing and polyadenylation. The transforming activity of the plasmid was greatly enhanced by uv damage confined to the 3.0-kb pBR322 region and increased linearly with uv dose up to 1 kJ/m2, but remained relatively constant at doses between 2 and 8 kJ/m2. Positioning the damaged region upstream, or both upstream and downstream, from the gpt transcription unit increased the uv enhancement slightly compared to positioning the damaged region only downstream. In contrast, transforming activity was significantly decreased by damage in the 2.3-kb gpt transcription unit. These results suggest that uv damage outside a selectable marker gene in a plasmid can increase the probability of stable integration of the plasmid into the genome of recipient cells without inhibiting expression of the gene.
Ritual and Rhetoric in Presidential Politics

Belief, it may seem, is the bedrock of cultural anthropology. In fact, though, we can move from belief to discourse without the loss of anything essential…. There must be a place for representations (held to be true) of information; of knowledge of past, present, and future states of the world; of contingent relationships among phenomena; and of our own and others' mental states and processes–in short, of any conceivable factual matter. These are what people call beliefs.
Pharmacokinetics of Ciprofloxacin after Single Oral and Intravenous Doses

Intravenous ciprofloxacin had previously been approved in the United States at doses up to 200mg every 12 hours. Bioavailability data suggested that higher intravenous doses would be needed to achieve the same serum concentrations as attained by the standard oral doses of 500 and 750mg. This study directly compared ciprofloxacin serum concentrations after single oral doses of 500 and 750mg with those after single intravenous doses of 300 and 400mg. The aims of the study were 2-fold: a) to determine the bioequivalence relationships between intravenous ciprofloxacin (300 and 400mg) and oral ciprofloxacin (500 and 750mg); and b) to assess the comparative safety and tolerability of single doses of intravenous and oral ciprofloxacin. This was a randomised double-blind 4-period crossover study in 12 healthy male volunteers, aged 18 to 40 years. Treatments consisted of single doses of a) ciprofloxacin 300mg infused over 60 minutes; b) ciprofloxacin 400mg infused over 60 minutes; c) oral ciprofloxacin 500mg (as 2 X 250mg tablets); and d) oral ciprofloxacin 750mg (as 3 X 250mg tablets). Matching placebo tablets or infusion of normal saline were incorporated to maintain the double-blind nature of the trial. There was a I-week washout between each dose. Serum samples for ciprofloxacin assay were obtained before each dose, at 15 and 30 minutes into the infusion (drug or placebo), and at 0.25, 0.5, 1,2,3,4,5, 7, 9, II, 15, 19, and 23 hours after the end of infusion. Urine was collected over intervals of 0 to 12 hours and 12 to 24 hours. Concentrations of ciprofloxacin were determined by a fully validated HPLC procedure, with a sensitivity of 0.02 mg/L, precision of greater than 95%, and accuracy greater than 90%. Area under the curve (AUC) from 0 to 24 hours was calculated by applying the log trapezoidal rule. Extrapolation to infinity was accomplished by adding the value 1.44t'/2Cn to AUCO-24, where Cn is the predicted concentration at 24 hours based on linear regression of the terminal slope of the log concentration vs time curve. Half-life (t'/2) was calculated as 0.693/s10pe. At least 4 data points were used in each tl/z determination. Maximum serum concentration (Cmax) was obtained from the observed data. Renal clearance (CLR) was calculated as amount excreted/AUC. Primary analysis included only 11 subjects, since 1 subject had aberrant serum values after the 300mg infusion. Inclusion of this subject's data did not alter any of the conclusions of this report. Statistical analysis consisted of analysis of variance with pairwise comparisons of least squares means of pharmacokinetic variables for different doses with or without
Photoconductivity measurements in optical fibre preforms

The AC photoconductivity and the photodielectric shift in UV-illuminated germano-silicate preforms and optical fibres has been measured using a noncontact microwave resonator technique at 2.9 GHz. The highest photoconductivity measured was 1.5 × 10−6(Ωcm)−1 and the largest measured photodielectric shift corresponded to an increase of the refractive index of 1.6 × 10−2. A permanently induced increase of the refractive index, 6.1 × 10−3, was also observed. The dark DC conductivity was measured to be 10−15(Ωcm)−1.
Mineralogical Variations within the S-Type Asteroid Class

Abstract A systematic spectral analysis has been Carried out on a large subset (39 of 144) of the S-type asteroid population. The S-asteroid class includes a number of distinct compositional subtypes [designated S(I)-S(VII)] which exhibit surface silicate assemblages ranging from pure olivine (dunites) through olivine-pyroxene mixtures to pure pyroxene or pyroxene-feldspar mixtures (basalts). S-asteroid absorption bands are weaker than expected for pure mafic silicate assemblages, indicating the presence of an additional phase, most probably FeNi metal, although the abundance of metallic or feldspar components is not well constrained, The diversity within the S-class probably arises from several sources, including the coexistence of undifferentiated, partially differentiated, and fully differentiated bodies within the general S-asteroid population and the exposure of compositionally distinct units from within metamorphosed and partially and fully differentiated parent bodies. Partial differentiation within planetesimals appears to be an important source of this diversity. The surface assemblages of these subtypes include both analogues to known meteorite classes (e.g., pallasites, mesosiderites, ureilites, lodranites, brachinites, winonaites) and materials not sampled in our present meteorite collections. No specific ordinary chondrite parent bodies have been identified within the S-class, but silicate mineralogy provides a strong test for possible ordinary chondritic affinities. This test is failed by 75% of the S-asteroids. Only the S(IV)-subtype objects have silicates consistent with ordinary chondrites (OC). This subtype provides the only viable OC parent body candidates among the large main-belt S-asteroid population, although the individual objects remain to be evaluated. The S(IV) objects are concentrated near the 3:1 Kirkwood gap at 2.5 AU, and their ejecta can be readily injected into the associated chaotic region and rapidly converted into Earth-crossing orbits which may contribute to the high abundance of OC meteorites. S-asteroid absorption band depth correlates with asteroid diameter. It is relatively constant for objects larger than 100 km and increases steeply toward smaller sizes. This suggests that some equilibrium has been attained in the optical surfaces of S-asteroids larger than 100 km but not on smaller bodies.
Computational Framework for Analysis of Prey–Prey Associations in Interaction Proteomics Identifies Novel Human Protein–Protein Interactions and Networks

Large-scale protein-protein interaction data sets have been generated for several species including yeast and human and have enabled the identification, quantification, and prediction of cellular molecular networks. Affinity purification-mass spectrometry (AP-MS) is the preeminent methodology for large-scale analysis of protein complexes, performed by immunopurifying a specific "bait" protein and its associated "prey" proteins. The analysis and interpretation of AP-MS data sets is, however, not straightforward. In addition, although yeast AP-MS data sets are relatively comprehensive, current human AP-MS data sets only sparsely cover the human interactome. Here we develop a framework for analysis of AP-MS data sets that addresses the issues of noise, missing data, and sparsity of coverage in the context of a current, real world human AP-MS data set. Our goal is to extend and increase the density of the known human interactome by integrating bait-prey and cocomplexed preys (prey-prey associations) into networks. Our framework incorporates a score for each identified protein, as well as elements of signal processing to improve the confidence of identified protein-protein interactions. We identify many protein networks enriched in known biological processes and functions. In addition, we show that integrated bait-prey and prey-prey interactions can be used to refine network topology and extend known protein networks.
Shallow-deep instabilities of chalcogen donors in silicon

Recent experiments show the occurrence of shallow-deep instabilities for the binding energies of the many-valley ground-state multiplets of all substitutional chalcogen donors in Si. We now analyze these experiments in terms of our previous theory, which predicted the possibility of such instabilities. We then study the theoretical dependence of the shallow-deep instability on a short-range cutoff in the impurity potential. We find such a dependence to be strongly nonlinear in a very narrow cutoff interval. That can explain why such a wide range of binding energies occurs in nature for the ${A}_{1}(1s)$ levels of donors and excitons, as opposed to the $E(1s)$ and ${T}_{2}(1s)$ levels.
Kind Types in knowledge representation

This paper describes Kind Types (KT), a system which uses commonsense knowledge to reason about natural language text. KT encodes some of the knowledge underlying natural language understanding, including category distinctions and descriptions differentiating real-world objects, states and events. It embeds an ontology reflecting the ordinary person's top-level cognitive model of real-world distinctions and a database of prototype descriptions of real-world entities. KT is transportable, empirically-based and constrained for efficient reasoning in ways similar to human reasoning processes.
Effects of immobilization stress on neurochemical markers in the motivational system of the male rat.

Abstract Mesolimbic regions involved in motivated behavior are altered in animals undergoing repeated exposure to social stress. Here we test the hypothesis that other forms of persistent stress would also influence these same endpoints. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to immobilization stress either once (2 h) or repeatedly (2 h × 10 days) and brains were harvested immediately after the last immobilization. A trio of indirect markers associated with dopaminergic activity was measured including dopamine transporter (DAT) and dopamine D2 receptor subtype (D2r) ligand levels as well as mRNA levels of the endogenous opioid enkephalin (ENK-mRNA). A single 2-h session of immobilization stress produced an increase in striatal ENK-mRNA levels and DAT ligand binding compared with group-housed controls. In animals undergoing repeated immobilization stress and singly housed post-stress, we found a significant reversal in the direction of ENK-mRNA levels and DAT binding in the striatum, in addition to an increase in D2r-binding density in the shell of the nucleus accumbens compared with single-stress-exposed rats. In another experiment using the same stress paradigm but allowing pair-housing post-stress, we found no alteration of ENK-mRNA but significant increases in DAT and D2r binding in the dorsal striatum. A major difference between single and group housing is the habituation of the corticosterone (CORT) stress response over 10-day stress in group-housed rats. The present results parallel previous findings by our laboratory that repeated stress results in a relative reduction of ENK-mRNA levels and increased D2r-binding density in the striatum of rats. Furthermore, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that chronic stress induces an allostatic attenuation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system in animals that do not habituate to the stressor, possibly due in part to persistent CORT elevations.
Applications of SEPIL to the Solid State Defect Chemistry of Fluorites and Ultra‐trace Inorganic Analysis [New analytical methods (16)]

Although it has been recognized for many years that the spectra of lanthanoid ions can provide useful information about short range phenomena in the neighborhood of these inos in a solid material, lanthanoid spectroscopy has only infrequently been used for studying complex materials because of the problem of line-sorting the complex spectra that are obtained. The advent of convenient tuneable lasers has eliminated this problem. By selectively exciting probe ion luminescence (SEPIL), it is possible to obtain fluorescence and excitation spectra from a single kind of crystallographic environment. Two applications of this method are dicussed in this paper. The first application is the study of the defect chemistry of fluorite materials (compounds with CaF2 lattice). It is shown how this method can provide unique information about the solid state chemistry, thus clarifying many of the unexplained behaviors of this important class of material. The second application shows application shows how ultra-trace analysis can be carried out by causing an association between an analyte ion and a fluorecent probe ion. The unique crystal field levels of a probe ion associated with a particular analyte can be selectively excited so that traces of the ion to be analyzed can be detected with very high selectivity and with very low detection limits.
T-lymphocyte and B-lymphocyte dichotomy in anuran amphibians: II. Further investigations on the E-rosetting lymphocyte by using monoclonal antibody azathioprine inhibition and mitogen-induced polyclonal expansion.

Abstract We have continued to search for characteristics of T-lymphocytes in anuran amphibians. Inhibition assays using the monoclonal antibodies OKT-11 and T-11, the T-cell immunosuppressive drug azathioprine, and mitogens confirmed the nature of E-rosetting peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in Rana pipiens . Both monoclonal antibodies specifically inhibited E-rosetting in a dose-dependent fashion; absorption of the monoclonals by frog PBL specifically removed inhibition on human E-rosetting T-cells. Lysostripping frog E-receptors with monoclonals and a second FITC antibody revealed a fluorescent lymphocyte population which capped off the receptor as shown by subsequent inhibition of E-rosetting. Significant resynthesis of E-receptors occurred 24 hours after lysostripping, especially in nylon wool effluent fractions. Azathioprine allowed us to define tentatively two subpopulations of E-rosetting lymphocytes: one nylon wool adherent and sensitive to inhibition at low concentrations and another resistant but sensitive to higher (cytotoxic) concentrations of azathioprine. In addition, T-cell but not B-cell mitogens induced expansion of E-rosetting cell populations. Our results support a thymic origin for Rana pipiens' E-rosetting cells. With respect to evolution, human and frog E-receptors are probably homlogous, sharing at least one and probably two different antigenic determinants.
An improved approach for random parametric response of dynamic systems with non-linear inertia

Abstract A non-Gaussian closure scheme is developed for determining the stationary response of dynamic systems including non-linear inertia and stochastic coefficients. Numerical solutions are obtained and examined for their validity based on the preservation of moments properties. The method predicts the jump phenomenon, for all response statistics at an excitation level very close to the threshold level of the condition of almost sure stability. In view of the increased degree of non-linearity, resulting from the non-Gaussian closure scheme, the mean square of the response displacement is found to be less than those values predicted by other methods such as the Gaussian closure or the first order stochastic averaging.
Quantifying the Drive-Response Relationships between Residues in Protein Folding

In protein folding processes, mutual correlation and cooperativity are commonly used to describe the interactions between different residues in a protein. However, these metrics do not provide any information on the causality relationships between these residues. The drive-response relationships in protein folding processes are still poorly studied and, due to technical limitations, are difficult to measure experimentally. The information theory transfer entropy (TE) provides a direct measurement of causality between two times series. We have used this method to quantify the causality between residues in the folding processes generated from molecular dynamics simulations for six small proteins, i.e., Trp-cage, BBA, Villin, WW domain, NTL9 and BBL (Lindorff-Larsen K. et al. (2011) Science. 334, 517-520). Instead of using one single TE value, we calculated the time-dependent TE using the residue-based Q-scores along the folding/unfolding processes. Preliminary analysis reveals that the residues in the hydrophobic cores are frequently involved in drive-response relationships, indicating the critical roles of these residues. The time-dependent TE also allows us to identify key events during the folding and evaluate the contributions from non-native contacts. We expect further studies may disclose more details on the causality relationships of the residues and the folding mechanisms of these proteins.
Smooth dependence on boundary matrices

The existence of derivatives of solutions of the first order system of difference equationsu(m + 1) = f(m,u(m)), satisfying multipoint boundary conditions , with respect to the entries of the matrices Mlei:1 ≤ l ≤ k, is established.
Overview of Zinc Absorption and Excretion in the Human Gastrointestinal Tract

Zinc homeostasis is primarily maintained via the gastrointestinal system by the processes of absorption of exogenous zinc and gastrointestinal secretion and excretion of endogenous zinc. Although these processes modulate net absorption and the size of the readily exchangeable zinc pools, there are limits to the effectiveness of the homeostatic mechanisms of these and other systems. As a result of the interplay of the subcellular regulation of these mechanisms and host, dietary and environmental factors, zinc deficiency is not uncommon, especially on a global basis. This overview briefly reviews current understanding about the subcellular mechanisms of zinc absorption and transport. Factors recognized to affect zinc absorption at the whole body level are reviewed and include the amount and form of zinc consumed; dietary promoters, such as animal protein and low-molecular-weight organic compounds; dietary inhibitors, such as phytate and possibly iron and calcium when consumed as supplements; and physiologic states, such as pregnancy, lactation and early infancy, all of which increase the demand for absorbed zinc. The control of endogenously secreted zinc is less well understood. Available data suggest that the quantity of secreted zinc with each meal may be considerable and that efficient reabsorption is critical to the maintenance of normal zinc balance. Factors that have been proposed to interfere with the normal reabsorption of endogenous zinc include phytate and unabsorbed fat. Understanding of the dietary, physiologic, pathologic and environmental factors that may adversely affect these processes, and therefore zinc homeostasis, will be critical to preventing and treating zinc deficiency in human populations.
CS rings and nakayama permutations

We show that a ring R is left CS and the dual of every simple right R-module is simple if and only if R is semiperfect left continuous with . Moreover in this case R is also left Kasch and admits a Nakayama permutation of its basic set of primitive idempotents.
Anemia, Bleeding, and Blood Transfusion in the Intensive Care Unit: Causes, Risks, Costs, and New Strategies

The definition of anemia is controversial and varies with the sex, age, and ethnicity of the patient. Anemia afflicts half of hospitalized patients and most elderly hospitalized patients. Acute anemia in the operating room or intensive care unit is associated with increased morbidity as well as other adverse outcomes, including death. The risks of anemia are compounded by the added risks associated with transfusion of red blood cells, the most common treatment for severe anemia. The causes of anemia in hospitalized patients include iron deficiency, suppression of erythropoietin and iron transport, trauma, phlebotomy, coagulopathies, adverse effects of and reactions to medications, and stress-induced gastrointestinal bleeding. The types and causes of anemia and the increased health care utilization and costs associated with anemia and undetected internal bleeding are described. The potential benefits and risks associated with transfusion of red blood cells also are explored. Last, the strategies and new tools to help prevent anemia, allow earlier detection of internal bleeding, and avoid unnecessary blood transfusions are discussed.
Stepped-Up Progress On IFRS In Russia: History In The Making

Starting in May 2010 new Russian legislation and other events have raised expectations of an accelerated adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) starting January 2012. These events are examined in the context of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and IFRS, the importance of adopting IFRS for Russia, relevant Russian cultural and geopolitical issues surrounding adoption, and the status of existing Russian Accounting Standards. The need for establishing support mechanisms, specifically, effective local standards setting bodies and a supportive institutional infrastructure is examined. Examples of strong standards setting bodies outside Russia in countries that have recently adopted IFRS are compared to standards setting bodies in Russia. The European Financial Reporting and Accounting Group (EFRAG), the European Commissions advisory group on IFRS, is considered as a potential support model and likely Russian counterparts are identified. Key success factors for Russia in successfully adopting IFRS are discussed.
Urinary Excretion of Ephedrine in Man without pH Control following Oral Administration of Three Commercial Ephedrine Sulfate Preparations

In a feasibility study, 25-mg. single oral doses of ephedrine sulfate, in the form of a commercial syrup and two commercial capsules, were administered in crossover fashion to three nonsmoking male subjects. Urinary pH was not controlled, but adequate urinary flow rates were maintained by regulated water intake. Urinary excretion of ephedrine was measured over a 48-hr. period by a GC method. There were no significant differences in average amounts of ephedrine excreted during any of the 11 sampling intervals, in average peak excretion rates, nor in average times of occurrence of the peak excretion rate. There were insufficient subjects used in this preliminary study to form definite conclusions about differences between or among dosage forms. The urinary excretion data were adequately described by the two-compartment open model with first-order absorption and lag time. The average elimination half-life of ephedrine was 5.99 hr. estimated from the β-values obtained by exponential fitting. Average urinary pH was 6.30 (95 of the 99 samples fell within 5.32 to 7.28). The data provided little, if any, evidence of significant relationships between deviations of observed from theoretical excretion rates of ephedrine and urinary pH, urinary excretion rates of ephedrine and urinary pH, or excretion rates of ephedrine and urinary flow rates.
Cognitive Enhancement Treatment for People With Mental Illness Who Do Not Respond to Supported Employment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective:Cognitive impairment presents a serious and common obstacle to competitive employment for people with severe mental illness, including those who receive supported employment. This study evaluated a cognitive enhancement program to improve cognition and competitive employment in people with mental illness who had not responded to supported employment.Method:In a randomized controlled trial, 107 people with severe mental illness (46% with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder) who had not obtained or kept competitive work despite receiving high-fidelity supported employment were assigned to receive either enhanced supported employment (with specialized cognitive training of employment specialists) or enhanced supported employment plus the Thinking Skills for Work program, a standardized cognitive enhancement program that includes practice of computer cognitive exercises, strategy coaching, and teaching of coping and compensatory strategies. Research assistants tracked competitive employment we...
Arrhythmogenic Forms of Heart Failure in Children

There are various underlying causes of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC), and it is critical that it be considered in any patient who presents with a newly diagnosed dilated cardiomyopathy. Unlike most other forms of cardiomyopathy, TIC should be considered a treatable form of cardiomyopathy and it is imperative that the diagnosis be fully considered. A 12-lead ECG should be obtained in all patients with a dilated cardiomyopathy. Prompt diagnosis and therapy of this relatively uncommon cause of heart failure is critical and has the potential to completely reverse the ventricular dysfunction that may be present in this abnormality.
Advancement flap umbilicoplasty after abdominal wall closure: postoperative results compared with normal umbilical anatomy.

Abstract Background/Purpose: Umbilical reconstruction frequently is an adjunct used after repair of congenital abdominal wall defects. The authors describe a new technique of umbilicoplasty and compare their results with normal neonatal umbilical anatomy. Methods: After fascial closure, 6 newborn infants with either gastroschisis (n = 3) or omphalocele (n = 3) underwent umbilicoplasty performed by advancing bilateral skin flaps including creation of an umbilical skin collar. The umbilical collar height, circumference, and distance from the xiphoid with respect to the pubis (ratio of xiphoid-umbilicus distance to xiphoid-pubis distance or XU:XP) were recorded and referenced to normal umbilical anatomy in additional 28 infants (24 to 40 weeks gestation [mean, 33.2 weeks] and age 2 to 131 days [mean, 26.5 days]). Results: After umbilicoplasty, all infants had a near-normal-appearing umbilicus (collar height, 0.75 ± 0.25 cm and circumference, 5.24 ± 1.20 cm) compared with normal umbilical anatomy (collar height, 4.36 ± 1.32 cm and circumference, 1.03 ± 0.38 cm). However, after umbilicoplasty, the neoumbilicus was positioned more cephalad (XU:XP = 0.53 ±.05) compared with normal (mean XU:XP, 0.67 ± 0.07). The only complication encountered was a small dehiscence of the superior aspect of the abdominal wound. Conclusions: Closure of abdominal wall defects with simultaneous umbilicoplasty provides a cosmetically pleasing result. When performing umbilicoplasty, attempt should be made to position the neoumbilicus as inferior as possible, optimally at two thirds the distance from the xiphoid to the pubis. J Pediatr Surg 36:1168-1170. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Refractoriness to inhibitory day lengths initiates the breeding season of the Suffolk ewe.

Recent evidence indicates that the breading season of the Suffolk ewe ends because of loss of response to a day length that was previously inductive. This condition of photorefractoriness could potentially also initiate reproduction, as is the case in several long-day breeding rodents. In this study we determined if ewes enter their breeding season because they become refractory to the long ambient photoperiods of late summer. On the summer solstice, 3 groups of ovariectomized ewes (n=6) bearing s.c. Silastic implants of estradiol (OVX + E) were placed in different day length treatments: 1) natural photoperiod; 2) artificial photoperiod, stimulating natural day lengths; or 3) artificial photoperiod equivalent to that of the summer solstice (16.25L). Entry into the breeding season is associated with a striking (>30-fold) increase in circulating levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). Timing of the onset of the breeding season was not delayed in ewes maintained on the summer solstice photoperiod: LI-I levels rose simultaneously in all groups. We conclude that ewes normally begin breeding not because they are actively driven to do so by decreasing or short days, but because they become refractory to prevailing long days. Because the pattern of circulating melatonin, which is known to transduce the photoperiodic message, remained entirely appropriate to day length, we believe that the mechanism responsible for photorefractoriness resides in the postpineal processing of the melatonin signal.
Redirecting the teacher's gaze: Teacher education, youth surveillance and the school-to-prison pipeline

This article addresses an apparent contradiction in American teacher education that results in conflicting goals for educators. It asks: How do we prepare teachers to interrogate their inherited professional roles in the surveillance and disciplining of youth? How might teacher education inspire pre-service teachers to care more about youth who belong to populations that have been deemed "undesirable" and expendable? We critically examine the role of teacher education in contributing to the criminalization of certain youth in urban communities and the resulting school-to-prison pipeline crisis that leads too many students from the schoolhouse to the jailhouse.
Heat Shock Proteins, Unfolded Protein Response Chaperones and Alzheimer’s Disease

Molecular chaperones interact with cellular proteins to ensure proper folding and transport between or into organelles. They also associate with mature proteins that have unfolded (and become prone to aggregation) because of an environmental insult such as heat shock. There is a large body of evidence that protein quality control mechanisms involving the HSP family of molecular chaperones, as well as proteasomal and lysosomal functions, become impaired with aging and contribute to a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Promising therapeutic approaches tested in animal models of Parkinson’s and polyglutamine diseases include the up-regulation of molecular chaperones to prevent protein misfolding and aggregation and to facilitate clearance mechanisms. In spite of a slow start, the role of molecular chaperones in Alzheimer’s disease is increasingly being elucidated at the molecular level. This chapter summarizes the nature of the cellular stress response that is induced in Alzheimer’s disease and examines current research related to the function of molecular chaperones in the cellular metabolism of tau and β-amyloid peptide
Current assessment and management of spontaneous pneumomediastinum: experience in 24 adult patients.

Objectives: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is an uncommon, benign, self-limited disorder that usually occurs in young adults without any apparent precipitating factor or disease. The purpose of this study was to review our experience in dealing with this entity and detail a reasonable course of assessment and management. Methods: A retrospective case series was conducted to identify adult patients with SPM who were diagnosed and treated in a single institution between 1993 and 2000. Results: Twenty-four patients were identified who included 18 men and 6 women with a mean age of 17.5 years. Acute onset chest pain was the predominant symptom at presentation. Only half of the patients developed clinically evident subcutaneous emphysema. The most frequent precipitating factor was a history of illegal drug abuse seen in 25% of patients. Other factors included asthmatic bronchospasm, physical activity and violent coughing or vomiting. Chest radiography and computerized tomography (CT) were diagnostic in all cases with CT scan revealing six cases with associated pulmonary abnormalities. Esophagogram and flexible bronchoscopy were selectively used. Twelve patients (50%) were admitted to the hospital. Their mean hospital stay was 2 days. All patients were conservatively treated. In a follow-up of 3 ‐ 10 years no complications or recurrences were observed. Conclusions: SPM follows alveolar rupture in the pulmonary interstitium. It shows a rising incidence in young drug users. It has a wide range of clinical features necessitating a high index of suspicion. Chest X-ray and CT scan should be always performed. Hospitalization and aggressive approach should be limited. SPM responds well to conservative treatment and follows a benign natural course. q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Endogenous fungal endophthalmitis: risk factors, clinical features, and treatment outcomes in mold and yeast infections

Background The purpose of the current study was to analyze risk factors, clinical features, and treatment outcomes in patients with endogenous fungal endophthalmitis with yeast and mold infections. For this retrospective consecutive case series, microbiologic and clinical records were reviewed to identify all patients with intraocular culture-proven endogenous fungal endophthalmitis treated at a single institution between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2011.
Effects of soil water-deficits during tassel emergence on development and yield component of maize (Zea mays)☆

Abstract Water-deficits during flowering and pollination can cause considerable reductions in yields of determinate crops due to influences on reproductive components. This study was conducted to determine how different levels of soil water-deficit during emergence of tassels influence silking and yield components of maize. A rain shelter provided timely water-deficits in a field environment during 1987 on a sandy soil in Michigan. Yield reductions in excess of 90% occurred when water-deficits spanned the interval from just prior to tassel emergence to beginning of grain-fill. Emergence of tassels and silks was delayed more than two weeks. Final internode lengths reflected reductions in plant extension growth, and evaluation of lengths of individual internodes depicted the windows of development in which plants were most affected by water-deficits. Grain number was reduced in proportion to the duration of the water-deficit period. Assessment of grain and non-grain above-ground biomass 100 days after sowing demonstrated that both were reduced by severe water-deficits, but not to the same degree. There was delayed development in response to the severe water-deficits, as was apparent from 75% silking dates and biomass assessments.
The Phage Proteomic Tree: a Genome-Based Taxonomy for Phage

There are ∼1031 phage in the biosphere, making them the most abundant biological entities on the planet. Despite their great numbers and ubiquitous presence, very little is known about phage biodiversity, biogeography, or phylogeny. Information is limited, in part, because the current ICTV taxonomical system is based on culturing phage and measuring physical parameters of the free virion. No sequence-based taxonomic systems have previously been established for phage. We present here the “Phage Proteomic Tree,” which is based on the overall similarity of 105 completely sequenced phage genomes. The Phage Proteomic Tree places phage relative to both their near neighbors and all other phage included in the analysis. This method groups phage into taxa that predicts several aspects of phage biology and highlights genetic markers that can be used for monitoring phage biodiversity. We propose that the Phage Proteomic Tree be used as the basis of a genome-based taxonomical system for phage.
Genetic Variation and Population Structure of the Texas Tortoise, Gopherus berlandieri (Testudinidae), with Implications for Conservation

Abstract The Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri) is a state-protected, threatened species in Texas. The expansion of agricultural practices and urban development are major causes of habitat degradation for the species. To provide genetic data that can inform conservation planning for this species, genetic variation, population structure, and the process that maintains the observed structure were examined in the Texas populations of G. berlandieri. Microsatellite genetic variation of 8 polymorphic loci was examined for a total of 138 individuals collected from 10 sampling areas in southern Texas. Assignment tests, F statistics, and analysis of molecular variance indicated that G. berlandieri forms weak population differentiation into northern and southern groups, with a boundary at southern Duval County. A test of isolation by distance and indirect estimation of the number of migrants (Nm) suggest recent gene flow between the 2 groups. Estimation of the extent of contemporary migration appears to be comp...
THE NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEM AND STOMATOGASTRIC NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE ADULT TSETSE FLY GLOSSINA MORSITANS

The brain of Glossina morsitans Westwood contains four groups of neurosecretory cells which are stainable with chrome haematozylin and phloxin. The axons of these cells form a pair of nervi corporis cardiaci which pass posteriorly from the brain and innervate the corpora cardiaca and corpus allatum before uniting with a small ganglion posterior to the corpora cardiaca. This ganglion is considered to represent the fusion of the fusion of the hypocerebral and ventricular ganglia which remain separate in other insects. There is no frontal ganglion in the adult Glossina and the recurrent nerve fuses with one of the nervi corporis cardiaci immediately behind the brain. The oesophageal nerves arising from the fused hypocerebral and ventricular ganglia innervate the oesophagus in the anterior part of the thorax, the proventriculus and the posterior extension of the oesophagus close to the crop. These nerves possess both sensory and motor nerve endings. The differences which exist between Glossina and other cyclorrhaphous Diptera with respect to their neuroendocrine/stomatogastric system are noted and considered in terms of the control of neuroendocrine function.
Across the Threshold: A Comparative Analysis of Communitas and Rites of Passage in Sport Hazing and Initiations

Hazing rituals and ceremonies have been described in traditional, historical world cultures, junior and high school, the military, private schools, paramilitary organizations, fraternities and sororities as well as sport (Allan and Madden, 2008; Bryshun and Young, 1999; Campos, Poulos and Sipple, 2005; Fields, Collins, and Comstock, 2010; Linhares de Albuquerque and Paes-Machado 2004; Nuwer 1999; Winslow 1999; Zacharda 2009). Despite the often humiliating and abusive nature of hazing practices the hazing ritual is often perceived to be a necessary stepping stone in the movement from outsider to insider. Student-athletes often endure hazing practices with 80% of NCAA athletes having reported being initiated in some way (Hoover 1999) in exchange for membership affiliation. This paper uses Van Gennep’s three stage model (1960) of transition as basis of comparison and deviation between contemporary initiations and historical traditions defining both the importance of cultures to establish “Rites of Passage” membership gateways and metamorphous from non-member to group member (irrespective of potential harm frequently inherent in sport initiations).
Rate-one space-time block codes with full diversity

Orthogonal space-time block codes provide full diversity, and maximum-likelihood (ML) decoding for orthogonal codes can be realized on a symbol-by-symbol basis. It has been shown that rate-one complex orthogonal codes do not exist for systems with more than two transmit antennas. For a general system with N transmit and M receive antennas, it is very desirable to design rate-one complex codes with full diversity. In this letter, we provide a systematic method of designing rate-one codes (real or complex) for a general multiple-input multiple-output system. Full diversity of these codes is then achieved by constellation rotation. A generalized, reduced-complexity decoding method for rate-one codes is also provided.
The Class Group and Local Class Group of an Integral Domain

This article gives a survey of recent developments on the (t-)class group and local (t-)class group of an integral domain R. Let T (R) be the group of t-invertible (fractional) t-ideals of R under t-multiplication, and let Prin (R) (resp., Inv (R)) be its subgroup of principal (resp., invertible) (fractional) ideals. Then Cl (R) = T (R)/Prin (R) is an abelian group, called the (t-)class group of R; the Picard group of R is Pic (R) = Inv (R)/Prin (R); and the local (t-)class group of R is G (R) = T (R)/Inv (R) = Cl (R)/Pic (R). If R is a Krull domain, then Cl (R) is the usual divisor class group of R, and if R is a Prufer domain, then Cl (R) (= Pic (R)) is just the ideal class group of R.
Bone Mineral Assessment of the Axial Skeleton: Technical Aspects

The goal of this chapter is to describe the underlying principles and error sources associated with X-ray based bone densitometry methods used to assess the central skeleton. The first portion of the chapter focuses on projectional densitometry measurements which are most widely used in the clinical setting. The concepts of single and dual photon absorptiometry are used to provide a simple and clear explanation of the physical principles underlying dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The section then describes the error sources associated with DXA, including precision errors, bone size dependence and the effect of adipose tissue distribution. The second portion of the chapter describes quantitative X-ray computed tomography (QCT), an adaptation of clinical computed tomography imaging for assessment of skeletal integrity. This section describes how CT images are acquired and the physical meaning of the image units as they relate to bone mineral content and density. The section then describes the use of QCT of the hip and spine to assess cortical and trabecular bone mineral density, the physical errors associated with those assessments, and the application of QCT to assess measures of bone quality such as bone geometry and whole bone strength.
Artificial bee colony algorithm with comprehensive search mechanism for numerical optimization

The artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is a simple and effective global optimization algorithm which has been successfully applied in practical optimization problems of various fields. However, the algorithm is still insufficient in balancing exploration and exploitation. To solve this problem, we put forward an improved algorithm with a comprehensive search mechanism. The search mechanism contains three main strategies. Firstly, the heuristic Gaussian search strategy composed of three different search equations is proposed for the employed bees, which fully utilizes and balances the exploration and exploitation of the three different search equations by introducing the selectivity probability Ps. Secondly, in order to improve the search accuracy, we propose the Gbest-guided neighborhood search strategy for onlooker bees to improve the exploitation performance of ABC. Thirdly, the self-adaptive population perturbation strategy for the current colony is used by random perturbation or Gaussian perturbation to enhance the diversity of the population. In addition, to improve the quality of the initial population, we introduce the chaotic opposition-based learning method for initialization. The experimental results and Wilcoxon signed ranks test based on 27 benchmark functions show that the proposed algorithm, especially for solving high dimensional and complex function optimization problems, has a higher convergence speed and search precision than ABC and three other current ABC-based algorithms.
Equality in Communication

Words alone are labels and tools that both men and women use to convey or communicate ideas and ideals. In the hands of considerate people, words become an instrument used to cheer up a friend, or to express and share joy with those we love. Birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and New Year‟s cards are all examples that demonstrate the positive use of words. However, people also use words to hurt, denigrate, incite hate and dehumanize others. Throughout history, men and women have deliberately used words to reduce fellow men and women to abstract, insubstantial and nonrepresentational names such as savage, alien, cripple, virus, parasites, fetus, nigger and kike; these theoretically non-human characterizations enables those who lack sensitivity and genuine concern for others to inflict unimaginable injury deeply wounding our core essence and spirit. At some point, we must draw a line and separate ourselves from those who are insensitive to others and who choose to demonstrate their insensitivity by the choice of words they use to communicate with others. For those self-absorbed, with no particular interest in humanity, this essay will only irritate you to further embrace your “Raison D'etre”. On the other hand, the truly human individual must force her or himself to carefully choose words that not only accurately communicate, but also reflect a deliberate consideration for the sensitivities others.
Switching Neural Network: An application to Regression Problems

In this paper regression problems, in which the output is continuous or discrete, are considered. In particular, the Switching Neural Network approach, which has been introduced for classification, is properly extended to deal with regression tasks. The resulting model, named SNN-reg, presents multiple advantages, involving both the quality of the obtained solution and the computational effort needed for its generation. Moreover, SNN-reg allows a regression function to be swritten in terms of a set of intelligible rules, which can be interpreted by the user.
Reelin regulates differentiation of neural stem cells by activation of notch signaling through Disabled-1 tyrosine phosphorylation.

We have previously reported the cross-talk between Reelin and Notch-1 signaling pathways, which are 2 major pathways that regulate brain development. We found that Reelin activated Notch-1 signalin...