cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of broadband active sound isolators based on acoustic bianisotropic metamaterials

The acoustic wave propagation through conventional materials is controlled by two parameters: the mass density and the bulk modulus. It has been shown that two additional parameters called Willis coupling terms are needed in order to describe the dynamics of certain complex media called bianisotropic (Willis) materials. The few bianisotropic (Willis) materials reported so far have experimentally demonstrated the ability of these complex media to control the propagation of sound beyond what is possible with conventional media. For instance, it has been shown that bianisotropic materials could control reflection and transmission coefficients independently and enable high-efficiency sound beam steering devices. In this presentation, we will describe a previously unexplored property of acoustic bianisotropy. Namely, we will present a design of ultra-compact active bianisotropic metamaterials that can serve as excellent sound isolators. In addition, we will discuss the bandwidth and stability of our design. We will show that unlike conventional active sound control devices, active bianisotropic materials are stable even in dynamically changing environments without employing any instability mitigation algorithms.The acoustic wave propagation through conventional materials is controlled by two parameters: the mass density and the bulk modulus. It has been shown that two additional parameters called Willis coupling terms are needed in order to describe the dynamics of certain complex media called bianisotropic (Willis) materials. The few bianisotropic (Willis) materials reported so far have experimentally demonstrated the ability of these complex media to control the propagation of sound beyond what is possible with conventional media. For instance, it has been shown that bianisotropic materials could control reflection and transmission coefficients independently and enable high-efficiency sound beam steering devices. In this presentation, we will describe a previously unexplored property of acoustic bianisotropy. Namely, we will present a design of ultra-compact active bianisotropic metamaterials that can serve as excellent sound isolators. In addition, we will discuss the bandwidth and stability of our design. We...
The Columbariinae (Gastropoda: Turbinellidae) of the eastern Indian Ocean

Abstract The occurrence of the subfamily Columbariinae in the eastern Indian Ocean is documented for the first time. Of the 5 species recognized, one, Coluzea distephanotis, new combination, has been previously described from the Torres Strait. Additional material suggests that this type locality is erroneous. Four new species, Coluzea aapta, C. icarus, C. liriope and C. gomphos are described. The eastern Indian Ocean species appear to be more closely related to their congeners from off southern and eastern Africa than to those from off New Zealand, suggesting post-Eocene vicariance of at least some elements of the psychrospheric faunas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Botulinum Toxin Injection for Facial Wrinkles

Botulinum toxin injection for treatment of facial wrinkles is the most frequently performed cosmetic procedure in the United States, and it is one of the most common entry procedures for clinicians seeking to incorporate aesthetic treatments into their practice. Treatment of frown lines and crow's feet, which are the cosmetic indications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and horizontal forehead lines, offers predictable results, has few adverse effects, and is associated with high patient satisfaction. Wrinkles are formed by dermal atrophy and repetitive contraction of underlying facial musculature. Botulinum toxin is a potent neurotoxin that inhibits release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. Injection of small quantities of botulinum toxin into specific overactive muscles causes localized muscle relaxation that smooths the overlying skin and reduces wrinkles. Botulinum toxin effects take about two weeks to fully develop and last three to four months. Dynamic wrinkles, seen during muscle contraction, yield more dramatic results than static wrinkles, which are visible at rest. Botulinum toxin injection is contraindicated in persons with keloidal scarring, neuromuscular disorders (e.g., myasthenia gravis), allergies to constituents of botulinum toxin products, and body dysmorphic disorder. Minor bruising can occur with botulinum toxin injection. Temporary blepharoptosis and eyebrow ptosis are rare complications that are technique-dependent; incidence declines as injector skill improves.
In Vitro and in Vivo Optimization of Phase Sensitive Smart Polymer for Controlled Delivery of Rivastigmine for Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, and most common form of dementia afflicting over 35 million people worldwide. Rivastigmine is a widely used therapeutic for ameliorating clinical manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease. However, current treatments require frequent dosing either orally or via transdermal patch that lead to compliance issues and administration errors risking serious adverse effects. Our objective was to develop a smart polymer based delivery system for controlled release of rivastigmine over an extended period following a single subcutaneous injection. Rivastigmine release was optimized by tailoring critical factors including polymer concentration, polymer composition, drug concentration, solvent composition, and drug hydrophobicity (rivastigmine tartrate vs base). Optimized in vitro formulation was evaluated in vivo for safety and efficacy. Formulation prepared using PLGA (50:50) at 5% w/v in 95:5 benzyl benzoate: benzoic acid demonstrated desirable controlled drug release characteristics in vitro. The formulation demonstrated sustained release of rivastigmine tartrate for 7 days in vivo with promising biocompatibility and acetylcholinesterase inhibition efficacy for 14 days. The results exemplify an easily injectable controlled release formulation of rivastigmine prepared using phase-sensitive smart polymer. The optimized formulation significantly increases the dosing interval, and can potentially improve patient compliance as well as quality of life of patients living with Alzheimer’s disease.
The Dark Data Cycle: How the U.S. Government Has Gone Rogue in Trading Personal Data from an Unsuspecting Public

While the historical and legal relationship in the U.S. between privacy expectations and privacy protections has remained a continuously evolving topic, this thesis demonstrates how this relationship has grown increasingly muddled since the midtwentieth century. Contrary to existing law, this thesis argues that a new phenomenon, the “Data Cycle,” has developed in the twenty-first century whereby governmental entities employ private companies as middlemen to buy and sell individuals’ data. Politicians in particular are extremely interested in obtaining information about their constituents. This thesis contends that the Data Cycle has developed due to a shift in informational power between the government and private companies, permitting the government to indirectly acquire large amounts of personal information from individuals online. Although Americans remain concerned about their waning privacy protections, individuals’ increasing addiction to the very technologies that spur the Cycle has pushed privacy to a crossroads in 2012.
Education and Attitudes toward Redistribution in the United States

Although scholars have studied education's effects on many different outcomes, little attention has been paid to its effects on adults’ economic views. This article examines those effects. It presents results based on longitudinal data which suggest that secondary education has a little-appreciated consequence: it makes Americans more opposed to redistribution. Placebo tests and other analyses confirm this finding. Further investigation suggests that these conservative effects of education operate partly by changing the way that self-interest shapes people's ideas about redistribution.
Cooling down hot wings

![Graphic][1] When butterflies display their spectacular wings on sunny days they are not just showing off their good looks. Spreading out in the sun allows their wings to heat up after they have been cooled by circulating air during flight. However, butterflies cannot fly if their wings get
Unintended consequences: intimate partner violence, military caregivers, and the law

Of the millions of caregivers to injured, ill, or disabled United States military veterans, many are spouses or intimate partners. These individuals must negotiate their responsibilities as caregivers with their roles as intimate partners, but not all relationships are healthy and safe. Accurate rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) against military caregivers by their veterans is difficult to determine, but it does happen. As with civilian populations, spouses of military veterans may be hesitant to leave abusive relationships because of the risks of losing access to medical and mental health care, housing, financial stability, and a cohesive family unit. Moreover, spousal caregivers who are legally obligated to their care recipients may be further deterred from leaving abusive households because of elder abuse laws enacted in many states. Such laws render caregivers vulnerable to felony neglect or abandonment charges. This article reviews current research and policy regarding IPV and discusses its impacts on spousal caregivers of military veterans by describing military caregivers as an important subpopulation; synthesizing key research on IPV in military, caregiving, and military caregiver communities; explaining how state elder abuse statutes generate unintended consequences for these caregivers; and offering recommendations to keep veterans and their caregivers safe.
Does Surgical Intensity Correlate With Opioid Prescribing?: Classifying Common Surgical Procedures.

Objective To examine the relationship between aspects of surgical intensity and postoperative opioid prescribing. Summary of background data Despite the emergence of postoperative prescribing guidelines, recommendations are lacking for many procedures. Identifying a framework based on surgical intensity to guide prescribing for those procedures in which guidelines may not exist could inform postoperative prescribing. Methods We used clustering analysis with 4 factors of surgical intensity (intrinsic cardiac risk, pain score, median operative time, and work relative value units) to devise a classification system for common surgical procedures. We used IBM MarketScan Research Database (2010-2017) to examine the correlation between this framework with initial opioid prescribing and rates of refill for each cluster of procedures. Results We examined 2,407,210 patients who underwent 128 commonly performed surgeries. Cluster analysis revealed 5 ordinal clusters by intensity: low, mid-low, mid, mid-high, and high. We found that as the cluster-order increased, the median amount of opioid prescribed increased: 150 oral morphine equivalents (OME) for low-intensity, 225 OME for mid-intensity, and 300 OME for high-intensity surgeries. Rates of refill increased as surgical intensity also increased, from 17.4% for low, 26.4% for mid, and 48.9% for high-intensity procedures. The odds of refill also increased as cluster-order increased; relative to low-intensity procedures, high-intensity procedures were associated with 4.37 times greater odds of refill. Conclusion Surgical intensity is correlated with initial opioid prescribing and rates of refill. Aspects of surgical intensity could serve as a guide for procedures in which guidelines based on patient-reported outcomes are not available.
Testbed to Study the Surface Charge Distribution along DC Standoff Insulators for All-Electric Ships

Future all-electric ships will likely be based on a medium voltage direct current (MVDC) architecture to distribute power to its electrical loads. It is essential to investigate the different conditions from conventional terrestrial power systems under which such power systems operate: (a) DC voltage, (b) ungrounded operation, (c) spectrum of power electronic switching harmonics, (d) environmental conditions and type of pollution, as well as (e) required level of resiliency and reliability. The testbed is designed to operate at up to 60 kV DC voltage, ungrounded, with a superimposed ripple voltage, and enable to study the effect of various degrees of surface pollution and the impact of ground faults. The impact of the above-listed factors as preliminary result is studied experimentally through the testbed. Recommendations for new standards for creepage distance specific to MVDC shipboard power system are provided.
Binaural Technology for Machine Speech Recognition and Understanding

It is well known that binaural processing is very useful for separating incoming sound sources as well as for improving speech intelligibility in reverberant environments. This chapter describes and compares a number of ways in which automatic-speech-recognition accuracy in difficult acoustical environments can be improved through the use of signal processing techniques that are motivated by our understanding of binaural perception and binaural technology. These approaches are all based on the exploitation of interaural differences in arrival time and intensity of the signals arriving at the two ears to separate signals according to direction of arrival and to enhance the desired target signal. Their structure is motivated by classic models of binaural hearing as well as the precedence effect. We describe the structure and operation of a number of methods that use two or more microphones to improve the accuracy of automatic-speech-recognition systems operating in cluttered, noisy, and reverberant environments. The individual implementations differ in the methods by which binaural principles are imposed on speech processing, and in the precise mechanism used to extract interaural time and intensity differences. Algorithms that exploit binaural information can provide substantially improved speech-recognition accuracy in noisy, cluttered, and reverberant environments compared to baseline delay-and-sum beamforming. The type of signal manipulation that is most effective for improving performance in reverberation is different from what is most effective for ameliorating the effects of degradation caused by spatially-separated interfering sound sources.
Hypocalcemia and a Positive Metabolic Screen for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency in an 11-Day-Old Male With DiGeorge Syndrome.

22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), also known as DiGeorge syndrome or velocardiofacial syndrome, is the most common human genetic microdeletion. Hypocalcemia secondary to hypoparathyroidism is a common finding in this condition and may present with seizures. We describe a case of an 11-day-old male presenting with hypocalcemic seizures and a positive newborn screen for severe combined immunodeficiency as the primary manifestations of 22q11DS. Given the potential for wide phenotypic variability, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for this syndrome, especially in the neonate presenting with hypocalcemia.
Quest for a summary measure of biological age: the health and retirement study

Measures of biological age and its components have been shown to provide important information about individual health and prospective change in health as there is clear value in being able to assess whether someone is experiencing accelerated or decelerated aging. However, how to best assess biological age remains a question. We compare prediction of health outcomes using existing summary measures of biological age with a measure created by adding novel biomarkers related to aging to measures based on more conventional clinical chemistry and exam measures. We also compare the explanatory power of summary biological age measures compared to the individual biomarkers used to construct the measures. To accomplish this, we examine how well biological age, phenotypic age, and expanded biological age and five sets of individual biomarkers explain variability in four major health outcomes linked to aging in a large, nationally representative cohort of older Americans. We conclude that different summary measures of accelerated aging do better at explaining different health outcomes, and that chronological age has greater explanatory power for both cognitive dysfunction and mortality than the summary measures. In addition, we find that there is reduction in the variance explained in health outcomes when indicators are combined into summary measures, and that combining clinical indicators with more novel markers related to aging does best at explaining health outcomes. Finally, it is hard to define a set of assays that parsimoniously explains the greatest amount of variance across the range of health outcomes studied here. All of the individual markers considered were related to at least one of the health outcomes.
Development of digital measures for nighttime scratch and sleep using wrist-worn wearable devices

Patients with atopic dermatitis experience increased nocturnal pruritus which leads to scratching and sleep disturbances that significantly contribute to poor quality of life. Objective measurements of nighttime scratching and sleep quantity can help assess the efficacy of an intervention. Wearable sensors can provide novel, objective measures of nighttime scratching and sleep; however, many current approaches were not designed for passive, unsupervised monitoring during daily life. In this work, we present the development and analytical validation of a method that sequentially processes epochs of sample-level accelerometer data from a wrist-worn device to provide continuous digital measures of nighttime scratching and sleep quantity. This approach uses heuristic and machine learning algorithms in a hierarchical paradigm by first determining when the patient intends to sleep, then detecting sleep-wake states along with scratching episodes, and lastly deriving objective measures of both sleep and scratch. Leveraging reference data collected in a sleep laboratory (NCT ID: NCT03490877), results show that sensor-derived measures of total sleep opportunity (TSO; time when patient intends to sleep) and total sleep time (TST) correlate well with reference polysomnography data (TSO: r = 0.72, p < 0.001; TST: r = 0.76, p < 0.001; N = 32). Log transformed sensor derived measures of total scratching duration achieve strong agreement with reference annotated video recordings (r = 0.82, p < 0.001; N = 25). These results support the use of wearable sensors for objective, continuous measurement of nighttime scratching and sleep during daily life.
Advanced Practice Providers in Plastic Surgery.

Background The aims of this article are to examine the scope of practice differences between physician assistant and nurse practitioner providers, to identify financial cost and benefits, and to posit the impact of physician extenders on plastic surgery practices. Methods A review of the literature was performed using the PubMed database. Key words included "plastic surgery AND physician extender AND cost," "plastic surgery AND physician assistant AND cost," and "plastic surgery AND nurse practitioner AND cost." Secondarily, a search was performed for plastic surgery-related specialties of maxillofacial surgery, orthopedic surgery, and otolaryngology. Inclusion criteria consisted of any study design measuring the financial benefits associated with integrating physician extenders. Results The PubMed search yielded 91 articles. Eight articles were ultimately included, of which four (plastic, maxillofacial, and orthopedic) discussed the impact of physician assistants and four (orthopedic and otolaryngology) discussed the impact of nurse practitioners. All eight studies demonstrated that integration of physician assistants and nurse practitioners into practices was associated with a net financial gain even after taking into account their overall costs, along with other outcomes such as productivity or time involvement. Conclusions As the number of physician extenders continues to grow, especially in subspecialties, plastic surgeons should be aware of their roles and the potentially positive impact of these providers, their respective training, and their quantifiable financial impact toward a plastic surgery practice. Both physician assistants and nurse practitioners appear to have a positive effect on costs in plastic surgery and plastic surgery-related practices.
Supervised DKRC with Images for Offline System Identification.

Koopman spectral theory has provided a new perspective in the field of dynamical systems in recent years. Modern dynamical systems are becoming increasingly non-linear and complex, and there is a need for a framework to model these systems in a compact and comprehensive representation for prediction and control. The central problem in applying Koopman theory to a system of interest is that the choice of finite-dimensional basis functions is typically done apriori, using expert knowledge of the systems dynamics. Our approach learns these basis functions using a supervised learning approach where a combination of autoencoders and deep neural networks learn the basis functions for any given system. We demonstrate this approach on a simple pendulum example in which we obtain a linear representation of the non-linear system and then predict the future state trajectories given some initial conditions. We also explore how changing the input representation of the dynamic systems time series data can impact the quality of learned basis functions. This alternative representation is compared to the traditional raw time series data approach to determine which method results in lower reconstruction and prediction error of the true non-linear dynamics of the system.
Networked mentoring to promote social belonging among minority physical therapist students and develop faculty cross-cultural psychological capital

The purpose of this study was to examine whether a networked mentoring program aligned with the racial/cultural identity development model could mitigate social isolation and promote a sense of bel...
Soft Computing in Textile Sciences

Soft Computing for Softgoods Supply Chain Analysis and Decision Support.- Application of Fuzzy Set Theory in Mechanics of Composite Materials.- Soft Computing and Density Functional Theory in the Design of Safe Textile Chemicals.- Neural-Fuzzy Systems for Color Classifications in Textiles.- Agent-Based Modeling of the Textile/Apparel Marketplace.- Generating a Rule Set for the Fiber-to-Yarn Production Process by Means of an Efficiency-based Classifier System.- List of Contributors.- About the Editors.
Speculative Bubbles and Crashes II: Rational and Semi-Rational

Mill (1848) and others recognized the existence of self-fulfilling prophecies in speculative markets, but viewed them as fundamentally irrational because they were supposedly deviations from the longer run equilibrium. Keynes (1936, Chap. 12) and Samuelson (1957) were the first to propose that a speculative bubble might possibly be a rational self-fulfilling prophecy in some sense.1
An Iron-containing Superoxide Dismutase from Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli B contains two electrophoretically distinct superoxide dismutases, one of which was previously isolated and found to be a mangano-protein. We have now isolated the other superoxide dismutase present in this organism. It contains 1 atom of Fe3+ per molecule and exhibits spectral properties reminiscent of aconitase. Its molecular weight is 38,700 and it is composed of two subunits of equal size which are not covalently joined. The amino acid composition of this ferrisuperoxide dismutase is similar to that of the mangano-enzyme previously isolated from the same source.
Cefamandole therapy of endomyometritis following cesarean section

Abstract Sixty women with endometritis following cesarean section were treated with cefamandole (12 gm/day) alone. Specimens for culture were obtained by endometrial lavage and from peripheral blood. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were performed on anaerobes and enterococci by an agar dilution technique. Anaerobic organisms were isolated in 55 of 60 (91.7%) endometrial specimens. Bacteremia was documented in 12 patients (20%). Of 387 isolates from uterine cultures, 20 (5%) were resistant or had MIC's ≥ 32 μg/ml. Ten patients (17%) were judged clinical failures and responded to additional antibiotics. Of 19 patients with Bacteroides fragilis or related species ∗ ∗Organisms designated Bacteriodes fragilis are widely recognized for their resistance to many antibiotics and their frequent occurrence in pelvic and abdominal infections. In 1976, four organisms previously accorded subspecies rank in the species Bacteroides fragilis were re-ranked as species of the genus Bacteroides. Thus Bacteroides fragilis subspecies thetaiotaomicron became Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron: Bacteroides fragilis subspecies vulgatis became Bacteroides vulgatis. Bacteroides fragilis subspecies distasonis became Bacteroides distasonis, and Bacteroides fragilis subspecies ovatus became Bacteroides ovatus (Cato, E. P. and Johnson, J. L.: Int. J. System. Bacteriol. 26:230. 1976). The expression "Bacteroides fragilis or related species" as used here refers to organisms identified as Bacteroides fragilis or any of the other four reinstated species. isolates in the uterus, three (15%) were judged as failures. Cefamandole was well tolerated and appears to be useful in the initial treatment of endomyometritis.
Correlation Inequalities and the Lee—Yang Theorem

Tractable nonlinear theories generally have either a small parameter and are close to a linear theory or other exactly soluble theory, or have a definite sign and are characterized by global positivity, monotonicity, or convexity properties. These general facts apply to the study of quantum physics, and just as Section 2.4 was an introduction to expansion methods, the present chapter is an introduction to convexity methods. Generally, expansion methods apply to all interactions but only in a limited parameter range (small parameters), while convexity methods apply to a limited class of interactions (the convex ones) but over all or a large part of their parameter ranges. For statistical mechanical systems, the convexity properties, known as correlation inequalities, are expressed as general inequalities between the expectation values (i.e., the moments or correlation functions) of the system. The Lee-Yang theorem is included here because its proof and usage are closely related.
Unmanned underwater vehicle broadband synthetic aperture sonar

The experimental synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) in use at the US Navy Coastal Systems Station (CSS) in Panama City, Florida, was first fielded in 1996. Since then, the system has proved itself to be a reliable high-quality sensor. The original configuration provides for simultaneous imaging at two frequency bands; one centered at 20 kHz (10 kHz bandwidth) and the other at 180 kHz (30 kHz bandwidth). The CSS SAS has recently been upgraded with the addition of a new broadband low-frequency transmitter capable of producing a linear FM chirp from 8-55 kHz. This paper discusses the details of the system upgrade and some of the signal processing opportunities afforded by it.
Multi-sensor navigation system for an autonomous helicopter

Autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) require avionics systems that enable them to maintain a stable attitude and to follow a desired flight path. This paper considers the design and development of such an avionics system that provides navigational and terrain information to the flight computer of a rotorcraft UAV. The process includes the design and testing of flight hardware and software that interprets sensor data. The paper provides an overview of a specific implementation of the approach: the GTMax testbed developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology UAV research facility. Its available payload and performance allows for a variety of onboard sensors, supports reconfiguration, and has the capability to demonstrate aggressive maneuvers under complex and changing mission scenarios.
Bexarotene-Activated Retinoid X Receptors Regulate Neuronal Differentiation and Dendritic Complexity

Bexarotene-activated retinoid X receptors (RXRs) ameliorate memory deficits in Alzheimer9s disease mouse models, including mice expressing human apolipoprotein E (APOE) isoforms. The goal of this study was to gain further insight into molecular mechanisms whereby ligand-activated RXR can affect or restore cognitive functions. We used an unbiased approach to discover genome-wide changes in RXR cistrome (ChIP-Seq) and gene expression profile (RNA-Seq) in response to bexarotene in the cortex of APOE4 mice. Functional categories enriched in both datasets revealed that bexarotene-liganded RXR affected signaling pathways associated with neurogenesis and neuron projection development. To further validate the significance of RXR for these functions, we used mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, primary neurons, and APOE3 and APOE4 mice treated with bexarotene. In vitro data from ES cells confirmed that bexarotene-activated RXR affected neuronal development at different levels, including proliferation of neural progenitors and neuronal differentiation, and stimulated neurite outgrowth. This effect was validated in vivo by demonstrating an increased number of neuronal progenitors after bexarotene treatment in the dentate gyrus of APOE3 and APOE4 mice. In primary neurons, bexarotene enhanced the dendritic complexity characterized by increased branching, intersections, and bifurcations. This effect was confirmed by in vivo studies demonstrating that bexarotene significantly improved the compromised dendritic structure in the hippocampus of APOE4 mice. We conclude that bexarotene-activated RXRs promote genetic programs involved in the neurogenesis and development of neuronal projections and these results have significance for the improvement of cognitive deficits. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Bexarotene-activated retinoid X receptors (RXRs) ameliorate memory deficits in Alzheimer9s disease mouse models, including mice expressing human apolipoprotein E (APOE) isoforms. The goal of this study was to gain further insight into molecular mechanisms whereby ligand-activated RXR can affect or restore cognitive functions. We used an unbiased approach to discover genome-wide changes in RXR cistrome (ChIP-Seq) and gene expression profile (RNA-Seq) in response to bexarotene in the cortex of APOE4 mice. Functional categories enriched in both datasets revealed that liganded RXR affected signaling pathways associated with neurogenesis and neuron projection development. The significance of RXR for these functions was validated in mouse embryonic stem cells, primary neurons, and APOE3 and APOE4 mice treated with bexarotene.
Plant and water-level dynamics in an east texas shrub/hardwood bottomland wetland

Plant distribution and layering were analyzed from four line transects across aninehectare shrub swamp and adjacent hardwood bottomlands, and water fluctuations and hydroperiod were assessed via six wells and staff gauges. Vegetational transition from deep to shallow water was buttonbushCephalanthus occidentalis, water elmPlanera aquatica, overcup oakQuercus lyrata, water oakQ. nigra, willow oakQ. phellos, and several other hardwoods intermixed at less frequently flooded elevations. A past die-off of overcup oak and other vegetational changes suggest that a single event or a series flooding events occurred during the growing season. Vegetative change included rapid establishment of herbaceous vegetation in shallow, open are as after overstory die-off, followed by gradual invasion of water elm. Further opening in adjacent bottomland woods is resulting from windfall of shallow-rooted oaks. Impoundments for green-tree reservoirs or other water-level modifications should be based upon an understanding of local plant succession since slight changes in water regime may modify plant species or cover-water patterns and seriously impact the wetland community. Where possible, natural water regimes should be preserved; where this is impossible due to watershed modifications, such regimes should be documented and duplicated by use of the most simple possible management system to avoid endangering natural plant communities.
RECKLESS RATIONALISM AND HEROIC REVERENCE IN HOMER'S ODYSSEY

A decision-theoretic analysis of the central incident of Homer’s Odyssey reveals the insufficiency of rational calculation as a guide for political prudence. Surprisingly, the poet distinguishes between two rational and formally identical calculations in no uncertain terms: he condemns one as utter recklessness and praises the other as consummate wisdom. I maintain that this discrepancy is neither an artifact of sloppy editorial patchwork nor the result of a “homeric nod” but instead points toward a politically significant distinction as yet obscured by a merely rationalistic perspective. The recklessness of Odysseus’ crewmen, who deliberately slaughter sacred cattle to forestall starvation, consists in their rationalistic transgression of the limits of reason. These limits are most evident in the defiance of commensurability that characterizes the sacred. The wisdom of Odysseus, by contrast, is manifest in his learning to temper reason with respect for the sacred. By virtue of reverence, Odysseus wins his struggle to preserve his psyche, home and regime. omer’s epic poems have attracted little attention among modem students of politics for many reasons, not the least of which is the argument that these works are adverse or, at best, irrelevant to contemporary liberal democracy. To be sure, Homer’s polities are tribal, localized, and monarchical, while our own is pluralistic, continental, and democratic. Moreover, certain qualities of character celebrated in
Glycosphingolipids during skeletal muscle cell differentiation: Comparison of normal and fusion-defective myoblasts

The regulation of glycosphingolipid (GSL) synthesis in culture by fusion-competent (E63) myoblasts and fusion-defective (fu-1) cells was examined. Upon reaching confluency E63 cells fused to form multinucleated myotubes and demonstrated many characteristics of developing skeletal muscle including induction of creatine kinase activity and a shift in creatine kinase isozymes to the MM isoform. The fu-1 cells displayed none of these characteristics, despite the fact that both cells were cloned from the same parental myoblast line (rat L8). There was a transient increase in the synthesis of total neutral GSLs by E63 cells at the time of membrane fusion. In contrast, neutral GSL synthesis by fu-1 cells gradually decreased with time in culture. The major GSLs synthesized by both cell types were lactosylceramide and ganghoside GM3, with more complex structures being observed with prolonged time in culture. Several glycosyltransferase activities were assayed at varying times in culture. Generally, the changes in activities fell into three groups. One group was maximally activated at the end of the culture period (GalT-3, GalNAcT-1 and GalT-6). Another group was maximally activated during the time of active membrane fusion (GlcT and SAT-1). A third group was maximally activated at the time of cell contact and the beginning of membrane fusion (GlcNAcT-1 and GalT-2). In terms of the times of maximal activation there were few differences between E63 and fu-1 cells, with one notable exception. The activity of GalT-2 (lactosylceramide synthase) in E63 cells increased dramatically upon contact and the beginning of membrane fusion, whereas there were no changes in GalT-2 activity in fu-1 cells during time in culture. These results support our hypothesis that membrane glycosphingolipids play an important role in the differentiation of skeletal muscle cells.
Safety and clinical activity of the combination of 5-azacytidine, valproic acid, and all-trans retinoic acid in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome

The combination of a DNA hypomethylating agent with a histone deacetylase inhibitor has synergistic antileukemia activity and may restore sensitivity to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). We conducted a phase 1/2 study of the combination of 5-azacitidine (5-AZA), valproic acid (VPA), and ATRA in patients with acute myeloid leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. 5-AZA was administered subcutaneously at a fixed dose of 75 mg/m(2) daily for 7 days. VPA was dose-escalated and given orally daily for 7 days concomitantly with 5-AZA. ATRA was given at 45 mg/m(2) orally daily for 5 days, starting on day 3. A total of 53 patients were treated. Their median age was 69 years (range, 5-84 years). The maximum tolerated dose of VPA in this combination was 50 mg/kg daily for 7 days. Dose-limiting toxicity was reversible neurotoxicity. The overall response rate was 42%. In previously untreated older patients, the response rate was 52%. Median number of courses to response was 1 (range, 1-3 courses). Median remission duration was 26 weeks, and median survival has not been reached. A significant decrease in global DNA methylation and induction of histone acetylation were achieved. VPA blood levels were higher in responders (P < .005). In conclusion, the combination studied is safe and has significant clinical activity. This clinical trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as no. NCT00326170.
RAFT synthesis and solution properties of pH-responsive styrenic-based AB diblock copolymers of 4-vinylbenzyltrimethylphosphonium chloride with n,n-dimethylbenzylvinylamine

The RAFT synthesis and solution properties of AB block copolymers of 4-vinylbenzyl-trimethylphosphonium chloride (TMP) and N,N-dimethylbenzylvinylamine (DMBVA) is described. The pH-dependent self-assembly properties of the AB diblock copolymers were examined using of 1 H NMR, DLS, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The size of the polymeric aggregates depends on the block copolymer composition/ molecular mass. The self assembly is completely reversible, as predicted from the tunable hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the DMBVA residues. The AB diblock copolymers can be effectively locked in the self-assembled state using a straightforward core crosslinking reaction between the tertiary amine residues of DMBVA and difunctional 1,4-bis(bromomethyl)benzene.
Exposure to octylphenol increases basal testosterone formation by cultured adult rat Leydig cells

Abstract 4- Tert -octylphenol (OP) is a breakdown product of 4- tert -octylphenol ethoxylate, which is a surfactant additive widely used in the manufacture of a variety of detergents and plastic products. OP has been reported to exhibit weak estrogenic activity in many assay systems. The studies described herein examined an unusual effect of OP in increasing constitutive testosterone levels of cultured Leydig cells from young adult rats. The increase in testosterone was both dose and time sensitive, and this response was observed in medium lacking both calcium and magnesium and containing a membrane-permeable calcium chelator, suggesting that the increase in testosterone was not mediated by an increase in the permeability of extracellular calcium into cells or the redistribution/release of calcium from intracellular stores, respectively. Cellular cAMP levels also were unaffected by OP alone in cultured Leydig cells. Furthermore, initial exposure to 2000 nM OP alone for 4 h did not alter the subsequent conversion of endogenous cholesterol or exogenously added 22 (R)hydroxycholesterol to testosterone, suggesting that the increase in testosterone was not due to the enhanced availability of endogenous cholesterol or an increase in cholesterol side-chain cleavage activity, respectively. The increase in testosterone also was observed in the presence of the pure estrogen antagonist, ICI 182,780, or a 5α-reductase inhibitor, suggesting that this effect of OP was not mediated through the estrogen receptor α or β pathway or by inhibition of Leydig cell testosterone metabolism, respectively. In addition, exposure of cells to comparable concentrations of two different detergents, Triton X-100 or sodium cholate, did not increase testosterone levels, suggesting that this effect of OP was not due to its potential detergent qualities. Although these studies did not identify specific mechanism(s) that increase constitutive testosterone levels by OP, they identify specific pathways that appear not to be involved. The physiological relevance of this observation is not known; nevertheless, they illustrate potential diverse actions of OP in modulating the level of androgen secreted by Leydig cells, and they emphasize that some actions of OP do not appear to be mediated through the estrogen receptor α or β pathway.
Imide Transfer Properties and Reactions of the Magnesium Imide ((THF)MgNPh)(6): A Versatile Synthetic Reagent.

Imide transfer properties of ((THF)MgNPh)6 (1) and the synthesis of the related species {(THF)MgN(1-naphthyl)}6·2.25THF (2), via the reaction of dibutylmagnesium with H2N(1-naphthyl), in a THF/hept...
Response of Dogs' Cutaneous Veins to Local and Central Temperature Changes

To study the separate actions of peripheral and central temperature-sensitive systems on the cutaneous veins of the dog, a cross-circulation preparation was made in which hindleg and central temperatures could be varied independently. The lateral saphenous vein of a vascularly isolated hindleg was cross-perfused at constant flow; the difference between perfusion and femoral vein pressures was a measure of venomotor activity. With central temperature constant, local cooling of one leg from 47° to 17°C caused the lateral saphenous vein to constrict; sensitivity to cooling was maximal between 42° and 27°C. With leg temperature constant, central cooling caused the lateral saphenous vein to constrict; over the range of 40° to 33°C, the constriction was linearly related to the decrease in temperature. Central heating reduced the response to local cooling, whereas central cooling had the opposite effect. Thus a decrease in central temperature from 38° to 34°C increased the venoconstrictor response to local cooling from 42° to 22°C by a factor of ten or more.
Synthesis, Microstructure and Local Chemistry of Superconducting BiSrCaCuO thin Films

Microchemical and microstructural characterization, using established SEM and STEM techniques, has shown that most (>90% of the area) of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O thin films prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering on both NaCl and MgO substrates in the (100) orientation is the superconducting phase Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 (2212); with largely defect free single crystal grains oriented with the a-b conduction planes parallel to the substrate. The geometrical interconnectivity is high and the grain boundaries are clean and well ordered without any intermediate layers to limit the superconductivity. There were also small patches (>10%) in which the Bi- and Cu-rich phases, Bi 2 SrCuO 5 and CuO, had separated. The films had an onset Tc at 115K with zero resistance at 85K and a Jc of 10 5 A/cm 2 at liquid He temperature.
An evaluation of markers in the early detection of large bowel cancer.

In colon cancer biologic markers have been successfully utilized to follow the course of disease, to evaluate response to therapy, and to predict recurrence. With the exception of occult blood measurements, there has been little success in adopting markers to early diagnosis. The role of CEA in predicting the course of the disease is considered, as well as the utility of combining serum enzyme measurements and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assays for these purposes. Aryl sulfatase B has been correlated to the stage of the disease, and enzymes involved in the metabolism of glycoproteins (sialyltransferase and glucosyltransferase) may be of importance in monitoring colon cancer. Polyamines have been observed in blood and urine of patients with a variety of cancers and their presence during therapy in increased amounts may reflect cancer cell death as well as tumor growth. Their use in diagnosis and chemo-therapeutic monitoring in colon cancer has not yet been established. Another area of possible use of biologic markers is their measurement in colon washings. This is discussed in regard to the assay of CEA and enzymes in colonic lavage.
Proposal for Notation at Tricritical Points

A notation for critical exponents at a tricritical point is proposed on the basis that the line of critical points observed experimentally in metamagnets, N${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$Cl, or ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$-${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ mixtures defines a special direction in the space of thermodynamic parameters. Scaling at a tricritical point implies certain relations among the exponents which are summarized in a table.
A simple procedure for identification ofClostridium botulinum colonies.

For direct identification of toxigenic colonies ofClostridium botulinum type E, suspected colonies are uniformly suspended in a phosphate buffer containing 0.5% (w/v) gelatin and 0.05% (w/v) Tween 20. After centrifuging, the supernatant is tested for botulinal toxin by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The assay is specific for this type as it did not react with culture filtrates of otherClostridium species, including non-toxigenic ‘E-like’ organisms.
The coherent Cerenkov radiated power from a group of field-aligned test particles in a magnetoplasma

An expression is derived that describes the coherent Cerenkov radiated power from a group of test particles in a plasma medium moving parallel to a magnetic field. In this analysis, each particle has an arbitrary position and velocity along a field line and, as a consequence, both the spatial and temporal coherence of the radiation are considered. As an example, it is demonstrated that a monoenergetic electron beam consisting of small pulses can generate wave powers well above incoherent levels if the pulse spacing is comparable to an integer number of emission wavelengths. It is also shown that, if the beam particles have a velocity spread, Delta-V, the wave powers will decrease in time due to the reduced temporal coherence of the particle radiators, where this coherence scales as 1/Delta-V. This latter effect applies to any charged particle beam propagating in a magnetoplasma, because even an initially monoenergetic beam becomes thermalized by electrostatic wave-particle interactions reducing the radiated power.
Products of ozonized arachidonic acid potentiate the formation of DNA single strand breaks in cultured human lung cells.

In this study we examined the potential for environmental levels of ozone (O{sub 3}) to degrade arachidonic acid (AA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid abundantly present in the lung, into products that can produce DNA single strand breaks (ssb) in cultured human lung cells. Human lung fibroblasts were incubated with 60 {mu}M AA that had been previously exposed to an degraded by 0.4 ppm O{sub 3} (1 hr). Incubation of the cells with O{sub 3}-exposed AA (but not with vehicle alone) for 1 hr at 4{degrees}C and 37{degrees}C produced 555 and 245 rad-equivalents of DNA ssb, respectively, as determined by the DNA alkaline elution technique. These breaks were completely eliminated when the ozonized AA solution was incubated with catalase prior to cell treatment, indicating that H{sub 2}O{sub 2} was solely responsible for damaging DNA. Superoxide dismutase, bovine serum albumin, or heat-inactivated catalase showed little, if any, inhibitory activity. The H{sub 2}O{sub 2} content for only about 40% of the observed breaks. Potentiation of the H{sub 2}O{sub 2}-induced DNA ssb persisted after removal of the carbonyl substances by chromatographic procedures, suggesting that the non-carbonyl component of ozonized AA was the responsible component for inducing augmentation of the observed increases in DNA ssb.more » Ozonized AA also induced DNA ssb in cultures of the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. Again, these breaks were shown to exceed levels that could be attributed to the presence of H{sub 2}O{sub 2} alone. These results indicate that products of ozonized AA can interact to potentiate DNA ssb in human lung cells. 42 refs., 6 figs., 3 tabs.« less