cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Capturing humanitarian war: the collusion of violence and care in US-managed military detention

In this paper I explore the complex economies of violence that circulate through the US military's enactments of battlefield capture and military detainment. I highlight the ways in which these practices relate to the humanitarian objective of carrying out warfare both for and with humanity. I first outline the emergence of an explicitly protective custody within the landscape of war, describing the broad historical contours of war prisoner treatment. I then detail the ways in which humanitarian law's call to care for detained enemy bodies has itself become linked with highly specific forms of political and bodily violence. Next, I argue that this copractice of care and violence in the camps is underpinned by a relational understanding of humanitarianism. Finally, I turn my attention to the ways in which the battlefield encounter has become an increasingly technical enterprise, one in which questions surrounding the ethical treatment of prisoners are subsumed into an evolving assemblage of spaces, means o...
Foreign Policy: the Realism of Idealism

World politics today is admittedly bipolar, and it seems destined to remain so within the foreseeable future. Beset by its sustained tension, Americans have been led to debate, sometimes acrimoniously, the proper foundations, scope, and content of an effective foreign policy. Since presumably the central theme and central purpose of this debate is the definition of what constitutes the American national interest, the first objective is to define the idea of national interest. Thereafter it is necessary to draw proper deductions relevant to the total world situation, and in turn to apply these deductions as policy to the forces there at work. These forces—political, economic, ideological, and military—in their interconnectedness collectively constitute the raw materials for assessment, judgment, planning, and action in our policy-making.Resultant differences of opinion therefore can take place at different levels. Initially there are vastly divergent concepts of the characteristics of a nation, of the role of nations in the world, and of the nature of interests proper to a nation. The scope of these divergencies is often hidden by our tendency to find in the term “national interest” connotations of particularism, of exclusiveness, of the nation as against, or superior to, the rest of the world.
Radiation processes related to oxygen-hydrogen combustion at high pressures

Radiation related to the combustion of liquid-oxygen jets in gaseous hydrogen was studied by measuring the intensities of OH, O 2 , and H 2 O radiation in a combustion chamber equipped with windows. Over-all oxidant-fuel weight ratio ( o/f ) was varied from 1 to 10 at a chamber pressure of 24 atm. Maximum intensities were measured at mixture ratios near stoichiometric. Gas temperatures derived from the measured color temperature of a tungsten plate in the gas stream, corrected for losses, agreed with theoretical temperatures of the products. Gas radiation appeared to be thermally excited and in local equilibrium at all locations within the combustor. Measured radiation from the upstream region of a stable combustor veried little with o/f ratio. Intensities initially increased in the direction of gas flow due to reaction and then decreased as the burned gas was diluted with excess reactant or cooled by heat transfer to the walls. Ultraviolet and total radiation data showed that the reaction proceeded at approximately a constant rate until the limiting reactant was consumed. The distance required to complete the reaction varied from 1.5 to 12 in. as o/f was varied from 1 to 9. Measurements made in a second, unstable combustor (axial pressure and velocity oscillations) showed that reaction distances were reduced to 1 to 6 in. for the same o/f variation of 1 to 10. The extents of reaction in the two combustors were compared to the predicted trends for turbulent mixing or vaporization. Combustion appeared to be controlled by mixing in the stable combustor and by vaporization in the unstable one.
On-chip manipulation of free droplets

Tiny free-floating drops can be driven across a liquid medium by an electric field. 'Lab-on-a-chip' systems resemble factories with permanently rigged pipes, but their prefabricated microchannels could have problems in delivering materials such as suspended particles, biological cells or proteins, which may adhere to the walls and clog the channels. More flexible microfluidic systems allow liquids to be transported as droplets on a solid surface1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, but these suffer from similar drawbacks where the droplets are in contact with solid walls. Here we describe a liquid–liquid microfluidic system for manipulating freely suspended microlitre- and nanolitre-sized droplets of water or hydrocarbon, which float on a denser, perfluorinated oil and are driven by an alternating or constant electric field applied by arrays of electrodes below the oil. These microfluidic chips could be used as a versatile tool in microscale transport and mixing and in chemical and materials synthesis.
Eliminating multiple pregnancies: an appropriate target for government intervention?

Abstract The manuscript in this issue of the journal by Bissonette et al. reports on a new government-sponsored intervention into the practice of IVF within the province of Quebec, Canada, which in the authors' opinion highly successfully reduced twinning rates, while maintaining overall acceptable pregnancy rates. Given the opportunity to comment, their manuscript, in my opinion, only reemphasizes why, despite wide professional support, the concept of single embryo transfer (SET) is: (i) damaging to most infertility patients by reducing pregnancy chances; (ii) does so without compensatory benefits; (iii) impinges on patients' rights to self-determination; (iv) has significant negative impact on IVF-generated birth rates; and (v) thus, demonstrating, once more, that governments should not interfere with the patient–physician relationships.
Bone density and fracture risk in men.

We evaluated different definitions of osteoporosis in a population-based sample of 348 men (age 22-90 years) compared with 351 women (age 21-93 years). Thirty-six men (10%) and 46 women (13%) had a history of osteoporotic fracture (hip, spine, or distal forearm due to moderate trauma at >/= age 35). In logistic regression analysis, osteoporotic fracture risk was associated with bone mineral density (BMD) at all sites (neck, trochanter, total hip, lumbar spine, and total wrist) in both genders (p /=50 years of age. A similar approach (BMD > 2.5 SD below the young male mean) produced an osteoporosis prevalence rate in men >/=50 years of age of 19%. Thus, bone density predicts fracture risk in men as it does in women, and the prevalence of osteoporosis in men, using sex-specific normal values, is substantial. These observations indicate a need for better prevention and treatment strategies for men.
Variability in the components of high-density lipoprotein particles measured in human ovarian follicular fluid: a cross-sectional analysis.

Objective To assess the variability of follicular fluid (FF) high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle components. Design Cross-sectional design with assessment using two-stage nested analysis of variance. Setting Reproductive health center. Patient(s) 180 in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Nineteen HDL components including HDL cholesterol and free (unesterified) and esterified forms, phospholipids, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A-1 and A-2, paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activities, and seven lipophilic vitamins and micronutrients. Result(s) We collected FF specimens from two contralateral follicles on the day of oocyte retrieval and analyzed them for HDL components, characterizing the analytes by age, body mass index (BMI), race and smoking. For some analytes, a majority of total measurement variability was attributed to sources between follicles, suggesting an important role for the integrity of the blood-follicle barrier and in situ remodeling of plasma-derived constituents. For other analytes, variability was mostly attributed to sources between women, likely indicative of plasma levels. Variability between follicles decreased with increasing age and differed by BMI and smoking, and generally were lower for Asians and women with diminished ovarian reserve. Conclusion(s) Substantial variability in FF HDL components exist between follicles among women undergoing IVF as well as between women by age, BMI, race, smoking, and infertility diagnosis.
Somatostatin Inhibits Urinary Cyclic AMP Excretion in Diabetic Rats

Short term (30 min) infusion of cyclic somatostatin (50 microgram/rat), insulin (1 U/rat) or the two together significantly suppressed urinary cyclic AMP excretion in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. While somatostatin tended to increase cyclic GMP excretion, insulin had an opposite effect in diabetic but not in normal rats. It is suggested that somatostatin suppresses cyclic AMP excretion by inhibiting directly adenylate cyclase in liver and perhaps in other organs. The possibility that suppression of urinary cyclic AMP is due to inhibition of glucagon secretion is also considered.
Redox potential dependence of photophosphorylation and electron transfer in continuous illumination of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides chromatophores

Abstract The dependence on redox potential ( E h ) of the steady-state photophosphorylation rate in chromatophores of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides Ga was measured using slowly equilibrating (and hence less interfering) redox mediators. The remaining interference of the mediators was taken into account by extrapolating to zero mediator concentration. The extents of cytochrome redox reactions (in the presence of antimycin) and of the carotenoid shift were similarly measured. The redox titration of cytochrome c oxidation is consistent with a requirement for prior cytochrome c 2 reduction and prior Q I (primary electron acceptor) oxidation, while the titration of cytochrome b reduction is consistent with a requirement for prior (BChl) 2 reduction and prior cytochrome b 560 oxidation. The steady-state carotenoid shift extent is a much more broadly peaked function of E h than is the extent following a single-turnover flash, indicating that the transmembrane electrical potential difference can be built up to significant levels by minimal rates of electron flow. The photophosphorylation rate, in contrast, is much more strongly E h dependent, supporting the concept of a threshold membrane energization below which phosphorylation cannot occur. Earlier work by others showing a requirement for equilibrium cytochrome c 2 reduction and Q I oxidation is clearly confirmed. A much greater enhancement in phosphorylation rate was found at low E h than has heretofore been reported. This threefold enhancement is discussed in relation to the equilibrium redox states of the ubiquinone-10 complement of the chromatophore membrane.
Tanespimycin: the opportunities and challenges of targeting heat shock protein 90.

Background: Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is the core of a multi-chaperone complex critical for the folding, trafficking, and stabilization of many client proteins that are involved in tumor cell proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis. Targeting HSP90 results in degradation of these client proteins. Objective: Data supporting the development of tanespimycin, which targets HSP90, are reviewed. Methods: Clinical data available for tanespimycin development are presented. Results: Tanespimycin can be given safely at biologically active doses with mild toxicity such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. Although single-agent studies have shown limited activity, combinations of tanespimycin with bortezomib or trastuzumab have suggested promising avenues of further evaluation in multiple myeloma and breast cancer, respectively. Conclusions: Further development of HSP90-targeted strategies include testing of novel chemical structures having better solubility and stability and the potential for oral admin...
Finite density effects in plasmas

Abstract The electronic structure on an ion in a low-density plasma is compared with that of an ion in a high-density plasma. The raising of energy levels and pressure ionization of loosely bound levels are well known and easy to estimate with reasonable accuracy. The accompanying changes in dipole transition rates—the main point of this note—are illustrated by means of self-consistent field calculations of an isolated ion and an ion screened by free electrons.
A modification of procedures for petrographic analysis of tertiary Indonesian coals

Abstract A study undertaken to characterize the Eocene coals from southeast Kalimantan has shown that standard preparation procedures fail to capture some basic petrographic properties of the coal. Modification of these procedures permits recognition of distinct plant parts and tissues embedded in finer grained matrix components. Plant parts and tissues can be classified on the basis of morphology and degree of degradation. The highest concentration and best preservation of plant parts and tissues occurs in banded coal and is lowest in the non-banded coal. Use of these procedures, which relates megascopic appearance to petrographic character, should allow more precise utilization of the coal.
SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN SOYBEAN VIA SOMATIC EMBRYO CYCLING

The objectives of the present research were: a) to develop an efficient soybean embryogenic regeneration system characterized by a high frequency of explant response and a large number of somatic embryos per explant; b) to evaluate the factors affecting somatic embryogenesis via somatic embryo cycling; and c) to identify the origin of somatic embryos in the system. A highly improved and efficient system for soybean somatic embryogenesis was established using somatic embryo cotyledons and somatic embryo hypocotyl/radicle explants plated on α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) supplemented MS basal media. The system included somatic embryo cycling between liquid and solid medium and it consistently gave rise to a much higher frequency of explant response and a larger number of embryos per responding explant than those obtained from zygotic cotyledon explant tissues. Genotype, differences were observed for response in some of the treatments with cv “Fayette” being more responsive than “J103”. Histological studies revealed that somatic embryos induced in the somatic embryo cycling system originated almost exclusively from epidermal cells on both 2,4-D and NAA inductive media. The cells of the epidermis proliferated to produce somatic embryos directly without an intervening callus phase. A single-cell origin of somatic embryos was observed in cultures on a 40 mg/liter 2,4-D treatment. A large number of responding cells in the epidermis was also observed in the 10 mg/liter NAA treatment. The single-cell origin of somatic embryos from epidermal layers of the explant tissues should facilitate development of an efficient transformation system for soybean.
Deposition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and microtopographical changes on membrane surfaces during intermittent filtration conditions

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) play a significant role in modifying surface characteristics, eventually creating conditions suitable for bacterial attachment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the fouling potential of the EPS present in the effluent of an aerobic membrane bioreactor during intermittent filtration conditions. The aerobic rotational membrane system (ARMS) is a novel compact reactor which is designed to convert ammonia nitrogen in concentrated wastewater to nitrates with high conversion rates. The effluent from the reactor contains significant amounts of dissolved substrates which include EPS produced by the biofilm and salts. A series of cross-flow filtration tests were conducted with intermittent once a day short filtration periods using SEPA CFII membrane test cell and an RO membrane. The intermittent tests runs were conducted for overall filter use times of 1, 2, 4, and 6 days. Progression of the microtopographical changes, amount of EPS accumulation, and flux characteristics were evaluated. The images taken by atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed a layer of soft deposits forming over a strong sublayer firmly covering the membrane surface within a short time. The sublayer consisted of distinct modular units which were firmly attached to each other and to the membrane surface. The amount of EPS deposited on the membranes increased with use time and the membranes became significantly hydrophilic. The membrane flux declined gradually after each daily intermission until the 5th ± 1 day, then a small increase in flux was observed. The flux increase may be due to dislodging of some of the deposited material from the membrane surface due to shearing during cross-flow filtration conditions.
Subjective Well-Being Among People with Spinal Cord Injuries: The Role of Self-Efficacy, Perceived Social Support, and Perceived Health

The purpose of this study was to explore the joint contributions of demographic variables, perceived health, self-efficacy beliefs, and perceived social support to subjective well-being (SWB) in pe...
Designing a digital reminiscing system for older adults

There has recently been interest within the HCI community concerning both current practices and digital tools for reminiscing. Several systems have been developed to trigger and/or capture reminiscence content; however very little is known about the overall process of reminiscing and few design efforts have been directed to the needs of the elderly. For my dissertation I have investigated when and how older individuals reminisce and am currently designing and evaluating prototype systems that can enhance and maintain records of their reminiscing.
Transmission-blocking immunity against malaria and other vector-borne diseases

Antibodies to sexual stage malaria parasites block transmission of Plasmodium by female mosquitoes. With the recent isolation of genes encoding several of the target antigens of transmission-blocking antibodies, the development of a subunit transmission-blocking vaccine against malaria is now a realistic goal.
A Computer Case Definition for Sudden Cardiac Death

Purpose To facilitate studies of medications and sudden cardiac death, we developed and validated a computer case definition for these deaths. The study of community dwelling Tennessee Medicaid enrollees 30–74 years of age utilized a linked database with Medicaid inpatient/outpatient files, state death certificate files, and a state ‘all-payers’ hospital discharge file. Methods The computerized case definition was developed from a retrospective cohort study of sudden cardiac deaths occurring between 1990 and 1993. Medical records for 926 potential cases had been adjudicated for this study to determine if they met the clinical definition for sudden cardiac death occurring in the community and were likely to be due to ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The computerized case definition included deaths with (1) no evidence of a terminal hospital admission/nursing home stay in any of the data sources; (2) an underlying cause of death code consistent with sudden cardiac death; and (3) no terminal procedures inconsistent with unresuscitated cardiac arrest. This definition was validated in an independent sample of 174 adjudicated deaths occurring between 1994 and 2005. Results The positive predictive value of the computer case definition was 86.0% in the development sample and 86.8% in the validation sample. The positive predictive value did not vary materially for deaths coded according to the ICO-9 (1994–1998, positive predictive value = 85.1%) or ICD-10 (1999–2005, 87.4%) systems. Conclusion A computerized Medicaid database, linked with death certificate files and a state hospital discharge database, can be used for a computer case definition of sudden cardiac death. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of the biguanide class of oral hypoglycemic agents on mouse embryogenesis

The incidence of birth defects among offspring of mothers with non–insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is 2–3–fold higher than among infants of non diabetics. Since mothers with NIDDM are frequently given oral hypoglycemic agents, including sulphonylureas and biguanides, to control their disease and since these agents have been associated with the occurrence of congenital malformations in humans and animals, the embryotoxic effects of the most commonly employed biguanides, metformin and phenformin, were evaluated in whole embryo culture. Neurulating mouse embryos were exposed to therapeutic concentrations (metformin 500–2,550 mg per day; phenformin 50–400 mg per day, respectively) of the compounds for 24–48 h. Concentrations of metformin in culture ranged from 0.15 to 1.8 mg/ml and phenformin from 2.5 × 10−5 to 0.4 mg/ml. Cultures were terminated and scored for gross morphological alterations and total protein content. Metformin produced no alterations in embryonic growth and no major malformations. Approximately 10% of all embryos exposed to metformin regardless of dose, exhibited open cranial neuropores after 24 h of culture. However, this anomaly appeared to represent a delay in closure as opposed to an overt defect, since no embryos exposed to the highest concentration of the drug and cultured for 48 h showed open neural tubes. In contrast, phenformin produced dose dependent changes in incidence of malformations, protein content, and embryolethality. Malformations included neural tube closure defects, craniofacial hypoplasia, and reduction in size of the first and second visceral arches. Doses above 0.1 mg/ml produced embryolethality and all embryos were killed at the 0.4 mg/ml concentration. Thus, of the two biguanides phenformin has a greater toxicity in whole embryo culture, suggesting that metformin may be safer for use during pregnancy. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Importance of growth direction in mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers

We report on the effect of growth direction on the performance of mid-infrared Quantum Cascade lasers. The design used has a symmetric active core, capable of operating under both negative and positive polarities, which allows to test for residual growth asymmetries such as interface roughness and dopant migration. Calculations of scattering lifetimes from interface roughness and ionized impurities suggest a dominant contribution from the former, with devices biased positively averaging ∼15% larger broadening and ∼50% shorter upper state lifetime than negatively biased devices. Experimental results for positively biased devices show at least 30% larger broadening and 35% lower electroluminescence peak intensity than those biased negatively, in good agreement with the modeling results.
LKLF: A Transcriptional Regulator of Single-Positive T Cell Quiescence and Survival

Mature single-positive (SP) T lymphocytes enter a "resting" state in which they are proliferatively quiescent and relatively resistant to apoptosis. The molecular mechanisms regulating this quiescent phenotype were unknown. Here it was found that the expression of a Kruppel-like zinc finger transcription factor, lung Kruppel-like factor (LKLF), is developmentally induced during the maturation of SP quiescent T cells and rapidly extinguished after SP T cell activation. LKLF-deficient T cells produced by gene targeting had a spontaneously activated phenotype and died in the spleen and lymph nodes from Fas ligand-induced apoptosis. Thus, LKLF is required to program the quiescent state of SP T cells and to maintain their viability in the peripheral lymphoid organs and blood.
Greatest common divisor of matrices one of which is a disappear matrix

We study the structure of the greatest common divisor of matrices one of which is a disappear matrix. In this connection, we indicate the Smith normal form and the transforming matrices of the left greatest common divisor.
Potential impact of climate change on flooding in the Upper Great Miami River Watershed, Ohio, USA: a simulation-based approach

Abstract This study aims to assess the potential impact of climate change on flood risk for the city of Dayton, which lies at the outlet of the Upper Great Miami River Watershed, Ohio, USA. First the probability mapping method was used to downscale annual precipitation output from 14 global climate models (GCMs). We then built a statistical model based on regression and frequency analysis of random variables to simulate annual mean and peak streamflow from precipitation input. The model performed well in simulating quantile values for annual mean and peak streamflow for the 20th century. The correlation coefficients between simulated and observed quantile values for these variables exceed 0.99. Applying this model with the downscaled precipitation output from 14 GCMs, we project that the future 100-year flood for the study area is most likely to increase by 10–20%, with a mean increase of 13% from all 14 models. 79% of the models project increase in annual peak flow. Citation Wu, S.-Y. (2010) Potential im...
Glucocorticoid inhibition of fsh-induced estrogen production in cultured rat granulosa cells

Abstract The effects of glucocorticoids on the steroidogenesis of ovarian granulosa cells were investigated. Cortisol and dexamethasone inhibited the increase in aromatase activity induced by FSH in cultured rat granulosa cells. In the same cultures progesterone production was stimulated to a maximum of 167% of the control level. This differential effect of glucocorticoids on estrogen and progesterone production by the granulosa cells indicates that glucocorticoids exert specific inhibition of the induction of aromatase by FSH and do not cause a general suppression of granulosa cell activity. In contrast to their inhibition of the FSH induction of aromatase enzymes, glucocorticoids did not interfere with the activity of pre-existing aromatase enzymes. In granulosa cells containing fun aromatase activity, treatment with cortisol and dexamethasone did not inhibit aromatization of androstenedione to estrogens whereas two known aromatase inhibitors (dihydrotestosterone and 4-androstene-3, 6, 17-trione) were effective. These results indicate that the glucocorticoids exert a selective inhibition of the FSH-induction of aromatase activity in rat granulosa cells by a mechanism other than directly interfering with the aromatization reaction.
Long-Term Monitoring of Dzanga Bai Forest Elephants: Forest Clearing Use Patterns

Individual identification of the relatively cryptic forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) at forest clearings currently provides the highest quality monitoring data on this ecologically important but increasingly threatened species. Here we present baseline data from the first 20 years of an individually based study of this species, conducted at the Dzanga Clearing, Central African Republic. A total of 3,128 elephants were identified over the 20-year study (1,244 adults; 675 females, 569 males). It took approximately four years for the majority of elephants visiting the clearing to be identified, but new elephants entered the clearing every year of the study. The study population was relatively stable, varying from 1,668 to 1,864 individuals (including juveniles and infants), with increasingly fewer males than females over time. The age-class distribution for females remained qualitatively unchanged between 1995 and 2010, while the proportion of adult males decreased from 20% to 10%, likely reflecting increased mortality. Visitation patterns by individuals were highly variable, with some elephants visiting monthly while others were ephemeral users with visits separated by multiple years. The number of individuals in the clearing at any time varied between 40 and 100 individuals, and there was little evidence of a seasonal pattern in this variation. The number of elephants entering the clearing together (defined here as a social group) averaged 1.49 (range 1–12) for males and 2.67 (range 1–14) for females. This collation of 20 years of intensive forest elephant monitoring provides the first detailed, long term look at the ecology of bai visitation for this species, offering insight to the ecological significance and motivation for bai use, social behavior, and threats to forest elephants. We discuss likely drivers (rainfall, compression, illegal killing, etc.) influencing bai visitation rates. This study provides the baseline for future demographic and behavioral studies of this population.
Pattern recognition by template polynomials

A polynomial approach to the representation of binary and gray images for machine vision is introduced. Most of the standard image processing can be done by the template polynomial operations. However, we also develop some operators which rely on the intrinsic properties of polynomials and can be done at a considerable advantage using the polynomial representation of images. In particular, we develop an algorithm in parallel processing by template decomposition which uses the separability property of the template polynomial. There has been considerable interest in the past to develop a convenient algebraic environment to process digitized images. In this approach, each black-and-white picture is represented by a polynomial in the two variables X and Y with coefficients from the set {0,1}. Also, each gray digital picture is represented by a polynomial in two variables with coefficients from the set {0,1, ...,2n — 1} where the picture has 2n gray levels. The polynomials representing binary and gray pictures are referred to as picture polynomials. First we introduce algebraic operators to perform certain basic operations, like edge detection. Then, we apply the template polynomial approach to develop a method for decomposing the template which reduces the time complexity significantly for a large sized template in parallel processing.
Solvent-free cyclopalladation on silica gel

Abstract Tertiary, secondary and primary benzylamines, as well as structurally different oxazolines readily reacted with Pd(OAc)2 on silica gel to form cyclopalladated complexes containing a five or six-membered palladacycle with a (sp2)C–Pd or (sp3)C–Pd bond. The complexes were obtained in 45–98% yield, which is comparable with or exceeds the yields reported for preparation of the same compounds in solution. Aliphatic (sp3)C–H bond activation took place in the cyclopalladation of (S)-2-tert-butyl-4-phenyl-2-oxazoline on SiO2 leading to the exclusive formation of the corresponding endo palladacycle, whereas two products were reported for the same reaction performed in AcOH.
Damage assessment and reliability evaluation of existing structures

Abstract Problems involving damage assessment of existing structures have been studied by many engineers in recent years. However, a complete and rational solution is not available to date. Meanwhile, the theory of structural reliability has been well developed with many applications during these past three decades. Nevertheless, to estimate the reliability of an existing structure remains a very challenging problem. In this paper, the concept of structural identification is examined. Moreover, several possible approaches making use of full-scale dynamic test data are reviewed and discussed.
Intrastriatal infusion of nerve growth factor after quinolinic acid prevents reduction of cellular expression of choline acetyltransferase messenger RNA and trkA messenger RNA, but not glutamate decarboxylase messenger RNA.

Abstract Excitotoxic striatal lesions induced by quinolinic acid, a model for Huntington's disease, were used to test for neuroprotective actions of nerve growth factor on striatal cholinergic and GABAergic neurons. Expressions of the trk A receptor for nerve growth factor, choline acetyltransferase and glutamate decarboxylase were analysed by messenger RNA in situ hybridization in adult rats following quinolinic acid lesion (150 nmol) and daily striatal administration of nerve growth factor (1 μg) or control protein (cytochrome C) for one week. One week after toxin administration, the numbers of cells expressing trk A or choline acetyltransferase messenger RNAs were decreased when compared with unlesioned animals. Moreover, the surviving cells showed a strong down-regulation of these messenger RNAs as deduced from grain count analysis of sections processed for emulsion autoradiography. Daily intrastriatal nerve growth factor administration for one week completely prevented the reduction in the number of cells expressing either of the two markers. Nerve growth factor treatment increased the cellular expression of choline acetyltransferase messenger RNA three times above control levels and restored the levels of trk A messenger RNA expression to control levels. In contrast to the protective effects on cholinergic cells, nerve growth factor treatment failed to attenuate the quinolinic acid-induced decrease in glutamate decarboxylase messenger RNA levels. Optical density measurements of the entire striatum on autoradiographs of brain sections from quinolinic acid-lesioned animals revealed a reduction of the glutamate decarboxylase messenger RNA-specific hybridization signal, which was unaltered by infusion of nerve growth factor or control protein. Our findings strongly suggest that in both the intact and the quinolinic acid-lesioned adult rat striatum, nerve growth factor action is confined to trk A-expressing cholinergic neurons. Striatal glutamate decarboxylase messenger RNA-expressing GABAergic neurons which degenerate in Huntington's disease are not responsive to nerve growth factor.
Cross-platform evaluation of commercial real-time reverse transcription PCR master mix kits using a quantitative 5'nuclease assay for Ebola virus.

Abstract Selection of optimal reaction master mix reagents is essential to obtain the best performance with diagnostic real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. Every year the number of commercially available master mix kits increases, so it is prudent to periodically evaluate kits on the market. In this study we evaluated five commercial real-time RT-PCR master mix kits, the RealMasterMix RT-PCR ROX kit, the AgPath-ID One-Step RT-PCR kit, the SuperScript III Platinum One-step Quantitative RT-PCR system, the QuantiTect Probe RT-PCR kit, and the LightCycler RNA HybProbe amplification kit, using a 5′nuclease assay for Ebola virus. The kits were evaluated using the manufacturer’s recommended conditions, as well as conditions which have been used with the Ebola virus assay during outbreaks. When evaluated for use in Ebola virus RNA detection, the AgPath-ID kit resulted in the greatest sensitivity in comparison to the other four kits. The efficacy of the AgPath-ID kit was instrument-independent in the five real-time PCR platforms tested. This study demonstrated that Ebola virus RNA detection was not equivalent among the master mix reagents studied and, thus, that this variable can affect real-time RT-PCR assay sensitivity. Furthermore, this study rates the master mix reagents for their suitability, providing diagnostic laboratories the option to select from these kits to suit their specific laboratory needs for real-time RT-PCR.
Indomethacin fails to induce ulceration in the gastrointestinal tract of newborn and suckling rats.

ABSTRACT. Little is known about the role of oral prostaglandins and maintenance of intestinal epithelial cell membrane integrity in suckling animals. The presence of prostaglandins in milk suggests that they may have potential cytoprotective effects. Thus, experiments were performed to determine whether indomethacin causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract of suckling animals. Rats were treated with daily intraperitoneal injections of indomethacin (10 mg/kg) starting on the 1st day of life. Unlike adult animals which develop intestinal lesions within 72 h, these rats did not develop intestinal ulcerations until weaning started on days 15 to 16. Indomethacin-treated suckling animals prevented from weaning did not develop intestinal lesions until they had access to solid food on day 23. Indomethacin-treated rats had large reductions in jejunal prostaglandin E2 content. In addition, prostaglandin E2 was present in rat milk in relatively large concentration as determined by radioimmunoassay. These studies suggest that exogenous prostaglandins present in milk may protect the intestine of suckling rats from indomethacin-induced inflammation; however, once weaning commences, prostaglandin insufficiency may develop leading to intestinal lesions. We speculate that suckling rats treated with indomethacin did not develop ulcerative lesions, despite a marked reduction in intestinal prostaglandin content, possibly due to prostaglandins present in milk.
Uptake of cadmium by the eelgrassZostera marina

The uptake of cadmium by the shoots ofZostera marina L. (eelgrass) was examined in the laboratory. Experiments were carried out in experimental chambers which allowed the separation of the leaves from the root-rhizome portions of intact shoots. Cadmium uptake by the root-rhizome portions over 24 h was directly related to substrate cadmium concentration (1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 μg Cd ml-1) and varied from 6.5 to 30.0 μg Cd g-1. Cadmium uptake by the root-rhizomes and the leaves in a substrate concentration of 1 μg Cd ml-1 was also related to exposure times (24, 48 and 72 h). Maximum uptake by the root-rhizomes and the leaves was observed after 72 h at a substrate concentration of 1 μg Cd ml-1 and was equivalent to 48 and 94 μg Cd g-1, respectively. Translocation of cadmium from the leaves to the root-rhizomes was observed after 24 h, and at the end of 72 h was equivalent to 27% of the total leaf uptake. No cadmium movement from the root-rhizomes to the leaves was detected.
The cardiac inward rectifier K+ channel subunit, CIR, does not comprise the ATP-sensitive K+ channel, IKATP

Abstract Cardiac IKACh is comprised of two inwardly rectifying K+ channel subunits, CIR and GIRK1 (Krapivinsky, G., Gordon, E. G., Wickman, K., Velimirovic, B., Krapivinsky, L., and Clapham, D. E.(1995) Nature 374, 135-141). A cardiac [Medline] protein virtually identical to CIR, termed rcKATP-1 (Ashford, M. L. J., Bond, C. T., Blair, T. A., and Adelman, J. P.(1994) Nature 370, 456-459), was reported to form an ATP-sensitive [Medline] inwardly rectifying K+ channel, IKATP. We attempted to determine whether CIR alone or together with an unknown protein(s) participated in the formation of cardiac IKATP. Expression of CIR in insect, oocyte, and mammalian cell systems did not increase the appearance of ATP-sensitive currents, but rather gave rise to unique strongly inwardly rectifying, G protein-regulated K+ currents. CIR protein is found exclusively in atria, in contrast to the predominance of IKATP functional activity in ventricle. Also, CIR was completely depleted from heart membrane after immunodepletion of GIRK1. We conclude that CIR/rcKATP-1 is not a subunit of cardiac IKATP and that GIRK1 is the only channel protein coassociating with CIR in heart.
AMP-deaminases from chicken and rabbit muscle: partial primary sequences of homologous 17-kDa CNBr fragments: autorecognition by rabbit anti-[chicken AMPD].

Abstract The apparent size (87.5 kDa) of the major polypeptide in freshly isolated chicken muscle AMP deaminase (AMPD.M) was comparable with that predicted from the sequences of the genes for the major muscle isoforms from human and rat. The size of the subunit of AMP deaminase from chicken muscle is indistinguishable from that of the rabbit enzyme. The peptide profiles of cyanogen bromide digests of AMPD.M from chicken and rabbit share a 17-kDa fragment, representing approximately 20% of the intact subunits of these enzymes. The first 25 residues of these fragments are 88.5% identical; the rabbit and chicken segments are greater than 92% and 84% identical, respectively, to the sequences predicted for residues 310–335 for AMPD.M from human and rat. Polyclonal rabbit antisera directed against AMPD.M from chicken breast recognize the full-length AMPD.M polypeptides on immunoblots of extracts of both avian and rabbit muscle, including an antiserum from the rabbit in which the antibody was prepared. The 17-kDa fragments, derived by incomplete cleavage of highly conserved internal segments of the deaminase subunit, share epitopes involved in the autorecognition of rabbit AMPD.M by rabbit polyclonal antibodies directed against the avian AMPD.M.
Energy storage capacity of polymeric nitrogen

We present electronic structure calculations on the single-bonded cubic gauche form of polymeric nitrogen and predict its energy storage capacity using density functional theory, Gaussian-type orbitals, and periodic boundary conditions. We have used several exchange correlation functionals including the local spin density approximation, generalized gradient approximation (GGA), a non-empirical meta-GGA, and a screened exchange hybrid functional. Our results indicate that solid polymeric nitrogen has a higher energy storage capacity than previously reported.
A simple and efficient automatic fem domain decomposer

Abstract The various forms of parallel numerical algorithms that speed up finite element computations are as different as the number of researchers working on the problem. However, most of the recently proposed concurrent computational strategies seem to have a common starting point, namely, domain decomposition. In this paper, a simple and efficient non-numerical algorithm for the automatic decomposition of an arbitrary finite element domain into a specified number of balanced subdomains is presented. It is shown that both the algorithm and its implementation are suitable for shared memory as well as local memory multiprocessors. Fortran 77 subroutines for the decomposer are given. They have proven to be extremely effective for the implementation of promising concurrent solution strategies on high performance architectures. It is hoped that the decomposer will relieve the burden of the preprocessing phase from the method's developers, so that they can concentrate on the numerical and synchronization issues of parallel computing.
Cognitive computing programming paradigm: A Corelet Language for composing networks of neurosynaptic cores

Marching along the DARPA SyNAPSE roadmap, IBM unveils a trilogy of innovations towards the TrueNorth cognitive computing system inspired by the brain's function and efficiency. The sequential programming paradigm of the von Neumann architecture is wholly unsuited for TrueNorth. Therefore, as our main contribution, we develop a new programming paradigm that permits construction of complex cognitive algorithms and applications while being efficient for TrueNorth and effective for programmer productivity. The programming paradigm consists of (a) an abstraction for a TrueNorth program, named Corelet, for representing a network of neurosynaptic cores that encapsulates all details except external inputs and outputs; (b) an object-oriented Corelet Language for creating, composing, and decomposing corelets; (c) a Corelet Library that acts as an ever-growing repository of reusable corelets from which programmers compose new corelets; and (d) an end-to-end Corelet Laboratory that is a programming environment which integrates with the TrueNorth architectural simulator, Compass, to support all aspects of the programming cycle from design, through development, debugging, and up to deployment. The new paradigm seamlessly scales from a handful of synapses and neurons to networks of neurosynaptic cores of progressively increasing size and complexity. The utility of the new programming paradigm is underscored by the fact that we have designed and implemented more than 100 algorithms as corelets for TrueNorth in a very short time span.
Shedding growth factors in cardiac hypertrophy

The finding that cleavage and shedding of the membrane-bound heparin-binding epidermal growth factor by metalloproteases contribute to the hypertrophic process offers new insights for the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy and progression to heart failure. ( pages 35–40 )
Soil physical properties of agricultural systems in a large-scale study

Abstract The extent to which findings from small-scale field studies can be used to make agricultural recommendations or management decisions is a concern because of natural influential processes that occur only at a large-scale. A large-scale field study was conducted to determine the effects of agricultural management systems on soil physical properties, including their spatial and temporal variations. Three replicates of the systems were based on soil type in an area that had been intensively mapped and were established in 1998 at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, Goldsboro, NC. Agricultural management systems include five treatments which were best management practices (BMP: with subplots conventional tillage – BCT and no-tillage – BNT), organic crop production (OCP), integrated crop–animal (ICA), plantation forestry-woodlot (PFW), and abandoned-field succession (AFS). Soil physical properties of bulk density (Db), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), field capacity (FC), saturated water content (SWC), total porosity (TP), micro- and macroporosity (MicP, MacP), and water stable aggregation (WSA) were measured in multiple years within the period 1999–2007. The experimental methods successfully produced data with acceptable levels of variability, discernable soil property differences between systems, and unambiguous relationships between soil properties. Blocking areas with large portions of a diagnostic soil maintained the homogeneity of experimental plots and produced acceptable error terms in statistical procedures. The sampling scheme used prevented sample collection in previously sampled areas. Tilled systems BCT and OCP did not differ in soil physical properties and their properties remained rather constant with time. The BNT, PFW and AFS systems had similar properties with higher Db, lower TP, higher MicP and higher FC than tilled systems. The ICA sub-treatments developed a post-grazing higher Db, lower TP and lower MacP.
Uses of Intravenous Gammaglobulin in Immune Hematologic Disease

In summary, for intravenous gammaglobulin use of ITP in children and adults, it is clear that intravenous gammaglobulin is an effective way to increase the platelet count acutely and this will be faster than or as fast as any other therapy. However, there is no proven curative effect of IV gammaglobulin. Its use in situations requiring a rapid increase in the platelet count seems secure as does its use in children with chronic ITP. The latter however and the treatment of HIV-ITP may find IVIG treatment largely replaced in the future by IV Anti-D(10) which is currently experimental. The use of a viral inactivated form of IVIG currently seems mandatory to avoid post-transmission hepatitis.
Women of honor: gender and agency among Dalit women in the central Himalayas

Karin M. Polit, New Delhi, Orient Blackswan, 2012, 380 pp., Rs. 750 (hardback), ISBN 978-81-250-4267-9 In Women of Honor, ethnographer Karin M. Polit draws upon 7 years of rural fieldwork in the Hi...